ANSVVER I Confesse we are called so of only Heretickes but not so of any nation vnder heauen no not of the Turkes neyther is that name of any particular man as Heretickes names be but â—f â—im who in the place of Chrâ—st gouerneth the Church of God and if all the Popes were nombred to thâ—s present day all the Protestants are not able to fynd one that is called by this name Pope or any of them to haue inuented any new religion or to haue left any disciple after theÌ„ who haue byn named after that name Therefore when we are called Papists I aske of the Heretickes was there euer any that was called Papa by his proper name or did euer any Heresie coÌ„tinâ—e a thowsand yeare without a name giuen to it but how should the Church descrybe Heresies to vs but by naming them from their proper names for their names shewe who hath instituted and inuented that sect OBIECTION THe Church is belieued by faith but we belieue the holy Catholick Church Therefore it is not seene because saith is not a thing of appearence and seene ANSVVER THe conclusion is false because that which is seen may also be belieued in so far as it hath some thing that is not seene as Christ Iesus was seene wiâ—h mens eyes a man and was belieued by faâ—th God and man as is said 10.20 to S Thomas because thow hast seen me Thomas thou hast beliued that is to say thou hast seen a man and thou hast belieued him to be thy God and Lord euen so we see men with our eyes who appertaine to the Church and those men we belieue to be the holy Apostolik and Catholick Church and in this Church to be only remission of sinnes grace iustification eternall lyfe and therefore out of this multitude of mortall men neyther Saluation nor the fauour of God is to be expected of any other societie or Church OBIECTION CHrist sayes that the Kingdome of God shall not come with obseruation neyâ—her shall they say behold here or there â—e is ergo the Church cannot be demonstrated and seen ANSVVER THe solution is made in the words following for he sayes behold the Kingdome of God is with yow but Christ denyeth not but the Kingdome his Church may be seen and demonstrated But he answers the folish question of the pharisie who had heard so oft the Kingdome of God preached of Christ who was desyrous to see it it is aÌ„swered that Christ is not to reygne in this world after their mynd as other Kinges doe with magnificence and pompe and to place the throne of Maiesty in a certaine place of the Kingdome but he sayes he dorh reygne as he hath begunne in the hartes of men which is his Kingdome whom he doth paint out with his finger saying Mat. 5. Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the Kingdome of God to wit ye are citizens of Gods kingdome the Church from which the pharisies are farr of OBIECTION THe Church is belieued to be Holy and none except the holy appertayn to the Church but holines is not seen knowne with the eyes ergo the Church is inuisible the members of the Church are vnknowne ANSVVER THe conclusion is false for there are Sainctes and holy men in the Church albeit we see them not yet we belieue for to a lyuing tree there adhere many dead branches and in the body of man are many humors and excrementes without life resident in the body and yet notwithstaÌ„ding all men belieue and say that a man is a lyuing man ergo OBIECTION IT is defended of the Fathers that the Church in this present lyfe is sayd to be beautifull and to be without spot cant 4 Ergo sinners and wicked men are not meÌ„bers of his Church ANSVVER THe Scripture in that place speaketh of the Triumphant Church in Heauen notwithstanding if with S. Greg. cap. 86 Eccl. dogmat Thou coÌ„paâ—re it to be the mâ—litant Church in that sense it is called also beautifull and spotles because of the Sacrament of regeneration which makes her meÌ„bers liuely by inherent righteousnes and grace are made glorious before God and are not obscured and hid as the Donatistes thought with the conuersation of the wicked And albeit as S. Greg. cap. 4. Gen. sayes no iust or holy man doth want sinne yet notwithstanding he fails not to be holy and iust if in affection he retayn holynes and righteousnes and by pennance doth wash away his sinnes carefull to keep himselfe from mortall synnes and is contrite for the venyall saying with the Psalm 50. Create in me a new hart o God OBIECTION THe Church of God is only in the spirit because it is belieued ergo it is inuisible ANSVVER IF the Church be inuisible how hath Christ coÌ„maunded Matth. 18. to tell the Church and if he heare not the Church let him be c. but if the Church be inuisible how shall she be told and how shall they hear her censure Lykewyse if the Church be the body of Christ and Christians members Rom. 12. 1. Cor. 1. 12. Ephes 15 Coll. 1. If the Chutch be inuisible and only mathematicall how hath the Apostle sayd ye are the body of Christ and members of his members It is true the Protestant Church is inuisible and mathematicall but the Catholick Church is a visible Church as a candell on a candelstick and as the sonne and moone in the firmament Luc. 11. ps 19. For if it had been mathematicall and hid S. Paul should not haue had the prayses of all the Churches 2. Cor. 8. Neyther Dauid would not haue sayd Ps 21. with thee my prayse is in the Church of the people and in the chaire of the elder they doe praise him What the moderne heresies do say about the inuisibility of the Church the same haue the former Heresies done lykewyse as S. Augustin is witnes against the Donatists who would haue included the vniuersall Church in that inuisibility and in a hid corner in Africk QVESTIO XIII Of the pretended reformation of the Protestantes WHerefore enuyously name the Papists our reformed Church deformed Seeing we haue reiected all papisticall doctrine and superstitions of Poperie out of it Bucherus Melan. Piscator Sarcer Caluin c. ANSVVER THat shall we declare friendly without enuy seeing that vnder the pretext of a sounde reformation The ProtestaÌ„ts reformation consistes in denying the article of our Faith ye haue introduced a most horrible deformation concerning the doctrine of fayth and in abolishing all ecclesiasticall discipline in reiecting the generall Counselles in condemning the ceremonies of the Church in dispysing the auncient Fathers and in giuing liberty to the flesh For what is more deformed or abominable in religion then to counfound deforme and deny the faith of Christ For what article of our faith is not deformed and denyed of the Protestantes as appeareth by the iudgement and doctrine of their owne Rabbies Against the 1. article of the
were they in lyke authority with the Iewes whih after the vniuersall Church did authorize by the holy Ghost for authentical Scripture vpoÌ„ which authority S. Austen feared not to confirme the prayer for the dead as holy Canonicall Scripture with the Church OBIECTION LOng since of many it was doubted of the Epystle to the Hebrewes the second of S Peter the last of Daniel c. Therefore for this doubt they are not to be adiudged Hereticks who now eyther reiect them or put them in doubt ANSVVER THe consequent is denyed because the lyke raeson should follow in the lyke doubt whether they are to be baptized agayne whome Heretickes haue baptized which S. Cyprian with some others haue thought meet to be don And whether the Moysaicall law is to be obserued of Christians yea also who belieued of the Gen tils whereupon the counsell of Ierusalem was moued about these Heresies Lykwyse whether the grace of the Euagely did appertayn to the GeÌ„tils or to the Iewes only as is disputed in the Act. Apost cap. 11 For albeit the Church retayne all tymes the same one fayth yet notwithstanding by progresse of tyme and occasions as the church increaseth in her nomber so things pertinent to fayth may be amplifyed and made more ample then it was in the beginning For the Church at no tyme euer receaued for an opinion of Faith that which before she had once reiected Now those books once censured and approued by the Church it is not lawfull more to doubt of them and are in as great authority and veneration as the others bookes of Scriptures be for example For as a piece of gold in the beginning is suspected to be false and conterfeyt yet if afterwards it be tryed by the touch-stone of the Goldsmyth and found sufficient and approued of the Magistrat is receaued of the whole people goeth currant as other quoyne and is no lesse worth then any other peace of gould which was neuer suspect euen so these books of Scripture c. QVAESTIO XVII Of Traditions WHerefore are the Papists so simple as to belieue some thinges which are not expresly contayned in the Scriptures VVich they call traditions Calu. lib 4. inst cap. 8. § 8. Brent in prolog Kemnit in exam Conc. Trident. ANSVVER IT may be demanded in lyke manner wherfore Caluin lib 4. inst cap. 3. § 19. Alloweth and commendes traditions for in the ordination of the ministers of the Church he commandes as a precept the imposition of handes yet notwithstanding seing there is no commandement extant in the Scripture he himself protestes it to be necessary as his owne wordes recorde Albeit sayth he there is no commandement extant for the imposition of handes yet we doe see it to be in perpètuall vse from the Apostles and therfore that same diligent obseruation of theirs ought to be to vs as a commandement So that Caluin who before denyed traditions doth allowe of them as necessary in the ordination of the ministery whome for entrance we see led with the spirit of coÌ„tradictioÌ„ For I say that not only these things which plainly are conteyned in the Scripture are to be obserued but also many traditions and obseruations which haue flowed and comed from Christ his Apostles which are to be retayned necessary as it were in a manner the written word it selfe Because it is found in the Scriptures Christ and his Apostles to haue delyuered many things which are not written For in the 16 of S. Iohn Christ sayes I haue many things to say to you but you caÌ„not beare them now In which wordes he signifyeth that many things are necessary and needfull to be known to the Apostles which things out of doubt he made knowne when he appeared to them the fourty dayes speaking of the Kingdome of God his Church and of the gouernement of the Kingdome of grace and what the Apostles haue heard out of doubt they haue delyuered to the Church for her cause these were coÌ„municated of our Lord to them which although they be not expressed in the Scriptures yet by tradition are delyuered Of which S. Paul speaking to the Thess epist 2. cap. 2 v. 14. stand and hold fast sayth he the traditions which you haue receaued whether by word or by our Epistle that is to say the doctryne delyuered to you whether by the preaching viua voce or by an epistle written to you Which place these venerable fathers expoundes of traditions as S. Basil lib. de S. S. Chry. Oecom Theoph. and S. Aug. epist 174. to that now sayth he which I haue rehearsed it fal so that Homousion is not found in the writteÌ„ word and yet as an article of fayth the word is defended Lykewyse the Father is called vnbegotten which is not read in the Scriptures The Symbole of the Apostles is by tradition not by the writteÌ„ word Lykewyse the obseruance of Sondy for the Saboath the baptizing of infantes â—he receauing of the SacrameÌ„t fasting And S Luke acknowledgeth that he hath receaued by tradition what he hath written in his Euangely For if you reiect traditioÌ„s why not also the whole wrytten Scripture by what reason is there only four Euangelists and no more And wherefore are they receaued that neuer sawe Christ and these Euangelists reiected who did see heare and were conuersant with him as Nicodem S. Thomas Thaddeus S. Peter Bartholomewe and others who haue wrytren Euangelyes and yet their written Euangelyes are reiected and these other foure are receaued who neuer did see Christ And with vs you belieue theÌ„ which are not expressed by any written word but only belieued to be true Euangelists by tradition What can be more sayd for verification of the truth then the wordes of the Apostle 2. Thes cap. 2. v. 14. Which wordes all tend for the commendation of our belief Of which S Basil l. de S. S. cap. 29. I account it Apostolicall to continue and belieue firmely the vnwriten word To whom all the Fathers are conformable For when the old Heretickes as Gnostes Marcion Cerdone Arius Eunomius Aerius Nestorius c. opposed themselues against traditions disdayning and denying them were with the whole consent of the auncient Fathers condemned as Heretickes as witnes Iraen lib. 3. Tert. de praescript S. Basil lib. de S. S. cap. 27. Epiph. Haer. 53. S. Aug. lib. 5. cont Maxim Now brother Asill what can be denyed against traditions what argument haue you for your defence for you accept no Scripture as canonicall ergo yow must proue Scripture by tradition and the other Scripture which you reiect is named apochrypha and in so doing you must allow tradition and so on euery side tradition conuinceth you and yet ye wil be oppugners and denyers of tradition I demand this if you were to conuince any man of Heresie for denying the Canon of Scripture what argument would you vse to conuince him As for example Luther in the Preface of the new testament decreed to reiect the epistle
Geneua in Sauoye their preachings They neuer saluted Ierusalem nether is their reformed faith farr spred abrode nether hath it ben in Asia Africk Grece Egypt nether in many Kingdomes of Europe and farlesse through the world nether to the middest of it And although the Church as they say is old and aged yet their Synagogue is more apparant to be at an end Diuisions and sectes are futer tokens of anâ— end for their own diuisiones and daily mutations are prognostications of an end for the Euangellist sayes Luc. c. 1. euery Kingdome diuided in it self shal be desolat this desolation appeares rightly in the propagation of sectes for some are Sacramentaries In what nomber of sectes the reformed fallin whil they forsake the Catholick Church some Confessionistes some fierce some slacker some contra-deuills some hellishe deuills some two Sacramentaries other thre Sacramentaries some superintendents some Luther-Caluinists some anti-Caluinists some new-Pelagians some new Manicheans some Puritans some Gomaristes contra-Puritanes Arminians c. What a rable and a degenerat crew of sectes ech one hath the new reformed Church and the new no faith In vaine they wold be called Catholickes wher Sathan hath his dominioÌ„ it tendes to desolation and are not ashamed to claime the Catholik name to them and the Church of Christ Where Antichrist hath his desolation abominable confusion of sectes And therefor their religion reformation and faith is nether religion faith nor Gospel The Protestants sayes without warrandes Ther exception here can not be omitted vndiscouered in that they affirme and say them to hold the same doctrin which begann at Ierusalem ther vpon to assume to them the Apostolicall and Catholik faith This exception is in vaine for when soeuer any heretik did appare he sayd and affirmed the same Christ answer e our Catholik beg nnâ—g but euill proued here vpon Christ â—eencounters their folish-cauilling-lies who hath not placed the doctrine but the beginning of the Euangelicall preaching to take place at Ierusalem for he sayes Trew doctrin is noâ— knowne but preaching and to preachers beginning at Ierusalem to wit the self preachers for the doctrin is not knowne except by preaching as the Apostel sayes how shall they belieue in him in whome they haue not heard and how shall they heare without preaching therefor the preacher and the doctrine must beginne first at Ierusalem The preacher the doctrin most beginne at Ierusalem Which the new reformed preachers haue not done therefor their doctrin and reformed faith is nether Apostolical nor Catholick All Churches hath one beginning of the Apostolicall preaching beginning at Ierusalem For all particular Churches haue one originall and commun beginning to wit the Apostolicall pr aching beginning at Ierusalem and after by the same Apostles spred abrod in diuerse nations It â—est now after so many ages that albeit the Churches of the other Apostles hath perished not w h standing only Peters the Prince of the Apostles to wit the Church of Rome Rome Church standes by singular priuiledge of God that in it is livly authoritie by the singular benefit of God to remain Wher many yeares he teached and in it ended his lyf which as S. Aug Epist 162. ad Glorium sayes hath euer bene resident with the authoritie of the apostolicall chayre And theirfor for verification of our mission doctrin and faith we make manifest and declare one originall to be of the Apostles for Peter him self first of all other hath preached in Ierusalem and also from this seate when as yet the seates of the other apostles weer extant The church of Rome is cheif of all other seates when the Apostles wer a-liue All the fathers defended ther originall by this church Trew faith should be vndouted in all thinges not with standing as cheif of all others and hereto many holy fathers and the trew Senatours of the world haue inferred and induced punctually the orignall of their churches against the heretikes of their tyme. As Tertull. de praesc haeret 2. con lib 3. c. 3. Epiph. haret 27. aug 4. The fourth reason is that the trew Catholick faith ought to be vndoubted in all things the which the Church proposes to be belieued so that it is most certain to vs the thing which we are commanded to belief to be such lyke for other wayes it should not be trew faith because faith is the substance of things hoped this is the trew proper and sure fundament and an argument of nothing seene Heb. 9. and this is the trew definition of our Catholik faith and the vndoubtenes there of to depend on the Church But the Reformed faith of Luther and Caluin is not vndoubted and first I proue The ProtestaÌ„ts faith is full of doutes because in matters of greatest importance and moment of faith they disagree one from the other extremly For Luther omitting many to touche a fewe discrepants in his booke de capt bap printed anno 1520. about the beginning doth acknowledge only one Sacrament if we do speke sayes he according to the custome of the Scripture Luther and Caluin varie in the number of the Sacraments notwithstanding after he takes occation for the tyme to place three bapt the Lords supper and pennance Far other wayes disputes Caluin in his Parnassus lib. 4. instit cap. 18. § 19 whil he reckneth two Sacraments saying besides these none other is institute of God and yet the Church of the faithfull ought not to acknowledge any other Notwithstanding a little after in the same booke Order a Sacrament acknowledged of Caluin cap. 19. § 31. he sings an other thing placeing order amongst the Sacraments ther rests imposition of handes sayes he which in trew and lawfull ordination I graunt to be a Sacrament Bread wyne to be turned in to the body blood of Christus is Luthers opinion Againe Luther in his book de abroganda miss pri plainly teacheth that Christ when he sayd this is my body and this is my blood changed the bread into his body the wyne into his blood likewyse in his Serm. de Euchar. it is not there bread sayes he and wyne but only the species of bread and wyne Caluin called bread wyne Sacramentall symboles Contrariwise Caluin denyed his body and blood corporally and essentially to be in the Eucharist but only spiritually and sacramentally as lib. 4 instit c. 17. § 5. for that we confesse him to be no other way in the Sacrament thaÌ„ by the eating of faith neither can he no other wayes be presupposed who in his first § sayes bread and wyne sayes he are signes which do represent the inuisible foode that we receiue of the flesh and blood of Christ by faith Morouer how variable and inconstant is Luther in the other artickles of the faith Luth. is so variable in the artikles of our faith that in one artkle he is noted of 36
how the reformed belieue this article of the creed to wit the remission of synnes Cal. doctrine can not agree accord with this article Good workes are synne seing that they say that all our workes ar mixed and defyled with synne and what soeuer good workes shal be done of the most holyest man by the vncleannes and the impuritie of the fleshe are polluted corrupt and putrifyed Man is not fre neither of originall nor actuall synne by any Sacrament Only faith by imputatiue iustice maketh man fre Lyckwise he teaches that we are not free of originall synne neither are we absolued or remitted from any other synnes howsoeuer confessed and satisfyed but only couered by the imputatiue righteousnes of Christ neither are these synnes imputed to the fault nor to the punishment as Rabbi-Caluin teaches lib. 3 inst cap. 14. § 9.10 11. lib. 4. inst cap. 15. § the which doctrine doth subuert and ouerthrow the very article of our creede to wit the remission of synnes Cal. reiectes the iudgment of S. Aug concerning synne in the regenerat He teaches that in the sainctes synne reignes All the regenerat ar in aid cleaue by imputatiue iustice which stoutlie he defendes by reiecting and casting of the opinion and iudgment of S. Austen de concupiscentia in renatis We teach sayes he in the holy Sainctes euer to be synne vntill they be freed and vnclothed of this mortall body lib. 3. inst cap. 3. § 10. and proceeding more deeplie to iustify his doctrine of only faith moues this doubte and solues it him self But how is it sayes he that God doth purge his Church of all synne and that he promiseth to hir the graces of fredome and puritie by baptisme and doth fulfill it in his elect It is referred and fulfilled in communicating his imputauiue iustice and this God performes and exhibites in regenerating his own that in them the kingdome of synne may be distroyed abolished by subministratinge to them vertue of the holy Spirit by which they are superior and victors in the fight lib. 3. instit cap. 3. § 11. Synne to reigne and not imputed for a faust is false doctrin And a litle after those reliques of synne which be in his sainctes we cōfesse them not to be imputed as if they were not of the which doctrine it followes synne absolutlie not to be remitted for it implicates a contradiction synne to reigne and not to be imputed for a fault for Caluin affirmes Cal. sayes synne reignes not but dwelles Synne failes to reigne in the sainctes but not to dwell as an other contradiction Contrariwise catholikes exhort all men firmely to belieue assured lie confide that there is remission of synnes in the holy Church and this remission is to vs and to yow and to Iudas the triator and to euery mortall synner and to those that now are and to those that shal be hereafter and to those that are in purgatorie for Christ hath promerited to all abundantlie who hanging in the crosse is made a propitiation for our synnes and not for ours only The Catholikes firmly belieue remissiō of synnes but for the synnes of the whole world But that we Catholikes belieue all men to haue receaued and obteined remission of their synnes de facto sola fide credendo not onely we Catholikes deny and gainstand but also the Scriptur for treuly Christ hath tasted the death for all But that all men haue remission of synnes de sacto is against the Scriptur and Christs death We belieue the remission of synnes by the power of the Church but all do not apply to them the fruite of his most pretious death for in deed he is made the cause of saluation to all but yet the Scriptur sayes Heb. 5. v. 9. He was made the author of eternall saluation vnto all them that obey him Therefore wee belieue most firmly the remission of synnes but not to be remitted in particular by onely faith but that power is giuen to the Church to remitt synne and to reteine synne Howbeit we admitt the heauenly promisses of the remission of synnes iustification and eternall lyfe Remission of synnes is not made to any in particulat The promises of God are to all a lyke are made with condition and such lyke which generally is denounced to perpeteyne to euery man to wit so farr as lyeth in God who without acception of persones promisseth and giueth to all men abundantly but with that condition that he do worthy pennance for his synnes and to keepe the commandementes of God as Ezech. cap. 18. v. 21. If the vngodly man shall do pennance for his synnes which he hath wrought and shall keep my preceptes and do iudgment and righteousnes he shall liue the lyfe and shall not die and lykwise Matth. cap. 10. v. 22. Yow shal be hated of all men for my name saks but who shall perseuer vnto the end shal be saued No mā is certaine of perseuerance in vertue But because a man is vncertaine of his owne righteousnes and perseuerance in virtue and lykwise vncertaine of his saluation therefore it is said in the holy Scripture Apocalyps 3. v. 11. Hold fast what thow hast that no man tak thy crown for there hath falne Saul Salomon Iscariotes Many haue falne those they stoode as of the Caluin som are made Turkes Paulus Alciatus Sartor Blandrata Socimus Lysmannus Luther Calu. and many more of the protestantes companious abiuringe their faith are falne to Turcisme Mahematisme and Atheisme as witnesseth Beza in the history of Valentine Gentill and Caluino-Turcismus lib 1. cap. 2. Wherevpon we may gather that the great maxime of the Caluinistes Theologie is falne and is conuniced of falsehood affirming that only faith once gotten neuer doth faile or decayes as stoutly Cudsemius in his Hyperaspisce declares but when we see their owne turned from their owne faith to infidelitie what iudgment is against them and what condemnation fall they into no lesse treuly than in the same iudgment and damnation of the heresiarches who by the doctrin of this only faith minister subiectes to Paganisme and Atheisme OBIECTION I. THerefor what Dost thow commande and bids vs dispaire ANSVVER GOd forbid for as we deny that any can firmly belieue certainlye persuade him self of the remission of his synnes euen so no lese we affirme cōstantlie that euery Christian man is bound to belieue and with faith to do what is in him to expect the effect of faith What Christiās ar bound to hope with firme and sure hope in this lyf of true remission of synnes by the Sacrament of baptisme and pennance and in the world to come to eternall lyf which hope except we haue it firme and constant in vaine we ar called Christians OBIECTION II. THow speakes a paradox and a contrary thing for firmly to belieue and assuredly to persuade thow denyes and yet thow commaundes and biddes euery one to be
their faith and be separated froÌ„ the Church as Ethnikes and Infidels dâ—facto neuerthelesse in name and externall showe they are within as holy Scripture makes mention as Matth. 13 in the feyld of corne was togeather tares and wheat in the net good fysh and bad in an hous foolish and wyse virgines Euen so such persones hauing faith without workes not obscurly but plainly doe pertayn to the Church howbeit they are damned therefore it happeth to faith without charity eyther to be formall or informall but the effect and Vertue depends in his will in whome charity is and for this cause The effect of faith depends in his will in whome is charity the Heretickes forceing falsy the contrary are deceaued for whilst they presuppose and iudge with themselues that trew faith cheifly is placed in only persuation by which a man may persuade certainly assure himself because of the imputatiue righteousnes of Christ de facto that his sinnes be remitted to him and that graces and charity concomitanter are infused into his soule with his assured persuasion of only faith The hereticks folish persuasion concerning faith that this persuasion in their iudgmeÌ„t is a most trew thing neyther think they euer at any tyme that this can be separated from grace charity which is false and absurde as we haue before proued for they lay great weight vpon a weake foundatioÌ„ and build castelles vpon a sandy-mount for it is not only fayth that iustifyes a man nether is it euer annexed conioyned with charity grace but is separated OBIECTIO FAith consists in the knowledge of Christ but Christ cannot be knowne but by sanctification of his spirit Therfore faith can no way be separated froÌ„ charity For the Apostle sayth Rom 10 v. 10. VVith the hart man belieueth vnto righteousnes and with the mouth man confesseth to saluation ANSVVER THE Apostle vnderstandes not in these words sanctification of the spirit including charity but he sayth the hart belieueth to ryghteousnes in which wordes he plainly signifyeth that faith is way and mean to gett and obtaine righteousnes but this faith doth not euer include necessarily the actuall stat of righteousnes and charity and therefore the knowledg of Christ may be in man without charity and so it is separated Other expounde this place of the good affection of will requisit in man to belieue and not annexed absolutly to the action of loue and charity OBIECTIO FAict without workes is dead as the Apostle sayes Iac. 2. Therfore as a dead man is not a trewe man so neyther is fayth in sinneres a true faith without workes and charity ergo faith and charity cannot be separated ANSVVER THE Apostle to the contrary assimilated and compared faith not to a dead man but he assimilated and compared such to a dead body as v. 26. for as the body sayth he without the spirâ—t is dead concerning the vitall operatioÌ„s whereby it failes not to be a trew body euen so without workes faith is dead concerning the vtility meryt and saluation albeyt it failes not to be trew faith for the Apostel affirmeth the Diuels to belieue albeyt not to saluation how much more a sinner may belieue and haue true faith and yet not to his saluation Because it is without workes which are the operations of the vytall spirit and so faith is separated from charity and compared to a dead man without the spirit when he wanted the operatioÌ„ of the vitall spirit and yet cannot be called otherwyse then a body Ergo and so is fayth OBIECTION THE Fathers in whose doctrine thow Papist so oft dost boast teach faith without workes not to be true faith as S. Cyp de simplic pral Beda in cap. 2. Iac. c. Ergo â—rew faith is neuer without workes ANSVVER THE Fathers deny such to be true faith that is not liuely and perfyt and to be such as it ought to be as laughter is not full ioy yet it is accounted for ioy and gladnes So S Hier. cap. 5. ad Gal. When charity is farr of and suchlyke fayth is remote and absent we say it is not perfect charity and true faith not that it is farr of and absent as concerning his essence but concerning his perfection operation and lyfe And hereupon the Fathers teache the verity and the Heretikes lye and teache false doctrine QVAESTIO V. Of the necessity of myracles WHerefore require the Papists myracles of vs for confirmation of our reformed faith seyng long since it was maruelously confirmed of the Apostels Martyres Confessores So that there is no neede of newe myracles Caluin praef instit ad Franc. gal reg ANSVVER Luther atteÌ„ptâ— to rayse the dead He also attemptes to cast out diuels If their doctrine be trew from the Apostles how flee they to extraordinary things Caluin makes for a myracle of a liuing maÌ„ a dead He would haue wrought a myracle for confirming his doctrine of predestination I Aske wherefore Luther that great Prophete Elias and a cheif Apostle yea the Angel of God so called of his successores for confirmation of his Euangel made his recourse to myracles whilst he assayed and attempted to rayse from death one William Nesone drowned in the ryuer of Albus as Staph. in respons vlt. beareth witnes Also he attempted to work a myracle in the casting out of a Deuill out of the possessed but in vayne Wherfore I say went Luther to vse an extraordinary meane if his doctrine be the doctrine of the auncient tymes that myracles are not now necessary Lykewyse to the same effect wherfore attempted Caluin to work a myracle to rayse a dead man who by caluines policy dissembled himself dead for the confirmation of his doctrine of predestinatioÌ„ and the preordination of God concerning the fall of man as Bols in vita Calu. lib. 13. Againe I ask if Caluin was scrupulous to sowe the doctrine of the Catholyk faith yet wherfore induces he a new faith and if he hath purged the error of the Paptsts Church wherfore runnes he to working of a false myracle wonderfull to the world Lykwyse a certayn ringleader of the Anabaptists attempted to worke a myracle in the kingdome of Polonia who inuyted all his fellow compagnions to be present at his baptisme promysing to them that they should see the holy Ghost come downe from the heauen to confirme his baptisme An Anabaptist in Polonia attempted to cause the holy Ghost appeare to proue his doctrine from heauen to be from heauen the day is prefixed the place is appointed the rumor spred abroade all are desyrous to see this myracle and first of all this Arch-heretick entreth into the water but in place of the holy-Ghost and of the spirit of truth anone the Diuell appared with a horrible and fearfull countenance offering himself to them all The Anabaptist is beaten of the diuell and taking the Heretick by the hair of his head lifteth and caryeth him in the ayre letting
is out of a malignaÌ„t spirit and a synne against the holy Ghost to attribute the myracles wrought by the Saincts of God vnto the power of the Diuell OBIECTIO IN Belzebub in the power of the Diuels the Papists cast out Diuels worke myracles Ergo their myracles are of the Diuell and not of God ANSVVER THE proposition is false for if at the touching of the relyckes of Sainctes or in visiting their Sepulturs Chapells or to goe pilgrimagie to their relycks and places or make prayers and inuocations to them or applications of the Sacraments in honour and deuotion towards them the myracles wrought and done in the Catholycke Church are to be attributed and ascrybed to the power and vertue of the Diuell Of this proposition should followe two great absurdities First that the Diuell with all power and force should honour Christ and his Sainctes which is most contrary by the absurditie for then the Diuell should distroy himself and his kingdome in promoting the worshipe and honour of God and his Sainctes vnto whome he will giue none nor acknovvledge any due eyther to God or his Sainctes Secondly that the name of Christ his Saincts should serue for the working the workes of the Diuell and the diuyne power and vertue of God should serue to the obsequie of the Diuell Which assertion by the absurditie is horrible blasphemy against the holy Ghost OBIECTIO WHen those and such lyck myracles fall out they are not to be attributed and ascrybed to come of the Sainctes or of their merytes or by their intercessions or praeyers but because it fortuned so ANSVVER IT is an open blasphemy eyther to speake or thinke to straine the bodyes and soules of men to the course of the planets and to the hid influences of the heauens so that Leo affirmes Epistol ad Astoricensem VVho followeth these there is no more place left for him in the Church of God because sayth he who once haue giuen themselues vnto the constellations and persuade themselues after their owne opinion departe and cut themselues from the bodye of Christ Vnto this the counsell of Braccar cap. 1. If any belieue that the souls and bodyes of men are astricted and gouerned of the fatall signes with the Priscilianists let him be accursed Moreouer myracles and prodigious thinges oft fal out and are wrought when the relyckes of the Sainctes are of the people reuerenced and applyed and when these Sainctes are inuocated by their ernest deuotion and to beare witnes of their reuerence and honour to Gods Saincts they receaue the holy Sacraments euen then especially myracles are done rather then any other tyme therefore seing at the deuotion of the people the application of the relykes of the Sainctes myracles are done they cannot be attributed to come of fortune or influeÌ„ces of the planets but of God the author of all goodnes and the gouernour of this world for if the fishe-poole Probatica in Ierusalem had vertue giuen to it to cure diseases at a certayne season of the year by the descending of an Angell mouing the water which vertue and working of myracles in the Probatica of IerusaleÌ„ cannot be attributed to the influences of the planets neyther to fortune but to God and mediatly to the ministery of the Angell euen so myracles done by the relyques of his Sainctes or at their Sepultures or Alters cannot be attributed to fortune or any fatall starâ—e but to God and by the mediat miniâ—tery intercession of his Sainctes by whose ministery God is honoured QVAESTIO VII The Pope is taken of the reformed for Antichrist WHerefore doe the simple and ignorant Papists obey the Pope in maâ—ters of religâ—on seing he is but a man anâ—â—â—uely Antichrist Luther ass art 27. Smalchald de pot paâ—ae Caluin in 2 Thes cap. 2. Illir de primat papae ANSVVER VPon this proposition I demaunde and aske wherefore doe your mynisteres of your Churches in spirituall things in vvhatsoeuer Kingdome The Protestants minysters are subiect in matters of faith to lay-men or Comonwealth they are in obey men and that lay-men of no ecclesiasticall function neyther of ecclesiasticall authority Is not this euident and known to all Europe how the Caluinistes of Ingland gaue their homage sure obedience in matters of faith vnto Queene Elizabeth and instituted hir head of their reformed Synagogue lykwyse by hir ordinances and statutes we know and vnderstand that these mynisters were compelled The minysters made Queen Elysabeth head of the Church swore obedience in maters of fayth contrary to their owne conscience The scripture forbyds wemen in church matters The hereticks wrytes against the lawfull temporall gouernment of wemen and bound to diuerse ecclesiasticall ceremonies repugnant to their iudgments and yet of necessity must rest contented and also must subiect themselues obedient to her statutes What absurditie what basenes what indignity and what madnes of mynd to giue to a woman the primacy of the Church whom the Apostle 1. Timoth. cap. 2. v. n. 12. commaundes to learne with silence with all subiection who is neyther permitted to teach neyther to rule ouer a man How much more preposterous to rule the charge of the Church For if Buchanan and Knox writ books against the regiment of a woman in which bookes they excluded his maiesties mother of happy memory from the temporall gouernment and as a thing most vnworthy that a woman should haue any temporall gouernment ouer man How much more indecent to rule ouer Preists in the Church of God In the begynning of this heresie both in Ingland and Scotland so long as the two most Catholyck Maryes Princesses liued the Heretickes opposed wrot against their gouernement in temporall things vvhich was by the law of God Hereticks doe allowe the gouernement of wemen for their purpose and nature lavvfull for them Notvvithstanding when Queen Elizabeth obteined the crowne then it vvas lawfull for her to rule not only in temporall thinges but also in ecclesiasticall causes as head of the Church Therfore it is farr lesse strange It is not against the law of God or reason to obey a man neyther contrary to the tenor of reason neyther to holy Scripture to be subiect to a man then to a vvoman howbeit in lay-men this prehemineÌ„ce was neuer giuen of our Lord neyther was it euer permitted to them to haue the primacy of his Church For if as the Protestants sayes Christ neuer commited the iuriâ—diction of his Church to lay men vvhy are the Papists so simple and ignorant to obey a man in matters of religion May it not be ansvvered with the lyke humanity vvhat is his Maiesty King of great Britany a man or no I hope they will not call him a Prophet neyther Euangelist The King of Britanie is not a prophet nor an apostle nor an angel but a man neyther Patriarch nor Angell yea a man and head of the Church vnto whom all his good dutifull subiects are
and coÌ„pell man to Idolatrâ— and to worship himself and his image in all Churches and approued Religion And where as the Apostles sayes 2. Thes 2. That God shall send them not only the worker of error but the very fountaine of errour For as S. Ambros in Luc c. 21. sayes that he shall dispute out of the Scriptures that he his Christ and he shall teach that he himself is God also he shall leade not only men to Idolatrye bus also shall persuade and compell all men to follow and obey him he shall also commauÌ„d himself to be worhhipped and adored and his image to be placed in the temple of God not only in Ierusalem but in all other Churches also For Antichrist knowing sayes the Apostle Antichrist shall vsurpe the name of Christ because he knowneth Christ shall come and beat him downe He shall call himself God The Pope can not be Antichrist because he belieues the articles of his creed which Antichrist shall abolish 2. Thess 2. That our Lord shall come to beat him down in the meane tyme will vsurpe his name vnto himself to that ende that his kingdome may seeme true he will leade with him such as may perish togeather with him that he may sit in the house of our Lord in the seat of Christ affirme himself very God And therfore seing Antichrist is noted properly to be a singular man and as yet not come whose power lyf is against Christ that consequently the Popes of Rome cannot be this Antichrist who long since are come for the difference which is betwixt them may decerne which of them is with or against God for this sayd Antichrist shall oppose against Christ and abolish the faith of Christ And contrary wâ—â—e the Pope forbideâ—h no man to belieue in Christ neyther denyeth any part of holy Scripture Antichrist will do openly against the faith of Christ and shal call himself God but the Pope did neâ—er against the faith of Christ neyther priuatly nor publickly nor neuer did call himself God The differeÌ„ce betwixt the Pope and Antichrist and by what notes they may be knowne Antichrist will not only be called God of o her men but will extoll himself aboue God that is he will extoll himself aboue the blessed Trinity But this extolling no Pope euer did think of much-lesseprofâ—sse it but professe and confesse themselues to be seruants of them who serue God and therefore the Pope is not Antichrist Antichrist thallbe receaued of the Iewes for the Messias Antichrist shal be receaued specially of the Iewes S. Hier. ad Algas Chrys Hom 4 in Iohn But the Iewes haue not receaued the Pope at any time and if they receaued not Christ far lesse the Pope but shall receaue Antichrist as Christ fortold Ioh. 5. Which place all the Fathers expouÌ„d of Antichrist as Ambros in 2. Thess 2. Cyril lib. 3. in Iohn cap. 6. Theod. in 2. Thes 2. Antichrist shall come circumcised Antichrist shal come circumcised of the circumcision and of the circumcision that the Iewes may haue some confidence in belieuing him as S. Hier. sayes sup He shall do all those things not by his owne power but by the permission of God for the Iewes sake And Theod. vt sup sayes that the Iewes do looke for him and when he cometh they will belieue in him But to this day the Pope is not of the circumcision neyther circumcised neyther is he expected of the Iewes neyther of them is belieued ergo neyther is he Antichrist Moreouer Daniell cap. 7. After the description of the four Empyres it is said Daniels prophesie of Antichrist that the fourth beast which is the Roman Empyre had ten hornes and I considered the hornes and behold an other littel horne sprange out of the middest of them and three of the first hornes were pulled vp before his face and behold the eys as it were of a man were in his horne and a mouth speaking great things In which place S. Hier. in Dan cap. 7. Let vs say sayes he Before Antichrist come ten kings shall deuide the Roman Empyre and the eleuenth king shall humble three principal of the ten as a token of the comming of Antichrist Before the comming of Antichrist the Euangelly must be preached tâ—rough the world That all the Ecclesiasticall wryters haue lest by tradition that in the consummation of the world when the Empyre of the Romans must be distroyed there shal be ten Kings who will deuyde the Roman Empyre amongst themselues and there shall arise the eleuenth being a very little King who shall ouercome three of these ten Kings that is to say the Kings of Egypt Africk and Ethiopia this witnes Hippol Hom. de Antichrist and Theod. 2. Thess 2. But the Pope hath not conquered to him the Kingdomes of Egypt Africk Ethiopergo he is not Antichrist Moreouer before the comming of Antichrist the Euangely is to be preached through the whole world as Christ hath sayd Matt 24. v. 14. This euangely of the Kingdome halbe preached in the whole world for a testimony to all nations then shall come the consummation But this liberty of the Euangely is not fulfilled as yet as a certaine signe of the comming of Antichrist when he shall appeare seing Antichrist is not as yet come as of this signe may be gathered Ergo the Pope is not Antichrist Before Antichrist come Henoch and Elias must come when they come they will withstand him in their preachings Moreouer the preaching of Henoch and Elias is not yet fulfilled who by their preachings shall oppose themselues against Antichrist for confirming of the faithfull in the Catholik and Apostolicall Faith as witnes S. Ioh. Apoc. 11. I shall giue my two witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundrith and sixtie dayes clothed in saâ—hcloth as witnesseth this place in their commentaries Primas Bed Richard Aret. in Apoc. Damasc lib. 4. cap. 18. Greg. lib. 4. cap. 11. D. Aug. in Gen. ad lit lib. 9 cap. 6. But Elias and Enocâ— shall not come but in the tyme of Antichrist and as yet Antichrist is not comed Ergo the Pope is not Antichrist Hippol. serm de Antich Aug. de ciuit lib. 20. cap. 19. Chry. in 2. Thes cap 2. Moreouer Antichrist shal be borne of the trybe of Dan as witnes Iren. lib 5. aduers Haeres Hippol serm de Antichrist Theod. in 2 Thes 2 Greg. Moâ—al lib 14 in 106. cap. 11. Antichrist shal be borne of the trybe of Dan. But the Popes are not borne neyther deriued from such a trybe ergo not Antichrist Morouer Antichrist commeth a litle before the end of the world as the forsayd Authors make mention but if the Pope were Antichrist the world should haue byn finished long since ergo the Pope is not Antichrist The tyme of Antichrist shal be three yeares and an half he shal reigne in Ierusalem and sit in the teÌ„ple of God Moreouer
that rock was the reward of the confession The prayer of Christ for Peters faith was the warrand of perpetuity of his strong confession The prayer of Christ is a warrant of pâ—rpetuity Peters primacy The power to feede Christ sheepe was to make Peter such a rock as should stay vp his Church by teaching and ruling the faithfull whose voyce we are bound to hear as Chry. in Iohn hom 18. Cyril in Ioh. l. 2. c. 12. Hill de Trin. l. 6. Tertul. de praesc aduers Haeret. Hippol. de consum mundi Origen hom 5. in exod Cyp l. 1. Epist 3. l. 4. Epist 9. Hil. c. 16. in Matth. S. Amb. 68. S. Bas in conc de paenit S. Hier in 16. Matth. Epiph. in anchoratu Theod. in cant cant Damasc in Iosaphat Barlaam Theoph. in 22. Luc Euthym. in 26. Mat. Aug. retract l. 1. c. 21. cont Epist Don. Prosp de vocat geÌ„t lib. 2 c. 28. S. Greg. epist l. 6. epist. 37. In fine we haue many reasons why S. Peter aboue all others was this rock to wit the excellency of his faith The excelleÌ„cy of Peters confession and faith is the cause that he is the rock In Peter is vnity and an euerlasting Preisthood the auoyding of Schisme an ecclesiasticall iorisdictâ—oÌ„ These are Peters prerogatiues which declare him head of the Church and are collected and conferred of the Scripture set in order as followes Peters prerogatiue of primacy The keyes of heauens are promised to him Christ compares Peter with himself in paying tribut Christ made choise oâ— Peters but to preach in and the excelleÌ„cy of his glory the vnity of the church built on him are a lone the signifying of Christ to be the only euerlasting sheepheard And last for the eschwing of Schisme and for receauing of ecclsiasticall power for the whole Church So that the Apostle Peter passeth farr the other Apostles in ecclesiasticall dignity in so much that these his prerogatiues may be easly gathered out of the Scripture it selfe as first he is only named first of all the twelue Matt. 10. For asmuch as he had the promise to be called Cephas that is to say a rock and this promiss was made before the twelue were choosen and was really named Peter at the tyme of his choise Ioh. 1. For asmuch that although both S. Iohn Baptist had confessed Christs Godhead before and Naâ—hanieli had sayd Thow art the sone of God thow art the King of Israel Marâ— 3. Ioh. 1. Yet only Peters confession being made after was most heighly esteemed and rewarded For asmuch as he is called Peter and Christ doth say to him Matt. 16. Thow art Peter vpon this rock I will build my Church For asmuch as the keyes of the Kingdome of heauen are namely promised to Peter alone Matt. 16. And for asmuch That the tribut of didragma was dewe for the first begotten of euery famille num 3. loseph de antiq lib. 18. cap. 12. Yet Christ payed both for himself for Peter also as being the vnderhead and first begotten of his family the Church Chry. in Matt. Hom. 59. For asmuch as also Christ although an other boate was a hand yet he taught the people out of Peters boate Luc. 5. to shewe that in Peters chayre his doctrine should alwaies be firmely professed Christ prayeth for Peters faith Peter entered first into the sepulture of Christ Peter of the Angel is nominated specially Peter walkes on the sea as aprerogatiue to rule the world Peter more then others loued Christ and is commaunded to feed his sheepe Christ fortelleth Peter that he shall suffer death on the crosse for christs sake Peter answered for the rest of the Apostles Peter giues sentence on iudas to depose him Peter after receipt of the holy Ghost taught the faith to the multitude Amb. in 5. cap. Luc. For so much as the Apostles were sure to be sifted of Sathan Yet the faith of Peter allone is prayed for that he being once conuerted might strenghthen his bretheren Luc. 22. Leo serm 2. de nat Pet. Paul For so much as when the tidings of Christs resurrection was sent to his disciples Peter was first that entred into the sepulâ—hre Luc. 24. For asmuch as he was not coprehended with the rest but was seuerally named by himselfe whil the Angel sayd Teil his disciples and Peter Marc. 16. For asmuch as the other Apostes sayled in the sea in a boat yet Peter alone walked in the sea without a boate as a token that the whole world was as a sea and was to be subiect to his turisdiction Iohn 22. Bern. de considerat lib. 2. For asmuch as some other Apostles standing by Peter alone is shewed to haue loued Christ more then they Ioh. 21. And he alone is commaunded to seed Christs sheepe and to rule his lambes Aug. ibid. For asmuch as it is sayd to Peter alone Thow shalt strech-forth thy handes and foâ— ow thow me which way in following was by suffering death on the Crosse prophesied by Christ Ioh. 21 For asmuch as Peter answered alwayes for the Apostles as being the mouth of them all Iohn 6. Matth. 16. For asmuch as after Christs ascention Peter allone gaue sentence vpon Iudas and pronunced him deposed Act. 1. And an other to be choosen in his place Act. 1. Chry in act Apost hom 3. For asmuch as when the Holy Ghost came downe Peter aboue all the test first of aâ— taught the faith and the multitude being conuerted saye to Peter and to none other what shall we do c Act 2 Peter exhortes the conuerted to peÌ„nance and baptisme Peter wrought the 1. miracle Peter first publickly confessed Christ before the counsell Peter knew the secrets of Ananias and Saphiras harts Peters shadow wrought myracles Peter excommunicated enioyned pennance to SimoÌ„ Magus For asmuch as Peter made answere for all that they should repent and be baptized Act. 2. For somuch as Peter did the first miracle after the comming of the holy Ghost and first healed the seete of the lame because he being the head shewed mistically that he established the feete of others Act. 3. Amb. serm 68. For so much as Peter confessed Christ first not only before priuat men but also at the seat of iudgment Act. 4. For asmuch as Peter perceaued the secrets of the hartes of men some to do in simplicitie and some in deceipt He therefore extended his power on Anania and Saphira stryking them dead with one word Act. 5. Greg. lib. 1. Epist 24. For asmuch as all the Apostles did miracles yet Peter was so famous aboue the rest that his shaddowe wrought myracles Act. 5. For asmuch as Peter excommunicated and enioyned pennance to Simon Magus the first Heretick Act 8. For asmuch as he was the first after Christs AscentioÌ„ who rayted a dead persone to lyfe called Tabitha Act. 9. Peter by visioÌ„ is made to know of the conuersion of the gentils For
lyk in all things and equall in degrees of dignitie ANSVVER SAINCT Paul might do it iustly because they were bretheren in the office of Apostleship also for that he had the same holy Ghost with Peter Yet it is to be obserued that no doctrine of S. Peters was then reproued as false but only his behauiour in an outward act as Tertul. lib. de praes Haeret. witnesseth For all the fault was in his conuersation and not in doctrine for he conuersing with the Gentils without respect of the keeping of the law for he belieued the law to binde no man yet at the comming of certaine Iewes he abstained from the Gentils thinking thereby he should do more good to the Iewes to abstaine froÌ„ some meates so that Paul reprehended his dissembling in that the Gentels also were compelled to plaie the Iewes as S. Aug. Epist 19. ad Hier. notes vpoÌ„ this place Yet no lesse S. Paul in this fault is also culpable in tollerating the obseruance of the law in that he circumcised Timothie against the doctrine of the Ghospell Act. 20. Now in that fashion of reproufe S. Paul belieued that the tyme was proper that no man should winke at the ceremonie of the law and to dissemble longer for it was vnprofitable for they belieued the tyme was come to professe Christ plainly c. OBIECTION CHrist is the Head of the Church as the Apostle sayes Eph. 4. He hath constituted him head ouer all the Church but if Peter be head and consequently after him the Pope of Rome there shal be two heades of one body which is absurde Ergo. ANSVVER HOw impertinently doth Luther inferre this argumeÌ„t against vs to proue the body of the Church to be a monster with two heades For we doe not say that Peter is a lyk equall head with Christ but vnder Christ that is to say head-vicar substitute in the place of Christ and so a second head after Christ that is an head of all others froÌ„ Christ or of his misticall body which of all men groweth in Christ and so he is not the head of the full body seing he is not the head of Christ but Christ is simpliciter absolute head of the whole Church yea of Peter who is a member of this whole body notwithstanding more worthy then others As a Vice-roy is truly head of that Kingdome of which he beares charge neuer-theles the King is superior and first head of all his Kingdomes euen so Christ and Peter who is called a rock Matt. 16. and a foundation 1 Cor. 3. vers 11. but not first for Christ is only the first stone layed in the foundation of the Church but Peter is the second foundation and rock vpon whom the rest of the Church is founded by Christ OBIECTION IF the Pope succeed to Peter Ergo he is an Apostle which is false ANSVVER THe sequell is friuolous for more things are requyred to the Apostleshipe then to succeed to the Apostle to wit that immediatly he be called of God moreouer that he be taught of God his doctrine and sent with authority to effectuaâ— the same and lykewise to be indued with the gift of the holy Ghost to write canonicall Scriptures Which things the Pope hath not although in the meane tyme he doth obtaine the Apostolicall power in the whole Church in which he hath succeeded to S. Peter from whence it is called the Apostles seat because of the iurisdiction and authority which the Apostls had and was giuen immediatly by Christ OBIECTIO THE Counsell may depose the Pope therefore the Pope is not supreame head of the Church when the Counsell may depose him ANSVVER THe assumption is false absolutly for a counsell with iudiciall authority caÌ„not depose the Pope because the first seat is iudged of no man the reason is because the Pope hath receaued authority in the whole Church immediately from Christ so that the Church can no way take away that authority Put the case that he should be a manifest Heretick he should not be deposed of men but of God who will not retayne such a vicar who de facto declars himself an heretick cuts himself of so manifestly from his body eyther by euidence of deed or by declaration of a generall counsell QVAESTIO IX Of the Roman Sea of S. Peter WHerefore doth the Roman-Papists boast so much of the succession of the Roman Byshops seing S. Peter was neuer at Rome Welenus Illyr Magdeburg Sebast Franc c. ANSVVER IT is probable that Peter was not only in Rome and to haue made his residence in it but to haue been crucifyed there Howsoeuer the impudeÌ„cy of Heretickes doth prate against the tradition of all antiquity It is probable that Peter was in Rome by his owne epistles First it is proued out of his owne first epistle cap. 5. v. 13. saying The Church collected in Babilon salutes yow that is to say Rome which he calles Babilon because it was full of riches persecution superstion and idolatrie with all manner of sinnes reygning in it as witnesseth Eus lib. 2. cap. 15. Lykwise Papias the disciple of S Iohn sayes that Peter in his first epistle which he wrote from Rome hath remembred Mark whom he calleth his sonne Rome is called Babylong in which figuratiuely he hath nominated Rome Babilon when he sayes that Babylon salutes yow Lykwise Hieâ— de Vir. Illust in Marc. sayes that Peter in his first Epistle vnder the name of Babylon figuratiuely signifieth Rome Moreouer to haue houlden and kept the Episcopall Chayre at Rome At Rome he ouercame Simon Magus and there to haue ouercome and been victor ouer Symon Magus This S. Aug. declares lib. 2. cont lit petil cap. 51. repreheÌ„ding the Hereticks in this manner saying VVhat hath the Chayr of the Roman-Church done to thee S. Aug. defendeth the seat of Rome in which Peter hath sitten and in which at this day Anastasius doth siâ—t Moreouer speaking of Simon Magus lib. de Haer. ad quoduult Har. 1. sayes that he Heretick gaue the images both of himself Simon Magus superstuious dealing in Rome and of the whorishe citie to his disciples to be worshiped the which at Rome he had set vp by publick authority as the images of the heathen Gods in the which city the blessed Apostle Peter ouerthrow him by the true vertue of God omnipoteÌ„t thus he For all the Hystories His ouerthrow at rome by the power of God and Holy writers with generall traditions in all ages haue testified that S. Peter came to Rome as sayes Egisip lib. 3. cap. 2. Ireâ— lib 3. cap. 3. But and Euseb the professors of â—â—â—ditious sayes in Châ—on Eccl. Hist. lib. 2. cap 15 That in the secoÌ„d yeare of Claudius the Emperour Peter the Apostle when he had first founded the Church at Antioch he went to Rome Peter preached at Rome XXV yeares wher preaching the Euangely twenty-fyue-yeares he remained Byshop of that same towne And S.
euer called Catholick as witnes Zozom l. 7. c 4. that Gratian Emperor would not permit to disput of the Roman Faith but made an edict that euery one should hould the same religion which the head of the Apostls Peter had deliuered from the beginning and that which Damasius Pope of Rome doth keep and so with Gratian all the Catholick Byshops doe call the Church of Rome Catholicks cannot be called by any other name the Heretickes themselues shall beare witnes the Mother Church and true Catholicke Church as S. Ambros orat funeb de obit frat Suppose if any man come to the portes of London or Edinburg and be asked what he is if he doth say I am a Catholick forthwith will the Protestants answere and say then thou art a papist also if he demande for a Catholick house to lodge in it will they not out of humanity conuoy him to a papists house which title name declares them to be members of the Catholicke Church for they can no other wyse be named for the word Catholick is â—he surname of a Christian and therefore of his mother he is called a Christian Catholik The Protestants could neuer be called Catholiks which no Hereticke can suffer to hear because they hate the Church for the name sake Therefore the reformed Church can no wayes be called Catholick because neyther the Lutherans Caluinistes Anabaptistes or whatsoeuer sect else separat from the roman-Roman-Church at any tyme hath occupyed the whole world or any one Kingdome of it The Protestants are euer in suspitioÌ„ of Catholicks yea and where they professe and are surest and in the greatest feruor of their Heresie they remaine doubting in suspition of the Papists as an open enemie of their religion Wherefore their only note is to flee to inuisibilitie of the Church and to lurk in certaine corners and bragg with the Donatistes that the Catholick Church hath perished only lurketh in corners and that Church which was visible to the whole world and was through the world is obscured become inuisible and yet with the Donatists they will clame this Catholik Church and showe her visible in their corners and in obscure dennes The Protestants are lyke the Donatists of old For with the Donatistes cryeth Luth. here is Christ and his Church In Saxonie Calu. lykewyse cryes behold here is Christ and his Church In Geueua Memmo Pacimont Rotman crye Christ and his Church is in Morauia lykewyse the Puritans of Scotland crye lyke Rauens here is Christ and his Church and ech kingdome Common-welth Prouince and whersoeuer Heretickes are all crye behold Christ and his Church is here with vs. But who can belieue them when we see no tokens and markes of his Church The Protestants make a monster of Christ his Church and yet all bragge of Christ and are repugnant to themselues they make a monster of Christ and his Church there is one Christ and one Church and yet all Sectaries will haue as many Christes and as many Churches as they are deuyded in factions who fayle to be called Christian and farelesse to be named Catholiks As concerning this note Catholick see more in the first quest on The Church is called Apostolicall because of the Apostls planting excelleâ—cy and prerogatiue The fourth note is called Apostolicall because it retaines the seat of the Prince of the Apostles so that for her singular excellency and prero aâ—ue from the holy Apostle himself of all the auncient Fathers she is called Apostolicall As S. Hier. epâ—st ad Dom. To thy Holynes saith he that is I ioyne my selfe to the communion of the chayr of S. Peter And seing all the other Seates of the Apostles as Ierusalem Alexandria Antioch haue perished and are possessed of the infideles only the chayr of Rome by the prouidence of God The Apostolicall chayr still remayned vnmoued albeit Rome hath byn subiect to diuers mutations remayneth in which as S. Aug. epist 162. sayes hath euer liued the principality of the Apostolicke chayr And albeit in Rome there hath byn diuerse mutations and temporall Lordes sometyme Emperors ruling now the Goâ—hes now coÌ„suls notwithstanding the Seat of Peter hath remayned vnmoued which is done by the prouidence of God See more in the 8. question concerning the Apostolicall succession To what ende the ProtestaÌ„ts labor Cant. 4.5 Apoc. 3 Prou. 23. Ephes 5 2. â—ar 36. Zac. 7. For conclusion it is the intention of the Protestantes that there should be no Church at all but such as is none prophane obscure and satanicall They lay the fault on Christ and defende that he hath forsaken his owne spouse and to haue discharged the gouernour of the ruling his owne Ark and to haue dispysed his owne flesh Hath he permitted the Synagogue which was lesse beloued of him to remaine only seaueÌ„â—ie yeares in captiuity for her sinnes and his Church which once was visible Mat. 20. and perfect to be led into error and from error to haue perished these thâ—wsand years past hath the diligent husband man who went out diuerse tymes in the day to conduce laborers into his vyneyarde neclected it or hath byn so carrelesse to suffer and permit brambelles thornes of error superstttion to suppresse the vyhes and his vyneyard to be come a wildernesse only fit for the fyre Is the kingdome of God which in the Scripture is called his Church corrupted with error Matth. 3. and is falshood permitted to reygne in her seing the kingdome of God is the kingdome of verity Apoc. 21. Psalm 18. Apoc. 21. Matth. 18. 14. Is lykewyse the tabernacle of God set in the sonne become inuisible and obseured Is the city of God situated on an hill become confused babell Hath Hell gates preuailed against his Church Hath the shipp of S Peter byn drowned with the seas of Heresies Is the sanctuarie of refuge become adenne of dragonnes Is the mount of thy sanctification become the mouÌ„t of prophanation Is the inheritance of God soe polluted Is the strong castel with adamant walles thus beaten down O wondrous reformatioÌ„ who belieues them OBIECTION THe Lutherans and Caluinistes and moreouer all the Ghospellers agree in one vniforme defence of the reformed faith Against the Papists Ergo. ANSVVER I Grant ye agree but lyke Sampsones foxes who forthwith running hyther and thyther brunt vp the corne of the Philistins but their heades were deuyded Such are Luth. Calu. and all the rest of the crew of the Euangelistes Protestantes to wit that their tayles that is to say forces and euill will do assist and help others handes to burne the haruest of Gods husbandrie but in religion and capitall pointes they are extreame discordant through the whole articles of our faith euen vnto death OBIECTION YOw are called Papistes which is a name not pertinent to the Caâ—holicke Church but seing this name is a particular name ergo it doth also separaâ—e you from the Catholicke Communion
deformed the Protestantes profession is concerning the articles of our creed let him read Quirinus Cnoglerus de Symbolo Caluin Luther and he shall fynde a thowsand pointes of misbeliefe and filthy absurd errors and negations in the twelfue articles of our fayth that rightly they conclude their proposition to be true to haue indeed in their reformation reiected all papisticall doctrine God and all true fayth and therefore iustly may be called deformeres and no reformers QVAESTIO XIIII Of the stability of the visible Church WHerefore affirme the Papists the Church of God euer to be visible seing sometymes tho hath perished and hath remayned altogeather inuisible Luth lib. de Abrogand miss Caluin lib. 4. instit cap. 1. § 7. Melanch in loc com loc 12. alij ANSVVER GOod friends I belieue you suppose that Christ hath two churches seing it is oÌ„ly one which according to the prophesies is visible and spreed abroad through the whole world and that her citizins shyne in the midest of a crooked peruerse nation lyke stares in the firmament The Church is visible and doth remayne glorious in euery nation shewing themselues members in professing the doctrine and Sacraments of this visible Church Therfore one it is and not many publict and not hid the kingdome of Christ is visible the tabernacle of God is placed in the sonne Nether shall this seeme marueâ—ll to any if all that appertaine to the Church would take heed to the last end vnto which all doth tende and to the same principales mediates if all I say would coÌ„curre with one mynde to wit in fayth hope and charity for it cannot be that there be two Churches otherwayse there should be two last endes distinct and two kynds of principall mediates to obtayne these endes Therefore it is to be belieued of fayth that the Church of Christ hath euer bene visible as may appeare of her notes and by many places of the holy Scripture of the which two shall suffice for breuities sake first in the ps 18. It is sayd that he had placed his tabernacle in the foune that is to say he had placed the Church in the pure light that it may be visible to all the world For as S. Aug Tract 2. in Epist. Ioh. sayes he hath placed his Church in the sonne not in the night but in the day Agayne he sayeth what more am I to say theÌ„ that he is blind that sieth not so great a mountaine and that he shuttes and closseth his eyes against the candell sette on the candelstick Matth. 5. Againe S. Aug vpon the 18. of Matth. v. 15 our Sauiour admonishes if they brother sinne against thee goe and reproue him betwixt thee him if he hear thâ—â— thow hast wonne thy brother but if he hear thâ—e not yet take owne witnes with thee or two that in the mouth of two or thee â—itnesses euery word may stand but if he hear thee nâ—t â—hen tell the Châ—rch if he hear not the Church let him be to thee as an heathen and publican I hope if reason be with man the reformed will here consider diligently the wordes of Christ be-because these wordes specially tell the Churcâ— is to recure to the Church as iudge the which must be visible for no iudge can be inuisible if he execute the office of a iudge for how shall I finde her that is inuisible how shall I declare to the Church if it be not visible who hath euer institute recourse to an inuisible iudge Lykewyse I ask how long hath your reformed Church bene inuisible what minysters of the diuyne word haue you had with you what Sacraments and how are they minystred in all ages past who of yow hath opposed against Vprysing heresies For somuch as the spouse of Christ hath ben oppugned in euery age Answere for her inuisibility if you can As for the Catholickes and to their purpose many places of the Scriptures serue as the parable of the banquet The Thresking floor and the fishers net the sheepfold c. All which doth proue the Church to be visible In the name of the other Senatours of the world compereth S. Aug. in his Epist 161. ad Hon. Danat making meÌ„tion of the visibility of the Church and belieues it of fayth and as it were with his finger pointing the Church of God euer to be visible For so much as S Paul in all his Epistles putteth the names of these Cities Kingdomes and Nations as Macedonia Achaia IerusaleÌ„ Romanes Hebrues Corinth Colloss Philip Gallat Ephes Lykewyse S. Iohn in his Apocal. wryttes to the seauen Churches in Asia c. Which Churches vndoubtedly were visible as the other Churches rehearsed thorefore the Churche is not inuisible and mathematicall vnknown to the world but only to God Are Christian men so blind as yet not to see thâ—s Church before your doctrine which of necessity must make a visible Church for if the Church he inuisible how are you become visible for Pastores are the representation of a visible Church and not of an inuisible who is so blind to â—ollow your imaginary opinioÌ„s against the mount of God the glorious sonn the burning laÌ„p to make the churche obscured and darkned through your idle opinions obserue this for a true note we are all obliged vnder payne of eternal damnation to coÌ„ioyne our selues to the true Church of God to perseuere in her that is to say to obey her head to coÌ„municate with the rest of the meÌ„bers Lyke as S. Hier. sayes Epist ad Dam. Vnto thy holynes that is to say I ioyne and concord with the chayr of S. Peter I know the Church is builded vpon a rock whosoeuer is without this hous shal not eat of the Lamb and he is prophane And if any man be not within the Ark of Noe. he shall perish induring the deluge Now truely it is impossible to any to eat of this lamb out of the right house or to be out of the ark of Noe who desyres to be saued or to communicat with the true Church if it be inuisible Therefore as the Israelites in the old testameÌ„t had the visible signe of circumsition as a sacrameÌ„t of a visible Church euen so in the new testameÌ„t the holy Ghost descended vpon the Apostles in visible signes as a Sacrament of a visible Church for if in the law of nature there was euer certaine externall Symboles visible for humane society obseruance of deuty euen so in the law of grace Christ hath instituted the Sacraments for vnity and charity of the members of his Church For as S. Aug. lib. 19 cont Faust. cap. 11. sayes in no religion true or false men can be vnited without visible signes and Sacraments Moreouer the visible Church from the tyme it began it neuer fayled neyther may fayl because before the incarnation of Christ the true fayth of God was euer and lykewyse the worship of God was in some men who made vp a Church
of God lykewyse that Church which was after Christ hath neuer fayled or might fayle according to that stait in which it was instituted of himself It is euideÌ„t by testimony of holy Scripture in which Christ kingdomes is fortold to be eternall as psal 47 v. 9. Is sayd as we haue hard so we haue we seen in the city of our God and God hath established it for euer Which psalme is spoken altogeather of the Church and her perpetuity lykewyse her visibility is also meÌ„tioned whyl the prophet sayes as we haue hard and seene therefore it is not obscurly designed or inuisible Also Dan. 2. v. 44. sayes That in the dayes of those Kings the God of Heauen shall set vp a Kingdome which shall neuer be distroyed and this Kingdome shall not be giuen to another people but it shall break and distroy all these Kingdomes and it shall stand for euer Moreouer S. Matth. 16. v. 18. sayes That the gates of Hell shall not preuayle against her for as there is a visible head there must be a visible body and seing Christ was seen in earth did conuerse with men shall not his body and members therof also be visible if the foundameÌ„t be visible it behoweth also the house to be visible and seing the Apostles and prophets are foundament of his Church Ephes 2. who can deny the building not to be visible Lykewyse our coniunction with Christ is not only spirituall but also is bodily that we may be bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh the Apostle calleth it a great Sacraments Eph. 5. And seing by Sacramentes we are vnited and knowne togeather which are visible things and therfore appertayne to a visible body which is his Church also which hath a visible head that the Church of God may euer appeare visible wherupon Chrysest Tom. 5. orat de non rontemnend Eccles What is more stronger then the Church of God the barbarous may pull downe the walles but the infernall diuels cannot ouercome it When she is battered she is victor and when she is inuaded with deceipt ouercommeth thus he And S. Bernard Serm. 79. neyther by the verbositie of Philosophers neyther cauillations of heretyckes neyther by the sword of the persecutors might the Church at any tyme be separat from the loue of God thus he Moreouer it is sayd Eph. 4. v. 11. He gane some to be Apostles and some Prophets some Euangelistes and some Pastors and â—eachers for the â—â—summation of the Saincts for the worke of the ministery and for the edification of the body of Christ whyll we all meer togeather in the vnity of faith and in knowledge of the sone of God vnto a perfyt man and vnto the measur of the age of the fulnes of Christ In which words the Apostle rehearsing these offices Apostles Pastors and Doctors to abyd in the Church to the end of the world declares the Church to be visible which no ways caÌ„ be vnderstood of an inuisible church by reason that there is no such offices that Moreouer it implicates a contradition the visible Church sometyme to haue fayled and the inuisible to remayne for somuch as the wonders of the world are noted partly by Scripture as the deludge Gen. 6 4 Reg 17 Matth. 25. the going back of the sonne the sonne mone to haue lost their light and darkenesse to haue ouer shaddowed the whole face of the earth at the death of Christ Lykwyse Historiographers and Chronologies make mention of erthquakes fyre tempestes pestilence and such lyke prodigious things which are registred and are extant in euery mans hand and yet what tyme the Church fayled and became inuisible there is no Scripture no chronologie no witnes euer to be found but only clamorous mens voyces to say it once it was visible this they graunt but how in fayled it is improbable For if the visible Church hath fayled and the inuisible remaine and was not seene there followe to wyld absurdities for eyther she professed her fayth and yelded not to the persecutions of the Gentills or Heceticks and in so doing it followeth that she was visible as the primitue Church in the tyme of the Apostles and Martyres in tyme of persecutors for in profession suffering sho appeared and was a spectacle to the world and contrary wise if she professed not her sayth but lurked and retayned it inwardly in the hart and outwardly by dissimulation accommodated hirself to the tyme in following of false worship as the Helchesiâ—nes did as witnes Euse lib. 6. cap. 31. In so doing sho cannot be accounted the true Church of Christ For Christ sayes Matth. 10. â— 33 VVho shall deny me before men him shall I deny before my Father in Heauen Therefore the Church in vigor and subsistance cannot want a signe of visibility Morouer the Church contayning alswell the vniuersality of faithfull as of Byshops absolutely cannot err in matters of fayth which vniuersally eyther are to be belieued of fayth or propounded vnto vs to be done for good manners whether expressely they be found in the Scripture or noe because the Church is gouerned of Christ the head as S. Paul sayes Ephes 1. u 22. He hath giuen him to be head of all the Church which is his body And therefore if sho may err it redounds vnto Christ which according to the verity it self no manner of way may fall because God is true and because the Church is the pillar and foundament of verity 1. Tim. 3 v. 15. Therefore sho cannot err lykewyse Christ promissed to his Apostles and to the whole Church The spirit of verity to abyd with hir for euer and to leade hir in all verity S Ioan. 14. 16. It is not to be vnderstood of simple verity because the Scripture speakes generally of all verity descrybing the holy spirit to teach the Church and sho to be a pillar of verity that in nothing sho should err otherwayes if the Church may erre in teachings things necessary to saluation no man shall know wher the verity is and the holy Ghost shall be found the lyar For haue not all the Fathers in whatsoeuer question and controuersie of fayth fled to the church as vnto the ancher of verity They would neuer haue taken this refuge if they thought that the Church might erre To this effect S. Aug. lib. 1. contra Cresc c. 33. sayth the verity of the Scriptures is kept of vs seing we doe that thing which hath pleased the vniuersall Church the which doth commend the authority of the selfe Scripture forsomuch the holy Scripture may deceaue none but whosoeuer hath feared to be deceaued by obscurity of any question let him consult with the Church which without any ambiguâ—ty doth demonstrate and shaw the holy Scripture Againe Epist 118. To dispute against that thing sayes he which the vniuersall Church belieues it is most insolent madnes Againe in psal 57. In the bowells of the Church sayes he veritie remaynes
whosoeuer is separated frō this bowels of the Church of necessity he must speake false I say of necessity he must speake false who eyther would not be conceaued or eyther of the mother is made abortiue being once conceaued Which Church Serm ad Catachum cap. 20. He calleth a true mother a godly mother a chast spouse garnished with the dignitye and riches of hir husband not in outward showe by lying deceipt but in veritie which cannot erre And if the prelates of the Church may err consequently the whole Church may err for the people are bound to follow their pastors Mat. 23. v. 3. from whence then is the protestants Church seing the Church is inuisible and hath erred c. OBIECTION IT is written say they the kingdome of God shall not come with obseruation Luc 17 neither shall they say behold here or behold there Luc. 17 v. 21 Therfore the Church which is thè kingdome of God is inuisible and may not be seen ANSVVER IN the same chapter answer is made saying behold the kingdome of God is within yow or amonge yow for in the obiection Christ repelles the vaine opinion of the Pharisies who thought the kingdome of God to haue his beginninge with obseruation of worldly pompe with triumph and publique coronation after the maner of worldly princes makeing his residence in a certaine place of the kingdome He answers them that the Messias shall not reigne that maner of way but in such maner as he hathe begunne to wit in the hartes of men and in his church which then consisted in his Apostles and disciples which in another place he verifieth saying Blissed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the kingdome of God Luc. 6. v. 20. as though he would say yow ar members of the kingdome of God with peace without worldly tumultes and triumphes from which the riche Pharisies are far of Lykewyse S. Pet. 1. epi. cap. 2. v. 5. sayes The Church is a spirituall house to wit not according to the inuisible substance as angells or soules c. Neither sayes he that the Churche consisteth of grosse materialls but of consecrated and sanctified men to God vnited in one body and mynd as was the multitud of belieuers in the dayes of the Apostles OBIECTION Yow haue not come to the mount that may not be touched and to the burninge fyre Hebr. 12. v. 18. 22. But yow haue come to the mount Sion the citie of the liuing God Therfore the Church is not visible for that the citie of the liueing God is not visible ANSVVER THe Apostle in this place denyeth not the visibilitye of the Church but discrybes the beautie of the triumphant Church in calling it heauenly Ierusalem vnto which it is sayd the faithfull haue to approche by faith and hope not that there are two Churches seing that it is all one but builded with diuerse estates to wit perfect and imperfyt vnto which perfection the militant doth labour in faith and hope whill she come to that beauties ende which is descrybed in heauen OBIECTION THose thinges which are belieued ar not seen but in the Creed VVe belieue the holy Catholik Church and therfor the Church being belieued is inuisible ANSVVER MAny things are belieued which notwithstanding are seen as Christ was seen with mans eyes and yet he is belieued the Messias and God and this he proues him self Iohan. 20. v. 29. saying Because thou hast seen me Thomas thou hast belieued ergo Christ was seen and belieued Lykewise in baptisme we see water and the application there of with the prolation of wordes and yet notwithstāding the vertue of the Sacramēt which we see not is effected which is that original synne is takē away iustifying grace is infused a character is impressed in the soule none of these are seen and yet faith belieues them for in all these things there is some things seen and other things belieued euen so in the Church we see with our eyes a company of men professing themselfes Christianes vnder the gouernment of a head but that that company is the very trew Church of Christ we belieue so that some things are seen and some things belieued Is therfore the article of our beliefe to be abolished and to say I see and suppose the Catholik Church and deny to say I belieue the Catholik Church this article conteineth many things more proper to faithe then reason because we see not the elect neither do we know them and yet we firmly belieue them to be in this company as lykewise we belieue this company and Church to be ruled of the holy ghost and yet we see him not and to be without error the piller and ground of veritie and in this Church only to be remission of synnes iustification the infusion of grace hope of eternall lyf the holy scripture and hir true interpretation dispensation of the Sacramentes and the true preaching of Gods word and out of this company and holy Church no mortall man can attain to the fauor of God or eternall saluation all these ar belieued and ar not seen nor known ergo the Church is visible OBIECTION ADam and Eua haue synned therefor the whole visible Church which consisteth in these two persones hath failled and erred Ergo ANSVVER ADam and Eua were not the Church but hir begining neither erred they in teachinge of false doctrine but as priuat persones doing euill or thinking euill OBIECTION IN the tyme of Isai and other Prophetes of the old Testament it appeared to haue failled for Isai sayes 1. cap. v. 3. That Israel hath not known me and in the 6. v. he sayes that from the soale of the foote to the crown of the head there is no whole place Lykewise Hier. 2. v. 29. Ye haue left me sayth the Lord. Et Psal 13. v. 3. All haue declyned and are made altogether vnprofitable there is not one who doth good there is not one VVherupon we gather both the Church to be inuisible and to haue erred ANSVVER ALbeit the whole Church of the Iewes in the tyme of Elias or at any other tyme hath failed which I graunt not notwithstāding it follow not that the Church of Christ hath failed because the Synagoge was not an vniuersall company of Gods peopl but a particular in which were many who liued holy and erred not as Melchisedech Iob Cornelius Centurio the queene of Candies Enuch and all these were found both righteous and faithfull Morouer the Prophet speaketh after the maner of Scripture by reason of the multitude of the wicked which speach passeth as an vniuersal signe how beit in truth all are not such for the mynd of the Prophet is no maner of way to affirme that all men haue falne from God absolutly but such as deny the diuyne prouidence of God saying there is no God and to be none who doth good notwithstanding a little after he declaires some to be good whom he calleth the people of God poor Iacob and Israell and
then beasts are the which God hath not created to misery farelesse to eternall condemnation Whereupon it followeth that God shall first be a reuenger before man be a sinner the which S. Austen euery where reclames that it doth repugne the infinit goodnes of God and in so doing God should be more cruell then the wyld bere and lyons for there is no beast so souadge who do intend to procread their birth and whelps to a extreame misery other is none that do not nourish and promote what in them lyeth to perfection And to the contrary God shal be more vnnaturall then the brut beasts after the doctrine of Caluins theology I cannot see by what reason men can promise assure ther soules whether to presume of their saluation or to dispayer in this doctrine of predestination How shall it be in our liberty and will to perseuer in good things and hope to be saued if predestination without frewill good workes and perseuerance make a consummation what hath Christ sayd in vayne Matth. 19. If thou wilâ— enter into lyfe kept the commandements Againe he that perseuereth to the end shal be saued But this Protestant predestination annihillate the wordes of Christ for it freeth vs of the commandements and of the vertu of perseuerance and sayth all good works are vnprofitable Moreouer there followeth another absurdity that if God of his own wil without forseen sinne What absurdiues follow the ProtestaÌ„ts doctrine of predestinatioÌ„ doth reprobate men there shal be fewer reprobat then elected which is false as Matth. 7. 22. by the consequent of the Scripture is probable for God is more propense and ready to haue mercy then to condemne therefore if predestination coÌ„sist in his owne will it is to be supposed to be fare fewer reprobat to death then to haue been predestinat to lyfe wherein consisteth electioÌ„ and reprobation and of his distinctioÌ„ For it is an idle argument that you Gather of predestination to make the vindictiue iustice of God to shyne seing by reason it is rather obscured who will God first to be a reuenger before man or Angell be and to forsee and predestinat them sinners before they be creatures for by all reason it ought to be first produced what is to be punished before the punishmeÌ„t be decreed and secondly the decree of the punishmeÌ„t is to be measured according to the fact So that the difference in election and reprobation consisteth in this distinction to wit that immediat election in perfect yeares subsist in his prescience with preuision of following merites presupposing cooperating grace and mediat knowledge And in children by preuised application of the Sacraments against sinne originall Reprobation is by apositiue act of his diuyne will by which God hath decreed to condemne some to eternall punishements The cause is giuen meritorious of the part of the reprobate to wit perseuerance in mortall sinne or in originall For where there is a reason giuen wherefore the Kingdome of God is prepared for the elect before the beginning of the world is there good workes and merits for it is sayd Matth. 25. that Christ in the day of iudgemeÌ„t shall say Forseen merits and demerits are causes of election reprobation come ye blessed of my Father by predestination from eternity and by grace in the present possesse yow the Kingdome prepared for yow from the beginning of the world that is to say from eternity Adiecting the reason wherefore not only it is giuen to them to possesse but also was prepared froÌ„ the beginning because sayth he I was hungre thristie naked c. and you succoured me contrariwise to the reprobat Goe from me accursed into hell fyre which is prepared for the Diuell and his Angels for I was hungre thursty naked c. and you secoured me not so that the predestinat is elected to glory for their forseen merits and the reprobate are ordayned to Hell fyre for their forseen demerits Wherupon is the common maxime that the vulgares and idiots holde and is mantayned of all sectaries that a maÌ„ predestinat to eternall lyfe howbeit he doth euill cannot be a member of the Diueil The vulgars opinion of predestinatioÌ„ reprobatioÌ„ and contrariwyse the reprobat whatsoeuer good he doth or how well he liue cannot be a member of God By this doctrine righteous and good men are turned away from doing good workes and makes away for sinne and all vyces for hereby a man shall neyther merit nor demerite seing this Paradox teaches an infalibility that the predestinat caÌ„ do no euill and the reprobat can do good Which is false for it is not sayd to reprobat Cain disparing of the diuyne mercy of Gâ—d for which he was damned and to preuent him of reprobation he sayes Genes 4. v. 6. VVherefore art thow angry and why is thy countenance cast downe if thow doest well thow shalt be rewarded In which wordes it is euident that God promisseth to a reprobate man the reward of good things if he will worke them But the Protestants cheife designe is to extinguish all power and will to work any good thing The ProtestaÌ„ts will is to extinguish all power to merit or demerit through predestinatioÌ„ so that the predestinat cannot sinne nor the reprobate cannot merit withstanding the holy Scripture which sayes that Peter was predestinat to eternall glory and yet committed a most haynous sinne by swearing denying our Lord Matth. 26. whome before he confessed the sonne of God and King of Israell Matth. 16 Lykewyse is not S. Paul predestinat yet he himselfe confesses that he had been a blasphemer a persecuter and a wicked liuer which is the workes of reprobatioÌ„ except you would say that a blasphemer is worthy of an eternall reward then was he a blasphemer of necessity or then was he a member of the diuel for all wickednes must be of the Diuell for as S. Gregor Hom. in domin 1 Quadrag The head of all the wicked is the Diuell and the members of this head are all the wicked Thus he Who would thinke S. Paul to be predestinate and S. Peter whose deeds are opposed or how did their concurre with predestination ensuing seing as they say the predestinate cannot sinne How then haue they others sinned lyke fooles assuring your selues of predestination and eternall lyfe who cannot faill no more then Christ himself with Caluin you are not ware of presumption lib. 4. inst cap. 17. § 2. Whilst you trust in your own suppositions concerning predestination and reprobation for many haue perished who haue thought to haue ben predestinat and many hath been saued vvhose lyfe appeared to others reprobate OBIECTION THe Scripture sayth Rom. 9. v. 11. when as yet they were not borne nor had done eyther good or euill that according to election the purpose of God should remayn sure not of works but by him that calleth it is sayd that the elder shall serue the younger as it is writen