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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

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

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

Provincial or not confirmed by the Pope and therefore no Doctrines of the Church But here according to this Gentleman a few Bishops in France and Doctors of Sorbonne have power to make most fundamental Decrees and Doctrines without the Popes Approbation nay against his express Will 2. We find the French Bishops and Sorbonne Doctors asserting the contrary Doctrine In the year 1589 the Leaguers propounded two Questions to the Doctors of Sorbon 1. Whether the People of France may not be discharged from the Oath of Allegiance made to Henry 3 2 Whether the People may with a safe Conscience take up Arms against him And after earnest Prayers that the Spirit of God would direct them a solemn Mass and most diligent discussion of the ‡ de Serres p. 870. * And that the greatest part of the Clergy of France were of the same judgment will not be deny'd by any that hath look't into their Historians Points they answer 1. That Henry both by the Civil and Po●t●fical Law is fallen from his dignity 2. That the People of France may lawfully fight against him 3. That these Decrees be sent to the Pope for his Confirmation Boucher de justa Henrici 3. abdicatione And accordingly a Letter was drawn up and sent to Rome in which they most humbly beseech his Holyness for three things 1. That they may be declar'd absolved from their Oath to Henry 3. 2. That he would decree the War just which they had undertaken against that Oppressor of Publick Religion and Liberty 3. That in this necessary Work he would assist them with his Prayers to God Almighty and with a Jubile of Indulgence that others thereby might be provoked to joyn with them Idem p. 393. To which the good old Gentleman return'd a very gracious Answer and for their greater encouragement issued out his Bull against King Henry and all his Adherents Idem p. 403. And this Author tells us p. 377 the Faculty of Sorbon had done no more than what is incumbent on Lawyers Confessors Parish Priests and Doctors who ought to assert and vindicate the power and dignity of the Roman See Upon the publishing of this Bull the people were greatly encouraged in their Rebellion against their Soveraign whom they no more call King but only Henry de Valois Heretick Tyrant and what not Nay they ●ut him out of the Canon and declared it unlawful to pray for him in Publick Boucher p. 380. And this Author p. 418 informs us That so wonderfully powerfull was this Bull against Henry and his Adherents that by a Miracle one at Venice but offering to speak in behalf of the King sunk presently down and no sooner was carried home but he died And a little after the same Doctors return'd these Answers to certain de Serres p. 894. Quaeries in reference to Henry 4. their lawful King 1. That all Catholicks by Divine Law are forbid to admit any into the Throne that is an Heretick or a favourer of Heresy 2. That those who favour the said Henry are deserters of Religion and continually in a mortal sin so those who for love to their Religion do oppose him do very much merit both of God and Men. And as on the one hand those who assist the King will be Eternally damned so on the other hand 't is most meet to conclude that they who are slain in this Cause against the said Henry shall obtain an eve●lasting Reward and be crowned with the Trophies of Martyrdom See them at large in Mr. Foulis History of Romish Treasons c. p. 566. But about 4 years after when the King had vanquish'd the Leaguers and entred Paris those Sorbon Doctors change their Note make void all former Decrees and profess great Zeal and Loyalty to King Henry 4. Idem p. 591. And what was the Opinion of their Bishops in Lewis 13. time is clear from this following Story Lewis 13. being come to his Majority summoned the three Estates to meet Two of them viz. the Clergy and Nobles presently concluded That the Council of Trent should be published and received in France But the third Estate made this Decree That his Majesty shal be humbly desired that it may be established by the three Estates for a fundamental Law That the King being acknowledged Head in his Dominions holding his Crown and Authority only from God there 's no Power on Earth whatsoever Spiritual or Temporal that hath any Right over his Kingdom either to depose our Kings or dispence with or absolve their Subjects from the Fidelity and Obedience which they owe to their Soveraign for any cause or pretence whatsoever This startles the Clergy who with the Nobles set themselves against the third Estate with a Resolution to quash their Loyal Deecre And to effect this they desired Cardinal Perron a man of great Eloquence and Learning to discuss the Point in an Oration to the third Estate This Cardinal being attended with some Lords and Bishops as Representatives of their respective Estates and to signify that he spake not only his own but their Opinions too went to them where he made a very long * And the Pope gave him thanks for his Speech if K. James may be credited p. 383. Speech to shew the unreasonableness and absurdity of the foresaid Proposition endeavouring to prove by Reason that sometimes Kings should and by Example that sometimes they had been deposed He affirmed that this was the current doctrine in France till the time of Calvin And for the contrary doctrine viz. That Kings are not deposable by the Pope He calls a D●ctrine that bre●ds Shis●ns a Gate that leads into all Heresy and to be held in so high a degree of detestation that rather then yield to it he and his fellow Bishops would chuse to burn at a Stake Sir By this you see how Romish Doctors can alter their Judgements and preach contrary Doctrines according to the present Exigency of Affairs This Cardinal Perron saith our King James p. 386 was a Follower of Henry 4. even when deposed by the Pope and in a certain Assembly holden at the Jacobins in Paris he withstood the Popes Nuntio to his face when the said Nuntio labour'd to make this Doctrine touching the Popes temporal Soveraignty pass for an Article of Faith But in this Speech to the third Estate he confidently affirms that whosoever maintains this Doctrine to be wicked that Popes have power to depose Kings they teach men to believe that there hath not been any Church for many Ages past and that the Church is the very Synagogue of Antichrist Herein hath he very wel acommoda●ed himself to the Times ibid. And that ingenuous Co●fession of the Jesuits in Paris is observable The Court of Parliament having censur'd Anto●ius Sanct●rellus his Book which was printed at Rome by Pe●mission of the Super●ours and Approbation of Vitel●scus General of the Jesuits sent for these Gentlemen and demanded Whether they believ'd as their General did

of Rome have stigmatiz'd it This is as true as the former for my words are these And 't is worthy of our Observation that though the Inquisitors of Rome have placed the Taxa Cancel Apostol in their Expurgatory Index yet they except nothing against the Book printed by the Romanists but that only which was lately put forth with Banks his Annotations or which have been corrupted by Hereticks Obj. But why saith this Gentleman should I quarrel with them for this since our Spiritual-Swordmen or Lay-Absolvers do with approbation extract whole Estates out of the Peoples sinnes Ans What may be done in the dark by some needy and coveteous Persons I know not but that such Practices are allow'd by the Laws of England is most false And let this Gentleman make good his Charge against these Spiritual Swordmen as he calls them and I dare undertake that our Reverend Judges will make them Publick Examples Other Answers I could return to this Objection which for Brevity's sake I will pass over 3. To the last his Answer is That he doth not apprehend that their Church●s Doctrine and Sence of Indulgences truly understood can offer any scandal to the impartial Peruser p. 155. Sir if you please to cast an eye upon the incomparable Dr. Stillingfleet and the Learned Dr. Brevint who have lately discussed this Point you 'l see what little truth there is in this Gentleman's Assertion concerning Papal Indulgences I now leave this and pass on to his next Chap. where 1. He tells his Reader that I have pickt up 3 or 4 of the least Authentick or rather doubtful Miracles never as yet made use of by any Catholick Controvertist p. 166. That these Miracles are more then doubtful I take to be a great Truth But that they were never made use of by any Catholick Controvertist is most false for some of them are urged by Bellarmin to confirm their Doctrines De Imagin lib. 2. cap. 12. de Sacram. Euchar. lib. 3. c. 8. To pass by others 2. He brings a Gordion List of u●doubted Miracles in proof of several points of Catholick Faith p. 167. But alas the Authors he mentions are either confessedly Spurious as x Bellar. de Script Eccles p. 116. Ludovicus Vives in August Athanasius de Passione Imag. Christi S. Austin de Civit. dei lib. 22. c. 8. c. or notoriously fabulous as Gregorius Turonensis Paulus Diaconus Paschasius S Gregory Beda c. or most falsely quoted as I shall shew anon Sir if you desire further satisfaction in this Point be pleas'd to read the fore-mention'd Authors viz. Dr. Brevint and Stillingfleet where you 'l find the Question truly stated and enough to put any ●ober Man out of conceit with Romish Miracles Nothing now remains but that I give you a further account of this Gentleman 's unworthy dealing in these false and slanderous Assertions which make up a confiderable Part of his Book As That the Roman Church hath taught Protestants all they know of Christianity Luther in Gal. p. 292. Wh●taker Controv. 2. Q. 5. c. 14. False p. 2. That all Christians are free from the Obligation of the Mo●al Law Luth. in Gal. p. 46. 42. 49. 144. Calvin Instit lib. 4. c. 10. n. 5. lib. 3. p. 11. c. 19. n. 2. 4. All false That the Church took it very ill that Pope Gregory dealt so with the Emperor Aquinas 22. Quaest 12 Art 2. False p. 40. That Vincentius in his Speculum Histor lib. 15. c. 84. checkt that Fac● of Pope Gregory Most False That the Catholick Bishops in England with their Clergy declared to Q. Eliz. that it is not warrantable either by the Laws of God or Man p. 57. to act against the allegiance they owe to their Prince Holinshead Vol. 3. p. 1358 That Parry's Fact was condemned by them Holinshead Vol. 3. p. 1385. and 1387. False That not above 13 Lay-men and 4 Jesuits were either Actors in or privy to the Gun-powder Treason Baker p. 593. False p. 64. That this Plot was the Treasurer's device Osborn Mem of K. James False That Popish Princes punished the Albigenses for their rebellious Doctrines against Princes Illyricus Catal. Test Ver. p. 735. and 755. And p. 73. for their actual Bebellions Osiander Epitom Cent. 16. p. 715. For which Bishop Jewel disowns them in the defence of his Apology p. 48. All most False That Luther Calvin and other Principal Reformers are called the p. 76. Flower of all precedent Doctors and Fathers more knowing then all their Predecessors yea then the Apostles themselves Luther in Serm. de evers Hierusal p. 271. Beza Praef. in Nov. Test The first Messengers of Truth Jewel Apol. part 4. c. 4. divis 2. and Defence of Apol. p. 426. All false That among Christians no Man ought to be Superior to another that p. 77. none but Christ is Ruler over them Luth. de seculari potest Tom. 9. That he will disturb the Publick Peace and even confound and destroy the Prince himselfe Luth. Loc. Communes Class 4. c. 30. That we are exempted from all Human Laws by the Christian Liberty given us in Baptisme cap. de baptismo All false That notorious Rebellions and barbarous Cruelties immediately followed p. 78. upon these Doctrines by Protestants Sleidan H●st lib. 22. p. 345. Osiand Cent. 16. p. 115. False That Earthly Princes divest themselves of their power when they oppose themselves against God and therefore 't is fitter a Man should spit in their faces than obey them when they grow so sawcy Instit lib. 4. c. 20. and Comment in Daniel cap. 2. v. 39 cap. 6. v. 2. 25. All false That Protestants advanced their wicked Principles in every Countrie p. 79. to an execution of the most horrid practices of insolent Rebellion and Blood-shed Cruelty In France for thirty years together Osiand Cent. 16. p. 115 735. 599. Sutcliff Ans to a Supplic Libel p. 194. Hist of the Civil Wars in France In Germany Sleidan lib. 18. p. 263. In Swethland Chitraeus Chron. p. 74. 75. In Holland Osiander Cent. 16. p. 801. 803. That they deposed Ph●lip K. of Spain from his Dominions in the Low-Countries Osiarder Cent. 16. p. 941. 805. That they violently excluded Sigismund K. of Sweden from his Crown Osiand Cent. 16. p. 1115. and the Emperor from diverse of his Rights in Germany All false That Luther affi●ms That neither Austin nor Ambrose nor any p. 90. Doctor Di●ine since the Apostles times had so excellently instructed and confirmed Mens Consciences as he himselfe had done Luth in lib. ad ducem Georg. And that Calvin saith That all the Ancient Fathers for 1300 years had been blindly led with Error Instit lib. 3. c. 5. All false That whether Antichrist hath his seat at Rome or Jerusalem yet even p. 92. then neither the Church nor Pope of Rome shall be Antichrist but both be persecuted by him and persevere still visible and