A BRIEFE INSTRVCTION BY VVAY OF DIALOGVE CONCERNINGE THE PRINCIPALL poyntes of Christian ReligioÌ„ gathered out of the holy Scriptures Fathers and Councels By the ReuereÌ„de M. George Doulye Priest Luci succedit nox Sapientiam autem non vincit malitia Sap. 7. CVM PRIVILEGIO Imprinted at Louaine by Laurence Kellam Anno 1604. THE PREface ALL heresies Christian reader as other diseâ—ses vvhether of the bodie Suâ—ius and Cochlaeus c. or of the minde haue they re beginning increase state and declination this of Luther and Caluyne begaÌ„ne to be published in Germanie about the yeare of our Lord The Duke of Saxonye aspiringe to the Empyre The Prince of CoÌ„de the Admirall others in France 1517. and a little after in France vvhere it increased so much vvith libertie of life joyned vvith interest and pretensions of temporall Princes as it stirred vppe those furious rebellions vvarres and other tragicall actions vvhich vve haue seen and heard of in those countries as allso in Flanders The Prince of Aurange in Flanders and other partes of Christendome vvhersoeuer it hath come vvithin the compasse of Europe out of vvhich it hath not yet crepte albeit as the Apostle speaketh it hath crepte like a caÌ„cker 2. Timot. c. 2. verse 17. the poyson vvhereof infectinge so manye prouinces came into our countrie by occasion of the inordinate affection vvhich kinge Henrie the eyght tooke to Anne Bollen mother to the late Queene Elisabeth beheaded aftervvard for her juste desertes by the sayde kinge her husband for vvhose sake he broke vvith the See Apostolike and tooke vppon him the title of Supremacie in spirituall matters to haue some colour to put avvay Queene Catherine his lavvfull vvife vvherunto the Pope coulde not be brought for that he judged the diuorce to be vnjuste and contrarie to Goddes holy lavv By this occasion haeresie tooke roote in England vnder Kinge Henrie spronge vppe in Kinge Edvvardes dayes vnder the gouermeÌ„t of his protectors aftervvardes executed for treason and came to that state in the reygne of Queene Elisabeth as the politike gouernors of her councell vvho had founded theyr authoritie greatnesse in the aduauncement of the same presumed after they had taken avvay the life of the renovvned Princesse Queene Marie of ScotlaÌ„d they coulde so establishe it that they shoulde be able to bannish Catholique Religion for euer out of England But the contrary hath happened as in all other heresies and like attemptes of ages past may bee seene the vnsearcheable vvisedome of almightie God coÌ„foundinge the vayne cogitations and shallovv deuises of mortall men In the dominions of the Archeduke FerdinaÌ„do Novv in Germanie and in those Northerne countries adioyninge after so longe and so great desolation vvee see great progresse of the Catholique fayth In Hungarie Transyluania Zuizerland Polonia c. vvhere euerye daye God be thanked tovvnes cyties and vvhole countries vvearied vvith heresie cast of this infamous yoke and embrace that truthe vvhich they re forefathers professed vvith much more feruour then there vvas before heresie entred amongest them In Flanders the like and vvhere the countrie is not oppressed vvith vvarres or rebellion the pietie deuotion and Christian lyfe of the people is incomparablie bettered since they haue deliuered them selues from the thralldome of these erroneous and Apostata doctrines France is risinge apace by the memorable example of the most Christian Kinge Henrie the. 4. vvho beinge deceaued by heretiques in his youth hath shaken them of and they re pestilente counsayles since he is come to more mature yeares and throughe his vvisedome and valure obtayned such quietnesse in his kingdome that neyther he hath novv anye more cause to feare them neyther vvas it knovvne peraduenture since Charlemayne that any Kinge of that Countrie hath enioyed that crovvne vvith more prosperitie The like example vvaÌ„teth onlye in England and to Gods omnipotencie is as factible as in Fraunce vvhere Kinge Henrie the eyghtes succession is ended for the vvhich and the inordinate desire he had to haue children after tvventie yeares roygne vvith renovvne and glorie in the eyes of all Christendome vvhilest he liued a Catholicke after diuers royall exploites the increase of his regalities by the most sacred title of defender of the faythe gayned vvith that vvorthie and Kingelie vvorke vvritten againste Luthers doctrine hee most miserablie lefte God and his Churche and that seede is novv vvholie extinguished vvherevvith heresie vvas sovven and shoulde haue been perpetually maintayned in oure countrie and the persecutions past haue serued for nothinge lesse then for that they vvere principallie intended but contrarievvise kindlinge charitie and the loue of Christe in Catholike soules haue not onelie conserued but augmented and illustrated the fayth aboue all expectation so as vvee see the benediction of our Sauiour and the regions vvhite and readâ—e for haruest vvhose reapers constantlie labouringe in this cause patientlie expecte Gods prouidence vvho vvhen tyme shall require vvill put into the hartes of those in vvhole hands the gouernement is to mitigate the rigour of penall lavves vvhereby the publishinge of Gods truthe may vvith more svveetenes goe forvvard vvhich vvhen hovvsoeuer it shall fall out in the meane tyme experience doth teach that some forme of instruction is necessarie for the informinge of those poore soules vvhich hitherto haue knovven no other Religion but that vvherein they vvere borne by vvhich they are taught throughe the importunate clamours of Caluins ministers to detest the Catholike Religion before they knovve it for so vve comming to tell our ovvne tale they may judge vvith indifferencie and learne to distinguish betvveene true Catholike doctrine and heresie vvhich is that vve especiallie pretende for if Catholicke Religion vvere as the malice or ignorance of these sectaries teach and make the commoÌ„ people beleeue it vvere not onlie follie but meere madnesse to be a Catholicke but the contrarie vvill here quicklie be seene and vvhat conuenience and excellence harmonye our Religion hath vvith all truth and reason and the lighte and majestie vvhich it carieth in it selfe by vvhich alvvayes it hath ouergrovvne and confounded all sectes and heresies in the vvorlde and that if the aduersarie haue anye shevve or apparence of Religion it is vvith thinges vsurped and stolne from vs or counterfeyted by imitation of the Catholickes no other vvise then apes imitate men Tertullian Lectantius Vincentius Liâ—iâ— c. and the deuill the vvorckes of God as some of the auncient fathers haue noted the rest and that vvhich is meerlie theyr ovvne beinge nothinge els but drosse baggage beggerie as anye man of judgemeÌ„t not preoecuppated vvith passioÌ„ vvill easilie discerne euen by the readinge of this little Dialogue little in volume but great in substance for the greate importante matters it conteyneth necessarie for our saluation the greatest affayre that vvee can treate of in this life vvhich vvas first vvritten for the helpe and instruction of particular frendes not vvithout some
it is far othervvise for Good Catholiques Knovv that all subiectes are bounde in conscience to obey theyr lavvfull Prince in all thinges belonginge to his regall iurisdiction and dignitie thoughe he vvere an heathen or infidel and therfore serue him vvith they re soules allso so longe as the Kinge doth not commaunde any thinge againste God vvhich I hope no Christian vvill doe But protestauntes and politiques vvhich turne vvith euery proclamation and parlamente euen in matter of faith allso I aske yovv vvith vvhat conscience or soule they serue they re soueraigne doe yovv not thincKe that these companions if it shoulde serue they re turne vvoulde be as flexible vvith they re bodyes as they are vvith they re soules all readye and so serue him in deed vvith neyther halfe vvhen he shoulde haue moste need of they re seruice seinge there can be no durable obedience but that vvhich is founded in true Religion as appeared in the famous example of the Emperoure Constantius Euseb libr. 1. de Vita Constantin Zozom lib. 1. c. 6 vvho by the constancye of his seruauntes in Religion tryed they re fidelitie and truste to his person all be it the triall vvere made in a Religion vvhich him selfe did not folovv M. But hovv can yovv excuse this pointe that the Kinge by submittinge hīselfe to the Pope in Church matters must needes putte a bridle in his ovvn mouth and depriue him selfe of his chiefest libertie by takinge suche a yoke on his shoulders D. If I did not see before mine eyes that the most Christian and vvithall the moste puissaunte Kinges of all Christendome thincKe this subjection no disparagemente to theire greatnes nor abridgemente to theire libertie and florishe moste gloriously vnder this estate I shoulde peraduenture thincke yovv had some reason to propose this quaestion Kinge Edgar K. Edvvarde the firste and the thirde K. Henry the fifte c. but beinge as it is yea and that in oure ovvn countrie neuer Kinges more triumphed and prospered eyther in peace or vvarres eyther by sea or lande eyther at home or in forraine countries then those vvhich vvere moste obediente to the Popes authoritie vvhat bridle or yoke call yovv that vvhich so many Kinges and Emperoures haue caryed vvith encrease of they re honoure and comforte of they re conscience especiallie seinge the obediēce vve exhibite to the Pope as Christes Vicar is referred moste directelie to the honoure and glorie of God Cui seruire regnare est Gods seruice is a Kingedome as the Prouerbe affirmeth And I pray God they vvhich rejecte this yoke rejecte not God him selfe as once he saide in the lyke case 1. Reg. cap. 8. to the people of Israel vvhen they refused the gouermente of Samuel the Prophete and asked a Kinge M. VVhy Thincke yovv it vvere not conueniente that the Pope at leaste for the Catholiques cōforte and ease shoulde dispense vvith them to th ende they mighte so contente the better they re Prince vvhen he shall exacte this spirituall obedience at they re handes D. In no case for as muche as in so doinge muste needes follovv cōfusion in all Ecclesiasticall discipline and Christian men shoulde be lefte vvithout a iudge or vmpyre to decide determine all doubtes and controuersies vvhich may grovv in Religion especially consideringe that no estate is more occasioned to gyue scandall vnto the cōmon people neyther haue any sorte of men more greeuously erred in all matters belonginge to true Religion and Gods seruice then Kinges them selues as to omitte all other examples the holy scriptures doe testifie that amonghste all and so many Kinges of God◠chosen people there vvere bu◠three onelye that Kepte Gods lavv Dauid Ezechias and Iosias Eccl. cap. 49. the reste euery one more or lesse fallinge them selues or permittinge manifest idolatrie Besides vvhich allbeit the Pope vvoulde he can not dispense in this pointe no more then in any article of the Crede for as much as both this and all other articles of the Catholique faith are commaunded and cōmended to Christians by Christe him selfe vvhose diuine preceptes especially be longing to faith as this doth of S. Peters primacie vvhich Christe him selfe appointed the Pope cānot chaunge M. You haue sayde arighte and by this yovv see it follovveth that no temporall Prince oughte to presse his Catholique subjectes in this case excepte he vvill allso compell them to deny God vvhom they are vndoubtedley persuaded to be the author maister and commaunder of this doctrine but lette vs returne to oure former question are there any more signes markes of this true Church D. Yea sir many in so much that the learned haue vvritten vvhole volumes of the same But these fiue are enough for me beinge founded in such substantiall reasons as are the Principalitie vnitie sanctitie antiquitie and vniuersalitie of the Romain Church hovv thinke you M. Mary I thinke passinge vvell o◠it and vvishe that vve all may haue grace to perseuer in it and vvhen God shoulde so dispose to leese all our goods and landes yea and our liues also for the same M. You haue sayde enoughe of the Church and by that little you haue sayde of the communion o◠the communion of saintes you haue sufficiently giuen to vnderstande hovv great a benefitte it is to bee a member of such a charitable and blessed bodie but tell me as all Catholiques liuinge enjoy this communion of eche others praiers merittes and good vvorkes doe those also participate of them vvhich are excommunicated by lavvful authority Excommunication D. No sir for therefore they are called excommunicated because they are depriued of this communion of saintes and are as braūches cutte of from the tree or membres from the bodie vvhich consequently doe not participate of that good humore vvhich is spreade amongste the rest of the braunches vvhich remaine vnited VVhere by may be gathered vvhat greate accōpte ought to bee made of excommunication seinge he can not haue God for his father vvhich hath not the Church for his mother M. And are the excommunicate out of the Church as vvell as heretickes and other infidells D. They are sir But vvith this difference that Ievves and Turkes are out of the Churche because they neuer entred in-to it by baptisme The heretickes vvhich are baptized but haue loste theyr faith are foorthe because they are fled or runne avvay of them selues like strayde or loste sheepe vvhome the shephearde doth vvith his hooke compell some tymes to returne to his flocke againe But the excommunicate because they haue baptisme and faith are not fledde of them selues but are driuen foorth by force by the pastor and lefte lyke scabbed sheepe for praye to the vvolues excepte by humility and obedience they returne againe to the folde M. VVhat is meante by Remission of sinnes Remissiō of sinnes vvhich is the tenthe article D. There are in Gods Church three principall benefittes Mat. 16. Ioā 20. Cypr. l. 1. Ep. 2. Chryso lib. 3. de
Sancti Iacobus Basil Chrysostom in liturgiis Chrysostom hom 77. in Ioanâ—eâ— homili 18. in Act. Apost Cyprian libr. 1. Epiâ—â—l 9. Epiphan haeresi 75. D. Hieronym 1. ad Tiâ—â—â— Clem. Rom. Epistol 5. Ambros in Psalm 38. â— 1 efficior cap. 18. August libr. 9. confess cap. 11 1â—.13 since the beginninge of the vvorlde and for that our Sauiour ordained a better forme of religion then euer had been eyther vnder the lavv of nature or the lavv of Moyses he appointed allso and gaue vs the greatest sacrifice that could be possible vvich vvas him selfe in the Masse M. The Masse hath many partes in it tell me vvherein beginneth the true bodie and bloode of our Sauiour to be present D. Strayght vppon the vvordes of consecration vvhich is at the eleuation at vvhat tyme it is especially adored of all true Christians M. And vvho vvas the first that euer sayde Masse in the vvorlde D. Our Sauiour Iesus Christ in his last supper Vide Orig. homil 3. in variis Naz. orat in GorgoniaÌ„ Chrysost hom 24. in 1. ad Cor. homil 61. ad populum Antiochen Aug. in Ps 98. Amb. lib. 3. de Spiritu Sanct. cap. 12. at vvhat tyme he made his Apostles priestes gyuinge them povver and authority to doe the like and to make and teache others that should succeed them M. Hovv chauÌ„ceth it that this vvord Masse is not founde in holy Scripture D. Because the names of things are gyuen vppon sundry occasions and our fayth is not grounded on vvordes but in thinges and substance for in lyke manner neyther these vvordes Trinity Incarnation Consubstantiall and the lyke are to be found in holy vvritte yeat Christians beleeue coÌ„stantly these mysteries M. You ansvvere to the purpose but tell me may not those vvordes of our Sauiour vvherevvith he did consecrate be vnderstood by a figure D. The reall presence of Christ in the B SacrameÌ„t No sir in no vvise at all for being the most important mystery of all other vvhich euer he taught his Apostles if he had spoken by a figure he him selfe vvould haue expounded the same as he did many others of lesse moment besides that Mat. 26. Mar 14. Luc. 22. 1. Corint 11. Aug. Ep. 86. Châ—â—sost hom 17. Operis imperfecti Theâ—philact Be daâ—â—n 24. Luc Aug. lib. 3. de â—â—â—â—buaÌ„g 〈◊〉 2â— Tertull. â— 2 ad vxâ—r Cypr. serm de de lapsis Orige hom 13. in Exod. Basi ad CaesariuÌ„ Hieron in prolog coÌ„tra Iouin Euseb l. 6. bis c. 36. Ambro. in Satyâ— Theodoret in Theophili vita 26 Euagr. l. 4. c. 35. Aug. ho. 26 ex quinquinquinta Basil ad CaesariuÌ„ pat Cyril Alex. Ep. ad Calosci Euseb Emiss hom 5. de paschate CoÌ„c Trid. sess 13. can 3. ConstaÌ„tieÌ„ BasilieÌ„s the gospell maketh no mention of any such meaninge Thirdly the Euangelistes and Saint Paule all in one manner rehearse the vvhole matter vvithout any mention of parable or figuratiue meaninge vvhich in other occasions they doe very often as sayenge Quae sunt per allegoriam dicta that is vvhich are spoken by an allegorie or figure c. And lastly all men in their last vvill testameÌ„t speake as plaine as they can possiblye and you knovv vvell this vvas our Sauiours last vvill and testament vvhich he lefte vnto the vvorld and to his spouse the Church the night before he departed this lyfe neyther could he or Saint Paul speake any thinge more plainly neyther did euer any Doctor holy father or interpreter of holy Scripture doubte of this propre sense of our Sauiours doctrine excepte he vvere an heretike For allbeit some one father or other hath sayd that vvhen our Sauiour gaue his bodye he gaue allso a figure of the same to his Apostles yeat neuer any interpreted these vvordes in that manner vvhich is that vve here especially speake of Novv that the thinge it selfe may be ministred and yeat a figure it hath no contradiction as for example if the Kinge of Englande shoulde cause a comedie to be made of his receauinge to the crovvne and him selfe vvoulde play the Kinges parte it is manifest that one and the selfe same person shoulde be both a figure and the thinge figured the representer and the thinge represented vvhich in this Sacramente is allso manifeste Christe his bodre vvhich is reallye presente representinge the same bodye that suffered for vs and in the shape of bread and vvine signifienge the nourishmeÌ„te of our soules by his grace The ceremonies of the Masse Vide loca infra citata to vvhich end this Sacramente is chiefely ordained M. You haue sayde enoughe of this pointe of the reall presence tell me novv the meaninge of the ceremonies vvhich are in the masse Diony Eccles Hierarch c. 3. Iacob in liturgia Cle. Rom. l. 8. CoÌ„stit Apostolic Cypr. de caena duÌ„i Aug. Ep. 57. ad Dardan et ep 59. ad Pan. Bas ad AmfilochiuÌ„ c. 27. et in liturgia Cyrill Hierosâ—l catehe 5. Chrysost ho. 14. ad Ephe ho. 5. ad Colo. et ho. 36 in 1. ad Cor. ho de AdaÌ„ Eua. ho. 24. in Act. Apost et ho. 4 de dei natura hom 24 41. in 1. ad Cor. ho. 51. ad populuÌ„ Antioch ho 17. ad Hebrae Canones vetere DuraÌ„ in ration c. and first vvhy this Sacramente is ministred to the people vnder one kinde D. It is ministred vnto the people in such sorte first because Christ him selfe did some tymes so minister the same as in Emaus as allso the Apostles after him did as it is to be seene acto 2.20.27 c. Secondly to auoyde many inconueniences and perills of sacrilege vvhich by ministringe vnder both kindes often hapned our Sauioure hauinge lefte no precepte heerein but onely to priestes and benige certaine that vvhole Christ is vnder eyther kinde in the Sacrament the masse although it be sayde in short space doth represent the most high and vvorthy matters that may be euen since Adam vnto the ende of the vvorlde M. Tell me hovv and in vvhat manner and that vvith breuity D. In this matter for that the Church hath determined nothing there be diuers opinions of Catholicke Doctors but the more common interpretation it this first that the confession vvhich the priest maketh before he goeth vp to the altare as allso the Kyrie cleysons do represent the vvorld fallen by Adames sinne and cryenge for mercy M. But then vvhat doth the Gloria in excelsi Epistle and Gospell signifie vvith the Creede D. The Gloria signifieth the natiuity of Christ for then vvas it first songen by the Angels The Epistle doth represent the ould testament vvhence oftentymes it is allso taken and particularly the comminge of Saint Iohn Baptist The Gospel signifieth the comminge and preachinge of Christ and because the levves alvvayes refused to beleeue in him the booke is caried to the other side of the altare to shevv that the Church Gospell vvas translated