Papistical this is and contrary to Protestancie euery one knoweth Beside as Fox saith pag. 115. most like they did this for holines sake thincking in this kind of life to serue or please God better or to merit more which Kinde of act or ende of theirs is plain Papistical and quite opposit to Protestancie And therfore Fox saith that these Kings were far deceaued To these Kings we may adioin 19. Queenes and Kings daughters whome Fox also pag. 134. confesseth to haue left their royall estate Manie ancient Queenes and K. Daughters nunnes and becommen Nunnes Yea pag. 137. he citeth out of an ancient Chronicle That in the Primitiue Church of England Kings Deuotion of English to monkish life Princes Dukes Earles Barons and Rulers of Churches incensed with a desire of heauen laboring and striuing among them selues to enter into Monkerie into voluntarie exile and solitarie life forsooke all and followed the Lord. The same hath Huntington lib. 5. Houed and others Is this thinck we a proceding of Protestants or rather of earnest and deuout Roman Catholicks 5 Out ancient Kings desire the P. to confirme their Charters 2. Fiftly They desired the Pope to confirme their Charters which they made This you may see of King Ethelbert the first Christian King in Malmsb lib. 1. Pont. pag. 208. Of King Coenred and King Offa in Capgraue in vita Egwin Of King Egbert in Florent Chron. An. 676. of King wulfer in Ingulf pag 884. Of an other King Offa in Paris An. 794. Of King Edgar in Malmsb. lib. 2. Reg. pag. 57. 6. They suffered appeals to Rome from them selues 6 Kings suffer appeals to Rome This is euident in King Egbert and King Alfred in Beda lib. 5. cap. 20. 7. They beleeued S. Peter to be Prince of the Apostles as is to be seene in King Offa his Charter in Cambden in Brit. 7 Our Kings beleeue S. Peters supremacie pag. 613. and S. Peter to be higher in degree than S. Paule as is to be seene in King Ina his verses there pag. 193. and Peter onely to haue had the keies to witt of all the Church as Reinolds confesseth Confer pag. 12 And finally the Church of Rome in their time to be the Catholick and Apostolick Church as Beda testifieth lib. 3. cap. 29 at what time the Protestants account the Roman Church the who are of Babilon and the Pope Antichrist 8 Manie of our Kings canonized by the Pope 8. Seuen of these our English Kings are Canonized by the Roman Church in the Martirologe to wit Ethelbert Richard Oswald Sebbi Edmund Edward martir Edward Confessor 9 Our ancient Kings knovv not iustification by onely faith which would neuer haue bene done if they had not bene Roman Catholicks 9. Our ancient English Kings could be no Protestants therfore they were Roman Catholicks For no others challenge them for theirs That they could be no Protestants is most manifest First because the opinion of iustification by onely faith is accounted of Protestants the foundation VVhat is the foundation and soul of Protetestancie Luther head and cheefest point and soule of their Doctrin and Church It is saith Luther Prefat in Ionam the head of Christian Religion the summe of the scriptures Prefat ad Galath If the article of Iustification by onely faith be once lost then is all true Christian doctrin lost And as many as hould not that doctrin are Iewes Turks Papists or hereticks Item By this onely doctrin the Church is built and in this it consisteth And in cap. 1. Galath If we neglect the Article of Iustification we leese all together And in cap. 2. It is the principal Article of all Christian doctrin all other Arcicles are comprehended in it Fox Acts. Fox pag. 840. saith It is the foundation of all Christianitie Chark And pag. 770. the onely principal origen of our saluatian Chark in the Tower disputation saith It is the soule of the Church And the same say all other Protetestants But this foundation this head this soule of Protestancie our ancient Kings knew not as Fox plainly confesseth in these wordes pag. 170. The Doctrin of Iustification by onely faith was then vnknown And pag. 133. writeth thus of our antientest Christian Kings Our Kings knevv not the Protestant Gospel They lackt the doctrin and knowledg in Christs Gospel espetially saith he in the Article of free Iustification by faith and therfor saith he they ran the wrong way Loe he granteth that they were ignorant espetially of that which Protest esteeme the especiallest point of Protestancie And Ibid. speaking of our ancient Christian Kings hath these wordes How great the blindnes and ignorance of these men was who wanting no zeale wanted knowledg seeking their saluation by their meritorious deedes which I write saith he here to put vs in mind how much we at this present are bound to God for the true sinceritie of his truth hidden so long before to our fforancestors and opened now to vs. A plaine confession that none of our Anceitors vvere Protestants This onely lamenting to see them haue such works and want our faith and vs to haue right faith and want their workes Could he say more plainly that our Ancient Princes and Christian Ancestors knew not so much as the foundation of Protestancy and wanted their faith And with what face then can any man challeng them for Protestants And heere I challeng Abbots or what minister so euer VVhat must be shevved of ministers that saie our Anceitors vvere Protestants to shewe one ancient English man Woman or Child that held this forsaid foundation head and soule of their religion And if they can not as indeede they can not let them confesse that there was neuer ancient English Protestant vnles they will make Protest without head or or soule 3. Moreouer to build or indow Religious houses as Doc. Abbots saith Answer to D. pag. 100. Bishop for redemption of their sinnes and purchase of their soules health proceeded of the wāt of the sight of the sunne of righteousnes For vvhat end our Kings built and endevved monasteries And Fox pag. 133. saith it is contrary to the rule of Christs Gospel But the same Fox Ibid. testifieth that our first Christian kings built monasteries seeking for merit with God and remedie of their soules and remedy of their sinnnes and prooueth it by a Charter of King Ethelbald which he might haue proued by as many Charters of those ancient kings as are extant One of King Ethelbald I will cite out of Ingulph made to free monks from taxes the third yeare of his Reigne which was 718 some what more than a hunderd yeares after S. Austin Ego Ethelbald c I Ethelbald King of marchland for the loue of the celestical Contry Good vvorks done to free the soul from bond of sin and for the redemption of my soule haue prouidently decreed to free it by good worke from all bond of sinne
THE PRVDENTIALL BALLANCE OF RELIGION Wherin the Catholike and Protestant religion are weighed together with the weights of Prudence and right Reason THE FIRST PART In which the foresaide Religions are weighed together with the weights of Prudence and right Reason accordinge to their first founders in our Englishe Nation S. Austin and Mar. Luther And the Catholike religion euidently deduced through all our Kings and Archbishopps of Canterburie from S. Austin to our time and the valour and vertue of our Kings and the great learninge and Sanctitie of our Archbishopps together with diuers Saints and miracles which in their times proued the Catholike faith so sett downe as it may seeme also an abridgment of our Ecclesiasticall Histories With a Table of the Bookes and Chapters conteyned in this Volume PSALM 118. The wicked haue told me fables but not as thy Law Printed vvith Licence 1609. EPISTLE TO THE MOST Noble and renovvned ENGLISH NATION my most deere Countrimen 1. RIGHT Honorable right worshipfull and dearelie beloued Countrymen giue me leaue to ioyne you all in one Epistle whom I contayne in one brest of loue and include in one lincke of entire affection Because the end for which I write vnto you concerneth you all alike and equallie to witt the true Religion and worshipp of God and saluation of your owne soules A matter vs of the greatest weight and worthiest of Search fo in these our miserable dayes of most controuersie and perplexed difficultie Wherin to helpe you the better to discerne true gold from shyninge brasse true religion from false and counterfeit I haue framed for you a Prudentiall Balance of Religion by which euery one of you may by the weightes and rules of right reason and true prudence weighe the Roman Catholique and the Protestant religion together and distincklie perceaue whither of them is more likelie to come from God and to lead you to him VVhy this course of comparinge religions is taken 2. And this course of comparinge these two religions together I haue taken before any other because as the Philosopher teacheth and experience confirmeth Contraria iuxta se posita magis elucescunt Contraries put together do more apppeare As beautie in presence of deformitie seemeth more gratious and deformitie more vglie Truth before lies appeareth more loue lye and lies more odious vertue before vice more amiable and vice more detestable Euery thinge as it were striuinge to shew it selfe more when it is set as it were to wrastle with the contrarie And I haue made choyse of comparinge these religions accordinge to the rules of ttue prudence and right reason VVhy the comparinge of religions accordinge to rules of vvisdome is chosen before others rather then otherwise as the most generall most easie most euident and most effectuall for all sortes of people for albeit Catholiques Protestants agree that to be the true religion of God which is most agreable to his word yet sith they neyther agree which is his word Protestants reiectinge much of that which Catholiques reuerence for Gods heauenly word nor which is they sense therof Thus Tertullian lib. de praescript proued by reason the Cath. religion to be preferred befor anie heresie they can not be brought to agree about one balance of Gods word wherby they may weigh their religions together Besides that not onely Catholicks teach but also Protestants confesse that the weaker sorte of Christians can not iudge which is the true exposition of Scriptures And therfor to weighe religions to them by the balance of Scripture D. Reinolds Confer pag. 149. were to weigh one vnknowne thing by an other But the weights of Prudence and right reason are both commun and euident to all therfor the weighinge of religions by them must needs be most generall most easie and most effectual with all sortes of people And if anie refuse to haue their religion tried by these kinds of weights VVhat religion is against vvisdom and reason is follie they confesse therby that they fear their religion to be contrarie to wisdome and reason which is as much as to be fabulous and foolish For what can be opposit to wisdome and reason but follie and fables 3. Nether let anie think that that religion which is most agreable to Prudence and the light of reason is not also most agreable to Scripture Because reason and Scripture are both God his word and Gods truth the one naturall written by his owne hand in our soules by creation the other supernatural written in paper with the hands of his holie Scribes by reuelation The agreablenes of Religion and reason And therfor though these two words be of different degree they can not be contrarie but rather as twinnes of one and the self same parent haue great sympathie and connexion together For as God doth not by his grace destroie the naturall inclination of our will to good but perfecteth it So by his word and faith he extinguisheth not but increaseth the naturall insight which our vnderstanding hath of truthe yea such is the force of our vnderstanding to pearce into Gods truth as that by it the Philosophers as the Apostle witnesseth Rom. 1. came to know the inuisible proprieties of God and his euerlasting power diuinitie S. Paul And sith we see that men by the light of reason know so much of other moral vertues as without all other teaching they perceaue in manie things what is honest what dishonest what iust what vniust what is vertue what vice why should we doubt that God hath giuen to vs equal knowledge of matters of religion and worship of him self Which vertue as it is the cheefest of all morall vertues so the knowledge therof is most necessaire of them all vnto vs. Yea S. Austin accounted so much of Reason as lib. de vtil credendi cap. 12. he said that Recta ratio est ipsa virtus S. Austin because it is the naturall square and rule which God euen in creation giueth to euery one to know what he ought to do Calvvin And Caluin saith that Semen religionis est in mente humana And Iewel art 6. diuis 12. that naturall reason holden within her bondes is not the enemye Iuel but the daughter of Gods truth And therfor he must be very vnreasonable that will without cause be angrye with reason Doct Reinolds And Doctor Reinolds in his conference pag. 207. saith Reason is a notable helpe of mans weaknes This rule therfor of naturall reason and prudence giuen vnto vs by God common and euident to all authorized by verdit of the Apostle confirmed by reason and approued by consent both of Catholiques and Protestantes is that wherwith I intend to direct you in the choyce of Religion and the Balance wherwith I purpose to to weigh before your eyes the two more famous religions which are in our Lande 4. Not because I thinke that onelie naturall light of reason is able without
Ther he shall see our seauen orders our attire of Bishops at masse our Transubstantiation our Extreme Vnction and that acounted a Sacramēt our Confession of all our sinnes our singing Masse and praying for the dead These to omit innumerable more confessed in lyke māner by Protestāts to haue bene great schollers and profound Diuines shew that it was not ignorance or want of knowledg which made our Forfathers to follow S. Austins doctrin nor that the Protestants learned men haue by their learning discouered in it errors as they call them For whome haue they had comparable to any of these in learning and industry whome of their owne haue they so much commended as they haue done these Comparaison of Protest learned men vvith ours Let any Protestant desirous of truth take Tindal Latimer Ridley whome they terme the Apostles of England and consider whither in learning or vertue they be comparable to these three And then iudge with indifferency on whose side truth is most lykely to stand For all reason teacheth that they are most lykely to find truth who abounded with most learning to search it and were indued with most vertue to haue it from God What reasonable man then is ther that forsaking the Doctrine of S. Aldelm S. Beda and Alcuin whome not onely wee but very Protestants confesse to haue bene most industrious to finde truth most skilful to discerne it and most vertuous to deserue to haue it taught of God will follow Tindal Latimer Ridley whose learning by the iudgment of Catholiques was very meane and their life very vicious and by the iudgement of their own men are but meanly commended either for good life or good learning CHAP. XIII That the Doctrine which S. Austin preached he sealed and confirmed by true miracles Hovv manie kindes of proofes for S. Austins miracles 1. THat Saint Austin confirmed his doctrine by miracles I will proue First by the testimony of those who liued in his tyme secondly by the testimony of those that liued soone after and lastly by the plain confession of Protestants VVitnesses then liuing Of those that liued in his tyme first is S. Gregory who writing to Eulogius Patriarch of Alexandria lib. 7. epist 30. saith S. Gregorie Both he Austin and they vvho vvere sent vvith him shine vvith so great miracles in that English Nation that they may seeme to imitat the vertues of the Apostles by the miracles vvhich they vvorke And lib. 9. epist 56. writing to the Queene of France saith VVhat and hovv great miracles our Redeemer hath vvrought in the conuersion of the forsaid English Nation The Q. of France knevv that our nation vvas conuerted by great miracles yt is alredy knovvn vnto your Excellency And can any man thinck that this great Doctor would write to a Queene of France that she knew what miracles were done in England if they were not manifest and out of all doubt And lib. 9. epist 58. writing to S. Austin him selfe he saith Reioice that English mens soules are by outvvard miracles dravvne to invvard grace Ib. Diligently discusse thy self vvho thou arte and hovv great the grace is in that Nation for whose conuersion thou hast receaued the gift of miracles And lib. 27. Moral .. cap. 6. VVheras by good precepts and heauenly words yea with manifest miracles too the grace and knowledg of God is powred into it English harts c. By which words saith S. Beda lib. 2. cap. 1. this holy Father doth declare that Austin and his company brought the English men to the knowledg of truth not onely by preaching to them in word but also by shewing them heauenly signes and miracles 2. The second testimonie is the publick Epitaph which the English men set vpon S. Austins Tombe after his death in these wordes S. Austins Epitaph Here resteth the body of S. Austin first Bishop of Dorobernia that was sent into this Land by S. Gregorie Bishop of the Cittie of Rome approued of God by the vvorking of miracles and brought Ethelbert and his people from the vvorshiping of Idolls vnto the Faith of Christ The third testimonie of those that liued in S. Austins tyme are the Britons The Britons who by the miraculous cure of a blind man wrought by S. Austin in their sight were compelled to confesse as S. Beda saith lib. 2. cap. 2. that to be the true vvay of righteousnes vvhich S. Austin preached And this testimony is much to be regarded VVhy the testimonie of the Britons for S. Austins miracles is much to be regarded for it is the testimonie of many of enemyes of eye witnesses and of those among vvhome saith S. Beda lib. 2. cap. 2. vvere plures viri doctissimi So they can be no way suspected ether of partialitie being enemies or of insufficiencie being many and present and through their learning most able to iudg Cambden also citeth a peece of a Historie An vnnamed Author of S. Austins time written as he saith in that time which recordeth that S. Austin hauing blessed the Riuer Swale and apointed that of ten thousand men besides weomen and children twoe and twoe should goe in Great miracles and Christen eche other besides that none perished in so deepe a water this miracle also happened that all sicknes and deformitie was cured by that Christening 3. After S. Austins tyme liued S. Beda who lib. 1. cap. 26. writeth VVitnesses of S. Austins miracles after his tyme. The King being much delighted vvith the puritie of their life S. Austin and his fellowes and the example of their godly conuersation as also vvith their svveet promises vvhich they proued to be true by the vvorking of miracles S. Beda did beleeue and vvas baptized And lib. 2. cap. 2. he reporteth the Prophecie of S. Austin of the destruction of the Britons for their obstinacie and the euent answered therto after his death Which is so sure a token of diuine reuelation as the Prophet Esay cap. 41. saith Tel vs vvhat things are to come herafter and vve shall knovv that yovv are Gods The like prophetical knowledg of things past is attributed to S. Paulin one of S. Austins fellowes by him lib. 2. cap. 12. and Godwin in vita Paulini Fox Acts pag. 121 Holinshed pag. 108. and others Likwise lib. 2. cap. 6. He recounteth the miraculous scourging of S. Laurence successor to S. Austin by S. Peter for intending to abandon our Contrie vpon the reuolt therof to Paganisme Which miracle is contested also by our cheefest historiographers Malmsbury lib. 1. Reg. and lib. 2. Pont. Huntington lib. 3. Marian. an 617. Westmon an 616. Florent an 616. and confessed by some protestants as Godwin in vit Laurentij and Holinshed pag. 158. In like manner lib. 2. cap. 33. Beda telleth how Peter a companion of S. Austin being drowned Our Lord saith he made that euery night there appeared a light from heauen vpon the place vvhere he lay buried
accused in the Conclaue of fauering protestants and of other matters He cleared himself saith Godwin of all these suspitions absolutely so that the next day they were more resolute to make him Pope than before And infra he saith Queene Marie loued him for his learning and nobilitie but aboue all for his religion and finally that he reconciled England to the Pope and receiued from him his Pal. Bale Cent 8. cap. 100. saith he was a Cardinal soldier of Antichrist not to be commended for any vertue by the seruant of God and saith that in an Oration to the Emperor he called the German Protestants newe Turks Sleidan lib. 10. in fin and their Gospel Turcicum pestiferum adulterinum semen Turkish pestiferous and adulterous seede An. 1607. which Crashew was not a shamed in his sermon at Paules Crosse to affirme that Poole said o the written word of God Farther more Bale termeth this worthie Prelat and great ornament of our Nation horrible beast a rooter out of the truth of the Gospel a most wicked Traitor to his Contrie and prayeth God to confound him So vndoubted it was while Cardinal Poole liued that he was no Protestant but a most earnest Roman Catholick See Andreas Dioditius in vit Poli. Which who readeth his booke and considereth his deedes may yet see more fully But by him may the iudicious reader see with what truth or face our Ministers challeng S. Austin and other holy and antient Archbishops of Canterburie to be of their religion Epilog First and last Cath. Archb of Canterb. said Masse and haue palls from Rome The number of our Archb. Their continuance learning vertue and vvisdom 39. THus yow see the first and the last of the Catholick Archbishops of Canterburie namely S. Austin and Cardinal Pole to haue said Masse and had their Palls from Rome and all of them except one euer since the first Christianitie of our Nation vnto our daies for number thre score and nine for continewance of nine hundred fisty and eight yeares for learning many of them most famous for wisdom most excellent and for vertue diuers of them most admirable as you haue heard by the very confession of Protestants them selues VVho vvil not advventure his soule rather vvith these than vvith Cranmer Thus manie I say thus excellently qualified Primats and Pastors of al England thus long to haue taught the Catholick faith to haue followed it them selues to haue defended it with their great learning maintained it by their miracles authorized it by their notable vertues and finally to haue liued in it most religiously and died most happely What shall wee thinck of them That so many and great Clerks were so many hundred yeares ignorant of the truth That so many and so great Saints so long tyme missed of the way to heauen That all our Ancestors who so many yeares followed them were christened in vaine beleeued in vaine and worshiped and serued God in vaine and finally died in their sinnes and are damned and gon to hel No vvaie to heauen but by Christ and his true faith As we must needs thinck vnles we graunt the Roman Catholick faith to be the faith of Christ and right way to saluation Shall I say such an vnchristian vnnatural and vnreasonable thought enter into our harts And not rather follow the aduise of S. Paul saying Mementote Praepositorum vestrorum qui vobis locuti sunt verbum Dei quorum intuentes exitum conuersationis imitamini fidem Beholding the end of the coÌ„uersation of your Prelats follovv their faith Let vs behould the holy conuersation and happie vertuous ende of those holy and worthy Prelat and primats of England assuring our selues that vertue can not follow the Diuel nor Gods Saints be condemned to Hel. Let vs embrace their faith which was the roote of their vertue and their cheefe guide in their way to heauen whither they are happily ariued and we shall assuredly follow if we keepe their faith and imitat their vertue And thus hauing shewed that all our Archbishops of Canterburie and consequently all our Clergie Bishops Archdeacons Deacons Canons Pastors Vicars Monkes All Besides VViclef and his small number and Friers were Roman Catholicks euen from the first Christianity of our Nation to our age Let vs procâ—ed an shew the same of our Christian Kings and Laitie CHAP. XXI That all our Christian English kings to king Henrie 8. time were Roman Catholicks proued by general reasons 1 No record that anie of our old christian Kings vvas Protestant 1. FIrst because as I said of the Archbishops ther is no script no scrole no record no monument to testifie that our former Christian kings were of any other religion than king Henrie 8. was before he began the change Therfor they that affirme the contrarie either know it by reuelation or speake without booke Besides it is impossible that ther should be an alteration in religion which is the most markablest thing in a Common welth and that there should be no mention therof and altogether incredible in England where we see the first alteration from Paganisme to Christianitie and now lately from Papistrie to Protestancie recorded in all Histories yea priuat mutations made by kings in some Churches from Priests to monks or contrary wise And can we thinck that a mutation from Protestancie to Papistrie if any such had bene would haue bene omitted and forgotten 2. All the Archbishops of Canterburie were Roman Catholicks as is before shewed 2 All their Archb. vvere Catholicks and yet none of them trobled by the kings of former times for his religion yea most of them greatly honored by them and diuers made Archbishops by their kings procurment 3 They suffered Archb. to be consecrat of the Pope c. 3. They suffered the said Archbishops to go to Rome where diuers of them were consecrated of the Pope to receaue their Pal to be his legat and take their forsaid oath of fidelitie to the Pope which if they had bene Protest and not perfect Roman Catholick they would neuer haue permitted yea some of the kings procured Pals for their Archb Kings procure palls from the P. for their Archb. as King Edwin for S. Paulin in Beda lib. 2. cap. 17 King Alfwald for Archbishop Eanbald Florent An. 779. Huntington lib. 3. king Rufus for S. Anselm Fox Acts. pag. 185. 4. Nine of the ancient kings left their Kingdomes and became monks 4 Manie ancient Kings became Monks as Fox confesseth Acts. pag. 133. whose names are these king Kinegilfus K. Cedwalla king Ina king Ethelred king Sigebert king Coenred king Offa king Edbert Monks vovved chastie pouertie and obedience to whome pag. 131. he addeth king Kenred Now moÌ„kes in that time vowed chastitie as is euident in S. Beda lib. 5. cap. 22. lib. 4. cap. 25. lib. 3. cap. 25. And Pouertie lib. 1. cap. 25. And obedience lib. 4. cap. 5. And how
that a while before the Conquest and somwhat after Kings tooke vpon them to inuest Bishops and Abbots as appeareth in Ingulp pag. 806. But this fact of theirs done of som ignorantly as must be thought of King Edred and others before the Conquest who were perfect Catholicks in faith as shall appeare herafter and also vertuous in life of others perhaps presumptuously and couetously against the order of the Church proueth no more that they were no Catholicks than worse facts of theirs against the law of Christ proueth them to haue bene no Christians For if Princes maye by euery fact of theirs be iudged of what religion they are they would sometimes seeme no Christians nor yet to haue a God As for S. Edward he might wel doe what he did for he was apointed by the Pope to be his Vicegerent and as it were Legat as we shall shewe in his life obiec ∣ tion 3 2. Thirdly they made saith Abbots lawes for the order and gouernment of the Church as is to be seene in the lawes of Edward of Alfred of Ethelstan and Canutus in Fox Volum 1. in fine and by many laws made since the Conquest against intrusions of the Pope as is to be seene in Syr Edward Cookes reports part 5. Ansvver Touching the lawes of the Christian Kings before the Conquest I answer that they are not Ecclesiasticall lawes such as define any thing as a point of faith or prescribe any thing concerning Religion and worship of God but are meere commandements partly for execution of former Ecclesiasticall lawes partly for procurement and conseruation of externall peace quietnes and order of the Church which kinde of lawes Princes may make as is to be seene in Stapleton Relect. Controu 2. q. 5. Ar. 1. See stapleton Besides that Christian Princes apoint thus some times things in ecclesiasticall matters not of authoritie but vpon zeale and not to dispose of faith and religion As for the lawes made since the Conquest which may seeme preiudiciall to the Popes authoritie the cheefest Authors of them were Edward 3. and Richard 2. who as shall appeare heerafter plainly professed the Popes Supremacie And therfor what lawes they made were no way to denie his authoritie but to restrain the execution therof in some cases because as the Apostle saith Omnia licent sed non omnia expediunt All things are lawfull but all things are not expedient So they thought that some execution of his authority in some matters would be preiudâ—ciall to their temporall state and therfor thought it not expedient that in those cases it should be practised As for Cookes reports they haue bene so answered as I thinck neither him self nor any for him will obiec ∣ tion 4 replie Fourthlie saith Abbots Then were the scriptures in foure seuerall languages of so many seuerall Nations besides the Latin tongue common to them all Beda lib. 1. cap. 1. This is vntrue Ansvver and Beda rather saith the contrarie His words are these This Iland at this present to the number of the 5. bookes of Moises doth studie and set forth the knowledg of one perfect truth that is with the language of the English the Britons the Scotts the Picts and the Latin which by studie of the scripture is made common to all the rest In which words he saith that the Inhabitants preached and published Christs truth in fiue seueral languages but the scripture they studied onely in Latin and therby it became common to all the Inhabitants And before in the life of Theodor we shewed by the confession of diuers Protestants that masse was in his tyme which was before S. Beda in Latin onely But admit that the scripture were then in Latin and in English too how proueth that that English men then were no Catholicks Haue not English Catholicks now the scripture in English Fiftlie saith Abbots obiec ∣ tion 5 Then were they in Monasteries commanded to be exercised in the reading of scriptures and euery one was required to learn the Lords prayer and Creede in the English tongue This is not worth the answering Ansvver For what doth the Monks reading scripture or the peoples learning the Lords prayer and Creed in English make against Catholick Religion 3. Sixtly saith Abbots Then was the CommunioÌ„ obiec ∣ tion 6 ministred in both kindes as Paris in Heraldo and Rafo reporteth of some soldiers Ansvver What Paris saith of soldiers I knowe not For at this present I haue him not at hand But that English men in our Primitiue Church communicated onely with form of bread appeareth by Beda lib. 2. cap. 5. Wher Pagans say to S. Mellit VVhy dost thou not giue vnto vs of that white bread which thou didst giue to our Father Seba and dost yet giue to the people in Church But if S. Mellit had communicated people in both kinds it is lykly they would haue demanded both Besids that Beda expoundeth that place of Luke Cognouerunt eum in fractione panis where mention is of one onely kinde of sacramental communion Therfor he and consequently our English Church then alowed communion in one kinde But whether they communicated in both or one kinde maketh little to proue that they were not Catholickâ— because til lay people were forbidden it was lawful for them to communicate Obiec ∣ tion 7 in both kindes 4. Seauenthlie theÌ„ saith Abbots was Transubstantiation vnknowne and when it began to be broached or not long after Elfricus Archbishop of Canterburie contradicted it Ansvver How vntrue this is of TraÌ„substantiation hath bene shewed before in the life of S. Greg and S. Odo As for Elfric the Protestant Bishops them selues who published that sermon confesse See befor hovv Bale confesseth Archb. Alfric to haue bene a Papist and of Transubstant in S. Odo Archb. that the Author therof was no Archbishop of Canterbury More likly it is to be true which Fox Acts. pag. 1148. saith that it was Elfric surnamed Bata an Heretick who as S. Dunstan appearing to one in a vision said as reporteth Osbern attempted to disherit his Church but I haue stopped him saith S. Dunstan he could not preuaile Albeit indeed that sermon doth more approoue Transubstantiation than disprooue it For in that is saide that Christ turned through inuisible might the bread to his owne body and wine to his blood And that holy howsel is by might of Gods word truly Christs body and his blood And that after their halowing bread and wine trulye are Christs body and blood And what other do Catholicks now say but what here is said Vz. That bread and wine are by inuisible power turned into Christs body and blood and become after consecration truly not figuratiuly his body and blood And though the Author of the sermon ad that the sacrament after consecration is not bodily but Ghostly Christs bodie yet the word ghostly is not added to deny the word Truly which is absolutly affirmed but onely to deny the word Bodily that is carnally
Fulke They Protestants were often driuen into mountaines and desert places of the Alpes Apenin Hercinia silua and other corners of the world or els dispersed kept close in all regions of Europe Surueler The surueier of the pretended discipline c. 8. in this latter age saith he when after a long darknes it pleased God to restore vnto vs the light of the Gospel c. 4. All priests and people drovvned in Poperie from top to toe Priests of all sortes likewise the people all of theÌ„ together from the top to the toe were drowned in the pudles of Poperie And I pray you who was then a Protestant 3. But how long was this ignorance this darknes this drowning of Priests people in Poperie Fox in his Acts edit 1596. which edition I cite in this booke p. 767. Fox saith From 400. yeares heretofore and more the religion of Christ was wholie burned into Idolatrie And p. 390. About the yeare 1370. all the world saith he was in desperat estate and ignoraÌ„â—e of Gods truth ouershadowed the whole world there seemed in a maÌ„ner to be no one litle spark of pure doctrine left Again in his ProtestatioÌ„ befor his Acts. About the yeare 1215. 1080 Christian faith was exstinguished then the true visible Church began to shrink and keep in for fear And further pag. 138 In the time of King Edgar which was An. 954. and of the ould Monkes superstition began to creep into the Church for ignorance of free iustification by faith And yet further speaking of our Christian Kings from our first Christianitie vnto the yeare 800. he writeth thus pag. 120. How much are we Protestants bound to God for the sinceritie of his truth hidden so long to our Ancestors and opened now to vs. Protestantisme hidden to our Anceitors Ibid. They lacked our faith Thus Fox confesseth that the Protestants truth was hidden and vnknowne here for one thousand yeares almost Nay p. 138. he feareth no to write that Shortly after the time of Christ and his Apostles the Doctrine of Christian Iustification which pag. 770. he accounteth the onely principall origin of our saluation and pag. 767. the foundation of all Christianitie began to be forgotten Bale In like manner Bale an other great Antiquarie Centur. 6. cap. 69. calleth the time of King Richard 2. a darkish age And Centur. 5. cap 85. The age saith he of K. Edward 3. was couered with darknes of extreme ignorance And in King Henrie 3. time as he writeth Centur. 4. cap. 6. Holesome truth perished from earth And vnder K. Henrie 2. as he writeth Cent. 3. c. 14. Mannes life was corrupted vpon earth with Antichristian traditions So that all this time ther was no roome for Protestants on earth And yet further Cent. 1. pag. 69. From the yeare 607. saith he puritie of heauenly doctrin vanished in the Church And p. 65. After Greg. the first puritie of doctrine perished And Cent. 1. c. 74. Protestancie for a thousand yeares onely in Ideots and in holes From Phocas who liued An 602. till the renevving saith he of the Gospel by Luther the doctrine of Christ was for that space amongst Idiots and in lurking holes Doest thou hear Reader in whom and wher this new Gospel was for almost 1000. yeares together Napier Napier also in his Treatise vpon the Reuelat. pag. 145. Euen 1260. years saith he the Pope and his Clergie hathe possessed the outward and visible Church of Christians reigning without any debatable coÌ„tradiction Gods truth saith he p 191. 161. 156 most certainly note the word abiding so long latent invisible Behold this ProtestaÌ„t coÌ„fessing that their truth was inuisible for more than twelue hundred yeares Fulke yea Fulk in his Answer to a Counterfeit Cathol pag. 35. will haue the Church to haue decaied immediatly from the Apostles time And to conclude with Luthers testimonie as I began with it He Galath 1. fol. 27. Luther hath these words VVhen the light of the Gospel after so great darknes begaÌ„ first to appear And Galath 3. fol. 154. Of this difference taught by me betwene the lavv and the Gospel ther is nothing to be fouÌ„d in the books of the MoÌ„kes Canonists Scholemen Luthers doctrin not knovvne to the antient Fathers no nor in the books of the ancient Fathers And Galat. 5. fol. 271. This vvas coÌ„mon in these our daies befor the light truth of the Gospel was reueled 4. Thus you see it euideÌ„t by the coÌ„fession of Luther diuers other ProtestaÌ„ts both domesticall and foraine that their Church their faith religioÌ„ was inuisible and vnknowne to the world before Luther And this inuisibilitie of their Church before Luthers time do all ProtestaÌ„ts mantaine who affirme the calling or sending of Luther Caluin such like to preach to haue bene extraordinarie or onely from God because ether there was no protest church or ministrie of which they could be sent ordinarily or at least none such knowne to them And hervpoÌ„ may any maÌ„ of iudgmeÌ„t gather that indeed their Church religioÌ„ was not at all befor Luther For if it were not visible how came they to knowledg of it Or if as Fox saith in his Protest it was not reported in Histories how know they that it was Can they tell what was in times past without relatioÌ„ of those who theÌ„ liued vnles they pretend some such reuelatioÌ„ as Moyses had to know the CreatioÌ„ of the world Is it not a meere fictioÌ„ or imaginatioÌ„ such as euery new start vp Heretick can auouch Is it not a witles witfull assertioÌ„ to affirme that there hath bene euer such kind of people yet not to be able to name one maÌ„ of theÌ„ one place wher they were one witnes of their being Doth Gods word force vs to such poore miserable yea incredible shifts Or rather is it not wrongly vnderstood when we are compelled to inuent such shamefull shifts or els to confesse that Gods truth and religion was no wher in the world before Luther Iuel Surely to vse euen Iuels words in the like matter Articulo 2. diuision 8. It must needs be a straÌ„ge Church that had nether beginning nor ending no defender no reprouer no mouth to vtter or ear to hear it nor pen to write nor place to rest in Tertullian And we may say to such as Tertullian said to ould Heretiks VVho are you whence are you wheÌ„ came you VVher lurked you so long The meetings of witches though they be brought together by the diuel yet be often times seene Protestants for one thousand yeares more inuisible them Fairies The meetings of Fairies though they be spirits some times are discried And were there ProtestaÌ„ts these thousand yeares yet more inuisible than ether witches or Fairies were ther CoÌ„gregations of them yet nether seene heard or imagined of by the world Surely this kind of Church hath her being as Protest
left their Contrie Praedicare Papismum to preach Papistrie Surius Tom. 3. Baron An. 631. Bishops of Scotland consecrated of the P. And about the yeare 631. which was soone after the custome of Scotland was saith the Author of S. Wirons life for the Inhabitants to chuse their Bishop then to send him to Rome to be consecrated by the Popâ— as S. VViro was Of whome it is also written that King Pepin of France confessed his sinnes to him 11. Thus thou seest gentle Reader that albeit ther be so great scarcitie of ancient records of British matters yet on the one side their coÌ„sent with the Rom. religioÌ„ in many substantiall points Beza Praefat Bibl. ad Cond Perkins Refor Cathol such as Beza Parkins and others confesse to be quite opposit to Protestancie is euidently proued many waies And doubtles their like agreemeÌ„t in more points would be found if more ancient monumeÌ„ts of those times were extant And on the other side ther is no one ancient monumeÌ„t or scroul which testifieth that they held any one substantiall point of Protestancie as Iustification by faith onely Communion of bare bread and Wine Denied Purgatorie or prayer for dead prayer to Saints such like But ProtestaÌ„ts claime them onely because we for lack of ancient records can not shew particulerly that they agreed with vs in all points of faith As if all were Protestants whome we could not shew particulerly to haue agreed with vs in all points or it may not suffice any reasonable man to shew particulerly that they agreed with vs in many substaÌ„tiall points shew the same generally in all other points besides one into which they vpon ignoraÌ„ce Because nether S. Austin nor others fouÌ„d any other falt with the matter of their faith nor Protestants can shew any other Hovv it is proued by the Britons that the Cathol faith is the true faith of Christ Fox Bale in which point also Protestants dissent from the Britons as wel as we And if vnto this euidency of the Catholick Roman religion of the Britons yow adioine what Fulk Fox Bale generally all Protestants write of the certain truth of their religion it will euidently follow that the Roman faith is the true faith of Christ For Fox in his Protestation saith That religioÌ„ remained in the Britons vncorrupt the word of Christ truly preached till the coming of S. Austin Bale Cent. 1. cap. 90. There was alwaies amongst the Britons preaching of truth most sure doctrine such worship as was by Gods coÌ„mandement giueÌ„ of the Apostles to the Churches And pag. 73. calleth the Britons Church of S. Austins time Veram Christi Ecclesiam Fulk And Fulk 2. Cor. 12. calleth the Britons of S. Austins time Catholicks and saith with them Christian religion had continewed euer since the Apostles times And thus hauing shewed that before Luthers time there was nether English nor British Protestant in all England Let vs now see when and how ProtestaÌ„cie first began in Germanie and after in England CHAP. IIII. VVhen where wherfore and how Luther began to preach Protestancie 1. LVther hauing bene long time an Austin Frier and all his life before so earnest a RomaÌ„ Catholick as you heard him self confesse supra cap. 1. Sleidan lib. 1. fol. 1. and Fox in his Acts p. 770. and others coÌ„test began in the yeare 1517. and on the morrow saith Fox pag. 771. after all Saints in the cittie of VVittenberg in Saxonie to oppose him self against the Catholick faith in the matter of Indulgences by publishing and manteining certaine Conclusions against them The place year and daye vvhen Luther began Protestancie This as all Protestant writters agree was the place the time the matter wherin Luther began first to publish their doctrine His Maisters therin were as he saith 4. Luthers maisters of protestancie Neque abhominibus neque per homines VVhen Luther began to preach Protestancie he inteÌ„ded no reformatioÌ„ at all Fox Sleidan lib. 1. fol. 1. Luther at first impugned pardons onely to boult out truth vvith submissioÌ„ to the Church Galat. fol. 208. his gift of knowledg his owne studie and his outward and inward tentations By whâ—ch last instructor perhaps he meaneth his black maister whome as we shall see herafter he confesseth him self to haue had 2. As for the end wherfor Luther began his new doctrin that could not be any reformation of religion by him then intended For as Fox confesseth pag. 771. In the beginning of this controuersie Luther nether dreamed nor suspected of any change that might happen in the Ceremonies And not in the beginning onely but euen a year after For Fox l. cit speaking of the year 1516. saith thus All this while Luther neuer thought of any alteration to come of any Ceremonie much les such a reformation of doctrine Ceremonies as after did follow And a Protest writer of Paralippomena Vspergen whome Fox much followeth saith An. 1518. Luther shewed him self to come in publick against his will but could not staie him self Yea Luther him self in loc Com. Clas 4. confesseth that he fell into this faction so he termeth it by chance and against his wil. And L. de Captiu fol. 5. By force saith he I was drawne into this quarell And epist ad Leon. 10. fol. 4. Eckius saith he drew me into this vnexpected quarrell catching me in a small word about the Supremacie which by chance slipt from me How then could this man intend reformation of religion by his preaching against the old religion if as Fox said Luther impugneth a religion and yet meaneth not to ameÌ„d it for a yeare after he did not so much as dreame of any reformation no not in ceremonies with what conscience think we did he impugne the old religioÌ„ whiles he neither ment nor dreamed to reforme it 3. Luther sought not Gods glorie beginning protestancie In like sorte the end for which Luther began to impugne the Cathol faith could not be Gods glorie For what glory could he inteÌ„d by his new preaching who ment not to make any alteration at all in Gods religion Besides that he often times offered both by word writing to giue ouer his new doctrine if he might not be bound to recant or his aduersaries bound to silence For as Fox hath pag. 772. Luther 4 times offered to suppresse Protestantisme Sleidan Engl. lib. 1. fol. 6. and in fol. 9. in writing to Cardinall Caietan Anno 1518. he promised to proceed no further in any mention therof so that his aduersaries were likewise bound to keep silence And saith Fox if the Bishop of Rome wold haue bene content with this submission of Luther he had neuer bene touched any further of him And againe in the yeare 1520. as Cooper hath in Chron. he submitted himselfe to the P. of Rome so that he might not be compelled to recant And as Doct. Whitaker lib. cont Dur. pag. 11. If at the
particuler causes of the entrance therof into seuerall Contries the generall causes of the increase therof were diuers rising partly from some abuses partly from the religious persons and Clergie partly from the laie people Causes of spreeding Protestancie but especially from Luther and his adherents and their doctrine For it can not be denied but ther were some abuses in some places of some things belonging to Catholik religiō as namely of indulgences Of which abuses Luther tooke his aduantage to bring the holie things them selues into contempt as appeareth by what hath bene said before And this occasion also Caluin his companions vsed in setting vp their religion in Geneua Surueyer as noteth the Surueyer c. 4. wher he well obserueth that when men haue bene bitten with abuses it is an acceptable point to hear the things them selues exclaimed against For it falleth not saith he vnder euery simple mans cap to distinguish well in that matter 3. An other cause were the vices of diuers religious and Clercks Amongst whome especially in Germanie when Luther began diuers things were out of order Whervpon they growing into contempt it was easie to persuade the people that their religion also was contemptuous Men commonly affecting or disaffecting the things as they do the persons to whome they belōg And of this meane principally Luther made benefit for his cause as him self declareth in these words 4. Galat. fol. 229. Luther confesseth that if Catholiks liues had bene good he could haue done nothing If the Papacie had the same holines austeritie of life which it had in the time of the anciēt Fathers Hierom Ambrose Austin others when the Clergie had not yet so euill a name but liued after the rules decrees of the Fathers religiously and holily in outward shew and vnmaried what could we doe now against the Papacie Ib. If that outward shew and apparance of the old Papacie remained at this day we shold peraduenture do litle against it by our doctrine of faith seing we do now so litle preuail This meane vsed also Caluin as witnesseth the forsaid Surueier c. 4. Surueyer wher also he noteth that it is a plausible matter with the people to hear then depraued that are in authoritie In the lay people also Luther found a great greedines and as the Apostle speaketh itching ears to hear nouelties For as him self noteth 1. Galat. fol. 14. The vnscilfull multitude longing to hear news do ioyne themselues to false Apostles And in others ther was a desire of libertie and of power to checke their Pastors And how many this motiue drew to follow Luther Melanchton his cheefest scholer cited by the Surueyer c. 8. telleth in these words Melancthon confesseth that men follovved Luther onely for libertie Many for no other cause I see do loue Luther but for that they thinck they haue cast of their Bishops by means of him and haue obtained a libertie which will not be profitable for our Posteritie Item our fellows saith he do sight so for their owne Kingdom and not for the Gospel And this meane also vsed Caluin and his crew at Geneua as the said Surueyer noteth L. cit saying Surueyer So the Gracches moued sedition in Rome by their leges Agrarias It is a plausible matter with the people especially to vnderstand of anie libertie which may appertaine to them selues And finally in others of the people ther was a vehement thirst for the Church goods which Luther by his preaching exposed to the praye of Princes and people This bate vsed the wiclefists in K. Henrie 4. time to cach that worthie Prince as Stow reporteth with it partely Protestants caught K. Henrie 8. and vsed it to others For as the said Surueier writeth cap. 21. VVhen reformation of religion vvas first vrged it vvas thaught such an effectuall motiue as vvould procure attention vz to entitle Princes after a sorte to the Church goods Church goods confessed to be the effectual motiue to Protestancie But did these reformers mean that Princes shold keep those goods No. For he addeth The learned men perswaded them selues that if by anie policie they could ouerthrovv Poperie Ministers moue Princes to change religion for Church goods but meane to get all them selues it vvold aftervvard be an easie matter to recouer them againe Besides saith he they did not so yeeld ouer their right in that matter to Princes but it was done vvith diuers cautions and prouisos by vertue vvherof they supposed in time to recouer all againe into their ovvne hands But saith he they plaied vvilie beguile them selues 4 Protestation of false preachers 4. On Luther and his partners side the first meane of spreding their religion was which him self in these words 4. Galat. fol. 211. noteth in false Apostles They make great Protestations that they seek nothing els but the aduancement of Gods glorie that they be moued by the spirit to teach the infallible truth and they promise vndoubted saluation to those that receaue their doctrine An other meane on their side was their dissembled sanctie Which meane Caluin and his companie most vsed as noteth the said Surueyer cap. 4. wher he saierh Ministees hypocrisie to seduce the people It is not vnknovvne to anie of iudgment vvhat the profession of anie extraordinarie zeal and as it vvere contempt of the vvorld doth vvork vvith the multitude VVhen they see men goe simply in the streets looking dovvnevvard for the most parte vvringing their necks avvry shaking their heads as if they were in some present greef lifting vp the white of their eyes some time at the sight of one vanitie as they walke vvhen they hear them giue great groanes crie out against this sin and that sin not in their hearers but in their Superiors make long prayer professe a kind of wilfull pouertie speaking earnestly against some mens hauing too much and soome men too litle which beateth into the peoples head a present cogitation of some diuision to be made in time VVhen I say the multitude doth hear such kind of men they are by and by caried away with a maruelous great conceit and opinion of them especially when they take vpon them to shew a waie or disciplin vvhich shal be nothing preiuditiall to the people but rather bring them libertie and yet shall reforme all things amisse as them selues vvold desire Hitherto the Surueyer whose words I haue cited at large because they liuely describe our first Protestant Preachers 5. But the most effectuall mean which Luther had to spread his religiō was his licētious and fleshly sweet doctrin wherwith on the one side he tooke from his followers all fear of God both in this world and the next and of man too as much as he could and withal remoued from them the exercise of all hard and vnpleasing things And on the other side licensed them to enioy all the delites and pleasures of this world and withall assured
Laurence Saint Paulin What madnes were it to leaue these to follow those CHAP. XIII That Luthers doctrine was neuer confessed by Catholicks to be sufficient to saluation 1. YOw heard before that the aduersaries of S. Austins doctrine as wel the Britons then as the Protestants now confessed that he brought the true way to saluation and that many great learned men haue followed him and come to heauē by the way which he taught which testimonie proceeding from aduersaries mouthes must needes seeme to be the cōfession of most euident manifest truth Here now it cometh in place to shew that no one Catholick euer acknowledged that Luthers doctrine was the way to saluation or that any haue commen to heauen by following him which I shew First That no Cath. allovved Luthers doctrin as Protest do S. Austins because not onely Pope Leo but also the generall Councell of Trent confirmed by the Pope which no Catholick thinketh can erre hath condemned and accursed his doctrin And his bookes are forbidden to be read vnder paine of excommunicatiō Secondly because euery Catholick beleeueth professeth that who keepeth not the Catholick faith wholly vnuiolated shall without all doute perish euerlastingly Thirdly because no Catholicks words can be produced wherin hope of saluation is afforded to Luther his followers But on the contrarie as many Catholicks as write or preach condemne his doctrin for flat heresie Luthers doctrin condemned by all Kind of Christians By Greciās By Anabaptists By Caluinists By Engl. Protestāts By hovv manie our Engl. Protest religion is condemned See Ihonson against Iacob and him self all his obstinat followers for hereticks out of Noes Arke out of Christs fould out of Gods Church out of al hope of saluation so long as they follow Luther 2. Nay not onely Catholicks alow not Luthers doctrine but euen all other Christians besides condemne it The Grecians as is sayd condemn Protestants for Hereticks The Anabaptists as Luther saith account them worse than Catholicks him self affirmeth his followers to be seuen times worse than Papists Caluin iudgeth Luthers opinion of the Eucharist lesse tollerable than the Papists Sutclif addeth that it is hereticall by inference of such conclusions as may be gathered therof The Brownists esteeme our Protestant religion a medle or mode religiō A thousand Ministers in their petition exhibited to his Maiestie 1603. affim that it containeth abuses enormities which they can shew not to be agreable to Gods word Others propose some hundred of doubts against it as yow may see in the booke of Quaeres and the late silenced Ministers in their solemne printed Challeng made to the Bish protestāts saie that if that be truth which the Bishops maintain against them that then that is false which they both maintain against Catholicks and that The silenced preachers prefer the Cath. faith befor the Protestant The foundation of Engl Protest faith condemned by Protestāts Confor at Hampton Court p. 6. their departure from the Pope can not be iustified but that he yea Christ Iesus and his hauenly truth in him haue had great wronge Finally his Maiestie with the tacit consent of the Bishops condemned all the Englishe Bibles the very foundation of our Protestants faith as ill translated and gaue order to translate the Bible a new CHAP. XIIII That Luther neuer confirmed his doctrine by miracles 1. SOme Protestants say that Luther needed no miracles for confirmation of his Doctrine because saith Feild lib. 3. of the Church c. 48. we teach nothing contrary to the confirmed receaued doctrine of the Church of God then in the world when these differences betwene vs and our aduersaries began This impudent saying of his may be ioyned to an other which he hath L. cit cap. 42. That ther is no materiall difference amongst the Protestants See Sleid. lib. 5. fol. 65. no not betwene Luther and Zuinglius in matter of the Sacrament nor betwene Illyricus and others about originall sinne nor betwene Osiander and others about Iustification as shal be iustified saith he against the prowdest Papist of them all But as for the strangnes of Luthers doctrine to all the Church of his time that hath appeared sufficiently here to fore and shall yet more hereafter Wherfore Protestants ascribe two kind of miracles to Luther the one inuisible which Luther him self challengeth to 4. in Isaiam c. VVhat miracles Luther chalenged Luthers allegation of his miracles disproued 35. where hauing tould that Catholicks obiect vnto him that he could not cure a lame horse but was altogether destitute of miracles replieth that by his preaching the spirituall blinde began to see the truth the deaf heard the Gospel The lame that sate in superstition and Idolatrie walk But great fondnes it is to alleadg such miracles for confirmation of his doctrine First because we demand visible miracles Secondly Because Luther saith he wrought those supernaturall effects but no man seeth them Thirdly Because euery Sectmaister can say so Fourthly Because the question is whether his doctrine be such as it can work these spirituall effects Therfore fond it were to prooue his doctrine to be such by these effects vnles the effects were seene or more manifest than the truth of his doctrine This is to prooue idem per idem or ignotum per ignotius For it is all one to say Luthers doctrine worketh those spirituall effects and to say that it is true One poore frier creeping out of a blind cloister began Protestancie See Brētius ansvvering the like miracle wrought by zuinglius in recognit cont Bullenger or at least it is as doubtfull Fox Acts p. 789. and others aleadg this for a notable miracle that one man and a pore Frier creeping out of a blind Cloister should be set vp against the Pope and almost the whole world and work that which all the learned men before him could neuer compasse Mark good Reader how he confesseth his religion to haue begun of one mā and of one Frier creeping out of a blinde Cloister against almost the whole world and not compassed before of all the learned men that were 2. But as I said before this is as great a miracle as to see stones roule from a hil such a one as that notable strumpet bragged of to Socrates saying that her doctrine and p rswasion was more potent than his because she with a few words could drawe cause she with a few wordes could draw his scollers to follow her But Socrates rightly answered that it was no maruel because he lead them vp the hil to vertue she drew them downe the hill to pleasure Pleasure of marrying hauing mony and liuing at commaund drew so many Friers and Nonnes after Luther Pleasure of eating flesh at all times neuer fasting neuer confessing neuer satisfying drew so many lay people after him Pleasure of liuing out of all spituall subiection and getting of Church goods and liuings drew so many Princes after him And great
by the Puritans who professe to be the pure Caluinists And for continuance of Luthers doctrine himself had so small hope therof as he could not forbeare words of despaire For in 3. Galat. fol. 154. I feare saith he the proper true vse of the law wil be after our time troden vnder foote vtterly abolished by the enemies of the truth For euen now whiles we are yet liuing and employ all diligence to set forth the office and vse both of the law and the Gospel ther be very few yea euen among those that wil be accounted Christians make a profession of the Gospel with vs Luther forseeth that he shal be forsaken that vnderstaÌ„d these things rightly VVhat think yee then shall come to passe when vve are dead gon And fol. 201. VVhich thing that Protestants should not acknowledg Luther for ther Pastor shall one day come to passe if not vvhilst vve liue yet vvhen vve are dead and gon Sectaries vvhen vve be dead shall possesse those Churches which we haue won and planted by our Ministerie So Engl. Minister And the like small hope our English Ministers haue of the continuance of their religioÌ„ as appeareth by the Declarat of Disciplin printed at Geneua 1580. I am afrayd saith that Author lest God be come into England as into some Castle in the way of his progresse for a small time Caluin in his preface before his Cathechisme did so despaire of posteritie of successioÌ„ in his religioÌ„ as saith he And Caluin I dare scarce think therof Their coÌ„sciences telling them all that their doctrin is not built vpoÌ„ that rock on which Christ built his Church and Doctrine but vpon the sandes of their human inuentions Libri Secundi Finis THE THIRD BOOKE IN VVHICH S. Austin and Luther and their doctrins are weighed together according to their qualities Set dovvne and proued in the tvvo former bookes PREFACE HItherto Gentle reader haue we shewed out of authenticall and sufficient witnesses that S Austin and Mar. Luther were the first Founders of the RomaÌ„ Catholick and Protestant religion in our English Nation and we haue put each of them with his qualities in his seuerall scale Novv it remaineth that vvith an euen hand vve lift vp the Ballance and vveighing them together iudg according to those qualities and enduements vvhich naturall reason and true prudence teach vs ought to be in a first Preacher and founder of Gods religion in a Nation whither is more likly to come from God bring his religion vvhither the contrarie CHAP. I. S. Austin and Luther weighed according to their learning How great a help learning is to discouer errors and to finde out truth and contrarie wise how great a hinderance ignorance is to attaine to truth and an ayde to lyes as a thing euident by it selfe neede no proofe HerevpoÌ„ it hath bene vsual to the Sectmaisters of all times as they are the beginners of new doctrins vnknowne to their Ancestors so to impute to them ignonoraÌ„ce and to arrogat to them selues especiall knowledg and learning by help wherof forsooth â—hey could discouer that truth which for ignoraÌ„ce their Forfathers could not finde out It was saith S. Bernard serm 65. in Cant. alwaies the trick of Hereticks to boast of singularitie of knowledg Thus the Donatists accused the rest of the world of ignorance At whome S. Austin lib. 1. cont Gaudent cap. 19. iesteth thus O dolor fraudata sunt tali magisterio tempora antiqua O sorrow that the ancient times wanted such Maisters And when the Pelagians in like sort condemned the ancient Fathers of ignorance he exclamed lib. 2. cont Iulian. cap. 10. in these words And darest thou call those blind And hath long days so confounded the highest with the lowest and shall darknes be so accounted light and light darknes that Iulian Pelagius Celestius shall see and Hilarie Ambr. Greg. be blind Yea in the time of Tertullian in the primitiue Church ther were hereticks who doubted not to impute ignorance to the Apostles them selues whome Tertul. l. de praescript refuteth thus what man well in his witts can thinck that they were ignorant of any thing whome our Lord gaue for teachers had alwaies in his company to whome he expounded aparte all obscure matters And when they bragged of their new light he merilie iesteth at them thus To these alone to these first was the truth reuealed Forsoth they obtained greater sauor and fuller grace of the Diuel And how vsuall it is with Luther and Protestants to boast of their especiall knowledg new light to impute blindnes ignorance and errors to the former ages and ancient Fathers no maÌ„ that either conuerseth with them or readeth their bookes can be ignoraÌ„t Audemus c. saith Luther wee dare glorie that Christ was first published of vs VVigand l. de Bonis Malis Germ. ascribeth to Luther such a lightening of the Articles of faith as was not known in the world since the Apostles tyme Neander lib. 8 explicat orbis teâ—â—a Fox p 416. edit 1563. Iuel Apolog Others cal him the mouth of Christ Chariot of Israel Finally some prefer him before all the Apostles but Paul as Cyriacus Spangenbergius who wil iustifie these verses Christus habet primas habeas tibi â—aule secundas At loca post illos proxima Luther habet Let Christ be fiâ—st and after him S. Paul be best But next to the Luth. deserus to go befor the rest And as Luther challengeth more light learning than the ancient Fathers so Zuinglius challengeth more light than he and Caluin than they both And in England the ProtestaÌ„ts of King Edwards time challenged more light than those of King Henries those of Queene Elizabeth more than they both and the Puritans challeng more light than the Protestant the Brownists than the Puritan till at last as his maiesty sayde of the Scottish Ministers they run madd with their light Confer at Hampt Court or râ—ther turn all into darknes of infidelitie Atheisme as dayly experieÌ„ce sheweth Wherfore to see whither indeede Luther were like to be better learned thaÌ„ S Austin Let vs compare them together according to that which hath bene tould of them S. Austin was an Italian Luther a Duch man See all these points proued befor l. 1. c. 4. l 2. c. 7. S. Austin studied in Rome when ther was there a famous Vniuersitie Luther in Wiâ—teÌ„berg places of no fame S. Austins Maister was S. Gregorie one of the fower Doctors of the Church Luthers Maister was a nameles fellow and for Protestancy he had no Maister at all vnles yow will reckon his black Maister S. Austin is not known to haue had any corporall impediment of studie Luther is known to haue had so great a one as he could scarce read three leaues together S. Austin had testimonie of S. Gregory that he waâ— repletus scientia scriptuarum full of the knowledg of scripture
religion is incomparably to be preferred chosen before the ProtestaÌ„t For if learning do help to espie truth S. Austin was liklier to find it than Luther If vertue deserue to haue truth reuealed S. Austin was more likely to haue deserued it thaÌ„ Luther If holy motiues entice men to deliuer sincerly what they knowe to be truth S. Austin was liklier to deale so than Luther If laufull Mission and true orders testifie a true preacher S. Austin was more likly to be such than Luther Or if consent of Christianitie Confession of Aduersaries Miracles Continuance make any thing for proofe of true religion S. Austins religion is incomparably before Luthers And what I say of S Austin in respect of Luther may also be said as appeareth by what hath bene writteÌ„ of S. Austins followers in our English NatioÌ„ in respect of Luthers followers in the same Nation And contrariewise if ignorance leade to lies if vice hinder the reuelation of Gods truth or cause the taking of it away Luther is more lyke to erre than S. Austin If worldly naughtie motiues drawe men to deceaue others Luther was more like to deceaue thaÌ„ S. Austin If want of lawfull mission right orders discrie a false Prophet Luther is more like to be such than S. Austin And finally if want of consent of Christianitie want of acknovvledgmeÌ„t of Aduersaries want of miracles and continuance shew any thing the vntruth of of religion Luthers religion is more lyke to be vntrue than S. Austins And if any shall say that albeit Luther and the Protest religion be inferior to S. Austin the RomaÌ„ religioÌ„ in all these points aboue meÌ„tioned yet are they superior in the word of God which is to be preferred before all other considerations whatsoeuer If I say any shall thus obiect I request him to consider that one truth is not coÌ„trarie to an other nor Gods word to right reason nor his spirituall light to the light of nature nor faith opposit to true prudence And if therfor right reason light of nature true prudence stand for S. Austin his religion giue sentence against Luther and his Protestancie surely Gods word howsoeuer it may seeme to some in shewe of words yet indeede in sense standeth likwise on S. Austins side and condemneth Luther the Protestant faith For it can not but seeme strange that any wise man should imagin that Gods word should staÌ„d on the one side poste alone or accompained onely with ignoraÌ„ce vice naughtie motiues want of lawfull Mission right orders want of approbation of Christianitie of confession of enemies of continuance and of miracles And on the otherside with the Diuels word should stand learning vertue lawfully mission right orders consent of Christianitie coÌ„fession of Aduersaries coÌ„tinuance Miracles VVould God discredit his word with such disgracefull mates countenaÌ„ce the diuels word with so many so importaÌ„t titles of commendation Or can it sinke into any mans head that a man should be lawfully sent haue the approbatioÌ„ of Christianitie the confession of Aduersaries and Gods testimonie by assured miracles as S. Austin is plainly shewed to haue had to preach lyes Or if I caÌ„ not obtaine so much of such a man I request him yet this that he will please to suspend his iudgment till he see the second parte of this Treatice VVherin God willing he shall sâ—e the Catholick religion to goe so far beyond the Protestant for right claime of scripture and true sense therof and other true grounds of religion as he seeth it exceed protestaÌ„cy touching the first founder therof in England in all the points aboue mentioned God for his mercies sake open the eyes of my deere ContrymeÌ„ that they may see that which is truth mooue their harts to embrace follow that which they see to be his euer sting truth their own aeternall happines 2. Here I wold haue made an end An admonition to those that think men maie be saued in both religions but that I feared that some though perswaded by what hath bene shewed in this booke that the Catholick religion is in all reason wisdome to be preferred followed befor the Protestant may notwithstanding perswade them selues that the Protestant religion is good ynough sufficient to saluation whom I beseech for God their owne soules sake to consider these points following First that howsoeuer the ProtestaÌ„t religion were a liklie waie to heaueÌ„ yet sith the Catholik faith is incomparably far more liklie it is no wisdoÌ„ in so weightie a matter as is eternall saluation or damnation to leaue the more secure if not altogether certaine waie and to take the more dangerous What wise man that feareth murthering wil trauel that waie wher he hath iust cause to think that his enemies lie in waie to kill him when he maie goe an other waie far more void of fear or danger what prudent maÌ„ being to passe a dangerous riuer will not chuse to passe rather that waie which manie expert passengers haue vsed these thousand yeares and more by which we are sure that diuers are safely arriued on the other side rather than a new waie which of late some vnexpert iangling fellows haue imagined them selues to haue found out but we are not sure that anie one that hath gone that waie hath escaped drowning and is landed in safetie on the otherside And loue we our soules desire we heauen fear we hell will we make the contrarie choise in religion 3. Secondly I wold haue them to consider that it is euident by what hath bene declared that not onely the Cathol religion is in all reason to be preferred before the ProtestaÌ„t See l 2 c. 1. 7 8. 9. 10. seq but that ProtestaÌ„cie is indeed no religioÌ„ but a humane deuise lately inuented of one man and him meanly learned vicious and for naughtie motiues disliked of him self at the first condemned of all Christendom and wanting all authoritie of lawfull Mission See l. 2 c. 1 of right orders and Miracles to approue it Which kind of superstitioÌ„ rather than religion no man of wisdom can think sufficient able to saue him For nether can Gods religion be an inuention of maÌ„ but an institution of God him self nether if it could were it reasoÌ„ to think that to be a good religion which a naughtie vnlearned man vpon naughtie motiues had deuised wanted all authoritie of lawfull mission and right orders to vse it yea which not onely all Christendom at the first condemned but euen the inuentor him self for manie yeares disliked and offered to suppresse 4. Thirdly I would haue them to consider that the Catholik Protestant religion are not one the same religion in substaÌ„ce differing onely in some small points but are indeed two religions in substance quite opposit in many most substaÌ„tiall partes of reliigon namely In the verie worship of God For Gatholiks beleue that