AN EXPOSITION of the Symbole of the Apostles , or rather of the Articles of Faith . In which the chiefe points of the euerlasting and free couenant betweene God and the faithfull is briefly and plainly handled .

GATHERED OVT OF THE catechising Sermons of GASPER OLEVIAN TREVIR ,

And now translated out of the Latine tongue into the English for the benifite of Christ his Church .

By IOHN FIELDE .

AT LONDON , Printed by H. Middleton , for Thomas Man , and Tobie Smith .

ANNO. 1581.

OF all the faultes that we fall into , in these dayes of our vanity , ( right honorable & my very good Lord ) I know none that deserue greater blame , than to be vnthankfull where we haue receaued benefites . And this is the cause that I hauing taken some paines in this profitable worke , ( which I am bolde vnder your honours name , to offer to the whole Church of God : ) I thought good to leaue it in lieu of thankefulnesse , as a testimony both of your honours loue towards the truth of God , and of my humble duety againe towards your honor and the whole Church of God to all posteritie : for who am I that I should not , whiles life lasteth , liue to the profite of the Church ? and who are you with all your honour , auctority , wealth , and libertie , & all the gifts which God in mercie hath bestowed vpon you , that you should not employ all to the maintenance of the truth , and defence of the Church , vnder her Maiestie , wherein both high and lowe , receaue the assuraunce of spirituall blessings , sealed in the hope of an euerlasting kingdome ? And as the glory of God , is shewed most herein , that he defendeth his spowse , & hath bewtified her with giftes from aboue , that she might be a pure and vndefiled spowse , chast and holy vnto him selfe : so this is our greatest glory of what state or condition so euer we be , to be members of this Church , by the Communion whereof , we are his members . For he is the onely head of his Church , to giue it gifts , to gouerne it , & to lead it , to that great and euerlasting saluation . There is no life , but from this head , nor any saluation but in this Church : wherein as syncere doctrine is professed and out of his worde shineth and dwelleth , so that holy obedience , of children towards their father , and of seruauntes towards their Lord , framed and conformed to his will , alwayes appeareth and sheweth it selfe , And therefore it is called his howse , because he is the husband of it , the housholder and master that ruleth in it , setting down his owne orders to his children and familie : wherein it is intollerable presumption , ( if not blasphemie ) for any man to dare to alter or chaunge the least iote against his will . He is the Kinge and Pastor of it , Luke 12.4 . and his friendes stande and heare him : Io. 10.4.5 . his sheepe followe his voice , and will not goe after a straunger . They loue him that keepe his wordes , and he beautifieth them , not onely as guestes & strangers , but as Citizens and Saintes , Ephes. 2.19 . and such as are of his owne housholde . These are they that flie as the cloudes , ( such is the multitude of them dispersed vpon the face of the earth ) and they mounte vp as Doues to his windowe . Esay . 60.8 . And this is both called & is the Church of the liuing God , 1. Timot. 3.15 . the foundation and piller of truth , the body of Christ , the house of the highest , the keeper & teacher of the Gospell , the mother of the faithfull , clensed of Christ and pretious vnto him . This is no particular synagogue , whorish and disobedient , impure and filthy , full of rebellion and falsehood , as is that synagogue of Rome which hath departed from her first faith and loue : which although the Papists would aduance aboue the skies , ( alwaies like Cuckowes singing one & the same songe , and shamelesly begging that which they shoulde chiefly proue : ) yet they shall neuer be able , though they burst their harts for it , to proue it to be either the Catholique Church of Iesus Christ , or a member of it . For they maintaine another head besides Christ , another worde besides the worde of Christ , vnwritten verities or rather absurde vntruthes , preferring the commaundements of a sinnefull man , before the vnchaungeable and euerlasting trueth of God . And truely , I do not a little wonder , what madnesse is entred into their braines , that with such Owles faces , they dare in the open lighte of the Gospell , schritch forth their olde absurdities , as though now after the great instruction of the truth , they were able to thrust forth vnto vs ( as in times past when they lead vs in the darke ) their counterfaite ware , to deceaue vs , and so turne vs away from the glorious lighte of our saluation . We had thought they had receiued their aunswere long agoe , & would neuer haue durste to looke the trueth in the face againe : but nowe as they are continually instructed from that same enemy of truth , so they bring forth their olde rotten stuffe , and their new Iesuites haue furbushed ouer their olde arguments of their blinde predecessors , & as if they were spicke & spanne newe , they offer them vnto vs . But we finde them all of one metall . This onely is the difference , that whereas they were wont to speake in their owne language and like themselues , nowe they speake in an other dissembling voyce , and being in case to couch for feare of the whippe , they haue turned their rustie roughnes into some smoothnes , and like Angels of lighte , that they may haue some entertainment amongest vs : and to the end they may infect the lande againe with their idolatries , and turne vpside downe the quiet peace the blessing of the Gospell hath brought vs , and drinke vp our bloud , ( as together with Antichrist their head they haue done in times past , and in the countries , where they haue had entertainment rounde about vs ; ) with strong flatterie , they prepare euen to creepe into our bosomes . And hence are those speaches vsed by Parsons Howlet , in that fraudulent and doubling Epistle , that he of late hath presumed to whoope in the eares of her Soueraigne Highnes , wherewith because I haue dealt more fully in another place , now I do but touch it . But as there is greatest daunger when foes beginne to faigne , so haue we greatest cause to distrust these enemies of God and of the common weale , when they haue made their tongues most glyb and smoothe to deceaue withall , August . in Psal. 9. that as one saith verie well , they may binde mens soules in their sinnes . For a sinner delighteth to doe those things , wherein not onely the reprouer is feared , but also the praiser is heard . There are therfore more dangers vnder the tongue of a flatterer , then vnder the hand of a persecutor . For where as the hande reacheth but to the bodie , the false praise and faigned loue of a flatterer , turneth mens hearts from the synceritie of the truth . And therefore we ought to take heede of these flattering Papists , as of the enemies , August . ad Demetriadem . Epist. 142 , not of our bodies , but of our soules , whose softest speches and glauering praises , which they pounce out to the vttermost , to steale in vpon vs , & to gain against the truth , are so many swords & darts to our soules . Thei corrupt light mindes with their faigned praises , & in the mindes of those that are light of credite , they giue gentle wounds . Thei couer their poison with hony . And this vice hath so encreased in this our age , that it stands at the last stint & cannot be encreased : euery man applieth this study , & giueth himselfe wholy to follow this schole , that he may deceiue & be deceiued . we receaue that willingly of others , which we offer as a gift to others , & the hope of receauing praise maketh vs to praise those to their faces of whom we would be praised . We oftentimes refuse the praise of flatterers , when they speake to our faces , and yet we nourish their flatteries in our mindes , and thinke we haue gained much with men , when God knoweth & our consciences tell vs that they are forged and faigned . We do not thinke what we are our selues in deede , but what we seeme to be to others . And hence it is , that the most men push at the opinion of the worlde : they labour to be well thought of , fetching the testimony of their credite , rather from a lying fame , than a sounde conscience . But happie are they that perfectly ouercome this vice , that neither flatter , nor beleue those that flatter , that depend not vpon the blasts of mens mouthes , but studie to approue themselues to God , whose iudgement is according to truth . And I beseech the Lord , that her Highnes with all her Counsel & Nobles , may be indued with this wisdome from aboue , ( because such as they are , are in most danger of these sweete poisoners ) that they may shun & auoyde their pleasant hissings . For albeit now they creepe , because they can not goe , yet the time was when they ran & made deepe furrowes euen vpon our backs : when her maiestie should haue found curtesie , they executed crueltie ; when all should haue found truth and loyaltie , they bent themselues and their whole powers to kill both soule and body . But I see Sathan is like himselfe , and his children beare his resemblance : that which they can not compasse one way , they wil attempt another . And therefore I wonder not , that they are sodainly turned for a time from that rough course which yet lurketh hidden in their bones , and which in times past was wont to be their way , That traitor Storie said it openly in the Parleament house . Ann. prim . of her Highnes most gration● raigne . that now they flatter her whom they then persecuted & put in daunger of life ; whom they so vncurteously entreated , & some with such sorow repented that they had not grubbed vp the stock , & passed ouer the branches : against whom they haue moued so many rebellions , and entred into such traiterous and curssed practises , some of their greatest Clarkes , appearing in actuall rebellion , and inuading her maiesties terretories and countries : I wonder not I say , that now they call her highnes Christes substitute , their soueraigne princesse , so extolling her vertues , as though her highnes gouernement , the establishing of Christian religion , and the execution of her highnes lawes against such traiterous offenders were inforced and against her will and purpose . Thus they kisse and kill togeather . The Pope their god in earth hath excommunicated her highnes , and Sanders ( as it were their own mouth ) to witnes their persuasion , by vertue of that Bull which Mourton procured , and Felton ( whom with Thomas Becket for treason they make a martyr ) set vp , hath pronounced them all free from all dutie and allegeance : and yet forsoth now they will needes be counted faithfull subiectes . Allen in his seditious Apologie of his english Seminarie , speaketh faire for obedience , and yet malapertly presumeth , to confute her highnes proclamations , made against such runagates . Their going beyond sea , is for nothing but religion , & yet from them , & out of their schooles hath spronge , the ground of al seditious practises , the stirring vp vnto sedition & rebellion , in diuerse places both at home and abroade , the attemps of compassing her maiesties life , which the lord long preserue to the maintenance of the gospel , & their confusion . And because the man is so hot , for that we assure all ranke papists to be right traitors : he telleth vs that those priests & Iesuits , haue expresse commandement from their superiors , not to moue any sedition , or to meddle with matters of state or temporal gouernment , Allen Apolog. Cap. 6. Fol. 72. but only by their priesthood & functions , to do such duties as be requisite for christian mens soules , which consisteth in preaching , teaching , catechising , Howlets auctor saith in the 7. reason , that none can be called Priestes , but in respect of that sacrifice . ministring the sacraments & such like . First therefore we answere , that preaching , teaching , catechising , and ministring the sacraments is no part of popish priestes office . For they are in deede ( as also he will haue them called ) masse priestes , in respect of their abhominable sacrifice . And as they scarse knew any practise of these he nameth , so for Catechising or teaching the principles of Christian religion , they neuer knew what it ment . For they could not so much as abide , the Lords prayer , or creede , commonly called the Creede of the Apostles , to be in our mother tongue . As for ministring the Sacraments , they had neither calling so to do , neither yet kept any right forme in the administration , or taught the vse of them . And if their commission from their spirituall superiors there , be sufficient calling to enable them to entrude them selues here , or to go into other countries , like gadding Circumcellions : to disturbe both Churches and common weales , where they haue neither place allotted , nor beinge assigned , either by God or man : how can they shew vs the seale of these commissioners commission from aboue ? But if they will draw all auctority from that stranger , that man of sinne and perdition , who as he taketh vpon him to giue a spirituall commission , ( I should haue saide a spitefull ) In foro conscientiae to excommunicate and to absolue from all sinnes : then they should first proue that he receiued his auctority from God , and so they might haue some better allowance . But what auctority can this straunge vsurper challendge ouer the Lords inheritance ? How can he absolue from sinnes , who is the verie sonne of perdition ? And what auctority can these substitutes haue , to free from schisme and heresie , who are the greatest schismatiques and heretiques of the worlde , renting themselues from the spowse of Christ , from Christ himselfe , and ioyning so fast to Antichrist ? Let them shewe vs by what tenor they holde this priuiledge , whether in Fee farme , in Socage , or in Capite . Sure I am that these spirituall keies , in their seuerall priuiledges are annexed to the true ministerie and ministers of Christ . And though Master Allen now be somewhat abated in his reconing , who fraudulently beginneth to distinguish betwixt the Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction and Temporall , and would persuade vs , that these newe creatures of the Popes making , take vpon them no dealing in state matters , and therefore , that they are farre from being traitors : yet he knoweth , and all the worlde knoweth who it is that hath vsurped the auctority of both swordes ; and who they are that thinke both vnlawfull without his allowance ; and whether they haue a Bull or no Bull , yet he can not be so ignorant , or rather impudent to deny the Pope , and Papists entermedling by their Buls euen with our Princes person and state . Her person crowne and dignity , her right ouer all persons in gouerning them according to Gods word , and keeping her subiects in order , are matters of state . And therfore the matter is not mistaken , concerning the Bull of Pius Quintus , that hath , if it be of force , taken the crowne which God hath set vpon her highnes head , from her , and discharged all her subiects from her obedience . And howsoeuer he flattereth , yet he insinuateth too plainly , that our Parleaments are no Parleaments , our ciuill Officers & Church Ministers , no Officers and Ministers , because they haue not the approbation & allowance of his holy father . And yet forsoth , these Romish Romanistes , though they tugge with tooth and naile for to bring in this Romish iurisdiction which is forreine , against the word of God , and against the lawes of this realme , which the Pope challengeth Iure diuino , & yet can shew no euidence out of that lawe for it , and that ouer al causes & persons , bereauing her Highnes of that principall part of her office , which is to looke to Gods matters , yea though he excommunicate her as a schismatique , laying her as a pray open to the swords of her enimies , yet must they be friendes and no enimies , loyall and not traiterous . If this be their truth , what is their treason ? Neither doth the example of Christ and his Apostles suffering for the truth , nor of Daniel seruing the true God , helpe their cause one whit . For Christ and his Apostles were wrongfully charged , and these truly . They stoode for the truth & glory of God , and these against it , and therefore all other idolaters , and false worshippers of God , may aswell challendge Christ and his Apostles for their patrons , as they , & with the same truth . Besides , Daniel serued the true God , & was faithfull to an heathen Prince ; these serue a false God , and are vnfaithfull to their Soueraigne a Christian Prince . And albeit it were to be graunted , that Masse , Mattins , Confession , Absolution , Beads , Agnus Deies , and such consecrated tokens as they call them , indeede superstitious trash , and idolatrous trumperie , were in themselues no matters of treason , yet when runagates , enimies to her Highnes , maliciously bring them in as tokens of reconciliation to the Pope , withdrawing her people from the dutiful obedience they owe her , disturbe her state , and hazard her Crowne and dignitie ; The Bul from Mourton , from Cutbert Maine executed in Cornewall , from Stranguidge obtained for the Queene of Scottes , proue al this to be true . they doing all by the commission of a forreine vsurper , breaking in tyrannously both vpon the Church and ciuill gouernment , which alwaies in it owne nature hath bene deemed treason by the lawes of this Realme , & so standeth adiudged , hauing neither place nor calling , roaring out against her Highnes rightfull possession by their Bulls ; these superstitions considered in these circumstances , can no more be sundred from treason , than lighte from the Sunne , heate from the fier , or moystnes from water . And as true religion is an enimy to all vices , so superstition most commonly is friendly , & a companion with them . Truth and treason hardly agree , but falshood and treason are conceaued in the same wombe , and nourished vp with the same milke , and this is the cause that Poperie hath had in all ages , her greatest maintenance by treason , & treason by it . How wickedly soeuer this runagate , to discredite her highnes most honorable and trustie Counsailors , would beare the worlde in hande , that she and h●r gouernment are parted , that she is enforced , and as it were rauished by some about her , of her free right and power of ruling , so malapert is this perking proctor of the Popes , that vpon the suddaine is become so loyall , and yet feareth not to shew his traiterous heart , by such ouert and manifest treasons . In deede it were an easie thing here not to finde a staffe , to beat this dogge , ( that I may vse his owne word ) but a sword , or rather being vnworthy of the honour of heading , a rope , to put an ende to his wicked attempts . It had bin an hapy thing both for our church & country , if he had bin in his mans place in the late rebellion & inuasion into Ireland , procured by such dutiful subiects as himselfe to haue excused him . I doubt not but our Lions , would haue found out his hornes , what soeuer vizard of eares , he and such haue put on . True it is , that the temporal state & Ecclesiastical are distinguished . And as a man may be a good ciuil man , & yet no godly man , so a man may be a ciuill subiect , & yet is not a faithfull & religious subiect . But yet euen as the church & common wealth are twinnes , and the happines and florishing of the elder , giues comfort and glory to the younger , so is it in these two states . If the ministerie , the onely meane to the felicitie of the Church , cause it to florish : the common wealth is the better . The soule is the life of the body , and whilest they continue together in perfecte state , it goeth well with the whole man , and so is it with whole mankinde . No soule hath true life , that is separated from Christ the life thereof , neither are bodies any thing else , but dead carcasses & carrions , from which the soule is departed . First therfore the Ecclesiasticall state is occupied about the soule , & the Ciuill about the body . Eche keepe them within their listes to the preseruation of both , & intrude not one into an others office . The Churche state and gouernment is wholy occupied in Church matters , and the Ciuill in common wealth matters . And albeit the Christian Prince hath auctority from God , ouer all persons ; yet the Prince enforceth no lawes in Gods matters to binde the conscience against his lawes . The Christian Prince , looketh that Gods lawes be had in price , that all estates keepe themselues in order , that euery man do his duty according to his order , and inflicteth bodily punishments vpon malefactors and offenders : and the other execute that spirituall sworde , that pierceth further than the temporall , euen to the soule and conscience . When both these meete together , dwell in one kingdome , and kisse ech other , there is a blessed state ; and in regarde of Christian Princes , though treason against the one , can not be with any loyaltie to the other ; yet we exempt such ignorant and seduced Papists from the gilt of treason ; as ( being led by such Capitaine Romanists , as Sanders and Allen are ) onely haue a dislike of the truth , & yet bear dutifull hearts to their Prince and Country , hauing not in such ouert and actuall manner , hatched forth that cursed and treacherous seede . But I wish these with all my hearte in time to take heede , lest whilest they nourish and foster this conceaued superstition in them , they growe to the same wretched attempts , that they see others haue done & do daily to their great cost , & they pay ( as they are worthy ) the same price for it . Let them in time therefore feare God , and honor the Kinge , obey God that they may obeye their Prince .

Poperie is the nurce & mother of treason , rebellion , and confusion . Poperie hath alwaies been a perker and prier in to princes greatest secretes and intentions , for the maintenance of it owne kingdome . True religion in deede teacheth all estates , and taketh knowledge to reproue , whatsoeuer is contrary to the light : But poperie , rusheth into all matters and causes , and chalengeth and vsurpeth authoritie ouer all persons , it taketh vpon it the alteration of kingdomes , ouerturneth Princes crownes , alienateth inheritances , & intermedleth vniustly in al things : as I wil ( if god assist me ) shew further if I be further vrged . I beseech your Honor pardon me , that I haue passed the boundes of an epistle . These creaking papists euen compel me , who are so shamelesse , in the cleere light of the gospell , still to prouoke vs : But a day shall come , that shal reueale al things : in the meane time I nothing doubt of his mercifull goodnes ( if we go cheerefully forward , and draw not his iudgements vpon vs by our slacknesse & coldnesse towards the synceritie of his truth ) towards his poore Church , towards her Maiestie , and the whole body of this common weale . And thankes be to God , for that rich and vnspeakeable knowledge of his truth , wherby he hath enabled vs to discerne and see their errors . Of all benefites this is most precious ; and I beseech your honor in your place , to seeke the aduancing of it . Let them not be able to preuaile with you , that bewray their owne shame , whilest with boasting words , they would seeme to mount vp to heauen , and yet lie flat groueling vpon the earth , hauing no sparke of heauenly wisedome , or vnderstanding from the word of God . Onely they haue a few waste words , & a little lauish latine , wherewith they thinke to ouergoe and ouerthrow the setled truth of God . We looked for high matter from our chalinging champion , at the least , seeing he commeth after al others ; we looked for som shew of weightie and grounded arguments ▪ but alacke , our hope is frustrate , for nothing appeareth , but that a man may finde in these golden daies of knowledge , 〈…〉 euen in those youthes and boyes that yet haue scarse a farre of saluted diuinitie . His ten arguments are nothing els , but so many paralogismes , all taken from others , that wrote long before him ; onely he hath turned the wrong side of ●heir coates outwarde . Because some men haue refused certaine bookes to be numbred in the Canon of the scriptures ; for which yet they are not destitute of some testimonies , and yet some of those books haue not bin denied of vs : therefore we flie the scriptures , and Campion hath woon the fielde already : because the sense and meaning of the scriptures haue been diuersly taken of some particular , men in some controuersies , therfore the meaning of the scriptures are on his side . Thus he braineth himselfe with his owne hammer , and cutteth his owne throte with his owne sworde . As though all that professe papistrie , keepe one sense and meaning in the interpretation of the scripture : because they boast of the name of a Church , & the name of the Church is glorious , we loke wan at it , and must needes flie , because they com against vs onely with the bare name . We make a church of our owne fashion , a Platonicall Idea , and an idle fancie . In discribing a church , we vtterly ouerthrow it &c. All the heretiques that euer were , are our predecessors , because papists say so ; & we must subscribe to their church , or else to a church that is no where . Then forsooth al general Councels are theirs , and we refuse all : because some haue erred , and many haue byn contrary one to another . The Councel of Trent shal liue , when Kemnitius shal be buried ( if he take not heede ) with Arrius , & now we may trust them ; for Iohn Hus brake the conditions that the Emperour had set him , and running away , which the Emperour had forbidden vpon paine of his head , was iustly not headed , but burned : and yet the Councel of Constance debated specially of this matter , & thought they were not bound to the Emperours promise . Hierom of Prage , spake freely in the Councell , & recanting , departed freely , but falling into his heresie again , drunk of the same cup. We refuse all fathers , he alloweth all and refuseth none , tagge and ragge are welcome to him , all their errours shal be defended for manifest truth . Not so much as Dionisius & Hyppolytus , but must be ranked amongest the Doctors . And if euer any searched the scriptures , these did it , and spent their whole liues in it . And all histories make for them , and our historiographers , for 1500 yeares together , are emptie of all matter , sauing of that they write for them and to maintaine their cause . And we can not deny but that Rome was an holy Church , that their faith was famous , that Paule preached there , that a Church was gathered in that Babylon , where Peter ruled , Whether Clement succeeded Peter or Linu● I would faine haue determined . and Clement succeeded , &c. therefore all are his & for his religion . We further maintaine nothing but Paradoxes , and monstrous opinions , of God , of Christ , of man , of grace , of righteousnesse , of manners , &c. And we must needes speake and be vnderstood as this lustie challenger will haue vs to speake and be vnderstoode . Our Sophistications are palpable , and our barenes in testimonies are miserable , he hath from heauen , from the earth , from Roses , from Lilies , the one purpuled with martyrdome , the other whited with innocencie . They haue those that were shepeheardes to all landes , and all flockes of all faithfull , all were theirs , of all sortes , and none ours . And thus we are confuted . But , my Lord , it hath ben an old said saw : The greatest barkers are not the best biters , nor the greatest boasters the best fighters . I doubt not but he shal receaue a ful answere in time . In meane time let him & al the papists in the world , if they can , ouerthrow the truth of doctrine which we hold , the articles of whose faith & religion , dependeth not vpon any man or mans authority , but vpon the vndoubted scriptures . If they can shew better warrant for that they holde , let vs heare their euidence , but if their stoare be so beggerly , that the richest of them , and he that comes so appointed to challendge all in the name of al the rest ; writing , ( which is with greater aduice than any sodain speaking can be ) be faine to limpe , & sinke in his entry ; what shal we thinke wil be done ere the battell be fought ? Surely if we came with carnall weapons , it is like he would ouermatch vs , hauing mans wisedome , the world and the diuell on his side : But thankes be to God , we come appointed with spirituall weapons , we come in the name of the Lord , armed with the mightie word of God , against all counterfait catholiques and heretiques . And if God blesse her Maiesties gouernment , so that the Gospell may proceede in a ful ministerie , that the youth may be catechised & seasoned with such sound instructions as this booke yeeldeth , & those that are ancient may be confirmed , and the froward by an holy discipline ordered : our youth , our aged , our common people of al sorts , shal be able to vanquish & put to flight all such emptie & vaine boasters . And this is the thing that I sought for , in translating this excellent & sound worke . Which I hope your honor will accept , according to that humble dutie and seruice wherewith I haue euermore helde my selfe specially bounde to your good Lordship as my singular patrone , & as a principall member in the church of God . The Lorde Iesus establish your honors heart , & giue you a setled persuasion in that euerlasting trueth , that euermore you may feele the confort & assurance of that blessed kingdome , which he so freely hath purchased for you . Amen .