nothing in proper nor in common and beg their foode from dore to dore as do the Capuccines some attend the sick in all diseases assist them with ghostly counsell prouide them Sacraments and burie their dead bodies as do certaine fraternities some clense vlcers and festered sores nor refuse any office how base and loathsome soeuer about impotent criples and lazars as do the Nunnes of S. Elizabeths order And all these with other diuers orders that after another manner labour to mortifie themselues and do good to others he vpon no other beds but of straw rise at midnight sleepe little and spend much time in prayer and meditation Which are no conditions of life that either a Rom. 13. 14 make prouision for the flesh in concupiscences or b Galat. 5. 16. do seeke to accomplish the desires or c Titus 3. 3. serue the voluptuousnesse thereof sinnes which the Apostle forbiddeth but rather formes of life that d Galat. 5. 24. crucifie the flesh with her vices and concupiscences do e Galat. â— 19. naile them to the Crosse with Christ and render both f Galat. 6. 14. the world crucifide to those that so liue and them to the world Vertues which by the testimonie of the same Apostle g Galat. 5. 24. make their dooers the seruants of Christ and h Galat. 2. 20. to liue now not they but Christ in them Effects of no false religion 30. A religion from which Countries eyther departing or mingling other doctrines with it made present wracke of their former felicities falling eyther into flatte Apostafie or most lamentable bondage or both The instances are The i Theodoretuâ— lib. 4. cap. 32. Sozomen lib. 6. cap. 37. Goths while they remained Catholike florished and enlarged their territories but becomming Arians were shortly expelled thence by the Hunnes then Infidels The like and by like occasion befell the k Iornandes de rebus gest Dacians Mysians and Pannonians by inuasion of the Hunnes Gepides and Rugians The l Ex Aenea Siluâ—â— in Eur. cap. 16. 17. Anto. Sabel Enne 10. lib. 6. ex Chronicis earundem Nationum alijsque Historijs Dalmatians Gaulls Britanes Spaniards and the Africans by superinducing or mixing one the heresie of Manichaes another the herisie of Vigilantius the thirde the heresie of Pelagius the fourth the heresie of Priscillian the last the heresie of Donatus with the catholike religion were conquered and supplanted the Dalmatians by the Turke the Gaules by the French the Britaines by the English the Spaniardes by the Goths the Africanes by the Vandals To which may be added the Germanes wasted and subiected by Aâ—tila to the seigniory of the Hunnes after the Arian heresie had rooted it selfe in seuerall quarters and prouinces of their Countrey The inhabitants also of the citie Iulinum who being conuerted to the Ortelius in Rugia ex Saxone Helmoldâ— Cranâ—zio Romane faith and falling againe from it were all consumed both cittizens and cittie with fire from heauen Touching the Countries in the East after they beganne to dishonour themselues with newe doctrines they so fast ratine headlong therein an inseparable propertie of all heresie because they are vnbounded and lacke a defining and binding power that in short while after to witte in the raigne of Heraclius the Emperour there were on foote d Nicâ—ph lib. 18. 45. Iacobitans Georgians Theopaschite Armeniaens Monophysites Agnoetans Staurablatans Monothelites Seuerites Aphtarthodocites Phantasiasts Manichaes Tetradites Tritheites Arians Nestorians sixteene seuerall sortes of beleefe but what followed First Chosroes king of the Persians sacked Ierusalem and much weakened the Empire Then Heraclius the Emperour turned Monothelite Mahomet that infernall monster being made the Captaine of the Saracens tooke Syria and Aegypt Anno Dom 635. Mesopotamia An. Dom. 639. and afterward all Africa Finally we thinke that in the reuolution of the fifteene first ages the Nation or kingdome cannot be named which forsaking the catholike Romane religion or not keeping it whole and inuiolated was either not conquered or miserably torne by ciuill diuision and slaughters 31. A religion whose professant companie or congregation hath bene euermore since the first planting thereof very visible and perspicuous as the seuerall resemblances parables and figuratiue speeches vsed in holy Scripture doe cleerely testifie that the true Church and Spouse of Christ should euer be comparing her to a a Psal 18. 5. tabernacle placed in the Sunne to a b Esa 2. 2. mountaine prepared in the toppe of mountaines to a c Matth. 5. 15. Citie scituated on a hill to a d Matth. 3. 12. Luke 3. 17. Floore to a e Mat. 13. 47. Nette a f Iohn 10. 16. Sheepefolde a g Luk. 14. 16. great Supper a h Mat. 21. 33. Luke 20. 9. Vineyard c. and her doctrine to a i Matth 5. 15. Candle put vpon a candlesticke shining to all that are in the house that is in the world as k Tract 2. in epist Ioan. S. Austen vnderstandeth the place things that are all most visible and obuious to weakest sense and therefore doe proue that the true Church ought to be alwayes visible and apparant to the view of others Neither is the word Church to be found throughout the whole body of Scripture to signifie other then a visible knowne multitude and the reason is plaine why it must so signifie because it were otherwise impossible for any one to ioyne himselfe to the true Church perseuere therein obey the head and be subiect to the Prelates thereof which all are bound to doe by the expresse word of God lawe of nature and vnder heauiest Matth. 18. 17. Ephes 5. 23. Hebr. 13. 17. curse and censure of damnation if the Church were or could be inuisible or not remonstrable For vnto things hidden inuisible there can be no repaire no adherence nor homage of duetie or tribute of obedience defrayed Nay to deny the perpetuall visibilitie and duration of the Church were in great parte to euacuate Christes passion and plainely to robbe him of the ende he suffered for namely to sanctifie and cleanse his Church as S. Paul witnesseth and to render Ephes 5. 26. it glorious vnto him It were the Church being as the same Ephes 1. 23. Apostle writeth Christs bodie and the fulnesse of him to make Christ a head bodylesse and take as it were his totalitie or perfection from him it were to diuorce our Sauiour from his dearely beloued spouse formed out of his side vpon the crosse Ephes 5. 29. and inseparably ioyned in marriage with him it were to bereaue his omnipotent Maiestie of his house kingdome lotte and 1. Tim 315. Colos 1. 14. Psal 2. 8. heritage vpon earth for such is his Church vnto him and so callâ—d in holy Scripture yea It were directly to charge the Prophets the Apostles and euen Christ himselfe either with vntrueths or absurdities The Prophets because these words are read
in Esay Thy gates speaking to the future church of Christians Esa 60. 11. shall be open continually neyther day nor night shall they be shutte that the strength of the Gentiles and their Kings may bee Ca. 61. 8. brought vnto thee And in another place I the Lord will make an euerlasting couenant with them and their seede shall be knowne among the Gentiles and their branches in the midst of people All that see them shall know them that they are the seede which our Lord hath blessed What could be plainer spoken for proofe either of the visibilitie or perpetuitie of Christes Church her gates saith he shall be open continually shut neyther by day nor night and that God hath made an euerlasting couenant with her and that all that see her children shal know them and know that our Lorde hath blessed them The Apostles because S. Paul writing to Timothie teacheth him how he ought to conuerse in the 1. Tim. 3. 15. house of God so tearming the Church of God nowe if the Church were inuisible the instruction must needes bee vayne and absurd for none can conuerse in an inuisible house Againe S. Luke writeth that the holy Ghost placed Bishops in the Acts 20. 28 Church of God to rule the same but who can rule a flocke that is either inuisible or vnknowne Christ himselfe because he promised his Apostles to remayne with them all dayes to the consummation Matth. 28. 20. of the world Which promise being made to the Apostles was made to a visible Church and for that they were not being mortall to liue to the worldes ende the promise was vndoubtedly made to them and their Successors in their persons and therefore the Church neither euer to cease or become inuisible Neither can the reasons and places precedent be auoyded by the ignorant distinction of a visible and inuisible Church A fantasticall apprehension of Wicliffe and his followers Waldens to 1. lib. 2. ca. 8. 9. vnderstanding by the latter the hidde and vnknowne congregation of the Predestinate because the Church beeing a societie of men as all writers affirme and euery societie requiring of necessitie some visible signe badge ceremonie bond rite profession inrollement or some other like maâ—ke whereby the members of the same may bee knowne one to the other and also from others which essentiall point failing in the company of the predestinate they can no way possibly make vp the realitie name or nature of a Church For as S. Austen Contra Faust lib. 19. cap. 11. truely writeth In nullum nomen religionis seu verum seu falsum coagulari homines possunt nisi aliquo signaculorum vel Sacramentorum visibilium consortio colligentur Men cannot be incorporate in any one name of Religion eyther false or true vnlesse they be combyned together by some communitie or participation of visible seales or Sacraments Againe this hidde and vnknowne predestinate company which must bee thought to constitute an inuisible Church doe eyther refuse or not refuse to communicate with the false and adulterous church in ecclesiasticall subiection seruice sacraments and externall worshippe If they doe refuse then is their company and church not inuisible but most visible and markable and of the other side if they doe not refuse then sith the false Church is by testimonie of the holy Ghost the Apoc. 2. 9. Synogogue of Sathan and her doctrine b 1. Tim. 4. 1. the doctrine of diuels they must needes bee guiltie of damnable sinne by such their partaking with her And therefore their company not Gods Church because that multitude cannot possibly bee Gods church wherein there are none c Ephes 5. 27. Aug. contr Donatist post Col. cap. 20. de doctr Chrâ—sti lib. 3. cap. 34. Retract lib. 2. cap. 18. epist 48. ad Vincentium good but all wicked dissemblers and clokers of their faith With the heart d Rom. 10. 10 saith S. Paul wee beleeue vnto iustice but with the mouth vnderstanding thereby all external actions confession is made to saluation And the same Apostle biddeth all men e Rom. 16. 17. Tit. 3. 10. to auoyde false teachers and f 2. Cor. 6. 17. separate themselues from them yea g Ioh 10. 5. not to follow them but to flee from them is a marke which our Sauiour himselfe giueth of distinguishing his true sheepe from others Wee would say by that is sayde that perpetuall visiblenesse being an essentiall qualitie and note of Gods church and euer really existing with vs and in our religion as all sortes of testimonies in the world doe witnesse and in no other company or congregation soeuer it followeth that our church is the sole true church and spouse of Christ 32. A religion in whose largenesse and spreading amplitude ouer the whole world the predictions and promise of our Sauiour are verified nor can take their trueth and verification in any other sect or doctrine that euer was or is at this day on earth h Mat. 24. 14. This Gospell of the kingdome saith our Sauiour shall be preached in the whole world for a testimonie to all nations And by the penne of another Euangelist i Luke 24. 47. That penance should be preached in his Name and remission of sinnes vnto all Nations And our Lord also compared this his Gospell to k Mat. 13. 31. Mark 4. 32. a Mustard seede one of the least of all seedes in the beginning but when it is growen it maketh great boughes so that the byrds of the ayre that is as Expositors interprete the greatest Powers and the most wise of the world come and dwell vnder the shadowe thereof making their residence happinesse and rest therein A resemblance and predictions which cannot agree or fall in with any other religion saue onely with the catholike Romane religion and with this very fully as the particulars precedent and subsequent doe cleerely demonstrate 33. A religion that hath alwayes had as the Apostle assureth Gods Church should euer haue yeelding also foure weightie causes of the same a perpetuall visible continuance of knowne Pastors and Doctors to the consummation of the Ephes 4. 11. Saincts the first cause vnto the worke of the ministery the second cause vnto the edifying of the body of Christ the third cause that now we be not children wauering and caried about with euery winde of doctrine the fourth cause and this vntill we meete all into the vnitie of faith that is to the worlds end Which successiue and euer continuing duration of Pastors and Doctors the same being also promised before to the true christian Church by seuerall a Psal 88. 31. sequ Esa 59 20. 21. Ierem. 31. 31. sequ Ezech. 37. 25. Prophets and so greatly materiall in it selfe as without it there can be no Church as both b Lib. 4. epist 9. S. Ciprian and c Lib. contr Luciferian S. Hierome do absolutely affirme hath
religion of whose communion and felowshippe the founders of other religions or the reformers of our Churches faith if they more desire to be so called were once and went out and consequently their doctrine newer and lesse auncient then ours and therefore as we beleeue not the good Mat. 13. 2â— seede but the cockle that was sowen after And that wee neuer going out of any knowne christian societie for the whole world can not tell your Grace out of what church we departed when how and where as did the former the Apostolicall markes of false beleeuers namely To goe out from others 1. Ioh. 2. 19. Iude v. 19. Rom. 16. 17. To segregate themselues and To make dissensions and scandalls contrary to the doctrine they had learned can not belong to vs by any possible application nor by any sleight or deuise shifted from them 4. A religion whose first Instituters except Christ and his Apostles or after-deuisers cannot be named by any of our Aduersaries nor can they all shew that peece or fundamentall point of our faith either of late or sithence the Apostles time defined which * This is witnessed in the Councel of Ephesus in epistola Synodi contra Nestorium in the Councel of Calcedon act 4 5 6. Item generali 6. act 4. 10. genera 7. act 2. And by Athanas of the Nicen. Councel in epist. ad Afros in epist. de Synodis Arimini Seleuciae And by Socrates of the Councel of Alexandria in historia ecclesiast lib. 1. ca. 5. and others was not formerly beleeued and the contrary thereof neuer taught by the Romane Church Wherefore in our vnderstanding it is euident that the religion we professe is not as it is slandered to be a deuise or inuention of man nor euer was contrary to it selfe in doctrine but whatsoeuer hath beene in latter ages explicitiuely defined the same was alwayes not only holden true from the beginning in our church but also implicitiuely beleeued for the infallible authoritie thereof 5. A religion that hath confuted and outlasted seuerall hundreds of heresies which manifoldly diuided in themselues 488. after Prateolus account did yet euer giue hands to the ouerthrow of this one but neuer found other rocke than it on which they were broken or tooke their confusion by Which seemeth infallibly to demonstrate That the weapons of our Churches warrefare are not 2. Cor. 10. 4. carnall but as Saint Paul writeth of the true doctrine mighty to God vnto the destruction of munitions destroying Counsells and all loftinesse extolling it selfe against the knowledge of God And that our church and religion euer conquering their oppositors and neuer conquered by them is that kingdome which the Prophet saieth Shall breake in peeces and consume Dan. 2. 44. all other kingdomes and it selfe stand for euer 6. A religion that erected and built all the Churches Hospitalles and ancient Colleges in Christendome indowed them with liuings instituted the Vniuersities and Seminaries distinguished the multitude into parishes proportioned the Tithes annexed the glebeland founded the Bishoprickes limited the Dioceses decreed Ecclesiasticall lawes and immunities enacted all the olde Lawes of our Realme and did for that they would not be vacant without fruit as the Apostle aduiseth 2. Pet. 1. 8. in the knowledge of our Lorde Iesus a thousand good woorkes besides of which the religion regnant reapeth daily benefite and could not without such our churches prouision and ordinaunces euer haue carried the exterior shew it doth 7. A religion that in three ages together had not three 9 10 11. Centenaries open aduersaries in the christian worlde who contradicted or impugned her doctrine or beleeued another forme of faith then that which she then and now teacheth And the Wisedome of the eternall God alluding to his Church affirmeth that in the multitude of people consisteth the glory of a King and Pro. 14. 28. Glossa interlin in hunc locum in the small number the ignominy of the Prince 8. A religion whose chiefe professors and spreaders thereof to other Nations were alwayes of a knowne holy life and semblable death and the protoparents of all other religions men of a much contrary note and we are sure by the testimony Matt. 7. 20. of Gods word that the good and bad tree are to be knowne by their fruites 9. A religion to which the famousest a Constantinus Magnus Iauianus with aboue fortie Emperours of the East Maiorianus Carolus Magnus with full neere fortie other Emperours of the Weast Emperours and b Clodoueus Childibertus with aboue threescore Kings of Fraunce Ranimirus Sanctius with almost twenty other Kings of Aragon Pelagius Fasila with at least fortie other Kings of Castile Alphonsus Sanctius with many moe Kings of Portugall Geyza Stephanus with aboue thirtie Kings of Hungary Besides the Kings of Polonia Bohemia Denmarke Norway Suetheland Gothland Dalmatia Baiorta Germania Alemannia Morauia Loraine Burgundy Prouince Lomberdy Italy Naples Sicily Sardinia Nauarre and the Kings of Affrike as of Aethiopia Nubia and others Likewise the Kings of Canaria Manicongus Benopotama Angola Guinea Bentoninus Quiloa Melinda Mozambique the Kings of Asia as of Ciprus Armenia Hierusalem Tartaria and some Kings of the Agarens and Saracens many Kings of the Heruleans Iberians Alanes Abasgorians Lazorians Scithians Persians and others Kings of the world haue bowed their Crownes c As Constantinus Magnus Emperour Dagobertus Carolus S. Ludouicus and other Kings of Fraunce Alphonsus Ranimirus Alphonsus the great Ranimirus â— and Alphonsus 6. with other Kings of Spaine Stephanus and Ladislaus Kings of Hungary Miscelstaus Boleslaus Casimirus sanctus and Casimirus Magnus Kings of Polonia and many moe Kings of other Nations presented their giftes d As Iustinus Emperour the person of Pope Iohn Iustinianus of Pope Constantine King Pipin the person of Pope Stephen the second Carolus of Pope Leo the third â—udouiâ—us of Sergius the second and of Pope Nicholas Henry the fourth of Pope Paschal the second and others reuerenced her Prelates e As Philippus Arabs Emperour the Censure of Pope Fabian Euseb lib. 6. ca. 27. histor eccl the Emperor Theoâ—osius the excommunication of S. Ambr. Theodoret. lib. 5. cap. 17. hist. eccl Sozom. lib. 7. ca. 24. the Emperour Otho the third the inioyned penaunce of Râ—mualdus Abbat Petr. Dam. in vita Romual To which may be added the deuoute readinesse of Henry the second to accept and fulfill the sentence of Pope Alexanders Legates touching the death and murthering of Saint Thomas of Canterburie Nâ—ubrigens libr. 2. cap. 25. obeyed their censures yea and hath at this present many of the greatest monarchs and potentates on earth to her Professors patrons and foster-fathers So as of the Romane Religion onelie these ensuing passages and propheticall praedictions of holie Scripture must of force take their verification or remaine as yet being the latter yeares or euening of the Church vnfulfilled The Gentiles shall feare thy name O Lord
assigned Bishop of Antioch h Aduersus haeres lib. 4 ca 32. 34 lib. 5. ca. 2. Irenaeus scholar i Feu-ardentius in vita eius to S. Policarp and he scholar to S. Iohn Pope k Epist 1. cap. 2. Anacletus the fourth from S. Peter Pope l Epist 1. cap. 4. Alexander the second from Anacletus Pope m Epist ad omnes vniuersaliter cap. 2. Telesphâ—rus the second froÌ„ Alexander with others their next successors n Apud Gratianum de consecratione distinctione 1. cano omnes Basilicae Higinus o In Codice 5. librorum li. 4. ca. 117. Pius p Apud Burchardum lib. 5. ca. 29. Iuonem part 2. cap. 98. Anicetus q Apud Gratianum de consâ—crati dist 1. cano hoc quoque Soter all receiued Saincts and Martyrs Also the Liturgie of the church of Rome deliuered by S. Peter the Liturgie of the church of Hierusalem written by S. Iames the Liturgie of the church of Alexandria composed by S. Marke the Liturgie of the church of Milan made by S. Barnabas The Liturgie of the church of Cappadocia compiled by r Ploruit circiter annum 370. S. Basil The Liturgie of the church of Constantinople set forth by S. Å¿ Floruit anno Christi 380. Chrysostome And likewise the Liturgies of the Aethiopian Syrian and Armenian churches which all with some other do most cleerely witnesse the sacrifice vse and veneration of the Masse and do also approue the ceremonies and diuine mysteries represented and expressed therein In like manner for proofe and direct euidence of the ancient practise fruite and obligation of auricular Confession S. a Apostolicar constitut lib. 2. cap. 33. epist 1. ad Iacobum fratrem Domini Clement S. b Epist 8. ad Demophilum Dionysius S. c Aduersus haereses lib. 1. ca. 9. floruit circiter an 160. Irenaeus d Homil. 2. in Leuiticum Hom. in Psal 37. floruit 230. Origen e Lib. de paenitentia cap. 10. 12 floruit 200. Tertullian S. f Lib. de lapsis floruit 250. Cyprian g Li. 4 diuinar constitution ca. 17. floruit 320. Lactantius who so highly aduanceth Confession as he maketh it one distinctiue note h Idem cap. vlt. eiusdem libri of the true Church S. i Serm. in illa verba Profecti in pagum qui cuâ— aduers c. floruit circiter annum 340. Athanasius S. k Canone 18. in Matthaeum flor 346. Hilarie l Lib. de paenitentia confess flor 350. Pacianus S. m In regulis breuiâ—rib regula 229. 288. Basil S. n Tom. 5. lib. 2. de sacerdotio Chrysostom S. o Epist 80. ad episcopos Campaniae epist 91. ad Theodorum Foroiulij episcopum flor 450. Leo with other writers of best note in euery age since Christes time hitherto And as the primitiue and ancient Fathers and Saincts do yeeld their abundant testimonie in confirmation of these two points so do they vndoubtedlie also afford if this place would giue leaue to particularize very ample euidence in all the other points before mentioned and in question betweene vs and our oppositors Nay if we may be so bold as to deliuer our opinion plainely without concealing ought in this matter the maner that our aduersaries vse in citing places out of the auncient Fathers against vs is but the studie of meere wrangling and no other then a demonstratiue token of an exceeding contentious spirit wilfullie affecting to blindfold and mislead it selfe For were they sincere and loued truth aboue all things they could not possible dismember wrest and pick out sentences of their works in the order and to the purposes they do not letting to rack their words to a sense which the writers neuer meant yea contrarie oftentimes euen to the generall scope and drift of those bookes whence they cull the peeces they alleadge contrarie to the euident letter and plaine passages of their other writings contrarie to the faith they professed liued and died in contrarie to the religion of the age they wrote in contrarie to the doctrine of the Church that first admitted them for Doctors or receiued them for Saincts contrarie to the profession of their liues and state of vocation contrarie to the language and nature of their owne deedes to the titles and dignities they held and to the opinion and censure which all former ages retained of such their parcels of writing So that words and words commonly disioynted from that went before or followeth after must ballance and beare more sway and credit for condemning vs of error then the writers liues selfe deedes their practise profession other their works or neuer so many apparant testimonies of theirs to the contrarie for the truth of our religion 27. A religion of whose doctrine and communion in Sacraments all the Saincts in the Kalendar the patrons of Churches countries conuerters of nations to Christianitie all personages of either sexe memorable for holines for renouncing the world for mortifying their appetites for surrendring their wills or for any other excellent and true virtue were and so liued and died as the authenticall legends of their liues and other ecclesiasticall writings do testifie and beare apparent record to the whole world 28. A religion not destitute of any kinde of proofe but her positions confirmable by Scriptures by Apostolicall institutions by Counsels oecumenicall and prouinciall by Fathers Doctors reason histories chronologies prophesies visions reuelations miracles traditions and by all these and other like heads we say confirmable without wrest straine or flying to tropes or figuratiue speeches So as these words in the Canticles seeme only verifide of our church and religion Thy neck that is the puissance of Christes Church is as Cantic 4. v. 4. the towre of Dauid which is built with bulwarks a thousand shields hang on it all the armour of the strong 29. A religion which a Act. 2. beginning at Ierusalem hath as a riuer through the length of her course euer more and more increased and spread it selfe as it was prophesied that the Church of Christ should b Psal 2. 8. I will giue thee saith God the Father to God the Sonne nations to thine inheritance which is his Church and the ends of the earth to thy possession c Esay 2. 2. All nations shall run vnto her d Dan. 7. 14. All people tribes and tongs shall serue him e Esay 60. 10. The sonnes of strangers that is of the Gentils shall build vp her walls and their Kings do seruice vnto her Now that these and innumerable other like predictions and prophesies are only found true and fulfilled in our Catholick Roman church and religion both the seuerall conuersions of nations vnto her and the infinite multitude dispersed euery-where of her beleeuers do as nothing can more clearely testifie And how greatly it spred it selfe euen when it first put
not nor can be euer proued to haue bene fulfilled in any other Church saue only in the Catholike Romane Church and in it most apparantlie demonstrable by the Ecclesiasticall histories of all ages and by the short space or rather momentarie blast of time that all other religions compared with ours haue indured 34. A religion whose doctrine is to be traced euen vp to the Apostles chaire by true and lawfull succession of Bishops euery one of them holding vnitie with his predecessor and keeping still as the Apostle directeth the depositum that descended from hand to hand vnto them Which vninterrupted line of succession neuer leaping ouer the head of any one age or yeare and drawing his originall from the Apostles can not but necessarily proue that our Church is only the true Apostolicall Church and that we continue and contend Coloss 1. 23. phil 3. 16. iude vers 3. as we are commanded in and for the faith which was first preached And it is also euident by the irrefragable authoritie of S. Paul that the Romanes had once the true faith affirming d their faith to be renowmed in the whole world and common to Rom. 1. 8. cap. 16. him and them Likewise it is euident by the vniforme report of all Ecclesiasticall histories and by the writings of all the Fathers a Theodoretus in ca. 16. epist ad Rom. Prosp carmine de ingr in principiâ— S. Leo de Nâ—t Petri. Aug. contr epist Fund ca. 4. Orosius lib. 7. ca. 6. Chrisost in Psal 88. Epiph. har 27. Prud. in hym 2. S. Laurentij hym 12. Optatus lib. 2. contr Donatist Ambr. lib. 5. epist de basilicis tradendis Hiero. in Catalogo Lactantius lib. 4. ca 21. de vera Sapien. Eusebius hist Eccle. li. 2. ca. 13. 15. Athanas de fugasua Cipria epist 55. nu 6. Tert. de praesâ—r nu 4. li. 4. Contr. Marcio nu 4. Origin in Gen. apud Euseb lib. 3. ca. 1. Irenaus lib. 3. ca. 3. Hegesippus lib. 3. ca. 2. de Excid Hierosolym Caius Papias Dionis Episco Corinth citati per Euseb lib. 2. ca. 14. 24. Ignat. epist ad Rom. Concil Calced act 3. and others Greeke and Latine yea and by the very sence and sight of sundrie monuments yet extant that S. Peter was at Rome suffred death there and was the first Bishop of that See Now if our Counterpleaders can sufficientlie shew as we are sure the whole world cannot either that the Romanes haue since that time left the faith which S. Paul commended in them or that any of the succeeding Bishops to S. Peter in that See haue changed the first faith by paring away any part thereof or by adding any new doctrine contrarie to the rule of the former or what was not taught before by the Fathers and after explicitiuely added as a more cleare and particular declaration of the same if this we say can be sufficientlie shewed by naming the Pope or other man who in such sort changed the primitiue faith and the point or points of faith that were so changed together with the time and place when and where the change was first made we yeeld our selues to be prophane Nouellers yea Heretikes and most worthie of the fagot 35. A religion whose doctrine so generallie symboliseth and holdeth the like absolute consent with all parts of holie Scripture that were euer receiued of the Christian world with the decrees of all confirmed Oecumenicall Counsels and with the ioint assertions of all auntient Fathers as she is not driuen like b The Lutheran and Caluinist reiect Baruch Tobie Iudith the booke of Wisdom Ecclesiasticus the Machabees certaine Chapters of Esther the last part of Daniel And the Lutherans the Epistle of S. Iames S. Paul to the Hebrews the Epistle of Saint Iude the second of Saint Peter the second and third of Saint Iohn other Religions for defending her positions to reiect either Scripture Councell or the vniforme opinion of Doctors but taketh the approbation of her doctrine from them all and teacheth all her children out of S. Augustine c Epist 118. ca. 5. Disputare contra id quod tota per orbem frequentat ecclesia insolentissimae dementiae est To call the lawfulnesse of that into question which the whole Church frequenteth throughout the world is most insolent madnesse 36. A religion which no persecution coulde any time vanquish nor the conioyned forces malice and machination of Pagan Iewe or other her most powrefull enemies nor yet that which is infinitely of far more force to this end the wicked liues of seuerall her professors and chiefe rulers either haue hitherto or shall to the worlds end as we assuredly beleeue euer be able to extirpate it wholie or so to darken the visibilitie or beautie thereof as to make it no where to appeere or not to shine Nay God hath alwayes bin so strong on her side as the more she was persecuted the more she multiplied An obseruation that long since caused a In Tryphone Iustinus to resemble our Churches persecution to the pruning of Vines which maketh them the more fertile and likewise moued b Cap. vlt. Apologetici Tertullian to call the bloud of her Martyrs the seed of Christians one dying and many rising thereof Neither can it be well doubted but that if our religion to speake with c Act. 5. 39. wise Gamaliel had bin of men and not of God it would haue bin dissolued long ere this as all other sects haue perished in much shorter while agreeablie to the saying of the Apostle S. Paule d 2. Tim 3. 9. They shall prosper no farther and to that of S. Peter e 2. Petr. 2. 3. Their perdition slumbreth not Sith therefore our Church is not only not sunck or obscured by any might or neuer so violent stormes of opposition but rather as the Arck of Noe the greater the deluge and waues the higher and more illustriouslie she mounteth it followes that of all others she must be that very Church against which by the promise of our Sauiour f Math. 16. 18. Hell gates that is the power and hatred of man and deuill shall not preuaile 37. A religion some of whose Professours haue had alwayes vpon euery neede occurring power and grace to cast out diuels of the bodies of the possessed the first of all other signes which our Sauiour himselfe gaue for hauing his true Mar. vlt. v. 17. beleeuers distinguished from others And this gifte is so well knowne by continuall execution thereof to reside in the Romane catholike church and neuer found in the companies of any other Professions as there needeth no recitall of particulars Pius Quintus Pope of late memorie dispossessed tactu Onuphrius de vita Pij quint. stolae data benedictione onely by touch of his stole and by giuing his benediction And how frequent these effectes not onely vpon persons possessed but in driuing away diuels