Reg. 15. Luc. 1. Actor 13. he saieth this is not meant of true iustice or perfection but of apparent So that with these men nothing is true if it be against them but onely apparent as is indeed their religion Wherefore thus I argue in forme Who beside the foresaied opposition to the expresse words of Scripture in manie and great matters words which signifie true things are forced to expound them of apparence outward shews testifications and significations before men they contradict the true sense of Scripture Protestants doe so Therefore c. CHAPTER XX. THAT PROTESTANTS ARE FORCED to expound the words of holie Scripture by diuers disparates and contraries THE 20. argument wherewith we will proue that Protestants doe contradict the true meaning of holie Scripture shal be because they are coÌ„pelled to expound the words thereof by things that are quite different yea disparate or nothing like and plaine concrarie of which doings of theirs amongst innumerable I will note some few examples They expound the words of Scripture by things different or diuerse For thus dealeth Zuinglius in Marci 1. to 4. p. 141. All were baptized that is saieth he were taught in Baptized 1. Taught the Ghospell In Ioan. 3. v. 5. The kingdome of God is here taken for heauenlie doctrine and preaching of the Ghospell In histor resur pag. 401. The sense is Whose sinnes you forgiue that is Forgiue 1. Preache to whome you shall tell the forgiuenesse of sinnes In Roman 5. pag. 419. Sinne in this place As sinne by one man c. is Sinne. 1. Disâ—ase Faith 1. Preaching taken for a disease In cap. 10. pag. 434. Faith is by hearing Here marke that Faith is taken of Paul for the manifested will of God and for the manifest and publike preaching of faith amongst the Iews and Gentils In 1. Cor. 7. p. 463. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Good is here taken for commodious and quiet Et tom 2. in Elencho Faith 1 Gods election Which 1. Whiles Blessed 1. Bad Fairewell fol. 34. Faith iustifieth that is the election of God In Subsidio f. 245. Which is powred out for manie that is whiles or as it is powred out for manie In Exegesi f 355. And it happened as he blessed that is bidde them fairewell Et in Exposit fidei fol. 558. It is cleare that the name of Merit or Reward is in holie Scripture but insteed of a Free guift Caluin in Luc. 1. ver 15. Replenished with the holie Ghost expoundeth To be indued with greater grace aboue che common vulgar sorte In c. 7. ver 48. he expoundeth Forgiue vs Forgiue 1. Seale our trespâ—sses thus Seale more and more mercie in our hearts In c. 8. v. 13. They beleiue for a time thus They giue an honor to the Ghospell like to faith In Math. 7. vers 21. By doing Doe Gods will 1. Beleiue the will of the Father he vnderstandeth Philosophically to frame his life and manners to the rule of virtue and to beleiue in Christ In cap. 21. vers 32. The name of Iustice here signifieth Iustice 1. Doctrine nothing els but that Ihons doctrine was pure and right In cap. 23. vers 22. To sit in the chaire of Moises is nothing els then to deliuer out of the law of God how men ought to liue In Ioannis 3. vers 5. By water he vnderstandeth Water 1. Holie Ghost Charitie in vs. 1. Towards vs. the Holie Ghost In Actor 8. ver 18. by the Holie Ghost Singular guifts In Rom. 5. v. 5. by the Charitie of God diffused in vs he vnderstandeth our knowledge of Gods charitie towards vs. In 2. Co. 2. v. 10. I haue giuen in the person of Christ that is saieth he sincerely and without simulation In 1. Timot. 1. and 6. by Faith he expoundeth Holesome doctrine Faith 1. Holesome doctrine In Tit. 1. v. 16. Appoint Bishops that is Be president in the choice of them And in Hebr. 9. v. 26. Destruction of sinne he expoundeth freing from the guilt of paine Sinne. 1. Guilt of paine Beza in Math. 3. v. 1. by Desert vnderstandeth A hillie countrie And in vers 6. by Confessing their sinnes Professing Desert 1. Hillie place themselues to be sinners And in cap. 5. vers 20. Vpon that Vnlesse your iustice abound c. by the Kingdome of heaueÌ„ he meaneth the Church militant and by Enter Teach Peter Martyr in Roman 18. saieth When the Scripture Faith 1. Gods mercie saieth that we are iustified by faith when we heare the name of faith we must vnderstand the obiect of faith to wit the mercie of God Polanus in Syntagm l. 6. c. 36. Faith is imputed to iustice Faith 1. Christs iustice that is the iustice of Christ which faith apprehendeth is imputed Sadeel ad art 44. abiurat When we are saied to be iustified by faith by the name of faith we must vnderstand Christ And so also Bullinger dec 3. serm 9. The Confession of Saxonie c. de Remiss Peccat This saying is to be vnderstood correlatiuely we are iustified by faith that is we are iustified by confidence of the Sonne of God Zanchius de Perseuerant tom 7. col 143 by that You are Faith 1. Confidence fallen from grace vnderstandeth you are fallen from the doctrine of grace or from the Ghospell Pareus l. 2. de Iustif c. 7. Grace 1. Doctrine by Perfect charitie vnderstandeth sincere Et lib. 4. c. 7. by worke your saluation Doe those things which are necessarie for to obtaine saluation Perkins in Cathol reform Contr. 5. c. 3. saieth In all the promises of the Ghospell in which God doth voluntarily binde himselfe to reward our workes the obligation doth not directly pertaine to vs but in respect of the person and obedience of Christ Apologia Confess Aug. c. de Implet legis Because Loue. 1. Beleiue she loued much that is say they because she truely worshiped me with faith and with exercises and signes of faith Et de Resp ad Argum. When the text saieth that eternall life is rendered to workes it meaneth that it is rendered to those that are iustified Agayne Almes is saied to deliuer from death and to purge from sinne not in it selfe but in the cause thereof that is in faith Almes i. Faith Brentius hom 1. in festum om sanctorum To hunger after iustice is to haue a iust cause and yet not be able to follow it in law Reineccius to 4. Armaturae c. 19. by Sacrifice the Phase vnderstandeth Kill it lest he should be confessed that the pascal lam be was sacrificed Illyricus 1. Ioan. 2. v. 3. The keeping Keeping 1. Knowing of the coÌ„mandements in this place signifieth the true knowledge of his doctrine Piscator in Thesibus l. 2. p. 192. 2. Pet. 2. They denie the Lord who hath bought them that is whome before they had professed that he had bought them Et p. 472. he Buye 1. Professe to buye
faith is grounded onely vpon mens authoritie and all their doctrin forsouth vpon the expresse Scripture and word of God and In c. 1. Galat. In Assert art 2. thereby draw the simple people to follow them The Pope faieth Luther hauing no Scripture wherewith to defēd himself vseth this onely and perpetuall argument against vs. The Church the Church Agayne Our opinion is deliuered by these words of God the contrarie by the words of men And otherwhere All the Scripture standeth an our sides through all letters and tittles Caluin Papists find no weapons in Scripture yea they In Actor 9. v. 22. In Antid sess 6. c. 8. see it wholy against them Agayne I haue the whole Scripture on my side And Sadeel Our doctrin doth relie vpon the expresse worde of God And in an other place we professed in the fift article of our French Confession that our faith is onely and wholie and expressly grounded vpon the word of God as it is contained De vocat Ministr Ad art 1. abiurat in the Scripture Fulk in Ioan. 5. note 2. Papists can not find a iote of Poperie allowed ether by expresse wordes of the Scripture or by necessarie cōclusiō out of the same And the like most vaine pretence this most impudent boast is most Apol. Anglic p. 20. Pareus praefat lib. de Grat. Caluin epist 193. Whitak praefat ad Demonst manifestly refuted in this booke wherein is clearly shewed that the Catholik doctrin in more then 260. points denied by Protestants is in expresse termes and most directly taught and deliuered by the Scripture and in the same points the Protestants doctrin condemned and that these in very deed do relie vpon their owne inferences out of Scripture their owne conferences of places of Scripture and oppose their owne expositions glosses tropes and figures against the expresse words and thunders of almightie God 14. The sixt commoditie is that though some obstinatly will not confesse that in all these 260. points or in most of them the Scripture or word of God doth expresly approue the Catholik doctrin and condemne the Protestant yet this he can not denie but in all these points the holie Scripture both for word and for sense fauoureth more the Catholik doctrin then the Protestant which if ignorant Protestants would mark they would not be so easily misled For as for words in all these 260. points we Catholiks aduantage ouer Protestants For words of Scripture vse the very same or equiualent words with the Scripture what she calleth faith we call faith what she calleth the bodie of Christ we call the bodie of Christ And so in others whereas Protestants do the quite contrarie as hath beene touched before and shall appeare in the whole booke And as for the forme of speach where the Scripture For phrase of Scripture affirmeth we affirme where the Scripture denieth we deny And contrarie wise the Protestants affirme where the Scripture denieth and deny where the Scripture affirmeth as shal be most euident to him that will read this booke Besids no parte or parcell of the Scripture forceth For partes of Scripture Catholiks to denie it but they hould all that Protestants account for Scripture and some what more whereas Protestāts are compelled to reiect manie bookes of those which Catholiks and the holie Church heretofore hath beleeued to be Gods word and fouly also to mangle and corrupt these bookes which they admit Moreouer Catholiks refuse no authenticall edition or translation of the For translations of Scripture Scripture but Protestants will sland to no translation And thus much touching the words of Scripture As for For the sense of Scripture the sense thereof Catholiks in all these 260. points do admit that sense which the expresse words of Scripture and they spoaken of purpose to declare Gods mynd doe of them selues proporse which sense Protestants reiect and force the quite contrarie Agayne scarce in any of these 260. articles Catholiks are driuen to any answere which hath any shew of a shift or euasion because in them as I saied they embrace the natiue and proper sense of the words of Scripture but Protestants in euerie one of them are driuen to sundrie and foule shifts because they refuse the naturall and plaine sense of Gods word Besids Catholiks in all these 260. points dare stand to the iudgment of the expresse worde of God according to that sentence which of them selues with out all helpe force or pressing of Catholiks they doe pronounce Protestants dare not in these articles stand to the iudgment of Gods expresse worde vnles they may wrest wring and interprete it as they thinke best Finally Catholiks in none of all these questions reiect that sense of Scripture which is deliuered by vnanimous consent of the holie Fathers Councells or Church Protestants refuse it in manie Seing therefore Catholiks haue the aduantage ouer Protestants not onely for Fathers Councells Church miracles the like but also that they haue such and so great aduantages ouer them in more then 260. points of controuersie both for the expresse worde and plaine sense of the Scripture it is plaine willfulnes and carelesnes of saluation to leaue Catholiks for to follow Protestants I would to God that Protestants would as they pretend follow the expresse word of God and embrace that Religion Note which the expresse word of God most fauoureth reiect that which it most disliketh and enquire diligently whether the Catholik or Protestant religion can in more points of controuersie proue her doctrin by the pure and expresse written word of God without the mixture of any word of man and by the pure sense therof which of it self it affordeth without any help or exposition of man when it is spoaken of purpose to declare Gods meaning vnto vs. Let that religion florish and be embraced which in this conflict ouercomet let that perish and be reiected which is ouercomen And what more reasonable then to preferre Gods pure word before that which is not pure mixt partely of Gods words partely of mans What more reafonable then to preferre Gods direct speech before mans inference or collection out of his speech What more reasonable then to follow rather Gods expresse words then mans glosses tropes and figures And finally what more reasonable then to follow that religion which in more then 260. points of controuersie is grounded vpon the pure word the direct word the expresse word of God and hath against it nothing but mans mixt word mans inference mans glosses rather then that which in all those points is condemned by the pure direct and expresse word of God and supported onely by mans mixt word mans inference and mans glosses For example That the Eucharist is the bodie of Christ we haue for vs in foure places of Scripture the pure direct and expresse word of God saying This is my bodie and against vs there is not so much as once any pure word of God
Thus by their greater antiquitie of their possession of the Bible and also by the greater antiquitie of the Bible it self did the ancient Christians proue against Heretiks both that their Bibles were the true Bibles and also that they were the true owners of them But manifest it is that Catholiks are ancienter possessors of the holie Scripture then Protestants be in so much as we shall see Protestants confesse that they had the Scripture of Catholiks Therefore Catholiks are the true owners of the Scripture The fourth proof is taken from that there can be no 4. title no beginning of possession named place or time named where or when Catholiks first began to take possession of the holie Scripture besides the very time of Christ and his Apostles who alone could giue true and lawfull possession of the Scripture Whereas See Author of the Prot. religion l. 2. c. 13. we can name the place and time when Protestants first began to Vsurpe possession of the holie Scripture Which is long after the time of Christ and his Apostles And all reason bindeth vs to accounte them the true owners of a thing the beginning of whose possession can not be found but at the very time of the first giuers thereof rather then those whose possession began manie hundreds of years after The fift proof I will ground vpon that the Catholiks 5. title the integritie of Scripture haue conserued the holie Scripture incorrupt For theeues and wrong possessors vse to disfigure the thing they haue stolne as much as they can that it may not be knowne Besides the Scripture must needs be contrarie to the vsurpers and agreable to the true owners therefore necessitie forceth vsurpers to alter the Scripture as false heires are forced to alter the will or testament if they get it into their hands Wherevpon we see that scarce euer there were anie Heretiks who haue not saught to corrupt the Tertul. de prescript c. 17 38. Scripture albeit Catholiks cried out against their sacrilegious impietie How much more then would Papists haue corrupted the Scripture especially whiles for manie ages there were no visible Protestants to reproue them if they had not beene the true owners of the Scripture But Catholiks haue not in all these ages in which Protestants were inuisible corrupted anie parte of the Scripture as is euident by that Protestants confesse that Scripture which they had of Catholiks to be pure and incorrupt Nether do Protestants obiect to Catholiks anie corruption made by them in the Hebrew or Greek text and the vulgar Latin they will haue to be ancienter then Papistrie it self But contrariewise Catholiks haue euer since the beginning of Protestancie charged Protestāts with manie and greiuous corruptions of holie Scripture Wherefore thus I argue All reason teacheth vs to iudge them to be the true owners of a testament who are the freest from corrupting it But Catholiks are farre more free from corruptinge the testament of Christ then Protestants Therefore c. The sixt proof I will take from the Protestants graunt Sixt title graunt of Protestants that they had the Scripture from Catholiks Luther in 16. Ioan. to 4. Germ. witenb fol. 227. There is an argument which can very hardly be wrested from the Papists and which I my self can very hardly answere and refute especially sith we are forced to giue and graunt them so manie thinges which are true to wit that in Poperie is the word the Apostleshippe and that we receaued the holie Scripture baptisme the Sacraments and office of preaching from them otherwise what should we haue knowne of all these things And to 5. in 1. Gal. fol. 293. we had indeed the Scripture and the Sacraments of the Papists Schusselburg to 8. Catal. Haeres p. 439. VVe denie not that Luther saieth that in Poperie is all Christian good and from thence came to vs. D. Daue of Recusancie p. 13. VVe hould the Creed of the Apostles of Athanasius of Nice of Ephesus of Constantinople which the Papists also do hould and the same Bible which we receaued from them Whitaker Cont. 2. q. 5. c. 14. Papists haue the Scripture Baptisme Catechisme the articles of faith the ten commandements the lords praier and these things come from thē to vs. Iames Andreas li. cont Has p. 316. VVe denie not that we receaued the Scriptures from you The like hath Spalatensis lib. cont Suar. c. 1. n. 34. and others A question proposed to Protestants Wherefore I aske the Protestāts how they had the Scripture of vs Did we giue it them Did we sell it them Did we change it with Did we relinquish it as a forlorne thing No one of all these can they proue or affirme with anie apparence How then get they the Scripture from vs but as theeues get the true mens goods and as Turkes and Iews get the same Scripture from vs If anie say as Andrews and Schusselb do intimate that Protestants had the Scripture of Catholiks as Christians had the ould testament of the Iewes I answere that Christians had not the ould testamēt of the Iewes if by Iewes they meane such as remained Iewes For Christians had the ould testament of the Apostles and they of Christ who was lord of the ould and new testament as they had from him the Sacraments and all other goods of the Church Besides euerie Heretik may pretend this as well as Protestants Wherefore thus I argue They whome their aduersaries confesse to haue had the Scripture before them selues and can tell no lawfull means by which they had the Scripture from them are according to all reason to be held the true owners of the Scripture rather then their aduersaries But such are Catholiks in respect of Protestants Therefore c. The seuenth proof I will take from the open and manifould Seuenth title other confessions of Protestant confessions of Protestants For first they confesse that Catholiks are the true Church of Christ as I haue shewed at longe in my foresaied booke of the Author of the Protestant religion lib. 1. c. 2. to which I add these few Spalatensis lib. 5. de repub c. 6. n. 236. The Rom. Church is not gone so farre from the foundation as that she is to be put wholy out of the membres of the Churches of Christ lib. cont Suarem c. 1. n. 20. I think as I haue often saied that the Rom. Church with those that follow here are the true Church of Christ D. Featlie in his Refutation of Fisher p. 82. The Rom. Church we acknowledge to be a member though a sicke and weake one of the Catholik visible Church The like hath D. Hall in his booke of ould religion and his twoe defenders Chalmeley and Batterfeild whereof the latter in his preface saieth he will demonstrate that the Rom. Church is a true Church Now certaine it is that the true Church is the true ower of the Scripture Secondly they confesse that Catholik Pastors are true
all men because it is saied 1. Tim. 2. v. 6. One Mediator of God and men the man Iesus Christ they limite this to the elect faithfull Beza Epist 28. It is false that Christ is mediator also of the infidels In like sorte Hunnius de Iustif pag. 179. restraineth that saying Hebr. 5. ver 9. He was made to all that obey him cause of eternall saluation to obedience in faith If we proue that vnwritten traditions of faith are to be Touching Traditions beleiued because S. Paul saieth without limitation 2. Thessal 2. ver 15. Stand and hould the traditions which you haue learned whether it be by word or by our epistle they limite this to onely traditions of rites or ceremonies Whitaker Contr. 1. q. 6. cap. 10. Other Protestantes thinke that Paul speaketh of certaine externall matters and rites of no great moment Academia Nemaus Resp ad Tournon pag. 554. By the word Tradition in the Apostles writings is meant ether the application and right handling of doctrine or the appointing of rites and discipline If we proue that Christ committed all his sheepe to S. Touching S. Peter Peter because without anie limitation he saieth to him Ioan. 21. v. 17. Feed my sheepe Whitaker Cont. 1. q. 5. cap. 5. answereth Christ doth not say to Peter Feed all my sheepe but speaketh indefinitely And Beza ib. in vers 15. Must Gods word be thus profaned Surely Christ did not adde All and the difference betwixt vniuersall and indefinite propositions is well knowne As if Protestants did not as well limitate vniuersall propositions as indefinite as appeared in the former chapter Besides Daneus Contr. 3. p. 127. faithfull An indefinite What Protest say of an indefinite proposition proposition is equiualent to an vniuersall And Caluin in 1. Ioan. 3. v. 3. An indefinite speach is as much as an vniuâ—â—sall And 4. Instit c. 17. § 29. It is our parte whatsoeuer is absolutely spoake of Christ so to embrace as without exception that take place with vs which he would say If we proue that the Church is alwaies famous and visible Touching the Church because Isaie c. 2. v. 2. saieth without limitation of time And in the latter dayes the mountaine of the house of our Lord shall be prepared in the top of mountaines and shal be eleuated aboue the litle hilles and all nations shall flow vnto it Et c. 61. ver 9. And they shall know their seed in the Gentils and their budde in the middest of peoples And Miche 4. v. 8. And the remanent of Iacob shall be in the Gentils in the middest of manie peoples as a Lion amoÌ„g the beasts of the forest Whitaker Contr. 2. q. 2. c. 2. answereth The Prophets foretell that no kingdome shal be so glorious no cittie so ample no Empire so large as the Church shal be in the times of the Messias But we neuer read that the Lord hath promised that this maiestie and glorie of the Church shal be constant and perpetuall Et Morton in Apolog. part 1. l. 1. c. 13. The league is indeed perpetuall but this so admirable successe is not alwaies so vniuersall but in a manner peculiar to the age of the Apostles If we proue that the Pastors of the Church be alwaies visible because Christ saieth of them Math. 5. v. 15. A cittie cannot be hid situated vpon a mountaine Whitaker loc cit answereth Albeit Christ say that godlie Doctors and Pastors shall not be obscure nor escape the sight of men yet he saieth not that there shal be alwaies such Doctors which may be as visible as mountaines If we proue that the Church is the pillar of all trueth of faith because S. Paul 1. Timoth. 3. ver 15. without anie limitation calleth her the pillar and strength of trueth Whitake Contr. 2. q. 4. c. 2. answereth In this place is meant not simply all trueth but onely necessarie trueth And Vorstius in Antibel p. 143. The Apostle speaketh not of euerie trueth that howsoeuer pertaineth to religion but onely of holesome trueth or which is necessarie to saluation and that conditionally also to wit so long as she shall remayne the true Church of Christ If we proue that the Church is alwaies infallible in faith because without limitation to anie time she is called loc cit The pillar and strength of trueth P. Martyr in locis clas 4. c. 4. § 21. saieth I graunt She is indeed the pillar of trueth but not alwaies but when she relieth vpon the word of God Confessio Heluet. c. 17. She erreth not as long as she relieth vpon the rock Christ and the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Daneus Contr. 4. p. 717. The place of Paul speaketh of the visible Church which on earth is the keeper of heauenlie doctrine so long as she is true Bullinger Dec 4. Serm. 5. The Church erreth not so long as she heareth the voice of her Spouse and Pastor Herbrandus in Compend loc de Eccles She erreth not so long as she houldeth and followeth the word of God Of we proue that the Church is to be heard simply in all things because our Sauiour without anielimitation saieth Math. 18. v. 19. If he will not heare the Church let him be to thee as an Ethnik and Publican Whitaker lib. 1. de Scriptura c. 13. sect 1. answereth The Sonne of God himselfe commanded to heare the voice of the Church but not preaching anie thing but Scripture Herbrand loc cit saieth the Church is to be heard as long as she preacheth heauenlie and incorrupt doctrine Moulins in his Buckler p. 84. limitateth this speach of Christ to quarrels betwixt particular men and not to questions of religion The like saied Feild l. 4. de Eccles c. 4. and others If we proue that the Church in teaching cannot erre because Isaias saieth c. 59. v. 21. This is my couenant with them saieth our Lord My spirit is in thee and my words which I haue put in thy mouth shall not departe out of thy mouth and out of the mouth of thy seed and out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saieth our Lord from this present for euer Whitaker libr. 1. de Scriptura cap. 11. sect vlt. answereth This promise is not made to the teaching Church but to the whole Church that is to the elect If we proue that the militant Church is perpetuall because the Scripture saieth that Christs kingdome shal be perpetuall Daneus Contr. 4. p. 718. answereth All these places and the like properly pertaine to that Church which God shall gather in heauen not on earth If we proue that the visible Church is alwaies the true Church because she is called 1. Timoth 3. the pillar of trueth Daneus loc cit pag. 721. answereth Let him know that the visible Church then and so long is saied to be the true Church as long as the voice of heauenlie and Euangelicall trueth soundeth in her If we proue that the visible Church cannot
A CONFERENCE OF THE CATHOLIKE AND PROTESTANTE DOCTRINE WITH THE EXPRESSE WORDS OF HOLIE SCRIPTVRE WHICH IS THE SECOND PARTE OF THE Prudentiall Balance of Religion VVHEREIN IS CLEARELY SHEWED THAT IN MORE then 260. points of controuersie Catholiks agree with the holie Scripture both in words and sense and Protestants disagree in both and depraue both the sayings words and sense of Scripture WRITTEN FIRST IN LATIN BVT NOW AVGmented and translated into English ACTS IV. VERSE XVII IF IT BE IVST IN THE SIGHT OF GOD TO heare you rather then God iudge yee S. Athanasius Apol. de Fuga WHAT MVST WE STICK TO TO GODS words or these mens Fables AT DOWAY By the widdowe of MARKE WYON at the signe of the Phenix M.DC.XXXI The argument of the first booke VVHo in more then 260. points of controuersie speake with the holie Scripture in the very selfe same or equiualeÌ„t words when it speaketh of those matters expressely and of purpose and in that sense also which the words of Scripture of themselues without anie exposition of man do afforde and in which sense such words vse to be spoken and vnderstood of men they touching those points agree both in words and meaning with the holie Scripture And who speake of those points both in such words and sense as are contrarie to the foresaied words and sense they in those points disagree both in words and sense from the holie Scripture But Catholiks doe that and Protestants this Therefore c. The Maior semeth to be manifest by it selfe and is largely proued in the second booke Cap. 1. The Minor is shewed to the eye in all the first booke The argument of the second Booke VVHo not onely in more then 260. points of controuersie disagree from the foresaied words and sense of Scripture but also are forced openly to reiect some of the words thereof to blot out some to call others in question to change the order of others to change almost all kinds of the Scriptures speaches to expound her words by quite different and plaine contraries to reiect the vnanimous exposition of holie Fathers to confesse that some of their opinions were long since condemned for heresies that some are blasphemous and playne contrarie to Scripture such contradict not onely the words but also the true sense of Scripture But Protestants doe thus Therefore c. The Maior is manifest by it selfe and the Minor shewed to the eye in the second Booke APPROBATIO HOc opus cui titulus Collatio doctrinae Catholicorum ac Protestantium cum expressis sacrae scripturae verbis duobus libris comprehensa Latino serm one olim editum à duobus S. Theol. Doctoribus Parisiensibus approbatum nunc verò auctum in Anglicum sermonem fideliter conuersum nihil habet fidei Catholicae aduersum aut bonis moribus sed plurimum valet ad confutationem doctrinae haereticorum praesentis temporis proinde rectè praeli beneficio in lucem edetur Datum Duaci die 2. Ianuarij 1631. GEORGIVS COLVENERIVS S. Theol. Doctor eiusdem Regius ordinarius ac primarius Professor insignis Ecclâ—siae Collegiatae S. Petri Praepositus Canonicus Duacen sis Academiae Cancellarius librorum Censor THE PREFACE TO THE READER WHEREIN THE SCOPE MANNER OF PROCEDING AND PROFIT OF THIS BOOKE IS DECLARED REQVISITE TO BE READ BEFORE THE BOOKE THERE are now diuers years Gentle Reader since I published the first parte of the Prudential Balance of Religion in which by the weights of Prudence and Right Reason I weighed together the Catholik and Protestant religion according to their first Founders in our English nation to wit S. Austin and Martin Luther which booke hath neuer since bene answered by anie Protestant albeit diuers ministers and superintendents haue carped at it both in Pulpits and printed books shewing thereby that they wanted no will to answere it if they could haue performed it In the preface thereof I promised a second parte in which I would after the same manner weigh the forsaied religions according to their claimes to the holie Scripture and the expresse words thereof which here now I offer vnto thee The causes why I haue so long differred the publishing of this second parte are well enough knowne to them who know me and not needfull to be known of them who know me not And therfore I will not trouble thee with the rehearshall of them but here propose vnto thee the scope manner of Proceding and Profits of this second parte 2. As a man consisteth essentially of a Soule and Bodie and can neither be nor be imagined without them both So the true Church of Christ essentially consisteth Two things wholy necessarieto Christs Church of his true Doctrine which is the forme and as it were the soule of his Church and of lawfull Pastors and People who teach and embrace his Doctrine which Pastors and People make as it were the bodie of Christes Church And without both these partes to wit Christs true Doctrine and true Pastors teaching and People embracing it Christs true Church can no more be or imagined to be then a true man can either be or imagined to be without both the true bodie and true soule of a man And albeit the manifest need of both these partes to the true Church of Christ doth enforce Protestants to make some clame to them both and to pretend that they haue alvaies had both true Pastors who taught and People who beleiued their Doctrine yet their pretense to this parte of the Church is so weake and slender as but seldome and vpon mere necessitie they insist thereon But their greatest pretense and claime is to the true Doctrine of Christ and think thereby to proue that they haue alwaies had true Pastors and People who taught and beleiued their Doctrin as I haue shewed in a Booke of the Author of the Protestant Church and Religion wherein also I haue conuinced by ten Demonstrations all taken out of the open Confessions of the best learned Protestants both of England and other Countries that they neuer had anie one Pastor who taught or man who beleived the very fundamentall and most substantiall points of their religion before Luther arose but that he was first Author Inuentor and Father therof as some of them in plaine termes do call him 3. And although this Booke haue bene now these manie years published both in Latin and English and doth by the open confessions of the best learned Protestants ouerthrow the very foundation of their Church or rather shew that it hath no foundation at all besides their owne imagination yet hitherto no Protestant hath made anie shew of a solid answere vnto it I saie no shew of a why D. Prideaux lecture is no answer to the Author of Protest religion solid answere because that florish which Doctor Prideaux the Kinges diuinitie Reader in Oxford hath made in a lecture deserueth not the name of shew or shadow of an answer First because
speeches of Protestants as it was to me to write them out let him runne ouer the Summe which I make of their words or by the notes in the margent chuse which are fittest to his purpose And thus much for the māner of my proceeding in this booke 11. The profit of this work is manifould First because by it a short and easie way may be taken to make an end The profits of this worke of all controuersies and that out of Scirpture alone as Protestants desire to wit by mere rehearsall of the expresse words of Scripture of Catholiks and of famous Protestants touching 260. articles of controuersie For if it appeare that catholikes in 260. articles agree both in word and sense with the expresse words of Scripture and these spoken of purpose to declare her meaning vnto vs and that Protestants in those 260. articles directly contradict the said words and sense of the holie Scripture no man will doubt but that all Protestant doctrin for as it is contrarie to the Catholik is also contrarie to the holie Scripture An other commoditie is that in this booke are gathered those places of Scripture and they ranked according to order of their matters which in 260. articles directly and in their proper and vsual sense do approue the Catholik doctrin and condemne the Protestant A third commoditie is that hereby are at hand in euerie kind of controuersie such sayings of famous Protestants as not onely directely crosse the Scripture but also many of them are so blasphemous against God against Christ against the Saints the Church Sacraments Faith Good works so opposite to pietie vertue and religion so fauorable to vice and all licenciousnes so repugnant to reason as some Protestants will deny and others scarse beleeue that euer any of theirs taught such doctrin Whome I request The Authors fidelitie in citing Protetestants sayings to take the paines to looke vpon the bookes and places by me alledged and then to beleeue their owne eyes For I not onely gathered their sayings out of their owne bookes but also after I had my self gathered them and caused them to be faire copied out I diligently conferred them with their books and admitted none which he that read their bookes did non find to be truly cited out of them Wherfore I say for my self as Caluin said for him self against Gentilis There shal be no colour for them to cōplaine that they are slandered seing I request that iudgmēt be made of their impietie out of their owne mere words And they who haue had to deale with Protestants ether by word or writing know well how important a thing it is to be able to conuince them that they teach that which in in very deed they teach which may clearly be done by their sayinges here rehearsed 12. The fourth commoditie of this worke is thar hereby shall appeare that almost in all controuersies which betwene Catholiks and Protestants Catholiks do stick fast to the very words of Scripture and religiously keepe her letter and forme of speech and Protestants goe fare from the words at lest of Scripture and bring in a different yea quite opposit forme of speech Nether ought they to think this to be a small fault both because they boasting of the pure and expresse word of God ought also to keep the very letter thereof and not to reiect it and to vse the contrarie as also because the Apostle commandeth to auoide profane nouelties of words and to keepe the 1. Timoth. 6. 2. Timoth. 1. forme of holesome words which we haue learned of him which commandment they do not follow who forsake the Scriptures forme of speech and embrace the contrarie and finally because not onely the sense but also the words and forme of speech vsed by the Scripture did proceed from the holie Ghoste and therefore it is sacrilegious audacitie to reiect Gods words and Gods forme of speaking and to bring in mans words and fashion of speaking quite contrarie As if these new Ghospelers should teach God how to deliuer his mind or he ment to speake otherwise by them then he did by his Prophets Apostles and Euāgelists wherefore their impietie is not to be borne withall who when the Scripture most often and most plainly calleth the beleefe of wicked men or reprobats faith and neuer denieth it to be faith yet dare say that it Caluin 3. Instit c. 2. §. 10. is vnworthie the name of faith When the Scripture often times and most directly calleth the Eucharist the bodie of Christ and not once directly denieth it to be his bodie yet dare say it is not his bodie And the like they doe in many other matters wherin if they controll not the meaning of the holie Ghoste at least they correct his speech and reforme it according to the square of their new doctrin Far otherwise proceeded the holie Fathers who would not suffer so much as a letter or syllable of the holie Scripture to be altered And as S. Austin grauely aduertized Philosophers may speake as they please but we speake according Lib. 10. de Ciuit. c. 23. to a certaine rule lest licencie in words breed impious opinions of the thing which they signifie Yea Protestants them selues some times will seeme to be very carefull of the words and phrases of Scripture For thus speaketh Luther If the In Confutat Latomi f. 227 Scripture terme any thing sin beware thou beest not moued by any words of theirs who as if they could speake better deny it to be sin And Caluin There is to be taken out of Scripture a 1. Instit c. 13. §. 3. certaine forme of thinking speaking by which all the thoughts of our mynd and words of our mouth are to be examined Beza Ad defens Castell also I see that all godlie and learned Diuines haue euer taught that the holie Ghost gouerned not onely the mynd but also the tongue and pen in so much as concerning the wonders of God not onely nothing can be saied of any mā more truly or more habily but also nether so grauely nor so properly Likewise Bucer Prefat in Math. No wisdom of the flesh can reach to these misteries of the kingdome of God Therefore then we speake most plainly most perspicuously and most surely of matters of faith when we speake according to the rule and forme of Scripture And otherwhere we In Hospin part 2. Histor must learne of the Scripture and the holie Ghoste how to speake and think of euerie matter Wherefore the holie Ghost his formes of speaking ought not to be corrected according to the iudgment of our reason Thus they which if they and theires had followed we should not haue had so much speech contrarie to the Scripture 13. The fift and that no small cōmoditie is that by this worke wil be taken from ministers all their false pretense of Scripture and of the worde of God wherewith perpetually they crie that the Catholik
order of the matter did require that to be first proposed which alone is now to be disputed Fourthly whose is the faith whose is the Scripture Fourthly it is euident that if anie Protestant will notwithstanding all that hath beene saied iudge that Protestants are the true owners of Scripture rather then Catholiks he will giue that iudgment in a matter of such great moment which he would be ashamed to giue in a question of the least trifle in the world For who seing that one hath nine titles to a peece of ground of all which titles his aduersarie hath no pretence and that he hath as good if not farre better shew also of the tenth title as his aduersarie hath would not be ashamed to adiudge the land to his aduersarie and cast him out of possession who was actuall possessor when the matter came first in question was peacable possessor for manie ages was the ancienter possessor and of whose possession no Note this beginning can be found but from the true lord and from whom his aduersarie hath whatsoeuer he hath whose lawfull possession thereof all kinde of aduersaries do some time confesse and put his aduersarie in possession who can pretend no title but that which alone sufficeth not and which also for better agreeth to the ancient possessor If anie say that in wordly matters reason would giue iudgment for the ancient possessor but not in heauenlie or deuine matters as the Scripture is I demand what Scripture what worde of God teacheth vs to checke the light of reason concerning the true possession of the Scripture If none why then doe we not follow reason in this matter of fact concerning the true possession of Scripture as well as in others Besides this were to grante that the light of reason is in this matter with Catholiks against Protestants and consequently that to be a Protetestant one must first cast away reason euen in a matter which is vnder the reach of reason as is who are the true owners of the Scriptures Moreouer the very end of this Balance is no other then to shew that if we will follow the light of reason and true prudence we ought to imbrace the Catholik religion and reiect the Protestant and that to doe otherwise is to cast away reason and prudence and to become vnreasonable and imprudent men and to say that Christ hath giuen vs a Religion which is not onely aboue reason but euen contrarie to reason and that also in matters subiect to reason and that we can not become faithfull men but we must first become vnreasonable men not receaue his light of faith before we put out his light of reason wherewith he hath made vs like to him selfe and superiours to beasts Thus we see how farre in all reason and prudence Catholiks are aboue Protestants for the right claime or iust possession of holie Scripture Now let vs see in the rest of this booke how farre also they are aboue them for the letter or wordes of Scripture and in the second booke how farre they are aboue them for the true sense thereof A SVMME OF THE MORE MANIFEST CONtradictions betwene the expresse wordes of the holie Scripture and of Protestants with the Chapter and Article where they may be read more at large which will much serue to vnderstand and remember better those which follow CHAPTER II. OF GOD. SCRIPTVRE Thou are not a God that willeth iniquitie God willeth not iniquitie He willeth iniquitie Protestants God will haue iniquitie to be committed God willeth iniquitie with a hidden will He willeth sin He willeth sin to be done He would haue Adam to sin to fall to reuoult See more c. 2. article 1. Scripture Our iust lord in the middes thereof will not doe God doth not iniquitie iniquitie Protestants God worketh euill in vs The euils of sin are He doth iniquitie done by the effectuall working of God Dauids adulterie is properly Gods worke Iudas his treacherie is his proper worke as the vocation of S. Paul Pharao his crueltie is attributed to Gods counsell in no other sense then the Egiptians fauoure towards his people God procureth sin it selfe Se more c. 2. art 4. Scripture He God hath commanded no man to doe impiously God commaÌ„deth not to sin He commandeth to sin Protestants God biddeth Sathan goe to be a lying spirit By Gods commandment Sathan is a lying spirit God giueth him a plaine commandment to deceaue Sathan was sent to deceaue by the expresse commandment of God See art 6. Scripture God is not a tempter of euils and he tempteth no God tempeteth not to sin man Protestants God is the author of temptation God moueth He tempâ—eth to sin the offenders to sin pushed the Iewes to kill his Sonne stirreth vp the theefs will to kill driueth to sin by tempting inclineth the wills of wicked men into greeuous sins See more art 7. Scripture Thou hatest all that worke iniquitie Protestants God is angrie with the elect when they sinne but God hateth all that worke iniquitie He hateth not all such God iustifieth not the impious He iustifieth the impious neuer hateth them He hateth all iniquitie but not all in whome iniquitie is See art 9. Scripture He that iustifieth the impious is abhominable before God Protestants Seing God forbiddeth to iustifie the impious Prou. 17. can he be saied to do that rightly which him self forbiddeth Rightly Albeit we be wicked yet are we accounted of the lord for iust A wicked man may be pronounced iust according to the Ghospell Christ can iustifie such as are impious and want all good workes See more art 10. Scripture Against Aaron God being exceeding angrie God is angrie with the faithfull wheÌ„ they sin He is not angrie with theÌ„ God is pleased with good workes He is not pleased with them God is serued with good workes He is not serued with them he would haue destroied him Protestants God alwaies withouldeth his anger from the faithfull God is not angrie with sinners See art 11. Scripture VVe doe these thinges which are pleasing before him with such hostes God is pleased Protestants God careth not for workes we foolishly feigne that God is much delighted with our workes There is no such God which is delighted with our good workes To wash dishes and to preach is all one as for pleasing God See more art 13. Scripture By fastings and praiers seruing God day and night Protestants The true God is not serued with workes There is one only worship pleasing to God to wit true faith God is serued by faith only Faith is the onely true worship of God See art 14. Scripture Phinees stoode pacified and the slaughter ceased God is pacified by good workes He is not pacified by theÌ„ God will haue his commaÌ„dments kept He will not haue theÌ„ kept Protestants There is no such God that can be pacified with our good workes The workes which I do according to Gods law
Virtue their power whiles they denie that they are capable of power to worke miracles steale away their perfect iustice in denying that they are perfectly iust or perfectly do the will of God Robbe them of their honour because they Honor. denie that we may honour them imitate them pray to them or pray to God in their names They spoile them Dignitie of their dignitie in saying that God doth not any good vnto vs for their merits or good deeds They bereaue Knowledge them of their knowledge in saying that they know not any thing that is done on earth They robbe them of Charitie their charitie because they say that they pray not for vs ether in generall or in particular haue no care of vs not exercise any offices of charitie towards vs. Finally they Happines take from them their heauenly felicitie because they teach that they enioy not that vntill the day of iudgment And hitherto we haue spoaken of those who are in heauē now let vs speake of these things which are on earth and first of the word of God CHAPTER IV. OF THE VVORD OF GOD OR SCRIPTVRE ART I. WHETHER ANIE PLACES OF Scripture be hard to be vnderstood SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. PETER 3. vers 16. As our most deere Some places of Scripture hard to be vnderstood brother Paul according to the wisdome giuen him hath written to you as also in all his epistles speaking in them of these things in the which are certaine things hard to be vnderstood which the vnlearned and vnstable depraue CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY DENIE D. Stapleton in Ioan. 17. v. 20. Catholiks denie that all the Scripture is plaine and cleare PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Whitaker Controu 1. q. 4. c. 3. p. 337. Peter saieth not that Paules epistles are obscure no nor that there are some obscure things in Paules epistles And c. 4. p. 340. It is manifest that the Scriptures are easie to be vnderstood And he addeth that the whole will of God which is declared in his whole word and Scriptures and the whole Scripture is easie The same he saieth p. 341. Of the whole Scripture of the vniuersall Scripture and whole word of God Luther l. de seru arbit to 2. fol. 426. It is spred abrode by No place of Scripture hard the impious Sophisters that there are some things obscure in the Scripture and that all things are not laied open Fol. 427. There is nothing at all left obscure or ambiguous but all things are brought into most cleare light by the word and declared to the whole world whatsoeuer is in Scripture And fol. 440. I speake of the whole Sripture I will not haue anie parte of it to be saied to be obscure The like he hath Postilla in festo S. Iacobi fol. 430. and Cont. Cocleum to 2. fol. 410. Neuer any thing was vttered more simply more purely more clearely more easily then the word of God Praefat. Assert art The Scripture is by it selfe No booke more cleare then the Scriture the most certaine the most easie the most cleare interpreter of it selfe prouing iudging and lightning all things And in psalm 37. to 3. fol. 10. If anie of them say that we need the Fathers interpretation the Scriptures are obscure Thou shalt answere That is false No booke in the whole world is most clearely writtē then the holie Scripture which compared to all other bookes is like the Sunne before all other lights Gerlachius disputat 1. tom 1. pag. 9. We say that the whole Scripture is so cleare as it needeth no interpretation at all Zanchius de Scriptura tom 8. col 408. How then can the Scripture be saied obscure in anie parte thereof col 409. If the Scripture be obscure in no parte as before we haue shewed much lesse in those things which are necessarie to saluation And l. 1. Epistol pag. 98. The places of holie Scripture from whence the decrees of Christian religion are drawne are so plaine and manifest as they need no more diligent or clearer exposition Serranus cont Hayum part 3. p. 267. saieth that there is not anie ambiguitie or obscuritie in the matter or words of the Scripture And p. 269. that the Lord hath plainly laied open in the Scripture all the misteries of our saluation Manie more of their like sayings may be seene in my Latin booke cap. 4. art 1. CONFERENCE OF THE FORESAIED WORDS Scripture expressely saieth that in S. Paules epistles there be some things hard to be vnderstood The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely say that the Scripture saieth not that there are some obscure things in S. Pauls epistles that the Scripture the whole scripture is easie that the whole scripture is so cleare as it needeth no interpretation at all that no parte of it is obscure that all things are cleare whatsoeuer is in the word and declared to the whole world that the Scripture is the easiest and clearest interpreter of it selfe that no booke in the whole world is so cleare as the Scripture and that being compared to them it is like the Sunne to other lights Which are so manifestly contrarie to Scripture as Protestants thēselues sometimes confesse it See lib. 2. c. 30. ART II. WHETHER SCRIPTVRE CAN BE vnderstood without the light of the holie Ghost SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY DENIETH. 2. Peter 1. v. 20. Vnderstanding this first that no prophetie Scripture not vnderstood of our selues or exposition of Scripture is made by priuat interpretation Matth. 13. v. 11. To you it is giuen to know the misteries of the kingdome of heauen but to them it is not giuen Luc. 24. v. 45. Then he opened their vnderstanding that they might vnderstand the Scriptures CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY DENIE D. Stapleton l. 11. de Principijs c. 2. The spirit of God of whome the vnderstanding of the Scriptures is to be asked and giuen is not to be sought in the Scriptures themselues PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Whitaker l. 1. de Scriptura c. 12. sect 8. The Scriptures may Scripture not vnderstood by onely reading without the holie Ghost be known by onely reading l. 2. c. 8. sect 16. I say that the Scriptures may be vnderstood before faith and without faith Againe But if thou thinkest that the Scriptures cannot be vnderstood at all without peculiar lightning of the holie Ghost thou art in a great errour And Controu 1. q. 6. c. 13. For so much as appertaineth to the knowledge of the letter the Church hath no priuiledge Morton in Apol. part 2. l. 5. c. 10. Anie one though neuer so Anie may vnderstand the Scripture so impious may search the Scriptures to knowledge though not to wisdome that is to the knowledge of truth though not to the attayning of saluation Beza l. de notis Eccles vol. 3. p. 137. But for to vnderstand what the Prophets and Apostles haue in summe thought and thought of euerie article of our religion there needeth onely a wit not wholy dull
and knowledge of tōgues and attētiue reading And p. 138. Vnderstanding is common to all that haue any iudgment but to knowledge there is need of the externall illustration of the holie Ghost by reason of the blindnesse of mans iudgment The same say all Protestants who teach as we haue seene in the former article that the Scripture is cleare THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely saieth that prophecie that is vnderstanding of Scripture is not made by priuat interpretation that to know the misteries of the kingdome of heauē is giuen to some as a peculiar guift not common to all that Christs disciples had need to haue their vnderstanding opened by him for to vnderstand the Scriptures The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely say that the Scripture may be known by onely reading that to know what the Prophets or Apostles thought of euerie article of our religiō we need but a meane wit knowledge of tongues and attentiue reading That Scripture may be vnderstood without faith and without any peculiar light of the holie Ghost that to vnderstand the sense of the letter there is priuiledge of the Church that neuer so wicked men may know the trueth of the Scripture Which are so contrarie to Scripture as diuers Protestants confesse it See libro 2. cap. 30. ART III. WHETHER THE GHOSPEL be a law or containe any law SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Matth. 11. v. 30. My yoake is sweet and my burdē light c. 28. Christs Ghospell cōtaineth laws and precepts v. 19. Teach ye all nations baptizing them c. teaching them to obserue all things whatsoeuer I haue commanded you Ihon 15. v. 14. You are my freinds if you doe the things that I command you Galat. 6. v. 2. Beare ye one an others burdens and so ye shall fulfill the law of Christ The same is euident by other places which shal be cited in the two next articles and by the laws of baptisme and the Euchariste which are in the Ghospel Romans 2. v. 16. God shall iudge secrets of men according to my Ghospel Apocal. 14. v. 6. And I saw an other Angel flying through the middest of heauen hauing the eternall Ghospell to euangelize to them that sitte vpon the earth saying with a loud voice Feare our Lord c. CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME C. Bellarm. l. 4. de Iustif c. 2. The Ghospel containeth laws properly so called PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Luther de votis to 2. fol. 271. They know not the Ghospell The Ghospell is no law whiles they make a law of it Postilla in Dom. 3. aduentus fol. 36. None of thy workes must follow the Ghospell for it is not a law which requireth workes but onely faith because in it nothing is done but that Gods grace is offered and promised Confessio Wittenberg c. de Euangelio Vnlesse ye take the name of the law generally for doctrine certainly the Ghospell of Christ is not properly a law The same saieth Pareus in Galat 6. lect 71. Perkins in Gal. 6. to 2. The Ghospell must no wayes be called a new law So also Beza cont Sanct. Apol. 1. p. 305. Mart. in Rom. 7. p. 375. in 8. Melancthon in Disput to 4. p. 490. The ould testament is a law the new testament is no law The same say others as appeareth by what hath beene rehearsed cap. 3. art 7. and shal be more in the twoe next articles THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely saieth that the Ghospell of Christ is a yoake and burden that therein he commandeth some things that Christ hath a law that he commanded the receauing of baptisme and the Euchariste that men shal be iudged according to the Ghospell that the eternall Ghospell commandeth men to feare God The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely say that the Ghospell is no law no waies to be called a new law the new testament no law the Ghospell properly no law vnlesse by law you meane doctrin that it is no law that requireth workes ART IV. WHETHER THE GHOSPELL doth preach pennance and good workes SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Mathew 3. vers 2. Ihon Baptist thus began his preaching The Ghospell commandeth pennance of the Ghospell Doe pennance for the kingdome of heauen is at hand Matth. 4. v. 17. From that time Iesus began to preach and to say Doe pennance for the kingdome of heauen is at hand Luc. 5. v. 23. I came not to call the iust but sinners to pennance c. 24. v. 26. It behoued Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day and pennance to be preached in his name and remission of sinnes vnto all nations Actes 2. vers 38. S. Peter thus preached the Ghospell Doe pennance and be euerie one of you baptized And S. Paul c. 17. v. 30. God now denounceth vnto men that all euerie where doe pennance CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME C. Bellarm. l. 4. de Iustif c. 2. The Ghospell threatneth wrath and indignation to them who do not receaue our Sauiour nor do pennance PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE The Diuines of Targa apud Hospin in Concordia discordi The Ghospell properly is no preaching of pennance fol. 66. If the Ghospell be simply and properly taken for preaching to wit of the grace of God in Iesus Christ then it is no preaching of pennance but oney a preaching of remission of sinnes The like teach others ib. fol. 104. And the Diuines of Onely cōmandeth to beleiue Berga ib. fol. 140. The Ghospell teacheth and commandeth onely to beleiue in Christ Luther Postilla in die Natiuit fol. 60. We read and heare nothing preached in the Ghospell but mere grace and mere bountie In die Ascensionis fol. 264. I often times saied that the Ghospell cannot abide that workes be preached how good or great soeuer they be And in Inst de Moise fol. 449. The The Ghospell telleth not what it to be done or omitted Ghospell preacheth not to vs that this or that is to be done or omitted or exacteth any things of vs. The Diuines of Saxonie apud Schusselb tom 7. Catal. Haeret. p. 803. condemne Maior because he would haue the Ghospell properly taken to be a preaching of pennance and remission of sinnes Kemnitius in locis tit de Iustif p. 222. If we say that the Proper doctrin of the Ghospell is not of newnesse of life proper doctrin of the Ghospell is not onely of faith in the free promisses for Christ but also of newnesse of life or good workes then streight it followeth that good workes also enter into iustication as a partiall cause And pag. 224. Who would haue the the Ghospell properly so termed to containe not onely the promise of grace but also the doctrin of good workesse such vnderstand not what they say For by this means the difference of the law and the Ghospell is confounded Liber Concordiae 1. c. 5. p. 594. We reiect as false and pernicious Doctrin that the Ghospell properly is a preaching of pennance The Ghospell requireth not workes and not onely
of faith in Christ of iustifying faith of faith of remission of sinnes The like hath Ambing apud Hospin in Concord discordi fol. 140. Beza de Praedest cont Caste l. vol. 1. p. 393. There is no mētion in the law of this benefit of free redemption by Christ For the declaratiō of this will belongeth to an other parte of Gods word which is called the Ghospell Apol. Cōf. Augustan c. de Iustific The Ghospell preacheth iustice of faith in Christ which the law doth not teach THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely saieth that Moises wrote in the law of Christ that Moises wrote things concerning Christ That Moise commanded the people to heare Christ in all things The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely say that the law neuer knew faith in Christ that Moises cōmandeth not faith in Christ that the law knoweth nothing of faith in Christ that in the law there is no mention of free redemption in Christ that the law teacheth nothing of faith in Christ ART IX WHETHER ANY VNWRITTEN word or Traditions be to be kept SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. 2. Thessal 2. v. 15. Therefore brethren stand and hould the traditions Traditions not written to be helde which you haue learned whether it be by word or by our epistle CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Coūcell of Trent Sess 4. The holie Coūcell doth with equall pious affection reuerently receaue and honour traditions belonging to faith or manners as ether deliuered by Christs mouth or the holie Ghost and by continuall succession conserued in the Catholik Church PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Whitaker Cont. 1. q. 3. cap. 10. We care not for vnwritten Not to be helde traditions And Contro 2. q. 5. c. 18. We acknowledge no other word then that which is written And what doctrine soeuer is not written we hould for bastard doctrine Perkins in Cathol ref Contr. 20. c. 2. We acknowledge the onely written word of God Luther Postil in ferias S. Stephani Nothing is to be affirmed Nothing but that which is expressed in Scripture which is not expressed in Scripture Iacobus Andreae l. cont Hosium p. 169. That faith is no faith but an vncertain opinion which is not grounded vpon an expresse testimonie of Scripture Wigand apud Scusselb to 7. Catal. Haeret. p. 681. Onely those doctrines whose very words or equiualent for sense are extant in the Scripture are to be tought and deliuered in the Church Caluin in Gratulat ad Praecentorem pag. 377. Nothing is to be beleiued which is not expressed in Scripture And cont versipellem pagin 353. There is no mention of vnwritten traditions Beza in Rom. 1. v. 17. Christians acknowledge no other object of this faith then the written word of God Etad Reprehens Castell p. 503. Whosoeuer beleiueth in doctrine of religion that which is not written I say he embraceth opinion for faith and an idol for God Vallada in Apol. cont Episc Luzon c. 13. In all the holie No speech of an vnwritten word Scripture there is no speech of an vnwritten word Daneus Controu 7. pag. 1350. The foundation of Christian faith is one onely to wit the word of God and that onely written Hospinian part 2. Histor Sacram. fol. 23. The Magistrates of Zurich commāded that hereafter nothing should be proposed or preached in their Church but the pure fined word of God contained in the bookes of the Prophets and Apostles THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely teacheth that traditions as well they which are learned by word as they which are learned by writing are to be obserued Catholiks teach the same Protestants expressely teach that onely written doctrin is to be tought nothing to be beleiued but what is written onely the pure fined written word to be tought no obiect of faith but what is written nothing to be beleiued but what is expressed in Scripture and that in verie words or in equiualent sense that there is no mention of vnwritten traditions no speech of vnwritten word that they care not for vnwritten traditions A SVMME OF THIS CHAPTER OF THE WORD of God or Scripture What we haue rehearsed in this chapter doth clearly shew that Protestants do farre otherwise iudge of Scripture then the Scripture it selfe and Catholiks doe For the holie Scripture together with Catholiks teacheth that in it are some things hard to be vnderstood that it cannot be vnderstood without the light of the holie Ghost that the Ghospell is or containeth a law that it doth preach pennance and good workes reproueth sinne promiseth saluation vnder condition of good workes and is not contrarie vnto the law of God that the law of Moises commandeth faith in Christ and that vnwritten traditions are to be obserued And Protestants defend all the contrarie They shew also that Protestants steale from the Scripture Protestants steale from Scripture her excellencie wherewith she surpasseth the capacitie of mans wit and from the Ghospell that it containeth any law preacheth pennance or good workes reproueth sinne promiseth saluation vpon condition of well doing and agreement with Gods law whereby we see what a libertin Ghospell they bring in to wit such as containeth Libertin Ghospell of Protestants no law preacheth no pennance or good workes reproueth no sinne promiseth saluation without all condition of well doing and is quite contrarie to the law of God And that they steall from the law of Moises that it commandeth faith in Christ and finally they take away all the vnwritten word of God CHAPTER V. OF SAINT PETER AND THE APOSTLES ART I. WHETHER S. PETER WERE first of the Apostles SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. MATHEW 10. v. 2. And the names of the twelue S. Peter first of the Apostles Apostles be these The first Simon who is called Peter CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME C. Bellarm. l. 1. de Pontif. c. 18. Peter was put first by reason his dignitie PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Whitaker Contr. 3. q. 5. c. 3. Wheresoeuer mention is made Not first of Peter if we looke well into the place we shall find that nothing is giuen to him which agreeth not to the other Apostles And Controu 4. quaest 2. c. Paul maketh himselfe equall to Peter in all points Tindal in Fox his Acts p. 1139. S. Paul is greater then Peter by the testimonie of Christ Articuli Smalcaldici pag. 345. We giue no prerogatiue to Peter Luther in Gal. 2. to 5. This place clearely sheweth that all the Apostles had equall vocation and commission There was altogether equalitie amongst them no Apostle was greater then an other Illyricus in Praefat. lib. de Sectis It appeareth that Christ gaue no primacie at all in his Church to any man Caluinus in Matth. 20. v. 25. Christ shewed that in his kingdome No primacie or firstnesse there was no primacie for which they contended Beza in Matth. 10. v. 2. What if this word First were added of some who would establish Peters primacie Festus Homius disput 12. All the Apostles were equall in dignitie authoritie
true Church may some time faile to be visible Scarpe de Iustif Cont. 5. The members of the visible Church The whole visible Church may faile In the vttermost extent may faile yea the whole visible Church as such Vorstius in Antibellarm p. 136. Whence it followeth that the visible Church of Christ not onely in a great parte but euen whole taken in the vttermost extent may for sometime faile from the true faith and be wholy obscured Againe The externall Church of Christ may be obscured and faile More of their like sayings may be seene in my foresaied booke c. 4. THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainly teacheth that the Church of Christ cannot be hidden and biddeth vs to tell and heare her The same say Catholiks Protestants plainly teach that there is not alwaies a visible number of those who piously worshippe Christ that the Church may haue no apparent for me is not alwaies seene with eyes sometimes faileth to be visible that the whole visible Church as such may faile that the whole visible Church taken in her vttermost extent may faile from the faith that God oftentimes will haue no visible Church on earth Which are so opposite to Scripture as Protestants sometimes confesse it See l. 2. c. 30. ART VI. WHETHER THE CHVRCH be infallible in faith SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Isaie 59. vers vltim This is my couenant with them saieth Gods spirit euer in the mouth of the Church our Lord My spirit that is in thee and my words that I haue put in thy mouth shall not departe out of thy mouth and out of the mouth of thy seede and out of the mouth of thy seeds seede saieth our Lord from this present for euer Mathew 16. vers 18. And the gates of hell shall not preuaile Gates of hell preuaile not against her against it Ioan. 16. v. 13. But when the Spirit of trueth cometh he shall teach you all trueth 1. Tim. 3. ver 15. Which is the Church of the liuing God the The pillar of trueth pillar and ground of trueth CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME D. Stapleton Controu 4. qu. 2. art vnico The Church in her determinations of faith is euer must certaine and infallible PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Whitaker Cont. 2. q. 4. cap. 3. God hath not promised to his The vniuersall Church may erre In necessarie matters The whole Church Church that she should not erre The vniuersall Church may erre The whole Church may erre It is euident that the true Church may for a time erre euen in necessarie matters Yea after Christs ascension and that descent of the Holie Ghost vpon the Apostles it is manifest that the whole Church did erre about the vocation of the Gentils and not onely the common sorte of Christians but euen the very Apostles and Doctors And quaest 5. cap. 17. The Church may for a time erre in some fundamentall points Beza de notis Eccles vol. 3. If some particular Church may erre euen in some principall head of Christian religion and yet leaue not therefore to be a true Church why may we not say the same of all particular Churches taken not onely seuerally but all together for this is the Catholik Church And the margēt The Catholik Church and in fundamentall points The whole Churrh saieth Some errors may creepe into the Church euen in some fundamentall head of saith Daneus Controu 4. l. 3. c. 17. The whole Church all Pastors generally may erre The whole Church may be deceaued slippe and erre Author Resp ad Theses Vademont p. 503. The Catholik And grieuously Church may erre and that sometimes most grieuously The like they teach commonly THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely teacheth that Gods spirit and his word shall neuer departe from the mouth of the Church that the gates of hell shall not preuaile against her that the Holie Ghost teacheth her all trueth that she is the pillar and ground of trueth Catholiks say the same Protestants expressely teach that the Church the true Church the vniuersall Church the whole Church may erre most grieuously and in some fundamentall and necessarie matters that the whole Apostolik Church euen after the descent of the Holie Ghost did erre Which is so repugnant to holie Scripture as sometimes Protestants confesse it See lib. 2. c. 30. ART VII WHETHER THE CHVRCH be to be heard simply in all things SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Matth. 18. v. 17. If he will not heare the Church let him be Church simply to be heard to the as the Heathen and the Publican Luc. 10. v. 16. Who heareth you heareth me and who despiseth you despiseth me CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME D. Stapleton Cont. 4. q. 2. art 3. We must simply and absolutely obey the voice of the Church in doctrine of faith PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Whitaker Cont. 1. q. 3. c. 3. We must not simply receaue whatsoeuer Not simply to be heard the Church teacheth but whatsoeuer she is commanded of God to teach and proueth by Gods authoritie And q. 5. c. 5. The Church is to be heard not simply in all her sayinges decrees sentences and commandments The same he hath Cont. 2. q. 4. c. 2. and l. 1. de Scriptura c. 11. Bucanus in Inst Theol. loco 43. Must we simply heare the voice of the Church and receaue whatsoeuer she teacheth No. Reineccius to 4. Armat c. 3. We must beleiue the Church in Not simply to be beleiued all things not taken simply and absolutely but relatiuely and with condition as farre as according to Scripture and out of that she proposeth diuine trueth THE CONFERENCE Scripture simply and absolutely biddeth vs to heare the Church and saieth that who heareth her heareth Christ The same say Catholiks Protestants denie that she is simply to be heard or obeyed ART VIII WHETHER TRVETH IN respect of vs do relie vpon the Church SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. 1. Timoth. 3. ver 15. Which is the Church of the liuing God Church the pillar of trueth the pillar and ground of trueth CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME D. Stapleton Controu 4. quaest 2. artic vnico The Church according to the ordinarie course is for faithfull men the pillar of all reuealed trueth and for faith it selfe the ground For the faitfull relie vpon the teaching of the Church as an vnmouable pillar PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Whitaker Contru 2. q. 4. c. 2. The trueth of faith doth not Not pillar in regard of vs. relie vpon the Church as a foundation no not in regard of vs. Trueth doth not relie vpon the authoritie of the Church Againe If the trueth of faith did relie vpon the authoritie of the Church in respect of vs who then c. Bucer in Disp Cantabrig It is manifest enough that no Sustaineth not trueth Church is to be termed the pillar and ground of trueth as if she did sustaine and conserue trueth Melancthon in locis c. de Signis Eccles to 3. Faith doth not relie wpon the
of Of it selfe nether good nor badde workes which of themseues are nether properly good nor badde Of this kind is fasting sobrietie and desire of keeping virginitie in those who haue the guift of continencie And c. 5. sect 39. Nether virginitie nor marriage we reckon amongst those things which simply and of theÌ„selues make vs better and more gratefull to God Daneus Contr. 5. p. 1045. Virginitie is no vertue but a thing No vertue indifferent And generally all Protestants when the Apostle calleth virginitie good in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will not haue him vnderstood of a good that is honest or vertuous but onely of a good that is profitable THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainely saieth that virginitie is honest that it is a holines in bodie and soule that it is better and happier then marriage and that it is to be desired for the kingdome of heauen Catholiks say the same Protestants plainely say that virginitie is a thing indifferent is nothing not simply good not good of it nature not of it selfe a vertue not simply good not a vertue not wholy to be desired not required of God and in the religious a diuelish thing ART III. WHETHER THE STATE OF virginitie be better then the state of marriage SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. 1. Cor. 7. v. 38. He that ioyneth his virgin in matrimonie doth Virginitie better then marriage well and he that toyneth not doth better ver 40. More blessed shall she be if she so remaine CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Councel of Trent Sess 24. Can. 10. If anie shall say that it is not better and happier to abide in virginitie or single life then to marrie be he accursed PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Whitaker ad Ration 8. Campiani Virginitie is neuer better Not better then marriage but in some sorte Marriage is often times simply better then virginitie Willet Controuers 15. quaest 5. pag. 806. Virginitie is Not more holie not a more holie and cleane thing in it selfe then marriage is before God in themselues nether is more holie then ether Confessio Witten bergeÌ„sis C. de votis We must not thinke Not more excellent that this kinde of single life is of selfe before the iudgment seat of God more excellent and more holie then marriage Luther Serm de Matrimonio to 5. f. 126. Single life in it Much more baste thou marriage Marriage a most diuine state selfe is much more baser then marriage And fol. 124. he calleth marriage a diuine life in 1. Cor. 7. f. 107. the highest religion and most spirituall state 107. truely heauenly spirituall and diuine state if it be compared with this spirituall state Againe We conclude that marriage is like gould and this spirituall state dung In Genes 2. to 6. fol. 26. To beget children is after preaching To get children is the cheifest worke of the word of God the cheifest worke And in c. 21. fol. 257. Married mens life consisteth in the highest degree of spirituall life Vrbanus Regius in locis to 1. f. 345. Preaching of the word Virginitie in it selfe baser then marriage of God maketh the state of virginitie better then marriage by reason of greater impediments which yet in it selfe is baser Bindebachius in Consensu cit p. 799. If you consider these kinds of life virginitie and marriage by themselues they are indifferent and before God nether is more holie then the other Caluin in 1. Cor. 7. v. 35. Here thou hast twoe things worth noting The one is to what end single life is to be desired to wit not for it selfe nor because it is a perfiter state In like manner Beza vpon the same place Serranus cont Hayum part 3. p. 159. If marriage be the Nothing better then mar-marriage seminarie of mankind if the ornament if the stay as all the Polititians euer taught can ther be any thing better or more excellent in life then marriage THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely saieth that virginitie is better and more happie then marriage The same say Catholiks Protestants expressâ—ly teach that virginitie is not a perfecter state theÌ„ marriage not more holie not more excellent that it is baser then marriage much baser that marriage is the highâ—â—â— religion most spirituall state and that in this life nothing is better or more excellent then marriage What religion I pray you haue these men whose cheife religion and most spirituall state is marriage and who account nothing in this life better then marriage to beget children the cheifest worke beside preaching ART IV. WHETHER GOD WOVLD haue men to liue single SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. 1. Cor. 7. v. 7. I would all men to be as my selfe Et v. 27. Art God exhorteth all to single life thou loose from a wife seeke not a wife Math. 19. v. 12 He that can take let him take Apocalips 14. v. 4. These are they which were not defiled with weomen For they are virgins These follow the lambe whether soeuer he shall goe CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME D. Stapleton in 1. Corinth 7. vers 8. The Spirit of God by the mouth of the Apostle exhorteth to constant virginitie and single life PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Luther in Disput to 1. f. 383. The word Increase and multiplie All commaÌ„ded to increase is naturally ingrafted and necessarily imposed generally vpon all that are men De votis to 2. f. 272. Plainely Christ did not counsaill virginitie but rather discouraged In 1. Cor 7. to 5. f. 105. Paul will haue vniuersally all to be married Serm. de Matrimonio S. Paul will haue all married f. 119. Increase and multiplie is not a precept but more theÌ„ a precept He is a baud that flieth marriage Epistola in Wofgangum to 7. f. 505. God pronounceth the sentence that he will God will haue none vnmarried haue none to be vnmarried but multiplie He that will liue vnmarried plainely fighteth against God To take a wife and to eate and drinke both alike are inforced by necessitie and God commandeth a like both to be done Et Epistol ad Equites Teuto 2. To marrie as necessarie as to eate or drinke Church men commanded to marrie Preists commanded to marrie Germ. Ienen fol. 214. The word of God commandeth Church men to marrie wiues Confessio Augustana c. de Coniugio Paul saieth that such a one is be chosen Bishop as is a husband Et Apologia eiusdem cap. 15. They bidde ws shew a precept which commandeth Preists to marrie as if Preists were not men Melancthon Resp ad Acta Ratisbon to 4. Paul will haue a Preist to be married Zuinglius in Paraenesi ad Heluetos to 1. f. 114. The holie Ministers commanded to marrie And Bishops Scripture is so farre from forbidding Ministers of the Church to marrie that it commandeth it more then once fol. 115. When they heare Paul in so expresse words commanding that a Bishop be married to a wife c. Bullinger in 1. Timoth.
Perkins in reform Cathol cap. 8. p. 166. The second is the vow of pouertie and monasticall life in which men bestow all Against Gods will they haue on the pore and giue themselues wholy and onely to praier and fasting This vow is against the will of God The like he hath in Casibus Conscient col 1125. Morton l. 1. Apologiae c 40. Your doctrine of giuing all Sauoureth heresie sauoureth rather heresie then religion Whitaker Contr. 2. q. 5 c. 7. Monks and Iesuits nether marrie Is Anabaptisticall wiues nor haue anie thing proper but haue all things cōmon But this to haue all things common is Anabaptisticall Melancthon in locis tit de Paupertate The Ghospell nether counsaileth nor commandeth to leaue our goods vnlesse they be taken from vs nether counsaileth it nor commandeth to make things common THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely saieth that to giue all to the pore is a meane of perfection that the Apostles forsake all and that the first Christians had all things commō The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely say that the Scripture counsaileth not to forsake our goods that it is a mere humane tradition that it agreeth not with true Catholik doctrine that it rather sauoureth heresie then religion that to haue all things common is Anabaptisticall ART XVII WHETHER PENNANCE BE commanded to all SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Act. 17. v. 30. God now denounceth vnto men that all euery Pennance cōmanded to all where doe pennance c. 20. v. 21. Testifying vnto Iews and Gentils pennance towards God and faith in our Lord Iesus Christ And To Iewes and Gentils c. 8. v. 22 it is saied to Simon Magus Do pennance from this thy wickednesse Luc. 24. v. 27. It behoued Christ to suffer and to rise againe To all natiōs from the dead the third day and pennance to be preached in his name and remission of sinnes vnto all nations CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME C. Bellarm. l. 3. de Paenitent cap. 2. Who haue committed a mortall sinne are bound by Gods law to doe pennance PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Perkins in Apoc. 2. to 2. This precept of repentance is not giuē Pennance not commanded to euerie one seuerally to euerie one but onely to the Church of God or to that people which at last shal be the Church Caluin de Praedest pag. 706. God is saied to will life as he God willeth not pennance to all but by word willeth pennance But this he willeth because by his words he inuiteth all to it And of the same mynd are others who say that God willeth not the saluation of any but of the elect onely otherwise then by his word For if indeed he will not haue the reprobate do pennance but onely in word or shew surely nether doth he command them to do pēnance otherwise then in word and in outward shew THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainely saieth that God denounceth pennāce to all men euerie where to Iews and Gentils to all Nations to Simon Magus The same say Catholiks Protestants plainely say that God commandeth not pennance to euerie one but onely to his Church or to these who at last shal be his Church that he doth not will pennance to all but onely in word ART XVIII WHETHER CHASTISMENT of the bodie be a parte of pennance SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Math. 11. v. 21. Woe be to the Corozain woe be to thee Bethsaida For if in Tire and Sidon had beene wrought the miracles that haue beene wrought in you they had done pennance in Bodily chastizment a parte of pennance hairecloth and ashes long agoe Iob. 42. v. 6. I reprehend my selfe and do pennance in imbers and ashes Ionas 3. v. 6. And he rose vp out of his throne and cast away his garment from him and was clothed in sackcloth and sate in ashes And he cried and saied in Niniue from the mouth of the King and his Princes saying Men and beasts and oxen and cattell let them not taste any thing nor feed and let them not drinke water And let men and beasts be couered with sackclothes Ioel. 2. v. 12. Conuert to me in all your harte in fasting and in weeping and in mourning CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME D. Stapleton in Math. 11. erv 21. It is conuinced out of this place that pennance properly consisteth not onely in change of life and repentance but also in penall workes PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Willet Contr. 14. q. 1. p. 711. Ashes sackoth was no parte of No parte of pennance repentance but an outward testification of their inward griefe Whitaker Praefat. ad Demonstrat Sanderi I saied that pennance did not consist in certaine externall punishments but in inward griefe conceaued of the remembrance of sinne and in amendment of life Caluin in Math. 11. ver 21. Pennance is here described by externall Christ regardeth notmuch corporall pennance signes whereof then there was solemne vse in the Church of God not that Christ insisteth much vpon this vpon this point but he accomodateth himselfe to the capacitie of the common people Et Concione 158. in Iob Sackcloth and ashes are onely an externall signe of pennance Beza in Math. 11. v. 21. cit Which custome of casting ashes vpon themselues was after word trāslated to those whome they called Penitents I wish it had beene done with more iudgment and better successe Vorstius in Antibellarm p. 439. Painfull workes are onely outward and oftentimes deceitfull and feigned signes of pennāce Wherefore they are not partes of true pennance THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainely saieth that pennance in sackcloth and ashes is good that God biddeth vs to conuert to him in fasting weeping and mourning that the Niniuits did pennance in sackcloth and ashes and Iob in embers and ashes The same say Catholiks Protestants plainely say that Christ did not much insist vpon sackcloth and ashes that they are no partes of pennance but onely an outward signe thereof that pennance consisteth not in outward punishment that the custome of casting ashes vpon penitents was done without good iudgment ART XIX WHETHER THE PENNANCE of the Niniuites were true SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Ionas 3. v. 10. And God saw their Niniuites workes that they were conuerted from their euill way and God had mercie on Pennance of Niniuites was true the euill which he had spoaken that he would do to them and he did it not Et ver 5. And the men of Niniue beleiued in God and they proclaimed a fast c. Math. 12. v. 41. The men of Niniue shall rise in iudgment with this generation and shall condemne it because they did pennance at the preaching of Ionas CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Catechismus ad Parochos cap. de Paenitentia There are most cleare examples of the Niniuits of Dauid of the Penitent woman of the Apostles all which imploring the mercie of God with manie teares obtained pardon of their sinnes PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Beza lib. quaestion vol. 1. Theol. pag. 674. God
Protest tormented with the words of Scripture 21. The Protestant interpreters do torment themselues in that Daniel seemeth to attribute redemption or remission of sinnes to mans iustice and works of mercie For they well admonish that it is repugnant to the chiefe point of our religion Daneus in c. 67. Enchir. Aug. saieth that saying of S. Iames We are not iustified by faith onelie doth this day tormeÌ„t manie so that some haue reiected the epistle others haue called it strawish Kemnice in loc to 2. tit de Argum. That saying of Daniel c. 4. seemeth very hard against free iustification The third way by which they tacitelie confesse that Protest forced to denie their doctrine their doctrine is contrarie to Scripture is because when it maketh for their purpose they denie that they teach manie of those points which in the former booke we haue clearelie shewed that they plainelie teach And because they do this so frequentlie as I need not bring manie examples thereof I will here cite onelie some few Touching God Pareus thus writeth Colleg. Theol. 9. disp 32. It is a slaunder that we simply say that God would and decreed that our first parents should fall See l. 1. cap. 2. art 5. Of Scripture thus Whitaker Cont. 1. q. 4. cap. 1. Our aduersaries attribute vnto vs this doctrine as if we saied that the Catholik Church could faile which is most false See lib. 1. cap. 8. art The same man q 3. cit c. 2. Our aduersaries slander vs when they say that we make such a Church which sometime is no where and can be seene of none See l. 1. c. 8. art 5. Touching the Eucharist Eliensis Resp ad Apol. Bellar. c. 1. We agree with you of the matter all the contention is about the manner A presence I say we beleiue nor lesse reall then you Perkins in Cath. refor Contr. 10. cap. 1. We beleiue and teach a reall presence of the bodie and blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Supper and that not feigned but true and reall Argentinenses in Hospin part 2. Histor Be they accursed who will haue nothing to be exhibited here but a signe and figure And Hospinian himselfe Our men neuer denied that the bodie of Christ was truely in their Supper Beza l. qq saieth that it is a slander that they exclude Christ from their Supper Gratianus Antiiesuita p. 140. There is no controuersie whether the true bodie and blood of the Lord be contained in the Sacrament of the Eucharist Et Riuet tract 3. sec 12. The question betwene vs is not simply whether the bodie and blood of Christ be truely and really in this Sacrament Et Spalatensis libr. contr Suar. cap. 1. num 39. Who denieth that the Eucharist is the onely flesh and onely blood of our Lord Iesus Christ See the contrarie of all these lib. 1. c. 11. art 1. Touching faith thus writeth Peter Martyr in loc Class 3. § 24. We make faith hope and charitie three different things nether doe we confound them as our aduersaries accuse vs. See the contrarie lib. 1. c. 13. art 6. Of good works thus Tilenus in Syntag. cap. 46. It is a cruell slander of our aduersaries where they feigne that we teach that all the works of the iust be properly and simply sinnes Et Riuet tract 3. sect 31. None of ours saieth absolutely that all works are sinne nether say we that they are mingled with sinne absolutely See the contrarie lib. 1. c. 14. art 2. Touching good works in particular thus Riuet tract 1. sect 73. We reiect this position That it is one of the conditions necessarie to a Bishop that he be married See the contrarie lib. 1. cap. 15. art 4. Of reward thus the some Riuet 3. sect 39. We denie not the reward of good works See the contrarie lib. 1. c. 14. art 7. c. 18. arr 1. Of free will thus Serranus l. 3. cont Hayum Doth anie of ours denie or euer denied that those that are not regenerate doe fall to sinne of their prone and free will See the contrarie lib. 1. c. 16. art 14. But finally they doe plainely and expressely graunt that Protest confesse much of their doctrine to be against Scripture Of God manie points of Protestants doctrine are coÌ„trarie to Scripture For touching God thus writeth Confessio Saxon. c. God nether willeth sinne nor approueth nor helpeth it as it is written when the Diuel speaketh a lie he speaketh of his owne and 1. Ioan. 3. Who committeth sinne is of the Diuel Gerlachius tom 2. disput 15. It is impossible that God should will sinne of whome it is saied psalm 5. Thou art not a God that willeth ini-inquitie Et Polanus in Disput priuat p. 235. God nether willeth nor can will the ill of offence or sinne properly taken psal 5. vers 5. Melancthon in disput to 4. p. 623. The conference of the continuall doctrine in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles doth shew that God nether willeâ—â— nor worketh sinne as it is expressely saied Thou art not a Gad that willeth iniquitie And out of this same place Pareus in Colleg. Theol. 1. disp 2. proueth that Gods will is no efficient cause of sinne And yet Protestants teach both that God willeth sinne and worketh sinne See lib. 1. c. 2. art 1. 4. They teach also that God hath ordained and predestinated men to sinne l. 1. c. 2. art 5. of which doctrine Melancthon in disp to 4. p. 572. giueth this censure There are certaine frantike fellows much worse then the Stoicks who teach that God of himselfe doth ordaine and predestinate haynous sinnes and that he willeth them and not onely suffereth them And in locis tit de Causa Peccat Sinne is nether done of God nor ordained of him They teach that God commandeth vrgeth and tempteth to sinne lib. 1. cap. 2. art 7. Which is contrarie to Scripture by iudgment of Riuet tract 3. sect 33. The Scripture expressely saieth that God will not iniquitie that he commandeth none to doe ill that he cannot tempt to ill Moulins in his Bucler p. 97. God doth not stirre vp meÌ„ to doe ill as it is saied ps 45. Thou hast loued iustice and hated iniquitie Et Calu. in Math. 4. v. 1. Wherevpon we gather that tentations which incite vs to ill come not froÌ„ God They teach that God is not angrie with the faithfull when they worke iniquitie lib. 1. c. 2. art 11. Which to be contrarie to Scripture Protestants in Zanchius in Supplicat confesse in these words God doth threaten his anger to all the transgressors of his law and they cite thereto that Ps 5. Thou hast hated all that worke iniquitie They teach that God hath no will that all should be saued li. c. 2. art 19. Which is against Scripture as coÌ„fesseth Hemingius in these words in Enchir. clas 3. They accuse God of a lye whosoeuer thinke that he will not the saluation of some as farre as perteineth to