heresie Luther Caluin far exceede him for though they seeme to acknowledge that Christ was perfect God and that his diuinitie was ioyned to his humanitie personally by an hypostaticall vnion yet they fasten ignorance and desperation on him and make him a sinner yea the greatest of sinners You shall heare them speake Omnes Prophetae c. all the Prophets foresaw this in spirit that Christ should be the greatest thiefe Luther in cap. 3. ad Galat. tom 5. Lat. Wit fol. 348. 349. the greatest adulterer the greatest man slayer the most Sacrilegious most blasphemous c. because being a sacrifice for the sinnes of the world he is no innocent person and without sinne he is not the Sonne of God borne of the Virgin but a sinner c. We ought to acknowledge that as Christ was inwrapped in our flesh blood so likewise in our sinnes malediction death and euils but you will happily say that it is absurd to call God a sinner and accursed I answere c Idem hom baptis tom 5 lat W fol. 3 349. that if thou wilt denie that he was a sinner deny also that he suffered for thee c. a all the sinnes of the world were so laide vpon Christs shoulders that he became the most grieuous and greatest sinner vpon earth Caluin in cap. 3. ad Galath in 1. ad Cor. c. 5. c. Since then he was so great a sinner he needed baptisme and it was very requisite that he should be baptised for the remission of his sinnes So Luther Christ in assuming mans nature was truly a sinner and guiltie of the curse of God a Idem l. 2. Inst c. 16. n. 10. it had bene to no purpose if Christ had onely died a corporall death b Ibid. n. 12. har in Mat. 27. v. 46. he indured in soule the torments of a damned a desperat man c Ibid. he was so vexed on all sides that being ouer-whelmed with desperation he ceased to call vpon God which was to renounce his owne saluation So Caluin and further addeth d L. 2. Inst c. 16. n. 12. in har in Mar. 14. 36. Luke 2.4 in Mat. 26.39 ad Rom. c. 9. v. 3. See after in the next chapter that Christ was touched with a vicious affection that in his prayers he held not a well proportioned course that hee in a manner wauered in his vowes that he forgot that he was sent hether on that condition to be our Redeemer yea that he refused and detracted as much as in him lay the office of a Redeemer that he feared the saluation of his owne soule and the like Lastly in this age Zenaias stands * Nicephorus l. 16. c. 27. Baron an 485. n. 16. condemned of heresie for the denying the worship of Images and the foresaid e Socrates l. 7. c. 32. Sand. haer 100. Nestorius for proudly contemning the writings of the Fathers and preferring himselfe and other his adhaerents before all antiquitie The first of which heresies is a principle in Protestancie and as touching the second I am verily perswaded that Nestorius came short of the Protestant Doctors I am a Luther contra regem Angl. tō 2. Witt. fol. 339. tom 6. Ger. Witt f. 483. assured that I haue my doctrine from heauen and therefore I wil not consent that either Man or Angel be iudge of my doctrine but by it I meane to iudge both Men and Angels b tom 1. Ger. Ien. in praefat lib. ad Ducen Georgiū no doctor since the Apostles time hath so plainely prooued and confirmed the chiefe articles of faith out of the word of God as I haue done c L. de seruo arbitrio contra Eras edit◠1. vide etiam tom 2. Witt. fol. 486. apud Breiarlio in apol Protestant tract 2. c. 2. sect 10 sub 9. wee will admit of no other authoritie but the Scriptures and those after our owne interpretation what we interpret was the minde of the holy Ghost but what others interpret how many or learned soeuer proceed from the diuel d In cap. 1. ad Galath tom 5. Witt. fol. 290. tom 7. Witt. fol. 483. say that the Church Austine or the other Doctors nay say that Peter or Apollo or an Angel of heauen teach the contrarie yet my doctrine is of that nature which will illustrate Gods glorie (e) Tom 4. Ien. Lat. in 2. Galath PETER prime of the Apostles did liue teach beyond the warrant of Scripture and therefore he did erre (f) In colloq men fol. 588. I am Isayas and and Philip Melancton is Ieremias a Idem in colloq mens fol. 932. 17. 478 tom 2. latt Wit fol. 500. 505. apud Fenardentium in theomach Caluinistica Basil was wholly a Monke and not worth a rush Cyprian was a weake diuine Chrysostome doth nothing but prate his bookes are a troublesome and inordinate packet Athanasius had nothing singular in him Hierome ought not to be numbred among the Church doctors for he was an heretike a man of no iudgement nor diligence he wrote manie things wickedly he was a very block head in vnderstanding the Scriptures obtruding Iewish blindnesse for historicall sence and his owne follies for allegories I know not among the Fathers to whom I am such an enemie for he writeth nothing but of fasting difference of meats and virginitie but as for faith and true religion there is not a word to be found in his writings Gregories sermons are not worth a farthing in his dialogues the diuel deceiued him c. Hetherto Luther touching himselfe and the fathers Caluin in epist 145. ad Marbachium neither doe his followers differ from him in iudgement Luther was an excellent seruant of God and a faithfull minister of the Church b l. 1. cōtra Pighi a singular Apostle of Christ by whose mouth God thundered c Epist 109. ad fratres Monstelgar from whose Church our Gospel did flow a man most excellently qualified c. So Caluin to which other Protestants ādde a Beza in lib. de paena haeret p. 94. 95. 148. apud Kāsen in praefat Catechisminoris Lutheri that he was the renewer of Christian Religion Gods singular seruant in whom who so seeth not the spirit of God seeth nothing b Melancton apud Kanfen vt sup that no age would euer produce such a man c Kansen in praefata praefatione that he was a blessed man in whom the Holy Ghost shined the Prophet of Germanie the light bringer and light-lender to all diuines the wonder of the world d Amsdorsius in praefatione 1. Tom. Lutheri that there was neuer any since the Apostles time who for spirit wisdome and vnderstanding might be compared with him e Alberas contra Carolasted l. 7. that he exceeded all the auntient Fathers as much as the Sunne surpasseth the Moone and that
opposition which doth seeke to destroy Catholike faith Sorâ— no lesse then the Arrian heresie to destroy Christ and Christian faith â—or it is as manifest in Scripture that the Church â—annot erre against the ProtestaÌ„ts as it is true that Christ is God against the ArriaÌ„s For it s proued out Scripture that Christ vvas true God consubstantiall and coequal vvith his Father and no vvaye inferior as God but as man only so it is as manifest in scripture that Christ promised to be vvith his Church vnto the end of the vvorld and that hee vvould send the holy Ghost to his Apostles and consequently to their successors and that this Church should instruct and teach the people all truth both in doctrine maners and in good life And that S. Paule doth assure vs that the Church is columna firmamentum veritatis the Pillar and foundation of truth and from her vve haue receaued the scripture and the true meaning and sence thereof infalliblie vvithout errour Wherefore as the Arrian heresie sought to destroye Christ and Christian religion in denying the Godhead of Christ so Protestanisme in seeking to ouerthrovv the infaillabilitie of the Church indeauour to disable Catholike faith and religion And as the Arrians labored might and maine to infect the Roman Church and to make a Pope of their profession yet fayled in the purpose For Pope Foelix whom they promoted and preferred to the Papacie condemned them as heretikes defined against them and dyed a Martyr O prouidence of God yea they so afflicted the Church that the most part of the vvorld vvas ouer-clouded and darkned vvith this filthie cloud of ArriaÌ„ heresie yet praeualebit veritas truth preuaileth insomuch that novv in the hartes of Christian Catholike people nothing is more odious then this heresie of the ArriaÌ„s by Protestants condemned to the pit of hel So the Protestants haue labored omnibus vijs modis but not able to make a Protestant Pope yet to sovv this seede of Cockel and Darnel that the Church of Rome may erre that they haue infected and caused a great reuoult in these partes of Christendome that almost all Almanie and a great part of Germanie is ouercome vvith this seede of infection all England and Scotland gone A great reuoult in Christendome by Protestatisme Ireland strongly assalted all Holland reuolted from God Church and Prince Braband and the Lovv Countries made to stagger but God be thanked they haue ouercome A great part of France in tumultuous rebellion against their King although he vvould giue them libertie of their conscience yet they vvill not yeeld him devv Temporall gouernement and subiection The Swissards euen to the confines of Italie stand stubborne in their obedience to the church of Rome sed praeualebit veritas truth vvil preuaile and this heresie of ProtestaÌ„ts that the Church may erre vvill be as odious in future ages as Arianisme is novv If vve argue vvith the Protestants Protestant flye from antiquitie traditions and primatiue church to free the Church of Rome of imputation of error as manie great Schollers haue vvritten many learned Treatises concerning this poynt and doe prooue by antiquitie by practise of the Primatiue Church by Traditions from the Apostles concerning those differences in Religion controuerted betvvne the Protestants and the Catholikes they flye off and saye they are not demonstratiue arguments to conuince in matters of doctrine but only probable proofes If vve vrge them vvith the decrees of Popes From decrees of Popes they care not for them if vvith the doctrine of the Fathers and Saincts of the Primatiue Church as for example if vve alleadge S. Augustine that hee prayed for the soule of his Mother Monica departed that the Sacrifice of the Altar Prayers Almes From Doctors S. Ave. Oblations of the liuing may profite the dead that he vvrit a vvhole booke De cura pro mortuis augenda of the care to be had of the dead and that the vvhole Church did supplicat and pray for the soules departed they vvill ansvvere he vvas a particular man it vvas his errour and the errour of that time Aerius vvas condemned for an Heretike in apposing against the Church Epipha haer 65. Aug. hae 15. in the 4. age concerning Prayer and Sacrifice to be offered for the soules departed Caluins answere is Lib. 3. inst c. 5. § 10. that the auncient Fathers were destitute of warrant from God to authorize prayer for the dead Alleadge S. S. Hillar Hierome against Vigilantius a condemned Heretike for inuocation and veneration of Saints for reuerencing of holy Relickes for visiting and celebrating the memories of their sepulchers and burning of waxe tapers for obseruing the fasting dayes and vigils determined by the Church and Ecclesiasticall authoritie for profession of Virginitie and chastitie among Clergie men they answere â— Ambrose lib. 4. de sacr c. 4. it vvas his errour Bring Saint Ambrose for the Real presence of Christs bodie in the Sacrament saying that before Consecration it vvas bread but after Consecration his verie true bodie and blood it vvas his errour If vvee allow the example of S. S. Basil Basil and S. Benedictus for monasticall life they vvill vvith the SabelliaÌ„ heretikes coÌ„demne it for a crime and reprooue it for a meere impietie and say it vvas their errours and so of the rest of the ancient Fathers they were men and might erre Generall Councels Proceede vvith them to generall Counsels which doth represent the bodie of the Church and alleadge the foure first vvhich all the vvorld receaue and S. Gregorie highlie commended and the modeâ—â—e Protestants doe not dare to denie yet vvill the Puritans refuse them and the Protestants accept of them no farther then in their imagination they shall agree vvith them or serue their turnes And as for the foure last generall Counsels I vvill name the last first the venerable Councell of Trent the Councell of Florence of Constance and Lateran the Protestants absolutely auerce that they haue gone awrye and were deceaued in the principles of faith and Religion A newe â—urse and vvhy because they haue particularly censured and condemned them and defined their positions as hereticall So did the Arrians in like maner instance against the Counsell of Nyce for the same cause because it defined against them Wherefore in this Treatise vvee haue excogitated and thought vpon another course Only Scripture to Vncase the Protestants to laye open their contradictions to alleadge their ovvne authorities and writers to expresse the absurdities of their inferences and consequences to see vvhither they vvill runne then No doubt they vvill crye out The Scriptures the scriptures onely shall be our guyde our Iudge our gouernour our vvarrant in matters of controuersie Although vvee know that some contrauersies cannot be decided by expresse scripture according to the vvritten vvord but vvee must haue our varrant from Tradition and the Church which vve call the vnvvritten wordes
as for example the true number of the vvritten scriptures are these and no more the Baptisme of Children c. Yet vve accept of this condition of tryall and acknowledge the true scripture to be the vvord of God veritie it selfe wherein no falshood can be hidden the true tuchstone of trueth dedicated by the Holie Ghost vvritten by the Prophets Euangelists and Apostles of Christ therefore vvith all reuerence vvee reade it and S. Charles Boromeus did so reuerently esteeme of the sacred scriptures that vvhen he did seriously read them he did alvvaies read them vpon his knees and bare-headed a rare example of pietie Let vs vvillingly enter into the liste of this combate vvith Protestants or Puritants We know vvhat vvill be the ende of this for demanding of them before hand vvhether they vvill be tryed by the bare letter of the word or the true sence meaning of the word they wil answere by both If vvee aske hovv shall vvee knovv that vvee haue the true sence and meaning of the vvord they vvill ansvvere that they vvill make this plaine by conferring of place vvith place and that the spirit vvithin them doth tell them this is the Trueth and true sence and meaning If vvee replie vvee haue the spirit as vvell as you vee conferre place vvith place as vvell as you vvhere then vvill be the end of this controuersie We must beleeue them vpon the veritie of their spirit and the conference of places made by them or else no end so that their priuate spirite must end it or no end at all But to make an end at this time I vvould aduise the young students to take this notandum and caueat from me not to be credulous to the allegations of their doctors and Sages but to read diligently the authentike Authors least that be verified in you Si coecus coecum ducat in foeueam cadent Thus vvishing no vvorse vnto you Right vvorshipful Doctors Maisters and vvorthie students then to mine ovvne soule that is vnited in Religion peace in conscience and saluation in IESVS CHSIST I take my leaue from my chamber at Doway 17. of Ianuarie M.DC.XXIII THE VNCASING OF HERESIE OR THE ANATOMIE OF PROTESTANCIE CHAPTER I. That Luther Caluin Zuinglius and all other prime-doctors of Protestanisme were by their owne confessions baptized and brought vp in the now Roman Religion and onely by their apostacies gaue life and being to Protestancie And that Protestant Martyrologies Callendars and genealogicall tables consist either of confessed Papists knowne schismatikes detested heretikes wicked Atheists accursed Magitians sacrilegious thieues or notorious traitours SCIAT lector me fuisse aliquando monachum papistam insanissimum c. Luther praefat tom 1. tom 3. in psal 45. Let the Reader know that I was sometimes a Monke and a most madde Papist when I began this busines tom 5. in 1. Galath fol. 291. so drunke and drowned in Popish opinions that I was most ready to kill and slay all such as any way with-stood the same c. I purely adored the Pope So Luther And againe Idem in 1. Gal. pag. 25. tom 4. Ien. Lat. p. 26. tom 6. in cap. 11. Gene. fol. 129. tom 4. in cap. 43. Isay fol. 179. I certainely if any other before the light of the Gospel had a good conceipt and was very zealous for Popish lawes and the Traditions of the Fathers and in good earnest I vrged and defended them as necessarie to saluatioÌ„ Lastly I endeuored with all diligence to performe them macerating my bodie with fasting watching prayer and other exercises I while I was a Monke daily crucified Christ and with my false trust continually blasphemed him We haue bene holie Apostates for wee haue fallen from Antichrist and the Church of Sathan c. There was none of vs but were bloody fellowes if not in act yet in heart we haue blasphemed God Christ the Sacraments the gospel faith all good men the true worship of God and we haue taught quite contrarie We are iudged heretikes by the Pope because we haue diuided our selues from that Church in which we were borne and bredde Hetherto Luther touching himselfe and the rest of his fellowes Danaeus in like maner doth boast Danaeus resp ad Leonic edita anno 1518. Zwingl tom 1. Epist ad fratres f. 341 Melanct. tom 1. in cap. 7. Mat. f. 407 tom 2. ad Swenkfeld f. 200 OecolaÌ„p resp ad Perkeym p. 108 apud Hospin part 2. fol. 35. Brentius in apol pro conf Wittenb c. de eccl fol. 873. Caluin in confess fidei fol. 111. that his friend Osiander was a most wicked Franciscan Monke Neither doe Zwinglius Melancton or Oecolampadius seeme to take smal pride in such like confessions Pelican was a Minor and Bucer a Dominican saith Hospinian yea we were all of vs saith Brentius seduced fooles Idolaters and seruants of Antichrist We do not denie saith Caluin but that we were once of that number (e) Idem l. 4. confes c. 15. n. 16. baptized in the Papall kingdome (f) ibid. c. 6 n. 1. See also the Bishop of Elie resp ad Bellar. c. 1. Bulling tom 1. decad 5. ser 2. fol. 285. Muscul in locis communibus ca. de schismate Mourney l de ecclesia cap. 11. Perkins in cap. 4. ad Galath v. 26. Hooker lib. 4. of Ecclesiast pollic p. 181. Powel l. 1. de antichr c. 21. Morton 2. part of his apol l. 2. c. 10. Luther tom 7. in ser quid sit hom Christ praestand fol. 274. but we haue now departed from the Roman Church So Caluin And the same is acknowledged by Bullinger Musculus Plessie Mourney Perkins Hooker Powel MortoÌ„ the rest I was the first to whom God vouchsafed to reueile those doctrines which are now preached (g) Comment in 1. Cor. 1.15 f. â—34 col mens fol. 488. this praise they cannot take from vs that we were the first that brought light to the world Without our helpe no man had euer learned one word of the Gospel So the fore mentioned Luther Wotton in exam Iuris cler Rom. pag. 392. Luther might well saye that he was the first who in these times preached Christ especially in the principal points of the Gospell which is Iustification by faith in Christ and in this respect it is an honour to Luther that he was a sonne without a father and a scholler without a maister So Wotton Morgenster tract de eccles p. 145. It is ridiculous saith Morgensterne to thinke that anie before Luthers time held the true doctrine or that Luther receiued his doctrine from others and not others from him since all Christians know that all Churches before Luthers time were ouerwhelmed with more then Egyptian darknesse and that Luther was sent froÌ„ aboue to restore the true light If Luther had had any predecessors imbued with the true faith and religion there had bene no neede of a Lutheran reformation Milius