A Retentive to Stay Good Christians, Title page · Motive 38 – Motive 41
The 38. motiue is the 24. demaund also the 48. and the 17.
Celebration & operation of Christes death. The sacrifice of Bristow. the masse. Priest…oode. VVhere Christ worketh. Only fayt…. Exorcising of deuills.
In the Popish churchis no celebration, but a derogation of the merite of Christs death, by the blasphemous Fulke.sacrifice of the masse. But Bristow in the 24. demaunde, asketh vsus whether we be content to trie religion by the Priesthood that hath bene frō; the beginning of Christs church. I answere that we must first consent of the name of Priest and Priesthoode, whereof also in the same demaunde he cauilleth, that we hauehave chaunged the name & therefore hauehave chaunged the order. The name I say of Priesthood & Priest must be cōsidered, either according to the Etymologie & deriuation, or els according to the present vse thereof. And according to the deriuation, we cōfesse yt this word Priest, cōming of the greeke word Presbyteros signifieth the same o…der, which is instituted by God, like as the word Bishop c…mming of Episcopus, for which if any man vse the name of Elder & superintendent, he varieth nothing in the worlde, from the signification of Presbyter and Episcopus, and much lesse setteth vp a new order as Bristow most vainly doth cauill. For in that sence, we abhorre not the name of Priest & Bishop. But when according to the present vse, this word Priest is takē for him which in greke is called foreign and in Latine Sacerdos that is one appointed to offer a special sacrifice for which our English tongue hath none other worde but Priest as Bristow doth well confesse: In this sence we deny that we hauehave any speciall Priesthoode or Priestes among vsus but the only Priesthoode and high Priest our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ, and the generall Priesthoode that is common to all the Saynctes of God. Apoc. 16. But in the former sence, we hauehave the same office of Bishoppe, Elder or Priest which being ordeyned by the holy Ghost, hath continewed in the church vntill this time. But this will Bristowe disproue, by two reasons. First that auncient Bishoppes and Priestes were made by Bishoppès and Priestes, and not by Kinges and Queenes: secondly they were made to offer sacrifice, and euen for the deade. Concerning the first it is true that the auncient Priestes were so ordeyned, but it is a most impudent slaunder, that we are made Bishoppes or Priests by Kinges or Queenes. For the worlde knoweth we are ordeyned by the Bishoppes and Elders of the church and not by the Prince. But that the auncient Bishoppes and Elders of the church since Christ, were ordeyned to offer sacrifice for the quicke and the dead, it is vtterly false. For albeit the auncient writers vnproperly vsed the names of Priest and sacrifice, yet did they neuer meane to set vp a newe Priesthoode or sacrifice, to ouerthrowe the only true Priesthode and sacrifice of Christes death as in many places of their writinges most manifestly doth appeare, but only they did continew a memory of the sacrifice of Christes death in the celebration of the Lordes supper Chris. ad Heb. cap. 10. Hom. 17. and a sacrifice of prayse and thankesgeuing August. De ciuit. Dei. lib. 10. cap 6. Hoc est sacrificium Christianorum multi vnum corpus sumus in Christo: quod etiam Sacramento altaris fidelibus noto frequentat ecclesia, vbi ei demonstratur quod in ea oblatione quam off…rt ipsa offeratur. This (sayth Augustine speaking of the sacrifice of thankesgeuing) is the sacrifice of Christians, we being many are one bodie in Christ, which thing also the church frequenteth in the Sacrament of the altar well knowne to the faithfull, where it is shewed vntounto her, that in the same oblation which she offereth, she her selfe is offered. Likewise cap. 20. speaking of the sacrifice of Christes death he sayth. Per hoc & Sacerdos est, ipse offerens, ipse & oblatio. Cuius rei sacramentum quotidianum esse voluit ecclesiae sacrificium, cum ipsius corporis ipse sit caput, & ipsius capitis ipsa sit corpus, tam ipsa per ipsum quam ipse per ipsam suetus offerri. By this also he is a Priest, he him selfe offering and he him selfe being the oblation. Of which thing he would hauehave the dayly sacrifice of the church to be a Sacrament, seeing that of her beinge his bodie he is the heade, and of him being her heade she is the bodie, as well she by him, as he by her, being accustomed to be offered. So that the errour of praying for the deade which preuayled within three hundreth yeares after Christ, was at the first, without blasphemie of sacrificing the bodye of Christ for the quicke and the deade. In this foure and twentie demaunde Bristowe as keth further whether in the auncient Church there were not Subdeacons, Acolytes, Exorcistes, dore keepers &c. I aunswere there were such offices, appoynted for ayde of diuerse partes of the ministerie, whereof the Papistes reteyne only the names, without any exercise of the offices. And the offices were suche for the most parte, as were proper for the tyme of persecution, and as they had no instruction of the worde of God but were ordeyned by the Church, so by the Church they are thought vnnecessarie. In the forty eight demaunde which is a parte of this motiue, he asketh whether their Church only hath not grace in her Sacramentes, merite in her workers, force in her worde, power in her teaching, her children the saddest sorte of people, men of best order in families, townes, and cities, &c. I aunswere, the Popish Church hath no Sacraments but such as she falsely vsurpeth, namely the Sacrament of baptisme, which as Augustine sayth against the Donatistes, may be geuen out of the true Church, but hath no vertue or grace but in the true Church. As for merite of workes is blasphemous agaynste the merciemercy of God. Vnde mihi tantum meriti est (sayth Ambrose Ad virgin. exhort.) cui indulgentia pro coronaest. Whence shoulde I hauehave so great merite seeing merciemercy is my crowne. And touching force of her worde and power of her teaching, if there were not greater terrour of her tyrannie and allurement in her worldly glorie she shoulde hauehave fewer partakers. For except the efficacie of errour which God hath sent for the punishment of the vnbeleeuing worlde, she hath no power of the worde of God, nor of his holy spirite, to conuert the hearts of men to Christe, but externall intisements like Mermaydes songes, to seduce men to their destruction. And as for her Children the Papists, although some bee more modest then the reste, as ther be euen among the Turkes and Heathen, none ate more light, vaine, disordered, proude, proude, deceitfull, couetous, worldly, luxurious, malicious, and cruell, not onelyonly at Rome, and abrode, where they bee in their ruffe, but euen heere in Englande, where they hauehave not all their will. I except a fewe, which beeing deceiued, not of malice but of ignoraunce, God in time may bring to the knowledge of the trueth, if they be not dissemblers and seeke by all meanes to absent themselues from it.
Furthermore how e maliciously he slaundereth the Church of God let God himselfe reuenge, where hee sayth, we hauehave no preaching of Penaunce, no grace in sacramentes, nothing but sinne in good woorkes, although they be doone in Christe. No power to bringe vnderunder Deuils, no blessing, no comforte, yea that all followers bee they neuer so wicked and flagitious, hauehave they onelyonly fayth and no doubte, they shall bee saued. And yet the forgetfull Lyer confesseth afterwarde, that wee affirme that true fayth cannot bee without true and perfect doctrine, nor without good woorkes.
But what Fayth doe you preach or teach (sayth Bristowe) Not that Christian fayth which is conteyned in the Articles of our Creede, but a speciall Fayth, or an vudoubted perswasion that hee is predestinate. How soeuer therefore it bee that Bristowe is disposed for to lye and rayle, they that either heare our Sermons or reade our Bookes of Iustification by Faith onelyonly, doe knowe that wee teach none other Faith by which a manne may bee iustifyed, but euen that Faith, which is onelyonly contayned in the Articles of our Creede. The very firste woorde whereof I beleue, teacheth not the implicite faith of the papists, but a speciall and singular faith and truste that euerye Christian man must hauehave in God the father and in Iesus Christ, which was conceiued, borne, deade, risen againe, &c. for vsus, and in the holy Ghoste, by whome the vertue of Christes conception, natiuirie, suffring, death, resurrection, and assention, is communicated to vsus, beeing members of the Catholike church, in which we receiue forgiuenes of sinnes, and thereby beeing made righteous, wee receiue the rewarde of righteousnesse, which is the resurrection vntounto glory, and the life euerlasting, which was prepared for vsus before the world was made, which faith no blasphemous heretikes can hauehave, that deny any of these Articles, what perswasion soeuer they hauehave, wc faith the Papists hauehave not, which neuer put their trustin God by Iesus Christe, but in their owne woorkes &c, nor yet hauehave any certaintie of their saluation, whereas all they that truely put their trust in God, shall not be confounded. From which faith the Papists are so farre, that they think it not conuenient that the people should know and rehearse the articles of the Creede in the mother toung, although nowe of late, they hauehave set foorth English cathechismes, as Apes of the true Church, not that their Disciples might hauehave more knowledge, seing they hold that ignorance is the mother of Deuotion, but that they see they cannot though for shame they would conceale this knowledge from them. And when they cannot hinder them of the knoweledge of the Articles of faith, howe I pray you doe they teach them to beleeue them? Euen with an historicall faith, which is none others then such as the deuill beleeueth, namely that there is one God, that Iesus Christe was borne, crucyfied, ascended into Heauen &c.
In the 17. Demaunde he asketh vsus whether we reade not that the Christians of the Primitiue church, had an ordinary power and office to cast out diuels, which we acknowledge that we hauehave not, but the Papistes hauehave. To this I aunswere, that in the Primitiue church were diuerse giftes of healing, casting out of Deuils & working of miracles, which were temporall, and are long since ceased to be ordinary, and therefore wee doe in deede confesse that we hauehave no such ordinary power. Neither doe we beleue that the papists hauehave any such, what iugling or counterfaiting of miracles soeuer is among them, their forgery hath to often beene tryed to their shame.
To conclude, our Church hath Christ and his spirit, and therefore all graces & blessings whatsoeuer Christ hath promised to be perpetuall in the same, to the saluation of his elect and the glory of his name.
The 39. motiue is in parte contayned in the 48. demaund.
Teaching the narrowe way, and liuing after it. VVho be Bristow. nowe followers of Protestants. VVhy there bee so many …itheisti in England. England beware of destruction.
The doctrine of Purgatory and satisfaction of Gods Fulke.wrath by workes of our owne or of other mens. The doctrine of pardons, the doctrine of Grace giuen by sacraments, Exopere operato. The sacrifice of the masse &c. are doctrines that teach the brode way leading vntounto destruction, while they bring men into securitie and confidence in vaine helpes. And that is the cause that Papists and Popes themselues of all other hauehave beene and are the most wicked. The number of Atheists that are in England are not made, but discerned by the preaching of the Gospel. And yet neither are there so many nor so impudent professors of Atheisme in England, as there be in Italie and euen in Rome it selfe. Where the Pope hath beene condemned in generall councell for an Atheist, as Iohn the 23. in the councell of Consta…s. Where Pope Leo counteth the Gospell for a fable of Christ. Pope Iuly will eate hogges fleshe in despight of God.
The sinnes I confesse of England are greate, and such as call to God for vengeance without heartie repentance, and the greatest sinne is ingratitude in the multitude, refusing sincerly to imbrace the Gospell, and in other hypocrisie which abusing the name of the Gospell, hauehave an outwarde shewe of godlynesse, but deny the power thereof. Yet is there bothe in the state (whiche Bristowe moste traitorously doth slaunder) and in the Church of England, yea in the Realme of Englande, more sinceritie, fidelitie, honestie, Charitie, humilitie, Chastitie, and godlinesses, and lesse Athesme, infidelitie, crueltie, pride, ryote, whoredome, swearing and fo…swearing, Couetousnesse, sacriledge, and all manner of wickednesse, more I say of vertue and lesse of vice in England at this time, then is or hath beene at any time with in those fiue hundred yeeres in Rome or Italie. So that if a Booke were made as Bristow seemeth to threaten of the behauiour of the worst and moste counterfaite Protestantes in Englande, yet shall it neuer bee founde so vile and abhominable as are the lyues of the moste of the Popes themselues, set foorth not by Protestants in our dayes, but by all popish storyes before we were borne.
The 40. motiue hath no speciall demand aunsvvering to it.Bristow.
Obedient subiects. In what Church is Christianitie of all lawes which was Sainct Augustines Motiue. Obedience of the Catholikes to their superiours bothe ecclesiastieall and temporall Protestantes be malignours of higher powers.Fulke.
If this Motiue had beene sette foorth before the Rebellion in the North, or if so many trayterouse practises from Rome hadd not beene openly discouered peraduenture Bristowe might hauehave moued some mountaines by it.
But nowe Quis tulerit Gracchum de seditioue loquent…m? Who canne abide the Papistes to bragge of Obedience? Yet both the ciuill Lawe and the common Lawe of Englande are made to serue popishe Religion, if wee will beleeue Bristowe. God bee thanked they bothe serue the Church of God not onelyonly in Englande, but in all other Realmes and states that hauehave embraced the Gospell, the ciuill and municipall Lawes, without any alteration of the state, saue for the aduancement of Gods glory.
But Protestants hee sayth, bee Maligners of the higher powers, such as Sainct Iude calleth contemners of Lordeshippe, and blasphemers of Maiestie. Or else the Papistes be such in that blasphemouse Bull, for which Felton was hanged, in which are so vile opprobrious and contumelious slanders of our Prince, that for her honour and my dueties sake, I will not vouchsafe to name them.
Hee obiecteth vntounto vsus Knoxes Booke against the regement of women, which was but his priuate opinion and condemned of all our Church, and of the Churche of Geneua also. Hee obiecteth the ciuill warres in Fraunce, in which the Kinges themselues hauehave alwayes in publique instrumentes discharged the Protestants of all disloyaltie, and acknowledged that whatsoeuer they did in taking Armes, they did it in the seruice of them and of their Realme. As for the murdering of great Personages, Wasting of Cities and Countries &c. the worlde knoweth whether partie is chargeable with the crime. And to seeke no farther proues of the trayterous and disobedient heartes of all wicked and pernitiouse Papistes…, Bristow him selfe confesseth in this motiue, that they be duely discharged from subiection and the Prince from dominion by the soueraigne authoritie of the common Paster of Religion.
But where in the Deuils name, hath your soueraigne Pastor and Prelate of Rome, such authoritie? From Peter? Did Peter discharge the subiectes of Nero from subiection, or Nero from his gouernment, although he were a moste wicked persecutor of the Church, or rather doth he not commaund all persons to obey him. 1. Pet, 2. 14. & 17. O trayterous hypocrites, which hauehave made all whole, whē you pray for the Princes conuersion, so deposed by your Pope. The Lord our God defende our soueraigne, as well from your prayers as from your practises. Another argument of your obedience, you shew, where you saye, that of Catholikes, throughly discharged of their fealtic, yet for common humanitie, for their accustomed vse, for their cōtinuall & (as it were) naturall institution, the prince is better obeyed and scrued, then of the Protestants, which in heart are in a manner all Puritants. Note heere that Papists professe them selues to be subiects of curtesie, not of dutie, of custome, not of conscience, of naturall institution, not of the lawe of God. Our Lord and sauiour send her maiestie few such subiects and seruants.
The 41. motiue is the 19. demaund.
The Church to which Princes doe homage.Bristow.
The true Catholike church of Christ, is that church of which it was prophecied, that Kinges and Queenes Fulke.shoulde be the nurse thereof, and as obedient children doe homage thereto, as to the mother of all the faithfull. To this church the olde and first Christianed Emperours, Constantius, Iouianus, Theodosius, Valentinianus &c. submitted them selues as obedient children. To this church at this day many Kinges and Queenes doe homage, and are nurses thereof, as the Princes of England, Scotland, Denmarke, Sueuon, Saxonie. But Bristow obiecteth against vsus, yt our Princes are not taught obedience to the Church, but truely seduced by the title of heade and supreme gouernours of the Church. To this I aunswere that this title of headshippe and gouernaunce of particular Churches, is none other, but such as they may and ought to holde, with their obedience vntounto the vniuersall Church. Yea their gouernment is such, as therein they serue God and the Church, in compelling by lawe and authoritie, all persons to doe their duties as well in religion, as in ciuill affayres: Not an antichristian tyranny, such as the Pope vsurpeth to be Lords ouer our faith, and to make Articles of Religion at their pleasure, but to prouide that all thinges may be doone according to the word of God.
But Bristow replyeth that it was not the Popish church vntounto whome Constantine and the rest of the Christian Emperours yeelded vp the imperiall Cittie of Rome, with all the countrie of Italie. What an impudent lye this is, may easely be knowen of all them, which hauehave read the historyes which testifie that the Emperors of Constantinople receiued possession in Rome and Italy vntill the time of Charles the great, which was made Emperour by the Pope. In the demaunde Bristowe asketh if the first Christian Emperonrs, Constantinus, Theodosius, were not in all pointes of the popishe Religion? I answere that although they were infected with a few errors, as prayer for the deade &c, yet in the substance of Christian Religion, they beleeued the same that wee beleeue of Iustification by faith, onelyonly of the vertue of Christes sacrifice once offred for all, of the authoritie of the holy Scriptures, and were enemies to the Papistes in their chiefe Principle, of the Popes supremacie, the carnall presence, transubstantiation, priuate Masse, Communion in one kinde, Images, Prayers in vnknowen language, and many other.
As for the lycence that Bristowe woulde hauehave vsus procure for them, to appeare with vsus before the Queenes highnesse, to dispute whether the firste Christian Emperors were not altogither Papists? is nothing else but a popishe bragge, whiche if it were procured they would delude the whole purpose with such Cauillations, as they did in the Conference offered vntounto them at Westminster, in the firste yeere of her Maiesties raigne: where after they had hearde our side once reade their Booke, they were so discouraged, that they durst abide no more tryall, but shamefully and obstiantely cleane gaue ouer the conference.