Anti-Mortonus or An apology in defence of the Church of Rome. Against the grand imposture of Doctor Thomas Morton, Bishop of Durham. Whereto is added in the chapter XXXIII. An answere to his late sermon printed, and preached before His Maiesty in the cathedrall church of the same citty..

SECT. V. Doctor Morton obiecteth the Bull of Maunday Thursday.

TO make good your slanderous doctrine of our allow∣ing excommunicated persons to be murthered by As∣sassines, you say(x) 1.1: Goe you now, and complaine, that you are vniustly persecuted, or banished by Protestants out of seuerall King∣domes, when as, they are all yearely excommunicate at Rome for Heretikes, and Schismatikes by the Bull of Maundy thursday, & con∣sequently made obnoxious vnto the blinde deuotion of euery Romish bloudy assassine, who may be perswaded that he shall merit of God, by the slaying of those supposed Schismatikes.

Two things may here be questioned: the one, whe∣ther heretikes are to be excommunicated: the other, whe∣ther Protestants be comprehended in the number of here∣tikes excommunicated in the Bull of Maundy Thursday. What your opinion is concerning the former, I know not: but I know, the practise of the Catholike Church hath e∣uer bene, to excommunicate Heretikes. Why els did she in her Primitiue tymes. Excommunicate the Arians in the

Councell of Nice? the Eunomians in the first of Constan∣tinople? the Nestorians in that of Ephesus? the Eutychians in that of Chalcedon? and others in other Councells? A∣gaine, I know, that the Church hath learned this from Christ, commanding(y) 1.2, that he who being thrice war∣ned, will not beare the Church, be to vs as the Heathen, and the Pu∣blican. I know that S. Paul hath said(z) 1.3: Auoid a man that is an heretike, after the first, and second admonition. And againe(a) 1.4: what participation hath iustice with iniquity? or what society is there bet∣weene light and darkenesse? and what agreement with Christ, and Beliall? or what part hath the faythfull, with the Infidell? I know that S. Iohn speaking of an heretike sayth(b) 1.5: If any man come to you, and bring not this doctrine, receaue him not into the house, nor say vnto him God saue you: for he that sayth vnto him, God saue you, communicateth with his wicked workes. Wherfore it cannot be denied, but that the now Church of Rome in excommu∣nicating heretikes, doth nothing, but what Christ, and his blessed Apostles haue commanded, and what the primitiue Church, and Councells haue taught her to do.

But then the second question is, who be heretikes, and who not? S. Augustine(c) 1.6 distinguisheth between an here∣tike, and, one that belieueth heretikes. An heretike he defineth(d) 1.7 to be one, that vnder the name of a Christian, professeth obsti∣natly erroneous doctrine in matter of Fayth. For my part, I cannot conceaue, but that this definition adequately agreeth to Do∣ctor Morton: for you not only maintaine erroneous Tenets in matter of fayth; but are so wilfully obstinate therin, that hauing bene heretofore often admonished and euidently conuinced by Catholike writers, of your shamefull ouer-la∣shing, as also of your corrupting the Fathers, Councells, & other writers, in proofe of those your Tenets, you still hold on the same course in your Grand Imposture, and other your later writings, to your owne shame, and the great discredit of your cause; which if it were good, needed not such iugling to defend it.

But the greatest part of Protestants, either wanting lear∣ning, or meanes to examine the truth of points in contro∣uersy, and thinking you not to be only learned, but also

sincere in deliuering the truth vnto them, (which I know you not to be) simply giue credit to you, and such as you are, and thinke they may safely embrace your doctrine, and rely vpon your word: They (I say) are not Heretikes, but men deceaued and misled by heretikes, or to vse S. Augu∣stines phrase(e) 1.8, Credentes haereticis, men that b••lieue heretikes, and therfore are not comprehended in the excommunica∣tion of Bulla cana, which is pronounced against such only, as by reason of their wilfull obstinacy, are true and formall heretikes, or as S. Paul sayth(f) 1.9, that sinne, being subuerted, and condemned by their owne iudgment.

I deny not, but that many of these men, being of excel∣lent iudgement, and vnderstanding, may, by what they haue heard, or read, haue iust reason to doubt of the truth of Protestancy: and therfore if such out of slouth and careles∣nesse, or for feare of dishonor, and disesteeme in the eyes of the world, or of temporall lostes, and troubles they see Ca∣tholikes exposed vnto, omit to examine the truth, I know not how to excuse them from culpable negligence in the most important affaire of their saluation, which without true fayth cannot be atchieued.

Notes

• (x) 1.1

  Impost. pag. 177. ser∣mon. pag. 30.
• (y) 1.2

  Math. 18.18.
• (z) 1.3

  Tit. 3.10.
• (a) 1.4

  2. Cor. 6.14.
• (b) 1.5

  Ep. 2. vers. 10.
• (c) 1.6

  De vtilit. credendi c. 1.
• (d) 1.7

  De ciuit. Dei l. 18. c. 51.
• (e) 1.8

  De vtil. creden. c. ••.
• (f) 1.9

  Tit. 3.11.