Spiritus est Vicarius Christi in terra .

A breefe and pithie summe of the christian faith , made in fourme of a confession , with a confutation of the papistes obiections and argumentes in sundry pointes of religion , repugnaunt to the christian faith : made by Iohn Northbrooke , Minister and Preacher of the worde of God.

¶ Seene and allowed , according to the order appointed in the Queenes Iniunctions .

¶ At London . Printed by Iohn Kingston for W. Williamson , dwelling in Powles Churchyarde , at the signe of the whyte Horse .

Anno. 1571.

IF my power and abilitie , were aunswereable to my good will ( right reuerende father ) this token of myne humble dutie , which I doe now offer vnto your honour , shoulde be as greate and precious , as by reason of the contrarie , it is base and slender . Wherfore I most humblie beseche your honour in no worse parte to accepte this litle offer , then as the present of hym , that is bound of duetie to loue you , whiche would haue brought better , if his power had beene thereafter . But followyng the example of the poore widowe , Luk. 21. ●● . whiche is so highly [ of our Sauiour ] commended in the Gospell . I offer vnto your honour , parte of suche fruictes , as haue growen in a poore studentes Garden . I haue alwaies been assured of your L. that you will accepte that , that a man hath , 2. Cor. 12. and not that he hath not , and this Sainct Paul geueth for doctrine , whereby to encourage the godly forwardes , in the Lordes busines . For all are bydden to the buildyng of Gods house , Exod. 25.3 . for when the Tabernacle of the lorde was made by Moyses , euery one brought suche as he had : 4 some brought golde and siluer : 5 other some brought precious stones : others brought clothe : 6 others skinnes and heere of Goates and weathers : others brought woodde . 7 And the poore and meanest sorte , brought somewhat also , 8 for they brought stones : and all this was put to the worke . Euen so I iudge , for the buildyng of this house of the Lorde , 1. Cor. 3.17 . Ephe. 2.21 . Cap. 5.26 . whiche is his Churche , euery one shoulde and ought to bryng suche as they haue : some more , some lesse , accordyng to the talentes whiche the Lorde of the house hath geuen them to profite withall . Matth. 25.15 . I wil content my selfe , to bring the litle stones of the common sorte for this buildyng , and I hope that the maister of the worke , will not refuse my seruice , nor my litle stones , ( although they be not hewen of the finest sorte , yet I truste they be all hewen out by the Square and rule of Gods worde ) forasmuch as they may be a furtheraunce to the buildyng ( as I hope they wil be with gods helpe . ) For , as many as are christians , haue geuen their faith vnto Christe in their baptisme , to forsake the deuill , the worlde , and the fleshe , and to continewe Christes faithfull souldiers and seruauntes , to fight vnder his Banner , all the dayes of their life , to the healping and mainteynyng of the warring , The causes that made the aucthour to set foorth this booke . First cause . Matth. 3.12 . and striuing faith . All this well considered , three causes hath moued mee , to set foorth this litle treatise of my faith , at this tyme . The first is , for that the Lorde hath in his handes , to fanne , examine , and make cleane againe his Churche . To whom also it were verie good ( in my iudgement ) that the faith of euery one shoulde bee knowen , and especially , of those whiche make profession of the Gospell , to instructe others , as the Doctours , Pastours , and Ministers of the worde and Sacramentes , to the ende that the false Prophetes and Papistes , whiche nowe bowe downe their shoulders , and stretche out their eares to the false papisticall doctrine of that Antichriste of Rome , were knowen , driuen awaie , and caste out from among the godly and faithfull . For as Barnarde saieth : Barnard super cant . Serm. 66. Plus longè nocet falsus catholicus , quàm si verus apparcat haereticus : Therefore , Christe gaue vs warnyng to be ware of them that come in Sheepes clothyng , but inwardly are rauening woolues , Matth. 7.15 . Matth. 23.27 . 2. Cor. 11.13.14 . Iosua . 9.3.4 . comming and liuyng amonges vs , as the Angels of light , but all is to beguile the innocent and simple people , to make them twise the children of hell worse then them selues are . How Iosua was deceiued by the dissemblyng Gibeonites through their fained and cloked holines , saiyng : We become from farre , for the name of the Lorde thy God , the historie declareth : So ( right reuerende father ) in these our daies , wee haue many , and specially of the Cleargie , that can saie nowe to our godly Bishops , how thei are come from Rome , for the name of the Lorde our God , with their moulded and wafer cake bread , olde ragged garmentes and shoes , when in deede it is but meere dissimulation that they doe , to enter into the Churche for li●yng , to mainteine ignoraunce there , and to keepe out Godly preachers . And these men haue learned Arius practise , to conuey all their beleefe of the Romishe faith , into their secrete bosomes : and yet wil with hande and penne declare by subscribing and swearyng , as though they were throughly perswaded and conuerted . They drawe nye with tongue and penne vnto vs , but their heartes are to Rome : Papistes haue Iacobs voyce , but Esaus hart and handes . Eusebius . a number of them haue gospell talke , but yet a Romishe faith , an Englishe face , but Spanishe hearts . We reade in Eusebius Caesariensis : that writeth how that Constantius , the father of Constantine , fained vppon a tyme that he woulde put out all the christians , whiche woulde abide in their faith and religion , from their honours and offices , but in deede the Godly woulde in no wise denie , but rather choosed the losse of promotions and honour : but the others denied the true faith bicause they would not loose their dignities . Woulde all princes were of this minde . Vpon which triall , he excluded these dissemblers , and double faced neuters , out of his realme , saiyng : They woulde not be faithfull to hym , which had broken their faithe vnto God . So no doubt , if these men in our daies were tried , we should finde of them the lyke . Therfore , if they were called , not onely to confesse their faith , with worde and penne , 1. Peter . 3.15 . but also to geue a reason of their faith , to proue , and openly to shewe by textes of the holy Scriptures , and manifest reasons builded thereon , in whom thei beleue , what thei beleue , wherfore they beleue , and how they beleue , in open pulpit , and also in writyng , shoulde do a thousande tymes more good , then that they now doe . For they thinke nowe , that if they subscribe , obserue the order of seruice , and weare a side gowne , a square Cap , a Cope , and a Surples , none can saie blacke is their eyes , but that they are good protestantes : yet all this while they run into hugger mugger a whispering in corners , saiyng to the simple people : Order fit for papistes . beleue not this newe doctrine , it is naught , it will not long endure , although I vse order among them outwardly , my hearte and profession is from them , agreeyng with the mother Church of Rome . No , no ( saie they ) we do not preache nor yet teache openly , we reade their newe deuised homilies for a colour , to satisfie the tyme for a season . The fruits of time seruyng hypocrites . By reason whereof , the poore seelie people are kept backe from commyng forwardes to Christe : whereas if they were vrged , both publiquely ▪ by preaching , and also with their owne hande writing , to render account of their faith , They wyll dissemble a point with Leontius . to the hearyng and vnderstandyng of all the people , it would driue them for very shame of them selues , from runnyng into corners a whisperyng , to perswade , when as they openly haue preached to the contrary . And by this meanes , thei shoulde be easely tried out , and those that are not sounde , nor yet meete , driue them out of the Church , and make them wood-cariers , and water bearers , in the common weale , as Iosua did the Gibeonites , teachyng by their example , others to beware to dissemble in their profession , Ios●a . 9.21 . although in deede we knowe no mans hearte , yet let vs vse that meanes that holy Scripture geueth vs to trie the spirites , 1. Iohn . 4.1 . whether they be of God or not . For we may easely perceiue what daunger it is to haue suche dissemblers , and also dumbe Idols , I meane , those Pastours that the Prophet Zachary calleth Idoll Shepheardes , Zach. 11.17 . Ministers shoulde be preachers . that haue mouthes and cannot teache : feete and cannot go to preache : eyes & cannot see the wickednes of the people : nor how to reade the scriptures : handes that cannot minister nor distribute the Sacraments a right : therefore it was well saied of Barnarde : Successores omnes cupiunt esse , Barnard . Sermo . ●8 . imitatures pauci . And if your L. woulde this doe as I haue before saied , you should make them to take heede to them selues , 1. Tim. 4.16 . and to learnyng , to continue therein . For in so doyng , they shal saue themselues , & those that heare them . The second cause that moued me , Seconde cause . is , certen bokes being abrode , which came from Louane , bookes full of scurrilitie and papistrie , wonderfullye enuiyng and slaunderyng the godly Bishops and ministers of the Churche of God , here in Englande : and amonges all , they name mee in their booke , thinkyng thereby to discredite the doctrine that we teache . For this is the nature of all Papistes , when as they cannot staye vs from preachyng , neither yet denie the doctrine we teache : then thei will alwaies reare vp some false reportes and sclaunders vpon the preachers , or els if these monstrous Papistes , do knowe or see , any olde crimes or vices , which haue been in them before ( whiche now is mortified and dead in them ) they will rake it vp out of the filthy enuious dounghill of their Romishe heartes , 2. Sam. 16.5 . like vnto railyng Simeis , whiche commyng out of Saules house of Rome , against the godly Dauids , that go in the Lordes busines , thei cast out stones , to stone godly Stephens , they curse them that go in the Lordes iorney , they call them murtherers , that warre in the Lordes battaile , thei call them vngodly , that liue and preache vertuously , but notwithstandyng all their false and wicked reportes , we must learne with Dauid to possesse our soules with patience , for that it is doen for our better triall and comforte . Matth. 5 . 1● . As Christe saide : Blessed are ye when men reuile you , and speake all maner euill againste you for my sake , reioyce and be gladde , for greate is your rewarde in heauen : for so did they to the prophetes which were before you : for the seruaunt , is not aboue the maister . Did not alwaies the enimies of God , raise vp suche rumours vpon Christe , and his Apostles ? to that only ende , to drawe the people from beleuyng or credityng them , and therby to discredite their heauenly doctrine that they taught , by the wil of God . They made as though they had been carefull for godly men to enter into the Church , but they meant nothyng lesse : for , they passed not how wickedly any liued against gods commaundements , Matth. 15.3 . so that theirs were obserued and kepte . So likewise , our Papistes of Louane , the Pharisees schollers , they seeme in all their bookes to be verie carefull for Church men ( as they tearme them ) when as in verie deede , they passe not what they are in life , so thei continue with them in their filthy religion . Doe not we see , at this daie that many of them , whiche are now conuerted to the Gospel , are reproued by our papistes & Louanistes , of some vices and faultes , that haue been doen by them , in their papistrie and blindnesse , and all for to sclaunder the doctrine and religion withall , which during the time they were papistes , thei were counted no faultes , but vertues ? Do not we see , that if any of them kepe whores and harlots , it is counted no fault nor synne among them , but as one that liueth chaste and well : if once he forsake them , and take a lawfull wife , doe they not crie out of him , and say he is a fleshly man , a carnall man , and one that is vnchaste , and now he cannot serue God , bicause he hath broken the yoke of chastitie , and liueth in the fleshe ? The marke then that they shoote at ( right reuerende father ) is not our life , but to our doctrine and religion , that they may discredite it , to drawe the simple people from beleuyng it . Alas , with what faces can these papistical Pharisees , thus write againste vs concernyng our liues , and what men we were ? Matth. 7.3 . Turpe est doctori , cum culpa redarguit ipsum . Can they see litle motes in our eyes , and cannot perceaue the greate beames in their owne eies , and yet not in the meanest only , but in their cheefest heades ? yea euen in those heades that they call , Lorde of Lordes , Kyng of Kinges , God of Gods , their holy father the Pope ( as they call hym ) whiche cannot erre , nor yet sinne , as they affirme . In steede of many , I will recite a fewe of them , that by those , the residue maie be perceaued : for they are all Herrynges of one Barell . I praie you , what was Pope Bonifacius ? was it for his holines , Pope Bonifacius . that it was written of hym , Intrauit vt Vulpes : Regnauit vt Lupus : mortuus est vt Canis ? He entered into the Popedome as a Foxe : he raigned as a woolfe : and died as a Dog ? A whore Pope . Pope Ioane , was she not an arrant whore ? begotten with childe by one of her Cardinals , which these olde verses besides infinite mo testimonies witnesse . Penes portum Petri Pauli peperit Papa pater patriae , paruulum puerum . What was Pope Iohn the. 12 ? Pope Iohn. 12. not a most vile damnable man , did not he keepe Rainerath , his mans wife ? did not he keepe one Stephana , and her sister ? whiche had been his fathers concubines before ? did not he keepe one Anna a widowe and her daughter ? He spared ( saieth the stories ) neither high nor lowe , olde nor young , poore nor riche , faire nor foule : so that no women durst come vnto Rome on pilgrimage in his tyme : he spared no place , but woulde vse his filthy whordome , vppon their holy aulters : he would geue to his whores , benefices , golden Chalices & crosses , he would daunce , leape , dice , carde , sweare , fight , runne abrode in the night , breakyng vp dores and windowes , and burne mens houses : one of his Cardinals he gelded , he put out anothers eies , whiche was his Godfather , he cut of ones hande , of a nother a tongue , of others a finger , a nose & an eare : in his dice plaiyng he woulde call vpon euil spirites , and drinke to the deuil : beyng thus Pope and an vnholy father , nine yeres , & three monethes and fiue daies , was striken of the deuill ( as they saie ) as he was a bed with a nother mans wife , and so died within eight daies after , most miserablie . Pope Sergiu● . So of this fathers godly life , came that prouerbe vp ( as merie as Pope Iohn . ) What was Pope Sergius ▪ not a man without al vertue and learnyng ? kept not he a whore , in the tyme of his Popedome , called Morozia ? and had by her a bastarde , whiche was Pope long after hym , called Pope Iohn the .11 . This filthy tyraunt did many villanous actes . What was Pope Marcellinus , Pope Marcellinus . Pope Syluester Pope Liberius . Pope Leo. Pope Caelestinus . Pope Honorius . Pope Ioh. 22. Pope Hyldebrand . not a greate Idolater ? what was Syluester the .2 . not a greate coniurer , and gaue hymselfe body and soule to the deuill , and by the deuils procurement , was made Pope ? was not Pope Liberius an Arrian heritique ? was not Pope Leo likewise an Arrian ? Pope Caelestinus , was he not a Nestorian heretique ? was not Pope Honorius a Monothelite heretique ? Pope Iohn the .22 . was not he reproued as an heretique at Paris , concernyng the soule of man ? I praie you , what was Pope Hyldebrande ? was he not an aduouterer , a Churche robber , a pe●iured man , a murtherer , who poysoned sixe other Popes his predecessours , to make hym selfe roome to the holy seate ? was he not a greate Sorcerer , and a reneger of the faith ? was not Pope Vrbanus a tyrannous murtherer ? that tooke fiue of his Cardinals aliue , Pope Vrbanus . and put them into Sackes , and threwe them into the Sea ? I coulde speake of Pope Stephen , of his handlyng of Formosus , Po●e Stephen . his predecessour , in cuttyng of his fingers and heade , and threwe his carkasse into Tyber , and of many others of them , but that I should occupie and consume muche ynke and paper , about a sorte of filthie liuers : therefore Pope Adrian the .4 . was wont to say , Succedimus , non Petro in pascendo , sed Romulo in parricidio . What should I speake of their holy Cardinals , are thei not Ruffians , tosse pottes , whore maisters , and buggerers with yong boies like vnto the Sodomites ? al the world knoweth it . What should I saie of others their Priestes , how shamefully thei liued in their holy orders , were not a nomber of them theeues , periurers , murtherers , buggerers with boyes , Mares , and Sowe pigges : some of them haue been arained at the Barre for it , in Excester and els where , as the recordes can testifie : & some of them were no small chickens in the Popes Coube , what saie you to those holie Fathers , at the last councell of Trydent , whiche were solemply gathered together ( as thei saide ) to reforme matters of religion , and suppressyng of vice , was not two of those holy fathers , taken at that tyme in whordome ? the one was striken downe with a Club , the other taken with the maner , by the husbande , and hanged by the necke out of a greate Lucane window in the streete . What shoulde I saie , not long agone of one in Winchester , a great D. of the Papistes , who would drinke , nothing but water thrise a weeke , who vnder the colour of virginity , of wearing a shurte of heere , and hanging his shrowde at his beddes feete , and mortifiyng his body , with straightnes of life , kepte three whores at once in his Chamber , to serue him and his fellowes at neede , whiche whores were fetched out by certaine Iustices of peace . This is as true , as men vse to eate meate vpon a Boarde . D. Boorde . To conclude , and leaue troublyng , of your Lordeships chaste and Godly eares , we will saie of their whole Cleargie , as some of their owne doctours haue written : Venalitate Curiae Romane inanitèr praeficiuntur Lenones : Aureum . Spe●●lum in Antilogia . Coqui , Stabularij equorum , & pueri : Through the briberie of the Courte of Rome , Bawdes , Cookes , Hostlers , Horsekepers , and children are placed in offices , to gouerne the Churche . Thus I haue , rather geuen an inkelyng hereof , then opened the particuler secretes of the matter , for as saint Barnarde saith : Barnard ad Clerum , in Sino . Rhemen . The thirde cause . The .vi. of August . Anno. 2591. ● . Cor. 5. Qu● in occul●● fiunt ab Episcopis , turpe est vel dicere . The third cause is , for that of late one Ihon Blackeal , borne in Excester , did open penaunce at Powles Crosse , And then , and there , before all the congregation openly ( for that I detected his horible vices , and manifested them to certaine of my friendes , to the ende that he might be better reclaimed from his lewde and wanton life , and so to satisfie the whole congregation with open repentaunce , crauyng their praiers vnto god for him ) cried , and breathyng out against me , many foule and sclaunderous reportes , to the greate griefe of the godly , and ioye of the wicked Papistes . But hereby easely appeareth the nature of the wicked & malicious . For when any conuersion is made ( through gods spirite ) by any sinner , Luk. 15.1 . Matth. 9.11 . they will enuy , and vse railyng words againste that conuert , as the wicked Scribes , and Pharisees did . And will speake euill of them , bicause ( saieth Peter ) they runne not with them vnto the same excesse of riote : 1. Peter . 4.4 . therefore speake thei euill of you . If I had been altogether as wicked , as he declared openly : yet , he and all other enuious men , ought not to haue sorrowed : Luk. 15.10 . but ioyed , not to haue enuied ▪ but loued Gods good workyng in mee , with the aungels of heauen . This wicked man , will not light a Candle to seeke a sinner : but rather will bryng a fier brande to consume his brother , with his flamyng wordes : but as Dauid saieth , who● burning Coales shall consume that same tongue , Psal. 114.10.11 . that will bee the portion for euer , for all suche lyers and sclaunderers . A sclaunderer is worse then a Rauen , who eateth men beyng dead : but a wicked slaunderer eateth men beyng a liue . But let vs examine ( Reuerend Father ) howe this lewde man followeth the Counsell of Salomon , Eccle. 8.5 . that saieth : Despise not a man that turneth hym selfe awaie from synne , nor cast hym not in the teeth with all : but remember that we are all worthy blame : Galat. 6.1 . the like doctrine Paule teacheth . Brethren , if a man be fallen by occas●ion into any faulte , ye which are spirituall , restore suche one with the spirite of meekenesse , considering thy selfe , Ezech. 18.21 . lest thou be tempted also . The Lorde saith , by his prophet , that he will not remember , nor make mention , of the former life of a sinner , after his conuersion . But this enuious , and sclaunderous man , will haue in remembraunce thinges past , and make mention of that was neuer doen , spoken , no● saide , to the greate infamie of the Gospell , bicause I am called ( although vnworthy ) to be a preacher thereof . Vpon which reportes , and manifest sclaunders spoken , the Queenes maiesties commissioners immediatly sent for mee to come before them , and vppon my apparaunce ( he then beyng in the Marshal see a prisoner ) founde suche subtill and craftie meanes , that he stole awaie from his keper : knowing wel in his conscience , that he falsely ( for the most parte ) had accused mee , and wickedly sclaundered mee . So that I could not haue hym face to face , before the commissioners , to trie whether it were all true he spake at the Crosse : thus he ranne awaie , and lefte the infamie to mee , bihinde hym . So now I must referre my cause to God , who shall call vs both to accomptes one daie , from whom , there shal be no runnyng , nor scapyng awaie . This Blackeall ( reuerende Father ) did open penaunce at Powles Crosse , Blackeall hath foure wiues aliue at once . for that he had at that present foure wiues aliue . And also , for that he thrust hymselfe into the ministerie , for the space of .12 . yeres , and yet was neuer lawfully called , nor made by any Bishop accordingly . Foure daies after his penaunce at the Crosse ,

Blackeall is a Pillorie knight .

Blackeall vseth ●eales to counterfeit Commissions . Blackeall is a chopper of benefices . He is a raker for mens money .

He is a common caryer about of whores and harlottes . He is ashamed of his owne name . Matth. 3.7 .

I Am not ignoraunte ( gentle reader ) howe daungerous an enterprise it is , in this our age , either to write , or diuulgate any woorke abroade : consideryng the furiousnesse of certaine snuffyng detractours in the worlde , and bityng zoilous persones at home , August . would make one like Augustines counsaile , that saieth : Tutior est discentis , quam docentis conditio . More safe is the condition of the learner , 1. Cor. 4.10 ▪ 11.12.13 Wisd. 2.24 . Rom. 16.17 . 1. Cor. 4.18 . 2. Cor. 10.2 . Galat. 1.7 . 2. Cor. 2.11 . then of the teacher . For it is no marueile , sithe that pernitious and hurtfull stepdame ( of Uertue ) Disdaine , and Enuie , continually putteth in her foote , to hinder and let euery honest enterprise . How hard a thyng it is , and what greate impedimentes , and lettes there are to enterprise any acte , not onely daiely experience sufficiently declareth : but also that Prouerbe confirmeth it , whiche saieth , that all thynges are hearde whiche are faire and excellent . For assuredly , Eccle. 2.1 . there is no condition without his enemie : no calling without some temptation , no estate sure and cleare . Therfore , the estate of man , so much the more is to be lamented , how muche the lesse it is regarded , woulde make a godlie harte to muse much and oftentimes , how he might be a fruictfull and painfull labourer in Goddes Uineyarde .

Therefore , what soeuer the wicked shall saie of me , I will saie with Dauid , Psal. 109.4 . Detrahebant mihi : ego autem orabam : For my frendship thei were myne enemies : but I gaue my self vnto praier . After that I had ended this my booke , it happened by Goddes prouidence ( gentle reader ) that in a Lecture of myne , at Redclif in Bristoll , I had occasion giuen me by the text , whiche was taken out of the .xxxj. Psalme ( where Dauid commendeth his spirite into the handes of God ) to proue that all the soules of the righteous , that died before Christes commyng in the fleshe , were in heauen , and not in any Purgatorie , Limbo , or Hell. That christes soule should not néede to goe downe thither to fetch them out . And also declared that Christ vsed the like woordes vpon the Crosse , Luk. 23.46 . by whiche is declared , that his soule ( departyng from his bodie ) wente straight into heauen , and not into hell , the place of the dampned : But that the efficacie , vertue , and power of his death and passion , did pearce through and into the verie hell it self , by his diuine power and Godheade : Heb. 2.14.15 . 1. Cor. 15.55 . Colo. 1.13.14 Ioh. 5.24.25 . Reuel. 14.13 . that all the damned soules , felt their full paine , and iuste damnation for their infidelitie : And Sathan hym self , felt all the power , and strength of his tyrannie , and darkenesse , was weakened , vanquished , and fallen to ruine and vtter decaie . &c. And that the soules of all them that died in the faithe of Christe ( beyng in heauen ) felte the fulnesse of their redemption : Iohn . 19.30 . how it was now fullie perfected , and ended for them . &c. This beyng by me taught , it was noysed abroade in the peoples eares ( and that by no meane men ) that I hadde denied an article of the Creede , and that I was an open heretique , and suche a one as was not worthie of life , but cruell death .

When those reportes , and false rumours came vnto mine eares , I besought God to strengthen me in his faith , and giue me pacience , Actes . 24.14 . knowyng well , that after the waie ( which they call heresie ) so worship I , and teache the God of my fathers : beleuyng all thynges whiche are written in the lawe and the Prophetes . I also considered with my self , what will this people saie and reporte , when as thei shall happen to reade my booke , wherein this article of Christes deseension into hell , is handeled , that thus beginne to condemne and iudge me , before they haue knowen or heard the trueth opened : vpon the occasion whereof , I cleane altered my former preface to the reader , that I had made before , & made this as an apologie or defence thereof , against suche as will , or shall carpe against it . Wherefore , I beseche thee ( frendly reader ) to lende me thy eares , to heare me , thy eyes to see me , thy tongue to reade me , thy mynde and harte to iudge me , with an vpright iudgemente , accordyng to the truthe of Goddes woorde : whiche ( as Dauid saith ) is a Lanterne vnto our féete , Psal. 119.105 . Psal. 19.7.8.9.10.11 . and a light vnto our pathes : that is it that giueth wisedome vnto the simple , it is that , Wisd. 10.21 . that giueth lighte vnto the eyes , by it the seruaunte of God is made circumspecte : our Sauiour Christe willeth vs to searche the scriptures , Iohn . 5.39 . Actes . 17.11 . for those are thei that beare witnesse of hym . For , the mynde muste bee taught , and instructed of the will of God , by the woorde , like as the eyes are taughte , and instructed by outwarde thynges . August . de doctr. christia . lib. 1. cap. 37. For as Augustine saieth : Titubat fides , si diuinarum scripturarum vacillat authoritas . If the aucthoritie of the holie scriptures wauer , then dooeth faithe stumble .

I will nowe ( accordyng to my small skill ) saie of this matter , somewhat more largely , then I haue saied alreadie in my booke : whether sufficient , or insufficient , I shall praie thee to stand an indifferent iudge . To thee it is dedicated : and for thy sake it is written . Here must I saie vnto thée , euen as S. Hierome somtime said to his reader in the like case : Hieron . aduer. error . Iohan. Hierosolymitani . Quaeso lector , vt memor Tribunalis domini , & de iuditio tuo , te intelligens iudicandum , nec mihi , nec aduersario meo faueas : neue personas loquentium , sed causam consideres : That is : I beseche thee , good reader , that , remembryng the iudgement seate of the Lorde , and vnderstandyng , that as thou iudgest , so thou shalt bee iudged , thou fauour neither me , nor myne aduersarie : And that thou regarde not the persons , but the cause onely .

Firste , thou shalte vnderstande ( gentle reader ) that this Article of Christes descendyng into helle , is not reade ( as Rofinus saith ) in the Romaine Crede , nor yet in the Nicen Crede , the Easte Churche had it not , the Counsaile of Ephesus , and Constantinople left it out . For , wee maie reade by the writynges of the olde Fathers , that that parte whiche is reade in the Crede , was not in olde tyme so muche vsed in the Churches ( yet I doe confesse it is a necessarie article , meete to haue a place in the Crede , as a thyng that conteineth a verie profitable misterie of a waightie matter . Cyprian in Symbo . expositio . ) Sainct Cyprian vnto this saieth : Sciendum sane est , quod in Ecclesia Romana , Symbolo non habetur additum , descendit ad inferna . Sed neque in Orientis ecclesiis habetur hic sermo . Knowe ye for certaintie , that the Churche of Rome hath not added this in the Crede , he descended into hel : No , neither yet the Easte Churches hath added this kynde of speache ( in the Crede . ) Unto this Erasmus fullie agreeth , saiyng : Atque adeo quum Symbolum Nicenae , Erasmus in Symbolum cathechesis . 4. sine Constantinopolitanae Synodi , nihil aliud sit , quam huius Symboli explanatio , ne illic quidem quicquam est , quod huic particulae respondeat . Ipsa denique inconcintas sermonis arguit ab alio quopiam intertextum emblema : That is , Moreouer , although the Simbole , or Crede , of the Sinode holden at Nice , or the Sinode holden at Constantinople , is none other thyng , then a declaration of this Simbole , or Crede ( called the Apostles Crede : ) yet there is not so much as any thyng that is correspondent to this particle . Finallie , the verie inconcinnitie , and vnhandsome ioyning , or hanging together of the speache and oration , is an euident argumente , that this parcell , or particle ( he descended into hell ) was put in among the other Articles , by some other man . ( As is supposed by Thomas of Aquine ) and immediately after , he sheweth the cause , why the auncient fathers put not this Article into the Crede , ( he descended into hel . In eodem loco . ) Quia vetustissimi patres magna Religion● cauebant , ne quid asseuerarent duntaxat in Symbolo , quod non esset euidenter expressum in sacris literis vtriusque testimenti : Tal●● sunt articuli omnes , hoc vno excepto : That is , because the fathers of auncientest tyme , with great Religion , toke heede & were war● that thei would not affirme any thyng , namely in the Crede , whiche was not expressed in the Scriptures of bothe Testamentes . Suche maner Articles are all the other , onely this one ( he descended into hell ) excepted . Thus farre Erasmus . Sainct Augustine in his booke , de Fide & Symbolo , expoundyng the Crede of the Apostles , August . de ●●de & Symbo . cap. 5. Phil. 2. ● . comming to the Article of Christes sufferynges , declareth of his pacience , and humilitie in sufferyng death , euen the death of the Crosse , to take awaie the horror of death from vs : and that he was crucified and buried , vnder Pontius Pilate , addyng Pilates name for the certaintie of the tyme , and that he laie in a graue , and before that in the wombe of his mother , in whiche graue and bellie , neuer none laie before , nor after . &c. But of this article of Christes descention into hell , he neuer speaketh worde of it , nor yet reciteth it : for if it had been an Article putte in the Crede at the firste , would sainct Augustine haue left it out thinke you , or at least ▪ neuer to haue spoken woorde of it in this place , hauyng suche an occasion , and oportunitie as he had in entreatyng of the beleife ? I can neuer beleue that , for of al the old writers , he was moste precise , and vigilante in suche poinctes of Religion that touched faithe . So that it must euidently appeare , that it was putte in by some aftercommers , as Erasmus before hath saied . Whereby we maie vnderstande , the care of the godlie ones then , that woulde not putte foorth , or affirme any thyng , whiche could not bee proued by the Scriptures . So Hierome saieth : Hieron . i● psal. 98. Omne quod loquimur , debemus affirmare de scripturis sanctis : What soeuer we affirme , we must proue it by the holie scriptures . For Augustine saieth : Sine scripturarum autoritate : nihil definiendum est . August . in epist. 157. Nothyng is to bee determined , or affirmed , without the aucthoritie of the holie and sacred scriptures . And likewise Saincte Paule saieth : Now is the righteousnesse of God made manifeste without the Lawe , Rom. 3.21 . hauyng witnesse of the Lawe , and of the Prophetes . Whereby is gathered , that all truthe and righteousnesse of Gods Religion , and our faith in the redemption of his sonne , muste haue the witnesse of the Lawe and the Prophetes : that is to saie , the holie Scriptures will euer acknowledge and allowe it . And whereto it giueth no witnesse , that is alwaies false and erronious . For as sainct Hierome saieth : Hiero. in Matth. 23. Hoc quia ex sacris literis authoritatem non habet , eadem facilitate refellitur , qua probatur : Seyng this , saieth he ( speakyng againste those Fathers , that did affirme , that that Zacharie whiche Christ spake of , beyng the sonne of Barachie , was Iohn Baptists father ) hath no aucthoritie out of the scriptures , it maie bee as easely denied , as affirmed . Therefore I saie , Iohn . 5 . 3● . Actes . 17 . 1● . searche the holy scriptures , as they of Berea did as concernyng this matter in question : and yet thou shalte neuer bee able to finde there , that euer Christe our Sauiour , in bodie or soule , descended into hell after his death , to the place of the dampned , or into any Limbo . Onely thou shalt finde there , that he died , and rose againe the thirde daie . &c. Some will here replie and saie : What sir , you saie not truely ? Are there not scriptures sufficient to proue , he descended into hell ? although there are sondrie places , yet there are fower principall places , as in the Psalmes , in Zacharie , in the Actes of the Apostles , and in Saincte Peters Epistle ? Psal. 16.10 . Zach. 9.11 . Actes . 2.31 . 1. Peter . 3.19 . I praie you saie thei , is it not writen in the Psalme thus ? Non derelinques animam meam in inferno ? I doe graunte it is so written , but it followeth not hereby to proue that his soule , or that Christes soule should goe vnto hell , the place of the damned : for soule in this place , doeth not signifie the soule of Christe , but it signifieth the bodie , or persone of Christe : and by hell he vnderstandeth , not the place of the damned , but the graue or sepulchre , and therefore Stephanus translation hath , Non relinques corpus meum in sepulchro , thou shalte not leaue my bodie or persone in the graue : So hath the Tygurian translation also . For this Hebrue woorde , N●pesch , signifieth a bodie , Leui. 21.1.11 . Num. 9.10 . or person , as you maie reade in Leuiticus , and in Numeri .