Two Treatises Against the Papists, Article rebutted 29 – Book 1
The 29. article conteyneth 8. demandes.
1 Let any Protestant in the worlde, proue vntounto me, that their church coulde rightly be called Catholike, which was so particular, that no man aliue coulde name a place where any such church was.
WHy might not our Church, when it was most hidden, be as rightly called Catholike, as the Church of the Apostles, when it was so particular, that it was cōteined in the narrow bondes of Iury: for it is not called Catholike, because it shoulde be eueryevery where, for that it neuer was nor shalbe: But because that where so euer it be, in partes, it is one body of Christ. The Popish church is not in eueryevery parte of the worlde: For Mahomets sect is in the greatest parte. Many cuntries are Idolaters and the most parte of them that professe the name of Christ, are not in the felowship of the Popish church: And whereas you saye: that no man aliue coulde name the place where it was, you make an impudent lye: For although it were vnknowen, to the Papistes, and enemies thereof, yet was it knowen to the true members therof. It was in Italie, whē Marsilius of Padua, preached: in France, when VValdo preached at Lyons, and there about. In England, when VVickliffe taught: in Bohemia, when Iohn Hus, and Ieronyme of Prage did florishe.
2 Or that it might be called holy, which neuer had Baptisme, or other sacramentes, to sanctifie any of her followers withall.
IT had the spirite of God to sanctifie the true members of it, and it had sacramentes to testifie the same: Also did not the Bohemians baptise: Were not pauperes de Lugduno baptised? &c. But if you count their Baptisme no Baptisme, why did you not rebaptize in Queene Maries time, all those that were baptized by our Church in King Edwards time?
3 Or that it should be one, which as soone as it grew vp in the world, was diuided into so many sundry sectes.
NOne of vsus will graunt you, that our Church began first to grow, when it was last brought to light, and knowledge of the world: for it hath continued euen since Christ. But if there arose, or were renewed many heresies, with it, that is no new matter, but an olde practise of the deuill. For as soone as the Church of Christ beganne to grow vp after his ascension, euen in the Apostles time, there were many sectes and heresies, As the Iewes that mainteyned the lawe, they that denyed the Resurrection among the Corinthians Hymenaeus and Philetus, Simon Magus, Cerinthus, Ebion, Marcion, Basilides, Valentinus, Carpocrates, &c. So that there were many more heresies, at the first preaching of the Gospell, in, and immediatly after, the Apostles time, then at the last restoring of the publike preaching therof vntounto the worlde in our dayes: And yet the Apostolike Church was one Church, and so is ours at this day one and the same.
4 Or that it might be called Apostolike, which could neuer coūt by orderly succssion from any Apostle, or Apostolike man.
YOu are neuer able to answere the arguments that are brought to proue that Peter was neuer Bishoppe at Rome. And then where is all your braggs of Apostolike sea, and succession, &c. But be it that Peter was there, except you proue succession of doctrine and faith as wel as succession of men, your successiō is not worth a straw. And our Church, which holdeth all the doctrine of the Apostles, and none other but the doctrine of the Apostles, shall be truely called, and founde, the Apostolike Church, when your with all her succession of Antichristes whore, whoremongers, heretikes, Sodomites, blasphemers, coniurers, &c. shabe Apostaticall, rather than Apostolicall.
5 Or the secret, base, contemptible, defaced, and disordered Congregation, was euer of that maiestie, that it might require the obedience of all Nations.
HOw base, and contemptible soeuer it be, in the eyes of the wicked despisers of it: yet did it not only require, but also subdue all nations to the obedience of the Faith, so many as were euer subdued, in the dayes of the first Christian Emperors, and before. And sence, when it was most defaced by the tyrannie of Antichrist, it was of such maiestie, that it both required and obteined the obedience of the realme of Bohemia, and in processe of time, hath obteined the obedience of almost all the nations of Europe. If the churche of Rome reteine the like maiestie, why doth it not now, requier the like obedience of all nations, both Christians and Turkes. you will saye: It requireth, but it can not obteine. Euen so, I aunswere of our Church, it hath alwayes bene worthy to requier: but it hath not pleased God, that it shoulde alwaies obteine.
6 Or that it was euer able to gather generall Councels.
THe foure best generall Councells were gathered by our Church, and the Emperors, that were defenders of the same, and not by the byshops of Rome. Neither were they Presidentes in them, as it is manifest, that other men were Authors of the Canons, or distinctions: As of the Nicene, Alexander Bishop of Constantinople of the Constantinopolitane. Nectarius byshop of the Ephesine. Cyrillus byshop of Alexandria of the Chalcedonense. Anatolius of Constantinople &c. and in other generall Councells where the bishop of Rome was president, I aunswere as Iohn Patriarche of Antioche did, in the Councell of Basile, his presidence was: Honoraria ad beneplacitum Concilij eis data: non authoritatiua, nisi ex concessione aut permissione habente vim concessionis aut ex tolerantia, that is: For honor sake graunted to them so long as it shoulde please the Councell, and not of authority but either by graunt or permission being of the force of a graunt or els of sufferance. And I conclude as he doth, the Pope was neuer President either of honor, or of authority, but by the graunt or permission of the Councell. And how is the Popish church able to gather general Councells at this daye? who will come at her calling? Except a few Spaniardes, and a ioly company of buckram bishops of Italie? generall Councells of all the worlde, can neuer be gathered, but either whē there is a Monarchie, or els (which is not to be looked for) that all the Princes of the worlde, will consent together.
7 Or exercise Discipline.
BEcause this demande hath bene aunswered so often before, I will saye the lesse nowe. The free course of discipline, in time of persecution may be hindred: As it was in S. Cyprians time, when the members of the Church be dispersed: but the power of discipline, hath alwayes remained, and when occasion serued, bene executed: As the Bohemians, excommunicated the Adamites, and the ciuill Magistrates punished them by the sworde.
8 Or that these names, proper by scripture and Doctors of the true Church, coulde be euer chalenged, by any right to their saide Congregation.
AS many of these names as are proper to the Church by scripture, or Doctors agreeing, with scripture, hauehave bene alwayes iustly chalenged of right to perteine to our Church and Congregation.
I meane these:
1 Corpus Christi.
OVr Church doth rightly chalenge, to be the body of Christ, which acknowledgeth Christ to be her only head, Sauiour, Redeemer, Priest, King, Intercessor. &c. The Popishe church can not chalenge this name, because she doth not acknowledge Christ to be theese only and wholly.
2 Sponsa Christi.
THe spouse of Christ, heareth the voice of Christ, and is ruled thereby, so doth our Church, therefore she is spouse of Christ. But the Romish church goeth a whoringe after her owne inuentions, committeth grosse idolatry, and will in no wise be ruled only by the voice of Christ, there she is not the spouse of Christ.
3 Vencidilecta Christo.
HOwe tenderly Christ loueth his Church, the true members thereof, which hauehave receiued the first frutes of his spirit, do better vnderstand in hart thā can be expressed with words, & howe he abhorreth the whore of Babylon the Romishe Synagoge, the Scripture doth plentifully declare.
4 Columba speciosa.
OVr Church, expressing the simplicitie of a fayer doue, may iustly chalenge this name: But the Babylonicall Strompet your church, in crafte and subtilitie, is more like a foxe than a doue.
5 Domus Dei.
THe true Church, in which we are, is the house or familie of God, which he gouerneth by his stewardes, the sincere preachers of his word. The popish church is the Synagoge of Satan, where the preaching of God his word is despised, and the word it selfe, made subiect to mens determinations and authorities.
6 Columna veritatis.
SAinct Paule by this title doth admonish Pastors, and Preachers, how great a burthen and charge they susteyne, that the truth of the Gospell can not be continued in the world, but by their ministerie in ye church of God, which is the piller and stay of truth, this their duety true preachers considering, are diligent in their calling to set forth the Gospell and to preach the truth. But the popish church, which is not the vpholder, and mainteyner, but the ouerthrower & oppressor of the truth, compelling it to giuegive place to falshood and error, can by no equitie chalenge this name, to be called the piller and stay of truth, but rather of falshood and lyes.
7 Ciuitas Dei.
OVr Church is the citie of God, builded vponupon the foundations of the Patriarkes, Prophets, and Apostles, Iesus Christ being the head corner stone: ruled by the lawes of God onelyonly, reteyning that forme of regiment and common wealth, that Christ him selfe hath prescribed. The Church of Antichrist, is founded vppon seuen hilles, Apoc. 17. vponupon the traditions, dreames, phantasies, and deuises of men, refuseth to be ruled onelyonly by the lawes of God, hath cleane altered and changed the forme of regiment prescribed by God, & set vp an other, full of Antichristian pride, crueltie, and tyrannie. Therefore in no wise may be called the citie of God, But Babylon the mother of fornication, Sodoma and Egypt, where our Lord is daily crucified in his members.
8 Ciuitas supra montem posita.
THis saying of our Sauiour Christ in the 5. of Mathew, is not properly meant of the Church, but of the Apostles & their successors the ministers of ye Church, euen as these sayinges: You are the salte of the earth, you are the light of the worlde, A citie builded vppon an hill can not be hidden, neither is a candle lighted to be set vnderunder a bushell. By which wordes, he teacheth them aboue all other men, to looke diligently to their life and conuersation: for as they excell in place and dignitie, so the eyes of all men are set vppon them. As a citie builded vppon an hill, must needes be seene of all them that come neare it, so they being placed in so high an office and dignitie shall be noted and marked aboue all other men. As a candle is not lighted but to be set on a candlesticke & to giuegive light vntounto all them that come into the house, euen so a Minister and Preacher of God his word is not ordeyned for any other ende but that he should shine before men in true doctrine and good maners. Hereby it appeareth how fondly some Papists would seeme to proue out of this place that the Church must alwayes be visible, when the wordes are not applyed to the Church, but to the ministers thereof, I know some of the doctors expound this place otherwise, but the context of the wordes doth plainely confute their error.
9 Hortus conclusus.
AS a gardē or orchard walled in or inclosed with hedges, is more estemed of the owner, thē great broad fieldes, and the trees and flowers that growe therein are preserued and kept more safely, then such as are wilde and grow abroad, right so the Church of Christ seuered from the rest of ye world, though it be small in compasse, yet is it more estemed of him then all the world beside. But the Church of Rome, which will not be enclosed with the walls or hedges of God his word, but wandreth at large after her owne inuentions, can not be called the inclosed garden of Christ.
10 Fons signatus,
THe true Church of Christ is also compared to a spring or founteine, which is shutte in or sealed vppe from the prophane waters of worldly vanities, ministring the water of life to all the children of God. But as for the popish church, which ishueth out of the bottomles lake, is a stincking puddle of all false doctrine and heresie, whereof the whore beareth a cupp full. Apoc. 17. out of which all nations hauehave dronk, Apoc. 18. So farre is it, that she should be a well, sealed vp by Christ.
11 Sponsa Agni.
THe description of the Spouse of the Lambe, set forth in S. Iohns Reuelation, doth in all pointes most aptly agree vntounto our holy Church and congregation. But the popish church, which is not content to be clothed in that white shining silke, which is the Iustificatiō of Saincts made white in the blood of the Lambe, but with the filthy ragges of mans righteousnes, Esay 64. is no Spouse of Christ, but the darling of the deuill.
12 Mulier amicta Sole.
NO place in all the scripture doth more plainely set forth the estate of our Church than this 12. of the Apocalyps. She is clothed with the sunne of righteousnesse Iesus Christ, which is her bewtie. She treadeth vnderunder her feete, the Moone of mutabilitie, changeablenesse, and inconstancie, she is crowned with 12. starres, which is the doctrine of the 12. Apostles, the worde of God. She is alwaies fruitefull, and persecuted by the deuill and his members, but yet by Christ defended, protected, and prouided for in all daungers and aduersities. But the church of Rome, is that whore of Babylon clothed in purple and scarlet, golde, precious stones, and perles, described Apoc. 17. sitting vponupon the beast with seuen heades, which are the seuen hilles, and is the great cytie that had dominion ouer the kinges of the earth.
13 Habitatio fratrum in vnum.
ALthough this saying be not proper nor peculiar vntounto the Church onelyonly, but common to eueryevery societie and fellowship of men that continue in godly vnity, yet doth it most aptly agree vntounto our Church, which holdeth one vnity of doctrine, faith, and religion of Christ. But the Popish church how so euer it bragge of vnity, because their agreement is not in verity, can not be that cohabitation of brethren, which the Psalmist doth so highely commende.
14 Mons Dei mons pinguis.
THe hill which Dauid so extolleth Psal. 68. is the mount Zyon, which though it be small, yet it excelleth the high and frutefull hill of Basan, because God had chosen it to place his tabernacle therupon: euen so the church of Christ, though it surmount not ouer kingdomes in worldly dignities and commodities, yet to such as Dauid was, the litle hill of Zyon is more worth, than all the seuen hilles of Rome.
15 Sacra anchora.
IN all the Scripture the Church is not compared to an holy Anchore, but in the sixt to the Hebrues Fayth in God his promises, is compared vntounto a sure & stedfast Anchore of our soules, vponupon which Faith seeing our Church is builded we may truely say that in our Church only is this sure anchore, which the popish church doth so much despise that she counted it heresie for vsus to flie vntounto Fayth, tanquam ad sacram anchoram, that is: As to our only sure refuge.
16 Vinea Domini.
THe Vineyard of the Lorde is of his owne plantinge, dressed & tilled by such husbandmen, as he hath placed in it, which will yeelde him frute in time conuenient. This agreeth aptly vntounto our Church, which alloweth no plant, but such as is planted by our heauenly Father. This Vineyarde cā not the popish church be compted, which plucketh vppe the vines planted by God, and in the steede of them setteth thornes and thistles after the deuises of men.
17 Terra viuentium.
THe land of the lyuing in scripture signifieth this present life, as: I trusted to see the goodnesse of the Lorde in the lande of the lyuing. that is: Although I was neare death, yet I beleued that God woulde preserue me in this life Psal. 27. And vntounto Doeg, he sayeth: Psal. 52. God shall destroy thy roote out of the lande of the lyuing. that is: Out of this life. Also Ezechias, in his psalme. Esay. 38. I shall not see the Lorde, euen the Lorde in the lande of the lyuing. that is: I shall no more praise God in his temple here in this life. And when you shall bring forth a place of scripture where it is proprely applied vntounto the church, it shalbe an easie matter to proue that we onelyonly are the liuely members of Christ, which abide in his body receuing all benefites of life from him which is our heade: And easie it wilbe to proue that you are the lande of the deade men, which are strangers from the life of God Ephes. 4. which are aliue in this worlde and not deade vntounto Christ.
18 Regina in vestitu de aurato circundata varietatibus.
ALthough this saying alleaged out of the 45. Psalme, be figuratiuely ment of the church, as it is literaly spoken of Pharaos doughter whom Solomon maried: yet being alleaged not after the trueth of the Hebrue but after the error of the olde translation, I will not interprete it contrarie to my conscience (as S. Ieronym …ayeth) according to that corrupt version but according to the trueth of the text, which is: The Queene in a garment of golde of Ophir, As for compassing with varieties, it is not in the text. By this figure the spirituall magnificence of the church of Christ gathered of the Gentiles is set forth vntounto vsus, and therefore let not the Papistes dreame that material golde is the ornament of Christ his spouse, but as it is before sayed, of the whore of Babylon.
19 Ecclesia magna.
20 Populus grauis.
DAuid in the 35. Psalme promiseth that he will geue thankes vntounto God after his deliuerance, in a great companie and solemne assemblie of people, such as was wont to come together at the holy meetings in the Sanctuarie. This is the true and the simple meaning of this text. And it were to violent an interpretation to inforce it to be a prophesie of the church of Christ, although it be true that the church is a great congregation and a mighty people, yet remembring therewith that in comparizon of all the worlde it is as Christ him selfe calleth it: A litle Flocke.
21 Archa Noe.
IN the Arch of Noe, as S. Peter testifieth 1. Pet. 3. but a fewe, namely 8. soules were saued in the water, euen as many as were obedient vntounto the voice of God, the whole worlde beside were drowned. Wherefore how fewe soeuer we be: As the Papistes say we are not many, so long as we obey the voice of God, we doubt not but we shalbe saued in the Arch. And the Papistes with all their vniuersality and multitude, despising the lawe of God, shall perishe with the wicked worlde.
22 Tabernaculum altissimi.
THe old Tabernaecle was a figure of the true Church, and we know that none shall dwell therein but such as be described in the Psal. 15. Therefore let the Papistes bragge as long as they list of the Tabernacle of the highest, yet shall they not dwell there, neither shall they rest in his holy hill, because they be not indued with such vertues, springing of true, and a liuely faith: As in that Psalme be set forth.
23 Ager & area Dei.
THe church is the feelde and flower of God, in his feelde he soweth none but good seede, & the chaffe shalbe purged from his flower. The Papistes are some of these tares, whome the enuious man hath sowed while men were a sleepe, and the chaffe, which after it be purged from the corne together with the tares shalbe burned in the vnquencheable fire.
24 Mater fidelium.
IErusalem that is from aboue is free, which is the mother of vsus all, which embrace Iesus Christ as our onelyonly Redemer from the bondage and curse of the lawe. As for that steppe mother of Rome which bringeth men into captiuitie through ceremonies and traditions of men: Begetteth vntounto bondage as Agar did, and is become the mother, not of the faithfull, but of abhominable fornication Apocalip. 17.
25 Nutrix Christianorum.
THe church of Christ is the Nurse of Christiās, which bringeth them vp and feedeth them first with milke, and afterwarde with stronger meates according as they are able to receue it 1. Cor. 3. Heb. 6. But Rome, which feedeth her babes with poyson of mans traditions in steede of the milke of God his word, & will rather see them famish than they shoulde taste of God his worde, maye well be a nurse of Antichristians, but neuer did good vntounto Christians.
26 Ecclesia orthodoxa.
TRue opinions are confirmed out of the worde of trueth, wherefore our church which holdeth no doctrine, but such as is tried by the worde of truth most truly may be called the true beleuing church. Contrarywise, the Popish church which so manifestly dissenteth from the worde of trueth that she dare not be iudged thereby, but most blasphemously submitteth the same to her corrupt and false iudgement, maye iustly be called a false beleeuing church.
27 Vna, Sancta, Catholica.
28 Apostolica.
THis hath bene often proued before: And namely in the first, second, third, and fourth demandes of this last Article.
29 Vxor de latere Christi sicut Eua de latere Adam.
AS S. Augustine sayeth: The church of Christ is taken out of his side: as Eue was out of Adams side, which so long as she obeyeth the voice of her …usbande, is not deceiued by the serpēt: But if she be absent from him, that she be not instructed by him, she is deceiued by heretikes Augusti. De Genes. contra Manichaeos libro. 2. cap. 24. & 26. by which place of Augustine it is proued that the Church may erre, if she be not ruled by the worde of God.
30 Domus Pacis.
THe church may be called the house of Peace, because there is in it Peace and agreement in the cheefest Articles of the Faith, or because in it is taught vsus the Peace and reconciliation wrought by Christ, whereby we knowing that we are iustified by faith, hauehave peace with God. Rom. 5. But neither of these Peaces are in the church of Rome: for there is dissention in doctrine and their doctrine dissenteth from the truth: as for the peace of conscience is altogether vnknowen vntounto Papistes, euen as the iustification of Faith, by which onelyonly it is obteined.
31 Domus Refugij.
THe house of Refuge or defence may also be applied to the Church, out of which is no saluation: And in whose bosome it becōmeth eueryevery man to rest, which shall looke for the refuge and defence of God. But God forbidde that any man should seeke for refuge or helpe at your church, which must be ouerthrowen with such violence as a great mylstone that is cast into the Sea, and shalbe founde no more Apoc. 18.
32 Domus Veritatis.
AS our church is the piller and staie of trueth, so is she also the house of Trueth, which knoweth nothing but him that is the Trueth it selfe Iesus Christ and his most holy Scripture: In which this trueth is signed and testified. But your Synagoge is the house of lyes, where beside mens doctrines and traditions which are nothing but lyes, there be also leaden legendes of lyes, Promptuaries of lyes, Festiuals of lyes, and other infinite bookes of lyes.
33 Societas Sanctorum.
HOw shoulde not our Church be the societie and fellowship of Sainctes, which is sanctified and purged by the bloode of Christ, which hath receiued the spirite of sanctification, by which we crie: Abba, Father, which is guided and gouerned by the most sacred and holy worde of God. And how can the Popish church be the fellowship of Sainctes, when she refuseth the sanctification of Christ his one oblation and sacrifice, as sufficient to make them perfect, which scorneth at the spirite of sanctification, which can abide any thing, rather than to be directed onelyonly by God his holy worde: Finally which acknowledgeth no sainctes, but such as the most vnholy Pope, for money doth canonize and make sainctes.
Proue vntounto me therefore that these excellent and propre callinges, can agree to any disordered companie or Congregation, or to any vnknowen society of men: but onelyonly to the true Church of Christ spred throughout the whole worlde by Christes his promise, and by vertue of his spirit, continued in truth and grace from falshood sence Christes time, and I recant.
AS many of these excellent names, as in the worde of God, or the doctors agreeing with the worde of God, are propre or perteyning to the true Church of Christ, so many hauehave I proued to be propre and perteyning to our most holy and well ordered Congregatiō. And moreouer that they can in no wise be rightly applied to that most abhominable, Idolatrous, and disordered Synagoge of Rome, which is vtterly departed from the faith, geuing heede to spirites of error, and doctrines of deuills, being so liuely painted forth and euen pointed forth by the scripture to be that Antichristian church, whereof the holy Ghost prophesieth, that no man, except he will wilfully be blinde, can be ignorant thereof, so that if you be not starke blinde, and geuen vp into a reprobate sence, when you consider these thinges you will recant.
Let any man therefore aliue answer directly and plainly without colour or fraude of wordes and vnprofitable digressions to the foresayd or any of the foresayd demandes, and I shall willingly leaue the knowne Church & playne way of Saluation, and wander in the woodes to seeke after them, and their congregation.
IF you had not added this conclusion, we might hauehave conceaued some hope, that vponupon further instruction in such matters as troubled your conscience you would hauehave ben contented to be reformed after God his worde, and good counsell. But now you declare that you are so obstinatly bent that what so euer be proued against you, you will not receiue it as truth but yeld vntounto it perforce. As for me, Although I know there are very many which with more learning and eloquence coulde hauehave aunswered your demandes, yet being such as they are, I submitte my selfe to the iudgement of all them, that be learned and godly minded, whether I hauehave not directly and plainely, without colour or fraude of wordes, & without all digression aunswered the same, so that I doubt not, but as many as are tractable, and stayed vponupon these doubtes onelyonly, may be fully perswaded by these not very long and yet sufficient Answers.
THE ENDE.
1 A DEFENSE AND DECLARATION OF THE CATHOLIKE Churches doctrine, touching Purgatory, and prayers for the soules departed.
By VVILLIAM ALLEN Maister of Arte and student in Diuinitie.
1 AN OVERTHROW AND CONFVTATION OF THE POPISH Churches doctrine, touching Purgatory, and prayers for the deade.
By W. FVLKE Doctor in Diuinitie.
2 Mortuo ne prohibeas gratiam: Eccle. 7.
Hinder not the departed of grace and fauour.
2 Such liberalitie as by any meanes may extende vntounto them, in burying their bodies, honoring there memorie, helping there posteritie.