The Papists Reasons of State and Religion, Reason of religion 26 – Reason of religion 28

The Papists Reasons of State and Religion · Reason of religion 26 – Reason of religion 28

p. 8326. REASON OF RELIGION.

A Religiō of which the fowre acknowledged Doctors of holy Church were both(a)(a)Tom. 4. li 2. de Sacramentis c. 1. & 2. lib. 3. cap. 1. profeſſors, and ſtoute defenders, as their owne workes moſt apparantly beare witneſſe.

S. bbJbidem.Ambroſe living 64. yeares, and dying in the yeare of our Lord 397. purpoſely and approvingly wrote of 'exorciſmes vſed before baptiſme, of' vnction in baptiſme, of the perpetuallccTom 5. de vocatione gent. li. 3. cap 8 per toturn. alienation of infantes from the ſight of God dying without baptiſme, ofddTom. 4. lib. 1. de poenitentia cap. 2. & 6. remiſſion of ſin by a Prieſt, and who, as S Paulinus recordeth in his life, heard auricular confeſſions, and ſo wept in hearing, that he cauſed teares alſo in the penitents. He like wiſe wrote of theeeTom. 4. lib. 4. de Sacramentis reall preſence in the Sacrament of the altar, & offfTom. 4. de Spirit. Sanct… lib. 3 cap. 12. adoration therevnto to be done, he obſerved & cō mended the Lent-faſtggTom. 1. Serm de itiunio Ediae calling it the precepte of Chriſt our Lord. In like manner he wrote ofhhTom. 3. ſuper Apocal. cap. 14. & 20.Rev 14 Purgatorie, ofiiLib. 5. de Sacramen, cap. 1. mingling water with wine in the chalice, hee vſually ſaid Maſſe, wept bitterly in the execution of the dreadfull p. 84myſteries, and madekkTom. 5. in 1 precatione ad Miſſam praeparante, & epist lib. 5. epiſt. 33. ad Marcellinam ſororem ſuam. praiers to be ſaid by Prieſts be fore Maſſe for duer preparation therevnto. Therefore vndoubtedly neither Proteſtant nor Puritane, but a Catholike Biſhop.

S. Hierome living 91. yeeres, and dying the yeere of our Lord 420. wrote(h)(h)Tom. 2. two bookes againſt the Apoſtata Monke Jouinian, and(i)(i)Jbidem. two other treatiſes againſt the lapſed Prieſt Vigilantius, in confutation of their ſtrange, and exorbitant points of doctrine Namely, that marriage was of equall merite with widdowhood, or virginitie: That all meates might be eaten vponupon all daies, no withſtanding any eccleſiaſticall ſanction to the cōtrary: That faſting had no reward with God: That there was no diſparitie of merites in this life, nor difference of glory in the next: That thoſe who with a full and entire faith had received grace in baptiſme, could not after leeſe the ſame. The poſitions of Jouinian. The phanſies of Vigilantius theſe. The ſingle life, or vnmaried ſtate of Prieſtes is opprobrious, Saints were not to be worſhipped, nor prayed vntounto, nor their reliques to be reverenced, & the tapers or waxe-lightes about their toombes were the enſignes of idolatrie, the retention of worldly ſubſtance better then voluntary pouerty, and the ſolitarines of Moonkes a thing vituperable.

Againſt al which aſſertiōs, S. Hierome directly, & of ſet purpoſe wrote, and wrote in ſome choler & anger, adding for ſeaſon, or excuſe, fatebor (k)(k)Adverſus Vigilantium ad Riparium epiſt. 53.dolorem meum, ſacrilegium tatum patienter andire non poſsum, I will cō feſſe my griefe, I am vnable patiently to heare ſo great ſacrilege. Therfore vndoubtedly neither Proteſtant nor Puritane, but a(a)(a)Marianus Victorius epiſc. Reatinus in vita B. Hieronymi. Etipſe Hierony. Tom. 3. epiſt. 150. ad Hedibiam queſt. 2. Maſſing Prieſt, Hermit, a great Pilgrimage(b)(b)Ipſe Hierony. in Ezechi. ca. 4. & in Apologia adverſus Ruffinum, & in plurim. ipſius epiſt. 8.22.43. & alijs. gooer, a viſiter of holy places, and reliques.

S. Auguſtine living 76. yeeres, and dying the yeere of our Lord 430. wrote a(c)(c)Tom. 4. ca. 18. booke De cura pro mortuis gerenda, Of care to be had for the dead by the ſacrifices of the altar, praier, & almes. Three(d)(d)Tom. 1. bookes De libero arbitrio, in the proofe of free wil, a(e)(e)Tom. 3. booke De operis Monachorum, of the labour of Monkes, wherein hee approveth their ſtate, and conſequently alſo the vowes of poverty, chaſtitie, and obedience A(f)(f)Tom. 4. maximè. cap. 14. lib. …inſdem. booke De fide & operibus, of faith & workes, proving abundantly in it, as the principall ſcope and ende intended, that a ſole faith without good worked, is not ſufficient to ſalvation: He(g)(g)Tom. 10. Ser. de tempore 255 qui eſt quartus de anniverſario dedicationis eccleſiae, vel altaris. Et cōcil. Hippō. can. 6. cui interfuit S. Aug. vt cōſtas ex lib. 1. Retracta. c. 17. Ser. 19. de Sanctis. allo weth, and celebrated the conſecration of altars, and the annointing of thē with p. 85Chriſme. Alſo he maketh mention, and requireth that the ſigne of the croſſe ſhould be made in the fore-heads of the beleevers, & on the water, and Chriſme, with which they are regenerated, & annointed. Likewiſe he himſelfe moſt ſubmiſſiuely, & earneſtly invocatehhTom 9. li meditationt…m ca. 4…. & Tom 9. Serm. de Sanctis. Serm 18. the bleſſed virgin Marie, S. Michael, S. Gabriel, S. Raphael, the Quiets of Angels, Archangels, Patriarkes, Prophets, Apoſtles, Evanſteliſts, Martyrs, Confeſſors, Prieſts, Levites, Moonkes, Virgins, & of al the iuſt. In briefe, heiiTom 6. de adulterinis coniugijs. lib. 1. c 8. & 9. & l. 2. c. …. reſolutely affirmeth, that after divorce, neither the party delinquēt, nor innocent can marry againe, the other liuing, without committing the crime of adulterie, and in like manner agnizeth and teſtifieth the veritie of the fiue Sacraments, denyed, and ſurnamed baſtard Sacramēts by the adverſarie, to wit, theaaTom. 2. l. 2. cont lit. Petilianica. 104. & Tom. 9. in epiſt. Iohan. tract. 3. & 6. Sacrament of Confirmation,bbTom. 10. Serm. de tempo 215. & Tom. 9. l. 2. de viſi…andis infirmis c. 4. Item in tract. de rectitudine Catholicae cōverſati. ſi due poſteriores ſint Augustini. Extreme vnction,ccTom. 7. contra. epiſcop. Parm. l. 2 c. 13. & de baptiſ. contra. Donatiſt. lib. 1. ca. 1. Order,ddTom 4 de fide, & operib. c. 7. & tom. 6. de bono cōiugali, & concupiſ. cap. 10. Matrimony, andeeTom. 4. de vera, & falſa penitentia c. 10. & 15. Tom 6. de adulterin. cōiugijs c. 28 Tom. 10. lib. 50 homiliar. hom. 41. & hom. 49. c. 3. & Tom. 8 in Pſalmū 63. circa medium. Penance. HeeffTom. 10. l. de tempore Ser. 251. alſo ſharplie rebuketh thoſe that either neglected to heare Maſſe, or did not ſtay in the church ſo long as to the end of Maſſe, or ſhewed themſelues ſo colde and wearyſome in Gods ſervice as to ſpeake to the Prieſt to abbreuiate, or bee ſhorte in his Maſſe. Therefore vndoubtedly neither Proteſtant, nor Puritane, but aggPoſſidius in vita eius. Moonke, inſtitutor of Moonkes, and ſtrongeſt maintainer of our Catholike doctrine.

S. Gregorie was firſt ahhIoh. Diaconus in vita eius li. 1. c. 6.25. er 39. Moonke, then chooſen Abbot, then created Cardinall, and afterward elected Pope of Rome. In which dignity hee lived 13. yeeres & odde moneths, & died the yeare of our Lord 604. He wrote in the allowance ofiiLib. epiſt 7. cap 35. Images, approved the making ofhhEod. l. c. 109. pictures in the walles and windowes of the church, terming them the inſtruction, or bookes of the vnlearned, & reprehended thellIbid & lib. epiſt. 9. cap. 9. breaking, or defacing of them (only vponupon abuſe which ſome ideots committed) as a thing not lawfull, & ſchandalous He appointed the MoonkemmTom. 1. lib. 4. dialogoriō c. 55. Precioſus to ſay Maſſe 30. daies togither for Justus his fellow Moonke deceaſed. Hee relatethnnIbid. cap: 57. two miracles which God through the ſacrifice of the Maſſe, moſt admirably wrought. One, vponupon a Captiue, whoſe fetters ſo often fell off, as his wife beleeving him to bee deade, procured Maſſe to be ſaid for his ſoule. The other vponupon a Shipman named Baracha, who through the ſame moſt ſacred & propitious oblation was, being reputed to be drowned, very miraculouſly fed, and delivered after p. 86ſhipwracke. He augmented[a][a]Platina, & Iohannes ſtella in vita eius. the Letanie, ordained the[b][b]Iohannes Diaconus li. 2 ca. 18 ſtations at Rome, incited to the going [[c][c]Ipſe. B Gregorius li 2 epiſt. c. 21. on pilgrimage, and viſitation of holy places. He greatly[d][d]Idem Ibid cap. 42. affected to ſee & reverence the coate of S. John Evangeliſt & truſted to receive ſpirituall profit thereby. Hee[e][e]Lib. 7 epiſt. ca. 126. ſent a piece of the Holy Croſſe,[f][f]Lib. 1. epiſt ca. 29. & 30. & li. 6 epiſt. ca. 189 & l. 11 epiſt. c. 67. Powder filed off from S. Peter & S. Paules chaines, ſome of[g][g]Lib. 7. epiſt. cap. 126. S. John Baptiſts haire, & the[h][h]Lib. 5. epiſt. c. 150. reliques of other Martyrs, …o ſeverall great perſonages for benediction, and veneration ſake He traveiling in the gowt, & enforced oft to keepe his bed for his greater eaſe, roſe[i][i]Lib. 8 epiſt. c 35. notwithſtanding to ſay Maſſe vponupon feſtiuall daies, as himſelfe wrote of himſelfe to Eulogius the Patriarke of Alexandria, and alſo approvingly witneſſeth that[k][k]Lib 7 epiſt. cap. 29. Maſſe was daily faid at Rome in veneration of Saints. He wrote a letter to Melitus to tell S Auguſtine our Apoſtle, then conſecrated Byſhop of Canterburie, that he ſhould not deſtroy the temples of the idols in our country, but breake the idols, & ſprinkle[l][l]Lib. 9. epiſt. cap. 71. & Bodae de geſti… Auglorum l. 1. cap 30. holy water about the ſame temples, build altars, and put reliques in them. Therefore vndoubtedly neither Proteſtant, nor Puritane, …ut a Moonke, and Pope, & zelous propagatour, & patron of Catholike religion.

To ſay, that the aſſertions and points precedent wereccAt there is no doubt, but the Fathers had their blemiſhes and errours. So hauehave not the Suppliants proved the precedent blaſphemies out of the Fathers; moſt of the places which they quote, containe no ſuch matter. Naevi patrum the moales or blemiſhes, that ſhewed them to be men ſubiect errour, & not to hauehave ſeene all things, were in our iudgment idleneſſe inough, and greateſt repugnancy; for let them bee holden for Saintes, or ſaved ſoules (which we thinke no man of modeſty, or yet of Chriſtianity, vvill deny) it followeth directly to be impoſſible (wee meane if they dyed in the vnretracted faith they profeſſed in their bookes, as hitherto none of thoſe who are moſt againſt our religion, euer durſt to make open doubt there of) that the foreſaid poſitions, & points can be falſe, becauſe if they ſhould be falſe, and they containe, as then they ſhould doe, very damnable ſuperſtition, and higheſt Idolatry, (as approving vaine doctrine vaine teverence, vaine ſacraments, vaine & impious rites, & adoration of bread in ſtead of God, (then which, nothing is more abhominable or idolatrous) it cannot be, moſt aſſuredly it cannot be▪ even by the principles of our common Chriſtian faith, that the foreſaid Doctors be Saints in heaven, but contraryly, moſt accurſed reprobates in hell, vnderſtanding as is before rehearſed, that they dyed in the beliefe they mainetained in their writings.

Againe, to ſay, they vnderſtood not the Scriptures,ddIt is no abſurdity to ſay, that the Fathe… indeed did not vnderſtande the ſcriptures, as well, is the learned of our times do, 1. The Fathers, for the moſt part, were ignorant in the tongues. 2. They wanted the exact knowledge of Logike 3. They left the true and literall interpretation, & hunted after allegories, and myſticall ſenſes which were maine cauſes of the Fathers ignorance in expounding Scriptures, as wel as doeth the beſt learned Proteſtant, or Puritane, & that through ſuch faile, and p. 87lacke of heavenly guidance, they vnwittingly ſlided into their errours, were to imagine Chiwaeras, or ſome thing that were more ſtrange, and monſtrous: for what helpe enioyeth the Proteſtant, or Puritane, that they enioyed not? and they had many which the other hauehave not. They were a thouſand yeeres and more, neerer vntounto Chriſt, his Apoſtles, and their Diſciples, then ſhe eldeſt Proteſtant, or Puritane, that can truly be named, & conſequently as like, if nor more like, to heare, retriue, and learne the truth, thē any of the other two Profeſſions. They made Cō ments vponupon all, or the moſt difficult partes of holy Scripture, they beat out the way, and vnſealed the hard, & hidden myſteries therof, they laid the ground works of ſchoole divinity, brake the yee, and reconciled all the diſtering paſſages, which in the letter ſeemed to impugne, or contradict one the other.

Or muſt it be conceiued, that theſe holy men working, and thorowpiercing into the ſelfe bowels and abſtruſeſt depth of all divinity, and that very excellently, by the graunt of our adverſaries themſelues, could ſo mainely and contradictorily erre in matters of leſſe difficulty, as are the points controverted? No no, it cannot iuſtly be ſo conceived but rather, that the infinite providence & goodnes of almighty God, becauſe he would not hauehave ſo ſacriligious a conceit harboured againſt the principall Doctors of the Church, hath in every of their liues & deaths miraculouſly atteſted the contrary, if ſo much credit at leaſt may be given to the written liues of Saints, compiled by venerable perſonage & receiued by many ages, as there is giuē to the relatiō of††The he is much more credit to be given vntounto theſe, thē vntounto the former: For theſe ſimplie and plainely delivered vntounto poſterity, the truth of things done in civill & politike affaires: But they by fabulous reportes of lying miracles laboured to eſtabliſh a newe Goſpell, conirarie vntounto the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt. Plutarchi liues, or Caeſars Commentaries.

S.aaJn vita S. Ambroſij. Paulinus reporteth that S.eeIf the Suppliants did not intend to produce a new Goſpell vnderunder pretence of the Fathers writings what needed theſe ſubſequent legendarie lies. Ambroſe, being on a certaine time in Rome, was invited by a noble woman there, to come, & ſay Maſſe in her houſe who yeelding to the requeſt, an other woman ſicke of the palſey vnderſtanding thereof, cauſed anon her ſelfe to be brought in a chaire into the roome where S. Ambroſe was, & kiſſing his garments, preſently therewith recovered her health, & the perfect vſe of her limbs. Againe the ſamebbIbidem. author recordeth, that Iuſtina wife to Valentinian the Emperor, hyring a murtherer to kil S. ambroſe, for the exceeding hatred ſhee bare vntounto him, who comming into his chamber, and liſting vp his arme with his ſword drawne, to giuegive him his death, incōtinent his arme waxed ſo ſtiffe, and benummed, that he could neather ſtrike therewith, nor moue the ſame, but in confeſſing (which was no leſſe miraculous) who employed him in ſo outragious a fact, the vſe of his arme preſently returned, and he became as nimble therein as ever before. Other proofes of Gods ſpecial louelove towards this Saint, might be alledged, asccEx Panlino, & 2. hiſt. Eccle. Ruffini libro ca. 11. & Severo Sulpitio in vi… ta B. Marini. his miraculous election to the Biſhoprick of Millan, his long extaſie, with which he was taken at the altar, whē S. Martin Biſhop of Turon dyed; his prediction of the day of his death, before he fell ſicke▪ the three viſions or admoniſhments given by the voice of God himſelfe, to Honoratus Biſhop of Vercella, for his repaire to the ſaid Saint, when he lay a dying, & for p. 88miniſtring vntounto him his laſt Viaticum, the body of our Lord: Theſe, wee ſay, might be alleadged for teſtimony of his holynes. Neuertheleſſe wee will content our ſelues with the rehearſall onelyonly of that miracle whichddVbi ſupra. Paulinus mētioneth of an obſtinate Arian, who being preſent at a ſermon of S. Ambroſe, ſaw (and was thereupon cōverted) an Angel to ſtand at his eare, whilſt he was preaching, and appeared to ſuggeſt vntounto him the words he ſpake to the people. All which are evident argumentes of the Saint, true faith, his peculiar favor with God, and of the vndoubted verity of his doctrine.

Touching S. Hierom, although both the ioint cenſure of theaaSub Innocētio 1. ann Chr. 402 Milevitane Counce…l, conſiſting of 59. Biſhops, whereof S. Auguſtine was one, giving him the attribute [Holie] in his life time and and thebbIn dicreto de apocryphis ſcripturis circiter annum Chriſti 1495. teſtificat…ō of S Gelaſius. & … 7…. other Biſhops in …eſſion with him ſurnaming him bleſſed & moſt bleſſed after his death be argument ſufficient to proue his ſound …ai…h and holines; as alſo that our Sauiour moſt comfortably appeared vntounto him in the houre of his death, as Marianus Victorius, and other writers of his life, affirme: Yet becauſe we deſire to be more full in this point, we thinke it neceſſary, hauing choiſe of miracles, to recite a few of many▪ S Hierome ccEuſebius Cremonenſis diſcipulus B. H eron in epiſt. demort. eiu…, ad Damaſum Portuenſe epiſcop. Habetur in calce Tom 9. & credi…ur eſſe eiuſdem, …este Cenſura Reati ni epiſcopi. Amorini in eundem Tomum.drawing neere to his end, the bleſſed Sacrament of the Altar was brought vntounto him, which hauing receiued, and holding his armes a croſſe over his breaſt, ſaide the Hymne of holy Simeon, & preſently as that was ended, there appeared ſo glorious a light in the …oome where he lay, as the exceeding brightnes, and ſplendor therof piercing & dozeling the beholders eies, none that were preſent could any while endure to looke theron; which continuing ſome ſpace, companies of Angels were ſeene, odoriferous ſmels felte, and a voice heard, ſaying, Come my beloved, it is time that thou receiue thy reward for thy labours manifold ſuſtained in my cauſe. Being deade, the blinde, deafe, dumbe, & ſicke wereddIbidem. healed, ſome b… touching, ſome by kiſſing his body. Likewi…e the poſſeſſed brought in preſence of the corpes, the dev…ls going out of them cried,eeIbidem. Holy Hierome, why doeſt thou thus grievouſly tor…ient vsus? thou wert alwaies our ſcourge, both living, and now deade. What neede more rec…tals? God ſeemed ſo wonderfully tender, and …alous of his ſeruan…s fame, and honor, asffIbidem. when a certaine Heretike enraged with e…uy againſt the w…rking of the foreſaid miracles, & w…hing that the body were burnt; himſelfe was p…eſēciy by fire deſcending …r…m heauen con…med to aſhes wherevpon many other infected with the ſame here he were perfectly conue…ed††Vere wōder fu…l if they be … Wonderfull things! but they are ſaints that report them, ſaints that wrought thē,**…ad. …ooles th… beleeve them. &ggP…. 67. ve. 36. God is admirable in his Sainies.

We hauehave beene long in the Narratio is precedent, wherefore our briefenes in th… two that …ollow muſt be the greater. Poſſidius Biſhop, and diſc…ple of S Auguſtine, who …ued almoſtaaCap. vlt de vira Auguſtin fo…ty yeeres faindiarly with him, … himſelfe writeth, …ffirme… bbCap 29. ibid.that he knew S. Augu…ine, both when he was Prieſt, and after he was Biſhop, to hauehave (being abſent) expelled p. 89diuels from out the p…ſſeſſed by meanes of his praiers, & teares for them: And that in his death-bed, heccCap. eodem. cured a ſicke man, by laying his hands vponupon him, whom God by viſion had commaunded to repaire to that end vntounto him. By which miracle hi… divine goodneſſe intended no doubt, as it were with his own hand, & ſeale, to teſtifie to the world, and all poſteritie, the holyneſſe of his ſervant, and the truth, and pietie of the doctrine he had taught.

Concerning S. Gregorie, hisddJohan. Diacontis lib. 2. ca. 22. de vita B. Greg. receiving of an Angel, and ofeeJbid cap 23. the Lord of Angel▪ in the perſons of poore Pilgrimes to his tables, is ſufficient proofe of his ſanctity, & of Gods extraordinary l…ue towards him. And that he taught no hereticall, ſuperſtitious, or falſe doctrine, it is likewiſe manifeſt, by the ſitting of the holy Ghoſt on his heade, in forme of a Doue, at the time of writing his bookes, asffApud Iohan. Diac l. 4. c. 69. cevita B. Greg. Petrus Diaconus a deare familiar friend of S Gregories, & much converſant with him, witneſſeth to hauehave ſeene moſt often. How powerable alſo this holy Doctors praiers were with God, it well appeareth by this, that for theggJdē l. 2. c. 41. converſion of an incredulous, & misbeleeving woman, thinking the bread which her ſelfe had made, could n…t be changed into the body of Chriſt, he both turned a ſacred hoſt into appearance of fleſh, and after againe into the forme of bread, as it carried before. Which with other manifold miracles of his, moſt clearely reſtifieth, that he was neither of ill life, nor ill beliefe but holy in the one, and Apoſtolicall in the other.

Neither did the ſaid fowre Doctors (a conſideration of much importance) differently teach or one impugne the other in any of the points of doctrine aboue mentioned, but they …all concurred in one vniformity of opinion without contradictiō, or leaſt ſhew of diſſent. Yea not only theſe towre moſt renowned Clearks, the chiefe lights of Gods church next after the Apoſtles, agreed moſt vniformely, as we hauehave ſaid, in the foreſaid controverſed points of religion, butggAn impudent vntruth. all the primitiue writers conſpired likewiſe in the ſame. As inhhYet more dumb ſhewes of forged and falſified Fathers? proofe of the ſacrifice, vſe & holineſſe of the Maſſe.aaApostolicar. conſtitut l. 6. c. 23. & epist. 2. & 3. de officio ſacer dotum, & cleric. Clement conſecratedbbTertullian. de praeſcript. cap 32 Epiphanius heareſi. 27. Ruffinus in preafat. libri Recognitionum. Biſhop of Rome by S. Peter. ccEccleſiaſt. Hierar. cap. 3.Dionvſius Areopagita S. Pauls ddAct. 15.Acts 15diſciple, and by himeeHelduinus Abbas. or dained Biſhop of Athens. ffEpiſt. ad SmyrnJgnatius. S. Iohn EvangeliſtsggSimeon Metaphraſtes in vita eius. auditor, and by common cō ſent of the Apoſtles aſſigned Biſhop of Antioch hhAdverſus beareſ. li 4. cap. 32 & 34. & l 5 ca. 2.Jrenaeus ſcholar to S. Policarp, and he ſcholar to S. Iohn: PopekkEpist. 1 cap. 2. Anacletus the fourth from S. Peter: PopellEpiſt. 1. cap. 4. Alexander the ſecond from Anacletu…: PopemmEpist. ad omne. vniverſaliter cap. 2. Teleſphorus the ſecōd frō Alexander, with others their next ſucceſſors,nnApud Gratianum de conſecratione, distinctione 1. cano. omnes Baſilicae. Higinus. ooIn Codice 5 librorū lib 4. cap. 117.Pius, ppApud Burchardum lib 5. cap. 29. & Jvonem part. 2. cap. 98.Anicetus, qqApud Gratianum de conſecraeti. diſt. 1. cano. hoc quoque.Soter, al receiued Saincts, & Martyrs. Alſo the Liturgie of the Church of Rome delivered by S. Peter, the Liturgie of the p. 90Church of Hieruſalem written by S. James, the Liturgie of the Church of Alexandria compoſed by S. Marke, the Liturgie of the Church of Milā made by S. Barnabas. The Liturgie of the Church of Cappaciocia, cō piled byrrFloruis circiter annum. 370 Saint Baſil. The Liturgie of the Church of Conſtātinople ſet forth by SaintssFloruis anno Chriſti. 380. Chryſoſtome: And likewiſe the-Liturgies of the Aethiopian, Syrian, and Armenian Churches, which all with ſome other doe moſt cleerely witneſſe the ſacrifice vſe, and veneration of the Maſſe, & do alſo approue the ceremonies, and divine myſteries repreſented, and expreſſed therein.

In like manner for proofe, & direct evidence of the ancient practiſe, fruit and obligation of auricular Confeſſion. S.aaApoſtolicar. conſtitut. lib. 2. cap. 33. & epist. 1. ad Jacobum frairem Domini: Clement, S.bbEpiſt. 8. ad Domophilum. Dionyſius, S.ccAdverſus haereſes lib. 1. cap. 9. ſleruit circiter an. 160. Irenaeus, ddHomil. 2. in Leuiticum. & Hom. in Pſal. …7. floruit 230.Ps 7Origen, eeLib. de paenitentia cap. 10 & 12 floruit 200.Tertullian. S. ffLib. de lapſis floruit 250.Cyprian, ggLib. 4. diuinar. conſtitution ca. 17. floruit 320.Lactā tius, who ſo highly advā ceth Confeſſion, as hee maketh it one diſtinctiue notehhJdem cap. vlt. eiuſdem libri. of the true church, S.iiSerm. in illa verba Profecti in pagum quiex adverſ. &c. floruit circiter annum 340. Athanaſius S.kkCanone 18. in Mattheum flor. 346. Hilary, llLib. de paenitentia, & confeſs. flor 350.Pacianus, S. mmJn regulis breuiorib. regula 229 & 288.Bafil, S.nnTom 5 lib. 2. de ſacerdetio. Chryſoſtome, S.ooEp. 80 ad epiſcopos Campaniea, & epiſt. 91. ad Theocorum Foroiulij epiſcopum flor. 450: Lee, with other writers of beſt note in every age ſince Chriſts time hitherto And as the primitiue & ancient Fathers & Saints do yeelde their abſidant teſtimony in confirmation of theſe two points, ſo do they vndoubtedly alſo afford, if this place would give leave to particularize, very ample evidence iniiOur lyers. all the other points before mencioned, & in queſtion betweene vsus & our oppoſitors. Nay, if we may be ſo bold as to deliver our opinion plainely without concealing ought in this matter: the manner that our adverſaries vſe in citing places out of the ancient Fathers againſt vsus, is but thekkA ſhameleſse ſtander. ſtudy of meere wrangling, and no other then a demonſtratiue token of an exceeding contentious ſpirit, wil…ully affecting to blind-fold & miſlead it ſelfe. For were they ſincere and loued truth aboue althings, they could not poſſiblyllDiveliſh ca…iations. diſmember, wreſt and picke out ſentences of their workes, in the order and to the purpoſes they do, not letting to racke their words to a ſenſe which the writers never meant yea contrarie oftentimes even to the generall ſcope and drift of thoſe bookes whence they cull the peeces they alleadge, contrarie to the evident letter and plaine paſſages of their other writings, p. 91contrarie to the faith they profeſſed, liued, and died in; contrarie to the Religion of the Age they wrote in; contrarie to the Doctrine of the Church that firſt admitted them for Doctors, or received them for Saints; contrary to the profeſſion of their lives & ſtate of vocation; contrary to the anguage and nature of their owne deedes; to the titles and dignities they held, & to the opinion and cenſure which al former ages retained of ſuch their parcels of writing. So that words, and words commonly diſioynted from that went before, or followeth after, muſt ballance, & beare more ſway and credit formmAlthough the Fathers in their writings do approve our religion. Yet it is not therefore that we cōdēne the Papiſts, becauſe their religion differeth frō the writings of the Fathers, but becauſe it is contrary vntounto the Scriptures. condemning vsus of err…r, then the writers liues, ſelfe deedes, their practiſe, profeſſion, other their workes, or never ſo many apparant teſtimonies of theirs to the contrary for the truth of our religion.

Reſolution of the 26. Reaſon.

Popiſh Religion, is that of which the foure acknowledged Doctours of holy Church. S. Ambroſe, S. Hiereme, Auguſtine, S. Gregorie, were both profeſſours, and ſtout defenders.

Ergo:

Poperie is true Religion, and therefore to be tolerated.

ANSWERE.

I To the Antecedent.

1 IF the Papiſts acknowledge but fowre Doctours of the Church; then what thinke they of the reſt of the Fathers both Greeke and Latine of the Primitiue Church; whereof many were ancienter then theſe fowre which they acknowledge: Doe not they deſerue to bee tearmed Doctours of the Church?

2 Theſe fowre Doctours which they acknowledge were not Popiſh Maſſing Prieſts, as the Suppliants impudentlie conclude, vponupon the bare muſtering of their names.

3 I cannot ſtand here, to examine their particuler allegations; by one only a man may iudge of all the reſt. Auguſtin (ſay the Suppliants) wrote three books Delibere Arbitrie, therfore he approved free will. They might as wel hauehave concluded, Auguſtine wrote a booke De Mendacio, therefore he approved lyes. Or, Auguſtine wrote a booke De duabus Ammis, therefore he approved two ſoules. Whoſoeuer ſhall reade Auguſtines books of Free-will, ſhall preſently ſee, that Auguſtine p. 92directly wrote againſt the Popiſh Free-will: which Sixtus Senenſis, a Papiſt, acknowledgeth, & therfore reproveth Auguſtine for his doctrine concerning that point. Sixt. Sen. in praefat. lib. 5. Biblioth. Heereby a man may ſee the Suppliants honeſtie in citing the Fathers.

4 Theſe fowre Doctors in the principall points of Popiſh Religion are againſt the Papiſts. Hierom refuſeth the book of Wiſdome, Eccleſiaſticus, Iudeth, Tobias and the Machabies, as Apocryphall. in Prolog. Galeat. in lib. Reg. & Praefat. in Eſdr. & Nehem. And ſo doth Gregory the books of Machabies In Iob. lib. 19. cap. 17. Auguſtine ſaith, Chriſt is our Mediatour according to both his natures. Hom. de ovib. cap. 12. & de Conſenſ. Evang. lib. 1. cap. 35. & Enchr. cap. 108. Ambroſe ſaith that the reliques of concupiſcence in the regenerate are ſinnes, as Auguſtine witneſſeth Contra Iul. lib. 2. c. 5. this alſo is Auguſtines owne opinion Contra Iulian. Pelag. l. 5. c. 3. & Tract. 41. in Ioan. & in Pſ. 118. Conc. 3. Hierome ſaith that the Saintes knowe not what is done in earthe. In Epitaph. Nepotian. So ſaith Auguſtine alſo Lib. de cura pro mort. c. 13. & 16. & in Pſal 108. & lib. de Spir. & Anim. c. 29. They teach alſo that Saints muſt not be worſhipped. Aug. de ver. relig. cap 55. De civit. Dei lib. 22. cap. 10. & lib. 8. cap. 27. & lib. Confeſſ. 10. cap. 42. & lib. de morib Eccleſ. c. 34. Auguſtine ſaith wee are iuſtified in Chriſt not in our ſelues, Aug. de verb. Apoſt. Serm. 6. & De Spir. & lit. cap. 26. & de fid. et op. cap. 14. & epiſt. 120. cap. 30. So alſo teacheth Hierome, in 2. Cor 5. And Ambroſe Epiſt. 71. And Gregorie Moral. lib. 9. cap. 14. & lib. 21. cap. 15. & lib. 5. cap. 7. et lib. 9. cap. 28. et in Ezech. Hom. 7. ſub. fin. & in Pſal. 1 paenit. Ambroſe ſaith that wee are iuſtified by faith ONLY in 1. Cor. 1. et in Rom. 4. So ſaith Auguſtine alſo. Serm. 181. de Temp. et contra. 2. Epiſt. Pelag lib. 1. cap. 21. Gregorie calleth him Antichriſt that calleth himſelfe Oecumenicall Biſhop or head of the Church, lib. 6. epiſt. ex. regiſtr. c. 194. lib. 4. Ep. 36. et 39. et lib. 7. ep. 69. (I cannot ſtand vponupon particulars,) and therefore queſtionleſſe no idolatours, no Maſſing-Prieſtes, no merit-mongers, no diſciples of Antichriſt, no Papiſtes, but true and faithful Chriſtians, whoſe p. 93doctrine and vertues the Proteſtants profeſſe and practiſe.

II To the Conſequence.

1 IF theſe four Doctors had profeſſed, & defēded Popery; yet were not Popery therfore true religiō; becauſe the Fathers were ſubiect vntounto Errour, yea & erred oftentimes. Tertullian was a Montaniſt, & embraced the errour of the Chiliaſtes. Cyprian taught rebaptiſation. Hierome cōdemned ſecond marriages. Chryſoſtome was infected with Pelagianiſme, &c.

2 It is the Word of GOD only, not the profeſſion of the Doctors of the Church, that is the rule & ſquare of true religion.

Reaſon of Religion. 27 27. REASON OF RELIGION.

A Religion of whoſe doctrine & communion in SacramentsaaVntruth. all the Saints in the Kalendar, thebbAs the Gentiles had their tutelares Deos & Penates, ſo hauehave the Papiſtes theirs alſo. patrons of Churches & countries, cō verters of Nations to Chriſtianity, all perſonages of either ſexe memorable for holines, for renouncing the world, for mortifying their appetites, for ſurrendring their wills, or for any other excellent, & true vertue, were, & ſo lived, and died; as the authenticall legends of their liues, and other eccleſiaſtical writings do teſtifie, and beare apparent record to the whole world.

Reſolution of the 27. Reaſon.

Popiſh religion is that which all the Saintes in the Kalendar, & all perſonages memotable for holines profeſſed.

Ergo.

Popery is true Religion, and therefore to be tolerated.

ANSWERE.

1 IT is falſe that all ſuch as are named in the Kalendar profeſſed Poperie.

2 If they did ſo, yet were that no ſufficient argument to prove the trueneſſe of Popiſhe religiō, for the reaſons before ſpecified.

Reaſon of Religion. 28 28. REASON OF RELIGION.

A Religion not deſtitute of any kind of proofe; but her poſitions cō firmable byaaProve this, & take all. Scriptures, by Apoſtolicall inſtitutious, by Councels p. 94occumenicall, & provinciall, by Fathers, Doctors, reaſōs, hiſtories, chronologies, propheſies, viſions, & revelations, miracles, traditions. & by all theſe, & other like heads, we ſay, confirmable, without wreſt, ſtraine, or flying to tropes, or figuratiue ſpeeches. So that theſe words in the Canticles ſeeme only verified ofbbNothing leſse. Cantic. 4. v. 4.Song 4:4 our church, & religion, Thy necke (that is the puiſſant of Chriſtes Church) is as the towre of David vvhichwhich is built with bulwarkes, a thouſand ſhielde s hange on it, all the armour of the ſtrong.

Reſolution of the 28. Reaſon.

Popiſh religion is confirmed by Scriptures, Apoſto licall Inſtitutions, by Counceis, Fathers, Doctors, reaſons, hiſtories, chronologies, propheſies, viſions, revelations, meracles, traditions.

Ergo.

Poperie is true religion, and conſequently to bee tolerated.

ANSWERE.

1 THe Antecedent is a ridiculous begging of the queſtion.

2 If the Suppliants wil prove but the firſt particle therof, to wit, that Popiſh religion is confirmed by the Scriptures, we wil grant thern the whole argument, though otherwiſe alſo it be very falſe.