Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	author_n	find_v	great_a	1,744	5	2.5325	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61683	A letter sent to a friend containing some reflections upon a late book intituled, The Roman church vindicated, and M.S. convicted of a false witnesse against her Wherein is declar'd, that the Pope may excommunicate and depose Kings according to the judgement of their greatest doctors, decrees and practices of several Popes, and Canons of their most approved councils; and the author convicted of most notorious falsities, &c. By J.S. B.D.	Stopford, Joshua, 1636-1675.	1675 (1675)	Wing S5743; ESTC R222081	29,048	37

concerning this Book They answered that their General living at Rome could not but approve that which was agreeable to the Court of Rome But being again demanded what they believed Answered that they believed the clean contrary Being again askt And what would you do if you were at Rome Answer'd as they do at Rome Which made some of the Court say Have these Men one Conscience at Rome and another at Paris God keep us from such Confessors And if we look back to Pope Innocent 4. his time we shal find the Bishope and other Clergy-men of France in a Council at Lyons declaring for the Popes Authority to depose Emperours But more of this after wards Thus you see how Zealous even the French have been when they saw it was convenient in asserting the Popes deposing faculty and consequently the imprudence of our Adversary in urging this Testimony of the French Bishops and Sorbonne Doctors I will pass over the Petition of our English Catholicks in King Charles 1. his Reign p. 59. in which they make Solemn protestations of Loyalty for such Stuff will not pass with those that know their Principles or have read the Declaration made to King James even when they were plotting his ruin in the Gun-powder Treason As also the great Braggs he makes of their Loyalty in the late times of Rebellion p. 63. For I know you have read The late Apology in behalf of the Papists answer'd in behalf of the Royalists printed 1667. Who tels them that in Ireland there were whole Armies of Irish and English that sought against his Majesty solely upon the account of their Religion That in England some came in voluntarily to assist him but many more of them were hunted into his Garrisons by them that knew they would bring him little help and much hatred And of those that fought for him so long only as his Fortune stood when that once declined a great part even of them fell from him From that time forward they that were alwayes deemed Cavaliers where were they In all those weak Efforts 1647. 1656. 1659 of gasping Loyalty what did they They complyed and flattered and gave Sugar'd words to the Rebels then as they do to the Royal●sts now They addrest their Petitions to the Supream Authority of this Nation the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England They affirm'd that they had generally taken and punctually kept the Ingagements They promised that if they might but enjoy their Religion they would be the most quiet and useful Subjects of England And this they proved by real Testimonies which we have no pleasure in remembring and they would have less in hearing of them p. 14. Are not these Petitions and Professions most convincing demonstrations of Catholick Loyalty And thus Sir you see how unsuccesful this Gentleman hath been in his first Attempt what pitiful Witnesses he hath brought to convict this Position of falshood viz. That the Pope hath power to depose Kings and absolve their Subjects from their Allegiance Before I pass to his next Chap. give me leave to produce such Testimonies for your further satisfaction in this Point as no Romanist can in reason and Conscience except against And these are the Opinions of their greatest Doctors Decrees and Practices of several Popes and Canons of their most approved Councils 1. That the Pope hath power to excommunicate and depose Kings and absolve their Subjects from their Allegiance is most clear from the Opinions of their greatest Doctors And here Sir I will refer you to Mr. Foulis knowing you have the Book who hath amassed together about three hundred Cardinals Arch-Bishops Bishops School-men Canonists Historians that assert and maintain this Doctrine History of Popish Treasons p. 41 Some of these Authors I have which I find faithfully quoted and could add others to the Catalogue I know this Gentleman ca● them Brethren of iniquity p. 36. Idle wranglers p. 47. aspiring Underlings p. 56 seeming Members p. 58. But let him shew me when and where they were condemned what Index Expurgatorius has censured them Nay if he deal honestly he cannot but confess that these Authors are generally approved and had in great admiration among them that are the Guides of Lay-mens Consciences But on the other hand I find several who have oppos'd this Doctrine censur'd and their Books condemned by the Church of Rome Take a few Instances Petrus de Vineis who collected the Epistles of Frederick 2. Emperour of Germany which contain a Defence of the Imperial Lawes against the Popes Usurpations William Occam and Marsilius of Padua who defend the same Rights in behalf of the Emperour Lewis 4. Antonius de Rosellis of the Power and Authority of the Pope who writ upon the same occasion in behalf of the Emperor Frederick 3. Cardinal Zabarel of of Schismes which should be taken away by the Emperors Authority The Monarchy of Dante 's who affirms that the Emperour depends not upon the Pope but holds his Empire from God A Dispute betwixt the Clerk and the Souldier containing a Defence of the Royal Lawes of the Kings of France against the Popes Usurpations They have not spared Pope Pius 2. though he declar'd in his Bull all that to be heretical which he had written against the Popes Authority when he was called Aeneas Sylvius The Speech of Anthony Arnald in the Parliament of Paris against John Chastel who attempted to murder the King Congregat 10. Roger Widdringtons Apology against Bellarmin Congreg 12. And his Theological Disputation concerning the Oath of Allegiance Congreg 13. God and the King Congreg 16. The Explication of the Oath of Allegiance called Zentum ad Catholicos Anglos Congreg 24. Scutum Regium i. e. against all King-killers and their Patrons Congreg 25. William Barclay of the Pope's Power Congreg 10. But most severe they are upon our King James his Apology for the Oath of Allegiance Congreg 8. This Book they say contains pernicious and execrable Heresies contrary to the Truth and purity of the Holy Catholick Fa●th And all Persons are prohibited to read or keep it upon pain of Excommunication from which they cannot be absolv'd but by the Pope and the Mulct of a thousand Ducats Some of these with many more which I have no time to mention were censur'd by the Council of Trent and others by the Pope Cardinals c. authorized thereunto by that Council Sess 25. sub sin 2. From the Decrees and Practices of their Popes From their Decrees and Constitutions Gregory 1. gave great Priviledges to S. Medard in Soissons with an express Order That the King or Potentate should be degraded or depos'd that did violate them This is urged by Suarez Bellar. Azorius for the Popes Deposing Faculty Baronius glories much in it anno 593. n. 86. And Gregory 7. made use of it to justify his Deposing of Henry 4. Emperor of Germany Bellarmin con●ra Barcla●um p. 308. Becanus Controv. Angl. p. 128. Let all know that they are absolv'd from their

A LETTER SENT TO A FRIEND Containing some Reflections upon a late Book Intituled The Roman Church Vindicated and M. S. Convicted of a false Witnesse against her Wherein is declar'd That the Pope may excommunicate and Depose Kings according to the Judgement of their greatest Doctors Decrees and Practices of several Popes and Canons of their most approved Councils AND The Author convicted of most notorious Falsities c. By J.S. B.D. PRINTED In the Year 1675. SIR ABout three Months ago I heard of an Answer to my Book sent from Priest to Priest for their Assistance and Approbation before 't was committed to the Press This News seconded with the Victoria's of some Romanists might well put such a Fresh-water Souldier as I am into a sad pickle But when the Book was published and I had cast an eye upon the very first Page where I found these comfortable Expressions That the Eagles of their Church scorn'd such a Flye and that the uncivilized Popish Priests would not vouchsafe to requite me with Ink and Paper nay that I was fallen into the hands of a poor home-bred Country-man who inherits his Mothers Compassionate Care for all that are in a longing Condition as he perceived I was and yet no Pope Joan and that can willingly part with a piece of his Heel to do them good p. 2. I say the perusal of these words so farre cheared me that I could not but smile when I had read a little further and came to that general Stop which he put to my Foord most wittily alluding to my Name with three or four false Quotations out of Luther Whitaker Stillingfleet c. After this I proceeded to the Body of his discourse stuffed with various Citations all which though true and pertinent make very little against me Yet having already discover'd him to be a true Son of the Roman Church one that will say any thing for the Honour of his Holy Mother I resolved to examine those Authors and see whether they do really affirm what they are urged for in the Places cited by him This I have done with great care and diligence and can assure you that most of his Quotations are absolutely false or wholly impertinent But I 'le come to particulars In his first Chap. he endeavours to vindicate the Roman Church from all Treasonable Doctrines in confuting this Position That the Pope hath power to excommunicate and depose Kings and absolve their Subjects from their Allegiance to them And for this the Canons of Councils Decrees of Popes and the Testimony of a few Doctors are urged by him He begins with the Canons of several Councils viz. 4 5 6. and 10. of Toledo the Council of Constance Aquisgrane and very confidently tells his Reader That these are a sufficient evide●ce of their Church's Judgement and enough to convince me of my blindness in asserting That the Pope hath power to excommunicate and depose Kings Were this Gentleman as dexterous in proving as he is confident in affirming certainly the Church of Rome never had a more worthy Champio● As to the Councils of Toledo three things may be offer'd which not only weaken but quite destroy the Authority of them 1. Where doth he find that the Pope called these Councils presided in them and gave them his Blessing I mean Confirmed them And you know without these Especially the two Latter they were no more then a few private Doctors and consequently their Decrees not to be accounted the Doctrine of the Church of Rome Besides in the greatest of these Synods we find not above 70 Bishops and Presbyters in and belonging to Spain And that these or at le●st their immediate Successors were none of the most profound Divines is clear from the eight Council of Toledo where Can. 4. they Decree That Bishop● shall not marry and urge these Scriptures 1 Pet. 1. 15. Be ye holy as I am holy and Col. 3. 5. Mortifie your members which are on the Earth And yet these Scriptures are as much against the Marriage of Priests as Rom. 8 8. They that are in the flesh cannot please God once urged by Pope Siricius Epist 4. And Can. 9. they Decree That no man shall eat flesh in Lent and give these most powerful Reasons 1. Because the forty dayes of Lent are the Tithes of all the dayes of the Year and the Tithes should be consecrated to God 2. Because that Christ by fasting forty dayes expiated the Sinnes of Mankind If so to what end did he suffer death 3. Because 't is convenient that Man made of four Elements for breaking the ten Precept of the Decalogue should afflict his body four times ten dayes By these Reasons you may judge of the Learning of that Age. 2. These Places are not full to the point for the Question is Whether the Pope in certain Cases may not depose Kings and absolve their Subjects from their Allegiance And all that these Councils say is That whosoever shall go about by any means of Conspiracy to violate the Oath of his Fidelity which he hath taken for the preservation of his Country or the Kings life or who shal attempt to lay violent Hands upon the King or deprive him of his Kingly Power let him be accursed in the sight of God But when the Pope hath excommunicated and depos'd a Prince he ceases to be a Prince his Subjects are absolv'd from their Oath and may if Commission'd by his Holiness lay violent hands upon him 3. Most unfortunately hath he mention'd the 4 and 6 Council of Toledo Had he read them and understood the Histories of those Times certainly he had passed them over For in the 4. Council those Bishops and Presbyters acknowledge Sisenan●us or Sisnandus for their King who had rebell'd against Suintila or Suinthila their lawful Soveraign Grimston History of Spain lib. 5. p. 146. 147. Rodericus Histor Hispan lib. 2. p. 176. And as if this were not sufficient they denounce Curses against any that shall endeavour to distu●b him Can. 74. Not 47. as he found it quo●ed Thus you see he urgeth a vindication of Treason and Rebellion to be the Doctrine of their Church for Loyalty and Obedience And in the 6. Council of Toledo Can. 3. they Decree That no man should be tolerated to dwell in the Kingdom of Spain who did not profess the Catholick Faith and that Kings in all times to come before they were placed in their Royal Seat should be bound by the Obligation of a Solemn Oath to interpose their Authority that this Act might be obey'd Otherwise the King refusing to put this Act in execution shall be Anathema Maranatha in the sight of God and become Fewel for the everlasting Fire and likewise all that joyn with him This plainly shews in what sence and with what limitations the Canon he mentions is to be understood and consequently how little it makes for nay how much against his present purpose Can we imagine these Doctors to Decree Loyalty and

is offer'd by him to ground our belief upon We have charged their Church with the Alteration of several places in the Ancient Fathers let this Gentleman prove those places to have been corrupted either by Hereticks or Transcribers and we 'l beg her pardon and call them from henceforth Charitable Corrections At present we cannot but think it strange that the Fathers should be so often printed by the Roman Church with so much professed care and fai●hfulness expressed in their Prefaces and for so long pass for Authentick without one Syllable of any Corruption and yet in this last Century when Pro●estants began to read them and urged from them so many express Testimonies against their Novel Doctrines they should be charged with so many Corruptions by Hereticks and Transcribers Here we must either condemn her former negligence or suspect her present honesty and whether of the two is obvious to any man But we cannot saith he suspect the Ancient Fathers to be corrupted by their Church to multiply Witnesses for Popery for those very Fahers whose Sayings or Corruptions She corrects afford plentiful Proofs of the Roman Church's Faith from those sound parts which are not call'd in Question either by the Catholick or the Protestant Church witness Perron Bellar. c. p. 116. If all the Fathers be so express for Popery why then have their most eminent Doctors urged so many spurious Treatises according to their own Confessions and falsely alledged others Let any Person look into Coccius Bellarmin Canisius c. who trade most with the Fathers and examine how many of those places are convicted of Forgery by Baronius Bellar Erasmus Sixtus Senensis Possevin c. and he must either deny what this Gentleman hath so confidently affirmed or grant that these great Champions and profound Scholars had been little conversant in the Fathers For take those spurious Treatises our and their large Folio's would dwindle into little Quarto's 'T is time to leave this and pass to his next Chap. where he lays down these three Propositions which contain and he might have added confirm the contracted Venome and Quintessence of all my objected Cases p. 137 1. That the Church of Rome hath universally degenerated from her wholesome and Primitive use and faithful dispensation of that most important Sacrament of Penance seeing that contrary to the express sense of Antiquity she daily and every where allows her Priests to admits evidently impenitent wilfully and uncorrected and daily relapsing sinners and all sorts without exception to the Sacred benefit of Absolution and Communion Not one Confessarius in ten Thousand daring once in twenty years to make use of the retaining part of his power for fear of incurring the shameful Censure of singularity 2. That the Primitive Practice of large and severe Injunctions is unwarrantably perverted into that fatal indulging of a five Paters or a Rosaries Pennance A Custom wofully experienced to beget in sinners a damnable presumption that Gods mercy is at the beck of the Courteous Confessor 3. That the universally established Doctrine and use of Indulgences do expresly thwart the Primitive sense and Practice of that Juridical Part lull Gods People into a presumptuous security and evacuate the Apostles Counsel to work out our salvation with fear and trembling Now in vindication of his Holy Mother three things are urged by him 1. That Pope Alexander 7. in the General Congregation at Rome an 1659. declared That the Doctrines held forth by those Casuists I mention'd are false erroneous scandalous dangerous p. 129. I confess this is as plausably urged as any thing I have met with in his whole Book yet there 's little in it when all things are well considered There had been for some years sharp Contests between the Jansenists and Jesuits in France and how Pope Alexander 7. stood affected towards the latter is clear from his severe Censures of several Books that were written against them In the Year 1657. he condemned the Provincial Letters Congreg 66. Sommaires des Declarations des Curez de Paris Congreg 69. Jesuitarum Atheismus detectus Congreg 84. Alphonsi de Vargas Toletani Relatio ad Principes Christianos de Stratagem Sophismat Politicis Societatis Jesu Congreg 85. c. But this would not do the work for the devout sort of Catholicks to use their own Words were scandalized at those Doctrines of the Jesuits and Hereticks made their advantages of them Therefore the Pope an 1665. not 1659. as our Adversary affirms censured certain Propositions delivered by those Casuists which were most insisted on by their Adversaries and offensive to some devout Catholicks We see now what 't was that put the Pope upon this Censure viz. the present State of Affairs in France and not any dis-like of the Doctrines for had they been really displeasing to his Holiness 1. He would have condemned the Authors of them and prohibited their Books which was not done 2. He would not have been so severe upon those Doctors that writ against them 2. He urgeth the severe Penances imposed by the Primitive Church upon notorious Offenders of which he gives us p. 146 an Instructive Index to use his own expression extracted out of Gratian c. And then assures his Reader that these are enough to confront the Minister's pretended List and acquaint us with the careful and strict Proceedings of those best Ages of the Catholick Church p150 But what is this to the present Church of Rome which as he told us before hath universally degenerated from her wholesom and primitive use and faithful dispensation of that most important Sacrament of Pennance The Roman Church whilst a Virgin was as severe as now she is become remiss and what the Whore obtains for twelve pence the honest Virgin had scarce granted for a Penance of twelve years It was not then as now at Rome where Dispensations and Pardons are presently got at a small rate according to their Taxa Cancellariae Apostolicae This Gentleman seems to question whether such a Book was ever printed and allowed by their Church I thought this was sufficiently clear'd from the pregnant Testimonies of their own Writers which he neither hath nor can object against And for his further satisfaction I will produce the Book when he or any other shall call upon me But suppose saith he p. 151. the World had seen or the Pope allow'd a Book of that Model yet I am so just as to clear the Church of that imputation and to acknowledge that not only some Sorbonists but even the Inquisitors of Rome have stigmatiz●d it Certainly this Gentleman deserves to be stigmatiz'd for an impudent Lyar. 1. I affirm saith he that some Sorbonists have condemned this Book But where doth he find any mentiond by me except Espencaeus whose pious Censure the Roman Church is so far from approving that the Spanish Inquisitors have commanded it to be blotted out in their Expurgatory Index p. 60. 2. I acknowledge saith he that the Inquisitors

eminent S. Austin de Civit. dei lib. 20 c. 8. in Psal 70. Calvin Instit lib. 4. c. 2. n. 12. All most false That there was no visible Church but the Popish Church for 1260 p. 95. years before Luther Napper upon the Revel p. 145. Perkins upon the Creed p. 400. and in his Reformed Catholick p. 307. All false That the Hebrew Doctors have corrupted the Scriptures Calvin Instit p. 97. lib. 1. c. 13. n. 9 False That S. Hierom thought it not safe to recur to those Hebrew Copies where the Septuagint differs from them In Epist ad Gal. cap. 3. False That the first Reformers and their Successors have entirely condemned p. 117. and rejected the Fathers both in general and particular as blind ignorant and full of Errours Luther de servo Arbitrio p. 434. Calvin in Heb. c. 7. v. 9. Instit lib. 4. c. 12. n. 19. 30. Humsred de vita Jeweli p. 212. Fulkes Retentive against Bristow p. 55. Wotton defence of Perk us p. 491. Whitaker contra duraeum lib. 6. p. 423. All false That the ten Commandements belong not to Christians Luther Serm. p. 124. de Mose and approved by Whitaker contra duraeum lib. 8. Sect. 91. Luther in Gal. cap. p. 227. That it is Heresy to require good works to Salvation Luth. Serm. de piscat Petri p. 154 All false in this Gentleman's sence for they constantly affirm that the ten Commandements belong to Christians as a Rule of life and that good works are necessary to salvation That the Church of England doth acknowledge in her Marginal Notes p. 164. upon Joh. 14. 12. That Believers in every Age have power to work Miracles False That infinite Miracles have been wrought by the Reliques of Saints p. 168. Whitaker contra duraeum lib. 10 p. 866. False That the real Presence is confirm'd by many Miracles acknowledged p. 169. by Dr. Humfrey in his Jesuitisme p. 2. rat 5. p. 626. and Centurists Cent. 4. col 431. And that famous one in the Town of Knoblock an 1510. is related as a certain truth by Osiander ●ent 16. cap. 14. p. 28. All most false That several Miracles are confessed by the C●n●urists to prove the p. 170. Mass to be a true Sacrifice Purgatory and Prayer for the dead Cent. 6. Col. 819. Cent. 7. Col. 577. All most false That the Miracles wrought by S. Oswald and others are approved by p. 179. Holinshead in his Chron. Vol. 1. p. 115. 170. False That the formentioned Miracles and many others of the seventh Age p. 180. are acknowledged by the Centurists Cent. 7. cap. 10. Col. 533. and Osiander Epitom Cent. 7. False That many undoubted Miracles were wrought in the 8. 9. 10. and 11. Ages in confirmation of the use of Images the Veneration of holy Reliques Invocation of Saints and the Sacrifice of the Mass offered for the Living and the Dead Osiander Epit. Cent. 8. p. 47. and 92. Item p. 24. 25. The Centurists Cent. 8. cap. 13. Cent. 9. cap. 13. Osiander Epit. Cent. 9. p. 63. All most false That the Miracles of S. Dunstan are recorded and approved by Holinshead Vol. 1. 165. and others in the same Age by the Conturists Cent. 10. cap. 13. and Osiander Epit. Cent. 10. p. 125. All most false That the Miracles wrought in the Eleventh Age by S. Ansolm O●●●o p. 181. and others in confirmation of the Sacrifice of the Mass and Invocation of Saints are confessed by Osiander Epit. Cent. 9. 10. 11. p. 213. False That infinite Miracles were done by Malachias in the twelveth Age whereof some were seen and acknowledged by many hundreds of People Holinshead Chron. p. 55. False That many Miracles were done by S. Bernard and acknowledged by the p. 182. Centurists Cent. 12. col 1634. 1635. 1649. and Osiander Cent. 12. lib. 4. cap. 6. p. 310. And that these moved Whitaker to give him the just Character of a true Saint De Eccles p. 369. All most false He further tells us That signal Miracles were wrought in the thirteenth Age by S. Dominick and S. Francis even while they were preaching against the Albigensian Errours whom Satan had seduced to deny those known Doctrines of Gods Church viz. Purgatory Prayers for the dead Confession Extream Unction the Popes Authority Images Traditions And in the next page assures us That the Miracles wrought in the 15 th Age are admired and reverenced by Protestants themselves But for both these we must take his bare word and how can he in reason expect this from us who stands convicted of above a hundred notorious Lyes Perhaps here you 'l say That the Printer has mistaken many of the Quotations and therefore we cannot in justice charge them on the Author Or that he hath taken them upon the Credit of other Writers But to the first I answer 1. That the Printer cannot be charged with any mistake in reference to many nay most of the Quotations I have mention'd 2. That about two Months ago I writ to this Gentleman and have great assurance that my Letter came to his Hands and desired him that if there were any Errata's in the Citations he would be pleased to send me a corrected Book and it should be faithfully return'd But to this day I never heard from him And to the second Plea viz. That he hath taken these Citations upon the Credit of other Writers which I believe to be a great truth I answer That to take things upon trust in Controversial Points argues much weakness and imprudence but to do this and not give his Reader the least intimation of it argues great unfaithfulness and dishonesty that will not admit of any Excuse And to evidence his great Proficiency in this Catholick Vertue I could give you many other Instances but for Brevity's sake I 'le mention but one which you may find p. 190. and will appear most notorious upon your comparing of it with p. 127. of my Book Here he confidently tells the World that all that the Bishops of Bononia as they are alledged in the last page but one of my Book do affirm i● That private mens constructions of the Bible have raised great storms and differences and that the Doctrines preached by Christians or the Romish Church se●m contrary to those contained in the Bible But the advice of those Bishops to the Pope was related by me in these words Let that little suffice which is wont to be read in the Mass and more then that let no Mortal be allow'd to read For so long as men were content with that little your affairs succeeded according to desire but quite otherways since so much of the Scriptures was publickly read In short this is the Book which above all others hath raised these storms and ten pests And truly if any one read that Book the Scriptures and observe the Customes and Practices of our Church will see that there is no agreement betwixt them and that the Doctrine which we preach is altogether different from and sometimes cont●●ry to that contained in the Bible Now can any Man pick out of these Words or will any one but a frontless Romanist affirm that the sense of them is That private mens constructions of the Bible have raised great storms and differences c. I grant we are to put the most favourable construction upon another's Words and Actions Yet I take that Caution in their Canon-Law to be extravagant viz. That if a P●p●st see one of their Priests k●ssing a Woman he 's bid to believe that the Priest is only giving her good Counsel For though Charity be can did and ingenuous yet 't is not blind and block●sh And that their Charity must have these debasing Qualifications who endeavour to excuse this Gentleman is obvious to any I hav found him guilty of about an hundred and fifty false Quotations and observed near halfe that number that are wholly impertinent besides many that I have not time to examine Sir if these Roman Factors dare publish such notorious Falsities to the World we may easily guess what pretty Stories they tell their deluded Proselytes in secret Let us commiserate their Condition who have committed their Souls to the Conduct of these Spiritual Mountchancks and admire Gods discriminating Mercy who hath delivered us from their Fatal delusions Sir I am Your most Obliged and faithful Servant I. S.