Bels trial examined that is a refutation of his late treatise, intituled. The triall of the nevve religion By B.C. student in diuinitie. VVherein his many & grosse vntruthes, with diuers contradictions are discouered: together with an examination of the principal partes of that vaine pamphlet: and the antiquitie & veritie of sundry Catholike articles, which he calleth rotten ragges of the newe religion, are defended against the newe ragmaster of rascal. In the preface likewise, a short viewe of one Thomas Rogers vntruthes is sett downe, taken out of his booke called. The faith doctrine and religion, professed and protected in the realme of England, &c. with a short memorandum for T.V. otherwise called Th. Vdal.

THE XXXIX. VNTRVTH.

IN his third paragraphe he citeth Iosephus Angles, who saith, that good workes proceeding of grace without the promise of God are wholy vnworthy of eternall life. This he alleageth, as though it were mortall doctrine to vs: where as if himself were this day at Rome, and cleere in all other things, neuer would he be called in question about that pointe: and yet doth he make a mighty matter of it, vr∣ginge it almoste in all his bookes. If the good reader desire a more ample discourse herof he may find it in the Dolefull Knell, where Iosephus his wordes are throughly examined, and the minister * 1.1 for many mad trickes very handsomly laid out in his colours.

Here I will note only one egregious vntruth of his, cunningly commended to the viewe of his readers: for hauing produced Iosephus, (though not citing his whole sentēce, but the last words only,) to shewe that workes proceeding from grace, are not meritorious of eternall life, without the promise of God, but wholy vnworthy: he inferreth thus. Then doubtelesse the best workess of all, can no way

be meritorious: which is a false conclusion, gathered out of the premisses, for it should haue bene thus: then doubtlesse the best workes of all can no way be meritotious without the promise of God: why did he persidiously curtall a way these words, and make Iosephus absolutely to conclude against the merits of workes, when as in that very place, he teacheth the merits of workes, proceeding from grace, together with the promise of God? To make his prooffe the more probable and passable, he would not cite any more of Iosephus Words then were for his turne. This is the sincerity of trusty S. Thomas: and yet after suche a shamefull pranke, as though he had giuen vs a great blowe, he addeth with triumphant exultation in this manner. VVhen any Papist in the world, can truly disproue this illation, let me be his bondslaue for his rewarde. The illation is di∣sproued, let him therefore prouide himselfe to per∣forme that pennaunce, which he hath said vpon himself, & try whether he that hath had such bad speede in the ministry, and ill successe in his Priest∣hood, can finde any better fortune in the newe vo∣cation of seruitude and slauery. Of his fourth pa∣ragrasse, I shal haue better occasion to speake straight waies: wherefore to his fift, in which the fourth also shalbe dispatched.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lib. 2. cap. 5. sect. 3.