The orthodox faith and vvay to the Church explaned and iustified in answer to a popish treatise, entituled, White died blacke; wherein T.W. p. in his triple accusation of D. White for impostures, vntruths, and absurd illations, is proued a trifler: and the present controuersies betweene vs and the Romanists are more fully deliuered and cleared. By Francis White Bachelour in Diuinitie, and elder brother of Doctor Iohn White.

Paragr. 3. The Councell of Eliberis concerning images.

T. W. Here now I am come to the last corruption, which I intend to display, the which I haue purposely reserued where∣with to close vp the taste of my Reader, so notorious is it for the authors so dextrous and depraued conueiance.

Answ. * 1.1Although conceipt doe many times puffe vp fooles, as winde doth bladders: yet I can hardly beleeue your hope is according to your words. For all the skilfull Surgeons of your Popish sect, hauing experienced their best remedies, faile in the cure of the blow, which the

Canon of the ancient Councell of Eliberis hath giuen their puppets; and therefore it is scarce credible that a land-leaping Emperick can salue this incurable vlcer. But let vs heare what you say.

T. W. Where as euery one of the former deprauations, &c. resteth in abusing the authoritie of some one particular man, this striketh at a whole Councell, consisting of ma∣ny scores of Fathers; so happy a progresse M. White hath made in the profession of corrupting.

Answ. I perceiue by this entrance what will be the vp∣shot of this businesse: Good Sir, at your leasure tell me how many scores of Fathers are contained in nineteene: for if you consult with the Tomes of the Councelsa 1.2, and your great Doctors, they will tell you there were onely 19. Fathers in this Councell.

T. W. Our Minister to ouerthrow the religious vse of Images, produceth the 36. Canon of the Councell of Eliberisb 1.3; to wit, No picture is to be made in the Church, lest that be adored which is painted on walls. But the very words of the Canon are; It pleased the Councell, that pictures should not be in the Church, lest that which is worship∣ped and adored, be painted on the walls. Be obseruant here Reader, and marke the difference which is made of the same words, by a wittie interchange of their place in Translation and thou shalt see that my delicate Minister here, euen tran∣scends himselfe. The Councell saith; Images are not to be in the Church, lest that be painted on walls, which is to be wor∣shipped: Maister White translateth, lest that be worshipped which is painted on the walls. This difference is small in shew of words, but great in sence: for the words of the Councell ac∣knowledging the worship of Images, make the worship due to them to be the cause why they are not to be painted on wals:

but Maister White saith, they are not to be painted on walls, because they are not to be worshipped. Now the reason why the Councell would not haue the walles of Churches to be painted with images, was in regard of the due respect they bare vnto them: for being so painted, they were subiect to be defaced, either by the inuasion of enemies in those times, or by raine or weather; whereas images drawne in tables, being portable and remoueable, do lye open to no such danger.

Answ. The summe of all the former talke is; That the Elibertine Councell did not prohibite the making and setting vp of images in Churches, but allowing the same, prouided that they should not be painted vpon bare walls, to preuent that they might not be defaced or de∣stroyed.

But against this toy I oppose as followeth.

1. The Text of the 36. Canon of the Councell of Eli∣beris, is; Placuit in ecclesijs picturas esse non debere: It plea∣seth vs of the Councell, that there ought to be no pictures in Churches. Our Aduersaries must answer this first part of the Canon. For howsoeuer that which followeth be vn∣derstood, these words apparently exclude Images out of Churches. If the Councell had said, It pleaseth vs, that there ought to be no Images vpon the walls of Chur∣ches, our Aduersaries Glosse might haue carried some poore colour; but they decree generally, It pleaseth vs that there be no pictures in Churches.

2. The most of our Aduersaries confesse, that this Councell decreed against Images, and thereupon they reiect or extenuate the authority of it. Canus saithc 1.4; It was not onely impudently, but impiously decreed by this Coun∣cell, concerning the taking away of Images. Suriusd 1.5 acknow∣ledging it decreed against Images, saith; That this was ne∣cessarily

and profitably done for those times, but afterwards the worshipping of images was decreed in the 7. Councell. Sixtus Senensise 1.6 and Baroniusf 1.7 confesse; That this Councell forbad the setting vp of images, but that the decree thereof tooke no place. Andradius saithg 1.8; The Councell for∣bad onely the setting vp the images of God and the Trinity; and with him agree Ferdinand Mendozah 1.9, and Lorinus the Iesuitei 1.10, saying: That the Councell prouided, no pictures should be in the Church, lest the ignorant people coming late∣ly from Paganisme, should thinke God to be corporeall.

Lastly, although Suarezk 1.11 the Iesuite slubber ouer the matter about this Councell with Bellarminesl 1.12 Glosse, yet he prefixeth these words to the explication; difficilius explicatur, &c.

Conclusion of T. W.Here I make an end of his cor∣ruptions, &c. onely I must say, that in regard of the impuri∣tie and conscionlesse deportment of him in his whole Trea∣tise, I cannot but commiserate such credulous soules as doe highly praeiudge of his booke, as being written in all sinceritie and plainnesse, &c.

Answ. If your performance had aequalled your bold∣nesse and your declamations were demonstrations, the credulous soules you commiserate (being many of them so iudicious and learned, that you are vnworthy to hold them the candle) might iustly haue censured Doctor White for negligence, in alledging these testimonies which you haue excepted against. But forasmuch as you haue plaid the vocalist and worded it only, your triumph is like the cracking of thornes vnder a kettle, Eccles. 7.7. and Saint Hieroms reproach may iustly be applyed vnto

you, Cum aureos montes pollicitus fueris, ne scorteum quidem numum praestitisti, hauing promised the Reader golden moun∣taines, you render him not one leatherne mite.

And whereas you depart this scene, grinning at Maister Purchas, because he graces my Brothers booke with the style of Via lactea, The white or milken way; and taxe him for being in his owne writings maleuolent: I suppose no man will maruaile, though he which hath gained respect from so many ingenuous persons in the kingdome by his paines, cannot please oculo nequam, a cankered Romist, whose eye is all enuy, and his tongue venemous as a Serpent.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Socrates, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• a 1.2

  Surius tom 1. concil. in concil. Elibertin. Baron. annal to. 1. an. 57. n. 119. Bellar. de imag. l 2. c. 11. Sixt. Senens. bibl l. 5. annot 247. Posseuin. appar. v. concil. Elibert. Duran. de rit. eccles. cath. l. 1. c. 5.
• b 1.3

  Placuit in ec∣clesia picturas esse non debe∣re, ne quod coli∣tur aut adoratur in parietibus de∣pingatur.
• c 1.4

  Canus loc. l. 5. c. 4.
• d 1.5

  Sutius 1. tom. concil. annot. in 36. Can. Concil. Elibe••t.
• e 1.6

  Sixt. Senens. lib •• ann. ••17. Cum animad∣uertissent gen∣tes nuper ab i∣dolorum super∣stitione ad Chri¦s••um venientes, ad pristinam idololatriam in∣clinari &c. iudi∣carunt praesenti morbo non ali∣ter posse me∣deri quam ima∣ginum interdi∣ctione.
• f 1.7

  Baron. an 57. n. 120. Canon de imaginibus non receptus.
• g 1.8

  Andrad orth. expl. l. 9.
• h 1.9

  Mendoza def. Concil. Elib. l. 3. c. 5.
• i 1.10

  Lorin. com. Act. 17. ver. 25. Eo sensu cauit Concilium Eli∣bertinum pictu∣ras in ecclesia esse, ne putaren•• Deum esse quid corporeum.
• k 1.11

  Suar. tom. 1. d 54. §. 1.
• l 1.12

  Bellar. de imag l. 2. c. 9. Alan Copus dial. l. 5. c. 16. Sander. de imag. l. 2. c. 4. Peres. de Trad. p. 3. de imag. Posseuin. appar. v. Concil. Elibert.