The golden ballance of tryall VVherein the reader shall plainly and briefely behold, as in a glasse of crystall; aswell by what rule all controuersies in religion, are to be examined, as also who is, and of right ought to be the vpright iudge in that behalfe. Whereunto is also annexed a counterblast against a masked companion, terming himself E.O. but supposed to be Robert Parsons the trayterous Iesuite.

CAP. II. Of the uncertainety of iudgement of many Bishops, e∣uen when they employ their wits and learning to teach one and the selfe same doctrine. (Book 2)

WE finde in holy Writte, that the chiefest of the Priestes and people trespassed wonderfully,* 1.1 according to all the abhominations of the Heathen, and polluted the house of the Lord▪ which he had sancti∣fied in Ierusalem.* 1.2 The Watchmen of Ephraim, sayth Hoseah, should bee with my God: but the prophet is the snare of a fowler in all his wayes, and hatred in the house of his God. The Prophets saith Ieremie,* 1.3 prophesie lies in my name, I haue not sent them, neither did I commaund them, but they prophesie vnto you a false vision, and diuination, & vanitie, and deceitfulnes of their own heart.

* 1.4The same Prophet sayth againe in an other place after this manner; From the least of them to the greatest, euery one is giuen to couetousnes, and from the Prophet to the Priest, they all deale falsly.

* 1.5Their Watchmen saith Esay, are all blind, they haue no knowledge, they are all dumbe dogs, they cannot barke.

Many of the olde writers taught with vniforme consent, that the soules of the faithful departed doe not see God, vntill the day of generall doome. To

recite the wordes of a few may suffice for this time.

Lactantius hath these wordes;* 1.6 Nec tamen quisquam putet, animas post mortem protinus iudicari, omnes in v∣na communique custodia detinentur, donec tempus adue∣niat, quo maximus iudex meritorum facit examen.

Yet may not any man thinke, that the soules of the iust shal forth with after death, haue their iudge∣ment, for they are all kept in one common prison vntill the time come, when the great Iudge shall dis∣cusse euerie mans deserts.

Iustinus Martyr hath these wordes;* 1.7 Neque enim an∣te resurrectionem, vitae cuique peractae retributio contin∣git. Iterum, vtilitas latroni quod Paradisum sit ingressus, haec finit, quod fidei commodum re ipsa percepit, per quod dignus reputatus est, qui sanctorū caetui adiungeretur, in quo vsque ad diem resurrectionis & remunerationis re∣seruatur.

No man hath his rewarde before the day of resurrection: The Theefe by going to Paradise, had this benefite, that he receiued in verie deed the fruit of his faith, by which he was reported worthy of the Fellowship of Saintes, where hee is reserued vntill the day of resurrection and remuneration.

Victorinus hath these wordes:* 1.8 Sed quia in No∣uissimo tempore sanctorum remuneratio perpetua, & im∣piorum ventura est damnatio, dictum est eis, expectate.

But because in the last time, Saints must receiue their rewardes, and the wicked their damnation, it is said vnto them, Expectate, ye must expect, or doe ye expect a while.

I could alleadge the wordes of Ireneus, of Euthy∣mius

of Oxigenes, and others to the same effect, and yet the doctrine taught by these Fathers, is this day holden for a flat heresie▪ euen of the Papistes themselues.

Caietanus a learned Papist, and sometime Cardi∣nall of Rome, (for which respect hee must perforce be of great credite among them) doth grauely ad∣uise the Reader in his commentaries vpon the Pen∣tateuch of Moyses;* 1.9 willing him to contemne no∣thing rashlie, but to examine all thinges by the ho∣ly scripture, and to embrace that which is agreeable thereunto: although it swerue from the opinion of neuer so many Fathers. His words are set downe at large in my booke of Motiues.

* 1.10The great Schooleman and renowned popish Bishoppe Melchior Canus confesseth verie plainely, that the consent of many Bishops and learned men, doth not yeeld a sound argument for mans consci∣ence to rest thereupon.

The same Canus in an other place auoucheth bold¦ly,* 1.11 that though al the Thomists with the Scotists, & late writers with the olde take part against him; yet must he perforce haue the victorie, because reason is on his side: his wordes are set downe at large in my Booke of Motiues.* 1.12

What neede long periods? Austen, Ambrose, Bede, Chrysostome, Remigius, Eusebius, Bernardus, Bonauen∣tura, Maximus, Erardus, Bernardinus, Aquinas, Hugo, and almost all the rest affirme with one consent, al∣ledging expresse textes of Scripture for their opi∣nion, that the blessed Virgin Mary was concei∣ued

in originall sinne, and yet doth the late hatched nest of Iesuites with other Papistes this day auouch the contrarie for a truth if any man be desirous to know more of this point, hee may find it at large in my books of Motiues and Suruay, loe, these cannot always be iudges in al matters of faith and religion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2. Par. 36. v. 14.
• * 1.2

  Hos. 9. v. 10.
• * 1.3

  Iere. 14. v. 14.
• * 1.4

  Iere. 6. v. 13.
• * 1.5

  Esa 56. v. 10.
• * 1.6

  Lactan't. lib. 7 cap. 21.
• * 1.7

  Iustinus, q. 60 & q. 76. ad Orthod.
• * 1.8

  Victor. in Apocalips.
• * 1.9

  Caietan, in quinq. lib. Mosis.
• * 1.10

  Canus lib. 7. cap. 1. de locis.
• * 1.11

  Canus, lib. 8. cap. 5.
• * 1.12

  Argumentum ad hominem.