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.

Communion of Saintes.

[ XLIII] SVCH (you see) is the new inuen∣ted Church of England, so streight∣nyng and coarctyng it selfe into the limittes of one Kingdome or Coun∣trey, that in it one Christyan man to another euen in Spirituall affayres is a stranger: that in it an Ecclesiastical and Apostalicall povver erected by Christ, is deemed a Foreiner: that in it any Ge∣neral Councel that euer was or euer can be gathered of the Bishoppes of other Natyons of all Christendome, yea or of theyr own confederates, can take, beare, or haue no whit of authoritie: that in it

epistles directed from beyond the sea by Saint Paule himselfe, such as his Epistles to the Romains, Corinthians▪ Galathians &c. could beare no sway: that in it all the Apostles togeather writing from theyr Synod of Hierusalem, as they did to the Antiochians, might beare no stroke: that in it Christ himselfe without the King and the Parlaments consent, might not dispose of his own Churches. Into such wonderfull narrow straightes haue these men laced and pinched vp them-selues, besides their precise dealing also about communion with the soules in Purgato∣ry, and the Saints in Heauen.

Consider then, whether this be the Catholike and Vniuersall Church of Christ, spread ouer all Nations, descen∣ding vnto vs throughout al ages, one & the same both in earth, and vnder earth, and aboue earth: and not that Church much rather, yea most certainly, by which euery faithfull man communicat∣eth in all offices of Relygion with all o∣thers, be they neuer so farre asunder, be it in time, or be it in place: in which there is a perfitte participation and societie of

all spirituall commodities and comman∣dementes: where seruing and obeying, praying and working, desiring and de∣seruing lacking and abounding, trouble and comfort goeth in common.