Page 115
CHAP. II. Of the common workes of Papists.
BUt may our aduersaries say, albeit in time past men were not so learned; yet they liued better then men of our times. And true it is that S. Augustine saith, That men * 1.1 vnlearned earnestly contend for heauen, while learned men without vnderstanding wallow in flesh and blood: if we vn∣derstand it of those that onely had learned Christ Iesus and him crucified, and were vnskilfull in other matters; and not of those rude and ignorant people, that albeit running in worldly affaires, were notwithstanding vtterly ignorant of Christ Iesus. Wherefore as we haue before proued the Papists to be commonly most ignorant of diuine matters, so now we will briefly touch their liues and actions, to see if their manners correspond with their skill. And the rather I follow this course, for that Schoppius telleth vs * 1.2 of their braue workes done in the times of Iubileys, and Ro∣bert Parsons is euer talking of good workes, as if that were the proper possession of his consorts. Wherein I would not haue any to thinke that when I name Papists, I meane to speake against all our forefathers (who indeed positiuely held not all points of popery, but rather professed Christia∣nitie positiuely, albeit they did not resolutely denie popish errors) but onely such as are the chiefe founders, teachers, and maintainers of popish Religion, and which with great zeale persecute all that resist it, or refuse it.
These fellowes therefore, I say, haue no cause to glorie or boast of their workes. For whether we looke into the di∣uersitie of times or states of men, or else consider euery ver∣tue and good worke by it selfe, or looke into the countries drowned in Popery; I doubt not but we shall find the zela∣tors and chiefe pillers of popery very defectiue, and no way answerable to the commendation which their hired Pro∣ctors do commonly giue them.