Conference Between Rainolds and Hart — John Rainolds

Conference Between Rainolds and Hart · John Rainolds

AMongst many singular benefits of God bestowed vponupon our Vniuersitie, (fathers, and brethren,) which may be very fruitfull to the aduancing of Gods glory and saluation of the Church, if they be well husbanded: there is scarse any more excellent (in my iudgement,) then that it is ordered, that the truth giuen by inspiration of God, and registred in the Scripture, should be not expounded onelyonly by publike lectures, but also proued by disputations. A woorthy and profitable ordinance, no doubt: and most méete for schooles which serue to traine vp Christians, that is, for schooles of God. For what can there be more pretious then the truth, which teacheth vsus the knowledge of God, the way to life? And what more conuenient to strengthen the truth, then to hauehave it proued by discussing the reasons brought of both partes. For as golde, being digged out of the veines of the earth, is seuered from earthy substance (mixt therewith) by the mettall-workemen knocking it together; and as husbandmen are wont to sift wheat from the chaffe by winowing, that it may be fit to nourish the body: so the golden treasure of truth by striking reasons as it were together is parted from the dregs, which it hath not gotten frō the holy veines whence it is digged, but from mens vessels wherein it is receiued; and the corne that is sowen for the foode of the soule, is winowed (with the winde that bloweth from the holy Ghost) by the husbandmen of heauen, that it may be cleaner from the chaffe of errours. The chéerefull vndertaking, and faithfull performing of the which duetie the common wealth may chalenge at our hands of right: specially for that it hath indowed and furnished this noble Vniuersitie and place of exercise of good learning with priuileges, with houses, with lands in ample sort, to this intent chiefly that it might be a nurserie for Pastours of the Church. For both it is méete that Pastours of the Church should be not onelyonly able to edifie the faithfull with sound and wholesome doctrine, but also a… 1.….to conuince them who gainesay it, as S. Paul witnesseth: and we shall be able to conuince gainesayers so much the more easily, fitly, and effectually, if first we practise that in a warlike exercise, which we may do after when we shall make warre with enemies in déede. Now, it there be any thing wherein it is very conuenient and behoofefull, both for Christian souldiers to be well practised, against the mischieuous attempts of their enemies; and the golde of Christian truth to be throughly clensed from the drosse, the wheate from the cha…e, by the paines of husbandmen and workmen of the church: doubtlesse, th…s, which I hauehave chosen to debate of, is so profitable, being knowen; so perillous, vnknowen; that we hauehave great cause to bend all our wittes vntounto the serch & knowledge of it. For there hauehave assailed the Church now this great while, and scatteredly there range, they, of whom bMatt. 7.19.Christ hath warned vsus to beware, whom c2. Pet. 2.1.Peter did foretell of that they should be in the Church, I meane false teachers, and false prophets: who comming to vsus in the clothing of sheepe, yet being rauening woolues in their hearts and déedes, naming them selues the Church as if they were the onelyonly sheepe of Christ, do teach damnable heresies, and blaspheme the way of truth. To spred the infection of the which pestilence farther amongst the faithfull: as Rabsakeh the Assyrian, d2. King. 18.…when he did sollicit Ierusalem to fall from God, did vse the name of God against the people of God: so that Romish Rabsakeh the enemie of the new Ierusalem, doth vse the Churches name against the children of the Church. He saith that Christians ought to beleeue the Catholike Church: and that no Church is Catholike at all but the church of Rome: and that we therefore who hauehave forsaken it, hauehave fallen away from the communion of the catholike Church: moreouer, that there can not be any hope of saluation out of the Church: and therefore that all, who eyther leaue the Church of Rome, or ioine them selues to any of our reformed Churches, must needes be lost for euer. This faire but false visard of the catholike Church, doth leade many simple men out of the way: who shunne the catholike faith, while they are afraide least they should fal from the faith; & dare not ioyne them selues with the Church of Christ, least they should be seuered from the cōmunion of the Church. So that we may iustly say to the Bishops of Rome at this day, that which eLeo. epist. 8… ▪ ad episcopos Palaest.a Roman Bishop did write long ago to the Bishops of Iewry: Ye thinke your selues to deale for the faith (O ye Romans) & ye go against the faith; ye do arme your selues with the name of the church, & ye fight against the church. Wherfore, being perswaded that y^e handling hereof would auaile much to ease the ignorance of the vnskilfull, and quaile the stubbornnesse of our aduersaries, and furder (which is the chiefe point) the saluation of the elect: I, for the duety, or rather more then duty which I owe to the church of Christ, resolued with my selfe (hauing such opportunitie of disputation offered) to treate of the state of the Catholike, of the Roman, and of our owne Church. The rather, for that the foundations of this woorke are already layed in our former disputation: wherein it was shewed out of the word of truth, that the scripture teacheth all things needefull to saluation; that the church may erre while it is militant on the earth; that the autoritie of the church is subiect to the scripture. Which things being setled, it will be the easier to build thereupon that which I hauehave purposed: I meane, to lay open the nature and condition of the catholike church, the corruption of the Roman, and the soundnes of ours. But before I enter into the opening of these pointes, which I will doo (by Gods grace) briefly, as the time; sincerely, as the charge requireth: first I must desire and craue of you all, my hearers, most earnestly, not that you will giuegive mée an attentiue eare, which of your owne accord ye doo: but that with your eare you will bring a minde desirous to embrace the truth. In Athenes there were iudges called Areopagites, whose order was such (as …. Rhe…or. 1. Demosthen. contr. A…stocrat. Lucian. in Anachar.the Heathens write, and commend them for it) that they bid the pleader pleade without preambles, and made him to be sworne that he should tell them no vntruth: them selues did heare the cause with great silence while it was pleading, and iudged of it with great vprightnes when they had heard it. Such Areopagites would I hauehave you, brethren, in this our Christian Athenes, shew your selues to me warde. I wil declare the matter (as a pleader ought) simply, and sincerely, without preambles, though vnbidden: and without vntruthes, though vnsworne. GiueGive you (as iudges should doo) fauourable audience, without a partiall preiudice of foreconceiued errors: and sentence with the truth, without corrupt affections, according vntounto right and reason. And I would to God you would heare me, in such sort as gAc…. 1….35.Denys the Areopagite heard Paul the Apostle: whose words of the vnknowen God he beleeued, perswaded by y^e light of truth, though against that opinion which hée had foreconceiued. God, the father of lightes, and autour of truth, who gaue Paul a fiery tongue, to lighten and kindle the mindes of his hearers; who moued the hart of Denys to sée the light of godlines and to be set on fier with it: vouchsafe with the direction of his holy spirit both to guide my tongue, that it may serue to open the mysteries of his word; and to soften your hartes, that the séede of life may fall vponupon a fruitfull ground. Open our eyes▪ O Lord, and we shall sée; giuegive vsus fleshy heartes, and we shall assent. Let thy spirit leade vsus into all truth, and let thy word be a lanterne to our feete: that wée may beléeue the things which thou teachest, and doo the things which thou commaundest, to the euerlasting glory of thy goodnes and our owne saluation. Amen.

In the treatie of the matter, that I set in hand with, of the state of the Church both in generall, and particular,The fourth Conclusion. the Roman, and the reformed Churches of sundry nations: it commeth first to be declared what is the holy catholike church, whereof we professe in our Creede that wee beleeue it. And hereof I say, the holy catholike church is the whole company of Gods elect and chosen. Which is termed a Church, that is, a company ofmen and an assembly of people called togither; holy, because God hath chosen this company, and sanctified it to him selfe; Catholike, for that it consisteth not of one nation, but of all, spred through the whole world. For God, to the entent that he might impart the riches of his glorious grace vntounto mankinde, hEph. 1.4….did choose from euerlasting a certaine number of men, as a i1. Pet. 2.….peculiar people, kMatt. 2….34.who should possesse with him the kingdome of heauen prepared for them from the foundations of the world. And although this people be sundred by the distance of places, and times, for the seuerall persons and members thereof: yet hath hee ioyned and knit them all togither by the bond of his holy spirit, into the felowship of one body, and a ciuill or rather a spirituall communion, as it were into one citie. The name of which citie, is, lHebr. 12.22. Reu. 2….2.the heauenly, new, and holy Ierusalem, the citie of the liuing God: the king, is mPsal. 87.1.God almightie, who founded, establisheth, and ruleth the citie: the lawes, are Gods word, which the citizens heare and folow, as nIoh. 10.1… ▪sheepe the voice of the shepheard: the citizens, are the Saintes, euen all and singular holy men, who therefore are called oEph. ….19▪felow-citizens of the Saintes, and men of Gods houshold: the register, wherein their names are enrolled, is called pReu. 20, 1… ▪the booke of life: finally the liberties and commo…ities, which they enioy, are most ample benefites both of this life and of the life to come, to wit, the grace of God, the fountaine of goodnes; the treasures of Christ, who is heire of all things; the forgiuenes of sinnes, the peace of conscience, the giftes of righteousnes, of godlines, of holines; one spirit, one faith, one hope of our calling, and sacraments which are the seales of our hope; in a worde all thinges which are expedient for vsus to the necessarie maintenance of our earthly life, and after this life the inheritance of life eternall in heauen with endlesse blisse and glory. But because the citizens of this citie of God hauing disobeyed & rebelled against him had lost their fréedom through their treason, and being put therby from euerlasting life w…re to suffer death in the chaines of darkenesse: God the father of infinite mercy and compassion, did send his onelyonly begotten sonne into the world, that he being appointed king of Gods citie should redéeme y^e citizens from the powerof darkenesse out of the thraldom of the diuell, and translating them a fresh into his kingdom should blesse them and endow them with all the priuileges and liberties of the citizens of God. And so it pleased him, though we had played the traitors in reuolting from him to his and our enimie, yet of his frée fauour to make a league with vsus, & enter into couenant. Which couenant being one and the same in substance, yet diuersly considered, and (by reason of this diuersitie) diuided into two, the one called olde, grounded on Christ being promised to come; the other, new, on Christ being come into the world: God hath set it downe in the instruments of his c…uenant, wherein he hath said, qGen. 17.7. Leu. …6.12. …er. 3….…3. …eb. 8.10.I will be your God, and ye shall be my people. What is the tenour, how greate the vse, how vnspeakable the benefit of this holy couenant, made with the Patriarkes, the Prophets, the Apostles, and all the Saintes of God: it is recorded in the sacred instruments of the olde and new testament, or couenant. An abridgement whereof, containing the summeof the Apostles doctrine, is deliuered in y^e articles of our Christian faith, or Creede, as we terme it, gathered out of Gods worde. Wherefore as the couenant consisteth of two branches: so the Creede expressing it conteineth two partes. One of them instructeth our faith touching God, who saide to his seruants, I will be your God: the other, touching the people of God, that is the Church, to whom God saide, you shall be my people. Touching God, it teacheth vsus to beleeue in him, who is one God in nature, distinct in three persons; the Father the creator, the Sonne the redéemer, the holy Ghost the sanctifier. Touching the people of God, it teacheth vsus to beleeue, that they are a Church, holy, and Catholike, which hath communion of the Saints, to whom their sinnes are forgiuen, whose bodies shalbe raised vp againe from death, and being ioyned with their soules shall liue euerlastingly. Now, to make the matter more euident and plaine that this citie of God and company of the chosen is the holy Catholike Church: first, it is certaine that the people of God is called effectually out of the filth of other men, to know, and serue him, by Christ who doth lighten their mindes, and moue their hartes, through the power of the holy Ghost and ministerie of the word. And the whole company of them, who are so called, is named the Church, by an excellencie; not a common one, but a passing, eminent, and most noble Church: as wherein the faithfull all are comprehended that eyther be, or hauehave béene, or shal be to the end from the beginning ofthe world. Which is termed in rHeb. 12.23.scripture the Church of the first borne, who are writen in heauen. Which sEphes. 1 5.God did predestinate to be adopted in him self, according to the good pleasure of his wil. Which tEphes. 4.16. & 5.23.Christ being giuen to it by his Father, as a head to the body, loued as his spouse, redeemed it from Satan, and quickneth it with his Spirit, hauing suffered death him selfe to deliuer vsus from the gulfe of death. Moreouer as it is cleere that this Church is called out of the rascall sort of the world, to be partaker of the inheritance of the kingdom of heauen: so is it cléere too that it ought to be holy. For uEsai. 1.4.the holy one of Israell xMa…t. 7.23.can not abide them who are workers of iniquitie: yZach. 14.21.neither shall any Cananite be in the house of the Lord of hostes: and zReu. 21.…7.into the heauenly citie there shall enter no vncleane thing, nor whatsoeuer worketh abomination, or lye. Christ therefore, the Sauiour of the Church his body, who aRom. 8.30.as he called them whō he predestinate, so iustified them whom he called: bEph. 5.26.hauing clensed the Church from her sinnes by his blood, renueth her from the filth of the flesh vntounto holinesse; which he beginneth in this life, and perfitteth in the life to come, when he shall present her without spot and wrincle *Reu. …9.8.a glorious spouse vntounto him selfe. So that, both the Church may well be termed holy, and the communion of Saintes the Churches communion: which militant on earth is holy in affection, triumphant in heauen is holier in perfection, both militant and triumphant is in Christ most holy. Finally, sith God hath called the holy church not out of this or that countrey, not out of this or that people, but out of all nations spred through the whole world: for that cause the church is intitled Catholike, that is, vniuersall: not Iewish, not Roman, not English, not of one people or prouince, but vniuersall and Catholike, cōpacted as it were into one body out of all sorts of estates, sexes, ages, & nations; Iewes, & Heathens; Greeks, & Barbarians; bond, and free; men, and wemen; old, and young; rich, and poore. For both the old Church (before the birth of Christ) which saw the day of Christ to come, and was saued, did gather children of God vntounto her selfe at first out of any people; afterward when the grace of God shined chiefly among the people of Israel, she did ioyne cWhich are named prosel…tes. Mat. 23.…5. Act ….10. & 13.4….conuertes to Israel out of the rest: and much more the new Church (called since Christ was borne) hath dEsai. 5….2.enlarged her tabernacle (as Esay the Prophet speaketh) eMat. 28.19.to all nations, beginning at Ierusalem, Iudaea, Samaria, and going forward thence euen to the vttermost endes of the earth. For God hath not called the circumcised Iewes alone,fAct. 1.8. to be his Church, as the time was when gAct. 10.28. & 11.2.the Apostles thought through a litle ouersight, hGalatin. de a…an. cathol. ver. lib. 9. c. 12.the Iewes in our dayes hauehave too presumptuously wéened: but iEph. 2. ver. 14.Christ being crucified hath broken the stoppe of the partition-wall, kver. …0.and is become the chiefe stone of the corner, on which a dooble wall ariseth; and as lPsal. 87.4.Dauid prophecied, the Egyptian, the Babylonian, the Tyrian, the Aethiopian, the Philistine are borne in Sion; and, as mReu. 5.9.the Elders (in whom is represented the company of the faithfull) doo sing vntounto Christ, Thou hast redeemed vsus to God by thy blood out of eueryevery kinred, and tounge, and people, and nation, and hast made vsus kings and priests to our God, & we shall raigne vponupon the earth. Wherefore sith the church, which the holy scriptures doo commend vntounto vsus, betokeneth the company and assembly of the faithfull, whom God hath chosen, Christ hath sanctified, and called out of all nations to the inheritance of his owne kingdome: the holy Ghost, who spake by the Prophets and Apostles, doth warrantise me to resolue on my Conclusion, that the holy catholike church which we beleeue is the whole company of Gods elect…and chosen. You maruell perhaps why I propose this article of the Christiā faith to be discussed by disputation: as though either any man stood in dout of it, or things not douted of were to be handled as doutfull. But if you consider that the true meaning therof, which I hauehave opened, most agréeable to the scripture, most comfortable to the faithfull, is condemned and accursed by the standerd-bearers of the church of Rome: you will cease to maruell. For in nConcil. Constant. Sess. 15.the Councell of Constance, in which they condemned Iohn Husse for an heretike, they condemned these two sayings, as hereticall, to be burned with him: oArtic. ….that there is one holy vniuersall Church which is the whole company of them that are predestinate; and, pArtic. 6.that the Church, as it is takē in this sense for the company of them that are predestinate, is the article of our faith. Which sayings of his to be counted vngodly it séemed strange to me: and so much the more, because I perceiued that the Fathers (whose words the Papistes will séeme to make great account of when they serue their purpose) did vse the same squire to measure out the Catholike church by. For qStrom. lib. 7.Clemens Alexandrinus dooth expresly call it the company of the elect, into which are gathered the faithfull and iust, whom God did predestinate before the creation of the world. Likewise rIn epist ad Eph. cap. 3.Ambrose, hauing said that the honour of God the father is in Christ and in the church, defineth the church to be a people which God hath vouchsafed to adopt to him selfe. Furthermore sMoral. in Iob. lib. 28. cap. 9.Gregorie the Bishop of Rome affirmeth that all the elect are contained within the compasse and circuite of the church, all the reprobate are without it. And tIn Cantic. sermon. 78.Bernard declaring the church to be the company of all the elect, which company was predestinate before the world began, doth touch it as a mysterie which he had learned of Paul, and saith that he will boldly vtter it. As for Austin, a man of sharpest iudgement of them all, he neither acknowledgeth uThroughout all his bookes De ciuitate Dei.any city of God, but this elect church, in his most lerned worke touching the citie of God; and in another touching the catechizing of the vnskilfull, xDe rudib. catechiz. cap. 20.he saith that all the holy and sanctified men, which are, which hauehave been, which shalbe, are citizens of this heauenly Ierusalem; and in another, touching baptisme against the Donatists (against whom he vrgeth the Catholike church most) yDe bapt. cont. Donatist. l. 5. cap. 27.he confesseth that those things in the song of songs, the garden inclosed, the fountaine sealed vp, the lilie, the sister, the spouse of Iesus Christ, are meant of the holy and righteous alone, who are Iewes inwardly by circumcision of the hart, of which holy men the number is certaine, praedestinate before the foundation of the world. Wherefore, if the Prelates of the Romish Church had had any reuerence, I say not of the scriptu…es, ouer which they play the Lordes as they list; but of the Fathers, of whom as of orphans they beare men in hand that they hauehave vndertooke the wardship: they would neuer hauehave wounded, or rather burnt in Husses person, Clemens Alexandrinus, Ambrose, Gregorie, Bernard, and Austin, who taught the same point that is condemned in Husse, namely, that the holy vniuersall Church is the whole company of the elect of God. But it is (I sée) an vndouted truth which zFran. Duar. de …acr. eccles. minist. l. 5. c. 11.a learned man, liking the Popes religion, but not the Popes presumption, hath set downe in writing: that amongst the Popes and men like to Popes it is a sure principle, If wrong he to be doon, it is to be doon when thou maist get a kingdome by it. For they wrest the holy catholike Church (taught vsus in the Creede) from the right meaning, to the intent they may be kings, & hoyse vp the sayles of their owne ambition: in as much as they apply it, like vnskilfull men, if they doo it ignorantly; impious, if wittingly; they apply it (I say) not to the Catholike Church, but to y^e militant; nor to that, as it is chosē, but as it is visible, mingled with hypocrites and vngodly persons. The cause, why they do so, is, that all Christians, by reason they beleeue the holy Catholike Church, may be induced to thinke that the visible Church must be held for Catholike, and a visible monarchie must be in the visible Church, and the Pope is Prince of the visible monarchie, and all Christians must be subiect to him as Prince. For, this to be the marke whereat the Popes shoote, it is as cléere as the light by the verie Extrauagants (as they are termed) of the Canon law, in that royall decrée of aExtra. c. vnam sanctam. De maioritat. & obedient.Boniface the eighth, beginning with these wordes, One holy Catholike Church. Where from one Catholike Church, without the which there is no saluatiō, nor forgiuenes of sinnes, he créepeth vp to the head of the Church euē Iesus Christ, & from Christ the head he slippeth downe by stealth vntounto Christs vicar, one and the same head (as he saith) with Christ, euen the Pope of Rome: whom yet to be the head of the Catholike Church not him selfe would say, (vnlesse perhaps in a dreame,) for thē he shuld be head of the triumphant church, which is a part of the Catholike: but he would be head of the visible church, which he nameth Catholike, therby the more easily to deceiue the simple: who being astonied and snared with that name, the fowler shutteth vp the net, and concludeth, that eueryevery earthly creature if he will be saued must of necessitie be subiect to the Pope. Thus saith Pope Boniface. But vnlesse the Pope him selfe and the Fathers of his Councell of Trent, being thereto forced by the truth of scripture, confesse against them selues, that the holy Catholike Church doth not signify the visible company of the Church militant, cōsisting of the good and badde mixt together; which sense the Papists giuegive it with their Pope Boniface to the intent they may be kings: I will not request you to beleue me in it. For, in the Catechisme which was set foorth by Pope Pius the fifth according to the decree of the Councell of Trent, bCatechism. Concil Trid. in exposit. symb.hauing said that the Church (in the Creed) doth chiefly signifie the company of the good & bad togither, they adde, that Christ is head of the Church as of his body, so that, as bodily members hauehave life from the soule, in like sort the faithfull hauehave from Christs spirit: and therefore it is holy because it hath receiued the grace of holines and forgiuenes of sinnes from Christ, who sanctifieth & washeth it with his blood: and it is called Catholike, because it is spred in the light of one faith from the east to the west, receiuing men of all sortes, be they Scythians or Barbarians, bond or free, male or female; conteining all the faithfull which hauehave bene from Adam euen till this day, or shall be hereafter till the ende of the world, pro…essing the true faith, & being built vponupon Christ, vponupon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. Pope Pius therefore and the Fathers of the Councell of Trent affirme that the Church, which is specified in the Creede, is the body of Christ. Now, the scripture teacheth that cEph. 4.…6.all the body of Christ is quickned and increased by the holy Ghost, as if he were the soule of it. But the bad and wicked are neither quickned, nor increased. Then are they no part of the body of Christ: and therfore neither of the Church. Pope Pius and the Fathers of the Councel of Trent affirme that the Church is holy, being washed by the blood of Christ, indued with grace of holines, and with forgiuenes of sinnes. Now, dRom. 4.7.blessed are they whose sinnes are forgiuen: eMatt. 5.8.blessed are the cleane in heart, for they shall see God. But the bad and wicked shall neither see God, nor are blessed. Therefore neither hauehave they forgiuenes of sinnes, nor are their harts cleane. Then are they no part of the church. Pope Pius and the Fathers of the Councell of Trent affirme that the church is called Catholike, in respect that it conteineth all the faithfull from the first to the last, professing the true faith, and being built vponupon Christ. But the wicked and hypocrites either are not faithfull; or, if they may be called so, yet they professe not the true faith; or, if they professe it, yet they are not built on Christ. For they who are built on Christ, are fMat. 7. ver. 24.built on a rocke, gver. 25.and shall neuer be remoued. But the wicked shall be remoued. Then are they no part of the church. Yet they must néedes be a part of the church if the name of church did signifie the visible church (as we call it) consisting of the good and bad. Wherfore it foloweth thereof that the church mentioned in y^e Créede, betokeneth not the visible church, that is, the company of good and bad together: which it is imagined to do by the builders of the Popes monarchie. Thus, as Caiaphas in the Gospel although he spake many things amisse against Christ, yet, hIoh. 11. ver. 49being the high Priest that same yeere, he saide well in this spéech, though ill meant too, iver. 50.that it was expedient for them that one man should dye for the people: so the Pope and the Fathers of the Councell of Trent, being the high Priestes that same yere, though they meant yll, in saying that the holy catholike church, which we beléeue, is the company of good and bad mixt together: yet, being lead and moued by some diuine force to speake better then they meant, they added such an exposition, that their owne doctrine is ouerthrowen by it, the errour of the Councell of Constance is discouered, and the truth of the scripture confirmed and established. Wherefore I may iustly conclude against the Papists out of the Pope him selfe and the Councell of Trent, that all the good and holy men, and none but they, do make the holy Catholike church. But séeing our faith must hauehave a better ground then humane decrées either of Popes or Councels, whose breath is in their nosethrils, whose houses are of clay, and their foundation is sande: therefore let vsus stay our selues on that conclusion which I made before on warrant of the holy Ghost, who hath spoken to vsus by the Apostles and Prophets; The holy Catholik Church, which we beleeue, is the whole company of Gods elect and chosen. And let this suffice for the first Conclusion.

The second doth folow:The fifth cōclusion. The church of Rome is not the catholike church, nor a sound mēber of the catholike church. Of the which position that we may the better perceiue the drift and truth: we must search somewhat déeper, and fetch the beginnings of particular churches out of the fountaine whence they flowe. God, hauing chosen in his eternall purpose the holy catholike church, that is, all his children, to be the heires of his kingdome, and to triumph in heauenly glory with him and his elect Angels: doth first of all sende them abroade into the earth, as it were into a campe, there to serue him in warre against the flesh, the world, the deuill, and all the powers of darkenes vnderunder the banner of Christ, that they may come conquerours out of warfare to the triumph, and may striue lawfully before they be crowned. Whereto that they may be the stronger made and better furnished, to endure the labour and hardnes of warfare: God k1. Pet. 1.23.begetteth them a new by his word, (the word working effectually through the holy Ghost,) as it were by seede; and l1. Cor. 3.2.with the same word he nourisheth them, as with milke; mHeb. 5.14.strengtheneth them, as with meat; armeth them, nEph. 6. ver. 17.as with a sword of the Spirit; and frameth them over. 16.a shield of faith, wherewith they may quench the firie dartes of the wicked one. Yea, the more to harten them against all dangers and deceites of enemies with the skill of warfare and sure hope of victorie: he bindeth them with sacraments, as with bonds of obedience, and pledges of his grace; he willeth them to *Psal. 50.…5.call for his helpe in distresses, & promiseth it if they call for it, he appointeth them warlike discipline, to kéepe them selues in order, and gard them safer from their enemies: to be short, be deliuereth them the whole trade of warfare, opened by himselfe the Generall of the armie, and writen in his word. To the intent then, that all the souldiers of God, who be sent at diuers times into diuers countries to serue him in this warfare, might learne it, & practise it: he hath ordeined, as ciuill assemblies & societies, for y^e mainteinance of this life; so likewise, for the next, ecclesiasticall. In which ecclesiasticall societies and assemblies it is his will & pleasure that there should be captaines to teach, and souldiers to learne, both of them warriours faithfully to practise and wage the warre of the Lord. And these are called churches, but particular churches to distinguish them from the catholike: because they are diuers partes of the catholike, that is, the whole church; diuers members, of one body, diuers bandes, of one army. Which, for the diuers regard of place, and time, wherein they go to warfare, are specified by diuers names. In regard of place: the church, which serued God at Ierusalem, is called the church of Ierusalem: that which at Samaria, the church of Samaria: that which at Ephesus, the church of Ephesus; that which at Rome, the church of Rome; they which in England, in France, in Germany, are called the English, the French, the Dutch churches. In regard of time: wée say the Iewish church in the dayes of Moses, of Dauid, of Ezekias; the Roman vnderunder Nero, Constantine, Boniface; the English in King Henries raigne, King Edwardes, Queene Maries: or how soeuer els the difference of times be noted. Now, the rule of reason and honestie would that eueryevery one of these churches, ordeined by God to that end, should bring foorth the children of God, as a mother; yeld dutifull honour to God, as a spouse; and fight the spirituall battailes of God, as a valiant and faithfull army. But pReu. 12. ver. 9.the deuill, the enemy of the chosen woman, in nature *That is to say, an aduersary.a Satan, in subtletie a serpent, in fiercenes a dragon, qver. 13. & 17.which furiously pursueth the woman & her seede, rMat. 13.25.soweth rares among the wheate in the field of the Lord, that is to say, he mingleth his souldiors with the souldiours of God in the campe, and amongst the godly he foysteth in hypocrites, that they, being felow-souldiors in shew, but traitours in déede, may corrupt the army. And him selfe prouoketh the faithfull to reuolt from God, by all his practises, open, and secret; force, and fraude: some time by fyer and sword of tyrantes, some time by baites of pleasures, and wealth, some time by the pretense of religion, and charitie. By the which meanes he procureth often, partly through the craft and cunning of hypocrites, chiefly when they are made captaines of some band, partly through the frailtie and infirmitie of the elect, whom flesh and blood doo weaken: that the church, which is billed to the warfare of Christ, knoweth not or careth not for the trade of warfare, and serueth perhaps vnderunder her captaines banner, but retchlessely, and loosely, perhaps is betrayed to the enemy by her watchmen, while either they doo fall a sleepe, or deale falsely. And so commeth that to passe at the length, which sEsai. 1.21. Eze. 16.15. Hof. 2.2. and the rest in m… ny places.the Prophets lament in the church of the Iewes, & too many churches since Christes time hauehave felt. that y^e church, which should be a mother, is a stepmother; & shée, whose faith is plight to Christ, becometh an adulteresse; & bands of souldiers breaking their promise, yea their oth, doo rebell against the Highest. So tGal. 1. ver. ….the churches of Galatia when they had beléeued the Gospell of Christ, and their names were billed by their owne consent to serue in his warres, uver. 6. & 7were remoued away (by such as troubled them) to an other Gospell. So x2. Cor. 11.….S. Paul feareth for the Church of Corinth, least, as the serpent beguiled Eue through his suttletie, so their minds should be corrupted and seduced from the simplicitie that is in Christ. So Christ him selfe teacheth vsus, that yReu. ….…5.the church of Pergamus was stayned with the filth of the Nicolaitans: that zReu. 3. ver. 13.the church of Laodicea was blind, naked, luke-warme, neither hot nor cold: that the church of Sardis was in part, aver. 1.dead; in part, bver. 2.readie to dye; though aliue, in part. The assemblies therefore of the churches militant, called visible churches, cver. 4.which doo containe the good togither with the bad, the chosen with the reprobate, the faithfull with the treacherous, the holy with the hypocrites, dMatt. 3.1….chaffe with corne, eMatt. 13.27.tares with wheate, f2. Tim. 2.20.wooden and earthen vessels, with vessels of gold and siluer, some of them for honour, and some vntounto dishonour: I say, these visible churches may doo their dutie faintly, may leaue it altogither vndoon, may be discharged of their oth, and dismissed from souldiers seruice; they may be sicke of lesser diseases and infirmities, they may be of a deadly pestilence, they may lose the spirit of Christ, and so dye. Furthermore, to make it easier to be séene what churches ought to be accounted dead, what churches sicke, what churches whole, and sound: we hauehave to consider the causes of death, of sicknesse, and of health. The causes of these things do come in mens bodies, (as gGalen. de sanit. tuend. lib 1. cap. 2.Physicians teach,) partly, from the seede that wee are begotten of: partly, from the foode wherewith wee are nourished. Whereof the one appeereth in sicknesse and diseases that come by inheritance; such as are deriued from the parents to the children: the other, as it hath a great force in all men, so experience sheweth that it hath greatest force in armies. For hAppian. de bell. Parth.the souldiors who serued Marcus Antonius, being faine to eate rootes for want of corne, fell vponupon an herb which brought them first to madnesse, and afterward to death: and iDe re militar. l▪ 3. c. 2.Vegetius (a writer of the trade of warfare) geuing charge that souldiers drinke not of marish waters, saith that naughty water is like vntounto poyson, and doth breede the plague in them who drinke of it. Not vnlike is the case of spirituall death, diseases, and health, in the bodies of Churches. For they doo either liue in p…rfit good health, or fall into sicknes, or come to their death, according to the nature of their seede, and foode. Now, the seede whereof, and foode with the which they are wont and ought to be begotten anew, and nourished, is the word of God (as S. k1. Pet. 1 23. … 2.2.Peter witnesseth) preached by the seruants and ministers of Christ. Therefore in what Churches the ministers doo preach the word of God pure, sincere, and vncorrupt, that it may bréede good iuyce and blood in them through the inward woorking of the holy Ghost: those churches must we count to be …ound, and whole: some of them indeede more sound, then other some, according as the word is more purely prea…ed, and the spirit worketh more effectually, but all of them, sound. But where the word of God, either is not preached, so that there groweth a famine; or is preached corruptly, mixt with mans word as it were with leauen, or darnell, or poyson: as they who receiue no foode are like to dye through hunger, & lWier. de praest…g. Daem…n. l. 3. c. 17.such as eate bread made of corne and …rnel doo fall into a light fren…; so must we néedes iudge that churches, whose foode is either none, or naught, are apt to diseases, and neere to their deathe. For Amos declareth that men are cast away through want of the word, in that he telleth Israel, that mAmos 8.11.God will send a famine and a thirst of hearing the word of the Lord: which when they shall seeke for to and fro, and finde no where, it shall come to passe that virgins and young men shall faint with thirst, and fall, and neuer rise againe. Now, that the corruption of the worde doth hurt too, the Apostle noteth in aduertising Timothee, that n1. Tim. 6. ver. 3.they, who teach other doctrine, and consent not to the wholesome wordes of Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godlines, over. 4.are *foreign.sick, and do dote about noysome folies, which edifie not to godly faith: in so mu…h that p…. Tim. 2.17▪their word doth fret as a kinde of canker, which hauing taken hold of one part of the body, doth eate out the next partes by litle & litle, vntill the whole body at last be cleane consumed. Which if it come to passe, as it must of necessitie vnlesse the better remedy be spéedily prouided for healing of the body: that which was a body, doth become a carkasse, and is no longer a church: it is left destitute of the spirit of God, which is the soule thereof, and of the soules instrument, that is, the word of God. And this death is threatned by Christ to the Iewes (in the old church) refusing him their Messias; qMat. 21.….therefore shal the kingdome of God be taken from you, and geuen to a nation which shall bring foorth the fruites of it: and (in the new church) to the Ephesiās hauing left their first louelove; rReu. 2.5.I wil come against thee shortly, & wil remoue thy candlestick out of his place except thou amend. Which two things foretold by our sauiour Christ were fulfilled in the destruction of the two churches: of the church of y^e Iewes, within a few yeares, when the gospel was remoued from them to the Gentiles; of the church of Ephesus, many ages after, when hauing béen sick first of sundrie heresies, it died a while ago of the plague of Mahomet. Thus I hauehave declared, as briefly as I could, how particular churches are called members of the catholike: how they are ordeyned to learn and practise Go…s seruice: how the good in them are intermingled with the bad, the godly with hypocrites: finally, what their health is, what their diseases be, and when they must be counted sound, when vnsound. Which pointes being marked, my paines wil be the lesser in opening the Conclusion: the two stemmes whereof on what rootes they grow you perceiue already. The church of Rome is not the catholike church: it is no sound member of the catholike church. The church of Rome is not the catholike church. What can be more cléere? For the catholike church is the church vniuersall: the church of Rome is particular. So that (in my iudgement) the Papistes speake monstrously, when 1As Bristow Moriu. 12. with this speciall note in the m…rgent of his booke, Note▪ the Roman church the catholike church.they call the Romane church, the catholike church, and make them all one. Some will say perhaps, that when they call it catholike, they meane it to be sound and of a right beleefe, such as doth hold the catholike faith: as the sCod. de s…mma Trin. & …ide cathol.ciuil law doth terme the right beléeuers, catholike Christians, and the church of Afrike is named catholike by tEpist. 55. ad Co…neliumCyprian. Yet that is false too. For they geue the title of catholike church of Rome, that 2… by …he epistle of Cardinall Cusanus writen to the Bohemians. Cochlaeus hi…or. Mussitar. lib. 11.they may put into the heads of the vnskilfull that that is the church out of which there is no saluation. But out of the church of Rome there hauehave beene saued innumerable, & shall be: out of the catholike church, not one. But let it be graunted that they meane by [catholike] a church holding the right faith. I deny that the church of Rome doth hold the right faith: and that is the other part of my Conclusion; it is no …ound member of the catholike church. Now when I deny it to be a sound member of the catholike church: I meane not that it languisheth of a litle sicknes or disease not dangerous, which may seeme rather to hauehave abated somewhat of exquisite health, then hauehave bereft her of all health. For, as uDe sa…it. tu…nd. lib. 1. cap. …. & 5.Galen teacheth of the health of the body, that it hath a reasonable bredth as you would say, and certaine degrees as it were of perfitnes, that they who are able to go about their businesse and doo affaires of life are to be counted whole, though they enioy not a most perfit health: so in the health of churches I déeme there are certaine degrées of sinceritie, that they who doo the functions of spirituall life reasonably well are to be counted …ound, although they attaine not to a most absolute soundnesse. And for that cause, as we iudge our owne churches to be sound, although xAppendix Apolog. eccles. Angl.there remaine some distemper in them by the relikes of those diseases wherewith the contagion of the church of Rome had cast them downe so, that they could not yet be recouered fully: in like sort yApologia …ccles. Angli…a…we iudge of the churches of Germanie, which are troubled with the errour of consubstantiation as it were with the grudging of a litle ague, if other wise they holde Christian faith, and louelove, soundly, and sincerely. But the church of Rome is not distempered with a litle ague, such as hindereth not the functions of life greatly: but is sicke of a canker, or rather of a leprosy, or rather of a pestilence, in so much that she is past hope of recouery, vnlesse our Sauiour Christ the heauenly physician doo giuegive her wholesome medicins to purge her of pernicious humours. And therefore I pronounce that the church of Rome is no sound member of the catholike church. Which I will proue by two reasons, the one, of the causes; the other, of the effectes: whereof from the one, diseases doo arise; in the other, they shew them selues; by them both they are surely proued. I would to God I might discourse hereof at large, according as the weightines of the thinges requireth. But we must be content to doo, as time wil license vsus. You wil pardon me therefore, I trust, if I runne them ouer somewhat hastily, and (as they say) touch and go. I will hold out my finger toward the well head: gesse you the lion by his pawes. Concerning the causes which doo bréed diseases and sicknesse in the church, it is (as I hauehave touched already) cléere and certaine, that they are either the want of food of Gods word, or the hauing of it corrupted. In the which respect, Christ, who giueth charge that zIoh. 21.16.his sheepe be fedde, chargeth that aMatt. 28.20.they be taught to obserue those thinges which he commanded his Apostles. And Peter, hauing shewed that b1. Pet. 1.23.the faithfull are begotten a new by Gods word, exhorteth them to c1. Pet. 2.2.desire the milke of the word, the sincere milke, & *foreign.not corrupt with any trumperie, that they may grow thereby. And they who are warned dMatt. 23.….to heare the Pharises sitting in the chaire of Moses, are warned eMatt. 16.6.to beware of the leauen of the Pharises. Wherefore a church, that will be whole and sound, must neither be famished with want of Gods worde, nor hauehave it corrupted. But the church of Rome doth bring in both corruption, and want of the worde: nor onelyonly bring them in, but also maintaine them obstinatly, as wholesome. The church of Rome therefore is not whole and sound: nay she séemeth rather to be madde & frantike. For she bringeth in corruption of the worde, (to beginne with that,) by mingling and adulterating the word of God with mans word, not one way but sundrie. First, in that she giueth fConcil. Trident. Sess. 4.autoritie canonicall, that is diuine autoritie, to the bookes called apocrypha, which are humane. Against the truth of the holy scripture, which is gainsaid flatly by g3. …sdr. 4.43. & 5.73. Ecclesiastic. 46.23 & 48.10. 2. Mac. cap. 1.19. & 2.1.certaine pointes in the apocrypha: against the cléere euidence of thinges therein recorded, h4. Esdr. 10.20. & 2. Maccab. 2.4. 1. Maccab. 1.16. & 9.5. touching Antiochus. Se… the Annotations of Franciscus Iunius on the Apocrypha.which by their repugnancie one vntounto another doo shew that men were autours of them against the consent & iudgement of the church, of the iThe Church of the Iewes. Hier. praefat. in Iudith & caet. lib. apocr. Iosephus c…nti. Apion. l. 1. Andrad. desens. fid. Trid. lib. 3.old church wholy, and of the k…oncil. L…d. can. 59. Athana. in synopsi sacra… scripturae. Nazianzen. in carminib Epiphan. lib. de mensur. & ponder. Hieron. praesat. in libr. Sol…m.best part of the new. Secondly, in that she receyueth lConcil. Trid. Sess. 4.traditions of men with equall reuerence and religious affection, as she doth the scripture. As though m2. Tim. 3.16. See the first Conclusion.the holy scripture, the most exact & perfect squire of Gods will, and rule of righteousnesse and wisedome, sufficed not for faith and maners: or the spirit of God could gainsay him selfe, which must be imported by this of traditions, some whereof do fight one against another, some against the scripture. In sooth this point is handled with a dutifull care and regarde of scripture, which hath no greater reuerence at Rome, then traditions: and that all traditions are not obserued there, it is playne by nBa…il. de spir. sanc…. cap. 27. Epiph. haer. 7….the Fathers whom oBristow Mo…. 9. & 46. & Andr. …fen. fid. Trid. lib. 2.them selues alleage. Thirdly, in that she willeth pConcil. Trid. Sess. 4.the Latin translation of the Bible (commonly called S. Ieroms) to be receiued throughout as sacred and canonicall, and not to be refused on any pretense. Whereas yet (to let go the iudgement of S. qComment. in prophet. & nou. …estam.Ierom, & other rAugust. de doctr. Christian. l. 16.2. cap. 15. Hilar. in Psal. 2. & the rest who preferre the translation of the Seuentie in…erpreters. See August. de ciuit. Dei. lib. 18. cap. 43.ancient Fathers,) the Papists them selues, such as are most expert in the toungs amongst them, acknowledge that translation to hauehave missed sometimes the meaning of the holy Ghost, and not the words onelyonly. Euen sIn epist. ad Clement. sept.Pagninus namely in the old testament; tAnnot. prior. in Pandect.Budaeus in the new: Defens. fid. Trid. lib. 4.Andradius, and xTom. 8. Bibli. Reg. in praefat.Arias Montanus in them both. Fourthly, in that (yConcil. Trid. …ess. 4. about expounding of the scripture) she condemneth all senses and meanings thereof which are against the sense that her selfe holdeth, or against the Fathers consenting all in one. Whereby it falleth out that the sense and meaning of the holy Ghost shall be refused often; but meanings and senses deuised by men, though crossing one an other, yet if they be currant for the time, and practised, (as a zCusan. ad Bohemos ep. 2.Cardinall saith,) shall go for authenticall: the baggage, which the Schoole men hauehave s…iled Diuinitie with, out of the Philosophers puddles and their owne, shall be accounted holy: the things which some Fathers hauehave handled more soundly, shal be set aside as humane inuentions though they agrée with Gods word; but other, in the which they were ouerséene through weaknes of naturall affection or reason, shall be approued as Gods worde, though they procéede from mans fansie. Fifthly, in that she coopleth aConcil. Trid. …ess. 6. cap. 10.with the commandements of God, the commandements of the church, that is to say, of men: and (that is more) she coopleth therewith these commandements, not as things indifferent, but as necessarie to saluation. So what soeuer filth, deuotion, as it is named, indéede superstition, hath brought or shall bring in, that must be déemed to be pure religion: and in vaine shall the Lord be worshipped of vsus, bMatt. 15.9.as of the Iewes in olde time, with the commandements of men: and good intentes (as they call them) c1. Sam. 15.23.which are abominable to God, shall be preferred before obedience: & voluntarie religion condemned by dCol. 2.23.the scriptures, shall be taken vp as a most holy seruice of the Lord. Last of all, in that she appointeth eConcil. T…id. Sess. 25.images to be had in churches, for the instruction of the people, as bookes (so fGreg. registr lib. 9. ep. 9.one supposeth) which *By the word, idiotae, (which Gregory vseth in this point) he meaneth the vnlearned that can not reade things writen. Of whom he saith, that painting hath the same vse for idiotes, which writing hath for them that reade.idiotes may reade in. O miserable idiotes, the instructing of whom is committed to a stocke, gIere. 10.8.which instructeth to vanities; whose teacher is an image, that is, hHab. 2.18.a teacher of lyes, if we beléeue the Prophets. And is it any maruell if they be naughtie scholers, whose masters are dumbe idols, the doctours of errours? The church of Rome therefore hath brought in such corruption of the word of God, what by the apocrypha, what by traditions, what by faultes of the translation, what by the sense of her holding, what by commandements of the church, what by the teachers of idiotes: that she séemeth to hauehave mingled the sustenance of life not with filth, but with poyson; and the wine of God not with water, but with venoome; and the bread of Christ not with leauen, but with ratsbane, or rather (if I might speake so) mens-bane. As for want of Gods word, (which is the other cause of sicknesse) how wretchedly she hath pined her children therewith: our auncestours felt by long experience, and aged men may remember, and histories of the church doo witnesse, and they who are vnderunder the Popish yoke know. For though she permitted, sometimes, in some places, perhaps, a small parcell, of the word of God, (if I may call that Gods word which sauoured more of mens deuises then of God) to be touched, in the presence and assembly of the people, by common cryers, preachers, such as they were: yet she hath not onelyonly not permitted to Christians, but also hath hindered, with no lesse impietie then inhumanitie, yea, and hindereth still that abundance and plentie which they ought to hauehave, as it is writen, iCol. 3.16.Let the worde of Christ dwell in you plenteously with all wisedome. For whereas this plenty is gotten & obteined by two speciall meanes, to weete, by hearing, & by reading; the one commanded all in Church-assemblies publikely, y^e other allowed priuatly to eueryevery man at home, both vsed and approued by the rules of kDeu. 6.9. & 11.18. & 31.11. Luke. 11.28. Reu. 1.3.the holy Ghost, and the practise of lNehem. 8 9. Luk. 4.17. Act. 8.30. & 13.15. & 17.11.holy companies, and the iudgement of mAll the ancient Churches: as appeereth by Ierom, Epist. ad Laetam. de institut. filiae. ad Demetr. de virgin. ad Fur. de viduit. seruand. By Chrysost. In Ioan. homil. 16. Prooemio in epist. ad Rom. In epist. ad Col. hom. 9. and the rest of the Fathers.holy churches: our Romanists pretending that horrible confusion will ensue thereof, and the church of Christ shall be like to Babylon, not to Ierusalem, (as Cardinall nDialog. de sacr. vern. legend.Hosius saith), if the holy scriptures be read in mother toongs, doo kéepe them sealed vp in a straunge toong, and sound them out so in their Church-assemblies, that the people may hauehave eyes, and not reade them; eares, and not heare them. In the which fact whither they shew them selues more disobedient to God, or iniurious to the people; it is hard to say: sith God hath expresly commanded that o1 Cor. 14.26.all things must be doon to edifie, that is, to build vp; and things not vnderstoode (I trow) build not vp, pGen. 11.7.no not the tower of Babylon. But by this meanes the people can not heare the word of God publikely, because he speaketh to them in an outlandish toong, and a strange language. Which thing qEsai. 28.11.the Lord laid on the Iewes for a punishment: the Roman Church doth thrust it on Christians for a benefit. Much lesse are they able priuately to reade it: because they neither hauehave the scriptures translated into their mother toongs; and many (in the time of our predecessours) were condemned as heretikes, for reading part thereof which they had translated. Wherefore sith the plentie of the word of God, which it is a point of very heinous wickednes not to procure for Christians, more heinous not to allow it them, most heinous not to permit it them, is not onelyonly not permitted but hindered by the Church of Rome, and hindered not onelyonly by lawes but by fyer too: I will not vse sharper wordes against her tyranny; onelyonly this I say, that he must be impudent néedes who would deny that shée hath brought in a famin of the word. The causes then of sicknesse, are manifestly found in the Church of Rome, both for the corruption and scarcitie of the foode of life. Now, such as the cause is, such is the effect: and out of bitter fountaines there issue bitter waters. The lesse maruell is it that her effectes and functions bewray sore diseases, such as must of likelihood procéede from such causes. For a sound and whole Church, the faculties and powers whereof are not impaired, hath fower speciall functions, as rChiefly the Actes of the Apostles, and the epistles to the Corinthians, & Timothee. Act. 2.…. & 10.33. & 20.7. 1. Cor. 5.4. & 11.…0. & 14.26. & 15.2. & 16.2. 1. Tim. 2.1. & 3.15. and so forth through the …est.the scriptures shew: namely, to teach the faith, to minister the sacraments, to pray, and practise discipline according to the word of God. But neither is the faith of Christ purely taught, nor sacraments rightly ministred, nor prayers made religiously, nor discipline duely practised by the Church of Rome. The Church of Rome therefore is not whole and sound: no more then was his daughter who said vntounto Christ, sMark. 5.23.my daughter is at the point of death. For, to say a little of ech of these in order, the summe of the doctrine of the Christian faith is the saluation of the faithfull by Iesus Christ the lambe of God. Of the which saluation tEph. 2.4.the beginning cometh from the grace of God, uRom. 3.2….the substance consisteth in the righteousnes of God, xEph. ….….the end is referred to the glory of God by the holy scriptures. This holy religion which maketh God all in all for our saluation, giuing the whole to him and taking it from men, that we may trust not in flesh but in the Lord onelyonly, dooth sauour of Christian modestie too much, it contenteth not the Roman pride and arrogancy. And therefore as Prometheus (in yHe…od. in Theogonia.the Greeke fables) is said to hauehave allotted part of a sacrifice to Iupiter, part to him selfe: euen so the Prometheus of the Popish Church (in the Roman faith) assigneth and referreth the beginning of our saluation in part to Gods grace, in part to the power of nature; the substance of our saluation in part to Gods righteousnes, in part to mans merits; the end of our saluation in part to Gods glory, in part to the honour and woorship of creatures. Neither is this doon by some one Prometheus, or Epimetheus rather: but by y^e whole company of the Epimetheans, euen the Councell of Trent, though closely sometimes to couer their deceit with darknes, yet so, that zCatechism. e. dit ex …. Concil. Triden. Andrad in orthod. explicat. Ruard. Tapp. in artic. Theolog. Louan. Card. Hosius in confess. Petricou. Ius canonicum.their expositours bring their hidden meanings out into the light. For, first and formost, aConcil▪ Trid. Sess. 6. cap. ….they will hauehave the naturall power and abilitie of their owne will (free-will they terme it) to be concurrent (as they speake) with the grace of God, that is, a party-worker with it: as if God did onelyonly reléeue the will béeing weake, and raise it vp being faint, not renue it being corrupted, and repaire it being perished. Besides, bcap. 6. Hos. confes…. Petricou. c. 73. See Ke…nicij examen concilij T…ident.they imagine that infidels and faithlesse men doo certaine workes (they call them woorkes of preparation) in which, though being doon without faith, they sinne not; nay, they procure the grace of God thereby. So they bring to passe as much as lieth in them, at least they indeuour, what by the power of free-will, what by their works of preparation: that all be not attributed to 1foreign.the grace of God, which grace is with them, as c1. Cor. 15.…0.Paul saith of himselfe, but to 2Gratia Dei mecum.the grace of God with them, (as those words of Paul are ill expressed in dIn the Latin translation commonly named S. Ierome. Though in this point S. Ierom vari…th from it. For he translateth it well, not grat…a Dei me…u… ▪ but g…tia Dei quae …ecū est. Con…. Pel…gia… …. …. c. 3.their translation,) that is, some what to Gods grace, and somewhat to their own merit, at least as to *… by the … ▪ Meritum co… grui.a merit of meetenes and conueniency. As for the righteousnes of God, which is geuen vsus in Christ, while we are clensed from our sinnes and acquitted as righteous before Gods iudgement-seate by the sacrifice of Christ offered for the faithfull, and the obedience of Christ imputed to the faithfull: c…. Trid. …. c…p. 7. & ….they contemne this righteousnes, yea and condemne it as hereticall. In the stéede whereof as of a vaine righteousnes, or at least to it as to a righteousnes vnperfit, they put the righteousnes of men, consisting of their own woorks and merites of woorthines: woorkes and merites, wrought by the grace of Christ, they will say, I graunt; yet of their own woorkes, and 1….merites of woorthines, (as the Schoolemen name them,) that is to say, the woorthines whereof doth deserue and merit euerlasting life. That so they may enioy it, 2… elec. no…ynam. Malto na…que g…oriosia, e…t i…os quasi victores & t…mphatores c…m pol…dere, …anquam pal… suis sudo…bas debitam.not of gift, but of duetie; by their own merit, not by Christes; as triumphers, not as suters; not as beggers, but as conquerors: after the glorious vant of the fIn explicat. …. Theol. … …pper. som. 2. Artic. 9.Louan-diuinitie. To y^t which purpose they doo not extenuate onelyonly the worthines of the merites of Christ, in so much that they supply the weaknes thereof gConcil. Trid. Sess. 14 cap. 8. & 9. Sess. 21. cap. 9. Sess. 22. cap. 2. & 6. Sess. 25. Decr. de Purgat. & de indulgent.with their own merits, & other mens; with due workes, and vndue; with Masses, Trentals, Pardons, Pilgrimages, with treasures of the church, with praiers of the Saints, finally, wit satisfactions while they are aliue, and after death with paines to be endured in Purgatory: but also they extoll and lift vp to the sky the woorthines of their own merites, professing most proudly that hSess. 6. cap. 11.they are able to doo the law of God perfitly, and icap. 16.truely to merit euerlasting life: yea, kSess. 21. cap. 9. Hos. confess. Petric. cap. 48. Extra. c. Vnigenitus. de paenit. & remiss.to doo more then they are bound by Gods law, euen workes (as they terme them) of supererogation, thereby to help *Mat. 25.8.foolish virgins with their oyle. And hence it commeth too, that they doo no lesse extenuate their own sinnes, then they extoll their own vertues: neither make they onelyonly lConc. Trid. Sess. 14. cap. 5.veniall sinnes of mortall, and change mSess. 25. de reg. cap. 1. See Clementin. can. Exiui. de verb. significat.the commandementes of God into counsels: but also deny nSess. 5. de peccat. original. artic. 5.concupiscence to be sinne, acquitting fleshly lustes (wherewith we being pricked doo rebell against the Lord) from gilt of transgression. By the which doctrine, how much so euer they adde to their own merites, or take away from their own sinnes, while they go about to be iustified by woorkes: yet gaine they nothing els but that with a wonderfull tormenting of conscience they mistrust still, and stand in dout of their saluation. Which thing themselues deny not: oSess. 6. cap. 9. ca. 13. & 16.nay, they teach that they ought to dout, and mistrust, because they know not whether they hauehave merites enough. So that we may iustly say that their doctrine is not a doctrine of faith, and beléefe, but of mistrust, and dout rather. And what maruell is it, that they, who pluck away so much from the grace and righteousnes of God, doo abate no lesse of the glory of God? whose woorship and honour they communicate and impart, I say not pSess. 2 5 in…cat. & venerat. Sanctor.with Saints, with elect Angels, with the blessed Virgin, qSess. 5. art. 5. & 6. can. 23.whom they make equall to Christ in being frée from all sinnes: but (which is more shamefull) rSess. 25. l… reliq. sanctor. & sacris imag.with reliques, with images, with scurfe of all scurfe, and things most vile and contemptible, against the Lords commaundement sMat. 4.10.God onelyonly shalt thou serue. tThe Schoolemen vponupon the Master of the sentences. lib. 3. distinct. 9.They make a distinction (I graunt) that to these things they geue a lesser honour, called Dulia: but the greater honour called Latria, they geue to God onelyonly. Which is vaine and false. For they geue the greater honor, euen Latrîa, not onelyonly to uConcil. Trident. Sess. …3. cap. 5.the sacrament of the body of Christ, the consecrated bread, wherein they wil excuse themselues because *As Bristow calleth it, My Lord and my God. Motiu. 16. And D. Allen, Dominum nostrum & De…m nostrum. De …acrific. Eucharist. cap 41.they hold it to be their Lord and God: but also to the crosse of Christ, the wodden crosse, nay to the image thereof, as xIn Summ. Theol. pa…t. 3. quaest. 25. art. 4.Thomas of Aquine their Angelical Doctor teacheth and confirmeth by the practise of the church, and yComment. in Summ. Thom▪ Aquinat.Cardinall Caietan liketh it, nor doth zIn orthodox. explicat. lib 9.Andradius deny it, but defend it stoutly. Wherefore sith the doctrine of the faith of Christ doth set forth vntounto vsus our wretchednes, and Gods goodnes; our naughtines, and Gods mercy; that we, through the knowledge of God and of our selues, thinking of him religiously, and of our selues modestly, may conceiue assured trust, that saluation is geuen vsus in Christ, by the grace of God, through the righteousnes of God, to the glory of God: can there be any felowship & communion betwéene this doctrine & the doctrine of the faith of Rome, which planteth superstition, in stéede of religion; pride, in stéede of modestly; douting, in stéede of trusting; a Pharisaicall vanitie, in stéede of Christian pietie, that is (at one word) vnfaithfulnes, in stéede of faith? Now, what shall I say touching the sacraments? how aConcil. T…id. Sess. 7. de sac…am. in gen. can. 1. & …. & 11. & 1….those holy rites deliuered vsus by Christ to seale the grace of God vntounto vsus, hauehave béene increased in number, impayred in vertue, depraued with errours, polluted with ceremonies, defiled with mens inuentions, and spoyled of their fruite by reason they were ministred in a strange toung. With the which anoyances to let passe in silence how greatly and gréeuously the Romanistes hauehave hurt baptisme, whereof the substance yet and as it were the life hath beene preserued whole and sound through Gods mercy: they hauehave corrupted the supper of the Lord so fowly, with so great and many errours and abuses, that there is almost no token of his supper to be found in it. For they hauehave made of a sacrament, bSe…s. 12. cap. 1. & 2.a sacrifice; not a sacrifice of thankes geuing, but propitiatorie; nor propitiatorie as representing Christ, but truely and properly propitiatorie; to be offred by a Masse-priest, as by a new Priest after the order of Melchisedec; and offered not onelyonly for the quick, but for the dead too; nor for the quick and dead onelyonly to saue them, but also to ridde 1To which vse they hauehave a … called …e Masse of S. Antonie.their pigges from diseases, and to serue their turne for 2As if a poore womans henne …e sicke or lost, …e may procurewhatsoeuer other chares.Masse to bee saide for it. A…an. de sacrific. Eucharist. c. 32. They offer vp anew that *Heb. 7.27. & 9.28. & 10.12.one and onelyonly sacrifice, which being once offered hath sanctified vsus for euer, and make the death of Christ to be of no effect. They take away the humane nature of Christ by the cConcil. Trident. Sess. 13. cap. 1.reall presence. They take away the holy signe, that is the sacrament, by dcap. 4.transubstantiation. They take away the right vse of the communion by their eSess. 22. cap. 6.priuate Masses. They take away the ordinance of our Lord and Sauiour, they take away the singular comfort of the faithfull, they take away a most swéet pledge of saluation, by their maimed fSess. 21. cap. 2.communion vnderunder one kinde. They take away almost religion it selfe, at least they prophane it with a cursed custome of superstition more then heathnish, in that they cary a cake (the body of Christ they call it) about gSess. 13. cap. 8.in processions, to be worshipped as God: and before the Pope hCeremoniar. Rom. eccles. lib. 1. sect 2.5. & 12.they mount it on a horse, with 1Which are caried before: as when Iudas toake Christ. Ioh. 19.3.lanterns, and 2Hanging and sounding about the horses necke, as they vse on bel-weachers.a bell, in a maner as iXenoph. Cyr. paed. lib. 8. Q. Curt. lib. 3.the Persians did cary fyer (their God) before the king of Persians. As for publike prayers, ordeined to this end, that the people of God banding them selues together (as Tertullian speaketh) might doo their suite & seruice to God with ioyned force: the Romanistes not contented to robbe God of his honour by praying to creatures, yea to dumme creatures (which is more abominable) oyle,kIn Apologet. stones,lConcil. Trid. Sess. 25. De inuocat. & ve…erat. sanctor. Andr…d. orthod. expl. lib. 9. crosses, images, saying to a stocke, thou art my father, and to a stone, thou hast brought me foorth, like ^m the idolaters in Ieremie; nConcil. Trid. Sess. 22. cap. 8.they robbe the people of God both of a dutie, and of an aide, by praying in a strange tongue; wherein neither can they pray together with them, nor be stirred vp thereby to true deuotion. For it is a small faute in these men, to oSess. 25. Decr. de purgator.pray for the dead, that they may be ridde out of the paines of Purgatory: & 1foreign. Matt. 6.7.to babble in praying with vaine repetitions, pThe booke entitled Iesu▪ Psalter printed at Anwerpe by Fowler.as if God were serued By 2Qui …ilo insertis nu…era…t sua … baccis. Bapt…t. Man…uan. Alfonsi lib. 4.reckening vp their mutteringes vponupon a paire of beades. Though these thinges are also beside the worde of God: and qRom. 10.17.therefore not of faith: & rRom. 14.23.therefore of sinne. Yet in these men they are small fautes: at least they hauehave some coolour eyther of olde custome, or of mans reason, or of zeale without knowledge. But to pray to God in wordes not vnderstoode, like popiniayes, or parrats, it is so absurd a matter in reason, so wicked in religion, so contrary to the expresse s1. Cor. 14. ver. 37.cōmandement of the Lord, & tver. 19.iudgement of the Apostle, and uver. 16. Iustin. & Tertul in apolog. Historie ecclesiast.practise of the church, I say not of the church of the Iewes, or of the Syrians, or of the Greekes, or of the Latins, but the church generally, euen of all churches from the beginning of the world till the darke ages in which the Barbarians of late did ouerflow them: that such as doo vse it, may bee thought to doate; such as defende it, seeme to hauehave a lust to bee madd with reason. It remaineth for me to intreate of discipline: whereof this is the order set downe in the scripture, that the church should be gouerned xNum. 3.10. Heb. 5.4.by the ministers of God, yExod. 25.30. Matt. 28.20.according to the lawes of God, z1. Cor. 12.7. Eph. 4.12.to the saluatiō of Gods people. And what one of these pointes is kept in the church of Rome? In the which the ministers of God are remoued from gouernance by the Pope: who, being not a voluntarie Senator (as aPhilippie 13.Tully iesteth at Asinius) himselfe chosen by him selfe, but a voluntary tyrant, doth take vponupon him selfe the rule of y^e whole church. Who to get the soueraintie that he aspireth to, doth cast off the foly of bRom. 13.1.Paul, and of c1. Pet. 2.13.Peter: and dc. significasti. c. si diligenti. de …oro compet.neither will him selfe, nor suffereth his to be subiect vntounto higher powers. Who ec. ad Apostolicae. de re iudic. in sexto. …lement. c. Pastoralis. de re iudic. Franc. Gomar. in hist. occident. Ind. cap. 101.autoriseth him selfe to giuegive and take away the dominions and kingdomes of the whole world, as if that all Princes held their right of him. Who chalengeth fExtra. c. vnam sanctam. de maiorit. & obediēt.the two swordes (as he termeth them,) the spirituall and temporall, and that by the gospell, because it was saide (for sooth) by the Apostles, gLuk. 22.38.Beholde, her… are two swordes. Who, hauing committed the temporall sword in part to ciuill magistrates, and reserued it in part to him selfe; hDist. 1…. amp; 21▪ & 22. c. sign ficasti. de elect.hath put vp the spirituall sworde of all Pastors into his owne sheath. Who of church-ministers hath made him selfe iOnuphr. de orig. Cardin.Cardinals, kCerem. eccl. Rom. lib. 1. & 3.felowes of kinges, gardians of Princes, Protectors of nations, a Senate meete for such a …arquin. Who exacteth an oth of lClement. c. Romani. de iureiurand.Emperours, of m…o N. episco…. de iu…e…iur.Bishops, of nConc…l Trid. Se…s. 25. de relo…. c. 2. & Bulla Pij quart. de iuram. form. in oppen. Concil. T…id.Christian common wealthes, Uniuersities, and Churches to be obedient vntounto him. Who oCeremon. Rom▪ e…cles. l. 1. sect. 5.admitteth, I say not pAct. 10.26.Cornelius the Centurion, (which Peter yet would neuer hauehave doon,) but the Lordes of Centurions, euen Kinges and Keisars, Emperours and Empresses, to kisse his blessed feete. Finally, who qCeremon. Rom. eccl. & Platin. de vit. Pont.being in Princely attire, and accompanied with Princely traine; serued not by common, but by noble men; wearing, not a single, but a tripl… Crowne; sCanonist. extra. Iohan. vigefim. secund. cap. …um inter. In Glossa.called by his Parasites 1Dominus Deus noster Papa.our Lord God the Pope, tThom. Stapleton. in Princip. …d. doctr. Praef. ad Greg. decimum tert. Marian. Victor. in Tom. 4. operum Hi…ron. Praef. ad Pium quint.by discréete Doctors, 2Optimus. Maximus: that is, (as Tully expoundeth it) Optimus boni…ate, potestate Maximus. … title, which was giuen to none of olde time, but to God onelyonly: no not amō … the Heathens. Now the Papists giuegive it to the …. Alphonsi … de consid▪ ad Eugen. lib. 4.most good in grace, most great in power; uPlatin. … it. Pont…in Pagl. secund.as full of riotous pompe, and pride, as euer were the Persian kings;

^z His clothes bedeckt with precious stones, …his gorgeous miter dight

With iewels rare,rBapt. Mantuan. ad Inn…cent. octau. with glistring gold, & with *A precious stone, called a Carbuncle. Of the which kinde one that tell out of the Popes miter (by a mischaunce at his coronation) was woorth sixe thousand crownes. Platin. in vit. Clement. quint.Pyropus bright,

O very Troian truls, not Troians:

hath taken the state ecclesiasticall of Christ, appointed in noble order as an army set in aray, and hath transformed it as it were with an enchauntment of the whoore of Babylon into a 3As Sanders te…meth it in his bookes of the ….visisible monarchie, and 4As it is named by Turrian the Iesuit, De ecclesia & ordinat. ministr. l. 1. c. 2.kingdome of the Romans. And that the old saying might be fulfilled, new Lordes, new lawes; such lippes, such lettise, (as one said of an asse that was eating thistles:) this new Prince the Pope hath brought in new lawes to gouerne his kingdome, in stéede of Gods lawes which Christ would hauehave to rule his Church; and in stéede of the Canon of the holy scriptures he hath ordeined his Canon law. Touching the vnrighteousnes of the which law, (least any man should think me perhaps to finde fault with that I hauehave no skill in, as the shoomaker did, whom Apelles warned not to presume beyond his shooe:) I had leiffer you should heare the iudgement of a learned Doctour and professour of the law, then mine. Francis Duaren, a man of great skill in both the lawes, ciuill, and canon, and named amongst lawiers the chiefest lawier of our time, hath writen a learned treatise touching the holy functions and liuings of the Church, as it were an abridgement of the canon law: allowed by the iudgement of the Parlament of Paris…, and set foorth with the priuiledge of the French king, that no man can iust…y … either the autor, or the worke, as hereticall. In cPraesat. Franc. …aren. in lib. de facris ecclesiae ministerijs a… beneficijs.… then of the said treatise, declaring that the body of the Canon law consisteth of two parts, to weete, Decrees, and … Decrees, which were gathered together by Gratian; …, epistles writen by sundry Popes: he saith, that in the …ir…t volume of Decretales, conteining fiue bookes set out in the name of Gregory the ninth, there are many things that doo much degenerate and grow out of kinde from that old discipline comprised in the former booke of Decrees. And hence arose that saying, which is common and famous amongst our countriemen, (he meaneth the Frenchmen:) Things hauehave gone ill with men, *In Latin it is, ex quo decretis alae aecesserunt: that is, word forword▪ since winge; were added to decrees. But to expresse in English the allusion which the Latin saying hath (in decretis and alae) to decretales: I hauehave chaunged the word. Yet keeping iust the sense. For those winges are tales, deuises of ambitious Popes, and foolish fansies of their Parasites.since tales were added to Decrees, that is, since y^e time that in steed of y^e Decrees the Decretales did beare sway. For the Church-causes had lost their olde simplicitie, when Decrees were patched out with those tales: as the world is wont to growe worse and worse, So destenies do prouide That all thinges fall vntounto decay, and backe efisoones they slide. As for the other volume, the sixth booke of Decretales, which Bo…iface the eighth added, it hath not bene receiued in the kingdome of France, because the constitutions and ordinances thereof are thought to hauehave bene purposely made (the most part of them) in hatred and despite of Philip the French king, and for the game of the court of Rome. No not the Clementines neither, nor Extrauagants, the last part of the Decretales, are voyde of like faultes: nay, the later lawes of the Popes be commonly worse then the former. And this is the body of the Canon-law, these are the Popes statutes, by the which, though very vnméete for the church (in Duarens iudgement) yet is the church of Rome gouerned: and it is so gouerned, that dLancelot. in comment. instit. Iur. Can. lib. 3.the Decrees (which are the better part) hauehave lesse autoritie; the Decretales (which are woorse) hauehave greater force in Church-causes, and are more authenticall Yea, the matter came to that passe, that eDistinct. 19. in canoni. is.Gratian the principall autor of the Canon law, would hauehave had 1Inter canonicas scriptura… decretales epistolae connumerantur.the Decretall epistles of the Popes to be accounted holy, and reckened in the number of the Canonicall scriptures. For the better compassing and credite whereof he did most shamefully corrupt a saying of fDe doctr. Christian. l. 2. c. 8.S. Austins. But it would not …ay. In so much that the Papists, gAduers. haer. lib. 1. cap. 2.Alfonsus, and hDefens. …id. Trid. l. 3.Andradius, are them selues ashamed of that his, either wilfull fault, or ouersight. The Decretales therefore remaine, not in the number of the Canonicall scriptures, which hope the Giants fayled of through the diuision of their toungs: yet equall in autoritie to the canonicall scriptures, yea, aboue them, in deciding Church-causes at Rome. For that which S. 1De consid. ad …ugen. lib. 1.Bernard complained off to Pope Eugenius long since, he might complaine off to any Pope in our time, if he were aliue: the lawes keepe a great sturre dayly in your Palace, 2Leges, sed Iustiniani, non Domini.but the lawes of Iustinian, not the lawes of the Lord. Whether iustly or no: looke you to that. For doutlesse the law of the Lord is vndefiled, and conuerteth soules. But these are 3Non tam leges quam lites, & cauillationes.not so much lawes as law-quarels, and strifes subuerting iudgement. Besides that, the maner of dealing which is vsed in debating causes is 4Execrabilis plané.too too abominable, and such as is maruellous vnseemely for the church: nay it were not seemely for the common place, where ciuill matters are handled. He meaneth that maner, which kPractic… Cancellar. Apost.the Popes Court of Chauncerie at Rome had bred long before, lLud. Gom…s. proaem. regular. Cancell. Apost.though it were not growen yet to that bignesse to which it shot vp afterwarde: euen that maner of dealing, which is practised mBernard. de consid. ad Eugen. lib. 1. & 3.in the brabbles and cauils of aduocates, fitter to subuert then to finde the trueth; in the pleas of lawiers, who bring in sleights of falshode and fraud against innocencie, stop vp the waies of iudgement, beate down the simplicitie of trueth; in dilatory shifts, and other such instruments of making gaine by suites, which came from the lawes, but from the lawes of Iustinian (as Bernard saith) not of the Lord. These are the lawes then which the Pope vseth, and vseth, to what end? which is the last point. He vseth them, not to furder the saluation of Gods people, but to satisfie (if yet *Prou. 30.15. …eue, geue.a horseleach might be satisfyed) his owne and his Courtiers vnsatiable couetousnesse, ambition, and lust. For what hath the outragious tyranny of the beast respected els but that, in the Church-offices, Church-censures, and Church-causes? Why hath he withdrawen suites from other places to the Court of Rome? Why hath he reserued cases to him selfe? Why hath he dispensed with lawes at his pleasure? why hath he made and vnmade them? He hath taken into his own hands nCancellariae Apostolicae regula 2. and the rest which folow.the elections of Bishops from them whom they belonged to. The Christian ministers, magistrates, and people he hath robbed and spoyled of their due and right. He hath committed the féeding and guiding of the flock of Christ to brute and beastly creatures. He hath let and set the charge, or the commoditie rather, of churches, as he would himselfe, and to whom he would, oFor the particulars hereof, and their grounds: see Institut. iuris canon. & Franc. Duar. de sacr. eccles. minist. acben. & Gentian. Heruet. de reparand. ecclesiast. disciplin.by presentations, preuentions, prouisions, reseruations, translatiōs, permutations, aduousons, & commendaes. He hath ordeined Pastors without a roome of Pastorship, Ministers without a functiō: benefices without cure, sacrileges without punishment. The goods of the church, that is the liuing of the Pastors, and maintenance of the poore, he hath impaired with pensions, embesilled with first fruites, made away with appropriations, seazed on with sundry wrongs, and spent them wastfully with lustes, to the common out-cries of men reprouing him for pAmmian. Marcel lib. 27.pride, for qBapt. Mant. Fastor. lib 5. in Vrban.riot, for rBernard. epist. 42. ad Archiep. Senon.extortion, and for sConc. Basileens. Sess. 21.simony. He hath not permitted the causes of the church to be debated and decided there where they arose, as equitie, as reason, as peace, as the iudgement of tConcil. Nicaen, can. 5. Mileuit. can. 9. & 22. African. can. 92. & 105 Basil. can. 27.Councels and uCyprian. epist. 35. Chrysostom. ad Innocent. epist. 1. Bernard. de consid. ad Eugen. lib. 3.Fathers would he should hauehave doon: but he hath remoued them thence to be heard and determined at Rome, what by xConcil. Trid. Sess. 14. cap. 7. Extra. c. etsi dominici. de panit. & remiss.reseruing of cases to him selfe, what by yConcil. Trid. Sess. 24. cap. 20. Per speciale rescriptū signaturae Sanctitatis Sua.fetching matters 1Sub anulo piscatoris. The Popes priuy seale called the fishers signet, that is, S. Peters: though belike S. Peter did not fish with such.with the fishers signet, what by zBernard. de confid. ad Eugen. lib. 3.exempting men from their Ordinaries, what by allowing a2. q. 6. c. ad Romanam. c. placuit vt presbyteri. Concil. Trid. Sess. 24. cap. …0.appeales from all coastes to the Lord Apostolike. The censures of the church in excommunication ordeined b1. Cor. 5.7.to cut the wicked off (as rotten members) from the company of Christians, he hath vsed and exercised, not against the wicked, cBernard. de consid. ad Eugen. lib. …. & 3.of whom a sinke hath flowed of old time to Rome, and dBapt. Mantuan. Siluar. lib. 2. Roma, quid insanis toties?ouerfloweth it still; not against theeues, of whom (a eAen. Siluius (called in his Popedome Pius the second) hist. de Asia. min. cap. 77.Pope witnesseth) Rome is made a denne; not against murderers, fAs the same Pope witnesseth in the same place. And the Braui (in Italie) are famous with their sanctuaries. Andr. Masius in Iosuam cap. 20.for whom there is a sanctuary in the very houses of Cardinals at Rome; not against adulterers, whose offense was punished with death by the gLege Iulia, de adulterijs: and before, by the law of Romulus.old Romans, hConcil. Trid. Sess. 24. can. 12. Dist. 83. c. Presbyter. 26. q. 7. c. tempora. 33. q. 2. c. hoc ipsum. 27. q. 1. c. Siquis episcopus. in glossa. c. At s… clerici. deiudicijs.now they are toyed with; not against whoores, iConcil. delectorum Card. Surius in commentar. rer. gestar. de …for…at. Pij. qui….which set themselues to open sale vnderunder the Pope, who playeth the baude and gaineth by it; not against whooremongers, kc. quia circa. de bigamis.whom he preferreth somewhere before maried persons, and leacherie before chastitie, which 2With these words (in the glose vponupon that text of the Canon law:) Nota mirabile, quod pl…s habet hic luxuria, quám castitas.the Canonist noteth as a woonderfull case: but he hath exercised it lc. ad Apostolicae. in sexto, touching the Emperour: of the rest, the stories of seuerall countries shew it.against Emperours, Princes, States, and nations, that would not serue him at a beck; against any mc. Si vero alicuius. de sentent. excom.magistrate that did but lay hands vponupon a clergy-man; against any nc. peruenit. e. nuntios. de decimis.Christian, that denied his parish-priest a little tithe; against whole assemblies and companies of the faithfull, oc. ad abolendam▪ de haereticis.who worshipped (as pAct. 24.14.Paul) the God of their fathers after that way, (which Papistes call heresie,) beleuing all things which are writen in the law and the Prophets. Whom he with most vilanous cruelty and treachery, as if they had béen shéepe appointed to the slaughter, qThe stories of the Church of England, Fraunce, Italie, and the Spanish inquisition.hath ridde away by torments, by fire, by sword; not himselfe, for rIoh. 19.28.he came not into the iudgement hall least he should be defiled, but sc. excommunicamus. de …aereticis.he hath deliuered them to Pilate to be crucified: and when the streames of water did flow with blood at Paris, old men and maidens and babes being murdered without all respect of sex, or age, or state, tComment. de stat. relig. & re…p. in Gallia, lib. 10.he sang a song of ioy for the French mariage, and celebrated with bonfyres and processions at Rome a most outragious act of more then Scythian barbarousnes. What should I recken vp his tyrannical lawes, wherewith he hath oppressed the Church intolerably? Of uPope Syricius (epist. 4.) out of S. Paul, Rom. 8.8. Concil. Trident. Sess. 24. can. 9.single life imposed on ministers of the word, of xConcil. Lateran. sub Innocent. tert. cap. 11. Concil. Trid. Sess. 14. cap. 5.auricular confession, of yconcil. Trid. sess. …5. Deer. de delect …ib. de dieb. fest de regular. cap. 1. Clement. cap. exiui.the choise of meates, apparell, and daies, of zc. audiuimus. de reliq. & vener. sanct. Cerem. Rom. eccle. lib. 1. sect. 6. Bodin. method. histor. cap. 4.the new and strange canonizing of Saints, of ac. ex multa. §. in tanta. de voto & voti redempt.pilgrimages to holy land, of bCon. Trid. sess. 25. Decr. de regularibus & monialibus.the vowes of Moonkes and Nunnes, of csess. 24. can. 3.4.11. & 12.the state and rites of mariage, of dDurand. Ration. diuin. officior. Ceremon. Roman. eccle. lib. 1. sect. 7 tit. Agnus Dei &c.innumerable ceremonies, partly vnfruitfull, partly foolish, partly impious, ePolydor. Virgil. de inuentor. rerum. lib. 5. cap. 1. and so forth to the end.whereof some sprang from heathens, some from the Iewes, and some from heretikes. What should I say of his wicked dispensations, if yet they deserue the name of dispensations, and not (as fDe consid: ad Eugen. lib. 3.Bernard rather doth call them) dissipations; wherwith there is nothing so holy and religious which he hath not polluted, nothing so profane which he hath not permitted: that gKing Henry the eight.a brother may mary his own brothers wife, hPhilip king of Spaine.an vncle his sisters daughter; that Church-offices and liuings may be geuen iBernard. epist. 42. ad archiep. sen. & de consid. ad Eugen. lib. 1. & 3. Practica cancellar▪ Apost. Pauli Barchin….to boyes, to Simoniacall marchantes, to vnlerned persons, and such as are vnfitte for them; that kDistinct. 70. c. sanctorum. c. de multa. de praebendis.one man may hauehave a pluralitie of benefices; that lc. relatum. de clericis non resident. c. licet canon. de ele…. in sexto.he who hath the benefice, néede not attend the office, the steward not prouide meate for Gods houshold, the seruant and minister not doo the worke of God, the angel and messenger not shew the wil of God, the shepheard and pastour not féede the flock committed to him; that mc. ad Apostolicae. in sexto. De sentent. & re iud. Bulla Pij quinti contr. Regin. Angl.subiects may be discharged of their oth and fealtie, & licensed to withdraw allegiance from their Prince, yea, take armes against him, yea lay violent hands on the anointed of the Lord; that nConc. Constantien. Session. 19. c. Non obstantibus s…luis conductibus. Pope Martin the fifth: epist. ad Regem Lituan. Cochlaeus histor. Hussi…ar. lib. 5.promise may be broken with God and with men; that abominations most horrible may be committed; that all things diuine and humane may be peruerted; right and wrong, heauen and earth, lawfull and vnlawfull, may be confounded together. And can it be douted but that this so monstrous, so pestilent, so misshapen foulnesse and corruption of lawes and of discipline, was instituted and inducted by this king of Rome, not to set forward the saluation of the Church, but to fill his gréedy appetite of gold and lust of dominion? Doo not his own oBaptist. Man… tuan. de calamit. tempor. l▪ 3.Fryers witnesse that all things

Priestes, Churches, altars, sacraments, & crownes, (in Peters fold,)

Fire, incense, praiers, *C…lum est venale Deusque.heauen, and God, are set out to be sold?

Doo not his pPlatina de vit. Pont. in Paulo secundo. A…n. Siluius Cardin. epist. de moribus Germaniae.Courtiers allow of their iudgement who say that the pompe of the church would be abated, which he sought to increase with anoyance of religion? Doo not ^q Cardinals acknowledge that Christians are wyped of their goods and substance by first fruites, and other policies of the Popes,rMat. 26.15. to the end that he and his Courtly traine may be more rich in wealth,sIn the defense of the Apologie, part. …. more galant in brauery, more high in Princely state?tAd Ludouicum vndecimum, pro libertat… ecclesiae Gallicae aduersus Rom. aulam defensio Parisiensis cutiae. It is pri…ted with Duaren. de sacr. eccle. minist. Hath not all Christendome borne to their griefe the yoke of the ambition and couetousnes of Rome, which crieth out like Iudas, what wil ye geue me? There is extant in print the defense and Apologie of the Church of England, shewing fresh markes of the Roman tyranny, wherewith our countrie hath béen seared as with a hote burning yron. There is extant a supplication of the parlament of Paris, wherein the Frenchmen request their king to ease them of the cursed extortions, iniuries, and guiles of the Court of Rome. There are extant vC…ntum grauamina nationis Germanic….the hundred greeuances of Germany, whose complaints (writen as it were with their own blood) doo shew with what outrage the Sée of Rome hath throwen down, oppressed, brused, and spoyled that most noble nation. There are extant xBernard. in Cant. In epist. De consid. ad Eugen. & passim. Franc. Petrarch. in cant. & epist. Bapt. Man…. in Fast. Silu. …log. de calam. temp. & caet. Marsil. Patauin. in Defens. pacis. See Illyricus in his booke entitled restes veritatis superiorum temporum contra Papam.infinite bookes of lamentations, writen by lerned men of al coastes & quarters in the middest of the Papacy: confessing all with one consent that the discipline of the church is greatly decayed. The yConcil. Trid. Sess. 6. de reformat. cap. 1. In these very termes, collapsam admodum ecclesiasticam disciplinā.Papistes themselues in the Councell of Trent doo not confesse it onelyonly, but also witnesse it by publike writing to the world. There was gathered together a Councell at Constance, about an eight score yéeres since, zConc. Constant. Ses. 4. & 5.that the church might be reformed, both in the head and in the members. The matter, not being accomplished at Constance, was aConc. Basil. Sess. 2. & 3.enterprised againe at Basill. But Eugenius the fourth (who was Pope then) could not abide the reformation, and therefore bPlatin. & Onuphr. de vit. Pont. in Eugen. quart.reuoked the Councell of Basill by messages and bulles: which sith they disobeied, he brake it vp by force of armes. And whereas there was made an 2Which is called Pragmatica sanctio.act by the French king with his States, that sundry decrees and ordinances of that Councel should be of force in France: cFranc. Dua…en. de sacr. eccles. minist l. 5. c. 11. Pius secund. epist. 375. ad regem Franciae. Conc. Latecan. sub Leon. decim.the Popes who succéeded Eugenius neuer rested, till they had gotten that act repealed. The last hope remained in the Councell of Trent: and truely many things were decréed dSess. 5. cap. 1. & …1. c. 2. & 22. c. 11. & 23. c. 16.23▪ & …. c. 17.18.19. & 25. cap. 3.there for points of reformation wisely, and worthily. But thrée spots of mischiefes, touched by eGentian. Heruet. de reparanda ecclesiastica disciplina.Heruetus (a Papist, of so much the greater weight his testimonie is against Papists,) doo renue the old corruptions: one, that the decrees, although they were made, were not obserued yet; another, that although they should be obserued, yet they are not such as might restore fully the ancient good orders; the last, that although they restored the ancient orders, yet doo they litle good, because the Pope is not bound to lawes him selfe, and he dispenseth with whom he list: so that medicines heale not the wounds, but make them woorse, as long as the Pope may repeale, alter, peruert, and breake through the decrees of the Councell, with his dispensations. And, out of all dout, that detestable clause fConcil. Trid. de reform. Sess. 9. in proaem. & Sess. 25. de reform. cap. vlt.annexed to decrees of reformation in the Councell, 1Salua semper in omnibus autoritate sedis Apostolicae.prouided alwaies that the Popes autoritie be safe, and no way preiudiced: dooth shew the Roman Church to be not onelyonly sick, but also past hope of recouering her health. For as in mens bodies the greater the spleene waxeth, y^e lesser waxe the rest of the members, they say: so the more safe the Popes autoritie is, the lesse safe will all parts of the Church be.

2As Frie… Mantuan telleth Pope Leo the tenth Pastor. lib. 4.The Court of Rome with poyson strōg infected to destroy, With the contagion of her sores dooth countries all anoy. Wherfore to knitte vp the summe of my reason, séeing it is manifest by the very euidence of the things themselues, that nether the faith of Christ is taught purely, nor the sacraments rightly ministred, nor prayers made religiously, nor discipline duely practised in y^e Church of Rome: if the former reason of causes séeme too weake, yet is it fully proued (I hope) by the effects, that the Church of Rome is no sound member of the Catholike church. How much more absurde were it to count her the Catholike Church. The Church of Rome therefore is neither the Catholike, nor a sound member of the Catholike Church.

I hauehave stayed longer in opening this Conclusion, The sixth Conclusiō.then I had purposed: but I may runne ouer the last so much the more speedily. For knowing how the Church of Rome is infected with pestilent diseases, the contagion whereof, as fLeu. 13. ver. 44.the lepers sore, because it is daungerous to them who dwell neere it, must therefore gver. 46.be remoued out of the campe of the faithfull: we may be assured that the reformed Churches in England, Scotland, Fraunce, Germanie, and other kingdomes & common weales, hauehave seuered themselues lawfully from the Church of Rome. For that is done lawfully which is done by the warrant of the word of God: hPsal. 119, 17…all whose commaundements are righteousnesse, saith the Prophet. But the reformed Churches obeyed his commandement in seuering themselues from the Church of Rome. Therefore they seuered themselues from the Church of Rome lawfully. For as ecclesiasticall societies and Church-assemblies were ordained by God, that i1. Chron. 1…. … 13.his elect and chosen should kver. 11. & 12.seeke him and l…er. 8. & 29.praise him, that is, mNehem. 8.1. Act. 2.42.learne to know him, and nNehem. ….6. Act. 1.14. & 2, 42.worship him being known: so where his right faith and knowledge is not taught, or he is not serued and worshipped aright, thence doth he commaund his seruants to depart. To depart, first, from that Church-assemblie, where his right faith, and knowlege is not taught: the charge is giuen to Timothee. Whom S. Paul o1. Tim. 6. ver. 3aduertising of such as taught other doctrine, then he did, and not the wholesome words of Christ and godly doctrine, pver. ….declareth the qualities and fruites of those Matt. 7.15.woolues, and q1. …. 6.5.biddeth him depart from them: from such (sayth Paul) 1foreign.depart thou: depart thou frō their assembly, and Church. For so must such teachers be departed from: as himselfe declared by his example at Ephesus. Where rA…t. 19. ver. 8.he frequented the synagogue of y^e Iewes for the space of three moneths. But sver. 9.when certaine obstinate & disobedient persons spake euill of the way of God before the multitude, he 2foreign.departed from them, and separated the disciples. So that hée seuered, not himselfe onelyonly, but others also from that Church, wherein the way of God was euill spoken of, and men were not taught to know and beléeue in him aright. Now, that we must likewise depart from that Church, wherein God is not serued and worshipped aright: it is writen to the Corinthians. Who being admonished t1. Cor. 10.1….to flee from idolatrie, and from al communion with idolatrous worship, are charged 2. Cor. 6. v. 14.not to yoke thē selues with idolaters in their assemblies & méetinges. For what fellowship hath righteousnesse with vnrighteousnesse? light with darkenesse? xver. 15.Christ with Belial? the faithful with the infidell? yver. 16.the temple of God with idols? zver. 17.Wherfore come out from among them, and separate your selues, sayth the Lord. Separate your selues from them, sayth the Lord: the Lord sayth, not I. The Lord sayth to the Iewes, aHos. 4.15.go ye not vp to Beth-auen: not Hosea, but the Lord sayth. It is called bThat is, the house of God. Hos. 10.…5.Beth-el, but it is cThat is, the house of vanitie, or of an i…ol: Hos. 10.5Beth-auen: dHos. 10.8.the *That is, the chappels of Bethel, in the which the Isra…elites did commit idolatrie. …. King. 12.32.hie places of Auen are the sinne of Israel. Therefore go ye not vp to Beth-auen, sayth the Lord. Thus we are expresly commaunded by God to depart and separate our selues from those Churches, wherein the right wayes, either of his knowledge, or of his worship, are peruerted. Much more, from those Churches, wherein they are peruerted both. But they are both peruerted in the Church of Rome most notoriously: as I hauehave declared. It remaineth then that the reformed Churches hauehave seuered themselues from the Church of Rome most lawfully & iustly. And therefore our eBristow, Demand. 1. Motiu. …0. Stapleton. Princip. fid. doctrin. l. 4. c. 10▪ Sander. de vi…b. Monarc. eccles. prae…. ad Lect.English Papists and the fAnnot. in tom. …. Augustin. cō …tra Dona…istas.Louanists deale, shall I say, of ignoraunce, or of malice? but of whether soeuer, they deale very l…wd…ly: who to make vsus odious for seuering our selues from the Church of Rome, as if we had played the schismatikes therein, doe report of vsus that we rent our selues from the Catholike Church as the Donatistes did. Truly, or falsly: let the faithful iudge. Chiefly, sith it is manifest, that the gAs it appee…eth by S. Au…in, … his …reatises against … Donatists.Donatists found not any fault with Catholikes, either for y^e seruice wherewith they worshipped God, or for y^e doctrine of God which they preached: but hAs the Apologies and Cō fessions of the reformed Churches shew.wée hauehave conuicted y^e Romanists of impietie, both for their idolatrous prophaning of his seruice, and for their vngodly corrupting of his doctrine: and these men, who blame vsus, doe themselues teach, that no man ought to ioyne and communicate with that Church, whose seruice is idolatrous, whose doctrine is vngodly: in so much that the Louanists iAnnot. in August. Breui…. collat. cum Donatist collat. di…i. 3. cap 9.reproue (& that worthily) the Catholike Bishops of Afrike, kAnnot. in August. post col…tion▪ ad Donatist. c. 2….yea S. Austin too, for saying that the Prophets Elias, and Elisaeus, resorted to the Church, and seruice of the Israelites when it was stayned with idola…trie: and lBristow Motiu. 32.an English Papist condemneth (though vniustly) them who heare our sermons, because it is horrible sinne to giuegive patient hearing to blasphemies, such as (he sayth) we preach. Wherefore if the Romish doctours themselues should sit in iudgement vponupon vsus for triall of the schisme and Donatisme (so to terme it) whereof they indite vsus: no doubt (vnlesse their mindes were ouercast in like sort as were mAct. …3.11.the eyes of Elymas) they would acquite vsus of it; and pronounce of Christians, as nIoh. 19.6.Pilate did of Christ, I finde no fault in him. For what hauehave we done in forsaking their synagogue, y^t may deserue the check of a seuere Censour, much lesse the condemnation of an indifferent iudge? Saue in this (perhaps) that, oCicer. pro S…x. Roscio.as mad Fimbria complained of Scaeuola, we receaued not the whole weapō into our body. The Ministers of Christ were bound to p2. Tim. 4.2.preach the word of God. they preached it. To qTit. 1.13.reproue the peoples sinnes. they reproued thē. To r2 Tim. 2.3.suffer afflictions euē vntounto the shedding of their blood. they suffered. The people of Christ were bound to sIoh. 10.27.heare the pastours voice. they heard it. To tMat. 4.10.worship God & serue him only. they did it. To uLuk. 12.8.professe their faith before men. they professed it. If against the will of Princes and Magistrates, as it fell out in Fraunce: xAct. 5.29.they ought to obey rather God then men, as the Apostles told the rulers of Israel. If by the commandement of Princes and Magistrates, which befell to England through Gods most gratious goodnesse, and we beséech him it may for euer: they were to obey their Princes in the Lord, as y2. King. 23.2.the Priests, and Prophets, and people of the Iewes did obey Iosias. Wherefore séeing all the reformed Churches (not to rehearse them in particular) following the same rule which England did & Fraunce, hauehave seuered themselues from the church of Rome, in such sort as they ought by the law of God: they are not seditious because they hauehave done, but they were sacrilegious vnlesse they had done so; nether hauehave we dealt as schismatikes in forsaking, but others deale as heretikes in following the whoore: whose hearts I would to God that might pearce into, which our Sauiour sayth to his, touching Babylon, z…. 18.4.Go out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sinnes, and that ye receue not of her plagues. And thus hauehave I declared to you (reuerend Syr) my iudgemēt of the Conclusions which you proposed. In opening whereof although I hauehave bene longer, partly being moued with the weightinesse of the pointes, and partly presuming of the pacience of the hearers, then in this place is vsuall: yet hauehave I purposely omitted many things which aduersaries may obiect, because I thought they might be produced and answered in the disputation it selfe more conueniently.

Psal. 51.18.

Be fauourable (O God) to Sion for thy good pleasure: build the walles of Ierusalem.

Conference Between Rainolds and Hart, Discussion of conclusions 2