for a man as meate drinke or sleepe and said moreouer that if a married woman would not render the coniugall debpte of matrimonie Lib. ae vita coniug serm de matrimonio that the husband should not spare his maide The like filthie lust but farre more detestable was the occesion of Caluine his heresie For it is well knoweÌ„ as may appeare by the iudiciall actes and recordes of NouodiuÌ„ Bolsecus in vita Calu. cap. 5. Iul. Brig pag. 59. that he was condemned of the filthie sinne of the flesh against nature had it not beene for the intreatie of the bishop there which obtayned that his punishmente should be turned vnto a hoate burninge iron on his backe he should haue bene altogether burnt Iohn Witcliffe for that he was depriued of his personnage in Oxforde for his vitious misdemenor began his heresie Arrius because Alexander was preferred to the Archbishopricke of Alexandria before him Nicep de pen. l. 5. c. gaue occasion of the Arrian heresie against the deitie of Christe MoÌ„tanus for that he was denyed the primacy of Asia which he soughte verie earnestlie troubled the Church with newe heresies as Nicephorus wyttnesseth de penitentia lâ—b 5. cap. 15. Aerius alsoe for beinge denyed of a Bishopricke fell into Arianisme and afterwardes inuented himselfe a newe heresie which was that wee ought not pray for the dead 2. Henry the eighte as Iohn Foxe a greate puritan in England doth wyttnes Fox in historia pa. 512. edit 1 all the world knoweth to be true for his diuorce made from Queene Catherine his wyfe was by the Bishoppe of Rome excommunicated who beinge sore exasperated therby assembled a parlamente by which he brought to passe that he banished the Popes authoritie out of England made himselfe head of the Church thus far Iohn Foxes owne wordes Hollin in descrip Brita l. 1â— cap. 7. For it is certainly knowen that from the conuersion of England by S. Augustine duringe soe many hundred yeares vnto Kinge Henry the 8. as all English historiographers and ministers themselues doe acknowledge the Catholicke or papisticall religion as it pleaseth them to tearme it did florish in England that the cheefe pointe thereof was that the Pope was iudge moderatour and cheefe Pastor aswell of the English Church as of all other Churches of the Christians in Ecclesiasticall matters which Catholicke faith the said Kinge Henry defended the space of xx yeares as longe as he liued with his lawfull married wife aswell against domesticall heretickes that were his subiects by all penall statutes and exquisit torments at alsoe against forraine hereticks by a most learned booke in the defense of the 7. Sacraments which booke I haue in myne owne custodie for which he was ennobled and honored by Pope Leo the tenth with the title of defeÌ„der of the Catholicke faith which was neuer giuen to any kinge in the worlde before which he receaued as Foxe saies with great ioy for when it came to the kinge beinge then at Greene wich he went to his chapel accompanied with manny nobles Ambassadors Cardinall Wolsey said Masse the Earle of Essex brought the basen of water the duke of Suffolke gaue the assay the duke of Norfolke held the towell the Heraldes with their company began their accustomed cryes prononcinge Fox anno 1528. fol. 441. Henricus Dei gratia Angliae Franciae defensor Fidei Dominus Hiberniae And amongest his other magnificent titles he lefte to this day this title to his posterity as is well knowen to the world Neyther only with bookes but alsoe with his victorious and inuincible armes did he defende the Catholike Romane faith and the dignitie thereof for the which he foughte againste sundrie princes and their confederates as againste Lodowicke the 12. kinge of France and Iames the 4. kinge of Scottes though married to his sister Who beinge vanquished and his great armie ouerthrowen by the Earle of Surrie in England and the said kinge himselfe being slaine in the battle for that he was excommunicated was not suffred to be buried in any Christian graue Also he sent his Armie by sea to ioyne with the Spaniardes againste the kinge of France to assaulte France in the frontiers of Spaine by the powerfull force of the English Iohn Albertus the kinge of Nauare was driuen altogether out of the kingdome beinge excomunicated by the Pope which Spaine doth possesse at this daye Did not the said kinge within fewe yeares after send an Armie into Italie against the Emperor Charles the first in the defence of Clement the 7. then Pope And notwithstanding he was his great frinde and his Nephewe for that Queene Cathrine was his Aunte yet through the filthie concupiscence by which he was besotted and blinded to marrye Anna Bulâ—ene and soe to be diuorced from his lawfull marryed wife he turned all thinges topsie turuie reiected the Popes authoritie which he before aswell by Gods lawes the holy scriptures as by the fathers and Councells of the Church defended and soe by a parlament of one Realme or kingdome he disanulled and abrogated that which was established by soe manny generall parleaments and generall Councells of all Christendome yea by Christe himselfe and by all such as trulye beleeued in him And for not yealding vnto his desire herein manny religious and constant Martyrs offred their liues and their bloode amoungest whome was the lighte of England that most sacred Martyr and learned diuine Iohn Fisher Bishopp of Rochester Sr. Thomas More Lord Chancelor of England of these sorte of people our Sauiour wished vs to beware Act. 20 the Apostle alsoe saith woulues shall enter after my departure and shall not spare the flocke Rom. 16. Therfore in another place he requested vs to marke and knowe what people they be that raise dissentions and scandalls in the Churche and doe teach otherwise then wee haue alreadye receaued and to fly from them Heb. 4. Iohn 4. He alsoe exhorted vs that wee should not be lead away with mutable and strange doctrine S. Iohn alsoe wished vs not to beleeue euerie spiritt but that wee should trye whether they be of God 3. But the doctrine of Luther cannot by any triall be founde true so that as Christ saith Iohn 7. my doctrine is not myne but my fathers which did send me soe Luther may say his doctrine is not his but his fathers the diuell that did send him Luth. lib. de Missa Ang. to G lenens Ger 10. 7. witteÌ„b 1. Cor. 13. 1. Cor. 14. whom he boasted to haue suggested vnto him arguments to ouerthrowe priest-hoode and sacrifice that by that meanes he should ouerthrowe and confounde the true worshipp of the true God for God as the Apostle saith is the God of peace and charitie not of dissention For whosoeuer procures sectes and diuision betwixt brethren saith the prophett is a diuell When therfore by Luthers meanes wee see so manny sectes against Godds Churche wee must
against me alone calling S. Augustine S. Hierom and S. Gregorie the Iustices af the Papisticall kingdome Thus also did that proud Beza charge Origines with blasphemie adding that neither S. Chrysostome nor any of the Greeke fathers did euer declare the trueth simply charged Saint Hierom with shamles errors as inuocation of Saincts and the practise of chastitie or virginitie in the Church Musculus also said that S. Hierom did deserue rather hell then heauen Brentius did charge the first Councell of Nice with foule errors Caluine called the fathers thereof Lunatick and francticke people Musculus saith they were instigated and led by the diuill and that all Councells were pernitiouslie fallen into errors Vrbanus Regius said that in the best tymes of the Church Sathan ouerruled all Bushoppes Peter Martyr called the aunciente Fathers pratlers but no diuines Illiricus reiected the said Fathers Peter Martyr also said that as longe as men relie vpon the Fathers they must be deluded with errors Doctour Humfrie at Oxford said that Iuell gaue a great scope vnto the Papists and did himselfe greate wronge in alleadginge the Fathers for himselfe for what haue we to doe with fleash and bloud The same also Caluine and Peter Martyr wrote Whitakers also vnto Doctour Sanders answered sayinge We care not for your histories Doctour Toby Mathewe said to Father Campion If he should beleue the Fathers he could not be a protestante Beza cried out against Athanasius and the Fathers of the Councell of Nice for that saith the Athanasius found out this Tripartite god he meant the blessed Trinte He said also that he Fathers of that Councell were blinde sophists the ministers of the the beast the bond-slaues of Antechrist 4. The third cause of this mine auersion was because protestantes are hard to be reclaimed for that amouÌ„gest all the sects that euer were none were more inconstant or variable in their Doctrine then the Protestants For neither birdes or beastes as Plinie saith doe watche to breake other birdes egges or destroie others of-springe Plin. natural hist lib. 10. c. 74 as these Protestantes watche to destroye and abrogat the Doctrine which was hatched before them so as whatsoeuer the first gospeller doth settle the whelpe that comes from him doth destroye it as in steede of many examples the confession of Augusta may serue for one so called for that in that citty Colloq altenbar f. 4 39. Colloq altenb fol. 464. the Lutheranes did exhibit to Charles the 5. a booke wherein were written all the articles of their Doctrine which was 50. times chaunged and mangled as they themselues affirme in all which the last is nothinge like the first and soe they call it Cothurnum c. A dislikinge vnto all the rest notwithstandinge Luther said it to be Fundamentum quod hactenus papistis opposuimus The fundation which hitherto we opposed against the Papists the grounde of our religion according to the word of god and the onlie rule of the peace and establishinge of traÌ„quillitie in Germany saith he but in very trueth was the cause of all the warres and troubles thereof and which was abolished out of Germany yea out of Augusta it selfe and within fewe yeares became zuinglians Zuingfeldians and is in noe place accepte in Saxonie For other sectes with which that miserable Country doe abounde being in nuÌ„ber 20. as Stanislaus Rescius describeth carrienge with theÌ„ all the sway did steppe in amoungest them and so at the last Luthers Doctrine was vtterly reiected Count Palatines Country can beare witnes of this mutabilitie which from Zuinglianisme turned to Lutheranisme againe from Lutheranisme to zuinglianisme Smidlerus in vita Bullen f. 15. As also vpper Germany when one Prince or great superintendent dies the people after their death doe change their religion 5. England alsoe cannot denye this to be true which a certaine Pope many hundred yeares prophesied of them saying English men of all natâ—ons are most inconstant and waueringe in their faith the time shall come saith he that when Christendom shall haue most neede of them they shall suarwe from their faith and fall into sectes and heresies For in our daies it changed her religion 4. times within 30. yeares vnder kinge Henry the 8. kinge Edward his sonne Queene Marie and Elizabeth And as Fox saith kinge Edward beinge a childe after his fathers funerall by the instigation and settinge on of his Vncle the Duke of Somersett did abolish the religion which his Father had by lawe ordained viz. The six articles containing 1. The trueth of the Reale presence 2. That both kindes for all persons are not necessarie 3. That marriage of Priests is prohibited by the lawe of God 4. That Vowes and votaries are confirmed by the lawe of God 5. That the Masse is agreable to Christes instâ—tution 6. That Auricular confession is warranted by the word of God This kinge sett foorth two bookes of reformation afterwards a third These articles of our faith were made at one parlemente by the said kinge Henry the 8. and were abrogated as superstitious inuentions by another ParleameÌ„t Anunas menstruas fides as Hillarie and S. Basil say of the Arrians euery newe yeare and moneth a newe faith And what I pray you can be amoungst Christians more disgracefull then this For ought not our ReligioÌ„ euery article thereof to be as the same S. Basil saith eadem heri hodie in saecula to admitt noe change but to continewe his vigor aswell yesterdaye to daye as alsoe for euer According whereunto our Sauiour alsoe saith that heauen and earthe shal passe but my wordes shal not passe nor any iott nor sillable thereof till al be fulfilled Is there any Christian to be found who dares be so bould to say that our Parlament exceedeth the power of God But god by his absolute power as Aristotle and all diuines and Philosophers affirme cannot make two contradictories or contraries to be trewe because of the implication therein for if the one be trewe the other must be false and truly noe more can these opposite and contradictorie Parleaments be possiblie true 6. The 4. cause was that Protestantes make but a mockery of all religion for that they follow Nicholas Machauailes precepts holding that the Catholike religion is a hinderance to state and that Princes shoulde followe that religion though the groundes thereof be neuer soe false which doth aduance their present estate but contrarie to this S. Thomas saith that wisdome and power are companions of trewe religion which when it faileth the power of state alsoe faileth non veniat anima mea saith S. Bernard in Concilium eorum qui dicunt c. my soule shall not follow their Councells who say that the exaltation and and peace of the Empire will hunder the peace of the Church If Iustice be a vertue to giue euerie man his owne to giue to Cesar his owne and to God his owne how doth the Prince
both a sacrifice and a Sacrament fol. 286 CHAP. III. Whether the Catholique Church commit offence in leaning to the litterall sense of Christs wordes in the blessed Sacrament of the Altar fol. 318 Lib. VI. CHAP. I. That there is a purgatory which is proued aswell by Scriptures and auncient Fathers as also euen by testimonies of Protestants themselues fol. 350 CHAP. II. Touching the Popes Authority in releasinge of soules out of purgatory fol. 359 CHAP. III. Whether it be against the lawe of God to forbid Priestes to marry and whether vowes and votaries are rather the inuentiōs of men then the ordinance of God fol. 363 CHAP. IV. Whether we ought to confesse our sinnes to priests and whether that priests cannot remitt or forgiue them fol. 372 CHAP. V. Whether fasting from one sorte of meate more then from another or for to vse any obseruation therein be superstitious according as protestants doe affirme fol. 377 Lib. VII CHAP. I. Whether the Protestant assertion be true which affirmeth that generall councells can erre fol. 386 CHAP. II. That the catholique church in those things shee doth propound to the christians to beleeue whether they be contained in the Scriptures or not cannot erre fol 395 CHAP. III. Whether Catholiques are to be charged with arrogancie for thinking that their church cannot faile fol. 396 CHAP. IV. That this Church which shall neuer be hid but remaine visible is manifest by the parable of Christ our Lord. fol. 402 CHAP. I. Li. VIII Whether that papistes doe amisse in hauinge their churches and monasteries soe sumptuous their alters and ornamentes so riche and ecclesiasticall possessions so great the poore wanting the same fol. 407 CHAP. II. Of the vnhappy endes and other punishments by which God doth chastice those that presume to robb Churches or otherwise to prophane and abuse sacred things fol. 416 CHAP. III. A prosecution of the last chapter fol. 426 CHAP. IV. Whether the kinge may take away church liuinges at his pleasure And whether as he is absolute kinge of the temporall goodes of his subiects he be so also of the Churche churche liuinges fol. 440 Lib. IX CHAP. I. That the protestant religion whose principall foundation and groundes are these articles aforesaid is nothing else then a denyinge of all Religion and piety and a renewinge of all heresies fol. 447 CHAP. II. That no iot or sillable of Christian religion ought to be counted a thinge indifferent or of smale moment and that whosoeuer doth not agree with the Catholique church in all pointes of beleefe cannot be saued fol. 459 CHAP. III. That the new Religion for that it takes away all religion is worse then that of the Turckes and Gentiles fol. 452 Lib. X. CHAP. I. An answer vnto Protestants barking against the religious institutions of holy Orders saying that religious vocations were not instituted by our Sauiour fol. 467 CHAP. II. That the Apostles and their followers in the primitiue church followed this estate of perfection fol. 473 CHAP. III. Of the increase of religious orders and how the same continued from time to time vntill our dayes fol. 476 CHAP. IV. That preestes in the primitiue churh euen from the Apostles time were religiouse and obserued religious order of life fol. 486 CHAP. V. Of the multitude of religious persons fol. 491 CHAP. VI. Of many great and eminent men who forsooke and contemned the world to become religious fol. 499 CHAP. VII Of Emperors Kinges and Princes who forsooke the world to become religious fol. 504 CHAP. VIII Of Empresses Queenes and Princes who likewise forsooke the world to become religious fol. 518 CHAP. IX How greatly religious people fructify vnto God and to his Church and that they are the best labourers which are therein fol. 525 Lib. XI CHAP. I. The name of those that suffred death by the Gewses of Flanders where the protestantes are soe called fol. 534 CHAP. II. Certaine cruell and bloody factes committed in Fraūce against the Catholikes by those that the vulgar sorte doe cal Hugonotes from the tyme that they stirred rebellion against the kinge Anno 1562 fol. 544. A Catalogue of those that suffered death as wel vnder king Henry as Queene Elizabeth and king Iames from the yeare of our Lord 1535. and 27. of king Henryes raigne vnto the yeere 1620. fol. 555 CHAP. III. A Compendiū of the martyrs and confessors of Ireland vnder Queene Elizabeth fol. 569 Lib. XII CHAP. I. Euery sect of heresies challinging vnto thēselues the trewe and Catholique church there is here set downe the true notes and markes by which the same may be discerned fol. 587 CHAP. II. That there are many excellencies and effectes which should allure euery one to follow and imbrace the Catholique religion And contrariwise many inconueniences and blasphemies which the new religion houldeth and teacheth The first excellencies fol. 609 CHAP. III. The 2. excellency is the pure and hollie doctrine which it professeth fol. 610 CHAP. IV. The 3. Excellencie is most diuine Sacraments which confer grace fol. 613. CHAP. V. The 4. Excellencie is to fauor the good and to punish the wicked fol. 616. CHAP. VI. The 5. Excellencie is the conuersion of all nations vnto Christe and driuing Idolatrie out of the world ibid. CHAP. VII The 6. Excellencie of the catholique Religion is that the same is proued and auerred by so many good witnesses as sacred and learned doctors blessed saincts martyrs and generall counsells fol. 617. APPROBATIO Hic Liber cui Titulus The Theater of Catholicke and Protestant Religion nihil continet quod fidei vel moribus aduersatur quin potius multa quae tam ad fidem Catholicam stabiliendam quam ad haereses huius temporis impugnandas optimè inseruiunt Matthaeus Kellisonus S. Theol. Doct. WHETHER THE RELIGION WHlCH Protestants professe be a new Religion or whether the Romish Religion be new and that of the Protestant be ancient and ould CHAPTER I. 1. IF Protestants were of sound iudgment or nott distracted of their wittes they would neuer suppose much lesse auerre so manifest an vntruth as that the religion of the church of Rome is a new religion or defend an absurditie so egregious as Protestant religion to be the more auncient Wherfore this first assertion being so euident and knowen an vntruth such as doe follow are the lesse to be beleeued 2. It is well knowen that before these 80. or 100. yeares all Christendome did imbrace the catholike Roman religion so that it was terra vnius labii Gen. 11. Act. 4. as it is written in Genesis a countrie of one language and one speeche and as we reade of the christians in the Actes of the Apostles that first beleeued in Christ that they were of one hart and of one accord and as one God was honored and worshipped of all soe one faith was embraced of all they obserued one order of administration of the Sacraments they vsed and kepte one obseruation of ceremonies all were called Christians
so other doctors doe speake to this effect 7. Caluine your cheefe prophet when he oppugneth our religioÌ„ he saith plainly Calu. l. 2. instit 2. parag 2. se toti â—ntiquitati repugnaturum That he opposeth himselfe against all antiquitie saith that he will admitt no auncient Father but S. Augustine And in another place he reprehendes S. Augustine himselfe for sainge that our willes doe cooperate with the grace of God For God made all thinges perfecte Lib. 2. c. 3. in coÌ„plete order but innouatioÌ„ came by the diuell Wee read in the ghospell that after the good seede was sowen by God Matt. 13. the diueâ—l did sowe darnell cockle euen so after the trewe christian religion was sowen by the Apostolicall and catholicke Pastors in euery place of the worlde the enemy of mankinde by Martyn Luther an Augustine Frier did sowe and teach the darnell of absurde daungerous and damnable heresies anno 1517. beinge the first author of the protestant religion So wee knowe the author of the Arrian heresie to be one Arrius a Priest of AlexaÌ„dria in Egypte anno 324. Of the Nestorian heresie to be Nestorius Archbishop of Constantinople who taught his heresie in Thrasia anno 431. as the other also haue taughte the one in Egypte first the other in Saxonie afterwardes Wee knowe the author of the catholicke religion to be Christe from whence wee are called christians in all ages before Luther first inuented the name of Papistes for that wee obey and embrace Christs vicar generall our holy Father the Pope the successor of S. Peter vnto whom Christ committed the regimente of his church feedinge of our soules and the charge of his flocke Matt. 16. This christian religion was first preached in Iurie the 15. Ioan. vlt. yeare of Tyberius Cesar as alsoe wee knowe that the same was oppugned and gainsaid first by the Scribes and Pharises afterwardes by the Gentyles and with all penall statutes of forcible lawes made by the Romaine Emperours other potentates of the worlde which were practised and put in execution for the space of 300. yeares to supplant and deface the same This christian religion was vpholden and defended by all the Popes and confirmed by all the generall approued councells that euer were But the protestant religion was disproued and condemned for heresie by Leo the tenth and by the generall Councell of Trent and by all Catholick vniuersities of the worlde as the Arrian heresie was contradicted and condemned by Syluester then Pope and by the generall Councell of Nice by S. Athanasius and Hillarius and other holye Doctors as the Nestorian heresie alsoe was reiected by Pope Celestinus and the Councell of Ephesus S. Cyrill others So that though wee haue shewed your authors or ofspringe the time place when it began and where it began yet the like you cannot once nominate of vs since Christe and his Apostles who are the only authors of our beleefe and religion 6. You affirme that the protestant religion was since Christe and his Apostles in the world but it was hidden I answere that seeinge the Church and religion of Christe ought to be a cittie placed vppon a mountaine or hill to be seene of euerie one as in many places the holye scripture doth proue it ought not to be hidden but manifest to the whole worlde otherwyse it shoulde not be the religion of Christ Matt. 5. Isa 2. Psal 71. Daniel 2. soe that I must coÌ„clude with S. Hierom saying Breâ—em tibi apertamque animi mei sententiam proseram in illa Ecclesia esse permanendum quae ab Apostolis fundata vsque ad diem hunc durat Dial. lucifer in fine I must be plaine and declare my mynde sincerely that wee must abide in that Church which was founded by the Apostles and continewed vnto this verie daye If you shall heare such as be christians to be nominated rather of some other head then of Christe Marcianistes Valentinians Montanistes know then they oughte not to be called the church of Christe but the synagoge of Antechriste euen so such as are nominated Gospellers Caluinistes and Lutherans c. which are the founders of your religion and the inuentors of strange newe and deuised opinions contrarie to the vniuersall catholicke church and to the auncient Doctours thereof ar rather as S. Hierom saith members of that synagoge then of the church of Christe and as they were most peruerse obstinate in their doctrine soe they were most shameles and licentious in their liues and as the tree beareth in his braunches the corrupte humours that they drawe from the roote as the vertue of the cause is knowen by the effecte and the nature of the springe doth shewe it selfe in the brooke and as the springe beinge vncleane the brooke cannot be cleere and the roote beinge withered the braunches can beare noe fruite so Luther Caluine beinge your roote and of-springe and beinge vncleane filthie leacherous and altogether wedded to carnalitie and licentiousnes beinge rebellious apostates noe doubte of such as shall followe or embrace them no better fruite can be expected of them hence Zuinglius himselfe did coÌ„fesse Zuing. c. 2. Resp ad Luth. that as soone as he did embrace this ghospell of Luther he was attached with the raginge flames of fleshly concupiscence and sensualitie The occasion of Luthers fall and of other heâ—tikes from the Catholike Churche CHAPTER II. 1. WEE may applie S. Augustine his senteÌ„ce vnto this subiect Ang. serm de tempo 44. that there are two rootes plaÌ„ted in two fieldes by two tillers or husbadmen the one Christ doth plant in the hartes of the good the other the deuill planteth in the hartes of the wicked And as this is Couetousnes which is the roote of euill 1. Tim. 6. Ephes 3. soe tho other is charitie beinge the roote and of-springe of all goodnes accordinge to the saying of the Apostle that wee should be planted and rooted in charitie for as no euill can springe from charitie so no goodnes can come from couetousnes soe that you may perceaue from which of these rootes Luthers cause proceeded and which of these husbandmen did plante the same For not obtayninge the promulgating of certaine indulgences whereby he hoped to gett money first he rayled against them who denied him the same then he was infected with a desire of vaine-glory thirdly with a desire of reuenge for that he had a repulse from the Pope called Leo the tenth afterwardes pricked forward with a most filthie appetite of fleashlye concupiscence beinge a professed frier fifteene yeares he came out of his monasterie and tooke with him a professed Nunne wherby he might satisfye his filthie luste withall so that he committed such sinne sacriledge by breakinge and violatinge his vowes that all the world were scandalized therat And so far did he defend his riotousnes and beastlie debauchednesse therin as to teach that a woman was as necessarie
though he haue neuer soe much knowledge being the author of separation deuision and schisme sith there is noe greater token of charitie then vnanimitie Quiae multitudo c. Because the multitude of such as beleeue ought to be one harte and one soule and soe one languadge comon to them all especiallie in the seruice of the church and administration of the sacraments for confusion of tounges haue hindred the worke of the Tower of Babilon and before that confusion there was but one languadge and soe before your heresie and diuersitie of religion the church of God was terravnius labij sermonem eorundem of one lip of one speech and as there was but one God adored of all soe there was but one faith embraced and professed by all one administration of the sacraments and one order of ceremonies amoungest all There was vnitie of beleefe withoute deuision of sects simplicitie without duplicitie pietie of religion without impietie of heresie one pastor and one flock the execrable and dreadfull blasphemies and heresies of this wicked age were not heard of all were called christians and not Euangelistes nor Apostles nor Lutherans nor Caluinistes nor Hugonotts nor Geues nor Adamitts nor Anabaptistes nor Papistes children were obedient to their Parents the sheepe did acknowledge their Pastors the lasciuious and pratlinge woman was not a Mistres of the scriptures the pope was not called antechriste his authoritie was not called in question The church was feared and obeied of her subiects against which there was noe rebellion or insurrection of carnall filthie incestuous and abhominable Apostates men were of honest simple disposition without contention or debate touchinge their religion euerie one referringe himselfe to the catholick church whose faith and meritts was communicated and diffused to al her blessed members They had noe newe ghospell but that which was dictated by the holie ghoaste and deliuered by the Apostles to the Church and which the Churche proposed to the faithfull to beleeue And now since they had diuersitie of tounges they haue also had diuersitie of faith and diuersitie of heresies 4. But to aunswere more fullie this obiection the catholique churche doth not forbid any one to praye in any tounge he thinkes good priuately to himself although in the publique and comon seruice thereof shee would haue the comon languadge to be practised obserued to preuent confusion of tounges and corruption both of wordes and sense And as in the Church of God there is one sacrifice one order of ceremonies and administration of the sacraments soe wee haue but one languadge comon to all church men For if you goe to Spaine or America or to any other coÌ„try you shall haue the common languadge by which you may vnderstand them and they you Otherwise if in one church there were fortie different languadges you must haue fortie portuses and fortie Masse-bookes and soe in the like case wee must haue infinitt bookes and portuses and infinite Masse-bookes which cannot be without great inconuenience and I pray you which way can an Irish man saie Masse or mattens who hath no printe in his Countrie to printe those bookes in Irishe I am sure the protestant printer at Dublin would not printe Masse-bookes in the Irish tounge or if the Irishe or English had gon to Spaine or other Countries he could neuer saye or heare Masse and exercise the rites of his religion if it could not be don but in his owne languadge Therfore blessed is that order that taketh awaie this disordered confusion and inconuenience of these sond heretiques 5. As for priuate prayers you should not charge her for her blessed doctors in all ages haue replenished the world with infinite books of prayers of deuotion and pietie in all languadges which haue wrought such maruelous effects and strange conuersions of notorious sinners such contempt of wordlie honor such despisinge of all wordlie vanitie such heroicall resolutions in mens hartes such collections for releeuinge the poore and the distressed and such an ardent loue to our Sauiour Creator and Redeemer as the like was neuer brought to passe nor neuer shal be by any of Luther or Caluines followers Who can be ignorant of the most godlie prayers of S. Augustine and all the fathers of the churche S. Gregorie S. Bernard S. Fulgentius S. Thomas S. Bonaâ—enture S. Anselme and in our owne age â—hose of Dionis Carthusianus Laurentius â—urius Stella and Loartes translated into all vulgar tounges with infinite others which were to longe to rehearse But I cannot passe with silence that most famous renowmed reuerend and religious father Lewis de Granada whose godlie works of deuotion and prayers are translated into seuerall tounges I neuer hearde of anie booke of deuotion or religion sett forth by any of these sectaries any way comparable vnto his whose workes and bookes serue only to ouerthrowe deuotion pietie prayer and religion I haue seene many godly bookes violated and defiled by them It is strange then that you will picke out a certaine languadge for prayers and yet banishe awaie all kinde of prayers sauinge the wanton Psalmes of Geneua corrupted by your false translatioÌ„ wherein you praie to keepe vs from Pope Turcke and Papistrie yea I my selfe haue seene a supplication exhibited to the last Queene and to the parleament house wherein it was auerred that it was not lawfull for christians to saie our Lordes prayer To conclude therfore deuout prayers doe proceede from the ardent loue of God which is diffused into our soules by the holy ghoaste which is giuen vnto vs and inwardlie doth dwell and lodge in vs Rom. 8. by which wee saie and crie out Abba pater our father and by which wee prostrate our selues with our sighinge hartes and dolefull groanes before the throne of the almightie God and by which wee enioye his familiar and blessed presence Whether the Church vniuersall can be charged with errors contrarie to the first institution of the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist CHAPTER I. 1. THe church of Christ did neuer alter the matter and forme of any of her sacraments much lesse of this beinge the greatest of the rest in which Christ hath shewed his wonderfull great loue vnto the church his only spouse in feedinge and sanctifiinge the soules of her children with his owne pretious bodie and blood that beinge fedd by Christe shee may be purified and clensed by him in that fearfull and dreadful Hoast which doth exceede the capacitie of any earthlie vnderstandinge Of this wonderfull loue of Christe it was said by Isaias Quid est what is it that I ought to doe vnto my vineard and haue not don it meaninge therby that in thâ—â—â—â—â—ament he manifested the bowells of his charitie Isa 5. Chrys homil 61. ad populum AntiochenuÌ„ and loue towardes his churche which loue is magnified by S. Iohn Chrisostome sayinge Nam parentes quidem alijs saepè filios tradent alendos c. For parents doe often deliuer their children to
Lucif c. 6. prouinge against them that they make God subiect to the diuill a poore miserable Christ that imagine that the church may either perish or be driuen to any corner of the worlde 4. And although the Sacraments ceremonies Matt. 11. and the legall obseruations of the Iewes did faile because it is said the lawe and the prophetts were vnto Iohn yet notwithstandinge the church of Christ did not faile which was collected and composed of both the nations I meane Iewes and Gentiles as S. Paule doth wittnesse in many places that the first fruictes of the holie ghoaste and the first christians were the Apostles which were Iewes therfore the churche of the Iewes did not faile so as that none of them did remaine therin as the said Apostle proues Rom. 11. Hath God saith he reiected his people God forbid for I am an Israelite and of the seede of Abraham and of the tribe Beniamine for God did not cast of his people The glosse vpon this place faith that the Iewes are not infidels altogether and soe God did repell theÌ„ in parte but not in whole because he hath not reiected me and others that are predestinated thus farr the glosse For he reiected the howse of Saule but not of Dauid vnto whome in reward of the ardent desire and feruent deuotion that he had to builde a temple for godes glorie he promised that he would build for Dauid an euerlasting kingdome and a perpetuall howse from whome he should neuer take away his mercie for which he made the 88. psalme wherin he confirmed this promise Whether that papistes doe amisse in hauinge their churches and monasteries soe sumptuous their alters and ornamentes soe riche and ecclesiasticall possessions soe great the poore wanting the same CHAPTER I. 1. WHatsoeuer is giuen to Christs church is giuen in his honor that suffred for the said church beinge his spouse his portion c. for as our Sauiour saith Beatius est dare quam accipere It is better to giue then to take and noe maruaile that christians should giue vnto God some parte of his owne as the prophett saith what shall I giue vnto him that giues vnto me all thinges I pray you tell me whether it be a greater offence to robb and ouerthrowe the kinges howse and to spoile his subiects of their goodes depriue them of their liues and to comitt all other outragious facts vpoÌ„ them then to build the same maintaine and enriche the same to bestowe lardglâ—e vpon his seruaunts to defend and protect them c Tell me I praie you whether Salomon that built the temple of Ierusalem soe sumptuously and which by the riches thereof was most famous through out the world was more offensiue vnto God for soe doing then Nabuchodonosor kinge of Babilon and Antiochus Epiphanes which were not contented to ransacke and spoile that worthie temple cast downe the pillers take away the golden alter and candlesticks and all other sacred vessells or religious ornamentes but also defiled the same and prohibited any oblatioÌ„ or sacrifice to be offered therin For this cause these two tirants doe represent the diuill and Salomon is a figure of Christe And if Salomon was soe comended in holie scriptures for buildinge the said Temple for the sinagoge how much more christiaÌ„ princes for buildinge churches for Iesus Christe 2. I praie you tell me also whether Constantine the great merited more before God the world for buildinge soe many churches vppon his owne charges and for augmentinge and enrichinge the patrimony of Christe then kinge Henrie the 8. that did cast and pull downe soe many churches monasteries and chapples and did disolue soe manny Religious howses robbed them of all their sacred ornaments and by soe doinge spoyled God of his patrimonie Yow saie that whatsoeuer kinge Henrie the 8. did was donn for the reliefe of the poore and the ease of his subiects to be freed from subsidies and impositions as was related in that verie parleameÌ„t wherin monasteries churches were surprised and religion prophaned And therfore it was added in the said parleament that the truly poore of the kingdome perished and that Abbey Lubbers for soe they called religious persons did possesse their liuinges To this effect there was a supplicatioÌ„ exhibited to the kinge against Bishoppes Abottes Priores Deacons Archdeacons suffragans priestes in forme following c. What tyraÌ„t euer oppressed the people like this cruel veÌ„geable generation Before these came there were but fewe theues yea thefte was at that tyme soe rare that Caesar was not compelled to make penaltie of death vpon felonie as your grace may wel perceaue in his institutes ther was also at that time but fewe poore people and yet they did not begge but there was giueÌ„ them enoughe vnasked Wherfore if your grace will build a sure hospitall that neuer shall faile to reliue vs all your poore beads men take from them al these thinges set these sturdy boubies abroad in the world to get theÌ„ wiues of their owne to get their liuinge with their labour in the swette of their browes accordinge to Gene. 1. Tie all idle theues to the cartes to be whipped naked about euerie markett towne that they by their importunat begginge take not away the allmesse that the good christian people do giue then shall aswell the number of our foresaid mounsterous sorte as of the baudes hoores theeues and idle people decrease then shal these great yearly exactions cease then shall all your people encrease in wealthe c. these are sett downe in Iohn Fox his Chronicles Iudas in like manner when the deuout wooman Marie MagdaleÌ„ anointed Christs feete with a moste pretious ointment did saie vt quid perditio haec what destruction is this had it not bene better said he that this had bene sold and giuen vnto the poore our Sauiour aunswered let her alone and added moreouer that in what place so euer of the world his gospell should be read her deuotion should be comended And as Iudas herin did not care for the poore as the scripture reporteth but hopinge it should retourne to himselfe soe parleament protestants did not care for the poore but all their drifte was to haue the liuinges and treasures of the churches themselues as itt fell out 3. I praie you tell me whether the poore were better and more reliued or the subiects more eased of subsidies and impositioÌ„s before the suppression of the church or after Doctor Sanders writes that England was neuer troubled with greater impositioÌ„s subsidies then it was in the later daies of kinge Henry the 8. nor any kinge in england had lesse treasure in his cofers then he at his deathe And as for the poore people it is manifest that they haue lesse releefe now then euer they had I am sure there are not 300. persons reliued by all the churche liuinges of England and Ireland beinge in those mens handes which haue as little charitie towardes God and
of the churches and persecuted church men This man beinge feastinge one time with his frindes in his pallace there started vp a gentleman of that maiesticall contenance that he put all the guestes in great feare that were with him and with a terrible voice and dreadfull aspect comaunded the earle to followe him and that with such maiestie that he could not otherwise choose Comming to the gate there was a mightie horsse prepared for him and he was compelled to mounte vpp a horssbacke and presently the horsse did fly vpp into the skies and the miserable earle cryinge most pittifullie vanished away with the horsse Those that were within the pallace durst not to goe foorth but shutt the gates out of which the miserable earle was carried away by the diuill 2. Paulus Emilius a diligent historiographer of the matters of Fraunce doth note the like accident of a certaine Earle called Willian a great persecutor of the church who beinge also at a great feast accompanied with other great earles was comaunded by one that was at the gate to goe foorth and soe risinge from the table went foorth to knowe what he was where he met with one a horssbacke which tooke him away and did neuer appeare any more He added moreouer that in the very same place the Earle of Niuers a great persecutor of the immunities of the church was serued in the like maner The kinge of Aragon called Sanchius through extreame necessity was forced to make vse of the church liuinges of his kingdome in his warres against the Moores and although it was for the defense of Catholique Religion yet he made restitution of all that he had so tooken from the Church Many good authors doe note and obserue that the church liuinges neuer profittes any and that they doe not only succede bad with them that take them but also consume and destroye their temporall possessions withall for like as the mothes the rust or the canker consumes the wood the cloath the iron and the fleashe that ingenders them and euen as the feathers of the Eagle beinge ioyned with the feathers of any other consumes and spills them soe church liuinges wrongfully detayned or violently taken from the church consumes and ouerthrowes the temporal estate vnto which they are vnlawfullye ioyned and annexed 3. This England France and Ireland may testifie for France enioyed but smale quietnes since Clement the 7. annexed vnto the crowne of France by the procuremeÌ„t of Francis ' the firste when the said Clement married his Neece called Catherina de Medicis vnto Henry the 2. Daulphine of France at Marcells all the promotions and donations of church liuinges vnder the crowne of France And as for him that sought it or by what meanes it was giuen I leaue that to the French historiographers yet wee knowe that he and all his issue liued and ended most miserably their kingdome and state was most pittifully broken with soe manny bloody garboiles all the nobilitie consumed and exhausted with soe mannie cruell battles ouerthrowes so many rich townes and citties ransaked soe many couÌ„tries and prouinces vtterly destroied soe many churches and monasteries dissolued and cast downe soe many religious people murthered and soe many sacred virgins deflowred and rauished soe as France through heresie which by this donation crept into it was a spectacle of all miserie famine pestilence warres vprores coÌ„bustions to all other nations And although the said Henry the 2. had 6. sonnes whereof 3. of theÌ„ were kinges yet all died without yssue and not one of that race is left aliue and soe the lyne of the howse of Valois in whome the crowne of France continewed the space of 260. yeares is altogether extinguished and the crowne came to the howse of Burbon their auncient and implacable enemies and nowe suecedinge them in the crowne and kingdome Henry the 8. not by any grant or indulgence of the Pope but by force and feare of violent lawes made and deuised by him leacherie and couetousnes intisinge him therunto tooke vnto himself a spiritual iurisdiction and besides suppressed cast downe all the monasteries who although he had six wiues and left behinde him one sonne and 2. daughters yet now there is none liuinge nor any of their lyne or race man or woman now extant 4. And as for the nobilitie of England and Irelande which were instruments more ready to serue the kinges humour then to please God they be all for the most parte extinguished of whose discent or race one amoungest 20. is not to be seene this daie to possesse their ancestors liuinges vnto whose patrimonie others crept in and succeeded some perhappes being their mortall enemies The Duke of Norfolque and the earle of Arundell were the cheefest instruments that Queene Elizabeth had in the first parleament shee assembled to putt downe the church and to drawe all spirituall iurisdiction vnto her selfe hopinge that by this seruice the one should be contracted with her in mariage the other should be in extraordinarie fauor with her I would they had taken S. Paules aduise Oportet obedire Deo magis quam hominibus Wee ought to obey God more then men or the prophet his caueat maledictus qui confidit in homine cursed is he that trusteth in man Scisma Angliae This Duke as a certaine graue matrone prophesied and tould him to his face cominge from the parleament that he should lose his head by her whome to please he did displease God and made shipwreaque of his religion was condemned and put to death for highe treason against the Queene at Tower hill in London and hâ—s eldest sonne the earle of Arundell after beinge condemned and arrayned after much mourninge and longe imprisonment died in the Tower of London And the other Earle of Arundell died without yssue male of his bodie and it is thought if he had liued any longe time he should haue tasted of the same cuppe with the other 5. The Earle of Ormond which was the onlie instrument for Queene Elizabeth in Ireland to strenghten the voices of the parleament for her spirituall supremacie as yet liuinge is depriued of his sight and of his only sonne and the only ioy and felicitie he had in this world and of his end wee knowe not but wee knowe he hath church liuinges and wee are certaine that who hath them vnlawfully shall neuer thriue the better And therfore Charles the 7. kinge of France beinge in great waÌ„t of mony through the warres he had with the English about the dukedome of Normandie of which the quiett state of his kingdome depended would not make vse of the tithes of his kingdome beinge therunto moued by a great prelate for that he knewe they would not succeede well with him Ossorius in the historie of the kinge of Portingall Emanuell writeth that the Pope dispensed with him for the tithes of his country towardes his warres in Affricke and hauinge perceaued that he had not soe good successe as before
time of the generall councell of Lateran and afterwardes confirmed by Honorius the 3. 1206. 10. The order of saint Celestine beganne by one Petrus Moromus who liued in the wildernes with great example of holines of life and multitude of miracles which was approued by saint Gregory the 10. in the generall counsell of Lions 1274. And it is called the order of Celestine for that the said Peter beng the author therof was made Pope afterwardes and called by the name of Celestine the 5. 11. The order of Obseruants beganne in the time of Fredericke the 2. Emperor who was a great enemie to the Pope and church and spoiled all the territories thereof they dedicated themselues to the seruice of the blessed Virgin and being in number 7. verie noble and welthy men went into thâ— wildernesse and there liued remoued from all the enticementes and inducementes of mischeife which was the occasion that others also forsooke the vanities of the world Many oâ— godly people in all ages and countries haue bene by a speciall fauor of God raised vp to knocke the hammers of pennance at our slumbring and lumpish hartes oppressed with dead sleepe and Lethargie to sounde the trumpet of Gods wrath in his church to awake rechles and forgettfull soules out of the slumbring dreames of fleshly concupiscence crying repeating to the carelesse children of Adam our sauiours heauie and dreadfull voice vnles yee repent you shall euerie one perish That preestes in the primatiue church euen from the Apostles time were religiouse and obserued religious order of life CHAPTER IV. 1. SEing that religion consisteth of the foresaid three vowes obedience chastity and pouerty and that the Apostles and their successors haue accomplished and performed them they were religious and obserued a religious life for when the preistes receaued holy orders they promised perpetuall chastity and if any of them had wiues by the example of the Apostles they willingly of their owne accorde refrained from the vse of wedlocke They obliged themselues also to cannonicall obedience as Sâ—lpitius writeth of saint Martin whome saint Hillary sollicited that he should be made preiste by himselfe and whome for his great vertue he loued for that in receauing holy orders of him he would be obliged to stay with him and render to him obedience S. Gregory also declareth 4. Epi. 74 that it was the custome of Rome that no preist could deaparte from thence that receaued ther holy orders CoÌ„cerning pouerty which is the third the preistes in old tyme imbraced the same in so much as when they were made priestes they made a resignation of all they had whether it was patrimony or anny other worldly substance which S. Hierome declared saying that this was the cause why the preistes were shauen that it should signifie a cuting off and forsaking of all temporall wealth Lib. de vita conteÌ„platiua cap. 9. Prosper confirmeth the same saying it is expedient and meete for the acquiring of perfection to despise his proper goodes and to be contented with the goods of the church for the goods thereof are not proper but common and so he brought examples of saint Paulinus and S. Hillarius who when they were made preistes and Bishops they sould their patrimony and gaue the price thereof to the poore and were diligent administrators of the patrimony of the church Epist. ad clerum Hierosolimitanum distributing to each one proportionably according to his degree and necessity S. Clement writeth that the common life was requisite and to be followed of those that addicted and yeelded themselues wholy to the seruice of God and to the imitation of the Apostles the like obseruation of life saint Gregory the greate wished saint Augustine to institute amongst the cleargy of england The same is also confirmed by the decree of Eugenius the 2. and Vrban Pope in his epistle to all the cleargy 2. Of this grew the Canons regulars which life began in the Apostles days and afterwardes was renewed and restored by by saint Augustine as Possidonius writeth Possid in vita â— Aug. that he had a monasterie within the church in the which nothing was propre but all was common But after that saint Augustine was deade and Hippo of which he was Bishoppe being destroyed and ransacked by the Vandales Gelasius a holy man of that institution with some others came into Italy being made Pope the rest that were with him liued most regulary in a monestary that was founded by them nere to the church of Lateran which continued 800. yeares vntill afterwardes thinges that were common were made proper euery one hauing a portion assigned vnto him Of this order of Canon regulars was saint Patricke the Apostle of Ireland and also saint Dominicke before he instituted his order In the primatiue church all preistes obserued this religious community and especially such as dwelling in citties and great townes had any charge in them as wee may read in saint Augustine but such as were ordeined to be incumbentes in the country Aug. ser 1 resertur 12. q. 2. in respect of seuerall parish churches and seuerall distinct incumbencies were permitted to haue seuerall prouisions and distinct benefices and as the christians encreased so their pastors and preistes increased also the spirituall want of the christians the maiestie of God and the dignity of the church requiring and exacting many seruantes to serue the one and many pastors and preistes to serue the other in the multitude whereof it were very hard to preserue and continew the splendor and sincerity of the former feruor and charity of that heroicall age which had as it were the florishinge springe and the first fruictes of the holy Ghost and therefore the prime and the cheefest season of holines and religion Of whose blessed vigor of piety the lesse wee sauor by tract of tyme the more our owne proper loue increaseth and the loue of God decreaseth 3. But in all ages God sendeth some to reforme the auncient discipline and to reuiue the languished vigor therof not only in themselues but in others especially in this so generall a corruption not only of nature but also of manners of religion and lawes of ciuill honesty and religious pietie as Ignatius Loiola 1540. began his reformation of the clergy and by the institution of his order confirmed by Paule the 3. Pope renued the old discipline by reducing his order and institution therunto It is also a matter of no lesse consideration then the former The founder of the order of the Societie of Iesus that in one night he was borne in the house of Loyola nere the towne of Bergara in Ipulcha a prouince betwixt Biscaie and the kingdome of Nauarre and Luther was borne in Saxony in a towne nere Wittenberge called Ilesby 1483. Surius vpon S. Martins daye Both of them employed theire wittes at one time the one to bring all religion and ecclesiasticall order to vtter confusion and miserable
the body in which it is norished a certaine disease that doth penetrate the intralles and doth corrupt and infest the soules of Christians and not only doth kill with her touche as the Viper doth or with her sighte as the Basilike or with her belching as the dragon but after all these fashions and many more doth destroy confounde and cast away all that approache it neither is there any other remedie but to flie nor any other refuge then to departe from such a one as is intangled with it no other security then to be far from such an infernall and contagious mischeefe which with the name of Christe destroieth Christ in our hartes and vnder the pretence of faith destroyeth faith And S. Augustine saith let euery Catholike flie and abhor them with whom the Church communicateth not for we ought not saieth he to haue parte with them that haue no participation with themselues and which are not vnited to the body of the whole Church and to conclude with our Sauiour one should neuer otherwise accompte of them then as of heathens and publicans and his holy Euangelist S. Iohn forbiddeth vs to salute them 11. Therfore gentle Reader these be sufficiēt reasons wherfore we should be loath to dispute with Protestantes which through their fall from godes Church are voide of all humility intoxicated with pride and are so blinded with malice that they cannot learne or imbrace the trueth or haue any trewe wisdome For as the holly scripture saith into a malicious soule wisdome shall not enter For in all ciuill conuersation or disputation especially in matters of religion we should intend nothinge els but the consolation of our soules and the edification of our neighbours and as the Apostle saith Non nosmetipsos sed Iesum Christum praedicamus not our selues or our owne glory should we ayme at but that of Christ Iesu whose cote without seame is rente in peeces by so many wilfull inuēted opinions of protestāts whose mysticall body I meane his Church is despised forsaken persecuted the fruite of whose doctrine and the proiect of their strange deuises tendes to nothinge els then to shake the very pillars stroungest foundations and fortresses of all Christianity and at lenght to bringe in all coldnes and doubtfulnesse in our beleefe and misbeleefe in the principaleste misteries in our Catholike religion plaine Athesime and confusion of all Christian piety a gate for all disorders and dissolution of life and manners a shipwreacke of Conscience and other marckable and sutable effectes to their doctrine and behauiour which are practised by them daily in all places where they beare sway And although euery man as S. Naz. saith may thinke of God but not euery man dispute of him so euery man ought not to dispute or doubte of the cheefest misteries of Catholike religion but beleeue them simply with the vniuersall Church which is accordinge the Apostle the firmamente and foundation of trueth and therfore can not in any sorte deceaue vs. Lib. I. CHAPTER I. WHether the Religiō which Protestants professe be a newe Religion or whether the Romish Religion be new and that of the Protestants be ancient and ould CHAPTER II. The occasion of Luthers and of other heretiques fal from the Catholike Church fol. 13 CHAPTER III. By what deceite hypocrisie and dissimulation this heresie crept in to other Countries by what periurie and forgerie they were deluded by it and what destruction and desolation it brought with it fol. 21 CHAPTER IV. That heresies are the cause of Reuolutiō of Countries and destruction of state fol. 30 CHAPTER V. A prosecution of the laste Chapter that heresies are the causes of troubles and disquiettnes fol. 49 CHAPTER VI. That God doth extende the rodde of his wrath vpon Princes and common welthes infected with heresies fol. 43 CHAPTER VII Of the miserable death and endes of such as deuised and defended the protestant Religion as also other heresies fol. 61 Lib. II. CHAPTER I. Whether there be nothing that the Protestantes affirmatiuely beleeue confesse and professe but the Church of Rome doth beleeue the same and cannot be denied by Catholiques but that they are most auncient and consonant to the word of God fol. 71 CHAPTER II. A further Confirmation that these new ghospellers tende directly to Turcisme f. 83 CHAPTER III. Whether Papist Priestes do amisse in taking any thinge for their Masses fol. 86 CHAPTER IV. Of prayinge vnto Saints And whether the Church doth offend in praying vnto them fol. 91 CHAPTER V. Whether Papistes doe err in worshipping and adorning the reliques of Saints whether they sell their Masse and praiers for tēporall gaine fol. 102 CHAPTER VI. Whether Papists do commit Idolatrie in worshipping the Crosse of Iesus Christ f. 129. Lib. III. CHAPTER I. Whether Papistes blaspheme against God in sayinge that any man can merite fol. 150 CHAPTER II. Protestants say that a Christian though neuer so vertuous or so acceptable to God hath no grace or vertue inherent in him because they would haue no good acte to come from man by reason of that grace fol. 157 CHAP. III. In that heretiques reprehend the Catholique Church yea cōdemne her of great folly for endeuouring her selfe to receaue godes graces they by this meane take away free will from man and all due preparation and disposition to receaue godes grace and diuine influence fol. 161 CHAP. IV. Whether we derogate from the merites of Christ in making our merites partakers of his merits fol. 169 CHAP. V. The absurdity of this doctrine that euerie one should assure himselfe that he it predestinated vnto life euerlasting and that we ought to be as certaine thereof as we should not once feare the contrary or to misdoubt the same is discussed fol. 186 Lib. 4. CHAP. I. Whether the holy scriptures be for Protestantes and not for Papistes and whether we rely vpon traditions not warranted by holy Scripture fol. 193 CHAP. II. Whether euery man ought to be iudge of the scripture and rely altogether vpon his owne iudgement touching the interpretation therof being inspired by the holly ghost concerning the same fol. 208 CHAP. III. How heretiques would faine take away all tradition alleadging for their purpose that of S. Math. 15. In vaine you worship me teaching for doctrine mens precepts fol. 213 CHAP. IV. Certaine obiections answered against traditions taken out of the first Chapter of S. Paule to the Galathians fol. 231 CHAP. V. Whether we prohibit the scriptures to be translated into the vulgar tounge fol. 234 CHAP. VI. Whether we forbid the ignorante to pray in a languadge which they vnderstand f. 240 CHAP. VII Whether a man ought not to pray either by himselfe or by another but in a language he vnderstandeth fol. 251 Lib. V. CHAP. I. Whether the Church vniuersall can be charged with errors contrary to the first institution of the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist fol. 259 CHAP. II. Whether the Catholique Church doth add to this Sacrament in making it
which blessed name none disdayned none were called Gospellers Lutherans Caluinists Zuinglians Protestantes or Puritans Anabaptistes Trinitarians or any other sect with innumerable others which the Protestant religion hath sett abroach and inuented men were simple and honest in their dealinges faithfull of their promisses charitable in their workes zealous in their beleefe obediente vnto their Prelates and Pastors This is soe euident a trueth as that all bookes recordes generall and prouinciall councells all parleamentes of kingdomes all vnctions and inuestinge of Emperours and Kinges all consecration of Bishoppes all holy orders of Priestes all churches monasteries and chappels in the worlde all the gates of townes and cyttyes all monuments and recordes both spirituall and temporall all vniuersities and doctours of Christendome both comon and ciuill lawes of all countries yea Protestantes themselues doe plainly witnesse 3. But that Protestant religion is new is a thing most certeine for there are men yet liuinge at this day more auncient then it and can remember when it first came into England and Irelande Wee can shewe you the first inuentours and authors therof The place the time and the occasion by which it crepte in and infected these miserable nor then countries Who haue opposed themselues against it What garboyles callamities came into those countryes that nourished the same What rebellion and insurrectiō of subiects against their princes for defending the same What were the motiues of such as inuented yt and occasions of others that imbraced it The successe of the one and the other and by whome and how the same was condemned I pray you what can be more euident signes and tokens of noueltie for noueltie in all common wealthes but especially in matters of religion as S. Nazianzenus saith is to be auoided yea the Emperour of the Turckes did aduise the Queene of Transiluania to beware of the noueltie of hereticall sectes and that shee should neuer suffer the same to creepe into her countrie It is well knowen also that the name of protestāt religion was neuer heard of before the yeare of our Lord 1529. in the towne of Spira in Germany where the Lutheranes beinge as it were combined against the Emperour Charles the 5. did vse a kinde of protestation wherupon afterwardes they were called Protestantes 4. If thou say that it lay lurkinge and hidden in the worlde I aske where or in what place of the world in what kingdomes and townes or who were the defenders therof Truly no writer or historiographer did or could euer make mētion of any such nor euer before that time any mention was made of them nor was it euer heard that any hereticall secte was so closelie hidden in the worlde but it might be knowen at least when Luther himselfe taught the same they should then haue manifested themselues and yet we can finde none such for such as followed Luther they were before Catholickes Ex nobis prodierunt saith Saint Iohn sed non erant ex nobis Ioan. 2. They went foorth frō vs but they were not of vs for if they had bin of vs they had remayned with vs it is cleare therfore they were not good Christians who forsakinge the narrowe way of saluation runne headlonge into the broade way of perdition and licentious doctrine of newe sectaries Whereas the religion of Christ is a religion moste auncient sacred immutable impregnable inuiolable alwaies the selfe same holdinge and continuinge his vigor and force vnto the worldes ende it is the soule and life of the Church For euen as by the soule fleash is vnited vnto the liuinge man soe by religion mākinde is ioyned vnto the church of Christe beinge his spirituall kingdome and all that euer were saued either before Iustinus mart orat ad Anto. Aug. l 10 confess ca. 43. or after Christe oughte to be called Christians as Iustinus martyr and other holy Doctors doe say for that they embraced Christian religion and as saint Augustine saith Ipse vnigenitus Dei silius homo propter nos factus est c. The only begotten Sonne of God became man for vs that he should become the head of his whole Church against which the gates of hell shall not preuaile Matt. 16. vnto whome Christe promised to remaine withall vnto the consumation of the worlde Matt. vlt. So that the religion by which this church is vpheld and Christe professed did and shall allwaies continue 5. It is well knowen that the name of hugonots began in France an 1562. as themselues of their assēblies made in the nighte at a gate in Tours in France called Hugon confesse to haue taken their denomination went out of the Catholique churche and did embrace the impiety of Caluine In Scotland they fell alsoe from the Catholique Church into Caluinisme anno Domini 1560. In Flanders the Geuses reuolted from the said church ouerwhelmed in the pit of soe manny heresies anno 1566. In England they chaunged religion anno 1535. and first fell vnto Lutheranisme afterwardes to Zuinglianisme afterwardes the bodye of the realme fell from Zuinglianisme to puritanisme the next degree vnto Anabaptisme and since what numbers are fallen to the familie of loue And what swarmes of Athistes are sprunge vpp in euerie shire as Whittguifte noteth against Cartwrith 6. Are not the first Authours of the protestancy also knowen as Luther Carolastadius Oecolampadius in Germanie Pharell in France Thomas Crammer in England Iohn knox and Paule Methen a baker in Scotland George Browne in Irlād In the Apologie of the church of England pag. 142 it is said that Luther and Zuinglius came first to the knowledge of the truth Luth. tom 7. f. 307. and preaching of the ghospell Luther said that God reuealed vnto him the knowledge of his Sōne that he at lenghte might euangelize it to others and that the Gospell was first preached by him D Kellyson reply to Surcliffe fol. 149. But we knowe that they cannot alleadge the author of our religion neither can they nominate vs from any particuler man nor can they chardge the Catholique church with any priuate opinion or faith that is not vniuersally allowed embraced of all Catholiques neither can they nominate the time that shee fayled of her faith Neither can they obiect that our church hath separated herselfe from the greater church or that such as did adhere to the Pope were in number lesse then any Church For it is written in S. Gregories Epistles to the Bishoppes of the Easte that Affrique Spaine France Italie and all the worlde did communicat with him This verie argument other Doctours did vse against other heretiques as Tertullian Tertull. lib. de praescrip Qui estis vos inquit c. What are yee saith he from whence and when came you where did you lie hidden all this while alsoe Optatus mileuita lib. 2. contra Parmenand Vestrae inquit Cathedrae originem ostendite c. Shew the beginninge of your Chaire you who challenge vnto your selues the churche
written and said these wordes vnto him For thy errors and peruerse faith I will cutt shorte of they life 14. yeares blotted out his name who a lâ—ttle afterwardes was slaine by a thunderbolte neither will I handle the miserable end of Constantius Copronimus who was soe forsaken of God that he cried out and said I am cast into a fire Sigib An. 776. which shal neuer be quenched neither of Philip who impugned sacred Images degraded and put from the Empire and his name taken out of the Coyne and publicke Roules yea and blotted out of the Masse neither of Leon Isaurus Emperor also Ion. lib. 7. de vitis illust Geneb in Chron. Cedrenus Zonaras greci scriptores Mich. ab Iselt hist Surius hist who lost the occidental Empire and was the cause that Gregorie the 3. did transfer it to Germanye and the same translation confirmed by Leo the 3. Nether of George Pobibratius who persistinge in his obstinacie and perfidiousnes was excomunicated by the Pope and lost both the kingdome of Bohemia and his life The like did happen also in our dayes to Christiernus kinge of Denmarke who forsakinge the Catholicke faith was depriued both of his kingdome and libertie For omittinge more exaÌ„ples it is well knowen that God doth not only punish wicked Princes with woefull endes but also their kingdomes and Prouinces who embraced heresies And although the inconstaÌ„t course of this chaungeable worlde is such that noe kingdome or monarchie can houlde it selfe stedfaste or firme or free from reuolutions yet fatall chaunce and alteration for the most parte proceeded of heresies diuersitie of sectes in religion and this you shall know by historicall discourses if you will rippe vpp and peruse the anciente beginninges of these disastorous euentes The reuolutions of of the Romane Empire began by the Goathes 2. The Goathes were the firste that made their inundation in the prouinces of the weast Empire and made also hauock of the auncient monumeÌ„ts of the Romans the monarkes thereof abusinge their powerfull force and strenght accordinge to their owne sensuall affections and beastlie concupiscence ecclesiasticall censures beinge not obeyed for that the most parte of the Christian Princes held in contempte by the instigation of heretickes then springinge vpp all spirituall regiment and iurisdiction of the Church The Goathes brocken by heresie Carol. Sig. de occid â—mp l. 8. The Goathes themselues as longe as they were Catholikes were most valiant conquerors but by the instigation of their Bushopp called Vlsillus an Arrian hereticke they were presentlie deuided by sectes and discordes and ouercome by the Hunnes Atilla their kinge like a most raginge swifte streame ouerunning and destroying all where he came till he had dispossessed those Goathes of all the Prouinces they had taken Libr. 2. sacrae hist epist 93. And when those Goathes came to Spaigne and ouercame it the hereticks called the Priscillians infected it When the Vandalles destroied Affrike and made themselues Lordes of the same Africque confounded by heresie the hereticks called the Donaitstes peruerted and sowed their heresies there Africi abundantes immense multitudine Donatistarum quibus praecipites se dederunt in gurgitem turpitudinum vnde Deivindicta factum est vt dedignantes sanctis obtemperare sacerdotibus c. As Saluianus Bishopp of Marcell and Caesar Baronius seteth downe Ann. 427. 428. when Affricke did abounde with infinite swarmes of Donatistes by which they were owerwhelmed in the gulfe of all filthines by meanes whereof and for not obeyinge the holie priestes the wrath of God was executed vppon them and by the iuste iudgment of the almighty they were rendred vp to the mercilesse and bloodye handes of the Barbarians France destroied in time of heresie Likewise when the Franckes breakinge out of Germanie wasted all France the heresie of Vigilantius tooke footinge therin And when the Longobardes occupied and spoiled Italie Italy destroied by heresie diuers sortes of heresies were embraced there especially againste the councel of Constantinople and Chalcedon As also when the Normanes violentlie rushed into France the French shewed litle obedience to the Churche 3. But what shall I say of that wreatched and miserable tyme when the Sarasins breakinge out of Arabia despoiled and wasted the most notable partes of all Asia with soe many sharpe stormes and troublesome garboiles The Easte in a miserable estate by heresie Was not this pestilente generation first set abroache by the instigation of wicked Mohomett borne for the ruyne and destruction of mankinde whose force the diuision and heresies of Nestorius in the easte encreasinge more and more encreased Was not Sergius for that he was exiled out of Constantinople for that heresie of Nestorius the helper of this Mahomett against the Catholicke religion as Luther and Caluine doe now a daies helpe and further the Turcks and other reprobates of that staÌ„pe and liuerie against the Catholicke Church Marcell in Chron. Cesa 10 6 An. 445. Was not such a tumultuous broyle and confuse disorder made at Constantinople by the procurement of the heretickes the verie tyme when Nestorius hatched his heresie as that Marcellinus doth reporte 445. that the sedition was soe greate that many kild themselues yea such a slaughter was comitted that the streates did stincke with dead carcasses famine pestilence disease wreacke of all thinges which did happen there the chefe Church of that noble Cittie beinge burned soe as no sooner did that ougly blossome bud forth Marc. 24. Daniel 9. but that noble Cittie of all Citties before that heresie most florishinge was become most lamentable and desolate for heresie euer bringeth with it abhomination and desolation as the sacred scriptures proue Constantinople taken Afterwardes in the yeare of our Lord 1453. the said Cittie was distroyed and taken by the Babylonian and Turkish Pharao for that they held diuers heresies against the holly Ghoste and for that they did breake from the determination of the Councells of florence wherein they were reunited vnto the Romaine Church their Emperor Iohn Paleogus and their Patriarche consentinge thervnto And as longe as religion did florish in Greece their Empire alsoe did florish and when religion failed their Empire was tourned vnto a perpetuall moorninge and pittifull slauerie of vnsufferable tyrantes and Sathanicall crewe of Turkish burden And in the yeare 1558. the Prouince of Libonia which was of the knightes of our Lady de Teutonica was taken by the Duke of Muscouia when they loste their faith and ymbraced the heresie of Luther Hungarie and Trasiluania may to their great cost beare wittnesse also that this is true who forsakinge their Catholicke faith are ouerwhelmed with the infernall thraldome of turkish Pharao 4. Wherfore should I not spreake of great Brittaine sith Gildas that most eloquente and aunciente trewe writter of that tyme saith The Brittaines brought for their aâ—de the Englishmen againste the Pictes and Scottes at which time it was altogether
other places was kild by an Englishe dogge that himselfe brought vpp 4. The Bastard of Scotland The Earle of Moray his death Iames Earle of Moray that troubled Scotland with the same heresie in his greatest triumphe beinge accompanied with 500. horsemen at Lith was shott by a gunn by which he was slaine the author therof escapinge harmles notwithstanding he was admonished the night before that there was such a plot laid for his destruction yet he did not shunn it Iames Duglas Earle of Morton a great defender of Caluinisme and persecutor of the Catholiques was beheaded at Edenborough for treason against his maiesties Father 5. The first that broughte it to Denmarque was Christiernus king of that Countrie who was depriued of his kingdome and banished by his subiectes and beinge by the intreatie of Charles the fifte and Henry the 8. his kinsmen retourned home was apprehended of his subiectes and caste into a filthie caue where he ended his life most miserablie The first who preached protestancy in Ireland 6. The first that euer preached protestancie in Ireland was George Browne who in kinge Harries daies was made Archbishoppe of Dublin the capital cittie of the kingdome of Ireland and the first sunday he preached the protestant religion at Dublin he made a Catholique sermon at Christs Churche and desired his audience neuer to beleue him if through frailtie of the flesh feare of the Prince or loue to temporall interesse he should preache the contrarie and the verie next sonday ymediatly followinge he preached protestant religion which was nothinge els then a deniall of that which he preached the sonday before Vnto whom some of the Aldermen of that Cittie said My â—o doe you not remember that yow wished vs not to beleue you if happilie yow should preach the contrarie of that yow preached the sonday before To whom he answered sainge I must needes haue done soe or else haue lost my liuing This man when Queene Marie came in vpon his recantation was restored to his liuinge the night that his Bul came ouer he was found dead in the morninge Some said he died for verie great ioy about mid-night when vppon the suddaine he receaued newes that he was restored to his Archbishoprique 7. Norfolks his death The Duke of Norfolke which gaue his verditt for the supplantinge of Catholique religion and for the aduancinge of the protestancye with Queene Elizabeth in her first parleament assembled for that purpose beinge therunto solicited by his Brother in lawe the Earle of Arundell vnder pretence to marrie the said Queene vnto whome shee made a promisse of mariadge Sanderus de schismate Angliae if the said Earle with his faction would helpe her for the alteringe of religion was arraigned condemned of highe treason and was beheaded for the same which a certaine â—atrone meeting him goinge from the pleament prophesied tellinge him that he should neuer haue a better ende or rewarde of them for whome he gaue his voyce and suffrage against the Catholique religion And the said Earle beinge frustrated of his purpose and deceaud of his hope died soone after for verie greefe and without issue and perhapps if he should haue liued longer he should haue tasted that Cuppe for his labour that his brother in lawe had done before him The said Duke his eldest sonne called Philip Howarde and Earle of Arundell was arraigned condemned of highe treason and died in the Tower of London 8. Sr. Iohn Perott when he was Lord presidente of the Prouince of Mounster in Irelande was the first that caused the parish priests and other incombents of porte Townes in that Prouince to ymbrace the English seruice which when they tould him they could not vnderstand the English his aunsweare was that they should chatter like Geese He putt to death a prieste called Sr. Thomas Coursie vicar of Kinsale by marshall lawe for that he went to perswade Sr. Iames fitz-Morice to restore the praye which he had taken froÌ„ Kinsale This man in the middest of his greatest honor beinge lorde deputie of Ireland and one of the preuie Councell of England was apprehended arraigned and condemned of high treason and died verie miserably in the tower his landes and goodes beinge all confiscated Deut. 31. 9. Laudate gentes populum eius quia sanguinem seruorum suorum vlciscetur vindictam retribuet in hostes eorum Let the gentiles praise gods people because he shall reuenge the blood of his seruants and will pay home their enemies with a reuenge as may appeare by the horrible and dreadfull punishment of all other persecutors and heretiques As of Pharao the first persecutor of Gods Churche Exod 14. Of Dathan and Abiron the first Scismatiques Numeri 16. of Iezabell 4. Reg. 9. of Antiochus 2. Machab. 9. Of Pilat who killed himselfe as Euseb writes lib. 2. c. 7. declares the destruction of the Iewes which Iosephus setts downe lib. de bello Iudaico Of Herod Ascolonita who was eaten by woormes after he had slaine his wyfe and Children and went about to slay himselfe as Iosephus declareth lib 17 antiquita cap. 9. Of Herod the Tetrach who lost his kingdome liued in perpetuall banishment accordinge to the said Ioseph lib. 18 cap. 14. of the daughter of Herodiades read Nicheporus lib. 1. caput 20. of Herod Agrippa read Act. 12. Nero Domitian and other wicked Emperors who persecuted the Church eyther slewe themselues or else were slaine by others as all histories doe wyttnes Dioclesian for that he could not destroie the Church for verie greefe gaue ouer his Empire the Emperor Maximianus and Maximine were chasticed with such a horrible disease that the Pagan Phisitians said it was the plague of God as Eusebius wrieth in Chronico lib. 8. hist cap. vlt. lib. 9. cap. vlt. 10. As touchinge old heretiques they tasted the like dreadfull death Simon Magus when he would flye by the praiers of S. Peter he fell headlonge downe and was kilde Egesippus lib. 3. caput 1. de excidio Also Arnobius l. 2. con gentes Manicheus the heretique was flaid aliue by the kinge of Persea because intendinge to cure his daughter he kild her Epiph. heres 66. Montaine Theodotus their prophets hanged themselues Euseb lib. 5. hist cap. 19. The Donatistes that cast the Eucharist vnto dogges were torne in peeces by the said doggs Optat. lib. 1. Parmenianum Arius goinge to Church went to purge nature when together which his excrementes he did cast fourth all his intralles and presentlie died as S. Athanasius wittnesseth oratione cont Arrianos Ruff. lib. 10. hist cap. 13. And although there may be some hereticall Princes or Common wealthes that haue not felt as yett any of these calamities and perhappes they bragge and boast of their great pleasures and prosperitie noe otherwise then the woman doth in the Apocalipes sedeo regina vidua non sum luctum non videbo I sitt as a Queene I am not a widdowe and
I shall not bewaile trulie at lenght after all their great security they shall haue a sudden fall and let them take example by the dolefull ouerthrowe of others that haue lead their liues in pleasures and haue abused their power againste godes Church and the members thereof let all men knowe that all heresies be fatall ominous and vnfortunate especially to the first professors thereof Vltio sanguinis seruorum tuorum qui effusus est introcat in conspectu tuo gemitus compeditorum Psal 7. Whether there be nothing that the Protestants affirmatiuely beleeue confesse and professe but the Church of Rome doth beleeue the same and cannot be denyed by Catholiques but that they are most auncient and consonant with the word of God CHAPTER I. 1. ALl Heretiques say as Lactantius reportes that their owne religion is verie good and agreable to the word of God Lib. 4 diuinist cap. vlt. and better then others It is naturall to euerie beast according to Pliny to thinke his owne shape more beautifull then the rest Plin. lib. 8. cap. â—4 Plin. ibid. yea such as are most deformed thinkes themselues most beautifull as the Apes doe which though they do counterfeit mens shapes or gestures neuer so much cannot be said to haue the forme of men so these sectaries though they like Apes in imitation haue taken from vs some partes out of the Masse as may appeare and in their spirituall courtes visitations conuocations and excommunications although in deede none ought to excommunicate but he that can absolue they by their owne doctrine cannot absolue therfore they cannot excommunicate yet for all that they cannot be said to haue the trewe forme of Religion or the trewe Church for the ecclesiasticall forme and gouernment of your Protestantes is reiected by the Puritantes contemned by the ministers of Caluine and Beza and other Hugonottes of France as part of the reliques of Antechrist your common praier booke being called by them in contempt the missall of England Yf such as yow yourselues cales protestants do disprooue your Religion to be altogether against the woord of God how much more will the Romish Church say the like who doe differ from yow almost in euerie point 2. In the Booke of dangerous positioÌ„s in the 9. chapter set forth Anno 1593. by Doctor Bancraft of Canterburie it is alleadged that the Puritants do say of the comon booke of publick praiers videlicet that it is full of corruption and that many of the contentes thereof are against the woord of God the sacramentes wickedly mangled and prophaned therin the Lordes supper not eaten but made a pageant and stage play that their publique baptisme is full of childish superstitious toyes so many Puritants did write against it that England will neuer do well vntill that booke be burned 1. admonitio ad Parla pag. 9 41. 43. Also the superintendeÌ„t of Rateburge and the cheefest ministers in Germanie hauing read Caluines woorckes printed An. 1592. at Francfort In timore Domini saith he legi relegi dico in Christo Iesu c. Caluinistarum lib. 3. in pref Apost lib. 1. a. 2. fol. 9. I haue read and perused them the space of 23. yeares I auoutch it before IESVS Christ saith he that all the Caluinistes do nourish in their breastes the Aryan Turkish ympietie and that they open windowes and gates for Arianisme and Mahometisme as our bookes publickly set forth do manifest the same and so brought an example of Adam Newser the cheefe Pastor of the Church of Hedelberge Ibid. f. 9. who from a Zuinglian be came an Arian and afterwardes a Turcke which three sectes I meane Caluinisme Arianisme and Mahometisme Iohn Schutz in lib. 50. Causarum causa 48. another protestant Doctor calles them three briches of one cloathe and that fellowe hauinge gone vnto Constantinople Anno 1574. did writt that none became an Arian which first was not a Caluinist and brought example of Seruetus Blandrata Alciatus Franciscus Dauidis Gentilis Gribaldus Siluanus and others 3. There was printed a booke 1586. at Iena in Saxony by a Lutheran minister the Tittle whereof was An admonition from the woord of God that Caluinistes be not Christians but Iewes and baptized Mahometts Also 2. yeares afterwards another was set fourth at Tubinge by Philipp Nicholas minister the tittle whereof was a detection of the Caluinian sect to agree with the Arians and Nestorians in the groundes and foundations of their religion and that no Christian can ioyne with the Caluinistes but that he must defend the Arians and the Nestorians Sleid hist lib. 19. An. 47. Bernardinus Ochinus being the first principall Apostle of England in kinge Edwardes his dayes with Peter Martyr Martyne Buzer Okinus in lib. dialog Zanchius de vno Deo Beza ep 1. par 11. Bal. in pref act Rom Pontific Calu. lib. 1 de scandalis pa. 136 An. 1593. pag. 44. and Paulus Phalangius vnto whose direction both the vniuersities of England were comitted did oppugne the blessed Trinitie the deitie of Christ and of the holy Ghost so as Beza called him the fauorer of the Arian heresie and a scoffer at all Christian religion yet neuerthelesse one Iohn Bale somtimes Bishopp of Ossorie in Ireland calles this Bernardin and Peter Martyr the light of the Ghospell of England and Caluine saith that the said Bernardine was borne for the happines of England It is said also in the suruey of the pretended holy discipline printed at London that the sect of Caluinistes is a cancker and another Thalmud which by their wicked rebellion against their lawfull Princes haue founded their ghospell and Church which by their intollerable arrogancy do oppose themselues against all sacred Doctors against all venerable Councells and against all the florishing Churches that euer were from Christ his tyme vntill our dayes that there is no place of Scripture which they do not wrest from the lawfull sense thereof neuer before knowen by the Church of God and that it had beene good for England that none brought vpp in the filthie schoole of Geneua or Scotland had euer entred into England 4. Conradus a Protestant writeth that Caluine sayeth that the merittes of Christ cannot preuaile against the iudgment of God Also he affirmed Caluine to write that the blood of Christ was of no force to blott out sinnes and that aboue 1500. yeares it was putrified fo 84. 85. 87. Curaeus in spongia fol. 250. Erast pag. 29. Fridericus Borussius pag. 45 Osiander in confess haue written the like impietie with many other blasphemies which yow may read in the Caluini Turcismo lib. 4. c. 22 Other Lutheran writters make bookes of the contradictories and contradictions of Caluine Caluini Theolog. lib. 1. f. 85 Luth. lib. de Sacrament fol. 376. Orthodox Conf. en le Tigurine tract 3. fol. 127. Luth. tom 6. Ienues Germa fol. 257. the tittle whereof is called Laberinthi inextricabiles contradictionum The intricatt Laberinthes of contradictions
respecte that kingdomes and nations are subiecte to conquestes and inuasion of strange nations which alwayes for the most parte bringe with them their languadge vtterly defacinge the languadge of the country conquered soe also in these countries there muste be alterations of trāslations of scriptures which cannot be done without great danger of the corruption thereof either in respect of the ignorance or malice of the trāslators especiallie if they be heretiques which neuer translated the scriptures trulie being carried away by their passsionat affection of their heresie And therfore S. Hierom founde great faulte Hier epist ad Paulinum that the scripture should be soe common and in contempte for saith he talkatiue ould women and doting ould men the cauelinge Sophiste all men doe presume to speake of scripture they rent the scriptures in peeces they teach it before they learne it When S. Basil heard the cheefe cooke of the Emperor in his presence to speake of scriptures he reprehended him sayinge Tuum est de pulmentis cogitare non dogmata diuina decoquere it is thy office to thincke vppon thy cooquerie not to play the Cooke in diuine misteries I am sure if these fathers were liuinge in this wicked age to see the Cobler the Tailor the Tapster speake and dispute of scriptures and alsoe to preach in the pulpitt they would sharplie reprehend them Whether we forbid the ignorante to pray in a languadge which they vnderstand CHAPTER V. 1. Cor 14. 1. THe heretiques obiect vnto vs the wordes of S. Paul saying he that speaketh with the tongue let him pray that he may interprete for if I pray with the tonge my spirite prayeth but my vnderstandinge is without fruite I answere that although it be not fruitfull for his vnderstandinge yet it is fruitefull for his deuotion for here is noe mention made of any other tonges but of such as men did speake in the primitiue churche by miracle as of spirituall collations and exhortations which the christians were wont to make to praise God and not of those lāguadges which were then common to all the world as Hebrewe greeke and latine in which the scriptures both olde and newe were written For it is a palpable and grosse deceit and cogginge of the heretiques to say that the vertue and efficacie or the Sacramentes and sacrifice oblations prayers and religion dependeth vppon the peoples vnderstandinge hearing or knowledge the principall operation and force therof and of the whole misterie of the Church consistinge especially in the verie vertue of the worcke and the publicke office of the priestes who are appointed by Christe to dispose the misteries to our saluation The infant innocente idiott and vnlearned takinge noe lesse fruite by baptisme and all other diuine offices then the learnedest clearcke yea more if they be more humble charitable deuoute and obedient and perhappes wee see more often the simple to be more deuoute and the learned more rechles and more colde for deuotion doth not consiste in the vnderstandinge vnles the will be well affected 2. S. Augustine said of the common people non intellgendi vluacitas sed credendi simplicitas tutissimum facit It is not quicknes of vnderstanding but simplicitie of beleefe that shall saue vs And in another place he saith Si propter solos eos Christus mortuus est sui certa intelligentia possunt quae ad fidem pertinent discernere penè frustra in Ecclesia laboranus If Christe had died onlie for such as can vnderstand well the misteries of our faith in vaine well should labour in godes church for God doth rather respect your simple beleefe then your deepe vnderstandinge the affection of the will concerning your faith then the hawtie knowledge of your loftie minde Charitas aedificat scientia inflat as the Apostle saith charitie doth fruictifie to edification when science serueth for the moste parte to ostentation soe as our Sauiour did speake vnto the common people in parables whose simplicitie and godly affection did proffitt more therby then the wordlie wisdome and proud knowledge of the arrogant and swellinge Scribes and Pharesies 3. Doe you thincke that the children of the Hebrewes did vnderstande when they cried in the Temple Osanna filio Dauid Or that our Sauiour was displeased therby for that they vnderstoode it not but the priests and scribes were much confounded therby saying Audis quid isti dicunt truly our Sauiour was not discontented at the prayses of those littles ones for then the prophesie was fulfilled ex ore infantium lactentium c. thou makest an instrument of the tender infante and suckinge babe to magnifie and praise thy name to the confusion and ouerthrowe of thine enemies seinge the ende of all the scriptures and of the lawe of God and man and of the science and knowledge thereof is true and perfecte charitie inflaminge and inkendlinge our hartes with the firie loue both of God and our neighbors flowinge and florishing abondantlie with all fruitfull exercises and worckes of mercie pietie and religion as the Apostle saith plenitudo legis est dilectio the fulnes of the lawe is charitie 4. The experience of the catholique flocke in agreeing and submittinge themselues to the seruice of the church in the vniuersall and common languadge thereof and of their great increase and charitie pietie deuotion religion therby as their shinning resplendent vertues of their godly conuersation and their externall worckes of mercie may wittnesse and confirme the same and the example of the contrarie practise in fewe yeares paste of these new euangelistes or pretended reformers as in disagreeing from the common vse and custome of the whole churche and reuoltinge from the obedience thereof auoucheth no lesse as also the smale or noe fruite at all that their vulgar and confused translations haue brought both vnto themselues and to their miserable and scabbed flocke which like giddy heades and itchinge braines were not contented nor setled therein but conceaued great loathsomnes thereof like the children of Israell who hauinge soe earnestlie sought vnto themselues a kinge yet when he did raigne ouer them nothinge was more toilsome vnto them Puritants cares nott for prayers soe as nothinge is more troublesom vnto your carnal appetites then any sett prayers or seruice in your vulgar translations which the puritantes doe protest to be collected out of the Popes portuis Masse Admonitio parleamenti and consequentlie verie distastfull vnto them Admonition parl pag. 45. and for this cause by the protestants of englande are censured as scismatickes Was euer their stinge more venemous or their bookes more exasperatinge or more vehement against the seruice of the church in the latine tounge then it i◠this day against the booke of comon prayer set forth in the englishe tonge and set seruice in your owne churches I haue reade the slanderous and bitinge booke of Thomas Cartwrithe oppugninge the same against doctor White-guifte Bishopp of Canterburie for defending it
whosoeuer will eate the bread or drincke the Chalice of our Lorde vnworthilie did vse the wordes disiunctiuelie not copulatiuelie in which place S. Ambrose did read aut that is to saie or in the Greeke H. which is a disiunctiue particle and a disiunctiue commaundement is fulfilled if one parte be perfourmed as it is said in Exodus Exod. 15. he that killeth his father mother let him die the deathe for the sense is he that killeth his father or mother shall die because the one was sufficient Also in the actes Cap. 3. S. Peter beinge demaunded almes answered that he had not siluer and goulde that is not siluer nor goulde else he had not answered sufficiently siluer onlie suffisinge to giue almes And although we should graÌ„t that Christ did giue a precepte to the laytie to receaue Christ vnder both kindes yet the laytie doe aswell receaue both vnder one kinde as vnder two for he receaueth flesh and blood in the one and in the other For although by effecte and force of the wordes and sacramentall forme hoc est corpus meum this is my bodie Christs bodie is there yet his blood soule and diuinitie are also there by due consequence and concomitance all these beinge inseparable since his resurrection vnited in Christs person and soe vnder the forme of bread the laytie receaue Christes blood with the bodie though not in forme of drincke or drinckinge but eatinge Cypr. ser de caena Dom. epist 3. for which cause S. Cyprian called it eatinge of Christes blood 19. This is also proued à posteriori by the maruelous effect and euente of receauinge vnder one kinde in the combustion and miserable troubles of the last warres in Fraunce procured by Caluine and Beza and other firebrandes their followers that rushed out of hell for destruction of their countrie Caluine sendinge a Minister of his called North vnto Rochell who hauinge corrupted with his poisoned heresie the Mayor of that towne with many of the cheefest did surprize it and his last attempte was to seaze vpon the poore catholique cleargie which beinge gathered together into a church and expectinge nothinge else then to fall into the cruell handes of this diuilish minister the Abbott of S. Bartholomew which was the cheefest and the learnedst of that clergie beinge in number 24. tooke a loafe of bread and did vse the woordes of consecration applyinge it to the bread for he durst not haue the blessed Sacramente in the pixe accordinge to the custome of the church least those damned and impious crewe should cast it to their dogges as they hade done in other churches in Fraunce and euerie one of that heauie clergie did receaue Domini vic ticum which before the receauinge thereof were both fraile in faith and fearfull of death and readie to make shippwreacke of their profession and religion as I was tould by men of good creditt in that towne but after the consumation thereof they were soe firme and soe constante that euerie one of those 24. except one did endure a most cruell and vilde death which is knowen to all both catholiques and heretiques at Rochell to wit that euerie one of them with a stone about his necke was cast downe headlonge oute of the highest pinnacle of the highe tower in the entrie of the keaye of Rochell into the sea with men in Boates readie to knocke them downe into the bottome of the sea if perhappes anie of them shoulde swimme vpon the water 20. The vertuous Queene both of FraÌ„ce and Scotlande Marie Steward the Kinges mother had the blessed Sacramente reserued in a little pixe which shee her selfe receaued a little before her execution by which noe doubte shee constantlie and most patientlie did endure such a violente death as is knowen to the worlde Wee knowe that the vse of the Chalice did succeede ill vnto all those kingdomes and regions that obserued the same The wofull lott of sectaries for in the east besides that they were infected with sundrie errors and heresies they are plunged into the yoke of the miserablest captiuitie that euer was vnder that damnable tyrant the enemie both of God and man In the countries of the weast alsoe they which doe and did obserue that custome are not onlie now ouerwhelmed and ingulfed in all pernitious and blasphemous heresies but alsoe intoxicated with hatred itched with ambition confounded with tumultuous in surrections and turbulent rebellious wearied with bloodie and cruell warres and defiled with all impudicitie of beastly concupiscence and corrupted with all exercise of extortion iniustice and besides their labours are without fruite their soules without conscience their liues without honestie and their conuersation without shame they are become plaine Aâ—histes worse then either Iewe Turcke or Gentile 21. And in all those countries of the east and weast where nowe this wicked heresie infecteth worse then ether the poison of vipers or the corrupte aire of Basilisks the people especially the nobilitie were diuided into factions and hatred euerie one employinge his best time and his greatest skill to be reuenged vpon his competitors and therfore did embrace this heresie not for godes sake but for a reuenge wherby he might satisfie his vnlawfull ambition and filthie desires for as the wise-man saith Anima callida quasi ignis ardens non extinguetur donec aliquid deglutiat A turbulent minde is like a burninge flame of fire which shall hardly be extinguished vntill he shall deuoure consume somwhat And the Princes that fauoure these heresies are soe miscarried misled with this vnsatiable thirst both of ambition leacherie and couetousnes although they pretend religion herein that they shall neuer be satisfied nor their thirst shal be extinguished thoughe all the Chalices in the world had ben giuen vnto them It was graunted by the councell of Basil the vse of the chalice to the kingdome of Bohemia and the same permitted vnto them by Paulus 3. and by his 3. Legates that he did send to Germanie as also by Charles the fifte this graunt did them no good but rather did much harme for in a little tyme there grewe foure sectes of heresies in that kingdome as the Thaborites Adamites Howelites and Orphans soe as Pius the 2. was fayne to reuoke the graunt that was giuen them by the councell and trulie wee must not expecte great fruite nowe if it were graunted for our cleargie men are noe better then those that went before neither seculer Princes more vertuous or more iuste then their predecessors neither are heretiques more humble or more honest for hauinge the vse of it Theoph in cap. prioris ad Corinth 22. Yow vrge against vs out of Theophilactus in cap. prioris Tremendus hic calix cunctis pari ratione est traditus this dreadfull chalice is giuen to all after one fashion I answeare that his meaninge was to tell howe it was all a like to the twelue Apostles yea to Iudas himselfe yea it may be
publican Further more wee say that the church is holie both in her profession and in the assertion of her faith therfore christian profession ought to containe nothinge but that which is trewe and holie touching faith Lastlie the fathers in all their doubtes and controuersies towching faith and religion did submitt themselues to the arbitrement of the church which they would not doe if they thought the church did err for S. Augustine saith Aug. epi. 118. l. 1. contra Crescentiū cap. 33. it is an insolent madnesse to dispute against any thinge that the vniuersall church decreede And in another place he saith Wee haue the trueth of holy scriptures when wee doe that which pleaseth the vniuersall churche And our Sauiour saith Luc. 10. Matt. 23. whosoeuer heareth yow heareth me c. whatsoeuer they comaund yow doe it c. Whether Catoliques are to be charged with arrogancie for thinkinge that their church cannot faile CHAPTER III. 1. WEe ought not to be cōuinced of arrogancie to affirme that Christe did not lie when he said that the gates of hell should not preuaile against his churche Matt. 16. Heauen and earth shall passe Matt. 24. Matt. 28. Ioh. 14. but his wordes shall not passe what woorde but that which is vniuersally preached by the catholique churche when he saith behold I am with yow to the worldes ende Ephes 5. The spiritt of trueth faileth not for euer Christ praieth that the faith of Peter should neuer faile 1. Tim. 1. she is his spouse and the kingdome of heauen wherfore should shee then faile beinge the piller of truethe shee cannot faile shee beinge his wife his doue his kingdome his portion his vineyarde his inheritance his dwellinge howse for the which he suffred his passion he died and shed his pretious blood shee cannot faile Contra Gent. 2. This was a cheefe argument by which S. Chrisostome did proue against the Gentiles that Christ was God by reason of his power in settinge foorth his church by poore and simple people and the continuance thereof in full force and authoritie notwithstandinge all the power and plotts of Sathan and all the might and strenght of earthlie potentates with the imploimēt of all their malice and strange pollices which were combined and conioined together for her direction If S. Chrisostome did proue the diuinitie of Christe by the continuance of his church 400. yeares how much more a minori ad maius should we proue the diuinitie and power of Christe not against gentiles as S. Chrisostome did but against worst infidels as caluinistes and other heretiques who with greate malice and more cunninge deuises seeke to ouerthrowe the church of God then all the enemies thereof as Iewes Goathes Hunnes Gaules Vandals Sarasins Longobards Bolgares Turcks and all other infidels and yet she is preserued now these 1620. yeares and shall allwaies continewe in full force authoritie to the worldes ende Psal 87. 3. The continewance of godes church is sett downe by the prophett Disposui testamentum electis meis what testament saith S. Aug. in enarrat ibid. but the newe testament I haue sworne vnto my seruant Dauid what is this that God bindeth with an oath that the seede of Abraham shall continewe for euer euer Ad Gal. 3 And soe saint Paule saith If yow be of Christ yow are the seed of Abraham inheritors of that promise this is the church saith saint Augustine not that fleash of Christ taken of the blessed Virgin but all wee that beleue in Christe And in another psalme he saith I will dwell in thy tabernacle wherfore S. Augustine saith that his church shall not be for a time but shall continewe for euer vnto the ende of the worlde And in the 14. our Lord hath bene mindfull of his testament and of the word that he comaunded to a thowsand generations Psal 14. and giuen to Abraham that which he did also sweare vnto Isaac and apointed for a lawe Matt. 24. He said his word should neuer passe away what word but that which did not only continewe duringe the Apostles time but that word and sacrifice which shall continewe to the worldes end Matt. 28. S. Leo prius epi. 3◠ad Pulcher. Aug. Leo 2. epist ad Constan our Sauiour plainlie declaringe the same I wil be with yow vnto the worldes ende as S. Leo the first and Leo the second writes Also when S. Paule Ephes 4. makes mention of soe manny dignities of ecclesiasticall order in Christ his churche as Apostles Prophetts Euangelists Pastors and Doctors he saith that they should continewe to the worldes end as the Prophett saith August Deus fundauit eam in eternum God founded the same for euer Psal 47. I meane his church as S. Augustine expoundeth and this is proued by the 91. chapter of Isay Luc 4. which chapter is vnderstoode of the churche of the newe testament as our Sauiour taughte 4. The same is also proued by the psalme 88. His throne shal be like the sunne in my presence Psal 88. and like a perfect Moone for euer and I will put his seate and his throne as the day of heauen Daniel 2. Daniell also doth manifest the same saying In the dayes of these kingdomes God shall raise vpp the kingdome of heauen which shall neuer be dispersed and his kingdome shall not be giuen to another nation And accordinge to saint Luke of his kingdome there shal be noe end Moreouer that psalme doth say if her children will offend and shall not keepe my lawes and comaundements c. yet I will visitt in a rodd their iniquitie and their sinnes in scourges I will not for all that put away my mercie from the same which place saint Cyprian aswell in this psalme as also in the 2. of Daniell doth expound to be mēt of the afflictions and tribulations of the churche In Cant. serm 79. S. Bernard also in illud tenui eum nec dimittam I held him and I will not let him goe c. neither then nor after the christian stocke shall not faile neither faith from the worlde neither charitie from the churche Lett all the raginge fire all the tēpestuous waues insult freate against her they shall not caste her downe because she is builded vpon a firme rocke and the rocke is Christe which neither by the pratinge of Philosophers or the cauillation of heretiques or by the sworde of persecutors can or shal be seperated Illir Glos in Math. cap. 2. 5. Illiricus a protestant writer saith that the trewe church in the middest of all persecutions destructions of citties comon wealthes and people is preserued miraculously by godes speciall protection and assistance This is also proued by Oecolāpadius vppon Isay cap. 2. by Melancthone in locis communibus cap. de ecclesia editione 1561. by Brentius vppon S. Luc cap. 17. homil 19. Luth. tomo 4. in Isa cap. 9. by Bullenger in Apocali Canc. 72.
For the fall and destruction of the church cannot be denied without the deniall of all the articles of our faithe and fondation of christian religion the trinitie of God the incarnation of Christ his preachinge his death his passion his eternall kingdome and priesthoode and all other misteries of catholique religion For what ende was his cominge to take fleash by his incarnation but to ioyne vnto himselfe in an indissoluble knott of mariadge his churche from which he would neuer be diuorced or seperated To what end was his preaching but to erect and establish the same his passion was to sanctifie it and to leaue her an euerlastinge remedie to blott out her sinnes and offences And I pray yow who is an euerlastinge king that hath not an euerlasting people Osee 2. Ephes 5. Ioh. 17. obeying him and obseruinge his lawes how can he be an euerlastinge priest whose priesthoode and sacrifice for soe manny yeares was applied to none and availed for none To what purpose was the holie ghoast sent but to remaine with his churche for euer and to instruct her in all trueth wherfore to affirme that this church hath failed is to affirme that Christs prophetts and Apostles are all liers and all that is written both in the old and newe testament to be fabulous That this Church which shall neuer be hid but remaine visible is manifest by the parable of Christe our Lord. CHAPTER IV. 1. THe church of God is called a Barne in which there is corne and chaffe a nett in which there is good and badd fishes a field in which there is cockle and wheate a banquett at which there are good and badd a flocke in which there are sheepe and goates all which doth signifie a visible church but the inuisible church hath but only the good accordinge to the opinion of the protestants which is contrarie aswell to the said parables as to our Sauiours owne wordes saying He will make cleane his barne Matt. 13. the wheate he will gather into his garner but he will burne the chaffe with an inexstinguible fire which shall not be vntill the day of iudgmeÌ„t Matt. 3. Our Sauiour saith suffer both of them I meane the wheate and the cockle to grow vntill the haruest which will not be vntill the day of iudgment For a kingdome must be meant of people that are knowen in the kingdome but the churche as before is alleadged is the kingdome of God therfore the dwellers thereof must be knowen S. Augustine doth proue the same lardglie against the Donatistes Aug. in Psal 101. concio 2. who said the church perished O wicked and impudent voice that the church should perish this they say because they be not in her c. Our Sauiour did referr vs to the church when he said Dic ecclesiae tell the church now which way should wee tell the church thereof without the churche be to be seene and therfore our Sauiour tooke away all doubt and said it is a cittie placed vppon a hill which shall giue light to the world 2. This is proued by reason for none can be saued vnlesse he enter into the church of which the arcke of Noe was a figure as all perished that did not enter into the arcke soe they perish also that enter not into the church but none can enter into the church which he knoweth not therfore all must perish because they cannot see this churche The profession of a christian ought to be visible not hidden therfore the church in which this profession is made ought to be soe for it is said Roman 10. Matt. 10. whosoeuer shall denie me before men I will denie him before my father who is in heauen 3. The comparison brought for the forsakinge the sinagoge of the Iewes is not a like for shee was but a figure and a shadow of the holie catholique church the oracles of the holie prophetts all the mornefull cries of the blessed Patriarches all the sacrifices of the Leuitts all the oblations of the Iewes signified or represented nothinge else then the cominge of the Messias at whose cominge all the other rites and oblations of the sinagoge should haue an end as it was prophesied Genes 94. Quando venerit qui mittendus est cessabit vnctio vestra vid. when the Messias shall come your vnction your sacrifice shall cease which also was prophesied and foretould by the Patriarch Iacob when he was dyinge who hauinge all his childreÌ„ about him said these wordes Non auferetur sceptrum de Iuda nec dux de faemore eius donec veniat qui mittendus est ipse erit expectatio gentium vid. the scepter shall not be taken from the tribe of Iuda nor a captaine from her loines vntill he come which is to be sent and he shal be the expectation of nations Soe as after the cominge of Christe aswell the seate royall of the kingdome as also the legall obseruations of the Iewes withall their sacrifices and oblations were accomplished in the death of Christe when he said consumatum est it is accomplished and soe instituted a newe lawe and founded his church which was the seate of Dauid that was giuen vnto him of whome it was said he shall raigne in the howse of Iacob for euer Luc. 1. Damas â—4 57. Esa 6.5 Osâ—â— 2. and of his kingdome there shal be noe ende and that all the world should imbrace the God of AbrahaÌ„ as it is said by the prophett Esay The Princes of people shal be gathered together with the God of Abraham soe as wee see not only the ChristiaÌ„s but also Turcks and Mores to imbrace the God of Abraham as the trewe God of whome it is said also I haue giuen yow a light vnto the nations that yow may be my saftie vnto the vtter most parte of the world 4. Wherfore he hath instituted a newe sacrifice by which his honnor should be vphoulden and by which his name should be glorified which accordinge to the prophesie of Malachias Malac. 1. should be the trewe oblation that should be offred vnto him for euer and in all places of the world this was not meant of the sacrifice of the old lawe for that could not be offred but at Ierusalem as the holie scriptures wittnesse and therfore it is meant of the blessed sacrifice of the Masse which shal be offred for euer in the churche of God for the which Christ hath instituted and ordained priestes which shall offer sacrifice vnto the eternall father accordinge to the institution of Christe and prophesie of Malachias and therfore S. Augustine lib. de vnit ecclesiae cap. 12.13 de ciuit lib. 20. cap. 8. Psal 85. ad illud tu solus Deus magnus Psal 70. affirmeth theÌ„ to denie Christ and to robb him of his glorie and inheritance bought with his blood which teach that his church may faile or perish and S. Ierom refuteth the same wicked heresie in the Luciferans Dialog ad
the sepulchers of sainctes to be reuerenced and worshipped and said moreouer that the praiers of the holy martyrs profitts nothinge after this life imitatinge herin wicked Porphiry and Eunomius by callinge them the sorcerie of diuills Aug. de ecclesiasticis dogma tibus c. 73. therfore S. Augustine did condemne VigilaÌ„tius Aerius did barcke against prayers and suffrages of the dead and maketh noe difference betwixt priestes and Bishopps The Peputians would haue women to be priestes vnto whome they haue attributed all principalitie August de haeres 27. as the Protestantes haue done to Queene Elizabeth Anno 1. Parl. c. 1. Luther tomo 2. li. de captiuit Baby Aug. Homil 50. de Socrat. hist l. 4. Cap. 23. Ambr. de penit li. 1. cap. 2. Of the same heresie also were condemned Eunomius as the said S. August de heresi heres 54. de haeres ad Luther Nouatus was condemned for an heretique by saint Augustine and saint Ambrose for denyinge poure of absoluinge sinnes vnto the priests and confirmation to Bishopps as saint Cyprian doth wittnes lib. 4. epist. 2. Theodoret. lib. 3. de haereticis The Pelagians denyed original sinne in infantes and taught that baptisme is not necessarie for them as saint Augustine writeth Aug. here 's 88. 3. S. Augustine and saint Optatus doe putt the Donatistes in the rancke of heretiques Aug. de heres 69. de vnitate eccle lib. contlitteras Petul. Opta lib. â— Cal. inst l. 4. cap. 15. Optat l. 2. Theod. Dra. 5. for sayinge that the churche fayled in the whole world and that it remayned amoungest themselues in Affrique the like Caluine saith of the Catholique churche Those Donatistes did cast the blessed Sacrament vnto doggs burne churches and breake alters tooke away all church ornamentes as you doe they abolished the sacrifice of the Masse as you doe of which kinde of people Ignatius sayeth there hath bene some that would not away with sacrifices and oblations because they confessed not the Euchariste to be the flesh of our Sauiour Iesu Christe Arrius Nestorius S. Aug. lib. contrâ— MaximuÌ„ Atha p. 488. ExempluÌ„ Synodale Dioscorus Eutiches as saint Augustine and saint Athanasius saye and as it is alleadged in the 7. generall councell act 1. denied all traditions and the wittnesses of the fathers they said alsoe they would allowe nothinge but the scriptures sayinge What scripture doth proue that the sonne is consubstantiall or coessentiall with the Father the same alsoe did Simon Magus saye 4. With Symon Magus Valentinus Aug. here 's 4.6 Clemens Alexandrinus li. 3 recognitionum Tertul. de prâ—script and Manicheus you denie free will With Flornius and with Symon Magus you affirme God to be author of all euill as S. Augustine Clemens Alexandrinus Tertulian saye of the said Symon Magus With Constantius you saye that euerie Ciuill Prince ought to be head of the churche accordinge to Euseb lib. 3. Atha epi. ad solitariam vitaÌ„ degentes Hilar. lib. ad ConstaÌ„tium ex li. qui incipit tempus est loquendi Wherfore S. Athanasius called him antechrist and the abhomination of desolation of whome alsoe S. Hillarie saith these woordes I tell you when I shall speake vnto you that I speake to Nero that Decius Maximianus shal heare me you fight against God you thunder against the church you persecute the Saincts you take awaye the Religion of Christe you are not onlye the Tyrant of men but of God you doe preuent antechrist and worcke his misteries you coyne faith liuing without faith thou of all men the most wicked this he spoake to him in his life time 5. With Marcius and Manicheus and other heretiques you condemne manny bookes of the scriptures which would not receaue the scriptures Nisi cum adiectionibus detractionibus factis but with cuttinge maÌ„glinge of them You take away Chrisme with Nouatus who denied the holye ghoaste With Iouinian as S. Augustine saith of him you take away pennaunce from the church who said also that all sinnes were equall Also with Pelagius yow take away the Sacrament of orders and priest-hoode with Petrus Abalardus Wicleffe and Hus all vocall prayers And with the Armenians you say that matrimonie is noe Sacrament You take away generall councells with the Arians that would not obey the councell of Nice With Nestorius that would not obey the councell of Ephesus with Eutiches and Dioscorus that would not obey the councell of Chalcedon Aug lib. de haeresibus With Iouinianus as saint Augustine wittnesseth you eate all meates euerie daye without any obseruation of dayes or difference of meate you doe the like obseruinge noe faste Caluine tooke away singinge from the church with the heretique Hillarus Aug. li. 11 retract Ambr. in quadam orat cont MaxentiuÌ„ de Basilicis tradeÌ„dis quae ponitur in lib 5. sententiaruÌ„ as saint Augustine and saint Ambrose say when Christe is praysed the Arrians are madd With Iouinian you say that all which be in heauen are equall in glorie because all iuste persons are equall in this life in merittes and all sinners are equall in sinnes With the Catharies you denie all sacraments With the heretiques called Lamprini you take away vowes and votaries With the Eustachians yow take away churches and alters dedicated to martirs 6. Againe Epist 75. with the Eutichian heretiques yow take away oblations sacrifice and chrisme as Leo the Pope complained by his letters to Martianus the Emperor epist 75. where he saith Intercepta est sacrificij oblatio desecit chrismatis sanctificatio The oblation of the sacrifice is intercepted and hallowinge of the chrisme faileth And as in the time of Antechriste as that auncient holy father and constant Martyr Hipolitus that liued in the yeare of our Lord 220. saith Ecclesiarum aedes sacrae tigurij instar erint praetâ—osum corpus sanguis Christi in diebus illis nâ—n extabit c the church shall be like cottadges the blessed body and blood of Christ shall not be seene the Masse shal be vtterly defaced soe as yow seeme to be the precursours of this beast For with the Donatists as Optatus writeth yow giue the blessed Sacrament to dogges the chrismatorie with the sacred chrisme yow violentlie cast vpon the grounde with them also yow breake alters with them also and with the Arrians of Affricke as Victor saith yow ouerthrowe churches monasteries and chappels and as they made shirtes and briches of the â—estimentes and alter cloathes burned bookes spoiled churches of their ornamentes as appeared in an epistle by the bishoppes of Egipte to Marcus the Pope and as Nazianzenus saith misteria verterunt 〈◊〉 commedias the misteries of our religioÌ„ they turned to playes and comedies euen soe doe you the like 7. Againe you refuse with these heretiques to come to the generall councells to giue an accompte of your doinges as saint Augustine saith of them With 〈◊〉 buchodonozer the kinge of Babilon and
vnto him the kingdome of heauen and that through our faith though neuer soe little notwithstandinge anie wickednes wee should be secure of heauen that there is no sinne before God but incredulitie That the tenn comaundements pertaine not to ChristiaÌ„s That accordinge to Caluine it is impossible to the Sainctes to obserue the comaundements Also that there is noe paines of damnation for man but to thincke that God is aduersarie to him Petrus Rycherus said who was it were the Idoll of Beza and who was sente by Caluine vnto the weaste Indies that Christe should not be prayde vnto Wherfore he tooke Gloria Patri Filio c. out of the Psalmes of Dauid Cart. in â— repl pa. 191. 13. Did not Cartwrith say I cannot be persuaded that saint Peter and saint Paule were soe foolish as to thincke that a pooâ— miserable man which they saw with theâ— eyes Beza in respoÌ„ ad arg BreÌ„tiâ— Epist 6. Fox in his Carelesti pag. 1534. Calu. in Hermo in Euange Calu. insti l. 1. c. 18. Peter martyr in 1. Sam. 2. Melancthon in c. Rom. 8. Calu. li. de eterna Dei praedest pag. 101. Zuin glius li. de prouidentia was their God Beza alsoe holdes the same and many others of that stampe yâ— some of them that were burnt in Queene Maries dayes and related by Fox for Martyrs houlde That Christ was in desperatioâ— when he was vppon the crosse accordingâ— to Caluine That God is the author and cause of sinne the procurer and intiser comaunder and worker and that the adulterie of Dauid and the treason of Iudas was as well the worke of God as the conuersion of saint Paule And that man hath noe free will with manny such horrible blasphemies to tedious for me to repeate and irksome for anny Christian to heare Soe as by these wicked paradoxes it must followe that God is turned to be a diuill and that he is most vniuste to condemne men for the offenses which they cannot shunne hauinge noe free will to auoide them nor noe force to resiste God the worker counceller and intiser to sinne That noe iott or sillable of Christian religion ought to be counted a thinge indifferent or of smale moment and that whosoeuer doth not agree with the Catholique Church in all pointes of beleefe cannot be saued CHAPTER III. 1. S Thomas saith that whosoeuer doth err in one article S. Thom. 2 2. q. 5.3 he hath noe faith of the rest for as saint Vincentius Ferar. saith vertue hath noe more fondations then one and the same is indiuisible which is the diuine trueth which cannot be deceaued nor deceaue and soe whosoeuer doubteth in one hath noe foundation of the reste For if a rocke should fall vppon which there should be 12. chambers all those chambers would fall also euen soe the protestants in the beginninge fell from the church which is the rocke vppon which Christe builded these 12. chambers I meane the twelue articles of our beleefe soe once they fallinge from the church they fell from these 12. articles and came vnto vs in spiritu erroris mendacij in the spirite of error and lienge This Martin Luther said of the Zuinglians Luth. dialog 6. c. 11 In vaine saith he they beleeue in God the father the sonne and the holie ghoast and all the rest because they denie this one article Hoc est corpus meum this is my bodiâ— 2. For this cause Iconoclasters or Imageâ— breakers are auncient heretiques becausâ— they denie that article of the catholique church of the reuerencinge of sacred images How many of al estates prelates nobles and common people suffred eyther death or banishmente in the time of the Emperors that were image breakers for they considered that whosoeuer obserueth all the lawe and offendeth in one is guilty of all the reste The trewe mother of the child would haue noe diuision thereof Nonne isti saith saint Augustine quos vâ—catis haeretici doe not these which you call heretiques confesse the same trinitie beleue also in Christe and yet they were called auncient heretiques whose heresies were knowen and nowe altogether extinguished through their absurdities Aug. lib. 2 de trinit cap. 17. Hoc qui credunt saith he lib. 2. nectu in catholica fide sed in schismate aliquo aut haeresi credunt whosoeuer beleeueth all articles of the creede and otherwise remaininge in any scisme and heresie cannot be in the catholique faith The Arrians denied but one letter in the creede Zozo li. 3. cap. 17. Theod. l. 2 cap. 18. 21. and yet saint Ierom saith that if the church had not resisted the Emperor Valenâ— which did fauour the Arrians touchinge that letter which was Omusion in steed of Omision Christendome saith he would haue bene in great danger 3. When the prefect of the Arrian Emperor Valens In vit Basil Naz. orat 20. in laudem Basilij dealt with saint Basil that he should not be soe obstinate or wilfull in his opinions but that he should conforme himselfe to the Emperor and liue in his fauour he answered that such as are fedd with the daintie feastes of holy scriptures they would suffer all kinde of tormentes rather then any iott sillable or letter should be chaunged And as for the Emperors frindshipp he did esteeme it well soe that it were not against pietie and religion Rom. 12. S. Chrisostome vppon that place of saint Paule Hauinge peace with euerie bodie Wee ought not to preferr saith he peace before godes trueth when the same is in danger but rather to offer our liues for the defence thereof Soe as yow see that the Arrians were condemned for heretiques for one letter beinge in all other pointes catholiques but the protestantes haue raised from hell all the heresies that euer were for noe heretiques almoste that euer were but kept ecclesiastical seruice and ceremonies like the catholiques but the protestants haue taken away all therfore they should not bragge that their religion is agreable to the word of God or the Romish church or that the Romish church or anny member thereof should ioyne with them therein That the newe Religion for that it takes away all religion is worse then that of the Turckes and Gentiles CHAPTER IV. Stur de rat concordiae inâ—undâ— 1. STurmius a protestant wryter sayeth that Lutherans and Caluinistes do destroye and take away the cheefeste articles of Christian religion and the fondation of our faith Which thus is proued to be true That religion is beste which thinckes of God most reuerentlie and of their neighbours most charitably but the Turcks and Gentiles doe farr excel the new religion in worshippinge God and helpinge their neighbors therfore it must needes be better then the new Cicero sayeth Cicero lib. 2. de diuinitate that God is a certaine excellent and eternall nature and that the order of ecclesiasticall thinges is the beawtie of the world who although they did speake of
manny godes Instit de monarchia Dei lib. 3. cap. 1. yet they affirme Iupiter to be the father of all the reste and saie that they did worshipp but one God and the reste of the godes as the ministers of one God as Iustinus martyr said and Plato saith Plato de repub dialogo 2. in fine Deus qui bonus est malorum causa nonest God which is good is not the cause of euills and in another place he saith God is not vniust but most iust But the new religion doth say in the chapter aboue recited that God is the cause of all mischeefe and wickednes by which wicked assertion they make him a deuill 2. All philosophers did referre all the inferior motions to a certaine supreame motiue by the consideration whereof they found a certaine supreame mouer and a certaine euerlastinge cause which is the center of begininge and principle of all thinges vnto whome all thinges are subordinated The Turcks saie that God is immutable mercifull pittifull one onlie who giues euerie man according to his worckes reward to the good and tormentes to the badde and soe they call God la Ila Mahomet resulaÌ„ God God aboue and Mahomet his prophet But the new religion doth say he giues noe reward to the good nor tormentes to the badd soe that he hath any iott of faith with him and the more wicked a man is Lutherus the neerer he is to Gods fauour The Turcks doe beleue that it is possible to keepe godes lawes but the newe religion doth say it is impossible and that heauen is giuen to those that haue any faith without anny respect to works or mans endeuour The Turcks also affirme that Christe ascended vnto heauen in his fleashe and sitteth in the presence of God The Turckes Alcoran saies that Iesus Christe was the sonne of the Virgin Marie was inspired by God that he was the worde the spiritte the wisdome and the minde of God the father and that he was the Messias and the Prince that was promised vnto the Iewes Thene l. 6. cap. 4. Alcoran Azoar 2.20 Azoar 31. Also they say that the spiritt of God did enter into Marie and that Iesus was begotten of her shee beinge a moste pure Virgine That God did indue her soule with greater grace and vertue then the soule of anny that was and that of all men and women shee was the best the purest and the godliest and that of all the children of Adam none was vnspotted and vndefiled by Sathan but Marie and her child Azoar 3.76 The new religion beleeues of her noe such matter and compares her with their owne mothers and some of them calle her a saffron bagg 3. Vnder the dominion of the Turcks the christians are permitted without anny restraint to exercise all the rites and exercises of christian religion not soe vnder princes of the new religion who are greater persecutors of the catholique christian religion then anny Turcks Iewes Gentiles or pagans that euer were In Constantinople there are many monasteries standing and replenished with religious people in Grecia and other of the Turcks Dominions are at this day many degrees orders and ecclesiasticall dignities of the church and christian pastors as Patriarches Metropilitans Archbishoppes Bishopps and Priests vnto all which it is lawfull to consecrate to say Masse and Mouncks Deacons and Subdeacons doe minister at the Alter There are all also other officers which they call Agnests which doe read vppon sondayes the epistles There are also Archimancritae that is to say the Fathers of Moncks These Patriarches are chosen by Metropolitans Archbishopps and Bishopps and are confirmed by the cheefe Bassa the kinges â—iccar the next vnto these are the Metropolitans the cheefest of them is the Metropolitan of Thessalonica which hath vnder him 10. Bishopps the Metropolitan of Athens hath vnder him 6. Bishopps In that cittie of Athens were seene in a publique profession together 250. priests there is a Metropolitan of Mitelin but he hath no Bishopps vnder him The Metropolitan of Chalcedon hath vnder him 60. priests There is a Metropolitan of Nyce but he hath noe Bishoppe The Metropolitan of Ephesus hath hnder him 50. churches The Metropolitan of Philipen hath 150. Antioch 40. Churches Smyrnensis 150. and Corinth with other Metropolitans 6. 4. All doe agree with the Catholique religion in euerie pointe exceptinge 3. or 4. errors of the Greeks This is knowen by the censure that Ieremie the Patriarche hath giuen of the protestant religion which was sent by him theÌ„ into Germanie who sought an vnion betwixt them and the Greeke church seeinge they forsooke the Latine church or rather God and the Latine haue forsaken them but the said Patriarche did abhor and refuse an vnion with them and said there was asmuch difference betwixt them as betwixt heauen and hell You may read more of this matter in Michell ab Iselt Anno 1580. Surius hist. ibid. Also the Patriarch of Philadelpha called Gabriell did write vnto Martinus Crusius a Lutheran of this matter requestinge him neuer to trouble him touchinge either vnion or confirmation of his doctrine 5. To coÌ„clud this matter if Turkes Iewes and Gentiles thincke more reuerently of God the Father D. Tho. 2.2 q. 10. art 6. Tit. 4. of Christ Iesus his sonne and of his blessed mother yea and do shew more fauor to christians then those of the new religion doe I must thincke and conceaue a better opinion of Turckes then of these new vpstarts for S. Thomas saith that heresie is a greater sinne theÌ„ paganisme and Iudaisme for althoughe infidels denye more articles of faith then heretiques yet because heretiques do persecute the church with greater malice then the other and the greater malice argueth the greater sinne therfore heretiques are the greater sinners For as saint Paule saith an hereticall man is damned by his owne proper iudgment therfore I leaue the conclusion to the consideration of the reader An answer vnto Protestants barkinge against the religious institutions of holy Orders saying that religious vocations were not instituted by our Sauiour CHAPTER I. 1. IF humane nature had continued in that blessed perfection of originall integrity in which it was created there would not be required that grace excepted which in the beginning was infused and superadded vnto it so many other graces and helpes preuenieÌ„t subsequent exciting her slacknes and brackwardnes and expelling her corrupt inclination and propension to sensuality to corruptible base and vile creatures Wherfore the creator and protector of man whose nature is goodnes whose proper worke is mercy as S. Leo saith doth neuer cease or desiste from giuinge of all helpes and meanes to repaire and redresse this humane imbecillitie by proposing and intimating all such sufficient motiues to worke our saluation withall conuincing our negligence and vnprouident carelesnes if wee will imbrace and put the same in due execution so as for curing and healing the contagious maladies and restles diseases
desolation the other to restore the same to the auntient perfection thereof the one of a religious man became an Apostate of a continent became lecherous of a saint became a diuell the other of a seculer became religious of a souldier became a saint of a man became an Angell And as at one time and in one night S Augustine was borne in Africke and Pelagius the heretique was borne in Englande and as Pelagius intended to ouerthrow the church with his peruerse heresie and S. Augustine laboured to restore the same by his founde doctrine so the blessed Ignatius with his religious blessed family labored to destroy the darnell and cockell of heresy which Luther Caluin and all their most wicked and blasphemous sectaries haue sowen in the feild of our Lord which is the Catholique Church 4. Others after him were made instrumentes to reforme the slacknes and desolation of the clergy as Phillip Nereias and other godly people at Rome and els where in our owne dayes and haue also cast their beames into other kingdomes especially Italy Fraunce and Spaine Seing that God can neuer be glorified in this world but by his church nor his church can neuer be manteyned but by sacrifice and sacramentes nor sacraments can be offered or done but by pristes for the which they are ordeyned and instituted cheifly and principally And whosoeuer goeth about to take away preisthood taketh away both sacrifice sacraments religion church and consequently robs God of his honour spoiles him of his glory and depriues Christians of theire knowledge loue of him 5. This preist-hoode is deuided into two orders the one speculatiue and the other practicall and as Christe was interteyned by two deuout sisters Mary Martha so he is also continually serued in his church by two religious orders which Mary represented I meane the speculatiue and the order of the cleargy which Martha signified Ambros epist 25. This saint Ambrose declareth saying Who can be ignorant that in the church of God there are two excellencies the one is the office of the Clergy the other the institution of Monkes the one to be exercised and practised amongst men the other to be trained vp and accustomed to abstinence patience the one to be represented on the theater the other to be hidden in a corner the one to be a spectacle to the world the other to be kept in secret And therefore that worthy champion of our Lord saith spectaculum facti sumus Deo angelis hominibus Wee are become a spectacle to God to Angells and to men the one fighteth against the confusion of the world the other against the allurementes of the flesh the one more profitable for his neighbor the other more perfect for himselfe both of them denie themselues that they may serue Christe perfectly because to men of perfection it is said whosoeuer will come after me let him deny himselfe and follow me the one doth strugle with the world the other wrestleth with the deuill the one ouercometh the baites of the world the other flies from them vnto whome the world is crucified and he vnto the world the one hath greater tentation and greater victory the other lesse daunger and greater secury thus farre saint Ambrose by which you may perceiue the state of those that liue in Cloisters and Monasteries and Monkes Friers and such as liue abroade in the world in continuall feare and manifest daungers in which many are fallen and many others are vpholden Of the multitude of religious persons CHAPTER V. 1. NOthing is soe ircksome vnto our corrupt nature and carnall disposition altogether corrupted with the too much alluring humors of sensuality intoxicated with the blinde affection thereof as to caste the yoake thereof away from vs by taking vp Christes crosse by denyinge our selues to follow Christe whereof in so doing wee may apply to our selues that verse of the prophett Deripuisti Domine vincula mea tibi sacrificabo hostiam laudis O Lord thou hast broken my fetters I will sacrifice vnto thee a sacrifice of praise Which euer was obserued in all ages of the gospell by vtterly renouncinge the world with all the pompes thereof which was put in execution by the perfection of religious vocation 2. How many thousandes or rather millions by the examples of saint Paule the Hermitt and saint Antony haue caste off this yoake abandoned or rather abiured the world retired themselues to the desertes there with greater liberty of spirite better security for their saluation and les daunger of tentation to serue God all the dayes of their liues Athan. in vita eius Of the said saint Antony it is written by a moste holy sainte that in the mountaine there were monasteries as if they were tabenacles full of deuine quires of such as songe psalmes and praied which seemed to inhabite a certaine infinite region seperated from all conuersation amongst whome saith he there was peace and concord there none hated another either by word or frowninge wherefore that of the scripture may be verified thereof Num. 23. quam bonâ— domus tuae Iacob how good are the house of Iacob the tabernacle of Israell they are like woodes that doe shaddowe like a paradise vpon riuers like tabernacles which are pitched of our Lord and like Cedars of Libannus about the waters 3. Hieron in vita Hillarion The like testimony saint Hierom giueth of saint Hilarion who about that time founded many monasteries in Palestine wherein also Macharius the disciple of saint Anthony and Caâ—iton founded many monasteries in one of which as â—odorus recordeth were a thousand Monkes It is said also that one Apollonius had 5000. Monkes vnder his gouernment In the mountaine of Mitria which is 40. miles from Alexandria were 5000. monkes in 50. monasteries which were all gouerned and directed by one Superiour Syria and Aegipt did also aâ—ound with such swarmes of holy monkes that the wicked Emperour Iulian the Apostate and Valens compelled them by force and violence to goe as souldiers to the warres but quickly afterwardes God punished both the one and the other for their labour saint Hierome wrote the life of those Monkes 4. Palladius Bishop of Cappadocia went in pilgrimage barefooted being accompanied with 7. to visite the Monkes of Aegipt they came vnto a certaine citty by Thebes called Oxirnicum in which they found such religion and sanctity as they by word could not expresse in which there was no heretique nor gentile and wee saw more monasteries and religious houses there said he then prophane houses so that euery streete and corner thereof were replenished with deuine praises and celestiall Alleluias the whole citty being as it were but one only church inhabited and possessed of the seruantes of God the Bishopp of that citty tould them there were 20. thousand Virgins and 10. thousand Monkes wee are not able saith he to expresse with what entire affection honour and feruour of charity they enterteined vs. He saw also
the lesse feelinge hath he to preuenent the dangerous ruyne and dismall lott of the same and a man once being ingulfed in the filthie puddle of beastlie concupiscence which euer doth insult ouer the spiritt the lesse feeling hath he of godes inspiration and the lesse swaie beareth the interior man which in carnall and beastlie people is altogether restrained from his operation by their insatiable and inextingible appetites of their fleshlie inclination and disposition to these vilde and corruptible thinges 2. When the greatest and mightiest Monarches and Potentates of this world are in this case especially if they be wantonlie trained vpp in voluptuousnes and enticed with lasciuous and wanton exercises they forgett and forgoe all spirituall motions to make themselues as it were dull and insensible to all celestiall influence and illustrations forgetfull of God obliuious of his comaundementes negligent of their charge carlesse and vnprouident of the end and marke for the which they are exalted and aduaunced to the regall scepter which is the peace and tranquillitie of the comon wealth But they not respectinge either comon good or the peaceable estate of their kingdomes abusing their powerfull force and dignitie with wanton lusts and other execrable vices and wickednes of whome it is spoken by the holy ghoast Psal 134. Gaudium hipocritae instar puncti their ioye and allacritie shall quickly be ended and they likewise eyther themselues or their posteritie shal be plunged an perplexed with the vsual troubles continuall calamities and fatall reuolutions which commonly are incident vnto such princes of whome it is said Virum iniustum mala capient in interitu The euils and mischeefe of an vniust and wicked man shall intrappe and compasse him euen vnto his destruction and vtter decaye They may for a smale tyme raigne ouer wicked natiōs for whose dreadfull and abhominable trespasses and wickednes God suffreth or rather stirreth vpp Tyrants to vexe punish and ouercharg their miserable subiects with grieuous and intollerable oppressions tyrannicall extortions impositions and irreparable callamities who euer maketh choice of wicked officers and ministers which frame and conforme themselues to please their wicked humors and are skilful architects to putt in execution their detestable plottes and purposes staues of their bellies enemies of Christs crosse captiues and seruants of the diuill whose chiefest reward and promotion for performing their dreadfull and bloudie tragedies is the gouernment of such prouinces and citties to whome they haue comitted them 3. And although Ferdinande King of Castile and Arragon father to the good Queene Katherin of England was as vertuous and iust a prince as liued in all Europe in his daies yet whē he was dienge he gaue a mournefull sigh and said he had rather ther all the kingdomes in the worlde that he were a poore lay brother in some religious order seruing in a monasterie then said he my cōscience shoulde be disburdened of the heauie and dreadfull terror of my dangerous accomptes for the heauie burden of soe manny kingdomes states Prouinces for the which I miserable wretch must aunswere being scarse able to satisfie or yelde accompt for my owne secrett and peculiar offenses much lesse for the gouernmente of all those regions committed by God to my charge and ouersight Zonarus tomo 3. After that the Empire Anno 800. was translated by Leo the 3. Pope into the West and Charles the great King of Fraunce being made Emperor some of the Emperors that succeeded him forsaking the Empire became religious as Lotharius who beinge fifteene yeares Emperor and liued a most vertuous Christian remembringe the speech that his father Lodouicke vsed in the time of his death of the vanitie of the worlde and of the miserable estate of such as are the slaues therof became a Mounck anno 865. 4. Hugo the Emperor after many victories that he had against his enemies became a Mouncke Rachisius kinge of Italie resigninge his kingdome to his Brother Astulpus became religious in the Monasterie of Mount Cassius of the which he was as it is thought Abott anno 741. Pipine kinge also of the Romanes and eldest sonne of Charles the great followed that blessed example who became a mouncke in a monasterie that he builded himselfe at Verona anno 805. In Spaine Bamba very prosperous and fortunate both at home and a broade amoungest his other victorious exploites defeated and discomfited 200. shippes of Moores that were Pyratts tooke also Paule kinge of Fraunce prisoner that came to inuade Spayne at lenght beinge moued by diuine inspiration became a mouncke anno 674. whose blessed example Verenundus kinge of Castile followed Ramiris kinge of Arragon first became a mouncke in his fathers life time who beinge dead without yssue of other Children was compelled to returne to the worlde and marrie and hauinge yssue which was a daughter returned to his monasterie againe 5. But of all kingdomes of the world England was most famous for the number and sanctitie of their religous kinges as Sigibertus kinge of Nothumberland who forsakinge the worlde tooke a religious habitt vpon him Anno 640. Ethelred kinge of the Merceans anno 704. who gouerning his kingdome with great pietie and religion resigned the same ouer to his sonne beinge but a childe and erected a monasterie of which he was made Abott But when the childe came to riper yeares he followed his fathers steppes went to Rome and receaued the habitt of Constantine the first then Pope and spent there the remainder of his dayes with great sanctitie and hollines his name was Chenredus in whose companie went Offa kinge of the East Saxons who in the prime of his youth settinge at naught the vanities of all worldlie prosperitie contemninge his opulent and rich kingdome tooke vpon him a voluntary death which was to betake himselfe to a perpetual silence banishing from his vowed and inuincible chastitie all fleshlie enticementes and prouocations Not longe after him Inas kings of the said Saxons a man of of an incomparable pietie and deuotion made his whole kingdome tributaire to the sea Apostolique went to Rome forsakinge his kingdome and became religious The same Geolfus did vnto whome Venerable Beda dedicated his historie who beinge kinge of Northumberland and considering the dangerous estate of kinges fled vnto a monasterie there to serue God with greater securitie of his saluation and resigned his kingdome to Egebert his Vncle who after that he had raigned 20. yeares followed also his Nephewe to the monasterie and died therin in that religious vocation 6. In Germanie the example of Charlemaine was famous beinge sonne to Charles Martell and beinge kinge of Austria and and Suethland came to Rome in a poore mans attire and vnknowen to any where he receaued holie orders of Zacharias the Pope and afterwards entred the monasterie in mount Zoracte which he himselfe builded but beinge disturbed by the frequēt visitation of those of his frindes retired himselfe to Mount Cassen a place more remote was there receaued with
Oreâ—h kinge of Bohemia who was married vnto Frederique the second neuer gaue any consent to matrimonie and kept her selfe perpetually continent vntill shee went into a monasterie which her selfe builded at Prage Chunegundus also the daughter of the king of Hungarie who was married vnto that chast Boleslaus king of Polande together with him kept hirselfe a Virgin and liued most religiouslie in a monasterie that shee her selfe hath builded Ioane the daughter of the kinge of Hungarie Isabella the kinge of Fraunce his daughter and sister vnto S. Lewis and Blanche daughter of Philipp kinge of France all obserued the religious vow of virginitie and continence 6. In our dayes God forgetteth not alsoe to blesse his Curch with the like example of despisinge the worlde and imbracinge the crosse of Iesus Christe with his euangelicall counselles yea in great personages as in that most vertuous virgin Margarita de Austria daughter of Maximilian the Emperor and kinge Philipp the second of Spaine his sister who professeth at this daie this blessed institution in S. Clara at Madrill in Spaine Alsoe the two daughters of Charles ArchDuke of Austria and Stiria and sisters vnto the Queenes of Spaine and Polande and vnto the great Dutches of Florence who discended from the greatest Potentates of the worlde settinge at naught all the vaine promotions of the same consecrated themselues to serue God in religious profession 7. But was it euer seene from the beginninge of the worlde that any Kinge Queene Prince or noble man became a minister or forsooke landes or liuinge to imbrace perfection in protestante religion was it euer seene that anny protestant followed the councell of Christ to giue all that he had to the poore to denie himselfe to take vpp his crosse and to followe him No trulie the contrarie is knowen too well for they neuer giue anny thinge to the poore but take from them all that the Catholique church purchased for them who turne all sacred thinges to prophane vses who robbe both God the church the poore of all their patrimonie For they extorte from the poore inhabitants 20. shillinges some 30. some 40. both for marriadge and christininge and euerie one must pay so much Yea euerie Gossopp is compelled to paie the like and this they take vpp fron the Catholiques of Irelande whose inhabitantes in all places are of that profession except the Englishe soe that one English minister of that miserable countrie in a village called Inischortie in the countie of Wexford called Husse an Englishman tooke from one little hamlett neere that village 14. crownes for marriage and christninge in one fortnight By which you may perceaue what he tooke in euerie other place of iurisdiction he being in those partes the Bishopps officiall By this cruel and irreligious religion manny of the poore inhabitantes of that countrie are disabled to keepe house and are faine to begg being not able to mantaine house through soe great an extortion and yet this minister cannot vnderstand his parrishoners nor they him excepting a verie fewe of the English that are resident at Inischortie Are there any laymen in the world more worldlie or more couetous to purchase landes for their childrenn or are there any more greedie to hourde vpp wealth then they To conclude it was neuer seene that anny man or wooman who imbraced protestancie liued chast and continent for by that profession none can be such the meanes being taken awaye by which chastitie and continencie are to be obtayned as fastinge prayers discipline hair clothe almesdeedes contempt of his owne excellencie and despising of the world How greatlie religious people fructifie vnto God and to his Church and that they are the best labourers which are therein CHAPTER IX 1. S Bernard saith that they are appointed by God to pray for the bodie of the church both for the quicke and for the dead And as Nazianzen witnesseth their praiers be the only diluge that washe awaie our sinnes and purge the world And as Eusebius affirmeth they are coÌ„secrated vnto God for the whole stocke of mankinde None knoweth what mischeefes and callamities they driue from the worlde what singuler benefâ—ttes they obtaine of God by whose praiers and workes of incomparable charitie godes wrathe is appeased and made placable Beside what blessed example giue they vnto the world for had it not bene for them the euangelicall vertues and counsells would haue bene quite extinguished which they doe not only teach but also practize For their modestie humilitie pietie deuotion and contempt of all temporall honnors and allurementes are forcible motiues and infallible inducementes to all kinde of vertues and therfore saint Iohn Chisostome calleth them the lanternes and spectacles of the worlde for of them the people doe learne how God is to be reuerenced with what feare loue and deuotion he is to be adored in the Sacramentes with what reuerence and respect he is to be praied vnto how patient wee ought to be in aduesitie how stout inuincible wee should behaue our selues in aduersitie how charible wee ought to shewe our selues to our neighbors yea their whole liues is nothing els then a continuall bearinge of Christes crosse a secreat exhortation to all good examples of vertue and pietie and a silent obiurgation and distastfullnes of all vice and wickdenes Chrisost de despi rerum hom ad popul 59. And therfore S. Iohn Chrisostome wished the people to visitte and frequent monasteries conuentes for they are saith he without any allurementes and voide of all disquietnessesse and distractions besides said he they are most secure and quiett hauens to fixe our ancker in Moreouer they oppose themselues against all the enemies of the church with whome they haue continuall and cruell skirmishes and doe susteine the heauie burden of their bloodie persecutions against whome they vphoulde and defende Christs religion in all places where the same is oppressed And by their blessed labours yea losse of life with violent effusion of their blood they plant restore it againe in those countries where it was supplanted 2. Omittinge most of the examples which you may read in the Chronicles of their holie orders I will here set downe some fewe only as a patterne and example of the rest Remigius beinge a mouncke conuerted kinge Clodoneus withall the Realme of Fraunce from Idolatrie vnto Christ Anno 530. Afterwardes he was made Archbishopp of Rehmes S. Martin beinge a mouncke conuerted all Suethland from the Arrian heresie Anno 540. S. Augustine being sent by saint Gregorie into England conuerted that kingdome with their kinge Ethelbert anno 622. Lambertus the Mouncke conuerted Feslandria a prouince in Germanie About that time Kilian an Irish mounck conuerted the Fraunckes in the managing of which buisinesse he suffred martirdome Wilfrid an English mouncke and afterwardes Archbishopp of Yorck Anno 673. goinge from Rome was by a tempest driuen into Holland were he preached the ghospell of Christe and returned vnto the East Saxons who beinge blinded
whether shee would forgoe her faith and religion and marrie with a soldior shee most constantlie denied and was cast into the riuer and there was drowned This religious Nunne had a sister that was married and because shee lamented the death of her father and kinsmen her head was brocken by one of the soldiors and that so sorelie that the braines came foorth Other farr more detestable wickednesses were comitted by these tyrannicall reprobates in other prouinces of Flanders Holland Zeland Brabant Gelderland and Frisland which you may read in the histories of Flaunders but this I ought not to omitt that they were soe tormented with such an insatiable thirst to shedd innocent blood that in their detestable conuenticle at the towne of saint Trudan in a vaulte vnder the grounde they purposed and decreed to make a massacre of ecclesiasticall persons in all places of the 17. Prouinces in one night which God preuented afterwardes vnto whome all honnor and glorie Mense Iulij 1566. for his prouident mercie shewed therin 5. And although the hugonottes of France sought diuers times to practise their tragicall plottes in that countrie as in the times of Frauncis the first in whose raigne they nayled a libell at the court gate of Parris of their damnable doctrine printed in the yeare 1534. which being brought vnto his maiestie and perusinge part of the contenâ—es thereof he said Did I knowe my right haâ—de to be infected with that venemous doctrine I would presentlie cut it off from my bodie Henrie the second and Frauncis the second yet they could neuer performe their desigmentes vntill the beginninge of Charles the 9. his raigne who being but a childe of 12. yeares of age and soe abusinge his minoritie they watched their time and oportunitie in the yeare of our Lord 1562. when euerie one that was wickedly disposed and irreligiouslie addicted and as it were forsaken of God began openly to shewe himselfe vpon the theater wheron this wofull tragedie was plaied For first they crowned their captaine generall Prince of Condie kinge of Fraunce and called him by the name of Lodouicke the 13. and the first Christian kinge of Fraunce The cheefest rage of all their malice was practized vpon those thinges which were most sacred and holy as vpon the blessed Euchariste by treadinge the same vnder their feete and castinge it vnto their dogges and vsed that sacred and dreadfull hoast together with the holy chrisme to cleanse their tayles withall and called Christ vnder the veile of bread Iohn le Blanch White Iohn The like outrage they extended vppon Churches Monasteries Alters Chapples Oratories Images Reliques and Sepulchers which they spoiled ransacked destroied burned Vpon Priests Mounckes and religious persons which they put to the vildest and cruelest death that they could imagine vppon sacred virgins and consecrated Nunnes which they rauished and defloured vppon challices and sanctified vessells and hallowed ornaments which they prophaned and defiled 6. Of 12. that shewed themselues the ringleaders vpon this bloodie theater there were 9. of them Apostate Mounckes which Christ vomitted out of his sacred mouth the captaine and leader of them all was Beza who sould his benefice for 700. crownes and then cast forth his venime amongest the licentious courtiers whome he perswaded with his doctrine vid. that it was noe offence before God to coÌ„mit sacriledge to spoile churches to cogge deceaue lye sweare and forsweare whose doctrine herein being the religion of these newe sectaries was most plausible and pleasinge to all miscreantes and malefactors who aboundantlie resorted vnto him from all partes of Fraunce and by which he determined to robb and spoile all the churches and monafteries of that kingdome in one night in the moneth of Ianuarie and appointed people for that purpose in all places of the kingdom which was first put in execution in the Prouince of Aquitaine had not the Duke of Gays come the sooner to Parris they had not only surprised the churches monasteries there but also the cittie court kinge Thus frustrated of their expectation they fled vnto Orlians where before they were lett in by the Cittizens Vide Sur. they did solemnlie swere that they came thither by the comaundement of the kinge to keepe that cittie and that they would offer violence to none either in his person conscience or goodes and that euerie one should haue the benefitt of the edict diuulged the last of Ianuarie wherein it was decreede that the hugonotts should not spoile churches or monasteries but they noe sooner entred the cittie but they spoiled the churches and monasteries burned Images cast downe alters yea cast downe the verie walls of the churches and shewed more execrable wickednes towards all sacred thinges then the verie Turckes for they in takinge any cittie or towne from the Christians doe only vse to cast downe the Images and Alters and not destroy the churches also 7. All the holy Reliques which those hugonotts could gett they burned them they burned the reliques of S. Damianus religiouslie reserued in that place as they also did S. Hillaries reliques at Poytiers S. Ireneus at Lyons S. Iustus and S. Bonauentur and the reliques of S. Martyn At towers they burned the image of Christ in another place they trayled the same through the dirte They spared the image of the diuill burned the Corpes of S. Frauncis the second which was buried in the Chapple of the holly crosse as they did burne the bones of Lodouick the 11. The churches which they broake not downe they turned into stables and storehowses Moreouer Beza comaunded all the Priests to be murthered of whome receauing monny for their redeÌ„ption yet violated the faith and promise which he had formerly sworne and broake the oath and peace which he had before vowed most religiouslie to obserue Soe as it is manifest there were cruelly put to death fiue thousand priests of whom some were flayed aliue others were rackte till they were dead Aboue six hundreth monasteries razed to the verie earth manny others were burned they burned alsoe the holie auncient Bybles which were kept in Fraunce for rare monuments many citties were exhausted with continuall siege their citizens were murthered all the countrie was spoiled and ruinated soe as these ciuill warres of the hugonotts soe often renewed did more consume and oppresse France with greater miseries and calamities then all former warres it euer had abroade For there was no trueth respected or oath performed if any garrison did yeld themselues vnto theÌ„ vpon hope of their oathes which they neuer accomplished to saue their liues as in steede of many examples that of Petraforte alone will serue neuerthelesse contrarie to the lawes of armes to the number of two hunderth were cast downe head longe from the toppe of a mightie high Rocke all which perished with that headlong and violent fall Such crueltie as this more then Turkish they exercised vppon euerie other place where they did carrie anny sway but
of whome they suspected noe such guyle he hauing promised them their libertie yet he sent souldiers in their absence to their chambers and as they returned from supper were intertained with the bloodie edge of their swordes and soe against faith and promise and after paying their raÌ„some they were inhumanly murthered In the cittie of Montbris the Barron of Adrett caused many catholiques to be cast headlong from the topp of a high Turett and caused also souldiers to attend their miserable fall and to entertaine them with the pointes of their pikes 7. Such was the impudencie and barbarousnes of a certaine hugonott that he did weare a chaine about his necke of the eares of priests shewed the same to the chiefest captaines of the hugonittes They did ripp the bellie of a certaine priest and tooke out his bowells in steede whereof they putt oates to serue their horse for a maunger The heretiques of the cittie of Neemes in Languedoc did cast a great number of catholiques into a mightie deepe and large well of that cittie and haue filled the same twise with mens bodies halfe dead Iames Socius a wicked pirate who obtaininge letters patentes of Ioan Alberte Queene of Nauare which they call letters of mart sayling towardes the Iles of Madera and Canaria mett with a shipp of Portingall goinge towardes America which he pursued and tooke In which there were 40. of the fathers of the societie of Iesus who were sent to the Prouince of Brazill to instruct them in Christian religion but the wicked and cruell Tyrant like a deuouring woolfe seased vppon these poore religious people whome he massacred and after dismembring of them of some he cutt a legg of othersome an arme and soe he cast them all into the sea 8. Lastly Anno 1567. in the Carthusian monasterie which they call Burfowtaine in the diocesse of Suesse 5. mounks of that blessed order were murthered by the heretiques that came to robb that monasterie Iohn Motto proctor thereof a most vertuous priest Iohn MegneÌ„ priest Iohn Aurill priest Benedict Lenes lay brother and Theobald priest All these that I speake of neuer tooke weapons against them but most patientlie endured martirdome at their handes But if I should speake of soe manny as were put to most cruell death and were kild in al the Prouinces of Fraunce citties and townes thereof and such that were betrayed by theÌ„ I should make an infinitt volume but I cannot omitt that worthie and inuincible Prince Frauncis of Lorraine Duke of Gwise whose murther was plotted by Beza and executed by Poltrott These and the like examples ought to moue good christians to beware of these people 9. Before the firie and furious concupiscence of king Henry the 8. who caused that vnfortunat deuorce betwixt him and hâ—s vertuous Queene Katherine there was no realme in Europe more opulent and more abundant in all things then the kingdome of England no kingdome more peaceable at home and more glorious and prosperous abroad no king so victorious and tâ—iumphant ouer his enimies as he no courte so magnificent or so plawsible being full of cheerfull shewes and replenished with an vniuersall triumph ioy and exaltation the king liued in securitie without feare of forraine princes abroad or treason or conspiracy of his subiectes at home betwixt the one and the other there was interchangeable good offices aswell of a princely bountifulnesse towardes the subiectes as of a dutifull subiection towardes the prince the king possessed the hearts of his subiects they againe enioye the loue of their Prince But when he violated and dissolued the in dissoluble knott bond of matrimonie which no power in earth was able to disioyne as our Sauiour saith by this separation and diuorce Matt. 19. he separated himselfe also from Gods church all thinges were subuerted and turned topsy turuie all was filled which feares and suspitions at home with warres and diuisions a broad and with continuall frights and stranges allarmes of attempts and garboyles aswell in the court as in the countrie The treasures were exhausted the subiects impourished religion suppressed religious howses dissolued the vertuous oppressed the wicked aduanced and exalted the nobilitie condemned and beheaded and their goods confiscated and all vertuous people were fedd and sustained Pane lachrymarum aqua augustiae with the bread of mourning and teares and with the water of anguish and paine so as whatsoeuer the prophett Hieremy spake of Hierusalem may be applied to England after its apostacy The flourishing nation saith he is like a poore widdow Hier. c. 1. that wailes at night and her teares rune downe by her checkes her priests doe waile her virgins do complaine and she is euerie where oppressed her nobilitie are suppressed and many of her people ouerpressed with vnsufferable miseries and callamities Facti sunt hostes eius in capite eius inimici eius locupletati sunt Her enimies are promoted into her highest promotions and her aduersaries made riche by her spoyles Know yee and behold how distastfull it is to forsake God and nott to haue his feare before your eyes A seculo consregisti iugum Domini thow hast bracken and cast off godes yoake euen from the beginninge thy swoord deuoured the prophets quasi leo â— astator generatio vestra a destroieng lion is your generation And as King Henry the 8. himselfe said in this booke against Luther Eos qui pelluntur gremio matris Ecclesiae stat in furijs corripi atque agitari demonibus Such as are expulsed and thrust out of the bosome of our mother the Church are foorthwith ouercharged with the furious and raginge flames of hellish spirits and vanquished which diuills which assertion I would to God it had not bene verified of him that said it nor sutable to the purpose wherunto the same is applied But England to their great cost by experience knoweth this to be trew howsoeuer otherwise they dissemble it 6. But to retourne to him that applied the same against Luther the stroake did reboâ—nd and reflect vppon his owne neck Anno Domini 1533 Regni eius 24. for being excommunicated by Clemens 7. for putting away his married wife and for marrieng Anne Bullen tradidit se as the Apostle saith impudicitiae Ephes 4. in operem immunditia omnis in auaritiam he yelded himselfe ouer to impudicitie to the exercise of all vncleanesse couetuousnes he caused himselfe to be decreed by perleameÌ„t head of the church made it high treason in him that would not sweare precisely in his conscience this to be trew where many worthy personages both ecclesiasticall and lay people for refusing this oath or otherwise resisting it some were burned aliue as father Foster of the order of saint Frauncis Queene Cathrins confessor other some were beheaded as doctor Fisher-Bishopp of Rochester and Sr. Thomas Moore L. Chancler of England and may others were hanged drawen and quartered Yea he condemned the whole cleargie in a premunire which afterwardes they
his holy life Anno 1581. 7. Patricke Ohealy of the order of saint Frauncis Bishopp of Maio coming out of Spaine into Ireland no sooner landed then by the sherif and officers of that place which was at Dingell in the weast part of all Irland but he was apprehended together with a religious man of that order nobly descended call Con Ornorcke and were sent to the Contesse of DesmoÌ„d who either to currie fauour which the state of the kingdome or for feare to be ill thought of if he had dismissed them or to be impeached of any imputation or suspitioÌ„ of any conspiracy with Sr. Iames fitz Morrice then on foote reddy at that time to passe out of Gallicia in Spaine into Ireland with a supply of Spaniardes did remitt them ouer to Limerick to be presented before Mr. Iames Gould then the Queens Attourney in the Prouince as about that time also shee yelded her eldest sonne to Sr. William Drury Lord Iustice of Ireland as an hostage that he should rest himselfe secure without feare of the Earles Ioialtie fidelitie to her maiesty for yelding her sonn and heire apparent of Desmond as a pleadg and the holy Bishopp as a prisoner but as shee was carfull to continew the Earldome in her Ioynes so the other was as warrie to preserue his owne reputation and creditt in his new promotion of Lord iustice who was no les suspected to fauor the catholique religion for he was in harte and will of that profession then the other was to further rebellion Sed quis vnquam tetigit Christum Domini innocens fuit both the iustice and the contesse were frustrated of their hope deceaceaâ—ed of their expectation Maledictus qui confâ—dit in homine and thincking to possesse the fauor of the world they respected nott the fauor and iustice of God whose wisdome surpasseth the prouidence of man timidae inepta prouidentiae nostrae 8. The Earle therfore of Desmond within one month after the good Bishopp suffred was proclaimed traitor and most part of the Geraldines with their followers in a serious conflict betwixt themselues and the English of whome Sr. Nicholas Malby was Cheeftaine were ouerthrowen and putt to flight at the Abbay of Bertiff in Irish called Eanighbegg within 7. miles of Lâ—mericke weastward and that most noble ancient howse which was the only strenght and Bulwarcke for the Crowne of England it dangerous seasons of that kingdome heertofore is nowe altogether extinguished And the Lord Iustice continewed no longer in his new dignitie then one month after the Bishopps execution which was the space of time that he challenged the Lorde Iustice to answer before the dreadfull throne of God for their innocent blood I meane of him and his followe and for their vniust iudgment which was that they should be executed by Marshall law wherfore they were deliuered to a band of soldiors their handes being tide behind their backs and their feete with roppes vppon garrans of whome they were cruelly entertained al the way vntil they came to Kilmalocke a towne distant 12. miles from Limericke where they were hanged vppon trees the foolish cruell soldiors a whole senight after their death for they were not permitted all that time to be buried made butts of their carcases to shutt and leuill att them with their bullets calllng them by the name of papists traitors idolators Immediatly after their execution the said L. iustice sickned in the campe and ended his life at Waterfoord crieng out vpon those blessed martirs whome he had putt to death but one moneth before 9. Derby Ohurley Archbishopp of Cashall doctor of both lawes and professor of that facultie in the vniuersitie of Rheames in Fraunce vnder Cardinall Guise Archbishopp of the same was taken in Ireland and cast into a darck Dungeon in the Castle of Dublin and being sore vexed with this vgly prison and pensiue restrainct was more vexed and tormented by an vsuall and exquisâ—â—t torment of bootes full of boylling oile and talloe into which he was coÌ„pelled to putt his legges already wearied with heauie bolts and to staÌ„d by a great fire with which his flesh was consumed vnto the bare bones all which he endured with great patience and constancy And afterwardes when by that torment he could not be wonâ—e nor by feare and alluring promisses of vncertaine and deceitfull promotion could nott be inueigled to relent or to faint in the profession of the catholique religion or to embrace the protestant negatiue religion was vpon fridaie morning in the dawning straÌ„gled with a wyth in the moneth of May 1584. and so suffred a blessed martirdome and enioieth a blessed crowne 10. Redmond Ma-Goran primat of Ardmagh was slaine in Conaght by Sr. Richard Bingham Anno 1598. Redmond Ogulloglior Bishopp of Derry being almost 100. yeers of age and 50. yeers a Bishopp was with 3. prieâ—ts about midnight slaine in his owne howse neere Derry by the garrison of Log hefoile thorough the craft and drift of one Sr. Neyle Garrath Odonel who afterwards falling into disgrace with the English was impeached and arraigned for taking part with Odohirtyes conspiracy and was comitted together with his sonne prisoner in the owner of london anno 1600. Morihirtagh Obrien Bishopp of Emly being apprehended was cast into the castle of Dublin where through penurie and straightnesse of his restraint he died in the yeare 1586. 11. Peers Power Bishoppe of Fearnes being taken and apprehended was cast into the castle of Dublin who either through the frailtie of the flesh or through the extremity of his restraint or els through the deceitfull promisses of temporall promotions yelded to the supremacy of the Queene in the spirituall iurisdiction of the church which being once granted he destroied all articles of our catholique beleefe and therfore he was sett at libertie But being afterwardes sore amased and strocken with an inward sorrow for being so weake and so inconstant in a point so highly importing the increase and honor of christian religion and consequently our saluation retourned like another Marcellinus vnto the place where he fell and where he gaue so vild a scandall deplored his fall and greeuously lamented his errors and so he was hardlier dealt with all then euer before but after long imprisonment and much affliction through godes prouidence he made an escape and fled into Spaine the common support and sanctuary of al distressed catholiques where he died with great probation of a blessed and constant catholique Bishopp 12. Richard Creogh natiue of the cittie of Limericke in the prouince of Munster in Ireland descended of welthie and honest parents of an auncient familie in that cittie who notwithstanding he imploied the prime of his youthfull dayes in the trade of marchandice yet he profitted more in the spirituall exercise of deuotion and pietie then he did in the acquiring of riches and wordly designementes And after some worldly losse went beyond the seas where he gaue himselfe to the studdy of vertue
so was Eneas Penny parish priest of Killagh slaine at the alter in the parish church therof Donoshew Ma Recdy priest was hanged at Colrahan Cahall Ma-Goran Rony O Donillan Peter O Quillan patricke O Kenna a Franciscan Freer Georg Power viccar generall of the diocesse of Ossory Andrew Strich of Limericke Brien O Murihirtagh viccar generall of the diocesse of Clonefart Donoghow Omulony priest of Thomond Iohn Kelly of Louth Sr Patrick of the Anally Iohn Pillin P. of the order of saint Frauncis Rory Ma-Henlea Tirrelagh Ma-Inisky a lay man of the order of S. Francis al these were catholique died in the Castle of Dublin through hard vsadg and restrainct Walter Fernan priest died in thâ—t castle through too much tortur of the racke Iohn Walsh a vertuous priest died through famine and cold in the Castle of Weastchester Two Welsh gentlemen the one called Richard Waghan that other Richard Downs died through hard vsadg in in the Castle of Dublin 11. Morris Vstace of Castle Martin in the diocesse of Kildare esquier master of Arte and a Nouice of the societie of Iesus being sent for by his father into Brugis in Flanders came into Ireland not without his superiours direction to satisfie his Fathers will who was apprehended hanged quartered who being so well descended and religious withall was much feared he wold work much amongest the people In the meane time the L. viscont of Balinglas and L. Barron of Bilquillin was in open hostilitie which agrauated the ielousie and suspition that he was accessary therunto 12. For the like suspition these that followe were hanged drawen and quartered Ma. Nicholas Nugent esquier cheef Iustice of the Common pleas Ma. Dauid Sutten esquier together with his bother Mr. Iohn Sutton Gentleman Mr. Thomas Vstace Gentleman together with his sonne and heire who said the letanies together with his father going vpp the ladder Maister William Ougan of Ruth-Coffy esquier Maister Robert Scurlock gentleman maister Clench of the Scrine gentleman maister Netherfild gentleman maister Robert fitz Gerrad Bacheller of diuinitie all these suffred for suspition of Baltinglas his warres 1581. 12. Mathew Lamport priest a very godly and a deuout man for that vppon a certaine night he entertained father Richford priest of the societie of Iesus was hanged drawen and quartered Robert Miller Edward Cheeuers Iohn O Lahy for bringing ouer the said Richfoord with the L. of Baltinglas was hanged drawen and quartered Anno 1581. Peter Miller after hauing stustied in Spaine for that he could nott haue his health came into his countrie which is the county of Wexfoord being examined touching points of religion and nott finding him conformable to the protestancie many suspitions being laid to his charge was hanged drawen and quartered Anno 1588. Christopher Roche natiue of Wexfoord for that he could not enioy his health in Flanders where he was a student passing by Bristoe to come for Ireland was there apprehended and was putt to the oath of the supremacy which when he refused he was carried vp to LoÌ„don where he was sore whipt about the streetes and was putt into a most filthy prison in gyues fetters and died there through extreamitie Anno 1590. 14. Iames Dudall of Drodart marchant comming out of France was by contrarie windes driuen to the South coast of EnglaÌ„d vnto whom the oath of the Queens supremacy was tendred and for that he refused the same he was sent to Exceter Gayle and there was hnaged drawen and quartered anno 1600. Patricke Hea of Wexfoord and honest man and zealous Catholique being accusedsed vnto the Lord Gray then deputie of the kingdome that he did not only releeue Bishoppes and priests in his house but allso transported them ouer into Spaine and France was committed to the castle of Dublin where through hard restraint he fell sore sicke and by entreaty of his frinds was remitted to his house where the died of the sicknesse he tooke in the prison 15. 20. Laymen old blind and impotent retired themselues vnto their parish church of Mohono dedicated to S. Nicholas in the diocesse of Limericke for a sanctuary wherin they liued many dayes vntil such time as the English Army passing by that way and finding them there they sett fire in the church and burned them all anno Domini 1581. these poore old people amoungest whome ther weare some old women who could nott long haue liued although they had beene lett alone for they were some of the age of 100 of 80. yeers very sicke and euen already languished for want of foode which they could nott gett by reason the countrie was altogether spoiled and left wast by the soldiors and the people of the countrie fled into the montaines yet nedes these people must add sorrowe vppon sorrowe and crueltie vpon crueltie to shew their rancore and the fruict of their ghospell All these fornamed personnes except the good and most vertuous Bishopp of Duanna with his chappleine Brien of Carrulan and Iohn O Onan and Donoghowe Ma-Reddy and Iohn Luneus priest who suffered vnder kinge Iames all the rest suffred vnder Queene Elizabeth Euerie sect of heresies Challenging vnto themselues the trewe and Catholique Church there is here set downe the true notes and marcks by which the same may be discerned CHAPTER I. 1. WEe must knowe that the catholique church is as it were the sonne of the worlde which doth cast foorthe her lightes and shininge beames by certaine notes by which shee may be discerned and knowen from the false religion of Pagans Iewes and heretiques The first note is Aug. lib. contra epistolam fundamenti cap. 4. the name Catholique which as saint Augustine saith if a pagan would aske of an heretique where the catholique church is he will not dare to shewe vnto him his owne familie S. Cirill also saith Cyrill Cathechesi 18. Si iueris in aliquam vrbem c. Yf you goe into anny cittie you will not aske where is the church or howse of God for then euerie heretique will say he hath the howse and church of God but yow will aske where is the catholique church for that is the proper name of this holly church the mother of all faithfull christians which if yow aske after not heretique will shewe vnto yow his owne churche 2. The 2. note is Antiquitie for that the true religion is more auncient then the false and the catholique Romaine church was before anny hereticall secte for that all heretiques departed from the same as S. Iohn saith Ex nobis prodierunt c. they went foorth from vs as is sett downe in the chapter of the first booke Daniel 9.3 Note Act. 2. Timoth. 3. Cypr. l. 4. Epist 2. 3. The 3. note ie perpetuitie or duration which neuer was nor euer shal be interrupted Regnum quod in aeternum non dissipabitur a kingdome which shall neuer be ouerthrowen nor euer be dissolued because it is of God Of heretiques it is said they shall not
from saint Peter to saint Damalus saint Cyprian from saint Peter to Cornelius saint Bernard from saint Peter to Eugenius saint August from saint Peter vnto Anastatius who was Pope in his time lib. contra epistolam fundamenti cap. â— Tenet me in Ecclesia c. The successioÌ„ of priestes from saint Peter the Apostle vnto whome Christe comended the feedinge of his sheepe vnto this present Bishop holdes me in the church the same alsoe doth saint Hierom proue For wee must note that such are true Bishopps in the churche who descende from the Apostles aswell by succession as by ordination but the sectes of Lutherans and Caluinistes haue neither succession from any lawfull Bishopps or lawfull ordination therfore they haue not succeeded in any Apostolique order or succession And for this cause as saint Cyprian said Nouatianus is not in the church Cyp. lib. â— epist 6. ad magnum nor oughte to be called a Bishoppe who despisinge apostolique tradition succeded noe Bishoppe and himselfe tooke that order vppon himselfe 8. The 6. 6. Note note is the vniuersall consent of the Catholique church in euerie point of doctrine of faith as it is said in the Actes Muâ—titudo credentium erat cor vnum anima â—na and contrariwise the errors alterations and dissentions of these sectes in euerie article of their faith as you may see in the first Chapters and 9. Lib. 9. c. 1. Lib. 2 c. 1. bookeâ— also in the 2. booke cap. 1. 7. Note 9. The 7. note is the sanctifie of this Catholique doctrine for the Catholique church is holie in her doctrine and profession as the councell of Constantinople saith which profession containes noe falshoode touchinge faith nor any iniustice touchinge good manners but these sectaries hould soe many absurdities against faith good manners The 9. book caâ— Aug. lib. 2. de ciuitate Dei as in the 1. li. Chapter 9. you may reade But the Catholique church containes noe error absurditie or turpitude nor doth it teach any thing against reason although it teacheth many things aboue reason and therfore saint Augustine saith Nihil in Christianis ecclesijs turpe flagitiosum there is nothinge in Christian churches that is either filthie or obhominable either wheÌ„ godes precepts be insinuated or miracles declared or giftes praised or benefitts asked 8. Note 10. The 8. note is the efficacie of the catholique doctrine in conuertinge the whole worlde vnto the standert of Christe and that by poore weake and sillle persons without armour or munition withoute feare of tormente or punishment only by praiers fastinge charitable woorks miracles and all good examples of hollines of life By these meanes all nations were conuerted to the catholique church from impietie and all wickednes vnto pietie and religion from beastlie pleasures vnto angelicall coÌ„tinency from the fleshe to the spirite from beinge loâ—ers of the worlde to despise contemne and forsake the same and to followe Christ their spouse But these sectaries subuerted many nations not by sounde doctrine or good examples of life but by terror and feare they caused many to forsake Christe and followe the worlde I am sure these holie Saincts that conuerted the world neuer drewe foorth any sworde when they preached I am sure when Sainct Vincent conuerted soe many when saint Aug. conuerted Englande to the faith beinge sent by saint Greg. or when saint Killian an Irishe saincte conuerted the Francks beinge sent from Conon Pope or when saint Patricke conuerted Ireland beinge sent by saint Celestine Pope they neuer killed or murthered burned or spoiled nor made the subiectes to reuolte against their princes or the princes to make tirannicall lawes against their subiects But Caluine and Luther did sowe their pestilent heresie by burninge and spoilinge kingdomes robbinge and ransakinge cittâ—es killinge and murtheringe manny millions of people castinge downe and razinge to the earth manny churches and monasteries rauishinge and deflouringe many Nunnes and Virgins and by bringinge euerie kingdome where the same was nourished to a pittifull confusion 9. Note 11. The 9. note is the hollines and sanctitie of life of such as founded our religion for the holie Patriarches Apostles Doctors Pastors and such as conuerted any countrie to the faith of Christ were mirrours and spectacles of all sanctitie and religion as saint August wittnesseth of the Mouncks of his tyme. Isti sunt Episcopi pastores docti graues sancti Aug. lib. demorib Eccl. c. 31. lib. 2. in Iulian. c. these were learned Bishopps and graue wise and holly pastors most earnest defenders of the trueth by whose planting settinge wateringe and buildinge the holy catholique church did increase but the sectaries of these times as in their doctrine they were most irreligious soe in their liues and manners moste wicked and abhominable In responsione ad libr. quem inscripsâ—rat Lutherus contra Zuing disputatione habita lipsie contra Eck. Luther in postilla super euaÌ„ super euaÌ„ Dominic Aduentus as the protestant authors themselues doe auerre The ministers of Tigur doe write that Luther sought nothing but his owne priuate gaine that he was insolent and stubborne and Luther himselfe confessed that his pretence was not for the loue of God In an other place he said that such as followed this newe gospell were farr woorse then when they were Papists more couetous and more giuen to reuenge Smidelinus in Coment 4. super caput 21. lucae said Lutherans doe peruerte all thinges that they turned fastinge into feastinge surfeâ—inge prayers into swearinge and blasphemies adding that Christe is not soe much blasphemed of the verie Turcks Erasmus also saith thaâ— this gospell neuer reformed any vice in these newe gospellers none that was an epiâ—ure became sober by it norâ— none that was cruell became meeke or gentle by it 12. The like censure the ministers of Madelâ—urge doe giue of them saying Madebur Centuria 11. cap. 11 Cen. 10. When these people were Papistes they were religiouslie addicted they were giuen to much praâ—ers deuotion and sanctifienge the saboâ—th daie they shewed great reuerence towardes churchmen parents were carefull in the education of their childrenn they were liberall and mercifull towardes the poore and there was great obedience in the subiectes The same Caluine wittnesseth Calu. inst lib. 4. cap. 10. scanâ— pag. 118. and in bis booke of scandalls he saith when soe many thousandes doe pretend the gosâ—pell fewe of them euer were refourmed of their wicked liues and hauinge lett the raynes loose to all wickednes Musc in cap. de decalogo de ministris verbis Luth. tâ— 5. Erasm ad fratres inferiores Germanicae they are not woorthy they should become Papists Musculus doth confirme the same Luther the first founder of this vnfortunate gospell said that such as followed the same were odibile genus hominum A hatefull kind of people and althoughe they speake of the gospel in their woorcks they are
For although the written law lightneth our vnderstanding with many instructions and fownd doctrine directing our vnderstanding to follow and embrace vertue and to discerne the good from the euill yet it disposeth nor prepareth not our hartes with the loue of the one nor our affection with the hatred of the other it giueth light to the vnderstanding but it healeth not the infirmitie and disease of our appetites The lawe teatcheth the way to heauen but giueth no force to our weake soules to trauaile thither which saint Iohn auerreth The law was giuen by Moyses but grace and trueth was giuen by Christ which is conferred by the sacramentes and which are instrumentes to conuay the same vnto vs. 2. As there are many maladies disseases and necessities so there ar also many sacramentes which are as it were conduits that do deriue manny remedies and receipts to ech of them And as the Humane body is first borne and so encreaseth is fedd and receaueth diuers alterations Ephe. 5. Mar. 16. in Clemen ex summa trinitate fidei Cath. ca. 1 Ezech. 36 Clemens epist 4. Vrba ep ad omnes fideles Melch ad epis Hisp Ioh. 6. 1. Cor. 11. Iohn 2. so there are many such varietie of alterations of the soule which is borne and regenerated by water and the holy ghoast which is baptisme and the grace and vertues which are giuen in baptisme are againe confirmed by the Sacrament of confirmation which maketh the soule stoute and constant in the profession of his faith which faith and grace hath neeede to be nourished and augmented which is don by the holie Sacrament of the Eucharist which is the body of Christ which is the foode of our languished soule which through many infirmities and diseases incident therunto hath great need of a spirituall phisition to heale the same by contrition confession and satisfaction And for that after long and prolix sicknesse and disseases there are many dregges of the old sicknesse stil left Ia. 5. cont Flore for the healing and curing wherof the Sacrament of extreame vnction is ordained as also that a christian in his cheefest agony of his spirituall extremitâ—e should be releued and refreshed 3. The other 2. Sacramentes are inioyned for the 2. states of people Matt. 19. Ephes 5. the one for such as be married the other for such as be ecclesiasticall and seruing in godes church But the new religion hath no Sacrament althoughe for some shew of litle deuotion they do not reiect the Sacramentes of Baptisme and Eucharist yett they handle them without any deuotion or reuerence at all as for Baptisme some or most of them doe holde that it is not necessarie to our saluation for they thincke that the childe is saued by the faith of his parents As for the Eucharist with they call the Lords supper they make no more accompt of it then of anny common bread whose effect is nothinge els ten to remember Christ his death which may be don aswell by the one as by the other The 4. Excellencie is to fauor the good and to punish the wicked CHAPTER V. 1. WHen the end of euery lawe is to take away vice and wickednesse and the occasions therof and to make meÌ„ sober honest and vertuous it is meete that the good should haue many priuiledges fauors and rewards and the wicked should be punished Deut. 28. Ezech. 5. 6. as we may read in Deutrono wher god almightie threatneth death and destruction against the transgressors of his lawes and comandementes The like also we may read in Ezech. But the new religion taketh away both merits and rewards from the iust and paine and punishmentes from the wicked saying the more wicked you are the neerer you are to Gods fauor and grace as Luther affirmeth The 5. Excellencie is the conuersion of all nations vnto Christe and driuing Idolatrie out of the world CHAPTER VI. THe more that princes persecuted christian religion the more the same encreased as Pliny the 2. being a Pagan withnesseth For when he saw such a multitude of christians to be put to death he wrott to the emperor Traian aduertizing him that there were thowsands of christians executed by exquisitt tormentes for no kind of offence but for being Christians and the more they were tormented and afflicted the more they encreased and florished and the more the reuerence of the Idols decreased But the new religion neuer conuerted the gentles from Idolatrie to Christian religion whose only imployment and drift is to corrupt and confound the faithfull and neuer to reforme themselues charging the church with Idolatrie as old heretiques haue done Athanasius witnessing the same The 6. Excellencie of the Catholique Religion is that the same is proued and auerred by so many good witnesses as sacred and learned doctors blessed saincts martyrs and generall counsells CAPTER VII 1. ARistotle saith that a man is beleeued for three causes and ought to be presupposed that he telles the trueth 1. If he be wise 2. If he be vertuous 3. If he be oure frind For wee thincke that a wise man should not be deceaued a good man should not lie a frind should not deceaue his frind Such therfore as did beare witnesse of our catholique religion were wisemen eminent and exquisitt in all sciences and faculties most holy and religious in their liues as Dionisius Areopagita disciple to S. Paule saint Ignatius Policarpus Origines saint Basill the great and his brother saint Gregorie Nissenus saint Iohn Chrisostom Theodoretus saint Nazianzenus saint Gregorie saint Aug. saint Hierom saint Ambrosse saint Hillarius saint Cyprian Lactantius Firmianus S. Vincentius Lirinensis Arnobius saint Bernard saint Bonauenture Scotus Alexander de Halles with diuers others for they had no cause but to tell the trueth being honest vertuous free from all inordinat affection that should otherwise restraine theÌ„ to declare the trueth therof being people that were altogether addicted to the seruice of God and most zealous of his glory and honor which they preferred before all worldly designements and promotions 2. Vnto these are annexed for confirmation of the trueth all generall counsells of the world which were 20. with the aprobation of Christs viccar generall in earth together with all the blessed martyrs that euer were in all the persecutions and tempestuous stormes and agonies of the church which she suffred vnder 14. Kinge and Emperors according to S. Aug. accompt lib. 18. de ciuitate Dei The first was of Nero who was so infestuous to the Christians that he caused Rome to be sett on fire in diuers places and laid the imputation of that infamie vppon them wherby the Romanes should insult vppon them and should destroy and massacre them euerie one the Tirant himselfe commanding the same The 2. was of Domitian who caused S. Iohn the Euangelist to be cast into a Tunn of hoat burnâ—nge oyle which caused also by his edict published that all the bookes of Christians should be burned
not only of England but of all the world against the decree of all the generall counsells therof against all sacred doctors against common sense and honestie against all lawes both ciuill and cannon not only against catholiques but against protestants in all other countries yea against the puritans of England against these constant confessors and blessed martyrs aboue recited which acknowledged no such supremacy in spirituall or ecclesiasticall matters to any king or prince whatsoeuer that did putt them to death whose blessed blood was patiently shed for the defence of Catholique religion and lastly against the practise of all former ages and antiquitie For from Donaldus the first Christian king of the Scots according to saint Victor Anno 197. there were 84. Christian kinges from Ethelbert being made Christian according to saint Aug. an 600. vnto Edward the confessor 1006. there were 80. kings Christian in EnglaÌ„d after the coÌ„quest ther were 20. vnto king Henry the 8. so as none were euer called head of the church before king Henry after him Edward Elizabeth and king Iames. What shall I say of other holy and valiant martyrs that suffered in these later persecutions raysed vpp by Luther and Caluins heresie and by the Princes that embraced the same How many thousandes suffred confiscation of their goodes and landes effusion of their blood confusion of the world desolation and destruction of their wiues children woe and wreake and dissolution of all things such a masse of miserie and callamitie wherin their miserable and forlorne life was plunged withall as no man can rehearse without greefe nor none can see without teares How many thousand did rotâ— in vgly prisons die in banishments suffred patiently the crewelest tormentes and yrcâ—somest death that could be imagined rather then they would preferr the vaine fauor of man before the fauor of God antiquitie before noueltie to forgoe their auncient Catholique religion to become of the new to forgoe the firme Rocke of Christs church to build their faith vpon them that haue neither grownd or foundation of any supernaturall or theologicall faith at al no certitude in their doctrine no deuotion in their religion no honestie in the profession therof no vertue in their liues no pietie in their schooles or synagoges no charitie in their woorckes no mortification in their members or passions and consequentlie no conscience in their doings THE CONCLVSION 1. I Haue gentle reader exposed to thy vew the Theater of catholique and protestant religion where thou maist plainly behould and see the of-spring beginning growndes foundation practise mischeefe and inconuenience of the one and the excellency of the other Liu. 13. Math. 13. by which thou maist perceaue that the catholique religion ought to be compared to the wise husbandman which did sow the good side in his grownd or farme the protestant to resemble the enimie which sowed the badd cockle and darnell the one ought to be called positiue the other negatiue the one ecclesia malignantium the other militantium the one plantation of religion and deuotion the other supplantation or rooting vp of the same 2. The first subiect of corruptible and materiall things which the philosophers doe call Materia prima which neuer holdeth her selfe setled or contented in any certaine course of any forme or composition but is eueâ— more mutable and changeable by a certaine naturall reuolution from one forme and fashion to another for that shee being disgusted with the one euer more seeketh another is not so vncertaine and vnconstant as protestancy which by a certaine fatall reuolution and babilonicall confusion groweth from one errour to another from one mischeefe to another from one sect to another as appeareth by so many sectes forged and coined by this new religion within these 80. yeers which are 240. in number all in differrence and variance amongest themseluees not in ceremonies or things indifferent but in the cheefest articles and substance of their religion as many of themselues do auerre the one detesting condemning and pronouncing their cursed sentence of Anathema against the other as you may read aboue in the â—â— booke cap. 1. The same may be confirmed by a certaine Prince of Germany who being demaunded of what religion his bordering neighbours were he answered he could describe of what religion they were the last yeere but this yeere he could not well tell their religion in respect of the mutabilitie and in constancy therof see the preface and cap 1. lib 2. 3. But the catholique religion is alwaies one and the selfe same alwaise retaineth and holdeth the same continwance and vigour of trueth not in diuersitie of sectes but in simplicitie and vnitie of beleefe and profession without duplicitie or disparitie or contradiction of doctrine or without absurditie or dishonestie in her maners and customes because she hath the holy ghoast to assist and direct her in all trueth and to protect and to defend her from all errors misbeleefe and infidelitie For not only this new religion is changeable and variable in profession and doctrine but also in condition custome and behauiour for alteration in faith and religion procureth also a great alteration and inconstancy in mindes and affections in life and maners as wee may knowe by such nations who when they were catholiques were mercifull chast sober liberall temperat children were obedient to their parentes and people faithfull of their promisse But when they were turned protestantes as they selues do affirme they became most crwell bloody insolent lecherous riotuous couetuous barbarous luxurious and intemperat 4. For when protestancy laboreth to stoope and intercept all the channells and fountaines of Gods grace the enfluence of Christs passion all the inspiration of the holy ghoast from the soules of christians by which they should be inwardly and formally iustified to whome ought to be applied that which was spoken of the Iewes that they resisted the holy ghoast when it an â—ulleth all the excellencies vertues operations effectes of the blessed Sacramentes all the applications of the merites of Christes passion the vallour and vertue of his blood which the eternall and euerlasting father would haue to be religiously and deuoutly applied by religious meanes and our owne proper endeuours to our owne sanctificatioÌ„ when it destroieth reiecteth all the woorkes and merites of the iust as proceeding and hauing their force worth and valloure from that blessed passion and death of Christ and all the blessed rewardes correspondent and proportionable vnto those merites by vertue of the foresaid passion and blood which they deny to be of that force to abolish and blot out our sinnes wickednesse and punishmentes due vnto the same and so reiecting the force and vertue of Christs passion and transferring and building the same vppon another fundation which they call imputatiue iustice of Christ saying that Christ imputeth not vnto vs our offences and as it were couers them by that iustice by which he is iust himselfe nott by which he maketh vs iust when vppon a kind of an arrogant faith and presumptuous predestination without any relation or referrence to his owne endeuoures so as he beleue that Christ suffred for him or that he is predestinated to be saued he must be such When I say protestancy is blinded and nusled in this peruerse doctrine it being the only and cheefe article of their beleefe which is against scripture good life comon reason sense the definition of the catholique church honestie of a christian and the pietie of a catholique yea against operation of grace or instinct of nature it must run headlong vnto all desperat blasphemies and damnable mischeefe their vnbrideled concupiscence and crwell dispositions impelling them therunto For when the transgression of no lawe or the attempt and consummation of no acte though neuer so exorbitant or so abhominable is punished nor the good woorkes or merites or any execution or exercise of vertue or mortification of any their passions is not regarded for that as they say the merites of Christ his passion doe abrogat them nay such worckes or mortifications are iniurious to the same and doe as they say derogat from them Wee must thincke them to be no otherwise then they are taxeâ— with the imputation of all those cruell and vnchristian like Epithethes by their owne gospellers and when their religion is nothinge els then a path way to all dissolute libertie and licentiousnesse their liues and maners must be such for the corruption of the one engendreth the dissolution of the other 5. Finallie this is the cause that wee see many lawes decrees and dishonest plottes daylie deuised with their rigorous and cruell executions nott against transgressors of godes lawes the lawe of nature but against honest and vertuous people so as the reputation of an honest conscionable and well disposed person cannot be without the imputation of a dangerous traitour whose life goodes and landes must waite and lye open as a pray and bootie for euerie miscreant who as he exceedeth others in villanie and wickednesse must excell them also in promotion and authoritie cuius maledictione os plenum est amaritudine dolo sub lingua eius labor dolor Psal 9. whose tonge is full of malediction bitternesse and deceit Idem so as the decay and downefall of the good must be the raising vpp and aduancement of the badde Exurge Domine non confortetur homo Psal 9. iudicentur gentes in conspectu tuo Constitue Domine legislatorem super eos vt sciant gentes quoniam homines sunt Arise Lord let not man be strengthned let the Gentiles be iudged in thy sight Appoint Lord a law-giuer ouer them that the Gentiles may know that they be men FINIS
keepe Iustice with god that takes from God his righte which is religion depriues his diuine maiestie of that worshipp reuereÌ„ce which is due vnto him This is proued for that Princes followinge this false reason of state haue beene put by God froÌ„ their state as Ieroboam the seruant of Salamon to coÌ„tinewe himselfe in the kingdome which he had taken from Roboam did alter the Religion made a false religion For he made two golden calues one at Dan and the other at Bethell and also altered the order of priestoode by ordaininge others that were not of the order of Leuie For which both he and his yssue were depriued of their kingdome and destroied of their liues The Princes of the Iewes by reason of their state put Christ to death least the Romaines shoulde come vpon theÌ„ neuerthelesse the Romaines came vpon them and destroyed them 7. Vetiza a kinge of Spaine and his successor Rodorigus fearinge the rebellion of their subiectes for their owne wicked actes destroied and rased downe all the stronge holdes of Spaine which was the cause that that Country was broughte in one quarter of a yeare in subiection by the Moores which were not expelled Spaine in 700. yeares after The kinges of Fraunce Francis the first and his sonne Henry the second the one brought in the Turcke thinckinge to bringe him in to Spaine against Charles the fift Emperour kinge of Spaine to destroy Spaine But whether did the tempest driue the Turcke but to Tolouse within France which afterwards with great a doe makinge many spoiles of that Countrie were driuen out after burninge the Cittie of Nicea other citties out of which they brought with them 5200. Christians as slaues amongest which number were 200. consecrated virgins the other did ioyne with the rebellious protestaÌ„t Princes against the said Charles by whom they were ouerthrowen and brought to subiection Kinge Henry the third of Fraunce beinge perswaded that he should neuer be obeyed of his subiectes vnles he should make away the Catholique Princes as Henry of Loren Duke of Guise and Luyes of IoreÌ„ the Cardinall his brother murthered them in the assembly of Bloys 1588. but for that he was led rather by the wicked Councell of Macheuillians and not by the lawe of God he was punished himselfe by a poore sillye friar without the procurment of any but of his owne head who thrust him thorough with a knife beinge in the middest of his army purposing to besidge Paris Iohn Fredericke Duke of Saxonie intendinge to take the Empire from the house of Austria followed Martine Luthers Councell that he should change his religion soe that by the procurment of Luther he rebelled against his soueraigne But the frute that he reaped by this false reason was to be apprehended put in to prison depriued of his estate Dukedome and dignity of elector shipp was not Absolon destroyed by the false Councell of Architofell And Aman by his wicked plottes by which he tought to destroie Mardocheus and the chilren of Israell For there is noe wisdome or Councell of Macheuillians against God his Church Thomas Cromwel was put to death as Fox saith by the cruell lawe he made himselfe as by a certaine fatall destinie these be Foxes wordes that whosoeuer should be cast into the Tower he should be put to death without examination the said Fox calleth this Cromwell the wall and defense of protestant religion But qui hominibus placent confusi sunt quoniam Deus spreuit nos those which doe please men are confounded for God despiseth them 8. The principal and last reason or cause is for that these articles are already condemned by the generall Iudgement and verdit in soe many generall Councells as haue beene in the world specially by the last generall Councell of Trent therfore nowe they ought not to be called in question Whereupon Gelasius the Pope saith Maiores nostri diuina inspiratione cernentes c. Our Ancestours foreseinge by diuine inspiration did most earnestly pray the faithfull that whatsoeuer was decreed by any Councell against anny heresie for the faith of the Catholiks and the Catholike trueth it should neuer be broughte in question againe Also Leo the Pope did desire the Emperour Marcianus that there should be noe retractation in any thinge defined by the holy Councell and soe the said Marcianus established by lawe accordinge to his request that none should dispute of the definition of the Councell The said Leo also taught the same in his Epistle to the Councel of Chalcedon to Maximus the Bushopp of Antioch The same is also decreede in the Councell of Ephesus and in the Councell of Chalcedon S. Augustine also said that it is an insosolent madnes to disputed against any thinge that the Catholike church had defined For our Sauior saith whosoeuer heareth your heareth me and whatsoeuer they will you to doe that doe yee 5. For as much therfore as these heresies were condemned as I haue said by the generall Councell of Trent vnto whom protestantes refused to come to trye their doctrine for none euer refuseth the triall of generall Councells but heretikes therfore we ought not to dispute with them any more Which also rightly agreeth with the couÌ„cell of S. Paul vnto Titus saying A man that is an hereticke after the first and second admonitioÌ„ shunne knowinge that such a one is peruerted And to Tomothy he saith these be they that craftilie enter into houses and leade captiue silly women alwaies learninge and neuer attaininge vnto the knowledge of the trueth but as Iames and Mambris resisted Moyses soe these also resist the trueth men corrupted in minde reprobate coÌ„cerninge the faith All the while that S. Augustine was an Heretick S. Ambrose would neuer dispute with him And the Empresse Placilla wife vnto the great Theodosius vnderstanding that Eunomius the Hereticke would faine reason with her husband for eschewinge danger of being corrupted by him did with great wisdome hinder the conference And Nazianzenus saith we ought to abhor Heretikes as the destructioÌ„ of the church and the poyson of trueth not carienge any hatred vnto their persons but hauing pitty of their errors Ignatius likewise saith vt siilij â—â—cis fugite diuisionem vnitatis malam haereticorum doctrinam As the children of light shunne diuision of vnitie and the wicked doctrine of Hereticks by whom the whole world is defiled resraine from those euill hearbes which Christ did neuer plant for they be not the seede of God but of the deuill Be not deceaued brethren saith he whosoeuer shall followe a seducer shall neuer possesse the kingdome of heauen and whosoeuer departes not from a false preacher shall purchase euerlastinge damnation 10. Thus he admonished that we should beware of wicked Heresies the reason of his caueat is for that Heresie as the holy Doctors saye is a certaine mischeefe of the diuill and a firebrande that cometh from hell a pestilente corrupt and poysoned aier a cancker that consumeth