cotrouerted betwixte them and the Catholiques yet is he not for all that to be excused from the proofe of those pointes vnless he will withall confess that in them the Protestantes haue no faith at all but onely a mere deniall of faith For faith beinge not a simple denying or not beleeuing but a possitiue assent and belief of such articles as are reueled vnto vs by God it hath possitiue groundes wherby it may and ought to be proued euen in those pointes which are negatiue And therfore as Catholiques doe proue theire faith in these negatiue pointes that onely faith doth not iustifie that we are not certayn of our iustification or saluation and the like so likewise are the Protestantes to proue theyr faith in these that there is no Purgatorie no reall presence no sacrifice of the Mass and the rest Vnless as is sayd before they will confess that they haue no faith in these pointes but onely a mere deniall of faith Haueinge thus aduertised thee good Reader of these fewe things I leaue thee to peruse the treatise it self desiringe thee to expect onely the bare positiones proued with the self text of holy Scripture and some fewe fathers without anie florishe of wordes at all The worke being such as doth rather resemble the bare bones of a great bodye tied together with dried Sinewes then a bodie throughly furnished with flesh and orher habiliments of friendly narure For which cause though to such as rather respect fashion then substance it may happ to appeare hideous yet to others of contrarie appetite for whose contentment it is speciallie intended it will not paraduenture be iudged altogether without forme THE FIRST CONTROuersie Of Holy Scriptures IT is Knowne that the Catholique Roman Church doth admitt more bookes and percells of holy Bible for Scripture then the Protestantes doe and consequently acknowledgeth a larger canon then they and yet notwithstanding shee teacheth Chatolique PositioÌ„ 1. That all such articles as by her and the Protestantes themselues are beleeued and holden for articles of faith are not so expressly contayned in holy Scriptures as out of them onely full proofe may be made therof Proofe The articles which the Protestantes doe beleeue to be of faith as well as Catholiques and yet are not contayned expresly in holy scriptures are many but wee will giue instance onely in a fewe 1 That there are three distincte personnes and one onely substance in god 2. That the secuÌ„de and third personns are of the same substance â—nd equall gloire with the first â— That the third personn proceedeth from the seconde and from the first 4. That there are two distinct and compleat natures in our sauiour Christ and but one onely personn 5. That there are in him two willes and two operations to witt of god and man about all which pointes haue been diuerse heresies as is well Knowne to the learned And thoughe all these articles haue most true ground and proofe in holy Scriptures yet are they not soe expressly contayned therin as they may be fully prooued by them alone One example shall serue for all To proue the sonn to be consubstantiall or of one substance with the father the Catholiques doe alledg and truly this testimonie I and the father are one yet because there are moe meanes of beinge one then in substance as namely to be of one will desire and affection of which sorte of vnitie specially the Arrianes did explicat this place alledging for them selues that testimonie I pray that they all may be one as thou Father in me and I in thee that they also in vs may be one which cannot be vnderstood of vnitie in substance Therfore this testimonie without the interpretatioÌ„ of the Church which is the piller of truth doth not fully proue the father and the sonn to be one in substance The like may be sayd of the other articles here mentioned Catho posi 2. All such articles as are of faith and so holden by the ProtestaÌ„tes them selues are not contayned so much as indirectly or implicitly in holy Scriptures but onely so farr as the Scriptures contayne and testifie the auctoritie of the Church and traditions Proofe That all the Bookes of the Bible and euerie parte therof which are acknowledged for canonicall scripture ioynthy of Catholiques and Protestantes be such indeed That the most blessed mother of our Sauiour Christ continued perpetually a Virgin That it is lawfull for Cristians to eate strangled things and blood which were expresly forbidden them acts cap. 15. vers 20 are not so much as indirectly contayned in holy Scriptures otherwaies then is mentioned in our position But this being more amply proued in that which followeth of traditions this which wee haue sayd already shall suffice for the present The Positions which the Protestantes in this question are to proue be these ProtestaÌ„t position 1 All articles of faith are so expressy contayned in scripture as out of them onely full proofe may be made therof 2. All articles of faith are at least so contayned in holy scriptures as with out anie testimonie or auctoririe of the Church or traditions they may thence be plainlie and distinctly deduced TE SECOND CONtrouersie of Traditiones Catholique Positions 1. THe holy Apostles deliuered by worde of mouth moe thinges to be beleeued and obserued by the Church then ether they found written or wrot them selues And these thinges are vsually called traditiones Proofe 1. Haueing moe things to write vnto you would not by paper and â—â—â—e for I hope shall be with you and speake mouth to â—outhe 2. And the rest I will dispose when I â—ome where the holy Apostle euidently sheweth that he reserued something more to be ordayned by worde then he wrote 3. The Apostles were commaunded to teache all nationes to obserue all things which our sauiour had commavnded which doubtless they fulfilled but they were not commaunded in anie place to write all the same nether doth it appeare by anie Scripture that they did write all thinges which they taught men to beleeue and obserue This is à demoÌ„stration that they taught more then they wrote if nothing be to be beleeued but what is contayned in holy Scripture 4. They taught Baptisme giuen to infants to be good and lawfull or ells the Anabaptistes are not heretiques for rebaptising them 5. They taught the sonday to be solemnised and the Iewes Sabbathe to be left without all solemnitie though most strictly commaÌ„ded by god to be solemnised as an euerlasting couenaÌ„t 6. They deliuered and taught the creed by worde and not in writing which from they re tyme till now hath continued in the church by tradition onely 7. They taught Baptisme ministered by heretiques to be good and therfore S. Augustin speakinge therof saith Manie things which are not founde in the Apostles writinges nor in latter councells yet because they are obserued by the whole church are beleeued to be deliuered and recommended
by none but by theÌ„ Agayne he sayth There are many thinges which the whole church doth hold and therfore are well beleeued to be commaunded by the Apostles albeit they be not found written Catholique positi The Catholique church doth ought to beleeue those things which the Apostles deliuered onely by worde without writinge in the same degree of faith with those which are written Note that the proofes of this position doth also proue thother going à fore Proofe 1. Therfore Brethren stand and hold the traditions which you haue learned whether it be by worde or by our epistle S. Basile saith I account it Apostolique to continue firmly in vnwritten traditions and alledgeth this place of S. Paule S. Chrisostome cited by Fulke himself saith thus Hereof it is manifest that they the Apostles deliuered not all by Epistles but many things without letters and the one is of as great credit as the other Therfore we think the tradition of the church to be worthie of credit It is à tradition inquire no more 2. O Timothee keepe the deposituÌ„ That is that which is comitted to thy trust not certes by writinge For litle or nothinge writren of the new testament was knowne to Timothee then See à large discourse herevpon in Vincentius lirenensis 3. But if anie man seeme to be contentious wee haue no such custome nor the church of god where S. Paule alledgeth the custome of the church as à sufficient disproofe of anie practise why not therfore for the proofe of anie The things which thou hast hearde of me by many witnesses these commende to faithfull men which shall be fitt to teach others also loe no word here of writing but of hearing teaching by worde of mouthe Nowe haueinge proued by Scripture it self and euident instances that many thinges are to be beleeued that are not directly contayned in Scripture it appeareth à sensless thinge to demaunde direct proofe of euerie thinge we beleeue out of Scripture Protestants Positi The holy Apostles deliuered not by word of mouth moethings to be beleeued and obserued by the church theÌ„ theyether founde written or wrote them selues And therfore are there no traditions to be holden or beleeued 2. The Catholique church ought not to beleeue those thinge which the Apostles deliuered onely by worde of mouth without writinge in the same degree of faithe with those which are written THE THIRD CON trouersie of the difficultie to vnderstand the Scriptures Catho positiones 1 All places of holy scripture conteyninge articles of fayth the obstinate misbeleife wherof is Damnable are not easâ—â— to be vnderstoode but requiâ—â— some rule to be interpreted by Proofe 1. Philipp sayd to the Eunucâ— whom he founde readinge thâ— Prophet Esay Trow est thou thâ—â— thou vnderstandest the things which thou readest who sayde how can vnless some man shewe me 2. Our Sauiour accordingly â—pened the vnderstaÌ„dinge of his Apostles that they might vnderstand the Scriptures see therfore what à speciall grace it is to â—nderstand the Scriptures in there true sense and meaninge In the which the Epistles of sainct Paule are certayne thinges hard to be vnderstoode which the vnlearned and vnstable depraue as also the 〈◊〉 of the Scriptures to theyr owne perâ—â—ione Sainct Hierome explicatinge â—â—e text now cited out of the actes concludeth thus These thinges haue I breifly touched as the limitts of an Epistle would permitt that thou mayest vnderstande that with out a guide and teacher thou canst not enter the pathe of holy Scriptures which is easie to conceaue seeinge as he notethe in the same place no trade nor mechanicall art is learned with out à maister Certes it is not onely an heresie but à meere frensie to saye that all scriptures conteyninge poyntes of faythe necessary to be beleeued are easie to be vnderstoode of priuat beleeuers sithence all heresies whatsoeuer haue bene begoÌ„n and maynteyned for want of true vnderstandinge of holy scriptures wherof Vincentius Lirenensis sayth thus Some man may peraduenture aske foâ— asmuch as the canon of the scriptures 〈◊〉 perfect and in all pointes very sufficient in it self what neede is ther tâ— ioyne therunto the authoritie of the ecclesiasticall vnderstandinge For this cause surely for that all take not the holy scriptures in one and the same sense because of the deepness therof bâ—â— the sayinges therof some interpret one way and some another way soe thaâ— tbere may almost as manye senses bâ— picked out of it as there be men Foâ— Nouatian doth expound it one waye and Sabellius another waye otherwise Arrius Eunomius Macedonius other wayes Photinus Apolinaris Priscillianus otherwayes Iouinian Pelagius Celestius lastly otherwayes Nestorius Thus far that auÌ„cieÌ„t father to whom we may ad otherwais wicliffe Luther Caluin Anabaptistes with the rest and this most truely seing of these fewe wordes This is my Bodye there are found aboue 80. diuers senses besides the Catholique â—ense and meaninge S. Augustine also auoucheth the samesayinge For no other reason are heresies made but because men not rightly vnderstandinge the Scriptures doe obstinatly affirme they re owne opiniones against the truthe of them Catho pos 2. Priuate personnes though true beieeuershaue not the spirit of interpretinge the holy Scripture in the true sense and meaninge of the same Proofe 1. No prophecie of scripture is made by priuate interpretation 2. The lippes of the Priest shall keepe knowledg and the lawe they shal require of his mouthe be cause he is the Angell that is the messeÌ„ger of the lord of hostes loe here the office of interpretinge the lawes of god giuen to priestes and not assured to euerie faythfull person 3. Vpon the Chaire of Moyses haue sitten scribes and Pharisies all thinges therfore whatsoeuer they shall saye to you obserue yee and doe yee loe here à commaunde to heare the prelates pastoures of the church and no man lefte to followe his owne fantasie in matters of faythe and manners Protestantes PositioÌ„ 1. All places of holy Scripture â—onteininge articles of faith the obstinate misbelief wherof is daÌ„nable are easie to be vnd er stood therfore require not anie rule to be interpreted by 2. Priuat persounes that are true beleeuers haue the Spirit and gift of interpretinge the holy Scripture in the true sense and meainge therof THE FOVRTH CONtrouersie Of the infallibilitie of the churche Catho pos THe sense and meaninge of holy Scriptures giuen or aproued by the holy Catholique church is vnfallibly true as are also the definitiones and declarationes of faithe deliuered by the same and euery one is bounde vpon his damnatioÌ„ not to reiect the iudgment therof Proofe 1. My spirit that is in thee and my wordes that I haue put in thy mouthe shall not departe out of thy mouthe and out of the mouthe of thy seede and out of the mouthe of thy seedes seede sayth our lord for this present and for euer
honoure due to the cros may be sayd of anie other holy image Protestantes position 1. The images of holy personnes may not without idolatrie or other inconuenience be made placed in churches oratories or places of prayer 2. The images of holy personnes may not or ought not to be honored reuerenced or worshiped THE ELEVENTHE Controuersie Of Purgatorie Catholique position AFter this life there is a purgatorie or place where the soules of the faythfull departinge out of this world Ī the state of grace are detayned vntill they be wholly purged from all guilt and payne due vnto sinn Proofe 1. Hee that shall speake against the holy ghost it shall not be forgiuen him nether in this world nor in the world to come Hence it is manifest that some sinnes are forgiuen in the world to come not in heauen whither no sinner entereth nor in hell where there is no remission therfore in a third place which is Purgatorie S. Augustin aludinge to this place expresly sayth that some sinnes are remitted in the next world 2. Bee att agrement with thy aduersarie betymes whilest thou art in the way with him lest perhappes thy aduersarie deliuer thee to the iudg and the Iudge deliuer thee to the officers and thou be cast into prisone Amen I saye to thee thou shalt not goe from thence till thou repaye the last farthinge To these wordes S. Cyprian alludinge Sayth Another thinge it is for him that is in prison not to goe out til he hath payde the last farthinge another thinge presently to receaue rewarde of faythe and Vertue another thinge beinge by longe payne tormented to be clensed and purged by longe fire 3. The worke of eueire one shal be manifest for the day of our lorde will declare because it shal be reuealed in fire and the worke of euerie one of what kinde it is the fire shall trye Vf anie mans worke burae he shall suffer detriment but hee himselfe shal be saued yet soe as by fire S. Augustine Vnderstandeth this place of Purgatorie sayinge yf they did build vpon the foundation gold siluer and pretions stones they should be secure from both fyres not onely from that euerlasting which shall torment the impiouse eternally but also from that which shall amende them that shal be Saued by fire For it is sayd hee shal be safe yet soe as by fyer Catholique Positions The soules in Purgatorie are holpen by the prayers Sacrifices and other workes of pietie done for them by the faithfull liuinge in this world And therfore is it à good worke to praye for them Proofe Otherwise what sh. il they doe that are baptised for the dead yf the dead rise not agayne at all why also are they baptised for them By baptisme here is vnderstoode all corporall afflictione and chastisement vndertaken for the departed in like manner as it is vnderstoode by our sauiour when he say the with the baptisme wher with Iam Baptised shall yee be baptised 2. And Iudas makeinge a gatheringe he sent 12000. Drachmes of Siluer to Hierusalem for sacrifice to be offred for sinne well and religiouslye thinking of the resurrection for vnless he hoped that they that were slayne should rise agayne it should seeme super stuouse and vayne to pray for the dead it is therfore a holy and healthfull cogitation to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from sinnes For the iudgment of the churche in before S. Augustines tyme lett the industrius reader see the confessione of Chemnitius in his examen where he vndertaketh to dispute against S. Augustine and S. Chrisostome of purgatoire prayer for the dead Protestant position 1. After his life there is no purgatorie or place where the soules of the faithfull departed in the state of grace are purged ether from guilt or payn of sinn 2. The sowles in purgatorie are not holpen by the prayers and other workes of pietie done for them by the faithful liueinge in this worlde And therfore it is att least in vayne to pray for them THE XII CONTROuersie of the Sacraments Catholique position THere are seauen Sacramēts of the newe lawe properly so called That is seauen visible or sensible signes ordayned or instituted by our sauiour Christ wherby grace is giuen to those that worthely receaue thē The protestantes doe confess that Baptisme and the Eucharist are properly sacramentes therfore are wee onely to proue the other fiue Note that as nether baptisme nor the Eucharist are in any place of holy scripture called or said to be sacramentes and yet because they are visible or sensible signes and ceremonies giueing grace as the catholique churche beleeuethe or signifyinge the same as the protestās teache they haue euer in gods churche euen by the confession of our aduersaries beene truly called and esteemed sacramentes soe likewise all other externall and sensible signes or ceremonies proued by scriptures to haue the like effecte and haue beene called and esteemed of the auncient churche sacramentes ought also of the protestātes to be acknowledged for such nether are they to require any other proofe for the other sacraments then they are able to produce for these two And albeyt the protestantes confess with the Catholiques that Baptisme and the holy Eucharist are Properlie sacramentes yet doe they deny diuers thinges pertayninge to them which the Catholique churche tacheth which are therefore to be spoken of before we proceede to the proofe of the other sacramentes OF THE NECESSItie of Baptisme Catholique position It is necessary for euerie mans saluation that he be baptised Proofe A Men I say to thee vnless a man be borne agayne of water and the spirit the cannot enterinto the kingdome of god S. Augustine numbereth amongest other heresies of Pelagius this that he promised eternall bliss though without the kingdome of god to infantes without Baptisme Protestant position It is not necessarie for any mans saluation that he bee baptised OF THE CEREMOnies of Baptisme Catholique position THe exorcismes and other ceremonies vsed by the Catholique churche in Baptisme haue example in the holy scripture and are agreable there vnto Proofe And takeinge him from the multitude apart he put his fingers into his eares and spitting touched his tounge And lookeinge vp to heauen he groaned and sayd to him ephpheta which is he thou opened Sainct Ambros testifiethe these ceremonies to haue bine vsed in his tyme. Protestant position The exorcismes and other ceremonies vsed by the churche in Baptisme are disagreable to holy scripture OF THE HOLY EVchariste or most blessed Sacrament of the Aulter Catholique Positions IN the holy Eucharist the true body and blood of our sauiour Christ is truly really and substantially and not in figure only Proofe Take yee and eate This is my body Drinke yee all of this For this is my blood of the newe testamēt which shal be shed for many vnto remission of sinnes Agayne This is my
body which is giuen for you This is the chalice the newe testament in my blood which shall be shed for you and yet agayne Our lord Iesus in the night that he was betrayed tooke breade And giuinge thankes brake sayd Take yee eate This is my body which shall be deliuered for you this doe yee for commemoration of me In like manner also the chalice after he had supped sayinge this chalice is the newe testament in my blood this doe yee as often as ye shall drinke for the commemoration of me Note that these wordes this is my body beinge vnderstoode as they sounde there can be no more controuersie about this poynt And that they are to be vnderstoode as they sounde and without all figure may be conuinced in this sorte There can nether reason nor aucthoritie be alledged why anie other wordes of holy scripture are to be vnderstoode as they sounde and namely these wordes which are most like them This is my welbeloued sonne which doth not proue the same of these wherof we now speake Therfore without all sense reason merely of hereticall wilfulness is a figure sought in these Wordes more then in any other and namely in these I haue mentioned But here I inteÌ„d not any further dispute OF TRANSVBST ANtiation Catholique position THe worde TransubstaÌ„tiation is not founde expressly in holy scripture as likewise is not coÌ„substantiall but as the Catholique churche did euer beleeue the equalitie of power vnitie of substance in the Father and the sonne and by the assistance of the holy ghost the spirit of truthe which teacheth her all truthe did express her beleefe in that point by the worde consubstantiall in the holy councell of Nice so like wise haueinge euer beleeued the true reall presence of Christes body in the most holy eucharist by the change of the bread into the same body did beinge assisted by the same neuer fay linge spirit of truthe in the holy councel of Lateran first and since in diuerse others express her beleif in that poynt by the worde transubstantiation as most fitly declaringe the veritie of that most holy mystery Nether can the protestantes produce anie thing against transubstantiation which they themselues are not bounde to solue and answere the Arriannes obiectinge the very like against that of consubstantiall That the doctrin of traÌ„substaÌ„tion is not newe Adamus Francisci a learned protestant with others confesseth in these words The fiction of transubstantiation crep into the churche betimes And this shall suffice for this pointe till occasion be giuen of a larger discours OF ADORING THE holy Eucharist Catholique Positions OVr Sauioure Christ beinge noe less truly present in the holy Eucharist theÌ„ he was in the stable in Bethelem or vpon the cross he is noe less to be adored of all faithful christians in the sacrament then he was there or then beinge in the forme of a gardiner he was of S. Marie Magdalein Proofe Adore yee him all his Angells which wordes S. Paule hebrwes cap. 1. vnderstaÌ„deth of the adoâ—ation of Christ in his humanitié Adore yee the footstoole of his feete By which footstoole S. Augustine vnderstandeth the fleshe or bodie of our sauiour Christ and saith Because he walked here in fleshe and gaue the same fleshe to vs to be eaten for our Saluation and no man eateth that fleshe vnless he first adore it it is fouÌ„de howe the footstoole of our lord is adored Certes he that acknowledgeth our sauiour Christ truly present in the B. Sacrament and yet thinketh him not worthie of Adoration is more sensless and vnthankfull then that vngratfull kaytiff that seeinge his grations soueraigne coÌ„ming to visit him in his vile cottage should thinke him less honorable for suche exceeding grace and fauoure Protestantes positions In the holy Eucharist the true body and blood of our sauiouâ— Christ is not truly really anâ— substantially but in figure only 2 The body of Christ is not iâ— the Eucharist by transubstantiatione 3 He ys not to be adored in the Eucharist OF COMMVNION vnder one kinde Catholique positions 1. IT is no where forbidden iâ— holy scripture to minister the holy communion to lay personnes vnder one Kinde onely This Positione is clear no such prohibitione appearing in the scripture And yf the ProtestaÌ„tes growndes of beleeuinge nothinge but what is proued by scripture were true would sufficiently warrant the practise of the Roman churche in this poynt But â—urther It is no where commaunded â— holy scripture to giue the holy â—ommunion vnder both kindes â—o the laye people This Posision ys also cleare no such commaundement anie where appearinge For that which is sayd doe â—his for remembrance of me is spokeÌ„ onely of the kinde of bread and therfore doth well prouue the contraire S. Paule in deed â—ddeth it to both kindes therby also declaringe this holy mysterie taken ether under both or one kinde to be a memoriall of Christ and his passione and therfore doth rather proue the Catholique Roman practice then anie waye disproue yt Thoughe these wordes doe rather giue power and auctoritie to the Apostles priestes to consecrate and offer the vnbloody sacrifice here instituted and offered by our sauiouâ— Christ then import anie commaundement of ministringe thâ— same to the laye people vndeâ— both kindes And this shal appeare more euidently by thaâ— which followeth Catholique position The Catholique Roman churche doth not anie wronge or iniurie to the lay people ministringe vnto them the holy Eucharist vnder one kinde onely They receauinge the same benefit by one that they should do by bothe christs bodie blood beinge whole in eache Proofe He that saythe vnless you eate the fleshe of the sonn of man and drinke his bloode you shall not haue life in you saithe also He that eatethe me the same also shall liue by me And agayne he that eateth of this bread shall liue foreuer And he that sayth he that eateeth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me and I in him The same also sayth the bread that I wil giue is my fleshe forthe life of the wolrde And he that sayth he that eateth my fleshe and drinketh my blood hath life euerlastinge The same sayth he that eateth this bread shall liue for euer All these are the sayinges of our sauiour Christ in on the same hapter of S. Ihon where if we say with most Catholique Docteurs that he speaketh of the holy Sacrament Sacramentally receaued it is manifest that he ascribeth the same effect and vertu to one kinde that he doth to both And therfore can they haue noe wroÌ„ge done them that for most iust causes haue it ministered vnder one kinde onely But yf we saye with the Protestantes that here is no speache of sacrameÌ„tall eatinge of Christ his body theÌ„ is there noe difficultie in theyr cheest argument which is grounde vpon the first wordes alleadge in this proof 2. The were perseueringe