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20 Thus the old man still venteth his choler adust, rag∣ing, and reuiling a learned Doctour, whose studies haue soa∣red some what aboue M. Parsons his reach: whom if he may
tearme a Prachant Minister, then may we venly thinke that there is no Preaching Priest amongst the Romanists. But we leane comparisons. M. Parsons is therefore so bitter against him, because he thought their Eq 〈◊〉〈◊〉 do carne the faces of Sodome and Gomorrha by paironizing, publishing, and perswading 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whole world the lawfulnesse of their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 who from hencefoorth (said he) may ease the 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Crete from their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 insame, which the Apostle 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vpon them, that the Cretensians are ly∣ars, &c. These 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & M. Parsons calleth hot and vehement calumniations, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 outcries, idle 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and flat lies: And in the end exacteth of him an answer vnto his reasons, for the defence of the Art of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which are set downe in the Mitigation. In the which challenge who seeth not there is more windy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then sober 〈◊〉〈◊〉 if either he considered the admirable, and indeed (in his kinde) kingly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of that our Doctor; or the vn∣tempered morter, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 M. Parsons hath dawbed vp a defence of his mentall Equiuocation, euen by reason of the mixture of absurditie and impietie, whereof they consist? As may be seene especially in his reason taken from the examples of Christ in Scripture. But first he desireth to be satisfied in some I esuiticall examples of like nature.
21 If I should propound the example of their Priest, who being deprchended and conuented before a Magist are, and asked whether he were a Priest or not? Answered no mean∣ing, No Priest of Apollo: secondly, whether he had been be∣yond the Sea, or no? Answered, No, meaning the Adria∣tique Sea; or other such like Delphicall euasions vsed by M. Garnet in his examinations, which were so vgly, that the Examiners were thereby driuen into woonder and horror; M. Parsons or some for him would readily reply that the Ma∣gistrats in England are no competent Iudges of their Priests; and that in so great an hazard, as was his libertie, or life, hee might lawfully Equiuocate. But I * 1.1 haue already prooued. that the authoritie of our Magistrates ouer a Priest is most iust: And it is also without question, that a man is no more
priuileged to Equiuocate, in danger of losse of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or of life, then of losse of goods; and therefore if M. Parjons could condemne the Equiuocation of out and in for a lie, then this Equiuocation of a Priest Romish, and a Priest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may not passe currant for truth.
22 But what need we our owne collection, for the mani∣festation of their lesuiticall delusions, seeing that we may be sufficiently enabled hereunto by our 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 We haue often heard of the complaint of a College of Ro∣mish b 1.2 Priests against M. Parsons for his coosenage, and cru∣eitie against some English Messengers, which were sent from them vnto the Pope: together with a description of M. Parsons his former disposition, which was To cogge and E∣quiuocate at euery word.
23 Besides this, their Quodlibettarian Priest declameth against the lesuits, because of their c 1.3 Abuse of Equiuocation, making it indeed (saith he) nothing but an Art of lying, cog∣ging and foisting, and that without all respect of matter, time, or place; and consequently tending vnto flat Atheisme: So that * 1.4 (saith he) it shall be as hard to conuince them of any errours in matters of faith, as it was to conuince Arius, who subscribing to the Councels decrees, swearing that it was true, as it there was written, (meaning in the paper kept close in his bosome, or sleeue) iust like to the Iesuits Equinocating, or counter∣feited periuries. And, for example, hee bringeth in one d 1.5 Iames Standish a Iesuit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 who abused the Pope; when be∣ing asked of his Holinesse, whether the matter of the setting vp of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in England was done by the consent of all the rest of the Priests in England, or not? answered, (but falsly, for scarce one of the secular Priests in England, in respect of the whole num∣ber, knew of it) that, [It was,] reseruing to him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this part, vz. [As I presuppose, or presume] as since he hath confessed. And the like practise of Iesuits he there noteth with Ca. Ca∣ietane, in offering his Lordship the names of Priests, as consen∣ting to that which they did not, and excusing the matter by their secret reseruation, scil. If all would consent Can any pre∣sume that they will feare by Equiuocating to abuse their
neighbours, who make so bold to collude with their ghostly father, and supreme Pastor, the Pope?
24 By this we finde, that there is, in this point of Equi∣uocating, some oddes betweene the honestie of Protestants, and Romanists, seeing that M. Parsons could not produce an example of any one Protestant, who hath so equinocated; except that of Out, and In, which (vpon due examination) appeareth to haue beene either the lying suggestion of his friend, or else the false inuention and forgery of his owne braine. And who is there among all Protestants that euer put pen to paper, to iustifie M. Parsons maner of Mentall Reseruation? But as for our Aduersaries, their profession herein is so rancke, and their practice so rife, that one of their owne brotherhood had cryed out vpon theirlyes and coggeries. Yet this deuellish Doctrine were lesse dangerous, if it did not transforme it selfe into the resemblance of more than an Angell of light, by pretending the example of our Blessed Sauiour Christ, as followeth.
See aboue, lib. 1. ca. 3. §. 5.
Sce aboue, lib. 1. cap. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 28.
Quodlib. pag. 32. & 33.
Examples of Equiuoca∣ting Romish Priests.
Ib. pag. 66.