The Bee Hive of the Romish Church, Part 5
Now followeth the declaration vponupon the .5. part of Maister Gentian Heruet his letter, wherein is shewed, that the heretikes seek nothing but libertie of the flesh, hating all prayer, fasting and abstinence.
The first Chapter. Which declares that it is a lawfull thing, to lie & falsely to accuse an heretike, being to a good intent. Also of the fables of Cocles of Laurence Surius and of Aloysius Lippomanus, and to what purpose they serue a… things most needefull and necessarie.
IN this fifth part doth M. Gentianus shewe,Wherefore wee may lie. that these Heretikes seeke nothing else but fleshely libertie, and to get loose the bridle of their owne wills and appetites: and therefore (saith he) is it, that to the death they hate all prayers, fasting and abstinence. But here draweth great heauinesse towardes: For a man might euen at the first sight imagine, that he speaketh not indifferent, but of affectiō. Forsomuch as it is most manifest and well knowen, Fasting and prayers of the Lutherians and Huguenotes.that they highly esteeme of prayer, and also fast verie often: refraining not onelyonly from fleshe, but also from all kinde of meates, vntill the verie night, and remaine durable in prayer and in hearing of sermons.
Hereby then a man might suppose, that Maister Gentianus hath deserued a whetstone, and wagged the thumbe, to make his case good. Wherefore wee will more deepely consider this point, and warily weigh the reasons which hauehave moued him herevnto. So that wee hauehave then here to consider vppon two pointes: Namely, the first is that which Dauid saith,Psal. 69.10. That the zeale of the house of the Lorde hath euen eaten him, Which is euen here affected in Gentianus. For he is so hottely inflamed with the zeale of the holie Romish Churche, that he is in a manner astonied and amased, so as he doeth not see what he saieth. In the meane while notwithstanding doeth he recorde and call to minde that whiche our holy mother the Churche of Rome hath concluded in the councell of Constance, and the same time did put in practise, when the holie fathers there congregated did permit Iohn Hus and Hierom of Prage to be burnt, contrarie to the letters of safeconduite, whiche were graunted and giuen them by the Emperour and the saide councell, ordeining most firmely, that it should bee no offence to breake promise with Heretikes. Yet perhappes our Gentianus hath read in Cicero, That a mans faith or promise is stedfastnesse or vowed truth, of that which he pretendes to doe or speake. Therefore he feareth (as wee may iudge) that if he should say nothing but a truth, he might bee reputed and taken for a transgressour of the ordinances of the foresaide councell, as though he had vndertaken the faith of the Heretikes.
Moreouer,Lies to a good intent. the holie Church hath consented and ordeined, that sometimes a lie may be inuented against Heretikes, for a good intent, as to fraie simple people from desire to reade their bookes, least thereby they should fall into their heresies. And that this be true, appeares first by strong prouebable reasons: & further by credible examples. The reasons are these: That the holie Church hath ordeined & concluded (like as yet by the daily exercise appeares) that it is not ill done, to make the people beleeue many fables & Caū terburie tales: Fables.as of holie reliques, Saint Gabriels fethers, and Saint George his speare with whiche he did pearce the Dragon. Also of Saints as S. Christopher, S. Barbara, S. Katherin, of S. Francis vine and others suche like, whereof Gesta Romanorum, Vitas Patrum, Speculum historiale, the booke Lippomani, the booke Abdiae and Sophronij and the golden Legend, are full, and replenished with a number of suche fables, whiche our holie mother the holie Churche of Rome doeth tearme Piae fraudes, Pi… fraudes.that is to saie, holie deceiptes, or golden Legendes: And saieth that it is the milke, whiche Paule did giuegive the Corinthians to drinke when they were yet vnable to disiest strong meates: like as a good gray frier was woont to say at Ghaunte. In so much then, that it is allowable to faine suche fine fables, to prouoke people to deuotion, muche more then is it tollerable to rehearse some odde and strange iestes of Heretikes, as to wit, that they are blacke and foule fauoured, and worke matters with the diuell, with such like thinges, to affright people from the studie of their doctrine. Now the examples are also verie sure & waightie. For vponupon such like lies, which the holy supposses or subiects of the Romishe Churche, hath persuaded Emperours & Kings to beleue, were they permitted to make their placards & priuileges against the Lutherians & Huguenotes, wherby such controuersies & tumultes are growen & sprong vp in the world, that it is to be doubted, great bloudshed will be made before they will be apppeased againe. This may sufficiently appeare by the wordes of the Placard in the reigne of the Emperour Charles of noble memorie,Placardes of Charles the .5. set forth in the yeere .1521. at the citie of Wormes, declaring expresly, That Luther was a Pelagian, and did disdainefullie contemne the Saintes. Also he taught, that there ought to bee neither gouernment nor superioritie, nor yet obedience, & did gainesaie reproue and disalowe all good ciuil pollicie and spirituall reformations, to the ende the commonaltie should be moued & prouoked to raise armes and rebell against their rulers as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill, and to frame themselues to contend, murther and steale, wasting and consuming all thinges with fire and sworde, to the great indammaging of the whole common wealth of Christendome▪ And, which is more detestable, he ordeined & allowed a certeine kinde of life, whereby each should doe that which he would in manner of brute beastes: and as a lawlesse man did abiect and detest all Ecclesiasticall & temporall lawes.
Beholde, these be the verie wordes of the Emperours acte, and this is the verie first & originall welspring of all the bloudshed, which hath happened throughout all Christendome for the space of seuen and fortie yeeres, vntill this present time, the which all men may both see with their eyes, and in a manner feele with their fingers to be most grosse, blockishe, and palpable lies, which Petrusa Sotto (the Emperours good ghostly father) and other Catholike Priestes did blowe in at his eares: not for that they did suppose it to be so, for they had not a haire on their heades but it knewe the contrarie. But fearing the reformation of the Gospell, did moue the Emperours Maiestie (which otherwise of himselfe was not by nature giuen to wrath or any desire of bloudshed) to a bloudie abolishing & wrathfull extirpation of all these Lutherans & Caluinistes, which were not (in any respect) for their tooth: forsomuch as they sought to reforme papistrie by the authoritie of the Gospell: Notwithstanding, vponupon their wordes onelyonly did the Emperour proceede in his purpose, & would not at any time giuegive eare to the Heretikes. Like as now the King of Spaine, of a good zeale (supposing to doe God high & acceptable seruice) doth also proceede to the vtter ruine & manifest destruction of his own inheritance & naturall countrie, & his most loyall, louing, & obedient subiects: knowing no other,Placardes of king Philip. but that all is true, which his ghostly fathers and other Spanish Priestes and foster fathers of the holie Inquisition do put in his head: yea vppon the same hath not spared his naturall and onelyonly sonne, but hath deliuered him ouer into the handes of the hellishe Inquisitours permitting them to throwe him into prison, where most miserably he ended his lamentable life. Verelie this was a slie and fine fetche, whiche our holie mother did wiselie weigh, that to a good intent men might make a lie. For otherwise, if they might hauehave manifested naught but a troth, then shoulde the Heretikes hauehave founde audience by Kinges and Princes: the plaie had been made, and all thinges woulde hauehave gone a wrie with Priestes and Poperie, Masses and suche tromperie of the Romishe Churche: yea, the whole Spiritualtie would not hauehave beene worthe a beane, like as wee may perceiue in all places where these Heretikes hauehave had hearing, and where they hauehave beene permitted to plead their cause openly.
But worship bee vntounto our Ladie of the seuen Okes, and Saint Iob of Wesemall with all the glorious Saintes, which are at Antwerp on the high aulter. For there (in good time) did happen some foresight, by the cunning of vnfolding the booke of lies, and causing Kinges to beleeue that the Moone was made of greene cheese: And good reason: for who so faines himselfe to be a sheepe, may happen to bee deuoured of the Woolfe, according to the vulgar saying.
But yet hauehave ye another commoditie whiche groweth by this kinde of sacred dealing. For if Priestes and Monkes were bound alwayes to preache the truth, there woulde ensue a great disgrace vntounto them, for that they woulde oftentimes in their pulpettes become as dumb as fishes, being vnable to bring foorth any thing, because they are all vnfortunate in declaring the trueth, and therefore shoulde misse the meane to vtter their excellent giftes of filed eloquence. But when they hauehave no more arrowes lefte in their quiuers, then doe they fall vppon the Heretikes, and hauehave store of matter to talke of, yea wonderfull things to declare against them: they rage, they rore, they thūder, they lighten, & make them so blacke & deformed like diuels in hell. Sometime they catch a Caluin by the throte, sometime Beza, sometime their quarell is against Marottes Psalmes: sometime with the Greeke and Hebrewe texte, whiche in no sauce they can abide: sometime they martyr the Catechisme so pitifully, as though they had it on a racke.
To be briefe, they regard neither doore nor post, but shoote their shaftes vp to the feathers in it. They prattle like Pies, and seeme in a manner as they had soulde all their potte herbes, and yet reserue of the best to themselues, that is truely a sport and pretie pastime: specially to the deuoute women, which are not greatly acquainted with the Bible, or Gods worde, but rather listen to the Popes lies, and to daunse after his pipe, or to heare some Gospell of a distaffe, and tale of a tubbe. In fine, a man would verily iudge, that such Catholike preachers had beene all their dayes Pedlers or pelting Apothecaries of Dutchlande, or that they had farmed the prattle courte wholly to themselues. Like as daily may bee perceiued at all their Sermons, and specially at the woorthie Sermon, which a goodly grayfrier doeth vsually make in Frenche at Antwerpe in S. Iacobs Churche. It seemeth he is one of those foresaid pelting Apothecaries whiche hath trudged these seuen and thirtie yeeres to all markets & faires, about the countrie, to sell his triacles and rattes bane.
It doeth also appeare by the preaching of the foresaid brother Cornelis the whipper,Seeke the first Chapter of the second part. who doeth with such a zeale roare against Heretikes, that he will hauehave them rooted out quite, and to bee burnte to ashes. Yea, he hath not long ago preached, That childe bearing women ought to hauehave their wombes rent and torne, to take out their babes, and burne them, before they shoulde bee borne or brought foorth into the worlde, which he doeth affirme with a plaine texte, which he hath read in the kitchen bible, or else hath learned of his Cooke: namely, that of Egges fride in a frying panne, come no ill chickens. I omitte the goodly Sermons of dronken Nicholas,Dronken Nicholas. the Bishoppe of Harlem, and many famous sermons more of sundrie worthie champions, which doe ring their larum belles with suche vehemencie against Heretikes, that when they are in their pulpites, their hearse and rustie throtes will scarse bee refreshed and cleared againe with foure or fiue pottles of wine.
Yet can I not forget, nor let slippe out of memorie, that pretious Sermon of the reuerend Bishop of Vtrecht, which he made when the Prouinciall councell was holden there, whiche is about three yeeres past. For in the same he declared and pronounced it out at large, of the Dutche Beare Luther, and that his mother was a whore, and had slepte by the Diuell, with many suche like Caunterburie tales and forged fables whiche he had rakte together out of Cochles or brother Laurence Surius who were godly Catholike pedlers.
And verelie suche trustie speares as Laurence Surius and Cochleus hauehave well deserued a good peece of rosted beefe hotte from the spitte, considering that with their notable and excellent briefe histories, they hauehave furnished and well armed the Bishoppes, Monkes, and priestes, with suche stuffe as will serue their turnes to occupie their Pulpittes with all. So as their stories may well and aptly bee called Dormi secure, that is to say, Sleepe without care: So that the Monkes and Parishe Priestes neede not studie in their Bibles for to make a sermon, so long as they are prouided of suche bookes. For therein they finde made readie to their handes, matter enoughe to prate vppon: yea if it were naught else but the pretie pageant whiche the foresaid Laurence Surius doth rehearse of Caluin. This pretie tale is to be reade in the historie of Laurence Surius, which he hath called, Comentarius breuis rerum in …rbe gestarum, and is printed at Cullen.To wit, That Caluin shoulde seeke to confirme his doctrine with miracles, and therefore shoulde persuade a man to suffer himselfe to bee borne in a coffin to Church: And when Caluin called to him, before the multitude) that if his doctrine were true, he should arise, the man being smothered in the cheste was founde starke deade: his wife beginning pitifully to lament, Caluin did (with faire speache and promises of recompence) perswade her to bee still: and presently gotte him into the Pulpitte, declaring to the people that it was long of their vnbeliefe that this miracle woulde not fadge. It is a common saying, that, To him which telles a lie or a fable, it behoues him to hauehave a good memorie. But this was out of this good Historiographers heade, for so muche as he did not call to minde, that they are not accustomed at Geneua, to bring deade▪ corses into the Churches▪ and muche lesse in time of any Sermons: besides, he had forgotten, that Caluine did alwaies teach it to be an vngodly and a diuelishe acte, to goe about to confirme the doctrine of the Gospell a new with miracles, which hath alreadie in times past beene sufficiently confirmed with most notable and wonderfull miracles of God. But the good Catholike is to bee pardoned, for that (with eating too muche fishe) his braines are weakened, and his memorie thereby decayed. Yet he declares more, which sounde a great deale better.
As touching the miracles of Luther: of the bloud which issued out of the Sacrament from the altar in the countrie of Brandenburge, whiche (it may bee) he hath learned of Aloysius Lippomano, who hath likewise written a great booke full of such iestes. And many more suche lies and toyes with a witnesse, which serue greatly for the vse of Priests and Monkes in time of their sermons & preachmentes. And chiefely these newe base Countrie Bishoppes, whiche (for the most part) hauehave spent their time in studie, betwixte the butterie and the kitchen, and can saie but litle except they be prickt forwardes with some helpes: like as may appeare by the worthie sermon of the reuerend Bishop Franciscus Sonnius, (the father of all the newe Bishops) which he made at his first entrie to a citie called Hertoghenbosch, saying, That the citizens might reioyce, for so much as they had gotten him to be their Bishop, The sermon of Sonnius.for that henceforwards (quoth hee) you shall hauehave great resort of manie strangers, which (afore times) were wont to hauehave their trade to Luyke and Vtrecht, and the one should eate a herring, the other should drinke a potte of beare, which would be a great helpe to their impost, &c. Was not this a good helpe to sing Gaudeamus?
In like manner also Curtius at Bridges, which notwithstanding had bene Pastour or Curate of the great and chiefe church at Louen, expounding that parte of the Gospell: Ego sum, nolite timere: I am hee, be not afraid, said, That he was the man, The sermon of Curtius.of whom so much had bene spoken, and that they should not stande in feare of ought, considering he was a towns man borne, and christened in the same font. In fine, it was: which way to London? A pooke full of plummes. The good Curate had but litle to say, for hee knewe no tales of Robin Hoode, nor yet of Caluin, nor the Dutch Beare his miracles. Hee had not red ouer the pleasaunt histories of Laurence Surius, Cochles, nor Lippomanus. Therefore are they highlie to bee commended, which can furnish out their matter with such pleasaunt rehearsals, to keepe the audientes waking: as for the Byble or Gospell, they hauehave not forgotten much, because they feare to read it, least (thereby) they should become Heretikes. To conclude, so farre foorth as lies and fables doe serue to the aduancement of the holie Church of Rome, they are not onelie to bee borne withall, but also greatlie extolled. And therefore it is no maruell, that Maister Gentianus durst thus boldlie affirme by writing, That the Huguenotes and Lutherans did hate and detest all prayers, fasting and abstinence. This is than the first point, which is to be cōsidered hereof, for his discharge, to wit, That he hath (in this behalfe) behaued him selfe as a good and faithful Catholike.
The ii. Chapter. VVherein is declared, Howe it is to be vnderstood, that the Huguenotes & the Lutherans do hate all prayers, fasting, abstinence, and penaunce or mortification: and herein is comprehended of the abstinence and mortification of Monkes, Bishops, Prelates, and other: and of the mortification which is vsed amongst the Huguenotes & Lutherans.
THe other part is,The manner of fasting & prayers amongst the Huguenotes and Lutherans. that hee hath great reason to say, the Heretikes are mortall foes to prayer, fasting & mortification. For there is a rule in lawe, That, to plead a case ill, and otherwise then it ought to be, or to neglect the same wholie, doeth fall out to one effect. Well then, albeit the Heretikes doe often pray & fast, for so much as they doe it not as they ought, it serues them to no purpose. It is true, they pray morning & euening: & would be loth to go to their meales or to arise without praying and seruing God: which notwithstanding is oftentimes neglected by the most chiefest of the catholikes: like as may be seene in the Popes sacred Court, and at the tables of the Cardinals and Bishops: yea, amongst the most faithfull subiectes of the Romish church.Pardons to drinke after grace is said. In so much as it hath bin founde necessarie for a Pope to graunt pardons to such after their meales should once drinke, to the ende that (thereby) he shoulde remember the good ale knights to say their graces, for to hauehave one good draught more when they hauehave done. I admit then that the Heretiks do pray apase:Iam. 1.5.6.7. Mat. 7.7. Mar. 11.24. Mat. 14.31. Mar. 9.23. Iohn 16.23. Psal. 27.1.2.3 Rom. 8.1.16. Rom. 4.20.8.33.34.34. &c. Galat. 4.6. Ephe. 1.13. 1. Cor. 13.5. Augu. vponupon the 1. epist. to Timot. in the 8. sermon, and vponupon the Galat. in the 5. Antoni. parte 4. Tit. 6. cap. 2. ff 7. Stanislaus Hosius in the booke of Heresies. And in the Councell of Trent, it is thus concluded. 9.12.13. & cap. 13.14, &c. Sess. 6. But to what ende is it? They pray not as they ought to doe. For, in primis, they will approue, that whensoeuer we desire ought in the name of Christ Iesus, that wee are assured to obteine the same. And therefore (say they) All faithful people are assuredlie persuaded of their saluation, and stand in no doubt at all of Gods gratious good will and fatherlie louelove towards them: for so much as God can not lie, who hath (for Iesus Christes sake) vndoubtedlie promised them the same: and with his holie Ghost hath sealed and affirmed it in their heartes. This doeth the holie Church of Rome hold for great heresie, teaching to the contrarie, That none in this present worlde can certainlie know, whether his prayer be heard, much lesse, whether he bee in Gods fauour or no, except by great preeminence, or some speciall miracle, it be reuealed and made knowen vntounto him. Therefore doeth she hold it for great arrogancie and presumption, to say (according to Saint Paul) That the holie Spirit of God is in vsus, and prayeth in vsus, Rom. 8.27.and that without it, we can not pray at all: For so much as none doeth knowe whether hee hath the spirit of God or not: and therefore must alwayes stand in doubt betwixt hope and feare, like to a ship without helm and compasse, betwixt the gulffes and waues of the sea, like as S. Iames doeth say.Iames 1.6.
Secondarilie, the Heretikes will not declare and complaine their neede, but to God onelie, nor call vponupon anie but him alone, as though none but hee could helpe them, or that he were at leasure, and had nought else to doe, but iust to heare what they would say vntounto him. To the contrarie of this, doeth the holie Church commaund,In the 4. chap. of the 4. part. That wee shall likewise call vponupon Saintes, and put our trust in them, like as hath bene declared before. Moreouer, they will not hauehave anie Mediatour or Aduocate to God, but onelie Christ Iesus. And so set all Saintes aside, as seruing for sifers, and standing to none effect: euen as though Christ alone were a sufficient Mediatour, and that the sillie Saintes had not one voyce in a court.
After this, they will not pray anie thing, for (forsouth) it must first be found prescribed in the Scripture, forasmuch as To pray without faith (say they) is sinne: Rom. 14.23. Heb. 11.6. Rom. 10.17.And faith can not be allowed, without the promes and word of God. Hereby (la)doeth it come to passe, that the poore soules do remaine still frying in Purgatorie, for default of a Pater Noster, & an Aue Marie. In so much as now the high waye (through which the soules were wont to passe) is become such a thicket, ouer growen with thornes and thistles, that it is not possible to passe that way anie more.
Moreouer, they will not pray otherwise than in their own mother tongue, or in such a language as them selues do vnderstand, as though our God did not vnderstand Latin: or at least, that they them selues ought to vnderstand that which they say. They build vponupon Paule,1. Cor. 14. throughout the whole chapter. who forbiddeth to pray in an vnknowen tongue. But they doe not consider that the holie Church of Rome hath altered the case, commaunding, that Masses, Eeuensongs and Vigilles, Mattens, and Meridians, with all other such tromperies, should bee red in the Latin tongue, euen like an vnlearned theefe readeth his necke verse:Latin tongue. for that is more meritorious, than if wee our selues vnderstoode what wee did say. Like as Cardinall Hosius, and Doctor dolt Eckius hauehave finelie affirmed out of that part of Scripture, where it is written, That Pilate did set downe the title or superscription, in Hebrewe, Greeke, and Latin. And in deede, it is good reason, that they which (after the example of Pilate) do crucifie Christ, ought likewise to vse and imitate his language.
Further, these Heretikes will not say their Aue Maries, nor Pater Nosters, with litle pretie woodden bullets or beaderowes made of stone or yuorie, as though they should score them vponupon a poast: they suppose perhappes, that GOD maye nomber or tell them him selfe, thinking he hath nothing else to doe. They will neuer kneele vntounto Images or dumbe Saintes, (by prayer) to craue their helpe or ayde, but imagine GOD to bee present euerie where,Mat. 6.6. and that their prayers bee as forcible in their bedde chambers, as to our blessed Ladie, the Ladie of Hayle, or to Saint Iames of Compostella in Spaine· And therefore do deride all the pilgrimages of our louing mother the holie church. And when they desire to receiue Gods holie spirit, they knowe not that they ought to say an Aue Marie, like as the good Catholikes vse to do at their sermons, for so much as Aue Marie is as much to say with them, as, O Lord graunt vsus thy holie spirit. And, which is worst of all, they will not pray, neither through the merites of Saintes, nor through the vertue of holie water, of the holie oyle, of sanctified bread, of Palmes, Agnus Dei, holie Reliques, nor through the merites of holie dayes which they hauehave obserued, neither through the merites of their fasting, or anie worldlie thing else, but onelie through the merites of the onelie sacrifice or oblation of Iesus Christ, being offered vponupon the crosse to God the Father: yea, they make a iest of all such matters, & condemne them for meere superstition and idolatrie. To conclude, they will not pray as the holie Romish Church doeth. Ergo, they pray not as they ought to do: and therefore must we account of them as though they did not pray at all.
Euen in like sorte doeth it fall out with their fasting: for they fast after their owne orders, and will not obserue the ordinance of the holy Romish Churche. But like as they pray without keeping any set taylie, or Ceremonie, so due they fast without a score, and without exception of dayes:Fasting without a score. so that God cannot well remember, when they hauehave fasted or prayed. And further when they fast, they wil not eate any thing at all, and make it as great a matter to eate fishe, as fleshe, and Egges: which is a great heresie, like as is shewed before. Where againe (notwithstanding) they will (with an obstinate he…d) defend, That, Mat. 15.11. Titus 1.15. 1. Tim. 4.3.that which goeth into the mouth, defileth not the man: And, To them which are cleane, all thinges are cleane, whiche God hath created, to vse them with thankesgeuing. After this, they will not fast in reuerence of the Saintes, to obserue their Vigilles with deuotion, like vntounto our holy mother: And when they hauehave brought all about, to what ende (I pray you) serues their fasting? They acknowledge themselues, that of it selfe, it is neither good nor bad: And,Rom. 14.17. 1. Cor. 8.8. That the kingdome of God doeth not consist neither in meate nor drinke. Yea, they vphold, That meate or drinke doeth not make vsus acceptable to God: And, That wee are not the better for eating, nor the worse for not eating. And that all their fasting onelyonly serueth to make them more apt & fitte to serue God, and to submitte themselues to his omnipotent power: chiefly whensoeuer his wrath is kindled against them.To what ende fasting is vsed. Then doe they vse fasting, not for the deede it selfe, but for the occasion of prayer, & to humble themselues, but further benefit do they not seeke by it, vnlesse that anie of his own accord or free wil, do accustome him selfe therevnto, thereby to subdue his flesh, and the sinfull affections of his minde.A true kinde of fasting. Else (say they) the right fasting is, to refraine from all vngodlie and sinfull deedes, and to frame him selfe to vse a perpetuall sobrietie & temperancie all the dayes of his life. Esai. 58.6. Luke 21.34. Rom. 13.13.Whereas notwithstanding our deare mother expreslie doeth teach, That fasting is a meritorious worke of it selfe, whereby a man may merit heauen, the fauour of God, and life euerlasting, as hath bene declared before.
Seeing then that the Heretikes make no account hereof, but rather esteeme it for vile, and an open blasphemie towards GOD, so doeth it appeare, that they do hate and abhorre the right fasting of the holie Church.
Concerning Penaunce, mortification,Abstinence. and brideling of the flesh, therein they doe not likewise conceiue anie great pride: for otherwise they would goe to shrift, whereas nowe they mocke with it, and with all the penaunces which the ghostlie father doeth but then the penitent soules: withall. Further, they will hauehave Priests to marrie wiues▪ That eche one shall hauehave his married wife, 1. Cor. 7.2.and euerie woman her espoused husband, to the ende, aduoutrie & fornication may bee auoided. And will not lende out their wiues to the parishe Priestes nor Monkes, like as the good Catholike felowes (especiallie in Spaine) doe, for to pleasure the holie Clementish communitie, as is before rehearsed. They passe not for anie Ember weekes: They obserue neither Lent, nor Shrouetide, Saint Martins, nor Twelfth daye at night: they will not daunse, neither will they drinke anie more, than to satisfie their thirst: once they wil be right Huguenots ▪ they do not imitate their forefathers: they will hauehave a newe lawe after their manner: they esteeme it not worth a rotten medler, to remooue into a Cloister or religious house, and to begge from doore to doore: they skoffe with the holie Monkes coate: they do not greatlie glorie to be buried in a Monkes greasie hoode: they count the rope wherewith the Friers are girt, of no worth: but (say rather) It would fitte better about his throte, than about his loynes: they would not giuegive a beane, for the hearn garment of Heremites: they will not be chastised, and receiue the Miserere, till vntounto vitulos: they will not whip them selues, like as the Spaniardes doe at Bruxelles, and the cōpanie of those which are called Flagellantes: they make no account of pilgrimages, and will not goe barefoot and bare head in processions, after the holie sacrament of Miracles, with a torche in their hand: they esteeme all the festiuall and loytering dayes neuer a whit: and when the good Catholikes doe sit in Tauernes drinking and swilling, deuoutlie obseruing the festiuall dayes, then sit these in their shoppes at worke, or else go to heare some sermon, or walke abroad: in so much, that at Antwerpe (when publique preaching of the Gospell was permitted) it hath bene firmelie found by the impost and taxes of drinke, that these holie dayes hauehave bene neglected: where through the Almoners found them selues likewise much greeued, because they did not receiue such summes of money, as they were wont to doe by brokes of those which in their drunkenesse were wont to wound and slaie eche other: for so much as the Heretikes did not celebrate these festiuall dayes after the olde order of the Romish Church. In summe, they will not doe any thing at all to mortifie their fleshe, otherwise than the Apostles hauehave charged them to do, or then they did them selues, as though in deede they were Apostles them selues. So that we may plainlie perceiue, they doe not regard at al the fasting, abstinēce, mortification, or penance of the holie Church worth an oatten cake.
And therefore can they not in like case merit heauen, I omitte that they should make others partakers of their merites, like as our Catholike Monkes & Priests, and especiallie the greie Friers do:The penance of greie Friers. which are so leane, as though they had lien diseased seuen yeares in a coale house, and doe such penaunce, that wee may perceiue by their bleared eyes, they hauehave not droncke so much wine, as they desired to hauehave done: They lay their heads at one side on their shoulders: Esai. 58.5.They wreith their neckes like a rush, they hauehave alwayes their Dirige booke in their hands:Esai. 59.5. They punishe their owne flesh: they wrinkle their foreheads like a Bucke: they make their eyes as dim as an Owle: they watche by night, to sleepe in the day: they forsake their owne riches and substance, to liue on the sweate of other mens browes: they labour neuer a whit, to the ende they may enter into more deepe contemplations: they vowe chastitie, and will not hauehave wiues them selues, to the ende and purpose, they may the more bouldlier shriue, and the better comfort other mennes wiues and daughters: they vowe obedience vntounto their chiefe ruler, for to bee released and wholie freed from all obedience towardes other Magistrates and rulers: they take vponupon them pouertie, to enriche their Monkerie: they wander like pilgrimes, to fill their baight bagges with lumpes of bread and roast meat: they visit the sicke, to cause them to put on S. Francis cope, and go to tend those which are redie to leaue this life, to helpe thē make their willes: they weare a hearie garment and a graie coate, to shewe that they are like to wilde beastes and wolues in doing their penance: they weare a fooles hood, to declare that the world is replenished with idiotes: to be short, we may perceiue by their noses, that they louelove mortification, as a dogge doeth a cudgell.
But what shal I say concerning the holy Prelates and Bishops,Penance of the Bishops. who in al their clothing & vttermost habits do shewe their inward penance & mortification? Doe they not weare a Miter on their head with two hornes, to signifie that they doe knowe (by heart) both the testaments a like? and are alwayes prest to butte with their hornes against al heretiques? As also to shewe that they hauehave bin crowned wt thornes, aswel as our Lord was? And sometime they weare them snow white, to declare their vndefiled purenesse. Doe they not weare a paire of gloues, that their left hande knoweth not what the right hand doth? And, their gold ring, what doth it els signifie,Golde ring. but that they be vpright & without dissimulation? Their staffe, that they are strōg against heretiks? And their handkercher (which is alwaies at hand) that they bee euer readie to abandon all earthlie filthines, and wholie doe rubbe of their fleshlie affections? After this, all Priestes in generall, hauehave they not a shauen crowne on their heades, to shewe, that like as a round crowne hath no corners, so hauehave they not anie filthines, which they can spare, or be without. But if I should rehearse all these matters peece by peece, it would verilie seeme to be a Babylon, which is, A fowle confusion, or meruellous medlie. Therefore, it is suffient to gather hereby, what great mortification doeth lurke and lie hidden in the skinnes of these holie subiectes of the Romish Church, which by their outward apparell and seeming, doe shewe such exceeding great holinesse. I referre now al men to consider what is to be thought of their inward parts, which are so holie, as though they were possest with seuen spirites. To the contrarie whereof, these newe Preachers, hauehave neither sticke nor staffe, myter nor ring, neither yet anie shauen crownes or other, whereby they may declare their mortification: yea, they goe arraied like other plaine people, and say, that Penance and mortification doeth not consist in such and such like outward ceremonies, Ioel. 2.13. Iere. 4.1.2.4.but in the conuersion of the mind and soule to Godwardes, and in an inwarde feeling of miseries, a true feling of Gods wrath against sinne, and in a firme faith and trustie staie vppon Gods goodnes and merciemercy through the merites of Iesus Christ. Moreouer,1. Tim. 6.8. That bodilie excercise is litle vailable, but Godlinesse in all thinges is profitable and helpefull. Wherein they sufficientlie shewe, that they knowe litle concerning the mortification which the holie Church doeth teache, and they contemne holie Confession, Contrition, Absolution, and Satisfaction, and other such like thinges, and louelove the first day of Lent aswell as the last. Behold, for this cause is it, that Maister Gentianus hath so cunninglie concluded in this Article, That they hate & wholie condemne fasting, praying, abstinence, and mortification of the flesh.
The iii. Chapter. VVhichWhich doeth shewe, howe it is to be vnderstood, that we can not make satisfaction for the least offence: and hree is concluded, that the penaunce of Heretikes is not acceptable with God.
BVt forsomuch as they do here acknowledge, that we can neuer make satisfaction for the least offence of the worlde, that might seeme to be a great heresie: for if it were so, the Heretikes shoulde hauehave great reason to saye, that our satisfaction were vaine and friuolous. And therefore they would say,In the 7. chap. of the 2. part. as hath bin shewed before, That we ought to laie aside and treade vnderunder foote all hope of satisfaction, and wholy to cleaue & trust to the meere goodnes & vndeserued merciemercy of God, Rom. 3.21.24 25.4.6.16.5. Galat. 2.16 3.13. Ephe. 2.8.9. 2. Tim. 1.9. 1. Pet. 1.19. Esai. 53.5.which in respect of our partes, is without desert bestowed vpō vsus, but in respect of Gods righteousnes, is giuen vsus for an exceding deere price, to witte, the bloud of Christ Iesus the vnspotted lambe, which (as Esaie saith) hath borne our infirmities, & was laden with our punishments: which was wounded for our sins, and for our sakes did suffer death: and vponupon him is laid the punishment whereby we are at peace. And hereout they conclude with Paul, That we hauehave (through Christ) all satisfaction, Colos. 2.3.4.5 1. Cor. 1.30.and that hee is wholie our saluation, iustification, and deliuerance ▪ And with Peter,Act. 4.12. That by none other in the world, saluation is to be gotten, for somuch as there is not anie other name giuen to mankinde, whereby they may be saued: insomuch that all our boasts, Rom. 3.27. 1. Cor. 1.29.whether it be of good workes, merites, or satisfaction, is wholie excluded and brought to nothing: in so much as before God it doth not preuaile, and that no fleshe can be iustified in his presence by the workes of the lawe, Psal. 143.2. Iob. 9.3 Rom. in the 3. and 4 chap. and Gal. in the 2. throughout. Esaie 64.6.and that all our righteousnes is naught els but a stained cloth. But al this is heresie, as it hath ben sufficientlie shewed before, and they which learne such, are hanged and burned like Heretikes.In the 2. part in the chap. of Satisfaction. For els (as hath bin said) what should become of satisfaction, and meritorious deedes, which (according to the doctrine of the holy Church) do amend faultes escaped,These are the proper wordes of Anthonius vponupon the Sent. par. 3. in tit. 14 cap. 20. and by good foresight defend and set vsus free from those to come? What should become of al our good works whereby wee can deserue three sundrie things, namelie, Eternall life, Increase & augmentation of merciemercy,These are the wordes of Barnardine Roset sermone 20. and Forgiuenes of sinnes? What should become of the merites of Saintes, through the which the holie church doeth pray vntounto God, that he wil pardon all their offences, through the Saintes, whose reliques & bones do lie on the altar where the Masse is said?This is in a prayer which the Priests say in their Masse presentlie after Consiteor, and herewith doeth agree Pet. Lom. in the 4. booke of Sent. dis. 45 Alto Bonauen. in the 2. article, and al other catholiks writers In so much, as (often) shee doeth pray through the merites of ashes, horses and dogges, whose bones for the most parte remaines also (as reliques) on their altars. What (moreouer) should become of our exceeding good workes, which are called Opera supererogationis, wherewith wee doe not onelie make satisfaction for our selues, but also for others, and especiallie for the soules in Purgatorie? Yea, what shoulde become of Purgatorie it selfe, if there were not satisfaction? What would become of Pardons and Bulles, which are allowed and sent from the Pope? Verelie they would serue for no purpose better, than to be brought to the house of office, to be sealed with portingale waxe, if so bee it were true, which Maister Gentianus doth here set downe, as that wee are vnable to make recompence for the least offence. It were in deede a lamentable case: therefore we must vnderstande him here aright. For his meaning was to speake thus obscurelie, because he would tole and entise the heretikes into the field. For otherwise, this is not his meaning: but doeth simplie vnderstand, that we can not satisfie, Nisi concurrente gratia, that is to say, Except merciemercy doeth assist, and helpe our merites (as is said before) sometimes thorough the pikes. For we hauehave apparantlie concluded, that wee must make a bargain betwixt God and vsus. He doeth giuegive vsus his merciemercy in our baptisme: but after that, wee must shift for our selues, and by our good deedes bind God vntounto vsus, so that of duetie he must receiue vsus into heauen: especiallie if we be assisted wt the meanes and by helpes of holie church: namelie, by the vertue of the Masse, holie water, tapers, &c. and with the Popes Bulles: for thereby will our infirmities amende, like corne shaken with a shower of haile, or like fish left on the sandes, and as sower Ale in Sommer. And if so be that (besides this) we will submit our selues, and take vntounto vsus the habit of a Monke or Frier, and so frame our selues after the ful shapen order of S. Francis, & S. Dominicks rule,Of supererogatorie works, read Peter de Asolo in the booke called, Asser. Cath…. sidei, where hee speaketh of the Law. And E…k. in his Pamph. and so compasse more then God hath commaunded vsus, then wee excell all the rest of our friendes in riches, and may bestowe some of our ouerplus vponupon them, which wee like best. Like as our louing mother the holie Church hath neatelie concluded. Therfore is Maister Gentianus to bee vnderstoode after this manner: Forsomuch as he doeth verie Doctorlike conclude, saying, Wee may not repose or trust hereto to much, to witte, All Paules Epistles are full of these doctrines, & the pla…e… are noted before.that Christ shoulde hauehave made full satisfaction for vsus: For albeit that S. Paule (euerie where) doeth teache otherwise, and (in anie case) will hauehave, that we shall repose all our confidence (without anie surmising or doubting) vppon the merites and satisfaction of Christ, yet this is not to be vnderstoode literallie▪ as the Heretikes do take it, but spirituallie, that is to say, after the glose & interpretation of the spirituall Councell of Trent, like as we hauehave sufficiently declared aboue. And therefore is that likewise true which Gentian doeth gather hereof, to witte, That God doth not accept or allowe the conuersion and repentance of Heretikes, for so much as it is not done, as it ought to be. And it is not an easie matter (as he saith) to make God a flexen beard. For that can none do, but our deare mother the holie Church of Rome,God with a flaxen beard. which hath foure white feete, and can not erre. Therefore hath shee (in token that she wil make God a flexen beard) a religious custome, to make her God with a graie beard like to flexe: And in their procession, when they carrie Corpus Domini about, they doe likewise make a god with a flaxen bearde, and so beare him triumphantlie about with a Tabber & pype, in manner as though they were going to the Theater, or to the playing of a Fensers price. And howe be it, that Gentian saith, God will not be derided, or mocked, that is vnderstood by the liuing God which is in heauen, and not by the same God which our deare mother doeth keepe as prisoner in the Sacrament boxe, against her festiuall solenmizations. For that is a patient God, and is neuer angrie, but alwayes pleased alike, and at one staie: prouided alwayes, that he be saflie kept and well garded from myse, mothes and wormes, which are his deadlie foes.