thing to be examined by you to know the Author matters nothing I desire not that Athistâ—â— read my writings such as 〈◊〉 not in God can make no 〈◊〉 fit of Godly things for my part I make more Esteem of a Pagan that adores stocks anâ— stones thinking there is a Deit â— in them then of Aâ—hises Neâ—ther is it my ayme thaâ— Maho metans or Jewes read this worke the first not believing Christ to be the Sonn of God though they hold him to be a holy Prophet and borne of a Virgin the other believe not the Mesias is yet come whose Fathers Crucify'd him when hee was borne and came among them and made Evident by wonders and miracles that hee was the true Sonne of God and the now living Jewes as blinde and obstinate as theire Fathers tred theire stepps spitting on the Crucifix and whipping it in theire Chambers and stobbing with poyniards the H. Sacrament with horrour and extream Malice wherof there are Many Authentique Histories My wish is this Book be only read by Roman Catholicks and by Protestants the first will likely be well satisfyed with this my endevours and from the protestant reader I only pray that hee will be pleased with atention and without prejudging to read all and after to speak with God alone about the state of his owne Soule and what Religion hee will Chuse for his eternall salvation The argument I doe not handle Scholastically conceiving not that the better way to haue my sence rightly understood I am for the way of fact declareing ingeniously what happen'd in England upon the comming in of both Religions what kinde of men were instrumentall in bringing them in what theire manners vertues or vices who of them were of Sanctity and who not who of them wrought Miracles which are Evident signes of true Religion which was brought into all Kingdoms Countrys and Provinces by Sanctity and Miracles I deny what Sall falling from his faith who gave me the occasion of writing afirms to witt That the Roman Catholick Religion is repugnant to humaine reason It were to make Religion fabulous and foolish to say it is contrary to wisdome and reason for what can be oppositt to wisdome and reason but folly and fables As Scripture by which soly many Protestants will haue Religion try'd excluding tradition even Apostolicall it selfe though it be Verbum Dei non Scriptum is the Word of God supernaturall written in paper with the hands of his holy scribes by Revelation so is Reason Gods naturall Word and Gods truth written by his owne hand in our soules Signatum est super nos Lumen vultus tui Domine Doth not all this prove a great agreableness between Religion and reason whereby is clearly evinced that Religion is not repugnant to humaine Reason Haue not Pagan Philosophers even by the light of reason without any other teaching perceiued in many things what is honest and what dishonest what just and what uniust what vertue what vice this is that light in mans soule which S. Basill calls Iudicium quoddam naturale per Bas homilia aâ—â— populum quod ab iniquis bona facile discerniâ—us And S. Augustin accounted soe much of reason that hee said Recta ratio vertus est And S. Aug. de util Credendi Cap. 12. if Caluins Authority were worth any thing he says Semen Religionis est in mente humana But I pray you heare S. Paul telling you the Philosophers were unexcusable for not hauing made the right use they could and should haue made of the knowledg they had of Cod by the light of reason Because saith Ad Rom. Cap. 1. hee whereas they knew God they haue not glorify'd him as God or given thanks but are become vaine in theire cogitation and theire foolish hart hath bin darckned How have these Philosophers knowne God not by faith but by the light of reason and knowing him soe they should have as the Apostle teaches glorify'd him as God I shew in this Book the number of Catholick Arch-Bishops that sate upon the Chaire of Canterbury to haue bin sixty one many of these haue bin nobly borne and many of them very learned and vertuous twelve haue bin canonized saints Your number of Protestant Arch-Bishops have not as I think bin aboue six as Parker VVhitgift Grindal Branckfort Abots Laud and Sheldon all of them lowly born and as wee heare meanly Learned of theire vertues wee heard Little And could those few and less learned and vertuous know more of Gods verity and holy will then soe many Eminent Catholick arch-Arch-Bishops what in Gods name would make any man think soe You had fifty two Catholick Monarchs of England Kings and Queens I speake nothing here of seventy small Kings when England was devided into seven Kingdoms many of these haue bin of the Gallantest Princes in Christendome as Egbert that first reduced England to a Monarchy Ina Edgar Canut William the conquerour Henry the second Edward the third Henry the fifth and Henry the seventh many of them vertuous and Godly Princes and som of them acknowledged for Saints by all the Church of God the Protestants have had but five in all the first a Child of nine yeâ—ars Edward the sixth the second a Woeman Queen Elisabeth a Cruell a woeman who put to death Queen Mary of Scotland the present Kings great Grandmother which was an open Murther and soe Esteemed by all the world as alsoe in the tyme of her raigne 200. Priests and Religious men soly for theire Religion A woeman druncken Apâ—c Cap. 17. of the blood of Saints and of the blood of the martyrs of Iesus A woeman fitter for Brauery then devotion thee other three King James a lerrned and wise Prince his Sonne Charles a sober and good King the last our present Souveraigne King Charles the second of him let those speak that shall survive him But certain it is Protestant Historians will not preferr those Protestant Princes in vertue valor glorious atempts and magnificence to the Catholick Princes To speak of both Religions Catholick and Prorestant and which of them is safest for salvation I offer you here a remarkable reflexion and consideration as thus Ask of the Mahometan the Jew and of the Scismatick Christians as the Ruthenians Armenians and all of the Greeck Church yea and of the Lutherans and Calvinists that disagree among themselves which is the best and safest Religion they will all say after their owne the Roman is the safest which is an Evident Jugment that the Roman is the fafest of all much like that the grave Judges gave for the Lacedemonians when all the Provinces of Greece claimed for the Palm and praise in the glorious victory they obtained against the Persians Those excellent Judges before whome the cause was brought demanded of every one of them whome they thought to have deserued best after themselues and all answering that the Lacedemonians the wise Iudges gave sentence that indeed the Lacedemonians had
squalida cutis situm Aethiopicae carnis obduxerat quotidie lachrimae quotidie gemitus si quando repugnantem somnus imminens oppresserat nuda humo vix ossae harentia collidebam De cibis verò Ipotu taceo cum etiam languentes Monachi aquae frigidae utantur coctum aliquid accepisse luxuria sit Ille igitur ego qui ob gehennae metum tali me carceri ipse damnaveram Scorpionum tantùm socius ferarum sapè choris intereram puellarum Pallebant or a jejuniis mens desideriis aestuabat inifrigido corpore ante hominem sua jam carne praemortuuuâ— fola libidinum incendia bulliebant Itaque omni auxilio destitutus ad Jesu jacebam pedes rigabam lacbrimis crine tergebam repugnantem carnem hebdomodarum inedia subjugabam Non â—rubesco consiteri infelicit atis meae miseriaemquin potius plango me non esse quod fuerim Memini me clamantem diem crebro junxisse cum nocte nec prius à pectoris cessasse verberibus quà m rediret Domino increpante tranquilitas Ipsam quoque cellulam meam quasi cogitationum mearum consciam pertimescebam mihimet iratus rigidus solus deferta penetrabam Sicubi concava vallium aspera montium rupium ptaerupta cernebam ibi meae orationis locus ibi illud miserrimae carnis ergastulum ut mihi testis est Dominus post multas lachrimas post coelo inhaerentes oculos nonnunquam videbar mihi interesse agminibus Angelorum laetus gaudensque cantabam post te in odorem unguentorum tuorum curremus That is O how living and lamenting in the desert and vast Wilderness which scorched with the burning of the Sonne gives a horrible kind of dwelling to the Monks and notwithstanding in my minde I was injoying the delights of Rome I sate alone replenished with bitterness All the parts of my body covered with sackcloath gave mee a kind of horrour and my withered skinn was black like the Flesh of an Ethiopian nothing but teares and sighes day and night and if sleep coming on did oppress mee resisting it I layed on the naked ground my bare bones hardly hanging together I say nothing of my fare and drinck when Monks fainting and languishing used noe other drinck then cold water and to eat any thing that was hott or saw the fyre was among them esteemed a great delicacy and wantonness I therfore who for the feare of hell condemned my selfe to such a prison companion only of Scorpions and wilde beasts seemed to be in my thoughts present at the sporting and dansing of the Ladys of Rome My countenance was pale with fasting and yet my minde in a cold body was flaming with burning desires of Concupisence In this anguish and lamentable Condition destitute of all comfort I sat downe at the feet of Crucify'd Iesus I watered them with teares and dry'd them with my havre and tamed the Rebellion of my Flesh with the want of fooding for many weeks I am not ashamed to confesse the misery of my unhappy Condition I remember well I have oft joyned the day with the night weeping and crying to God and knocking my breast with strokes and blowes untill tranquility and quiet returned and that the Lord was pleased to give mee ease in my Tentations I feared my cell it selfe least it should have knowne my inward thoughts and all alone angry and sever against my selfe I penetrated the desert there I beheld the depth of the valleys the asperitie of the mountains and the precipice of the high rocks there was the place of my prayers and the prison of my miserable Flesh and as my Lord is my wittness after many teares and after my eyes being fixt upon heaven I thought somtymes I was present with Hostes of Angells and joyfully I did cry to thee my God I will runne after thee and after the odour and smell of thy oyntments O Sall behold I present upon a Theater great Jerome a mortify'd Monk of the desert of austere Sanctity Leane Pale and consum'd with fasting and pennance bring you now to the vew of the world the Doctors and Masters you have chosen wanton grosse vagabond Monks running out of theire Monasteryes with theire nuns and wenches and that having abandon'd all Religious Authority contemne and mock Jeroms Mortification Let the world see thy great master Luther with his nun Chatharin Borin as alsoe Buser Peter Martir and Ochinus with theire runaway nuns And Calvin the Adulterer and Sodomyte and Beza another Adulterer and Sodamyte with his mayd Candida and faire boy Audebertus forgett not Bale the Carmelite with his lusty wench Dorathea and many more of that kinde A shame he upon thee Sall to forsake Jerome a man of God an Angell of the Desart and spectacle of Mortification to joyne with those Monsters of Impurity doe you take this to be a signe of your Praedestination As for Matter of Doctrin how different Ieroni was from those you joyne with you may learne by an excellent Epistle of his to Pope Damasus the Saint being solicited in Syria by severall Sects to joyne with them in Communion writes thus to the foresaid Pope Quanquam igitur tua me terreat magnitudo S. Ter. Epist ad Damasum Papum de Apostas invitat tamen humanitas a Sacerdote victimam salutis a Pastore presidium ovis flagito ego nullum primum nisi Christuns sequens beatitudini tue Cathedrae Petri communione consocior supra illam Petrans aedificatam Ecclesiam scio quicunque extra hanc domum agnum commoderit Prophanus est si quis in Area Noe non fuerit peribit regnante deluvâ—o And says in the end of the Epistle Quamobrent abtestor beatitudinem tuam per Crucifixum Mundi salutem per Homousion Trinitatem ut mihi Epistolis tuis sive tacendarum sive dicendatum Hypostaseon detur Authoritas You see here Sall a pure and rationall Submission of this learned Doctor to Pope Damasus in Matters of Faith what could be more humbly said by him then those words Ut mihi Epistolis tuis sive tacendarum five dicendarum Hypostaseon detur Authoritas Was this his deference to Damasus though a learned pope for being a more subtile Fxpounder of the sence of Scripture then Ierome Noe but because that Damassus was sitting upon Saint Peters Chaire ad quam error non habet accessum Sall you see that Saint Ierome revered the Pope as the Fountaine of all Spirituall Iuridiction under God he recognyzed him as such a head of Gods House and Family and you with your new Bishops and Clergy owne and acknowledge King Charles though a great Monarck yet a pure lay-man Ad quem pertinet tantum jus maenium Supreme head of the Church of England in Ecclesiasticis this is an express Article of your Faith the XXXVII of your XXXIX Articles wherin all Authority in Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall Matters and causes properly apertaining to the Pope is conferred on the Kings of
doe other Protestants the Miracles of Saint Augustin Holmshed one of these saith King Ethelbert was Holin in dese Britan. persuaded by the good example of Saint Augustin and his company and for many Miracles shew'd to bee baptized And againe hee saith page 602. Augustin to prove his opinion good wrought a Miracle by restoting to sight one of the Saxon nation that was blind And Stow acknowledgeth the same in his Chronick Pag. 66. Protestant Authors doe likewise confess Saint Augustin was sent from the Sea of Rome to convert the Saxons then Pagans Fox doth affirm this in his Acts and monuments lib. 4. Pag. 172. Holinshed saith Augustin was sent Helin in dese Britan. Lib. 11. Cap. 7. by Gregory to preach to English men the word of God who were yet blind in Pagans Superstition And Camd. in dese Britan. pa. 104. Camden writeth that Saint Augustin having rooted out the monsters of heathenish superstition ingrafting Christ in English-mens mindes with most happy success converted them to the Faith Protestant writers doe likewise acknowledge that 69. Catholick Arch-Bishops sate upon the Chaire of Canterbury The first Saint Augustin above mentioned and after him ten Saints more to wit S. Laurence S. Melite S Iustus S. Honorius S. Theodor S. Dunstan S. Anselme S. Thomas S. Edmund S. Elpheg All these were Canonized Saints and theire Memoryes are in the Roman Martyrologe All these Arch-Bishops were of the Roman Catholick Religion and Communion all received theire Pall and Confirmation from Rome all were Legats of the holy Sea One of thâ—m only and the last of all but one Thomas Cranmer turned Heretick of whome wee have said much before in pagina 176. 177. 178. the 169. and last of all was the noble Godly learned Cardinall The great nobility rare Learning of Card. Poole Regmall Poole Consecrated anno 1555. great and departed this Life 1558. the same yeare and day that Queen Mary dyed Hee was Son to Sir Richard Poore Cossin-german to King Henry the 8. and of Margaret Countess of Salsburie Daughter of George Duke of Clarence and Brother of King Edward the 4. Hee was saith Godwin a Protestant of manifold and excellent parts not only very learned which is better knowne then it needeth many words but alsoe of such modesty in behaviour and integrity of Life and Conversation as hee was of all men both loved and reverenced Hee was by the Confession of Ridley in Fox Edit 1596 pag. 1595. A man worthy of all Humility Reverence and Honour and indued with manifold Graces of Learning and Vertue But Bale according his wicked bitter Spirit speaks ill of this noble Cardinall and saith Hee was a Cardinall Soldier of Anti-Christ not to bee Bale Cent. 8. cap. 100 commended for any Vertue by the Servants of God And saith further of this excellent Ornament of the English Nation That hee was a horrible Beast a rooter out of the truth of the Ghospell a most wicked Traytor to his Country and prayeth God to confound him The Protestant writers doe alsoe agree with the Catholick Authors about the number of Kings Roman Catholicks there were of Monarchs of all England 53. Egbert was the first Monarch of all England William the Conquerour was the 33 'th the last Queen Mary and with her Welaway an Eclips came upon the holy Catholick Church in England Besides those absolute Monarchs there were 70. and odd of the smaler Kings Catholicks when England was devided into seaven Kingdoms Behold Sall the happy Continuation of the Catholick Faith in England in the Succession of 53. absolute Monarchs of that Land many of them have beene of the most valiant victorious glorious and holy Kings of Christendome Of the smaler Kings have been ten Saints and 14. that forsaking theire Kindoms became Monks to live in Mortification and solitude for gaining the Kingdome of heaven or that went in Pilgrimage to Rome there were alsoe 13. Queens Nuns You must then Sall confess there was a holy Church and Kingdome in England in those Catholick Tymes wherin the Church of England was called Ecclesia Primogenita Because Lucius King of that Land was the first Christian King Will you dare then tell us as you have preacht in Dublin that Idolatry Impiety and Tyranny dominered in the Church of Rome to whome the English then obey'd with all Veneration in those dayes of Joy and Sanctity What kind of Church is now in England wherof you are a new member and burning zealot I am not willing to write let others tell you who can easily inform you that the number of your Protestant Arch-Bishops were few and noe way famous you had noe Arondells among them nor Pools noe men either of Sanctity or any great Tallents or Learning The Protestant Monarchs are alsoe easily numbered they were but five in all Edward the sixt a child a weak head to govern a Church Queen Elizabeth a monstrous head upon your new English Church noe Historyes or annals will ever tell you of a woeman that in any land or Nation headed a Church in Spiritualibus before this Iesabell the third was King Iames a learned and wise Prince After him Charles the first a just and chast King murthered by perfidious Rebels his head being taken away from â—his Body upon a Scaffold in the View of the World Coram Sole and before his owne Pallace dore by the hand of an infamous Hangman The fift is King Charles the second now Raigning whome God long preserve I am certaine Catholicks will neuer doe him harme undertake you Sall if you can for the Protestants who distroyd his Father God of his goodness grant him the greatest blessing that can befall him to Imbrace the Roman Catholick Faith the Religion of soe many vertuous noble and invincible Kings his Ancesters The fift Advertisment I offer here certaine learned Catholick Authors to bee perused by Sall likely they came not all of them in his way SAll let mee for our ancient Amity intreat you to read Attento Animo the ensuing Books Comede precor Volumina ista you will finde in them I promise you great Learning strong Arguments sound Verity sublime Conceits and great Variety of Matters but prepare your minde well for reading them profitably and begg humbly of God to send you from heaven Light and Fyre Light to disperse the Cloudes of Darkness your Soul 's wrapt in and Fyre to inflame your frozen Affection Cry unto God with holy David Cor mundum crea in me Deus Spiritum rectum innova inviceribus meis The first Author THe prudentiall Ballance of Religion an excellent worke printed anno Dom. 1609. Second Author THe Christian Manna or a Treatice of the most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist written by a Catholick Devine through Occasion of Monsieur Causabons Epistle to Cardinall Peron printed Anno Dom. 1613. Third Author CAlvinoturcismus composed by that famous man Mr. Reynolds once agreat Preacher of the Protestant Church and sharpe Disputant a
fellow in one of the Oxford Colledges it is one of the rarest and most learned Books ever saw light of that kinde the argument of the worke is by way of Paralel to compare the Religion of a Calvinist and that of a Turke This man Reading the sleights Shufflings Lyes Falsifications and corruptions of Mr. Iewell pretended Bishop of Salsbury one of the falsest men that ever set pen to Paper forsook the Protestant Religion saying it could not bee a sauing and true Religion that used Falsifications and sleights for a support of keeping it up hee went in the yeare of Iubily to Rome and submitted himselfe with his writings and works to the Iudges of th'Inquisition who received with all joy soe pretious a man Father Persons the Iesuit accompanied him came afterward to France there lived a holy life and there dyed a happy Death 4 ' th Author THe Legacy of Doctor King Bishop of London or his Motives for his change of Religion written by himselfe and delivered over to a Frind in his lifetyme A most rationall moving piece printed Anno 1622. 5 ' th Author THree Conversions of England penn'd by the very vertuous Father Persons one of the best works ever was set out in English All in this Book is strong here you will finde Iewell and Fox two pillars of the English Church tottering and cast downe and bruesed like a Dagon Both are evidently convinced to have beene the most infamous Lyers ' Shuflers and Falsificators that ever lived of the English Nation or I think of any other 6 ' th Author A Search made into Matters of Religion by Francis Walsingam Deakon of the Protestant Church before his change to Catholick Religion a Book full of prudent Observations printed Permissu Superiorum Anno 1609. 7 ' th Author REdargutio Scismatis Anglicani ' Authore Alexandro White a Confutation of the XXXIX Articles of the Confession of England See above pag. 13. 14. 15. Printed at Lovain Anno 1661. 8 ' th Author PRotestancy without principles or Sectaryes unhappy fall from infallibility to Fancy layd forth in foure Discourses by E. W. printed at Antwerp by Michael Cnobbaert 1668. This Author shewes playnly to the Eye Protestant Religion sinking downe for want of Principles as a House layd upon a very weak Foundation t is one of the most learned pieces of this kind and convincing that I ever handled There is another Book of the same Author intiteled The Infalibility of the Roman Catholick Church and her Miracles defended against Doctor Stillingfleets Cavills c. printed at Antwerp 1674. An excellent worke the Preface therof is a Pearl Sall I pray you read with Attention these two Books if you are able you have some kind of Obligation to answer the last having denyed Infallibility to the Roman Catholick Church I think you will finde this E. W. hath read as much as you have done if not som-what more and that hee is a subtile School-man I have reason to know what mettle is in the man and partly what in you 9 ' th Author A Book that lately came out stiled a Treatice of Religion and Goverment the Argument which is learnedly handled whether Protestancy bee less dangerous to the soule or more advantagious to the state then the Roman Catholick Religion The conclusion that Piety and Policy are mistaken in Promoting Protestancy and Persecuting Popery by penall and Sanguinary statutes This man gives a perfect Anatomy of the English Church shewes clearly to the eye the Falsifications Iuglings Corruptions Shuflings absurd lyes and artifices of Protestant writers and Doctors Hee expounds briefly and soundly the XXXIX Articles of your English Creed and Confession and declares them to bee Pernitious Finally hee doth as it were demonstrat the Church of England to be without Sacraments Priest and Sacrifice and consequently noe Church and where there is noe Church there is noe true Religion This Book is not Easily had but I am ready to furnish you with one you will finde I assure you the discourse learned and worth your reading Sixt Advertisment 3. Weighty Points offered to be considered by Sall. MOre then twenty years agoe I lighted upon a Book written by a learned Protestant in the days of the Usurper caled the Christian Moderator wherin hee shew'd a great kindness and tenderness of hart toward us Catholicks then much afflicted hee spake much good of us and said wee were a People of a tender Conscience shy in taking oathes but Religious Observers of them once taken hee maintained our Religion was not inconsistent with Obedience to the Prince and Magistrate and that the farr greater part of us were commendable in our manners and Conversation and honest in our dealings hee wyp't away an envious Callumny objected to us to wit that wee held as a constant Doctrin in our Schooles and Practises in our Proceedings Fidem non esse servandam Hereticis which hee shew'd to bee most false out of Catholick Authors especially out of Paulus Layman a Iesuit Hee likewise indeavoured to persuade by good Arguments that Persecution of Religion was not lawfull nor could be warranted by the Law of God Law of Nature nor the ancient Lawes of the Land Among many good things this Author said I took speciall Notice of three remarkable Points which I will express the best I can in my owne words having not his Book at hand Primum Punctum HEe said it was observed that Roman Catholicks who turnd Protestants commonly became worse liuers then before great libertins dissolute in theire manners and careless of Salvation especially Priests and Religious men who breaking theire Vowes took Wives and wenshes and ever after lived in Sensuality and Sinn without all shame and feare of God giving Scandall to all kinde of men and that many of them came to an Obduration of hart and dy'd in Dispaire I will give you here a true and lamentable Narration of two fearfull Examples in this kind of two Apostata's Priests that marryed and had Children whome I knew very well One of them having studyed in the University of Salamaâ—â—a was made Priest in Spaine had a rich Benefice in those parts I liu'd in but was borne in the Province of Sall hee was sufficiently learned and audatious in the highest degree and had sometymes preacht before the State in Dubblin as latly Sall hath done In his Conversation hee was a meer Publican and most vaine lying vapering insolent debaust and Drunkenest Companion that was knowne in those parts As soon as the Rebellion began in England hee bid a Deiu to his Loyalty went to England and stuck to those then in Rebellion thinking therby to make a great Fortune came over with Crumwell and was a meer scourge and plague to the Catholick Clergy bringing Souldiers and wicked men to the Houses of all the Priests hee knew Infine hee dyed of the plague in a Ditch deserted of all of both Religions crying as they say for a Priest but found none The
but not of Churches for hee allow'd no power or Jurisdiction to the Fmperour over or in the Church Sall you see how Ambrose by this undaunted generous answer denyed to yield to the Emperour one Basilica or Church for the Liturgy of the Arriaens the Empresse being of that Religion and you have joyned in Communion and Religion with those Protestant Bishops and Clergy-men that made and signed the XXXIX Articles and delivered up to Queen Elizabeth all the Churches in England and all Eeclesiasticall Iurisdiction and power over themselves and all the people in Spiritualibus which I am a shamed to write with those I say you have joyned denying to the Pope against all piety and reason over that Kingdome and People all Spirituall Superiority and therin you seperate to your great shame from Saint Ambrose The next conflict Ambross had was with Maximus who had kild the yong Prince Gracianus the holy Bishop goeing to seek the body of the dead Prince behaved himselfe like a noble and stout Prelate hee excomunicated the Tyrant for sheding Innocent blood and commaunded him to doe severe pennance for soe cruell a Murther After this Ambrose had a great encounter with the Emperour Theodosious which fell out in this manner Theodosius after defeating the Tyrant Eugenius who was killed in the fight which victory hee atributed to Saint Ambrosse's prayers and power with God being transported with an implacable anger against the Cittizens of Thessalonica for the death of one of his Courtiers slaine by that People in a tumult to revenge this mans death hee invited the People to the Spectacula or usuall pastymes in those days and gave order to the armed Souldery to inviron and Massacre the innocent multitud without Distinction of Age or sexe there were slaine by this blooddy Edict seaven thousand Soules This butchery being ended the Emperour took his way for Millan and thinking according to his ordinary custome to goe to the Church Saint Ambross with a Godly anger opposed himselfe and denyed him ingress giving him a severe reprehention in this kind Quid inquit tentas Caesar quid moliris tune Domini Templum post tam Crudelem innocentium hominum stragem intrare audes noli Caesar noli Priorem iniquitatem tuam haec te-meritate augâ—re exhorresco hoc tam immane facinus tuum gladium civium Innocentium tam iniqua morte cruentnm videre non possum Glamat Caesar de Terra ad Caelum contra te Sanguis innocentum That is What doe you atempt Caesar what are you about to doe doe yon dare to enter Gods Temâ—le after soe Cruell a Massacre of Innocent People Caesar doe not doe not augment the sinn you have committed with this new Temerity I abhorr thy cruell Act and I cannot indure to see your sword blooddy with the unjust death of soe many innocent Cittizens Caesar the blood of the Innocent Cryes to heauen against you What did the Emperour in this encounter receeving soe sharpe a rebuke hee revered the reprehention and the liberty of the holy Bishop and began to lament bitterly his great sinn and soe retyred to his Pallace not daring to enter the Church I may in this place say O Incomparabilem Pontisicis dignitatem O Imperatoris piâ—tatem insignem Soon after came on the feast of the Nativity when the Emperour much afflicted for his being kept out of the Church sent Rufinus prefect of the Pallace to have the Excomunication taken of this powerfull Courtier made account the Saint would instantly yield but the Bishop would not heare him wherfore the Emperour wholy compunct and penitent came in person to Ambrose humbly demaunding hee would give him Entrance into the Church on that holy Feast that heâ— might partake of the joy the poorest men in the Citty enjoyed but the Bishop said Quid agis Caesar quid poscis num tam immane scelere tuo dignam penitudinem ostendisti tuum est said Caesar remedia dare meum accipere imperâ— quid fieri velis non obsisto hoc solum ambio ut cum Deo meo in Gratiam redire possem That is What doe you Caesar what seek you from mee have you done condigne pennance for soe great a sinn It is said Caesar your part to commaund and praescribe a remedy and myno to receive the same Commaund what you will have done I shall not resist this only I seek that I may be reconciled to my God Then Ambrose seeing and admiring Caesars most Christian example in contrition and obedience received him into the Church with great joy of all the People Was ever under the heavens a more noble and pious contention then this between Tbeodosius and Ambrose I have enlarged my selfe a little longer though I hope not unprofitably upon this rare History and example of the zeale and fortitude of a good Bishopl and of the piety and obedience of a good Emperour Had wee in this age but a few Ambroses they would I dare say make the Church of God and the Monarchy of the world more Godly and happier then now they are And how to Saint Augustin Was there ever from the Creation of the world a more learned and humble man then this Saint What Heresiarch in his tyme lifted up his head that hee did not refute and knock downe doe not all learned men at this day draw from him as from a Spring and Fountaine all Wisdome and Learning Who among men was a greater defender of verity and the Church then hee What quantity of vollumes and books hath hee set forth to this effect noâ— Doctor profounder none more learned nor more penetrating hard questions and difficultyes in Scripture Fathers and Divinity then hee but in nothing more gloriovs then in his humble Books of Confessions Are not you Sall confounded in your soule for parting from this great Catholick and most holy and learned Doctor and adhering to those new unCatholick Bishops of England with theire XXXIX Articles for the most part of them condemned Heresies who have but the titulary name of Bishops and noe holy Order at all and consequently cannot conferre holy Orders on others wherfore as was well observed by a late Author the Church of England is noe Church because it wants Priest and Sacrifice What shall I say now of holy Hierome the great Oracle of the world for expounding Scriptures to him from all Places and Provinces Fathers and learned men did write for clearing and resolving deep difficultyes and obscure sences of the Scripture who a greater Enemy to his body then this Saint Who more mortify'd what an austere life did hee lead in the Wilderness of Syria where hee cry'd out in this Language O quoties ego ipse in eremo constitutus Epist 22. ad Eustochium in illa vasta solitudine quae exusta solis ardoribus horridum Monachis prestat habitaculum putabam me Roman is interesse deliciis Sedebam solus quia amaritudine repletus eram Horrebant sacco membra deformia
1524. Hee did in a speedy acomplishment of his longing desire marry even upon the suddaine Catharin Bore one of the nine Nuns that Leonard Keppen on the 7. day of Aprell 1523. brought to Wittenberg from the Monastery of Nimpisen having in the evening invited to supper Pomeran Luke the Painter and Apelles the Lawyer hee then soe finished the abominable marriage for which by the most ancient and imperiall Lawes soone after the tyme of Constantine the great hee should have lost his head Jovinian the third Christian Emperour after Constantin Zozom Histor Lib 6. Cap. 3. fine published this Edict Vt qui Sacratam Virginem vel ad nuptias contrahendas pellicere conaretur c. Capitis supplicio mulctaretur And the foresaid Law is yet extant God lib. de Episcopis Clericis Where it is said Si quis non dicam rapere sed tentare tantum jungendi causa Matrimonii Sacratissimas Virgines ausus fuerit capitale paena feriatur Oziander and Melancton doe attest Ozean Centure 16. c. 36 pag. 29. Melan. in Epist ad Ioac Camer de D. Lutheri conjugio this marriage of Luther All wanton Monks and Priestes rann after Luther each one with a Nun or a wench Martin Bucer a Dominican fryer and Bernardus Ochynus a Capuchin a complished the like Sacrilegious Marriage with two Nuns Peter Martyr being a Canon Regular of the order of Saint Augustin marryed at Straesburgh Dame Catharin the loose Nun that rann out of her Cloyster of Metz in Loraine yea the Arch-Bishop of Cullen began his Reformation with marrying a Nun. Soe writes Osiander Interea saith hee Osian Centur. 16. L. 4 cap 18 pa. 984 Archiepiscopus Coloniensis Elector Gobardus Baro Truchesius Reformationem Religionis meditabatur Matrimonium Agneti quae monialis fuerat promisit eamque tandem in uxorem duxit That is The Arch-Bishop Elector of Cullen Baron Truches began the Reformation of Religion and promised to Marry Agnes that was a Nun and at length Married her See further there pag. 953. How revolted votarys the Protestant Bishops of England took wives namely the ensuing Hooper of Worcester Barlowe of Chichester Downham of Westchester Storie of Hereford Barkaley of Bathe and Wels Coverdale of Exeter who all of them were professed Monks to whome might be added Sandes of York and Cranmer of Canterbury who still carried a woeman about with him with divers others all of them formerly Catholick Priestes One of the first that begun to live in England scandalously was Iohn Bale of Norwicth a Carmalit Fryer taking to him his Dorathy a lusty wench whome hee called fidelissimam conjugem this Fryer was after made Bishop of Ossery in Ireland Mark it well Sall how all these illuminated Doctors of your Protestant Religion were declared Enemyes to chastity and prophane breakers of theire Vowes and began all of them the great worke of Sanctifying the world and reforming the Church by marrying to Nuns and other dissolute woemen without such Companions they could doe nothing at all Did the holy Missioners sent from the Sea of Rome Saint Patrick to convert the Idolaters of Ireland Saint Austin the Benedictin the Pagans of England in the tyme of the Saxons and other Saints to other Kingdoms to enlighten them and chase away Idolatry did I say these holy Missioners that brought in holy Religion by Miracles and Sanctity bring a long with them sacrilegious and naughty woemen to acomplish the Conversion of Nations Now good Sall sit downe a little I pray you and ponder with your selfe if God a God of Piety and Sanctity would send soe wicked a man as Luther to denounce his word and Ghospell to the world a man who by a conference with the Devill abollished the Mass threw of his habit of Religion and all modesty and vertue marryed a professed Nun and lived more like a beast then a man who contemned in the highest degree the veneration sanctity and learning of all the Fathers who was possessed with a spiritt of an intollerable pride would God imploy such a man a slave of lust pride and the Devill to give the true light of the Ghospell Think seriously Sall what smale reason Mr. White had to say of Luther Mr. VVhit in his way to the Church printed 168. pa. 428 This was the end of that good man whose memory shall be pretious in the Church for ever and flourishing as the Rodd of Aaron layd up in the Tabernacle After a due ponderation of the premisses touching Luthers impious Doctrin and incontinent and wicked conversation taken out of the writings of Protestants themselves I doe referr to the Readers owne Iudgement whether wee are to joyne in esteeming and terming him a holy man as certaine Protestants doe to the great blemish of theire credit Some of these are English Gabr. Powell in his consideraiion of the Mr. Gabriell Powell calls him holy Saint Luther Mr. Iewell calls him as above was said a most excellent man sent of God to enlighten the world in the midst of darkness Papists Supplication printed 164 pag. 70 †Mr. Fox saith it pleased the Lord to send and set up Luther by his owne mighty Spirit hee alsoe Rubricates him in the highest ranck of his Confessors Mr. Whitaker doth reverence him as the Father of Protestants other Protestant writers of Germany and other Provinces call him Elias Conductor and Chariot of Israell and to be reverenced after Christ and Saint Paul But all these high strange Phanaticall and hyperbolicall prayses given to this wicked man are proved lyes by the plaine uncontroulable alegations and Testimonyes of other learned Protestant Authors who are to be creditted in this Quia res ipsa loquitur X. CHAPTER What frutes followed Luthers Doctrin and Reformation IT has beene a constant observation in all ages and tymes that men sent from God by extraordinary missions as the Apostles and other Saints after them and alsoe those sent from the Sea of Rome with ordinary mission were Saints and holy men and wrought wonders and Miracles and great devotion sanctity pennance prayer and change of mens lives to the better followed these missions whole Provinces amended theire ill manners and lives Saints doe holy things Bona arbor bonos fructus facit Now if wee shall examin the nature and effects of Luthers Reformation wee shall finde neither Miracles nor Sanctity in him or the rest of his Brethren and what fruits did this new Doctrin produce in the people did those that received it become more holy then before more modest just sober or more penitent for theire sinns Was pride vice and dissolution abated or diminished after the pretended zeale of these reformers did any man mortify his body or crucify his flesh with the concupisence and vices therof Noe such matter a change indeed followed theire new Ghospeling and Reformation it changed all to the worst Rapine Vsery Adultery and all kinde of uncleaness and dissolution became greater then before these were the
see not why I should not only compare but preferre alsoe one Cranmer before six hundred Becketts of Canterbury This is one Impudency let us heare another Quid in Nicolao Ridlaeo videtur cum quovis Divo Nicolao non conferendum That is What is there in Nicholas Ridley that Impudent rediculous demaunds of Iohn Fox may not be compard with any Saint Nicholas whatsoever To this every man that hath redd the life of Saint Nicholas surnam'd the great that was Bishop of Myra and soe famous in the first councell of Nice and hath either knowne the other Nicholas Ridley intruded into two Bishopricks of England at once together with his Burgundian wife or shall read those things which afterwards I am to set downe of him and Octob. 19 his actions out of Fox himselfe when I come to his festivall day will easily be able to make full answer There followeth Fox his third demaund of the learned reader more impudent and impious then the rest Qua in re saith hee Latimerus Hooperus Marshius Simsonus caeterique Christiani Martyrii candidati inferiores summis maximisque ill is Papistici Calendarii divis imò multis etiam nominibus non prâ—ponendi videantur That is In what one thing may Latimer Hooper Marsh Simson and other renowned Christian Martyrs in this book contained seem to be inferiour to the highest and greatest Saints of the Papisticall Calendar or rather not to be preferred before them all for many respects Here now you see his full sense and these his Martyrs are to be preferred before the highest and chiefest Martyrs of the Popes Calendar But some one of the Protestant Congregation will tell mee it is a flatt lye that Fox hath canonized Malefactors for Saints to wype of this staine I remitt this man to examine his Calendar by years monthes and days and to point out with a fingar som of them for it were toe tedious to pass â—an 7. 8. 9. 10. Febr. 6. Enormityes of divers Foxian Saints over them all In the first place I give you Sr. Iohn Old-Castle and Sr. Roger Acton who with above forty more were hanged in Saint Gylses field for treason and for actuall Rebellion and for conspiring the death of King Henry the fifth and of his Brethern who yet are made solemne Martyrs by Iohn Fox in his Calendar and distributed into divers festivall days for celebrating theire memories behold two capitall rubricated Martyrs of Iohn Fox who dyed for Rebellion and treason Soe write Catholick and Protestant Authors as Walsingham who liu'd at the same tyme with Old-Castle Likwise Stow expresly speaks thus Towards the end of the yeare 1417. Stow anno 5. Henr. 5. pag. 572. Sr. Iohn Old-Castle taken by chance in the Territory of the Lord Powesse was brought up to London in a Litter wounded during the Parlament and there examined Which Stow sets downe thus Assoon as Sr. Iohn Old-Castle was brought into the Parlament before the Kings Brother Duke of Bedford Regent and governour of the Realme his indightment was read before him of his forcible insurrection against the King in Saint Gylses field and other treasons by him commited The question was asked why hee should not be deem'd to Dye c. But the said Old-Castle giving many frivelous answers and speaking nothing to the point the chief Iustice admonished the Regent not to suffer him to spend the tyme soe vainly and being commaunded to answer finally why hee should not suffer death To which hee stoutly answered that This Rich. then in Scoctland was a Mock King a suborned impostore hee had noe Iudg among them soe long as his Leage Lord King Richard was a live and in the Realme of Scotland Which answer when hee had made because there needed noe other wittness hee was condemn'd to be drawne and hang d upon a Gallows and to be burned hanging upon the same Which Iudgment was executed on him the 14. of December in Saint Gylses field Where many honourable persons being present the last words that hee spoke were to Sr. Irpingham adjuring him that if hee saw him rise from death to life againe the third day hee would procure that his sect might be in peace and quiett Thus farre are the words of Stow Old-Castle was of the Sect of Wicklif And who will not say now but that this traytor publickly executed for treason is a worthy Martyr for Fox his Calendar and Martyraloge If Hackett the puritan put to death in Queen Elizabeth's days for saying he would rise againe the third day as Old-Castle did say and went devoutly to the Gallows as the other did crying IEHOVA IEHOVA as Stow setteth it downe and at the Stow anno 33. Eli. Christi Vero 1591. pag. 2289. Gallowes noe less bitterly rail'd against Q. Elizabeth then Old-Castle did against that worthy King Into his Calendar had he gone without further Consultation and in some respect was fitter for it being a Calâ—anist in the purest degree which Old-Castle was not as after shall be made appeare It is alsoe cleare and manifest Of Sir Roger Acton and his cause why hee was hanged that Sir Roger Acton Knight with Sir Iohn Old-Castle and others conspired King Henry the fith his death with his Bretheren and was taken in open Rebellion against him in the field of Saint Gyles in London upon the yeare 1414. And was condemned of treason at Westminster and on the tenth of February was drawn hang'd and buried under the Gallows soe â—elateth Stow. Stow. in Chro. â—n Dom 1414. pa. 551 Holen anno 1414. And Holenshed in effect writeth the same citing for his Authors Titus Livius And Hall in the Margent Stow and Holenshed as aboue was said were both Protestants Iohn Zisca alsoe the famous Bohemian Murtherer who besides the Rebellion against his Prince and Lieg Lord was a common manqueller began his Rebellion by murthering openly the Major of Prage and other Senators and then breaking violently into the court soe afflicted the sick King Vincislaus as hee fell presently into a dead Palsy and therof soon after departed this life Hee continued that most cruell and outrageous Rebellion against the afflicted Widow Queen Sophia his souveraigne Lady and against the Emperour Sigismund Brother to Vincislaus lawfull Successor to that Crowne for divers years And this with such slaughter and opprobrious handling especially of Priests and Religious men as scarse is read in any other Barbarous Historie calling himselfe in his Title Monachomastix the Murtherer of Monks His cruell bloody Soldiers were a company of People called Thaborits from a Castle being on a hill which Zisca cal'd Monthabor which hee had taken by treason and violence from a Catholick noble man killing both him and all his that were with in it who followed him for spoyle and licentious life There were committed more outragious insolencyes Murthers and grievous villanyes in a few years by the Directions of this cruell Zisca then any other Historie doth
VVicklifs Errors about that Sacrament Accidentia non manent sine subjecto in â—odem Sacramento substantia panis naturalis vini naturalis manent in Sacramento Altaris Errores damnati in Concilio constantiâ—nsi the Doctrin of Purgatory and other Articles will you heare Sir Iohn Oldcastle a prime Wicklifian his Protestation at his death of believing the Real-Presence after confessing Articles about the Blessed Trinity and Christes Diety Sir Iohn Old-Castle cometh to treat of the Sacrament of the Aulter hee protesteth thus as Fox himselfe writeth And for as much as Sir Ioh. Old-C his Protestation at his death I am falsly accused of a misbeliefe in the Sacrament of the Aulter I signify here to all men that this is my faith concerning that I beleeve in that Sacrament to be contained very Christs Body and Bloud under the Similitudes of Wyne and Bread yea the same Body that was conceived of the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary donne on the Crosse dyed and was â—uryedâ— and a rose the third day from death and now is glorify'd in heaven The said Old-Castle shew'd his beleefe about three sorts of men thus The holy Church I beleeve to be devided into three sorts or Companyes wherof the first are now in heaven c. The second sort are in Purgatory Fox pag. 314. abyding the mercy of God and a full deliverance of payne The third upon Earth c. You see that Old-Castle a Wâ—ckclifian doth clearly beleev'd the Doctrin of Purgatory which Fox did not nor doe the Protestants of England now wherfore to this speech of Purgatory Fox thought best least it might disgrace his new Martyr to add this parentesis of his owne if any such place bee in the Scriptures c. which was perfidiously done of Fox It is to be supposed that Wicklif held some things with us and some things with the Protestants and somthings different from both and yet Fox must have him and his Sect to be of his owne Communion and make him a Martyr though hee confesseth and soe doth Iohn Ball alsoe that hee was neuer as much as imprison'd for his faith but his bones were taken up forty years after his buriall and burned by the Commaundement of the Councell of Constance for his Heresies discovered after â—his death and for this Fox made him a Martyr and consequently hee became Martyr without feeling any paine or without the Consent or Concurrence of his owne will Take here some Articles of Wicklifs Doctrin to which I presume the Protestant will not agree One is That it is against Scripture for any Ecclesiasticall Minister to have any temporall possessions at all What think you will the Ministers of England agree to this Another That as long as a man is in deadly sinn hee is neither Bishop nor Prelate Another That Temporall Lords may according to their owne will and discretion take a way the temporall goods from any Church-men when soever they offend Think you that the Protestant Church-men of England agree to this Article Another Tythes are meer Almes and may be detained by the Parishoners and bestow'd where they will at theire pleasure This Article alsoe cannot rellish Protestant Church-men These and many more Articles of Wicklif have been condemned by the Catholick Church as Hereticallâ— and himselfe as an Heretick though hee held divers poynts of the Catholick Religion as holy Orders Consecration Excomunication Purgatory and other like But Fox makes him a Martyr for holding some poynts with the Protestants though differing in other Materiall poynts But this is the Beggery of his new Church that it cannot be made up but by such dunghill cloutes as Wicklefians Lollards Albigensians and the like which are cast of by the Catholicks and rejected for that they have not agreed in every point of the Catholick beleefe according to the creed of Athanasius such is the integrity severity and Majesty of our Church that wee reject as spotted and blemish'd raggs all such as beleeve not all Articles of Faith propos'd by the holy Catholick Church this is according to Saint Augustins Doctrin Ecclesia Vniversaliter perfecta est in nnllo claudicat That is The true Church is Universally perfect and doth hault in noe one poynt of beleefe Now you shall see how Wickless fellow Saints condemn'd him for an Heretick and consequently one that should not be placed in the Calendar of Saints Luther the great Elias and Prophet of Germany as Ioannes Cockleus Ioann Cochl in vita Luteri Surius in hist Anno Dom. 1517. 1518. Melan. Epist ad Fredericum Miconium and Surius doe recount held Wicklif for an Heretick such alsoe was the Iudgment of Phillip Melankton which against Iohn Fox must needs be much avaylable who placed him for a fellow Saint together with Wicklef in his Calendar What then says Melankton of Wicklef hee speaks thus Inspexi Wicklefum qui valde tumultuatur in hac Controversia c. That is I have look't over Wicklef who behau'd himselfe tumultuously in this Controversy of the Lords supper and more then this I have found many Errors in him by which a man may make Iudgment of his Spirit It is certaine hee neither understood nor held the Justice of Faith Hee said in another place Plane furebat Wicklefus Melan. in Apolâ— tit de human tradit qui negabat licere Sacerdotibus tenere proprium That is Wicklef was playnly out of his wits when hee did deny that it was lawfull for Priests to hold in locis com tit de potestat Ecclesi any thing proper Well then Wicklef a furious man that stirred up sedition and was ignorant of the very foundation of the Protestant Ghospell to wit of theire Doctrin of Salvation by only faith as both Melankton and Luther affirmed Wicklif to be with what spirit think you doth your Apostata Fryer Bale call him an Elias a morning starre an Organ of Christ an habitacle of the holy Ghost But if you will listen to Catholick writers who liu'd about the same tyme with Wicklif as Thomas Walsingam and Thomas Waldensis in theire learned writings you shall finde him to have been one of the most pernicious wicked dissembling Hypocriticall impugners of Christ and his Doctrin that ever was in the Church of God Walsingam VVals in hist Ricard Rigis 2 anno Dom. 1382 doth beginn a Narration of Wicklif thus Eodem tempore ipse verus Hypocrita Angelus Sathanae Antichristi prae ambulus non nominandus Ioannes Wicklef vel potius wicked-beleefe Hereticus sua deliramenta concinnavit reassumens damnatas opiniones c. That is At the same tyme the very true Hypocrit the Angell of Satan the forerunner of Antichrist the heretick Iohn Wicklif or rather wicked-beleefe not being worthy the naming continved his madde and new devises renewing againe old damned opinions and heresies c. You see how holy a man Wichlef was by the Testimony of Catholick writers who knew him better then Fox did
Scriptures wherin those Miracles are found as for Church Miracles they seem to make noe more account of them then of fables or of ridiculous things but holy men and those that feare God doe much esteem them by Church Miracles I first understand such as the most antient fathers have left upon record never questioned never call'd into doubt by any 2. I understand by Church Miracles such as in latter ages have been aproved by the Sea Apostolique chiefly at the Canonization of Saints wherof wittnesses have been produced upon oath and all Imaginable sinserity or severity rather used to avoyd heresies and to make truth openly knowne Wee Catholicks distinguish between the received Miracles of the Church and those which particular men relate wherof some are only probable others Dubious others false the Protestants doth not distinguish them but make all fish that coms to Nett The Catholicks alsoe distinguish the Miracles of Christ and other Miracles those of Christ are immediatly wrought by God and the other by Gods servants but In Nomine virtute Dei soe that Christ is the Magnus Thaumaturgus quia sine illo nihil possumus facere when one baptizeth Saint Augustin doth affirme that Christ doth Baptize with him even soe wee say when any of Gods servants workes a wonder Christ works that Miracle with him and consequently all the Miracles of the Saints are Christs Miracles If Sall and other Protestants shall deny Gods servants to have received from Christ the power of working Miracles I say Sall and his Companions in this doe not beleeve the Prophesie of Christ saying expresly Amen Amen I say unto you hee Ioan. cap. 14. that beleeves in mee the works that I doe hee alsoe shall doe and greater works then these shall hee doe These are Christes owne words who cannot deceive or be deceived For a more exact notice of the nature of Miracles and how they are differenced I remitt my reader to an excellent Treatise printed at Antwerp anno 1674. Thus intitled The Infallibility of the Catholick Church and her miracles Now that Miracles are not Monstrous as Sall prophanely speaks but Glorious and the true seals and Characters of the true Religion and Church the ensuing Chapter will declare XXI CHAPTER Of undeniable Miracles proving the Faith and Sanctity of the true Church Mi ∣ racle 1 VVHen the people of Israel were most devided in matter of Religion and very many of them bended theire knees to Baal the Prophet Elias said to them in zeale and Anger How long halt you of two sides if Lib. 3. cap. 18. our Lord be God follow him if Baal follow him And the people did not answer him aword Such a zealous postulation is necessary to those that are neither hott nor cold in Religion but luke-warme such as the Angells themselves detest Apocall Cap. 3. then the Prophet made a motion to them of clearing the truth in point of Religion between him and the Priests of Baal by that famous undoubted Miracle of burning an Ox upon the Alter without kindling fyre under this way was well approved of by the people and they all answering said a very good proposition Gods Prophet was but one and alone in this conflict and the Prophets of Baal then present 450. The reason wherfore the people willingly condescended to the Prophets proposition was that in common sence they judged that God would not permitt a falshood to be confirmed by Miracle in soe publique a tryall where the veracity of God was soe particularly concerned on the other side the Prophets of Baal durst not refuse soe faire an ofter as Elias made in the presence of all the people fearing they would fall from them and the Worship of Baal their God What end say you had this faire Tryall who had the Victory who but Elias the true servant and Prophet of God The Priestes of Baal began to pray and cry upon Baal theire God with great fervour and many Ceremonyes they cryed till noon-day the tyme the Sacrifice should be burnt but their God Baal sent them noe fyre Then Elias after gering the foolish prayres and exclamations of those 450. Prophane Priestes of the Idol Baal began to pray to the living God in this kind Lord God of Abraham and Isaac and Israel shew this day that thou art the God of Israel and I thy servant and that according to thy Commaundement I have done all these things Heare mee Lord heare mee that these people may learne that thou art our Lord God and that thou hast converted theire hart againe And the fire of our Lord fell and devoured the Holacaust and the wood and the stones licking alsoe the dust and the Water that was in the Water gutter Which when all the People had seen they fell on theire face and said Our Lord hee is God our Lord hee is God Sall two things you may here observe the first that the people of Israel seeing the Miracle of the fyre coming from heaven detested Baal and adored God crying out Our Lord hee is God our Lord hee is God Secondly That the Devills power was here restrained and soe chained that hee was not able to help those Priestes of Baal demaunding fyre from him to burne the Holocaust and soe it is still when Miracles are attempted for the Tryall of truth then only truth will be testifyed and Sathan confounded having noe power to the contrary which is according to that of Saint Mark Our Lord working with Mark cap. 16. all and confirming the Doctrin with signes following And why should not I in this place in the name of the Catholick Church make such an offer to Sall and all his Protestants in England Ireland and Scotland as Elias made to the Priestes of Baal I hope they will be asham'd to refuse it for that were to confess that the Roman Doctrin is true and theirs false The Roman Church the true Church and the Protestants the false Sall let us not delude the people with School subtilitys or obscure Texts of Scripture If the Church of England or Scotland or any other reformed one be the true Church and its Doctrin the true Doctrin let that be try'd by Miracles I shall try ours of Rome by that Test I challenge then all the Bishops and Ministers of the Church of England and all those of the Reformation or all the Protestants of the World to work or mention any one Miracle ever yet wrought by any Protestant to confirme any one point of Doctrin or Religion wherin they differ from the Roman Catholick Gentlemen summon your Synods search into all Historyes Prophane and Sacred set your heads to gether and produce at least some probable testimony of as much as one Miracle to grace your Reformations Mi ∣ racle 2 When the same Prophet Elias raised from death to life the child of the Widow of Sareptha of the Sidonians and delivered him to his Mother and Lib. 3. Regum cap. 1â—8 said to her behold
hand of God All which Articles saith this Doctor doth Calvin willfully corrupt in his expositions in the favour of Iewes Arians and other such enemyes of Christ which hee proveth by alleadging above forty or fifty places citing Calvins owne words and commentaryes therupon soe clearly and perspicuously against sence and expositions of all holy Fathers that if his commentaryes therin were to bee admitted those foure named points or Articles of Christian Religion can not be defended against the force and adversaryes of Christes name And is not this a brotherly agreement between Lutherans and Calvinistes in Principall points and misteryes of Religion but the Lutherans have the best of it for wheras Luther and his followers to this day condemne the Calvinists as Hereticks especially for not beleeving the Body of Christ to bee realy and substantially present in the Sacrament of the Altar the Protestants of England who are Calvinists and deny the Real-presence hold Luther for a holy man and theire Father and hold all the Lutherans theire very deare bretheren in Christ as Doctor Whitaker above cited doth averre To leave Germany and to speak of the Professors of Protestanisme in England Scotland doe not many of them entertaine quarrells and falings-out among themselves about Principall Articles of Religion doe not the greatest part by much of the Protestants in England hold the King is supreme head of the Church all of one opinion with the Bishops maintaine this as an Article of Religion in that Protestant Church but the Protestants of Geneva and all depending upon theire Doctrin in France and elswhere doe not hold this Kingly supremacy for an Article of Faith and are not Catholicks punished by Law and somtymes put to death for denying this supremasy which would be a meer murthering of them and the greatest cruelty in the World if those that put them to death did not hold that supremecy to be an Article of Faith Now if you will be pleas'd to demaund what those Protestants in England and Scotland caled Presbiterians or Puritans say to this Article they flattly deny this supremacy to be an Article of Faith though none of them did ever suffer death for denying the same nay they are esteemed not with standing theire opinion in this to be of the Protestants communion A gaine all Protestants that follow the Bishops hold the dignity and superiority of Arch-Bishops and Bishops to be agrecable to Gods word and as the Devines speak de Iure Devino and what say the Presbiterians to this By theire Champion Martin Mar-Prelate and his mutenous moke-bates that band under his cullors cry all of them in the Name of the Lord as Thomas Rogers doth attest That the calling of Bishops is In his Sermon printed by Iohn windet 1590. pa. 13. unlawfull that they be Ministers of Antichrist worss then Fryers and Monks Deuills Bishops and Deuills In-carnate Sall you must grant mee these dissentions between Protestants and Protestants in England and Scotland about the Kings supremacy and the Order and Dignity of Bishops are not Triueall but Fundamentall and they have been now many years contending in theire Writings and Conferrences and still are about these points and others that are the very sinews and Soule of theire Religion in endless quarrells and Contensions If that were my Business I could sett downe many and great differrences quarells and contensions between these two kinde of Protestants In this place I think it pertinent to say somthing particularly of the Protestants called Presbiterians who were neuer by any act of Parlament that wee could heare of proscribed from the Communion of the Protestants that stick to the Religion of the King and the Bishops Impiety Fury and Rebellion gave beginning to this Sect and Religion in Scotland as hath been aboue said in Page 164. and 165. They had two Reformations the first was begun by Iohn Knox an Apostata Priest and though his Reformation was ungodly and unreasonable the second was farre more unreasonable and ungodly A Presbiterian that was converted to the Catholick Faith describes the Presbiterian Piety in this kinde There was among us a pretext of Piety but wee had not the substance of it wee had indeed much preaching praying fasting and such like exercises but our long preachings were nothing but continuall prayses of the Covenant the solemne League which they cry'd up to the heavens butt wee omitted as our Saviour observed of the Pharisies the weighty Matters of the Law as Iudgment Mercy and Faith Our Ministers told us wee were the happiest People of the World for they said wee only of all Nations had the honour to be Covenanters with God and that wee had the truth of the Ghospell in greater purity then Geneva it selfe that wee had soe cleare a light that the like had not shined to any Nation since the tymes of the Apostles yea one who was esteemed a principall Apostle among us did not stick to say in the pulpitt amidst the many Miserys Confusions and Troubles which then lay upon this Church and Nation That the Angells and Saints of heaven if they could leave the sight of God would be glad to come downe and see the admirable beauty of the Presbiterian Church of Scottland Soe farre this new Catholick And was not this ridiculous preacher with the beauty of his Scottish Kirck a great Hipocrite and Pharisie It was much observed that shortly after solemne fastes of Presbiterians the country and state was allways sure of some unhappy claps the puritan fast was still fatal and ordinarily a preparation to some violence or evill worke that was intended this made many understand what Queene Mary Stuart meant by that famous saying That shee was as much affraid of a fast of the Ministers as of an Army of Souldiers for experience taught her that those fasts were prognostick signes of ensuing tempests theire long prayers alsoe did not prove them to be Saints more then the like did sanctify the Pharasyes they bragged much of the spiritt but shew'd noe fruites therof these bee the fruites of the spiritt which Saint Paul recounts to the Galatians The fruite of Ad Galat. cap. 5. the spiritt saith hee is love joy peace long suffering Gentelnesse goodness Faith meekness c. This second Presbiterian â—eformation beganne with a prodigious abolishment of all holy things Mala arbor Malos fructus faciâ— 1. They condemned and cast downe Episcopacy this they doe whersoever they have power quite contrary to the Law of God for Episcopacy is de Iure Divino This order and degree they abhor'd as Tyrannicall and Anti-Christian yet Saint Paul writing to Timothey saith If a man desireth a Bishops Office hee desireth 1. Tim. cap. 3. a good thing The Apostle likewise affirmeth that Bishops are to Order Priests and Iudge them wherfore hee saith in his Epistle to Titus That hee left Ad Titum Cap. 1. him in Cret to Order Priestes by Cittys By this it is plaine and evident that
all the world is a most insolent madness You have don this in siding with the XXXIX Articles and opposing your selfe to the four Saints Doctors of the Church and to generall Counsells and to the sence of the Church and its diffinitions and determinations wherfore sitt downe and consider well if a kinde of madness hath not ceasd upon you Gentle Reader you see these ancient Fathers and Doctors tells us clearly that Sall hath deviated from the right way of settling himselfe in true Religion the ready and sure way when hee began to doubt was not in reading many Authors when one Contradicts and impugnes the other nor of making notes of that kinde hee speaks of in his Recantation for it is more easy to gather doubts then dissolve or resolve them it is more easy to rays up dust then to lay it downe againe the certaine and infallible way of searching true Religion and setling therin without all fluctuation and danger is that a man leave his owne Iudgment and rely upon the Authority of the Universall vissible Christian Church what privat man or Doctor bee hee ever soe well learned or holy is soe wise as the whole Congregation of the Church as is commaunded by Christ himselfe I meane a Church descending from age to age from the Apostles For a publick Direction in this to all who are troubled about any dark question in matters of Faith Saint Augustin gives a good Counsell to Sall and all men the same hee gave to Cresconius Quisquis August Lib. 1. contra Crescon cap. 33. said hee falli metuit hujus obscuritate questionis Ecclesiam de ea consulaet That is Who soever feareth to be deceived by the obscurity of this question wherabout wee two doe contend let him goe and aske the Church therof Saint Augustin must needs meane the Governours and the chief Pastors of the Church Wee are to keep herein to the found Rule of ould Tertulian which if wee doe wee will not be deceived in Theorems and Articles of believing Caeterum Terrul depraescript cap. 28. said hee quod apud multos unum invenitur non est Erratum sed Traditum audeat ergo aliquis dicere illos Errasse qui Tradiderunt That is That which is found one and the same with many is not an error but a Doctrin delivered from hand to hand and who will dare say those have erred that delivered this Doctrin Sall look upon the Succession of Pastors in the Church from age to age downe from the Apostles and your work is surely done for in that Church you have true Faith for defect of such Succession Tertullian provoked the Hereticks to prove theire descent Edant said hee Heretici origines Ecclesiarum suarum evoluant totum ordinem Eptscoporum suorum per Successionem ab initio decurrentem ut primus Epsicopus aliquem ex Apostolis vel Apostolicis viris qui tamen cum Apostolis perseveraverit babuerit Authorem Antecessorem Had Sall examined the English Church according to this sure Rule of Tertulian hee had neuer taken up a place among them Having said soe much of these four great Doctors of the Church and theire Vertues let us now see what kinde of men were the new Doctors Sall hath closed with for comparing their lives and manners with one another wee shall according to that of the Philosopher unum quodque magis apparet contrario juxta si posito bee the better able to Iudge who were the true Dostors chosen by God to teach the Doctrin of Salvation who knows light knows darkness quia eadem est potentia cognoscitiva oppossitorum unde visus qui cognoscit lucem cognoscit tenebras Let us therfore examin a little the Doctrin lives and manners of the new men Sall hath chosen for his Doctors and Masters VI. CHAPTER Of the Doctrin and manners of Luther and some other principall Hereticks THe Discription of theire Lives and Proceedings who for an age and more under a faire pretence of Reformation have impugned our ancient and long before continued and universally professed Catholick Faith alas in many Provinces and Regions they have almost extinguished it will be a necessary Instruction to shun such men and abominate theire Doctrin and to contract noe kinde of amity with theire Desciples and followers God hath ever more out of his Devine and sweet Providence chosen for Reformation of his Church when decay'd in Disciplin or Doctrin men in theire lives not dissolute or licensious but auster and sanctifyed such were Moyses Elias and many of the old Patriarcks and Prophets such the Apostles and after them many Bishops and Apostolicall men all those brought in Faith and chased out Idolatry by Vertue Sanctity and Miracles Take great heed saieth our saviour of false Prophets c. And againet doe men gather grapes from Thornes or Matth. cap. 7. figgs of Thistels Certainly Sall you could not gather grapes from those Thornes nor figgs from those Thistels you are falne in love with they were other kind of men that God us'd to assume for sowing the seed of heavenly Doctrin and teaching the Devine lesson of Salvation hee said not to Plagitious wanton Moncks and Priestes running away with nunns and wenches such as your new Apostles and Doctors were Euntes ergo docete emnes gentes Baptizantes eos in Nomine Patris Matt. cap. 28. Filii Spiritu Sansti docentes eos servare omnia quaecunque mandavi vobis ecce ego vobisoum sum omnibus diebus usque ad consumationem seculi That is Going therefore teach ye all nations Baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost teaching them to serve all things whatsoever I have commaunded you and behold I am with you all days even to the consumation of the World These words our saviour spake to the eleven Deciples in the mount holy and sanctify'd men chosen by God to enlight and sanctify the World This charge of converting Soules requires in its owne Nature by all means men of Vertue and Integrity Quiae Sancta Sanctè tractanda a Sanctis If those great reformers which keep agreat noys in the world they vapor much of a justifying faith but of good works they have noe care quite against Saint Pauls sentiment Who would have that they which believe be carefull to excell Epist ad Tit. cap. 3. in good works If those reformers I say have bin vertuous and mortifyd men wee here are to examin and shall begin with Luther the Father of Protestanisme and principall Doctor of the Church of England who is most highly praised and esteemed generally by Lutherans and Calvinists through all the Provinces and Countryes they have infected they all reverenced Luther as being sent by God as the light of the Ghospell and Doctrin Evangelicall Bishop Iewell a chief pillar of Protestanisme in Iewell in his defence of the Apolog. printed 1571. MrFox Act. and Mon. printed 1563.
England called Luther a most excellent man sent from God to lighten the whole World in the middle of darkness Mr. Fox likwise esteemed in England for a holy man and a Church Historian said it pleased the Lord to reforme and reedify the desolate Ruins of his Religion by the industry of Martin Luther sent and set up by the mighty spirit of God And Mr. Whittaker agreat Devine of the English Church said of Luther Wee reverence Luther as a Father and the Lutherans and Swinglians our very deare brethrenâ— in VVhit in his Answ to the Tenth reason of Ed. Campian printed 1566. Centur 25. printed 1604. l. 4. c. 1. p. 490. Initio Christ Other Protestant Authors goe much further in his praises Osiander a famous Protestant writer saith thus Natus est hoc anno 1483. Incomparabilis vir Dei piae memoriae D. D. Martinus Lutherus Islebicae in Saxonia per quem Deus noster Germaniae Evangelii Lucem restauravit That is Luther that in comparable man of God of pious memory was borne in the yeare 1483. at Islib in Saxony by whome our Lord hath restored to Germany the light of the Ghospell Others call Luther the Elias conductor and Chariot of Israel to bee reverenced most after Christ and Saint Paul and accordingly hee was honoured with this Vers Christus habet primas habeas tibi Paule secundas At loca post illos proxima Luther habet All of them affirme Luthers calling was extraordinary and immediatly from God but they were neuer able to shew unto the World any Miracles hee had wrought for confirmation of his mission the usuall marke of such as are extraordinary missioners of God I will begin with the Doctrin of this chief Master Elias and trumpet of the Ghospell as they name him VII CHAPTER Of Luthers Doctrin HIs Doctrin which is the foundation of Protestancy tends for the most part to Unchristian liberty and the enervation of Vertue and Christian discipline I le set downe here some poynts therof which are wicked and scandalous Thus then they lye 1. That there is noe sinne but incredulity Lib. de Capti Babilon Cap. D. Bap. t is Neither can a man damne himselfe doe what misschief hee can except hee will refuse to believe This Article alone opens a gate to all Impiety and bids good works a Dieu 2. The Ten Commaundements apertaine Serm. de Moys nothing to us that is to say Christians This is directly against our saviours Words Sivis ad vitam ingredi serva Mandata 3. It is a false opinion and to be abolished In prefat ad novum Testa that there are four Ghospells For the Ghospell of John is only faire true and the principall Ghospell Luther saith this because the other three Ghospells speake much of good works and must wee discard three Ghospells for the word or Authority of this beast 4. If the Wife will not let the Mayd Serm. de Matrimon come Is not this a strange abomination 5. It is as necessary for every man to Lib. de votis conjng in Acert Art 16. have a wife as it is to eat drink or sleep What chast eares can heare this abomination how many thousand and thousands of holy men in Monasteryes and in the deserts and in the world have lived chast and like Angells wherfore it was well said by a certaine Author fortior est castitas hominum sed felicior Angelorum 6. Christ and Saint Paule did not Counsell Lib. de votis Monasticis but dessiâ—ade Virginity unto Christians O Diabolically 7. Matrimony iâ— more excellent then virginity Lib. de votis Evang. Against all the Fathers none would affirme this but a monster of incontinency 8. All Christians are as holy and as just Ser A. de Trin. de B. Maria coment Epist 1. Petr as the Mother of God and as the Apostles were Coms not this Article and such impious words from the mouth of a man possessed by the Deuill Take more of Luthers Theorems 1. That Free Will in Christians is only Of Free VVill. a thing of name and can cooperat nothing at all 2. That the Adultery of David and treason Gods Cooperation to sin Priesthood of Judas was as much wrought by God as the vocation of Paul 3. That all Christians and Priests have equall Authority to absolve sinns 4. That a woeman or a Child or any VVoemen may absolve other Christian receiving authority from men the Community may as well absolve a man from his sinns as any Bishop or the Pope himselfe 5. Fides sine ante Charitatem 2. ad Galat. justificat Et fides nisi fit sine ullis etiam minimis operibus non justifiâ—at imo non est fides That is Faith without and before Charity doth justify And faith unlesse it bee without even the least good worke doth not justify nay it is not faith These dangerous and impious Theorems and Articles you may finde gathered out of Luthers owne works by Doctor Sanders Puteolus Goclaeus Eckius Bishop Fisher Surius Staphilus and other writers I will give you here Luthers opinion that it was not lawfull to fight against the Turks In Epistola contra duo Mandata Imperialia That is In his Epistle against the two emperiall Edicts Hee purposely crosseth the Emperours ayde against the Turk saying Oro cunctos pios Christianos ne ullo modo sequantur vel in militiam ire vel dare aliquid contra Turcas c. That is I beseech all Godly Christians that they follow not by any means the Emperour in the warre nor contribute any thing against the Turcks c And hee says elswhere Vt liberè animum meum aperiam hoc aperte Luth. in determin Doctorum Paris Impres Norimberg 1625. de me praedico quod tam invitus Turcam gladio impeterem quam Christianum fratrem That is That I may freely speak my minde I say openly that I would as unwillingly strike a Turck with my sword as a Christian brother By this favorable opinion to the Turks hee was soe gratfull to them that the Turkish Emperour to the great shame of Luther hearing therof demaunded the Christian Embassador how old Luther See Belforest in cosmog lib 2. c. 7. col 579. was and wished him yonger promising to be his good Lord. Some of the above mention'd points of Luther when the Author of the defence of the Censure had proved at large one by one to be the true Doctrins See this plainly reported by Manlius Luthers owne Scholler in loc commu pag. 639. and verifiable out of Luthers owne Books then hee proceedeth to this sound Conclusion and Consideration theron That if a Christian man can not damne himselfe by any sinn unless hee will refuse to believe If to keep Virginity and resist the pleasures of the flesh be neither much commendable for that marriage is farre better nor profitable nor possible for soe much as a wife