A VIEW OF THE MARGINAL NOTES OF THE Popish Testament translated into English by the English fugitiue Papists resiant at RHEMES in France By George Wither Psalm 19. vers 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect conuerting the soule the testimonie of the Lord is sure and giueth wisedome to the simple Augustine in epistolam Iohan. tract primo Iohannes maluit se ponere in numero peccatorum vt Christum haberet aduocatum quam ponere se pro Christo aduocatum inueniri inter damnandos superbos Iohn had rather place himselfe in the number of sinners that he might haue Christ to be his aduocate than to let himselfe in steed of Christ to be an aduocate and so to be found amongst damnable proud men Printed at London by Edm. Bollifant for Thomas Woodcocke TO THE MOST-REVEREND FAther in God IOHN Archbishop of Canterburie Primate and Metropolitane of England GEORGE WITHER wisheth abundant increase of all heauenly and spirituall blessings IT is the manner vse and custome of all that set foorth any thing to be seene and read of others to set downe some reasons that mooued them to take such pains and to publish their labors In the yeere of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred eightie two a testament traÌ„slated into English at Rhemes in France was published in print by the English fugitiue Papists resiant there The censure view and examination whereof hath euer since been hartily looked or rather longed for of all both rich and poore high and low that feare God and loue his truth But by what occasion I cannot tell it hath been hitherto delaied Whereupon I thought it would not be amisse neither misliked if some thing in the meane space might be done toward the satisfaction of the well affected and the repressing of the triumphes of the contrarie Therefore at my returne from London from Michaelmasse terme last past I tooke in hand to discouer the loose corrupt vniust and vntrue dealing of our Rhemists in their marginall notes Which if I could effect and bring to passe afore an answer to their whole worke came foorth I did suppose that it would somwhat diminish the griefe of manie good men and make them the more patiently to expect and wait for the censure of the whole work And againe if it should happen that by reason I tooke it in hand so late that I â—ould not compasse it or bring it to passe afore the censure of the whole worke were in presse yet I did thinke that bicause that worke could not be but verie great and therfore chargeable that it would not be thought amisse of if some part were answered by it selfe which the poorer and those which either were vnable or vnwilling to be at charges with the other might attaine and haue with small cost Now hauing by the fauor of God gone through it I thought that I could not choose a better patron for it than your Grace whom God hath aduanced to the highest Ecclesiasticall place and dignitie in our Church of England For some make the dedication of their works testimonies of old friendship and familiaritie and as it were monuments of their old long continued loue Which cause if there were no more were sufficient considering the loue wherewith you haue imbraced me these thirtie yeeres and vpwards Others do it to witnes their mindfulnes of their dutie to them that be in honorable place and calling And why should not I heerin also imitate them sith it hath pleased God leauing me in a meane place so highly to aduance you Others to get the fauâ—â—able patronage and defence of their works by high dignitie and authoritie against all maleuolous cauillers and backbiters whereof this wicked world is alwaies full And heer of both I stand in great need hauing the whole band of Popish sophisters in this against me and also none can better protect and defend me than you either for learning and iudgement or for power and authoritie wherewith God hath indued you Their whole worke consisteth altogither of lieng fraud and deceit which I thought not vnmeete in some part to touch disclose and make manifest in this mine Epistle First in their Preface then in their Translation after in their collected and concluded Annotations lastly in their thicke and threefold allegations of the fathers In which I will vse all possible breuitie and shortnes for that my purpose is but to giue a little small taste of their foule and shamelesse dealings whereby the sinceritie of their dealing in the rest may be the easilier and better gessed at The first part of their Preface maintaineth against the whole course of the Scriptures and against all authoritie of the ancient primitiue Church that it is not necessarie for al Christians to haue and read the Scriptures in a knowen vulgar toong Which if it were true why are all men commanded continually to talke of them and to write them vpon the doores wals and posts of their houses and how should they meditate in them day and night How should fathers teach them to their children and they againe to their children The Scriptures giue wisedome to the simple why then shall not the simplest seeke in them to waxe wise If life be to be found in the Scriptures why shall not all search them that looke for life If they be written for our learning why should it not be as lawful to learne by reading as by hearing The CoÌ„stitutions which they sundry times alledge as ordeined by the Apostles do appoint Laie men to read the Law the books of the Kings the Psalmes and the Gospell Saint Hierome commendeth poore plough men bicause at the plough taile in their worke and labor they could sing the Psalmes Our Rhemists adde of their owne beleeue them if you list to salue the matter withall that they sang in a language they vnderstood not and wherein they could not read those Scriptures Saint Chrysostome exhorted the common people to get them Bibles and Testaments and refuted the same obiections which the Papists at this day make to the contrary But our Papists tel vs that he dealt like a pulpit man and therfore his rules must not be generall but serue for his owne people which he preached vnto As who should say the pulpit were not as meet a place to deliuer the rules of religion and a generall truth in as the schooles They adde that euery artificer dealeth in the hardest and deepest matters of religion omitting the more easie that they presuppose no difficulties that they aske for no expositor that they feele no depth of Gods science in Scripture that maners and life are nothing amended that priuate fantasies and not the sense of the Church and doctors thereof in interpreting the Scriptures is followed And whosoeuer knoweth the state and condition of the Church of England knoweth all this to be an beape and dunghill of lies packed togither If their commendation of their Churches
how to shift it For somtimes he doubteth whether they were baptised with the baptisme of Iohn or no or whether they did but faine that they were so baptized somtimes he saith that those which Iohn baptized had not their sins forgiuen them yet he addeth that he will not contend with them that thinke they were indéed remitted Which argueth Augustine in this matter not to be resolute Mark 1. 15. The text The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of heauen is at hand ⸫ be penitent and beleeue the Gospell The note He doth not preach beleefe or faith onely but penance also The answer And I pray you who euer preached faith without repentance If we be taught to beléeue the promise of remission of sinnes we be taught also that that promise is not made but to the penitent And so you seuer things inseparable The word penance you do but blear the eies of the simple withall to make them imagine of a satisfaction But that your dealing hath béene already learnedly laid out by Master Doctor Fulke against Martinius to whom I refer you Mark 1. 44. The text And he saith to him see thou tell no bodie but go shew thy selfe ⸫ to the high priest and offer for thy cleansing the things that Moises commanded for a testimonie to them The note Our Sauiour euen when he healed the leaper by extraordinarie miraculous power would not yet breake order but sent the partie to the priest The answer The orders which God hath appointed to his Church are with all reuerence and diligence to be obserued and our care is to kéepe them You cannot iustly accuse our Church of any wilfull or willing breach of them Mark 2. 5. The text When Iesus had seene ⸫ their faith he saith to the sicke of the palsie sonne thy sinnes are forgiuen thee The note Our Lord is mooued to be mercifull to sinners by other mens faith and desires and not onelie by the parties owne meanes alway The answer This note is once answered alreadie Matthew 9. And nowe againe we say that amongst the manifold meanes which God vseth in preuenting vs with grace fauour this is not the least that he maketh amongest men liuing one an instrument of an others saluation euen then often times when they that haue their saluation procured least thinke of it What is this to confidence in dead mens prayers and helpe which you draw yours to as much as in you lieth Mark 2. 20. The text The dayes will come when the bridegrome shall be taken from them and then shall they ⸫ fast in those dayes The note He foretelleth that fasting shalbe vsed in the church no lesse then in the old law or in the time of Iohn the Baptist. See Matt. c. 9. verse 15. The answer This note also hath alreadie bene answered in the place to which you referre vs. And for further answer we say that Christ doeth not prescribe that men vnder colour of fasting shall abstaine from one kinde of meate as prophane and fill their bellies with another sorte as more holy neither doeth he preferre fish and fruite before flesh egges and whit meate in abstinence from which the common fast of papistes doth consist and stand Otherwise fastes commaunded by Christ to his church both publique and priuate are in vse with vs as place time occasion serueth Mark 2. 28. The text Therefore the sonne of man is ⸫ Lord of the Sabaoth also The note The maker of the Lawe may abrogate or dispence when and where for iust cause it seemeth good to him The answer This note is true though it come out of season but the pope is not the maker of Gods lawe therefore he can not abrogate it or dispence with it as he taketh vpon him most presumptuously Mark 3. 10. The text For he healed many so that there preased in vpon him for ⸫ to touch him as many as had hurtes The note The onely touching of Christes holy person or any part of his clothes or whatsoeuer belonged to him did heale all diseases The answer This note néeded no replie if there were no secret serpent lurking vnder the grasse but bicause it is well knowen that by this and such like places the papistes séeke to maintaine their relikes and the gainfull marchandize that thereupon doth follow therefore we answer that these miracles were so many confirmations of the doctrine of Christ at the first spreading of it which after the doctrine sufficiently confirmed ceased and therefore none is not to be looked after Besides it is apparant that then the vertue and power whereby those miracles were perfourmed were neither in any other person or thing but onelie in the person of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Mark 3. 21. The text And when they had heard of it they went forth to lay hands on him for they said that he was become ⸫ madde The note See here the conceit of worldly friendes who thinke the zeale of religion madnesse and therefore count them mad that are zealous in Gods cause and for the Catholike faith and the more zealous the more mad The answer Alwayes worldly wise men thought the profession of Christian truth madnesse or follie and godlie wise men do thinke the like of them that are zealous they wote not for what and can giue none other reason of their faith but they beléeue as the church beléeueth which implicate faith you count Catholike and allow verie well in your blind followers Mark 4. 11. The text And he said vnto them To you it is giuen to know the mysterie of the kingdome of God but to ⸫ them that are without all things are done in parables that seeing they may see and not see The note Such as be out of the Church though they heare and read neuer so much they can not vnderstand Bede in 4. Marci The answer This note of Bede is manifestly collected out of this place and therefore we accept of it And we maruaile the lesse at your grosse ignorance and blindnesse though you count your selues great clarks bicause you haue seuered your selues from the true church of God Marke 4. 21. The text And he said to them Commeth a candle to be put ⸫ vnder a bushell or vnder a bed and not to be put vpon the candlesticke The note Christ came not to teach his doctrine in corners and hucker mucker as heretikes doe but to lighten the whole world therewith The answer It is true that the same doctrine which Christ taught in priuate houses and places he taught also in the Temple and synagogues And what heretikes they bée that teach not openlie where they may be suffered and séeke not to make their heresie as common as they can I know not And if teaching in corners and hucker mucker that doctrine which can not be openlie suffered to be taught be alwayes a necessary note of heresie then how excuse you Campion and your other champions héere in England from being
The other things required are necessarie consequents of faith and therefore so many testimonies to vs and others of true beléeuing Mark 12. 1. The text A man planted a vineyard and made an hedge about it and digged a trough and built a tower c. vnto the tenth verse The note The man is God the father This vineyard as Esaie said 5. 1. is the house of Israel The seruants sent are Moyses and the Prophets whom the Iewes did diuerslie afflict and persecute His sonne is Christ our Sauiour whom the Iewes crucified out of the citie of Hierusalem as it were casting him out of the vineyard The Iewes and their guides to whom the vineyard was set destroyed and Gods vineyard giuen to the Apostles and their successors in the Gentiles The answer These notes we allow and like of and from thence we gather that no place no people nor no succession of persons can be so priuileged but that the like may happen to them as hath done to the Iewes For you can not shew better promises for your popes then were made to the high priest of the Iewes nor greater priuiledges for Rome then for Hierusalem nor for the nation of the Latins such prerâ—gatiues as the Iewes had which notwithstanding God hath reuenged vpon them the blood of his saints by cutting them off from the true Oliue And doth not the blood of Gods saints shed in euerie corner of his church crie now to him for vengeance Or will not he that spared not the naturall branches of the Oliue cut off for the like causes those that are but graffed into the others roome I would that Gods seuere iudgements towards the Iewes would make you beware and take héede in time Mark 12. 10. The text The ⸫ stone which the builders reiected the same is made the head of the corner The note Christ is become the corner stone of the Synagogue and the church in which the faithfull both of the Iewes and Gentils are conteined The answer And how chaunce you erect an other stone to vnite and couple beléeuers in Mar. 12. 33. The text And that he be loued from the whole hart and with the whole vnderstanding and with the whole soule and with the whole strength And to loue his neighbour as him selfe is a greater thing then all holocausts and sacrifices The note This excellencie of charitie teacheth vs that faith onely is not sufficient The answer The eie onely sufficeth to sée withall and yet it were not sufficient for a man to haue the whole body an eie So faith onelie sufficeth a Christian man for iustification And yet without other vertues which necessarily follow faith a Christian were not sufficiently be wtified You should therefore haue done well to shew for what onely faith is not sufficient whither for iustification or for sanctification Mar. 12. 44. The text Amen I say to you that this poore widow hath cast in ⸫ more than all that haue cast into the treasurie The note God doth accept almes that are correspondent to euery mans abilitie and the more able the more must a man giue The answer God loueth a chéerefull giuer For if there be a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not Mar. 13. 7. The text And when you shall heare of wars and bruits of wars feare not for these things must be but the end is not yet The note Great wars towards the latter end The answer A token that the end draweth néere and yet it is not to be forgotten that your Pope is he that setteth nations togither by the eares and delighteth in warre and bloodshed Mar. 13. 9. The text But looke to your selues for they shall deliuer you vp in Counsels and in Synagogues shall you be beaten and you shal stand before presidents and kings for my sake for a testimonie vnto them The note Much persecution of the faithfull and Catholike men in the latter end The answer Your Church of Rome hath long béene and is now still the persecuting Synagoge and therefore very vnlike the Catholike Church of faithfull persecuted men Mar. 13. 12. The text And brother shall deliuer brother vnto death and the father his sonne and the children shall arise against the parents and shall worke their death The note Great trâ—cherie and many false brethren at the same time The answer Your principle so continually in the popish Church practised of not kéeping faith and promise made to those whom you accompt heretikes is the roote of treacherie and treason and the very nurse and cherishing of falsehood in pretended brotherhood As appeared in the mariage of the King of Nauarre with the French Kings sister Mar. 13. 13. The text But he that shall endure to the end he shall be saued The note Constancie and perseuerance necessarie in time of persecution The answer And therefore that comfortable assurance that nothing can seperate vs from the loue wherwith God hath embraced vs which is the roote of constancie is necessary for Christians though Papistes be thereof quite destitute Mar. 13. 20. The text And vnles the Lord had shortened the daies no flesh should be saued but for the elect which he hath elected he hath ⸫ shortened the daies The note Antichrists reigne shall be three yeeres and an halfe Daniel 7. Apocalipse 13. The answer Out of this text nothing can be gathered for the shortnes or length of Antichrists reigne Therefore this note followeth not of this text Christ hath shortened the daies therefore Antichrists reigne shall be but thrée yéeres and an halfe You had néed to get tough glue or else this will not hold togither But Daniel and the Apocalipse shall helpe Your mightie demonstrations out of those places haue béene already learnedly confuted by Master Whitakers and we shall haue better cause to consider of them when we come to your notes vpon the Apocalipse Mar. 13. 32. The text But of that day or houre no man knoweth neither the Angels in heauen nor the ⸫ Sonne but the Father The note Not as though himselfe knew not as the heretikes Agnoitae held but because he knew it not for to teach it others as being not expedient Ambrose de fide lib. 5. cap. 8. The answer It is maruellous that we may not attribute to Christ that which he attributeth to him selfe And though it be true that therefore it is not reuealed bicause it is not expedient for vs to know it yet it followeth not that Christ as man knew it Ambrose beléeueth rather this place to be corrupted bicause some auncient Greeke copies had not those words the sonne of man and bringeth diuers reasons to proue that Christ could not be ignorant of that day But if the place be true then he thinketh that Christ did but faine ignorance bicause his disciples requested that which was not profitable for them to know This shift Ambrose was driuen to bicause he knew not how else
to shift of the reasons that the Arrians gathered out of this place against the diuinitie of Christ. Mark 14. 7. The text For the poore you haue alwaies with you and when you wil you may do them good But ⸫ me you haue not alwaies The note We haue not Christ here needing our almes as when he conuersed vpon the earth The answer And why haue we héere no doctors Bicause this shift to expound this text so that it should not make against the bodilie presence of Christ in the Sacrament is a late deuise It is true that if he be not here in bodie then it is not possible for him to néede reléefe But let vs see how your faith in this point agréeth with the ancient Christian Catholike faith Augustine willeth Dardanus to hold this Christian confession That Christ rose from the dead ascended into heauen sitteth at the right hande of the Father shall come from none other place but from thence to iudge the quicke and the dead and that he shall so come as the angels voice testified euen as he was séene go into heauen that is in the same forme and substance of flesh to the which he truly gaue immortalitie and tooke not away nature According to this forme he is not to be thought diffused euery where Fulgentius affirmeth that Christ according to the humane nature is comprehended in a place absent from heauen when he was vpon the earth and forsaking the earth when he ascended into heauen Uigilius writing against the heretike Eutiches saith that Christ is with vs and not with vs. For those whom he left and from whom he departed in his humanitie he did not leaue nor forsake in his diuinitie By forme of a seruant which he took from vs into heauen he is absent from c. And in another place when he hath prooued him to be euerie where according to his diuinitie and but in one place at once according to his humanitie he concludeth thus This is the faith and confession Catholike which the Apostles deliuered Martyres did confirme and the faithfull hitherto haue held And concerning these very words Me you shal not haue alwaies Augustine expoundeth them simplie to be ment of his bodily absence from the earth Now let our papists tell vs how their faith can be Christian and Catholike being directly against that which in these fathers daies was Christian and Catholike Mark 14. 23. The text And taking the chalice giuing thanks he gaue to them and they ⸫ all dranke of it The note All dranke to wit all the twelue for more were not present Wherebie it is euident that the words in Saint Matthew 26 27 Drinke ye al of this were spoken to all the apostles onely which here are said that they all did drinke And so it is no generall commandement to all men The answer And why haue we not here one doctor to say for you that Drinke yée all is not so general a commandement as Take and eate Can that be a catholike exposition which is contrarie to all expositions of catholike expositors for many hundred yéeres after Christ Take and eate stretcheth to laie men as the practise of your church doth shew And Drinke yée all that must be restreined to priests bicause no more but y e Apostles were present And if that cause be of force why shall it not restraine the other commandement also Take and eate to priests onely But the holy Ghost foreséeing what popish corruptions the diuell would bring into the Church did afore hand the more fully to preuent the diuels fraud héerein direct the pens of the Euangelists in the giuing of the cup to expresse the vniuersall signe all where in deliuerie of the bread he is content with an indefinite spéech take and eate Heere all antiquitie is vtterly against poperie Their doctrine of concomitance was not in the fathers daies hatched neither had they wit ynough to foresée the danger of spilling and hanging in lay mens beards and such other déepe considerations as the pope picked out long after out of his night cap. Mark 14. 25. The text Amen I saie to you that now I will not drinke of the fruits ⸫ of the vine vntill that daie when I shall drinke it new in the kingdome of God The note See annotations vpon Matthew chap. 26. vers 29. The answer Your annotations are not woorth the looking on yet such as they are they shall receiue answer by themselues Mark 14. 64. The text Who all ⸫ condemned him to be guiltie of death The note Here we may see that they were worthily reprobated and forsaken according to our sauiours prediction by the parable Mark. 12. The kingdome of God shall be taken from you c. The answer Their successors in impietie blasphemie and crueltie Annas and Caiphas of Rome and their adherents cannot be in better estate for they with no lesse consent and vnitie haue condemned Christ in his members and his truth for heresie and blasphemie Mark 14. 66. The text And when Peter was in the courte beneath there commeth one of the ⸫ woman seruants of the high priest The note He feareth not afterward Rome the ladie of the worlde that in the house of Caiphas was afraid of the high priests wench Leo in natiuitate Petri Pauli sermone 1. The answer In this weake fearefulnes of Peter we may sée our owne frailtie and in the change that God after made in him when he had indued him and others with vertue from aboue the power by which God can and doeth worke in weake and fraile vessels Rome was the ladie of the worlde therefore not the head of the church a place fearfull to the godlie or els Peters valure in not fearing of it had not béene commendable Marke 1◠29. The text And they that passed by blasphemed him wagging their heades and saying Vah he that destroyeth the temple and in three dayes buildeth it ⸫ saue thy selfe comming downe from the crosse The note So say heretikes of the blessed Sacrament if it be Christ let him saue him selfe from all iniuries The answer We whome it pleaseth you to call heretikes learne not from the scornefull Iewes but from good Ioash the father of Gedeon that your bread is not God bicause it can not plead for it selfe nor reuenge it selfe But you haue a god and a religion alike both of your owne creation Marke 15. 34. The text My God my God why hast thou ⸫ forsaken me The note See Matth. cap. 27. 46. the blasphemous exposition of Caluine and his followers and take heede thereof The answer Sée the exposition reape comfort thereof and learne with hart and minde to detest and abhorre the impudent and shamelesse pennes of lying papistes Marke 16. 7. The text But go tell his disciples ⸫ Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee The note Peter is named in speciall as often els where for prerogatiue The answer A poore prerogatiue it
lib. 6. contra Parmenian How aptlie he applieth this parable to saint Pauls counsell of virginitie 1. Cor. 7. as to a worke of supererogation The answer If your doctrine be true in this point then Christ did a worke of Supererogation when he suffered death for vs that is to say a worke more then he néeded to do For if we can do more then is commaunded we may haue life by our déedes and so Christ might haue spared his paines he tooke for vs besides it were strange if any thing that maketh to the glorie of God and saluation of mens soules should be a worke more than néedeth or not within compasse of Gods commaundements But Augustine saith that Paul did a worke of Supererogation when he serued as Christs souldier without taking wages as he might you do great violence to Augustine in that place by grating vpon a word to make him serue your purpose against his will when his whole scope is nothing els but to shew that Paul abstained from that which was frée for him to take for his paines and that hée laboured for his liuing whereupon he concludeth the labour of monkes to be lawfull against idle monkes which because they would liue on the sweat of other mens browes not onlie refused to labour but also maintained that it was vnlawfull for them to labour Luke 11. 20. The text But if I in the ⸫ finger of God do cast out diuels surelie the kingdome of God is come vpon you The note This finger is the spirit of God Matth. 12. 18. The answer As by the onelie power of Gods spirit the diuell was then throwen out of his possession in the first propagating and spreading of the kingdome of Christ by the preaching of his word euen so againe in these late yéeres by the like mightie working of Gods spirit with the ministerie of the word Sathan who reigned by his vicar general of Rome hath béene expulsed out of a great part of his possession Luke 11. 28. The text But he said ⸫ yea rather blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it The note The said mother of God in that also was blessed that she was the temporall meanes and minister of the incarnation but much more blessed in that she continued the perpetuall keeper of his word Beda August tract 19. in Iohannem The answer You loue and delight to shew your reading in matters néedles Who knoweth not that it was an excéeding blessing of God to the virgin Marie that he vouchsafed to choose her to be the mother of his onlie begotten sonne Also who are there that confesse not that the greatest blessing of all is to be the childe of God wherof the obedient kéeping of the word is a testimonie Luke 11. 32. The text The men of Niniue shall rise in the iudgement with this generation and condemne it because they ⸫ did penaunce at the preaching of Ionas and behold more then Ionas heere The note ⸫ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marke that the great penaunce of Niniuites Ionae 3. is heere expressed by this Greeke word See annotations Matth. 3. 2. The answer The outward testimonies of true repentance shewed foorth by the Niniuites were not works of satisfaction as you imagine And it is true that they which waxe wiser especially in knowing and eschewing sinne will shewe it aswell by humbling them selues afore God for their sinnes past as also by a more carefull and diligent héede to their wayes after Luke 11. 47. The text Wo to you that ⸫ build the monuments of the prophets and your fathers did kill them The note Not the building of the Prophets monuments is condemned but their imitation of their fathers that slew the prophets Ambrose The answer Héere is an high point of learning that you bring Ambrose for We know that the memorie of Gods saints is pretious in his sight But in this you resemble your fathers the Iewes For the saints of God long ago dead you wil séeme to honor and estéeme But towards the saints aliue you are as cruell and outragious as euer were your fathers And therfore God must in iustice require of you the blood of all his saints shed since the beginning of the world to this day Luke 12. 5. The text But I will shew you whom you shall feare ⸫ Feare him who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell The note The feare of hell also is profitable contrarie to the Protestants teaching securitie of saluation and that feare of hell maketh men hypocrits The answer Your ordinarie lieng sheweth whom in conditions you resemble and whose children yeare What protestant hath taught that the feare of hell is vtterly vnprofitable We assigne many profits which it bringeth First the wicked many times with the feare thereof are terrified and bridled that they run not so headlong to the execution of their wicked desires as otherwise they would Secondly the elect and chosen children of God being by nature as other men corrupt are many times at the first by the feare of hell driuen to séeke Christ their onely remedie and deliuerer Thirdly they are strengthened against the feare of man when they sée the eschewing of bodily death wold bring eternal death It is manifest therefore that that which you charge vs with is your malitious collection and not our doctrine But our doctrine is that they which by faith haue power to become the children of God do shew foorth their obedience of méere loue and reuerence to God their father and that they would so do though there were no hell to punish disobedience in And that they who would not shew any obedience but for feare of hell are hypocriticall slaues doing some dutie not for dutifulnes but onely for feare of punishment Luke 12. 17. The text ⸫ What shall I do bicause I haue not whither to gather my fruits The note Giue it to the poore that shouldst thou do saith saint Basil. The answer You might as well haue alledged saint Paul but that so you should not reape that which you hunt after that is the estimation of great clarks for great reading amongst your ignorant vnskilfull followers But if saint Basil had béene of your religion he would haue taught the rich man to haue founded abbeies nâ—â—neries priories and chauntrâ—â—s for his soules health or else to haue bestowed his superfluitie in gilding roodlofts and finding of lights and such other toies For with you these things consume the portion of the poore Luke 12. 20. The text And God said to him ⸫ Thou foole this night they require thy soule of thee and the things that thou hast prouided whose shall they be The note A goodly warning for all rich men The answer So it was But if the practise of your popish church were well warranted there had béene no cause at all to haue pronounced him a foole For for monie he might haue béene canonized and made a saint and whatsoeuer masses diriges
the Iewes ignorantlie vnderstood not the place in Deuteronomie of Christ and therefore they aske also whether he be the prophet there spoken of See also cap. 7. 40. The answer Whether the Iewes had in this their question reference to that place of Deuteronomie or no it is vncertaine neither can anie proofe be made of it but coniecturall The like I say to your other place cap. 7. 40. and yet we do not doubt of their blindnes and ignorance in not vnderstanding the Scriptures which appeareth manifestly in their reply to Iohn after he had told them I am the voice of one crying c. Iohn 1. 26. The text Iohn answered them saying ⸫ I baptize in water but there hath stood in the middest of you whom you know not c. The note He doth often heere signifie the great difference of his baptisme and of Christs as of his person and Christs See annot Matth. 3. The answer We haue often answered that you doo but bleare the eies of the simple with the name of Christs baptisme which they take for the baptisme of euerie minister in the church and being so taken there is no difference betwéene Iohns baptisme and it Otherwise in this place and in the like Iohn considereth of him selfe as of a seruant or minister and of Christ as of his master and Lord and attributeth to him selfe the outward worke and washing in baptisme and to Christ the inward grace and workemanship In which comparison we learne the general difference betwéene all ministers and Christ their worke and his Your annotations are séene and they are like your selues slaunderous lying vntrue and shall bée answered in the generall answer to your annotations Iohn 1. 41. The text He findeth his brother Simon and saith to him we haue found ⸫ Messiah which is being interpreted Christ. The note Messias in Hebrue in Greeke Christ in English anointed to wit with the spirituall oile of grace aboue his brethren Psalme 44. The answer You must néedes exempt the pope from amongst the brethren of Christ for he is not Christs inferior in grace if that which is attributed to him by popish parasites be true Iohn 1. 42. The text And Iesus looking vpon him said Thou art Simon the son of Iona thou shall be called ⸫ Cephas which is interpreted Peter The note Cephas in Siriacke and Peter in Greeke in English Rocke See Matthew 16. 18. The answer I maruell that Paul knew not this mysterie for he taught to build vpon Christ and not vpon Peter And Peter though he make all beléeuers liuely stones yet teacheth none other chéefe stone but our Lord and Sauiour Christ. Iohn 2. 9. The text And after the cheefe steward tasted the ⸫ water made wine and knew not whence it was but the ministers knew that had drawen the water c. The note He that seeth water turned into wine needeth not to dispute or doubt how Christ changed bread into his bodie The answer He that séeth and knoweth the perpetuall phrase and maner of speaking of the holy Ghost touching sacraments will woonder that men should be so blind or else so wilfull as to dispute and contend for such a change of bread into the bodie of Christ as neither can stand with that phrase of spéech nor with the nature of a sacrament neither yet with the articles of our beléefe Iohn 3. 8. The text The spirit breatheth where ⸫ he will and thou hearest his voice but thou knowest not when he commeth and whither he goeth The note We follow rather saint Augustine and those ancient fathers which most commonly vnderstand this place of the holy Ghost and not of wind although both be good The answer And we do follow saint Augustine and those fathers which do interpret this to be meant of the wind bicause both the hearing of the sound of it and the force of the comparison which must néedes be betwixt things diuers doth inforce it to be the truer Iohn 4. 1. The text When Iesus therefore vnderstood that the pharisies heard that Iesus maketh mo disciples and baptizeth than Iohn howbeit ⸫ Iesus did not baptize but his disciples he left Iewrie and went againe into Galile The note He did not baptize ordinarily yet that he did baptize his Apostles saint Augustine thinketh it very probably Epist. 108. The answer Augustine doubteth not but that the Apostles of Christ were baptized either by Christ or by Iohn afore they tooke vpon them to baptize but by whether he is not resolute neither is it materiall But that some of them were by Iohn baptized it is manifest bicause they were Iohns disciples afore they were Christs Apostles Iohn 4. 7. The text There commeth ⸫ a woman of Samaria to draw water Iesus said to hir Giue me to drinke The note This woman is a figure of the church not yet iustified but now to be iustified August tract 15. in Iohannem The answer You willingly follow allegories bicause many times they are far fetched and serue you to dally withall howbeit I do not sée to what vse this may serue you I do not thinke that you your selues do thinke that this womans fiue husbands were either the fiue bookes of Moses or hir fiue senses which notwithstanding Augustine affirmeth in the same treatise The lessons which the plaine letter do giue do both more edifie and are more safe Iohn 4. 9. The text How doest thou being a Iew aske of me to drink which am a Samaritane woman For the Iewes ⸫ do not communicate with the Samaritans The note There were many other causes why the faithfull Iewes could not abide the Samaritans but their precise abstaining from their companie and conuersation was their scismaticall temple and seruice in mount Garizim The answer It is very true that those which make a scisme and continue therein are not to be communicated with of faithful Christians and yet I thinke in that corrupt state of the Iewish church the other causes were rather stronger than that Iohn 4. 10. The text If thou didst know the gift of God and who is he that said to thee Giue me to drinke thou perhaps wouldest haue asked of him and he would haue giuen thee ⸫ liuing water The note He speaketh of his baptizing in the holy Ghost See Iohn 7. 39. The answer He speaketh of giuing his holy spirit to them that in faith aske and require it Iohn 4. 39. The text And of that citie many beleeued in him of the Samaritans for the words of the ⸫ woman giuing testimonie that he told me all things whatsoeuer I haue done The note This woman mysticallie being the church it is heere signified that they which at the first beleeue bicause the church teacheth so afterward be much confirmed finding it in the Scriptures also and by other instructions The answer It is here signified by what weake and vnlikelie instruments God can worke in drawing men to the knowledge of him selfe and embracing his mercies
wils but that they be sweetely drawen mooued and induced to do good August Euchiridion cap. 64. de verb. domini ser. 43. ca. 7. de verb. Apost ser. 13. cap. 11. 12. The answer Here you bring authorities thicke where néede none Who euer expounded this leading of the spirit of forcible constreining men against their wils Bicause your fréewill is denied you would haue your followers to beléeue that we make men blocks and stocks As for you you are so far from being led by the spirit that you haue no sence nor féeling of it and therfore dare not say that you haue the spirit of God And good reason why you should not bicause the holy Ghost hath not wrought in you any change or alteration from your superstitions follies Rom. 9. 11. The text For when they were not yet borne nor had done any good or euill that the purpose of God according to election might stande not of works but of the caller it was said to her That the elder shall serue the yoonger The note S. Hierom q. 10. ad Hedibiam All the Epistle surely to the Romaines needeth interpretation and is enwrapped with so great obscurities to vnderstand it we neede the helpe of the holie Ghost who by the Apostle did dictate these same things but especially this place Howbeit nothing pleaseth vs but that which is Ecclesiasticall that is the sense of the Church The answer Saint Hierome did not vse this spéech to fraie any from reading anie part of the scriptures and inquiring the sense of them For he himselfe séeketh to satisfie the questions propounded and that to a woman whom he scarcely knew That this epistle néedeth interpretation and especially the illumination of that spirit which caused it to be written it hath common with the rest of the Scriptures For the naturall man vnderstandeth not the things of the spirit of God which are spiritually discerned We would be loath to please our selues with any priuate interpretation not receiued nor allowed of the true church of God But you would gladly haue this whole Epistle out of the way and especially this chapter bicause it setteth out plainely Gods frée election and choise without respect or regard had to works either aforegoing or following Which sense though contrarie to the sense of your church Saint Hierome holdeth as the sense of the church then And therefore he concludeth that question that Hedibia should for euer hold her peace from inquiring anie causes of Gods will why he is mercifull to one seuere to another Rom. 9. 22. The text And if God willing to shew wrath and to make his might knowne ⸫ susteined in much patience the vessels wrath apt to destruction c. The note That God is not the cause of any mans reprobation or damnation otherwise then for punishment of his sins he sheweth by that he expecteth all mens amendment with great patience and consequently that they haue also freewill The answer The cause and matter of mans damnation is in himselfe And yet God did prepare the wicked or damned to be vessels of ignominie or dishonor It is wel that you rake so diligently amongst the vngodly and reprobate for your fréewill For they sin frankly and fréely And if you finde it not amongst the slaues of sinne you shall finde it no where But I haue told you and do tell you againe that this fréedome to do euill is the seruitude of sinne and that therefore this fréewill cannot do any thing but sinne Rom. 10. 4. The text For the end of the law is Christ vnto ⸫ iustice to euery one that beleeueth The note The law was not giuen to make a man iust or perfect by it selfe but to bring vs to Christ to be iustified by him The answer If the law were not giuen to make a man iust then how can a man be iustified by his owne works and obedience Againe how then do you holde it possible to be fulfilled by men for no doubt it maketh iust the fulfillers thereof Though you bring all your suttle shifts and euasions togither yet if you holde fast this note your inherent iustice to make a man iust withall shall be iust woorth two strawes Rom. 10. 5. The text For Moyses wrote ⸫ that the iustice which is of the law the man that hath done it shall liue in it The note The iustice of the law of Moyses went no further of it selfe but to saue a man from temporall death and punishment prescribed to the transgressors of the same The answer Were not the ten commandements part of the law of Moses And doth not Christ answer the yoong man that would know by what doing he should haue life euerlasting Kéepe the commandements Did the curse of the law from which Christ deliuered vs extend no further than to temporall punishment Perfect righteousnes bringeth perfect life The law is a perfect rule of righteousnes therefore if it could be fulfilled of vs it should bring vs to perfect eternall life What meaneth Paul by his opposition of those two sentences The iust shall liue by faith And he that doth these things shall liue in them if one and the same life eternall be not promised in both in the one to beléeuers in the other to doers Againe if this your note were true the law of it selfe and in it selfe had béene too weake to iustifie or sanctifie but saint Paul saith not it was too weake in it selfe but it was weakened by the flesh and therefore could not iustifie But as all poperie is patched togither of old and new heresies so this patch was borrowed of the Manicheans Rom. 10. 13. The text For euerie one ⸫ whosoeuer shall inuocate the name of our Lord shall be saued The note To beleeue in him and to inuocate him is to serue him with all loue and sincere affection All that so do shall doubtlesse be saued and shall neuer be confounded The answer If to inuocate him be to serue him then why teach you men to inuocate others and so consequently to serue others which are but men And thus whilest you are loth to attribute saluation to faith alone but would make it common to works also you cut your owne throtes and shew your selues to all the world to be manifest impostors and deceiuers Rom. 10. 16. The text But all ⸫ do not obey the Gospell The note We see then that it is in a mans freewill to beleeue or not to beleeue to obey or disobey the Gospell or truth preached The answer Your sight is sharpe you can sée far into a mill stone no reasonable man can sée how your consequence followeth All do not obey ergo they haue frée will to obey or not to obey It is like this All papists go not whither they list ergo no papists are in prison or restrained of libertie Rom. 11. 4. The text I haue left me seuen thousand men that haue not bowed their knees to ⸫ Baal The note The heretikes adde
vs not to apprehend Christs iustice by faith onlie but to be renued in our selues truly and to put on vs the new man formed and created in iustice and holines of truth By which freewil also is prooued to be in vs to worke with God and to consent vnto him in our sanctification The answer Who doth so teach iustification by faith onely that he doth not also teach sanctification as the ioined companion thereof But lieng and slaundering is your delight which I do not saie bicause you haue expresly vttered your minde but bicause you do couertly insinuate so much to your blinde followers Your proofe for fréewill is woorth thrée skips of a louse You may conclude it out of euerie exhortation as well as out of this it will follow all alike Ephes. 5. â— The text For vnderstanding know you this that no fornicator or vncleane or couetous person which is ⸫ the seruice of idols hath inheritance in the kingdome of Christ and of God The note See the hereticall corruption of this in the annot Col. 3. 5. The answer We haue séene your annotation and finde your quarrel stale as being mooued afore by master Martinius and answered by master Doctor Fulke And farther we sée that idolaters are beholding to you for you take as great paines as men may do to vpholde them in their idolatrie which in plaine English signifieth worshipping of images Ephes. 5. 23. The text Let women be subiect to their husbands as to our Lord bicause the man is the head of the woman as Christ is the head of the ⸫ church The note It is much to be noted that in the first English Bibles there is not once the name of Church in all the Bible but in steede thereof Congregation which is so notorious a corruption that themselues in their later Bibles correct it for shame and yet suffer the other to be read and vsed still See the Bible printed 1562. The answer Surelie Martinius was to blame that left you no quarel vnmooued to our translation it hath béene answered that our first translators translated aptlie and trulie when they translated congregation and that they therein committed no fault whereof they or others ought to be ashamed That the word Church was not shunned in anie sinister respect or meaning the translating of the same word church in the créede the vsing of the worde church in the notes of those first Bibles in our Catechismes alwaies in our latter translations as you confesse do manifestlie shew The cause whiâ— the translators did vse the word congregation rather then the word church was bicause in those times ignorance raigning the word congregation was more plaine and lesse ambiguous and doubtfull and therefore lesse danger in it of misconstruing or mistaking then in the other thus is your notorious corruption come to nothing Ephes. 6. 8. The text Knowing that euerie one what good soeuer he shall do that shall he ⸫ receiue of the Lord whether he be bond or free The note God leaueth no good worke vnrewarded The answer It is verie true and yet you neuer the nigher your merit Ephes. 6. 14. The text Stand therefore hauing your loines girded in truth and ⸫ clothed with the brestplate of iustice c. The note If man could not be trulie iust or hâ—â—e iustice in him selfe how could he be clothed with iustice The answer Men after this life are clothed with their habitation in heauen their habitation in heauen is not in them selues In like maner may they be clothed with the righteousnesse of Christ which though it make them trulie iust yet is in Christ and not in them selues The whole armour is Gods and by him giuen vs to defend our selues withall I maruell that you finde neither holiwater nor crosse nor anie such deuise of poperie among all this armour I thinke therefore that it followeth manifestlie that those péeces of armour neuer came out of Gods store-house Ephes. 6. 23. The text Peace to the brethren and ⸫ charitie with faith from God the Father and our Lord Iesus Christ. The note Saint Augustine noteth in sundrie places vpon this same text that faith without charitie serueth not to saluation Lib. 50. hom 7. The answer As for that faith which is without charitie we as we haue often told you estéeme it not woorth two strawes otherwise that a true faith onlie and alone iustifieth Saint Augustine will tell you if you will vouchsafe to sée it It is necessarie for a man that not onlie when he is wicked he should be iustified that is of a wicked man made iust when good things are rendered to him for euill but also when he is now iustified by faith that grace should walke with him and he rest thereupon least he fall And againe that Paul should be called from heauen and be conuerted by so great and effectuall a calling the grace of God alone was the cause thereof for his merits were great but euill PHILIPPIANS Philip. 1. â—7 The text And in nothing be ye terrified of the aduersaries which to them is ⸫ cause of perdition The note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a manifest proofe and euidence The answer We thinke you can interpret a Gréeke word right if you list as you haue done this Philip. 2. 16. The text Conteining the word of life ⸫ to my glorie in the day of Christ bicause I haue not runne in vaine nor in vaine labored The note Such as haue by their preachings gained anie to Christ shall ioy and glorie therein exceedinglie at the day of our Lord. The answer And what shall they do that gaine from Christ to Antichrist Philip 2. â—7 The text But and if I be ⸫ immolated vpon the sacrifice and seruice of your faith I reioice and congratulate with you all The note Pastors ought to be so zealous of the saluation of their flocke that with Saint Paul they should offer themselues to the death for the same The answer Such example gaue the prince of pastors such strength hath God giuen to a number of faithfull ministers as our eies haue séene and infinite multitudes are able to testifie and the booke or monument of martyrs hath recorded to all posteritie Philip. 2. 21. The text For ⸫ all seeke the things that are their owne and not the things that are Iesus Christs The note Manie forsake their teachers when they see them in bonds and prison for their faith bicause most men preferre the world before Christes glorie The answer This is verie true and yet the text rather speaketh of them that should be carefull ouer the flocke that a number of them shranke away after the world and prouided rather for them selues then for the flocke And consider you well vpon this spéech whether Peters being at Rome then when Paul wrote this were likelie or no when Paul had there none like minded to him selfe And it is a very simple shift to say that Peter might then be absent from Rome
3. The text Blessed is he that readeth and heareth the words of this prophecie and ⸫ keepeth those things which be written in it for the time is nigh The note There be manie speciallie now a daies that be great readers hearers talkers of Scriptures but that is not inough to make them good or blessed except they keepe the things prescribed and taught therein according to our Sauiours saieng Luke 11. Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it The answer It is verie true that except men kéepe the word all their other indeuors about the word are little worth but men can not kéepe that which they know not Reading and hearing as here appeareth is the ordinarie meanes that men should vse to come by knowledge but you to the end you might maintaine blindnesse and ignorance haue kept the people from reading and hearing therfore you haue made â—ure worke that they should not attaine blessednes by kéeping Apocal. 1. 9. The text I Iohn your brother and partaker in tribulation and the kingdome and patience in Christ Iesus was in ⸫ the Iland which is called Patmos for the word of God and the testimonie of Iesus The note Banished thither for religion by Nero or rather by Domitian almost 60. yeeres after Christs ascension The answer By whom he was banished it is not materiall as long as wée coÌ„sent that these things were reuealed to him in his banishment Apocal. 1. 10. The text I was ⸫ in the spirit on the dominicall daie and heard behind me a great voice as it were of a trumpet saieng that which thou seest write in a booke c. The note I had a vision not with my corporall eies but in spirit I beheld the similitude of the things following The answer As Peter and Paul so Iohn in spirit also had reuelations and yet neuer none of them saw or knew of saint Patriks purgatory Apocal. 1. 12. The text ⸫ And I turned to see the voice that spake with me The note The first generall vision of the seuen according to Saint Ambrose The answer You delight your selues with fathers when and where you néede them not Your blind followers when and where they see any father cited suppose that it is for some matter of controuersie and thinke that all antiquitie make for you but in truth where you most néede them there you haue none at all Apoc. 1. 1â— The text And being turned I sawe seuen candlestickes of gold and in the middest of the seuen candlesticks one like to the Sonne of man vested in a priestlie garment to the foote and girded about neere to the pappes with a girdle of gold The note It seemeth not to be Christ him selfe but an angell bearing Christes person and vsing diuers speeches proper to Christ. The answer I sée no cause why it should not be Christ him selfe Apoc. 1. 20. The text And ⸫ the seuen candlestickes are the seuen churches The note Saint Irenaeus alluding to this saith The church euery where preacheth the truth and this is the seuenfolde candlesticke bearing the light of Christ. libro 5. aduersus haere The answer We are to obserue héere first that the signes here beare the names of the things which they signifie for the seuen starres are the angels of the seuen churches and the seuen candlestickes are the seuen churches euen none otherwise then bread is the bodie of Christ. Secondlie the cause whie the church is compared to a candlesticke is bicause it carieth that light whereof all godlie men are partakers And bicause in it as candles or shining lights the Apostles Prophets Euangelists Pastors and doctors do shine by the most wholsome doctrine of Christ. Apoc. 2. 1. The text And ⸫ to the Angell of the church of Ephesus write thus saith he c. The note That which before he willed him to write to the church he now willeth to be written to the Angels or bishops of the same onlie where we see that it is all one to the church and the head or gouernour thereof The answer It is euident that Iohn was commanded afore to send that which he wrote to the churches and it is also plaine that he is commanded to write the same to the Angels that is to the pastors and gouernors of the church But that which thence you collect that it is all one to sende to the church and to the heads and gouernors thereof is true but sometimes and not alwaies As when some faithfull are saluted by the apostle and the church that is in their house it is manifest that by the church gouernors are not ment And againe bicause you set head and gouernor in the singular number wherein we suppose that you haue a secret relation to the onely soueraigne of your church therfore we are to admonish the Reader that when by the church the gouernors thereof be vnderstood there is neuer anie one gouernor of the whole church ment Apoc. 2. 4. The text But I haue against thee a few things bicause ⸫ thou hast left thy first charitie The note By this we see is plainly refuted that which some heretikes hold that a man once in grace or charitie can neuer fall from it The answer First we do not hold that a man cannot fal but that he whom God looueth cannot finally fall the contrarie whereof doth not héere appéere Secondly that by the angell of the church any one particular man is ment cannot be prooued but rather a societie or succession of men whereof the later may be vnlike the former Whereof S. Paul speaketh to the ministers of the same church that of themselues shoulde arise gréeuous woolues and whereof we haue had great experience in the church of Rome in the later bishops who are as vnlike the former as lions are vnlike to lambes or drosse vnlike to golde And therefore this cannot be iustly applied to any mutation in one and the same particular man Apoc. 2. 9. The text I know thy tribulation and thy ⸫ pouertie but thou art rich and thou art blasphemed of them that saie themselues to be Iewes and are not but are the synagogue of sathan The note This church representeth the state of them that are spoiled of their goods emprisoned and manifoldly afflicted for the catholike faith The answer And it is to be noted withall who afflicted them spoiled them blasphemed them that is spake and did al maner of euil of them and to them For the afflictors and persecutors here spoken of are such as saie themselues to be Iewes and are not that is such as take vpon them wrongfully the name title of Gods church and people being in déed and truth the synagogue of sathan How néere this toucheth you that violently vsurpe the name of catholikes consider with your selues well for the afflictions you haue brought vpon others are manifest Apoc. 2. 10. The text Be thou faithfull vnto death and I will giue thee ⸫ a crowne of life The note
brasse stone and wood can they see heare or walke haue you done penance from the works of your hands or will you wilfully go to the diuell Apoc. 10. ◠The text And I saw an other angell strong descending from heauen clothed with a cloud and a rainbowe on his head and his face was as the sunne and his feet as a pillar of fier The note Christ the valiant angell is heere described The answer I maruell that you followed not your Liranus to expounde this of the bishop of Rome but that flatterie you are ashamed of though in other things you excéede him But the circumstances make it plaine his dignitie power strength his decking from top to toe the greatnes of his voice the brightnes of his countenance his vnused steps comprehending lande and sea togither can not well agrée to any other Apoc. 10. ◠The text And when the seauen thunders had spoken their voices I was about to write And I heard a voice from heauen saieng vnto me Signe the things which the seauen thunders haue spoken and ⸫ write them not The note Manie great mysteries and truths are to be preserued in the church which for causes knowen to Gods prouidence are not to be written in the booke of holie Scripture The answer Farre fetched and déere bought is good for ladies Iohn was forbidden to write Ergo they are kept in the church When you can prooue that your church knoweth those things which Saint Iohn was forbidden to write and those things which Saint Paule heard and sawe in heauen and might not vtter then will I beléeue all your vnwritten verities Apoc. 10. ◠The text And the angell which I saw standing vpon the sea and vpon the land ⸫ lifted vp his hand to heauen and he sware by him that liueth for euer and euer c. The note This was the maner of taking an othe by the true God as Deut. 32. The answer There were diuers and sundrie maners of taking othes by the true God which I do not thinke so necessarie here to be noted as that you haue taught men to forsake God and to sweare by those which are not Gods and as the thing which is héere sworne that is that time shalbe no more which is most necessarie for men to consider that they flatter not them selues with the eternall continuance of the world Apoc. 10. ◠The text And he said to me Take the booke and ⸫ deuoure it The note By earnest studie and meditation The answer You say well adde this I pray you that it is not onlie to be read studied and thought vpon but also in as large measure as we are able to attaine to vnderstood and laied vp in our harts Apoc. 10. 9. The text And it shall make thy bellie to be bitter but in thy mouth it shalbe ⸫ sweete as it were honie The note Sweete in the reading but in the fulfilling somewhat bitter bicause it commandeth works of penance and suffring of tribulations The answer The promises of the most gratious fauour of God and good life to beleeuers are swéete and delectable but that we must passe through manie and bitter tribulations to come to life to flesh and blood can not be but bitter As for your satisfactorie workes of penance which your mind runneth on are not to be found any where in this booke but your hart is alwaies on your half penie Apoc. 11. 2. The text But the court which is without the temple cast foorth and measure not that bicause it is giuen to the Gentiles and they shall tread vnder foot the holie citie ⸫ two fourtie moneths The note Three yeeres and an halfe which is the time of Antichrists raigne and persecution The answer But that these moneths are to be measured here by our ordinarie moneths that resteth to be prooued The onlie thing that we can learne by this is that Antichrists raigne shall not endure alwaies but in comparison of Christes raigne which shalbe eternall if shalbe verie short But how long or how short so euer the time is this is certaine and plaine against the papists that during Antichrists raigne the holie citie that is the church shall be troden vnder foote Apoc. 11. 7. The text And when they shall haue finished their testimonie the ⸫ beast which ascended from the depth shall make warre against them and shall ouercome them and kill them The note The great Antichrist The answer The bishop of Rome who though in the eies of the world séeme to preuaile and to kill the witnesses of Gods truth yet he can not do it till they haue finished their testimonie that is the time that God hath appointed them for the execution of their office Apoc. 11. 8. The text And their bodies shall lie in the streets of the ⸫ great citie which is called spiritually Sodom and Egypt where the Lorde also was crucified The note He meaneth Hierusalem named Sodome and Egypt for imitation of them in wickednes so that we see his chiefe raigne shalbe there though his tirannie may extend to all places of the world The answer How faine you would turne mens eies from Rome to looke for the great Antichrist els where Séeing the names and other attributes are spirituall descriptions of this citie and that Rome resembleth Hierusalem in killing Christ in his members is like Sodom in beastlie filthinesse and like Egypt both in ambition and superstition and in indeuor to hold the people of God in seruitude and thraldom I sée not why we should still thinke that to be the great citie here spoken of Apoc. 11. 10. The text And the inhabitants of the earth ⸫ shall be glad vpon them and make merrie The note The wicked reioice when holie men are executed by the tirants of the world bicause their life and doctrine are burdenous vnto them The answer This is verie true and taught by dailie experience vnder the Pope and such tirannous princes as bend their might force and authoritie to aduance his dignitie Apoc. 11. 15. The text And the seuenth Angel sounded with a trumpet and there were made loud voices in heauen saieng ⸫ The kingdome of this world is made our Lordes and his Christes and he shall raigne for euer and euer Amen The note The kingdome of this world vsurped before by Satan and Antichrist shall afterward be Christs for euer The answer This last trumpet summoneth all the dead to rise againe and so to come to iudgement at which time all enemies shalbe destroied and God sole seazed in quiet possession for euer and euer of the whole world Apoc. 11. 18 The text And the Gentiles were angrie and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead to be iudged and ⸫ to render reward to thy seruants the prophets and saints and to them that feare thy name little and great c. The note To repaie the hire or wages for so both the Greeke word and the Latin signifie due to holie men proueth against