vnited themselues to the Church of Christ and now to force them as it were into other abhominable errors and new Idolatry and that by such who were accompted and accepted of all men for lawfull Ministers of the Church and were famous for sanctity of life wisdom miracles God for bid that euer we should so thinke of his Diuine goodnes and prouidence which he vseth for mans saluation Furthermore to Lutheranisme Caluinisme or Anabaptâ—sme there was neuer heard of any conuersion of Nations or Pagan Kingdomes but only a defection of some few who professing the name of Christ and weary of their ancient Religion and discipline did follow the liberty of their lust nouelty which is a manifest argument of heresy For that heresy is nothing els but a corruption of Catholike doctrine and a defection or falling away from ancient Christian Religion only retayning the name of a Christian â—â—esides the study of hereticall teachers is not to conuert Ethnicks but peruert Christians which Tertullian excellently describeth in his booke of Prescriptions Of administration of the word saith he what shall I say Seing that their busines is not to conuert Ethnicks but to peruert ours Christians They do take more glory to bring to ruine those that stand fast then to help those vp that are fallen because that this their endeauour comes not from their owne building but from the destruction of truth They digge vp ours to build vp theirs So as it commeth to passe that they worke the downfall of standing edifices more easily then the building of decayed ruines VI. CONSIDERATION From the Name Catholike from the thinge it selfe signed or marked with this Name FVRTHERMORE that Religion is to be esteemed for the true Religion which hath alwayes byn accompted called Catholike according to that of the Apostolicall creed Credo Sanctam Ecclesiam Catholicam I beleeue the holy Catholik Church But the Roman Church of all other Churches is only called the Catholick and her followers Catholikes Ergo only the Roman Religion is the true ReligioÌ„ of Christ That the Roman Church is and alwayes hath byn only called Catholick is manifest First by the very vse custome of so calling her receyued throughout the world so as oftentymes the heretikes themselues in their wrytings do call her Catholike and her followers Catholiks neyther did any Sect whatsoeuer deserue that name For neuer were the Marcionites Montanistes Donatists Pelagians Vigilantians Waldenses Lutherans Caluinists or Anabaptistes called Catholikes or their doctrine Catholike Only the Roman Church with the people adhering vnto her is called the Catholike and the Religion faith doctrine of this Church is called the Catholike Religion the Catholikefaith the Catholike doctrine and her followers Catholikes Secondly Catholike is extended to all Nations because Catholike is the same that Vniuersall most largely extending it selfe to all And such is the Roman Religion for that it being dilated and spread ouerall the world doth extend it selfe to all nations and Kingdomes For that there is no Kingdome nor Nation vnknowne to vs which eyther doth not or somtymes did or doth not now begin to imbrace this religioÌ„ Nay now adayes the professioÌ„ of this our religion is almost publike amongst all Nations to wit amongst those of Iaponia China India Persia Tartariae Turky Africa Brasile Peru Mexico c. For that in all these places are found Catholikes Churches Altars Images of Christ and of Saintes Masse is there celebrated our Sacraments are there administred holydayes and fasting dayes are there kept and finally the Roman religion is there publikely obserued Who can then doubt but that this is the true way of saluation to all which our Sauiour would haue taught preached and proposed to all nations which he would haue to increase and fructify in all Kingdomes in due tyme and season and which he doth stil conserue by some meanes or other in euery place ordayning that Catholikes be so dispersed throughout the whole world that by them Infidels may come to the knowledge of true Religion Moreouer this Catholike Religion doth extend it selfe to al tymes It extendeth it selfe to all tymes euen froÌ„ the Apostles For that there can be no age from that tyme assigned wherin this Religion did not florish In all ages hath Masse byn celebrated both for the liue and dead feastes solemnized fastes obserued Monasticall vowes made Saints worshipped their reliques honoured and such other like proper ensignes of our religion haue byn in vse and practice as is manifest out of the writers of all tymes On the contrary side No sect euer called Catholick let vs looke vpon all other sectes and we shall neuer find that any one of them was euer called Catholike nor their followers Catholikes as we haue said but that euery one tooke their names of their first Authors as the Simonians Valentinians Pelagians Lutherans No sect euer spread ouer the world Caluinists c. No sect was euer spread ouer the world When Catholike Religion began once to appeare in short tyme it was spread ouer the whole world and began to increase and fructify almost in all Kingdomes Rom. 1â— ColoÌ„ss 1. as S. Paul affirmeth But Lutheranisme Caluinisme and Anabaptisme now after 70. or 80. yeares are yet confined to certayne strayt corners do rather daily decay by eyther going into other sects or els returning to Catholike Religion then any way increase For that none of them hath continued from the Apostles tymes but all sprung vp and inuented within these 70. or 80. yeares last past and therfore neyther in regard of tyme place nor otherwise can they be called Catholike Againe I say that Catholike Religion is one and the selfe same euery where But these religions are exceeding different amongst themselues and disagreeing in their chiefe heads and members one damning another to the pit of hell of heresy how therfore can they be called Catholike VII CONSIDERATION From Succession FVRTHER MORE that Religion is to be accompted the true whose ministers do all descend from the Apostles and are eyther the Apostles successors or haue receiued their order and authority from their sucessours For by this reason it will appeare manifest that that Religion and Church which doth honour imbrace a religion so descended to be Apostolicall Ergo c. Now that all Ministers of the Catholike Religion whether we consider the power of their order or Iuris diction haue descended from the Apostles it is cleere For that all inferiour ministers especialy Priests Deacons Subdeacons receiue their order from Bishops Bishops also haue their order from other Bishops and these likewise againe from others and so futhermore vpwards to the Apostles who receiued this power immediatly from Christ As all men therfore according to their vitall and naturall power do by a long course of genealogy descend from our first Parent Adam so do all ministers of the Catholike Church according to their supernaturall power by a longe
A CONSVLTATION WHAT FAITH AND RELIGâ—â—â— is best to be imbraced WRITTEN IN LATIN By the R. Father Leonard Lessius Professour in Diuinity of the Society of IESVS AND Translated into English by W. I. IHS Permissu Superiorum M.DC.XVIII TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORD MAIOR TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL THE ALDERMEN AND TO THE RIGHT WORTHY CITTIZENS OF LONDON The Translatour wisheth all Health and Happines Temporall and Eternall RIGHT HONORABLE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL AND RIGHT WORTHY I Was pâ—rswaded to present you with this Treatise traÌ„slated by 〈◊〉 into our mother tongue that hath appeared far better 〈◊〉 in â—â—owâ—yde it was first inuested only through the loue and respect I beare to your so we deserming persons whose speciall endeauors amidst your other sorâ—ous imployments in that famous Citty should be and I hope is the attayning of such a traffike that may more redound to the profit of your Soules then your temporall Estates since you know well that a sure and solid foundation of true Religion worketh Eternall Saluation and the contrary eternall woe and misery though otherwise one were neuer so fortunate in all worldly prosperity The worke it selfe is but of some few houres reading and the Author I hope will not be distastfull vnto yow in respect of his person though otherwise of a different Profession habit And though I doubt not but that many of your haue already seene other learned Bookes of like subiect yet because this affoardeth so great variety of forcible Motiues both singularly chosen and most aptly expressed to settle mens Consciences in so waighty an affayre as this is I haue therfore thought good to present it to your View though in a more humble and far lesse polished stile then so profitable a subiect deserueth And heerunto I was the more encouraged by vnderstanding the great fruite and profit which many haue all ready and do dayly reape by a diligent perusall of this Booke in other languages hoping for no lesse in our owne then it hath produced in the Latin French and Dutch especially in men so zealous in that Profession which hath by in these later tymes preached vnto you Which zeale of yours would no doubâ— be more feruent if Gods Grace by other mothâ—es proposed should open your eyes to see the cleernes of the Catholike Verity Neither should it offend you that your Consciences hauing byn setled these 60. yeares last past in the Faith that was then proposed vnto you now a new reuiew of matters belonging to Religion should be offered For synce the Scripture doth premonish vs that Heresies must of necessity be and false Teachers would come to disturbe the peace and vnity of the Church of which sort as is apparent by her contrary doctrines this our vnfortunate Age hath byn most fertile it is doublesse no disgrace or signe of leuity or inconstancy by a diligent and iudicious examen to try which of all these diuers spirits is of God and which is that Catholike Church so often commended vnto vs in the Scriptures as nothing more plainely and seriously In which important search the Reading of this little but golden Treatise will by Gods grace affoard such light to discerne Truth from Falshood and such meanes to find out the true gate of Catholike faith which only leadeth to saluation as may satisfy the most Iudicious especially if they reade with that humblenes of spirit as they ought to do who desyre to know the Truth In reading therfore consider attentiuely euery Passage ponder the waight and substance of ech Reason not posting the same ouer as many do transpotted with curiosity to read all new Bookes that come forth and I doubt not you will receaue aboundant satisfaction Read then most worthy Cittizens the ensuing Consultation with an indifferent and vnpartiall eye that you may enrich your soules with the treasure of true knowledg doctrine which leadeth to eternall Life and Happines Wherof I humbly beseech his diuine Maiesty to make you partakers to whom I haue heerewith dedicated both my selfe and seruice to remayne Your seruant euer in Christ Iesus W. I. This 30 of Septemb. 1618. THE TABLE OF THE CONTENTS of the ensuing Consultation THE Preface pag. 1. The I. Consideration Of the desire of Perfection wherunto Christian Religion leadeth pag. 8. The II. Consideration That Christian Religion excludeth liberty of sinning pag. 11. The III. Consideration Drawne froÌ„ the Sanctity of the followers of true Religion pag. 2â— The IIII. Consideration From the miracles wrought by the imbracers of Catholike Religion pag. 36. The V. Consideration From the Conuersion of Nations by the imbracers of Catholike Religion pag. 48. The VI. Consideration From the Name Catholike and from the thing it selfe signed or marked with this Name pag. 55. The VII Consideration From Succession pag. 59. The VIII Consideration From the consent of the ancient Fathers and Doctours of the Church and from the decision of controuersies without which there is no sodality or fellowship pag. 65. The IX Consideration From diuers causes and reasons for which these new doctrines are to be suspected and shunned pag. 74. The I. Reason Deduced from Nouelty pag. 75. The II. Reason Taken from the defect of Succession pag. 87. The III. Reason From the defect of their Mission pag. 9â— The IIII. Reason From the want of Miracles pag. 106. The V. Reason From the conditions of their liues and manners pag. 116. The VI. Reason from their errors and inconstancy in Doctrine pag. 125. The VII Reason Taken from the fraudes and deceipts which the Sectaryes commonly vse pag. 135. The VIII Reason Drawne from the ouerthrow of good Workes pag. 153. The IX Reason Deduced from the liberty of life which they yield vnto pag. 158. The X. Reason That they renew old Heresies pag. 166. The XI Reason From want of a Rule of Fayth pag. 171. The XII Reason Drawne from Absurdity pag. 181. The X. Consideration And conclusion of this Consultation pag. 189. An Appendix of the Author Whether euery one may be saued in his owne Fayth and Religion pag. 214. A CONSVLTATION WHAT FAITH AND RELIGION IS TO be imbraced GREAT is the variety of Religion in this our age and great is the contention about the truth therof Many in this point do continually wauer nor can they determine any certainty passing from one Religion to another as it were from house to house for trialls sake thereby to find tranquility of mind Others through an inconsiderate boldnes do imbrace any Religion which by chance they light vpon without either examining or vnder standing the same who when they are demanded why they preferre that Religion before others they haue no other answere but that it seemes better to them or els which commonly all do oragge of because they follow the very pure word of God This busines notwithstanding is most worthy of great deliberation and discussion seeing that heerin consisteth the very center of our saluation Euerlasting saluation or damnation is
them That they were most holy men it is the common consent of all Christian people for so many ages past that liued in their daies Neither was there euer made any doubt therof And this the heretikes themselues do also confesse of diuers of them and specially of S. Bernard S. Dominick and S. Francis For it were a great impudency to deny or call into doubt that which the consent of the whole world auerreth If these men therfore were Saintes and Catholiks as all the world doth hold them to haue byn it followeth necessarily that the Catholike Roman religion which they held imbraced is the true religion and proceedeth from the Holy Ghost First for that it is impossible that a false religion should lead to true sanctity for that religioÌ„ is the foundatioÌ„ of sanctity That heauenly edifice caÌ„not be built vpoÌ„ vanities nor vpon pernicious sacrilegious falsities as is euery falsity in religion It cannot be that a false religion should withdraw the mind froÌ„ earthly things and so fixe it vpon heauenly that being kindled with diuine loue and feruor should force the same to vndergo so great labours paines for procuring the health of her neighbours soules Not. withstanding the reâ—igion which these men imbraced did performe in them al these things and consequently it cannot be that their religion was false Secondly for that without true religion Hebr. 11. it is impossible to please God But by the consent of all these men pleased God and were his great friends and familiars Therfore their religion was the true For how could they please God who is verity it selfe by a false religion Thirdly if their religion were not true then was it from the Diuell for that he is a liar from the begining and the Father of lyes who by his lying and deceytes doth euer seeke to corrupt the true religion thereby to destroy soules If it came from the Diuell how could it then lead them to sanctity and make them enemies to the Diuell 2. Cor. â— and friends to God For what society is there betwene light and darkenes and what agreement with Christ and Belial Fourthly It is altogeather incredible that God should permit men so innocent so contemning themselues and worldly affaires so studious of his diuine glory and ardent louers of him to be deceiued for so many ages in a matter of so great moment to witt in the busines of religion and foundation of all piety Who is he that will thinke so impiously of Gods diuine goodnes They pretermitted nothing on their behalfe whereby then might please God and aduance his glory taking vpon them the greatest paines labours for the obtaining therof and wholy implying and coÌ„secrating their liues vnto him How caÌ„ it be that his diuine goodnes that true Light which enlightemeth euery man that comes into this world should not reueale the truth and his light to so worthy seruants and louers of him but should leaue them sticking fast in their blind and pestiferous errors Then is that false which our Lord so ofteÌ„ repeating promised to wit Aske and it shal be giuen vnto you seeke and you shall find Matth 7. Luc. 11. knocke and it shal be opened vnto you For euery one that asketh receaueth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it is opened For that S. Francis S. Dominick S. Bernard S. Benet and the like lightes and wonders of the world did all their life tyme aske seeke and knocke that they might obtaine of our Lord things necessary for their health to know and fullfill his will perfectâ—ly in all things and yet notwithstanding obtayned nothing heerin False also shall that be which our Sauiour saith If yow then being naught know how to giue good giâ—â—es to your children how much more will your Father from heauen giue a good spirit to them that aske for that these men did dayly and carnestly aske this spirit and yet obtayned it not For that a good spirit can neuer be without a good Religion I omit many other things which might be brought for confirmation heerof But if it be blasphemy to say that diuine promises be false then is it necessary to confesse that these men did receiue the true faith and Religion-Wherfore seing that they imbraced the Catholike Religion and were most addicted to the Roman Church detesting and hating all other faith and Religion that was contrary to this it cannot be doubted but that the Catholike and Roman is the only true and heauenly inspired Religion And all Religions besides are false and inuented by the Diuell Finally if their Religion were not the true but rather some of the Aduersaryes the true Religion then is it necessary to confesse all the forsaid men whome the whole world hath held for Saintes not to haue byn not only holy men and friends to God but to haue byn impious and enemyes to him and so damned and adiugded to euerlasting punishments For without true Religion it is impossible to please God Neyther can it be said that they were to be excused by ignorance for that ignorance doth not excuse except in certayne secondary cases which by reason of some positiue precept are necessary but in no case doth it excuse in any fundamentall and chiefehead For otherwise any man may obtayne saluation without any knowledg of God or Christ at al which is repugnant to al Scripture But if these men erred as some of our Aduersaryes do pretend that they did then erred they in the chiefe heads First because they acknowledged not a speciall faith wherby only we are iustified and made partaker of the redemption and iustice of Christ and sinne is not imputed vnto vs as the authors of other Religions do teach Therfore they remained in sinne being depriued of the participation of the Iustice of Christ consequently were childreÌ„ of Hell Secondly because according to their judgment they were out of the true Church of Christ out of which by consent of all there is no saluation did adhere to the whore of Babylon for so do they call the Roman Church and were the chiefe ministers instrumeÌ„ts of Antichrist Thirdly because they were Idolatours adoring a creature for their Creatour to wit bread and wyne insteed of Christin the Eucharist worshipping Saintes their Images c. These thinges may not be excused by any ignorance whatsoeuer And therfore all these were wicked men and adiudged to hell torments But how improbable and incredible are all these things and against the coÌ„mon consent of all Christian men that euer were And on the contrary side in other Religions there were neuer any of famous sanctity nor can they name so much as one For that their very first Authors were giuen to temporall commodities and were followers of pleasures hauing nothing singular in their liues aboue the common sort of people but rather giuen to greater vices and wickednes But of this point we shall speake more heereafter
disciple of his but he was in danger to haue byn strangled himself by that diuel Cochlaeus in actis Lutheri en 1523. as witnesseth Fredericus Staphilus who was present at the act And at another time he would haue raysed to life one that was drowned in the riuer of Alba but in vayne In like manner Caluin attempted to raise one to life who by his perswasioÌ„ feigned himselfe dead but with that successe that of aliue man he became dead indeed for that by the iust iudgment of God when as Caluin came to raise him he was found without life The whole story wherof with all particulers is at large recounted by M. Hierome Bolsecke in vita Caluini cap. 23. Wherfore seing neither true nor feigned miracles do succeed with them they endeauour to take quite away from the Catholike Church this most strong rocke and firmament of miracles which altogeather conuinceth the vnderstanding of man but with no shew of probability at all as we haue shewed As those therfore who pondering and weighing well the miracles of our Sauiour and his Apostles with a quiet and humble mynd setting aside all hatred other euill affections could not doubt but that their doctrine proceeded from God euen so now they that without hatred passioÌ„ of mynd consider well of the miracles that haue byn wrought in the Catholike Church by holy men in all ages both aliue and dead cannot doubt but that their Doctrine and Religion proceedeth from God and that the Church wherunto they adhere is the true Church of God V. CONSIDERATION From the Conuersion of Nations by the imbracers of Catholicke Religion THAT Religion is esteemed to be the true and consequently to be imbraced wherunto alwayes Nations haue byn conuerted For that our Lord hath often promised in Scripture this conuersion of Nations Psal 1. 21. Ose 1. matth marc Luc. vltimo to the true faith and worship of God which promise must be fulfilled But the Religion wherunto Nations in all ages haue byn and now in this our age also are conuerted is the Catholike and Roman Religion Ergo there can be no doubt but that this is the true Religion of Christ Now then that Religion wherunto these nations haue alwayes being and are conuerted is the Catholike and Roman Religion is most manifest by that which hath byn done aswell in this our age as in former before For that in this our age there haue byn infinite and dayly still are conuerted in the East Indies in Iapone and in the vast Kingdome of China besides in many Ilands of the Indian seas All these passe from their Gentility to the Catholike Religion are vnited to the Roman Church and this by Religious mens indeauours sent thither by authority from the Pope In the last or fourtenth Age one only S. Vincent surnamed Ferrerius of the order of S. Dominicke conuerted to the Catholike faith fiue and twenty thousand partly Iewes and partly Saracens as testifieth S. Antoninus a famous Writer of that age 3. p. Histor tit 23. cap. 8. § 4. In the 13. Age were conuerted very many to the Catholik faith in-the Kingdome of Tartary by two Friars of S. Dominickes order being sent thither from the Pope the Emperour of Tartary himselfe whome they cal the Great Cam desiring the same as wryteth Paulus Venetus whose help and endeauour the said Emperour vsed in effecting of this busines In the 12. Age the people of Nor why were conuerted vnto the RomaÌ„ Faith by * This Adrian was an Englishman and called Nicolas Break-speare before he was asluÌ„pted to the Apostolik Sea Adrian the fourth before he was Pope as writeth Platina in the life of Pope Alexander the fourth In the 11. Age were the Hungarians for the most part conuerted and Bishops ordayned and appointed there by the Pope of Rome at the request of their King StepheÌ„ after wards a Saint that was newly conuerted to the said Roman faith as wryte the Centuriators of Magdeburge Cent. 11. cap. 2. In the 10. Age were many prouinces conuerted to the Roman faith by the endeauours of Henry the first Emperour Adalbert and Methodius Archbishops of Bohemia and Morauia as testify the Centuriators aboue mentioned cent 10. cap. 2. In the 9. Age were the VVandalls Bulgarians Sclauonians Polonians with those of Denmarke and Morauia conuerted to the faith and vnited to the Roman Church Centur. 9. cap. 2. In the 8. Age was conuerted a great part of Germany to the Roman faith by S. Boniface sent thither for that purpose from Pope Gregory the second Cent. 8. cap. 2. In the 7. Age were conuerted those of Franconia or Franke-County by S. Kilian sent thither from the Pope of Rome also Cent. 7. cap. 2. In the 6. Age were the Englishmen conuerted to the Roman faith by Monkes sent thither for that purpose from S. Gregory the Great Cent. 6. cap. 2. Finally those of Brabant Flaunders Holland Frizeland VVestphalia France and other adioyning Nations by whome were they conuerted Were they not conuerted by disciples of the Roman Church to wit S. Seruatius S. Eloy S. Rumwold S. Amandus S. Vedastus S. Leuin S. Remigius S. VVillebrord S. Swibert S. VVulfrane and others who all were most addicted to the Roman Church By which it is manifest that all Nations which haue byn conuerted from Paganisme or Iudaisme to Christ for these thousand yeares last past were conuerted to the Catholike Roman faith and vnited and incorporated to the Roman Church This is also confirmed besides other tokens to haue byn the Roman faith and Religion by Priests by altars by worship of holy Reliques Images by pilgrimages by InuocatioÌ„ of Saintes by Monasteryes by Monkes by Obedience to the Pope and by very many other things proper to Catholike Religian which were in vse among all Nations after their Couuersion vntill of â—ake they were take away and abolished in some places by these new vpstart Religions What man is there that maturely considering these things can any way doubt but that Catholike Religion is the true For that in her he seeth fullfilled Gods diuine promise of the coÌ„uersion of Nations To her do fly so many people so many remote Nations so many most porent Kingdomes forsaking their Idolatry abandoning the impurity of life reiecting the multitude of wiues forgetting their barbarous sauage manners banishing all former liberty of life and as it were to become tame and tractable vnder the yoke of Christ sweetly to tast of the feare of God to comforme themselues to all modesty of life and last of al to be inflamed with the contempt of temporall things and loue of celestiall How is it possible that that Religion should be false and impious which doth worke such wonderfull mutation in the harts of barbarous people To conclude how can it possible be tâ—â—t the Diuine Frouidence should permital these Nations so many yeares to be deceyued when as they haue forsaken their Idolatry so hartily imbraced verity and
neyther can the Lutherans or Caluinistes deny the same but only say that these things were moles or blemishes amoÌ„gst the aÌ„cient Fathers Goodly moles surely superstition Idolatry Impiety But if the doctors of former ages did not professe this religioÌ„ but for the most part reproue and disallow it then is it euident that the same is not ancient but new For no religion was euer accompted in the Church for true but that which the ancient Fathers doctors of the Church did hold and professe Wherof it euidently followeth that Lutheran religion is not Christs religion For that Christs religion is not new but ancient but Lutheran religion is new as we haue shewed and not ancient Christs religion hath alwayes florished in the world euer synce the Apostles tyme but Luthers religion hath not so done but began within these 100. yeares and before that tyme we haue shewed that it was not Againe if Luthers religion be truely Christs religion then is the visible company of men that imbrace the same the true Church of Christ Therfore Christs Church was not before Luther because the Lutheran Religion which doth make the true Church was not before Luther as we haue demonstrated For if yow say that Luthers religion was in the Apostles tymes and in some of the former ages then must yow proue that there were some men in those tymes who imbraced and professed his opinions Surely we easily proue the contrary for that it is euident that Masse for the quicke and dead Order of Ministers in the Church monasticall vowes and the like which are repugnant to the Lutheran religion were in vse in the Church in the Apostles tymes and the next succeeding Ages But let vs grant that Luthers religion was in the Apostles tymes and somwhat after yet at leastwise in the third and fourth age it began to fayle fall quite away Which thing the Lutheran Doctors themselues do also confesse as may be seene by that great Centurian worke setforth by them in the 2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10 Century or age and 4. Chapter of euery Century Therfore by this accompt the Church of Christ at least for 1300. years hath fallen away perished for that so long tyme at the least it is euident that Lutheran religion was not but the quite contrary to haue byn extant and florished As also by this accompt the true religion was extinguished for so many ages the Ghospell obscured Christes Church ouerthrowne vntil the Dutch Prophet Luther rose vp and dispersed that lamentable darknes through the light of the Ghospell to the world and reedified the ruines of the Church This do the Lutherans often insinuate in diuers townes of Germany when as they wryte vpon the forefronts of their houses in great Capitall letters these or the like words Such a yeare c. appeared the true light of Christs Ghospell to this Citty Superstition put downe c. But if the Church of Christ perished for so many ages how then is it true that she is built vpon a rocke and not rather vpon sand How then is it said that the (a) Math. 16. Gates of hell shall not preuaile againe her How is she the house of God the (b) 1. Tim. 3. Firmament and Pillar of truth How then is the (c) Daniel 2. Kingdome of Christ which is the Church stable firme euerlasting and neuer to be ruined Againe if yow say that Luthers Church religion was in all Ages from the Apostles tymes but yet in secret and hidden besides that such a fiction wanteth an Author to affirme it the same is voyd of all probability as we haue now shewed But be it so The Church of Christ caÌ„not be hidden let vs grant that it was hidden all that while but then was it not the Church of Christ for that she is a (d) Matth. 5. Citty placed vpon a mountayne which cannot be hidden She is the (e) Isa 2. mountayne of the house of God prepared in the top of mountaynes and placed aboue the hilles cleerly seene of all men to whome all Nations in the world haue recourse She is the Kingdome of Christ that reacheth from (f) Psal 71. sea to sea and from the riuer to the bounds of the earth She is that great (g) Dan. 2. mountayne that filleth the whole earth For that the Church of Christ must be conspicuous manifest to the world that by her excelleny and comlines by her manner and outward shew she as it were may intice Gentiles vnto her so as they that will become Christians may know whither to go to whome to haue recourse and from whome to receiue instruction Likewise her Doctrine and faith must needs be also manifest or els the same would be vnprofitable to the world nor could she conuert Gentiles So as in the greatest persecutions that euer were she neuer lay so hidden but that she might be knowne to all as out of the Ecclesiasticall historyes is euident wherby it came to passe that she had so many martyrs Againe if she had layn hidden for so many ages she had byn altogeather vnworthy of the Name of a Church For how may she be called the Church of Christ that dareth not publickely to professe the true Doctrine of Christ or that she should be so faint-harted fearfull of death as to hide herselfe in a darke cormer so many ages togeather and dare to come abroad into the light least she should be seene And last of all how can she be called the Church of Christ that for so many ages hath not only hidden herselfe and suppressed the true profession of faith but hath professed also a false faith to wit Papistry adored Idols and defiled herselfe with a thousand superstitions and sacriledges For that before Luther all Christians did carry themselues outwardly in all points as Catholikes or els straight would they haue byn apprehended and accused by the Inquisitors and Bishops and punished as heretâ—kes And therfore should the Church of Christ haue byn more miserable then the ruines of the Synagoge or the lewish Sect which alwayes in some place or other had their Synagoges and free profession of their Religion nor was euer constrayned at least generally to the worship of Idols She should I say haue byn more miserable then all hereticall sects and Conuenticles whatsoeuer For that there was neuer any Sect of any name which had not her temples her religious houses her Couuents her Bishops the forme and profession of her faith that so she might be knowne of all Wherby it is manifest that nothing can be more absurdly said then that the Church of Christ hath layen hid for so many ages and therfore I do conclude with this Dilemma That the Lutheran or Caluinian religion was eyther before their Authors to wit Luther and Caluin or it was not If it were not then is it altogeather new and therfore cannot be the religion of Christ which is ancieÌ„t If it were before the
Author then was it secret therfore cannot be the religiō of Christ which is a wayes apparent manifest And whatsoeuer in this discourse hath byn said and proued concerning Lutheran religion yow must vnderstand to haue byn said and proued also of Caluinisme and Anabaptisme for that the selfe same nouelty and reasons belong to all three but that for perspicuityes sake and not often to repeat with tediousnes all three names we haue only nominated one Therfore do I conclude with the words of S. Hierome Hier. Dial. contra Lucifer in fine who writeth thus That I way set thee downe briefly and playnely any opinion Thou must saith hee remayne in that Church which was founded by the Apostles and continueth vntil this very day And if by chance thou shouldest he are those that be called Christians to be named of some other and net of Iesus Christ to u it of the Marcionites Valentiniās Montanistes c. know thou certainly that that is not the Church of Christ but the Synagogue of Antichrist for that because they were institued afterward they do demonstrate themselnes to be those whome the Apostle foretould c. Nor let them flatter themselues if out of certaine places of Scripture they do seemete affirme that with they say for that the Diuell did also alleagde Scripture for his purpose and the force of Scripture doth not consist in reading but in vnderstanding So S. Hierome Nouelty therfore is a signe of heresy fortould by the Apostle denomination is a signe of nouelty and the vsurping of Scripture is common to the Diuell himselfe and all heresyes The II. Reason Taken from the defect of Succession ANOTHER reason why these religions are not to be allowed of is The want of succession for that they want an orderly and continuall Succession of Ministers in the Church from the Apostles which succession is necessary that any Religion or Church should be deemed Apostolicall for without the same it cannot be continued with the Apostolike So as the Ancient Fathers for the most part teach that they who say they haue the true Church of Christ with them must bring forth the succession of their Bishops and reduce the same vpwards to some one of the Apostles by an orderly continuation which if they cannot do it is an easy matter to conuince them that the true Church of Christ is not with them For so Optatus Mileuitanus in his second booke against Parmenian when he would conuince the Donatistes that they had not the true Church with them said Shew forth the origen or beginning of your sea yow that wildaime the Holy Church to your selues And Tertullian in his prescriptions againg heretiks saith Let heretikes shew forth the origen of their Churches let them recount the order of their Bishops succeeding from the beginning that he who was the first should haue some Apostle or Apostolike man for his Author and predecessour c. The same argument do the rest of the Fathers commonly vse as (a) lib 3. cap ◠Irenaeus (b) hoeresi 27. Epiphanius (c) cont Lucifer Hieronymus S. (d) cap. 4. cont Epist Fundam Augustine and others Now it is well knowne that neyther Lutherans Caluinistes nor Ana baptistes can with any the least colour do the same For to whome I pray you did Luther who for the most part was the Author and first parent of these new religions succeed Whose Chayre and authority did he occupy who before him was the prelate of the Luther an religion as also before Caluin and Zwinglius who was their predeceslour And if none can be assigned it is cleere that they want that succession which the Ancient Holy Fathers do require that any Church should be ioined with that of the Apostles Againe Want of Ordination they do not only want succession of Chayre and authority but euen the ordination of degrees descending from the Apostles For that there was alwayes requisite a double power in the Ministers of the Church both of them by an orderly continuation deriued from the Apostles as before we haue shewed in the 7. Consideration to wit Power of Order by which Sacrifice is offered and Sacraments are made to sanctify the faithfull and Power of Iurisdiction by which the authority of gouerning and feeding the Church with the word of God is giuen c. But these new religions can reduce neither of them to the Apostles Not the power of Iurisdiction because they want succession as before we haue said nor yet the Power of Ordinatiō or Order for who ordained Luther or Caluin a Bishop of their Church And if they say that order is not needfull they do contradict all antiquity and the perpetuall vse of the Church For neuer yet was there Bishop in the Church so as he had authority to exercise all Bishoply functions but that he was ordained by some other Bishop to whome by the Constitution of the Apostles themselues must be adioined two other bishops as is expressely commaunded in the first Canon of the Apostles fourth of the Nicene Councel as also insinuated by S. Paul writing to Timothy a Bishop 1. Tim. 4. and warning him thus Do not neglect the grace which is in thee which grace is giuen thee by prophesy with imposition of the hands of Priesthood that is to say of those Bishops who togeather with the Bishop that doth ordaine do lay their hands vpon him that is ordained as the Ancient Fathers do expound it By which it is cleere and euident that the Lutherans and Caluinists haue neither of these forsaid powers from the Apostles nor can they deriue the same from the Apostles and consequently in that they do not descend from them they haue not the true religion and Church with them For that the true Church according to both powers ought to be deriued and to haue continued with them from the Apostles as we haue shewed before seing that all power spirituall ought to be deriued from Christ through the Apostles and their successours by a continuall and orderly succession and communication to other ministers of the Church as the corporall life of man is deriued by certaine meanes through a continuall succession from our first parent Adam to the last For euen as in the old Testament there were no priests except those that descended from the Tribe of Leui thorough Aaron so in the new there are no priests or Bishops except those that descend in degree of Order and power of Iurisdiction from Christ the chiefe Priest through the Apostles and their successours And therfore as the Sinagogue could not be without priests descending by a continuall succession from Aaron so the Church of Christ cannot be without Priests or Bishops descending by the same continuall succession from the Apostles and their successours But the Congregation of Lutherans and Caluinistes had neuer any such ministers had neuer any Bishops-lawfully ordayned amongst them descending in power of Iurisdiction from the
authority of a Greek and Latin Copyes in the Dutch Bible translateth it thus Hoc significat Corpus meum This signifieth my body In the 2. Act. 27. where it is said Non derelinques animam meam in inferno Thou wilt not leaue my soule in hell Beza translateth it thus Non relinques cadauer meuÌ„ in sepulchro Thou wiltnot leaue my carcasse in the graue changing the greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth animam into cadauer and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 orcum into sepulchrum And is not this thinke yow to corrupt Scriptures Caluin doth so expound almost all the places of Scripture wherby the Ancient Fathers dyd proue the Trinity of Persons and the Diuinity of the Sonne or the Holy Ghost that he doth eueruate all the force therof wherin he doth not alittle symbolize with the Iewes Sabellians Arians and Macedonians Againe the 53. whole Chapter of Isay which is manifestly meant of the passion death and satisfaction of Christ Caluin expoundeth it metaphorically of the griefes and molestations which the Iewish people by their sinnes did cause vnto Christ And what can be more violently or absurdly spoken or what can be more fitly accommodated to the Iewes perfidiousnesse Matth. 19. vers 17. where it is said Si vis ad vitam ingredi serua mandata If thou wilt enter into life keep the Comaundements Caluin will haue this speach to haue byn vttered by Christ in a scoffing manner or mockingly Allo ad Hebr. 5. vers 7. Exauditus est pro sua reuerentia He was heard for his reuerence Caluin expoundeth the greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to signifie metum or dubitationem feare or doubtfullnes and saith that hereby is signified that Christ was stroken with so horrible a terrour of death that he was ready to fall into delperation of his eternall saluation I omit many other places Monsieur du Plessis a principall Caluinist in France in a little booke of his which he published Of the supper of our Lord hath corrupted more then an hundred testimonies of Fathers Doctors partly by cutting of and mangling their words and partly by adding therto of his own As also in this booke of his he produceth many arguments which by Schole doctors as the manner is are obiected against the truth and afterwards solued and answered by themselues as if they had byn set downe expressely by them for their owne doctrine and opinions Of which fraud he was these yeares past publiquely conuinced in presence of the late king of France and many of his nobility by the Bishop of Eureux now Cardinall as is well knowne to all France And the very same deceypt and craft do all their writers vse when they go about to proue their opinions and doctrine out of the Fathers Moreouer Their alleaging of obscure Authorityes this is another comon tricke amongst these men to wit that in citing the Fathers opinions they do alwayes omit their cleere perspicuous sense which may explicate and plainely declare their mind and insteed therof they produce commonly some obscureÌ„ and darke sentences of theirs were they do but by chance and as it were by the way touch the controuersy in hand Of which fraud very many testimonies are alledged not only against the Reall presence of Christs body in the Eucharist but against many other euident articles of Catholike faith also as for example against free wil against internal lustice against merit of good workes against the Authority of Councells c. And there is nothing so cleare and euident in our faith which by certaine obscure places of Scripture or Fathers may not seeme to be impugned nor is there any thing so absurd which by that meanes may not be defended For what is more absurd then to say that Christs body is euery where alwel as his Diuinity And yet do these men go about to confirme the same by many restimonies both of Scriptures and Fathers What is more absurd then to say that God is the Author of all synne Or that man hath not free will And yet do they alleadg many obscure places both out of Scriptures Fathers to establish those their fancies Yâ— they seeke for truth why then do they omit those places which be plaine and perspicuous and fly vnto such as be obscure and darke why do they not stand to the iudgment of the ancient Fathers and Doctors for explication therof who were long before our tyme but will only rely and rest vpon their owne sense and interpretation When as any obscure speaches of the Fathers do but seeme to fâ—uour them those they do diligently and readily produce and do indeauour to confir me their Doctrine therwith but when Catholikes to the contrary do alledg any thing out of the Fathers which is euidently against them then they make answere presently and sayâ— that the Fathers were meâ—â— and consequently subiect to error but they rely vpon the word of God which cannot errâ— Yâ— yow reply and say that the Fathers do also rely vpon the word God they answere that the Fathers haue not attayned to the vnderstanding of the Diuine word and therfore were deceyued Yâ— yow aske them how they know that the Fathers haue not attayned to the true sensâ— and vnderstanding of the word of God themselues haue they answerâ— that 〈◊〉 is euident out of the word of God But how is it euident seing there beso many and so diuers interpretations amongst them and that all the ancient Fathers haue interpreted otherwise them they and the Lutherans otherwise then the Caluinists and they againe otherwise then the Anabaptists The interpretation say they is euident to him that hath the spirit but to others not And thus do the Patrones of euery Sect answere and reduce their final iudgement of euery controuersy to a prinâ—â— spirit Therfore the Caluinists say that all the ancient Fathers all the Doctours of the Church all generall Councells wanted the true-spirit of vnderstanding the Scriptures as also do the Lutherans and Anabaptists at this day want the same only themselues haue the true spirit and to them it is specially graunted from aboue and therefore to them â—n is spirit is manifest in so much that whatsoeuer they teach that is the pure Word of God The very sume thing say the Lutherans to wiâ— that the Councells Fathers Doctours of the Church did want this true spirit as also the Caluinists Anabaptists do only to them it is graunted and therefore say they it is euident and certaine that our doctrine is agrable to the Word of God And finally the Anabaptists do take away this spirit from all others and clayme it as proper only to themselues But how absurd thinke you voyd of reason are al these things How incredible is it that all the Catholike Doctours and Fathers of the Church should want the true spirit of vnderstanding Scriptures and that it should begiuen now to the Caluinists only or
and Anabaptists are at bitter wars one with another about many points of fayth and do impeach one the other of heresy The Lutherans do dissent both among themselues in many things and from Luther himselfe â—heir Father and Apostle in so much as at this tyme there be reckoned thirty one principal Sects of Lutherans different in name and disagreing in many points of doctrine The Caluinists be at variance among themselues especially in the Article touching the head of the Church For a great part of them giueth that power to the secular Prince though she be a woman and these be called Protestants Others of them hold the same for impiety and blasphemy and those they call Puritaus The Anabaptists differ among themselues in very many things so as of them there be numbred 14. diuers Sects distinct both in names and in points of doctrine Finally it is now come to this that where euery one followeth this rule of Scripture alone and relyeth vpon it there be almost as many heresyes as there be heretiks For the greater part of them especially the more simple affirme that they little regard or care what Luther or Caluin taught sith they cleaue fast to the holy Scriptures and recur to the word of God in which there cannot be any errour and so they thinke themselues very secure And euery one vnderstandeth the Scripture according to his own capacity and sense Wherhence it followeth that where they thinke they haue the Scripture for an infallible rule of their beliefe insteed of Scripture they haue and follow their owne imagination For whatsoeuer they imagine to be signified meant by the words of scrip ture they take for the true fense of Scripture and so lookehow many diuers imaginations of men there be so many rules there be of beliefe But whence is it that to euery one his owne imagination should seeme the most true verity and the very fense of Scripture It procedeth partly of a certaine exceeding selfe-pleasing lone and estimation For he who maketh any great reckoning of himselfe easily perswadeth himselfe that all his owne innentions and conceipts of mind be great and extraordinary partly by working of the Diuell who doth in wardly pernert mensphanfyes so as what they apprehend they forth with for euery most light and idle poore reason thinke to be most cuident truth For whiles men wearied with the auncient Religion loathing it do auerse the truth longe to heare nouâ—lt yes they are by Gods iust iudgment suffered to be begnyled by the Diuell Whereupon whiles he worke the inwardly in their senses they thinke themselues to haue recevued the light of Gods spirit and vnto it they referre all iudgment touching matters of fayth Hence it is that to euery sect almost to euery priuate man their owne apprehension seemeth to be the pure word of God neyther care they for all the reasons that are brought to the contrary The Apostle insinuateth no lesse when he sayth 2. Thes 2. For that they haue not receyued the Charity of truth that they might be saued therefore God will send them the operation of errour that they may belieue lying He shall send not by way of commaund but by giuing more power to the Diuell for the deceyuing of them who haue contemned the truth or ancient Religion and the thrusting of them into a thousand errors But the most of them especially the simple say God will not permit them to be deluded who search the truth with an humble hart for the hath promised that he will giue a good spirit to them who aske him And this do I for I make my petition to God that he would please to illuminate me open vnto me the true sense of the Scriptures and I cease not continually to search them This is a great deceipt of the Diuell For how do they with an humble hart search out the truth who contemne makeno esteeme of the iudgment of the Doctors of the Church of the interpretation and exposition of the holy Fathers and of the definitions of Generall Councells who refuse to vse the way appointed and shewed by God and require vnnecessary reuelations For from them they might vnderstand the truth and exempt themselues from all errour but they haue not a will to submit themselues vnto them thinking that they may by their owne industry their owne wit and priuate spirit with a more facility and certainity find the truth out of the bare naked Scriptures As though the holy Fathers Doctors and Prelats of the Church did eyther not search the Scritures or wanted the spirit of God and sound iudgment so as it passed their skil to ariue to the true vnderstanding therof What greater pride can there be thought then that a priuare person and comonly an Idiot ignorant of all antiquity and good literature should prefer himselfe before so great authority and holynes and so great a number of Doctors And therfore they must not thinke thatso longe as they be of that mind they shall obtaâ—ne any thing at our Lords hands because they aske both yll and prowdly but that they shall rather be deceyued by the spirit of pryde and of lying whereunto they are by Gods iust iudgment for so great a cryme delyuered This is that spirit whereof all heretiks though they be neuer so different in Doctrine haue their part and vaunt themselues and of which euery one thinketh the truth to be reuealed vnto him which certes he that is not blinde may casily obserue and see because Gods spirit reucaleth not contraryes Moreouer the holy Scripâ—ure no where remitteth priuate men in doubts of fayth to the fearch of the Scriptures but to the Church and to them who be the Prelats of the Church So in Deuâ—eronomy c. 17. in matters of doubt they are remitted to the Priests who haue charge and rule for the tyme whome he that shal refuse to obay is sentenced to dy Therfore hath God appointed pastors doctors in his Church therfore would he haue it conspicuous to the whole world to be the pillar and firmament of truth that all might with case make their recourse vnto it and most securely repose vpon the determination of it There is not giuen to all the spirit of vnderstanding the Scriptures as is plaine by testimony of the Apostle 1. Cor. 12. 1. Ioan. 4. 2. Cor. 11. We are not to giue credit to euery spirit but the spirits are to be tryed if they be of God Wherfore though your spirit suggest vnto you something you are not therefore secure for you are not sure that it is of God For it is certaine that infinite numbers haue been and are deceyued cuery heretike vaunteth himselfe of this spirit The Angell of Sathan oftentymes transfigureth himselfe into an Angell of light Wherefore by what hath been said it is most euident that a priuate spirit cannot possibly carry it selfe for the rule of beliefe The XII Reason Drawne from Absurdity
IF any of these new Religions for example that of Caluin were Christâ—true Religion besides other absurdities insinuated before this would further follow that all Catholikes which haue byn from the Apostles tymes vntill this present be damned and adiudged to paines cuerlasting for as much as according to a principall doctrine of the Caluinists they wanted iustifying faith and therefore iustice also before God whence it is that they continued in their syns and died in them For faith necessary to iustification as this religion holdeth is that whereby a man stedfastly beleeueth that himselfe is iust before God for Christs satisfaction which is to him by this faith applyed and imputed And certaine it is that this faith was vnknown to the world vntill Luthers tyme neyther doth he deny it but gloryeth rather that he notified and reuealed to the world the true manner of iustification obscured by antiquity The same is manifest by the writings of all the ancient Fathers both for that besids faith they require an inward chaung of the will and purpose of keeping the whole law and also for that they condemne that security of saluation and will haue a man to worke his saluation with feare and trembling and to be alwayes sollicitous and carefull and therefore they do all with one consent reiect that speciall Fayth by which a man certainly beleeueth himselfe to be iust as meere presumption For though we are to belâ—eue that Christ hath on his part most fully satisfied for vs yet it is not manifest vnto vs whether we haue done all that which is on our part necessary for the making of ourselues partakers of this satifaction and whether we haue not at one tyme or other lost our part in it Manifest therefore it is that all those of former tymes wanted this fayth and consequently they are all damâ—ed so many holy Fathers so many 〈◊〉 so many Virgins and Saints Irenaeus Iustine Gregory Thaumaturgus Nazianzen Basill Chrysostome Damascene Hilary Ambrose Hierome Augustine Martin Nicolas Antony Benedict Bernard Dominicke Francis Laurence Vincent Sebastian Catharine Cecily Agnes and infinite others who were admirable to the world eyther for their sanctity and miracles or for the glory of martyrdone Finally all that haue been before vs euen from the Apostles tyme till now be damned And to vse Tertullians words l. de praescript adueâ—sus haereticos In vaine hath the Gospell byn so many ages preached in vaine haue so many thousands been baptized in vaine haue so many works of saith been exercised so many vertues and so many gifts of grace to no purpose wrought so many priesthoods and so many offices admitted in vaine and to be short in vaine haue so many martyrdomes been crowned But how past beliefe absurd and blasphemous a matter is this How contrary and repugnant to the iudgement of the whole world and of all ages past Neither can it be sayd that their ignorance excused them because none can be saued without faith without the iustice of Christ without the participation of Christs satisfaction without the remission of sins as the Scripture especially of the new Testament euery where teacheth no ignorance can make or cause that any may be saued without them Wherefore there is no ouasion heere for they eyther be all damned or els Luthers and Caluins Religions be false and impious in their principall doctrine touching Iustification Loe heere 12. Reasons by which it is made plaine that these new Religions be to be shunned as false pernicious and now we come to our last Consideration X. CONSIDERATION and conclusion of this whole ConsultatioÌ„ LASTLY that Religion is to be imbraced during life that we would wish we had followed and held at the houre of our death and whereof we may be able to giue a iust accompt when we shall stand before the tribunall seat of Christ For touching what is to be done there cannot a better CoÌ„sultation be had then by the consideration of death and of the latter Iudgment namely that we make an election of that here which in the article of our death may make most to our profit and shunne that which may at that tyme procure or cause our certaine ruine perdition or at least hazard the same And such is the Catholike religion that we shal haue a will to preferre it when we come to dye is euident First by the example of very many who though they haue lyued as heretiks yet when they come to dye do desire to dy Catholikes for so to do they deeme it most for their security Secondly for that euery one then wisheth he had done many good works and that he had carefully taken heed of all sins to both whereof the Catholike Church hath effectuall iuducements and Lutheranisme and Caluinisme haue neither the one nor the other but rather bringeth in a contempt of good works and liberty of life Thirdly for that the Catholike Religion hath many remedies and preseruatiâ—es which are not in that dreadful passage to be coÌ„temned as repentance for heir sinns the absolution of Priests the Sacraments oâ— Extreme Vnction holy Eucharist which cause great comfort and confidence to the faithfull for by them Christs satisfaction is communicated vnto vs. But a naked faith is a very cold and weake help in that article For how may you in earnest perswade your selfe that Christ is propitious and mercifull vnto you that you are iust and to be by Christ saued who contemne the â—emedyes by him appointed and determine to dye out of the communion of the Catholike Church All lects of this tyme do brag of this fayth but all of them shall not be saued for as much as there is but one true religion of Christ out of which none can be saued as not only all Catholiks but Lutherans also Caluinists and Anabaptists do also teach And therfore your speciall fayth will not profit you any thing vnles you professe Christs true religion That also such as haue imbraced the Catholike fayth and perseuered in it shall easily be able to giue an accompt of that they haue done vnto the supreme Iudge and that not any daunger at all iâ— on that part to wards them is cleare For suppose that I stand before that dreadfull Tribunall and am asked wherfore I imbraced the Catholike or Papistical religion as they now tearme it and that I did not rather leauing it passe to that new religion created and reformed â—y Caluin I will with great security answere That I therfore held the Catholike sayth What a Catho like will answere at the day of â—udgment because it teacheth me to abstract my mind from â—errene things and to transferre it to the loue of câ—â—estiall It further â—eacheth me to maister and mortify my flesh and to crucify it with the nayles of the fâ—are of God to insist in good works to obay Superiors to attend to prayer and to cut off all liberty of synning Therefore I held the Catholike Religion
What things be required for the searching out of the truth and vertue But one thing there is that is most of all wont to hurt this sincere deliberation and that is a certaine anticipating and foregoing opinion that possesseth very many touching the Idolatry superstitions and abuses of the Catholike Church Wherefore let them in the first place for a time lay aside this their precipitate and fore-running iudgment and thinke that they may be deceiued in the matter For it seemeth a thing beyoud beliefe that most holy and most learned men such as the Church euer had very many did either not see this Idolatry if there were any or if they saw it did not onely not reiect it but also did with all diligence retaine and imbrace it This is a calumniation of old both of the Mahometans and of the Image-breakers And there neuer was yet any Sect of heretiks which did not with extreme rancour and malice oppugne and oppole it selfe against the Church and impose very sore and great errors and abuses vpoÌ„ her For such a pretence meete was it for them to vse that they might seeme to haue had iust cause of their reuolt and departure from the Church Secondly let them not cease to craue light from God whereby they may clearly vnderstand which is Christs true religion and true Church and let them yeald themselues ready to imbrace it For fayth is Gods gift Ioan. 6. None saith he can come vnto me vnles my Father shall draw him None can come to Christ by true fayth without light giuen him from the father of heauen and therefore let them labour to procure this illustration this light and this drawing by earnest and contynuall prayer let them say with the prophet Psal 12. Lighten mine eyes that I may neuer sleep in death least when I am to depart out of this life myne enemy may say Psal 42. I haue preuayled against him Put forth thy light and thy truth let them conduct and bring me vnto thine Holy mount Psal 1 42. and into thy tabernacles Make known vnto me the way where in I may walke because vnto thee haue I lifted vp my soule Deliuer me out of the hands of the enemies of my soules good O Lord to thee haue I fled for succour teach me to do thy will because thou art my God And the like To prayer let them ioyne almes and beneficence towards the poore and needy For how much these two auaile and profit towards the obtaining of light for the imbracing of the true religion is manifested by that example of Cornelius the Centurian Act 10. to whome it was said by an Angell Cornelius thy praiers and thine almes haue ascended to be remembred in the sight of God And now send to Ioppa and send for one Simon who is sirnamed Peter he shall tell thee what thou must doe Let them therefore propose this example vnto themselues and imitate it who in this busines of true religion haue a desire to be directed of God In the meane tyme let them with diligence and with an earnest desire of knowing the truth ponder and consider those things that be in this Consultation proposed and if they find therein any thing eyther doubtfull or not sufficiently vnderstood let them repaire to Catholike doctors who will with facility giue them such satisfaction in all matters as their mind may in conclusion find full repose and quiet in the light of true religion This is that which we desire and craue and with most humble petition and suite beseech at thy hands o true light light eternall and the light both of men and Angells For notwithstanding they haue been seduced misled and carried away by the guile and deceipt of the deuill and haue reuolted from thee and thy Church and haue made war against thee and it yet they be thy creatures formed to thine Image and likenes redeemed and ransomed with the price of thy bloud made and called to the inheritance of heauen and to be consorts in thy kingdom Let not so noble a worke of thine perish which cost thee so dearely which will yeald thee eternall praises if it once know the truth and which will to thy glory shine for all eternity Dissperse and dirue away the foule darkenes that hath now possession of their mind Disolue vndoe the deuills bewitchings of them whereby the eyes of their mind be blinded their fancy and imagination peruerted Put into them a true and sensible apprehension and feare of that inextinguible and euerlasting fire prepared for all those who haue not communication with the true religion Inspiâ—e them with a burning loue and desire of vnderstanding the truth of procuring their owne saluation Present vnto them the light of thy mercies that they may know thy fold and haue a true vnderstanding of the fold wherin they formerly were that it was not thine but the diuells in which all such as contynue as sheepe be reserued not to life but to vtter perdition to be food for the fire meate for death Death shall feede vpon them Psal 4â— Reduce and bring them backe againe into thy fold that in it they may refresh theÌ„selues with the healthful refectioÌ„ of thy doctrine and by thy wonderfull Sacraments may receyue cure of the old wounds that Sathan had formerly giueÌ„ them and increase in thy spirit in the spirit of humility and feare of our Lord in the spirit of meeknes and charity and may receyue forces and strength to life euerlasting wherin made together with vs after the instant of this life companions of thy glory and blisse they may praise thee An admonition to Catholikes and glorifie thee for euer and euer And now am I in the second place briefly to admonish Catholiks that they duly ponder with themselues how exceding great a benefit this is of true religion which hath by diuine fauour hapned to them before infinite others who are debarerd of it and how much by occasion of ye they be obliged and bound to the Diuine maiesty This is the gift priuiledg but of a few if we consider the infinite number of such as go astray or stand in doubt and therefore for this respect the more is it to be esteemed Let them thinke that in humane things nothing is to be compared with it not pleasures nor honors nor millions of gold and syluer no not Scepters Kingdomes or Empires The margarite perle of true religion doth exceed all these by infinite degrees and he that is possessed of it though he want other things and is most poore of al tertene things is most truly rich as beeing a cittizen with the Saints the sonne of God an heyre of a Kingdome and coheire with Christ yet so as he must haue a will to lyue conformably thereunto He that wanteth it is thrice miserable indeed though he otherwise abound in all the goods of this life and hath them at his will This is