vp some thinges whetin before for want of leasure and time I could not geue to my self any reasonable conteatation as also to a dioine certaine new chapters which partly in mine owne concept and partly also vpon information of others I thought not vnmeet for the furnishing of this first argument and subiect of Resolution And standing determined vpon this as also comprehending in mind and cogitation the whole general corps of that which was to ensue in th' other two bookes I wel saw that I should not be able according to my first designement to compact the whole in one reasonable volume and therfore I resolued to deuide the same into two Waerof the first should conteine matter of discourse know edge speculation and confideration to moue vs to resolue the second should handle things appetteining to exercise vse and practise for putting in execution our good desires after resolution This being my cogitation and the matter now wel forward for the print I was enformed of two other editions come forth of my forsaid booke without my knowiedge the one by a Catholique as it seemeth who perceuing ai copies of the former print to be spēt for satisfying of them that desired the booke procured the same to be set forth againe albeit somewhat incorrected and very disordrely not hauing the consent or aduise of such as therin should haue geuen him best direction The second was published by one Edmund Bany minister at Bolton Percy as he writeth in the liberties of Yorke who with publicke licence vnder my Lord Archbishop of Yorke his protection set forth the same to the benefice of his brethren but yet so punished and plumed which he termeth purged as I could hardly by the face discerne it for mine when it came vnto my handes and I tooke no smale compassiō to see how pitifully the poore thing had bene handled Of this edition then of M. Buny letting passe th' other as a matter onely of a discretion without malice I haue to a laertise the reader some few things as wel for mine own discharge wherin I am charged by him as also for the readers admonishment not to thinke in deed that booke to be mine which in my name this preacher hath published And for vttering that which I haue to say in some kinde of order and conueniencie of methode I shal touch breefly in this preface thos principal pointes insuing First how this booke came foorth from me in the first edition Secondly how it was set foorth afterwardes by M. Edm. Buny Thirdly what he meaneth by his treatise annexed therunto tending as he saith to pacification Fourthly how the same booke commeth foorth at this present and how the discret reader may vse it to his best commoditie of the first edition TO shew how this booke came foorth at the first it shal be requisite perhaps to repeate breefly ī this place the things that I saied in my first preface induction which preface and induction M. Buny hath left out in his edition protesting That he durst not in conscience and in dutie tovvardes God commend the same in my vvordes vnto the reader And yet trulie was ther nothing in effect therin Gentle reader but that which here in this place shal be repeated First that the primatiue occasion inducing me to thinke vpon this worke was the sight of a booke intituled The excrcise of a Christian life writen in Italian by Doctor Loartes of the Societie of IESVS and translated some years since by a vertuous learned gentilman of our countrie Which booke for that I vnderstood of certaintie to haue profited many towardes pietie and deuotion I was moued to cause the same to be printed againe with certaine ample additions to the furnishing of some matters which that author had omitted deuiding my whole purpose into three seueral bookes wherof the first was to persuade mē vnto true resolution the secōd to instruct vs how rightely to beginne the third how a man may hould but and perseuer Secondly I shewed that being entred into the worke and hauing set downe an other order and method to my self then that treatise of D. Loartes did obserue and hauing begunao the first booke touching resolution whereof no part was handled in that other treatise I found by experience that I could not wel conioine th' one with th' other if I would satisfie either th' order or argument by me conceaued and therfore that I was inforced to resolue vpon a further labour then at the first I had intended and this was to draw out the whole three bookes my self not omitting any thing that was in the said exercise or other like good treatisses to this effect And al this to the end that our countriemen might haue some one sufficient directiō for matters of spirit and vertuous life among so many bookes of controuersies as haue bene writen are in writing daily Which bookes said I albeit in thes our troblesome and quarrelous times they be necessary for defence of our faith against so manie seditious innouations as now daily are attempted yet help they litle oftentimes to good life but rather doe fil the heades and hartes of men with a spirit of contradiction and contention which for the most part doe hinder deuotion which deuotion is nothing els but A quiet calme and peacable state of our soule induced 〈◊〉 a iotful promptnes and alacritis to the diligent execution of al things that doe or may apperteine to the honour and seruice of almightbe God For which cause the holie Apostle dehorted greatly his scholer Timothie from this contention and contradiction of wordes affirming clearly that it was profitable to nothing but to subuect the hearers I affirmed further that our forfathers were most happie in respect of vs who receauing with humilitie one vniforme faith without contention or contradiction from their mother the holie Catholique Church did attend onlie to build vpon that foundatiō good workes and vertuous life as holie scripture commandeth vs to doe wheras we spending now al our time in iangling about this first foundation of faith haue no leasure to build either gould or siluer theron as th' Apostle exhorteth vs but doe weary out our selues and our owne contentious spirits without commoditie dying with much labour and litle profit with great disquiet and smale reward For which cause I exhorted the discret reader of whatsoeuer religion and faith he were to moderate this heate and passion of contention and to enter into the careful studie and exercise of good deedes which are alwayes better among true Christians then wordes assuring him that this is the right way to obteine at Gods hāds the light of true beleefe if he were amisse Alleaging for example therof the most famous conuersion of Cornelius the Gentile whos vertuous life praiers and almouse deedes obteined at the hands of almightie God as S. Luke doth testifie that S.
Possidius But S. Victor comming to declare the said persecution more in particuler sheweth that albeit they were cruel against al Catholiques in general yet saith he praecipuè in ecclesijs basilicisque caemiterijs monasterijs sceleratijss saeuiebant They principally did excercise their wicked crueltie vpon Churches oratories church-yards and Monasteries And then he goeth forward shewing their further cruelties and outrages in abusing preestes and monkes and in spoiling alters of which he saith in particuler de pallis altaris proh nesas camisias sibi femoralia faciebant Of the corporesses and other clothes of the aulter sie on the villanie they made them selues shirtes and briches Further he addeth that they gathering diuers sacred Virgins together against al shame would behold and handle the priuie partes of their bodies whom afterward for that they would not be leud with them they tormented with fire and threw into riuers with stones tied to their feet saying vnto them tel vs how doe your bishops and clergie men vse to lie with you besides al this he saith that they prohibited Catholiques Missas agere vel tractare to haue Masse or to talke therof they forbide them also to burie Christians solemly with lightes tapers and torches and finally they forbid them al excercise of their Catholique Christian religion And for that in thes things they were not obeied as they desired but were resisted openly and manfully by them that had spirit corage from God to doe it therfore did they rage and fome aboue al measure and did excercise more extremitie in al despiteful and villanous kind of cruelties then did the Pagan persecutours either before or after NOVV THEN to make here our staie and to passe no further in this discourse thou seest deare brother in this descent of Gods Church for fiue hūdred years together after Christs departure how ordinarie a thing it was to our Saue our to send persecution vnto his dearest seruants for their trial and merit In which matter notwithstanding is diligently to be considered first the greatenes and sharpnesse of this trial to the end we be not desmaied when the like more or lesse doe fal vnto our lot Secondly how pittiful and miserable the fal of diuers were in this trial to the losse of their soules and eternal desolation Thirdly how the causes of this their fal were either pride and temeritie wherby they tempted God or els the loue of this present world wherby they were allured to forsake their Lord and master Fourthly how glorious the victorie was of thos that were resolute and how euerlasting their reward both in this world in the world to come Besides this it shal not be amisse for thee to consider and that for thy particuler comfort if thou be a Catholique how careful thes holy Martyrs were that suffered in the primatiue Church to keepe them selues within the vnitie of Catholique faith doctrine deliuered vniuersally by tradition in al Churches frō age to age to the end their sufferinges and labour might reccaue their merit How diligēt also they were in aduertising others of this important pointe assuring them that without this their trauailes could be of no profit or auaile And as it is most euident and certaine that al thes blessed martyrs Sainctes which before I haue named together with their brethren did cōtinue by successiō for fiue hundred years together in the common knowen faith of Christēdome called at that time Catholique and did defend the same both by wordes writing and suffering against al apostaces heretiques schismatiques or other newfangled enemies whatsoeuer So is it as euidēt apparēt to the world that the same vniuersal general church faith and doctrine which thes men left haue continued euer since vntil this daie and shal doe to the worlds ende fighting and striuing against al new vpstart enemies of the same traditiō of Christian religion which thes mē so carefully commended vnto vs. By al which as also by the maner of persecution that was then and by the thinges them selues that were suffered at heretiques hādes in thes old times euerie Catl olique man that by Gods special grace is made worthie to suffer the like in thes our daies maie take singuler comfort and great instruction therin considering nubem illam testium propositam as S. Paul calleth it that is the great multitude and cloude of examples and witnesses that haue gone before vs to instruct and animate vs in this battaile And the holy Apostle vseth the word cloude to allude by a metaphore vnto that cloude which out Sauiour sent to the people of Israel to direct their iourney in the deserte insinuating hereby that thes excellent examples of holy Martyrs and Confessours which I haue named before to haue suffered so valiantely in the primatiue church ought to be vnto vs a most certaine direction both for corage cōstancie wisdome alacretie and resolution in this spiritual fight assuring our selues that we following their steppes in fighting for the like cause against the like enemies with like fortitude and humilitie and in like patience and longanimantie as they did we shal not want the like grace like comfort like assistance like merit and reward at our merciful Sauiours hand as they receaued THE FIFT IMPEDIMENT OF RESOLVTION IN THE SERVICE OF ALmightie God Proceeding of ouer much presumption in the mercie of our Sauiour vvithout remembrance of his iustice CHAPT VI. AS many men for their excuse against the resolutiō which we persuade doe serue them selues with the reasons that before we haue confuted So is ther an other forte of people that taketh a more shorte way to dispatch their handes of al that can be said to moue thē by seare quite contrary to them whom in the first chapter of this second part I answered this way is to lay the whole matter of their stay vpon the backe and shoulders of our Sauiour Christ himself and to answere what soeuer you can say against them with this onely sentence God is merciful Of thes men our Saue our seemeth to complaine greeuously by the prophet when he saieth Supra dor sum meū fabricauerunt peceatores prolongauerunt iniquitatem Sinners haue built vpon my backe they haue prolonged their iniquitie By which wordes he signifieth that prolonging of our iniquities in hope of Gods mercie is to build our sinnes on his back and shoulders But what foloweth wil God beare this iniurie no verelie for the next wordes ensuing are Dominus iustus cōcidet ceruices peccatorum God is iust and he wil cut in sunder the neckes of sinners Here loe are two cooling cardes for the two warme imaginations before recited For meane you Syr to prolong your iniquitie for that God is merciful remember then also that he is iust saieth the prophet Are ye gotten vp vpon the backe of almightie God to make your nest of sinne there take heed for he wil fetch
540. The 2. 3. partes of the same chap. how and by how many waies God expresseth his forsaid loue vnto vs and what assurance he geueth of pardon to such as repent from Pag. 540. vnto 560. Tuesday The 4. part of the same chap. containing exāples and instructions how to auoide temptations of desperation 560. The 1. part of the 2. chap. of the fallacie of suppused difficulties with the particuler helpes to ouercome the same Pag. 570. vnto 618. VVednesday The 2. part of the same chap. containing means and instructions for ouercomming of difficulties Pag. 618. vnto the end The first 2. pointes of the 3. chap. about Tribulatiō beginning Pag. 631. vnto 656. Thursday The second 2. pointes of the same chap. begīning Pag. 656 vnto the end of the cha The 1. point of the 4. chap. treating of the vanities of the world Pag. 688. vntil 720. Friday The other partes of the same chap. 720. vntil the ende The 5. chap. of examples of Resolution Saturday The sixt chap. against Presumption The 7. chap. of Delay Sonday The first part of the 8. chap. of Slothe vntil Pag. 861. The 2. and 3. partes of the same chap. treating of Negligence and hardnes of hart from Pag. 860. vntil the ende FINIS A TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL MATTERS HANDLED in this booke A ACcompting day 349. Tvvo accompting daies or iudgements and the reasons therof 352. Angels appearing at the houre of death 434. Antichrist vvhat vvonderful slaughter he shal make at his comming 358. Apostles called by Iesvs 225. their miraculous doings 251. Archilaus Herodes sonne hovv he ended 275. Arist rus a Gentile vvhat testimony he giueth to our scriptures 79. Ascension of Christ proued 243. Atheists of old time 34. vvhat Zeno said of their deathes 〈◊〉 9. Tvvo causes of Atheisme in thes our daies 862. S. Augustins most notable conuersion 620. B S. Iohn Baptists behauiour to Christ and the vvhole story proued 118. Beautie hovv vaine a thing 706. Beginners in Gods seruice cheefly by God cherished 596. hovv they must behaue them selues 619. The better men they are to be aftervvards the greater cōflicts they haue at their conuersion 617. Benefits of God bestovved vpon vs 407. Bethleem appointed before for Christs Natiuitie 209. Bondage and slauery of vvicked men to their sensuality 607. Bookes of deuotion mere profitable then of controuersies praef 6. a. only vvriten by Catholiques 9 a. vvhy they can not be vvritē by Heretiques Ibid. 22. a. Buny hovv he hath set forth this booke of mine praef 10. b. vvhy he dedicateth the same to my L. of Yorke Ibid. 8. a His ignorāce 8. b. He maketh his aduersaries to speake like him self Ibid. 11. a. He inserteth parētheses Ibi. 11. b. He maketh marginal notes Ibid. 12. a. He thrusteth out Ib. 14. a. He mangleth Ib. 15. a. His foolish pacification Ibid. b. C Catholique vvhat it meaneth vvhy inuented 305. vvho is a good Catholique 308. Charitable deeds of our forfathers 343. Christ promised diuersly 141. promised as a spiritual and not a temporal K. 144. promised to be God and man 152. that he should change Moyses lavv 162. hovv he vvas fortold to Gentiles 169. false Christs diuers 203. Christs birth and infancy 207. Christs doctrine vvhat it vvas 220 his Passion and Resurrection 229. Christian Religiō proued pa. 131. It hath bene in substance from the beginning of the vvorld and none euer saued but by it 134. The definition of a good Christian. 338. Christian faith can not be obscure 300. Christian vvisdome vvherin it standeth 340. Christian vocation hovv perfect if it vvere fulfilled 344. Church of Christ hovv it encreased streight after he departed 246. Clemency and mercy hovv vvonderful in Christ. 558. Concupiscence and vvhat misery it bringeth men vnto by yeelding therunto 334. Consideration See the vvhole Chapter pag. 1. See inconsideration Consolation internal of Gods seruants 595. the force therof 593. Conuersion hovv it ought to be made 619. Item 628. VVhy it auaileth not ordinarily vvhen it is made at the last instant 835. The vvatche of Christians the dore vvherof is Consideration 13. D Death hovv terrible it vvil be See the vvhole 10. chap. 419. the causes of miserie to vvordly men in the same 413. the frequent premeditation of death most profitable 440. Delay of our conuersion from day to day hovv dangerous and hurtful See the vvhol 〈◊〉 chapt par 1. the cause vvhy the diuel persuadeth vs to delay 819. Dispaire of Gods mercie hovv greeuous a sinne and hovv to be auoided chap. 1. part 2. pag. 523. 524. 525. c. Hovv to resist al temptations of the diuel therunto pag. 561. 562. c. Difficulties vvhich are imagined in vertuous life remoued See al the 2. chapt 570. Doctrine of Christ vvhat it vvas 220. E The Ende for vvhich man vvas created cha 3. pa. 110. Enimies of Christ and Christians vvhat end they haue 274. Eternitie vvhat a thing it is and hovv to be esteemed 470. Euangelistes of Christes did vvrite most truly 258. F Fatherhood vvhat à thing it is by comparison of God tovvarde mankind 533. 534. c. Faith is easily discerned in Christian religion vvhich is the true 301 at large The vvaye to auoide al errour in beleefe 303. Faith vvithout vvorkes is not sufficiēt Feare of Godes iudgementes necessarie 398. lacke of feare proceedeth of infidelitie 406. the force of Feare 445. the praise of true Feare 810. tvvo kindes of Feare 813. Felicitie of man and beastes 54. G Gentiles hovv they had Christ fortold vnto them 169. vnto 184. Holy Ghost vvhat he did at his comming 247. Glorified bodies haue 7. priuileges 495. God is proued against Atheistes 25. God proued one by al sectos of Philosophers 51. Grace of God hovv strong and forcible 579. 580. c. H Hardnes of hart hovv dangerous an impediment 867. tvvo degrees thei of ibid. Heauen and the revvardes ther resorued see the vvhol 12. chapt Hovv the greatnes therof is found out 483. Heauen hovv it is bought 515. Heresies hovv they first rose and vvhy and hovv they are auoided 306. tvvo causes of Heresies vvith their effectes 311. Heretical practice in corrupting bookes prefat 9. b. Heretical pride Ib. 16. Herod Ascolonita or the elder vvhat he vvas hovv he rose and hovv he liued 189. hovv miserably he died 124. 8 274. Herod Antipas or the second his ende 124 175. Herod Agrippa hovv he died 125. 276. see the death of Herodias Ibid. Hel the names nature therof 456. The intollerable paines therof 459. Honour of the vvorld hovv vaine 701. Hope in the good bade hovv different 599. I Ievvishe nation hovv obstinate against Christian religion according as vvas foreprophetied 184. hovv they vvere chastened and destoyed 278. 279 c. Ignorance voluntarie hovv greeuous a thing pa 8. 9. Immortalitie of the soule proued therby also God being 47. Inconsideration soe chap 1.
sectaries for that they acknowledged not their true mother which is pride and singularitie After this his proud enterāce he beginneth his seely discourse and for methodes sake maketh many diuisions and subdiuisions euery thing running therin by couples wherin he is so fertile and abundant as by methode he confoundeth al memorie But yet as I may I wil here recite the cheef pointes therof First then he saith that ther is great reasō why we should ioine with them and none at al why they should yeld to vs. The first he proueth for that it becommeth the Church of God to be at vnitie in it self Which reason how far it proueth his purpose the reader can consider The second he declareth for that the gaine that they should receaue by comming to vs in his opinion should be very smal both touching matters of religion as also of state For in religion he maketh his accompt that they should haue nothing more thē now they haue except only certaine Sacramentes Images and ceremonies which he calleth representations al which he esteemeth of smale auaile In matters of state likewise he supposeth the commodities would be few and litle as namely to be deliuered from the Popes curse which he saieth they finde now by experience not to be so hurtful as hertofore it was esteemed which reason as you know may as wel serue against Godes curse also for that it doth not alwaies shew forth presently his sensible effect Next after this he declareth how that by yelding to vs they should not only not receaue gaine but also great hurtes that in double maner First in religion wherin among other things they should be bounde to coafession penance which thinges saith he are burdensome and abhorring from mans nature Then in state for that by this meane they should come vnder the gouernement of the Byshope of Rome which he estemeth intolerable adding further that this only reason of state holdeth many of their side from comming to vs who otherwise in conscience would-haue no scrupule at al which is such a confessiō as I meruail that euer my Lord Archebishope would let it passe in print For howsoeuer this poore Minister to terrifie the common people deuiseth bugges vpō the Ecclesiastical authoritie of the bishope of Rome if it should be restored in England againe yet euery man of reason can consider with him self that the Emperour the kinges of Spaine France Polonia and other Princes admitting the-same authoritie doe finde no such incōueniēces as neither our Princes of Englād euer did for so many ages together when they were more potent and glorious then they haue bene since the suppression therof Wherfore if this reason only doe stay so many from vs as M. Buny affirmeth it is very like we shal haue the greater part shortly when God shal open their vnderstanding in a matter that in it self is so plaine and palpable This being done he commeth to shew the cōmodities that we should receaue by ioining with them and thos also after his maner he maketh of two sortes First in religion and thē in our ciuil state In religiō saith he we should first receaue the free vse of holie seriptures as though amōg vs now ther were no vse therof and then also we should be deliuered from the burden of confession and penance as also from al vowes of chastitie pouertie and obedience And finally we should so cleaue to Christ alone saith he as vve should abandon al other helpes both in heauen and earth of Angels Saintes other men as also our ovvne Which saith he were a great aduantage And then he maketh a solemne protestation in thes wordes If any people can be found in the vvorld that doe more abādone al other meanes in heauen earth then vve doe then vve must pronounce against our selues that in this respect they are nerer to this aduantage then vve art Vnto which protestation notwithstanding I doubt M. Buny if he should be wel vrged would be very much ashamed to stand and cleaue For albeit I confesse that he and his felowes doe very litle in deede wherby to helpe them selues by their workes yet by this reason they should doe far better ī doing nothing at al. For he that should neuer pray nor desire other men to pray for him he that should neuer fast or doe other good deede but should rather defie the same and lay al vpon Christes passiō he should more abandone al other helpes and meanes both in heauen and earth besides Christ then many of the best protestantes doe Next in our ciuil state he saith that we should greatly be bettered by ioyning with them being made partakers of the blessednes of England which is greater as he saith at this time then euer it vvas since the lande vvas first inhabited Wherof he seemeth to alleage two reasons or causes First for that Protestantes in thes temporal affaires are alwaies prosperous for saith he how soeuer it goe with others that are not frindes to the ghospel yet shal the fauorers therof alwaies prosper howsoeuer it be with the residue of the children of Israel yet the tribe of Iuda shal alwaies florish The other places the people are going vnder their burdens but in England al is mirth and saftie The second cause of this blessednes of England is for that England saith he is gouerned by a Prince of their owne countrie one that dealeth mildly with them one that sendeth not ther pleas abrod to other cōsistories one that drieth them not vp with exactions And when conuenient collections are made the mony that is exacted of subiectes is not sent saith he out of the realme to the maintenance of forraine powers but is imployed at home to their honour and defence Wherin notwithstanding it seemeth that this good man talketh rather by meditation or fiction then by any great intelligence he hath in such affaires After al this he goeth about to remoue certaine graue impedimentes which he imagineth doe let many Catholiques from coming vnto their side For which cause he sheweth first that we Catholiques should not leese altogether our credites by making vs Protestantes or at least wise we should not leeso the same with them that be good and of their side or if we did somewhat impare the same yet patiēce were to be vsed for the Ghospels sake In like maner he sheweth that the holie saintes of heauen would not be angrie with vs as we seeme to doubt for leauīg their patronage Also that keruers kandlemakers belcasters organistes and other such like who might feare to want by following the Ghospel albeit in truth they should leese no smale part of their gaine yet might the matter be eased and they comforted otherwise Thus discourseth this wise man in very great sadues And after al this he hādleth diuers other pointes both of controuersies in religion of the harde dealings
euer sorte or sect of people in the world professed reuerence honour or worshippe to God or to Gods or to any diuine power essence or Nature what soeuer were they Iewes heathens Gentiles ChristiaÌ„s Turkes Moores Heretiques or other they did alwayes call their said professioÌ„ by the name of their Religion In which sense also and signification of the worde I am to treate at this tyme of Christian religion that is of the substance forme maner and waye reueiled by Christ and his Apostles vnto vs of persourning our duetie and true seruice towardes God Which seruice is the first pointe necessarie to be resolued vpon by hym that seeketh his saluatioÌ„ as in the Chapter that goeth before hath bene declared And for obteyning this seruice true knowledge therof no meane vpoÌ„ earth is left vnto man but onlie by the light and instruction of Christian religion according to the protestation of S. Peter to the gouernours of the Iewes wheÌ„ he sayed Ther is no other name vnder beauen gyuen vnto men vvherby to be saued but only this of Christ and of his religion If you obiecte against me that in former tymes before Christes natiuitie as vnder the law of Moyses for two thousand years together there were many Sainctes that without Christian religion serued God vprightelie as the Prophetes and other holie people and before them againe in the law of Nature wheÌ„ nether ChristiaÌ„ nor Iuishe religion was yet heard of for more then other two thousand years there wanted not diuers that pleased God and serued hym trulie as Enoche Noe Iob Abraham Iacob and others I answer that albeit thes men expeciallie the former that liued vnder the law of nature had not so particuler expresse knowledge of Christe and his mysteries as we haue now for this was reserued to the tyme of grace as sainct Paule in diuers places at large declareth that is albeit they knew not expresselie how and in what maner Christ should be borne whether of a virgine or no or in what particuler sorte he should liue and die what sacramentes he should leaue what waye of publishing his ghospel he should appointe the like wherof not withstanding verie manie particulers were reueiled to the Iewes from tyme to tyme and the nearer they drew to the tyme of Christes appearance the more plaine reuelation was made of thes mysteries yet I say all and euerie one of thes holie Sainctes that liued from Adam vntill the comming of Christ had knowledge in general of Christian religion and did be lieue the same that is they belieued expresselie that there should come a Saueour and Redeemer of man-kinde to deliuer them from the bondage contracted by the sinne of Adam This was reueiled straight after their fall to our first parentes progenitours in Paradise to witt that by the vvomans seede our redemption should be made In respecte wherof it is said in the reuelations that Christ is the Lambe that hath bene slaine from the beginning of the worlde And S. Peter in the first general Councel holdeÌ„ by th' Apostles affirmeth that th' old auncieÌ„t fathers before Christes Natiuitie were saued by the grace of Christ as we are now which S. Paul confirmeth in diuers places And finallie the matter is so cleare in this behalfe that the whole schoole of diuines accordeth that the faith and religion of th' old fathers before Christes appearance was the verie same in substance that ours is now sauing onlie that it was more general obscure and confuse then ours is for that it was of thinges to come as ours is now of thinges past and present For example they beleeued a Redeemer to come and we beleeue that he is alredie come They said virgo concipiet a Virgine shall conceyue and we say virgo concepit a virgine hath conceyued They had sacrifices and caeremonies that presigured his coÌ„ming for the tyme ensuinge we haue sacrifice and sacramentes that represent his beinge for the tyme present They called their Redeemer th' expetatioÌ„ of Nations and we calle hym now the saluatioÌ„ of Nations And finallie there was no other difference betwene the old faith of good men from the begining ours but onlie in the circumstances of tyme. clearnes particularitie and of the maner of protesting the same by owtwarde signes and ceremonies For that in substance they beleeued the same Redeemer that we doe were saued by the same beliefe in his merites as we are For which cause Eusebiê° well noteth that as we are called now ChristiaÌ„s so they were called then Christi Psal. 104. that is annointed iÌ„ prefiguratioÌ„ of the true Christ in whom they belieued as the first head of all other anoynted and who was the cause and authour of their annoynting By this then it is most manifest that not onlie now to vs that be Christians but at all other tymes from the begining of the world to all other persons and people what so euer that desired to saue their soules it was necessarie to beleeue and loue Christ and to professe in harte his religion For which consideration I thought it not amisse in this place after the former groundes layed that their is a God and that man was created and placed here for his seruice to demonstrate and proue also this other principle that the onlie seruice of this God is by Christian religion Wherin albeit I doe not doubt but that I shall seeme to manie to take vpon me a superfluous labour in prouing a veritie which all men in Christendom doe confesse yet for the causes before alleaged in the second chapter which moued me in that place to proue there is a God that is to saye first for the comfort strengthe 2nd confirmation of suche as either froÌ„ th' enimie may receiue temptations or of them selues may desire to see a reason of their beleefe and secondlie for awakening stirring or stingig of others who ether of malice carelesnes or sensualitie are fallen in a slamber and haue lost the feeling and sense of their beleefe for manie such wante not in thes our miserable dayes it shall not be perhappes but to verie good purpose to laye together in this place with the greatest breuity that possiblie may be the most sure groundes and inuincible euidences which we haue for declaration and confirmation of this matter For albeit as th' Apostle S. Paul declareth the thinges which we belieue be not such in them selues as may be made appareÌ„t by reason or humane argumeÌ„tes for that our faith that is th' assent of our iudgemeÌ„t to the thinges propounded by God vnto vs must be voluntarie to th' ende it waye be meritorious yet such is the goodnes and most sweet proceeding of our merciful God towardes vs as he will not leaue hym self without suficient testimonie both inwarde and owtward as the same Apostle in another place doth testifie For that inwardlie he testifieth the truth of such
thinges as we beleeue by gyuing vs light and vnderstandinge with internal ioye and consolatiō in beleeuing them And owtwardle he gyueth testimonie to the same with so manie conueniences probabilites and argumentes of credibilitis as Diuines doe call them that albeit the verie pointe of that which is belieued remaine still with some obscuritie to th' ende there may be place for our will and merite yet are there so many circumstances of likelihodes to induce a man to the beliefe therof ' as in all reason it may seeme against reason to denie or mistrust them This shall easelie appeare by the treatise following of Christ and Christianitie and of the foundations of our religion which shal be confirmed by so manie pregnant reasons and most manifest circústáces of euidét probabilitie as I doubt not but the zelous Christiá shall take exceedig cófort therin esteeme hymself happie to haue a lotteī that faith religion wher he shall see and feele so much reason proofe and conueniencie to concurre and shew it self for his satisfaction And to this effect it shal be of no meane moment that I haue proued before the certaintie diuinitie and infallible truth of the Iewes scriptures or old testament which writinges we hauing receaued frō that Nation that doth as it were professe enimitie against vs the same being writen so many ages before the name of Christianitie was knowen in the world it can not bee but of singuler authoritie what so euer shal be alleaged out of those recordes for our purpose And therfore as before in prouing our first principle that there is a God we vsed onlie the testimonie of such witnesses as could not be partial so muche more in this confirmation of Christian religion shall we stande onlie ether vpon the confessions of such as are our enimies or vpon the recordes of others who must needes be indifferent in the cause for that they liued before ether cause or controuersie in Christianitie was knowen or called in question My whole purpose shal be then to make manifest in this chapter that Iesus Christ was the Saueour and Redeemer of mankind fore-promissed and expected from the beginning of the world that he was the sonne of God and God him self and consequentelie that what so euer he hath lefte vs in his doctrine and religion is true and sincere the onlie waie of Saluation vpon earth For clearer proof and declaration wherof I will reduce what soeuer I haue to saye herein vnto three principal heades or braunshes according to th' order of three distincte tymes wherin they fell out that is to saye in the first place shal be considered the thinges that passed before the natiuitie or incarnation of Christ. In the seconde the thinges dōne and verified from that tyme vnto his ascension which is the space of his aboode vpon earth And in the third place such euentes shal be cōsidered as ensued for cōfirmatiō of his deitie after his departure In declaration of which three general poinctes I hope by th' asistance of hym whose cause wee handle that so many cleare demonstrations shal be discouered as shall greatelie cōfirme thie faith gentle reader and remoue all occasions of temptations to infidelitie Hovv Christ vvas fortolde to Ievve Gētile Sect. 1. FIrst then for such thinges as passed before Christ appeared in fleshe and doe make for proofe of our Christian religion it is to be noted that they are of two sortes or at least-wise they are to be taken from two kindes of people that is partelie from the Iewes and partelie frō the Gentiles For seing that Christ was appointed from the beginning yea before the world was created as S. Paul affirmeth to worke the redemption both of Iewe and Gentile and to make them both one people in the seruice of his father herehēce it is that he was fortold and presignified to both thes Nations diuers forwarninges were left among them both for stirring them vp to expect his comminge as by the considerations following shall nost euidentelie appeare AND TO beginne with Iewes no man can denie but that throughout the whole bodie and course of their scriptures that is from the verie beginning to the last ending of their old testament they had promissed to thē a MESSIAS which is the same thing that we call CHRIST that is to saye a person annointed and sent from God to be a Saueour a Redeemer a Pacifier of Gods wrath a Mediatour betwene God and man a Satisfyer for the sinnes offences of the world a Restorer of our innocencie lost in Paradise a Master an Instructour a Lawgyuer and finally a spiritual and eternal king that should sitt rule and reigne in our hartes to conquer the power and tyrannie of Satan that ouer-came our first parentes and assaileth vs daylie This is euident by the first couenant of all that euer God did make with man whē he said to Adā our first father in Paradise In vvhat daye so euer thou shalt eate of the tree that is forbidden thou shalt die Which couenaunt being after broken on the parte of our said progenitour he receaued his iudgement but yet with a most benigne promisse of redemptiō for the tyme to come for thus God said to the deuil or serpent that had deceaued hym The seede of the vvoman shal crushe thy head thou shalt lye in vvayte to hurt his heele That is one shall proceede in tyme of the seede of the woman who shall cōquer death sinne that are thy weapons and shall not care for thy tēptatiōs but shall treade them vnder his feete this shal be Christ the Messias of the world Thus did not onlie the eldest Iewes and Rabbines vnderstād this place what so euer the latter haue dreamed that there Messias should be only a tēporal kīg but also the old Chaldie paraphrase named Thargum Hierosolymitanum expoūdeth it plainlie ī thes wordes applīed vnto the deuil that had deceaued Adam They haue a certaine and present remedie against the o deuil for that the tyme shall come vvhen they shall treate the dovvne vvith their heeles by the helpe of Messias vvhich shal be their kinge The same thing is confirmed by the verie same promise seuen tymes repeated and established vnto Abraham that liued verie neare two thousand yeares after Adam and againe to Isaac his sonne after hym In 〈◊〉 tuo benedicentur omnes gentes terrae All nations of the earth shal be blessed in thy seede Which had bene in deede but a verie small benediction to Abraham or to other Iewes after hym that neuer saw this Messias actuallie if he had bene onlie to be a temporal king And much lesse blessing had it bone to Gentiles and other nations if this Messias of the Iewes must haue bene a temporal and worldlie Monarche to destroye and subdue them to the seruitude of Iurie as fondlie thes later teachers of that nation doe
Cities your Prouinces your Ilādes your Castles your Forteresses your Tentes your Campes your Courtes your Pa laces your Senates and your market places Only we haue left your idolatrous temples vnto your selues al other places are ful of Christians If we were enemies what dangerous warres might we make against you albeit our number were farre lesse who esteeme so litle of our liues as to offer our selues daily to be slaine at your handes This then is your safetie in very deed not your persecuting of vs but that we are honest patient and obedient and that it is more lauful in Christian religion to be killed then to kill By which wordes of Tertulian in this first beginnings and infancie as it were of Christian religion for he liued in the second age after Christ we see how this litle flocke and kingedome of Iesus was increased not withstanding all the resistance and violence of the world against it Which appeareth by the same Tertulian to haue bene such was euen at that tyme when he wrote those wordes the fowerth persecution being then in most furie as all the malefectours of the world together had not so much rigour shewed against them as had the most innocent Christiā that liued for confeising onlie that name and religion This then declared must apparentelie that it could not proceede but of some diuine power and supernatural assistance that in so shorte a space amiddest the contradiction and opposition of so manie aduersaires amōge the whippes swordes and tortures of so greate potent and violent persecutours this poore simple and feeble cōgregatiō should pearse through and augment it self so strongelie Especiallie if we cōsider th' outwarde meanes of this increase wherein ther was nothing to allure or cōtent mans nature nothing gorgeous nothinge delectable nothinge to please or entertaine sensualitie We reade of an Emperour that takinge in hande to conquer the world made this Proclamation for winninge men vnto his partie Who soeuer will come and be my Seruaunt if he be a footeman I will make hym a horsman If he be a horsman I will make hym ryde with Coches If he be a Farmour I will make hym a Gentleman If he possesse a cotage I will gyue hym a village If he haue a village I will gyue hym a Cittie If he be Lorde of a Cittie I will make hym Prince of a regiō countrie And as for Gold I wil power it foorth vnto them by heapes weight and not by number This was Cyrus edict and proclamation to his followers very glorious as we see in pompe of wordes and ostentation of stile Let vs now compare the proclamation of Iesus whos entrance and preface was Paenitētiā agite doe ye penāce And then it followed In hoc mundo pressuram habebitis In this world you shall receyue affliction And then after againe they shal vvhippe and murder you And yet further you shal be hateful in the sight of all mē for my sake Thē is ther adioy ned he that loueth his life shal loose his soule After that ensweth he that vvil follovv me must beare his Crosse. And finallie the cōclusion is he that cōmeth to me and doth not hate his father his mother his vvife his children his brethrē his sisters as also his ovvne life he is not vvorthie to be my seruant This was the entertainment proposed by Iesus to such as would come and serue vnder his Banner with expresse protestatiō that hym self was sent into the world not to bring peace rest and ease to flesh and blood but rather to be the cause of sworde fire tribulation combat enmitie And yet with thes colde offers presented to the world by poore abiecte most contemptible officers and by this doctrine so Crosse and opposite to mans nature inclination and sensual appetite he gained more hartes vnto hym within the space of fortie yeares as hath bene said then euer did Monarche in the world possesse louing subiectes by what soeuer temporal alluremente they did or might propose Which argueth most euidently the omnipotent puissance of hym that contrary to mans reason could bring to passe so miraculous a conquest THER FOLOVVETH in order the cōsideration of Christs Apostles which in some respect may be said more straunge and wonderful then the former in that they being both rule and simple and vnletteredmen for the most parte of the baser sort should be chosen and assigned to so great a worke as was the conuersiō of all Countries and Natiōs and to stand in combat with the power learning and wisdome of all the world Neither only had they to contend and fight against their enemies but also to direct and gouerne and menage al thos who should be adioyned to their maisters kingdome To which charge they seemed so vnto warde and insufficient in al that time wherin they liued with him vpon earth as by their questions and demandes made vnto him 2 litle before his passion they might appeare to haue learned very litle in three whole years conuersation and instructiō and in very deed to be incapable of so high mysteries and functions Yet notwithstanding thes men who of them selues were so weake and impotent after strength and confirmation receyued by the descending of Gods holy spirit into them became so perfect able and most excellent men as they brought the whole world in admiration of them Not only by the most exquisite perfectiō of their doctrine wherin of a sudaine without studie they excelled and conuinced the greatest Philosophers then liuing but also and that especially by the rare and stupendious Miracles which they wrought in the sight of al men The contemplation wherof as S. Luke reporteth droue the beholders not only into great meruaile but also into feare and exceeding terrour And for example he recompteth the restoring of a lame mā at the Temple gate of Ierusalem which had bene a Criple for the space of fortie yeares or more and the miracle dōne and testefied in the presence and knowledge of all the Citie He recordeth also the dreadful death of Ananias and Saphira by the only speech and voice of S. Peter as īn like maner the healīg of infinite sicke people by the presence shadowe of the same Apostle He reporteth the most wonderful deliuerance of the said S. Peter out of the hands and prison of Herode by an Angel The varietie of lāguages which all th' Apostles spake The visible descending of the holy Ghost vpon al such on whom the said Apostles did but laie their handes The miraculous conuersiō of S. Paul by Christs appearing vnto him in the way when he went to persecute Of which miracle S. Paul protested in euery place afterward and once especiallie in open audience and iudgement before Agrippa the king and Festus Gouernour of Iurie Thes miracles and manie moe are recorded by S. Luke wherof some part were sene by
schollers and auditours Papias Ignatius Policarpus al which agree of the foure Ghospels and other writinges left vnto vs in the newe Testament affirming S. Iohn to haue approued the same These men were maisters againe to Iustinus Martyr Irenaeus and other whose writinges remaine vnto vs. And if they did not yet their sayinges and iudgementes touching the Scriptures are recorded vnto vs by Eusebius and other fathers of the next age after and so from hand to hand vntil our dayes So that of this ther can be no more doubt then whether Rome Constantinople Hierusalem and other such renoumed Cities knowen to al the world at this day be the very same wherof Authours haue treated so much in auncient times AND THVS MVCHE of Christs Euangelistes for whose more credit and for confirmation of thinges by them recorded his diuine prouidence preordained that infinite witnesses whom we cal Martyrs should offer vp their blood in the primatiue Churche and after Wheras for no other doctrine profession or religion in the world the like was euer heard of albeit among the Iewes in the tyme of the Machabies and at some other tymes also when that nation for their sinnes were affâ—icted by Heathen Princes some fewe were tyrannized and iniuriouslie put to death yet commonly and for the most parte this was rather of barbarous furie in the Paganes for their resistaÌ„ce theÌ„ directly for hatred of Iuishe religioÌ„ And for the number ther is no doubt but that more Christians were putt to death within two monethes for their beliefe throughout the world then were of Iewes in two thouland yeares before Christs comming Which is vndoubtedly a matter verie wounderful considering that the Iuishe religion impugned no lesse the Pagan Idolatrie then doth the doctrine of the Christians But this came to passe that Christes wordes might be fulfilled who said I come not to bring peace but the svvorde And againe I sende you forth as sheepe among vvolues That is to saye to be torne and harried and your bloud to be deuoured In which extreme and most incredible sufferinges of Christians thre pointes are worthie of great consideration The first what infinite multitudes of al states conditions sexe qualities and age did suffer dailie fortestimonie of this truth The second What intollerable and vnacustomed tormentes not hard of in the worlde before were deuised by Tyrantes for afflicting this kinde of people The third what inuincible courage and vnspeakable alacritie the ChristiaÌ„s shewed in bearing oute these afflictions which the enimies theselues could not attribute but to some diuine power and supernatural assistance And for this later point of comfort in their sufferings I will alleage onlie this testmonie of TertuliaÌ„ against the GeÌ„tiles who obiected that wicked men suffered also as wel as Christians Wherto this learned Doctour made answere in these wordes Truth it is that many men are prone to yl and do suffer for the same but yet dare they not defend their euil to be good as ChristiaÌ„s doe their cause For that euery euil thig by nature doth bring with it either feare or shame therfor we see that malefactours albeit they loue euill yet would they not appeare so to the world but desire rather to lie in couert They tremble when they are taken and when they are accused they deny all and do scarse oftentimes coÌ„fesse their doings vpon torments And finally when they are condemned they lament mone and do impute their il fortune to destinie or to the planets But the Christian what doth he like to this Is their any man ashamed or doth any man ' repent him when he is taken except it be for that he was not taken rather If he be noted by the enemy for a Christian he glorieth in the same if he be accused he defendeth not him self if he be asked the question he confesseth it willingly if he be coÌ„demned he veldeth thankes What euil theÌ„ is ther in this Christian cause which lacketh the natural sequele of euil I meane feare shame tergiuersatioÌ„ repentance sorowe and deploration what euil I say can this be deemed whose guiltines is ioye whose accusation is desire whose punishment is happines Hitherto are the wordes of learned Tertulian who was an eye-witnes of that he wrote had no smal part in the cause of thos that suffred being him self in that place and state as daily he might expect to taste of the same affliction To which combat how redie he was may appeare by diuers places of this his Apologie wherin he vttereth besides his zeale feruour a most confident securitie and certaine assurance of Iesus assistance by that which he had sene performed to infinite other in their greatest distresses from the same Lord before So that nothing doth more a-certaine vs of the diuine power and omnipotencie of Iesus then the fortitude inuincible which aboue al humane reason force and nature he imparted to his Martyrs AFTER VVHICH consideration there coÌ„meth to be weighed the fifte point before mentioned which is of the same power and omnipoteÌ„cie of Iesus declared and exercised vpon the spirites insernal Which thing partely may appeare by the Oracles alleaged in the ende of the former section wherin thos spirites foretolde that an Hebrew Childe should be borne to the vtter subuersion and ruine of their TyraÌ„nical dominion And much more at large the same might be declared by other answers Oracles vttered after Christes natiuitie and registred in the monumentes euen of the heathens them selues Wherof he that desireth to see more ample mention especially out of Porphyrie who then was liuing let him read Eusebius sixte booke de preparatione Euangelica where he shal finde store and namely that Apollo many times exclamed Hei mihi congemiscite Hei mihi hei mihi Oraculorum defecit me claritas Woe vnto me lament yee with me woe vnto me woe vnto me for that the honour of Oracles hath now foresakeÌ„ me Which coÌ„plaintes and lamentations are nothinge els but a plaine confession that Iesus was he of whom a prophet said diuers ages before Attenuabit omnes Deos terrae he shal weare-out bring to beggarie al the Godes or Idols of the earth This confessed also the wicked spirites them selues when at Christs appearing iÌ„ Iurie they came vnto him at diuers times and besought him not to afflict or torment them nor command them presently to returne to hel but rather to permit them some litle time of entertainment in the sea or mountaines or amoÌ„g heardes of swine or the like Which confession they made in the sight of all the world and declared the same afterwardes by their factes and deedes For presently vpon Iesus death vpon the preaching of his name and Ghospel throughout the worlde the Oracles which before were aboundant in euery prouince and countrie were put to sileÌ„ce Wherof I might alleage the testimonies of verie many GeÌ„tiles them selues as that of Iuuenal
was many yeares and by him made bishope of the Church of Smyrna and for that his fight and martyrdome for Christian religion ensued not longe after the death of Ignatius it shal not be amisse to speake of him also in this place The storie is set downe at large by Eusebius and others out of an Epistle writen by the Christians of the Church of Smyrna which were al present at the whole tragedie of his death the summe wherof is this that wheras at a certaine day by the commandement of the Emperour Antonius incredible and innumerable tormēts were vsed against Christiās in the citie of Smyrna diuers did beare the same out with inuincible courage to the singuler comfort of their brethren and to the great admiration of their enemies albeit one Quintus that was newly come out of Phrygia and had rashlie offered him self to the tortours before he was sought for fel shamefully the same day denied his profession Polycarpus then while thes thinges were in doing remained secretly in a house therby with other christians whether euery thing was brought to him by the brethren as soone as they were done and at length newes came that Polycarpus himself was sought for Wherat he nothing moued answered with a quiet mind and countenance that he was ready meaning in deede to expect the officers ther vntil they came for him But the christians that were present with him inforced him whether he would or no to retire him self vnto a litle village not far of where he made his abode for certaine daies whiles he was sought for in the citie During which time he did nothing els saith the storie but pray day and night and that especially for the peace and vnitie of the Church for that heresies now pubblicly begon to swarme He had a vision also which he tould vnto thos that were ther present with him signifying that he must goe to Christ by fier At length the purseuants that had sought him al about the citie came by Gods permission vnto the village where he was and therupon he sted by night vnto another whether they followed him also And ther finding two children in the street enforced the one of them by beating to discouer the house wherin he laie Comming therfore into the house and vnderstanding that he was in a chamber aboue sent for him to come downe and albeit the messenger fauouring Polycarpus shewed him a way how to escape by an other house yet he refused the same saing we haue fled inough let Gods wil be done And so comming downe with a mery countenance bid them hartely welcome and commanded the meate left in the house to be set before them beseeching them only to giue him one houres space wherin to pray vnto his Lord before he departed Which they willingly granted being much moued with his gray haires and fatherly countenance as allo cast into admiratiō with the feruour of his praiers that he made ther by him self whiles they were eating Which being ended they tooke him forthe placing him vpon an Asse and so led him towardes the citie of Smyrna very early in the morning vpon the great saboth day hauing aduertised the Magistrates before of their comming who for that cause were gathered together with al the people in the market place And to make the matter more solemne they sent forth one Herode that was prouost of the peace to mete him and fetch him in He therfore comming forth with great pompe in his coche met with Polycarpus first saluted him with great honour and reuerence causing him to come downe from the asse and to sit with him in his coche there began to flatter him saing You are a graue and wise man haue respect vnto your self what great matter man is it to say Lord Caesar or to make a sacrifice But Polycarpus held his peace and when the other went forward to vse many wordes to that purpose Polycarpus answered Syr in fine I am not to folow your counsel At which wordes he taking great disdaine thrust him headlong out of his coche and that with such violēce as he wounded pitifullie his legge in going forth But the old man making no accompt therof followed merily the soldiars that lead him And when he came to the place wher the iudges were he entred in with a mery countenance and much the more for that at the very instant when he entred ther was a cleare and lowd voice heard from heauen saying beos good corage Polycarpe bebaue thy self valiantly When he came before the high magistrate named Procōsul first ther was an insinite crie geuen out by the people against him Which being appeased the Proconsul asked him whether he were Polycarpus to which he answered yea Then said the Proconsul haue regarde vnto thy oldage Father repent desire that wicked mē may be destroied Wherat Polycarpe turned him self vnto the multitude and lifting vp his handes to heauen with a deepe sigh said ô Lord destroy or take awaie the wicked Then said the Proconsul sweare also by Caesars fortune and defie Christ. Wherto Polycarp answered I haue serued Christ now fourescore years and more and he neuer yet did me any hurt but much good and how thē can I defie my Lord king that hytherto hath so mercifully dealt with me Then vrged the Procōsul againe that he shoulde sweare by Caesars fortune Wherto th' other replied if thou name Caesars good fortune so often for oftentations sake know thou that I am a Christian which hath 〈◊〉 to doe with fortune and if thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what Christian 〈◊〉 appoint a day and I wil teache the. 〈◊〉 this people quoth the Proconsul to be content with that No said Policarpe I 〈◊〉 them not worthie to be dealt withal in such a matter but to the as to a Magistrate our profession teacheth vs to haue respect and reuerence After this there passed diuers other speaches betwene them the one threatening tormentes beastes fier and sword and th' other shewing al desire and readines to susteine the same The people cried out continually that he might be torne with wild beastes But that was denied for that the beastes were wearied out vpon other martyrs before Thē cried they that he might be burned aline which Policarp hearing and remembring the vision which he had seene in the village before his apprehension fel downe of his knees and praied and soone after rising againe turned him to the people and said be ve content for you shal haue your desire for it is determined that I shal be burned aliue and a litle after the Proconsul gaue sentence for his burning When he was brought vnto the fier he put of his own apparel saith the storie but when he came to his showes he had some difficultie therin for lake of vse being neuer permitted by Christians to doe that office to him self before euery one thinking it a felicitie to be
the first in doinge of that seruice whersoeuer he came therby to touch his holy body He praied vehemently in the fier and gaue immortal thankes vuto almightie God that had made him worthy of that daies combate during which time the fier diuided it self in two partes and would not touch him in so much that the magistrate was constreined to send one to ronne his body through with a sword wherwith he died Thus far repeteth Eusebius out of the epistle of thes men that were present at his martyrdome they doe adde further thes wordes in the same epistle that the Iewes and Gentils ther present did suggest to the Magistrate to take heede least we did steale away his body and so begin to honour him in stead of our God crucified Vpon which suggestion his body by commandement was burned ther in our presence after it was dead but yet we afterward gathered vp his bones out of the ashes and laid them vp as things more pretious then gold or pretious stones in a place conuenient for such a treasure hoping that one day God wil permit vs to come togither in peace and to celebrate the festiual day of this his holy martyrdome I haue bene the lōger in setting downe the cōbat and end of this glorious Sainct for that he was a most rare and singuler man and his example may serue vs for our instruction to diuers purposes but especially how we ought to be firme and cōstant in holding the general vniforme doctrine and interpretation of scripturs deliuered by tradition from th' apostles in the Catholique church with detestation of al new opiniōs as also S. Ignatius warned vs before The holy bishop and martyr of God Irenaeus that liued in his time and went from Liōs in France vnto Asia to see and heare him reporteth certaine things of this blessed man which I can not in this place omit notwithstanding I make haste for that they may greatly profit such men in thes our dayes as haue grace to be moued or holpen with any thing Policarpe saith he was not only instructed by th' apostles them selues but also made bishop by them of Smirna He liued familiarly with many that had sene and spoken with our Saueour in flesh and we in our youth saw him in Asia for he liued long and ended his life by a most famous martyrdome He taught alwaies thos things which he had learned of the apostles which the Church deliuereth and which are only true Which may be proued by the consent of al the churches of Asia and by the bishopes which haue succeded after him He was a more faithful witnes of the truth then Valentinus or Marcion or al the body of other heretiques together which haue brought pestilent new sectes into the Church He wēt to Rome Anacetus being thē bishop and reduced to the church and true religion diuers that were peruerted by the for said heretiques and protested openly that he had receaued of th' apostles them selues that only and sole truth which is deliuered by the Catholique church Ther are yet a liue that haue heard him tel how that S. Iohn th' apostle of our Saue our being once at Ephesus going into a common bath and seing Cerinthus the heretique to be within ranne out againe in hast saying to them that were with him let vs flee from hence least the bath fal downe and destroy vs in which the enimie of God Cerinthus remaineth The same Policarpe at the same time when he was at Rome meeting by chance with Marcion the heretique ther and being demanded of him whether he knew him or not answered vea I know the for the cheefe child of Satan So wary were the holy apostles and their schollers not so much as to talke with such fellowes as indeuored by their new commētaries and expositiōs of scriptures to change the truth before receaued And so S. Paul warneth vs al to doe when he saith Auoid an heretical man after one or tvvo admonitions assaring thy self that such a one is peruers and sinneth being condemned by his ovvne proper iudgement Hitherto are the words of holy Irenaeus The same Irenaeus writing to one Florinus his old acquaintance in schole of Polycarpus now beginning to be an heretike in Rome as foloweth Thes opinions of thine O Florinus to speake frendly are not true nor wholsome Thes opinions are repugnant to the Church Thes opinions thou receauedst not by tradition from the Preestes that before vs were scholers to the Apostles I did see thee when I was but a child with Polycarpus in Asia at what time thou liuing very gorgiously in the Emperours court diddest indeuour to hold a good opinion with Polycarp I remember those times wel they stike in my mind more firmly then other things that passed since In so much that I can tel at this time the very place wherin this blessed man did sit whē he spake vnto vs. I can tel the order and maner of his comming in the forme and fashion of his life the shape of his body the maner of his disputing of his preaching to the multitude I remember how he was wont to recompt vnto vs the familier conuersation that he had with S. Iohn th' Euangelist with diuers others who had seene our Sauiour I remember how he would tel vnto vs their speaches what he had heard them say of Christ of his miracles vertues and doctrine which they had seene with their owne eyes and heard with their eares which were al agreing with the scriptures that now we haue Thes things through the great mercy of God towards me I heard at that time both diligently and attentiuely not so much committing them to inke papire as to the inward cogitation of my minde And while I liue I doe and shal by Gods holy grace most carfully renewe the memory therof And now here before almighty God I may truly protest that if this holy and Apostolical preest Polycarp should haue heard of such new opinions as you defende he would haue stopped his eares and cried out according as his fashion was O good God vnto what miserable times hast thou reserued me to heare thes things And presently would haue risen and runne away from the place where he had bene standing or sitting when such doctrine should haue bene vttred Hitherto Irenaeus AND NOVV deare Christiā brother who would not be moued with the graue and zelous speeches of thes reuerend men that liued so nighe to the times of the holy Apostles and of our Saueour him self How exceeding great was their care amiddest al their other tribulations and at the very last time when they were to depart out of this world for Irenaeus also soone after suffered martyrdome to forwarne Christiā people to beware of heresie and schisine and to detest al maner of new commentaries expositiōs vpon holy scriptures other then the vniuersal traditiō of the
who was chaffe Many lost their soules saith he in this combat many got them eternal crounes The edict was executed with al rigour and fury throughout al Prouinces at once and diuers were the issues of such as came into trial But the infinit glorie of such as conquered surpassed far the infamie of such as fel. And the ennemy in the end being vtterly confounded would gladly haue seemed to haue brought that to passe which he neither did nor could For whē by force he had drawen Christians vnto the tēples of the Idols he would haue had it seeme that they came voluntarily whē men would not sacrifice he was desirous at least-wise that they should permit him to say publish that they had sacrificed others being beaten doune with clubbes vpon their knees were reported to haue kneeled of their owne wils for adoring the Godes wherof some cried opēly notwithstanding that they neither had nor euer would doe so for any torment that could be laid vpon thē But the more resolute sorte they were dealt with in al most cruel and barbarous maner without measure reason or order Wherof you may reade both many and strange examples in the eight and ninth bookes of Eusebius who wrote the things as he saw them passe and when our Sauiour permitted al thes extremities to fal vpon his Church then was the time neerest that he had determined to beautifie her in earth with greatest peace rest riches and glorie euen as he did immediatly after by conuerting Constantine to be so zelous a Christian. AND HERE NOVV doth end the storie of Eusebius which conteinēth the conflictes of the first three hundred yeares after Christes departure But the ecclesiastical writers that doe ensue after him ech man in his age doe declare that after the times of Constantine the Catholique Church inioyed not longe her temporal peace but had her exercise from time to time albeit in an other sorte then before that is to saie not by Pagans but by such as some times had bene her owne childrē a far more lothesome odious cruel and dangerous afflictiō then the former For as soone as Constantine was deade and had left the Romane Empire diuided vnto his sonnes one of them which gouerned al the east being corrupted by his wife became an Arrian By whom and other Princes infected afterward with the same heresies the Church of God susteined incredible distresses for many yeares together And then againe after al the children of Costantine were dead one Iulian that had bene brought vp in Christian religiō came to haue the whole Empire to him self and falling from Christ became an Apostata of whom Ruffinus that liued at the same time writeth thus He was a more conning persecutour then the 〈◊〉 and consequently cruel proceeding not so much by force and tormentes a by rewardes honours flatteries 〈◊〉 and deceit By which meanes he ouerthrew more soules thē if he had proceeded altogether by violence The worthie father S. Gregorie Nazianzenus writeth two large 〈◊〉 this mans doings and sheweth that in his youth both he S. Basile were acquainted with Iulian in the grammer schole At what time he saith they wel fore saw great signes of wickednes in him notwithstánding at that time he seemed verie deuout and for deuotions sake though he were a great Prince he would needes take vpon him the office of lectorship in the Catholique Church and besides that saith S. Gregorie began to build Churches also to christian Martyrs But when he came to be Emperour he washed of his baptisme with bloud and profaned his hands of purpose saith S. Gregorie wher with before he had touched the most pure vnbloudy sacrifice of the aulter by vvhich vve are made partakers of the passion and diuinitie of our Saueour After this he made an edict for the spoiling and profaning saith this Sainct of al Church-stuffe mony sacred ornaments and holy vestements that were to be had for defiling of aulters for deshonoring preestes deacons and Virgins but principally for breaking downe of Martyrs sepulchres and for the distroying their Churches In respect wherof this holy father writeth vnto him thus Thou persecutour after Herod thou traitour after Iudas thou murderer of Christ after Pilat thou ennemy of God after the Iewes dost thou not reuerence those holie sacricrifices slaine for Christ Doest thou not feare those noble champions Iohn Peter Paul and others that past thorough fier sword beastes tyrantes and what other cruelties so euer might be denounced against them with a mery hart Doest thou not feare thē to whom now are assigned so great honours and to whom festiual daies are ordeined vpon earth by whom deuils ar driuen away and disseafes are cured and whose onely bodies ar able to doe the same miracles now which their holy soules did when they were vpon earth Their bodies I say when they are handled by vs honoured yea the only apparitions and predictions the onely dropes of bloud of thes bodies doe as great miracles as the bodies them selues Thes bodies therfore doest thou not worship c Thus far S. Gregorie Naziāzene But now after the death of wicked Iulian albeit some times good Emperors were sent by God yet indured they not long but the Arriā heretiques came in gouernmēt againe so did beare the swaie for diuers ages after afflicting persecuting most extremely the Catholiks as may appeare by al the ecclesiastical writers that are extāt of that time And for a better coniecture what was done and suffered in the whole world abrod I would wish thee gentle reader but to vew that which remaineth writé of one parte only and that for the space of few years I meane of the persecution of the Arrian Vandals in Africa which began not long before S. Augustins death and indured diuers years after and is recorded in three seueral bookes by the holy man Victor bishope of Vtica that was one of the sufferers The storie is strange and most worthie the reading for that it hath very many things which set foorth the perfect forme of times that haue insued since and yet doe indure Possidius that liued with S. Augustin after writ the storie of his life reporteth in the same that when the holy man saw but the beginninges of this persecution he was wonderfully afflicted with compassion in his minde For saieth he he saw now alredy Catholique Churches destitute of their priestes sacred Virgins and others that liued continent to be dissipated and cast out the Hymnes and praises of God to haue ceased in most Churches the buildings of Churches burned the solemne seruice due vnto almightie God to be no more vsed in their proper places the diuine sacrifices and sacramentes either not to be sought for any longer or els that ther were not easily found priestes to minister the same vnto such as sought them Hitherto are the wordes of
pa. 1. The danger therof 1. the cause therof sensualitie or vvilful obstinacie 2. 3. 4. c. vvhv men doe flye the same 9. 10. the commodities and effectes therof 14. 15. Ingratitude intolerable of men towardes God 4. 5. Iugement day see the vvhole 7. chap. 349. vvhy tvvo Iudgemantes are appointed 353. Iustice of God hovv terrible and seuere 799. L Labour appointed to man by God 336. most necessarie both in the old and nevv testament 337. Libertie and freedome of soule hovv singuler it is in good man 605. Life and conuersation of Christ vvhat it vvas 222. vvhat it ought to be in true Christians 320. at large Good life hath tvvo necessitie partes 324. Loue of God tovvardes mankinde hovv great it is hovv it may be seene 529. 530. c. at large soe also the causes and effectes therof ibid. The force of lone in good men tovvardes God 586. 587. c. M Magnanimitie and true Christian fortitude 673. Magi ther comming prophetied and the storie proued 212. hovv long they vvere in comming ibid. Maiestie of God hovv vvonderful 400. Mans final ende chap. 3. pag. 110. Martyrs of the primatiue Church hovv vvōderful 264. Mathematique only hath no proper means to proud God 35. Mercie of God infinite and aboue al sinnes vvhatsoeuer see the vvhole first chapt part 2. pag. 523. Miracles of Iesvs 223. Monastical life vvhy and vvhen it vvas begonne 339. old Monkes vvhat austeritie they vsed 331. Moral Philosophie hovv it proueth God 48. Moyses particulerly considered vvhat maner of man lre vvas 68. Moyses lavv vuperfect to be changed 163. N Natural Philosophie hovv it proueth God 36. Negligence hovv great an impedimēt to our conuersion 860. hovv it bringeth men to Atheisme 861. O Oracles of Gentile Godes hovv false and vncertaine It. vvhat they fortold of Christ before his natiuitie 181. vvhen and hovv the ceassed 268. P Passion of Christ proued 229. Peace of minde and conscience in the vertuous hovv great a matter 597. Philosophie proueth-God 35. sovver sectes of old Phllosophers confessing one God 51. Pilate hovv he died 277. Pleasures of this vvorld hovv vaine 715. Porphyrie a great enimie of Christians yet vvhat he confesseth of Christ 223. and againe 273. Presumption hovv dangerous and detestable to God see the 6. chapt part 2. pag 793. Principles to be supposed in al sciences vvithout proose 25. The prophesies of scripture hovv they proue the scripture to be of God pag. 81. vvhat manner of men our Prophetes vvere 68. 98. hovv diuels may prophetie 81. Proclamation that Christ made at his comming 250. the Proclamation or publication of the lavv of good life vvith hovv greate dread 350. Punishmentes after this life See the 11. chapt 444. Purgatorie proued vvith the greatnes of the paines therof 452. the feare that old Saintes had of the same 454. R Rabbins among the Jevves of tvvo sortes Cabalistes and Thalmudistes 157. Redemption vvhat a benefite 409. Religion vvhat it meaneth and signifieth 132. no man euer sayed but by Christian Religion from the beginning of the vvorld 134. Resisting of sinne hovv it ought to be 316. Resurrection of Christ proued 235. Revvard expected by the iust hovv great a consolation 613. Riches hovv vaine and perilous 711. The Roman Monarchie fortold 188. S Scepter of Iuda hovv it pphetied of vvhē it failed 191 Sciēces ech one proueth God 35. fovver principal Ib. Scriptures their certaintie proued by many arguments 62. 63. confirmed by Gēntiles 100. Sensualitie hovv dangerous 2. Sibyls vvhat they vvere and of their prophesies touching Christ at large 174. Sinne hovv it is to be resisted 326. sinne hath 3. degrees 327. of the nature of sinne sinners see the 8. cha 378. VVhy euery Sinne is so hateful to God deserueth infinite punishment 384. the losses that come by Sinne 390. Sloth hovv great an impediment to the true seruice of God 853 fovver euel effectes therof 854. The soules immortalitie proueth God 47. hovv many things the soule attendeth vnto at one time Spirits subdued by Christ Christians in the primatiue Church 267. Starre of the Kings forprophetied proued 213. T Temple of Hierusalem tvvise builded 192. 193. c. The prerogatiues of the 1. temple 195. of the 2. 196. Time hovv pretious vvhile it indureth 476. Tradition of learning among Ievves Gentiles from the beginning 171. The true scriptures knovven only by Tradition 273. Tribulatiō vvhat it vvorketh pag 631. good men must suffer 634. the causes hereof 641. VVhy it should be occeaued ioifully 656. VV VVickednes vvicked men hovv fullof miserie 611. VVisdome of Christians vvherin it consisteth 340. vvisdome of the vvorld 703. VVooing vvhich God vseth tovvardes a sinner 542. The vvorldes vvrong course 118. vvorldes vanitie miserie see al the 4. chap. part 2. pag. 688. VVorldlinges lament vvhen it is to late 120. VVorkes necessarie besides faith 314. the diligēce of old Christians in vvorking vvhile they had time 342. V Vaine glorie vvhat a vanitie 696. Vision of God maketh soules happie in heauen 499. Vocatiō vvhat a benefite 411. Y Yoke of Christs hovv svvet and easie 584. FINIS * 1. Of inconsideratiō * 2. That ther is a God * 3. Why mā was created * 4. Proofes of Christian religion * 5. Who is a true Christian * 6. Two partes of good life 7. Of the accompting daye 8. Of the nature of inne and inners 9. Maiestie and benefites 10. Of the day of our departure 11. Punishemētes after death 12. Of rewardes after this life * 1. Dispaire of Gods mercie 2. Against supposed difficulties 3. Feare of persecution 4. The loue of the world * 5. Exāples of true resolutiō 6. Against presumption 7. Against delay 8. Sloth Negligence obduration The reason of printing againe this first booke of Resolution Nevv additions The vvhole vvorke deuided into tvvo volumes 1. Speculatiue 2. Practive Tvvo editions of the booke of Resolution vvithout the authors knowledge M. Ed. Bany Of M. Bunies edition Fovver pointes of this preface In his preface to the reader The first occasion of setting soorth the booke of Resolution Bookes of deuotion more profitable to good life thē bookes of controuersies The description of deuotion 2. Timot. 2. Our fathers happie that builded and contended not about the foundation 1. Co. 3. Act. 10. Tvvo partes of Christian aiuinisie Speculation easier then practise The three bookes of this Christiā directorie vvith their argumentes A title giuen by M. Buny Heb. 13. An old trick of beretiques to abuse simple people vvith obscure places of scripture See Epiph. cont heres and 〈◊〉 Quod vult Deum 2. Pet. 3. My L. of yorkes armes The epistle dedicaterie In his Ep. dedicat My L. of yorkes mortificatiō and calling vpō others * His L. hostise of Doncaster Sir Robert Stapleton others The preface to the reader M Banies ignorance M. Bunies vanitie Ep. Dedicate Only Catholiques vvrite boo kes of deuotion bookes 1. Tim. 4. Tit. 3. Athanas.
apolog 2. tp ad felic That protestātes doe follovv the same spirit of corrupting Luth. in Lipist ad Ioan. Heruagium typogra Argent The nevv brethrens testimonies the one against the other Zuing. li. de Sacra fol. 412. 10. 2. Bez. in resp ad defens Castal Itē in praefat Test. an 1556. Mol in trá Test. noni part 11. fol. 110. Item part 64. 65. 66. 74. 99. M. Bunies particuler dealing in editiō of the booke of resolution B V N. first deuise To MAKE his aduersaries speake like Protestantes S. Augustine taught to speake by M. Buny BVNY second deuise To INSERT parentheses Math. 18. Marc 10. Luc. 19. 2. Tim. 2. Apoc. 2. Eccle. 9. BVN third shift MAROInal annotations of diuers fortes Annotatiōs fonde 2. Annotatiōs absurd Aug. lib. 8 confes cap. 12. Possid in vita Aug. 3. Annotations vvicked Athanas. in vita Anton. Aug lib. 8. cōfes c. 12. Mat. 19. Against S. Antonie Against S. Augustine Against our B. 〈◊〉 die Aug. quest 71. in Exo. con 1. in Psal. 32. Great absurditie impietie of M. Buny Maruelous absurdities M. Bun. the. diuels proctor BVN third snift THEVsting out Impudent dealing in striking out Monkes Apparitiōs of Christ. Purgatorie Apparitiōs of Angels Neremites Satisfactiō Penance Bodily affliction 2. Cor. 12. Resisting of temptatiōs Promisses to Virginitis Christes vvordes thrust out by M. Buny Mat. 11. OF mangling OTHER mens sayings Cyp. lib. de laps l. 5. epist. 9. ad Corn. The measare of penance Hier. ep 27 ad Lustoch Intollerable dealing Ambros. ad virg Laps cap. 8. A consideration vpon the premisses Intollerable pride of beretiques VVhy vve should ioine vvith protestantes VVhy they vvil not ioine vvith vs. Their hurtes in yelding to vs. * So much the more certaine to proceede of grace and of Gods special ordinance for that othervvise men vvould neuer haue receaued thē Note this The cōmodities offered to vs in ioining vvith thē religion The Protostantes protestation Cōmodities by yelding in our ciuil state Intellerable lying flatterie * Hovv doe they prosper at this day in Frāce and Flāders * Note this blessednes The remouing of impediments Of discredit Of hurtes Atheisme Hovv by N. Buny vve are al of one Church Page 108. VVhy protestātes are novv so kinde as to make attonement vvith vs. The only motiue to protestant religion in England 1. The vvhole booke reuevved 2. The title altered 3. Diuers treatisses altered 4. Nevv chapters added and vvhy The greuous temptations of faith that come by heresie The reason of particuler chapters added of nevv An other cause of the amplificatio of tins booke The reason of the methode adioined in the ende The conclusion vvith certaine instructions True treating of demotion only in the Catholique Church VVhy no heretique treateth sincerly of deuotion 2. Tim. 3. 2. Pet. 3. VVhy protestantes of alother sectaries can not teach true pietie Examples bovv protestantes can not teach piesie of life vvithout imparing their doctrine No effect of verme sollovveth vpon the prating of protestants The spirit of the Catholique Church The charitable proceeding of God by Int. prophctes The dāger of inconsideration Esa. 5. The sensual life of the Iuis he 〈◊〉 Esa. 47. The daughter of Babylon forgetteth her ende 4. Reg. 15. 17. The complaint of Ierenue for inconsideration Iere. 12. Esa. 5. The mysterie of incōsideration Iob. 4. Iob. 4. A collectiō to be noted Lack of cōsideratiō cause of eternal destruction Psal. 91. A point that fooles vvill not consuler Dan. 10. A most terrible vision of Daniel vvherī he savv Christ. Dan. 12. A secret Dan. 12. VVilfull ignorance The cause of so much sinne at this day Iob. 15. Luc. 19. Es2 47. Luc. 9. Voluntarie inconsideration Iob. 21. Iob. 23. Pro. 28. Ibid. Dent. 6. 11. Iosue 1. Psal. 118. Eccle. 6. 22. Ecclo 17. The first cause vvhy men slie cōsideratiō Act. 24. Ioseph li. 20 antiq cap. 5. The second cause vvhy men slye cōsideratiō Iere. 7. Ierem. 8. The third cause of incōsideratiō Sap. 15. Eccle. 8. A comparison Iere. 30. 23. In the end ynel men shall vnderstand vvhether they vvill or no. The exāple of the Babyloniās Esa. 47. Esa. 21. Esa. 21. VVe must stand vpon our vvatch Luc. 12. Cōsideratiō the onelie dore to our vvatch Bern. lib. 1. de consid The manie cōmodities of consideration Effectes 〈◊〉 consideratiō Hovv all vertues are stirred vp quickened by consideration Psalm 38. Psal. 76. The exercise of holy men touching consideration Gen. 24. The first three Patriarches Moyses Iosue Deut. 6. 11. Ios. 1. K. Dauid Psalm 38. 62. 118. Psal. 76. K. Salomō Eccle. 6. K EZechias Esa. 58. Esa 26. The consideration that Iob vsed and the seuites therof Iob. 23. Tvvo effectes of consideration Esa. 32. Mich. 6. A consideration vpon the doinges of Iob. Iob. 9. Augustin in lib. cōfess Knovvledg and beleefe in grosse A similitude The importance of cōsideration 1. Tim. 4 The cōclusion of the chapter The miserie of the vvorld Iere. 30. 23. Ephes. 5. Ierem. 7. Th' effect of all the chapters follovvinge Ioh. 17. The vvaye to knovve god in this life Psal. 45. Luc. 10. A common custome in sciences to suppose principles An example in cheualrie In handycraftes In liberal sciences Growndes to be graūted in sciēces In logicke In Moral Philosophie In natural Philosophie In the Mathematiks In Metaphysike In Diuinitie Heb. 11. Tvvo principles in diuiritie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. 4. The cause of this chapter If ther be a God he is a iust revvarder See Lactantius at large in his booke of the vvorkmāshipe of the vvorld The vvorkes of the vvorld doe declare the vvorkman Sap. 13. Rom. 1. A Similitude The Heauens teache God Iob. 28. Psal. 18. The earth teacheth vs God Iob. 38. The Sea shevveth God Aris lib. de mirabilibus Iob. 38. The things in man declare God Iamblicus de Myst. cap. 1. Act. 17. Old Atheistes Laertius lib. 2. 4. de vit philos Psal. 13. 52. Rom. 1. Philip. 3. Lact. lib. 3. institut Philosophers Fovver pri cipal sciences The Mathematique proueth not God THE Natural philosopher The first argument in natural Philosophie Arist. lib. 7. 8. phy Primum mobile Plat. l. 10. de legib Arist. lib. 8. phys cap. 5. An argument taken from the clocke Arist. lib. de mūdo A similitude The second argumēt of natural philosophie Philo. l. de opificio mundi The third argumēt of natural Philosophīe * Vide Plutarch de placitis Philosoph Arist. l. 8. phys l. de Gen. corrup Arist. l. de mundo vide plotin l. de mundo THE Metaphysique and his argumentes The first argumēt in Metaphysique Ut maxia in Metaphysique Arist. li. 2. Metaph. cap. 2. The 2. argument in Metaphysique Multitude Plat. in Parmen Primum Mobile MICRO COSMOS The infiite thinges bat prosede from be soule The 3. argument in Metaphysike Subordination A similitude The 4. argument in Metaphysique Prouidēce *