and delyuered to vs all thynges also which we see and delyuer to our posterite whiche dooe appertayne to getting and maintaining of true relygion the scripture of god did not passe with silence AGayne to the brethren in the wildernes Reade the holy scripture wherin ye shal finde fulli what is to be folowed and what to be auoyded THe same of nature and grace lib. 1. Cap. 61. I owe my consente to the Canonicall scryptures wythout any refusal THe same vpon Iohn .49 treatyse Cap. 11. Not all thynges that the Lorde Iesus dyd are writteÌ„ as the same Euangelist witnesseth for the lord both did and saied many thinges that are not wrytten but thynges were chosen oute to bee written whiche semed sufficiente for the saluacion of the beleuers THe same againste Faustus the 23. lib. ca. 9. That whych Faustê° putteth forth vpoÌ„ the byrth of mary that she had a certayne priest to her father of the tribe of Leuye named Ioachim because it is not canonicall it doeth not binde me THe same of Baptisme againste the Anabaptistes li. 2. cap. 6. Let vs not bryng deceytfull balances wherin we may weighe what we wil after our owne pleasure saying this is heuy this is light but lette vs bring the diuine balances of the holy scriptures as of the treasurs of the lord and in it let vs weigh what is heuy yea let vs not weigh but rather acknowledge the things that arâ— weighed of the lord AGayne vpon Iohn the .46 treates Sitting vpoÌ„ the chaier of Moses they teache the lawe of god therfore god teacheth by them But if they wil teach their own hear theÌ„ not do not after theÌ„ for truli such men searche their own but not these thinges which are of Iesus Chryste AGayne in the .3 lib of the Christen doctrine Cap. Vlt. Howe much lesse the aboundaunce of golde siluer and clothynge whyche that people brought with them for the of Egipt is in comparison of the riches whiche afterwarde they had at Hierusalem whiche aboue all other was shewed in kyng Salomon so let al knowledge which is in dede profytably gathered out of the bokes of the Gentils be such if it be compared to the knowledge of gods scripturs For what soeuer man learneth without them if it bee euil there it is condemned if it be profitable there it is fouÌ„d And seinge then euerye manne shall fynde all thynges there whiche he hath profytably learned other where much more aboundantly shal he find those thinges there whiche canne no where at all els be learned but onely in the meruelous depâ—es and wonderfull humilite of those scriptures THe same in his boke of nature and Grace the 61. Cap. We may lawefully sometyme dissente from other learnynge but to the Catholyke learnyng euery man must geue place euery man must subscribe whether he be laye mannne Priest King or Emperour THe same in his .2 lib. of the Christian doctriÌ„e the .9 Cap. After that he hath nombered the Canonicall bookes he sayeth thus In al these bokes they that feare god and are tamed through godlynes do search the wil of god The first note of which laboure and trauayle as we sayd is to knowe these bokes and if as yet we caÌ„ not vnderstande them yet lette vs by readyng get them in memory or not to bee altogether ignoraunt in them Further more those thinges whiche be plainly contayned therein whether they be preceptes of lyuyng or els of beleuinge are earnestly and diligentely to be searched whiche howe many the more euery man fyndeth so much the more is he apte in his vnderstandyng In these therfore whych are euydently contayned in the scripture are founde all thynges whyche contayne fayth maners of liuinge hope and loue THe same of the vnite of the church .3 cap. Let vs not hear I say thou sayest but lette vs heare thus sayeth the Lorde There are out of doubte the Lordes bokes to the aucthoritie whereof we both consent we both beleue we both serue Let vs search the church there let vs discusse our cause there AGaine in his seconde booke of Baptisme againste the Donatists the .3 Ca. Who is he that knoweth not that the scripture canonical is so contayned within his certaine bondes of the newe and olde testament and is so to bee preferred aboue al latter wrytynges of Byshops that a man mai not at al either doubt or dispute of it whether any thynge be true or right that he is suer is written in it but the leters of al other Bishops whiche are or shalbe hereafter written besides the Canonicall scryptures already confirmed may be reproued eyther by more graue aucthoritie of other Bishops or learned meÌ„ and by the wordes of euery man that is better sene in the matter AGaine in his seconde booke of the merites and forgeuenesse of synnes ca. Vlt. tom 7. Where disputacion is had of a doubtful matter if the certayne and cleare doctriÌ„e of the scriptures of god do not help iâ— mans reason ought to staye it selfe no thing leaniÌ„g to eyther part For thogh I know not how to expresse eueri one of these thiÌ„gs yet I beleue suerli that the scriptures of god should be moste plaine herein if a man mighte not be ignoraunt herof wythout the losse of that saluacion that is promised hym AGaine in his boke of pastors He apoiÌ„ted the hilles of Israell the authors of the scrypturs of god fede there that you maye fede safely What so euer you hear out of that lette it sauoure well to you what so euer is besyds that refuse it leste you wander into cloudes Get you to the hilles of the Scriptures there bee the pleasures of your hartes there is no noysoÌ„e hurtful or venemous thinges no inconuenyente thynges there be most plentifull pastures AGaine of Christian doctryne 2. lib. Cap. 9. In these thyngs that be plainly set furth in the scriptures are founde all thynges that contayne fayth and maners of liuing that is to wit hope and charite Then after a certaine familiarite had wyth the speche of the scripture of god we must goe to expounde and discus those thinges that be darke that to geue lyghte to darke speaches examples may be taken out of the more playne places and some testymonies of places beyng certayne maye take a way the doute of the vncertayne sentences AGaine of the Christian doctriÌ„e the .3 lib. Cap. 26. Dark places are to be expounded by plainer places That is the surest way to expound one scripture by another AGayne to Vincente the Donatist Epistola .48 This kinde of learning speakynge of the olde wryters doinges is not to bee redde with necessitie of beliefe but with libertye of iudgemeÌ„t And after There that is in the holy scrypturs it is not lawfull to saye the author of this boke perceaued not the truth but eyther that the boke is false or the interpreter hath erred or thou vnderstaÌ„dest it
⧠A ConfutatioÌ„ of vnwritteÌ„ verities both bi the holye scriptures and moste auncient autors and also probable arguments and pithy reasons with plaine aunswers to al or at the least to the moste part and strongest argumentes which the aduersaries of gods truth either haue or can bryng forth for the profe and defence of the same vnwritten vanities verities as they woulde haue them called made by Thomas Cranmer late Archebishop of Cantorburie Martyr of god and burned at Oxford for the defeÌ„ce of the trewe doctrine of our sauiour Christ translated and set forth by E. P. ¶ The contentes whereof thou shalte finde in the next side folowinge The contentes FIrste the preface of the translator to hys contrye men and brethren of Englande Ca. i. That the word of god written and contained within the Cannon of the Bible is a trew sounde perfect and whole doctrine containinge in it selfe fullye all thynges nedefull for our saluacyon ii That the writinges of the olde fathers without the written woorde of God are not able to proue any doctryne in religion iii. That generall counsels haue no auctorytye to make newe Articles of our fayth iiii That nothyng can be proued by oracles of Angles touchyng religion v. That apparicions be vnsufficiente to that purpose vi Neyther at miracles able to proue the same vii Custome also is of no strength in this case viii Reasons against vnwritten verities ix Scriptures alleged by the papistes for vnwritteÌ„ verities with answeres to the same x. Doctors to the same purpose with their aunswers The papistes obiections with aunswers vnto them ¶ The Preface WHat Chrystyan harte dearelye beloued contremen and brethreÌ„ in oure sauyour Chryst can abstayne from depe sobbes and sorowefull syghinges What naturall and kinde harted man can forbeare weping so ofteÌ„ as he calleth to rememberaunce the Lordes vyneyarde within the realme of Englande whiche he himselfe had of late so stronglye hedged walled and fenced rounde aboute by the princes of most famous memory King Henry the eighte and Edwarde the sixte and planted therin the pure vine of his owne blessed woorde by Godly preachers his gardeners to be so sodenly broken down destroied wasted and wrooted vp by the rootes by the wilde bore of the wood and the beastes of the field that is by the Romishe Bishoppe and hys bloodye ministers and now in the same vineiard to see planted take roote and prosper brambles bryars and heÌ„lockes that is grosse ignorauÌ„ce naughtie doctriÌ„eâ— false worshyppe of God and suche other kindes of moste stinkynge vile and filthye weedes Oh what a swete and pleasaunt grape of godly doctrine was theÌ„ gathered in England to the great comfort and reioysing of al theÌ„ that louinglye tasted thereof Then was gods word for that is the swete and pleasauÌ„t grape that maketh glad the hart of man with great freedome preached earnestly embraced and with gredy hartes in all places receaued Then was Godes great glory maruelously auaunced Then the onely merytes of Chryste then trewe repentaunce for oure former synnes then trust in gods mercy through the death of our sauyoure Christe with a newe Christian life was truly published preached euery wher Then was ther the common praier rightlye vsed and the SacrameÌ„ts Baptisme I meane and the holi Communion in suche a tounge and language set forthe that all people myghte vnderstande them Then were they playnlye ministred without any iuglinge or sorcerie accordyng to Christes institucyon and the rule of hys holye worde Whiche worde at that time had the pryce bare the bell awaie throughe oute the whole lande With that were all pulpettes filled Churches garnished priÌ„ters shoppes furnyshed and euery mans house decked With gods word was euery maÌ„s mouth occupied of that wer al soÌ„ges enterludes and plaies made But alas so long till all was playde vnder the boorde But what was the cause of all this Truly none other thing but oure owne sinnes and wickednes For we were talkers onelye and not walkers lippe gospellers from the mouth outewarde and no farther We were euen suche as the prophet speaketh of saying thys people honoreth me with their lyppes but are farre from me with their hartes We coulde speake of gods word and talke gloryously therof but in oure hartes we were full of pryde malice enuye couetousnesse backebitynge riosing harlot hauntinge no whitte bettered at all then we were before vnder the Popes kingdom Nothing was in vs amended but only our tonges no nor they neither if I shall speake ryghtly and as the trueth was in dede For besydes oure communycacion of scrypture we vsed detraction of our neighboure filthy talke with many proud bragges of our selues We red not the scryptures neither harde them for any amendmente of oure owne wicked lyues but onely to make a bragge and a shewe thereof to checke and to taunte others yea and to spye small motes in other mens eies but nothing desyerous to see the greate beames in oure owne This I saye to talke and not to walke to say not to do was not onely amongest the vnlerned sort but also amongeste the greate clarkes and chefe preachers of gods worde Whiche thynge as I iudge was the only cause why god by his iust iudgemente suffered his electe and chosen vynclarde to be thus troden downe wroeted vp and myserably afflicted by thys bloodye Bore of Rome and the faâ—te Bulles of Basan hys cruel officers Thys is the cause why God hath suffered thys greate Antichryste to disgrace the merites of Christes passion and in place thereof to sette vp mens merytes and in steade of hys sufficyent satisfaction vpon the crosse once for all to sette vp hys masses satisfactorye for the synnes both of the quicke and deade This is the cause that this moÌ„sterous beast hath taught the inuocation of saincts and the same to be our medyators to God and satysfyers for oure sinnes Where as before in the forenamed vyneyarde was planted Chryste Iesus the trewe breade that came downe from heauen and that moste pure well of the water of life now after the wrooâ—ing of this moÌ„sterous and rauenous Bore are vp spronge coniured bread coniured water to driue awaye euill spirites and to pourge oure sinnes Thys bloody Bore besides al mischeues that he hath done to the vineyarde yet ceaseth he not with faggotfier and all other cruell tormentes to constraine and compel men to worship Images the worke of mens handes to knele to them to reuereÌ„ce theÌ„ to bow them and with all maner of obeâ—saunce to honour them cleane contrary to gods commaundemente who saieth thou walte not make to thy selfe much lesse then to honoure reuerence and worshippe them any grauen Image nor the likenes of any thing that is in heauen aboue or in the earth beneth or in the water vnder the earth thou shalt not bowe down to them nor worshippe them But yet these shameles wretches be not abashed to saye
not But in the workes of all them that come after which be contayned in iÌ„numerable bokes yet in no wyse to be compared to the most holy excellencye of the Canonicall scryptures although in some of them bee founde the same trueth yet the aucthorite is farre vnlike Therfore if it fortune any thynge in them to be thoughte to dissente from the trueth because they are not so vnderstaÌ„d as they be spoken yet the reader or hearer hath his free iudgemeÌ„t so that eyther he maye alowe that that pleaseth hym or reiecte that whiche offendeth him And thereforâ— al such like except they may be defended either by good reason or by theÌ„ canonicall aucthorite that it maye bee proued that they are so in dede or may be so because either it is ther disputed or declared if it displease anye man or if he wil not beleue it he is not to be blamed therfore THe same in the same place Epistola 48. Gather not my brother against so many so cleare so vndoubted witnesses of the scriptures sentences misunderstanded oute of the writinges of Bishoppes either of ours or of Hilarie or Ciprian Bishop and martyr of the church for we must put a diuersitie betwixte this kinde of writing and the Canonical scriptures For these are not so to be red as though a wytnes might be alledged oute of them so that no manne myghte thynke otherwise if they fortune to iudge otherwise then the trueth requireth THe same to Ierome I haue learned to geue thys reuereÌ„ce and honoure to those onelye writers which be now called Canonicall that I dare be bold to beleue that none of them dyd erre any thyng at al in wrytynge But if I fynde any thiÌ„g in those Scryptures that semeth contrarye to the trueth I doubt not but that eyther the boke is false or the interpreter dyd not attayne the thynge that was spoken or els I vnderstande it not But all other authours be they neuer so excellente both in vertue and learnynge I dooe so reade them nor that I thynke it true that they wrot beecause they thoughte so but beecause they coulde perswade me eyther by other Canonycall Scryptures or by some probable reasons a thyng not altogether abhorring froÌ„ the trueth THe same againste Cresconium agramarien lib. 2. Capit. 32. I am not bounde to his aucthorite For I doe not accoumpte Ciprians writinges as Canonicall but weyghâ— them by the Canonicall scriptures that in them which agreeth with the Canonicall scriptures I alow to hys prayse but that that agreeth not by hys fauor I refuse THe same to Vincent Victor I cannot nor ought not to denye that lyke as in myne elders so also in my so many bokes bee manye thynges that by iuste iudgemente wythoute rashnes maye bee reproued THe same in the prologe of hys booke of the Trinite Be not bounde to my writynges as to the Canonical scriptures but if thou fynde any thyng in them which thou diddest not beleue strayghte way beleue it in these that thou art not suer of excepte thou certaynly vnderstand it beleue it not certaynly THe same to Fortunate Epistola 198. Neyther ought we to alow the reasoninges of anye menne what soeuer they bee although ther be Catholyke and laudable men as the canonical scriptures so that it shal not be lawfull for vs sauinge the reuerence that is due to those men to reproue and refuse any thynge in their writinges if it chaunce that thei haue iudged otherwise then truethe is the same trueth by goddes helpe beeynge vnderstande eyther of other men or of vs. For I am euen suche an one in other mens wrytynges as I woulde men should be in myne THe same in the same place Let vs seke no further theÌ„ is written of god our sauiour leste a man would know more then the scriptures witnesse CIrille lib. 6. Vpon Leuitieâ—s There be two offices of a Byshoppe to learne the scriptures of god and by ofte readyng to digeste the same or els to teache the people but let him teach those things which he hath learned of god and not of his own hart or by mans vnderstanding but those thynges which the holy gost teacheth THe same in Iohn Cap. 6. He sayeth by this we learne that onely Chryste oughte to be folowed as a master and we must clene vnto him onely THe same in Iohn cap. 20. Not al thyngs that the lord did ar written but those thyngs that the writers thought sufficient as wel to good maners as to doctryne that we shining with a constaunte faythe good workes and vertues may come to the kyngdome of heauen FVlgence in his sermon of the confessors In the worde of god is plentye for the stronge man to eate there is inoughe for the child to sucke there is also milke to driÌ„ke wherewith the tender infancye of the faythfull may be nourished and stroÌ„g meate wherewith the lusâ—ye youth of them that be perfect may receaue the spirituall encresment of holy vertue There prouision is made for the saluacion of al men whom the lord doth vouchesafe to saue there is that that is agreable to all ages there is also that which is mete for al states Ther we learne the commaundementes which we ought to do there we know the rewardes which we hope for GRegory in Iob. lib. 16. Cap. 28. He that prepareth himself to the office of a true precher must neds fetchè the foundacion of his maters out of the holy scriptures So that al that he sayeth he muste reduce it to the firste beginning of goddes aucthorite and in that staye the effecte of his sayinges For as I haue sayd many times afore heretikes when they studye to maintayne theyr frowarde doctriÌ„e suerly they bryng forth those thinges that are not coÌ„tayned in the holy scriptures THeophilactus vpon this place of Paule the laste to the Romaynes I beseche you brethreÌ„ marke them whiche cause diuision geue occasion of euil contrary to the doctrine whych you haue learned and auoyde them for they that are suche serue not the Lorde Iesus christ but their own bellies and with swete prechinges and flattering wordes deceue the harts of the innocents Here saith Theophilactus that they bryng in di-uisions and occasions of euill whiche bryng forth any thyng besyde the doctryne and learnynge of the Apostles DAmascenus lib. 1. cap. 1. Al that euer was deliuered bi the law the Prophets the Apostles and the Euangelistes we receiue acknowledge and geue reuerence vnto them searchyng nothyng besides them BRuno the in secoÌ„d to Timothe doutlesse the holy Scryptures are able to instruct thee to saluation For euery scripture beeyng inspired from god that is to saye spiritually vnderstande after the wil of God is profytable to teache them that be ignoraunte to reproue that is to conuince them that speake agaynste the fayth to correct synners suche as denye not them selues to bee synners to instructe those
daungers they both declared by their answeres and beeyng pacyfyed wyth sacrifice turned away But all these be but deceites for seyng they knowe before the disposicion of god because they were his ministers they thruste them selues into these businesses so that what so euer thynges eyther be done or haue bene done of God they mighte seme cheflye to dooe or haue done it And so ofte as any goodnesse is coÌ„mynge at hande to any people or Citie accordynge to Gods appointmeÌ„t they promyse that they wyll doe it eyther by miracles dreames or reuelacions if churches if honours if sacryfices be geuen to them The whyche thynges beeyng geuen whan that chaunceth that nedes muste bee they get to themselues greate worshyppe For this cause bee temples vowed for thys cause be newe Images halowed And so ofte as perilles be at hande for some foolyshe and lyghte cause they fayne themselues angrye as Iuno towarde Varre But these be the deceites of them that lurkynge vnder the names of the deade intende to plague them that be aliue Wherfore wheras that dauÌ„ger that is at hand maye bee auoyded they woulde seme that they beeynge pacified haue turned it awaye And if it cannot be eschewed thys they doe that it myghte appeare to chaunce for the contempte of them and so they purchase to theÌ„selfes great authorite feare amoÌ„g meÌ„ that know them not Some men wil saye why doth god then suffer these thynges neyther doeth he succoure so euill errours That euil thynges may fighte wyth good that vices may be contrari to vertues that he may haue some whom he may punish and some whoÌ„ he may honour STapulensis vpon the .2 Epystle to the Thessa. 2. Ca. Maruayle not of counterfayte Aungels and of the subtilty of Sathan resemblyng hymselfe to Christ seing we read a like thiÌ„g in the historye of Heraclides of a MooÌ„ke called ValeÌ„t The deuil saith he chaunging himselfe into the lykenes of our sauiour came to hym by night with a company as he fayned of a. M. Angels holdynge burnynge lampes in their haÌ„des and with a frery charet in the which he fayned oure sauiour to sit Then one of them stept forth and sayed thus vnto hym come forth out of thy â—ell now and doe nothyng els but when thou seest him coÌ„e a farre of make hast to bowe downe thy selfe and worshyppe hym and so strayght way returne againe to thine own house Then he went forth oute of his house and beleuing that he had sene that godly offices of heauenly ministers and all shininge with fierie lampes and Chryste as he thought hymselfe not past a furlong of fel flat vpon the grounde and worshypped him whom he beleued to be the lord See here howe this fearfull and folyshe Moonke ValeÌ„t leauynge very Chryst worshipped Chrystes enemy and in steade of the trueth a counterfet Antichryste and Sathan ¶ That apparitions of the deade be vnsuffycyente to proue trueth ¶ The .v. Chapter DEuteronomyum .18 When thou art come into the lande whiche the lorde thy god geueth thee see that thou folowe not the abominacions of those nacions let ther not be found among you any one that maketh his sonne or daughter to gooe through the fier or that vseth witchecraft or a chuser of dayes and that regardeth the flying of foules or a sorcerer or a charmer or that couÌ„selleth with spirites or a sothesayer or that asketh the trueth at theÌ„ that be dead For the lord abhorreth al these for suche abominacions the lord thy god doth cast them out before thee But the lord thy god hath not suffered the so to doe ESai. 8. And if they saye to you axe counsell at the sothesayers witches charmers coniuratâ— then make them thys aunswere is there a people any where that asketh not counsell at his God shoulde men roonne vnto the deade for the liuing If any manne wante lyght lette him loke vpon the lawe and the testymonye whether they speake after thys meanyng LVke .16 If they heare not Moses and the Prophetes neyther wyl they beleue if one arise froÌ„ death LActancius in his institucions lib. 2. Cap. 2. The rude sort thiÌ„k that mens soules walke aboute the graues and reliques of their bodyes CHrysostome in his .4 Homilie of Lazarus That thou mayest knowe that the doctrynes of the scriptures and Prophetes are of more force then if they that be raysed froÌ„ death shold tel any thiÌ„g consider this that whosoeuer is dead is a seruauÌ„t But what the scripturs speak the lorde himselfe speaketh therfore though a dead maÌ„ arise yea although an angel coÌ„e down froÌ„ heaueÌ„ yet chiefly we ought to beleue the scryptures For he that is master of Aungels and lord of the quicke and the dead made them If dead men should come again from thence vnto vs the deuil might haue brought to vs false doctrines and that very easely For he myghte haue shewed of ten tymes gostes and haue subornated men that shold couÌ„terfet death and burial and within a whyle after shew theÌ„selues as thogh they were raysed agayne from death and through them to perswade the people so begiled what so euer hym lyst For if nowâ— when no suche thyng is done in dede yet dreames sene of many men in their slepe as thoughe it wer of them that are departed heÌ„ce haue deceyued destroyed and ouer throwen many menne muche more it should haue chaunced if the thynge had bene done in dede and gotten credite in mens mindes that is to say if many of the dead had returned againe to lyfe that wycked deuil wold haue wroughte innumerable deceits and brought muche fraude into the life of men And for that cause God hath shut vp that waye neyther doth he suffer any of the dead to come againe hether to tel what is done ther lest he by that meanes should brynge in al his wiles and subtilties For wheÌ„ ther were Prophetes he styrred vp false Prophetes when the Apostles wer false Apostles when Christ appeared he raysed false Chrystes whaÌ„â—ounde doctryne was broughte in he brought in corrupte doctrine sowing â—ockle euery where But God from whom nothing is hidde hath â—ropped his way to those snares and he fauouring vs hath not suffered that any soÌ„e at any tyme should come from theÌ„ce hether to tel what is there done to any men lyuing teachyng vs that we shold rather beleue the scrypturs theÌ„ all other thinges THe same in Math. Cap. 8. Homilie .2.9 I wil not denye but that men haue bene kylled of cursed charmers and sorcerers but that dead mennes soules worke wyth them how shal they make me beleue that because thou haste heard dead mens soules many times crye I am the soule of such a one Yea but these wordes procede out of the fraude and deceit of the deuil For it is not the dead mans soule that sayth this but the deuill that sayneth thys that he maye deceaue the hearers For these ought to
that innumerable other bishops of our coÌ„gregacioÌ„ doe a lowe this doctrine that we kepe or be cause in churches of our coÌ„panioÌ„s it is preached or els because that throughe the whole world in those holy places wher our coÌ„gregacioÌ„s resorte so many woÌ„ders ether of hearings or of healynges be done so that bodyes of martirs being hid so many years whyche if they wil aske thei may learne of many were shewed to Ambroser or that at those bodyes a certaine maÌ„ beeing many yeres blynd wel knowen to the whole citie of Miliane receiued hys eyes his sight or because he beyng in a dreame dyd â—ee or he beeyng rapt in spirite did heare eyther that he â—old not goe to the part of the Donatistes or that he should depart from theyr opinion What so euer suche thynges be done in the catholike churche the church is not therfore proued catholik because these be doÌ„e in it The lord Iesê° himself wheÌ„ he was riseÌ„ froÌ„ death offred his own body to be see with the eies haÌ„dled with the haÌ„ds of his Apostles lest thei shold theÌ„ thiÌ„ke theÌ„selfes to be deceiued he rather iudged that thei ought to be stablyshed by the witnesses of the law prophets psalmes shewiÌ„ng those thinges to be fulfilled in him that wer spokeÌ„ so loÌ„g before so he set forth his churche biddinge repentaunce and forgeuenes of synnes to be preached in his name through al nacions beginniÌ„g at IerusaleÌ„ That these thynges bee wrytten in the lawe and Prophetes himselfe witnesseth thys is set out by worde of mouth These are the doctrines these are the stayes of our cause we reade wrytten in the Actes of the Apostles of soÌ„e faithfull men that they searched the scripturs whether they were so What Scryptures I pray you but the Canonicall of the lawe the Prophetes to these are ioined the gospels the Apostles Epistles the Actes of the Apostles and the Apocalypsis of Sayncte Iohn Searche all these bryng foorth some plaine thing wherbi you may declare that the churche hath remayned only in Affricke or that thys whyche the Lorde sayeth shall come to passe This gospell shalbe preached to al the world for a testimonye to all nacyons shalbe verified of Affricke But brynge out some what that nedeth none interpreter you may not be conuinced that the thynges which is spoken of another matter you goe about to wreste to your purpose CHrysostome of the contricion of the hart Christ promised not that he woulde rewarde at the latter day them that worke sygnes wonders but them that kepe his coÌ„maundementes saieng come you blessed childreÌ„ of my father receaue that kingdome whyche was prepared for you from the beginning of the world He said not because you did miracles but because I was hongrye c. he shal also cal them blessed not that wroght miracles but the humble and meke in hart LIril in Iohn lib. 7. Cap. 13. To worke miracles maketh not a man one whit more holy sâ—iÌ„ge that it is also common to euyll men abiectes as the Lorde hymselfe also witnesseth mani shal sai to me in that day c. And contrary wyse workyng of no miracles hindereth not a mans holynes For Iohn wrought neyther signe nor miracle and yet was thys no derogacion to his holines For among the children of wemen ther was none greater then he SAbellic vpon the lyfe of Celestine Almost fiue hundreth yeares after Chryst the deuil taking vpon him the person of Moyses shewed himself visibly in the sight of the Iewes that dwelt at Candie promisinge that he woulde brynge them agayne into the land of promyse where Ierusalem staÌ„deth dry foted the waters standyng on eyther syde in maner of a wall as when the children of Israell were brought out of the land of Egipt Many of the Iewes rashli geuing credite to these IugliÌ„gs and enterynge into the sea were ouerwhelmed with the waues thereof excepte a fewe the whyche at laste beeynge warned of their vanite became Christians ¶ Custome also is of no streÌ„gth in thys case of prouing a religion ¶ The .vii. Chapter EXodi .23 Folowe not the multitude to doe euill LEuiticus .18 The Lorde coÌ„mmauÌ„deth the Israelytes not to folowe the custome of the Egipcyans nor the Cananites Reade the chapter EZechyell .20 Walke not in the statutes of youre forefathers and keepe not their ordinaunces and defyle not youre selues wyth their Idols REguÌ„ .4 ca. 17. Vnto thys day they kepe their olde customes they feare not God nor do after hys customes ordynaunces and lawes THe same They dyd not hearken vnto the Lorde but dyd after their olde custome I Eremye .9 They folowed theÌ„ wickednes of their owne heartes and serued straunge godes as their fathers taught them TErtullian of virginite or prayses Custome for the most part taking his beginning eyther of ignoraunce or simplicite in processe of tyme waxeth strong by vse and so it is alledged agaynst the truth Whatsoeuer smelleth agaynste the trueth that is heresye yea though it be olde custome CIprian vnto Cicilie lib. 2. Epistola .3 There is no cause why deare brother that any manne should thynke the custome of some men oughte to be folowed If any maÌ„ haue thought that only water ought to be offered in the chalyce we muste fyrste aske whom they folowed and that Chryste only ought to bee hearde the father witnesseth from heauen saieng this is my wel beloued sonne heare hym Wherfore if only Chryste ought to be heard we ought not to regarde what any maÌ„ afore vs thought to be done but what Christ which is before did first neyther oughte we to folowe the custome of man but the trueth of god THe same to Iulian. of the baptising of heretykes in vaine do some men when they be ouercome with the truth alledge custome agaynste vs as though custome wer greater then the trueth Sainct Augustine hath the same THe same to Pompus agaynste Steuens epistle CustoÌ„e with out truth is an olde errour for the whiche cause lette vs leue custome and folowe the trueth CHrisostome vpon Genesis .29 Homilie .59 For if the couÌ„sell be good and profitable yea though it be not custome kepe it but if it bee hurtful and noysome caste it awaye For if we wil be wise and care for our saluacion we may leaue of an euyll custome and bryng in a good custome and so shall we geue no small occasyoÌ„ to theÌ„ that come after vs to chaunge the same haue the rewarde of those thyngs that be done of them IErome in his preface to Iob. Olde custome is of such force that vices whiche many men them selues coÌ„fesse please them through it THe same the .9 Cap. Neither ar the errours of our fathers nor out elders to be folowed but the authorite of the Scriptures and the coÌ„maundementes of god that teacheth vs. AVgustine of one only Baptime lib. 2. Distinc .8 Cap. Vhen the trueth is once knowen let custome geue place to the trueth For
this it is not written in this place or to those persons ergo it is not written in the scripture at al. For the shortnes of one Epistle or of one sermon caÌ„not sufficieÌ„tly coÌ„teine al thinges necessary for our saluacioÌ„ therfore be ther so many bokes of the scripture that what so is omitted and not spokâ— of in one place or els darkly spokeÌ„ of mighte bee writteÌ„ plainly in another place And for this cause S. Paul writeth to the ColossiaÌ„s â–ª sayiÌ„g wheÌ„ thys leter is redde wyth you cause it also to bee redde to the Laodicians And reade you also the Epistle written froÌ„ Laodicia And Sainct Paul wryteth of himselfe suche as we are in our absence by leters such are we in dede being preseÌ„t Moreouer Paul speaketh not here of doctrynes of fayth and charite whiche euer continew wythout chaunging adding or minishyng but of certayne tradicions obseruacyous ceremonyes and outwarde rites and bodelye exercyces whiche as he sayeth is litell worth to god warde but to be vsed for comlines decent order and vniformite in the churche to auoyde schisme whych ceremonies euery good man is bounde to kepe lest he trouble the common order and so breake the order of charite in offendiÌ„g his weake brethren so long as they be approued receyued and vsed by the heades and coÌ„mon consente But they and euery one of such ceremonyes as be neyther sacramentes nor commauÌ„dementes of fayth and charite may be altered and chaunged and other set in their places or els vtterly takeÌ„ away by the authorite of Prynces and other their rulers and subiectes in the church Yea also the tradycyoÌ„s made by the Apostles in ful counsel at Ierusalem may be and already are takeÌ„ awaye as to abstayne from thynges offered vnto Images from blood and strangled ar no where kept And this of Paule that a man should neyther praye nor preache capped or with his head couered is also cleane abolyshed ¶ Doctors to the same purpose wyth theyr aunswers ¶ The .x. Chapter TErtullian of the croune of a soldier He reciting many tradicyons as to reneuÌ„ce the deuil his poÌ„pe and his Angels afore Baptisme to dip the childreÌ„ thrise in the fouÌ„t to geue it pappe of hony and milke first thing after baptime and not to waâ—â—e it in a whole weeke after to offer both at the day of the buriall and birth on the soÌ„day neyther to fast neyther to praye knelyng nor also froÌ„ Easter to whitsontide crossinge of our foreheades with diuerse suche lyke saith If thou require a law of these and other suche disciplines there can be no pretence of a law for them out of the scriptures But thou shalt either perceaue by thy selfe or learne of some other that perceaueth it that custome being author confirmer conseruer and obseruer of fayth shal maintaine and defende the cause of this tradicion and custome of fayth BY the scriptures before alledged it is euidentlye proued that all thyngs requisite for out saluacion be set forth in the holye bokes of the bible and that it is not lawful to put any thyng therto vnder payne of euerlastying damnacyoÌ„ The same TertulliaÌ„ also as it is afore rehersed saith that there is nothyng els that oughte to be beleued after Chrysts gospel oÌ„ce published Yea all the olde authors a thousande yere after Christ and lykewyse almost all the new affyrme the same and would not haue vs credyte their sayiÌ„gs without the profe of gods worde Why shoulde we then beleue Tertullian agaynst so playne Scripturs agaynst the old fathers of the church and also contrarye to his owne sayinges Yet here wyll I gentlye interprete hym so as he maye bothe agree wyth the Scriptures wyth the olde authors and also wyth himselfe TertullyaÌ„ speaketh here not of doctrines of fayth hope and charyte but of tradycions outward gestures rites ceremonies which he not necessary for our saluacyon but be ordayned for a decente order and conformite in the churche as is playnly shewed in the answere to Saint Paul in the Epystle to the ThessaloniaÌ„s And that he speaketh of such rites and ceremonies it is euident For all those that he rehearseth be mere ceremonies and few of them kept at this day which nomaÌ„ myghte haue altered or abolyshed if they had bene necessarilye to be kept vnder payne of damnacion CIprian to Pompeius agaynste SteueÌ„s Epistle It is of no lesse authorite that the Apostles delyuered by the instructyon of the holy gost then that which Christeâ— himselfe delyuered CIprian speaketh not here of tradicions vnwritten but of such thynges as the Apostles delyuered in their writings as the gospels and Epistles like as Paule sayeth I deliuered you that I receiued of the Lordeâ— whiche thing he wrote to theÌ„ But if thei wil nedes vnderstand him of thynges delyuered by the Apostles wythout wrytyng then answere him as Tertullian ORigen In obseruauÌ„ces of the church there be diuerse thiÌ„gs which al men must nedes do and yet the reason of them is vnknowen to all men And he reciteth in maner the obseruauÌ„ces that Tertullyan doeth and after he concludeth Who can certenly tell the cause of all these thinges THe answer made to Tertullian wyll serue Origen here A Thanasius vpon the .2 Epistle to the Thessa. Cap. 2. vpon this place State et tenete Hereby it is playne that Paule delyuered many thynges wythoute the scripture not written in his Epistles but by worde of mouth only And these are worthy no lesse faith then the other Therfore I doe iudge the tradycion of the churche to be a thyng worthy to be credited so that if any thyng be deliuered by it make no farther searcheâ— CHrisostomê° in the .2 Epistle to the Thessa. Cap. 2. Stande fast brethren and kepe the tradicioÌ„s c. Hereof sayeth Chrysostome it is playne that Paule deliuered not all things in his Epistles but also many thynges without writing and as wel those as these ar worthi of like faith Wherefore we iudge the tradicion of the churche worthye of credite it is a tradicion searche no farther EPiphaniê° against heresyes li. 2 to mo .1 Agaynst those that call theÌ„selfes Apostles .1 cor 11. 14. 15 We must saith he vse tradicions for all thynges can not bee perceyued by the holy scripture Wherfore the holi Apostles haue set furth vnto vs some thynges by the worde of god and soÌ„e thynges by tradicions as the Apostle sayth as I haue deliuered vnto you thus I teache and thus I haue deliuered in all churches and thus you remeÌ„ber by what meanes I haue preached vnto you except you haue beleued in vayne ANswere these .iii. authors lyke as Tertullyan is answered sauing that they alledge S. Paul for their purpose but clearly wrested from his true meaning as it shal easely appeare to euery indiffereÌ„t reader that is not blinded of malice to resyst the truth as they may plaiÌ„ly perceue by the answere made
answere wittelye to the question propouÌ„ded affirmeth all the dayes to be lyke and not that Christ is crucified only on good fridai and riseth only on the soÌ„day but that euery daye is the daye of the Lordes resurrectioÌ„ we eate his flesh alwaies But fastinges and comminges together wer ordeined of wise men for theÌ„ that geue theÌ„selfes rather to the world then to God that cannot yea for theÌ„ that wil not come there at all there to make their sacrifice of praiers to god in the face of all the people Herby you may easely perceaue that the church hath not chaunged the speciall part of the sabboth whiche is to cease from vice and sinne but the cerimoniall part of the Sabboth only whiche was abrogate and taken away with other cerimonies of Moses law by Chryst at the full preachiÌ„g of the gospell In place whereof the churche hath ordayned the sonday for causes afore sayd ¶ The Papystes obiectyons with answers vnto them ¶ The .11 Chapter MOreouer they boast theÌ„selfes of the certeÌ„tie of their doctriÌ„e and proue it to be true by the long continuance therof and luckye prosperite of their kyngdome and their aduersaries doctrine to be false by the persecucions plages myseries and afflictyons which they dayly suffer for their doctrines sake IF the trial of true religion shoulde rest vpon antiquite of tyme or vpoÌ„ worldly prosperite theÌ„ should the gentyls and pagans haue a great aduauntage of vs Chrystians and their religion should be better then ours by the restimonies of our owne scriptures For idolatrye and worâ—â—ipping of false gods and their imageâ—â— was vsed long before the law of god writteÌ„ and geuen to Moses in which errors and idolatry the heathen continewe vnto thys day in great prosperite wealth vnder most victorious Emperours and Princes whereas the true churche of Chryst hath been most miserablie affllicted from tyme to time first vnder the EgiptiaÌ„s after by the Philistines Cananites Pheresites c. then by the Babilonians Assirians Medes Persians Sirians and Romanes both subdued conquest and led awaye captyues And last of all by the turke and the pope the .ii. hornes of Antichrist the true church of christ hath been mostcruelly persecuted vnto death with prison famine water fier fagot and sworde these .vii. or viii yeares last past Which Turke Pope although they be mortall enemies the one to the other yet as Herode Pilate the Bishops Scribes Pharisees although they were vtter foes ech to other conspired agaiÌ„st iunocent Christ causeles condemning him to death on the crosse In lyke maner I say the Pope and the Turke do fully agree in this one poynt to persecute and murther Christ in hys faythfull members For as the sonne can not be withoute hys brightnesse nor the fier without his heat so cannot the true churche of God be long without the crosse of persecucyon as witnesseth S. Paule al they that wil liue godly in Iesus Chryste shal suffer persecucion And our sauiour Christ sayeth plainly that his kingdome is not of this world For if they persecute me sayeth he they shal also persecute you Chryste geueth not to his Apostles earthlye peace in this world but peace and quietnesse of conscience ioyned with persecucion For if the wicked persecuted Christ himselfe shal they not also persecute hys seruauntes And if they so handeled Christ being the liuely treâ— what thinke you shall they doe to vs his withred brauÌ„ches And as the true churche of Chryste can neuer be long wythout persecution in lyke maner can the false churche of Sathan and Antichriste neuer ceasse from persecutynge as it appeareth throughe oute the Historyes of the whole byble Of the tyrannye and crueltye of Antichrist in persecutyng of Chrystes true church prophesied Daniel loÌ„g before speaking of the Empire and regiment of Rome The .4 beast saith he shalbe the .iiii. kyngdome whyche shal be greater then all other kyngdomes it shall deuoure treade downe and destroye all other landes he shal speake wordes agaynst the higheste of all â–ª he shal destroye the sainctes of the moste highest and thinke that he can chauÌ„ge tymes and lawes agayne he saieth of Antiochus which was a figure of Antichrist there shall aryse a king vn shamfast of face he shalbe wise in dark speakyng he shalbe mightie and stroÌ„g but not in his own streÌ„gth he shal destroye aboue measure and all that he goeth aboute shall prosper in hys hande his hearte shall be proude he shal slaye the stronge and holy people and through his craftines falseheade shall prosper in his hande and manye one shall he put to death in his weal thynes he shall stande vp agaynst the Prince of Princes but he shalbe slain without hande Of the tyrannye and prosperous successe of antichrist in slaying of the sayuctes of god and the rewarde of them that bee slaine for the witnes of gods trueth speaketh also sainct Iohn in the .vi. Chapter of his Apocalips vnder the openyng of the iiii and .v. seales and in the .xvii. chapter he lyuely setteth foorth the Pope in his own colours vnder the person of the whore of Babilon being dronken with the bloud of saynctes pointyng as it were with his finger who thys whore of Babilon is and the place wher she shal reigne saying the woman whiche thou sawest is that greate citie which reigneth ouer the kyngs of the earth Now what other citie reigned at that tyme or at any tyme since vnder the Christian kings of the earth but only Rome Wherof it foloweth Rome to bee the seate of Antichrist and the Pope to be verye Antichrist himselfe I could proue the same by many other scriptures olde wryters strong reasons But for as muche as Rodulphe Gualter hath writteÌ„ herof a notable worke in LateÌ„ now of Laten translated into Englishe by I. O. I remit the reader to his boke wherin he may be fully satisfied herof Of the prosperite and securite that the false churche hath in worldlye pleasures vsynge the same with al gredines voluptuousnes of carnal lustes with the wicked deuices of tiranny against Christ and his true members wherwith the vngodly daily persecute and murther gods electe for his trueth wyth the rewarde also of them that suffer for the same truth sake it is most playnly wrytten in the ii and .iii. Chapters of the booke of wisdome By these scriptures now rehersed it appeareth most plainly that worldly prosperite of the Pope and his clargy proue not the trueth of their doctryne nor yet persecutyon of Goddes true preachers and other faythfull people argueth their doctrine to bee false But if thou wilt nedes knowe where the true churche of Chryst is where the false and not be deceyued herin take this for a plaine and ful answer that wheresoeuer the worde of god is truly preached without addicioÌ„ of mans doctrines and tradicioÌ„s and the sacramentes duly ministred according to Christs institucion ther
no miracles for signes are geuen to vnbeleuers and not to the faythfull AVgustyne agaynst faustus the Manachee lib. 15. Cap. 5. The Scriptures that be stablyshed and sette forth by so greate authorite ye despice miracles you work none which though you did yet we woulde beware of you by the Lorde instructing and teachinge vs saying there shal aryse false Chrystes c. THe same of the citie of god li. 20. Cap. 19. The presence of Antichrist shalbe after the workynge of Sathan with all lyinge powers as a fore For then shall SathaÌ„ be let lose and by him Antichrist with all his power shal worke meruelously but lyingly of the which miracles it was wonte to be doubted whether they be called lyinge signes and wonders for thys cause that he shall deceaue mans senses with visions so that he semeth to do the thyng that he doeth not in dede or els beecause thesame although they be true miracles and not counterfet yet they draw meÌ„ to beleue that thei can not be done but by the power of god whereas meâ—ne knowe not the power of the deuyll chefely seing that how greate soeuer power he hath he hath receued it For when fier fel down from heauen and with one dashe destroyed sâ— greate a-familie wyth so many heardes of cattayll of holy Iob a sodayne whirle winde ouerthrowing his house slew his children these were no disceauable visions but for euery one of these it is sayed they shall be beegiled with signes and wonders that shall deserue to be begiled for so much as thei haue not receyued the loue of the trueth that thei might be saued Neither did the Apostle feare to saye and adde god shal sende them strong delusyons that they should beleue lies For god doth sende these thynges because he suffereth the deuyll to dooe them he in dede bi his iust iudgemeÌ„t although the deuill doeth it of a wycked and malicious purpose THe same of the vnite of the churche Cap. 16. Let theÌ„ shewe their church if they can not in the sayinges and in the fame of the Affricanes not in the determinacioÌ„s of their bishoppes not in any mans reasonynges not in false sygnes and wonders for agaynst all thys we bee warned and armed by gods word but in the thynges appoynted in the law spoken afore by the Prophetes in the songes of the Psalmes in the voyce of the shepeharde himselfe and the prea thynges and paynefulnes of the EuaÌ„gelysâ—s that is in the authorite of the bokes Canenical but not so that thei may gather and rehearse those thiÌ„gs that be spoken daâ—kely and doubtfully and figuratiuely whych euery man may vnderstande as he lyst after hys own mynd For suche thynges cannot be vnderstanded and expounded rightly except those thynges that be verye playnlye spoken bee perceaued before wyth a constante fayth Let him not saye thys is true beecause I saye it or because my companyon saith thus or these my companions or these our Byshoppes Clarkes or laye menne or els it is true because such miracles did Donatus Pontius or what soeuer other or els because men praye at the tombes of our dead menne and be heard or because these and these thiÌ„gs chaunced there or that thys brother of ours or thys syster of ours sawe suche a vision ether wakyng or slepynge in hys dreame sawe suche a vysyon or syght away with these Either they be faynyngs of lying men or the wonders of deceytfull deuyls For eyther they are not true that are spoken or if any miracles bee done amonge Heretykes we ought the more to take hede of them beecause that when the Lorde had sayed there shold come some that by workyng diuerse myracles shoulde deceyue if it were possyble the verye electe he added and earnestlye settynge foorth the thyng sayed behold I haue tolde you before Whereof the Apostle admonishing them speaketh playnlye that in the latter tymes menne shoulde departe from the faythe geuynge hede to spirites of errour and doctrynes of deuyls Further more if any man bee heard praying at the toÌ„bes of heretiâ—â— he receueth whether it be good or euil not for the merite of the place but for the merite of his desyer For the sprite of the lord as it is wrytten filleth the whole world and the earnest eare heareth all thynges and many be heard of god when he is angry of whoÌ„ the Apostle sayth he had geuen them vp to their hartes desier And god to many whom he fauoureth geueth not what they woulde that he maye geue them that whiche is profytable wherfore saith the same Apostle of the stiÌ„ge of his flesh the messenger of Sathan which he said was geuen hym to buffet him lest he should be exalted aboue measure by the greatnes of reuelacions for the whiche I prayed the lorde thrise that he would take it away froÌ„ me and he sayed vnto me my grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect through weaknes Doe we not reade that many meÌ„ wer hard of god himselfe in the hyghe places of Iurye which highe places neuertheles so displeased god that kings which destroyed them not were blamed and kynges that destroyed them wer praysed But thys ought to be vnderstaÌ„de that the desyer of him that praieth is more worthy or of more strength theÌ„ the place of prayer but of false vysioÌ„s let them reade what is written both that Sathan doth chaunge himselfe into an Angell of light and that their dreames haue deceyued many meÌ„ let them also heare what the heathen tel of their temples and godes wonderfully eyther done or sene and yet neuertheles the gods of the heathen be deuils but the Lorde made the heaueÌ„s Therfore many meÌ„ be heard and after many diuerse sorts not only catholyke Christians but also panimes and Iewes and heretikes geuen to diuerse errours supersticions doubtles they ar heard eyther of deceitfull spirits which neuertheles do nothing except they be permitted of god hyghly and vnspeakeably iudging what is mete to be geuen to euery man or els of god hiÌ„self either for the punishmeÌ„t of malice or the coÌ„fort of miseri or for the admonishmeÌ„t of eternal saluacioÌ„ But to that eternall saluacioÌ„ coÌ„meth no maÌ„ but he that hath the head christ Yea no maÌ„ caÌ„ haue the head Christ which is not in his body the churche which church lyke as the head it self we must know in the canonical scripturs not to seke it in diuers rumors â—pâ—nioÌ„s of meÌ„ not in factes sayiÌ„ges sights c. Let al this sort of them be chaffe not geue seÌ„teÌ„ce afore hande agaiÌ„st the wheate if thei be the church â–ª but whether thei be the church let theÌ„ shew none other wais but bi the caÌ„onical bokes of the holi scripturs For neither doe we saye that men oughte to beleue vs because we are in the catholyke church of Christ or because Optaiê° bishop of Miliuet or Ambrose bishop of Miliane or