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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A03884	A treatise concerning the church Wherin it is shewed, by the signes, offices, and properties therof, that the Church of Rome (and consequently such particuler churches as liue in her communion) is the only true church of Christ. VVritten in Latin, by the Reuerend Father Iames Gordon Huntley of Scotland, Doctour of Diuinity, of the Society of Iesus. And translated into English by I.L. of the same Society. The third part of the second controuersy.; Controversiarum epitomes. English. Selections	Gordon, James, 1541-1620.; Wright, William, 1563-1639.	1614 (1614)	STC 13997B; ESTC S114238	53,360	142

without all doubt in the true Church 9. Moreouer naturall reason it selfe doth euidē●l● teach vs that it is an absurd thing to thinke that there is no way left by God for men to obteine their eternall saluation seeing that this is quite opposite to the prou●dēce of God to his infinite goodnesse but there is no other way besides the Church as we haue declared before but because there are so many so diuers opiniōs of men cōcerning this so necessary a way to saluatiō there are also certaine signes markes thereof set downe that we may the better vnderstand which is indeed the certaine and most true way 10. Out of these which we haue now said followeth first that that which we haue insinuated before is most true to wit that it is more certaine euidēt that there is the holy Scripture seeing that it is manifest by naturall reason that there must needs be some Church of God heere vpon earth the which is not so euident of the holy Scriptures 11. The second thing which ensueth is that to these signes of the true Church these two cōditions are altogeather necessary The first is that they must be such as that they may not only be perceiued by fayth and our vnderstanding but euen by sense it selfe for otherwise they cannot be true signes as we haue already proued The other is that they be knowne and manifest to all men euen vnto Insidells seeing that otherwise they cannot help them or conuince and bring them to the true Church For the Church of Christ as the Prophet testifieth is a direct way so that sooles that is to say Infidells cannot erre by it 12. Of these signes of the true Church Bellarmine Coccius and Thomas Bozius Eugubinus discourse at large who hath gathered twenty fower signes in all of the true Church all which he manifestly proueth to agree to the Roman Church out of these Authors more signes may be required 13. But we regarding our intended breuity will only alledge fower which are set downe in the Nicene and Constantinopolitan Creed that is to say that this true Church is One Holy Catholike and Apostolicall For these fower signes are so certayne that they cannot be reiected euen by our Aduersaries First because they are expressely set downe in holy Scripture as we wil shew in the next Chapter Moreouer our Aduersaries do professe that they admit and receiue three Creeds to wit the Apostles Creed the Niceene and that of S Athanasius But in that which we call the Nicen Creed these fower signes of the Church are expressly set downe wherof we will now speake more particulerly CHAP. II. That the true Church of Christ is One Holy Catholike and Apostolicall S. Augustine very well admonisheth vs that when we dispute against heretikes which doe admit the holy Scriptures we should ●roue the true Church of Christ the signes thereof out of the sayd holy writ For as the same holy Father noteth in another place the Prophets had spoken more obscurely of Christ then they did of the Church because by their Propheticall spirit they did see that there would arise greater strife deb●te about the Church thē of Christ himselfe We will therfore heere proue these fower signes of the Church First out of the Scriptures and secondly by naturall reasons seeing that these signes must be such as may conuince those which do not admit the Scriptures as we haue declared in the precedent Chapter 2. The first sig●● of the true Church of Christ is Vnity For there is a threefold vnity necessarily preached in the Church of Christ. The first is of all the members with Christ which is the supreme head of the Church the which is effected by fayth wherefore it necessarily followeth that there must be but one fayth of all the members of the Church One Lord and God saith the Apostle and one saith and againe vntill we all meete in the vnity of fayth 3. The second Vnity is of all the members among themseues for as he who dissolueth the first vnity is an heretike so he which violateth this is a schismatike wherefore Christ sayth in this all men shall know that you are my disciples if you haue loue on to another And the Apostle That there might be no schisme in the body but the members togeather might be carefull one for another Finally God is not the God of dissention but of peace as also in all the Churches of the Saynts I teach sayth the same Apostle 4. The third vnity is betwixt the faythfull people and their Pastours by obedience the which whosoeuer dissolue are also to be accounted schismatikes of this the same Apostle writteth thus Obey your Prelats be subiect to them this is that fourth marke of the Church assigned by the Lutheranes as we haue sayd in the precedent Chapter the second § 5. This threefold vnity is very sensible the which may easily be perceiued euen by any Infidell For the disagreement of doctrine concerning matters of fayth may easily be heard the distentions of the people among themselues or with their Pastours may manifestly be perceiued 6. Finally euen naturall reason it selfe proueth this to be one of the most certaine signes of the true Church For God cannot teach contrary and oppofit doctrine because he then should be a lyar which according to the Apostle is impossible In like manner naturall reason sheweth that God which is goodnesse it selfe cannot be the author of schismes and dissentions but of concord peace and vnity 7. The second signe is Holinesse the holy Scripture is full of testimonies and authorities whereby this signe is most euidently proued and declared For S. Paul in the beginning of almost all his Epistles calleth the Churches vnto whom he writeth Holy as is to be seene in the beginning of the Epistles to the Romanes to the Corinthians to the Ephesians to the Philippians and to the Colossians and S. Peter called the the true Church an holy Nation So also Christ himselfe sayth For then I doe sanctify my selfe that they also may be sanctifyed in truth Lastly that sentence is often repeated in the holy Scripture the which S. Peter citeth also out of the old testament be yee holy because I am holy 8. The signe also is visible vnto all first because this sanctity is to be seene by good workes that they may see saith Christ your good workes and may glorify your Father which is in heauen Secondly this sanctity may be seene by their pious and holy doctrine For it is necessary that the true doctrine of God be holy sound and i●reprehensible Thirdly this sanctity is seene by the miracles wherby God himselfe t●stifieth and confirmeth the sanctity of his Church And them that belieue saith Christ these signes shall follow in my name they shall cast out Diuells 9. This signe also of Sanctity is euident to

lawfully assembled and seeme to proceede orderly the definitions notwithstanding thereof will not be altogeather certayne according to the opinion of many Catholikes vnlesse they haue their approbation from the Bishop of Rome if he be not present at the Councell The reason is because before that the Councell be approued and allowed of by the Pope it is as yet an vnperfect body of Christ without any visible head and such a body may stumble fall 11. And hence it is that the Councell of Trent demanded her confirmation from Pius 4. who solemnely afterward confirmed it The which also the other auncient Councells demaunded yea euen those which our Aduersaries do admit as for example the first Nicene Councell that of Calcedon the sixt Synod to omit other later Councells 12. The first is that we affirme a Generall Councell approued by the Pope cannot erre in fayth The reason is because it is altogeather necessary that there be some supreme iudgmēt in the Church of God wherunto all should submit themselues and belieue assuredly in all matters in Cōtrouersy as we haue proued before but there can be no other supreme iudgment but this 13. Moreouer we see that euen frō the beginning of the Church till now all heresies and controuersies concerning matters of faith haue byn still ended taken away by the generall Councels Wherfore they who deny this do open make way for all old Heresies The which when our Aduersaries had learned by experience in the Anti-trinitarians Anabaptistes Vbiquitarians and such other sectes they were forced to admit those six more auncient Councels as we sayd before but the authority of all Generall Councells is alike and equall 14. Finally our Aduersaries themselues acknowledge that there is no better or surer remedy to roote out and take away all her●sies therfore eyther this is a certaine remedy or els there is none at all the which to affirme were to deny the prouidence of God and his loue of his Church 15. Moreouer that which our Aduersaries say to wit that the later Councels are not lawfull Assemblies because they haue not obserued due manner and forme is a false lye first because it doth not become euery priuate man to be iudge in this matter but it belongeth to the whole Church who hauing receyued for so many ye●res all these as lawfull Councells we must not call them any more in question 16. And seing that our Aduersaries do imbrace and approue the six first Councels the lawfull forme to be obserued in Councells is to be fetched from them the which is exactly obserued in the later Councells as Baronius sheweth euidently in euery one of the first six Councells But Caluin acknowledgeth no lawfull manner of any synodicall assembly nor any such to be gathered togeather in the name of Christ but where all things are proued by Scripture only reiecting all Ecclesiasticall traditions but we haue already proued that the Traditions of the Church of God are as a principall and chiefest part of the word of God 17. Yea euen this was the only cause why S. Cyprian and so many other holy Byshops erred in the African Councells when they determined that all those who were christned by Heretikes should be baptized againe for they confirmed this their opinion very probably by many places of holy Scripture but they reiected the auncient tradition of the Church the which they knew very well was opposite to this error as though it had byn contrary to the holy Scriptures as S. Vincentius Lyrinensis declareth very well and before him S. Augustine in many places 18. And that which is more S. Augustine manifestly writeth that he had byn of S. Cyprians opinion by reason of those probable reasons which were deduced out of holy Scripture but that the whole Catholike Church had defined the contrary And as the same holy Father teacheth at large they most of all oppugne the custome of the Church which were in the same error with S. Cyprian obiecting among other thinges that place of the holy Scripture the which our Aduersaries now adayes obiect against vs. God saith I am the truth he doth not say I am the custome Vnto whome S. Augustine answereth very well that the custome of the Church is not opposite to truth but it is euen truth it selfe 19. Our Aduersaries arguments are of small account or moment Caluin bringeth in the example of Caiphas and of the Iewish Councell wherin Christ wa● condemned the same argument Beza also alledgeth But who doth not know that this was neyther a generall Councell whereunto Christ was not called nor any other true belieuer nor lawfull in it selfe seing that it was not assembled in the name and authority of Christ who was then the supreme head of the visible and militant Church as also because it was called togeather against the true Church of God by the wicked and cursed Synagogue of the Iewes For that was the true Church which adhered vnto Christ and belieued in him but that other which was altogeather depriued had lost the true faith of Christ was rather a fit Church for Sa●han and other infernall spirits And I meruaile truly that Caluin ●nd Bez● do alledge that Councell as true and lawfull which was assembled against Christ himselfe as also by those who were not true belieuers in Christ yea who were filthily stayned with the most heynous synne of infidelity as Christ himselfe witnesseth but we willingly leaue such a Church and Councell to our Aduersaries 20. It was also manifestly foretould by the Prophet that Christ should not be receyued by the Iewes and that the Synagogue of the Iewes should then fall from her faith But the holy Scriptures teach the plaine contrary of the true Church of Christ to wit that Christ and his spirit shall remayne with her for euer 21. But neyther is that other argument which Caluin and Beza vse any better to wit that S. Augustine would not vrge the authority of the Councell of Nice against Maximinus the Arian For neyther can we vrge the authority of the new testament against the Iewes not because we haue any doubt thereof but because the Iewes do not admit the new Testament In the same manner when that Arian would not admit the Councell of Nice but did plainly rei●ct it S. Augustine should in vayne haue vrged the authority therof for otherwise it is well knowne that S. Augustine neuer had any doubt of the fayth explicated in the Councell of Nice the which euen our Aduersaries imbrace as the most true word of God 22. Such as desire to see any more concerning this controuersy of the Generall Councells let them read Bellarmine in his first second booke of the Church militant and Coccius in his first Tome the seauenth booke the 21. 22. article CHAP. XI Of the Authority of the auncient Holy Fathers NOvv it remayneth

hims●lfe as appeareth by S. Epiphanius and S. Chrysostome 23. We know also very well that S. Augustine in some places vnderstood by this word rocke Christ himselfe but he doth not reiect the common exposition of other holy Fathers y●a he confirmeth the same by the authority of S. Ambrose and he testifieth himselfe that he held that opinion in other places For they are not to be reprehended but rather to be greatly commended who attribute many litterall senses to the same wordes of the holy Scripture so that they do not reiect and condemn the common and approued ●ense of the whole Church as we haue already declared out of S. Augustine 24. Truely euen our Aduersaries themselues confesse that the forsayd exposition of S. Augustine is both forced harsh in it selfe For seeing that neyther in the words of Christ which goe before nor in the confessiō it selfe of S. Peter there is any mention made of a rock the particle this cannot demonstrate that which is not in the whole sentence but violently Wherfore our Aduersaries leauing this exposition of S. Augustine they vnderstand by the rock eyther the fayth of S. Peter as Caluin doth or with Beza his confession And they both confesse that the word Cepha in the Siriacke tongue is the same in both places when Christ sayth thou art Peter and vpon this rocke and the Greeke word also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do only differ in their terminations and not in substance 25. But albeit Caluin commendeth that deriuatiō of the word Peter which S. Augustine setteth down to wit that Petrus is named of Petra as Christanus of Christo yet Beza writeth more truely that Christ speaking in the Siriacke toung vsed no deriuation of names but sayd Cepha in both places Our Aduersaries therefore do not well to obiect S. Augustines exposition against vs the which they themselues acknowledge not to be the litterall sense of the wordes CHAP. VII That the Church of Rome is the chiefes● and head of all other is proued out of the auncient Fathers and euen by the confession of our Aduersaries thēselues THE auncient holy Fathers do no● only wi●h v●iforme consent affirme the Roman to be the true Church of Christ but also that it is the chiefest most principall Church of all in so much that they affirme it to be the head of the whole visible Church of Christ and many other things they do write in the prayse and commendation of the Roman Church and of th● Pope the supreme Pastor thereof as may euident●y be ●eene in Catholike writer● which are related by Bellarmine and Coccius We for breuity sake wi●l only all●dge two of the holy Fathers by whom it may e●si●y be gathered what was the iudg●ent and ●pinion of the ●e●● concerning this matter 2. The first is that most ancient holy S. Ir●naeus who liued euen in the Apos●les tym● because sayth 〈◊〉 it would be to long to re●ount in 〈◊〉 vol●me the succession of al Churches w● pro●osing t●e tradition and ●ay●hos the greatest most anci●●t and left knowne Church founded by the two glorious Apos●les Peter and Paul which by preaching and succession of Bishops hath descended e●en f●●m the Apostles to vs do con●ound all those who by any meanes gat●er any thing contrary to that they should eyt●er by their owne ●oolish fancies or by vayne glory or by the great blindnesse of their vnders●anding or ●ol●owing any badde opinion For all other Churches that is to say all faythful● true belieuers th●oughout the whole world must needes come vnto this Church by reason of the most potent principality thereof Hitherto are the wordes of S. I●enaeus And afterward he recounteth the succession of all the Popes of Rome till his tyme. 3. The other is S. Augustine whom our Aduersaries also esteeme very much who knoweth not sayth he that blessed S. Peter was the chiefest and head of all the Apostles thus S. Augustine of S. Peter But speaking of the Church of Rome ●e sayth In the Romane Church hath alwayes florished the chiefe powe● an●●●●●●●ity of t●e Ap●st●licall chayre If we belieue S. Augustine nothing is more clea●e an● mani●●● 4. But it is not necessary to cite any ●ore places of the holy Fathers For euen our Adu●rsari●s conf●ss● that this was the common opinion of a●l the auncient Father concerning this matter Thus w●iteth Martin Bu●●r ●●m●ty●es ●aluins mais●er and chiefe Pa●●●n not only in his owne name but also of all 〈◊〉 Lutheranes we confess● plai●ly with all our harts sayth he that among the auncient Fathers of the Church the C●u●ch of ●ome hath alwayes obteined the chiefest aut●o●ity and s●pr●macy aboue all others because it hath the c●ayre of S. Peter and whose Bishops haue alwayes byn acc●ū●ed the successors of S. Peter thus Bucer 5. And Caluin albeit he inueigheth bitterly against the Church of Rome yet constreined to speake truth writeth in this manner I will first say this aforehand that I deny not but that the old writers doe euery where giue great honour to the Church of Rome and do speake reuerently of it And a little after he sayth thus For that same opinion which I wo●e not how was growen in force that it was founded and ordeined by the ministery of Peter much auail●d to procure sauour and estimation vnto it Th●refore in the west partes it was for honours sake called the Sea Apost●l●ke And in another place I graunt sayth he that there remayn● al●o t●ue Epis●les of the old Bishops wherein they set ●orth the honour of their sea with glorious titles of which sort are some Epistles of Leo. 6. But t●e Lutherans in their Synodicall actes doe acknowledg that euē in the tyme o● the fi●st Councell of Nice in the dayes of Cyprian S. Hierome and S. Augustine the Pope o● Rome had the chiefe supremacy the which say they we willingly admit and imbrace to increase the good agreement in fayth piety and Ecclesias●icall policy for they very well perceiued that this supremacy of the Pope of Rome did auaile much to keepe vnity and concord in doctrine and Ecclesiasticall policy 7. And hence it is that the sayd Lutheranes in their articles agreed vpon at Smalcalde the which they made in the yeare 1537. to be exhibited to the generall Councell which was reported to be holden at Mantua among other articles they appr●ued t●is of the Popes authority and vnto these Philip Melancthon also subscribed Who also afterward in the yeare 1548. far more euidētly approued the Popes authority writing thus in his Epistle to the Lord Embassador Theopulus Besides these sayth he we reuerently honour and worship the authority of the Roman Bishop and all Ecclesiasticall policy so that the Bishop of Rome do not reiect vs. Thus Philip in that place 8. But what was the most true opinion of Melancthon concerning this matter appeareth more euidently by a certaine

maketh mention of S. Peter For euery where he putteth the Apostles in the first place and all Christians knew well inough that S. Peter was chiefe of all the Apostles according to that of S. Matthew the first Simon who was called Peter Heerupon saith S. Augustin who knoweth not tha● S. Peter was the chiefe of the Apostles 14. Finally the Apostle himselfe doth not indeed speake in these places of the ordinary Ecclesiasticall Hierarchy but of those extraordinary giftes which were giuen to the members of the primitiue Church For the recounteth there also the Euangelists Prophets the grace of doyng cures or helpes kindes of tongues c. which are certaynely extrordinary gyftes as S. Chrysostome Theophilactus Oecumemus and others expounding these wordes of the Apostle haue well noted 15. The sixt argument Many of the Byshops of Rome were wicked bad men and giuen to many kindes of synnes as all euen Catholike writers do testify As therfore they haue grieuously erred in manners so they might also erre in faith and doctrine I answere that this was in tymes past the argument of the Donatists agaynst Catholikes wherunto S. Augustine hath often answered For there is a great difference betwixt their conuersation and doctrine because an error committed in our manner of conuersation only hurteth him which erreth but an error in doctrine is also hurtfull to many others yea euen to the whole Church of God Hence proceeded that admonition of Christ all thinges therefore whatsoeuer they shall say to you obserue yee and doe yee but according to their workes do ye not Caluin also refuteth this argumēt of our Aduersaries more at length as the foolish inuention or dreame of the Anabaptistes for he knew very well that among his Ministers there were many most wicked vngodly men Wherfore it is very strange that his followers will repeate and inculcate this argument so often 16. Our Aduersaries haue many other arguments besides these which need no confutation for they are not taken out of the word of God but all do rely and are grounded vpon lyes and meere fables forged by auncient Heretickes or Schismatickes or at the leaste by such as were no fauourits nor welwillers to the Church of Rome the which Doctor Sāders and Cardinall Baronius prosecute particulerly throughout all ages Wherfore that saying of the Apostle doth very well agree to our Aduersaries And from the truth certes they will auerse their hearing and to fables they will be conuerted 17. We will heere alledge one most certaine example of those Slaunders the which our Aduersaries cast against the Church of Rome And that we may also omit that Caluin in few wordes hath no lesse then fiue manifest lyes of one only Byshop of Rome Iohn 22. as Bellarmine clearly proueth the same Caluin truly hath forged three most famous and markable lyes against the whole Church of Rome for he saith that these are the three principle articles of that Diuinity which is taught by the Byshops and Cardinalls of Rome First that there is no God The second that all thinges which are written taught concerning Christ are lyes and fables The third that there is no lyse after this 18. But that one answere which S. Augustine gaue the Donatists slaundering wrongfully Catholikes in tymes past may suffice to confute all these reproachfull and iniurious lyes of our present Aduersaries Let vs not heare saith he what this or that man saith but what our Lord saith let vs not heere this say I thus sayest thou but thus saith our Lord and what the holy Scriptures say vnto vs concerning the Church 19. Moreouer that which in general the same holy Father in another place saith against the lyes of the Donatists may now very well be applyed in this manner to the Roman Church I know saith he what is written in the holy and Canonicall Scriptures concerning the Church of Rome and the saith therof I know not what you say of her Apostacy or falling from her fayth Truly as we do reade in bookes the which you also do honour reuerēce of the Roman Church and faith therof so also reade you vnto vs out of bookes the which we also do honour and reuerence how she forsooke and lost her faith Doth it please you that we should belieue euery slaunderous reproach of men vpon what occasion soeuer it was vttered and obiected against the Roman Church the which the holy Ghost hath both deliuered cōmēded vnto vs by his holy Scriptures this indeed is pleasing to you but whom also it should more iustly please you see well inough but you being ouercome by obstinacy will not yield to the truth And a little after Lo h●ere the Roman Church with whome I communicate where I reade thee her name there finde thou me her faultes if thou canst but if thou cryest and rehearsest them from some other place we following the voyce of our Pastour euidently declared vnto vs by the mouth of the Apostle S. Paul do not admit belieue or heare your wordes My sheepe saith our heauenly Pastour heare my voice and follow me His testimony of the Roman Church is not obscure but very cleare and manifest VVhosoeuer will not go a stray or wander from his flock let him heare him let him follow him Hitherto S. Augustine 20. Finally it is heere diligently to be noted that our Aduersaries neuer durst be so bould as to affirme so strange and absurd things of the Church of Rome so auncient in it selfe and so commended by all the auncient holy Fathers yea and by the Apostle S. Paul himselfe but that they falsely perswade themselues that she hath lost and forsaken the true doctrine of Christ. Heerupon they say that Rome is Babylon and they are not ashamed to affirme the Pope to be Antichrist But if it were once proued manifestly that the Roman Church teacheth nothing which is not very agreable to the word of God all our Aduersaries weapons against the Church of Rome will easily be blunted and ouerthrowne and also they wil be forced to confesse with Caluin that the breach from this Church is the denyall of God and Christ or that there cannot be imagined any fault more heynous But this God willing shal be more euidently hereafter declared in euery Controuersy CHAP. IX Of the Adoration of the Pope of Rome of the kissing of his feete AMongst other Crimes wherewith the Roman Church is charged by our Aduersaries one at which many take offence is the adoration of the Pope and the kissing of his feete We will therefore in this Chapter say somewhat in iustification therof for if it shall appeare that nothing is done therein which is not warranted by the written word it will appeare how little reasō they haue to tearme that impious Idolatry which is nothing els indeed but Religious piety 2. Howbeit we are first to forwarne the Reader to the end he be not deceaued by