The Church of Englands Antithesis to Arminianism, Part 9 · Letter

The Church of Englands Antithesis to Arminianism · Part 9 · Letter

p. 120RIght Honourable, our bounden dutie remembred; Wee are right sorry to hauehave such occasion to trouble your Lordship; but the peace of this Vniuersity and Church (which is deare vntounto vsus) being brought into perill, by the late reuiuing of new oppinions, and troublesome Controuersies amongst vsus, hath vrged vsus (in regard of the places we here sustaine) not p. 121onelyonly to be carefull for the suppressing the same to our powers, but also to giuegive your Lordship further information hereof as our Honourable head, and carefull Chancellor.

About a yeere past (amongst diuers others who here attempted publikely to teach new and strange opinions in Religion,) one aaHere Barrets fore-recited Recantation is iustified.Master Barret more boldly then the rest, did preach diuers Popish Errors in Saint Maries, to the iust offence of many, which he was inioyned to retract, but hath refused so to doe in such sort as hath beene praescribed him: with whose fact and opinions your Lordship was made acquainted by Doctor Some the deputis Vice-Chancellor. Hereby offence and diuision growing, as after by Doctor Baroes publike Lectures a…d doterminations in the Schooles, contrary (as his Auditors hauehave informed) to Doctor Whitakers, and the bbThe Doctrine of the Church of England then was against Arminians & Baroe Ergo. now.sound receiued truth euer since her Maiesties raigne,ccThe Arti. of Lambheth then were cōposed by the cōmon cōsent of the Vniuersity of Cambridge. Wee sent vp to London by Common consent in Nouember last, Doctor Tyndall, and Doctor Whitakers, (men especially chosen for that purpose) for conference with my Lord of Canterbury, and other principall Diuines there, that the controuersies being examined, and the truth by their consents confirmed, the contrary Errors, and the contentions thereabout might the rather cease: By whose good trauell with sound consent in truth, such aduice and care was taken byddTo wit: The Articles of Lambheth. certaine propositions (containingeeThe Arti. of Lābheth therefore in the iudgement of these Heads containe in them the anciēt receiued & vndoubted Doctrine of the Church of England: not any nouel, or singular opinions. certaine substantiall points of Religion, taught and receiued in this Vniuersity and Church during the time of her Maiesties raigne and consented vntounto, and published by the best approued Diuines both at home and abroade) for the maintaining of the same truth and peace of the Church, as ffThe Arti. of Lambheth were then receiued and approued by the Vniuersity of Cambridge, where they then likewise printed,thereby wee inioy…ed here great and comfortable quiet, vntill Doctor Baroe (in Ianuary last, in his Sermon Ad Clerum, in Saint Maries**The Vniuersity, Vice-Chancellor, & Heads of Cambridge, vponupon their receite of the Artic. of Lambheth, restrained men from preaching Arminianisme, therfore they were inforce & credit with them. contrary to restraint and commandement from the Vice-Chancellor and the Heads) by renewing againe these Opinions, disturbed our peace, whereby his Adhaerents and Disciples were and are much emboldened to maintaine p. 122false Doctrine, to the ggArminianisme was then reputed corruption.corrupting & disturbing of this Vniuersity and Church, if it be not in time effectually praeuented.

For remedy hereof, we hauehave with ioynt consent and care (vponupon complaint praeferredhhArminianisme thē was not only displeasin… to the heads, but likewise to the whole Vniuersity. by diuers Batchellors in Diuinity,) proceeded in the examination of the cause according to our Statutes and vsuall manner of proceeding in such causes: whereby it appeareth by sufficient testimonies, that Doctor Baroe hath offended in such things, as his Articles had charged him withall.

There is also since the former, another complaint praeferred against him by certaine Batchellors in Diuinity, that he hath not onelyonly in that Sermon, but also for the space of these 14. or 15. yeeres, taught in his Lectures, preached in Sermons, determined in the Schooles, and printed in seuerall Bookes diuers points of Doctrine, not onelyonly contrary to himselfe, but alsoiiArminianisme is then contrary t… the Doctrine of the Church of England, & agre…able to Popery. contrary to that which hath beene taught and receiued euer since her Maiesties raigne; yet agreeable to the Errors of Popery, which we know your Lordship hath alwayes disliked and hated: So that we (who for the space of many yeeres past, hauehave yeelded him sundry benefits and fauours here in the Vniuersity being a stranger, and forborne him when hee hath often himselfe, busie & curious inalienarepublica, broached new and strange questions in Religion,) now vnlessekkI would our heads in our Vniuersities out Bishops and Clergie were as carefull and zealous in this nature now, as these were then. we should be carelesse of maintaining the truth of religion established, and of our duties in our places, cannot llThese heads were no Arminians.(being resolued and confirmed in the mmAnti-Arminianisme thē is the truth, yea the anciēt and pr…fessed Doctrine of our Church.Truth of the long professed and receiued Doctrine,) but continue to vse all good meanes, and seeke at your Lordships hands some effectuall remedy hereof, least by permittingnnArminianisme is then but a Bridge or Vsher vntounto Popery, and a meanes to draw Subiects from the Kings allegeance. passage to these Errors, the whole body of Popery should by little and little breake in vponupon vsus, to the ouerthrow of our Religion, and consequently the withdrawing of many here and elsewhere from true obedience to her Maiestie.

May it therefore please your good Lordship to hauehave an honourable consideration of the premises, and (for the better p. 123maintaining of peace, ooAnti-Arminianismei the ancient, receiued Religion of the Vniuersity of Cambridge, and the Church of England, and shall we now reiect or quaestion it?and the truth of Religion so long and quietly receiued in this Vniuersity and Church,) to vouchsafe your Lordships good ayde and aduice, both to the comfort of vsus, ppAnti-Arminianisme was th…n made no Quaere amōg the heads of Cambridge as it is now.(wholy consenting and agreeing in iudgement,) and all others of the Vniuersity soundly affected, and to the suppression in time, not only qqArminianisme was then an Error; it was then, it is now the fore-runner, nurse, & mother of Popery: this their, now our experience witnesseof these Errors, but euen of grosse Popery like by such meanes in time, easily to creepe in among vsus (as wee finde by late experience it hath dangerously begun:) Thus crauing pardon for troubling your Lordship & commending the same in prayer to the Almighty God, we humbly take our leaue,

From Cambridge the 8. of March. 1595. Your Lordships humble and bounden to be commanded, Roger Goade, Procan, R. Some, Thomas Legge, Iohn Iegon, Thomas Neuill, Thomas Preston, Humphry Tyndall, Iames Mountague, Edmund Barwell, Iames Chaderton.

THe seuerall obseruations from this Letter I hauehave briefely touched in the margent: yet giuegive me leaue to trauerse them once againe, since repetition will make them more obseruable. First, it is euident by this Letter, that the Articles of Lambheth are no fained, no priuate Articles or priuate spirits, as some repute them: since not only our 1two Arch-Bishops, and their other Associates, but euen the whole Vniuersity of Cambridge concurred in their composition in their two famous Doctors, Tyndall and Whitakers, men specially chosen by them for this purpose. Secondly, that the Articles of Lambheth (which were afterwards 2printed at Cambridge, by themselues, and since that with the last Lectures of Doctor**Hardrouici. 1613. Whitakers,) were after their constitution approued, and receiued by the Vniuersity? of Cambridge, who inioyed much peace and quiet by them: which disproues that forged storie of p. 124**Responsio ad Notas Bogerm…mi. pars. 2. c. 24. p. 566. to 570.Coruinus, touching the reuocation of the Articles by Queene Elizabeth, and of Bishop Whitgifts incurring a Praemunire, and the Queenes displeasure by them Thirdly, that the Articles of Lambheth containe in them, no noualties, but only the substantiall points of Religion taught and receiued in the Vniuersity of Cambridge, & the Church of England, and consented vntounto by the best approued Diuines, both at home and abroad, during the whole raigne of Queene Elizabeth: Therefore we may safely embrace them, as a full declaration of the professed and vndoubted Doctrines of our Church. Fourthly, that our Anti-Arminian Conclusions (directly opposite to Barrets and Baroes Errors, which this Letter mentions) are the resolued and confirmed truth, yea the receiued, established, and long professed Doctrines of the Chuch of England, and the Vniuersity of Cambridge. Fiftly, that the Arminian Errors (for these only were Barrets and Baroes Errors of which this Letter speakes) are agreeable to Popery, and quite contrary to the Religion taught and receiued in the Church of England, euer since Queene Elizabeths raigne. Sixtly, that Arminianisme is but a**And doe we not find it so? Bridge or Vsher vntounto grosse Popery, yea a meanes to**And is it not then dangerous for our King & State to tollerate it? draw away Subiects from their obedience to his Maiestie, and to bring in the whole body of Popery into our Church by little and little: then all which obseruacions, there can be nothing more punctuall or aduantagious for our Anti-Arminian positions, more opposite or disaduantagious to these Arminian Errors.

Compare this Letter and its seuerall passages, with the Recantation of Barre…, with the**See page 42 to 48. Vniuersity Order formerly quoted; and then it will be vndeuiably euident, that our praesent Assertions were formerly held the vndoubted and resolued Doctrines of the Church of England by the whole Vniuersity of Cambridge; and dare any of her Heads or members disclaime, or disauow them now?

My second Euidence, is the authority and resolution of my much honored Mother, the Vniuersity of Oxford: who from her Learned Diuinity Professor, Peter Martyrs p. 125time, (who planted and propagated our Anti-Arminian Assertions in her, in King Edwards dayes, by his excellent Lectures on the**See p. 54. 55 69. 126. 127. Epistle to the Romans,) hath constantly to this very praesent embraced, professed, and publikely defended our present positions in her Diuinity Schooles, as the vndoubted truth and Doctrine of our Church: Witnesse the 4^th. Thesis of her incomparable Reinolds: (Sancta Catholica Ecclesia quam credimus, est …aetus Vniuersus Electorum Dei.) Tractata in Schola Theologica: Nouem. 3. 1579. The solemne Anti-Arminian Lectures, of her Reuerend and learned Regius Diuinity Professor, Doctor Robert Abbot, late Bishop of Salisbury: De Gratia & perseuerantia Sanctorum: and**These Lectures are dedicated to our Kings Maiestie then Prince of Wales, and so are Doctor Prideaux his Lectures following. De Veritate Gratiae Christi: read publikely in her Diuinity Schooles, in her Act time, in the yeeres 1613. 1614. 1615. the professed Anti-Arminian Lectures, of her vnparalled praesent Regius Diuinity Professor, Doctor Iohn Prideaux, De Absoluto Reprobationis Decreto: De scientia media: De Gratia Vniuersal… De Conuersionis modo: De Perseuerantia Sanctorum: De salutis Certudine. and De salute Ethnicorum: all which were solemnely read in her Diuinity Schooles at her publike Acts, in the yeeres 1616. 1617. 1618. 1619. 1621. 1622. 1623. the publicke Anti-Arminian Lectures of her iudicious and learned late Lady Margaret Professor, D. Sebastian Benefield, De Sanctorum perseuerantia: lib. 2. reade solemnely in her Schooles in the yeere 1617. and since that printed at Franckfort for their better dispersion into the parts of Germany, in the yeere 1618. together with the late Act Questions, of her proceeding Doctors of Diuinity in the yeere 1627. which I shall here set downe in briefe as I find them printed.

QVESTIONES IN SACRA THEOLOGIA DISCVTIENDAE OXON…IN VESPER…S SEPTIMO DIE IVLH AN. DO. 1627.

Quaestiones inceptoris Accepti Frewen.

An

Praedestinatio ad salutē sit propter praeuisam fidem? Neg.

Praedestinatio ad salutem sit mutabilis? Neg.

Gratia ad salutem sufficiens concedatur omnibus? Neg.

p. 126Quaestiones inceptoris Cornelij Burges.

An

Veri fideles possint esse certi de sua salute? Aff.

Fides sem…l habita possit amitti? Neg.

Vera sides caedat in Reprobum? Neg.

Quaestiones inceptoris Christophori Potter.

An

E…icatia gratiae pendeat a libero influxu Arbitrij? Neg.

Christus Diuinae iustitiae, vice nostra propri… & integre satiffecerit? Aff.

Ipse actus fidei, … credere, imputetur nobis in institiam, sensu proprio? Neg.

All these recited testimonies of this my famous Mother Vniuersity, who hath constantly bent her selfe against Arminius and his Followers: together with the late conuinction of one Brookes, (a yong vngrounded Diuine,) before her Heads, for broaching some Arminian Tenents in a Sermon at Saint Maries; doe vndoubtedly proue our Anti-Arminian Assertions, thus constantly defended, professed, and resolued by her chiefe Professors, the vnquae…tionable and receiued Doctrines of our Church. That which both our Vniuersities hauehave constantly embraced, professed & patronized since the reformation to this presēt, must needs be the ancient receiued, and vndoubted Doctrine of our Church: But both our Vniuersities hauehave euer from the beginning of Reformation to this present, euen constantly embraced, professed, and protected our Anti-Arminian positions, but oppugned their Arminian opposites: (this the present, with the praecedent and subsequent euidences will infallibly demonstrate.) Therefore they must needs be the ancient receiued, and vndoubted doctrine of our Church.

3My 3. Euidence is the expresse confession of three reuerend Diuines of speciall note and credit in our Church: The first of them is famous Doctor Whitakers, who informeth vsus in his last **Cygnea Cantio. Octobris. 9. 1595 P 15. 16.Sermon: That the Church of England euer since the Ghospell was restored to …, hath alwayes held and embraced this opinion of Election and Reprobation which he there (and we here) maintaines. This Bucer (saith he) in our Vniuersity; this Peter Martyr at Oxford, hauehave professed: p. 127two eminent Diuines, who hauehave most abundantly watered our Church with their streames in the dayes of King Edward; whose memories shall be alwayes honourable among vsus, vnlesse we will be most vngratefull:**Marke this passage well See Bishop Abbot in Thōpsoni Diatribam. Praefatio Lectori, & cap. 1. accordingly. This opinion their Auditors in both our Vniuersities; the Byshops, Deanes, and other Diuines, who vponupon the aduancement of our famous Queene Elizabeth to the Crowne, returned either from exile, or were released from the prisons into which they had beene thrust for the profession of the Ghospell: or saued from the hands of persecuting Bishops: those by whom our Church was reformed, our Religion established, Popery thrust out and quite destroyed,**Doctor Whitakers therefore speakes vponupon his own knowledge, & shall we not then beleeue him? all which we may remember, though few of this kinde be yet liuing.**This therefore was & is the Doctrine of our Church. This opinion (I say) they themselues hauehave held, and commended vntounto vsus: in this faith hauehave they liued, in this they dyed, in this they alwayes wished that wee should constantly continue: And shall wee then renounce this Opinion, or quaestion whether it be the Doctrine of our Church or no? Lastly, I appeale (saith he) to our confession; in which I am perswaded the same Doctrine which I hauehave this day handled is not obscurely deliuered: not only because all our Articles were composed by the Disciples of Bucer and Martyr, but euen out of the very words and meaning of the Confession: and so he proceeds to proue his Doctrine to be warranted by our 17. Article by 5. seuerall Arguments.

The second Witnesse is Reuerend Bishop Carlton in his Examination of Master Mountagues Appeale cap. 2. where he writes thus.

The Church of England was reformed by the helpe of our learned and Reuerend Bishops, in the dayes of King Edward the sixt, and in the beginning of the Raigne of Queene Elizabeth. They who then gaue that forme of reformation to our Church, held consent in Doctrine with Peter Martyr, and Martin Bucer, being by authority appointed Readers in the two Vniuersities: and with other then liuing, whom they Iudged to be of best learning and soundnesse in the reformed Churches: and of the Ancients especially with St. Augustine, and were carefull to p. 128hold this Vnity amongst themselues, and with the reformed Churches. For that these worthy Bishops who were in the first reformation, had this respect vntounto P. Martyr, and M. Bucer, it is apparent, both because the Doctrine of our Church doth not differ from the Doctrine that these taught, and because that worthy Arch-Bishop Cranmer caused our Leiturgy to be Translated into Latine, and craued the consent and iudgement of M. Bucer, who gaue a full consent thereto, as it appeareth in his workes, Inter opera Anglicana. And P. Martyr being likewise requested, writeth in his Epistles touching that matter, his iudgement and consent of the gouerment and discipline of our Church.

This vniformity of Doctrine was held in our Church without disturbance, as long as those worthy Bishops liued, who were employed in the reformation.

For albeit the Puritanes disquieted out Church about their conceiued Discipline, yet they neuer mooued any quarrell against the Doctrine of our Church, which is well to be obserued. For if they had embraced any Doctrine which the Church of England denied, they would assuredly hauehave quarrelled about that aswell, as they did about the Discipline. But it was then the open confession both of the Bishops and of the Puritanes, that both parts embraced a mutuall consent in Doctrine, onelyonly the difference was in matter of inconformity: Then hitherto there was no Puritane Doctrine knowne.

The first disturbers of this vniformity in Doctrine, were Barret and Baroe in Cambridge, and after them Thompson. …arret and Baroe began this breach in the time of that most Reuerend Prelate, Arch-Bishop Whitgift.

Notwithstanding that these had attempted to disturbe the Doctrine of our Church, yet was the vniformity of Doctrine still maintained.

For when our Church was disquieted by Barret and Baro, the Bishops that then were in our Church, examined the new Doctrine of these men, and vtterly disliked and p. 129reiected it: And in the point of Predestination confirmed that which they vnderstood to bee the Doctrine of the Church of England against Barret and Baro, who oppugned that Doctrine.

This was fully declared by**If this were the Doctrine of both our Arch-Bishops and Bishops then, I doubt not but it is their Doctrine now, or else they are much degenerated from these their worthy Praedecessors. both the Arch-Bishops, Whitgift of Canterbury, and Hutton of Yorke, with the other Bishops and learned men of both Prouinces, who repressed Barret and Baro, refuted their Doctrine, and iustified the contrary, as appeareth by that Booke, which both the Arch-Bishops then compiled.

The same Doctrine which the Bishops then maintained, was at diuers times after approued, as in the Conference at Hampton Court, as will be hereafter confirmed. And againe it was confirmed in Ireland, in the Articles of Religion in the time of our late Soueraigne, Articulo 38.

The Author of the Appeale pleadeth against the Articles of Lambheth, and iustifieth the Doctrine of Barret, Baro and Thomson, auerring the same to be the Doctrine of the Church of England.

This he doth not by naming of those men, whose names he knew would bring no honour to this cause: but by laying downe and iustifying their doctrines, and suggesting that they who maintained the doctrines contained in the Articles of Lambheth, are Caluinists and Puritanes: So that those Reuerend Arch-Bishops, Whitgift and Hutton, with the Bishops of our Church, who then liued, are in his iudgement to be reiected as Puritans.

The question is, Whether of these two positions wee must now receiue for the doctrines of our Church: that which Barret, Baro, and Thompson would hauehave brought in, which doctrines were then refuted and reiected by our Church; Or that doctrine which the Bishops of our Church maintained against these men, which doctrine hath been since vponupon diuers occasions approued? If ther were no more to be said, I dare put it to the Issue before any indifferent Iudges. Thus far this reuerēd Bp. whose testimony alone might sufficiently determine our present Controuersie.

The third witnesse is Doctor Samuel Ward in his Concio p. 130ad Clerum, preached in St. Maries in Cambridge, Ianuary 12. 1625. page 45. This also (saith he) I can truely adde for a conclusion; that the Vniuersall Church hath alwayes adhaered to St. Augustine in these points, (speaking before of some Anti-Arminian conclusions, all which are fully related in his Suffragium Brittanorum, annexed to this Clerum,) euer since his time till now: the Church of England also from the beginning of reformation, and this our famous Academie, with al those who from thence till now, hauehave with vsus enioyed the Diuinity Chaires, if we except one forraigne. French man, (to wit, Peter Baro,) one, I say, who by the vigilancy of our Ancestors, and the large authority of the most Reuerend Arch-Bishop Whitgist was compelled to renounce his chaire, hauehave likewise constantly adhaered to him: And if to him, then certainly to vsus, as the 2. part of his 7. To me which makes wholy for vsus, will infallibly euidence: By these three seuerall testimonies it is abundantly euident, that our Diuinity Professors and first reformers of Religion in King Edward the 6. his dayes: our Reuerend and learned orthodox Diuines that either suffered, or escaped Martyrdome in Queene Maries dayes: our Bishops, Diuines, and learned Cleargie, who composed our Articles in Queene Elizabeths dayes: our famous Vniuersities of Oxford, and Cambridge, with all their Diuinity Professors from the beginning of reformation to this present; (excepting Baro, who was conuented, and in a manner expelled for his erronious Tenents,) together with the whole Church of England from her first reformation to this instant, hauehave constantly approued, vnanimously embraced, 4and resolutely maintained our Anti-Arminian conclusions, as the vndoubted resolutions and Doctrines of our English Church: and will any man now be so audaciously absurd, as to call them into question, whether they are the Doctrines of our Church or no?

Not to speake ofaaBalme from Gilead to recouer Conscience p. 56. 78. Master Samuel Ward, orbbAchithophel. p. 13. 25. to 35. Master Carpenter, orccAbstrucenesse of Diuine Misteries. M. Deubtie, or other of our late vnrecited writers, who condemne Arminianisme in the grosse: not yet p. 131to mention any of the fore-quoted Authors: my 4^th. Euidence to proue our Anti-Arminian Tenents the vndoubted Doctrines of our Church; is the authorized translating and printing in our English dialect, not only of St. Augustines cheife workes against the Pelagians; but euen of Caluin, Beza, Zanchius, Bucani…, Trelcatius, Bastingius, Vrsin, Kimedoncius, Piscator, Fayus, Olenian, Iunius, Reniger, and Moulins, workes against the Pseudo-Lutherans, and Arminians, who passe for orthodox and approued Authors in our Church, whom some stile a Caluinist.

Certainely if the Doctrine of our English Church, were various from these Authors Tenents, they being the greatest Anti-Arminians this day exstant; their names would neuer be so venerable, their workes not so highly esteemed in our Church, as to be thus englished, authorized, sold, and printed here among vsus (as we know they are) without controll: Since then our Church hath thus indenized and adopted these forraigne Authors with their Anti-Arminian Writings; since she thus claimes them for, and rankes them with her owne, her Doctrines questionlesse are the same with theirs; and so wholy ours, not our Arminian Opposites, whom all these pointblancke oppugne.

You hauehave seene now, pious Readers, what plentifull numerous, punctuall, full and faire Euidences, Records and witnesses, of all sorts, and ages our Anti-Arminian Tenents hauehave produced, to vindicate and proue themselues the ancient, established, professed, resolued, and vndoubted Doctrines of the Church of England: Let vsus now examine on the other side what euidences, what testimonies these Arminian Errors can rake vp together, to intitle themselues vntounto our Church.

First of all, they hauehave none of the fore-quoted Article…, 1Hom…lies, Common prayer Booke, Chatechismes, Syn…d, or Recantation; no publike record or monument of our reformed Church to iustify them; Yea all these (as our Church hath alwayes hitherto expounded them) doe positiuely condemne them for insufferable and branded Errors.

p. 1322Secondly, there is neuer a Martyr, neuer a Diuinity Professor in either of our Vniuersities, (Baro, a spurious Frenchman excepted,) neuer an orthodox or approued English Writer that I know off from the beginning of Reformation to this instant, that can giuegive in any euidence in one particular point, (much lesse in all points) on their side, being rightly vnderstood; where as we hauehave produced a whole Century of Authors, if not more, against there. The only Authors that they can produce, and those but partiall maimed, and obscure witnesses, not intire, or perspicuous; areddBooke of Gods prouidence, and Lectures vponupon Ionas. Peter Baro in Queene Elizabeths: eeDe Interscisione iustificationis & Gratiae Diatriba.Thompson in King Iames, andffGagge, and Appeale. M. Mountague, andggOf the Diuine Essence & Attributes. Iackson in King Charles his raigne: men branded and condemned in our Church. The first of these being an exortique Frenchman, was solemnely conuented and censured for his erronious Bookes and Tenents; first at Lambeth, by the composers of the Lambheth Articles, and afterwards in the**See page. 121. 222. See Doctor Vniuersity of Cambridge by all the heads of Houses, vponupon the complaint of diuers Batchellors of Diuinity: vponupon whichiiWards Concio …d Clerum p. 45. Thysij praefatio Fratribus Belgis Hardro…ici. 1613, B. Carltons Examination of M. Mountagues Appeale. c. 2. accordingly. he… was forced to forsake that Vniuersity, and our Kingdome too, This branded and illegall witnesse then, being at the very best a forraigner, doth only marre, not helpe their cause: The second was but an Anglo-Belgicus, a dissolute, ebrious and luxurious English-Dutchman:kkSee Bishop Abbot Animaduersio in Thompsoni Diatribam: Praefatio ad Lectorem, and cap. 1. his Booke was denyed Licens here, as being contrary to the Doctrine of the Church of England; and being printed at Leyden after his death for want of licens here; it was presently refelled by a reuerend and learned Prelate of our Church, Doctor Robert Abbot, Bishop of Salisbury, whose Booke now extant, was imprinted by authority; and dedicated to our royall Soueraigne, then Prince of Wales. If then the life, or posthumus Booke of this second Witnesse be examined, his testimony will but cast, not further, not aduance their right: The third of these Witnesses (who was lately rumored to disclaime his testimony, and will either euade, or else withdraw, and retract his euidence when he comes to triall,) as he is a principal in the present controuersie, & so no competent p. 133Iudge or Witnesse; so he hath beene 4. seuerall times impeached by the high Court of Parliament, for giuing false testimony in the points in Issue: besides, his testimony is wauering, dubious, and repugnant to it selfe, and it hath beene counterpleaded by diuers of our Church, and generally disclaimed by most, as false and spurious: Therefore it doth but weaken, yea, betray their cause, and strengthen oures. The last of these being transported beyond himselfe with metaphisicall Contemplations, to his owne infamy, and his renowned Mothers shame, (I meane the famous Vniuersity of Oxford, who grieues for his defection, from whose duggs he neuer suckt his poysonous Doctrines,) as his euidence is intricate and obscure beyond the reach or discouery of ordinary capacities; so it hath beene blanched and blasted by a Parliament examination; excepted against by the Conuocation house; answered by some, disanowed by most of our Diuines; his single testimony therefore, (especially in his owne particular case where he cannot be both a party and a witnesse too;) makes nothing for their title to our Church. These are the only euidences and Authors to my knowledge that our Arminian Tenents can produce to interest them in our Church; and these, (all circumstances, being well confidered,) make flat against them: since our Chuch hath vtterly disauowed and distasted them, reiecting, yea condemning these their writings, as diametrally opposite to her established Doctrines. If any Arminian can produce any other English Writers whom our Church approues, to patronize these errors, I shall be willing to be informed of them; for my owne part I neuer met with any but with these. I confesse, that some would wrest Bishop Hooper to the contrary in the point of Reprobation, and vniuersall redemption: but in truth he is for vsus, not against vsus, in these very points, if rightly apprehended: howeuer he is euidently for vsus in the rest: But admit he were not, yet he is but one:**See the marginall Notes. p. 52. Quid ergo, si Episcopus, si Diaconus, sividua, si virgo, si Doctor, si etiam Martyr lapsus a regula fuerit, ideo Haereses videbuntur veritatē obtinere? Ex personis probamus fidem, an ex side personas? Tertul. De praescript aduers. Haereticos. his singular opinion therefore will not preiudice vsus; since we hauehave an whole Century of better & more punctuall witnesses for to backe vsus.

p. 1343Thirdly, our Church hath beene so farre from reputing these her established and receiued Doctrines, that she hath conuented & censured such as oppugners of her Doctrine, and disturbers of her peace, who hauehave hitherto published or patronized them in their Bookes or Sermons: witnesse the solemne Conuiction and Recantation of Barret, Baro, and others, in the yeere 1595.**Bish. Carltons Examination of M. Mountagues Appeale. cap. 2. they being the first that broached them in our Church: witnesse the Recantation of Master Sympson in Cambridge in King Iames his latter time, and the late conuention of one Brookes in Oxford, for broaching these Arminian Tenents: witnesse the proceedings in Parliament against Master Mountagues and Iacksons Arminian Bookes, which are generally distasted throughout the Kingdome: and can any then be so shamelesly audacious, as now for to auerre them, to be the vndoubted, established, or receiued Doctrines of our Church?

4Fourthly, the whole Armie, streame and torrent of the fore-recited learned Authors of our Church, both of ancient, moderne, and present times, hauehave alwayes constantly, professedly oppugned them, as directly opposit to the established & receiued Doctrines of the Church of England; as stigmatical, damnable & old-condēned Errors, first hatched by Pelagius, thē nursed by his Followers, fomented by Demi-Pelagians; reuiued & propagated by Popish Schoolemen; and since that abetted by Pseudo-Lutherans, Socinians, **See th… Discription of what God hath Praedest nated concerning Man. written by the Anabaptists, and published in their names, Anno. 1…20. where all these Arminian Tenents are in terminis maintained.Anabaptists, and Arminians: sects branded and condemned in our Church: and can we then bee so stupendiously, so damnably absurd, as to affirme or iudge them, the vndoubted, the embraced Doctrines of our Church? Certainely, that which hath no Records, no Euidences, no authorized Writers of our Church to patronize it, all of them to oppugne it: that which our Martyrs neuer sealed, but cancelled with their blood; our first reformers neuer planted, but displanted in our Church: our Diuinity Professors neuer iustified, but condemned in our Vniuersity Schooles: that which all our Authors neuer patronized, but p. 135constantly refelled as a branded Error, in their writings: that which both our Church and Vniuersities hauehave neuer constantly affirmed, but solemnly enioyned men to recant, as expresly contrary to the professed and resolued Doctrine of our Church; cannot be the Doctrine of the Church of England. But this is the case of all the fore-mentioned Arminian Errors, witnesse all the praemises. Therefore they cannot bee the professed and resolued Doctrine of the Church of England, let Arminians vainely boast and babble to the contrary what they will.

Lastly, that which sundry ancient Councels, Fathers, and moderne Synods, hauehave positiuely censured and condemned as a pestilent, dangerous, and grace-destroying Error: and not so much as one ancient Orthodox Councell, Father, or moderne Synod euer ratified: as the ancient, Catholicke and vndoubted truth, can neuer be reputed the professed, established, and vndoubted Doctrine of the Church of England: But sundry ancient Orthodox aaConcilium Palestinum often mentioned in S. Augustin…s, 7. Tom. part 2. Concil affected caenum. Can. 76. to 84. Concil. Antasicanum. 2 Can. 1 to the end of 25. Concil. Valent…num. Anno. 815. Can. 1. 3. 4. 5. 6.Councels, bbAugust Enchirideon. Epist. 100. to 106 & Tom 7 part 2 throughout Heirom. Contr. Pelagianos libri. and Comm. in Eph. cap. 1. Prosper Responsio ad Quaesti. Vincensiān as: ad Excerpta Genuensium. Contra Collatorem. and De vocatione Gentium. F… gentius De Praedestinatione ad Mo…mum. Primasius. Cōment. in Rom. c. 8. 9. & 11. in Ephes. 1. in 2. Tim. 2. 19. Orosius Apologia aduers. Pelagianos de Libertate Arbitrij. Petrus Diaconus De Incarnatione & Gratia Dom. Iesu Christi. Beda and Anselmus in Rom. 9. & 11. in Eph. 1. in 2. Tim. 2. 19. & Bradwardme de Causa Dei.Eph 1Rom 8:9Rom 8:112 Tim 2:19Rom 9Fathers, andccSynod of Dort. 1619. 1620. Synod of Ireland. 1615. with the seuerall Confessions of the Reformed Churches, Harmony of Confessions. sect. 4. 5. 6. 8. 9. moderne Synods, hauehave positiuely censured and condemned these very Arminian Tenents, as a pestilent, dangerous, and grace-destroying Error: and not so much as one ancient Councel, Orthodox, Father, or moderne Synod euer ratified them, as the ancient Catholicke, & vndoubted truth: Therefore they can neuer be reputed, the professed, established, and vndoubted Doctrine of the Church of England: The affirmatiue part of my Assumption, the Councels, Fathers, and Synods, quoted in the margent, with sundry others which I hauehave at large recited in my Perpetuity of a Regenerate mans estate, page 213. to 270. (to which I shall referre you,) doe fully warrant: For the negatiue part, let our Arminians disproue it if they can, since I must needs affirme; that I know not so much as one ancient Councell, or moderne Synod, no nor yet one orthodox Father of the Primatiue p. 136Church, (vnlesseddDe libero Arbitrio. lib. 2. Bibl. patrum. Tom. 5. part 3. page 523. Faustus an absolute Semi-Pelagian, though in shew a professed Anti-Pelagian, may be reputed orthodox, when as both Protestants and Papists hauehave hitherto branded him as vnsound and Haeterodox in his Tenents:) that did euer yet maintaine or iustify, these Semi-Pelagian or Arminian Errors; If then they were neuer the receiued or approued Doctrines, but the branded Haeresies, of the Primitiue Church; if they were neuer yet confirmed and setled in any Christian Church, by any one nationall or generall Councell, whether ancient or moderne, though they hauehave beene censured and condemned by diuers; they cannot be the established, the vndoubted Doctrines of the Church of England.

You hauehave he…re good Christian Readers, both heard, and seene, the seuerall Euidences and Witnesses which Anti-Arminianisme, and Arminianisme can produce, to intitle themselues vntounto the Church of England, to which they both of late l…y claime: You hauehave seene the Articles of England, Lambheth, and Ireland: the Common prayer Booke, and Homelies established in our Church: The authorized Catechisme of King Edward the 6. The Questions and Answers of Predestination: The Synod of Dort: The Recantation of Barret: The Concurrent consent of all our Godly, Learned, Eminent, and most admired Martyrs, Writers, and Diuinity Professors, from the beginning of reformation to this present: The Resolution and iudgement of both our famous Vniuersities, Oxford, and Cambridge; yea the ancient and modern Churches of Ireland, Scotland, and England, with all their orthodox and learned members, giuing testimony too, and iudgement for the one; but disintitelling, disauowing and sentencing the other, which can finde no full, no punctuall Euidence, no competent, indifferent, orthodox, compleat, or absolute, but only branded, censured, and recanting Witnesses, (aaNemo inde strui potest vnde destruitur. Nemoah eo inluminatur, a quo contenebratur. Tertul De Praescript aduers. Haere…ie. cap. 4. which cut the very nerues and heart-strings of their cause) to giuegive them any colorable title to, any seeming right or interest in our Church: Which then of these irreconcilable, p. 137incompliable Assertions, are the ancient, receiued, established, and resolued Doctrines of our Church, be yee the Iudges. Certainely that which hath no full, no pregnant Euidences, no legall or vnattainted Witnesses, to iustify or cleare its right, or claime: that which was altogether vnknowne, and neuer heard off in our Church till now of late; bbFides in regula posita est: Cedat curiositas fidei, cedat gloria saluti. Nihil scire, scire omnia est. Vt nō inimici essent veritatis Haeretici, vt de fugiendis ijs non praemoneremur, quale est conferre cum hominibus, qui & ips… adhuc se quaerere confitentur? Si enim ver… adhuc quaerunt, nihil adhuc certi depraehenderunt: & ideo quodcun que videntur interim tenere, dubitationem suam ostē dunt quandi… quaerunt, Ita que tu qui proinde quaeris, spectans ad eos qui & ipsi quaerunt, dubius a dubijs, incertus ab incertis, caecus a caecis in foutā deducaris necesse est. Sed cum decipiendi gratia praetendunt se adhoc quaerere, vt nobis per sollicitudinis iniectionem tractatus suos insinuent; deni que vbi adierunt ad nos, statim quae dicebant quaerenda esse defendunt: iam illos sie debemus refutare, vt sciant nos non Christo, sed sibi negatores esse. Cum enim quaerunt abhuc, nondum tenent; cum autem nondum tenent, nondum crediderunt: Cum autem nondum crediderunt, non sunt Christiani. At cum tenent quidem & credunt, quaerendum tamen dicunt vt defendant: antequ…m defendant negant quod credunt, confitentes si nondum credidisse, dum q…aerunt. Qui ergo nec sibi sunt Christiani, quantò magis nobis? Qui per fallaciam ven…unt, qualem fidem disputant? eui veritati patrocinantur, qui …am a mendacio inducunt? Te…tul. De Prae scrip. aduers. Hereticos. cap. 5.that which is yet in Quaere, in further search, and discouery, (and so not yet beleeued by its owne best studied Aduocates, the case of rotten Pelagian Arminianisme:) can neuer be: that which hath all these fore alleaged Charters and testimonies to strengthen, and confirme its right, (the case and happy condition of Anti-Arminianisme,) must of necessity be, the true, the genuine and vndoubted Doctrine of our Church. Let vsus therefore now at last without any further scrutinie of debate, exile this spurious and cursed Arminianisme (which hath lately drawne the very curse and wrath of God, with sundry fatall iudgements on vsus) out of our Church and state: let vsus once more adiudge & sinke it to the very depths of Hell, to which it was of old condemned; as a most pernicious, turbulent, discomfortable, desperate, blasphemous, and grace-oppugning Heresie: and since England (I meane ccSee the latter end of the Epistle Dedicatorie to the Parliament. Quid nobis Patriam?Pelagius a Brittaine, and a Monke of Bangor) was the first that bred it, let her be now the first to ruine it. As for our Anti-Arminian Conclusions, the ancient, hereditarie, and vnquestionable Doctrines of the Church of England, and the chiefest treasure, ioy and comfort of our soules,**Quid charareuisere tandem Pignora, delectos que inuatco…isse senates? To sine dulce nihil. Claudian in Rufinum. lib. 2. p. 57. without which all other comforts and contentments p. 138are vnpleasant: let vsus lodge them in our hearts, in throne them in our soules, settle them in our iudgements, claspe them in our affections, and so perpetuate and establish them in our Church, that all the pollices and powers of Hell, all the stratagems and powder-plots of Rome, all the combinations and complotments of forraigne Enemies, or domestique Traytors, (forddSee 23 Eliz. cap. 1. 27. Eliz. c. 2. such are all those Iesuited and Popish factors, who goe about to innouate Religion, or to withdraw vsus from the doctrines now established in the Church of England, as these Tenents are:) may neuer be able to vnsettle, or draw them into question any more.

These Anti-Arminian Tenents, they are the very ioy of our hearts, the life of our soules, the foundation of our eternall blisse; the onelyonly Euidences and Assurances that we hauehave to intitle vsus to saluation: if these once faulter, or proue false, our ioy, our spirituall comfort, the very grace and glory of God, and our saluation are indangered: if we come once to lose but these, the whole ioy, the treasure, comfort, crowne, and happinesse of all true Christians, yea the whole frame and structure of Gods grace, and the mysteries of our saluation are vtterly subuerted, and brought quite to ruine. And shall we then forgoe these truthes, which are farre more neare and deare vntounto vsus then our dearest soules, when we hauehave thus long, thus constantly, thus abundantly professed them?

These, these are the orthodox and sweete dogmaticall Resolutions, which our Martyrs blood hauehave sealed, our first Reformers of Religion setled; our Ancestors embraced, our Artic…es confirmed; our Vniuersities professed; our Church beleeued; our Ministers subscribed; our Protestant Kings, and Queenes defended: our Preachers published; our Laity receiued; our Parliament particularly voted, owned, and protected: our Writers propagated, and professedly maintained against all Hereticall oppugners whatsoeuer: (which they would neuer hauehave done, had they beene meere curious scoole-points, nicities, or needlesse speculations onelyonly, as some repute them:) and p. 139we our selues long since acknowledged, yea readily entertained as our owne vndoubted and professed Doctrines: and shall we then disclaime, or doubt them now? These are those blessed, gracious, and tutelary Doctrines, which hauehave thus long guarded and secured both our Church and State: These are the Bulwarks which hauehave a long time kept out Popery and Romish tyranny from; that hauehave preserned peace and vnity in our Church, which now is almost ouer-runne with Popery and Arminianisme, with sundry Errors and Diuisions, since these hauehave fallen to decay, and lost their credit with vsus. These were the truthes that secured vsus from the Spanish Armado in 88… **See 3. Iacobi. cap 1. Quid tale im…anes vnquam gessisse feruntur vel Sinis Isthmiaca pinu, vel r…, o profunda Sciron, vel Phaleris tauro, vel carcere Sulla? O mites Diomedis equi: Busiridis arae Clementes, ia… Cinna pi… iam Sparthace leuis, Papicolis collalus eris. Claudian. in Rufinum. l. 1. p. 47.from the barbarous, vnnaturall, and infernall Powder-treason, in 1605. the very memory of which should make al Papists, Priests, & Iesuits, with their bloudy Anti-Christian Religion which now creepes in vponupon vsus, for euer execrable to all English hearts. These were the procurers of our ancient glory, and renown: of our prosperity and welfare, our victories and triumphs both by Sea and Land: these made vsus honorable, wealthy happy, and victorious for 60. yeeres and vpward; (and we had yet no doubt continued such, had we not of late reuolted from them, and giuen harbor to those Popish, those pestilēt Arminian errors, which hauehave wasted both our Church and state, and plunged them into such a gulfe of sundry miseries, as is like to swallow them vp at once, vnles the power of heauen proue their rescue:) and shall we then begin to waiue them, or forsake them now? These are theee1. Pet. 1. 2 3. 25.1 Pet 1:2 immortall seed which did beget vsus at first; these,ff1. Pet. 2. 2.1 Pet 2:2 the sincere milke that nourished vsus: theseggHeb. 5. 12. 14.Heb 5:12Heb 5:14 the strong meat that must corroborate vsus: these thehhIsay 40. 1. 2.Isa 40:1Isa 40:2 celestiall cordialls which must comfort vsus in all our deiections: these theiiHebr. 6. 17. 18. 19.Heb 6:17Heb 6:18Heb 6:19 Ancre which must secure, and hold vsus vp from sinking, in the middest of all our troubles: these thekkEphe. 6. 11. to 19Eph 6:11–19 Armor that must shield vsus in all our spirituall combates: yea these are the Doctrines whichll1. Pet. 1. 3. 23. Iam. 1. 18.1 Pet 1:31 Pet 1:23Jas 1:18 must beget, and perfect grace within vsus: mmPsal. 19. 7. lames 1. 21. 1. Cor. 1. 16. 21.Ps 19:71 Cor 1:161 Cor 1:21which must conuert and saue our soules: In these were wee and ours borne; in these hauehave we liued; (and if we euer p. 140hope for any grace or glory, peace or safety, any present or future happinesse o… prosperity for our selues, or our posterities after vsus, in these let vsus, and oures liue, and dye.

FINIS.

Leo Epistolarum Decreta…um Epist. 75. cap. 1.

Nullus vltra sin…tur impet…re qu… non tamhumanis quam diuinis s…nt statuta decretis: ne vere digni sint Dei munus amittere, qui de veritate …ipsi…s ausi fuerint dubitare.

Gentle Reader, I shall desire thee to correct these few materiall Errataes, which by the improuidence of the Printer, and Corrector, hauehave escaped the Presse: for other litterall scapes which doe not vitiate the …ence, I hope thou wilt pardon them of course.

Errata.

End of the text · William Prynne, The Church of Englands Antithesis to Arminianism (1629)