The Catholique triumph conteyning, a reply to the pretensed answere of B.C. (a masked Iesuite,) lately published against the Tryall of the New Religion. Wherein is euidently prooued, that Poperie and the doctrine now professed in the Romish church, is the new religion: and that the fayth which the Church of England now mayntaineth, is the ancient Romane religion.

T. B.

I answere, First, that if my selfe were this day at Rome, (as our Fryer seemeth heere to desire and wish;) it is very probable, or rather most certaine & sure, that the Pope & his Jesuites with their accursed Iesuited crew, would deale with me, as the Philistims did with Sampson, if happily they would afford me so much fauour. Secondly, that our Iesuite giueth himselfe a mortall wound, in that he appro∣ueth that Doctrine, which Iosephus Angles hath published to the veiw of the world. For, whatsoeuer is wholy & al∣together vnworthy, that doubtlesse can be no way wor∣thy. The case is cleare, but let vs heare and seriously ponder Angles, his owne wordes: Eodem itiam modo con∣siderantes omnes alij Doctores sancti, naturalem solummodo bo∣norum

operum valorem, et illum a valore et iusta vlta ••••erna ••sti∣matione longissime distare perpendente••, prudent••r dixerunt, opera nostra non esse meritoria aut digna vita aeterna. Ex legetamen, siue conuentione, siue promissione facta nobiscum, opera ••ona ho∣minis 〈…〉〈…〉 gra••ia Deo siunt aeternae vita digna, e•• illi ae∣qualia; quae, seclusa illa De•• prom••ssione, qua p••ss••m in sa••••is lite∣ris reperitur fuissent tanto praem•••• prorsus indigna. All other holy Doctors also, considering after the same manner the naturall value onely of good Workes, and percei∣uing that it is exceeding farre distant from the value and iust estimation of eternall life, said wisely, that our works are not meritorious nor worthy of eternall life: yet for the couenant and promise made vnto vs, the good works of man with the helpe of Gods grace, are worthy of Eter∣nall life, and equall with it, which for all that, the pro∣mise of God which is very frequent in the Scripture, set aside, were altogether vnworthy of so great Reward. Thus disputeth our popish Bishop, our holy Fryer, euen to the Pope himselfe, sitting in his pontificall Chaire. Who, though hee bestirre himselfe more then a little▪ to establish the condigne merite of mans Works; yet doth he in his owne kind of dispute, vtterly confute and con∣found himselfe. For first, he granteth, that not onely Saint Chrisostome, but all the rest of the holy Fathers with him, affirme constantly & vniformely with one voyce & as∣sent; that good Works neither are meritorious properly, nor worthy of Eternal life▪ Secondly, that the best Works considered in their owne nature and kinde, are vnwor∣thy of Eternall life. Thirdly, that good Workes pro∣ceeding of Grace and ioyned with the promise of God, are worthy of Eternall life. Fourthly, and lastly, that if Gods promise and free acceptation be set apart, the best Workes of all, are altogether vnworthy of Eternall glo∣rie. Which Doctrine doubtlesse, I most willingly embrace: And consequently, though the Papists neuer cease to impeach, accuse, slaunder, and condemne vs in

this behalfe, ye•• doe we defend nothing herein, (as i•• euident to the indifferent Reader,) but euen that, which their owne best Doctours in their printed Bookes doe teach vs. Yea, in those very Bookes; which are dedicated to the Pope himselfe. The conceits which Byshop Fry∣er Joseph hath coyned, to make good his fondly imagined condigne merite of Workes, are very childish and too too friuolous. For first, where he sayth, the Fathers speake of Good workes, onely in respect of their natu∣rall value; as he tearmeth it. I answere, that that silly Glosse is onely inuented by himselfe & his complices: so to saue the life of their rotten and beggerly Poperie, if any way it might serue their turne: For no such thing can be found, in any of their Bookes. S. Augustine (as we haue euen now seene,) doth plainely, condemne their foolish exposition. Nay our Fryer Byshoppe vnawares confuteth himselfe (of such force is the trueth,) while he very honestly graunteth; That Good workes done in Grace, are vtterly vnworthy of Heauen, if Gods Promise be set apart. Where I wish the Reader to obserue seri∣ously with mee this word (prorsus, wholly, vtterly, and all togeather;) which is in deed his owne, and most em∣phaticall against himselfe. For doubtlesse, whatsoeuer is wholly vnworthy, the same can neuer be condignely worthy. No man in his right wittes, will euer deny this most manifest trueth. But say on sir Fryer; let vs heare some more of this pleasant melodie.

Notes

• Iudg. 16. v. 21.25.
• Ios. Angles in 2. sent. page. 103.
• Marke well this doctrine.