The encounter against M. Parsons, by a revievv of his last sober reckoning, and his exceptions vrged in the treatise of his mitigation. Wherein moreouer is inserted: 1. A confession of some Romanists, both concerning the particular falsifications of principall Romanists, as namely, Bellarmine, Suarez, and others: as also concerning the generall fraude of that curch, in corrupting of authors. 2. A confutation of slaunders, which Bellarmine vrged against Protestants. 3. A performance of the challenge, which Mr. Parsons made, for the examining of sixtie Fathers, cited by Coccius for proofe of Purgatorie ... 4. A censure of a late pamphlet, intituled, The patterne of a Protestant, by one once termed the moderate answerer. 5. An handling of his question of mentall equiuocation (after his boldnesse with the L. Cooke) vpon occasion of the most memorable, and feyned Yorkeshire case of equiuocating; and of his raging against D. Kings sermon. Published by authoritie

The Reueiwe.

48. The former Decree of Greg. 13. standeth thus, concer∣ning Decrees, and Glosses, the Sextum, Clementines, and Extra∣uagants; Which we commend (saith Pope Greg.) vnto our belo∣ued sonne, to be reuiewed and allowed: And a little after: Which * 1.1 we command to be printed and published that the body of the Ca∣non law may be faithfully and incorruptly printed, according to the Copie which is printed at Rome, for the better helpe of all faithfull Christians whomsoeuer. In this Constitution heere is mention of Decrees, Glosses, Sextum, Clementines, and Extra∣uagants,

where we see that Glosses doe possesse the second place: And was the Pope thus religious to prouide for All faithfull Christians, least any of them might possibly be poyso∣ned with a corrupt Text, and would he not haue the like care that the Glosse should be perfect, which being false (according to the Prouerbe) doth corrupt the Text.

49. In the same Constitution Greg. saith, as followeth: We prouide that this body of the law may passe purged, sound, and safe, that it may not be lawfull for any man to adde any thing, or change it, or ioyn any interpretation vnto it: Therby forbidding only new Interpretations, for the old Glosses and Interpretati∣ons do stand still warranted ioyntly with the Text and body of the Canons. If therefore the Pope thoght those Glosses men∣tioned in the Constitution to be corrupt, why did he autho∣rize them? if he iudged them to be perfect, how did he not authorize them? And who can conceiue any inequality in the Popes approbation of these things, seeing that both De∣crees and Glosses, &c. are without any note of difference war∣ranted in the same Constitution at the same time, Anno 1580. by the same power of Pope Gregory 13. and to the same end for the helpe of faithfull Christians.

50. Neuerthelesse it is an hard thing (I confesse) for any man to vnderstand precisely when, and how the thing is ple∣narily and fully authorized by the Popes Decree, for in their last Councell of m 1.2 Trent it was decreed, that there should be One authenticall vulgar Edition of the Bible, which none might presume to reiect: yet that which was called then [The vulgar Edition] hath since that time beene twise diuersly cor∣rected: * 1.3 once by Pope Sixtus Quintus, and after by Pope Cle∣ment the eight, euen with contradictory approbations. Ney∣ther seemeth it vnto their owne Iesuits to be so perfect, but that they dare reprehend it: their Iesuite n 1.4 Maldonate, saying of one place that It is to be corrected by the Greeke; the Iesuite o 1.5 Ribera affirming of another place, that It ought to be accor∣ding to the Greeke; their Iesuite p 1.6 Salmeron affirming of ano∣ther place, that Without doubt this word were better left out: be∣sides the diuers other corrupt peeces of that Translation,

which, by the confession of some other Romish Doctors, haue occasioned corruption in doctrine, as q 1.7 elsewhere hath beene discouered. But M. Parsons is ready to pose me.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The authority of the Romish Glosse vpon the Decrees, and Decretals, &c.
• m 1.2

  Sess. 4.
• * 1.3

  The dubious authority of their vulgar Romish Trans∣lation of the Bible.
• n 1.4

  Mald. Ies. in Matth. 6. 5.
• o 1.5

  Ribera Ies. in Heb. 4. 2.
• p 1.6

  Salmeron Ies. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iac. 5. 16.
• q 1.7

  Catholike appeale, Lib. 4. cap. 18. §. 3.