GOod Christian Reader , thinke not the time long , nor the labour lost , if I shall in a few words open my mind further vnto thee : and as leading thee by the hand , shew thee the way & entrance into this treatise following . We are not ignorant how this famous Church of England the mother of vs all , hath been these many yeeres molested and troubled with hollow hearted brethren , sowers of corrupt doctrine , deuisers of mischiefe , enemies to our peace , and in one word , Romish Catholikes and Papists . They haue been from time to time , as prickes to our sides , and thornes in our eyes , Canticl. 2.15 . Math. 3. as the Cananites were to Israel : they are the Foxes that destroy the Lords vineyard , the progenie of the Pharisees , a generation of vipers , whose propertie is to gnaw out the sides of their damme when they are brought forth : euen so haue these vipers sought the destruction of their countrey . They are the serpent by the way , that byteth the horse heeles , & causeth the rider to fall backward : that is , Gene. 49.17 . Ezech. 39.18 . subtilly do vndermine and hinder the prosperous successe of religion . Of such prophecied Ezechiel , They do eate the good pasture , and tread downe the rest with their feete : they haue drunke of the deepe waters , & troubled the residue with their feet . They are not content themselues to eate the fat , & drinke the sweet of the land , but some of them haue laboured & practised to disturbe our peace , and to trouble the quiet state of the land . But let not vs ( good brethren ) be offended at these things . First let vs not be astonished , as though some strange thing had befallen vs : 1. Cor. 11.19 . for S. Paul hath said , That heresies must be among vs , that they which are approued may be knowne : in time of persecution exercebant patientiam Ecclesiae , they did proue the patience of the Church : but now as Augustine saith , exercent sapientiam , they doe exercise the wisedome of the Church . Let not the number and multitude offend vs of those , which doe band themselues against the Church : for so it must be , Christs flocke is but a little flocke . Let vs not be afrayd of their wisedome , Luk. 12.32 . power or strength : the scripture teacheth vs , that they in their generation are wiser then the children of light : yet the Lord our God , that is with vs , and fighteth for vs , is wiser and stronger then they . Let them not deceiue vs with a shew of holinesse : 2. Cor. 11.14 . 1. Pet. 4.15 . In Psalm . 34. Conc. 2. for Sathan can transforme himselfe into an Angel of light : neither let it moue vs because they endure some trouble and losse of their goods , and imprisonment of their bodies for their religion ( which is falsely so called ) for S. Peter saith , That men may suffer as euill doers , and so doe these . And S. Augustine saith , Si poenae martyres faceret , omnes carceres martyribus pleni essent , omnes catenae martyres traherent : If the punishment onely , and not the cause made Martyrs , al prisons should be full of Martyrs , and all that are bound with fetters and chaines should be Martyrs . But let vs ( not stumbling at any of these stones ) be constant in the faith , and go forward in the profession of the Gospel , which is grounded vpon the Scripture , sealed with the blood of Martyrs , waited and attended vpon these many yeeres , as the mistresse with the handmaid , with peace , prosperitie , and abundance of all blessings . With them there is no peace to be had : Bellarm. de laicis . lib. 3. cap. 19. Deut. 22.10 their owne Doctors teach , that no reconciliation can be made betweene vs : And indeed so it is , for there is no fellowship betweene light and darknesse . The Israelites were commanded , not to sow their ground with diuers seedes , nor to plough with an oxe & an asse . What is this els , but that the Church of God cannot consist of beleeuers & Idolaters of true Christians and hypocrites , Catholikes and Heretikes , Protestants and Papists ? Their seede and ours is diuers : they sow the doctrine of men , and humane traditions : we sow the seede of Gods word . The oxe is onely fit for the Lords plough , that chaweth the cud , and deuideth the hoofe , the asse doth neither : Who is he that deuideth the hoofe , & chaweth the cud Augustine telleth vs , Homil. 35. Fissa vngula pertinet ad discernendum , quid dextrum , quid sinistrum : ruminatio pertinet ad eos , qui cogitant postea quid audierint : He deuideth the hoofe , that deuideth and discerneth what is good , & what euill : and they chaw the cud , that do meditate of that , which they heare out of the word . But such are not the common Catholikes among Papists : for they do not allow euery one , the mistresse , the mayd , the ploughman and artificer to talke of Scripture , or moue questions and doubts in Religion : and so make them asses , not oxen to chaw the cud . Rhemist . Prefat. sect. 7. Rhemist . 1. Ioan. 4. sect. 1. Dan. 2.33 . Ierem. 15.19 . They say it belongeth not to euery Christian , to discerne betweene true and false doctrine , but they must take their faith of their superiours , and obey them in all things : and so neither would they haue them deuide the hoofe , taking from them their discerning iudgement . There is no agreement therefore to be looked for at their hands : no more then yron or clay can be tempred together : Their old vessels cannot receiue the new liquor of the Gospell : but they must first become new themselues : they must first put off their beggerly ragges of Popish ceremonies and superstitions , or els they shall neuer put on Christ : And to be short , Reuertantur illi ad te , ne tu reuertaris ad illos : Let them returne vnto vs , we will not returne to them , as the Lord saith to Ieremie .

But lest now we should be thought to speake without booke , deepely charging our aduersaries with heresie , lyes , false doctrine , and prouing nothing : we will take some paynes of set downe some principall opinions of the Papists , which haue in the purer ages of the Church been condemned for heresies .

Marcellina the companion of Carpocrates the archheretike , worshipped the Images of Iesus and Paul , and offered incense vnto them , August . heres . 7. So the Papists do worship the Images of Saints , and in the second Nicene Councel it was decreed , that the Image of God should be worshipped with the same honour that God himselfe was .

The Heracleonites did anoynt their sicke which lay a dying , with oyle and balme , Heres. 16. So the Papists haue found out extreme vnction and made it a Sacrament .

The Caians did hold , that the sinne of Iudas in betraying Christ , was a benefite to mankind , Heres. 18. The Papists come somewhat neere : One of them affirmeth , that the Iewes had sinned mortallie , if they had not crucified Christ : Ex Iuell . defens . Apolog. p. 676.

The Pepuzians iudged heretikes , because they permitted women to be Priests , Heres. 27. So it was decreed in the Florentine Councel among the Papists , that in the case of necessitie , not only a lay man , but an heretike , pagan , and a woman to , may baptize .

The heretikes called Angelici were condemned , because they worshipped Angels , Heres. 39. So the Rhemists teach , that Angels may be worshipped , Annot. in Apocal. 3 sect. 6.

There was a sect of heretikes that walked with bare feete , because God sayd to Moses , put off thy shooes , &c. Heres. 68. And so are there of Friers that goe barefoote , as the Friers Flagellants , and Franciscanes .

The Priscillianists did make the Apocrypha , that is , bookes not Canonicall of equall authoritie with Scripture , Heres. 70. So doe the Papists , the bookes of Tobie , Iudith , Machabees , and others , which are not found in the Canon of the Hebrue , they make them bookes of Canonical Scripture , and part of the word of God : yea , they say , that whatsoeuer the Pastors of the Church doe teach beside Scripture in the vnitie of the Church , is to be taken for the word of God , Rhemist . annot . 1. Thessal . cap. 2 sect. 12.

An Archheretike called Marcus , did hold that Christ did not verily suffer and indeed , but in shew onely and appearance , Heres. 14 The Appollinarists also affirmed , that Christ tooke humane flesh without a soule , Heres. 55. I pray you , how farre are the Papists from these heresies ? for they affirme that Christ suffered not in soule : Nay the Rhemists hold , that it is a blasphemous assertion so to say , Annot. Hebr. 5. v. 7. What is this els , but either with Marcus to say , that Christ suffered but in shewe , and that he felt nothing in soule , when he cryed out vpon the Crosse , My God , my God , why hast thou forsaken me ? for if there were no such matter indeed , Christ must haue vttered those words only in outward shew and pretense . Againe , they cannot shift off handsomely from them the Appollinarists heresie : for why did Christ take vpon him our flesh and soule , but to redeeme man , that was lost both in bodie and soule ? and therefore he must needes haue suffered both in bodie and soule : for if there were no vse of the humane soule in the worke of our redemption , Cont. Felician . cap. 13. you might as wel say with the Appollinarists that Christ had no soule at all . Thus Augustine reasoneth : Si totus homo perijt , totus beneficio saluatoris indiguit , sitotut beneficio saluatoris indigebat , totum Christus veniendo saluabit : If the whole man both in bodie and soule were lost , he wholly had need of a Sauiour : and if he wholly needed a Sauiour ; Christ by his comming did wholly saue him . Ergo ▪ it followeth that Christ must wholly haue died & suffred in bodie & soule to redeeme man , that was wholly lost in bodie & soule .

The Anthropomorphites did imagine , that God was in shape and proportion like a man , Heres. 50. Doe not our Rhemists sauour strongly of this heresie , which allow the image of God to be pictured like an old man with gray haires in their Churches ? Annot Act. cap 17. v. 29.

The heretikes Abeliani ▪ thought it not lawfull for their sort to liue without wiues , and yet they neuer vsed , nor kept companie with their wiues , Heres. 87. Do not the Papists come neere them , which hold that their priests which were married before orders , ought not afterward to haue accesse to their wiues , yet are they their wiues still , neither is the marriage knot dissolued betweene them ? Rhemist . Act. 21. sect. 1.

The Pelagian heretikes did hold three pernicious opinions . First , that a man may be perfect in this life , and keepe all the Commandements , Heres. 88. So the Rhemists say , it is possible to keepe all the precepts of the law , Annot. Ioan. ●4 . sect. 1. Secondly , the Pelagians say , that grace is giuen vnto men onely to this end , that they may more easily doe those things which they are commanded to doe by their owne free will , Heres. 88. So the Rhemists say , that man was neuer without free will , but hauing the grace of Christ , it is truely made free , Annot. Ioan. 8. sect. 2. What is this els , but that his free will is made more free , and that grace helpeth him not whollie to worke , but more easily onely ? Thirdly , the Pelagians hold , Gratiam Dei non ad singulos actus dari : That the grace of God is not needfull to be giuen at euery assay , but that their free will in most things is sufficient , August . Epist. 106. So the Rhemists say , that though the Gentiles beleeued specially by Gods grace , yet they beleeued also of their owne free will , Act. 13. sect. 2. What say they els , but that a man may beleeue by his owne free will without grace .

The Manichees condemned the eating of flesh , as being vncleane and impure , Heres. 46. So the Papists also forbid at certaine times the eating of flesh : And herein they perhaps differ from the Manichees : They held that flesh was vncleane by creation . The Papists by reason of the curse : for God cursed the earth , and not the waters ( say they ) and therefore vpon fasting daies fish is preferred before flesh , Durand . lib. 6. capit . de alijs ieiunijs . So they both agree in this , that flesh is a thing impure and vncleane : for if they had not so thought , why did not that popish Bishop of London Stokeslie , rather suffer the pigge to be eaten , which was found in one Frebarnes house in Lent time , Frebarn . Fox . pag. 1585. his wife being great with child longing for a peece thereof , then command it , as an vncleane thing to be buried in Finsburie fields , and so the good creature of God to be spoyled and lost ?

There was also another most blasphemous opinion of the Manichees : for they held that the parts and members of Christ were dispersed euery where , and that in their meates & drinkes , they did deliuer the members of Christ , which were tyed and bound in the creatures . Tales ( saith Augustine ●unt electi eorum . vt non sint saluandi à Deo , August . in Psal. 104. sed saluatores Dei , liberant enim membra Christi ▪ cum manducant : The elect amongst them for so they call their principals ) do make themselues the sauiours and redeemers of God , for they doe set at libertie ( as they imagine ) the members of Christ , he is not their sauiour . Compare now the opinion of the Papists with these heretikes : see if they be not cosin germanes : for as they made themselues , saluatores Christi , sauiours of Christ : so is it a saying among the Papists , that Sacerdos est creator createris sui : the Priest at Masse , which by fiue words speaking maketh the body of Christ , is a maker , say they , of his maker , a creator of his creator , Ex Iuell . lib. artic. p. 615. But herein the Papists go beyond the Manichees : for they deliuered the bodie & members of Christ from the prison of the creatures , and sent them vp to heauen : the Papists bring them downe from heauen , and close them in the creature , vnder the shape of bread and wine .

Thus farre we thought good to shew , how neere the Papists come to the heretikes of olde time : that it might appeare to the world , that we doe not vniustly charge them with heresie , and that we haue good cause to shunne and abhorre their poysoned doctrine . Many other heresies I could haue produced ; which are reuiued by our aduersaries , & raked againe as it were out of their graues , where they did quietly rest . But that I am not of purpose now to deale in this matter : which may in a seuerall Treatise ( God willing ) hereafter as time and opportunitie shall serue , be handled more at large .

I haue onely by the way giuen a tast of the bitter and sower doctrine of Poperie : that our countrymen , which haue been any thing that way infected , may take warning , that if they haue sipped of the whore of Babylons cup of fornication , they should leaue of , before they haue drunke more deepely , lest they in the end be constrained , to draw out the very dregges thereof , and to be drunken with their intoxicate cup. If they will in time be warned , they may : a word to a wise man is sufficient : and if they be wise , they will also take heed in time , I say vnto them as Augustine did sometime to the Donatists : Si sapitis , bene & rectè , si autem non sapitis , nos vestri curam gessisse non poenitebit , quia et si cor vestrum ad pacem non conuertitur , Cont. Petilianum . 3.59 . pax nostra tamen ad nos reuertitur : If you will be learned it is well , and as we wish : but if you will not , it repenteth vs not , that we haue had some care of you : for although your hart be not conuerted to the peace of the Gospell , yet our peace returneth to vs againe .

Here by the way , I must remember my selfe of one thing , which I had almost ouerslipped . Euery where both in this Preface and in this whole booke , speaking of our aduersaries , I call them Papists , as we are knowne by the name of Protestants : I suppose our English Romanists will take no offence or griefe hereby so to be called : although I haue heard , that some of them hold great scorne to be named Papists , yet I see no reason , why they should so doe . The Rhemists like this name well enough , because it is not deriued from any one man , Anno● . Act. 11. sect. 4. but from their Popes and chiefe Bishops , to whom ( say they ) we are bound to cleaue in Religion , and obey in all things : So to be a Papist ( say they ) is to be a Christian man , a child of the Church , and a subiect to Christs Vicar . Seeing then this name pleaseth their ghostly fathers of Rhemes so well , there is no reason why they should mislike it : and therefore we will vse it still , as best expressing their profession , who are pinned vpon the Popes sleeue for their faith and Religion : As likewise the name of Protestants we refuse not : which name I thinke tooke beginning in England in King Henry the eights daies : when there was a generall protestation made in the name of the King , the whole Councel and Clergie of England against the Pope : See Sicidan . Fox pag. 1083. In the which protestation , thus we finde : England hath taken her leaue of popish crafts for euer , neuer to be deluded with them hereafter : Romane Bishops haue nothing to doe with English people : the one doth not traffique with the other : at the least , though they will haue to deale with vs , we will none of their marchandise , none of their stuffe . Thus we see how a Papist and a Protestant are defined : A Papist is he that cleaueth to the Pope in Religion , and is obedient to him in all things : A Protestant is he , that professeth the Gospell of Iesus Christ , and hath renounced the iurisdiction of the sea of Rome , and the forced and vnnaturall obedience to the Pope . These names therefore as best fitting both our professions , seeing no cause to the contrary , I purpose euery where to vse and retaine throughout this Treatise .

I would here finish and make an end of this Preface , but that first I must make the Reader acquainted , with the order and methode , which I haue followed in setting downe the controuersies : The whole bodie therefore of the controuersies betweene the Papists and vs , our worthie and learned countriman D. Whitakers hath digested and disposed into a singular Methode , the which I haue propounded to my selfe throughout this discourse to obserue .

The heresies and errours therefore of Poperie , doe either impugne the offices of Christ , with his benefites and merites , or his person : the most of them are of the first kinde , some errours they maintaine against his person , but not many .

First , the name of Christ sheweth his offices : for it signifieth annointed : he was annointed to be our Prophet , King and Priest : Iesus betokeneth a Sauiour , and setteth forth the benefites of our redemption and saluation . First then of his offices , and then of the benefites , that do arise and spring thereof .

The first office of our Sauiour Christ , is to be our heauenly teacher and Prophet . His heauenly doctrine is conteined no where els but in the Scriptures . The first generall controuersie then must be of the Scriptures : where there arise many questions : as of the Canonicall bookes of the Scripture , of the vulgare translation of Scripture , of the perspicuitie , and plainenesse , authoritie , interpretation and perfection of Scripture , with such other .

The second office of Christ is to be our King : and because his kingdome is his Church : here we are to handle the controuersies about the Church : Which is either the Church Militant vpon earth , or the Church Triumphant in heauen .

The Church militant is to be considered , either in generall , where these questions are moued , what the Church is , whether it be visible or not , by what markes it is knowen , whether it may erre , what authoritie it hath . Then the parts of the Church , which are either assembled and gathered together , as in generall Councels : where these doubts must be discussed , whether generall Councels be necessary , by whom they ought to be summoned , whether they can erre , whether the Pope be aboue Councels or not , and such like . Or els the parts of the church are seuerally to be considered , and they are of three sortes , either the chiefe parts , the middle and meane parts , the lowest and basest parts of the Church : The chiefe member they make to be the Pope : where there are many questions and of great waight , as whether the regiment of the Church be Monarchicall , whether Peter were appointed head of the Church , whether the Pope be Peters successour , whether he may erre , whether the Pope be Antichrist , with such other . The middle parts , are their Clerkes , which are either secular , as they call them , which haue any Ecclesiasticall function , where we must enquire of their election & degrees of their single life , and such like , the Regular Clerkes are their Monkes , and other of that profession , where we must entreat , of vowes , of their solitarie life , their habite , their Canonicall houres , with other matters . The lowest members are the lay men : where the questions about the Ciuill Magistrate must be handled : as whether he may put heretikes to death , whether he haue any power and authoritie in Ecclesiasticall matters , and hetherto of the Militant Church .

The triumphant Church consisteth either of Angels , or other Saints departed : Concerning the Angels , we dissent about the orders and degrees of them , about their ministerie and office , and whether they are to be prayed vnto .

Concerning the Saints departed , there are many questions in controuersie , as of Purgatory ▪ Lymbus Patrum , whether they are to be praied vnto , of their Reliques , Images , Temples , Holie daies , and such like .

The third office of Christ is his Priesthood , whereof there are two parts , his intercession , where we must enquire , whether Christ be the onely Mediatour of intercession ▪ and his Sacrifice , where the maine and great controuersie concerning the Sacraments doth offer it selfe : for by the Sacraments the power and efficacie of the death of Christ is deriued vnto vs .

Here first we must entreate of the Sacraments in generall , as of their number , their efficacie , the difference betweene the Sacraments of the olde and new Testament : then in particular , as of Baptisme , and the seuerall questions thereto belonging , of the Lords Supper , where also the great controuersie about their Idolatrous sacrifice of the Masse , and other necessary questions must be handled . Then follow in order fiue other popish Sacraments to be considered of , confirmation , penaunce , extreme vnction , orders , matrimony . And these are the controuersies concerning the offices of Christ .

The controuersies which concerne the benefits of our redemption , with other seuerall questions , are these , as of predestination , of sin , of the law , of free will , of faith , of good workes , the particular questions are set forth at large in other places .

Lastly , there remaine some questions , about the person of Christ , 〈◊〉 whether he be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , God of himselfe , whether he encreased in wisedome , whether he suffered in soule , whether he merited for himselfe , with such other .

Thus haue we the summe & body of Antichristian doctrine , which we purpose by the grace of God to goe through , beginning at the first , and so prosecuting euery particular question , till we are come to the last . My purpose is not to set down all the heresies , which impugne the Christian faith , but onely those which are maintained by the Church of Rome this day ; who are the chief troublers & disquieters of the peace of our Church : I say therefore with Augustine , Omnis Christianus Catholicus ista non debes credere , sed non omnis , qui ista non credit , consequenter se debet Christianum Catholicum ●utare vel dicere . Euery true Catholike Christian is bound not to beleeue any of these errors set down in this book : but it foloweth not , that whosoeuer beleeueth not these , is a true Catholike : for there are other heresies in the world , which destroy the faith , as the heresies of the Anabaptistes , Familie of Loue , Libertines , and such like . But our speciall purpose and drift is , to weed out the Popish cockle and darnell , that troubleth our field . Neither haue I set forth at large the controuersies betweene vs : for that laborious worke other of our learned countrymen haue taken in hand , as D. Whitakers in Cambridge , D. Reynoldes in Oxford , and besides , it farre exceedeth my strength and habilitie : I haue onely brieflie set downe the grounds of Poperie , as I haue collected them out of Bellarmine , the stoutest champion of their side , our English Rhemistes , Eckius , Canisius , and other Papistes , as also out of the late Chapter of Trent , for it deserueth not the name of a Councell . And with all as an Antidotum or counterpoyson , I haue opposed and set against them , the confession of the Protestants and Church of God : with reasons and Arguments of both sides , and places of Scripture annexed : adding also throughout the iudgement of Augustine , who of all the fathers , is most plentifull in these matters , which fall in question in our dayes .

The benefite , which the Christian Reader shall reape in some measure ( I trust ) by this simple labour of mine , is threefold . First the knowledge of all Popish errours , which much auayleth : Multum adiuuat cor fidele nosce , quid credendum non sit , August . de heresib . epilog . etiamsi disputandi facultate id refutare non possit : It much helpeth a Christian toward beleefe , to know what is not to be beleeued , though he can not refell it by Argument . Secondlie he shall vnderstand both their principall Obiections , which they do entangle simple men withall , as also he shall learne how to defend and maintayne the truth . Thirdly the chief places of Scripture , which make for them or against them , are briefly euery where expounded and opened .

This whole worke I haue deuided into three partes or bookes : the first conteineth the controuersies of the Scriptures and the Militant Church : the second the controuersies of the Triumphant Church : and of the Sacraments : the third the questions , concerning the benefites of our redemption , and as touching the person of Christ : Which bookes I haue thus deuided , not so much in respect of the matter which they conteine : for then the controuersies of the Militant and Triumphant Church ought not to haue bene sundred : but that there might be some equalitie & indifferent proportion in the Volumes , euery one of them comprehending a Centurie that is an hundred of Popish errours either vnder or ouer .