The refutation of an epistle, written by a certain doctor of the Augustins order within the citie of Leige together with the arguments, which he hath borrowed from Robert Bellarmine, to proue the inuocation of Saints. By Iohn Polyander, minister vnto the French Church in Dort: and now translated by Henry Hexham, out of French into English.

TO THE FRENCH CHVRCH ASSEMBLED together at Dort.

THere is no exercise (most deare and worthie Brethren in the Lord) more needfull, nor more conuenient for a Chri∣stian man, then to call vpon his Creator and Sauiour. For sith that hee receiueth from his hand all manner of bles∣sings, aswell for this present life, as for that which is to come, he is therefore bound continually to inuo∣cate and call vpon him for aide, who is the Father of lights, from whom commeth downe euery good giuing, and euery perfect gift. Beside, it is also that marke by which the children of light are discerned from the children of this world, who, as it is written in the 14 Psalme, haue no care to call vpon the Lord. More∣ouer, it is one of the parts of that Christian ac∣knowledgement, whereby wee make profession to beleeue that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seeke him, as the Apostle witnesseth in the 11. Chapter to the Hebrewes, and sixth verse. It is a sweete communication and a familiar discourse with God, whereby wee freely declare to him our

necessities, and beseech him to returne an answere to our petitions in due time. It may also be called an ambassage, or a trusty Post, which swiftly moun∣ting vp to heauen, knocketh at the gate of Gods pa∣lace, there to present before him all our requests. Finally, it is the very soule of our soules, and like as our bodies cannot liue, nor subsist without our soules; so likewise cannot our soules perseuere in the faith and hope of the grace of God, which is the fountaine of life, without the exercise of prayer. Which point the Fathers of the old Testament considering, ere they betooke themselues to any of their affaires, began them euermore by calling vp∣on the name of God, saying, Our helpe is in the name of the Lord which hath made heauen and earth. Which also the Iewes from the godlinesse of their forefa∣thers hold yet vnto this day, and obserue it so care∣fully, that they addresse their prayers to none, but to that sole Creator of all things. Wherein these ig∣norant people, which neither know the Sonne, nor the Father, shew themselues farre more wise and religious, then the Papists, which call themselues Christians and Catholikes, and yet notwithstan∣ding are so blockish and superstitious, that in stead of addressing themselues to the only God Almigh∣tie & immortall, they implore the aide of the dead, and their Idols, not considering what the Lord speaketh by his Prophet Esay in the 42. chap. and 8. verse, that his glorie he will not giue to another, neither his praise to grauen Images. But what? the diuell (sworne enemie against the honour of God, and mans saluation) hath with such an efficacy breathed this impiety into the hearts of those lying Doctors,

that albeit they are conuicted by an infinit number of sentences of holy Scripture, by which God ex∣pressely forbiddeth vs not to worship any but him∣selfe, yet they obstinately maintaine the contrarie, and that oft times against the feeling of their owne consciences, withholding the truth in vnrighteous∣nesse, and shutting their eyes and eares against this admonition of the Apostle S. Paul in his second E∣pistle to the Corinthians, chap. 13. vers. 8. That wee cannot doe any thing against the truth, but for the truth. Which (Truth) although that in these latter daies, it is represented vnto vs more cleerer then euer it was; yet notwithstanding of many it is vnknowne and abandoned, which follow on apace the foolish deuotion of their blind leaders, and who to please and obey them, rather then our Soueraigne Do∣ctor and Master Iesus Christ, will not vouchsafe to take so much paines, as to informe themselues of this truth, by reading of the holy Scripture, but like better to depend wholly vpon the Traditions of their Teachers, despising through their voluntarie ignorance the exhortatiō which the Apostle. S Iohn giueth vnto al Christians in his first epistle, 4. vers. 1. Dearely beloued, beleeue not euery spirit, but trie the spi∣rits whether they are of God: for many false Prophets are gone out into the world. Now, the more furiously the Truth is assaulted by Satan and his slaues, so much the more couragiously ought it to be maintained and defended by the zealous louers of pure reli∣gion; but especially by the Ministers and Pastors of the holy Gospel, who according to that rule which the Apostle S. Paul prescribeth them in his Epistle to Titus, 1. 9, ought to employ themselues diligent∣ly

to exhort with wholesome doctrine those which are willing to bee instructed, and to improoue the gainsaiers. I then being called by God into the la∣bour of his holy Ministerie, haue employed my self amidst you (according to that talent which it hath pleased him to bestow vpon me) for the space of sixteene yeeres on these two parts of my vocation; and hauing respect to the multitude, and sufficien∣cie of my predecessors, who haue taken penne in hand to instruct the ignorant, and to refute false Teachers by their writings, I haue contented my selfe hitherto to follow their traces in my publique Sermons and priuate Conferences, with such as were desirous to profit with me in knowledge of the fundamentall points of our Christian faith, ac∣cording to the occasions which were presented. But of late hauing seene an Epistle written by a certaine Doctor of the Augustins Order, touching the inuocation of Saints, sent vnto one of my Audi∣tours to seduce thereby the sheepe which our So∣ueraigne Shepheard Iesus Christ hath recommen∣ded to me; I held it my dutie to returne it backe a∣gaine to Leige with my answere, to satisfie the de∣sire of one of his disciples; by whō the said Doctor hauing receiued my answere, promised him that shortly after he would write back vnto me againe, and that effectually. But seeing there are almost two yeeres past since he held my refutation, and that in all y^• time he could not make some small Treatise to fulfill and accomplish his promise, his silence ma∣keth me to thinke, that he hauing considered well, examined and weighed the arguments of my re∣plie, hath repented himself for his foolish boasting,

and that (if his conscience be not ••eared) he feeleth himselfe alreadie checked by the truth that shineth in my Refutation; which in the meane time I haue amplified, and now published with his Epistle, fol∣lowing the counsell of some excellent learned per∣sonages, with hope that I shall see it bring foorth some fruite, if not in the abouesaid Doctor, or in some of his obstinate scholars, yet at least in such as are teachable, and especially in you my most deare and worthie brethren, of whom I haue conceiued this hope, that whereas heretofore ye haue willing∣ly heard me to entreat of this subiect aswell in my Sermons, as in my familiar discourses with you, so ye will now take no lesse delight in hearing me to discourse of it in this small booke, which here I pre∣sent you as appertaining vnto you by a double right. For first of all being consecrated to your ser∣uice from the beginning of my ministerie, the pro∣prietie of euery instruction (which through Gods grace I propound vnto men) is wholly yours. Be∣sides, seeing that the intention of my dispute is, to shew the difference between a true, and a false ado∣ration, and to perswade euery man by all possible meanes to stand fast in the true, and to reiect the false; to whom could I better appropriate it then to you, to whom aboue all things I am bound to teach the first point and fruit of our faith, which is, to wor∣ship God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ in spirit and truth, and to call vpon none but him in our necessities? Whereunto, as I seeke to giue you some helpe by this present Treatise, so doe I giue thankes to the Lord, for that alreadie ye are so well grounded and instructed in this principle of true

religion, assuring my self that he which hath sowne this good seed in your soules, wil make it abundant∣ly to grow vp, and to fructifie in such a sort, that thereby his name shall be glorified, your neighbour edified, and your hearts fortified against all manner of tentations. Finally, if I perceiue that this small Treatise, which I publish vnder your names, be ac∣ceptable and pleasing vnto you, your courtesie will serue as a spurre to pricke me more cheerfully for∣ward in my commenced Career, and one day here∣after to entreat more at large vpon this subiect, through the grace of our blessed God and heauenly Father: to whom I recommend you, beseeching him with all my heart, that it will please him (most deare and worthy Brethren) to maintaine you euen to the end in the profession of his truth, and to re∣plenish you with his temporall and eternall blessings, for the aduancement of his glorie, and the saluation of your soules. From my Studie this 4. of August, 1607.

Your no lesse affectionated then seruiceable Pastor and bro∣ther in the Lord, Iohn Polyander.

Notes

• Iames 1. 17.
• Heb. 11. 6.
• Psal. 124. 8.
• Esay. 42. 8.
• 2. Cor. 13. 8.
• 1. Epist. chap. 4. vers. 1.