A quartron of reasons, composed by Doctor Hill, vnquartered, and prooued a quartron of follies: by Francis Dillingham, Bachelour of Diuinitie. August, in Senten ...

The fourth reason: conuersion of countries. (Book 4)

In this fourth reason the framer of it according to his custome, beginneth with an vntruth, saying, that all countries which euer beleeued in Christ, were first conuerted to his faith, by such as ei∣ther were precisely sent, or at least wise had their authoritie from the Pope. The Apostles which receiued authoritie from Christ himselfe, not from Peter, conuerted many countries. That the A∣postles receiued authoritie from Christ himselfe, the scriptures are plaine: in the 20. of Iohn our Sauiour saith, As the father hath sent me, so send I you: what can be more plaine? Paul saith of himselfe, that he was an Apostle neither of men, nor by men, but by Iesus Christ. How many countries did Paul conuert? Concerning this land I spake something before. Read Theodoret his 4. booke and 3. chap. where he reckneth England amongst the Christian lands. Chrysostome as the same writer testifieth, comparavit viros aemula∣tores Apostolicorum laborum, eos{que} ad Scythias misit, prouided men followers of the Apostles labours, and sent them to the Scythians. The Indians were conuerted by Frumentinus, whome Athanasi∣us ordained Bishop, as the same author testifieth in his 1. booke and 12. chap. The people of Iberia were conuerted per captivam mulierem, by a woman that was a captiue, Ruff. lib. 1. cap. 10. by all which cleare and pregnant proofes euery man may see the bold∣nes of the authors assertion. But now I come to reduce his reason into a syllogisme:

• They which take paines in conuersion of countries, hold the true religion:
• But the Papists take paines in conuersion of countries: ergo.

I denie the proposition, and say to the Papists, as our blessed Sauiour spake to the Pharisies:* 1.1 woe be to you Papists, for ye com∣passe sea and land to make one of your profession, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell. Heretikes haue laboured to conuert, or rather to peruert men. Paul in the 2. Tim. 3.13. affirmeth, that euill men shall waxe worse and worse, deceiuing

and beeing deceiued. The Arrians peruerted many kingdomes,* 1.2 as witnes Theodoret, and others writers. As touching the conuersi∣on of the west Indians, if things be true that are reported;* 1.3 in novo illo orbe amplius decies centena millia barbarorum aut fame aut gladio perierunt: in the new found world aboue tenne hundred thou∣sand haue perished either by famine or by sword. If our Sauiour Christ had saide, Goe kill all nations, when he saide, Goe teach all nations, he had fitted the Papists humour. What Gregorie spent in founding Seminaries to restore Catholike religion, I know not, but this I am sure of, that Papists haue taken paines in contriuing of treasons here in England. But to returne to the Indies: The people there liued not onely without all manner of knowledge of God, but also wilde and naked without any ciuill gouernement:* 1.4 beeing in this miserable estate, some worshipped the sunne, some familiar deuills: what maruell then if they were easily ledde into any religion, especially carrying such a shew of apparrell and o∣ther ceremonies? But doe not the Protestants take paines in win∣ning of soules vnto God? Calvine, not to speake of others, read almost two hundred lectures euery yeare, and preached aboue two hundred sermons. Who conuerted England, Scotland, Ire∣land, and other countries from Antichrist to Christ, from the Masse to the Messias, from Images to the seruice of the liuing God? did not poore Luther, Zwinglius, Oecolampadius, and o∣ther Protestants the ministers of England, labour in their owne charges preaching in season, and out of season? God is as well glorified in the conuersion of a soule here as in other countries. But doe the Papists now labour in conuerting of soules? in times past it was not so; hodie proh dolor, saith Aeneas Sylvius,* 1.5 now alas he is a rare Prelate which doth not preferre temporall things be∣fore spirituall things. Againe, Nos ignavia nostra nimia vitae cupi∣ditate, Christianam religionem ex toto orbe in angulum redegimus: we by our lasinesse and great desire of life haue drawne religion out of the world into a corner of the same. Clemangis in his booke which he wrote of the corrupt state of the Church, speaketh thus: Multò aequanimiùs ferunt decem millium animarum iacturam, quàm decem solidorum. Pontifices suas traditiones divinis longè mandatis an∣teponunt: they had rather loose ten thousand soules then tenne shil∣lings: the Popes preferre their traditions farre before Gods com∣mandements. Thus then I returne the argument:

• They which esteeme money, more then the soules of men, are not the true Church:
• But the Papists esteeme money more then the soules of men. Ergo.

Whether M. Calvin sent ministers or no into new found lands I know not, neither am I priuie to the successe they had. Ezekiel was sent to the Iewes, that they might know that there had beene a Prophet amongst them; the fault is not in the doctrine, but in the men who resist the same. I will not dispute whether a wicked man may be a meanes to winne soules, as a good master bestoweth a good almes by the ministerie of an euill seruant: so also the mer∣cifull Lord may call one to repentance, by the meanes of another, though he be an vnpenitent person. The Doctors rayling vpon Luther, Calvin, and Peter Martyr, calling his wife fustilugges, fit∣teth the spirit of a Papist. If Peter Martyrs lawfull wife deserueth the name of fustilugges, what name doe the popish priests concu∣bines deserue? In that our Ministers trauell not without their wiues,* 1.6 I answer with Paul, Haue we not power to lead about a sister a wife? Beza his epistles and pistols are but words to fill vp pages, and to wast paper. But haue not the Protestants for-gone any worldly wealth, to spread abroad religion, why are they then exi∣les, and haue witnessed their religion with their blood. In a word, Poperie gaineth more by wealth and armes, then by conscience, and if it gaineth any soundly it is by some reliques of truth which remaineth with them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Math. 23.
• * 1.2

  Read Sigebert in his chap. de reg∣no Gothorum.
• * 1.3

  Sadeel. con. are. pos.
• * 1.4

  Iuel. 42. pag.
• * 1.5

  Lib. 1. de ge••••. con. Basil.
• * 1.6

  1. Cor. ••.