Protestants deny three articles of our creed and the Puritanes fiue I say that you affirme much and proue little But first you might well ynough haue forborne this distinction of Protestants Puritanes for although some haue differd in some outward matters concerning ceremonies externall orders in the Church yet these all greatly agree and consent in all points of the doctrine of faith and Articles of Christian Religion Neither do I know any that deserue so well of this name of Puritanes as you who glory that you after Baptisme bee pure from all sinne and for actuall sinnes after committed can make so full satisfaction to God for them that hee can request no more of you as hereafter I will shew and therefor it is you that may well be called Puritanes of whome that saying of Sollomon may be well verified There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceit and yet are not washed from their filthines Prou 30. But let vs come to the examination of your proofe of this your absurd and slaunderous assertion The first you fay is the Catholike Church Credo Ecclesiam sanctam Catholicam doe wee deny this Article Why doe wee then not onely print it and rehearse it in our Creed but also expound it in our preachings and Catechising I haue said before that which may seeme sufficient concerning this matter andd article yet the better to satisfie the Christian Reader and to stop the mouth of this malicious accuser I say againe that by the holy Catholike Church mentioned in the Creede is ment the company of all Gods elected and faithfull people whome he calleth iustifieth and sanctifieth to be vessels of his mercy and heires of his kingdome of glory which is the body of Christ and he the head the spouse of Christ and he the bridegrome the house of Christ and he the foundation the flocke of Christ and hee the shepehard And this Church wee confesse to bee Catholike that is to say vniuersall both in respect of time for that it consisteth of all them that are written in the booke of life which haue bene from the beginning of the world and shall be to the end thereof and also of place for that it is not now contained in any one country Act. â—o 35. but as S. Peter saith In euery nation be that feareth God and worketh righteousnes is accepted with him and is a true meÌ„ber of this Catholike church That this is the holy Catholike Church which we confesse and beleeue wherof the prophane wicked hypocrites and reprobates bee no part besides that which I haue said before I will further proue it by the holy Scriptures and ancient Fathers Saint Paul saith Let vs follow the truth in loue and in all things grow vp Ephes 4. 15. vnto him which is the head that is Christ by whom all the body being coupled and knit together by euery ioynt for the furniture thereof according to the effectuall power which is in the measure of euery part receiueth increace of the body vnto the edifying of it sefe in loue Againe Christ loued â—he Church Chap. 5. 25. and gaue himselfe for it that be might sanctifie it and clense it by the washing of water through the word that he might make it to him selfe a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blame These things belong onely to the elect people of God who shall raigne with him in his eternall kingdome of glory For they onely be the body of Christ knit together in him sanctified here to bee without spot or blemish hereafter The Apostle to the Hebrues saith Whose house we are if we Heb. 3. 6. hold fast that confidence and that reioycing of hope vnto the end Where he sheweth that they belong to the house of God which is the Church of the liuing God the pillar and 1. Timth 3. 15 stay of truth which vnto the end hold fast their confident faith and hope of Gods glory wherof they reioyce which belongeth onely to the faithfull and chosen children of God This is that Church whereof he speaketh after But Heb. 12. 22. ye are come vnto the mount Sion and to the citty of the liuing God the celestiall Ierusalem and to the company of innumerable Angels and to the assembly and congregation of the first borne which are written in heauen and to God the Iudge of all and to the spirits of iust and perfect men To whom can these Galat. 4. things pertaine but onely to the Ierusalem which is aboue the mother of vs all which is the holy Catholike Church that we beleeue Hereunto I will adde a few sayings of the Fathers Saint Augustine saith Corpus huius capitis Ecclesiaest non quae hoc loco est sed quae hoc loco pertotum orbem terrarum nec August in Psal 81. illa quae hoc tempore sed ab ipso Abel vsque ad eos qui nascituri sunt vsque in finem credituri in ChristuÌ„ totus populus sanctorum ad vnam ciuitatem pertinentium quae ciuitas corpus est Christi cui caput est Christus The body of this head is the Church not which is in this place only but that which is in this place through the whole would neither that Church which is at this time but that of them which from Abel shall be borne vnto the end and shall beleeue in Christ eueÌ„ the whole company of Saints pertaining to one citty which city is the body of Christ wherof Christ is the head And in another place Ille caput est nos membra sumus tota ecclesia quae vbique diffusa est corpus ipsius est cuius Idem in Psa 62 est ipse caput Non solum qutem fideles quâ— modo sunt sed qui fuerunt ante nos qui post nos futuri sunt vsque in finem seculi omnes adcorpus eius pertinent cuius corporis ipse caput est qui ascendit in coelum He is the head wee are his members the whole Church which is dispersed euery where is his body whereof he is the head And not onely the faithfull which be now but also they which haue beene before vs and which shall be after vs vnto the end of the world all pertaine to his bodie of which bodie hee which hath Idem de Catech rud c. 20. ascended into heauen is the head Againe Caelestis Hierusalem ciues sunt omnes saâ—ctificati homines qui fuerunt qui sunt qui futuri sunt All sanctified men which haue beene which are and which shall bee Citizens of the heauenly Ierusalem Cyprian saith Ecclesia nunquam à Cyprian lib. 1. epist 3. Christo discedit ii sunt ecclesia qui in domo Dei pâ—rmanent The Church neuer departeth from Christ and they bee the Church which continue in the house of God Againe Jdem de
you prooue little The GOD of patience and consolation giue vnto Rom. 15 5. vs and you that wee may bee like minded one towards an other according to Christ Iesus that we may all with one minde and one mouth praise God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen Whereas you say that we haue no argument to prooue that we haue the true Church true religion and true faith but such as al heretikes haue euer vsed I answere that wee haue that argument and proofe for these things which although Heretikes haue falsely pretended as popish heretikes now do yet the Godly learned Fathers haue sincerely vsed And that is the holy word of God the only touchstone of truth and piller of the Church for as the Church 1. Tim. 3. 15 in one respect is the piller of truth as Saint Paul saith so in another the truth is the piller and prop of the Church as Chrysost in illum locum ho mil. 11. Math. 4. 4 7 10. Math. 19. 4. ibid. 22 29. Luk. 24. 27. 32 44 46 Rom. 1 2. 3 21. 4 3. Chrysostom saith For by what meanes els haue the Godly and learned Fathers in all ages confuted heresies and proued the Church but by the scriptures by them our Sauiour Christ foyled the diuell and put him to flight By them he answered the Pharisies By them he confuted the Sadduces By them he proued himselfe to be the promised Messias and Sauiour of the world By them Saint Paul confirmed the Gospel which he preached By them hee perswaded the Iewes those things which concerned Christ Iesus both out of the Law of Moses and out of the Act. 21. 23. ibid. 18 2 8 Prophets By them Apollos confuted the Iewes with great vehemencie shewing by the Scriptures that Iesus was the Christ By them the Godly and learned Fathers confuted and confounded the Arians and other Heretikes whom you here name as by their bookes and particular sayings it euidently appeareth Athanasius speaking of the Godly Athanas de de cretis Nicen. Synod pag. 528 decrees of the councell of Nice against the Arians writeth thus Atque harum rerum non aliunde nos quà m ex scripturis persuasionem habemus that is We be perswaded of these things by no other meanes but by the Scriptures Epiphanius saith In Scripturis sanctis Trinttas nobit Epipâ— contra pâ—â—umaiomachos haeres 7â— annuÌ„tiatur ac creditur citra curiositatem c. The Trinity is in the holy Scriptures preached vnto vs without curiositie beleued And that by theÌ„ al doctrines are to be confirmed al errors and heresies to be confuted they plainely and plentifully shew Tertullian saith that if Heretikes Tertul. lib de resurrec carnes Eâ—iph contra pâ—ulum Samosa haeres 66 Basii epist 80. bee brought to examine and try their questions onely by the Scriptures they cannot stand Epiphanius saith that wee are not to discusse questions by our owne wittes and reasons Sedex Scripturarum consequentia By the consequeÌ„ce of the Scriptures Saint Basil saith Let vs stand to the arbitrement of the Scripture inspired of God and with whome bee found doctrines agreeable to those diuine words let the truth be iudged to be with them Constantine sayd vnto the Bishoppes in the Nicene Councell The Euangelicall and Apostolicall bookes and the Oracles of the Theod. lib. 8. cap. 7 sol 284. Prophets doe plainely instruct vs of GOD wherefore laying away all enimitie and discord let vs take the explication or resolution of the questions in controuersie out of those saying inspired of GOD. So saith Saint Augustine Verum nos sacris literis accommodemus auditum c. August in Euang Ioan. tract 60. August de cura pro mortuis cap. 2. Let vs hearken vnto the holy Scriptures and according to them let vs helpe by the grace of God to dissolue this question And againe Non secunduÌ„ opinionem c. We must consider of this matter not according to yâ— commoÌ„ opinion but according to the holy Scriptures of our religion And of yâ— Church he saith thus Sed vtrum ipsi ecclesiam De vnitate ecclesiae cap. 16. teneant non nisi diuinarum ScripturaruÌ„ canonicis libris ostendant but whether they haue yâ— church let them shew by no other meanes but by the Canonical books of the diuine Scriptures Chrysostom saith yâ— we cannot know Chrisostom in Math. Homil. 44. which is the true Church of Christ Nisi tantummodo per Scripturas but onely by the Scriptures Therefore by the Scriptures proue your doctrine and shew your Church Math 4. But you say the Arians others Heretikes alleadged the Scriptures whereunto I adde that so did the Diuel also but in such sort as you and your fellowes doe in mangling them falsly expounding and applying them as I haue in some part before shewed I am conteÌ„t to ioyne this issue with you that they with be proued to depraue detort mangle and falsly expound and apply the scriptures be heretikes and to bee condemned with these old heretikes whome you here name To whome whether you or we bee more like let the vpright Reader indifferently iudge The Arians seeing that they could haue nothing out of the Scriptures fled as Athanasius saith vnto the Fathers and euen so do you The Arians vsed subtill distinctions Athanas tomâ— 2. to elude and shift of the truth and so do you They denied the person of Christ and you deny the office of Christ in not acknowledging him to be our onely Prophet and teacher whose onely voyce wee must heare and obey nor the only King and head of his Church nor our onely high Priest with the sweet smelling sacrifice of himselfe once for euer offered to redeeme and reconcile vs vnto God nor our only mediator to make intercession for vs. The Arians did cruelly persecute the true Christians Ruffin lib. 1. cap. 17. Socrates lib. 1. cap. 17. zozo in lib. 4. cap. 27. Gregor Nazi anz artic ad Arianos and so do Papists when power is in their hand to doe it The Arians when they could not preuaile against that excellent man Athanasius fell to raile vpon him and to slaunder him accusing him of adulterie murther and sorcerie and euen so do you now deale with such as for their godlinesse and learning may well bee compared with Athanaesiuâ— I meane especially Caeluin whome the Author of that vnlearned libell and beastly booke intituled A quartron of reasons of Catholike religion c. is not ashmed 5. reasoÌ„ pa. 30. to call a seare backt Priest for Sodomie O thou shamelesse man or rather monsterlart thou not ashamed to slaunder and belie such a man of whome they that knew him did truly write of him ipsâ— Ã quo potuit virtutem discere virtus Theo Beza that euen virtue it selfe might as it were haue learned vertue of him How doest thou know that Caluin was such a man I assure my selfe
hundred yeares last past it hath beene in which that Apostasie from the faith is come which Saint Paule by the spirit of God foreshewed 2. Thes 2. 3. 1. Tim 4. 1. and the euent hath proued by Mahometisme in the East and Papisme in the West During which time although the Church hath beene driuen into the wildernes and the Apoca. 12. light of true doctrine which is the soule of the Church hath beene eclipsed yet they haue neuer vtterly perished For in all ages God in mercy hath reserued a remnant according Rom. 11. 5. to the election of grace by whome the light of his truth hath beene preserued and in whom those admirable promises of his mercy haue beene performed These haue beene not proud Popes treading vpon Emperors necks deposing them from their Crownes and Kingdomes raysing bloudy battels and pouling and spoyling Christian countries with greeuous and horrible exactions and deuises as might be shewed not carnal Cardinals Princes peeres hauing 200. and 300. benefices a peece as Gerson Gerson tom 1. de defect Virorum ecclesiast Nicol. Clama de corrupto statu ecclesiâ— Hebre. 11. 36. and Clamagis Parisian Doctors before named doe affirme not Popish blind prelates Abbats Monkes priests c. wallowing in all worldly wealth and for the most part in great filthines of life as hereafter I will shew but such as the Apostle speaketh of that haue beene tried by mockings and scourgings yea by bondes and prisonment which were stoned hewen asunder tempted slaine with the sworde wandred vp and downe in sheep-skinnes and in goates-skinnes destituted afflicted and tormented whome the world was not worthy of which wandred in wildernesses and mountaines and dennes and caues of the earth Such were these good people in the time of the foresaid apostacie the Waldenses and Pauperes de lugdunâ— dispersed in diuers countries as namely Calabria Sauoye Prouence in France of whom many both long ago in sundry places and diuers times were burned as it is written in the old booke called Fasciculus Temporum and also Actale 6. fol. 84. of late yeares were most cruelly and vnmercifully persecuted in Merindoll the valley of Angrone Luserne and See acts and monuments tom â— Ibidè fascicul temporum Saint Martin Such were they that were called Begardi of whom to the number of 114. were burnt at Paris as the foresaid booke Fasciculus Tempo sheweth Such were they that were called Albigenses inhabiting especially about Tholossa in France of whom by the procurement of that false Frier and superstitious Hypocrite Dom nicus VinceÌ„t Bellua Spec. Histor lib 2â— cap. 103. Auton hist part 3. titulâ— 19. cap. 1. Sect 4. Crant an metropo lib 8. cap. 18. liâ— 10. cap 9. an hundreth thousand were destroyed as writeth Bernardus Lutzenburgus anno 180. were togither burned as both Antoninus the Arch-bishop of Florence writeth and Bellarmine himselfe confesseth Such were they of whom Albertus Crantius writeth which in Sueuia publikely preached that the Pope bishops and prelates were heretikes and Simoniakes that the begging Friers did peruert the Church with their false preachings for the which they were persecuted and some burned Such were they in Bohemia and Morauia in great number with whom Aeneas Syluius who was Pope called Pius the second hauing had conference writeth thus of one of them Finitis sermonibus istis assurrexit vnus de primoribus Thaboritarum Aeneas Syluius epist 130. pag. 677. animo satis inflato quid tu nobis inquit apostolicam sedem tot verbis amplificas Nos Papam Cardinales auaritia seruos nouimus impatientes inflatos tumidos ventri ac libidini deditos ministros scelerum diaboli sacerdotes Antichrsti â—raecursores quorum deus venter est pecunia caelum That is when thâ—se speeches were ended there did rise vp one of the chiefe of the Thaborites and with an hautie mind said What dost thou amplifie to vs in so many wordes the Apostolicall seate wee know that the Pope and the Cardinals bee slaues to couetousnes impatient proud arrogant giuen to the bellie and filthie lust the ministers of wickednes the priests of the diuell and the forerunners of Antichrist whose God is their bellie and whose heauen is money such also was Arnoldus Brixianus Frosard fol. 54. persecuted by that proud English Pope Adrian the fourth anno 1155. Iohn Rochetailada burnt at Auinion by Pope Clement the sixt 1345. Michael Cesenas burnt 1322. Iohn Wickliffe who died 1387. and after his death his body was burnt Two Franciscan Friers burnt at Auinion by Pope Polychron lib 6. Polidor Virg. lib. 19. Innocent the sixt 1354. Two others burnt at London 1357. William Swinderby burnt 1401. William White burnt 1428. Peter Clarke and Peter Paine 1432. persecuted and forced to flee into Bohemia Thomas Rhedonensis burnt at Rome 1430. Matheus Pâ—lmerius burnt at Florence as witnesseth Sabellicus Dulcinus of Nouaria and Margaret his wife Anton part 3. titull 22. cap. 10. Sahâ—ll Eâ—ne 10. lib. 4. burnt about the yeare of our Lord 1304. Iohn Hus and Hierome of Prage burnt at Constance 1415. 1416. Hieronimus Sauonarola burnt at Florence 1499. These and many such other that might bee produced with their faithfull fauourers and followers were the true Church of God in whome his mercifull promises were performed These are they that haue mourned in Zion that haue lamented Isa 61. 3. Ezech. 9. 5. Apoc. 6. 9. 19. and cryed for all the abominations that haue beene done in Ierusalem or rather in Rome that were killed for the worde of GOD and for the testimonie which they maintained and which came out of great tribulation and Apoca 7. 14. Isa 61. 3. haue washed their robes in the bloud of the Lamb. But these now haue beauty for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning the garments of gladnes for the spirit of heauines and are trees of righteousnes the planting of the Lord in Apoca. 6. 9. whome he is glorified they bee now vnder the altar and are in the presence of the throne of GOD and serue him day and night in his temple and hee that sitteth on the throne doth dwell among them neither doth the sunne light on them neither any heat But this man will say 7. 15. that these were condemned and punished by the Church for heretikes I confesse they were so euen as the Prophets of God Christ our Sauiour and his holy Apostles were before them condemned by the Prelates and Priests of the Church of Israel which carried the countenance of the Church of God as much and more rightly then the Pope and his prelates now doe Neither were these so few in number but that by confession of some popish writers the Romish false faith was sometimes in danger to haue bene subuerted by them Wernerus a Charterhouse Monke Fascicu Tempo aetat 6. fol 7. 8. of Colen in his fore-said booke called Fasciculus temporom writeth thus Fuerunt
vnitate ecclesie Adulterari non potest sponsa Christi incorrupta est puaica vnam domum nouit vnius cubiculi sanctitatem casto pudore custodit Haec nos Deo seruat haec filios regno quos generauit assignat The spouse cannot bee defiled shee is vncorrupt and chast shee knoweth one house and keepeth with chast shamefastnesse the holinesse of one chamber she keepeth vs to God she assigneth the children whome shee hath borne vnto this kingdome Saint Hierome saith Ipsa Hieron in Iob cap. 28. ecclesiae quae est Sanctorum omnium congregatio pro aeterna sibi in Domino stabilitate columna fundamentum dicitur veritatis The Church which is the congregation of all Saints by reason of her eternall stedfastnes in God is called Chrysost in Ps Hom. 114. the pillar and ground of truth Chrysostome saith Ecclesia est tabernaculum à Deo fixum non ab homine ab vno lcco in alium fugit sed non à pietate ad impietatem fugit The Church is the tabernacle which God hath pight and not man shee flieth from one place to another but she neuer flieth from Ambros in Ephes cap. 1 Godlines to impietie and wickednes Ambrose Apostolus omnem ecclesiam dicens summatim totum comprehendit quod in coelo est in terra The Apostle meaning all the Church briefly comprehendeth the whole which is both in heauen Bern. in Cant. serm 78. Clem Alexand. Strom. lib. 7. pag. 35. Bedain Cant. 6. and in earth Ternaâ—d saith Electi Dei sunt ecclesia Dei The elect of God be the Church of GOD. So saith Clemens Alexandrinus Non nunc locum sed electorum congregationem appello ecclesiam I call not now the place the Church but the congregation of the elect So saith Beda vna est columba perfecta mea vna est inquit catholica elâ—ctorum omnium multitudo peromnia et mundi Loca et tempora seculorum deo patri subiecta 1. my perfect doue is one hee saith that there is one Catholike multitude of all the elect by all both places of the world and ages of times subiect to God the father Yea Friar Lyra saith Lyra in Mat. 16. Ex quo patet quod ecclesia non consistat in hominibus ratione potestatis vell dignitatis ecclesiasticae vel secularis quia multi principaes summi pontifices alii inferiores inuenti sunt apostatasse à fide propter quod ecclesia consistit in illis personis in quibus est notitia vera et confessio fidei et veritatis Whereby it appeareth that the Church consisteth not in men in respect of their ecclesiasticall or secular power or dignitie for many Princes and Popes and others of lower Popes Apostates degree haue bene found to haue bene Apostates and to haue fallen away from the faith Wherefore the Church consisteth in those persons in whome is true knowledge and the confession of faith and truth So saith the Fryar Alphonsus de castro Ecclesia ex omnibus fidelibus constat Aduers Hares lib. 1. cap. 5. fol. 11. non solum presentibus verumetiam preteritis et in posterum futuris 1. The Church consisteth of al the faithful not onely them that bee now present but also heretofore haue bene and hereafter shall be This is that holy Catholike Church which wee in the Creed confesse and beleeue euen the whole number of them whom God hath elected and chosen to eternall life whom God hath had in all ages and of all nations Of which Church euery true and faithfull man and woman must beleeue him-selfe to bee a true and liuely member whereof hee may bee assured if hee finde and feele that GOD hath lightened his minde with the knowledge of his truth hath wrought in his heart an vnfained faith to trust in his mercies and to beleeue that his sinnes be forgiuen him for Christes names sake and that God hath sanctified his soule and body to hate sinne and to haue a care and conscience to serue him in true holines righteousnes all the eaies of his life This being our confession and bâ— liefe with what conscience truth can this man say that the Church which the Protestants beleeue hath been interrupted al the ages betwixt the Apostles and Luther and in very deed was neuer seene before Luthers daies or that we imagine the same to bee comprehended within the narrow bounds of England I can say no more but that a false witnes shall Prouerbe 19. 5. not be vnpunished and he that speaketh lyes shall not escape But now lette vs see what this man and his fellowes hold beleeue and call the Catholike Church forsooth the companie of all them that receiue and professe the religion and doctrine of the Church of Rome submit themselues to be ruled and gouerned by the Bishop Pope of Rome They that do not this be Heretikes Schismatikes out of Noahs Arke and out of the Catholike Church And herevpon it followeth that the Christians in Graecia Muscouia Armenia Ethiopia c. where Christianitie hath continued vnto this day and among whom no doubt but some haue been of Gods elect and chosen people yet bee they no Catholikes nor of the Catholike Church nor in the state of saluation and why because they neither haue been nor be subiect to the Pope of Rome For so it is with many words sollemnely defined determined by that holy Pope Bonniface the 8. Subesse Roman opontifici omni humanae creaeturae Extra de maior obedien unaÌ„ sanctam declaramus dicimus definimus pronuntiamus omnino esse de necessitate salutis that is We declare say define and pronounce that it is altogither of necessitie of saluation to be subiect to the Pope of Rome Where the Glosse helpeth out the matter with these wordes Quicquid saluatur est sub Gloss ibidem summo ponitfice Whatsoeuer is saued is vnder the Pope And on the other side All they that professe the religion of Rome and submit them-selues to the Bishop thereof bee Catholikes and of the Catholike Church how prophane wicked or vngodly soeuer they be Pope Iohn the 8. the whore Iohn the 12. or as some reckon him the 13. who was an adulterer and of two Cardinals did cut out the tongue of the one the hand of the other and at dice-play would call vppon the Diuell and made the Pallace of Laterane a stewes of strumpets as Luithprand lib. 6. cap. 7. Luithprandus Ticinensis writeth Syluester the second a coniurer who gaue himselfe to the Diuell to be made Pope Gregorie the 7. a coniurer and monster Bonniface the 7. Platina in Syluest 2. who robbed Saint Peters Church and put out the eyes of Iohn a Cardinal Bonniface the 8. who entred into his Popedome like a foxe raigned like a wolfe and died like a dog Jdem Alexander the sixt Iulius the second and al they whome
Platina calleth monstra portenta monsters and wonders Platina for their wickednesse were not onely Catholikes but also heads of this Catholike Church And he that married as I said before his owne sister and Ferdinando a king Naples who married his Aunt king Philip of Spaine that married Phil. Comiueus his Neece because they did see these things by the dispensations alowing of holy Popes of Rome were Catholkes and good sonnes of the Catholike Church Now whether of these doctrines concerning this article of our faith I beleeue the holy Catholike Church be the sounder truer let the Christian reader vprightly iudge I doubt not but wisdome Math. 11. shall be iustified of her children And whereas you would make men beleeue that the Church whereof wee are is contained within the narrow boundes of England and that the Lutherans in Germanie the Hugonotes in France and the Gues in Flanders as you tearme them will not ioyne issue with vs in diuers essentiall pointes of Religion you doe to the offending of God and deceiuing of your ignorant reader vtter two notorious vntruths For we as I haue said before confesse our selues to bee members of that holy Catholike Church which hath beene in all ages and is dispersed ouer the world and we haue communion and fellowshippe with all them in all nations that feare God and obey his truth especially in the fundamentall Doctrines of Religion aâ—d saluation But how doe you truely confesse the Church to be Catholike that is vniuersall comprehending all nations in restraining it to the religion and subiection of the Pope of Rome and so consequently to a small part of Europe vnlesse you will now of late adde the West Indians where the Spaniards haue committed moe horrible murthers then they haue made good proselytes And what an improper speech it is that you cal the Church of Rome the Catholik church as if a man shold cal the church of Corinth or Ephesus the Catholike that is the vniuersall Church which if they were holy are but members of the Catholike Church This is therefore that which you vntruly attribute to vs to call England the vniuersall world or Kent the kingdome of England c. But the Church of Rome now committing fornication with stocks and stones is so farre from being the Catholike Church that it is no true member thereof as M. Doctor Raynolds hath learnedly proued Which short Thesis being published in latine about twenty sixe yeares past and in English nineteene yeares yet to the shame of all Papists standeth to this day vnconfuted although it tendeth to the cutting of the throate of their religion and ouerthroweth the maine pillar thereof And that these whom you contemptuously cal Lutherans Hugonotes and Gues do dissent from vs in essentiall points of religion you may easily affirme but shall neuer be able to proue Some indeed in Germany whome you call Lutherans do dissent from vs in one point concerning the Sacrament of Christs body and bloud howbeit you cannot be ignorant but that many Churchs and countries in Germany ioyne with vs in that matter And let the reader reade and examine the confessions of faith set out by the Churches in France and in the low countries and they shall see both how great their agreement in Doctrine is with vs and also what a shamelesse slaunder this is which this authour hath acording to his accustomed maner auouched but not proued And moreouer I will offer this issue to this man who thinketh so highly of him-selfe that whereas he shall proue that there is dissension among vs in one essentiall point of religion and doctrine I will proue that there is in three at the least among them And this much for this article The second article of the communion of Saints you say we many waies denie First by not beleeuing that Christ hath instituted seauen Sacraments wherein the Saints of his Church coÌ„municate But why do not you bring some plaine proofe that our Sauiour Christ iustituted these seauen Sacraments seeing you say that the denying of them is the deniall of this Article of our faith Saint Paul going about to terrifie the Christians of Corinth from going to idolatrous feasts by the example of Gods fearefull iudgements and plagues poured vpon the Israelites for the like sinnes to preuent an obiection which the Christians of Corinth might haue made that the Israelits were not the Children of God so much as they and had not such Sacraments of Baptisme and of Christs supper as they had and therefore God would not deale so hardly with them as hee did with the Israelites to take away I say this obiection he sheweth that they were Gods people as well as the Christians of Corinth were and had the same sacraments in substance that we haue For the Fathers were vnder that cloud and all passed through the sea and were all baptized by Moses in 1. Cor. 10. 1 that cloud and in that sea and did all eate the same spirituall meat and did all drinke the same spirituall drinke for they dranke of the spirituall rocke that followed them and the rocke was Christ Where Saint Paul making mention of the Sacraments which are tokens of Gods grace and markes of his people nameth but these two Baptisme and Christs supper Saint Augustine also writing of the Sacraments whereby Christ hath tied his people together maketh mention but of the same two in these words Primum itaque tenere volo quod est huius disputationis caput dominuÌ„ nostrum Iesum Christum sicut ipse in Euangelio loquitur Leui August ad Ianuar Epist 108. iugo suo nos subdidisse sarcinae leuâ— vnde sacramentis numero paucissimis obseruatione facillimis significatione praestantissimis societatem noui populi colligauit sicut est baptismus Trinitatis nomine consecratus communicatio corporis sanguâ—â—is ipsius si quid aliud in scripturis canonicis commeÌ„datur c. 1. First therfore I would haue thee hold that which is the head of this disputation that our Lord Iesus Christ hath as hee speaketh in the Gospell put vs vnder his easie yoke light burthen wherevpon he hath bound togither the society and communion of his people by Sacraments in number fewest in obseruation easiest in signification most excellent as is baptisme consecrated in the name of the Trinity the communion of his body bloud if there be any thing els commended in the canonicall scriptures The like he writeth in his 3. booke de doctor Christiana cap. 9. by the which it appeareth that he thought these two Sacraments to be sufficient for faithfull Christians to communicate in And if he had acknowledged any mo it is maruel yâ— writing of purpose of theÌ„ he did not name them yet S. Augustine did not deny this article of the coÌ„munion of Saints Bessarion a Cardinall of Rome a learned man dissenteth Bessar de Sacram Eucharistia froÌ„ you saith Haec duo
infidelity But S. Paul doth exhort vs to doubt of our saluatioÌ„ which we are bound to beleeue by faith according to the Protestants religion ergo S. Paul exhorteth vs to infidelity The Maior is plaine for to doubt of matters in faith is manifest infidelity because whosoeuer doubteth whether God hath reuealed that which indeed be hath reuealed being sufficiently proposed as reuealed vertually doubteth whether God saith truth or lieth The Minor is proued by the testimonie of S. Paul Cum timore tremore salutem vestram operamini with feare and trembling worke your saluation All feare whether it be filiall feare or seruile feare inculdeth doubt the one of sinne the other of punishment Answere AS it is false that wee neither know what wee beleeue nor why wee beleeue as hath beene before sufficientlie shewed so is it no lesse false which is here boldlie affirmed but faintly prooued That wee haue no meanes in our Church to settle vs in vnitie of beleefe to determine controuersies and to abolish Heresies Wee haue the word of GOD which we acknowledge to be the onely touchstone of truth concerning religion and saluation We haue learned and Godly Bishops and Pastors to teach the truth of Gods word to confute both by preaching and writing errors and heresies And we haue Synodes although not generall yet prouinciall wherein controuersies may be decided and Heresies condemned as heretofore the truth hath beene maintained and Heresies confuted and confounded in some prouinciall Councels as that called Gangrense and some other Africane Councels as wel as they haue beene in some generall I would faine know of you what other and better meanes the Church of God had for the space of three hundred yeeres after Christs incarnation then these to determine controuersies and abolish Heresies Generall Councels they had not before Constantines time which Pigh 6. de eccle Hierarch cap. â— Bellarm. tom 1 contro 4. lib. 2 cap. 13. Aeâ—cas Siluius epist 28. pag. 802. therefore your fellow Papist Pighius counteth to haue beene an inuention of his but your great Rabbin Rob. Bellarmine therein controlleth him and saith it is false So well these men bee setled in vnitie of beleefe And to your great Maister of Rome whom you now would make the Oracle of the world there was before that time but small respect and regard had as your own Pope Pius 2. in these words confesseth Ante Concilium Nicenum sibi quisque viuebat ad Romanam Ecclesiam paruus habebatur respectus i. Before the Councel of Nice euery one liued to himselfe and there was small regard had to the Church of Rome Shew vs therefore what meanes the Churches of God then had for maintenance of vnity of faith which we want You say that Christ willed vs to heare his Church if we Matth. 18. 17. Bellar. contro 1. lib. 3. cap. 5 would not be accounted for Ethnicks and Publicanes The which place your said Rob. Bellarmine Reader full wisely alleageth to proue the Pope and his Councel to be the supreme Iudge of controuersies As though our Sauiour Christ there spake of deciding of controuersies in doctrine or of expounding the Scriptures or by the Church meant the Pope and his councell and that euery man against whom his brother trespasseth must goe to the Pope and his councell to make his complaint These bee vanities and follies which nullo impellente ruunt and neede no confutation You further alleage out of Ioh. 14. 17. that Christ promised vnto the church the assistance of the holy Ghost where by the church you meane the Pope and his councell as your Maister Bellarmine hath taught you who writeth thus Sed hic in genere dicimus iudiceÌ„ veri sensus Idem ibid. ca. â— Scripturae omnium controuersiarum esse ecclesiam id est Pontificem cum concilio in quo omnes Catholici conueniunt Wee generally say that the church is the iudge of the true sense of the Scripture and of all controuersies that is to say The Pope with the councell wherein all Catholikes doe assemble or rather dissemble together But our Sauiour Christ made this promise to his disciples saying I will pray the Father and hee shall giue you another Ioh 14 16 17 comforter that hee may abide with you for euer euen the spirit of truth whome the world cannot receiue because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you This promise pertaineth not to all the successors of the Apostles but to all them that truly feare God and beleeue and obey the holy doctrine which Christ deliuered to his Disciples and which they preached the which when you shall soundly proue that your Popes councels do then we will grant that this promise of Christ belongeth to them In the meane time wee will follow Chrysostomes good counsell Si videris aliquem Euangelica Chrysost Hom. dâ— Sâ—ncâ—o adorando spiritu repetentem profecto spiritum sanctum habet Veniet enim spiritus sanctus vt recordari vos faciat eorum quae docui Si quis igitur eorum qui dicuntur habere spiritum sanctum dicat aliquid à seipso non ex Euangelijs non credité meam doctrinam sequimini If thou see any man speaking out of the Gospell surely he hath the holy Ghost For the holy Ghost shal come to put you in remembrance of those things which I haue taught you If therefore any of them which are said to haue the holy Ghost doe speake any thing of himselfe not out of the Gospell beleeue him not but follow my doctrine Whereas you say that you beleeue certainely that the church cannot erre that the generall councels cannot deliuer false doctrine c. I answere that you foolishly begge that which is in question For as wee acknowledge councels assembled of Godlie learned and modest men which simply seeke the glorie of God and the profit of his Church are good meanes to suppresse errors and heresies and to abolish abuses and enormities so to affirme that generall Councells cannot erre or deliuer false doctrine is most false absurd as by many both reasons and examples might bee proued But for shortnes sake I will touch but a few examples The councell of foure hundred Priests of Israel erred and Satan was a false spirit in the â—outh of them all to the 1. King 22. 6. 8 22. Matth 26. 3. 65. 66. Act. 4. 5. 18. destruction of Achab that cursed king of Israel The councell of the Priests of Iuda erred in coÌ„demning Iesus Christ to death The councell of the high Priest and other Priests Rulers Elders and Scribes erred in forbidding Christs disciples to speake or teach in the name of Iesus The councel of Neocaesarea erred in iudging hardly falsly of second marriages which Gods word alloweth Rom Concil Neoca sar Can. 7. 7. 3. 1. Cor. 7. 39. the words of the councell be these
that thou didst neuer see him nor know him yea I nothing doubt but that thou wast scarcely borne wheÌ„ he died And how dost thou know yâ— he was subiect to such filthy sinne where was hee euer accused or conuicted of such a matter In that Cittie adulteries be punished by death and would Sodomie haue bin winked at in the Preacher And if it were not knowne there how doest thou know it But I will not insist any longer in coÌ„futing this shamelesse slaunder For most true it is which Tully saith Nonne vt ignis in aquam coniectus continuo restinguitur Cicero pâ—o Rosâ—â—o Com. refrigeratur sic referuens falsum crimen in purissimam castissimamque vitam collatum statim concidit extinguitur As fire being cast into water is straight waies quenched so a feruent false crime and slaunder being cast into a most pure and chast life such as Caluines was forth with falleth downe and is extinguished And euen so let this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. slanderer Bolsec the Apostata and all other raile and slaunder what they can yet Caluines memorie with God and all good men wil be blessed for euer And this raiser herein sheweth himselfe like not onely to the Arians but also to that ancient enemie to Christianitiâ— Porphyrius who as Eusebius saith going about to reprehend find fault with the Scriptures and Preachers of the Word not being able to reproue their doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—useh Eccles Histor lib. 6. cap. 19. wanting reasons he fell a railing and slaundering the Preachers But to returne to my matter let the reader also with indifferencie consider who bee like to the Donatists Pelalagians Nestorians Eutychians we or the Papâ—sts The Donatists affirmed the Church to haue perished from the rest of the world and to haue remained onely with them in Africa doe not the Papists in like manner affirme only them to be the Church of God which in a part of Europe be vnder the obedience of the Bishop of Rome vnlesse now they will adde the West Indians of whome as the Spaniards haue murthered many millions so peraduenture a few be either perswaded or coacted to professe Poperie and submit themselues to the Pope of Rome But the Christian Churches in Grecia Aethiopia Armenia Muscouia and other countries they acknowledge not for the Church of God because they doe not subiect themselues vnto the Church of Rome we acknowledge al them to be of the Church of God which in all the world hold the truth in the chiefe and sundamentall points of Christian religion The Pelagians held first that the grace of God whereby we be deliuered is giuen according to our merits Secondly that the law of God may be fulfilled of vs. Thirdly that wee haue free-will the Papists herein be so like to them that as they maintaine in effect the same matters so for the defence of them that alleadge the same places of Scriptures now as the Pelagians of old time did as appeareth by the writings of S. Augustine and S. Hierome Theodo lib. 4. Haeret. â—abul against them Nestorius did as Theodoretus writeth of him trouble and intangle the simple and plaine doctrine of Christian faith with Greekish Sophistications How the Papists haue herein ioyned with him and by their curious questions and vaine Sophistications haue troubled and peruerted the pure simple and plaine faith of Christ by their Schoolemen it doth euidently appeare Eutyches confounded the two natures in Christ and the properties peculiar to them So doe the Papists in making the body of Iesus Christ to be at one instant in heauen and earth and infinite places of the earth which is only proper to the Deity This shall suffice to shew that the Papists bee liker to these olde heretikes then wee are whose doctrine we abhorre and be farre further from it then they be Yea I may not onely truly say but can also plainly proue Poperâ—e to be an hotchpotch of old heresies long ago condemned in the Church of God The which as I did once in publike place shew so I may if it be the will At Paules Crosse Anno 1590. of God heareafter more plainly and plentifully proue Now this worthy writer or rather lewd libeller will proue and that by a Syllogisme out of the principles of our religion that S. Paul exhorteth vs to infidelitie This subtile Syllogisme is thus framed Whosoeuer exhorteth vs to doubt of that which we are bound to beleeue by faith exhorteth to infidelitie But S. Paul doth exhort vs to doubt of our saluation which we are bound to beleeue by faith according to the Protestants religion Ergo. S. Paul exhorteth vs to infidelitie As the assumption or second proposition of this sillogisme as it now standeth is false so by a small alteration both it and all the rest may be very true that is by putting out the name of S. Paul and putting Papists in place thereof in this sort Whosoeuer exhoâ—teth vs to doubt of that which we are bound to beleeue by faith exhort vs to infidelity The Papists exhort or at least-wise teach us to doubt of our saluation Ergo the Papist exhort vs to infidelity The first proposition of this sillogisme is affirmed by Sess 6. pag. 29. this writer to be plaine The second is the doctrine of the Papists concluded determined in that Tridentine Conuenticle where it is said that they which be truly iustified cannot without all doubt account them-selâ—es to be iustified And againe that no man can know by certainty of faith which is not subiect to error and falsehood that he hath obtained the grace of God And againe Sâ— quis dixerit omni homini c. If any shall say that it is necessary for euery man to the obtaining â—â—id can 73. of remission of sinnes to beleeue certainly and without doubt of their one infirmity and indisposition that their sins be forgiuen them be he accursed But more plainly and pregnantly doe the Doctors of Louaine lay downe this doctrine of doubting Fides qua quis firmiter In articul aduers Luther artic 9. credit certò statuit per Christum sibi remissa esse peccata seque possessurum vitam aeternam nullum habet in Scripuris testimonium imo eisdem aduersatur The faith whereby a man doth firmely beleeue is certainly assured that his sinnes by Christ bee forgiuen him and that hee shall possesse eternall life hath no testimony in the Scripture yea is contrary vnto them Here-vpon I conclude by this writers owne reason that the Papists in mainteining this doctrine of doubting teach infidelity But whereas these Louainian Doctors say that this doctrine of the certainty of forgiuenes of our sinnes by Christ and of our possession of eternall life is not testified in the Scriptures but contrary to them how false this is I referre it to bee tried by these places here following They that trust in the LORD shall bee as mount Sâ—on
were called Sadduces which in the Hebrew tongue doth signifie iust and righteous men Another sect were Pharisies so called as some thinke because they were expounders of the Law as others iudge Tanquam separati i. as separated from the societie of others in effect the same that Monachi that is to say liuers alone yet notwithstanding this glorious title and sundry austere and straite obseruations which in their liues they vsed they were the greatest aduersaries our Sauiour Christ had The Valentinian Epipha herae 31. â—ertul de mongam and Montaniest Heritiques called themselues Spirituales spirituall men and counted others carnall Therefore we are not to be moued with such outward titles which are but sheepes clothings to hide rauening Wolues But Rom. 2. 28. as S. Paul saieth hee is not a Iew which is one outward euen so euery one is not a Catholique that is so outwardly called but hee is a true Catholique that truly in his heart beleeueth and obeieth the heauenly doctrine of almightie God contained in the holy canonicall Scriptures in which the onely rule both of faith and life is Caus 8. Quaest 1. â—ec sufficere prescribed vnto vs as Beda saith the which holy doctrine deliuered and sanctified vnto vs in the holy Scriptures if this Gentlewoman and other of the same sect not obey as most certainely they doe not and as hereafter shall be proued they be no true Catholiques howsoeuer they be so outwardly called and doe vainely bragge of the same to whom may be well applied that saying of the Prophet Heare yee this O house of Iacob which are called by the name of Israel and come out of the waters of Iuda which sweare by the name of the Lord and make mention of the God of Israell but not in truth nor in righteousnesse But now I come to the questions 1. First whether Masse or Communion was brought first to England at the conuersion of our English nation to Christianitie 2. Secondly whether Masse or Communion be more ancient 3. Thirdly whether the CoÌ„munion as it is now practised in England were extant in any nation before the Raigne of King Henry the eight Answere AS touching the administration of the Sacrament of Christs body bloud which is commonly called the Communion because it is a pledge vnto vs of that Communion and fellowship which wee haue both with our Sauiour Christ and also one with another two kinde of things are to be considered First such as be of the substance and essence thereof which are vnchangeable Secondly such things as be Accidentall pertayning to the forme and fashion of the ministration thereof which be variable Of the former sort is the hauing of bread and wine the distribution of the same to them that be present prayer and thankesgiuing in a knowne tongue that all with one mouth and heart may giue thankes to God for his great and infinite mercies towards vs in nor sparing but giuing his owne deare sonne for vs euen his body to be broken vpon the Crosse and his bloud to be shed for our saluation whereof the bread and wine is a Sacrament that is to say a holy signe remembrance and pledge vnto vs yea and a meane and instrument whereby wee are made partakers of Christes body and bloud giuen for vs and of all the benefits of his passion These things be of the substance of the Sacrament and ought alwaies to be vsed and may not be altered Other things there be accidentall as the time and place of ministring the same the habit or tire to be vsed of the Minister the forme of praier and thanksgiuing in respect of the words These and such other be not of the substance of the Sacrament and haue no expresse commandement but be variable and changeable so that all things be done decently and to edification Now to come vnto your questions If you meane by the Communion and Masse the forme of praiers and Liturgie vsed by vs and you I may well say that neither of them both were first brought into England at the conuersion thereof to Christianitie altogether in such forme as now they be vsed for both what diuersities of Liturgies and seruice bookes haue beene and also what additions haue beene put to the same is not vnknowne Gregorie Lib 7. iud 2. Epist 6 3. saith the Apostles did consecrate and minister the Sacrament only with the prayer of our Sauiour Christ There be extant diuers sundrie Liturgies of the which the Papists attribute one to S. Iames another to S. Basil another to S. Chrysostome one differing froÌ„ another And in this small Iland within the time of Popery there were three or foure sorts of Masse bookes one after the manner of Yorke another after Sarum another after Bangor And about thirtie yeares past there was brought in a Romane Missall which abolisheth the rest It appeareth both by Augustine the Monkes questions and Gregorie the first answeres that there were diuers and different orders in diuers Churches Augustines question hath these words Cum vna sit fides sunt Ecclesiarum diuersa consuetudines Beda Ecclesiast hist lib. 1. cap. 28. altera consuetudo missarum in sancta Romana ecclesia utque altera in Galliarum tenetur i. Whereas there is but one faith there be diuers customes of the Churches and there is one custome or order of Masses in the holy Church of Rome and another in the Churches of France So also wee confesse that in the Churches where the truth of Christs Gospell is taught there be sundry Liturgies differing in forme of words and yet agreeing in substance of matter which may well be vsed to the glory of God and comfort of his people So that it forceth not though our Liturgie or forme of prayer vsed at the ministration of Christs holy supper were not brought into this Land at the first conuersion thereof or were neuer vsed before the raigne of King Henrie the eight as long as it cannot be prooued that it containeth any thing vngodly and dissenting from the word of God neither doth it auaile them though they could proue that their Masse as it is now vsed was brought into this Land at the conuersion of it which they cannot doe as long as we can plainely proue that it containeth a false sained sacrifice and hath many wicked prayers and superstitious toyes contrarie to the word of God Well saith Tâ—rtullian Quadâ—unque Tertul. de Virgin vâ—land aduersus veritatem sapit hoc â—rit Hâ—resiâ— ettam vetus consuetudo i. Whaâ—soeuer is against the truâ—th the same is Heresiâ— euen an olde custome But I will shew that some of their olde prayers which they vse in their Masse be wicked and dissenting from the word of God The Priests in the Canon of the Masse after Consecration prayeth in these words Supra quae propitio sereno vultu respicere digneris c. That thou wouldest vouchsafe to looke with a mercifull and fauourable
heresie to whom you seeke to liken vs first I answere generally that neither whatsoeuer an heretike hath holden is to be counted heresie for there hath beene no heretike but he hath held some truth nor whatsoeuer a Godly father of the church hath maintained is to be esteemed for truth and verity for it is not vnknowne that the ancient Godly fathers had their infirmities and were subiect to some errors The which although by particuler examples might be declared yet at this present I will spare them Therefore a doctrine is not simply either to be reiected because an Heritike held it nor to bee imbraced because a Godly father maintained it But if it be agreeable to the word of God it is to be receiued if it dissent from it though an Angell from heauen deliuer it wee are to refuse it But Epiph heress 75. Augu. de her cap. 53. perticulerly to come to those persons here named I doe confesse that Aerius was an Heretike in maintayning the horrible heresie of Arius wherewith Epiphanius and Augustine do charge him But whereas they did obiect vnto him the denying of praier for the dead first I say that they doe not conuince and confute him by the scriptures And therefore let this Gentlewoman or some of her fauorers performe that which they haue ommitted and plainely proue this doctrine of praying for the dead by the holie canonicall scriptures and then wee will grant the deniall of it to be an herisie and Aerius for the same to haue beene an Heritike Secondly I say that that praier for the dead which Epiphanius and Augustine do meane neither doth prooue purgatorie nor is the same which the Papists doe Heres 75. now vse Epiphanius rendring a reason of their praiets for the dead doth not say that they praied for them that they might haue remission of such sinnes as were not here forgiuen them nor to make satisfaction for their sinnes and to release them out of the paines of purgatory for the Greeke Church whereof Epiphanius was neuer to this daie beleeued purgatorie but hee giueth this reason thereof that they which bee aliue should thinke and hope that they which bee departed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Conses lib. de cap. 12 c. hence do liue and are not perished but bee and liue with God but they that bee and liue with God be in heauen and not in purgatory So Saint Augustine praied for his mother and yet beleeued that shee was in heauen so Saint Ambrose praied for Theodosius the Emperor and yet assured himselfe of his saluation For these be his words of him Absolutus certamime fruitur nunc Theodosius luce perpetua c. Theodosius beeing now freed from fight enioyeth eternall light continuall tranquility and glory in assemblie of the Saints Then Theodosius was not in purgatory The ancient Church also praied for the Virgine Lituâ—g Christ Mary for the Patriarkes Prophets Apostles and Martirs whom I hope this Catholike gentlewoman will not beleeue to haue beene in purgatory And therefore that kinde of praier for the dead which in the ancient Church was vsed was rather a commemoration of them and thanksgiuing for them then a petition to deliuer them from the fained fire of purgatory and so prooueth neither pick purse purgatorie nor that popish praier for the dead which is now vsed and maintained And thus much touching Aerius You also say that you haue beene told that Vigilantius was aboue a thousand yeares past condemned for an Hetike for denying praier vnto Saints But take heede you bee not ouer oredulous lightly to beleeue whatsoeuer a prating Priest or iugling Iesuite doth tell you lest you be deceiued as Eua was You should haue demanded how and where it doth appeare that Vigilantius was condemned for an Heritike for denying praier vnto Saintes Neither Epiphanius nor Augustine in their bookes of heresies doe condemne him or make mention of him Indeede Saint Hierome did write a bitter booke against him which I haue twise read ouer Yet cannot I perceiue that hee chargeth him with denying praier vnto Saintes neither doth Hierome make any defence thereof but seemeth rather to maintaine the contrary Affirming in these word that Martires are not to be worshipped Quis O insanum Hier. Contra. Vilgilani caput Mâ—rtires aliquando adorauit 1. For who oh thou foolish head at any time hath worshipped Mâ—rtires Indeede I confesse that Vigilantius denied that the Saints in heauen praied for vs one earth the which Saint Hierome aloweth But it is one thing for the Saints in heauen to pray for vs and another for vs to pray vnto them Though the former could bee prooued as by the holy scriptures it cannot yet the other is not there vpon to be inferred or graunted Lastly I say that if Vigilantius whom many Bishoppes of his time did fauour did deny praier to Saints yet vntill you haue effectually both confuted my reasons afore set downe and proued your doctrine by the scriptures wee will neither condemne it for Heresie nor count him therefore an Heretike As touching the Nouatian heretikes who denied repentance to them that after baptisme did fall wee abhorre their heresie and wish that the papists were as free from the poyson of them as we be The Nouatians gloried in their merites and so doe the Papists The Nouatians condemned second marriages and so doe Papistes in some in that one may not bee a priest that hath beene twise married The Nouatians re-baptised those that after Baptisme did fall and publikely offend and so doe papists in corners baptise such as haue beene baptized in our Churches which is an error condemned aboue a thousand yeares agoe You would haue vs to bee like Eustathius in denying pilgrimages to holy places But it will appeare that wee bee as vnlike as the papists bee like vnto him and in sundrie points doe ioyne hand in hand with him Sozomenus writeth of him that he was Monasticae Conuersationis Lib. 3 cap. 14. author 1. An author of Monastical life that is of Monkery And both there in an Epistle or preface before the CouÌ„sel called Gangrense in the which Eustathius and his doings Tom. 1. cons were condemned hee is charged with these things First that he had caused wiues to leaue their husbands and professe chastity wherevpon husbands and wiues sometimes fell into whoredome Secondly that dispising common vsuall garments he tooke new and strange habits Thirdly he caused seruants vnder a pretence of religion to forsake their Maisters and children their parents And women vppon the same pretence to sheare and cut of their haire Lastly that Priestes which were married were to bee despised and the Sacraments which they ministred were not to be touched Against this last error the fore-said Councell thus decreed Si quis cernit presbiterum coniugatum c. i. If Concil Gang. cap. 4. Tom. 1. Consil any make difference of a Priest that is married as though by
First that the grace of God whereby we are saued is giuen Hier. et Auguâ— aduersus pelag according to our merites Secondly that the law of God might be fulfilled of vs. Thirdly that we haue free-will and sayd that therefore grace was giuen vnto men that what things they might doe by free-will they might the more easily do them by grace I haue heard that there Hier. aduersus Heluidium was an Heritike called Heluidius reproued by an ancient learned father for foolishly thinking that the greeke bookes of the new testament were corrupted which both our Rhemists in their preface of the new testament by them set forth and others also of the same crewe do openly auouch I haue heard of certaine heritikes called Angellici so named for worshiping Angells and of others called Augu de heres cap 39. â—rencus lib 1. cap 35 Epâ—ph heres 79. Collyradiani condemned for worshiping the Virgine Mary And yet they did not call her Queene of heauen Empresse of hell the gate of Paradise their hope c. They did not pray vnto her saying lube deum pecâ—ator bus misereri i. Command God to be mercifull to sinners nor monstrate esse matrem iure matris impera i. Shew thy selfe â—â—nauent in Psâ—lâ—â—rio â—eaâ—â— Viâ—ginis to be a mother rule or command Christ by the authority of a mother but onely they offered a cake in the honour of her Whether these be not now taught and maintained for Catholike doctrines in the Romish church let the indifferent reader vprightly iudge Now to conclude and make an end I would exhort this gentlewoman and all others of her sect and opinion to take heed in the name of God how they resist the truth of God which in his great mercy hee hath reueiled vnto vs and that they doe not wilfully shut their eyes against it nor maintaine false and damnable doctrines which they bee neuer able by the word of God to defend Let them consider the grosse blindnesse and ignorance of former ages when such fables â—egâ—nd Festâ—ual c. and lies were published and preached as they be now ashamed of them and the booke of God was as good as lost the light thereof being kept vnder the bushell of a strange tongue by meanes whereof the people had no instruction nor comfort of it but sate in darkenesse and shadow of death were carried away after creatures and led after dum Idols as the Apostle sayth 1. Corr. 12. 2. Now is the word of God truely translated and sincerely preached the truth of God published and Popish heresies Ioh. 3. 19. effectually confuted and confounded Light is come into the world loue not darkenesse more then light We haue the Heauenly Manna of Gods holy word among vs bee not like the vnthankfull Isralites loathing the same and desiring to eate againe Onyons and Garlike in Aegipt But search diligently the holy scriptures make them the rule of your religion and line to leade your life by Proue all things hold that which is good and abstaine from all appearance of euill The God of all mercie roote 1. Thess 5. 21. out all errors and Herisies and giue free passage to his holy word lighten the eyes of the ignorant strengthen them that be weake treade downe sathan vnder our feete and giue vs grace to bee like minded one towards another according to Iesus Christ that with one minde and one mouth wee may glorifie God euen the Father of our Iesus Christ So be it Amen Amen I receiued aboue two yeares past out of Lankâ—shire this writing here following which I haue haue set downe in the same words forme and orthography as I receiued it and can yet shew it Thus it beginneth with this title Notes of dissention c. D. BVckley in answeare to the 12. articles c. fol. 17. 18. 19. noteth that the Waldenses Albingenses Boemia and many such other c. Were the true church of God were killed for the word of God and haue washed their roabes in the bloud of the Lambe and now haue beauty for asshes the oyle of ioy for mourning c. B. ante o. e. A. ante d. a. A. ante l. i. Vide Coupers Dixionary in these words Boemia Adamitae Albingenses Albanenses Boemia is a Realme called Beame inclosed with the bounds of Germany hauing on the East Hungary on the South Bauier on the West c. They vary from the Catholike faith in sundry opinions and do scorne aâ—l ceremonies In some places there the priuely obserue the sect of the Adamites and Waldenses the act of lechery whereof it is written in the words Adamitae c. 2 Adamitae or Adamiani were heretikes which tooke their beginning of a Piâ—ard who came into the Land of Bohemia And sayd that hee was the sonne of God and named himselfe Adam and hee commanded all men and women to goe naked and that whosoeuer desired to company carnally with any woman should take her by the hand and bring her to him and say that he feruently desired her company and then would Adam saie goe together and increase and multiplie This heresie began the yeare of our Lord 1412. in the time of Sigismundus the Emperour and men suppose that it dureth yet not only in Boemia but in other places also 3. Albingenses were the heretikes which began by Tolouse in Fraâ—ce the yeare of our Lord 120. which held the heresies of the Albanenses touching soule Baptisme God and the generall Resurrection Moreouer that it was not lawfull for the christian men to eate flesh 4. Albanenses were certaine Heretikes in the yeare of our Lord 1120. This sect held sundry heresies one was that the soule of man after his death was put into an other body an other that Baptisme was of no effect The third that there were two Gods one good and an other euill And that of the good proceeded good things and of the euill God euill things the 4. that in heil were none other paines then be in this world the 5. that the generall iudgement is past and that there is none to come the 6. that it is lawful for any man to sweare the 7. that man hath no free-will The 8. that the matter whereof the world was made was not made of God but is co-eternall with God the 9. that there is no originall sinne also that sinne commeth not of free-will but of the diueâ—l the 10. they denied that the body should eftsoones arise at the day of iudgement the 11. they abiected all the olde testament as a vaine thing and of none authoritie An Obiection SEe these seuerall opinions of two of your Doctors Buckley and Couper of the manner of beleefe of doctrine of the aboue named Martirs who Buckley pag. 18. saith haue washed their roabes in the bloud of the Lambe therefore iudge as to your owne selfe shall seeme best Begardy were women impeccabiles that is without sinne Buckley pag. 17 vide acts â—o
and opinions were euen the same which as you haue heard were maintained by the good faithfull people called Waldenses Pauperes de Lugduno Maister Fox sheweth out of Nicholas Triuet who died anno 1328. that the Albingenses Act. monumen tom 1 p. 299. 2. edit onis denyed transubstantiation in the Sacraments of Christs body and blood and that matriymony was not a Sacrament and further writeth that in some Error hee found that they did deale against the wanton Iâ— il pag. 35. wealth pride and tyranny of the Prelates and denied the popes authority to haue any ground of the Scriptures and that they could not away with there ceremonies and traditions as images pardons purgatory of the Romish Church calling them as some say blasphemous occupyings c. Henry Pantalion in his Chronographie affirmeth out of P. Aemilius that they denied Christs body Pag 98. to be in the bread of the Eucharist And a little before he writeth that one Hoyry a learned Monke of Tolosa did Pag 92. teach that prayers for the dead and to the dead excomucations of priests Pilgrimages consecrations of Chrisme are all vnprofitable wherevpon he was condemned Thus I haue shewed to satisfie this mans longing desire what I haue read of their Albingenses by which I haue bene moued to conceaue a good opinion of them and to accompt them for witnesses of Gods truth for the which they were so cruelly presecuted and destroyed by that Beast to whom Apacâ— 13 7. it was giuen to make warre with the Saintes and to ouercome them I doe confesse that I haue also reade not onely in this pelting paper but also in lying and prating Prateclus and other malitious enemies of Gods truth of other filthy and false opinions asscribed to them But this is no new deuise of the diuell but an old stratageme to attribute to the faithfull and Godly faulse titles and slanderous and filthy opinions and practises to bring them into hatred and to moue the world to persecute and destroy them So was Iesus Christ the sonne of God intreated being called a Samaritane a deceauer of the people and by Belzebub Math. 27 63. Luke 23 2. Math 12. 24. 9. 34. Act 24. the Prince of diuels to cast out diuels So was Saint Paul vsed being tearmed a pestilent and seditious fellow and chiefe maiâ—tainer of the herisie of the Nazarens So were the Christians in the primitiue Church handled who were slandered to kill children to eate their flesh and to Turtull in Apolog. drinke there bloud and in there assembles hauing put out the candles to commit adultery and incests So doth Gabr. pratcoleleuch haerae lib. 14 13. paup ac Lâ—gd that lying companion Gabriel Prateolus and the writer of this scroule deale with the walldenses otherwaiâ—â—â—lled Pauperaes de Lugduno whome they affirme to hold that carnall copulation betwixt men and women when the lust of the flesh burneth is lawfull to wome Aeneas Siluius doth not ascribe any such opinion In those daies the Papists were not growne to such impudencie in lying as now they are Thus wee see that it ought not to seeme strange vnto vs for filthy facts and false doctrines to be by malitious enemies falsely imputed to Gods true Saints and seruantes It were rather a maruaile if the diuell being by name and long practise a Slaunderer should leaue his old occupation in slaundering and defaming the faithfull fauorers of Gods truth But this man saith that I dissent from those Bishops D. Cowper and Iewell I answere that as I doe reuerence the memory of them so I do nothing herein differ from them For concerning B Cowper I say that not he but Sir Thomas Eliot did sette downe in the dictionary all that therein is written of the Albingenses and Albanenses as appeareth by the first edition of it by Sir Thomas Eliot himselfe printed by Thomas Barthâ—let anno Dom. 15. 42. hauing this title Bibâ—otheca Eliotae Eliotes Librarie There the reader shall find all those thinges written of the Albingenses and Albanenses without addition detraction or alteration before D. Cowper did deale in it D. Cowper in supplying of wordes that there wanted did leaue these things and such like especially concerning proper names as he found them and not as he himselfe did iudge of them As for the difference in iudgement betwixt Sir Thomas Eliot and mee concerning these Albingenses although I doe greatly reuerence the memorie of him for his learning and for his good labours to the aduancing thereof yet I doe not thinke my selfe bound to stand to his iudgement therein who might bee to much carried away with the corrupt errors which ouer much swaied in his time whereby hee did to little espic the diuels accustomed deuise and practise before mentioned much credit the false reports of their malicious aduersaries As touching that pretious Iewell and most learned Bishoppe whereas D. Harding writeth thus If ye meane Hus Hierome of prage Wicklesse Almarâ—rke Abâ—lard the Apostolikes Consuta of the Apolâ—g Peterbuisians Berenâ—arians Waldenses Albingenses Image-breakers and such like which euer found fauâ—te with the Church c he answereth in these words Of Abailard Defens of the Apolâ—g and Almerike and certaine other your strange names if they haue taught any thinge contrary to the truth of God we haue no skill they are none of ours of Iohn Hus Hierome of Prage and Berengarius and other like vertuous men wee haue no cause to be a hamed c. This is all that Bishop Iewel saith in which words he doth not once name the Albingenses much lesse impute those filthy and false opinions to them Nether doth he absolutely affirme that Abailaâ—d and Almarike or any of the rest maintained any thing contrary to the truth of God but conditionly saith if they taught any thing coâ—trary to the truth of God we haue no skill they are none of ours to the which I say Amen But that B. Iewel did not accompt the Albingenses for wicked heretikes it may hereby appeare in that hee thought well of the See defens of the Apolo vt 1. cap. 2. diuis 1. part 4. â—â—p 1â— diuis 1. pag. 503. Waldenses which were the same that were the Albingenses as I haue before shewed but diuersly called in diuers places and did repute them for good and Godly men By this that I haue said the iudicious reader may see that there is no difference at all betwixt me and these reuerend and learned Bishops concerning the Albingenses as this ignorant Romanist doth vainely imagine And if there had beene some diuersity in iudgement herein betwixt vs I in thinking well and they in hardly iudging of them it had bene a matter of no great moment Heretofore vnder â—latiâ—a in Bonifac 8. Gabr. prateo pag. 206. Popery many worshipped Herman of Ferrara for a Saint whome Pope Boniface the 8. caused to be digged vp and burned for an heritike Some Popes
c. The inuenting of Idols and Images was the beginning of VVis 14. 2 Cor. 6. 16. 1 Ioh. 5. 21. Apoca. 9. 20. whoredome and the finding of them is the corruption of life What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols or Images Babes keepe your selues from Images The remnant of the men which were not killed by these plagues repented not of the workes of their handes that they should not worship deuills and Idols of gold and of siluer of brasse and of stone and of wood which neither can see neither heare nor goe Also they repented not of their murther and of their sorcerie neither of their fornication nor of their theft I wil for shortnes sake omit many other places of Scripture wherein Images in the worship of God are condemned and the vanitie of them liuely painted forth Now as touching the state of the Church after Christ and his Apostles it is most certaine that the Christians in Lib. 3. cap. 23. the primitiue Church neither had nor worshipped Images Eusebius writeth that Plinius secundus a Pagane writing to Traiane the Emperour a persecutor of Christians did certifie him that hee found no wickednes in the Christians but that they would not worshippe Images Origne writeth that Celsus that railer and Blasphemour of Christianity did obiect this as a fault against the Con. Celse lib. 4. Apolog. cap. 12. Christians that they had no Images Tertullian writeth thus If we worship not vaine pictures and Images that are like dead men which Kites Mise and Spiders know what they be doth not the forsaking of this knowne errour deserue rather praise then punishment Lactantius saith that God is greater then man therefore he is aboue and not below neither Lib 2. de Orig. 9. error cap 19. is he to be sought below vpon the earth but in the highestrehioÌ„ of heauen wherefore ther is no doubt but that there is no religion wheresoeuer there is an Image Clemens writeth Lib. 5. recog cap 6. thus That Serpent the Deuill vseth by others to vtter such words we to the honor of God do worship visible Images the which is most certainely false for if you would truly worship the Image of God by doing well vnto man you should in him worship the true Image of God for in euery man is the true Image of God But yet not in all the true similitude but where there is a good soule and a pure minde If therefore you would honor the Image of God wee doe shew you what is good that you do good and giue honor and reuerence vnto man who is made after the Image of God giuing meate vnto the hungry and drinke vnto the thirsty apparell vnto the naked seruice vnto the sicke hospitality vnto strangers and things necessarie vnto him that is in prison And this is that which shal be accepted as truely done vnto God And these things doe so farre forth tende vnto Gods Image and the honor thereof that he that doth them not is thought to offer iniury vnto the Image of God Therefore what honour of God is this to gâ—d after Images of stone and of woode and to worshippe as God vaine and liuelesse Images and to despise man in whom is truly the Image of God Hitherto Clement Epiphanius comming into a church and there finding a Com. 3. opem Hicronimi vaile hanging and hauing on it an Image as it were of Christ or some Saint did teare it in peeces willed them to wrap some dead body in it and not to hange such in the churches contrary to the authority of the scriptures This Epistle wherein this is contained hath the authority not onely of Epiphanius which did write it but also of Saint Hierome who did translate and alledge it against Iohn the Bishop of Ierusalem Saint Augustine commendeth that Lib. â— de ciuit dei cap. 9 learned Romaine Varro for that hee affirmed that they which ordained Images for the people both tooke away feare and brought in error And againe hee writeth of the Ibim cap. 31 same Varro in this sort Wherefore seeing that Varro did say that they did know what was God who did beleeue that hee is a soule or spirit gouerning the world and did thinke that religion might more chastly bee obserued without Images who did not see how neare hee came to truth Heare Saint Augustine affirmeth that Varro came neare vnto the truth in thinking that religion might more chastly and purely be obserued without Images then with them The same Saint Augustine writeth thus Vere mendatia c. Our fathers haue indeed worshipped lies euen Images in which is no profit Saint Ambrose sayth The De fug â—culi cap. 5. cap. 36. Church knoweth not idle formes and vaine figures Images The counsel Elibertimum decreed that Images ought not to be in the Church and that which is worshipped or adored 〈◊〉 lib. 1. a coas a. Euangel cap. 10. should not be painted â—poâ— walls I will conclude this matter o Images with an other saying of S. Augustine Sic omnine errare meruerunt quia ChristuÌ„ et Apostolos eius non in sanctis condicibus sed in pictis parietibus quaesiueruÌ„t i. They haue altogither deserued to bee deceiued because they haue sought Christ and his Apostles not in the holy bookes of the scriptures but in painted walls And thus much at this time for Images expecting that this Catholike gentlewoman or some of her friends will proue by the testimony of the holy scriptures and the testimony of all writers in all ages since Christ and his Apostles not onely the vse of them as here they say but also the horrible abuse of them such as was in Popery in running a pilgrimage to them in kneeling creeping to them in burning candles and tapers before them in offering incense and all kinde of other oblations vnto them in making them to nodde with their heads and their eyes to gogle to deceiue the simple c. This shal be as easie for them to doe as to moue mountaines As touching the crosse and pilgrimage I will for shortnesse sake write nothing requiring them by the foresayd testimonies for to proue them Now it followeth in the sayd scroole or paper I Would know whether it bee not true that Aerius was condemned an Heretike aboue these thousand yeares for denying praier for the dead and Vigilantius for denying the praiers to Saints and the Nouatianes for denying the power of the Church to forgiue sinnes and Eustathius for denying Pilgrimage to holie places and Simon Magus for denying free will and Iouiniane for affirming the marriage of Priestes all the which opinions and many moe that are now preached for Gods word haue beene these thousand yeares condemned for heresies as I am told out of bookes of Saint Ireneus Saint Ambrose Saint Augustine Saint Epiphanius Saint Hierome and other holy fathers of the primitiue Church Answere AS touching these here charged with