The prudentiall ballance of religion wherin the Catholike and protestant religion are weighed together with the weights of prudence, and right reason. The first part, in which the foresaide religions are weighed together with the weights of prudence and right reason accordinge to their first founders in our Englishe nation, S. Austin and Mar. Luther. And the Catholike religion euidently deduced through all our kings and archbishopps of Canterburie from S. Austin to our time, and the valour and vertue of our kings, and the great learninge and sanctitie of our archbishopps, together with diuers saints and miracles which in their times proued the Catholike faith; so sett downe as it may seeme also an abridgement of our ecclesiasticall histories. With a table of the bookes and chapters conteyned in this volume.

CHAP. XVI. That Saint Austin was a Roman Catholick, prooued by the con∣fession of learned Pro∣testants.

1. DOctor Abbots in his late answer to Doct. Bishop pag. 197. calleth S. Austin a black Monk. pag. 20. The Italian Monk, brought new obseruations from Rome, and the English receaued the same. pag. 198. A Romish Priest, required the British Bishops to be subiect to his Romish authoritie. A Romish Arch∣bishop brought in nouelties and superstitions, and did contaminat the faith of Christ, Mellitus, Lau∣rentius, Iustus, all of Austins company and condition Iuel Art. 3. Diu. 21. It is thought of many that Austin corrupted the Religion that he found here vvith much filth of superstition. Fulk 1. Cor. 4. Austin did not beget the Nation of the English men to Christ by the pure Gospel, but vvith the mixture of Traditions. And that Christian Reli∣gion vvhich he found in the Britons he labored to corrupt vvith Romish inuentions. 1. Cor. 15. Austin did not in all points teach the true faith to the Saxons. 2. Cor. 12. Aust. brought in corruption. Syr Francis Hastings in his Wast word

once or twise saith, that Austin brought in the Romish Religion. Osiander Epit. Hist. cent. 6. Aust. thrust Roman rites and customs vpon the English. To vvit Altars, Vestements, Masses, Chalices, Crosses, Candlesticks, Censars, Banners, holy Vessels, holy vvater, and bookes of Roman customs. See Magdeburgenses cent. 6. Bale cent. 1. pag. 19. After Austins Apostleship (saith he) vnder the English Saxons there followed an other kind of Monkes which corrupted all with most filthy superstitions & Idolatries. And cent. 1. cap. 70. Austin entred not with the Gospel (of Luther) of Christian peace, but with the banner of his Apostleship, with a siluer Crosse, Letanies, Procession, Images, painted Pictures, Reliques, and ritual bookes. And cap. 72. Aust. made Elbald drinck of the cup of the whore, cap. 73. King Ethel∣bert first of all English men receaued of Greg. 1. Bishop of Rome by Austin the opinions of the Roman Religiō with all (saith he) the imposture or deceit, and dyed the one and twentith yeare of his receaued Papisme. And pag. 73. he calleth our primitiue church a carnal Synagogue. And yet further cent. 8. cap. 85. Austin (saith he) brought in Popish Monkerie, & besides the Popes traditions (o filthie and blasphemous mouth) brought no thing but mans dung. Cent. 13. c. 1. Austin the Roman brought hither Romish rites without sound doctrine. The King receaued Romanisme with the anexed Idolatries. He brought in Monkes, Altars, Vestements, Images, Masses, Chalices, Crosses,

Candlesticks Banners, holy (as they call them) Vessels, holy water, and bookes of Roman customs. Their cheeffest studies were about the oblations of Masses. And finally Cent. 14. cap 31. he saith, Austin disposed all things in England to the forme of the Sinagogue of Rome, and made English men honorers of the Pope. Thus plainly is S. Austins Roman Religion confessed by Bale who was both as earnest a Protestant and as skilful in antiquities as euer ••nglish Pro∣testant was. Holinshead also Descript. Brit. cap. 27. saith The Inhabitants of Britanie receaued the Doctrine of Rome brought in by Austin and his Monks. Ib. Austin indeed conuerted the Saxons from Paganisme but imbued them with no lesse hurtful superstition than they did know before. For besides the name ef Christ and external contempt of their pristinat Idolatrie, he taught them nothing at all, but rather made an exchange from grosse to subtil trecherie, from open to secret Idolatrie, and from the name of Pagans to the bare Title of Christians. So far were these men from thincking S. Austin to haue bene a Protestant, or to haue agreed with them as Fulk would 2. Cor. 12. in the cheefe and most essential points of faith.

Notes

• D. Abbots
• Iuel.
• D. Fulk.
• Osandes.
• B. Bale.
• Holins∣head.