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FRom the authority of the Scrip∣ture, let vs descend to the authority of the anciēt Fathers of the Church of God. All whom we shall fynd to be equally reiected and contemned by the Mahumetans, and the Lutherans. Yea Luther & his Offpring, before they will lend a fauo∣rable eare to those Sentinalls of Gods Church for the good of their owne soules,
will soner endanger their owne Saluation; they bearing themselues therein with such desperate resolution, wherewith Cato did, of whom it is recorded: Occidii se Cato, ne di∣ceretur, Caesar me seruauit.
And first touching the Fathers. We find Mahumet in his Alcorans thus to disualew them:(1) Increduli & minime adoranies, &c. The Christians are incredulous, not worshipping God, when they are required to giue credit to the Commandements of God, and to his Legate, or Mesienger (videlicet Mahumet) for they say, se nolle imita•••••• quicquam, nisi quod Patres imitati sunt; They will not i••ntate others in any thing, but in what the Fathers haue imitated. But to this is obiected: Virum Patres non nisi veram fidem sem∣per ••e••uerunt, Whether the Fathers did euer hould the true faych? Thus Mahumet in his Alcoran.
But now let vs see, how Luther, and the Lutherans euen tread vpon the ancient Fa∣thers with greater contempt of Words, and contumelies, then euer Mahumet did. To be∣gin with Luther, who in these words dis∣chargeth his shot against the Fathers in ge∣nerall: The(2) Fathers of so many Centuries haue beene blind, and most vnskilfull in the Scrip∣tures, and if they did not correct and alter themsel∣ues before they dyed, they were neither Holy men, nor belonging to the Church. But Luther com∣ming to censure particular Fathers, even shooteth hayle-shot against them in this manner: In the writings(3) of Ierome there is not a word of true Fayth in Iesu•• Christ, and per fect Religion. Tertullian is very superstirious. I am
persuaded, that Origen was long since accursed. I make small rekoning of Chrysostome. Basill is not to be much regarded; he is wholy, and meerely 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Monke; I prize him not of a barre. Cyprian is but a shallow and weake deuine. Finally, against Austin, and Cyprian he thus vaunteth: I(4) care not, if a thousand Austins, a thousand Cyprians opposed themselues against me.
With Luther (to omit the like censures of other Lutherans) Melanct••on runneth in full chase, thus ba••king: Presently(5) from the In∣fancy of the Church, the ancient Fathers obscured the doctrine concerting Iustification by fayth, aug∣triented Ceremonyes and coyned peculiar Worships. O how distant in the iudgment of these Nouelists (who haue bouche ouuerie & gorge desployàe, an open mouch, and full of gause) from the iudgment of S. Austin, deliueredin this his Sentence: Quod(6) (Patres, credunt, credo; quod tenent, teneo; acquiesce istis, & re∣quiesce à me.
Azoara 13.
Luth tom. 2. Wittenb. an 1551. lib. de seruo arbi∣trio.
Luther in colloquijs mensalibus, cap de Patri∣bus Ecclesia.
Luther∣••••m 1. contra Rege•••• An∣gliafol. 344.
Melanth. in 1. Cor. c. 3.
Aug. to. J. contra I••••∣lian. l. 1. c. 5.