Run from Rome, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Of the Authors that hauehave formerly hold the propoſition handled in this Treatiſe.
THere are not a few that looke more after the man, then after the matter, and inquire rather who is the writer, then what is written. Therefore leaſt the meanneſſe of my condition and abilities, ſhould bring ſome preiudice to the truth I ſearch for, giuegive me leaue I pray you in the firſt place to ſhew, that the point I intend by Gods gracious aſſiſtance to proue, is no new conceit or deuiſe of mine, but a matter aduiſedly reſolued of, and ſet down by more then one of the worthies of our church and nation.
Amongſt whom, the firſt in time and authoritie was that rare and pretious Iewel, Biſhop of Salisburie. They B. Iewel deſ. apol. paro …, cap, 22. diviſ. 1.hauehave no cauſe (ſaith he of the Papiſts) to complaine of our departing, and to call vsus againe to be fellowes and friends with them; If we ſhould content our ſelues to turne to the Pope, and to his errours, it ſhould be a very dangerous matter both to kindle Gods wrath againſt vsus, and to clogge and condomne our ſoules for euer.
And in another place he ſpeakes thus to the ſame purpoſe. As for vsus, we hauehave not fallen from the Biſhop of Rome cap. 20. dirtſ: 2.vponupon any matter of worldly reſpect: but ſo the caſe ſtood, that vnleſſe we left him, we could not come to Chriſt.
Dr. Reynolds, another ſhining light of the Vniuerſitie D. Renolds.of Oxford, ſhewes vsus the ſame truth in another maner; viz. in his verſes vponupon the third concluſion, handled in the Schooles Nouemb. 3. 1579.
If that ye ſeeke eternall life, ſee that you Rome forſake.
Of the ſame minde was Dr. Whitaker, a man for his learning, whether we reſpect reading or iudgement, knowne and approued of the Churches of Chriſt, eſpecially this of England. We ſay, (ſaith he) that the Church of Rome muſt be D. whitaker, de Eccleſ. cont. qu. 6 cap. 1.forſaken of all men that deſire to be ſaued. And a little after he addes, that There can be no ſaluation hoped for in the Church of Rome.
Laſtlie Mr. Perkins, in knowledge and zeale a worthy Scholler of ſo excellent a Maſter, treading in his footſteps concludes: that All thoſe that will be ſaued, muſt depart M. P…rlins Reformed Chath. n… the prolog ſed. Thus thenand ſeparate themſelues from the faith and religion of the preſent Church of Rome.
We hauehave ſeene the iudgement of theſe learned and reuerend Diuines, and therein the conſent of both the Vniuerſities Cambridge and Oxford; for their bookes, eſpecially the three laſt, were allowed for printing by the principall Doctors of the ſeuerall Vniuerſities then reſident in them; neither is it to be taken for the iudgement of the Vniuerſities onelyonly: but alſo of the whole Church: as appeareth euidently by the continuance of it from time to time, in the writings of theſe famous learned men ſucceſſiuely one after another. It was firſt propounded by that reuerend Father in defence of the Church of England, to iuſtifie our departure from that ſtrumpet of Babylon; diuers yeares after proclaimed openly in the publike Schooles by Dr. Reynolds; ratified afterwards by Dr. Whitaker in his publike lectures of Diuinitie; and laſt of all confirmed by Mr. Perkins: and by euerie one of theſe publiſhed in print, with the approbation of our Church and State.
And this (to ſay the truth) hath alwayes beene the iudgement and practiſe of the Churches of God in all Proteſtant Countries, euer ſince the laſt birth and infancy of reformation in this age, for the ſpace of more then an hundred yeares; for what elſe hath beene aymed at in ſo many writings and diſputations of Ptoteſtants, but the iuſtifiing of our depar…ure from the Synagogue of Rome; Not of a bodily departure (ſaith Mr. Perkins) in reſpect of cohabitation Peform chathol. in Prol gu….and preſence, but of a ſpiritūall ſeparation in reſpect of faith and religion. It cannot then reaſonly be denyed or doubted, but that our Church generally, holds ſeparation from the Church of Rome to be a matter of great conſequence, yea of abſolute neceſſitie: eſpecially if we remenber, that eueryevery Pariſh throughout the whole Land is enioyned to hauehave the Booke of Biſhop Iewel, with the reſt of his workes in their ſeuerall Churches, for all men to read, and that they were all new printed to that end.