I shalbe saued Turne vs againe O God of hostes saieth Dauid cause thy face to shine and we shalbe saued Here vpon commeth it to passe also that the comfortable answere is made I will giue them saieth the Lord an heart to knowe mee that I am the Lorde and they shalbe my people Againe I will put my lawe in their in warde partes and write it in their heartes In an other place I will giue them one heart and I will put a newe spirite within their bowelles and I will take the stonie heart out of their bowelles and I wil giue them an heart of fleshe that they may walke in my statutes and keepe my iudgementes and execute them This is the treasure which S. Paule saieth we haue in earthen vesselles that the excellencie of that power might be of God and not of vs. For hee worketh all thinges after the counsell of his owne will Againe It is God which worketh saieth Paule to the Philippians both the will and the deede euen of his good pleasure hée beginneth it and performeth it We are not sufficient of our selues to thinke any thing as of our selues but our sufficiencie is of God which hath made vs meete to be pertakers of the inheritaunce of the Saintes in light Then haue wée not frée will to that which is good being by nature the children of wrath clogged with the corruption of originall sinne and concupiscence so that we cannot doe as saint Paule saieth whatsoeuer we would 10. The Iesuites doctrine 10. The Iesuites holde that the first motions of concupiscence are without the gilte of sinne Censur Colon. When as in very déede the motions of the saide luste in that wee are by nature the children of wrath doe condemne vs if Gods mercie and the merits of Christes passion stoode vs not in stéede 11. The Iesuites holde that there are many other more grieuous offences and more damnable then those that repugne the lawe of GOD and yet the lawe condemneth them not namely traditions mans lawes and the preceptes of the Church the which Canisius reckones to be fiue in number 1. See thou celebrate the set feaste dayes of the church 2. See thou heare reuerently vppon the holy dayes Masse and Maâ—â—â—ns 3. See thou obserue the fastinges appoynted vpon certaine daies and times 4. See that thou once a yeere confesse thy sinnes to thy ghostly Father 5. See â—hou receiue the sacrament once a yeere at the least and that aboute Easter Censur Colon. Canis sâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—â— doctrin de precept Eccles Cap. 14. 15. 16. 17. 7 dâ— sacrament cap. 5. de Ieiun cap. 5. de Consil Euangel Cap. â— Whâ—n aâ— iâ—â—eâ—y dâ—â—de all â—â—â—nes are reproued by the lawe neither bée there any so greeuous as those which repugne the lawe For the Church is not to binde the consciences with her lawes but to preserue and proclaime the precepts and lawes of God 12. The Iesuites saye that faith is a most firme assâ—t or beléeuing not only of the things opened in holy scripture but also of those things which without scripture are deliuered by tradition Censur Colon. Canisiâ—de fide â—imbol Cap. 22. Andâ—â—d Orthodox â—xplic 〈…〉 Trident. Faith saith the Catholikes is not onely a knowledge by the which the Christian firmely holdeth all that is made manyfeste in Gods woorde but also a sure confidence kindled by the holy Ghoste through the Gospell in the hearte by meane whereof hée resteth in GOD perswading himselfe for certaine that remission of sin euerlasting righteousnesse and eternall life is giuen not onely to others but also to himselfe and that freely of the great mercie of God by the merites of Jesus Christ 13. The Iesuiâ—es say The iust in that hee liueth by faith hath not that in Christe but of his workes Againe That faith iustifieth shée hath not that â—oâ—me or efficacie of Christe whome shée apprehendeth and possesseth but of our loue Againe Faith doeth not therfore iustice because shee apprehendeth Christe who is our righteousnesse but workes are so necessary and stand in so great a steade that they giue vnto faith her life Cens Colon. Canisi Andradius The Catholikes holde that they must liue by fayth as the holy Ghost hath deliuered in writing And now he liueth no more as Paule wryteth but Christ lyueth in him and the life that the iust now liueth in the flesh hée liueth through the fayth of the sonne of God who loued him and gaue himselfe for him So that fayth hath no more her being or life of our loue or workes then the roote hath moisture ministred vnto â—â— by fruite growing vpon the trée 14. The Iesuites write the proper saluation of some certaine priuate man is not to bée referred vnto fayth For the priuate iustification of men is vncertaine and much more the eternall saluation of them How then in these being vncertaine shall fayth assure her selfe Fayth in particulars is vncertain hope ofteÌ„times is frustrate Censur Colon. Canis Andrad Orthodox explic lib. The counsell of Trent will also haue no perticular man to assure himself of his saluation and holdeth them accursed that doe so Sess 6. cap. 12. canon 13 14 15. But the Catholikes hold that most comfortable doctrine which Abraham Moses Iob Dauid Paule and all the elect people of God the spirite testifying vnto them whose children they are whiche assured themselues of theyr saluation not hanging with the câ—llierâ— fayth vpon the â—léenelesse câ—â—te of the Romish Church neither onely generally belieuing that some shal be saued but perticulerly also knowing that the election vâ—cation iustification and saluation of euery perticuler of the elect of God is sure and certaine 15. The Iesuites say that Justification is none other then the séeking or searching of righteousnes and to speak philosophically a motion vnto righteousnes Censur Colon Canis Andradius The Catholiks hold iustification of a man before God or christian righteousnes to be a remission of sinne and an imputation of the righteousnesse of Christ and a frée donation of lyfe euerlasting not for any worthinesse or workes of ours but onely for Christes sake and the same apprehended by fayth 16. The Iesuites doe hold that the reconciliation which is called iustification commeth to passe by meane of loue which is the gift of the holy Ghost shed in the heartes of the faythfull And truely say they great is the force of loue yea and of such a force that it maketh vs the sonnes of God Censur Colon. Canisius Catechist The Catholikes say that the elect are not reconciled vnto God but by the â—â—riteâ— of Christes passion And that loue goeth not before reconciliation as the cause but followeth after as the effect â—â—â—â—â—fying our iustification 17. The Iesuites affirme that the iustice of God reuealed in the Gospell is a power in God which rendreth vnto euery one according vnto their worthines Censur Colon Canis Andrad The Catholikes holde that the iustice of God shewed
not your nature be estraunged neyther goe yée about to thrust into this land for reine power such people as curse not only y â— ground wée tread vpon but also our bodyes and soules and are ready to cut all English throates if they might haue accesse vnto vs. Yée say ye haue vowed yet heare what your law saieth In malis promissis rescinde fidem in turpivoto muta decretum quod incuatè vouisti ne facias impia est promissio que scelere adimpletur In euill promises breake thy fayth in a shamefull vowe alter thy minde which thou hast vnaduisedly vowed doe not that vowe is wicked which is performed with mischiefe The rules of your order are not as yet come to my hands but the oth which all you take that professe the Romish religion I may not conceale from the reader and reading it I cannot chuse but lament to sée your flauerie and bondage and the liuely caracter of Antichrist therby imprinted not onely in the hand of the labourers but in the forehead of professours and consciences of all those y â— buy and sell traffike in his countries dominions In english thus I. N. do firmly admit embrace the Apostolike and Ecclesiasticall traditions and the rest of the obseruations and constitutions of the same church Also I doe admit the holy scripture according vnto that sense which the holy mother the Church hath and doth hold it to whome it appertaineth to iudge of the true sense and interpretation of the holy scriptures neyther will I euer receaue or interpret it but according vnto the vniforme consent of the fathers I doe also professe that there are truely and properly seauen sacraments of the new law ordayned by Iesus Christ our Lord and for the saluation of mankinde though not all to euery one necessary To wit baptisme confirmation the Lords supper penance extreame vnction order and matrimonie and that they conferre grace and of them baptism confirmation order without sacriledge may not be reiterated I doe also receiue and admit the receiued and allowed rites of the catholike church in the solempne administration of al the aforesaid sacraments I doe embrace and receiue al euery the things which of original sinne and iustification haue beene defined and decreed in the holy synode of Trent I professe in like sorte that in the masse there is offered vnto god the true proper propicia tory sacrifice for quick dead And that in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist there is truely really and substantially the body and blood together with the soule and diuinitie of our Lord Iesus christ and that there is a conuersion of the whole substance of bread into the bodie and the whole substance of wine into blood the which conuersion the catholike church calleth transubstantiation I confesse with all that vnder one onely kind whole and perfect Christ and the true sacrament is receiued I doe constantly hold purgatory and that the soules there detayned are relieued by the prayers of the faythful and in like sorte that the Saintes raigning to-together with christ are to bee honoured and callled vppon and that they pray vnto God for vs and that theyr relyques are to bee worshipped I doe firmely auouche that the Images of Christ and the mother of God alwayes a virgin and also of other Saintes are to bee had and retayned and that we are to giue them due honour and worshippe I doe affyrme that the facultie of pardons hath beene left by Christ in the church and that the vse of them is very wholsome to christian people I doe acknowledge the holy catholike Apostolike church of Rome for the mother and mistresse of all churches I doe promise and sweare true obedience to the Byshop of Rome successour of blessed Peter prince of the Apostles Vicar of Iesus Christ I do also vndoubtedly receiue and proâ—esse al that haue beene delyuered defined and declared by the holy cannons generall councelles and specially by the holy Synode of Trent and withal al things contrary and haeresies whatsoeuer haue by the church beene condemned reiected and accursed I also doe condemne reiect and accurse This true catholike fayth without the which none can be saued the which I doe presently willingly professe and truely holde the same wholy and imaculate vnto the last gaspe most constantly to retaine teach and preach as much as in me shall lye I the same N. do promise vowe swere so God me helpe the holy Gospels of God New commeth Pope Impius 4. with his farewell Let it not be lawfull therefore for any man at all to infringe this page or leafe of our ordinaunce inbibition derogation will statute decree and commaundement or with rash enterprise to contrary the same if any therfore presume to attempte the same let him knowe that he incurreth the indignation of almightie GOD and of blessed Peter and Paule the Apostles Dat. Rom. apud 5. Petrum Anno 1569. Id. Noâ—em Pontific nostri annâ— 5 Good God what periurie Idolatrie heresie blasphemy there is contained in the aforesaide oth And the spirit of Antichrist is plainly reuealed in the cursed conclusion folowing after In trueth such traditions as are contrary and besides the word of God though they be called Apostolike are not to be receiued that sense and exposition of the scriptures which the Church of Rome deliuereth is not the right and perfect vnderstanding the Church and especially as you deliuer it the Church of Rome is not iudge of the scriptures there are but two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lordes supper the rest by you added art of an other kinde and nature in which sense wée may say as Ierome saide of the Reuelation Looke howe many wordes we finde there so many Sacramentes there are The Sacraments confer not grace as you imagine Ex opere operato the rites in the administration of the Sacraments retained in the Church of Rome are childish superstitious and impious that doctrine of originall sin and iustification lately decréed in the councell of Trent is plasphemous and abhominable The Masse is an Idoll and the sacrifice there pretended for quicke and dead is a deceiuing of the people the Eucharist is not reall substantiall with the soule and diuinitie of Jesus Christ neither transubstantiated the Sacrament is not perfect when it is deliuered vnder one kinde Purgatorie is a fable neyther are the soules of the departed relieued by the prayers of the lyuing the Saintes are not to be inuocated their reliques are not to be worshipped neither Images to be adored Popes pardons are to no purpose but a deluding of Gods people and the filling of the poke Rome is neither catholike apostolike nor the Lady and mistresse of al other Churches the Pope is not the true successour of Peter neither the Uicar of Jesus Christ to receiue what Rome receiueth and condemne what shee condemneth is â—o deliuere Barrabas and crucifie Christ to embrace
to improue to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes Search the scriptures sayeth Christ for in them ye thinke to haue eternall lyfe What soeuer thinges are written before time are written for our learning that we through patience comfort of the scriptures might haue hope Iohn the Euangelist closeth vp y â— whole where he seaseth to write saying Many other signes also did Iesus in the presence of his disciples which are not writâ—eÌ„ in this booke but these things are written that ye myght beleeue that Iesus is the Christ the sonne of God and that in beleeuing ye might haue lyfe thorow his name As much to say though other miracles were wrought by Christ and not here layd down yet as much as is thought necessarie for yée to beléeue is here written Whereby wée gather the sufficiencie of holy scripture to saluation And whereas the woman of Samaria confessed the opinion then generally receiued saying I knowe well that Messias shall come which is called Christ when he is come he will tell vs all thinges Iesus sayd vnto her I am he that speake vnto thee In an other place to his Disciples hée saide All thinges that I haue heard of my Father haue I made knowne vnto you Againe where hée promiseth his Disciples to sende them an other comforter which shoulde teach them all thinges and shoulde bring all thinges to their remembraunce that hée had tolde them the same after the the ascention of Christ rested vppon the Apostles in the forme of fire tongues and was plentifully shed in the heartes of the faythful and continueth vnto the end assuring the children of God that they are his and dayly opening lighting vnto them y â— laÌ„tern caÌ„del of his word Lastly least any should surmisse any fradulent dealing or imperfection to rest after the departure of the Apostles that they spéed not their commissioÌ„ in so ample a maner as they were inioyned by our Sauiour saying Goe teach all nations c. Teach them to keepe all thinges that I haue commaunded you Their own protestations shall stand for sufficient euidences Paule for himselfe and his fellow labourers saieth The thinges which eye hath not seene neither eare hath heard neyther came into mans heart c. GOD hath reuealed them vnto vs by his spirite Againe wee haue the minde of Christ In an other place taking his leaue of the Elders of Ephesus hée saieth Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia after what manner I haue beene with you at all seasons and how I kept back nothing that was proffitable but haue shewed you and taught you openly and throughout euery house In a while after hée saieth Wherefore I take you to recorde this daye that I am cleare from the blood of all men For I haue kept nothing back but haue shewed you al the counsel of GOD. The conclusion is this Séeing that the holy scriptures of the olde and new testament which we imbrace are vndoubtedly the worde of GOD séeing the holy men of olde haue deliuered none other to the posteritie séeing that the sufficiencie thereof and euery parcell therein contayned is such as the premisses declare to make the man of GOD perfect séeing that the Messias is come and reuealed all things séeing that the promised comforter is become our guide and assureth the faythfull consciences séeing the Apostles and Disciples of Christ haue receiued the sense and meaning of Christ and deliuered the same simply and fully as their Euangelies and Epistles doe testifie wée are to reiect the Iesuiticall opinion receiued at Rome and to confesse in the trueth of Gods spirite that the holy scripture is no nose of ware no leaden rule no lame maimed neyther vnperfect doctrine but a perfect sounde sufficient absolute and contayning all thinges necessary to saluation I neede not stand confirming the same with testimonies of fathers the scriptures themselues are copious enough in this behalfe 2 The Iesuites doctrine THe want that is in holy scripture must be supplied by peecing therevnto traditions Censur Colon. This doeth Andradius the Iesuite defend allowing of the former sentence where hée writeth The brethren of the Societie of Iesu meaning the Censurers of Colen haue defined both godly and wisely that the traditions of the church are necessarily to bee annexed vnto the holye scripture Oâ—hod explic lib. 2. pag. 101. The late councell of Trent hath most blasphemously made traditions of equal authoritie with the scriptures Their wordes are these All the bookes of the old and new testament yea and also the traditions appertayning as well vnto fayth as manners as if they had beene vttered by Christ and endited by the holy Ghost conserued by continual succession in the catholike Church this Synode doeth receiue and honour with lyke affection of pietie and equall reuerence Sub. Paul 3. sess 4. cap. 1. The same also is found in the Censure of Colen and in the Catechisme of Canisius allowed in the councell of Trent 2. The Catholikes doctrine THe holy scriptures are perfect sufficieÌ„t of theÌ„selues and neede not to â—e pâ—â—ced with traditions This dependeth vpon that which goeth before therefore it requireth not so large a discourse There are too wayes to attaine vnto the knowledge of GODS worde the one inward by inspiration of the holy spirite the other outwarde by reading and hearing of the scriptures the thirâ— place I finde not for traditions toâ—â—â—d neyther may they bée ioyned as 〈…〉 to drawe in the viâ—â—eyarde of the Church Israel was charged not â—â— plâ—we with an Oxe and an Asse not to make their garmentes of linsie wolsie the Passoâ—er was to be eaten with swéet bread the leuen of the phariâ—aicall traditions being sayde aâ—â—â—â— The Prophet complayneth that the fountaine of the water of lyfe was leâ—t and that the people had dâ—gged them broken cesterâ—â—s Ieremy would haue the chaffe of mens dreames seuered from the wheat of Gods word S. Paule woulde not haue the faythfull ioyned with the infidell righteousnesse and vnrighteousnesse light and darkenesse Christ and Belial the temple of God and the groue of Idolles as much to say in the whole the worde of God may not bée linked with the traditions of man To this effect are the iniunctions of the holy Ghost so oft repeated in holy scripture Beware of false Prophetes beware of the leuen as the Disciples vnderstand it the doctrine of the Pharises and Saduces Become not the slaues of men O Tymothy keepe that which is committed vnto thee and auoyde prophane and vaine bablings Persistin those things which thou hast learned For other foundation can no man laye then that which is layde which is Iesus Christ Euery plant saieth Christ which my heauenly Father hath not planted shalbe rooted vp He turneth him vnto the forfathers of these Iesuites saying Why doeye transgresse
renouncing of the world the passing excellencie of the spirituall life wherwith this conuersation excelling all other kindes of humane trade of lyfe maketh the professours and embracers thereof like vnto Angels vnlyke vnto men yea it reformeth the Image of God in man conformans nos Christo instar baptismi coÌ„forming vs vnto christ like baptisme And we are as it were the seconde time baptized whilest by mortifying our earthly members which are vpon earth we again put on christ being set a new after the similitud of his death And withall as in baptisme we are pulled out from the power of darknes and translated into the kingdome of eternall light so by a certaine new byrth of this holy vow or order wee passe in like sorte out of the darkenesse not of one orginall but of many actuall sinns into the light of vertues When the professed solemnlie doweth the Byshop answereth And I promise thee the kingdome of heauen and life euerlasting if thou obserue these thinges Againe in the monasticall absolution it is sayde The rygor of the vow the merit of the order be vnto thee for remission of sinne and rewarde of euerlasting life Bernardinus de Busto is of this opinioÌ„ The irreligious man alwaies when he remébreth that he hath vowed and is therwith quiet and would do it afresh if hee had not done it before for euery such turne he obtaineth full remission of all his sinnes Albertus Pighius hath thought no lesse and of late Petrus a Soto who left both life and lewde opinion at the councel of Trent hath written the like in his catholike confession We may iustly with Alfonsus de Castro call this dealing blasphemie for if S. Paule pronounced as concerning the workes of the law which were commaunded from aboue If righteousnesse come by the law then Christ died in vaine How much y â— more with griefe we may not only coÌ„plaine but cry out if vowes and religious orders haue no warrant froÌ„ aboue but y â— deuises of mans braine be a ful satisfaction for al sinne and deseruing a plenarie remission for so they write of originall and actuall misdéedes then Christ dyed vnto them in vaine Again of the vowes and orders of Monkes and Fryers be equiualent or of lyke force with baptisme for the purchasing of remission a pana culpa as they would make vs belieue then fayth is to no purpose the preaching of the word is in vaine and the vse of the Sacramentes is done away I cannot but stomacke them sayth Alfonsus de Castro who to sette forth theyr order are not ashamed to bragge in open audieÌ„ce and to auouch that he which once taketh vpon him the weede of that order cannot erre in fayth neither fall from the trueth Is not this open blasphemie when as hereby hee seemeth to attribute more vnto the weede wherewith he is clad then to the fayth or grace of God! Is that cloth or garment of more vertue then the grace of God or fayth the deuill goe with so great a madnes Yet neither fayth neither grace receiued in baptisme doeth so preserue man but that he may fall into heresie How commeth it to passe then that the habite preserueth if any will refer this to the profession and not to the weede that he affirme the profession which in that order he vowed hath power and effycacie who is it but seeth that we all vowed christianitie in baptisme yet doth not that vow keepe vs so secure neyther make vs so free but that we may fall into heresie neither will there be any man so impudent that he can denie but that the vow in baptisme is more glorious and of greater force then any that is made after Let such then goe with a vengeaunce and leaue those toyes for Poets to prate of and let them preach better stuffe vnto the people I call God to witnesse I lye not a certaine fryer in my hearing in open audience vppon the Saintes day that founded that order preached that whoe so woulde put vpon him the habite of that order could in no wise be an heretike I hearing it abhorred the boldnesse and impudencie of the man So farre Alfonsus It lyketh you not that your Romish orders and irreligious sectes of Monkerie and fratrie should be so contemned and disgraced among the godly through out the militant Church here on earth and therfore to vphold their credit to cloke their late hypocrisie and superstition you alleadge the fathers of olde Augustine Athanasius Basil Nazianzen Chrysostome Cassianns Seuerus Sulpitius who as you thinke may stand you in some stéede as a bare shifte to sâ—â—e out so had a matter and with theit here 〈◊〉 to bleare the eie of the simple â— â—â—â—t wée speake of the religious men in the dayes of the aforesaide auncient fathers of the Monkes inhabiting Nytria and the deserts of Alexandria of their rules and orders in the time of Pachoimus the Monâ— of the worshippers in Aegypt in the dayes of Philo and of the Christians which were so first called at Antioch uâ— the time of the Appostles all your Romish orders if they be brought to the touthstone of Gods word they are no golde but copper and counterfet metall if they be brought to the balance of puritie in profession though laden with traditions and Jewishe ceremonies yet light in trueth and auncient integritie and if with the young Egles for certeintie of issue and oâ—â—prnig they be brought to behold the golden beams of the bright sunne they wil close vp their eie liddes they wil be found bastardes and such as haue degenerated from God their father and fallen from the word which his son Christ our Iesus hath deliuered vnto vs. Many of your own authors of no small credit amongst you will auowch the same I reporte me to the visions shewed to your holy people so tearmed among you to wit Briget Elizabeth Hildegar Vguentinus Robertus de monte Ioachim Liecthenem Methodius with others and the terrible cominations and threatnings of vengeaunce shewed them ready to light vppon the westerne Babylon and the Romish Antichrist together with the swarme of Locusâ—es and troupes of Monkes and Fryers with other their irreligious orders Your Abbot Barnard complayneth Non omnes sunt amici sponsi quos hodie sponsae hincinde assistere cernis They are not al friendes to the bridegroome whome nowadayes thou seest on ech side to assiste the spowse Againe all desire to be successours but few to be followers And to the Pope hée saith An other manner beside that of old is now in vre the dayes are now otherwise and men haue now other manners the perillous times are not nowe at hande but presently expired In an other place hee woondreth at the alteration in orders saying Quis in principio cum ordo cepit Monastious ad tantam creder et monachos mertiam deuenire O quantum distamus ab hijs qui in
beleeueth not is already condemned Secondly as yée péeped in at the kay hole to view the commaundementes and Luthers commentaries therevppon you found in a glymse written by Luther The tenne commaundementes appertaine nothing vnto vs where yée thinke that yée haue gotten great vauntage Luther dealeth plainly if malice had not blinded your eies ye might haue perceiued that hée meant nothing lesse Hee neither added too neyther tooke froe They were your pregenitors of the Romish synagogue that learned of their for fathers the Iewes as Iustinus Martyr writeth to raze y â— scriptures For you haue takeÌ„ out as it appereth vnto y â— world the second commaundement which is against your carued Images and deuided the tenth to supply the want therof But returning to Luther hauing sayde thus much by the way I will not giue you the lye but I questioÌ„ then hée 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab omnibus sâ—ruanda ad omnes pertiâ—eâ—â— sed â—â—â— quia a Mose pracepâ—â—â—sed quid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he lâ—ges decalogi inscriptâ— sâ—â—t The precepts of the dâ—â—â—loge oâ— tenne commandementes are of all men to be kept and they appertaine vnto all but not because they were inioyned by Moses but because these lawes of the tenne commaundements are imprinted or written in the nature of men Thereby giuing vs to vnderstand that the law of nature is indéed the law of God Not onely saieth hâ—â— this which is contrary to your slaunder â—â—â— allegation but also induâ—eth the faythful in Christ by thrée reasons to the reading and embracing of Moses and his workes the which I néede not presently to repeate Thirdly yée come â—â—â—ping among the Gospelles and take hold of a preface where you not vnderstaÌ„ding y â— same Luther as ye say wrote It is a false opinion to be abolished that there are four Gospelles forthe Gospell of Iohn is the onely fayre true and principall Gospell I cannot but meruaile at your childish dealing and wilful ignoraunce The last word principall hath relation vnto that which you will not reneale Are there foure Gospels or hath Christ deliuered vnto vâ— foure wilâ— of the Father Doe ye finde the Gospell of Mathew the Gospell of Marke the Gospell of Luke y â— Gospel of Iohn or rather y â— gospel after Mathew Marke Luke Iohn There is but one Gospell though there are four Euangelists they entreating one thing their harmonie is called the Gospell whereof Iohn is counted the principall mountiâ—â—â—loft as the Egle and displaying the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 As â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â— quoting the place â—â— haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luther For there iâ— followeth Wâ—â—â—soeuer is preached of Christ it is one Gospell though we one way deliuer the same and an other handle it with other wordes And againe one worde thereis one Gospell euen as there is one onely fayth and one baptisme throughout the whole church of Christ â— Fourthly not being coÌ„tent with the formeâ— vnâ—â—ne thâ— â—â—â—staunder Luther that hée should write If any woman cannot or will not proue by order of law the insufficiencie of her husband let her request at his handes a diuorse or els by his consent let heâ—â—ye â—â—iuely with his brother or withsome other man This is your shamelesse reporte and the great iniurie which yée â—â—fer the man now departed to rest To slaunder him that â—â— absent is a foule faulte but in the iudgement of an heathen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to reuile or belye the dead is a dubble sinne His owne words are these De â—uiâ—sâ—â—â—i consilium oliâ— quoddam â—râ— confessorâ—bus liâ—â—â—â—is â—andaâ—i quo vterentur sicubi maritus â—â—â— vxor consilâ—â—â— pâ—titâ—ri adâ—enâ—reÌ„t quidâ—am sibi saâ—iendum sit quandoquidem conâ—ugij sui compar debitam beneâ—alentâ—am reddere nequeat nec eius tamen expers esse queat qâ—â—n sentiat satis Dei creaturam in se efficacem esse Tum vero me sic docuisse calumniati sunt quod maritus vxâ—rislascâ—â—iâ— saâ—isfacere non possit ipsa ad alium transfugere debeat Sed mentiri siue peruersot istos nugatores Christo Apostolis eius sermones in peiâ—s vertebantur quid mirum si mâ—hi idem contingat sed quiâ— damnum accepturâ—s sit â—psi tandem videbunt Christ and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 constrâ—ed in the 〈◊〉 For Lut her being demâ—nâ—â—â— whether naturall impotenciâ— were a sufficient cause of diuorse answered that with the consente of her husband the might 〈◊〉 an other which mariage you lewdly translate and turne in to 〈◊〉 yet this opinion Luther after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saying Such a counsell gaâ—e I when at yet I was in subiectiâ—â— to Antichrist meaning the Pope but now I am otherwise to aduise Fiftly you annâ—r â—nto that going before an other impâ—â—â—â—â— slaunder 〈◊〉 â—poâ— Luther these words as his owne If the wiâ—â— will 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â— he may do come being in very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as spoke by another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other in y â— â—â—monsense which you giue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the wife must be openly knowne next if she be so stâ—bberâ—â— and wilfull that shee will â—ot be 〈◊〉 then diuorse is thought lawfull â—astly in this â—aâ—e it is lawfull for him to mary eyther 〈◊〉 or â—ome other woman after the exâ—mple of Assuerus in the storie of Hester This is that which with 〈…〉 might haue séene in the works of Luther Sixtly yée father vppon Luther as followeth Matrimonye is much more excellent then virginitie which in â—â—ry déede was spoken by him in two 〈◊〉 first by 〈…〉 lawefull wedlocke with the vnlawful luâ—â— of â—owed virginitie amonge the irreligioâ—â— orders Secondly by recâ—â—ing the 〈…〉 of mariage and in conueniences of virginitie In the ends hee concludeth a badde mariage is better then a badde kinde of chastitie What simply hée thought héerin may bée gathered out of his large 〈◊〉 and among al other places where he writeth If any man doe compare wedlocke with virginitie in truth virginitieis a more excellent gift yet matrimonie is the gift of God as well as continencie Man is more excellent then the woman yet shee is the woorke of GOD as well as hee Beefore GOD all thinges are equall whiche otherwise differ among themselues So wedlocke and virginitie are one before him for they both are the gift and woorke of God although the one doe excell the other being compared among themselues Seuenthly you report that Luther shoulde say Christ and Paule did not counsaile but disswade virginitie vnto christians Here ye are not ashamed to falsifie his woordes and slaunder his doctrine For as he wrote thus they lye Virginitie and single life are counselled Christ himselfe hath not plainely counselled but rather disâ—waded he onely shewed and commended it while he sayde vnto the Eunuches he that is able to receiue this let him receiue it And agayne All men cannot receiue this thing Are not these the woordes of one that rather withdraweth
that all those that beleeue in him should haue life euerlasting Such was the godly death of Luther As for Ignatius Layola the founder of your secte I finde that hee was giuen to nouelties and vnstablenesse in religion caryed away as â—â— Paule saieth with euery puffe or blast of vaine doctrine I finde that hee â—â—braâ—td superstition and Idolatrie being marked with the Character of the beast in the Reuelation and licenced to buy and sell traditions and to traffique in the kingdome of Antichrist Touching any good y â— he did or any soules y â— he geined or any sound doctrine that hée deliuered vnto the people of God I finde no mention And now vnto that which I haue especially determined with my selfe I am to display for the furnishing of your Banner the doctrine which your societie generally establisheth the which you as yée say vnder the Banner of obedience doe so we abroade The poynts being many the labour great and my leasure small I will not wearâ—e the Reader with tedions discourses and autorities of men but wade in the holy scriptures so farre as mention is made of the matters called in question and where the word of God is silent and of the other side doctrine is vrged there to giue the Reader to vnderstand that it is the deuise and inuention of man and therfore as easily consuted as confirmed I finde in your workes as followeth 1. The Iesuites doctrine HOly scripture is a lame maimed and vnperfect doctrine Again holy scripture in the very same doctrinâ— and precepter which it containeth and setteth forth is as it were a nose of waxe not yeelding any certaine or imoâ—able sentence but such a one as may be drawne or wrested afterwhat 〈◊〉 ye will Censur Colon Andrad Orthod Explâ—â— Lib â— pag. 104. 105. 106. Againe Thou shalt finde many thinges which cannot bee s◠〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 of the holy scripture but that they 〈…〉 of the Church o◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 pag â—0 Againâ— To depriue hâ—â—y scripture of the testimonies of traditions and authoritie of the Church is as much as may be to ouerthrow holy scripture to caâ—t downe the chiefest 〈◊〉 thereof and â—o bring â—â—e whole fayth into open periâ— Pag. 8â— the same 〈…〉 that which others 〈◊〉 The 〈…〉 the Fathers of Coleâ— finding 〈◊〉 places in holy scripture the true sense wherof could not easily be gathered but that euery one might wrest it â—â— hiâ— plesure they I say haue by a most 〈…〉 of wax and Pigâ—â—â—â— called it â— leadeâ— rule pag 〈◊〉 He yéeldeth a reason of their doinges 〈◊〉 they dâ—â— it for two causes The one for the vncertâ—intie of the sense the other because that Heretikes wrested the same and in an other place The catholike â—ayth is not to bee strayned and limited within the bondâ— of holy scripture that we may imbâ—ace and beleeâ—e nothing which is noâ— written in holy scripture For al that the christian saith beleeâ—eth and religion honoureth is not contained in holy scripture Pag. 126. 1. The Catholikes doctrine HOly scripture is a perfect sound sufficient absolute doctrine The doctrines precepts therin cotaiâ—ed are sure certeine It contayneth al things necessarily to be beleeued to saluation The Patriarkes Priests and Prophets deliuered nothing to the people but that they were commaunded by the holy Ghost the Prophetes begiâ—ne with The word of the Lorde the vision which God shewed c. Christ the sonne of GOD affirmed that hée spake nothing of himselfe Paule glorieth that he was called to be an apostle not of men neither by man but by Iesus Christ y â— he preched not himself but christ cruciâ—ied no new doctrin but y â— which god had promised by the Prophetes Peter saieth Prophecie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost Wee followed not deceiueable fables when we opened vnto you the power and comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ For all doctrine to bée edified for all doubtes to be resolued and abuses to bée reformed God would haue vs to haue recourse to his word Unto the Pharises it is sayd you erre not knowing the scriptures Will not my people saieth the Lorde enquire at their God will they not haue recourse to the lawe and testimonie Abraham woulde haue the rich mans brethren receiue Moses and the Prophets and heare them Christ conuinced the deuill with scripture hée defended his Disciples against the Pharises by scripture After his resurrection hée rebuked his incredulous Disciples opening vnto them throughout the scriptures all that concerned him In the law prophetes and psalms the sufficiencie perfection therof appeareth in y â— it is called the fountain of wisdom the word of truth the words of euerlasting life y â— lead into al truth SolomoÌ„ saith in the person of God al the words of my mouth are righteous ther is nothing lewd or froward in theÌ„ they are al plain to him that will vnderstaÌ„d straight to theÌ„ that would finde knowledge Againe All the wordes of God are pure and he is a shield to those that trust in him Saint Paule saieth The worde of GOD is liuely and mightie in operation and sharper then any two edged sword and entreth through eueÌ„ vnto the deuiding a finder of the soule the spirit of the ioynâ—es and the 〈◊〉 and is â— disâ—â—rner of the thoughtâ— and the inteâ—tes of the 〈◊〉 The Authour of the 〈◊〉 of Wisdome writeth Thy word O Lorde healeth all thinges Now are ye cleane saieth Christ through the word which I haue spoken vnto you The Prophet Dauid is full of testimonies tending to the confutation of the Iesuiticall sect The way of GOD is vncorrupt the word of the Lord is tryed The lawe of the Lorde as the Septuagintes tranâ—â—ate it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnblameable or perfect conuerting the â—oule The Testimonie of the Lord is sure and giueth wisdome vnto the simple The statutes of the Lord are right and reioyce the heart the commaundement of the Lord is pure and giueth light vnto the eâ—es by them is thy seruaunt made circumspect In Syrach wee read A man of vnderstanding walketh faythfully in the law and the law is faythfull vnto him O Israell we are blessed saieth Baruch for the things that are acceptable vnto GOD are manifest vnto vs Iesus sayd vnto the â—ewes which beleeued in him if ye continue in my word ye are verely my Disciples and shall know the trueth and the trueth shall make you free S. Paule exhorteth Tymothy to continue in the doctrine deliuered him For in doing this saieth hée thou shalt both â—aue thy self and them that heare Again Thou hast knowne the holy scriptures of a childe which are able to make thee wise vnto saluation through the fayth which is in Christ Iesus For the whole scripture is giuen by the inspiration of God is profitable to teach