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
not Obey the Pope Why came they not to the Council of Trent The Pope by all means hath sought to have them subject to Him but they still contemn him to his no small grief 2. It is true the Emperour the Patriarch and a multitude of Bishops came to the Florentine Council they agreed with them in many Things in others they dissented the Popish Transubstantiation they utterly renounced 3. At that time Josephus their Patriarch suddenly died Eugenius the Pope instantly urged a new Election they denied to make any till they came to Constantinople 4. Do not the Papists see how well they agree We have a Book of Cyril Patriarch of Constantinople in which is set down the Confession of their present Faith whereby it appeareth manifestly that they are farre nearer to the Reformed Churches in Beleif then they are to the Roman 1. The Turks are beholding to none more then to the Pope for their Possession of Greece and the Eastern Empire which hath caused the Miserable Slavery of the Greek Churches 1. IF As our Saviour Christ saith A Kingdome divided against it self cannot stand then the breaking of the strength of the Empire and weakning the power of the Christians and consequently strengthning the Turks must all be inputed to him which did rent and divide the Roman Christian Empires and of one Empire made two 2. As long as the Province and Dominions of the Empire were united We were strong enough against the Turks 3. But After Pope Leo the 10. divided the Empire the Empire of Constantinople which before had much adoe to resist the Turk was now no longer able to sustain the Burthen wanting the greatest part of the Empire 2. O Christian Princes and States unite your selves and consequently join your Forces together to pluck off from that Infidell the Turk the Empire of Greece and to join it with that of the West that so both as in Times past make but one Empire THESIS Of the Reformation of the Church in general 1. VVHen the Church is infected with Errors in the Doctrine or loaded with unlawful Ceremonies or Governed by an evil Ecclesiastical Policie the Reformation thereof is not permitted to the People without the consent of the Prince and Soveraign Magistrate 2. But such a Reformation is to be made by the Prince and Soveraign as being a Right which belongeth unto him and which belongeth unto him by Divine and Humane Right 3. Neither also is it lawful to a Minister of a particular Church to change at his will the Ceremonies of his Church but if they are not to be tolerated he must with his Church make his Addresses to the Supream Magistrate to obtain from him the necessary Reformation of the same 4. The Prince being to imploy himself about the Reformation of the Church when she hath need of a Reformation ought to that effect to consult the Divines of his Countrey the most Learned the most Prudent and the most Godly and to convoke a National Synod composed of such Men. 5. It will be well done also by him to join unto his own Divines the Divines of other Reformed Churches that by that Means greater weight may be given to the Reformation which he will effect 6. The Divines assembled must carefully seek out the Truth and when they have found it the Prince ought to ordain and injoin the observation thereof 7. The said National Synod or Assembly of Divines ought to extend the Reformation of the Church to four Heads namely 1. To the Doctrine concerning Faith 2. To the Divine Worship and Service 3. To Ceremonies and outward things 4. To the Ecclesiastical Policy and Government of the Church 8. And in regard of the abovesaid four Heads the said Synod or Assembly of Divines ought to Reform the Church according to the best Form of all 9. Now a better Form of the Church cannot be conceived nor found than that according to which Jesus Christ by himself and by his Apostles did in the beginning establish and confirm the Church 10. Which hath been the Form of the Church in the Times of Christ and of his Apostles we learn it clearly out of the Books of the Evangelists and of the Acts of the Apostles and probably out of the Writings of the Doctors of the Church who lived immediately after the death of the Apostles 11. According to this Form the Church ought to be Reformed in regard of the above named four Heads bringing them back to the first beginning and to the first Springs Thas is to say to the first Antiquity 12 If it happens that between some National Reformed Churches there be a difference in regard of Ceremonies and outward things agreeing well together in regard of the Doctrine for such a difference in Ceremonies the said Churches must not be enemies one to the others But they ought to bear one another Charitably and profitably Of the 1. Reformators Luther Calvin c. What Esteem the Protestants make of the last Reformers Luther Calvin and their Associates And how far it doth extend 1. THe Protestants especially we of the Church of England acknowledge not any factious names of Lutherans Zwinglians or Calvinists with which we are injuriously nick-named by our Adversaries As of old good Orthodox Christians were called Cornelians and Cyrillians by the seditious followers of Novatus and Nestorius Phot. Cod. 280. in Excerptis Eulogii ad finem Libri Act. Conciliab Ephes in Epist Legat. Schism ad suos in Epheso pag. 281. Edit Bin. 1618. 2. With Pacianus we professe Christian is our Name and Catholick our Sur-name 3. We esteem of Luther Zwinglius and Calvin as worthy men but we esteem them not worthy to be Lords or Authours of our Faith or to lead our understanding captive both themselves were far from affecting such Divine Honour and we far from bestowing it We remember who said of Christ Hear him not hear them 4. And therefore though these mens reasons may gain our Assent their Testimony is at the best but probable we believe not what they say but what the prove 5. Much lesse can we endure being once baptized in the name of Christ to be marked with the name of any man as with a note of our servitude We disclaim the name of Calvinists we owe no service we have no dependance upon Calvin nor upon any other man as Doctor or Master of our Faith 6. We owe him and the rest of the first Reformers many thanks for their painful labours which shall remain of honourable account in all posterity We cannot bless God sufficiently for such Instruments of his glory Yet we do not Idolize their persons or adore their Dictates and Opinions as if they were Divine Oracles That Doctor who hath the command of our Conscience hath his Chair in Heaven we love and honour such persons as our Friends yet so that we honour Truth and love it above all Friendship Which Churches and Assemblies we comprehend Properly under the Appellation of
hate the Church of Rome 3. So that the Reformed have had a Church and their Religion before Luther A Refutation of this shift of the Jesuites That because Luther was in Error in Regard of his doctrine of Consubstantiation Therefore his Refutations of their Opinions and Doctrines is not to be considerable 1. THis is a strange shift indeed for is it not a miserable perverseness in the Jesuites and others Popish Doctors and Writers that being not able to maintain their own Heresies against Luther they will think to escape in the Judgement of Men from being condemned because Luther himself in one point of Doctrine erred 2. May no man convince Error but such an one as is free from Error at all Himself 3. The Scriptures are left unto us to be our Rule of Truth by them must all Doctrine be squared and directed they sit in the highest Seat of Judgement to give Sentence in every Cause 4. With Them did Luther cut down the Popish Errors 5. But one Error of Luther cannot serve to excuse infinite Errors in the Popish Church The Reformed of England France Holland c. do not Believe whatsoever the late Writers have said 1. WE are not so addicted in these Reformed Churches as to Believe whatsoever the late Writers have said 2. We are no more partial unto them in this behalf then we are unto the Ancient Fathers 3. Our Religion and Faith hangeth not upon the sayings of Men be they old or young but onely upon the Canonical Scriptures of God 4. And if they be against us so long as Scripture is for us our Cause is good and we will not be ashamed thereof 5. From hence it followeth That therefore most false is it that the Papists say That our Divity resteth upon these late Writers and young Fathers whom the Jesuites and other Popish Doctors do so scornfully compare with the Old Fathers 6. We use not to alledge for proofs authentical of any Doctrine and as the Rule of our Faith Calvin Bucer or others 7. But our Traditive and Use is this Thus saith the Lord Thus say the Prophets Thus say the Apostles Thus the Evangelists Thus it is written in the Scriptures Thus we read in some Book of the Old or of the New Testament Again If Luther or any other Learned Man among the Protestants or of the Reformed in the Churches above mentioned have either Interpreted the Scripture in somthing amiss or have doubted of some one Book of Scripture whereof doubt also hath been made of old in the Church of Christ we are not to defend their Expositions or to approve their Judgement Again The particular Opinions of Luther and Lutherans are not to be objected by the Papists against the Reformation of England France the United Provinces c. 1. FOr these Reformed Churches are not bound to justifie all Luthers sayings and the Lutherans and their private Opinions no more then the Papists will be content to avouch whatsoever hath been spoken or published by any one or other famous man of their Sect. 2. Which thing if they will take upon them to perform then let them profess it or else they offer us the more injury that object still against us a saying which was never either uttered or allowed by us 3. This might suffice men of indifferent Reason § Of Luthers Error concerning the Bodily Presence in the Sacrament LVther retained this Error of his old leaven wherewith in time of Papistry his Judgement was corrupted § Another Answer of the Reformed to the Objection made by the Jesuites against Luther in regard of his Error of Consubstantiation That therefore his Refutation of their Doctrine is not to be considerable THe Reformed again return this answer to that Objection 1. That although Luther therein somthing swarved from the Truth yet that he might bring in other Causes assured thereof out of the Word of God reject the Opinions of such as dissent from the same word 2. Otherwise no Man in Defence of Gods Truth may challenge or bid Defiance to the Adversaries thereof seeing they have no Priviledge or Charter granted to them but that themselves also may be deceived § Again Concerning Luther 1. LVther say the Reformed was an excellent Man and a worthy servant of Christ 2. Whose Ministery especially it pleased God to use in revealing to these Times the Son of Perdition who fitteth in the Temple of God and advanceth himself above God 3. Yet Luther was a Man 4. And therefore no marvel if he were not exempted altogether as from Ignorance so also from Infirmities § Concerning the Contention between Luther and Zuinglius about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 1. 1. THis Contention and Dissention was a very hard one hotly debated in many Books 2. And the same hath continued since to the great hinderance of the Gospel and offence of many 3. In which contrary Writings and Discourses are found oftentimes harder speeches of either against other then were to be wished 4. Now do come in the Popish Writers like crafty enemies and gathering a heap of such speeches out of sundry of their Books do insert the same in their Books to make their Readers acquainted therewith that seeing such earnest contention among the chiefest Professors of the Gospel they may be further withdrawn in alienation of mind from the love and liking thereof 2. Examination of that matter 1. THose speeches of either against other which are harder oftentimes then were to be wished are yet such as the godly Servants of the Lord in contention about the Truth somtimes are moved to utter against their Brethren 1. S. Paul openly and sharply reprehended S. Peter to his face whereat wicked Porphyrie catched a like occasion to rail at Christian Religion long since as our Adversaries do at these dayes 2. What a violent and troublesome contention was there between Theophilus of Alexandria and good Chrysostome of Constantinople 3. Who knoweth not how sharply Cyrillus a learned and wise Bishop of Alexandria hath written against Theodoretus a good and Catholick Bishop in a Controversie touching the Catholique Faith both Bishops both Catholiques both Learned both Godly both Excellent Pillars of the Church And yet he that readeth both their Writings would think that both were dangerous Enemies of the Church and of the Faith of Christ and to be avoided of all Christians 2. So in the Books of Luther and of Zuinglius and of those that maintain either part appeareth we grant great sharpness and bitterness of Dissention who all notwithstanding if we set the heat of Dissention aside were as godly as learned as zealous Christians as the World had any The Reformed Religion and Church are not Heretical 1. WHat if the Romish Church condemned Luther Shall we say therefore that Luther is an Heretick 2. The Church of Jerusalem condemned Christ and Him and his they would have denyed to be the true Church but for all their Denial it was not less the true Church 3. The