A briefe treatise of diuers plaine and sure waies to finde out the truth in this doubtfull and dangerous time of heresie Conteyning sundrie worthy motiues vnto the Catholike faith, or considerations to moue a man to beleeue the Catholikes, and not the heretikes. Set out by Richard Bristow priest, licentiat in diuinitie.
About this Item
Title
A briefe treatise of diuers plaine and sure waies to finde out the truth in this doubtfull and dangerous time of heresie Conteyning sundrie worthy motiues vnto the Catholike faith, or considerations to moue a man to beleeue the Catholikes, and not the heretikes. Set out by Richard Bristow priest, licentiat in diuinitie.
Author
Bristow, Richard, 1538-1581.
Publication
Printed at Anvverpe [sic, i.e. England :: by the English secret press] With priuiledge,
1599.
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Subject terms
Catholic Church -- Apologetic works.
Protestantism -- Controversial literature.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A16909.0001.001
Cite this Item
"A briefe treatise of diuers plaine and sure waies to finde out the truth in this doubtfull and dangerous time of heresie Conteyning sundrie worthy motiues vnto the Catholike faith, or considerations to moue a man to beleeue the Catholikes, and not the heretikes. Set out by Richard Bristow priest, licentiat in diuinitie." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A16909.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 14, 2024.
Pages
States of Perfection.
[ XXXV] FVRTHERMORE consider, what Church is that, which hath in it, and euer had, all holy & cōmendable States, of faythfull people, professed Virgyns, vowed widowes, Poore by wil and pro∣mise p••rsons of both SEXES dedi∣cated ••o GOD by forsaking the world and the pleasures thereof, some liuing in desertes or caues of the earth, some in Cloysters in Communitie and vnder obedyence, all wholly occu∣pied in mourning and praying, both night and day, for the sins of themselues and others. Was the Church of Christ at any time without these heauenly Or∣ders,
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this comely variety? Haue not we in the Actes of the Apostles (where is described vnto vs, as I haue often saide: the plat-forme of Christes Church than beginning, and afterward to grow vp stil in the same orders (as a child doth in the same members) the perfect example of the whole multitude of christian Iewes selling all and liuing in common with∣out property?* 1.1 The terrible sodaine death also of Ananias and his wife Saphira,* 1.2 for playing a false part in that behalfe? of the multitudes profession, and manners of such euer afterward, vntill and in S. Augustines time: you may see more that list,* 1.3 in his booke De Moribus Ecclesiae Catho∣licae: as also in all the olde writers vvhose works are extant.
How then can that be the Church of God, which prouideth by waste, desola∣tion, destruction, and (as it were) by law that no such Orders of men and women specially and totally deputed to Gods seruice, be suffered amongst them, where be no maides, but such as can get no matches, where no man is poore, but with grudge or much against his vvill,
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where no vow is made to God, nor to him must none be kept: where fasters be counted Pharisees, Monkes and mour∣ners esteemed mad men, the best sort of Christian men reputed the fowlest Hy∣pocrites: finally, where in apparell, ge∣sture, or countenaunce, no signe of Reli∣gion, deuotion, or vertue, thought to be commendable, or almost tolerable.