that regard they sate at the last in Councils As namely in the sixth Council of Carthage And in the Council of Gregory the first And the Gallicane Church in her Remonstrances to the Council of Canstance saies these words Cardinals are the Rectors or Parsons of the Parochial Churches at Rome They have their Dignities in their parishes and their First and principal Office is To hear Confessions To preach and to Baptize c. 6. But Onuphrius saith in Libro de Cardinalibus That when Pope Clement the 2. about the year 1046. had strengthened the Papal Majesty Leo the 9. about the year 1049. did begin to raise up the State of Cardinals at Rome 7. Unto whom afterwards Innocent the 4. about the year 1244. gave the priviledge of the Red Hat Of the Scarlet Gown And to go on Horseback through the Citie 8. And in the year 1470. Paul the 2. did confirm it 9. And since Clement the 5. went so far in his Clementines as to make them march before all the Princes of the earth 10. But that the beginning of Cardinals had been such as hath been represented Besides the consent of the whole History it doth appear by the following things 1. It doth appear by this That Antiently there were onely 28 of them That is to say as many as of Titles and of the parishes at Rome 2. That doth appear by this That as the Popes were willing to make a great number of Cardinals they did also increase the number of the Parishes of Rome 3. That doth appear by this That above a thousand years lasting the least Bishop had the precedence of a Cardinal how Ancient soever he might be And even the Dean likewise 4. That doth appear by this That the Cardinalat was a Degree to become Bishop And that he who of a Cardinal was made Bishop did cease to be Cardinal which was not altered but about the year 1190 by Pope Clement the third 5. That doth appear by this That among the Cardinal Bishops the Precedence was taken from the Promotion to the Bishoprick and not to the Cardinalship The Cardinals being esteemed inferiours to Bishops and onely more then simple Priests Alexander the 3. did change that after he had troden under feet the Emperor Frederick about the year 1180. making thenceforth the Cardinals Bishops and the Cardinals not Bishops to have the precedence of Bishops Archbishops Primates Patriarchs c. 6. That doth appear by this That the Church of Ravenna in Italy had her Cardinals and kept them a long time which also in the time of Charles the Great did maintain That she held nothing of Rome 11. Concerning Cardinal Deacons the books of the Church of Rome do teach us That there was but one there in the beginning which was called so because he was the Principal Deacon called by us Arch-Deacon of the seven Deacons that were in that City that is to say one for two Regions which were called Regionarie Deacons having the care of the Alms. Since they were 14 one for a Region and afterwards 18. To give 4 of them to Latran and at last they were all Cardinals and that without Number 12. It must not be wondred at Then if the Canonists do Dispute that the Cardinals have no Rank in the Church and that they are neither Instituted by Christ nor by his Apostles c. 13 Neither also must we wonder if even the Cardinal of Alliaco among the Articles which he presented to the Council of Constance Libr. de Reform at the Request of the Emperour Sigismond did give counsel to extinguish them as superfluous and added without cause This is an Observation greatly to be considered namely That the Arguments used in the Church of Rome for Defence of their Erroneous Doctrines before the coming in of the Jesuites are declared by the Jesuites themselves to have been but sleight and weak Arguments Jesuites OUr Ancestors saies one of the Jesuites otherwise most wise men having not alwaies to Debate with wilful Spirits did not strictly stand upon exact Form of Teaching Answer to that by the Reformed 1. THe cause is the more desperate when such wise men could find no better Arguments to maintain it but such as even the Jesuites themselves confesse to be but weak 2. And both their Heresies were then too credulous to believe And the Jesuites are now ridiculous to defend such loose Arguments as they do § By the above observation it doth manifestly appear That the Jesuites that now have taken upon them to defend the Doctrine Erroneous of the Church of Rome of all the Sophisters of that Church are the greatest 1. THe Jesuites puts now down all the Ancient Sophisters of the Church of Rome for deceipt and fraud themselves being yet but upstarts 2. For if there were ever any kingdom of poor blind men over the stark blind questionless it is now wholy descended unto the Jesuites 3. To whom the former Popish Doctors as also the Ancienter Orders of Monks and Friars do willingly yeild the Garland because they think that they see something Of all the Sophisters Jesuites Bellarmine a Jesuite is the greatest and most Vniversal as appears by the Representation and Observation of his Faults 1. REading the Controversies of Cardinal Bellarmine concerning Religion we find two kinds of Faults in them Some are General And the others are Particular 2. These be some of his General Faults 1. To make shew and parade of his Learning he propounds and moves Questions too curious as also unprofitable 2. He refutes the Antient Errors with too great prolixitie and labour which were not to be drawn out of Hell wherein in times past truth had made them fall 3. He unjustly reproves the Reformed Doctors and slanders them being beholding unto them for many matters that he hath taken from them though he doth not vouchsafe to acknowledg it 4. When he loses all hope to be helped by holy Scriptures he doth strengthen himself by the Authority of the Fathers and of the Councils and of Miracles 5. Against all right and reason to maintain and uphold his Capitolin god which is the Pope he alleadges unto us the Popes in their own Cause as Judges or witnesses 6. Also to prove his Assertions he alleadges and produce that which hath been done by the Pope Whereas it was to be known in regard of Right whether they ought to do such things 7. To procure glory and fame unto himself and being stirred by Ambition he blames and rebukes every kind of persons even his own Doctors and moreover the holy Scriptures 8. Having undertaken to uphold an Error he hoth sink in the mud the more when he goes on 4. Concerning the particular Faults of the said Cardinal they appear in every point of controversie which he handles against the Reformed Churches Which particular Faults are clearly discovered and solidly refuted by the Doctors of the said Churches who did undertake the Answer to the said Controversie §. An
universal Faith of Christ we are truely Christians and Catholicks believing so and professing so 2. And are content with these Names and desire no other §. Let the Papists be called as they will the Reformed who Reprove and Confute the multitude of their Namss will not be grieved at them 1. LEt the Papists be called Diversly Franciscanes Benedictines Dominicanes And whatsoever other Title they can take up the Reformed are not grieved at the multitude and variety of their Names 2 Who being in Truth almost any thing rather then Christians delight in any Name rather then in the Name of Christians Against the Reconcilement and Reunion of the two Religions the Reformed and the Roman 1. BEing true that the Roman Church is Heretikcal and Impure And on the contrary the Reformed Churches Orthodox and Pure It follows manifestly that there can be none well grounded hope to agree and reunite Popery with the Reformed Churches And therefore that the labour of those who would think upon such a thing were not a seasonable labour 1. Because that in the differences which are amongst us we are so contrary one to the other that the one do clearly maintain the Negative and the others the Affirmative Now it must necessarily be that one of the Propositions be true and the other false Because two contradictories cannot be together true And it is not possible to soulder them by the mastick of some distinctions having no ground in the Word of God 2. The Errors of the Church of Rome have been solemnly ratified and confirmed by the Council of Trent upon pain of Anathema And therefore since that Ratification and confirmation there is no way nor mean left of reconcilement and Agreement For if there were the said Church should be bound to acknowledge her Errors to the end that they may be reformed And to disanul and abrogate concerning them the Canons of the said Council of Trent which is not to be expected from her as long as she shall maintain this poin as she doth vehemently that she cannot Erre And that she layes down and propounds no other Principle of Faith than her belief Against Toleration of false Religions with the pure and Reformed when they differ in Fundamental grounds 1. IT is not onely evil to do but also to suffer evil when it is in our power to hinder it Therefore Religion differing in Fundamental Grounds are not to be Tolerated together 2. This is proved by many Arguments Drawn 1. From the Law forbidding to plow with an Ox and an Asse And punishing Idolaters with Death Deut. 22.10 11. and Deut. 19.6.8 9. 2. From the Gospel denying the service of two Masters Mat. 6.24 And interdicting all fellowship and communion of light with darkness or Christ with Belial 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16. 3. From the Spirits Bill of enditement framed against the Angels of Pergamos and Thyatira for tollerating the Nicolaitans Rev. 2.15 20. 4. From Gods threatning to cut off all such as swear by him and by Malcham Zeph. 1.5 5. From the Imputation which is laid by the Spirit upon many Kings of Israel and Judah for not taking away the High places 1 King 15.14 6. From the Examples of Asa Josiah Ezekiah Constantine Jovian Theodosius and other Religious Princes who by severe Laws restrained Heresie and Idolatry and constrained the true worship of God 7. From the great danger of Heresie which like a Canker soon spreads over the whole body of the Church and if it be not looked into killeth and that eternally thousands of souls breaketh the bands of Nature and cutteth in sunder all sinews of human Society Putteth enmity variance and implacable discords in families Soweth seeds of Sedition in the State and Rebellion against the Prince Refutation of this Slander of the Popish Doctors That the Reformed are Enemies to Scriptures 1. THe Reformed say that this is indeed a very impudent Slander 2. For who ever thought and spoke more Honourablie Reverently and with more due Regard of the Scriptures then they Who have received and imbraced all Scripture given by Inspiration as the very voice of God himself Holding it for the onely Ground and Rule of their Faith and Religion And so resting in it as that they desire no other help as necessary to Salvation Which if they had not with more diligence and devotion defended then the Romanists ever did long ere this the glory of it had perished and it had been counted as a dead Letter 3. For what have the Reformed done for these many years with more endeavour and diligence then to maintain the Majesty and Excellencie of the Scriptures 4. Which the Romanists have so unworthily violated 5. And yet they blush not to match the Reformed with the Manichees and Ebionites who have violently laid villanous hands upon those Sacred Books Of the Apocryphal Books excluded from the Canon by the Reformed Churches Jesuits THe Jesuites and other Papists do demand of the Reformed by what Authority they Maime and Rob the Corps of the Bible Answer of the Reformed to that Demand 1. WE offer no violence to this Body neither do we cut off any which do appertain to the substance and perfection of it we pull away no Member 2. For we do not cut out any true Canonical Scriptures but cull out such as are not Canonical but foisted in and Counterfeit 3. Herein we do the Canonical Scriptures no injury dividing them from such Books as are not of that absolute Authority That they which are in truth Canonical may remain intire and whole together no more then the Shepheard doth injury to the Sheep in sorting the Goats and other Cattel from them The Doctrine of the Reformed Churches and particularly of the Church of England that the Ministers of God hath power to Forgive Sins if the Sinner repent and believe the Gospel maketh not the English Reformed Ministers to be Priests as they are called in the Church of Rome 1. WE Reformed say that the Ministers of God hath power to forgive sins not in some Cases only but in all whatsoever if the sinner repent and believe the Gospel 2. This Authority is given unto him by Christ 3. This in the State and Church of England the Parliament and the Communion Book confesse 2. 1. NEvertheless a Popish Writer is far from his purpose to prove thereby the Popish Order of Priesthood 2. For this maketh not the English Reformed Ministers to be Priests as they are called in the Church of Rome but Preachers of Repentance which bring the glad Tidings of the Gospel to all those that be heavie laden and desire to be refreshed 3. 1. NEither have they power themselves to forgive sins but God alone forgiveth sins Mark 1.7 2. But having the word of Reconciliation committed unto them from God they offer pardon and in his Name pronounce pardon to the sinner that believeth and that turneth from his wickednesse and sinnes unto the Lord. Refutation of this Accusation of the Jesuites
all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse in them that perish because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved Of the same also is spoken Apoc. 13.12 where it is said of the Second Beast That he causeth the Earth and Them which dwell therein to worship the first Beast whose deadly wound was healed And a little after namely vers 14. That this Second Beast deceiveth them that dwell on the Earth by the means of those Miracles which he had Power to do in the sight of the Beast And that he causeth all both small and great rich and poor free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads And that no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark or the name of the Beast or the number of his Name And Chap. 13.7 8. It is said That it was given unto him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them And power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and nations And all that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world And Chapt. 17.2 It is said That with the great Whore the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication and the Inhabiters of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication 4. All That hath been seen before the last Reformation of the Church 2. NOw as Satan to the end he may tempt the better doth often transform himself in an Angel of Light So Antichrist and his Followers to seduce better the world and to spread with greater fruit and successe the venome of his False Doctrine in corrupting that of Christ and of his Apostles hath made use of four Means the fittest for the fulfilling of his designe 1. The first of these Means consisteth in Mysteries and Secrets 2. The second of these Means consisteth in Frauds and Impostures 3. The third of these Means consisteth in Signes and Miracles 4. And the Fourth of these Signs consisteth in Persecution and Crueltie 1. I have said That the First of the Means used by the Popes and the Church of Rome to seduce People consisteth in Mysteries and Secrets 1. FOr Poperie having not found convenient openly to propound her false Doctrines hath cloathed them with Mysteries that so they may be more easily received In this regard it is said of the great Whore Apoc. 17.5 That upon her forehead was a Name written Mysterie Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth 2. Let the Rationals be read and the book of Ceremonies of the Church of Rome and no piece or part of the Divine Service thereof shall be found which containeth not some Mysteries even to the Priests Garments and to the Lamps alwaies burning 3. The Doctrine of an Oecumenical and Universal Bishop and Head was softly introduced under this Mysterie That thereby the Unitie of the Church was represented 4. Marriage hath been prohibited to the Roman Clergie permitting unto them under this colour to keep Concubines And under this Mystery That Virginity is far more excellent then Marriage 5. The Life and the Monastical Vowes have been introduced under this Mystery That the Contemplative Life is by much to be preferred to the Active And that thereby Grace and Glory are merited And moreover that thereby more is done then God commandeth in his Law 6. The use of Holy Scripture in an unknown Tongue hath been introduced under this Mystery To avoid and hinder the contempt of Her Mysteries And to entertain an Union in all the Churches 7. How many Mysteries are found out in the Masse to the end that it may be received 2. I have said That the Second of the Means used by the Popes and the Church of Rome to seduce People consisteth in Impostures 1. IN that they are like to False Coyners and to Jugglers Like again to the Serpent who by Imposture and Fraud did deceive our Mother Eve and by the same Means did indeavour to seduce Jesus Christ our Saviour but was not able to do it 2. Which Impostures and Frauds have been shewed and continue to be shewed by the Popes and by the Roman Clergie in divers manners 3. We will produce in particular those divers Manners after we have set down the other Means used by the Popes and the Church of Rome to seduce People 2. I have said That the Third of the Means used by the Popes and the Church of Rome to seduce People consisteth in Signs and Miracles 1. OF them doth Christ our Saviour speak Matth. 24.24 in these words For there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. Of them also doth S. Paul speak 2 Thess 2.9 in these words Even him namely Antichrist whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders Of them likewise doth S. John speak Apoc. 13.14 in these words And them that dwell on the earth meaning Antichrist by the means of those Miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the Beast 2. The Popes which are that Antichrist boasting of this Gift of Miracles hath noised more of them then any other Religion Either the True Or the False Religion More then Simon the Magician did More then Mahomet hath done More then Moses and the other Prophets have done Nay more then Christ hath done and his Apostles although they have made of them in great Number 3. Is it not the most ordinarie Subject of the Legends of the Saints by which in time past the Preachers of the Church of Rome did so beat the ears of their Auditors It is true That since the Reformation of the Christians those Legends are not so much esteemed but still Citations are made out of them although not so commonly 4. But these Miracles boasted by those of the Church of Rome were not true but lying Miracles And that in regard of all manners and kinds of Causes 1. False in regard of the efficient Cause Because they were wrought by Satan who is the father of Lyes 2. False in regard of the final Cause Because they were done to introduce a false Doctrine and full of Lyes 3. False in regard of the Material Cause Because most of them are but Illusions and Impostures Not true Resurrections of some Dead as they are pretended to be Neither also curing of some Diseases 4. False in regard of the Formal Cause For if some of these Miracles are true in respect of the Matter they shall not be so in regard of the Form because they shall not be above the strength of Nature as are all the true Miracles but shall be wrought by Natural Causes Either Manifest or Hidden Satan applying Active Things to Passives They may be wondrous things but not Miracles which are wrought onely by the
Reformed Churches 1. THey are the Churches which are entirely Reformed of which by Gods Grace we are Members 2. That is to say those Churches who having the true Marks of the Church have them also with all the Purity which is required in regard of the Doctrine of Faith and in regard of the Worship of God 1. 1. The Socinians 2. The Anabaptists Are not comprehended by the Protestants under the Appellation of Reformed and True Churches Because in their Assemblies the very Notes of the True Church do not appear 1. FOr we do not comprehend under that Appellation those Assemblies who having forsaken Idolatry Superstitions and some Errors of the Roman Church are fallen into others very great and most pernicious Such are the Assemblies of the Socinians or the New Samosatenians And such also are the Assemblies of the Anabaptists In which Assemblies the very Notes and Marks of the true Church do not appear The Reformed Religion is True and Orthodox 1. 1. THe Reformed Churches Faith is sound That appears in their Belief of God the Father Of his onely Son Jesus Christ Of the Holy Ghost Of the Church Of the Sacraments Of the Ministery Of the Scriptures Of Ceremonies And of every part of Christian Belief 2. They abandon and detest as plagues and poysons all those old Heresies which either the Sacred Scriptures or the Ancient Councils have utterly condemned 3. They call home again as much as in them lieth the right Discipline of the Church which our Adversaries have quite brought into a poor and weak case 4. They punish all licentiousness of Life and unruliness of Manners by the Old and long continued Laws And with as much sharpness as is convenient and lieth in their power They maintain still the state of Kingdomes in the same Condition and State of Honour wherein they have found them without any diminution or alteration Reserving unto their Princes their Majesty and Worldly Preheminence safe and without impairing to their possible power 6. They have so gotten themselves away from that Popish Church which the Popes had made a Den of Thieves and wherein nothing was in good frame or like to the Church of God as Lot in times past gat him out of Sodome or Abraham out of Chalde Not upon a desire of Contention but by the warning of God himself 7. They have searched out of the holy Bible which they are sure cannot deceive them their sure Form of Religion and have returned again unto the Primitive Church of the Apostles and of the Ancient Fathers that is to say to the ground and beginning of things unto the very foundations and head-springs of Christs Church The Reformed Churches are the same in kinde with all the good Churches which were before them 1. THe Reformed Churches are the same with all Good Churches that had been in the World before them and do succeed the sound and firm Members of the General Visible Church in whom was the Life of true Religion in the substantial matter of Faith and Godliness 2. But they having shaken off their former Errors they differ from them in manner and quality As a man who was deceived in sundry things when he becomes wiser differs from himself as he was Ignorant 3. And as a sick body when it is healed and a Commonwealth after it hath reformed disorders are in substance the same but differ in in Quality and in Goodness so the Protestant Churches have purged sundry corruptions and perfected that which was defective But are the same in kinde with all the good Churches and Christians that were before them And succeeds them of the General Visible Church in whom was the Life of Faith and of Religion Concerning the Antiquity of the Reformed Religion Jesuites THe Jesuites say That the Reformed for fifteen hundred Years could not spy out one Town one Village one House seasoned with the Doctrine that they follow Now. Answer of the Reformed 1. THe Reformed do answer That such an Accusation is very false for in the Apostles time all Churches all Cities and Towns every Family embraced the same Faith and Religion which now they profess 2. Antichrist that Man of Sin could never prevail so much nor so far in corrupting the Christian Religion and Church but a great multitude of the Saints remained and those whose Names were written in the Book of Life did utterly abhor all those filthy and wicked Superstitions of Antichrist For in the Church of Rome it self even in the worst times of it many were ever found who worshipped the God of their Fathers and kept themselves unpolluted with that horrible Idolatry And this can Histories of all Times witness which we could now Recite Vide Catalog Testium veritatis if it were needful and reckon up to the Jesuites many Houses Villages Towns Cities and Countries where Christ had many and populous Churches 3. We add That the Greek Church could never yet be brought to joyn it self to the Roman Church and it is now as opposite to Her as ever the Reformed was and is 4. Furthermore we answer to this Question of the Jesuites Where was your Church for so many years before Luther That it did never lie so hid but it was discerned by their Pope unless for so many years he persecuted shaddows § Another Answer of the Reformed to the Question of the Jesuites Where was the Reformed Religion before the Reformation made by Luther and other Divines 1. THey answer That the Apostles and the Primitive Church for almost six hundred years after Christ taught as they do 2. They answer That ever since that time there have been some that have contended for the maintenance of the Faith which they profess For Example 1. In matter of Supremacy they taught as the Reformed do till after Gregories time which was six hundred years after Christ yea Gregory himself writing against them of Constantinople held this Language If any shall call himself Vniversal Bishop I say it confidently that he is Antichrist 3. In matter of the Sacrament for a thousand years together that the People received the Wine as vvell as the Bread Aquinas cannot deny 3. In the point of Images at first the Church admitted no Images at all as Erasmus and Gregory sheweth yea Polydore Virgil confesseth That the Fathers condemned Images for fear of Idolatry and this continued till the second Nicene Council But now of late the Trent Council and Bellarmine have given unto them Divine honour 4. Bristow a Popish Doctor confesseth this The Truth is saith he that some have been in all Ages of the Protestants Opinion 5. And Illiricus Flaccus doth remember one Reynerius who discoursing of the Waldenses a People for substance of the Protestants Religion saith in these termes They are in all the Cities of Lombardy and of Provence No Sect hath continued so long Some say it hath been since Pope Sylvesters time Some since the Apostles These Waldenses believe all Articles concerning God but they
Accusation of being Heretical nothing touches our Reformed Religion and Church For by Gods Grace we are far from all kinde of Heresie and hold no other Doctrine then that which the Prophets and the Apostles and Jesus Christ himself have taught us and which is plainly contained in the Books of Canonical Scripture § The Jesuites maintain the contrary but by a Falfe Ground which is one of their great slights Jesuites 1. THe Doctrine of the Jesuites is That for not to be an Heretick one must have Communion with the Church of Rome and acknowledge the Pope to be Vicar of Christ and Successor of S. Peter in the Quality of Head and Monarch of the Church which Church of Rome they presuppose to be the Catholique Church Answer of the Reformed 1. THe Reformed do answer to that Doctrine of the Jesuites That it must first appear that the Now Church of Rome is the Catholique Church before he that is separated from his Communion can be justly convicted of Heresie which is also to be said concerning the Pope It must appear that he is S. Peters Successor and the Head and Monarch of the Church 2. Which the Jesuites shall never be able to do and yet never have done for since the time that the Ancient Fathers of the Church did call the Church of Rome Catholick Church the course of that Church is turned and the See of Rome hath declined and degenerated from her sincere Faith to detestable falshood 3. Let the Jesuites restore unto us the old Church of Rome and we will never separate our selves from her Communion 4. But of that Church they have nothing left but the Walls and old Rubbish 5. And yet still they brag of the Name of the Catholique Church Exception of the Jesuites SO indeed Calvin answereth say the Jesuites But it shall not serve the Reformeds turn for Optatus say they proveth himself to be in the Catholique Church because he joyned himself to S. Peters Chair Answer of the Reformed to that Exception ANd what do the Jesuites call S. Peters Chair 1. Is it the external Seat or the Succession of the Bishops They shall never prove it 2. And the contrary say the Reformed we can easily object out of Optatus himself Optatus calleth Syricus Bishop of Rome his Fellow and the companion of other Bishops who held a sound and Catholique Judgement with all those Syricus agreed in one Society and Fellowship By their Letters sent one to another as Witnesses of their consenting in Doctrine and lawful Ordination Optatus then proveth that he was a Catholique because he kept the Catholique confession and conjunction with Syricius and with others Bishops 2. Secondly the Reformed do answer that Optatus Argument was good against the Donatists who did separate themselves from the Communion of the Catholique Church while they consented not with these Churches where the Doctrine of the Apostles and a lawful Ordination of Bishops did ever flourish 3. But that is nothing to us Reformed and specially to the Reformed of the Church of England It is not a sound Argument to convince the Reformed of Schisme because they have separated themselves from the Church of Rome The Jesuites do maintain the contrary 1. ANd in that regard thinking to touch the Reformed who have separated themselves from the Church of Rome they produce the Authority of Optatus who did reprove the Separation of the Donatists and did argue them to be Schismatical because they had separated from the communion of the Catholique Church Answer to the Jesuites and Refutation of their Argument 1. A Very good Argument indeed and Augustine observed the same course and it was a good Argument That the communion of the Church should be objected to the Schismatical Donatists which seditiously without cause separated themselves from the Church 2. But this Argument employed by Optatus against the Donatists makes nothing against the Reformed who have separated Themselves from the Church of Rome For the said Reformed deny the Church of Rome to be the Catholique Church 3. And therefore the Jesuites cannot by this Argument of Optatus convince us of Schisme although Optatus might thereby confute the Donatists 4. It must first appear that the Church of Rome be the Catholique Church otherwise the Reformed cannot be convicted of Schisme 5. In the time of Optatus the Church of Rome was the Preserver of Religion the Maintainer of the True Faith and she shined like a Star in the sight of all other Churches 6. No marvel then if the most holy Fathers esteemed much and reverenced this Church and urged the Schismaticks with the example of it and also the Hereticks of their time as a great prejudice unto them 7. But since that time the course of that Church is turned and the See of Rome hath declined and degenerated from her sincere Faith to detestable Falshood 8. Let the Papists as we have said before restore us the old Church of Rome and we will never separate our selves from Her 9. But of that old Church of Rome they have nothing left but the Walls and old Rubbish 10. And yet they still brag of the Name of the Catholique Church Of the Differences in Religion between the Calvinists and the Lutherans 1. THe Jars and Dissentions between the Lutherans and Calvinists are neither many nor so material as to shake or touch the Foundation easily reconcileable if men of any moderation had them in handling 2. The bitter speeches of Luther none can excuse and much less the virulent Pamphlets and Proscriptions of some of his Disciples who in a preposterous imitation of his Zeal are little less then furious But the consequence of Opinions must not be measured by the Passions or Outrages of opiniate men Two Brothers in their choler may renounce each other and disclaim their amity yet that heat cannot dissolve their inward and essential Relation 3. The Divisions of the Lutherans and Calvinists namely of the moderate of either side are rather in formes and phrases of Speech then in substance of Doctrine 4. The first and main Controversie between them is that about Consubstantiation which after occasioned that other of Ubiquity 5. In both these Controversies the main Truth on both sides is out of Controversie That Christ is really and truly exhibited to each faithful Communicant and that in his whole person he is every where The doubt is only in the manner how he is in the Symboles and how in Heaven and Earth which being no part of Faith but a curious nicity inscrutable to the Wit of Man we should all here believe where we cannot understand and not fall a quarrelling about that which we cannot conceive How or why are saucy Questions in Divine Mysteries Just Mart. in Expos Fid. 6. I omit the Questions of Predestination being no less debated in the Roman Schools then in the Reformed 7. Their other Differences in Ceremony or Discipline are diversities without Discord 8. All wise men in the World have ever
if not drown 4. After the Donatists had made a Faction in Affrica as they brake the unity of the Church so they were broken themselves into divers fractions And so in a short space came to nothing 5. The Division among the Britains of this Nation brought in first the Saxons next the Danes and last of all the Normans 6. This is a cunning sleight of Satan to divide us one from another that so he may prevail against us all 7. The barbarous Soldiers divided not Christs Coat shall we rend and tear asunder his Body by Schism and Faction 8. Religion is the bond of all Society the strongest Sinew of Church or Commonwealth O let us take heed that there be no rupture in this bond nor any sprain in this Sinew 9. The Husband-man hath sowed good Seed clean and picked in this Kingdome for more than threescore years and it had fructified exceedingly since the happy Reformation of Religion in these parts lately the Envious man did sow upon it his Tares O let Christian Charity pluck them up or in the defect of it Publick Authority 10. We are all one Body let us have all the same mind towards God and let us endeavour to the utmost of our power to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Ephes 4.3 11. That our Spiritual Jerusalem may resemble the old Bizantium the stones whereof were so matched and the wall built so uniformly that the whole City seemed to be but one stone continued throughout 12. It was the Honour of the Old Jerusalem Let it be also of the New that it is a City at unity in it self Psal 122.3 13. The lines the nearer they come to the Center the nearer they are one to another we cannot be one with God so long as we are thus divided one against another Refutation of this Accusatin of the Jesuites and other Popish Doctors that in the Church and Religion of England since the last Reformation have been many Changes and Alterations and particularly in the Common Prayer Book The Popish Doctor 1. HE first calleth to remembrance the Act of 6. Articles established in the later dayes of King Henry the 8. 2. Which in the beginning of his Son Edward the 6. Reign was straightwaies disanulled and the Church Reformed 3. Which Reformation was overthrown in Queen Mary's Reign 4. And after renewed by Queen Elizabeth 5. And continued by her Successors unto this day Answer of the Reformed THis is the Answer that we make to that Accusation 1. That at the first when the Lord began to work some Reformation in the Church of Fugland perfection in every Point was not forthwith attained and established 2. Which is no marvell considering both the greatness of the work and the malice of 〈◊〉 fold enemies that withstood the same 3. Yea if in the Common Prayer Book of that Church alteration hath been according as to that Church seemed most convenient that was not in substance of Doctrine but in matters of Ceremony 4. Neither can the Popish Doctors charge the Church of England more for changing her Common Prayer Book then the said can charge the Roman Church for changing and reforming Her Missales Her Portasses Her Breviaries And a number of such Books even of late years in daily and publick use of Service in Her Defence of the English Translation of the Bible against the Contumelies of Jesuites and other Popish Writers Accusation of the Popish Writers THe divers English Translations of the Bible say the Popish Writers are nothing else but corrupt Gutters flowing from corrupt and stinking Lakes the best containing wicked horrible and Ethnical Errors Answer to that Accusation 1. THis is a slander most wicked horrible Ethnical of all men to be detested and the Accusers shall never prove any word of their Accusation true Gregory Martin hath laboured herein and hath performed nothing 2. If the said Popish Writers find fault with us for Correcting our Bibles let them shew us if they can that either it is unlawful to Translate the Bible into our own Tongue or else after it hath been Translated to reform the Translation in such places wherein some Errors have escaped or to Translate it again 3. No Translation of the Scripture can at the first be so perfect and sincere but it may be afterwards amended as God shall reveal to his Church the faults thereof 4. Otherwise if it were any Fault to amend a Fault why hath the Council of Trent taken order for the Correction of the Church of Romes Latine Translation and for a better Edition thereof to be published then heretofore hath been 5. Yea why hath Pope Pius Reformed The Psalters The Breviaries The Offices And such other Books as are in the Church of Rome in greatest use and estimation 6. If this seemed requisite why may not we look to our Translations likewise amend the Imperfections and set forth better 7. We add that we depend not upon any Translation English or Latine or of other Language no otherwise then the same agreeth with the Word of God EXERCITATION Refutation of this Accusation of the Jesuites that in the State of England great cruelty is exercised against them and the Seminary Priests in regard of their Religion 1. TO that Accusation the Reformed Doctors do answer That it is true indeed that some few of the Jesuites and other Popish Priests have been punished in the State of England but they died not for Religion but were by open Judgment of Law convicted of Treason 2. In the Raign of Queen Elizabeth of happy Memory was executed one Everard a Priest sent from the Colledge at Rhemes into England who though he was in danger of the Laws many wayes yet might have had his life But that impudently at the Bar he uttered things shameful vile and intollerable for he boasted himself both to be the Subject and Vassal of the Pope even in England and affirmed that the Pope was no lesse the Head of the Church of England then of the Church of Rome Avouching further that he was verily perswaded that the Pope did not erre when he termed Queen Elizabeth an Heretick and the Patron of Hereticks and denounced Her no lawful Queen Everard was for this confession convicted and condemned who afterwards as if this had not been enough in prison professed plainly and directly in the presence and hearing of sixteen men of credit that it was no sin against God to commit Treason against his Prince Yet for all this he suffered no new and unusual punishment but the same that all Traytors suffer in England in the like cause 3. We leave other Examples 4. And say generally of all the Jesuites and Priests that did suffer in England that they did not suffer for their popish Religion but onely for their Treason and for their perturbation of that State §. Great is the Evil and Harm that the Jesuites and Roman Priests hidden in England did cause and do cause to that
and confessed among themselves That the Pope may fall into Heresie 3. Then who seeth not That their Ground being shaken and their Staie failing All that is Builded and upohlden thereon is clean overthrown The Popes may fall into Heresie and have erred in great Articles of the Faith 1. MArtinus sacrifice to Idols Liberius subscribe to Arianism John the 24. an hererick oppressor persecutor fornicator Simmonist did deny the immortality of the Soul and the resurrection of the body Leo the seventh was not much behind for the Life to come And Clement the 7th doubted of the immortality Answer to an Objection of the Jesuites 4. IF the Jesuites say That the Pope falling into Heresie forthwith ceaseth to be a Pope We demand who they are that must judge the Popes Cause and give Sentence against Him 4. And if the Pope be obstinate and teaching Heresie and therewith infecting the World will notwithstanding stoutly stand in defence of his Doctrine and will keep his Chaire What shift have the Papists then And what can they do against him seeing he is their Pope their Head their Author and Founder of all their Faith 6. Thus a man going with the Papists along and coming to the end of all findeth no stay but must wander still as in an endless Labyrinth wherein he shall at last languish and perish everlastingly Besides The Reformed say of the Pope That he is not the Rule of Faith and Judge of Controversies because he is the great Antichrist foretold in the Scriptures 1. IN the Bishops of Rome after Boniface the third and Hildebrand we find The Name the Seat the Apparel the Time the Pride the Cruelty the Idolatry the Coveteousnesse the Imposture the Power and the fortune of Antichrist which are the Marks whereby S. Paul and S. John describes that man of sin and son of perdition 2. The Name of Antichrist containeth in it the number 666 which Irenaeus findeth in the word Latinus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. The Seat of Antichrist is a City built upon seven Hills that ruleth over the whole world This City Propertius tells us to be Rome Septem urbs clara jugis toti quae praesidet orbi 4. The Apparel and Ornaments of Antichrist are Scarlet and Purple Gold Jewels and precious stones which the Popes wear especially on high daies 5. The Time of Antichrist his rising is foretold to be after the Division of the Roman Empire after whch it appears by all stories that the Pope grew to his greatnesse 6. The vices of Antichrist are these especially Pride Idolatry or Spiritual Fornication Cruelty Imposture Covetousnesse who are to be found in the Popes as hath been represented above under the Title of the Popes vices 7. The Beast is said to have horns like a Lamb and to speak like a Dragon and to exercise all the power of the first Beast Apoc. 18.11 This agreeth to the Papacy and Pope who resembleth Christ whose Vicar he calleth himself and arrogateth to himself Christs double power both Kingly and Priestly He exerciseth also the power of the first Beast to wit the Roman Empire described by seven Heads and ten Horns because as the first Beast the Roman Empire by power and temporal Authority So the Pope by policy and Spiritual Jurisdiction ruleth over a great part of the world 8. It is written of the Whore of Babylon that the Kings of the earth should give their power to her for a time but that in the end they should hate her and make her desolate Apoc. 17.13.16 which we find daily more and more fulfilled in the Papacy 9. From all which we do justly argue in this manner He in whom all or the principal Marks of Antichrist are found he is the Antichrist But in the Pope all or the principal marks of Antichrist are to be found Ergo the Pope is the Antichrist Of the divers Ages of Antichrist 1. THe First Age of Antichrist was when Bonifacius the third Bishop of Rome was declared Head of the Church and the Bishop of Bishops by Phocas who killed the Emperour Mauritius his Master and did usurp the Empire which Phocas to get the good will of the Romans drew to himself That Bonifacius the third giving him the abovesaid Title 2. The Second Age of Antichrist was when he was put in possession of the City of Rome and of the Exarchat 3 The Third Age of Antichrist was when he raised himself above the Emperours their Soveraigns and Lords The Pope being the foretold Antichrist and demonstrating it What Horrour is it to submit to him 1. ALthough the Pope be the foretold Antichrist yet people do Adore this Monster and Princes do Applaude him and very often ruine their Kingdoms at his desire and appetite and daily yet do offer their poor Subjects in a Sacrifice of good Odour to this Antichrists feet 2. Who would believe it if Gods Spirit had not foretold it 3. And who shall believe it after us when he is consumed by this same Spirit An Appendix concerning Cardinals the Popes Counsellours 1. WHen Cardinals have been raised up this is the Language of the Archbishop of Bragantia among many Prelates of the Council of Trent That in the Church had been established an Order Superiour to the Bishops in times past unknown of the Church namely that of Cardinals 2. Who in the first times were reputed to be of the number of other Priests and Deacons 3. And onely after the tenth Age had raised themselves above their Degree 4. Yet not so much that they durst make themselves equals unto Bishops unto whom they were held to be inferiours until the year of Grace a thousand and two hundred 5. But from that time Not onely have they esteemed themselves to be Equals unto Bishops but moreover have raised themselves above them So that now they hold them for servants in their Houses 6. He concluded That the Church should never be reformed untill Bishops and Cardinals were brought again to the Rank due unto each of them Of Cardinals more particularly 1. NOt one word can be found in the Antient Church concerning Cardinals save in this signification That Cardinal Priest did signifie the Parson or Rector of one of the Parishes of the Bishoprick Then Cardinal Priest was as much as principal Priest even as some virtues are called Cardinal virtues And some winds Cardinal winds that is to say First and Principal 2. And this Title was used not onely in Rome but also in other great Archiepiscopal Cities principally at Milan where Sigonius reporteth that there were 22. Cardinals about the end of the seventh book 3. And there being many Priests in one Parish he that was the first in Order and the Rector of the Parish as hath been said was called the principal or Cardinal Priest For that comes to one as Pandulphus Pisanus doth teach and after him Onuphrius 4. And at this time all Cardinals are Priests or Deacons of some of the parishes of Rome 5. In
State 1. THey trouble the peace of it 2. They corrupt its Children with an impious and strange Religion 3. They make more precious account of a forreign Enemy than of its Dignity 4. They divert the minds of people from true Religion to trouble the peace of the State 5. They estrange the minds of Loyal Subjects from their Lawful Prince 6. And turn all things topsie turvie §. In the State of England as in other States since the last Reformation of the Church extream hath been the cruelty of the Papists towards the Reformed 1. VVHo are the Papists and what is their Religion That the Jesuites and Roman Priests so boldly object cruelty unto the Reformed State of England 2. 1. In Queen Maries time more of them were condemned in that State at one Sessions more executed in one day more consumed in one fire then they can recount to us to have been put to death for the Popes cause at any time or by any kind of death in the whole happy Reign of Queen Elizabeth 2 Let the Jesuites and other Papists then but call to mind the extream cruelty the exquisite Tortures the frequent Martyrdome of the times before the Keign of Queen Elizabeth And if there be in them any mark of Humanity they cannot chuse but confesse that their side hath been extream cruel And that the Englishes Reformed have been sufficiently provoked to severity against them and to have repayed them with the like 3. For what Times can afford such and so many Butcheries of men as was to be seen when the Papists were Lords over the Protestants in England let them tell what Sex or what Age they spared and did not bloodily execute all without difference and distinction Of Learned or Unlearned Of Male or Female Of Old or Young Children Virgins Married Clergie and Layetie Bishops Archbishops escaped not their hands The Martyrs they did beat with Rods their Tongues they pulled out of their Mouths their hands they burned off with Torches They Tormented Crucified Hanged and Beheaded them they burned them alive and toasted them at a soft fire Yea the Infant leaping out of the Mothers belly they received upon the Spears point and cast it into the flaming fire To conclude whatsoever barbarous cruelty could invent that they were not wanting to in execution against them 4. And if their cruelty had ended with the Living and had terminated in their deaths it had been lesse but so raging was their Tyranny that they took up the bodies of Saints interred in the Earth they arreigned them upon a day They accused them at a Bar They condemned them to Death And burned them at a Stake even exdeeding those old Tyrants in Fury and Cruelty 5. Can they name any one such Savage Fact amongst the said Reformed of England 6. Or what was he that was put to Death amongst them Reformed whom every good Man that heard of him judged not worthy of Death threefold more then of Life 7. Therefore let the Papists acknowledge their own cruelty in the State of England and accuse not the English Reformed §. What the Jesuites did alledge for their Justification of coming in England against the Laws of that State THey did alledge That they came thither upon commandment of their Superiours according to the Order of that Religion which they professe Confutation of such an Allegation 1. BUt the English Reformed did demand of the said Jesuites what necessity did lie upon them to obey his Commandement who had no Authority to enjoin them a Journey whether they were willing or unwilling to goe 2. And if that Spanish Soldier Loyola the first Authour of their Jesuitical Society were now alive and should enjoin them to set their Countrey on fire would they obey him we Reformed of England are sure they would never command such a foul fact 3. And yet he might better command and the English Jesuites execute that then this Thing for which they did professe that they were then come in England 4. For whether might it be deemed less to set houses on fire then to cause the Evils and Harms represented before 5. Which yet were the Ends of the Jesuites coming and the Order of their Profession required no less at their hands §. The Soveraign Magistrate in the Reformed State of England hath great Reason to Prohibite the Books of English Jesuites and Seminary Priests 1. THe Books of those man are such as it behooveth the Soveraign Magistrate to stop their passage 2. He must of necessity restrain their Books unless he would suffer the State to be stirred to Sedition the Church in danger of Heresie and Mens minds filled with cursed Opinions 3. For if Magistrates ought carefully to prevent lest the infection of the Plague be from other places brought into their Cities much more care is to be had that pestilent and pernicious Books be not openly spread abroad out of which simple and unlearned men do suck Poyson of deadly Error 4. Neither is the Reformed State of England the first that have taken this Course 5. It may be remembred in Queen Maries Time that they proceeded by Martial Law against all those with whom any of the Reformed Books were found If this was in the Reformed of that Time a matter worthy of Death so that they were by and by drawn to punishment as men guilty of High Treason and that without any Judicial Proceedings what reason have the English Jesuites and Seminary Priests that are in Rome Rhemes and other places abroad to look that their Books should now have such free liberty to be every where publickly sold Of Heretical Churches and Religions Of Heresies and Hereticks 1. HEresie is some opinion in matter of Faith repugnant and contrary to the Word of God being of some chosen out to themselves and wilfully maintained 2. And an Heretick is a person wilfully and stiffly maintaining false Opinions against the Scriptures after due admonition 3. There be three things required to an Heretick first that it be an Error about some Article of Christian Faith Secondly that it be contrary to the evidence and clear truth of holy Scripture soundly and generally held by the holy Catholick Church of God in the earth Thirdly that it be stoutly and obstinately maintained after conviction and lawfull admonition 4. The Doctors of the Roman Church do erre which account such Opinions for Heresies as are not condemned but rather taught in the Word of God which is the onely Rule of saving Truth 5. It is to be noted that Heresies are compared in Scriptures to whores because they are stored with cunning pranks and a thousand entisements to make men ill advised to swerve from the right way See Revel 14.4 6. As on the contrary in the said Scriptures simplicity of Faith is called Virginity See 2 Cor. 11. v. 2. 7. The Difference which is between Heresie and Schisme is as the Difference which is between Faith and Charity Heresie is the Poyson of Faith and infecteth