euident successe make as much for Turkish religion as for poperie for their continuance haue béene much alike But we know that whatsoeuer is of God that men can not dissolue Hell gates cannot preuaile against the church of God Experience hath taught and the attempts of enimies of all sorts frustrated sheweth that it is a vaine thing to assaile the people of God Of all other heretikes the papists haue béene and are the most dangerous enimies of the church which notwithstanding hath at all times béene miraculouâ—lie vpholden by the almightie power of God euen then when the might power princes and authoritie of the world were against it And we do not doubt but as popery by the truth of God hath alreadie receiued a great wound so it shall when his good wil and pleasure is be killed destroied and take an end Leaue therefore your kicking against the pricke Act. 6. 3. The text Consider therfore brethren seauen men of you of good testimonie ful of the holie Ghost and wisedome whom we may appoint ouer this busines The note The election of the seauen first deacons The answer With whom and your deacons there is almost nothing common but the bare name Act. 6 7. The text And the word of God increased and the number of the disciples was multiplied in Hierusalem exceedingly a great multitude also of the ⸫ priests obeied the faith The note Now also the priests and they of greater knowledge and estimation began to beleeue The answer That the priests beléeued we sée if it necessarily follow that they were of great knowledge and estimation then they were vnlike your ignorant sir Iohns of which sort ten for one of the priests of your church were But I thinke the time and common condition of the leuiticall priests then considered that it is likely enough that most of these were men of small knowledge and estimation And this the rather confirmeth me in that opinion that we do not read of any one of these priests here mentioned to be coÌ„uerted that prooued a famous teacher in that first church which could not haue béene if many of them had béene of great knowledge and estimation Act. 6. 15. The text And all that sat in the councell beholding him saw his face as it were ⸫ the face of an angell The note Such is the face of all constant and cheerefull Martyrs to their persecutors and iudges The answer Then burne your Martyrolog for in the traitors that haue béene executed in England there hath not appéered any chéereful face as I haue béene credibly aduertised by them that haue béene present at their deaths Act. 7. 16. The text And they were ⸫ translated into Sichem and were laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a price of siluer of the sonnes of Haemor the sonne of Sichem The note Translation of saints bodies agreeable to nature and scripture And the desire to be buried in one place more then in another which the holie patriarches also had Gen. 49 29. 50 24. Hebr. 11. 22. hath somtime great causes Augustine de cura pro mortuis cap. 1. vlt. The answer The translation of the bodies of the 〈◊〉 being in them commanding it and in others executing 〈…〉 and euident testimonie of their faith in the 〈…〉 for the inheritance of the lande of Canaan is no 〈◊〉 for you to â—ake the 〈◊〉 children and saints of God out of their graues and for lucre and couetousnes to abuse the world with their bones whereas to rest in their sepulchres is more agréeable to nature and Scriptures Saint Augustine speaketh not of translation of bodies but of the desire that men had for themselues or their friends to be buried by this or that martyr and holie man which he thinketh a very good motion But the reasons wherby he séeketh to prooue it to be good are friuolous and the obiection which Paulinus brought out of Paul to the contrarie standeth firme and vntaken away 〈…〉 The text This Moyses whom they denied saieng who hath appointed thee prince and captaine him God sent prince and ⸫ redeemer with the hand of the angell that appeered to him in the bush The note Christ is our redeemer and yet Moyses is here called a redeemer so Christ is our mediator and aduocate and yet we may haue saints our inferiour mediators and aduocates also See Annot. 1. Io. 2. 1. The answer You would faine finde some what to excuse and hide your intolerable sacriledge and robbing Christ of his honor Moyses is called a redéemer in two respects One in that he was a figure of Christ and bare therefore the name of him whom he figured Secondly bicause he was Gods minister and instrument raised to redéeme and deliuer the people of Israell from the seruitude of Pharao and thraldome of Egypt What is this to those that neither are figures of Christ neither yet haue deliuered vs from any temporall bondage But if you could you would leaue Christ nothing proper or peculiar to himselfe Your annotation shall elsewhere be considered of Act. 7. â—2 The text And God turned and ⸫ deliuered them vp to serue the host of heauen c. The note For a iust punishment of their former offences God gaue them vp to worke what wickednes they would themselues as it is said of the Gentiles Rom. 1. The answer If neither Iew nor Gentile in abhominable filthines haue surpassed or excéeded your holie fathers of Rome especially in those things against nature which euerie honest eare can not abide to heare once named then it is manifest that God also hath giuen them ouer also into reprobate minds You know who hath set out a booke in praise and commendation of Sodomitrie is it not an argument that where that is suffered they are past all shame Act. 7. 45. The text Which our fathers with ⸫ Iesus receiuing brought it also into the possession of Gentils which God expelled from the face of our fathers till in the daies of Dauid The note This is Iosue so called in Greeke in type of our Sauiour The answer And was Iosue a tipe and Moises none You might as well by this example communicate the name of a sauiour to Saints as afore the name of a redéemer sith in respect of sauing and redéeming from sinnes they are both proper peculiar to Christ. Actes 7. 55. The text But he being full of the holie Ghost looking stedfastlie into heauen saw the ⸫ glorie of God and Iesus standing on the right hand of God The note The comfort of all martyrs The answer And of all other true faithful men Wherefore we pray to God most hartilie to graunt vs that casting of all things that hang heauilie on vs wée may haue our eies onlie fixed on the glorie that is set before vs. Actes 7. 60. The text And falling on his knees he cryed with a loud voice saying ⸫ Lord laie not this sinne vnto them The note Eusebius Emissenus saith when he praieth for his
17. The text And ⸫ they did all eate and had their fill The note The miraculous prouidence of God towards such as follow Christ into deserts prisons banishment or whether soeuer The answer Manie things besides may be noted as to giue thanks to God for his gifts though they séeme neuer so small or course and to marke that he can make so small a matter to suffice great multitudes and such like Luk. 9. 41. The text And Iesus answering said ⸫ O faithles and peruerse generation how long shall I be with you and suffer you The note Incredulitie hindreth the effect of exorcismes and other miraculous power giuen to the church The answer The power of myraculous working was granted to the church but for a time for the better confirming of men in the doctrine then deliuered The doctrine continuing one and the same new miraculous confirmations are not to be looked for Yet exorcismes in your church are verie common and how bad soeuer your popish priests are yet they must worke or else you beguile both your selues and others Luk. 9. 46. The text And there entred ⸫ a cogitation into them which of them should be greater The note Desire of preheminence is an humane infirmitie often euen among the good Against which Christ teacheth humilitie but forbiddeth not superioritie The answer Ambition in truth is a disease very common and good men very often haue béene therewith infected But for pride and preheminence ambiciously sought and tyrannously kept the pope hath no péere the diuell and great Turke onely excepted But by this it appéereth that the Apostles knew not which of them Christ had appointed to be greatest Luk. 9. 50. The text And Iesus said to him ⸫ prohibite not For he that is not against you is for you The note There be some that follow not Christ precisely in life and doctrine of whom we may make our aduantage toiâ—â—e propagation of Christs honor and religion when they do any thing for the aduancement thereof of what intention soeuer they do it The answer If you preached Christ and not your selues you might be the better borne with So his honor were aduanced your intentions néeded the lesse to be looked vnto But now you aduance the power of the pope the abilitie of fréewill and the valure of merits into the place of Christ the power of God to saluation to beléeuers and therefore are iustly prohibited Luke 9. 58. The text Iesus said to him ⸫ the foxes haue holes and the foules of the aire nests but the sonne of man hath not where to repose his head The note This man would haue followed him for temporall commodities and therefore was not suffered The answer This man then was méete to haue made a papist For it is plaine and euident that there was neuer any religion in the world deuised so gainefull and so apt and méete to bring in all maner of worldly coÌ„modities to the teachers thereof as popery Luk. 10. 1. The text And after this our Lord designed also other ⸫ seuentie two and he sent them two and two before his face into euery citie and place whether himselfe would come The note As the twelue Apostles did represent the higher degree of the cleargie called bishops So these seauentie two beare the figure of the inferiour cleargie called priests Beda The answer It is apparant and euident as well by the scriptures as by testimonie of antiquitie that at the first there was no such distinction of higher and lower orders of cleargie men called bishops and priests but that they were al one till for the better order of gouernment some one among a multitude of priests being chosen to gouerne guide and direct the rest had the name of bishop for distinctions sake giuen to him And therfore this prefiguring or representing that which then was not thought of is but a dreame of Master Beda But I maruell that Master Beda found no more of your cleargie orders there prefigured especially the pope and his cardinals belike the one was not growne then to his full height and the other scant hatched Luk. 10. 12. The text I saie to you it shall bee more tolerable for Sodom in that daie then for that citie The note Difference of pains and damnation in hell according to the difference of demerits August Lib. 5. cap. 5. contra Iulianum The answer It was néedlesse for you in this matter to quote your doctor considering that in it at this day so far I know you haue none aduersaries I hope you do not take hell for purgatorie nor make any of the differences temporall and then I sée no great cause to contend with you Howbeit in citing the place of Augustine either you delt very negligently or else you trusted your note booke too well for in the place you sende vs to Augustine hath no such thing Luk. 10. 13. The text Wo be to thee Chorozaim wo be to thee Bethsaida for if in Tire and Sidon had been wrought the myracles that haue been wrought in you they had done penance sitting ⸫ in sackcloth and ashes long ago The note True penance not onely to leade a new life but to punish the body by such things as heere be recorded for the ill life past The answer Who euer denied that penitent men should shew outward tokens of the greatnes of their inward sorrow conceiued for their sinnes or that they should not punish their bodie to the end that by not satisfieng the lusts and desires thereof it may be the lesse rebellious and more obedient to the spirit But all this is farre from that which you imagine concerning satisfieng by that meanes for ill life past Luk. 10. 16. The text ⸫ He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me The note It is all one to despise Christ and to despise his priests and ministers in the catholike church to refuse his doctrine and theirs The answer I will not quarrell with you about your word priests though I iustly might being taken of you for sacrificers But I returne your note against your selfe that therefore you despise Christ and his doctrine bicause you despise vs whom Christ hath sent to be teachers of his people in the Catholike Church Luk. 10. 35. The text And the next day he tooke foorth two pence and gaue to the hoast and said haue care of him and whatsoeuer thou shalt supererogate I at my returne will repaie thee The note Saint Augustine saith that the Apostle 1. Cor. 9 according to this place did supererogate that is did more than he needed or was bouÌ„d to do when he might haue required all duties for preaching the Gospel but would not Lib. de oper monachor cap. 5. whereof it commeth that the works which we do more than precept be called works of Supererogation and whereby it is also euident against the protestants that there be such works See Optatus
Rome The séeking of his glorie is the cause of all the mischiefes wrought by wars in the world at this present If we will not therefore be snarled in the snares of Antichrist we must séeke his onely glory that created vs as in the same treatise Augustine doth aduise vs. Ioh. 7. 20. The text The multitude answered and said ⸫ thou hast a diuell who seeketh to kill thee The note No maruell when these speake thus to Christ himselfe if â—eretikes call his vicar Antichrist The answer No maruell though sincere Christians be estéemed regarded and spoken of by papists and atheistes as Christ him selfe was by the Iewes As for any vicar of Christ we know none but euerie prince and magistrate within his owne dominion and euery pastor in his owne flocke Ioh. 7. 39. The text And this he said of the spirit that they should receiue which beleeued in him ⸫ for as yet the spirit was not giuen bicause Iesus was not glorified The note This was fulfilled on Whit sunday Acts 2. and afterward alwaies by imposition of hands in the Sacrament of Confirmation visibly in the primitiue church and inuisibly to the end of the world The answer Your sacrament of confirmation who instituted it What promise was giuen to it What signes were appointed What signification had they Who were authorised to minister it Whether the bishop alone Or euerie priest Iohn 7. 50. The text Nicodemus said to them ⸫ he that came to him by night who was one of them doth our law iudge a man vnlesse it first heare him and know what he doth The note Christ hath alwaies some good euen amongst the wicked which secretly serue him and by wise delaies auert the execution of vniust lawes against him and his people as Nicodemas and Gamaliel The answer Christ hath his amongst euery sort of men and often worketh great benefit to his church by the weakest of those that beare good will to his truth Iohn 8. 7. The text ⸫ He that is without sinne of you let him first throwe the stone at hir The note We cannot conueniently reprehend or condemne other mens faults if our selues be giltie of the same or other greater Cyrill in Io. See annot Matt. 7. 1. The answer You are great clarks that are so liberall of your fathers in matters néedlesse And yet neither Christ nor Cirill meant that none should reprehend others but such as are faultlesse themselues But onely they meant to discouer the hypocrisie of men which neuer looking vpon them selues how great soeuer their faults be yet are seuere censurers of others Iohn 8. 1â— The text And Iesus said ⸫ Neither wil I condemne thee Go and now sinne no more The note Saint Augustine by this example of our master prooueth that clergiemen specially should be giuen much to mercie and that they ought often as the cause and time require to get pardon of the secular magistrates for offenders that be penitent Epist. 54. The answer How wel you follow this which you alledge out of Augustine it is manifest in that the secular magistrates are stirred vp by you to extreme cruelties and most horrible bloodsheds and murders as all the world can witnes If euer mercie were exiled from men sure it is banished from amongst papists Which néedeth no proofe for in all places where the heresie of poperie is fauored and vpheld with the sword of authoritie experience teacheth it Your horrible tragedies my hart panteth to thinke vpon and my pen trembleth to record There are in all countries so many witnesses of your horrible cruelties that it is néedlesse to set downe any examples Iohn 8. 26. The text Iesus said to them ⸫ The beginning who also speake to you The note So read S. Cirill S. Ambrose and S. Augustine expounding it of Christs person that he is the beginning or cause of all creatures The answer If you would haue had your reading maruelled at you should héere haue brought vs some other fathers For for these we thinke you are beholding to Erasmus and Bezaes annotations whence you borrowed them But that you professe of purpose to follow the old Latin translation and therfore could not translate otherwise it had béene no hard matter to haue shewed that you willingly erre with them whom you follow Iohn 8. 31. The text Iesus therefore said to them that beleeued him the Iewes If you ⸫ abide in my word you shall be my disciples in deede The note Onely faith is not sufficient without perseuerance or abiding in the keeping of his commandements The answer Onely fire is not sufficient to warme a man standing by it without heate and in the like order you do but abuse men in diuorcing things inseparable Iohn 8. 36. The text If therefore the sonne make you free you shall be free in deede The note Man was neuer without free will but hauing the grace of Christ his will is truly made free as saint Augustine saith from seruitude of sinne also tractatu 41. in Euang. Io. The answer If you meane such fréedome of will as is in thraldom and seruitude of sinne to serue sinne willingly we will easily grant that man was neuer without it If you meane otherwise you abuse saint Augustine for that he meant not Yea when we are fréed by Christ he speaketh thus in the same treatise Partly libertie partly seruitude libertie is not yet whole pure and full bicause full eternitie is not yet It is strange that you are not ashamed to abuse men thus with the fathers Iohn 8. 39. The text If you be the children of Abraham ⸫ do the works of Abraham The note Not onely faith but good works also make men the children of Abraham according as saint Iames also speaketh of Abrahams works cap. 2. The answer If you gather no better consequences at Rhemes none of mine shall learne Logike there Howe holdeth this Do the works of Abraham if yée be the sonnes of Abraham ergo to do the works of Abraham make men the sonnes of Abraham It is a shame for children to glorie in the goodnes and vertue of their parents and not a whit to resemble them therein This is it that Christ reprooueth the Iewes for As for Iames speaketh of iustifieng by works but of being made the children of Abraham by works I finde there iust and iumpe nothing Iohn 8. 44. The text You are of your father the diuell and the desires of your father you will do He was a ⸫ man killer from the beginning he stood not in the veritie bicause veritie is not in him The note Augustine compareth heretikes in their spirituall murther by driuing Christian men out of the church to the diuell that droue our parents out of paradise Cont. Lit. Petili lib. 2. cap. 13. The answer The diuell did bereaue our first parents of their happy estate by making them beléeue they should be more happie and blessed euen so you with the swéete name of the church do allure draw and entise
But their care is far vnlike for they are seldome in their charge they visit once in thrée yéere most commonly by their deputes neither to reforme life nor maners but either to shewe themselues abroad like lords or else to fill their purses This I am sure they neither learned of Paule nor Barnabas Act. 15. 41. The text And he walked thorough Siria and Cilicia confirming the churches ⸫ commanding them to keepe the precepts of the apostles and ancients The note Not onely the things commanded by Christs expresse word or written in the Scriptures as our heretikes hold but whatsoeuer the apostles and rulers of the church command is to be kept and obeied So these words repeated againe cap. 16. 4. and that in the Greeke least any man cauill bicause here the Greeke hath them not The answer You do well to ioine apostles with rulers else no man would beléeue you But I pray you where may we â—inde those things which the apostles haue commanded and are not expressed in the scriptures If you obtrude those things which you falsely call the canons and constitutions of the apostles then we bid you first reforme your church by them For though there be some corruptions in them vnknowen in the apostles time yet your church if it had no more should want at least thrée quarters of her corruptions It were woonderfull if other men should credite your forgerie which you your selues haue small regard to If you alledge this present text it is manifest that the precepts which the apostles commanded to be kept were sent in writing by the hands of Paule and Barnabas which writing is set downe by Luke word for word How then can you gather from hence anie defence of your vnwritten verities or any credite to your deuises not warranted by the Scriptures Act. 16. 4. The text And when they passed through the cities they deliuered vnto them to keepe the ⸫ decrees that were decreed of the Apostels and ancients at Hierusalem The note Here againe they take order that the decrees and articles of faith agreed vpon in the councell of Hierusalem should be executed and obserued whereby we see both the great authoritie of councels and the diligence that all prelates ought to haue to see the decrees and canons of the councels put in execution The answer In the former note these decrées you did insinuate to be matters vnwritten and now in this note they are articles of our faith and so consequently some articles of our faith are not written O miserable men What state are they in whom you lead When you pull from them the foundation and groundworke of their faith The authoritie of lawfull councels we reuerence as much as is lawfull to reuerence men But by this councel we gather that a councell may be lawfully called though the bishop of Rome call it not and that it is not néedful that he or his legate à latere should be president in councels and that it is not of necessity requisite that he should confirme and ratifie councels For it is manifest that no bishop of Rome bare stroke in this councel Acts. 16. 6. The text And passing through Phrigia and the countrie of Galatia they were ⸫ forbidden by the holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia The note This people had not the Gospell denied vnto them altogither but for a time bicause as venerable Bede thinketh God foresaw they would not beleeue and so should haue beeâ— more grieuously damned The answer Modestie requireth that you leaue the Lords secrets to himselfe The holie Ghost hath not reuealed the cause why he forbad them to preach in Asia and permitted them not to go into Bithinia and therefore we are to leaue it as a thing which God hath not thought necessary for vs to know But this is manifest that the good desires of Gods saints are not in their owne power to bring to passe when they will Acts. 16. 12. The text And from thence to Philippie which is the first citie of Macedonia a ⸫ Colonia The note Colonia is such a citie where the most inhabitants are strangers sent thither from other great cities and states namely from the Romans The answer Your interpretation of Colonia we receiue as a thing wherof our Grammar boies are not ignorant Acts. 16. 17. The text The same following Paul and vs cried saieng These men are the seruants of the high God which preach vnto you the waie of saluation The note Either the diuell was compelled by vertue of Paules presence to saie truth or else as such do often times he spake truth now that they might the more trust him and he better beguile them at other times The answer Your later coniecture I receiue as a thing that you can speake in by great experience as hauing learned that péece of cunning of the diuell neuer to vse truth but to the end to giue color and credit to lies withall Acts. 16. 3â— The text Masters what must I do to be saued But they said ⸫ Beleeue in the Lord Iesus and thou shalt be saued and thy house The note It is none other faith that saueth but that which worketh by charity August Enchirid. cap. 67. The answer Grant vs that that faith is the onely hand whereby we take hold of Christ our saluation and then a great part of our controuersie is at an end Acts. 16. 33. The text And he taking them in the same hower of the night ⸫ washed their wounds and himselfe was baptized and all his house incontinent The note Happie gailers that do mercie toward their godly prisoners and receiue againe by them such spirituall benefits The answer It was the greatest happines that could fall vpon him and his house to receiue such vnder his â—oofe by whom God so blessed him and his On the contrarie side it is a dangerous matter for gailers and keepers to be cumbred with wicked seditious and traiterous Iesuits and seminarie priests Acts. 17. 5. The text But the Iewes ⸫ enuieng and taking to them of the rascall sort certaine naughtie men and making a tumult stirred the citie and besetting Iasons house sought to bring them foorth vnto the people The note Zelantes This is the zeale of heretikes and a liuely paterne of their dealing at this day against the catholike priests and preachers and the good Iasons that receiue them The answer Looke vpon the late storie of France and there you shall sée that it is the practise of you papists to stir vp the rascall sort to misuse nay to kill and cut the throtes of Gods déere saints Acts. 17. 23. The text For passing by and seeing your idols I found an altar also whereupon was written To the vnknowen God The note The aduersaries in the new Testament 1580. translate your deuotions most corruptly against the nature of the Greeke word 2. Thes. 2. 4. and most wickedly against the laudable deuotion of good Christians calling the pagans idolatrie and superstition their
wait for the comming of the Lord you would not wilfully serue his enimie and oppose your selues to his knowen truth 2. Corinthians 2. Cor. 2. 10. The text For my selfe also that which I ⸫pardoned if I pardoned any thing for you in the person of Christ That we be not circumuented of satan For we are not ignorant of his cogitations The note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though he did great penance saith Theodoret yet he calleth this pardoning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a grace bicause his sinne was greater than his penance The answer It is happie you will confesse one man pardoned of grace which had not by gretnes of penance deserued it Theodorets meaning was not to part his pardoning betwixt penance and grace And the text prâ—â—ueth cléerly that how great testimonies so euer man giueth of true repentance yet remission and pardon of sinnes is not merited but procéedeth méerely of grace and fauor 2. Cor. 4. 17. The text For that our tribulation which presently is momentanie and light worketh aboue measure exceedingly an eternall waight of glorie in vs we not considering the things that are seene but the things that are not seene The note The English bible 1577 doth falsely translate Prepareth The answer This translation although not so proper in word yet all one in sense with the rest is alreadie iustified by master D. Fulke against Martinius The reason which he yéeldeth for your fault finding is to be noted for it sheweth that you would haue that which is momentanie and light to deserue that which is eternal and of great waight and so make a small matter to deserue eternall life and glorie So lightly you thinke to come by heauen â— Cor. 5. 8. The text But we are bold and haue a good will to be pilgrimes rather from the bodie and to be ⸫ present with our Lord. The note This place prooueth that the saints departed now since Christ sleepe not till the day of iudgement and that they be not holden in any seuerall place of rest from the fruition of God till the resurrection of their bodies but that they be present with God in their soules The answer You would say that this prooueth that the soules of the saints sléepe not with their bodies till the day of iudgement I maruell much why the apostle speaketh nothing héere of purgatorie sith by your churches doctrine the soules of the greater part of Gods saints after the earthly house of this habitatioÌ„ is dissolued go for a time to the paines of purgatorie which is directly against the apostles doctrine in this place deliuered For he immediately after our dissolution appointeth vs an house to dwell in not for a time but eternally nor in pugatorie but in heauen not seuered from the fruition of God but in the presence of our Lord from which he placeth none absence but whiles we are héere in the bodie 1 Cor. 5. 2â— The text Him that knew no sin for vs he made sinne that we might be made the iustice of God in him The note That is to say a sacrifice and an host for sinne See the last annot of this chapter The answer If men should héere without all reason sticke vpon the letter as you do in This is my bodie what can you say for this exposition that might not be iustly returned against you in that Your annotation you send vs vnto is a childish cauill grounded vpon this that the scripture calleth him iust that doth iustice But doth it call none else so The publican departed better iustified than the pharisie I pray you what iustice had he done God iustifieth the wicked He is iust or blessed to whom God imputeth no sin The iust man liueth by faith So obteined the théefe vpon the crosse to be iustified and saued You sée then that the Scripture speaketh of some other kind of iustice besides that which consisteth in our owne doings Leaue therefore your foolish cauilling 2. Cor. 5. 10. The text As sorrowfull but alwaies reioicing as needie but enriching manie as ⸫ hauing nothing and possessing all things The note Saint Augustine in Ps. 113 gathereth hereby that the Apostles did vowe pouertie The answer Wilfull pouertie bicause you sée no reason to gather it out of this place you make Saint Augustine your buckler for it but I thinke your note booke deceiued you I take it that there is no such matter in the exposition of that Psalme But he saith there that in calling images by the names of those whom God created men turne the truth of God into a lie and that their forme and shape their honorable placing and setting a loft in the church hath more force to draw people to idolatrie then the consideration that they haue no life nor vse of their parts and members hath to induce men to the contrarie I do not remember that I haue reade any thing in Augustine that fauoreth wilfull pouertie But in his booke of the worke of moonkes he is verie earnest against such idle bellies as thought it vnlawfull for them to gaine any thing by worke or labor but would liue altogither vpon the offerings and liberality of others and he both telleth them that they refuse to obey the Apostle Paul and confuteth their foolish reasons 2. Cor. 6. 14. The text ⸫ Beare not the yoke with infidels The note It is not lawfull for catholikes to marrie with heretikes and infidels See S. Hier. câ—ont Iouian lib. Cocil Laod. cap. 10. 31. The answer It is not lawfull for catholikes to marrie with papists or other heretikes or infidels For this there néedeth no authority of men for the word of God is plaine and it is not called into question â— Cor. 7. 10. The text For ⸫ the sorow that is according to God worketh penance vnto saluation that is stable but the sorow of the world worketh death The note Contrition or sorowfull lamenting of our offences is the cause of saluation Not onely faith then saueth as the heretikes affirme The answer You deceiue your selues and others whiles of euerie consequence you make a cause It is verie true that faith and repentance must be ioined companions in them that shall be saued and yet neither of both properly the cause of saluation 2. Cor. 8. 5. The text And not as we hoped but their owne selues they gaue first to the Lord then ⸫ to vs by the wil of God The note The principall respect next after God is to be had of our masters in religion in all temporall and spirituall duties The answer If there were not iust cause of suspicion of your euil and lewd minde and meaning this note might passe without controlement as an hyperbolicall spéech tending to the reuerence and credit of Gods ministers But bicause your whole course of dealing bewrateth manifestly that you séeke to preferre your pope and your selues to be regarded and respected aboue princes in temporall duties therefore the reader is to be admonished that
allow it I see not for what purpose you alledge Augustine and therefore I passe him ouer with silence 1. Tim. 3. 4. The text Well ruling his owne house ⸫ hauing his children subiect with all chastitie The note He saith hauing children not getting children Saint Ambrose Epist 82. The answer I hope saint Ambrose doth not meane that he should haue children of other mens begetting or that it should be lawfull for a bishop to be a married man and not lawfull for him to liue according to the lawes of matrimonie which God himselfe hath set downe But I sée you are glad to vse the fathers where you find them a little too much to fauor and fansie your single life 1. Tim. 3. 6. The text Not a ⸫ neophyte least puffed vp into pride he fall into iudgement of the diuell The note Neophytus is he that was lately christened or newly planted in the mysticall bodie of Christ. The answer Héerein I confesse the church of England hath béene negligent and faultie for permitting some of your dissembling papists to exercise the ministerie of the word afore sufficient triall by length of time was had of their vnfained repentance and conuersion 2. Tim 4. ◠The text For ⸫ euery creature of God is good and nothing to be reiected that is receiued with thankesgiuing The note We see plainly by these words such abstinence onely to be disallowed as condemneth the creatures of God to be naught by nature creation The note We sée a double estimation of meats héere one taken from the nature creation of things the other from the person of him that vseth them as appéereth plainly in these words which God created for the faithfull and for them that haue knowen the truth Your church therefore is heere plainly noted first for that it maketh it vnlawfull for some to féede of diuers and sundrie of the creatures of God which God had appointed for the vse of all the faithfull Secondly bicause it hath generally caused men to make a superstitious difference betwixt fish fruit flesh egs and whitemeat being al alike by nature and creation For that which God hath made lawfull at all times with you is somtimes vnlawfull holines and the seruice of God or at least a parcell of it is planted in superstitious abstinence and mens consciences tied and intangled in the things in which God hath left them frée As for your ouer turning this to be meant of other ancient heretiks can no more excuse you than it did excuse the Manichées that this was meant of the Tatians Cataphriges Eucratites and such like who were long afore them 1. Tim. 4. 8. The text For ⸫ corporall exercise is profitable to little but pietie is profitable to all things hauing promise of the life that now is and of that to come The note Some saith S. Chysostom expound this of fasting but they are deceiued for fasting is a spirituall exercise See a goodly commentarie of these words in S. August lib. de mor. Eccl. Cath. c. 33. The answer Corporall or bodily exercise are externall actions for religions sake vsed and exercised as watching long abstinence from meate and drinke the daily reciting of a certaine number of praiers lieng and lodging on the bare ground the wearing of haire cloth next the skin whippings and whatsoeuer other bodily vexations besides wherein papists plant merit and their heremites and others their religious do without al measure or mean vse These and such like are the things which saint Paul saith are profitable to little and yet a great péece of poperie consisteth in them The maners of the catholike church in saint Augustines time to which you refer vs doth as much differ from the maners of the church of Rome now as chalke doth differ from chéese 1. Tim. 5. 5. The text But she that is a widow indeed and desolate let hir hope in God and continue in obsecrations and ⸫ praiers night day The note Bicause of this continuall praier which standeth not with coniugall all and carnall acts of matrimonie as the Apostle signifieth 1. Cor. 7. 5. therfore were these widowes to liue in the state of perpetual continencie The answer All Christian men are commanded to continue in praiers and to pray without ceasing Therfore by your reason it is lawfull for no Christian to marry You care not how vainly you conclude nor into what briers you bring poore men that haue tender consciences so you seeme to say somwhat for your single life 1. Tim. 5. 17. The text The priests that rule wellet them be esteemed ⸫ woorthy of double honor especially they that labour in the worde and doctrine The note Double honor and liuelihood due to good priests The answer But goodnes of priests consisteth not in saieng masse and sacrificing for the quicke and the dead but in wel ruling their flock and in diligent and painefull instructing the people which pertaine to their charge in Christian religion 1. Tim. 5. 19. The text ⸫ Against a priest receiue not accusation but vnder two or three witnesses The note Here the Apostle will not haue euerie light fellow to be heard against a priest So Augustine for the like reuerence of priesthood admonisheth Paucarius that in no wise he admit any testimonies or accusations of heretikes against a catholike priest ep 212. The answer No reason that against ministers of the worde accusations should lightly be admitted and your dealing against vs in continuall lieng and false accusations doth verie well iustifie Augustines counsell to Paucarius For it is a verie dangerous thing to admit the accusations of popish heretikes against true Catholikes séeing they are commonly woont with their aduersaries to kéepe neither faith nor truth 1. Tim. 5. 22. The text Impose hands on no man ⸫ lightly neither do thou communicate with other mens sins The note Bishops must haue great care that they giue not order to anie that is not well tried for his faith learning and good behauiour The answer Herein we fully agrée with you But this rule hath béene as well kept by you as all good precepts haue besides But it is no matter for the pope and his bishops learned neither of Peter nor of Paul but of Ieroboam to make priests for their own tooth 1. Tim. 6. 3. The text If any ⸫ teach otherwise and consent not to the sound words of our Lord Iesus Christ and to that doctrine which is according to pietie he is proud knowing nothing The note See the annotation before cap. 1. 34. The answer We agrée with you vpon this point that all doctrine which is odde singuler new differing from that which was first planted by the Apostles and descended from them to all nations and ages following is assuredly erronius Let vs therefore setting all other things apart examine the doctrine of your church and so much as shall be found to descend from the apostles we wil with all our harts embrace But this
they can not erre How Christendome hath bene replenished by them with sectes he that vnderstandeth knoweth the swarmes the number the diuersitie of Monkes Friers Nunnes Eremites Iesuits and such like can not doubt And for blasheming which is the sixt he that hath read of the Popes spéech that he called the Gospel the fable or tale of Christ can not doubt but that this note also is verified of your holie father now acquite your selues well and shewe vs some good defence of your popes against these properties 2. Pet. 2. 12. The text But these men as vnreasonable beastes naturallie tending to the snare and into destruction ⸫ in those things which they know not blaspheming shall perish in their corruption The note So heretikes blaspheme the highest misteries of our faith through ignorance The answer If a man should go about to recken vp the bold blasphemies of your popish heretikes against Christ him selfe and his holie word the day would sooner faile him then matter But no maruell when your great challenging champions can make them selues good sport and pastime of the greatest and most reuerend mysteries of our religion 2. Pet. 2. 18. The text For speaking the proud things of vanitie they allure in the desires of fleshlie riotousnesse those that escape a little which conuerse in error ⸫ promising them libertie whereas them selues are the slaues of corruption The note Who euer promised more libertie to their followers then Luther and Caluin and the like taking away penance fasting continenâ—ie or chastitie keeping of vowes necessitie of good workes because faith doeth all obedience to Ecclesiasticall pastors and Councels and such like The answer You are nothing ashamed of lieng These things which you set downe of Caluine and Luther are starke lies which you shall neuer be able to iustifie But you haue set open the flood gates to sinne by promising manie daies of pardon to the saieng of a set number of praiers and such like 1. IOHN 1. Iohn 2. 16. The text Because all that is in the world is the concupiscence of the flesh and the concupiscence of the eies and the pride of life which is not of the Father but is of the world The note How all sinne and temptation proceede of these three see Saint Thomas Summ. 1. 2. quaest 77. arti 5. The answer Your labours I perceiue are bestowed vpon them that least néede them that is vpon the learned for I do not suppose you to be such fooles as to send the vnlearned multitude to search in the doctors and schoolemen 〈◊〉 2. 19. The text They went out from vs but ⸫ they were not of vs for if they had bene of vs they would surelie haue remained with vs. The note They were of vs for a time that is of and in the church otherwise they could not haue gone out but they were not of the constant sort or of the elect and predestinate for then they had taried within or returned before their death The answer You dare conclude contrarie to the Apostle he saith they were not of vs you say they were of vs otherwise they could not haue gone out and therefore I can not maruell that you are so bold with vs. The societie and companie of men whom we call the church do nurse as it were in their bosome manie hipocrites and enemies to Christ which in time shew them selues who though they go out from the church yet in trueth were neuer of the church for if they had bene of the church truelie then at the least they shuld not haue seuered them selues from the church at their end for none are truelie of the Church but those whom God hath elected and chosen â— Iohn 1. 24. The text You that which you haue ⸫ heard from the beginning let it abide in you The note Keepe that firmly and constantly which you heard euen from the beginning by the mouth of the Apostles and not that which you haue receiued by writing The answer If the apostles taught one thing by mouth and another thing by writing then your note hath some reason in it I would faine see some papists collect this vnwritten doctrin and then shew vs how we may be assured that they had it from the apostles For the things that haue béene heretofore forged vnder the apostles names the papists themselues do not obserue the tenth part of them In the meane space they shall giue vs leaue to beléeue that the apostles whole doctrine is conteined in the Canonicall Scriptures 1. Iohn 2. 29. The text If you know that he is iust know yee that euery one also ⸫ which doth iustice is borne of him The note Wee see that that it is an apostolical doctrine that men may do or work iustice and that so dooing they be iust by works proceeding of Gods grace and not by faith or imputation onely The answer We sée indéed that it is an apostolical doctrin that a man may do or worke iustice and farther that that doing and working is an assured testimonie that we are regenerate and borne of God But that by so doing we are made iust or iustified afore God that is your owne addition without warrant of this text or anie other For though whomsoeuer God hath sanctified him also he hath iustified yet regeneration and sanctification whereof the apostle speaketh here are things distinct from iustification wherof he speaketh not here And bicause iustice is a word of generall signification and somtimes spoken of iustification that is of that righteousnes whereby we are made iust and sometime as here of sanctification that is of that righteousnes whereby we are declared to be iust this ambiguitie serueth your humor to dallie and deceiue withall 1. Iohn 3. 1. The text See what maner of charitie the father hath giuen vs that we should be named and be ⸫ the sonnes of God The note Not by nature as Christ but by grace and adoption The answer And can we be both named and be the sonnes of God and yet doubt of our saluation Were not that to doubt either of the power or goodnes of our father Why are you then the doctors of doubtfulnes 1. Iohn 3. 2. The text We know that when he shall appeere we shall be like to him bicause we shall ⸫ see him as he is The note How we shall see God and be like to him in the next life See S. Aug. ep 111. 112. de Ciuitate dei lib. 12. cap. 29. The answer It is well that you affoord vs so good a schoolemaster but how shall they do that either vnderstand not the latin toong or are not able to buy the fathers It is manifest that your meaning is not to helpe the poorer and more ignorant sort 1. Iohn 3. 3. The text And euery one that hath this hope in him ⸫ sanctifieth himselfe as he also is holie The note This teacheth vs that man sanctifieth himselfe by his free wil working togither with Gods grace
See Augustine vpon this place The answer You know that your collection will not hold and therfore you turne Saint Augustine to vs. Wherein still is to be noted that you of purpose flie from these works which Augustine wrote against Pelagius wherein of purpose he handleth the matter of fréewill and scrape and scratch for it here and there where he speaketh little of it and that but by the way The spéech that Augustine vseth in this place is this that God sanctifieth but hée sanctifieth not them which are not willing to be sanctified And therfore bicause man adioineth his will to God he is said to sanctifie himselfe This spéech of Augustine though it may be racked against his minde to serue your assertion of fréewill yet being interpreted according to his vndoubted meaning as in manie places he vttereth against Pelagius of those onely whose wils God altered and to whom God also giueth power in some measure to performe their good desires is verie tollerable and may well stand 1. Iohn 3. 17. The text He that shall haue the substance of the world and shall see his brother haue need and shal shut his bowels from him how doth the charitie of God abide in him The note Euerie man is bound to giue almes according to his abilitie when he seeth his brother in great necessitie The answer And yet not to thinke his déede meritorious but onely to declare and shew that the loue of God dwelleth in him 1. Iohn 3. 23. The text And this is his commandement that we beleeue in the name of his sonne Iesus Christ and ⸫ loue one another as he hath giuen commandement to vs. The note Least any man should thinke by the words next before onely faith in Christ to be commanded or to please God he addeth to faith the commandement of charitie or loue of our neighbor The answer If there be any that thinke faith onely commanded or do separate loue from it tell vs I pray you who they be and where they remaine that we also may know them hate abhor and detest them 1. Ioh. 4. 12. The text God ⸫ no man hath seene at any time The note No man in this life nor with corporall eies can see the proper essence or substance of the deitie See S. Augustine ad Paulin. de videndo Deo Epist. 112. The answer Still you send vs to those schoolmasters to whom the simple can haue no accesse and therefore by whom they cannot be the better 2. Ioh. v. 8. The text Looke to your selues that you lose not the things which you haue wrought but that you may receiue a full ⸫ reward The note Reward for keeping fast the catholike faith The answer Which is full contrarie to the faith of the Romish church at this day 2. Ioh. v. 9. The text Euery one that ⸫ reuolteth and persisteth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God The note To go backe or reuolt from the receiued truth and doctrine apostolicall is damnable The answer But al papists are gone backe from the truth in the primitiue church receiued therfore except they repent they are damned 3. Ioh. v. 5. The text My deerest thou doest faithfully whatsoeuer thou workest on the brethren ⸫ and that vpon strangers The note A great grace to be beneficiall to strangers specially to them that be of our catholike faith and suffer for the same The answer Remember then your vngracious gouernment in the daies of Quéene Mary when al those strangers which afore in the daies of good king Edward were intertained and comforted in England bicause they had left their countries for the kéeping of a good conscience and for the testimonie of the true ancient most holie catholike faith were banished this land and sent to séeke a resting place where they might find or get it 3. Ioh. v. 9. The text I had written perhaps to the church but he that loueth to beare ⸫ primacie amoÌ„gst them Diotrepes doth not receiue vs. The note It seemeth saith saint Bede he was an archheretike or proud sectmaster The answer Uery much resembling my Lord Bishop of Rome in loue of primacie though far comming behind him in height of pride and in all other wickednes and mischiefe 3. Ioh. v. 10. The text For this cause if I come I wil ⸫ aduertise his works which he doth with malicious words chatting against vs. The note That is I wil rebuke them and make them knowen to be wicked Bede The answer This exposition we receiue and God hath verified it vpon your owne heads For your Diotrepes of Rome his casting out all those that beare fauor to them that loue the truth is now to al the world made manifest to be wicked and they are sufficiently aduertised both of him and his works Iâ—de vers 4. The text For there are certaine men secretly entred in which were long ago prescribed vnto this iudgement impious transferring the grace of our God ⸫ into riotousnes and denieng the onely dominator and our Lord Iesus Christ. The note Diuers heretikes abuse the libertie of Christs grace and Gospell to the fulfilling of their carnall lusts and concupiscences The answer It is very true and yet none so much and so grossely as papists For if they would leaue their lies and forgerie and sticke to such testimonies as are without exception they should easily sée it and be compelled to confesse it Iude vers 5. The text But I will admonish you that once know al things that ⸫ Iesus sauing the people out of the land of Egypt secondly destroied them which beleeued not The note This is our Sauiour not Iosue as saint Hierom noteth ep 17. see Abac c. 3. verse 18. The answer That it could not be Iosua that is héere meant both the truth of the storie of the children of Israels deliuerie out of Egypt and of the punishment of the incredulous and also the Gréeke text which hath not Iesus but the Lord doth plainly and euidently testifie Iude vers 8. The text In like maner these also defile the flesh and ⸫ despise dominion and blaspheme maiestie The note Such be heretikes that will not be subiect to anie superior or that refuse to obey the lawes either of spirituall or temporall rulers in which kind speciallie in blaspheming the supreme spirituall magistrate the Protestants do passe The answer It is somewhat that you do not alwaies passe ouer those places with silence wherein you are so liuelie described for of these heretikes the pope is the head and you his clawbackes are members For to what superior doeth the Pope acknowledge himselfe subiect and do not all ecclesiasticall persons of his church challenge exemption from the authoritie of temporall power what maiesty is there vpon the earth which he blasphemeth not when he abaseth the highest earthlie maiestie so farre vnder him selfe as the moone is inferior to the sunne Iudes description therefore agréeth to none so well as to your selues APOCALYPSE Apocal. 1.
The singular reward of martyrdome The answer But that rewarde of martyrdome magnifieth mightilie the marueilous munificence of our good and gratious God and not the merit of the martyr Apoc. 2. 11. The text He that shall ouercome shall not be hurt of the ⸫ seconde death The note The death of the body is the first death the death of the soule the second Which martyrs are surest to escape of all men The answer That true martyrs are sure to escape the second death is granted but not surer then other that be the sonnes of the same God who are assured of his fatherly fauor both by his promise and by the testimonie and witnes of the spirit of adoption Apoc. 2. 13. The text And in those daies Antipas my faithfull witnes who was slaine amongst you ⸫ where sathan dwelleth The note The speciall residence of sathan is where the faithfull are persecuted for Christs truth where not to denie the catholike faith for feare is much here commended The answer The speciall residence therefore of sathan is wheresoeuer the bishop of Rome beareth swaie for in all those places the blood of infinite martyrs haue béene shed to the great praise and commendation of those that haue constantly suffered for the testimonie of Gods truth Apoc. 2. 19. The text I know thy ⸫ works thy faith and thy charitie and ministerie and thy patience and thy last works mo then the former The note None of these are any thing woorth without the other The answer These things do so mutually follow one an other that though they may be distinguished yet separated they cannot be Your spéech therefore is like this the sunne is naught woorth without light The fire is naught woorth without heate For loue doth necessarily follow faith and after faith and loue our ministerie and diligent seruice to God in the vocation wherin it hath pleased him to plant vs with patience and all plentie of good works do necessarily follow so that one of these cannot be alone as you imagine Apoc. 2. 23. The text And all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reines and harts and I will giue to euery one of you ⸫ according to his works The note Who seeth not heere that good works deserue saluation as ill works deserue damnation and that it is not faith alone which God rewardeth but that faith which worketh by charitie The answer He had néede of a woonderfull sharpe sight that should sée here that which is not here You know well enough for it hath béene often told you that it followeth not that works deserue bicause God rewardeth But still bicause you are not able to make better proofe you make your selues sport with this Likewise you haue béene often told that we set lesse store by that faith which is alone then you do For if it be without charity it is improperly called faith being common both to wicked men and diuels Apoc. 2. 28. The text And he that shall ouercome and keepe my works vnto the end I will giue him power ouer the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron and as a vessel of a potter shall they be broken ⸫ as I also haue receiued of my father and I will giue him the morning star The note This great priuilege of saints riseth of the power and preheminence of Christ which his father gaue him according to his humanitie and therefore to denie it to saints is to denie it to Christ himselfe The answer You should haue told vs what this priuilege is and to whom it is giuen dead or liuing saints so should you not colorably haue nuzeled your blind and ignorant followers in the superstitions that they haue learned of you Therefore that which you subtilly haue omitted we will performe to the end your craft may be of all men espied The rod of iron or scepter of Christs kingdome is his word whereby he ruleth and gouerneth al that are his This word he hath committed into the hands of his ministers to rule and gouerne his church thereby also to destroy breake downe and ouerthrow euery high thing that exalteth it selfe against it to withstand it which shall be by it broken and shiuered to péeces as a potters vessell is broken with a rod of iron This is the power that is giuen to them ouer nations How then can you fetch out of this that which you couet that is defence for your robbing of God and his Christ of his honor and giuing it to dead saints Apoc. 3. 4. The text But thou hast a few names in Sardis ⸫ which haue not defiled their garments The note Such as haue not committed deadly sinne after baptisme The answer All sinne of it selfe and according to the nature thereof whether it be originall or actuall whether it séeme small or great is deadly for the reward and wages of it is death And therefore your distinction of deadly and veniall sinnes in that sense that you set it downe is false friuolous and foolish Apoc. 3. 4. The text And they shall walke with me in whites bicause they ⸫ are woorthie The note Note that there is in man a woorthines of the ioies of heauen by holy life and this is a common speech in holy scripture that man is woorthie of God of heauen of saluation The answer Note that no where in scripture our meriting or deseruing the ioies of heauen is found and note also that woorthines by our good and holie life is a popish tradition and one of their vnwritten verities for it is Christ in whom we are made woorthie And thirdly note that therefore héere as commonly else where our Rhemists play but the boyish sophisters to abuse the poore ignorant vnlearned people which depend vpon them with ambiguitie of words Apoc. 3. 20. The text Behold I stand at the doore and ⸫ knocke if any man shall heare my voice and open the gate I will enter in to him and will sup with him and he with me The note God first calleth vpon man and knocketh at the doore of his hart that is to say offereth his grace And it lieth in man to giue consent by free will holpen also by his grace The answer That God offereth his grace we consent but that the reformation of mans will is by you parted betwixt God and man that we cannot like of by any meanes For that you cannot gather neither of this place or of any other For where by nature our will is altogither corrupt God yea euen God alone must haue the whole glorie of the reformation thereof And therefore Dauid calleth that reformation by the name of creation as if it were by God to be brought foorth againe anew of nothing Apoc. 4. 1. The text After these things I looked and behold a doore open in heauen and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet speaking saieng Come vp hither and I will shew thee
brasse stone and wood can they see heare or walke haue you done penance from the works of your hands or will you wilfully go to the diuell Apoc. 10. ◠The text And I saw an other angell strong descending from heauen clothed with a cloud and a rainbowe on his head and his face was as the sunne and his feet as a pillar of fier The note Christ the valiant angell is heere described The answer I maruell that you followed not your Liranus to expounde this of the bishop of Rome but that flatterie you are ashamed of though in other things you excéede him But the circumstances make it plaine his dignitie power strength his decking from top to toe the greatnes of his voice the brightnes of his countenance his vnused steps comprehending lande and sea togither can not well agrée to any other Apoc. 10. ◠The text And when the seauen thunders had spoken their voices I was about to write And I heard a voice from heauen saieng vnto me Signe the things which the seauen thunders haue spoken and ⸫ write them not The note Manie great mysteries and truths are to be preserued in the church which for causes knowen to Gods prouidence are not to be written in the booke of holie Scripture The answer Farre fetched and déere bought is good for ladies Iohn was forbidden to write Ergo they are kept in the church When you can prooue that your church knoweth those things which Saint Iohn was forbidden to write and those things which Saint Paule heard and sawe in heauen and might not vtter then will I beléeue all your vnwritten verities Apoc. 10. ◠The text And the angell which I saw standing vpon the sea and vpon the land ⸫ lifted vp his hand to heauen and he sware by him that liueth for euer and euer c. The note This was the maner of taking an othe by the true God as Deut. 32. The answer There were diuers and sundrie maners of taking othes by the true God which I do not thinke so necessarie here to be noted as that you haue taught men to forsake God and to sweare by those which are not Gods and as the thing which is héere sworne that is that time shalbe no more which is most necessarie for men to consider that they flatter not them selues with the eternall continuance of the world Apoc. 10. ◠The text And he said to me Take the booke and ⸫ deuoure it The note By earnest studie and meditation The answer You say well adde this I pray you that it is not onlie to be read studied and thought vpon but also in as large measure as we are able to attaine to vnderstood and laied vp in our harts Apoc. 10. 9. The text And it shall make thy bellie to be bitter but in thy mouth it shalbe ⸫ sweete as it were honie The note Sweete in the reading but in the fulfilling somewhat bitter bicause it commandeth works of penance and suffring of tribulations The answer The promises of the most gratious fauour of God and good life to beleeuers are swéete and delectable but that we must passe through manie and bitter tribulations to come to life to flesh and blood can not be but bitter As for your satisfactorie workes of penance which your mind runneth on are not to be found any where in this booke but your hart is alwaies on your half penie Apoc. 11. 2. The text But the court which is without the temple cast foorth and measure not that bicause it is giuen to the Gentiles and they shall tread vnder foot the holie citie ⸫ two fourtie moneths The note Three yeeres and an halfe which is the time of Antichrists raigne and persecution The answer But that these moneths are to be measured here by our ordinarie moneths that resteth to be prooued The onlie thing that we can learne by this is that Antichrists raigne shall not endure alwaies but in comparison of Christes raigne which shalbe eternall if shalbe verie short But how long or how short so euer the time is this is certaine and plaine against the papists that during Antichrists raigne the holie citie that is the church shall be troden vnder foote Apoc. 11. 7. The text And when they shall haue finished their testimonie the ⸫ beast which ascended from the depth shall make warre against them and shall ouercome them and kill them The note The great Antichrist The answer The bishop of Rome who though in the eies of the world séeme to preuaile and to kill the witnesses of Gods truth yet he can not do it till they haue finished their testimonie that is the time that God hath appointed them for the execution of their office Apoc. 11. 8. The text And their bodies shall lie in the streets of the ⸫ great citie which is called spiritually Sodom and Egypt where the Lorde also was crucified The note He meaneth Hierusalem named Sodome and Egypt for imitation of them in wickednes so that we see his chiefe raigne shalbe there though his tirannie may extend to all places of the world The answer How faine you would turne mens eies from Rome to looke for the great Antichrist els where Séeing the names and other attributes are spirituall descriptions of this citie and that Rome resembleth Hierusalem in killing Christ in his members is like Sodom in beastlie filthinesse and like Egypt both in ambition and superstition and in indeuor to hold the people of God in seruitude and thraldom I sée not why we should still thinke that to be the great citie here spoken of Apoc. 11. 10. The text And the inhabitants of the earth ⸫ shall be glad vpon them and make merrie The note The wicked reioice when holie men are executed by the tirants of the world bicause their life and doctrine are burdenous vnto them The answer This is verie true and taught by dailie experience vnder the Pope and such tirannous princes as bend their might force and authoritie to aduance his dignitie Apoc. 11. 15. The text And the seuenth Angel sounded with a trumpet and there were made loud voices in heauen saieng ⸫ The kingdome of this world is made our Lordes and his Christes and he shall raigne for euer and euer Amen The note The kingdome of this world vsurped before by Satan and Antichrist shall afterward be Christs for euer The answer This last trumpet summoneth all the dead to rise againe and so to come to iudgement at which time all enemies shalbe destroied and God sole seazed in quiet possession for euer and euer of the whole world Apoc. 11. 18 The text And the Gentiles were angrie and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead to be iudged and ⸫ to render reward to thy seruants the prophets and saints and to them that feare thy name little and great c. The note To repaie the hire or wages for so both the Greeke word and the Latin signifie due to holie men proueth against
thankesgiuing that the saints of God vse for his benefits It is called the song of Moyses and Christ bicause the benefits of all times of the lawe and of the Gospell are therein considered the deliuerie of the children of Israel and the redemption of all nations vnder heauen It consisteth of thrée parts namely in considering the woonderfulnes and gloriousnes of Gods works the iustice and truth of God in his waies and the terriblenes and fearefulnes of his iudgements Apoc. 1◠6. The text ⸫ Bicause they haue shed the blood of the saints and prophets and thou hast giuen them blood to drinke for they are woorthie The note The great reuenge that God will do at the later daie vpon the persecutors of his saints The answer The great reuenge that God hath done and shewed vpon all the persecuting tyrants of the primitiue church And this withal is to be diligently remembred that Gods arme is not shortened and his hand is stretched out still And therefore still blood must be the drinke of them that delight in blood and they that loue darknes shall haue their rewarde in the kingdome of darknes and they that loue not the truth must be giuen ouer to beléeue lies Apoc. 16. 9. The text And men boiled with great heate and ⸫ blasphemed the name of God hauing power ouer these plagues The note The desperate and damned persons shall blaspheme God perpetuallie which shall be such onely as do not repent in this life The answer If I did not perceiue that these plagues are referred to former times I would referre this to you whome I sée blinded with hipocrisie and drunken with the confidence of your owne merits so that when you intend and purpose to serue God you commit idolatrie and bicause you sée not your sinnes you can not abide anie admonition or reproouing and when God striketh and punisheth you bicause you vnderstand not the cause you are neuer the better but grudge and blaspheme and runne headlong to the diuell without repentance But when I looke vnto those former times which are here spoken of I finde the same rootes of euill in them which are in you although not so déepe rooted in them as in you that is the philosophicall doctrine of frée will and confidence in them selues and their workes which made them suppose that they pleased God when they killed his saints enemies to those opinions and bicause they did not imagine that they did amisse therefore no maruell though they repented not but grudged and blasphemed at the plagues which God powred vpon them For the same causes must néedes in euerie one haue like effectes Apoc. 16. 11. The text And they blasphemed the God of heauen bicause of their paines and woundes and ⸫ did not penance from their works The note See chapter 9. verse 2. in the margent The answer The foole will not giue his bable for the tower of London for then he should misse a great deale of good sport Your marginall annotation hath bene viewed and answered the substance wherof being friuolous and foolish you haue repeated I knowe not howe oft in these annotations Apoc. 16. 13. The text And I sawe from the mouth ⸫ of the dragon and from the mouth of the beast and from the mouth of the false prophet three vncleane spirits in maner of frogges The note The dragon is the diuell the beast Antichrist or the societie whereof he is the head the false prophet either Antichrist him selfe or the companie of heretikes and seducers that follow him The answer That by the dragon the diuell is signified and by the beast the Pope or the societie whereof he is the head we easilie consent with you but the false prophet here we suppose to be Mahomet that hath seduced the whole empires of the Turkes and Persians And al these by euill wicked and seducing spirits bend them selues and all their force against the Church and kingdome of Christ. Apoc. 16. 16. The text And he shall gather them into a place which in Hebrewe is called Arina-gedon The note The hill of theeues by Saint Hieroms interpretation The answer The coniectures of interpreters is very diuers vpon this word but this is plaine that being in the time of the sixt Angels powring foorth his viall it is a matter to be accomplished néere about our times and it is therefore the diligentlier to be considered and weighed of vs with the issue of it The summe of it is that the diuell and Antichrist shall by their false prophets perswade the Kings of the earth to bend all their whole force against the church and against the Gospel of God to extinguish and destroy it By all likelihoode the time of accomplishing this is nowe at hand for I suppose there was neuer afore anie such conspiracie of princes for that purpose But God who drewe Iabin and Sisera to Magiddo which bicause it was placed by a mountaine is called héere Arma-gedon to giue them and all their great armie into the hand of a woman to destruction hath promised to doe the like héere to the great comfort and consolation of his church and people especiallie of those which are now gouerned by Deborah Apoc. 16. 19. The text And ⸫ the great citie was made into three parts and the cities of the Gentiles fell The note The citie or common welth of the wicked diuided into three partes into infidels heretikes and euill Catholikes The citie is here called Babylon whereof see the next chapter verse 5. The answer The citie still I take for Rome called héere Babilon The diuision of it I take to be into Epicurean Atheists close hipocrites and cruell superstitious and yet openlie wicked ignorant people Apoc. 17. ◠The text And there came to me one of the seuen Angels which had the seuen vials and spake with me saieng Come I will shewe thee the damnation of the great harlot The note The small damnation of the whole companie of the reprobate called heere the great whore The answer The finall damnation of the popes of Rome and their church there so euidentlie described by their maners nature properties conuersation of life apparell power ouer the kings of the earth that neither man nor place vpon the earth can be found to which euerie part of this description can so aptlie agrée to as to these Open therefore your eies and espie her whom the holie Ghost laieth out so openlie before you and flie from her betimes least you be partaker of her plagues and damnation Apoc. 17. 1. The text Which sitteth vpon ⸫ many waters The note These many waters are many peoples verse 15. The answer Héere you haue found scripture for your vniuersalitie The whoore hath a large dominion and many people vnder hir euen as many as without all iudgement receiue whatsoeuer it pleaseth the bishops of Rome to obtrude to them Apoc. 17. 8. The text The beast which thou sawest ⸫ was and is not and shal come vp out of
triumphant The answer The ioy and comfort of all the saints of God to thinke of Now euerie gift which we receiue in this life is a pledge and token of that loue wherewith Christ hath imbraced his church as his spouse but then she shall be perfectlie adorned and beautified and put into actuall possession of al the good things which are Christs her husbands Apoc. 21. 3. The text And I heard a loud voice from the throne saieng behold ⸫ the tabernacle of God with men and he wil dwel with them The note This Tabernacle is Christ according to his humanitie The answer Though it be true that by the incarnation of our Lord and sauiour Christ and his taking vpon him our nature God dwelleth with vs yet héere it is spoken of Gods receiuing vs into the participation of the glorie of his Christ. For then when we shall be receiued into eternall and euerlasting felicitie this societie coniunction and dwelling of God and man togither shall most cléerly and perfectly appéere Apoc. 21. 4. The text And God shall wipe away all teares from their eies and death shall be no more nor moorning nor crieng neither shall there be sorrow any more which ⸫ first things are gone The note This happie day shal make an end of all the miseries of this mortality The answer God is likened to a mother which wipeth away the teares from the infants eies and chéekes whereby is signified that not onely there shall be an end of the miseries of this mortalitie but also that there shall remaine no token step nor print of our former calamities Apoc. 21. 7. The text He that shall ouercome ⸫ shall possesse these things and I will be his God and he shall be my sonne The note He that hath the victorie in the church militant shall haue his reward in the triumphant The answer If hope of praie and spoile and liberall intertainment make men to aduenture them selues and their liues for victorie howe much more we whose liues are a continuall warfare who are most certaine and assured of victorie should manfullie and valiantlie fight against all spirituall enemies sith the liberalitie of God is so great to victors and conquerors Apoc. 21. 8. The text But ⸫ to the fearfull and incredulous and execrable and murderers and fornicators and sorcerers and idolaters and all liers their part shalbe in the poole burning with fire and brimstone which is the second death The note All that commit mortall sinnes and repent not shall be damned The answer The wages of euerie sinne is death All impenitent sinners therefore how smal soeuer their sinne séeme to be shalbe damned which is also plainly here insinuated in that not onelie vnbeléeuers other grosse and foule sinners in the common iudgement of men are reckoned but also and that first of all those which are fearfull and cowards in Gods cause are set which is a fault that most men little regard and make a small account of and therefore all sins without repentance draw men to damnation Apoc. 〈◊〉 11. The text And he tooke me vp in spirit into a mountaine great and high and he shewed me the holie citie Hierusalem descending out of heauen from God ⸫ hauing the glorie of God And the light thereof like to a pretious stone as it were to the Iasper stone euen as Christall The note The glorie of the triumphant church The answer Which though it be héere excellently swéetly and delectably shadowed yet it doth excéed far the capacitie and reach of our dull braines and weake vnderstanding in this vale of miserie Howbeit the holy Ghost doth thus describe it to the end that we considering the excellencie of this description and waieng that that the holy Ghost hath but shadowed these things by the most excellent earthly things that are we should be wholy rapt and inflamed with the loue of these things and haue our eies continually vpon them and long and earnestly desire to haue the actuall fruition of them Apoc. 21. 12. The text And it had a wall great and high hauing twelue gates and in the gates twelue Angels and names written thereon which are ⸫ the names of the twelue tribes of the children of Israel The note The names of the patriarks and apostles honorable and glorious in the triumphant church The answer In respect of the promises made to the fathers and in respect of the doctrine of truth and sauing health deliuered to the whole church by the holy apostles and in whatsoeuer respect beside that you can reckon neither derogating from the glorie of God nor dissonant from the truth of his word Apoc. 21. 16. The text And ⸫ the citie is situated quadrangle wise and the length thereof is as great as also the bredth and he measured the citie with the reed for twelue thousand furlongs the length and height and bredth thereof be equall The note See S. Hierom ep 17. touching this description of the heauenly Hierusalem which is the church triumphant teaching that thes◠things must be taken spiritually not carnally The answer This admonition is very necessarie for your poore blind followers who know nothing and are vtterly destitute of all vnderstanding But alack how is it possible for them to take these things spiritually who are altogither carnall led by masters and teachers which are themselues void of the spirit of God But out of poperie in this light of the Gospell it is hard to find any so ignorant that thinketh not that these things ought to be spiritually vnderstood Apoc. 21. 22. The text And ⸫ temple I saw not therein For our Lord God omnipotent is the temple thereof and the lambe The note All externall sacrifices which now is the necessarie duetie of the faithfull shall then cease and therefore shall neede no materiall temple The answer The sacrifice which your minde runneth of is now no dutie of a christian And though we haue now places to méete in to heare and learne the word to praie and to praise God in to celebrate the misteries which he hath left to his church and to vse all spirituall exercises yet temples we haue none for God him selfe is our temple for we dwell in him and we are his temple for his spirit dwelleth in vs. As for your propitiatorie sacrifices you may take paines to returne them to Rome from whence they came Apoc. 21. 27. The text There shall ⸫ not enter into it anie polluted thing nor that doeth abomination and maketh lie but they are written in the booke of life of the lambe The note None not perfectlie clensed of their sinnes can enter into this heauenlie Hierusalem The answer You know that in this life we know but in part we loue but in part and therefore no worke perfectlie good can procéede from vs. Those therefore that put confidence in the meritoriousnesse of mens workes can not enter into this Ierusalem And I muse that you tremble not and quake not when you
commonlie of vncircumcised nations were vncleane as also they estéemed of the vncircumcised persons them selues Rom. 14. 14. The text But to him that supposeth anie thing to be common to him it is common The note Though he wish the weake to be borne withall yet he vttereth his minde plainlie that in deed all the meates forbidden and vncleane in the law are now through Christ clensed and lawfull for euery man to vse The answer As Paul was plaine in deliuering his doctrine concerning daies and meats so the papists doctrine thereof is obscure darke and doubtfull so that the greatest number of their simple followers haue their consciences snarled and intangled in daies and meates and know not the indifferencie of them Rom. 15. 4. The text For ⸫ what things soeuer haue bene written to our learning they are written that by patience and consolation of the scriptures we may haue hope The note He meaneth all that is written in the old Testament much more all things written in the new Testament are for our learning and comfort The answer If both the Scriptures of the old new Testament be written for our learning what meaneth the church of Rome neither to prouide teachers in number sufficient nor yet to suffer the people to reade them in a language that they may vnderstand is it not bicause you are content to haue men nusseled in ignorance and so spoiled of the comfort which God hath prouided for them I thinke pope Paul and you be of one iudgement Rom. 15. ◠The text And the God of patience and of comfort giue you to be of one mind one toward another according to Iesus Christ that of ⸫ one minde with one mouth you may glorifie God and the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ. The note Vnitie in religion commended The answer Popish vnitie consisteth in this that seruice bée in one language through Christendome whether people vnderstand it or no Otherwise what vntie is and hath bene in your religion they that are acquainted with your writers and stories can tell As for example your great professor Martinius whilest he is caried with an enuious stomacke to carpe at our English translations doeth condemne yours in more then an hundred places But I confesse howsoeuer you haue dissented in other things you haue held and do hold a marueilous vnitie against al verity and that is the cause that not one of you maketh anie conscience of lieng And though there are amongst vs also some contentions yet they are not about waightie points of doctrine for therein is a verie great consent but such as hath happened amongst the Apostles them selues and are all about bearing with or rooting out some leauings of yours Rom. 15. 8. The text For I say Christ Iesus to haue bene ⸫ minister of the circumcision for the veritie of God to confirme the promises of the fathers The note Christ did execute his office and ministerie onlie towards the people of circumcision that is the Iewes The answer This note is true but yet so as that in diuerse Christ afore shewed the calling of the Gentiles Rom. 15. 25. The text Now therefore I will go to Hierusalem to minister to the ⸫ Saints The note He meaneth the holie persons that hauing forsaken all their goods for Christ were wholie conuerted to serue the Lord with all their mind Saint Hierome against Vigilantius the heretike reprehending the almes giuen to such as do the heretikes also of our time The answer What heretikes of our time finde fault with reléeuing the néedie saints of God but you meane them that iustlie finde fault that a great number of roging Friers being lustie and able to get their liuing by the sweat of their browes should be reléeued and so deuoure and consume that which is due to the poore néedie sicke and impotent people contrarie to the precept of Paul He that laboureth not let him not eat But at Hierusalem there were then none of those that professed witfull pouertie Rom. 15. 30. The text I beseech you therefore brethren by our Lord Iesus Christ and by the charitie of the holie Ghost that you ⸫ helpe me in your praiers for me to God The note In that the Apostle desireth to be praied for we may be mooued to seeke the same as a great benefit The answer The praiers of the faithfull are very forcible helps to aduance forward the good desires and endeuors of Gods ministers Rom. 16. 3. The text Salute Prisca and Aquila my helpers in Christ Iesus The note The onely salutation of so woorthie a man is sufficient to fill him with great grace that is saluted Chrysost. in 2. Timoth. 4. The answer I maruell you are not ashamed to alledge the doctors for that which you your selues beléeue not Can any man by saluting bestow Gods graces where it pleaseth him to salute The fathers prooue the holie Ghost to be God bicause the gifts and graces of God are distributed as he will And I pray you how much inferior do you make Paul to the spirit of God if his salutation be sufficient to fill with graces whom it pleaseth him to salute Wel let your note haue that credit that Chrysostoms bare word without further matter may giue it Rom. 16. ◠The text Who for my life haue laid downe their necks to whom not onely I giue thanks but also the churches of the Gentils and their domesticall church The note This domesticall church was either that faithfull and Christian houshold or rather the Christians meeting togither there and in such good houses to heare diuine seruice and the Apostles preaching in those times of persecution The answer Why do you not in stead of diuine seruice say mattens and masse For we now vnderstand by diuine seruice that they praied togither in a toong they vnderstood and that likewise some parcel of scripture was read which was by their Apostles or pastors interpreted to them Which how far it disagreeth with the maner and custome of your church he that hath halfe an eie may sée Rom. 16. 15. The text Salute Philologus and Iulia Nereus and his sister and Olympias and all the saints that are with them The note The protestants heere reason thus Peter is not heere saluted Therfore he was neuer at Rome See the annotation The answer You slander the protestants Their maner of reasoning is not so loose They reason thus Paul who so carefully reckoned and saluted the chéefe and principall Christians at Rome by name would not haue forgotten Peter as the principall and chéefe if he had then béene there Therefore it is very likely that he was not then there bicause he was not then saluted We know that it is not materiall whether Peter were at Rome or no or whether he were bishop there or no. And therfore they are not points that we greatly sticke on But those that tell the time of his comming thither and how long he liued they are manifestly confuted by the truth
of the word against which no credit of men can stand For his being bishop there the consent is not so great as you Thrasonically brag of For some hold that neither he was bishop there nor made the first bishop there Some make Paul as much bishop there as Peter That Peter might then be out of the citie either for persecution or busines or else that being there Paule might write other letters wherin this might be inclosed are but your surmises wanting both testimonie of antiquitie and al probabilitie Rom. 16. 17. The text And I desire you brethren to marke them that make dissentions and scandals contrarie to the doctrine which you haue learned ⸫ and auoid them The note Of the prince of the Apostles saith Theodoret vpon this place The answer Why we should thinke they learned of Peter I sée no reason But for that which you would haue the simple beléeue that by the word which it pleaseth you to translate prince Peters supremacie aboue the other Apostles is meant they are to be admonished that the fathers giue the same name to Paule as well as to Peter whereby it appéereth that they thought not of any such supreme power or authoritie which also is not onely manifest by the continual practise of the first church but also by plaine spéeches of the fathers Eusebius saith that neither Peter nor Iohn tooke vpon them to be chéefe ouer the Apostles but gaue the primacie to Iames whom they made bishop of the Apostles Cyprian saith that all the Apostles were equal in authoritie Ambrose cannot tell of Peter and Paul whether of them he may preferre By this it is euident that the fathers meant not by reuerend titles they gaue Peter to exalt him in authoritie aboue the rest Rom. 16. 18. The text For such do not serue Christ our Lord but their owne bellie and by ⸫ sweete speeches and benedictions seduce the harts of the innocents The note The speciall way that heretikes haue euer had to beguile was and is by sweete words gaie speeches which their sheeps coate see before described particularly in the annotation vpon Saint Matthew cap. 7. vers 15. The answer Is there any way of beguiling that papists want Did euer any in the worlde prouide better for their bellies Did you not make of Saint Peters keies picklockes to rob euerie mans coffers with them Extraordinarie tokens of fained holines where shall a man looke for them if he finde them not in your Iesuites and friers filed and fine spéeches are your studie And that they may be more admired and better able to deceiue you kéepe from the people the key of knowledge you nuzell them in ignorance to the ende they should not be able to discerne words from matter 1. Corinthians 1. Cor. 1. 1◠The text And I meane this for that euerie one of you saith ⸫ I certes am Paules and I Apollos but I Cephas and I Christs The note The beginning of schismes is ouer much admiring and addicting mens selues to their owne particular masters The answer We haue one master that is to saie Christ him we professe to follow and of him to learne others of what godlines or estimation so euer we follow but so far foorth as they followed Christ. If admiring of men and addicting mens selues to particular masters be the beginning and cause of schismes Then what can you say for your Austen friers your Dominicans your Franciscans your Iesuites your schoolemen your Thomists your Scotists why they should not go for schismatikes Haue they not the authors of their their sects in admiration Haue they not addicted themselues to their particular masters Haue they not deuised a number of vntruthes to bring their masters into admiration and estimation What though there be some kinde of consent amonst them yet that excuseth them not from being schismatikes no more then the consent of Pharisies Sadduces other sectaries of the Iewes against Christ and his truth did excuse them 1. Cor. 3. 2. The text As it were to litle ones in Christ I gaue you ⸫ milke to drink not meate for you could not as yet But neither can you now verily for yet you are carnall The note The church onely hath truth both in her milke and in her bread that is whether she instruct the perfect or imperfect who are called carnall Aug. lib. 15. cap. 3. contra Faustum The answer If you went not about with the name of the church to beguile the simple as though thereby your church were vnderstood wée néeded not to giue this any answer But now to auoide your deceite we as we learne of Augustine admonish all men by the scriptures to iudge of the church least therin being deceiued they in stéed of milke and bread receiue strong poison 1. Cor. 3. 9. The text For we are Gods coadiutors ⸫ you are Gods husbandrie you are Gods building The note A maruellous dignitie of spirituall pastors that they be not the onely instruments or ministers of Christ but also Gods coadiutors in the worke of our saluation The answer I haue not hitherto neither carped at your old translator neither yet at your translation neither will I begin here though I might Onlie this I would haue all men to obserue diligently that in this dignitie which God hath bestowed vpon men to vse their labor and paines in his worke men do vse strength not naturall but conferred by grace that they may be apt and fit instruments to aduance forward Gods worke so that they haue nothing of themselues in themselues to glorie of And further that all that which is chéefe in this worke as all encrease of goodnes saluation and life do so procéede from God as that therein he vseth no mans helpe but his owne 1. Cor. 4. 6. The text But these things ⸫ brethren I haue transfigured into my selfe and Apollo for you that in vs you may learne one not to be puffed vp against another aboue that is written The note Lo when he named himselfe and Apollo and Cephas he ment other seditious and factious preachers whose names he spared The answer We sée rather that those which are seditious and factious doo for their better winning of credit shroud them selues vnder the names of those which be famous for godlines and learning And so it is like that they did at Corinth that the Apostle correcting the fault was content to spare their names that by that milde dealing he might the better winne them if it were possible 1. Cor. 4. 15. The text For ⸫ if you haue ten thousand paedagogues in Christ yet not manie fathers The note So may Saint Augustine our Apostle say to vs English men The answer The reader is here to vnderstand that our papists meane Augustine the monke not Augustine the famous doctor and that this Augustine was no Apostle for that he was not sent vs immediatlie from God but from a méere man This