The Bee Hive of the Romish Church, Part 1 · Chapter 2
The 2. Chapter. VVhereby is declared that the Church, vvith her povver and authoritie, can not be inclosed vvith in the pales of the holy Scripture, but that the Church may adde to the Scripture, or take from it, vvhat she thinkes good: and therevpon are many examples, and profoūd reasons alledged.
VPonUpon this demande & profound proposition, very much might be saide:The church is aboue the Scripture. but we will make short of the matter. And to begin withal, we conclude with our Master Gentianus, and with the holy Coū cell of Trent, That all they which woulde inclose the power and the authoritie of the Church within the limites & bounds of the holy Scripture, (as though the holy Catholike church of Rome could reade no further, than is spelled before to her in the Bible) are euill and naughty heretikes: yea, they are euen of those Apostataes or backsliders, to whom our Master Gentianus hath written this his Epistle. For as touching that, for the defence of their opinions, they bring forth, howe it is written, That none shall either put to it,Deut. 4.1, 12, 32. Pro. 30.6. Apo. 22.18. This is thus set forth by Ioh. Ecki…s in his book called Enchiridium loco. com. Guilielmus Blindasinus or take from it one iote: that is simply spoken to the Iewes Rabbines onelyonly: so that they should not take any such thing vponupon them, as to change any words of the texte, and to correct Magnificat, like as they hauehave presumed to do, as mē may see clearly & without a candle, by the honourable Bishop Guilielmus Blindasinus, in his booke intituled, De optimo genere interpretandi: w…ch is to say, Of the best and surest maner of expounding or interpreting. For therein he doeth shew very plainly, that al Hebrew textes of the Bible are falsified, and embaced, by the Iewes: yea, and the like is done to all the textes in Greeke of the new Testament, by some Heretikes & enemies of the trueth. So that neither Christ, nor his Apostles, nor anie of the olde Doctours, should hauehave had the right Bible, but onelie our most holy Catholike Church of Rome, which only was borne vnderunder the right Planet, and shee alone hath shot downe the Popingaie. Therefore must the texte, before specified, be vnderstoode and meant of the Iewes alone, and of such like Heretikes, which hauehave so falsified the textes of the Bible.
But you may not gather by this, that the holy Church of Rome is not licenced to ad vntounto the Scripture, whatsoeuer shee doeth marke to be yet lacking, and to innouate, change, and remoue al that tendeth not perfectly to her purpose. For you see daily, that she doeth freely take vponupon her so to do: and furthermore, she doth punish for ranke Heretikes, all such as will not allowe and accept her adding, and changing, for the perfite worde of God.
Men do knowe very well,The ten cō mādemēts falsified. Look in the Catechisme or the sūme of our beleeue, printed at Antwerp by the commandement of the King of Spaine. Item, look in Thomas de Aquino vpō the ten commandements, and vponupon al the catholike doctours euerie one of them. All which hauehave cleane left out the seconde commandemēt▪ in the lettting foorth of the ten commandements. Mat. 26.27. Ma…. 14.23. Lu. 22.17. 1. Cor. 11.2… Marke, touching this, the Master of the Sentences in the 4. booke the 12. dist. 4. ca. And vponupon the Encherid. of Eckius in the booke of Bernard of Luxen. In the 12. part of the 4. booke of Heretikes, and in al other Catholike writers, who do specially treate of this matter. that shee hath finely conueyed out of the Register of ye ten commandements, the seconde commandement, which was, That no Images should be made, nor fashioned: because shee did perceiue, ye Heretiks would alledge ye same, to the hinderance both of he & she Saintes, which stand vponupon the altars in the Church.
Furthermore, because men shuld not lacke the number of ten, shee hath taken the last commandement, speaking of desire, and diuided the same in two, & so made the tailes agree iust. And likewise, notwithstanding that our Lord Iesus Christ had openly cō manded, That the Communion should bee ministred, as wel with wine as with bread: yet the holy Catholike Church of Rome, considering the great daunger which was therein, for that the wine might be spilt: or being in the winter, freeze: or be turned into sowre vineger: if it should be long kept in a Pixe, or litle Sacrament Boxe. And especiallye, considering that when they shoulde hauehave dealte the Wine abroade, the common people might hauehave thought, whether that the long racked bodye were without bloud, or at the least, that there could be no right and perfite Transubstantiation and changing of the bread into the very body of our Lorde Iesus Christe. In this behalfe hath she cōsidered further, and hath bene better aduised than our Lord him selfe was: and so hath forbiddē the laie people the Chalice.This standeth in the third booke of the Coū cels, in the Councell of Constance, in the 14. session. For thus the Councel of Constance doeth decree, That notwithstanding Christ, after supper, did ordeyne and minister vntounto his Disciples the most blessed Sacrament vnderunder both kindes of bread and of wine. And although that in the first ancient Church of the faithfull, the same was alwayes vsed vnderunder both kindes: neuerthelesse, seeing that the contrarie vse & custome is not without great occasion, and willingly now put in vre, for the auoyding and eschewing of some inconueniences and perilles: therefore shal all Patriarches, Prelates, Archbishops, & Bishoppes, curse and excommunicate all such, as shall take vponupon them to minister vntounto the common people the Sacrament in that maner. And so far forth as such do not turne & recant, then they to be deliuered into the handes of the temporall Iudges to be by them arbitrally executed. And herevpon did the President of ye Councell, named Ostiensis, in the name of all the whole College of Cardinals, and all other Bishops after him, answere, Placet: which is to say, So it pleaseth vsus. So that it is euident, that the ancient maner & good meaning of the Church maye cleane alter & vtterly abolish the commandement of Christ, & the olde custome of the Apostles, & their Disciples. We do likewise see, yt notwithstanding S. Paul (by inspiration of the holy Ghost) cōmanded,1. Cor. 7.9. and 2. That whosoeuer did feele that weakenes in him selfe, that hee could not liue chaste, should take a wife: for that it was better to marrie than to burne. And he did (in a maner by speciall words) command the same to the Bishops and other Ministers of Gods worde, saying: That they should hauehave their wiues & their children brought vp in the feare of God. And further, That mariage is holy, 1. Timo. 3.4. A charge to the bishops Heb. 13.4. 1. Tim. 3.4.and commendable in all men: yea, he did esteeme, The forbidding of mariage, for a doctrine of deuils.
And yet, all this notwithstanding, our holy Mother the Church of Rome, seeing deeper into the matter: and for the eschewing of manie inconueniences,This is set foorth in plain words in the Decrees of the Popes in the Chap. Proposuisti, in the 82. dist. and in the Chap. Decreminus the 22. dist. and in the chap. Tene. the 31. dist. it is likewise in the book of the Sentences, in the 17. dist. …n the 4 chap. hath expresly and slatly commaunded Priestes, Bishoppes, and al spiritual persons, that they in no wise shall take vponupon them the state of Matrimonie, teaching precisely the contrarie to the doctrine before specified, That the state of Matrimonie, is nothing else, but plaine vncleanesse, filthie, and shamefull: yea, a great and foule spot vntounto carnall copulation: In so much, that such, as giuegive themselues therevnto, cannot be acceptable before God: for that it is writtē: Who so liues after the flesh, cannot be acceptable before God: and hauehave therefore concluded, that it is not decent, that a holy Priest, who is the temple of the holy Ghost, should become a slaue to the lying with a woman, and to fleshly lust. Like as in the Popes decrees and Decretales is specially set forth.
Moreouer, touching the same point, it is concluded in the saide Decrees,In the 4. Epist. of Pope Cere. in the first book of coū cels fol. 422 col. 2. and 423. That the doctrine of the holy Church, is nowe more perfite, than either the doctrine of Iesus, the sonne of God, or of his Apostles, hath bene in times past. For thus the text saith, Before that the Gospell was corrected, amended, and expounded, This standeth euen thus word for word in the booke of Decrees in the chap. Sors nō est, causa. 26. quaest. 2.there were manie things permitted, which nowe, since the time is come, that all the doctrine is made perfit, are clearely abolished and taken away, as especially, notwithstanding that the mariage of Priests was neither by the Lawe, by the Gospell, nor the doctrine of the Apostles, forbidden, yet hath the holy Church flatly forbiddē the same.
We do likewise plainely see, that Iesus Christ hath streightly forbidden,Math. 5.32.19, 7. Mar. 10.4. Luke 16.18. 1. Cor. 7.10, any dispē sation for Matrimonie, & hath specially declared, That who soeuer doeth leaue his wife (except it be for adulterie) and doth marie another, is a whooremonger.
Truly, if it were not that our holy mother the Catholike Church of Rome, had full power & authoritie aboue Gods word, and aboue ye special cōmandement of Christ: she would neuer hauehave takē vpō her to hauehave chā ged nor put down this mariage of priests.
Now let vsus further see, that the most holy & honorable Popes Iulius, Innocentius, & Colestinus, being with a great number of Bishops & Prelates stately & iudicially assembled in ye holy Ghost, in S. Peters church at Rome, hauehave cōcluded, iudged, & pronoū ced, whatsoeuer Christ notwithstāding had thereof spoken & saide. That if so be there were anie which were married together,Christning breakes matrimonie of the common & laye people. and had christened the children at ye fount, the one of the other before should be diuorced: and the woman to hauehave her marriage good restored backe againe, and within a yeere after, it should be lawfull for her to marie another man: and for him to marrie another woman.
Euē as our holy father ye pope of Rome, Deus dedit doth openly testifie in a letter,Deus dedit. which for a perpetuall memorie is written in the booke of Councels, word for worde: and likewise entred in the Register of the Popes decrees and ordinances: yet, ouer & besides this,In the chap. Peruenit, causa 31. quaest. 1. the holy Church hath concluded, that if any Nonne, Baggine sister, or other, should marie a husbande, the Bishop of that Diocesse, where they dwelt, should diuorce them,Conc. Trib. the 6. chap. & in the decrees in the cap. Impu. & in the ca. Si quis sacr. caus. 27. quaest. 1. In the chap. Hac ratione cau. 31. qu. …. & cause the Nonne to returne and take vponupon her againe her vowe of chastitie. Like as in Concilio Triburino, and by the Popes lawes is concluded & commanded. Out of the same authoritie hath the foresaid holy Church likewise cōcluded, That what woman soeuer after the decease of her first husband, should marrie agayne, shee was an open and common harlotte, not regarding at all that which S. Paule in his time had written directly to the cō trarie:Rom. 7.2.3. 1. Cor. 7.9.28. 1. Tim. 5.14. yea, had moreouer straitly charged and commanded the yong widowes, That vnlesse they coulde well liue a continent and chast life, they should marie againe.
After this, did not S. Paul, or rather the spirit of God by the mouth of S. Paul, directly forbid any straunge language to be vsed in the Churches and congregations,Strange languages in the Church. ordeyned for the seruice of God: neither in prayer, nor in thankesgiuing, nor in singing, nor in prophesying? Yea, he did greatly rebuke the Corinthians for so doing in their congregations.1. Cor. 14. the whole chapter thorough. And yet men plainly see, that the holy Church of Rome, doth minister her Masses, her Mattens & Euensong, prayers, and song, al in Latine: and some times therewith doeth mingle, Greeke and Hebrew wordes. In such sort as that, not onelyonly the common people, but the Priestes and Bishops likewise do not vnderstand it.
Yet will the holye Church hauehave it so done, yea, and puniseth such as woulde otherwise vse it, like damned heretikes. Like as out of Eckius, Piggius, Hosius, E…lcius in his Encheiredion.and other Catholike writers is manifest and plaine to be seene.Figius in libro cont. Hosius in a certeine boke which he set out of this matter onelyonly. Then hereby of necessitie must followe, that the Church hath a full and resolute power ouer the expresse worde of God, aboue the cōmandement & ordenāce of Iesus Christ, and aboue all the scriptures of ye Prophets & Apostles. But what neede is it (I pray you) to bring so many and diuerse ensamples one by one, for the deference of this matter? Sithence we see euidently, that shee in all her deuotions, Gods seruices, and ceremonies, doth alter the expresse wordes of the Scripture: yea, doeth openly and wilfully ouertread it, euen as though it were done in spite and anger of the holy Scripture in the Bible.
For by the holy Scripture it is openly, and vponupon great paynes aDeu. 4.2.5 32.12.4, 8.13.32. Iere. 11.4.8. Esai. 1.12.2….13. Mat. 15.9. Col. 2.20, 21, 22, 23. Exod. 20.4 5.22. Deu. 12.8.9 Leuit. 26.1 Deut. 4. whole thorough. Deut. 16…22 Esai. 40.41 42. whole through. Iere. 10. Abacuk. 2. Ps. 115. and in other innumerable places.earnestly forbidden, That in the seruing of God, first no commandements, traditions, nor deuises of men shall bee vsed, nor take anie place, but to rest wholy and onelyonly vponupon the special commandements of God, and to do thereafter: Finally, to turne neither to the right hand or to the left.
Secondarily, not to make or hauehave anie Image or similitude▪ carued or molten, nor shall vse the shape or likenesse of anie such, thereby to shewe or set forth the spirituall forme and incorporable maiestie of God, by earthly things, and dumbe and dead creatures.
Thirdely, that no man shall vse anie witchcraft, sorcerie, 1. Iohn. 5.21 Leui. 19.26 De…t. 18.10, 11.or inchantment of anie creature, to the intent to giuegive to the creatures that be senselesse and voyde of life, anie might or worthinesse, other then by nature is prescribed vntounto them. Which thing is likewise by all Councels and Synodes, as well Iudiciall as Canonicall, openly and straytelie forbidden.
Here agaynst (notwithstanding) hath it pleased our dearely beloued mother,Con. Laodicen ca 30 Con. Cart. cap. 39. cap. Non oportet. cap. Auguris. caus. 26 quaest. 5. L. Vnica co. de thesauris lib. 10 cap. illos. 26. quaest. 2. the holy Church of Rome, to vse her full and inestimable authoritie and power, and so without hauing anie respect at all to that which is aboue written, hath (to beginne withall) sette vp a certaine kinde of seruing of God, which is altogether contrarie to the good opinions, traditions, and ordinances of all men. For besides that the blessed Masse, is by diuerse Popes, Cardinals, and Bishops, at sundrie times, and in sundrie places, raked vp in a huge heape, & with many peeces & patches of mens deuises, like to a beggers cloke sowed together besides so many traditions of idle heades, which the holy Church of Rome hath receyued for a perfite seruing of God: as fasting dayes, yeares of grace, differences and diuersities of dayes, of meates, of clothing, consecrating of Churches, of altars, of candles, pilgrimages, Letanies, Kyrieelesons, Images, Processions, holy ashes, holy Paceegges, and flanes, palmes and palme boughes, Albes, Copes, Maniples, Vestmēts, Miters, Staues, fooles hoods, Shelles, and Belles, Paxes, licking of rotten bones, carying of the Pixe about, and praying to a lumpe of doaw, fasting vponupon certaine speciall dayes, creeping vponupon knees before a Crosse of wood, buying of Bulles and pardons, mumbling of Pater nosters and Aue Maries, by tale, vponupon a paire of Beades, before a dumbe image, shauing of crowne and beard, to giuegive blessing with two fingers: and ten thousande more such prankes.
Yet, aboue al, this is by the holy Church (as it were in spite of God and his word) ordeyned, That eueryevery man being a good Catholike, maye appoint and choose for himselfe a Saint and patrone, erect a new image, and specially build a new chappel, and an altar, set vp a newe and particular religion, weare a peculiar or special kinde of garment, assume and take a seuerall vse of meates and ceremonies: finally, and to conclude, doe what soeuer his good meaning and intent persuadeth him vntounto.
Secondarily, it is so, that our deare mother will not set vp any seruing of God, but shee must of necessitie hauehave therevnto all sortes of ymages, as well carued as painted: and worship the same by kneeling and praying with burning of candles, with kissing and licking, with pilgrimages, and other such like deuotions. And in setting vp the sayde images in all high wayes, in all streetes, and in all corners, euen as for an euident token and protestation, that they neither do once thinke vponupon Gods commandement set forth in the holy Scripture, neither wil be subiect or bounde to the same.
Thirdly, all her diuine seruice,Coniuring. all her ceremonies and deuotions, and all her holinesse, is grounded in cōiuring of creatures, and worshipping the same: and in flat sorcerie and witchcraft, in working whereof they speake vntounto the dumbe creatures, as though they had as much vnderstanding as the Priests themselues, and so do abuse the blessed name of God, and the textes of the holy Scripture openlye, and without respect.
The water is by them exorcised or coniured by these wordes:This coniuratiō you shall find worde for word in the Masse booke. I coniure thee thou creature of water: In the name of the father, the sonne, and the holy ghost, to the ende thou become a chosen water to take away all the power of the diuell, and that thou mayest driue awaye and confounde the diuell him selfe with all his wicked Angels, &c.
The oyle and the balme are coniured and bewitched, with much mumbling, blowen vponupon with many breathings, with three times crying, All haile holy oyle, three times, All haile holy annoyntment, and three times, All haile holy baulme, And then it is kept for a most holy thing in a fine vessell therefore made, and so caried along the streets by the Priests, with great deuotion and prayer.
The salt is coniured in this maner: I do coniure thee thou creature of salt, More coniurations.by the liuing God, by the true God, by the holy God, and by the same God, which commanded Helias to cast thee into the water, to take away the vnwholesomnesse of the water, that thou mayest become an exorcised or coniured salt, Nota.to the saluation of the faythfull, and to worke the preseruation both of bodie and soule, to all them which shall enioy thee: and that all the subtiltie, wilinesse, and filthie intents of the Diuell: and that all wicked spirites maye flee from that place where thou art scattered and cast abrode. And then is this salt mingled with the foresayde water, to be the right purger and sanctifier of the people, wherethrough all the power and might of the diuell is withstood, & our daily sinnes therewith finely cleansed.
Nowe, besides all this, shee doeth exorcise and coniure certeine hearbes, vponupon certeine dayes, to the health both of bodie and soule, and to driue away all daungerous hurt, all diuelish bewitching, all pestilence, vnwholsomnesse, and corruption of the ayre. Shee doeth coniure and exorcise the candles, the waxe and the tallow, to the qualifying and extinguishment of thunder and lightening.
Also she doth exorcise and coniure beads of wood, of stone, of corrall, and of all other stuffe: whereby they receyue great power against sinne, the diuell and hel. And (which is more) shee doeth not let these thinges be thus coniured by the Pope and Priests onelyonly, but the Pope may (whensoeuer it shall please him) giuegive the like power and authoritie, to whom soeuer he will, be it man or woman. This may well appeare and be perceyued of all men, by the example of a worthie matrone of Spaine called Senora Maria Osorio, Senora Maria Osorio.who did obteyne of Pope Paule 3. licence and power, for her selfe and twelue of her bloud, to coniure and holowe such beades: and these beades were of this might, that whensoeuer any person did saye a Pater noster thervpon, although it were done without deuotion, or once thinking of the matter: yet did they thereby obteyne forgiuenesse of the thirde part of their sinnes. And for this cause were the balles of these beades made of Copper, and set in the Church, where was set out by them in print, their full might, with all their properties and nature, as is before declared: so as at this day men may openly see by the common people, which come and say their Pater nosters vponupon their beades there, holding their handes vponupon those balles, that thereby they may obteyne the forgiuenesse of their sinnes.
Nowe, ouer and aboue all this,Christning and coniuring of Belles. the Belles are not onelyonly coniured and hallowed, but are also baptized: and hauehave appoynted for them Godfathers, which holde the rope (wherewith they are tyed) in their handes, and do answere and say, Amen, Bonifa. 8. C. alma mater F. adijcimus, de senten in sexto And Gregorie 9. Ea permittim, in decreta. 4 de Sententia excommunicat. Peruse like wise Philippum Francum vponupon the saide Cant. Alma mater. F. adijcimus nu. 4. & other Canonists. Caldar. in tract de interdictis. in par. un. …7 Iohn Cald. Albert. de Rosat. in dictionario sup…r verbo Campane.to that which the Suffragane or Bishop doth speake or demaund of the Bell. And then they put a newe cote or garment vponupon the Bell, and so coniure it, to the driuing away of all the power, craft, and subtiltie of the diuell, and to the benefite and profite of the soules of them that bee deade (specially, if they bee riche, and can pay the Sexton well:) and for many other like things. In so much that the Belles are so holy, that so long as the Church or the people are (vponupon anie occasion) excommunicate, they may not be rong. Like as by Pope Bonifacius 8. and Gregorie 9. is manifestly ordeined: although yet it is (of speciall grace) permitted, to toll the Aue Maria, as Iohannes Caldarinus hathe trimlie written.
And this (I assure you) is no small matter. For Doctour Albericus de Rosato doth declare, that the religious had amōgst themselues at Rome, a long and weightie dissention, wherevpon great processes were mainteyned,Processes for the knolling of Aue Maria. and all about this: namely, which of all the Orders shoulde first knolle the Aue Maria in the morning▪ which processes did long endure, till at the last it was concluded, and adiudged, that they which were first vp, should first knoll. Euen after the maner of kine, who alway let the formost go before, and the last followe after. Why (I praye you,) hath it not bene seene, that the Spaniardes (which are the first sweete and most deare children of the holy Church of Rome, comming nowe of late to Groninghen in Friseland, did there christen, coniure, & hallow theyr Ensignes:Christning of ensignes. naming one Barbara, another Katharine, &c. I saye nothing, howe they coniure the diuell out of yong children, which are brought to be christened: euen as though the yong children (to whome Christ doeth witnesse the kingdome of heauen to belong, and be those which with their fathers are conteyned vnderunder Gods promises, and made cleane by the bloud of Iesus Christ) were possessed with the Diuell.
The Masse (I pray you) what is it, but a plaine coniuring, sorcerie, or witchcraft▪ Wherein the breade and the wine, which are but dumbe creatures, are (by the breathing of the Priest, and the power of fiue woordes) conuerted into fleshe and bloud. So that it is most apparaunt, that all her Religion, all her diuine Seruice, and ceremonies, are full of witchcraft, sorcerie, and coniuring: full of ydolatrie, setting vppe of Images, and giuing them worshippe, full of mennes traditions, institutions, and deuises: and in conclusion, full of all that, which by the holy scripture is openly reproued, and plainely forbidden. So that (verelie) these Heretikes must needes bee verie blinde, if they doe not well perceyue, that the power, the ordinaunce, and authoritie of the holy Church of Rome, neyther can, nor will bee shutte in, nor hedged about, with the pales and walles of the holy Scripture. For, see here: this is that, which the steadfast pillar of the Theologie of Louen, Iodocus Tiletanus himselfe hath openly written:Iodocus Tiletanus not contented with the Gospel.
We are not satisfied (sayeth he) with that which the Apostles or the Gospell doe declare: but wee saye, that as well before as after, there are diuers matters of importance, and weight accepted and receiued, In his booke written agaynst the confessiō of the preachers of Antwerpe.out of a doctrine which is no where set forth in writing. For we do blesse the water, wherewith we baptize, and the oyle, wherewith we anoynt: yea, and besides that, him that is christened. And (I praye you) out of what scripture hauehave we learned the same? HaueHave we it out of a secret and vnwritten ordinance? And further. What Scripture hath taught vsus to grease with oyle? Yea, (I pray you) from whence commeth it, that wee doe dippe the childe three times in the water? Doeth it not come out of this hidden and vndisclosed doctrine, which our forefathers hauehave receyued closely, without any curiositie: and do obserue it still, &c?
But what neede hauehave I to trauell much for the establishing hereof: seeing there is a generall rule in the holy Church of Rome, That the Pope maye franklye aThis is also specified▪ in …ecisionibus rote, in decisio. 1. num. 3. in nouis & Anton. Maria in addit. 1 decis. rote nouas de Bigamis nu… …. & is likewise defēded by the Iurist Ca…olo ruino in cons. 109. num. 1 in the 5. booke, and of Sigismū dus Neapolitanus.ordeyne and commaunde contrarie to the writing, doctrine and ordinaunce of the Apostle Paule? Considering likewise in especiall, that (as bEckius in Encherid. Locorum communi…, in the chap. Ecclesia.Eckius hath set downe) Christ did neuer commaunde his Apostles to write: but to preach. True it is that Paule doeth defende, saying:2 Tim. 3.15.16.17. That the blessed woorde of God is set foorth, and is sufficient to instruct, to teache, to punishe, to amende: yea, and wholie apte, and sufficient, to make men wise ynoughe for their saluation, and to instruct them sufficientlye to all good workes. And that, who soeuer shall teach any other Gospell, than that which hee hath taught, (though hee were an Angel from heauen,) is accursed. 1. Gal. 8.9.But all that must bee vnderstoode of the tyme, wherein hee was, whilest the Church was yet in her infancie or childehoode, and laye in the cradle. For it was yet necessarie for her then, to drinke such milke,Cap so…s. non est. 26. qu…st 2. being yet vnable to digest the strong and grosse meates of holy Prelates and Doctours of the holie Church of Rome: For that her stomache was yet too weake and quasie.
And in effect, men doe clearely see, that notwithstanding the saying of Paule, That in Christ Iesus, Col. 2.2.3.4 5.6.7.8.9.10. and 20.21.22.and in the knoweledge of him, all the treasure of wisedome and knowledge lyeth hidde: so as the faythfull ought not to receyue any institutions, or doctrine of men. Yet a long time after the Apostles, yea, aboue seuen or eight hundred yeeres after theyr decease, our mother the holye Catholike Churche hath founde out a wonderful and vnspeakeable newe hoorde of wisedome and knowlege, through which a mā may come to perfite iustification, and to an angelical life: and aboue that get in store a heape of deseruings, and good woorkes, to helpe a good friende withall at a pinche: and yet to release a dozen or twaine of sillie soules out of Purgatorie. And these be they especially:The rules or …, Domini…ke, …, & Barnarde. The holie order, and full perfection of Saint Fraunces, Saint Dominicke, Saint Barnarde, Saint William, and many more of the same stampe: which sort men knewe not to speake in the Apostles time, when men were satisfyed with the pure and vnmingled milke of God his woorde,1. Pet. 2.2. Iohn. 14.29 Iohn. 15.15. This is specially written in the 5. booke … de…re. in the Bul of Pope Nicholas 4. beginning exiit qui senec his. 1. de verborum signis. like newe borne children (as Peter doth beare witnes:) yea, for these riche treasures were not reuealed to Iesus Christ him selfe, who taught nothing but that whiche hee had receyued out of the bosome of his father: and the same did hee deliuer fully and wholie ouer to his Apostles. But of this coulde hee saye nothing: for this was too daintie a dishe for his mouth, and therefore must bee kept for the last course, agaynst the time that the holy fathers, of full perfection, and Gods deare friendes Saint Fraunces, This standeth plainly in their Legends▪ and in the booke made of the might of our Ladie Rosa Crans which Alanus did make by the inspiration of Marie the Egyptian or of Egypt.Saint Dominicke, Saint Barnarde, and Saint Alane, (who had sucked our blessed Ladies brests, as well as Christ him selfe, and walked about the towne with her as the bridegrome with his bride) shoulde appeare. For what needes muche rehearsall of so manie euident visions, which happened to that holie woman Briget? Or of the notable miracle of the wilde Marie Aegyptian? who ranne through woodde and wildernesse, ouer hilles and dales, starke naked like a wilde beast? Or of the goodlie and pleasaunt orders of Saint Clara: the which our deare mother the holy Church hath receyued for verie precious Canticles, with great triumph. Well, goe to nowe, reade the whole Bible ouer and ouer, and I will bee bounde to giuegive the Theologians or diuines of Louen, a pottle of wine, to make mery withal, if thei cā find out there, that either Christ, or his Apostles, did euer knowe, that who soeuer doeth die in a Gray friers cote, shall neyther come in Purgatorie,To die in a gray friers habite. nor in Hell. And yet notwithstanding, not onelyonly Radulphus Agricola, Albertus Pius, the Prince of Carpi, and Pope Martinus, woulde die in such an habite, and be buried in it: but likewise, many other Kings, Dukes, Earles, and Barons: as in the booke of the conformities of Saint Francis is specified, and with the Popes Bulles established:Conformiti…ies. Conformita. 83. Or likewise, what knewe they, that hee that shoulde die in a white Friers Scapularie, shoulde be saued? like as our blessed Ladie did declare to Simon Stocke. In hoc moriens saluabitur. That is to say, Who dies herein, shall be saued. Like as in eueryevery place in their Churches is painted forth. Or what knewe they, that Alanus shoulde make the Rosarie of our Ladie, which must be esteemed as the Gospell? like as the good Catholike men Tarthemius and Leander hauehave written & witnessed.
Well, nowe do we not plainly see, that the holy Church of Rome hath but a while agoe founde out maruellous holinesse of this newe Religion of the Iesuites, neuer heard of before:Iesuits. who hauehave found out a way of ful perfectiō, which neither prophet, nor Apostle could neuer spie out before? For this was founde out first in the yeere of our Lord 1537. by a Spaniard, borne in Biskay named Don Egnatio Leguiola, Egnatius Leguiola.who with twelue companions, whom he named to be his Apostles, went vp to Rome, and from thence to Venice, pretēding to go on fourth to Heirusalem: but finding at Venice no shipping readie, he returned backe againe to the holy citie of Rome: where as this costly treasure was then marueilously published and set abroade. Notwithstanding that, a litle while before, to wit, in the yeere 1523. one Iohn Peter Guarraffa, Garaffa.then Bisshop of Quietta, had found out the stampe or paterne of the same: who afterwardes comming to be Pope him self, did set forth, and by his Bulles established this order of Guiettens, for the most pure order: In so much that, all those which followe this order, do farre passe all Angels in holinesse.This is specially writē in the 5. booke Sacri De…re in the Bull of pope Nicholas 4 beginning: Exi…t qui semina…. Nec his quis. …. de ve…b. signi….
I let alone Angels, for they do farre exceede Saint Frances, to whom the Angels are nothing to bee compared: as by the holy Church is iudged and determined, according to the setting foorth of his Vineyard, and golden Legende. And for that he did liue a much more perfit life, than Christ him selfe as the Decretalles do specifie.
And yet are there but three vowes to make in the order of S. Frauncis, to witte, Obedience, Pouertie, and Chastitie. But in this newe order of Iesuiten or Guietinē, ouer and besides these three vowes, before named, they professe yet a fourth vowe, (to the ende to giuegive a pushe farre beyonde all other Religions) which is: That they are bounde, and shall at all times be readie, to runne and trudge from one countrie into an other, like poore pedlers and rogues, to what part soeuer it shall please the holy father the Pope of Rome to sende them: yea, although it were euen to the worldes ende: like as men may see and knowe, that they are alreadie runne to the Indians, and Pir…ue, therewith to merit heauen.
Yet, besides this, the holy Church hath of late founde out another newe perfite order, whereof neither Christe nor his Apostles did euer once dreame: & it is named Pauline, Pauline. Gastaline.or Gastaline, which was firste founde out, about the yeere of our Lorde, 1537. by a certeine Countesse of Mantua in Italie, called Ghastalia, by the good coū sell and instructiō of that holy Monke, brother Baptiste of Cremona, the Preacher of his order: Which religion doth conteine a newe way and meane, whereby a man may mortifie him selfe and his fleshly lustes: and thus it went to worke: There was an olde wife called Iulia, which would take ye yong men and maydes and (after that they had bene by making proofe and skirmishing a while,Iulia causes the yong men & maidens to lie in one bed together. well trained vppe) laye them then together in a bed. And for that they should not one byte another, nor kicke backewardes with their heeles, shee did laye a Crucifixe betweene them, to keepe them asunder: and there must they set foote to foote, and striue so long, till they had wholy mortified their fleshe. And heare nowe what a miracle chaunced:
It happened so, that there was an other old wife at Venice, … old wife of Venice.which had a great mind to preasse and traine vp yong men to this kinde of warre: who wrought a trim feate, whereby shee did greatly strenghthen this perfect Angelical holines. For shee caused two great bookes to be made, both of equall bignes, & like fashion: wherof the one was a Bible,A subtil fashion of a Bible. and the other was hollowe wtin, as a litle chist, made in all points like a book, wt claspes & al, which she filled with flat bottles ful of Malmesie, and with good fine Marchpanes, which she her selfe made, of the brawne of Capons and Partridges, with Sugar and Almondes (like a lickerous Ladie) and then gather into a prettie Cell, with these two bookes, and there sat prounking and tarying alone in her deuout contemplations, sometime fiue or six dayes together, praying for her Champions, and reading full deuoutly till ye bible was quite emptie: not eating or drinking anie thing else all that while. Was not that well fasted? And was not such a wonderfull miracle sufficient to establishe the strength and worthinesse of this new religion of Champions? Trueth it is, that she was at the last (when the matter was knowen) banished out of Venice: but that was not done for her holinesse, but specially, because there were a great manie of amorous letters founde about her, which were of great importance. For else (alas) what could hauehave bene said to her heauie and pitiful penance, whereof the like is daily done? You maye see them sometimes in Italie go alongst the streetes, with a great rope about their neckes, as if they were dropped downe frō the gallowes: and sometimes they weare a sawsige or a swines pudding in place of a siluer or golden chayne. Is not that sufficient, to deserue heauen by?
But, if I should go about to expresse euerie particular religion alone, which our mother the holye Church hath founde out, beside the Scriptures: I should hauehave work for this seuen yeres. Wherefore, it is not needefull. For all good Catholike men do knowe well ynough, that our holye fathers the Popes hauehave sufficient authoritie, to bring in and establish newe religions and rules of perfection, as manie as it shall please them: although it be plaine, that the whole Scriptures neuer make mention of anie such: as it is most euident, by so many diuers orders and religions, which hauehave bene by their holinesse set vp, brought in, & established. As, there are the orders of the Basilians, Augustinians, Benedictines, Names of diuers orders of religion.Dominicanes, or Iacobines, Carthusians, Carmelites, or Ladie brothers, Seruitours or Seruants, Graie Friers, Obseruantes, Conuentuales, Penitentiaries, Minimers, Of mens cloisters.Capucines, Mendicantes, Cluinares, Camaldulenses, Valembrosences, Cisterienses, Barnardines, Coelestines, Gibertenenses, Milicenses, Castellenses, Burfaldenses, Mountoliuetes, Castinenses, Arme…tes, Regulars, Premōstratenses, Whilliamites, Lateranes, Georgians, Iohannians, Trinitaries, Indians, Ambrosiās, Magdalines or Lazarines, red Augustins, Helenians, Sophians, Visitensers, Wincesbaterers, Gregorians, Constantinopolitanes, Columbins, Crossed brethrē, Starred brethrē, Fratres Clauorū, Blackfriers, Smocked friers: Btethrē of the holy Sepulchre, Brethren of the vale of Iosaphat, Brethrē of S. Ioseph, of S. Rusius, & seuen thousande like. Of which number the most part hauehave their mates and companions in the women Cloisters: of which some be Bagghines, other close Nonnes: Orders & cloisters of women.other called Sisters, & ye fourth are called Chanonesses: who hauehave likewise their Patronesses, as S. Clare, S. Bridgit, S. Lucia, S. Agnes, S. Marie Magdalene, S. Valdrud, &c. All which hauehave bene receiued & established by our holy fathers the Popes, for good and holy.
Ouer and aboue these, they hauehave ordeined many sundrie Heremitages & orders of Heremits, as of S. Anthonie, of S. Hilarie, of S. Makarius, S. Theon, S. Frontinian, S. Horus, S. Helenus, S. Appellomius, S. Paul the Hermit, S. Martarius, S. Piamōtius, S. Castomianus, & many more of the like rabie. Now are there more added to these, ye holy Giides or Confraternities, as The fraternities of S. Roche, of S. Hubright, of S. Sebastian, of S. Coronne, Brotherhoods.which go cladde in blew: of S. Anthonie, in blacke: of S. Martin in white: of S. Dominick, in black, &c. And to the ende that the heritage should not be without Rutters or Pensionars, they hauehave appointed certeine newe religious orders of holy Knights likewise: such as are the knights of the Rodes, or of Malta, Dutch Knights, the Templers, Knight brethren.the Knights of S. Iames, our Ladie Knights, Saint Georges knights, knights of Hierusalem, Calitrauenses, Montenienses, Gartarienses, &c. But truly, I had need of vi. hūdred tongues & two hūdred pennes, & a mouth of steele, wt an iron voice, if I should declare all the diuersities of orders & religions, which our holy fathers ye Popes hauehave set vp, not only without, but directly against ye holy Scripture: and yet without naming of the Popes themselues, or their Cardinals, Prelats, Archbishops, Bishops, Metropolitanes, Suffraganes, Archdeacons, Deacons, and such like strange beastes, whereof neither Prophet nor Apostle euer heard.
Nay, I dare saye, that if the Apostles had but once seene, or hearde, the hundred part of these new religious orders and professions named, they would hauehave bene afraide of them. For, seeing that S. Paule could not suffer, that amongst the Congregation of the Corinthians, some should call them selues the Disciples of Peter, other of Paule, the thirde of Apollo: howe would he then hauehave bene afraide, and out of quiet, when he should hauehave seene or hearde, of such an innumerable companie of newe and diuers names, professions, religions, Gods seruices, and rules of perfection: whereof some were clad and apparelled in blacke, some in white, some in gray, some in green, some in blewe, some in red, some in furres, and in all maner of diuers colours: and euerie one of them did esteeme his owne order and rules for the best, and most worthie to be regarded. He would surely hauehave thought him selfe to hauehave bene come into a newe world. Therefore it is a great follie, that men will founde them selues onelyonly vponupon that, which the Apostles hauehave taught or written: considering that the world is now chaunged, and that the holy Church hath found out and established newe religions, newe commandements, and newe articles of our faith, whereof the Apostles neuer knewe. For otherwise (beleeue me) if nothing els were estemed but the bare Scriptures and writings of the Prophets and Apostles, then should all the Decrees & Decretalles, all good holy Ordinances of the Church of Rome, all the goodly Councelles which hauehave bene kept and holden, by the order and commandement of the Popes: yea, all the before specified orders and religion of Friers & Nōnes, the Heremites, Gildes and Knighthoods, be vtterly ouerthrowen: yea, all their merites and supererogations, would not be worth an Oaten cake, if men should begin to esteeme and accept the holy Scripture alone, for a true and sufficient rule and direction: and then should Luther hauehave done well, when he caused the decrees and de…retals to be burnt.
O, no, truely, We must aboue all mainteine those in reputation: yea, euen in greater estimation, It is sinne against the holye Ghost, to do any thing against the Popes decrees.than the woorde of God it selfe: for who soeuer doth sinne against the word of God, his sinnes maye be forgiuen him: but he that doth sinne against the Decrees of the Pope, doeth sinne against the holy Ghost, and therefore his offence shall neuer be forgiuen him.
Therefore, it is vndoubtedly a great ouersight of them, that would compasse and pale in the holy Church with the bounds of the holy Scripture, seeing she may steppe or leape ouer it with a staffe, or without anie feare: and as often as euer she wil.
Yet it is true, that sometimes shee doeth helpe her self with the scripture: for if there were no scripture, howe should one knowe whether there must be a Church or no: or wherby should a mā discerne ye true church of God from the church of Antichrist? Yet doth she alway rule the Scripture, & makes therevpon such a glosse, as best serueth her turne: yea, that is more, she is the very occasion that any beleefe or credit is giuen to the scripture: as is pleasantly set foorth by the holy and right honourable Bishoppe Guilielmus Blindasinus, in his booke called Panoplia: Iohannes Blindasinuswherein he concludeth with strong & inuincible reasons, That mē were not bound to beleeue the word of God, nor to be subiect vntounto it, if it were not, that the holy Church hath so commanded. For, what do we thinke, yt the word of God is so strōg of it selfe, as to publishe such thinges thorough the power of the holy Ghost, if the Church of Rome did not first giuegive her verdicte in the matter? No marie, I warant you: for so the Heretikes do vnderstand it. For these Heretikes will bring the church of God in subiection vnderunder the scripture: & therefore do they alledge out of Ieremie, That the word of God is like a fire,Iere. 23.29. & like a hāmer, which breaketh stones in pieces: & that it is liuely, mightie,Hebr. 4.22. & sharper than a two edged sword, & goeth through euen to ye soule, & to the sinewes and ioyntes, & is a searcher of the thoughtes & intentes of the heart: and therefore (saye they) it hath no neede of any mans witnes, as Christ him self hath said: but that those which do ye will of the father,Iohn 5.34. Iohn 7.19. shal lightly know (by inspiration of ye holy Ghost) whether the doctrine be of God. They say likewise, It doth giuegive light to al things: for it is a lampe to lighten the feete of the beleeuers: whereby they must walke through the darknesse of this world: & they say, yt mans wisdom & vnderstanding, how great, howe wise,2. Pet. 2 19. Psa. 119.1…3 howe holy soeuer the same can be, is plain darkenesse, in comparison thereof.
Well then, if it be so, that the darkenesse can not lighten the light, but that the light it selfe must lighten all things, then in very deede can not the worde of God receiue anie light of the opinion or authoritie of man: but it selfe must be the light, whereby men may knowe, which is the Church of God, and which is the Synagogue of dissemblers. And therefore they conclude according to the worde of the Prophet Esaie, That men must followe after the Lawe,Esai. 8.20. and the witnesse, which is, the writtē word of God: and that whosoeuer doth not walke after that, shall neuer see the daye spring. But, as I hauehave alredy said, all that is plain heresie: for our dearely beloued mother the holy Church of Rome will be chiefe Iudge her selfe ouer the holye Scripture. So that the doctrine of the Prophetes & Apostles, is now no more the foūdation of ye Church, as it was in the time of Paul: but contrariwise,Ephe. 2.20. the Church, with the authoritie & the traditions of the same, is the onelyonly foundation of the Scripture. For euen so might the Iewes before time aduance themselues likewise, by the estimation & authoritie of the Church, alledging that the law and the witnes, whereof ye Prophet speakes, could hauehave bene of no estimation, but by reason, ye same was consented to thē by the Church: and that men should neuer hauehave knowen, neither the Lawe, or the witnesse, or Gods worde, if it had not bene by them, and their forefathers set forth & declared, what they should accept for Gods worde: and that the Church with her light hadde lightened the Lawe and the witnesse. And so the Church of Rome doeth nowe also saye, That the worde of God hath no estimation, but that which it hath borrowed of the Church: for otherwise (as shee sayeth, and as all good Catholike writers do declare) howe should we knowe, that the scripture were the word of God, if it were not that the holy Church had so allowed and iudged it? Wherefore should we more beleeue the Gospel of Mathewe, or Marke, than the Gospell of Nichodemus, or Thomas? For there standes plainly written in the Decrees, That neither the old nor the newe Testament were receiued of mē, for this cause, or that cause:Capitulo. Si Roman. parag. quib. ad hoc. dist. 19. nor for that it must be esteemed for an vndoubted rule and perfect knot: but only because that the holye Father Innocentius, Pope of Rome, had so iudged it, and so would hauehave it. Therefore yee maye well thinke, that God could not plant and establishe his holy worde in mens heartes, by the inspiration of his spirit (as S. Iohn the Apostle would proue) if it were not that ye holy Church had therein holpen him.Iohn 2, 27. So that in this case, God is greatly beholden vntounto our deare mother, the holy Church, for her good wil & faithfull seruice. For if shee had accepted the Fables of Aesope, and of Howleglasse, the gospel of the Distaffe, and of Fortunatus purse: the gospel of Nichodemus, or the Alcaron of Mahomet, or els the gospel which certein Monkes at Paris, in the yere of our Lord 1220. had made, & set forth, being ful of al filthinesse and blasphemie,Euangeliū aeternum at Paris. naming it, Euangelium aeternum, that is to say, An euerlasting gospel, requiring the Pope that it might be by him canonized: and so set it forth for the eternall word of God,This doth Mat Pa…s. write being in those dayes a writer of Histories. but it ws denied thē, as hap was: but if it had bene so (I say) yt the pope and the holy Church would as wel hauehave allowed it, as they did ye holy scripture, with the Masse booke, with the seuē Psalmes, & with the Rosarium beatae Mariae, who could hauehave said, No, to them? And that should then hauehave bene the worde of God: yea, and therewith must God hauehave beene content. Wel, go too then, seeing that men did herein credit the writing and seale of ye church, wherfore should they not thē giuegive as great credit to them in al other matters? For euen so doth the text of the foresaid decrees, argue, saying with plaine wordes: In so much as men do receiue and accept the old and newe Testamentes, In the foresaid ca. Si Roman. dist. 13.because that Pope Innocentius hath ordeined & iudged: so it doth necessarily folow, that the Decretalles of the Popes of Rome, must likewise be receiued & accepted: the rather, for that Pope Leo hath likewise ordeined, That whosoeuer doth set him self against them, his sinnes shal neuer be forgiuen him, &c. It is very true, that by this argumēt it must likewise folow, that all the Iewes Caballes & Talmood, and all their dreames, must as wel be receiued, as ye fiue bookes of Moses, & the bookes of the Prophets. For it is most true, yt as we hauehave receiued ye new Testamēt of ye christē church, so hath ye christen church receiued ye bookes of the old Testamēt of ye Iewes Synagogue. And now, euen as our Romish church hath receiued ye writing of ye Apostles, & iudged ye same for true: so likewise hath the Iewish church iudged ye bokes of Moses & of ye prophets for true, & receiued thē for authētike. Nowe then, as men do herein beleeue, and allowe the Iewes writings, and seale, so must wee also, (following the rule of our Doctours of Louen) beleeue ye said Iewes, in all that they say and teache: and thereby nowe shoulde our Romishe Church come short home. But we do not esteeme such cō sequencies: It is but Philosophie: and the Popes of Rome are no Iewes. Therfore, that which they do and ordeine, hath an other maner of coūtenance, than that which the Iewes hauehave ordeined.
Therefore must our former argument remaine fast & vnmoueable: especially considering, that the Church of Rome is fullye credited in the one: therefore must shee (of necessitie) be as wel beleeued in the other. For truely, this argument is the trimmest and finest stuffe whereof Iohn Blindasinus hath made his Panoplie, which is as muh to say, as his Ful furniture of weapons & harnesse. For by this is proued, yt S. Frācis Vineyarde, In the 3. …oke and …, beginning: Fra…scu… sublin. …ur.The goldē Legend, The booke called, Conform. S. Franc. And the Masse booke, must be as much esteemed (in all respects) as ye very scripture of ye Bible: yea, in ye boke called Confo. S. Fran. (which was made by Barthol. of Pisa, & is alowed for good in ye chap. of Assis. In ye yere 1389.) is written, That the same booke is better,Confirmites of Saint Francis better than the Gospel: yea S. Francis is set in Lucifers chaire aboue Angels. thā ye Gospell: for that Saint Francis is placed in Lucifers seat, aboue all the companies of Angels, at the vpper ende of all.
Also there followeth out of the same, that the common sort of people may be as well instructed in the knoweledge of God, by dumbe Images, and mumming representations, as by the preaching of the Gospel: and that men must as well christen the Belles at the Font, as the children whiche are shapen after the likenesse of God, and bought by the precious bloud of Iesus Christ: that in baptising shall be vsed spittle and oyntment, as well as water: that the holy Sacrament shall bee caried about the streetes in the Procession, with Baners and Pipes, as well as it shall be taken and eaten in the Congregation of the faythfull, in remembrance of the death of the Lorde. In summe, men are as deepely bound, to do that which the holy Church, and the Popes of Rome hauehave dreamed, set vp, and commaunded, as that which by the expresse worde of God, and by the doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles is specially commaunded. Yea, and (I praye you) why should it not be so? Seeing (out of the same argument it must of necessitie be concluded) that ye word of God cannot be Gods word, but it must first by the church be therto shapen & fashioned. For note well, this word is with special wordes of our learned master Iodocus Tiletanus in writing thus.Iodocus Rauesteyn Tiletanus in his book written against the cōfession of the preachers at Antwerpe, printed in Anno. 1567
That the worde of God alone conteyned in the holy Scriptures, of the old and the newe Testamentes, together with the three Symbols or Creedes, as of the Apostles, the Councel of Nice, & of the father Athanasius, yea and thereto ioyne the three first Councels, are not the rule & perfite knot of the truth, whereby it is apparant, that in no wise men can perfitely know, whether these be the word of God, or no, without the traditions or setting forth of the Church, which doth assure vsus of al this, without any Scripture, &c.
In summe, the truth can be no truth, nor the light, light: yea, God can be no God, except that the holy Church of Rome, that is to say, the holy Pope of Rome with his bishops & prelates, do consent thervnto. So yt it is no maruel, that they can of a peece of bread make a God & creator of heauen and earth. For if it were so, that they should say: that at noone day it were darke night, wee must streight wayes beleue the same as an article of the faith, & by and by without delay, get vsus to bed. For we say by a certaine cōmon prouerbe, That when all the world doeth affirme that a man (as by example Sōnius, or Blindasinus) is a swine, he must out of doubt trudge vntounto the swinestie, and there eat only draffe. How much rather thē, when the holy Church, with that worthie cōpanie of Bishops, Abbats Prelates, and Cardinals (gathered together at Trent, or elswhere) do cōmand any thing, are not we bounde to receiue, beleue, & obey the same wtout any denial, & by and by to say Amen therevnto? And herein may men perceiue a great miracle, which (I do assure you) is greater by ye head thā any miracle that euer was don by the Apostles: to wit, yt the child was borne before the mother: yea, that the mother commes of the child. For it is most certein, and wel knowen, that the worde of God is the seede, whereof the Church of God doth spring & is ingendred, as the Apostle Peter witnesseth: cōsidering that the Church is nothing else but a Congregation of such,1. Pet. 1.23. as doe faithfully beleeue Gods woorde, and firmely sticke vntounto the same: where thorough they are also called, The Congregation of the liuing God, The pillar and staye of the truth. So that the woorde is the right mother of the Church. Well, nowe see, here goeth the holy Catholike Church of Rome before the worde of God, and his truth, which is as much to say, the childe goeth before the mother: yea, the worde can hauehave no might, no credite, no estimation, nor no being in the worlde, vnlesse it bee by speciall grace borrowed of her daughter the holy Church. As the foresayd Blindasinus, This hath also amōgst other bene openly defended by Siluester Pr…erias chief…st …ard of the popes court in his booke written against Martin Luther.Hosius, Sonnius, Piggius, Eckius, with all other Catholike Doctours hauehave forceably cōcluded, and irreuocably determined: taking this for a most true & vndoubted article of the faith, yea, for the most speciall ground, whervpon they and all their writing is founded, which is, That men may not beleeue the worde and truth of God, otherwise than by the appoyntment of the holy Church of Rome, which of duetie must alwayes goe before, and lead the daunse, which is as muche to say, that you can not ride to Louen, but you must set the Wagon before the horses.
And therefore whensoeuer the Churche doth ordeine any thing, that is contrarie to the Scripture, (as is before saide) we will giuegive the Scripture an honest passeport or safe conduct, and a great many of farewels. and cl…ue to the holy Church like a Burre. For the srcipture cannot defend this cause, but the holy Church of Rome can bring a man to the stake. And it helpes not to alledge and bring in Augustinus in the 19. Epistle ad Ianuarium, in the booke of baptisme, against the Donatists in the 3. chapter, it is brought in again the 95. chap. Quis nesciat distin. 9. Item in the booke of the vnity of churches in the 3. chapter. Item in the booke named de Genesi ad litteram. lib. 2. chap. 1. Item in the booke de peccatorum meritis. l…b. 1. cap. 22. In the booke de natura & gratia. cap. 51. and in his▪ 19. Epistle to S. Hierom. and is brought in in the cap. Ego solis dist. 29. Item againste Criscouium Grammaticum. lib. 2. cap 32. Item the 21. Epistle to the Bishop Fortunatus, and in the 112. Epistle to Paulinus. Item in the 3. booke agaynst Maximinus in the 3. chapter, and in many other places mo.Augustine here, who hath written in diuerse places. That wee ought to beleeue the holy Scripture only without any contradiction, and to trie & proue all other writinges and doctrines, howe substantiall soeuer they be: yea, all Councels, decrees, and ordinances, by the holy Scripture, as by the onelyonly true & vncounterfeyted touchstone, and abolish and put away vtterly all, whatsoeuer doth not therewithall agree: for that all smelleth altogether of heresie.
And where as he sayeth further. That when soeuer the Church doeth giuegive eare to any other voyce beside the onelyonly voyce of her bridegrome, she is then become whorish, and a wedlocke breaker: yea, and that they are all accursed, which go about to seduce the Bride of Christ, from her Bridegrome, to the doctrine and institutions of men, that is the plaine doctrine of Heretikes. For if that were so, all the before specified rules, ordinaunces, and decrees of the holy Church of Rome, should bee throwne downe, and troden vnderunder feet: yea, it must needes follow, that the holie Pope is accursed, & a verie Bawde, which hath made of the holy Catholike Church of Rome, a fowle shamelesse whore: Fie, fie, nay we will none of that. bAugust. vponupon these wordes of Iohn, whosoeuer hath the bride. c & Athanasius in the beginning of his booke against the infidels. Origene in the 7. homilie or sermon vponupon the prophet Ezechiel, and in the 7. homilie vponupon Esaias, Hilarius vponupon Matthaevv. Irinaeus in his 2. booke Cap. 56. agaynst Valentinus. &c. and in his 72. Epistle.Let Augustine much rather be an Heretike, and all those that are of his opinion, as master Athanasius, Origine, Hilarius, Irinaeus, Tertullianus, Cyprianus, Chrysostomus, and Hieronymus: let them rather be burnt euen al vponupon a heape.
Although it be easie to iudge, that if they were liuing nowe in these dayes, they would be lothe to permitte any such grosse stuffe, either to be vttred with their tōgues, or published by their pennes: or if they did, they must trudge with other into the fire. Yea, and cTertullian in his boke de Praescriptionibus Haereticorū. Cyprianus in his sermon of the baptising of Christ, and in his 3. Epistle ad Ce…i…i… ▪ and is brought in in the chap. Si…olus. dist. 5. wherewith doeth likewise agree Cap. Si frustra cadem distinct. Chrysostomus in the 4.9. Sermon vponupon the 24. chapter of Matthevv. Item vponupon the 95. Psalme. Hieronymus vponupon Matth. cap. 32. and vponupon Esai. cap. Vino. Distinct. 37. and cap. Non adferamus 24. quaest. 1. Ambrosius vponupon the 4. chap. of the epistle to the Corinthians.Ambrose must recant, and call backe againe, or eate vp with salt, that which he hath openly written, That al doctrine whatsoeuer, which hath not bene set forth and taught by the Apostles themselues, is▪ full of abhomination and knauerie.
Therefore, all helpes not, that they come forth with their writings, thinking thereby to outface our deare mother the holy Churche of Rome. It is a verie yong woolfe that neuer heard any noyse: shee doeth no more esteeme these bragges, than if it had thundred at Colen: for she will be still on cockehorse, let them tosse and turne it the best they can.