men from the true catholike and vniuersall church and so bring them to the pit of perdition Iohn 8. 49. The text Iesus answered ⸫ I haue no diuell but I do honor my father and you haue dishonored me The note He denieth not that he is a Samaritane bicause he is our keeper or protector as the word signifieth and bicause he is indeed that mercifull Samaritane in the parable of the wounded man Luk. 10. 33. August tract 43. in Iohn The answer Augustine as some other also of the fathers is much delighted with allegories sometime more then enough But why did you not spare Augustine héere where you néeded him not and vse him afore in that you knew would be denied to you to prooue that works make men the children of Abraham what is it not bicause you could get no helpe at his hand Iohn 9. 3. The text Iesus answered ⸫ neither hath this man sinned nor his parents but that the works of God may be manifested in him The note Though manie infirmities fall for sinne yet not all some comming for probation and some sent that God by the cure thereof may be glorified The answer Men are not rashly to be iudged of for the afflictions or the infirmities which God laieth vpon them or theirs Considering that God hath diuers ends purposes for the which he scourgeth his owne chosen children as wel as the vngodly wicked and reprobate Iohn 9. 5. The text The night commeth ⸫ when no man can worke The note The time of working and meriting is in this life after death we can deserue no more by our deeds but must onely receiue good or ill according to the difference of works heere The answer If this note be true then how excuse you your selues in making men pay for your praiers your pardons masses diriges trentals and such like trash for the soules of their friends departed séeing works after death do them no good and séeing they must receiue according to that they haue done in their bodies whether it be good or bad Are you not ashamed to cosin your credulous followers Your coupling of works and merits déedes and deseruing is not woorth the noting bicause it cannot now besot any but méere fooles Iohn 9. 7. The text Go ⸫ wash in the poole of Siloe which is interpreted sent The note This was a figure of baptisme to which al men borne in sin and blindnes are sent for health sight Ambrose Lib. 3. cap. 2. de Sacramentis The answer Stil we must sée your great reading and your followers must thinke that there is no such clearks in the whole world againe The truth of Ambroses spéech héerin is not woorth the discussing but it is ynough to you that a father speaketh it if it be not against anie thing determined by your church of Rome Iohn 9. 24. The text They therefore againe called the man that had beene blind and said to him ⸫ Giue glorie to God we know that this man is a sinner The note So saie the heretikes when they derogate from miracles done by Saints or their relikes pharisaically pretending the glorie of God As though it were not Gods glory when his saints do it by his power vertue yea his greater glorie that doth such things by his seruants and by the meanest things belonging to them as Peters shadow Act. 5. and Paules napkin Act. 9. The answer If by pretence of giuing glorie to God the pharisies had not gone about to derogate from the glory of our Lord and Sauiour Christ their words had not béene faultie We confesse that by the smaller and weaker things God worketh the more his glory thereby appéereth Yet that maketh nothing for your impudent shamelesse forged miracles as in making our Ladie a chappell kéeper I will not saie a baude in a nunnerie xv yéeres togither to couer the vile life of Beatrix the Nun who plaied the whoore so many yéeres togither Do you thinke that such miracles as this will make to the glorie of God And yet your bookes of lies are full of them Iohn 9. 39. The text And Iesus saide to him For iudgement came I into this world ⸫ that they that see not may see and they that see may become blind The note By this we see that this miracle was not onely marueilous and beneficiall to the blind but also significatiue of taking away spirituall blindnes The answer It is very true that the miracles of Christ were not lik popish miracles strange things onlie to be wondered at but foretold by the prophet Esaie beneficiall to the parties for whom they were done or wrought and significatiue that is bearing witnes to the truth of his doctrine All which properties the lying signes and wonders of the popish church want Iohn 10. 1. The text He that entreth not by doore into the folde of sheepe but climeth vp another way he is ⸫ a thiefe and a robber The note The thiefe is the heretike speciallie and anie other that vnlawfully breake in vpon the sheepe to kill and to destroy them by false doctrine and otherwise The answer Poperie is a dunghill compacted of the shreds of many heresies Christ being the onlie doore and heauen the folde prouided for the safe kéeping of Gods flocke the papists must néedes bée théeues and robbers for that they will clime into heauen by many waies besides Christ. Iohn 10. 4. The text And when he hath let foorth his owne sheepe hee ⸫ goeth before them and the sheepe follow him bicause they knowe his voice The note That is the fashion of Iurie and other countries signifiyng that the shepherd or pastor must teach the sheepe and not they him The answer Onlie England haue their shéepe and other cattell wander abroad harmelesse hauing no kéeper which in other countries is counted a miracle Your signification we accept and therefore conclude that you are none of Christs shéepe bicause you take vpon you to set your shepherd to schoole Further it is to be noted how continuallie the scripture calleth the shéepe of Christ to the hearkening to his voice contrarie to the papists who call all to the harkening to and obeying of their church Iohn 10. 15. The text As the father knoweth me and I know my father ⸫ I yeeld my life for my sheepe The note Christs death was so necessarie for the flocke that when he might haue escaped he voluntarilie offered him selfe to death for his flocke The answer That Christs death was necessarie in word you graunt but when it cōmeth to péecing of it with other parts of your doctrine it must stand for a worke néedlesse else it can not hold togither For if the blood of saint Thomas could helpe vs to heauen what néeded Christ to haue shed his blood for vs Iohn 10. 16. The text And ⸫ other sheepe I haue that are not of this fold them also I must bring and they shall heare my voice and there shall be made one fold
for persecution or for businesse séeing that both the actes of the Apostles the Epistle to the Romains euery epistle that Paul wrote from Rome minister good reasons against Peters being there so that if he were bishop so long as your stories testifie of him he was a notable non Resident but I had rather imagine that he came thither but a litle afore his death Philip. 3. â— The text See the dogges see the euill workers see the ⸫ concision for we are the circumcision which in spirit serue God c. The note By allusion of words he calleth the carnall Christian Iewes that yet boasted in the circumcision of the flesh concision and himselfe and the rest that circumcised their hart and senses spirituallie the true circumcision Saint Chrisostome Theoph. The answer Either you should set downe nothing without authorities alledged or els if you would spare your paines in anie place you should do it in those whereof the sense is not in controuersie but confessed on both parts Philip. 3. 1â—â— The text And may be found in him not hauing my iustice which is of the Lawe but that which is of the faith of Christ which is of God iustice in faith to know him and the vertue of his resurrection the societie of his passions configured to his death ⸫ if by anie meanes I may come to the resurrection which is from the dead The note If Saint Paul ceased not to labour still as though he were not sure to come to the marke without continuall indeuour what securitie may we poore sinners haue of heretikes perswasions and promises of securitie and saluation by onlie faith The answer We are verie sure that they which after they are called to knowledge do not continuallie indeuour to walke in those good workes which God hath prepared for men to walke in shall not come to the marke of life euerlasting which is set before all chrians And we know none but papists that teach such securitie to make men trust to that faith which is idle and doeth not worke by loue a diligent indeuour of obedience to Gods holy lawes And yet this continuance of our indeuour is no argument of doubtfulnesse of our saluation neither yet of trust in our deserts but that Christ liueth in vs and by his spirit leadeth and guideth vs effectuallie And it is not to be passed ouer though you be not disposed to sée it that the Apostle for all his indeuour yet flieth from his owne righteousnesse to the righteousnesse of Christ which God hath made his by faith so that it is euident that the Apostles confidence rested vpon the righteousnesse of Christ imputed to him Philip. 3. 17. The text Be followers ⸫ of me brethren and obserue them that walke so as you haue our forme The note It is a goodlie thing when a pastor may say so to his flocke Neither is it anie derogation to Christ that the people should imitate their Apostles life and doctrine and other holie men Saint Augustine Saint Benedict Saint Dominicke Saint Frauncis The answer It is a verie good thing when the Pastors are examples to their flocke in life and doctrine but yet the best men are to be followed with exception namelie no further then they follow Christ. As for your frierlie fathers whom you recken and whom you follow in wilworship are vnméete to be matched with Paul and others partners of Christian obedience to them among whom they liued Philip. 4. 3. The text Yea and I beseech thee my sincere companion helpe those women that haue laboured with me in the Gospel with ⸫ Clement the rest my coadiutors whose names are in the booke of life The note This Clement was afterward fourth Pope of Rome from Saint Peter as Saint Hierome writeth according to the common supputation The answer This is to be marked that the reckoning and supputation of Popes succéeding one another is a matter not agréed on though it be the maine foundation and principall pillar whereupon the Romish church will séeme to staie her selfe For as it is a matter verie vncertaine whether Peter was euer Bishop of Rome so is it also vncertaine who was first second third or fourth If we may beléeue the constitutions ascribed to the Apostles the testimonie whereof you can not refuse citing the authoritie of them in other matters verie often then Peter was neuer Bishop there but Linus was the first ordeined by Paul and not by Peter Clemens the second Eusebius reckoneth Clemens third and Euaristus fourth after both Peter and Paul For I do not perceiue that he reckoned one of them more for bishop there then the other Nicephorus maketh Peter the first Linus the second and Anacletus third and Clemens fourth Hierome reckoned in the same order sauing that he addeth that manie of the Latines did count Clemens next after Peter Sabellicus writeth that Peter Linus Cletus and Clemens were all Bishops of Rome at once and striketh quite out Anacletus out of the number Ireneus reckoneth next after Linus Anacletus And Optatus Mileuitanus setteth him that is Anacletus next after Clemens And thus your famous succession whereof you so greatly glorie resteth vpon a rotten vncertaine foundation the progresse thereof if it were examined is more diuerse and vncertaine and that manie waies and therefore no maruell though so vncertaine a succession must serue to vphold so vile a congregation as the church of Rome is at this day which bicause you know you referre the matter to the common supputation which must be that which you commonlie at this day follow Philip. 4. 10. The text And I also reioiced in our Lord exceedingly that once at the length you haue ⸫ reflorished to care for me as you did also care but you were occupied The note This reflorishing is the reuiuing of their old liberalitie which for a time had beene slacke and dead S. Chrysostom The answer This was Paules thankfulnes as well for the care they presently had of him as for their liberalitie afore time bestowed on him Philip. 4. 1â— The text And you know also O Philippians that in the beginning of the Gospell when I departed from Macedonia no church coÌ„municated vnto me in the account of gift and ⸫ receipt but you onely for vnto Thessalonica also once and twise you sent to my vse The note He counteth it not meere almes or a free gift that people bestoweth on their pastors or preachers but a certaine mutuall traffike as it were and interchange the one giuing spirituall the other rendering temporall things for the same The answer Your note is true though the pastors of your church giue stones for bread for fish scorpions and in stead of milke strong and ranke poison COLOSSIANS Colos. 1. 6. The text That is come vnto you as also ⸫ in the whole world it is and fructifieth and groweth euen as in you since that day that you heard and knew the grace of
the best frame and forme they can all the arguments of the aduersaries and to ech seuerall argument the answere as plainely and briefly as it can be comprised which being done and compiled into one or two volumes whatsoeuer they write hereafter except they bring which I thinke impossible some newe thing heretofore vnheard of to be referred to those volumes for answer and so to cease troubling the world with more bookes Touching mine answers to their marginall notes I hope it will appeere that I haue studied with as much breuitie and plainnes as I could possibly to discipher their vanitie and trifling wherewith they haue blotted and blurred their margents of their Testament Their translation and larger annotations though many times great occasions are offered to carpe at them yet as neere as I could possiblie I haue left them vntouched to him or them whosoeuer he or they be that of purpose shall deale with that matter To the end that my truth and simplicitie of dealing may the better appeere to the Reader of what sort soeuer he be I haue set downe the text wherevpon their notes are gathered according to their owne translation and their notes word forword and then mine answers By which doing I hope it will well appeere that when out of their most partiall translation which they of purpose haue framed for their best aduantage the things which they gather will not follow nor be confirmed that they are vtterlie destitute of all helpe of the scriptures how soeuer they labor to wring them to their purpose But concerning mine owne doing this shall suffice If this which I haue done shall by you most reuerend father be iudged to be profitable for the church and people of God I haue that which I desire The Lord God blesse keepe and preserue you At Dunburie the xij of Aprill 1588. A view of the marginall notes of the Popish Testament translated into English by the English fugitiue Papists resiant at Rhemes in Fraunce Matt. 1. ver 2â— The text ANd she shall bring foorth a sonne and thou shalt call his name ⸫ Iesus The note Iesus an Hebrew word in English Sauiour The answer If you would assigne vs none other Sauiour neither in part nor in whole our controuersies were at an end we should not neede to fill the worlde with our pamphlets Matt. 2. 16. The text Then Herode perceiuing that he was deluded by the Sages was exceeding angrie and sending murdered all the ⸫ men children that were in Bethlehem and in all the borders thereof from two yeeres olde and vnder The note The martyrdome of holy Innocents whose Holy-day is kept the 28. of December The answer You studyed no doubt harde for this note or els so learned a matter coulde not haue passed your penne That these children were murdered for Christes cause I well perceiue and yet because their death was not a voluntarie testimonie to the trueth I see not any iust reason to accompt them Martyrs Howbeit it is not a matter woorth the contending about Matt. 3. 10. The text Euery tree therefore that doth ⸫ not yeeld good fruit shall be cut downe and cast into the fire The note It is not onely damnable to doe euill but also not to doe good Aug. Sermone 6â— de temp The answer You doe well to cite Augustine for this and we beléeue it not bicause he sayeth it but bicause this text doeth enforce it And you must either tell vs what euill doing is smaller then not doing good or els your veniall sinnes must be quite banished the countrey Matth. 5. 26. The text Be at agreement with thine aduersary betimes whiles thou art in the way with him least perhaps the aduersarie deliuer thee to the Iudge and the Iudge deliuer thee to the officer and thou be cast into ⸫ prison The note This prison is taken of very auncient Fathers for Purgatorie namely Saint Cyprian epist. 52. ad Anton. nu 6. The answer And what néede Fathers for this Is it not ynough that your holy father of Rome taketh it so The fathers might erre he can not erre If this prison be purgatorie then no man can passe out of it without paying the last farthing And if that be so the sale of pardons and such pelte is marred For howe can pardon take place where payment is so peremptorily required But Cyprian taketh it for purgatorie I haue looked into the place by you quoted and find it not so onely he toucheth there this present place but neither his wordes nor the circumstances of the place afore nor after doe enforce any meaning of your purgatorie that I can sée Therefore it argueth either great negligence in you in not searching or great penurie of fathers so applying this place if you searching could find none more plaine for your turne than this Augustine expoundeth this place of hell plainly and flatly As for your purgatorie Plato the Ethnicke philosopher of great fame was the first founder thereof that I haue read of Matth. 5. 43. The text Thou shalt loue thine neighbour and ⸫ hate thine enemie The note So taught the Pharisees not the lawe The answer So say we to them that turne precepts to counsels so teach the papistes and not the Gospel Matth. 5. â—5 The text Who maketh his sunne to rise vpon good bad and raineth vpon iust and ⸫ vniust The note We see that the temporall prosperitie of persons and countries is no signe of better men or truer religion The answer Therefore the Popes long continued rolle of succession is no good argument to approoue his religion nor his present prosperitie his goodnesse and holinesse Matth. 6. 11. The text Giue vs to day our ⸫ supersubstantiall bread The note In Saint Luke the Latine is panem quotidianum daily bread the Greeke being indifferent to both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The answer You do in this according to your common custome that which is most obscure farthest from the peoples vnderstanding and may best serue you to dally withall that you make choise of Matth. 6. 31. The text Be not carefull therefore saying what shall we eate or what shall we drinke or wherewith shall we be couered For all these things the ⸫ heathen doe seeke after The note They seeke temporall things onely and that not of the true God but of their idols or by their owne industrie The answer To contend with you about the heathen it were but a follie It is manifest that many of them looked for immortalitie of the soule and felicitie after this life as their Elisij campi doe testifie But for séeking either by your owne industrie or by them which are no gods you and they may be coupled together For you be right cousin germaines and therein you giue them not place an inch Matth. 7. 11. The text If you then being naught know how to giue good giftes to your children how much more will your Father which is in heauen giue ⸫
warrant your merits you delight to draw and straine parables perforce to your purpose For the meaning of that parable is nothing els but that they which during life and the time which God granteth them héere neglect the ordinarie meanes which God hath appointed for their saluation shal wish for it then when it is too late and when they cannot haue it Matt. 23. 20. The text Lord fiue talents thou didst deliuer me behold ⸫ I haue gained other fiue besides The note Freewill with Gods grace doth merit The answer It pleaseth God in mercie to reward liberally his seruants which vse the gifts which God hath bestowed on them to the honor of God and benefit of his Church What maketh this either for frée will or for merits Matt. 25. 26. The text And his Lord answering said to him ⸫ Naughtie and slothfull seruant thou didst know that I reape where I sow not c. The note A terrible example for all such as do not imploy the verie lest gift of God to his glorie The answer If this were as well weighed of you as it is written you would not waste your gifts vpon aduancing the man of sinne and child of perdition the proud Antichrist of Rome who vaunteth himselfe aboue all that is called God Matt. 25. 34. The text Come ye blessed of my father possesse you the kingdome ⸫ prepared for you from the foundation of the world The note This kingdome then is prepared for those only that do goodworks as Christ also signifieth els where saieng that it is not in his power to giue it otherwise See the annotations chap. 20. verse 23. The answer This note might be passed ouer if the corrupt meaning of them which giue it were not manifest Therefore this we say that whosoeuer by beléeuing in the name of Christ haue power to become the sonnes of God they also are fruitfully replenished with all maner of good works as time place occasion and other circumstances do serue which serueth not in all alike For the théefe vpon the crosse being now readie to die and hauing spent lewdly his former life and therefore not hauing meanes to shew foorth his faith otherwise than by confession is promised to be partaker of the kingdome of Christ. And at what time soeuer a sinner truly repenteth him of his sinnes God putteth all his sins out of remembrance how then can he be accursed or excluded out of the kingdome of heauen But our papists must either merit al at Gods hand or els they must haue nothing Your note to which you refer vs shall be considered of amongst your other larger annotations Matt. 26. 33. The text Amen I say vnto you whersoeuer this Gospell shal be preached in the whole world that also which she hath done ⸫ shall be reported for a memorie of hir The note Heerby we learne that the good works of saints are to be recorded and set foorth to their honor in the church after their death whereof rise their holidaies and commemorations The answer Héereby we learne that through Gods great goodnes the memorie of the iust shall be blessed and eternall Their holidaies afterward grew especially in such sort as they were in time of poperie solemnized wheÌ„ the diuell by his false Apostles entised men to giue to saints that honor which might not be lawfully giuen to men Matth. 26. 27. The text Drinke ye all of this The note See the margent note Marke 14. verse 23. The answer It shall be séene and answered as it commeth in course Matth. 26. 31. The text Then Iesus said to them All you shalbe scandalized in me in this night The note The nocturne of mattens in the Churches seruice answereth to this night part of our Sauiours passion and so consequently the other canonicall howers to the rest The answer This is a clearkly note you are well skilled belike in your Church seruice What your nocturne of mattens meaneth whether morning praier at night or any other mistery I can not tell For I haue not taken paines neither in your pia nor in your portuise But amongest other mockeries in your Church seruice vsed I remember that on maundy thursday at night we went froÌ„ your sacred ceremonies in the Chappell to the Colledge hall where our maundy was prouided and there whilest a boy read on the Bible to these words rise and go hence we eat and drinke so fast that he sang to deafeâ—men but when he came to those words with our mouthes full to the Chappelâ—we hied againe to make an end of your fooleries which at that time were very many God forgiue it vs. Matth. 26. 74. The text Then he began to curse and sweare that he knew not the man The note To this time the laudes doo answere in the Church seruice The answer This is such profound geare that I know not what to say to it For I am not skilfull in their Church seruice and I can spend my time better then now to séeke skill therein Matth. 27. 6. The text And the chiefe priest hauing taken the siluer peeces said It is not lawful to cast them into the ⸫ Corbanah bicause it is the price of blood The note This Corbanah was a place about the temple which receiued the peoples gifts or offerings Marke 12. vers 42. The answer If you would haue vouchsafed to haue translated in this place Corbanah into English neither your note nor your reference should haue néeded Neither doo I thinke that you can giue any good reason why you doo not translate it treasurie As for your reference it shall be considered of in your larger annotations MARKE Mar. 1. 4. The text Iohn was in the desert baptizing and preaching the baptisme of penance ⸫ vnto remission of sins The note Iohns baptisme put them in hope onely of remission of sins as a preparatiue to Christs sacrament by which sins were in deed to be remitted Augustine lib. 5. de baptismo cap. 10. The answer In the Scriptures we learne that Iohns baptisme was from heauen the counsell and ordinance of God that Iohn was a minister thereof for that purpose sent of God that the hope of remission of sins was grounded on the promises of God which deceiueth not that Iohn was the minister of the outward element and Christ the giuer of the inward grace Finally the element is the same the doctrine is the same which the Church of God now vseth How then ran your braines on a difference For sooth Augustine maketh this difference You may be a shamed to alledge Augustine for that wherof he was not resolued The Donatistes did rebaptise such Christians as they wan to their congregation from Christs Church in defence of which dotage they alledged for them selues the example of Paul who as they supposed did rebaptise those that were once afore baptised of Iohn Which obiection did trouble saint Augustine not a little so that he wist not well
to shift of the reasons that the Arrians gathered out of this place against the diuinitie of Christ. Mark 14. 7. The text For the poore you haue alwaies with you and when you wil you may do them good But ⸫ me you haue not alwaies The note We haue not Christ here needing our almes as when he conuersed vpon the earth The answer And why haue we héere no doctors Bicause this shift to expound this text so that it should not make against the bodilie presence of Christ in the Sacrament is a late deuise It is true that if he be not here in bodie then it is not possible for him to néede reléefe But let vs see how your faith in this point agréeth with the ancient Christian Catholike faith Augustine willeth Dardanus to hold this Christian confession That Christ rose from the dead ascended into heauen sitteth at the right hande of the Father shall come from none other place but from thence to iudge the quicke and the dead and that he shall so come as the angels voice testified euen as he was séene go into heauen that is in the same forme and substance of flesh to the which he truly gaue immortalitie and tooke not away nature According to this forme he is not to be thought diffused euery where Fulgentius affirmeth that Christ according to the humane nature is comprehended in a place absent from heauen when he was vpon the earth and forsaking the earth when he ascended into heauen Uigilius writing against the heretike Eutiches saith that Christ is with vs and not with vs. For those whom he left and from whom he departed in his humanitie he did not leaue nor forsake in his diuinitie By forme of a seruant which he took from vs into heauen he is absent from c. And in another place when he hath prooued him to be euerie where according to his diuinitie and but in one place at once according to his humanitie he concludeth thus This is the faith and confession Catholike which the Apostles deliuered Martyres did confirme and the faithfull hitherto haue held And concerning these very words Me you shal not haue alwaies Augustine expoundeth them simplie to be ment of his bodily absence from the earth Now let our papists tell vs how their faith can be Christian and Catholike being directly against that which in these fathers daies was Christian and Catholike Mark 14. 23. The text And taking the chalice giuing thanks he gaue to them and they ⸫ all dranke of it The note All dranke to wit all the twelue for more were not present Wherebie it is euident that the words in Saint Matthew 26 27 Drinke ye al of this were spoken to all the apostles onely which here are said that they all did drinke And so it is no generall commandement to all men The answer And why haue we not here one doctor to say for you that Drinke yée all is not so general a commandement as Take and eate Can that be a catholike exposition which is contrarie to all expositions of catholike expositors for many hundred yéeres after Christ Take and eate stretcheth to laie men as the practise of your church doth shew And Drinke yée all that must be restreined to priests bicause no more but y e Apostles were present And if that cause be of force why shall it not restraine the other commandement also Take and eate to priests onely But the holy Ghost foreséeing what popish corruptions the diuell would bring into the Church did afore hand the more fully to preuent the diuels fraud héerein direct the pens of the Euangelists in the giuing of the cup to expresse the vniuersall signe all where in deliuerie of the bread he is content with an indefinite spéech take and eate Heere all antiquitie is vtterly against poperie Their doctrine of concomitance was not in the fathers daies hatched neither had they wit ynough to foresée the danger of spilling and hanging in lay mens beards and such other déepe considerations as the pope picked out long after out of his night cap. Mark 14. 25. The text Amen I saie to you that now I will not drinke of the fruits ⸫ of the vine vntill that daie when I shall drinke it new in the kingdome of God The note See annotations vpon Matthew chap. 26. vers 29. The answer Your annotations are not woorth the looking on yet such as they are they shall receiue answer by themselues Mark 14. 64. The text Who all ⸫ condemned him to be guiltie of death The note Here we may see that they were worthily reprobated and forsaken according to our sauiours prediction by the parable Mark. 12. The kingdome of God shall be taken from you c. The answer Their successors in impietie blasphemie and crueltie Annas and Caiphas of Rome and their adherents cannot be in better estate for they with no lesse consent and vnitie haue condemned Christ in his members and his truth for heresie and blasphemie Mark 14. 66. The text And when Peter was in the courte beneath there commeth one of the ⸫ woman seruants of the high priest The note He feareth not afterward Rome the ladie of the worlde that in the house of Caiphas was afraid of the high priests wench Leo in natiuitate Petri Pauli sermone 1. The answer In this weake fearefulnes of Peter we may sée our owne frailtie and in the change that God after made in him when he had indued him and others with vertue from aboue the power by which God can and doeth worke in weake and fraile vessels Rome was the ladie of the worlde therefore not the head of the church a place fearfull to the godlie or els Peters valure in not fearing of it had not béene commendable Marke 1◠29. The text And they that passed by blasphemed him wagging their heades and saying Vah he that destroyeth the temple and in three dayes buildeth it ⸫ saue thy selfe comming downe from the crosse The note So say heretikes of the blessed Sacrament if it be Christ let him saue him selfe from all iniuries The answer We whome it pleaseth you to call heretikes learne not from the scornefull Iewes but from good Ioash the father of Gedeon that your bread is not God bicause it can not plead for it selfe nor reuenge it selfe But you haue a god and a religion alike both of your owne creation Marke 15. 34. The text My God my God why hast thou ⸫ forsaken me The note See Matth. cap. 27. 46. the blasphemous exposition of Caluine and his followers and take heede thereof The answer Sée the exposition reape comfort thereof and learne with hart and minde to detest and abhorre the impudent and shamelesse pennes of lying papistes Marke 16. 7. The text But go tell his disciples ⸫ Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee The note Peter is named in speciall as often els where for prerogatiue The answer A poore prerogatiue it
wise man will wander after such vncertaine steps as they lead him in Hierome taketh this place to be paradise and Hierome taketh this place not to be paradise in this place by you quoted and if your owne authour be not constant what shall we thinke of the rest Augustine can not tell whether the bosome of Abraham be paradise or hell but in reasoning the case he deliuereth thrée reasons why it should not be hell first bicause hell is named in the text in the death of the rich man and not named in the death or rest of Lazarus Secondlie bicause it is hard to finde the name of hell in scriptures taken in good part for a place of ioy and rest so that if the scriptures had said that Christ had gone into Abrahams bosome after death and had not told of the loosing of the sorrowes of death he would haue marueiled that any durst haue béene so bold as to haue affirmed that he discended into hel Thirdlie the great and wonderfull distance héere mentioned betwixt hell and Abrahams bosome it were too long and not agréeing with the breuitie which I haue hitherto vsed to rippe vp the disagréeing iudgements of the fathers whether Abrahams bosome be parcell of heauen or hell or whether it be aboue vs or beneath vs for so alwaies it is when men are vncertainlie caried after the vanitie of their owne minde and conceite they wot not whither them selues How much better had it béene for them and you to hold fast that which saint Augustine calleth the faith of the Catholikes namelie that the kingdome of heauen is a place of ioy for the faithfull and hell a place of punishment for infidels and apostataes and that a third place either for rest or punishment is vnknowne and no where found in scriptures These two places are héere liuelie described for the rich man went to hell a place of torments but Lazarus was caried into Abrahams bosome a place of ioy and rest Heauen is called Abrahams bosome bicause that God gaue him that honour to bée father of the faithfull therefore his children are said to be gathered into his bosome when together with him they are crowned with heauenlie ioy and rest the reward of his and their faith Luke 16. 25. The text And Abraham said vnto him Sonne remember that thou didst receiue ⸫ good things in thy life time and Lazarus likewise euill but now he is comforted and thou art tormented The note To be in continuall pleasures ease welth peace and prosperitie in this world is perillous and a signe of paines in the next Saint Hierome The answer You haue cited Saint Hierome at randon in a cause néedlesse we haue learned of the Apostle that God doth chastice euery child whom he receiueth and that they which in this life escape his rod are bastards and not children Séeing then Hieroms spéech is warranted by the word we acknowledge with you that continual pleasures ease welth peace and prosperitie are perillous and betokeneth that God deferreth the punishment of such to the next life Luke 16. 29. The text And Abraham said to him ⸫ They haue Moyses and the Prophets let them heare them The note Abraham had knowledge of things in earth which were not in his time as that they had Moyses and the prophets bookes which he neuer saw Augustin de cura promortuis cap. 14. The answer Augustines iudgement is that the dead know no more what we do héere then we know what they do there against which his iudgement he obiecteth this which you boldlie put downe for his assertion To which he answereth that this knowledge was extraordinarie either by relation of Moyses and the Prophets now dead and with Abraham or by ministerie of Angels which serue men héere who reueale to saints there so much as it pleaseth God to let them know What is this then to anie ordinarie knowledge of our affaires héere Which is the thing that you would faine persuade men to encourage them forward in inuocation of dead mē which you may the easilier get at their hands if you can assure them that the saints departed know their necessities and heare their praiers But how much better and trulier might you haue noted that God denieth to those to whom hée hath graunted his word extraordinarie instruction by the dead which would ouerthrow the credit of those fables whereupon your purgatorie is grounded Luke 17. 1. The text And he said to his disciples It is ⸫ impossible that scandale should not come but wo to him by whom they come The note Not of meere necessitie for then it were no fault but presupposing the great wickednesse of men it is impossible but there shalbe scandales and therefore it followeth wo to him by whom they come The answer If it were such necessitie as should exclude will then there were no fault but nowe as scandals as you tearme them are necessarie so you wilfullie and wittinglie runne into them and therefore wo to you To omit all other the séeking to murther the Lords anointed our most gratious soueraigne an horrible offence answer it and excuse it if you can Luk. 17. 19. The text And he said to him Arise go thy waies bicause ⸫ thy faith hath made thee safe The note And yet we see heere it was not onlie faith but also his thankefulnes and returning to giue glorie to God The answer We sée héere two things First the impudent boldnes of papistes that dare controll the spéech of our Lord and Sauiour Christ. Secondlie that though faith be accompanied with many other vertues yet Christ ascribeth the receiuing and embracing of safetie and such benefits as procéed from God to men to faith onlie and alone Luk. 17. 21. The text The kingdom of God commeth not with obseruation neither shall they say loe heere or lo there for loe the kingdome of God is within you The note Whiles they looke and aske for a temporall kingdome in pompe and glorie loe their king and Messias was now among them whose spirituall kingdome is within all the faithfull that haue dominion ouer sinne The answer If the kingdome of God commeth not with obseruation then how say you that it must alwaies haue a visible and a knowne succession of bishops in a place certaine which is directlie against this spéech of Christ. Luke 17. 23. The text And they will say to you Lo heere and lo there ⸫ Go not neither do ye follow after The note No man must run out of the Church after schismatikes to heare them preach Christ in corners Christs doctrine being open in al the world See annot Matthew 24. 23. The answer But all they are schismatikes who haue diuided themselues from the doctrine which Christ and his Apostles openly deliuered to the whole world therefore whether they preach openly or in corners men may not heare them nor go after them But you papists teach that whereof there is no commandement no
proouing of the Sacrament to be a sacrifice propitiatorie which for that purpose you do craftilie and closely couple with the sacrifice on the cresse Iohn 18. 1. The text When Iesus had said these things he went foorth with his disciples beyond the Torrent Cedron where was a garden into the which he entred and his disciples c. The note The passion according to Saint Iohn is the Gospell at masse on good Fridaie So the passion is read in holie weeke foure times according to the foure Euangelists as Saint Augustine also appointed in his church at Hippo. Ser. 144. de tempore The answer To what purpose is your reading of the Gospels which verie fewe or none vnderstand Is it not as good for a man to hold his peace as to speake that which the hearers vnderstand not Did Saint Augustine appoint at Hippo the Gospels to be read in a language which the people vnderstood not We may in truth much better alledge Saint Augustine for the custome of our church which at the same time readeth the same Scriptures in the natiue naturall language of the common people and also teacheth and instructeth the people out of the said Scriptures as Saint Augustine did and you commonly do not Iohn 18. 17. The text The wench therefore that was portresse said to Peter Art not thou also of this mans disciples He saith to her ⸫ I am not The note It is all one for a man to denie Christ and that he is a disciple of Christ or a Catholike or a christian man when he is demanded Augustine tract 113. in hom Ioan. for so Peter heere denieth Christ in denieng him selfe to be his disciple The answer We graunt and we pray to God to giue vs strength boldnes and courage to confesse him before men whatsoeuer danger ensue of it But héere you vse a péece of your accustomed fraud in putting in the word Catholike which Augustine hath not which you did but to deceiue them withal whom you haue vntruly persuaded that there are none other Catholikes in the world but your selues Iohn 18. 35. The text Pilate answered why am I a Iew ⸫ Thy nation and the chiefe priests haue deliuered thee vp to me what hast thou done The note It pleased God that Christ who was to die both for the Iewes and the Gentiles should be betraied by the one and put to death by the other The answer Why doe yée not say that God did but permit and suffer it If it were Gods good pleasure that it should be so how was not God the authour of it Do you not sée then by your owne confession that God may be the authour of their fact though not of the fault thereunto adioyned Iohn 19. 14. The text And it was the parasceue of the Pasche about ⸫ the sixt houre and he said to the Iewes loe your king The note He meaneth midday counting from sunne rising for so doeth the Scripture count of the houres of the dâ—ie Matth. 20. Marke 15. Luk. 23. Iohn 4. Actes 3. 〈◊〉 10. The answer Your accompt of the houres as it is a matter of small moment so is it easie but we had rather haue heard some good reason why you durst not giue vs the english héer of Parasceue and Pasche but if anie had béene readie I am persuaded wée should haue had it aswell for this as afore for Amen amen But till such time as you better discharge your selfe thereof we shall still thinke that you would haue the scriptures so obscure and darke that poore men might be fraied from studieng of them Iohn 19. 20. The text This title therefore manie of the Iewes did read bicause the place was nigh to the citie it was written in ⸫ Hebrue in Greeke and in Latine The note These three tongues being for other causes most famous before in all the world are now also dedicated to God in the triumphant title of the crosse of Christ and in them the holie Scriptures are more conueniently written taught and preserued The answer I pray you shew vs by what reason you can collect this dedication out of this place or that it is not as conuenient also to haue the scriptures in other tongues it is strange you go about what you can to discredit the scriptures written in those toÌ„gues You would if you could abolish knowledge out of the world and bicause you can not doo that you labour to make the groundes of knowledge vncertaine to the end that the onlie oracles accompted of in the world may be the decrées of your holie father of Rome Iohn 19. 23. The text And his ⸫ coat was without seame wrought from the top throughout The note This coate without seame is a figure of the vnitie of the church Cyprian de vnit c. and Euthiâ—ius other write that our ladie made it The answer It is easie for men to deuise figures but when theâ— are deuised without ground or warrant they are but mens fansies Who made that coat iâ— no more materiall then who made his other garments Iohn 19. 25. The text And there stood beside the crosse of Iesus his mother and his mothers sister Marie of Cleophas and Marie Magdalene The note The great loue faith courage and compassion and sorrowes that our Ladie had who forsooke not the crosse and her sonne when so manie were fled from him and his chiefe Apostles denied him The answer So long as you doo but attribute a truth to our ladie and not adorne hir with that which appertaineth not to hir you can not heape vp too manie praises vpon her Iohn 20. 1. The text And the ⸫ first day of the Sabaoth Marie Magdalene commeth earlie when it was yet darke vnto the monument she saw the stone taken away from the monument The note That is the first day of the weeke as some interprete it taking saboath as somtime it is for a weeke This is our Sunday called dies dominica bicause of the Lords resurrection See the marginall annot Luk. 24 1. The answer If you had not héere brought a new interpretation we should not haue séene that you excell also in varietie if you had vouchsafed to haue told vs in plaine English that Sonday had bene called the Lords day bicause of the Lords resurrection we should haue thought you somewhat willing that the people shuld learne somewhat but now that you tell vs but in Latine wée thinke that you can be content that they be blind be blind still Iohn 20. 11. The text But Marie stood at the ⸫ monument without weeping The note The Sepulchers of martyrs saith Saint Hierome epist. 17. we do honor euerie where and putting their holie ashes to our eies if we may we touch it also with our mouth and be there some that thinke the monument wherein our Lord was laide is to be neglected where the diuell and his angels as often as they are cast out of the possessed before the said
vs not to apprehend Christs iustice by faith onlie but to be renued in our selues truly and to put on vs the new man formed and created in iustice and holines of truth By which freewil also is prooued to be in vs to worke with God and to consent vnto him in our sanctification The answer Who doth so teach iustification by faith onely that he doth not also teach sanctification as the ioined companion thereof But lieng and slaundering is your delight which I do not saie bicause you haue expresly vttered your minde but bicause you do couertly insinuate so much to your blinde followers Your proofe for fréewill is woorth thrée skips of a louse You may conclude it out of euerie exhortation as well as out of this it will follow all alike Ephes. 5. â— The text For vnderstanding know you this that no fornicator or vncleane or couetous person which is ⸫ the seruice of idols hath inheritance in the kingdome of Christ and of God The note See the hereticall corruption of this in the annot Col. 3. 5. The answer We haue séene your annotation and finde your quarrel stale as being mooued afore by master Martinius and answered by master Doctor Fulke And farther we sée that idolaters are beholding to you for you take as great paines as men may do to vpholde them in their idolatrie which in plaine English signifieth worshipping of images Ephes. 5. 23. The text Let women be subiect to their husbands as to our Lord bicause the man is the head of the woman as Christ is the head of the ⸫ church The note It is much to be noted that in the first English Bibles there is not once the name of Church in all the Bible but in steede thereof Congregation which is so notorious a corruption that themselues in their later Bibles correct it for shame and yet suffer the other to be read and vsed still See the Bible printed 1562. The answer Surelie Martinius was to blame that left you no quarel vnmooued to our translation it hath béene answered that our first translators translated aptlie and trulie when they translated congregation and that they therein committed no fault whereof they or others ought to be ashamed That the word Church was not shunned in anie sinister respect or meaning the translating of the same word church in the créede the vsing of the worde church in the notes of those first Bibles in our Catechismes alwaies in our latter translations as you confesse do manifestlie shew The cause whiâ— the translators did vse the word congregation rather then the word church was bicause in those times ignorance raigning the word congregation was more plaine and lesse ambiguous and doubtfull and therefore lesse danger in it of misconstruing or mistaking then in the other thus is your notorious corruption come to nothing Ephes. 6. 8. The text Knowing that euerie one what good soeuer he shall do that shall he ⸫ receiue of the Lord whether he be bond or free The note God leaueth no good worke vnrewarded The answer It is verie true and yet you neuer the nigher your merit Ephes. 6. 14. The text Stand therefore hauing your loines girded in truth and ⸫ clothed with the brestplate of iustice c. The note If man could not be trulie iust or hâ—â—e iustice in him selfe how could he be clothed with iustice The answer Men after this life are clothed with their habitation in heauen their habitation in heauen is not in them selues In like maner may they be clothed with the righteousnesse of Christ which though it make them trulie iust yet is in Christ and not in them selues The whole armour is Gods and by him giuen vs to defend our selues withall I maruell that you finde neither holiwater nor crosse nor anie such deuise of poperie among all this armour I thinke therefore that it followeth manifestlie that those péeces of armour neuer came out of Gods store-house Ephes. 6. 23. The text Peace to the brethren and ⸫ charitie with faith from God the Father and our Lord Iesus Christ. The note Saint Augustine noteth in sundrie places vpon this same text that faith without charitie serueth not to saluation Lib. 50. hom 7. The answer As for that faith which is without charitie we as we haue often told you estéeme it not woorth two strawes otherwise that a true faith onlie and alone iustifieth Saint Augustine will tell you if you will vouchsafe to sée it It is necessarie for a man that not onlie when he is wicked he should be iustified that is of a wicked man made iust when good things are rendered to him for euill but also when he is now iustified by faith that grace should walke with him and he rest thereupon least he fall And againe that Paul should be called from heauen and be conuerted by so great and effectuall a calling the grace of God alone was the cause thereof for his merits were great but euill PHILIPPIANS Philip. 1. â—7 The text And in nothing be ye terrified of the aduersaries which to them is ⸫ cause of perdition The note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a manifest proofe and euidence The answer We thinke you can interpret a Gréeke word right if you list as you haue done this Philip. 2. 16. The text Conteining the word of life ⸫ to my glorie in the day of Christ bicause I haue not runne in vaine nor in vaine labored The note Such as haue by their preachings gained anie to Christ shall ioy and glorie therein exceedinglie at the day of our Lord. The answer And what shall they do that gaine from Christ to Antichrist Philip 2. â—7 The text But and if I be ⸫ immolated vpon the sacrifice and seruice of your faith I reioice and congratulate with you all The note Pastors ought to be so zealous of the saluation of their flocke that with Saint Paul they should offer themselues to the death for the same The answer Such example gaue the prince of pastors such strength hath God giuen to a number of faithfull ministers as our eies haue séene and infinite multitudes are able to testifie and the booke or monument of martyrs hath recorded to all posteritie Philip. 2. 21. The text For ⸫ all seeke the things that are their owne and not the things that are Iesus Christs The note Manie forsake their teachers when they see them in bonds and prison for their faith bicause most men preferre the world before Christes glorie The answer This is verie true and yet the text rather speaketh of them that should be carefull ouer the flocke that a number of them shranke away after the world and prouided rather for them selues then for the flocke And consider you well vpon this spéech whether Peters being at Rome then when Paul wrote this were likelie or no when Paul had there none like minded to him selfe And it is a very simple shift to say that Peter might then be absent from Rome
heere we see good exhortations and praier and such other helps of man be profitable thereunto which could not be if we had not freewill The answer That conuersion from sin is the gift of God and that all helps by man which God hath thereto appointed are néedfull and necessarie it is manifest but it is impossible that the industrie of man should do good where God createth not a new hart and reneweth not a right will For the will and wisedome of man is enimitie to God And so appéereth the vanitie of your conclusion for frée will 2. Tim. 3. 8. The text But as Iannes and Iambres resisted Moises so these also resist the truth men corrupted in minde reprobate concerning the faith The note That those Magicians which resisted Moises were thus called it is not written in all the old Testament therefore it came to the Apostles knowledge by tradition as the church now hath the names of the three Kings of the penitent theefe of the souldier that pearced Christs side on the crosse The answer Howsoeuer Paul had the names of those magicians to vs it is not materiall We are sure the spirit of God hath now to vs made them knowen by him and therefore it followeth not that we must beléeue your fabulous narrations of the names number dignitie and such like of the wise men wherein you make of East West and of West East contrarie to the manifest truth so that the wiser sort of your selues do not beléeue those toies but your Romish church hath deliuered it to her children let them that will willinglie be deceiued be deceiued by her 2 Tim. 3. 14. The text But thou ⸫ continue in those things which thou hast learned and are committed to thee knowing of whom thou hast learned The note In all danger and diuersitie of false sectes Saint Pauls admonition is euer to abide in that was first taught and deliuered neuer to giue ouer our old faith for a new fansie This is it which before he calleth depositum 1. Timothie 6. and 2. Timothie 1. The answer And why did not Paul admonish men to hold fast that which the Pope and the church of Rome should prescribe bicause that should not or could not erre or stray from the first faith Or why do not you setting all other things apart enter into that triall with vs whether our doctrine or yours were the former Your whole doctrine swarueth farre from the first faith which the Apostles planted and the greatest part thereof is quite destitute of all testimonie of antiquitie 2. Tim. 4. 6. The text For I am euen now ⸫ to be sacrificed and the time of my resolution is at hand The note The martyrdome of Saints is so acceptable to God that it is counted as it were a sacrifice in his sight and therefore hath manie effectes both in the partie that suffereth it and in others that are partakers of the merit as of a sacrifice which name it hath by a Metaphore The answer The voluntarie suffrings of most bitter and cruel death for Gods cause of Gods saints are accepted of God as a most swéete sacrifice The effectes in the partie that suffereth bicause you haue not vttered what they be I can not imagine your meaning therefore know not what to say to it The effects it hath in others if you had dealt plainlie you should haue said to be the confirmation and strengthening of other christians by their suffrings But you come couertlie in with the partaking or partnership of their merits to make a way for the maintenance of your holie fathers gainfull marchandize for he hath the bestowing of all the merits of Peter and Paul and other saintes and they are admitted to be partakers of them that will paie most for them 2. Tim. 4. 21. The text Eubulus and pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren salute thee The note This Linus was coadiutor with and vnder Saint Peter and so counted second in the number of the popes The answer It is strange to sée how boldly our papists can set downe that which by no meanes they can be sure of first therefore good reader thou art to vnderstand that by the testimonie of all stories Peter and Paul suffered death at Rome both in one day If euer Linus therefore were bishop of Rome by the Apostles life time he was at this present when they were so néere their end that they dailie looked to be sacrificed But it is not likelie that he was as then aduaunced to that dignitie when neither Paul mentioneth him as bishop or as his or Peters coadiutor or fellow labourer and also setteth diuers other Christians afore him in his salutation which had béene a verie vnmannerlie part and a great forgetfulnesse of dutie in the Apostles if Linus had then béene Bishop there and so Christs vicar generall But bicause you terme him Saint Peters coadiutor there I pray you tel me was Saint Peter there now or no I will not vse the reason that Paul not onlie héere but alwaies forgetteth him amongst those whom he nameth in his salutations whereof groweth great likelihood that he was neuer there whiles Paul wrote thence But if he were now and before there Paul maketh a verie great and pitifull complaint of him that he amongst the rest forsook him But I had rather say he was not yet come to Rome and that Paul made Linus the first Bishop there as your Clemens also affirmeth then to admit so great an absurditie against Peter The succession of the bishops of Rome which you so much glory of and vpon the authoritie whereof your church resteth is vncertaine vaine obscure and such as your selues can make no certaine report of TITVS Tit. 1. 15. The text All things are ⸫ cleane to the cleane but to the polluted and infidels nothing is cleane but polluted are both their minds and consciences The note He speaketh not of the church absteining from meats sometimes which is not for anie vncleannes in the creatures but for chastening their bodies but he meaneth the Iewish superstition who now being christians would not cease to put difference of cleane and vncleane according to their old law See Aug. cont Faust. lib. 31. cap. 4. The answer I easily beléeue that he ment not of that which was not for your churches superstition in that matter was not yet growne But you haue brought about by your lawes of abstinencie that your simple followers in the extremitie of sicknes when there cannot be any pretence of chastening their bodies thereby are so snarled in conscience that they dare not touch or tast that which is necessary to preserue life and to restore health withal Besides chastening of your bodies in your ordinarie abstinence in poperie hath no probable shew For your richer sort neuer fare more delicately nor fill their bellies more gluttonouslie then when they abstaine from ordinarie meats and hunt after extraordinarie delicates So that no mans bodies are
in this matter to part stakes with him by chalēging if not one half yet a verie great part by your works satisfactorie meritorious Hebr. 10. 6. The text Holocausts and for ⸫ sinne did not please thee The note For sinne is the proper name of a certaine sacrifice called in Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as holocaust is another kinde See the annotations 2. Corinths 5. verse 21. The answer To trouble peoples heads with the diuersitie of the sacrifices of the Iewes and their diuers appellations I iudge it not necessarie and therefore I leaue your note as I finde it Hebr. 10. 16. The text And this is the testament which I will make to them after those daies saith our Lord giuing my lawes ⸫ in their hartes and in their mindes will I superscribe them and their sinnes and iniquities I will remember no more The note This is partlie fulfilled by the grace of the new Testament but it shal be perfectlie accomplished in heauen The answer This note I will not impugne but it commeth as a rose among nettles which a man can hardlie cul out without stinging of his handes Hebr. 10. 20. The text Hauing therefore brethren confidence in the entring of the holies in the blood of Christ which ⸫ he hath dedicated to vs a new and liuing way by the vaile that is his flesh c. The note To dedicate is to be the author and beginner of a thing The protestants translate he hath prepared for their heresie that Christ was not the first man that entered into heauen The answer Wée shunne not the word dedicate which you your selues haue borrowed of a protestant for it is as good and fit as the other And you charge vs wrongfullie with that which we holde not for we all affirme that Christ was the first man that euer caried the whole humane nature substance of man consisting of an humane bodie and of a reasonable soule into heauen Hebr. 10. 29. The text A man making the Lawe of Moises frustrate without anie mercie dieth vnder two or three witnesses ⸫ how much more thinke doth he deserue worse punishment which hath troden the sonne of God vnder foote and esteemed the blood of the Testament polluted wherein he is sanctified and done contumelie to the spirit of grace The note Heresie and Apostasie from the Catholike faith punishable by death The answer This doth plainly and manifestly reprooue the ouermuch clemencie vsed in this Realme and Church of England towarde froward and obstinate papists who by your owne conclusion are by Gods lawes punishable by death Hebr. 10. 35. The text Do not therfore loose your ⸫ confidence which hath a great remuneration The note Good works make great confidence of saluation and haue great rewarde The answer Good works being testimonies of our election fruits of our faith witnesses that we be led and guided by the spirit of God do nourish and increase our confidence in God whom we knowe to haue adopted vs in Christ for his children It is true also that God doth most liberally reward all good things which he worketh in his children Hebr. 11. 1. The text And faith is ⸫ the substance of things to be hoped for the argument of things not appearing The note By this word substance is ment that faith is the ground of our hope The answer Or rather that faith is the very substance and being of things which yet appéere not nor are not séene and therefore are hoped for Hebr. 11. 5. The text By faith ⸫ Henoch was translated that he should not see death and he was not found bicause God translated him The note Heere it appeereth that Henoch yet liueth and is not dead against the Caluinists See the Annot. chap. 11. Apoc. The answer Why do you not couple Saint Paule with the Caluinists doth not he saie that death reigned ouer all from Adam to Moyses Was not Henoch one of these all or did he not liue within the time there limited yet it is true that Enoch and Elias did not die after the common and ordinarie maner of other men but were translated and haue in extraordinarie maner and sort deposed the corruptible flesh that with Christ they may enioy blessed rest and quietnes Hebr. 11. ◠The text But without faith it is impossible to please God for he that commeth to God must beleeue that he is and is a ⸫ rewarder to them that seeke him The note We must beleeue that God will reward all our good works for he is a rewarder of true iustice not an accepter or imputer of that that is not The answer It is true that God of his goodnes and bountie will rewarde euery good worke and it is true that God rewardeth true iustice that is the good that they do that in sinceritie and truth séeke him though it deserue none But that which you adde sheweth that you care not how directly you oppose your selues to the truth of Gods word so that you may bleare the eies of the simple with somewhat Is not the iustice of Christ our iustice is it in vs reallie or by imputation Héeretofore you haue séemed to haue bent your force to prooue some iustice besides imputatiue iustice and now you would haue imputatiue iustice quite strooken out of the booke least God should be an imputer of that which is not Our sinnes were not in Christ and yet they were imputed to Christ and Christ was punished for them why shall it not then stand as well with Gods iustice that though Christs iustice be not actually and really in vs yet it be both imputed to vs and we crowned and rewarded for it Hebr. 11. 19. The text Wherevpon he receiued him also ⸫ for a parable The note That is in figure and mysterie of Christ dead and aliue againe The answer The truth of this note we acknowledge Hebr. 11. 22. The text By faith Ioseph dieng made mention of the going foorth of the children of Israell and gaue commandement ⸫ concerning his bones The note The translation of relikes or saints bodies and the due regard and honor we ought to haue to the same are prooued hereby The answer Ioseph in this commandement touching his bones shewed his assured faith and constant beléefe that God in his good time would kéepe and performe his promise touching the inheritance of the land of Canaan The children of Israell in translating his bones shewed their care of truth in kéeping the promise which they made vnto him The honor yea all the honor they did to him or his bones when they came into the lande of promise and were possessed of it was to sée him or them honestly laide in the graue What maketh all this for your superstitions The saints of God neither gaue you nor your fathers charge to translate their bones The cause of your translating them was not any due regard to them but profit to your selues by making marchandise of their carkasses and by abusing
The singular reward of martyrdome The answer But that rewarde of martyrdome magnifieth mightilie the marueilous munificence of our good and gratious God and not the merit of the martyr Apoc. 2. 11. The text He that shall ouercome shall not be hurt of the ⸫ seconde death The note The death of the body is the first death the death of the soule the second Which martyrs are surest to escape of all men The answer That true martyrs are sure to escape the second death is granted but not surer then other that be the sonnes of the same God who are assured of his fatherly fauor both by his promise and by the testimonie and witnes of the spirit of adoption Apoc. 2. 13. The text And in those daies Antipas my faithfull witnes who was slaine amongst you ⸫ where sathan dwelleth The note The speciall residence of sathan is where the faithfull are persecuted for Christs truth where not to denie the catholike faith for feare is much here commended The answer The speciall residence therefore of sathan is wheresoeuer the bishop of Rome beareth swaie for in all those places the blood of infinite martyrs haue béene shed to the great praise and commendation of those that haue constantly suffered for the testimonie of Gods truth Apoc. 2. 19. The text I know thy ⸫ works thy faith and thy charitie and ministerie and thy patience and thy last works mo then the former The note None of these are any thing woorth without the other The answer These things do so mutually follow one an other that though they may be distinguished yet separated they cannot be Your spéech therefore is like this the sunne is naught woorth without light The fire is naught woorth without heate For loue doth necessarily follow faith and after faith and loue our ministerie and diligent seruice to God in the vocation wherin it hath pleased him to plant vs with patience and all plentie of good works do necessarily follow so that one of these cannot be alone as you imagine Apoc. 2. 23. The text And all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reines and harts and I will giue to euery one of you ⸫ according to his works The note Who seeth not heere that good works deserue saluation as ill works deserue damnation and that it is not faith alone which God rewardeth but that faith which worketh by charitie The answer He had néede of a woonderfull sharpe sight that should sée here that which is not here You know well enough for it hath béene often told you that it followeth not that works deserue bicause God rewardeth But still bicause you are not able to make better proofe you make your selues sport with this Likewise you haue béene often told that we set lesse store by that faith which is alone then you do For if it be without charity it is improperly called faith being common both to wicked men and diuels Apoc. 2. 28. The text And he that shall ouercome and keepe my works vnto the end I will giue him power ouer the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron and as a vessel of a potter shall they be broken ⸫ as I also haue receiued of my father and I will giue him the morning star The note This great priuilege of saints riseth of the power and preheminence of Christ which his father gaue him according to his humanitie and therefore to denie it to saints is to denie it to Christ himselfe The answer You should haue told vs what this priuilege is and to whom it is giuen dead or liuing saints so should you not colorably haue nuzeled your blind and ignorant followers in the superstitions that they haue learned of you Therefore that which you subtilly haue omitted we will performe to the end your craft may be of all men espied The rod of iron or scepter of Christs kingdome is his word whereby he ruleth and gouerneth al that are his This word he hath committed into the hands of his ministers to rule and gouerne his church thereby also to destroy breake downe and ouerthrow euery high thing that exalteth it selfe against it to withstand it which shall be by it broken and shiuered to péeces as a potters vessell is broken with a rod of iron This is the power that is giuen to them ouer nations How then can you fetch out of this that which you couet that is defence for your robbing of God and his Christ of his honor and giuing it to dead saints Apoc. 3. 4. The text But thou hast a few names in Sardis ⸫ which haue not defiled their garments The note Such as haue not committed deadly sinne after baptisme The answer All sinne of it selfe and according to the nature thereof whether it be originall or actuall whether it séeme small or great is deadly for the reward and wages of it is death And therefore your distinction of deadly and veniall sinnes in that sense that you set it downe is false friuolous and foolish Apoc. 3. 4. The text And they shall walke with me in whites bicause they ⸫ are woorthie The note Note that there is in man a woorthines of the ioies of heauen by holy life and this is a common speech in holy scripture that man is woorthie of God of heauen of saluation The answer Note that no where in scripture our meriting or deseruing the ioies of heauen is found and note also that woorthines by our good and holie life is a popish tradition and one of their vnwritten verities for it is Christ in whom we are made woorthie And thirdly note that therefore héere as commonly else where our Rhemists play but the boyish sophisters to abuse the poore ignorant vnlearned people which depend vpon them with ambiguitie of words Apoc. 3. 20. The text Behold I stand at the doore and ⸫ knocke if any man shall heare my voice and open the gate I will enter in to him and will sup with him and he with me The note God first calleth vpon man and knocketh at the doore of his hart that is to say offereth his grace And it lieth in man to giue consent by free will holpen also by his grace The answer That God offereth his grace we consent but that the reformation of mans will is by you parted betwixt God and man that we cannot like of by any meanes For that you cannot gather neither of this place or of any other For where by nature our will is altogither corrupt God yea euen God alone must haue the whole glorie of the reformation thereof And therefore Dauid calleth that reformation by the name of creation as if it were by God to be brought foorth againe anew of nothing Apoc. 4. 1. The text After these things I looked and behold a doore open in heauen and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet speaking saieng Come vp hither and I will shew thee
things which must be done quickly after these The note The second vision in which is represented vnto vs the glorie and maiestie of God in heauen and the incessant honor and praises of all angels and saints assisting him Which is resembled in the daily honor done to him by all orders and sorts of holy men in the church militant also The answer If all orders in heauen giue all honor glorie and power to God alone and his Christ how dare you then miserable caitifes part the glorie of mans saluation betwéene God and your selues Is that thinke you a resemblance of the incessant honor and praises of his angels and saints in heauen Apoc. 4. 6. The text And in the sight of the seate as it were a sea of glasse like to Christall and in the midst of the seat round about the seat ⸫ fower beasts full of eies before and behind The note These fower beasts and the like described in the first of Ezechiel by the iudgement of the holy doctors signifie the fower Euangelists and in them all true preachers The man Matthew the lion Marke the calfe Luke the eagle Iohn See the causes heereof in the summe of the fower Euangelists pag. 1. S. Gregorie in Ezechiel The answer The causes alledged why by the fower beasts fower Euangelists should be signified are in my iudgement very slender and friuolous But whether they be signified or els whether as other interpreters affirme they do represent Gods wisedome might diligence spéedinesse or facilitie in bringing all things to passe I will not contend neither with Gregorie nor you Apoc. 5. 1. The text And I sawe in the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne ⸫ a booke written within and without sealed with seuen seales The note The third vision Saint Gregorie taketh it to be the booke of holie scriptures libr. 4. dialog 6. 42. The answer Saint Gregories interpretation doeth verie well please vs and I hope bicause you alledge it it can not dislike you we will therefore adde some thing which the text it selfe doth manifestly offer vnto vs to be obserued First in that it is written within and without it manifestlie appéereth that there is no roome left for your additions called traditions Secondlie it is fast and safe sealed that with seuen seales by which so diligent and so close sealing vp it is manifest that it is vtterlie vnlawfull to adde to diminish to alter anie thing for that to do in a sealed euidence is no better then méere forgerie Apoc. 5. 3. The text And no man was able neither in heauen nor in earth nor ⸫ vnder the earth to open the booke nor to looke on it The note He speaketh not of the damned in hell of whom there could be no question but of the faithfull in Abrahams bosome and in purgatorie The answer Surelie you can spie daie at a very little hole that can picke purgatorie out of this place he speaketh of men vnder the earth but he can not meane of hel and therefore he must néedes meane of purgatorie First graues are vnder the earth and therefore it may be he meaneth neither hell nor purgatorie But I pray you tell vs how do you know he meaneth not hell bicause it was out of al doubt and past question that among the damned there could be none found worthie to open the booke And doeth not the same reason prooue that he could meane purgatorie or Limbus patrum or may it be like to finde some worthier there then could be found in earth or in heauen You knowe well inough that your fond followers will not séeke to examine the truth of anie thing you set downe and therefore you dare deale thus looselie that euerie bodie that will not wilfullie be blinde may sée your absurdities But to leaue your follies I sée that you are amongst those to whom this booke is yet shut and not opened and therefore no maruell though you want vnderstanding Apoc. 5. 5. The text And one of the seniors said to me weepe not behold the ⸫ Lion of the tribe of Iudah the roote of Dauid hath wonne to open the booke and to loose the seuen seales thereof The note So did Iacob Genesis 49. call Christ for his kinglie fortitude in subduing the world vnto him The answer That Christ is called héere the Lion of the tribe of Iudah it is apparant but whether by allusion to that place of Genesis which you cite may be doubted but thereof I will not mooue anie contention Apoc. 5. 6. The text And I sawe and behold in the middest of the throne and of the foure beastes and in the middest of the seniors ⸫ a lambe standing as it were slaine hauing seuen hornes and seuen eies which are the seuen spirits of God sent into all the earth The note So Christ is called for that he is the immaculate host or sacrifice for our sinnes The answer By allusion vnto Moises law bicause the lambe appointed for sacrifice must haue neither maime nor spot Apoc. 5. 9. The text Thou art worthie ô Lord to take the booke and to open the seales thereof ⸫ bicause thou wast slaine and hast redeemed vs to God in thy blood out of euery tribe and tongue and people and nation and hast made vs to our God a kingdome and priestes and we shall reigne vpon the earth The note This maketh against the Caluinistes who are not content to say that we merite not but that Christ merited not for him selfe Caluin philip 2. verse 9. The answer Let vs then sée how this prooueth that Christ merited for him selfe Thou art worthie O Lord c. bicause thou wast slaine Ergo his death and passion was the cause of his worthinesse and made him worthie I pray you you I say that thinke this so inuincible a proofe and so necessarie a consequence tell me whether Christ being the eternall sonne of the Father were vnworthie this honor afore his incarnation and consequentlie afore his death and passion I suppose you dare not say that he was vnworthie before especiallie séeing he durst not aske of his Father greater glory then he was afore possessed of with the father If he were worthie before and so continued then could not his merits which came after be the cause of his worthinesse and so consequentlie he him selfe in our nature did not merit for him selfe this worthinesse which he had before But his honor and glorie to the which he hath aduanced our nature was a consequent of his abasing and the coniunctions in those places note rather an order and consequence then a cause Apoc. 5. 13. The text And euerie creature that is in heauen and vpon the earth and vnder the earth and that are in the sea and that are therein all did I heare saieng To him that sitteth in the throne ⸫ and to the lambe benediction and honor glorie and power for euer and euer The note All the said creatures are bound to giue honor
3. The text Blessed is he that readeth and heareth the words of this prophecie and ⸫ keepeth those things which be written in it for the time is nigh The note There be manie speciallie now a daies that be great readers hearers talkers of Scriptures but that is not inough to make them good or blessed except they keepe the things prescribed and taught therein according to our Sauiours saieng Luke 11. Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it The answer It is verie true that except men kéepe the word all their other indeuors about the word are little worth but men can not kéepe that which they know not Reading and hearing as here appeareth is the ordinarie meanes that men should vse to come by knowledge but you to the end you might maintaine blindnesse and ignorance haue kept the people from reading and hearing therfore you haue made â—ure worke that they should not attaine blessednes by kéeping Apocal. 1. 9. The text I Iohn your brother and partaker in tribulation and the kingdome and patience in Christ Iesus was in ⸫ the Iland which is called Patmos for the word of God and the testimonie of Iesus The note Banished thither for religion by Nero or rather by Domitian almost 60. yeeres after Christs ascension The answer By whom he was banished it is not materiall as long as wée coÌ„sent that these things were reuealed to him in his banishment Apocal. 1. 10. The text I was ⸫ in the spirit on the dominicall daie and heard behind me a great voice as it were of a trumpet saieng that which thou seest write in a booke c. The note I had a vision not with my corporall eies but in spirit I beheld the similitude of the things following The answer As Peter and Paul so Iohn in spirit also had reuelations and yet neuer none of them saw or knew of saint Patriks purgatory Apocal. 1. 12. The text ⸫ And I turned to see the voice that spake with me The note The first generall vision of the seuen according to Saint Ambrose The answer You delight your selues with fathers when and where you néede them not Your blind followers when and where they see any father cited suppose that it is for some matter of controuersie and thinke that all antiquitie make for you but in truth where you most néede them there you haue none at all Apoc. 1. 1â— The text And being turned I sawe seuen candlestickes of gold and in the middest of the seuen candlesticks one like to the Sonne of man vested in a priestlie garment to the foote and girded about neere to the pappes with a girdle of gold The note It seemeth not to be Christ him selfe but an angell bearing Christes person and vsing diuers speeches proper to Christ. The answer I sée no cause why it should not be Christ him selfe Apoc. 1. 20. The text And ⸫ the seuen candlestickes are the seuen churches The note Saint Irenaeus alluding to this saith The church euery where preacheth the truth and this is the seuenfolde candlesticke bearing the light of Christ. libro 5. aduersus haere The answer We are to obserue héere first that the signes here beare the names of the things which they signifie for the seuen starres are the angels of the seuen churches and the seuen candlestickes are the seuen churches euen none otherwise then bread is the bodie of Christ. Secondlie the cause whie the church is compared to a candlesticke is bicause it carieth that light whereof all godlie men are partakers And bicause in it as candles or shining lights the Apostles Prophets Euangelists Pastors and doctors do shine by the most wholsome doctrine of Christ. Apoc. 2. 1. The text And ⸫ to the Angell of the church of Ephesus write thus saith he c. The note That which before he willed him to write to the church he now willeth to be written to the Angels or bishops of the same onlie where we see that it is all one to the church and the head or gouernour thereof The answer It is euident that Iohn was commanded afore to send that which he wrote to the churches and it is also plaine that he is commanded to write the same to the Angels that is to the pastors and gouernors of the church But that which thence you collect that it is all one to sende to the church and to the heads and gouernors thereof is true but sometimes and not alwaies As when some faithfull are saluted by the apostle and the church that is in their house it is manifest that by the church gouernors are not ment And againe bicause you set head and gouernor in the singular number wherein we suppose that you haue a secret relation to the onely soueraigne of your church therfore we are to admonish the Reader that when by the church the gouernors thereof be vnderstood there is neuer anie one gouernor of the whole church ment Apoc. 2. 4. The text But I haue against thee a few things bicause ⸫ thou hast left thy first charitie The note By this we see is plainly refuted that which some heretikes hold that a man once in grace or charitie can neuer fall from it The answer First we do not hold that a man cannot fal but that he whom God looueth cannot finally fall the contrarie whereof doth not héere appéere Secondly that by the angell of the church any one particular man is ment cannot be prooued but rather a societie or succession of men whereof the later may be vnlike the former Whereof S. Paul speaketh to the ministers of the same church that of themselues shoulde arise gréeuous woolues and whereof we haue had great experience in the church of Rome in the later bishops who are as vnlike the former as lions are vnlike to lambes or drosse vnlike to golde And therefore this cannot be iustly applied to any mutation in one and the same particular man Apoc. 2. 9. The text I know thy tribulation and thy ⸫ pouertie but thou art rich and thou art blasphemed of them that saie themselues to be Iewes and are not but are the synagogue of sathan The note This church representeth the state of them that are spoiled of their goods emprisoned and manifoldly afflicted for the catholike faith The answer And it is to be noted withall who afflicted them spoiled them blasphemed them that is spake and did al maner of euil of them and to them For the afflictors and persecutors here spoken of are such as saie themselues to be Iewes and are not that is such as take vpon them wrongfully the name title of Gods church and people being in déed and truth the synagogue of sathan How néere this toucheth you that violently vsurpe the name of catholikes consider with your selues well for the afflictions you haue brought vpon others are manifest Apoc. 2. 10. The text Be thou faithfull vnto death and I will giue thee ⸫ a crowne of life The note