members go that way The feete bidds not the hand doe this neither any of the inferior members haue domination ouer the higher but euery one vseth his office and function and is gouerned by the head that is Christs Vicar and cheife Pastor of our soules S. Peters successor whose faith Christ promised should euer holde and neuer faile and therefore when tribute was to be paid for heads of houses our Sauiour bad S. Peter goe to the water and take a fish in whose mouth hee shoulde finde a peece of mony and that he bad Math. 17. 27. him pay for them both for me and theo said Christ marke here for whome this tribute was paid for Heads of houses only not for the rest of Christs disciples but for Cephas only that is S. Peter the rock and head of Gods house vnder Christ tribute was paid Thus you see what vnity peace charity is in Gods Church by reason of one heade vnder Christ the Pope Whereby you see how the citty of Gods Church by this order in what sweete disposition it is as that citty Ierusalem well built and noe maruaile for as we read Saba hearing of 3. Reg. 10 the wisdome and worthines of Salomon comming out of the vttermost coastes of the earth to see him when shee harde his wisedome saw the temple of God which he had built the princely Palace wherin he dwelt the godly order and disposition of his seruants the varietie of dishes the goodly seruice at his tables with great admiration burst out saying Beati serui qui astant coram te audiunt sapientiam tuam Blessed be thy seruants that wait in thy presence and hearing thy wisedome minister at thy table If Salomon then which was but a shadow or figure of Christ the eternall wisedome of his father coulde so dispose his house no meruaile then though Christ the truth and wisedome it selfe in most noble decent and wise order could dispose his holy Church which S. Paul calleth the 1. Tim. 3. house of God the pillar and foundation of the truth this is done especially by the Sacrament of Order for want wherof all discord and confusion is amongst heretikes whose rude company like the proud builders of the tower of Babilon confound one another and lifting their mouthes to heauen to pul God from his throne be deuided into innumerable sects without all order Wherefore the conuenticle of heretiks for her miserable confusioÌ„ is properly called in holy Scripture the strumpet of BabiloÌ„ drinking of the cup of Gods wrath iustly forsaken of him as destitute of his spirit for want of peace vnity and concorde and the Church of the malignant whereof that terrene bloudy Cain was the first builder as Abell that innocent Martir was the first builder of the citty of God Chap. XXXV Wherein is more at large described the Babilonicall confusion of sinne and heresy how God hath blessed this Country of olde for honour and obedience to the Church Priesthood THerefore in heresy this Sinagogue of Satan is such a discord and disorder that it is a very figure of hell vbi nullus ordo c. where as testifieth holy Iob there is no order but euerlasting horrâ—r dwelleth therein What biting is there of one another neuer agreeing with them selues nor their followers what bitter inuectiues euery one braggeth of the spirit of God euery one would be a teacher an other Paul as it were numquid omnes Apostoli numquid omnes Doctores The Apostle teacheth the Church of Christ that euery one should not take vpon him to haue the office of an Apostle or Doctor but with heretikes it is quite contrary euery one looketh amongst them to be a teacher at least to expound the word euery one thinketh himselfe a Priest though neuer called to that function by any lawfull authoritie they would seme to haue Scripture for theÌ„ but falsely wrested Al we Christians in deed in holy Scripture be called genus sacerdotale a priestly stock generation or kindred but what then So we be called al kinges in the scripture or a princely generation As therefore wee bee not all properly kings but in some respect it is that wee bee so called for that we by Gods grace liue well and raigne in Christ well rule our inordinate passions and motions and well gouerne our selues that it is which is a greater matter then for some loosely to gouerne a kingdome So and no otherwise aâ—l lay Christians be called Priests not for that they bee properly Priestes which none can be but those which by order are lawfully chosen and ordeined but because they offer vpon their harts spirituall sacrifice of prayses prayers thanksgiuing to God which be not properly sacrifice but metaphorically no more be all Christians Priests properly but figuratiuely as we be not al properly Kings but vnproperly and in signification But heretickes like vncleane beastes and vnreasonable creatures out of all order make no distinction of any thing but confounde all therefore no meruaile though amongst them the feete stand where the head shoulde and the head in steede of the feete Euery maide amongst them by Luthers opinioÌ„ is a Priest and euery Minister amongst the Puritanes woulde bee heade of the Church euery one may start vp into the Pulpit and say what the spirit moueth him the man controleth his Master woemen men for not preaching the worde sincerely if there be any forme of order at this day in England amongst Protestants as wearing of Surplices Rochets square Caps and keeping Belles and Churches and the like all these ceremonies that beare a laudable shewe they haue and steale from the Catholike Church insomuch that Whitgift their chiefe Superintendent of Canterbury coulde not defende such ceremonies as appeareth by his booke against Puritanes but only by Catholike arguments Wherefore they though vnworthely call him Pope of Lambeth But in deed as heretickes tearme them those bee but Popes ragges in deede The Diuell careth not to leaue amongst heretickes a a fewe ceremonies of Catholickes to deceaue the simple in making a shewe so the Sacraments that is the things them selues wherby men should receaue gods grace be taken away so they take the shell leaue out the kernell take but only our ragges as it were if I might so tearme such laudable ceremonies when they be well vsed in Gods Church and all to cloth with all and couer the vncleane filth and abhomination of their ragged heretical flock which be deuided almost into as many superstitious heresies contray opinions as they be men yet would imitate vs catholikes in their outward ceremonies as apes do meÌ„ In so much but that it hath pleased God to leaue some seed of catholiks yet in EnglaÌ„d that kepeth theÌ„ in some awe they before this I may iustly thinke had all become Turkes or worse openly denying Christ God and all as many of them alreadye by the relation of some that be of their secrets
forsake them for their taunts For though God bee not delighted with the number of prayers so much as with discreete affefection and desire to him yet these misticall and godly numbers help to encrease our deuotion and affection and therefore we had now more neede to vse Beades then euer when as deuotion waxeth cold both to pray for heretikes amendment and that we fal not in their blindnes for diuers other holy godly and reasonable causes and things Chap. LIX Of the Aue Maria how it is a most deuout prayer gratefull to God ioyfull to Angelles terrible to the Diuell and most healthfull and comfortable to all mankind AS for the Aue Maria it is the very wordes of the Angell Gabriell Elizabeth and the holy Church now where as heretickes say it is no prayer but a salutation they bewray their ignorance for many sentences and wordes be in Scriptures that seeme no prayers and yet effectuall prayers as in the Psalmes and other places may appeare where Gods mercy justice might bounty loue and the like is praysed or called on not in forme of prayer but yet a most effectuall prayer to obtayne his mercy goodnes bounty grace So in the Auâ— Mary our B. La is saluted to the intent to pray for vs thanks giuen to god that voutsafed by that vnspeakable mistery of his incarnatioÌ„ of her body to be incarnate made maÌ„ for vs wherby man is recouered froÌ„ damnatioÌ„ the Deuill ouercome the ruines of Angells bee repayred so that the Aue Maria was the most ioyfull tidings that euer was brought from God to maÌ„ No meruaile then though Infidels heretikes meÌ„bers of the Diuel abhor the Aue Mary for as often as it is deuoutly said as it is ioyful to Angels in heauen so it maketh the Diuel and al' his Angels to tremble and quake But some Puritanes woulde haue no Pater noster neither nor any stint praier so long they haue babbled of the Lord and spirit that now you see they deny Ladies praier Lords praier too I am afraid in their corrupt consciences Christ and God too neither doe I meruaile for improbity wickednes neuer consisteth in one degree as one said Sed cum incipit labi ruit praecipitat till it come to the deapth of all euill and mischiefe For beeing fallen from the Church and hauing once lost the high way they must needes euer bee further from the truth wanting a sure ground and foundation to stay themselues vpon that is the true Catholicke Church 1. Tiâ— 3. 15. of God which Saint Paul calleth the foundation and piller of truth til once they returne back againe Chap. LX. Of diuers holy ornamentes and thinges belongîng to the Church as of lightes in Churches of insence Dedication of Churches and such like godly ceremonies AS for sacred and holye bells vestmentes holy vessells as Chalices and the like Heretickes beat them in peeces make gunnes of them chamber pots and fill their purses The like did heretickes and infidells of olde espeacially Iulian the Apostata that made water in the Chalice wherein the bloud of Maries Sonne for so the Infidells tearmed it in contempt of him and her was offered but he his fellowes had foule ends as these fellowes haue wil haue vnlesse God giue them grace to amend For if the people of God before Christ had their holy Trumpets to call the people togither the Leuits Priest their holy vestiments sacred cups and Phyals and other vessels though wee follow not now Iewish ceremonies as heretickes be-ly vs yet why should wee not haue our ornaments Sanctified by Gods word and that in more deuoute exquisite sort then the Iewes had by how much Christes law exceedeth the Iewish ceremonies For wee see these outward ceremonies much help to increase inward deuotion as for example the very candles and Church lights do signifie vnto vs the light of Gods grace the Gospell the purity of conscience good workes wee ought to haue with manye moe significations which well weighed excite and stir vp deuotion The Maiesty of our temples or churches adorned with sumptuous ornaments and Images of Christ and his Saints in a liuely history as it were setting before our eyes by their glorious death and martirdome their triumph and victories ouer hell and death these temples I say thus adorned being solemnlie dedicated to God yea their dedication yearely renewed or remembred do they not teach vs to dedicate our bodies and soules wholy to the seruice of God as being liuely temples of the holy Ghost and daylie to clense them more more from sinne to adorne them with vertues and to renew confirme and furnish them vp eftsoones with those effectuall signes and seales of our redemption those diuine misteries the healthfull Sacraments Yf God promised to heare the prayers of those that called vppon him in Salomons temple how much more will hee heare our prayers and lawfull petitions thus made in our Churches who serue God now in spirite and truth and not in presence of that vmbraticall Arke of the old testament but in that most high misterye before Christs most B. body our only mediator and redeemer whose intercession is euermore acceptable in his fathers sight the Arke of the liuing God that raigneth for euer Yf when two or three in Christs name bee gathered together hee hath promised to heare them how much more when manye hundred or thowsands bee so collected vnited in prayer in one Church will God bee amongst them and performe their good desires surely heretickes that thus ruinate despise and pollute Monasteries Oratories and christian Temples set vp an Idoll in their owne imaginations in steede thereof and prepare the way for that general and Antechristian abhomination of desolation which vvas prophesied by Daniell the Prophet O Christ wheÌ„ thy signe shal appeare in the cloudes that lightneth the whole world then Church robbers Image breakers the razers downe cursed enemies of thy Crosse then then shal come to confusion wheÌ„ thou shalt make al thy enemies thy footstoole Moreouer wheÌ„ as in our Churches any ceremonies of inceÌ„se and sweete perfumes which signifie betoken the sweet odour and sauour of good life that ought to bee among vs be vsed it is well and commendable which and the like ceremonies though in some sort of olde they were vsed yet seing that Christ came not to break the law but to ful fill it any such ceremonies as be not euacuate and frustrate by Christs comming as the bloudy sacrifice circumcision and the like are now not to be obserued because wee haue the things themselues whereof those ceremonies and sacrifices were figures yet I say any thing that tendeth to nourishing of pieâ—y deuotion and charity are to bee kept still as fasting knocking kneeling or any such godly ceremonies which concerne the body as deuotion doth the mind both which we must offer to God as being all his owne and due
repens sicut fere omnia hodie coÌ„trouersa breuiter â—tsi promiscue cum adhortatiunculis ad sanam fidem mores emendandos summatim docet praecipue de ijsdem inde pertractat ita indoctorum simplissimorum ingenijs dimissus siue subjectus ijsdem sese facillime accommodat quod quidem opus ex quorundam instantijs qui rationem quantulamcunque de omnibus modernis fidei controuersijs in vno libello sibi reddi vehementer postularunt efflagitauerunt a me iampridem compositum est Sed cum essem partim serijs quibusdam negotijs impeditus varijsque curis implicatus partim a falsis fratribus proditus elusus ingrauescente persecutione nullo diu loco quiete stare perpessus sed a communi hoste ad morteÌ„ fere quaesitus Hijs inquam alijsque impedimentis rebusque cum essem distentus iste libellus non editus sed quibusdam meis amiâ—â—s notus ab eis desideratus situ obductus iacebat interim nonnulli vt promissis starem eum in lucem emitterem expetierunt quibus cum amplius refragari non possem non diutius eos differendos putaui sed ut eorum pijs desiderijs satisfacerem me accinxi vt hoc perficerem quamuis adhuc in medio tribulationum positus quantum in me est feci Itaque Autographum apud metenens hunc libellum nonnullis in locis locupletatum transcribendum charitati tuae mittendum curaui vnde confido in Domino feci quod meum est ne paruulis petentibus panem non sit qui frangeret eis tuum erit facere aut vt hoc opusculum tanquam horridum abortiuum reijciatur conspuatur aut vti opus pernecessarium vtile vtcunque sero emissum postliminio receptum a bonis omnibus obuijs vt aiunt vlnis amplectatur quod opto ad vtilitatem Ecclesiae laudem nominis sui qui est benedictus in secula Amen Christus Dominus ad pacem bonorum Ecclesiae Anglicanae ornamentum egregium te mei memorem diutissime vbique incolumem conseruet vir eximie admodum Reuerende pater 27. Martii 1599. Reuerentiae vestrae filius obseruantissimus particeps in trâ—bulatione in Christo conseruus I. R. THE PREFACE TO THE READER VNderstaÌ„dinge by a freinde of myne not longe agoe that one of familiar and olde acquaintance of his was desirous to knowe the trueth in matters of religion and to haue the trueth set downe in writing for his better memorie stay in this greate diuersity of mens mindes and sundry opinions at this day I was loath at first to enterprise the matter for that I knewe that there be written books most ample and learned of all matters of controuersie at this present farre beyonde my learning and skyll wherin the Heretiks of our tyme be moste euidently confuted and the trueth moste plainly open sett downe and declared able to satisfie any man in conscieÌ„ce whosoeuer that with lowly spirit and desire of trueth will consideratly and throughly read them Yet considering many men in this troublesome tyme there be that be desiroÌ„s to knowe the trueth either cannot attayne those books or be not of ability to buy them or if they be yet not at leasure to read them or not of learning and capacity sufficient well to conceaueÌ„ of them fearing likewise lest if any at my handes shoulde desire to knowe GODS trueth and I hiding it from them for want of discharge of my duety might highly displease GOD to whom I am to make an account that I might iustly be reckoned amongst those whom God by his holie Prophet complaineth of Paruuli petierunt panem My little ouâ—s that is poore simple soules desirons of the trueth their saluation haue desired bread the foode of GODS worde and the Sacraments there was not that woulde breake it vnto them Though there be many others of my Brethren that doe and can doe it farre better I being the least â—nd vnworthyest of all Yet for these and diuerse other considerations especially for discharge of my duty at this present I haue breiflie and plaiâ—ly for the simple sorte set downe my mynde touching the cheifest matters of controuersies in religion in this tyme wherby an vnlearned man may easilie by him self or another finde out sufficient authoritie to satisfie his minde touching the trueth of the most matters of religion in question at this day wherein be not afraide good countryman but be bolde I warrant thee by such authority as I haue set downe to presse and charge the greatest Heretike in the worlde For he may wrangle wrest and seeke many narrow shifts but in the ende he will bewraye his owne weaknes For this vndoubted and infallible Catholike Church and trueth may for a tyme in some sorte be oppressed but neuer suppressed nor hidde it may be gainsaid but in the ende caÌ„not be with stoode no more then that Idoll Dagon could stand but in presence of the Arke of the liuing GOD was throwne downe burst a sunder not for that in me any such exquisite matter may be founde but because I leane of such sure grownds authority that possiblie cannot faile For eueÌ„ as at the noone day the light of the sunne cannot be denyed so there is a certaine truth so plaine that by no guylefull falsehoode in wordes nor deceitefull coloured speeches can in any wise be darkned or ouerthrowne which trueth to speake and teach if man shoulde cease the very rockes and stones might crie out But for that I write this little treatise to informe especially an ignorant and vnlearned man therefore I haue accoâ—modated my selfe as much as I could to his vnderstanding vsing plaine wordes and now then ofte repetition of things that to the learned be not needfull and may seeme â—edyous Wherefore if this writing chaunce to fal into the handes of the learned they may looke for no â—yne phrases or rhetoricall termes at my handes neither in writing hastely haue I obserued that order and methode which otherwise were requisite Only let him remember to whom I write for whose sake especially I haue written this which if not so sufficiently as I would wish yet at least wise it may be an occasion to some other that caÌ„ doe it better to make a more large and profitable discourse In the meane tyme if this my poore labour and indeauoures may doe any good be an instrument or meane to conâ—erte to GOD or strengthen Yea but the leaste or weakest soule in the worlde I thinke my paines well bestowed and attribute thou nothing to me but giue the praise thanks wholly to GOD. But if vppon iust occasion in writing so in haste and that I aslure you with out any help of bookes * Excepte that partelic in 2. or 3. chapters onlie of the B. Sacramit of the Altare I hauâ— not onlie alleadged some authorityes of the holy Fathers gathered by a learned and late
the truth onely with them Another sort of men called Caluinists and Protestants who raigne at Geneua here especially in England affirme Christ and the truth of the gospel to be only with them these men say only faith iustifieth leadeth to Saluation they deny Christes Blessed Body and Blood to be really substantially truly present in the most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar These men deny prayer for the Faithfull departed inuocation of Saintes and the like An other sort be called the Family of loue who after their prayer preaching of Christ and the gospel as they terme it doe worke as it appeareth by their ill fruits the workes of darknes things inconuenient to be named An other Secte called Puritans would pul down Churches also confound ciuil gouernmeÌ„t It were too long to reckon vp al far differing in opinions condemners of one another and yet all professours of Christ the truth and the Gospell and yet as I said before as there is one very God so but one truth Onâ— God one Faith one Baptisme and yet Ephes. 4 euery one of these wil not stick to say beholde heere is Christ and the truth with vs in this corner of the world and another as stiflye againe beholde hee is there in another place Is Christ deuided No but marke Christs rule who forwarneth vs all of such that wee goe noâ— ouâ— after them out of the vnity of faith and the holy Catholicke Churche that is with out which no true Saluation can bee sound to followe them If they say vnto tâ—ee saith Christ belioulde In deserto est Mat. 24. ecce in penitralibus He is in the desert and secret parlours Noliâ—e exire nolitâ— crâ—dâ—â—e Goe not out after them that beâ— so deuided amongst themselues Doe not beleeue them And yet hee giueth vs a more certain marke how better to know Ibidem them Many false prophets saith Christ shall arise deceiue many they shall come in sheâ—pes cloathing But inwardly they bee rauening Wolues And then lo he giueth vs a note to discern them by saying You shall knowe them by their fruites For a good tree cannot bring forth ill fruites nor a bad tree good fruits Let vs then see the fruites of these Sect-Masters and newe Gospellers that giue vs such gaye words promises Christ by his word example commaundeth teacheth vs to pray much fast often which his true followers haue euer duly obserued these men pray little fast lesse He biddeth enter into life euerlasting by the straight way of penance They preach libertie as they say of the Gospell but by experience wee see it tendeth to that end that euery one may with out controulment liue as he lust in loose liberty of the flesh God sometimes in this Country for a thousand years togither welnere was in religious houses with continuall prayer of our forefathers serued night day these men account such continuall prayr lip labour pull downe godly houses Churches but raise fewe to be briefe amongest them iniquity aboundeth but Charity waxeth cold wherein our godly predecessours so greatly excelled As in building vs so many Churches chappels houses of prayer and religion to honor God in so many hospitalls to nourishe maintaine the poore needie orphanes and widowes so many colledges in our Vniuersities to traine vp youth in virtue and learning now greatly decayed as wanting the auncient orders wonted disipline therin appointed by the Founders Where is that humility that modestie that obedience to parents and superiours as of olde Where is that feare of God that fidelitie true dealing amongst men that was wont to be Be either now seruants more trustie and obedient to their Maisters Wiues to their Husbands Subiects to their Princes Is now iustice better executed then a foretime that the poore oppressed haue no cause to coÌ„plaine Doe those that enioy liuings giuen by our forefathers to the Church keepe better houses then their forefathers that liued without such liuings doe Ministers nowe bestowe the goods of the Church more liberally vpon the poore then Priests before time doe they liue nowe in any sort chastlie with wiues as many married christians of olde howe farre then be they from the chastity of most reverend continent Priests of all ages nay rather are not almes-deedes decayed charity abandoned chastity fled away be these the fruits of Protestants that make vs such gay promises of the pure sincere profession of the gospell If then you beleeue Christes words to be true that the tree must be knowne by the fruites these brochers then of the fifth gospell that bring forth such cockle darnell bad fruit note and knowe them most assuredly not for true but false Prophets Ministers of the Diuel the father of lies Antichristians not lambes but wolues in sheepes clothing not Ministers of the word of God but of their owne phaÌ„tasies and foolish proud conceites deuourers of your souls whom you ought to flye as from the face of the serpent for with their sweet wordes and speeches they deceiue the hartes of the innocent they confesse themselues in wordes to professe and know God but deny him in deedes you shall know them by their fruits But you will say perhappes there haue euer beene vices amongst men I graunt you but not so common and generall as now they be and then Vertue of olde was holden for Vertue and Vice for Vice But now quite contrary that which is sinne is tearmed by the name of vertue and that which is vertue is termed vice So that in place wherâ— vertue was exercised now sinne and vice is exalted raigneth Againe these New men that brag to be reformers of the worlde and bringers in of light ought to haue taught vs better manners then these had whome they tooke in hand to reforme which when they doe not nay bee themselues and make the worlde worse It is a sure token they be not sent by God to reforme men but by the Diuell to deceiue men Which foule wilye serpent as witnesseth Saint Paule ofte trans-formeth himselfe into an Angell of light fly then such lying Masters For their Church and congregation is not the flock of Christ but the very Sinagogue of Satan And that you may better know the true church of god from the false Church of Antichrist I will seâ— downe three or foure notes proper to no Church but onlie the true Church of Christ which if you marke well they shall teach you in these perilous times how to know the Church of God and so the true and only way to saluation For hee that wil be saued before all things must keepe true faith and religion and be a member of the church of God For vnto this Church as Christs only deere spouse for which hee shed his precious blood all good guiftes be giuen all heauenly promises be made in this Church as in his elect vineyeard is only found the deaw of his heaueÌ„ly
grace the sweet liâ—our of his holie Sacraments without this Church of Christ no saluatioÌ„ can be found this Church is worthily called the ship of S. Peter out of which whosoeuer at death shall be found shal bee ouerwhelmed without all doubt in those flouds of eternall damnation For as at Noes floud none were saued but those only that were in the Arke eight persons euen so we cannot pas through the Sea of this troublesome world nor arriue to the sure haueÌ„ of rest with god in his kingdome vnlesse we saile in Noe and Saint Peters ship Christs holy Church which church is nothing else but a congregation of al faithfull people liuing in one faith or vnity of beleif vnder Christ their head his Vicar the cheif Pastor of our souls Saint Peters successor heare in earth keeping that faith and beliefe that Christ and his Apostles taught and hath beene euer openlie preached in Christs Church without intermission euen from Christs Assention vnto this day shal be so without faile euen to the end of the worlde For against his Mat. 16 Church Christ promised The gates of hel that is the Diuel and al his power that is al Infidels Turkes Iewes Heretâ—kes Schismatikes should neuer preuaile but the true Catholike church hath more manifestly shall haue in the end the vpper hand though for a time for our sins in this and other countries it hath beene sore persecuted and oppressed yet can it neuer be vanquished or suppressed because Christes worde shall neuer faile who promised to be with it and assist it with his holy spirit to the end of the world Nay the more it is persecuted the more in the end it will florish as the vine that is pruned afterward bringeth out branches more perfectly and more plentifull fruit This ship of Saint Peter hath bin sore tossed with stormes of persecution froÌ„ time to time but yet by the good guiding of Christ her head neuer ouerwhelmed How sore was it shaken when Nero that bloudy tirant and persecuting Emperour slew the chief Captaines therof Saint Peter and Saint Paul at Rome in which city now Christs Religion by his special grace and by the merits praiers of these Apostles most florisheth What bloudy battailes afterward made Domitian Diocletian and rhe rest of those persecuting Kings and Emperours against the same Church slaying by thousands of ChristiaÌ„s in one day The Arrian Heritickes aboue a thousand yeares agoe that denied the Son of God to be of the same substance with his father as the Heretickes of our time now deny him though not altogither alike but in another manner and in another article of our beliefe according to his worde to be heare with vs in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar Those that were true Christian Catholickes especially Bishopps Preists were for the truth by them persecuted with fire and sword both by Sea and land Yet by the valiant death and constancie of Martirs and worthy Confessours who were robbed spoiled of goods landes liberties and liues by long imprisonment death as many in this countrie for the same cause now be they in the end obtayned ouer the enimies of the truth the victorie that euen in those very places where greatest persecution bloodshed was for the truth there afterward was of all sorts of people greatest confession of the truth Churches and houses of prayer being raised in those very places where many Martirs were hanged shed their blood the bloody persecutor dying and being buried in hell in eternal obliuion The glorious Martir now triumpheth and reioyceth with God in Heauen with perpetuall praise and memory of his name here on earth When the ghospel in this country was first preached a blessed man harboured Amphibo lâ—s by Saint Albon nere to Christs time that blessed Martir for his receipt of Christs messenger and for becoming a Christian shed his bloud and yet in that very place was afterward a goodly Abbey built where Christ was serued both day and night and the towne of Saint Albons as of whome it tooke the name for many hundred yeares honoured God in him in that place who before as a traitor and enimie to the Realme and state they put to death Afterward about a thousand years agoe when Saint Augustine the Moncke was sent by Saint Gregorie then Pope of Rome to restore preach christs faith and religion here amongst English men then a mongst the Britons in some sort partly decaied for sinne as now in a great part of the whole Isle it is if not worse in manie mens hartes though God bee thanked a Church though litle poore and afflicted wee haue still manye mockes buffets and blowes that holy Moncke with the rest of his fellowes had before they could recall this Country to the right way of saluation The storme against them was sharp for a time But afterwardes with long patience Christ bad the winde cease and there became a great calme The Church of England hauing great tranquility flourishing after in religion virtue almost a thousand years togither till wicked Luther a many of his fellowes runagate Friers and forsakers of their order and religion for the desire they had to liue as they lust in al liberty pleasures of the flesh broched a new gospel I would say raised vp a moÌ„strous storme of heresy infidelity troubling the peace of the christian world quite ouerthrowing the coÌ„mon state of ReligioÌ„ here in our Country till it please God to bid the raging storme cease which no doubt hewil do wheÌ„ it semeth best to his good wil pleasure who after a storme sendeth faire weather when he hath beaten his children wel knoweth to cast the rod into the fire in the meane time in this perilous storme it behoueth vs to bee well armed least we be ouerwhelmed with al vertues but first cheifly with true faith and religion Chap. II Of the first certaine note of the true Church WHerfore because heretiks the enimies of truth deceiue simple soules vnder the shewe of truth glory of the Church as though they only were true meÌ„bers of the same which notwithstaÌ„ding they oppugn pul down Therfore the first note wherby you may knowe the true church of Christ froÌ„ the Church of Satan is this that the Church of God is called Catholike which word Catholike is deriued froÌ„ the Greeke and in Latine is asmuch as vniuersalis that is vniuersall and generall common as it were to al true beleuers of all nations so that the true Church of Christ is commonly called the Catholike church or at least knowne The proper etimologie of this word Catholik is vniuersall or generall of all sorts so to be called as we are taught in our Creed to beleue the holy Catholike Church so that true ChristiaÌ„ beleuing men are commonly called catholikes those that be deuided from this knowne common faith and Church of Christ in
sent backe againe with great honour and gifts and the like triumph and reioycing to my knowledge was neuer in Rome before since our Country was first conuerted vnto Christ in Gregory the greats time our holy Apostle that sent S. Augustâ—ne to preach the Gospell amoÌ„gst vs English men These couÌ„tries new y conuerted in the Indians be conuerted by Iesuites Monkes and Friers so honourabâ—e once in our Country but now odious yea their very names They in those mighty Countries citties far greater then the rest of all Christendomâ— do raise vp houses of religion as fast as we pull the downe they know or beleeue no other faith but only the Catho Romane faith Church praysed â—om 1. 8. with the Apostâ—es mouth to be preached through the whole worlde Heretickes here you see in corners of Christendome rent and teare in peeces like rauâ—ning Wolues the flocke of Christ but they plant it in no place amongst Iâ—fidelles where Christ was neuer heard of before as our Priests and religious men doe which they so raiâ—e against in their pulpits amongst ignorant people But no maruell for our Sauiour describeth such Wolues vnder the name of hirelings or rather no Pasâ—ors but theeues and robbers that come in by the window not by the doore that feede themselues and not the flocke of Christ but be like to those whereof the Prophet speaketh De Psal 52. 5 uorant plebem meaÌ„ vt cibum panis deuouro my poore people aâ— meate of bread It is the property oâ— the heretike vt furetur mactet perdat to steale murder destroy but not as a good shepheard to feed the flock of Christ and raise vp and build the walles of Ierusalem the holy Church Thus you see how the Church of Christ is no priuate conuenticle or tied to one or two Countries or Nations but it is common to the whole world A mari vsque ad mare a flumine vsque ad terminos orbis terrarum a visible Church to be seene as hee promised by the holye Prophet it should bee that all Nations might haue recourse thereunto Againe Ps 112. 3. he promised by his Prophet it shoulde be from the rising of the Sunnet to the setting of the same againe Et aperienter portaetuae Isa 60. 11 iugiter die ac nocte non claudenter vt afferatur ad te fortitudo gentium reges earum adducantur That her gates should neuer be shut that is that shee should be common to all Nations of the world both Iew and Gentile but this is proper to no sort of Heretickes in the world which be enclosed you see in a few corners of the same as England and Germany But our common knowne faith Church and religion is Catholicke that is vniuersall generall and common not only to these countries but to all the countries of the worlde where Christ was euer preached or heard of Euen from the rising of the Sunne to the setting of the same againe therefore no other Church the true Church but ours only that is the common knowne Catholicke and Apostolicke Romane Church First then you see what Church hath the first true marke which wee be taught in our Creede to beleeue that is our Romane Church no other because ours and no other you see can properly be called Catholicke that is common to all Nations Chap. III Of the second certaine note of the true Church SEcondly this Catholike Roman church is of greatest antiquity which is a sure note or marke of the true Church proper to no Church but onely to our church that is the true catholike church For this catholike faith religion which at this day for example is preached at Rome in the Indians in al the coasts of the world is no new fangled vpstart opinioÌ„ sect as lutherans protestants be whose first rising is yet in our fathers memory but most ancient that is both euer continued one and the same Faith and church for almost these 1600. yeers from Christes Ascention euen vnto this day whereas the Protestants can neither shew church chappel nor congregation of their faith religion through the whole world till only within these 80. yeres till Luther his fellows licentious Lollards first arose if their were anie of more ancieÌ„t years as Wicliff Hus Ierom of Prague and the like yet with their opinions they held other damnable heresies which the Protestants mislike as-well as Catholikes so that only our Catholike Church is that which hath continued not for fourescore yeers but fifteene hundred fourescore which marke so auncient of Antiquity because heretikes want therfore they cannot be members of Christs Catholike Church against which our Sauiour promised The diuell and all his power should neuer preuaile but that it shoulde continue from his Ascention into Heauen to his comming againe to Iudgement eueÌ„ to the end of the world when by his iust IudgemeÌ„t he shal seuer the good corne and chaffe a-sunder make himselfe a glorious triumphant Church in Heauen without spotte or wrinckle Nowe then either it must followe that Christ failed of his promise which to thinke or saye is extreame blasphemie or else that our Church the Catholike Romane Church and no other is only the true church because no other Church but ours only hath beene seene and openly continewed and preuailed against the deuil and all his members from Christes time to this day For their church if not you yet your father knew when it sprong vp that of what ground and occasion it rose that was of Couetousnes Pride and whordome but our Catholike Church hath continued by most of there owne confessions for a thousand yeares yea some of them giue vs thirtene hundred yeares but wee will take to vs and are able to proue by all auntient authority and the invincible truth sixteene-hundred yeres nowe well drawing on that is euen froÌ„ Christs time to this day Wherefore our Church being the only church that hath euer visibly beene seene and florished in many Though the church hath euer beene visible yet I meane she hath especially florished since times according to the promise of our Sauiour his Church shoulde doe Therefore it must needes followe that noe Church but onely our Catholyke Romane Church is the true Church as being by farre most antient euen from Christes time But the heretike hath another shift for this he granteth with vs that the Church of Christ shall euer continew but he would haue it an inuisible congregation secrett in mennes hearts a congregation knowne to God alone to no mortall creaâ—ure saue only to such as be of the same whereupon he woulde haue the Church to consist of the onely Elect saued soules that there be not of both sorts good and bad in the holie true Catholike Church which wily shift of the heretikes we easily shift off reproue plainly by Gods word his gospel which compareth his church Vnto
a Mat. 20. Mar. 12. Luc. 20. citty set vpon a hill to a tabernacle set in the sunne that cannot be hid Againe he biddeth vs if we cānot amend our brother by brotherly correctiō Totel the Church which if he will not heare account him as a Heathen and Publicane saith christ But how should we tell that Church or howe should a man hear that church that can neither be seene nor heard but is inuisible as the heretiks would haue it Wherefore you see how slender a shifte this is of them who like theues that hate the light would haue the Church inuisible contrary to Gods word his holy Gospell which biddeth vs to haue recourse vnto it in time of neede as the sure foundation and piller of truth so euident and plaine that it may and might euer and shal be seene to the worldes end euen frō the rising of the sunne to the setting of the same againe as was foretolde by the Prophets Hereupon the Apostles write their epistles to such and such Churches and to the whole Catholike Church as in particular to the Romanes the Cor. the Ephes c. as visible that may be seene that is This position of theirs heretiks I meane denying the Church to be visible is so false that before Christs time whē things were but in shaddowe and figure yet was there euer an opē visible Church of God whereunto men might haue recourse in all doubtes especially since Moyses as appeared in Elias time whē it was so sore persecuted that he cried out Relictus sum ego solus I good Lord thy seruant am lefte 3. Reg. 19. alone and yet aunswere was giuen him by God that he had left 7000. in Israell besides the wel known citty of Ierusalem Cath. Iuda that neuer bowed knee to Baal Loe a visible cōpany at al times yet in the visible church we be taught by Scriptures there be both good bad as appeareth by that parable of the gospell the Kingdome of Heauen that is the Church of God which in holy scriptures is sometimes called the Kingdome of heauen is compared to a field where Mat. 13. good corne cockle and weed grow together which our Sauiour the good man of the house his Church bad let grow both to gether least in weeding out the cockle the good corne also should bee bruised and plucked vp but in the end of the world then will he by his Anglles gather his good corne his elect people and bind the weed that is the wicked in bundles to be burnt with vnquenchable fire For God suffereth wicked men as saith Saint Augustine to liue amongst the iust that either they may be conuerted by their example or else good mens patience by them may be the better exercised In an other place the church is Mat. 13. compared to a net cast into the Sea gathering good bad fishes so likewise to the threshng place wherein is both corne chaffe So that you see how false the heretiksb e how contrary vnto the Gospell whereof before the simple and vnlearned eares they so brag that would haue the church inuisible that no man might see their wily deceits and would haue therin none but good wheras in their Church can be none but bad but we that by gods grace be catholikes doe according to Gods word affirme that in his holy Church be many good none good but onely those of Gods Church yet amongst those good be some euel til the last day of paiment when the goats and lambes shal be shed or seperated by the good sheapheard a sunder so that Gods Church is visible that is open to the whole world to be seene and knowne and shall so continew euen til the end of the world take then this for the second most certaine marke of the true Church of God that our Catholike and visible church is of the greatest Antiquity and longest cōtinuance Wherfore none but our church is the true spouse of Christ Chap. IIII Of the third certaine note of the true Church The third most certaine note of the true church is vnity and consent in all matters of Religion For as there is on God as I sayed in the beginning so one onlie truth proceedeth from him hee is not the author of dissention but of peace as therefore there is one God so is there but on Church his only spouse For thus hee saieth in his Canticles Vna est Columba mea c. My doue is Cont. c. 6. one as shee is one so is shee not nor cannot possiblye bee deuided into diuers sectes factions and opinions in faith and Religion forso shee shoulde not bee one but manye and so not of God which is one and hath chosen her for his onely spouse and euer according to his promise guideth her with his holye spirite saying Her◠Heb. 13. 8 hodie ipse in secula who is one and the same yesterday to day and for euer heereupon it commeth that by the guiding of Christes holye spirite euer resident and directing his Church that therein is not preached one faith this daye another that nowe this yeare one thing an other yeare an other as Heretikes doe that can neuer agree among themselues in opinions but the same faith that was taught in the beginning by christ his Apostles in matters of Faith Religion the Church of God euer most soundly keepeth pure vndesiled as we be able to proue by authority of Gods wordes and all auncient Fathers and the same Faith that we Catholikes holde here in England the same they holde in Fraunce Scotlande Irelande Germany Poland Dalmatia Italy Spaine the East and West Indians and so to the vttermost coastes of the worlde not differing a iotte in points of religion and due administration of the Sacraments But if you see howe finely heretikes accord you shall see them like Samsons foxes with sire tyed in their Iud. 15. tayles together readye and of one accord to burne vppe the good corne of Christ but their heads quite contrarye from each one another readye to bite one another in peeces neuer agreing in opinyons but sharpely vvriting against one another condemning one another to the bottomelesse pitte of Hell For Luther that was their sirst father and broke downe the walles and so was fallen with pronde Lucifer from the kingdome of heauen frō Gods holye Church did hee long continue thinke you in one opinion with himselfe No for besides that in one and the same matter in some one booke he is contrary to him self he changed his opinions dayly to worse and that diuerse times For first of pride and couetousnes he founde fault at the manner of dispensing of pardons and in the ende denied the Pope pardons and all what said I Pardones Saints Sacraments to espeacially priuate Masse as he termed it and the most pure and vnbloudy Sacrifice of the Altar propitiatory both for the quicke and the dead and
in pointes of Saluation nor lead her children amisse Here vppon it commeth that the Catholike Romane Church the house of Christ dispersed through out the whole worlde is not diuers but one as Christ her head is one who is Sauiour of his body This church you shall finde to preach teach vse one vniformity of Sacraments yea and for the most part of ceremonies through out the whole worlde the same order and time of Fasting of Praier one and the same beliefe of al points of religion in euery coast in the earth not nowe one Faith and to morrow another but the same that was planted by Christ his Apostles that which with perpetuall peace consent vnity and concord shee kepeth vndefiled shal keep euen vnto the end of the world Here upon it commeth that when as heresie heretiks in the beginning seeme plausible and be greedily receiued yet for that they be not grounded in Christ the truth in the end become loathsome hateful to al mē being deuided destroy one another Cōtrary the Catholike Church being founded on christ the head corner stone and fast lincked together in vnity concorde and charity in all hir members euer encreaseth as she is more persecuted and is Tanquam acies bene ordinata As the forefront of a most strong armie well sett in battaile array terrible to the diuell and al his power and euer increaseth I say the more shee is afflicted for besides the herytikes haue stirred many vp that before were a-sleepe to search out the truth yea and many to shedde their bloode in the Catholike cause we haue not lost so many Christians by heresies in these parts of the world but God hath stirred vp others that hane raised many moe in other parts of the worlde which if this heresie had not troubled our quietnesse here perhaps some of those Apostolike men had not so speedely sought to haue planted the Faith in other Countries Wherein you see so good and mightye is God which woulde neuer permit euil but that he knoweth to gather good of it to turne their euill to our good and encrease of his Church who by vnitye and concord thus obtaineth the victory as that Babilonicall strumpet heresie is euer the ruine of her selfe To be briefe you see by this little that is saide that none can haue the spirit of God and the truth but those only that haue amongst themselues the spirite of peace vnity concorde which when it is euer hath beeue wanting amongest Protestantes and other heretikes of this time therefore it must nedes folow their sect and congregaton is not the true church of Christ because none els saue Catholike Christians which they call Papists doe consent and agree in all poyntes of Faith and religion liuing Tanquam vnanimes in domo As brethren all of one minde together in one house Therefore we may most certainlye conclude that none other sauing only the catholike Romane Church which euer hath doth liue in vnity consent of Faith Religion in all pointes is the true Church of Christ Chap. V Of the fourth certaine note of the true Church THe fourth and last most certaine marke of the true Church is the lawful succession of Apostolike Priestes Bishoppes in the Catholike Church which succession of Bishoppes as it was a stay to S. Augustine against the Donatists and other heretikes of his time to keepe him within the vnity of Godes Church so is it likewise a sure pillar for vs Many things there be saieth he that keepe me most iustly within the bosome of the Church the vniforme consent of people and nations the authority cōfirmed with miracles norished with hope increased with charity finally the succession of Bishopps in Peters seat to this day to whome our Lord committed the charge of his fllock to be fed keepeth me herein This lawful succession of Bishoppes loe that ledd Saint Augustine to the knowledge of the true Church and conserued him in the lappe thereoff is and iustlye may bee no lesse a guide and staye to vs in the same which lawfull succession of Bishoppes because the heretikes want therefore they bee not sent by God For two kindes of vocations there bee the one is ordinary the-other extraordinarye by miracle both which because the Heretikes want they cannot bee of God for as touching the first that they want ordinary vocation by succession it is plaine as for example who sent Luther Caluin and the rest If they say God so claime an extraordinarye vocation where then be their miracles that testifie they bee sent from God They haue none you see to proue their extraordinary vocation and yet the sonne of God himselfe would not be beleued without miracles saying Si Ioh. opera non fecissem in eis que nemo alius c If I had not wrought such workes amongst them as no other man did they should not haue sinned and must wee beleeue Caluin and his fellowoes for their bare wordes no their fruites be not so good you see it is vnfit As for their ordinarie vocation by succession that euery man seeth they want For before Luthers time there was neyther Patriarchall nor Bispopps seate nor yet euer any honest persons chaire of his Gospell to bee found throughout the worlde as all men may most easilye knowe but to make the matter more plaine by an example at home aske now the superintēdent of Yorke or Canterbury whome they succeed perhappes they can name you two or three predecessors of their hereticall crew hut appose thē a little more and they can goe no farther wheras he that was last lawfull and true Archbishoppe of Canterburye Cardinall Poole for exāple could haue shewed his lawfull succession from his next lawfull predecessor to an other many hundred yeares together euen to Saint Augustines time who was sent by Saint Gregorie the great then Pope Saint Gregory succeeded Pelagius Pelagius his predecessour Benedictus and so lineally euery of those Bishopps in that seat could shew theyr predecessor from whose handes by lawfull ordinary succession and vocation they receiued their faith and apostolike authority euen to Saint Peter who was sent by Christ as by all ancient writers we can proue Then as I sayd when as protestantes and all other heretikes of this time want both these vocations first ordinary not called of god as Aaron was and much lesse extraordinary by miracle for though meruailes they shew many yet miracles none no not asmuch as the healing of any lame creature therefore it followeth they be none of Godes messengers but such as of whome hee complaineth by his word Ipse currebant ego non mittebam eos They ranne and I sent them not that is bee intruders of themselues not true messengers of Christ not pastors but robbers not simple true teachers but wily foxes not raisers vp of Gods house entring in by the dore but breakers down of the wal deuouring the flocke Now how euidently
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
euer wāting in heretikes in cleane pure cōsciences in which vertues worthy qualities these B. Fathers most excelled liuing in such abstinēce cōtinēcy watching meditatiō of the law of god both night day praier with thē wēt euer before study study was ioyned with prayer they did not expound harde places and hygh misteries of Scriptures after their owne brayn phantastical conceipt but by the teachig of their masters holy forefathers of whō they had receiued the Scriptures especially therein following the rule cōmon consent of Christs holy Catholike Church that is euer guided with Christ her spouse head the holy spirit euer assisting the same church which was the cause there was not such iarres amongst thē as now be amongst heretiks Farre vnlike be our newe gospellers to these holy Fathers how more securely may we well committe our selues to God with them than hazard our saluation with these companions who with belly cheare little learning lesse honesty embracing of weomen care of children loue of the worlde and care of their owne carcases beeing most carnall men yet take vpon them to reueale his mysteries of the Spirite to open Gods word which commonly is open to none indeed but to those that be pure in hart and minde and with humility submitte their iudgementes vnder the obedience of the holy Catholike Church whereunto all heretikes be traitours and rebelles whether I say is it more like if we had no more certaine a marke of the true church and teachers that these lewde companions haue the trueth on their sides or those holy Fathers by me aboue named who excelled asmuch in vertue as these newe Gospellers bee drowned in vice which Fathers be of such authority that though indeed they be alwaies against heretikes yet the heretike is gladde if he can but get a scrappe or peece of a sentence euer wrested euill vnderstood out of these holy Doctours that maye seeme to make for his purpose though rightly vnderstood in the samesentence often-times they bee most confounded These holye Fathers were not eloquent in affection and inckehorne termes as Protestants be all wordes but no true or sounde matter but wisedome in those fathers by force ioyned vnto their words incomparable eloquence See S. Chrysostom S. Leo S. Ierome Lactantius but aboue all that Blessed martyr S. Ciprian who as many other of our holy doctors Catholike writers did sealed his writings with his blood if any of these holy Fathers as men at any time did of infirmity erre they did not malitiously obstinatly defend it as proud heretikes do but were alwayes ready to submit their doings to the cēsure of the Cath. church saing with S. Augustine Errare possiim hereticus esse nolo I may erre as a man yet wil I not be an heretike that is obstinately defending anye opinion the Church gain-sayeth This Faith then and Religion Catholike Romane Church thus groūded on Christ her head thus plainly knowne by such distinct notes of Vniuersallity Antiquity Succession Consent thus adorned and florishing with writings of so many and so holy auncient Fathers and Doctors thus confirmed with miracles thus watered and sealed with the blood of most constant and valiant Martyrs especially in the beginnig of the Church whilest the blood of Christ was yet warme in mens hearts yea of later yeares too as there want not in England and other places euen to this day Is there any so blinde if he obserue these notes well but he may both knowe this to bee the onely true Church and true way of Saluation or so carelesse of his saluation that dare aduenture his soule in any other congregation saue only the true Church of Christ thus strengthned with so many sure bulwarkes and strong pillars Assure your selfe good sir ignorance cannot excuse you For this is the citty set vpon a hill that cannot be hid so euident and so plaine that the words of the holy Prophet Esay may be applyed vnto her Hec Isa 35. erit vobis directa via ita vt stulti non errent per eam This shall be your direct way so that idiots or very simple soules maye not misse the same Where it is written to this effecte that great and lesse shall knowe God that is if they will seeke his waies diligently and in due time As also in Ieremie the thirty one Omnes cognoscent me a minimo eorum vsque ad maximum All shall knowe me from the least of them to the greatest And againe Adducam eos c in via recta I will bring them or leade them in the right way Non impinguent in ea and they shall not hit or stumble in it Seeke therefore to walke good sir in this way the Church of Christ if you will attaine the port of saluation for as long as you be out of this waye you shall alwaies be worse entangled with brambles bryers of sinne and blinde error and euer further frō your iourneys end the kingdome of God As youse when a man loseth his way in the night he is allwayes in greater incumbraunces and further from the marke till he returne by good guide to his way againe so it is in the blinde way of this life if we leaue Christ the way of life and his deare spouse the church the only way of truth we be euer in greater danger till we returne backe againe Come home the night draweth neare the day of payment hieth fast on take heed if you come short of the mariadge of Christ with his spouse the dore be not closed vp and you shutte out Heare what St. Augustine saith whatsoeuer saith he a mā be or whosoeuer he is he cannot be saued if he be not in the Catholike Church and in another place to Peter the Deacō he hath these fearful sayings Though a man giue neuer so much almes yea shedde his bloud for Christ if he be not a member of Christs Catholike Church he cannot be saued Firmissime tene saith he this holde stedfastly doubt in no wise not only al Pagans and Iewes but also heretikes and Schismatikes that die without the vnity of Christs Catholike Church shall goe into euerlasting fire prepared for the diuell and his Augells Neither doth this holy father St. Angustine speake these wordes of his owne priuate opinion but founded in Gods owne worde as in the holy Apostle St. Paule who saith If I giue al my goods to the poore and body to be burnt and want charity it profiteth me nothing now vnity be twixt God participatiuely I meane our owne soules and neighboures is that which maketh charity in vs by Gods grace which vnitye none can possibly haue that is not vnited to Christ being a member of his body the holy Catholike Church for otherwise he is deuided so that beeing out of this vnity he is not in charity so beingout of Gods Catholike Church he is out of state of Saluation therefore
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
hath offeÌ„ded deadly yet the holy Church commaundeth once a yeare to recieue before which Confession in lay-men but much more in Preists if they finde their consciences guilty is commonly presupposed which vnlesse euery one obserue vnlesse he haue some iust impediment he grieuously sinneth and though a man cannot finde himselfe guilty of deadly sinne yet of some smal sinnes wherein we daily al offend and without which this life can hardlye be led the best maye accuse themselues may very well confesse them and ordinarely good men some euerye wâ—eke do confesse such small sinnes as light thoughts vaine wordes and the like which be commonly called veniall sinnes and whereof Christ saieth we shal make account at the daye of iudgement if wee first iudge not our selues here which though not of necessity because other-waies they maye bee forgiuen yet they may be matters of confession But a deadly sinne if one after due discussion of his conscience can remeÌ„ber it come to a lawful Priest euery one vnder paine of damnation is bound to confesse to a lawfull Preist a deadlye sinne I say that is the transgression or breach of Godes Commaundement it is called deadlye because it draweth to euerlasting death vnlesse wee confesse it in the holy Sacrament of Penance if in any sort we can come to the Priest Deadly sinnes be many but especially these following bee called capitall and principall sinnes whereof all other sinnes proceede Pride Couetousnes Leachery Gluttony Wrath Yet these sins some of them especially be not alwaies mortall but in some deepe or high degres Enuy Slouth Moreouer false beleife infidelity heresie these three be most grieuous deadly sins likewise witches or those that goe or send to witches or such you call wisemen coniurers those offend deadly Likwise those that speake euil of God our Lady or his holy Saints or against the Pope Christs vicar heer in earth or against the holy Sacraments especially the B. Sacrifice of the Masse those be all or some of them sacrilegious blasphemous sinners excoÌ„municate cannot be forgiuen without Confession at least in will when a Preist caÌ„not be had for those sinnes be most deadly against the first CoÌ„mandement of God that coÌ„maundeth no God but one to be worshiped as for Images or Pictures of Christ his holy saints they be no more forbidden vs therein than to carry the Image of our Queene in our mony or the like God forbad all Idolatry worshiping of false Gods vncleane false Idoles Images not true Images that be liuely memories of our Redemption vertuous personages therefore be called Lay-mens books as holy Fathers tearme them Nay God himselfe as you shal reade in holy Scripture commaunded Images to be made of Angels which were set vpp in Salomons Temple 3. Reg. 6. wherefore Christians right worthily set in their temples the Images of Christ his Saints For many a simple vnlearned man knoweth not how Christ died vpon the Crosse but only by seing his picture vpon the Crosse therfore heretikes that haue pulled it out of Churches doe that which lieth in them to put Christs Passion out of mans mind bragge they neuer so much in wordes of the same We then offend not against the first commaundement of God that religiouslye keepe and set vp holy pictures to imprint Christes memory in our hartes but they that breake and pull them down be impious heretikes who therefore in general Councels many hundred yeares before by the consent of all Christendome haue beene condemned Who in deed bee worse then olde Idolators as worshipers of their owne opinions an Idolatry far worse then that of the gentils Againe great swearers and forswearers offend deadlye and ought to confesse for an oathe ought not to be vsed but in Iustice and Iudgement whereby God is called to witnesse Likewise those that breake their vowes as of chastity and the like Let Schismatike Preistes that after their vowes haue taken whoores to their concubines which they tearme their wiues looke to this as for Ministers they haue no damnation for mariage which Preistes with their so tearmed wiues haue because they neuer made vow of chastity for they good men thinke it impossible to bee chast whereas * Cor. 7. 7. Ministers I meane so that they would forsake their hereticall ministerie and become Catholikes should not sin in taking vppon them honest mariage or in being maried Saint Paul wisheth all men to be so as himselfe that was chast As for vnlawful oathes when where before whomsoeuer they be taken they ought not to be kept for they doe euill in taking them but worse in keeping them if the matter be of importance and vniust As when Herod swore his daughter should haue what she asked and she like an enuious caytiffe by her mothers suggestion asked Saint Iohns head Herode did euill in swearing rashly but he offended worse in keeping his oath deliberatly * Mar. 6. Chap. XVII Of the rest of the Commaundements and of some sins against them to be confessed to the Preist LIkewise wheÌ„ one goeth as oftas he goeth to the heretiks Church to heare or bee present with them at seruice it is a deadly sinne and Schisme and a deniall of Christ which is the truthe and much more grieuous a sinne it is in recieuing that wicked and most blasphemous communion of theirs which is haynous Idolatry for that a man taketh a peece of bread reposing therein his saluation contrary to Christes holy ordinance that left vs his body and blood in the holye Sacrament to bee receiued which they like traitors to God and his Church haue abolished and deceiue with a peece of bakers breade the simple people giuing it them in steede of that bread of life that came downe from heauen whereby we all doe liue So that this communion of theirs being quite contrarye to Christes ordinance to receiue it is most horrible and deadly sinne And as by a worthye receiueing the blessed Sacrament a man is made one body with christ so to recieue their coÌ„munion it maketh a man one body with Antechrist the diuel wherfore I cannot find or caÌ„ hardly find a greater sin than to go to the heretiks Church receaue with them For receiuing the coÌ„munion as the Diabolicall Samaritanes the ministers therof do raise vp an Altar as it were against the true Altar of God which God euer so abhorred terribly punished so the receauers of that communioÌ„ I say make a publike professioÌ„ of the deniall of the B. Body Blood of Iesus in the holy Eucharist of the catholike Faith Religion yea take a signe seale of the same incorporating theselues therby to the synagogue of Antechrist the diuell as the worthy receauers of the B. SacrameÌ„t be incoporate knit or made one body with Christ Likewise not to come to Masse euery Sonday Holy-day if a man can conueniently is deadly Sinne. So
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
shewed him by most graue authoritie which was said to be Christ if such thing had beene taught him he for his part was so obedient to beleeue so willing to adore Christ that he woulde haue done any thing which had beene commaunded him vnder the name of Christ or of his religion Is this a fault why the poore man should be condemned no surelye seeing the prophet Dauid saith Vt iumentum Psal 62. factus sum apudte I am become as it were a beast before thee It is laudable saith Enthymius that in the sight of God we take our selues as beasts which being so I can deuise no fault in this poore and simple man who if he be deceaued he is deciued by Christ by his forefathers by diuers Catholicke and vertuous preachers by the vertue of humility of obedience and of pure loue towardes God But on the other side if Christ call one of them before him who denieth his reall presence and aske him why hee did not beleeue the Sacrament of the Altar to bee the body of Christ what will he answere for himselfe will he say Sir I beleeued your body to sitt at the right hand of God the father and therefore that your body was not in the Priests hande Why then thinkest thou that I am not able to make the same which is at the right hand of my father to be also present vnder the forme of bread Sir whether you are able or no I can not say But I haue heard many preachers tell that one bodye cannot be at one time in diuers places O how dreadfully would Christ answere in this case Did not those preachers whome thou pretendest to follow say alwayes they preached to thee the sincere worde of God did they not by that colour ouerthrow Monastaries Churches Altars Images of Saints and mine owne Image and Crosse Did they not deny the sacrifice of the Masse Praying for the dead such like auncient vsages only for pretence of the word of God nowe se how inexcusable they and thou art I saide Take eate This is my Bodye I said this to twelue men I gaue each of them my body bad make that thing as it is written in the Gospell I shewed at Capharnaum that I was signed of my father and equall with him in power they them selues beleue that I made all creatures places times of nothing nowe is it doubted how I am able to make my body present vnder the forme of bread in diuers paâ—ces Yea to mainteine the better the argumeÌ„t against my almighty power they say I entred not into my Disciples the dores being shutt but either preuented the shutting of them contrary to the wordes of my Gospell or came in by the windowe as theeues do or by some hole as creepers do yea any thing is sooner beleeued theÌ„ my diuine strength and working thou Hypocrite seeing the worde of God hath it written fower times in the newe Testament This is my body how coÌ„mest thou to talke with me of my sitting in heaueÌ„ as though one of my workes were contrary to the other if in deed thou hadst bin humbly perswaded that I were god thou wouldest not measure my almighty power by thy simple witt Thou art twice condemned first for deniall of a truth and againe for denying it against my expresse worde which thou pretendest to esteeme and pronouncest it false If the poore man say he knewe not so much nor sawe not the falsehood of that argument and begin to accuse the false preachers who deceaued him Christ may well say that he was not deceaued for before these false preachers began their false doctrine he had said This is my Bodye and This is my Bloud and all the world beleeued and taught the reall presence of Christs body and bloud fiftene hundred yeares togither what cause now hadst thou to beleeue a newe Gospel and newe preachers thereof forsooth Sir they said the Bishop of Rome had deceaued vs. If in this case Christ tell him that the Bishop of Rome were the successor of Saint Peter and so his Vicar hauing promise by him not to erre in faith and yet that he alone taught not that Doctrine but that all the Bishoppes Doctors and Preachers of the whole Church taught the same from the beginning and that Christ himselfe had said the same that all the Euangelists and the Apostle Saint Paul had written the same that all faithfull men beleeued the same what excuse can hee haue who forsooke CHRIST the Apostles the Bishopps the Fathers the Preachers and the whole Church to follow an vpstart renegate Frier who began his doctrine so ambitiously and proudly who liued so euill and died so terribly that his very abhominable dealing with great princes his shamefull incest and horrible death might make any good man weary to thinke vpon him much lesse shoulde any haue followed him To be short answere the poore man for himselfe what he may yet he cannot deny but that both Christ said This is my body and the Church taught the same yet beleeued he not this to be the body of Christ and therefore is one of them who beleeue not and without faith which is but one there is no saluation no pleasing of God no part in the kingdome of heauen which thing if they that be aliue will consider they may returne againe to the Catholicke faith and Church and so be made liuely members of Christs body whereof Christ is the Sauiour O but the Hereticke still vrgeth if I eate Christ really then I feede not of him spiritually I answere it is the fondest kinde of reasoning in the worlde by one truth to deny an other seeing both stande togither Is my faith the lesse because Christ was bodely seene in earth howe is then my spirituall feeding the worse because the foode of life is in my mouth Doth not Tertullian say the flesh is fedde De resurrect cor with the body and bloud of Christ to the ende the soule may be made fat with God and yet will the Heretickes say Christ in his last supper left vs but a figure of his body Except yee eate the flesh of the sonne of man is in deede a figure and the speaking thereof is figuratiue because it was not meant that a man should be visibly eaten as flesh is at common tables but yet that he shoulde be really eaten albeit the maner of eating be figuratiue as we knowe S. Augustine then as I said before calling those wordes except yee eate my flesh figuratiue referreth the figure to the manner of eating but not to the substance which is to be eaten for else if by no meane the flesh of Christ might be eaten it shoulde not be eaten by faith but if it may so be eaten it may be eaten by mouth also in that pure manner as it is giuen vs. The whole man must eate as well in body as in soule because the whole is taken and assumpted of Christ the
Christ towardes vs for loue you knowe deserueth loue againe but what greater loue could Christ shewe vs in not onlye dying for vs but still in this vnspeakable mistery remaining with vs Was there euer Pellicane that so tendred her young ones who though she fedde them with her bloud yet in the end she forsaketh them was there euer mother that so dearly looued her childreÌ„ as christ doth vs who said and persormeth it that If a mother can forget the onlye sonne of her wombe yet will he neuer forget nor forsake vs who not only feedeth vs with the sweet milk of his holy word the fruit full dewe of his grace taketh compassion vpon vs euen with shedding his bloud imbrasing vs with his stretched out armes of mercy vpon the Crosse but also still remaineth with vs euen to the end of the world fostring vs with his very body be dewing and washing vs also with his most sweet and precious bloud O hart why dost thou not relent why art thou so harde how canst thou abstain from teares for pure loue of that sweet Sauiour and Redeemer vvhy art thou not appalled with feare vvhy art thou not stricken with loue vvhy art thou not wholy inflamed with deuotion which is oft afforded to the deuout receauers hereof for by how much this mistery is aboue mans reason by somuch the ferueÌ„t loue deuotioÌ„ bestowed on vs by the fountaine of Gods grace giueÌ„ vs therin is of more vertue and aboundance If S. Peter when he had but one glimce of Gods glory wheÌ„ he but tasted as it were a droppe of his loue in Mount Thabor thought it good to stay there and neuer to depart When wee receaue heare a fountaine of his loue a pleadge of his glorie the coelestiall dewe of all grace why shoulde wee not fully content satiate and repose our selues herein O if such disposition is made for the receipt of some noble King in his subiects house howe ought wee to cleanse our hearts and mindes to purifie our bodies to sweepe our spirits vvith compunction and penitent sorrowe of harte for our sinnes which bee the only things that bee foule in Gods sight and displease him to confesse vvith mouth to satisfie vvith deede to applie all the members of our bodies and powers of our soules to entertaine him that so our soules and bodies may be an habition for Christ and tabernacle of the holie Ghost But O sweete Sauiour if my vessell were of the purest mettall farre more excellent then golde and precious sâ—ones it were too base for thy Maiestie whome those glorious Angelicall spirits or the heauens cannot comprehende and where is then thy habitation but onlie in pure mindes and soules Giue me then grace good Lorde to flie sinne to serue and loue thee so to dwell in thee that thou mâ—yst inhabite in mee For in thee I can doe all thinges but without thee nothing thou art the high Priest and true Sacrifice thou art the offerer and pure oblation it selfe CHRIST IESVS our Lorde and God the true MESSIAS and Sauiour of the vvorlde thou be blessed for euermore To bee briefe you see nowe by this little vvhich is saide the vvonderfull goodnesse of CHRIST in leauinge vs his blessed body and bloude in this holy Sacrament whereby vvee all haue life and grace and saluation in our soules for as our bodies cannot liue vvithout breade so our soules cannot liue vvithout this breade of life Christes body giuen vs herein as hee saide Vnlesse you Ioh. 6. 53. eate the flesh of the sonne of man and drinke his bloude you shall not haue life in you whereby you see howe these newe lying Masters heretikes bee worse then murderers that pine and murder mens soules in that they depriue and rob you of so vnspeakable a benefitte as Christs bodye and most blessed bloude giuen at Masse giuing you poyson in stead thereof a peece of poluted bakers bread wherein is no saluation but alas quite contrary as before I haue proued No other remedy then if you will saue your soules but flie their company and Communion and so by cleansing your selues from sinne by healthfull contrite Confession that you may bee iustified make your selues apte vessells to receaue grace that is become Catholickes reconcile your selues to God to the househould of faith to CHRISTS holy Catholicke Church wherein only and no where els assure your selues as before God the euerlasting truth you shall receaue the bread of life and saluation You haue heard here howe that vvhich CHRIST left vs at his last supper is a Sacrament and Sacrifice the very body and bloud of our Redeemer vnder the forme or likenesse of bread and wine beinge perfectly and wholy transubstantiated or conuerted into CHRISTS bodye and bloud and hovve vvith diuine honour we ought to adore and vvorship the same By the vvay also I haue touched a litle summe of the vvonderfull effects and fruites of the same that vvee daily receaue and what perill of soule you bee in for vvant of the same till you come to better estate Hasten then out of Babilon that is sinne and heresy that you may offer in Ierusalem Sacrifice vvhich only may please God vvhome only vvee ought to serue and that is in the vnity of his holy Catholicke Church The lawfull Minister of this Sacrament is a lawfull Preist wherefore nâ— Protestant Minister can consecrate because wanting lavvfull vocation and authority hee is no Preist The matter to consecrate vvith all is vnleauened bread and vvine of the grape whereunto is putt some water for a mistery whereunto when Gods sonne CHRISTS owne worde spoken by a lawfull Preist with intention to consecrate commeth of bread and wine is made the bodye and bloud of Christ whoe gaue that power to a Preist hee neuer did to Angells nor his Blessed mother that is to consecrate his bodye This Sacrament as I haue said ofte before is farre aboue reason but submitting our reason to true faith it greatly increaseth our merite For as saith Saint Gregory Gods worke is not merueilous if it bee comprehended in reason neither hath faith merite where mannes reason giueth experience The chiefe thing then of this blessed Sacrament is Christes bodye and bloud vvith the vvounderfull graces and gifts of God bestowed therein commonly called the effects and fruits thereof vvhich that wee may not vvith Iudas receaue to our damnation but vvith Saint Peter to our rising againe and endlesse Saluation I beseech our LORD that wee may bee armed vvith true and firme faith pure and innocent life feruent loue and charitye that as for our sinnes for wante of these vertues it now many yeares hath by Gods Iudgment and wrath beene taken from vs to our vnspeakeable losse and the continuall griefe of all good men So by renewing these vertues againe in vs and by amending our liues it once againe by Gods speciall grace may be restored to vs to the honour and glorie of his holy name to the confusion of the
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
not exceed his limits or office knowing that it was the part of a King to rule in the pallace but the Priest in the Church so much did this mighty Emperour whome God so highly honored blessed with temporall power and spirituall graces honor Priestes but espeacially the high Priest of God the Pope that he gaue to him and his successors for euer the Citty of Rome and all the Territories thereunto belonging giuing place to the Vicar of Christ and remouing the Imperiall seate to Constantinople where Christian Emperours many yeares after raigned till that nowe for sinne and heresie it is fallen vnder the enemy of Christ that greate tyrant the Turkâ— with whome our Protestants in England o monstrous impiety shake hands as is said to trouble the whole state of Christendome that they themselues may liue in more quietnesse at home but no meruaile when they can haue no helpe of God who hateth the wicked and his iniquity they runne to the Diuell for like will to like in euery degree Theodosius the Emperour for a slaughter by him committed at Thessolonica being excoÌ„municated by S. Ambrose Bishop of Millaine and put backe by him from entring into the Church intreated the Bishop he might enter into the Church for that saith hee Dauid committed man slaughter yet after pleased god Yea saith S. Ambrose Dauid offended which many Kings doe but Dauid did penance which many Kings doe not let me first see fruit of your penaÌ„ce with Dauid and after we shal consider furder The Emperour fearing Christ in his Priest the Bishop returned with humility and teares and many daies in his Pallace did penance till at length hee was reconciled by S. Ambrose admitted into the Church O how far did this worthy godly Bishop differ from these false counterfeit Bishops of yours that like flattering Parasites to feede themselues children giue Princes superiority in the Church so far be they from gainsaying any vice raygning amongst theÌ„ which one day they will haue cause to curse as coÌ„trariwise Theodosius for his amendment had cause to blesse the true Bishop S. Ambrose that plainly told him of his fault vsing the rod and authority of the Church ouer him in somuch that therfore the good Emperour after more loued and commended him for it aboue all men esteeming Ambrose worthye in deede to bee Bishoppe These noble Emperours Constantine Theodosius and the like that so feared honoured and reuerenced Priestes which in England you see here tyrannicall heretickes so greatly dishonour and cruelly murther vvere of no lesse witte learning valour courage honour and power then hereticall Princes be now a daies nay they were not only of farre greater worthyer and of more excellency in all princely qualities then any such nowe liuing but withall they were of more profound humility had greater feare of God and reuerence of Priestes his messengers honoring Christ in them which vertues Princes alas deceaued with false heretickes now want They considered and feared right worthely these words of God Qui tangit vos tangit pupillam oculi mei he that toucheth you that is lawful Priests Gods annointed toucheth as it were the very aple of his eye remembring likewise what God said to Samuell of the Iewes They haue not despised 1. Reg. 8. thee but me that I raigne not ouer theÌ„ And our Sauiour saith Hee that despiseth Luc. 10. 16. Mat. 10. 40. Iohn 13. 20. Math. 10 15. you despiseth me he that hateth you hateth me hee that receaueth you receaueth me Againe he threatneth those that refuse his messengers comming in his name That at the last day it shal be more tollerable to Sodome and Ghomor Whereby it appearrth what greate reward good Catholicke christians at this day in England shall haue at Christes handes one day for receauing Priestes comming in his name and lawfullye sent by Christ yea though it be losse of goods landes and life to the receauers so much greater is their merite and what perill and danger not only those stand in that for dasterdly loue to them-selues and feare of the worlde refuse them but in what most damnable state those be that persecutâ— Priestes and their receauers with most vile deathes and so glory they neuer so much of Christ yet they in deede persecute Christ in his members and seruants vnto whome vvhat good or euill is done he accepteth as done vnto himselfe Chap. XXXIIII Of the goodly order of the Clergy and Monarchy of the Church and of the Anarchy and disorderly confusion of heretickes YOu may see by this litle which is said the reuerend order of Priesthood how much it hath euer beene honored by good men but euer impugned persecuted by enemies of the truth because the shepheard once taken away the flock is easily dispersed which maketh the heretikes so to rage and tirannize against Priests in England for the hatred in deed they haue against the whole flock of Christ to the end there should be left neuer a good christian or catholicke in England that in deede is their drift though to blind the simple they pretend all dye for treason not for religion and vnder the cloake of elemencye and mercy with a lingring persecution they vse one of the most subtill and greatest tiranny that euer vvas vsed since CHRISTS tyme For making some out-warde shewe of clemencye euer they haue and doe and will doe I feare me the worst they can deuise in their proceedings till it please GOD either to conuert their hartes vvhich I beseech hym of his mercy for their good and saluation hee vvoulde or else otherwise to chastise them as it may best please him to the terrour and example of all posâ—erity You see likewise how Priesthood most necessarily was ordained by Christ for conseruation of his Church and vvhat godly order is in the same and vvhat a valiant armye hereby the heauenly Monarchie the Church of God thus set in order is how bountifull and amyable to the good in their sight it is and how terrible to the wicked the Diuell all his power see I say in what decent noble aray this Monarchy of Christ standeth First the lay people as feete or inferior members though they rule not the head yet as necessary members be expedient for the body as other more noble meÌ„bers are next to the temporall lay people be those in lower orders or degrees toward Priesthood which as handes or armes in this christiaÌ„ Monarchy maintaine helpe the head as subdeacons deacons which in holy Order be eies as it were to the Priest and Bishop and so in order the Priest preacher is as it were mouth to the Bishoppe helping him to administer the Sacraments and preach Gods word and so Bishops with their vigilant care as it were with their head shoulders do support that most heauy burden Angelicis humeris tremendum and so vpholde altogether and maintein the head whither the head guideth and directeth all the inferiour
in such like daunger of death nor to such as are presently to be executed but only to the sicke in whome is oft a great fault that they neuer send for the Priest til others doe for them till they be at the last gasp so that theÌ„ they can neither receaue this holy Sacrament with such deuotion nor fruit as being in perfect reason they might The sick then ought to desire this Sacrament which manie fondly do not thinking if then they do they can liue no longer not coÌ„sidering one fruit effect thereof which is that if God see it expedieÌ„t it is a meane they may the more spedely recouer their former health The second and chiefe fruit and effecte thereof is that it forgiueth all such sinnes we could not remember in ConfessioÌ„ as appeareth by the words likwise of Saint Iames who saith If the sick be in sinne it shal be forgiuen him Lesser sinnes then and defects yea greater too if we could not remember theÌ„ bee herein forgiuen VVherefore our good Lorde Iesus is euer to bee blessed that by this Sacrament thus maketh perfect the worke of our Saluation For by meanes hereof in that last hovver of death wheÌ„ tentations commonly be diuers most great dangerous the Diuell most busy to get his pray then lo I say by this Sacrament our tentations be infeebled made lesse our souls more strengthned and comforted that we be not dasled with temptations nor ouercome but may ioyfully in God passe this life For as in the olde time ChampioÌ„s before the combat had wont with oyle to annoint their naked bodies that theyr aduersaries might take lesse hold so by meanes of this SacrameÌ„t the outward matter whereof is oyle the soule being inwardly annointed by the grace of the holye Ghost that subtill aduersarie the Diuell canne take lesse holde of it that so it may passe out of the troublesome warfarre of this life to that enlesse glory where it shall receaue a crowne of endlesse reward for euer This Sacrament is ministred vpon those outward sences wherby we most vsually offend and vvhereby sinne is drawne into our soules as by our eyes handes and the like The forme of the holy words vsed is By this holy anointing and his most pittifull mercy our Lord pardon and forgiue thee vvhat thou hast sinned by the eyes mouth and so forth is said of the rest of the members that maye vvith decency be named VVhereby you see hovv fitlye and accordinge to the Apostles Doctrine this SacrameÌ„t is ordeyned ministred First instituted by Christ both prayer and the holy matter concurring togither yet this holy Sacrament though none vnder paine of damnation may despise it but euery one in time ought to desire it yea often times if the party fall sicke and recouer againe it may be giuen yet I fay it is not of such necessity if a man cannot with desire and sufficient meanes made haue it but he may be saued without it by the speciall mercy and grace of God Author and Institutor of all these seauen Sacraments and giuer of all grace to whome be all honour and glory Chap. XXXIX Touching briefly by the way the matter of Iustification and by whome and howe we be iustified THus you see good Sir I haue touched briefly all the Sacraments which that good Samaritane curing the sicke and wounded by powâ—ing in wine and oyle that is Iesus Christ full of mercy and justice ordeyned as vesselles of grace and committed to Priests and Pastors of his Church to be dispenced and bestowed by them on his people for their saluation These seauen Sacraments I say haue I briefly touched and the grounds thereof prouing euery one by the very and expresse worde of God tradition and generall consent of the whole Church which may suffice any simple or vnlearned maÌ„ desirous to know the truth for in behalfe of such like especially I haue taken these paines with as much plainenesse and simple stile as possibly I might in so high matters neither was it my intent to giue any full doctrine of these matters but only to touch the principall groundes If any desire morefull and large discourse I referre him to the bookes of the learned wherein he shall finde many treatises in all tongues of some one Sacrament or other and of euery matter almost or altogither at large by me here briefly touched and so passed ouer But because the Sacraments be for the most part the principall points of our religion next to the B. Trinity Incarnation and Passion those briefly for your sake because you desire to know the truth for your saluation I thought good to touch For as God almighty by Christ Iesus our meritorious Sauiour is the chiefe efficient cause of our justification So his Sacraments be the ordinary meanes and instrumentall causes whereby a man in receauing theÌ„ if he be well disposed by the grace of God and put no let of his part of a sinner and childe of the Diuell is made a iust man and the childe of God renewed and raysed vp againe in Baptisme especially from Orjginall sin by Christ the second Adam as he was vitiated and fell from originall iustice by Adam our first father And though God worketh commonly his grace in matter disposed yet he it is that so preuenteth disposeth and freely giueth the grace first to dispose a mans selfe So that when man first receaueth Gods grace whereby ex impio fit iustus that is of a wicked man and vessell of perdition hee is made a iust man which is called justification and the first grace preuenting a man that I say by grace of God is wrought of his meere loue and goodnesse vvithout any worke meritte or desert of man for otherwise grace should not be grace which is first giuen without any desert or merit of our part wherby wee bee so made iust And hereof the holy Scripture saith as from Gods ovvne mouth Quia dilexite ideo attraxite miserans Ier. 31. 3. because I loued the therefore said God to man I haue drawen thee vnto mee hauing mercy and pity vpon thee by the which loue of his he chose man before all worldes But vnderstand me well I pray you when a man hath first of gods goodnes thus receaued his first grace the true foundation and meritte of all our good workes then lo by mans true faith hope charity good workes and endeuours being thus first preuented and after holpen by God hee may and must if euer hee will bee saued not only conserue that first grace of God wrought in him by his goodues by fleeing sinneand imbracing vertue but also in so doing greatly increase Gods grace in him once receaued whereby hee is rightly said to meritte and deserue his saluation and in this respect it is said Qui iuscus est iustisicetur Apocalip 22. 11. adhuc hee that is iust let him yet be more iust VVee once then by Christ our Sauiours grace
being indited by his holy spirite and that hee accepteth his deuout intent The little children of Hierusalem when Christ on Palme-sunday entred the Cittie cryed or sung in his praise Osannafilio Dauid which Luc. 21. 9. wordes being children they vnderstood not yet Christ was well pleased delyghted more with theyr prayses then with the wise Doctors Scribes Pharises that vnderstood the Scriptures So you see it is not the vnderstanding but the deuotion affection and mens good will to which men of good will the Angelles Luc. 2. 14 came to shewe that euerlastinge peace by Christ made betwixt GOD and man that pleaseth God So that thou vnlearned man whosoeuer feare God serue him keepe his Commaundements pray in what tongue thou wilt in obedience of GODS Church and though thou vnderstand not haue a good will in thy prayer to please God and I warrant thee my soule for thine God will heare and accept thy good deuout prayer and desire Chap. LVII Wherein the Apostles wordes touching praying and preaching in vnknowne tongues are expounded and of the goodlye order of the Churches seruice praying singing and praising God night and day in her cannonicall houres feastes and times of the yeare NOwe whereas Saint Paul would 1. Cor. 14. haue one speake in the Church in a tongue that may be vnderstood rather then a thousand wordes in an vnknowne tongue truth it is wee denye it not as Saint Paul meaneth for hee speaketh there chiefly of Preachers For you know if a Priest or Iesuite should preach in latine to the people it would nothing edefie because few vnderstād and therefore the Church euer causeth her preachers to teach the people and preach in the vulgar tongue of the Countrie and so Saint Paul woulde haue it Againe Saint Paul spake to those that in his time had the gifte of tongues which many for want of order did abuse vpon ostentatiō or indiscretiō by praying or speaking or preaching altogither alowde some in one language some in another that bred confusion disorder that such fruit could not be gathered of that gift of the spirit of diuers tongues giuen as was requisite This S. Paul sought to reforme that all things might be done to edification which the Church doth in her prayers in on tongue by vniformity otherwise as I haue declared before yea this godly order the holy Church obserueth in the course of her seruice vicissitude disposition of the feasts according to that hymne of hers Temporum das tempora vt alleues fastidium Lorde thou art he that giuest vs times vpon times to lighten our wearinesse yea the very appoynted houres of prayer in the night and day in the Church declareth the watch and ward this holy mother according to Christes and the Apostles counsels hath ouer her selfe and children as when shee prayeth prayseth singeth to God most sweetly throughout the whole world at the prime early in the dawning of the day at the third sixt and ninth houres in the euening at midnight and the like as wee bee taught by the Scriptures the Apostles did that went to prayer at the ninth houre and Dauid rose at midnight and in the morning to confesse the name of our Lord as at euening euery night hee prayed to God and watered the couch of his former sinnes with contrite and gratious teares and the like godly orders at other times but at these statuted houres especially and not without mistery remembrance and due signification chiefly of Christs passion for vs and gifts bestowed by his holy spirit of vs godly and holy apostolicke men vsed in obseruing houres scoffe heretickes neuer so much For though God may be serued at all houres times and places yet times appoynted by the Church be best for obedience sake and that we may ioyne our selues togither thereby in prayer tanquam acies bene ordinata as true souldiers of Christ well armed and in good array at all times and against all assaults of the forraigne and common enemy Chap. LVIII Of the Beades and of the fifteene misteries of the Rosary or our Ladies Psalter and of the great good and spirituall fruit by deuout saying the same SO they scoffe at Beades that be directories or as it were guides by the numbers to bring men in minde of the misteries of our redemption The 1 first ten Auies and Pater noster put vs in minde of Christs incarnation The second 2 of the visitation of Elizabeth by our B. Lady The third of Christs natiuity 3 The fourth of his presentation in 4 the Temple The fift of the finding out 5 of Christ by his Mother once lost The 6 sixt ten Auies and Pater noster put vs in minde how Christ for our sakes sweat water and bloud in his agony and praier for vs in the garden The seauenth 7 how he was whipped The eighth how 8 he was crowned with a crown of thorns The ninth how he bore his Crosse The 9. 10. tenth how he was crucified The eleauenth 11 how he rose againe The twelfe 12 how he ascended in to heauen At the 13 thirteenth we are to remember the cōming downe of the holy Ghost At the 14 fourteenth the assumption of our Lady And at the fifteenth her coronation Of 15 all which misteries besides the comfort thereof and confirmation in our faith we may apply something morally out of the acts of our Sauiour his B. Mother to our instruction and edification And we are taught by the oft repeating this number of ten to haue euer written in our mindes the 10. Commandements of God by obseruing whereof we must enter into life euerlasting whereunto for vs to atchiue is required perfectiō in vs which perfectiō is signified by this perfect nūber of 10. And as saying the Pater noster once we acknowledge one god so in saying the Aue Mary 10. times we intend not as heretiks taunt to pray to praise or worshippe our Lady more then God or like to him but with deuout thankfull mindes in so oft togither reciting his owne wordes which he sent to the cōfort of vs all by his messenger the Archangell Gabriel we protest in that misticall number of ten so oft repeated our louing heart without measure to God for so vnspeakable a benefit hauing nothing but loue to seeke to requite him for the same which loue because it consisteth in obseruing the ten commandements of God which wee cannot doe without his grace therefore we so oft beseech his B. mother to pray for vs and in respect of our vnworthinesse that she most worthy to our aide and comfort would be a messenger for vs to her sonne as the Archangell Gabriell from God was a messenger to her of comfort to the reliefe of all mankind So that all good men but especially simple persons being renewed in memory of the worke of our redemption by meanes of Beades we are not to
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
of old but also of latter yeeres God euer be blessed for it Cuius manus non est abbreuiata approue them to be Saints canonized with GOD indeede as hauing their names writteÌ„ in the book of life whose worthty and famous memorye for all generations shall neuer decay Chap. LXXII Wherefore he weareth his Crowne is borne of mens shouldrrs suffereth deuout persons to kisse his foote THe hereticks say the Pope is proud for that men kisse his foote beare him on their shoulders and that hee weareth a triple crowne the like first for wearing a crowne they ought not to blame him for he is not only Bishop but also a king ouer that country and citty requisite it is for him his couÌ„sel the Cardinals to beare some shew of maiesty and estate otherwise the infirme people that must bee houlden in awe would despice and not obey them Againe if God suffer wicked Princes to haue glory and raigne it is for the glory of his name then that sometimes his deerest seruants may haue peace and honor euen vppon earth for the comefort of the faithful that infidelles may haue lesse cause to triumph and blaspheme the name of Christ as though he could not exalt his Vicare and Steward but would forsake altogeather his dearest seruants As for being borne of mens shoulders yt is for that he may the better be seene of the people as he passeth to Saint Peters Church of some solemne feast that they may all see him and haue his blessing which they could not a nomber see yf he went in the throng whereas there is such presse sometime of such a high feast many thousands being gathered together so great is the deuotion of the people to serue Christ honor him in his Vicar and visite the bodies of the holy Apostles In that some of deuotion kisse his foote though he command nor require any so to do yet considering for whome they do it that is that it is for Christ whose person by Gods prouideÌ„ce he representeth he dissaloweth not their deuotions and we se therein the word of the holy Prophet in some sort according to the letter verefied that before Christ prophesied Inimici eius terram lingent that his enemies shall licke the earth that is those that sometimes were enemies to Christ as Rome was before it receaued CHRIST faith afterward shal become so obedient subiect to Christ that they shall worshippe his very footestoole and not only kisse his foote but the very earth his Vicar treadeth vpon Moreouer whereas Saint Gregory Saint Leo and all holy Fathers Popes in that seat writt of themselues though most humble men yet I said they affirme of themselues that they supplye the place of Saint Peter and CHRIST yet This I heard of such inhabitants â— Rome thaâ— well knew it that this was the custome of Pius quin tus and Gregoriâ—â— 13. as euery one may easely perceiue they bee most humble and lowlye men of themselues in so much that the Popes that now bee in their owne persons giue audience and will heare and helpe the cause of the poorest men in the world yea once euerie day from his most waighty affaires the Pope alotteth a tyme to heare himself the complaints of the poore insomuch that in his writinges such is his humility he termeth himself with no higher a style then calling himselfe alwayes the seruaunt of the seruaunts of GOD. Chap. LXXIII Why heretickes haue euer slaundered the Pope and how GOD turneth their malice to the benefitte of his elect and how heretickes be forerunners of Antichrist and of Christs victory ouer his enemies in his Church ANd yet will hereticks can the Pope proud that with al humility watch and care seeketh their saluation both night and day But it is not without cause heretikes slaunder and barke against the Pope for they like wolues as long as he the lawfull pastor is sound cannot haue full scope to inuade and deâ—oure Christs slock and therfore as holy Fathers doe note it hath euer bene the manner of heretiks to bark against the Pope yet see how God can turne all to the best for truly the brabling most impudentiying of your Ministers against the pope gaineth them litle for it giueth some occasion that neuer almost heard of the Pope to enquier further what he is and so finding him in the end to bee Christs Vicar and Pastor of their soules by good enquirie of the truth they forsake their woluish Ministers as liers and enimies to Christ the truth who because they be Antechristians themselues therfore the more primly to goe masked vnknowne them selues they call the pope Antichrist not vnlike to that drab and vnnaturall mother whereof we reade in Scripture that that hauing oner-laine her owne child malapertly would haue faced downe the naturall mother and haue had her liuing child in keeping But wise Salomon decided the matter So you see it is the property of naughty women euer to sclaunder the good that their owne naughtines may either seeme more tollerable or lesse suspected So I say this corrupted whore of Babilon this strumpet heresy euer slaundereth the good woman the natueral mother the spouse of Christ his Church but especially the head thereof Christs Vicar the Pope calling him Antechrist Christan Rome Babilon and the like wheras as I declared they themselues indeede be very antichristians preparers of Antechrists way his prophets and very forrunners and their many folde heresies bee nothing but a very heape of deadly damnable dregges corruption a very babilonicall confusion But Christ our true Salomon the wisdome of his father hath and euer will iudge and discerne our naturall mother his deere spouse the Catholike Churches cause will restore her weeping for her children lost wilv according to his promise preserue his Vicar her lawfull pastor the Pope in all truth that his faith shall neuer faile and send the drabbe and strumpette of heresie and sinne packing and make her folishnes and wily deceipts knowne vnto all men yea will cast her into the fiery lake burning with fire and bristome in sacula saculorum world without end Where all her fawters that maintained her here and fledde not out of her be time al Kings Princes and nations of the worlde that with her whordome were corrupted shall crye Woe woe Babilon Babilon that great Citty is falne downe and so of the cupe of Gods wrath with her shall they drink for euer who were corrupted with her prostitution and who folowed her plefures and delights here in this life When Christ in his Triumphant Kingdome the Church spight of that olde Dragon the strumpet and all her Merchants shall raigne for euer Chap. LXXIIII 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 heretickes HEretickes to shew all their spight when
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
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
Ghost to reproue the people of their sinne and false worshippe and to acknowledge worshippe the liuing God as the glorious profession of his name in the middest of the flame with that angelicall Society well declareth Secondly this matter was talked of and debated by certaine great learned men at the counsell of Trent and was founde most vnlawfull both by the law of God and the Church therefore no power on earth no not the Pope can dispence with any to goe to the heretikes church no more then he can dispence with any to kill steale comit fornication or the like neither was it needeful to make any new canon or decree of this matter because in former generall councelles yt was euer holden vnlawfull yea an expresse canon of the Apostles forbiddeth al Christians to goe to heretiks churches or seruice much lesse to receiue with them or coÌ„municate with them in their Sacraments If any say Cardinall Allen thought it not such great sinne to goe to heretiks church it is most false impudent as his letters and writinges wel vnderstood yea his life and death declareth and as the liues and deaths of his schollars which if I may so terme it bee vere signuÌ„ Apostolatus sui make most manifest to the world and he that holdeth it lawful to goe to Church of heretiks coÌ„demneth well neere a hundred of B. Martirs in our daies that might haue liued if they once would haue yeeldeth to haue gone to Church Thirdly the Pope himself and all learned diuines of our time vtterly deny it in any sort to be lawfull and no doubt his holines if in any sorte it could haue bene tollerated of his commisseration and fatherly pitty of our affliction would most willingly haue dispenced with vs surely the Apostolike father the Pope alone his iudgeÌ„t ought to satisfi any true Catholik Christian in the world Fourthly goeing to heretikes Church is most dangerous for feare of infection can a man touch pitch and it not defile him can he lye by a Serpent and she not sting him then then may he conuers with an heretik much and be not infected or corrupted with him and therefore S. Paul exhorteth vs to flie the heretik man because his heresie creepeth as the caÌ„ker it hath bene noted in great learned men that in reading of heretikes bookes haue bin thereby inclyning to heresie how much more dangerous then is it for lay persons Yea simple vnlearned men to heare their voice in sermons prayers and the like wherefore heretiks bookes also vnder paine of excommunication be forbidden to all to be read For feare of infection vnlesse they haue lawfull authority or faculty graunted them Fiftly as wee read in the Ecclesiasticall histories true Christians euermore abhorred the Churches conuenticles and companies of heretiks yea Saint Iohn the Euangelist would not bath himself where Cerinthus the enemie of the truth had bene before lest the bath should fal vppon his head and exhorteth vs not to salute the heretike which wee ought not to do in any sort to fauour his heresi though to wynne heretiks to God and true religion The church in this time permitteth vs to eat drinck and traffick with heretiks and schismatiks in temporall matters only as our B. Sauiour and his Apostles conuersed eat and drank with sinners to winne theÌ„ to his fathers kingdome yea to conuerse with heretiks was so odious a thing so well knowne in the primitiue church to be vnlawful that the people would not say Amen or abide in the Church whilst the Arrian Bishop was amongst them nay that which is strange the very childreÌ„ made a conscience to play with the ball with out expiacion before that ranne vnder the heretiks horses feete what should I say blessed Martirs of old yea tender Virgins and Women accounted it nolesse then very denial of Christ who said Hee that denyeth mee before men I will deny him before my father in heauen either to goe to churches of heretiks or temples of Idolaters which be in effect one For as Idolaters worship the workes of their handes so do heretiks their fond opinions and imaginations and Idolatry a great deale worse then that of the gentiles If these blessed Saints of old I say would but haue yeelded to the tyme in but once putting vp the fingar to the wicked demaunds of the persecutors to haue gone to their churches and seruice then had wee wanted many glorious Martirs in heauen which those sharpe tymes of persecution most fruitfully afford vs. Sixtly this dissimulation in being present at heretiks seruice is scandalous and offensiue to the infirme and weak in faith inducing other to sinne do the like which sinne of scandall is one of the greatest and most generall in the world and shal be most seuerely punished against which Christ thundereth that most terrible woe affirming it were better one with a mill-stone about his neck were cast into the sea then to scandalise one of such litleweaklings in christ and religion Whereuppon the holy Apostle affirmed he would neuer eat flesh rather then offend his weake Brother Yea old Eleazarus a Iew before Christ which may be a confusion to many Christians would rather suffer death then but only seeme to do against the law for feare of drawing weaklinges and younglinges to do the same Seauenthly and last for it is my purpose to be briefe and referre you to more large and learned substantiall treatises writen of this matter in goeing to heretikes Churches or being thus present at their prayers Sacramentes or seruice in any place conuenticle or congregation of theirs be a man neuer so Catholick in minde yet in so doing he becommeth a schismatike excommunicate person which is a thing more terrible then the two edged sword or any torment in this life For thereby a man is cut from God Christ and all the Sacraments prayers merits of Saints in heaueÌ„ the prayers good deedes of all good men in earth so is exposed to the Deuill and damnation For as said S. Augustme to Peter the Deacon holde stedfastly and doubt in no wise not only al Paynims Iewes but also al heretiks schismatiks that dye without Christs Catho Church shall goe into euerlasting fier prepared for the Deuill his Angells a terrible token whereof God shewed yea euen in this life of schismatiks as Chore Dathan Abiron that were of the same religion Moyses was yet because they deuided themselues from Moyses Aaron offring sacrifice of theÌ„selues not being lawfully called thereunto fire consumed them from heaueÌ„ their adhereÌ„ts Yea the earth swallowed them downé quick to hell therefore S. Augustine biddeth feare nothing so much as diuision separation that is schisme for what â—â— schisme but a cutting of and diuision from the whole so that such Christians as in all points beleeue as the church doth and yet in their action do contrary to their beliefe as such dissemblers do that
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
chiefe Monarch in most trayterous and rebellious sort by pride and goeth about to shake and pull downe the soundation of his common weale his Church in steed of true faith where of it standeth peruerting the vnderstanding the eye of the soule that is by false doctrine whereof the tower of Babilon the very Sinagogue of Sathan is builded So that the Church euer carefully conserueth true faith in euery point cleare as the apple of the eie the sight whereof as it caÌ„not tollerate the least moath to cleaue to it so cannot the Church of God admit the least heresie or ioyne himselfe in society with the least sect of heretikes or schismatikes in the world no more then a generous minded most royall Princes can admitte in her kingdome some newe vnworthye vpstart that seeketh to bee her equall or superiour or the jealous husband can permitte the adulterer he suspecteth with his wife to lie in bed by her side no no coangâ—státum est stratum nec pallium breue vtrumque operire potest neither is there any agreement in the least thinges betwixt light and darknesse betwixt GOD and the Diuell betwixt his true CATHOLIKE CHVRCH and that false Babilonicall strumpet heresie Hereupon it commeth that most blessed holy diuine men euer so detested heresie and the least society or affiance to the same Saint Iohn woulde not come in the bath where the heretickes had beene An other holy man though most innocent coulde tollerate himselfe to bee accounted a whore-master an vncleane person and the like but when one called him an heretike he could beare no longer So Saint Basil talking with the Emperour of matters of religion the Cooke comming in saucely and telling the holy man his opinion that it was but a smal matter to yeeld to his Master the Emperor in a word or two and needed not to stand so precisely in diuine matters which seemed indifferent or of no great moment yea sir Cooke quoth S. Basil it is your part to tend to your Pottage and not to boyle or choppe vp diuine matters then with great grauity turning to the Emperor said that those that were conuersant in diuine matters with conscience would rather suffer death then suffer one jot of holy Scripture much lesse an article of faith to be altered or corrupted What thinke you now if such a one as M. Buny or a lesse heretike perhaps as some Arrian heretike should haue come in denyed with protestants not jors nor words but whole bookes of Scripture not one article but almost al the Sacraments with many articles of the Catholike faith that such as bee the chiefe substance of the same and yet for all that vvith such vncleane fingers seeking to make a Pacification betwixt them and Saint Basil with the Catholikes and shoulde say we beleeue all one God and so are of one Church with you let vs not passe of this article or that this place of Scripture and the other but vvithout more adoe account vs as wee are Catholikes with you what may wee thinke this graue diuine Basil woulde haue answered to such a motion how woulde he haue shaken vppe such a nullifidiaâ— Minister of the Diuell how vvoulde he haue drawne out that weapon so terrible to the vvicked and more percing then the two edged sworde and tolde him flatly vvith his Master CHRIST â—owe in that case nâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—ittâ—re pacâ—m sed gladium and may not wee say to such Neâ—ters as Bunny and his fellowes be vvhich be the worst kinde of heretickes in the vvorlde vvhich beâ— neither hotte nor colde make a hodge podge of altogither Maister Buny you that thus vnskilfully behaue your selfe in diuine matters and yet not altogither vnlearned in compositions better it vvill become you to make some compoundes of Apothicarie stuffe or if that bee too difficult or painefull for you some meash of a potte of good Ale and diuers sundrie spices as you sitte in your chaire by the fire side then thus without all skill learning or reason in diuinity to make a conjunction of two thinges that bee as farre as heauen and hell asunder as heretickes of our time especially bee from the Church of God Nay the hereticall and schismaticall Greekes and other old sects in the east and by north which be far neerer in faith to Catholiks then Protestants be haue many of them many hundred yeares agoe by the just consent of Christendome bin quite cut off from the true Church of God yea schismatiks heere in England that in all articles beleeue as the Catholik Church doth yet in doing contrary to their faith Ipso facto they cut themselues off from the Church of Christ which can admitt none nor acknowledge iustly for hers but such as keepe vnity of faith both in thougt and action such as are not ashamed to coÌ„fesse the truth before men such as beleeue in hart for iustice and confesse in mouth to saluation I Petrâ—â— Aboto heard once of a learned diuine who earnestly disputing in schooles of the authority of the holy Scriptures one merrily though vnfitly in that place and matter brought in the example of Tobies dogge that wagged his tayle so to infirme the authority of the whole books as that he was not bound to beleeue that what said the deuine dost thon make a iest of it the verity whereof I am ready to defend with my bloud which was right worthely spoken for though some places of holy Scripture be more mistle all then other and conâ—aine not all profound maâ—er alike Yet some places for faith and other for mortall life another for mistery another auowching some circumstance apperreyning to the verity of some history as this for example of Tobyas dogge in their degree bee all true alike which bookes of holy Scriptures euery sentence coÌ„teyned therein being proposed to vs by the Church to be beleeued to be true a good Christian ought rather to suffer death then deny one sentence thereof to be true for so discrediting the Church and Scriptures in one point he might make the rest vncertaine and so doubt in all But heretiks that deny the whole booke of Toby Hester Iudith the Canticles the Prouerbs Ecclesiasticus the two books of Machabies Barâ—ch yea Or if they call not in question these whole bookes yett some notable sentences chapters of the same some call in question whether Marke Mathew and Luke be true Gospels and whether the Apocalipsis be a true booke of Scripture some flatly denying Saint Iames Epistle as Luther their chiefe Apostle and corrupt the rest of holy Scripturs shall these men be written in the booke of life that lay such violent hands of Gods booke shall we admitt such rebellious traitours in the host of Gods Church that thus first robbing her of her armour whereby shee may defend her selfe indeuour quite to subuert her scatter and disperse her a sunder these Protestants new Masters and teachers 6. Sixtly If they were of God who is
charity with vs That offer open hostility against vs in word deede and in euery libell they make or paltry sermon they preach Fye vpon such hipocrisy fye vpon such fained charity Iesu preserue all true beleeuers froÌ„ such a châ—rch as heretiks haue now deuised from such a peace or pacification which they pretend Qui enim paris fideli cum infideli qut qâ—â— conuentio Christi ad Belial aut quis consensus templi Dei cum Idolis and peace is to those only that beleeue truly in God to those that haue stedfast trust in him to those that louing him aboue all things liue in vnity peace by perfect charity with their neighbors all which firme bonds to tie themselues with vs because heretikes want therefore as long as they contyneu in this state they can haue no portion with vs nor in the lande of the liuing nam non est pax impâ—is dicit Dominus would GOD therefore they would truly and vnfaynedly seeke to be one with vs which to our griefe vnspeakeable losse to them selues they haue first â—orsaken that so we might be one with them most ioyfully should they be imbraced of vs yea to winne them to this we would aduenture our liues spare no labour perrill nor paynes yea with many heauy sighes teares câ—ying to our sweete blessed Lord Iesus that he would moue their harts to come now at length least it wil be to late we beseech them for the loue of Christ with the holy Apostle to be reconciled to God by doing true penance without which alas they shall certaynlie perrish euermore We humbly beseech them to be sorry for their enormious crymes to recant abiure their heresies and so with al humility of hart minde sweetely to imbrace the crosse of Christ which so long they haue bene professed enimies of And this is the ordinarie meaÌ„es they must vse if euer they wil be members of one Church with vs or bee saued in the vnity of which church our blessed Lorde speedely in graffe them I humbly beseech him though it were with the effusion of my bloud to their endles good and glory of his name And here now finally I instaÌ„tly beseech all good Catholiks with due thanks giuing to be ioyfull in God and constant in that true faith and Catholike Church out of which to our coÌ„fort and confirmation wee see our very aduersaries confesse none caÌ„ be saued in which true Church of ours I say though our enemies by force of truth confes we may be saued yet alas they liuing and dying out of the same we know most certainly they shal be damned yea by their owne judgmeÌ„t confessioÌ„ O how happy had they bin if neuer they had brokeÌ„ downe the wall by forsaking that vnity vnto which vnles they returne againe they caÌ„ neuer imbrace charity nor enjoy grace nor glory O Lord then open their eies that they may see for without thee they may and haue fallen but without thee they can neuer see nor finde the meanes to arise againe grant vs al grace theÌ„ we beseech thee most bountifull Sauiour that we that by thy special grace be called of thee froÌ„ amongst many lost sheepe to be of thy flock seruants in thy house workmen in thy vineyard meÌ„bers of thy misticall body the Cath Church may euer be so thankfull to thee in souÌ„d vertue pure life conuersation for our state and gratious vocation that hauing no other thing as of our selues to rejoyce and glory in but that wee are thy meÌ„bers O B. Iesu which thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloud that I say we are thy flesh bloud meÌ„bers of that body whereof thou art the head we may so answere by thy grace to this high and heauenly vocation happy state that being worthy fruitful meÌ„bers of thy body here in earth wee may for euer after this life see thy face in glory Amen Laus Deâ— I. ✚ R. Finis THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS CONTEYned in this Booke CHap. 1. Of thâ— truâ— way to Saluation pag. 1. chap. 2. Of th◠〈◊〉 certaine note of the true Church pag. 17. chap. 3. Of the second certaine note of the true Church pag. 27. chap. 4. Of the third certaine note of the true Church pag. 33. chap. 5. Of the fourth certaine note of the true Church pag. 45. chap. 6. Of some other signes and tokens of the true Catholicke Church c. how without it none can be saued pag. 52. chap. 7. Of the SacrameÌ„ts in general p. 68. chap. 8. What a Sacrament is of the effects of tho Sacraments and why they were ordeyned pag. 71. chap. 9. Of the holy SacrameÌ„t of Baptisme and of the necessity thereof pag. 75. chap. 10. How necessary fâ—uitful Christs passioÌ„ is to al that follow him in patieÌ„ce good works how by Baptâ—sme the vertue therof is appliâ—d to cur soules pag. 81 chap. 11. Declaring what Baptisme is that Baptisme remitteth all sinnes hoâ— it truly iustifieth vs. pag. 84. chap. 12. Of the impiety and abuse of heretikes about Baptisme pag. 90. chap. 13. Of the holy Sacrament of Confirmation pag. 95. chap. 14. Of the holy Sacrament of Penance and of the three parts thâ—reof of the necessity thereof to all sinners aftâ—r Baptisme pag. 100. chap. 15. That Confession of our sinnes to a lawfull Priest is necessary pag. 107. chap. 16. Of Confâ—ssion more in particulâ—r and of some sinnes against the first second commandement pag. 113. chap. 17. Of the rest of the commandemeÌ„ts and of some sinnes against them to be coÌ„fesled to the Priest pag. 118. chap. 18. Declaring what sinne is and how grieuous in the sight of God and how seuerely it is and shall bee punished for euer pag. 124. chap. 19. Of the great ingratitude of man to God by sinne and that there is a difference of sins with an exhortatiâ— to Confession amâ—dment by penance p. 131. chap. 20. Of whome tâ—e Saâ—rament of Penance was ordeyned and that Priestes haue authority giuen them by Christ to forgiue sinnes and of the matter forme and effect of Penance pag. 136. chap. 21. Of the most blessed Sacrament and sacrifice of Christs body and Bloud substantially really and truly vpon the Altar pag. 142. chap. 22. That Heretikes which deny Christs body in the Sacrament â—uacuate the fruits of Christs death and Passion in mens soules and prepare the way to Antechrist pag. 148. chap. 23. Wherein is declared that wee ought as really as truly to receaue his Body with our mouthes to health saluatioÌ„ as Adam did eate the forbideÌ„ apple to death and damnation pag. 152. chap. 24. Of the excellencie of the most blessed Sacrament and in what respect it is called a sacrament signe or figure yet is the very thing it selfe which it beto keneth pag. 181. chap. 25. Declaring how it implieth not contradiction that Christ is in heauen and in the Sacrament in many places