Page:Bible (Douay Rheims OT1, 1609).djvu/71

50 boures, setteth forth their owne, & estemeth them only in place of goddes. Thus farre S. Athanasius. Name we like countries, prouinces, cities, and townes in these partes of Europe, where Luthers scholars haue set their feete, consider the forme of Religion, and opinions which they hold, and we shal see as vnorderlie beginnings, and as horrible dissensions in heresies (which S. Hierom calleth the Idols of the New Testament) as the ancient fathers haue discryed in Paganisme. For Lutherans or Protestants hauing no lawful generation, but proceding of bastards race, vpstartes of vnknowne progenie, are no lesse at discordes among them selues, only al agreing against Catholiques, like syncretisantes against their cōmon enimies, or Herod, Pilate, & the Iewes against Christ. And in England alone are diuers sectes without possible meanes to agree in one. For albeit the ciuil state endeuoreth prudently and seriously to bring al to vniformitie, at least in publique shew, yet they are but like manie faces vnder one hood, euerie sorte keping their owne opinions; yea almost euerie preacher and meane scholar (to say nothing of artificers and common ministers) arrogating to be his owne Iudge, contemneth to stand to Luther or Caluin, to Geneua or Parlament, to Conuocation or Synod of their owne, but to his owne only vnderstanding, and interpretation of holie Scripture. Nor yet to that alwayes; for when he is pressed with that he once said, he wil forgete it, or eate his owne word, if he haue not written it, or that you haue readie witnes against him, so hard it is to make a deceiued Protestant or Puritan confesse that he is conuinced, except by very pregnant meanes you can first cast out of him, or bind fast the spirite of presumption, dissension and contention: wheras the simpliest Catholique in the world hath the selfe same faith in al points, with the whole Church, in which he remaineth, and vpon whose iudgement he dependeth.

To returne therfore, from whence we are not vnnecessarily digressed, we conclude with S. Augustin; When Moyses had shewed the beginning and progresse of Nemrods earthlie citie, leauing it in Babylon, that is confusion, as needles to prosecute it futher, he returneth to declare the pertual succession of the Citie of God, the Church, as before the floud from Adam to Noe, by the line of Seth, so after the floud from the same Noe, by the line of Sem, Arphaxad, Sale, Heber, Phaleg, Reu, Sarug, Nachor, Thare, and Abraham. The rest of Sems children, and al the progenies of Iapheth and Cham, as not pertaining to this purpose, omitted, so connecting those in order of generations, by whom the succession is directly brought to Abraham, Prince of the elected people, a most special Patriarch, to whom new and great promisses are made of multiplication of his seede, and possession of the land of Chanaan, but especially of Christ our Redemer, and the same manie waies confirmed, as wil appeare in the next age.