I beseech you good mother , let me goe no further in this matter , my comming home to see you would doe me litle good if through my folly and vnapt speech I should procure your mislike .

I tell you againe it shall not bee so , and therefore neither stand with me any longer , nor feare , but tell me your meaning .

Surely , vpon your kind promise of pardon , I confesse I meant safetie from mis-instruction in religion , whilest I was young and easy to be led by those whome I reuerenced .

Ah sir : nowe you deale plainely with me indeede , and I see as plainely the fruites of your vniuersity companie , and of your fathers care , euen to make a conceited young man of you , before you haue ripenesse of yeares to discerne in matters of such weight , as religion is .

Good mother , for mine vniuersitie companie & my fathers most louing care I blesse God , and thanke them both as I am bound : neither shall you by gods grace finde me conceyted o● head strong aboue my true knowledge : mine harty praier is for humility , and against pride .

Sonne it is well said , and so praying assure your selfe god will heare your request and grant your desire : but yet for your knowledge in diuinity I hope it is not so great , but that a poore woman that hath neithr Logicke nor Rhetorick , yet a little latine , may argue the case with you , and aske you of your newe doctrine that I see hath gotten some fauour in your eies : howe you dare take liking of it , and rest vpon it : since by all truely learned , it hath beene called and still is reputed and helde for very feareful and damnable heresie . Alas poore boy if thou shouldst miscarrie , thy father should answer God for thee , and what a griefe it is to me , to thinke either of the one or the other , let my teares testifie .

Deare mother , quiet your selfe , and thinke of neither : for by Gods grace there shall be no cause .

No cause ? when now being but a youth in comparison , you are as full of heresie as an egge is full of meate , and so like to tast either euer or long of that liquour that first hath bene powred into you .

You are tolde it is heresie , by those that are not truely learned , as you tearme them , but ignorant , and so lead you and others awry with them : but god is able in his good time to let you see it is trueth and no heresie .

That should be a great chaunge , sonne , as I thinke , and because I could as willingly heare you as any , and you seme to thinke the matter plain , I pray you let me heare what you can say , and what our new masters haue taught you .

Your firme and feruent loue to me , deare mother , giues me encouragement to speake boldly vnto you what I am able & yet within tearmes of duty and reuerence euer due vnto you : but if you will charge me to speake any more , double againe vnto me your comfortable promise of pardon in all things : for my hart trembleth for feare to offend you any waies .

Sonne , I doe double it , and assuredly promise it , therefore be not afraid , your respectiue affection to me I note , & it shall not hurt you .

My answere then good mother , as neere as either memory or my note booke , which I haue also about me will serue , shall be the verie wordes of such worthy men as haue written on our side , that therby both the want of authoritie which is in my youth may be supplied with their credit , and the profit of reading our bookes which papists make so dangerous , better obserued by as many as are not desperatly sicke of rebellion and contumacy against the Lord . First therefore touching the name of heresie , Heresie . which euen now you mentioned , and I know you often heare out of their mouthes , who resort vnto you : thus hath it beene answered on our side many a time and often . As the accusation is bitter and grievous , yea euen such as the old father S. Ierome saith , No man ought to be patient no not in suspitiō thereof : so is it not new or straunge to haue gods truth slandered wi●h this name : and therfore it is a good caueat , not to be carried away with the name , till we haue well examined the matter , and found it to agree with the name , and rightly to be so called : which that we may do , we must knowe , that for iust proofe of heresie , two things are neccessarily required : first that it be an Errour in matter of Christian faith : secondly , that it be stoutly and obstinatly maintained : otherwise , an errour in Gods truth without obstinate maintenance is not an heresie . S. Austen saith therefore , Errare possum , haereticus esse non possum ; In an errour I may be , but an heretique I cannot be : meaning because he intended not obstinately to maintaine an errour . Whervnto is agreeable that good saying of S. Hilary , Illis in eo quod nesciunt potest adhuc in tuto ●sse salus sicredant , ●●lar . de Trin. 6. tibi verò iam omnia ad salutem clausa sunt qui negas quod iam ignorare non potes : They for as much as they knowe not the truth , may haue their salvation in fafety , if afterward they beleeue , but all hope of health is shut vp from thee , forasmuch as thou deniest that thing which thou canst not choose but knowe . See , howe daungerous wilfull and obstinate maintenance of an error is , but neither of these two points will be found in vs , and therefore farre are wee from iustly deseruing the name of heretiques , or our true faith the name of heresie . This is an olde practise of Satan to deale thus with Gods trueth and the professours thereof . S. Paul was called before the iudges to make answer to a matter of heresie , as you may read to your great contentment in the Acts of the Apostles and he answered , Act. 24. that indeede according to that way which they called heresie , he worshipped the God of his fathers . But for all their calling and bawling it was far from beeing so , because he beleeued all things which were written in the law & the Prophets , and for that his manner of worshippe was wholly agreeable to the scriptures , which no heresie can be . Christ our deare Sauiour for no other cause was called a Samaritane , but onely for that he was thought to haue fallen to a certaine newe religion , and to be the author of a new sect . in Apologe● Tertullian witnesseth that in his time euen this very religion which wee now professe , was called a sect and heresie , that thereby Princes eares might be stopped from hearing any thing spoken or written in defence of the Christians . Eusebius doth the like , 4. c. 18. saying , that the religion of Christ was called , impiorum Christian orum Haeresis , The heresie of the wicked Christians . Epist. ad . Tit. S. Hierome considering well the place before named in the Acts , saieth , Quod magis mirum sit , &c. And that wee may the more maruaile we may once againe read this place of the Acts of the Apostles ; where wee finde that the Christian and Ecclesiastical discipline was euen then of wicked men called Heresie . Many others haue witnessed as much ; therefore since it is no new thing , but the very custome of Satan euer , I trust you see there is great cause not to be carried away with mens speaches , whose eies be blinded by the god of this worlde , but with true and sound proofes . If they cannot shew that we haue fallen away from Christ , nor from his Apostles , nor from the prophets , if we beleeue ( as surely we doe ) all that is written in them , & maintain nothing as necessarie to salvation , but what may be plainely shewed to be taught vs by them , how iniurious and shamfull yea fearefull a dealing it is neuerthelesse to call vs Heretiques , good mother consider in your selfe . Me thinkes in this place S. Austens speech somtimes to Petilian the Donatist , is good , who said thus : contra Petil. 2. cap. 85. Vtrum nos schismatici sumus an vos , nec ego , nec tu , sed Christus interrogetur , vt indicet Ecclesiam suam : Whether of vs be scismatiques ( or heretiques ( aske not of either of vs , but let Christ be asked for vs both , that he may shewe vs his owne Church : that is , let the scriptures bee searched and let them declare the trueth , which they will doe .

Sonne , for your first point , that it is not safe to iudge of things by names , because Gods truth hath bin called heresy as you haue shewed , and I see it plainely , I ioyne with you , and take it for a good caveat hereafter to beware : but for your second point , that therefore you should not be counted heretiques , because you say you holde nothing disagreeable to the scriprures , I cannot approoue it , because heretiques as I haue heard , at al times haue boasted of scripture as you doe .

Good mother , I am very glad you perceiue how truth hath bene slandered with the name of heresie , Scripture . and therefore how fit it is in matters of salvation not to be mooued by speches of men , but euer to search & seeke for due & true proofe : and for the second point , I trust God shall make you see it also , if it please you to goe along with me . True it is which you say you haue heard , that heretiques alleadge scripture , and you knowe that the diuell himselfe who is as bad as any heretique , 〈◊〉 . 4. alleadged scriptures : but what then ? is not it therfore a safe way to cleaue to the scriptures , and only vpon them to ground our faith ? yes surely : which shall appeare euen by this practise of Satan being duly considered ; for such is the skill of that old subtill serpent , that as he knoweth to fitte his temptations to the humour and disposition of them whome he tempteth , so he vseth to set vpon men by those perswasions which he is most likely to seduce them by , as to Eve in paradice he promised the knowledge of good and euill : 〈◊〉 . 3. ●●od . 7. 〈◊〉 . Chron. 18.11 . to obstinate Pharaoh he presented lying wonders : to wicked Ahab delighting in lies he came in the month and consent of many false prophets : to the superstitious and hypocriticall Iewes he pretended the temple of the Lord : ●er. 7.4 . ●ct . 19.27 . & 17. ●● . to the populous & ancient heathen vniuersalitie and antiquity : & to our Sauiour the written word of God , which he thought ( if any thing ) would preuaile with him . So the diuell in alleadging onely scripture against our Sauiour turneth himselfe into an angell of light , and would seeme to doe that which is most holy in it selfe , most acceptable vnto god , most comfortable to men , most sure for their safegard and protection ; which doth not di●credit the triall of truth in points of faith by scripture only , but rather countenance and confirme it , because it argueth the disposition and setled affection of our blessed Sauiour towards these sacred writings , that he made them the tower of his defence , the rocke of his safegarde , the foundation of his whole obedience , & accounted nothing a ground of faith and dutie but onely scripture , and therefore that we likewise should cleaue fast to the written word of God , turning neither to the right nor left hand , but walking constantly in the obedience thereof . Wherefore though this alleadging of scripture be a worke of darknesse , both because he did mis●alleadge it , leaving out a principall part of the sentence , and so corrupting it , and also for that he did it as a lying spirit to deceiue . Yet to alledge the scripture rightly , with an vpright minde to a good ende , shall euer be as the dutie of Gods people , so the shield and buckler of their defence , yea the crowne and glorie of the children of light , whereby they shall resemble their head our blessed Saviour Christ Iesus , who as you may see in the gospel gaue not ouer his holde , because the deuill abused it , but with scripture againe he answered him , and so both iustified himselfe , and confounded his aduersary , which also hath beene the manner , good mother , of the church of God at all times . As namely at the first most holy and vncorrupt Councell helde at Hierusalem by the Apostles themselues , 〈◊〉 . 15. where the question debated was whether the beleeuing Gentiles could be saued onely by faith in Christ Iesus without circumcision and the obseruation of the lawe of Moses , as Paul and Barnabas affirmed and preached against certaine who came from Iudea , and taught the contrary . For the deciding whereof , in that most catholike and orthodoxall Councel S. Peter alleadged the testimony of God himselfe who sent him to the Gentiles ( Cornelius and his friendes ) to preach vnto them , not the lawe of Moses , but the word of the gospel , that they might beleeue , and blessed his ministerie with happy successe , giuing vnto them the holy ghost , and purifying their hearts by saith , which he calleth Gods testimony . God ( saith he ) bare witnesse vnto them giuing them the holy ghost &c ▪ 〈◊〉 . 8. ● . And S. Iames in his sentence alleadged the written word of God both to confirme that which S. Peter had deliuered , and to ende the controuersie : 〈◊〉 . 14. Symeon ( saith he ) hath declared howe god first visited the Gentiles , & tooke of them a people vnto his name , and to this agree the wordes of the Prophets , as it is written &c. Likewise at the famous Counsell of Nice , the worthy Emperour Constantine whome god raised vp to ende the persecutions of his Church , and to giue it rest , saide thus to the bishops assembled there . Theod. lib. 1. cap. 7. Evangelicae & Apostolicae literae , &c. the writings of the Evangelists and Apostles and the sayings of the olds Prophets doe clearely instruct vs , what iudgement we ought to haue of the meaning and will of God . Therefore laying aside all contention let vs seeke out of those heauenly oracles the assoiling of our questions . And of the Arrian herericks , who in that counsel were ouerthrown , another saith thus , Explicantes sacras scripturas ill●s euertimus , Socr. l. 1. c. 6. by opening and expounding the holy scriptures we overthrowe them . The like rule was followed at the counsell helde at Constantinople , against the hereticke Macedonius , that denied the divinitie of the holy ghost : neuer mooue question hereof , saith Athanasius , ad Serapion . but learne of the holy scriptures , for the onely proofes that you shall there finde are sufficient . And in another place the same father saith , Scripturae sufficiunt adveritatis instructionem siue institutionem : ●●ra Gen●es ●●l Idola . the scriptures are sufficient to instruct vs in the trueth : Marke I pray you the word Sufficiunt . In the other two Councels also of Ephesus and Chalcedon , ●vagrius . we read of the same course : all things were concluded by the wordes of the Evangelists and Apostles . The auncient father Origen saith , Rom. lib. 10.16 . Vnde quàm propè periculis illi sunt , &c. See and consider in what daunger they be , that haue no care to read the holy scriptures , for by the same scriptures onely the iudgement of this triall must be allowed . ierom. hom. 1. And in another place , Necesse est nobis scripturas sanctas in testimonium vocare , sensus quippe nostri & enarrationes sine iis testibus non habent fidem . We must needes call to witnesse the holy scriptures , for our iudgements and expositions without those witnesses carry no credit : a notable saying if it please you to marke it . And with him S. Austen fully agreeth , when he saith , 〈◊〉 Na● . & Grat. ● . Solis Canonicis scipturis sine vlla recusatione consensum debeo . Onely to the Canonicall scriptures do I owe my consent without gainsaying . The same father againe , when he disputed against Petilian the Donatist , ●●c Vnit. Ec●les . c. 3. said , Let not these wordes be heard betweene vs I say , or you say , but let vs rather speake in this wise , thus saith the Lord . Auferantur de medio chartae nostrae , procedat in medium codex dei , contra li● . P● l. 3 c. 6. Away with our bookes and let Gods booke come in place . Siue enim de Christo , siue de Ecclesia siue de quacunque aliâre , quae pertinet adfidem vitamque nostram , non dicamsi nos , &c. For whether it be of Christ , or of his Church or of any thing els what soeuer pertaining either to our life or to our faith , I will not say if I my selfe , but if an angel from heauen shall teach vs otherwise then we haue receiued in the bookes of the law and in the gospel , holde him accursed . This is the proofe ( saith he againe ) quae nec falli , nec fallere potest , de peccat . m●● & remist . l. 1. c. 2● . which can neither deceiue , nor be deceiued . To the verie same effect speake all the fathers I assure you , if it were needfull to repeat their wordes . I beseech you ( saith S Chrisostom ) weigh not what this man or that thinketh , in 2. Cor. ho●●● . but touching all things search the scriptures . S. Hierom saith , Quod de scripturis autoritatem non habet , eadem ●acilitate contemnitur qua probatur , in 23. Mat. that which is not warranted by the scriptures , may as easily be contemned as alleadged . And so the rest of the fathers particularly euery one : and therefore ( good Mother ) weigh it and note it , that albeit both heretiques & deuills abuse the scriptures by alleadging them to euill endes , yet is it the true way and the onely way to be resolued by , and to finde rest for our consciences in all matter of controuersie , touching either faith or manners , so taken , so taught , so held by Christ , by his Apostles , and by all the godly fathers , and worthy approoued Councels in the world .

I must confesse that if the scriptures bee rightly applyed , they are indeede the sure foundation , that ought to be stood vpon ; but howe shall that appeare , that you apply them rightly , more then those whome you acknowledge heretiques , which likewise haue alleadged them .

Good mother , giue me leaue to make make much of that which I gaine from you in this conference , and to recken it vp as deere vnto my verie soule , for the duty I owe you , and for the desire I haue , that the trueth may be revealed vnto you . This therefore now you see and confesse , that although all the hereticks in the world , and all the diuels in hell should alledge scripture , and abuse it , yet hath it not bin giuen of God in vaine , but serueth as a sure ground of our faith and actions , euery thing beeing alowable that is consonant vnto it , and that alwaies faultie , which is contrarie vnto it : and therefore that we ought not to be beaten from it , by any deuise of Satan , but stedfastly to stick vnto it , and euer to depend vpon it , as the only sure ancher of our soules , in like manner as all those worthy men and Councels before mentioned haue done . For what quietnes to my minde like to this ? Thou Lord hast commanded me thus to beleeue and thus to doe , therefore I so beleeve and so doe . Interpretatio● of scripture . Only you sticke nowe at the right application of them , and aske howe shall you know that ? Surely mother , you shall know it euen to your full contentment if you will doe as others before you godly and holy persons both men & women haue done . lib. 83. quaest. 〈◊〉 Saint Austen saith , Solet circumstantia Scripturarum illuminare sententiam , The circumstance of the scriptures is wout to giue light and open the meaning thereof . in Esai . c. 19 Saint Hierome saith , Moris est scripturarum obscuris manifesta subnectere , It s the manner of the scriptures after harde thinges to ioyne other things that be plaine . Tertullian saith , Opertet secundum plura intelligi pauciora , The fewer things must be expounded by the moe . Hil. de Trin. 9. S. Hilary saith , Intelligentia dictorum ex causa dicendi fumenda est , the vnderstanding of things spoken must be taken from the cause of speaking them , expraepositis & consequentibus , by things going before and following after . S , Cyril saith , Cyr. Th●s . l. ● c. 2. whensoeuer we woulde vnderstande any place of scripture , we must consider three things , the time when it was written ; the person that writ , and to whome , or of whom , and the matter it selfe . Many such good rules haue the fathers which as you see , greatly help in the thing you desire , and which if we vse , no doubt we shall finde as they found : then haue we the gratious promise of gods holy spirit if we aske it ; and what a sure guide is that ? the performance of which promise see in the Gospell : c. 24. then opened he their vnderstanding that they might vnderstand the scriptures . See it in that good woman Lydia the purple seller , 〈◊〉 . 16. whose heart was also opened . This blessed gift doth the Apostle think of , when he wisheth to the Ephesians the spirit of wisdome and revelation that the eyes of their vnderstanding might be opened , ●hes. 1.17 . & lightned that they might knowe , &c. So to the Philippians and to the Colossians ; and of this speaketh Elihu in the booke of Iob , ●lip . 1.9 . ●lost . 1.9 . There is a spirit in man but the inspiration of the almighty giueth vnderstanding . Iob 32.8 . This did king Dauid knowe , and therefore asked this heauenly gift by earnest prayer , often saying , Teach me O Lord , teach me thy statutes , teach me thy waies , open mine eyes that I may beholde the wonderfull things in thy lawe . Origen saith , Orandus est Deus vt aperiat librum obsignatum , we must beseech God by prayer to open the booke that is sealed The Lord is no respect of persons , but as he hath done , he will doe , and heare the desires of his children that wish to know his will . This is the way , mother , this is the way that neuer failed any who vsed it , neither will it faile you . But you shall see by it the true and right applying of the scriptures , howsoeuer others abuse and mis-construe them . In a worde therefore marke I beseech you , that we doe not affirme all cases of doubt to be by manifest and open wordes plainely expressed in scripture , for so there should neede no exposition , but we say and affirme that there is no case in religion necessarie to Gods worship or mans salvation so darke and doubtful , but it may necessarily be either prooued or disprooued by true collection and conference in scripture .

Sonne , I marke your speech well and your words fall not to the ground , yet I hope you will confesse that our men doe well in regarding the doctours as they doe .

Surely mother , I doe confesse the doctours of the Church worthy of more regard then is giuen them sometimes by Romish Catholickes . Doctoures . And you see by my alleadging of them that I greatly regard them . But seeing you haue mentioned this matter I doe hartely intreat you to marke a fewe things in that behalfe . First that they are not Domini sedduces nostri , Not our Lords but our leaders . And therfore S. Augustin saith , Other writers or fathers ( besides the holy scriptures ) I read in this sort , that be their learning or holinesse neuer so great , I wil not thinke it true because they haue thought so , but because they are able to perswade me so either by Canonicall writers , or els by some likely reason . Likewise againe , This kind of writings ( meaning the holy doctoures ) must be reade not with necessitie to beleeue each thing , but with libertie to iudge each thing . For we may not consent to the bishops , notwithstanding they be Catholike , ●nit . Eccl. c. if they iudge contrarie to the holy Canonicall scriptures . This is the right credit of holy fathers ; they are not the trueth of God it selfe , but onely witnesses vnto the trueth : no more haue they they themselues euer desired , no lesse ought we euer to giue them . Heare I pray you the words of the same father againe , we receiue not the disputations or writings of any men be they neuer so Catholicke or praise-worthy , Fortunat. ●●t . 111. as we receiue the Canonicall scriptures , but that sauing their reuerence we may well reprooue or refuse some things in their writings , if it happen we finde they haue otherwise though then the trueth may beare them out : such am I in the writings of others , and such would I wish others to be in mine . He writeth to S. Hierom againe to the same effect Non puto frater , ep. 19. &c. My brother I doe not thinke you would haue vs so to read your bookes as if they were written by the Apostles and Prophets . To the like purpose writeth Tertullian of himselfe and the rest , wherein their holy modestie is worthy great praise for euer , they tooke not vpon them to be Lords but leaders : and to that ende the Lord hath giuen them as excellent lights to his church . So of Counsels S. Austen telleth vs , that the former are reiected by the later , &c. Likewise Panormitan saith , we ought to giue more credit to on lay man , then to an whole councell and to the Pope , if he bring better authority and more reason . This is my first obseruation in this matter of the doctours . My second is this which I humbly pray you to marke , that as scriptures haue beene abused by heretiques , so haue fathers , and therefore if we must giue ouer the one for mis-applyings , so must we the other also for the same reason . The Arrian heretiques alleadged Origens bookes for their defence and safegard : Socr. l. 4. c. Concil. Ch act. 2. p. 732 the heretique Eutiches saide , I haue read the writings of the father Saint Cyprian , as also of other holy writers , and of the holy father Saint Athanasius . Another of his sect cryed , this is my faith according to the exposition of 318 fathers . The Nestorian heretiques alleadged the Counsel of Nice : p. ●●7 . and not to weary you with many , Dioscorus the heretique cried out in the open Councell of Chalcedon , 〈◊〉 1. p. 767. Ego habeo testimonia sanctorum patrum , I haue the testimonies of the holy fathers , Athanasius , Gregory , Cyrill , I varie not from them in any point : I am thrown forth and banished with the fathers , I defend the fathers doctrine , I haue their iudgement vttered not by chaunce or vnaduisedly , but remaining expressed in their bookes . Therefore you see , good mother , that heretiques haue cried as well fathers , fathers as scriptures , scriptures , and yet neither the one nor the other for this cause to be reiected . My third obseruation might be of counterfeit and young yesterday fathers alleadged by papists , and of small credit or reuerence giuen to fathers by them that boast thus of fathers when they please , whereof I assure you we haue notable examples , with many things moe , but that I feare to be troublesome vnto you .

Yet sonne , seeing our faith was long before yours , me thinks the fathers should rather make for vs then for you .

And why say you not so of the scriptures which were many yeares before any of the fathers ? Surely if your faith were before ours , Old faith . as well scriptures as fathers would giue on your side , and indeed both would make for you , New faith . the fathers desiring to holde nothing but that they iudged agreeable to scripture , which euer they make the rule and ground of faith and trueth , and not their own writings , as you haue seene . But good Mother they abuse you and many moe , that tell you your faith ( that is , as nowe you meane , the Romish faith ) was before ours : for I assure you it is not so , but very newe and younge in comparison of ours .

What ? our faith newe , Sonne , & yours old ? Alas I see these newe teachers haue possest you mightily , & you are so carried away with them , that they are able to make you beleeue any thing . Why tell me the crowe is white or the snowe is blacke .

Good Mother , the Lord hath mooued your heart to heare me speake who am yours and of you . If I speake amisse , as you thinke , and so as you cannot consent vnto me & with me , leaue we it both to the working power of a mighty God , who in further time can giue further light and vnderstanding to his children that humbly craue it , and are not lifted vp with an high hand to withstand his offered grace . Onely according to this motherly loue that you haue began to shew me , vouchsafe to here me still , vpon what groundes I haue setled my selfe , and with what proofe I am mooued to thinke as I doe .

Surely sonne , I coulde not abide or indure to heare any other once speake of such a straunge thing as this , but say you on what you list , you are my childe .

I doe verely beleeue it seemeth most straunge to you and to many moe of your side , to heare that your religion is newe and ours olde . Yet I doubt not but to make it evidently apparent vnto you and all whosoeuer shall without preiudice duly consider my allegations and proofe . But first I must interpret my selfe in a worde or two what I meane by your faith and religion . I pray you therefore when I speake of your Romish religion thinke not that I meane the whole doctrine and all the articles of faith and religion taught and professed by the Papists , but onely those points of doctrine wherein they differ from vs . For in generall they hold the doctrine of the lawe and tenne commandements as we doe , sauing that they leaue out the second commandement which forbiddeth the worshipping of Idols and Images , making two of the tenth : they professe also the summe of the gospell , at least in generalitie and in wordes , to wit , that Christ Iesus perfect God and perfect man hath wrought our full redemption , and by the blood of his crosse and pretious death , & prrfect obedience hath deliuered vs from eternall death , the fierch and euerlasting wrath of God , the due desert of our transgressions , and purchased for vs euerlasting peace and blisse : they maintaine also and professe in wordes as we also doe the three creedes , the Nicene , the Athanasian , and the Apostolike creede , wherein is comprised the summe of our faith and the doctrine we professe , they acknowledge that most excellent forme and paterne of prayer taught vs in the gospel by our Sauiour , and vse it , and many other good and godly prayers which we also vse , euen all those welneere in our common liturgie except a very fewe for our most gratious Queene & . sauing that they vse them in latin , we in english that all may vnderstand and say amen . Wherefore when I say that your religion is new , meane not generally , nor of the things before rehearsed , but only in respect of certen other articles and points of religion maintained by Romish catholikes , as namely , 1. that the traditions of the church are of equall authority wi●h the worde of god to be embraced with like reuerence and deuotion . 2. that the vulgar latin translation commonly called Hieromes is onely authenticall ▪ 3. that the imputation of Christs righteousnes and obedience to the faithfull is a fantasie without ground in Gods word . 4. that the bread in the sacrament of the Eucharist transubstantiated into the body of Christ is to be adored . 5. that the faithfull are able to keepe the whole lawe of God . 6. that the Pope is Christs generall vicar vpon earth , hauing absolute power to ratifie or disanull all manner of decrees and ordinances , and to dispense with the expresse and moral precepts of God at his pleasure . 7. That the whole Church without him can neither enact nor infringe any lawe ecclesiasticall , nor interpret any scripture . 8. that the holy scriptures ought not to be translated into any vulgar tongue or reade of the lay people . 9. that the sacrament of the Lords supper is to be administred onely in bread and not in wine , Quia sapor possit generate suspitionem quòd esset ibi ●inum . least as the Sorbonists at Paris say , the people should smell it to be wine and so doubt of transubstantiation . 10. that good works are meritorious , and that by them we are iustified in the sight of God . 11. that the soules of the faithfull dying before perfect repentance , suffer the torments of purgatory . 12. that prayers are to be made in an vnknowen tongue , & such like : of al which and the rest , wherein they disagree from vs , I say they are newe and yesterday opinions in comparison of the faith which we hold consonant to the holy scriptures , and those famous ancient creeds before mentioned . And therefore now to proceede to the declaration of that which I haue vndertaken touching the noueltie of your faith . Thus good Mother , haue our men written & at this day teach : that it goeth not with Religion as it doth with the statutes of the realme , & iudgements at common law , where the later is thought to be the better : but in religion the first and eldest is best . Therefore they euer remember that golden saying of Tertullian , that is true which was first , that is first , which was from the beginning , and that was from the beginning which was deliuered by the Apostles , but our faith is that was deliuered by the Apostles yours is not , therfore ours is from the beginning , and so first , yours not , and therefore later . Now that ours is that which was deliuered by the Apostles they prooue it thus . Another ancient father saith , That which the Apostles preached and deliuered to the world by preaching , Irenaeus . they afterward by the will of God committed to writing , that for euer it might be the foundation and ground of faith . Wherevpon it followeth , that which the Apostles preached is the old , auncient , Catholike and Apostolike saith , but that which they haue written is that which they preached : so saith this father ; therfore that which is written is the true auncient Catholike , and Apostolike faith , & that is ours . For , as I haue saide , we hold nothing as necessarie to salvation but that which is truly taught vs out of these written scriptures . Therefore our faith is that which was deliuered by the Apostles , your faith is not that which is written . For your men wil not be tried by the scriptures onely , as knowing that many things they hold haue no warrant there , but haue deuised vnwritten traditions , therefore yours is not that which was deliueeed by the Apostles , and not the old faith , but a late newe faith devised by men .