THE THIRD BOOKE OF COMMENTARIES VPON THE APOSTLES CREEDE , Contayning the blasphemous Positions of Iesuites and other later Romanists , concerning the authoritie of their Church : Manifestly prouing that whosoeuer yeelds such absolute Beleefe vnto it as these men exact , doth beleeue it better then Gods word , his SONNE , his PROPHETS , EVANGELISTS , or APOSTLES , or rather truly beeleeues no part of their writings or any article in this CREEDE .

Continued by THOMAS IACKSON B. of Diuinitie and Fellow of CORPVS CHRISTI College in OXFORD .

LONDON , Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY , and are to be sold by Iohn Budge at the great South doore of Paules , and at Brittaines Bursse . 1614.

RIght Reuerend Father , the sweet refreshing your Honourable fauours did yeeld to such of my labors as hitherto enioy the light , when a suddaine vncomfortable blast had sorely nipt them in the very setting , makes these last gatherings of that spring seeke that comfortable warmth vnder your benigne protection , which the vnconstant frowning season would hardly affoord them in their growth . Besides these and other my personall obligements , that famous and worthy founder of this Attick Beehiue , of whose sweetnesse would God I had beene as capable as I haue beene long partaker , had neuer allotted any Cell therein for me or other Countriman of mine , but with particular relation to that seat of dignitie , which he sometimes did , your Lordship now doth , and , to the encrease of Gods glorie and good of his Church , long may enioy . Seeing this our great foster Father is now ignorant of his childrens demeanor , and knowes not me ; it shall be my comfort , to haue his honourable successors witnesses of my care and industrie to fulfill his godly desire , whose religious soule in his life time ( as his written lawes doe testifie ) did detest nothing more then idlenesse in the Ministrie , specially in his adopted Sonnes . The matters I here present vnto your Lordships & the worlds view , are sometimes in themselues so harsh and hard to be concocted , as he that would striue to make them toothsome vnto nice tastes , should put himselfe to excessiue paines ; vnlesse his iudgement be much riper , his wit readier , his inuention pleasanter , his opportunities better , and his leisure greater then mine are . But it is one and the same point of iudgement , not to require exact Mathematicall proofes in discourses of moralitie , or a smooth facile Rhetorical stile in Logical or Scholastique conflicts . And , as by the statutes of that societie wherein I liue , I am bound to auoid barbarisme : so my particular inclination moues me , in controversies especially , to approue his choice that said ; Fortia mallem quam formosa . If any professed enemie to the truth we teach , will answere me from point to point , or attempt ( not as their custome now is only in scoffing sort but seriously ) to auert those vnsupportable , but deserued imputations , I lay vpon the foundation of his Religion , I shall ( I trust ) be able to answere him ; the better by continuance of your Lordships wonted fauours , whom I still request the Christian Readers , as many as reape any profit from my paines on my behalfe to remember with such respect as is due to honorable Patrons of religious studies , or cherishers of painefull endeuours in good causes .

CHristian and beloued Reader , I haue been detained in this entrie , though not longer then the structure of it required , yet then I my selfe , or thou perhaps , could haue wished , for speedier dispatch of the maine edifice intended . Somewhat notwithstanding , to my apprehension , I had obserued , whereby Artists more accurate , but yonger Diuines then my selfe ( whose furtherance in the like , throughout all my meditations I still respect ) might bee directed , for taking sure hold of their slipperie antagonists in this conflict . And finding my selfe euery day then other more vnapt , more vnwilling at least , to bee any Actor in quarrels of this nature , because most desirous to spend my mortall spirits in opening the pleasant Fountaines of immortalitie ; I thought it not altogether vnlawful to dispence with these labours for a while , in hope to prosequute them more safely and with better successe hereafter , by seconding such as had gone before mee with my small strength , for intercepting these despitefull Philistims , which continually labour to damme vp these sacred Wells of life . Many excellent wits and graue Diuines , as well in our English as other reformed Churches , I knew , had accurately deciphered the speciall characters of the Beast , and demonstrated most properties of great Antichrist vpon the Pope . But that the fundamentall charter of the Romish Church , or the commission pretended by Iesuites for the erection of it , should ( as the manner was to demolish lesser religious houses for building others more magnificent ) extend to raze the very first foundations of religion as common to Christians , Iewes , and Turkes ; that the acknowledgement of such infallibilitie as they Deifie her with should be more incompatible with Christianitie then any Idolatrie of the Heathen ; that such as absolutely beleeue all her decrees without examination , truely beleeue no article of this Creede ; with the like principall branches of Antichristianisme ; were points , for ought I knew , rather touched by the way , or proposed as clear in themselues to the indifferent and ingenuous , that iudge of the Romish Church by the knowne picture of her misse-shapen limmes , then prosequuted at large , or with purpose to pull off that artificiall painting , wherewith late Iesuites haue so beautified this vgly Monsters face , that the world bewitched with gazing too much on it cannot but loue her other deformities though in themselues most loathsome . For though the practises enioyned by her bee so vile , as would haue caused Rome Heathen to haue blushed at their mention , or her other doctrines so palpably grosse , that her owne Sonnes heretofore haue derided them , and as yet spare to speake ought in particular for their defence : yet to salue all this it must suffice , that the Church , which cannot erre , hath now authorized them .

If any thinke I preiudice the truth of moderate accusations , by laying such heauie imputations vpon this doctrine , as make it incomparably more detestable then any other , hee speakes not inconsequently to his positions , if hee hold the Trent Councell was infallibly assisted by the holy Ghost , or that the Pope in Cathedrall resolutions cannot erre . But , he which thinkes foule impieties may bring Romish Prelates out of fauour with the spirit of truth , and make them as obnoxious to errors as others are , or can perswade himselfe , that many practises and opinions , by that Church alreadie authorized , are in their nature abominable and impious , must either accord to me or dissent from Reason , Conscience , and Religion . For these , so hee will but vouchsafe his silence or attention , ioyntly proclaime aloude , that nothing amisse , either in matter of doctrine or manners , can be so detestable with out this presumptuous groundlesse warrant of absolute infallibilitie as with it ; that albeit a man would set himselfe to practize all particulars directly contrarie to what God hath commanded or to contradict God and his goodnesse , yet his iniquitie without this absolute beliefe of full authoritie deriued from him so to doe , would be but as a bodie without a soule , in respect of the Romish Churches impieties , which makes the holy Ghost the principall Author of Gods written word the abettor of all her fraude , vntruths , or villanies . Briefly as it is not the doing of those materials God commands vs to doe , but faithfull submission of our wils to his in doing them , which , as S. Iames instructs vs , makes vs true Christians : so is it not the doing or maintayning of what God forbids or hates , but the doing of it vpon absolute submission of our soules and consciences to other lawes then he hath left , which makes men liue members of Antichrist , as being animated , informed and moued by the spirit of errour . Now this perswasion of absolute infallibilitie and vniuersall warrant from the holy spirit , without condition or restraint , being peculiar to the Romish Church , admitting it to be as faultie in practises and as obnoxious to errours as any other , none can be reputed so truly Antichristian as it . For albeit Mahomet pretended diuine reuelations , yet his Priests challenge no such absolute infallibilitie as doth the Pope ; they make no second Rocks or foundations , no ordinarie Pastor equiualent to their great Prophet . Whence although the Turkes hold opinions in themselues , or materially considered , more grosse , and maintayne some practices not much lesse villanous then Iesuites doe : yet the grounds or motiues of their beliefe , ( which are as the soule or spirit of Religion ) are nothing so pestiferous , nothing so directly opposite to the holy spirit , as is this Iesuiticall rule of faith . Nor doe they either professe such beliefe in Christ , or acknowledge him for a foundation so elect and precious , as brings them within the Temple of God , within which vnlesse Antichrist sit his contrarietie vnto Christ could not bee so essentiall , so immediate or direct , as by the rules of sacred Philosophie we are taught it must be . Yet I know not , whether the indignitie of this doctrine is more apt to affect Diuines or Men rightly religious and fearing God , then the sottishnesse of their arguments to perswade it , to prouoke the iust indignation of ingenuous Artists , which cannot endure , though in matters of indifferencie , to captiuate their vnderstandings to positions deuoide of sense . To require some probabilitie of reason , ciuill or naturall , is on their part no insolent demand , for exchange of Christian faith or aduenturing their inassurance of life eternall in the seruice of meere forrainers whom they neuer saw . Yet vnto peremptorie resolutions no lesse dangerous , doe Iesuites solicite vs , not only without any tollerable shew of probabilitie but quite contrarie to Gods principall lawes and our naturall notions of good and euill ; as by these labours euery Academique may in part perceiue , but more fully , if he would vouchsafe to sift more of their arguments , then in these short transcursiue disputes I could . Nor would I disswade any Artist well grounded in Aristotle from pervsing the most learned workes any Romanist hath written in this argument . In most other controuersies betwixt vs and them it is dangerous , I must confesse , euen for well grounded Artists to beginne with their writings , not so in this : for I protest in the sight of God and his holy Angels , that as farre as I can remember the inclinations of my youth , or by them prognosticate how afterwards I might haue beene affected , I neuer was , I neuer should haue beene , so throughly possessed with such great dislike of Romish Antichristianisme in this point , by hearing the most famous Preachers in this Land , or reading all the learned Writers in reformed Churches , as I was by examining the labours of Bellarmine , Valentian , and others of best note amongst them seriously addressed to this purpose ; comparing them only with the known principles of Christianitie and such passages of sacred Writ , as euery Christian Artist should be acquainted with . For the principles , whereon I proceede , I haue beene only beholden to the Canon of Scriptures ; for deducing of such blasphemous consequences from them , as I charge the Aduersarie with , only to that small measure of knowledge in Aristotelian Philosophie wherewith my God had blessed mee , whiles I was bound by locall statutes to the studie of Artes , purposely abstaining from other writings , which with their informations of my vnderstanding might haue bred preiudice in my affection . Since that time , although the yeares of my Ministrie hardly exceede the space of ordinarie apprentiships , yet haue I often wished the discussion of these points had beene then imposed vpon mee by some experienced Diuine , that would only haue giuen me right hold of their assertions . Vpon this consideration I would beseech the flourishing Artists of this famous Academie , whom God hath furnished with all store of munition necessarie for this seruice , not to neglect opportunities present . Let them deferre ( if so they please ) the fruits of their labours in other points ( though this be the fault of our English ) vntill the Autumne of their age . But the marke I now propose vnto them , being the euident resolution of Iesuiticall positions into those grosse and palpable blasphemies whereto they tend , which they only seeke to hide by Sophismes and artificiall tricks of wit , Academicall wits might displume them of these figge-tree leaues and manifest their nakednes to the world , much better in the spring whiles their skill in artes were fresh and flourishing , whiles the strength and vigour of their inuention would more easily bend this way , then in the Autumne , when their leaues begin to fade and their sap retire to the root , as their pleasant grapes grow ripe . Many towardly plants in this nurcerie , now able to match the stoutest Iesuite liuing at his owne weapon , whilest in his mature age , multo iam fractus membra labore , more fit to be a Leader , then a combatant in these encounters , he shall looke back on his former labours or cals to minde his wonted dexteritie in Schoole disputes , may take vp old Nestors complaint .

The schoole Iesuite in these studies is like the Iuy alwaies greene , because not set to bring forth fruit vnto saluation , but rather to choake and strangle the plants of life . And for such instruments of the Romish Church , as this Land vsually yeelds , this wrangling facultie is all the skill they care for , or for the most part make profession of . Yet such is the brittlenesse of the matter they are to worke vpon in this controuersie , that were all the Priests and Iesuites harboured within the confines of great Brittaine at this present day , but enioyned to write all they could to any purpose in defence of their Mother ; some few Artists of those Vniuersities , which out of their pride they seeme to vilifie amongst the ignorant , would , I dare not say make them blush ( for sooner might they make a black-moores face of the same colour with his teeth ) but as many of their fauourers of this Kingdome , as haue not sworne allegeance to the Church of Rome , and are able to examine an argument , to bee ashamed on their behalfe , euen to acknowledge , that for ought these Mounte-bankes could say or write in their defence , the Positions maintayned by their Masters , forraine Iesuites , were indeed idolatrous and blasphemous ; howbeit the Church it selfe , wee must beleeue , could neuer bee vanquished , because no man can tell where or in what shape to finde it .

Nor neede yong Artists feare the countenance of antiquitie in this point , from which their enemies supplies are so slender , that would they come to open triall , and bring only such of the Fathers for their seconds , as liued within fiue hundred yeares of Christ , or before the mixture of Romish Religion with Heathenisme , not fully effected till a little after that time : the paucitie of those whose aide they durst solicit , in respect of that great armie , which is as resolute as wee against them , would make them instantly either yeeld themselues , or forsake the field . Nor haue they beene hitherto able to addresse any answere , but to their shame , to the Worthies of the English Church , whose labours haue made the conquest in this quarrell easie to any of their successors , that will aduenture to follow their steps . Nothing remaines but what best becomes the exercise of yong wits ; to exceede the sophisticall disputes of Iesuites against the truth , in copiousnesse of irrefragable demonstrations , that the allegeance they seeke to establish vnto the Romish Church is solemne apostasie from Christ ; that the beliefe of it is the very abstract of sorcerie , the vtmost degree of Antichristianisme that can bee expected . These and like points , being fortified by strength of argument , in the time of your Regencie or fare-well to the studie of Artes , might bee polished at your better leisure , afterwards to be reuised and published at the appointment of authoritie . Or if the zeale of Gods glorie thus mightily eclipsed by this foule Idoll of the Romish Church doe not as yet so fully moue you ; yet that indignation which first wrought a desire in mee of giuing this onset , should worke ( me thinks ) in euery heart , that beares any sparkle of loue vnto his natiue Countrie . For what indignitie is it to thinke , that whilst our gracious Soueraigne is a most zealous Professor and Defendor of the truth we teach ; so many of his naturall subiects our Countrimen and Brethren , should bee wonne vnto the Romish faction , especially by importunate inculcating two heresies , of all maintayned by that Church in themselues most sottishly improbable ; and yet apparently most damnable Idolaters in their consequences , if erroneous ▪ I meane this concerning their Churches absolute priuiledge from all errour , and that other of Christs reall presence in the Sacrament , by transubstantiation . It cannot againe but adde much to our griefe and indignation , if we call to minde , how , when the chiefe Gouernour and publique authoritie of this Land were for them , subscription was not vrged vpon such violent and bloudie termes vnto any articles of their Religion , as vnto that of reall presence . The mysterie of which iniquitie cannot better bee resolued then into the powerfull and deceitfull working of Satan , thus delighting to despite our Lord and Sauiour by seducing his professed subiects vnto the highest and most desperate kinde of rebellion he could imagine , vpon the least occasions and shallowest reasons . For such is their madnesse in that other point , as hath beene shewed in this : Not one inconuenience they can obiect to our opinion , but may be demonstrated against theirs ; not any fruits of godlinesse they can pretend but our doctrine more directly brings forth then theirs could , though we did admit it for true . For to what other purpose such a presence as they imagine should serue them , saue only to countenance those desperate Idolatrous practices and litourges of Satan , touched by the way in some parts of these discourses , is inexplicable ; as shall be shewed more at large ( without depriuing that heauenly mysterie of any solemnitie of deuotion due vnto it ) in the vnfolding of that controuersie .