SECT. 1. THAT CHRISTS CHVRCH VVAS BY the Predictions of the Prophets foretolde to become vni­uersall and to conuert with great increase the Kinges and Nations of the Gentiles.

AND for so much (most GRA­TIOVS SOVERAIGNE) as it hath bin the course of certaine our aduersaries (vnder the pre­tence of onely scripture (to vn­der take libertie of reiecting all our former confessed proofes drawen from the authoritie of Mir [...]cles, (though neuer so true & of Fathers though neuer so auncient) and so thereby in the end, ma­king them selues and euery of their vulgar followers, IudgesLuberius in libro de prin­cipijs christian. dogm. l. 6. c. 13. page 563. ant [...] med. saith. Omnes publicos Iudices) vt interpretando er­rare posse ostendimus, ita in iudicando errare posse asse­rimus; priuati Iudices sun [...] singuli fideles, hi etiam ha­bent potestatem iudicand [...] de doctrinis & interpretati­onibus. And page 573. paulo ante med. he fur­ther saith. Deus dedit cui. libet fideli non tantū spi­ritum intellige [...]di, sed [...] tiam spiritum discer [...]end [...] falsam doctrinam á vera. And Mr. Bilson in his true difference betweene Christian subiection and vnchristian rebellion. part. 2 page 353. saith: The people must discerne who teacheth right before they beleeue. and againe afterwardes, the people must be discerners and iudges of that which is taught. And the same power Iudicandi & deci­dendi &c. Of Iudgeing and deciding doctrine of religion, is no lesse fully giuen ad vnumquem­qué priuatum hominem to euery priuate man, by Brentius in Prologomenis contra Petrum. a Soto & in confessione Witebergica cap. de sacra scriptura. both of scripture, and of all interpreters: Finally to restraine all thinges to that onely framed sense of scripture, which they them seluesZanchius de sacra scriptura page 412. initio. saith: concerning interpreters: Eate­nus illorum interpretationes amplectamur, quatenus videmus allatas iuxta analogiam fidei, & ex. alijs erutas esse scripturis. And Mr. Whitaker de sacra scriptura: page 529 post med. saith of the vnlearned, debent illi alios se peritiores adire, Doctorum interpretum Commentarios consu­lere &c. sed videndum interim est ne nimium illis tribu [...]mus &c. Sed caute semper at (que) ita vt no­stram interim libertatem retineamus. And Mr. Carthwrite in mr. Whitegiftes defence &c. page 111. paulo post med. alloweth Caluines iudgement, yet with this cautell. So far (saith he) as we can esteeme, that, that which M. Caluine saith doth agree with the canonicall scriptures. vpon their conferring of places can collect for true. Plea­seth [Page 74] it your HIGHNES so much to afford vs your PRINCELY patience, as that we may (in further manifestation of the equitie of this our most humble Petition) yeeld to them though thus far for the time and thereupon (following thē in their owne course) briefly alledge from that confessed sence of scripture which euen them selues and their folowers do gene­rally a [...]knowledge, but two speciall points (amongst many other) which are most clearly auaileable to vs in this behalfe.

The first is concerning the Churches continuing Catholicke or vniuer [...]all after her f [...]rst increase and the predictions of the Prophetes affirming the same; to which purpose Esay foretellingSee the marginall notes of the English Bible 1576 in Esay 60. verse vlt. that the Chur [...]h should be miraculously mul [...]plied: saith.Esay 60, 22. a litle one shal-become as a thousande, and a small one as a stronge nation. wherto our Sauiours like saying agreeth:Marc. 4, 31. and see the marginall notes of the English Bible in Daniel 2. verse 45. and speaking ofSee the marginal notes of the English Bible of 1576 in Esay c. 2. verse 2. at the letter a. and ibidem at the letter c. the restauration of the Church of Christ and the enlargement thereof. Esay foretelleth likewise, that all Nations Esay. 2, 2. shall flowe to it: and yet further concer­ningSee in the English Bibles the contentes of the 60. chapter of Esay. the Gentiles coming to the Church in aboundance Esay. 60, 5. thou shalt see and shine, thy harte shalbe astonied and enlarged, because the multitude of the sea shalbe conuerted to thee: Esay. 60, 9. the Iles shall waite for the Esay 60 10, 11. & vide Psalm. 102, 15. & Esay. 62, 2. their Kinges shall minister to thee: and thy gates shalbe continually open, neither day nor night shall they be shutt, that men may bri g to thee the riches of the Gentils. And that their KINGES may be brought: Esay. 60, 16. Thou shalt sucke the milke of the Gentiles & the breastes of Kinges: Esay. 49, 23. and see the marginall notes of the Englishe Bi­ble of 1576 in Esa. 49, 23 Kinges shall be thy nursing Fathers & Queenes thy mothers: Psalm. 2, 8. I wil giue thee the heathen for thy inheritance, and the end of the earth for thy possession: In like manner it is saide in the person of the ChurchEsay 49, 20. The place is straite for me giue rowme that I may in­habit: And againe to the Church:Esay 54, 2, 3: And see the Contentes of the Englishe Bible vpon that Chapter. Enlarge the place of thy tents, spread out thy Curtaines of thy habitation for thou shalt increase on the right hand, and on the left, thy seede [Page 75] shall possesse the Gentiles and inhabit the desolate Cittie: And lastly it is foretoulde concerning the ChurchesEsay. 62, 6. watch-men: orSee the marginall notes of the english Bible in Esay 62, 6. Pastors thatEsay 62, 6. they shall not be silent or wanting, but dailyHieremie 33, 18, 21, 22. and that this is ment of Christes Church see in the Englishe Bible of 1576 the contentes of this chapter, and the mar­ginall notes ibidem in ver 16. multiplied to minister to him not with interrupted seasons, but continually,Esay 66, 21, 23. and that this is ment of the Pastors of Christs Church see the marginall notes of the said englishe Bible ibidem. euen from mouth to mouth, and from sab [...]th to saboth: And that albeit all other monarchies had end, (as the Assirians, Persians, Macedonians, and Romanes: yetDaniel. 2, 44. this King­dome should not be giuen ouer to an other people (or altered as they were:) But should stand for euer asEsay 60, 15, 16. an exter­nall glory and ioye, from generation to generation; and that the couenant (made of the premisses vnto Christes Church) shouldPsalm. 89, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. not be broken for any transgression committed by her children but should most assuredly be fulfilled:Hierom. 33, 20, 21, 25. referred to Christs Church by the contentes vpon that Chaper in the. Englishe Bible of Anno 1576. according to which confessed sense of the Catholike dispersion, & cōtinuance of Christs Church, her Kinges and Pastors. Occolampadius saith vpō IeremieOecolampadius in Hieremiam cap. 33. God speak [...]th here of the Eternitie of Christes kingdome &c. He shall haue Kinges and Priestes and that for euer, and not a fewe, but as the starres of heauen, &c. for their multitude: In so much as that graue and lear­ned man the L. Archbishope of Canterburie teach­eth like-wise thatMr. Whitgifte in his defence &c. pa. 465. the Church of Christ is dispersed through the whole worlde. and cannot nowe (at any time) be shut vp in one kingdome for that he tearmethMr. Whitgift vbi supra. an im­possibilitie: as also Mr. D. Whitaker saith of the fore alleaged scripturesMr. VVhitaker in his answere to Mr. VVil­liam Rainoldes in the preface pag. 37. ante medium, And in his booke contra Duraeum l. 7. page 472. he further saith, Quicquid de Ecclesia Propogatione amplitudine gloria, veteres prophetae praedixerunt, id perfactum esse Historia Luculentissime testatur, [...]ta vaticinijs Pro­phetarum, Ecclesiasticam historiam suffragari nulla Controuersia est. the promisses of God concerning the largenes and bewtie of his Church haue bene accomplished &c. with whome agreeth Mr. Henoche Clapham, saying,Mr. Henoch Clapham in his soueraigne remedie against schisme page 23 circa med The Church was to enlarge her tents and stretch her coardes vniuersally through the earth, for which cause it is called Catholicke.

THAT THE SAME VVAS NOT PERFOR­med by Protestants during either the first or second 300. yeares after Christ § 2

TO examine now the accomplishment of these predictions, we will for the more plaine vnder­standing thereof deuide the time of the Churches continuance into three seuerall stations orOf this diuision see the breife discourse of the Churches estate initio annexed to Crispinus his treatise of the state of the Church &c. Periods obserued and mencioned by our very aduersaries: The First which was from Christ till the Conuer­sion of Constantine our first Christian Emperour, (which amounteth vnto some 320. yeares:) The Se­cond from thence vntill the time of Bonifacius tertius Bishope of Rome Anno 607. (which wanted some thing of 300. yeares. And the Third from that time till Luthers first appearing, which was nine hun­d [...]eth yeares and aboue.

1 Concerning the First it is without question, that during all the time after Christ vntill Constantines conuersion, the true Church remained so vnder per­secution, as that the foresaide amplitude and glory, fore-toulde of her (concerning her greate increase of beleeuers and of Kinges and Queenes to serue her) was not as then fulfilled, to which purpose (if any question thereof were) the sayingsMr. Barlowe in his defence of the articles of the Protestants religion pa. 34. post med. saith, In the primatiue nonage of the Church this promise of Kinges allegeance there-vnto, was not so fully accomplished, bi­cause in those daies that pro­phesie of our Sauiour was rather verified, you shallbe brought before Kinges for my names sake, by them to be persecuted euen to death: the best of the Kinges for a longe time, reaching but Kinge Agrippa his in modico a slender inclination to religion. And see S. Austine ep. 48. And see Mr. D. Fulke in his treatise against Sta­pleton and Martial. page 51. of our learned aduersaries are very pregnante.

2 And for the Second it is like-wise euident that du­ring the 200. and odd yeares from Constantines raigne till the time of Boniface the third, there were fewe or rather almost no Kinges that then professed the Christian faith, the Emperours of the East and West onely excepted, and of those fewe, some re­uolted [Page 77] (as IulianSee Mr. Cowpers Chronic. fol. 128. b. & 129. a. the Apostata, & sondry other) were (as Mr. FulkeMr. Fulke in his answere to a Coun­terfaite Catholicke p. 15. fine. And in his reioinder to D. Bristowe pag. 375. obserueth) Arians as Con­stantius,Mr. Cowpers Chro­nic. vbi supra fol. 126. a. at Anno 340. ValensMr. Cowper vbi supra fol. 129. b. at Anno 368. & fol 131. a. at Anno 380. &c. And did for a greate parte of that smalle time, so greuously persecuteLuc. Osian­der in Epitom. cent. 4. pa. 255. 256. &c. and p. 449. 451. & cent. 5. pag. 425 432. fine. And centur. 6. p. 91. fine. And see further hereof Carion in Cronic. pag. 281. & 282. 283. 284. &c. the Catholicke professors, that the Protestant wri­ters doubt not toObiected by Mr. Fentō Preacher of Graies Inne in his booke against Alablaster the 4. motiue p. 21. fine. & 22. initio. obiect the persecution and pan­cetie of Christians in those very times as a stronge argument against the Churches vniuersalitie: And therefore for such other Princes of those times, as were neither Apostataes nor Arians, although they had bene for number so many, and had also for cur­rent of ages so long continued as were aunswerable to fulfill the saide predictions of the Protestants, (as it is most cleare by the premisses that they neither were, nor in so short a season possiblie coulde be) it is yet at the least questionable that they were in re­ligion not Protestants but Catholickes, whereof euen for the first and best of them namely Constan­tine our first Christian Emperour and the Church in that age (the example whereof. your MAIESTIEIn the summe of the conference before his MAIESTIE had with the Bishopes and other of his Clergie &c. pag. 69. post med. not vnworthely seemeth to affect) sondry (and those not obscure) probabilities are remaining and confessed.

THAT CONSTANTINE OVR FIRST Christian Emperour was not of the Protestants but of the Catholicke Faith. § 3.

FOR it is euident that ConstantineEuseb. de vita Con­stantini l. 3. c. 47. erected Tē ­ples in memorie of Martirs Euseb. ibidem l. 4. c. 58. 59. dedicated a most sump­tuouse Church in memorie of the Apostles. Euseb. ibidem l. 4. c. 60. Prouided his Sepulcher there to the end that after his death he might he made partaker of the praiers there offered. Centur. Magdeburg centur. 4. col. 452. line 30. He celebrated the dedication of the Temple with a yeerely festiuall day. He Ibidem cent. 4. col. 497. line 50. caused Churches new builded to be consecrated, for ser­uice [Page 78] therein to be celebrated, in so much asZozomen hist. l. 1. c. 8. versus finem. He carried about with him a portable Tabernacle or Church, and Priestes and Deacons attendi [...]g it for celebration of the diuine Misteries. Centur. 4. col. 497 line. 48. & col. 410. li. 7. He had lightes in the Church in the day time. Hierom contra Vi­gilantium ante med. saith, Constantinus Imperator san­ctas Reliquias Andreae Lu [...]ae & Timothei transtulit Con­stantinopol in apud quas dae­mones rugiunt. He translated to Constantinople the holy Reliques of St. Andrew, Luke, and Timothie. Cent. 4. col. 457. line 58. & col. 458. vnder him in that age were Pilgrimages. Cent. 4. col. 704. line 11, 21. In his time it was decreed by Councell that Priestes might not marrie. Cent. 4. col. 467. line 10. & Euseb. de vita Constantini l. 4. c. 28. & Zozomen hist. l. 1. c. 9. He honoured sacred Virgins professing perpetuall chastitie. Cent. 4. col. 1294. line 50. 51. Vnder him were Monckes throughout Siria, Palestine, Bithinia, and the other places of Asia. Cent. 4. col. 1306. line 19. 20. Also throughout Africa. andSozomen hist. l. 1. c. 13. initio. He greatly reuerenced Anthonie the Moncke whose religi­ouse and austere life Protestants termeOsiander in Epi­tom. cent. 4. c. 2. p. 100. superstiti­ouse. Euseb. de vita Con­stantini l. 3. c. 2. He signed him selfe with the signe [...]f the Crosse. Zozomen hist. l. 1. c. 4. & 8. prope finem. And Euseb. in orat. de Laudi [...]u [...] Constantini ante med. saith, Imperator triumphale signum honorat: And Prudentius in apotheosi doth ac­cordingly affirme this vsage in the auncient Emperours, saying thereof Vexillum (que) Cruci [...] summus dominator adorat. And Szegedinus in his speculum pontificū pag. 229. saith, Crux hono­rari capit Constantini tempore. Honoured the same signe. Had affianceEuseb. de vita constantini l. 2 c. 7. and successe of victorie in the virtue thereof. andEuseb. ibid. l. 1. c. 25. & l. 2. c. 3. & l. 3. c. 48. erected it publickly He Zozomen hist. l. 1. c. 9. post med. ordayned that the decrees of Councels should be kepte firme and inui [...]lable. Euseb. vbi supra l. 3. c. 10. fine. And Theodoret hist. l 1. c. 7. circa med. And the Centurie writers cent. 4. col. 460. line 31. He would not sitt downe at the Councell of Nyce till the Bishopes had therto giuen him their assent. He Ambrose epist. 32. And Rufinus hist. l. 10 c. 2. And see this fully confessed and reported by Crispinus in his dis­course of the state of the Church pa. 99. prope finem: where he thus writeth thereof. Con­stantine said, God hath ordained you B shopes and hath giuen you power to iudge of your s [...]lues. By meanes whereof we yeelde our selues to your Iudgement, men may not Iudge you but God alone: And [...]n Zozomen hist. l. 1. c. 16. Constantine saith, Mihi vero non est fas cum homo sim, Eiusmod [...] tausaris cognitionem arrogare. would not vndertake the iudgement of Churche cau­ses but committed the same ouer to Bishoppes: Cent. 4. col. 653. line 26. 27. He reproo­ued A [...]esius the N [...]ua [...]ian for denying the power giuen Priests to remitt sinne. Centur. 4. col. 454. line 26. & Euseb. de vita. Consian. l. 4. c. 71. After his death praier was made for his soule: andEuseb. vbi supra. the mistical [...] sacrifice offered. And as con­cerning the Churches doctrine of that age, it was so [Page 79] euidently our now professed Catholicke faith, that to omitt all other perticuler proofe, and what is by our other aduersaries confessedIn the breefe dis­course of the Churches estate: &c. Annexed to Crispi­nus his booke of the estate of the Church. it is affirmed how that aboute the e [...]l [...] of this period (which continu­ed vntill Constantine) the loue of solitude & Monc­kerie, the abstinence frō ma­riage & from certain meates on perticuler daies, many feastes and other seedes of su­perstition after succeeding tooke a marueilouse roote, so the Commencement of praiers for the dead and sacrifice of the Masse, did discouer them selues: &c. in this behalfe, the centurie writers of Magdeburge, (whose writinges are by our English Protestants affirmed to beMr. D. Hill in his defence of the article, Christ descended in to hell: fol. 23. b. post med. worthie of immortall memorie do in their fourth Centurie (by thē dedicated to our late Souraigne Lady Queene Eliza­beth) professe toCol. 278. line 16. sett downe the peculier supposed errors of the doctor of those times, and do charge them in perticuler (by collection from their owne writings) withCent. 4. col. 291. freewill: Cent. 4. col. 292. Iustification by workes: Cent. 4. col 293. Meritt of workes: Cent. 4. col. 425. l. 54. & col. 426. line 10. & col. 294. Confession of Sinnes: and Penance: withCent. 4. col. 425. line 60. absolution of such as had confessed. with affirmingCent. 4. col. 1243 line 33. And see Caluin in institut l. 4. c. 19. sect. 17. Pe­nance to be the second table after shipwracke. & error inCent. 4. col. 231. line 12 & col. 294. line 1. the doctrine of penance: withCent. 4. col. 295. line 58. & col. 296. 297. Inuocation af Saintes, Cent. 4. col. 304. line 42. 43. &c. Purgatorie, Cent. 4. col. 409. line 15. 25. Aultars, Cent. 4. col. 295. line 3. & 40. & col. 985. line 30. Transubstantiation, Cent. 4. col. 456. 457. & 482. line 44. & col. 1250. line 45. translation of Saintes R [...]lickes: and their worship. Cent. 4. col. 457. line 58. & col. 458. line 1. 2. 3. Pilgrimage to holy places. Cent. 4. col. 470. line 20. Heremites, Cent. 4. col 300. line 39. & col. 301. line 46. & col. 464 465. Monckes, theirCent. 4. col. 464. line 59. & col. 301. line 28. 29. &c. voluntarie pouertie: theirCent. 4. col. 471. l. 23. & col. 474. l. 10. 11. 22. 23. abstine ce from certain meate, & other austeritie of life: theirCent. 4. col 472. l 20. Cowle, girdle, and other religiouse habites: their vndoubted and greatCent. 4. col. 493. l. 18. Miracles Cent. 4. col. 301. l. 1. 2. 3. 54. & col. 706. l. 57. & col. 847. line 50. the Vowed chastitie of Virgins Cent. 4. col. 467. l. 8. 9. &c. Monasteries of vowed Vi [...]gins. Cent. 4. col. 495. l. 18. Rising in the night to praier. also [Page 80] also withCent. 4. col. 302. line 9. 10. 14. &c. And col. 495. line 30.31. And Mr. Fulke against Heskens San­ders &c. pag. 657. circa med. Affirmeth that Rufinus and Cirill had a superstitiouse estimation of the signe of the Crosse: & that also by the reporte of Paulinus the Crosse was by the Bishope of Hie­rusalem brought forth at Easter (yearely) to be worshipped of the people: And Danaeus in prime par­tis altera parte, ad Bellarminum 5. controu. respons. pag. 1415. initio. Affirmeth that Paulinus Cirrill and sondry other Fathers were plainely superstitiouse & blinded with this enchauntment of the Crosses adoration. attributing to much the signe of the Crosse: withCent. 4. col. 417. 418. 419. Abrenunciation, ANNOILING, threefould Immersion. And sondry other like Ceremonies vsed in Baptisme: withCent. 4. col. 415. line 25. Baptisme of laye persons in case of ne­cessitie: withCent. 4. col. 1160. line 53. & col. 1 [...]43. line 39. Remission of sinnes (not signified but) giuen in Baptisme: withCent. 4. col. 415. line 44. Consecration of the water of Baptisme, with teaching thatCent. 4. col 303. line 18. & col. 704. line 11, 21. & col. 1293. line 5. & 17. Priestes might not marrie: thatCent. 4. col. 303. line 10. & col. 847. line 47. & col. 1293. line 25. Bigamus (or he that hath bene twise married) may not be Priest: also with Consecration of religiouse Cent. 4. col. 874. line. 11. women: and their religiouse habite: withCent. 4. col. 873. fine & col. 874. initio. Deacons, Subdeacons, Acolites, Exorcistes, Readers, Dorekeepers: and the speciall rites vsed in making of them. withCent. 4. col. 497. line 50. Sumptuouse Church [...]s consecrated, and superstitious insolencie in celebration. Of the Mass [...] appointed to be said in no places but such as were hall [...]wed by a Bish ppe: with affirmingeCent. 4. col. 555. line 30. & col. 557. l. 45. & col. 558. line 54. & 1250. line 2. the Church to be built vpon Peter. and f [...]rther teachingCentur. 4. col 551. l. 31. & col. 556. line 15. & 1074. line 13. Peters [...]macie. And lastly euen with sondry no­ted examples ofCentur. 4. col. 549. line 39. & col. 550. line 26. & col. 551. line 36. & col. 529. li [...]e 20. Primacie in the Bishope of Rome. In so much as certaine Protestants doubt not to deale plainely with vs herein, affirming that Helene mother to Constantine wasCentur. 4. col. 458 line 5. a superstitiouse woman: and the vi­sible Church in his timeMr. Iohn Nappeir vpon the reuel [...]tions pag. 68. post medium. Antichristian, and papi­sticall. Whereu [...]on we doubt not in behalfe of our religion to say now to our aduersaries. as did your MAIESTIE (most religiously) to the Puritanes in defence of the Crosse in Baptisme vsed in Constan­tines time,In the summe of the Conference before his MAIESTIE had with the Bishopes and other of his Clergie page 69. post med. Is it now comen to that passe, that we shall appeach Constantine of superstition, if then it were vsed, I see no reason, but that still we may continue it. So cleare it is by the premisses, that the foresaide predictions of the Prophetes were not accomplished by the Church which continued the 300 yeares next after Constan­tine, and that though we should admitt they were, it was that Church not protestant but Catholicke.

THAT AFTER THE SECOND 300. yeares after Christ the foresaid predictions were not performed by the Protestants Church and were accomplished by the Catholicke Church. Sect. 4.

NOvv for the third, namely the wholle residue of time frō Bonifacius the third till Luther which conteine the last 100. yeares in which (for that time) the predictions of the Prophetes concerninge the Churches increase, and continuance of Kinges and Pastors, were most euidently fulfilled: that the same were not yet during that time fulfilled, (otherwise then in and by ourThe centurie writers mention the Conuersion of sondrie Nations wrought since the time of Gregory the first, and Boniface the third by our Catholicke Romane Church: as of Germanie (cent. 8. c. 2 col. 20.) Of the Vandalls (cent 9. c. 2. col. 15.) Of the Bulgarians, Sclauonians, Polonians, the Danes, and Mo­rauianes. (cent. 9. c. 2. col. 18.) and of sondry Kings and Kingdomes (cent. 10. c. 2. col. 18, & 19.) and of a greate parte of Hungarie (centur. 11. c. 2. col. 27.) and of the Norueigians (centur. 12.) As also the Protestant writer Osiander in his Epitomes hist. Ecclesiasticae Centuriae. 9.10.11.12.13.14. & 15. mencioneth the like Conuersion of sondry Nations performed by our Catho­licke Church since the times of Gregorie and Boniface. As namely of the Danes page 16. initio & 94. fine. the Morauians. (p. 16. fine.) the Polonians: (p. 36. circa med.) the Sclauoniās. (p. 36. circa med: & 16. post med.) the Bulgares: (p. 36. post med.) the Hunnes. (p. 37. initio.) the Normanes: (pag. 72. post med.) the Bohemianes: (pag. 77: fine) the Suecians: (pa. 21. circa med. & 90. post medium.) The Noruegianes: Liuonians, and Saxones: (pag. 86. circa medium.) Tee Vagarians pag. 104. circa med. The Rugij Thuscanes pag. 99. post med. of Scandia (p. 111. circa med.) Maior [...]a (p. 341. circa med.) of Tunes in Africa: (p. 377. fine.) & of sundry other Nations: (p. 342. ante med. Whereunto might be added sondry other like testimonies mencioned by Osiander in his Epitome cent. 7. pa. 73. & 168. & cent. 8. pa. 48. 112. 121. & 127. and the like knowne conuersion of sondry Nations wrought in this age in the East In­dies, the VVest Indies and Africa confessed by our aduersarie Simon Lithus in respons. Altera ad Alterā gretsert apol [...]giam p. 331. where he saith, Iesuitarum seges &c. paucorum annorum spacio &c. non contenta europae finibus, Asiam, Aphricam, Americam suis idolis compleuit. A thing so euidently performed only by our Catholicke Church, that Mr. VVintaker answering ther­unto (l. de Ecclesia contra Bellarminum p. 336. ante med. saith, Respondes illas Conuersiones tam multarum gentium post tempora Gregorij, de quibus hic Bellarminus loquitur non puras & integras fuisse, sed corrupta [...]: And Danaeus in respons. ad disput. Bellarmini part. 1. pa. 780. fine, answe­reth thereto in like manner saying, Propogatio autem illa quam Gregorius primus, Conon, Zacha [...]s & al [...] Gr [...]gori [...] secerunt s [...]it i [...]riatio meretricis m [...]n facta, de qua est apoc. 17. versi [...]. 4. & 18. vers [...]. 3. As concerning examples to be giuen of Protestants cōuerting he [...]thē Nati­ons, we finde one only endeuour of the Caluinists l [...]boring to preach to the Indians, but their labour tooke no effect, as is confessed by their Francis [...] G [...]narum in s [...]culo verae Eccle­siae page 161. fine. & 168. post med. And see further thereof Villagag. con. Caluin. and Episto­lae Iudicae. Catholicke Church) is in it selfe so certaine, and withall so euidently confessed by our learned aduersaries, as that we will not seeke for other proofe therof.

To this end one of them affirmeth that Anno See Symon de Voyon his discourse vpō the Catal­log. of Doctors &c. in the epistle there to the reader post medium. 605. when Pope Boniface was Stalled in his Papall throne, then falsehood got the victorie &c. then was the wholle world ouerwhelmed in the dregges of Antichristian filthines, abho­minable superstitions, and traditions of the Pope. Then was that vniuersall apostasie from the saith foretould by Paule. To this end likewise saith Mr, Parkins:Mr. Parkins in his expositiō vpon the Creed page 400. We say that before the daies of Luther for many hundreth yeeres an vniuersall apostasie ouerspred the wholle face of the earth, and that our Church was not then visible to the world: and thatMr. Parkins vbi su­pra page 370. during the space of nine hundredth yeeres the popish here­sie hath spred it selfe ouer the wholle earth: In so much that wheras it isHeretofore tract. 2 c. 2. sect. 2. & 3. heretofore confessed as euident, that the foresaide predictions of the Prophetes concer­ning the conuersion of so many foretould Kings and kingdomes of the Gentiles, neither were nor could be fulfilled during the 600. yeeres next after Christ & before Boniface the third. And where also we haue giuen perticularSee this heretofore in the begining of this se­ction, in the margent at this marke. *) instance of the more euident and cleare accomplishment therof begunne afterwardes and continued at & after the foresaid times of Gre­gorie and Boniface, with most plentifull and answe­rable successe in so many Kingdomes before menti­oned. Our aduersaries are not now abashed,) an opi­nion most dreadfull to be heard, or thought of) that where the foresaid predictions of the Prophets take their chiefest begining encrease and continuance in regarde of the Churches answerable accomplished enlargement, they doubt not euen then and there to place the very contrarie defection of Antichrist. Mr. Whittaker to that end (is before) affirmingeSee Mr. Whitaker alleaged ibidem. the Conuersion of so many Nations after the times of Gregorie [Page 83] to haue bene not pure but corrupte: Daneus also ter­ming it in [...]briatio meretricis mundo facta de qua est Apoc. 17, vers. 4. & 18.See Danaeus his wordes alleaged ibidem. Turninge so most euidently the Churches most gloriouse foretould enlargement by the answerable cōuersion of so many heathen Kings and kingdomes fulfilled but since the times of Gre­gorie and Boniface into their pretendedSee before in this Section at. n. o. p. vniuer­sall Apostasie wrought by Antichrist. Hieremie 2, 12. O ye Heauens be astonied at this: Be afraid and vtterly confounded. Are they Christians who dare thus affirme the Churches foretoulde enlargement to be Antichristian? Is this the end or issue of our aduersaries DoctrineMath. 13, 9. He that hath eares to heare, let him heare. But to omitt the like further testimonie herein of Mr. D. Fulke:Mr. D. Fulke in his treatise against Stapelton & Martial p. 25. paulo post med. acknowledgeth that Some (Protestants) haue written that the Pope hath blinded the worlde these ma­ny hundreth yeares, some say a 1000. yeares, some 1200 some 900. &c. Mr. Iohn Napeire affirmeth yet more fully both concer­ning this time and the other former 300. yeares next after Constantine, thatMr. Napeire in his treatise vpon the reuelations pa. 43. versus finem. the Popes kingdome hath had power ouer all Christians from the time of Pope Siluester and the Emperour Constantine for these 1260. yeares: and thatMr. Napeire vbi supra p. 145. colum. 3. fine. From the time of Constantine till these our daies euen 1260. yeares, the Pope and his Clergie hath possessed the out-ward vi­sible Church of Christians Mr. Napeire vbi supra pa. 68. versus finem. Reigning vniuersally and with­out any d [...]bateable contradiction 1260. yeares: Ibidem p. 191. initio. Gods true Church most certainely abiding so long Latent andIbi­dem pag. 161. col. 3 circa med. & pa. 156. ante med. & 237. paulo post med. & 23. fine. inui­sible: with whome agreeth M. Brocard:Brocarde vpon the reuelations fol. 110. a. & fol. 123. b. And Mr. Napeire doubteth not to proceede yet much further, affirming that alsoNapeire vbi supra p. 191. initio. during euen the second and 3. ages (after Christ) the true Temple of God and l [...]ght of the ghospell was obscured by the Romane Antichrist him-selfe: But Seba­stianus Francus reacheth the very point, and doubteth not to comprehend all the foresaide ages since the Apostles times, affirming that, Statim post Apostolos &c. Seba­stianus Francus in Epistola de Abrogandis in vniuersum omnibus statutis Ecclesiasti­cis. And Mr. Fulke in his aunswere to a Counter­faite Catholicke pag. 35. post medium saith, The true Church decaied imediately after the Apostles times. Presently after the Apostles time, all things were turned vpside downe &c. And that f [...]r [...]ertaine through the worke of Antichrist: the externall Church togither with the faith and sacraments vanished awaie presently after the Apostles de­parture, and that for th [...]s [...] thousand foure hundreth yeares the [Page 84] Church hath bene no where externall and visible: So far hath the Protestants Church hitherto bene (euen by their owne testimonies) from fulfilling the foresaide fore­toulde Conuersion, of so many KINGES and king­domes of the Gentiles.

THAT THE KNOWEN DEFECT THEROF in the Protestants Church aduantageth the Iewes against them, made Sebastian Castalio doubtfull of his faith and Dauid Georgean Apostata. §. 5.

THESE thinges (most Gratious SOVERAIGNE) being thus explained and confessed, we do here as now insist, and most humblie appeale vnto your MAIESTIES Learned and equall iudgement betweene our aduersaries and vs concerning the ac­complishment of the foresaid predictions, whether that the same may be said to haue bene hitherto per­formed by our Catholike or their Protestant Church Here haue we often knocked at the dores of theire hartes, demaunding but with what probabilitie they can (before Luthers time) make good that which the scriptures foretell (as Oecolampadius and them selues vnderstand) concerning the Oecolampadius al­leageth before Tract. 2. Sect. 1. letter q. eternitie of Christs Kingdome, & the multitude of Kings to serue it: and which be those many Kinges and Kingdomes of the Gen­tiles which their Church hath in all that meane time accordingly conuerted from heathenishe Paganisme to the faith of Christ, or how can their Church but be said (accordingly as the scripturesThe glorie of this last house shalbe greater then the first Aggeus 2, 10. the de­solate hath more Children then the married wife (Esay 54, 1. & Galat. 4, 27. He is mediator of a better testamēt which is established vpon better promisses (haebr. 8, 6.) and Oeco­lampadiusOecolampadius in Esay c. 2. vers. 2. saith, Greate is the dignitie of the Christian Church aboue the sinagoge of the Iewes, in that it shalbe most populouse, and of all Nations sondry shall Ioyne them-selues vnto it abundantly. from them teach, that the true Church ought to excell the Sinagogue of the Iewes: but so much as since the coming of the Messias (which was the ap­pointed time of the Sinagoges decay and the Christi­ans Churches increase) considering that it is hereto­fore [Page 85] fullySee heretofore tract 2. c. 1. sect. 4. confessed, and hereafterSee hereafter tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 2. 3. 4. 5. 7. 10. further proued, that for the thousand yeares last before Lu­ther, their Church hath continued vnknowen Latente and inuisible &c. whereas on the other parte it appea­reth (by sufficient authoritie of histories in all times) that the Iewes during all those ages, and euer since Christes time, haue had theire Sinagogues (though vnder some kind of restraint) yet dispersed knowen Peter Martir in his common places in English part. 2. pag. 599. b. initio saith hereof. The Iewes as yet continew, and are kept in so greate aduer­sities, in so diueres and gree­uouse captiuitie and disper­sion, they houlde still their religion, doubtles no aunciēt Troians, Lombards, Hunnes or Vandalles, haue so helde still their owne &c. & could shew theire originall and hi­story set forth in most true writting, and being euery where dispersed as they were coulde neuertheles keepe their owne ordinances which for so much as it contineweth a­mong the Iewes, is vndoub­tedly a singuler worke of God &c. If now then Godes worke be such in the dis­persed & reprobate Iewes afrer the time of their Si­nagoges decay, shall it not much the rather bee more Gloriouse in his Church of the new testa­ment, which according to Paule haebr. 8, 6. Is established in better promises? Then euer was the other of the Iewes euer before the dissolu­tion and end thereof? And see Peter Martir vbi supra pa. 328. b. fine & 329. a initio. & visible in the most notable prouinces of the world, as Greece, Italy, Spaine, France, Germanie, England, &c. And therfore here also againe we do submit to your MAIESTIES learned iudgement, whether we or they be the men, that can against the obiections in this kind of the doubtfull and misbeleeuing Iewes, maintaine that before Luthers time, the foresaid pre­dictions of their Prophetes haue bene fulfilled, and so consequently that our Sauiour is the true Messias, which falleth necessarily into great daunger of fur­ther doubt with them, if so many of their Prophecies as went of the Messias and his Church, haue for so many ages before Luther bene lefte vnaccomplished.

Neither may the scandall or scruple hence arising be a stumbling blocke onely to the Iewes, but such as hath also distracted certaine of our learned aduersa­ries: To alleage some few examples therof (and with­all to omitt the straites and laborinthes into which certaine principall ProtestantCaluin in Daniell c. 2. vers. 44. and Luther tom. 7. printed at Witteberg Anno 1557 lib. de Iudaeis &c. writers haue bene driuen in their disputation had of this matter against the Iewes) Sebastian Castalio professor at BasillOsiander in Epitom. histor. Eccles. cent. 16. pa, 753. initio cal­leth him, Sebastianus castalio vir apprime doctus, Caluinista tamen: Linguarum peritissimus &c. And Pantalion in his Chronographia p. 125. placeth him there in his catalog of the Fathers and lightes of the Church, saying further that for such, Guilielmus Farellus, Petrus Viretus & Se­bastian Castalio agnoscuntur a [Page 86] very learned Caluinist, and highlyCastalio cōmended by D. Humfrey de rat. interpret. l. 1. pa. 62. 63. and 189. And by Gesnerus in bibliotheca Sebastiā Ca­stall: And by Fridericus Furius alleadged in Sebast. Castal. defens. suarum tran­slat. pag. 236. commended by D. Humfrey and others,) hauing recited sondry of the foresaid Prophecies concerning the conuersion of Kinges, and the Churches foresaide happie estate and continuance, and looking to the accomplishmēt thereof, writeth thus perplexedly thereof to our late Soueraigne Lord King Edward the sixte.Sebastiā Castalio in his preface of the greate Lattin Bible dedicated to Kinge Edward the sixte saith, Equidem aut haec fu­tura fatendum est, aut tam fuisse, aut Deus accusandus mendacij: quod si quis fuisse dicit, quaeram ex eo quando fuerint, si dicet tempore A­postolorum, quaeram cur nec vndiqua (que) perfecta fuerit, & tam cito Exoleuerit dei cognitio ac pietas, que & aeterna & marinis vndi [...] a­bundantior fuerat promisse. Verely we must confesse either that these thinges shall be performed hereafter, or haue bene already, or that God is to be accused of lying: If any man answere that they haue bene performed, I will demaund of him when? If he say in the Apostles time, I will demaund how it chaunceth, that neither then the know­ledge of God was alt [...]gither perfect, and after in so short space vanished away which was promised to be aeternall and more aboundant then the floodes of the sea? So plainely doth he more then insinuate this perilous scruple, (and which is most dangerous) withall leaueth the same not ex­plained or answered but perplexed and doubtfull, saying yet further thereof,Castalio vbi supra saith Quo magis libr [...]s sacr [...] cō ­sidero, eo minus hactenus praestitum video vtcun (que) [...]ra [...]la [...]lla intelligas. the more I do peruse the scriptur [...]s, the lesse do I finde the same performed howsoeuer you vnderstand the said Prophecies. But much more greeuous is the example hereof in Dauid George the hollander, who for many yeeres continued at Basill professing there the Protestants religion, and by them well este­med of till in the end he became a most blasphemous Apostata: and affirming our Sauiour to be a Seducer, drew secretly many to his opinion, the principall motiue of his reuolt, being, that:Historia Georgij Da­uidis printed at Antwerpe 1568. in Octauo the Di­uines of Basill published his historie. Si Christi & Apostolorum doctrina vera & perfecta fuisset &c. If the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles had bene true & per­f [...]t, the Church which they planted &c. sh [...]uld haue conti­nued &c. But now it is manifest that Antichrist hath subuer­ted the doctrine of the Apos [...]l [...]s. and the Churche by them be­gunne, as is euident in the papacie, th [...]rfore the doctrine of the Apostles was false and imperfect. Thus far that wretched Apostata.

By which two foresaid examples of Castalio and [Page 87] Dauid Ge [...]rge, and other the premisses is fully discoue­red not onely the not fulfilling of the foresaid Pre­dictions in the Protestants Church, but also the dan­gerous sequell which thence ensueth against theire wholle Church and religion in generall.

A CONFVTATION OF THE PROTE­stants obiections and answeres concerning their Churches not accomplishment of the said predictions. Sect. 6.

AND we may not here dissemble but referre like wise vnto your MAIESTIES graue iudgmēt, the colours, rather then answers wherwith certaine our aduersaries do (in these straites) seeke to vphold them selues and their Church,

1 First some woulde enforce that the vniuersalitie which is foretould of the Church, was to be accom­plished but afterThe Author of the booke entituled Antichri­stus siue Prognostica finis mundi pag. 12. fine saith, spiritus qui annunciat futu­ra non operatur nisi eunte E­uangelio, quod sub finem ex confesso Lutherus primus in­uexit: And pag. 13. post medium. he further saith, Non manifestatur autē per­seudoprophetarum surrectio: nisi Euangelio: quod inde a primatiuo Apostolorum E­uangelio ante Lutherum, vt diximus nunquam iuit, ne quis autem Hussiticum Euangelium pertinere huc putet, id prohibet quod Christus il­lud Euangelium edicit quod sub finem per vniuersum or­bem esset iturum: porro Hus­siticum Euangelium Bohemis tantum venit, signo ergo esse non potest, nam cōmune orbis Euangeliū signo esse voluit, non illud vnius gentis: Lutheri Euangelium per orbem volat tam voce, tam praelo. Luthers ghospell preached which long intermission til Luthers time, as it implieth a manifest breach of Gods foresaidHereof see heretofore Tract. 2. c. 1. Sect. 1. l. 0. Couenante: which foresheweth and assureth the Churches increase and prosperouse continuance thereof, and is directly a­gainst the opinion of the most learnedMr. Whi­taker in his booke Contra Duraeum l. 7. pag. 472. saith, Quicquid de Ecclesiae propagatione, am­plitudine, gloria veteres Prophetae praedixerunt, id perfectū esse historia Luculentissime testatur &c. Prote­stants who affirme that the foresaid predictions haue bene heretofore performed. And is also other-wise not answerable to the euent since Luthers time, for not so much as any one King or Kingdome of the Gentills is yet hitherto conuerted from paganisme by Luther or any of his followers: So likewise Chri­stian hartes may hardly endure to thinke that we [Page 88] haue for so many ages before Luther, wanted wea­pons in this behalfe against the Iewes, or that God hath during the youth & middle time of his Church suspended his foresaid promises of her happie con­uersion of Kinges and Nations to serue her, and is but now to fulfill the same in herIn hac mundi senecta post tenebras lucem Euange­lij exorir: & pr [...]lucere voluit Deus. So say the Prote­stant Diuines apud Osi­andrum Centur. 16. page 872. post medium. declining and de­crepit age.

2 Secondly others in steed of answere doe obiect that the Apostle foretelleth2. Thess. 2, 3. a falling away: In discharg wherof it is manifest, first that there is nothing in this place to prooue that the said falling away should continue for so many hundred yeares as are before pre­tended: Secondly we say that this falling away is (as the Fathers vnderstand) not of the Church, whereofGloriosa dicta sunt de te Ciuitas Dei. psalm. 86, 3. glorious thinges are foretould, but ofAmbros. in hunc locum. & Tertul. de resurrect. carnis. & Aug. de ciuit. dei l. 20. c. 19. & Hierom. qu. 11. ad alga­siam. the Romaine Empire, which did then2. Thess. 2, 7. hould or florish, and yet in the end mustSee Dresserus in mil lenar 5. pa. 92. fine & 93. initio. fall away, and that not in part. but as the texte there saith, must2. Thess. 2, 7. be taken away: which to referre to the Church, were as Mr. Witaker him selfe confessethMr. Whitaker against Mr. William Ray­noldes in his aunswere to the preface pag. 33. saith: We beleeue that Christes Church shall neuer faile, & we account it a prophane he­resie to teach that Christes Catholicke Church hath p [...]ri­shed from the earth at any time, for this assertion s [...]a­keth the foundation of all faith: a prophane heresie.

3 Thirdly they do furthermore yet (in lieu of an­swere) obiect with Mr. D. Fulke, that S. Iohn fore­telleth that (by reason of Antichrists persecutionReuelat. 12, 6. obiected thus by Mr. Fulke in his answere to a Counterfaite Catholicke pa. 16. ante medium. the woman must flee into wildernes there to remaine a long sea­son. Whereunto we likewise say, first that the same scripture witnesseth thatRenelat. 20, 2, 3. the olde Serpent Satan was bound for a thousand yeares that he should no more deceiue the Nations till the thousand yeeres were ended: and not loosed Reuelat. 20, 7. Mr. Willet in his Sinopsis pa. 160. post med. thinketh these 1000. yeares to haue ended Anno Do [...]ni 1294. Mr. Foxe in apoc. c. 11. pag. 245. circa medium, thinketh then to haue ended Anno Domini 1300. And vide ibidem pa. 346. fine & 347 fine And see Hospianus in historia sacramentaria l. 4. c. 2. p. 295. ante med. & in Epist dedica­toria antemed. And Bullenger vpon the Apo [...]lipps s [...]rm. 87. fol. 267. b. fine. Affirmeth hereupon that the g [...]spell was preached not [...]n [...]r-m [...]ker, but most manifest, not short & pin­ [...]ed, [...]at p [...]bshed by [...] space of a thousand yeare [...], and re [...]eaued not of a fewe, but of all Nati­ons: &c. till then. Which number though it be perhaps incertaine as signifying mo yeeres, yet fewer it can­not [Page 89] signifie. and therefore our aduersaries in placing Antichrists appearing and forecing of the Church to flie into wildernes, so many ages within the first thou sand yeeres after Christ, do therein affirme against manifest scripture, and the iudgmentFor it is affirmed & collected from the scrip­tures, that Antichrist is yet to come by VVicelius in libro de singularitate Antichristi: by Hierome Zanchius in epist. Pauli ad Phillip. Collos. & Thes. page 245. a. and by Fran­ciscus Lambertus whō Bul­lenger vpon the Apocalips serm. 62. fol. 202. b. post med. commendeth for a most godly and excellent learned man: of whose iudge­ment that Antichrist is not yet come, see the booke entituled Antichristus siu [...] prognostica finis mundi, printed at Basill. page 74. & 75. & 79. ante medium And concerning the like opinion of other Prote­stants see Mr. Doue in his sermon of the second coming of Christ &c. versus finem where he saith: Some Pro­testants being ouermuch mo­dest make a doubt whether Antichrist be yet reuealed or not. And see Mr. Foxe act. mon. (printed 1576.) page 739. b. prope finem & printed Anno 1596. page 366. a. lin. 17 of theire owne brethren. Secondly we say that these foresaide wordes obiected, there to remaine a long season, being most materiall and inserted by Mr. D. Fulke, not as his owne wordes, but as in the seuerall print or letter of the scripture, are his owne negligent (or els more faultie) addition, and therefore that there is nothing in the texte to proue that this flight (though it were to haue hapned within the saide thousand yeares) should against so many foresaide Prophecies conti­new for so lorge a season: as either of these last 1300. or 900. yeares, but only as the texte saith, modico tempore forReuelat. 12, 12. & 17, 10. & 20.3. Mr. Foxe in Apoc. c. 11. page 239. versus fi­nem saith hereof: Ne (que) enim fieri potest vt longum tempus codem modico tempore figu­retur, modico enim tempore, modicū tempus designatur: to which end he alleageth there Franciscus Lambertus and Dauid Chitraeus. & vide pag. 347. fine & 348. and see Fr. du. Ion. vpon the reuelations c. 20. page 257. & 258. a short time namelyReuelat. 12, 6. for a thousand two hundreth and sixtie daies: or as it is explained in other tearmes, forDaniel. 12, 7. & reuelat. 12, 14. a time, two times, and halfe a time: or as it is yet further explained forreuelat. 11, 2. & 13, 5. two and fortie monethes: all which aswell by ordinary computationMr. Dent in his ruine of Rome, or exposition vpon the reuelation page 134. as also by exposicion of the Fathers,Aug. de Ciuitat. Dei lib. 20. c. 23. & Hi [...]rom. in Daniel. c. 7. & Cirrill Catech. 25 & Ireneus lib. 5. fine. and others. in so much as Mr. Foxe in Apocalipsin. page 345. post medium saith hereof. Docti sancti (que) hic interpretes, plerique fere omnes quos hactenus videre contigit, nihil hic certi statuunt, nisi quod tempus, tempora, & dimidium temporis ad tres duntaxit annos & semialterum restringūt. & vide ibidem page 362. prope finem. and of that learned Protestant Hierom Zanchius Zanchius in epistolas Pauli ad Phillip. Collos. & Thessal. page 245. a. do amount but vnto three yeares and a halfe: during which time the hight of Antichrists persecution is in theire opinion here­by [Page 90] foretoulde to rage: Thirdly we further say that other Protestant writers (who dislike this exposition of three yeares and a halfe: and would enforce a longer terme as namely Mr. Forde,Mr. Ford in Apoc. c. 13. vers. 5. page 97. an­te med. saith. Menses isti 42. designant paululum id temporis quod Diabulo con­cessumerat supra c. 12, 12. videl. tempus grauissimae il­lius persecutionis quae dura­uit ad Constantinum mag­num, supputandi sunt enim prorsus sicut sanctissimus pa­ter Ioannes Foxus accepit, nempe per sabatha annorum, quomodo menses 42 efficiunt annos 294. quibus ex vice­simo anno imperij Constantini (qui idē fuit Annus Christi 329.) subductis, Constabit Prophetiā istam statim post mortem Christi incepisse. and Mr. Foxe, do vnderstand by euery month a Saboth of yeares affir­ming so by the 42. monthes to be ment. 294. yeares and that by theire opinion those 294. yeares begunne in the first persecutions of the primatiue Church, and so ended about the end of the first 300. yeares after Christ: which their expositiō as it altogither maketh with vs, strengthning our former assertion of the not fulfilling (during that time of the foresaid predictiōs concerning the Churches happie enlargement, so likewise it leaueth our aduersaries wholly as before chargeable, to answere for the fulfilling thereof in the ages succeeding.

And thus much breistly to shew to your MAIES­TIE 1 First That according to that confessed sence of scripture which Protestants them selues ac­knowledge,Mr. Foxe in Apoc. page 346. fine & 365 ante med. expresseth his like iudgement affirming page 365 that this exposition was deliuered to him as it were by reuelation, arcano quodam admonitionis sibilo, siue voce tamen &c. and with this exposition agre­eth Mr. Downham in his treatise concerning Anti­ch [...]ist c. 8. page 77 fine: the Church of Christ was fore toulde to continew after her first increase wonderfully enlar­ged with conuersion of many KINGES and King­domes of the Gentilles.

2 Secondly, that it is like-wise confessed that many Kinges and Nations of the Gentilles haue continu­ally since the conuersion of CONSTANTINE our first Christian Emperour till Luther bene according­lie conuertedHereof see hereto­fore tract. 2. c. 1 sect. 4. in the margent there in the begining at this mark (*) by our Catholicke Church, & that our Church hath in that estate continued and flori­shed, as Mr. Napire confesseth for these 1260. yeares Reining vniuersally &c.

3 Thirdly that by like confession of Protestants, their Church hath bene so farr from performing the like, that as them selues acknowledge, shee hath most cer­tainely for so l [...]nge remained Latent and inuisible: A scru­ple so euident that Castalio there-vpon fell to doubt­full speaches of our Christian faith, and Dauid George to plaine Apostasie

THAT THE TRVE CHVRCH MVST haue her Pastors, administration of the word and Sacraments euer-more to continew. SECT. 1.

THE second pointe which we intend to offer to your MAIESTIE from that confessed sense of scripture which Protestants acknowledge, is tou­ching the Churches continued and visible admini­stration of the Word and Sacraments, which our Sa­uiour hath ordained to serue as the necessary appointed ordinarie meanes of our saluation: for albeit that God was able to call, iustifie, and confirme the elect without any mediate meanes, yet hath he not as (Caluine confesseth)See Caluin. institut. l. 4. c. 1. sect 5. initio. determined to accomplishe the same, otherwise then in and by the ministerie of his Church.

To beginne therfore with the administration of the Word, the Apostle teacheth. .1. First that Christ hath placed in his CHVRCH,Ephes. 4, 11 12, 13. Pastours and Do­ctors to continue to the consumation of Saintes, till we all meete in the vnitie of faith, euen as our aduersaries doe hereupon expound) for euer: Doctor Fulk against the Rhemishe Testament in Ephes. 4. sect 4. fol. 335 a. inition. And Caluin. in institut. Printed Geneua. 1550. c. 8. de fide sect 37 38. page 233. 234. Me­lancthon. loc. commun. aedit. 1561. c. de Ecclesia And hence it is that they affirme, thatCaluin. vbi supra the Church can neuer want Pastors and Doctors. and which is more, thatMr. Fulke against Heskins, Sanders &c. pa. 539 prope finem. Christ will suffer no perticular Church to continue without a seruant to o­uersee it: and thatMr. Fulke ibid. pag. 536 paulo post med. And mr. Sparke in his answere to mr. Iohn d' Albines p. 11. prope initium saith ac­cordingly. The Church of Christ hath alwaies had and shall haue to the end succes­siuely in all ages in one place or other, such as haue shewed the truth faithfully vnto o­thers, as haue shined as lights in their daies set vpon a Can­dlesticke. Pastors and Doctors must be in the Church till the end of the world: (euen) from Mr. Fulke ibid. page 569 initio. Christs time till Luthers age. In the like assertion wherof the other Protestant writersThe Confession of Heluetia cited in the har­monie of Confessions pag 337. and Bertram de lo­que. in his discourse of the Church p. 79. are plentifull. 2. Second­ly that these Pastors must not be silent, the holy ghost testifieth, foretelling of the ChurchesEsa. 62, 6. Watchmen or Pastors. The margi­nall notes of the English Bible 1576. in Esa. 62, 6. that they shall not Esa. 62, 6. be silent. But euen [Page 92] as the Apostle saith.Rom. 10, 14. How shall they beleeue whome they haue not heard, and h [...]w shall they heare without a Prea­cher. So our aduersa [...]ies do accordingly hould con­cern [...]ng preachers, that (as Mr. Fulke saith)Mr. [...]ulke in his answere to a counterfaite Catholicke p. 100. initio. truth cannot be continued in the world but by their ministrie. That therforePropositions and principles disputed in the vniuersitie of Geneua pag. 245. circa med. the ministrie is an essentiall marke of the true Church: that also as Mr. Deering faithMr. Deering in his reading vpon the epi­stles to the Hebrues ca. 3. lectur. 15. post initium. Saluation springeth in preaching of the ghospell, and is shutt vp againe with the ceasing of it. and thatIbid. c. 3. lectur. 16 fine. take away preaching, you take away faith: for which he citeth many scrip­tures. 3. Thirdly our aduersaries do yet further con­fesse, and the nature of the thing proueth it, (for o­therwise they were no true Pastors) that these Chur­ches Pastors (at the least some of them) shallMr. Fulke in his answere to a [...]ounter­faite Catholicke page 11 initio & 92 ante med. al­waies resist all false opinion) euen with open reprehension: and thatMr. Deering vbi supra in c. 2. vers. 12. lect 10 circa med. &c. 3 lect. 12. fine. the religion bei [...]g of God, no feare of man shall keepe them backe, because as Mr. Deering saith here­of)mr. Deering ibid. that were to keepe the honour of God for corners and sol tary places: for as the Apostle prescribethRom. 10, 10. with th [...] harte a man beleeueth vnto righteousnes, and with the mouth confesseth to saluation.

Concerning now the continued administration of Sacramēts. 1. First the scriptures affirme, that we are therby to1. Cor. 11, 26. shew the Lords death till he come. 2. Secondly our puritane aduersaries do acknowledge, and accordingly teach, that there must beBeza in his sermons vpon the Canticles engli­shed page 79. & 80. Pastors and Doctors to the end of the world for the administration of the Word and Sacraments: that therforeMr. Bancroft in the suruey of the holy preten­ded discipline page 440 post medium. the ministrie of the Worde and Sacraments are in absolute degree of necessitie to saluati­on. with whom our other Protestant aduersaries do agree: Mr. Whitaker saying to this end of the admi­nistration of the Word and Sacraments, thatMr. Whitaker contra Duraeum l. 3. pag. 249 ante med. saith. S [...] adsunt Ecclesiam constituunt & tollunt, si auferantur. be­ing present they do constitute a Church, and being absent doe subuert it. and Mr. D. Wil [...]et likewise saith of them:Mr. Willet in his synopsis page 71 fine. these markes cannot be abs [...]nt from the Church, and it is no longer a true Church then it hath these markes: for as he further saithMr. Willet vbi su­pra page 69 finc. the onely absence of them doth make a nul­letie [Page 93] of the Church: with whom herein the Lutheranes alsoLobechius a Lu­therane Doctor and pub­lique Professor in the vni­uersitie of Rostoche in disput. theologic. pag. 213. sect. 44. affirmeth of these and of the Church, that tam areto & indistolubili nexu inter se copulata sunt, vt in coetu vocato­rum, alterum sine altero esse non possit, & negato vno, alterum quoque ne­gare necesse sit. do agree. 3. Thirdly our aduersaries do yet further hereupon affirme of these, thatMr Whitaker contra Duraeum l. 3. page 260. saith. Sunt Eccle­siae proprietates essentiales. And see mr. Whitgifte in his defence &c. page 81. ante med. and see mr. D. Couell in his examination &c. page 21. ante med. & page 5. fine. they are essentiall notes of the Church: and thatHiperius in method. theolog. page 548 ante med. & page 532. prope finem. And Amandus Pol [...]nus in partition. theolog. page 304. ante med. these notes are needfull to distinguish the true Church from the false, that men carefull of their saluation may know where the true Church is and to which company cheifly th [...]y ought to adioyne them selues. And th [...]t therefore the Church militant is in some sorte euermore to remaine, not poore or slender in paucetie of professors, but rich and plentifull:Caelius secundus Curio writt a wholle booke hereof, entituled de amplitudine regni Dei. wherein read him lib. 1. page 1. 5. 14. 24. & l. 2. page 135. 148 167 183 232 233 243 246. &c. And he answereth the common obiections vrged to the contrarie l. 1 page 96. 97 100 106 108 115 117 120 128 131. neither obscure or latent but like toMath. 5, 15. & Esa. 2, 2. Concerning the answerable exposition of which textes see D. Humfrey hereafter page 84. in the margent vnder the letter. e. And S. Austin tom. 6. contra faustū. Manich. l. 13. c. 13. saith Propter hos enim motus paruulo [...]um qui possint seduci ab hominibus, a manifestatione claritatis Ecclesiae, Dominus quoque prouidens ait, non potest Ciuitas abscondi supra montē constituta. And tom. 7. contra liter. Petil. l. 2. c. 32. he further saith. Hinc fit vt Ecclesia vera neminem lateat, vnde est illud, quod in Euangelio ipse dicit, non potest Ciuitas abscondi supra mon­tem constituta: ideoque in eodem psalmo connectitur, In sole posuit tabernaculum suum, id est in manifestatione. a Citie placed vpon a hill that cannot be hid, knowen andBartholomeus Keckermanus in sistem. theolog. page 408. initio saith. Noui testam. Ecclesiae, ratione notarum & formae externae semper debet esse sensibilis, seu conspicua, vt nimirum reliquae gentes quae adhuc extra Ecclesiam sunt, scire possint cuinam Ecclesiae sese debeant agregare, id quod de ecclesia noui testam. Esa c. 61. ab initio magnificis verbis predixit. And Hiperius in method. theolog. page 552. prope finem, saith: Profectò nisi signa haec extarent, ac vera ecclesia sensibus deprehenderetur, qui scire possit homo cumam caetui salutis consequendae ergô adherendum sioi foret. And Peter Marter in his epist [...]es annexed to his common places in English page 153. a. circa medium: reporting certaine pointes wherein he professeth to agree with vs Catholickes saith: We also doe not appoint an inuisible Church, but doe define Congregations, vnto which the faithfull may know that they may safely adioyne them selues. affirming further a little there be­fore, that this opinion is (saieth he) Common with vs to Catholickes. conspicuouse: a truth so euident that they doubt not thereupon to [Page 94] affirme and teach out of the scripturesMr. Henoch Cla­pham in his soueraigne remedie against schisme. p. 18. after many proofes alleaged by him from the scriptures, and otherwise concludeth, saying. Not onely all auncientes euer holde the Churches euer visibilitie, but also all learned men of our age: In like full maner is the Churches visibilitie affirmed from the scriptures as well by Melancthon in loc. comun. edit. 1561. c. de Ecclesia, & in prefat. lib. corp. doctrinae Christianae in Ec­clesijs Saxon. & mismicis electoris Saxon. impress. Lipsiae Anno 1561. And in Concil. theolog. part. 1. page 512. & part. 2. pag. 201. & 394. As also by D. Humfrey in Iesuitismi part. 2. rat. 3. page 240. where he saith: Declaratum est nos Ecclesiam non in aere ollocare sed in terra, nos Ecclesiam confiteri esse opidum supra montem positum, quod abscondi non p [...]test. Math. 5. montem excelsum domus Dei cunctis collibus editiorem, ad quem omnes gentes confluent. Esa. 2. &c. Cur ergo anxie & curiose probant quod est a nobis nunquam negatum? &c. (And ibidem page 241. initio. he saith) Visibilis est propter exercitia pietatis, quae videntur ab omnibus in Ecclesia, nam dum ministri docent, alij discunt, illi sacramenta administrant, hij communicant. &c. qui ista non videt talpa est caecior, visibilis est quia notae sunt insignes & conspicuae &c. and page 242. initio. he saith, non enim clancularij se [...]essus &c. conuocationes sunt Christianae. and page 281 fine he affirmeth concerning the Church militant (which is the onely pointe in question) [...]portere Ecclesiam esse conspicuam, conclusionem esse clarissimam. the Chur­ches euer visibilitie: condemning the contrarie opinion of the Churches pretended Latencie or inuisibilitie, for a monstrouse Melancthon in Con­cil. theolog. part. 2. saith: necesse est fateri esse visibilem Ecclesiam &c. quo spectat haec portentosa oratio qua negat esse vllam visibilem Ecclesiam. page 393. fine. & 394 initio. assertion &Mr. Henoch Clapham in his soueraigne remedie against schisme page 17 ante medium saith. Contrary to all scriptures they do affirme that there hath bene no visibilitie of the Church for former hundreth of yeeres, whi [...]h position is against Psalm. 72, 3, 17. Esa. 59, 21. contrary to all scriptures: against which our Sauiour did (as they thinke) spe­cially forewarne vs, saying:Math. 24, 23. whereupon mr. H [...]noch Clapham in his soueraigne remedie against schisme page 23. post med. saith. Our Sauiour forbides going out vnto such desert and corner ghospels. Math. 24, 23, 24, 26. and S. Austine tom. 4. quaest. euang. l. 1. quaest. 38. saith, accordingly: Constituta ergo authoritate Ecclesiae per orbem terrarum clara at (que) mani­festa, consequenter discipulos admonet & qui in eum credere voluerint, ne schismaticis at (que) hereticis credant: vnumquod (que) enim schisma & vnaquae (que) heresis aut locum suum habet in orbe terrarum partem aliquam retinens, aut obscuris at (que) occultis conuenticulis curio­sitatem hominum decipit: Ad quod pertinet quod ait, si quis vobis dixerit, Ecce hic est Christus aut illic, quod significat terrarum partes & Prouinciarum. Aut in penetralibus aut in deserto, quod significat obscura & occulta conuenticula haereticorum. &c. And see him further contra Faustum Manich. l. 13. c. 13. If therfore they shall say vnto you, Beholde he is in the deserte, go you not forth: Beholde he is in secrete places beleeue it not. In so much as they al­so affirme the visible dispersion therof euen for thatReuelat. 12, 12, & 17, 10. & 20, 3. short time during which she is foretouldReuelat. 12, 6. to flee [Page 95] into wildernes by reason of Antichrists persecution: to which end Mr. Fulke (though most precise in this behalfe) is yet enforced to confesse, thatMr. Doct. Fulke a­gainst the Rhemishe Te­stament in 2. Thessa. 2. sect. 5. fol. 354. b. fine. the true Church th [...]gh obscure and driuen into wild [...]rnes by Anti­christ, yet still continued dispersed ouer the world, and thatMr. Fulke ibid. fol. 355. a. initio. to this like effecte see Mr. Whitaker in his answere to master Rainoldes preface pag. 34 & 37. mr. Foxe in Apoc. page 349. post medium in the time of Antichrist it was not driuen into any corner of the world, but was, is, and shall be alwaies dispersed in many nations: and that not obscure, but (as Bullenger saith)Bullenger vpon the Apocalips fol. 200. a. fi­ne. & b. initio. see the words of Bullenger here­after in the margent at the figure 3. tract. 2. c. 2 sect 11. right famous: which pointe the text it selfe doth also most inuincibly argue: for as it affirmeth that the womans flight into wildernes must continueReuelat. 12, 6 1260 dayes: so likewise it affirmeth that the preaching of the Word, must as then continue in like maner du­ring euen the same terme of 1260. dayes: Reuelat. 11, 3. and must so be as generall as the persecution: a matter so vn­doubted, that Szegedine saith hereupon,Szegedinus in ta­bul. Analatic. page 368 circa medium. the ministers of Gods word shall preach all the time in which Antichrist shall tread vnder foote the holy Cittie. And Mr. Gifford saith likewise,Mr. Gifford vpon the reuelations serm. 21. page 191. fine. these two witnesses are not to be taken for two and no moe, but for all those which were raised vp to impugne Antichrist: and that they should prophecie during all the time of Antichrists reigne. In like testimonie wher­of, the otherSee Mr. Fulke a­gainst the Rhemishe Te­stament fol. 475. b. sect. 4. and Bullenger vpon the Apocalipes in c. 11. fol. 142. b. post medium. Protestant writers are very plenti­full.

THAT PROTESTANTS TO PROVE THE answerable performance therof (for former ages) in their Church do alleage promiscuously both Catholicks & knowne Heretickes as members of their Church. SECT. 2.

THIS continued & visible administration of the Word & Sacraments, being the confessed sense of the scriptures, and without which the true Church cannot be, we will now examine somewhat concer­ning the answerable performance therof: In which [Page 96] point when we prouoke our aduersaries, there is no­thing more vsuall with them, then (for theire owne defence in this behalfe) to search out in the examples of former times, for all such whatsoeuer, as may be said (though often falsely) in any sorte to haue im­pugned the Pope, but so much as in any one pointe either of manners or doctrine: And although they were otherwise neuer so different from Protest [...]nts, yet are they (in these straites) promiscuously registred by our aduersaries in the Catallog. of the Doctors of their Church. In this sorte are namedSee hereafter tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 7. in the mar­gent there at the figure 2. concerning Ioannes de Ru­pe Scissa, and Willm. de S. Amore: and see cōcerning Peter Bloix (claimed by Mr. Gabriell Powell in his consideration &c. pa. 52. initio.) Osiander incentur. 12. page 281. post med. where he saith: Pe­trus Blesensis &c. Pricipum Prelatorum religiosorum & priuatorum peccata grauiter arguit. &c. non ta­men Pontificios errores refutauit was this man then a Protestant? Ioannes de rupe Scissa Willielmus de S. Amore, and Peter Bloix. for thei [...] onely reprouing the life & maners of the Clear­gie, for this onely cause also are namedConcerning Willm. Occam read act. mon. printed 1596. page 358. a sin. 88. & b. line 40. and of Scotus see Foxe ibid. page 130. b. line 8. & Osian­der cent. 9. page 44. and of Ioannes Gaudauensis read Foxe vbi supra page 358. 2. line 88. William Occam, Iohn Scotus, and Iohn Gaudauensis. In like vniust maner is namedBy Mr. Sparke in his answere to Mr. Iohn d' Al­bines page 64 prope finem And by Simon de voyon in his discource vpon the Catallog. of the Doctors of Gods Church, in the table. numer. 11. Alcuinus Archbishoppe of Canter­burie, and scoller to S. Bede for his onely opinion vn­truely pretended against the Reall presence, the con­trarie wherof is by his owne writings more thenAlcuinus in lib. de diuinis officijs c. de Missa. saith: Consulens Deus infirmitati nost [...]ae, qui non solemus carnes crudas mandu­care, & sanguinem bibere, facit vt in pristina remaneant forma, duo illa munera, & est in veritate corpus Christi & sanguis. euident. So likewise do they nameDoctor Humfrey in Iesuitismi part. 2. rat. 3. page 326. initio. And Simon devoyon vbi supra in the table numer. 107. and claime S. Bede him selfe whom others of them do more truely and plainely reiect, for a confessed Papist: euenLuke Osi­ander in epitom. cent. 8. page 58. initio. see this heretofore tract. 1. sect. 1. in the mar­gent at the letter g. in all those articles wherin Protestants do at this day distent from the Pope. In like manner Peter Lumberd master of the sentences is by them sortedSymon Pauli. in method. aliquot locorum doctrin. &c. tradit. Rostochij. fol. 12. b. in the Catallog of the Doctors and restorers of the heauenly doctrine, andSymon Pauli ibid. fol. 15 b. and Hiperius in method. theolog. in praefat. page 1. fine & 2. cit [...]a & post medium. placed euen with Husse and Luther, who was so eui­dently a knowne Catholicke, that Mr. Foxe therfore termeth himActes and monuments page 41. b. circa medium. an Archpiller of papistrie. We coulde [Page 97] giue like exampleMr. Gifforde in his ser­mons vpon the reuelati­ons page 195. post me­dium giueth instance in Ioannes Picus Earle of Mi­randula. And Simon de Voyon in his discource vpon the Catallogue &c. page 126. post medium: nameth S. Bernard. And Mr. Foxe in his Callen­der placed in the begin­ing of his actes and mo­numents placeth Erasmus and Picus Mirandula and yet Erasmus (in whō they do more pretend) doth in lib. 16. ep. 11. excuse him selfe briefly and fully to the contrarie: saying. Christum agnosco, Lutherum non agnosco, Ecclesiam Ro­manam agnosco. of S. Bernard, Erasmus, Picus Mi­randula, & sondry other knowne Catholicke writers, whom our aduersaries do in like maner most iniustly claime to be of their Church. And as with Catho­lickes so likewise in this exigeme of need, are they constrained to make like claime toMr. Foxe actes monu. page 70. a. ante medi. Almericus, theLike claime is made to the Al­bigenses by mr. Sparke against mr. Iohn d'Albines. page 58. ante medium. by mr. Fulke contra Stapletonum, de successione Ecclesiae page 112. & 271 initio. And by Chrispi­nus in his booke of the estate of the Church page 350 ante medium. But see plaine testi­monie of the execrable errors of the Albigenses in Osiander Centur. 13. page 329. And in Cesarius, Cistert. 5. dist. dial. and Luxemb. haer Albig. See also hereafter tract. 2. c. 2 sect. 3. in the margent at the figure 2. Albigenses, and sondry otherOf like claime made to Peter Bruis, and the Henricianes or Apostolici: see Catallog. testium veritatis printed Anno 1597. tom. 2. page 561 & 562. confessed and knowne heretickes. In diuers of whom Mr. Iewell (to omitt others)See these other Protestants so disclaiming hereafter tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 3. in the margent at the letter .o. is enforced to disclaime, say­ing expresly of them:Mr. Iewell in his defence of the Apologie page 48. And see certaine of Almaricus his confessed errors mencioned hereafter tract. 2. cap. 2. sect. 3. in the margent at the let­ter o. And by Chrispinus in his booke of the estate of the Church page 349 post medium And see also thereof Cesarius lib. dial. d. 5. and Gaguinus lib. 6. franc. and Gerson tr [...]ct. 3. in Matt. and Paulus Amilus l. 6. hist. Galliae. and Genebrardus in Chron. Anno 1208. they are none of ours. In ex­aminatiō therfore of these & such other like knowne impertinēt exāples, we will not be so Idly tedious as to trouble your Maiestie, but will make triall of those in whom our aduersaries haue greatest confidence, as namely, Waldo, Wicliff [...], and Husse, and in their se­uerall followers, and see if that these can vpholde the Protestant Churches administration of the word and Sacramentes, but so much as for those seuerall ages in which they liued: in whom if our aduersaries doe faile, then remaine they for any hope to be had of the other no lesse then desperate.

THAT VVALDO (WHO LIVED ANNO Domini 1220.) was no Protestant and that there­fore the examples of Waldo and his followers is not suf­ficient to proue (but so much as for their times) a continuance of the Protestants Churches administration of the Word and Sacraments. SECT. 3.

TO beginne then with Waldo the Protestants ad­m [...]n [...]stration of the worde and sacraments is so litle proued by his example to haue bene but so much as in beinge imediatlye befo e and at the time of his first appearing, that (in cl [...]re prooffe to the contra­rie he (as Mr. Foxe testifieth) was then a Catholi [...]ke lay-manAct. mon. page 628. b. circa med. a rich marchant of Ly [...]n [...] and soact. mon. pag. 628 b. paulo post medium. vnlearned that he gaue rewardes to certaine learned men to translate the holy Scriptures for him and certaine other workes of the Do­ctors: and being thus holpen, did as Mr. Foxe repor­tethact. mon. vbi supra. conferr the forme of religion in his time to the in­fallible worde of God: where vpon saith Mr. Foxeact. mon. page 41. b. paulo ante medium sprong vp the Doctrine & name of t [...]ose which are called Wal­denses: act. mon. p. 628. b. ante medium. or (as he saith page 41. b. circa med. About Anno. 1160. Anno 1218.

2 Seacondlie he had no ordinarie vocation or cal­ling by man for our Catholicke Church condemned him, and his proceedings, and therfore would not, call him, and as for any other Church then being of his profession to call him, there was noneSee herafter tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 3. at this marke (¶). at that time, so much as but in being or knowne to him. For which cause he and his followers contemned all calling, teaching thatIlliricus in Catal. testium page 730. 731. 732. 740. 745. And Osi­ander in epitom. histor. eccles. cent. 9.10.11 &c page 287 fine & 440 Laye men and woemen might Consecrate (the sacraments) and Preach. And as for any pretence of extraordina ie calling by God, (which euerie sectmaster may a [...]rogate) euen as by the Pro­testants grauer assertion, it had euermore when it [Page 99] was in vse,Amandus Polanus in partition. theolog. l. 1. p. 308 saith: Ministrorum extraordinarié vocatorū etiam dona extraordina­ria fuere, nempe Prophe­tiae, donum edendi mira­cula: &c. And Musculus loc. comun. page 394. saith: Vocatio quae ime­diaté est a Christo, iam in vsu non est, vt erat olim, habebat sua signa vnde cognosci potuit, de quibus memenit Marcus Euangelista. cap. vlt. dicens, predicauerunt &c. sequentibus signis &c. And mr. Henoch Clapham in his soueraigne remedie against schisme page 25. initio doth vpon this ground reprehend Browne for that he did take vpon him extraordinarie calling, & wanted Miracles: and Luther in loc. comu. Clas. 4. c. 20. initio p. 38. post med. admonisheth to this end saying: Hoc explores an vocationem suam possint probare: ne (que) enim Deus vnquam aliquem misit nisi vel per Hominem vocatum, vel per signa declaratum, ne ipsum quidem filium. And Luther tom. 5. Ien. Germ. fol. 491. a. b. saith: Vnde ve­tus? quis te misit &c. vbi sigilla quod ab hominibus missus sis? Vbi sunt miracula quae te a Deo missum esse testantur? Also Luther admonished the Senate of Milhouse against Mun­cer the Anabaptist saying: Si dicat se a Deo at (que) ipsius spiritu missum esse quemadmodum Apostoli: probet hoc signis & miraculis editis, vel nolite ferre vt concionetur, nam vbi­cun (que) Deus ordinariam viam mutare vult, ibi semper miracula facit: Luther tom. 2. Ien. Germ. fol. 455. b. & 456. a. and hereof [...] Sleydon lib. 3. An. 25. Also Sigwartus in his 23 disputationes theologic. &c page 207 sect. 8. saith: Haec vocatio semper extraordi­naria quaedam & diuina dona comitantia habet quae sunt tanquam sigilla doctrinae &c. cu­iusmodi fuerunt miracula &c. Miracles adioyned thereto in testimo­nie that it was from God, (which were wanting in Waldo) So likewise as the learned Protestants them selues graunt, it is now since the Apostles timesMusculus vbi supra and Lobechius in disput. theo­log. page 358 fine & 359 initio. saith: Imediatam porrò vocationem cum mediata ab Apostolis permutatam esse scriptura testatur &c. credimus imediatae vocationis vsum Deo in hoc mundo nullum (amplius futura, nullam quippe de ea dedit promissionem, nullum mandatum. And D. Sarauia in his booke of the diuers degrees of Ministers page 9. initio­term [...]th extraordinary calling an vnknowne coast out of which (the now defendors thereof) can no waies wind them selues. And see mr. D. Couell in his defence of mr. Hooker pag. 86. fine & 87. initio. and see Sarauia in defen. tract. &c. contra resp. Bezae p. 306 & 307. And ibid. page 37. circa med. he saith Sed speciem illam extraordinariae vocationis ad Ecclesiae ministerium &c. cum nullo testimonio scripturarum, nec exemplo certo doceatur, non admitto, est enim periculi plena, & noui mali (que) exempli &c. ea sola fretus nemo se mini­sterio Ecclesiastico ingerere debet. And see there page 35. 36. 38. &c. ceassed and not t [...] be expected as being without all proofe or testimonie in the writings of the new testa­ment. If now therefore Waldo did (as appeareth by Protestants them selues vndertake toSimon de Voyon in his discource vpon the Catalog. of the Doctors &c. page 132. post medium, and Crispinus in his booke of the estate of the Church page 339. ante med. Preach being (but) a Lay [...] s [...]culer man, and so wanted call [...]ng, much lesse then could he conferre calling to others: there­fore both he and all his followers which discended [Page 100] from him were through theire want of callingNo man taketh the honour vnto him, but he that is called of God, as A­aron: hebr. 5, 4. How shall they preach excepte they be sent. Rom. 10, 15. Who so entreth not in by the dore in­to the Sheepefould but cly­meth vp an other way, is a theefe. Iohn. 10, 1. intrudors, hauing no more authoritie to celebrate and administer Sacraments (excepted only Baptisme in time of necessitie whichBaptisme by lay persons in time of necessitie is affirmed by the Fathers as witnesseth. Caluin. in­stitut. l. 4. c. 15. sect. 20. confessing & saying here­of. Multis abhinc seculis, adeo (que) ab ipso feré Ecclesiae exordio vsu receptum fuit, vt in periculo mortis Laici Baptizarent si mini­ster in tempore non ades­set. It is in like manner affirmed by the Lorde Archbishope of Canter­burie in his defence a­gainst Carthwrite pa. 518 & 519. ante med. & ma­ny other Protestants. a lay person may do) then they had power to create a new world, so litle is the continuance of Protestantes administration of the Word & Sacraments enabled by Waldo.

3 Thirdly concern [...]ng the Protestantes doctrine of Iustification by onely faith, which is in their iudgmētMr. Clarke in the disputation had in the Tower with Edm. Camp. the 4. daies conference Arg. 1 D. iiii the soule of the Church: The Cofession of Bohemia in the har­monie of Confessions in English page 253. of all other points of doctrine the weightiest. & which saith: Mr. Foxeact. mon. page 402. a. circa med. Luther opened as being long hid before. It was so vnknowne to Waldo, and he so wholly affected to our Catholike doctrine of merittes and Workes (which Protestants termePenrie in his booke entituled Mr. Some laid open in his colours page 29. 30. the very harte, life, and soule of Papistrie,) that he didD. Humfrey in Iesuitismi part. 2. rat. 3. page 270 circa medium: and Mr. Foxe act. mon. page 628. b. fine forsake all thinges that being poore he might follow Christ and the Euang [...]licall perfection: which our aduersaries reiectMr. Fulke against the Rhemish testament in Math. 19. sect. 9. fol. 38. b. And mr. Perkins in his reformed Catholicke page 241. and Caluin. institut. lib. 4. cap. 13. sect. 13. for Popish: In so much as he and his fol­lowers were a very profession of begging Friars, and therfore calledactes and monuments page 41. b. circa medium & page 629 a. ante medium. the poore men of Lyons Doctor Humfrey in Iesuitismi part. 2. page 270 circa medium. professing (as D. Humfrey vrgeth) a kind of monasticall life: wher­in they were so forward, that they afterwardesVrspergenses in Chronic. Anno 1212. made means to Innocentius the third then Pope to haue their order by him confirmed, but could not preuaile

4 Fourthly the Waldenses held sundry grosse errors. as namely their deniallSee Guido and Antoninus de Waldensibus: and Aeneas Siluius in his Bohemica historia de Waldensium dogmatibus: And Luxemb. in haer. Paup. de Lugduno. of all iudgement to blood. andSee Illiricus in Catal. testium veritatis page 748. prope initium. of the Saboth. In regard of which latter they [Page 101] were also calledAct. mon. page 41. b. circa med. & see Simon de Voyon in his discource vpon the Catallog. of the Doctors of the Church. p. 134 insabalistes. They also further taughtIlliricus in Catal. testium veritatis p. 731. fine. & 745. ante med. & 730. circa med. & 732. initio 740. ante medium. that Layemen & women might Consecrate (the Sacrament) & preach. ThatIlliricus ibid. page 729. circa med. & 747. post medium. & 760 circa med. Cleargie men should haue no Possessions or propertie. thatIlliricus ibid page 729. post medium there should be no diui­sion of Parishes, nor Churches: forIbid. page 749. ini­tio: & 733 circa med. & page 760 fine. a walled Church they reputed as a barne & [...]. alleaging textes againstIbid. pag 749 initio Churches made with handes: thatIlliricus ibid. page 735. ante med. & 756. ante med. & 752. initio. men ought not to swere in any case. Ibid. page 731 circa med. & 743 post med. they condemned the Sacrament of marriage: affirming that thoseIbid. married persons mor­tally sinned, who accompanied togither without hope of issue. they heldIbid. page 746. ante medi. & 731. post med. all thinges done aboue the girdle, by kissing, touching, wordes, compression of the pappes &c. to be done in charitie, and not against continencie. That alsoIbid. page 760. circa med. & 740. ante med and teste Osiandro in e­pitom. histor. Eccles. cēt. 9. 10. 11. &c. page 440 post med. neither Priest nor ciuill Magistrate being guiltie of mortall sinne did enioy their dignitie, or were to be obeyed. Illiricus in Catall. test. Ver. page 735. post med. & 755. post med. They condēned Prince & Iudges. Ibidē. page 730. fine. They affirmed singing in the Church to be an infernall clamor. And (to omitt sondry other), they taught that they might dissemble their religion, & so accordinglyIbid. page 734 paulo post med. they went to the Catho­licke Chur [...]h dissembling, and offered, confessed, and Com­municated diss [...]mblingly. By reason of which their dis­simulation they secretely increased in sondry places to a great number before they could be discouered: for which our aduersarie Illiricus Illiri­cus ibidem page 722. ante med. faith of them: Non est quidem id omnino probandum, quod in multis locis diù sine vlla publica Confessione fuerint. not vnworthe­lie reproueth them.

And if Protestants will not beleeue the writers of those times reporting these and sundry other grosse errors of them, why then may they not excuse in like manner Peter Bruis, Almericus, the Albigenses, and the Apostolici, or Henricianes: all which liued in that age and are confessed to haue heldPeter Bruis denied Transubstantiation, Masse, Praier for the dead, the single life of Priestes and Monckes, Veneration of the Crosse, Church musicke &c. Osiander centur. 12. page 282. 283. and see Catallog. te­stium veritatis printed 1597 tom. 2. page 561. & 562. Almericus denied the Reall Presence C [...]nsing of Churches with frankencence: he also taught that, euery faithfull person ought to beleeue his owne saluation, as surely any article of his faith. Hereof see Vincentius in speculo historial. and Bernardus Lutzemb. de hae­resibus) & Osiander cen­tur. 13. page 327. Also he denied Images. Foxe act. mon. fol. 70. vpon the A. side col. 1. ante med. and denied likewise Trāsubstantiation, Aultars, and praying to Saints. her­of see mr. Mores Table page [...]74. fine. And Pantaleon in Chronograph. page 98. the Albigenses denied Praier for the dead, Purgatorie, Confession, Extreme Vnction, the Popes authoritie, Images, Pardons, Ceremo­nies, and Traditions: Hereof see Foxe act. mon. fol 71. vpon the B. side col. 2. post med. And Cesareus Hesterbachius l. 5. c. 21. and Antoninus 4. part. tit. 11. c. 7. the Apostolici or Henricianes, Burned Crosses: denied the Reall presence and Sacrifice of the Masse: Also Festiuall daies, consecration of Chrisme and Oyle, Purgatorie, and Prayer for the dead, Prayer to Saintes. &c. Hereof see Petrus [...]na [...]sis lib. contra haereses &c. S. Bernard. serm. 66. in Can­tic. And Bernardus Bo [...]aualensis vitae S. Bernardi l. 2 c. 5. and Osiander in Epi [...]om. &c. Centur. 12. page 291 ante med. and Pantaleon in Cronograph. page 92. sundry of the [Page 102] Protestants opinions as well as did the Waldenses: and are yet neuerthelesse by learned Protestants reiected and reputed forThe Apostolici are censured for Heretickes by mr. Fulke in his retentiue against Bri­stow &c. page 124. and by Osiander centur. 12. page 291. ante med. And Mr. Iewell in his defence of the Apologie page 48. disclaimeth in Almaricus, the Albigenses, and Aposto­lici, saying expresly of them: they be none of ours. And Peter Bruis is censured for an Here­ticke by Osiander centur. 12. page 282. 283. And see the seuerall absurd errors of Alma­ricus reported by Osiander in epitom. hist. Eccles. centur. 9. 10. 11. &c. page 326. and of the Apostolici reported by Osiander ibidem page 291 ante med. and of the Albigenses reported by Osiander ibid. page 329. and o [...] Peter Bruis reported by Osiander in cent. 12 page 282 & 283. and see further heretofore tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 2 in the margēt at the letters q. and r. And Hospinianus in historia Sacramentaria lib. 4. page 361 post medium saith: Henricus quidam cum Petro Bruis circa Annum Domini 1140 docere caepit semel tan­tum in ipsa vltima Domini caena Apostoli Christi corpus vere datum sub specie panis, de­inceps autem [...]eram deceptionem esse quod Sacerdotum ministerio dicitur aut creditur: testis est & refutator huius erroris Petrus Cluniacensis qui eodem tempore floruit, in tra­ctatu de Sacrificijs. Heretickes, in regard onely of those sundry other most absurd hereticall opinions, wherwith the writers of those times do in like sorte charge them. Or why also may not the now suc­ceeding ages say as much hereafter in like excuse as well of Barrowe, Browne, Hacket: Ardington &c. as al­so ofMr. Fulke in his answere to a counterfaite Catholicke. page 62. the horrible heresies of the Anabaptistes, Liber­tines, Swenfeldianes, and such otherlike of this age as haue sprong from Protest [...]nts, holding as yet most of their opinions? Or with what credit can Prote­stants them selues al eage the same writers to proue that the Waldenses held certaine points of thei [...] faith? for if they depend vpon their testimonie in that, how [Page 103] can they vpon meere supposall make it doubtfull in the other? considering it is euident that in those for­mer times the saide reporters indifferently and alike condemned all those opinions wherin the Waldenses did as then dissent from the Romane Church, as not fo [...]eknowing which of those opinions we of this age would a low or reiect. This point is yet made much more euident by example of the foresaide Albigenses whose execrable errors are specially acknowledged andOsiander in centur. 13. l. 1. c. 4. page 329. initio. saith: Exorta est haeresis Albigentium &c. Dogmata haec illis attri­buuntur, duo esse princi­pia Deum viz. bonum & Deum malum, hoc est Diabulum, qui omnia cor­pora creet, bonum autem Deum creare anim [...]s: &c. Baptismum abijciunt, ire in Ecclesias vel in eis ora­re nihil prodesse &c. Ma­trimonia damnabant, promiscuos concubitus eos (que) nefarios, sanctos ducebat Corporum resurrectionē negant: &c. Quod Christus non fuerit verus homo, nec verè comederit: &c. And a little after there, he further saith. Hae propositiones cum sint absurdae, impiae & hereticae &c. Cum Albigenses admonitiones non admitterent, sed in erroribus & sceleribus persisterent. Adhortante Pontifice Romano, magistratus polliticus, collecto exercitu, duabus vicibus aliquot millia Albigensium tru [...]darunt: multi etiam Capitibus truncati & cremati legun­tur qui hinc inde sunt deprehensi: fuit enim Albigensis furor Anabaptisticus, qualis Anno 1534. nostro seculo Anabaptistarum monasterientium erat; See also further hereof the centurie writers of Magdeburg. centur. 13. c. 5. and mr. Marbecks common places page 22. may now mr. Foxe and Chrispinus alledge these thousands thus slaine in their Catal­logue of Protestant Martirs? reported by sundry Protestant writers, and they the [...]eupon reiected for confessedMr. Iewell in his defence of the Apologie page 48. disclaimeth in the Albigenses, and others there named, saying expresly of them, they be none of ours. and Osiander cent. 13. page 329. saith, as is before alledged that their opinions were absurd, wicked, and hereticall that they admitted no admonition, but persisted in their errors and wickednes: and calleth them yet further an anabaptisticall furie. And Pantaleon in chronographia page 98. numbreth them amongst Heretickes. And so likewise doth Mr. Mar­becke in his common places page 22. Heretickes. Now these Albigenses liued in the same time with the Wal [...]e [...]s [...], and were (as Mr. Fulke and other Prote­stant writers do acknowledge)Mr. Fulke de successione ecclesiastica con­tra Stapletonum page 332. ante medium. saith of the Waldenses: Iam dixi a Papistarum vulgo nomen hoc i [...]lis inditum, vt aliás dicti sunt pauperes de Lugduno, Leonistae, Albi­genses, & quicquid placuit Antichristi Scurris: And ibid. page 333. circa med. he saith: Quae Antoninus etiam & Matheus paris. de Albingensibus quos eosdem esse cum Walden­sibus illa Archiepiscoparum epistola probat &c. & vide ibid. page 359. post medi. And Mr. Sparke in his answere to mr. Iohn d'Albines page 58. saith to Albines concerning the Waldenses, your frendes call them Waldenses, Albigenses pauperes de Lugduno &c. changing their titles and names according to the diuersitie of places and times they liued in, howsoeuer their religion was all one. of the same secte with th [...]m b [...]ing therfore by him and others chal­lengedHereof see heretofore tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 2. in the margent at the letter. q. as members of the Protestants Church, [Page 104] and called Albigenses onely of the countreyMr. Sparke vt supra and Simon de Voyon in his defence vpon the Catall. of the Doctors of Gods Church page 138. initio saith they inhabited the Coū trie about Tholouse & Albi. in which that company remained, as in like resemblāce the Hugonottes of France, and Puritanes of Scotland, and England professe to be of one religion notwith­standing the diuersitie of name, wherby they be di­uersly called or knowne in those se [...]erall countries.

Hereunto we could (in further explanacion of this point) also add the sundry confessed and knowne doctrines & rebellions of the Waldenses of latter times condemned by Protestants and testified by Melan­cthon Melancthon. in concil. theologic. part. 2. pag 152. ante med. in an epi­stle to a frend of his who ministred the Communi­on to Infants: saith. Gau­deo te de summa doctrinae nobiscum sentire, Wal­denses scio dissimiles esse & quidem nimis morosé defendant quaedā, de qui­bus aliquādo cū eisrixatus sum quidā nolunt absolue re Lapsos, qui ad poenitē ­tiam redeunt, negant coniugium suis Sacerdotibus. and other ProtestantBenedict. Morgen­stern. in tract. de ecclesia page 79. paulo post med. saith: Di [...]i autem possunt noui Waldenses (ex seip­sis nati) vel participantes quia partem capiunt a Papistis, partem a Sacramentarijs, partem meliorem a Lutheranis vel fratres (quo nomine valde gaudent) sed falsi, vel certé ignorantiae, quia lucem doctrinae diuinitus accensam hoc saeculo supercilio se neglexerūt, & errores crassissimos etiā ab ipso Luthero An. 1523 monstratos &c. clam scriptis apud suos mordicus defenderunt, id quod demū post obitum Lu­theri innotuisse. D. D. Ioannes Hedericus scribit &c. And ibid. pa. 124. he saith to them. Antichristi institutum de numero sacramentorum confirmatis. licet id quidem saepius in alijs articulis fecistis, vt in doctrina, de celibatu, votis, sacra scriptura, bonis operibus, Iu­stificatione, Baptismo paruulorum, nec non de Purgatorio. Et vide ibid. pag. 154. & 226. fine. See Seluecerus his testimonie of the Waldenses false doctrines, and grosse errors not to be suffered. And in the booke de Russorum, Muscouitarum, & Tartarorum religionis. pag. 96 Lascitius a Protestant writer, affirmeth the calling of their Clergie to be by casting of lottes. Persuasi Deum moderatorem sortis futurum. writers, euen after that they were altredLaconici Antisturmij Spongia ad­uersus Lamberti Danaei Antiosiandrum. pag. 35. initio. mencioneth their being altred by Luther. in many things by Luthers instruction.

Vpon which premisses concerning Waldo and his folowers for so much as it is made euident therby. 1 First that imediately before his first appea [...]ing he was a Catholicke, and not member of any other Church to him then knowne or in being a matter furthermore so manifest that the Protestant writers do therfore affirme his first proceeding to haue bene in time ofCrispinus in his discource of the estate of the Chucch. page 338. paulo post medium. thicke darkenes, and as a first and litle begin­i [...]g of the instauration of the Christian religion 2 Secondly that he was then also, but a lay man, and so wanted calling. 3 Thirdly that his opinion concerning Iu­stification, and sundry other pointes of faith were [Page 105] Catholicke. 4 Fourthly and lastly that he and his followers held sondry grosse and damnable errors. We do humblie as now submitt to your MAIES­TIES learned iudgement, whether that Protestants may alledge this example of the Waldenses as suffici­ent to continue and vphould the administration of their Churches Word, and Sacraments. But so much as at and since that foresaid timeSee before tract. 2 cap. 2. sect. 3. b. x. y. of Anno 1218. in which Waldo first appeared.

THE LIKE IS SHEVVED OF VVICLIFFE (Who liued Anno Domini 1370.) and his followers. SECT. 4.

AS concerning Iohn Wycliffe and his followers, he as Mr. Foxe reportethAct. mon. 85. a. post medium. florished Anno Domini 1371. was our countrie-man and so farre before his first appearing from being of any Church in which the Protestants administration of the Worde and Sa­craments was then cont [...]nued: (whereof as appea­reth by Mr. FoxeMr. Foxe act. mon. p. 85. b. initio. affirmeth that, out of all doubt all the world was in a m [...]st desperat & vile estate, and that lamentable ignorance and darkenesse of Gods truth had ouershadow­ed the wholle earth, when Iohn Wycliffe stepped forth. &c. as the morning starre in the middest of a cloud. And mr. Foxe act. mon. prin­ted. 1596. page 391. b. line 60. saith, that in times of horrible darknes whē there seemed in a manner to be no one so little sparke of pure do­ctrine lefte or remaininge, Wycliffe by Gods prouidence rose vp, through whom the Lord would first waken and raise vp againe the worlde. &c. And Osiander in his epitom. hist. Eccles. centur. 9. 10. 11. page 439 post med. saith. Libri Wycleu [...] non per om­nia sunt pur [...], non enim habuit tum coaetaneos qui potuissent eum (sicubi longius extra metas progres­sus fuisset.) fraterne admonere. and others not so much as any entrie or being could be to him then knowne.) that he himselfe was then before a Catholicke Priest, e­uen theMr. Stowes Annales of England faithfully collected &c. Printed 1592. pa. 464 initio. Parson of Lutterworthe in Leicestershire: And as Mr, Stowe in his Annualls or chronicle dedicated to the new Lord Archbishop of Canterburie abrid­geth his storieStowe ibid. pag. 425. post med. He (first) Inueyed against the Church f [...]r that he had bene depriued by the Archbishope of Canterbu­rie from a certaine benefi [...]e &c. And hauing so vpon this occasion seperated him selfe from the Church in which he formerly wasStow vbi supra. He with his disciples went barefooted and baselie clothed in course russet garmentes [Page 106] downe to the heele: andStow ibidem. page 426 ante medium. seemed to contemne all temporall goodes for the loue of aeternall riches, adioined him selfe to the b [...]gging Friar [...] approuing theire pouertie and extolling theire perfection: reteining also his fo mer Catholicke opinion concerningWycleuus de blas­phemia ap. 17. mencio­ning aqua benedicta saieth withall in proofe therof, Habuerunt Christi Discipuli potestatem corpora tam rati­onabilia quam irrationabi­lia consecrandi. Holie Water: Wycleuus de Eucharistia cap. 9. saith, adora­mus imagines vnde vt sig­na &c. conceditur ergo quod reliquiae, imagines, & sacramenta sunt cum prudentia adoranda. And in decalogo super primo mandato cap. 15. he saith Introductae sunt imagines in Ecclesiam vt sint libri Laicorum & signa recor­datiua singulis Christia­nis vt adorēt debitè San­ctos Dei. the worshipping of Reliques, and Images: Wycleuus in serm. de Assumptione Mariae, saith: Hic videtur mihi, quod impossibile est nos praemiari sine Mariae suffragio &c. the intercession of our Blessed Ladie, St. Marie: TheWycleuus de tractatu degradati­onibus scholasticis c. 3. saith of them: Sunt docta implicitè in sua specie vel suo principio, (and that) supposita quacun (que) tali caeremonia virtuosa vel licita, fuit docta per appositiones in su [...] principio. apparell and tonsure of priestes: TheWycleuus de Apostasia c. 18. mencioneth and alloweth them: And Ioannes Przibrauus (an hereticke who liued neere the same time) in professione fidei c. 28 saith Ioannes Wycleuus libro de Apostasia cap. 18. approbat totum ritum Missae a principio ferè vs (que) ad finem &c. Rite: and Cerem [...]nies of the Masse Wycleuus ad caput primum prioris ad Corinth. saith: Vnctio ex­trema est medicina ad sanandum peccatum, vt patet Iacobi. 5. (affirming there further that it is made) cum oleo oliuae ab Episcopo consecrato. Extreme Vnction. and allWycleuus in Postilla super 15. c. Marci numbreth and mentioneth them all. and in postilla super 1. Cor. 1. he further saith quae­dam sacramenta &c. per se promulgauit (Christus) vt Baptismum, Eucharistiam, Ordinē, & Poenitentiam: quaedam autem per Apostolos vt Confirmationem & Extremam Vnctio­nem &c. the s [...]auen Sacraments, and all those sundry other pointes of our Catholicke faith now in question, with deniall whereof he is not found so­much as charged.

2 Secondly he held sondrie strange and damnable heresies, as (amongest other) thatAct. mon. page 96. a. art. 4. & b. art. 15. Osiander in epitom. hist. Eccles. centur. 9. 10. 11. & pag. 452. art. 4. if a Bishope or Priest be in deadlie sinne he doth not order Consecrate nor Bap­tize act. mon. page 96. a. fine & 93. b. art. 12. & Osiander vbi supra page 453. art. 10. & page 458. art. 36. that ecclesiasticall ministers should not haue any tem­porall p [...]ss [...]ssions orMelancthon in epist. ad Frideric. miconium (extante) in libro epistolarum Suinglij & Oecolampadij page 622 initio. saith of Wycliffe. Contendit Presbiteris non licere vt possideant quicquam propriū. propertie in any thing. but shouldMelancthon. loc. comun. de potest. eccles. ante med. sa [...]th. illa Wycleuica superstitio pernitiosa & seditiosa est, quae adigit ministros ecclesiarum ad mendicitatem, & negat eis licere proprium tenere. begge. Osiander vbi supra p 459. art. 43. He condemned lawfull oathes. Sauoring therin (saith Osiander) of Anabaptisme. he also taught th [...]tOsiander cent. pag. 457. prope initium. all thinges come to passe by absolute necessitie. whi [...]h is [Page 107] Stoicall. and as for the Protestants doctrine of Iustifi­cation, it was so vnknowne to him that as Waldensis (who liued in the same time with him) affirmeth he exceeded in the contrarie, defendingWaldensis tom. 3. cap. 7. 8. 9. Humaine mer­rittes as the damnable hereticke Pelagius held them. In so much that Melancthon saith accordinglie of WicliffeMelancthon in epist ad Frideric. mico [...]. in lib. epist. Suinglij & Oeco­lampadij page 622. prope initium saith. prorsus nec intellexit nec tenuit fidei iustitiam. verily he did not vnderstand nor hould the Iu­stice of faith. and doubeth not with all to say of him,Melancthon ibid. I haue found in him many other errors whereby one may iudge of his spirit.

Lastlie (to omit diuers other) he held as Melancthon tearmeth itMelancthon ibidem saith of Wycliffe. De do­mino ciuili sophisticè pla­né & seditiosè rixatur. a se litiouse doctrine, and mother of all rebellion, teachingOsiander in epitom. histor. Ecclesiast. centur. 9. 10. 11. 12. &c. page 454. fine art. 15. & Con­cil. Constantien. Sess. 8. art. 15. And Melancthon in disput. de Iure magistra­tuum saith hereof. Insanij [...] Wycleuus qui sensit impi­os nullum dominium ha­bere. And in Commen­tarijs ad politica Aristo­telis, he further saith, mi­ras tragedias excitauit Wi­cleuus, qui contendit eos, qui non habent spiritum sanctum amittere domi­nium, & colligit multas so phisticas rationes ad con­firmandum hoc dogma. &c. recitabimus quaedam argumenta Wycleu [...] &c. that there is no ciuill Ma­gistrate whilest he is in mortal sinne: and thatOsiander in epitom. centur 9. 10. 11 &c. page 405 art. 17. the peo­ple may at theire pleasure correct Princes when they do of­fend. and according to this principleMr. Stowes An­nales &c. page 550. post med. the fauourers of wycliff [...]s doctrine did (as Mr. Stow reporteth) n [...] [...]e vp schedules vpon the Churches dores of London conteining that there was a hundreth thowsand men readye to rise against all such as could not awaie with theire sect. In somuch as Sr. Iohn Ouldcastle Wycliffes cheife disciple oract. mon. page 268. b. fine And Mr. Stowes Anna­les &c. page 550. post medium. followerMr. Stowes Annales ibidem. to whose force and witt these other trusted Burst forth intoMr. Stowe vbi supra page 566. initio. also his enditement of high treason is extant of record, and set downe by Mr. Foxe act. mon. printed 1596. pag. 529. b. where he more bouldly then aduisedly laboureth vpon surmises to discredit the said record. treason against the King andMr. Stowe ibidem pag. 551. prope initium. did confederate him selfe with others to fight against the King in St. Giles feelde. At that timeMr. Stow ibid. pag. 551. circa medium. were taken fourescore men in armour of that faction. AndIbid. page 551 prope finem. 37. of thē (publikely) condemned and executed. And Sr. Iohn Ouldcastle him selfe being at the last taken, was likewise executed in the said feilde of St. Giles, at what time he was so fan­tasticall, that at the time of his executionMr. Stow ibid. 572 fine. when [Page 108] many honorable persons were present, the last wordes he spake was to Sr. Thomas Erpingham, adiuring him, that if he sawe him rise from death to life againe the third day, he would procure that his sect might be in quiet. By all which pre­misses concerning Sir Iohn Ouldcastle, taken from Mr. Stowes Chronicle (dedicated to the now Lord Archbishope of Canterburie) it seemeth that Mr Foxe was in extreme need of examples to maintaine the continuance of his visible Church, when in his actes and monuments he so publickely and seriously registred this Sr. Iohn forAct. mon. page 261 b. and see there the title of Ouldcastles historie. and see Mr. Downeham in his treatise concerning Anti­christ. pag. 41. prope ini­tium. a valiant and most wor­thie M [...]rtir for the true profession of Christs Ghospell.

And thus much briefly (to omitt much moreIoachimus Vadia­nus a Swinglian of Zuriche de Eucharistia lib. 5. page 161. saith of Wycliffe. In nonnullis faede lapsus est. &c. He was fowly ouerseene in sundry pointes of religion and more giuen to scoffinge and pratinge then became a sober Deuine. And Panta­leon in Chronolog. page 119. ante med. accoūteh Wycl [...]ffe for an Hereticke. And placing him there in his Catallogue of Heretickes. saith. Ioannes Wyclefius cum Lolhardis in Anglia suam haeresim predicat. &c. And Mathias Hoe in his tractat. duo &c. tract. 1. de disput. page 27. expresly placeth and numbreth the W [...]clenistes and Hussistes in the ranke of Heretickes, calling them and others by him there named most monstrous monsters. Also it ap­peareth by mr. Foxe that Wicliffe was an vsuall dissembler of his faith: and that to preuent daunger of trouble he did ordinarily practize the same, to which purpose mr. Foxe. act. mon. page 95. a fine, saith. W [...]cliffe being beset with troubles was forced once againe to make con­fession of his doctrine, in which confession, as occasion serued for to auoid the rigor of thinges he an­swered with intricate wordes &c. Anno. 1381. And page 91. a. versus finem. he signifieth Wicleues often recantation: alledging Wicliffe saying. And now againe as before, also I doe reuoke & make retractation &c. by meanes wherof as Mr. Foxe confesseth a litle there before Wicliffe wonde him selfe out of the Bishopes snares Anno 1377. And p. 846. a. paulo post med. it is testified how that Wycliffe in an epistle written by him ad Ioannem Episcopum Lincolien­sem, retracted his former doctrine against the Reall presence of Christes Bodie in the sacrament and in the Masse, reconciling him selfe in that article to the Church of Rome: and page 98. b. post med. and 99. a. it appeareth that Wicliffe Anno. 1384. (which was not three yeeres before his death) in his epistle to Pope Vrbane doth purge him selfe to the Pope, acknowledg­ing that, the Bishope of Rome is the Vicar of Christ here vpon earth. with much more other like dissimulation: By [...]eason of which kind of practize, Wicliffe so escaped the aggrauated dan­ger of those times, that as Mr. Foxe witnesseth pag. 98. a. paulo ante med. He return [...]d a­gai [...] to his parish of Lutte [...] worth wherof he was parson, and quietly there (saieth mr. Foxe) Slept in the Lord vpon St. Siluesters day ann [...] 1387. that might be said (concerning Wycliffe and his fol­lowers) wherin is shewed. 1 First that imediately before his first appearing he was a Catholike Priest, and no Church of Protestants then knowne to be so much as but in being. 2 Secondly that after his re­uolte he reteined still sundry Catholicke pointes of faith. 3 Thirdly that he held sundry grosse and dam­nable [Page 109] errors. 4 Fourthly and lasty that his doctrine was treasonable and his followers were notable cō ­uicted traitors: whereupon we referre (as before) to your Maiesties learned iudgemēt, whether that the example of Wicliffe and his followers doth enable the cōtinuance of the Protestants Churches admini­stration, of the Word and Sacraments, but so much as for and since that time in which he first appeared.

THE LIKE IS SHEVVED OF HVSSE (who liued Anno Domim 1400.) and his followers. SECT. 5.

AS concerning Iohn Husse, who was brought in questionSymon de Voyon in his discource vpon the ca­tallog. of the doctors of Gods Church pag. 159 about the yeare 1405. litle is need­full to be saide, for his chiefe trouble was for vrging communion to the lay people vnder both kindes, (which pointe Protestants acknowledge to be but a matter of indifferencie,Melancthon in cen­tur. epist. theologic. page 252. initio. and see the protestant writers alledg­ed, and by mr. Iewell not denied, in his replie page 110. & 109. and for his affirmingact. mon. page 230. b. art. 1. & 2. and confe­ssed of Husse by Osiander in epitom. cent. 15. page 469. paulo post medium. where he repeateth Wy­cliffe & Husse his doctrine saying: Nullus est Dominus ciuilis, nullus est Prelatus, nullus est Episcopus, dum est in mortali peccato: haec propositio approbari non potest, sed passus est Ioannes Husse hac in parte ali­quid humani vt supra demonstrauimus. of Wicliffes seditious doctrine against Princes, Priestes, and Bishopes, if they committed mortall sinne: other wise he beleeuedAct. mon. page 216. a. fine & b. initio. seauen Sacraments. act. mon. page 209. a. fine & b. initio. & post med. & page 197. b. fine. Transub­stantiation. Mr. Iacob in his defence o [...] the Churches and ministerie of England page 13. ante med. & act. mon. page 227. b. art. 7. & 8. & pag. 216 are. 12. and Luther in assertioni­bus Art. 30 saith. Ioannes Husse non repugnare videtur quo minus sit Monarchia Papae. (and a litle there before) he further saith of Wicliffe. non parum detulit romano idolo. the Popes Primacie. andLuther in colloquijs germanicis cap. de Missa saith: Missa priuata multos sanctos decipit a tempo­re Gregorij per Annos. 800. Ioannes Husse codem reti captus fuit. the Masse it selfe: and being a Catholicke Priest said Mr. Iacob. vbi supra. And Hulderich Reichentale who was a Citizen of Constance and liued in that time testi­fieth the same in hist. teutonic. de con [...]il. Constantiens. Masse euen to his dying day: and was so Catholickly resolued in other points of faith, that Luther saith.Luther in colloquijs germa­nicis cap. de Antichristo. the Papistes [Page 110] burned Iohn Husse when as yet he departed not a finger breadth from the Papacie, for he taught the same which the Papistes do, onely he found fault with their vices and wicked life, a­gainst the Pope he committed nothing. And the same is yet further testified of Husse byMr. Foxe in Apoc. c. 11. page 287. post med saith: Hieronimus Lau­dans Ioannem Hussium ait, nihil illum aduersus Ecclesiae statum comme­ruisse, tantū abusus, Cle­ricorum superbiam, fastū ac Pompam Prelatorum ferre minus potuisse. Hierome of Prag, who liued in the same time with him: a thing so euidently true that no meaner a witnes then Mr. Foxe, testifi­eth the same as yet much more fully, rebuking for that very reason the Popes causing Husse to be bur­ned: to which end Mr. Foxe saith:Mr. Foxe in Apoc. c. 11. page 290. post med. saith. Hussium & Hiero­nimum vt haereticos tra­ducunt, quid ita obsecro? &c. Addo aliquid amplius si hereticus est, qui a pla­citis Romanae Ecclesiae de flexit, quid vnquam do­cuit, aut in concilio de­fendit Hussius in quo non cum Papistis superstitiosé cōsentire videbatur? quid de Trāsubstantiatione statuit fides Pontificia quod ipse pariter cum ijsdē Pontificijs non confirmauit? Quis Missas illo religio­sius celebrauit, aut vota sacerdotalis celibatus ca­stius obseruauit? Adde huc quod in dogmate Ca­tholicorum de libero ar­bitrio, de Predestinatione de fide formata, de iustificationis causa, de meritis bonorum operum, quid aliter sentit ille quam quod docetur Romae, quam ille vnquam statuam aut diui imaginem eiecit é templo suo Bethlehem? &c. Agedum, quid igitur commeruisse illum dicemus, in quo aut non ipse pariter cum Romana Sede condemnandus sit, aut cum eadem absoluendus? What did Husse at any time teach or defend in the Councell, wherin he did not rather seeme superstitiously to consent with the Papistes? what did the popish faith decree cōcerning Transubstantiatiō which he likewise with the Papistes did not confirme? who celebrated Masse more religiously then he, or more chasilie obserued the vowes of Priestlie chastitie? Add further that in the doctrine of Cath [...]lickes concerning freewill, Predestination, informed faith, the cause of Iustification, and merit of good works? what other thing did he hould then is taught at Rome? What image of any Saint did he euer cast out of his Church at Bethleme? &c. What therfore shall we say him to haue committed for which he is not together with the Romane see to be cōdemned, or with it to be absolued? And Mr. Foxe repor eth ac­cordingly of Husse his followers the Bohemianes thatAct. mon. page 260. b. ante med. being demaunded in what points they did diff [...]r from the Church of Rome Ibidem circa medium. the onely propositions which they (ther­vpon) propounded were theseAct. mon. page 260. ante medium. And see the very same testimonie hereof in Dresserus his millenar. 6. page 255. post medium. foure articl [...]s: First the necessitie of Communion vnder both kindes: the Second that all ciuill dominion was forbidden to the Cleargie. the Third that the preaching of the Word is free f [...]r all men and in all places. the Fourth that open crimes are in no wise to be suffe­red [Page 111] for auoidi [...]g of greater euell. So euidently also did the B [...]hemianes in all other pointes of faith embrace the Catholicke doctrine.

And thus much brie [...]lie concerning Husse and his followers that they were not of the Protestants Church, and therefore cannot iustlie be alledged as examples sufficient to vphould their Churches ad­m [...]nistration of the Word and Sacraments: A truth made so euident by the premisses as we hould it al­together vnworthie of your MAIESTIES further consideration, onely we cannot but (as before) so here also admire Mr. Foxe his extreme bo [...]ldnes or rather need of protestant Pastors and professors, when he so seriously registred Iohn Husse forAct. mon. page 190. b. ante med. & page 241. b. post med. A [...]d Mast [...]r Dowaeham in his treatise [...]ō cerning Antichrist pag. 40. fine. a most holy martir, of their Church: not doubting likewise so vnaduisedly to honour, the succesfull for the time (though barbarouse)Of their barbarous crueltie, see act. mon. pag 253. b. insurrection of hisAct. mon. pag. 250 b. post medium. dis­ciples and adherentes in Bohemia (who proceededAct. mon. pag. 251 a. post medium. to reue [...]ge his death withAct. mon. ibid. an armie of. 40000 men and confessedAct. mon. page 252 a. ante mediū. Mr. Foxe saith of them, they rebelled out of hand. and Osiander in epitom. histor. eccles. centur. 9. 10. 11. &c. pa. 472. circa med. saith of them. Cum Bohemi de ex­ustis duobus Martiribus Io­anne Husso & Hieronimo Pragēsi certiores facti essent vehementer exasperati sunt, a Magistratu politico ali­quot Templa extorserunt in quibus Conciones ab Hussiacis ministrs audiuerunt & Sa­cramenta perceperunt. postea progressu temporis monasteria quaedam & Templa pontifi­cia destruxerunt, Sacerdotes quosdam pontificios trucida­runt, deni (que) multa designa­runt, quae Hussus si in viuis adhuc fu [...]sset minime appro­basset. &c. rebellion against their Soueraigne) with the vnfitting title ofact. mon. pag. 258. a. initio. the ghospells increase.

THAT THOVGH VVALDO WICLIFFE and Husse had bene Protestantes yet theire ex­amples are insufficient in this case. SECT. 6.

HITHERTO we haue proceeded that neither Waldo, Wicliffe, nor Husse were of the Prote­stants Church, and that therefore theire examples are impertinently alledged: onely now we will sup­pose for the time that they had bene all of them full Protestants in opinion, and withall yet appeall to your MAIESTIES learned iudgmēt, whether their fo [...]esaide examples be not altogether insufficient to proue a continuance of their Churches administra­tion of the Word and Sacraments, but so much as for [Page 112] those only times in which they liued, and that for two speciall important reasons.

As 1 First in that neither they all (nor so much as any one of them) were before their first appearing members and professors of the said supposed Prote­stants Church and faith, but were (as appeareth by the premisses,) all of them originally professed and knowne Catholikes: as in like maner were Arius, Macedonius, Nestorius, Pelagius, Eutiches, and the other ould Sectmasters before their times, who all being first Catholickes (through Innouation afterwardes and noueltie of opinion)1. Iohn. 2, 19. & act. 15, 24. went out from vs: the very brand or character wherwith the holy scriptures, & ProtestantsMr. Alison in his confutatiō of Brownism. pag. 1. initio. them selues doe note false teachers. And therfore the foresaid example of Waldo, Wicliffe, and H [...]sse, who before their first appearing were Ca­tholickes supposing they were afterwardes Prote­stants) proueth in steed of continuance rather a ma­nifest defection, and not being of their Churches ad­ministration of the Word & Sacraments, at and ime­diately before the first begining of euery of them.

2 Secondly, as Luther saith:Luther vpon the e­pistle to the Galathianes englished in c. 1. fol. 10. b ante medium. It is not enough for a man to haue the word and puritie of doctrine, but al o he must be assured of his calling, and he that entreth without this, cer­tainely entreth to no other end but to kill. &c. to which purpose the scripture saith:Rom. 10, 15. How shall they preach except they be sent. Hebr. 5, 4 No man taketh to him the honour of Pries [...]hood but he that is called of God as Aaron was: Iohn. 10, 1 Who so entereth not by the dore into the sheepfolde, but climeth an other way, is a theefe. And for so much as the refuge of pretended extraordinary calling hath bene here­toforeSee heretofore tract 2. c. 2. sect. 3 in the mar­gent there at the letter z. and in the margent at the letter a. sufficiently discouered, and reiected, by learned Protestants, Lutheranes, and Puritanes: the Churches ordinarie calling by man, being, (as the auncient FathersCiprian. l. de sim­plicitate Prelatorum con­demneth such as want the Chur [...]hes calling saying. I [...] sunt qui se vltio apud te­merarios conuenas sine diuina dispositione praesiciunt, qui se praepositos sine vlla ordinatio­nis lege constituunt: qui nemine episcopatum dante Episcopi nomen sibi assumunt. And Ciprian. l. 1. ep. 6. ad Magnum. sayeth of Nouatianus: Nouatianus in Ecclesia non est, nec Episcopus computari potest qui Euangelica & Apostolica traditione contempta, nemini succedens a seipso ordinatus est, habere nam (que) aut tenere Ecclesiam nullo modo potest qui ordinatus in ecclesia non est (and a litle afterwardes) nemini succedens & a seipso incipiens, alienus fit & prophanus. Vpon this ground Tertulian. in libro de prescrip. vrgeth the Hereticks of his time saying: Edant origines ecclesiarum suarum, euoluant ordinem Episcoporum suorū ita per successionem &c. And Optatus l. 2. contra Parmen. vrgeth in like maner the Dona­tisies saying. Vestrae Cathedrae vos originem ostendite qui vobis vultis sanctam ecclesiam vindicare: mistus est Victor ex Africa Romam, erat ibi filius sine patre, sequens sine Ante­cedente And St. Austine ex quaest. in nouo & vet. Test. quest. 100. saith of Heretickes. Or­dinem ab Apostolo Petro caeptum & vs (que) hoc tempus per traducem succedentium Epis­coporum seruatum perturbant, ordinem sibi sine origine vendicantes &c. and them seluesLuther vpon the epistle to the Galathianes fol. 10. a. circa med. saith: God calleth vs at this day to the ministerie of his word not imediately him selfe but by man. And Piscator. volum. 1 thesium. theolog. pag. 405. circa med. saith. Post tempora autem Apostolorum vocauit, & adhuc vocat, & ad finem vs (que) mundi vocaturus est Pastores, Doctores & Presbiteros per Ecclesiam &c. And see D. Couel. in his defence of Mr. Hooker page 86. fine & 87. initio. and in his examination &c. page 131. fine & 106 initio. do yet fur­ther confesse) the established course of the new Te­stament, without which no man may vndertake the [Page 113] publique charge and administration of the word and sacraments: To which end the now Lord Bishop of Winchester affirmeth that,Mr. Bilson in his perpetuall gouernment of Christs Church. c. 9. pag. 111. ante medium. the moderation of the keies and imposition of handes were at first setled in the Apo­stles: and that they can haue no part of Apostolike Comissi­on that haue no shew of Apostolicke succession &c. and ther­fore thatIbid. page 111 post med. and see the like in Mr. D. Couel. in his exa­mination page 97. circa med. & 106 initio. Pastors do receaue by succession the power and charge of the Word and Sacraments from and in the first Apo­stles: against all which, the vulgar obiections which some precisians vrge (contrarie to scriptures, and so many of their owne writers) ofObiected by master Fulke against the Rhemish Testament in Rom. c. 10 fol. 255. a. paulo post me. Aedesius and Fru­mentius (two lay persons) Conuerting a great nation of the Indianes: and of a captiue woman conuerting the nation of the Iberianes, and grossely mistakenMistaken and imperti­nent, for though it be re­ported that Aedesius and Frumentius did by priuate exhortation perswade the people of that Nation to the Christian faith, a thing which Laye persons may do: yet is there no mention that either of them did vndertake the administration of the Word and Sacraments, vntill such time as Frumentius went to Alexandria to Athanasius who gaue to him the holy function of a Bishop. The­odoret (after Christofersons translation. hist. l. 1. c. 23.) wherewith he returned to the said nation and so proceeded to their conuersion. In like maner it is not said that the cap­tiue woman did vndertake the administration of the word and sacraments, but that Priests onely were wanting, which she perfited by perswading the King to send to the Emperour of R [...]me for some Doctor &c. Whervpon a certaine worthy man was made Bishope and sent to preach to the na­tion of the Iberianes. Thendoret hist. l. 1. c. 24. versus finem. See also the former example of Frumentius answered in this sorte, by D. Sarauia in defens. tract. &c. contra respons. Bezae. c. 1. page 46. ante medium. and imperti­nent.

If now our Catholicke Church be a true Church able to conferre this calling so by herWhittaker contra Duraeum. l. 9. page 820. saith hereof to Duraeus: Fuit Lutherus vestro etiam ritu Presbiter at (que) Doctor &c & talem fuisse Suinglium, Bucerum, Oecolampadiū alios (que) innumerabiles constat. &c. And see Ioannes Regius in libro Apologe­tico. &c. page 122. ante med. & page 121. giuen to Husse, Wicliffe &c. and that it was sufficient to them, why then do our aduersaries so greeuously accuse & maligne our said Church for false and Antichristian? And if according to their doctrine the Pope be An­tichrist and our Church Antichristian, then follow­eth necessarily that which them selues therupon say, namely that,Propositions and Principles disputed in the Vniuersitie of Geneua. page 245. circa med. And Mr. Ga­briell Powell in his con­sideration of the Papistes reasons &c. page 71. saith the Popish ordination is no­thing els but meere propha­nation: &c. there is no true Ecclesiasticall vocatiō in the Papacie. &c. And see fur­ther hereof mr. Sutliffe in his answere to the Masse Priestes supplication to the 19. section And Mr. Fulke in his an­swere to a counterfeite Catholicke page 50. circa med. saith, to vs, you are highly deceiued if you thinke we esteeme your offices of Bishops Priestes and Deacons any better then Lay men, and you presume to much to thinke that we receiue your ordering to be lawfull. And page 51. ante med. he answereth & giueth reason, why he alloweth our Baptisme though not our orders. And see Mr. Whitaker contra Duraeum. l. 9. page 821. initio. there is in Babilon (thereby meaning our Church) no holy Order or ministrie in deed, no lawfull calling but a meer [...] vsurpation: F [...]r it must needs to all men seeme absurd that Ch [...]ists Ministers shou [...]d re­ceiue then spirituall power and Comission from An­tichrist: and then also not onely Waldo the [...]ay man, and all those who discended from him (which is heretoforeheretofore tract. 2. c. 2 sect 3. prope initium. in them made most euident) but likewise euen Husse, Wicliffe, and Lu [...]her him selfe (who had no other calling but from our Church) and so many o­ther as haue afterwards claimed vnder them, are de­stitute hitherto of all lawfull calling,The Protestant Lascius in proofe hereof alledgeth (in the booke entituled de Russorum, Muscou [...]tarum, & Tartararum religione. page 23. Caluine saying, quia Papae Tirannide abrupta fuit vera ordinationis series, nouo subsidio nunc opus est &c. at (que) omnimò extrao [...]dinarium fuit hoc munus quod Dominus nobis iniunxit &c. so say they fleeing to extraordinarie calling. And Beza in the Conference at Poyssie being demaunded of the calling of him selfe (and his other then associates) affirmed the same to be extraordinarie. Here­of reade Sarau [...]a in defens. tract. contra respon. Bezae page 59. fine. & 60. post medium. & 74. fine. the true suc­cession [Page 115] of ordination being (as our aduersaries therupon affirme) then broken of: which needfull continuance of personall succession or calling, seemeth further­more so manifestly defectiue or wanting in the Protestants Church, that euen sundry of themselues, (who as Sadell complaineth therat)Anthonie Sadell in his booke entituled de rebus grauissimis controuersis disputationes theologicae page 719. ante med. saith hereof, hoc ipsa rei veritas ab illis obtinuit, veram, at (que) expresso Dei verbo fundatam esse eam doctrinam, quam ecclesiae no­strae amplexae sunt: sed af­firmāt ministros esse apud nos legitima vocatione destitutos, cum non habeāt perpetuam ac visibilem ab Apostolis ad haec vs (que) tempora successionem. &c. acknowledge the do­ctrine which their Church doth embrace to be true and groun­ded vpon the expresse word of God, do yet affirme the ministers with them to be destitute of lawfull calling: &c. In which opinion they are so resolute that Sadell did therefore write a speciallThe title of that trea­tise is, de legitima vocati­one Pastorum Ecclesiae reformatae aduersus eos, qui in hoc tantum capite se ab Ecclesia reformata dissen­tire profitentur: and beginneth page 719. of the booke aboue alledged. treatise therof against them.

And thus much briefly whether Waldo, Wicliffe, Husse, and Luther, had suficient calling or not to admi­nister the Protestant Churches word and sacramēts: which if they had not, thē admitting that we should for the time suppose them to haue bene full Prote­stantes in opiniō, and also neuer to haue bene reuol­ted Catholicks, but orig [...]nally professors of the Pro­testants Doctrine, yet all th [...]s notwithstanding there appeareth by reason of their foresaid alledged onely want of true ordination, a con [...]essed and vnanswe­rable defecte or downefall (for so many hundreth yeares last past) of theire Churches administration of the word and sacramēts, without which (as them selues haueSee heretofore tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 1. at x. y. z. heretofore confessed frō the scriptures) it were no Church.

THAT THE EXAMPLES OF BERTRAM Berengarius & others (who liued before Waldo) are also insufficient to answere in this behalfe for their times. SECT. 7.

HAVING spoken thus fully of Waldo, Wycliffe and Husse in whom remained our aduersairies greatest confidence, it shalbe lesse needfull to make this point more manifest as yet in the other seuerall ages precedent to theire times, as well for that thus [Page 116] much onely may suffice as haue bene already said of the Protestants foresaide defection (though but du­ring the seuerall times or ages of Waldo, Wycliffe, Husse or any of them) concerning their Churches then eui­dent want of administration of the worde and Sacra­ments which (acording to their formerSee heretofore tract 2. c. 2. sect. 1. at. t. v. and ibid. x. y. z. b. c. confessiō) must euermore continue and be in the true Church, as also for that their like manifest defect, euen also in those other precedent ages is by our learned aduersa­ries no lesse thē very plainely acknowledged. To ad yet somwhat to that which hath beneSee heretofore tract 2. c. 1. sect. 4. heretofore most fullie confessed, in that behalfe, the other lear­ned Protestants (such as are more wary and sparing what to saie or write thereof) do acknowledge thatMr. Fulke in his an­swere to a counterfait Ca­tholicke page 36. prope initium. and Mr. Gabriel Powell in his Consideration of the Papistes reasons &c. page 105. fine. saieth. I graunt that from the yeare of Christ 605. the professani company of Popery hath bene very visible and perspicuous. Anno 607. (at the furthest) from Christ the papistes religion preuailed, Mr. Fulke ibid. pag 27. circa medium. all Popes from Boniface the third being Antichristes. And that since that time theire Church Mr. Fulke ibid. pag. 16. paulo ante med. fled into the Wildernes there to remaine a long season in­uisible now Waldo (who was many yeares before Wicliffe & Husse) begunne butAct. mon. page 628 b. ante medium. Anno 1218 so that be­twixte him and the foresaid yeares of 607 were sixe hundreth and odd yeares, for and during all which time no lesse then for the time since Waldo, our aduer­saries rest chargeable againe to answere for their churches continued administration of the Word and Sa­craments, wherat they stand wholly silent, and con­fesse as before their defect therin, being vnable to af­ford but any one exāple so much as of any one King­dome, Cittie, or Village vpon the wholle face of the earth, nor so much as of any one person liuing in the world, professing their religion and celebrating their sacraments, but during any one moment day or time within any one of all those said sixe hundreth yeares.

In further triall wherof to deale as now liberally with them, and to admitt for true, as well that Apo­criphall and forged epistle, printed lately at Basill, & written in behalfe of Priestes marriages in the name [Page 117] of Vtricke Bishope of Augusta vnto Pope Nicholas,For Pope Nicholas the first, to whom this V­tricke should write was made Pope Anno. 858. & enioying the same nyne yeeres two monthes xx. daies dyed Anno. 867. as testifie Onuphrius in libro de Ro­manis Pontificibus: & vi­de Anastasiū Bibliotheca­rium de vitis Roman. Pontific. &c. Printed Magnu­tiae Anno. 1602. pag. 305 fine. & 328. initio. And Pantaleon in cronog. p. 70 wheras Vtricke was not made Bishope of Augusta till after the death of Pope Nicholas viz. Anno. 924 (Vide Vrspergensem in chronic. & Chitreum in Chronic. & Pantaleon in chronic. page 75.) and continuing Bishope 50. yeares: dyed Anno. 973. Beuther l. Fastorum page 209. And see Pantaleon in Chronograph. page 75. and Osiander in epitom. histor. ec­cles. cent. 9. 10. 11. 12. &c. page 99. fine. & 100. ante medium. sundry yeares, either before that Vtricke was borne, or els after that Pope Nicholas was dead: as also that other though perhaps more auncient, yet no lesse forgedIt appeareth by the booke of Pope Adrian vnto Charles, (which booke is extant tom. 3. Concil. and in many thinges long since specially cited by Iuo, and purposely written in confutation of that other booke vnder Charles his name) that the same was then forged by some hereticall enimie against Images. and lying booke written against imagesCaluin. in institut. l. 1. c. 11. sect. 14. Insinuateth it to be for­ged about Charelemaines time, saying: extat refutatorius liber sub Caroli magni nomine, quē ex dictione colligere licet eodem fuisse tempore compositum. Vnder the name of Carolus Magnus, who in deed was not onely an extreme enemieIoanas Aurelianensis (who liued in those times) affirmeth (l. 1. pro imaginibus) that Claudius Taurinensis who impugned images durst neuer publish his doctrine therof during the life of Carolus magnus. And Paulus Aemilius l. 2. hist. Franciae such, that Carolus magnus sent 12. Bishops vnto a Councell holden at Rome by Pope Stephan [...] in confutation of the error of the Greekes against images. Hereof also see the Centurie writers cent. 8. c. 9. col. 570. And Mr. Cowper late Bishope of Lincoln in his Chronic. fol. 174. b. circa med. repo [...]teth of certaine Bishops sent by Adrian to Charles, who held a Councell in Fraunce against the condemnation of images. &c. to all those that impugned Images, but was also (as the learned Prote­stantsHereof see Luc. Osiander in epitom. hist. eccles. cent. 8. pag. 101. circa med. and Mr. Cowpers Chronic: fol. 173. a. post med. & 175. b. paulo ante med. Foxe in Apoc. page 436. paulo post med. And Crispinus in his booke of the estate of the Church: page 221. paulo post. med. & 226. initio. & circa med. And Hospinianus in epistola dedicatoria. hist. sacramentar. circa med. saith. Imperator (Carolus magnus) non solum publicis edictis mandauit, vt ceremoniae & ritus, item (que) Missa latina Rom. eccles. alia (que) decreta placita & instituta Romani Pontificis per totum imperium obseruarentur, sed ipsemet etiam carceribus ac varijs suppliciorum ge­neribus ad hoc ipsum cogebat ecclesias: was this man then like to impugne the Church of Rome in her doctrine of Images. confesse) wholly denoted to the Romane Church. And to admit likewise the booke written of the Sacrament, and set forth lately (not without greatIn so much that Pantaleon in his chronogra. pag. 65. men­cioning Bertram and his other writings, forbeareth yet to mencion this booke or to charge him with this pretended opinion. suspition) by Oecolampadius vnder Bertrams name to be in deed that aunciēt booke which Bertrā is mencioned to haue written de Corpore & Sanguine [Page 118] D [...]mini, to King Charles the balde: and that also this present booke were not doubtfullThis booke is so perplexedly and doubfullye penned, and vseth the wordes figure spirituall & misterie, with such qualifi­cations, and so fully also withall affirmeth the pre­sence of Christs Body vnder the veile or couerture of bred that it affordeth no plaine sense against the Reall presence. but plaine and direct against the Reall presence, which thing the Centurie writers vtterly denie:Centur. 9. c. 4. col. 212. It is said: Transub­stātiationis semina habet Bertramus. In so much also, as our auncient Catholicke writers nearer to those times, doubteth not to honour Bertram, Hospinianus in hist. sacramentaria. l. 4. page 317. paulo ante med. mencioneth this at large. for a holy Martir of their Church, and Illiricus accordingly for beareth to name him in hisIlliricus in Catall. test. ver. printed Basiliae Anno 1556. Catalog. of Protestant witnesses. And to admit lastly the exāple of Berenga­rius Archdeacon of Angiers, denying Transubstantia­tion, and that he had not, (as he after did)Act. mon. pag. 13. a recan­ted that his opinion, and had also bene free from all those other confessed errors wherwith Oecolampadius and other Protestant writers charge him,Oecolampadius in libro epistolarum Oeco­lampadij & Suinglij l. 3. page 710. fine. saith: Be­rengarius nonnulla affir­mabat aduersus Coniugiū & Baptismum paruulorum (and page 711.) deinde etiam Berengarius parum candidè incessisse depre­henditur. (and page 712. initio.) Damnata est Berengarij opinio, nimirum sacerdotio pa­rum, Christiano minus tribuens: And see Papir. Masson in Annalibus Francorum. l. 3. in Hugone, & Roberto: where it is said that Berengarius and his followers denied the grace of Baptisme, denying that men committing mortall sinne could euer obteine pardon therfore. and that Beside [...] this he was an en [...]mie to marriage. &c. And Crispinus in his booke of the estate of the Church. page 289. ante medium saieth: Although Berengarius had the truth on his side, yet had he a certai [...]e hatred ag [...]inst La [...]francus and R [...]gerius mingled with glorie. &c. He mingled with all certaine speeche [...] of m [...]riage and the Baptisme of little children &c. So [...]t commeth to passe when without the Lords feare w [...] will m [...]ntaine the cause of the Gh [...]spell. yet what do all these, or any one of them, or any other like that may be alledged, conuince in this behalfe? euery of them, (though thus admitted) extendeth only but to some one parte or small time of the said 600 yeares: and is also for the most parte but the exam­ple of some one or other priuate man, being at first Catholike & begining afterwards to holde some one onely singuler pointe of the Protestants faith, remai­ning in al [...] other matters of controuersie still Catho­licke: which thing Mr. Fulke did well foresee, and therfore being prouoked in this kind, he iumpeth quite ouer these foresaid examples, and all the saide si [...]e hundreth yeares, and giueth his first instance in Wi [...]l [...]ff saying:Mr. Fulke in his answere to a counterfeite Catholicke. page 34. paulo ante med. Wicliffe I weene you will not deny but he was of our Church: and as to Bertra [...] & those other [Page 119] who seuerally impugned Images and the vnmaried life of Priestes, he saith expresly of them:Mr. Fulke ibidem. Al­though these and such like defended some parte of the truthe which we holde against you, yet least you should obiect it was but in some one or two pointes, I passe them ouer with silence. So manifestly are these foresaid exāples of Bertram and the rest found impertinent (though we should admit them for true) and so plainely withall are the said 6. hundreth yeares betweene Boniface the 3. and Waldo, found destitute of all examples wherby to vp hould the Protestant CHVRCHES administration of the Word, and Sacraments: which pointe Master Iohn Nappeir Mr. Nappeir vpon the reuelations in c. 20. page 239. ante med. af­firmeth that for the space of a thousand yeares from the daies of Pope Siluester the first (who liued Anno Dom. 320.) to the daies of Pope Boniface the .8. the seate of Rome had no match nor encounter (neither) euer suffered any to be seene vouch­able or visible of the true Church but thence forth such hotte warres fell betwixt the empire of Rome and the ma­humeticke empire, that at vnwares diuers true professors openly & vowably did arise, as Iohn de R [...]pe scissa Anno 1240.. Guilielmus de sancto Amore. Anno. 1260. &c. Wicliffe Anno. 1390. Iohn Husse, and Hierome of Prag. Anno. 1415. So plainely doth Mr. Napeir disclaim in Bertram Vtrike and all those other foresaid examples which were before Boniface the 8. As for Ioannes de Rupe Scissa (whom Mr. Napeire nameth) he liued not Anno. 1260. but (as Mr. Foxe) act. mon. printed. 1596. page 359. a. line 70. testifieth Anno. 1340. of whom Mr. Foxe there saieth, that he for rebuking the spiritualtie for their great enormities, and neglecting their office was cast in prison: otherwise he was in Religion Catholicke, and wholly ignorant of the Protestants doctrine. In like ma­ner concerning Willm. de S. Amore. his trouble is by Mr. Foxe (vbi supra page 287. b. line 60.) and by Crispinus in his discourse of the estate of the Church page 359.) mencioned to be onely for writing against the Friars and their hypochrisie in so much as Pantaleon (in chro­nographia page 102. initio) saith. Guilielmus de S. Amore, Monachos ex elemosina in ocio vi­uentes non saluari scribens a Papa hereticus censetur; and to the like effect testifieth Osiander centur. 13. page 367. ante med. as for any further prooffe of him being a Protestant there is no testimonie; to such impertinent examples as our aduersaries enforced for vpholding of their Churches continuance. (though our aduersarie) doth as yet much more fully acknowledge. Add but now he [...]e­vnto in full conclusion or demonstration that neither H [...]sse, Wi [...]l ff [...], Waldo, nor any other within the fore­said 600. ye [...]res betweene Boniface the 3. & Waldo were professed members of the Protestants visible Church, a briefe repet [...]tion of that which the lea [...]ned Protestants thē selues haue heretofore most plainely acknowledged: to this end saith Mr. PerkinsMr. Perkins in his exposition vpon the Creed page 400. We say that before the daies of Luther for many hundreth yeares an vniuersall Apostasie ouerspread the wholle face of the earth and that our Church was not thē visible to the world: wherof he giueth the reason saying,Mr. Perkins ibidem. page 307. during the space of nyne [Page 120] hundreth yeares the popish heresie hath spread it selfe ouer the wholle earth. To omit the like acknowledgment of Mr. D. Fulke concerning the Churches remainingMr. Fulke in his an­swere to a counterfeit Catholicke. page 16. ante medium. invisible a long season, after Anno. Dom. 607. Master Iohn Napeire confesseth as before thatMr. Nappeire vpon the Reuelations. pag. 145 colum. 3. fine. the Pope and his Cleargie hath possessed the outward visible Church of Christians 1260. yeares, Mr. Nappeire ibid. page 191. initio. Gods true Church most certainly abiding so long Latent, and invisible: Ibid. p. 161. col. 3. circa med. & page 156. ante. med. & 237. paulo post med. & 23 fine. and Sebastianus Francus affirmethSebastianus Frācus in epistola de Abrogan­dis in vniuersum omnibus statutis ecclesiasticis. that for certaine, through the worke of Antichrist, the externall Church togither with the faith and sacraments, vanished away presently after the Apostles de­parture, and that for these thousand foure hundreth yeares, the Church hath bene no where externall and visible.

A CONFVTATION OF THOSE PROTE­stants who answere that their Churches administration of the Word and Sacraments did during all those times continue in being & yet withall remaine as then inuisible or vnknowne; with solution to the vsuall obiection of Elias complaint that he was left alone. SECT. 8.

AND for so mu [...]h as in this extreamest need, Anthonie Sadell offereth his last helpeSadell de rebus gra­uissimis controu. disputa. &c. pa. 783. prope initiū. affir­ming that although their Pastors, Doctors, admini­stration of the Word, & Sacramēts, had for so many s [...]uerall hundreth yeeres together, bene to the world so invisible and vnknowne as the premisses argue, that yet notwithstanding they were at all times in euery of those seuerall ages most certainely (though so vnknowne yet) daily extant and in being, euen as those 7000.1 Of Kings. 19, 18 faithfull, though vnknowne in like manner to Helias, when he thought1 Of Kings. 19, 10 him selfe alone were yet neuerthelesse at the same time reserued and remaining.

we humblie pray your highnesse of patience to vouchsaue our examination of this their last and dis­pairing refuge: in full discouery whereof, we saye: 1 First that though those .7000. of that one speciall time were vnknowne as thē to Elias, yet this proueth not (which is the onely matter pertinent hereby to be proued that therefore they should be as then vn­knowne also to all others of the same time, and much lesse therfore can this perticuler exāple proue, that all the faithfull not of one speciall time onely, but also of so many seuerall hundreth yeares as are before examined should all of them during all those ages continew so generally Latent and vnknowne (not to one Elias onely but) to the whole world, as that there should remaine no memorie or notice of the needfull preaching, and administratiō of Sacra­ments to haue beene performed, so much as by any one of thē in any one Nation of the earth, for any one moment of all those times,

2 Secondly we say that this example of Elias maketh wholly for vs & against our aduersaries, and is there­fore by them either ignorantly mistaken, or wilfully misapplied: for it is euident that Elias 1 Of Kings. 19, 3. And see the contents of the Englishe Bible vpon that Chapter. fleeing the face of Iezabell wife to Achab, who soughtIbid. vers. 2. his life, laye therupon secret inIbid. vers. 8. & 9. a Caue vpon Mount Horreb. in the wildernes at the time of his foresaid complai­ning that he was left alone, the which he then vttred not generally but in regard onely of that countrie of Israell which was the kingdome of Achab (wherein he then a stranger laye secret) as appeareth most plainely aswel in that God himself accordingly an­swered his said complaint, with like respect to that onely countrie, saying as is obiected,Ibid. vers. 18. I haue lefte to me in Israell 7000. &c. as also for that in those very times the Church did greatly florishe in the other next adioining kingdome of Iuda, and was as then to him there, both knowne and visible, vnder two [Page 122] good kinges Asa and Iosaphat, who reigned euen in the time1 Of Kings. 22, 41. of Achab: at what time the number of the faithfull was there so exceeding greate, that the souldiers onely were numbred to many2. Chron. 14, 8, 9. & 17, 14, 15.16, 17, 18, 19. hundreth thowsands: so visible and knowne was the Church at that time, and so euident withall is the truthe of this our answer, that this very obiection, is in this sort an­swered and refelled, not onely byMr. Clapham in his soueraign remedy against schisme pa. 17. paulo post med. saith. Our ignorant reformists say, the Church was invisible in the time of Helias▪ wherto he answe­reth saying, the holy Ghost recordeth Helias to haue spo­ken this against Israell, not against Iuda, for as he knew that good Iosophat at that time reigned in Iuda: So he well knew that there, was not onely the Church visible, but also mightely reformed. & vide ibid. page 18. ini­tio. & circa med. Mr. Henoch Clapham an English Protestant, but also (as certaine of our other aduersaries do thereatBenedict morgen­stern. in tract. de Ecclesia pag. 4. saith: Mirum quod Philippus ea quae dicuntur de inuisibili Ecclesia ita prorsus reijcit, vt illud e­tiam Domini verbum ad Eliam, reliqui mihi 7000 &c. ad visibilem Ecclesiā detorqueat. complaine) euen by Philip Melancthon. Melancthon in cor­pore doctrinae. page 530. and that the Churches Pastors & Doctors should for so many ages together be in being and withall vnknowne, is yet otherwise at the least in it selfe inexplicable if not cōtradictorie, for what do our aduersaries affirme to be the reason of this their pretended latencie, a [...]l they can al [...]edge is persecutiō. But against this we say 1. First that the Churches persecutiō maketh her the more knowne, for who are persecuted but knowne men, this Mr. Ca [...]thwright confesseth calling the [...]efore the Church vnder persecution.Mr. Carthwrite in Mr. Whitgiftes defence &c. page 174. paulo post med. And he saith there further: What a conclusion is this, the Church were few in number because they were vn­der the Crosse &c. To let passe both scriptures and stories Ecclesiasticall, haue you forgotten what is said in the first of Exodus, that the more the children of Israell were persecuted the more they increa­sed. visible and sensible, for els (saieth he) how could it be persecuted and Mr. Iewell saith ac­cordingly,Mr. Iewell in his replie page 506. circa med. And see Mr. Iewell in his defence of the Apologie printed 1571. page 33. & 34. the Church is placed vpon a Mount her Per­secutions cannot be hidde. In cleare demonstration wher­of, it is euident, that although the primatiue Church during the first 300 ye [...]res, after Christ, enduredHereof see Mr. Foxe in his actes & monuments Printed 1576. from page 34. till page 86. describing the first tenne Persecutions. And see the Centurie writers of Magdeburg. Cent. 1. l. 2. c. 2. col. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. & Cent. 2. c. 2. col. 10. 11. 12. 15. 16. 17. 18. 20. 21. 22. &c. & Cent. 3. c. 3. col. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. &c. incomparablie the most vniuersall and violent perse­cutions that euer were, (yet the same notwithstan­ding) [Page 123] our aduersariesCentur. 1. & Cent. 2. & 3. throughout. And Pantaleon in Chronogra. & Functius in Chronolog & Osiander Cent. 1. 2. & 3. & Foxe act. mon. in his discourse of the tenne first Persecutions of the primatiue Church. And Dresserus in millenar. 5. pag 11. & 12. And of the sundry Councells or Sy­nodes then assembled and had. See Mr. Fulks booke de successione Ecclesiastica, contra Stapletonum. pa. 246 ante med. the Centurie writers, and sundry otherrs, do at this day take certaine and per­ticuler notice, of the Catholicke Bishops and Pastors by name in euery of those ages, of their administra­tion of the Word and Sacraments, and their open impugning of Heresies.

2 Secondly we say that for so much as (according to many beforeSee heretofore tract 2. c. 2. sect. 1. recited plaine testimonies from scriptures and Protestants) it is euident & confessed that the Church is to continue so knowne, that all men See heretofore tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 1. l. c. and in the margent there. carefull of their saluatio may know where the true Church is, and to which company they ought to adhere: that therfore no force or persecution of man can or shall be able to dissolue Act. 5, 39. If this worke be of God you are not able to dissolue it. or make frustrate the ordinance of God made in this behalfe.

3 Thirdly we say that euen common vnderstanding argueth this inuincible, from the very nature of the Church, for we must needes affirme of the Church vnder Persecution, that either she doth in some sorte or other make profession of her faith, and also open­ly refraine the externall communion of all Idolatry, false doctrine, and sacraments, or els that she doth not professe and refraine as beforesaid, if the latter, then (as appeareth most euidently by the premisses)See heretofore tract 2. c. 2. sect. 1. she is not the true Church: if the first then is she thereby made knowne and visible, for besides her foresaid profession consisting in administration of the Word and Sacraments, and impugning of errors; which being done (though neuer so priuately) is im­possibleHumfred. in Iesui­tismi. part. 2. rat. 3. page 241. initio. saith hereof. Dum Ministri docent, alij discunt, illi Sacramenta administrant, hij Communicant, omne Deum inuo­cant, & fidem suam pro­fitentur, qui ista non videt talpa est caecior. &c. to be in so many countries kept secret, for any smaller time, much lesse for so many ages to­gether, her onely foresaid open refraining or recu­sancie (wherto she is by the iudgment of ProtestantsThat Protestantes thinke them selues bound to auoide the open profe­ssion of our Catholicke faith and communion of our Sacraments, is made more thē euident by their recusancie, to be so much as present only at our ser­uice whereof more is s [...]ide hereafter. tract. 3. sect. 1. in the margent at the letter c. no lesse in dutie bound) lieth euermore open to be discerned, and by how much the persecution is more grecuous, so much the lesse can this recusancie be kept secret or vnespied, as appeareth most plain­ly [Page 124] by that small resemblance had therof in the exam­pleFor if during but the last 20. yeeres, we of this one nation in comparison but few, could not so escape the mileder search of Protestant Magistrates, but that by our onely re­cusancie we were daily discerned, could thē all Christians supposed to be dispersed through out so many nations of the world, escape for so many hundreth yeeres togither, that in­quisition of our Church, which Protestants affirme to haue bene vniuersall and farre more greeuouse. onely of our owne times and nation.

A CONFVTATION OF THOSE WHO AN swere that their Churches administration of the word and Sacraments, continued during all those seuerall ag [...]s in being and also knowne and that as now through the iniurie of later times no testimony or notice therof is to vs at this day remaining. SECT. 9.

IF now any of our aduersaries doe disclaime in vr­ging as before the foresaid example of Helias, and in the foresaide opinion of affirminge their Ch [...]rch to haue bene for so many ages in being, but yet vn­known, & will now in steed therof lastly say, (which is all that can be imagined to be left for them vnsaid) that their Churches Pastors and Doctors, their im­pugning of errors, their administration of the word and sacraments were in euery of those foresaide ages knowne, and visible to the worlde, though now si­thence, all testimonie and record thereof is through the late violence of the Pope and his clergie vtterly suppressed and made awaie, the idle vanitie of this conceipt is many waies discouerable. As, 1 First in that it is but a meare imagination whereof is nei­ther testimonie nor proofe. 2 Secondly in that all proofe and experience is most cleerely and directly to the contrarie, as appeareth by example of Husse, and Wicliffe, whoseOf the writinges of Husse and Wicliffe yet ex­tant, and printed at Nori­berg. See Iunius his Ani­maduersiones ad contro­uersiam quintam &c. de membris Ecclesiae militā ­tis, quam Bellarminus ex­arauit &c. l. 1. page 14. circa med. And Illiricus in Catallog. testium veri­tatis page 847. & 850. prope finem. maketh like mencion of their writings yet extant. And mr. Foxe act. mon. printed 1596 mencioneth W [...]cliffes wri­tinges page 428. a. lin. 35 and so likewise doth Crispinus in his treatise of the estate of the Church page 419. initio. And Mr. Fulk saith. Nondum interie­runt B [...]rtrami, Valdi, Ioannis a Gādauo, Wicleui, Hussi plena pietatis ac Christi­anae doctrinae monumēta Fulke contra Stapletonū de successione ecles. pag. 308. initio. and ibid. pa. 349 initio. he saith. scrip­ta W [...]cleu [...], Bertrami, Hussi &c. extant. & vide page 320. writinges are yet extant: al­so [Page 125] to our aduersaries, by like example of their other foresaid aledged epistle of Vlrike in defence of Priests marriage, of Charlemaines booke against images: and of Bertrames booke concerninge the Sacrament: in like maner by the decrees of our Catholicke Coun­cells daily condemning and reciting all such arising opinions as were cōtrary to the same, likewise by the many and ample now extant volumes of our Catho­licke writers in euery age reciting in like maner, and at large confuting all appearing Doctrines contrarie to the Roman Church. Lastly (as Mr. Whitaker con­fesseth) by our eclesiasticallMr. Whittaker contra Duraeum. l. 7. page 469. prope initium. obseruing for true that all opinions contrarie to the Romane Church are mēcioned by our historiographers, and being enforced for the vpholding of the Protestāts Church, to make claime almost to all such as in any sort resisted the Pope (whereof see heretofore tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 2.) saith deinde post Apostasia [...] inuectam, & tirannidem Antichristi constitutam, nullus vnquam historiam scripsit, qui non ecclesiae nostrae doctrinam, mores instituta, semitia aduersa­rios commemoret ita ve­stris historijs nostrae Ec­clesiae memoria viget: & qui Pontificij regnires narrare conati sunt, ij nostrae ecclesiae testes sunt. &c. historiographers of euery age, who make this the very argument of their writing: in so much that nothing is as now better knowne to vs, then that which the Church of Rome hath heretofore impugned, and many an hereticke is hereby likewise m [...]de noted and infamouse to all suceeding age [...], whose better obscuritie would otherwise haue beene buried in forgetfulnes. And that all this is most true is yet furthermore so euident, that our verie aduersaries them sel [...]es, do from hence take notice, and in there owne writingesThis is at large per­formed and set downe by the Diuines of Magde­burg. in their seuerall Centuries. by Pantaleon in his Chronographia. by Luc. Osiander in his epi­tom. eccles. hist. and by Illiricus in his hooke entituled Catallogus testium veritatis qui ante nostram aetatem recla­marunt Papae. And see further hereof Mr. Whitaker contra Duraeum. page 276. initio. & 469. ante medium. make menti­on of the daily opinions cond [...]mned in euery age by the Church of Rome, of which opinones certaine also (which maketh this point most euident) were often times euen some one or other speciall DoctrineBesides the foresaid examples of seuerall doctrines of the Pro­testants reported and condemned in Waldo, Berrengarius, Wicliffe and Husse. See also here­tofore tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 3. in the mar [...]ent vnder the letters n. o. The other like examples of sundry articles of the Protestants faith, mencioned and condemned in other confessed Heretickes, as namely in PETER BRVIS, Almericus, the Albigenses and the Apostolici. so plainely were the Protestants seuerall doctrines, not purposely suppressed or passed ouer in silence, but in all times (euer as they appeared) specially recorded and condemned. now sithence taught by Protestants, and here­tofore seuerally profe [...]ed by so [...]e one or other per­ticuler cōdemned person of those times: 3. Thirdly [Page 126] (supposing with Protestants that their Church is a true Church) it is against manifest scripture, which testifieth of the true Church thatEsay. 60, 20. her sonne should not be set nor her moone hid: that sheDaniel. 2, 44. should not be ge­uen to an other people, but should stand for euer, asEsay. 60, 15, 16. an e­ternall glorie and ioy from generation to generation.

4 Lastly it is against the euident confession of our learned aduersaries who acknowledge their owne Church to haue bene (in regard of externall profe­ssion) for many hundreth yeeres pastSee before tract. 2. c. 1. sect. 4 post medium. inuisible andSee Mr. Iohn Nap­peire vpon the reualatiōs in c. 12. page 161. col. 3 circa medium. withdrawne from open assemblies to the hartes of parti­culer godly men.

THAT EVEN LVTHER HIM SELFE WAS no member of the English Protestants Church: nor professor of their Religion. SECT. 10.

LIKE as it appeareth by the premises, that our aduersaries are not able to find out any testimo­nie or proofe of their Churches administration of the word, and sacraments for so many seuerall ages be­fore Luther, their principall examples of Waldo, Wi­cliffe, Husse &c. being heretofore discouered for alto­gether insufficient, so likewise in further euidence we will now shew, the like insufficiencie also euen in the very example of Luther him selfe: concerning whom we will endeuour two speciall points, the First that Luther neuer was of the Englishe Protestants now faith and religiō. Secondly that though he were, yet is his example therin of no force in this behalfe: not for so much as for his owne time.

Now concerning the First namely that our aduer­saries may not challenge Luther to haue bin of their now Church and religion, appeareth by his sundry grosse and confessed errors, wherin they are enfor­ced to disclaime.

As for example 1 First cōcerning the successe and preseruation of our Christian profession in generall: he affirmed and taught (to the great daunger therof) thatLuther in assertionibus damnat. per Leonem de­cimum Artic. 34. which was praeliari aduersus Turcas est repugnare Deo vi­sitanti iniquitates nostras per illos. And in explicat. articuli. 34. he saith emong his other defence therof. Ite praeliamini contra Turcas vt resistatis virgae Dei, & cadatis sicut & Achab ce­cidit. And in epistola contra duo mandata imperia­lia (he further saith) Oro cunctos pios Christianos, ne vllo modo sequamur vel in militiam [...]re vel da­re aliquid contra Turcas, quandoquidem Turca decies prudentior probior (que) est quám Principes nostri. to warre against the Turkes, was to resist God visi­ting our sinnes by them: the which opinion he did also afterwardes more at large defend, concluding and sayingLuther in explicat. Art. 34. prope finem. and hereof see the treatise a­gainst the defence of the censure page. 230. ante med. & 231. initio. Luther in his booke de bello contra Turcas, affirmeth that the Deuill by Gods permissi­on did gouerne & hinder the Councells and assemblies of the Princes of Germanie for no other cause, but that his article of not warring against the Turke might remaine in force and vn­condēned. He that hath eares to heare let him heare, and abstaine from the Turkish warres whiles the Popes name pre­uaileth vnder heauen: I haue saide: And wheras Doctor Fulke doth excuse all this, asMr. Fulke in his Apologie of the professors of the Gospell &c. against Pe­ter Frarine page 31. initio. meant of those Chri­stians which were vnder the Turkes Dominion: It is so di­rectly against the scope andHis former mencion of God visiting our sinnes by the Turke and likewise of the Pope, and also of the Princes of Germanie, and the wholle passage of his treatise made therof at large, auoideth this answere, in so much as the author against the defence of the censure page 231. laboureth to excuse Luther otherwise. circumstance of Luthers wordes, that Roff nsis Roffensis in confut. Assert. Luther. printed 1523. Art. 34. did therefore write speci [...]lly against this his foresa [...]d doctrine, at large [...]eciting and confuting his reasons: which foresaid doctrine of Luther was also so knowne &Hereof see Belforest in Cosmogra l. 2. c. 7. col. 579. grate­full to the Turke, that as (Luthers owne [...]choller re­porteth)Manlius in loc. comun. pag. 636. fine. the Turkish Emperour (to the great shame of Luther hearing therof) demaunded our Christian Embassadour how oul [...] Luther was, and wished him yonger, promisi [...]g to be his good Lord. And the Duke of Saxony (a professor of Luthers doctrine) was accordingly charged,Hereof see Slei­dā. l. 18. fol. 277. ante med as being confederate with the Turke. In so much has Erasmus (whom our aduersaries thinke to haue bene indifferentlyAct. mon. pa. 404. a. fine. affected towards Lu­ther) saith hereofErasmus in epistola ad fratres inferi­oris Germaniae. pag. 39. many of the Saxones following that first doctrine of Luther, denied to Cesar and King Ferdinando aide against the Turke &c. and saide they had rather fight for a Turke not baptized, then for a Turke baptized, therby meaning the Emperour.

[Page 128]2 Secondly concerning the Canonicall scriptures it is euident that Luther denied sundry cōfessed parts therof: concerning the Apocalips Bullenger giueth testimonie saying.Bullenger vpon the Apocalips englished c. 1. serm. 1. fol. 2. a. post med Doctor Martine Luther hath as it were sticked this book [...] by a sharpe preface set before his first aedition of the new Testament in dutch, for which his iudgmēt good and learned men were off [...]nded with him: and concer­ning the epistle of S. Iames, Luther saith therof.Luther prefat. in e­pist. Iacobi in aeditione Ienensi. The Epistle of Iames is contentious. swelling, dry, strawne, & vnworthy an Apostolicall spirit. In so much as liliricus Luthers scholler expresseth and defendeth Luthers foresaid iudgment saying.Illiricus prefat. in Iacobum. Luther in his preface vpon S. Iames epistle giueth great reasons why this epistle ought in no case to be accounted for a writing of Apostolicke authoritie vnto which reasons I thinke euery godly man ought to yeeld, which foresaid iudgmēt of Luther concerning these, and other partes of the new Testament is yet to this day so continued and defended by Luthers owne schollers, that (to omitt sundrySee Pomeran. in e­pist. ad Rom. c. 4. And Vitus Theodorus in An­not. in nou. test. pag. vlt. And the Centurie writers of Magdeburg. Cent. 1. l. 2. c. 4. & cent. 2. l. 3. c. 4. And Hastenrefferus in loc. theologic. l. 3. stat. 3. loc 7. page 292. And Ada­mus Francisci in Marga­rita theologic. page 448. saith: Apocriphi libri no­ui testamenti sunt epistola ad haebreos, epistola Ia­cobi, secunda & tertia Io­annis, posterior Petri, e­pistol [...] Iudae & Apocalip. other of them) Chemnitius (Luthers greatest scholler) affirmeth thatChemnitius in En­chirid. &c. page 63. And see Chemnitius in his exa­men. Concil. Tridēt. part. 1. page 55. the second epistle of Peter, the second and third of Iohn, the epistle to the hebrues, the epistle of Iames, the epistle of Iude and the apocalips of Iohn are apocriphall asChemnitius examen part. 1. page 56. b. initio. not hauing sufficient testimonie of their authoritie, and therfore thatChemnitius ibidem page 57. a. nothing in controuersie may be prooued out of these bookes Concerning now the other bookes of scripture, al­though Luther acknowledged them for canonicall, how far yet he was changeable otherwise in misse translating them, we will (omitting perticulers) re­ferre to the credit of Zuinglius his testimonie, who saith hereof to Luther.Zuinglius. tom. 4. ad Luther. l. de sacram. page 411. & 412. Thou doest corrupt (Luther) the word of God, thou arte seene to be a manifest and common corrupter and peruerter of the holy scripture, how much are we ashamed of thee, who haue hitherto esteemed thee beyond all measure, and now prooue thee to be so false a man.

3 Thirdly as concerning faith, he reprooueth as well such Protest [...]nts as sayLuther vpon the Galathians englished in c. 2. fol. 67. b. post med. nei [...]h [...]r can faithe be [Page 129] true faith without charitie, as also those other who teachLuther ibid. fol. 67. circa medium. though my faith be neuer so perfect, yet if this sait [...] be without charitie I am not iust [...]fied calling itLuther ibid. fol. 68. b. prope finem. & fol. 126 b. and see Luther in his sermons Englished. &c. page 204. circa med. impietie to affirme that saith except it be adorned with charitie iustefieth not, nay [...]e proceeded so far, as he douted not to say,Luther. tom. 1. prop 3. Fides nisi sit sine &c. Faith vnlesse it be without euen the l [...]ast good workes doth not iustefie, nay it is no faith. which saying of his master D. Couell specially ac­knowledgeth and reciteth, tearming itMr. Couel. in defence of Mr. Hookers fiue bookes of Ecclesiasti­call policie. page 42. ante med. harsh andMr. Couel. ibid. iustly called in question, by the Church of Rome. He al­so further taught thatLuther de captiu. Babilon. and see further hereof the treatise against the defence of the Censure. page 198. a Christian or Baptized per­son is so rich, that although he would he cannrt lose his sal­uation by any sinnes how great soeuer, vnlesse he will not be­leeue: wherof he giueth his reason els where saying.Luther in loc. com­mun. &c. Class. 5. c. 27. page 68. initio. As nothing iustefieth but faith, so nothing sinneth but vnbeleefe.

4 Fourthly as concerning workes: he teachtehLuther in his sermōs Englished &c. page 147. ante medium. that work [...]s take their goodnes of the worker: and thatLuther ibidem page 276. ante medium. no work [...] is disalowed of God, vnlesse the author therof be dis­alowed before: saying therfore further.Luther ibidem page 278. ante medium. Such a one worketh nothing but good workes, neither can it be but good, which he being good before shall do. And as concerning the necessitie of good workes (affirmed against him by English Protestants)The necessitie of good workes is affirmed by Mr. Willet in his tetra­stilon. Papismi. page 90. fine. by Mr. Fulke against the Rhemish Testament in 2. Petr. 2. sect. 3. fol. 444. a. post med. and by Mr. Whitaker against mr. Rainoldes page 350. post medium. Of the dissention had herein betweene the Diuines of England and the Luthe­ranes in Germanie, speciall report and mention is made, in colloquio Altenburgens. fol. 168 a. fine. And also in actis colloquij Adelburgensis page 102. circa med. & 483. circa medium. it is so farre disclaimed in by him and his followers. that they denyIlliricus in prefat. ad Rom. & vide Conradum Schlusselburg. in catal. hereticorum l. 13. & vlt. pag. 819. circa med. good workes to be so much as causa s [...]ne qua non of saluation, affirmingIlliricus in prefat. ad Rom. And see colloquium Altenburgense. fol. 210. a. b. & 231. 324. 382. & 352. the controuersie with the Papistes to be (not onely) whether good workes do iustefie, (but also) whether they be in any respect necessarie to sa [...]uation: which last position they callIlliricus vbi supra. a papisticall error: tearming itIlliricus. ibidem. the doctrine of the new Papists as perniciouse as the ould, [Page 130] to say (as English Protestants do) that the Apostle ment to exclude good workes from iustification, not simplie and as due, but onely as meritoriouse and cause efficient: they will not in the point of our iustification grauntConradus Schlusselburg. in catal. Heretico­rum. l. 13. in epist. dedi­catoria pa. 22. paulo post med. good workes to be necessarie (necessitate presenti [...]) so much as with a necessitie of presence: condemning their bre­threns contrarie doctrine forIlliricus de originali iusticia ac iniu­sticia in appendice page 163. worse then is the Pa­pistes doctrine concerning good workes: they fortefie them selues herein with the testimoniesSee Luthers sayings alledged in actis colloquij Aldeburgensis pa. 8. circa med. and in Illiri­cus in prefat. ad Rom. of Luther, and haue proceeded so farr against all necessitie of good workes, that some of them (as namely Amsdorphius) doubt not to affirme, thatHereof see acta col­loquij Aldeburgensis page 120. sect. 11. initio. And pag. 443. paulo post initi­um. & pag. 293. paulo ante medium. good workes are not onely, not necessarie to saluation, but also hurtfull to it. Vide ibid. pag. 205. post med. & fine. alled­ging Luther in proofe of this opinion.Vide ibid. pag. 120 sect. 11. initio. & 293. paulo ant [...] medium. the which Illiricus doth allowe and defende by publique writing. And all this so grossely and intollerably, that sundry o­ther Protestant writers, who acknowledge Amsdor­phius D. Amsdorphius piae memoriae. so called ibidem pag. 206. circa med. for a man (otherwise) of godly memorie do yet neuerthelesse in this, professe toIbid. pag. 205. fine. & 206. initio. It is saide hereof nos quidem ipsos (Lutherum & Amsdor­phium) interse committi­mus, hanc propositionem non vsurpaturi. leaue both him and Luther to themselues.

5 As concerning marriage and diuorce: Luther saith:Luther in serm. de matrimonio. Si non vult vxor, aut non possit, veniat ancilla: If the wyfe will no [...], or can not come, let the maide come: and whereas Mr. Whitaker (who would make the best gloze hereof) answerethMr. Wh [...]taker in re­spons. ad rat. Campiani rat. 8. pag. 150. circa med saith therof. Lutheri autē istam de ho [...] diuortij ge­nere sententiam, ego minime defendo. hereunto, that Luther hereby meant first to diuorce and then after to marry the maide, yet is this diuorce (though vpon such foresaid occasion either of infirmitie or wilful­nes) vtterly reiectedWhitaker ibidē vt supra & contra Duraeum l. 8. pag. 687. fine. euen by Mr. Whitaker him selfe: and neuerthelesse Luther was so vehement a­gainst the wiues froward refusall of her husbandes bed, that he further saieth therof,Luther tom. 5. Witteberg serm. de matrimonio fol. 123. a. verius sinem. See also Luthers wordes cited in the treatise against the defence of the cen­sure pag. 219. post med. the Magistrates duetie is to bridle this wyfe, yea and to put her to death, this if the Magistrate omit, the husband must imagine that his wyfe [Page 131] is stolne awaie by theeues, and dead, and consider how to mar­rie, an other: (for saith he yet further,See the foresaid treatise against the defence of the Censure page 213. prope finem. And see Luther tom. 5. Witteberg. in 1. Cor. 7. fol. 113. a. initio we cannot stopp St. Paules mouth &c. his wordes are plaine that a brother or sister are free from the law of wedlocke if the one departe or do not consent to dwell with the other, neither doth he say that this may be done once onely, but leaue it free, that so often as the case shall require he may either proceed or stay: in which case (as he signifieth) a man See the treatise a­gainst the defence of the Censure page 213. paulo post med. And see Luther tom. 5. Witteberg. fol. 112. b. fine. may haue tenne or moe wyues stedd from him and yet liuing: nay he doubteth not in case of adulterie cōmitted by a maried man or married woman to giue libertie euen to the offen­ding adultererIn aliam profugere treram. maechus potest, ibi (que) si continere nequeat vxorem ducere rursum. Luther tom. 5. Witteberg serm. de matrimonio. fol. 123. a. initio to flee into an other countrie and marrie againe: so dangerously doth he incline to poligamie, the which (to be sparing herein to his otherMusculus in epist. Pauli ad Phillip. Colloss. &c. in 1. Tim. 3. page 396. circa med. thinketh that Poligamie was tolle­rated by the Church in the Apostles times. and see the Alphabeticall table there at the word (Poligamie) And see Poligamie defended by Bernardinus Ochinus l. 2 dial. 21. page 200. & 204 cōmended in the treatise of the life and death of Pe­ter Martir (ante med.) for an excellent & learned man. schollers) himselfe els where seemeth to defend, af­firming thatLuther in propositi­onibus de Bigamia Epis­coporū aedit. Anno. 1528 propositione 62. 65 66. & vide Lutherum in explicatione Geneseos edit. Anno. 1525. in Commentario. c. 16 poligamie is no more abrogated, then is the rest of Moises law, and that it as free, as being neither com­manded nor forbidden: in respect whereof he signifieth thatLuther. in Genes. c. 16. edit. Anno. 1525. he will neither bring in poligamie nor condemne it: which foresaid errors concerning marriage, diuorce, and poligamie were so plaine and grosse in Luther, thatWicelius in his method. concor­diae Ecclesiasticae c. 9. initio saith. Reducat ad calculum Lutheri factio & retractet quae portenta & quam non pudicè admodū scripta ediderit, de coniugio, de diuortijs, de it [...]rā ­do post diuortia, de gradibus, de poligynecia populi &c. Wicelius (a learned Protestant) doth there­fore specially charge and reproue him.

6 As concerning Magistracie, how fully, plainely and directly he impugned the same (especially be­fore the Princes of Germanie had vndertaken the defence of his doctrine) is by his owne writinges more then manifest,See hereafter tract. 3. sect. 5. in the margent at the figure 3. and hereafter in part from thence declared: onely now I will add as not alto­gether improper hereunto the base and inuectiue ca­lumniacions wherewith he charged (to omit sondrie other Princes and Magistrates) our late soueraigne K. HENRY the 8. of famouse memory calling him [Page 132] Luther in libro con­tra Rege Angl. in prefat. an enuiouse mad foole, babling with much spittle in his mouth In the same booke ex­tant in tom. 2. Wittēberg fol. 333. & 334. more furious then madnesse it selfe, more doltishe then folly it selfe, endued with an impudent and whorish face without any one vaine of Princely blood in his body, a lying s [...]phiste, a damnable rotten worme, a Basili [...]ke and progenie of an adder, a lying s [...]urrill couered with the title of a King, a clownishe wit, a doltishe head, most wicked foolish and im­pudent Henry. and saying furtherIbid. fol. 338. he doth not onely lye like a most vaine scurre, but passeth a most wi [...]ked knaue: Ibid. fol. 339. & vi­de 442. thou liest in thy thro [...]e foolish & sacriligious [...] King. Wher­unto might be added his exceeding many othe [...]moe like dispitefull and s [...]ur [...]ill wordes vsed against his Maiestie, some of them being so immodestly base,Ibidem fol. 333. & 337. where he saith. Ius mihi erit Maiestatē tuam Angelicam stercore con­spergere (and.) Sit ergo mea haec generalis responsio ad omnes sentinas in­sulsissimae huius laruae (&) haec sunt Robora nostra aduerius quae obtumesee­re cogūtur, Henrici, Thomistae, Papistae, & quic­quid est faecis, sentinae, la­trinae, impiorum & sacri­legorum eiusmodi: Sor­des istae & labes hominū Thomistae & Henrici sa­crilegus Henricorū & asi­norum cultus: furor in­sulsissimorum asinorum & Thomisticorum porcorū ­os vestrae dominationis impurum est sacrilegum. W th infinite moe such like. as we are ashamed to english them.

7 Concerning the administration of the word and sacraments he maketh it cōmon to lay men with the clergie, s [...]ing to this endLuther tom. 2. l. de ministris Ecclesiae instituendis fol. 362. & vide ibid. l. de abrogā ­da Missa priuata. & in libro de captiu. Babilon. c de ordin [...]. And see Hospinianu [...] in hist. sa­cramētar. page 22. paulo post med. the first office of a Priest is to Preach the word & [...]. But this is cōmon to all, next is to Bap­tize, and this al [...]o may all do euen women &c. The thirde is to Consecrate bread and wine, But this also is common to all no lesse then Priests, and this, [...]aun [...]h by the authoritie of Christ him selfe, saying, do this in remembrance of me, this Christ spoke to all there present and to come afterwardes whosoeuer should eate of that Br [...]ad and drincke of that Wine &c. this also is witness [...]d by St. Pau [...]e, who .1. cor. 11. repeating this, applieth it to all the Corinthians: making them all a [...] him selfe was, that is to say Cons [...]crators: &. if then that which is greater then all be giuen indifferently to all men and women, (I meane the word and Baptisme) then, that which is l sse. (I meane to Consecrate the supper) is also geuen to them. And the like doctrine doth he affirme no lesse plainlyLuther in assertionibus damnatis per Leonē de­cimum art. 13. saith. In sacramento poenitentiae ac remissione culpae, non plus facit Papa, [...]piscopus, quam infimus Sacerdos. Immo vbi non est Sacerdos aeque tantū quilibet Christianus etiamsi mulier aut puer estet &c. quod autem absente Sacerdote etiam puer aut mulier & quilibet Christianus absoluere potest Mat. 18. clare patet vbi Christus omnibus Christianis dicit quodcun que solueritis super terram solutum erit in coelis, hanc inuictam authoritatē non mihi subuertent. And see further in loc. comun. class. 2. page 136. & 138. [Page 133] in other of his writinges, being (as Mr. D. Couel. af­firmeth)Mr. Couel. in his defence of Mr. Hookers 5. bookes of ecclesiasticall policie Art. 15. pag. 101 post med. And see Luther de Missa priuata. editio. Anno. 1534. And see Hos­pinianus in histor. sacra­mentar. page 22. paulo post medium. not afraid to affirme that sacraments are affe­ctuall t [...]ough administred by Satan him selfe: this did Lu­ther write against the POPE, though els where to serue his owne turne against the Anabaptistes (who vsed the very same weapon against him) he presseth and chargeth them for their want of ordinarie cal­ling: so variable,Zuinglius in respon­sione ad confessionē Lu­theri saith. Lutherus nunc hoc nunc illud de eadem repronunciat, nec vsquā sibi constat, haud dub [...]é ea inconstantia & leuitate in Dei verbo vtendū esse existimat, qua effrictae frontis scurrae, inter aleam vti consueuerunt. inconstant, and t [...]mporizing (as oc [...]asion requiered) was he in his doctrine.

8 Concerning the sufficiencie of our redemption by our Sauiours Passion in his humane nature vpon the Crosse, Luther taught thus farre to the contrary, as that notLuther in con­fessione maiore de caena Domini. saith: Cum credo quod sola humuna natura pro me pas­sa est, Christus ille vilis nec magni praetij Saluator est: Immo ipse quo (que) saluatore opus ha­bet. onely the humane nature of Christ suffered for vs, for (saith he) in affirming but so much,Luther vt [...]upra. Christ is a Sauiour of vile and small account, and needeth him selfe also a Sauiour. But also thatLuther libro de concilijs part. 2. saith of the Zuingliās Pertinacissi [...]é cōtra me pugnabāt, quod diuinitas Christi pati non posset. &c. And see Lu­ther further. tom. 3. germ. Ien. fol. 455. b. the Diuinitie of Christ did suff [...]r which his opinion of the Godhead suffering is admired and yet further taugh by Andreas Siluester Czecanorius in dial. de cor­ruptis moribus vtrius (que) partis fol. 5. saith. Andreas Musculus non veritus fuit palám docere diuinā Christi naturi, q [...]e Deu [...] est, vn [...] cum human anatura mortuā fuisse in Cruce &c. nec destirit. &c. id dogma de mortua diuinitate publi [...]è profiteri ac spargere, adiutore Io­anne Islebio. M [...]s [...]ulus and sundrieNichol [...]us Seluecerus in confut. accusat. sol. 192. saith. Nemo di­cere posset vel debet D [...]um non este p [...]ssum vel mortuum: And the same doctrine is in like maner affirmed by Stephanus Gerlachius contra Busaeum pag. 24. & 126. And by Iacobus Andreas. Wherof see in Respons. ad acta colloq [...]. Montisbelgar. pag. 82. versus finem. & 92. versus finem. other of Luthers schollers, and so in [...]ollerablie and grossely, that they are therfore the [...]in speciallyBeza in epistolis theologicis. ep. 60 initio. And after the Geneua Print of Anno. 1573. pag. 285. saith. Non potest a nobis satis bene disputari de sententia Islebij & Musculi Andreae, contendentium Christum in vtraque natura passum esse &c. istorum sententia Prophetarum & Apostolorum & ominum orthodoxorum sanae doctrinae aduersari videtur. Whereupon he doth at large confate that opinion there. pag. 286. 287. 291. And see Beza hereof further in respons. ad acta collo­quij Mentisbelgar part. 1. pag. 82. versus finem. & 92. versus finem. And Sil­uester Czecanorius vt su­pra at 5. and Luther vt su­pra at 4. contradicted by diuers other lea [...]ned Protestants.

[Page 134]9 Concerning his contempt of the ancient Fathers and his owne great vndertaken knowledge: he saith.Luther in libro ad Ducem Georgium. And Luther ad cap. 1. ad Gala­tas. saith: Esto, Ecclesia, Augustinus, & alij Do­ctores, item Petrus, Apollo, imo Angelus e coelo diuersum doceant, tamen mea doctrina est eiusmo­modi quae solius Dei glo­riam illustrat &c. Petrus Apostolorum summus, viuebat & docebat extra verbum Dei. And after the English translation fol. 33. b. paulo post med. & 34. a. initio. since the Apostles times no Doctor or writer hath so excel­lently, and clearely, confirmed instructed and comforted, the consciences of the seculer States as I haue done: By the singu­ler grace of God this certainely I know, that neither Austine, nor Ambros, who are yet in this matter the best, are aequall to me herein. And againeLuther in serm. de euersione Hierusalem. the Ghospell is so copiously prea­ched by vs, that truely in the Apostles time it was not so cleare In what strange maner he contemneth, Origen, Athanasius, Chrisostome, Basill, Ciprian, Hierome, and Gregorie: I passe ouer as being els whereSee this in Gasper V­kenbergius in his booke enti­tuled, graues & iustae cau­sae, cur Catholicis in Cō ­munione veteris eius (que) veri Christianismi constan­tèr vs (que) ad vitae finem, permanendum sit &c. Printed Anno. 1589. causa. 7. pag. 175. & 176. And see Coccius his thesaurus tom. 1. pag. 1118. b. collected speci­ally from his owne perticuler sayings ouer tediouse and vnworthy here to rehearse. How highly he e­steemeth of such doctrine as him selfe collecteh from the scriptures and how much he preferreth him selfe therein before the Fathers, him selfe signifieth sayingLuther tom. 2. l. con­tra Regem Angliae. fol. 342. Gods word is aboue all, the Diuine Maiestie maketh for me, so as I passe not if a thowsand Austines, a thowsand Ci­prians, a thowsand King Harrie Churches stood against me. Nay he doubteth not in plaine tearmes to exempteLuther aduersus falso nominatum ecclesiasticum sta­tum saith: Scire uos volo quod in posterum non amplius vos hoc honore dignabor, vt sinā vel vos, vel ipsos Angelos de coelo, de mea doctrina iudicare &c. nec volo meam doctri­nam a quoquam iudicari, at (que) adeo ne ab Angelis quidem, cum enim certus de ea sim, per eam quo (que) & vester & Angelorum iudex esse volo. his doctrine from all iudgement of men & Angells, ma­king him selfe therby iudge of both: and will our English Diuines allow this in the doctrines of Reall pres [...]nce, Images &c. wherwith they chargeHereof see Mr. Bridges in his de­fence of the gouernment &c. pag. 559. Mr. Perkins in his foure treatises how to applie Gods word &c. sect. 10. initio. And see Mr. Whitgiftes defence. &c. pag. penult. and reproue Luther.

10 As concerning the implacable contentions be­tweene him & the Zuinglians or Caluinists (to whō our English Diuines adhere) and how they disclai­med [Page 135] ech in other Luther expresseth saying.Luther contra Arti­culos Louanienses. thess. 27. tom. 2. Wittenberg. fol. 503. And in epistola ad Iacobum Presbiterum he further saith. Beatus vir qui non-abijt in concilio Sacramentariorum, nec stetit in via Zuinglianorū, nec sedet in cathedra Ti­gurinorū, habes quid sen­tentiam. We censure in earnest the Zuinglians and all the Sacramentaries for Hereti [...]k [...]s and alienated from the Church of God: andSee Luther. tom. 7. Wittenberg. fol. 380. 381 & 382. I do protest before God and the world that I do not agree with them nor euer will while the world standeth, but will haue my hande, cleere from the blood of those sheepe, which these Heretickes do driue from Christ, deceiue, and k [...]ll And againe in the same place: Cursed be the charitie and con [...]ord of Sacramentnries, for euer and euer to all eternitie. And a little before his death, he protesteth say­ing.Luther de caena Do­mini tom. 2. Germ. fol. 174. And see this a so re­ported by the Tigurine Di­uines in confess orthodox Ecclesiae. Tigur. tract. 3. fol. 108. And Luther tom. 3. Germ. fol. 264. calleth them Persons condemned in their owne knowledge with whom he will haue no enter­course neither by letters wri­tings or wordes. I hauing now one of my feete in the graue, will ca­rie thi [...] testimonie and glorie to the tribunall of God, that I will with all my harte condemne and eschue Carobastadius, Zuinglius, O [...]colampadius and their schollers, nor haue wi [...]h any of them familiaritie, neither by letter or writi [...]ges, nei­ther by wordes nor deedes accordingly as the Lord ha [...]h com­manded. with infinite much more to the same effect: To make this more euident as yet by the like an­swerable testimonies of the Zuinglians and Calui­nistes: The Tygurine, Diuines say hereofTigurini tract. 3. cō tra supremā Lutheri con­fessionem pag. 61. And the Author of the treatise a­gainst the defence of the cen­sure doth hereupon charge Luther with breach of all Christian modestie & im­moderate zeale. pag. 155 circa med. euen farre be­yond the bondes of cha­ritie and modestie. page 101. ante med. Nos condemnatam & execrabilem vocat sectam &c. Lu­ther calleth vs a damnable and execrable sect, But let him l [...]oke that he do not declare himselfe an Archereticke, seeing he will not nor cannot haue any s [...]cietie with those that con­fesse Christ: But how marueilously doth Luther here bewray him selfe with his diuells? What filthie wordes doth he vse, and such as are replenished with all the diuells in hell? For he saith that the Diuell dwelleth both now and euer in the Zuin­glianes, and that they haue a blasphemous breast insathani­zed, supersathanized, and persathanized, and that they haue besides a most vaine mouth, ouer which Satan beareth rule, being infused, perfused, and transfused to the same: did euer man heare such speeches passe from a furious Diuell him selfe? In so much as Zuinglius saith of him,Zuinglius in respons. ad confessionem Lutheri saith. En vt totum istum hominem Satan occupare conctur. Behoulde how Satan doth endeuour wholly to possesse this man. And Oecolampadius acco [...]dingly forewarneth Luther,Oecolampadius in responsione ad cofessionē Lutheri. Least that being puffed vp by Arr [...]gancie and pride, he [Page 136] be seduced by Satan: whereunto might be added sun­dry other like testimonies:Conradus Regius in li­bro Germanico cōtra Io­annem Hussium de caena Dom. saith. Deus prop­ter peccatū superbiae qua sese Lutherus extulit, quē ­admodum pleraqué ipsius scripta testificantur, verū illi spiritum abstulit, vti Prophetis illis. 3. Reg. 22 at (que) in eius loco iracundū, fostuosum, at (que) mendacē spiritū dedit. And the Tigurine Deuines in confessi­one Germanica impresta. Tiguri. Anno. 1544. in octauo. fol. 3. say. Supe­rioribus diebus edidit Ma [...] tinus Lutherus librum quē inscripsit (breuis confessio de Sacramēto) in quo non obscurè pro hereticis sa­cramentarijs & sceleratis­simis hominibus, habet & condemnat Oecolampa­dium, Zuinglium & om­nes Tigurinos, liber ple­nus est demonijs, plenus impudicis dicterijs, sca­ter iracundia & furore. &c. This contention be­tweene Luther and his followers on the one partie, and the Zuinglians or Caluinists on the other is yet further testified not onely by the almost infinite ma­ny writingsHereof see hereafter tract. 3. sect. 7. in the margent at this marke. *. of one against an other yet daiely encreasing, but also by the knowne mutuall pro­scriptiō or banishment Concerning the many examples hereof: see Apolog. modest. ad acta conuentus quindecem theologorum torgae nuper ha­bit. pag. 3, 4. & 5. and Osiander in epitom. histor. eccles. centur. 16. part. altera pag. 803 ante med. & 860. initio. & 609. initio. & 735. initio. and Crispinus in his booke of the estate of the Church. pag. 697. post medium. And Conradus Schlustelburg. in catal. he­reticorum. l. 13. & vlt. pag. 828. prope finem. & 847. circa med. ech of other from their se­uerall territories or dominions: So farre were they from reputing one an other for members of one and the same Church:

11 As concerning Luthers life and maners, for so much as [...]e is so strongly priuileged in the opinion of the present time, we wi [...]l in respecte thereof but brief [...]y touch the same, & that also not without great and re [...]pectiue obseruation as forbearing purposely the credible testimonies in that behalfe of Cocleus, Lindanus, Staphilus and other our Catholicke wri­ters, to whom his life & maners were well knowne, and choosing specially to speake therof from no o­ther testimonie then of hi [...] selfe and his owne dea­rest schollers. As touching his life before his reuolt from our Catholicke Church, it is confessed that he as then liuedSee Simon Voyon vpon the catalog. of the Doctors &c. englished pag. 180. and Luther ad Galat. c. 1. ver. 14. fol 35. a. after the English translation. in his monasterie punishing his bodie with wat [...]hing, fasting and Praier. See Luthers owne wordes hereof in his Comē ­tarie vpon the epistle to the Galathians in english in c. 1. fol. 35. a. Honoured the Pope of mere co [...]s ience: Luther. ibidem. fol. 35. b. kept Chastetie, Pou rtie, and Obedi­ence: andLuther. ibid. fol. 35 a. whatsoeuer (saith he) I did, I did it with a single harte, of good zeale, and for the glorie of God, fearing greeuously the last day, and desirous to be saued from the bot­tome [Page 137] of my harte. Whereas afterwards vpon his defe­ction from our Church, he was so farre from his for­mer cource of chastitie, that he saith to the contrarieLuther tom. 7 in epist. ad Wolfangū &c. fol. 505. He that resolueth to be without a woman, let him lay aside from him the name of a man, making himselfe a plaine An­gell or spirit. And againe.Luther tom. 5. Wite berg. serm. de matrimo. fol. 119. a. versus finem. quam non est in meis viribus vt vir non s [...]m &c. As it is not in my power that I should be no man, so it is not in my power that I should be without a woman &c. It is not in our power that it shoul be either staied or omitted, but is as necessarie as that I should be a man, and more necessarie then to eate, drincke, purge, make cleane the nose &c. (And to omitLuther in colloquijs German. cis c. de matri­monio, saith. vt nemo potestest cibo vel potu care­fe, sic fieri nequit, vt ali­quis a muliere abstineat. &c. causa haec est, quia in vtero mulierum concepti, eo aliti, inde nati lactati & edudati sumus ita vt caro nostra maiori ex parte mu lieribus caro sit, & sic pla­né fieri nequit, vt ab ijs se­paremur. his other like say­ings) yet he further saith.Luther tom. 1. epi­stolarum latinarum. fol. 334 ad Phillippum. I am burned with the great flame of my vntamed flesh, I who ought to be feruent in spir­rite, am feruent in the flesh, in Lust, slothe &c. eight daies are now past, wherein I neither write, pray, nor studie, being vexed partely with the temptations of the fleshe, partly with other trouble. (But saith he) It Luther vbi supra. pa. 345. sufficeth that we haue knowne the riches of the glorie of God, the Lambe which ta­keth away the sinnes of the world, from him sinne cannot draw vs, although we should commit fornicacion or kill a thousand times in one day, And being in this case he laboureth not to preserue his former kept chastitie by his fore­said pun [...]shing his bodie with Watching, Fasting, and Praier, before time continued by him in his monasterie when he was a Catholicke, which cource of resistance by praier, the blessed Apostle1 Cor. 12, 7 (being so assaulted) instantly vsed, and therby preuailed, but vnmindfull of his former vow, and forbearing as before praier sometimes euen for eight daies togither, at the last (in speedie accomplishnent of his desire)Melancthon in epist. ad Ioac. Camer. de D. Lutheri coniugio. It is ex­tant in Melancthons Consi­lia Euangelica part. 1. pag 37. He married vpon the sodaine Katherine Bore the Nunne, without any communication before had therof with any of his frendes, but ha­uing in the euening inuited to supper Pomerane, Luke the painter, and Appelles the lawier, he finished the espousalls. A thing then holden so scandalous bySleidan in his Comenraries in englishe l. 5. An. 25. fol. 65. b. paulo post med. saith In those daies Luther married a Nunne, wherby he gaue oc­casion to his aduersaries to speake euell of him. An. M. Fulke in his answer [...] to p. Frarines declamation pag 32. ante med. con [...]esseth that many men misliked Lu­thers marriage with a Nūne in so much as Luther him selfe. in colloquijs latinis tom. 2. de coniugio saieth hereof. Nisi ego clam cele­brassem nuptias, omnes im­pedissent, quia omnes amici­ssimi clamabant, non illam, sed aliam. reporte of Sleidan and others that his dearest Melancthon did [Page 138] therfore speciallyMelancthon his fore said epistle ad Ioc. Camer. extant vbi supra. write to a frend of his in ex­cuse therof, wherin neuerthelesse he holdeth itMelancthon vbi su­pra saith. Ac possit forta­ssis aliquis mirari illū hoc infaelici tempore, bonis & honestis viris vbi (que) gra­uiter laborantibus, non modo non affici simul do­lore, sed videri propemo­dum nihil penitus curare ea mala quae ante oculos versantur. marueilous, that Luther should be so regardlesse and litle tou­ched with griefe at the calamitie then present, as to vnder­take that marriage: onely he excuseth it withMelancthon vbi supra saith. At (que) ego rem hanc sic gestam esse arbitror, est vir iste ne­quaquam ex ijs qui homines oderunt & congressus fugiunt, quotidianae autem vitae illius vsum non ignoras, vnde cogitare te cetera quam mescribere melius vt opinor fuerit. Luthers sociable condicion of life, andMelancthon vbi supra. What other good matters were these which Melancthō did thus forbeare to write, leauing them rather to his frends thought? other matters (therupon depending and not to be vttered,) which (saith he) are fitter for you to imagine then me to write. For (saith he)Melancthon ibid. pag. 38. initio. saith. Ego naturam Lutherum arbitror coegisse vt fieret maritus I am perswaded that Luther was a man en­forced to marriage by nature. Hereunto we may ad, that Luther lying thus open, acknowledged hisIn Slei­dans Comentaries in Englishe l. 3. An. 21. fol. 29. b. initio. pro­fession not to be of life or manners, but of doctrine: Sleidan ibid fol. 22 a cir­ca med. wish­ing that he were remoued from the office of preaching, because his manners and life did not answere to his profession: wher­in he was so censured of euen by Protestants them­selues, that (as appeareth by their owne reportReported by the Protestant writer Benedict Morgenstern. in tract. de Ecclesia pa. 221. circa med who saith of the Caluinistes. Si quando volunt indulgere genio non verentur inter se dicere, hodie Lutheranicè viuemus. If at any time they would geue assent to the prouocation of na­ture, they blush not to say among them s lues, to day we will liue Lutheranely. Hereunto we could further add like confessed testimonieConradus Schlusselburg. (a Lutherane Protestant of great note.) and is great an enemie to the Pope as either Caluine or Beza, in his the­ologia Caluinistarum. l. 2. fol. 72. a. circa med. & post med. saith of Caluine. Deus manu sua potenti adeo hunc hereticum percussit, vt desperata salute, Demonibus inuocatis iurans, execrans, & blasphemans miserimé animam malignam exhalarit: obijt autem Caluinus morbo pediculari, vermibus circa pudenda, in apostemate seu vlcere faetentissimo, [...]cen­tibus, ita vt nullus assistentium faetorem amplius ferre posset. Haec publicis scriptis Caluino obijciuntur (in quibus etiam de ipsius ASELGIA, varijs flagitijs, & sodomiticis libidi­nibus ob quas, stigma ferro cadenti dorso Caluini impressum fuerit a magistratu sub quorū vixit ho [...]renda narr [...]ntur.) ad quae non video solidā & luculentam aliquā refutationem. &c. Scio & lego Bezam aliter de vita moribus & obitu Caluini scribere, cum vero Beza eadem haeresi, & codem ferme peccato nobilitatus sit, vt historia de candida eius meretricula te­statur, nemo ipsi in hac parte fidem habere potest. And see further there concerning Beza. l. 1 in proemio pag. 4. b. & ibid. pag. 92. a. post med. & b. & 93. a. initio. And Tilmannus Heshutius an other Protestant writer in his booke entituled verae & sanae confessionis &c. saith of Beza. Spurcissimis suis moribus dedecori fuit ipsis disciplinis honestis, qui (que) nefandos amores, illicitos concubitus, scortationes, faeda adulteria, sacrilego carmine decantauit or­bi, non contentus eo, quod ipse more porci in caeno flagitiosarum libidinum sese volutaret, nisi etiam aures studiosae iuuentutis, sua illuuie contaminaret. in this kind euen against Caluine and Beza.

[Page 139]12 As concerning Luthers confessed instruction from the Deuill by sensible cōference had with him, we referre the same to his owne testimonie therofSee in the next secti­on in the margent there at the letters c. d. hereafter more fitly alledged.

13 Lastly (to omitt much more that might be said) we will now onely alledge (which point in generall, ZuingliusZuinglius in respon­sione ad confessionem Lutheri saith. Lutherus ob­stinato & deuoto animo conceptum semel opinio­nem persequi & obtinere conatur, nec multum cu­rare solet, quodcun (que) tan­dem de re quauis pronun­ciet, etiamsi vel sibi ipsi vel diuini verbi oraculis contradicere deprehenda­tur: these wordes of Zuingli­us are also in Schlusselburg. in theologia Caluinistarū l. 2. fol. 122. a. fine. reproueth in Luther) certaine exam­ples of his wilfull frowardnes or obstinacie against that which him selfe acknowledged for true. As where he saith of Communion vnder both kindesLuther de formula Missae. & vide Lutherum tom. 3. Germanic. fol. 274 And whereas Mr. Iewell answereth hereunto in his replie against Mr. Har­ding pag. 107. post med. that Luther onely ment that Gods truth should not hang of the authoritie of man: doth this enable Lu­ther to teach that in despite of the Councell we should vse either but one kinde or neither; which-last were directly against Christes institution. If the Councell should in any case decree this, least of all then would we vse both kindes, yea rather in despite of the Councell and that decree, we would vse either but one kinde onely or neither, and in no case both. Of like nature is it where he teachethLuther tom. 2. Germ. fol. 214. that if the Councell should graunt the Church-men libertie to marrie, he would thinke that man more in Gods grace, who during his life kept three whores then he who married ac­cording to the Councells decree, and that he would commaund vnder paine of damnation, that no man should marrie by the permission of such a Councell, but should either liue chaste, or if that were impossi­ble, then not to dispaire though he kept a whore. In like manner he saith touching Eleuation of the SacramentLuther in parua confessione saith. Eleuationem Sacramenti scieban [...] esse idolatricam sed tamen eam retinebam in Templo Wittebergensi, vt aegré facerem diabolo Carolastadio And see Luther tom. 3. Germ. fol. 55. and in col­loqu. mensal. germ. fol. 210. I did know the Eleuation of the Sacrament [Page 140] to be idolatricall, (as making for sacrifice) yet neuerthe­lesse I did reteine it in the Church at Wittenberg, to the end I might despite the Deuill Carolastadius, a saying & pra­ctise so grosse, that Amadus Polanus professor at Basil speacially mentioneth, andAmandus Polanus in Sillogethesium. theolog. p. 464. ante med. reproueth the same: saying further.Amandus Polanus ibid. saith. Sed nolo plu­ra absurdè dicta Lutheri recensere quae multa sunt, quae tegenda potius quam exagitanda &c. I will not recite more of Luthers ab­surd sayings, which are many: may this man then be said to beMr. Iewell in his A­pologie of the Church of England part. 4. c. 4. S. 2. and in his defence of the Apollo [...]ie printed 1571. page 426. prope finem. a man sent of God to lighten the world See the actes & monumēts pag. 416. a. [...]uitio the Hleias, Conductor and chariote of Israell: to be reueren­cedChristus habet pri­mas, habeas tibi Paule se­cundas, at loca postillos proxima Luther habet. And Ciriacus, Spangen­bergius in his dutch booke against certaine Catholike writers of his time, in the parte therof against Stephanus Agricola, commendeth these verses for true and godlie, and such as the Papists must suffer, will they nill they. next after Christ and Paule: Andreas Musculus in prefat. in libellum Germ. de diabol. tyrannidé: And see Nicholaus Anisdorphius Conc. 8. de Luthero pag. 88. & vide Amsdor. in prefat in primum tomum Lutheri. and Alberus contra Carolastadianos l. 7. b. greater then whō liued not since the Apostles times: Conrad. Schlusselburg. catal. haeret. l. 13. & vlt. pag. 314. 316. & 489. the Angell and last trumpet of God: whose calling was& immediate andHereof see Aretius loc. comun. de ministerio. loc. 63. pag. 198. circa med. And Lambertus Daneus in Isagog. Xpian. part. 4. l. 2. pag. 36. initio. And Lascius in the booke entituled de Russorum, Muscouitarum, & Tartarorum religione. pag. 93. ante med. extraordinarie, and his coming speciallySee the booke entituled Antichristus siue pronostici sinis mundi pag. 12. fine. 13. fine. & 86. fine. And Mathias Hoe. in his tract. duo. part. 1. pag. 136. initio. And Conrad. Schlu­ffelburg in catal. heret. l. 13. pag. 314. & 316. post med. And Michael Neander in libro orbis terrae partium explicatio l. 8. calleth him [...]pi. os, Deus aliquis theologorum, quem Deus multo ante per D. Pauli & Hussi os Ecclesiae promisit. fore­shewed in the scriptures, and sithence also foretouldHereof see the acts and monuments pag. 339. b. ininitio. and Mr. Foxe in Apocall. page 324. and Neander vt supra. by sundry prophecies (of latter times) which went vpon the time of Martine Luther. O sinne & most hatefull sinne of former Catholike times which (in Gods iust iudgment) made the world (for the time) subiect to such grosse illusion. And thus much briefly to shew that our English Protestants may in no sorte challenge Luther to haue bene so much as but a member of their Church.

THAT ALSO DVRING THE 20 YEERES next before Luther (which are yet in memory of this pre­sent age) no example, can be alledged of the Prote­stants (but only of the Catholicke) Churches administratiō of the word, & Sacramēts. SECT. 11.

BVT admitting now for the time that Luther had bene a member of the Protestants Church, we will as now yet further shew, that his example is for all that, of no force to proue a continuance of their Churches administration of the word and sa­craments but so much as for that onely age in which he liued. Wherein (to make the equitie of this our Apologie as yet more perspicuous) we will discend from all those foresaide seuerall ages before spoken of, and will as now make examination but of one onely peculier time, and that most euident, as being yet within the memorie of this present age, namely the twentie yeares that were next before Luthers first writinge against the Pope, which happenned Anno Domini 1520.Act. mon. pag. 402. [...] the late and fresh occurrants whereof concerning the matter now in question can not be either mistaken or forgotten, at the least, not in all countries where Christian religion was pro­fessed. And for so much as our aduersaries do col­lect and graunt from the scriptures, thatMr. Fulke against Heskins, Sanders &c. pag 536. paulo post med. Pastors and Doctors must be in the Church till the end of the world, euenMr. Fulke vbi supra pag. 569. initio from Christes time to Luthers age. that they shallMr. Fulke in his an­swere to a countefeit Ca­tholicke page 11. initio. alwaies resist all false opinions Mr. Fulke ibid. page 92. ante med. with open re­prehension. thatMr. Deering vpon the Hebrues in c. 2. vers. 12. lectur. 10. circa med. &c. 3. lectur 12. fine. the religion being of God no feare of man shall keepe them backe, that thereforeThe Puritans words alledged in the Bishops of London Suruey of the holy pretended discipline pa. 44 [...] circa med. the ministrie of the word and sacraments are in absolute degree of necessitie to saluation. that,Mr. Willet in his si­nopsis pag. 71. fine. it is no longer a true Church then it hath these markes: and thatMr. Willet vbi supra pag 69. fine. the onely absence of them [Page 142] doth make a nulletie of the Church that alsoHiperius in method. theolog. siue loc comun. l. 3. pag. 548. ante med. & 552. prope finem these signes (must be) externall and visible that men may knowe where the true Church is and to which company they ought to adhere that lastlyMr. Whitgiftes de­fence &c. pag. 465. post med. the Church of Christ is dispersed through the whole worlde, & cannot now be shut vp in one Kingdome. All which hath beneSee before tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 1. heretofore more specially and at large declared out of our aduersaries owne wri­tings we do here as now insist, and as our aduersa­riesThe Deuines of Heidel berg. in prefat. in Proto­collum Frankentalēse, say to the Anabaptistes. Sivos Ecclesia Dei sitis, seque­tur Deum sine sine populo & Ecclesia fuisse &c. nam si vel omnes historias perle­gatis, nullum ab exordio mundi populum inuenie­tis, qui confessionem fidei vestrae similem habuerit: quia verò ne (que) deus a principio fine populo & Ecclesia, ne (que) sempiternus ille Rex Iesus Christus sine regno fuit, vestra autem Congregatio primū Anno. 1522. caepit, sequitur vos veram Dei Ecclesiam at (que) populum esse non posse. So plainely do our aduersaries vrge the Anabaptistes to proue the conti­nuance of their Church. And Beza in epist. theologic. ep. 16. and (after the Geneua Print of Anno. 1573.) pag. 127. paulo ante med. vrgeth vpon the same ground saying. Si verum est eo­rum dogma &c. vbi tandem fuerit vnquam Ecclesia ipsos ostendere iub camus, quum a pro pagato Euangelio facile fit demonstrare, nullum vnquam eiusmodi quicquam sensisse, quin perpetuò Ecclesiae consensu fuerit damnatus. did vpon this ground charge and prouoke the Anabaptistes, so we in like manner charge them, demanding what pastors & Doctors of their Church did accordingly impugne false doctrine, preach the word, and administer their sacraments, and in what seuerall nations were the same visible and externall, but during euen those foresaid xx. yeares next before Luther; where might any man as then haue perfor­med Christs cōmandemēt ofMath. 18, 17. tell the Church: which Mr. Carthwright confesseth to beMr. Carthwrite in Mr. Whitgifts defence. pag. 635. fine. necessarie and perpetuall. or whereas then might a man haue found so much as any one of thoseFoxe in Apocall. c. 12. page 349. post med. saith. Scio ac fateor non adeo omnes terrae angulos sua seductione imposterem Demonem corripuisse, quin Ecclesia semper habeat aliquot milia. (&c. quae nunquam incuruauerunt genua ad Baal:) & vide Whitaker de Ecclesia contra Bellarminum. page 161. fine & con­tra Dureum l. 3. pag. 259. fine. thousandes: or of thatBullenger in Apocall. serm. 62. initio. & fol. 200. a. fine. & b. initio saith. By the description of the Romish tyrrannie and reigne of Antichrist it should seeme that the Church and preaching of the ghospell had bene vtterly l [...]st &c. He declareth therfore by a most excellent vision, how Christ shall notwithstanding &c. haue his Church cottinu­ally and that right famouse. Church (not obscure, but) right famouse: which (as Mr. Foxe, Mr. Whittaker, & Bullenger do collect from the scriptures) were euermore to cōtinue euen during the greatest persecution and seducing by [Page 143] Antichrist: Luther him selfe imediatly before his first preaching against the Pope, was not a profes­sed mēber of any Chur [...]h of Protestants thē known to be in being, but was a knowne Catholicke, euenSimon de Voyon in his discource vpon the Catallog. &c. pag. 180. an Augustine Friar: and as him selfe protestethLuther saieth hereof, Casu non volūtate in illas turbas incidi, Deū ipsum testor. Witnesse hereof his owne schollers Timotheus Kirchmeru [...] in his thesau­rus &c. in epist. nuncupa­toria versus finem. and Ia­cebus Andreas in confut. disput. Ioan. Iacob. Gri­naei. &c. pag. 312. He fell into the troubles or (as he tearmeth it) Luther in loc. com­mun. Clasi. 4. pag. 58. paulo ante med. saith. In­itio Euangelij, cum Deus in hanc (vt sic votem,) factionem, preter meam voluntatem per mirabiles occasiones me inuolueret. faction of controuersies concerning religion but casually and against his will not knowing of any other thenLuther in loc. com­mun. Class. 4. c. 30. pag. 51. fine saith. Tantā cau­sam in me vnum recipio­bam, & mihi vnisustinen­dam auxilio diuino iudi­cabam. And see further hereof hereafter tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 11. e. f. g. h. to ioine with him therein, and not so much asAct. mon. pag. 404. 2. initio. and Simon de Voyon in his discourse vp­on the Catalog. &c. pa. 182 drea­ming or suspecting any chāge that might happen: for as Slei­dan (Luthers owne scholler) reporteth the storieSleidan in English l. 13. fol. 177. a. prope linē [...]. the cause and originall of this busines was by occasion of Iohn Tecel a dominicke Friar, who carried about pardons to sell Sleidan. l. 16. fol. 232. b. fine. Against which Luther beganne to preach. (not vpon iudgme [...]t, but) as him s [...]lfe confesseth when he knew not what the matter ment: Luthers wordes in Sleidan. l. 13. fol. 177. b. paulo post med. for (saith he) I scarcely vnder­stood then what the name of indulgences ment: In so much as afterwardes Luther did much dislike of his owne vndertaken cource in that behalfe, often times (saith he)Luther in colloqu. mental. fol. 158. b. wishing that I had neuer begune that busines. And Mr. Foxe doth accordingly testifie how that after the said busines so begunneact. mon. pag. 404. b. initio. Luther was determined not to stire vp any new debates, but rather coueted a common quiet: whereunto he semed so enclining as he douted not to insinnate with the Pope making euen hisSleidan. l. 1. fol. 10. a. prope initium. appeale to him, andSleidan. l. 1. fol. 10. a. fur. professing (saieth Sleidan) his affection to the Church of Rome and that he will attempte no­thing against it: acknowledging alsoLuther in Sleidan. vbi supra. the power there­of to be so greate, that Christ onely excepted there is nothing in this world more excellent: In which cource he was so forward, that (saith Mr Foxe)Act. mon. pag. 404. a. fine. And Osiander in e­pitom. &c. centur. 16. pag. 61. fine. & 62. initio saith accordingly: quod Lutherus in Pon­tificem quaedam durius scripserit aut dixerit, id condonari sibi petit, promittens posthac maiorem modestiam, indulgentiarum (que) posthac nullam se facturum mentionem, modo ad­uersarijs etiam suis silenti­um imponatur. And see further there page 68. pau­lo post itutium. where he offered like condition to the Pope. it is apparente that [Page 144] Luther promised Cardinall Caietane to keepe silence (with this annexed condition of pride) prouidid also that his aduersaries would do the like: And Mr. Cowper late Bishope of Winchester, reporteth further, thatMr. Cowper in his Chronicle. fol. 278. a. paulo post initium. Luther by his letter submitted him selfe to the Pope (with this other like condition so that he might not be compel­led to recant: so plainely was pride, euen hisConcerning Luthers cō fessed Pride many Protestāt writers geue testimonie. So Conradus Regius. libro Germanico contra Ioan­nem Hossum de caena Do­mini. saith. Deus propter peocatū superbiae qua sese Lutherus extulit (quem­admodum plera (que) ipsius scripta testificantur) verum illi spiritum abstulit. And Zuinglius in responsione ad confessi­nem Lutheri, chargeth Luther with magna Arrogantia, & cum Arroganti verborum fastu, minis quo (que) plus quam turgidis. And Oecolampadius in responsione ad confessionē Lutheri: saith that Luther was, Arrogantiae & superbiae affectu inflatus. Also the Tigurine Deuines in their answere to Luthers booke against Zuinglius: say. Prophetae & Apostoli, Dei glo­riae, non priuato honori, non suae pertinaciae & superbiae studebant, Lutherus autem sua quaerit, pertinax est, insolentia nimia effertur &c. And Simon Lithus in resposione Altera ad Alteram Iacobi Gretzeri apologiam pag. 333. paulo ante med. saith. Lutherus plus quam debebat, tribuit gloriolae partae, cuius particulam communicari cum alijs indignissi­mè ferebat. And Thomas Naogeorgus (a learned Caluinist) alledged by Schlusselburg. in theolog. Calumistarū. l. 2. fol. 131. a. post med. saith of Luther. Plurima scripsit per iram, carnalem, & per emulationem, ne succumbere cerneretur vlli: doctorum veterum orbitam reliquit, indulgens stomacho suo ac honori. And Iohn Caluine alledged ibidem fol. 126. a. post med. saith. Lutherus vt pollet eximijs virturibus, ita magnis vitijs laborat: Hanc in­ [...]emperiem qua vbi (que) ebullit, vtinam magis frenare studuisset &c. vtinam recognescendis vitijs plus operae dedisset. &c. And Conradus Gesnerus in vniuersali Bibliotheca saith. Illud non est dissimulandum Lutherum virum esse vehementis ingenij, impatientem, & qui nisi per omnia sibi consentientes ferre nesc [...]t. &c. Dominus faxit, ne quid contentione & im­pudentia oris obsit Ecclesiae, cuius olim crepundia tā faeliciter promouit: In so much as Lu­ther him selfe (in Lutheri loc. comun. class. 4. fol. 35. b.) acknowledgeth the worlds opinion herein had of him. saying there. Video ab omnibus in me peti modestiam. and againe there he further saith. Omnes fere, in me damnant mordacitatem &c. con­fessed intollerable pride, the onely true cause of his further reuolt and apostasie. And it is accordingly yet further testified by Sleidan how thatSleidan. l. 1. fol. 10 paulo post initium. for so much as Luther offred (as before) most reasonable cōdicions, he thought to haue found some fauour in the humanitie of the Bishope of Rome: andSleidan l. 13. fol. 177. b. fine. that the Bishope would assoile him Luther apud Sleidan. ibidem. But lo: (saith Luther.) whilest I looke for a ioiefull sentence from Rome, I am stricken with the thunder boult (of excomuincatiō, (& cōdemned for the most wicked man aliue: Sleidan l. 13. fol. 178. a. initio. then (saith he.) I beganne to defend my doinges [Page 145] setting forth many bookes &c. and seeing it is so, let them impute the faulte to them selues, that haue so excessiuely han­led the matter: In this sort (as Sleidan testifieth) Mar­tine Luther, his foresaideSleidan l. 1. fol. 10 a. paulo post initium. appellation to the Pope being cōdemned, his offers dispised, looking for no more helpe nor health at the Popes handes, was through extreeme neces­sitie brought to appeale from the Bishope of Rome: and so vp­on occasion of these his foresaide procedings (which whether they were from heauē or not, we will with out all further inferēce refer to your MAIESTIES grauest iudgment) he fell into the open [...]nd ouer vio­lēt current of his further ensuing Apostas [...]e: notwithstanding which, he did yet still for a space after­wardes, continew his accustomed saying of Masse, vntill that amongManlius Luthers scholler testifieth this in loc com­mun. pag. 42. fine. And see also the Alphabeticall table of that booke where it is set downe Luthero sa­pius spectra apparuerunt. seuerall apparitions hapned to him: (nor ofLuther in (Lutheri loc. comun. class. 4. page 39. prope fine saith. nullas apparitiones Angelorum habeo. And ibid. pag. 40 ante med. he further saith: Pactum feci cum Domino Deo meo, ne vel visiones vel somnia, vel etiam An­gelos mihi mittat. & vide ibid. post med. Ang ll for therein he disclaimeth but of wicked sp [...]rits wherewith he was infested or haūted) whereof one was so terrible thatManlius in loc: com­mun. pag. 42. fine. & 43 initio. He was almost cast into a sound: in preuention whereof, oyle was distil­led into his eare, and his feete rubbed with hotte clothes. It chanced thatLuther tom. 7 Wit­teberg. Anno. 1588. in li­bro de Missa priuata, & Vnctione Sacerdotum fol 443. & tom. 6. Germ. Genensi. fol. 28. in libro de Missa angulari. Also Lu­thers wordes hereof are acknowledged and sett downe in the Treatise a­gainst the defence of the cen­sure. pag. 234. 235. 236. vpon a certaine time (as him selfe re­porteth the matter) hee was sodainly awaked about midnigh [...]: then (saith he) Sathan beganne this disputation with me saying harken right learned D. Luther thou hast said priuat Masse by the space of 15. yeares &c. and so the Di­uell with arguments which Luther him selfe there setteth downe, (whereat Protestants are greatly a­shamed and striue though in vaineMr. Charke and others to auoide that their doctrine a­gainst the Masse should thus proceed or beginne from the Deuill, answere, that by this dis­putation which Luther as thus reporteth to haue bene betweene the Deuill and him, was onely ment a spirituall temptation of mind, and not any sensible conference had with the Deuill. But the contrarie is to manifest. 1 First by Sathans foresaid preface to him calling him according to the humour of his Pride, right learned Doctor Luther. 2 Secondly in that he saith therof in the same place, planè persuasus sum Empserum & Oecolampadium &c. his ictibus horribilibus subitò extinctos fuisse: which argueth more then a spirituall temptatiō 3 Thirdly by Luthers there describing the sound of Sathans voice: whereof he there saith. Hic certe sudor mihi erupit, habet Diabolus grauem, & fortem vocem, at (que) ego tum bene expertus sum, quomodo mane homines in lecto mortui inueniuntur. Which last wordes are purposely o­mitted by the Lutherans in their latter edition of Witeberg. but are yet still extant in the more auncient edition of Luthers workes. tom. 6. Gen. Germ. fol. 28. b. 4 Fourthly by reporte of like other terrible apparitions hapned to Luther testified as here by Manlius a Lutherane. 5 Fiuethly by Luthers owne report els where of the Deuill of ten walking with him in his bed Chamber affirmed by Luther in colloquijs mensalibus Germanice editis. fol. 275. 6 Sixth [...]y by our aduersaries the Tigurine Deuines, who therefore obiect against Luther his disputation had with the Deuill. Tigurini in confessione Germanica impress. Tigurini. 1544. vide fol. 25. 26. & 127. 7 Lastly this eu [...]sion of a spirituall temptation to be here­by onely ment is so weake, that Mr. Sutliffe l. de vera Catholic [...] Christi Ecclesia. page 298. 299. saith, that Luther hereby setteth downe but onely his dreame, but that also is most clearly against Luthers wordes, which are that he was first, sodainely awaked, and then after Sa­t [...]n begunne disputation with him. to auoide the same.

And it is this kind of perswasion or appa [...]ition re­ported by Protestants them selues as hapning like­wise to Suinglius, It appeareth by Zuinglius his wordes set downe by him in libro de subsid. Eu­char. and also in the treatise against the defence of the censure. page 249. & 230. that Zuinglius hauing laboured the abolishing of the Masse at Zurich against a certaine Scribe that had opposed him selfe (in argument) against Zuinglius: Zuinglius was in that disputation prouo­ked to bring forth examples which were ioyned With no parable: therefore we beganne (saith he) to thinke of all that we could, but yet n [...] other example came to mind. &c. But when the 13. day of Aprill drew neere (I tell the truth) and &c. my Conscience compelleth me to vtter what the Lord be­stowed vpon me: (my th ught as I was a sleepe) that I was againe disputing with the Scribe, and my mouth so stopped that I was not able to speake &c. and sodainely ther seemed an admonisher to be present with me. ater fuerit an albus nihil memini whether he w [...]re blacke or white I remember not &c. which said, why dost thou not answere him, that which is written Exodus. 12. (for it is the Paschall which is the Passeouer of the Lord &c. wherupon (saith he) I (afterwardes) considered the place, and thereof bef [...]re the whole Congregation preached, which sermon when it was heard, draue away all mist. Thus were Zuinglius his foresaid proceedings against the Masse furthe­red with nightlie instruction in his dreame, by an admonisher whether blacke or white he re­membreth not: whereof though he made seriouse and great accompt affirming it to be no light matter which (saith he) I learned by this dreame, thankes be to God &c. Yet is the same de­rided as a meare illusion by his other brethren, as namely by Iacobus Andreas in confut. disput. Ioan. Iacobi Grinaei pag. 120. 254. fine. & 304. and by Schlusteli urg. (in theolog Caluinistarum l. 1. in Proem. fol. 3. a. b.) and by Gerhardus Gresekenius de veritate Cor­poris Christi in S. Caena. pag. 64.) By Benedict Morgenstern. in tract. de Ecclesia pag. 68. and by Iacobus Heilbrunerus in Schwenck [...]ldio Caluinismo &c. in prefat. ante med. Carolastad [...]us, In the booke entituled Conspiracie for pretended reformation page 83. initio. It is said, among others, Carolasta [...]ius a Preacher professing the Ghospell. &c. attributed much to Cabinet teacher [...] in priuate conuenticles, and vnto v [...]sions, and pretended conferences with God. Oecolāpadius Luther alledged vbi supra. saith, concerning these apparitions: Plane persuasus sum, Empser [...]m & Oecolampadium &c. his [...]ctibus horribilibus subito extinctos fuisse: so plainely was he perswaded that Oecolampadius was in one of these apparitions slaine by the Deuill. [Page 147] and Mr. Foxe In like maner doth Mr. Foxe in Apocalipsin. pag. 364. fine & 365. ini­tio. and in his acts & mo­numentes Printed 1596. pag. 90. b. circa med. See also heretofore pag. 80. in the margēt at the letter y. report the very like pretended wonderfull reuelatiō happened to him (as did to Zuinglius) whereby he was instructed that by the 24. monethes mentioned in the Apocalips was vnder­stoode the 294. yeares of the primatiue Churches first persecution, and yet is this vnderstandinge of them sithence reiected, & in steed thereof is thereby vnderstood the last 1260. yeares before Luther by Mr. Napeir vpon the re­uelations. Proposition 15 pa. 22. 23. 24. By Mr. Brocard vpon the reuiatiō fol. 110. a. and by Master Gifford vpon the reuelat. pag. 890. post med. was the first that diswaded Lu­ther from further saying of Masse.

If now then that Luther him selfe was at first a Catholicke, and our aduersaries in steed of plaine instance or example to be giuen of their Churches impugning of errors, of her Pastors Doctors, admi­nistratiō of the word and sacraments during but the foresaide 20. yeeres next before Luther: do answere vs that they were as then persecuted? we replie to them from them selues, aswel that no persecution of man can frustrate the foresaid ordināce of god made to his Church in this behalfe, as also that persecutiō See heretofore tract 2. c. 2 sect. 8. at o. p. maketh her most knowne and therfore we aske as before, who these were that were as then so per­secuted? if they say that for feare of persecution they durst not professe theire faith, and so escaped vn­knowne, we againe tell them from themselues, thatSee heretofore tract 2. c. 2. sect. 11. 1. l. p. q. r therfore they were not as then the true Church. And we vrge yet further that the feare of persecutiō could be no such let to them, after that sundry com­mon wealthes and Magistrates had vndertaken the publique profession, & defence of Luthers doctrine, but that as then at the least if any such had bene in being, they might safelie haue shewed them selues and ioyned in comunion with Luther: If lastly they say that their Pastors, and Doctors, administration of the word and sacraments were as then visible and knowne, and that now since, all testimonie thereof is suppressed to omit what hath beneSee heretofore tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 9. already sufficiently said against this, and to admit also that all our Catholicke writers should so strangely haue passed them onely ouer in silence, remembring all others as the Annabaptistes Swenefeldians &c. why yet should Luther, Zuinglius, and the other Prote­stant writers forbeare to mention them? the cause we take to be euident, and onely, for that during the foresaide 20. yeares before Luther, they were not [Page 148] knowne to be so much as but in being, in any one nation of the world, which thing is in our opinion not obscurelye graunted, rather then signified by our learned aduersaries them selues. To this end our learned aduersaries, Ioannes Regius acknowledg­eth that the Church was euen thē Ioannes Regius be­ing vrged in this kind. doth (in his liber apologeticus &c. pag. 176. circa & post med.) answere therto say­ing. Negas Lutherum suae fidei caetum inuenisse &c. dico fuisse ante Lutherum verae religionis & qui cum Luthero per omni [...] con­sentiret caetum ecclesi [...]sti­cum. But coming to answere where this Congregation w [...]s to be then found, he hath no other refuge but saith there, that it was, a [...]ontificijs non agnitus, nec propter tyrannidē pontificiam vi­sibiliter fortassis ostendi non potuerit: iuco (que) quā ­do vrgent Iesuitae, vt Lu­therus verae religionis asse clam Ecclesiam ostendat. &c. volunt vt Lutherus oppositum in adiecto de­monstret, & inuisibile, vi­sibile probet &c. interim tamen absurdum est ita argumentari, haec res ab alijs non agnoscitur, nec potest etiam vi­deri aut demonstrari, ideo (que) non est in rerum n [...]tura &c. So plainely doth he (being vrged to particulers) acknowledge his pretended Congregation at Luthers coming to haue bene then inui­sible, and not able to be shewed inuisibl [...] and could not be shewed: and Mr. Iewell affirmeth accordingly, thatMr. Iewell in his Aplogie of the Church of England part. 4. c. 4. diuision 2. and in his defence of the Apologie printed Anno 1571. pag. 426 prope finem. the truth was vnknowne at that time & vnheard of, when Martine Luther and Hulderi [...]h Zuinglius first came vnto the knowledge and preaching of the Gospell: Mr. Par­kines s [...]ith in like manner,Mr. Parkins in his exposition vpon the Creed. pag. 400. And Caluin in his booke of Epistles. printed Hannouiae 1597. ep. 141. pag. 273. paulo post med. saith accordingly. Ad [...]urdum est, postquam discessionem a toto mundo facere coacti sumus, in­ter ipsa principia alios ab alijs dissilire. And Daniel Chamierus in his epist. Iesuitic. part. altera. printed Geneuae. 1601. pag. 49. saith hereof. Arianorū venenū non portiunculā quādā fed pené totum orbem contaminauerat &c. In ea nos tempora deuinimus quae etiam ex­cedent Ariani furoris co [...]fusionem: non portiunculam vnam aut alteram error occupauit, sed totum [...]orpus Apostasia auertit a Christo. we say that before the daies of Luther, for the space of many hundreth yeares an vni­uersall apostasie ouerspread the wholle face of the earth and that our Church was not then visible to the world: in so much as Bucer doth therfore call Luther,Primum Aposiolum purioris Euangelij. Bucer in epist. Anno. 36. ad Episcopum Hereford. & vide Conradum Schlusselburg. in theolog. Caluinistarum l. 2 fol. 17. a. initio. the first Apostle of the reformed doctrine. whose vocation (said our aduer­saries) was by reason of the then generall defection of a [...]l protestant Pastors)See before tract. 2. c. 2. sect 10. fine at q. r. immediate and extraordi­narie the cource ofBez [...] ep. 5. Al [...]m [...]nno. paulo post initium. Ordinarie vocation being then no where extant. And the Lutheranes do affirme itConrad. Schlustelburg. ibid. l. 2. fol. 130. b. versus finem. impudencie to say, that many learned m [...]n in Germanie before Luther did h [...]uld the D [...]ctrine of the Gospell. And an other of them further saith: Si antecessores Lutherus in [Page 149] officio habuisset orthodoxos &c.Georgius Milius in Augustan. confess. expli­cat. art. 7. de Ecclesia pag. 137. If there had bene right beleuers that went b [...]fore Lu [...]her in his office &c. there had then bene no nede of a Lutheraine reformation, Georgius Miluis ibid pag. 138. th [...]re­fore (saith he) we say that Luther was raised vp (diuinitus & extra ordinem) by Gods speciall appointment, and extra­ordinarily. And an other Lutherane writer affirmeth, itBenedict. Morgen­stern. tract. de Ecclesia pag. 145. ridiculouse (to thinke) that in the time b [...]fore Lu [...]h [...]r any had the puritie of Doctrine, and that Luther should re­ceiue it from them, and not they from Luther, consideri [...]g (saith he) it is manifest to the whole Christian worlde, that before Luthers time, all Churches were ouerwhelmed with more then Cymeriane darkenes. And that Luther was diuine­ly raised vp to discouer the same, and to restore the light of true Doctrine. So plainely do our aduersaries them selues, in steed of instance or example to be geuen, acknowledge (to the contrary) the vtter defection and want of their Churches Pastors and Doctors, of administration of the Word and Sacraments for and during the age next before Luther: wherevnto we further add, that the Protestants Doctrine of Iustification by onely faith, (which them selues af­firme to beMr. Charke in the Tower disputation the fourth daies conference Arg. 1. d [...]nii the So [...]l [...] of the Church, Mr. Foxe act. mon. pag. 402. a. circa medium the onely prin­cipall [...]gine of saluation. andThe Confession of Bohemia in the Harmony of Confessions pag. 253. ante medium. of all [...]h [...]r p [...]ints of Do­ctrine the chiefest and weightiest,) was so vnknowne in the age before Luther, that the contrary Doctrine of Iustification by M [...]rrit and Workes (which Protestants termeMr. Penrie in the booke entituled Mr. Some laid open in his colours page 29, 30. the very hart life and soule of Poperie) was de­fended not onely by theSee this heretofore for the Waldenses, at pag. 90. i. l. and for Wicliffe at pag. 97. f. & for Husse at pag. 101. g. Waldenses, Wycl [...]ffe, and Husse, but also by all other nearer Luthers time in so much that Mr. Foxe hauing spoken of the t [...]mes next before Lut [...]er, and of the learned writers then liuing, concludeth onely of Luther, thatAct. mon. pag. 402 a. circa med. and the De­uines of the Confession of Augusta alledged by Luc. Osiander in epitom. hist. ecclesiast. centur. 16. pag. 157. paulo ante med. con­fesse the same likewise saying. Cum igitur doctrina de fide quam oportet in Ecclesia praecipuam esse, tam di [...] ta­cuerit ignota, quemadmodū fateri omnes necesse est &c. he gaue the str [...]ak [...] and pluckte downe the f [...]undation (of our Catholicke faith, and all by opening one vaine l [...]ng hid before which is our free Iustification by our faith onely in Christ. so plainely also by Mr. Foxe his confession, was this chiefe article of the Protestants faith, vnknowne [Page 150] and vnheard of during the age next before Luther.

And thus much briefely to shewe that whereas it is euident and confessed from the Scriptures, that the true Churches pastors, her administration of the Word and Sacraments must euermore continew yet our aduersaries Church, religion, administration of of the Word and Sac [...]aments, are not knowne so much as but to haue beene in being, during the xx. yeares next before Luther. Whereupon we are to resist and say to them as did the ancientTertulian in libro de praescript: saith. Qui est is vos? vnde est quando ve­nistis? vbi tā diu latuistis? and Augustine l. 3. de Baptismo contr. Don. c. 2. saith Vnde ergo donatus appa­ruit? de qua terra germi­nauit? ex quo mari emer­sit, de quo coelo cecidit? And Aug. de Vtilit. Cred. c. 14. saith to the Manichees vos autem & tam pauci, & tam turbulēti, & tam no­vi, nemini dubiū est, quoniam nihil dignum auctoritate proferetis: & Optatus, l. 2. contra Parmenianum saith Vestrae Cathedrae originem ostendite, qui vobis vultis sanctam Ecclesi­am vendicare: and Hillarie, l. 6. de Trinitate ante med saith, tardè mihi hos Pijssimos do­ctores aetas nunc huius seculi protulit, &c. and Hierom, contra Luciferianos in fine saith: ex hoc ipso quod posterius instituti sunt, eos se esse indicāt quos futuros apostolus praenūciauit. Fathers in like manner to the Heretickes of their times: and as didLuther. (in Lutheri Loc. Comun. class. 5 c. 15. pag. 50. ante med. saith of the Sacramē ­taries, Sine nobis & ante nos nihil erant, ne hiscere quidem audebant, nunc nostra victoria inflati, in nos vertunt impetum. Luther him selfe vpon this like ground to our aduersaries the Sacramentaries.

A FVRTHER DEMONSTRATION Otherwise of the Protestant Churches defection. SECT. 12.

BVT forbearing as now, further to prosecute the foresaid euident defection of the Protestantes Church her administration of the Word and Sacra­ments, by reason of the heretofore alledged dispare­tie (or rather contrarietie) in doctrine betweene our now Protestants, and the foresaid examples of Wal­do, Wicliffe, Husse, Luther &c. & all those other, whom our aduersaries haue (as hath beneSee heretofore for Wal­do. tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 3 for Wicliffe sect. 4. for Husse sect. 5. for. Luther sect. 10. and for others, see sect. 7. heretofore perticulerly proued) iniustlie pretended to be of their Church: we will as yet in further proofe otherwise of their Churches no lesse vnanswerable defection, but briefelie put youre MAIESTIE in minde, of [Page 151] one onely other point, (worthye of a much more laboured discource) the which being hereby but signified, rather then at large entreated of, we do ne­uerthelesse ( [...]n full confidence of the manifest and vnanswerable clearenes therof) presume humblie to offer vnto your HIGHNES more retired and se­riouse consideration.

We haue heretofore shewed how that supposing Waldo had bin a Protestāt yet was he before his first preaching against the Pope, originally a knowne and professed member of our Catholicke Church: and the like we haue discouered in Berengarius, Peter Bruis, Wycliffe, Husse, Luther &c. all whose followers, as namely the Berengarians, Waldenses, Wy [...]leuistes, Hus­si [...]s, Lutheranes. & [...]. are in their forenamed seue all Sectmasters from whome they are knowne to haue discended, most plainely reduc [...]d to a knowne Ca­tholicke begin ng. As were in like manner the A [...] ­r [...]ans, Dona [...]ist s, N [...]st [...]rians. &. knowne to haue had their like first begining in Catholickes, as in A [...]ius, D [...]natus, N [...]torius. &. who all together with Beren­garius, Waldo, Wy liffe, Husse, Luther. &c. were profes­sed members of our Catholicke Church, before such time as they1. Ioh. 2, 19. went forth from vs the peculier marke or stig [...]a. wherewith the1. Ioh. [...], 19. It is said of heretickes: they went out from vs. And Act. 15, 24. it is likewise said of them. Certaine that went forth frō vs: And Act. 20, 30. Out of your owne selues shall arise men speaking perverse things in so mu [...]h as our Sauiour forwarneth vs against this departure or going out saying: If therefore they shall say vnto you, behold he is in the desert, goe you not forth: Mat. 24, 26. See S. Austen vpon these words hereto­fore, tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 1. in the margēt at the figure 2. Scriptures,Optatus, lib. 1. saith herevpon against the Do­natistes vidēdum est quis in radice cum toto orbe manserit, quis foras exte­rit, quis cathedram sederit alteram quae ante non fue­rat &c. And S. Augustine, tom. 8. in Psalm. 106. saith quid est ergo seduxit eos? dimisit eos in inu [...]o & non in via, quomodo enim in via, homines qui partem tenent totum relinqunt? quomodo in via? quae est ergo via? Aut vbi agnoscitur via? Deus (inquit) m [...]sereatur nostri (& [...]) vt agn [...]scamus in terra vtam tuam: in qua terra? in omnibus genti­bus salutare tuum: vti (que) t [...]les vt min [...]antur, vt pauci fi [...]nt, hinc exeunt: A multitudine vnitatis omnes exierūt, si [...]ut P [...]ulo ante cōmemoraui dictū de illis, ex nobis exierunt (&c.) And Aug. tr [...]. 3. in ep. Io [...] saith omnes Haeretici, omnes Schismat. ex nobis exierūt, id est ex ecl. exeūt. Fathers, andSee M. Al [...]s [...]n in h [...]s confutaciō of Brow [...]s [...]e: pag. 1. initio. Protestants doe (not without euident reason) note the sectemasters of their times.

For seeing that truth is auncient to heresie, (the which is but a deniall of some part of the truth then in being and professed) and that the summe of our Christian religiō was accordingly at first established and continued in and by the ApostlesSee M. B [...]sons words alledged heretofore, tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 6. at z. a. and their [Page 152] Successors; There neuerThis is evidently seene in the examples of Arius, Novatus, Donatus, &c. And all other Arch heretikes or sect-masters of every age, neither can our adversaries give any one example to the contrarie. was therefore, nor possi­blie could bee, any Arch Hereticke or sectmaister, who d [...]d not by his the secōdary Innovatiō in deni­al of some truth deuide himselfe from the Catholike Churches the visible societie: whervpon as it follow­eth (by necessary sequele) that it sufficeth not our adversaries to affirme with such needy begging of the thing in questiō, & no lesse peremptory & assuming iudgemēt (vnder pretēce of that forbiddē 2. Peter. 1. private interpretation wh [...]chHereof see heretofore, tract. 2. cap. 1. initio. in the margent at the letter p. q. themselues do frame vpon the Scriptures that we haue departed fr [...]m God, vnlesse withall they can shewe from what other knowne companie of Christian to vs then elder & in being we did devide our selves, betaking v [...] so thereby into an other singuler societie, as did in their several times W [...]l [...], Wi [...]li [...]e, Husse, Luther, Calvin &c. in their depar­ting from our Catholike church, the like whereof to haue hapned by any such departure made by our Church f om any other knowne [...]ompay of Chri­st ans to it then ancient and in being in any age or nation since the Apostles times, our learned adversa­ries areWheras the proof here­of lieth on our adversaries part, their most materiall ob­iections in this behalfe are examined & answered here­tofore. tract. 1. sect. 7. & the contrarie by vs proved. tract. 1. sect. 8. not able to shew, a thing (in regard of the reason befo [...]e alleaged) worthy of all speciall & due observation. So likewise, (which is no lesse worthie also to be observed) although it be manifest & groū ­ded that the true Church must vndoubtedly ever­moreHereof see hereafter tract. 2. cap. 2. sect. 13. ini­tio in the margēt at the let­ter r. continue withHereof see heretofore. tract. 2. ca. 2. sect. 1. lit. t [...]. x. y. Z. b. c. administration of the Word and Sacrament. Yet to avoide the example of the Primitiue Church, being as made by our ad­versaries vnworthily questionable, & by vs hereto­fore even from themselues sufficientlyConcerning testimo­nies of our n [...]w Catholike do­ctrine to have beene taught in the Primitive Church. see heretofore. tract. 1. sect. 2. & 3. & tra. 2. c. 1. sect. 3. cleared, and withall to restra [...]ne thē to an other no lesse large, certaine, & knowne time) they are not able to name frō Anno Dom. 700. for other 700. yeeres then next after following, (a time long & larg enough) so much as but any oneThe Waldenses, Wicle­ [...]stes, H [...]ssites, & Lutherans. admitting they were all Pro­testants (the contrarie wher­of is heretofore prooved) are yet in their forenamed seve­rall sect-masters, (as are also the Calvinistes in Calvine) reduced to a Catholike begin­ning: And as for other ex­amples our adversaries cāno [...] giue instance, so much as of a­ny one other man, whom they can pretend to haue been ori­ginally a Protestant and not a Catholike: And if they flee to the examples of such other, as themselues cannot but ac­knowledge for confessed here­tikes, it is ridiculously impertinent, and sheweth their full conviction herein. other persō living during any part of althat time, in any one nation of the earth, whom [Page 153] they can but with any coulor pretend, to haue beene at first no Catholike but originally a Protestant: As we haue before said, Waldo, Wicliue, Husse. Luther, Caluin &c. (from whom haue sprong, the Waldenses, Wicle­vistes, Hussites, Lutherans, Caluinistes, &c.) were each of them originally Catholickes, as likwise were for for­mer times Arius, Nouatus, Pelagius, Nestorius &c. Let now our aduersaries peruse (though most carefully) the seuerall writings of their own most painful wri­ters in this behalf, as n [...]mely M. Fox his Acts & mo­numents, Il iricus his Catalogus testium veritatis, Si­mon de voyon, his Discourse vpon the Catal [...]gue of the Do­ctors of Gods Church, & also the century writers of Mag­deburge, and they shall not in all or any of them, or in any other find instance or example of any one o­ther man named to the contrarie of that which wee now vrge, if then our learned adversaries be not able to giue vs neither instance of any departure made by our Church frō any other knowne cōpany of Chri­stians to it then ancient and in being, yet neither also example (as it is before required during the time be­fore limited so much as but of any one man liuing in any part of the world, who was at first no Catholike but originally a Protestant: If these things be plaine evident & not to be excepted against by our learned adversaries, what then can be more cleere to proove a manifest interruption and discontinuance of their Churches Pastors, adminstration of the Word & Sa­craments, & that as our Religion is vndoudtedly thatMath. 13, 24. Good seede which Christ the good husband-man first Sowed in his field. So also their aduerse doctrines are those forewarnedMath. 13, 25. tares which the enemie (af­terwards came and s [...]wed among the Wheate & went his way: And thus much concerning the Protestants ap­parent defection of their Churches Pastors, admini­stration of the Word and Sacraments.

THAT THEREFORE PROTESTANTES for preseruation of Christs Church in being doe acknow­ledge th [...] Catholick [...] Church to haue bin the tru [...] Church and the Religion thereof for sufficient to Salvation. SECT. 13.

WHICH sai [...]le defection or wante of their Churches Pastors administratiō of the Word and Sacramentes, carrieth with it such an evident scandall or rather scroople, by reason of the con­fessed doctrine to the contrarie of all men con [...]er­ning the true Churc [...] (which according toM. Whitaker against M. Raynoldes: in his an­swere to the preface pag. 33. saith Wee beleeue to the comforte of our soules, that Christs Church hath continu­ed and neuer shall faile, so long as the world endureth: & we accompt it a prophane heresie to teach otherwise. And the same is yet fur­ther affirmed by D. Fulke in the tower disput. with Edm. Camp the 2. daies cō f [...]rence. And [...]lso by the confessions of Belgia, in the Harmonie of confes­sions p [...]g. 321. and by the conf [...]ssion of H [...]luetia, ibi­dem pag. 306. And by the conf [...]ssion of Saxonie, ibi­dem pag. 324. and 325. & 473. in so much as the Divines of Witenberge in Colloquio Badensi apud Osi­andrum in epitom (&c.) cē ­tur. 16. pag. 1064. ante med. say Ecclesiam inde ab ascē ­sione, vs (que) ad hac tempora nunquā interruptam sed per­petua su [...]cessione in terris per mansisse firmiter credimus: And ibidem pag. 1065. p [...]st med. It is said [...] Contra omnes furores Satanae. Eccle­sia vera in terris vs (que) ad ad­ventum Christi ad extremum iudicium est mansura. all opinions must evermore continue, without fa [...]ling or ceassing to be, not so much as for any one moment of time) that the more sobe [...] and learned Protestants, whom headstrong and inconsiderate zeale hath not altogether b [...]inded do therefore in preventiō there­of, and for preservation of themselues, make in these straits, our Catholike Church as it were theirNumeri 35, 11. Cit­tie of refuge: acknowledging to that end, that the true Church imediately before Luthers time, had it being in our Catholicke Church; & that accordingly, like as Luther himselfe before his preaching against the Pope, was anS [...]e [...]dan. lib. 1. initio. Augustine Fre [...]r: and (as himselfe saith)Luther in his Commentarie vpon the Epistle to the Galathians Englished, fol. 35. b. circa m [...]di [...]m. kepte chastitie pouertie and obedi [...]nce: was onely giuen to fasting, watching, praying, saying of Masse, and such like, andLuther ibidem fol. 35. a. circa medium. ho [...]o [...]ed the Pope of meere cōsciēce, &c. & was so therby most vndoubtedly, a professed mēber of our Catho­like (or as they te me it popish Church.) So likewise vpon his pretended reformati [...]n or preaching after­wards against the Pope, he did not (say they) therebyM. D. Couel in his defence of M. Hooker, Art. 11. pag. 73. post med. sayeth As it is strange for any man to deny them of Rome to be of the Church. S. I cānot but wōder, that they (of Rome) will aske where our Church was before Lu­ther, as if any were of opiniō, that Luther did erect a n [...]we Church, &c. And see the like saying in M Hooker, in his Ecclesiasticall [...]olicie, lib. 3. pag. 129. post. med. erect a new Church thē befo [...]e not in being, (for that [Page 155] were most directly against themselues) and therefore d [...] n [...]t depa [...]t from the Church he wa [...] of be [...]ore, but con­tinued still a membe [...] thereof, whi h th ng both in H [...]k [...] and M. D Cou [...] (speaking the [...]eof doe verye plainelyM. Hooker lib. 3. pag. 130. and M. D. Couel in his defence of M. Hooker pag. 68. say Wee gladly acknow­ledge them of Rome to bee of the familie of Iesus Christ, therefore we hope that to re­forme our selues is not to se­ver our selves f [...]ō [...]he Church we were before; n the Chur h wee were and are so still, as also vvee say that they of Rome (notw [...]thstāding their manifo d def ct) are to bee helde a parte of the house of God, a lymme of the visible Church of Christ. acknowledge to the great dislike of theIn the Christian let­t [...]r of certain English P [...]ot [...]st [...]nts vnto that rev [...]ēd man M R Hooker pag. 1 [...]. & 19. they doe reproue at large M. Hook for this opiniō of not severing thēselues f [...]ō the Church they were of b [...]fore. Purit [...]ins: As also M. Bunm [...] prosecuteth the same more at large affirming thereforeM B [...]nny in his treati [...]e tending to Pacification pag. [...]0 [...]. Paulo post Medium. That of departing f [...] in the Church there ought to be [...]o qu [...]stion at all amon [...]est vs Ibidem pag. 113. post m [...]dium. wee are saith he no severall Church from them nor they f [...]o [...] vs & therf re there is no departing at all out of the Church f r a [...]y to depar [...] from them to vs, nor from vs [...]o them, all the difference betweene vs is concerning the truer members, whe­ther we or th [...]y may b [...] f [...]und more w [...]r [...]hie of that accompt, as f r th [...] other we all [...]w no su h question, in so much as hee doubteth n [...]t to sayIbidem p [...]g. 109. circa medium. It wa [...] evill done of them who f [...]rst v [...]ged [...]uch a [...]eparati [...] cōfess [...]ng further our g eatIbidem pag. 92 circa medium, he saithe of his seperation, our aduersaries see themselues to h [...] advantage if they can winne vs to acknowledge (it) ad­vantag giuen thereby, whi [...]h our advantage he af­terw rds very pla [...]nel [...] to this purpose expresseth to beIbidem pag. 96. c [...]rca m [...]dium. for that saith he) it is great pr [...]babilitie wi [...]h thē, that [...] we make ou s l [...]es a swerable [...]or to find out a distinct and s uerall Chur [...]h from them, which continued from [...]he A­po l s [...]g [...] t [...] this p [...]e [...]n [...], [...]lso that [...]ele we must acknowledge that our Church is str [...]g vpon late, or since theirs: And hēce it commeth, that M. H [...]ler and M. D. Couel doM. Hooker in his Ecclesiasticall Policie. l. 3. sect. 1. p [...]g. 130. ante medium & l. 5. pag. 188. initi [...]. and M. D. Couel in his defence of M. Hooker, pag. 68. ac­knowl [...]g [...], the Church of Rome t [...] be [...] of the sami [...]ie o [...] I [...]sus Ch [...]st, a pa [...]te f the h [...]use of God, a Lymme of [...]h [...] vi [...]bl [...] Church of Christ: that M. D. Bar [...] s [...]ithIn his ormer sermons a [...]d two questions, &c. serm. 3. pag. 448. fine. the learnedder writ [...]rs acknowle [...]ge the Chu [...]ch of Rome to bee th [...] Church of God: that M. D S [...]me saithM. D. Some in his defence against M. Penrie (&c) cap. 23. fine pag. 182. initio. in the iudgement o [...] all lear­ned [Page 156] men, & all reformed Church s there is in Popery a Chu [...]ch: that another late Englishe Protestant wryter saythSee the discourse v­pō the meanes of w [...]l governing (&c.) against Ni­cholas Matchiuell Printed at London 1602. pag. 80. post med the Catholicke and r formed make not two but one same r ligion, Ibidē pag. 83 Paulo post med & 85. prope finem. agreeing in all principall points [...]f rel [...]gion [...]eces­sarie for our saluatio [...] that also George Cass [...]l [...]r (though dislikingCass [...]der in libro de of­fic [...]o Pij viri &c. pag. 14. ante medium & 15. initio. the Pope) and a knowledged forDauid Pareus in his booke de Symbolis Sacra­mentatibus &c. in praefat ante medium, saith C ssader [...]rditius scriptor. &c. a learned writer saithCassander ibidem pag. 14. post medium. and in de­fence of his opinion h [...]e alledgeth Luther ibid. pag. 14. fine & pag. 21 &. 22. the Ch [...]r [...]h of Rome is to bee reueren­ced as bei [...]g the true Church and Templ [...] of God; and that a late d sguised French Protestant writer, affirmethExamen Pacifique de la doctrine de H [...]guenotes, &c. imprimee a Caen. 1590. en argum du liure pag. 2. Ca [...]h [...]l [...] ke [...] and H g [...]s to be of one saith and r [...]l g [...]n: with whom agreeth another l ke [...]rite [...] term [...]ng thē in like mannerApologie Catholique &c. part. 2. pag. 26. & 203 & 204. Dom [...]sti [...]kes [...]f o [...] fa [...]h, and braunch [...]s of one and the same Vine. And hen e lastly it commeth, that the lea ned Protestants (as wee beforeHeretofo [...]e tract. 1. s [...]ct. 6. haue she [...]ed doe afford to our C [...]tho ike professors, the ho efull promises of Salvation, af [...]irming this to beeM. D. Some vbi supra pag. 176. prope finem. the iudgment of a [...]l [...]a n [...] Pr [...]e [...]tan [...]. & [...]dM. B [...]nny in his trea­ti [...]e tending to Pacifi [...]ati­on pag. 93. circa medium. [...]are by the wh [...]l [...] course of all [...]heir writ [...] gs: in so [...]uch a [...] [...]hey doubt not to cha [...]ge such of their other head-strong brethren as affirme the contrarie even withMr. D. Couell in his defence of M. Hooker, pag. 68. Paulo post medium. Igno­rant zeale.

A briefe repetition of [...]he premisses of this second Chapter. SECT 14.

SINCE therefore (most Gratiouse Souer [...]igne) it appeareth by the second chapter of this second tra [...]t grounded vpon the Scriptures, and that con­fessed sense therof which our aduersaries themselues ackno [...]ledge 1 First that the Chu [...]ches Pastors and Do [...]to [...]s, t [...]eir impugning of errors, administration of the Word and Sacrament [...] must euermoreSee hereto [...]ore tra. 2. c. 2. sect 1. b. c. d. & ibid. n o. u. & ibidem, x. y. z. con­tinue in being 2 Secondly that where these are wan­ting there the true Church isSee heretofore tra. 2. cap. 2. sect. 1 y. z. not. 3 Thirdly that the examples ofSee heretofore tra. 2. c [...]p. [...]. sect. 7. Bertram, theSee heretofore tract. 2. c. 2. sect. 3. Wal [...]e s s, See heretofore tract. 2. cap. 2. Sect. 4. Wi [...]liffe, [Page 157] See heretofore tra. 2. cap. 2. sect. 5. Huss, [...]ndSee heretofore tra. 2. cap. 2. sect. 10. and 11. Luther, vpon which our adversa [...]ies doe most insist and all otherSee heretofore tra. 2. cap. 2. Sect 7. examples of former times are altogether impe [...]tinent to enable (but so much a respecti ely for those times:) a continuan e of their Churches administrat [...]on of the Word & Sa­craments: in so much as themselues are vrged to cō ­fesse that the same haue continued latent andSee h [...]retofore tra. 2 c. 1. sect. 4. p. q. r. s. t. u. x. y. z. in­visible to the world (at the least) for these 1000. years l st past. 4 Fourthly whi h po [...]nt onely wo [...]d suf­fice to convince our adversaries) t [...]at not so much as an one e [...]ample thereof can bee found, b [...]t during evē the last xxSee heretofore tra. 2. cap. 2. sect. 11. yeares before Luthers first preaching ag [...]inst the Pope, which are yet within the memo [...]ie of t [...]is present age. 5 Fifthly th [...]t in regard thereof, our adversarie [...] a e (for preservation of themselues) vrged to fleeHeretofore tract. 2. c [...]p. 2. sect. 13 y. & ibidem z. b c. d. e. f. g. h. i. to our Catho [...]ike Church whose Pastors administration of the Word & Sacraments, haue accord [...]ng to their former confession) continu­edSee heretofore tra. 1. sect. 2. & tract. 2. cap. 1. sect. 4. q. r. s. t y. kn [...]wne and visible [...]or 1300. yeares last [...]ast, & so to acknowledge it for a trueSee heretofore tra. 1. sect. 6. e. f. & ibidem g. h. l. & tract. 2. ca. 2. sect. 13 b. c. Church, wher­of Lu [...]her at and after his s [...]d fi [...]st pre c [...]ing was andHeretofore tract. 2. cap. 2. sect. 13. y. continued ( [...]ccording to their en [...]orced con [...]essi­on) a knowne and prof [...]ssed member.

We do most humb [...]e now hereupon appeale to your MAIESTIE concerning the eq [...]itie of this our pre [...]ent Apologie, and whether [...]h t we haue not her by greate cause, to stand (a [...] we do) aga [...]nst our aduersaries in defence of our Catholike Church, and whe her also that they, are not in all sen [...]e and r [...]ason fo [...]nde of all others most vnreasonable, n thei [...] seeking further to af [...]ict & persecute the same.

SECT. 1. CONCERNING THE CONFESSED AN­tiquitie of Catholicke Priest-hood Confe sion Absolution Masse &c. and of the penall lawes made against them.

ALBEIT most gracious Soue­raign that in regard of these so pl [...]ine and [...]onfessed premisses already alledged in be [...]alfe of our Catholike faith, the same can appeare (even to our ene­mies) no lesse then worthie of all reuerend & due estim tion, such yet neverthel [...]s hath bin the calamity of our former ti [...]es, th t even for this faith, though th [...]s bew­t [...]full with all this outward o na [...]et of cōf [...]ssed pro­babilitie, (which being indeed but as it were th mo­ther pear [...]e conteineth vnder it such further speciall proofe fr [...]m Scriptures Fathers, [...]nd Protestant wri­te [...]s s is much more orient [...]nd richly demonstrat [...]e, the particule [...]s whereof we h [...]mblie pray but by this discourse m [...]de onely in generall da [...]e not presume) to offer to your Maiestie: we h [...]ue for many yeares past susteined the [...]mpositiō of sundry p [...]nall lawes, the CatholikeS. Chrysostom writ a [...]peciall booke of this Priest-hood. Priest hood of our spiritua l Pa­stors, who (as S^t. Austine saith) are now not [...]properlie butAug. de civ. Dei l. 20. c. 10. post medium saith non vti (que) de solis Episcopis & Presb [...]teris d [...]ctum est, qui [...]ā prop [...]e vocātur in Ecclesia Sacerdotes. prope [...]lie called priests in th [...] Church: and to w [...]om there [...]ore the words Presbiter, and Sa [...]rd s are [...]nd ffe­rentlyA [...]gust [...] vt supra & the Greek word Hiereus which signifieth Sacerdos is v­sed and referred to Christian Priests by Dionisius Areopagita de eccles. Hierarch. c. 5. & Epist. 8. ad demophilum monachū: And Ignatius in his vndoubted Epistle ad Smyrnenses nowe extante (wherof divers sentences are verbatim alledged vnder the name of Ignatius, and title of this Epistle by Hierom. lib. de viris illustribus and by Eusebius lib. 3. cap. 32. as is more at large vrged and proued by the L. Archbishop of Canturburie in his defence &c. pag. 408. circa medium: & he not so much as therin gaine-said by Carthwright affirmeth the Bishop to be as the high Priest, & Chr [...]sts Image in respect that he sacrificeth: affirming further, that in the Church nothing is greater then the Bishop, who sacrificeth to God for the safetie of the w [...]ole world and Nazianz [...] in Epist. 8. ad Simplicium Heret. affirmeth the Priest to be the mediator betweene God and man and sacrificing togither with Christ: this point is so evident and common in the Greeke and La­tine Fathers, that M. Whitaker lib. 9. contra D [...]am, pag. 813 initio, acknowledgeth the same and answereth onely that the said Fathers vsed the words H [...]reus and Sacerdos: (non proprie sed catacresticos, not properly) (directly against S. Austines foresaid testimonie) But by abuse of speech: and yet as the L. Archbishop of Canturburie in his said defence &c. pag. 411. ver­sus finem, confesseth and saith this name Priest is vsually applied to the Minister of [...]he Gospell in all Histories, Fathers and writer of Antiquitie. referred in respect of the blessed Sacramēt, [Page 159] which is by them off [...]ed to GodAug. de civ. Dei lib. 17. cap. 17. circa medium. vnder Christ the (High) Priest, &Ambros. in 1. Tim. c. 4 vers. 14. in his steed orCiprian. lib. 2. Epist. 3. post medium. place, as the churches e [...]tern [...]ll and acceptable oblation, & acknowledgedFor these last 1000. yeares M. Beacon in his works set forth 1560. the 3. part in his treatise enti­tuled the reliques of Rome fol. 344. a post. med. saith, the Masse was fully finished by Pope Gregorie the first, about Anno Do­mini 600. &c. And from Charles the Great vnto Charles the first, the Masse reigned as a most migh­tie Queene in all the Churches of the West part of the world. and Melancthon lib. 4. Chronic. in Henric. 4. fol. 186. 187. saith of Gregorie. he allowed by publique auctority the sacrifice of Christs body and blood not onely for the liuing, but also for the deade: And the like is affirmed of Gregorie by Carion. in Chronic. pag. 567. Paulo ante med. Also Musculus Loc. Comun. de caena dom. pag. 339 fi [...]e saith of Pelagius Predecessor to Gregorie, Pelagius commemorationē mortuo­rum in secreta canonis mistatic [...] retulit (&c.) vt mortuis virtus & efficacia Missae communi­ca [...]etur: Also Simachus was Bishop of Rome (Anno 501) of whom the centurie writers cen­tur. 6. cap. 10. col. 664. line 30, say, notas Antichristi & hic habuit, missam enim in formam redegit: Before him was S Leo (Anno 440.) of whom M. Bale in his Pageant of Popes fol. 27. saith, Leo the first allowed the sacrifice of the Masse n [...]t without great blasphemie to God: Be­fore Leo was Ambrose (Anno 370) whom the centurie writers cent. 4. cap. 4. col. 295. line 3. reprove and ch [...]rge with not writing well de transubstantiatione & applicatione pro mor­tuis: and ibidem line 23. they further s [...]y, Ambrosius locutionibus vtitur quibus ante eum ex patribus nemo vsus est: vt miss [...]m facere, offerre sacrificium &c. Before him againe w [...]s Gre­gorie N [...]ssene of the Greeke Church: (Anno 340.) of whom Andreas Chrastouius in his booke (against Bellarmine) de opificio missae lib. 1. sect. 164. initio & pag. 81. saith An ignorat opi­nionem Nissem per se absurdam esse (&c.) ait ille (Nissenus) cum ita (que) dedit (Christus) dis­cipulis suis corpus suum ad comedendum (&c.) [...]am latentèr (&c.) in effabilitèr & inuisi­bilitèr corpus immolatum erat (&c.) And see further hereof M. Whitaker cōtra Duraeum l. 4. pag. 320. fine: Also Cyrrill of Hierusalem another Father of the Greeke Church florished (Anno 320.) whom Hospinianus in historia Sacramentaria pag. 167. initio chargeth and reproveth saying, quod ad Cirrillum Hierosolomitanum attinet, dicit ille quidē pro [...]u [...]iam temporis recepta consu [...]tudine, sacraficium altaris, maximum iuvamen este animarum: and Ca [...]vin in libro de vera Ecclesia reformatione saith of the Fathers of this age solēne est ne­bulonibus istis (meaning vs Catholikes) quicquid vitiosum in Patribus legitur coriadere (&c.) cum ergo obijciunt locum Malachiae de missae sacrificio ab Ireneo exponi, oblatio­nem Melchisedech sic tractari, ab Athanasio, Ambrosio, Augustino, Arnobio, brevitè. [...]ponsū sit, eosdem illos scriptores alibi quo (que) panem interpretari Corpus Christi, sedita ridicu [...]è, vt distentire nos cogat [...]atio & veritas (&c.) And in his booke of the institutions printed Ar­gentorat. 1539. pag. 350. ante medium. And after the [...]ther edition lib. 4. institut. cap. 18. sect. 11. he further saith veteres quo (que) illos video hanc memoriam alio detorsisse quam in­stitutioni domini cōveniebat, quod nescio quam repetitiae aut saltem renovatae in [...]ol [...]tionis faciem, [...]orum caena prae se f [...]rebat (&c.) Imitati sunt enim propius Iudaicum sacrificandi morem quam aut ordinauerat Christus, aut Evangelij ratio ferebat and see heretofore pag. 13. Before these times liued S. Ciprian (Anno 240.) whom the Centurie writers cent. 3. cap. 4. col. 83. line 34. reproue saying, Sacerdorem inquit (Ciprianus) vic [...] Christi fugi, & Deo Patrisacrificium offerri. And M. Fulke against Heskines, Sanders &c pag. 100. circa med. saith It is granted that Ciprian thought the bread and wine brought forth by Melchisad [...]ch to bee a figure of the Sacrament, and that herein also Melchisadech resembled the Priesthood of Christ. Also Ter­tullian liued (Anno 220) him doth Luc Osiander centur. 3. lib. 1. cap. 5. pag. 10. circa med. re­proue saying, Tertullianus approbauit oblationes pro defuciis, orationes Annuas pro nata­litijs: In like sort is he reproued by the Centurie writers cent. 3. cap. 5. col. 338. line 56. and no lesse plainely by M Fulke in his confutation of Purgatorie pag. 265. circa & post med. Before Tertullian liued Ireneus (Anno 170.) him Caluine reporteth as before, and the Cen­turie writers cent. 2. cap. 4. col. 63. line 20. charge, saying de oblatione porro Ireneus l. 4. c. 32. (&c.) satis videtur loqu [...] in co [...]n odè, cum ait noui Testamenti novam docuit (Chri­stus) oblationem, quam Ecclesia ab Apostolis accipiens in vniverso mundo offert Deo. Be­fore him liued Ignatius the Apostles vndoubted scholler, (Anno 90) of whom the Centu­rie writers in cent. 2. cap. 4. col. 62. line 9. say, quaedam ambigua & incomode dicta in qui­busdam occurrunt, vt in Epistola Ign [...]tij ad Smyrnenses, non licet inquit Ignatius sine Epis­copo ne (que) offerre, ne (que) sacrificium immolare, and cent. 2. c. 10. col. 167. line 17. the Cen­turie writers affirme these words of Ignatius to be periculosa & qu [...]si errorum semina: Last­lie M. Beacon in his foresaid treatise fol. 344. a. post med. saith, the Masse was begotten, concea­ved & borne anone after the Apostles times, if all be true that historiographers write. And Hospinia­nus in historia sacramētaria l. 1. c. 6 pag. 20 fine. saith, Iam tum primo illo seculo viuentibus adhuc Apostolis, magis huic sacr [...]mento quem Baptisme insidiari ausus sit (demon) & ho­mines a prima illa forma sensim abduxerit (&c.) And Sebastianus Francus in Epistola de ab­rogandis in vniuersum omnibus statutis ecclesiasticis (saith most plainely) statim post A­postolos omnia inuersa sunt (&c.) caena dom. in sacrificium transformata est. by learned protestants to haue beene for such ac­co [...]d ngly offred not only fo [...] these thousand yeares last past, but also for so many other precedent ages, [Page 160] as being (in our opinion) not any new redemptiō but rather a continuall commemoration and application of the force and benefit of that one sacrifice, whichHaebr. 9, 28. was offred once for all: is against all example of for­mer times made treason in our Priests: our releeving [Page 161] of them is death to vs, the remission or forgiuenes of our sinnes, (which Protestants terme reconciliation) defēded by auncientAmbros. l. 1. de poeni­tentia c. 2. saith of the No­vatians, sed a [...]unt se domi­no deferre reverentiam cui soli remittendorū cri­minum potestatem reser­vent. Immo nulli maiorē iniuriam faciunt, quam qui eius volunt mandata rescindere. nam cum ipse in Evangelio suo dixerit dominus, accipite spiritum sanctum quorū remisseritis peccata remittuntur eis (&c.) quis est ergo qui magis honorat, vtrum qui mandatis obtemperat an qui resistit. And cap. 7. he further saith to them, cur Baptizatis si peccata per hominem dimitri nō licet: In Baptismo vti (que) remissio peccatorum omnium est, quid interest vtium per paenitentiam, an per laua­crum hoc ius sibi datum Sacerdotes vindicentur vnum in vtro (que) ministerium est. Also Pa­cianus in epist. 1. ad S [...]mp [...]onianum nouatianum saith, numquam Deus non poenitenti com­minar [...]tur nisi ignosc [...]e [...] poenitenti: solus hoc (inquies) Deus poterit, verum est: sed & quod per Sacerdotes suos facit ipsius potestas est, nam quid est illud quod Apostolis dicit: quae li­gaueritis in tertis (&c.) In like manner Socrates in hist. tripart. lib. 2 cap. 13. fine. reproueth A­cesius the Nouatian: for that hee taught concerning such as fell in persecution (inuitandus quidem ad poenitentian, spem verò remissionis non à sacerdotibus, sed à Deo solummodo sustinere, qui potestatem h [...]bet peccata remittere: Haec cum dixisset Acesius, imperator ait, ô Acesi po­ne scalam & si potes ascende solus in coelum; so strange and singuler in those times was this opi­nion deemed: & vide hist. tripart. l. 8. c. 9. prope initium. Fathers against the Novati­ans, & by other ProtestantLobechius Doctor and professor in the Vniversitie of Rosticke in his disput. theolog. pag. 301 answereth our adversaries common obie­ction saying; est quidē solius De [...]à peccatis absoluere, sed ita vt (hoc fac [...]at alias immediate, (&c.) alias mediatè per suos ministros condonando nobis culpam (&c.) errant ergo Cal­um [...]m, qui (&c.) absolutioni ministri verbi, illam efficaciam detrahant, (&c.) contendentes mini [...]um absoluere tantum vt internuntium &c. In like plaine manner is our adversaries obie­ction of God onely forgiuing sinne: and their denial [...] therevpon of that power to Ecclesiasticall Mini­s [...]ers, no lesse plainely further answered and refelled by sundrie Protestants, as namely by Andrea [...] A [...]thamerus in conciliat. locorum Scripturae pugnantium &c. loc. 194. fol. 218. a. b. And by Iacobus He [...]lbranerus in Schwenckfeldio Caluinism. pa. 55. In so much as Absolution (is affirmed to be) properly a Sacrament, by Melancthon in Apolog. Confest. August. Art. 13. de numero & vsu Sacramentorum fol. 161. b. initio. by Spangeberg in (hu) Margarita Theologica. pag. 116. & 117. by Andraeas Acthamerus in conciliat. lo [...]orum Scripturae Pugnan. (&c.) loc. 191. fol. 211. b initio. & loc. 195. fol. 219. b. And by Sarcerius in loc. comun. tom. 1. de potest. Eccle­siae fol. 305 b. post med. writers against their brethren our adversa [...]ies, which our said Priests (according to their commission most plainly set downe in theIoh. 20, 21, 22, 23. Scriptures) vndertake to impart to vs, vpō perticuler confession had of our sinnes, (which saide confession bothTo omitte the plentifull testimonies of the Fathers S. Leod [...]s [...]ribeth the vsage of the Latine Church in epist 91. ad Theodorū foro iu­lij Episcopum saying, Christus hanc Ecclesiae praepositis tradidit potestatem, vt & confiten­tinus actionem poenitentiae darent, & cosdem salubri satisfactione purgatos, ad communio­nem Sacramentorum per Ianuam reconcil [...]tionis admitterent: And epist. 80. ad Episcopos Campaniae. He further saith, cum reatus conscientiarum sufficiat solis Sacerdotibus iudicari confessione secreta. And it is saide in the ancient tripartite historie. lib. 9. cap. 35. Ad hanc cau­sam presbiterum bonae conuersationis, seruantem (que) secretū ac sapientem virum statuerunt, ad quem accedentes hi qui delinquebant delicta propria fat [...]bantur: At ille secundum vnius­cuius (que) culpam indicebat & mulctam: quod etiam hactenus diligenter in occidētalibus ser­vatur ecclesijs, & maxime apud Romam, vbi etiam locus est certus poenitentium. And S. Ba­sile (signifieth the like doctrine of the Greeke Church) in quaestionibus brevioribus interrogat. 288. saying, necessariò peccata ijs apariri debent, quibus credita est dispensatio mysteriorum Dei: siquidem rationem hanc in poenitētia etiam veteres illos cernimus sequutos fuisse: &c. And the Centurie writers Centur. 3. cap. 6. col. 127. line 29. 30. 31. &c. Describe the life doctrine and vsage of the Church of Aphricke out of the writings of Ciprian, and Tertullian. And see further hereof heretofore pag. 53. num. 7. And in the margent there at the letter t &c. Fathers and Protestants [Page 162] Sacerius in loc. co­mun. de confessione fol. 289. b. saith it is an error adserere confessionē quae coram Deo fit sufficere, ita vt contemnas claves & absolutionem per fratrē: Hic error prorsus tollit v­sum clavium & absolutio­nis (&c.) falsum ergo est confessionem, quae corā Deo fit tollere confessio­nem privatam: &c. In like plaine maner is private con­fession defended most earnest­ly against our adversaries. by sundrie of their owne o­ther brethren, as namelie by Lobechius in disput. theol pag. 295. sect. 4. By Conra­dus Schluselburg. in theol. Caluinistarum, fol. 147. a. By Melancthon l. 1. episto­larum pag. 234. ante medium. By the confessions of Saxonie, and Boheme in the Harmony of Cō ­fessions. pag. 231. circa medium. and pag. 357. and 358. initio. and by many others. doe likewise acknowledge) is (to our greatest greefe) condemned for Lasa maiestas, as being a disloi­all abnegation of our allegeance. To the clearing whereof, we doe (as in the presence of God and your Maiestie) protest vpon our soules, that no such mat­ter, is therein or thereby expressed implied or ment: our recusancie or refraining to be present at Prote­stants service: (notwithstanding that the like deniall or recusancie of Protestants to be present at our Ca­tholike service, is prescribed and taught by sundrie of their owne most learnedM. Willet in his Synopsis printed Anno 1600. pag. 612. 613. 614. teacheth this recusancie, and alledgeth in proofe of his opinion sundrie testimonies from the most famous Protestants, as Ridley, Latimer, Philpot, Bradford &c. In like manner is it further taught by Ridley in the Actes & Monuments pag. 1285. b. paulo ante medium. By Haukes Act. Mon. pag. 1150. b. initio. and 1151. a. circa medium. By Melancthon in concilijs theologicis pag. 628. By Peter Martyr in his discourse here­of recited in Melancthons foresaid treatise of Consil. theolog. pag. 634. 635. By Martine Bucer al­ledged ibidem pag. 632. and 633. and 634. By Iohn Caluine alledged ibidem pag. 635. fine and 636. and by the Divines of Germanie alledged by Sleydane in his Comentaries Englished. lib. 7. fol. 87. a. circa medium. writers) is neverthe­lesse iudged in vs a kind of froward and superfluous remorse, and accordingly taxed with a confiscation or waist of our goods and yearely revenue: wherevn­to might be added our sundry other losses, contume­lies, imprisonments and publike disgraces hereto­fore susteined whereat though we doe all mourning plaine, yet complaine we will not,

THE PROTESTANTS OBIECTION OF Catholickes disloyaltie retorted vpon themselues. SECT. 2.

AND for somuch as sundry of our vncharitable aduersaries who are nothing moued with our foresaid calamities, do out of their inueterate and implacable hatred, daily seeke to auert from vs your HIGHNES most gratious and Princely dispositiō, inclined otherwise to commiserat all such as are af­flicted, and do therefore to make vs more odious often inculcate the doctrine wherewith certaine our writers are charged concerning the Popes vnderta­king in some cases to despose Princes, pretending with all what greate danger may at last hence ensue when by reason of your Maiesties mercie in the meane time to vs extēded, our estats shall be bettered & number increased: Vouchsafeth your HIGHNES (before we enter into petition for our selues) graci­ously to weigh with equall consideration that which herevnto wee shall alledge, aswell cōcerning our ad­versaries, who thus charge vs, as in answere for our selues that are so charged.

First then concerning our aduersaries, wee say that they in their thus vrging or but remembring of this point against vs, doe of all others shewe themselues most indiscreetely malicious, for: quis tulerit grachum de seditione loquentem &c. or how can it be decorum in a­ny, to charge others with imputation of that, wherin themselues are further chargeable? And although we for our partes doe altogether dislike all acerbitie and gall of in vectiue writing; being yet thus provo­ked to such iust and necessarie recrimination as our owne defence and safetie requireth; we say from thē ­selues as followeth 1 First concerning the Luthe­ranes doth not Sleydane Luthers owne Scholler make full reporte of the seditious doctrine of the Di­vines of Magdenburge maintaining and publiquelie [Page 164] In Sleydane in Eng­lish hist. l. 22. fol. 345. a circa medium the Divines of Magdenburg thus teach thereof: If it so fortune that the Magistrate passe the boundes of his authority and commaund any thing that is wicked &c. If hee attempte any force he should be res [...]sted &c. and seeing the case stan­deth t [...]us, there can no rebel­lion of right be obiected vn­to vs. And ibidē fol. 345. b. initio It is further said, The Min [...]sters of the Church set forth a writing wherein they recite the confession of their Doctrine, and declare how it is lawfull for the in­ferior Magistrate to defend himselfe against the the su­perior compelling him to for­sake the truth. teaching in defence of their rebellion, that in case of religion it was lawful for subiects even with force to resist the Prin [...]e: doth not Chitraeus a learned Lu­theraineChitraeus in Chronic. Anno 1593. & 1594. pag. 74. fine and 75. saith hereof tandem rex flecti se sibi (que) persuadere passus est, vt assentiretur se religionem & cultum Dei, in verbo Dei & Augustana confessione comprehensum &c. solam in regno conseruare ac tueri, nec templa in vrbibus vlla alteri, quam Augustinae confessionis reli [...]io­ni destinare velle, nec aditum in senatum regni, vel ad vlla r [...]gni officia publica, alijs quam Augustinae confessionis doctrinam retinentibus concedi debere: regem ve [...]o ip [...]um ad suae religionis Pontificiae exercitium, sacellis arrium in quibus habitabit contentum fore. &c. repo t how the King of Suethland be­ing a Catholike was by hi [...] subiects the Lutheraines vrged to assēt to the de [...]ree that no Catholike should beare any of [...]ice in that kingdome and that the King should content himselfe with his Catholike service to be Celebrated only in his own private Chappell? was not the force attempted by the GermainesOf the Germaines insurrection against their Emperour, see further hereafter in this tract in the margent at the figure 4. a­gainst thei [...] Emperour in defence of their Lutherane religion so publiquel [...] m [...]de knowne to the world with lamentable effus [...]on of much Christian blood throughout Germany, as that the same is mu [...]h more wort [...]ie o [...] pittie t [...]en reme [...]bran e?

Se [...]o [...]dl [...] concerning t [...]e Cal [...]iniste [...], doth not Cal­uine him selfe teach hereof, thatCalvine in Dan. c. b. vers. 22.25. saith, abdica [...]t se potestate terreni Principes dum insurgunt contra Deum, immo indigni sunt quicenscantur in homi­nū numero, potius ergo conspuere oportet in illorū capita, quā illis parere &c. ear [...]hly Prin [...]es doe be [...]eaue h [...]m selue o [...] auth [...]ritie when they erect thems lues against God, yea that they are vnworthie to b [...] accompted in the number of men, and therefore we must rather spitt vpon their faces, then obeie them &c. doth not S [...]inglius like­wise say,Suin­glius lib. 4. epistolarum Suinglij & oecolampad. epist. Cunhardo Somio & Symperto &c. pag. 868. post medium & pag. 869. saith, Promittendum est Caesari officium debitum si mo­do fidem nobis permittat illibatam &c. Romanum Imperium, imò quod (que) Imperium vbi religionem sinceram opprimere ceperit, & nos illud negligentes patimur, iam negatae aut contemptae religionis non minus rei erimus quam illi ipsi oppressores: exemplum est apud Hieremiam 15. vbi exterminium cominatur Deus Israeli quod Manastem permisissent im­punè esse pessimum. due l [...]ial [...]ie is to be promised to Ces [...]r, i [...] so that he p r [...]nt to vs our rel gio in violabl [...] &. if the romaine Empire or what [...]her, souerai n [...] s [...]euer, should opresse the sin­cere religion, and we n [...]gligently further the same, we shalbe [Page 165] charged with contempte, no less [...] then the oppressors thereof them s [...]lues. whereo [...] ( [...]aith he, abusing therein [...]he Scriptures most g [...]o [...]ely) we haue an example in the 15. of Ieremie, wher the distruction of the Pe [...]pl [...] is proph [...]sied for that they suffred their Kings Ma [...]ss s [...]e [...]g vngodly to be vnpunished. And doth he not aduise to haue this Doctrine priuately & with respect(Ibidem pag. 869. post medium.) Prudenter igitur ac paulatim agēda sunt huiusmodi, at (que) cum paucis quibus credere possis quae ardua sunt. Co [...]municated vnto certeine chiefe pe [...]sons of credit, did not also the Caluinists of Emb­den (as a brother of t [...]e [...]r o [...]neGerhardus Giesekenius lib. de veritate Corporis Christi in Sacra caena. pag. 256. paulo post medi­um saith, Embdens [...]s illu­strem dominū suum, mo­ta seditione & advocato peregrino milite, fere non solum civit [...]te, sed tota di­tione pepulissent: pacti e­ti [...]m sunt ne pot [...]statē ha­beat dictus illustris comes vllius religionis nisi C [...]l­vinistae exercitium subdi­tis in Civitate Embd [...]na cōcedere, & tamen liceat (quod magnae est gratiae) facere in aula cōcionato­rem, qui sit Augustinae cō ­fessionis. H [...] sunt fructus fidei vestrae &c. reporteth) by force expell the Civill Magistrate, being a Lu [...]herane and inforce that the e [...]ercise of the Calvinistes religion should be publique and [...]he other but priuate; to the Magistrate in his o [...]ne house. Is there not also like further [...]epo [...]t or mention made by the Protestant writer [...]ri [...]tuus of theCrispinus in his booke of the Churches State pag. 509. initio. S [...]dition at Basile betwixte the Bu ge [...]s and certeine of the Senators for the cause of religio? and that the Burg [...]sses hau [...]ng taken armes, cast downe the Imag [...] in the Templ [...]s, and cau [...]ed the Sena [...]e to agree to what they demaunded: and that herevpon twelue Senators fa­v [...]uri [...]g Pap [...]strie were deiected out of the Senate. and that in this sort, the Masse was then abolished through all that Sig­norie: Wherevnto might be added the knowne con­fessed example of likeOsiander in epitom-hist. Eccl. centur. 16. pag. 801. post med. &. 803. an­te medium. impatient furie at Antwerpe, and certaine other plac [...]s of Holland, Zelland &c. as also ofTestified by Crispin [...] vbi supra pag. 627. fin [...], and by Osiander centur. 16. pag. 959. And Sarauia in defens. tract. de diversis gradibus ministrorum &c. cap 2. pag. 74 ante & circa medium. saith, quid his verbis D. Beza si [...]nificare velit quando pios expectare non a [...]quum censet donec lupi publica au­ctorit [...]te expellantur, quidam dubitant: & videre privata auctoritate lupos illos posse ex­pelli sicut in Belgio & alijs lo [...]s factum est, vbi templa & monasteria cum Monachis & E­piscopis, vniu [...]rso (que) clero pa [...]istico spoli [...]ta & diruta sunt populari tum vltu & militari li­centia, invitis summis magistratibu [...], & contra fidem datam. Petrus Dat [...]enus, and others chiefe of the Congregation in Gaunt, who Anno 1578. stirred vp the Cittizens there to thrust out all th [...] M [...]sse Priestes and Monckes out o [...] the Cittie, and put their goods into their treasurie &c. doth not M^r. Doctor Su [...]clyffe accordinglie confesse thatM. Sutclyffe in his aun­swere to a certaine Lybell Sapplicatorie &c. pag. 75. paulo post medium. Bezain his booke de iure magistratum in s [...]bditos [Page 166] doth arme the subiectes against the Prince in these causes, & that this M. Sutclyffe vbi su­pra pag. 192. post medium booke ouerthroweth in effect all the auctority of Christian Kinges and Magistrates. Doth he not likewise further affirmeM. Sutclyffe vbi su­pra pag. 75. post medium. that the author of the booke which is intituled, vindiciae contra tyrannos, whom (saith he) many affirme to be Beza or Hottoman doth giue power to the subiectes not onely to resist but also to de [...]ose and kill the Pri ce if he impugne Gods rel [...]gion, did not Iohn Knoxe alledge in proofe of his owne seditious opinionHereof see the historie of the Church of Scotland printed by Vautrouilier pag. 213. and M. Sutclyffe vbi supra pag. 192. ante med. Caluine, and certaine other ministers then residing at Geneua, teaching that it is lawfull for subiectes to reforme religion whē Princes will not, yea rather then faile euen by force of armes, do not our aduersaries themselues acknowledge according­ly that the ProtestantsHereof see Bodinus de republica pag. 353. and Calvine to Sadolet. pa. 172. and M. Sutclyffe vbi supra pag. 194. initio, and the L. Bishop of London in his Sur­vey of the pretēded holy dis­ciplin. pa. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. of Geneua did depose their Leige Lord and Prince from his temporall right there, from which yet to this day they keepe him by force ex­cluded. In so much as the Lord Bishope of Lon­don, and M^r. D. Sutcliffe pro [...]esse without any co­uerture of wordes, plainely to dislikeSee the foresaide S [...]r­vey &c. pag. 14. circa med. and M. Sutclyffe in his said answere pag. 194. initio. the diuinitie which was pretended in defence thereof by the Ministers of Geneua. Con [...]erning the Lowe Countries, see Osiander in epitom. hist. eccles. centur. 16. pag. 941. fine, where he saith Belgici publico scripto Domino & regi suo Philippo omnem obediētiam & subiectionem renunciant. And see there further pag. 801. post medium, and 803. ante medium, and 805. prope finem. Thirdly to forbeare aswell the confessed example of Ioannes See Osiander in his E­pitom. centur. 16. pag. 802. fine. Functius a prime Prote­stant, publiquely executed for his offence of this kinde, as also (for some respect) what is or may bee further saide conce [...]ning the Protestant Subiectes ofFor Fraunce see Peter M [...]rtir in his epistles annex­ed to his comō places in Eng­lish pag. 157. b. and Osian­der in epitom. hist. Eccles. centur. 16. pag. 697. initio & 708. circa medium. and 804. post. mediū. and 809. initio. And see Crispinus in his booke of the estate of the Church pag. 614. post medium, and 615. and 616. fine, and 619. post medium, and 611. fine, and 613. fine, and 625. post medium. And see the Historie of the civill Warres of Fraunce (gathered from Anno 1585. till 1591. Printed at London Anno 1591.) of the Kinges royall auctoritie ioyned with the Leaguers, pag. 91. initio, and 168. fine, and of resistance after made thereto by them of the reformed religion pag. 48. and 49. fine, and 51. circa medium, and 104. and 135. post medium, and 143. circa med. and 144. ante med. and 165. paulo post medium, and 169. post medium, and 172. &c. Fraunce, and the Lowe Concerning the Lowe Countries, see Osiander in epitom. hist. eccles. centur. 16. pag. 941. fine, where he saith Belgici publico scripto Domino & regi suo Philippo omnem obediētiam & subiectionem renunciant. And see there further pag. 801. post medium, and 803. ante medium, and 805. prope finem. Countries, & many otherSee these other examples in Osiander centur. 16. pag. 115. circa med. and 735. initio & circa med. & 599. paulo ante med. and 692. fine, and 802. fine, and 942. and 125. ante med. and 523. initio, and 350. ante med. and 1120. fine, and in Crispinus in his booke of the estate of the Church pag. 636. circa medium, and 682. ante medium. And see the Protestant writer Dresserus in parte se­cunda millinarij sexti, where he acknowledgeth and reporteth conc [...]rning G [...]rmanie, pag. 656. ante medium, saying, scripto publico Saxonem & Lautgrauium proscribit Cesar tanquam perfi­dos rebelles &c. Protestantes cognita tanta severitate Bellum & ipsi denunciant Caesari (and pag. 658. fine) Mauritius Sax. elector & Augustus frater, non quiescendum sibi arbi­trabantur, priusquam in tuto religionis Lutheranae professionem collocassent, inde expedi­tionem Mauritius in ipsum Caesarem suscepit▪ (and pag. 661. ante medium, hee acknowledgeth that) dissidium & bellum omne ex mutatione religionis Pontificiae in Lutheranam in Ger­maniae quibusdam ducatibus, comitatibus, & civitatibus ortum est: and pag. 464. ante med. he saith, Mauritius ita (que) cum rege Galliae foedus fecit & in obtinendum id, tādem ratus quod aequitate non poterat, milites presidiarios in Pacificatione Magdeburgica dimissos tacitè rursum conduxit, & contra Caesarem ipsum adduxit: &c. like forraine examples confessed and reported [Page 167] even by Protestant writers, & to come neerer home, was not our Coūtrieman M^r. Goodman so farre ca­ried away with this rage of sedition that he doubted not to publish, that in case of religionSee Goodmans booke, pag. 4. 43. 59. 63. 87. 72. 99. 180. 184. 185. 196. it was lawfull to resist the Superior Powers, and for subiects to withstand their Prince. Doth hee not herevpon affirme thatCap. 14. pag. 204. ad 212. Wiat did but his dutie, and that it was the dutie of all others that professed the Gospell to haue risen with him: is it not evident and confessed that thisM. Sutclyffe in his an­swere &c. pag. 192. fine. book [...] was printed at Gene­ua in Queene Maries time, See Whittinghams E­pistle before Goodmans book. cōmanded by M. Wihitting­ham, andWhittingham vbi su­pra, and M. Sutclyffe in his said answere, &c. pag. 193. initio. approued to be good & godly by the cheefest men of learning that were then in that Cittie: did not the auctor of the booke of obedience writē in Queene Ma­ries time, affirme therein thatObed. pag. 99. and 113. and se M. Sutclyffe in his foresaid answere pa. 193. ante med. and see the booke intituled dangerous Positiōs &c. pag. 36. circa medium. Queene Marie ought to be put to death, as being a tyrant, a moster, & a cruell beast: did not one William Thomas and others accord [...]nglie conspire toHollinsheades greate Chronicle the last editiō vo­lume 3. pag. 1104. a. initio. murther the said Queene, and was not yet the said William Master Cowper in his Chronicle fol. 365. b. ante medium. Thomas being for that [...]ff [...]nce hanged, drawne, and quartered nothing abasht to iustifie and say M. Stowe in his An­nalls or Chronicle Printed Anno 1592. pag. 1058. paulo ante medium. at his death that he died for his Countrie: &c.