A14227:274
An answer to a challenge madeAn ansvver to a challenge made
An answer to a challenge made by a Jesuit in Ireland Wherein the judgement of antiquity in the points questioned is truly delivered, and the novelty of the now romish doctrine plainly discovered. By James Usher Bishop of Meath.An ansvver to a challenge made by a Iesuite in Ireland Wherein the iudgement of antiquity in the points questioned is truely delivered, and the noveltie of the now romish doctrine plainly discovered. By Iames Vssher Bishop of Meath.
Dublin: printed by the Society of Stationers and Eliot's Court Press, 1624Dublin: printed by the Societie of Stationers and Eliot's Court Press, 1624
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The like doctrine is delivered by dAndrew archbishop of Crete, in his Sermon of the life of man, and of the dead; and by John Damascene, or whosoever else was author of the book ascribed unto him, concerning them that are departed in the faith: where three notable tales are told, of the benefit that even Infidels and Idolaters themselves should receive by such prayers as these. One touching the soul of the Emperor Trajan, delivered from Hell by the prayers of Pope Gregory: of the truth whereof least any man should make question, he affirmeth very roundly, that no less then ethe whole East and West will witness that this is true and uncontrollable. And indeed in the East this fable seemeth first to have risen: where it obtained such credit, that the Grecians to this day do still use this form of prayer; fAs thou didst loose Trajan from punishment by the earnest intercession of thy servant Gregory the Dialogue-writer, hear us likewise who pray unto thee. And ⟨p. 230⟩therefore to them doth Hugo Etherianus thus appeal, for justifying the truth of this narration: gDo not, I pray you, say in your hearts, that this is false or feigned. Inquire, if you please, of the Grecians: the whole Greek Church surely doth testify these things. He might, if he had pleased, being an Italian himself, have inquired nearer home of the Romans, among whom this feat was reported to have been acted; rather then among the Grecians, who were strangers to the business. But the Romans, as we understand by hJohannes Diaconus in the life of S. Gregory, found no such matter among their records; and when they had notice given them thereof out of the Legends of the Church of England (for from thence received they the news of this and some other such strange acts reported to have been done by S. Gregory among themselves) they were not very hasty to believe it: because they could hardly be persuaded, that S. Gregory who had taught them, that i