FIRST, al men aught cōsider the great good­nes of God, vvha hath created men to be parti­cipāt of his eternal glo­rie, and requireth na vvther thing of thame, but that thay suld merite ye same be his treu seruice, during the tyme of thair peregrination on earth: for this cause thay ar iustlie debarred from the end of thair creation, and iustlie ad­iuged to the aeternal pains of hel, vvha imployeth nocht al the forces of thair saul, to try and knau, vvhat sort of chri­stians [Page 4]hath the treu seruice of God; and vvhaefter kuanledge thairof, imbraceth nocht the same, amangs sa monie con­trarious sectes of religion, as in this age praetendeth to haue the veritie thairof. VVhat sal it profit a man (sayeth our saneour) if he conqueis al the warld, S. Mat, 10. Vers. 20and tyn his saul? what sal he guie in change for his saul? The sone of man sal cum in the glorie of his father, and sal than rāder to euerie ane, according to his works. This reuard is ather the aeternal glorie of heauin, or the perpe­tual pains of hel. In the glorie of heauin standeth menis aeternal felicitie, and in the pains of hel, consisteth euer lesting miserie.

The second cōsideratiō is, that ye treu seruice of God is prescryued be treu re­ligion, and that this treu religiō is onlie ane: Ephes. 4 Vers. 4. for (as S. Paul sayith) thair is onlie ane God, ane faith, ane baptisme: Of this it is manifest, that amangs ane hundreth contrarious sectes of religion, euerie ane repugnant to the vvther, and [Page 5]exponing the bybil cōtrariouslie, efter thair auin priuat inuentions, and euerie ane accusing the vvther of heresie, and adulteringt the vvord of God, thair is onlie ane treu religion that leadeth to saluation: Thairfor al ye vvthers ar led blindlie in the vvay of perdition, de­ceaued throught ane fals praetext of the veritie thairof, be the craft of Sathan, and of his supposts.

The third is, that the treu moyen to try and knau ye veritie of religion is, to learne it of the treu church of God, and nocht be thair auin brains, nor be ye doctrine of particuler mē, vvha reideth and exponeth the scriptures efter, thair auin iugements, and be thair particuler inuentions, or vvha receaueth the ex­position of the scriptures inuented be priuat men; for as S. Peter sayeth: 2. Pet. 1. Verl. 20.2.No prophecie, or treu wnderstanding of the scripture, is maid be ane priuat interpretation; that is to say be parti­culer men, vvho hath no publik charge be lauful promotion in Christs vniuer­sal [Page 6]church; sik as vvas frere Martin Lu­ther, ane particuler monk of the order of S. Augustin in germanie, vvha ere­cted ane neu sect be his particuler ex­position of the scriptures inuented be his brane, vvhich vvas contrarious to the vniforme expositiō thairof, vvhich the vniuersal church of God had tea­ched in al ages befor him. Siclyk his Disciple A Ecolampadius vvas ane par­ticuler and priuat frere, in germanie: And zuinglius vvas ane particuler pa­roche preist in zuric, vvho inuented ane vvther particuler exposition of ye scrip­tures, repugnāt to that of thair maister; and sa he erected ane vvther neu sect of religion. Caluin lykuayis vvas ane par­ticuler chanon in the toun of Noion in France, and be his auin particuler ex­position of the scriptures, established ane vvther sect of religion, different from al the vvthers. Nocht onlie thir, and sik vvyers particuler sectes, erreth in maters of religion, follouing thair auin priuat doctrine, and particuler ex­position [Page 7]of the scriptures to thair aeter­nal perdition; bot also, al those vvha leauing and despysing the vniforme doctrine, and cōmū interpretatiō of the scriptures of christs vniuersal church, teached in al ages thir fyftein hundreth zeares by gane, praecipitateth thame selfes hedlongs in the vvay of heresie, to thair aeternal perdition, if thay persist in the same, to the end of thair lyfes. Seing than, that the veritie of religion can nocht be learnit be the doctrine of priuat men, whainterpreteth the scrip­tures, as S. Peter sayeth, to thair auin perdition: Thairfoir the onlie treu moyen to knau, ye veritie of religion is, to learne it of the treu church of God, to ye vvhich, Christ Iesus him self referreth the decision, and determina­tion of controuersies, saying to euerie ane; dic ecclesiae: S. Mat. 18. Vers. 17.Tel or shau to the church; he pronunceth ane sentence agains the proud contemners thairof; that we suld estime thame, as Pagans and Publicans, wha heireth noch the [Page 8]woce of the church, and repugneth to the determination thairof in maters of religion. This is thane ane infallible reul: to beliue; as ye church beliueth, In sa doing vve can na vvayis erre, be­caus the church of God can na vvayis erre, as is prouen be inuincible raisons. First, becaus the doctrine of the treu church of God is the doctrine of Christ Iesus, Ephes. 1 Vers. 22.3. S. Ih. 14. Vers. 10. S. I hone Vers. 13. and of his halie spirit, for Christ is the head of the church of God, as S. Paul witnesseth: And Christ promised to assist ye same with his holie spirit, wha suld teach al veritie thair in per­petuallie wuto the end of the warld. Secundlie this church, vvhairof he is the head, 5. Luc. 1. Vers. 33. Dan. 2. Vers. 44. is his kingdom on earth? whith sal neuer haue ane end, as the scripture witnesseth: Bot vvhair Christ regneth be veritie, Sathan can nocht regne thair in be heresie. And vvhair Christ teacheth al veritie be his holie spirit vvnto the end of the vvarld, the spirit of errour can nocht teach heresie thair in at onie tyme: Thairfor it is [Page 9]impossible that ye treu church of God, vvair of Christ is euer the head, and the holie spirit the instructour in al ages, can erre in onie age to ye end of the vvarld. Thridlie S. 1. Tim. 3 Vers. 15,Paul calleth ye church, the piller, and sure ground, or vphald of veritie. Mat. 16. Vers. 16.Fourtlie our saue­our affirmeth, that the zettis of hel can nocht preuail agans his church: Thair­for Sathan can nocht ouercum the church of Christ Iesus be errour. Seing than, that the doctrine of the treu church, is the doctrine of Christ, and of his holie spirit, in al ages vvnto the end of the vvarld: Thairfor the treu church of God can nocht erre in onie age, vvnto the end of ye vvarld: for this cause, wha beliueth, Note.as the church be­liueth, can na wayis erre; and conse­quentlie euerie ane vvha vvald be assu­red of the veritie of religion, suld learne ye same of the treu church of God, vvhairof Christ Iesus is the head, and nocht of particuler men, vvho teached neu doctrine repugnāt to that of Crists [Page 10]vniuersal church in al Aages to thir dayes.

The fourt consideration is inferred of the former doctrine, that seing the treu church of God can na vvayis erre, be raison of the perpetual assistance of Christ Iesus thairto, and of his halie spirit: Note. Thairfor euerie ane aught to try out most earneslie, wha amangs al the professoures of the monifald contrari­us formes of religiō hath ye treu church of God, and adher thairto; for it is ye onlie shool, vvhair in thay may learne the veritie of religion, that bringeth to saluation.

The fyft cōsideration is, that the treu church of God, vvhich onlie is tached be Christ, and his holie spirit, in al ve­ritie to the end of the vvarld, may be euidentlie knauen, & decerned, from the malignant churches of deceatful heretiks, be tua manifest marks conte­ned in this article of our creid: I. beli­ue the holie catholik church. Sa the treu church of God, is yat onlie euoca­tion, [Page 11]and visible assemblee of thaise on­lie amangs Christians, vvha serueth, and adoreth, God in ane holie societie, and feloship of his treu vvorshipers, conioyned in vnitie of faith and reli­gion, dispersed vniuersallie throght al ye vvarld, vvhair euer Christs holie na­me is treulie professed. Be this qualities Christs treu church is decerned from the viked particuler congregations of heretiks, vvha ar euer in synne, and ar contened vvithin the boundes of certa­ne corners, and particuler dennes of christindome, and remaneth onlie cer­tan tymes throght hypocrisie for pu­nitiō of synnes, that the constant wor­shipers of God (as S.1. Cor. 11 Vers. 19.Paul sayeth) may be manifested be tryal of persecu­tion, and decerned from hypocrites for yis, and vvther causes S. Paul sayeth, that it is necessar that heresies suld be.

The sext consideration is, concerning the first mark of Christs treu church, that it must be holie, and that in tua re­spctes first in respect of holines of lyf. [Page 12]Nixt in respect of holines, of doctrine. The church of God is called holie, be­caus in it, thair is treu remission of syn­nes, & in no sect of heretiks: Thair for S. August.Augustin sayeth, vve may obtene saluation in the onlie treu church of Christ Iesus; 2. Pet. 2. Vers. 21 and S. Peter calleth the particuler conuenticles of heretiks, sectes of perdition. The holines of Christs treu church is prouē, in respect, that sum of the members thairof, ar preserued from al spot of deidlie synne be ane special grace and particuler pri­uiledge of God, vvthers vvha keiping vnitie of faith, and falling in fynne, ar purged thairfra, and maid holie be the verteu of christs death and passion, ap­plyed to thame, be his holie sacramēts, This mark conueneth na vvayis to onie of thair neu sectes of protestants; and in particuler it can nocht conuene to thame of Caluins sect, as is plane be thair auin doctrine; for ye ministers of thair sect teacheth, and thair adherent auditoures beliueth assuredlie, that it is [Page 13]impossible to be vvithout deadlie syn­ne in this lyf, or to keip the commande­ments of God: of this it folloueth ne­cessarlie, that thay ar nocht of the church of God, vvhich is holie, becaus thay al ar perpetual transgressoures of the commandements of God, and euer in dendlie synne, during thair lyftyme, as thay confes thame selfs: Thair for be thair auin confession, thay can nocht be in the estait of holines of lyf, sa lang as thay liue for vvha ar in perpetual syn ne can neuer be holie; and consequent­lie, thay can neuer enter in heauin; Note. Apoc. 21 Vers. 27. for as the scripture vitnesseth; No vn­clene thing, or infected with synne and vnpurged thairfra can enter in hea­uin. Be the contrare, the Apostolik, and Roman church is holie, becaus sum of the members thairof ar pre­serued from synne, be ane special gra­ce of God, as the virgin Marie, Luc. 1. Vers. 28.to whom ye Angel Gabriel said: hail ful of grace: This fulnes of grace culd nocht consist vvith onie spot of synne. [Page 14]Thairfor this glorious mother of God vvas preserued from al spot of synne, be ane special grace of God, to be the ho­lie and sanctified tabernacle of his sone Christ Iesus; and thairfor he sayith of hir. Cant. 4. Vers. 7. Tota pulchra es amica mea, & ma­cula non est in te. Thou art al beutiful my loue, and thair is nocht ane spot in the. VVe reid also, that S. Ihon the Baptist, wha was the forrinner of christ was replenished with the holie spirit euen from his mothers wombe; Luc. 1. Vers. 15.as the same Angel of God declaired to his fa­ther Zacharias: Thairfor he vvas pre­serued from synne from his mothers vvombe, that he micht be the holie forrinner of his maister Iesus Christ S. Luc also vvitnesseth, Luc. 5. Vers. 6. that S. Ihonis fa­ther, and mother called zacharias and Elizabeth, war baith iust befor God, and walked in al the commandements, and iustifications of the lord without reproch: Of this it is manifest, that sum of the treu church ar holie, in respect of holines of lyf, becaus aboue the or­der [Page 15]of thair corrupted nature, thay liued ane clein and holie lyf, and keipit al the cōmandements of God. That vvthers of the Roman church ar maid holie be purgation from thair synnes, it is pro­uen be manifest scripturs: Psal. 50. Vers. 7. First we ar conceaued, and borne in original synne; Ve ar clenged thairfra, & restored to ane neu and holie lyf, be the sacrament of baptisme. S. Paul vitnesseth yis saying: Ephes. 5 Vers. 20Christ hath giuen him self for his church clenging, hir be the lauer of watter in the word of lyf. This lauer of vvatter in the vvord, is baptisme, vvhich this apostle in wther places, Tit 3. Vers. 20calleth the lauer of regeneratiō, becaus be the vvashing thair of, vve ar regenerated, that is to say, borne agane, be ane spiritual birth to ane neu, clein, & holie lyf, and maid sones of God be adoption, Ephes. 2 Vers. 3. vvha be our first birth of our earthlie mother war borne sones of Ire: for this cause, Tit. 3. Vers. 5 1. Pet. 3. Vers. 21 S. Paul sayeth, that God saueth was be the lauer of regeneration. This effect of baptisme to purge vvs of original [Page 16]synne, and to restoire to ane holines of lyf, is teached and practised in the Roman church, agains the heresie of thir nouateurs denying that baptisme hath-onie verteu of Christs death to vvash vvs of our synnes, and to saue vvs, affirming that it is onlie ane singe and representation of vvashing: Thairfor this holines of lyf maid be baptisme is performed conforme to the Roman church be purgatiō of synnes, & nocht efter Caluins doctrine.

As baptisme maketh vvs holie pur­ging vvs of original synne: Sa the sa­crament of penitence, maketh vvs ho­lie, purging vvs of actual synne, in ye Roman church, and it restoreth vvs to ane inherent and inuard iustice, and to ane sanctified lyf. This is prouen be S. Peter wha sayeth to the paenitent Ie­ues, wha assisted to the murther of Christ:Act. 2. Vers. 28.Paenitentiam agite. Do pen­nance, and be euerie ane of zou bapti­sed in ye name of Iesus Christ for remis­sion of zour synnes, and in ane vvther [Page 17]place he sayeth. Act. 3. Vers. 19. Paenitemini & con­uertimini, vt deleantur peccata ve­stra. That is to say: Do pennance, and be conuerted, that zour synnes may be tane auay. The Caluinists denying this taking auay of synnes be baptisme, and paenitence, hath peruerted this scriptu­re be thair fals translation, for vvhair S. Peter sayeth. Paenitentiam agite, Do pennance: thay say: amend zour lyfes. Bot in the Romā church be doing of pennance, our synnes ar tane auay, sayeth S. Peter, and vve ar restored to ane inuard Iustice, and holines of lyf, be treu remission and purgation from synnes, & inuard sanctification. Thair­for the onlie Roman church, is the on­lie treu church of God, becaus it onlie is holie, in respect of holines of lyf.

The Roman church is holie also in respect of nevv of doctrine, becaus it can neuer erre in maters of faith and religion: for Christ Iesus regneth be veritie and iustice thair in to the end of the warld, and teacheth al veritie [Page 18]be his holie spirit, for be him, (as is al readie prouen) he instructeth the lau­ful Doctoures of his church in al ages to the end of the vvarld: Of this it is manifest, that this first mark of the treu church of God, concerning holines of lyf, and of doctrine, conueneth to the onlie Roman church: Thairfor ye onlie Romā church is ye treu church of God, & the onlie immaculat spouse of Christ Iesus, seing it onlie, is holie baith in respect of lyf and of doctrine.

The seuent consideratiō is, cōcerning the second infallible mark of the treu church of God, in sa far as it is called catholik, or vniuersal: It is so called for thrie notable respectes; In sa far as it hath vniuersalitie of tymes, of places, & of persones, S. Aug. de vnitate eccle­siae. as S. Augustin confirmeth be man fest scriptures agains the here­tiks of his age: and proueth be ye same that the onlie Roman church is the treu church of God, agās ye particuler sectes of ye donatists, of ye manichians, & of vvther haeretiks of his age: And vve [Page 19]proue also be the same scriptures, that nather ye neu sectes of the Lutherians, nor of ye Caluinists, nor of ye Anabap­tists, nor of vvther particuler conuenti­cles, of vvther nouateurs can be ye treu church of God, becaus thair sectes hath nather vniuersalitie of tymes, nor of places, nor of persones: thairfor ye mi­nisters of thir neu sectes hath erected, & manteneth sectes, of perditiō, as S. 2. Pet. 2. Verl. 2.Pe­ter calleth al neu sectes, repugnant to the ancient church of God. Thair ex­position of ye scriptures is natheer of Christ, nor of his holie spirit, seing thay ar nocht members of Christs church, vvhich hath vniuersalitie of places, of tymes, and of persones as thir subse­quent scriptures testifieth planlie.

S. S. Aug. Augustin proueth be sindrie scrip­tures of ye neu & ald testament, that ye treu church must haue vniuersalitie of places, and be spred amangs al na­tions. Amangs sindrie vvther passages, he produceth that solemnet promesse that God, maid to Abraham saying: [Page 20] Benedicentur in semine tuo, Gen. 22. Vers. 18.omnes gon­tes terrae, quia obedisti voci meae, al the nations of ye warld salbe blissed in thy seid, becaus thou haist obeyed my woce. Gen. 26 Verl. 5. And agane he said: Benedi­centur in semine tuo omnes gēces terrae, eo quod obedierit Abraham voci meae, & enstodierit praecepta & mādata mea, & ceremonias, legesque seruarit. Al the nations of the earth salbe blissed in thy seid becaus Abraham hath obeyed my voce, and keiped my praeceptes, and commandemētes, and hath obser­ued the ceremonies, and laues. Note heir, that Abraham keiped the com­mandements, and deserued ane great reuard to him self, and his posteritie for the keiping thairof, the ministers denyeth the ane and the vvther: Bot God heir testifieth the cōtrair. S. Paul. Gala. 3. S. Paul exponeth this seid of Abraham to be Christ Iesus, wha is the sone of Abra­hā on his blissed mothers syd, in vvhom al nations of the vvarld vvas blissed becaus he redemed thame al, be his [Page 21]death and passion, and called thame to the treu seruice of God, in vnitie of his church, vvhich is the greatest blissing that the nations of the vvarld culd ob­tene: becaus that vvas the onlie moyen to bring thame to saluatiō. The church of God, befor the cuming of Christ, vvas in manifest amangs of the Ieues; Psal. 81. Thairfor ye prophet Dauid said. Notus in Iudea Deus, in Israel magnū nomen eius. God is knauē in Iudeae, & his name is great in Israel. Bot Christ at his cūing took auay ye parpel wal, vvhich separated the Ieues from the gentiles, vvha vvar than Idolatres; he conioyned thame baith in vnitie of his church be his treu faith; sa he maid ye church of God catholik, that is to say, spred a­mangs al nations. The same learned father proueth this be thir vvords of Christ saying to his Apostles: Luc. 24. Vers. 46 It behu­fit Christ to suffer, & ryse ye third day from death, and paenitence to be prea­ched, & remission of synnes in his name in al nations, be giuing at Hierusalem. [Page 22]He send his Apostles vvith pouer and autoritie to establish his church amāgs al nations, Mat. 28. Vers. 19. saying to thame go, & teath al nations, baptisand thame in ye name of the father, and of the sone, & of the holie spirit. And in ane vvther place he sayeth to thame: Act. 1. Vers. 8. ze salbe witnesses to me in Hierusalem and in al Iudea, and Samaria, and wnto ye end of ye warld. Thay executed this charge, as the rayal Prophete spak of thame, saying. In omnem terram exiuit sonus eorum, & in fines orbis terrae verba eorum: The sound of thair woce passed out throght al ye earth, Psal. 19.& thair words passed wnto the end of ye warld. The same learned father confirmeth this amplitud and greatnes of Christs church, be sindrie testimonies of ye prophetes, & psalmes vvhairin ye spirit of God descryued ye greatnes of Christs kingdome, vvhich is his catholik church on earth. His father said to him: Psal. 2. Postula a me, & dabo tibi gentes haereditatem tuam, & possessio­nem tuam terminos terrae. Ask of me, [Page 23]and I sal giue to ye, ye natiōs to be thy heretage, and the ends of the warld to be thy possession. Psal. 17. And in ane vvther place it is said of Christ. Dominabitur a mari vsque ad mare; & a flumine vsque ad terminos or bis terrarum: He sal haue dominion from sea to sea; and from flude to the ends of the warld, al kinges sal adore him, al ye trybes of ye earth salbe blissed in him, al nations sal magnifie him. In respect of this gre­atnes of Christs kingdome vvhich is his church, Dan. 2. Daniel calleth him ane stone cutted out of ane montane, without ye hands of men which groueth, & reple­nisheth ye earth. Be thir scriptures, and monie vvthers S. Augustin concludeth, yat ye treu church of God, mon be vni­uersal in respect it is dispersed throght al ye vvarld: Of this vniuersalitie he in­ferreth, yat ye sect of ye Donatists vvas nocht ye treu church of God, becaus it vvas nocht vniuersalie dispersed amāgs al natiōs; for it exceded nocht ye bon̄ds of Africa, but vvas circūscryued vvithin [Page 24]prouinces thairof. Be the force of this inuincible raison vve conclud lykuayis agains the Caluinists, that thair sect is nocht the treu church of God, becaus it is nocht catholik or vniuersal; for it excedeth nocht the bounes of Europ, and is contened vvithin feu prouinces thairof. Thair is nocht ane kingdom in the vvarld, that euer professed this cal­uinisme, but the present of Scotland: As for Ingland vvhich appeireth to ag­grie cheiflie vvith it thay differ in hea­des of religion: for thay of Ingland keip holie al the dayis of the concep­tion, natiuitie, circumcision, passion, resurrection, and ascension of Iesus Christ, and celebrateth thame vvith greater solemnitie, nor thay do commō sundayis. Thay solemnise also vvitson­day in memorie that Christ Iesus send his holie spirit that day to his Apostles, for thair instructeur in ye euaugelical lau. Thay keip also holie the dayis of Christs blissed mother, and of his A­postles. Bot the minesters of Scotland [Page 25]calleth al thir and vvther points super­stition, and idolatrie, and the ministers of the clergie of Ingland calleth thir ministers puritans. The Beshope of London hath vvreatten books agans ye puritans: Thay of Ingland hath also thair Beshopes, and Archiebishopes, as prelates, and superiores: The common peple doth reuerence thame in that de­grie, crauing thair blissing on thair knees; Bot thir ministers dispyseth the gouernamēt of the church be Bishopes, and Archibeshopes; albeit the king (vvhome God moth saue) constraneth thame novv to acknauledge the autori­tie of Bishopes, and Archibishopes: Thairfor thay of Ingland hath nocht vnitie of faith vvith thame of Scotland. This vvas euidēt to al thame vvho han­ted ye churches of baith ye countreyis: Bot sence God hath exalted our king to the coroune of Ingland, his maiestie at his entree in that countrey being re­ceaued in thair churches be thair bisho­pes adorned at thair seruice, vvith sur­plices, [Page 26]stoles, four neuked bonetes, and vvther ornamētes, vvich thay haue cō ­serued efter the cumlie rite of the Ca­tholik and Roman church; his maiestie approuing that cumlie & decent order obserued in thair praetended diuine ser­uice, hath reiected the cōfused & laical order obserued be the puritan ministers of Scotlād in thair deformed churches: Thairfor his maiestie hath embraced ye forme of Ingland: he receaued thair sacrament vpon his knees, out of the hāds of ane archibishop adorned vvich his mitre, and vvther ornaments con­uenient to his dignitie, befor ane coue­red altar, vpon the vvhich he layed his offrand vvith great reuerence. The pu­ritans of Scotland called this maner of administration of hair sacrament, ane Inglish messe. According to this order his maiestie promised to reforme the puritan ministers of Scotland; So vvith tyme thay must preach in surplices, and four neuked bonets, vvhich thay prea­ched thir sourtie zeares bypast, to be [Page 27]the mark of the beast, and signe of the great Antichrist. Thay do nou appro­ue (at the commandemēt of the keing) the authoritie of Bishopes and Archi­bishopes to be lauful, and consonant to thair Euangel; vvhich thay preached befor this tyme, vvas vnlauful, and re­pugnāt to thair Euangel. Latonie man consider of this contrarietie, and mu­tation in cheif heades of religion, of thir Chameliō ministers, importeth v­nitie of religiō, ather vvith thair night­boures, or amangs thame selfes? prea­ching ane thing to be treu this zear, vvhich thay haue preached to be fals yir fourtie zears bypast. Of this it is cer­tane, yat thair caluinian sect hath nocht vniuersalitie of places, & cōsequentlie, it is nocht christs vniuersal church.

The Donatists ansuered, that Christs church vvas vniuersel, & spred amangs al natiōs be his Apostles. Bot thairefter it decayed, & vvas oppressed be errour, & superstitiō; & remained in that estait euer, vvhil God (is thay fenzied) raised [Page 28]Donatus (of vvhom thay vvar called Donatistes) to reforme the vvarld, be preaching the veritie of the gospel, vvhich vvas extinguised befor his cu­ming. The Caluinian ministers vvseth ye same sūbterfuge, saying; that ye vni­uersal church vvas oppressed be errour, and distroyed, be Sathan and the An­tichrist, mairmon ane thusand zeares, and the veritie extinguised be supersti­tion and Idolatrie, euer vvhil it plaised God (as thay fenzie) to raise vvp Ihon Caluin, to preach the veritie of Christs treu Euangel; Sa it plaiseth thame to style the darknes of thair cal­uinian haeresies. S. Augustin refuted the ansuer of the Donatists, shauing, that thay supponed most falslie, that the church of God vvas or culd be ouer­thrauen be errour befor Donatus: Or in onie age to the end of the vvarld: becaus the church of God, must be ay vniuersal in respect of vniuersalitie of tymes: It must stand victorious in al ages agans al ye enemies thairof, vvnto [Page 29]the end of the vvarld, as he proueth be manifest scriptures, vvhich vve haue deducet heirto for, vve proue be the sa­me scriptures, that thir ministers sup­poneth most falslie the defection and decaying of Christs church from the veritie of his vvorshiping, or the op­pression thairof be Sathan and his sup­posts: Mat. 10. for the zettis of hel can nocht praeuail agains Christs church as he him assurred ws.

The vniuersalitie of tymes of the treu church, importeth baith ātiquitie from the Apostles dayes; and thairfor it is called Apostolik; and also it importeth perpetuitie; that it being anis establis­hed, and planted be the Apostles, it suld neuer decay nor be ouercumed, and consequentlie it suld remaine visi­bilie dispersed throght al the vvarld, and victorious in al ages agans al the enemies thairof: This is prouen be Christs infallible promesse saying, that he hath builded so surlie his church vpon ane, strong and firme rok. Mat. 10. Portae [Page 30]inferi non praeualebunt aduersus eam. The zettis of hel sal nocht praeuail a­gans hir, vvha is his immaculat spouse, and of vvhom he said. Osee. 2. Vers. 19. Desponsaui eam mihi in aternum. I haue handfast, and espoused hir to me for euer: Seing the Caluiniā ministers cōfesseth, that thair praetended church vvas ouercumed be ye forces of sathan, mair nor ane thu­sand zeares: Thairfor thair pretended church, is nocht ye treu church of God, of ye vvhich Christ Iesus assurreth vvs, that ye zettis of hel: That is to say, ar­rour, synne, and superstition, vvhich bringeth to hel, zea al the forces of Sa­than be persecution sal nocht praeuail agans his church.

Thay ar constraned to fenzie ye de­cay of ye church, becaus vvhan ye ca­tholiks asketh of thame, in vvhat pairt of the varld vvas thair church befor Caluin? Thay can nocht shau onie na­tion or toune in the varld, that profes­sed or euer hard vvord of sik ane reli­gion, as thay teach and professe. Thair­for [Page 31]thay ar constraned to say, that the church of God vvas suppressed, vvhil thay cam to establish ye same. The Lu­therians praetendeth the lyk, of thair church, vvhan ye Catholiks asketh of thame, vvhair thair church vvas, befor frere Martin Luther? I hay affirme that the vvarld vvas ouercumed be er­rour, befor his dayis, & that the vvord, vvhich he preached, vvas the onlie ve­ritie of Christs Euangel: And that Cal­uin, vvha inuented ane neu doctrine of his auin brane, contrair to his, vvas ane proud heretik, peruerting the Euangel, of Christ and his sacramentes: for this cause the Lutherians called the Calui­nists, sacramentaries, becaus thay per­uerted the sacraments, denying spe­ciallie, the real presence of Christs bodie and blood in ye sacrament of the altar, vvhich ye Lutherians con­fesseth. Be this ansuer of the ane, and the vvther, it is manifest, that nather of thame hath the treu church, be­caus thay confes, that the zettis of [Page 32]hel hath praeuailed agans thair preten­ded churches: This cā nocht be said of Christs treu church: for it is his kingdō on earth: Dan. 2. of ye vvhich ye prophete Da­niel said, that it suld stand for euer, & ouerthral al wther monarchies: And ye Prophet Dauid said: Psal. 144Regnum tuum regnum omnium saeculorum, & domi­natio tua in generatione, & generatio­nem: Thy regne is a regne of al ages, and thy dominion is in al generation to generatiō. Mat. 28. And Christ him self promi­sed to be vvith his church to the end of the vvarld: Iho. 14. & yat in his visible absence he suld assist the same vvith his holie spirit to teach al veritie thairin to ye vvarlds end.

The third qualitie of the treu church is, that it suld be catholik, or vniuersal in respect of vniuersalitie of persones, that as it standeth in al ages agans the forces of hel: sa it muist haue perpetual successiō of lauful Pastoures, to instruct Christs visibil flok, to gouerne ye same in peace and vnitie of faith, vvnto the [Page 33]end of the vvarld. Ephe. 4. Vers. 11.12. This is prouen be S. Paul saying: Christ hath giuen to his church, sum Pastoures and Doctoures, for the wark of the ministrie, for the building of the bodie of Christ; (which is visible church) whil we be al gathe­red in vnitie of faith: Bot this gad­dering of al christians in vnitie of faith, vvilbe, maid onlie at the latter day: Thairfor Christs church, must haue perpetual successiō of lauful pastoures, to teach his church, vvnto ye end of ye vvarld: Bot thir properties conueneth na vvayis to Caluins sect: for vvhan vve ask of ye ministers thairof, vvha vvar ye pastoures of thair church befor Caluin? And vvha teached fik doctrine and interpretation of ye scriptures as thay do? seing thay refuse to stand be ye interpretatiō of ye scriptures, giuen be al ye antient Doctoures, vvha des­cended be lineal successiō from Christs Apostles vvnto our age? Thay can nocht designe onie lauful Pastours or Doctoures, vvith vvhom thay consent [Page 34]in vnitie of faith and religion in onie age befor Caluin, vvhan vve ask of tha­me, to vvhom Caluin succeided? or vvha gaue him imposition of handes? And vvhat lauful prelat and superiour send him vvith pouer and autoritie to preach? vvithout ye vvhich pouer and autoritie, no man suld be estimed ane lauful Pastour? Rom. 10 Vers. 15. for as S. Paul sayeth: hou can thay preach, except thay be sent? To this thay sing dum, becaus it is certan, that Caluin intruded him self in ye cathedral seat of geneue, and chaised auay ye lauful Beshop thairof, be force of armes, mātening sum facti­ous peple of that toune in rebellion, agais thair natiue Prince. Thair com­mon subterfuge is, that he vvas called be ane extraordinar vocation, imme­diatlie be God, to reforme ye vvarld, as vvar ye Prophetes in ye auld lau. This ansuer is ane common substerfuge of al haeretiks, as ye antient Doctoures vviinesseth; Bot is nocht vvallable, for Christ hath promised ane perpetual [Page 35]succession of laufullie called Pastoures to his church: Thairfor this extraordi­nar vocation hath na place in Christs church: Nether is thair necessitie (as thay praetend) of extraordinar Prophe­tes for reformation of the doctrine thairof, becaus I haue prouen, that Christs church can neuer erre. Mair ouer S. Paul affirmeth that the lauful Pastoures of Christs, Heb. 5. Vers. 4.church suld be promoued, & called thair to (tanquam Aaron) as was Aaron. Bot ye scrip­tures testifieth, that Aaron vvas called to ye dignitie of the Eccesiastical char­ge be ane ordinar vocation, & be ane lauful superiour: Leu. 8.for God commanded Moyses to consecrat and anoint him, be ane external vnction in the dignitie and office of ane preist. Thairfor al lau­ful Paustoures of Christs church, suld be promoued to the Ecclesiastical mi­nistrie, be the authoritie of thair lauful Superioures, vvha promoueth thame be ane external vnction, and imposition of thair hands: And vvha sendeth tha­me [Page 36]vvith pouer and iurisdiction, to exe­cut thair charge in sik pairtes, as ar sub­iect to thair autoritie: Bot nather Cal­uin nor the ministers of his sect, vvas promoued to ye ministrie be ane lauful superiour: Thairfor thay ar nocht lau­ful Pastoures of Christs treu church. Of such extraordinar teachers our sa­ueour forspak suld cum in the latter dayes, Mat. 7. Vers. 15. nocht send, but suld intrud tha­me selfes, climming ouer the dyk in Christs shipfald to deuor his slok, with ye bloodie teeth of thair heresies, being cled with shipkynnes, that is to say, vvith the soft habite of the external vvords of the scriptures, but tane in ane fals sense; Mat. 4. as sath an alledged ye scrip­tures agās Christ. Thairfor Christ com­mādeth to be war with thame, as theu­es & throtcutters. So no mā can haue iust excuse of thair auin perdition; being deceaued be thame, throght the prae­text of the veritie seing thay commit thame selfes to vulauful teachers, vvhō Christ commādeth expreslie to escheu, [Page 37]as theues and throtcutters. And becaus thir ministers hath nocht in thair prae­tended church vniuersalitie of perso­nes; for thay can nocht shau ane per­petual succession of lauful pastoures, descending from the Apostles: Zea thay ar schamed of thair patriarch Cal­uin, teaching contrarious doctrine to his: Thairfor thay haue nocht Christs treu church, vvhich is vniuersal, in re­spect of vniuersalitie of persones: Ne­ther haue thay vniuersalitie of places, or of tymes: Thairfor thair cōuenticle, is nocht Christs catholik church.

The aught consideration is that vvha hath conioyned thame selfes to this particuler sect of Caluin and of his mi­nisters, ar in ye vvay of thair damnatiō: becaus thay ar out of the treu church of Christ Iesus vvhich is holie, and vni­uersal; and consequentlie, thay haue nather Christ for thair head, nor his holie spirit for thair instructeur. Of this it folloueth also, that thair ex position of the scriptures, is nather of Christ nor [Page 38]of his holie spirit: Thairfor vvhat thay cal veritie, it is plane heresie: And vvhat thay cal licht, is verie darknes, Sa thay incurre this curs of God, pro­nunced agans sik fals Prophetes: VVo be to zou wha calleth darknes licht, Isay. 5.& licht darknes. Be ye contrair, seing ye Roman church is both holie, and also catholik or vniuersal, (as vve haue pro­uen be manifest sorptures:) Thairfor the members thairof ar the members of Christ Iesus, and in the vvay of thair saluation; and hauing ye treu church; thay haue Christ Iesus for thair head; & his holie spirit for thair instructeur: for this cause, wa beliueth, as ye Ro­man church beliueth, and wha recea­ueth the exposition of the scriptures thairof, concerning the doctrine of the sacraments: the inuocation of santes, purgatorie, and al controuersed heades in maters of religiou, ar assured, that thay erre nocht in thir & vvther heades of thair saluation; Becaus ye doctrine of this church, is the doctrine of Iesus [Page 39]Christ, and of his halie spirit. This is ye onlie treu reul to decerne veritie of re­ligion, that bringeth to saluation, from the hypocrisie of errours and heresies of malignant churches, that leadeth to perditiō, from the vvhich, God reduce al deceaued Christians, and bring tha­me to ye motherlie besome of Christs treu church, vvhich is decerned from the malignant churches of deceatful haeretiks, in sa far as it is holie, Catho­lik, Apostolik, and Roman, out of the vvhich thair is na saluation. For out of Christ Iesus thair is no saluation: Bot vvha ar out of the treu church of God, vvhich I haue prouin to be holie, Ca­tholik, Apostolik, and Roman, ar out of Christ Iesus: Ergo out of the treu church of God, vvhich is holie, Catho­lik, Apostolik and Roman thair is na saluation.