The answere vnto the nine points of controuersy, proposed by our late soueraygne (of famous memory) vnto M. Fisher of the Society of Iesus And the reioynder vnto the reply of D. Francis VVhite minister. With the picture of the sayd minister, or censure of his writings prefixed.

The second Demonstration.

If the Fathers commend Inuocation of Saints and confidence in their merits as an act of Christian Religion, promising assu∣red comfort to them that do it with fayth, they held the same as a matter of Fayth, & as groūded on the word of God. For what but Gods word can be the ground of assu∣red confidence about diuine & supernatu∣rall graces? But the Fathers teach this In∣uocation as a matter to be done in the as∣surance of faith and Christian piety, wher∣in their wordes are most cleere. S. Gregory Nazianzen (h) 1.1 exhorting people to aske al

things of S. Cyprian sayth: Cyprian and his dust, or sacred Reliks, ioyned WITH FAITH can do all thinges. S. Prudentius sayth (i) 1.2 that, S. Agnes protects, and deliuers all that with pure and FAYTHFVLL harts are SVPPLI∣ANTS vnto her. S. Chrysostome: (k) 1.3 Let vs often visit the Martyrs, let vs adorne their shrines, let vs WITH GREAT FAYTH touch their Reliques, that thence we may receyue some benediction, for they impetrate of the hea∣uenly King, by shewing their wounds, and in their hands their heads cut off, whatsoeuer they will. Therefore let vs with Great Fayth, and alacrity resort vnto them. And in another place he thus exhorts: (l) 1.4 Let vs go to Timo∣thy a new Paul, vnto Andrew another Peter, WE BELIEVE that we are holpen by their prayers. Let vs go to their holy bodyes which car∣ryed our Sauiours markes. S. Basill: (m) 1.5 Who can doubt but God is present with these forty Martyrs who promiseth to be where two or three are gathered in his name? whosoeuer is in any distresse, let him FLIE vnto them, and whosoe∣uer is in comfort, let him PRAY VNTO THEM, the one, that he may be freed from misery, the other that he may be preserued in prosperity. S. Gaudentius: (n) 1.6 We shall be hol∣pen by the Patronage of so many Saints, let vs then with FVLL FAYTH, and all deuotion be supplyants vnto them, and runne after their steps; That by their intercessions we may obtayne ALL we request. S. Maxi∣mus: (o) 1.7 If vnto Saints whose bodyes be remote

from vs we offer the PIOVS DVTY of VOWES, FAYTH will make them ours, and how di∣stant soeuer their bodyes be from vs, they will af∣foard vs their Patronage we hope for. And a∣gayne: (p) 1.8 Doest thou inuocate the Martyr E∣VERY WHERE? He that is honoured in the Martyr doth heare, and will graunt thy prayers euery where &c. And by how much the FAITH of the Clyent shall be more DEVOVT, by so much the assistance of the PATRON will be more efficacious & present. Theodoret: (q) 1.9 The bodyes of the Martyrs being deuided into parts & dispersed ouer many Townes and Cittyes, yet the grace and power remaynes entyre and vigēt in euery particle, and they distribute gifts vnto petitioners, measuring their liberalities accor∣ding to the FAYTH of the SVPPLIANTS. And agayne: (r) 1.10 They who pray vnto the Mar∣tyrs piously & with FAITH, obtayne the things they most desire, as do testify the giftes they be∣ing bound by vow offer at their Tombes, mani∣fest tokens of health obtained. S. Gregory the Great: (t) 1.11 No doubt but Martyrs at their tōbes shew innumerable miracles to them that seeke with pure hart, but because weake Fayth may doubt whether they be present, so that they can heare where their bodyes are not, therefore of∣tentymes greater myracles are done where their bodyes are not: but (u) 1.12 they whose mind is fixed on God haue the greater MERIT OF FAITH in that they belieue the Saints to be there present to heare mens prayers, where they know they are not present in their bodyes.

Behold how fully, expresly, & constant∣ly, the Fathers affirme Inuocatiō of Saints with confidence in their merits, and that they heare our prayers to be MATTER of Piety & DIVINE FAITH.

Notes

• (h) 1.1

  Nazianzen orat. in S. Cyprian, non longe à fine. Omnia potest Cypria∣nus, & puluis eius cum fide.
• (i) 1.2

  Prudent. Hym. in S. Agnetē. Protegit puro & fideli pectore supplices.
• (k) 1.3

  Chrysostom. homil. in Sanct. Iuuentium & Ma∣ximum Mart. Magna Fi∣de reliquias eorum con∣tingamus, vt inde be∣nedictionem aliquam consequamur &c. quae∣cunque voluerint apud Regem caelorum impe∣trare possunt.
• (l) 1.4

  Idem. homil. post. re∣ditum ab exilio. Credi∣mus nos iuuari illorum meritis.
• (m) 1.5

  Basil. Homil. in 40. Martyres. Vbiqua∣draginta, quis dubitet Deum esse praesentem? Qui aliqua premitur angustia, ad Hos con∣fugiat.
• (n) 1.6

  Gaudent. homil. de A∣post. & Mart. Tot San∣ctorum patrocinijs ad∣iuuandi, tota Fide & omni desiderio suppli∣ces &c. vt ipsis interce∣dētibus VNIVERSA quae poscimus adipisci mereamur.
• (o) 1.7

  Maximus serm. de. SS. Nazario & Celso. Si mar∣tyribus regionis exter∣nae pia votorū debita red∣deremus &c. Fides eos Nostros faceret.
• (p) 1.8

  Ibidem. Inuocastiv∣bique Martyrem? vbi∣que te exaudit, ill•• qui honoratur in Martyre. Moderante vtique eo qui pensat vota tua, & dispensat munera sua in tantùm vicina praesen∣tia efficacis praebitur aduocati, in quantùm fuerit Fides Deuota suc∣cepti.
• (q) 1.9

  Theodor. lib. 8. de curand. Graec. affection. Gratia enim quae fectis eorum corporibus pol∣lens vigensq́ue persistit petentibus dona distri∣buit Fidei supplicantiū liberalitatem suam cō∣mensa.
• (r) 1.10

  Ibid. PIE & FIDE∣LITER precatos.
• (t) 1.11

  Gregor. Dialog l. 2. c. vlt. Vbi sancti Martyres in suis corporibus du∣bium nō est quod mul∣ta valeant signa demō∣strare, sicut & faciunt, & innumera miracula pu∣ra mente quaerentibus ostendunt.
• (u) 1.12

  Mens in Deo fixa tantò maius habet fidei meritum, quantò illic eos & nouit non iacere & tamē credit non de∣esse ab exauditione.