The Novelty of Popery Discovered, Appendix
AN APPENDIX To this Treatise Of the Noveltie of Poperie: Clearlie showing next, The antiquitie of the Protestant Religion.
HAving thus singled out Poperie, from the profession of true Christian Religion, as Chaffe from the Corne, or Popple rather from the good Wheat; and having showne the Noveltie thereof, as of a disease which hath overtaken a bodie, which was sound and healthfull at first, but lyke BABELL had neede of cure at last; it will not bee amisse to set downe the points of the true Christian Religion, which is that onlie Auncient, Catholicke, and Apostolicke Fayth, Which was once (sayeth S. IVDE) delyvered to the Saynctes, and which in all the positiue poyntes thereof, wee at this day contende for and professe, and wherein also our verie adversaries doe not dissent from vsus.
Which thing doeth serue, 1. to show the great advantage that wee hauehave of them heerein, to wit, that what are the positiue poynts of our Religion, therein they agree with vsus, and cannot say but the same is the trueth: but in all the former poyntes of Poperie, which they doe professe, wee justlie disagree from them, because of the proven Noveltie thereof, and disagreement from the Word of GOD. Next, this shall serue to answere two ordinarie and customable questions of theirs; to wit, 1. whereby they aske, where was our Religion befor Luther? and
2. what became of the soules of our fore-fathers, who dyed before the reformation?
First, then, this Catholicke antiquitie of our doctrine, wee shall proue, GOD willing, by the playne in…uction onelie of the positiue poyntes thereof, wherein (as is sayde) our verie Adversaries the, Romanists themselues, doe agree.
First, therefore, concerning the Scriptures, wee say, according to Scripture, that they are the sure and safe rule of fayth: and so sayeth Bellarmine Bell. l. 1. de verb… c. 2.with vsus: The Scripture is the rule of our fayth, most sure, and most safe, (sayeth hee.)
2. Wee say, that all doctrines of fayth and manners, which are simplie necessarie for all men,, are playnlie set downe in Scripture: and so doeth Bellarmine professe,Bell. l. 4. de verbo c. 11. § vltimo. that as this was the doctrine of Augustine▪ so it is true of the doctrines of fayth, (sayeth hee) which are simplie necessarie for all men to salvation.
3. Next to the word, to come to the Sacramentes, wee say, that Baptisme, and the LORD'S Supper, are the two proper Sacramentes, instituted by CHRIST vntounto our salvation:Bell. l. 2. de effect… sacr…. c. 24… and this Bellarmine also confesseth, saying, Of Baptisme, and the LORD'S Supper; there is no question at all.
4. Wee say, that in the Lords Supper, the bodie and blood of CHRIST is present, not onelie in a signe or figure, but truelie and reallie; yet spirituallie, and mysticallie:Bell. l. …. de Euchar. c. 20. §. 30. vegula▪ and so doeth Bellarmine confesse, as Bernard teacheth in his sermon of S. Martine, where hee sayeth, That in the Sacrament is ex…ibite vntounto vsus, the true substance of Christs flesh; but yet spirituallie, not carnallie (sayth he.)
5. From the word and Sacraments to come to the Church, we say that the Rocke whereon the same is built,Bell. l. 1. de Rom. pont. … ▪ 10. is CHRIST: and so granteth Bellarmine, saying, No man doubteth, but Christ is that Rocke.
6. As Hee is the Rocke and Foundation, wee say in lyke-manner, that Hee is the onelie Head and King of His Church: and so sayeth Bellarmine, Bell l. 2. de Rom. pont. c. 31.Onelie Christ is the head of all the Churches, and all others vnderunder Him are not heads nor Princes thereof.
7. As Hee is onelie King, so is Hee the high Priest thereof, whose righteousnesse and sufferinges, in our justification, is made ours; so that wee may offer vp the same vntounto the Father as ours, for the remission of our sinnes: and so sayeth Bellarmine, That Christ is called our righteousnesse,Bell. l. 2, de …ustif. …. 10. b…cause Hee hath satisfied the Father for vsus, and so gifteth vntounto vsus … satisfaction, (sayeth hee) and communicateth it to vsus, when Hee justifieth vsus, that it may bee called our satisfaction and righteousnesse: and this way it is not absurde for anie man to say, that Christs righteousnesse and merites are imputed to vsus, (sayeth hee) seeing they are so given and applyed to vsus, as if wee our selues had made satisfaction to GOD.
8, Wee say, that good workes are necessarie to salvation, as Bellarmine acknowledgeth,Bell. l. 4. de justif. c. 1. saying, Cal…in and Luther doe teach, That good workes are to bee done, and in some sort are necessarie, †Ephes. 2. 10.seeing they affirme, that it is not true fayth, which bringeth not foorth good workes: and so saye the Romanistes, jumping heerein with vsus.
9. Yet, notwithstanding that wee affirme them to bee necessarie, wee saye, That to obtayne salvation, it is the onelie safe way to put our whole confidence in the onelie merciemercy of GOD, and merites of CHRIST onelie: and so sayeth Bellarmine, For the vncertayntie of our owne righteousnesse,Bell. l. 5. de …ustif. c. 7. and danger of vaine glorie, (sayeth hee) it is safest to repose our whole confidence, in the onelie merciemercy and free favour of GOD.
10. Lyke-wyse, for religious worship, wee say, that the holie Trinitie is to bee so worshipped, and to GOD onelie wee should pray, as the authour and giver of all good thinges:Bell. l. 1. de S…nct. c. 20. and so sayeth Bellarmine, That this most divyne excellencie is to bee worshipped; and it is most evident, that GOD is to bee prayed vntounto, (sayeth hee) yea, GOD onelie, as the authour of all good giftes.
11. Wee say, that after this ly…e t…ere is Heaven prepared for the godlie who die in the LORD, and Hell fo the wicked who die not in the LORD:Bell. l. 1. de Purg. c. 12. §. resp ad li…eram▪ and so sayeth BELLARMINE, Calling the South, whereinto the tree is sayde to fall in ECCLESIASTES H…aven; and by the North, that Hell is vnderstood.
12. Last of all, in a word; wee belieue the holie Trinitie, and whole Articles of the Creede, which contayne the whole summe of the Christian fayth; so that heere by the Antiquitie of our doctrine and Religion, and in all the fore-named positiue poynts thereof may bee clea…lie seene, beside which what-so-ever doctrines of fayth, since hauehave beene vented and invented in Pope…ie, as the l…tter supersemination of Tares, is branded with that Apostolicall Anathema, and is to bee rejected.
Therefore, for our part, wee say with Vincentius Lyrinensis, Let that vessell of election (to wit, PAVLL) crye, and that teacher of the Nations, and that trumpet of the Apostles, that preacher of the World, and who had knowledge of the verie Heavens: Let him (I say) crye, and crye over and over agayne, and vntounto all men, and ever, and everie where let him by his letters proclayme, If anie man shall teach anie doctrine of fayth which is new, let him bee accursed.