A defence of the Way to the true Church against A.D. his reply Wherein the motives leading to papistry, and questions, touching the rule of faith, the authoritie of the Church, the succession of the truth, and the beginning of Romish innouations: are handled and fully disputed. By Iohn White Doctor of Diuinity, sometime of Gunwell and Caius Coll. in Cambridge.

THE CONTENTS OF THE SE∣uerall Chapters of this Booke.

CHAP. 1.

THe title of A. D. his Reply. A wonder not farre from Rome. Writers not putting their names to their bookes censured by the Iesuites. The Popes Iester. The name of Minister and Priest. Church the pillar of truth. The way of Catholicke discipline is the way of the Scripture. The Iesuites Method in perswading to Papistry. The manner of A. D. his Replying: and his promise to raile.

Chap. 2.

The Papists trampling of the Scriptures and preferring their Church. The Church of Rome touched in her honesty and reputed for a whore. The con∣ditions of a whore.

Chap. 3.

The order of the Iesuites, why and to what purpose erected by the Pope; they are that to the Pope that the Ianisaries are to the Turke. Their aboad∣ments.

Chap. 4

Some examples of the Iesuites rapine. Touching the present Pope Paule 5. and his nephew Burghesi. The Iesuites deuouring those that entertaine thē.

Chap. 5.

Touching the rapine and couetousnesse of the Romish Cleargy. And their single life; and what the world hath thought thereof,

Chap. 6.

Touching the turbulency of our Iesuites and Maspriests in the State, and their vnthankefulnesse to the King. The seditious doctrine of the Church of Rome, leading to all disobedience against the Magistrate, and rebellion whē∣soeuer occasion shall serue. Tyrones rebellion, and the Spanish inuasion pro∣moted by the Pope. A Catalogue of about forty Emperors, Kings, and Prin∣ces destroyed or vexed by the Pope and his Cleargy. A consideration vpon the doctrine of the Popes power to depose kings.

Chap. 7.

Concerning the doctrine of Merits taught in the Church of Rome, and touching the Bull of Pius and Gregory against Michael Bayus the Deane of Louane.

Chap. 8.

The Papacy brought in by Sathan. The Iesuits spirit of contradiction. The Church of Rome reuolted. The fiue Patriarkes were equall at the first. Plaine Scripture against the Papacy. The ignorance of Popish laity. Corruption of writings by the Papists. Reformation desired long before it came. Aduice giuen to A.D.

Chap. 9.

The Apocrypha not accounted Canonicall Scripture. Papists professing to expound against the Fathers. The new English translation of the Bible. Tra∣ditions equalled with the holy Scripture. About the erring of Councels. And the sufficiencie of the Scriptures.

Chap. 10.

The practise of the Papists in purging bookes. The sacrifice of the Masse and reall presence denied. Points of Papists absurd. The Pope Lords it ouer all. Papists need pay no debts. May be traitors to murder Princes. Iesuites plots in the powder-treason. The Popes dispensing with sinne. A meditation for all Papists.

Chap. 11.

The Papists manner of dealing with immodesty, and vncharitablenesse Briarly and Walsinghams bookes noted. Some reports of the Papists meek∣nesse and mildnesse. Hunt a Seminary arraigned at Lancaster. The dumbe cattle slaughtered in Lancash. The generall desire of vs all to reduce them to charity.

Chap. 12.

Touching the ignorance that Papistrie hath bred among people. Their barbarous manner of praying auoched. Of Iohn the Almoner, a legend. The manner how a certaine Priest baptised. The Replies zeale for recusants of the better sort. A Lancash. gentleman alledged by the Reply A note of a French Knight. The successe of preaching in Lancash.

Chap. 13.

Touching prayer to Saints. Mediation of redemption, and intercession. Bonauentures Psalter. Christ the onely mediator of intercession: Reasons why we desire not the dead to pray for vs as we do the liuing. The prayers of a Friar and an Archbishop. It cannot be shewed that the dead heare vs. De∣uices of the Schoolemen to shew how they heare vs. God not like an earthly King. In their Saint-inuocating they Platonize. Men equalled with Christ.

Chap. 14.

More touching the worship of Saints. The same words vsed to Saints that are to God The formall reason of worship. The harsh praiers made to Saints how excused. Nauarres forme of deuotion. Counterfeits bearing the name of Fathers; S. Austines doctrine to vse no mediator but Christ.

Chap. 15.

The Iesuits insolency censured. Note bookes. A relation shewing how the Iesuites traine vp their nouices to dispute The doctrine of the Iesuites touch∣ing formall lies and equiuocation. The Repliars motion to Protestant Mi∣nisters answered.

Chap. 16.

Touching assurance of grace and beleeuing a mans owne saluation. Per∣fection of the Scripture and necessity of the Church Ministry. How the iusti∣fied conclude their saluation from the Scripture. The iustified haue the assu∣rance of faith. This is declared: full assurance voide of doubting taught by

Chap. 17.

Concerning points fundamentall and not fundamentall: the distinction ex∣pounded and defended. Who shall iudge what is fundamentall and what not. A iest at the election of Pope Leo the x.

Chap. 18.

Touching the perpetuall virginity of Marie. The celebration of Easter. The baptisme of infants. The Iesuits halting. And the Scriptures sufficiency.

Chap. 19.

How the Church proues the Scripture. The Iesuites plainely confesse that the Scripture alone proues it selfe to be Gods word. The Scriptures are principles, indemonstrable in any superior science. All other testimonies re∣solued into the testimony of the Scripture. Touching euidence and the com∣possibility thereof with faith.

Chap. 20

A continuation of the same matter, touching the Churches authority in giuing testimony of the Scriptures. The Scripture proues it selfe to be Gods word. The light of the Scripture. How we are assured of the Scripture by the Spirit. The reason why some see not the light of the Scripture. The Papists re∣tyring to the Spirit. And casting off the Fathers. A Councell is aboue the Pope. The Pope may erre.

Chap. 21.

Which is the Militant Church. And the Catholicke. The Church of the elect inuisible. A rancid conceite of the Iesuite.

Chap. 22.

Reports made by Papists, that the Protestants are without religion. They hold the iustification of the Gentiles, without the Gospell or knowledge of Christ. No saluation but in one true religion. The Repliars tergiuersation.

Chap. 23.

Touching the implicit faith that is taught in the Church of Rome. How defined by them. In what sense the Protestants mislike, or allow it. Arguments made for it, answered. The ancient Church allowed it not.

Chap. 24.

Touching the necessitie and nature of the Rule of faith. And how it is re∣uealed and communicated to all men, that none need to despaire.

Chap. 25.

The text of 1. Tim. 2.4. God wils all men to be saued, &c. expounded. The diuerse expositions that are giuen of those words. Gods antecedent will, as they call it, is not his will formally. The antecedent and consequent will of God expounded diuerse wayes.

Chap. 26.

The properties of the rule of faith described. None follow priuate spirits more then our aduersaries. How the Rule must be vnpartial, and of authority.

Chap. 27.

The Repliars tergiuersation. The state of the question touching the suf∣ficiencie

Chap. 28.

Touching our English translations of the Bible, their sinceritie and infal∣liblenesse. How the vnlearned know them to be sincere. The new transla∣tion lately set foorth by the Kings authoritie defended. Momus in his humor. The subordination of meanes.

Chap. 29.

Touching the obscuritie of the Scripture. The necessitie of meanes to be vsed for the vnderstanding of the Scripture proues not the obscuritie. Tra∣ditions debarred. A Councell is aboue the Pope. The Scripture, of it selfe easie to all that vse it as they should. The certaine sence of the Scripture and the assurance thereof, is not by tradition.

Chap. 30.

Touching the all-sufficiencie of Scripture to the matter of faith. It shewes it selfe to be Gods word. Luthers denying S. Iames epistle. How the Papists expound the light of the Scripture. What they, and what we hold about the authoritie of the Church. How expresse Scripture is required.

Chap. 31.

Wherein the place 2. Tim. 3.15. alledged to proue the fulnesse and suf∣ficiencie of the Scripture alone, is expounded and vrged against the Iesuites cauils.

Chap. 32.

Touching priuate spirits that expound against the Church. Such priuate expositions refused by the Protestants. And yet the Papists haue no other. All teaching is to be examined euen by priuate men. Certaine propositions shewing how the Church teaching may be, or may not be examined and refused.

Chap. 33.

How a priuate man is assured he vnderstands and beleeues aright touch∣ing the last and highest resolution of faith. Luthers reiecting the Fathers. Oc∣chams opinion that no man is tied to the Pope or his Councels. The Beraeans examined the doctrine that they were taught. The faith of the beleeuer rests vpon diuine infused light. M. Luther sought reformation with all humilitie. Scripture is the grounds of true assurance. Who the Pastors were of whom Luther learned his faith. His conference with the Diuel. By the Church the Papists meane onely the Pope.

Chap. 34.

The Papists pretending the Church, haue a further meaning then the vulgar know. The Popes will is made the Churches act. Base traditions ex∣pounded to be diuine truth.

Chap. 35.

The Papists pretending the Church meane onely the Pope. How and in what sence they vnderstand the doctrine of the Apostles to be the rule of

Chap. 36.

An entrance into the question touching the visibilitie of the Protestant Church in the former ages. Wherein it is briefly shewed where and in whom it was.

Chap. 37.

Not the Church, but the Scripture is the rule. The question touching the visiblenesse of the Church, proceeds of the Militant Church. In what sence we say the Militant Church is sometime inuisible. The Papists thinke the Church shall be inuisible in the time of Antichrist. Their contradictions touching Antichrist breefly noted.

Chap. 38.

The Papists cannot proue the Church to be alway visible in that sence wherein we denie it. The diuerse considerations of the Church distinguished. His quarrels made for our doctrine touching the Churches seuerall states an∣swered. The faithfull onely are true members of the Church. Vpon what oc∣casion the question touching the visiblenesse of the Church first began.

Chap. 39.

The Papists are enforced to yeeld the same that we say touching the inui∣siblenesse of the Church. Their doctrine touching the time of Antichrists reigne. And the state of the Militant Church at some times. Arguments for the perpetuall visiblenesse of the Church answered. In whom the true Church consisted before Luthers time.

Chap. 40.

Againe touching the visiblenesse of the Church, and in what sence we say it was inuisible. Many things innouated in the Church of Rome. The com∣plaints of Vbertine and Ierome of Ferrara. All the Protestants faith was pre∣serued in the middest of the Church of Rome. A iest of the Terinthians. What religion hath bred desperation.

Chap. 41.

A narration of a popish Doctor and professor of diuinitie in the Church of Rome, translated out of Acosta de temp. nouissimis. lib. 2. cap. 11. and Ma∣iolus dies canicul. tom. 2. pag. 89. and inserted for answer to that wherewith the Iesuite reproches our Church in the last words of his precedent replie.

Chap. 42.

An obiection against the Repliars Catalogue. Diuers articles condemned by the Fathers mentioned in the Catalogue, that the Church of Rome now vses. What consent there is betweene antiquitie and papistrie.

Chap. 43.

Whatsoeuer the Fathers of the primitiue Church beleeued, is expressed in their bookes. The Repliar is driuen to say, they held much of his religion onely implicitely. What implicite faith is according to the Papists. The death

Chap. 44.

The whole Christian faith deliuered to the Church hath succeeded in all ages, yet many corruptions haue sometime bene added, how, and in what sence the Church may erre. A Catalogue assigned of those in whom the Pro∣testants faith alway remained. What is required to the reason of succession.

Chap. 45.

The Fathers are not against the Protestants but with them. Touching the Centuries reiecting of the Fathers. The cause of some errors in the Fathers. Gregories faith; and conuerting England. The Papists haue bene formall in∣nouators. How they excuse the matter.

Chap. 46.

The errors broached by the later Diuines of the Church of Rome. Their errors maintained by that Church, and their writings to good purpose al∣ledged by Protestants. How that which they speake for the Protestants is shif∣ted of. One reason why we alledge their sayings. That which is said in excuse of their disagreement, answered.

Chap. 47.

Councels haue erred and may erre. What manner of Councels they be that the Papists say cannot erre. It is confessed that both Councels and Pope may erre.

Chap. 48.

Touching the Councels of Neece the second, and Frankford. How the Nicene decreed images to be adored. What kind of Councell it was. And what manner of one that of Frankford was. Frankford cōdemned the second Nicene. Touching the booke of Charles the Great, and of what credit it is.

Chap. 49.

The ancient Church held the blessed Virgin to haue bene conceiued in sinne. The now Church of Rome holds the contrary.

Chap. 50.

Touching Seruice and praier in an vnknowne language. The text 1. Cor. 14. expounded and defended against Bellarmine. The ancient Church vsed praier in a knowe language.

Chap. 51.

The Church of Rome against all antiquitie forbids the laie people the vse of the Scripture in the vulgar language. The shifts vsed by the Papists against reading: spitefull speeches against it. Testimonies of antiquitie for it. The Re∣pliars reason against it.

Chap. 52.

The mariage of Priests and Bishops lawfull and allowed by antiquitie. Some examples hereof in the ancient Church. The restraint hereof is a late corruption. Priests were maried euen in these westerne parts a thousand yeares after Christ.

Chap. 53.

Wherein is handled the doctrine of the Church of Rome touching the

Chap. 54.

The Popes supremacy was not in the ancient Church: neither is it ac∣knowledged at this day by many Papists. Nunne Brigets speech touching the Pope. And Cyrils riddle.

Chap. 55.

The Communion in ancient time was ministred to the people in both kinds. An innouation in this point, in the Church of Rome. The pretences vsed against the Cup.

Chap. 56.

Touching Transubstantiation. It was made an article of faith by the La∣teran Councell 1200 yeares after Christ. How it came in by degrees. The Fa∣thers neuer beleeued nor knew it.

Chap. 57.

Touching the first coming in of errors into the Church, with the Persons, Time, and Place. Purgatory and pardons not knowne in the ancient Church, nor in the Greeke Church to this day. The true reason why the ancient prayed for the dead.

Chap. 58.

The Popes supremacy. Single life of Votaries. The worship of images. The merite of workes. The sacrifice of the Masse. And the Popish doctrine touching originall sinne: all of them innouations. The disagreement of Pa∣pists in their religion. And namely in their doctrine of originall sinne.

Chap. 59.

Obiections against the outward succession of the Pope. Touching Peters being at Rome. His Pastorall office, what it was. Whether there be any di∣uine authoritie for the Popes succession. Not certaine what Popes haue suc∣ceeded one another. Vacancies diuers times in the Sea of Rome. The storie of the woman Pope, of what credite. The Pope hath bene an heriticke, and erred è Cathedra. The Pope succeeds by Simonie and violence. Such succes∣sion is a nullitie by his owne law. The Pharisees in Moses chaire, how? A. D. defends the succession of an ASSE. Many Popes at once. Vrbanus his cru∣eltie towards the Cardinals. What the Protestants say touching the successi∣on of the Church of Rome.