Protestant Religion And seeinge fayth is à fupernaturall guifte descendinge from the Father of Light and the goodnes of the Allmighty of his parte is such that he would haue all saved and forsaketh none that Cordially humbly and perseverantly seeke him It was daylye my earnest and humble petition to him soe to illumenate me that if I were in the right I might be Confirmed therin If not to state me in that Church which is the pillar and foundation of truth assureing my selfe that in such à disposition and resignation of my selfe into the hands of God I should never be confounded but secured accordinge to that of the Royall Prophet hee that dwelleth in the aide of the heighest shall abyde in the protectioÌ„ of the God of heaven And therfore freely excite vs with an Accedite ad Deum illuminamini facies vestrae non confundentur Psal. 33. v. 6. Now then to the eye of the matter amongst many other motiues which warrants my aversion from the Englishe Congregation to omitt the many absurdityes and daingerous Consequences of Protestants Iustification by fayth onely the impossibility of Gods Comaundements the blemishinge the best works with sinne their impious impugnation and hatred to Gods dearly beloved freinds the heavenly Saynts the negation of Frewill the neglect of the Sacrament of pennance and the penitentiall Acts vzt humble confession harty Contrition and effectuall satisfaction the fcoffinge at fasts Corporall mortifications and such lyke Doctrynes of theirs tendinge to vitious liberty of lyfe As allsoe the manifould deceipts falsifications and impostures Protestant wrighters doe practice to support their Religion of whom Sir Edwin Sandes an eminent man amongst Protestants In his relation of matters of Religion pronounceth these words The Protestant writers in relation of things haue abused this present age and preiudiced posteritye Loue and dislyke haue soe dazelled their eyes that they cannot be beleiued Agreeable to which is the Confession of that Learned and ingenious Protestant Zantius in his 10. Epist. to Strumus in the end of the 7. booke and 8. of his Missellans wher he vttereth these words of the proceedings of Protestante wrighters Doctors and pillars of the reformed Church The state of the question that it may not be vnderstood wee often with sett purpose ouerclowde with darknes Things which are manifest wee impudently denye Things false without shame wee auouch Things playeinly impyons wee propose as first principalls of fayth Things Orthodoxal wee condemne of harisye Scripture at our pleasure wee detort to our dreames c. To omitt I saye the prementioned motiues with many more which exceedingly averteth me from the Protestant Congregation the prime motiues which warrante my aversion from Protestants are for that not onely I haue ofen heard them averre that the Church of Christ might erre in matters of fayth and read their many testimonyes that it hadd erred made an vniversall Apostasye and that for à longe space Truth was vnknowne before that Martin Luther an Apostata both from the holy order of S. Augustins Eremitticall Fryers and the Catholique Church became à new Apostle to them whom they tearme à man sent from God to illuminate the world another Elias First Apostle of the pure refined Gospell The father of Protestants and reformer which restored the decayed Church of Christ to the primitiue Modell which is most blasphemous contrary to the predictions of the auncient Note Prophetts contrary to the promises made by God and Christ touchinge the perpetuall existence and assistance of his Church yea distructiue of Christ himselfe The new Testament The Creed of the Apostles and exceedingly strengthennige and advantaginge the perverse Sinagogue of the Iewes as here after in place convenyent I will further declare not onely I saye this which principally moveth me aboue all but allsoe that I finde in the 39. Articles of the publique Confession of the fayth and Religion of English Protestants that particuler Churches as namely Ierusalem Antioch c. might as well erre in matter of fayth as in livinge and Ceremonyes Now seeinge in reallitye the Englishe reformed Congregation is but à particuler Church not onely for place but for that it is never able to demonstrate that any other Congregation of men in the vniversall World eyther before Luther or since Luther ever had Communion with them in the 39. Articles which is the propper essence of our Englisse Protestant Religion Note Howbeit by the way I doe graÌ„t that as ther are many falsityes howsoever different compared to each other yet all are against one truth Soe lykewise all Sects that formerly were and now are as Protestants Anabaptists Puritanes Brownists Sacramentaryes Hugonotes Arminians Gomorists Sosinians Semilutherans c. howsoever they iarr and impugne one another in many and werghty controuersies of fayth as appeare by their innumerable bookes eagerly writt against one another yet in this one thinge they accord by Common vnion or rather Conspire to witt against the Roman Church which clerely discovereth it to be the true Church of Christ were all Catholiques silent in her behalfe If then the English Congregation be but à particular Church For that it wants Communion with the Christian World in the 39. Articles of their Religion consequently by her owne acknowledgment shee may erre in matters of fayth Which beinge soe what infallable assurance generally I pray yow can the meÌ„bers of such à Church haue for their salvation Seeinge accordinge to the testimony of holy witt It is impossible to please God without fayth wzâ—t orthodoxall much lesse to inioy him Beinge then that the Certaynety of the salvation of the Churches members necessarily dependes on the Certaynty of à true fayth without which they cannot please God noe members that really tenders their soules salvation can with à secure Conscience followe or haue Communion with such à Church which by her owne confession is lyable to erre in fayth which is further thus demonstrated For eyther such à one followeth his whole Churches authority and doctrine or he dissents from it If he follow his Church and generall doctrine of his Pastors and teachers then hath he noe certaynty or securitie seeinge she is subiect to erre in matters of fayth accordnge to his owne Confession If he dissents from her then is he more perplexed and endaingered for if his whole Church be lyable to erre in matters of fayth how much more any private member therof and indeed it were intollerable pride for any inferior member to arrogate without showinge anye Divyne warrant such à privilidge of not erringe in fayth which his whole Church as he supposed accordinge to his owne confession doth not participate Now to come to the pretended foundation of Protestant Religion which is vsually to all other heretickes the more colorably to disguise their errors imitatinge the Divells transformation into an Angell of light and vsurpation of That it is written I meane the Byble which they soe much appeale too though with as little
the Romane Church which is only remarkable with the cognisance and markes of Christ vnspotted Spouse whose infallible rules and prescriptions I will followe as à secure guide of my fayth to procure the peace of reconciliation and mercy of God And whosoever shall follow this Rule to speake with the Apostle peace be vpon them and mercie This is the way soe direct as that fooles cannot erre in it This is the Church whose Fayth as testifieth the Apostle was published through the world that is which had the Communion of the Christian World which truely makes it Catholick that is the Church with whom all the renowned Saints and Martyrs haue had vnion And of this they vtter such honorable testimonies as are agreeable to noe other thē Christ his Church S. Lucius B. and Martyr Epist. 1. thus speaketh of her The Romane Church is Apostollicall ād mother of all Churches which is never proued to haue erred from the path of Apostolicall traditiō nor depraued with hereticall novelties to haue fayled accordinge to the promise of the Lorde himselfe saying I haue prayed for thee that thy fayth fayle not S. Cyprian the glorious Martyr avoucheth in his 52. Epist. that to haue Communion with the B of Rome to be all one and the same as to Cōmunicate with the Catholick Church And in another place That to this Sea trecherie can haue uoe accesse beinge the Chayre of Peter S. Hierome alsoe that renowned Scripturist and Doctor of the Church thus writeth to Pope Damassus I beinge à sheep doe require from the Preist the host of salvation and from the Pastor fasafegard c. I speake with the Successor of the Fysher c. I follow none first but Christ and ioyned with Communion to thy Holynes that is to the Chayre of Peter vpon that rock I know the Church to be builded whosoever out of this howse eateth the Lambe is Prophane whosoever shal not be in the Arke of Noah shall perishe in the deluge S. Augustin in his 162. Epist. puttinge à Catalogue of the Bishopps of Rome beginnes first with S. Peter and sayth that the principallity of the Apostolicall Chayre hath ever florished in the Church of Rome And in another place aboue prementioned affirmes the succession of these Pastors from Peter amongst other motiues to haue kept him in the bosome of the Catholick Church S. Ambrose calleth the Bishopp of this Sea governor of the whole Church That holy Seate sayth Theodorett houlds the sterne of governinge the Churches of all the worlds S. Ireneus that great hamerer of Hereticks sayth That for the more powerfull principallity it is necessary that all Churches haue recourse vnto it S. Prosper avoncheth that the Apostles Peter and Paul founded the Church of the gentiles in the Cittie of Rome where they taught the doctrine of Christ our Lorde they deliuered vnto their Successors peacable and vnited together they consecrated it with their blood and memories accordinge to the passion of our Lorde à Christian communicatinge with this generall Church is Catholick but if he be seperated from it he is an Heretick Antichrist Soe this glorious Doctor in his Treatise de Promis Predict dei part 4. E. 5. finally both East and Westerne Fathers assembled together in the Councell of Florenee thus decreed wee define that the holy Catholick Sea And Bishopp of Rome haue the primacie over the whole world And that the Romane Bishopp is the Successor of blessed Peter Prince of the Apostles and the true viccar of Christ and head of the whole Church and Father and master of all Christians And that vnto him in S. Peter is given by our Lorde Iesus Christ full power to feed rule and governe the vniuersall Church Note If then the Romane Church bearinge the inseperable marke of Christ his Church be accordinge to the Fathers the Apostolicall Chayre of S. Peter Christes Vicar never depraved with hereticall novelties with whom à Christian communicatinge is Catholick from whome beinge seperated is an hereticke what shall I regard more the impious raylings and fictions of an ignominious Apostata Martin Luther and his adherent Sectaries against the Romane Church then the vncontroulable testimonialles of the venerable Auncient Fathers whose sanctitie and learnige the whole Christian world hath ever reverenced Or shall I adhere rather to à new reformed Congregation The Pastors and teachers wherof are never able more to make good their vocation of the Ministry of the worde and Sacraments then any other hereticall Intrudors clymeinge lyke theeves by an vndirect way Or shall I follow à Congregation of such teachers which confesseth her selfe lyable to Error in Fayth or rather cleaue to that Church which is founded vpon à Rock against which the gates of Hell shall never prevayle as beinge directed accordinge to the infallible promise of Christ by the ever assisting Spiritt teachinge all truth and noe falsehood Note Certainly to this Rock will I adhere otherwise shall I change à Certainty into an vncertainety an infallibilitie into à fallibilitie A securitie into à Ieoperdie yea otherwise in à matter that concernes my soules greatest good or ill I should effectually demonstrate that I make noe reckoninge of the dreadfull generall accountinge day nor haue any feelinge thougts of the hideous horror of the infernall Lake of the rauenige Devills wher it is true that tenn hundred millions of millions of yeares in vnsuportable torments is but the beginnige as it were of inexplicable dolors o Eternitie o Eternitie wher it is true that all the greuous paines that from the begnimge of the world all men vpon earth ever endured or could excogitate is but the greatest ease or consolation O extreame torments in the vnquenshable scorchinge flames of Hell fier O God what an Abisle is thy iust Iudgment in punishinge Scismatickes and Hereticks who for wordly endes willfull ignorance obstinate adheringe to their owne private spiritts will rather feele them then before hand prevent them by seekinge to incorporate themselues into the true Church of Christ which is the vyne out of which if any branch be it shall vndoubtedlie be eternall fuell for Hell fier But some will peradventure saye that feinge the Moderne Lawes of the realme inflicts such great penalties vpon Catholickes It had bin better for me to haue deferred my conversion vntill my death and then to haue repented me and then with harty sorow to haue confessed my sinnes bin reconcilid to the Catholike Church To these I answere that though true it be At what time soever à sinner hartely repents For soe longe communicatinge with Schismaticall and hereticall new Congregations he may finde favour yet consideringe the innumerable daingers which often vnespectedly depriues man of this liffe who is he that can promise himselfe Gods grace without which he cannot repent and be reconciled yea must he not rather thinke that he shall be debarred thereof when he shall refuse to come to the banquet of the holy Lambe in the Catholike Church beinge
out of the Apostle S. Paul A text for its Clearnes able to Comment its Comment to witt that Christ hath placed in his Church Pastors and Doctors to the Consummation of Saints till wee all meet in the vnitie of the fayth That is as Doctor Fulke à ProtestaÌ„t divine expounds for ever Calvin himselfe expowndinge it thus Concluds in these words The Church cannot at any tyme want Postors and Doctors Now that these Pastors and Doctors must not at any tyme in their office and dutyes be sylent It is not onely witnessed by the Holy Ghost I saye 62. but allsoe besydes the nature of their function requiringe it acknowledged by Protestants And therfore Doctor Fulke sayth well Truth cannot be continued in the world but by the Ministry of the Pastors and Doctors In lyke sort touchinge the administration of the Sacraments the same is more particulerly evicted from the cleare words of our Saviour and S. Paul seinge by the help of them wee shall Shew the Lords death till he come 1. Cor. 11. A point soe evydent that it lyeth out of the way of all contradiction And therfore Willett à Protestante in playne words mayntaineh that the absence of the Sacraments makes à nullity of the Church And againe in Doctor Whittakres phrase That The administration of the word and Sacraments being present Constitute à Church beinge absent doe subuert it And againe as the some Doctor styleth them they are Ecclesiae essentiales proprietates Thus doth Protestants ioyntly with Catholiques teach that not at same tymes onely the Church of Christ beinge his insepable and immaculate Spouse with whom he isto the Consummation of the world is to enioy Pastors and Doctors for the vse of the word and Sacraments at other tymes to be wholly destitute of them ague lyke havinge their accesses and remissions but that at all tymes and in all ages in all seasons the Church without any interruption is to Continew in his full Orbe by ever inioyinge the aforesayd meanes of salvation Hence it is that the Fathers to confound hereticall congregations presse heretickes to shew their contynuall succession of Pastors and professors of their doctrine because if they go to scriptures interpretating it according to their owne iudgement there can be noe determination or end Thus S. Ireneus confounded Valentinus Cedron and Marcion By this ordynation of succession sayth he the tradition which is from the Apostles received into the Church and the publishinge of fayth hath come even vnto vs wee beinge able to shew wee put all those to confusion that through vayne glory ond ignorance broach new doctrines in the Church l. 3. c. 3. 4. 5. For none of these Heretickes can deryue their succession from the Apostles nor shew how their doctrine was received by tradition from thence Thus Turtullian de praes. c. 11. confoundeth Valétinus Apelleus and other heretickes Lett them publishe the Origens of their Church sayth hee let them vnfould the order of their Bishopps soe proceedinge by successions from the begininge so that the first Bishopps haue predecessors some Apostle or Apostolicall man perseveringe with the Apostles in that manner they produce the sence of the Apostolicall Church In this sort doth S. Cyprian confound Novatian because he cannot proue his suâ—cession accordinge to Apostolicall tradition Novatian sayth he l. 1. Ep. 7. is neyther Bishopp nor member of the Church who Contemninge Evangelicall and Apostolicall tradition succeeding noe man is ordayned of himselfe Thus doth S. Augustin l. 2. cont. Retil c. 51. confound the Donatists and Sectaryes of his tyme Number sayth he Your Preists even from the seate of Peter and observe that order of fathers who succeeded one another and the Successions of Bishopps was one thinge amongst others that kept the same S. Augustin gloryous Doctor of the Church from departinge out of the bosome of the Catholique Church for thus he sayth in his Epistle to the Manicheans Many things most iustly retayneinge me in the bosome of the Church the succession of Preists from Peters seate to this present Bishopp keepes me in the Church the name Catholique keepes me c. Fynally hence it is that S. Ierome thus Counselleth In that Church wee ought to abyde which founded by the Apostles to this very day lasteth yea such an evydent veritie it is that Christ true Church shall never want at any tyme Professors and members therof as that it extorts this testimony from her aduersarie D. Whitakre Not without great ioy of mynde wee doe beleive that Christ Church hitherto hath endured neyther shall it perish soe longe as the world stands and the Contrary opinion wee esteeme as à prophane heresie From this established foundation is erected this discourse for my purpose Note The true Church of Christ which is but one shall in all ages ever inioye à succession of Pastors and Doctors for the administration of the worde and Sacraments Therfore the true Church of Christ hath ever remayned without interruption of such Pastors and Teachers from the Apostles tyme even vntill this daye But noe Church extant in the world can be assigned to haue remayned without interruption of Pastors for the administration of the worde and Sacraments saue only the Roman Church Therfore irrefragablie it followeth that the Roman Church only and those which haue CoÌ„munyon of fayth with her to be the only true Church of Christ or else which is most absurde and Blasphemous that Christ hath noe Church vpon earth but that the gates of hell to her destruction hath prevayled against her contrary to Christ promyse That there is noe Christian Church extant but the Roman Church that hath withont interruption in all ages enioyed both Pastors and Doctors is esilie demonstrated for neyther the Protestant Church nor the Iewes nor the Arians Donatists Manicheans Pelagians Wicklefians Graecians Mahometans or any other Church can be assigned but the Roman Therfore c. First concerninge the Protestant Church it is but new and began from Luther from whence it is called Lutheran and reformed which is manifest by the restimonies of the learned Protestants and Luther himselfe which I will here inserte Let then first their ChamppoÌ„ of the Englishe Church Iuell speake in the first place he in his Apologie of the Church of EnglaÌ„d in the fowerth parte and fowerth Chapter And in his defence of the Apologie Anno 1571 pag. 426. Truth sayth he was vnknowne all that tyme and vnheard of when Martin Luther and Vldericke Zwinglius first came into the knowledge and preachinge of the Gospell M. Perkins sayth in the exposition of the Creed and in his Reformed Catholicke Wee affirme sayth he that before Luthers dayes for many hundred yeares our Church was not visible to the world an vniversall Apostasie over spredinge the whole face of the earth In soe much as Bucer in his epistle to the Bishopp of Hereford calls Luther The first Apostle of the reformed Gospell whose vocation sayth Conradus Sohlussburg by reason of the
grosse survay of Poperie is soe bould to nickname antiquitie the alleagtion of the holie Councell vnder S. Silvester aboue thirtene hundred yeares agoe hestilles Thevaine shew of Moath worme Antiquitie and wheras Bellarmin thinketh it à probable opinion that Antichrist shal be of the Tribe of Dan For that manie of the Auncient Fathers probablie soe held namely S. Ireneus Hippolitus Ambrus Augustine Prosper Theodorett S. Gregory c. M. Willett without ever strayninge of Curtesie calleth them playne Hereticks It is à verie fable and Couseninge device of Heretickes quoth he to make men beleive that Antichrist shall come of the Tribe of Dan. Surly D. Parkes in his rejoinder pa. 7. pa. 365. had good reason to tell him lyke à brother of his yow haue committed such faults even in that great worke wherof yow bragg soe much as yow can neyther defend with honestie nor with modestie excuse yea the same D. Parkes his fellow Minister as Willett himselfe recounts in his Lodoromast Chardgeth him with folly Hipocrisie falshood lyeinge Infidelitie Impudencie Machivilisme Athisme c. And iudeed who but à Machauilian Athist if really he had thought that there had been à God after this life to haue punished durst haue made such à protestation And to omitt the lyke vaine cracks of M. Vsher copiously discouered by Mallone in his replie to his answere It is most true that which Zantius à great Protestant ingeniously confesseth of Protestant writers viz Scriptures at our pleasures wee detorte to our dreames wee boast of Fathers when wee will followe nothinge lesse then their doctrine soe he in his Epist. 10. to Sturmius But is not Luther then the author of the Protestant reformation with his brethren to be esteemed for havinge endeavoured to reforme the Church in diverse manie points of Fayth wherin they affirme for manie ages she hath erred Surlie noe except wee should honnor and esteeme those who renew Auncient condemned heresies and hereticall manners wherof Luther and his sectaries are in à heigh degree guiltie But as for reformation in matters of fayth wherin they pretend the Church hath erred They are rather to be avoyded who glories in any such title Note Seinge that herein they destroy the Godhead of Christ and make him an imposture for if the Church of Christ which he promised soe firmely to build on à Rocke as that Hell gates should never prevaile against her and vnto the Pastors wherof he promised that he would assist to the Consummation of the world and give them the spiritt of Truth to abyde with them forever for the teachinge of them all truth If I saye the Church of Christ could or had erred in matters of fayth as the pretended reformers affirme Then doth it follow that they make Christ not ominipotent able to vphold his Church against her enemies and soe destroy his Godhead or an imposteur in not fullfillinge what he promised because the Church for Errors of fayth and want of truth is as much destroyed as à man if he wanteth or is deficient in any one of his essentiall parts to witt if he be not à livinge or à reasonable Creture The defect of any of these destroyes him Soe in lyke manner if the true Church of Christ could Erre in fayth or fayle in truth which is essentiall to the Church it could not subsist possiblie For accordinge to themselues the Church essentiallie is à Congregation of faythfull where truely the worde of God and the Sacraments are administred wherfore if the worde and Sacraments haue erroniously been administred for soe many ages as they pretend then Consequentlie of necessitie hath the Church of Christ perisht and Hell gates prevayled against her And soe by this doctrine it followeth that Christ is not God and that the Iewes may well reiect him and the Gospells anounceinge and speakinge of him as à grande impostour which is most blasphemous And this doctrine of the Churches error in fayth by which Protestants pretend to iustifie their revolte and speration of there reformed congregation from the Catholique Church is the maine motive why I ame averted from their societie and relinquish their Communion And soe much in proffe that the Protestant Congregation wants the insepable marke of Christ his true Church and in confutation of there shufling evasions Secondly the Iewes haue not inioyed in all ages Pastors and Doctors to administer truely the word and Sacraments for their Church at this present is not Christian nor the Arians Pelagians Manicheans Donatists Wicklifians c. for they haue all perished and that in such serte as had not Catholique Doctors impugned them in their wrightings and that these present reformers haue here and there renewed some of their heresies ther had scarcely remained any memory of them Neither also the Graecians for they were in Communion with the Roman Church of and on about one thowsand yeares Soe that for such à space since the Apostles tyme they cannot be sayd to haue bin à distinct Church from the Roman Church from whom the Patriarke of Constantinople was Confirmed and the Bishopp of Rome by himselfe or his legate presided in all lawfull generall Councells Celebrated formerly in Greece although now vnfortunatelie as all knowes they be sepated by reason of the heresie touchinge the Holie Ghost c. Mereouer their successiō hath bin interrupted by the intrusion of maine hereticall and not lawfully ordayned Bishopps as confessedlie is auerred by all Catholiques and cannot be denied by Protestants Neyther the Turkishe Mahometans for they haue not had existance in the world ever since Christ his tyme and soe cannot glorie of their Antiquitie professinge Christian fayth as indeed also not beinge Christians and soe consequentlie comes not into question For here wee treat of the perpetuall existence and Antiquitie of à Church professinge Christian Doctrine accordinge to the Markes which insepablie accōpaine Christ his Church as in the begininge was established Finally the lyke may be demonstrated of any other Christian Church that may be assigned to witt that they want the insepable Marke of Christ his Church that is the enioyinge of à continuall succession of Pastors in all ages to administer the worde and Sacraments On the contrarie by the confession of the Protestants the Romaine Church many hundred yeares was the true Church of Christ and noe Protestant is able by evidence of any Authenticke Ecclesiasticall historie to shew any Christian Companie or Church In rerum natura more Auncient of different fayth from whence the Romane Church departed Therfore as yet she is and ought to be esteemed and consequentlie must enioye in all ages Pastors and Teachers for the administration of the worde and Sacraments beinge the true Church cannot fubsist without them Heer then I vrge that if the Romane Church whose fayth as testifieth the Apostle Ep. ad Rom. c. 1. was published and renowned throughout all the world that is with whom all the Christian world had Communion of fayth here I
invited by many inspirations soundinge in his eares This day if yow shall heare my voyce obdurate not your harts and affect not to be ignorant of the true Church least yow should be converted and liue forever Moreover if yee consider the nature of Celestiall glorie which is such as the least glimpes therof but for one moment in an eminent degree surpasseth all wordly honnors pleasures and riches that ever the eye of man did see in this world or is able to see the eare to heare yea or then can be comprehend by the vnderstanding of man which in one quarter in thought can represent farre more then the eye can see in many yeares or the care heare in à long space what Marchant then is he who would not give all to procure the inestimable treasure of everlastinge glorie in noewise to be purchased but by those that be members of the Catholicke Church For them doe I pray not for the world doe I praye but for them whom thou hast given me because they be thyne 10. 17. ve 9. For none indeed be Children of the heavenly Father who be not Children of the Church who soe is sound to be out of her Communion sayth S. Augustin de Simb ad Catechu He shal be excluded from the number of Gods Children nor shall he haue God for his father who would not haue the Church for his Mother and it shall avayle him nothimge that he beleived c. to the same purpose he speaketh in diuers other places as de verit Eccles. ad Bonif. And S. Cyprian the glorious Martyr in his booke of the vnity of the Church sayth that he belongeth not vnto the rewards of Christ who abandoneth the Church of Christ Hee is an alyen he is prophane he is an enimie he cannot now haue God for his Father who acknowledgeth not the Church for his mother Yea sayth S. Cyprian that great Champian of the Church saith in the same booke He maye be killed but he cannot be Crowned for he professeth himselfe to be à Christian noe otherwise then the divill faineth himselfe to be Christ accordinge to our Lordes sayeinge Luke 21. Manie will come in my name and saye I ame Christ O then sayth S. Fulgentius another Phoenix Lett them all make hast whilst they haue tyme vnto their Lawfull mother For even as within the Catholick Church fayth is in the hart vnto Iustice and Confession is made with the mouth vnto salvation Soe without the same Church an evill selfe persuasion attayneth not vnto rightuousnes but vnto punishment and à wronge Confession bringeth death and not salvation to him that maketh it c. Hould it then for most certaine and vndoubted that noe Hereticke noe Scismaticke though baptizred in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Goast c. can possiblie be saved vnles he be recounsiled to the Catholick Church Thus S. Fulgentius And that the Romane Church is that societie out of which is noe salvation yow haue heard before by the many testimonies prealledged of the Fathers and by what I haue demonstrated of These most dearly beloued Father and best freinds are the motiues which amongst many other I haue reade and Collected which haue occasioned my spedy aversion from the English reformed Congregation of Protestants which I haue confirmed by the manifould confessions of your owne brethren not for that I weigh their Authoritie but partly for that Protestants contemne all authority of the Church Councells and auncient Fathers and with vnreasonable pride and arrogance will haue their owne words stand as Gospell partlie allsoe for that these can not be à more excellent witnessinge then where an enimye doth approue our cause and Criminalls confesse the truth against themselues These allsoe are the principall motiues of my Conversion to the holy Catholike Apostolicall Church of Rome that is to the Cōmunitie which by obedience and in vnion of fayth communicates with the Bishopp of Rome Successor of the holy Apostle S. Peter and Christs Vicar vpon earth From whose Communion in the Secte masters of Protestancy viz Luther Calvin c. ye haue departed not without the iust Censure of Schisme as invinceblie and vnanswerably is thus demonstrated by M. D. Hardinge in his Text related by your great Campion M. Iewell in his defence of the Apologie of the Church England parte the 6. fol. 576. printed 1567. in folio Whosoeuer departe from the Catholike Church They be Schismatikes yee haue departed from the Catholike Church of these nine hundred years ergo yee be Schismatikes The first proposition yee will not deny the second your selues confesse the Conclusion then must needes be true if we say the same blame vs not neither say we that onely but also that yee ar Heritikes Soe M. Harding to which argument drawne from Protestants owne confession M. Iewel giveth the slipe without answer fathering in his marginall note à manifest vntruth according to his vsuall manner vpon D. Harding which any one that hath the least dramme of witte may euidently perceiue These most dearly beloued freinds I say are the motiues of my auersion frō the pretensiue Reformed Church of England and of my conversion to the Catholique Roman Church my mother of which I hould soe great an accoumpt and esteeme that fearing those more who can slay both body and soule then those who haue power ouer the body only as had I as many liues as haires on my head I would most willingly depose them rather then be separated from Christ his vnspotted Spouse the Cathelique Church my mother to the end I may haue God for my Father Corde creditur ad iustitiam ore autem fit Confessio ad salutem S. Paul to the Romans c. 10. v. 10. FINIS Confirma hoc Deus quod operatus es in nobis A templo sancto tuo quod est in Hierusalem OREMVS DEVS qui corda Fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti da nobis in eodem spiritu recta sapere de eiusdem semper consolatione gaudere per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum filium tuum qui tecum viuit regnat in vnitate eiusdem spiritus Sancti Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum Amen O My God that I had neuer offended thee in any erroneous beleefe or sinfull life thee I say who art my only good worthy to be loued for thine owne selfe with all possible loue for thy loue I firmly pourpose neuer to offēde thee more but by thy grace to do whatsoeuer shall be necessary and I hope in thy mercy which by the merits of thy Sonnes sacred Passion o Father of Mercies graunt vn to me Amen
therof iustifieth not à Christian Catholiques haue expresly worke out your salvation with feare and trembling Phillp 2. Protestants haue noewher eyther that à man can worke nothing towards his owne salvation beinge helped by the grace of God or that à man should make it is beleiffe to be saved without feare or doubt Catholiques haue expresly Vow yee and render your vowes psal. 75. Protestants haue noewher vow yee not or break your vowes as beinge vnlawfull to vow Catholiques haue expressly Doe ye the worthie fruits of pennance Luke 3. Protestants haue noewhere that fayth onely is sufficient without all satisfaction and other works of pēnance on our partes Catholiques haue expresly That every man shal be saved accordinge to his works Revela 20. Protestants haue noewhere that men shal be Iudged accordinge to their fayth Catho haue expresly That the Angell of our Lorde sayd Oh Lorde of host how longe wilt thou not haue mercy on Ierusalem and on the Citiyes of Iuda with which thou hast been angrie Za. 1. 10. Protestants haue noewhere that Angells or Saints Make not intercession for men in this miserable life and therfore that it is idle to craue their prayers Catho haue alsoe expresly that Another Angell came and stood by the Alter of gould which is before the throne of God and the smoke of the incenses of the prayers of Saints ascended from the hand of the Angell before God Revel. 8. Protestants haue noewher that Angells and heavenly Saints doe not offer the prayers of the Saints of the Militant Church on earth and that they cannot know them to present thē vnto God Catholiques haue expresly Grace to yow and peace from him that is and that was and that shall come and from the seaven spiritts which are in the sight of his Throne and from Iesus Christ Revel. 1. 4. Protestants haue noewhere that S. Iohn the Evangelist did not invocate the seaven Spiritts or Angells wherof in the first Chap he maketh mention for the obtayninge of grace and peace for the Churches of Asia and that only wee must pray to God alone and not to Christ as man and the Angelicall Spiritts and heavenly Saints Liuing with Christ Catholiques haue expresly that God is wonderfull in his Saints psalm 67. Protestants haue noe where that he is dishonnored in them Catholiques haue expresly without any limite of time And these signes shall follow them that beleive In my name shall they cast out Divells they shall speake with new tongues they shall take vp Serpents and if they drinke any deadly thinge it shall not hurt them they shall laye handes on the sick and they shall recover Mar. 16. And againe verily verily I saye vnto yow he that beleiveth in me the works that I doe he shall doe allsoe and greater workes then these shall he doe Io. 14. Protest haue noe where that none which are of Christ Church or fayth and Congregation shall doe any Miracles lyke vnto his and that it is à signe of an Antichristian Church to worke such profitable Miracles Catholiques haue expresly that From Pauls bodie were brought vnto the sick handkircheeffes or napkins and the diseases departed from them and evill Spiritts went out of them Act. 19. 12. Protestants haue noewhere that by the Reliques of Saints Miracles may not be wrought and that they are not to be esteemed or regarded Catholiques haue expresly Concerninge Virgins I haue not à Commaundement from our Lorde but Counsell I give 1. Cor. 7. And againe the vnmarried shal be more blessed if she remaine soe accordinge to my Counsell Ioan. 40. Protestants haue noe where that it is not lawfull to doe anie thinge except it can be warranted by an expresse Commaund from God Catholiques haue expresly And the Apostles Elders came together for to consider of this matter Act. 15. 6. Allsoe wee haue sent therfore Iudas and Silas who shall allsoe tell yow the same things by mouth for it seemeth good to the holy Ghost and to vs c. Ibide ve 27. 28. Protestāts haue noewhere that when important Controversies of Religion doe arise men must be sent onely to Scriptures and to every ones private Spiritt or that it is needles to assemble Counsells of the Pastors of the Church for the determination of them and that their decrees be not infallible and proceeds not from the holy Ghost Catholiques haue expresly that He that hath determined in his hart beinge settled not havinge necessity but havinge power in his owne will and hath iudged this in his hart to keep his virgine doth well therfore he that ioyneth his virgine in Matrimony doth well but he that ioyneth it not doth better 1. Cor. 7. 37. Againe tho Lust therof shal be vnder thee and thou shalt haue dominion ouer it Gen. 4. 7. Protestants haue noewhere that mā hath not free will or power to choose good and to eschw that which is badd througe the assistance of Gods grace Catholiques haue expresly This is my body this is my blood Mat. 26. Alsoe the bread which I will giue is my flesh which I will giue for the life of the world Alsoe my flesh is meat indeed and my bloud is drinke indeed Io. 6. Protestants haue noewhere that vnder the externall accidents of bread and wyne that really the body and blood of Iesus Christ is not there and that it is not in substance flesh and blood indeed but only à figure or signe of it Catholiques haue From the risinge of the Sonne even to the goeinge downe great is my name amongst the Gentiles and in every place ther is sacrificinge and there is offered to my name à Cleane oblation because my name is great amonge the Gentils sayth the Lord of hoste Mall 1. 11. Protestants haue noe wher that ther is noe sacrificeing or publique oblation since Christ offerred himselfe at Ierusalem vpon the Crosse Catholiques haue expresly Hould the traditions which yee haue learned whether it be by worde or by our Epistle 2. Thess. 2. Allsoe my words which I haue put in thy mouth Shall not depart out of thy mouth and out of the mouth of thy seed and out of the mouth of the seed of thy seed sayth our Lorde from this present and forever Esay 59. and 21. Protestants haue noewhere that Apostolicall vnwritten conditions are not to be observed and that none of Gods word by divine assistance shall be cōtinnallie deliuered by word of mouth and not openly be still professed nor that there is noe infallible deliverie of true doctrine by word of mouth Catholiques haue expresly I will giue yow another Paraclet that he may abyde whith yow forever the Spiritt of truth he shall teach yow all truth 10. 14. 16. and 16. 13. Protest haue noewhere that the Church is not ever assisted by the holie Ghost and that at some tymes she may teach some errors Catholiques haue expresly Thou art Peter and vpon this rock will I build my Church Mat. 16. 18. and that I haue prayed
vrge I saye That if the Catholick Romane Church had departed from any other extant Church that enioyeth à succession of Pastors vp to the Apostles time that they would name the time when she fell away from that Church name the Companie of Christians of more Auncient and of different fayth from whence she is departed Tell where this Christian companie more Auncient is extant Rehearse the succession of their Pastors out of Ecclesiasticall records For seing it is à prophesie drawne from aknowledged Scriptures on all sides and from the acknowledged sence on all sides That Christ Church shall forever enioy continewally Pastors and Doctors for the worke of the Ministrie that is for preaching the worde and administringe the Sacraments The verification of this prophesie can be drawne from noe other testimonie then the evidence of Ecclesiasticall history And truly it is à strange incredible thinge That seeinge Christ Church is soe visible as she is compared to à Tabernacle placed in the sonne to à light not hidd vnder à bushell but placed on à Candlesticke and finally to à Citty of everlastinge foundation builded vpon à mountaine which was in such manner without anie limit of tyme to shine to the world to witt Cheiffly by her Pastors and Teachers the lights therof soe that it cannot be hidd How is it possible that if there were extant any such Auncient Compaine of Christians but that some historie would give some testimonie of her succession of Pastors and Apostolicall Acts and certainlie if men were voide of reason or sence perad venture they might be perswaded that for nine hundred yeares together men had noe eyes noe eares and noe tongues as easilie as that there was à more Aūcient Church which had Pastors that had noe tongues to preach with had such members as had neither eyes nor eares to see and heare their Pastors to administer the worde and Sacraments and yeld anie testimonie that they eyther sawe or heard such Pastors and Doctors and questionles some historians that lived in those dayes would mention the departure of the Romane Church soe renowued for her fayth through the world if she had made anie deperture from such à more Auncient Christian Companie professing à different fayth Wher were the watchmen God placed vpon the walles of his Church that should not hold their peace neither night nor daye Esay 62. were they asleepe and silent when soe notorious à breach was made were the Pastors and Doctors which Christ had given to his Church for the worke of the Ministrie vnto the consummation of the number of the elect and vntill wee mett all in the vnitie of fayth Ephes. 4. were not I saye these Pastors and Doctors able to confirme in sownd doctrine and stoutlie and corragiously even with importunitie to reprehended and argue the Romane Catholiques for the introduction of such grosse errors as Protestants accuse the Romane Church to haue been possessed with for soe maine ages Could they take notice of the least chinkes of the Churches walles that is of the few errors of fayth in comparison of those the Romane Church is accused of by Protestants which eyther Arians Pelagians Marchionists Manicheans c. attempted to haue made And onely were they vnable to argue the Romane Church Or were they partiall or corrupted to be silent and dombe vntill Papistrie over-ran and possessed the whole Christian world And did the Holie Ghost which by Christ infalliblie was promised to abyde forever with these Pastors to teach them all truth forsake them soe maine ages and at last take their flight to à Sacrilegious Luxurious Apostata Martin Luther and à branded Sodomite Iohn Calvin who at last should discover the Romane Churches deperture from the more Auncient Christian Church God knowes in what imaginarie spaces extant to be fownd Credite posteri Noe noe soe farr is the Romane Church from havinge departed from any other more Auncient extant compagny of Christians professinge à different fayth as that her greatest enemyes witnesse the contrarie D. Feild l. 3. de Eccle. C. 13. sayth the Romane Church allwayes had Communion with those Churches which never fell into error D. Sutcliffe allsoe pressed with the truth doth acknowledge in his answere to à Masse Preists petition That the Romane Church never departed from anie visible companie of Christians Bunny in his Treatis of pacification sayth that she allwayes communicated with the true Church and never went from the Christian cōpanie Yea Cassander much magnified by Protestants sayth that the Romane Church is to be reverenced as beinge the true Church of God And Somes in his defence against Penrie sayth that by the Iudgment of all learned men and of all the reformed Churches the true Church is the Papistrie Iohn White in his defence C. 41. in the name of his fellowes sayth wee professe the Romane Church in all ages to haue been the visible Church of God wee never doubt sayth Feild li 3. de Eccl. But that the Churches wherin those holie men S. Bernarde S. Dominike c. did liue and die were the true Churches of God and held the savinge profession of heavenlie truth yea Luther whom with tytle of Father of Protestants M. Whitakers honoreth sayes in his Epist. against the Anabaptist wee confesse that all Christian good is in the Papacie and that from thence it came downe to vs And in the selfe some place he sayth I saye farther that in the Papasie is the true Christianitie yea and the true curnell of Christianitie And Anthonie Saddell in his booke de rebus graniss controversis c. titulo de legitima vocatione Pastorum Ecclesiae reformatae affirmes that sundrie Protestants Confesse that the Ministers with them to be destitute of Lawfull callinge as not havinge à contineual visible succession from the Apostles time which they doe attribute only to the Papists And M. Fu'ke allsoe accordinglie sayth Yow can name the notable persons in all ages in their government and ministrie and especially the succession of the Popes yow can rehearse in order vpon your fingers soe he in his auswere to à Counterfett Catholique It beinge then made manifest by the Text of Canonicall Scriptures the testimonies of the approved auncient Fathers yea and from the plaine Confession of the Learned Protest so powerfull is truth as she extorts weapons from her adversaries in her owne defence that it is an insepable true marke of Christ his Church his spowse which is but one that she shall allwayes enioy Pastors and Doctors rightly to administer the word and Sacraments Insomuch as wher there is à cessatiō or want of these Pastors given for the worke of the Ministrie vntill wee all meet in the vnity of fayth There can be noe Church and consequently noe salvation And seeing alsoe this Marke agreeth not with Protest or any other congregation saue only the Romane Church as hath aboundontly bin declared it followeth by à necessary sequell that the Romane Church is the onely Church to which