The third part of the Defence of the Reformed Catholike against Doct. Bishops Second part of the Reformation of a Catholike, as the same was first guilefully published vnder that name, conteining only a large and most malicious preface to the reader, and an answer to M. Perkins his aduertisement to Romane Catholicks, &c. Whereunto is added an aduertisement for the time concerning the said Doct. Bishops reproofe, lately published against a little piece of the answer to his epistle to the King, with an answer to some few exceptions taken against the same, by M. T. Higgons latley become a proselyte of the Church of Rome. By R. Abbot Doctor of Diuinitie.

R. ABBOT.

He that maketh his last will and testament and giueth thereby great legacies of lands and goods, and putteth to his seale for confirmation of the legacies that he hath gi∣uen, shall he be said in giuing his seale to bequeath only a

peece of waxe, or a figure and representation of landes and goods? The seale indeed is but wax; it is but a signe and token of somewhat, but yet it serueth to giue assurance of the legacies for confirmation whereof it is appointed. The new testament of Christ is, the couenant and promise of forgiuenesse of sinnes purchased by his bloud. This hath he published by the Gospell to all that repent and beleeue in him. For confirmation heereof he hath put to his Sacrament as a seale, thereby to deliuer after a sort, and to put into our hands the thing which he hath promised; euen as hee who hath receiued a seale presumeth that thereby hee hath in effect the thing that is sealed vnto him. And shall a man say that Christ in gi∣uing vs this seale, hath bequeathed to vs no other but a figure, a signification or representation of somwhat, and not the thing it selfe that is represented thereby? If it be absurd to say so in humane testaments and wils, what meaneth M. Bishop to transferre such an absurditie to those things that are diuine? I need not stand vpon this matter; I say briefly, that it is idle to say that the Sacra∣ment is the chiefest legacie that Christ hath bestowed vp∣on vs. He hath bequeathed vnto vs himselfe, the fruit of his passion, the riches of his grace, the inheritance of eter∣nall life, which hee will vndoubtedly giue to euerie true beleeuer, and in the meane time hath giuen his Sa∣crament to bee to our faith the pledge and assurance thereof.

And thus M. Bishop telleth vs that he is come at length to the end of his booke; wherein I ghesse he hath taken small ioy, because he hath quite left out the middle, euen whole twelue questions handled by M. Perkins, and which he notwithstanding pretendeth to haue answered, as hath beene before obserued. We are beholding to him for that he giueth vs leaue if any thing heerein bee amisse to impute it partly to his slender skill, ouersight, or negligence. And surely, what betwixt his slender skill one way, and his ouer∣sight

and negligence, another way, he hath sent vs so ma∣ny things amisse, as that the Reader hath small cause heereby to bee confirmed in that which he by a wrong name calleth the true Catholike faith. Thou hast gen∣tle Reader, what hee can say on the one side; thou hast what I haue had to answer on the other side: it is now left to thee to iudge of both, which so doe, as being thy selfe to giue answer of thy iudgement to Christ the Iudge of all.