also commanded by Proclamation the Communion to be ministred vndeâ— both kindes vnto the people and seruice to be in the English tongue Altars of stone to be taken dovvne and communion Tables of vvood to be set in their roome The new booke of common prayer vvas published by D. Ridlie at Pauls Crosse c. Pride vvould not suffer these tvvo brothers peaceably to raigne together Pride of two Vncles Thomas Lord Admiral vvas condemned of heigh treason and beheaded at Tovver hill 3. yeare of Edvvard the sixt Shortly after by the cunning of the Lord Dudlie Duke of NorthuÌ„berland L. Admiral beheaded vvho aymed to settle the Crovvne in his ovvne blood by the mariage of his fourth Sonne vnto the Ladie Iane daughter of the Duchesse of Suffolke vvhich indeed vvas by him attempted but be fayled in his purpose Edward Duke of Sommerset L. Protector vvas committed to the Tovver of London the 14. of October the foorth yeere of K. Edward the sixt But deliuered out againe the sit of Februarie for that time But the first of December follovving vvas arraigned at Westminster of fellonie and treason and tryed by his Peeres L. Pretector beheaded and acquitted of treason but sound guiltie of fellonie and the 22. of Ianuarie beheaded at Tovver Hill the fifth yeere of King Edward Thus the schisme beganne to be setled by the two Vncles but GOD shewed his Iudgement of them and had thought to haue bene continued by the Duke of Northumberland although he died a Catholike for K. Edward being sicke of a Consumption the Duke married his fourth sonne the Lord Gifford vnto the Ladie Iane eldest daughter to the Duke of Suffolke her mother was called Marie the second daughter of King Henrie the seuenth and sister to Henrie the eight King Edward being dead the Ladie Iane by the Duke vvas proclaimed Queene But God being for the vvoman Queene Marie obtayned her right had the Crowne Q. MARIE renounced the schisme and raigned after her brother Edward she restored Catholike religion reunited her selfe to the Sea Apostolike returned to the Mother Church of Rome disanulled the title of the head of the Church caused this Realme to be absolued from the censure of schisme and so mayntayned it during her life After her decease Queene Elizabeth succeeded and she altered all againe and tooke to her selfe Q. ELIZABETH restored the schisme being a vvoman to be head of the Church of England restored the scisme vvhich vvas set vppe in K. Edwards time by his two Vncles she setled Protestant religion depriued the Catholike Bishops c. Whether she did this vppon zeale of Protestant Religion to be the true vvay to saluation It is doubfull because she professed her selfe a Catholike all Queene Maries time and vvas so brought vp in her fathers dayes Therefore it is thought she being a vvoman did it vpon policie feare and reason of state The reason to restore schisme In pollicie she knovv her next successor in all right to be a Ladie as vvise and valiant as her selfe vvhich was the L. Marie Queene of Scotland vvife to Francis K. of France vvith all to be a constant proseffor of the Catholike Religion Therefore to make her subiects sure vnto her thought it in policie fit to winne them to a religion contrarie to hers She alvvaies feared as shee might indeede knovving her ovvne estate to subiect her selfe to the Church of Rome vvhich vvould neuer giue consent to graunt that the diuorce of Queene Catherine vvas lawfull but contrarie approoued her marriage to be good neither vvould allow that her Father King Henrie should haue tvvo vviues at once and so consequently disapprooued and annulled the Marriage of Queene Anne her mother as illigitimate By vvhat motiues or reason soeuer she vvas mooued I knovv not but it is certaine she reestablished and continued the schisme from the Mother Church the Church of Rome And King IAMES our Soueraigne vvho novv by all right of succession raigneth came into this Kingdome not with sword nor yet vvith gard of men K. IAMES maintayneth the schisme but vvith a ryding rodde in his hande in all peace vvelcomed of all receaued of al and being a Protestant so brought vppe from his Cradle promised to maintaine the Religion hee here found which he hath and doth performe Thirdly you may vnderstand the ingresse and progresse of the schisme of England and vvhat vvill be the egresse vvee leaue to the prescience and protection of Almightie God Qui omnia nouit suauiter disponit Thus to returne vnto you the purple Sages Doctors of Oxford Vncase your selues put off your Maskes and Visardes repent this schisme dissolue the darke cloud of heresie Church vvhich doth dasel your eyes and be not vvilfully blinde but beholde the citie seated vpon an hill and the candle light set vpon a candlesticke Roman faith renowmed retyre vnto your Mother Church from vvhich by schisme you haue separated your selues Domus Dei est firmiter aedificata supra firmam patram she is the house of God strongly built vpon the firme rocke You cannot deny but S. Rom. 1. v. 8. 13. PAVLE praysed recommended prayed for and prophecied that the Roman faith was and is to be renowned through the vvhole vvorld You cannot denie but this Iland receaued her first faith and Christian Religion and Instruction from Rome Among the Britaines King Lucius sent vnto Pope Eleutherius to be directed in Christian faith Our first faith from Rome and among the Saxons Gregorie the great and first Pope of that name called the Apostle of England by S. Bede sent S. Augustine and twelue Monkes to Ethelbert King of Kent vvho entred vvith the Crosse Hist BED and displayed banners vvith the Picture of Christ and after builded Churches for Mâ—sse and Martins and set vp in them the Crucifixe the bagge of Christianitie adorned them with Pictures of Saints erected Altars of stone all vvhich you haue exiled and abolished and brought in place of them the Pictures of Lyons and Dragons and Armes of Kings vvith a vvoodden table for your Communion Also you cannot denie but that the Nations and Countries and people in this part of the world All nations in Europe faith from Rome receaued their Christian faith from Rome and acknowledge her to be their Mother Church as well as vvee Why then doe you depart from her why do you make this diuision schisme in the world It is true saye you that the Roman faith vvas the true Christian faith and first established by S Peter Oâ— and after confirmed by S Paule and therefore worthelie called the Apostolicall Sea Mother Church of the vvorld But now there hath many errors crept â—nto the Church and it is an Axiome and maximam â—n Protestant profession that the visible Church consisting of men hath erred may erre quia humanum est errore for that man is subiect to error O dangerous damnable
of Iohns in Oxford he was a Priest in Queene Maries time and dyed in the latter time of Queene Elizabeth a prisoner in the Citie of Hereford If I should vndertake to capitulate or reakon all our renowned Confessors and Priests now laboring in England or detayned in prison or dead I should be ouer-long O Oxford Oxford thou that hast had so manie worthie men that haue fledde from the seate of Pestilence and nurse of schisme and heresie into forraine nations and countries and haue for their learning pietie and deuotion bene heighly aduanced abroad Consider also how many Martyrs haue dyed how manie Confessors how many Priests haue bene and are imprisoned at home for profession of Catholike Faith and Religion And thou vvhich should be the lanterne of the Land the Pillar of light the schoole of learning the mother of peace the nurse of pietie art now become the darke cloud of heresie the foggie mist of Aegypt the mayntaine of schisme the strength of Puritanisme and mistrisse of ignorance c. Wherefore this liitle Treatise is addressed vnto you Maisters and students of Oxford and you who are in purple robes as Senators and Sages of the land that you may vncase your selues cast off your viseards expel the rauening Wolfes And know your selues and acknowledge your errours schisme and heresie and returne to your mother Church benigna mater est she is a louing mother to receaue you Hell gates cannot preuaile against her she hath the holy Ghost to assist and direct her in all truth of doctrine and maners and good life You know the Arch-bishop of Spalata a learned Prelate as you all confesse Archbishop of Spalato he conuersed vvith your prime Prelate visited your Vniuersities enformed himselfe of your doctrine wayed your Church Congregation in his prudentiall ballence and found you minus habens to want wayt to be schismaticall he retyred himselfe with desire to returne home againe not for that he mislyked his entertaynement for he was highly esteemed of his Maiestie much honoured of your Prime Prelate welcomed by the Nobilitie he had large maintenance 800. or a thousand pounde reuenew per annum whereby hee might commaunde all the delicates delites and pleasures that the land could yeeld yet not satisfied in conscience nor content in minde labored to get licence of his Maiestie to returne which he obtained His departure or else was commanded by him to depart the Realme Why did he thus but reflecting vpon his estate being aged to prouide for death to forsake schisme to saue his soule I am credible imformed being vrged to declare his minde His censure of the Church of England what he thought concerning the Church of England he clearely answered that it was but a schismatical Church a part diuided from the bodie mysticall of Christ a congregation that had forsaken the mother Church of the world Consider and ruminate well you worthie students the sentence and censure of this learned Prelate Out of all doubt there is no saluation but in the true Church There is not the meanest among you if he doe but read the Annales of M. Iohn Stowe but he shall clearly vnderstand how when the schisme began in K Henrie 8. Schisme begon by K. HENRIE the 8. his time vvho after he had raigned 20 yeares in peace with the Church of Rome seeking a diuorce from his lawfull wife Q. Katherine which the mother Church of the world neither could nor would graunt or permit the King being much discontented desirous to obtayne his purpose beganne his schisme made himselfe head of the Church of England and by acte of Parlament vnited the title to his Emperiall Crowne a thing in auditum and neuer by any Christian Prince practised before vnlesse Iulian the Apostata attempted it After hee had thus diuided himselfe from the Church of Rome and established his authoritie of headshâ—pp he presently quarrelled with the Cardinal Bishops and Cleargie and conuicted them of a preminire He conuicted the Cardinal Cleargie of preminire so that they were forced to compounde with him for a hunder thousand pounds which some they payde euerie pennie and not content with this but by Parlament also confiscated all the landes and goodes of the religious in his Kingdome and so like a wilde bore depopulated and destroyed the Vineyard of our Lord. and ouerthrew ten thousand Churches and Chappels Ouerthrowed all the Religious houses which were erected buylded and maintained by his Predecessors and auncestors and by the deuotion of his Nobilitie and pietie of the people of this land And within some yeares after he spoyled the sepulchers and shrines of the Saints and what was gold and siluer and pretious stone Spoyled the sepulchers of Saints either by oblations offerings or other waies not fearing sacriledge a whitte he tooke without scruple And from one Chapple of S. Thomas of Canterburie were nine or ten waynes loaden awaie with the wealth of that one place Put downe al Pilgrimages He also put downe and robbed all the holy places of pilgrimages frequented and vsed by deuout people in former ages in this land And to omitte other of his good vvorkes in the 38 and last yeare of his raigne a thing vvorth the noting hauing had warres vvith France and peace being concluded it vvas proclaimed by Harralds vvith sound of trumpet the 13. of Iune being Whit sonday and the same day a general Procession commanded in vvhich vvere borne all the richest syluer Crosses in London of euerie Parish one and the Priestes in their richest Coapes This Precession came from Paules Church through Cheape and Cornehill vp to Leaden Hall and so vvent backe to Pauls againe This vvas the last shevv of rich Crosses and Coapes in London for shortly after all those Crosses and Coapes vvith other the Church plate vvere commaunded called for Robbed all Churches in LondoÌ„ and taken by the Kinges Officers into the Kinges Treasure and Wardrope and neuer seene aftervvard And so vvere cunningly all the Churches of London robbed on a daye This vvas one of the last good vvorkes this Church-robber did For in Ianuarie after he dyed an excommunicated person vvhich excommunication vvas published by Pope Paule the 3. thus beganne the schisme in England Then succeeded Edward the sixte a childe a boye of nine yeares of age vvho continued the schisme he had the title of supreame head immediatly in earth vnder God of the Church of England and Ierland He had two Vnckles the Sâ—imers by the mothers side the one L. Protector the other L. Admiral of England K. EDWARD established the schisme both infected in German heresie Presently the first yeare they beganne to alter the face of Catholike Religion which K. Henrie his Father left commanding the Rood the Crucifixe and all Images of Saints in Churches to be pulled downe forbidding beades holy vvater and other ceremonies repelling the statute of the sixe articles made by Henrie the eight
opposition which doth seeke to destroy Catholike faith Sorâ— no lesse then the Arrian heresie to destroy Christ and Christian faith â—or it is as manifest in Scripture that the Church â—annot erre against the ProtestaÌ„ts as it is true that Christ is God against the ArriaÌ„s For it s proued out Scripture that Christ vvas true God consubstantiall and coequal vvith his Father and no vvaye inferior as God but as man only so it is as manifest in scripture that Christ promised to be vvith his Church vnto the end of the vvorld and that hee vvould send the holy Ghost to his Apostles and consequently to their successors and that this Church should instruct and teach the people all truth both in doctrine maners and in good life And that S. Paule doth assure vs that the Church is columna firmamentum veritatis the Pillar and foundation of truth and from her vve haue receaued the scripture and the true meaning and sence thereof infalliblie vvithout errour Wherefore as the Arrian heresie sought to destroye Christ and Christian religion in denying the Godhead of Christ so Protestanisme in seeking to ouerthrovv the infaillabilitie of the Church indeauour to disable Catholike faith and religion And as the Arrians labored might and maine to infect the Roman Church and to make a Pope of their profession yet fayled in the purpose For Pope Foelix whom they promoted and preferred to the Papacie condemned them as heretikes defined against them and dyed a Martyr O prouidence of God yea they so afflicted the Church that the most part of the vvorld vvas ouer-clouded and darkned vvith this filthie cloud of ArriaÌ„ heresie yet praeualebit veritas truth preuaileth insomuch that novv in the hartes of Christian Catholike people nothing is more odious then this heresie of the ArriaÌ„s by Protestants condemned to the pit of hel So the Protestants haue labored omnibus vijs modis but not able to make a Protestant Pope yet to sovv this seede of Cockel and Darnel that the Church of Rome may erre that they haue infected and caused a great reuoult in these partes of Christendome that almost all Almanie and a great part of Germanie is ouercome vvith this seede of infection all England and Scotland gone A great reuoult in Christendome by Protestatisme Ireland strongly assalted all Holland reuolted from God Church and Prince Braband and the Lovv Countries made to stagger but God be thanked they haue ouercome A great part of France in tumultuous rebellion against their King although he vvould giue them libertie of their conscience yet they vvill not yeeld him devv Temporall gouernement and subiection The Swissards euen to the confines of Italie stand stubborne in their obedience to the church of Rome sed praeualebit veritas truth vvil preuaile and this heresie of ProtestaÌ„ts that the Church may erre vvill be as odious in future ages as Arianisme is novv If vve argue vvith the Protestants Protestant flye from antiquitie traditions and primatiue church to free the Church of Rome of imputation of error as manie great Schollers haue vvritten many learned Treatises concerning this poynt and doe prooue by antiquitie by practise of the Primatiue Church by Traditions from the Apostles concerning those differences in Religion controuerted betvvne the Protestants and the Catholikes they flye off and saye they are not demonstratiue arguments to conuince in matters of doctrine but only probable proofes If vve vrge them vvith the decrees of Popes From decrees of Popes they care not for them if vvith the doctrine of the Fathers and Saincts of the Primatiue Church as for example if vve alleadge S. Augustine that hee prayed for the soule of his Mother Monica departed that the Sacrifice of the Altar Prayers Almes From Doctors S. Ave. Oblations of the liuing may profite the dead that he vvrit a vvhole booke De cura pro mortuis augenda of the care to be had of the dead and that the vvhole Church did supplicat and pray for the soules departed they vvill ansvvere he vvas a particular man it vvas his errour and the errour of that time Aerius vvas condemned for an Heretike in apposing against the Church Epipha haer 65. Aug. hae 15. in the 4. age concerning Prayer and Sacrifice to be offered for the soules departed Caluins answere is Lib. 3. inst c. 5. § 10. that the auncient Fathers were destitute of warrant from God to authorize prayer for the dead Alleadge S. S. Hillar Hierome against Vigilantius a condemned Heretike for inuocation and veneration of Saints for reuerencing of holy Relickes for visiting and celebrating the memories of their sepulchers and burning of waxe tapers for obseruing the fasting dayes and vigils determined by the Church and Ecclesiasticall authoritie for profession of Virginitie and chastitie among Clergie men they answere â— Ambrose lib. 4. de sacr c. 4. it vvas his errour Bring Saint Ambrose for the Real presence of Christs bodie in the Sacrament saying that before Consecration it vvas bread but after Consecration his verie true bodie and blood it vvas his errour If vvee allow the example of S. S. Basil Basil and S. Benedictus for monasticall life they vvill vvith the SabelliaÌ„ heretikes coÌ„demne it for a crime and reprooue it for a meere impietie and say it vvas their errours and so of the rest of the ancient Fathers they were men and might erre Generall Councels Proceede vvith them to generall Counsels which doth represent the bodie of the Church and alleadge the foure first vvhich all the vvorld receaue and S. Gregorie highlie commended and the modeâ—â—e Protestants doe not dare to denie yet vvill the Puritans refuse them and the Protestants accept of them no farther then in their imagination they shall agree vvith them or serue their turnes And as for the foure last generall Counsels I vvill name the last first the venerable Councell of Trent the Councell of Florence of Constance and Lateran the Protestants absolutely auerce that they haue gone awrye and were deceaued in the principles of faith and Religion A newe â—urse and vvhy because they haue particularly censured and condemned them and defined their positions as hereticall So did the Arrians in like maner instance against the Counsell of Nyce for the same cause because it defined against them Wherefore in this Treatise vvee haue excogitated and thought vpon another course Only Scripture to Vncase the Protestants to laye open their contradictions to alleadge their ovvne authorities and writers to expresse the absurdities of their inferences and consequences to see vvhither they vvill runne then No doubt they vvill crye out The Scriptures the scriptures onely shall be our guyde our Iudge our gouernour our vvarrant in matters of controuersie Although vvee know that some contrauersies cannot be decided by expresse scripture according to the vvritten vvord but vvee must haue our varrant from Tradition and the Church which vve call the vnvvritten wordes
THE VNCASING OF HERESIE OR THE ANATOMIE OF PROTESTANCIE Written and Composed by O. A. Cum Licentia Superiorum ANNO DC.XXIII To the Reader Christian Reader THough the diuell in no age euer wanted his emissaries and Antichrist agents who busilie laboureth in sowing tares death-bringing-darnel in the purest corne-fields of Gods Church like cunning Mountebankes left no wily inuention vntried which they supposed might any way serue to vent their adulterate theriaca bastardly balsamum yet he had neuer such hopes to store the vast caues of his infernal mansion with Christian soules as in this age of ours in which whole swarmes of Apostates and deceiuing Ministers are crept into the Church introducing according to the Apostles prophesie sundrie sects of perdition by setting abroach the infectious pestilent and long-since condemned dregges of heresie brewed by Simon Magus Cerinthus Cerdon Manichaeus Aerius Eustachius Vigilantius and other such subiects of Abaddon and after barrelled vp by Belzebub and carefully reserued in his chiefe sellar where though with long standing they were growne mustie and stincking yet by powring in the barme of libertie they haue made them flower againe and by hanging forth the Iuibush of Noueltie set out and garnished with Rhetoricall flowers haue drawne more customers then hells wiliest counsellor durst euer hope for For the better discouerie of all which infectious potions and vtter dismantling of such lewde Mountebankes which like Egiptian locusts couer the face of this some-time Angelike I le depopulating her once florishing vineyeardes and sweete-senting gardens I present thee with this ensuing Treatise in which thou shalt find plainly demonstrated That Luther Caluin Zwinglius and other Prime-doctors of Protestancie were by their owne confessions baptized and brought vp in the now Roman Catholike Religion and only by their apostacie gaue life and being to Protestancie and that the Protestant Martirologies Callendars and genialogical tables consist either of confessed Papists knowne Schismatikes detested heretikes wicked Atheists accursed Magitians Sacrilegious thieues or notorious Traitours That all the chiefe doctrines and principles of Protestancie are old condemned heresies and that the most damned heresies rhat euer were hatched in any age haue bene fostered cherished and defended by the chief doctors in the Protestant Church 3. That no Protestant especially of the Caluinean sect vvhich are commonly knovvne by the names of Protestants here in England of Puritants in Scotland of Caluinists in Sauoy of Sacramentaries in Heluetia of Hugonettes in France of Picardes in Bohemiah and of Gomorists Arminians Remonstrants Contraremonstrants in Holland and other partes of Germanie can be said if he follow the doctrines of his chiefe doctors to beleeue aright any one Article of the Apostles Creede 4 That the God of the Protestants according to their chiefe doctrines the famous confessions of some of the the same fraternitie is no other but a diuell of hell The due consideration of either of which heades or chapters vvill abundantly fuffice to perswade anie man that is carefull of his saluation and hath not made a couenant with death hel to fly the fellovvship of this heretical fraternitie hastē to the rock of that true Roman Catholike Church from vvhole top Luther Caluin other their Cymists by the incitements of the flesh the vvorld and the diuell casting them selues headlong fell into the sea of heresies in vvhich to be by death drenched is to eternally lost and certainely swallovved vp in the Charibdis of hells bottomlesse abisse THE CONTENCE of the first Chapter THAT Luther Caluin Zwinglius Bucer Osiander and all other prime Doctors of Protestancie vvere by their ovvne Confessions borne baptized and bred in the Roman Catholike Church and by their false beganne Protestancie that the said Luther by his ovvne and most other chiefe Protestants assertions vvas the first knovvne Protestant a sonne vvith out a father and a scholler vvithout a master That neither Illiricus Fulke FOXE or White in their pretended bedrowe of Protestant vvitnesses haue produced one true Protestant but haue shamefully stuffed their Catalogues vvith many knovvē and confessed Roman Catholikes infinite store of desperate heretikes and a multitude of infamous persons c. The contents of the second Chapter THat the chiefe doctrines principles of the Protestant Religion viz. That vve may be saued by faith onely that there is no free vvill to good that children may be saued vvithout baptisme that Christians enioy not the veritie of the olde figures that the Sacraments doe not conferre grace that the commandemenes are impossible to be kept that Christians are not tyed in conscience to performe the Lavvs of the church or com mon vveale that all thinges happen by ineuitable necessitie that Christs and S. Iohns baptisme vvere all one that the Church may be for some time inuisible that Altars holy oyle and the like are to be contemned that approoued generall councels may erre that the dead are not to be prayed for that Images are not to be set vp and vvorshipped that Matrimonie is of equall merit vvith Virginitie that Christ is not Realie in the Eucharist that the Saints can neither heare our prayers nor helpe vs that the Sea of Rome is the seate of pestilence that Indulgences are of no vvorth c. are old condemned heresies The contence of the third Chapter THat the chiefe Doctors of Protestancie teach a pluralitie of gods cannot vvell brooke the vvord Trinitie deny that Christ is God of God or that the Essence of the Father vvas communicated to him affirme that Christ vvas inferour to his Father as touching his diuinitie maintaine that Christ is his Fathers vicar or vicegerent as he is God that he had tvvo persons that he vvas subiect to ignorance and vicious affections that he is not omnipotent nor able to doe many things that he cannot be adored vvith out Idolatry because his humanity is ioyned to his Godhead that the blessed virgin remained not a Virgin in after her child-birth that she vvas subiect to the infirmities of other vvomen in child-bearing that Christs natiuitie and incarnation vvere no vvay meritorious that Christs diuine nature vvas crucified suffered and dead together vvith his humaine that his corporall death vvas nothing auaileable c. that Christ died not for all men but for some fevv that Christ descended not at all into hell that his soule lay together vvith his body in the graue that he freed not the Patriarkes and Prophets in his descent that he could not raise himselfe from the death by his ovvne povver that his Resurrection Ascention vvere no vvay miraculous c. that men neede not feare that their vvorkes shall come into iudgement that the holy ghost hath a distinct Essence from the Father and the Sonne that he is vnequal to the Father and the Sonne c. that the church may erre in fundamentall points that it vvas inuisible for a 1000. years together at lest c. that mens sins are neuer truly remitted no
glorie that he is both a Priest a Bishop and a Pope Hetherto Martin Luther And the like is taught by other Protestants yea Gualterus affirmeth See Florimundus Raâ—mundus l. 7. de Origine haeres c. 7. n. 5. where he reciteth many stories to this purpose that in Prouince Strasbrug and infinite other places women haue bene ordinarily seene to Preach and that not many yeares since a woman among the Abbenacenses when a certaine Minister denyed to giue her the Communion went angerly home to her owne house and there laying a Napkin vpon a stoole set Bread and Wine thereon and with her owne handes ministred vnto her selfe the Lords supper Lastly in this same age Prodicus the father of the Adamites stands condemned of heresie by the * See Baron anno 120. n. 37 Luther in captiuit Babilon tom 2. Ien. lat fol. 247. 173. 275. Caluin l. 4. Inst c. 10 n. 1. See also l. 3. Instit c. 19. n. 2. 4. Doctors of that time for teaching that Christian people were not tyed in conscience to performe anie Lawe which doctrine is likewise maintained by Luther and Caluin and followed in practise by all sorts of Protestants It is certaine that neither Men nor Angels can impose any Lawes vpon Christian men vnlesse they be willing thereunto So Luther and the like is affirmed of Caluin Yea he dareth to say that humane Lawes how good or honest soeuer whether they be made by Church or Magistrate doe not bind in conscience (a) Lib. 4. Instit c. 20. n. 1. and that the promised libertie in the Gospel did acknowledge neither King nor Magistrate among men IN the third age Augustin contra Faustum Manich. lib. 20. c. 5. 6. 7. haer 40. the Manichaeans stand condemed by S. Austine for that they condemned Altars which is so currant a doctrine among Protestants that Mr. Smith in his Sermon vpon the Lords Supper boldly affirmeth that the word Alter hath bene kept in the Church by the diuel that men should beleeue the Eucharist to be a Sacrifice Againe the same Manichees * See Prateolus v. Manichaei heretically attributed all thinges to fate or ineuitable necessitie and affirmed that sinne could not be auoided which is a doctrine now generally maintained by all Protestant doctors especially those of the Caluinean sect b Caluin 1. 3. Instit c. 23. n. 9 reprobi euadere nequeunt peccandi necessitateÌ„ c. The Reprobats cannot auoid the necessitie of sinning especially when by ordinance of God such a necessitie of sinning is imposed vpon them So Caluin Yea there is nothing more familiar with him and his followers then to affirme c Idem li. 1. Inst l 18. n. 4. that man being iustly forced by God doth doe what is not lawful for him d Ibid. n. 1. that God caused ABSOLON to pollute by incestious Adulterie his fathers bed e Bucer in cap. 1. ad RoÌ„ p. 72. in cap. 9. p. 454. that God doth not only permit men to fall into errour by forsaking them but seduceth hardneth deliuereth into a reprobate sence and sendeth a powerfull errour to make men doe such a thing a Piscator de Predest pag. 105. 166. 167. cap. 1. that the most horred offences that euer were are done by Gods decree that sinnes through the force of that decree are altogether inauoidable IN the fourth age the Donatists stand conuicted of heresie by S. Austine for contending that the Baptisme of Christ and S. Iohn Baptist were al one August l. 2. contra lit Petil. c. 32. 34. Which is a doctrine generally defended by all Caluinian Protestants b Caluin l. 4. Instit c. 15. n. 8. 1. Willet in synop controu 14. q. 3. cont 12. q 7. Powel l. 2. de Antichristo c. 21. Optatus Meliuitan lib. 2. 6. contra Parmen See Sanders haer 91. the auncient Fathers were deceiued saith Caluin when they said that the Baptisme of IOHN was but a preparatiue to the Baptisme of Christ we saith D. Willet affirme that the Sacrament of IOHN and our Sauiour were al one yea saith Powel we Protestants hold it a blasphemie in the Papists for making a differance betweene IOHNS and Christs Baptisme Againe the same Donatists stande coÌ„demned by S. optatus Miliuitan for contemning holy Oyle and casting it on the ground as also for that they caused the Sacrament of the Eucharist to be cast to the dogges pulled downe Altars Which he calleth the seates of Christs body broke and sold Chalices rent and tore corporalls veiles bookes and other instruments appertaining to Gods seruice which was the ordinarie deportment of Caluin-Protestants in the beginning of their deformed reformation and in which they still perseuer as opportunitie offereth it selfe Againe the same Donatists stande condemned by S. Austine for teaching Agustine concione 2. in Psal 5 in Psal 18. in epist 16. ad Donatis lib. de vnitate Eccles c. 11. 13. Epiphan haer 68. 69. Theodoret lib. 4. haeret fab August haeret 46. that the Catholike Church was perished in all the world except in those places which Donatus liued Which also is a doctrine generally taught by all sortes of Protestants as was shewed in the former chapter Againe in the same age the Arians stand condemned of heresie by S. Epiphanius S. Theodoret and S. Augustine for maintaining that the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost were not of one nature substance or essence and refusing to admit the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or consubstantiall because it was not in the scripture in both which the chiefe Protestant Doctors shew themselues to be their true disciples and faithful followers as shall be shewed in the next chapter Againe the same Arians were * Athanasius ser 4. contra Arrianns Hilarie l. 9. de trinitate condemned for that they taught that the Sonne of God was ignorant of many things and that he learned as he grew in yeares which also is currant doctrine with Caluin and his Cymists a Caluin Harmon in Mat. c. 24 v. 36. har in Luke c. 2. v. 40. It is euident that ignorance was common to Christ with the Angels so Caluin yea he further saith that Christs soule was as subiect to ignorance as the soules of other men and that this was the only difference betweene vs and him that our necessities are of necessitie his voluntarie and that Christ in particular knew not the day of Iudgement nor what tree that was which he cursed And the like is taught by other Protestant Doctors as shall be shewed in the next chapter Againe the same Arrians are * See Alphonsus à Castro v. concili condemned of heresie for maintaining that a Councel howe lawfull so euer assembled and approued might erre Which also is a high-prized doctrine in the Protestant Synagogue you shall heare the wordes of their first Author and Euangelist a Luther in postil concione 1.
tract 121. in Iohn Ambrose l 10. in Lucam Hilarie l. 3. de Trinitate Leo Magnus ser 1. de ascens Augustine ser 6. 7. de ascensione ser 49. 146. de tempore li. 2. de symbolo c. 7. epist 146. See Feuardentius in theomach Cal. l. 6. c. 11. errore 17. Caluin in c. 24. Lucae Church also euer taught and beleeued that Christ shall haue the scarres of his woundes appearing in his body when he commeth to iudgement but Caluin saith that it is a foolish and old wiues dotage to beleeue that Christ shal haue the markes of his woundes when he commeth to iudgement Lastly for a Iudge to force a man to do euill after to punish him for it all men must needs acknowlegd to be horrible iniustice and tyrannie Now the * See the first Article Caluino-Protestants generally teaching as was before shewed in the first Article that God doth not only permitt See also in the last chapter but predestinate all our acts whatsoeuer that the most wickedst persons that euer were were of God appointed to be wicked and that the sinnes which men commit through the force of Gods decree are altogether vnauoidable it must needes follow according to their doctrine that Christ whom they should acknowledge to be God and consequently goodnes and Iustice it selfe either will not come to Iudge both the quicke and the dead or that in adiudging any to hell he is a most tyrannicall and vniust Iudge ARTICLE VIII I beleeue in the Holie Ghost TO beleeue a right in the holy ghost Iohn 15.26 1. Ioh 5. n. 7 according to expresse Scripture and the Nicene Creed is to maintaine and teach that he proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne and is of the same essence with the Father and the Sonne of equall Maiestie and coeternal but the chiefe Doctors of Protestancie as was formerly shewed in the second article teach that the essence of the Father is incommunicable and that both the Sonne and the Holy Ghost haue distinct essences frō the Father by which they make them distinct Gods as was there prooued Yea the Protestants are so farre from beleeuing aright this Article that Feuardentius a Catholike Author in his Treatise entituled THEOMACHIA CALVINISTICA conuinceth them as guiltie of heresie against the Holy Ghost in at least seuen and fiftie points as you may see in the seuenth chapter of the said THEOMACHIA in the first nine Chapters of which he sheweth Feuardentius theomachia Caluin l. 7. per totū how they deny the Holy Ghosts proceeding from the Father and the Sonne giue him a distinct essence from the Father make him vnequall to the Father and the Sonne deny that he is to be adored together with the Father and the Sonne c. and in the rest of the Chapters that follow they make him the Author of all sinnes and wickednesse and blasphemously detract from his goodnes sanctitie prescience and infinite power take al Godhead from him and transforme him into a meere diuell ARTICLE IX I beleeue the Catholike Church the Communion of Saints THe ninth Article is I beleeue the Holy Catholike Church the Communion of Saints Which Article all sortes of Protestants are farther from beleeuing a right then any of the former For first as touching the word Catholike Luther quite blotted it out of the Creed See Iurgeinicius in bello quinti euangelij quart C. 7. and placed insteed thereof the word Christian fearing least the word Catholike duly considered might discouer his Protestanticall Church whose foundation he had then newly laide to be but a new and Antichristian Synagogue Secondly concerning the Church it selfe whereas Christ calleth it the Pillar and firmament of truth and further promiseth that the Holy Ghost should guide it to all truth to the end of the world and that the gates of hell should not preuaile against it the Protestants imitating their hereticall Gransires the Donatists * 1. Tim. 3.15 Mat 16.18 cap. 5. v. 20. Ioh 14. v. 16. c. 16 v. 13. Mat 28. v. 20. Iohn Rainold in his thesies § 9. in praefat § 9. D. White in his way to the Church § 26. and Whitaker lib. 2. contra bellarm de eccles q. 4. p. 322 generally teach that the Church both may and hath erred euen in fundamentall points Againe God speaking of the Catholike Church saith (b) Isay c. 2. v. 2. c. 60. 61. 62. per totum psal 19. v. 4. Ephes 4.11 that he would make her an euerlasting glorie and a ioy from generation to generation that her gates should be continually open that her watchmen should neuer cease day nor night that her Sunne should neuer goe downe nor her Moone be hid that it should neuer be said of her forsaken or desolate that she should be placed on the hill and that all nations should flow vnto her and that there should be Pastors in her to the end of the world but the * See in the former Chapter Protestants because they cannot shew their owne Church from the Apostles time till Luthers apostacie contend that the Catholike Church may be inuisible and that it was de facto INVISIBLE for aboue a thousand yeares no true Pastor at least of the Protestant Religion being any where to be found Lastly to omit other notes and properties of the true Catholike Church which the Protestants vtterly denie that thereby they may the better be able to support their Antichristian Synagogue whereas the * Concilium Tol. 8. cap. 9. Concil Gangrēse cap. 19. in praefat Concili generale 6. can 56. canones apostolor can 68. Church vnder paine of ANATHEMA commandeth all men whom sicknesse and impossibilitie of age doe not exempt to fast the Lent the foure Embers all Fridaies and Saterdaies and the Eaues of our B. Ladie and the Apostles from flesh the doctors of Protestancie generally affirme that fasting is a worke indifferent and doe ordinarilie eate flesh in Lent and other fasting dayes yea they commonly make their greatest feasts on the sollemnest fasts and hold him a superstitious fellow that maketh a difference of meates on such dayes which they could not doe if they beleued the Catholike Church or credited our Sauiour where he affirmeth that whosoeuer refuseth to heare the Church should be as a heathen and a publican Luther tom 4. de Ecclesia c. 9. Cal. l. 3. Inst c. 20. n. 24. and Musculus in locis communibus ca. de decalogo praecept 5. and thus you see how farre the Protestants are from beleeuing aright the Catholike Church which is taught in the first part of this ninth article And as touching the Communion of Saints which is the second part of this Article in teaching that the Saints cannot heare our Prayers yea that such as be dead doe so sleepe that they vnderstand nothing and that the liuing haue no fellowship with the dead