Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	apostle_n	catholic_a	church_n	2,510	5	4.6993	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A14435	A very Christian, learned, and briefe discourse, concerning the true, ancient, and Catholicke faith, against all wicked vp-start heresies seruing very profitably for a preseruatiue against the profane nouelties of papists, Anabaptists, Arrians, Brownists, and all other sectaries. First composed by Vincentius Lirinensis in Latine, about twelue hundreth yeares ago. And now faithfully translated into English, and illustrated with certaine marginall notes. By Thomas Tuke.; Pro catholicae fidei antiquitate libellus. English	Vincent, of Lérins, Saint, d. ca. 450.; Tuke, Thomas, d. 1657. aut	1611 (1611)	STC 24753; ESTC S102090	49,335	192

taketh away the sinnes of the world Who are rauening Wolues but the sauage and rauening opinions or conceits of heretickes which alwaies annoy the Foldes of the Church and rend assunder the Flocke of Christ on what part soeuer they are able But that they may steale more slily vpon the vnwary sheepe retaining still their woluish cruelty they lay aside their shape of a Wolfe and wrap themselues within the sentences of the holy Scriptures as it were within certaine Sheepe-skinnes that when a body hath felt afore the softnesse of the wooll hee might not bee afraid of the bitings of the teeth But what saith our Sauiour Yee shall know them by their fruits That is when they shall begin not only now to vtter those sayings but also to expound them nor as yet to cracke of them only but also to interpret them then that bitternesse thē the sourenesse and madnesse is perceiued then this new deuised poison will bee breathed out then are prophane nouelties disclosed then may ye see the bounds of the Fathers to be remoued the Catholicke faith to be then but chered and the doctrine of the Church torne in peeces CHAP. 37. SVch were they whom the Apostle Paul reproueth in his second Epistle to the Corinthes saying For such false Apostles saith hee are crafty workmen transforming themselues into Apostles of Christ What meaneth this transforming themselues into the Apostles of Christ The Apostles alledged examples of the Law of God and so did they The Apostles cited the authorities of the Psalmes and so did they the Apostles produced the sayings of the Prophets euen so did they too not a iot the lesse But when they had begun to expound those sentences diuersly which they had alike alledged then were the simple Apostles discerned from the subtill Apostles the sincere from the counterfeite the right from the peruerse and finally the true from the false And no wonder quoth he For Sathan himselfe transformeth himselfe into an Angel of light it is no great thing therefore though his Ministers bee transformed as Ministers of righteousnesse Therefore by the Apostle Pauls doctrine so often as euer either false Apostles or false Prophets or false Teachers all edge the sentences of Gods word with the which being vnderstood amisse they seeke to maintaine their owne errors there is no doubt but that they follow the crafty deuises of their Author which he would neuer without doubt deuise but that hee knowes that there is no way at all more ready to deceiue then that where the deceit of a wicked errour is vnderhand introduced There the authority of Diuine sentences should bee pretended But some man will say how is it proued that the Diuell is wont to vse proofes of holy Scripture Let him read the Gospels in the which it is written Then the Diuell tooke him that is the Lord and Sauiour and set him vpon a pinacle of the Temple and said vnto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy selfe downe For it is written that hee hath giuen his Angels charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy waies and with their hands they shall lift thee vp least it may bee thou shouldest dash thy foote against a stone What will this Fiend do to silly men that set vpon the Lord of glory with testimonies of Scripture If quoth hee thou be the Son of God cast thy selfe downe Why so For saith he it is written The doctrine of this place is to bee diligently marked and reteined of vs that when we shall see some alledge the words of the Apostles or Prophets against the Catholicke Faith we should in no wise doubt considering such a remarkeable example of Euangelicall authority that the Diuell speaketh by them For as then the Head spake to the Head so now also the Members speake vnto the Members to wit the members of the Diuell to the members of Christ the vnfaithfull to the faithfull the sacrilegious to the religious finally Heretiques to Catholickes But what I pray you saith hee If quoth he thou bee the Sonne of God cast thy selfe downe That is to say thou wilt be the Son of God and wilt receiue the inheritance of the kingdome of heauen Cast thy selfe downe that is throw thy selfe off from the doctrine and tradition of this high Church which is also counted the Temple of God And if any man should aske some hereticke which perswades him to doe thus How dost thou prooue vpon what ground dost thou teach that I ought to forsake the vniuersall and ancient faith of the Catholicke Church Hee would presently answer For it is written And forthwith hee prepares a multitude of testimonies examples and authorities from the Law frō the Psalmes from the Apostles from the Prophets through the which being after a new and naughty manner interpreted the vnhappy soule might bee plunged headlong into the gulfe of heresie And now with those promises following the hereticks are wont to deceiue vnwary men For they presume to promise and to teach That in their Church that is in the conuenticle of their communion there is a great and special and in truth a certaine personall grace of God so as that they whosoeuer they bee that are of their company without any labour without any study without any trauell though they neither seeke nor aske nor knocke are yet for all that so ordered by God that being lifted vp in the hands of Angels that is being preserued by Angelicall protection they can neuer dash their foote against a stone that is they can neuer be scandalized or offended CHAP. 38. BVt some man doth say If the Diuel and his Disciples do vse Diuine speeches sentences and promises amongst whose Disciples some are fals-Fals-apostles False-prophets and False-teachers and all of them generally heretiques what shal Catholicke men and the Children of the Church our Mother do How shall they discerne the truth in the holy Scriptures from falsehood Surely they shall haue speciall care to doe this which wee haue in writing set downe in the beginning of this aduertisement to haue beene deliuered vnto vs by holy and learned men namely that they doe interprete the holy Scriptures according to the traditions of the vniuersall Church and by the rules of Catholicke doctrine wherein also it is necessary that they follow the vniuersality antiquity and consent of the Catholique and Apostolique Church And if at any time a part shall rebell against the whole if nouelty shall thwart antiquity if the dissention of one or of some few erronious persons shall crosse the consent of all or surely of the greatest number of Catholickes let them preferre the soundnesse of the whole to the corruptnesse of a part in the which same vniuersall body let them make more account of religious antiquity then of profane nouelty in like manner in the same antiquity let them first and foremost afore all thinges preferre the generall decrees if there

LONDON Printed for Leonard Becket and are to be sold at his Shop in the Temple neere the Church 1611. A VERY CHRISTIAN LEARNED and briefe Discourse concerning the true ancient and Catholicke Faith against all wicked vp-start Heresies Seruing very profitably for a Preseruatiue against the profane Nouelties of Papists Anabaptists Arrians Brownists and all other Sectaries First composed by Vincentius Lirinensis in Latine about twelue hundreth yeares ago And now faithfully translated into English and illustrated with certaine Marginall Notes By THOMAS TVKE Imprinted at London for Leonard Becket and are to be sold at his shop in the Inner Temple 1611. TO THE RIGHT worshipfull Sir IOHN LEVENTHORPE knight and to the right vertuous Lady Ioanna his wife all happinesse earthly and heauenly RIght Worshipfull great is the peruersenesse of Mans nature as may appeare by the multitude of errors and false religions of the which the world is now sicke euen vnto death For the Iewe hath his the Turke his the Indians theirs the Papist his yea and almost euery man is ready to turne his fansy into faith so common is this kind of Alchymie and to make doctrines of his owne deuises so fond we are by reason of selfe-loue and the blindnesse of our minds But as Eli sayd this is not well For there is but one true Religion and as Leo saith Faith is either One or None Now because there are so many religions in the world therefore some will be of none but stand as it were amazed not knowing what course to take like the fool that Salomon speakes of which knowes not the way into the Citty It behooues vs therefore seeing such variety of professions to looke before we leape to sound the waters before we hoyse vp our sailes for heauen is no harbor for heretickes no common Inne for all kinds of Trauellers I meane afore all to consult with the written word of God the oracle of truth the ground of faith a lanterne to our feet a light vnto our path is profitable to teach to conuince to correct and instruct in righteousnesse that the mā of God maybe absolute Heare saith S. Austin Thus saith the Lord not thus saith Donatus or Rogatus or Vincentius or Hilary or Austin but Thus saith the Lord. To the Law and to the Testimony saith Esay if they speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them By the Scripture God speaketh his whole will saith Gregory If therefore men would in the true feare of God and lowlinesse of spirit desire diuine direction and attend vnto the word vndoubtedly they should see their way before them and could not be so transported of Impostors as they vse to be For them that be meeke will he guide in iudgement and teach the humble his way What man is he that feareth the Lord Him will he teach the way which he shall chuse The secret of the Lord is reuealed to them that feare him and his couenant to giue them vnderstanding And as our Sauiour speaketh Whatsoeuer ye shall aske the Father in my Name he will giue it you So then if we will not giue eare vnto Man but vnto God if we will not trust vnto our owne wings but seeke for aide of him we may boldly expect assistance of him according to his word And because to begin a course well is nothing vnlesse a man continue constant in it therefore it behoues vs to cleaue fast vnto the faith auoiding all impostures of Heretickes whatsoeuer For the furtherance hereof this Treatise was first written in Latine aboue a thousand yeares agoe by a learned and godly Frenchman whose authority is nothing lesse to be respected for his Monasticke kinde of liuing considering that our moderne Monkes haue almost nothing of Antiquity besides their name And for the same purpose we haue turn'd it into English desiring the Almightie to bedew the same with the blessing of his grace My labour I account as due to the Church in generall and abundantly deserued of you both in particular if therefore you shall accept it I shall haue my full desire The God of heauen and earth preserue you by his grace that after this life on Earth ye may be presented to Iesus Christ to liue in heauen with him in eternall glory Amen London S. Clem. April 14. 1611. Your VVorships in Christ Iesus to be commanded Thomas Tuke To The Reader THERE are three sorts of men for whō I haue translated this little booke The first are they that heare their fathers instruction and despise not the gouernement of their mother whom I desire God vpon my knees to keepe free from the poyson and peruersnesse of all Heretickes and Schismatickes whatsoeuer The second are they that are mis-led by Romish Impostors into many grosse and nouell errours such as the Scriptures and antient Doctors vtterly condemne as may easily be seene by viewing sundry workes of diuers learned men amongst vs either written or turned into English The chiefest cause of of whose erring partly consists in an incredible credit which they giue vnto their Teachers and partly in their owne wonderfull ignorance of the holy Scriptures which might inlighten their eies and informe their iudgements It is written of Naash that he would make a couenant with the men of Iabesh Gilead vpon condition that he might thrust out all their right eies euen so surely the Diuell delights in nothing more then in putting out mens eyes and in captiuating their vnderstanding which is as the right eye of the soule that being blinded he may leade them at his pleasure But if it would please them to search the Scriptures as Christ exhorteth and to consider of the Catholicke doctrine of the antient Church euen to the times wherein this our Author liued I doubt not but that the scales of ignorance would fall from their eyes and that those mists would be soone dispersed which Satan casts before them The third are such as are not much offended at the doctrines of the Church but condemne her gouernment and stumble at her Ceremonies which yet are neither vndecent nor superstitious or numerous and such as neither Gods word forbiddeth nor any approued Church in the Christian world condemneth as they are commanded by this Church entertained Now see heere what strange conceipts and doctrines are deuised and defended of them such as haue no foot-step in the Scripture no fellowship with Antiquity 1. It is affirmed that The true and right gouernment of the Christian Churches is a certaine Democratie 2. That a prouinciall Church is Contrary to the testament of Christ Hereupon Henry Iacob in an Epistle prefixed to a booke lately printed at Leyden labours for a Separation 3. That humane ceremonies being once abused cannot bee purged but by vtter abolishion 4. That it is out of all doubt that Christ sate or lay at his last Supper or thus that it is not

in the end of this second Aduertisement which haue ben spoken of in these two We haue sayd before that this hath euer bene and is also at this day the custome of Catholickes to proue the true saith these two wayes First by the authority of Gods word Secondly by the tradition of the Catholike Church not because the word alone is not sufficient of it selfe for all matters but because many whiles they expound the Scriptures as they list themselues they conceiue sundry opinions and errors And therefore that it is necessary that the interpretation of the heauenly Scripture should bee directed by the alone Rule of Ecclesiastical iudgement or vnderstanding especially in those questions at least on which the grounds of all the Catholicke doctrine are layed In like maner we haue sayd that we should againe haue regard in the Church her-selfe vnto the consent of All in generall and also of Antiquity least we should either bee broken off from the whole body of the Church being vnited and coupled together and so become Schismatickes or else be cast head-long from the antient religion into nouell heresies We haue also sayd that in the very antiquity of the Church two certaine things are earnestly and carefully to be obserued to which all that would not be Heretiques should throughly cleaue first if any thing hath bene of antient time decreed of all the Priests of the Catholicke Church by the authority of a generall Councell secondly if any strange question should arise when that in no wise might be found that recourse should be had to the iudgements of the holy Fathers of those onely which in their times and places conteining all of them in the vnity of fellowship and of the Faith were commendable Teachers And that whatsoeuer they should be found to haue held with one meaning and consent that it should without any scruple be iudged of the Church to be true and Catholicke CHAP. 42. VVHich-least we should seeme to set abroach through our owne presumption rather then by Ecclesiasticall authority we haue vsed the example of an holy Councell which was held almost three yeares since at Ephesus in Asia those most excellent men Bassus and Antiochus being Consuls Where when there was dispute about the confirming of the Rules of Faith least perhaps any profane noueltie should steale in there after the manner of the o Ariminian Councels vnfaithfull dealing this seemed to all the Priests which had come thither to the number almost of two hundreth to be a thing most Catholicke most commodious and best to be done that the iudgements of the holy Fathers should be brought foorth and shewed of whom it should be manifest that some were Martyrs others Confessors but that all had bene and had continued Catholicke Priests that so by their consent and decree the religion of the ancient doctrine might well and solemnly be confirmed and the blasphemy of wicked nouelty condemned Which when it was so done then was that foresaid Nestorius iudged contrary to Catholicke Antiquity but blessed Cyril to consent vnto it And that the truth of those things might in no wise be called into question we haue also shewed the names and number though we had forgotten the ranke of those Fathers according to whose order therein concording and vnanimous iudgement both the sentences of holy Writ were expounded and the rule of diuine doctrine established Whom for the strengthening of our memorie it is not superfluous here also to recite These therefore are the men whose writings either as of Iudges or as it were of Witnesses were in that Councell shewed and recited S. Peter of Alexandria a Bishop a most excellent Teacher and a most blessed Martyr S. Athanasius a Prelate of the same Citty a most faithfull Teacher and a most worthy Confessor Saint Theophilus a Bishop of the same Citie too a man very famous for his religion life and learning whom worthy Cyril did succeed who doth at this time make the Church of Alexandria famous And least it should perhaps be thought to be the doctrine of one City Prouince there were ioyned also those Lights of Cappadocia S. Gregory Bishop and Confessor of Nazianzum S. Basil Bishop and Confessor of Caesarea in Cappadocia as also the other S. Gregory Bishop of Nysse and for his faith conuersation vprightnesse and wisedome a man most worthy of his brother Basil But that it might be proued that not Greece alone or that the East onely but that the Weasterne and Latine world was alwayes also of that iudgement certaine Epistles also were there read written to certaine men by Saint Foelix a Martyr and S. Iulius Bishops of the City of Rome And that not only the head of the world but that the sides also might giue testimony to that iudgement there was taken from the South most blessed Cyprian Bishop of Carthage and a Martyr and from the North Saint Ambrose Bishop of Millaine All these ten therefore were at Ephesus produced as Teachers Counsellers Witnesses and Iudges whose doctrine counsell witnesse and iudgemēt that blessed Synode mainteining following crediting and obeying did readily discreetly vnpartially giue sentence concerning the Rules of Faith Although a farre greater number of Elders might haue bene ioyned to these yet it was not needfull because it was not sitting that the time allotted for that businesse should be taken vp and spent with producing of a multitude of Witnesses and for that euery man is perswaded that those ten did differ nothing in a maner in iudgement from all their other fellowes After all which things we haue also annexed the holy iudgement of Cyril which things are conteined in the ecclesiasticall acts For after that the Epistle of S. Capreolus Bishop of Carthage was read who laboured and intreated no other thing but that Noueltie being conuinced Antiquity might be beleeued Bishop Cyril spake and defined to the same effect the which it seemeth not vnfitting for the matter in hand here also to interpose For hee saith in the end of the Acts And this Epistle which was read quoth he of the reuerend very religious Bishop of Carthage Capreolus shall bee faithfully recorded whose iudgement is manifest for hee would haue the doctrines of the ancient faith confirmed but nouell conceipts and such as are superfluously deuised and wickedly published to bee reiected and condemned All the Bishops cryed together in signe of approbation These are the words of vs all we do all affirme these things this is the wish of vs all And what I pray you were the words and the wishes of all but that That should bee embraced which was anciently deliuered and that That should be banished which was newly deuised After which things we wondred at told of the great humility and holinesse of that Councell and what a number of Priests there were the greater part welneere being Metropolitanes of such knowledge and so well learned as that almost all of them were able to dispute of

seeme to bee pointed at rather then vnfolded Let them write delicately and with accuratenesse that are led thereunto through confidence of their wit or by reason of their office but for me it shall be sufficient that I haue prepared a Remembrancer for my selfe to helpe my memory or rather to preuent my forgetfulnesse the which yet I will endeauour through the Lords assistance to mend and perfite dayly by reuoluing and calling to mind the things that I haue learned And this I haue said before hand that if happily ought of ours shall come into the hands of the Saints they would reprehend nothing therein rashly which they may see by promise yet to be amended CHAP. 1. INquiring therefore oftentimes with great care and very singular diligence of very many excellent men both for holinesse and learning how I might by some certaine and as it were generall and regular way discerne the truth of the Catholicke faith from the falsehood of wicked heresies I receiued this answere alwaies from them all almost That if either I or any other would finde out the wiles of vpstart Hereticks and escape their snares and continue sound and whole in a sound faith he must fortifie his faith through the Lords assistance with a two-fold fence namely first with the authority of Gods word and then also with the tradition of the Catholicke Church CHAP. 2. HEre it may be some man will aske Seeing the Canon of the Scriptures is perfect and that it is aboundantly sufficient of it selfe to all things what need is there that the authority of the Churches vnderstanding should be ioyned therunto Surely because al mē do not after one manner vnderstand the holy Scripture according to the height thereof but diuers men interpret the sentences thereof diuersly that there may seeme to be as many meanings thereof almost as men For Nouatian expounds it one way Photinus another way Sabellius thus Donatus otherwise Arrius Eunomius Macedonius other waies Appollinaris Priscillianus by themselues Iouinianus Pelagius Celestius another way and finally Nestorius hath a sence by himselfe And therefore by reason of so great deceipts and windings of so different errours it is very necessary that a man should interpret the Prophets and Apostles according as the Catholicke Church doth vnderstand them CHAP. 3. IN like manner euen in the Catholike Church wee must haue a speciall regard that we hold that which is Euery where beleeued alwaies of all for this is truly and properly Catholike as the very force reason of the name declareth which comprehendeth al things truly vniuersally Now this we shall doe if we follow Vniuersality Antiquity and Consent And wee shall follow Vniuersality thus namely if we do confesse this one faith to be true which the whole Church through out the world confesseth We shall follow Antiquity if by no meanes we reiect those interpretations which we know to haue bene vsed and esteemed of our holy Elders and Forefathers And Consent in like sort also if euer in Antiquity we follow the determinations and iudgements of all or surely of almost all Priests and Doctors CHAP. 4. VVHat then shal a Christian Catholicke do if some few members of the Church shall cut themselues from the fellowship of the Catholicke Faith Surely what else but preferre the soundnesse of the whole body before a noysom and corrupt member And what if some new contagion shall indeuour the corruption not of some small part of the Church onely but euen of the whole body thereof also In like manner then he shall bee carefull to cleaue fast vnto Antiquity which cannot now wholly be seduced by any nouell deceipt And what if euen in Antiquity it selfe the errour of two or three or of a Citty or of some Prouince be found out Then his whole care shall be to prefer the decrees of the Vniuersal Church vniuersally of old maintained to the rashnesse or ignorance if any such be of some few persons But what if some such thing breake out where nothing of that nature may be found Then shall hee compare the sentences and opinions of the Fathers together and take Counsell of them of those Fathers or Elders I meane onely which though they liued not in one age and place did yet continue in the fellowship and faith of one Catholicke Church were laudable Teachers and whatsoeuer he shall perceiue that not one or two alone but that all alike with one and the same consent did openly commonly and constantly hold write and teach let him know that the same of him also is without any scruple to bee beleeued But that those things which wee say may be made more plaine they are each of them to be cleered by examples and to be a little more enlarged least through affectation of too much breuity the weight of things bee not perceiued by reason of passing so swiftly ouer them in our speech CHAP. 5. IN the time of Donatus from whom sprang the Donatists when as a great part of Aphrica had throwne themselues headlong into his furious errours and when vnmindfull of their honour religion and profession they did preferre the sacrilegious headines of one man to the Church of Christ then those Africans could of them all alone be safe within the sanctuaries of the Catholicke faith which hauing that wicked Schisme in detestation adioyned themselues to all the Churches of the world leauing in truth a notable paterne to them that should come after namely how and that also well the soundnesse of all might be preferred before the fury of one or but a few CHAP. 6. IN like manner when as the poyson of the Arrians had now corrupted not some fewe but almost all the world so as that well neere all the Latine Bishops being deceiued partly by force and partly by fraude knew not well by reason of a certaine kinde of blindnesse which had inuaded their vnderstandings what course they were best to follow when things were so confused then whosoeuer was a true Louer worshipper of Christ the same by making more accoūt of the ancient-faith thē of nouel-falshood was preserued from all infections of that contagious doctrine The danger in truth of which time hath aboundantly shewed what great calamity the bringing in of that vpstart doctrine caused For then were shaken not small things onely but euen the greatest also For not onely alliances kindreds friendships and houses were dissolued but also Cities People Prouinces Nations yea and the whole Romane Empire was vtterly shaken and put out of order For when that profane noueltie of the Arrians as a certaine Bellona or Furia had first captiuated the Emperour and then brought all the chiefest about him vnder new lawes it ceased not afterwards to trouble disorder all things priuat and publicke facred and profane and to haue no regard of that which was good and true but whomsoeuer

well qualified whiles he doth insolently abuse the grace of God whiles he makes too much of his own wit and thinks so well of himself whiles he contēneth the ancient simplicity of Christian religion whiles he presumes he is wiser then all men and whiles that contemning the traditions of the Church and the maisterships of the Elders he doth after a new manner expound certaine places of the Scriptures he hath deserued that it should be sayd vnto the Church of God concerning him also If there arise among you a Prophet And a little after Thou shalt not quoth he listen to the words of that Prophet And againe Because the Lord your God saith he tryeth you whether ye will loue him or no. It was indeed not onely a temptation but euen a great temptation to remoue the Church being giuen vnto him and depending vpon him and through wondring at his wit learning eloquence conuersation and reputation suspecting him not nor fearing him to remoue the Church I say all vpon the sudden by little and little from the ancient Religion to nouell profanenesse But some man will say that the bookes of Origen are corrupted I gain say it not but had rather too it were so For that is both deliuered and written of some not onely Catholikes but also Heretiques But that is it which now we are to marke that although he himselfe bee not yet the bookes which are publiked vnder his name are a great temptation which being pestered with many wounds of blasphemies are both read embraced not as other mens but as his owne so that although Origen did not conceiue the error yet Origens authority may seeme powerfull to perswade the error CHAP. 24. BVt Tertullians cōdition also is euen the same For as he among the Greekes so this man among the Latines is without doubt to bee reputed the chiefest of all our men For who more learned then this man who more exercised in diuinity and in humanity For verily he did with a certaine admirable capacity of vnderstanding vnderstand compasse al Philosophy and all the sects of the Phylosophers the authors abettours of the sects and all their doctrines and all manner of stories and studies And did hee not excell for a wit so graue and vehement as that he propounded almost nothing to himselfe to vanquish which he did not either breake into with acutenesse or strike out with weightinesse Moreouer who can expresse the praises of his speech which was replenished with such I wot not what vrgent arguments as that whom he could not perswade he forced to consent vnto him whose sentences were almost as many as words and as many victories as reasons This knew the Martionists Apelles the Praxeans Hermogenes the Iewes Gentiles Gnostickes and the rest whose blasphemies he ouerthrew with his manifold great volumes as with certaine lightenings And yet this man also I say this Tertullian being vnmindfull of the Catholicke doctrine that is the vniuersall and ancient faith and much more eloquent thē happy changing his iudgment afterwards wrought that at last which the blessed Confessour Hilarie writeth of him in a certaine place By the error quoth he which he fell afterwards into he made the workes which he wrote well to loose their reputation And hee himselfe was also a great temptation in the Church But of him I will say no more This thing I will onely mention that because hee did against the commandement of Moses affirme that the new braine-sicke doctrines of Montanus arising in the Church and that those madde conceits of mad women euen the dreames of an vpstart doctrine were true prophecies he did deserue that it should be said of him also and of his writings If a Prophet shall arise among you And againe Thou shalt not heare the words of that Prophet Why so Because saith he the Lord your God tryeth you whether you will loue him or not By these therfore so many and so great examples in the Church and by the rest of that nature we ought euidently to marke and to know more clearely then the light that if euer any teacher in the Church shall wander from the faith the prouidence of God doth suffer it to be done for our tryall to proue whether we loue the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soule or no. CHAP. 25. VVHich things seeing they so stand he is a true and right Catholicke who loueth the truth of God the Church the body of Christ and who preferres nothing to Gods Religion nothing to the Catholicke faith not the authority not the loue not the wit not the eloquence nor the philosophy of any man but contemning all these things and abiding firme and stedfast in the faith doth iudge that whatsoeuer he shall vnderstand to bee vniuersally held of old of the Catholicke Church himselfe should hold and beleeue alone but whatsoeuer nouell and strange doctrine hee shall perceiue to bee priuily brought in after by any one besides or against the iudgement of all the Saints hee knowes that it belongs not to religion but rather to tentation And is also especially by the speeches of the blessed Apostle Paul instructed for this is that which hee writeth in his first Epistle to the Corinthes There must bee saith he heresies euen among you that they which are approued among you might be knowen As if hee should say for this cause the Authors of heresies are not presently rooted out by God that they which are approued might be seene that is that it might appeare how sure faithful and constant a louer of the Catholick faith euery mā is And in truth when euery nouelty cometh vp the weightinesse of the Corne and the lightnesse of the Chaffe is presently perceiued at which time that is easily shaken frō the Floore which was held with no weight within the Floore For some doe forthwith flye quite away but others being onely driuen out doe both feare to perish and blush to returne being wounded halfe dead and halfe aliue as haiung drunke such a quantity of poyson as neither kild them nor was digested as would neither make them dye nor suffer them to liue Oh miserable condition with what waues of care with what whirlwinds are they tossed For somtimes which way the wind shal driue thē they are carried with a violent error sometimes returning to themselues they are beatē back like cōtrary waues somtimes by rash presumptiō they allow of those things which seeme vncertaine sometimes also through a reasonlesse feare they are afraid of those things that are certaine being vncertaine which way to go which way to returne what to follow what to fly what to hold what to let go Which afflictiō verily of a doubting wauering hart is the medicine of Gods mercy towards them if they would be wise For therefore are they tossed beaten and almost killed with sundry tempests of thoughts out of the most quiet

great deale of matter in a few words and commonly expressing the thing by some conuenient new tearme for the clearenes of vnderstanding and not for any new meaning of the Faith CHAP. 33. BVt let vs returne vnto the Apostle O Timotheus saith he keepe that which is committed to thee auoiding the profane nouelties of words Auoid them saith he as a Viper as a Scorpion as a Cockatrice that they may not smite thee not onely by touching but by sight also and by breathing What is it to auoid Not to eate meate with such an one What meaneth this Auoide thou If there come any vnto you saith Saint Iohn and bring not this doctrine What doctrine meanes he but the Catholicke and vniuersall which both continueth by an vncorrupted tradition of the truth one the same throughout all succeeding ages and shall continue for euer and for euer without end But what followeth Do not quoth he receiue him to house neither bid ye him God speede For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his euill deeds Profane nouelties of words saith Paul What is profane Such as are altogether voyde of holinesse and religion vtterly strange from the bosome of the Church which is the temple of God Profane nouelties of words saith he nouelties of words that is of doctrines things opinions which nouelties are contrary to antientnesse to antiquity Which if they should be receiued it cannot bee but that the Faith of the blessed Fathers should be violated either all or for a great part thereof at least it must needs bee that all the faithfull of all ages all the Saints all the chaste the continent virgines that all the Cleargy Leuites and Priests that so many thousands of Confessors so great armies of Martyrs so great an assembly and multitude of cities and people that so many Islands Prouinces Kings Nations kingdoms countries and finally that now almost all the world being incorporated into Christ the Head by the Catholicke faith it must needs bee I say that all these aforesaid should be said to haue beene ignorant for so long continuance of time to haue erred to haue blasphemed and not to haue knowen what they should beleeue CHAP. 34. AUoid saith he profane nouelties of words which to receiue and follow was neuer the propertie of Catholickes but alwayes of Heretickes And in truth what heresie was there euer which did not spring vp vnder a certaine name in a certaine place and at a certaine time Who euer brought vp heresies but which first separated himselfe from the viuersall and antient consent of the Catholicke Church Which that it was so examples shew most cleerely For who euer before that prophane Pelagius presumed that the power of Free-will was so great that hee did not thinke that the grace of God was necessary to helpe it in good thngs in euery act Who euer before Celestus his prodigious discipline denyed that all mankind was guilty of Adams transgression Who before sacrilegious Arrius dared to diuide the vnity of the Trinity who durst confound the Trinity of vnity before wicked Sabellius Who before most cruel Nauatianus affirmed that God was cruell for that he had rather the death of him that dyeth then that he should returne and liue Who before Simon the Magitian whom the Apostle cursed from whom that whirle-poole of filthinesses flowed by a continual and hidden succession euen vnto Priscilianus the last and hindermost who I say before that Simon durst affirme that God the Creator is the author of euils that is of our abhominable acts impieties and wicked enormities For he did auouch that God himselfe did with his owne hands create the nature of men so as that by reason of a certaine proper motion or impulsion of a certaine necessary will it could doe nothing else it could will nothing else but commit sin because it being chafed and inflamed with the furies of all vices it is carried by an vnsaciable desire into all the gulfes or whirlepits of dishonest and filthy facts Innumerable examples there are of the like nature which for breuity sake we pretermit by al which yet we haue euidently and clearely inough shewed that this with almost all heresies is solemne as it were and according to Law to delight alwaies in prophane nouelties to contemne the ordinances of Antiquity and through oppositions of knowledge falsly so tearmed to make ship-wracke from the faith On the contrary also this is almost proper vnto Catholickes to keep those things which were left in the custody of the holy Fathers and were committed to them and to condemne prophane nouelties and as the Apostle sayd and sayd againe If any shall preach otherwise then that which was receiued to Anathematize or curse him CHAP. 35. HEere some man perhaps may aske whether Heretickes also do vse the testimonies of the holy Scripture Indeed they vse thē and in truth with vehemency for you may see thē flie through all euery booke of the word of God through the bookes of Moses and of the Kings through the Psalmes Apostles Gospels Prophets For whether it bee amongst their owne Followers or with others whether priuately or publickly whether in Sermons or in Bookes whether at Banquets or in the streetes they neuer almost vtter any thing of their owne which they labour not also to shadow with their words of the Scripture Reade the pamphlets of Paulus Samosatenus of Priscillian Eunomius Iouinian and the rest of those Plagues you may see an infinite masse of examples that no page welneere escapes which is not painted and colored with the sentences of the Old or New Testament But they bee so much the rather to bee taken heede of and feared by how much the more closely they lurke vnder the shadowes of Gods word For they know that their stinking errours would not quikly bee pleasing almost vnto any man if they should bee vented barely and as they are in their owne nature and therefore they bespice them as it were with the word of God that he which would easily despise the errour of man might not easily contemne the Oracles of God They doe therefore as those are wont which being to giue some bitter potions to children for to drinke doe first rub their mouthes about with honey that the silly little ones hauing before felt the sweetenesse might not be afraid of the bitternesse Which thing they also are carefull of which set the names of medicines vpon ill hearbes and hurtfull syrrops that almost no body would suspect poyson where he read a remedy written ouer CHAP. 36. FInally our Sauiour also cried out for the same thing Beware yee of false Prophets which in sheepes cloathing come vnto you but inwardly they are rauening Wolues What is sheepes cloathing but the sentences of the Prophets and Apostles which they with a certaine sheepe-like sincerity haue wouen as certaine fleeces for that immaculate Lambe which

neere the Church in the Inner Temple 1611. a In Natiu Dom. Ser. 4. Nisi vna est fides non est b Eccles 10. 15. c Psal 119. 105. d 2. Tim. 3. 16 e Aug. ep 48. Audi dicit Dominus non dicit Don●● c. f Is 8. 20. g Per Scripturam Deus loquitur omne quod vult Moral l. 16. c. 16. h Psal 25. 9. 12. 14. i Ioh. 16. 23. 1. Sam. 11. 2. Iohn 5. 39. o Indeede Christ lay at the Pass but that he did so at the last Supper the Scripture sayes not * Kneeling at Communion as it is required of the Church of England lawfull 1. Cor. 5 11. * Ego te non Catilmae aduersus patriā sed patriae aduer sus Caulinam gonui Quest An. * Iam. 4. 6. * 1. Pet 5. 5. Psal 25. 9. * Psal 119. 34. 66. * So called of Lerme or Lerina an Iland in the Mediterraneā sea where he liued a Deut 32. 7 e Pro. 22. 17. 3. 1. o This word signifies a pilgrime or stranger a word befitting al Christian men vnder this name our Author puts forth his Booke concealing his owne proper name least the Aduersary should reiect the worke for the workemans sake Or it may be a read peregrin a pilgrime or a stranger Psal 46. 10. a By not For the Ancients knew no merits but Christs They preached mercy not merit b That is with the helpe of God for to do a thing in the name of God is either to doe it to Gods glory or by his power authority or else as here by his grace or with confidence of his assistance as ● Psa 20. 5. c Not which himselfe hath forged vpon the anuill of his owne wit * He meanes especially such as are Saints not in respect of grace onely but of place as Bishops other Ministers whose office is holy d That is their deceit full reasons wherby they seeke to catch intangle men Quest Ans Quest Ans Quest. Ans Quest Ans Quest. Ans * Or especiall duntaxat * Latini sermonis that spake the Latine tongue d Bellona Furia were two heathen god desses the one was ouer war the other was the mother of fury c He means Constantius or Valens or both who were Arrians both f Or principall Courtiers g Antiquity acknowledgeth men liuing to bee Saints not dead men onely as some do h Heretiks break from their teachers exorbitate go an whoring after the idols of their owne braines * In sine cap. vlt. Reu. 5. 3. 5. i That is the holy Scriptures so called because it is giuen them to keep and teach I meane Ministets which book is then said to be vnsealed in our Authors sense when it is violated and corrupted k That is the Ministers of the Gospell so called because they did offer the people to God as a sacrifice killing their flesh with the Word as with a sacrifycing Knife l He alludes to the Candlesticke in Exod. 25. m Or ouerthrowen quasht stayed broken c●nteratur n Or against the custome ordin ances contra morem instituta Apud Cypri Lib. 2. Ep. 7. Obiect Ans Gen. 9. o By faith is not meant the gift of faith but the doctrine not by which but which wee do beleeue a Gal. 1. b 2. Tim. 4. c 1. Tim. 5. d Rom. 16. 17 e 2. Tim. 3. 6. f Tit. 1. 10. 11 g 2. Tim. 3. 8. h 1. Tim. 6. 4 ● i 1. Tim. 5. 13 k 1. Tim. 1. 19 l 2. Tim. 2. 17 m 2 Tim. 3. 9 o He alludes to Pedlars that go vp and downe to sell their Wares Gal. 1. 8. Quest Answer o He means not Faith whereby we do beleeue but which we doe belieue that is the doctrine of Faith which was once for euer deliuered to the Saints as in Iud. 3. Obiect Sol. Gal. 1. ● * Or infectious contagious Obiect Sol. Gal 2. 25. 26. Obiect Sol Gal. 5. 16. o There are now two sorts of Catholiks Christian Antichristiā the former are reall the other as the Iesuits are nominall titular * He alludeth to that in Act. 9. 15. * This he saith to shew the abhominablenes of their errours Quest Ans Deut. 13. 1. 2 ' a Deut. 13. 2. b Deut. 13. 3. c Or inhibit hinder let * Or teacher False teachers are called Wolues because they bite and deuoure the Sheep of Christ with their wicked errours and like Wolues they are not of the Sheepeheards feeding but his foes e He was Bishop of the Sirmitan Church But a Galatian borne skilfull in the Greeke and Latine tongues he fostered a blasphemous error against Christ and being a man of good parts otherwise ouerthrew himselfe with pride a moath that frets the cushion in which it bred as some Ancients say f Such an one is euery godly and orthodoxall Bishop and Pastor who goes before his fellowes the Sheepe of Christ in life and doctrine ringging the word of God in their eares being at the controll of the chiefe Sheepheard as well as the meanest in the flock g Humility is the nurse of verity pride curiosity be the founders of heresie a Christ is called the Word because he is begotten of the Father as words are of the mind and because hee shewes his Fathers mind vnto vs. e Non The●t ocos●sed Christoto●os Rom. 7. 13. i Lo the fond cōceit of this heretique The Colt ruins if he haue the reines o Not rage but zeale makes him thus to speake A dog will bawle bite a mad dog will not stick to bite his maister and that which he should not such are false teachers o Alius alius non aliud aliud Quest Ans Quest. Ans o Or thus is according to knowledge sayd to be created euen as in c u Psal 22. 16. a Dei non Deitatis of God not of the God head for so hee had no mother e She was holy not by generation but by regeneratiō her Sonne that tooke flesh of her gaue grace to her * Or preach * At the first sight before matters were scanned a He was the sonne of Leonides who dyed a Martyr vnder Seuerus e For his fathers goods were consiscated to Seuerus He cals his pouerty Holy because it befel him by tyranny for religion sake Cuius scientiae um Graeel encederent Obiect Sol. Obiect Sol. Obiect n Mammaa o So Cicero of Plato l. 1. Tusc quaest u He meaneth their authority Deut. 13. 1. * Or committed deliuered addicted bent * S. Ierome thinkes not so vide Epis ad Panimachium et Oceanum * Or conceipts and opinions sensus a He meaneth Priscilla and Maximil a two Montanists Deut. 13. 3. e Not cause but suffer i A quiēt hauen indeed for out of this harbour men are either tossed vpon the waues of errour or swallowed vp o For a vessell is not capable of wine till the water or dregs that filled be emptied out Pro. 22. 28. Eccles. 8. 17. Ecc. 10. 8. u 1. Tim. 6. 20. 21. a Cainophonias siue Cenephonias Pron 9. 15. 16. i Furtim o Terrigenae * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 6. 20. Exod. 36. 1. * Or after a new fashion Noue non noua Quest. Ans o To proceed or make progresse o Laetetur be manured for laetamen is manure which being layd on the ground doth make it flourish Pallad lib. 1. vseth this word In laetandis inquit arboribus crs tes facicmus u 2. Cor. 3. 9. a An errour stifly mainteined is a filthy harlot * Or barely 1. Tim. 6. 20. 1. Cor. 5. 11. 2. Ioh. 10. 2. Ioh. 11. o Porrò fiue procul a sano * Or opinion concerning things or matters * Or the continent the virgins e Acts 8. 21. i That is Heretickes count is a Law and make it as a Trade * Or which the holy Fathers left in their custody Diposit● patrum Gal. 1. 9. Quest Ans o So he calleth pestilent and pernicious Teachers whose errors are as plague-soares rotten and infectious u Or drugs Math. 7. 15. Math. 7. 16. 2 Cor. 11. 13. o Or word u vers 14. 15. Quest An. Mat. 4. 5. Luk. 4. 9. Psal 91. 11. a These words are not in the Gospell though in the Psalme c That is the Diuell to Iesus and Hereticks to true Catholikes 1 Tim. 3. 15. Quest. Ans * He is said to steale the truth which writhes the Scriptures to his owne opinion or errour peruerting their meaning * Or Scriptures * For the person doth not commend the faith but faith the person 1. Cor. 12. 28. Acts 11. 27. 28. 1. Cor. 1. 10. 1. Cor. 14. 33. Uers 36. Vers 37. Uers 38. Which receiued Ualens the Arrian hauing before condemned him * Ad verb. to sacred Antiquity * Perhaps it shold be read Bishop of Alex. for the Comma is wanting in some bookes * Ad verb. of the sacred number of the Decalogue * That is the whole Church o For Papa Pope is Fatheria name of old giuen to other Bishops thē the Romane Ephes 4. 5. * All corrupt cōceits of men are no better then mud or mine they are foule filthy and therefore to be shunned of such as would not be desiled * Or forsaking the ancient Religiō through silence Quest Ans * That is which the holy Fathers agreeing in Christ held of old before 1. Tim. ● Gal. 1. o Hee that hath not the Church for his mother hath not God for his father nor Christ for his brother * Or mended and repaired