The English concord in ansvver to Becane's English iarre: together with a reply to Becan's Examen of the English Concord. By Richard Harris, Dr. in Diuinitie.

English Concord.* 1.1

DIstinguish but the times (as S^t. Augustine tea∣cheth you) namely, the times of the Chur∣ches peace, wherein raigned Christian Prin∣ces; and the times of persecution, wherin Pagan Kings had the Soueraignty) and you shall rightly vnderstand the Scriptures. Of the peaceable times of the Church so writeth D^r. Tooker, pag. 42. It belonged to King Da∣uid, Salomon, Iehoshophat, and Iosias, to giue lawes to the Leuites, and to the whole congregation of Israel.

And in the same place he writeth again of the times of persecution: Erat Apostolorum omnium, &c. It vvas not one, but all the Apostles, which both called the Councell, and decreed vvith like solemnity of these words Visumest Spiritui sancto, et nobis. It seemed good to the holy Ghost, and to vs.

Ma. Thomson (speaking of this matter) doth not de∣nie that the lame Apostolicall law had any force, with∣out the fauour of Caesar, as though there had neuer beene law in the Church, vvithout the aforsaid ap∣probation of the Emperour; but onely, that with∣out it, they had no force vnder paine of corporall punishment: as is most plaine by the tenor of his vvords.

So that heere is no Iarre or dissension among the English Writers, as hee affirmeth; but onely a drea∣ming dorage of the Iesuit, who childishly sporteth himselfe, with a fallacy of Equinocation; especially, when hee endeuoureth to match in equall ranke, the lawes and Canons of Bishops, with the lacred decrees and Constitutions of the Apostles.

Well wrote Saint Augustine:* 1.2 I am bound to consent to the holy Scriptures (of the which sort are the decrees of the Apostles) without all refusall.

And in another place; Iread other Writers,* 1.3 how much soeuer they excell in holinesse or learning; so, as I doe not therefore thinke it truth, because they thought so; but be∣cause they perswade mee by other canonicall Authors, or by probable reasons, not differing from truth.

And against Faustus:* 1.4 We must read this kind of lear∣ning (such as are the writings of the holy Fathers, and Doctors) non cum credendi necessitate, sed cum libertate iudicandi, not as bound to belieue them, but as free to iudge them.

And vnto this purpose he writeth in another place: Neither vvill I obiect the Councell of Nice vnto thee,* 1.5 neither must thou obiect the Councell of Ariminum vnto mee: let matter vvith matter, and reason dispute vvith reason, out of the authorities of holy Scriptures.

The Iesuit, I hope, will not deny, that all the Apo∣stolicall Sanctions vvere giuen by Diuine Inspitati∣on: and dareth hee affirme so much of all Ecclesiasti∣call Canons of Bishoppes, yea though the Popes Ho∣linesse haue breathed vpon them? yea, of the Coun∣cell of Trent?

Against which, the Embassadours of the French

King,* 1.6 who was there present, protested in this man∣ner: Minus legitima, minusque libera, &c. All those Councells vvere euer accounted lesse free, and therefore not so lavvfull, vvhen they, vvho vvere assembled (not ledde by the holy Ghost) spake after the pleasure of some other, to vveet, the Pope.

And the Vniuersitie of Paris, Anno 1517. in their appeale against Pope Leo the tenth, and his Councell assembled at Rome, wrote in this sort: Leo Papa dicimus in quodam coetu, &c. Leo the tenth, in a certaine Assembly, in the Citie of Rome, vvee knovve not hovv gathered to∣gether, yet vve are sure not in the holy Ghost.

And is Becane the Iesuit ignorant, in what pleasant manner Cardinall Cusan brake this iest vpon Eugenius the Pope? saying:* 1.7 Hovv can Pope Eugenius affirme this thing to be true, because hee vvill haue it so, and for no other cause? Ac si inspiratio ipsius Sancti spiritus, &c. As if the mind of the holy Ghost, vvere in the power of the Bishop of Rome; and must then inspire, vvhen the Pope vvill have him inspire.

To conclude this Question, I desire the Iesuit Be∣cane, in the behalfe of Ma. Thomson, to yeeld a sound reason, wherefore the Bishops, in the first Councell of Constantinople, did in this humble manner entreat Theodosius the Emperour: Rogamus clementiam, &c. Wee beseech your clemency, that by the letters Patents of your Piety, you vvould confirme, and cause to be ratified, the decree of this Councell.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pag. 48.
• * 1.2

  D••N••ur. et Grana. c. 61.
• * 1.3

  Epist. 19. ad Hiero. Dist. 9. Ego••oht.
• * 1.4

  Lib. 11. ca. 5.
• * 1.5

  Cont Max∣inn. l. 5. c. 14.
• * 1.6

  Anno 1562
• * 1.7

  De còcord. lib. 2. ca. 20.