that all those that beleeue in him should haue life euerlasting Such was the godly death of Luther As for Ignatius Layola the founder of your secte I finde that hee was giuen to nouelties and vnstablenesse in religion caryed away as â—â— Paule saieth with euery puffe or blast of vaine doctrine I finde that hee â—â—braâ—td superstition and Idolatrie being marked with the Character of the beast in the Reuelation and licenced to buy and sell traditions and to traffique in the kingdome of Antichrist Touching any good y â— he did or any soules y â— he geined or any sound doctrine that hée deliuered vnto the people of God I finde no mention And now vnto that which I haue especially determined with my selfe I am to display for the furnishing of your Banner the doctrine which your societie generally establisheth the which you as yée say vnder the Banner of obedience doe so we abroade The poynts being many the labour great and my leasure small I will not wearâ—e the Reader with tedions discourses and autorities of men but wade in the holy scriptures so farre as mention is made of the matters called in question and where the word of God is silent and of the other side doctrine is vrged there to giue the Reader to vnderstand that it is the deuise and inuention of man and therfore as easily consuted as confirmed I finde in your workes as followeth 1. The Iesuites doctrine HOly scripture is a lame maimed and vnperfect doctrine Again holy scripture in the very same doctrinâ— and precepter which it containeth and setteth forth is as it were a nose of waxe not yeelding any certaine or imoâ—able sentence but such a one as may be drawne or wrested afterwhat 〈◊〉 ye will Censur Colon Andrad Orthod Explâ—â— Lib â— pag. 104. 105. 106. Againe Thou shalt finde many thinges which cannot bee s◠〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 of the holy scripture but that they 〈…〉 of the Church o◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 pag â—0 Againâ— To depriue hâ—â—y scripture of the testimonies of traditions and authoritie of the Church is as much as may be to ouerthrow holy scripture to caâ—t downe the chiefest 〈◊〉 thereof and â—o bring â—â—e whole fayth into open periâ— Pag. 8â— the same 〈…〉 that which others 〈◊〉 The 〈…〉 the Fathers of Coleâ— finding 〈◊〉 places in holy scripture the true sense wherof could not easily be gathered but that euery one might wrest it â—â— hiâ— plesure they I say haue by a most 〈…〉 of wax and Pigâ—â—â—â— called it â— leadeâ— rule pag 〈◊〉 He yéeldeth a reason of their doinges 〈◊〉 they dâ—â— it for two causes The one for the vncertâ—intie of the sense the other because that Heretikes wrested the same and in an other place The catholike â—ayth is not to bee strayned and limited within the bondâ— of holy scripture that we may imbâ—ace and beleeâ—e nothing which is noâ— written in holy scripture For al that the christian saith beleeâ—eth and religion honoureth is not contained in holy scripture Pag. 126. 1. The Catholikes doctrine HOly scripture is a perfect sound sufficient absolute doctrine The doctrines precepts therin cotaiâ—ed are sure certeine It contayneth al things necessarily to be beleeued to saluation The Patriarkes Priests and Prophets deliuered nothing to the people but that they were commaunded by the holy Ghost the Prophetes begiâ—ne with The word of the Lorde the vision which God shewed c. Christ the sonne of GOD affirmed that hée spake nothing of himselfe Paule glorieth that he was called to be an apostle not of men neither by man but by Iesus Christ y â— he preched not himself but christ cruciâ—ied no new doctrin but y â— which god had promised by the Prophetes Peter saieth Prophecie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost Wee followed not deceiueable fables when we opened vnto you the power and comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ For all doctrine to bée edified for all doubtes to be resolued and abuses to bée reformed God would haue vs to haue recourse to his word Unto the Pharises it is sayd you erre not knowing the scriptures Will not my people saieth the Lorde enquire at their God will they not haue recourse to the lawe and testimonie Abraham woulde haue the rich mans brethren receiue Moses and the Prophets and heare them Christ conuinced the deuill with scripture hée defended his Disciples against the Pharises by scripture After his resurrection hée rebuked his incredulous Disciples opening vnto them throughout the scriptures all that concerned him In the law prophetes and psalms the sufficiencie perfection therof appeareth in y â— it is called the fountain of wisdom the word of truth the words of euerlasting life y â— lead into al truth SolomoÌ„ saith in the person of God al the words of my mouth are righteous ther is nothing lewd or froward in theÌ„ they are al plain to him that will vnderstaÌ„d straight to theÌ„ that would finde knowledge Againe All the wordes of God are pure and he is a shield to those that trust in him Saint Paule saieth The worde of GOD is liuely and mightie in operation and sharper then any two edged sword and entreth through eueÌ„ vnto the deuiding a finder of the soule the spirit of the ioynâ—es and the 〈◊〉 and is â— disâ—â—rner of the thoughtâ— and the inteâ—tes of the 〈◊〉 The Authour of the 〈◊〉 of Wisdome writeth Thy word O Lorde healeth all thinges Now are ye cleane saieth Christ through the word which I haue spoken vnto you The Prophet Dauid is full of testimonies tending to the confutation of the Iesuiticall sect The way of GOD is vncorrupt the word of the Lord is tryed The lawe of the Lorde as the Septuagintes tranâ—â—ate it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnblameable or perfect conuerting the â—oule The Testimonie of the Lord is sure and giueth wisdome vnto the simple The statutes of the Lord are right and reioyce the heart the commaundement of the Lord is pure and giueth light vnto the eâ—es by them is thy seruaunt made circumspect In Syrach wee read A man of vnderstanding walketh faythfully in the law and the law is faythfull vnto him O Israell we are blessed saieth Baruch for the things that are acceptable vnto GOD are manifest vnto vs Iesus sayd vnto the â—ewes which beleeued in him if ye continue in my word ye are verely my Disciples and shall know the trueth and the trueth shall make you free S. Paule exhorteth Tymothy to continue in the doctrine deliuered him For in doing this saieth hée thou shalt both â—aue thy self and them that heare Again Thou hast knowne the holy scriptures of a childe which are able to make thee wise vnto saluation through the fayth which is in Christ Iesus For the whole scripture is giuen by the inspiration of God is profitable to teach
not your nature be estraunged neyther goe yée about to thrust into this land for reine power such people as curse not only y â— ground wée tread vpon but also our bodyes and soules and are ready to cut all English throates if they might haue accesse vnto vs. Yée say ye haue vowed yet heare what your law saieth In malis promissis rescinde fidem in turpivoto muta decretum quod incuatè vouisti ne facias impia est promissio que scelere adimpletur In euill promises breake thy fayth in a shamefull vowe alter thy minde which thou hast vnaduisedly vowed doe not that vowe is wicked which is performed with mischiefe The rules of your order are not as yet come to my hands but the oth which all you take that professe the Romish religion I may not conceale from the reader and reading it I cannot chuse but lament to sée your flauerie and bondage and the liuely caracter of Antichrist therby imprinted not onely in the hand of the labourers but in the forehead of professours and consciences of all those y â— buy and sell traffike in his countries dominions In english thus I. N. do firmly admit embrace the Apostolike and Ecclesiasticall traditions and the rest of the obseruations and constitutions of the same church Also I doe admit the holy scripture according vnto that sense which the holy mother the Church hath and doth hold it to whome it appertaineth to iudge of the true sense and interpretation of the holy scriptures neyther will I euer receaue or interpret it but according vnto the vniforme consent of the fathers I doe also professe that there are truely and properly seauen sacraments of the new law ordayned by Iesus Christ our Lord and for the saluation of mankinde though not all to euery one necessary To wit baptisme confirmation the Lords supper penance extreame vnction order and matrimonie and that they conferre grace and of them baptism confirmation order without sacriledge may not be reiterated I doe also receiue and admit the receiued and allowed rites of the catholike church in the solempne administration of al the aforesaid sacraments I doe embrace and receiue al euery the things which of original sinne and iustification haue beene defined and decreed in the holy synode of Trent I professe in like sorte that in the masse there is offered vnto god the true proper propicia tory sacrifice for quick dead And that in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist there is truely really and substantially the body and blood together with the soule and diuinitie of our Lord Iesus christ and that there is a conuersion of the whole substance of bread into the bodie and the whole substance of wine into blood the which conuersion the catholike church calleth transubstantiation I confesse with all that vnder one onely kind whole and perfect Christ and the true sacrament is receiued I doe constantly hold purgatory and that the soules there detayned are relieued by the prayers of the faythful and in like sorte that the Saintes raigning to-together with christ are to bee honoured and callled vppon and that they pray vnto God for vs and that theyr relyques are to bee worshipped I doe firmely auouche that the Images of Christ and the mother of God alwayes a virgin and also of other Saintes are to bee had and retayned and that we are to giue them due honour and worshippe I doe affyrme that the facultie of pardons hath beene left by Christ in the church and that the vse of them is very wholsome to christian people I doe acknowledge the holy catholike Apostolike church of Rome for the mother and mistresse of all churches I doe promise and sweare true obedience to the Byshop of Rome successour of blessed Peter prince of the Apostles Vicar of Iesus Christ I do also vndoubtedly receiue and proâ—esse al that haue beene delyuered defined and declared by the holy cannons generall councelles and specially by the holy Synode of Trent and withal al things contrary and haeresies whatsoeuer haue by the church beene condemned reiected and accursed I also doe condemne reiect and accurse This true catholike fayth without the which none can be saued the which I doe presently willingly professe and truely holde the same wholy and imaculate vnto the last gaspe most constantly to retaine teach and preach as much as in me shall lye I the same N. do promise vowe swere so God me helpe the holy Gospels of God New commeth Pope Impius 4. with his farewell Let it not be lawfull therefore for any man at all to infringe this page or leafe of our ordinaunce inbibition derogation will statute decree and commaundement or with rash enterprise to contrary the same if any therfore presume to attempte the same let him knowe that he incurreth the indignation of almightie GOD and of blessed Peter and Paule the Apostles Dat. Rom. apud 5. Petrum Anno 1569. Id. Noâ—em Pontific nostri annâ— 5 Good God what periurie Idolatrie heresie blasphemy there is contained in the aforesaide oth And the spirit of Antichrist is plainly reuealed in the cursed conclusion folowing after In trueth such traditions as are contrary and besides the word of God though they be called Apostolike are not to be receiued that sense and exposition of the scriptures which the Church of Rome deliuereth is not the right and perfect vnderstanding the Church and especially as you deliuer it the Church of Rome is not iudge of the scriptures there are but two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lordes supper the rest by you added art of an other kinde and nature in which sense wée may say as Ierome saide of the Reuelation Looke howe many wordes we finde there so many Sacramentes there are The Sacraments confer not grace as you imagine Ex opere operato the rites in the administration of the Sacraments retained in the Church of Rome are childish superstitious and impious that doctrine of originall sin and iustification lately decréed in the councell of Trent is plasphemous and abhominable The Masse is an Idoll and the sacrifice there pretended for quicke and dead is a deceiuing of the people the Eucharist is not reall substantiall with the soule and diuinitie of Jesus Christ neither transubstantiated the Sacrament is not perfect when it is deliuered vnder one kinde Purgatorie is a fable neyther are the soules of the departed relieued by the prayers of the lyuing the Saintes are not to be inuocated their reliques are not to be worshipped neither Images to be adored Popes pardons are to no purpose but a deluding of Gods people and the filling of the poke Rome is neither catholike apostolike nor the Lady and mistresse of al other Churches the Pope is not the true successour of Peter neither the Uicar of Jesus Christ to receiue what Rome receiueth and condemne what shee condemneth is â—o deliuere Barrabas and crucifie Christ to embrace
disswadeth For he allureth and calleth none but onely sheweth it Yet Paule sayth I giue counsell neither doeth hee allure any but rather disswade and withdrawe while hee sayth euery man hath a proper gift of GOD neyther doeth hee counsell neyther disswade but leaueth it beetweene both Fyrst I note your malice in that you alleadge Christe and Paule as ioyntly alleadged by Luther whiche hee hath not doone Secondly in that yee deliuer not simplye his meaning expressed in these fearmes Playnely and Rather Lastly in that yee conceale his conclusion whiche resolueth the whole and layeth downe the right vnderstanding of the holye Ghoste according vntoo the exposttion 〈…〉 Luther writing It is as necessary for euery man that cannot containe to haue a wife as iâ— iâ—â—â— care drinke or sleepe What fault finde yée with this doctrine there is none that wroâ—te more reuerently of blessed wedlock and holie virginitie then Luther hath done In that place by you alleadged and in sundry other his learned discourses he intreateth of the soule and the faculties thereof he displayeth the bodie with the senses passions and affections of the minde the disposition inward and outward not forgetting diet rayment with other necessaries thervnto appertaining and amongst al with great modestie he layeth downe the necessitie of matrimonie for those that cannot keepe their vessels staâ—â—ch and 〈…〉 Nienthly yee bring in Luther saying All christians are as holy and as iust as the mother of GOD and as the Apostles were You haue practized so long to flaunder his person and falsifie his wordes that yée cannot leaue it he hath written not as you say but as followeth Because we are borne againe and in this newe birth become the sonnes and heyres of GOD wee are equall in dignitie and honour with Saint Paule Saint Peter and the blessed virgine and all the Sayntes We haue the same treasure of GOD and all good thinges as largely as they For it behoued that they shoulde bee borne agayne as well as we wherfore they haue no more than any of the other Christians These woords doe not establish your imagination neither can yée grounde here that comparison For without derrogation to any of the Saintes bée it spoken all y â— beléeue rightlie in Christ Jesu are borne againe are become the sonnes and heyres of God are the blessed of the father they shal follow the Lambe whither soeuer hée goeth shal receiue their pennie in the life to come as well as y â— blessed Uirgin the holie Apostles or any of y e saints of God alredy departed to rest But as for their special graces namely y â— Mary should beare Christ that Paule should be a choseÌ„ vessel so extraordinarily be called by a voyce froÌ„ heauen y â— Peter with the rest of y â— Apostles should haue the holie Ghost in the forme of slrrie tongues rest vpon them w t other rare gifts we learn to humble our selues not to stand too high in our own conceites to imbrace y â— measure of faith which y â— Lord hath geueÌ„ vnto vs. For euery one hath a proper gift one thus another thus One hath fiue talents an other two another one The summe is this Mary the Apostles all the Saintes and faithful people of God eyther alreadie praising God in the triumphant church or presently in the flesh and congregation militant waiting for the bridegroom to enter into the celestial Ierusalem are partakers of that one only sacrifice offred vpon the crossr for the saluation of mankind haue no righteousnes neither merits of their owne but are al equallie saued by the righteousnes merits passion of Christ Iefus This is the doctrine of y â— catholike church this hath Luther taught this teach we and none other This is christian humilitie w tout comparing of graces But to let passe your slanders seeking to discredit al by the doctrine of one if yee could haue found him to haue erred I will not speake of that erroneous doctrine where some of your side holde simple fornication to be no mortall sinne some maynteine the the stewes and curtezans of Rome some haue dispensed with incest and murther some holde of Thomas some of Scotus some of Occam some of Lombard and other some with the saying Hic non tenetur Magister your recoÌ„ciling of writers your patching of canons your iumbling of decrees your iarring of glosses with infinit enormities concerning priuate persons sole opinions We néed not ouer busie our selues to worke your discredit by disgracing som perticuler writer of your side seing y â— there is no lewd opinion amoÌ„g you but hath infinit fauourers nay we may truely say of you with the Prophet From the sole of the foote to the crowâ—â— of the heade there is no health Your profession is but a 〈…〉 or lâ—â—pe of all abhomination Or wee may saye with Petrarcha Rome is a temple of errour and a schoole of heresie One thing heere I may not let passe which you lastly and in the tenth place haue annexed vnto your collections out of Luther I meane your storie of the Diuell You dealt fauourably with him you made vp the diuels messe with the coÌ„panie of Lindan Godens Claudius de Sanctes you bring in Hosius with salt and spoones and bearing the candls when Luther as yet say went drunke to bed The summe is this all you together with Satan haue conspired against Luther disâ—râ—diting his life his doctrine his death As for his life â—nce hee sincerely embraced the Gospell none of you no not one shalbe able in truth to stain him his doctrine is knowne vnto the world his great tomes and godly labour is to be seene as for his ende he died in his bedde being thréescore and thrée yeere olde or there about in the yeere 1546. the. 18. of Februarie His sicknes whereof hee chiefly complayned was the oppression of humours in the Orifice or opening of the stomacke which of a long time had troubled him There were then present in the chamber at his departure his thrée sonnes Iohn Martin Paule with Ambrose their schoolemaister There was Doctor Ionas there was also Albert earle of Mansfield with his wife and diuerse others that loued him well These as they haue done heretofore so will they be witnesses vnto the posteritie and geue euidence also at the day of iudgement against all those that discredite his person deface his doctrine After sundry godly meditations he gaue vp the Ghost with this prayer My heauenly father eternall and merciful God thou hast made manifest vnto me thy deare sonne cut Lord Iesus Christ I haue taught him I haue knowne him I loue him as my life my health and my redemption whome the wicked haue persecuted maligned and with iniutie afflicted Draw my soule to thee I commend my spirite into thy handes thou hast redeemed me O GOD of trueth God so loued the world that he gaue his onely sonne