A replie to Iesuit Fishers answere to certain questions propou[n]ded by his most gratious Matie: King Iames By Francis White D: of Div· deane of Carlile, chaplaine to his Matie. Hereunto is annexed, a conference of the right: R:B: of St Dauids wth the same Iesuit*

ANSVVER.

The Church is vniuerfall: First, Because of time: for it con∣tinueth successiuely in all Ages, Matth. 28.20. Luc. 1.33.

Secondly, In regard of Persons and Places, because no Countrey, Nation, State, Age, or Sex of People, are excluded [ D] from being part of it, Galat. 3.20. Act. 10.34. Apoc. 5.9.

Thirdly, In respect of Faith, because Diuine Veritie, consti∣tutiue, and which giueth being to the true Church, continueth throughout all Ages, 1. Pet. 1.25. Reuel. 14.6. and is found in all the parts of the true Church.

But notwithstanding this, the true Church is not perpetually vniuersall, in regard of actuall amplitude, and diffusion of visible Congregations, throughout all Nations, and inhabited. Coun∣treyes of the World a 1.1; for it may in some Ages, in actu exercito, and in regard of actuall residence, remaine onely in a few [ E] Countreyes: and Cardinall Bellarmine b 1.2 graunteth, That if one

sole Prouince of the World should retaine true Faith, yet the Church [ A] might then be truly and properly called vniuersall, if it could manifestly be shewed that the same were one with that Church which was once vni∣uersally spred ouer the world. And although Deiure, by right and according to the diuine Precept, the true Church should at all times remaine and continue in those regions where it was once planted; yet it happeneth by the malice and iniquitie of man, that those places which once were a Sanctuarie of holinesse, are afterwards changed into the habitation of Satan, a 1.3 and into a cage of vncleane Birds.

The Iesuit perceiuing that it is impossible to defend a perpe∣tuall actuall vniuersalitie of the Church, presenteth vnto vs an imaginarie vniuersalitie: his words are, She may be said to be eue∣rie where morally speaking, &c.

I answere: Morally speaking, the Church cannot be said to be, where it is altogether vnknowne, and where no meanes are vsed, or actions performed, which are sufficient to make it knowne. A king may morally be said to be in euery part of [ C] his kingdome b 1.4, because his lawes, ministers, and gouernment are extended throughout all his kingdome, and king Richard the first, when hee was in Syria c 1.5, might be said to be morally in England. But the true Church, in many ages, hath no com∣merce with Infidels in things spirituall, mediate or immediate: the Faith, Preaching, and authoritie thereof, is altogether vn∣knowne to many people, to wit, to the inhabitants of America for 1400. yeeres: to many other nations of Affrica and Eu∣rope, for 600. yeeres, &c. And many people, which heare the fame of Christians in generall, as they doe of the Iewes, haue [ D] no meanes to distinguish Orthodoxe Beleeuers from Here∣tickes: and they which vnderstand not the Doctrine of the true Church, cannot take notice of her, as of a worthie and credible witnesse of diuine Tradition.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Card. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Compend. cap. 37. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nostra, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a sul exordio, fuerit semper Cath & 〈◊〉〈◊〉, vniuersitate puritatis, sanctitatis, & veritatis, non tamen vniuersitate dilatationis, &c.
• b 1.2

  Bellarm. d. Eccles. li. 4. c. 7. Quod 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sola vna Prouincia retineret veram 〈◊〉〈◊〉 adhuc vere & proprie Ecclesia diceretur Ca∣tholica, dummodo clare ostenderetur, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 esse vnam & candem cum illa quae fuit aliquo tempore vel diuersis, in toto mundo.
• a 1.3

  Dried. d. Eccl. dog. li. 4. p. 2. c. 2. Per Haereticos A∣rium, [ B] Nestorium, Eunomium, Mahumetam, major pars veram Ecclesiam de seruit ad dogmata à traditione san∣ctorum patrum aliena.
• b 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Mirand. Apol. q. 1. Rex ex∣istens in Palatio, di∣citur esse in alio lo∣co prouinciae, vbi authoritate pote∣statis suae, & impe∣rio suo aliquid 〈◊〉〈◊〉 operatur.
• c 1.5

  Roger. Houeden. Annal. pars poster. in Richard. 1.