Collection of Discourses, Part 2

Collection of Discourses · Part 2

p. 32A PREFACE TO THE FOVRTH PART OF the Catechiſme, wherin are deſciphered the peſtilent pamphlets of ſome Divines of this age: and Calvin the moſt valiant Champion defendant of Chriſt his glory is briefely cleered of the ſlaunderous crime of Arrianiſme. *⁎*

THe argumēt of this part, (which is Of mans thankfullneſſe towards God) enforceth me to enter the Common complaint of all the godly againſt the bruit blockiſhneſſe and foule in gratitude of the world, which after ſo many ineſtimable benefits heaped by almightye God moſt aboundantly on theſe our latter daies, hath onelyonly thus farre profited, that vnthankfull men continually become worſe and worſe, as if they had ſworne perpetual warre againſt ſo good a God, & gracious a benefactor. For howe huge a cloud of witneſſes of Gods cōtinuall kindneſſe. p. 33doth enuiron vsus round about what hath been denied vntounto this age that men could hauehave wiſhed, thereby to hauehave made this life happy & bleſſed? I ſpeake not of bleſſingee common or generall, how many, & how pretious are thoſe we hauehave receiued in particular? The light of the Goſpel & ſincerity of doctrine renewed; the purity of ſacraments, the trew worſhippe of God, and reading of holy ſcripture reſtored, the diſcouery of Antichriſt, the chaſing of darkneſſe, the flight of ſuperſticion, the ruine of of idolatry, & the liberty of the church after long ſeruitude reſtored. Theſe ſo ineſtinable treaſures how few of vsus doe worthily regard▪ & not rather with beſtiall blockiſhneſſe overpaſſe, or ſhameles impudency diſdaine? One ſaide ſome times of the Athenians that they knew what was good, but did it not. How much more may we Chriſtians be aſhamed of our ſelues, who not only do not that which we know to be good, and know it by the light of the Goſpell (not as they did by the light of nature:) but alſo doe euen thoſe thinges which we know are not good? The whole worlde is now poſſeſſed with ſecurity, profanenes, ambition, luxurye, envy, contempte of doctrine, abuſe of ſacraments, ſurfet of preaching, & what not? How many are there of thoſe which withhold the truth in vnrighteouſneſſe▪ of thoſe which profeſſe God in their knowledge but deny him in their life? of backeſliding Apoſtataes, who eyther inforced by the vnſta…edneſſe of the… owne conceipt, looke p. 34backe to the Aegigptian fleſh-pottes, or beguiled by ſeducing ſpirites daily reuolt from Chriſt to Antichriſt, like dogges returning to their yo… mit? but this ingratitude is perhappes a fault incident to the common ſort.

O then that the greater part of our Prelates would aſcend vntounto theſe breaches, and draw a counter-mure and ſence before the houſe of Iſrael, & not lyke ſubtile foxes ſecke to fat…e themſelues with the ſpoiles, & publique ſcandales of the church, as Ezechiel complained of the prophets of his time. It hath bin euer a great plague vntounto the church to make ſale of the word of G…d or wreſt it to the affections of men, to the luſt & fauour of the mighty, to pride and vaine glory, to couetouſneſſe and luxurie. But much more perniciouſe is that plague which at this day with applauſe of the multitude conſumeth the very bowelles of the church, namely the decay of eccleſiaſticall iudgment: whereas in the meane time through ambition, auarice, enuy, & deſire of attempting any thing, as eueryevery one is of face moſt brazē, of tongue moſt intēperate, ſo much the rather he affecteth, & by fauour of the multitude obteineth the moſt eminent places of dignity in the church. Hence proceede thoſe infortunate broils betweene gouerners of the church, who for the moſt part ſtudying ſtrife not quietneſſe, & plotting quarrell vponupon quarrell, labour by all meanes poſſible that eccleſiaſticall controverfies (by which they ſtudy to advance themſelues p. 35to a rich and glorious eſtate) may neuer come to the lawfull hearing, debating or quieting. Hence alſo hauehave proceeded ſo many peſtilent & pernicious wrightings neuer ſpiced with any ſpirit of mildeneſſe & charity, but ſeaſoned with the vnſauoury ſalt of vnulence & malice, & tainted with the poiſoned ſ…inges of harefull ſlanders, wherwith (for ſooth) at this day Diuinity is thought to bee beautified, and our doctrine of holineſſe ſhall be preſented vntounto poſteritie. This is the head of the miſcheife;Two ſorts of ſlounderous wrightings among Diuines. which that it may the better be cōceiued I ſpeake of two ſortes of wrightings now publiſhed.

The firſt is meerely ſlanderous, wherein the memory of Chriſtes faithfull ſeruantes deſeruing paſſing wel of the church (namely Zwinglius Calvin, Bucer, Martir, …, Zanchius, Bizi, Grynaeus, & others as well liuing, as dead, who teach that the fleſhly feeding on Chriſtes body with our mouthes is contrary to the truth of the Goſpell) is fowly wronged, their fame rent & razed, their wrightings (whence notwithſtanding thoſe foxers after their preaching cā be cōtent in their priuate ſtudies to borrow moſt of ther ſkill) are ſpightfully taxed, their true ſenſe peruerted their wordes wrongfully wreſted, & laſtly themſelues proclaimed authors of moſt damnable hereſies.

In this kinde next vntounto Schmi…line that Arch-Vbiquitar…e excelled lately one Selneccer, and now Hunnius and Heilbrunner; wherof the former hath not long ſince put in printe twelue chiefe heades p. 36miſchievouſly compiled; the later hath in maner afore-ſaide lately publiſhed fifteene chapters of Calvines errors: the middlemoſt being a Queſtioniſt burdeneth Calvin with A…ſme, …iting certaine places which by the Fathers were interpreted of Chriſt, but by him ſomewhat otherwiſe vnderſtood. But no ingratitude more ſpightfull, then to ſlaunder them by whoſe paines thou haſte reaped profitte, and the Church in generall ſo greate a benefite; no preſumption more intollerable, then to bite and beate ſellow-ſervaunts, and to revile the deale and … nothinge leſſe ſutable to the dignity of a Divine, then to play the ſycophant or falſe accufer.

Let vsus for examples ſake inſtance in that one place of Geneſis the 3. concerning the ſeede of the vvoman that ſhoulde breake the ſerpentes heade which they complaine to bee horribly corrupred by Calvin, becauſe hee interpreteth the ſeeat of the vvoman not particularly of Chriſt alone, but generally of the whole Church and poſterity of the woman. But were they not ſhameleſſ… in mangling that interpretation of Calvines which ſhould be wholy cited, they would ſ…ne be: ſhamed of ſo groſſe a cavil. For to let paſſe, that many ancient Fathers before Calvin, and amongſt them Chryſoſtome doeth ſo interpret that place▪ Firſt they never date deny,Homil. 17. … Geneſ. that the ſeede of the ſerpent, wherevnto the ſeede of the vvoman is oppoſed, muſt by right in this place be generally vnderſtood. p. 37Secondlie the vntruth of this cauill is hereby deſcried, in that they wright that Calvine, ſhould reſtraine this enmity to men and externall, that is common and viſible ſerpentes: whereas Calvine expreſſeley addeth, that GOD in this place vnderunder the name of the ſerpent, doth eſpecially … at Sathan, againſt whom he thundereth out this iudgement. Laſtly, that hee ſo interpreteth the womans ſeede of the Church, that withall eſpecially he includeth CHRIST the head of the Church, his very wordes doe witneſſe which they wickedly diſmember, when he addeth. VVhereas experience teacheth that all the ſo…es of Ad…m are farie from vanquiſhing the divell; vvee muſt therefore needes hauehave recourſe vntounto one heade, that ſo wee may learne to vvhome eſpecially this victorie doeth pertan…e. So Paule leadeth vsus from the ſeede of Abraham vntounto Chriſt. &c. But is this to make ſlay vponupon the externall enmity betwixt men and ſerpents? to reſtraine the victory vntounto men? to exclude Chriſt?

All this not withſtanding Hunnius proceedeth yet father, chardging Calvin with the ſhifting of many moſt evident oracles concerning Chriſts protecting and p…tronaging the blaſphemies of the lovnes, furthering that damned hereſie of Arrianiſ…e, weakening the grounds and argumentes of the Church, and diſanulling the authoritye of aunciente Fathers. Theſe indeede are grieuous crimes, whereof notwithſtanding I coulde caſilie cleare him, were it not for miſpendinge p. 38too much time and talke. But by the two firſt ſlaunders wee may eaſily iudge of all the reſt.

And is it indeed ſo euident an oracle when Moſes ſaith: Bara El…him: that a verbe ſingular ioyned with anoune plurall muſt needes ſignifie the vnity of the diuine eſſence, & trinity of perſons? This Caluin tooke for none of the ſufficient reſt proofes of ſo great a matter. But if it bee ſo ſtrong and evident an argument of the Trinity, wh… did not you (Maſter Hannius) place it with the … in your tracte vponupon the Trinity? why did you quite over ſlip it?

The words of Eue, …Gen. 4. Canuhiiſ… hath Iehovah: Calvin thus tranſlated; I hauehave obtained a man to the Lord: Hunn…us exclaimeth againſt him for corrupting a moſt evidēt teſtimony of the God head of the M…ſuas: ….becauſe (in his opinion) Eue …aith, I hauehave obtained a man he Lorde. for a…h in Hebrew is a perpetuall note of the accuſatiue caſe. But if this be true, why then did the 70. Interpreters trā ſlate it by the Lord? foreign ….the Tha…gum before the Lord the ancient Latin, & … through the Lord? the Dutch tranſlation of Luther 45. yeares ſince of the Lord? Per Deun. Domini.doe all theſe play the lewes with Calvin? I inſtance no farther.

Well then: ſhall Calvin therefore be an heretique, for n…t ſimply approving theſe and other ſuch like argumentes vſed by the Fathers againſt heretiques? muſt he needs therefore be an Arrian and a lew? too hard a ſlander of ſo excellent a ſervant p. 39of God. For what man is there that with greater courage and learning hath maintained againſt all heretiques the reverend miſtery of the ſacred Trinity, or Chriſtes eternall Deity? who hath euermore ſharpely reproved and repreſſed thoſe mad dogges Servetus, Gentilis. with their confederates in villany, Alciat, B…andrat and the reſt?

And if he obſerved ſome proofes not plaine or pregnant enough vſed by the ancient fathers in their conflictes againſt heretiques, what of that? for al this he hath reſolutely avouched an hūdred other thinges concerning the eternall Deity of Chriſt againſt all fallacies and forgeries of lews & heretiques: whereof leaſt any ſhould make doubt, I will ſhew iuſt proofe by one or two examples out of his commentaries.

Gen. 1. v. 3. Which alone, ſaith he (meaning the creation of the world by the word of God) is ſufficient to refu…e the blasphemie of Servetus. Heere the foule-mouthed heaſt doth barke. ſaying that this was the firſt beginning of the Word, when God commandea that there ſhould be light. Whereas much better might be inferred the eternal eſſence thereof, conſidering that there we…e vponupon the ſuddame created by the word of God, ſuch things as before were not Where fore the Apoſtles proofe of Chriſts Divinity ſtandes with good reaſon, that wheras hee is the Worde of GOD, by him were all thinges created.

Exod. 3. v. 2. Proving that Chriſt was that Angell of the Lord, he wrighteth after this manner: The anciens Doctors … truely thinke that the eternall p. 40Son of God was ſo called in reſpect of his Mediatorſhip. And ſhortly after No maruell therefore if the eternall worde of God, being one & the ſame in eſſence and deitie with the father, tooke vponupon him the name of a… angel, in regarde of he embaſſage by him afterward to be vndertake. The two oracles of Eſaie in the 7. cha. and …4. v. touching the fruit of the virgins wōbe called Immanuel: & in the 9. cap. & 6. v. cōcerning a ſonne giuen vntounto vsus, he doth ſo violently extorte from the Iewes, & ſo ſtrongly proue thē to be meant of the onelyonly begotten ſonne of God borne of the virgin Marie, that no man lightly could hauehave done it better. And where Ieremie in his …3. ca. & 5. v. ſpeaketh of rayſinge vp a budde or branch vntounto Dauid, he vſeth theſe words: Here therefore God recall…th them vntounto the Meſſias. And ſoone after, Without doubt heere the Prophet ſpeaketh of Chriſt. Where alſo at largelie refuteth the Iewes, endeuouring to ſtreame this branch to all the poſteritie of Dauid. And after againſt the ſame Iewes: One & the ſame redeemer as called as well the ſonne of Dauid as Iehouah. How is he called the ſonne of Dauid? becauſe he was to … of that liue. How then Iehouah? Hence trulie is gathered that … there is ſome thing more excellent the man and he is called Iehouah or the Lord, becauſe he is the onelyonly begotten ſonne of God one altogeather with the father in nature, glorie, eternitie, & Divinitie.

In the 12 ca. & 14. v. of the prophecy of Hoſe, ſhewing how he is both Iehouah & alſo an angell: Chriſt (ſaith he) the eternall wiſedome of God, did p. 41put on the perſon of a Mediator before he was clothed with our fleſh. He was therefore even then a Mediator, and in that respect alſo an angell. Meane while he was alſo then Iehouab, who is now God manifeſted in the fleſh. And afterwards Thus is this place worthie the remembrance to witneſſe the Deitie of Chriſt.

VponUpon the 4. ca. of Micah, the 3. v. The Prophet M…cah ſpeaketh of God himſelfe, not expreſſely mentioning Chriſt, becauſe he was not as yet manifeſted in the fleſh: how be it we know that this was fulfilled in his perſon, that God hath gouerned the worlde, & ſubdued vntounto himſelfe all the nations of the earth, we therefore avouch Chriſt to bee true God, becauſe he did not onelyonly minister to his father, as Moſes or any other of the Prophets; but was himſelfe alſo high ſouereigne of his church. & in the 7. ver. of the ſame chap. Though Chriſt was the true ſeede of Dauid, yet was he withall Iehouah likewiſe, that is God reuealed in the fleſh.

In the 1. of Zachar. the 19. v. Wee muſt remember what I ſaide before: that this cheife a…gell was the mediator & head of the church. But he alſo is Iehouah. becauſe we know that Chriſt is God manifeſted in the fleſh.

Zach. 2. v. 8. Hence we geather that Chriſt is here pr…figured, who is himſelfe verie Iehouah, but withall the angell & meſſenger of his father. & in the 10 ver. We ſee therefore that the name of Iehouah is fitted vntounto Chriſt, & that there is no difference of nature betwixte the father & the ſonne, but that they are to be diſtinguiſhed onelyonly in perſon. As often therefore as Chriſt declareth his Diui…itie, he taketh vntounto himſelfe p. 42the name of Iehouah: But afterwardes he ſhewed that in himſelfe he hath ſome thinge peculiar and diſtinct, namely this, that he is the meſſenger or Embaſſadour of his father.

Zach. 3. ver. 3. Now we ſee that he is termed an Angell, who was of …n named Iehouah. For my … therefore I make no queſtion but that the name as wel of angell as of ehouah ſhould be referred to the perſon of Chriſt, who is the true & onelie God.

Zach. 11. ver. 14. This wee muſt holde for a principle, that Chriſt from the beginning was the true Iehouah. Becauſe therefore the ſon of God is of the ſa… nature with the Father, & alſo one God together with him, &c. with like fidelitie & perſpicuitie doth he euerie where in his commentaries vponupon the new Teſtament, maintaine the eternal Deitie and Coexiſtence of our ſauiour Chriſt.foreign.

Coloſſ. 2. v. 2. This in the meane time is a memorable place to proue the Deity of Chriſt, and his vnity of eſſence or nature with the father. For having prefaced ſomewhat touching the knowledge of God, hee ſtraight waies applieth it as well to the Sonne as to the Father. Whence it followeth that the Sonne is one and the ſame God with the father. See gentle Reader what hee wrighteth vponupon thoſe words of the Apoſtle, God was manifeſted in the fleſh. After many words: So ſaith he by this one teſtimonie is the true and catholike faith excellently fenced and fortified againſt Arrius, Marcion, Neflorius, and Eutyches.

Ioh. 5. v. 20. Although the Arria…s hauehave endevoured to ſhifte this place, & ſome there be even at this day p. 43which ſubſcribe vntounto them: here notwithſtanding vvee hauehave a notable teſtimony of the Divinitie of Chriſt.

Act. 7. v 20. So this place yeeldeth apparant proofe of the eternel Deity of Chriſt, & vnitie of eſſence with the Father. But in ſo cleere a caſe what neede more words? A thouſande like places are every where obvious in his golden wrightings, which may yeeld plentiful matter vntounto al poſterity to ſtoppe the beaſtly barking of theſe raging dogs.

But to return to my purpoſe, if Calvin in this cōflict did not make all fi…h that came to net, but ſignified that many things approued by auncient Fathers were now too much expoſed to cavil of heretiques being otherwiſe of himſelfe a moſt valiant maintainer of Chriſts eternal maieſty, which preeminence even the ſlanderous adverſary (to his griefe) muſt of conſcience yeeld vntounto him: muſt he therefore be proclaimed an Arrian, or patron of Arrians? doth he deſerue to be ſo contumeliouſly diſtained, as if carried headlong with a violent ſtreame of vaine glorious boaſting, he did of ſet purpoſe corrupt the plaineſt oracles of ſcripture touching the myſtery of the ſacred Trinity, & eternal Deity of the Son & holy Ghoſt… or as though he wreſted the Chriſtians weapons out of their hands? or by manifeſt conſent were an opē abetter of the Arriniſh gloſies? No, no, would to God rather you Vbiquitaries did not ſo, o… would at leaſt ceaſe to ſpread the infection of your Arrian leproſie throughout the church. He indeede made choiſe of ſome argument before others, not p. 44vnadviſedly, or to ſuch purpoſe as you ſlaunderouſly imagine, but as himſelfe often profeſieth, becauſe he did wiſh we would bring nothing but what were ſound and ſubſtantiall.

And good reaſon: for he found by experience in his conflictes with Servetus, Gent…is, & the like monſters, which were arguments of ſtrength and perſpicuity, and which were not; which did powerfully preſſe the adverſary, and which did not▪ And therefore he ſaw well that he was to cōbate not with number but waight of arguments, & by his example taught others how to encounter heret…ques, who are now growen far more ſubtile & ſlippery then heretofore was either Samoſate… himſelfe, or Arrius, or any other of their principal patriarchs For now the adverſary which by theſe his inſtruments impugneth the glory of Chriſt is growen old and wily. There are now (to vſe the words of Cip…ian) almoſt ſixe thouſand yeares accompliſhed,De exhort. … ad Fortunarum. ſince firſt the Divel beganne thus to war againſt God. He hath by this t… even by practiſe of antiquity throughly inſtructed heretiques in all ſleightes of attempting, all tr…kes & deviſes of vndermining. Laſtly, ſeeing the ſpirites of the Prophets are ſubiect to the prophets; this worthy & excellent ſervant of God did only by wrighting adviſe, not preſcribe vntounto the church any interpretations or opinions of his own. Ceaſe therefore (ingratefull exclaimers) to for…e out againſt him the peſtilent poiſon of ſlaundering tongues in your pulpits, which without him many p. 45of you were ſcarſely able to mainetaine with credit.

But to let theſe paſſe, I come now to the ſecōd ſore of wrightings which is both heretical and intollerable, for monſtrous paradoxes therin maintained, plaine principles of divinity d…faced. opē teſtimonies of ſcripture perverſely corrupted, hereſies long ſince condemned lately reſtored, and impoſed vponupon the ſimple vulgar for verities Evā gelicall. In which kinde the moſt bitter A…chilochian diſputant Huber…us an impudēt back iuding Apoſtata doth now Lord it; whom hatred againſt the truth truely knowen, but want only denied & wilfully impugned doth euerie day more then other ſo ſwiftelie ſweepe away with a continuall current of barking and back-biting, that mē may iuſtly ſuſpect him for a fearfull example of one giuen over by God into a reprobate ſence. God of his merciemercy g…aunt him a better minde if he be not paſt cure, or at leaſt ſo bridle his furie, that he cary not others with him headlong to deſtruction.

He as an impe of Pelagius, & mouthy ſectary of E…icur…us filleth all Germanie with horible exclamations,Theſſ. 19. 60. 65. 66. 68. 94. 112. 182. 187. 214▪ 735. 75… … that all men without exception, as well faithfull, as Infideli; alreadie dawned, as hereafter to be condemned, reprobate, as others, ſuppoſe doggs & hogs, as Chriſt his ſheepe; Nero & Heliogabalus, as Dauid & Ioſaphat; Iudas, as Peter are by the death of Chriſt reconciled vntounto God, ſanctified, iuſtified, their ſius pardoned, thēſelues receiued into p. 46the boſome & ſauor of God,Lib. germ. pag 94. 98. 99. 106. 10… &c. in a word ſaued (applaud your patrō & procter, ò you dogs, & hogs, which hath opened ſo wide a gate vntounto Athe…ſme) no mā dāned for ſin,Schmidlin, and Oſiander condē ned by this Apoſtata, for putting out of controverſie that with God there is a certein number of thē which ſhall be ſaved. but only for vnbeleife▪ that in God there is no eternal decree of electiō & reprobatiō; that God hath not defined a certaine …ūber of them which ſhalbe ſaued; that al mē euer ſince the fal of Adam are elect in Chriſt, that Election grace and forgiuenes of ſins is generall and cōmon vntounto all and that with God there is no speciall Election, but this ſpeciall Election is only in reſpect of men, as every man privately applyeth to himſelfe that grace which is cōmon vntounto al; that God knew from everlaſting who woulde embrace his grace offered, and who againe would make ſhipwracke thereof; that to Elect is nothing elſe but to invite and win mankinde vntounto himſelfe;Protocol. that many of the Elect do periſh;Mompelg. 503. that the certeinty of Gods giftes and graces whereof wee boaſt out of Rom. 11. 29. where they are ſaid to be without repentance is a vaine brag; that our Electiō in Chriſt is founded on a ſuppoſition and condition If wee beleeue; that it relyeth wholy on our faith; that faith is not given vsus indeed without the grace of God, howbeit the meanes by which it is giuen vsus are in our own power, that the vnregenerate hauehave an arbitrary ability to run aſſone as God calleth them by his worde; that they can of them ſelues perceiue and vnderſtand the Lordes voice when he crieth vntounto them; that the cauſe why of many who vſe the ſame meanes, ſome beleeue and perſevere; p. 47… her ſome beleeue not, or beleeving perſevere not, is the right or not right vſe of the meanes, & that this vſe is in our owne power; that the 9. Chapter to the Romanes treateth not of Predeſtination to life or death; that this doctrine of pedeſtination maketh God a lying God, a cruel God, a God reioycing in euill, and an vniuſt God; that it ouerthroweth the miniſtery, & leaveth no place for wholſome exhortation; that it breedeth ſecuritie & deſpaire in men: and an hundred other poſtions of this kinde, wherwith if you conferre the auncient peſtilent hereſies of Pedagius & Coeleſtius, they will concurre with this doctrine, & meete therwith as iuſt as germans lipes. For the Pelagians taught the ſelfe ſame as appeareth both out of the writinges S. Auſten, & out of the epiſtles of Prosper, and of Hilarie. vntounto him, touching the reliques & remainder of the Pelagian hereſie in Fraunce. They taught that in deede all men had ſinned in Adam, The erroneous doctrine of the Pelagians.and that no man was ſaued by his owne workes, but by the grace of God in regeneration, howbeit the proptiation of Chriſtes bloud is (ſay they) propoſed vntounto all without exception, that whoſoeuer will laie hold on faith, & receiue the Sacrament of Baptiſme may be ſaued; that God knew before the framing of the world, who would beleeue & cōtinue faith full, & that he predeſtinated them vntounto his kingdome whom he forſawe to be ſuch, as being freelie called by grace would proue worthie their Election, and departe this life with a laudable & p. 48happy end; & that therefore all men are admoniſhed to beleeue & liue well, that no man might deſpaire of attaining ſaluation. They denied that there was a ſet number predeſtinate of God, leaſt the vſe of exhortation thereby ſhould bee voide, and the force and edge of preaching rebated. They avered that all ſerious induſtrie in weldoing was cleane remooued, & all manner of vertues cancelled, if Gods decree preuent men… willes; that vnderunder the title of Predeſtination the Stoicks fatall neceſſitie was againe ſet on foote and eſtabliſhed; that the. 9. Chap. to the Rom. was was neuer vnderſtoode by the auncient Fathers of the Church of a free Election preuenting our will and merits; That this doctrine thwarteth & croſſeth the edification of preachers & teachers; and were it true, yet is it not to be divulged and vttered in publicke, becauſe it may miniſter vntounto ſome cauſe of deſpaire; & the hearts of ignorant men are by this kind of diſpute ſet on mamme…ing: becauſe the Catholike faith may be taught and defended without it. Fauſius added vntounto mans endevour the helpe of grace, that for ſooth graces & mans endeuour yoaked together finiſh … workes which remaine, & God by his worde worketh in us it will that which wee read or heare: but to conſ…et, or … conſent therevnto is ſo abſolutely our owne, that if we… will the master is to thwathput in execution; if we …, we make the working of God to bee of no force or effect with vsus.

Theſe and ſuch like were the olde braine ſicke p. 49ſollies of the P…lagians, which I thinke no man ſo far to ſeeke in Chriſtian religion, that he conceiueth not howe this curſed wretch hath ſet them downe worde for worde as it were, & publiſhed for newe oracles.

Nevertheles I know his proteſtatiō wil be, that hee hath hitherto neuer ſucked at the noiſome ſinke of Pelagius hereſies, but in heart deteſteth them. But Puccius that newe vpſtart Pelagian as vaine & wauering an Apoſtata as Huber himſelfe hath cleered the caſe; Puccius, who lately trampling the truth of the Goſpell vnderunder his feete, and betaking himſelfe to the Ieſuites, hath ſo openly and ſhamfully ſet a broach againe and defended the Pelagian errours, that very ſhame & conſcience with-helde the Ieſuites of Prage from publiſhing in printe that monſtrous booke of his. He togither with his Haber our Apoſtata mainteineth all the former poſitions, & yet himſelfe would not ſeeme, no nor endure the name of a Pelagian. Howbeit in moſt matters he is more apparant to be ſuch a one. For that which this our Apoſtata oftentimes feighneth he will doe, & yet for verie conſcience dares no where performe, he taketh on him to define predeſtination on this maner. Predeſtination is an order, foreſeene and propoſed by God vntounto himſelfe, wherein he hath decreed from all eternitie, what ſhould befall eueryevery, particular perſon, which he hath created partakers of Chriſt their Sauiour, & heires of an euerlaſting heritage, leauing to eueryevery one free w…ll in this life to fall, or not to fall from p. 50him, as he ſhall make choiſe vntounto himſelfe when he … poſſeſſed of the vſe of reaſon. For h… will was that … many as forſooke not their …reat… ſhould be ſaued but they who perſiſted ſtedfaſt in their faith & allegiāce unto him, & manfully reſiſted the adverſaries ſhould be his approued and choſen, & not onelyonly be ſaued, to reigne alſo with Chriſt in his kingdome:, & in life eternall. Againe who for a time ſtarted aſide & fell fr… him, ſhould be reformed & purged by temporary puniſhments: but they who make one vtter defect, & …a…ely reſiſt the ſecret working of his spirite, ſhould become reprobates & inflexible. Thus farre Pucciu… ▪ He farther maintaineth that as Chriſt is the Creatour, ſo is he the Redeemer alſo of all men, and every particular man: that all are borne in the ſtate of ſalvation and grace; and by Conſequent are bleſſed, if they procure not the…r own deſtr… ction through infidelity, and vnbeliefe; that E…tion and Grace are generall, that Faith is a gift of God generall, and common vntounto all …, nay tha… it is natural; & that al men hauehave a proneneſſe vntounto prety; that the difference of good and evil … on earth ariſeth from the good or evil vſe of the knowledge of God; that Reaſon in deciding controverſies of Religion is ſovereigne Empereſſe; … that this doctrine wel agreeth with that doctrine of the Apoſtle Rom. 9. 10. 11. only it is repugna… to S. Auſte…s diſputations, and certaine Councel and Schoolemen, who are wholy groūded on the opinion of S. Auſten. He beſeecheth the Ieſ… … & amongſt them eſpecially Bellarmine, that the p. 51cleaue & ſticke not over-much vntounto the definitions & interpretations of Auſten & the Schoolmen; and that they no longer debar and defeate the worlde of this his notable courſe of interpreting and vnderſtanding the Scriptures, &c.

Now I demand of this our Apoſtata & his purple Prelate of Tubinge, whether they heere de…ery Pucc… as a Pelagian or no? I know wel they will anſwere that this is a dunghil of Pelagian draffe & filth. He are therefore yet a little farther this your vpſtart gloſer Puccius. He hath prefixed before the 33. chapter of his booke this argument: I will ſhew how the Divines of Wittē …erge Luthers ſucceſſorsioin… … opinion with vsus: but Beza and the reſt of Calvnes complices perſiſt in their headſtrong wilfulneſſe, and corrupt divers textes of Scripture. Afterward he breaketh out into your praiſes, and applaudeth your good proceedings in Chriſtian doctrine on this maner. Whileſt I was comp…ling this tract I happened …n the anſwere of Th. Beza Calvines ſucceſſour to the Actes of the Conference held in Mountpelier publiſhed at Tubinge; which Aunſwere was printed at Geneva in the yeare of our Lord 1588; wherein I ſaw how deſperately the Calviniſts contende with Lutheran Divines both about other opinions, and expreſſely in this touching Predeſtinatiō; I perceived how miſerably they mutinize within themſelues, who ſtray and wander without the … and limits of the Church and ſucceſſion of the Apoſtles. Howbeit the zeale of truth wherewith I was inflamed cauſed me to re…oice, whereas I ſawe that the Divines of Wittenberge had laid aſide a great parte of p. 52Luthers tyrannous crueltie, and barbarous abſurdity … this pointe. And that THEY CONSENT VVITH VSUS IN THE SVBSTANCE OF THE THING IT SELFE although they ſtagger and erre in the interpretatu… of the Scriptures, and Sacramentes. This Pucc… us reporteth of our good neighbour Divines … Wittenberge. Out vponupon this dolefull and lamen… table conſent! out vponupon this ſhamefull …oint co… ſpiracy!

Heere they will call heauen and earth to wi… neſſe, that this pertaineth not vntounto thē, that the… deſire is to hauehave their opinions refuted by vsus: … not long ſince that curriſh A poſtata wiſhed for … Champion on whom he might faſten his holden … and purchaſe to himſelfe a name by his glorio… conflict. But let him knowe that no man is… mad as to enter combate with a ſelfe condemne deſperate perſon. In vaine he provoketh me… name, notwithſtanding, in the meane ſpace, know that I hauehave not beene retchleſ…e in defen… of the truth, and arming my hearers againſt th… his doctrine, whileſt I hauehave at home ripped his ruderabble of deteſtable opiniōs. And in the… Treatiſe of the Vniverſalitie of Redemption that fa… mous perſonage D. IAMES KIM… DONCE the worthy Governour of our Vn… verſit…, whom in honour I heere name, hath imployed himſelfe, debating the maine queſtion, reſolving it very iudiciouſly in his publike L… ctures. Concerning the reſt it were impertine… p. 53to chew a dry Colewott, and harpe daily on one ſtring.

Auguſtine long ſince, and Alipius his companion, as Hierome teſtifieth in his Epiſtle dated vntounto them, hath taken much paines and travel in confuting the hereſie of the Pelagians, and hath written thirty whole bookes diſtinguiſhed by diverſe titles, beſides certaine Epiſtles in which of purpoſe hee beateth downe this Pelagian outrage. Prosper reporteth of aboue three hundred who wrote againſt that hereſie. Auguſtine himſelfe witneſſeth that it was condemned in fiue ſeuerall Councels in Africke. There is a notable tracte of Fulgentius his firſt booke vntounto Monimus extant touching the twofolde predeſtination of GOD, the one of the good vntounto glorye; the other of the evill vntounto puniſhmente. Maxentius alſo hath certaine ſhorte Theſes directed againſt theſe Pelegianst and that golden booke of Luther of MANS SLAVISH WIL againſt that halfe-Pelagian declamation of Eraſmus is every where common and obvious. Laſtly, there are diverſe ſound diſputations of BRENTIVS, HESHVSIVS, SCHNEPFFIVS, and eſpecially HEREBRAND touching this matter. And doeth the curſed Apoſtata looke then that ſome one of vsus ſhould ſtoppe his blaſphemous mou…h? Let him over-read theſe, and refute them: or if he be not able ſo to doe, henceforth let him ſurceaſe his profaning Gods truth.

p. 54The truth of Scripture ſhall ſtand invincible againſt this barking dogge, and the very gates of hell it ſelfe; which teacheth of redemption by Chriſt. oh. 3. 36.Hee that beleeveth in the Son, hath everlaſting life: and hee that beleeueth not the Son, ſhall not ſee life but the wrath of God abideth ô … abideth, it abideth on him.Epeſ. 1. 3. Of Predeſtinatiō & grace, He hath choſen vsus in Chriſt before the foūdations of the world. Whō he… hath Predeſtined, Rom. 8. 30.Rom 8:30thē alſo he called. Yet the children were borne it was ſaid,Rom. 9. 11. 12. 13. 18.Rom 9:11Rom 9:12Rom 9:13Rom 9:18 The older ſhal ſerue the younger▪ As it is written, I hauehave Loved Iacob, and hauehave hated Eſau. Therefore he hath mercy on whom he will, … whom he will he hardeneth. The Election hath obteined it,Rom. 11. 7.Rom 11:7 and the reſt hauehave beene hardened. Of faith, al Men hauehave not Faith. 2 Theſt. 3. 2VntoUnto You it is givē for Chriſt, that not only yea ſhould Beleeue in him, but alſo ſuffer for his ſake.Phil. 1. 29.Phil 1:29 It is God which work… bin you both the … and the deed.Act. 13. 48.Acts 13:48 And as Many is were Ordeined vntounto eternall life Beleeued. Of Perſeverance. The foū dation o God remaineth Sure, 2. Tim. 2. 19.2 Tim 2:19and hath this ſeale, The Lord knoweth who … his.Ioh. 10. 28.John 10:28 I giuegive vntounto my ſheepe etern… life (Eternall ſaith Chriſt, not for three daies) and they ſhall Never Periſh, neith… ſhal any man plucke thē … of mine hand. I hauehave praied for thee that thy Faith Faile Not. Luc. 22. 32.Luke 22:32Falſe Prophets ſhall ſhew great ſignes and wonder… ſo that,Mat. 24. 24.Matt 24:24 if it were poſſible, they ſhould deceiue the very elect. I give thee thankes O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,Mat. 11. 25. 26.Matt 11:25Matt 11:26 becauſe thou haſt hid theſe things from the … and men of vnd…rſtanding, and haſt opened them vntounto babes. It is ſo, O Father, becauſe thy good pleaſure was ſuch. Let them, who carry themſelues as … p. 55as heauen, learne firſt to adore and bow the knees of their heartes at theſe and ſuch like myſteries of Gods truth, ere they peiſe them after the light phantaſies of their owne braine.

Here I had purpoſed to hauehave declared in briefe what a variable inconſtant Proteus they imagine God to bee: what a newe ſtampe of Diuinitis they hauehave coined: what principles of religion they in ringe, what ſcriptures they ſcoffingly ſhift and ſhake of. But I hauehave not the leaſure of performing thus much; yet can I not but briefely inſert one example at leaſt amongſt many of the deſperate boldnes of this impudent man.

Whereas Luke ſaith of the Antioclnans Paules hearers,Act. 13. 48.Acts 13:48 And they Beleeued, As Many as were Ordeined vntounto eternall life, he manifeſtly ſetteth downe who they were, and why they beleeued the Goſpell: to wit, They who were predeſtinate and ordeined by God in Chriſt before the foundation of the worlde vntounto faith, repentance, & life eternall. Herein there is a ioynt conſent of all the true profeſſou…es of Chriſtian religion. Chryſoſtome ſaith,Homil. 30. in Act. They beleeued who were before Ordained, that is, before Appointed by God.

But heare what this newe Prophet ſaith; They beleeued (ſaith he) who were ordained vntounto eternall life, that is, as many as followed and traced the order preſcribed by God, & were to be ſaued by him: or, as imbraced Gods ordination, …b…ied him, ſwarued not frō this his ordination, is others, were preſerued vntounto life eternall. Who ever ſawe a more ſhameleſſe man? p. 56Let him ſhew vsus in ſcripture that which he vaun…eth of his order: let him proue vntounto vsus, that to be ordeined: Ordinem, ſequi.vntounto life eternall is equiualēt & al one with that, to follow Gods preſcribed order. Firſt therefore 1of this forgeue he can pretend no colourable 2ſhew out of ſcripture. Next the vniuerſall conſent of all Interpreters both olde & newe convinceth 3him. Thirdly Luther himſelfe vnmaſketh his impudent face in his mother-tounge Tranſlation 4Fourthly the Scripture crieth out vntounto vsus▪ & telleth vsus, that they which beleeue are ſaid to be ordeined vntounto life eternall in Chriſt, not for obſeruing▪ Gods order, that is to ſay, the meanes directing vsus vntounto life, but for the eternall decree alone of God, I meane the predeſtination of the Elect vntounto ſaluation: and that they are not now ordeined of themſelues, but were from euerlaſting preordeined of God: ſo that this Gods ordination is precedent vntounto faith, and the other ſubordinate meanes of ſaluation both in reſpect of time, and in that it is their cauſe and they are the effects of this cauſe. For ſo the Apoſtle te…cheth Epheſ. 1. And Rom. 8. Whome he knewe before thoſe he predeſtinate; 1 Theſſ. 5. 9.1 Thess 5:9he meaneth God. And in an other place: God hath not appointed vsus vntounto wrath 5but to obtain… ſaluation &c. Fifthly they were ordeined vntounto life eternall as vntounto their end. Now the ordination of man vntounto his end iſſueth from God 6the creator, not from himſelfe the creature. Sixtly Paccius himſelfe ſaith that this order which man enſueth as preſcribed by God is to beleeue p. 57the Goſpell, and ſo to be ſaued. But if ſo, then through this forgerie the ſence of this place ſhall be on this manner: As many as were ordeined beleeued, that is forſooth, as many as beleeued, beeleeued. Then which iteration nothing can be deviſed more abſurde and fooliſh. To conclude, let vsus graunte & winke at the gloſſe, and let him tel vsus why (according to this opinion) ſome were ordeined, that is, ſome followed Gods order and good motions, other ſome followed it not. For this they did either of themſelues, or through the aſſiſtance of Gods ſpeciall grace: If of themſelues; then hence forth let him not deny the name of a Pelagian: If of God; then remaineth there yet an other queſtion, to wit, why God gaue grace vntounto ſome, and not vntounto other ſome; and eſcape he cannot, but that he muſt either tye grace vntounto mans will, as did Pelagius; or confeſſe Gods ſpeciall ordination, which is the truth wee labour for.