no such rule of fayth in moderne Canonists adding notwithstanding that where obstinacy possesseth not the will but true obedience to the Church remayneth error may be incurred by humane infirmity negligence obscurity of the matter or the determination of the Church being not yet giuen or not knowen but by no meanes heresy albeit the thing it self may be contrary to fayth or good manners Thus much briefely for their excuse but how the minister can be defended is without the conceipt of all common capacitie I might add for a fourth vntruth how both here and in his Suruey he maketh Iosephus also to mention Rhenanus of whom he speaketh nothing at all But I haue done sufficiently for this Chapter let vs now see what followeth in the next Bels VII Chapter Of Popishe venial synnes THE XXVIII VNTRVTH COncerning his seuenth chapter wherein he disputeth of venial sinnes two things are to be noted before we come to his vntruthes The first is that all Catholick writers both old and new acknowledge and confesse some sinnes to be venial and not to deserue the euerlasting paine of hell fire as by and by shall more plentifully be proued The second is that there be two small things commonly called schole questions wherein diuers follow diuers opinions The first is whether venial sinnes be contrary to the commanundement or beside the commaundement som learned men houlding the one opinion and som embracing the other which is a curious quiddity disputable in scholes and nothing touching the hart of religion and besides none of these but willingly submitte them selues to the censure of the catholik Church and yet the minister as though it were some fundamental point noteth here very grauely out of Iosephus that the one opinion is now more common in the scholes then the other and out of that by maine dexterity of learning inferreth the mutability of our religion but he should haue done well to haue proued first that this concerned religion that is any point of fayth as he would haue it thoughte or els he sayth nothing to the purpose The second schole question though somwhat greater is from whence it cometh that som sinnes be mortal some venial whether from the nature of the sinnes them selues or from the mercy of God The common opinion most receiued and most sound is that some sinnes of their owne nature be small or venial others great and mortall Bishop Fisher and some fower other alleadged by Bell thincke that all sinnes of their owne nature be mortal that it proceedeth from the mercy of God that som be venial because he would not vpon diuers smaller synnes impose so great a punishment But not withstanding this small difference neither B. Fisher nor any of the others deny veniall sinnes as Bell and his consorts doth This being so let vs consider what a notable vntruth and that often rehearsed the minister offereth to the viewe of his readers when he sayth Almainus Durandus Gerson Baius and other famous Papists not able to answeare the reasons against veniall sinnes confesse the truth with the Bishop that euery sinne is mortall He doth cunningly abuse them in leauing out those wordes of it owne nature which ought to haue been added according to their opinion and he like wise doth adde in citing of Roffensis immediatly before doth not this dealing of his argue that he would haue his reader to thincke that these learned men denyed all veniall synnes which damnable doctrine of the Protestants they detest for example Bishop Fisher in his 22. article against Luther houldeth som synnes to be veniall that is such as take not away Gods grace Nec opinor te c. Neither doe I thincke saith Bishop Cont. Lâ— the um art 32. Fisher to Luther that thou wilt say but that a mortall synne so soone as it is committed banisheth grace from the soule and doth constitute the synner him self in the hatred of God and if a mortall synne doth take away Gods grace and not a veniall veryly it is manifest that there is no small difference betwixt a mortall and veniall synne Behould Roffensis teacheth som synnes to be veniall and that there is a greate difference betwixt a mortall and a veniall synne Of the same minde be the other though by his cunning handlinge he would make the to deny veniall synnes and to hould all mortall according to the new doctrine of the Protestants THE XXIX VNTRVTH AFter this vntruth immediately followeth an other Yea the Iesuit S. R. quoth he with the aduise of his best learned friends in his answeare to the downefall of Popery confesseth playnly and blusheth not thereat that the Church of Rome had not defined som synnes to be veniall vntill he dayes of pitts the fift and Gregory the thirtenth which was not fiftie yeares agoe In which words he blusheth neuer a whitt to slaunder that learned man and wholy to corrupt his meaning He saith not that the Church of Rome had not defined som synnes to be veniall vntill the dayes of pius the fift and Gregory the thirteenthe as this licentious cast-away corrupty fathereth vpon him for he knewe well that to beseue veniall synnes was an article long receiued before the times of those Popes but he affirmeth only that to hould veniall synnes to be only such by the mercy of God was censured and condemned by those Popes why did Sr. Thomas his sincerity cut a way these words by the mercy of God forsooth because that without lying and corruption he can obiect nothing against Catholick doctrine The same catholick writer noted him in the place cited by him selfe of two vntruths the one for calling B. Fisher the Pope canonized marty the other for stiling Gerson a Bishop neither of which be true but he slyly passeth ouer them as not knowing poore wretch what to say in his owne defence in to such straights doth this dominiring doctor driue him selfe by his talent of ouerlashinge THE XXX VNTRVTH STraight after this tricke of treachery he crieth out in the feruour of his soule O sweete Iesus what a world is this that silly foolishe Papists should be so bewitched as to thincke Popery the old religion and in that bitter pangue was deliuered of an other abominable ly for it followeth VV see it plainly confessed by our aduersaries that for the space of a thowsande fiue hundred and thre score years all synnes were deemed mortall Had not this minister renounced all modesty and true dealing neuer would he putt in print such palpable vntruths for no one Catholicke author can he name since Christ that denyed veniall synnes the ground of this vntruth is the precedent where he affirmed that the Church of Rome had not defined some synnes to be veniall vntill the dayes of Pius the fift Gregory the thirtebth which being most false as was there sayd it remayneth also that this can not be true which so bouldly here he maintayneth Many sentences of auncient fathers and other notable authors
iudgement determinatiue so all haue taught yea the Papists them selues for fower hundred yeares insinuating sufficiently that after that tyme it was taught which though it be an vntruth seing it was taught before yet it serueth to proue Bell no sincere minister who may taineth confidently that no suche doctrine was heard of till the year a thowsand fiue hundred To conclude Bell him self contradicteth els where what he saith here and so giueth himself the ly By the vniforme consent Motiutes pag. 18. quoth he of all learned Papists Albertus Pigghius only excepted the Pope in his owne priuate person may be a Iudas a fornicatour a Simonist an homicide an vsurer an Atheist an hereticke and for his manifould iniquityes damnedin hell That this is the doctrine of all Papists as well concerning the Popes priuate person as touching his iudicia definitions is confessed by Robertus Bellarmnius Bartholomen Caranza Melchior Canus Dominicus Soto Thomas Aquinas Antoninus Caietanus Couarruuias and others but that the Pope as Pope and publique person can erre that all the said Papists with their complices constantly deny as which only pointe once confessed would vtterly confound them and make frustrate their whole religiō I leaue it nowe to the good reader to giue his verdicte whither Bell hath no ouer-reached and also contradicted himself affirming both that this Popishe article the Pope cannot erre in faith was neuer heard of in Christe Churche for the space of a thowsand fiue hundred years and yet affirminge that Antoninus and Thomas Aquinas maintayned the very same opinion the latest of which died many a faire year before the tyme he mentioneth THE XXXV VNTRVTH THe next is found in that very sentēce which he bringeth for the proffe of his former false assertion to witt that this article the Pope can not erre in saith was neuer heard of in Christs Church for the space of a thowsand fiue hundred years Many famous Papists quoth he I might alleaga but one Alphonsus will suffice we doubt not saith he whether Lib. 1. de heres cap. 4. one may be a Pope and an heretique both together for I beleeue there is none so shamelesse a flatterer of the Pope euer except our Iesuits and Iesuited Papists that will ascribe this vnto him that he can neither erre nor be deceiued in the exposition of the scriptures One mayne ly with a prety tricke of lieger-demayn for he is to proue out of Alphonsus that the Pope might erre in fayth iudicially for of that is the question as appeareth in the premisses and that this article was neuer heard of for the space of a thowsand fiue hundred years and yet in the foresaid words of Alphonsus no suehe thing is contayned seing he speaketh in them not of his iudiciall decrees but of priuate errors which may befalle him in the exposition of the scriptures and that Alphonsus must needes meane of his priuate opinions in writinge or otherwise and not of his deflnitiue sentence is certayne for otherwise there be and were in his tyme that held the Pope could not be an heretique iudicially or erre as Pope as in the precedent vntruth hath been handled much lesse doth Alphonsus say that it was neuer heard of for the space of a thousand fiue hundred yeares that the Pope could not erre in fayth iudicially for of this pointe he hath not one word or syllable Beside this vntruth there lurketh in the same sentence an other cunnicatching tricke of the Minister proceeding from his rancour and inueterate malice for these words euer except out Iesuits and Iesuited Papists are none of Alphonsus but a dānable drāme of his owne deuotiō for with malitious slight hath he inserted those words in the very same letter with the other of Alphonsus but included them in a Parenthesis so that by this artificiall coosenage of his he hath laide a pittefall for the ignorant and prouided a buckler of defence against any accusation for what meaneth the printing of them both in the same character but to haue the ignorant or vnwary reader to take thē for Alphonsus his words directed by him against the flattery of Iesuits and other Iesuited Papists as he termeth them Charge him with this iugling of his and then he will pleade that he intended no such thing but spake them of himself and therefore distinguished them by a Parenthesis but had not his meaning been corrupt he would haue putt the matter out of doubt by printing them also in a distinct letter Which because he did not his deuout dependants may thinke him cleere from all sinister dealing we that are so well acquainted with his little conscience of puttinge in practise any sleight fraudulent inuention that may tende to the disgrace of Catholickes and Catholike religion can not but iustly suspect him of sinister and malitious dealinge THE XXXVI VNTRVTH IN the recapitulation he taketh his leaue with a cast of his occupation And thirdly quoth he seing this straunge faith was not hatched or heard of in the world for the space of a thowsand fiue hundred yeares no not in Alphonsus his dayes as we haue heard already For in these words he adioyneth an other vntruth vz that to say the Pope can not erre as Pope was not heard of in Alphonsus his tyme that is about some fifty or three score yeres agoe when as Dominicus Soto who liued in his time defendeth the same opinion as before was shewed nay when as Caranza Canus Caietan Antoninus and S. Thomas teach the same doctrine as a litle before out of Bell himself was proued all which were in his tyme or before him and Alphonsus in the former place alleadged hath not any thinge to relieue Bell for neyther doth he say there that the Pope as Pope may erre and though he did yet were it a notorious vntruth that none taught otherwise till his tyme or in his tyme when as Alphonsus saith no such thinge but on the contrary that many in his dayes and before taught that the Pope iudicially or the Pope as Pope could not erre as out of Bell himself hath been proued and so I leaue the minister plunged into a labyrinth of vntruthes Bels IX Chapter Of the condigne so supposed merit of workes THE XXXVII VNTRVTH THis chapter is bestowed against the merits of goode woorkes wherein diuers vntruthes are intermnigled to giue it the better outward glosse and to make the matter he speaketh of more probable to the ignoraunte reader The holy Fathers quoth he doe often vse the word meritte and call the workes of the saithfull meritorious yet this they doe not for any worthines of the workes but for Gods acceptation and promise sake who hath promised and will performe not to suffer so much as one cuppe of could water giuen in his name to passe without reward So he denieth the fathers to haue ascribed any meritt to good workes proceeding from grace for any dignity or worthines in the workes themselues but only
BELS TRIAL EXAMINED THAT IS A refutation of his late Treatise intituled THE TRIALL OF THE NEVVE RELIGION By B. C. Student in diuinitie VVherein his many grosse vntruthes with diuers contradictions are discouered Together with an examination of the principal partes of that vaine Pamphlet and the antiquitie veritie of sundry Catholike articles which he calleth rotten ragges of the newe religion are defended against the newe Ragmaster of RASCAL In the Preface likewise a short viewe of one THOMAS ROGERS vntruthes is sett downe taken out of his booke called THE FAITH DOCTRINE AND RELIGION PROFESSED AND PROTECTED IN THE REALME OF ENGLAND c. with a short memorandum for T. V. otherwise called Th. Vdal Ierem 7. v. 8. Beholde you trust to your selues in the wordes of lying which shall not profitt you Printed at Roane 1608. THE PREFACE TO THE GOODE CHRISTIAN READER IN my last booke goode Reader which I published against the challenging minister intituled The Dolefull knell of Thomas Bell I very well remember that I freed my self from writing ought against him vntill I had sett forth his Blacke Buriall contayning an answear to the mayne of all his blasphemous bookes and pestilent pamphlets ys iust reasons there specified hindred not my designement notwithstanding meeting not longe since with a newe toy of his tricked and trimmed vp with diuers patches and rusty ragges drawen from the dunghille of his former monuments and called by him The Trial of the newe religion I resolued to examine his depositions and to try the truth of his newe treatise and that both because it falleth out very fittely and in order that hauing rung Bels Dolefull knell this examination of his Triall as his winding sheete should follow before the solemnity of his foule Funerals and interring of his carcasse be kept and also for that I feare by the disastrous coniunction of the planets that a could frost of pouerty will yet keepe backe the springe of the promised worke and therefore I thought it not amisse to publishe this Treatise being not of any such bulke but that a fewe crownes may dispatch the impression And lastly to giue Bell sure and certaine intelligence that it was contempt of him and his bookes that made them passe so longe without answear and not any rare learning or stinginge stuffe as in the light of his darke dreaming conceipt proceeding from much vanity and litle humility small grace great pride he framed to himself His eies I hope by this time be opened to see that albeit he were an importune challenger yet he lay not so close but that his sides haue bene soundly bombasted and his quarters kindely curried ouer That disdainfull stile of his which before trampled vpon our silence those mounting words which in former tymes menaced nothing but death and destruction that insulting vaine which did so contemptibly caper vpon our quiet carcasses is nowe becom bankrupt and fled the countrey Those ouerlooking termes and fiery phrases those terrible taunts which with restlesse penne he runge in our eares and neuer ceased to iangle both in towne and countrey are vanished and blowne away like the locusts of Egipt The world is altered Toâ—nam is turned French his hoat courage is cooled the gospelling Golias lyeth sweating vpon the earth fetching his last gaspe and the false pleasinge lustre of his bookes faded and coin to nothing In former tymes this and such like were his vsuall songes No no they do in effect confesse Funeral lib. 1. cap. 2. pag. 6. so much whiles they neither dare answear any one booke at all nor any one chapter wholy but here and there an odde piece or sentence I protest vnto the gentle Reader I partly blushe on their behalf But neuer as I thinke shall I liue so longe to heare any more such musicke No no that tune is out of date the bloud hath left his cheekes and runne in poste to comfort his faintinge heart It was also no question a braue pangue of his vauntinge spirit when he came ouer vs in this insulting manner They Funeral lib. 2. cap. 1. pag. 4. are so nettled so pricked and goared with my bookes and their religion so battered with their owne best learned doctors and most skillefull Proctors that gladly they would satisfy their Iesuited Popelings wipe away that discredit which hangeth at their beardes for which ende they vse many coosenlnge trickes iuglings and lieger-demains so to stay the outcries of the people vntill I be dead and then by your fauour they will com vpon me with good speed Canis mortuus non mordet but before that day my life I gage in that behalfe they dare not for their guttes publishe any direct full aÌ„swear etc. because to snatch here a piece there a piece is no answear at all but a mere toy for young children to play withall But pardon him this he will neuer do so any more whiles he liueth it was the heate of his zeale and the longe gaping after an ouerseeing benefice that made so many madde and lofty words to runne forth whiles the doore was open Balams eies be now illuminated and he seeth verie well and the world knoweth that his bookes be not only answearable but also som of theÌ„ answered His Downefall of Popery which in the highe pitche of his soaringe pride he affirmed to be such tickling stuffe that euery article Funeral lib. 2. cap. 4 pag. 10. coÌ„clusioÌ„ propositioÌ„ therein coÌ„tained might truly be called Noli me tangere because they dare not quoth he for ten thousaÌ„d millioÌ„s of gould touch the same fully directly wheÌ„ as for al that euery article hath bene examined euery coÌ„clusioÌ„ coÌ„futed euery propositioÌ„ perused answered beaten in pieces so that the Minister may truly be called Noli mihi credere and deserueth for this and hundreds more of like qualitie ten thousand millions of whetstones for the rewarde of his workes the trophees of his labours and the perpetuall ensigne of his false foolishe and phantasticall monuments But to prosecute further in particular this present Pamphlet the due examination whereof I haue vndertaken two speciall things remayne yet to be spoken of The first concerning my self the second touchinge the Minister As for my self thou shalt vnderstand good Reader that I was once determined to haue answeared the treatise fully and wholy as thou maist perceiue by the first and second chapters but afterward infirmity of body hindering the course of my studies and desire of minde to haue it dispatched with all speed caused an other resolution which may perhaps reuiue Bels dead spirits and inflame his cooled bloud and make him com out once againe with his old complaint that I haue answeared him by pieces and patches and for my lugges and guttes durst not deale with Such are Bels phrases the whole and that I haue after much labour and study much siftinge and searching out of the whole tome of his Triall
a man of his profession charge vs with so strange paradoxicall and blasphemous an assertion and so iniurious to the sacred bloud of the Redeemer of the whole world and that both of men and women without recoilinge of Conscience we denye what he saith how doth he proue what so boldly he affirmeth Postellus the Iesuit quoth he teacheth this execrable dnctrine which he proueth out of the Iesuits Cathechisme That Postellus was one of that order is more then I doe knowe or more then I list yet to beleue vntill I see better prooffes but yf he were he was no other then such a religious man as Luther was that ranne out of his cloister to lay the foundation of the Gospell I finde him in the Indice of the Councell of Trent commonly annexed thereunto enrolde for an heretike and so discharged from vs albeit I can hardly beleue that euer he could be so madde as to broach any such ridiculous sensles and blasphemous doctrine To iustify this of Postellus Mr. Rogers voucheth the Iesuits Catachisme that is a most scandalous and slaunderous libel made by one Pasquiere a French heretike in disgrace of that renowmed order as he knoweth full well when he citeth out of the same Catachisme two infamous verses tendinge deepely to the Pag. 187. touch of their liues which none so simple to thinke that they would publishe of themselues They are so far from being the authors of that filthie and hereticall booke that one Richeome a learned man of that Society hath sette forth a confutation thereof Should a Catholike compose a like treatise bearinge title The Church of Englands Catechisme fraught with abhominable and most odious opinions and such in truth as they vtterly detest and should I produce out of it most loathsom stuffe against them in disgracè of their religion would he not condemne both the author for a monster of the world and me for an extreame malitious slaunderer to presse them with any such damnable testimony I leaue the application to himself Pag. 17. He condemneth it in vs as an error and dreame that Christ descended downe into hell to deliuer the Soules of our forefathers and that most iniuriously for to omitte what may be brought out of sacred scripture we can not be condemned herein but the auncient fathers must beare vs company and that by the testimony of our aduersaries The fable quoth Casuin of a place vnder the 2. Instit. cap. 16. §. 9. ground called Limbus albeit it hath greate authors yet it is nothing els then a fable Sutcliffe confesseth that S. Hierom and other fathers beleued that Lib. 1. de Purgato cap. 4. there was a simbus patrum before the comming of Christ But he addeth that they affirmed it rather scholasticaliy then dogmatically which yet he neither doth nor can proue we take what he graunteth of their beleuinge the other we deny Willet also can not gainesay the same We confesse In his sâ—nopsis of the editioÌ„ 1600. pag. 353. quoth he that the fathers for the most part of them to haue bene in this error To conclude this doctrine is taught by the church of Englande when as in the Geneua Psalms allowed and authorized by receiued custome amongest them this article of the Crede He descended into hell is turned thus into meeter His soule did after this discende into the lower parts To them that longe in darkenes were the true light of their harts By what warrant therfore Mr. Rogers expoundeth them here to the contrary I know not him selfe can best tell Pag. 23. many Papistes quoth he and namely the Franciscans blushe not to say that S. Francis is the Holy Ghost Mr. Rogers blusheth not notoriously to iniury vs with the imputation of so blasphemous an assertion He quoteth in the margent for prooffe the Alcaron of the Franciscans a most shamelesse and scurrilous booke sett out by modern heretikes against that worthy and religious order It seemeth he bestoweth much of his tyme in such spirituall books as these and willingly entertaineth such witnes against vs as the Scribes and Phariseis did against Christ vntill he dischargeth himself better this iniurious and blasphemous vntruth must ly vpon him self Pag. 29. Speaking of our behauiour to the scriptures he Antidot euang in Luc. 16. p. 528. saith To the same purpose but more blasphemously Stapleton saith as the Iewes were to beleue Christ so are we simply and in euery thinge to beleue the Church of Rome whether it teacheth truth or errors He fathereth a grosse vntruth vpon Stapleton his words be these Certum est c. It is certayne that the Iewes ought to haue obeâ—ed Christ so far forth as he gaue testimony to the truth but whether he did that or no belonged not to the Iewes to make any doubt of but simply to beleue Wherefore as the Iewes ought to haue beleued Christ so ought we simply to beleue the Churche not verily whether Note these wordes against Mr. Rogers it teacheth true thinges or not but whether that be certayne to vs or not We ought not to doubt but as the father sending Christ coÌ„maunding him to be heard so Christ sending his church and commaunding that to be heard hath by his wisdom disposed that without all daunger of errour as well the Churche should be heard of vs as Christ of the Iewes True therefore it is not that Stapleton saith we are simply and in euery thinge to beleue the Church whether it teacheth truth or errors for he affirmeth the contrary and his words contayne not any impious or absurd doctrine though Mr. Rogers by ouerlashing and not reciting his wordes truly would make him to speake both impiously and falsely Pag. 49. He taxeth vs for teachinge free will and these words he citeth as out of the Councell of Trent Man Ses 6. cap. 1. hath free will to performe euen spirituall and heauenly thinges VVhat error can this be when straight after Mr. Rogers setteth downe this proposition Man may performe and do good works when he is preuented by the grace of Christ and renued by the Holy Ghost But he will say that the Councell of Trent teacheth that good workes may be done without the grace of Christ and therefore he citeth this doctrine of ours as erroneous and contrary to a former proposition of his which is this Man can not do any good worke that good is and godly being not yet regenerate But herein he doth slaunder the Councell of Trent In the very place by him quoted it rather hath the contrary and in the first Canon of that Session most plainely which is this Yfany shall say that a man is iustified before Ses 6. can 1. God by his workes which are done either by the force of humane nature or the doctrine of the lawe without diuine grace by Iesus Christ be he accursed Iudge nowe gentle Reader whether Mr. Rogers hath dealt truly with vs and the Councell of Trent or
word Yf the good Reader vouchsafe to reade S. Thomas he shal find in him the cleane contrary doctrine to 3. part q. 49. art 5. witte that we are by the passion of Christ deliuered both from Originall and all actuall synne whatsoeuer Pag. 198. He runneth vpon the Iesuits thus The Iesuits quoth he can not brooke Episcopall preheminence and in their high court of reformation haue made a lawe for the vtter abrogation of all Episcopall iurisdiction A most notorious slaunder as the whole world knoweth They liue vnder Bishoppes without any mislike of their dignity nay with condemninge them of heresy that teach otherwise as is apparante in Cardinall Lib. 1. de Clericis cap. 14. CommeÌ„t in 2. 2. disput 10. quast â—1 Bellarmin and Gregorius de Valentia The booke which he quoteth I haue not seene yet I make no doubt but the author is one of trust some false brother or other The thing it self is so false as I maruaile he blusheth not to putt it in printe That they haue made a lawe to abrogate Episcopall iurisdiction is most ridiculoue as though forsoth it were in their power to effect any such thinge and as though they labour not both in word and writinge for the vpholding of that dignity against disciplinarian Caluinists The author he alleageth for proffe is some Quodlibet arian minister though poore VVat son beareth the name So palpable an vntruth knowne to those that knowe any thinge is sufficient both to cassier the credit of those Quodlibets and other like libellaticall pamplets published vnder his name and also deepely to touch the reputation of Mr. Rogers True it is that those religious and learned men to stoppe all suggestions of ambition which hath bene the bane of many haue a seuere constitution amongest themselues ratified by vowe that none shall not only not procure any Ecclesiasticall Prelacy but also resist what he may reseruing due obedience to whom he is subiect not to be aduanced to any such dignity yet may they when it shall seme so good to the Pastor of Gods Church be promoted to prelacy as that worthy maÌ„ Bellarmine was not only created Cardinall but also made Archbishoppe of Capua Mr. Rogers as I suppose is not acquaiâ—tâ—d with any such scrupulous nicenes beinge more like of the twayne to haue made a vowe that he will not refuse any Episcopall promotion if he can tell how to com by it Pag. 220. To bring our religion into extreame hatred with all that be of contrary faith he chargeth vs with this doctrine viz That faith is not to be kept with heretiques An odious slander and not only of Mr. Rogers but commonly receiued amongest all Protestants How doth he proue it forsoth out of the Councell of Constance which he quoteth in the margent but noteth not any particular place which argueth false dealing the Councell being passing longe Gods Church assembled in that sacred Synode is notoriously abused and we dayly iniuried by the licentious pennes of protestats No such thing is in that CouÌ„cel defined And I desire no more then that the good Reader will not giue Mr. Rogers or others creditte before they truly bring forth in particular words what they so confidently auouche in generall terms Thus haue I briefely by a sufficient iury of vntruths conuicted Mr. Rogers of false dealinge and most iniurious and godlesse proceedinge against Catholike religion To prosecute all were a worke of more labour for neuer was booke as I thinke comming forth from such a one of such a subiect with that authority and that carried outwardly so braue and glorious a showe and inwardly was so vgly foule and deformed to the infamy of the author discredit of the booke disgrace of their religion and high commendation of our fayth which standeth vpon so sure grounds that it can not be impugned but by those meanes by which the author of it Christ himself was condemned to the shamefull and opprobrious death of the crosse Being thus dispatched of Mr. Rogers it remayneth to speake a word or two of another booke which was not longe since sent me and is intitled A briefe viewe of the weake groundes of Popery compiled together by one Mr. Vdall a lay gentleman out of diuers Englishe Controuertists as himself semeth to insinuate and in all probabilitie can not otherwise be thought and so no maruaile yf the waters be not sounde when they were drawen from corrupt fountaynes who can euer looke for a wel shapen garment made after a crooked measure Grapes are not gathered Math. 8. v. 16. of thornes nor figges of thistles as our Sauiour saith yet doth it so much please Mr. Vdall that he doth seeme to take great heart of grace for that he was not answeared with that expedition he expected The more hast he maketh the more he vrgeth his owne disgrace yf malice hath sette him a worke but if it be true zeale of truth and sauing his soule as he pretendeth I despaire not of his conuersion wherefore either for the spirituall profitt of himself or the commodity of other or common good of both I will nowe present him with a short sample of suche soule flawes as be in his booke minding afterward with more full hand to prosecute that subiect In his Preface to his deare Cousins whom with poyson lurking vnder sugred wordes he laboureth to inuenime he accuseth vs of open blasphemie against the sacred scriptures which I thinke wil rather proue a grosse vntruth on his parte and where is this blasphemy contayned in a booke as he telleth vs of Cardinall Cusanus which is intitled De authoritate c. Of the authority of the Church Councell aboue and against the scriptures But I besech him did he euer see this booke which so confidently he alleageth yf he hath then should he haue done well to haue noted where that the Reader also might haue found it seing it is not amongest the three Tomes of his workes sett out at Basill In the â—eare 1565. neither mentioned by Trithemius who hath diligently gathered together the workes of learned writers nor yet by Posseuinus who hath lately entreated of the same matter If he hath not what indiscretion is it in so waighty a pointe to rely vpon the creditt of others Veryly would such as reade Protestants bookes but vouchafe sometyme to examine the quotations it were not possible that they could be so pittifully deceiued as they dayly be Cusanus is abused he ueuer wrote any suche booke This vntruth it may be he borrowed from Mr. Iewell who doth not only cite that booke but also as Detâ—ction lib. 5. pag. 410. though he had knowne it very well quote very many places out of the same as he is charged by Doctor Hardinge which argueth that out of true bookes he could haue proued any thinge for himself that out of one which was neuer written found so many testimonies to serue his turne I would not wishe Mr. Vdall
to imploy his tyme so badly as with the touch of his creditt and perill of his owne soule to retale the vntruths of such grosse merchants In his fourth page thus he writeth Yea Arias Montanus a chief Papist in his Hebrew bible writeth in the forefromt and principall leaf of the booke There are added saith he in this edition the bookes written in Greeke which the Catholike Church following the Canon of the Hebrewes reckoneth amongest the Apocrypha The true sence of Arias Montanus words is corrupted either by Mr. Vdall or some other from whom he had them by foysting in diuers of their owne That learned man in the edition of the Antuerpiae ex osficina Christoph Plant. 1584. Hebrue Bible with the latin interlineall interpretation in the title page saith There are adioyned to this edition the bookes written in Greeke which are called Apocrypha He saith not they be Apocrypha but that they are so called by some that is the Iewes who exclude them from their Hebrue Canon which he had there sett◠forth That other addition viz which the Catholike Church following the Canon of the Hebrues reckoneth amongest the Apocrypha vpon which the force of his charge dependeth are not in Arias Montanus where Mr. Vdall had them himself best knoweth In fift page he writeth thus The Councell of Laodicea assured by a generall Councell in Trullo did sett downe the same Canon of the script urs Can. 59. which both the old Church had and our Church houldeth and commaundeth Ne aliqui c. that none besides be read and receiued in to authority How many things of note are comprised in these fewe lines against Mr. Vdall First he seemeth greatly to reuerence these two Councels which yet is but a copy of his countenance to delude the ignorant Reader for I doe not thinke that he will stande either to the one or the other though content he is to presse vs with their authority For example the Councell of Loadicea commaundeth Chrisme to be receiued after Can. 48. Can. 50. Baptisme and that the fast of lent be obserued neither of which I am sure pleaseth Mr. Vdall Likewise the Councell of Constantinople holden in Trullo alloweth of images and their veneration when it calleth them imagines venerabiles venerable images which I make no doubt nothing pleaseth his tast The same Councell forbiddeth Can 82. Can. 6. Can. 58. Bishoppes Priests Deacons and Subdeacons to marry wiues after taking of Orders and commaundeth Bishoppes not to dwell with their wiues which they marryed before they entered into the higher Orders of the Clergy which seuerity of theirs must vtterly dislike him as being in his opinion contrary to the word of God Secondly this Councell of Constantinople in Trullo is of no authority as in which the Pope neither by him self nor by his Legates was present and Pope Sergius who then liued Lib. de sex aetatibus in Iustiniano did disanulle that erraticall Synode as venerable Bede writetht with what conscience then can Mr. Vdal call that agenerall Councell and vrge the authority thereof as authenticall when as not only we but also the Protestants vtterly reiect it albeit in this point we for our parts see no cause to refuse it Thirdly true it is not that the Councell of Laodicea setteth downe the same Canon of the scriptures which the Church of England alloweth for the Apocalypse or Reuelation of S. Iohn is omitted Fourthly this Councell forbiddeth the readinge of others not there expressed yet the Church of England readeth the histories of Iudith and Toby in their publike assemblies which Mr. Vdall I suppose will hardly shewe howe it agreeth with the decree of that Councell Fiftly he hath corrupted the Councell by addinge somwhatof his owne for these words and receiued into authority be not there found VVould any euer haue thought that so many things could haue bene notedagainst him in so small a sentence If Mr. Vdall hath viewed the Originall hardly can he be excused from malice yf he hath not let him beshrewe their fingers vpon whose creditt he committed them to writinge In the same fift page he maketh vs to allowe the fourth booke of Esdras most vntruly and that contrary to his owne knowledge when as in the second page he confesseth that we account both the third and fourth of Esdras for Apocrypha Page 51. To eneruat the force of generall Councels thus he writeth Bellarmine reiecteth wholy seauen generall Lib. 1. de Concil cap. 6. and not lib. 10. cap. 60. as Mr. Vdal quoteth it Councels That learned Prelate is iniuriousoy intreated for who would not thinke that Mr. Vdall spake of lawfull and true generall Councels as though such were reiected by Bellarmine which is nothing so for he speaketh of certaine detestable conuenticles assembled by the Arrians and other like perfidious heretikes which they called generall Primum generale c. The first general Councell saith Bellarmine in the opinion of the Arrians which is reiected is the Councell of Antioch c. Ys these be detested by Protestants also for vnlawfull and wicked why is Cardinall Bellarmine singled out as though he alone refused them or the matter so cunningly deliuered as though they were reuerenced by Mr. Vdall and Protestants for lawfull generall Councels This is not to deale sincerly and to seeke truth with a pure and vpright heart vnlesse he be so carelesse as to receiue all vpon the report of others which yet can not wholy be excused Thus much shall serue at this tyme for by Gods asistance I intend hereafter more to lay open the manifould maladies of his treatise and to shewe with what weake engines he laboureth to vndermine the impregnable grounds of the Catholike Churche God graunte that the happy newes of his conuersion may crosse these my designements wherof I see no cause to dispaire if truly zeale of religion and desire of saluation which so much he would seme to thirst after hath embouldened him being a lay man to launch into the depth of these mysticall matters Let him not rely too much vnto those from whō he receiueth the substāce of that he writeth least together with the losse of his reputation he incurre also the daunger of eternall damnation and yf vpon this small warning he findeth himself to haue bene deceiued wisdom would he should more carefully looke how he trusteth where he hath bene abused with greater diligence both to examine his owne writers and also to reade our namely Cardinall Bellarmine where he shall finde the most of his obiections answeared as the Catholique author of that letter which he hath putte downe in his booke truly enformeth him To which that giueth no satisfaction alleadged by Mr. Vdall for answeare to witt that Bellarmins reasons are by the learned of his side sufficiently handled and replied vnto when as the most of the arguments in his booke be answeared by Bellarmine and nothinge doe I finde brought by Mr.
Vdal to insringe his solutions which giueth me iust cause to suspect that he is with the preconceipted sincerity of his owne doctors carryed away into error and so looketh little into the Originals which if he did he could not but finde that which he pretendeth to seeke for if he shutte not his eies against the truth as he professeth he will not VVhich that he may doe I shall not forgett to cōmend him to his mercy who desireth not the death of a sinner but that all should com to the knowledg of his name But yf it shall sal out that he will stil proceede forward in his fourmer course yet I would wishe him in writinge to abstayne from all biting and bitter words which somtyme he breaketh into that the quarrell of God may not he prosecuted like the quarrels of this world but with that modesty which becometh the prosessors of diuinity and religion And for my part sory I am that Bell hath so far giuen the raynes to his passion as with such virulent termes and insupportable insolency to cast forth his gantlet of defiance and to insult against the whole Church of God which hath made my stile before in the Preface more stirring and quicke then otherwise I would or thought conuenient least we might be condemned of cowardize or seare to the preiudice of truth which so often and so opprobriously he obiecteth against vs. Thus much of these matters now it remaineth to encounter Bell and to examin and make triall what substantiall stuffe is contayned in his Triall of the newe religion B. C. BELS TRIAL EXAMINED CENSVRED AND REFVTED The Proeme ENtending to note the principall vntruthes of Bels Pamphlet the principall part and fundamentall substance thereof I haue thought goode to take my worke orderly before me first to salute his Epistle and see what holsome stuffe he presenteth in that to his Patrones Bells Epistle Dedicatory THE 1. VNTRVTH THE Minister standeth vppon coales till his fingers be at worke and his penne busied about his harts delight and therfore not to loose any time hefalleth roundly to the matter presenting his patrons with a tricke of his occupation in his very first entrance His wordes be these The visible church quoth he as writeth Egesippus Egesip apud Eusebium host lib. 3. cap. 32. remayned a virgin free from all heresies and corruptions during the lise of the Apostles that is to say about one hundred yeares after Christ to which time S. Iohn the Euangelist was liuinge But after the death of the Apostles sayth he errors by litle and litle crept into the church as into a voyd and desert house This assertion is dolefull ynoughe and yet very profitable against all Popish Recusants of our time as who are not ashamed impudently to auouch that after so many hundred yeares from Christes ascension there hath bene no error at all in their Romish Babilon This collection will proue dolefull ynough to him selfe and not very profitable to the congregation by that time we haue sifted his words and examined the authoritye alleadged for it is powdreed with lies and iugling tricks thicke and three-sould For first if he meaneth any such error as may stand with the integritie of the Catholike faith most false it is that we deny any such error may creepe into the Church for we willingly confesse that Papias S. Ireneus and some others held the error of the Chiliastes as him selfe mentioneth straight after that S. Ciprian and diuers others with him were carryed a way in to the error of rebaptization but yet notwithstandinge these their errors they were true members of the Catholicke church seing that in questions newly springing vp error may be incurred but not allwayes heresy which importeth not only an error in the vnderstandinge but also malice and obstinacie in the will by contemninge the Church her decree and determination But if by error he meaneth heresie as no question he doth both because he saith that during the liues of the Apostles the Church was free from all heresies and corruptios but after their death error by litle and litle crept in and also for that he termeth our Church Romish Babilon or as he speaketh in his Suruey where he handleth the very same matter whorish Babylon by which Page 342. wordes it is plaine that he meaneth hereticall errors for such only maketh our Church Babylon and to forsake her true spouse Christ and to comit spirituall fornication by cleauing to newe damnable and hereticall opinions and lastly for that otherwise he proueth nothing against vs the scope of his booke being to shewe that our religion is not old but newe as being far different from the pure faith of the Apostles This then being his meaning most false it is I say that any such errors crept into the Church I meane with the corruption of the Churches sincere doctrine though I willingly graunt that diuers of the Church haue by heresie falne from true doctrine as namely the minister him selfe eyther in the Apostles time or shall doe vntill the worldes end and that by the singular prouidence of Christ who promised that hell gates should not preuayle Math. 16. against his Church and many like places to that purpose might be alledged But what say we to the authoritye of Egesippus who liued straight after the Apostles cited by Bell for iustification of that he affirmed Nothing els but that he belieth both Egesippus and also Eusebius whome he quoteth in the third booke of his history cap. 32. as the relator of those wordes of Egesippus Reade the place he that please no such thing shall there be found nor the name of Egesippus so much as once mentioned The minister was not content to Bels epistle dedicatorie borrowed frō his suruey pag. 341. 342. present his Patrons with a cast paragraffe of his Suruey makinge it the begininge of his Epistle for almost two pages together but he must also abuse both them and others with a notorious vntruth of his owne fatheringe that vppon Eusebius which is not there to be found Neyther can this dealing of his proceede from other roote then meere malice for immediatly after this sentence cited out of Eusebius in the 32. chapter of his third booke he produceth out of the 33. chapter of the same booke how Papias and Ireneus were infected with the error of the Chiliastes and that very truly which sheweth that he perused the place And in his Suruey the foresayd Pag 341. 342. places be found in like manner alleadged the one truely and the other most falsely Can this procedinge of his stewe from any other sinke then the filthy puddle of his owne corrupt conscience Beside this who knoweth not acquainted any thinge in antiquitie that Simon Magus set his heresie abroach in the Apostles time and before the death of S. Peter as Eusebius recounteth whose Lib. 2. hist cap. 12. death was long before the death of S. Iohn
the Councel of Chalcedon both which were long time before the sayd time as Bell will not denye THE IIII. VNTRVIH PRosecuting his former matter he sayth But this Emperour that is Iustinian liued after Christ his birth about 528. yeares Ergo this pointe of Poperie is a rotten ragge of the new religion In which words he venteth out an vntruth for be it that it was then appropriated to the Pope as he sayth yet how can it be new which by his owne confession was vsed an eleuene hundred yeares agoe that is so many ages before the foundations of his religion were layd or the name of a Protestant heard of in the whole world I omitt here how many ecclesiastical names haue bene brought into the church as Homousios or Consubstantiall against the Arrians Incarnation against other heretikes the better by a new name to declare an auncieÌ„t article of faith Will Bell for al that call these words rotten raggs of a new religion He nauer dare offer it yet with no lesse reason may he doe it then he doth here the name of the Pope As for his rustical scoffinge the special grace of his writinge at the sylly people for reputing the word Pope a most sacred thing though ignoraÌ„t as he saith what is meÌ„t by the name I say no more but that he may with like grace runne vppon the name of Iesus Christ for thousands amoÌ„gst the Protestants which reuerence theÌ„ for sacred can tel as litle what is vnderstoode by it as we can by the name of the Pope But we are beholding to Bell that he vouch safeth to explicate the originall of that name telling vs that it signifieth Father and for that after so terrible a persecution of those few letters as though some misterye of iniquitie had lurked in them in such sort that in the time of Henry the eight it was rased out of all bookes and after many spightfull termes and most odius conceipts framed in the minds of the vulgar sort concerning that name he hath discharged it from all suspition of secret venim assuring good people that it is indede venerable as that which was giuen to most holy and auncient Bishopps and might in his opinion be giuen to him selfe could he haue the lucke to finger that dignitye Thus much of the Popes name now we are come to talke of his office and authoritye Bels II. Chapter Of the Popes superoiall power THE V. VNTRVTH TO season the begining of his chapter with a litle of his mendacious powder he writeth thus Bonifacius Bishoppe of Rome and the third of that name aboue six hundred yeares after Christ obteyned of Phocas then Emperor of Rome that Rome should be the head of all churches Before which time no authenticall writer can be named who euer ascribed the headship and vniuersall gouernment of all churches to the church of Rome To conuince this manifest vntruth somethinge hath bene sayd in the precedent chapter but plentifully haue I proued the contrary in The doleful knell published not long since against his Ministership both Pag. 45. 46. c. out of other authorities as also by the confession of the Lutherane Centuristes his deere brethren and lastly out of his sweete selfe that more cannot be desired Somthinge also shall be sayd in the sequell his owne wordes ministring iust occasion and here I will adioyne a litle more In the Councell of Chalcedon Maximus Bishoppe of Antioch was Act. 7. confirmed by S. Leo the first Pope Iulius the first also restored Athanasius Patriarch of Alexandria to his seate Paulus Patriarch of Constantinople and Marcellus Bishoppe of Ancyra depofed vinustly by an Easterne synode as writeth Sozomenus whole words be these For as much as the care of all did belonge to him for Lib. 3. cap. 7. the dignitye of his sea he restored to euery of them their church And a litle after Athanastus and Paulus doe returne to their seates and sent the letters of Tulius to the East Bels best and most spedy answere to these prooffes will be to say that he was superiour to the Patriarches and other Bishops but had not any authority ouer inferior ministers Alas poore soule to what pityfull straights hath he brought him selfe whiles vpoÌ„ zeale he lyeth for the credit of the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ THE VI. VNTRVTH IN his arguments propounded against the superiority of the Bishoppe of Rome wherof afterward I meane more fully to entreat this is one Seauently the famous councel of Chalcedon gaue the Bishope of Constantinople equall authority with the Bishope of Rome in all ecclesiasticall affaires In which words is one vntruth cunningly couched for he calleth that here the decree of the Councell which was by the ambition of Anatolius Bishop of Constantinople effected in the absence of the Romane legates Yf Bell can proue that this surreptitious decree of the Easterne Bishopes was euer confirmed then were it some thinge which he bringeth But the Bishop of Rome his legates withstood that their indirect proceedinge pronouncing it to be contrary to the decrees of the Nicene Councel and Lucentius in particular Se the 16. Action spake confidently saying that the Apostolicke sea ought not to be abased in their presence with other notable wordes tendinge to the same purpose And Pope Leo him selfe in his Epistle to Anatolius did bitterly inueigh against him for this his presumption and going against the Nicene canons admonishing him also how his legates which in his stead wer presidents of the Councell did withstand that his vnlawfull attempt for which cause he disclaymeth vtterly for giuing his consent Far be it â—pist 53. quoth he from my conscience that so wicked a desire should be holpen with my labor and of all that minde not high things but consent to the humble and he giueth the reason because it were as he sayth to infringe the Canons of the Nicene Councell and to depriue the sea of Alexandria of beinge the second in dignitye and Antioch of beinge the third and all Metropolitane Bishops of their honour About the same matter he wrott also to the Emperour shewing his great dislike of Anatolius ambition putting him in minde what special fauour he had afforded him concerning his consecration insinuating playnly how he deserued to haue bene deposed for falling into the heresie of Eutiches and for beinge wickedly promoted by Dioscorus of Alexandria to be Bishoppe of Constantinople yet because he renounced his heresie at the entreaty of the Emperour the Pope dispeÌ„sed with him VVe sayth Pope Leo hauing respect to your fayth Epist. 54. and intercession whereas the beginings of his consecration were not sound by reason of them that did it desired rather to be gratious then iust to the end we might thereby by applying of remedies pacifie all stirres which the deuill had procured which things ought rather to haue made him modest then immoderate in the end he exhorteth the Emperour to labour about the repressing of his insolencie Endeuour
doe encounter vs euery where teaching playnely and perspicuously some synnes to be veniall To name one or two before the late tyme he for the confusion of the minister The Councell of Trent confirmed by pius the fourth and so in orderly reckoning before Pius the fift hath these words Albeit in this mort all life holy and sess 6. cap. 11. iust men doe fall somtymes at least into light and dayly synnes which are also called veniall yet they cease not for all that to be iust for that saying of iust men is humble and true forgiue vs our debts Glorious S. Augustin teacheth the same doctrine in diuers places one I will cite in which he hath the very name Aly quoth he can not therefore In Enthi rid cap. 22. be sometime commended because we do sometymely to saue others wherfore it is a synne but veniall which beneuolence doth excuse But there is no better way to coole the heate of this challenger then to cause his brother Perkins to lette him bloud How doth he like In his Problem verbo Peccatuâ—â— veniale pag. 74. these words of his A veniall sinne that is beside the lawe not against the lawe of God and that which of his owne nature bindeth only to the guilt of tempor all payne was not knowen to the fathers at least for seuene hundred yeeres after Christ after ward began openly to be taught and defended This Minister dealeth very niggardly with vs yet very bountyfully to proue Bell alyer for none I think will beleue him saying that we denyed all synnes to bemortal for a thowsand fiue hundred yeeres when as our mortall enymy confesseth that veniall synnes were taught and defended nine hundred yeares agoe This being so may not I farre more truly treading in his steppes cry out and say O sweet Iesus that any Protestantâ— should be so bewitched as to giue credit to suchâ— creature that hath Apostated from his Priesthooâ— and showen a faire paire of heeles to the congregation on giuen ouer so to shamelesse lyinge that no cloake of defence can be founde to shrowd him nay when the case is so cleere that his owne brother doth depose against him or that they shold be so inueigled by him or others as to thinck our religion to be newe which was planted in our deere Catholike religion planted in Englaud a thowsand yeaâ—â—s agoe countrey a thowsande years agoe by S. Gregory as all our Chronicles and auncient monuments testify and the ruines of many Abbies do cry out and lamentably proclaime and which that holy Pope receiued from S. Peter by the current of his blessed predecessours or so much as once dreame that Pro testantisme can be the old faith which licentious Luther not long since began neither the name being The beginninge of the ProtestaÌ„tes religiâ—n euer heard of before nor any of that profession knowne then in the whole world nor for many ages before as their silence being therein vrged maketh them to confesse and neuer indede as we most constantly defend and can easyly by ineuitable demonstrations conuince and proue and whose doctrine so litle pleaseth our English Protestants Luthera religion detested of English Protestanteâ— namely about the reall presence that drawe cutts they will one parte can not be excused from heesy and for that crime be in daunger of euerlasting damnation Bels VIII Chapter Of the Popes faithe THE XXXI VNTRVTH BEfore I come to his vntruths I will speake a litle of the entraunce of his chapter in which he that hath chaunged diuers fayths will needes dispute of the Popes faith and he beginneth in his coffing grauity after this manner VVisdome with the whole troupe of vertues were needesull for him that should dispute of the holy fathers faith or power Very well we penetrate his meaning neither wisdom nor any vertues be needefull for such a one what then it followeth I therfore post deosculationempedum humbly pray to be heard in defence of truth wherein I will desire no more of his Holynes but that only he will graunt me so much to be true as I shall proue to be true by thetestimony of the best learned Popishe writers Note good reader the profouÌ„d wisdom of the Minister because neither wisdom nor vertue is requisite for one to dispute of the Popes faith power therfore he will take the matter in haÌ„d Indeede were it graunted that none but so qualyfied as he describeth were to intreate of the Popes faith power all voices I thinke would go cleare both of his side and ours that he were the most meete to intreate of that subiect Of his gracelesse gyrninge at the kissing of the Popes feece I haue in the Fore-runner said so much that in his pamphlette called the Popes Funerall the pretended answeare of the Forerunner not knowing what reply to make he smoothly ouer slipped that point as I haue noted in the Dolefull knell and yet still he hath Pag. 247. it by the end so much the conceipt doth please his hart Agame also he is flinging at the title of his Holynes but of that I haue spoken sufficiently beforeâ— His smaller vntruths I do not meane shall here make tale as where he fathereth a certaine booke vpon the Seminary Priests and yet a fewe lines after saith that the booke was written by Watson in the name of all the rest whether Watson faith so or no I little know neuer seing my self any such booke of his but one thinge am I most sure of that most false it is that any such booke was sett out by the Seminary Priestes or that they gaue consent to any such book seing very fewe Seminary Priests or none at all as I verily thincke can be named that liked of that his proceeding as I haue handled abundantly in the Dolefull knell where the good reader Pag. 36. 37. c. may finde what little creditte is to be giuen to Watsons infamous workes which so oftern and sosolemnly this Minister alleadgeth Now to examin that which followeth Bell proceeding forward collecteth out of the said Watsons bookes in this formall manner First therefore if we meane to wringe any truth out of the Popes nose we must haue recourse to his Holines at such tyme as he is sober and not when he is furious least he becom starke mad and forget the knowledge of the truthe as though Watson had said that the Pope is some tyme sober and sometyme furious he doth much wrong him for his words reported by Bell him self in this very chapter contayne no such thinge only he saith that as the prudent Greeke appealed from Alexander furious to Alexander sober so may the seculars notwith standing any decree sette downe by his Holines by wrong information appeale euen from the Pope as Clemens vnto his Hohnes as Peter he speaketh of Alexander surious and sober and not of the Pope Bell she weth small conscience in belyinge the dead and laying more faultes vpon him
Epistle and Gospell The Creed was receiued of the Nicene Councell Pope Sergius the Agnus Dei after which he concludeth both of these and others which he there mentioneth as the Introite Halleluia the commemoration of the dead Incense and the Pax in this manner This being so I can not but conclude that euery patch and peece of the Romishe Masse is but a rotten ragge of the newe religion So earnest he is to make euery peece of the Masse a rotten ragge that he hath also made many parts of their owne Communion booke patches and peeces and rotten ragges to the great exultation of all truly deuoted to the Geneua discipline in which Kyrie eleison Gloria in excelsis The Collectes Epistle and Gospell Nicene Crede and Agnus Dei be founde no lesse then in our Masse bookes I omitte here how falsely and blasphemously he concludeth euery peece of the Masse to be rotten ragges for are the words of consecratiō the most essentiall part thereof which came not from any man but from the institution of Christ himself as also the Pater noster rotten ragges who durst say it but Sr. Thomas And here by the way the attentiue reader may easily answear a common and friuolous obiection of the Protestāts that maruaile how we make the Masse the sacrifice of the new testamēt to haue bene ordayned by Christ himself when as Durandus others note at what tyme and who they were that composed the parts thereof when as neither Durandus nor any other make the essential and very substantiall part of the masse that is the wordes of consecratiō to haue come from any other then the sonne of God but they speake of the accidentall parts thereof to witt either deuoute prayers or ceremonies which we willingly graunt to proceede from the institution of Christes Church The like may be said of the Protestants communion which they pretend to deriue not from any other then Christ himself and yet many of their praiers ceremonies which accōpany that actiō they can not shewe out of Gods word but must confesse to come from later institution can not finde more auncient authors then be alleaged for ours the moste of which liued more then a thousand years since and be glorious Saints in heauen and therfore what doth Bell and such like Ministers that deride the ceremonyes and parts of the Masse but frump and flout at sacred and venerable antiquity from whom they come as Sr. Thomas here confesseth and mocke and mowe at their owne communion booke and partes thereof being borrowed frō vs or in what they differ can shewe no greater antiquity then the late daies of Edward the Sixt at what tyme diuers ministers did hammer them in the forge of their owne inuention Bels XVIII Chapter Of the profounde mysteries of Popish masse IN this chapter the minister maketh himself some pastime for that one ceremony vsed in former tymes is now giuen ouer and out of vse as though the Church hath not that authority as before out of Bell was proued The Englishe congregation allowed by act of Parlamēt in kinge Edwards time the newe communion booke for sound and agreable to Gods word yet was it in the same kings daies and not long after abrogated a newe deuised not only differēt in ceremonyes but also in points of more importance For exāple in the first cōmunion book in the supper of the Lord or newe masse for that name also they mention they pray for the dead saying VVe commend vnto thy Fol. 11◠mercy o Lord all other thy seruants which are departed hence Praier for the dead in the first Englishcommunion booke from vs with the signe of fayth and nowe do rest in the sleepe of peace Graunt vnto them we beseche the thy mercy and euerlastinge peace c. But this doctrine was straight reformed and no such thing found in the next And the minister himself in one Queenes daies chaunged his fayth twice and would I make no doubt chaunge it twice more if any newe and pleasing reuelation should blowe in the skye He and his congregation that haue made so maine mutations no waies maintainable may be silent with shame and not speake of the change of a small ceremony which both according to vs and himself is lawfull and may be done by the Church as the honour of God and edifications of others shall require the same Bels XIX Chapter Of kissinge the Popes feete THis chapter of his flingeth at the kissinge of the Popes feete which yet he confesseth here an Emperour to haue done nine hundred yeares agoe Let him answear what I wrote of that pointe in the Forerunner for in his Funerall he hath not Pag. 43. See also the Doleful knel. pag. 148. done it which yet is the pretended answear to that treatise or for shame commaunde the clapper to silence Bels XX. Chapter Of prayinge vpon Beades HEre the minister runneth vpon Rosaries and praying vpon beades making the beginning thereof some fiue hundred years agoe before that tyme he saith the people of God vsed altogether godly bookes of praier And what praiers I besech him did they vse that could not reade at all or doe now amongest them which lacke that skille of which sort the number is not fewe This inconuenience with vs is auoided by sayinge of the beades which none so ignorant but can vse and so fruitfully spend their tyme. Mary with the Protestants they must vse bookes that can neuer a letter on the booke or praye by speciall reuelation As the Church setteth forth diuers bookes of praiers for the benefitt of them that can reade so may she institute the beades for those that can not Let him shewe that the praiers vpon the beades be not good or that no manner of praier though good may be vsed which was not in the Apostles tyme neither of which he will euer be able to shewe or els all his babling against the beades is not worth a rotten beade Thomas Sternhold Robert VVisdom and such like haue inuented long since the coming vp of the beades the harmonious canticles of Geneua psalmes will he for all that say as he doth of the beades that the rehearsall of the originall is sufficient confutation and call them a rotten ragge of the newe religion Veryly I will not deny but he may do it truly were it not that their religion indeede is so newe that the ragge as yet can scarse be rotten The very same obiection which he maketh against the beades may proceede against the very communio◠book it self and that far more iustly seing it is a la◠crabstocke of their owne planting as before hat◠benesaid It were better for him to looke vnto hi◠owne fripperie and the cast canions of the congregation then to meddle with the sacred wardroa◠of the Catholique Church Bels XXI Chapter Of chaunging the Popes name IN this chapter he doth reuell at the chaunging of the Popes name which no question is a fundamentall point of religion Yf our Sauiour Chris◠constituting Simon head of the Church chaunged
denance with as many challenges as will stand between Charing Crosse and Chester and as many dares as will reache from Darby to Darington These these dolefull newes haue cast him into such dumps that he hath small list to heare either of disputation or any indifferent Conference and therefore though he writeth still and vseth that as a poore proppe to vphould his fallinge reputation least the infamy of cowardize and dastâ—rdly feare with no small desgrace to theire cause should suddainly seaze vpon him yet the tickling stringe and mountinge Minekin of brauinge and challenging is not once touched that kinde of descâ—nie is now out of date He is no true friend of his that will so much as mention any such matter If this be not the cause what is the reason that he which was so furious before like a little lion is now become so gentle like a tame cosset Be it that his haughty and insolent maner of crakinge vpon better adiâ—ise of friends disliked him yet should he in temperat and modest sort still haue prosecuted his former quarrell for the creditt of their gospell and reputation of his learninge which in the opinion of his dependants is very great and in his owne incomparable and accepted of the offer of S. R. and vtterly confounded him in disputation for he nothing doubteth or at least in former tymes hath not yf his wordes did truly deliuer his meaning but that such an act would tend to the glory of God to the seruice of his Soueraigne the honour of his countrey the edification of his auditors and the comfort of his owne soule as in his Motiues he speaketh or if disputation Pag. 36. liketh him not why hath he not procured a Safeconduct for such an indifferent Conference for the due triall and examination of the authorities alleadged in his bookes as passed in Fraunce betwixt the reuerend Bishoppe of Eureux and now Cardinall and the Lord of Plessi Marlie for if that sincerity be vsed which he often protesteth what readyer way could he haue wished either for the procuringe to himself eternal renowme and vnspeakable creditt to his cause or euerlasting shame to me and thereby some disgrace to Catholike religion Seing then he is now so mute that before was so tonguy now so dead that before was so liuely can any other true cause thereof be assigned then that his owne conscience not ignorant of his bad quarrell and priuy to so many corrupt citations as be founde in his bookes maketh him willing after so great expectation moued in mens mindes to shift his haÌ„ds from any such busines slily to steale away as though EnglaÌ„ds Ioye were againe in actinge Or yf the humour of self love doth so dazele his eies that he can not yet see into what dangerous straigtes by his many manifest vntruthes he hath brought the reputation of the congregation and so would for his owne part still venture forward VVhat can be thought otherwise of any that penetrate into the matter as they ought but that superior authority hath commaunded the clapper to silence for his foolishe and daÌ„gerous iangling But he that hath hetherto behaued himself in such insolent and dominiringe manner odious to God and the world must not thus passe away wherefore I giue him once again to vnderstand that we expect the Safeconduct which he hath so often spoken of this we require vrge and exact at his hands wherein if he fayle well may his followers saye Farewell fidelity the glory of the Gospell is ecclipsed shame hath shaken handes with the congregation and no remedy but it must be proclaimed by vs in towne and country that Bell euen the Minister Bell that daringe Doctor that craking challenger that couragious champion that Larum ringer is desperately fled the field not daringe to indure the encounter of his auersaries and hath left all the fraternity egregiously cousined abused and gulled or els which turneth as much to his perpetuall infamy and disgrace that his mouth is musseled by authority for hauing spoken more then be can with his owne honesty or reputation to the common cause defend and maintayne VVherefore what remayneth but that hauing runge his Dolefull knell and left him speacheles and ready to giue vp his last gaspe and hauing also prouided here a winding sheet for the shrow dinge of his carcasse but that I should with what conuenient speed I can make reddy his Blacke Buriall that he may according to his deserts be interred to the perpetuall ignominy of his name and euerlasting confusion of the congregation Before I ende I can not gentle Reader but say somthinge concerning a booke that came lately to my handes of one Thomas Rogers which as it is a commentary vpon nine and thirtie articles contayning the faith and religion professed in England and concordably agreed vpon as he saith by the reuerend Bishoppes and cleargy at two seuerall Conuocations so is it graced with this Embleme Perused and by the lawfull authority of the Church of England allowed to be publique In this booke proceeding from so graue a man as he insinuateth himself to be from the chaplin to the principall of their cleargy intreating of so waighty and important a subiect as the Synodicall decrees of their church and commended to the world in such singular and speciall manner what can of reason be expected but that the truth should sincerely be sett forth without all suspition of cunninge conueyance all feare of sinister relation or any scruple or doubt of hatefull corruption seing the stayne of such crymes should not only touch Mr. Rogers but redound also as it were to the infamy of the whole body of their cleargy and religion For any yea of meane insight may soone make this discourse that if the religion of England were sounde and ours false and abominable no indirect proceding needed or woulde be practised either to the aduancinge of their owne or depressing of ours and contrarywise if corrupt courses be made the buckler to defend themselues and the weapon to offend vs what can be thought but that there is a flawe in that faith which is by that meanes maintayned and impregnable veritie in our religion which is by such godles shiftes assaulted now whether this be so or no and in that grosse manner as not only those which be of capacity and learninge but euen of the meanest and ignorant sort shall especially in som of them thinke vs to be notoriously abused iniuried remayneth to be hadled VVherefore to runne ouer briefly some fewe vntruths and a little to touch the corrupt dealing of Mr. Rogers as my short tyme shal giue leaue the straight coÌ„fines of a Preface will permitte Pag. 14. He setteth vpon vs in the manner One Mother A. short list of Mr. Rogers vntruthes Iane quoth he is the Sauiour of women a most execrable assertion of Postellus the Iesuit Nay rather it is a most execrable vntruth of Mr. Rogers the Preacher Can
still keepe his former custome of celebrating Easter and also performe due obedience to Anicetus was because Anicetus would not for so smal a controuersiâ— or variety breake peace but was content to tolerate the same and therfore false it is that Bell sayth to witt that Polycarpus would and must haue yelded to Anicetus if he had acknowledged him for his superiour seing no such thinge was commaunded him but the matter left to his owne election Bels II. obiection SEcondly Ireneus and other holy and learned Bishopps of Fraunce ioyning with him reproued Victor then Bishoppe of Rome very sharply and roundly as one that had not due respect to the peace and vnity of the church which doubtelesse those holy and learned Bishops would not haue done if the Bishoppe of Rome had had in those dayes the supreame soueraignty ouer them THE ANSWERE HAd Bell recounted the cause why those Bishopps reprehended so roundly as he speaketh Pope Victor with other necessary circumstances he had marred all his market and proued the Popes superiority by that argument by which as he perfidiously handleth the matter he would ouerthrowe it The blessed martyr Ireneus with other reprehended Victor not for any wrong opinion about the keeping of Easter him selfe they being of the Popes minde as also the Prorestantes now be but for that he excommunicated the Bishops of Asia refusing to conforme them selues to the Church of Rome neyther did S. Ireneus this vppon conceipt that the Pope exceeded the limits of his power for no such thing appeareth in Eusebius from whom this story is fetched but for that he did vse it out of due season to the great trouble of the Church and for a small matter as he and they thought which sheweth playnely that they made no doubt of his authority otherwise many misliking his fact would easyly haue contemned his censure and iustly haue obiected presumption in vsurping that authoritye which belonged not to him where of no mention is made Superiours yea and the Pope him selfe may with due respect be admonished and reprehended especially by Bishoppes yf any great scandall or trouble of the Church be feared S. Paul resisted S. Peter in face because he was reprehensible Galat. 2. v. 11. wherof our Protestants absurdly gather that S. Peter had no sup riority ouer the Apostles a collection not known to an iquitye when as the matter was then so famous and certaine that wicked Porphiry that Paganicall philosopher reproueth S. Paul of sawcines for that he presumed Proaem com in Galatas epis 11. ad Aug. inter epistolas Augustini to reprehend Peter the Prince of the Apostles as S. Hierom reporteth S. Cyprian highly commendeth the humilâ—ty of S. Peter that tooke so quietly the reprehension of S. Paul being his inferiour For neyther Peter sayth S. Cyprian whom our Lord chose the first and vppon whom he built the church when Paul disputed with him about circumcision arrogantly tooke any thinge to him self saying that he had the primacy and therfore Epist 71. ad Quin. the latter disciples ought rather to obey him S. Augustin sheweth excellently by this example that S. Cyprian erring about rebaptization could not nor would not haue bene offended to haue bene admonished by others his followers or inferiours much lesse by Lib. 2. de Baptis cap. 1. a Councell VVe haue learned sayth he that Peter the Apostle in whom the Primacy of the Apostles by excellent grace is so praeeminent when he did otherwise concerning circumcision then the truth required was corrected of Paule the later Apostle I thincke without any reproach vnto him Cyprian the Bishoppe may be compared to Peter the Apostle howbeit I ought rather to seare least I be iniurious to Peter sor who knoweth not that the principalitye of Apostleshipp is to be perferred before any dignity of Bishoppe whatsoeuer but yf the grace of the chaires differ yet the glory of the martyrs is one These authorities shew two things the first is that S. Peter was reputed with the auncient fathers head and prince of the Apostles and also that the very Pagans were not ignorant of that thinge which I suppose will not greatly content Bell for certayne deductions that may be drawne from thence The second which is the cause why I haue alledged this of S. Peter and S. Paul is that dislike or reprehension of an other mans action doth not argue the man reproued not to be the others superior how soeuer Bell would inferr that when as hath bene sayd S. Paul inferiour to S. Peter reprehended him And therefor the most that can deduced out of the ministers idle discourse is that if him selfe wer a Bishoppe he would looke as the deuill God blesse vs is sayd to haue looked ouer Lincolne and none might without incurring of is mortall indignation admonish him of any fault or scandalous demeanure Great pitty surely it is that one qualified as he is and endowed with such an humble spirite should not be preferred to an Episcopale or to vse his owne phrase some ouerseing dignitye Thus by dismol destiny Bels argument hath rather hurt him then giuen him any help at all But one necessary adiunct belonged to this controuersie which he thought good not to touch for scalding of his fingers to witt that S. Victor excommunicated the Bishopps of Asia as I noted before for seing Bell confesseth that the old In his Fâ—neral lib. 2. cap. 2. Bishopps of Rome were very godly men and taught the same doctrine which S. Peter had done afore them and most certayne that S. Victor was one of those holy Martyrs it followeth that he vsurped no authority but exercised that which lawfully he might neyther that he taught any doctrine but that which S. Peter had done before him Out of which and the precedent discourse three or foure memorable notes may be inferred against Bell. The first and principall is that the Primacye of the Bishoppe of Rome began not six hundred yeares after Christ as befor he mayntayned hauing bene practised four hundred yeares before by S. Victor and descended to him from S. Peter The second is that Bels argumeÌ„t against the supreame authority of the Bishoppe of Rome being duly and truly examined proueth the cleane contrary The third is that the minister cunningly coÌ„cealed the cause why S. Ireneus reproued S. Victor as nothing fitting his purpose The fourth may be that most perfidiously he inferreth out of the reprehension of S. Ireneus that he contemned the Bishoppe of Rome his decrees and supposed supremacy as before hath bene noted I add lastly that whatsoeuer S. Ireneus and others thought yet blessed Pope Victor proceded most prudently for as much as he perceiued how that obseruation which in the time of Anicetus was only variety of rite without preiudice of religion began now to corrupt the soundnes of the Catholike fayth one Blastus who liued in Victors time as Lib. 5. hist cap. 15. De proscript in
Bell deny this lett him for that great skille which he hath in hunting out the originall of Poperie and superstition tell vs at what tyme bet wixt the first conuersion and the late daies of Edward the sixt the vse of latin seruice crept in Shal we thincke that S. Gregory whom Bell confesseth to haue been an holy Bishoppe indede would euer Woeful cry pag. 62. Suruey pag. 187. haue permitted that custom to haue been brought into our countrey if he he had thought it superstitious wicked nay if he had not reputed it requisite good and Apostolicall More then fower hūdred yeares before the time of S. Gregory the auncient Bryttaines receaued the same manner of seruing God from the blessed Pope and martyr S. Eleutherius that is in the latin tongue which appeareth first because venerable Bede Lib. 2. hist cap. 2. reporteth that there was not any materiall differece betwixt S. Austen sent by S. Gregory and the Britain Bishoppes saue only in Baptisme and the obseruation of Easter Secondly for that certaine it is that they had also since S. Austens tyme the masse in the latin tongue but to thincke that if they had bene once in possession of the seruice in their owne vulgar language that they could haue bene brought from that without infinite garboils especially the opposition betwixt them and the English Saxons in auncient tyme considered or that if any such contention had fallen out that it could haue bene omitted by the curious pennes of our historiographers it were greate simplicitie once to surmise Wherfore what followeth but that they receiued that custom at their first conuersion which was within lessen then two hundred yeares after Christ and consequently that by Bels allowance and the common cōputation of others it is sounde Catholicke and Apostolicall and no◠any rotten ragge of a newe religion as this ragge master gableth and that on the contrary to haue the publique seruice in the vulgar tongue is a newe patch of Protestanisme fetched from VVittenberge or that mart of Martinists the holy city of Geneua A short admonition concerning Bels eleuen chapters following THese chapters I shall soone dispatch seing they concerne not any weighty points of religion but ceremonies and such like in which the Chureh hath authority to ordaine and abrogate to make or repeale lawes as shall seeme most meete for the honour of God and the edification of Christian people For prooffe whereof I could alleage many Protestants but I will content my self only with one whose authority the minister will not refuse being a deere frend of his owne the first letters of his name are Thomas Bell who in a booke sett out not long since against the Puritanicall presbitery called by him The regiment of the Church disputeth earnestly for Imprinted by T. C. c. anno 1606. In his Regiment of the church cap. 7. pag. 53. the authority of the Church in thinges indifferent namely in his seauenth chapter where he deliuereth these two Aphorismes The first of things de facto altered in the Church for prooffe whereof he reckoneth vp sixe particular pointes recorded in scripture yet chaunged by the Church The first is to receiue the communion in the morning though Christ did it after supper The second is to celebrate it in leauened bread though Christ did it in vnleauened bread The third is that the Apostles receiued the communion sitting but now it is receiued kneeling Fourthly Christ premised washing of feet which is nowe omitted Fiftly the Apostles commaunded abstinence from bloud and that which is strangled and yet the Church hath abrogated that decree Sixtly S. Paul prescribed prophesying to be done with bare head yet small account is made thereof The second aphorisme is of thinges not expressed in scriture and yet decreed by the Church to be obserued and kept and this he proueth by the dedication of Salomons temple for seauene daies and out of 2. Paralip 7. Hoster cap. 3. 9. 1. Ma chab 4. the festiuall daies appointed by Mardocheus and the Machabees and afterward vpon this ground in his eigth chapter he iustifieth diuers things in particular instituted by the Church as the obseruation of festiuall daies kneeling at the communion Surplesses Tippets and square capps the ring in marriage and such like This being so what an old house hath this minister brought vpon his owne head neuer did old Elderton so tickle the Iesuits with gentle iyrks as Sr. Thomas hath prouided roddes for the runnigate of Rascall for if he inferre against our ceremonyes as he doth because they were instituted since Christ though very auncient that they be rotten ragges of the newe religion what shall become of their ceremonies which either be borrowed from vs or of far later date what can they be els but pild patches of Protestanisme and rusty raggs of the reformed congregation nay what must their communion booke it self be neuer heard of in the whole world till the late daies of king Edward the sixt and drawen from our Portesse and masse bookes as the thing it self speaketh and their Geneua Gospellers often cast in their teeth Was euer braue Ministers wittes so misledde by I knowe not what night ghoste or colepixen as to say that in one place with good grace which in an other turneth him to great shame and disgrace where is nowe Sr. Thomas and how beates his pulse are ceremonies instituted since the tyme of Christ and and his Apostles rotten ragges or no if not why is he so hotte on foot to persecute them so eagerly and intertaineth them with such homely termes if they be rotten ragges as here he saith how can he defend the English congregation that ruffleth in such raggs or himself that disputeth for the authority of the Church in that case or with what face can he euer looke vpon the Geneua generation of the mocking Martinists Certainly were he not habituated to chopping of faiths and chaunging of religion and that careles contempt had armed him to disgest any disgrace these newes were able to bring the panges of death but he that hath swallowed down mil-stones wil neuer make bones at such small choking oisters How his Regiment of the Bels bookes contrary one to an other Church written against Puritanes agreeth with The triall of the newe religion published against Papists or this with that be curious points of scrupulosity Bell careth neither for contradiction nor conscience but only seeketh the glory of God and the aduauncement of that Gospell which for the tyme present and duringe the same reuelation he firmely beleueth to be the euerlastinge truth But to runne ouer some of his chapters a little more in particular Bels XVII Chapter Of the antiquitie of Popish masse and the partes thereof THe minister very profoundly scoffeth both at other parts of the Masse and also at these following writing thus Gregory added the Kyrie eleyson Telesphorus Gloria in excelsi is Deo Gelasius the collects Hieronymus the