A reply to Fulke, In defense of M. D. Allens scroll of articles, and booke of purgatorie. By Richard Bristo Doctor of Diuinitie ... perused and allowed by me Th. Stapleton.

iij. As touching Iouinian: of fasting, of Virgini∣ties merite, of V••••aries mariage.

Now to adde more likewise of their erring in condemning of Iouinian, D. Allens wordes are these:

[Iouinianus taught the contempt of Christian fastes: matched mariage with holy mai∣denhood,* 1.1 and afterward (to the great wonder of all the Church) perswaded certaine religious women in Rome to forsake their first faith,* 1.2 and mary to their damnation: for which plaine sup∣porting of vndoubted wickednes, S. Hierome calleth them often,

Christian Epicures, boulsterers of sinne, and doctors of lust and lecherie. Neuerthelesse the force of Gods grace, which was great in the spring of our Religion, (the sinne of the world not yet ripe for such open shew of licentious life) speedely repressed that wic∣ked attempt. for as S. Augustine declareth, it was so cleare a fals∣hood, that it neuer grew to deceaue any one of all the Cleargie.]

Fulkes answere herevnto is no more but this: If Iouinian were so great an heretike, as you make him, yet he him selfe (as you shew after out of Augustine) offended not in that which he per∣swaded others to doe. He meaneth that place when D. Allen somewhat after speaketh of these newe Superintendentes and ministers, and saith, that

[they much exeede Iouinianus,* 1.3 who (as Augustine reporteth of him) being a Monke, mainteined the ma∣riage of Votaries: but yet for diuers inconueniences, him selfe for all that would not be maried.

* 1.4 And there to S. Augustine by name he saith nothing, but turneth his talke to D. Allen, demaū∣ding of him thus: Where learned you but of the diuell him selfe, to commaund abstinence from meates and mariage for Religi∣ons sake, to some men at all times, and to all men at some times? If for these and for an hundreth such, you can shewe no better warrant, then the termes of your fathers,* 1.5 the practise of your el∣ders, or the authoritie of mortal men, the curse of God pronoun∣ced by Esay, against them that call euill good, or good euill, must needes be turned ouer vnto you. With the same boldnes in an other place, where D. Allen had giuē this obseruation

[You shal not lightly heare an heretike that denyeth praying to sainctes,* 1.6 or holdeth with open breach of holy vowes, alleage Iouinianus or Vigilantius. But they will trauaile to writhe, with plaine iniurie to the author, some sentence out of Augustine, or Ambrose, or some other, that by their whole life and practise open them sel∣ues to the world to beleeue the contrarie.]

He saith thervnto. M. Allen geueth a speciall note, that we name not Iouinian or Vi∣gilantius, but rather hang vpon some sentence of Augustine or Ambrose, and thinketh we are ashamed of the other.But we nei∣ther boast vpon Augustine, nor Ambrose, when they dissent from (our) doctrine: neither are ashamed of Vigilantius nor Be∣rengarius, when they agree therewith.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pur. 11.13.
• * 1.2

  Hier. con. Ioui. li. 2.
• * 1.3

  Pur. 17.22.
• * 1.4

  August. ad quod. haer. 28.
• * 1.5

  A good child.
• * 1.6

  Pur. 4••1 402.