and most auncient Church had but two Sacraments How the other fiue crept into the Church That the Masse by their owne confession was made by diuers Bishops of Rome long after the Apostles That it tendeth to the vtter dissoluing of the whole Harmony of the Scriptures both Propheticall and Apostolicall the ouerthrow of the power of Christs death and passion and the casting mens mindes into a doubtfull wauering of their saluation 10 That the words of Christ touching the eating his flesh and drinking his bloud as also his other words concerning the sacrament are but figuratiue speeches 11 That wee ought to pray to God alone and not to Saints And to worship God alone and not Saints That none can be mediatour betweene God and man but onely he that is partaker of the natures both of God and man 12 That the originall authours of the doctrine of Purgatory were the Heathen Philosophers How it doth confound the iudgement of the Popish writers and how it doth deny the bloud of Christ to be sufficient for the purging of sinne The Chapter of Conclusion sheweth that we are iustified in the sight of God by faith onely without workes That we possesse Heauen only by the meanes of faith and being there the fruits thereof are rewarded with the degrees of glorie That the high way to damnation is to seeke saluation by merites The Popes deadly wound Tending to resolue all Men in the chiefe and principall Points now in controuersie betweene the Papists and Vs. CHAPTER I. This Chapter tendeth to resolue all men that notwithstanding both Protestants and Papists professe but one God one Faith one Baptisme and one Lord Iesus Christ that yet there is so great a difference in the manner of their profession that it is not possible that they should be combined and conioyned together to make one and the same true Church of Christ 1 IT hath beene imagined Christian Reader that forasmuch as the Papists and wee professe one and the same God c. there might well be an vnion betweene vs and them to make one and the same Vniuersall Church but I trust through the helpe of Gods spirit it shall be made manifest to the whole Church of God that it is no more possible then by mixing with the puritie of the Gospell the Abomination of desolation by which Saint Hierome saith a Hierome in his booke vpon thâ— 24. of Saint Matth. w. We may vnderstand all manner of peruerse and false doctrine there can bee made one and the same true Christian Religion True it is that many notable Heretikes of former times haue professed one and the same God with the Church and as Saint Chrysostome saith * Chrysostome of the Worke vpon Matth. Had gotten the notes and markes of the true Church to wit sayth he Churches the Scriptures of God Bishops and other orders of Clarkes and likewise Baptisme and the Sacrament of Thankesgiuing and to conclude Christ himselfe but yet as he sheweth that the true Church of Christ would not admit them into the fellowship thereof nor take them for true members of the same The reason was for that with their profession they mingled such erronious opinions of God as made him no God according to that which Saint Hilary saith b Hilary in Ps 1. To deuise fancies of God is as horrible as to say there is no God 2 For wee beleeue and professe but one diuine God according to Deuter. 4.35 and one mediatour betweene God and man Euen the man Christ Iesus according to Saint Paul 1. Tim. 2.5 The Papists professe that the Lord he is God but not God onely and that Christ is mediatour but neither wholly nor only as this first Chapter shall plainly demonstrate from their owne Doctors for one writeth thus c Fel. in cap. ego N. de iureiur The Pope hath the place vpon earth not of a pure man but of a true God The Bishop of Aeix saith d Contr Bassinet vt Hist. Gallica Our holy Father the Pope is an vndoubted and true God on earth In their Extrauagants he is termed e Extra coment in glossa Our Lord God the Pope besides their Councell of Trident f Trident. in sexto de lect decreed him to be God In the Councell of Lateraine one saluted the Pope with this title g Latr. sess 4. Thou art another God on earth which the Pope accepted as his due euen as Pope Nicholas seeking authority whereby he might claime that dignitie found these words treasured vp in the Popes Library * Nicholas Dist. 96. satis euidenter It is well knowne that the Pope of the godly Prince Constantine was called God To which words Augustine Steuche the keeper of the Popes Librarie added h Steuche libr. Donat. Constant. pag. 141. Dost thou not heare that the highest Bishop was called of Constantine God and that he was taken for God and worshipped as God with diuine honour Whereby it plainely appeareth that this title is not giuen him of flatterers against his will neyther fell it out of their fingers rashly or by chance but with good consideration and therefore they ascribe also vnto him the great power and authority not of a terrestiall God but euen of a celestiall and that in foure respects 3 First in graunting to him as large commaund as to God himselfe for thus they write i Extrauag De translat-Episcopi Quinto Hostin Sinne excepted the Pope in a manner may doe all that God may doe Againe k Counsel Lat. Leo. 10. In the Pope there is all manner of power aboue all power as well of heauen as of earth Also l Extrauag De Constitu lib. Statuta The Pope hath power ouer the Angells both good and bad And m Agrippa de vanitat Scient The Pope hath power to command the Angells and hath power ouer the dead Againe n Baldus in li. Barbarius De officio praetoris The Pope is all and aboue all Furthermore o L. Sacrilegij c. de crim sacril ind c. Ecclesia vt tit pend It is sacriledge to doubt of the Popes power * for he is the cause of causes therefore we must make no question about his power seeing there is no cause of the first cause Lastly p In Bull. Clem. 6. in Ant. Flo. The Pope hath so great power both in Purgatory and also in hell that he may deliuer by his Indulgences place in the heauen and habitation of the blessed as many Soules as he will So that in his power of commaunding hee is made equall with God as if hee might be bold to say with our Sauiour Matth. 28. All power is giuen to me in heauen and in earth 4 Secondly they match him with God in giuing him priuiledge and exemption from all censure saying q Dist. Satis lib. Don. Constant. pag. 141. The Pope cannot at all be eyther bound or loosed by the Secular power
Church And bid them now bragge of the visibilitie of their Church and of the standing state it alwaies had since it was a Church because thou canst not deny it them but withall giue them to vnderstand that euen thereby is our Church proued that true Church which the Angel in that chapter foretold should be driuen from home and dispierced abroad and theirs to be the tyrannicall and persecuting Church which should driue it out of her Countrie And thus much for the prouing when their Church first began and how farre it did extend it selfe as also the first beginning of vniuersall Popes to bee sixe hundred and sixe yeares after Christ whereby both their antiquitie and vniuersalitie is vtterly ouerthrowne Now to the conclusion of all 8 Forasmuch as we which now are distinguished from them by the title of Protestants confesse that in this their Romish iurisdiction we had no Church left at the rising of Luther they demaund of vs from whence our Bishops had their callings and how our Ministers which they haue ordained euer since can haue lawfull callings seeing there was then no Protestant Bishops to ordaine them neither that by the Apostles euer any Christians had that title giuen them We answer For the title Protestant wee stand not vpon for wee graunt that in the time of the Apostles there was not any Christians called by that name no more then there was any called by that name Catholique The onely title proper to the professours of Christ was giuen by the Apostles in the Citie of Antioch which was to be called Christians as appeareth in the 11. of the Acts of the Apostles but afterwards when as counterfait professours of Christ as the Arians Macedonians Eunâ—nians were growne to be Sectaries and Heretiques and each of them to challenge vnto themselues the title of the true Church There was another sort in Rome called Homousians which were indeede of the true Church these to distinguish themselues from those counterfait Christians intituled themselues Christian Catholiques Whereupon as Socrates testifieth k Socrates lib. 5. cap. 10. that worthie Prince Theodosius hearing thereof caused these foure sorts of Christians to be brought before him and euery Sect to bring their seuerall opinions in writing which when hee and his Bishops there assembled had throughly pervsed and examined he tore in pieces the Papers of the three Heretiques and approued onely of the Homousians finding it onely to agree with the Doctrine of the Scriptures And thereupon made this Decree All people subiect to our Empire How and when the name Catholique was giuen to Christians we will haue to continue in that Religion which Saint Peter the Apostle deliuered to the Romans as the faith kept from his time to this day doth declare and the which it is euident Bishop Damassus and Peter Bishop of Alexandria a man of Apostolique sanctitie doe professe to wit that according to the Apostolique and Euangelique Doctrine wee beleeue one Godhead of the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost of like maiestie in sacred Trinitie The obseruers of this Law we commaund to be taken for Christian Catholiques the rest as mad and frantike we adiudge to beare the reproach of Heretiques which must looke to feele first the vengeance of God and next such penalties as the motion of our hearts directed from aboue shall appoynt And this was about two hundred yeares before the Papists had a Church therefore this act being done onely in our Church it is without all contradiction we onely must needs be of that sort of Christians vnto whom the title Catholique was then giuen and consequently of the true and most auncient Catholique and Apostolique Church So likewise afterwards when as the West part of the Church did vnder the title of Christian Catholiques professe Christ after an Antichristian manner then certaine true Christians withstanding them protested a contrary manner of Christian profession agreeable to the auncient Catholique Faith and Religion and by their protesting did distinguish themselues from that counterfait companie which they then saw as we now haue declared at large in our former Chapters were cleane swarued from the true Faith and Religion And from thence we following their true Faith and religion retain the same title to distinguish our selues from our most counterfait Christian Catholiques But would God both these new titles were laid away and that both sorts might be called by their owne proper titles to wit Christians and Antichristians for so the Church of Christ should the better be knowne from the Church of Antichrist 9 Now for the lawfulnesse of our Bishops callings wee say that when the time drew neere that the Gospel which Antichrist had suppressed in the Romish iurisdiction should be set vp againe according to that old Romish prophesie intituled Stimulus diuinae contemplationis written I know not how many hundred yeares agoe bearing that after the yeare of Christs Incarnation 1534. In an olde Booke Good Law good Religion good peace together with Faith Truth and sound Doctrine should returne againe into the World in their proper shape and true likenesse then about that time when by the meanes of that man of Cod Luther some Bishops were conuerted to true Christianitie againe and that others had time to conuerse with them concerning the present necessitie of electing and ordaining Christian Ministers then they entered by the olde ordinances of those Christian Bishops which were before Poperie was and so ordained ministers by the rules and authoritie of the first Apostolicke order which had alwaies continued in those other parts of our Churches which as wee shewed were neuer members of the Popish Church For otherwise had they not bin first conuerted they and all the Ministers which they haue ordained should haue been the seruants of Antichrist euen as those were before and at this day are which haue their calling from Antichrist the Pope For so their S. Bernard speaking of Bishops and Ministers which haue their calling from and by the Popes ordination saith l Bernard supra cant Serm. 33. They serue Antichrist Also their Albertus Magnus saith m Albert in Jehn 10. They bee the Ministers of Antichrist and the vnderminers of the flocke of Christ. And therefore whether it be likely that our Ministers which be ordained by Bishops of an ordinarie calling from the Apostles of Christ haue lawfull callings or such as haue their calling from Antichrist the Pope let the Christian Reader iudge And the more to inlighten his iudgement and better discerning the truth hereof let him consider these fruits and effects of their calling Their Saint Bridgit bringeth in Christ thus complayning of the Romish Clergie n Bridgit lib. 1. cap. 56. They faine themselues to be mine and in the meane time they worke wickedly against mee Their Saint Elizabeth bringeth in Christ thus reporting of them o Elizabeth against the corruptions of Rome lib. 3. cap. 14. They that walk vnder my name doe not feare to
in their proper shape and true likenesse And this was also at the time of the rising of Luther when as there was neither sound doctrine true faith nor religion to be found in all the Romish iurisdiction according to that Prophecie of their S. Hildegard a Nunne which saith In the Apostolike order to wit in the Roman Sea no religion shall be found Truely Christian Reader it seemeth very apparent that God hath made speciall choyse of England aboue all the Nations in the world to be the chiefe for the recouering and reducing of that part of his Church the Romish iurisdiction and the ouerthrow of Antichrists kingdome and religion For whereas in the 17. chapter of the Reuelation the tenne hornes are declared to be the maine strength of the seauen-hilled Citie to wit Rome and that the text declareth also those hornes to be so many kingdomes and that the learned expound them to be these tenne head kingdomes of the Romish iurisdiction England Scotland Denmarke c. the first whereof that withdrew her power from Rome was England it is manifest England is the chiefe I know Christian Reader it would be thought strange to say that that which was done by King Henry was foretold in the booke of the Reuelation Neuerthelesse a very learned man writing vpon these words in the 13. verse of the 11. chap. And the tenth part of the Citie shall fall saith plainely It is a thousand to one but that it is meant of King Henry meaning his withdrawing his power from Rome And indeed it is tenne thousand to one but that it is meant of him For plaine experience doth euidently demonstrate England to be the chiefe of those tenne Kingdomes also which the 16. verse of the 17. chap. declareth shall be the meanes of the finall fall of the Citie of Rome and power of Antichrist for that after this worke was set abroach by King Henry we saw it so greatly to preuaile vnder the raigne of that famous Queene his Daughter Elizabeth that at her decease the Pope had scarce three of those Kingdomes signified by those hornes left to adhere with him intirely And I doe finde also by diuers of the olde Romish Predictions that as God made King Henry the maine beginner of the ruine and decay of the strength of Romish Babylon so he hath ordained a most worthy King of the name of Iacob to second him in that worke And as touching that which shall be further effected by him thus hath their Robertus a Dominican Frier written long agoe in his second Sermon But Iacob flying from the Serpents face which Serpent in his third vision hee affirmeth the spirit told him was Antichrist the Pope is ioyned to those that doe praise my name For which cause hee declareth the Pope whom in the same Sermon hee compareth to Esau should put in practise the destruction of the spirituall Iacob as also for refusing to ioyne with him and to be of his societie For there hee bringeth in the Pope speaking in this manner to his spirituall sonnes Goe to my Sonnes and enter into a consultation among your selues how I may bring him vnder for by his destruction my treasure shall bee exceedingly increased I haue neede of much because the name of my house is great vpon the face of the earth Deglutiamus eum virum Come therefore let vs swallow him vp aliue Which Prophecie albeit wee saw fulfilled in the Powder-treason yet as the same Frier sheweth that all the Pope could doe should nothing at all preuaile so thankes be to our good God we saw it did not Againe the same Frier in his sixeteenth Sermon fore-sheweth that it shall come to passe that the same Iacob whom there hee calleth the Lyon King shall visite the Emperour and the rest of the Roman and other Catholique Princes of Christendome by his Christian and royall exhortations to helpe to subdue the Pope and to bring the Church of Rome into the same state of primitiue puritie as it was in the happy dayes of Constantine the Great Theodosius Valentinian c. Whereby he declareth not onely how greatly the Church of Rome is fallen from her primitiue purity in religion but also that shee shall be reformed by the speciall meanes of our Nation of England And to the like effect are these words of their Saint Bridgit cannonized for a Saint by Pope Boniface the ninth in her sixt booke of Reuelations 26. chap. where she bringeth in Christ complayning of the decaied state of the Church of Rome shewing him to exhort all Christian Kings what course to take for the perfect reformation thereof saying Wherefore the King for whom thou dost pray ought to call and assemble a Councell of Spirituall men such as are wise through my wisedome and he ought to enquire diligently of those that haue my spirite and aske their aduice how and by what meanes the wall of my Church may be built againe amongst Christians how God may be restored to his honour true Religion made to flourish anew godly charity made more feruent my passion more deepely imprinted in the hearts and mindes of men and my Commaundements loued with greater zeale and respect Let him therefore gather together the vpright and true kinde of Christians that hee together with them may repaire the spirituall breaches of my Church the which verily hath departed too farre from mee By which wee see shee giueth all true Christian Princes to vnderstand that God requireth of them that they ioyne together and vse all meanes by godly and learned instructers to reclayme the Romish Church and to reduce her to that most auncient Catholique faith and religion which Saint Paul so commended her for at the first which albeit at the first or on the sodaine shee will not receiue but as their Abbot Ioachim vpon the 22. chapter of Ieremy sayth Will stoppe her eares lest shee should heare the charming of the inchaunter the voyce of him that admonisheth her yet vpon the 15.17.18.21 and 22. chapters he showeth that those admonitions shall in short time so worke that not onely the Germaine Empire shall forsake the Church of Rome but the Church it selfe with her Colledge of Cardinalls shal be diuided and fall into discord among themselues And vpon the 50. and 51. of Ieremy he sheweth by the effect that those admonitions shall so greatly preuaile that the Pope and the whole order of his Clergie his Consistorie and State shall be exceedingly impaired For saith he The Nobles of the Romaine Church shall perish the Monasteries shall be diminished the High Priest shall be purified and Christian Religion shall be winnowed as with a fanne And the same also did their Saint Katharine of Sienne foresee as may appeare by these her words written in a prayer of hers But what shall the Lord doe to these euill husband men he shall come and destroy them and let out his Vineyard vnto others c. By tribulations and afflictions and in such a manner
as we know not he shall purge his Church and to that purpose shall stirre vp the spirits of his Elect. After which things saith she shall ensue such a reformation of the holy Church and such a renouation of the godly Pastors thereof that the very thoughts thereof maketh my spirit to reioyce in the Lord. And as I haue tolde you heretofore saith she the Spouse which is now altogether deformed ragged and â—orne shall then be adorned and decked as it were with precious iewels and chains And all faithfull people shall be glad when they are thus beautified with so holy Pastors Yea the very Infidells being drawne with the sweete smell of Christ shall repaire vnto the Catholike sheepfold and be conuerted to the chiefe Pastor and Bishop of their soules And this is it also which Gregory the Great Bishop of Rome did foresee as may appeare by these his words written in his nineteenth booke the ninth chap. vpon Iob The Church after the dayes of her afflictions shall afterwards notwithstanding be strengthened with great power of preaching And that it may yet more plainely appeare that our Nation of England shall beare some sway in this worke the aforesaid Dominican Frier in his sixt vision declareth that it was reuealed vnto him That the I le of Britaine should proue the chiefe receptacle of the Church of God and euen an Asile or Sanctuary to the Church of Rome in the time of the Turkish Persecution and as it were her nursing mother after she should come to be thus reformed and that the true Christian religion should be maintained especially by the blessed meanes of the people of the aforesaid Isle For As the title of his Vision saith the Translator is of the future state of the Church so the Vision it selfe doth beare how he did seeme to be together with some other persons in a small number in a certaine great ship not well appointed with Ruthers or Oares in the maine Sea and that the shippe came as it were of it selfe vnto a certaine Island whereunto saith he we being but a few had our recourse for refuge and safety Also to the like effect there is this prognosticall verse aledged by Ioannes Wolfius in the second tome of his memorable things in Latine thus Europa genit us terra vir iust us aequus Pastor erit Caeli claues non regna gubernans Pax erit toto surget concordia Mundo Vna Fides vnus regnabit in omnia Princeps In English thus A certaine wight equitable and vpright borne in Europe shall be the chiefe Pastor or Bishop of Christendome such a one as shall mannage and gouerne the Keyes of the kingdome of Heauen and not the Scepters of the kingdomes of the earth There shall be peace and concord in the world one Faith and Religion and once Prince imperially raigning ouer all Also their Paracelsus the German Hermite in his 26. Prediction maketh mention of an English Prince and his issue that shall more fully effect this worke of reformation And in an old Prophesie had out of the Pallace of wisdome in Rome and in another Prophesie of Sauanarola a Dominican Frier mention is made of a Prince of the name of Charles that shall strike a great stroke in this worke and shall bring to passe that in the end according to a Prophesie also of Nostrodamus Rome shall be ruled by her old Britannish head Cant. 5. quadrin 99. Quand Rome aurale chef vieux Britantique And saith Maister Iames Maxwell the Translater As the Italian Iesuite Heronymus Platus in the second booke of Religious life chap. 30. confesseth England to haue beene more fertill of conuerters of Nations and Countries to the Christian faith then any other Land else so is it not vnlikely but that God will haue the same Country to be more fertill of reformers of other corrupt Churches especially of that of Rome then any other Land whatsoeuer And that as there is in no one Country or Nation of the world to be found so many learned and eloquent Preachers nor so many compleat Diuines for Iudiciousnesse Ingenuousnesse and moderation and for fitnesse to deserue well for the peace of the Church as there is in England so it is like that God will honour this Island with the reformation of the Church of Rome and her daughters by sending forth from thence such godly iudicious zealous and moderate men as shall reclaime them from their abuses and restore vnto them their Primitiue puritie and integritie such as it was in the happie daies of Constantine the Great borne in great Britannie For saith hee To the same effect soundeth this prognosticall verse which was found in an old manuscript Iesse Rosa sanguis Bruti Portat Crucem Iesu Christi The Rose of England beareth and bringeth the Crosse of Christ to forraigne Lands Also as their Ioachim the Abbot writing vpon the 4.5.18.22 and 30. Chapter of Ieremy sheweth that there shall be certaine new Preachers of the Gospel in the Catholique or Vniuersall Church strong in faith and true in Doctrine whose Doctrine shall be open and free and that they shall preach Repentance both to the Greekes and Latines and conuert many of them to the truth so is there a certain Prophecie vttered in the yeare of Christ 1119. as writeth Matthew Paris in his 475. Page of this History which saith They that walke in darkenesse shall turne to the light and those things that were diuided and scattered shall be gathered together and vnited Also the same Abbot sheweth how that the Pope and his Prelates will rage against those whom God shall send to conuert them where hee writing vpon the first Chapter of Ieremy saith thus Such Doctors and Prophets are to be sent which shall not onely rebuke the people but also thunder out against the Priests and strike earthly and carnall hearts with all maner of plagues and put to silence the loftie and swelling Maisters who shall fight against the aforesaid Preachers which shall be reuealed as once did Iuda against Israel and the Iewes against Christ and his Apostles By meanes whereof the death of Philip the second King of Spaine in his Sericum mundi filum doth deliuer that The Lyon hauing the Rose and the Lillies in his armes shall vtterly destroy the Pope so as that afterwards there shall neuer be any more Popes And then all Christian Princes being at peace and vnitie it seemeth by a Prediction found in an olde Booke that they shall consent and agree to chuse out of all one excellent Man for learning and good life to be as a chiefe Moderator for the bringing all sorts of people in the whole world to one kinde of Religion and all Churches into one vniforme order For thus it is written in that Prophesie The afflictions of the Church and Clergie being passed and after so many great tribulations by the will of God a most holy man shall be chosen perfect in all manner of perfection
as much as to say before there was an Vniuersall Pope made and established and consequently a Popish Church many soules were saued in the Romish iurisdiction but afterwards as she saith d Ibidem Both Clergie and Laitie are scattered and runne seuerall waies carried with the immoderate loue of worldly commoditie neyther doe they care a whit for the incommoditie and damage of their soules THE NINTH OBIECTION 32 Besides this the Scriptures teacheth vs plainely that before Antichrist come Henoch and Elias shall returne to oppose themselues against him and in the end shall conuert the Iewes Malachi 4. Eccle. 4.8 Matth. 17. Apocca 11. But we see not this poynt fulfilled to proue the Pope to bee Antichrist THE ANSWERE 33 Here to blind the eyes of the ignorant he telleth them a tale of a tubbe to wit that before Antichrist come Henoch and Elias shal returne to oppose themselues against him and shall conuert the Iewes and for proofe hee citeth foure places of Scripture of which if any one of them doe proue his Assertion I dare recant all that I haue written For as touching the returne of Henoch there is no such thing mentioned in all the Scriptures and for that Prophecie of Malachi which fore-told of the returne of Elias if we may beleeue our Sauiour Christ that was fulfilled in Saint Iohn Baptist Matth. 11. Where in the 7. Matth. 11.7 verse it is said Iesus began to speake vnto the Multitude of Iohn And in the 13. verse Christ said All the Prophets and the Law prophecied vnto Iohn and if yee will receiue it this is Elias which was to come He that hath eares to heare let him heare And in the tenth verse Matth. 11.10 hee declareth Iohn to be the same Elias which the Prophet Malachi in that fourth Chapter which Bellarmine citeth fore-told should come in that he there repeateth the verie words of Malachie And hereby our Sauiour Christ confuted that erronious opinion of the Iewes Matth. 17.10 who thought that Elias should returne into the world in his owne proper person as the Papists doe at this day Also by these words of Saint Luke spoken of Iohn Luke 1.17 He shall goe before him to wit Christ in the spirit and power of Elias is plainely confuted that erronious opinion of some of the Rabbines who held that Elias should rise eyther in his owne bodie or his soule to enter into some other bodie in that hee sheweth him to returne onely in power and spirit in the person of Iohn Baptist And as touching the calling of the Iewes by Enoch and Elias forasmuch as no place in all the Scripture doth shew the returne of Enoch and that Saint Iohn Baptist was onely that same Elias that the Prophets fore-told should come it is cleare the Iewes shall not be conuerted by them Rom. 11.11 ver And the rather because Saint Paul declareth Romans 11.11 verse that their conuertion shall be by the Christian Gentiles and that Erasmus writing vpon the same place Erasmus Paraf declareth that when the fulnesse of the Gentiles be come into the Christian Church and all be of one Religion the Iewes onely excluded they will storme and rage at the Christians for a while but ere long will ioyne themselues vnto them therefore they shall bee conuerted by the Christians and not by Enoch and Elias Wherefore what prophecie is there yet to be fulfilled that should proue the great Antichrist not yet come or what one sound argument hath Bellarmine made to proue the Pope not to be the same THE TENTH and last OBIECTION 34 This Obiection is to proue the day of Iudgement a day certaine to be knowne of man which because our Sauiour as he was man said was vncertaine to himselfe I leaue to meddle with that matter but whensoeuer it doth come I doubt it will come too soone for Bellarmine and all that are led by him to cleaue vnto the Beast of Rome as may appeare in the 14 Chapter of the Rouelation where it is thus written Reuelat. 14.9 10 11. If any man worship the Beast and his Image and receiue his marke in his fore-head or on his hand the same shall drinke of the Wine of the wrath of God yea of the pure wine which is powred into the Cup of his wrath and he shall bee tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe and the smoake of their torments shall ascend euermore and they shall haue no rest day nor night which worship the Beast and his Image and whosoeuer receiueth the Print of his name And this is it which their Saint Bridgit cannonized for a Saint by Pope Boniface the ninth saith of the Popes their Prelates and all that are seduced by them e Bridgit in her first Booke 41. Chap. In stead of honour they shall haue eternall shame and confusion and looke how high they haue ascended aboue others through pride as low shall they be brought vnder others in Hell Their members that is to say saith she all their followers and fauourers shall be cut off disioynted and pulled in peeces like vnto a wall that is casting downe wherein is not left one stone standing vpon another neyther shall my loue and mercie euer warme them nor build them vp againe into eternall mansion in the Heauens but they with their heads secluded from all good comfort shall be tormented eternally Wherefore it behoueth euery man as he tendereth his owne saluation to turne from Poperie in time lest dying therein he be vtterly depriued of eternall saluation And thus much for answere to these Obrections for the clearing the Pope from being Antichrist Now it remaineth in the next chapter to answer the other Obiections which deny Christian Rome now in her latter dayes to be that Babylon the seate of Antichrist which the Angel in the 17. Chapter of the Reuelation Reuela 1 l. and 18. Chap. calleth the Mother of Whordemes and abominations of the earth And which the other Angell in the eighteenth Chapter saith Is falne and become the habitation of Deuils the hold of all foule spirits and Cage of euery vncleane and hatefull Bird. CHAP. III. Tending to resolue all men that Christian Rome now in her latter daies is that Babylon the seate of Antichrist which the Angel in the 17. Chapter of the Reuelation calleth the Mother of Whordomes and abominations of the Earth And which the other Angell in the 18. Chapter saith is falne and become the habitation of Deuils the hold of all foule spirits and cage of euery vncleane and hatefull Bird. 1 WHosoeuer wil diligently pervse the thirteenth Chapter of the Reuelation Reuela 13.1 2. shall euidently perceiue that Romish Babylon is described by two manner of Beasts the one corporall the other spirituall The corporall Beast is disciphered by the similitude of an vgly Monster beeing in shape like vnto a Leopard his feet like Beares feete and his mouth
THE POPES deadly Wound Tending to resolue all men in the Chiefe and principall Points now in controuersie betweene the Papists and Vs. Written by T. C. and published by Master Doctor BVRGES now Preacher to the English troopes in the Pallatinate 2 TIMOTH Chap. 3. Verse 8.9 As Iannes and Iambres withstood MOSES so doe these also resist the Truth men of corrupt mindes reprobate concerning the Faith But they shall preuaile no longer for their madnesse shall be euident to all men as theirs was REVELAT Chap. 18. Verse 2. It is fallen it is fallen Babilon the great Citie and is become the habitation of Deuils and the holde of all foule spirits and a cage of euery vncleane and hatefull Bird. REVELAT Chap. 14 Verse 9.10 If any man worship the Beast and his Image and receiue his marke in his forehead or on his hand the same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God LONDON Printed by T. S. for Nath. Newberie and are to be sould at the signe of the Starre vnder S. Peters Church in Corne-hill and in Popes-head-Alley 1621. To the Christian Reader HEE that vndertakes to commend another mans writings vnto the view and reading of men aduentures his owne reputation therein as Merchants doe their stocke in other mens ships And there be two sorts of men that doe and may aduenture more boldly then others either goods or credit First such as haue so much to spare as that the losse of their aduenture will not pinch them or such as haue so little to aduenture as no losse can hurt them much Yet is there a middle sort that doe aduenture in hope of good returnes J take my selfe a man not vtterly desperate yet of poore estate knowing nothing in my selfe that might procure respect vnto another mans writings vnlesse perhaps my acquaintance with many men of sundry places the purchase of my troublesome pilgrimage or the louing fauour which God of his goodnesse hath giuen mee with many far beyond my worth But if I had more reputation in the Church of God and my Countrey then euer J shall haue I would not feare to aduenture all mine owne praises in the praise of this little Booke and the Author thereof The Author thereof Master Thomas Clarke one of my parishoners in Sutton-Coldfield I know to be a man of much grauity piety and honesty for one of his sort to be admired for his vnwearied paines in reading such Authors as hee could gathering out of them the pith of their discourses or disputes and labouring to improue all not onely to the setling of his owne iudgement but also to the staying and satisfying of others popishly inclined by conference or by writing wherein also his successe hath exceeded the haruest of many other men better languaged and more learned then be Touching this his booke it is true that onely the moulding of the Arguments against Popery is his owne fitter perhaps for the vulgar sort then more exquisite pieces The matter it selfe is to be found in the writings of our learned Countreymen dispersed in large or many bookes whereof some are not so easie to be had But here is compiled and compacted together in this popular forme and in a stile so farre as I can iudge neither curious nor dissolute but well becomming the man and the matter The end and ayme of this good man I perswade my selfe to be honest and holy not applause of men nor gaine of money but a true desire to informe his countreymen that cannot or will not heare often or reade much in the knowledge of the truth which detayning or reclayming them from Popery or confirming them in true religion established in our Land might yeeld them better Christians better Subiects better Neighbours Many haue long called for this Booke vpon sight of some part of it or report of others these I suppose will gladly reade it such as neuer heard of it or of the man may please to make a tryall whether or no they may finde in it that which may refresh the memory of learned and diligent men in much breuity or bring light vnto the ignorant with as much perspicuity which is I confesse my opinion of the Booke God quicken vp our hearts to more zeale for the Gospell and against popery the zeale whereof in our aduersaries should prouoke vs to more zeale or will condemne vs though it helpe not them God also blesse this good old-Man that hath spent himselfe for common good aad blesse all meanes that may any way aduance the Kingdome of our Lord Iesus whether the scepter of Gouernement the sword of Warre the preaching of the Gospell or Pen or Print of wel-aduised and wel-affected persons Farewell Thine to serue thee in the Lord IOHN BVRGES Parson of Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickshire and now Preacher to the English troopes in the seruice of the KING of Bohemia for the defence of the Pallatinate vnder the command of Sr. Horatio Veere Knight Lord General THE PREFACE TO the Christian Reader WEE reade Christian Reader in the second Epistle of S. Paul to the Thessalonians 2. cap. 3 verse of a generall apostacie or departing from the true Faith which the great Antichrist should bring to passe before the comming of Christ and before hee should be reuealed or made manifest to the world And wee read also in the 3. chap. and 10. verse of the Reuelation of S. Iohn of a generall temptation or triall that shall come vpon the world to trie them that dwell vpon the earth And in the 17. chap. wee reade by whom this temptation shall be made especially in the 4. and 5. verses where it is said of Romish Babylon that she offered to the world In a cup of Gold to wit in the golden name of Christ the abhomination and filthinesse of her fornication And in the 3. verse of the 18. chap. that she made all nations to drinke thereof And in the second verse of the 17. chap. that shee made the inhabibitants of the earth drunke therewith And therefore it is that the Angell in the 5. verse calleth Christian Rome Babylon The mother of whordomes and abhominations of the earth and for which as appeareth in the 2. verse of the 19. chap. the Lord hath condemned her Now by this filthinesse of her fornication all the learned doe know is meant her whorish religion as idolatrie superstition and heathenish worship which very many that are yet liuing doe know did ouerflow this Land a great part of the Christian world before the daies of King Henry the eight when as God had appointed the effectuall beginning of the reformation and restoring againe of the true Faith and Religion as may appeare by a Prophecie written in an olde booke I know not how many hundred yeeres agoe Intituled Stimulus diuinae contemplationis which saith After the yeere of Christs incarnation 1534. good Religion good Lawes good Peace together with Faith Truth and sound Doctrine shall returne into the world
Hell and his Sonne of Perdition the Pope of Rome with what impudencie can Bellarmine say the Pope cannot be Antichrist But now Christian Reader whereas they will haue their Church to be the true Christian Church because she worketh Miracles and our Church the counterfeit because she worketh none it is cleare wee could not iustly prooue their Church to be the Church of Antichrist did shee not worke miracles 2. Thessal 2. Antichrist worketh miracles For wee finde 2. Thessalonians 2. where Saint Paul speaking of Antichrist the head of their Church sayth thus of him Euen he whose comming is by the working of Sathan with all power and signes and lying wonders and in all deceiueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse among them that perish because they receiued not the loue of the truth that they might be saued And therefore God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeue lies that all they might be damned which beleeued not the truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse 25 At the day of Iudgement Christian Reader when many of those that professe themselues Christians shall see themselues cast out to be damned will obiect against Christ and say Matth. 7. Lord Lord haue wee not by thy name prophesied and by thy name cast out diuells and by thy name done many great workes Yet for all their miracles done in his name seeing they were done but to confirme false doctrine whereby soules were drawne from Christ to Antichrist Christ sayth he will then say thus vnto them Depart from me ye workers of iniquity I know you not Therefore it was not without cause that Saint Augustine opposed himselfe against such miracle-mongers saying m Augustine in Iohn tractat 13. Matt. 24. Against these Mongers of miracles my God hath armed me saying In the latter dayes there shall rise vp false prophets working signes and wonders to deceiue the Elect of God if it be possible True it is as Saint Chrysostome saith n Chrysost in Matt. Hom. 49. In olde time meaning in the time of the Apostles it was knowne by Miracles who were the true Christians and whom the false but now the working of miracles being taken away is rather found among them that be false Christians Againe to fore-warne vs of the latter age of the world to take heed of being deluded by workers of Miracles he sayth o Chrysostome in Matt. 49. hom In the end of time power shall be giuen to the diuell to worke profitable signes and Miracles so that then we cannot know the Ministers of Christ by that they worke profitable Miracles but by that they worke no Miracles at all To conclude this point Saint Augustine reprooâ—ing those of his time that would not beleeue without Miracles sayd p August De ciuitate Dei lib. 22. cap. 8. Whosoeuer yet requireth Miracles to bring him to the Faith is himselfe a great Miracle that the world beleeuing remayneth still in vnbeliefe Now therefore what vse can there be of Miracles among those which generally beleeue in Christ but to drawe them to a new christ euen to Antichrist as all men may apparently see Popish Miracles wholy tendeth vnto THE EIGHT OBIECTION 26 Antichrist when he commeth shall reigne but three yeares and an halfe as is gathered by the auntient Writers out of the Prophet Daniel 7. and 12. and out of the twelfth chapter of the Apocalypse where it is sayd That he shall reigne a time times and halfe a time for so Saint Iohn himselfe interpreteth the matter chap. 11. and 13. saying it shall be for forty two moneths which make iust three yeares and an halfe but the Popes of Rome haue reigned for more ages then these are yeares and consequently cannot be Antichrist THE ANSVVERE 27 Heere now by the time of Antichrists reigne hee would prooue the Pope not to be Antichrist which hee might very well haue done if those three yeares and an halfe had beene to be vnderstood of our common yeeres but that cannot possibly be for that so many so mighty and so marueilous are the Acts which Antichrist shal effect as that it is not possible they should be effected in three Reuel 9.11 2 Thes 2.4 nor yet in three hundred of our yeares and an halfe For amongst many other things which would be ouer-tedious heere to recite he shall attaine to be made Ring of the Clergie and this is proued in the 9. chapter of the Reuelation 11. verse and 2. Thessal 2. chap. 4. verse and by these words of Gregory the Great q Gregory lib. 4. Epist 34. Antichrist is the King of pride r Lib. 4.38 Reuelat. 17. cap. 2 verse and 18 verse The vniuersall Bishop of Bishops Secondly he shall bring a great part of the Christian world into subiection to his Heathenish Idolatrous and Antichristian Religion and almost all true Religion to be corrupted by his power And this is proued in the seauenteenth chapter of the Reuelation verse 2 and chap. 18. verse 3. and by these expresse words of Saint Hierome Å¿ Hierome to Algasia Antichrist shall cause Religion to be subiect to his power Thirdly hee shall attaine to a superioritie ouer the kingdome of all the kingdoms of the world which was the Romain Empire and this is proued in the thirteenth chapter of the Reuelation and by these words of Saint Chrysostome t Chrisostome in his 4. Hom. vpon the 2 Thes 2. cap. When that the Empire shall stand voyd Antichrist shall inuade the state and shall labour to pull vnto himselfe the Empire both of God and man and also by these words of Saint Augustine v Augustine vpon the 9. Psal It is written of Antichrist hee shall conquer all Kings and obtayne the kingdome himselfe alone So that by these three accomplishments omitting all the rest wee see the Pope is sufficiently proued to be Antichrist And whether it be a thing likely that a new vpstart fellow a Iew of but three yeares standing should attaine to so great power and dignitie in three of our yeares and an halfe whereby he might be proued Antichrist let all that are not out of their right wittes be Iudges betweene vs. But forasmuch as the Pope himselfe did not accomplish so mightie matters in three of our yeares and an halfe we must search further to see what kinde of yeares the holy Ghost meant 28 Andrew Osiander writing vpon this point affirmeth them to be Angels yeares which the Angell in the twelfth chapter of the Reuelation calleth A Time times Reuelat. 12. and halfe a time which some doe call Propheticall yeares because the Prophets in times past did vse to count by them which are to be searched out by Angels dayes and moneths Now an Angels day as we finde in the ninth chapter of Daniel Angels daies and moneths is a yeare for there both in the seuentie weekes and sixty two weekes a day is a yeare And euen after this manner is the spirituall counting
bee the Christian state of Rome in her latter daies for that the Angell there said Shee offered to the World the abomination and filthinesse of her fornication in a Golden Cup that is as the learned expound it her idolatries and whorish Doctrine and Religion in the name of Christ which cup Erasmus declareth Heathenish Rome disdayned once to handle and abhorred what good soeuer was offered to her therein therefore he could not otherwise vnderstand but that the Angel meant the Christian Church of Rome in her latter dayes which vnder the glittering and golden shew of the name of Christ poysoned a great part of Christendome with that whorish filthinesse of her Heathenish Fornication Reuelat. 17.2 Reuelat. 18.3 and the third verse of the eighteenth Chapter And thus wee see the foure principall poynts which fully resolued that most learned Erasmus and may also as fully resolue all men that by Babylon the Mother of whordomes and abominations of the Earth the Angel meant Christian Rome in her latter dayes Now let vs heare how Erasmus concludeth of Christian Rome thus he saith 6 This whorish Woman d Erasmus vpon the 17. chap. Sect. 1. hath decked and garnished her selfe not like Peter and Paul with diuers and many vertues but with Siluer and Gold and pretious Stones and Pearles And the Cup of Gold which she offereth to the World is not the loue of Christ the Christian Faith nor the Law of God but her owne Decrees and Ordinances that she may play the Whore at her pleasure with pompe authoritie and lust without all shame or feare beyond all measure and all vnder the pretence and name of Christ Againe he saith e Erasmus vpon the 16. chap. Sect. 3. The whole order of Bishops and multitude of Spirituaell Pastours which by their office and calling ought to maintaine and support the true Doctrine of God haue bent themselues their whole life and state vtterly against the Doctrine of the Gospell that nothing can bee more vnlike the state of the Apostles in doctrine religion or life then is their order and state Againe he saith f Erasmus vpon the 16. chap. Sect. 2. This second beast with his two hornes is twice as had as the first for as much as through her two hornes it had power both of bodie and soule ouer the Doctrine and ouer the politique Lawes with mouth and hand against God the temporall gouernement Christ and his Ministers And againe he saith g Erasmus vpon the 27. chap. Sect. 1. The bloud of the holy Prophets and Preachers hath this Whore the Papacie shed without measure till she was so drunke therewith that shee tooke and esteemed her tyrannie for godly zeale Therefore he concludeth with the very head of the Romish Church thus h Erasmas in the words going before For the name of the Christian Church he hath deserued anonother name euen to be called the Whore of Babylon the Mother of all abominations idolatrie and of falling into Heathenish superstition And thus Christian Reader thou seest most apparantly proued that by Babylon is meant the Christian Church of Rome now in her latter dayes Now let vs intreat a little of the fall of Babylon for that will make this matter yet more apparant 7 This Angel in the seauenteenth Chapter hauing finished his testimonie touching spirituall Babylon Saint Iohn in the beginning of the eighteenth Chapter saith thus And after these things â—euelat 18.3 I saw another Angel come downe from heauen hauing great power so that the Earth was lightened with his glorie and he cryed out mightely with a loud voyce saying It is falne it is falne Babylon the great Citie and is become the habitation of Diuels and the hold of all foule spirits and a cage of euery vncleane and hatefull Bird for all Nations haue drunke of of the Wine of the wrath of her Fornication and the Kings of the Earth haue committed Fornication with her Now wee heard before by the other Angel that Christian Rome is Babylon therefore if this also be spoken of Christian Rome then is Christian Rome so wonderfully falne as that she may rightly be called Babylon And that it may appeare indeed that this Angel did also speake of Christian Rome let vs heare how Erasmus doth interpret his words thus hee saith i Erasmus vpon the 18. chap. Sect. 1. This is spoken principally against the second Regiment of Rome which vnder the pretence of the name of Christ hath delt so rebelliously against all faithfull Christians And a little after k Jbidem Now is it knowne that shee hath beene an Habitation for the wicked vnfaithfull and filthie Sodomites And againe l Erasmus vpon the 18. chap. Sect. 3. With this Babylon haue Princes and Prelates yea whole Kingdomes committed Whordomes So that by this wee see most apparantly that the same which is here spoken touching the wonderfull great fall of Babylon is spoken of Christian Rome 8 True it is that some do vnderstand this to be meant of the fall of the first beasts power the Heathenish Empire which was ouerthrowne by Constantine the Emperour when hee was conuerted to Christianitie about three hundred yeares after Christ but this cannot bee for by Constantines meanes the Romaines became Christians therefore if wee should vnderstand it of that time and state wee should vnderstand that the Angell called Rome Babylon and the habitation of diuells in respect that it was wholly become the habitation of Christians and that the Christians were those diuels foule spirits vncleane and hatefull birds which were most ridiculous so to say Againe those words of the Text which say And is become importeth a time when shee was not so which could not be meant of that time when she was Impious and Pagan for then she was no better but of a time after when she was risen and fallen And that it may appeare Rome risen and fallen that Christian Rome vnder the Popes did so fall as that shee became this hellish habitation none can make it more of credite nor more apparent then the Romanists themselues haue done as wee shall now see by these their owne testimonies following 9 Their Bernard which liued almost a thousand yeres after Heathenish Romes dayes writing of the state and manner of the Romans in his dayes sayth thus m Bernardinus de considerat ad Eugenium lib. 4. The Romaines are wise to doe euill good they know not how to doe they are irreligious towards God presumptuous against holy things they be Wolues not Sheepe And a little after speaking of the Pope and of his spirituall Pastours hee saith n Jbid. Of such art thou Shepheard if I durst speake all they be rather the pastours of deuils then of sheepe And againe complaining of the diueâ—lishnesse of his time and the ripenesse of the Church of Antichrist among the Romaines he sayth further thus o Bern. Serm. 6. in Psal 91. It onely remayneth that the
Pope notwithstanding I haue forbidden it I beseech your holinesse doe so no more Againe if the Title had been a lawfull Title why did he call Iohn Bishop of Constantinople m Gregory lib. 6. Epist 30. The fore-runner of Antichrist for seeking to bring it into the Church And say n Gregory lib. 4. Epist 34. By this pride of his what else is signified but that the time of Antichrist is at hand o Gregory lib. 4. Epist 34. The King of pride is at hand and an Army of Priests is prepared which is a lamentable thing to be spoken Yea and why to make all men to know him by that Title did hee thus describe him saying p Gregory lib. 4. Epist 38. He is Antichrist that shall claime to be called vniuersall Bishop and shall haue a guard of Priests to attend vpon him And also to seeke to cleare all his Predecessours to Peters time from euer claiming that Antichristian Title saying q Gregory lib. 4. Epist 32.36 None of my Predecessours Bishops of Rome euer consented to vse that vngodly name no Bishop of Rome euer tooke vpon him that name of singularitie And further to shew what an vnlawfull Title it was to be called the vniuersall head of Christs Church and the danger that might ensue said r Gregory lib. 4. Epist 32. If we haue but one head the fall of that head is the fall of the whole Church If any man presume to take vpon him the name of vniuersall Bishop the whole Church falleth downe from her estate when hee falleth which is called vniuersall but farre may that name of blasphemy be from all Christian mindes By which it appeareth plainely that the Romish that is now which hath an vniuersall Pope for her Husband and head is not the Church of Saint Peter but the Church of Saint Antichrist And therefore to say that the Romish Church which Saint Peter first planted in Rome was one and the same that the Church of Rome is now is most horrible blasphemie and a meanes to bring a great scandall vpon that part of the Primitiue Church For if she was the same then was shee that Whore of Babylon mentioned by the Angell in the 17. Chapter of the Reuelation For so saith Ioacham Abbas of the Popish Church Å¿ Joacham on the 17. chapter of the Reuelation The very Text it selfe doth teach saith he how that the woman beguiled with gold and which committeth pirituall fornication with the Princes of the earth is the very Church of Rome which Babylon-like playeth spiritually the Whore with stockes and stones Againe if that first Church of Rome was the same that this Church vnder vniuersall Popes is then was shee the same which the Angell in the 18. Chapter of the Reuelation saith Is falne and become the habitation of Diuels for so their Saint Katharine of Siene saith the Church vnder the Popes is t Katharine in a prayer for the reformation Selling saith she through Symony the grace of the holy Ghost abusing ecclesiasticall matters corrupting and killing the soules which Christ hath redeemed with his blood c. O Tabernacle but of the Diuell And of which Ioacham also saith v Ioacham vpon the 1. and 2. chapters of Jeâ—emy This is the Synagogue of Sathan and his seate Therefore to say that this second Church of Rome is the same that Saint Peter first planted in Rome is most damnable blasphemie And thus much for the conclusion of all that which wee haue hitherto intreated of Now let vs proceede CHAP. IX Tending to resolue all men that the Popish Church cannot be the true and most auncient Catholique Church because the most auncient Apostolike Church was knowne by hauing onely two Sacraments and theirs hath seauen which iust number as they can not bee found in Scriptures so can they not be found once named by any of the foure first generall Councels or any Prouinciall Councell or any of the auncient Fathers till after the rising of the great Antichrist in Rome Also that their Masse was inuented by man and not the ordinance of Christ and his Apostles That it tendeth to the ouerthrow of the power of Christs Sacrifice on the Crosse casteth mens mindes into a doubtfull wauering of their saluation and finally dissolueth the whole harmony of the Scriptures both Propheticall and Apostolicall 1 THE Papists haue wonderfully deluded the multitude in making them to beleeue that the most auncient Catholique Church receiued from the institution of Christ and the ordinance of the Apostles these seauen Sacraments The first the Sacrament of Baptisme The second the Sacrament of Confirmation The third the Sacrament of the Altar The fourth the Sacrament of Matrimony The fift the Sacrament of Orders The sixt the Sacrament of Penance The seauenth the Sacrament of Extreme Vnction But because they cannot proue by any one place of Scripture these seauen to be Sacraments nor the number of seauen to come from the institution of Christ or the ordinance of the Apostles some of them would proue it by this reason The books in the Apocalypse haue seauen Seales The seauen Angels haue their seauen Trumpets Christ hath in his right hand seauen Starres Christ walketh in the middes of seauen golden Candlestickes Zacharie saw seauen Eyes vpon a stone There were seauen Candlestickes in the Tabernacle Now if this manner of reasoning will serue to proue that in the true Church of Christ there must needs be seauen Sacraments then will this manner of reasoning proue there must needes be but two First for that the first Church consisted onely but of two persons Adam and Heuah Secondly for that the first publike places wherein God appoynted himselfe to be serued was in number but two the Tabernacle and the Temple Thirdly for that God gaue his Law to the Church in two Tables Fourthly for that the whole tenure of the Doctrine wherein God would haue his Church instructed is contained in two testaments Old and New Fiftly for that the witnesses of those testaments are said to be two Sixtly for that the supreame gouernours which God set ouer his Church were but two Moses and Aaron Lastly because the whole duety of all Church-gouernours are included in these two words Vrim and Thummim there must be but two Sacraments in the Church of Christ But their Doctour M. Harding well perceiuing that this manner of proofe will not serue the turne he taketh a better course as he thinketh for he will proue his fiue added Ceremonies to be Sacraments because they were called Sacraments by some of the auncient Fathers as indeede wee graunt they were but what of this seeing we can proue that they called not onely fiue other Ceremonies Sacraments but many moe as for example Tertullian called the generall state of the Christian Faith The Sacrament of Christian Religion a Tertull. contra Marcionem li. 4. Saint Hierome called Martyrdome a Sacrament b Hierome ad Oceanum Saint Augustine