The suruey of popery vvherein the reader may cleerely behold, not onely the originall and daily incrementes of papistrie, with an euident confutation of the same; but also a succinct and profitable enarration of the state of Gods Church from Adam vntill Christs ascension, contained in the first and second part thereof: and throughout the third part poperie is turned vp-side downe.

The answere.

I say first, that not onely the holy scriptures, but the an∣cient [ 1] fathers also, and other learned diuines, are to be heard be∣fore all phisicions, in the mysteries of our faith.

I say secondly, that Fernelius maketh nothing for the papists, [ 2] as who speaketh only of the dilatation of the matrice; and that after the natural and ordinary course.

I say thirdly, that though Christs holy mother were a virgin [ 3] both before his birth, in his birth, and after his birth, as all the ancient fathers with vniforme consent doe witnesse: yet was her wombe opened in his birth, as is alreadie prooued. For as their owne angelicall Doctour Aquinas saith,* 1.1 whose doctrine sundrie Popes one after another haue confirmed: vir∣ginitie is not lost by fraction of the signacle, but by corruption of the mind and purpose of the will.* 1.2 Saint Austen hath a lear∣ned and large discourse concerning this only point of doctrine, wherein he sheweth grauely, that the apertion of the matrice may be done sundrie waies: to wit, either by arte in the way

of medicine, or by violence of the corrupter, or by other acciden∣tall meanes: and that virginitie this notwithstanding, may be free from all corruption. Much more might Christs owne mo∣thers wombe, be opened by his diuine power: and neuerthelesse her most holy wombe, still remaine inuiolable.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Aqu. 22. q. 152. ar. 1. ad 3.
• * 1.2

  August. libr. 1. de ciuit. Dei cap. 18.