sentence Deut. 12.31 for my case being like to that of Moyses I dare say with Moyses and our very enemies are iudges It is agreed vpon betwixt vs both how necessarie a poynt our saluation is being for all eternity and therefore I will saue labour to cite scripture in proofe of that which is by neither part denied but in vaine is the scope and end of a thing granted if wee differre in the meanes to attayne it the meanes I assure my selfe you will say is the word of God which I deny not but let vs not thinke the Ghospell to be in the wordes of the scripture but in the sense not in the out side but in the inside or marrow not in the leaues of the wordes but in the sapp pith or root of reason other wyse euen the Deuill himselfe speaketh Scripture cap 1â— 1â— and all heresies according to that of Ezechiel make vnto them selues pillowes which they may lae vnder the elbow of euerie age and to guâ—y you a tast hereof for this matter concerning my soule nerely I haue bestowed some diligent search herein consider with me I pray you how of auncient tyme the old hereticke Marcion found meanes to reiect both Moyses and all the Prophets and what did he pretend cap. 10.7 Surelie Scripture to witt that of Sainct Iohn hovv many soeuer haue come before me are theeues and robbers the Armenians also taught that the whole femal sex of women should be wholy extinct and that vvee should all ryse in the last iudgment in the state of man and what vvas their ground cap. â— 13 Scripture also to witt that to the Ephesians vntill vvee all meet in the vnitie of faith and knovvledge of the sonn of God into a perfect man The Mainchers also proued our Sauiour to be this materiall sunne vvhich vvee dayly see with our eyes and what colour had they scripture also Iohn 8.12 to vvitt where our Sauiour saith I am the light of the vvorld how did the Waldenses proue that euen a lavvfull iudge or Magistrate could not put to death the greatest Malefactour that vvas Exod. 20.13 by scripture Thou shalt not Kill by Scripture also the Circumcellians held that euery Christian might not only murther his fellovv but lay violent hands vpon himselfe for say they it is vvritten Iohn 12.25 he that hateth his life in this vvorld doth keepe it to lyfe euer lasting Thus out of these few to omitt many moe wee see how all heretiques like serpentes in imitation of that old serpent the Deuill who came with scripture euen to our Sauiour himselfe do lurks vnder the tree of knowledge I mean the scripture that so they may more cunningly conueigh their deadly poyson and surely though these examples of auncient tymes were sufficient to teach euery man humility seeing as a prudent man doth well obserue he that will need be his ovvne Scholler hath commonly a fooll to his master yet wantes there not neither sufficient occasion euen in our tymes to be carefull in this so waighty a businesse for how shall I thinke the protestantes in these dayes to agree vpon the true sense of scripture when they cannot a gree about the translation it selfe which must be the grownd where vpon they worke by which dissention also they shew themselues to haue descended in doctrine from these old heretiques in the primitiue church For doth the protestant beleeue the scriptures not to be receaued so fully and wholy as the Catholicke or as it pleaseth him papist doth but rather certayne chapters and bookes which seeme to him or rather indeed to this braine sicke phansie not so a greable to the purity of the ghospell to be cutt of and excluded the number of holy writt the same did the Carpocratians Seuerians and Manichees who condemned all the old testament as a thing fayned from an euill beginning aâ—d yet certainlie not without scripture as you may set in the example of Marcion first produced In lyke manner Cerdon denyed all the Euangelistes except S. Luke Cerinthus all except S. Mathevv the Seuerians also tooke away the Actes of the Apostles and with the Ebionites all the epistles of S. Paul the Alogians likewise esteemed the Apocalypse of S. Iohn for an inuention of Cerinthas Now that you are one with these at least in this point of mayming scripture is manifest for do not the most excellent of your whole clergy and first publishers of your ghospell Zuinglius Oecolampadius Illiricus and the Magdeburgenses exclude many of the Apostles epistles from all communione of holy scripture vnder pretence of examining it by the rule of the deuyne worde Certainly they can by no meanes dissemble it in the epistles of S. Iohn Iude Iames and S. Paul to the Hebrevves which in this my compendium were to longe to proue at large but to come yet more nere you Do not also your later Doctoures in this especially imitate these their predecessours yes most exactly as heere is sufficiently confirmed In the fourth disputation had with F. Campian the Iesuit in the tower of London your Doctoures did expresly censure these bookes by the authority only of fower or siue to be Apocriphall to witt the booke of vvisdome Syrach Iudith Toby the 4. bookes of Esdras Baruch Ecclesiasticus Hester and the Machabees in the new testament the ghospell of S. Luke S. Paul to the Hebrevves the second epistle of S. Peter the tvvoe last epistles of S. Iohn S. Iames and the Apocalypse Luther also calls the epistle of S. Iames a strawen epistle and of no truth and not worthy the spirit of an Apostle All which compared together your Doctours in this opinion of paring scripture cannot but drinke of the same cuppe with those old condemned heretiques But after seeing their folly and that they could by no means defend what thus rashly they had enterprized by often mutation and change they came to that text which you now haue but yet euen to this day with what dubitation this is done and correction or rather to speake truth corruption their often impressions doe manifestly testifie and I thinke you are not ignorant how many seuerall translations there haue beene within these few yeeres I can remember thee since my first acquaintance with London which mutabilitie plainly argueth they are those fond builders of whome our Sauiour maketh mention are shaken with euery blast because they build not vpon the rocke which is the church The piller and firmament of truth 1. Tim. 3.15 But vpon the shallow sandes of their owne vnsetled braines and this I speake not of my selfe but by the testimony of themselues which you may see more conuenient and at large hereafter yet it shall not be discomodious if in the meane tyme wee examine one of their chiefest linguists in England M. Broughton therfore in his epistle to the Lordes of the councell desireth them to procure speedily a new translation because that saith he vvhich is
renewing and regeneration S. Chrysostome anno 380. saith i homil â—9 in Genes extrema The same that Circumcision worketh there in taking away the flesh the same doth Baptisme heere in taking away of sine S. Cyrill Alex. anno 430. saith k lib. 2. in Ioan. cap â—1 euen as water made verie hot by the force of fier doth borne no lesse then fier it self soe by the operation of the holy ghost water wher with the body of the baptized is sprinckled is enriched with diuine vertue and power S. Hierome anno 380. saith l Epist â—3 ad Oceanum what great force and grace Baptisme and water sanctified in Christ haue I will teach a little beneath Et infra a whole day saith he will not suffice me if I would collect all thinges out of the holy scriptures that perteine vnto the Power of Baptisme S. Augustine anno 400. saith m lib 19 coÌ„t Fanctum cap. 11. the force of Sacramentes is vnspeakable and vnvaluable which if it be contemned it maketh men sacrilegious for that is wickedly contemned without which pietie cannot be perfected The Author of the homily of the Sacrament of the body of our lord which is written amongst the homilies of Eusebius Emissenus and in the 9. tome of S. Hierome saith As the hight of the heauens the depth of the waters and vastnes of the earth did suddenly at the beck of our lord of nothing subsist and had a being so virtue doth giue the lyke power to wordes in spirituall Sacramentes and the effect doth serue the thinge S. Gregory anno 590. saith n lib 9 epist 9 ad Theoâ—â—stâ—m Patriâ—â—m he therfore that saith sinns are not altogether or quite for giueÌ„ in Baptisme let him say that the Aegiptians did not truly die in the red see THE ADVERSARIE The o Cent. 1 c 4 col 47 line 41 and cent 3. c. 4 col 82. line 55. Century-vvriters say that Iustine Martyne Clement c. thought regeneration not to be signified but wrought by baptisme and the word vnto which two ioyned to gether they attibute efficacie that is to say remission of sins for say they Cyprian doth not doubt to affirme that the person Baptisinge doth giue the holy ghost and sanctity outwardly to the Baptized c. p tom 2. de baptismo fol. 70. Zuinglius saith it was a great errour in the old Doctours in that they supposed the externall water of Baptisme to be of any valew towardes the purging of sinne q loc comm pag â—99 Muscidus saith Augustine did inconsideratly affirme that the Sacramentes of the new testament do giue saluation c. LVTHERS DOCTRINE Wee say saith he r in assert 〈◊〉 articulorum Art 1· that neither the Sacraments of the new nor old testament nor only faith did iustifie Againe Å¿ lib cont Cochlaerum There can no part of iustification be attributed to baptisme other wise if in any sort it should iustifie it were not lawfull to say that baptisme could not iustifie with out faith But when this is denyed to Baptisme it is verie well left to faith only ibid. But if ther be any of the Fathers who thought that Sacramentes did by their owne virtue iustifie yea let it be Augustine as Cochlaus contendeth I care not they are but mens sayinges often tymes contradicting them selues and teaching for the most parte after a humane sense with out the Scriptures Againe t lib. de capt â—â— by 〈◊〉 de baptismo cap. Baptisme iustifieth no man neither doth it profit any but faith in the worde of promise where vnto baptisme is added Et infra Neither can it be true that Sacramentes haue in them an efficacious force of iustification or that they are efficacious signes of grace for all these thinges are spoken to the preiudice of saith But in his latter Bookes he seemeth to think better and in some sort to haue recanted for saith he v homil 1 de Baptis circa principium to this end was baptisme instituted that it should serue vs not any carnall or corporall thinge but eternall grace eternall puritie sanctitie and eternall life Againe x homil â—2 de Baptism Baptisme cannot saith he but worke that for which it was instituted to witt regeneration and renewing of spirit Et infra Iohn would signifie by these wordes that Baptisme is so efficacious and of so great virtue as it can wash away sins drowne and choke death and heal and cleanse all vice and filthines Yet this efficacious working of the Sacramentes which some tyme the verie ignorant professe they explicate to be done only by faith and for faith so that Sacraments do profit such as actually belieue faith so that Sacramentes do profit such as actually belieue and receaue it by faith Yea they say that Sacramentes worke as a signe or picture to shew the faithfull where Christ the mediatour is as the bush sheweth where wine is to be sould For Kemnitius saith That y 2. part examinis Conc. Trident pag. 101 102. and pag. 185. the word and Sacramentes shew vs where faith ought to seeke and where it may find Christ the mediatour the Father and holy ghost for saith he the obiect of faith is the word and Sacramentes Melanchthon saith z loe comm cap. designis signes doe not iustifie as the Apostle saith Circumcision is nothing so Baptisme is nothing but they are witnesses of the diuine will towardes the. Againe a lib contra Anabapt as the will of God is shewed in his worde or promise so also in a signe as in a picture CALVINS DOCTRINE b lib. 4. instit cap. 14. ¶ 9. Caluin saith I would haue the reader admonished that I doe so assigne that ministerie to the Sacramentes not as if I did thinke there were alwayes remagning in them some secret force or virtue I know not what wherby they should be able of them selues to increase or strengthen saith but because they are established by our lord vnto this end that they should serue for the strengthning and increase of faith Et supra c ¶ â— Sacraments haue most cleare promises and more then the word they haue this peculiare thing that they doe liuely represent vnto vs the promises of God as it were paynted in a table yea they are bare signes which with out the written word of God doe profitt nothing wherby it may briefly be answered they are as seals hung vpon writtes or other publick actes which being taken by them selues are nothing Againe d â— 17. Wee must take heed saith he least they lead vs into an errour kine vnto this which for the amplifying or en larging of the dignitie of Sacramentes are written a little more magnificently by the Fathers to witt That wee should think some hidden virtue to be annexed or adioyned to the Sacramentes wherby they might of them selues conferre vnto vs the gaces of the holy ghost euen as wine is
needs bestrong which is taken from the confession of the aduersaries for the confession of the aduersaries against themselues is effectuall And truly saith he I do acknowledge that the truth inforceth testimony from her enemies contra Donatist post collat cap. 24 in his comm places part 2 pag 329. S. Austine saith That truth is more forceable to wring out confession then any rack or torment Peter Martyr saith doubtlesse amonge all testimonies that testimonie is of greatest accompt which is testifyed by the enemies Heere you see that to th end there be no means left vnsought wherby to make this our so weighty a case cleare Deut. 32.31 Esay 19.2.3 Esdras ca. 4.41 wee haue made euen our ennimies iudges bringe forth as the Prophet saith the Egiptians against the Egiptians for certenly as it is written truth is great and preuaileth THE 48. ARTICLE Of the purity or rather arrogancy of the church of England pag. 146. M. Iacob in his defence of the treatise of Christs sufferings printed 1600. saith This is the profit that comes by ordinary slaunting with the Fathers c if in this case wee were to looke after any man surely wee haue more cause to regarde our late faithfull teachers rather then those of ould who being equall with the best of them in any of the excellent graces of Gods spirit c. M. Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury in his defence and briefe comparison of the protestant Bishops of our tyme with the Bishops of the primitiue church faith pag 472 The Doctrine taught and professed by our Bishops at this day is much more perfect sound then commonly it was in any age after the Apostles tymes Againe pag 473. surely saith he you are not able to reckoÌ„ in any age since the Apostles tyme any company of Bishops that caught and held so perfect and sound a doctrine in all poynts as the Bishops of England do at this day c. And in the truth of doctrine our Bishops be not only comparable with the old Bishops but in many degrees to be preferred before them Beza saith I haue bene accustomed to say in epist Theolog. epist 1 pag. 5 and not without cause as I take it that whylest I compare those very tymes next vnto the Apostles with our tymes they had theÌ„ more conscience and lesse knowledge and on the other side wee haue now more knowledge and lesse conscience in praefat in nou test dicat principi Condicuâ— This is my opinion saith he c. In so much as he affirmeth that Caluin did far exceed all the auncient and later wryters in interpreting the scriptures with varietie of wordes and alleaging of reasons All which is directly against M. Bancroft Bishop of Canterburie pag. 37â— in the suruey of the pretended holy discipline where he saith for M. Caluin and M. Beza I do thinke of them as their writings deserue but yet I thinke better of the auncient Fathers pag. 64. I must saith he confesse it Also the more aduised See Chemnitius in his examen CoÌ„cil Trident. part pag. 74. 64. and sober protestantes to vse their owne wordes doubt not but that the primitiue church receaued from the Apostles and Apostolicall men not only the text of scripture but also the right and true sense thereof And that wee are greatly confirmed in the true and sound sense of scripture by the testimonie of the auncient church In the confessions of Bohemia in the Harmony of confessions pag. 406. It is confessed that the auncient church is the true and best mistresse of posteritie which going before leadeth vs the way Sarauia saith The holy ghost which doth sit ouer in defenâ— and his president in the church tract de diuersis ministrorum gradibus pag. â— is the true interpreter of the scriptures of him therfore ought the true interpretation be sought and for as much as he cannot be coÌ„trary to himself which is ouer the church and hath gouerned it by Bishops now to reiect them is not a greable to truth in defens Apologiae printed anno 1573. pag. 35. M. Ievvell saith The primitiue church which was vnder the Apostles and Martyrs hath euermore bine accompted the puriest of all others without exception THE 49. ARTICLE Of Heretickes impudencie Imprimis Luther tom 5. ad Gal. cap. 1. fol 299. MArtin Luther hauing a scholler to dispute against his aduersaries in this manner did encourage him The argument saith he of the Papists me thinks is very probable and strong that is the church did thus thinke and teach it so many yeares all the Doctours of the primitiue church most holy men did also iudge it to be thus and so taught it what art thou saith he that dare disagree from all these But afterward heare Luther himself against these when Sathan saith he doth vrge this matter confidently say whether Cyprian Augustine Ambrose or S. Peter Paul Iohn yea an Angel from heauen teach otherwyse not withstanding this I know for certayn that I do not persuade humane but deuyne thinkes for this I may speake with confidence let therbe the church with Austine and other Doctours also S. Peter Paul Iohn yea an Angel from heauen which doth teach a contrary not withstanding my doctrine is such that it doth illustrate the glory of God only Peter was chief of the Apostles and taught with out the word of God These Luther Againe where he bids adew to all fathers lib. de fâ—â— 1â— arbitrio councells deuines Schools Bishops the consent of all ages and Christian people saith in this manner wee receaue all scripture saith he but so that the authority of interpreting it be in our power what wee interpret the holy ghost doth teach what others do bring although they be great although they be many it coms from the spirit of the Diuell and a wicked mynd Againe Luther perceauing that place of S. Paul Rom. â— vvee thinke a man to be iustified by faith and not by the vvorkes of the lavv not sufficient to proue iustification by faith did add this particle only and when he was admonished of it thus he answered tom 5. fol 141. 144. so I will so I commaund it let my will stand for a reason c. Luther will haue it so and saith he is a Doctour aboue all Doctours And a little after he concludeth moreouer saith he this word only ought to remaine in my testament although all Papists runne made at it and it greeueth me saith he that I haue not added these twoe wordes without all workes and lawes Againe in his booke against king Henry 8. he speaketh thus The word of God saith he is aboue althinges the deuyne maiestie maketh for me so that I nothing care if there be a thousand Austines a thousand Cyprians and a thousand Henries against me If I am no Prophet saith he yet I am sure the word of God doth stand for me I
are baptized for the dead if the dead ryse not againe at all And o ibid ca. 3 v 15. But himself shal be saued yet so as by sier And p Rom. cap. 10.6 But the iustice which is of faith saith thus say not in thy hart who shall asceÌ„d into heaueÌ„ that is to bring Christ downe or who descendeth into the depth that is to call Christ againe from the dead but what saith the scripture the word is nigh in thy mouth and in thy hart The Eunuch when Phillip the Deacon said vnto him q Act. 8 3â— trowest thou that thou vnderstandest the thinges which thou readest answeared and said how can I vnlesse some manshew me r Psal 118 Dauid a King and Prophet after Gods owne hart durst not read the law of God before he had craued the vnderstanding of it from God s Luc. c. 24 v. 17 2â— Also the Apostles did not vnderstand the holy Scriptures before that our Sauiour had openned their eies Ephes c. 3. v. 10. How obscure also is this Place of Scripture that the manifold wisdom of God may be notified to Princes Potentates in the celestials by the church according to the prefinitio of worlds which he had in Christ Iesu our Lord Finally if our common lawes handling nothing but selling buying barganing and such commoÌ„ and vsuall matters as are dayly practised by men be so hard and difficult as they require great studie to be well vnderstood and clients will giue greate fees for lawyers couÌ„cell vpon them what shall wee thinke of Gods Lawes when as S. Basil saith v hom 1â— in Hexameton the Scripture is heauenly inspired and nothing a bounding in it no there cannot be fouÌ„d so much as one idle word which also treat of deuyne supernatural thinges farr aboue mans teach capacity as of the trinitie incarnation of the word heauenly Sacraments the nature of Angels of the operation of God in mens mynds of eternall Predestination reprobation with many others of this kinde Also who dare take vpoÌ„ him the explicatioÌ„ of S. Iohns Apocalypse which as S. Hierome saith hath as many mysteries as wordes or of Dauids psalmes so obscure that all haue bene astonished at theÌ„ I speake not of your new inflamed Doctors who are so â—ot of the spirit that they will not only out strip S. Hierome but all others nor limite themselues to the difficulties of S Iohns Apocalipse or psalmes only but euen from Alpha to Omega the first word of Genesis to the last of the whole scriptures for they boldly affirme and assure thee who euer thou art if thou hast but saith and the spirit that thou shalt be as sure of the true seÌ„se of scripture as thou art sure thou liuest for what saith Caluin x lib. 4. instit cap. 17 g. 25. truly that after diligent and serious meditation about the vnder standing of these wordes This is my body he did imbrace that sense which the spirit did suggest The same doth Luther alleadge against Caluin Zuinglius against them both wherfore certainty it was a very soul and wicked spirit that would not inculcate one and the same doctrine but thus grosly delude three such pillers of your Church as these setting them together by the eares but indeed I rather think it to be a Hebgobling then any spirit to interpret the holy ghost and so if you please for this present wee will take it as by all liklihood most probable But to our purpose from which perchance wee haue to farre digressed for your better satisfaction therfore receaue the consent of the primitiue Church in these few Doctors at least concerning this one poynt especially when as your owne confesse that they y Hooker l. 1. de eccles politia sect 4 p. 86 l. 2. s â—4 pag. 102. See tradition cannot determine by Scripture what is Scripture This I say we must doe vnlesse wee should imitate you in England reiecting what mislykes vs and admitt only the rest which makes not Scripture but only in concept S Augustine saith z tom 6. de vtil cred cap. 7 he that hath no skill in Poetrie dare not meddle with Terentian Mauruâ— with out a master Asper Cornutus Donatus and infinite others are requisite to vnderstand any Poet and doest thou without a guide rush vpon holy bookes full of deuyne matters O exceding boldnes or rather madnes And againe If euery art though base and easie require a teacher or master to obteyn it what is more foolish heady pride then not to learne the booke of deuyne Sacraments of their interpreters a lib. de fide bonis operiduâ— ca. 15 16. Also in another place he affirmeth that place of S. Paule And if any man build vpon this foundation c. to be one of the most difficult places in the epistles of S Paul Moreover as b hom 1. Cantica Origen vvriteth and S. c in proemio EZechielis Hierome the auncient fathers had such an opinion of the obscuritie of Scripture that they vvould permitt no man to read the begining of Genesis end of EZechiel before he vvere thirtie yeares of age S Austine whome our Aduersaries so much extoll was of such admirable witt that not yet twenty yeares of age with out any interpreter or any man teaching him did vnderstande Aristotles Categories as he confesseth himself This best witnes I say according te Caluin a man of so rare witt did neither thinke so highly of him self nor basely of Scripture that he would of his owne mother witt giue the true sense of Scripture for thus he speaketh d epist ad velusianuÌ„ such is the profunditie saith he of the Christian Doctrine that I should profit in it euery day if I would guâ—e my self vnto it with all diligence chiefest studie and best witt euen from my childhood vnto decrepit old age And in an other place he saith e lib. 3. confessionum cap. 5. wherfore I purposed seriously with my self to read the holy Scriptures there by to see of what nature they were and loe I behold a thing neither euidently conuicted to the proud nor yet naked or manifest to children but in stile lowly in successe loftie and vailed with mysteries Againe f lib. 2 doctrin Christi cap. 6. But saith he they are deceaued with diuers manifold obscurities and ambiguities who rashily read the Scriptures taking one thing for an other in certayne places they doe not find what they falsely suspect for some thynges are spoken so obscurely that they cast amost thick darknes all which I nothing doubt but that it is done by diuine prouidence to tame pride with labour and to keepe the vnderstanding from lothing which thinges that are easily vnderstood doe offen tymes basly esteeme of And a gaine g lib. 12. confessionum cap. 14. wounderfull saith he is the profounditie of the Scriptures or speeches whose outward apparence doth seeme
English translation A translation that taketh away from the text that addeth to the text that some tymes to the changing or obscuring of the meaning of the Holy Ghost Also calling it A translation which is absurde and senslesse peruerting in very many places the meaning of the holy Ghost Not without cause therfore did his Maiestie affirme that he could neuer yet see a Bible well translated into English See the Sume c. vt supra The Catholicke translation acknovvledged for the best BEza saith of S. Hierome g in cap. 1. S. Lucae v. 1. The old interpreter saith he seemeth to haue intetpreted the holy bookes with marueilous sincerity and religion And in another place h Praef. noui test anni 1556. the vulgar translation I doe for the most part imbrace and preferre before all others M. D. Humfrey saith also of S. Hierome i de ratione interpretat lib. 1. pag. 74. The old interpreter saith he seemeth sufficieÌ„tly bent to follow the proprietie of wordes and he doth it in deed to carefully which notwithstanding I suppose him to haue done not of ignorance but out of religion and conscience k pag. 179. Which is no fault as M. Humfrey himselfe testifieth in the same place saying In Prophane writinges a man may rainge more freely and depart from the wordes in Canonicall Scripture no such licence is tolerable for it is not lawfull for man to alter the tongue of God These hee Carolus Molinaus l in Luc. 17. professeth to preferre the vulgar translation or edition before Erasmus Bucer Bullinger Brentius the Tigurine translation also before Iohn Caluin and all others That famous Protestant writer Conradus Pelicanus saith m in praefat in psalterium anni 15â—4 Wee find the vulgar edition of such excellencie learning and to agree with the Hebrew truth touching the sense that I doe not doubt but the greeke and Latin interpreter were most learned yea most pious and of a true Propheticall spirit M. Whitâ—ker hauing changed his former vehement stile else where against S. Hieromes translation saith in his answere to M. Reynoldes n pag. 214 S. Hierome I reuereÌ„ce Damasus the Pope I commend and the worke I coÌ„fesse to be godlie and profitable to the Church in his answere to M Bâ—uges c pag. 94 M. D. Cauell saith the vulgar translation was vsed in the Church one thousand and three hundreth yeares since and doubteth not to preferre it before all others In so much that wheras the English translations are manie and among themselues disagreeing he concludeth that of all those o pag 91. the appoued translation authorized by the Church of England is that which commeth nearest to the vulgar is commonly called the Bishops Bible o truth most strong Sacred and inuiolable p Austin coâ—â— Donâ—tist poâ— Collat cap. 24. more forceable as S Austine obserueth to wringe out confessioÌ„ then any rack or torment To conclude therfore although wee should graunt them to haue agreed vpon some one translation yet their disagreement in the sense therof is farre greater And as q pag 5â— M. D. Reynoldes saith in his coÌ„ference with M. Hart It is not the shew but the sense of wordes of Scripture that must decide controuersies And S Hierome saith r in Epist ad Talat The Ghospell is not in the word but in the sense not in the Barke but in the sappe not in the leaues of the wordes but in the roote of the meaning THE 12. ARTICLE The Church cannot nor ought not to haue erred SCRIPTVRE a Esale ca. 59.21 THis is my league with them saith the Lord my spirit which is in thee and my wordes which I haue put in thy mouth shall not departe out of thy mouth the mouth of thy seed the mouth of thy seedes seed saith the Lord froÌ„ hence forth for euer more b Ibid. ca. 60. verb. 1. l. 20. Whearas thou hast bene forsaken enuied and vnfrequented I will make thee saith God to arise into an euerlasting height so as thou shalt sucke the milke of other nations and the brestes of princes and thou shalt know that I thy God am thy Sauiour and defender thy sunne shall no more goe downe nor thy moone leese her light for our Lord shal be thy light which shall continue for euer c psal 88. verb. 37.38 his seede shall coÌ„tinue for euer his throne as the sunne in my sight and as the moone persite for euer d Daniel 2 44. But in the dayes of those kingdomes the God of heauen will rayse vp a kingdome that shall not be dissipated foreuer and it shall stand for euer And e cap. 7.14 his power is a power for euer which shall not be takeÌ„ away his kingdome which shall neuer be corrupted f Matth. 1618. And I say vnto thee that thou arte Peter and vpoÌ„ this rocke will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not preuail against her g Luc. 22.32 But I haue prayed for thee that thy faith fail not and thou being conuerted confirme thy brethren h Iohn 14.16 And I will aske the Father and he will giue you another paraclete which shall remaine with you foreuer the spirit of truth i Ibid. c. 1613. But when that spirit of truth shall come he will teach you all truth k Iohn 17.9.11 â—aske not for the world but for those whome thou hast giueÌ„ me c. holy Father keepe them in thy name whome thou hast giuen me c. I do not aske for these onlie but for those also which shall beleeue in me by their word l Iohn 14.26 The holy Ghost whome the Father will send in my name he shal teach you all thinges m Mat. 28 20. And behold I am with you all dayes euen to the comsummation of the world n Tim. 3.15 The Church of the liuing God is a piller and fountion of truh o Luc. 1 3â— There shal be no end of his kingdome Heere wee must confesse either that these thinges shal be performed hereafter or haue bine already or god is to be accused of alye If you answere that they haue bine performed I demaund when yf you say in the Apostles tyme I demaund how it chauceth that neither then the knowledg of God true religion was altogether perfit and afterwardes in so short aspace vanished away which was promised to be eternall so aboundant that it should sucke the milk of other natioÌ„s that the sound or doctrine thereof should spread vnto all partes of the erath as indeed you all say earnestly maintayne the Messias which should plant this Church according to you is not yet come and consequenly our Sauiout was not the true Messias but that our Sauiour was the true Messias and did once plant his true Church you deny not that this Church cannot erre I haue proued that it hath not
is one thinge to be borne of the spirit and an other to feed of the spirit as it is one thing to be borne of the flesh which is done when the mother bringeth forth and an other to feed of the flesh which is done when the infant sucheth m lib 1 de peccator meâ—â—â— and remiss c. â—0 And in an other place he plainly demonstrateth that this precept Vnles yee eat is distinguished from the precept of Baptisme yea in infantes I answear therfore to the argument that S. Austine doth expound this place to be vnderstood of a Sacramentall eating but yet that he doth attribut that eating to infants not in the thing but in an inward desire which is had by baptisme as wee haue said To the other two places of S. Augustine I answere that that saying To what end doest thou prepare thy teeth and bellie belieue and thou hast eaten And that To belieue in him is to eat his flesh are spoken by him not of the Sacrament but of the beliefe of the incarnation for yet he had not com to that parte of the ghospell which treateth of the last supper but that saying whoe eateth in harte not who presseth with his teeth S. Augustine said when he spoke of the Sacrament not to exclude Sacramentall eating but that he might signifie the end of the Sacrament to be this to nourish our soule and not our body for he is truly refreshed with this meat that eateth in hart not that presseth it with his teeth to witt only with his teeth for he doth not exclude corporall eating when in the same place he saith that Iudas did eat it only corporally but only he doth preferre the spirituall eating before the corporall because the spirituall doth profitt without the carnall but not the corporall with out the spirituall The like is that place of Osea I vvill mercy not Sacrifice Osea cap. 6. Now our lord doth not reiect sacrifices but will none of them without mercy To the other Fathers I answere that they expound mystically not according to the letter but they in no place euer denied that those wordes ought not to be taken literally of the Sacramentall eating yea on the contrary they are aboue cited in be halfe of the Sacramentall eating for the literal and mysticall sense doe not repugne one an other To the last of S. Austine I answere Lib. â— de Doctrina Christiana he puteth a figure in the wordes concerning the manner of receauing the flesh of Christ not of the substance of the thing it self For he would not say the flesh of Christ so called figuratiuely is to be eaten that is the bread wherby his flesh is signified if wee consider the essence and verie thing of eating which only requireth that true meat be deliuered through the mouth vnto the stomake by vitall instrumentes wee shall easily perceaue that S. Austine vnderstandeth it to be eatcn figuratiuely concerning the manner for the ordinarie and proper manner of eating flesh is that it be visibly cutt in partes and so taken by little and little boyled not raw c. but the flesh of Christ is taken whole and inuisibly without any hurt of it self wherfor the flesh of Christ is slaine and torne in eating not properly but only figuratiuely for wee represent the passion of Christ Now that S. Austine doth vnderstand it in this sense this manifest for tow respects first because he saith it is to be expounded figuratiuely least some vnlawfull acte or wickednes should seeme to be commaunded Moreouer it were a wicked thing to kill and eat the flesh of Christ in partes but not after a certayn spirituall manner to receaue the verie flesh it self in the Sacrament without any hurt ther vnto Secondly because he himself doth explicate what is the litterall sense which seemeth to sound any wickednes to witt that wherein the Capharnaites did take the wordes of Christ tract 27. in Ioann Psal 98. who thought that his flesh was to be torne as wee see it done in the shambles and some little parte giuen to euery one therfore when S. Austine saith that by this precept Vnlesse yee eat is commaunded that wee communicate by the passion of Christ and worship and cogitat it in our myndes he doth only signifie that which the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 11. That the flesh of Christ is to be receaued in the Sacrament for a remembrance of the passion and death of our lord All other friuoulous obiections for as much as they haue no authoritie but theire owne bare explications I thinke needlesse to write specially when you see that wee haue all antiquitie with the whole Church for our sentence and opinion to witt that the true body and blood of Christ is vndoubtedly and really eaten in the Sacrament of the Eucharist But to make S. Austine more cleare heare yet this one sentence of his he therfore expounding a little beneath these words He which eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood remayneth in me saith thus He that remayneth not in Christ in whome Christ doth not remayne without doubt he doth not eat his flesh spiritually nor drinke his blood although carnally and visibly he presse the body and blood of Christ with his teeth but doth rather eat ad drinke the Sacrament of so great a thinge to his owne iudgment because being vnclean he doth presume to coÌ„e to the SacrameÌ„t of Christ which no maÌ„ receaueth worthily vnlesse he be cleane These S. Austine whoe therfore caÌ„ be so froward as to deny say that S. Austine doth not expouÌ„d these words of S. Iohn to pertaine vnto the Sacrament of the Eucharist where the flesh and blood of Christ is realy eaten dronken and that he would only teach when he saith This bread is to be eaten by faith that neither teeth nor bellie is to be prepared but that faith and puritie of mynd is necessary wherby this meat ought to be taken that it may profit and be worthily eaten without which it doth not profit but hurt Againe our aduersaries obiect an other place out of S. Athanasius where in his tract vpon these wordes Whoesoeuer shall speak a word against the son of man it shal be for giuen c. saith thus How many men would his body haue sufficed for meat that it might become food for the whole world but therfore he made mention of his ascension into heauen that he might draw them from a corporall vnderstanding and that they afterwards might vnderstand his flesh wherof he spoke to be meat sent from heauen and spirituall food and that it was to be giuen by himself For the wordes which I speake vnto you our Sauiour are spirit and life which is the same as if he should say my body which is shevven and giuen for the world shal be giuen for meat that it may be giuen spirituallie to euery one and become a protection and preseruation to euery one vnto the
that I am vvhat shall I doe whither shall I goe I that haue lost so great opportunity of reconciling my self vnto God I that haue contemned reiected and despised all good admonitions to eternall blisse finally I that haue lett slipp so larg a benefitt as to do penaunce and satisfaction for my sinne vvhither shall I novv fly vvho vvill receaue me the guilt of my ovvne conscience is as thornes to my hart my ovvne members accuse me and incessantly call for reuenge These me thinkes vvell examined should moue any hart if not obdurate to a most serious examination of his estate But what do I trouble you with all these you are not the principall obiect of this my study No it is you Deere Mother who is the speciall cause of all this endeuour and for whose eternall future happines to requit in some part your motherly care and trouble for vs in our infancy all our thoughts and vitall spirits doe labour with dayly and earnest prayer that God will at lenght haue mercy vpon you and that you may be not only a common mother of nature 2. Machab. cap. 7 2â— but rather such a Mother of Martyres as vvee read of in holy scripture if you should be hold me your sonne vnder the hand of some Antiochus ready either to suffer death or violate the lawes of our forefathers you would with a true Christian Motherly courage stepp forth and say I beseech thee my sonne that thou looke to heauen and earth c. and vnderstand that God of nothing made them and mankind so shall it come to passe that thou wilt not feare this torment c. take that death that in that mercy I may receaue thee againe for then should you find me an answereable son to that of hers and heare me say by the grace of God with him My brethren I mean all Cotholicke martyrs hauing now susteined short payne are become vnder the testament of eternall life and I as also my brethren v. 36.37 doe yeeld my life and my body for the law of our forefathers inuocating God to be propitious to our nation England quickly In that I rather choose to come thus mediatly vnto you impute it not I pray you to any forgetfullnes of dutie or want of filial affection but only the tender respect I haue of that daungerous estate in which you dayly sleepe yea rather dye then lyue which when I duly consider and looke into I confesse I am in a manifold mynde and as perplext as he that encountreth diuers wayes and knowes not which to take My dutie to your person and desire of your saluation bides me be bold and perswades that I cannot performe a better office yea an office by the law of nature bound vnto then to aduertise you of so eminent a daunger but on the other side I feare least my dutie be thought ambition to instruct her from whom I had my first being and because truth breedeth hatred I feare I may force an vnwelcome dutie in place of a filial office and so may incurre the same displeasure which S Paul did by his playne dealing saying Gal 4.16 I am become your enimie telling you the truth and be esteemed a foe in that office wherin I meant to shew my self most dutifull but at length rather resolued that I should do best as good Surgeans and Phisitians do force a bitter pill or smarting salue then suffer a patient to perish Moreouer I presume that your true zeal though wrong imployed wisdome and discreet iudgment will more esteeme the gentle reproofe of one wishing you all happines then the smothe flaterie of a foule deceauer and that you will not interpret that in an ill sense which is meant with all sinceritie and true affection wherefore the same that I craued of my brother in these few words I humbly intreat of you that you will not despise tâ—is my dutie as a matter of smal or little moment which I haue already sufficiently proued to be other wyse but that with all attention and patience you will receaue it and so to your future glorie and eternall comfort make the best vse of it Apoc 2.2 Therefore as vvith S. Iohn I may say I know thy workes and labour and thy patience v 4. so lyke wise But I haue against thee a few thinges thou hast left thy first Charitie which once our auncestors had in the Catholicke church be myndfull therefore from whence you are fallen to witt from that church our Sauiour promised should neuer fall and doe penaunce and the first vvorkes Matt. 16.18 that is the vvorkes first practys d and preached by the Apostles not lately inuented by Apostataes haue regard also I pray you to the vvhole chapter follovving and compare it vvith the arrogancie vvhich also you shall find hereafter vvritten of these our moderne heretiques Luther Caluin and Zuinglius and you shall find them to be the verie persons to vvhome it may most sitly be applyed and consequently to your Church of England for these as you all with one consent acknowledge arre the men that first illuminated our land with the light and true knovvledge of the vvord of God vvhich light notvvitstanding as is most apparent brought vvith it a foule spirit of dissension for who knoweth or seeth not how you are diuided amongst your selues Deere Mother being by heresie cutt off from the Church vvhat hope can you haue of saluation if I should alleadge the terrible threatninges of auncient fathers against such as are out of the Church notwithstanding you least account of their authoritie I feare that endeuouring only to beat into you a feare of damnation I should driue you to vtter despaire And certenly although God and his Church be alwayes ready to receaue you to mercy yet if you resolue to dye out of the Church liue you neuer so well morally you haue iust cause to expect no part in the Church triumphant 〈◊〉 1â— 17. who dye no member of the Church militant for what saith our Sauiour if hee vvill not heere the Church let him be to thee as the heathen and publican And in an other place speaking of those which will not heare nor receaue the Apostles and in them the Catholicke Church he saith 〈◊〉 â—p 〈…〉 Amen I say vnto you it shal be more tolerable for the land of the Sodomites and the Gomorâ—heans in the day of iudgment then for that Cittie Also you may heare S. Cyprian vvhat the primitiue Church taught in his tyme concerning those that vvere not of it They cannot liue with God lih de vnitate Ecclesiae that will not liue in vnitie and concord with his Church and although they burne in flames and being deliuered to the fier or cast to wild beastes doe lay downe their life for Christ there shal be no crowne of glorie for any such but the punishment of his infidelitie such a man may suffer death but crowned he cannot be
Italy Remigius Arch Bish of Rhemes 480 France Rabanus Arch Bish. of Moguntin 840 Germ. Remigius Antisiodorensis Bish. 880 France Regino â—rumiensis Abbot 90 Germ. Radulphus Flauiacensis â—uldensis Monachus 980 Germ. Rupertus Tuitiensis Abbot 1â—20 Germ. S. Scrapion Bish. of Antioch 2â—2 Syria Sabadius Bish. of Agerna 370 France Sophronius the elder of Hierusalem 400 Syria Seuerianus Gabalensis 400 France Seuerus Minoricensis 412 Spayn Seuerus Sulpitius 420 France Socrates Historiog 430 Greece Sedulius Scotus Priest 450 ScotlaÌ„d Simeon Stilites 458 Syria Salinanus Massiliensis Presbyter 460 France Salonius Bish. of Vienna 470 France Siudas 470 Greece Sidonius Bish. of Auernia 480 France Sabba Abbot 513 Syria Strabus Fuldensis Monke 840 Germ. Simeon Metaphrastes 950 Greece Sigebertus Gemblacensis Monke 1000 Fladers T. Tertullian of Carthadge 200 Africa Titus Bostrensis Bish. 360 Syria Terentian of Rome 363 Italy Theodosius the elder Emp. 370  Theophilus Arch Bish. of Alexandria 590 Egipt Theodosius the younger Emp. 430  Theodoretus Bish of Cyrus 440 Syria Turibius Asturicensis Bish. 447 Spayn Theodolus Priest in Cele Syria 478 Syria Theodosius à Monke 5â—1 Capad Theodorus Lector 520 Greece Tiberius II. Emperour 580  Theodorus Arch Bish of Canterburie 6â—0 Engl. Turpinus Bish of Rhemes 800 France Theodulphus Aurelianens Bish. 840 France Theophilactus Arch Bish. of Bulgario 480 Greece Theodorus Balsamus 1180 Greece Thomas of Aquaine 1274 Italy V. Victorinus of Pictauia 263 France Vincentius Lirinensis Monke 430 France Vranius disciple of S. Paulinus Nolanus 4â—â— Italy Vigilius Tridentinus Bish. 450 Italy Victor Bish. of Cartona in Maurit 4 6 Africa Voconius Bish. of Castellanum in Mauritania 456 Africa Victor Vticensis Bish. 486 Africa Vedastus Bish of Arras 5 4 France Victor Bish. of Tunis 566 Africa Vsuardus Monke 780 France Z. Zozomenus Historiographer 430 Greece Zeno Veronensis Bish 663 Italy Io. Zonarus Monke Historiographer 1100 Greece A Catologue of our English Doctours cited in this treatyse VIZ. Abbot Doctour of diuinity and Bishop of Salisburie Ball Minister Bancroft D. and Bishop of Salisburie Ballow D. and Bishop of Lincolne Ball. Minister Bilson D. and Bishop of winchester Bridges D. and Bishop of Oxford Bunny Minister and chaplin vnto the Bishop of yorke Camden chief Herald of England Carleile D. of Diuinity Cart-wright Archpuritan of England Couil Doctour Couper Doctour and Bish of winchester Dearing a great Puritan Disputation in the Tower Downam Doctour and Bishop of Derrie in Ireland Doue Doctour and preacher in London Fox Field Doctour Fulke Doctour Gardiner Doctor and Bishop of winchester Gyssord Minister Henoch Clapham a great puritan Hamfrey Doctour and Master of Maudliu Colledge in Oxford Hutton Doctour and Bishop of yorke Iuell Doctour and Bishop of Salisburse Knox a chief minister in Scotland Ministers of Lincolne Morton Doctour and Bishop of Chester Napper a chief Mathematician in Scotland Puritans Suruey of the booke of Common prayer Parkins Preacher in Cainebridge Penrie a purâ—tan Some Doctour and Master of Peter house in Camebridg Suâ—â—â—ff Dean of Exon. Whitaker Doctour and Master of S. Io. Colledge in Camebridge Whitgift Doctour and Bishop of Canterburie Willet Doctour The Authour to the Reader Gentle Reader for as much as through diuers and vrgent occasions withdrawing me I could not attend the presse my self or procure any to supply my place with that care and diligence which is required especially in such abusinesse which ought very carefully to be attended once begun and lykwyse constrained to make vse of a straunger altogether ignorant in our tongue for the presse through these I say and such other inconueniences there haue escaped many errours for which I would intreat patience and that they be not altogether imputed vnto my negligence or taken in ill part the rather because I do not find any that do so obscure the sense but it may very easily be vnderstood what is intended Farvvell I. P. Priest THE SAFEGARDE FROM SHIP-WRACKE OR HEAVENS HAVEN Wich is not to be attained vvith out the Shippe of S. PETER TO WITT The vnitie of the auncient Catholike Church vvhose faith therefore through all ages as in a glasse in heere presented vnto you THE I. ARTICLE The English Were conuerted a thousand yeares since to the Catholick faith ONE thousand yeares since S. GREGORY then Bishop of Rome conuerted vs English-men by the preaching of S. AVGVSTINE from heathenish infidelitie to the faith of Christ S. BEDE tearmeth this S. GREGORY a lib. â— hist cap. 2. a man of immortall witt who by his industrie conuerted the English nation from the power of Sathan to the faith of Christ c. Saying there yeâ— further of him he is an Apostle to vs for wee are the Seal of his Apostleship in our Lord. M. Godwin saith b in his catalog of the Bishops of EnglaÌ„d pag 3. That blessed and boly Father Saint Gregory was the occasion of replanting the Christian faith in our countrey M. VVhitaker saith c contra Duraum l. 5 p. 94 Gregory did vs a great benefit which wee will euer most gratefully remember M. Godwin tearmeth this S. Austine d Ibid pa. 7 This our â—postle In proose that our then conuersion was in euery particular point the same with our now professed Cathol k faith M. D. Humfrey saith e in Iesuitâ—mo par 2. rat 5 p 5. 617 But what haue Gregory and Augustine brought into the Church a burden of ceremonies c. The Archbishops pall at soleÌ„nâ— masse tyme purgatorie c. the offering of the healthfull hoste of Christs bodie and blood and prayer for the dead c. reliques c transubstantiation c. new consecrations of Churches c the lyke description is made of S. Gregories Doctrine by Å¿ in Chron. lib 4. pag. 567. 568. Carion Also Iohn Baâ—e affirmeth as much and saith further with all that g in act Rom. pontif printed ad Basil 1558 pa. 44. c. Centur. 1. fol. 3. S. Augustine was sent by Gregory to season the English SaxoÌ„s with Popish faith that King Ethelbert dyed one twentie yeares after he had receaued poperie Luke h Epitom hist. ecclesiastica Cent 6 p. 289. 290. Oseander describeth it yet more particulerly This being so i in his consut of purgat pag. 333. euident M D. Fâ—â—k tearmeth it therefore in generall our peruersion M Powell calleth the same Saint Augustine k considerat of the Papistes supplication pag. 34. a false Apostle M.D willet placeth S. Gregorie S Augustine amongst the l in his Tetractylon papismâ— pag. 212. first fathers of superstition captaines or ringleaders of popih deuynes THE 2. ARTICLE The same faith vvas vniuersally professed for sundry ages before and vvas also agreable to that first faith vvhere vnto the Brittans of wales vvere conuerted in the Apostles tymes M Iohn Napper in his a pag. 6â— treatise vpon the reuelatioÌ„s dedicated to his Maiestie saith Betweene the yeare of Christ 300. and 316. the
incarnatie and tooke both flesh and blood for our saluation so also by the prayers of the word of God wee are taught that the Eucharist being made food by him wherby our blood and flesh may be nourished by mutation is the flesh and blood of the same Iesus incarnate Tertullian anno 200. saith h lib. 4 cont Marcion The bread which he tooke in his hand hee made his body saying This is my body Againe i lib. de resurrect carnis The flesh feedeth vpon the body and blood of Christ that the soule may be replenished or filled with God Origen anno 230. expounding the 25. the chapter of Exodus saith k homil 13. in Exod. I would haue you to admonish others you that are wont to be present at the diuine mysteries know that when you receaue the bodie of our Lord you keepe it withall watchfulnes and veneration least any little part therof fall to the grownd least any little parte of the consecrated gift slip away or fall for you belieue that you are guiltie of a great offence and you doe well to belieue so if any part therof fall through your negligence Againe speaking of the centurions child he saith l hom 5. in diuersa loca Euangelij loquens de puero centurionis when thou receauest the holy food and incorruptible banquet thou eatest and drinkest the body and blood of our Lord then our Lord entreth vnder thy roofe thou therfore humbling thy self imitate the Centurian and say Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter vnder my roofe For where he entreth vnworthilie there he entreth to iudgment S. Cyprian anno 240. saith m in Serm. in caena Domini in principio The supper being disposed amongst the Sacramentall banquets the old and new institutions met together and the lambe being consumed which the auncient tradition did propound our maister did set before his Disciples the vnconsumable food Et infra this bread which our Lord deliuered to his Disciples being changed not in outward shew but in nature by the omnipotencie of the word was made flesh and as in the person of Christ the humanitie appeared and the diuinitie lay hidd so the diuine essence infused it selfe ineffablie or vnspeakeablie into the visible Sacrament c. The Doctrine of the Sacrament is new and the Euangelicall schooles haue brought forth this first instruction and Christ our Doctor first taught the world the discipline That ChristiaÌ„s should drinke blood the eating wherof the authoritie of the auncient law most straightly forbideth for the law forbideth the eating of blood the ghospell commaundeth it to be dronke S. Hilary anno 350. saith n lib. 8. de Trinitate There must be no doubt concerning the veritie of the flesh and blood for now both by the profession of our Lord and our faith it is indeed flesh and indeed blood Et mox is not this the truth it seemeth not to be ttue vnto them that deny Christ to be true God Also explicating that of the six of S. Iohn he that eateth my flesh shall liue through me c. he saith truly this is the cause of our life that wee haue Christ according to the flesh remayning in vs carnall men who shall liue by him as he liueth by the father Et infra thou saist that the son of God temaineth in vs carnally through the Eucharist S. Cyrill of Hierus anno 350 saith o Cateches 4. Mystag for as much as Christ himself thus affirmeth and speaketh concerning the bread This is my body whoe dare hearafter doubt of it and for as much also as himself confirmeth it and saith This is my blood who I say can doubt of it and say it is not his blood Et ibidem once he turned water into wine which is neere vnto blood at his pleasure only in Canaan in Galile and shall not he be worthy to be belieued that he turned wine into blood wherfore with all assurance let vs receaue the body and blood of Christ for vnder the forme of bread his body is giuen to thee vnder the forme of wine his blood is giueÌ„ to the. Et ibid so shall wee be Christophori that is bearers of Christ when wee haue receaued his body blood into our members and wee shal be made as S. Peter saith partakers of the diuine nature thou must not consider it as bare bread and wine for it is that body and blood of Christ according to our Lordes owne wordes for although thy seÌ„se make thee think thus yet faith must coÌ„firme thee that thou iudge not the thing according to the tast Et infra knowing this and being most assured that this bread which wee see is not bread although the tast think it bread but that it is the bodie of Christ and the wine which wee see although to the sense of the tast it seeme wine yet that it is not wine but the blood of Christ S. Ambrose anno 380. saith p lib 4 de Sacramentis cap 4. But this bread is bread before the wordes of the Sacrament yet when the consecration shal be adioyned of bread it is made the flesh of Christ Againe q lib de myâ—teâ—iâ—s mâ—â—â—â—ndis c. 4. peraduenture saith he thou wilt say vnto me I see another thing how can you assure me that I receaue the body of Christ now theÌ„ it remaines that wee proue it therfor wee will vse most manifest examples to proue that this is not that which nature formed but that which the benediction hath consecrated and that the force of the benediction is greater then the force of nature because by the benediction nature it self is also changed Moyses held a rod in his hand he cast it a way and it became a serpent Also hauing declared many examples of Elias and Elizeus hee concludeth if the benediction of a man preuayled so much that it conuerted nature what shall wee say of the diuine consecration it self where the wordes of our Lord and Sauiour himself worke for this Sacrament which wee receaue is made perfect by the speech of Christ and if the word of Elias preuayled so much that it brought downe sier from heaueÌ„ shall not the word of Christ be of sufficient power to chaung the nature of elementes thou hast read concerning the workes of the whole world that he spake the worde and they were made he commaunded and they were created therfore the worde of Christ which was able to make that which was not of nothing shall it not be able to chaunge those thinges which be into that which they were noâ— for it is not a matter of lesse power to giue new natures vnto thinges then to chaung the natures of thinges S. Basil anno 380. saith r lib de Baptismo cap 9. if such threatninges be pronounced against them that rashly come to those Sacramentes or sacrifices which are sanctifyed by men what shall wee say of him who is rash in receauing
so great and diuine a mysterie for how much more greater he is in the temple according to the voyce of our Lord so much the more greeuoue and tâ—â—r be it is vnto him that shall with an impure soule rashly come vnto the body of Christ then it is to come vnto buls and rams c. S Greg. Nyss anno 380. saith Å¿ lib. de vltâ— Moyses where he disputeth concerning the manner of the lewes which he compareth with the holy Eucharist That it is bread prepared for vs without seed without prayer without any help of man that bread falling downe from heauen was found vpon earth for the bread that cometh from heauen is our true food which is figuratiuely signified in this historie it is not a thing wanting a body for how can a thing which is no body become foode for the body but the thing that wanteth not a body questionles is a body Againe t orat Catâ— chist cap. 36.37 as a little leauen saith he maketh a whole lumpe of dow like vnto it self so also that body which is made immortall by God entring into our body transposeth and changeth it wholy into it self Et pauso post it is conioyned with the bodies of the faithfull that by this coniunction with that which is immortall man also may be made partaker of immortalitie Ibid. wee must consider how it may come to passe for as much as that one body is continuallie deliuered to so many thousand of the faithfull through out the whole world it passeth wholy through euery man and yet remaineth whole in it self Againe wherfore wee doe also now truly belieue that the sanctified bread by the word of God is chaunged into the body of God the word Et pauso post these thinges he doth by virtue of the benediction chaunged the nature of those thinges which are seene meaning the bread and wine into that meaning the body of our Lord S. Optatus anno 370 saith v lib. 2. CoÌ„â— Pamenianâ— what can be so sacrilegious as to breake rase and remoue the alters of God wher vpoÌ„ your selues also sometyme haue madeoblation where on the prayers of the people and members of Christ were borne or susteyned where vpon almightie God was inuocated from whence the holy ghost being expected with great desire descendeth from whence many men receaue the earnest penny of their eternall saluation and protection of their faith and hope of resurrectionâ— Et mox what is the alter but the seat of the body and blood of Christ Et infra wherein did Christ offend you whose body and blood sometyme remained theron Also yet this haynous offence is doubled when you also breake the Chalices the porters or carriers of the blood of Christ S. Greg. Naz. anno 380. saith x orat 2. de Paschate without trouble and doubt eat the body and drinke the blood of Christ if thou be indeed desirous of life neither do thou doubt of the truth of those speeches which are vttered concerning the flesh neither be thou offended at the passion be constant firme and established not doubting of any thing whatsoeuer the aduersarie say Againe y orat de obiâ—u Gorgoniae soronâ— suae she fell downe saith he with faith at the aulter praying with great feruencie vnto him that is worshiped therupon c. S Ephrem an 380. saith z lib. de natura Dei muâ—me scrucanda ca. 5. why doste thou search thinges vnsearchable if thou examine these thinges curiouslie thou shalt not then be accounted a man faithfull but curious be faithfull and innocent be partaker of the immaculate body of thy Lord with fulnes of faith assuring thy self that thou eatest the whole lambe himself the mysteries of Christ are an immortall fier do not thou rashly search them out least thou be consumed in the search therof Et infra This indeed exceedeth all admiration all vnderstanding and all speech which Christ the only begetton son our Sauiour hath done for vs he hath giuen vs fier and spirit to be eaten and dronken that is as himself explicateth his body and blood S. Epiphanius anno 390 saith a in Ancorato circa medium wee see what our Sauiour tooke in his handes as the Euangelist speaketh that he arose from supper and tooke these thinges and when he had giuen thankes he said This is myne this and this and wee see that it is not of equall bignes nor lyke to his Image in the flesh nor to his inuisible Deitie nor to the lineamentes or partes of his members for this is of a round proportion and vnsensible touching the power theirof his meaning was to say trough grace this is myne this and this and euery man belieueth this speech for he that belieueth it not to be himself indeed is fallen from grace and saluation S. Gaudentius anno 390. saith b tract 2. de exodo the creator himself and Lord of all creatures and natures who produceth bread from the earth doth from the earth agayne because he both can and hath promised it make his owne body and he that hath made wine of water hath also made his blood of wine Et pauso post belieue that which hath bine taught that that which thou receauest is the body of that heauenly bread and the blood of that sacred vine for when he deliuered the consecrated bread and wine to his disciples he said This is my body this is my blood Let vs beliue him vvhome vve haue belieued truth cannot lye S. Chrysostome anno 380. saith c hom 60. ad Populum AntiochenuÌ„ hom 83. in matâ—hçum Let vs yeld vnto God not resisting although that which he speaketh seeme absurde to our sense and reason Let his word I beseech you conquear our sense and reason in all thinges but especiallie in mysteries not beholding only those thinges which are before vs but belieuing also his wordes for wee cannot be deceaued by his word although our sense be very easie to be deceaued therfore because he hath said This is my body let vs not doubt of it but belieue it Et ibid. how many be there that say I vvould gladly see his shape and proportion I would gladly see his apparrell I vvould gladly see his shoos therfore thou seest him thou touchest him thou eatest him c. Againe d homil 3 in epist 3. ad Ephes Wee speake concerning his body as being that which differeth nothing from it how many of vs be made partakers of his body how many of vs doe taste his blood consider that there is the body and blood which is resident aboue in the heauens which is humbly adored by the Angels Againe c lib de Sacerdono O miracle o the bountie of God yea vvho siteth on high vvith his father in that very minate of tyme is holden in all mens hands and deliuereth himself to those that vvill receaue and imbrace him Againe f homil 83â— in Matth. â—0 ad populum
haue scripture for me and they haue only their owne authoritie Againe lib. ad Ducem Georgium since the Apostles tymes saith he no Doctour or wryter hath so excellentlie and clearlie confirmed instructed and conforted the consciences of the secular states as I haue done by the singuler grace of God this certeynlie I know that neither Austine nor Ambrose who are yet in this manner the best are equall to me herein Aduersus â—also nomiâ—atum Ecclesiasticum statutum Againe I would you should know saith he that hereafter I will vouchsaue you this honour no more as that either you or the Angels themselues from heauen should iudge of my doctrine c. neither will I haue my doctrine iudged by any no not by the Angels because for as much as I am certeyn of it I will iudge by it both you and the Angels Aduer Caro lostadianos lib. 7. Acher his Scholler blusheth not to say I doubt not saith he but that if Austine were now liuing he would not be ashamed to professe himself Martine Luthers Scholler in praefat in libelluÌ„ Ger de Diaboli tyrannide Andraeas Musculus saith since the Apostles tymes there liued not in the world agreater theÌ„ Luther And it may welbe said saith he that God hath powred out all his giftes vpon this only man and that there is as great difference betweene the auncieÌ„t Doctors and Luther as betweene the light of the sunne and the moone neither is it to be doubted saith he but that the auncient Fathers euen those that were chief and best among them as Hilary and Austine if they had liued and taught in the same tyme with Luther they would without blushing haue carried as his ministers the lanthorne before him The examples that might be further giuen of this kind are almost infinite in so much as sundry Caluinists blushing there at in Luthers behalfe haue not for borne to taxe him with excessiue pryde as a lib. Germanico contra Hosium de coena Domini p. 82. Conradus Reis saith of him God saith he hath for the sin of pride where with Luther extolled himself as many of his writings shew taken from him his true spirit c. in place thereof hath giuen him an angry proud and lying spirit The deuines of Tigurt say b in confess Germanica prinred Tiguri 1544. in octauo Luther boasteth himself to be the Apostle and Prophet of the Germans that he learned of none and of whome all others haue learned no man hath knowne any thinge but all haue learned of Luther no man hath done any thing Luther hath done all c. c in Praefat. in libro contra Regem Angl. extant To conclude with Luthers ciuilitie to wardes king HeÌ„ry the eight he calleth him an enuious madd foole babling with much spittle in his mouth more furious then madnes it self more doltish then folly it self indued with an impudent and whorish face In tom 2. wittemberg fol. 333. 334. 335. c. without any one veyne of princely bloud in his body a lying sophist a damnable rotten worme a basiliste and progenie of an adder a lying scurrill couered with the title of a kinge a clownish witt a doltish head most wicked foolish and impudent Henry fol. 338 fol. 240. 333. c. he doth not only lye lyke a most vayne scurie but surpasseth a most wicked knaue thou lyest in thy throat most foolish and sacrilegious king These are his very wordes with much more which modesty will not repeat Caluin Iohn Caluin doth feare neither the name of councells Bishops or Pastours lib. 4 instit c. 6 11 12. lib. 3. cap. 5. 11. 20. Also saith he when they obiect to me this hath beene receaued thirteen huÌ„dred yeares since to wit prayer for the Dead I answere them those Fathers in this thinge wanted both the law of God and good example finally they fell into a horrible errour cap 4. 11. â—2 Also it doth little moue me saith he whatsoeuer doth occurre euery where in the writinges of the Fathers concerning satisfaction It is true I see many of them yea saith he I will speake plainly all most all whose bookes are now extant haue either fayled in this point or els haue spoken to sharply and harsh Also saith he if they be Apostles let them not prattle whatsoeuer pleaseth them lib. 4 cap. 1. 11. 4. but let them teach seriously and truly his commaundements by whome they are sent Againe cap 17. ¶ 15. Thus he proueth his exposition of these wordes This is my body wee saith he as in all the whole scripture besides doe study to know the true sense of this place with no lesse obedience then care neither do wee rashly admit with a preposterous feruor or in consideration what first doth come into our myndes but with earnest meditation wee doe imbrace that sense which the spirit of God doth suggest Zuinglius tom 1. lib. de certitudine claritate verbi Dei fol. 168. Yf thou craue a iudge saith he to determine of the word of God c. euery man may erre vnlesse he be illuminated by the holy ghost but if a man cannot be a certaine iudge vnlesse God illuminate him what doth hinder me that I goe not to this teacher and maister who may illuminate me with the light of his holy spirit But thou wilt say by what signe doest thou shew thy self to be taught of God I know it I say and certainly know it first because whatsoeuer you shall aske and belieue it shal be giueÌ„ you Matth. 21. an other signe also ther is wherby I know my self to be taught by the holy ghost to witt that I perceaue this truth of God to be within me be it spoken saith he without enuy in expositione articuli 44. Again The Catholickes saith he doe affirme the sacrifice of the masse but who shal be iudge I say only quoth he the word of God and thou by and by doest cry out the Fathers the Fathers haue so taught vs but I bring thee neither Fathers nor mothers wherfore I craue the word of God These he Musculus in locis communibus ca. de iustificatione numero 5. a 2. cor cap. 12. v. 11. The Papistes saith he doe obiect the epistle of S. Iames but hee whosoeuer he were although the brother of Christ and Piller amongst the Apostles and as S. Paul saith a great Apostle a boue measure not withstanding saith he he should not preiudice the verity of iustification by faith only Fricius of all the protestantes in Polonia vvithout question the most learned against communion vnder one forme Christ saith he in the last supper ioyned drinke with the meat therfore if the church separate these Modreuius l. 2. de ecclesia c. 2. pag. 411. shee is not to be heard let it be that the church of Hierusalem hath separated these and that S. Iames which certenly