A treatise concerning the church Wherin it is shewed, by the signes, offices, and properties therof, that the Church of Rome (and consequently such particuler churches as liue in her communion) is the only true church of Christ. VVritten in Latin, by the Reuerend Father Iames Gordon Huntley of Scotland, Doctour of Diuinity, of the Society of Iesus. And translated into English by I.L. of the same Society. The third part of the second controuersy.

CHAP. II. That the true Church of Christ is One, Holy, Catholike and Aposto∣licall. (Book 2)

S. Augustine very well admonisheth vs,* 1.1 that when we dispute against heretikes which doe admit the holy Scriptures, we should ••roue the true Church of Christ & the signes thereof out of the sayd holy writ. For as the same holy Father noteth in another place, the Pro∣phets had spoken more obscurely of Christ then they did of the Church,* 1.2 because by their Propheticall spirit they did see that there would arise greater strife & deb••te about the Church thē of Christ himselfe. We will therfore heere proue these fower signes of the Church. First out of the Scriptures, and secondly by naturall rea∣sons, seeing that these signes must be such as may conuince those which do not ad∣mit the Scriptures, as we haue declared in the precedent Chapter.

2. The first sig•••• of the true Church of Christ is Vnity. For there is a threefold vnity, necessarily preached in the Church

of Christ. The first is, of all the members with Christ, which is the supreme head of the Church, the which is effected by fayth; wherefore it necessarily fol∣loweth, that there must be but one fayth of all the members of the Church. One Lord and God, saith the Apostle, and one saith, and againe, vntill we all meete in the v∣nity of fayth.

3. The second Vnity is of all the mem∣bers among themseues:* 1.3 for as he who dissolueth the first vnity is an heretike: so he, which violateth this is a schis∣matike, wherefore Christ sayth in this all men shall know that you are my disciples, if you haue loue on to another. And the Apostle. That there might be no schisme in the body but the mem∣bers togeather might be carefull one for another.* 1.4 Finally, God is not the God of dissention, but of peace: as also in all the Churches of the Saynts I teach,* 1.5 sayth the same Apostle.

4. The third vnity is betwixt the faythfull people and their Pastours by o∣bedience, the which whosoeuer dissolue are also to be accounted schismatikes: of this the same Apostle writteth thus:* 1.6 Obey your Prelats & be subiect to them, & this is that fourth marke of the Church assigned by the Lutheranes,* 1.7 as we haue sayd in the precedent Chapter the second §.

5. This threefold vnity is very sen∣sible, the which may easily be perceiued euen by any Infidell. For the disagreement of doctrine concerning matters of fayth may easily be heard, the distentions of the people among themselues or with their Pastours may manifestly be per∣ceiued.

6. Finally euen naturall reason it selfe proueth this to be one of the most certaine signes of the true Church. For God cannot teach contrary and oppofit doctrine, because he then should be a lyar,* 1.8 which according to the Apostle is impossible. In like manner naturall reason sheweth that God, which is goodnesse it selfe can∣not be the author of schismes, and dis∣sentions, but of concord, peace and vnity.

7. The second signe is Holinesse: the holy Scripture is full of testimonies and authorities whereby this signe is most e∣uidently proued and declared. For S. Paul in the beginning of almost all his Epistles calleth the Churches vnto whom he wri∣teth, Holy, as is to be seene in the beginning of the Epistles to the Romanes, to the Cor∣inthians, to the Ephesians, to the Philippians, and to the Colossians,* 1.9 and S. Peter called the the true Church, an holy Nation. So also

Christ himselfe sayth. For then I doe sanctify my selfe,* 1.10 that they also may be sanctifyed in truth▪ Lastly that sentence is often repeated in the holy Scripture the which S. Peter ci∣teth also out of the old testament,* 1.11 be yee holy, because I am holy.

8. The signe also is visible vnto all, first because this sanctity is to be seene by good workes,* 1.12 that they may see, saith Christ, your good workes, and may glorify your Father which is in heauen. Secondly this san∣ctity may be seene by their pious and holy doctrine.* 1.13 For it is necessary that the true doctrine of God, be holy, sound and i••reprehensible. Thirdly, this sancti∣ty is seene by the miracles, wherby God himselfe t••stifieth and confirmeth the sanctity of his Church.* 1.14 And them that be∣lieue, saith Christ, these signes shall follow: in my name they shall cast out Diuells.

9. This signe also of Sanctity is eui∣dent to all euen by naturall reason. For a good tree bringeth forth good fruit.* 1.15 And con∣trariwise a bad tree bringeth forth ill fruite. Moreouer wicked doctrine which is ey∣ther against the Law of Nature or good manners cannot be of God: of the other si••e the doctrine which is agreable to the ••aw of n••ture and good manners is of God, Finally true miracles do conuince

that there is the true Church of Christ where such miracles are done, seing that true miracles can only be done by the power of God, for euen as God alone hath made and ordayned all thinges: so God only can change at his pleasure the Natures of thinges and the naturall order therof, according to that saying of the Prophet Dauid,* 1.16 Blessed be our Lord God of Is∣raell, who can only worke miracles. But God who is goodnesse it selfe cannot te∣stify or approue any false doctrine by miracles.

10. The third signe of the true Church is, that it is Catholike, or Vniuersall,* 1.17 and that two waies. First because it continu∣eth alwaies as we haue proued already. Secondly it is also Catholike or vniuer∣sall, because since the comming of Christ it is dilated and propagated ouer all the whole world.

11. S. Augustine vseth this argument most of all against the Donatists to shew the true Church. For first God promised Abraham, that all Nations should be blessed in his seed, and afterward he confirmed the same with an Oath. So God the Fa∣ther said vnto Christ: Aske of me, and I will giue thee Nations for thy inheritance & the limites of the earth for thy possession. Many such like

places are in the Psalmes, and in the new Testament.

12. And this signe is also visible, be∣cause that which is euery where, and at all tymes, may be seene of all men, when it is a thing that can be seene as this is.

13. Moreouer this signe is very cer∣taine euen by the light of nature. For na∣turall reason teacheth vs, that the proui∣dence of God extendeth it selfe very care∣fully ouer all those which are his: and that falsity cannot alwaies continue but must needes be ouercome by truth, and that God is of greater power and able to do more then the Diuell. Yea the begin∣ning and progresse of all false religions as Bellarmine well noteth,* 1.18 are certainly knowne. Finally the worke and coun∣sell of men, but not of God is quickely dissolued, as Gamaliel saith in S. Luke.

14. The fourth signe of the true Church of Christ is, that it is Apostoli∣call, to wit, founded by the Apostles of Christ: and that she hath continued euer since their tyme till these our dayes by a continuall succession. For this signe as also the former is the proper marke of the Church of the new Testament, for of it is all our Controuersie. But that the

Church of Christ was founded by the Apostles,* 1.19 appeareth e••idently by those wordes of S. Paul: built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. And we haue alrea∣dy proued the continuall succession of the Church by many testimonyes of Scri∣pture.* 1.20 ••he same also the Prophets do testify in many places.

15. Moreouer seeing that there are as the Apostle sayth, alwayes Pastors and Do∣ctors in the Church, without whom she cannot consist and continue, as our Ad∣uer••aries confes••e, it necessarily followeth as we haue declared before, that there hath alwaies beene a conti••••all succession of these Pastors and Doctors in the true Church of God.

16. But that which many do say is both foolish and friuolous, to wit that there hath beene alwayes a con••inuall suc∣c••ssion of doctrine in the Church, but not of persons. For seeing that true doctrine must needes proceed from some persons, a••d those of men (for not Angells but men doe teach now adayes) if the true doctrine continueth, it is also necessary that the men which teach this doctrine continue still,* 1.21 and such also as are law∣fully called to this office, as we haue pro∣ued before.

17. This continuall sucession is also a visible sig••e, because in some parts or persones thereof it may be seene at all tymes, as suc••ssiue and transistory things are wont to be seene: for in this manner only can a riuer for example sake & tyme it selfe be seene.

18. Finally this signe is also certaine and euidently well knowne among the Infidells: for vnlesse this sucession be con∣tinuall the true Church of God shall al∣togeather perish and decay, all honor & worship of the true God wilbe ouer∣throwne, and there will remayne no way for men to their eternall saluation. But of the other side where there is a cō∣tinuall successiō, and a neuer interrupted continuance of the same Religion, there appeareth sufficiently a great prouidence and a singular assistance of Almighty God towards men.

19. Furthermore that which we haue hitherto sayd of these sower signes might suffice, but that the pertinacy and inconstancy of our Aduersaries is so very admirable and great. For albeit in one place they acknowledge themselues to re∣ceiue the Nicen Creed wherein these fower signes of the Church are expresly contei∣ned,* 1.22 yet notwithstanding elswhere when

they see themselues manifestly conuinced by these signes of perfidious dealing,* 1.23 they do vtterly reiect thē. For Beza in his booke of the true & visible signes of true Catho∣like Church (wherin notwithstanding he goeth about nothing els but to establish those his inuisible markes of the Church) albeit he affirmeth that his followers doe acknowledge all those Creedes which haue beene alwayes approued by the common consent of the whole Church,* 1.24 to wit that of the Apostles, the Nicene, that of S. Athan••sius, the Constantinopolitane, and the Calcedon, yet for all this he impugneth these markes of the Church, of which he knoweth that he and his are altogether destitute, and especially the fourth which is deduced from the Apostolicall succession.

20. He therefore obiecteth these signes that they are not proper vnto the Church quarto modo, as Po••phyrius,* 1.25 and o∣ther Logicians define proprium quarto modo, because they doe not agree to the true Church only. For vnity and succession may also be found amongst wicked men as appeareth by the Iewes and Mahomets. But these are easily answered. For these signes are not alledged as properties quarto modo, as Beza thinketh, but rather as it were accidents by the collection, wherof

Indiuidua are distinguished one from ano∣ther,* 1.26 as the same Porphyrius teacheth: for those accidents, whereby Indiuidua are di∣stinguished may be found separated one from another in diuers substances, but not all gathered togeather in one.

21. Wherfore seeing that the Church is one, singular, and indiuisible, we must not only alledge the properties thereof, but also other signes, as it were qualities and accidents, wherby this true Church may be distinguished from all others. For albeit some one or other of these signes may be found in some other things, yet they cannot all fower togeather be found any where, but in the true Church.

22. Therefore any one of these signes considered by it selfe separateth the true Church from the false, as for example, the vnity of doctrine, and continuall succes∣sion doth separate and distinguish her from any hereticall Church: but all these signes or markes ioyned and vnited togea∣ther do distinguish the Church of Christ altogeather from euery false Church: and this is sufficient that they may be cal∣most true signes in their kind.* 1.27

23. We surely haue already in the beginning of the precedent controuer••y

spoken of the true properties of the Church, to wit, whē we declared that she is the spouse, body, Kingdome, inheritance, and citty of Christ, for these are propria quarto modo, and in this manner they all, alwayes, and only agree to the true Church of Christ.

24. Moreouer seeing that these pro∣perties are so inuisible, as that they cannot be perceyued by any sense, but only by faith, they are not sufficient to conuince Infidels, Heretikes, and others which want true fayth: and for this cause other visible signes are also necessary which may be perceyued by all, as also conuince them, of which sort are these foure signes which we haue now alledged.

25. That in the meane tyme we may omit, that the l••te and new vpstart Churches of our Aduersaries are so much worse then the Churches of Iewes and Infidels, because sometymes in these some one or other of the aforesayd signes may be found. But in our Aduersa••ies Church as we will shew herafter,* 1.28 not one of them can be found.

Notes

• * 1.1

  S. August. Tom. 7. de vnit. Eccles. cap. 3.
• * 1.2

  S. August. Tom. 8. cō. 2. in Psal. 30. su∣per ••averba v. 12. qui vi∣de••ant me foras fuge∣runt •• me.
• * 1.3

  Ephes. 4. v. 5. Ephes. 4. v. ••3.
• * 1.4

  Ioan. 13. v. 35.
• * 1.5

  1. Corinth. 1••. v. 25. II. Corinth. 14. v. 33.
• * 1.6

  Hebr. vlt. v. 17.
• * 1.7

  Cap. praece∣••ent. §. 2.
• * 1.8

  Hebr. 6. •• 18.
• * 1.9

  2. Petr. ••0. v. 9.
• * 1.10

  Ioan. 17. v. 1••.
• * 1.11

  1. Petr. 1. v. 16.
• * 1.12

  Matt. 5. v. 16.
• * 1.13

  Ad Titū ••, v. 1. & 8.
• * 1.14

  Marc. vlt. ••. .7.
• * 1.15

  Matt 7. v. ••8.
• * 1.16

  Psalm. 71. v. 18.
• * 1.17

  Supra c. 3. huius Con∣trouers. S. Aug. Tom. 7. per totum lib. de vni∣tate Eccles. Gens. 12. v. 3. Gens. 22. v. 8. Psal. 2. v. 8. Psal. 1. v. 8. & 11. Act. 1. v. 8. Rom. 10. v. 18. Colos. 1. v. ••.
• * 1.18

  B••ll••rm. l. 4. de Ec∣cles. milit. c. 5. & 6. Act. 5. v. 38. & 39▪
• * 1.19

  Ephes. 2. v. 20.
• * 1.20

  Cap. 3.4. & 8. huius controu. ••saiae 59. v. vlt. Ierem. 33. v. 17. & 18.
• * 1.21

  Supra c. 8. huius con∣trouersiae▪
• * 1.22

  Rupell. cō∣f••ss Art. ••. in fine.
• * 1.23

  Extat hi•• liber in 3. volum. Tract. Theo••. Be∣zae Tract. 6.
• * 1.24

  Habentu•• haec p. 138. subtinem edit. Ge∣neu. An. 1582.
• * 1.25

  Ita Bezae. p. 137 in principio vbi supra▪
• * 1.26

  Porph. c. de speci•• in sine▪
• * 1.27

  Supra c. 1. huius con∣••rouers.
• * 1.28

  Infra cap. 22. huius Controu▪