The Reply to M^r. Lloyd.

FIrst, touching your Trent Creed, you complaine that according to the common fashion of our [Page 22] Ministers, by way of derision, I divide it into twelve points, as it were into twelve Articles, which (say you) he and they might with as much reason di­vide it into foure and twentie.

Here you begin to quarrell at your first en­trance, but I hope you will gladly forgive us this wrong; for if wee accuse your Trent Fathers, for coyning twelve Articles in stead of foure and twentie, they and you are more beholding to us, for laying the lesser number to your charge: and yet if you please to review them, you shall finde they fall most naturally within the number of twelve.

But you would know what difference there is betwixt the Councell of Nice, and the Councell of Trent, and their two Creeds.

Let mee tell you, if ever the proverb held true (Comparisons are odious) it holds betwixt the two Councels, and their two Creeds: the Councell of Trent is not worthy to be named the day wherein the Councell of Nice is mentioned. That famous Councell of Nice was the first, and best generall Assembly, after the Apostles time, that was sum­moned in the Christian world: it had in it 318. Bi­shops, Totius orbis terrarum lumina, (saith Victori­nus) amongst whom were the foure Patriarchs of the Easterne and Westerne Churches. It was called by the first and best Christian Emperour,Quasi serva­tor & medi­cus animarum. Euseb. in vita Constant. orat. 3. c. 10. Constan­tine the Great, who was Vocalissimus Dei praeco, and (as it were) the Preserver and Physitian of our soules, (saith Eusebius.) This Emperour exhorted [Page 23] the Fathers and Bishops of that Councell,Omni igitur seditiosâ con­tentione depul­sâ, literarum divinitùs in­spiratarum te­stimoniis res in quaestionem ad­ductas dissol­vamus. Theod. Hist. Eccl. l. 1. c. 7. p. 208. to lay aside seditious contention, and resolve all doubts and questions by the testimonies of divine Scriptures: and accordingly they framed their Creed out of the doctrine of the Apostles, and all who were not of the Arrian faction did assent and agree to it (saith Theodoret.)

Now take a view of your Trent Councell, and compare them together. Your Councell of Trent, like Demetrius Assembly, was summoned by Pope Paul the third, without a lawfull calling; the three Patriarchs of Constantinople, of Antioch, of Alex­andria, refused to be present; the Legates of the Kingdome of Denmark, of Suetia, and the Duke­dome of Prusia, were all absent, and returned their answer, that the Gravamina opposita, Con­cil. Trid. Cau­sa. 1. pag. 21. Pope had no right to call a Coun­cell. Our QueeneEpit. rerum in orbe gest. sub Ferd. 1. ann. 1561. apud Scard. tom. 3. p. 2171. E Belgio in In­sulam trajicere prohibuit. ibid. Elizabeth of blessed memory, disavowed the Councell, in so much that when the Pope sent Hieronymus Martinengus, as Legate into England, to summon our Bishops, shee would not suffer him to land, or set his foot on her Domini­ons. The French King signifieth by his Legate James Amiot, that hee for his part, neither held it for a generall, not yet for a lawfull Councell; but for a private Conventicle: and accordingly hee wrote, Conventui Tridentino. The Emperour,Innoc Gentil. sess. 12. and Hist. of Trent, l 4. p. 319. Illyric. in Pro­test. contr. Concil. Trid. Charles the fifth, declared by his Embassadour, Hurtado Mendoza, in the name of the whole Em­pire, that the Bishops wholly hanging at the Popes b [...]cke, had no authoritie to make lawes, in causes of re­formation of religion and manners. Andreas Dudi­thius, [Page 24] the Bishop of five Churches,Dudith. in Ep. ad Maximil. 2. de Calice, & Sacerdotum conjugio. told the Em­perours Maximilian and Ferdinand, that the Trent Fathers were like a paire of countrey Bag-pipes; which unlesse they were still blowne into, could make no musick. The Holy Ghost had nothing to doe with that Councell, and therefore they could create no new Articles of faith. Your historie of Trent tels us,The historie of Trent. the Spirit was sent in a Carriers cloak­bag from Rome to Trent; but when there fell store of raine, the Holy Ghost could not come before the flouds were abated, and so it fell out, that the Spirit was not carried upon the waters (as wee read in Genesis) but besides them. Looke upon your Bishops, they were but fortie and two at the first meeting, and two of them titular; the rest, for the most part (saith Du­dithius) were but hirelings, Andr. Dudith. ut suprà. young men, and beard­lesse, hired and procured by the Pope, to speake as hee would have them. To say nothing of those Empe­rours (who called the first and best Councels) and were present in person, when as the Popes send but their Legates:Euseb. in vitâ Constant. orat. 3. c. 16. Ego intereram Concilio (saith Con­stantine) I was present at the Councell amongst you, as one of you. Touching his Imperiall seat in the Councell,Ibid. c. 10. his throne was very great and passed all the rest (saith Eusebius:) whereas there is no grea­ter distance in the time,Advertendum, quod locus ubi sedet Impera­tor, non sit al­tior loco ubi te­net pedes Pon­tifex. Liber. Ceremon. l. 2. c. 2. than there is now difference in the places; for the Emperour is allowed but to sit at the Popes foot-stoole; and it is (specially) to bee noted (saith your booke of ceremonies) that the place whereupon the Emperour sitteth, may bee no higher than the place where the Pope setteth his feet. [Page 25] Your Councell of Trent hath made many decrees for reformation of manners, but did they ever re­forme this abuse, and restore the ancient custome?

You then that are so confident in equalling those two Councels, doe you thinke there is no difference betwixt a conventicle and a generall Councell? be­twixt a Councell lawfully called, and one summo­ned by usurpation? betwixt a late Councell, held in a corner of the world, in the worst age, and an an­cient Councell, in a most famous citie, held in the most flourishing age? betwixt a Councell that layes her sole foundation in the Scriptures, and one that builds her first Article of faith upon Traditi­ons?Bulla Pii 4. Art. 1. betwixt a Councell approved by the whole Christian world, and one that is disclaimed by most Christian Kings and Bishops, and the major part of Christendome?

But you would further know a difference be­twixt their two Creeds.

Let me tell you in briefe. When a Romanist, like your selfe, would needs know of a Protestant, the difference betwixt his religion and ours,Subesse Roma­no Pontifici omni humanae creaturae decla­ramus, dicimus, definimus & pronunciamus omninò esse de necessitate sa­lutis. Bonifac. 8. in Extr. de Major. & O­bed. cap. Unam sanctam. because both beleeved the Catholike Church in the Creed; the Protestant made answer, that wee beleeve the Catholike faith contained in the Creed, but doe not beleeve the thirteenth Article which the Pope put to it: when the Romanist was desirous to see that Article, the Extravagant of Pope Boniface was brought, wherein it was declared to be altogether of necessitie of salvation, for everie humane creature to be subject to the Bishop of Rome. This thirteenth [Page 26] Article in your Trent Creed (besides the newnesse of the rest) makes a great difference (M^r. Lloyd) be­twixt the two Creeds; and the rather, because it is flat contrarie to the decree of the Nicene Councell, besides many other differences, as shall appeare hereafter.

But (say you) they agree in this, that as the Arri­ans of those times cryed out against that Creed, as be­ing new, and having words not found in Scripture; for example, Consubstantiation: so our Protestants cry out against the Trent profession of faith, for the same reasons of noveltie, and words not found in Scripture; as for example, Transubstantiation.

It is true, the Arrians at the time of the Coun­cell cryed out against the Nicene Creed, for defi­ning the word Consubstantiall, or Coessentiall, as be­ing new: but it is as true they complained without a cause; for long before that time the word was used by Origen, and other ancient Fathers, as ap­peares by Socrates: Doctos quos­dam ex veteri­bus & illustres Episcopos Ho­mousii dictione usos esse cogno­vimus, Socrat. l. 1. c. 8. August. contr. Maxim. l. 3. c. 14. Wee know (saith he) that of the old writers, certaine learned men, and famous Bishops have used the word [...]: and accordingly it was resolved by S. Austin, that the name was not inven­ted, but confirmed and established in the Councell of Nice.

The word therefore Consubstantiall was not new, which they complained of, but the word Transubstantiation is so new, that it was altogether unknowne till the Councell of Lateran, Concil. Latera­nense, Anno 1215. Bellarm. 1200. yeeres after Christ; & therefore your comparison holds not in the first place. But admit the Coun­cell [Page 27] had first devised the word,Quomodo di­cis in Scriptu­ris divinis [...], non inveniri? quasi aliud sit [...], quàm quod dicit, Ego de Deo patre exivi, &, Ego & Pater u­num sumus. Ambros. de fide contra Arrian. Tom. 2. c. 5. p. 223. in initio. August. Ep. 174. [...]. Athanas. Ep. quod decret. Synod. Nic. Congruis ver­bis sunt expo­sita. Nihil resert hanc vocem non esse in Scripturâ, si vex id signifi­cat quod Scriptura do­cet. Vas [...]. in 1. Thom. Tom. 2. Disp. 110. c. 1. sect. 4. yet it is agreed on all hands, that the meaning of the word is contai­ned in Scripture. S. Ambrose writing against the Arrians, puts to them this very question: How doe you say the word Consubstantiall is not in divine Scrip­tures, as if Consubstantiall were any thing else, but I went out from the Father, and, the Father and I are one: the word therefore was a pregnant word, a­greeable to the sacred word of God. And albeit (saith S. Austin) the word perhaps be not found there, yet the thing it selfe is found: and what more frivolous quarrell is it, than to contend about the word, when there is certaintie of the thing it selfe? In like man­ner Athanasius answered the Arrians in those dayes, as I must answer you: Touching the word [...], albeit it be not found in Scriptures, yet it hath the same meaning that the Scriptures intend, and im­ports the same with them whose eares are entirely affe­cted towards religion.

We cry not out against you simply, because your word Transubstantiation is not found in the Scrip­tures, but because the true sense and meaning of the word is not contained in them; for the words Unbe­gotten, Increate, the word Sacrament, the word Tri­nitie, and the like, are not found in Scripture; yet wee teach them, wee beleeve them, because their true sense and meaning may bee deduced from the Scripture: and we professe with your Jesuite Vas­ques, Nihil refert, &c. It mattereth not whether the word be in Scripture or no, so as that which it signi­fieth be in the Scripture.

To come neerer to you: doe you but prove that the words, This is my body, imply Transubstantiati­on, and let me be branded for an Arrian, if I refuse to subscribe to it: but that the world may know we condemne you justly, both for the newnesse of the word, and your doctrine also; hearken to the learned Doctors of your owne Church.

Your Schoole-man Scotus tels us, that before the Councell of Lateran, Bellarm. l. 3. de Euchar. c. 23. Transubstantiation was not beleeved as a point of faith. It is true, your fellow Jesuites are ashamed of this confession, and there­upon Bellarmine answers:Ibid. This opinion of his is no way to bee allowed: Suarez in 3. Tom. in Euch. disp. 70. sect. 2. and Suarez, not content with such a sober reckoning, proclaimes that for his lowd speaking hee ought to be corrected: and as touching the words of consecration, from whence you would inferre both the name & nature of Transubstantia­tion, Mont. in Luk. 22. your Arias Montanus saith, This is my body, that is, my body is sacramentally contained in the Sa­crament of bread: and (hee addes withall) the secret and most mysticall manner hereof, God will once vouchsafe more clearely to unfold to his Christian Church. The doctrine therefore of your carnall and corporall presence is not so cleerely derived from the Scriptures: nay on the contrarie hee pro­testeth, that the body of our Saviour is but sacra­mentally contained in the Sacramen (as the Prote­stants hold) and therefore not bodily.

It is more than evident, that the word Consub­stantiation (used by the Fathers) was derived from the Scriptures, but you have not that infallible assu­rance [Page 29] for your word Transubstantiation, witnes your Cardinall Cajetan, Ca [...]et. in Thom. part. 3. q. 75. art. 1. he assures us that there appeareth nothing out of the Gospel, that may inforce us to un­derstand Christs words properly: yea nothing in the text hindereth, but that these words [This is my body] may as well be taken in a metaphoricall sense, as those words of the Apostle, The Rocke was Christ: that the words of either proposition may well bee true, though the things there spoken be not understood in a proper sense, but in a metaphoricall sense onely. Nay more, your Jesuite Suarez confesseth,Suarez Tom. 3. disp. 46. that this Cardinall (in his Commentary upon this Article) doth af­firme, that those words of Christ [This is my body] doe not of themselves sufficiently prove Transub­stantiation, without the authoritie of the Church: and therefore by the command of Pope Pius the fifth, that part of his Commentary is sponged out of the Romish Edition. Thus one while you correct your Au­thors, another while you purge them for delivering the truth in our behalfe.

Look upon your Cardinall Bellarmine; although he will not allow that sense which the Lutherans give,Bell. de Euch. l. 3. c. 19. yet hee granteth that those words [This is my body] may imply either such a reall change of the bread, as the Catholiques hold; or such a figurative change, as the Calvinists hold. And although hee would seeme to prove that the words of Scripture are so plaine, that they may compell a refractorie man to beleeve them, yet having well weighed the reasons and allegations of other Schoole-men, at last concludes: It may justly be doubted, Bell. de Euch. l. 3. c. 23. whether the [Page 30] text be cleere enough to inforce it, seeing men sharp and learned (such as Scotus was) have thought the contrary. How therefore your Church should ground a point of faith upon a doubtfull opinion, or on such words as by the testimonies of your best learned Divines may receive a double construction, I leave it to be judged.

But farther in proofe of Pope Pius Creed, I could urge S^r. Humfrey (say you) with the 39. Articles appointed by the authoritie of the Church of England, to be uniformely taught by all Ministers, which they are to sweare unto; which Articles, though they be in­deed new coyned, as the foundation of a new Church, yet S^r. Humfrey being his mothers Champion, will not (I suppose) yeeld her, or her doctrine to bee new. Thus you.

It is true as you say, there are 39. Articles ap­pointed by our Church, to bee uniformely taught by all Ministers: and it is as true that they are publi­shed and received with unitie and consent (which your men acknowledge for a proper marke of the true Church.) And withall, let me adde this one thing for your observation (and indeed it is a thing remarkable) whereas all your Trent Articles have beene questioned, and confuted by Chemnitius, Chamierus, Gentilletus, and other Protestant wri­ters, yet there was never any Papist could goe far­ther, than to tell us, as you doe, I could urge you with the novelty of the 39. Articles. I say, never as yet did any Romanist attempt, much lesse was able to confute and overthrow our Articles, which stand [Page 31] like a house built upon a rocke, immoveable, and cannot be shaken.

Let me tell you further, your comparisons betwixt our Articles and yours doe not hold; for all your Articles are fundamentall points to your Trent be­leevers, and the deniall of any of them makes them heretiques, and damned persons, as your Popes Bull expressely declareth. On the other side,Bulla Pii quarti. some of our Articles concerne the discipline of the Church, and are not essentiall to salvation; others concerne the ancient and latter heresies, wherein we teach the negative, and those are not properly Ar­ticles of faith which we beleeve, but points of do­ctrine which wee condemne, and beleeve not. And that you may know our Articles are not new, nor newly coyned by our men; if you will put on your spectacles, you shall finde that most of our prime Articles are taught and received by your owne Church, as well as ours; and therefore I hope you will confesse they are not coyned, and built upon the foundation of a new Church.

Briefly touching our 39. Articles. The first sort are in the Affirmative, both ours and yours; and all those are uniformely received by both Chur­ches. The second sort are ours onely, which we af­firme, and you deny: and those are very few in number, and are evidently deduced from the Scrip­ture. The third sort are yours, which we deny, and you affirme; and for that cause you terme our re­ligion negative; and those remaine for you to make good. Joyne therefore those negative Articles, [Page 32] which are wholly yours, to those positive Articles which you hold with us, and you shall easily dis­cerne (if the denomination followeth the greater part) those Articles may most properly bee termed Articles of your faith; for I dare confidently avow that of the 39. Articles, there are above 35. yours, that is, either such which you hold with us, which are at least twentie, or such wherein the affirmative is yours, and not ours, which are at least fifteene: take therefore your owne libertie, either confute ours, or make good your owne, & herbam porri­gemus, and I will give you the bucklers.

You proceed, and upon a false supposall, that our Church hath created new Articles, you proclaime in the name of your owne Church these words: We teach that for Articles of faith, the Church can make none, as she cannot write a Canonicall booke of Scrip­ture. Thus you.

When Diogenes saw a supposed Bastard casting stones in a presse of much people, he gave the boy this caveat: Take heed lest thou hit thy father. This is like to bee your case; for by this Tenet you will wound the Church your Mother, and amongst o­thers you will surely hit your holy Father the Pope.

It appeares first, that you endevoured to shew, that your Church hath created no new Articles of faith, but for want of solid proofes you begin to faint, and thinke it the safest way to turne Prote­stant in this point, and say, the Church can create none: but I wonder how you dare pronounce in [Page 33] the name of the Church (we teach) whereas in truth your Church teacheth it not. This is therefore but a cunning device of yours, to dazle the eyes of the ignorant with your false glasses, and to make them beleeve it is the generall Tenet of your Church; and then you thinke they will conclude ac­cording to your Assertion: Ergo, The Church hath created none; when as your saying makes more strongly against you, if either your Articles prove new, or the Pope and his Agents professe the contrarie.

M^r. Heigham, who first answered my Book,Mr. Heigham in his answer called Via verè tuta, pag. 199. & 200. was a member of your Church, and he cries aluod, that the Church hath power to decree, and promulgate new articles of faith: But your third Replyer, Tom Tell-troth, in his Whetstone of Reproofe, thought it the wisest way to decline the question; for hee knew well when you were both at odds, and taught flat contrarie doctrine each to other, the Whetstone of necessitie would belong to one of his fellow writers. But to let passe such differences amongst your selves; bee it spoken to your comfort, Friar Walden, about two hundred yeares agoe, affirmed the same that you doe,Waldens doct. Fidei. Tom. 1. l. 2. Art. 2. c. 22. p. 203. viz. that the Church could not create a new article of faith: How can any such article (saith he) framed after many yeares, be catho­lique and universall, when as it was unknowne to our fore-fathers for foureteen hundred yeares before? It was not beleeved, because not heard of, when the Apo­stle tels us, faith commeth by hearing. Such an arti­cle therefore, although it be of faith, yet it cannot be [Page 34] catholique: and this hee proves directly from Fa­thers and Councels. And whereas you affirme, that your Church can no more make an article of faith, than shee can make a Canonicall Booke of Scripture;Canus loc. Theol. l. 2. c. 7. p. 38. Canus, your Bishop of Canaries, will joyne with you, That the Church of the faithfull now living cannot write a Canonicall Booke of Scrip­ture: and hee gives the reason for it; There are not now any new revelations to be expected, i­ther from the Pope, or from a Councell, or from the universall Church: and from hence it will follow of consequence by your owne Logick; Therefore the Church can create no new article of faith.

Thus farre I have waded in your behalfe, that you may the better justifie your owne Assertion; for you wil find your Church is like a house divided against it selfe (and therefore cannot stand long). I say that Quere which was made in Waldens dayes, was resolved above two hundred yeares before by your profound Schoole-man Thomas Aquinas, in your Churches behalfe, that the Pope had power Condere articulos fidei, to create new articles of faith; to remove therefore these fig-leaves with which you would cover the naked truth: This learned Doctour well understood that there were many new articles of religion crept into the Church in his dayes; he knew well, that (albeit he were the prime Schoole-man of his time) yet with all his sophistrie hee could not make them comply with the ancient Catholique faith: and thereupon [Page 35] he thought it the surest way, to give the Pope an absolute and independant power over faith and re­ligion, and accordingly resolved,Ad solam au­thoritatem summi Pontifi­cis pertinet no­va Editio Sym­boli, sicut & alia omnia quae pertinent ad to­tam Ecclesiam. Thom 2.2. q. 1. Art. 10. It belongs onely to the authoritie of the Soveraigne Pope, to make a new Edition of the Creed, and all things else that con­cerne the universall Church: Then he concludes the question, and gives this reason for it; The publishing of a new Creed belongs to his power who hath autho­ritie finally to determine matters of faith: and this (saith he) belongs unto the Pope. Upon which pas­sages Andradius, a chiefe pillar of your Trent Coun­cell, confesseth, that the Bishops of Rome, Romanos Pon­tifices, multa definiendo quae anteà latita­bant, Symbo­lum Fidei au­gere consue vis­se. Andrad. Def. Concil. Trid. lib. 2. in defining many things which had beene formerly hidden, have been accustomed to increase their Creed. Now what thinke you of your Aquinas position, and your Andradius confession? I hope you perceive that your learned Schoole-men are of another opinion: And that you may know that your Church doth not approve your pretended Tenet for Catholique doctrine; hearken and consider, what your holy Father the Pope declareth, touching this question, and then consider in what case you stand. Pope Leo the tenth sent out his Bull against Luther, Certum est in manu Ecclesiae aut Papae pror­sus non esse statuere arti­culos fidei. Tom. 4. Conc. Par. 2. in Bulla Leon. 10. in f [...]ne Lateran. Conc. novissi­mi. p. 135. and amongst other articles, he chargeth him in particu­lar with this, that Luther should say, It is certaine that it is no way in the power of the Church or Pope to ordaine articles of faith. This you see is Luthers Te­net, and this is yours. Now what exception (think you) might the Pope take at this your Assertion? Behold, for this and the like Tenets, he thundereth Anathema against him; hee declareth this with the [Page 36] rest of his Articles to be a pestiferous, pernicious, scandalous, and seducing errour to well-minded men; he protesteth, it was contrarie to all charitie, contrarie to the reverence of the holy Church, and mysteries of faith, and in conclusion condemnes all his Articles as hereticall, Inhibentes in virtute sanctae obedientiae, ac sub majoris ex­communicatio­nis latae sen­tentiae. Ibid. p. 136. forbids them to be received by vertue of holy obedience, and under paine of the graund Excommunication.

You have heard the sentence of your Lord Pa­ramount, and by it you may know your owne doome. If you hold with Luther, you are in dan­ger of Excommunication, and stand as a condem­ned heretique by his Holinesse with the Luthe­rans: If you forsake your hold, you have lost your faith: And thus you have a wolfe by the eares, you stand in danger whether you hold him, or let him goe. I wonder that you, having taken so long a time to answer so poore a Work, and having many Assistants for the composing of it, they and you could be all ignorant of the Popes infallible Bull. Your Cardinall Bellarmine, Quasi Ecclesia posterioris tem­poris aut dese­rit esse Eccle­sia, aut facul­tatem non ha­beat explican­di, & decla­randi, constitu­endi etiam & jubendi quae ad fidem & mores Christianos pertinent. Bell. in Barcl. who in these latter times hath laboured more than any other, to up­hold your new Articles of faith; yet in obedience to the Pope, and saving all advantages to his cause, when (in the question of deposing Kings) he failed of antiquitie and proofe out of Scriptures and Fa­thers, at last returnes this peremptorie answer; As if the Church of these latter times had ceased to be a Church, or had not power to explaine and declare, yea to ordaine and command those things, which apper­taine to faith and Christian manners: and that you [Page 37] may know that you and your Co-adjutors stand single in opinion against the Pope and his Cardi­nals, your Jesuite Salmeron will shew you, that it stands with great reason to make additions in essen­tiall points of faith: Doctrina fidei admittit addi­tionem in es­sentialibus. Salm. Tom. 13. Disp 6. Par. 3. §. Est ergo. Idem Disp. 8. and hee gives this answer for it: Because nature is not capable of all truths at one time: and from this and the like reasons he con­cludes, therefore there may be new traditions concer­ning faith and manners, though they were never cre­ated, or declared by the Apostles.

Thus you see the unitie amongst your selves: and howsoever these positions may seeme strange to you and others of your opinions, yet your School-men and Lawyers have played the Popes Mid­wives: yea, Pope Leo the tenth hath put to his helping hand, to deliver your Pope Pius the fourth of that issue, I meane, those new borne Articles, of which your Church hath so long time before tra­vailed. Briefly let mee tell you, your Articles are detected by your owne men to be grandement su­spicious of new coynage; and if for no other cause, yet for this alone, they give a just occasion and jea­lousie, when such poore shifts and evasions are de­vised by your Pope and his adherents, to make them good: for it is a true saying of a renowned Bishop, and it is the faith of all reformed Catholiques:B. Morton, Grand Impost. cap. 2. sect. 2. He can onely make an article of faith who can create a soule, and after make a Gospel to save that soule, and then give unto that soule the gift of faith to beleeve that Gospel.

I proceed to your doctrine: That is onely to bee [Page 38] called a new faith (say you) which is cleane of ano­ther kind, that is differing or disagreeing from that was taught before. Thus you.

I will not take advantage of your first Assertion, that your faith is grounded upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles (which you can never prove;) but wil joyne issue with you upon your last Assumpsit, That is only to be called a new faith, which is cleane of another kind, and is different & disagree­ing from what was taught before: but such are ma­ny of the Articles of Pope Pius the fourth, extra­cted from the Councell of Trent, as shall appeare by proofes at large in their proper places. In the meane time let me tell you, your Church teacheth not onely Novè, but Nova, not onely Praeter, but Contra, even besides, and contrarie to that which she first received from the ancient Church: so that howsoever you seeke to darken truth by faire and specious pretences, yet in truth your Trent Additi­ons are forraine to the faith, as neither principles nor conclusions of it. And that you may know and acknowledge with us, that your Trent faith is dif­fering and disagreeing from what was taught be­fore; I pray call to mind your owne confessions touching these particular Articles of your Roman Church.

Your doctrine touching Lay-peoples communi­cating under one kind (namely in bread onely) is an Article of the Roman faith, and now generally taught and practised in the Roman Church: but this practice, by your owne confession, is different and [Page 39] disagreeing from what was taught before: for you say, pag. 253. touching the Authors which you bring for proofe, That it was the common practice of the Church, for the Laytie to communicate in both kinds. I allow of their authoritie.

Your Prayer and Service in an unknown tongue, as it is now used in the Roman Church, by your owne confession is different and disagreeing from what was taught before; for, say you pag. 270. It is true, that Prayer and Service in the vulgar tongue was used in the first and best ages, according to the precept of the Apostles, and practice of the Fathers. In the beginning it was so.

Your doctrine of Transubstantiation, which at this day is generally received, de substantia fidei, for an Article of Faith, yet by your owne confessi­on is different and disagreeing from what was taught before; for, say you pag. 167. Transubstantiation might well be said not to have beene, de sub­stantia fidei, in the Primitive Church, (as Yribarne speaketh) because it had not beene so plainly delivered nor determined in any Councell, till Gregorie the se­venth his time: and this was above a thousand yeares after Christ.

Your private or solitarie Masse, wherein the Priests doe daily communicate without the people, is by your own confession different and disagreeing from what was taught before and practised; for, say you pag. 191. They say (speaking of divers Au­thors) it was the practice of the Primitive Church to communicate everie day with the Priest. I grant it.

These points of controversie, which are so ea­gerly pursued by your men against the members of our Church, the strength and force of truth hath extorted from you, and therefore I may truly con­clude Ex ore tuo, from your owne confession, that your Trent faith is new, because it is different and disagreeing from what was taught before.

You that have taken an oath to maintaine the Pa­pacie, and are so ready to teach others, you (I say) have either violated your oath, or at leastwise have forgot your old lesson, Oportet esse memorem, &c. for verily it behoves him that speakes lyes and contradictions to have a good memorie. But it seemes you did conceive the Reader might easily passe by many such contradictions, being in severall passages, and farre distant pages. For otherwise it would seeme strange, that you, which so bitterly in­veigh against our reformed religion, should con­fesse the antiquitie of our Articles, and the noveltie of your owne, with flat contradictions to your owne Assertions. I will say to you therefore, as sometimes S^t. Hierome spake in his Epistle to Pa­machius and Oceanus; Hieronym. ad Pamach. & Oceanum, Tom. 2. Thou who art a maintainer of new doctrine, whatsoever thou be, I pray thee spare the Romane eares, spare the faith that is com­manded by the Apostles mouth, why goest thou about now after foure hundred yeares (I may say foureteen hundred yeares) to teach us that faith which we before never knew? why bringest thou forth that thing that Peter and Paul never uttered? Evermore untill this day the Christiam world hath beene without this do­ctrine.

To pursue the rest of your Allegations: The Church of England (say you) admitteth of divers Books of the New Testament for Canonicall, whereof there was doubt of three or foure hundred yeares to­gether in the Church of God, as the Epistle to the He­brewes, the second Epistle of St. Peter, the Epistle of St. Jude, the Apocalyps of St. John, and some others, which were after admitted for Canonicall; I would know of him whether upon the admittance of them, there were any change of faith in the Church, or whe­ther ever those books have received any change in themselves. Thus you.

It seemes you begin to feare that your Trent faith would be discovered to be different and dis­agreeing from what was taught before, and there­upon you would seemingly illustrate the antiquitie of your new Articles by the authoritie of the anci­ent Books of Canonicall Scripture. But, I pray, where doe you find that the Books of the New Testament, as namely, the Epistle to the Hebrewes, the Epistle of St. Peter, and St. Jude, and the Apo­calyps, were not received (for three or foure hundred yeares) for Canonicall? It is true there was some doubt who were the right Authors of those Books, but their divine authoritie was ever generally ap­proved by all Christian Churches, and allowed for Canonicall. The Epistle to the Hebrewes was therefore doubted of by some, because the diffe­rence & diversity of the stile made them think it not to be St. Pauls; and by others, because the Author of it seemed to them to favour the error of the No­vatian [Page 42] heretikes, in denying the reconciliation of such as fall after Baptisme: The second Epistle of St. Peter (which you speake of) some doubted of, because of the diversitie of the style: The Epistle of St. Jude was doubted, because the Author of it hath borrowed both the matter and manner of writing from St. Peter, and therfore he was thought some scholar of theirs, but no Apostle. Others said he brought in a profane Author, concerning the strife of the Arch-angell and the Devill about the body of Moses, which cannot be found in Canoni­call Scripture. Lastly, the Revelation of St. John was likewise doubted of; first, because of the no­veltie of the title of John the Divine: secondly, because of the difficultie and obscuritie of his Pro­phecies. These and the like reasons were motives to some in the Church, to question the Authors of those Books: but it was never generally impea­ched. For further proofe of this Assertion, let an­tiquitie be heard, and it will appeare, that all those Bookes were cited for doctrine of faith, by the writers of the first ages, and consequently were approved from, and after the dayes of the Apo­stles.Hieronym. [...] Dardan [...], de terra repro­missionis, Ep. 129. p. 1105. Looke upon St. Hierome, he proclaimes it to the Church, Illud nostris dicendum est. Be it known to our men, that the Epistle to the Hebrewes is not only received by all the Churches of the East, that now presently are, but by all Ecclesiasticall writers of the Greek Churches, that have beene hereto­fore; as the Epistle of Paul, (though many thinke it rather to be written by Barnabas, or Clemens,) and [Page 43] that it skilleth not who wrote it, seeing it was writ-by an Author approved in the Church of God, and is daily read in the same. This ancient Father shewes plainly, that howsoever some doubt was made of the Author of that Epistle, yet it was re­ceived both by the Easterne & Westerne Churches. And howsoever some of the Ancients did attribute it to St. Luke; others (as namely Tertullian) did attribute it to Barnabas: yet all agreed in this, that it had an Apostolike spirit; and accordingly Car­dinall Bellarmine tels you in your eare,Ineptè dici ve­tustatem de hac Epistola dubitâsse. Bell. de verbo Dei, lib. 1. cap. 17. It is foo­lishly spoken, in saying Antiquitie did doubt of this Epistle, when there is but one Caius a Grecian, and two or three Romanists, in respect of all the rest, that speake against it: and if we respect not the multitude, but the antiquitie of the cause, the Roman Clemens is more ancient than Caius; and Clemens Alexan­drinus than Tertullian; and Dionysius Areopagita than both, who cites this Epistle of Paul by name.

Touching the second Epistle of St. Peter, it was cited by Higinus Bishop of Rome, within an hun­dred and fiftie yeares after Christ, and that by the name of Peter. The Epistle of St. Jude was cited by Dionysius Areopagita by the name of Jude the Apostle, within seventie yeares after Christ;Dionys. de di­vinis nomini­bus, cap. 4. Tertull. de ha­bitu muliebri. Orig. l. 5. in c 5. ad Romanos. Cypr. in lib. ad Novatianum. by Tertullian within two hundred yeares after Christ; by Origen and Cyprian within two hundred and fiftie yeares after Christ.

Lastly, touching the Revelation of St. John, it was received for Canonicall in the first and best a­ges: Dionysius Areopagita cals the Revelation, The [Page 44] secret and mysticall vision of Christs beloved Disci­ple; Arcanam & mysticam visi­onem dilecti discipuli. Dio­nys Eccles. Hier. cap. 3. In Dial. cum Tryphone. Iren. lib. 1. cap. ult. and this was seventie yeares after Christ. Ju­stin Martyr doth attribute this Booke to St. John, and doth account it for a divine Revelation; and this was an hundred and sixtie yeares after Christ. Ire­naeus saith, this Revelation was manifested unto St. John, and seene of him but a little before his time; and this was an hundred and eightie yeares after Christ.Tertull. de praescript. l. 4. Tertullian, amongst other things, accuseth Cerdon and Marcion of heresies, for rejecting the Revelation; and this was two hundred yeares after Christ. Origen, in his Preface before the Gospel of St. John, sayth, that John the sonne of Zebedee saw in the Revelation an Angel flying thorow the middest of Heaven, having the eternall Gospel; and hee flourished two hundred and thirtie yeares after Christ.

Thus you see the Catholique Christians, and most ancient Fathers in the first ages received both the Epistle to the Hebrewes, the second Epistle of St. Peter, the Epistle of St. Jude, and the Revela­tion of St. John, with one consent, accounting them no better than Hereticks, which either doubted of them, or denyed them: and yet you, to outface the truth, would make the world beleeve, that it was three or foure hundred yeares before they were received into the Church, and made canonicall; and upon this vaine supposall you would know of me, Whether there were any change of faith in the Church when they were admitted, or whether those Books re­ceived any change in themselves.

To answer you in a word, your proposition is foolish, and your question is frivolous; for those Books were alwayes received, even from the first times: and no more could that word of God bee changed, than God himselfe, who is immutable; and yet we see your faith is daily altered, for want of that foundation, and thereupon it behoves you to get more, and better proofes, for the confirmati­on of your new Creed.

From your justification of your Trent faith, you begin to looke asquint thorow your Spectacles at the reformed Churches, and after your wonted manner you crie out, They have no certaine rule of faith wherewith wee may urge them; authoritie of Church they have none: Scripture they have indeed, but so mangled, corrupted, perverted by translation, and mis-interpreted according to their owne fancies, that as they have it it is as good as nothing. Thus you.

Have we no certaine rule of faith? What thinke you of the Scriptures? Doe not we make them the sole rule of our faith? and is not that rule by your own Cardinals confession,Bell. de verbo Deo. l. 1. c. 2. Regula credendi certissi­ma, tutissimaque, the most certaine and safest rule of faith? And as touching the authority of the Church, it is an Article of our Religion,Art. 20. That the Church hath power to decree rites, or ceremonies, & authori­tie in controversies of faith; and yet it is not lawfull for the Church to ordaine any thing that is contrarie to Gods word written, neither may it so expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another: [Page 46] This Article shewes our obedience to the Scrip­tures, it declares the authoritie of our Church, and it vindicates our Ministers from perverting and mis-interpreting of the Scriptures, wherewith you charge us in the next place.

It is true (say you) Scripture you have indeed, but mangled, corrupted, perverted by translation. Here your charge is generall, and your accusation capitall; therefore you must give me leave, for the better discoverie of the truth, to send out a Melius inquirendum, that your Translation and ours being compared in particulars, the truth may better ap­peare.

First then it cannot be denyed, that the Prote­stants in all their Translations have a recourse still to the Originall of Hebrew and Greek, which was in­spired by the Holy Ghost; and these they preferre before all Latine and Vulgar Translations whatso­ever:Bibl. Complut. in Proefat. on the other side, your Translation (as your Interpreters fancie) hangeth betweene the Greek and Hebrew, as Christ hung betweene two theeves. Nay more, your men esteeme the Vulgar Latine before the Originall:Bell. de verbo Dei, lib. 2. c. 11. Not (saith Bellarmine) that the rivers of Translations should be preferred before the foun­taines of Hebrew and Greeke of the Prophets and Apostles, but because the fountaine is muddie in ma­ny places, which otherwise should runne cleare; for without doubt, as the Latine Church hath beene more constant in keeping the faith than the Greeke, so like­wise it hath beene more vigilant in preserving her bookes from corruption.

These Paradoxes doe open a gap to Atheisme; for if the originall Scripture be corrupted, what as­surance, what certaintie can wee have of true faith and religion? (and if wee doubt, wee are condemned already.) Neither can it enter into my thoughts, that profane Writers should bee preserved in their simple purenesse from their first ages, and that their Translations should remaine in subjection to their copies, from whence they are derived, to be exa­mined by them; and yet the Watchman of Israel, who neither slumbers nor sleepes, for want of provi­dence, should suffer his sacred Word become a Tributarie to a Translation. But by this the world may see the guiltinesse of a bad cause; you will ra­ther charge the word of God it selfe with corrup­tion, than faile to make good the corruptions of your owne Church.

Your learned Andradius condemnes them that preferred the Latine before the Hebrew of the Old Testament, (as pretending it was corrupted by the Jewes.Andrad. def. fidei Trident. l. 4.) It was very inconsiderately conceived (saith he) by some, that there was more credit to bee given to the Latine Edition than to the Hebrew, because the Latine ever remained entire & uncorrupt in the Ca­tholique Church, and the Hebrew was falsified & de­praved by the perfidiousnesse of the Jewes. And your owne Sixtus Senensis doth witnesse of the Greeke Text likewise,Sixt. Senens. Biblioth. l. 7. that it is the same which was used in the dayes of S. Hierome, and long before him in the Apostles times, and is free from hereticall corrupti­ons, as by the continuall writings of the Greeke Fa­thers [Page 48] (as namely) Dionysius, Justinus, Irenaeus, Me­lito, Origen, Affricanus, Apolinarius, Athanasius, Eusebius, Basil, Chrysostome, Theophylact, doth most plainly appeare; and yet your Gregory Martin, and the Rhemists, are not ashamed to professe that the Translation which they follow, is not onely better then all other Latine, but even than the Greeke Text it selfe, Preface to the Rhem. Testam. in those places where they disagree.

To examine your Translation in generall, and so descend into the particulars of yours and ours. First, it is decreed by the Councell of Trent, that amongst divers Translations then in use, the old and vulgar Translation should be declared to be authen­ticall in all publike Lectures, Concil. Trid. Sess. 4. Decre­tam de editione librorum. Disputations, Sermons, and Expositions, and that no man should dare or pre­sume to reject it upon any pretext whatsoever. What Translation was understood by the old vulgar, was not expressed in the Councell: It is pretended to be, and is called at this day St. Hieromes Transla­tion, and, which is remarkable, the Translation was decreed but by 42. Bishops at the first begin­ning of the Councell.

From hence ariseth the first Quere, which of St. Hieromes Translations your Church doth fol­low (for St. Hierome confesseth that the first was corrupt, and accordingly he did correct many things in his first Translation.) To this Objection your Cardinall makes this faire and free confession;Bell. de verbo Dei, l. 2. c. 9. Although Hierome did perceive some things fit to be changed, and afterwards did change them, yet the Church did adjudge the first translation for true, and [Page 49] chose rather to keep that for the vulgar Edition. And then he concludes: Although the greatest part of the vulgar Translation be Hieromes, yet it is not that pure Edition which he translated out of the Hebrew, but in a manner mixt.

Habemus confitentem reum. Now heare your owne Sixtus Senensis: Albeit he pretends that the different readings in the Bible be no prejudice to the Faith,Sixt. Senens. Bibl. l. 8. p. 664. yet (saith he) wee ingenuously confesse that many errours were corrected by Hierome in the old Translation, and likewise there are found in our new Editions some falsifications, solecismes, barbarismes, and many things ambiguous, not well expressed in the Latine; some things changed, other things omitted; and the like. Here both confesse that Hieromes first Translation was erroneous, (and the one saith that your Church hath chosen that which is not pure nor agreeable to the Hebrew, the other confesseth it hath Barbarismes and untruths.) To speake inge­niously, the Sunne never saw any thing more de­fective and maimed than the vulgar Latine. Your Bishop Lyndan cryes aloud,Lynd. de opt. genere Inter­pret. l. 3. c. 1, 2, 4.6. and protesteth it hath monstrous corruptions of all sorts, scarce one coppie can be found that hath one booke of Scripture unde­filed, many points are translated so intricately and darkly, some impertinently and abusively, some not so fully nor so well and truly, sundry places thrust out of their plaine and naturall sense: the Translatour possibly was no Latinist, but a smattering Gre­cian.

I proceed to the examination of more witnesses. [Page 50] About forty yeares after Pope Paul the third had decreed the vulgar Latin in your Councel of Trent, Sixtus Quintus by his Breve prefixed to his Bible, gives us to understand, that certaine Roman Catho­likes were of such an humour of translating the Scripture into Latin,Breve Sixti 5. that Sathan, taking occasion by them (though they thought no such matter) did strive what he could out of uncertaine and great variety of Translation, so to mingle all things, that nothing might seeme to be left certaine and firme in them: and thereupon hee takes occasion to publish a Latine Translation of his owne perusall, and with­all makes his Declaration of it in this manner: We of our certaine knowledge and fulnesse of Apostolicall power, Sixt. 5. in Bulla praefix. Bib­liis, An. 1588. doe ordaine and declare that the Edition of the vulgar Bible of the Old and New Testament, which was received by the Councell of Trent as au­thenticall without any doubt or Controversie, is to be reputed or taken for this onely Edition; which being as well as was possible reformed and printed in our Vatican, our will and pleasure is, and we doe decree it to be read throughout the whole Christian World in all Churches; with this our determination and sa­tisfaction for all men, That first it was allowed by a generall and joynt consent of the whole Catholike Church and Holy Fathers; secondly, by a Decree made in the late Councell holden at Trent; and now lastly by that Apostolicall Authority and Power which God hath given us: and therefore is to be received and accompted for a true, lawfull, authenticall and undoubted Copie, to be read, and no other, in all [Page 51] publike and private Disputations, Lectures, Ser­mons, or Expositions.

This Translation was published by Sixtus with great care and paines, professing that he printed it in the Vatican at Rome, Nostra nos ipsi manu correxi­mus, siqua pre­lo vitia obrep­serunt. Idem in Praefat. and corrected the Errours of it with his owne hands: he professeth it was appro­ved by the generall consent of the whole Catho­like Church: he professeth it was received for the best and most vulgar Latine Edition, excluding all other Translations private or publike whatso­ever; and thereupon concludes,Ibid. Let no man at­tempt to violate this our Decree, our will and decla­ration herein, or by rash boldnesse contradict it: for if any shall presume so to doe, let him know that he shall incurre the indignation of Almighty God, and his blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.

From hence will arise a second Quere, whether this Translation of Sixtus were that Hieromes Translation formerly confirmed, and ratified by the Trent Councell. If it were his, and confirmed by a Generall Councell, how came it to be cor­rected by Sixtus? If it were not the same, how could Sixtus Bible be allowed by a Decree made in the Councell of Trent, (for so are the words of his Bull) whereas the Councell was called Anno 1545. and Sixtus published his Bible Anno 1592. which was above 40. yeares after the Councell was called? But observe the sequell; The Decree of Sixtus was kept inviolable for a short time, and approved by Urban the 7^th, Gregory the 14^th, and Innocent the 9^th his immediate Successors: But [Page 52] Pope Clement the eight, about seaven yeares after the death of Sixtus, called in question that Transla­tion, and published another of his owne, Ad perpe­tuam rei memoriam, and corrects Sixtus Bible, under this pretence;Clem. in praef. Sixti Bibl. that his Predecessor percei­ved not a few things to have crept into the Bi­ble through default of the Presse, and that it needed a second care, and that certainly he himselfe had in­tended to bring the whole worke to the Presse againe, had he not beene prevented by death.

These two Editions were published by two se­verall Popes, and both commanded to be read and followed in their severall Breves: Pope Sixtus disclaimes all Bibles whatsoever, both Manuscripts and printed, of the vulgar Edition, which did not agree with his Edition Ad literam, to a letter. Pope Clement professeth that his Translation, al­though it be not absolutely perfect in all points, yet without doubt it is more pure, and better cor­rected than any other that was published before it. In conclusion, both agree that the Forme of each must be inviolably observed without the least particle of the Text added, Ne minima quidem parti­cula mutata. Sixt. in Praef. changed, or detracted.

Now take your choyce of which Translation you please; if you allow Sixtus, it was corrected in many places by Pope Clement; if Clements, you must incurre the curse of his Predecessor Pope Six­tus: if you will receive the vulgar Translation, which you terme St. Hieromes, your Cardinall tels you it is not of his purest Edition. Lastly, if you approve the vulgar Edition, decreed by the Coun­cell [Page 53] of Trent, I say neither you, nor all the Papists living, can resolve which is that vulgar Edition.

For a Conclusion, either your vulgar Transla­tion before Clements time was corrupt, or in vaine did Clement command a Correctorium to passe upon it, and to be read according to that correction. The worke of Lucas Brugensis, who was living at that time, hath sufficiently discovered your corrup­tions in the Bible of Sixtus, which in his time was reputed for that onely Edition confirmed by the Trent Councell, commanded to be read throughout all Chur­ches, and allowed by the consent of the whole Catho­like Church: this Bible (I say) which for many ages was reputed the onely authenticall Edition in your Church, is purged and corrected (I speake within compasse) in above 3000 severall places. And as it hath beene observed by a painfull labou­rer in that Vineyard,Dr. Iames in his Bellum Pa­pale. your Translations in many pla­ces are flat contradictory each to other, (and he that beleeves contradictions, beleeves nothing at all.)

From the charge in generall, I will descend into particulars. And first, I will give you an Instance in the Old Testament.

We reade in the 34. of Exodus and the last verse, The Children of Israel saw the face, that the skinne of Moses face shone: Videbant fa­ciem egredien­tis Moisi esse Cornutā. Sixt. Bibl. Ibid. v. 29, and 35. your Sixtus Bible in the vul­gar Translation twice renders it, They saw his face horned; but your Sixtus Senensis complaines of Hierome, that contrary to the Originall he so tran­slated it. Thus one while you leave Hieromes Tran­slation when it savours not to your Palate, another [Page 54] while you excuse your owne by condemning of St. Hierome: (Now whether it were a part of that corrupt Translation which your men use, and Hie­rome himselfe corrected,Rident ita que nos, & ex­ecrantur Ju­daei quoties Mosen in no­stris Tēplis cor­nutâ facie de­pictum aspici­unt, quasi nos eum Diabolum quendam, ut ipsi stultè inter­pretantur, esse putemus. Sixt. Senens. l. 5. An­not. 116. p. 368. [...]. I dispute not) but (saith he) therefore the Jewes doe scoffe and hate us Christi­ans, whensoever they happen to see the picture of Moses painted with hornes, as though, according to their Imagination, we thought him to have beene a Devill.

Looke upon the particulars in the new Testa­ment. In the third of Matthew for Repentance you translate Penance, and by Penance you understand satisfaction for sinnes. So that when the Evangelist saith, according to the Greeke Originall (Repent) you follow the Latine Translation, which hath an ambiguous construction, and say, Paenitentiam agite, which your Rhemists translate, Doe Penance. And in the 9^th of St. Matthew, Math. 9.13. [...]. where he saith, I am not come to call the Righteous, but sinners to repentance, you translate, I am not come to call the Just, but sinners, and leave out the word Repentance (which is in the Originall.) And lastly, as if you were guilty of a false Translation in both, in the first of St. Marke, Mark. 1.15. you translate the words according to the Originall, and in stead of Doe Penance, you right­ly interpret, Be penitent, and beleeve the Gospel.

In the 11 of St. Luke you have maymed and falsified the Lords Prayer: you say in this manner; Father sanctified be thy name, thy Kingdome come, our dayly bread give us this day, and forgive us our sinnes, for because our selves also doe forgive every [Page 55] one that is in debt to us: And lead us not into tempta­tion. In this absolute forme of Prayer, you have omitted all these words; Our— which art in hea­ven, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven, but deliver us from evill. Thus Christ taught his Dis­ciples to pray in one manner, and you in that place teach your Disciples in another; and this is agree­able to your vulgar Translation, but not to the Originall.

In the 11 to the Romans we reade, according to the Originall; If it be of grace, Rom. 11.6. then it is not now of works, for then grace is no more grace: but if it be of works, then it is now no grace, for then worke is no more worke: your Rhemists according to their vul­gar Edition render it; And if by grace, not now of works, otherwise grace now is not grace: and leave out all the latter part of the verse, in these words, But if it be of workes, then it is now no grace, [...]. Graec. Orig. for then worke is no more workes; for what end let the Rea­der judge.

In the first Epistle to the Corinthians we reade according to the Originall, Let a man so accompt of us, as of the Ministers of Christ, and Stewards of the Mysteries of God; [...]. 1 Cor. 4.1. your Rhemists following the Latine Translation reade, Dispensers of the Myste­ries of God: and howsoever these words might be dispensed withall in some sense, yet by no meanes as you force it. For when your Proselites doe que­stion your Priests why they take away the Cup from the Lay people, with these words so transla­ted you answer them, We are the Ministers of Christ, [Page 56] and Dispensers of the mysteries of God: and so by consequence we may dispence with the Sacramen­tall Cup, by the authority of Scripture. Witnesse your Councell of Trent touching the Churches power of dispensing with the Sacrament,Id autem Apo­stolus non ob­scurè visus est innuisse, &c. Concil. Trid. Sess. 21. c. 2. which professeth that the Apostle doth plainly intimate un­to us a dispensation with the Sacrament in those words mentioned.

In the 15. of the Corinthians we translate accor­ding to the Originall,1 Cor. 15.21. Behold I shew you a mysterie, we shall not all sleepe, but we shall all be changed: your Rhemists translate it according to the vulgar Latin, Rhem. Test. ib. flat contrary to the Originall, and the mea­ning of the Holy Ghost; Behold I tell you a mysterie, we shall all indeed rise againe, but we shall not bee changed.

In the second Epistle to the Corinthians wee reade according to the Originall, Wherefore hence­forth know we no more after the flesh, yea though we have knowne Christ after the flesh, yet henceforth know wee him no more: Rhem. Test. printed at Ant­werp An. 1621. in 2 Cor. 5.16. your Rhemists, doubting these words may trench too farre upon your natu­rall and carnall presence, have quite perverted the sense by their last Edition in these words, There­fore wee from henceforth know no man according to the flesh, and if we have knowne according to the flesh, but now know him no more. Here is no mention at all of Christ, but the chiefe words (yea) and (Christ) which are emphatically delivered by the Apostle, are quite left out; and I cannot conceive but it is done wittingly, because you have carefully observed [Page 57] the Errata upon the Annotations, but none upon the Text it selfe.

In the second of the Ephesians we reade accor­ding to the Originall,Ephes. 2.10. [...]. We are his workmanship crea­ted in Christ Jesus unto good workes: your Rhe­mists following the Latine Translation deprave the Text, saying;Non satis com­modè vertit vulg. Inter­pret. &c. Vega opusc. de Mer. & Justif. q. 6. Wee are created in Christ Jesus in good works: Which is no fit interpretation (saith your owne Vega) because we must beware lest that some take occasion from the Latine, to attribute the cause of their creation in Christ, unto his foreseene good works; than which nothing can be more contrarie to St. Pauls doctrine.

In the fift to the Ephesians according to the Originall we reade, [...]. Eph. 5, 32. This is a great mysterie (spea­king of Christs marriage to his Church) your Rhe­mists, to prove Matrimony one of their seven Sacra­ments, follow the Latin Translation, and say, This is a great Sacrament; Cajet. Coment. in hunc locum. whereas your Cardinall Ca­jetan tells us, The learned cannot inferre from hence that Mariage is a Sacrament, for St. Paul said not, It is a Sacrament, but a Mysterie.

Lastly, to maintaine your Image-worship, whereas we reade in the Hebrewes according to the Greek, Jacob blessed both the Sonnes of Joseph, [...]. Hebr. 11.21. and worshipped leaning upon the top of his staffe: your Rhemists according to the vulgar Latine reade it, Jacob dying, blessed every one of the sonnes of Joseph, and adored the top of his rod.

Thus I have given you a taste of the differen­ces betwixt our Translations, and your vulgar [Page 58] Latin; now let the Reader judge which of those readings are most agreeable to the Originall. If we enquire of your Rhemists, they tell us that we have no cause to complaine of their Translation, unlesse we complaine of the Greeke also. Nay more, they have not onely proclaimed it to the Reader, but they have outfaced the world in their Preface, that their Translation is so exact and precise, Preface to the Rhem. Testam. according to the Greeke, both the phrase and the word, that deli­cate Heretikes (for so they terme us) therefore re­prehend us of rudenesse, and that it followeth the Greeke farre more exactly then the Protestants Tran­slations.

It is true indeed, that sometimes you would seeme to affect the Greeke, sometimes the Latine tongue in your Translation; but withall you have cunningly devised uncouth words and phrases, and for this purpose onely, that the Scripture may seeme hard and obscure to the common people, that they might eyther take no pleasure in the reading them, or reape no benefit for want of understanding them:Rom. 13.13. Galat. 1.14.24 Galat. 4.17. 1 Pet. 2.5. Phil. 4.10. Ephes. 6.12. 1 Cor. 10.11. Hebr. 2.17. John 6.54. John 19.14. as for instance; Not in chambering and Im­pudicities. I expugned the faith. They emulate you not well, that you might emulate them. Be also your selves superedified. Once at length you have reflouri­shed to care for me. Against the spirituals of wic­kednesse in the celestials. But they are written to our correption. That he might repropitiate the sinnes of the people. All shall be docible of God. It was the Parasceve of Pasche. These and such like are the exact and precise Translations which you so bragge [Page 59] of, and for which we condemne you.

Now doe you joyne to these English phrases, your falsifying and corrupting the genuine sense of the Holy Ghost by your Latine Translations, and tell me if I may not truly retort your Assertion into your owne bosome: Scripture you have indeed, but so mangled, corrupted, perverted by Translation, that as (you) have it, it is as good as nothing.

But you have misinterpreted the Scriptures (say you) according to your owne fancies.

Your bolt is soone shot, and if all your words were Oracles, and that Ipse dixit were sufficient, your bare word (for other proofes you have none) would easily conclude us; but I will shew you so plainly, that without Spectacles you may see that these Aspersions likewise reflect upon your selves.

It was a question amongst your fellow Jesuits, whether Jacob Clemens the Dominican might by Authority of the Scripture kill Henry the third, B. Barloes de­fence of the Articles, in his Preface, p. 7. King of France; and one of your Jesuits reasoned thus with himselfe: Ehud killed Eglon, and there­fore I may kill Henry; for Eglon was a King, and so is Henry; Eglon signifies a Calfe, and Henry is a Calvinist; and therefore assuredly I may murther him by Scripture. I hope you will confesse that this Je­suite, although he were of your Society, did inter­pret the Scripture according to his owne fancie. In like manner, your Patriarke of Venice concludes seven Sacraments from the words of Scripture, and I conceive, it is according to his owne fancie: That [Page 60] (saith he) which Andrew spake, Inn. Gentil. exam. Concil. Trid. l. 4. n. 26. Sess. There is a Boy which hath five loaves and two fishes, must be understood of the ranke of St. Peters successors; and that which is added, Make the people sit downe; signifieth, that salvation must be offered them, by teaching them the seven Sacraments. And whereas the Prophet Da­vid saith; Thou hast put all things under his feet: Antoninus your Archbishop of Florence, Anton. in Sum. part. 3. tit. 22 c. 5. about two hundred years since, expounded those words in this manner: Thou hast made all things subject to the Pope; the Cattle of the field, that is to say, men living in the Earth: the fishes of the sea, that is to say, the soules in Purgatory: the fowles of the Ayre, that is to say, the soules of the Blessed in heaven: whether this Exposition be according to the sense which the Catholike Church holdeth, or according to his owne fancy, let the Reader judge.

Whitak. & Camp. Rat. 9.To come nearer to you: Moses saith, God made man after his Image: Pope Adrian inferreth, There­fore Images must be set up in Churches. St. Peter saith, Behold here are two swords: Pope Boniface concludes,Extra. de Ma­jor. & Obed. Therefore the Pope hath power over the spirituall and the temporall. St. Mathew saith, Give not that which is holy unto dogges: M^r. Harding ex­pounds it,Juels Def. p. 52. Therefore it is not lawfull for the vulgar people to reade the Scriptures. It was sayd to St. Peter in a vision, Arise, kill, and eate: your Car­dinall Baronius hence infers,In voto Baro­nii contra ve­netos. The Pope is Peter, and the Venetians are the meat which must be killed and devoured. To let passe those farre fetched and ex­travagant senses of Scriptures, which your learned [Page 61] men wyer-draw for your Romish Doctrine. It is the word of God, Goe to my servant Job, and he will pray for thee: therefore there is an Invocation of Saints in Scripture. Give us this day our daily bread: Bellar. de Sāct. Beat. l. 1. c. 10. therefore the bread must bee given to the Com­mon people, and not the Cup.Roffens. adver. Luther. Art. 16. Our Saviour opened the Booke of the Prophet Esay, and afterwards closed it: Ledis. de divinis Script. Quâ vis linguâ non le­gendâ. cap. 22. therefore Prayer and Service in an unknowne tongue is commanded by the Scripture. These and such like false glasses you temper for your Specta­cles, to deceive your poore ignorant Proselites with the name of Scripture; and for feare they should make any doubt of the right interpretation of them,Si quis habet interpretationē Ecclesiae Roma­nae, de loco ali­quo Scripturae, etiamsi—tamen habet ipsissimū verbum Dei. Hosius de ex­presso verbo Dei. your Cardinall Hosius protesteth to all Romanists, If a man have the Interpretation of the Church of Rome of any place of Scripture, he hath the very words of God; though he neither know, nor understand, whether, nor how it agreeth with the words of Scripture. This puts me in minde of that excellent passage of St. Hilary, who speaking of the errours and Heresies crept into the Church in the dayes of Constantius, makes this generall com­plaint, which in these dayes is truly verified in the Roman Church;Hilar. l. 3. ad Constant. & l. 1. ad Const. defunctum. Faith is now come to depend rather on time, than on the Gospel, your state is dangerous and miserable: you have as many faiths as wills, and as many doctrines as manners; whilst faiths are either so written as you list, or so vnderstood as you will.

I come now to your forbidden Bookes, wherein the mysterie of iniquitie: will manifestly appeare: [Page 62] and first touching the sacred Bible which is forbid­den in the first place.

The Bible (say you) is not so forbidden, but that it is in the Bishops power to grant leave, if upon Confe­rence with the Parish Priest or Confessor of the partie that desireth leave, he finde him to be such a one as may not incurre danger of faith, &c. which with any reasonable man may be counted sufficient liberty.

It is true that by the fourth Rule of Pope Pius the fourth, the Bible may be licensed by the Bi­shop, but the party must have the license in writing: and withall it is decreed,Regula 4. in indice libr. prohibit. p. 16. If any presume without such license either to reade or have it, unlesse he come in first and give up his Bible to his Ordinary, let him not have the pardon of his sinnes. It is not lawfull then to reade the Bible without a dispensation, but with a license any man may reade it: and this (say you) is sufficient liberty for any reasonable man. If I should grant you that which you say, yet you are never able to make good that license: for Pope Clement the eight about thirty yeares after, upon this dispensation so granted, gives us to understand, That upon the Rule of Pius the fourth, Observatio cir­cae 4. Regulam Ibid. p. 22. in fi­ne Concil. Tri­dent. no new power was granted to the Bishops, or Inquisitors, or Superiors, to license the buying, reading, or keeping the Bible in the vulgar tongue; seeing hitherto by the command and practise of the holy Inquisition, the power of granting such licenses, to reade or keepe Bi­bles in the vulgar Language, or any part of Scripture, as well of the New as the Old Testament, or any sums or Hystoricall Abridgement of the same in any vulgar [Page 63] Language hath beene taken from them: Quod qui­dem inviolatè servandum est; and this is inviolably to be observed. You see then, that howsoever your Pius Pope gave a dispensation for the reading of the Scriptures: yet Pope Clement his Successor, declared that license to be void and of none effect; and that which concludes your Assertion for an un­truth, it was by him decreed, to bee kept without any dispensation or violation.Inviolatè ser­vandum.

Thus touching the sacred Bible you have severall Translations, upon severall paines to be received, and both different each from other in many hun­dred places: you have ranked the sacred Bible a­mongst the Bookes prohibited; and lastly, you see­mingly grant a license for the Ignorant to reade the Scripture: and by another decree you abridge that license so granted. I proceed from the forbid­ding of Scriptures, to your purging and falsifying of the ancient Fathers.

As for Fathers (say you) it is most grossely false which the Knight after the ordinary Ministeriall tune, stands canting, that we blot out and raze them at our pleasures. What is it then that these men would have? What is it they can carpe at? Nothing but that they themselves are stung, in that hereby they are kept either from publishing their owne wicked workes, or corrupting the Fathers at their pleasure; and to wipe away this blemish from themselves, would lay it upon us. Thus you.

It seemes you have beene well acquainted with Rogues and sturdy Beggers, who have taught you [Page 64] the Terme of (Canting) a word proper for such kinde of people: but whereas you say it is grosse­ly false that you blot and raze the Fathers, and that therein we seeke to wipe away the blemish from our selves, and lay it upon you; for the better ma­nifestation of the truth, first, looke I pray upon the place where the corrupted Fathers were printed, & see by whom they were licensed; then heare your owne men witnessing their owne confession, of pur­ging them; and lastly, peruse the places which I shall produce razed and corrupted, and then tell me if the Mysterie of Iniquity doth not closely worke in your Roman Church, and that the ancient Fa­thers are grossely falsified, and notoriously cor­rupted by your owne men, even in the principall points of Doctrine controverted betwixt us.

First then wee must observe, that corruptions and abuse of ancient Fathers may be of three sorts; either by foisting into the Editions bastard Treati­ses, and intitling them to the Fathers; or by falsi­fying their undoubted Treatises by additions, de­tractions, or mutations; or lastly, by alledging passages, and places out of them, which are not ex­tant in their workes: and of all these three kindes your men are guilty,Expurgari & emaculari curâsti om­nium Catholi­corū scriptorū, praecipuè vete­rum Patrum scripta. Sixt. Senens. in Ep. Pio 5. as it shall appeare by instances in their severall Ages, for the first 800. yeares.

First, concerning the purging of Fathers; your Sixtus Senensis, in his Epistle dedicated to Pope Pius the fifth, amongst his many and famous deeds, recounts this for one of the greatest, That he cau­sed the writings of all Catholike Authours, but [Page 65] especially those of the ancient Fathers, to bee purged. And Gretzerus your Jesuit proclaimes it by way of justification;Gretz. l. 2. c. 10 If it be lawfull to suppresse or inhibite whole Bookes, as namely Tertullian and Origen, then it is lawfull likewise to suppresse a greater or lesser part of one, by cutting out, razing, blotting out, or by omitting the same simply for the benefit of the Rea­der. And Possevine your Jesuit tells us,Ad istos enim quoque purga­tio pertinet. Possev. l. 1. Bib­lioth. select. c. 12. that Manu­script Books are also to be purged, as well as printed; which shewes your good intention to the ancient Writers. I may adde to these, that you doe not onely purge, and corrupt the Fathers (as shall ap­peare in matter of fact in severall Ages) but you forge Bastard Epistles in the names of ancient Bi­shops, and you thrust counterfeits into the Chayre of the true and Catholike Doctors. Peter Warbeck is taken for Richard Duke of Yorke, and obscure Au­thors, as namely Dorotheus, Hormisda, Hermes, Hypolitus, Martialis, and other counterfeits, for famous Writers, and all to supply your defects of doctrine in the Orthodox Fathers. Severinus Bi­nius hath published certaine decretall Epistles in the names of Clemens, Anacletus, Evaristus, Sixtus, and many others, to the number of thirty one, all Bishops of Rome: Insomuch, as their Epistles are cited by Bellarmine, by Peresius, by Coccius, by Baronius, by your Rhemists, for severall proofes of your Trent Doctrine. Gratian saith,Grat. Dist. 20. Decretales. they are of equall Authority with Councels: nay more, he labours to prove out of St. Austin, Distinct. 19. in Canonicis. that those decretall E­pistles were reckoned by him amongst the Cano­nicall [Page 66] Scriptures; and yet by the severall Confessi­ons of your learned Writers, are adjudged to be all counterfeit: and without doubt, their leaden-stile, the [...] deepe silence of Antiquity concerning them, the Scriptures alledged by them after St. Hieroms Translation (being long before his time) doe easily convince them of falshood. Antoninus Contius, the Kings Professor of Law in the Universitie of Bruges, tells us that he brought many reasons in his Preface, and notes upon your Canon Law, which was printed at Antwerp, An. 1570. by which hee pro­ved, and shewed manifestly, that the Epistles of the Popes,Silvester An. 314. who were before Silvester, were all false and counterfeit. The Preface, with the reasons al­ledged against it, is now razed and purged; and Plantin the Printer gives this answer for it,Raynold. & Hart. Cap. 8. Divis. 3. p. 451. The Cen­sor who was to oversee the printed Bookes, would not suffer it to passe, and what became of it he remembred not, nor knew how to procure it. Thus your men are not onely ashamed to publish their Bastard Epistles, and equall them to the Word of God, in behalfe of your new doctrine, but you censure also and purge your owne men for condemning such lying inven­tions.

Whether to forge a false deed, or to raze a true one, be the greater fault, it is not greatly materiall: for your owne men are guilty of both. And lastly, when neither purging, nor falsifying will serve the turne (which you have practised in Bookes set out the first 800. yeares) you bring a Prohibition a­gainst all Authors, Priests, and Professors in the [Page 67] bosome of your owne Church, which testifie the truth of our doctrine, and injoyne them silence by your Index Expurgatorius, by cutting out their tongues, and refining them with a new impression; and this hath beene your ordinarie practice, for the last 800. yeares. I will give you instances in both, and so I come to the second Age.

In the second Age, Ignatius Bishop of Antioch witnesseth the antiquity of our Doctrine: he shews that our Communion in both kindes was practised in his dayes: [...]. Ignat. Ep. ad Philadelph. There is one Bread (saith he) broken for all, and one Cup distributed to all. In your Edi­tion printed at Colein, you have quite altered the sense by a corrupt Translation, saying: One Cup is distributed for all: and in the Margent,Unus Calix, qui pro omni­nibus nobis di­stributus est. Bibl. Pp. Tom. 1. Colon. Agripp. An. 1618. p. 85. Bell. de Euch. l. 4. c. 26. Una Eucha­ristia utendum. And that your corruption may not want an Advocate, your Cardinall Bellarmine tells us; There is not much credit to be given to the Greek Copies, for the Latine reades it otherwise: by which reason, a man may appeale from the Originall to a Translation; which is a thing unheard of.

Again, whereas he saith in the same Epistle, Oh yee Virgins in your prayers set Christ (onely) before your eyes, and his Father, being enlightened by his spirit: Ignat. ibid. ut suprà. hereby teaching, that we ought to directour prayers to the Trinity only, and not to Saints & Angels: your men in their late Edition printed at Lyons, by their corrupt translation have left out the word Precibus, Ignat. Lugdun. impres. An. 1572. and thrust in Animabus, soules for prayers; by which change of words, the sense & meaning of the Father is cleane perverted. It followeth further in the same [Page 68] Page, in speaking of Peter and Paul, and other Apo­stles, who betooke themselves to a married life; Severinus Binius, in his Annotations upon this place, tells us that those words (viz. Peter and Paul, and other Apostles, betook themselves to a mar­ried life) ought to be razed out;The third age. An. 200. to 300. because (saith he) it is probable the Grecians in honour of Marriage, corrupted the Text: A faire warning for us to take notice, that in after Editions that passage may also be cleane left out.

In the third Age, Tertullian paraphrasing upon the words of Christ,Caro nihil pro­dest, ad vivifi­candum scilicet. Tert. de Resur­rect. carnis, c. 37. Caro nihil pro­dest sed ad vi­vificandum. Tertul. Parisiis apud Michae­lem Julianum. An. 1580. p. (Mihi) 47. The flesh profiteth nothing: (saith) It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profi­teth nothing, (namely) to quicken: your Tertullian printed at Paris, hath quite perverted the meaning of the Father, and causeth him to speake fl [...]t contra­ry both to himselfe, and to the sense of Christ, in these words: The flesh profiteth nothing (but) to quicken.

St. Cyprian Bishop of Carthage is falsified and corrupted, for the circumgestation of your Sacra­ment, and the Popes Supremacie. In his Tract of pa­tience he tells us,Nec post gu­statam Euchari­stiam, manus gladio & cruo­re maculentur. Sic Cypr. Pari­siis apud Petrū Drovart. in vi­co Jacobaeo. An. 1541. fol. 89. Nec post gesta­tam Eucharisti­am, &c. Cypr. de bono Patien­tiae. Impress. Parisiis apud Claudium Cha­pelet Via Jaco­baea An. 1616. p. (Mihi) 316. Post gustatam Eucharistiam, &c. After the eating of the Eucharist, the hands are not, or ought not to be defiled with bloud: In your Cyprian printed at Paris and Colein, your men have witting­ly altered the words, saying, Post gestatam Eucha­ristiam; and so by transmutation of one letter, doe cite this place for the circumgestation of the Sacra­ment: whereas the Ceremonie of carrying about the Eucharist, was not knowne in many hundred [Page 69] yeares after Cyprians time. But Pamelius, a Canon of the Church of Bruges, and Licentiate in Divi­nity, returnes this answer in defence of it:Cum manu non gustetur Eucha­ristia, sed olim gestari consueta sit, prorsus illud ex Cambrensi Codice substitu­endum duxi, pro eo quod erat gustatam. Annot. in lib. de bono Patient. pag. (Mihi) 321 Foras­much as the Eucharist cannot be tasted with the hand, but was wont anciently to be carried with the hand, I thought it best to change the word Tasting, into Car­rying; which I borrowed from an ancient Copie in Cambron Abbey. The word then we see was chan­ged by his owne Confession, and the Cambron Co­pie is brought for the defence of this forgerie: which differing from all other Copies may be just­ly suspected. For his reason, that we taste not with our hand, it is frivolous: For St. Cyprian saith not, gustatam manu, but simply gustatam; which taste yet was not without taking the Sacrament into the hand.

You have heard Pamelius confession: Now let us heare what Manutius hath done in publishing of St. Cyprian; for Pamelius tells us, that St. Cyprian printed at Rome by Paulus Manutius, Indiculus Co­dicum in Cy­priano. in the yeare 1563. is a much more bettered and corrected Edi­tion, than any other: and accordingly your learned Priest M^r. Hart assures us, that Pope Pius the 4^th,Hart & Ray­nolds, c. 5. Di­vis. 2. p. 167. being desirous that the Fathers should be set forth and corrected perfectly, sent to Venice for Manutius a famous Printer, that he should come to Rome to doe it; and to furnish them the better with all things ne­cessary, be put foure Cardinals, wise and vertuous, in trust with the worke; and for the correcting of Cy­prian especially above the rest, singular care was ta­ken; by Cardinal Baromaeus, a Copie was gotten of [Page 70] great antiquity from Verona, and the exquisite di­ligence of learned men was used in it.

These Testimonies make a faire shew of sin­cere and plaine dealing: and no doubt if there were not double diligence used by them, the Roman Cy­prian doth exceed all the rest, and is freest from cor­ruption: That the truth thereof may appeare, let us looke into St. Cyprian in his booke touching the Unity of the Church. De Veritate Ecclesiae. Whereas the ancient and true Cyprian sayth, The rest of the Apostles were equall unto Peter both in honour and power; the Ro­man Cyprian, printed by Manutius, and your late Paris Cyprian, Cypr. Parisiis apud Clau [...]ium Chapelet. An. 1616. hath added these words, The Pri­macie is given to Peter. And whereas the ancient Cyprian saith, Christ did dispose the Originall of unitie beginning from one; the Roman and Paris have added,Unam Cathedrā constituit. p. 254. He appointed one Chayre. And whereas the ancient Cyprian sayth, The Church of Christ may be shewed to be one; the Roman and Paris have added,Cathedra una. constituitur ib. and the Chayre to bee one. And because the Chayre may bee as well applyed to the Bishop of Carthage, as to the Bishop of Rome, the Paris Cy­prian hath added Peters chayre. Cathedram Pe­tri. Ibid. And whereas it was in Cyprian, even in the Roman print too, Hee who withstandeth and resisteth the Church, doth he trust himselfe to be in the Church? the Paris Cyprian addeth;Qui Cathe­dram Petri, su­pra quam fun­data est Ec­clesia, deserit, in Ecclesia se es­se confidit? ibid. He who forsaketh Peters chayre, in which the Church was founded, doth he trust himselfe to bee in the Church?

Now as you have heard that Manutius hath added, and forged much in his Roman Edition, for [Page 71] the Popes Supremacie, so likewise you shall ob­serve, that he hath rased and purged an ancient Re­cord and speciall Evidence, against the universality and supremacie of the Bishops of Rome; It is an Epistle written by Firmilianus Bishop of Caesarea to St. Cyprian (which St. Cyprian translated into Latin, as your Pamelius doth confesse) wherein he professeth, that he is justly moved with indignation, at the manifest folly of Stephanus (then Bishop of Rome) that boasting so much of his Bishoprick, Atque ego hāc in parte justè indignor, ad hanc tam aper­tam & mani­festam Stepha­ni stultitiam. Firmilian. Cyp. S. Ep. 75. p. 203 Noli te fallere, siquidem ille est verè schismati­cus, &c. p. 204. Insuper & Cy­prianum Pseu­do-Christum, & Pseudo-Aposto­lum, & dolosum operarium dice­re, qui omnia in se conscius praevenit, &c. p. 205. and that he hath the succession of Peter, upon whom the foundation of the Church was set; brings in many other Rockes, &c. He bids him not deceive himselfe, he hath made himselfe a Schismaticke by separating himselfe from the Communion of the Ecclesiasticall unitie; for while he thinkes he can separate all from his Communion, he hath separated himselfe onely from all. He taxeth him for calling St. Cyprian a false Christ, a false Apostle, and a deceitfull workeman; which he himselfe being guilty of, and privie to him­selfe, that those termes of right belong to himselfe; by way of prevention, he objected them to another.

Touching these severall Additions and Extracti­ons, Pamelius (by whom the Antwerp and Paris Cyprian were set forth) first excuseth Manutius for adding the words in his Roman print; and tells us, they were found in a written Copie of the Cam­bron Abbey in Hannonia, which was the best of all the Copies he had; and therefore, saith [...]e, we were not afraid to insert that Reading into the Text. Non sumus ve­riti in textum inserere. Yet Manutius himselfe professeth, he perused five and [Page 72] twenty printed and Manuscript Copies, which had none of those Additions; and as touching the Epi­stle to, or from Firmilianns (which proves a resi­stance anciently made against the usurped power of the Pope) Pamelius thinkes it was left out purpose­ly by Manutius; and, saith he, Perhaps it had beene more wisedome it had never been set out at all: Argumentum Ep. 75. p. 198. (but withall he addeth) because Morelius did publish it before me, I thought it not fit to let it passe, but print it.

Now let us looke backe, and examine the rea­son of these several Editions and falsifications. M^r. Hart sayth, that the Additions were taken from a very ancient Copie gotten from Verona; Pamelius saith, they were borrowed from a Manuscript in the Cambron Abbey in Hannonia: but in 25. Co­pies the Additions were not to be found. Mr. Hart saith, the true Copie was printed at Rome, by the Popes command, and with the advise of vertuous and wise men, to be perfectly corrected, and free from all spots. Pamelius saith, it was better than any other; but withall, it was not so exact, but that the old Proverbe might take place, the latter is commonly the better. Lastly, touching the razing out the Epistle of Firmilianus, Pamelius conclu­deth that his Copie (which doth cite it) is so per­fect, Indiculus Codi­cum in initio Cypriani. that, be it spoken without envie, there will need no further recognition; yet happely (saith he) it had beene better it had never come forth.

Thus you may discerne, what forgeries are used by your men, to support the circumgestation [Page 73] of your Sacrament, and the Popes Supremacie; which is a maine Pillar of your Faith: And this may serve to shew your falsifications and forgeries in the third Age.

In the fourth Age.The fourth age. An. 300. to 400. The first Generall Coun­cell of Nice is forged by Zozimus Bishop of Rome, in behalfe of his owne supremacie. The pretended Canon is this;In Concil. Car­thag. c. 1. Binius Those who in the Nicene Synod gave their sentence concerning Appeales of Bishops, said in this manner: If a Bishop shall be accused, and the Bishops of his owne Province shall thereupon con­demne and degrade him, if he thinke fit to appeale, and thereupon flye to the most holy Bishop of Rome, if he be pleased to have the hearing of it, the Bishop is to write to the Bishops adjoyning, and let it be at his plea­sure to doe what he will, and as he in his judgement shall thinke fittest to be done. This Canon is not to be found either in the Greeke or Latine Copies of the Nicene Councell; and those Canons in all were but 20. It is true that you pretend, that there were in all 60. Canons, whereof 40. were burned by the Arabians, (amongst which this Canon was one:) But if they were extant, how were they bur­ned? And if they were burned, how came you to the knowledge of them? The truth is, their Bastar­die (saith Contius your Lawyer) is proved even by this, that no man, no not Gratian himselfe, Raynold. chap. 9. Divis. 2. pag. 575. durst al­ledge them.

Eusebius Caesariensis Bishop of Caesarea is cor­rupted, to prove the Popes supremacie: In the Ba­sil print translated by Ruffinus, he sayth, Peter, [Page 74] James, Euseb. impr. Basiliae ex Offi­cinâ Henr. Pe­trina, Ruffino Aquiliensi In­terprete. Sed Jacobum, qui dicebatur Justus, Aposto­lorum Episcopū statuerat. Eus. l. 2. Eccl. Hist. c. 1 [...]677. Petrum, Jaco­bum, & Johan­nem, non de glo­riâ & honore contendisse in­ter se, sed uno consensu Jaco­bum Justū Hie­rosolymonum Episcopū desig­nâsse. Coloniae Allobrogum, ex­cudebat Petrus de la Roviere. An. 1612. and John, after the Assumption of our Savi­our, although they were preferred by him before all the rest of the Apostles, yet did they not challenge the honor of Primacie to themselves, but appointed James, which is called Justus, to be Bishop of the Apostles: In your Coleine Edition, you have altered the sense, in this manner: Peter, James, and John, when they had obtai­ned of our Lord a high degree of dignity, they did not contend about glory and honor amongst themselves, but with one consent made James Bishop of Jerusalem: Thus the true and ancient Eusebius saith Peter and the rest did not challenge the honor of primacie; the latter saith, they did not strive about glory and ho­nour: the ancient saith, they appointed James, which is called Justus, to be Bishop of the Apostles; the o­ther saith they nominated Justus Bishop of Jerusalē.

This Authority is so pregnant against the Popes Jurisdiction, claimed from Peter, that Bellarmine hath nothing to answer, but this: Although those words be found in the Basil print, translated by Ruffi­nus, yet in a Colein print, translated and published by a Roman Catholike, Bellar. de Rom. Pont. l. 1. c. 26. the word Primacie is not to bee found; and in stead of the words [Bishop of the Apo­stles] are inserted, Bishop of Jerusalem. The Car­dinall doth not complaine, that Ruffinus Transla­tion was false and corrupt (for they are the words in the Originall of the ancient Eusebius) neither could he say truly, that the Colein was translated by a Catholike, for indeed it is the property of an Here­ticke to falsifie and corrupt the Text. And thus you have done in your Colein Edition, where you have altered the sense in that manner.

Eusebius Emissenus Bishop of Emesa in Syria is forged by Gratian for the doctrine of Transub­stantiation:Grat. Dist. 2. de Consecrat. Quia corpus, fol. (Mihi) 432. his words are these; Christ the invisible Priest, turned the visible creature into the substance of his body and bloud, with his word and secret power, saying; Take, eate, this is my Body: whereas there are no such words to be found in all his Works.

The Councell of Laodicea is falsified in favour of your Invocation of Angels. The words of the Originall are these: [...]. &. c. Conc. Laod. Can. 35. Bin. Tom. 1. p. 245. Christians ought not to forsake the Church of God, and depart aside and invocate Angels, and make meetings, which are things forbid­den: If any man therefore be found to give himselfe to this privie Idolatrie, let him be accursed. Now in the same Councell published by James Merlyn, and Fryer Crab, by transmutation of a letter, you are taught a lesson contrary to sense and reason, saying,Quod non o­porteat Ecclesiā Dei relinquere, & abire, atque angelos nomi­nare, & congre­gationes facere. Merlin Tom. 1. Concil. edit. Col. An. 1530. f. 68. Crab. edit. An. 1538. Colon. fol. 226. Veritas non quaerit Angulos. It is not lawfull for Christians to forsake the Church of God, and goe and nominate or invocate Angels, or corners, and make meetings; and thus Angell are be­come Anguli, Angels are become Angles, or Cor­ners, as if truth did seeke Corners, when so faire an Evidence is brought against Invocation of An­gels.

St. Basil, the great Archbishop of Caesarea, was forged by Pope Adrian the first, at the second Councell of Nice, for the worship of Images; his words are these:Pro quo & fi­guras Imaginū eorum honoro, & adoro, & veneror specia­litèr, hoc enim traditum est à Sanctis Aposto­lis, nec est prohi­bendum: ac ideò in omnibus Ec­clesiis nostris eo­rum designamus Historias. Ci­tat. ab Adriano. in Synod. Nic. 2. Act. 2. p. (Mihi) 504. For which cause I honor and open­ly adore the figures of the Images (speaking of the Apostles, Prophets, and Martyrs) and this being de­livered us by the Apostles, is not prohibited; but in all [Page 76] Churches we set forth their Histories. This Autho­rity was cited by Pope Adrian, in the name of Ba­sil the Great in his Epistles; when as in all his Epi­stles, of which are extant 180. there are no such words to be found.

St. Hierome is likewise forged for the same do­ctrine, and by the same Pope: the words in the E­pistle are these;Sicut permisit Deus adorare omnem gentem manufacta &c. Citatur ibid. Ep. Adr. p. (Mihi) 506. As God gave leave to the Gentiles, to worship things made with hands, and to the Jewes to worship the carved workes, and two golden Cheru­bins which Moses made; so hath he given to us Chri­stians the crosse, and permitted us to paint and reve­rence the Images of Gods workes, and so to procure him to like of our labour. These words (you see) are cited by your owne Pope, at a generall Councell, as you pretend, for a point of your Romish faith; and yet there are no such words, nor the meaning of of them, to be found in either of those Fathers; and without doubt there was great scarcity of true an­cient Fathers to bee found at that time, to prove your adoration of Images, when your Pope was driven to shifts and forgeries: especially, when your owne Polydore tells you,Polyd. de Rerū Invent. that the worship of Ima­ges, not onely Basil, but almost all the ancient ho­ly Fathers condemned, for feare of Idolatrie; as S. Hierome himselfe witnesseth. This puts me in mind of Erasmus complaint, that the same measure was afforded to Basil,Eras. in Praefat. lib. de Spirit. Sanct. Bas. which hee had otherwise observed in Athanasius, Chrysostome, Hierome, that in the middle of Treatises, many things were stuffed and for­ced in by others, in the name of the Fathers.

St. Ambrose Bishop of Millaine is falsified and corrupted. Franciscus Junius as an eye witnesse,Junius Praefat. in Ind. Expurg. Belg. tells us, that at Leyden in the yeare 1559. being fa­miliarly acquainted with Ludovicus Saurius Cor­rector of the Printing house, and going to visit him, hee found him revising of St. Ambrose workes which then Frelonius was printing: after some con­ference had betwixt them, Ludovicus shewed him some printed leaves, partly cancelled and partly razed; saying, this is the first Impression, which wee printed most faithfully, according to the best Copies; but two Franciscan Fryers by command have blotted out those passages, and caused this alteration, to my great losse and astonishment.

It may be the discoverie of it by Junius might stay their further printing of it, or else might be an occasion to call it in after the printing; for other­wise if that Impression may be had, it were worthy the examination.Bolscus dicit se in manibus Se­cretarii hoc te­stimonium vi­disse, & in­spexisse. In disp. de Antichristo in Apend. Nu. 49. &. 53. Lau­rent. Rever. Rom. Eccl. p. 190. Non habent Petri haeredi­tatem qui Petri sedem non ha­bent. Grat de Paenit. Dist. 1. c. Potest fieri. But for a proofe of this falsified Ambrose, Lessius the Jesuit tells us, that Bolseck doth confesse he saw the Copie in the hands of a Se­cretary: howsoever their later Editions are sufficient proofe of your manifold falsifications. But I will speak of Impressions (onely) that have been within my view. First, to prove your succession in doctrine in your owne Church, Gratian tells us from St. Ambrose, They have not the succession of Peter, who have not the Chayre of Peter; and thus he hath chan­ged Fidem into Sedem, Faith into Chaire. This forgery in time may creepe into the Body of Am­brose; but as yet the words of Ambrose are agree­able [Page 76] to our doctrine; that is,Non habent Petri haeredi­tatem qui Petri fidem non ha­bent. Ambr. de Paenit. c. 6. Tom. 1. p. 156. Basil. apud Joh. Frob. An. 1527. Ambr. de Sacr. l. 4. c. 5. Tom. 4. p. 393. Basil. ut suprà. they have not the succes­sion of Peter, which want the faith of Peter. These be the words of true and ancient Ambrose, hereby de­claring unto us, and them, that they may have the See of Peter, and yet want the faith of Peter.

Againe, in his Booke of the Sacrament St. Am­brose saith,Fac nobis hāc oblationem ascriptam, &c. quod fit in fi­guram corporis & sanguinis Jesu Christi. Amb. Colon. A­gripp. An. 1616 Tom. 4. p. 173. Make this Oblation to be a reasonable & acceptable one (quod est figura) which is a figure of the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ: Your Ambrose prin­ted at Colein, doth mince those words, and sayth, (quod fit in figuram) as if it might stand for a figure, but were no figure; and more particularly in the Canon of your Masse, you cite all those former words of Ambrose to prove the Antiquity of your Masse, but you leave out the latter (which is a figure of the Body) and say;Ut nobis corp{us} & sanguis fiat dilectissimi filii tui Domini no­stri Jesu Chri­sti. Missale Parv. An. 1626 p. (Mihi) 82. Grant that it may be to us the body and bloud of our Lord Jesus Christ. And lastly, that Ambrose might seemingly appeare to be yours, in the point of Transubstantiation, whereas he shew­eth the power and wonders of God in creating all things of nothing by his word only, and from thence concludeth,Si ergo tanta vis est in sermo­ne Domini Jesu, ut inciperent esse quae non erant; quantò magis operato­rius est, ut sint quae erant & in aliud commu­tentur? Idem de sacr. l. 4. c. 4. Basil ut suprà, p. 392. If therfore there be so great force in the speech of our Lord Jesus, that the things which were not begun to be (namely, at the first creation of all things) how much more is the same powerful, to make that those things may still be the same they were, and yet be chan­ged into another thing? Here St. Ambrose sheweth plainly, that the Elements of Bread and Wine are the same in substance as they were before, although they are changed into another nature. Your Inquisi­tours knowing well that such Doctrine is flat con­trary [Page 77] to their Tenet, which teach that the Ele­ments are not the things in substance they were be­fore Consecration, have wisely left out in their late Edition two poore words, (Sint) and (et) and ac­cordingly the sense runneth after this manner; How much more is the speech of our Lord powerfull to make that those things which were, Ut quae erant in aliud commu­tentur. Paris. An. 1603. & Colon. Agripp. An. 1616. Tom. 4. p. 173. should bee changed into another thing. And by this meanes St. Ambrose a Protestant, is become a Masse Priest; and with a clip­ped tongue lispeth Transubstantiation. Fryer Wal­den in writing against Wickliffe, cites this place by the halves (ut sint et in aliud commutentur) he would have the Elements one thing,Wald. de sacr. Euch. Tom. 2. c. 82 p. (Mihi) 138. b. and changed into ano­ther, but excludes the principall words (quae erant) shewing that they should be the same, which they were before; and Lanfranck long before him stor­med at Berengarius, for citing this place out of St. Ambrose in behalfe of our Doctrine, and cryes out against him, O mentem amentem! &c. O mad mind! O impudent lyar! now truly there is no such words to be found in all St. Ambrose his workes, Ed. Parisiis 1632. Ex editione Romanâ: In quâ quae vel vi­tio vel incuriâ erant adjecta, sunt rejecta; quae sublata, re­stituta; quae transposita, re­posita; quae de­pravata, emen­data, &c. In the fift age. An. 400. to 500. &c. But there is an Ambrose lately printed at Paris, which makes a great promise of integrity and purity, and yet the words are corruptly printed, according to your o­ther of Paris and Colein print.

In the fift age, St. Chrysostome Archbishop of Constantinople is razed and purged, touching the doctrine of the Sacrament: his words bee these; If therefore it be so dangerous a matter to transferre unto private uses those holy Vessels (in which the true Body of Christ is not, but the mysterie of his body is [Page 80] conteyned.) These latter words comprehended in the Parenthesis, Chrys. Antwer­piae apud Jo­hannem Steel­sium, An. 1537. Paris. apud Jo­hannem Roig­ny. An. 1543. & Paris. apud Au­doenum Parvū. Anno 1557. in the Editions of Antwerpe and Paris are wholly left out, there is not a syllable of them to bee seene: for indeed the Author of that worke saith negatively, that (the true body of Christ is not) there, which overthrowes the very ground of your Popish presence: and although your men make great brags of Antiquity, to prove your reall Sacrifice of the Altar out of St. Chrysostome; yet in the 19. Homily upon St. Matthew, where hee termes it the Sacrifice of bread and wine, Sacrificium panis & vini. they being also privie to this evidence, as against their owne doctrine,Sacrificium corporis & sā­guinis Christi. Paris. apud Au­doenum Parvū. An. 1557. in. c. 7. Matt. Hō. 19. Nunc autem nullo modo cog­noscere quae sit Ec­clesia Christi, ni­si (tantummodò) per scripturas. Idem Homil. 49. Tom. 2 p. mihi. 858. in their Edition at Paris have taught him to speake the Trent language, in these words; It is the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of Christ.

Touching the Testimony of divine Scriptures, St. Chrysostome is purged; he tells us in his 49. Ho­mily, That from the time that Heresies invaded the Church, there can be no triall of Christianity, nor re­fuge for Christians, who are willing to know the true faith, but to the divine Scriptures; for at that time there is no way to know which is the true Church, but by the Scriptures onely: This authority is wholly agreeable to our doctrine, and thereupon these times of Controversies and Heresies, that have over­spread the face of the Church, wee say with St. Chrysostome, those that be in Judaea, let them flye to the Mountaines of the Scriptures. But what an­swer can be made, thinke you, to the razing of so faire an Evidence? BeholdTotus hic lo­cus, tanquam ab Arrianis inser­tus, è quibus­dam Godicibus nuper emenda­tis sublatus est. Bell de verbo Dei l. 4. c. 11. Bellarmine tells us, that this whole passage (as if it had beene inserted into [Page 81] St. Chrysostome by the Arrians) is blotted out of the late corrected Editions: and, as our learned Doctor Crakenthorpe in his answer to Spalatto observed, there is above 70. lines in the Antwerpe Edition,Crakenth. in Spalat. p. (mihi) 59. published 1537. purged in this Homily. It seemes then it is hereticall doctrine, to have recourse to the Scriptures onely for finding of the truth; But sure I am, it is the part of Heretikes to raze ancient Re­cords, and to avoyd the triall of their cause by the sacred Scriptures.

The fourth Councell of Carthage (where St. Au­stin was present) is in part forged, in part razed: In the 100. Canon it was thus decreed:Mulier bapti­zare non prae­sumat. Concil. Carthag. c. 100. Let no woman presume to baptize. What answer therefore may we expect to this Canon? Binius the publisher of the Councels, expounds the meaning of it thus; The Councell (saith he) doth decree that a woman should not presume to baptize, that is, Binius ibid. in his Annot. when the Priest is pre­sent: on the other side, Peter Lombard and Gratian, Pet. Lomb. l. 4. Sent. Dist. 6. Grat. Can. Mu­lier de Consecr. Dist. 4. they have put in their exception, (nisi necessitate cogente) except it be in case of necessitie: so that in the absence of the Priest, and in case of necessitie, women may baptize by the authority of your Church, notwithstanding the Councels decree. And this is according to Bellarmines confession: Al­though (saith he) those words of exception (nisi ne­cessitate cogente) be not found in the Tomes of Coun­cels, Bell. de Baptis. l. 1. c. 7. yet Peter Lombard and Gratian cite the Canon in that manner. And thus by your owne Cardinals profession, your Priests have added that exception to the Canon, to dispense with women for Admi­nistration [Page 82] of the Sacrament, which is not found in the Councell.

Againe, the same Councell is razed both by the compiler of the decrees, and publisher of the Coun­cels: for the Councell saith in the 44. Canon,Clericus nec comam nutriat, nec barbam ra­dat. Concil. Carth. Can. 44. Let no Clerke weare long hayre, nor shave his Beard: The decretals, and your late Councels published by Binius, have left out the word (Radat) and have quite altered the sense of the decree, and so you [...] Church hath gone directly against the meaning of the Councell in shaving of Priests.

S. Austin Bishop of Hippo is both purged, and falsi­fied in favor of your doctrine. First, for the purging of him your own men make this declaration:Augustinus nuper Venetiis excusus, in quo, praeter multo­rum locorum restitutionem secundum colla­tionem veterum exemplarium, curavimus re­moveri illa om­nia quae fideliū mentes haereticâ pravitate pos­sent inficere, aut a Catholica or­thodoxa fide deviare. Prae­fat. Ind. lib. pro­hibit. ad Lecto­rē, Genevae im­press. an. 1629. St. Austin was lately printed at Venice, in which Edition, as we have restored many places according to the anci­ent Copies; so likewise we have taken care to remove all those things, which might either infect the mindes of the faithfull with Heresies, or cause them to wander from the Catholike faith. This publike profession your men have made, and accordingly theIn hunc modū est repurgatus, ut in libri in­scripsione testā­tur qui editioni praefuerunt. Ibid. p. 6. Booke was purged, as those who were present at that Edi­tion doe witnesse in the Inscription of the Booke: but let us returne to the corrupted Editions in our view.

St.De Civitate Dei lib. 22. c. 24. Austin in his 22. booke of the Citie of God and 24. Chapter, is cyted byBell. de Purg. l. 1. c. 4. Bellarmine for the proofe of Purgatory: yet in that Chapter (saithLud. Vives in lib. de Civit. Dei. c. 8. Vives) in the ancient Manuscript Copies, which are at Bruges and Colein, those ten or twelve printed lines are not to be found: And in the 22. booke and 8. [Page 83] Chapter he tells us, there are many additions in that Chapter, without question, foysted in by such as make practise of depraving Authors of great Authority.

Touching forgeries and falsifications in particu­lar: The humane nature of Christ is destroyed, if there be not given it, after the manner of other bodies, a cer­taine space wherein it may be contained. In your Edi­tion of Paris, printed by Sebastian Nivelle, An. 1571. this pas­sage is wholly left out: This is observed by Dr. Moulin, but the Authour so printed I have not seene. But when neither adding nor detracting could make good your Transubstantiation, Fryer Walden thought it the surest way to forge a whole passage in the name of St. Austin, which indeed strongly proves the very name and nature of it: The words are these;Wald. Tom. 2. de Sacram. c. 83. p. (mihi) 141. No man ought to doubt when Bread and Wine are consecrated into the substance of Christ, so as the substance of bread and wine doe not remaine, whereas we see many things in the workes of God no lesse marvellous. A woman God changeth substantially into a stone, as Lots wife; and in the small workemanship of man, hay and ferne into glasse. Neither must we beleeve that the substance of bread and wine remaineth, but the bread is turned into the Body of Christ, and the wine into his bloud, the quali­ties or accidents of bread and wine onely remaining. This forgery was judicially allowed by Pope Mar­tin the fift, and his Cardinals, in their Consistorie, and yet it savours rather of a Glasse-maker, than an ancient Father: but what answer maketh Walden to this invention?Ego enim repe­ri & trāscripsi de vetustissimo exemplari scripto antiquâ valdè manu formatâ. Idem Ibid. I found it (saith he) and transcribed [Page 84] it out of a very ancient Copie written with a set hand. Thus one while you adde, another while you de­tract, another while you falsifie the ancient Fathers, if either they make for us or against you; and yet you tell us, that we are guiltie of corrupting the Fa­thers. But above all, Gratian hath most shame­fully and lewdly falsified St. Austin, whom he hath made to say;Inter Canoni­cas Scripturas decretales Epi­stolae connume­rantur. Dist. 29. In Canonicis. fol. 19. A. The decretall Epistles of the Popes are accounted in the number of Canonicall Scrip­tures.

The truth is, St. Austin in his booke of Christian doctrine, informes a Christian what Scripture hee should hold for Canonicall; and thereupon bids him follow the greater part of the Catholike Church: Amongst which those Churches are, which had the happinesse to injoy the seates of the Apostles, and to re­ceive Epistles from them. Gratian in the Canon Law altereth the words thus: Amongst which Ca­nonicall Scriptures, those Epistles are which the Apo­stolicke See of Rome hath, and which others have de­served to receive from her; and accordingly the title of the Canon is, Inter Canonicas Scripturas, &c. The decretall Epistles of Popes are counted by St. Austin for Canonicall Scriptures. Now judge you what greater forgerie, nay what greater blasphemie can be devised, or uttered against Christ and his Spirit, than that the Popes Epistles should bee ter­med canonicall Scriptures, and held of equall au­thority with the Word of God; especially since by your owne men they are censured as Apocryphall and counterfeit Epistles. Your owne Bellarmine, as [Page 85] a man ashamed of such grosse forgeries, would seeme to excuse it;Bell. de Concil. Author. l. 2. c. 12. Primo. That Gratian was deceived by a corrupt copie of St. Austin, which he had besides him, and that the true and corrected copies have not the words, as himselfe reporteth. Thus Walden excuseth his forgerie by an ancient Manuscript, the Cardi­nall by a corrupt copie; and yet, by your Cardinals leave, this and many other such like forgeries stand printed in the Canon Law, no Index Expurgato­rius layes hold on them, notwithstanding hee professeth the worke was purged and restored to his integrity, by most learned men, Idem de script Eccles. An. 1100 de Gratiano. Alph. advers. haereses, l. 1. c. 2. in fine. Ad transma­rina qui puta­verint appel­landum, a nullo infra Africam in Communione suscipiatur. Bin. in Concil. Milevit. Cā. 22 & Codex Can. Eccl. Afric. Can. 28. v. Nisi forte ad Apostolicam se­dem appellave­rint. Grat. cau­sa 2. quest. 6. Placuit. fol. (Mihi) 153. Haec exceptio non videtur quadrare. Bell. de Pont. l. 2. c. 24. by the command of Gregory the 13. in the yeare 1580. Your Alphon­sus â Castro tells us, that this shamefull errour ought to be made knowne to all men, lest others by this abuse, take occasion to erre in like manner; as namely, Johannes de Turrecremata, and Cardinall Cajetan, who both cited this place out of Gratian for the Romish faith, and the Popes Supremacie, and yet no such thing is to be found in St. Austin.

The Councel of Milevis, alias, the African Coun­cell, is falsified by Gratian for the Popes Supre­macie: The words of the Councell are these, Those that offer to appeale beyond the Seas, let none within Africa receive them to Communion: Gratian ob­serving that this was a strong evidence and barre to the Popes Supremacie, according to his custome, hath thrust in these words into the Canon (Except it bee to the Apostolike See of Rome.) Now what saith Bellarmine to this falsification? He confesseth that some say, This exception doth not seem to square [Page 86] with the Councell: I know not how the squares goe with your men at Rome, but I finde that amongst your partie there is no rule without an exception; especially if it make against your doctrine.

St. Cyrill Bishop of Alexandria is purged in the Text it selfe, and is forged by Aquinas, for two principal points of faith; viz. Transubstantiation, and the Popes Supremacie: Touching the first he saith, That we might not feele horrour, Aquin. in Cate­na in illud Luc. 22. Accepto. pane, &c. seeing flesh and bloud on the sacred Altar, the Sonne of God condescending to our infirmities, doth penetrate with the power of life into the things offered (to wit, Bread and Wine) converting them into the verity of his owne flesh, that the body of life, as it were a quickening seed, might be found in us. Here is a faire Evidence, or rather a foule falsification for your carnall presence. But what saith your owne Vasques the Jesuit?Citatur Cyril­lus Alex. in E­pistola ad Casy­rium, quae inter ejus opera non habetur, illius tamen testimo­nium citat S. Thomas in Ca­tena. Aquinas in opusculo contra errores Graeco­rum, ad Urba­num quartum Pontificem maximum. Cyrils testimony is cyted by Thomas, but there is no such Tract to be found in all his workes.

Againe, touching the Popes Supremacie, hee brings in St. Cyrill saying, As Christ received power of his Father, over every power, a power most full and ample, that all things should bowe to him; so hee did commit it most fully and amply, both to Peter and his Successors, and Christ gave his owne to none else save to Peter fully, but to him he gave it. And the Apo­stles in the Gospels and Epistles have affirmed in eve­ry doctrine, Peter and his Church to bee in stead of God. And to him, even to Peter, all doe bowe their head by the law of God, and the Princes of the world are obedient to him, even as to the Lord Jesus. And [Page 87] we, as being members, must cleave unto our head the Pope, and the Apostolike See: That it is our duty to seeke and enquire what is to be beleeved, what to bee thought, what to be held, because it is the right of the Pope alone to reprove, to correct, to rebuke, to confirme, to dispose, to loose, and binde. Here is a large and ample testimony cited in the name of an ancient Father for the honour and power of the universall Bishop. This passage is alledged out of Cyrils worke intitu­led The Treasurie against Heretiques; Thesaurus ad­versus haereti­cos. Tom. 2. p. 1. but whereas there are 14. Bookes written by him of that Title, there are no such words to be found in the whole Tract. But observe the proceedings of your good Saint; hee conceived the authoritie of one Father (though rightly cited) was not a sufficient proofe for an Article of faith, and thereupon, to make good his former Assertion, hee summons 630. Bishops, who (saith hee) with one voice and consent made this generall acclamation in the Councell of Chal­cedon; God grant long life to Leo, the most holy, Aquinas in opusculo, ut su­pra. Apo­stolike, and universall Patriarch of the whole World. He tels us further, it was decreed by the same Coun­cell, If any Bishop be accused, let him appeale to the Pope of Rome, because we have Peter for a rocke of refuge, and he alone hath right, with freedome of power, in stead of God, to judge and try the cause of a Bishop accused, according to the keyes which the Lord did give him. Without doubt this decree was a good inducement for the Church of England to subscribe to the Popes Supremacie (if you could make good this proofe out of the Councell of [Page 88] Chalcedon) for it is one of the first foure generall Councels, which we subscribe unto by our Acts of Parliament. An. 1. Elizab. But where are those words to bee found in that Councell? Your Pope Zozimus falsi­fied a Canon in the first Councell of Nice (as I have shewed) and your Popes Champion St. Thomas hath falsified another, and both for the universality of the Pope; by which you may easily discerne, that you wanted antiquity to prove your faith, when your men are driven to forge and faine a con­sent of many hundred Bishops, in an ancient and ge­nerall Councell,See Concil. Chalced. Can. 28. Act. 15. for the supporting of your Lord Paramount; when as in truth it decreed the flat con­trary doctrine.

Grat. de Con­secr. dist. 2. c. Comperimus. Gelasius Papa Majorico & Johanni Epis­copis. Ibid. Gelasius Bishop of Rome is corrupted, where hee condemneth halfe Communion as sacrilegious: his words are these; We finde that some receiving a por­tion of Christs holy Body, abstaine from the Cup of his sacred Bloud, which because they doe out of I know not what superstition, we command therefore that ei­ther they receive the entire Sacraments, or that they be entirely with-held from them; because the divi­sion of one and the selfe-same Mystery cannot be with­out grand Sacriledge.

Gratian, the compiler of the Popes Decrees, borrowed his chapter out of that Epistle of Gelasius (saith Bellarmine) & withall prefixed this Title before it, Bell. de sacr. Euch. l. 4. c. 26. The Priest ought not to receive the Body of Christ without the Bloud; Ea Epistola Gelasii, quae mo­dò fort [...]sse non e [...]. Ibid. that is to say, without the conse­crated Cup; and yet by Bellarmines confession, That Epistle peradventure is not now extant: and [Page 89] which is more, your Non conficient Priests doe ge­nerally commit that Sacriledge, by receiving the consecrated Bread without the Cup, flat contrary to the decrees of the ancient Bishop of Rome.

In the sixth age, the second Councell of Orange is falsified in the behalfe of your merits; the words of the Councell are these:Hoc etiam salu­briter profite­mur & credi­mus, quod in omni opere bo­no non nos in­cipimus, & posteà per Dei misericordiam adjuvamur; sed ipse nobis, &c. Concil. Arausi­canum, Can. 25. Bin. Tom. 2. p. 639. We solemnely professe and beleeve, that in every good worke wee our selves doe not first begin, and are helped afterwards by the mer­cie of God; but he, Nullis praecedentibus bonis me­ritis, no good merits of ours going before, doth first of all inspire us with faith, and love towards him. This Councell condemned the Pelagians for their doctrine of Merits and Freewill; and accordingly declared that we have neither free will of our selves to doe good, neither any fore-going workes to merit any thing of our selves; and this is a safe and humble confession both of our weaknesse, and Gods good grace and mercy towards us. But ob­serve your Church-men, for the defence of their merits, they have falsified the Canon, and quite perverted the sense and meaning of the Councell; and in the place of nullis meritis, no merits, have inserted the word multis, many merits; so that the Fathers of the Councell are taught to reade a new lesson, flat contrary to the ancient Doctrine of the Church, viz. We solemnely professe that wee first be­ginne (many) of our owne merits going before, &c. than which assertion what can be more arrogant, in assuming power to our selves, and derogating from the goodnesse of our God.

In the seventh age, Gregory the great Bishop of Rome is falsified: his words be these; The King of Pride is neare, Greg. Ep. lib. 4. Indict. 13. Ep. 38. p. (mihi) 146. b. Edit. Antwerp. 1515. & Paris. An. 1521. fol. 384. in Aedibus Francisci Reg­nault. and, which is a haynous thing to name, Exercitus Sacerdotum, a whole armie of Priests is provided to attend his comming. In your Edition of Antwerpe and Paris, for the word (exer­citus) you thrust in (exitus Sacerdotum) so that whereas Antichrist comming it is observed that an host of Priests shall belong unto him; now on the contrary it is read, that at Antichrists comming there shall be an end of Priesthood.

Now as you have detracted from Pope Grego­ries doctrine in one place, so likewise you have ad­ded to him in another, for honour of his See, and the Canons of your Church: the words are these, Let not the reverence due to the Apostolike See bee trou­bled by any mans presumption; Greg. l. 11. In­dict. 6. Ep. 42. Citatur à Bel. in Ep. ad Black­well. contra jus regium. Vide Jacob. Re­gis opera. p. 262. & 279. for then the state of the members doth remaine sound, when the head of the faith is not bruised by any injury, and the autho­rity of the Canons alwayes remaine safe and sound. This was urged to Blackwell the Priest, by your Cardinall Bellarmine, as a principall testimonie Contra jus regium; and yet, as it is observed by a learned Divine, M. Stephanus. these and many such particular pas­sages are inserted into the printed Gregory, which are not to bee found in the ancient Manuscripts.

Againe, in the former Epistle St. Gregorie is likewise falsified by Stapleton, in behalfe of the Popes Supremacie: the words of St. Gregorie are these,Greg. Regist. l. 4. Indict. 13. Ep. 38. Certainly Peter is the first member of the uni­versall Church; Paul, Andrew, and John, what are [Page 91] they but heads of particular people? and notwithstan­ding they are all members of the Church under one head. And lest any should apply the name of head to Peter, in his 36. Epistle, being the second Epistle before this, he saith,Omnia soli uni capiti cohaerent, viz. Christo. Ep. 36. Stapl. de prin­cip. doctrin. l. 6. c. 7. All the members are joyned to one head, Christ. Now observe the addition and fal­sification of your learned Stapleton; Andrew, James, and John (saith he) were heads of severall Congrega­tions, and all members of the Church under one head, Peter. And thus your Popes creature hath left out Peter in the first place, where hee was made a member, and added the name of Peter in the last place, to make him a head.

Againe, Gratian, who was ever ready to supply all defects for the Popes title, hath given us an in­excusable forgerie, in the name of Gregorie, for the Papall power: the truth of it was this; When Ana­tolius Deacon of Constantinople, had written to Pope St. Gregory, that the Emperour commanded another Bishop to be chosen in the place of the Bi­shop of Justiniana, by reason of his head-ache; St. Gregory made this answer, You wrote unto me, Greg. l. 9. Ep. 41. Indict. 4. p. 370. that our most religious Lord the Emperour commanded another to be chosen in the place of our reverend Bro­ther John Bishop of Justiniana, because of the paine of his head: by which tenour St. Gregory shewes that the Popes obeyed the Princes lawes (so they were not against their Canons.) Now observe Gratian hee leaves out first the words,Grat. causa 7. quest. 1. fol. (Mihi) 186. our most religious Lord, and in stead of the Emperours name, he as­sumes the Popes person, saying, Your lovingnesse [Page 92] wrote to me, that I should command another to be cho­sen, whereas in those dayes, by the confession of Pope Gregory, the Emperors made Election of the Bishops, and not the Popes.

The sixt Councell of Constantinople is falsified & corrupted by Gratian; in the 36. Canon of the said Councell it was thus decreed: We determine that the See of Constantinople shall have equall priviledges and honour with the seat of elder Rome, and in Eccle­siasticall matters be advanced as far forth as it, being next unto it: Gratian cites the former, non tamē in Ec­clesiasticis (saith he) but not in matters Ecclesiasticall; which is flat cōtrary to the meaning of the Councel.

The eight age. An. 700. to 800.In the eight age venerable Bede was living, and taught our doctrine touching the Sacrament, but was afterwards forged by Fryer Walden, to prove the doctrine of Transubstantiation against Wickliffe; Ibi forma pa­nis videtur, ubi substantia pa­nis non est, nec est ibi, inquit, panis ali [...] quam panis qui de coelo descen­dit. Wald. Tom. 2. de sacr. c. 82. fol. (mihi) 138. b. his words are these: There the forme of Bread is seene, where the substance of Bread is not, neither is any other Bread there, but that which des­cends from heaven: This is alledged out of the Booke de mysteriis Missae, in the name of Bede, when as in all his 8. Tomes, hee never wrote or mentioned any such worke.

The Councell of Franckford is likewise corrup­ted and falsified, for the honour of your Images; for whereas Regino saith,Concil. Franck­ford. An. 794. Bin. p. (mihi) 141. Bin. Not. in Concil. Frāc. p. (mihi) 164. b. The false Synode of the Grecians, which they made for the defence of their worshipping of Images, was e [...]ected by the Bishops as­sembled at Frankford, under Charles the Great: Binius the publisher of the Councels, declareth [Page 93] that the Acts of the second Councell of Nice in the cause of Images was confirmed by it; which is so farre from truth, that he is inforced to confesse that therein he doth dissent, though unwillingly,Quam senten­tiam optarem esse veram, sed suspicor esse falsam. Bel. de Imag. l. 2. c. 14. §. Multi. from Baronius and Bellarmine: and indeed Bellarmine professeth; I could wish this opinion were true, but I suspect it to be false. Againe, to make the world be­leeve that the Synod of Franckford condemned not the second Councell of Nice (the chiefe upholder of Images) your men have razed out Nice, and thrust in Constantinople, which altogether condem­ned Images: Now therefore take a short view of all these your forgeries and corruptions.

In the first Age you have depraved the Scrip­tures by your false translations and corruptions; and when all could not save your turne, you place the Bible amongst the Bookes prohibited.

In the second Age you have forged Epistles in the names of 31. Bishops of Rome, which were none of theirs; and to suppresse our Doctrine touching the Communion in both kinds, and to uphold your invocation of Saints and Angels, you have corrup­ted Ignatius by a false Translation; and you would have the Record razed touching the marriage of Priests.

In the third age you corrupt Tertullian for your Transubstantiation; you falsifie Saint Cyprian for your circumgestation of the Sacrament, and your Popes supremacie.

In the fourth Age you corrupt Eusebius Caesari­ensis for the Popes supremacie; you forge Eusebius [Page 94] Emissenus for your corporall presence; you falsifie the Councell of Laodicea for your invocation of Saints and Angels; you forge Saint Hierome and Saint Basill the Great, for your worship of Images; you falsifie Saint Ambrose for the Popes succession in the Roman See, and most corruptly for the Do­ctrine of the Sacrament.

In the fift Age you have razed two evidences in Saint Chrysostome, both which confirme our Do­ctrine, the one concerning the Lords Supper, the other concerning our tryall by the Scriptures: you have falsified the Councell of Carthage for the bap­tizing of women, and for the shaving of Priests: you have falsified Saint Austin for your Purgatory, and for your Doctrine of Transubstantiation, and your Popes decretall Epistles: you have forged the Councell of Africa for the honour of your A­postolicke See: you have forged Saint Cyrill for your Transubstantiation, and your Popes Suprema­cie.

In the sixt Age you have corrupted the Coun­cell of Orange for your Doctrine of merits, and for the honour of your Priesthood over secular powers.

In the seventh Age you have razed Gregory the Great touching the comming of Antichrist; you have purged him in an Epistle which maketh a­gainst the Popes Supremacie: you have falsified the Councell of Constantinople in your Popes be­halfe.

Lastly, in the eighth Age you have forged vene­rable [Page 95] Bede in behalfe of your Transubstantiation; and you have falsified the Councel of Franckford in behalfe of your Image-worship; and yet for all this you are not ashamed to professe, that for anci­ent Authors you note onely what is amisse, but you nei­ther raze nor blot out any thing; that corner-cor­recting (say you) wee leave for such corner-compani­ons as shunne the light, p. 144. What credit can be given to you or your Church, let the Reader judge, when as by your owne confession, the Trent Coun­cell hath decreed it as a thing unlawfull to change any thing in the Bookes of ancient Catholikes, Concil. Trid. in Ind. lib. prohib. de correct. 4. p. (mihi) 32. except a manifest error appeare to have crept in by the fraud of Hereticks or negligence of the Printer. Sure I am you will confesse that all these mentioned corrup­tions are not Errata, slips of the Printer; And as touching the fraud of Heretickes which did corrupt them, your Trent Councell (which made the De­cree) could not meane the Protestants: for in those dayes they had printed no Fathers, neither had they any Manuscripts, but such as were kept pri­soners in your Church: The name of Heretickes therefore doth properly reflect upon your Pope Adrian, upon Gratian, upon Stapleton, upon Tho­mas Aquinas, upon Cardinall Bellarmine, who ap­peare to be Authors of your falsifications; and in generall upon your Roman inquisitors, who are the knowne Authors of your corrupting and altering the true Fathers. And this must needes seeme very probable to all, because they are corrupted chiefely in those main Articles of Faith which make against [Page 96] your Church. The ancient Records and Eviden­ces which you have had many hundred yeeres in your possession, doe all witnesse these forgeries and corruptions in the printed Fathers, and will you claime the Fathers for your Rule of Faith, when you make them speake more like children than fa­thers? Shall a Guardian to an infant, having pos­session of his Lands, and keeping his Deeds and Evi­dences during his minoritie, raze and falsifie them, and thereby intitle himselfe to the Wards Lands, because hee was some time possessed of them, and can produce forged Evidences for them? This is our very case: The Church of Rome in her infancie was a faithfull Guardian of her childrens right, shee kept the Manuscripts and the ancient Records of the Fathers, in that puritie as she first received thē; after the Pope had made an universall Title and claime to all Catholike Churches, hee intruded into other mens Rights by forgerie and corruptions, he made the Fathers speake according to the Trent decrees, in an unknowne tongue, and now by forged cavilla­tion detaines the possession against the right own­ers. But let me tell you, as the Kings Subject, you are lyable to punishment in such cases in temporall affaires.See the title of Forger of false deeds fol. (mihi) 180. b. For if any person shall by false conspiracie, subtilty and falsity, forge any Deed, Charter, or Wri­ting, or shall pronounce, publish and shew forth in E­vidence any such false or forged Deed or Writing as true, knowing the same to bee false and forged, and shall be thereof convicted, he shall be set upon the Pil­lory in some open Market Towne, and there to have [Page 97] both his Eares cut off, and also his Nosthrils to bee slit and cut, and seared with an hot iron, so as they may remaine for a perpetuall note or marke of his falshood.

Compare now this humane law with those forgeries of divine Evidences, and tell me what you and your fellowes can say for your selves, why the same judgment should not be pronounced against you. For if the lawes of Kings are so strict in behalfe of temporall records and assurances betwixt men, what may wee thinke the Law-giver himselfe will require at their hands, who doe not onely raze and falsifie Evidences touching the greatest mysteries of Salvation, who I say not onely doe the same, but have pleasure in them that doe them?

Thus much touching the razing and corrupting of the Fathers for the first 800. yeares. Now I proceed to your Index Expurgatorius, your pur­ging and blotting out the moderne Authours for the last 800. yeares.

Forasmuch (say you) as concerneth the late Catho­like Authors of this last age, for this our Index (of which is al the difficultie) beginneth but from the yeere 1515. whatsoever needeth correction, is to bee amen­ded or blotted out; yet for others going before that time, it is expresly said, that nothing may be changed, unlesse some manifest errors, through the fraud of He­retikes, or carelesnesse of the Printer, bee crept in: Thus you.

From your corrupting the ancient Councels and Fathers (which I have showne) wee are at last [Page 98] come to the correcting of moderne Authors; and as I have led you through an Hospitall of maimed Souldiers, so now I will send you to the house of correction, where I will leave you without Baile or Maine-prize, till you have cleared your selfe and your associates, for wounding and cutting out the tongues, of your owne Authors, in speaking truth against the corruptions of the Church.

P. 24. & 144.But your correcting Index (say you) began but from the yeare 1515. and nothing is changed of Ca­tholike Authors before that time.

I assure you, I have not heard as yet one sentence, nay scarce one word of truth fall from your pen, wherein you dissent from us; and this your assertion will prove as true as the rest. Yea, but (say you) it is expresly declared by the Church, that nothing may be changed; and if this be true (as true it is indeed) the lesse credit is to be given you or your Church-men, who make decrees, and breake them at their pleasure; for it shall appeare that your Index doth extend it selfe to the time of the Apostles: and how­soever you pretend to purge the Fathers onely in the Index and Table of their Bookes; yet I say some you have purged in the Text it selfe, others you have corrected in the Index, in the expresse words delivered in the bodie of those Bookes. And as touching your Assertion, that you purge the latter writers onely from the yeare 1515. and not beyond that time, this is most false, and you had said more truly, if you had confessed that for 1515. yeares together, your Church spared no Authours, [Page 99] ancient or moderne, if they speake not Placentia, agreeable to your Popes faith and doctrine.

For the better manifestation of this truth, looke first upon your Correctorium (for so Lucas Brugen­sis termes it) your worke of correction upon the Bible; and tell me if you have not altered, by your Popes command, above three thousand severall places in the Scripture, even in your vulgar Transla­tion, which you call St. Hieromes; and although you dare not lay a Deleatur upon the sacred word of God, yet upon the Commandements, upon the Lords Prayer, upon severall places of Scripture (as I have shewed) there is a Deletur, a leaving out, and a detracting from it.

Looke upon your Index Expurgatorius, prin­ted at Madrid, by Cardinall Quiroga, and tell me if you have not purged certain places in the Index of the Bible, which are ipsissima verba, the very words to a letter, in the Text it selfe: as for instance;Justificamur fide in Christum, Galat. 2.16. We are justified by faith in Christ: Justitia nostra Christus, 1. Cor. 1.30. Christ is our Righ­teousnesse: Fide purifi­cantur corda, Act. 15.9. By faith our hearts are purified: Justus coram Deo nemo, Psal. 143.2. No man is righteous before God: Uxorē habeat unusquisque. 1 Cor. 7.2. Let every man have his wife, &c. All these passages I say are the very word of God, in the Body of the Scriptures, and yet they are commandedInd. Hisp. Madr. f. (mihi) 15. B. tanquā propositiones suspectae (for so are the words of your Index) as if they were things questionable, to bee blotted out. A­gaine, when your glosses or marginall notes agree not to your doctrine, you cause your Index Expur­gatorius to lay hold on them: as for instance; in the 26. of Leviticus, we reade in your owne Transla­tion: [Page 100] You shall not make to your selves an Idoll or thing graven; Deleatur illud, Sculptilia pro­hibet fieri. Idem fol. 7. when the glosse in the Margent saith, God forbiddeth graven Images, Let that passage (say you) be strucken out. And whereas Samuel saith: Prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him onely: Ibid. fol. 8. b. the glosse upon the Text, which is the same in substance, viz. wee must serve God onely, you command to be blotted out. These and the like places relating to the Scriptures, being contrary to your Trent doctrine, you have excluded from your late printed Bibles in the places aforesaid, as being too obvious to the eye of every Rea­der.Ind. Hisp. Ma­drid. p. 6. 7. & f. 138. (Mihi) 62. Crakenthorp. adv. Spal. p. 66. Bell. de verbo Dei, l. 4. c. 11. &c. Ind. Madrid. fol. 62. a. Deleantur ex Textu illa ver­ba: Sed ubi non habuerit Dei timorem in se­ipsis, nec Jesum per fidem inco­lam, &c. Ibid. Eam verò so­lūmodò natu­ram, quae incre­ata est, colere & venerari didi­cimus. Ant. Me­liss serm. 1. Bell. de script. Eccl. p. (mihi) 184.

Looke upon the Fathers, and tell mee if your Index Expurgatorius doth not correct both St. Chrysostome, and Austin, and Hilarie, and Hierome, in their Index, touching the prime points of con­troversie betwixt us: Nay more, St. Austin (saith Vives) is purged ten or twelve lines in the body of his workes; St. Chrysostome in his 49. Homily is purged 70. lines; & by Bellarmines confession, other places are razed out of him and other Fathers, as I have shewed before. Looke upon St. Cyrill Bishop of Alexandria, who was living above 1200. yeares agoe, and tell me if your Inquisitors have not com­manded a Deleatur upon his words, in the very Text it selfe. Looke before his time upon Gregory Nyssen, and tell me if through the sides of Antonius Abbas (who was living, by Bellarmines accompt, neare 900. yeares agoe) you doe not wound that ancient Father in the body of his workes, in com­manding [Page 103] this golden sentence to bee blotted out:Ind. Belg. p. 270. [...]. Greg. Nissen. in Orat. 4. Tom. 2. Edit. Graeco-lat. p. 146. We have learned to worship and adore that nature (onely) which is uncreated: Parsōs warn-word to Sir Fran. Hastings wast-word. Enc. 2. c. 9. p. 69. your F. Parsons takes great paines to little purpose to excuse it; one while he tells us, that the sentence is not to bee [...]und in Gregory Nissen (which is most false:) another while he confesseth, that they cannot stand to give a particular reason of every censure or expurgation that is made (which is most foolish.)

But tell mee in good sooth, if those places of Scriptures and Fathers did make for your Religion, would you purge them? Or must we beleeve, that your Inquisitors would take such infinite care and paines to review all Authours for 1600. yeares, and spunge them onely in the Index? Without doubt that man who doth willingly deface the Kings picture, stamped in his coyne, would, if he durst, at­tempt it upon his person: the Tables of Authors, and Glosses, were especially intended for the bene­fit of the Reader, both for his better understan­ding, and his more speedie searching of the truth.

They resemble the Phylacteries of the Jewes, which had a Ribband of Blue upon the borders of their garments, that by them they might the better remember the Commandements of God: he that would have cut the fringes of those garments in those dayes, to prevent the remembrance of Gods law, would (no doubt) have offered violence to the Ta­bles, on which God himselfe had written, if hee durst attempt it. The truth is, the words imprinted in the skirts and tables of your Bibles and Fathers, [Page 104] are thornes in your eyes, and goades in your sides: and from hence we may easily discerne, why you leave out the second Commandement, and alter the fourth in your Psalters and Breviaries, which you dare not alter in your Bibles. And that your Assertion may more particularly appeare to bee most untrue, viz. that you purge no Authours before the yeare 1515. I will begin from the ninth age, where I last left, and shew your owne Authours purged, and forbidden in all the succeeding ages for this last 800. yeares.

First therefore the Reader shall understand, that your Roman Inquisitors have published an Index of prohibited Bookes, and in that Index they have divided the Authors into three severall Classes, or orders.Classis. 1. In the first they ranke all those Bookes which are adjudged by your men for Heretikes; as namely, Berengarius, Wickliffe, Luther, Cassander, Erasmus, Raynolds, and divers others; whose Bookes not onely now written, but whatsoever shall be published in their names hereafter, are pro­hibited as Hereticall.Classis. 2. In the second Classis they have ranked all those whose doctrine is not very sound, but suspected, and offensive, although the Authors themselves never forsooke the Church, and therefore not personally to bee noted: and of this sort are Charles the great, Agobardus, Bertram, Huldericus, Cajetan, and divers others, whose Bookes are now purged; and some of them lived 800.Classis. 3. years since. The third is of namelesse Authors, which (say they) deliver pernitious doctrine, and [Page 105] are condemned by the Roman Church; and those onely which have beene published without a name since the yeare 1584.

These three rankes of Classicall Authors, ac­cording to our Adversaries doome, may be desti­nated to these three severall places. The first sort to Hell, which containes the Heretikes and dam­ned persons, never to be redeemed. The second sort to Purgatory, which are suspended and restrained upon suspicion of false doctrine, or veniall sinne, and must not be freed till they be purged, and have payd the utmost farthing to the Pope. The third, to Limbus Infantum, and those are Anonymoi, such as were unbaptized, and have beene published with­out a name, from the yeare 1584. Of these three sorts, I will produce onely the Authors of the se­cond Classis, which lived and died members of your Church, such as were never condemned for heresie, but (touse your own words) have Suspectam Doctrinam, that is to say in plaine English, Prote­stant Doctrine: whereof some you have purged in your new Editions, others you have forbidden to be read till they be purged:The ninth age. An. 800. to. 900 See Craken­thorp, p. 56. Carolo magno falsò adscriptū, de Imaginibus, cujus Titulus est, Opus illu­strissimi, &c. Ind. l. prohib. p. (Mihi) 18. and this (as shall appeare) was many ages before the time prefixed, 1515.

I proceed: In the ninth age Charles the Great wrote foure Bookes concerning Images; he profes­seth that hee began the worke in his owne King­dome; and your owne Ecchius, and Luzenburgus, both witnesse that this Emperour wrote all those Bookes: yet your Index Expurgatorius layes hold on him, and forbids the worke; pretending that it [Page 106] is falsely ascribed to him, when as the true reason is, because he condemned Image-worship, and forbids the 7^th. Councell to be called either a generall, or lawfull Councell: for otherwise your owne Hinc­marus Archbishop of Rhemes, Hinckm. Rhē. contr. Hinchm. Jandun. Episc. c. 20. who was living when these things were fresh in memorie, professeth, that a generall Synod was kept in Germany by the con­vocation of the Emperour Charles, and there, by the Rules of Scripture and doctrine of the Fathers, the false Councell of the Grecians, was confuted and utterly rejected; of whose confutation there was a good bigge Booke sent to Rome by certaine Bishops from Charles the Great, which in my youn­ger yeares I read in the Palace.

Now admit that Charles were not the Authour of those Bookes (although your owne men wit­nesse he was) yet the Authour you see was anci­ent, and living in that age; hee condemned your Image-worship, hee confuted the reasons of the Nicene Councell, and by this it appeares that your Church hath transgressed her limits above 700. yeares; and therefore your Trent decree was made sutable to your Spectacles, which makes that seeme to be, which is not.

Agobardus Bishop of Lyons (An. 840.) is pur­ged, propter non sanam & suspectam doctrinam; because he delivers our Protestants doctrine, which you account non sanam, in these words; If the workes of Gods hands be not to be adored and worship­ped, Si opera manu­um Dei, &c. Bibl. Pp. Tom. 9. p. (mihi) 590. no not in honour of God, how much more the workes of mens hands are not to be adored and wor­shipped, [Page 107] in honour of those whom they represent? Titulo de Ima­ginibus expur­gantur omnia quae sub hoc titulo continen­tur, usque ad titulum. 2. Clas­sis Ind. lib. pro­hib. pag. (mihi) 711. This passage is yet extant in your late Bibliotheque of Fa­thers, under the title of Images: but your Spanish Inquisitors have commanded all the things which are contained under that Title to bee blotted out, usque ad Titulum, to the very title.

Papirius Massonus, the publisher of Agobardus workes, delivered the argument touching Images and Pictures in this manner; Detecting most mani­festly the errours of the Grecians (that is, the Fathers of the second Nicene Councel) touching Images and Pictures, he denyeth that they ought to be worshipped; which opinion all wee Catholikes doe allow, and follow the testimony of Gregory the Great concerning them. This passage, together with more ample authorities are already purged according to command, by the Divines of Cullen, in their late corrupt Edition of the great Bibliotheque of the ancient Fathers:Bibl. P P. Tom. 9. par. 1. edit. Colon. Anno 1618. p. 548. & p. 551. but Gretzer your fellow Jesuite extremely wondreth that this judgement of the Booke of Agobardus should proceed from a Catholike; for Agobardus in that whole Book doth nothing else but indevour to demon­strate, although with vaine labour, that Images are not to be worshipped: Usher p. 463. and yet I say it is more to be wondred that your men should purge such Authors of Antiquitie contrary to your Trent Decree; and when by purging them they have made our Faith and Doctrine invisible in them to the Reader, you call upon us to shew where our Church and Religi­on was visible before Luther.

Johannes Bertram, a Priest of the Monastery of [Page 108] Corbey in France, wrote a Booke of the Body and Bloud of Christ: This Booke is forbidden to bee read by command of your inquisitors, and condem­ned by the Councell of Trent. But the Divines of Doway, perceiving that the forbidding of this Book gave an occasion to many to seeke more earnestly after it, thought it better policie to allow it, and ac­cordingly they publish it with this Declaration, Although we care not greatly whether this Booke of Bertrams be extant or no; Ind. Expurg. Belg. p. 5. edit. Antwer. Anno 1571. yet seeing we beare with many errors in others of the old Catholike Writers, and extenuate them, and by inventing some devise, oftentimes deny them, and faine some commodious sense for them when they are objected in disputations or conflicts with our Adversaries; we doe not see why Bertram may not deserve the same equity and diligent revisall, lest the Heretikes cry out, that we burne and forbid such antiquity as maketh for them. This is a free and faire confession of your men in our behalf, that the Fathers are but pretended for your Do­ctrine, when as oftentimes they make against you; and indeed accordingly you have framed a commo­dious sense for the better understanding of this Au­thor: as for Instance, where he saith the substance of the Bread was to be seene visibly, wee must read it (say they) invisibly: and where he saith, the sub­stance of the creature which was before consecration, remaineth after consecration; by substance, say they, you must understand accidents: These devises, howsoever at first they seemingly made some shew of answer to the vulgar people, yet they proved [Page 109] harsh & untunable to the eares of your learned Pro­selytes, and thereupon your Romanists wisely by way of prevention at length gave up this verdict; It were not amisse, nor unadvisedly done, Ind. Belg. p. 421 & Quiroga p. (mihi) 140. B. that all these things should be left out. But it seemes these small pills did not sufficiently purge the Authour; and thereupon, after more mature deliberation, it was at last concluded, Totus liber penitùs auferatur; Ind. Belg. p. 17. let the whole Booke be suppressed. Now what an­swer doe you thinke can be made in justification of this proceeding? Your Jesuite Gretzerus brief­ly resolves it: Dum prohibetur Bertramus, Gretz. de jure prohib. libr. l. 2. c. 10. while Bertram is forbidden, I deny that a Father is forbid­den; for the Father is no naturall Father, but a Step­father, who nourisheth not the Church with wholesome food, but with darnell and pernitious graine together with the Wheate: wherefore as the Popes have dealt with some writings in Origen and Tertullian, by the same right may they now, according to their wisdome, abolish any writing of others, either in whole or in part by cutting or blotting them out. Thus first they dis­pensed with this ancient Author and our Doctrine; then they correct him in some passages, by speaking flat contrary to his owne meaning; and when all would not serve the turne, they absolutely forbid him to be read, or rather command him to be ut­terly blotted out, and totally suppressed.

In the tenth Age (975.The tenth Age Ann. 900. to 1000. Aelfrichs Ser­mon on Easter day.) Aelfricus Abbot of Malmesbury wrote an Homily touching the Sacra­ment of the Eucharist, which was then read through­out all our Churches on Easter day, and consonant [Page 110] to the Doctrine of our Articles. This Booke is ex­tant in the Saxon tongue in many Libraries: but what is the reason he is not numbred amongst your Bookes prohibited? Why surely you have foisted in a Parenthesis, which by a miracle inferres your corporall presence, which makes some shew for your Religion; and yet because it is contrary to the whole scope of his Booke, you confesse that Harpsfield in his History shewes, That the Beren­garian Heresie began somewhat to bee taught and maintained out of certaine writings falsely attribu­ted to Aelfricke: and thus for one reason you will not prohibit him, or lay a deleatur upon his works; but for the other reason there is a deletur upon him, and he is a man cleane out of your Bookes.

The eleventh Age, An. 1000. to 1100. Ind. lib. prohib. pag. 47. & p. 93.In the eleventh Age, Huldericus Bishop of Au­spurg wrote an Epistle touching the single life of the Clergie, wherein he taxeth Pope Nicholas for restraining Priests from marriage, and therefore is rejected by your Inquisitours; his words be these: Assuredly you are not a little out of the way, Hulder. Episc. ep. de caelibatu Cleri. when you doe compell Clerks by force to keepe themselves from marriage, which you should admonish to forbeare; for it is violence when any man is constrained to keepe a particular decree against the institution of the Gospell and the Doctrine of the Holy Ghost; wherefore wee counsell you, by the fidelity of our subjection, that with all diligence you will remove such a scandall, and by your discipline root out that Pharisaicall Doctrine from the flocke of Christ. And whereas it was obje­cted, that Gregory the Great long before that time [Page 109] had made a Decree for the restraint of Priests mar­riage, in his first Epistle to Pope Nicholas, hee tells him,Ibid. p. (mihi) 482. Orthodoxagra­phia Patrum, Tom. 1 p. (mihi) 481. Plusquam sex millia infantum capita viderit, p. (mihi) 1482. There be some which take Gregory for a main­tainer of their Sect, whose ignorance I lament; for they doe not know this perillous Decree was afterwards purged by him, when as upon a day out of his ponds were drawne above 6000. childrens heads; which after he beheld, he utterly condemned his Decree, and praised the counsell of Saint Paul, It is better to mar­ry than to burne; adding this also of his owne, It is better marry than be an occasion of death. Here you see our Doctrine was taught, touching the marriage of Priests; and because it is a plaine evidence for our Church, your Inquisitours have ranked this Epi­stle amongst the Bookes prohibited.

Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury taught our Doctrine in the most substantiall point, touching faith and good workes. The forme of preparing men for their death, was delivered to the sicke man in this manner:Credis nō pro­priis meritis, sed passionis Do­mini nostri Je­su Christi vir­tute & merito, ad gloriam per­venire? &c. Ind. lib. prohib. p. 696. Dost thou beleeve to come to glory, not by thine owne merits, but by the vertue and merit of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ? Dost thou beleeve that our Lord Jesus Christ did dye for our sal­vation, and that none can be saved by his owne merits, or by any other meanes, but by the merits of his Passi­on? then for a conclusion it followes (fol. 35.)Nō erit despe­randum vel du­bitandum de salute illius, &c. Ordo bap­tizandi cū mo­do visitandi. Imp. Venet. Ind. Belg. p. 419. 1575. Ind. Madrid. p. 149. Ind. lib. prohib. p. ut supra. We ought not to doubt or despaire of the salvation of that man, who beleeveth with his heart, and confesseth with his mouth the forenamed propositions. These se­verall passages are commanded by three severall Indices to be blotted out: Nay more, the Booke [Page 110] which containes this Doctrine, you thrust it into the third Classis, amongst those namelesse Authors, which deliver Doctrine (say you) in some sort per­nitious to the Catholike faith; as if the foundati­on of all comfort in Christ were pernitious to the Christian faith: But let me tell you, your Inquisi­tors have much forgot themselves; for they forbid that Booke, which, say they, was printed at Venice (1575.) when as by their owne rules they professe openly, that they never meant to condemne any namelesse Authors, but such onely as have beene published since the yeere (1584.) nor any Author whatsoever (by their Trent Decree) but from the yeere (1515.) Howsoever this namelesse Author was both printed atSee Bishop Ushers answer to the Jesuites Challenge, cap. Of Merits, p. 513. Venice, at Antwerp, at Coleine, at Paris, juxta ritum S. Romanae Ecclesiae (for so be the words) according to the rites of the Romane Church.Cassan. in Ap­pend. ad opusc. Jo. Roff. de fi­ducia & mise­ricordia Dei. Cassander tells us the Book was to be had in all Libraries, and particularly was found inserted among the Epistles of Anselme, who was commonly accounted to be the Author of it: and the like is con­fessed by CardinallHosius in con­fessione Petri, cap. 73. Hosius himselfe. But this was the time wherein the Devill was let loose, and wherein your Pope Hildebrand did not onelyNon solum fabulas commi­niscitur, annales corrumpit, res gestas invertit, sed etiam coele­stia oracula a­dulterat. Aven. Annal. l. 4. pag. 455. in­vent Fables, corrupt Chronicles, and inverted things that were done, but did also adulterate the Scriptures themselves; and therefore Cardinall Ben [...], who wrote of the life of Hildebrand, and was living in that age, isInd. lib. pro­hib. p. 11. vide Illyric. de vita Hildebrand. p. 1322. forbidden also to be read, because he tou­cheth to the quicke your Caput fidei, the head of your Church.

In the twelfth ageSigeberti liber contra Papam Gregorium, & contra Epist. Paschalis Papae. Ind. lib. prohib. p. 85. Sigebertus Monachus Gembla­censis wrote a Booke against Pope Gregory, The twelfth Age, An. 1100. to 1200. and a­gainst the Epistle of Pope Paschalis; hee lived and dyed a member of the Roman Church, yet his Booke is prohibited, because it complaineth of the state of your declining Church;Sigebertus Ab. ep. p. 188. in lib. Goldasti Replic. Hactenus inter­pretatur, ideo docuisse Petrū per Babylonem signare Romam, quia tunc tem­poris Roma confusa erat I­dololatriâ & omni spurtitie At nunc dolor meus mihi in­terpretatur, quòd Petrus prophetico spi­ritu dicens Ec­clesiam in Ba­bylone colle­ctam, praevidis confusionem dissentionis quâ hodie scin­ditur Ecclesia. Ibid. For what greater confusion (saith he) was there in times past in Babylon than there is now in the Church? In Babylon there was a confusion of languages among the Gentiles, in the Church of Rome the tongues are divided, and the minds of the faithfull. Saint Peter saith, the Church which is Babylon salutes you; hitherto hee did inter­pret that Peter by Babylon did signifie Rome, because Rome at that time was confounded with Idolatry and all uncleannesse: But my griefe doth now interpret unto mee, that Peter by a propheticke spirit, by the Church at Babylon, foresaw the confusion of dissen­tion, which doth now rent the Church of Rome.

If this testimonie had made for our Church, (as it doth against yours) certainly you would ne­ver forbid the Record to be read nor to be blotted out; but this shewes that there was a revolt, a de­fection from the faith (after the loosing of Sathan) which were proper for your men to permit to bee read and seene in after ages, that the truth might appeare in all and every age of the alteration of the Church.

Arnol de villa. Novaopera ni­si repurgentur. Ind. lib prohib. p. 5. & 36. & 37. Arnoldus Carnotensis (Abbas bonae vallis) his workes are forbidden till they be purged, and for no other reason, as I can conceive, but because he disco­vers the errours of your Church. He tells us, that [Page 112] Cloyster Monkes are damned, because they falsifie the doctrine of Christ, and leade soules to Hell. He tells us, that your Clergie-men did most perfidiously mingle Philosophicall dreames with the sacred Scriptures. He tells us, that Masses did neither profit the living, nor the dead; and for these and the like Protestations a­gainst the abuses of his time, he is now condem­ned by your expurgatory Indices.

Anno 1215. Urspergensis in Anno 793.In the thirteenth Age, Urspergensis Abbas is both corrupted and purged by the Inquisitours. The Sy­nod (saith he) which not long before was assembled under Irene and Constantine his sonne at Constan­tinople, called by them the seventh generall Coun­cell, was therein the Councell of Franckford rejected by them all, as voyd and not to be named the seventh, nor any Councell at all. This Councell was assem­bled at Nice and not at Constantinople; but the word Constantinople is forged in stead of Nice, that the honour of that Councell for Images might not seeme to be impeached or condemned, when as the Synod at Constantinople banished Images. Now what answer I pray is made in defence of this forge­rie?August. Stench. de Donat. Con­stant. l. 2. nume­ro 60. Behold your Augustine Stenchius, Keeper of the Popes Librarie, tells us that wee have forged those Bookes, and conveyed them into the Popes Li­brary, where they lye written in ancient hands. How probable this answer may seeme, that wee should forge Authours in defence of your cause, and con­vey them into the Vatican at Rome, I leave it to be judged; sure I am it stands corrupted in your Co­pie, printed by command of your Inquisitours and Superiours.

Againe, there be certaine additions to the Histo­rie of Urspergensis, which treate of divers memo­rable things, from the time of Fredericke the second,Ind. lib. prohib. p. 94. unto the time of the Emperour Charles the fifth; that is, from the yeare 1230. to the yeare 1537. all which are forbidden to be read; wherein are con­tained the proceedings of the Councell of Constance against Hierome of Prague, and John Husse; where the decree is mentioned for the 19. Session of the Councell of Constance, viz. Sess. 19. de­cernitur, Hae­reticis non esse servandam fi­dem, quam vo­cant Salvum conductum. Pa­ralip. p. 378. That faith is not to bee kept with Heretikes, which is wholly omitted and purged in your printed Councels.

Honorius Bishop of Anthum in France, Anno 1220. Honorio Angu­stodunensi (falso ut credi­tur) adscriptus liber de praede­stinatione & libero arbitrio. Ind. lib. prohib. p. 47. wrote a Booke of Predestination and Free-will, but so different from your doctrine, that your Inquisitors forbid him to be read untill hee be purged. What good soever the Elect doe, it is God that workes it in them, (as it is written) God doth worke in us both the will and the deed, according to his good pleasure; if therefore God doe worke in us, what reward is impu­ted to man? God doth worke, and the Elect do worke; God doth worke his Elect by his preventing Grace to be willing, and by his subsequent Grace to bee able, and both co-operate by Free-will, by consenting with a good will, this good will is rewarded in them, as it is written, We have received Grace for Grace; wee have received Grace when God prevented us to be wil­ling, and followed us to make us able.

Looke into his forbidden Dialogues: Turne thee (saith he) to the Citizens of Babylon, consider the principall persons there, and thou shalt finde the [Page 114] See of the Beast; for they neglect the service of God, pollute his Priesthood, seduce his people, and reject all Scriptures which belong unto salvation. Vide Illyr. p. 1426. in Dialog. de Prae­destin. & lib. arbitrio. For these and the like discoveries of the corruptions in your Church, he is forbidden, and under this pretence also, that the Booke of Dialogues is falsely ascribed to him.

An. 1320. Bell. de script. Eccl. p. 269. de Gulielmo Ocham.In the fourteenth age flourished William O­cham a Fryer Minorite and a learned man, saith Bellarmine; but being too earnest a favourer of Lu­dovike the Emperour, by that meanes hee fell into some errours, and therefore deserved to have his name registred amongst the Bookes prohibited. Now ob­serve those errors;Ocham. Com­pend. Error. Joh. 22. He complained that many in his dayes perverted the holy Scriptures, denyed the say­ings of the holy Fathers, and rejected the Canons of the Church, and civill Constitutions of the Emperours; He professed, according to St. Hieromes and the do­ctrine of Gregory the Great, Idem. Dial. par. 3. Tract. 1. l. 3. c. 16. that the Bookes of Judith, Tobit, the Machabees, Ecclesiasticus, and the Booke of Wisdome, were not to bee received for confirmation of any matter of faith; He profes­sed that the Pope and Cardinals were no rule of faith; Idem Tract. 2. part. 2. c. 10. Dial. part. 1. l. 5. c. 25. p. (Mihi) 494. He professed that a Generall Councell, al­though it be a part of the militant universall Church, yet is not the universall Church: and consequently (saith he) It is rashnesse to say that a Generall Coun­cell cannot erre against the faith; Idem Dial. l. 3. prim. Tract. 3. part. c. 8. He professeth that it cannot be proved manifestly by Scripture, that Pe­ter was Bishop of Rome, or that he removed his seat from Antioch to Rome, or that the Bishop of Rome [Page 115] succeeded St. Peter,Idem. Dial. part. 1. l. 2. c. 3. p. 413. or that the Church of Rome hath the Primacie, or that hee governed the Church of Rome, or anything touching the Papacie thereof; He professeth with us,Idem Dial. l. 2. c. 1. part. 3. p. 788. that though it be expedient there should be one Bishop over some part of the Church and People of God; yet there is not the same reason there should be one over the whole Christian world: And lastly, touching Pope John the 22. he reports from the mouthes of them that heard it, that in the yeare 1333. on Munday being the third of January,Idem 2. part. proem. p. 740. Guliel. Ocham. opus 90. die­rum. Item Dia­logi & script. omnia contra Johannem 22. Ind. l. prohib. p. 4. Anno 1420. Nicholai Cle­mangis opera quamdiu ex­purgata non prodierint. Ind. lib. proh. p. 71. Clemangis de corrupto statu Ecclesiae. Pope John held a publike Consistorie, wherein by word of mouth, with great earnestnesse he indeavoured to prove that the soules of Saints being purged, see not God face to face till after the day of judgement. These are the supposed errors which caused his Dialogues and other of his workes to be prohibited.

In the fifteenth age, Nicholas Clemangis Doctor of Paris, Archdeacon of Bayeux, so long as his works remaine unpurged (saith your Index) are forbid­den. Now observe the reasons why hee is put to silence. The truth is, he wrote a Booke Of the Cor­rupt estate of the Church; he declared that the Pope was the cause of all the calamities and disorders of the Church; he shewes that he was not contented with the fruits and profits of the Bishopricke of Rome and St. Peters Patrimonie, Idem. c. 4. though very great and Royall; he layd his greedie hands on other mens flocks, replenished with milke and wooll: Cap. 5. & 7. and usurped the right of bestowing Bishoprickes and livings Ecclesi­asticall throughout all Christendome: Cap. 5. and disannul­led the lawfull elections of Pastors, by his reservations, [Page 116] provisions and advowsons, Cap. 6. Cap. 7. Cap. 8. and oppressed Churches with first fruits of one yeere, of two yeeres, of three yeeres, yea sometimes of foure yeeres; with tithes, with exactions, with procurations, with spoiles of Prelates, and infinite other burthens, Cap. 9. and ordained Collectors to seize upon these taxes and tributes throughout all Pro­vinces, with horrible abusing of suspensions, interdict­ments and excommunications, if any man refused to pay them: Cap. 10. Cap. 11. Cap. 12. and used such merchandise with suites in his Court, and rules of his Chancery, that the house of God was a denne of Theeves, and raised his Cardi­nalls as complices of his pompe from Clergie men of low estate, Cap. 13. to be the Peeres of Princes, and enriched them with his dispensations to have and to hold Offices and Benefices, Cap. 14. not two or three, or ten or twenty, but a hundred or two hundred, yea sometimes foure hun­dred or five hundred, or more, and those not small or leane ones, but even the best and fattest: To bee short, in that he filled the Sanctuary of the Lord with dumbe dogges, and evill beasts, even from the highest Prelates to the basest hedge-Priests, Cap. 19. & 20. Cap. 7. & 14. Cap. 29. Cap. 42. Cap. 18. Cap 3.4. 5 9. through usurpations, exemptions, compositions, symony, prosti­tution and fornication committed with Princes of the earth, and all to maintaine the pride, and lust, and riot of his wordly state, which he hath lifted up above Kings and Emperours. Lastly, he complaines that the Study of Divinity is made a mocking stocke, and that which was most monstrous for the Popes them­selves, they preferred their owne traditions before the Commandements of God. These bee the pretended errors (Mr. Floyd) which causeth your Index ex­purgatorius [Page 117] to spare no Author for his age; and yet you tell us, such corner-correcting you leave for such corner-companions as shunne the light, p. 144.

Aeneas Sylvius (who was afterwards Pope Pius the second) is forbidden by your Index: and the reason is given for it; Aeneas wrote in behalfe of the Councell of Basil, when he was a young man (saith Bell. de script. Eccles. de Aenea Sylvio. p. 289. An. 1450. Bellarmine) but when he was an old man, and Pope, he retracted it, and so his Bookes are deservedly for­bidden. But what say you then to his Retractations? are you pleased with them? No,Cautè legenda opera Aeneae Sylvii; ipse enim in Bulla Re­tractationis nonnulla quae scripserat, dā­navit, &c. Ind. lib. prohib. Class. 2. [...]. p. 3. you must yet wa­rily read the Workes of Aeneas Sylvius, for in his Bull of Retractations hee hath condemned something himselfe which he had written; and therefore when a new Edition shall come out, let that Bull also be pur­ged in the beginning of his Workes. It seemes then, neither that which hee wrote as a private man in his younger dayes, nor that which he retracted as Pope in his latter dayes, are well pleasing to your Church: Let us therefore compare the difference of his Doctrine with the difference of his degrees, and then you shall obs [...]rve, whether according to the ancient saying, Honours have changed manners. Aeneas Sylvius as a private man, protested thatAntè Nicenā Synodum unus­quisque sibi vi­xit, & parvus respectus ad Ecclesiā Roma­nam habebatur. Aene. Sylv. in Epist. 288. be­fore the Councell of Nice each Bishop lived severally to himselfe, and little regard was there then had to the Church of Rome: Pope Pius the second (being the same man, but onely that hee was now become a Pope) doth exhort andSuadete om­nibus, ut id soli­um prae caeteris venerentur, in quo salvator Dominus suos vicarios collo­cavit, &c. Bulla Retract. Pii, 2. Tom. Concil. 4. post Concil. Floren. p. 739. perswade all, that they would reverence the See of Rome, or that Throne of Majesty above all. Aeneas Sylvius saith, They [Page 118] thinke themselves well armed with authority, that say, no Councell may be kept without the consent of the Pope: Ex hisce au­thoritatibus mirum in mo­dum se putant armatos, qui Cōcilia n [...]gant fieri posse si [...]e consensu Papae: Quorū senten­tia, si ut ipsi vo­lunt inviolata persistat, ruinā secum Ecclesiae trahet. Quid enim remedii erit, si crimi­nosus Papa perturbet Ec­clesiam, si ani­mas perdat, si pervertat ma­lo exemplo po­pulos, si deni­que contraria fidei praedicet, haereticisque dogmatibus in­buat subditos? sinemusque cum ipso cuncta ruere? At e­go dum veteres l [...]go historias, dumactus p [...]r­spicio Apostolo­rum, hunc e­quidem morem non invenio, ut so [...]i Papae Concilia convocaverit, nec post; tempore Constantini magni, & aliorū Augustorū ad congreganda Concilia quaesitus est magnopere Romani consensus Papae. Idem de Concil. Basil. l. 1. Whose judgement, if it should stand as they would have it, would draw with it the decay and ruine of the Church. For what remedy were there then, if the Pope himselfe were vitious, destroyed soules, overthrew the people with evill example, taught Doctrine contrary to the faith, and filled his subjects full of Heresies? should wee suffer all to goe to the Devill? Verily when I read the old Stories, and consider the acts of the A­postles, I finde no such order in those dayes, that onely the Pope should summon Councels: And afterward the time of Constantine the Great, and of other Em­perours, when Councels should be called, there was no great accompt made of the Popes consent. On the contrary, PopeBulla Pii 2. Retractat. p. (mihi) 739. Pius saith, Order requireth that in­feriours should be governed by their superiours, and all should appertaine to one, as the Prince and Gover­nour of all things which are below him: As Geese follow one for a leader; and amongst the Bees there is but one King; even so in the Church militant, as also in the Church triumphant, there is one Go­vernour and Judge of all, which is the Vicar of Christ Jesus; from whence, as from a head, all power and authoritie is derived into the subordinate members. Thus when he was young, and had read the old Stories, and considered the acts of the Apostles, hee found no such Authority and respect given [Page 119] to the Pope: but when he was Pope, and old, it seemes he forgat the Apostles and ancient Writers; then hee attributes all power and reverence to the Pope of Rome. Briefly, Aeneas Sylvius saith,De Romanis Pontificibus liceret exempla admodum mul­ta adferre, si tempus fineret, quoniam aut haeretici, aut aliis imbuti vi­tiis sunt re­perti. Idem de Concil. Basil. lib. 1. Of the Popes of Rome wee might shew forth very many examples (if time would permit) that they have beene found either Hereticks, or else defiled with other vi­ces. But Pope Pius saith (speaking of these and the like assertions)Pude [...] erroris, poenitet malè fecisse, & male dictorū, scrip­torumque ve­hementor poeni­tet, &c. Bull Retract. ut supra. I am ashamed of my error, I earnest­ly repent both of my words and deeds, and I say, Lord remember not the faults and ignorance of my youth: And thus being Pope (saving all advantages to his See) he hath condemned himselfe and his Writings, as published by him when he was a private man; and yet notwithstanding, the Inquisitors professe hee hath retracted that, as Pope, which afterwards hee condemned; and therefore by their doome hee must have a new purgation, and from thenceforth, Tum Pius Aeneas. But tell mee I pray, was hee Pius Aeneas, when he complained that at Rome theNam & ipse manus imposi­tiones, & Spi­ritus sancti do­na venduntur. Aene. Sylv. Ep. 66. imposition of hands, and the gifts of the Holy Ghost were sold for money? Was hee Pius Aeneas when he complained that the Court ofQuid est Ro­mana curia hi [...] qui summam tenent, nisi tur­pissimum pe­lagus ventis undi{que} durissi­mis, & tēpesta­ribus agitatū. dem. Ep. 188. Rome, in the chief amongst them, was but a most filthy Sea tossed on every side with winds and strong tempests? Was hee Pius Aeneas when he protested with griefe, thatJacet spreta religio, justitiae nullus honos, fides penè in­cognita. Ep. 398. religi­on was despised, righteousnesse dishonoured, faith in a manner unknowne? Or was hee Pius Aeneas when he retracted, as Pope, that which he had written, or when he condemned that which hee had retracted? No surely, he was Pius in nothing (in the opinion [Page 120] of your Church) but in his Bull of Retractations; and he was Aeneas in nothing more than in condemning that which he retracted. And accordingly he him­selfe beggs of your Church,Bulla Retra­ctat. Pii 2. Illud Gentile nomen, parentes indidere nas­centi; hoc Chri­stianum, in Apo­stolatu suscepi­mus. Ibid. Pium recipite, Aeneam rejicite, Receive you Pius, but reject Aeneas; and he gives his reason for it; Aeneas is a heathenish Name, which our Parents gave us at our Birth; but Pius is a Christian name, which we assumed in our Apostolike calling.

You may adde to this, Aeneas was a private man, and subject unto errour, but Pius was a Pope, and therefore in his determinations infallible; or rather you may truly say with him, that Aeneas before he was Pope,Nihil mentiti sumus, nihil ad gratiam, nihil ad odium retu­limus. Bulla Re­tractat. delivered the truth neither for feare nor hatred, and yet he was forced to retract it: but Pius Cum doctrinā non sanam, & suspectam, & quae offensionem parere potest, contineant, &c. Class. 2. in Ind. lib. prohibit. when he was Pope, delivered false and suspected doctrine, and such as was offensive to your Church, and for that cause is commanded to bee purged.

Quid Pius Aeneas, in te committere tantûm?

What ill hap had good Aeneas, or rather what ill fortune had Pope Pius, that he could neither sa­tisfie your Church, either as he was Aeneas, or as he was Pius? neither as a private Doctor, nor as an infallible Pope? or rather I may say with your owne Canus, Rivet. Criticū Sacr. Specimen. c. 7. p. 49. What doth it availe men who desire to know the truth, to raze Records out of their Bookes, when they cannot blot it out of their mindes?

Anno 1450. Petrus Crinitus was a Romish Priest, and is commanded to be purged; and if we shall examine the reason, we shall finde it for no other cause, but [Page 121] that he speakes the truth against your Pope, and Po­pish Doctrine. To instance in particulars: Let both the Title and the Chapter be razed (say your In­quisitors, touching Pope Boniface the 8.Petr. Crinit. l. 7. c. 13. de dom. Disciplinâ.) and the reason is pregnant: that Chapter shewes the inso­solencie and pride of the Pope in particular, in mat­ter of fact; and it further declares, that under pre­tence of Religion, the Popes in generall thinke they may doe what they list. Againe,Idem. l. 14. c. 5. when he speakes of ancient Lawes, made in generall for Marriage and propagation of Children, they command that page to be strucken out; and there can be no other reason, but because on the contrary it is a positive law of your Church to forbid Marriage. Lastly, whereas he shewes that Leo the Emperour made an Edict,Idem. l. 9. c. 9. that all Images in Churches and houses of the Christians should be razed; and hee declares in his opinion, that it doth not appertaine to Religion to adore any mans Image; and that Valens and Theodo­sius made Proclamation to all Christians, that they would suffer no man to fashion, to grave, or paint the Image of our Saviour, either in colours, or in stone, or in any other kinde of metall or matter; and that wheresoever any such Image should bee found, they commanded it to be taken downe: Index Belgic. p. 421. Index Madrid. p. 150. Ind. lib. prohi­bit. p. 79. & 718. Bulla Pii 4. Art. 9. Art. 22. These and the like passages, your Inquisitors in three severall Indices command to be razed out; and what cause can you pretend, but that it makes against a speciall Arti­cle of your faith, viz. that Images should be set up in Churches, and worshipped? and by this meanes you strike likewise at the Articles of our Church, [Page 122] and when you have made such Doctrines and Evi­dences invisible, by razing the records, then you bid us shew where the Church was visible before Luther.

Now what credit shall the Reader give unto you and to your Trent Councell, that would assure us that your Church intended the purging of no Au­thors, but from the yeare 1515. when as it appeares plainely that you have spared neither the writings of the Apostles nor the Fathers, in razing and falsi­fying their owne very words and sentences? And as touching other Authors in the latter ages, you have gone beyond your Commission, hundreds of years, in falsifying, corrupting, forbidding, and purging them; and this was long before your prefixed yeare of 1515.

Anno 1517. Bell. Chronol. p. 3. pag. 117.In the sixteenth age Luther began his Heresie (saith Bellarmine) Anno 1517. and your Church, to make some shew that your Index Expurgatorius had a relation onely to Luther and his followers, tooke her rise from the yeare 1515. (which was but two yeares before his comming) as if all the members of your Church before his comming had lived in the unity of one faith and doctrine. This deceivablenesse of your unrighteousnesse, I have in part discovered. Now I come to your Authors of this last age (for I will cite none but your owne Au­thors) and therein lieth another mysterie not infe­riour to the first; and that is this: your Index Ex­purgatorius was first proclaimed generally against all Heretickes (meaning the Protestants) but when [Page 123] it comes to examination, it points especially at the particular members of your owne Church; and that which is most remarkable, after that your Trent Councel had distinguished with Anathema's her Roman faith from the faith of Protestants, after she had forbidden and condemned by her Index divers of your owne Authors, as savouring of suspected, and false, and scandalous doctrine; nay more, after she had declared all to be Heretickes, and their Doctrine Hereticall, who would dare to teach or publish any contrary beliefe to that which was once established by a Generall Councell; yet I say, the members of your owne Church, and those not of the meanest ranke, both Bishops and Cardi­nals, have delivered in print many points of Do­ctrine agreeable to the Articles of our Church; and yet you say they never left the Church, they are not personally to be noted nor ranked amongst He­retickes; when for the very same Tenets we are ac­cused, accursed, forbidden, and utterly condemned as Heretickes and Reprobates: and thus the head of your Church being divided from the members, in points of saving faith, may say unto the tongue, I have no need of thee, and consequently may cut it out. Howsoever, this use we may safely make of your Index, that if in after ages by new Impressions the true doctrine of Protestants shall be razed and ut­terly abolished in your Roman Authors, yet your very Index will appeare as a strong Evidence, to shew that such doctrines were taught in former A­ges: and howsoever the faction in the Papacie for­merly [Page 124] prevailed, yet it is more than evident by the Testimonies and Records of your owne men, that we had not two Churches before Luther, but that we had alwayes Testes Veritatis, witnesses of Gods truth and our owne Religion in all Ages, in the bo­some of the Roman Church.

Anno 1500.I proceed to particulars in this last age.

Cardinall Cajetan is purged in severall and maine points of doctrine, being different from your owne Church: Touching the ground of Transubstantia­tion, he denies that the words of Scripture (This is my body) are availeable to prove it of themselves, and thereupon your Jesuit Suarez complaineth, Ex Catholicis, &c. Ex Catholicis solus Cajetanus, in Commentario hujus Articuli, qui jussu Pii 5. in Romana edi­tione expunctus est, docuit, se­clusâ Ecclesiae authoritate ver­ba illa (Hoc est corpus meum) ad veritatem hanc confirmā­dam non suffi­cere Suarez. Tom 3. Disp. 46. Sect. 3. quaest. 75. Art. 1. p. 515. Impress. Mog. An. 1509. Amongst the Catholikes, Cajetan onely teacheth that the words, This is my Body, bee not sufficient, without the authoritie of the Church, to confirme the truth of it: And therefore by the com­mand of Pope Pius the 5. this passage is blotted out in the Roman Edition. Touching justification by faith (onely) whereas hee saith,Absque excep­tione aliqua cō­ditionis, sexus, qualiatis, &c. dicitur omni credenti, sola fi­des exigitur ad salutem. Cajet. Ep. Pauli &c. Parisiis 1571. fol. 4. Ind. lib. prohibit. p. 876. without any exception of person, of any Sexe, or quality, or condition, It is said of every Beleever, faith alone is required to salvation: your Index commands those latter words to bee blotted out. Lastly, in speaking of the Crosse and the like, he saith; These are altogether unlawfull, and not to be embraced, because they are part of an ill worship: you cause these words to be strucken out, and in lieu of them, you subjoyne these words fol­lowing (which are flat contrary:)Idem. p. 805. These are altoge­ther lawfull, and are to be embraced, because they are part of the divine worship: and the better to colour [Page 125] these miserable shifts and falsifications, you give this Caveat to the Reader:Idem ibid. p. 805. Be warie if you finde any such Doctrine, for it is to bee feared the Heretikes have suggested it.

Alphonsus à Castro wrote a large Booke against Heresies,Anno 1500. and in particular he charged Luther with many. Yet in his first Booke and fourth Chapter hee attributeth the same title of Heretike to the Pope, and shewes the Pope as Pope is subject to Heresie; but behold the record stands published against Luther, but is wholly razed touching the Pope. The words in my Edition are these; Where­as some say that he which erreth wilfully in the faith, Quod autem alii dicunt eum quierraverit in fide obstinatè jam non esse Papam, ac per hoc affirmant Papam non pos­se esse haereti­cum, & in re seria verbis velle jocari. Ad hunc enim mo­dum quis pos­set citra impu­dentiam asse­rere, nullum fi­delem posse in fide errare? nam cum haereticus fuerit, jam definit esse fidelis. Non enim dubitamus an haereticum esse & Papam esse coire in unum possint; sed id quaerimus, an hominem qui alias in fide errare po­tuisset, dignitas Pontificalis efficiat à fide inde viabilem. Non enim credo aliquem esse adeo impudentem Papae assentatorem, ut ei tribuere hoc velit, ut nec errare, aut in inter­pretatione sacrarum literarum hallucinari possit. Nam cùm constet plures eorum adeo il­literatos esse, ut Grammaticam penitus ignorent, quî fit ut sacras literas interpretari possent? Alph. à Cast. advers. haer. l. 1. c. 4. p. (mihi) 6. b. Coloniae excudebat Melchior Nouesianus, Anno 1543. is now no longer Pope, and thereupon concludes the Pope cannot be an Heretike, they seeme in a sad mat­ter to dally with words: For (saith he) wee make no doubt whether the Pope and an Heretike may agree in one person; but this is our question, Whether a man that otherwise might have erred in the Faith, by vertue of the Papall dignity, be made such as he cannot erre. For I doe not beleeve that there is any so impudent a flatterer of the Pope, that will give him this prehemi­nence, to say, that he can neither be deceived nor misse in the expounding of the Scriptures; for seeing it is well knowne that many Popes be so utterly void of lear­ning, [Page 126] that they know not the Principles of their Gram­mer, how may it be that they should be able to expound the Scriptures? These words I have cited at large out of my Edition 1543. for if you looke into Al­phonsus, printed within these last threescore yeares, I beleeve you will finde them razed in this particu­lar without an Index Expurgatorius; which plain­ly shewes that as the Pope was and may be an He­retike, so likewise falsifying of Records is a proper marke of Heretikes.

An. 1500. Usher p. 162. Johannes Ferus a Frier Minorite, and prime Prea­cher at Mentz in Germany, is purged and falsified in many points of controversie which he held with us. Touching the power of Priesthood in remitting of sinnes, it was the doctrine of Ferus: Non quòd homo propriè remittat pecca­tum, sed quòd ostendat ac certificet à Deo remissum. Ne{que} enim aliud est absolutio quam ab homine acci­pit quàm, si di­cat, En fili, cer­tifico te tibi re­missa esse pec­cata, annuncio tibi te habere propitium De­um, & quaecun­que Christus in Baptismo & Evangelio nobis promisit, tibi nunc per me annunciat & promittit. Fer. Comment. in Matth. l. 2. c. 9. Mogunt. An. 1559. Lugdun. apud Johannem à S. Paulo. An. 1609. Contr. Man did not properly remit sinne, but did declare and certifie that it was remitted by God: so that the absolution recei­ved from man is nothing else, than if hee should say, Behold my sonne, I certifie thee that thy sinnes are for­given thee, I pronounce unto thee that thou hast God favourable unto thee, and whatsoever Christ in Bap­tisme, and in his Gospell hath promised unto us, hee doth now declare and promise unto thee by me. Of this thou shalt have me to be a witnesse; goe in peace and in quiet of conscience. This declarative power of remitting sinnes was Ferus doctrine; this is ours. But behold the case is altered; for in Ferus printed at Lyons 1609. all those words are razed out, and on the contrary saith, thatSacerdos enim Dei minister verè remittit peccata, ac certificat à Deo remissa. fol. (mihi) 160. b. In Matth. l. 2. c. 9. the Priest doth truely [Page 127] remit sinnes, and, as the Minister of God, doth also cer­tifie that they are remitted of God.

Touching our justification by faith onely: the true Ferus saith,Nempe quòd solâ fide in Chri­stum, & nullis meritis nos [...]is, justificamur. In Ep. Pauli ad Rom. c. 16. In verba illa de­leatur. Ind. lib. prohibit. p. (mi­hi) 629. & Ind. Madrid. fol. 133 & Ind. Belg. p. (mihi) 393. That we are justified by faith alone in Christ, and by none of our merits; That our owne workes, whatsoever they be, are not of that value that they should merit a reward of condignitie or con­gruitie, but so farre forth as God in his mercie doth accept them. These and the like passages are com­manded to be blotted out.

And whereas hee sayth,Sic verè nul­lum hominum genus est quod minimè move­tur verbo Dei, quàm hi qui in sua justitia confi­dunt. Idem. in Joh. c. 1. There is no kinde of men that are lesse moved with the word of God, than those which trust in their owne righteousnesse; your men, as being guilty of their trust in their merits of workes, command this and the like passages to bee stricken out.

Your Index of prohibited Bookes, published by theOpera tamdiu prohibentur quādi [...] expur­gatio nō pro die­rit. Ind. l. pro­hibit. p. 56. Cardinall of Sandonall and Roxas, tells us, that the workes of Ferus are forbidden to be read till such time as they shall be purged; and sure I am when they are purged they are none of his. For I appeale to you and your fellow Jesuites (Mr. Floyd) whether these passages following be his or yours; I meane, either the Protestant doctrine, which he published before Luthers dayes, or the Popish tenets which are since altered by the In­quisitors, and taught by the Trent Fathers.

In the third of St. Matthew, the true Ferus sayth,Quòd si ali­quando merce­dem audis pol­liceri, scias non ob aliud esse de­bitam quàm ex promissione di­vina. Ferus in Math. 3. If at any time thou heare of a reward promi­sed, know that it is not due for any thing else, but for the divine promise sake. Your Inquisitors com­mand [Page 128] it to be altered thus;Quòd si ali­quando merce­dem audis polli­ceri, scias non sine promissio­ne esse debitam Ind. Madrid. fol. (mihi) 125. If thou heare of a reward promised, know that it is not due without the promise. The one saith, it is not due for any respect, but for the divine promise, ex promissione divina; the o­ther saith, it is not due without the promise: when the true Ferus addes Gratis promisit, gratis reddidit, He promised freely, and he hath given freely; you command these words to be stricken out. And whereas Ferus commenting upon the words of Christ,Ind. Belg. p. (mi­hi) 372. Ind. lib. prohib. p. 627. Qui hanc fidem nescit, ad Eccle­siā non pertinet, etiamsi videtur primus esse in Ecclesia. Idem in Mat. l. 3. c. 16. p. (mihi) 25. Ind. Madrid. p. 125. Ind. Belg. p. 370. Tu es Petrus, &c. Thou art Peter, and upon this Rocke I will build my Church, shewing that this Rocke was meant of Christ by the confession of Peters faith; And (saith hee) whosoever is ignorant of this Faith, belongs not to the Church, although hee seeme to be the chiefe in the Church. These words are otherwise read in your generall Indices, and are commanded to bee stricken out. And upon the words, Si quis natus fuerit, &c. he saith,In Joh. c. 3. p. (mihi) 69. Ind. lib. proh. p. 625. The Preachers of Gods Word ought first to teach faith by which a man is justified, and afterwards good workes; there the words (by which a man is justified) are commanded to be stricken out.

Now as you have purged many places, so like­wise you have forged and falsified others by addi­tion or retraction: Looke upon his Commentary on the first Epistle of Saint John, and you shall be­hold strange additions, and the true Protestant Do­ctrine wrested to flat Popery; as for instance,Scriptura sa­cra data est no­bis seu certa quaedam regula Christianae do­ctrinae. Idem in 1 Ep. Joh. c. 2. edit. Antwerp. An. 1556. The holy Scriptures (saith the true Ferus) are given us as a certaine sure rule of Christian Doctrine. In Ferus printed at Rome, he is taught to say, The holy Scrip­tures [Page 131] (and Romana edit. An. 1577. traditions) are given us as a cer­taine sure rule of Christian Doctrine. The true Fe­rus saith,Justus licèt in Christo manet, tamen sine pec­cato nec esse potest; septies enim in die eti­am justus cadit. Idem in cap. 3. Though the just man remaineth in Christ, yet he is not, neither can be without sinne; for even the just doe fall seven times a day: your Roman Ferus addeth,Sine peccato originali. not without veniall sinnes. The true Ferus saith,Fidē & chari­tatē conjungit Apostolus, ita tamen ut fidem praeponat. Ibid. The Apostle conjoyneth faith and chari­ty, yet so as hee preferreth faith: your Roman Ferus addeth, he preferreth faithAdditur, or­dine, non per­fectione. in order, not in perfection. The true Ferus saith,Charitas ti­morem expellit, quia fidem quâ Christum, vitā, propitiationem & salvato­rem nostrum apprehendimus, probat & con­firmat, certám­que reddit. Ib. c. 4. Alite r. Charity driveth out feare, because it trieth, confirmes, and makes as­sured our faith, whereby we apprehend Christ, our life, propitiation and salvation: your Romane Ferus saith,Charitas ti­morem expellit, quia peccata remittit, & Spiritus sāctus eam consolatur testimonium perhibens quòd filii Dei su­mus. Ibid. Charity drives out feare, because it forgiveth our sinnes, and the Holy Ghost doth comfort it, giving testimony that we are Gods children. The true Ferus saith,Ibid. cap. 5. There be some, who after faith doe earnestly urge good workes, but because they teach not withall, to what end they are to be directed, and how much is to be ascribed unto them, they give cause that almost all the common people doe trust in their owne workes, and so they build upon the sand: the Roman Ferus saith, There were some, who after faith, and with faith, did earnestly urge good workes; but because they cast away their necessity, and others ascribed too much to them, they all did build upon the sand. Lastly, in the true Ferus, sometimes by changing of a word, or by taking away of a word, you pervert the sense and meaning of the Author: As for instance; where­as the true Ferus saith, Saint John condemned all glorying in our workes (omnem gloriam;) your Ro­man [Page 132] Edition hath turned omnem into inanem, and saith, Saint John condemned (inanem gloriam) vaine glory, &c. And whereas the true Ferus saith, It is ri­diculous that some will have Cephas for the head: Ridiculum est quod quidam hîc volunt, Ce­phas idem esse quod caput. Idem. in Joh. c. 1. p. mihi (43) your Roman Ferus hath left out the word (ridicu­lum est) and saith, That some will have Cephas taken for the head, which is most ridiculous.

Claudius Espencaeus Bishop of Paris, lived and dyed a member of the Roman Church; yet is pur­ged, because hee speakes not Placentia, sutable to your Trent Doctrine. In his Commentary on the Epistle to Titus, in his first digression, hee is com­manded to be purged (per quinque paginas) ‘five leaves together; in which hee complaines of the abuses and corruptions growne into the Roman Church and See; he shewes that their greedinesse of gaine, and love of money caused them to dis­pence with all kindes of wickednesse; as namely, with unlawfull and forbidden marriages, with Priests keeping of Concubines, with incests, mur­ders, rapes, witchcraft, killing of Fathers, of Mo­thers, of Brothers, and things not to be named; and under the name and title of the Taxes of the Apostolicke Chamber (for so they terme them) in which Booke (saith hee) being publikely and daily printed,Taxae Camerae Apostolicae. you may learne more wickednesse than in all the summes and catalogues of vices.’ Then hee shewes that the Councell of Trent was a third time assembled by the command of Pius the fourth;Adeo tamen Romanam cu­riā repurgare non permisit. yet by no meanes would hee permit that the Court of Rome should be reformed. And [Page 133] thus in severall pages,Ind. Madrid. f. 60. & Belg. p. 74. Deleantur illa verba in Ep. ad Tit. c. 1. p. 74 p. 76, 77, 78. & 82, 83, 84. where hee complaines of the like abuses in the See and Court of Rome, the In­quisitors command to be blotted out.

Lastly, hee proves out of Gregory the Great, and Saint Bernard, Ibid. p. 526. In Tit. c. 3. That every soule is subject to the higher power; that is, the Priesthood to the secular power, the Bishops and Archbishops to Emperours and Kings: and in conclusion, when it is questio­ned (saith hee) touching the reformation of the Cler­gie, and orders of Monkes, for sending the Shepheards to their owne folds, and compelling them to feed their owne flocks, they say it is a thing that belongs to a Synod, and the Bishop of Rome: Res est synodi­ca & pontificia Ibid. p. (mihi) 526. But was there any Reformation at the Councell of Trent? Did the Pope and Councell cause them to bee more diligent in their calling? &c. This and much more to the like purpose they command to be blot­ted out.

Polydore Virgil, a member of your Church, is purged in many points of Doctrine which make a­gainst you. Possevine tells us,Possen. Appar. p. (mihi) 294. Tom. 2. that his Booke De inventionibus rerum is permitted to be read, if it be such as Pope Gregory the thirteenth comman­ded to be purged at Rome (1576.) Now if any man list to compare that and Polydore printed at Paris 1528.Parisiis ex Of­ficinâ Roberti Stephani, Anno 1528. hee shall finde that the true Doctrine of Polydore is not allowed, which protesteth against many points of Popery; but by the Inquisitors command hee is inforced contrary to himselfe to speake the Trent language. As for instance;Polyd. de In­vent. Rerum l. 2. c. 23. in initio p. (mihi) 41. whereas the true Polydore saith, When God is every [Page 134] where present, certainly there is nothing more foolish than to counterfeit his image: in your later Editi­ons you have added these words, In the beginning after the first creation there was nothing more foolish; as if it were wisdome to represent God the Father in these dayes, which in the beginning of the world was foolishnesse.

Ibid. l. 5. c. 4. p. 84. usque ad p. 87.In his fifth Booke and fourth Chapter, your Inquisitors command seven whole pages to bee stricken out; and the reason is pregnant: The mar­riage of Priests, which is prohibited by a positive Law of your Church, is proved to be lawfull, yea and in some case commanded by the Apostles Do­ctrine, and justified by the examples of Saint Paul, of Peter, of Philip, and other Apostles, that had wives; and he addeth, that according to Saint Pauls Doctrine, the Bishops and Deacons, and conse­quently all orders of Priesthood, had them; and this custome (saith hee) continued long in the Church: and withall concludes;Porro, dum sa­cerdotes gene­rabant legiti­mos filios, Ec­clesia faelici prole virūm vi­gebat; tum san­ctissimi erant Pōtifices, Epis­copi innocentis­simi, Presbyteri Diaconíque in­tegerrimi ca­stissimíque. Ib. p. 86, 87. Ibid. c. 9. Furthermore, whilst the Priests did beget lawfull sonnes, the Church flourished with a happy off-spring of men; then your Popes were most holy, your Bishops most innocent, your Priests and Deacons most honest and chaste. Then he proves from Pope Pius the second, that as Marriage upon good cause was taken from the Priests, so it ought to be restored upon better. This and much more con­cerning the marriage of Priests, is commanded to be stricken out.

In his ninth Chapter, hee saith, Worship thou one true and eternall God; but worship thou no Image of [Page 133] any living creature, Ind. Belg. p. 175 deleatur (say your Inquisi­tors) let it be strucken out.

In his sixth Booke,Idem. l. 6. c. 13. and beginning of his thir­teenth Chapter, he testifies from St. Hierome, That almost all the holy ancient Fathers did condemne the worship of Images, for feare of Idolatrie. He proves from the Law of Moses, that nothing made with hands should be worshipped; and from the Prophet David, Confounded bee all they that worship graven Images. Hee shewes further, that Gregorie the Great, albeit hee reprehended Serenus Bishop of Marsilia for breaking downe of Images, yet hee commends him for forbidding the worshipping of them. These and the like passages are commanded to be strucken out, per octodecem lineas, Ind. Belg p. 177. Ind. lib. expurg. p. (mihi) 725. for eighteen lines together.

Ludovicus Vives a Priest of your second Clas­sis is purged, and namely by the Divines of Lovan, Plantins print at Antwerpe, 1576. in their Edition of St. Austins workes at Antwerp, Anno 1576.

In his Epistle to King Henry the 8^th, where he saith, that Princes are supreme Governours on earth next under God, this is commanded to be blotted out: And where he saith, The Saints are worshipped and esteemed by many, as were the Gods among the Gentiles; this passage without a command, in the aforesaid Edition is razed out.

Againe, in his Comment on the 8^th. Booke of the Citie of God, he tells us how your Romish Priests upon good Friday doe celebrate Christs passion up­on the stage. There Judas (saith he) playeth the [Page 134] most ridiculous Mimick, Lud. Viv. in Au­gust. de Civit. Dei, l. 8. c. 27. even then when he betrayes Christ; there the Apostles runne away, and the Soul­diers follow, and all resounds with laughter; then comes Peter and cuts off Malchus eare, and then all rings with applause, as if the betraying of Christ were now revenged; and by and by this great Fisher Peter for feare of a Girle, denies his Master, all the people laughing at her question, and hissing at his deniall; and in all these revels and ridiculous stirs, Christ onely is serious and severe; but seeking to move passion and sorrow in the audience, he is so farre from that, that he is cold even in the divinest matters, to the great guilt, shame, and sinne both of the Priests that present it, and the people that behold it. These words and blasphemous actions,Ind. l. expurgat. p (mihi) 41. as being ashamed of them, you doe well to command them to bee blotted out; but yet they are reprinted, and your men are not ashamed to continue the practice of it in your owne Religion.

And lastly, where he sayes, That those who pre­ferre the Latin Translation before the Greeke and Hebrew fountaines, Idem in Aug. l. 15. c. 13. p. 83. are men of evill mindes and cor­rupt judgements; that passage is left out in the An­twerpe print. And whereas he saith, that the story of Susanna, Idem. l. 18. c. 31 of Bell and the Dragon, are Apocryphall Scriptures, and not received of the Jewes, nor tran­slated by the Septuagint: Ind. l. expurg. p. (mihi) 41. all those words are com­manded to be stricken out.

Jacobus Faber Stapulensis, a member of the Roman Church, taught the Protestant doctrine in many points, and therefore he is purged by your severall Indices.

Whereas the Rhemists translate the Greek word [...], Penance, he defined it Repentance, Jac. Fab. in Evang. Matth. c. 3. fol. (mihi) 13. b. Ibid. c. 5. fol. 24. in initio. and makes a distinction betwixt Repentance and Pe­nance, such as the Protestants doe; and therefore it is commanded to be stricken out.

Againe, speaking of the Scribes and Pharisees, who did attribute righteousnesse to themselves and their owne workes;Ibid. c. 6. f. 30. a. Ind. Madr. fol. 112. The faithfull (saith he) which are of the Law of grace, doe worke most di­ligently, but doe attribute nothing to themselves, or their owne workes; but all of them doe impute their righteousnesse to the grace of God; All consisteth with the one in the merit of workes, with the other in grace: the one respect themselves and their workes, and are delighted therein; the other regard not them­selves, but the grace of God; they admire his good­nesse, and therein is their chiefe delight. Againe, if any man shall doe good in this world, hee must not doe it because it is his will, but because God comman­deth it; For he which is perfect hath not a will peculiar to himselfe, but his will must be the will of God; and this is the third Petition of the Lords Prayer.

In the sixteenth Chapter of St. Matthew, up­on the words, Thou art Peter, &c. he shewes, that according to St. Pauls doctrine,Ibid. fol. c. 16. (mihi) 74. b. the Rocke was Christ; Hee shewes that Peter was so farre from being a firme rocke, that Christ himselfe did inti­mate the contrarie, when he said, Get thee behinde me Sathan, for thou savourest not the things of God, but of men: He shewes us further, that our Lord Christ promised to Peter the Keyes of binding [Page 136] and loosing, but withall testifies, that those Keyes were not Peters, but Christs, whereby Peter doth not binde or loose by his power, but by the will of Christ. He addeth moreover, that not onely Peter received those Keyes, but also all the rest of the A­postles: But (saith he) there be some which under­stand by the Keyes of binding and loosing, the Popes power, as Christ spake of that faith, witnessing that he was the Sonne of the living God, which is one of the Keyes of the heavenly Doctrine, upon which the Church is founded, and Peters faith, as upon the true Rocke Christ, was builded. Deleatur ab illis verbis, Ne quis putet Pe­trum, &c. us­que ad, Aeterni Patris infusio. Ind. Madr. fol. (mihi) 113. & Ind. Belg. p. 51. This and much more to the same purpose, for thirty lines together, is comman­ded to be strucken out.

In his 20. Chapter he saith,Verum qui o­peribus suis a­liquo modo fi­dunt, minus Deo fidunt, mi­nusque amant Deum: qui au­tem nullo mo­do, sed pacto, s [...]d promissioni imo omnia Deo tribuunt plus Deo fidunt, cu­jus ineffabili bonitate qui novissimi fue­runt operando, facti sunt pri­mi gratiam re­cipiendo; & qui primi ope­rando, novissi­mi gratiam re­cipiēdo: Quare bonum, &c. deleatur us{que} ad Dei autem omnia. Ind. ut supra. Those which any wayes trust in their workes, have the least affiance in God, and love him the lesse; but those which give all to his promise, and to God himselfe, they trust most in God; by whose ineffable bounty, those which are last in wor­king, are made first by receiving grace; and those that are first in working, are become last in receiving: Whatsoever therefore a man doth, it is good for him to trust wholly to God his goodnesse, for it is the will of God, and of his speciall grace, that wee are saved, and not of our will or workes: These words, and much more to the same purpose in the same chapter, are commanded to be blotted out.

Touching his Commentaries upon Saint John, your Inquisitors have pronounced this definitive sentence,Ind. Madr. fol. (mihi) 115. Because they cannot be handsomely purged, let them all be spunged and blotted out.

Touching his Commentaries upon Timothy, In Tim. c. 3. fol. (mihi) 205. hee shewes, ‘that it was lawfull for Priests to marry a Virgin till the time of Gregory the seventh, (which was nine hundred yeeres after Christ:) hee shewes likewise that the Grecians kept the Apostolicall Tradition in marrying of Wives, and could not change them, and that other Chur­ches which vowed single life, by their inconti­nencie fell into the snares of the Devill:’ And lastly, in his Commentary upon the Galathians, at large he proves,Per solam fi­dem Christi in­funditur justi­ficatio. In Gal. c. 2. fol. 154. That by the Faith of Christ alone we are justified, and that he which Idem c. 3. fol. 156. Qui au­tem confidit in operibus, in se­ipso confidit, & baculo inniti­tur arundineo, qui frangitur in seipso, & supernum lu­men non videt, unde descendit Justificatio. trusteth in his works, trusteth in himselfe, and leanes upon a staffe of Reed, which is broken in it selfe; whereby he doth not discern the heavenly light, from whence our justification doth descend: These and many other like passages in seve­rall places of his Workes, which are consonant to our Protestant Doctrine, are commanded by theInd. Madr. f. (mihi) 118, 119. Inquisitors to be strucken out.

Friderici Furii Cenolani Valentini Bo­nonia; sive, De libris sacris in vernaculam linguam con­vertendis. Fridericus Furius writes a whole Book of tran­slating the Bible into the vulgar tongue, for the be­nefit of the Lay people; hee dedicates his Booke to Cardinall Bovadillius, and he tells him that wee esteeme it an excellent thing to reade the workes of Greeke and Latine Philosophers; and therefore much more ought wee to search and know the will of God out of his sacred Scriptures: for the one is a matter of pleasure, and the other is a matter of ne­cessity; the not knowing of the one may hurt little or nothing at all, but to bee ignorant of the other brings a grievous mischiefe, besides eternall destru­ction [Page 138] of the soule. Againe, what is it (saith hee) to forbid the Scriptures to bee read in the vulgar tongue, than to forbid God his owne purpose, and as it were to command God, which doth declare himselfe to all by his Word, that hee should not be manifested unto us? This is the whole scope of the Author, and for this cause, lest the reading of the Scripture in a knowne tongue should discover An­tichristian Doctrine by frequent reading,Ind. lib. proh. p. (mihi) 36. the Book it selfe is forbidden, till it bee purged in this and the like places witnessing against your Romane Doctrine.

Johannes Langus is numbred amongst your He­retiques in the first Classis, pag. 51. Yet his Annotations uponPermittuntur verò ejusdem in D. Justinum an oratiōes, itē in Nicephorum scholia, si ex­purgentur. Ind. l. proh. p. mihi 51. Justin Martyr, and his Com­mentaries upon Nicephorus, are allowed if they bee purged. Now let the Reader observe for what cause you would have him purged: First touching his Annotations upon Justin Martyr; Multa conti­net parum Ca­tholicae Religi­oni consona, in­ter ea autem il­lud est praecipu­um, quòd tran­substantiatio­nem non agnos­cit, sed opertè contendat, cum corpore & san­guine Christi remanere ve­ram panis & vini substātiā. They containe many things disagreeing to the Catholike Religion; but among those, that is chiefe, that hee doth not ac­knowledge Transubstantiation, but doth openly main­taine, that the true substance of bread and wine doth remaine with the body and bloud of Christ. Againe,Perversè ad­modum inter­pretatur illud Malachiae, In omni loco offer­tur sacrificium nomini meo, de doxologia, be­nedictione, lau­dibus, & hym­nis. Sic Ind. ut supra. He doth very maliciously interpret that place of Ma­lachy, In every place a sacrifice shall be offered to my name, that is (saith he) in giving of glory, blessing, laud, and praise to the Name of God.

Gerardi Lo­richii Adama­rii collectio tri­ū librorū, &c. de missa publi­ca proroganda. Ind. l. proh. p. 11. Gerardus Lorichius is prohibited till he be purged for the reproving and condemning your private Masse, and Communion in one kinde; his words be [Page 139] these, There be false Catholikes, that are not ashamed by all meanes to hinder the Reformation of the Church; they, to the intent that the other kinde of the De Missa pub. Racemati­onum, lib. 2. Canonis pars 7. p. (mihi) 177. Sacrament may not be restored to the Lay people, spare no kinde of blasphemy. Excusum an. 1536. For they say, Christ said onely to his Apostles, Drinke yee all of this; but the words of the Canon of the Masse, are, Take and eate you all of this: Here I beseech them let them tell mee, whether they will have this word (All) to pertaine onely to the Apostles? See more, lib. 2. pars Cano­nis 17. p. mihi. 210. &c. Then must the Lay people abstaine from the other kinde, of the bread also; which thing to say is an Heresie, and a pestilent and detestable blasphemie.

Ambrosius Catharinus Archbishop of Compsa wrote against Cajetan; Opuscula ve­rò similiter prohibentur, ni­si corrigantur, Ind. l. prohib. p. 4. and (saithBellar. de Ec. Scrip. p (mihi) 312. Bellarmine) hee wrote likewise against Luther: Yet something hee wrote is disallowed of the Church, as namely, touching the words of consecration: other things are commonly refuted by the Doctours of the Church, viz. the cer­tainety of Grace, of Predestination, &c. therefore his Workes are warily to be read. Thus you have Caje­tan against Luther, and Catherinus against Cajetan, and Luther & both against the Tenets of their own Church; insomuch as the Inquisitors have com­manded a deleatur upon Cajetan and Catharinus in the second Classis, and againstCommentaria in Lucam, nisi fuerint ex repurgat [...] & impressis ab an. 1581. vel nisi anteà edita, expur­gentur. Ind. l. prohib. p. 26. & p. 318. Ind. Belg. p. 317. Ind. Hisp. p. 63. Luthers whole Workes in the first Classis.

Didacus Stella is prohibited to bee printed be­fore hee be purged. The places which are purged are such wherein hee teacheth Protestant Doctrine, as may be seen inSee Appendix to the Romish Fisher caught in his owne net. Mr. Crashaw, and D^r. James, and D.F. Observations.

Ad solam vitae benè actae imi­tationem, non etiam ad religi­osum cultum, quem adoratio­nem vocant Theologi, Di­vorū monumen­ta conservare fas est. In Comment. Jos. hist. c. ult. Ind. l. expurg. p. 31. Andreas Masius in his Commentarie upon Jo­suah is purged for this Protestant doctrine; Wee ought to preserve the Monuments of Saints onely for the imitation of their godly life, not for Religious wor­ship, which Divines call Adoration. Againe, hee saith,Idem in Jos. c. 22. The Church sets before our eyes the figure of Christs Crosse, (not that wee should worship it;) which latter words are commanded to bee razed out.

Lastly, Cardinall Bellarmine, who was the first and best that ever handled all controversies in diffe­rence betwixt us, was in danger of a prohibition, or rather of an absolute suppression of all his workes.Ind. Belg. p. 269. Your owne Barclay witnesseth of him,Barclay of the authoritie of the Pope. c. 13. p. 66. Engl. That there is not one of the Popes partie, who hath either gathe­red more diligently, or propounded more sharply, or concluded more briefly or subtilly, than the worthy Di­vine Bellarmine; who although he gave as much to the Popes authority in temporalties, as honestly hee might, and more than he ought, yet could he not satis­fie the ambition of the most imperious man Sixtus the 5^th. (who affirmed that he had supreme power over Kings and Princes of the whole Earth, and all People, Countries, and Nations committed unto him, not by humane, but by divine Ordinance:) and therefore he was very neare by his Pontificiall censure (to the great hurt of the Church) to have abolished all the writings of that Doctour (which doe oppugne Heresies with great successe at this day) as the Fathers of that order (whereof Bellarmine was then) did seriously report un­to me. How probable this may seeme, his worke [Page 141] of Recognitions doth witnesse to the world; where­in he was inforced to recant that doctrine, which he had both sincerely taught and published according to the truth. As for instance; whereas he professed that the Pope was subject to the Emperour in tem­porall affaires; on the contrarie hee recants it, say­ing,Bel. Recognit. de summo Pont. p. 16. I allow not that which I said (with Albertus Pighius) that Paul appealed to Caesar to be his law­full Judge. Againe, whereas it was said the Popes used to be chosen by Emperours, the word Emperor (potest, & fortè debet deleri) Idem de Cler. p. (mihi) 52. it must, and peradven­ture ought to be blotted out. And when I sayd that Paul was subject to Caesar, as to his temporall Lord, I meant it was soDe facto, non de jure. Ib. p. 17. Sapendo M. Paolo chasotto Sisto Quinto usci un Indice de libri prohibi­ti, il quale se ben subito si oc­culto, non fu pero cio cosi presto fatto che non ne restasse­ro gli essempla­ri. Et in questo erano compresse le opere del Bel­larmino. In lib. Confirmatione del considerati­oni del M. Paulo di Venetia, di M. Fulgentio Brestiano ser­vita. In Venetia appresso Ruber­to Mejetti 1606. Con li­centia de supe­riori. in 4^to. in fact, but not of right.

And in truth it seemes, that neither the Pope, nor his Inquisitors were well pleased with this Ca­tholike doctrine: For Frier Paul of Venice acknow­ledged Cardinall Bellarmine and Baronius for lear­ned men; and further saith, that he hath knowne the one and the other in Rome; but he could wish with­all, that they had written that which they sincerely thought, without being forced to recant any thing that they had spoken. For Frier Paul knew well that under Sixtus Quintus there came out an Index of prohibited Bookes, which though it were suddainly stayed and called in, yet it was not so closely acted, but that there remained Copies of it; and in that Index the workes of Bellarmine were comprehended. If this learned Cardinals Booke had beene forbidden, you and your fellowes would have beene to seeke of an answere for many objections made against you; [Page 142] for it is usuall with you to referre me for an answer to Bellarmine. But as it is observed, they recanted many things in their writings:Dum plurima Annalibus dige­rendis pervocu­tanda fuere, ag­novit ingenuè quae primis edi­tionibus aut mā­ca, aut non om­nino ad plenam veritatem abs se fuerāt scrip­ta, id quod in Annalibus non semel testa­tus est. For Baronius con­fesseth, that in his first Editions many things were imperfect, and not altogether true, which were cor­rected in the other impressions. And I am perswaded, ere long wee shall have an Index Defēsio Johā­nis Marsilii in favorem respō­si 8. propositio­nes continentis, adversus quod scripsit illu­strissimus Car­dinalis Bellar­minus. Venetiis. 1606. Expurgatorius lay hold on him; For (saith Johannes Marsilius) I have heard that as he hath taken a liberty to mend the Fathers, Canons, and Historians, so he will cor­rect the Councels after his manner, and for his owne purpose, and so assume unto himselfe a licence here­unto; which God forbid. Againe (saith he)Marsil. p. 357. See B. Mortons encounter a­gainst M. Par­sons reckoning, l. 1. c. 1. p. 10, 11 the An­swers of Cardinall Baronius are not unlike the an­swers of Cardinall Bellarmine, who whilst he cannot finde an objected argument to be assoiled by Historie, he saith, that those words have beene inserted into the Bookes: much like to Mr. Floyd, when there is no answere to be made to some particular objections out of the Authors, you reject them all as condem­ned by your Inquisitors: And this answere I am sure may serve for all objections that can bee made from most Classicall Authors.

The last thing which I here meane to speake of, is a certaine distinction of explicite and implicite faith, which the Knight and his Ministers cry out against, and are pleased sometimes to make themselves merry withall, as if they would laugh out; but it is too well and solidly grounded to bee blowne away with the breath of any such ministeriall Knight, as he is. Thus you.

You professed formerly to teach mee for my learning; now it seemes you would instruct me for my manners: you tell me I make my selfe merrie with your doctrine, as if I would laugh out: truly I am sorry to thinke you teach such ridiculous do­ctrine, as should deservedly cause laughter. Shall I make you my Confessor? I cannot chuse but smile when I consider what great paines you have taken in this whole Chapter, to uphold the Articles of your Faith with sixe pretended rules, and all infal­lible, as namely, Scripture in the plaine and literall sense; Tradition or common beliefe and practice of the whole Church; Councels either generall or particular, confirmed by the See Apostolike; the authoritie of that whole See it selfe defining Ex Ca­thedra, though without either generall or particu­lar Councell; the common and uniforme consent of ancient Fathers or moderne Doctours and Schoole-men, delivering any thing unto us as mat­ter of Faith: All these sixe rules (say you) we ac­knowledge, and are ready to make good whatsoever is taught any of these wayes.

When I say you assume confidently, that all these are infallible rules to leade men to the knowledge of your Faith, and at last you conclude, and as it were shut up all those rules of knowledge, with the do­ctrine of an implicite faith. This I confesse is such a mystery of foolishnesse, as deserveth rather laugh­ter than an answer: For, as Cato said, He marvelled that a Soothsayer did not laugh when he saw a Sooth­sayer: So I am verily perswaded that your selves [Page 144] doe smile when you meet each other, to thinke how you cousen the poore ignorant people with a blind obedience, and an implicite Faith. To let passe your Golden Legends and leaden miracles, (which occasion sufficient mirth in long winter nights for all sorts of people) what I pray is that implicite Faith, that you condemne me and our Ministers for laughing at? Mistake us not, I know no Pro­testant doth laugh at an implicite Faith, which is directed to the proper object, the holy Scripture; we laugh not at an implicite Faith, which cannot be well unfolded or comprehended by reason, as name­ly, the unsearchable mysterie of the Trinitie, of Christs conception by the holy Ghost, and the like; but we disclaime and condemne your Catho­like Colliers Faith, which is canonized for your Popish Creed; that is, to pin our Faith upon the Churches sleeve, and to assent to every thing the Church propoundeth to be beleeved, without exa­mination whether it be agreeable to the Scripture, or besides it. We laugh, or rather wee pitie that Merchant of Placentia, who chose rather to bee a Papist than a Protestant,Laurent. Di­scept. Theolog. p. 5. because (saith he) I can briefly learne the Roman faith; For if I say what the Pope saith, and deny what the Pope denyes, and if he speake and I hearken unto him, this is alone sufficient for me. And wee cannot choose but smile at the judgement pronounced by your Gregorie de Valen­tia, upon this poore ignorant Merchant; God (saith he) will have nothing to lay to this mans charge at the dreadfull day of Judgement: His meaning, it may [Page 145] be is, God can charge him with nothing, because this man knew nothing.

This doctrine of Obedience doth well agree with Cardinall Bellarmines exposition upon that place of Job, The Oxen did plow and labour, Bell. de Justif. l. 1. c. 7. and the Asses fed by them. By the Oxen (saith hee) are meant the learned Doctors of the Church, by the Asses are meant the ignorant people, which out of simple beliefe rest satisfied with the understanding of their Superiors. And accordingly your Cardinall Cusanus perswades his Proselytes to relye upon the Church, without further inquirie of the truth;Cusan. exercit. l. 2. & l. 6. For (saith he) Obedience without reason is a full and perfect obedi­ence, that is, when thou obeyest, without enquiring of reason, as a horse is obedient to his Master. He that shall make a question in your Church, whether the Pope can erre, must resigne up his understanding with this beliefe,Bellar. de Pont. l. 4. c. 5. If the Pope should so farre forth erre, as to command vices, and forbid vertues, the Church were bound to beleeve that vices are good, and vertues are evill, unlesse she will sinne against her owne conscience.

This is Bellarmines lesson, and that must bee your Faith. Nay more, Cardinall Tollet will assure you, that if one beleeve his Bishop, Toll. de Instruct. sacerd. l. 4. c. 3. although it be con­trary to the faith, yet in beleeving that falshood, hee shall performe an act meritorious.

I understand you are a Jesuite, and therefore I doe not much wonder, that you so much insist upon the justification of an implicite faith; for you had it from your founder, and are injoyned to make it [Page 146] good by your owne Order. There is a little Pam­phlet entituled Regulae Societatis Jesu, which your selves have caused to be printed at Lyons, in which Ignatius Loyala, the Spanish Souldier, and Patron of your Sect,Anticotton, or a refutation of Cottons letter to the Queene Regent, p. 24. printed at Ly­ons by Jaques Roussin. Anno. 1607. hath laid downe these rules to your Societie: Entertaine the command of your Superiour in the same sort, as if it were the voice of Christ. A­gaine, Hold this undoubtedly, that all which a Supe­riour commands, is no other than the commandement of God himselfe; and as in beleeving those things which the Catholike faith proposeth, you are presently carried with all the strength of your consent; so for the performance of all those things which your Supe­riour commands, you must be carried with a certaine blinde impetuosity of will, desirous to obey without fur­ther inquiring why or wherefore. ‘And lest that such command might seeme sometimes unjust and absurd, he commands your Jesuits so to capti­vate their understanding, that they sift not the commands of their Superiours; but that they may follow the example of Abraham, who prepared even to sacrifice his sonne at the commandement of God: and of Abbot John, who watered a drie log of wood a whole yeare together, to none other purpose, but to exercise his obedience; and another time put himselfe to thrusting downe of a great Rocke, which many men together were not able to move, not that hee held them things either usuall or possible, but onely that hee would not disobey the command of his Supe­riour.’

This is that blind obedience and implicite faith which wee laugh at, and this is the ridiculous Do­ctrine which your Rhemists teach. He saith enough, Rhem. Annot. in Luc. 12.11. and defendeth himselfe sufficiently, who answereth he is a Catholike man, and that his Church can give a reason of all the things which they demand of him. But we have not so learned Christ; wee are ready alwayes, according to the Apostles instruction, to give an answer to every man that asketh us a reason of the hope that is in us. 1 Pet. 3.15. And for the better fulfil­ling of the Law and the Prophets, wee testifie with Moses, Secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and our children, Deut. 29.29. that we may doe all the words of the Law. We say there­fore, particular knowledge is to be joyned with the assent of faith; for no man can assent to that which hee never heard, and therefore I thinke no man of understanding, with a blind obedience and implicite faith, will resigne up his eie-sight, and looke through such spectacles as you have tempe­red for them. For without doubt it was the con­stant and uniforme Doctrine of the ancient Church, that howsoever faith apprehends mysteries not to bee inquired into, yet the proposition and do­ctrine of all the Articles of Faith were distinctly taught and conceived by all: and thereupon Theodoret, who was then living, gives us to understand, that in his dayes You might see every where the points of our Faith to bee held and knowne, [...], &c. Theod. Graec. Serm. 5. not onely to them who are Ma­sters in the Church and Teachers of the people, [Page 148] but even of Coblers, Smiths, and Weavers, and all kinde of Artificers, of all sorts of women; and all these you may finde (saith he) discoursing of the Trinitie, and the creation of all things.

The Reply.

First you say in your Title, The Church of Rome not bitter against Heretikes.

It is true, the Church of Rome is not bitter against Heretikes (as you understand them for Pro­testants) for they are no Heretikes: but if the termes of Luthers whelpes, Hell hounds of Zwing­lius, damned persons, and worse than Infidels; if such termes (I say) be Catholike complements (which your fellow Jesuits have given us) I shall freely con­fesse your Charitie is mistaken.

But (say you) the word Heretike, which is the worst of all, hath ever gone with such as have held new particular doctrines, 1 John 2. and such St. John calleth Antichrists.

Surely you have my assent and wishes with you, that is, that the name of Heretike may alwayes goe as it hath gone, with such as teach new and Anti­christian doctrine. But let me tell you, this descrip­tion of yours is a perfect Character of the Roman Church; and I verily beleeve that if all the pictures and patternes of a Papist were lost in the world, they might all againe be recovered, and a Papist painted to the life in the description of such an He­retike as you here define.

Looke upon the particular doctrines of private Masse, your halfe Communion, your Prayer in an unknowne Tongue, and tell me if these be not new: why else doe you and your associates confesse that the contrary Tenets were taught and revived by the Ancients? And as touching the name of Antichrist, if that be appropriate to Heretikes, it cannot touch the members of our Church; for we make Christ and his Apostles the sole rule of our Faith. On the other side, if you consider the Pope, either as he sits in the place of Christ, as his Vicar Generall, or as he and his adherents teach and uphold a doctrine against Christ (for the word Antichrist imports both) without doubt they beare the markes of Antichrist, [...] is against Christ, & in the place of Christ as his Vicar. and consequently the word (Here­tike) reflects upon your selves.

Cassander tells us, there be some who make the [Page 150] Pope of Rome almost a God, Cassand. de officio Piiviri. preferring his authori­tie not onely above the whole Church, but above the sacred Scriptures, holding his judgement equall to the divine Oracles, and for an infallible rule of Faith. I see no reason (saith he) but that these men should be called Pseudo-Catholikes or Papists. Indeed I must confesse I much wonder, that any Prote­stant should give you that honourable title of Ca­tholike, especially when you terme them by the name of Heretikes.

Those that have the marke of the Beast imprin­ted in their foreheads, have borrowed both the Name and Nature from him; and therefore your Cardinall tells us,Bell. de Not. Eccles. c. 4. The word Papist is derived from the Pope, such as was Peter, And more particularly your Gregory Martin and the Rhemists give you to understand,Rhem. Annot. in Acts. 11.26. that to be a Papist, is to bee a Christian man, a childe of the Church, and subject to Christs Vicar. You that are so inquisitive after other mens pedigrees, see if with all your Heraldrie you can make good your nominal descent from Christ, and, as you stile him, Pope Peter.

Bristow. De­mand. 8.Your Father Bristow, as a knowne Antiquarie in this point, gives your Father Bellarmine the lye; for he avowes it for certaine, that your name (Pa­pist) was never heard of till the dayes of Pope Leo the Tenth, and this was 1500. yeares after Christ; and this opinion I am sure is most probable, and more sutable to the Noveltie of your Reli­gion.

But (say you) we Catholikes stile the Knight [Page 151] and the Reformers, by the common name of Here­ticks.

You told me formerly the title of (Sir) would be left for me: now you have added to the title the name of Hereticke, and you professe it is the worst word of all. It seemes the worst word you have is good enough for me: But I pardon you, and I must let you know that the name of Catholike is as comely with the Professors of your new doctrine, as a golden ring in a swines snout. And as touching the name of Hereticke wherewith you charge me, you rightly resemble Athalia, 4 Kings 11. who when shee under­stood that Joas the right inheritour of the Crowne of Judah, was proclaimed King, ranne in her furie to the Temple, and cryed out, Treason, Trea­son, when the treason was not in King Joas, but in her selfe that wrought it. Your Alphonsus à Ca­stro hath written a Booke against the Heretickes in all ages; and in his Index haereticorum, I have sear­ched diligently, and I finde the names of certaine Popes among them, but mine owne name I doe not finde: For I professe with St. Austin, Errare possum, haereticus esse nolo, I may erre, but I will not bee an Hereticke. Shall I make my confession unto you? I beleeve all things which are contained in the Scrip­tures, Cum hoc credi­mus, Priuscre­dimus, nihil am­plius credendum esse. Tertul. Ibid. and nothing contrary or besides them as matter of faith necessary to salvation: I beleeve the holy Catholicke Church. This is an Article of my Faith, and this I first received from the Apostles Creed. Next, I undoubtedly beleeve the Nicene Creed; and this was called Catholicke by those holy Fathers, to [Page 152] distinguish the Heretikes from the Orthodoxe Christians in the Primitive Church; or, according to your owne words,Chap. 1. p. 2. appointed to be publikely pro­fessed by all such as meant to bee counted Catholikes; and for the same cause your Councell of Trent de­creed it to be received (as a Shield against Heresies) and therefore by your owne confession,Concil. Trid. Sess. 3. the Coun­cels decree, and your Creed it selfe, I am free from the name of Heretike. Lastly, I professe and be­leeve Athanasius Creed, and that Holy and ancient Father witnesseth of that confession, Haec est fides Catholica, This is the Catholike Faith.

If therefore I beleeve the Scriptures, and Ca­tholike Church, which teacheth the true Faith; If I beleeve the Articles of the Nicene Creed, which distinguisheth the right Beleevers from the Here­tikes; If I receive Athanasius Creed, which con­taines the summe and substance of all Catholike Faith and doctrine, what remaines then why I should not be exempted from the name of Heretike, unlesse I shall acknowledge with you the fourth Creed published by Pope Pius the fourth, and con­sequently subscribe to new particular doctrines, which (as you confesse) doth ever accompanie the nature of Heresie?

But the Reformers are Heretikes.

He that shall heare but the word (Reformers) in all probability will conceive that they were men which opposed some errors or heresies crept into the Church, and for that cause desired a Reforma­tion. In the Churches of Corinth, Galatia, Perga­mus [Page 153] and Thyatira there were some of the Sadduces opinion, who denied the Resurrection, others that joyned Circumcision and the workes of the Law with Christ, and the worke of salvation. The A­postles you know did reprove those errors in their dayes, and no doubt many accordingly did reforme themselves: Now will you condemne those reformed persons for Heretikes, because they differed from the rest with an utter dislike of those errors which the seduced partie retained? Surely this is the true state and condition of our Church; and accordingly your Trent Fathers made a decree for Reformation in the Councell, and pretended that it was summoned to redresse Heresies which were crept into the Church; and will you say, if they had redressed them, the Reformers had beene Heretikes?

The Rogatian Heretikes would have made the world beleeve that they were the onely Catholikes; and the Arrian Heretikes called the true Christians, sometimes Ambrosians, sometimes Athanasians, sometimes Homousians. And in this manner St. Paul himselfe was called before the Judges to make answer to matter of Heresie, and according to this way which you call Heresie, so worship we the God of our Fathers, Acts 24. beleeving all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets.

They that so rashly pronounce and call every thing Heresie, are often stricken with their owne dart, Alph. de Heres. l. 1. c. 7. (saith your owne Alphonsus) and fall into the same pit which themselves have digged for others: Hee [Page 154] shewes therefore by way of conclusion what hee would have called Heresie. This would I rather call Heresie (saith he) to accompt mens writings among the Scriptures of God; Ibid. and so doe they that thinke it a wicked matter to dissent from the writings of man, no lesse than it were the judgements of God. Now that your men are guilty of such Heresies in the highest degree, appeares by his owne confes­sion; for he complaines of Gratian, who did insert the Popes decretall Epistles amongst the holy Scrip­tures,Ibid. l. 1. c. 2. p. 14. as if they were of equall authoritie with them: and he speakes as an eare witnesse of others, who in their publicke Sermons have declared, that whosoever shall dissent from the opinion of St. Tho­mas, is to be censured for an Hereticke. O fortes verbi Dei Praecones! O powerfull Preachers of the word of God (saith he;) or rather I may truly say of St. Thomas doctrine, l. 1. c. 7. for by this meanes it will come to passe, that blessed Bonaventure must be censured of heresie, Ibid. p. (mihi) 31. for he crosseth St. Thomas; and blessed An­selme must be suspected of Heresie, because contrary to Thomas opinion, he thinketh him not a lover of our blessed Virgin who refuseth to celebrate the Feast of her Conception.

As this Author wrote a tract against Hereticks, so likewise he professeth that the head of the Ro­man Church, as well as the members are subject to that capitall accusation whereof you accuse the Re­formers, and particularly he doth instance from Platina in Pope Liberius for an Arrian Hereticke, and Pope Anastasius for a favourer of the Nestorian [Page 155] Heretickes, and withall hee resolves the question (which without all question is so to bee resolved) that the Pope (which you make one of the infal­lible Rules of your Faith) may become an Here­ticke.

You shall doe well therefore to forbeare your name [Catholicke] till you can free your Pope and his adherents from the markes of Heretickes. In the meane time I might more justly retort your owne words, cum faenore, into your owne bosome, and say, We Reformed Catholickes, not onely stile, but prove J. R. and the Romanists to be rightly stiled by the common name of Heretickes.

I proceed to the rest of your accusations; Theo­doret (say you) it wholly impertinent. Bellarmine his meaning is abused, and his words corrupted. First touching Theodoret: his proofe (notwithstanding your exception) stands good; for if the agreement of both parties in the Nicene Councell, in his judge­ment, ought to have allayed the heate of contention in the Church of Antioch, I might well conclude much more, that the three Creeds, and the first foure Generall Councels (wherein both sides agree) ought to have abated the edge of your sharpe and bitter Invectives against our Church. And as for abusing of Bellarmine, I assure you it was farre from my thoughts; and you cannot be ignorant that the inference, according to true meaning, standeth thus. If Protestants beleeve and hold all things necessarie for all Christians, then are they not to be accomp­ted damned persons, and worse than Infidels: But [Page 156] they beleeve the Apostles Creed, they teach the ten Commandements, and administer some few Sa­craments, which in your Cardinals opinion are those things which are simply necessarie for all to know and beleeve; and to this argument you an­swere nothing, but you quarrell about words. When I translate [nonnulla] a few Sacraments, you say I falsifie Bellarmine, for the word (few) is not there; and yet you know well, that by nonnulla hee doth not meane omnia, Nonnulla is a diminutive terme signify­ing not none, that is, some, be they never so few. and therefore those which he meaneth are but few. The word utilia is in the same place of Bellarmine; and as for other words added or left out, they alter not the sense, nor are wee bound precisely to the words, but to the sense, in translating a passage out of any Au­thor.

But (say you) what man ever tooke Babylon for a true Church?

If by Babylon you understand literally the anci­ent Citie of Chaldea, or that famous City in Aegypt, once called by the name of Memphis, and now of Cair, you know well that it is not my meaning so to take it; (for you confesse that I otherwise ex­presse my selfe:) but that a particular Church (as namely your Church of Rome, which was some­times a sound, that is, a right-beleeving Church) may afterwards fall into Heresie, and become spi­rituall and mysticall Babylon, this is not onely my assertion, but your Romanists and fellow Jesuites in the Church of Rome.

Ribera your fellow Jesuite of Salamanca in [Page 157] Spaine, tells us by way of prevention; If Rome shall commit the same things hereafter which she com­mitted in the time of John, she shall be called Baby­lon againe; as it was in the case of Hierusalem which of a faithfull City once, became afterwards a Har­lot. And according to the Prophesie of St. John, he protesteth in this manner; We know this truth so perspicuously by the words of the Revelation, Ut ne stulcissimus quidem negare possit, that the veriest foole cannot deny the same. Then he concludes,Riberae Com­ment. in Apoc. 14. v. 8. in c. 14. num. 31. n. 32. Since Babylon shall be the shop of all Idolatrie, and of all impieties, therefore it cannot be doubted, but that this shall be the condition of Rome hereafter.

I will come nearer to you: Your Monke Sige­bert about 500. yeares agoe interpreting the words of St. Peter (The Church at Babylon salutes you) delivereth this doctrine:Sigeb. Ep. p. (mihi) 188. in . l. Goldasti Re­plic. Hitherto Peter by Baby­lon did signifie Rome, because Rome at that time was confounded with Idolatrie and all uncleannesse; but my griefe doth now interpret unto mee, that Peter by a Propheticke spirit, by the Church of Baby­lon, foresaw the confusion of dissention with which the Church of Rome at this day is rent in pieces.

Honorius Bishop of Anthun in France, speaking of the fall of the Church of Rome, not long after the same time, cryes out to the members of his Church, Turne to the Citizens of Babylon,Honor. August. in Dial. de Prae­dest. & l. arbit. and see what they are; behold the buildings of that damned Citie, consider the principall persons there, and thou shalt finde the See of the Beast. Thus you see the first Babylonian tels what he feared would come to passe [Page 158] in the Church of Rome hereafter; but these two la­ter proclaimed openly that Rome was become Ba­bylon many hundred yeares since, and for their loud cries their tongues are now cut out by the command of your Inquisitors.

How undeservedly were these men punished and forbidden to speake the truth, let the Reader judge; but that which is observable, you raze the Records which testifie for us; you forbid them to speake, if it make against your Church, and then you demand of us, What man ever tooke Babylon for Rome?

I will give you one witnesse more, who is an­cient and beyond exception, who spake (as it were prophetically) of the Church of Rome in her most flourishing state. St. Hierome writing to Marcella, a noble Lady, exhorteth her to depart from Rome, which he compares to Babylon. Hier. ad Mar­cel. Ep. 17. Tō. 1. p. (mihi) 156. Reade (saith he) the Revelation of St. John, and consider that which is there said of the woman clothed in purple, of the blasphemy written in her forehead, of the seven Moun­taines, of the great waters, of the fall of Babylon: Goe out from thence my people, Babylon is falne, and is become the habitation of Divels, and the hold and cage of every foule spirit.

Now that wee might understand this was not spoken by him of heathen Rome, he adjoyneth these words following: Est quidem ibi sancta Ecclesia: There is a true or holy Church, there are the Tro­phies of the Saints and Martyrs, there is the true confession of Christ published by the Apostle. Ludo­vicus [Page 159] Vives your very friend, in commenting upon this place, tells us, that St. Hierome thinketh there is no other Babylon described by St. John in the Revelation than the City of Rome; Lud. Vives in August. de Civ. Dei, l. 18. c. 22. But now (saith he) it hath put off the name of Babylon, there is no confusion now; you cannot buy any thing now in mat­ter of Religion, without a faire pretence of holy Law for selling it, yet may you buy or sell almost any kinde of cause holy or hellish for money. In D. August. Annot. Ludov. Vives prohi­bentur nisi cor­rigantur. Ind. l. prohibit. Class. 2. For this and the like passages, your Vives is forbidden till hee be purged.

I must confesse I doe not thinke that the Rhemists would have interpreted Babylon for Rome, if it had not beene to prove Peters being at Rome: It is hap­py therefore for you that Peter wrote his Epistle from Babylon, for otherwise your succession from Peter had beene questioned; and it is as well for us that you are contented to allow Babylon for Rome, for by this meanes your Antichristian Doctrine is discovered, and your succession of Peters faith is quite abolished.

But (say you) if you meane as you expresse your selfe, that a true Church may bee depraved, I know not what to say, but to stop my eares against that mouth of blasphemie: And is it blasphemie to say, a true Church may be depraved? Sure I am it is not blasphemie against the holy Ghost; for the mouth of St. Paul hath spoken it in particular to the Roman Church, even at that time when she was a most in­corrupt Church; Towards thee goodnes, Rom. 11.22. if thou conti­nue in his goodnesse, otherwise thou also shalt be cut off: [Page 160] And may not a Church (thinke you) be depraved, that is in possibility of being cut off? What thinke you of the Church of Hierusalem? Psalm. 48.19. Did not the Prophet David terme it the City of God? and was it not afterwards termed a Harlot by the Prophet Esay? What say you to the Temple of Solomon? was it not termed by him,1 Kings. 8.20. the house of Prayer? and in Christs time was not that house of Prayer be­come a denne of Theeves? Mat. 21.14. He that sayes Antichrist shall sit in the Temple of God, doth plainely intimate, that the true Church may be depraved, and that be­fore his comming there was a true Church. What Babylon is (saith learned Casaubon) thus much the matter it selfe doth plainly shew, In his answer to Card. Peron. p. 9. Eng. that whether some private Church be understood in that place by the name of Babylon, or the greater part of the whole, it was before this a true Church, with which the religion might religiously communicate; but after it was more depraved, the religious are commanded to goe out, and to breake off communion with her. And as touching the authority you cite, that he would be with them to the worlds end, that the Church is built upon a Rocke, that the gates of Hell should not prevaile against it; these promises (I say) concerne no more the particular Roman Church, than the seven Chur­ches of Asia that are falne away. The blasphemie then you lay to my charge (if any such be) is but against your Roman Church, and of such blasphe­mie many of your best learned are guilty, in ac­knowledging a depravation of their faith, (not­withstanding all the promises of Christ to the [Page 161] Catholicke and universall Church.)

Your Bishop of Bitonto by way of prevention cryes aloud in your Councell of Trent, Cornel. in Con­cil. Trident. Would to God they were not wholly with generall consent gone from religion to superstition; from faith to infidelitie, from Christ to Antichrist. I could bring you a world of complaints against the falling away and depravation of your Roman Faith, but that your eares will not endure such blasphemie. Howso­ever, since your best learned have acknowledged Babylon to bee meant by Rome, and that Rome is falne from her first faith,Jerem. 51.6.9. I say with the Prophet Jeremie, Fly out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soule; we would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed; forsake her, and let us goe eve­rie one into his owne Country, for her judgement rea­cheth unto Heaven, and is lifted up even unto the skies.

The Reply.

You have answered two Sections almost in two words; the first, in denying it to be to the purpose; the latter, in giving me the lye: And thus like ano­ther Caesar you have briefly expressed the expedi­tion of your victory in few words,Veni, vidi, vici. I came, I saw, I overcame.

First, you demand, what is this to the purpose of a visible Church? But I rather wonder to what purpose you make such a demand; For my Booke is entitled The Safe Way, not the visibility of the Church. Yet let me tell you, the Authors which I cite are for the most part members of your Church, and their authorities tend much to the proofe of a visible Church, if your Index Expur­gat [...]rius did not spunge them, and cause their testi­monies to be often invisible. For instance; in our behalfe I cite Cassander: To Cassander you answer, he is like your selfe, an Hereticke, or next doore to them: and yet elsewhere you say, with much adoe he may passe for a Catholike. Pag. 21. Oportet esse memorem. I cite Cecenas Generall of the order of Franciscans, as witnessing the visibili­tie of our Church above 300. yeares agoe; you an­swer, he was condemned for disobedience and rebel­lion; for he said Pope John the 22. was an Apostata [Page 163] and an Hereticke, and therefore not true Pope: And in this manner you can easily resolve all doubts, and reject all Authors that speake not Placentia, accor­ding to your pallate; onely (say you) St. Bede is a Catholicke. Now if you please, take a review of these Authors. Cassander (you know) was a lear­ned man, he was highly favoured for his wisedome by two Emperours, Maximilian and Ferdinand; he was moderate in all his writings, he sought to ex­tenuate the palpable errors and heresies of your Church, he indevoured to accord, and (if it had beene possible) to reconcile the differences on both sides; and lastly, he lived and died in the communion of the Roman Church. Cecenas was a Frier, and Generall of the Order of Franciscans, he was con­demned de facto by the Pope; but it doth not ap­peare quo jure, by what right, for if the accusation were true, the Pope deserved the punishment, and not the innocent Frier: listen therefore to the re­bellion and disobedience for which he was accused. Cecenas shewes in particular that Pope John was a schismaticke and an heretike, in his peremptorie opposition against the Word of God and the Ca­tholicke Church;Mich. de Cece­na tractat. con­tra errores Pa­pae p. (mihi) 1314. & 1336 in Tom. 2. Gul. Occham. de Ju­risdictione Im­periali. Naucter. Ge­ner. 45. Anno 1324. he charged him with twelve se­verall errors, which you may reade at large in the place cited; and for those and the like accusations he was excommunicated and deposed by the Pope. I confesse the accusation was capitall, but it was no other than was justly laid to his charge. For Nau­clerus saith, Many great and famous Divines of great learning and good life proclaimed Pope John (by the [Page 164] name of Pope) to be an Hereticke for certaine errors; which errors notwithstanding it is said that he (cold­ly) revoked at the time of his death; Tepidè. and hee addes withall, that Pope Benedict his immediate successor openly condemned the same errors. You see then it was not the Franciscan Frier onely, but many Di­vines both good and learned did condemne him of Heresie; and not they alone, but the Pope himselfe who succeeded him, publikely condemned him for an Hereticke. And thus much touching Pope John the 21. called by some the 22. There was ano­ther Pope John, by the name of 22. otherwise cal­led 23. who was living one hundred yeares after; he was chosen Pope atPlat. in Joh. 24. Bononia, by the consent of all the Cardinals. Against this John, it was specially objected at the Councel of Constance, Quinimo dixit, & perti­nacitèr credi­dit, animam hominis cum corpore humano mori, & extin­gui ad instar animalium bru­torum. Concil. Constant. That he ob­stinately held that the soule of man dieth together with the body, and is consumed to nothing, as the soule of brute beasts: Neither did he hold this Tenet as a private man (which is your generall Answer) for Antoninus saith plainely, Pope John held this error in the time of his Popedome, Johannes ser­monē faciens in publico consi­storio, dixit quadam haere­sin sapientia. Anton. part. 3. tit. 21. c. 6. and pronounced words savouring of heresie openly in the Consistorie. Nei­ther was this accusation of these men accounted rebellion and disobedience in them, as it was in Ce­aenas; for (saith Gerson)Falsitas do­ctrinae Papae Jo­hānis, vicessi­mi, quae dānata fuit cum sono buccinarum vel tubarum coram Rege Philippo per Theologos Parisienses. Gers. serm. in Festo Paschae Tom. 4. pag. (mihi) 491. his false doctrine was con­demned by the Divines of Paris, and proclaimed with sound of trumpets in the presence of King Philip; and withall the Councell it selfe deprived him of his Popedome (which shewes plainly, the authority of a Councell is above the Pope.) And to his depo­sition [Page 165] subscribed 4. Patriarkes, 29. Cardinals, 47. Archbishops, 270. Bishops, 564. Abbots and Doctors, in all above 900. deposed both Benedict the 12. and John the 23. and yet these men are re­puted by you for an infallible Rule of the Roman Faith. And thus not onely Ceaenas was deposed for his disobedience towards an Hereticke, and is now thrust into your first Classis of damned Au­thors, but the whole Councell of Constance touching that Session (where they decred the Councell to be above the Pope) is rejected, and disavowed by your Church.

It is no difficult thing then to prove your infalli­ble Pope may bee an Hereticke; but if any man of your owne Church shall say so, and manifestly prove it, yea although it be a generall Councell, it must therefore be censured and condemned by your Church: And this may briefly serve in answer to what you say against my second Section.

The third Section (say you) is of corruption both in Faith and manners,Pag. 50. which the Knight pro­veth out of the Councell of Pisa, and out of the Councell of Trent; To which I answere: For matter of manners wee willingly acknowledge a reforma­tion to be needfull, but for doctrine with the contra­diction of his owne former lye, hee telleth a new one.

It is a true saying of Chrysostome, A lyar thinkes no man speakes the truth; Qui mendax est neminem verum putat dicere. Chrys. in Matth. Hom. 19 But that the truth of my assertion may appeare, looke upon the Letters of summons; they declare that the Councell was cal­led to reforme errors that concerned Faith; they [Page 166] shew there was a due and wholesome reformation to be made, aswell of the Church doctrine, as of the manners of men, for quieting the consciences of the faithfull: And accordingly Pope Alexander did assemble the most learned of all Nations;Idem dixit, quod ipse vole­bat vacare cir­ca Reformatio­nem Ecclesiae, &c. Acta Con­cil. Pis. Sess. 20. Bin. Tom. 3. Pars 2. p (mihi) 837. the Cardi­nals did binde themselves with an Assumpsit, that they would not proceed to the election of a new Pope (when his predecessors Gregorie the 12. and Benedict the 13. were deposed) unlesse the Pope would agree to a reformation in the Head and Members; and will you say the Pope did assemble the most learned of all Nations to teach good man­ners onely? Cardinall de Aliaco was living in his dayes:De squallor. Rom. Eccles. p. 34. in Biblioth. Westmonasteri­ensi. Gers. declaratio defect. virorū. he complaines that Pagan abuses, and dia­bolicall superstitions were so many in the Church, that they could not be imagined.

Gerson (Chancellor of Paris) complained of particular errors, that Images in Churches occasio­ned Idolatrie; Apocryphall Scriptures were brought into the Church, to the great damage of Christian Faith. Occham compē­dium contr. er­rores Papae p. 957. Incipit Prologus. Looke into the age before him; Occham (a Frier Minorite) cries out, Alas the time of which the blessed Apostle prophesied (when men will not suf­fer wholesome doctrine) is altogether fulfilled in our eares; For behold there are many that pervert the holy Scriptures, deny the sayings of the holy Fathers, reject the Canons of the Church, and civill Constitu­tions of the Emperors. Looke into the age before him;Matth. Paris. p. 843. Grosthead (Bishop of Lincolne) complaines that there was a defection, a revolt, an Apostasie from the true Faith. Looke into Bernards time, and there [Page 167] you shall finde by his owne confession,Bernard. in Cant. Serm 33. p. (mihi) 673. The wound of the Church was inward, and past recoverie. These former complaints and grievances in the Church did sound aloud in the eares of the later ages, and she made great mourning and lamentation for her children, because they were not such as she first bred them; and accordingly no doubt they wished for a reformation of errors in doctrine, as well as Disci­pline in the Church.

Looke after Pope Alexanders time, and before the Councell of Trent, and your Bishop of Bitonto will shew you the state and miserable condition of your Church, as it were in a Glasse.In Ep. ad Ro­man. c. 6. Alas (saith he) how were the Scriptures neglected in the later Ages, to the detriment of all people! Rivet. Sum. Controv. p. (mi­hi) 98. There was then in re­quest a tedious and crabbed Divinitie about Relati­ons, about quiddities and formalities; and all those things were handled and wrested with Syllogismes and humane Sophistrie, which (without doubt) by the same authority as they were received, might be refelled. The whole Age was spent about the decrees of men, which were contradictory amongst themselves, and ir­reconcilable, and nourished perpetuall contention. He was accounted the best Divine, that knew best how to devise the greatest wonders for his Traditions. It was a part of their honour and vaine glory to speake bigge words with great lookes among women, not to be un­derstood when they disputed of the Scriptures. The Preachers of the word were all sworne to the word of their Masters: and from hence sprung sixe hundred Sects; as namely, Thomists, Scotists, Occhamists, [Page 168] Alexandrians, &c. O heinous wickednesse! The Gos­spels and Epistles of the Apostles were laid aside, true Divinitie lay hid, and was handled of very few; but coldly, I will not say, unfaithfully.

In what state the Church remained in those dayes, when Papall Traditions and cunning Sophi­stry prevailed against the sacred Scriptures, let the Reader judge:Onus Ecclesiae c. 16. p. (mihi) 79 Your owne St. Francis foretold that the times were at hand, wherein many differences should arise in the Church, when charitie should waxe cold, iniquity should abound, and the Divell should be let loose, and that the purity of his Roman Religion should be depraved; and accordingly (saith my Au­thor) the Image of the Crosse in the Church of St. Damian spake unto him;Vade, repara domum meam, quae ut cernis, tota labitur. Goe and repaire my house which you see is altogether decayed. Thus Bi­shops, and Friers, and Images, stocks and stones cried out of the falling away of your Church (if we may credit your owne Authors) and yet by no meanes you will assent to a reformation of doctrine or manners.

At Luthers first rising, which was almost 30. yeares before the Councell of Trent, your Guicciar­dine tells us,Guicciard. Hist. lib. 13. that there were that yeare many mee­tings at Rome, to consult what was best to be done. The more wise and moderate sort wished the Pope to reforme things apparently amisse, and not to persecute Luther. Hieronymus Savanarola told the French King, Charles the 8. he should have great prosperitie in his voyage into Italie, to the end hee should reforme the state of the Church, which if he did [Page 169] not reforme, he should returne with dishonour; and so (saith he) it fell out.

I come to the Councell of Trent it selfe, where you may reade many decrees for reformation, and yet neither doctrine nor manners reformed. But let us heare your owne confession. It is true, the Councell indeed complaineth with great reason of the avarice of such whom the Knight calleth the Popes Collectors, though the Councell speaketh not of the Pope: but false it is which he saith, that the Councell complaineth of Indulgences, an Article of faith (as his words are.) The Councell likewise complaineth of many things crept into the celebration of the Masse, and the words of the Councell are right cited by him in Latin in the Margent, but in the English he foully corrupteth them: For in stead of many things, hee translated many errors, which is a grosse errour and corruption in the Knight.

These be your grand exceptions to the grosse corruptions laid unto my charge; but all this while you doe not discharge the accusations laid justly to your Church. And in this I must needs say, you play the Hypocrite, who can discerne a mote in your Brothers eye, and cannot see a beame in your owne: First therfore cast the beame out of your own eye, and then you shall easily disccrne without Specta­cles, that the Collectors of Indulgences are the Popes Collectors, although the Pope is not mentio­ned in that place; and Indulgences are an Article of Faith created by that Councell, although the Councell proclaime it not an Article of Faith: so [Page 170] that (multa) many things, might well stand for ma­ny errors and corruptions, since they were errors in practise. Neither would I have set the Latin in the Margent if I had meant to corrupt them in English; and withall, if you had taken the last edition (as you ought to have done) you should have found them in another Character, and then all your waste words of foule corruptions, had beene needlesse. But in this you resemble Palladius a lewd fellow, who in like manner charged St. Hierome with falsifications and false translations: He preacheth and publisheth abroad (saith Hierome) that I am a falsarie, Hieron. ad Pā­mich. de optimo genere inter­pret. Tom. 2. that I have not precisely translated word for word, that I, in stead of the word Honourable, have written these words, Deerely beloved: These things and such trifles (saith he) are laid unto my charge. Now heare what An­swer St. Hierome makes; Whereas the Epistle it selfe declareth, that there is no alteration made in the sense, and that there is neither matter of substance ad­ded, nor any doctrine devised by me, verily by their great cunning they prove themselves fooles, and see­king to reprove other mens unskilfulnesse, they betray their owne. Let us heare therefore the rest of your Things (for so you will have me terme them) which are crept into your Church, and need a Refor­mation.

The Councell (say you) seemeth to acknowledge the avarice of Priests in saying Masse for mony, was not farre from Symonie. It speaketh of the use of Mu­sicke, wherewith some wantonnesse was mixed, as also of certaine Masses or Candles used in certaine num­ber, [Page 171] proceeding rather from superstition than true Religion. This you confesse is true in your Coun­cell, but to these you answer nothing.Concil. Trid. Sess. 22. Can. 9. You might have added to these abuses both Superstition and Idolatry in the Masse, for your Councell confesseth them both: and I thinke it toucheth your errors in Doctrine. But have you reformed all or any of these things? Is your superstitious number of Masses and lights in the Church abated? Are your lascivious and wanton songs, set to the Organs, and mingled with other Church musicke, redressed? Is your covetousnesse in Priests, with their Supersti­tion and Idolatry in the Masse, abolished? These cor­ruptions are things and things (as you call them) and such as I wonder your Councell was not ashamed to confesse, much more to tolerate,Mirae mirae en­tis Res. Juve­nal. or rather to pra­ctice in the daily sacrifice of your Masse. I hasten to the Reformation in doctrine: but you tell me it is a Lye, the Councell never intended it; I instance in private Masse, Latin Service, &c. You answer it is most false, for the doctrine is the same still, and ever was.

I perceive your passion makes you much forget your selfe: for your doctrine (I confesse) which is commonly received, is the same now, that was de­creed in the Councell of Trent; but that is was ever the same, as now it is, all the Colledge of Cardi­nals and Jesuits cannot prove. Looke upon your owne confession in those two particular instances: Your private Masse, where the Priest communi­cates alone, is not the same now, as it was hereto­fore; [Page 172] For (say you) it was the practise of the Primi­tive Church for the people to communicate every day with the Priest. Spectacl. pag. 191. Your Prayer in an unknowne tongue is not the same now as it was heretofore, for (say you) Prayer and Service in the vulgar Tongue was used in the first and best Ages; Pag. 271. and now the vul­gar is become the Latin unknown tongue. Take heed therefore of these confessions, for by such palpable contradictions you may lose your Proselytes, and bring the Lye upon your selfe.

Againe, you confesse that the Councell wisheth that the standers by did communicate, not onely spi­ritually, Pag. 53. but also sacramentally: and doth not your Church in this wish a reformation in doctrine? Doth it not in this preferre the practice of the re­formed Churches before their owne, and in a man­ner confesse an error in the allowed practice of the Roman Church? Your Councell commands Pastors that have care of soules, to expound that to the peo­ple, which is delivered in the Masse in an unknowne tongue; and doe not those that require the Priests to expound it to the people, shew likewise that without such exposition the people are little better for the Masse, and that the Church intended the people should understand it? What is this else, but to joyne hands with the Protestants, and to acknow­ledge a reformation needfull in your Church, for requiring Service to bee celebrated in a knowne tongue, that the people may understand it? But that I may make good my assertion, and that the Reader may know I have said nothing but the [Page 173] truth, in affirming the Councell of Trent did make decrees for Reformation for doctrine as well as manners, looke upon the second Session, and tell me if they did not professe a reall intention in both. The words of the Session are these;Concil. Trid. Sess. 2. Whereas it is the speciall care and intention of the Councell, that (the darkenesse of Heresie being expelled, which so many yeares hath covered the earth) the light and purity of the Catholicke truth may shine, through the helpe of Christ which is the true light; and that those things which need reformation may be reformed; the Synod exhorteth all Catholickes assembled, or to be assembled, and especially those who are skilful in the sacred Scrip­tures, that with continuall meditation they may dili­gently consider with themselves how these things may bee effected; that they may condemne those things which are to be condemned, and approve those things which are to be approved, that the whole world with one mouth, and confession of one and the same faith, may glorifie God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Take a review of the words of your Coun­cell; First, Praecipua cura & intentio, ut propulsa­tis errorum tenebris, quae per tot annos operiarunt terram; the chiefe care to dispell the darkenesse of errour which covered the earth: which words cannot be meant of the Protestant doctrine. For our light is pretended by you to be lately come in, and but in a part or corner of the world. Secondly, peritiam habeant sacrarum literarum, ut sedulâ me­ditatione secum ipsi cogitent, &c. ut probare proban­da, & damnare damnanda queant. There needed [Page 174] not this diligence and skill in Scriptures for Luthers Religion, for they were condemned before by the Pope. Thirdly, Nullus debeat &c. obstinatis discep­tationibus contendere, which should not be about Lutheran points, but about doctrines of their owne. Fourthly, in the third Section, de extirpandis hae­resibus, &c. which (say they) is adversus spiritua­les nequitias in caelestibus, which heavenly places are meant by their owne Church, not by Luthers, as is most evident. For they would never acknow­ledge our Churches heavenly places.

Now I pray, what thinke you of your Coun­cels Decrees? Will not they extend to a Reforma­tion in doctrine? or will you say that Heresies in manners crept into the Church, and the most lear­ned in the Scriptures were chiefly to be imployed for reforming them, that thereby there might be one Faith of Papists and Protestants through the Christian world?De extirpan­dis haeresibus, & moribus re­formandis, quo­rum causa prae­cipue est con­gregata. Sess. 3. Looke upon the third Session, and there likewise you shall finde a Decree for roo­ting out of Heresies in doctrine, aswell as rectifying of manners and the discipline of the Church; and for both those causes (saith your Decree) the Councell was principally called. It is a most evident truth then (howsoever you redouble the lie upon me) that the Councell did intend a Reformation in do­ctrine; for otherwise, to what end should the Pope summon all Christian Bishops out of all Nations, even at that time when the Protestants were in number infinite, and had discovered and proclai­med the errors of the Roman Church? Besides, to [Page 175] what purpose were those disputes and oppositions in the Councell against particular points of Do­ctrine, if they had not beene adjudged erroneous, and needed a reformation? But herein the Reader shall easily discerne the policie of your Church. At the first calling of the Councell (when these first Sessions were made) the number of Bishops were but few, (about 40.) but after the faction of the Popes creatures in multitude prevailed, all hope of reformation was abandoned; And thereupon the Bishops of Apulia publikely declared, that the Trent Fathers were nothing else but the Popes crea­tures, and his bondslaves; See Craken­thorpe. and accordingly there was an oath proposed severally to be taken in this manner;

I vow and sweare true obedience to the Bishop of Rome, &c. Bulla Pii 4. And all other things likewise doe I un­doubtedly receive and confesse, which are delivered, defined, and declared by the sacred Canons, and gene­rall Councels, and especially the holy Councell of Trent; and withall, I condemne, reject, and accurse all things that are contrary hereunto, and all Heresies whatsoever, condemned, rejected, and accursed by the Church; and that I will be carefull this true Ca­tholike faith (out of the which no man can be saved, which at this time I willingly professe and truly hold) be constantly (with Gods helpe) retained and confes­sed whole and inviolate to the last gaspe; and by those that are under me, or such as I shall have charge over in my calling, holden, taught and preached, to the uttermost of my power: I the said N. promise, vow, [Page 176] and sweare, So God me helpe, and his holy Gospels.

Andr. Dudi­thius in Ep. ad Maximil. 2. Now what good (saith Dudithius) could be done in that Councell, which onely numbred, but never weighed suffrages? Though our cause was never so good, we could not come off with victory; for to every one of us, the Pope was able to oppose an hundred of his owne. This Author was sent as Ambassador to the Councell from the state and Clergy of Hungarie, and he confirmes what I have testified of their pro­ceedings. But observe the mysterie of iniquitie displayed in your Councell, after it had continued eighteen years, and during the lives of eight Popes, in conclusion they declared in their last Session,Sess. 25. c. 1. Decret. de Refor. p. 312. contrarie to their former decree of Reformation, that the Synod was (chiefly) called for restoring of Ecclesiasticall discipline; and hereby is plainly dis­covered their deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse; insomuch as I may truly say with that learned Gentleman and Translator of the Trent Historie, The Bishops of Rome,Sir Nathaniel Brent in Ep. to the Historie of Trent. in stead of being Christs holy Vicars, as they pretend, have beene the greatest, and most pernicious quacksalving Juglers that ever the earth did beare. Those Bishops therefore that boast of the Law of God, and make as it were a covenant with him, to renew the ancient Faith, and restore it to her first integritie (as your Trent Bishops pro­fessed) let them consider with themselves how neare that Prophesie of David doth concerne them, who deny a Reformation; For unto the ungodly (said God) why dost thou preach my Lawes, Psal. 50.16, 17. and takest my Covenant in thy mouth, whereas thou hatest to bee [Page 177] reformed, and hast cast my words behinde thee.

The Reply.

I shewed in my fourth Section, that many learned Romanists, convicted by evidence of truth, either in part, or in whole, renounced Poperie be­fore their death.Pag. 58. That some have renounced the same in part (say you) is foolishly said, for no man can re­nounce the Catholike Faith in part, it being indi­visible.

If I shall prove your assertion to bee a strange Paradoxe, the foolishnesse will returne into your owne bosome. For the better illustration therefore of your Tenet,Oratio in lau­dem Athanasii. heare what division Gregory Nazi­anzen makes upon that ground: When one taketh [Page 178] up water in his hand (saith he) not onely that which he taketh not up, but that also which runneth forth, and findeth passage betweene his fingers, is divided and separated from that which he holdeth and incloseth in his hand: so not onely the open and professed enemies of the Catholike Faith, but they also that seeme to be her best and greatest friends, are sometimes divided one from another. What thinke you of this ancient Father? Is your Faith indivisible by his Doctrine? or will you say it is foolishly spoken of him? But (say you) he that ceaseth to beleeve one point, ceaseth to beleeve any one as he should: And is this wisely spoken thinke you? Is not this your latter error greater than the first? For proofe therefore of your assertion, shew mee that man, who before the Councell of Trent held all the points of your Faith, as they are now taught and received in your Church; I say, give me but one since the Aposles time, who within the compasse of fifteene hundred yeares beleeved all your doctrines of Faith, en­tirely in all points, and for that one mans sake, I will confesse your Faith is indivisible, and submit my obedience to your Church.

Your Index Expurgatorius discovers the weak­nesse of your opinion: I speake not of Authors which were condemned in your first and third Classis for Heretikes, but of those Romanists who in the second Classis are purged for their suspected doctrine (as you terme it) and yet never forsooke your Church;Propter suspe­ctam doctrinam Ind. lib prohibit. I dare confidently avow, that there are above foure hundred of those Classicall Au­thors, [Page 179] all members of the Roman Church, never excommunicated, never condemned for heresie in your Church, and yet are commanded by your In­quisitors to be blotted out in some particular points of doctrine, which make against your Trent Faith. If these men therefore have renounced your Faith in part, how is your Faith indivisible? Or If they cease to beleeve one point, why doth your Church cite their testimonies, and allow their opinions in other doctrines consonant to your Church, when as (by your Tenet) he that ceaseth to beleeve one point, ceaseth to beleeve any one as he should? If you should forsake all Authors that forsake your doctrine in part (or in some particular points) you will generally suffer a Recoverie against your owne Church. I will give you but one instance. It is the common Tenet of the Roman Church at this day, that the blessed Virgin was conceived without originall sinne: yet the contrarie Tenet is likewise maintained by the members of your owne Church. Ludovicus Vives tells us, that two orders of Friers, Ludov. Vives in lib. 20. de Ci­vit. Dei. cap. 26. p. 828. both fierce, and both led with undaunted Generals, set this question a foote; the Dominicans by Thomas Aquinas, and the Franciscans by Duns Seotus: the Councell of Basill decreed, that shee was wholly pure without all touch of sinne, but the Dominicans obje­cted that it was no lawfull Councell, and the Mino­rites of the other side avowed that it was true and ho­ly, and called the Dominicans Heretikes for stande­ring the power of the Church; so that the matter had come to a shrewd passe, but that Pope Sixtus forbad [Page 180] this Theame to be any more disputed.

To proceed to the rest of your observations. I produced for a witnesse Paulus Vergerius, who re­nounced Poperie, being a Romish Bishop, by the testimonies of Sleidan, and Osiander; I cited the Councell of Basil, for dispensing with the cup to the Lay people; Aeneas Sylvius for Mariage of Priests; Mr. Harding against your private Masse; Mr. Ca­saubon for your translating of the Scriptures; Lord Cooke for the Papists frequenting our Churches, till the 11^th. of Qu. Elisabeth: Now let the Reader judge of your moderate and learned confutation: First,Pag. 59. Sleidan and Osiander (say you) are notorious fellowes both for lying and heresie; Paulus Verge­rius, when he dyed, cast forth a horrible stench, and roared most fearefully like an Oxe; The Councell of Basile (you know) is of little or no authoritie with Catholikes, as being reproved by the Sea Apostolicke; Aeneas Sylvius, what hee wrote in the time of that Councell, is revoked by him in his Bull of Retractati­ons; Touching Casaubon, you say there is shame enough in store for us both; Touching the Lord Cooke, he was soundly answered by a Catholicke Di­vine, and so exposed to the scorne of the world for his notorious falshoods.

These be your severall answers, and this is a confutation of their authorities: but I say to you, if these men have spoken untruth, beare witnesse of their falshood, if otherwise they delivered the truth, why do you reproach them? Either let their proofs bee plainly and moderately confuted, or let the [Page 181] lying lips (saith David) be put to silence, Psalm. 31.20. which cru­elly, disdainfully, and despightfully speake against the righteous.

Such as is your charitie, such is your chastitie: for when I cite your Jesuite Costerus for a witnesse,Coster. Enchir. cap. 17. propo. 9. Pag. 64. that a Priest doth sinne more grievously in marrying a wife, than keeping a concubine, you scoffingly re­turne me this answere: You seeme to take this for a great error, but in Priests who cannot marrie, it is a greater sinne to marrie, for it is not marriage. Thus you.

And is the marriage of Priests no marriage? Was there no marriage in all the Tribe of Levi? What will become of all the sonnes of Aaron? were they all bastards?Ignatius ad Philadelph. I wish (saith Ignatius) that I may be found meet before God to follow their steps which raigne in his Kingdome; as namely, Abra­ham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Esay, and other Prophets; of Peter and Paul, and other Apostles, who lived in matrimonie, and used conjugall rites. And in conclusion hee answeres your assertion in these words; If any man call lawfull copulation and procreation of children, Idem, ibid. corruption and unclean­nesse, that man hath a serpent, the Devill (that fell from God) dwelling in him.

Againe,Grat. Par. 1. dist. 56. fol. 67. Osius Palea. your owne Gratian tells us from Pope Damasus, that many Bishops of Rome were Priests sonnes, as namely Pope Hosius, Bonifacius, Agape­tus, Theodorus, Silverius, Deusdedit, Faelix, Gela­sius, all these were Popes, and Priests sonnes: and then he concludes;Cōplures eti­am alii inveni­antur, qui de sacerdotibus nati, Apostolicae sedi praefuerūt. Ibid. There were many others also to [Page 180] [...] [Page 181] [...] [Page 182] be found, who were begotten of Priests, and governed in the Apostolike See. Athanas. ad Dracontium. p. (mihi) 518. And Athanasius writing to Bishop Dracontius, tells him, that in his dayes ma­ny Monkes were Parents of children, and Bishops likewise were Fathers of Sonnes; and this was 340. yeares after Christ.

But I presume you will not say, that the mar­riage of those Priests was no marriage, and their brood was spurious and illegitimate. Those who account it a Capitall offence for a Priest to marrie, and a veniall sinne to keepe a concubine, doe right­ly resemble the old Heretike Aërius, who used to say,Epiph. haeres. 76. To have the company of a woman out of marri­age, is no more sinne, than for a man to claw his eare. St. Austin puts the question,De bono Ma­trim. dist. 27. Quoniam. and resolves it in this manner; Some say they be adulterous that mar­rie after they have made a vow; but I tell you (saith he) they sin grievously that put such asunder. And elsewhere more particularly hee concludes against your Tenet;Augustinus de bono viduitatis cap. 10. They that say the marriage of such men or women as have vowed continencie, is no marriage, but rather adulterie, seeme unto mee not to consider discreetly and advisedly what they say. And in his Tract of holy virginitie he plainly shewes the Anti­quitie of your error,August. de san­cta Virgin. c. 34. and refutes it, where speaking of vowed persons, he tells us; that many of them are kept from marriage, not for love of their godly purpose of Virginitie, but for feare of open shame; which shame proceedeth of Pride, for that they are more afraid to displease men than God: they will not marry, because they cannot without rebuke, yet better [Page 183] were it for them to marrie, than to burne, that is to say, with the flame of their concupiscence to be wasted; they are sorrie for their profession, and yet it grieveth them to confesse it. Chrys. contra Judaios Gentil. & haeret. serm. de nuptiis Cana in Galil. In like manner Chrysostome in the same age doth elegantly illustrate the honour of marriage in Spirituall persons. Our Lord honoured Marriage with his presence, and sayest thou that Marriage is a hindrance unto godlinesse? I tell thee Marriage is no hinderance. Had not Moses a wife and children? Helias, was not hee a virgin? Moses brought downe Manna from Heaven, so did Helias fire: Moses caused Quailes to flie in the heaven, and Helias shut it with a word. What hurt did virginity to the one? what impediment was wife and children to the other? See Helias coached in the ayre, and Moses travelling through the Sea. Behold Peter a Pillar of the Church, he had a wife, therefore finde no fault with Marriage.

Looke into the Ages following; your Angelicall Doctor Thomas Aquinas resolves the question flatly against you & your fellow Jesuits. If an Aco­lothyte (saith he) doe confesse to a discreet Priest, The Acolo­thytes were those that ligh­ted the Tapers at the reading of the Gospel in the Masse. that by no meanes he can containe, the Priest doth not much offend in giving him this counsell, that he should marry privately, and closely blinde the eyes of the Bishop. And if afterwards he be willing to take Orders, we hold it lesse sinne for him to use his wife, than to commit forni­cation; for it is a lesse offence to accompany with his wife, than to commit fornication against the Divine Precept. They who pretend chastitie, and make a vow to keepe it, when they enter into holy Orders, [Page 184] doe breake it even in this, when they allow a con­cubine. Aeneas Sylvius was conscious to himselfe of the danger of that sinne, and therefore he wished that marriage were restored to Priests; yea, whilst he was a Cardinall he had his concubine, to whom at last he gave threescore Florens for her Dowrie: and it seemes when he was well in yeares, in or a­bout the time of his Popedome, he confessed; I cannot boast of any merit in my chastity, Magis me Ve­nus fugitat, quam ego illā horreo. Ep. 92. for to tell the truth, venerie doth rather flie from me, than I from it. Neither was it his particular case alone; for the Booke called Taxae Camerae Apostolicae, which your Bishop Espencaeus complained of, doth sufficiently witnesse the damnable effects of such divellish doctrine. The gravest Cardinals in Rome, who were appointed by speciall Commission, and presented their information to Pope Paul the third, doe sufficiently witnesse the forbidden fruits of such an evill tree: The words are these; In this City of Rome the Curtezans passe through the streets, Wolph. Lect. Memor. Anno 1535 p. 403. or ride on their mules, like honest Matrons, and in the midst of the day, Noblemen and Cardinals deare friends attend upon them. We never saw such cor­ruption, but onely in this Citie, which is the example and patterne of all other: moreover, they dwell in faire and goodly houses.

On the other side, you would make us beleeve, that your Curtezans goe altogether on foote; that they have a speciall badge of dishonestie, whereby they may be knowne; that they are despised and reviled of the people, but especially by Cardinals [Page 185] and the Nobles; that they dwelt in out-houses and back lanes: but to ride on horsebacke, to be attyred as honest Matrons and Noble Ladies, to be atten­ded by Priests and Cardinals friends, and to dwell in faire and beautifull houses, this shewes that your dispensation for stewes is occasioned chiefly by the forbidding of marriage; and by this meanes marriage, which is honourable in all, Heb. 13.4. and the bed un­defiled, by the Apostles doctrine, is now become a sinne, and your Apostolike See the Mother of Fornications. This occasioned your owne Agrip­pa to complaine of your casting up of the Bawds rents with the revenew of your Church.Agrip. de va­nit. scient. c. 64. de Lenonia. I have heard (saith he) the accompts cast up in this sort; he hath two Benefices, one cure of twenty Ducats, a Priorie of forty Ducats, and three whores in a bro­thell house.

I list not any longer to stirre this filthie puddle,Camerinam movere. Eras. Adag. which stinkes in the nosthrils of God and good men; the counsell of your Canonist is safe and good in this particular.Panor. de Cler. Conjug. Cap. Cū Olim. The Church (saith he) should dis­charge the part of a good Physitian, who when by ex­perience he findes one medicine rather hurt than helpe, he removeth it, and applieth another: and there hee gives the reason, Because we finde by experience, that the Law of single life hath brought forth contrarie effects: and the rather, because it is resolved by your learned Cardinall:Cajet. in quod­libet contra Lutherum. It cannot bee proved either by reason, nor yet by authority, to speake absolutely, that a Priest doth sinne in marrying a wife; for neither the Order of Priesthood, in that it is Order, nor the [Page 186] same Order, in that it is holy, is any hindrance to matrimonie; for Priesthood doth not dissolve matri­monie, whether it be contracted before Priesthood or afterwards, if we (setting apart all other Ecclesiasti­call Lawes) stand onely to those things which we have received of Christ and his Apostles.

Panorm. extr. de Elect. C. Li­cet. de Vit. Ab.Againe, your owne Panormitan tells us, that the Priests of Grecia, being within Orders, doe marrie wives; and we see they doe it (saith he) sine peccato, without sinne, or breach of Law, either of God or man: And thus by your owne Tenet you stand with the positive law of man against the law of God; you stand in opposition against the Greeke Church, which ever used it; and lastly, you are at difference among your selves,Espencaeus de Continentia. l. 1. c. 11. p. 116. when many prime members of your owne Church utterly condemne it. The doctrine of St. Paul is evident and plaine, It is bet­ter marrie than burne. This Law is cleane perver­ted by your Jesuits doctrine;Utrumque est malum, nu­bere & uri, imo pejus est nubere, quicquid excla­mant adversa­rii: praesertim ei qui habet vo­tum solenne. Bell. de Mo­nach. l. 2. c. 30. Hist. of Trent. l. 5. fol. 400. & 680. for (saith Bellarmine) Let our adversaries say what they will, it is worse to marrie than burne, especially for him that hath made a solemne vow: So that the Law of God must give way to the Law of man, and chiefly for reason of state and policie. For (saith Cardinall Rodolpho) if the marriage of Priests were tolerated, this inconvenience would follow, the Priests having house, wife, and children, would not depend upon the Pope but on the Prince, and their love to their children would make them yeeld to any prejudice of the Church: they will seeke also to make their Benefice hereditarie, and in a short space the authoritie of the Apostolike See will be [Page 187] confined within the walles of Rome. And to these rea­sons you may truly adde this, as appendant to the rest; the dispensation of Stewes would be neglected, and consequently the great Revenue of the Roman See would be utterly lost; and therefore the Index Expurgatorius will not lay hold of any such do­ctrine.

For a conclusion of this point. If you say mar­riage of Priests be malum in se, evill in it selfe, you comply with the Devillish doctrine of Tatianus; If it be evill quia prohibetur, because it is forbid­den onely, then fornication, which is evill of it selfe, and in it selfe, must needs bee the greater sinne.

The Reply.

Your answer is short, by your words be some­what [Page 188] sharpe: and you can finde nothing in that Se­ction but raving and foolishnesse? If it be raving to cite Texts of Scripture against your maimed Com­mandements, your Invocation of Saints, your Prayer in an unknowne tongue, your worship of Images, and the like: If it be raving to say Purgatorie is created a point of Faith, & that Faith is confirmed by Councels, meerely for the benefit of the Pope and Clergie; that you doe not exercise the power of your Priesthood in binding as well as loosing, by reason no man will give monie to be bound, but to be loosed in Purgatorie: If it be raving to say your Jesuite Maldonat preferres his owne explication of Scripture before St. Austins, onely because it more crosseth the sense of the Calvinists; and with­all confesseth that St. Austins opinion is more pro­bable; If this I say may bee deemed raving, then will I confesse your railing is a good answer. But he despaires (say you) of his cause, who seeth Maldo­nats saying practised by the Church of Rome against his Church and doctrine.

Acts 5.38, 39.I confesse with the blessed Apostle, If our coun­sell or worke be of men, it will come to nought, and then I might despaire of it, but if it be of God, yee cannot overthrow it, lest happely yee be found even to fight against God. We have no cause (blessed be God) to despaire of our Religion, which in one Age hath spread over the better part of Christen­dome. But I conceive there is little hope of you or your cause, who have sold your selves either with Ahab to worke wickednesse, and maintaine [Page 189] Idolatrous worship for your owne advantage; or like Maldonat, See Maldonat. Col. 1536. Unum è duo­bus intelliga­tur necesse est, aut tunc non scandaliz abimi­ni, cùm videri­tis filium homi­nis ascendentē ubi erat prius: aut (contra) tunc magis scandaliz abimi­ni: priorem sen­sum plerique sequūtur, Chry­sost. Augustin. &c. Yet Mal­donat follow­eth the latter. openly to professe greater hatred to Protestants, than love to the truth it selfe. For it is apparent, ex professo, he preferreth his owne o­pinion without any authoritie, before St. Austin, nay contrarie to St. Austin, and hee gives this rea­son for it; Because this sense of mine doth more crosse the sense of the Calvinists. But I may say to you, as sometimesLudov. Viv. de Civ. Dei. l. 13. c. 24. Ludovicus Vives spake upon the like occasion: St. Austin is now safe, because of his age, but if he were alive againe, he should be sha­ken off as a bad Rhetoritian, or a poore Gramma­rian. And yet this good Saint was so farre from defending any opinion against the knowne truth, that on the contrarie, he preferreth the in­terpretation ofAugust. contr. Cresc. Gram­mat. l. 1. c. 32. & l. 2. c. 32. p. (mihi) 218. & 241. Cresconius a Grammarian, before St. Cyprian the Martyr, because it seemed to him more probable and agreeable to the truth.

The Reply.

It is to be wondered what art and policie your Church doth use to put off the triall of her cause, when it should come to hearing. If we speake of a depravation of your Faith, you crie out it is blas­phemie; If we shew your owne mens complaints for a reformation of your doctrine, you say they meant a reformation onely of Discipline; If we plainly prove the noveltie of your Trent Articles, by comparing them with the Tenets of ancient Re­ligion, you threaten to bring an action of the Case against us for slandering and defaming of your Church, except we can assigne the precise time and person when those errors came in. Let us use the words of your fellow Campian; Can I imagine any to be stuffed in the nose, Camp. Rat. 2. that being forewarned can­not quickly smell out this subtle juggling? Why doe you not rather complaine of the Noveltie of our doctrine, and bid us shew the time when, and the Authors who first broached our two Sacraments, our Communion in both kindes, our Praier in a knowne tongue, our spirituall presence, and the like; if I faile in these, then say, The Knight see­meth to acknowledge he cannot doe it.

The errors in your Church which wee com­plaine [Page 191] of, are negative Articles amongst us, and the proofe lies on your side: If you cannot shew Apostolicall Authors for your owne doctrine, must we be therefore condemned, because we doe not prove the Negative? Or otherwise it must needes follow by your Logick, that it is the same doctrine which was once delivered to the Saints, because we cannot shew the first Author of it.

You cannot denie that there are many particu­lar errors in the Church, whose first Authors can­not be named by you nor us, and therefore will you conclude they are no errors? The custome of communicating little children in the Sacrament of the Lords bodie and bloud was an error, and con­tinued long in the ancient Church, yet the first Au­thor of it was not knowne. There were many did hold there was a mitigation and suspension of the punishment of the damned in hell, by the suffrages of the living; this error was anciently received, yet the first Author was not knowne. The opinion that all Catholike Christians, how wicked soever, shall in the end be saved, as by fire, was an ancient error, but the Author is not knowne. Againe,Alph. contr. hae­res. verbo In­dulgentia. p. (mihi) 354. there are many things (saith your Alphonsus) knowne to la­ter writers, which the Ancients were altogether igno­rant of. There is seldome any mention of Transub­stantiation amongst the Ancients; almost none of Pur­gatorie; what marvell if it so fall out with Indulgen­ces, that there should bee no mention of them by the Ancients? If therefore such errors crept into the Church in the first and best Ages, which are now [Page 192] condemned by your selves and us, without enquiring after the time, and Authors that first broached them. Nay more, if your points of Faith, as name­ly, Transubstantiation, Purgatorie, and Indulgences, were altogether unknowne to the Ancients (as your men confesse) why should you require us to shew the first Authors of your doctrines, which were utterlie unknowne to the ancient Fathers? Or ra­ther, why do you not condemn them with us, as you do the errors which were received for true doctrines amongst the Ancients? If St. Peter were at Rome, no doubt the Church received & beleeved his Prophe­sies;2 Pet. 2.1. There shal be false Teachers among you, who (pri­vily) shall bring in damnable heresie. If the Apo­stle both forewarned you and us, that errors and he­resies must steale in privily, sensim sine sensu, secretly and by degrees into the true Church, and yet would not reveale the Authors of the heresies, what mad­nesse were it in you or us to passe by those damna­ble Heresies, or rather to pleade for them, because wee cannot learne the name of the false Tea­chers?

Vincent. Lyr. de haeres. c. 15. Vincentius Lyrinensis, who was living 400. yeeres after the Apostles time, complaines that cer­taine in his dayes did bring in errors secretly, which a man (saith he) cannot soone finde out, nor easily con­demne. Tertull. advers. Valent. c. 3. The Serpent hides himselfe as much as hee can (saith Tertullian) and sheweth his chiefe skill in wreathing himselfe into folds, and in thrusting him­selfe into dark and blinde holes: Such is the nature of false teachers, they seeke nothing more (saith the same [Page 193] Author) than to hide that which they preach, Idem c. 1. if yet they may be said to preach that they hide.

But good Physicians (say you) use to enquire of the causes, effects, and circumstances; Pag. 73. for upon these circumstances dependeth the knowledge whether it be a disease or no. It is most true that Physicians will enquire of the causes of the disease, but will they deny the Patient to be sicke, or refuse to minister Physicke to him, unlesse he tell them precisely how or when he first tooke his disease or infection? For this is our case, and the point in question touching a reformation. Neither doth the knowledge of the disease of the body depend upon the circum­stances of time, place, and person. I thinke you never read such Aphorismes either in Gallen or Hyppocrates; neither doth your knowledge of er­rors and heresie in your Church depend on the cir­cumstances of time, place, and persons: For some Authors, at the same time, and in the same place, might have broached truth, when another set his heresie abroach; as namely, Saint Austin precisely in the time and place, delivered the Orthodox Do­ctrine of grace, when and where Pelagius spread his heresie.

From your Rules of Physicke you returne to the Rules of Divinity, and tell us from Saint Austin, thatQuod univer­sa tenet Eccle­sia, nec Conci­liis institutum, sed semper re­tentum est, non nisi authorita­te Apostolicâ traditū rectis­simè creditur. De Baptis contr. Donat. l. 5. c. 24. in ini­tio. Tom. 7. p. mihi 433. whatsoever the Catholike Church doth generally beleeve or practise, so as there can be no time assigned when it began, it is to be taken for an Apostolicall tradition. This place of Austin you neither quoted in your Answer, neither have you recited his words [Page 194] faithfully, for hee speakes not of assigning the time when the Doctrine begins, but whatsoever the uni­versall Church doth hold, not being ordained by Coun­cels, but hath beene ever held, that is most rightly be­leeved for an Apostolicall tradition. This is his Te­net, and this is ours: but you have put in the word (Catholike) in your sense for universall, you have ad­ded (generall beleefe and practise) you have thrust in these words (so as no time can be assigned when it began) and you have omitted the principall verb [that hath been ever held] which makes me suspect you omitted the citing of this place, lest your fraud should be descried: But I pardon you; let us heare the rest;P. 73. But such (say you) are all those things which you are pleased to call errors. If this were as easily proved as spoken, you should not neede to put us to the search of times and Authors for the first Founder of your Faith; For if your Popish Doctrines were alwayes held by the universall Church, and not ordained by Councels, we should not need to looke into your Councell of Lateran for your Doctrine of Transubstantiation, nor into your Councell of Constance for Communion in both kindes, nor into your Councell of Elorence for your seven Sacraments, nor into your second Councell of Nice for your worship of Images: for these and many such traditions were first ordained by Councels, and were not the generall beliefe and practice of the Church. Againe, if the universall Church had alwayes held your Doctrines from the Apostles times, why doe you your selfe confesse, [Page 195] that your prayer in an unknowne tongue,Pag. praeceden­ti. your pri­vate Masse, your halfe Communion, were taught otherwise in the primitive Churches? Nay, if they be Apostolicall, how comes it that they are flat contrary to the Doctrine of the Apostles? And thus much of your two rules of Physicke and Divi­nity; let us heare the rest of your authorities.

Tertullian (say you) hath this Rule for discer­ning heresie from truth,Tertul. prae­scrip. 31. p. mihi 78. That which goeth before is truth, and that which commeth after is errour. This Rule is most true, but these words you cite by the halves; for hee saith expresly,Id autem ex­traneum & falsum quod sit posterius im­missum. Id Domini­cum & verum quod sit prius traditum: That was first delivered, which was true, and came from the God of truth; and this was the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles; for that which commeth after (saith he) is farre different: where hee shewes like­wise in these words following, that after Christs time, and in the dayes of the Apostles, there might be heresies,Ut aliquem ex Apostolicis vi­ris (qui tamen cum illis perse­vereverint) habent autho­rem. Ibid. for the mystery of iniquitie began then to worke; and therefore hee will not have it enough to derive a Doctrine from a man which lived with the Apostles, unlesse it can be proved that he con­tinued with them: and the reason (as I conc [...]ive) was given by Nicephorus; After the sacred compa­ny of the Apostles was come to an end, Niceph. l. 3. c. 16. and that their generation was wholly spent, which had heare with their eares the heavenly wisdome of the Sonne of God, then that conspiracie of detestable errour, through the deceipt of such as delivered strange Doctrine, tooke rooting; and because that none of the Apostles survi­ved, [Page 196] they published boldly with all might possible the doctrine of falshood, and impugned the manifest and knowne truth.

But wee plead (say you) prescription from the be­ginning.] It is not sufficient to plead it, you must prove it. The Mahometists at this day assume the name of Saracens (as your men doe the name of Catholikes) as if they came from Sara the free wo­man, Abrahams true and lawfull wife, when in truth they tooke their first beginning from Agar the bond-woman; neither can there be any prescrip­tion against the ancient Records and Evidences of the Word written by Christ and his Apostles. In­deed you have found a right and easie way to claime a prescription from the time of the Apostles; for you have razed many prime Evidences of the Fa­thers for the first 800. yeeres, which make for our Doctrine, and you have proscribed many learned Authors and their Records (as I have shewed be­fore) for the last 800. yeeres, which testified against your errors: And now I come to your Churches apostacie or falling from the truth, which occasi­oned these errors.

Apostacie (say you) is a defection, or forsaking of the Name of Christ, and profession of Christianity, as all men understand it.

I shewed in this Section, that in the primitive Church, when any heresie did arise that indangered the foundation (such as was the heresie of the Ar­rians, of the Pelagians, and the like) the Authors were observed, the times were knowne, the place [Page 197] was pointed at, and forthwith letters of Premoni­tion were sent to all the sound members of the Ca­tholike Church; by which publike advertisement the steale-truth was discovered, and herein the Au­thor, the time, and place was observed and knowne to all: but in the Church of Rome it was other­wise; there was first an Apostacie, a falling away from the truth, which was first caused by an error secretly stolne into the Church; and therefore it is sometimes called a mystery of iniquity, because my­stically, covertly, secretly hee shall winde his abo­minations into the Church of God: and accor­dingly the Apostle gives Timothy to understand, that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, 1 Tim. 4.1. giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of De­vils, and such as speake falshood in Hypocrisie: which place plainely shewes (saith a learned Divine) that Antichrist himselfe shall not professedly renounce Christ, and his Baptisme;Mr. Bedel a­gainst Wads­worth. p. 40. that his kingdome is a revolt, not from the outward profession, but in­ward sinceritie and power of the Gospel. And therefore all doe not understand Apostacie, a forsa­king of Christ and Christianity: Not all, no not the same Apostle, where hee useth the same word Apostacie to the Thessalonians: [...], &c. 2 Thess. 2.3. Let no man deceive you by any meanes, for that day shall not come, except there come (an Apostacie) a falling away first: Hee speakes of the departing from the orthodox Faith, not from Christianitie. Not all, no not your Rhe­mists in their Annotations upon this place:Rhem. Annot. in 2 Thess. 2.3. For it is very like (say they) be it spoken under correction, [Page 198] that Gods Church, and all learned Catholikes, that this great defection and revolt shall not be onely from the Roman Emperour, but especially from the Roman Church, and withall from most points of Christian Re­ligion, or (as they interpret in their Margin) from most Articles of the Christian faith. Not all, no not Campian your fellow Jesuite, who termes Luther an Apostata, for falling from your Church, not from Christianity. Not all, no not your Decretals, who terme a Monke, for leaving his Order, or a Clarke forsaking his habit, an Apostata. Not all, no not Gregory the Great, Greg. l. 6. Ep. 24. who called John Bishop of Con­stantinople, an Apostata, for assuming the title of uni­versall Bishop. Lastly, Not all, no not your Coun­cell of Basil, where 900. condemned and deposed your Pope Eugenius for a Symonist, Concil. Basil. sess. 34. a forsworn man, a man incorrigible, a Schismaticke (an Apostata) a man fallen from the faith, and a wilfull Hereticke. I say therefore, not all, nor any of these did under­stand an Apostacie to be a forsaking of the name of Christ and Christianity; and therefore I hope you will confesse, that your assertion is neither Catho­like nor universall.

When therfore we lay Apostacie to your Church, we doe not charge you with a totall falling from Christian Religion, like that of Julian the Aposta­ta, with an obstinate pertinacie, in denying the principles of the faith necessarie to salvation, or a renouncing your Baptisme, and consequently the name of Christianitie: Wee charge you not with Apostacie in such a fearefull and horrible sense, un­lesse [Page 199] you will assume it to your selves;Lyra in 2. Thess. 2. but wee thinke with Lyra, that as there was an Apostacie or revolt of many Kingdomes from the Roman Empire, and of many Churches from the Communion of the Roman Church; so there hath beene an Apostacie from the Catholike faith in the midst of the Church, not for that all at any time did forsake the true Faith, but for that many fell from the sinceritie of the Faith.

After your definition of Apostacie, you proceed in this manner; How then can we be Apostatas? in no wise certainely: but if wee erre, wee erre as here­tikes, and if wee be heretikes, you confesse you must as­signe the persons, time and place.

I have cleared you from the hainous title of Apo­stata in your owne sense, but not in ours;D. Potter p. 19. & 60. yet let me tell you (with griefe and pitty be it spoken) your profane and wicked application of the Apostles Creed, as you pretend, in jests, is a fearefull signe of falling from Christ and Christianitie it selfe: and therfore, although I may free your Church in ge­nerall of that name, and in that sense, yet it behoves you to acquit your selfe in that particular. But this by way of friendly admonition.

If we erre (say you) wee erre as heretikes] I shall easily condescend unto you in that: For the errors in the Roman Church caused an Apostacie at first, and was mysticall and secret; now after long pra­ctise and usage in the Church, is become an heresie; and so wee may truely assent unto you, that you erre as heretikes: And although I am not bound upon this acknowledgment, forthwith to assign you [Page 200] the Authors of your heresies, because they came in by degrees, and at severall times, privily, and insensibly; yet because you are so inquisitive after you predecessors, if you will have but patience, I will draw your pedigree in the next Section.Ecclesia sua de­finitione non facit talem as­sertionem esse haeresin, cum etiamsi ipsa non definivisset, es­set haeresis; sed id efficit Ec­clesia, ut nobis per suam cen­suram pateat illud esse here­sin. Alph. à Castr. l. 1. c. 8. D. Potter sect. 4. p. 101. & 97. In the meane time let me tell you, it is another errour in you to say, They come to have the name of heresie, onely by the condemnation of the Church. For the Church condemnes them, because they are here­sies; contrariwise, they are not heresies, because the Church condemnes them. The Doctrines of Arrius, Macedonius, Nestorius, Eutyches, Eunomi­us, and Dioscurus, were themselves hereticall, even before they were solemnly condemned in the foure generall Councels: but woe to us and all the refor­med Churches, if this Tenet were true and Catho­like, for then are wee condemned already. But I pray, what if your Pope (whom you Jesuites now make the onely Church) admit, I say, your Pope were an Heretike, such as was your Pope Eugeni­us, or your John the 23. or Pope Vigilius, or Pope Honorius, were they able to judge of heresies in others, that were tainted with them themselves? or must their definitive sentence in Cathedra stand for a Law,Si autem Papa erraret prae­cipiendo vitia vel prohibendo virtutes, &c. Bell. de Pont. l. 4. c. 5. Sand. de visibili Monarch. l. 7. An. 1541. p. mihi 595. and make that heresie which is no here­sie? Indeed your Cardinall sayes, The Pope hath power to make that no sinne which is sinne, and accor­dingly he hath placed that Tenet amongst the Here­tikes, and by the same Law he makes that to be he­resie, which is no heresie. Your learned Sanders tells us, it is heresie to translate the Scriptures into [Page 201] the vulgar Tongue, and accordingly he hath placed that Tenet amongst the Heretikes. Your Chancel­lor of Paris and Director of the Councell of Con­stance tells us, it is heresie to communicate in both kindes; and accordingly he hath wrote a Tract, De haeresi communicandi sub utrâque specie. And to passe by all the Trent Articles (the deniall of all or any of which makes a man an Heretike) your infallible Pope Nicholas proclaimeth,Qui Romanae Ecclesiae privi­legium auferre conatur, hic pro­culdubio labitur in haeresin. that whoso­ever goeth about to abrogate the priviledges of the Church of Rome, he is no doubt an Heretike.

If the deniall of all or any of these make an He­retike, there is no doubt, all the Reformed Chur­ches stand guilty of that capitall crime, by the law of your Church, and your Popes doome. Yet let me tell you; the Scriptures were translated into all Languages in the Primitive times, and Christ and his Apostles did communicate in both kindes; and your first foure generall Councels did bound and limit those priviledges of the Church of Rome, which are now extended into all parts of the Chri­stian world; and were all these Heretikes? If you call this Heresie, goe on, and fill up the measure of your wrath, untill the time come that Christ and his Saints acquit us, or condemne us of that impu­tation. In the meane time you shall doe well to reflect upon your selfe, and consider rather the case at this day betwixt the Sorbonists and the Jesuites, which meerely toucheth your owne particular.Aurel. in vindi­ciis, pag. 383. Idem in libro sine titulo. Hermannus Laemelius, that is to say, John Floyd, termes the propositions of the Parisians, destructive to the Church, and hereticall; on the other side, they [Page 202] accuse him of heresie, H [...]ulier in ad­monit. ad Lect. p. 8. 9. 16. 24. blasphemie, and impietie, and the like. Are you all members of one Church, un­der one head the Pope, and are your propositions different and hereticall on both sides, and must I say, that you and the rest have the name of heresie onely by the condemnation of the Church? But you are sure the Pope will not condemne his owne members, and without his judgment they are but words of course, or at best but course phrases deli­vered in heate against an adversary: For (say you) The Fathers did forbeare absolutely to condemne things for heresies, till they had acquainted the Bishop of Rome, and had his judgement, as is cleere by St. Cyrill of Alexandria, in the case of Nestorius. Neither doe we denie, that in this and the like case the Bishop of Rome ought to be acquainted; For Nestorius was Patriarch of Constantinople, and there­fore good reason the Bishop of Rome, as another Patriarch, should be acquainted with it, that hee might be judged by his Peeres; but in other ca­ses they sent Letters without acquainting the Bishop of Rome: neither ought you to require or expect that we should produce any such letters of premoni­tion against the points of Trent doctrine, for which we now condemne you, because those errors which then began to spring in the Church, by custome and pertinacies became heresies in many ages after. About that time, and in that very Age St. Au­stin condemned the superstition of some in wor­shipping Sepulchers and Images (which at this day is an Article of your Faith:) but you answer that he condemned the heathenish and superstitious worship [Page 203] of dead, perhaps wicked mens tombs and pictures: and for a solution of this place you referre me to Bellar­mine. It seems you could give me no satisfactory an­swer of your own, and therefore you returne me to your Cardinal; but I wonder why you do not recite his answer to this place. I conceived that you were ashamed of it, or there was some misprision that made you conceale it; & thereupon I have perused it, and find that he hath falsified both the place and meaning of it. As for instance: whereas Austin saith,Aug. de mori­bus Eccles. Cathol. l. 1. c. 34. p. (mihi) 774. Tō. 1. Bell. de Reli­quiis Sanct. l. 2. c. 4. I know many worshippers of tombes and pictures, your Cardinall leaves out the word pictures, and saith, I know many worshippers of tombes; and for his full solution he subjoyneth, Austin wrote this in the be­ginning of his first conversion. Again, he cites another place of S. Austin, as it were to illustrate the former, without any respect or mention of the worshippers of pictures, and tells us,Ibid. that the Emperour did pray at the Sepulcher of St. Peter, yet proves not the point in question, that he did worship the Sepulcher it selfe; for who doubts but that we also may worship God at St. Peters shrine, and yet not worship the shrine it selfe. Nay, hee goeth on further, and shewes that Austin did not reprehend Chrysostome, and Hie­rome, but the ignorant sort of people: for Chryso­stome saith, Let us adore the Tombes of Martyrs; when as there are no such words in Chrysostome, but rather, Let us adorne them.Ut Tumulos Martyrum de center curari. Chrys. And whereas he saith further, that Hierome wisheth Marcella, a Ladie, to worship the ashes of the Prophets in Bethlem; so likewise I say, he doth wish her in the same place to lick their dust; and therefore it was not to be un­derstood [Page 204] as a thing spoken properly, but figurative­ly. For elsewhere he saith expresly against Vigilan­tius, I say not, we worship not nor adore the reliques of Martyrs, but neither the Sunne, nor the Moone, nor Angels, nor Archangels, nor Cherubin, nor Seraphin. Neither did S.Andr. resp. ad Card. Bell. pag. (mihi) 49. Austin speak as you say of the heathe­nish and superstitious worshipping of wicked mens Tombes, but of them which in ipsa vera Religione, in true Religion were worshippers of pictures and shrines. For he shewes, that his owne mother Moni­ca did usually bring to the shrines of Saints certaine Bread and Wine, August. Confes. l. 6. c. 2. and other provision; but because the celebrating after the manner of the memory of the dead, did very much resemble the superstition of the heathen, she was forbidden it by St. Ambrose; which forbidding (saith he) shee did so piously and obedi­ently embrace, as that my selfe did wonder to see her made (with such ease) rather a condemner of her owne ancient custome, than a questioner of the present prohibition. For a conclusion; whereas you would excuse it, that St. Austin did condemne onely the superstitious worship of wicked mens Tombes, your men are likewise guiltie of the same wor­ship:Bell. de Sanct. Beat. l. 1. c. 7. For your owne Cardinall will tell you, that the people (of the Roman Church) did for a long time celebrate Sulpitius for a Mqrtyr, who after­wards did appeare and told them, that he had beene a theefe and was damned; Idem, ibid. And that Alexander the third reprehended certaine men for worshipping one as a Martyr, that was killed in his drunkennesse: and thus (to use your owne words) for these, I send you backe againe to Bellarmine for an answer.

I come to the rest of your answers. First I cited out of Ferus, that Masses, Monasteries, Ceremo­nies, Feasts, Images, are otherwise now used than they were in the beginning: I produced likewise Po­lydore Virgil, Erasmus, Scotus, Agrippa, Cassander, Gregorie de Valentia, in severall points against your new doctrine; now let us heare your severall an­swers to them. Touching Ferus, he is a Frier (say you) in your Bookes, but not in ours, save onely in the Roman Index of forbidden Bookes. Touching Polydore, he saith as the Knight telleth us, and as much as any Heretike can say, but it booteth not, for his Booke is forbidden. Touching Erasmus, he is no Authour for us to answer, he is branded in the Ro­man Index. Touching Scotus, you neither con­demne him, nor answer him: he tells you plainly, that Transubstantiation was not received for a point of Faith till the Councell of Lateran, above 1200. yeares after Christ; but of this passage Ne gry qui­dem: And yet you might have answered with Bellarmine, this opinion of his is no way to be al­lowed; or with Gregorie de Valentia, for this say­ing he ought to be corrected. As touching Agrippa and Cassander, you will not vouchsafe them an an­swere, but reject them inter damnatos authores, as men to be cast out of your Synagogue. Lastly, tou­ching Gregorie de Valentia, you say his authoritie doth make against the Knight, why else should he cor­rupt and mangle it? But whether I or you have corrupted it, let the Reader judge; my words were these, The Communion in one kind, when it got first footing in the Church, minimè constat, it doth not [Page 206] appeare (saith Greg. de Valentia:) You to prove my corruption, cite the words in this manner; When that custome began in some Churches, it appeareth not; but that there hath been some use of one kind ever from the beginning, I shewed before; so Valentia; and thus you.

But in truth, this is none of Valentia's own period, but one of your owne making, who cunningly joyne the latter words which follow in Valentia, 4. or 5. lines after, to the former, with a But, which is none of Valentia's; & the former part of the period is no­tably mangled by you: For thus it stands, When that custome began in some Churches, Augustana Confessio. it appeares not, as is acknowledged by the Augustane Confession. Now in that Confession, the words are these, The custome of both kindes remained long in the Church, neither doth it appeare when, or by what Author it was changed; so that he plainly speaketh of the Church in gene­ral, & sheweth the corruption here pretended by M. Floyd to be but a cavill, viz. That Valentia saith this, not of the Church in generall, but of some particular Churches. Thus either you blot & prohibit all Au­thors that make for us, although they be members of your own Church, or else you vouchsafe them no answer, or else you quarrell without any just occasi­on offred; and this wil prove an easie way for the weakest scholar in your Church to answer all that can be produced against your faith and doctrine.

Now as the Reader hath heard your answer in the generall, so let him see your exceptions to the parti­culars: For whereas I said with St. Paul, Forbidding of marriage is a doctrine of Devils, you answer as if you were angrie with St. Paul, that he hath been an­swered [Page 207] more often than the Knight hath fingers and toes; and it seems, for that reason you will vouchsafe him no answer at all. This puts me in minde of the saying of Ludovicus Vives, a member of your owne Church, who assures us, If St. Lud. Vives de Civ. Dei. l. 13. c. 24. Paul were living in these dayes, he would be held either a mad man, or an heretike. And since you will not resolve me of St. Pauls meaning in that place, I will appeale to St. Bernard, an Abbot who was restrained from marri­age by the law of your Church; who speaking of that restraint, gives us the true sense and exposition of St. Paul in these words: All heresies have an here­tike for their founder; the Maniches had Manes,Bernard. in Cant. Serm. 66. the Sabellians had Sabellicus, the Arrians had Arrius, &c. so that we know the Authors of those plagues; but by what name will you terme the Author of those that for­bid marriage? Surely it is not of man, or by man, and far be it from the spirit of God, but it is foretold (by the Apostle St. Paul) to be the fraud & doctrine of devils.

But marriage (say you) is not a thing evil in it selfe, but because it lesse agreeth with the holinesse which is required for the exercise of Priestly function. I pray then what thinke you of a concubine? Doth com­panie with her better agree for exercise of your fun­ction, than with a wife? Sure I am, this is the doctrine of your Church: nay more, your Pope Siricius would inferre by authoritie of Scripture, that mar­riage is unholy in it selfe, for he cites the Text for [...]t, They that live in the flesh cannot please God. Qui in carne sunt Deo place­re non possunt. Now I pray you what difference is there betwixt the anci­ent heretikes, and the members of your Church? The Montanists, the Tatiani, the Eucratitae, did not [Page 208] prohibite marriage to all, no more than you doe, but onely to their perfecti, as being a disparagement to their perfect estate; or as you interpret, not agreeing to the holines of Priesthood. Again, whereas I proved out of Polydore, that the marriage of Priests was not altogether forbidden till the time of Gregorie the 7. that is to say, above a thousand yeares after Christ; you answer, that which Polydore cites is most evi­dently false, as appeareth particularly by a Canon of the first Councell of Nice, and the second Coun­cell of Carthage. Now if Polydore were mistaken, it concernes not me, for I cited him truly, and he is a member of your Church; but the truth is, you are much mistaken touching those two Councels. For the Councell of Nice (saith Sozomen) commended Paphnutius judgement, Sozom. l. 1. c. 22. and touching this matter of mariage, made to decree an all, but left it to each mans owne will, without any force of necessity; And the Councell of Carthage forbiddeth not marriage in Priests, but commandeth abstinence from marriage rites for a certaine time, as St. Paul doth, that they may more freely give themselves to prayer, and the of­fices of their sacred function. Which plainly shewes, that both Priests were married in those dayes, and consequently, that those two Councels make flatly against you. But Marius (say you) cannot find the be­ginning of this prohibition; Polydore findeth it, and yet both make for the Knights purpose. And without doubt they doe, for they contradict not one the o­ther: Polydore speaketh of publike, absolute, and re­all prohibition; Marius of the first condemning it in any Priest; and these confessions may well stand to­gether.

The Reply.

IN the eighth Section, I assumed to prove the Antiquitie, and Vniversalitie of our Religion, by and with the consenting testimonies of the Romane Church: you tell mee, It is a bold and unlikely adventure, and it is shamelesse and im­pudent.

These words be like a house full of smoake without fire: but what is the occasion of all this heinous complaint? Forsooth, the Knight brin­geth not one Author, I say, not one for the Vniver­salitie and Antiquitie of his Church. And is this so grievous an accusation? Surely, I thou [...]ht there was none so ignorant or impudent, as to denie both the Vniversalitie and Antiquitie of three Creeds; two Sacraments instituted by Christ; the two and twentie books of Canoni­call Scriptures; of the first foure Generall Coun­cels; of the Apostolike Traditions; of the An­cient Liturgies; of the Ordination of Priests and Deacons. These are our Tenets, and these [Page 254] were the particular Instances which I made: and to bring Authors for the proofe of these, as if we made a doubt of that which all true Christians did generally receive and beleeve, I say with S^t. Austin, Insolentissimae dementiae. Aug. It were a signe of most insolent madnesse.

But admit I should produce some Authors for proofe of this generall beleefe, would their Au­thoritie free me from your termes of Shamelesse, and impudent adventure? Certainly no: for (say you) If hee should have one, two, or three, or ten men, it would not be sufficient for him, unlesse hee have the Authoritie of the Catholike Church, or Church of Rome.

To cite many Authors, or to bring none, then is all alike to you; for in your doome, nothing will free mee from the name, and punishment due to Heresie, but the authoritie of the Church: and yet in this, you have granted mee more than I could expect; for you have given mee liberty to take my authoritie from the Church, so it be from the Catholike, or the Roman. And hereby you have made your Roman Church distinct from the Catholike, which is most true; which, both you your selfe, and most of your fellow Jesuits have made all one, and confirmed by the title of (Roman Catholike) in all your writings.

This being granted, I proceed to the rest of your exceptions. In this Section (say you) he brin­geth onely three Catholike Authors, Adrian, Coste­rus, and Harding, but no word for Antiquitie, or universalitie. Thus you.

Hee that shall reade my Section in Via tuta, with this your Answer, must needs confesse that you deale not fairly, nor ingeniously with mee: for sometimes you leape from the beginning of a Chapter to the end, then you returne againe to the beginning, being willing to conceale or con­found the truth of my Assertions. You so mingle my words with your own in the same Character, that a prudent Reader can hardly discerne mine from yours: but most usuall it is with you to cry down my words with bitter passages, and decline the question in all. As for Instance, in this Se­ction, whereas I said, the Church of Rome doth confesse the Antiquitie, and Vniversalitie of our Religion long before Luther, I instanced in our three Creeds, and the rest before named. One while you cry out of my impudencie, that I cite no Authors; another while, that if I did cite them, they would not serve my turne: but you never mention either the Creeds, or Scriptures, or Councels, or any of the points which you well knew had Antiquitie, and Vniversalitie in the name and opinion of all Christians. After that, you flie to the later end of my Section, and there you tell mee, I cite but three Authors, and yet none prove the Antiquitie or Vniversalitie of our Faith. Then you goe backe againe, and you tell the Reader, I say nothing here of the mans notable cunning and falshood, in making him beleeve, as if we did excuse our selves in those things whereof they accuse us.

If such extravagant excursions and reproches you call a Reply, or a Catholike Answer, I will lay my finger on my mouth, and say with your Cardinall, Qui decipi vult, decipiatur.

Briefely, the substance of my Assertion was this: The three Creeds, the Canonicall Scriptures, the Apostolike Traditions, the foure first generall Councels, and the rest were so generally received in the bosome of the Roman Church, that for that reas n i [...] might seeme a senselesse question, to de­mand where our Church was before Luther.

Next I shewed that the positive Doctrines of our Church (mentioned in our (39.) Articles) were contained in a very few points, and those al­so had Antiquity and Vniversality; then I shewed that those doctrines which they obtruded upon us, were but Additions and Negative Tenets in our Articles, and that many of those additions were condemned, or at least excused, by their owne men: And I instanced in three Authors be­fore mentioned, for three severall points of their Doctrine; and this is the substance and true meaning of that Section; and thus much by way of advertisement to the mod [...]rate Reader. Now to answer you distinctly to that you have produ­ced confusedly.

Your first exception is touching Pope Adrian the sixth: you say, It is not as S^r. Humphry put­teth it, to wit, if t [...]e consecrated Bread be Christ, but if it be rightly consecrated.

And doe not you still by Adrians confession [Page 257] excuse your adoration, by implying a condition? and is it not all one according to your doctrine? For if it be rightly consecrated, it is Christ, if not, it is a Crust, and no man amongst your Com­municants knoweth what it is, because he know­eth not the Priests intention. Take it therefore which way you will, yet my assertion stands true; we condemne you for adoring the Elements, for ought you know, of bread and wine, because it doth depend upon the intention of the Priest, whether Christ be there or no; but yet you can­not condemne us for adoring Christs rent body in the Heavens: and however the Priests doe consecrate, yet (saith Gerson) when the host is ado­red, Gers. compend. Theol. Tit. de tribus virtut. p. 111. that condition is ever at lest to be supposed (if it be rightly consecrated) that is, if it be truely the body of Christ; And this is that Pope Adrian hath delivered by your owne confession, and therefore they are not to be cleered from Idola­try, because they intended to worship one God, (as indeede there was but one God) but because they adored him there where he was not, and in that manner as they supposed him to be. The case (saith Catharinus) is like in the host not consecrated: Cather. Annot. in Caiet p. mihi 134. For God and Christ is not adored simply, but as he is existing under the formes of bread and wine: If therefore he be not there, but it be found that Divine worship is given to a creature insteede of Christ, there is Idolatry also: For even in this regard they were Idolaters who adored Heaven, or any other thing, supposing with themselves that they adored [Page 258] in it the Divinity, whom they called the soule of the world. Compare then the certainty of your faith, with ours (which is the point in question) and tell me if in [...]his we are not more certaine and safe then you can be. First, your owne Bellarmine tels us,Bell. de Iusti­fic. l. 3. c. 8. that none can be certaine by the certainety of faith that he doth receive a true Sacrament. No man (saith And [...]eas Vega) can beleeve assuredly, Vega l 9 de Iustific. c. 17. that he receiveth the least part of the Sacrament, and this is so surely to be credited, as it is apparant that we live; And both give one and the same reason for it: For there is no way, except it be by Revela­tion, that we can know the intention of the Mini­ster, either by outward appearance, or by cer­tainty of faith. From this dangerous consequence, we condemne your adoration, and resolve to let you know from your owne men,Th [...] Saliflur. de arte Praedican­di. c. 25. that No man, be he never so simple, or never so wise, ought precisely to believe that this is the body of our Lord that the Priest hath consecrated, but onely under this conditi­on, if all things concerning the consecration be done as appertaineth; for otherwise he shall avouch a creature to be the Creator, which were Idolatry.

Now as this way in the generall is uncertaine and dangerous; so likewise there are many other wayes, which may easily occasion this Idolatry; and therefore you cannot deny us to be in the more certaine and safe way. As for instance Io­hannes de Burgo, who was Chancellor of Cam­bridge about (200.) yeares since, gives us to un­derstand that a Priest may faile in his intention [Page 259] many wayes. As for example, If the Bread be made of any other then wheaten flower, Pupilla Oculi c. 3. & 5. &c. which may possibly happen, or if there be too much water in quantity, that it overcomes and alters the nature of wine; if the wine be changed into vinegar, and therefore cannot serve for consecration; If there be thirteene cakes upon the Table, and the Priest for his consecration determine onely upon twelve, in that case not one of them all is Consecrated: Lastly, if the Priest dissemble, or leave out the words of Conse­cration, or if he forget it, or minde it not, in all and every of these wayes, there is nothing Consecrated, and consequently the people giving divine honour to the Sacrament all Bread or Cup, commit flat Idolatry.

When I heare the Apostle proclaime to all Christians, that he which doubteth is condemned al­ready; I cannot chuse but pitty the state and con­dition of that miserable man, who hath a doubt­full, perplexed, and uncertaine faith, who taketh all upon trust, and upon the report, sometimes of an Hypocrite, sometimes of a malitious Priest, who hath no intention at all to administer the true Sacrament. For (saith your Trent history) if a Priest having charge of foure or five hundred soules were an Infidell, but a formall Hyppocrite, History of Trent. and in absolving the Penitent, baptizing of children, and Consecrating the Eucharist, had an intention not to doe that which the Church doth, it must be said that the children are damned, the penitent not absolved, and that all remaine without the fruite of the Com­munion.

Now let the Reader judge which doctrine is most certaine and safe, either that of your Church which may occasion flat Idolatry in the worship­er, or our sursum corda, with hearts and eyes lifted up to Heaven, where we adore our Saviour Christ in his bodily presence according to the Article of your Faith and ours; and this is agreed on both sides to be without feare or perill of Idolatry.

Lastly, as if you were guilty of false accusati­ons, you say, suppose Adrian hath erred in this, or in any other point, doth it follow that he agree­eth with you in all other? Then you tell a story of the Popes Bull against Luther.

You quarrell with your owne shadow, for I had no relation at all to your Pope, nor made any instance of him more then in a Marginall Note; but since you stand so much upon the justification of his Doctrine, hearken I pray wherein he ma­keth for you, and wherein he is wholly against you. Your Agrippa tells us, that in these latter times Pope Adrian erected a most famous Stewes at Rome. Agrippa de v [...] ­nit. scient. c. 64. p. mihi. cap. de Lenonia. I confesse in this particular you may chal­lenge him wholly for your owne; But whereas you say he detested Luthers doctrine as most wicked and damnable, you might have added likewise, he wished a reformation of his owne, and withall taught that doctrine for which you condemne both Luther and all his adherents for Haeretikes.History of Trent. l. 1. pag. 25. 26. & 30. First, witnesse his Nu [...]tio Francisco Chiericato, who had Commission from his Holi­nesse, ‘To ackowledge that the confusion of the [Page 261] Church, was caused especially by the sinnes of Priests and Prelats, confessing that some abho­minations, some yeares since, were committed even in the Holy See, that there were many abuses in spirituall things, so that it may be said, that the infirmity is passed from the head, to the members, from the Popes, to the inferi­our Pelates; And lastly, he resolves himselfe that he would use all diligence that the Church of Rome should be first reformed; and the rather, because hee saw all the world did earnestly de­sire it.’ And that you may know the Church of Rome, as well as the Court of Rome was fallen in­to errors and heresies, hee himselfe publisheth, that he heard it related of his Predecessor, Pope Iohn the 22^th. That hee would have induced the Vniversitie of Paris to beleeve, that the soules of the righteous doe not see God face to face; and that no man should take his degree in Divinitie, unlesse hee should first sweare to maintaine that perstiferous He­resie, and perpetually to cleave unto it. And that you may be assured hee was not wholly yours, hee affirmeth for certaine, one Position which would confound all Poperie,Adrian in 4. de Sacram. Confir. sub finem. (viz.) That the Pope may erre, even in things touching the Faith, and avouch that which is Heresie by his determina­tion, or decree. And thus your Pope Adrian com­plaines of many abominable things in his owne Church: he tels us, his Predecessor was reputed a Heretike: he confesseth, that both himselfe, and all his Successors after him, were in possi­bilitie [Page 262] of erring, even in matters of Faith: and it is very probable in his erring opinion, hee began to erect that most noble Brothell-house in his owne See. And thus much touching the Margi­nall note of Pope Adrian.

Your second exception is touching Costerus, occasioned by these words, Wee accuse them for taking away the Cup from the Lay people; they ex­cuse it, that it was not taken up by the commandment of the Bishops, but is crept in, the Bishops winking thereat (saith Costerus.) In answer to this, say you, I would know what excuse you can find for such a no­torious lye.

Let the Reader judge, whether this modestie of yours deserve an Answer, or whether this say­ing of Costerus may not be termed, an Excuse. Howbeit (say you) this custome came in, not so much by the commandement of the Bishop, as by the peoples use and practise.] Well, take it as you would have it; yet, I say, his meaning must bee understood not at all by the Commandement of the Bishops, for that which is done by Command cannot bee said to have crept in. But the truth is, under colour of quarrelling with words, and giving me the lye, you seeke to dazle the eyes of your Rea­der, and when you omit the weightier things of your Church, then you question, Where is Co­sterus testimony for Antiquitie, Vniversalitie, Certaintie, and Safetie, when as you know well this testimony was not cited for that ende; And thus you straine at a Gnat, and swallow a Camell. [Page 263] Let us heare the rest of your verball discourse.

Since you are so shamelesse as to say, That we doe not condemne you for receiving in both kinds, Looke into the Councell of Trent, and see whether you doe not finde a heavy curse, &c. Thus you.

And are you sure that your Councell hath suf­ficiently cursed us, For following Christs example, and receiving in both kinds; for those were my very words, Following Christs example: (which you altogether omitted.) ‘If therefore we have altered any part of Christs Institution, I say againe, Curse on in Gods name, and let your curses take effect: but if the celebration of our Mysteries be answerable to his will and word, that first ordained them, you curse not us whom you would hurt, but him that your cursed tongues cannot hurt, which is, God to be bles­sed for ever.’ But let us heare your Councels? The Councell of Trent (say you) layes a heavie curse against any that shall say, that all and every of the Faithfull ought, by the precept of God, or necessitie of salvation, to receive both kinds.

This cursing Councell toucheth not my Asser­tion: for this Canon speaketh of the Precept of Christ, whereas I spake of his Example onely. And for proofe of this,Bell. de Euch. lib. 4. cap. 7. wee have Bellarmines te­stimony as well as ours: It is not to be doubted, but that is best, and fittest to be practised, which Christ himselfe hath done. And therefore my Assertion still stands good, (viz) You doe not condemne us for following Christs example.

Touching the Councell of Constance, it con­demnes not our receiving in both kinds, but pre­vents the condemnation of her owne. They de­creed their halfe Communion with this Caution, that If any should obstinately maintaine that it was unlawfull, Concil. Con­stant. Sess. 13. or erronious, to receive in one kind, hee ought to be punished, and driven out as an Heretike. And howsoever you would seeme to condemne our Assertion, yet you condemne not our practise as unlawfull; for the Councell of Basil, not twen­tie yeares after your Decree in the Councell of Constance, granted the use of the Cup to the Bo­hemians.

Your third exception is touching M^r. Harding, who in the question betwixt him and Bishop Iuel, of Private Masse, stands not to justifie his solitary, or private Masse, but rather excuseth it in this manner;Iuels Articles of Private Masse. pag. That it is through their owne default and negligence, whereof the godly and faithfull people, have sithence the time of the Primitive Church much complained. This (say you) hath no sense, for here is a Relative (Their) without an Antece­dent. And let me tell you, this is a poore Pedan­ticall observation; for to spend many lines about such toyes and trifling words, and to passe by the maine sinew & strength of the Citation; this is to confesse in plaine termes, that you cannot justifie your doctrine: and the rather it appeares in this particular point, wherein Master Harding doth not onely condemne the people for their neglect, but excuseth hereby your Churches ordinance in [Page 265] generall, as being not guilty of the coldnesse of the people. Nay more, hee plainly intimates the An [...]iquitie, and Vniversalitie of our Doctrine in these words;Iuel. Divis. 7. p. mihi, 11. In case the people might be stirred to such devotion, as to dispose themselves worthily to receive their Howsel every day with the Priest, as they did in the Primitive Church, what would these m [...]n have to say? And as touching Safety, and Certainty of our Doctrine, hee freely expresseth his thoughts, and liking of our Communion of Priest and People, saying; It were to be wished, Iuel in Art. 1. Divis. 9 p. 17. as oftentimes as the Priest doth celebrate the high Sa­crifice, that there were some, who worthily disposed, might receive their Rites with him, and be parta­kers Sacramentally, of the Body and Blood of Christ with him: and hee gives a reason for it,Idem, Divis. 25. p. mihi, 45. Because it would be more commendable, and more godly on the Churches part. And thus much touching your three Authors, whom (say you) I have so egregi­ously belyed.

Touching your worshipping of Images, I re­ferre it to his proper Section. And whereas wee charge you with flat Idolatrie in the adoration of the Sacrament, of Reliques, of Images, and the like, howsoever I say, you excuse your selves with the manner of your adoration, yet (to our endlesse comfort be it spoken) you cannot charge us in the Positive Doctrine of our Church; no, not with the least suspition of Idolatrie. This I told you before, and (blessed be God) you have not wherewith to charge us in your Reply. But [Page 266] you say, It is far greater evill for you to be truly char­ged with Heresie, than for us to be charged with Ido­latrie: yet neither you, nor all your fellow-Jesuits could ever prove us guilty of either. But what may wee thinke of your Church, which is justly charged, and highly guilty of both? Your Popes (which the Jesuits resolve to be the Church) are condemned for Heretikes by your Councels, ac­knowledged Heretikes by the Popes themselves, and condemned of Heresie by your best learned Divines. Your worship of Images and Saints, concludes in flat Idolatrie; and in particular (by the Doctrine of your owne Church) the adora­tion of the Sacramentall Bread and Cup, (for want of a right intention) becomes an Idoll in the Temple. These things I have in part proved, which in place convenient, shall be more fully handled hereafter.

But it is observable, after I had ended my Se­ction with this point of Idolatrie, I say, after this conclusion, you flye backe to the middle of the chapter, and now question me where our Church was before Luther: but when I answered that from your addition, and Articles of Faith, The question doth truly result upon your selves; Where was your Church? that is, where was your Trent Doctrine, and Articles of the Roman Creed, recei­ved de fide before Luther? You are so farre from shewing it, that you cunningly suppressed these words, and not so much as mentioned them: and thus, one while suppressing the point in question; [Page 267] other whiles, by declining the true state of the question, you shew your wit is better than your cause, and declare your Sophistrie to be better than your Divinitie.

But to follow you backe againe, you say, Wee must shew you a companie of men in former times distinct from yours.

It were no difficult matter, to shew you many that did seperate both from you, and the errours of your Church in former Ages. The Waldenses were a distinct companie of Beleevers, and sepa­rate from your Church above 500. yeares since: Reinerius the Inquisitor confesseth upon their ex­amination,B. Pp. Tom. 13. Reiner. contrà Wald. cap. 3. p. mihi, 299. that hee found they had in one Dio­cese, one and forty Schooles, in another, ten; and withall, reckons up forty Churches by name in Lombardy, in Province in France, and other Kingdomes; he protesteth that amongst all Sects, There was none more pernitious to the Church of Rome, than it, and that for three causes: First, Ibid. be­cause it is of longer continuance; for some say it hath continued from the time of Sylvester, (which is three hundred yeares after Christ) others say, from the time of the Apostles. Secondly, because it is more Vniversall, for there is scarse any Country, wherein this Sect hath not crept. Thirdly, whereas all other sorts blaspheme God, this Sect hath a great shew of godlinesse: for they live justly before men, they be­leeve all rightly concerning God, and the Articles of the Creed; onely they speake evill of the Church of Rome, and hate it; and by this meanes draw mul­titudes [Page 268] to their beliefe after them. Thus if you re­quire Antiquity for their Doctrine, they derive it either from Christ, or from Sylvester, 300. yeares after Christ, if Vniversality, all Coun­tries were filled with their Doctrine; if good life, they lived well before men, and beleeved all rightly concerning God, and the Articles of their Faith; and this the force of truth hath ex­torted from your grand Inquisitor.

Augustus Thuanus President of the Parliament of Paris, Thuan. hist. Tom 1. 1550. p. 457. & 465. tells us, that those who are commonly called Waldenses, Picards, Albigenses, Cathari, Lollards, though by their difference of place they had divers names, yet they held the same faith, which Wicliffe held in England, and Husse in Bohemia, and ga­thered strength at the comming of Luther, especial­ly in the Caparienses, who professed a Religion a­greeing almost in all things with Martin Luther: But withall he ingeniously professeth that Cardi­nall Sadolet did examine them, and found many things malitiously fained against them.

Poplinerius saith, that about the yeare 1100. these men did publish their doctrine differing but a little from the Protestants, Poplin. Hist. Franc. l. 1. Bb. Vsher de statu. Eccl. c. 8. p. 209. not onely through France, but also through all the coasts of Europe: For both French, Spaniards, English, Scots, Italians, Ger­mans, Bohemians, Saxons, Polonians, Lituani­ans, and oth [...]r nations doe peremptorily defend it to this very day; And by reason they separated from the doctrines of the Roman Church, Pope Innocent the third, about the yeare 1198. autho­rised [Page 269] certaine Monkes, who had the full power of the Inquisition in their hands, to deliver the people by thousands into the Magistrats hands, and the Magistrats to the Executioners.Histor. of the Wald. c. 3. S^t. Do­minick who instituted the order of the begging Monkes, called Dominicans was a great persecu­tor of them and their doctrine. The Mother of this Monke saith your Martyrologe, Martyrologe in the life of St. Dominick p. (mihi) 556. before he was yet borne, dreamed that shee was delivered of a whelpe, with a firebrand in his mouth, with which he set the whole world on fire; and your learned Do­ctors have interpreted this dreame, that Domi­nick should be that dogge that should vomit out the fire which should consume the Haeretikes. your infallible Pope likewise tells us, that he saw in his sleepe the Church of S^t. John Lateran, to tot­ter and ready to fall, Ibid. p. 562. and that St. Dominick sup­ported it, and held it up with his shoulders, signify­ing thereby, that he, and those of his order should doe great good to the Catholike faith. And howsoever these reports may passe for dreames, yet this dog behaved himselfe so worthily in the persecution of those Christians, that from that time forward, the Monkes of his Order have bin alwayes im­ployed in the Inquisition.Histor. Wald. c. 2. But herein we may admire the great mercy and goodnesse of God unto this separate Church, that notwithstanding this grievous persecution, it was record [...]d by George Morell, at that time a Pastor amongst the Waldenses, that there were then remaining accor­ding to common report, above eight hundred [Page 270] thousand persons that made profession of the same faith. And thus breefely I have given you one company of men in former times distinct from yours. If we tooke beyond those times; the Greeke Church was likewise separate from yours above eight hundred yeares agoe, and dif­fered in the points of Transubstantiation, of Pur­gatory, of private Masse, of Prayer in an unknowne tongue, of Marriage of Priests, of the Communion in both kindes, and the Popes Supremacy, I say in all these they separated from your Church; and this Church, if you require Antiquity, is before Rome in time; if Vniversality, she hath larger bounds, and multitudes of people, most of the Patriarchs, seven universall Councels, the Greeke tongue wherein the New Testament was written, insomuch as your Bishop of Bitonto was not asha­med publikely to professe, It is our Mother Grae­cia,Concil. Trid. Episc. Bitont. unto whom the Latin Church is beholding for all that ever she hath. And as touching the pro­cession of the Holy Ghost, which your men say they deny (and therefore charge their Church with a knowne haeresie) it may seeme rather that this is an aspersion laid upon them then any just exception;Concil. Florent. Sess. 35. For at the Councell of Florence, a­bout 200. yeares sithence, your Pope Eugenius answered the Graecians, that he was well satisfied by them touching the procession of the Holy Ghost; and that you may know they agreed with us in the principall points of our doctrine, the Greeke Patriarch congratulates with the re­formed [Page 271] Churches in this manner. We give thanks to God, the Author of all grace, Patr. resp. 2. in init, & resp. 1. pag. 148. and we rejoyce with many others, but especially in this, that in many things your doctrine is agreeable to our Church. For a conclusion, the Muscovites, Armenians, Aegyp­tians, Aethiopians, and divers other countries and Nations (all members of the Greeke Church) taught our doctrine from the Apostles time to ours. This is so true an evidence in our behalfe, that Bellarmine, Bellarm. de ver. Dei. l. 2. [...]. ult. in fine. as it were in disdain of the Chur­ches, makes this answer; We are no more moved with the examples of Muscovites, Armenians, Egyp­tians, and Aethiopians, then with the examples of Lu­therans, or Anabaptists, and Calvinists, for they are either Haeretikes or Schismatikes. So that all Chur­ches (be they never so Catholike and Ancient) if they subscribe not to the now Roman faith, are either Schismaticall or Haereticall.

Thus I have briefely shewed you two sorts of Christians, who were distinct from you, and yet lived in the Communion of the Catholike Church. I shewed you others also which lived and died in the bosome of the Roman Church, but as farre different in opinion from your now professed Faith, as those that went out from you. The first sort separated themselves from your Church and Doctrine, the latter continued in communion with you, but separated themselves from the errors of prevayling faction in your Church: the one sort you persecuted unto death, for the other you cut out their tongues for speak­ing truth.

But you are not of it (say you) since the time you have begun to be against it. And this you would inferre from Tertullian, That as out of the mild, fat, and profitable Olive, Tertull. de prae­scrip. c. 36. the sower bastard Olive grow­eth; so have errors fructified out of the true Church, but became wild by untruth and lying, degenerating from the graine of truth, and so not yours; and this doth fully answer the matter (say you.) Surely if you compare the true and fruitfull Olive to your selves, and us unto the bastard, and wild Olive, the matter (as you say) will be easily answered; but this is to beg the point in question, neither indeede can it be granted to you, without a sinne against the Holy Ghost. For the Spirit of God hath spoken it in particular to the Roman Church, that, Thou wert cut out of the Olive tree, which is wild by nature, Rom. 11.24. and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good Olive tree. Now if the haeresies and errors (which are compared to the wild Olive) have sprung out of that good Olive tree, into which you were first grafted, or if the wild Olive is now returned to its owne nature, I will say to you, as sometimes Diogenes said to the Philoso­pher, A me incipias, & erit verus sillogismus, let the wild Olive be applied to your Church (as it ought to be) and the comparison will redound upon your selves, and returne into your owne bosome.

From the Communion with your Church, you question the Antiquity and Vniversality of those points wherein you differ from us; and you would [Page 273] have me shew the deniall of them to have beene an­tiently and universally taught. Pag. 121.

Your demand to the first is unreasonable; For it is sufficient for us, that we professe that Faith which was once given to the Saints; besides, those new Articles which you thrust upon the Church, are wholly yours, and the proofe lies on your part to make good, as being properly your owne: on the other side, to shew the deniall of them to have bin anciently taught is unsensible; for the explicite deniall of them could not be taught till such Articles were offered and obtruded to us, but the implicite deniall we prove by the positive do­ctrines of the Ancient Fathers, which is incom­patible with your new additions and corrup­tions.

From the Doctrine in generall, you descend in­to the particulars; and you say, one of our Sacra­ments is an empty piece of Bread, and a sup of wine. Pag. 123. Hannibal of Carthage, Cicero de Ora­tore lib. 2. when he heard Phormio the Orator talke pleasantly a long while toge­ther, being afterwards demanded what he thought of his Eloquence, made answer in this homely sort; Multos se vidisse deliros senes, sed qui magis quàm Phormio deliraret, vidisse nemi­nem. I will leave the application to your selfe, and the interpretation to the Reader, because you say I cannot translate Latin.

Some truth or modesty I should gladly heare from you; but this is such an impudent Calumny, as Bellarmine himselfe would have beene ashamed [Page 274] to have heard it fall from the Pen of any learned Papalin; heare therefore what your owne men confesse of Calvin and others, and what we pro­fesse in the name of our Church. Your F. Kelli­son saith of Calvin, Kellis. Surney. lib. 4. cap. 5. p. mihi, 229. That if hee did meane as hee speaketh, hee would not dispute with him, but would shake hands with him, as with a Catholike. And then hee repeats Calvins words; I say that in the Mysterie of the Supper, by the signe of Bread and Wine, is Christ truly delivered, yea, and his Body and his Blood. And a little before those words, hee giveth the reason; Because, saith he, Christs words, [This is my Body] are so plaine, that unlesse a man will call God a deceiver, hee can never be so bold as to say, that hee setteth before us an emptie Signe. This is likewise Bellarmines confession of him;Bell. de Euch. lib. 1. cap. 1. Non ergo vacuum & inane signum, It is no vaine and empty signe. Thus you see your fellowes and you agree like Harpe and Harrow; you say it is an empty peece of Bread, they answer in Calvins behalfe and ours, that it is not an empty signe: Idem ibid. c. 8. Nay, saith Bellarmine, both Calvin and Oecolampadius, and Peter Martyr, doe teach the Bread is called Christs Body figuratively, as being a signe or figure of his body, but they adde withall, it is no bare (and empty) figure, but such as doth truely convey unto them the things signified thereby; Bilson in the difference be­twixt Subjecti­on, and Christi­stian Rebellion. Part 4. p. mihi, 779. for which truthes sake, Christ said not this Bread is a figure of my body, but it is my body.

To give you an instance in some of our Church; God forbid (saith our learned Bilson) wee should [Page 275] deny that the flesh and blood of Christ are truly pre­sent, and truly received of the Faithfull, at the Lords Table. It is the Doctrine that wee teach others, and wherewith wee comfort our selves. Wee never doubted but the Truth was present with the Signe, and the Spirit with the Sacrament, (as Cy­prian saith) Wee knew there could not follow an ope­ration, if there were not a presence before.

Neither doe I thinke you are ignorant of this, but that you have inured your selfe to falsities and reproaches. For it is apparently true, that the question in these dayes, is not of the truth of the presence, but of the manner: that is, whe­ther it be to the Teeth and the Belly, or Soule and Faith of the Receiver. And therupon our learned and Reverend B. Andrews returned his Answer to Bellarmine; Wee beleeve the presence, Wee beleeve, B. Andrew. ad Bell. Apol. Resp. c. 1. p. mihi 11. I say, the presence as well as you: concerning the man­ner of the presence, we doe not unadvisedly define; nay more, wee doe not scrupulously inquire, no more than wee doe in Baptisme, how the blood of Christ cleanseth us.

From the Sacraments; you procceed to our two and twentie Bookes of Canonicall Scripture, and indeed wee allow but two and twentie. But will any Catholike (say you) allow this to have been Catholike Doctrine?

Yes, without doubt, many good Catholikes did follow the Hebrew Canon of the Iewes, Orig sit which (saith Origen) compriseth but two and twentie bookes of the old Testament, accor­ding [Page 276] to the number of the letters among them.

Melito, Bishop of Sardis, was a Catholike, and (saith Bellarmine) hee did follow the Hebrew Ca­non of the Iewes. Bellar. de verbo Dei. l. 1 c. 20.

Hilar. in Pro­log. in Psal. explanat. Hilary, Bishop of Poictiers, was a Catholike, and he told us, The old Testament was contained in two and twentie bookes, according to the number of the Hebrew letters.

Cyril. Catechis. 4.S^t. Cyril, Bishop of Hierusalem, was a Catho­like, and hee gave us the like Lesson; Peruse the two and twentie books of the old Testament, but med­dle not with the Apochrypha.

Anthanas. in Synops. Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, was a Ca­tholike, and affirmes, that the Christians had a definite number of books comprehended in the Canon, which were two and twentie, equall to the number of the Hebrew letters.

Bellar. de verbo Dei. l. 1. c. 20. Ruffinus was a Catholike, and Bellarmine con­fesseth hee did follow the Hebrew Canon, which conteined our two and twentie books.

Naz. Carm. lamb. ad Se­leucum. lamb. 3. Gregory Nazianzen was a Catholike, and hee shewed to Seleucus, a Catalogue of the Canoni­call bookes, and hee cites the bookes in order from Genesis to Malachie, the last of the Prophets; and leaveth out all the Apochrypha.

Concil. Laod. cap. 59.The Fathers of the Councell of Laodicea were Catholikes: and in the 59^th Canon, they allow onely those two and twenty bookes for Canoni­call, which wee receive.

There are others whom you terme Catholikes; as namely, Damascene, Hugo de Sancto Victore, [Page 277] Lyranus, Hugo Cardinalis, Tostatus, Waldensis, Driedo, and Cajetan: all which differ from your Tenet of the Apochryphall bookes which are ca­nonized by your Trent Councell (such agree­ment is there amongst your best learned, touch­ing the greatest point of your Beleefe) and yet forsooth your Church cannot be depraved.

But here is one thing (say you) which giveth mee much cause of wonder; which is, that you talke of Traditions, as distinct from Scripture. I ever tooke you to be so fallen out with them, that you made the deniall of them a fundamentall point of your Re­ligion, that you would not indure the word Tradi­t [...]on; but alwaies translated, or rather falsified it into Ordinances. Thus you.

It is a true saying of the Heathen Orator;Cicero. Hee who once goeth beyond the bounds of Modestie, had need to be lustily impudent. I protest, I onely ter­med your Additions, Traditions; and you que­stion our Church, for false translating of the word. And cannot wee indure the word Tradi­tions? Doe not we allow of all the Apostolicall Traditions, which agree unto the Scriptures? Nay more, doe wee not translate the word Tra­ditions in the Scriptu [...]e, when the Text will beare it according to the Greeke originall? Looke up­on the fifteenth of Matthew, Matth. 15. v. 2, 3, 6. and in three seve­rall verses, 2, 3, 6. wee use the word Tradition. Looke upon the seventh of Marke, Marke 7. v. 3, 8, 9, 13. and in foure severall places of that chapter, y [...]u shall find likewise, wee translate Traditions. Looke upon [Page 278] Saint Paul to the Colossians, Galatians, and upon Saint Peter; Colos. 2.8. Galat. 1.14. 1 Pet. 1.18. and in all these, in the Translation joyned with your Rhemish Testament, you shall find the word Traditions. How may your Prose­lytes beleeve you another time, when you say, Wee alwaies translate it, or rather falsifie it into Ordinances?

For a conclusion of this Section; you say, that the three Creeds, the two Sacraments, the foure Generall Councels, the two and twenty books of Canonicall Scripture, We had them from you. Let it be your comfort then, that you had something in your Church which was worth the gleaning, after the devill had sowed the Tares amongst the good Corne. But I would not have you over­much confident of that neither; for originally wee had them from the Church Catholike, be­fore there was a Roman. For, the Gospell was preached in England before it was in Rome; and we had in England, a Christian Church and King, before Rome had a Christian Emperor, yea long before Poperie, or the name of Pope was heard of in the Christian world; (in the sense you now take it.) And in after Ages, when the Gospell of Christ was rooted out by Heathen persecutors (where it was first planted) it was afterwards re­planted by Preachers, partly sent from Rome, partly by the Greeke Church, but by neither was the Faith preached and restored; which your present Church now teacheth, and maintaineth at this day.

And lastly, if wee had the three Creeds, the two Sacraments, the 22. bookes of Canonicall Scripture, and the first foure Generall Councels from you, then you cannot deny that we teach the Ancient Faith, first given to the Saints; and that we had a Church visible long before Luthers dayes, (for those Tenents were sufficient of them­selves to make a glorious, and a visible Church in the first and best ages) they were received by succeeding Christians in all the later Ages, and are now become the Positive, and Affirmative Articles of our Beleefe, which for the greater part, were ever taught and received in the bosom of your owne Church. To shut up all your bitter Aspersions, of Corrupting, of Falsifying, of Ly­ing, of Lynding, and I know not what reproches, cast upon me in these first (8) Sections; I will shut up all, I say, which hitherto hath beene delivered by you, with that answer of Socrates to his accu­sers, before the Judges:Plato in Apolo­gia Socratis. My Lords (saith hee) in what sort your affections have been stirred with mine accusers eloquence which you heard them speake, I cannot tell. But well I wot, for mine owne part, I my selfe, whom it toucheth most, was almost perswaded to beleeve, that what they said was true, yea although it were against my selfe; so handsomly they can tell their tale, and so likely, and so smoothly they convey their maters: every word they spake, had appearance of Truth, and yet in good sooth, they have scarsely uttered one word of Truth.