Theophilus. Thou mayst now understand Eusebius how the Church is fallen from degree to degree, sithens the time of the Apostles, until the same of l•ertulian, afterwards of Cyprian, afterwards of Augustin and from him unto Gregory, and consequently unto our time: and how the superstition is so increased and augmented, that by the means of the Purgatory and of the Mass the merit of the death and passion of Jesus Christ was altogether abolished. You must not then compare the time present & the estate of your Churches, unto the same of S. Augustin. For there is to much difference between them. It is •• evil likelihood, that the thing in those days was so much advanced. And doubt not, that if y• holy man had thought, that it would have fallen out so, but that he would have resisted it more strongly then we do at this day. For he could not have suffered, that the grace of Jesus Christ, of which he was so great a defender against the Pelagians, should have been so altogether destroyed. But the good man was overcome, because that then, the purity of the doctrine of the gospel & the estate of the church was already very much decayed & corrupted, as we may easily judge, by that which Saint Hierome witnesseth of the life of Malchus. For he was not ashamed to write that the time 1and age in which he lived, and Saint Augustin in like manner, who was of the same time, was but filthiness & stinking in comparison of the same of the Apostles. Thou hast already heard the plaint ye Saint Augustin made of mans traditions, with which the Church was overcharged. 2Amongst which he touched the Jewishness and superstition ⟨p. 192⟩which was yet kept in Africa. We must not then be abashed, if in those days, there came up new opinions, touching the estate of the dead, the which the ancient Church was ignorant off. We must not in like manner marvel although some great learned men have been wrapped in them. For it happeneth commonly, that when men have dreamed and invented some new opinion, they will also induce others, and are angry against those that do resist them, insomuch that they will condemn them, and if they be the most wisest and of greatest countenance, they carry away the matter. After that sort was Aerius condemned, chiefly because he said, that it was 3not needful to pray nor to offer for the dead.
Theophilus. Thou mayst now vnderstand Eusebius how the Churche is fallen from degree to degree, sithens the time of the Apostles, vntil the same of l•ertulian, afterwards of Cyprian, afterwards of Augustin and from him vnto Gregory, and consequently vnto our time: and how the superstition is so increased and augmented, that by the meanes of the Purgatory and of the Masse the merite of the death and passion of Iesus Christ was altogether abolished. You must not then compare the time present & the estate of your Churches, vnto the same of S. Augustin. For there is to much difference betweene them. It is •• euill lykelyhood, that the thing in those dayes was somuch aduaunced. And doubt not, that if y• holy man had thought, that it would haue fallen out so, but that he would haue resisted it more strongly then wee doe at this day. For hee could not haue suffred, that the grace of Iesus Christ, of which he was so greate a defender against the Pelagians, should haue bene so altogether destroyed. But the good man was ouercome, bicause that then, the puritie of the doctrine of ye gospel & the estate of the church was already very much decayed & corrupted, as we may easely iudge, by that whiche Sainct Hierome witnesseth of the life of Malchus. For he was not ashamed to write that the time 1and age in which hee liued, and Sainct Augustin in lyhe manner, who was of the same time, was but filthynesse & stinking in comparison of the same of ye Apostles. Thou hast alreadie heard the plaint ye Sainct Augustin made of mans traditions, with which the Church was ouercharged. 2Amongst which he touched the Iewishnes and superstion ⟨p. 192⟩whiche was yet kept in Africa. We must not then be abashed, if in those dayes, there came vp new opinions, touching the estate of the dead, the whiche the auncient Churche was ignorant off. Wee must not in like manner meruaile although some greate learned men haue bene wrapt in them. For it happeneth commonlye, that when men haue dreamed and inuented some new opinion, they will also induce others, and are angry against those that doe resist them, insomuch that they will condempne them, and if they bee the moste wisest and of greatest countenaunce, they cary away the matter. After that sorte was Aerius condempned, chifely bicause he saide, that it was 3not néedeful to pray nor to offer for the dead.
- 1The Witness Which Saint H•ereme ytueth cllus time.The VVitnesse VVhich Saint H•ereme ytueth cllus time.
- 2[…] lanua 1. 9.〈…〉 lanua 1. 9.
- 3Aertus.
