m In AppeÌ„d ad lib. de Romano Poutif c. 20 Ballarmine labour to make the worlde beleeve otherwise beeing desirous to haue vs thinkeâ—… that Petrarch spake not against the Pope but some abuses in the Courte of Rome And to make it plaine that it vvas not a slight conceipt or onely in a fewe that the Pope vvas 〈◊〉 and Rome vvas Babylon Apocal 17. God stirred vp yet more in that age vvho proclaimed the same in 〈◊〉 As n Genebr Chronogr l. 4. An 13â—…7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bâ—… or â—…sis vvho vvas a Minoâ—… and for teaching so vvas digged vp after that hee vvas deed and his body by the sentence of Pope Clement the siâ—… vvas burnt A fevv yeares after him did o Catal. teâ—… verit lib. 18 〈◊〉 â—…es de Râ—…ssa a Monke teach the same doctrine vvhich as every man may gesse doth 〈◊〉 the Papacy in every respect p Academ 〈◊〉 Christ. Clas 15. Iohannes Gâ—… came not so fat but saw in his age many horrible abuses of the Church of Rome and in his writings spake liberally of it And it did bite deepe when q De auferibilitate Papae ab Ecclesia hee disputed that the Pope mighte bee taken safely away from the Church and yet â—…o daunger follovve of it But let vs novve goe a little higher 29. I mentioned before how Cochleus saith that Iohn Hus did take his doctrine from the Wiclevists and the Dulcinists Heare I pray you what he saith r Hist. lib. 2. Hâ—… did commit spirituall fornication with many aliens with the Wiclevists the Dulcinists with the Leonists the Walâ—…ses the Alâ—…ingenses and other of that sorte enimies of the Church of Rome These Leonists or poore men of Lyons and VValdenses and Albingenses vvere the same men but diversly vpon diverse occasions tearmed by the Romane Synagoge which hated them Their opinions then did Hus mainetaine Aeneas Sylvius doth also directly witnesse the same affirming that the s Hist Bohem ca. 35. Hussites did embrace the opinions of the VValdenses There you may see that their doctrine vvas against the Primacy of the Pope Purgatorie and such like matters s Chron. lib. 4. Genebrarde vvho sayeth that these VValdenses beganne Anno 1170 or as some other vvill 1218. rehearseth out of Sylvius these opinions of theirs that praiers for the deade and Purgatorie-fire are an invention of the Priestes covetousnesse that holy Images are to be defaced that Confirmation and extreame Vnction are no Sacramentes that auricular Confession is a trifling thing Hee vvho list may see a greate many more of their t Catal. test verit li. 〈◊〉 positions agreeing with the doctrine which vve teach vvhich may vvell also bee gathered from the Iesuites themselues For that is the cause that u In prefat generall CoÌ„trovers Bellarmine ioineth these togither as heretikes the Berâ—…garians the Petrobrusiant the VValdenses the Albingenses the UUiclevistes the Hussites the Lutherans c. And u Lib. 1. c. 19. Lewes Richeome another of that Society in his defence of the Masse against the Lorde Plessis saieth that the Ministers for the confirming of their figuratiue sence in This is my bodie haue none for their Doctours for their Auncients for their Fathers but Berengarius â—…uinglius Calvin 〈◊〉 VViclef the Albingenses the UUaldenses These Waldenses then and Albingenses are ours by the confession of our Adversaries And of these long agone there were no smal company For as Du x Hist. li. 12. Haillan in the life of Philip the 3. King of Fraunce speaketh being driven from Lyons in Fraunce they withdrew themselues into Lombardy where they so multiplied that their doctrine began to spread through Italy and came as farre as Sicely As the same Authour y Lib. 9. writeth Philippus Augustus came to his kingdome Anno 1180. which is nowe more then foure hundred yeares since And in his time it was that the Albingenses did so increase in Fraunce that the Pope and Princes adioyning were afraide of their number He who readeth the story of them shall see that they are reported to haue held many grosse wicked and absurde opinions mingled with their true doctrine But Du. Haillan the best and most iudicious Chronicler of Fraunce and no partiall witnesse in our behalfe since his profession touching religion was such that he was imployed to write that story by K. Henrie the thirde had not so little wit but that he perceived those imputations to be laid on them in odium and of purpose to procure their defamation See how wisely he speaketh truth and his conscience and yet so coucheth it that his felows might not iustly be offended at his words z Lib. 10. Although saith he these Albingenses had evill opinions yet so it is that these did not stir vp the 〈◊〉 of the Pope and of great Princes against them so much as their libertie of speech did vvherewith they vsed to blame the vices 〈◊〉 dissolutenesse of the said Princes and of the Cleargy yea to taxe the vices and actions of the Popes This was the principall point which brought them into vniversall hatred and which charged them with more evill opinions then they had Now first that they were not men infamous either for their vile opinions or filthy conversation and secondly that they were not onely base and poore people it is evident by this that so many noble and worthy men tooke parte with them yea to the adventuring of their liues in their company and for then behalfe as the a Ibidem Counties or Earles of Tholouse of Cominges of Bigerre of Carâ—… yea the King of Arragon And when Raimund this Earle of Tholouse was for his beleefe excommunicated by the Pope and a Croisado was proclaimed against him and the Albingenses as if they had beene Saracens or Infidels not onely the Counties of Foix Cominges came with all their strength to assist Raimund but Alphonsus the king of Arragon came in his owne person to his succour as beeing his kins-man and his friend And when all these were mett togither the report is saith Du Haillan that the armie of these heretikes did consist of about one hundred thousand fighting men These things being thus discovered by men of your owne part be ashamed you Papistes and blush to spread among your simple and credulous followers that never men did as we do nor beleeved as we beleeue before Luthers time and al Christendome formerly liked of the Papistical doctrine and proceedings But because you shall yet heare one testimony farther touching these Albingenses and Waldenses how honest and truely religious they were I will cite what one Reinerius a man who did hate them and was as it is supposed an Inquisit or against them did report concerning them now three hundred yeares agone or there about Thus then among much other matter he saith of them b Catal test verit lib. 15. There were many sects of heretikes long agone among all which sects that are or
brought for we wil ever do grant so much as any man can in truth wish to bee collected out of them But what is all this to the purpose since neither then nor since they do agree with the polluted doctrine of your Sinagoge and the faith which olde Rome spreade or mainetained is no more consonant to this infidelity which our new Rome maintaineth then an apple is like an oyster Which one answere although it cut of al your cavils which you fetch from antiquity in praise of Rome and we frequētly inculcate it vnto you yet because it so biteth you will in no sort remember It is a tricke in Rhetorike but it is withall but a base shift to slippe by that or to seeme to forget that which woundeth to the hart and vtterly destroyeth T. HILL BUt the Protestants per adventure will grant that the true Church flourished in those dayes but not afterwardes vntill this age in which they haue reformed the same yet is it most manifest that it flourished afterwardes even vntill this our time no lesse then it and before if not more for in Saint Gregory his daies it was spreade all over the worlde as appeareth by his Epistles to the Bishops of the East of Afrike Spaine France England Sicily And by Saint Bede in cap. 6. Cantic as also by Saint Bernard who disputing before Rogerim King of Sicily avouched that in those daies the East all the West Fraunce Germany Englande Spaniardes and many barbarous nations obeyed the Bishoppe of Rome G. ABBOT 8. The Protestāts not fearing that you shal gaine any thing by that which is truth wil refuse to yeeld you nothing that is true In the first Church that is while the Apostles lived the spouse of Christ for doctrine was most glorious for some hundreds of yeares afterwards her honor flourished not a little yet so that some pety superstitions began to creepe in heere and there But about six hundred years after Christ shee for the outward face did more more droupe in doctrine f 1. Ioh. 2. 18 Antichrists began to peepe vp in the Apostles time but then they coulde not properly be called the great Antichrist And that which was thē was not so eminently as that the followers of the Apostles did much obserue it being then more troubled with persecution or heretiks then with superstition In processe of time matters grew to a worse state evil opiniōs creeping in at last the maine g 2. Thes. 2. 3 Apostasie followed But in this Apostasie very great declining there were who yeelded not to the time but kept thēselues vnspotted of the world especially for mainest points of salvation And it being thus whē things were at the worst God in this later age hath suffred that truth which was more hidden to illustrate the Christian world again Yea but you wil proue that since the Primitiue Church faith florished more thē before or at the least it was not diminished vntill our time You can do wonders Sir or els your own reason would informe you that nothing beene added til these lare navigations of the Portingales Spaniards Christianity must needs be exceedingly diminished when the Saracens Turks for so long space haue devored so much of Asia Europa Africa as is or hath bin vnder thē You are but a simple man for story weaker for Cosmography or els you would not so improbably talke at randon But any thing serveth your turne Well the faith was in Gregories times over all the worlde How proue you this Forsooth he wrote Epistles to Bishops of Spaine France England Sicely yea of the East of Afrike Ergo the faith was over all the world A young man of the age of sixteene yeares hath by his diligence learned without booke the Epistle to Philemō that to the Colossians yea the book of Ruth and the Prophecy of Aggeus therefore he can say all the Bible by hart This is Logike for the Seminaries but not currant elsewhere VVhat wrote he into Tartaria or India or Manicongo what to Finland or Iseland or a thousand places more And what saith Bede h In Cantic 6. The summe of the citisens of that celestiall countrey doth exceede the measure of our estimation But this is spoken of all the faithfull that are were or ever shall bee in the world As also that following vpon the texte Adole scentularum non est numerus There are saith hee young maidens vvhereof there is no number because there are sound innumerable cōpantes of Christiā people Which within seaven lines after he maketh most evident The vniversall Church which in the same her faithfull members from the beginning even vnto the ending of the vvorld from the rising of the Sunne vnto the setting from the North and the Sea doe praise the name of the Lorde Doth this shew any extraordinary thing in the time of Beda or any flourishing of the Church or more thē that there were faithfull toward al parts of the world Such is that which was brought touching S. i In vita Bernard L◅ 217 Bernard who vpō a great schisme in the Church of Rome betweene Innocentius and the Antipape Petrus Leonis being sent for to compose this strife and to see whether he could winne over to Innocētius Robert the King of Sicely who stood for Peter in his Oration saith that if Peters side were good they who acknowledged Innocentius for Pope should bee in very ill case And these hee nameth Then the Easterne Church shall perish vvhich at that time coulde comprehend no more but those fewe Christians vvhich were vvarring in or about Palestina for the Greeke Churches did not then acknowledge the Popes Iurisdiction the whole West shall perish Fraunce shallperish Germany shall perish the Spanish and English and the Barbarian kingdomes shall be drowned in the bottome of the Sea Where he doth not adde these special countries over and aboue the VVest but signifieth vvhat was meant by that generall name that is to saye Fraunce Germany Spaine and England vvith some inferiour Kingdomes So that now if S. Bernard doe say any thing heere your all the worlde is vvonderfully shrunke in the vvetting So you strive against the streame and the farther you goe the worse you goe T. HILL AND in these daies it is all over Italie all over Spaine and in Fraunce in most partes of Germany in Poleland Boheme besides England Hungary Greece Syria Aethiopia Aegypt in vvhich Landes are many Catholikes and in the newe world it flourisheth mightily in all the foure partes of the world Eastward in the Indies VVestward in America Northward in Iaponia Southward in Brasilia in the vttermost partes of Afrike G. ABBOT 9 AS many as be disposed to knowe the Popes strength harken now to his muster-maister Al Italie commeth first as being neerest the Popes nose then all Spaine is the second legion But how would it be in these lands if your Inquisitours did
give scope when doe what you can with all your bloudy torments you cannot roote religion out of those places Yea it seemeth that some where in Italie it beareth a prety shew when your Cardinall Bellarmine to the cold comfort of his olde hart could complaine that Lutheranisme for so he calleth it had k In praefat Generali at last passedover the Alpes and pearced even vnto very Italie But is your Pope come to that poverty that now of all the firme lande of Europe you can single out but two countries which stande wholy for him Yea and one of those also liable to so evident an exception This is a good steppe within one hundred of yeeres In the next age God Almighty may plucke many of these from him also But his will must be done In other Realmes there bee Catholikes as in Fraunce It is not so farre from vs but we know how the world goeth there It is possible within that Kingdome to finde more then seaven l 1. Reg. 19. 18. thousand who never bowed their knees to Baal And be they such Papists in the most partes of Germany I am sure you have heard of one Luther whose scholers and himselfe haue not lost much time there I know you have great ioy to remember him For Polonia Bohemia I beleve that you heard some body say that there be both Nobles and of other sorts who have a religion besides Popery Those who love Hus and Luther are not all deade in the one And in the other somewhat there is in it that in the open assemblie of the States or m Prefat Apâ—…log Iâ—… In â—…ui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Parliament it hath bin dared to be proposed that the Iesuites their Colleges shold be extirpated theÌ„ce That in EnglaÌ„d there be some whoÌ„ we pity pray for we cannot deny that is especially the weake beguiled ones As also that there be some more obstinate ones left to be like the Canaanits n Numer 33. 55. prickes in our eies and thornes in our sides but surely you can make no great boast of the Popes tyrannizing heere Nay it is to be hoped that his number is likely day by day to be diminished since many indifferently affected returning to their owne iudgmeÌ„t wil see that they have beene abused by the Priests who never ceased to inculeate into their eares that if once the ere of her late most Christian Maiestie were out England would be nothing but as a feelde of bloude to the Professours of our Religion and what by the strength of the vnited Romanistes within the lande and of the assistance of some Popish Princes from beyonde the Seas Papistrie would heere flourish in maine magnificence VVhich vaine tales many of them in their weakenesse beleeving thought is was best to betake themselues to their congregation betimes least such multitudes comming in afterward there would no notice be takeÌ„ of theÌ„ or perhaps no roome be left for theÌ„ That in HuÌ„gary true religioÌ„ is not vnknown may bâ—… gessed by those o 〈◊〉 Sleidan lib. 14 26. manifold petitioÌ„s almost of the whol Realme to have the Gospell countenaÌ„ced by law even so long agone as in the time of Ferdinandus afterward Emperour But for the state of diverse of these countries I had leifer you should heare Bellamine theÌ„ me Thus the he choaketh your assertioÌ„ p In presat Generali Who is ignorant that the Lutherane pestilence which a little before did begin in Saxony did presetly possesse almost all Germanye then that it went to the North to the East that it wasted Denmarke Norway Sueden Gotheland Pannonia Hungary then that with the like spead being caried to the West South it did in short time destroy FrauÌ„ce EnglaÌ„d Scotland vvhich ere-whiles were most flourishing kingdomes at last passed the Alpes pearced eveÌ„ into very Italy For the rest which you doe name you are in worse case then pitifull P. What many Catholikes have you in Greece Some fewe Venetian marchants which trade to CoÌ„stantinople or some other of like quality For the professed Religion through Greece is Turcisme the Christians there inhabiting as being of the Greekish Church doe decline your Pope as the Cockatrice of the world And is it not thus in Siria where the people are also Turks only you have a few Friers lying at Ierusalem to shew some couÌ„terfeit Reliques either forged or suspect places to pilgrims To furnish vp this little baÌ„d I pray you put to your marchaÌ„ts lying at Aleppo for Aegypts sake foget not those also at Câ—…iro or AlexaÌ„dria for if you should take these away you wil not leaue your selves a maÌ„ there So that while you meÌ„tioÌ„ such stuffe do you any thing els theÌ„ dally with your Reader And what have you in Aethiopia vnder Prester Iohns dominioÌ„ In religion he differeth far froÌ„ you as q Lib 9 de gest is â—…manuel Osorius t Damianus a Goes shew he never heard of your Pope til of late he wil hold nothing froÌ„ him Perhaps you have some one or two Friers there who are seÌ„t to learne the laÌ„guage or may serve to do r Demoribus Aethio pum some turnes for your Portingale MerchaÌ„ts dwelling on some maritime places of the farther side of Africa Or some of those traffiquers do go with their wares to some townes of Aethiopia This is a worthy matter to be cited for the honor of your holy mother 10 I do woÌ„der that being heere in this sweete enumeratioÌ„ you tell vs not out of s Contr Machiavel Lib. 3. 4. Bozius that of purpose to acknowledge the Popes prerogative to sweare obedieÌ„ce to him there came out of Africa to ClemeÌ„t the 7. the Legates of David the King of the AethiopiaÌ„s of the Princes of Mexico from the most remote KingdoÌ„es of the Western Indres to Iulius the 2. Embasladors out of Africa froÌ„ the king of MantcoÌ„go lately to Gregory the 13. froÌ„ lapona in the East Indies froÌ„ the mighty kings of the Tartars in Asia Such cuÌ„ny-catching tricks have bin practised a great while to magnify the Bishop of Rome Sometimes there hath bin no body at all some other times some huÌ„gry cuÌ„ning slave put into a straunge coate and two or three beggers after him who like rogues have wandred vp downe or ruÌ„ne away froÌ„ their countrey or come froÌ„ some great ones as spies hath bin the Legate or Patriarke without penny of maintenaÌ„ce or ship to bring them or ought to grace theÌ„ s Gentillet in examin Concil Tridentin Self 1. Engenius the 4. to give credite to his CoÌ„venticle at FloreÌ„ce against the Synode held at Basile giveth out that Iosippus the Patriarke of CoÌ„stantinople came to submitte himselfe his couÌ„try vnto him when Iosippus was deade an Epistle was published which he was said to writ in his death bed signifyiÌ„g to al those that were within his Patriarchate that he
your inculcating of Al d Fol. 2. Nations having afterwards subioyned vnto it ever continue without interruption e Fol. 3. all Kinges people should acknowledge this Church againe all people which sate in darkenes in the shadow of death should be lightened delivered and set in the right way to Heaven If you take it thus you are pitifully out for our Saviour hath fore-told that into the f Math. 7. 13 wide gate broad way that leadeth to destruction many there be which enter but the straight gate and narrow way that leadeth vnto life few there be that finde And it was reveiled vnto Iohn that with the whore of Babylon the g Apoc. 17. 2. Kings of the earth committed fornication the inhabitours of the earth are drunken with the wine of her fornication And experience hath confirmed that not only the Saracene doctrin hath for almost these thousād yeeres possessed the shew face of many great countries but time out of mind very Gentilisme Heathenisme have raigned in the East West Indies in the Ilands neere adioyning in diverse parts of Africa in Lappia and many other countries the name of Iesus our Redeemer for ought that of certainty can be found till of late yeeres being scant ever heard of among them Or doe you rather vnderstand those speeches of all Nations cōming vnto him of all being drawne vnto Christ to carry this sence that the Gentiles nowe as well as formerly the Iewes should bee admitted and moreover that the word should bee spreade to the East and to the VVest and to the North and to the Southe so that before the day of iudgment God should have some faithfull in everie quarter and sometimes when his Church did flourish many thousands in diverse places and alwaies some servants some-where In this meaning if you take it we willingly ioyne with you the rather induced thervnto by the nature of the word All in the Scriptures and by the manner of the fulfilling of those Prophecies in the Church in such a sort as with reason cannot be gaine-saide For as All in holy writte doth evermore at least signifie many so it doth not cōtinually importe a generality without any sort of exception When it is saide that to Iohn the Baptist h Math. 3. 5. vvent out Hierusalem and all Iewry and all the region round about Iordan it is not meant that no individuall person did stay at home but many of all sortes rich and poore young and olde men and women such a company as if almost all the country had come in were partakers of his Baptisme So i T it 2. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the grace of God hath appeared which bringeth salvation to all men saith Saint Paule to Titus Like to which is that to Timothy k 1. Tim. 2. 4. God our Saviour who will that all men shall be saved where All intendeth many or diverse of diverse sorts not vniversally every one He will have all to be saved saith Gregory l In 1. Reg. 14. because out of every sort of men hee chooseth those whome hee draweth to the ioye of everlasting salvation And Aquinas himselfe among other interpretations of that later place hath this m Part 1. q. 19. a. 6. It may bee vnderstood that the distribution must be made pro generibus singulorum and not pro singulis generum according to this sence God vvill have of every state of men to be saved males and females Iewes and Gentiles smal and great but not all of every severall state And who will say that in every particular countrie of Asia or the continent toward the South pole or many other quarters of the world the Church of Christ hath alwaies apparantly bin The Romanists of al other must not say so if they will have the cōgregation of Gods faithful to extēd it selfe no further thē their doctrine the Popes vsurpatiō doth goe For they cannot prove that ever those regions heard of the name of the Romane Bishop vntill this last age if now they doe or have lately done This thē we grant vnto you that Christ Iesus hath evermore a Church that variously dispersed vnder the cope of heavē not boūded within narrow precincts as that of the Iewes was The goodly titles also which in the word are givē vnto it are ever true in respect of the purity of religiō but especially for the fundamental points which finally cōcerne salvation And they are also as true for the visible glory of the church in time of peace the free course of the Gospel but are not perpetually without interruption to be vnderstood for the patent extent of the same that gloriously apparātly to be in any one countrey of the world as the defenders of the Romane Hierarchy would chalenge to themselves T. HILL FOR before the comming of the Messias the people of the Iewes many others also in other Lands which were of the Iewish Religion vvere in some sorte farre from the bondage of the Devill but since his comming both Iewes and Gentiles and almost all Nations Tribes and Kingdomes have bin ever in Lucifers thraldome vntill this our age in which Luther came to expell Lucifer and to ridde all the world out of his captivity And so the passion of our Redeemer availed little or nothing at all for the space of these fifteene hundred yeeres for a thousand yeeres together hee was so farre from drawing all vnto him as hee said hee would do that he drew not so much as one person that any mā can name And in Ioh. 12. our Country there of England it is most manifest that all were Papistes without exception from the first Christening thereof vntill this age of King Henry the eight G. ABBOT 9 YOV labour to proove that if you bee not the Church the Devils dominion since Christes time hath bin larger then ever it was before And your reason is that before the comming of Christ the Iewes and other of the Iewish profession in other lands were in some sort free from the bondage of the Devil which is true in all those who by the eies of faith did foresee the birth life death of the Messias did beleeve on him reputing him their Redeemer as 〈◊〉 Iob did call him but since his manifestation say you Iewes Gentiles almost all Nations Tribes Kingdomes 〈◊〉 Iob. 19. 25. have bin ever in Lucifers thraldome vntill this our age in which Luther came to expell Lucifer c. I wōder that you can suffer the name of Luther to passe so quietly without some egregious contumely but keeping it for him you only stay it a while anon he shall have it But being heere in the heigth of that argument which above all other pleaseth your side and the very rehearsing whereof as you woulde make your doating followers beleeve doth make vs all o Campian Ration
the Catholike Church in other rites and doctrines Cochleus m Lib. 7. nameth no such condition Nay to shew that simply and directly it was yeelded vnto them he reporteth that the Legates of the Councell of Basile did thus expound that which was concluded in the Bohemians behalfe n Lib. 8. The Councell doth permitte the Eucharist vnder both kindes not tolerating it only as a thing evil as to the Iewes was permitted a bill of divorce but so that by the auctority of Christ his Church it is lawful profitable to the worthie receivers Where is it likely that vnlesse the Bohemians now after Husses death had bin a stroÌ„g party the Antichristian rabble would have yeelded to their importunitie so directlie against the Canon of the nexte precedent Councel Indeed the o Ibidem Emperour Sigismund did afterward take a course to lessen their nuÌ„ber when he sent many of them into Hungary against the Turks that there they might either conquering winne to him victories or being conquered themselues so be destroyed and perish Hee who list to see more concerning the multitude of these Professours let him but looke on p Hist. Bohâ—… ca 35. cap 50. Epist. 130. diverse places in the works of Aeneas Sylvius who was afterward Pope by the name of Pius 2. he shall finde him reporting of his own knowledge as travailing himselfe into Bohemia that they were many and very earnest also in their Religion 20 If here it should bee replyed that these perhaps were base people and of the vulgar who thus followed Iohn Hus but men of learning knowledge or persons of authority they had none to ioine with them the course of the story will easily cleere the same shew that they had both learned Pastours great Magistrats who beleeved as they beleeved stood wholy with theÌ„ Of what literature Hâ—… himselfe was is evident by his works yet remaining by his personal withstanding the whole CouÌ„cel of Constance And what learning what eloquence what memory all admirable were in Hierome of Prage as also with what singular patience he tooke his death is most significantly delivered in an q Ad Leonardum 〈◊〉 Epistle of Poggius who as an eie-witnes beheld him seemed to bee much affected with the singular partes of the man Which noble testimony of that worthy Poggius is acknowledged by r Lib 3. Cochleus While these two lived there were diverse s Lib 2. priests s Lib. 1. preachers which agreed in their Doctrine in their Sermons reproved the Popish Cleargy for their Simony keeping of Concubâ—… avarice riot secular-like pride But after the death of those two famous servaÌ„ts of God their t Lib. 4. followers got to them a Bishop who was Suffragane to the Arch-bishop of Prage and by him they put into holy Orders as many Clerkes as they would Which the Arch-bishop tooke so il that he suspended his Suffragane But it was not long before that u Lib. 5. CoÌ„radus the Arch-bishop himselfe became a Hussite also as the Author calleth him Vnder this Conradus as president of the assembly these Hussites held a CouÌ„cel at Prage in the year 1421. there they compiled a CoÌ„fessioÌ„ of their faith This Cause did the said Archbishop many Barons of Bohemia afterward stifly mainetaine and complained against the Emperor SigismuÌ„d for offring wrong to those of their Religion u Ibidem Alexander also the Duke of Lituania did giue these Hushtes aide which moved Pope Martin the 5 to write vnto him in this sort Know that thou couldst not giue thy faith to heretikes which are the â—…ors of the holy faith that thou dost sin deadly of thou shalt keepe it because there cannot bee any fellowship of a beleever with an insidel Thus did the vertuous Pope write In x Lib. 8. processe of time there grew a parley betweene Sigismund the Emperour the Bohemians There among the Compacts this was one that the Bishops should promote to holy Orders the Bohemians even Hussites which were of the Universitie of Prage And they might well deserue to be reputed Vniversity meÌ„ for Cochleus himselfe witnesseth that the Priests of the Thaborits were skilled in argâ—…g exercised in the holy Scripture y Lib. 10. Rokizana one of theÌ„ did vndertake to dispute with Capistranus a great learned Papist By that time that the yeare 1453. was come Aeneas Sylvius doth complaine that the kingdome of Bohemia was wholy z Lib. 11. governed by heretiks Now all the Nobility all the CoÌ„minalty is subiect to an heretike That was one George or Gyrziko Governor of the kingdome of Bohemia vnder king Ladâ—…slaus But when Ladâ—…slaus was dead this a Lib. 12. George himselfe was by the Nobles and the People chosen King of that country And continuing the auncient profession of his Religion about the yeare 1458 those of Uratislavia and Silesia doe refuse to obey him as being an heretike Notwithstanding Pope Pius the 2. then intending warres against tho Turke did by all meanes perswade theÌ„ that they should yeeld obedience to him This George saith the Authour was borne and brought vp in the heresie of the Hussites Now when Pope Pius did interpose himselfe as a mediatour betweene this King and his Subiects George did require of the Pope that he might keepe the Compacts agreed vpon at Basill in behalfe of the Bohemians And when b Ibidem Pius vvoulde not yeeld there-vnto the king calleth togither the Estates of his kingdome and protesteth that he would liue die in those Compacts so did also the Nobles which were Hussits This was done at Prage in the yeare 1462. This resolutenesse of his caused that Pope to tolerate many things in him but Paul 2. who succeeded in that See of Rome did excommunicate that king and set vp a Croisado against him Also he gaue to Matthias the king of Hungary the title of king of Bohemia c Apud Platin Onuphrius in the life of Paulus 2 saith that the Pope did excommunicate him depriue him of his kingdome Indeed for seaven years this George and Mathias did warre for it and Mathias got from him Moravia and Silesia and a good part of the kingdome of Bohemia Vratislavia also and some other Provinces and citties did put themselues in subiection of Mathias Yet did not George deale hardly with the Papists which were at Prage but in his greatest extremity did vse both the advise and aide of many Nobles of the Popish beleefe At length after the continuance of warre for seaven years d Cochl lib. 12. Mathias coÌ„cludeth a peace with king George both against the will of the Pope and the Emperour And then this king was coÌ„tent to aske of the Pope an absolution from the excommunication some Princes being mediatours for him in that respect But before the Agents could returne from Rome the king died in the yeare
and that in the daies of King Richard the second But while hee lived hee had so manie favourers in that Vniversitie as that k Vide Io. Fox in vita Wiclif Maister Robert 〈◊〉 Uice-chancellour and the two Proctors tooke part with him As also Nicolas Herford Philip 〈◊〉 and Iohn Ashâ—…on preachers and Bachelers of Divinity and grewe into great question for his cause where Râ—…ington in the ende being Doctor did slippe from him Yea so farre was his doctrine there spread that Pope l Annot. R. Richardâ—… 〈◊〉 Gregoâ—…ie the eleventh in the yeere 1â—…78 did direct his Bull to the Vniversitie of Oxford against the doctrine and Articles of that learned man even Rome it selfe ringing of his opinions in that Vniversitie Neither did his followers dye vvhen hee himselfe died but longe m Sub Rege Henrie after that Pope Gregorie the 12. did direct dovvne another Bull to Oxford against VViclif in vvhich hee vseth the same vvordes vvhich his Predecessor had that is to say that VViclif did follovvâ—… the doctrine of Marsilius of Paâ—…a and of Iohn of Gandâ—…ne of vnvvorthie memorie which speech is vvorth the marking to shevve that this man also had his Predecessours n Lib. secund in literis Reg. Henrie 4. The copy of this later Bull is to bee seene in the booke which that vvorthy lover of Antiquities Maister Hare gave to our Vniversitie VVhere also is to bee seene in the Constitutions of a Provinciall Councel celebrated at Oxford a sharpe Inquisition decreed by Thomas Arondell Arch-bishop of Canterbury against all even the heades of Colleges and Halles and others suspected of Loâ—…ardy and VViclevisme They might vvell suppose that the studentes of that place vvere entertainers of such doctrine since aboute that o An. 1406. Octobr. 〈◊〉 verie time a testimoniall p In operibus Iohn Hus. vvas given in their Congregation house vnder seale in favour of Iohn VViclif vvhere these vvoordes are among other GOD forbid that our Prelates should have condemned a man of such honesty for an Heretike c. And yet in the Councell of Constance hee vvas condemned for such a one fortie yeeres after that hee vvas deade and buried But all vvoulde not serve to extirpate his bookes or memorie out of our Vniversitie but even in the daies of q An. 1476. King Edvvard the fourth there vvere nevve letters directed to the Governours of that place by the King himselfe to make search for his bookes and to burne them I have in my custodie a faire auncient Record of that Vniversitie vvhich by meanes of a good friende I have gained backe to this place And therein is a solemne letter directed from the Convocation of Doctours and Maisters to the Kinge testifying that according to their Soveraignes commaundement they had vvith accurate diligence searched out the bookes and tractes of VViclif himselfe and of Reginald Pecocke and had burnt them So much adoe vvas it and that in so longe a space to suppresse the heade vvherevnto VViclifâ—… doctrine was growne in the famous Vniversitie of Oxford 26 Howe else-where in this kingdome his Positions were spredde may bee easily collected out of Geffrey Chaucer vvho dying about the yeere 1400. may rightly bee supposed to have lived vvhile Iohn UUictef lived This Chaucer vvho wanted neither write nor learning did at r In the Plow-mans tale large paint out the pride lascivious vicious and intolerable behaviour of the Pope Cardinals and Clergy even applying the name of Antichrist diverse times vnto the Romane Bishop and saying that there vvere many in those daies of the speakers minde yea finding faulte vvith their faith as vvell as vvith their manners The whole tale is well worthie the reading but I will cite onely a few verses Peter s The Apostle was never so great a â—…oole To leave his kaye s Which Paâ—…sts say he hath of heaven gate with such a t As the Pope lorell Or take such cursed such a toole Hee was advised nothing well I trowe they have the kaye of hell Theâ—… maister is of that place Marshall For there they dressen him to dwell And with false Lucifer there to fall They bene as proude as Lucifarre As angry and as envious From good faith they beene full farre In covetise they bene curious To catch cat taâ—…le as covetous As bound that for hunger well yall Ungodly and vngracious And needely such falshed shall foule fall This and a hundred times as much hee expresseth in a simple Plowmans person as evidently inferring that the husbandman and meanest countrie body of that time by the reading or hearing of the word of God could tell what was right and religious and what otherwise yea and complaine of the blindnesse and impierie of the Romanistes in that Age. But if we would bee advertised what even laye-men in those times could do let vs looke into the Declarations of VValter Bruite who waâ—… in question for his opinions before the Bishop of Hereford in the yeere 1393. and gave vp a little booke containing those things which he maintained The true u Ex Registro Episcopi Hereford copy of that treatise is yet extant and deserveth to bee reade There wee may finde these and the like positions That breade remaineth in the Sacramente after Consecration that the Pope is Antichrist that nothing is to be beleeved but what may be confirmed out of the Scriptures that the Pope is the Idol of desolation sitting in the Temple of God that Antichrist is not to come of the Tribe of Dan neither onely to raigne three yeeres 〈◊〉 a halfe that the City Apoc. 17. is Rome that our Iustification is freelie by faith alone that the doctrine of the Pope differeth from that of Christ that miracles are no assuraunce of truth that men are not rashly to bee reputed Saints that the Pope hath not power beyond other Bishops neither is the heade of the Church that Papistes mistake the keyes of binding and loosing that Infantes dyeing before Baptisme are not therefore damned that Auricular confession is not prescribed in the Scripture that the Canon Law is ill grounded that the Pope deceiveth men in his Pardons that Absolution is to bee sought at the hands of God onely that the Priests vse vaine praiers in the Masse that Exorcismes holy-water are vnlawfull that Priests doe sinne vvho bargaine to sing for the soules of men departed that Religious men and vvomen are the devourers of widowes houses that selling of Orders and Dirges is naught that the Pope is the beast vvith the tvvo hornes like the Lambe vvhile hee chalengeth the double svvorde that hee seeketh to bee vvorshipped as God that Dux Cleri doth make vp the number 666 that vvorshipping of Images is Idolatrie that temporall goods may bee taken from the Clergy offending There was a great Papist one William Wideford whome before I mentioned who giveth testimony to this Treatile of Brute whome hee calleth Waltherus Britta in Latin and
most fine mony is that which lewd persons offer and attempt to resemble Thus the weakest Reader may beholde the vanity of the Doctours thirde Reason and see that their Vnity is against God ours is in God and for Christ and if there should be difference in actions amongst vs it is no other thing then was betweene m Act. 15. 39. Paule and Barnabas and if in opinions of great causes the foundation being surely held it is no more then was betweene n Gal. 2. 11. Peter and Paule and Saint o August Epist. 19. Hierome and Saint Augustine debating that fact of theirs and yet the one couple of those vvere Apostles and the other were great lampes in the Church even as both the Lutherans and Calvinists as you call them are in one article dissenting but both holding Christ crucified and the maÌ„ner of Iustification aright and al other circumstances belonging therevnto 18 I had thought here to haue ended this Chapter but I feare least our Seminarians at Rome my adversaaty himselfe should thinke that in so doing I did not them their right It is saide before that in the Papacy there is a generall vniformity in the peace of mens minds and to be breefe they haue all one heart one soule Would a man thinke this who readeth M. Parsons his Apologie of the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchy and subordination in Englandâ—… For to omit all matters before intimated of the schisme here between the Arch-Priest Seculars as also of all p The estate of Engâ—…ish fugit uâ—…s contentions betweene our English fugitiues in Italy Fraunce and the low Countries during her late Maiesties daies what horrible tumults haue there lately bin in the English Colledge alone at Rome q Apol. c. 5. There did the students bind theÌ„selues by othe not to liue any more vnder the government of the Iesuits Yea so vehement was the sedition once that like mad men they did runne out toward the Popes pallace but from his Holinesse that now is they were commaunded to retire to their lodgings They made many seditious sermons against their governours in the Colledge In the yeare 1596 when Car. dinall Sega prefixed his letters signifying his intent by a Visitation to looke into them they disgracefully tore his letters Among these gallants perhaps was our M. Hill but then not Doctour but knowne by the name of Thomas Hill Priest although afterward he if it were he cryed Creake for it and togither with fiue other Priests was induced to write to Aqua viva the Generall of the Iesuits a solemne letter of thankes because in the yeare 1507. he left father Parsons to take vp controversies in the Colledge at Rome And the same r May 15. 1597. commendations of father Persons appeasing all did Thomas Hill write to D. Kâ—…on Vice-president of the Colledge at Doway But yet the Iesuites are not too forward to attribute much credite vnto this Thomas for it is but a poore testimony which the Rectour there giveth him we doe not heart but Hill hath behaved himselfe wel since But he affirmeth that before time hee was vehement against the fathers vpon errour and evill informed zeale as may be supposed I make some doubt whether that Hill mentioned in the Apologie be my Doctor or no because as I am informed there were two in the Seminary called by the name of Thomas Hill One of this two desiring to be fine before that he was handsome would needes in imitation of the Italian Friers teach his Auditours in his Sermons how they should fly in a coach to heaven whereof this coach must bee made what ones the horses should be that must draw it wherewithall they must be fed such other stuffe till that his hearers did laugh at his eloquence and deride his discretion This later do I suppose to be the Authour of this volume In all this forenamed controversie I do not much finde any vniformity in the peace of mens mindes or one heart and one soule This preaching one against another did shew the contrary thervnto But yet that other preaching long since did shew it mere when as the Waldenses did coÌ„plaine the followers of the Pope in s Confes. Wald. In fascic rer expetenda their sermons did call one another schismatikes heretikes sacrilegious false Prophets ravening wolues the beast and whore in the Apocalypse This of all likelyhood did shew diversity and distraction in doctrine And shall we not imagine that so it was when thirteene s Benno Card. de vita Greg. 7. Cardinals seeing the Apostasie of Hildebrand or Pope Gregory the seventh did depart froÌ„ his Communion that is would not be partakers of the Eucharist where he was to communicat If I should vrge any more examples it should be of the Iesuites who are charged in ordinary practise to dissent from the rest of the Popish Church in Fraunce in more then fifty matters Some of them may wel be said to be points doctrinal as these t Iesuit Cat. Lib. 2. 1. that the Pope is not vnder any Generall or Oecumenicall Councell that the Pope is Prince of all kingdomes as well in matters temporall as spirituall that the kings of Fraâ—…ce may bee excommunicated by the Popes that the Pope according to the occasions of matters may transferre not only kingdomes but the Empire 〈◊〉 that Clergy men may not bee iudged by a secular Iudge although they keepe not civill lawes that the rebellion of a Cleargy man against his Prince is not high treason because he is not subiect to the Prince that a king may be deposed by the State for tyranny and if he doe not his duety when there is iust cause another may be chosen by the greater part of the people yea thâ—…gh they haue swâ—…e perpetuall obedience to him that Iesuits admit of the Councell of Trente These with their circumstaÌ„ces are high points of doctrine maintained and defended by the Iesuits but oppugned by the Papists of Fraunce and other nations which are not Iesuited so that now they may in these respects haue safely more bels then one ring to their Sermons contrary to that which Staphilus woulde haue taught Smideline when he said thus u Apolog. Fridir Staphyl Sâ—…deline should learne of the parish Clerke why when he ringeth to Sermon he ringeth but one â—…ell but to Eâ—…song or Service he ringeth many at once both great and â—…ll The ringing 〈◊〉 bell to Sermon represâ—…th the Unity of the Catholike faith taught at Sermons which ought to be but onâ—… and vniforme in all men â—…t the â—…angling of many diverse bels to coâ—… praier signifieth the diversity of men some praying fervently some coldly some serving God one way some another The difference of the Iesuits froÌ„ other Papists will safely permit them to ring to their Sermons more 〈◊〉 then one And so I come now to the next Chapter THE FOVRTH REASON Conversion of Countreyes T. HILL IT 〈◊〉 most plâ—…ne and
manifest that all 〈◊〉 which ever beleeved in Christ were first converted to his 〈◊〉 by such 〈◊〉 either 〈◊〉 precisely sent or 〈◊〉 the least wise had their authority from the 〈◊〉 which lived in the time in which they were conâ—…rted 〈◊〉 thing is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 set dowâ—… in the History of the first convâ—…rsion of every countrey as no Protestâ—… vvere 〈◊〉 â—…ver so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 G. ABBOT 1 TO deale favourably with you and not to answere you as in this place you deserue is there any man of tolerable learning or any whit seene in the Ecclesiasticall story who doeth not heere thinke that you want some body who may not only exagitate you but excoâ—…te you also when as if you were become some Aquaviva or General of the Iesuits you so and aciously giue downe such generall propositions not onely farre from truth but much estraunged from the very shewe and semblance thereof I do lesse pity you because the farther I goe the more I perceiue you to be a sworne servant to Antichrist therfore there is nothing which may advance your masters credit but you aâ—… devoted to him must say it do it But in my very bowels I pity take compassioÌ„ of divers my bewitched couÌ„treymen sily women and young fondlings who receiving from you such stuffe so boldly asse verantly averred haue not the skill to discover you nor the grace to repaire vnto such as may lay open the Ambuscadoes and snares which you haue prepared for them Where there needeth no other proofe to descry this your dealing then to obserue that in this your so potent and puissant challenge you cite not one author you name not one particular you single not out the Pope you point not out the countrey you assigne not the preachers by whom it is done you mention not the time nor yeeld vs any reason wherefore you do say it but only this that you doe say it Wherein you over-lash beyond the most that ever wrote on your side for other assumed somewhat but you throw at all and losing haue nothing to pay The Iesuites whom afterward you commende in this Chapter doe not vse to extenuate their holy Fathers commendation but to set it as high as may be and a Controv. cap. 2. 〈◊〉 Wats Quodl 8. 4. Costerus among theÌ„ being one who had a 〈◊〉 deale more reading and learning and iudgment theÌ„ you seeme to haue pretermitting as he telleth vs the Churches of the East and of the South saith it is certaine that Germany and Fraunce were first converted by such as Peter sent And afterward he would bring in the kingdoms of England Scotland as brought to the faith by the successours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peter in the see of Rome and to those he addeth Africa meaning as 〈◊〉 should seeme some paâ—… thereof lying neere to Italy for hee himselfe alloâ—…h Aethiopia to Saint Matthew and Aegypt Libia the Africanes there about to Simon and Saint Marke the Evangelist But the conversion of Spaine he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S t. Iames of Thracia and Scythia Europâ—…â—…o Saint 〈◊〉 oâ—… Scythia Asiatica to Philip of Armenia and the hither part of India to Bartholomew of Parthia Media Persia 〈◊〉 the Brachâ—…ane Bactrians vnto Thomas as also the farther part of India which is yet beleeved in that couÌ„trey as b Osor. degest Eman. lib. 3. Maff Hist. Iudic. lib 2. appeareth by such as haue written the navigations of the Portingales into those partes And at these things are witnessed by some of the old writers so c Eccl Hist. lib. 3. 1. Eusebius hath this farther that Asia fel to Iohn the Evangelist meaning Asia the lesser or Natolis but that Peter as it seemeth did preach the word to the Iewes who were d 1. Pet. 1. 1. dispersed in Pontus Galâ—…tia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Asia 2 Thus in the time of the Apostles the greatest parte of the known world had heard of the faith of Christ in some good measure embraced it that being verified that e Rom. 10. 1â—… their sound that is the Apostles went out through all the earth and their wordes into the ends of the world and Christs Prophecie being fulfilled that f Mat. 24. 14 the Gospell of the kingdome should be preached through alâ—… 〈◊〉 world for a â—…nes vnto all nations and then should the end come which was done before the destruction of Hierusalem that g Vers 34. generatâ—… beeing not yet passed which lived in Christs time And this is so vndoubted a truth that Costerus saith The h Controv. cap 2. Catholike Church as first was propagated by the Apostles themselues almost through all knowne countreyes Now all this while there was no Pope and if it should bee obiected as no other shift there is in the world and that is but a simple one that Peter as Pope sent the rest of the Apostles some to this place some to that I require one text oâ—… scripture to bee shewed or one monument of antiquity to be produced which maye confirme so much It is not vnlikelye but that the Apostles in some assembly at Hierusalem did consent what regions each of them should betake themselues vnto but that any one did appoint to the rest their charges we no where find Nay plaine it is that Peter himselfe had his portion assigned him to preach to the i Gal. 2. 7. Iewes as Paule had to preach to the Gentiles which was the greater charge And whither this were appropriated to him by God as the text seemeth well to encline or whither by the consent also of the Apostles Paule had his Commission in the same manner which he so little thinketh inferiour to the others that he k Ibidem nameth it before Peters and standeth vpon l ver 8. 9. tearmes of equality in power and fellowship in action But that I may force the authour of this libell to say Penne thou writest vntruth Samaria received Christ by the preaching of m Act. 8. 5. 14. Philip before that Peter knew of it and the n 27. Eunuch of Aethiopia on the way was in like sort brought to religion by the same Philip and he went home immediately and planted the faith in his Countrey as o Eccl Hist. Lib. 2. 1. Eusebius sheweth which was done without Peters privity for a good space after that hee made doubt whither the Gentiles might haue the worde opened to them vntill that by a vision q Act. 10. 10. from heaven that scruple was removed And I pray you was there nothing done by Saint Paul whose authority was immediate from r Galat. 〈◊〉 1 God not froÌ„ man he beeing not set on worke from other but receiving his commission from Iesus Christ himselfe The history of whose labours in turning men to Christ although Saint Luke doth particularly relate in the Actes of the Apostles yet for brevity sake we will looke to one place only of his owne
bringe a Spanish Princesse the Infanta into that throne vvhich by all righte divine and humane belonged to his Maiestie as the indubitate heire to the Imperiall Crownes of these kingdomes of England and Ireland This intendment of theirs is as cleere as the noone day by h Doleman Persons his booke of Succession by the vrging of the Studentes in the Seminaries to subscribe to the Spanishe title if it were but in blankes by the frequent charging of the Iesuites therewith in the late books of the Secular Priests their Assistants vnto all which the Authour of the Apologie and Manifestation doth not so much as faintly for a fashion giue the least denial We doubt not therefore but his most illustrious Maiesty will be circumspect against such vipers and that his Highnesse considereth the fruits of them and their doctrine in Fraunce the murther of King Henry the third the animating of Paris and so many great citties to rebellion against the puissant King nowe regnant the attempts of i sasuit cat lib. 3. 6. Peter Barrier and k Cap. 8. Iohn Chastell by the lesuites meanes to commit murther and parricide vpon his royal person besides all the doctrine which they haue of the want of Eâ—…ds to slay Kings whome they holde tyrauntes of the Popes ' power to excommunicate Princes and to absolve subiectes from the oath of their alleageance of all Cleargie men in a kingdome exempt from the chastisement and governement of the temporall or Civill Monarke and onely subiect to the Bishop of Rome the verity of which points hee may at large see who will reade that little but excellent treatise Le Fraâ—…c Disâ—…rs Their vow of blinde obedience to their Superiours their position of ordine ad Deum their rule of propter bonum societatis will inferre any varletry traiterousnesse vilainy or impiety in the worlde bee it whatsoever Lastly the experience which is had of them doth manifest that they are like the olde Pharises of whom l Antiquit. lib. 17. 3. Iosephus could say that they were aprowde generation and dangerous vnto Kings for they entred Polony and m Quodlib 3. 7. straight there followed vpon it a rebellion against their Soveraigne they haue beene the meanes that n Ies. Catec lib. 3. 16. Stephen Batori novve king of Poleland is thrust from his ancient kingdome of Sweden the whole life of the activer sort of them being nothing but a o Quodlib in praefat tampering in state causes and Princes affaires their felicity is to set the Realmes where they come into a combustion If then for these and the like reasons the King of Fraunce professing for the Romish faith hath by soleÌ„ne Edict banished these Iebusites out of his kingdome and that on paine of death and they are not harboured in his Realme but only in Burdeaux and Tholouse which is to be hoped will also shortly bee redressed is it to be wondered that our kingdome professing the reformed religion being England which of old could endure no wolues should abandon this lewde Society It might rather be reputed a singular weakedesse in so wise and vigilant a State as God bee praysed this is if there should not be provision made to keepe out such Caterpillers or rather Foxes and Beares who come to destroy the flocke and insteed of converting of countries wherof you speake intende the perverting of consciences and turning them from that due obedience which they owe to the Almighty God of heaven and to his Vice-gerent here amonge vs. It hath pleased the Lord long agone to open the eies of our Governours to see the drifts of these men and wee are to pray that their heartes may ever bee inspired to see the execution of such wholesome lawes that some may take the p Cant. 2. 15 Foxes the little Foxes which destroy the Uines that is to say such body-killing soule-murthering spiritual enemies who destroy many a weake womaÌ„ and vnadvised rash young man T. HILL I will not here speake of the infinite number of Miracles wrought by Catholickes in conversion of Countreys and namely of those which are now done in both the Indies by the holy Fathers aforesaide for that I reserve that matter for his proper place but I would advise you here diligently to weigh the sequele of the Assertion of the Protestantes howe that if Papistes be not true Christians and of the right religion then doth it necessarily followe that neither Spanyards nor Portingales nor Sardinians nor Sicilians nor Italians nor Germaines nor Transylvanians nor Hungarians nor Polouians nor Danes nor Flemmings nor Scots nor Irish nor English no nor any Nation vnder heaven had ever true Religion before Frier Luther maried Moune Bore before Iohn Calvin run away to Geneva before Peter Martyr with his Fustolugges came to teach at Oxford and before a number of such like good companions ledde only by sensualitie and carnall zeale dishodded themselues and became such spectacles to the world as every maÌ„ knoweth Which thing to affirme is flatly to denie Christ and all Christianity as I shewed in my first Reason G. ABBOT YOur mounstrous Miracles you put over to another Chapter and thither God willing I will follow you so that in good time you shal heare of mee The foolishnesse and ridiculousnesse of this your other assertion I have q Answere to the 1. Reason already manifested but heere you are disposed to commemorate the nations of Christendome although to small purpose well I wote vnlesse you would haue vs note that you put the Spaniards first and the English last For if you have named the French also the Bohemians Muscovits Graecians we must answere you that among these or so many of these as it seemed good to the divine Providence there was true Religion and yet the grosser sort of your Papistes had none of it albeit some touched with some smal staines of Popery did belong to Gods kingdome And these were not only before the birth of these excellent men whoÌ„ you name but in all ages since Christ his time VVherefore your bold talking heere is no better then idle trifling That Doctour Luther was a Frier and his wife a Nonne wil be easily granted vnto you but in a Christian mans vnderstanding what more preiudice is therin then that r Exod. 2. 10 Moses for a time was brought vp as the sonne of Pharaâ—…s daughter or that s Act. 23. 6. S t. Paule was a Pharisee or that s Luk 82. 3. Mary Magdalone was agrievous sinner or t Luk. 19. 1. Zacheus the maister of the custome It was no fault for u Gen. 19 12 Let to come out of Sodome neither is it to be blamed that any hasteÌ„ out of u Apoc 18 4 Babylon But the greese is that he a Votary did mary her a Votary which Campians malice so expresseth x Ration 3 dâ—…ec incesto 〈◊〉 votam Deo virginem fâ—…sset
idolatry But while you receiue such as haue had education otherwise howsoever it hath beene neglected by them you are rather the Partridges of whom Saint Austen by remembraÌ„ce of the words of the Prophet e Ier. 17. 11. Ieremy doth speak such Partridges as gather the young which you brought not forth as your Seminaries doe declare But God be praised for it some of them doe serue you as Saint f Heâ—…mer lib. 63. Ambrose reporteth that the Partridge is served For whereas one Partridge doth steale away the egges of another Partridge and hacheth them if the opinion of that learned Authour be true divers of the g Epist. lib. 7. 48. young being hatched when they afterward heate the voice of their owne and naturall dams in the field leaue their step-mother and come againe to her to whom by original right they belonged So many of your infection after true grace imparted from aboue doe returne from your Seminaries and adioine themselues sincerely and laboriously to the Church of England They are bound to blesse God who delivereth them in such sort even as h Ion. 2. 10. Ionah was freed out of the whales belly They are come out not of the Doue-house which fertilely bringeth forth Pigeons but from Babylon where i Is. 13. 21. Zâ—… and Oâ—… be and Ostriches Dragons For as the old bee there so are the most part of the young Malicorvimalâ—…â—…vum A bad crow a bad egge And now telling you that a great part of this your fourth Reason is taken out of M. Bristowes fiue and twentith Motiue I let you go play you though but for a turne or two 24 BVt to come to the Reader whereas here the tearme of Heretikes is so oft vsed against vs we briefly aunswere with Saint Gregory k Moral lib. 10. 16 ex Exod. 8. 26. That is service vnto God which to the Egyptians was â—…nation And whereas among so many other foolish ones that is made a reason why the Popish religion should be truth saving M. Doctours vnpointed and vncoÌ„cluding discourse what can there by sound argument bee enforced therevpon What shal be the ground that must be stood on For cannot Heretikes pervert The Apostles haue told vs that their l 2 Tim. 2. 17 words fret as a Canker that m Cap. 3. 6. they creepe into houses yea that n 2. Pet. 2. 2. many shall follow their daâ—…able waies And you heard before what the Arrians did Or is it not vnto truth Why as touching this disputation that is the maine question betweene the Romanists vs. And to build vpon that is but Petitiâ—… prinâ—… to seâ—…ke to haue that graunted which is mainely and especially denied We do not yeeld that any of them winning their Converts to the subiection of the Papacy do bring them to Christ but rather to Antichrist Or is it a necessary coÌ„comitant of verity in doctrine that such as haue 〈◊〉 among them should be bound to convert Nations to the faith TheÌ„ to say nothing of the Iewish Church which had the word appropriated to it alone for so long a time what shall we thinke of France and England and Ireland and many other provinces of Europe which for a thousand yeares togither are not knowne to haue converted any one countrey to Christ but haue had enough and perhaps too much to do to keep theÌ„selues in the integrity of piety And yet our Pseudo-Catholiks make no doubt but that al that while they had the right beliefe These things do manifest the ficklenesse and vnstaiednes of thâ—… foundatioÌ„ heâ—… laid But if to turâ—… men to Christ be so necessary 〈◊〉 duety what wil they say to such a strange bringing home of so many kingdomes and regions of Europe within these huÌ„dred yeares and that by a few at first and those weake ones when Sathan and the Bishop of Rome and many potent Princes confederated with him did leaue no meanes vnsought to stifle Truth as in the cradle When the sword hath not beene spared the fire hath not beene forborne when their mighty men haue stroue their learned men haue written there haue beene wanting no libels no slanders no defamations yea no rebellion and treason and massacting and poysonfull attempts and yet neverthelesse Truth standeth vpright You talke of conversion but all the lovers and wel-willers of the whore of Babylon may and do stand amazed and gaze wonder at the ruine of their kingdome by so many millions going from them And we trust in Iesus Christ the conserver of the faithfull that in peace in warre in al things that can come this Arke of Noe shall swimme in safety floate being beaten vpon with many billowes but yet evermore bee preserved God hath not in his mercy given so much light that it should be extinguished or the glory of it much dimmed before his sonnes appearance With the breath of his month hee hath 〈◊〉 Thess. 2. 〈◊〉 ken and blasted that man of sinne and it now remaineth that he should be vtterly abolished at Christes comming Gaze therfore you Romanists till your eies and heartes doe ake to see the â—…ine and confusion of the Gospell and yet as wee trust in Almighty God you shall never haue your purpose THE FIFTH REASON Largenesse of Dominion through the multitude of Beleevers T. HILL THE Church vvhich the Mâ—…ssias vvâ—… to plante must bee 〈◊〉 is aforesaide dispersed through all nations and kingdomes 〈◊〉 the Holy Proâ—…ts â—…st plâ—…ly fore-shewed and namely the Royall Prophet speaking of the Apostles and Preachers vvhich shoulde succeede them saith Their sound went forth into all parts of the Psal. 18. Earth and their wordes vnto the ends of the circle of the earth And â—…st â—…festly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…sse of Christian domiâ—… in thâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psâ—… And S. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 beasts and the fâ—…e â—…d twenty Elâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before the Lâ—…be â—…ging thus Thou art worthy Lord to take the booke and to open the seales therof Apoc. c. 5 for thou hast bin slaine and hast redeemed vs to God in thy bloud out of every Tribe and people Language and Nation and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her plâ—… After these things saith he I saw a great company which no man 〈◊〉 able to number of al Nations Tribes and Peoples and Tongues Cap. 7. G. ABBOT IT was long since saide that whereas our blessed 〈◊〉 Saviour whcÌ„ he was takeÌ„ vp to an exceeding high mountaine and shewed all the kingdomes Math 4 8 of the world and the glory of theÌ„ did refuse that offer of SataÌ„ Al these will I give thee if thâ—… wilt fall downe worship me the Pope coÌ„ming long after hearing that such a liberal profer was made tooke the Devill at his word in hope of such a wide exteÌ„ded dominioÌ„ did fal down and adore him You come in this place to plead for your Grand-maister the Bishop of Rome by the validity of this DonatioÌ„ but forgetting that
s Lib. 10. Macazar Not far from thence is s Lib. 10. Cetigano you terme it Cerignano one of the Ilands called Celebes Siligan is a town Butuan Piâ—…iliran and Camigu three things called kingdomes but all these t Ibidem foure within the Ile Mindanaus u Lib. 12. Supa is a small place nere 〈◊〉 Sian and that is an Iland towne beyond the Promontory of Malaca turning vp farre to the North. u Lib. 8. Bacian is one of the Moluccos Solar or rather x Lib. 16. Solor is an I le about 300. leagues froÌ„ Malaca being 8. degrees distant from the Aequator toward the South y Lib. 1. Malacca is a citty in that Promontory of India which was wont to be called Aurea Chersonesus is now tearmed Malaca of the city Selebi or rather z Lib. 8. Celebes is principally one Iland nere the Equinoctial but other adioining haue that name coÌ„municated to theÌ„ Thus haue we ended all that be nere to the East Indies The Iland of S. a Osor. Hist. li 3. Thomazo or S. Thomas lyeth directly vnder the Aequinoctial line over against that part of Africa which is tearmed Manicongo or rather a little higher theÌ„ it That which you name S. Domingo is it which in Latin is called b Pet. Mart. Decad. 1. 2. Dominica having that appellation given to it because it was discovered on a Sunday which in Latin is named Dies Dominicus It lieth toward America but much neerer vs then Hispaniola doth and it was one of the Ilands where the Caribes or Canibals did dwell before the comming of ColuÌ„bus toward the West Indies c â—…d Decad. 1. l. 6. Madera is one of the fortunat or Canary IlaÌ„ds lying some few daies iourny South-west ward froÌ„ Spaine You might if it had pleased you haue added the rest of the Canaries and the Azores as also all that lie neere America as Cuba and Hispaniola and many about them also the Philippinas and I cannot tell what But my conceite is that you went no farther because the Author or Copy which you followed weÌ„t no farther For I deale plainly with you I do not hold you gilty of the knowing where al these places be And yet it were no huge labor in the reading over of such an Authour as the d Hist. India aut select Epistol Iesuit Maffeus is to take the wordes heere and there as hee relateth the comming in of the Portingales or the pretended labours of his felowes But I smell it to be borrowed from some other man as your e RatioÌ„ 3. enumeratioÌ„ of Heretikes was from Staphilus In which respect I call to minde howe once on a New-yeares day in the morning a Parish-Clarke in Oxford brought to the Minister of that Parish certaine Latin verses as a token for the Newe yeare The Minister seeing them before he reade them said that hee thaÌ„ked him for his paines but added that he did not thinke that he could haue made a Latin verse The Clarke with an humble smile looking on did no way deny but that the verses were his owne But when the other had reade them he altered his opinion and tolde him that they were taken out of a Printed booke It is true indeede saith the Clarke but Sir I tooke the paines to write them out for you Even so much paines have you taken ignorantly from some ignorant fellowes collections to write these names out for vs. 16. I am induced to think so not only because you have played such pageants before but much rather because a sober man may wel thinke that if you had known what you did or had had any true vnderstaÌ„ding of the matter you wold never have made such a clatter to so small a purpose For it may well be supposed that there be no such places as some are named by you some other of them are so meane as that to this day they never could finde place in any mappe whatsoever published to the worlde Onely they are mentioned by one Iesuite who cannot lye and he maketh every meane man a King if he once parled with a Iesuite he shall want no title You have reckoned vs vp heere one and forty names many of them in themselves small base and inferiour things if diverse of them be ordinarily tearmed Kingdoms yet the whol couÌ„try is not so great as a prety shire in England some of the Ilands are as meane as the I le of Wight is If you will stand on it that these be kingdomes yet wee can make you answere that very many of the Kings of the East couÌ„try are Lordes but as over moale-hils and so it was some thousands of yeeres agone f Gen. 14. 2. You may reade of the King of Sodome and of the Kinge of Gomorah as also of the Kinge of Admah and of the Kinge of Zeboim and yet all these lived vvithin a small compasse of ground For the one and forty names which you note vnto vs you may reade of g Iosu. 12. 9. one and thirty Kinges indeede with whom Iosuah had to deale and yet all their dominion was so within Canaan that the territories of all their regiment was not so much as England alone without Scotland ioyned to it And yet if an ignorant man shoulde heare the names of all those Kinges as they are set downe by Iosua he would looke as much about him as one of your silie Papists doth at those heere in your booke To let them therefore know how you egregiously abuse them you haue said as much as if I should speake in this sort His Maiesty of England hath a great many good subiects I begin to give the instance in Suffex because I heare that this Pamphlet is much in request among backward people there as in the great city of Chichester in Arundel in Rye and in many other good places there about Also in Sandwich with all the Cinque portes and the liberties of the same yea in the Iles of Shepy and Tenet with other lying at the landes end fast by Essex yea adde herevnto Hul New-castle vpon Tine the strong towne of Barwike And if a man should tel this to some vnlettered Italian who lyeth a great way hence he might be made to wonder but the truth were no very high matter Thus it is with these places named which are onely cities townes or angles standing along the sea coast vpon the shore of the Indies and interrupted or intersorted with heathenish dominions or else they are Ilands in the selfe same quality And in many of these if there were some said to be baptised 20. or 40. yeares agone or if there be now but 5. Portingales or Spanyards which keepe a shop or ware-house yet there is the Romish faith Which our Author who never vseth but to cast at All as it seemeth doth acknowledg wheÌ„ coÌ„trary to his custome he hath an extenuation It is happilie received of
reason of her birth the other for that she was deprived by the Pope Mentioning the story of one Fenne it is vrged that the dignity of S t. Peters successour was conferred vpon a profane woman Afterward these verses are set on her sacred Maiestie Sathanico praesul Calvini imbuta veneno est Elizabeth diraquè impietate tumet And lastly this is bestowed vpon her Elizabetha scelerum caput These thinges being writen by diverse of them beyond the seas do argue what spirit was among our Divines there If we wil have more proofe of the faithful harts of our male contented fugitives toward our late Princesse let vs looke on the words closely couched of the Rhemists in diverse places As that about u Annot in 2. Ioh. 10. Heretikes excoÌ„municated by name what things men are to withdraw from theÌ„ And let the traiterous actions of theÌ„ in our Realme expouÌ„d that covert speech of Iezabel u In Apoc. 2. 20. elsewhere But in steed of al let the Action attempted against this kingdome heere in the yeare 1588 speake which was vehemently vrged by our Priestes abroade and the people to the beste of their povver fitted for it at home 18 If these generalities do not yet satisfy theÌ„ let it be remeÌ„bred where these Seminary Priests are brought vp how flying froÌ„ their native soile in the highest discoÌ„tentment they goe into the dominioÌ„s of the Pope King of Spaine to whoÌ„ howmuch England hath bin beholding a blind maÌ„ may almost see At their expeÌ„ce they are maintained who in behalfe of their charges looke for some service again And vnder whoÌ„ have they their educatioÌ„ Vnder men Iesuited as nowe D. Worthington the Rectour of the College at Doway is or vnder the Iusuits theÌ„selves of whose vertues I have before spokeÌ„ To their Governours by othe they owe obedieÌ„ce of liklihood at their returne they take their directioÌ„ froÌ„ theÌ„ Now what maner of meÌ„ these be Allen who was long the Rectour of the College at Rhemes Persons now Governour of the Seminary at Rome may declare CoÌ„cerning AlleÌ„ our Secular Priests of late displaying the Iesuites do labour to extenuate the malice and poisonful behaviour of that hungry Cardinal but his works are extant testifying that there was never any man more virulent in hart against the state of England theÌ„ he was x Apolog. cap. 11. Persons reckoneth vp four of his bookes The Answere to the English Iustice The defence of the twelve martyrs in one yeare The Epistle allowing Sir VVilliam Stanleyes delivery vp of Daventry And the Declaration against her Maiestie and the State in the yeare 1588. In the first of these the y Chap. 2. protestatioÌ„ of Laborn before meÌ„tioned is remeÌ„bred that by other Papists as occasioÌ„ should serve it might be imitated And the whol treatise howsoever it seeme to be more closely coÌ„veied then ordinary is forced with pestilent caluÌ„niations Of the same nature is the whole subiect of the second peÌ„ned of purpose to direct meÌ„s affectioÌ„ froÌ„ the state The third is a litle Pamphlet short but not sweet maintaining the treasoÌ„ful actioÌ„ of Sir William StaÌ„ley by many an vn-ChristiaÌ„ ceÌ„sure most slauÌ„derous imputatioÌ„ As for z Allens answere 1584 exaÌ„ple That our country is fallen into Atheisme That the Queenes confederacies were only alwaies with Christs enemies That the warres of the English in the low Countries were sacrilegious warres and of a hereticall Prince And because he wil be like himselfe hee goeth on That all the actes in this Realme since the Queene was excoÌ„municated and deposed from regall dignity are voide therfore shee can denotence no warre neither may her subiects there serve her when a Prince is become an open Rebell to the See Apostolike He wishâ—…h that the rest of the English souldiours would doe as they with Sir VVilliam Stanley did He saith that the English take no quarrels in handes but for the dishonorable defence of Rebels Pyrates and Infidels I doe of purpose heere omitte many vile and execrable speeches by him added least the very rehearsing of them might iustly be offensive But the wicked man did make no coÌ„science to staine his whole couÌ„trey with horrible defamations I would heare any Secular in the vvorlde vvho can excuse this cursed fellovve The fourth was printed in Englishe and should have beened vulged if the Spanyardes coulde have sette footing in England in the yeare 1588. Hee vvho list to see it may finde it vvorde for vvorde in a Belgic Histor l. 15. Meterranus Amonge other matters there are these Our Soveraigne then beeing is called the Pretended Queene and the present vsurper Shee must be deprived of the administration of the kingdome Shee is an Heretike a Schismatike excommunicate contumacinis vsurping the kingdome against all right as for other causes so because shee had not the consent of the greate Bishoppe of Rome Shee mooved the Turke to invade Christendome Shee hath sette at sale and made a maâ—… of Lavves and rightes Some of her factes make her vncapable of the kingdome some other make her vnvvorthie of life Therefore Pope sixtus the fifth doth renew the excommunication against her and doth deprive her of her title and preteaces to the kingdomes of Englande and Ireland declaring her illegitimate and an vsâ—…per and absolving all her subiectes from the â—…th of sidelity toward her Then he chardgeth all to withdraw their â—…de from her that worthy punishment may be taken of her and that they â—…e themselues with the Duke of Parma Also it is proclaimed lawfull â—…y hands vpon vpon the Queene and a very great reward is promised to those who do so A safe conduct is then given to as many as wil bring â—…ny wâ—… like provision to the Spanish campe and to all who woulde assist that enterprise the Pope doth by Indulgence giue full pardon and plenary remission of all their sinnes If these things doe not sufficiently shew the viperous minde of this lewde Cardinall against his Prince Country nothing in the world can manifest it His dis Englished woolvish desire was that his naturall place of educatioÌ„ for which the old heatheÌ„s would haue lost ten thousand liues should haue beene in the everlasting bondage of the Spanyard Our Seculars then commending and excusing him to their powers are pitifully out but the error of them and of some English gentlementravailers was this that they imagined him in his latter yeares to be altered when indeede it was nothing else but that after the yeare 88 his hopes being deluded and neither Pope nor Spaniarde nor all their adherentes knowing how to remedy or recover that inestimable losse and incomparable dishonour vnto them his hart was as good as broken and he would seeme more desirous to shew all tolerability to single men of our English nation that he might haue some grace with theÌ„ since he began to haue so little with the Spanyard But doubtlesse venime had so putrisied him
some Acts those of the greatest moment passed there as by name that concerning the 〈◊〉 Canonical Scripture the equalling of traditions Session 4â—… to the writteÌ„ word of God the allowing only of the Vulgar Latin edition for authentical For theÌ„ after that as appeareth by the calculatioÌ„ of the time there were in the k Sleid. l. 17 meeting besides the Cardinals which were the Popes Legats there and the Cardinal of Trent Pachecus the Spanyard foure Archbishops wherof the poore sterneling titulary Olaus Venantius before named were two Bishops 33. wherof two were French fiue Spaniards one of IllyricuÌ„ the rest were ItaliaÌ„s Doctors of Divinity which were Monks 35. other which were not Monks 12. and all these almost Spanyards This was your late famous CouÌ„cell of Trent so much craked of by all you Papists who intend to make that seeme a mountaine which was meaner then a mole hill that so you may feed fat your simple and credulous followers with bigge words vttered in generall and spoken as in the clowds Now if we should sift also what manner of men what noble Clerkes many of those were who met there the grace of this bragge would be so much the more stained Calvin lived in that time saw what excellent rare lads they were which went voluntarily out of France thither for as before you heard the kings sent none I will cite his words as l In praefat ad Histâ—…r Huâ—…it ex praef Calâ—… cont Concil â—…riden Cochleus setteth them down Let the Patrones of Councels answere me bona fide if a maÌ„ should reckon them all in order vnto them what man of them would they not coÌ„temne Nay when those Reverend Fathers doe looke one vpon another it caÌ„not be but they are ashâ—…med of themselues For they are knowne to theÌ„selues what other mens iudgement is of them they are not ignoraunt Therfore if you will take away the name of a Councell the whole Papacie must coÌ„fesse that al the Bishops which were there was nothing but raffe But I thinke good to leaue to other naâ—…ions their ornaments vntouched I will only intreate my countreymen of France that they wil valew at a iust price that portion which they coÌ„ferred Amongst the principall meÌ„bers of the Church they do reckon the kingdom of France FroÌ„ thence there were two Bishops present the one of Neneâ—…um the other of Clarement Both alike vnlearned and stupidious The Archbishop Aquensis I doe scant nuÌ„ber amongst French men And he of Agatha as curious men vse to doe was there but as an idle looker â—…n I beseech you French men who of you caÌ„ perswade himselfe that these things doe come froÌ„ the holy Ghost which even an innumerable multitude of such men shall babble out For these imperfections and blemishes every way we vpoÌ„ sound coÌ„sideration thinke the Trent assembly to be worthy of no better titles then the m co chl in Histor. Hus sit lib 1 Hussites gaue the Councell at Rome which was called by Iohn the 23. or rather 24. as we account him For when the Pope had in that meeting condemned Wiclef the Hussites laughed at him and his sily meane Conventicle saying that it was done not in Generali Conâ—…ilio in a Generall Councell but in Angulari Concilio in a Councell in a corner And for Pralati de regnis orbis the Prelates of the kingdomes of the world they said there were pauci monachi Simoniaci vrbis a few monks simoniacal persons of that city Rome This is most true of your Trentish concurrence Vnto all these maimes in it we might adde that for matters importaÌ„t nothing was so coÌ„sulted there as that is was to be coÌ„cluded among the fathers there assembled but froÌ„ Rome was sent stil what should be determined so that not vnworthyly the scoffe was vsed that the holy Ghost which should haue directed at Trent was sent froÌ„ Rome in a box This be said touching the forme circuÌ„stances of that assembly so unmoderatly vndeservedly magnified to the which I might ioine many other Nullities set down by n In exâ—…mine concil Trident. GeÌ„tilleÌ„tus a French maÌ„ for the matter as it coÌ„cerneth Popish divinity it hath bin prety well coursed by Calvin CheÌ„nicius So that being rightly balanced every way there is little or nothing of authority to befound in it 8 Your hope that the Councell of Trent will by some grace arise to a higher degree is borrowed from o Ration 4 Campian who â—…ide that while CheÌ„nicius vnlesse he did take heed should be buried with Arius the Tridentine Synode the elder it grâ—…w so much the more dayly and so much the more continually it should flourish Well the Prophet himselfe first came to naught and the Conciliable now more then tvventy yeares after is in the same case as before or worse And it is to be hoped that higher it shall not rise vnlesse it bee vvith the children of vnbeliefe As for vs that proâ—…esse against it wee doubt not but by the protection of almightye God our religion shall stande vnto the daye of indgeâ—…nte maugre all the treasons and conspiracies vvhich the Romish whore can haue against it It is her p Apoc. 18. 2 Babylon that for a great part is fallen already and must fall a faire deale more Those whom you call new fellowes are able to proue every part of their profession to be more ancient then your vn-Catholike superstition Your reasons why we cannot continue do halt on every foote We cannot call a Councell Ergo we cannot continue A simple Antecedent and a childish Consequent And why I pray you may not the Princes governors of the Reformed kingdomes and States of Europe as well assemble a Councell as the Popish Princes may Yea and so much the better a Synode because disputation and conference may be free as being out of the worde of God and not restained within the limits of your Popes pleasure Then how can you proue that it is of the necessity of religion that Generall Councels should be called May not Provinciall assemblies serue the turne for setling severall lands and countries as they haue done before It is de benè esse of religion that there should be great meetings if there be cause they be lawfully called and orderly proceeded in but it is not de esse Else if there had arose no q Act. 15. 6. variance in the time of the Apostles which was the cause of their meeting their religion might haue sunke Your next proposition is as weake that we can decide nothinge without a head We haue a head and that is Christ and his Spirit is his Vice-gerent to supply his place and this Spirit will not be wanting to those who rightly earnestly pray for him And we haue also asquire to direct all by that is the written word we remember Christs speech r Ioh. 〈◊〉 39. search the