An ansvvere to VVilliam Alablaster [sic] his motiues. By Roger Fenton preacher of Grayes Inne

THe diuine prouidence, which as a center indifferently extendeth it selfe to the vniuersalitie of things, hath allowed euerie creature common strength to preserue his being, such is in liuelesse bodies their place, or motion, or qualities; in vegetable their instinct of distin∣guishing their proper aliment; in beastes, the iudgement of sense, and priuiledge of nature; and in man an apprehension, censure, and proiect from the intelligence of sensible occurrents, both in naturall and ci∣uill bodies.

The same wisedome and bountie, which hath been so enlarged to his seruants, cannot be straightned to his children: and therefore it is a∣boue all doubt, that he hath set some plaine and certaine direction in his Church, both of discerning of heresies when they arise, and of auoiding the infection of them: neither hath the holy Ghost failed herein, for because all the dangers of the Church were chiefly to come from heretikes, hee hath drawne in the scripture, as in a table, the picture of heretikes, their apparrell, fa∣shion, speech, and cariage whereby they might be noted vpon the first apparance, But among all other Items, none is oftener giuen for a

marke to discerne them, then their difference of doctrine, from the former tradition and custome. There shall be false teachers which shall bring in heresies. 2. Peter. 2. 1. If any man come to you and bring not this doctrine Iohn. 2. 10. And the contradiction of Co∣rah. 1. Tim. 8. If any man teach other wise then that which you haue heard from the beginning. Let it abide in you, fight for the faith once deliuered: keepe the traditions you are taught. And if any man would fashion in his wishes a plaine and sensible rule, whereby the thickest conceits, that are not able to goe betweene truth and errour in the loosest controuersies, might determine any question; there can∣not bee a better fancied then this difference of teaching, and inno∣uation of doctrine, which he that vnderstandeth not the sense may perceiue by the words, the soundes, and contradiction of former opinion, as men that are skilfull in musicall proportions, and being acquainted through vse of song, can easily iudge if any chaunge be made therein. By this were all heresies apprehended at the first, and also arraigned. So that Stephanus Bishop of Rome ouerthrew the decree of the councell of Carthage, for rebaptising, wherein Saint Cyprian was president, with his owne rule, Ecclesia Dei non habet talem consuetudinem. So Luther and Zwin∣glius and the rest of that crewe, were at the first appearing branded by this note for heretikes.

ANSVVERE.

THis is the same fallacie with the former applyed another way: for as in the last motiue, you haue assured the Church of an infallible meanes to define all truth: so in this you secure her members likewise of a power with facilitie to discerne heretikes, by argument drawen from the gene∣rall prouidence of God extending it selfe to all creatures, but most of all to his children. In which ground there is some truth, but entwined with some errours. For as in other crea∣tures the diuine prouidence is verie bountifull, for the pre∣seruation of their seuerall beings against iniurie and daun∣gers: yet for all the power of nature in senceles things, or the iudgment of sense in the vnreasonable, or the benefit of reason in men, they be notwithstanding oftentimes subiect aswell to the pray and violence, as to the crafte and deceit

of others: so is it in the professours of christian faith: vnto whom God hath reuealed a meanes to preserue their spiri∣tuall being in this state militant, more certaine, and far more sufficient for them, then he hath giuen to any other: yet not with such ease & facilitie to be enioyed, as in this motiue you indeuour to perswade. For albeit the Scripture hath not been wanting in describing heretikes so plainly, as by way of pro∣phecie could possibly be expressed: yet are they not there∣by presently knowne vpon the first appearance, nor can the thickest conceites so easily iudge of them.

If you take your markes (as you say) from their apparell, * 1.1 fashion, or outward carriage: then a sheeps skin drawen ouer a woolfe will easily deceaue you: their outward appa∣rance will in euery respect seeme holy and innocent as the sheepe of Christ. Therefore is there neede of a serpents wise∣dome to discerne them; and not that onely, but also of dili∣gence and watchfulnesse to espie them. For as they come in sheeps skins so come they priuily, as Saint Peter noteth in * 1.2 the place by you first mencioned, There shalbe false teachers who (priuilie) shall bring in damnable heresies. Which word, though it carie the emphasis of the sentence, yet is it by you wisely o∣mitted: happily because you thought it a note of an here∣tike, not so well beseeming Martin Luther, who came not so priuily I wis, but open inough, and in his owne liknes, con∣trarie to the common fashion of heretikes, who first put on a sheepes skin, and then creepe into the flock, the easier to de∣ceiue. Wherefore when that prophecie is fufilled, which you haue so fitted vnto these times, concerning the doctrine of many false Christs: where the bodie is thither will the Eagles resort, not owles, or bussards, but such as haue a quicke eye of * 1.3 faith to discerne the Lord, and the swift wing of deuotiō to fly vnto him. Nay y^e delusions of heresies shal thē grow so strong, as nothing shall be able to withstand them, but only the eter∣nall election of God. For if it were possible the verie elect should be deceiued. A small number (God knowes) in compare of that * 1.4 glorious multitude, you so boast of in your fifth motiue: yet it seemes these fewe must stand, when many great troupes are caried with the doctrine of false Christs. Ecce hic, & ecce

illic. But these difficulties seeme nothing vnto you, who can imagine a direction so plaine against heretikes, as the thick∣est and most grosse conceit may thereby with facilitie dis∣cerne them. The most notorious marke you haue chosen, is their difference of doctrine from the former tradition, and custome.

All ancient customes, & traditions receiued from our fore∣fathers, being venerable for age, haue receiued such force from time, as they become equiualent with lawes, and binde posterities to yeelde perfit obedience. So that euery alterati∣on, as of ciuil constitutions, so especially of religion, is not on∣ly dangerous, but therein also preiudiciall to it selfe, that it gainsayeth antiquitie. For of whatsoeuer it may be iustly af∣firmed, Dictum fuit antiquis, that is to stand inuiolable against * 1.5 all innouation whatsoeuer: neither is it by any meanes to be ouerruled, but onely by a rule more ancient, Non fuit sic ab * 1.6 initio. By which our Sauiour controuled the ancient traditi∣ons of the Iewes: examining them by the first institution of the lawe. For the first in euery kinde is the rule and square of all the rest. Therefore euery custome in the Church of God is with all dutie, and reuerence to be embraced, except onely in case, where it doth crosse the doctrine of Christ and the A∣postles, whereupon the Church it selfe is built. And therein, adificium coedat solo, so much onely doe the places by you al∣ledged inferre, that we should not varie from the doctrine of the Apostles, which we willingly subscribe vnto.

But in these dayes I would not wish euery thicke conceit to put himselfe vpon the triall of former times for true anti∣quitie, least he be deceiued therein, as Israel was by the Gibe∣onites with olde ragges and clouted shooes, Ioshua. 9. But * 1.7 the safest triall will be, Quid fuit ab initio? as we learne out of Vincentius in his worthie worke (as D. Bristow cals it) for put case (saith he) that heresie be once so rooted in the Church, that it begins to plead antiquity, that it spread so far, and haue got such strength as the fauorers thereof haue power and oportunitie to alter and corrupt the ancient writers: then is it onely safe to make triall by the written word. How iustly these things haue been obiected to the Church of Rome, I

will not dispute: onely let this suffice, that an author so anci∣ent, * 1.8 so renowned by your selues, doth not onely thinke it pos∣sible to befall in the visible Church, but also hath set downe this aduise against the same. I come to the strength of this motiue, which is the conclusion of this whole discourse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 7. 15.
• * 1.2

  2. Pet. 2. 1.
• * 1.3

  Mat. 24. 28.
• * 1.4

  Vers. 24.
• * 1.5

  Mat. 5.
• * 1.6

  Mat. 19. 8.
• * 1.7

  Motiue 14. Cap. 39. Dilatae & in∣ueteratae haereses nequaquam hac via aggrediedae sunt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quod pro•• tempo∣rum tractu lon∣ga 〈◊〉〈◊〉 furandae veritatis patue∣rit occasio.
• * 1.8

  Sola scripturunt authoritate.