their own nature are mortal And concerning this venial sin it was not known among the Fathers for Seven hundred years after Christ And thus you see what gross things they both teach and practise contrary to the Commandments of God whereby it plainly appeareth that Popery cannot be of God for thus I reason Whatsoever Religion doth teach things contrary to the Commandments of God is not of God but Popery doth so and therefore it is not of God and so by good consequence Papists cannot be good Catholicks DIALOGUE 13. C. Hitherto you have shewed that the Papists teach many things contrary to the Creed the Sacraments and the ten Commandments now tell me I pray you whether they teach any thing contrary to the Lords Prayer M. They do likewise teach and practise many things contrary thereunto I will but only name some of them The Lords Prayer teacheth us to call upon God only They teach and practise prayer to Saints In the first Petition we pray for the hallowing of Gods Name They give unto Saints departed that which is proper to God and so dishonor Gods Name In the second Petition we pray for the erecting of Gods Kingdom of Grace in our hearts and also for the means thereof namely the preaching and hearing of Gods Word They hinder the coming of Gods Kingdom in rejecting the Word of God and in persecuting such as will preach hear and read it Contrary to the third Petition is their Doctrine of Free-will Contrary to the fifth Petition is their Doctrine of satisfaction for sin In the sixth Petition we pray for strength to withstand Satan and his temptations They teach people to drive away the Devil with holy water and such like childish toys These and other such like things they teach and practise contrary to the Lords Prayer DIALOGUE 14. C. If Popery be so contrary to the grounds of Religion then we may not joyn with them in their profession M. It is true indeed we must therefore do as the Lord bade Jeremy Chap. 15 19. Let them return to thee but return not thou to them We may joyn with them in respect of Civil Society but not in respect of Religion and yet even then we are to take heed lest we be corrupted by them for he that toucheth Pitch shall be defiled therewith Some think that our Religion and the Religion of the present Church of Rome are all one for substance and that they may be united but they are grosly deceived for an union of these two Religions can never be made more then the union of light and darkness and that because the Church of Rome as hath at large been shewed hath struck at the very foundation C. If Popery be so contrary to the very grounds of Religion then what is the cause that so many yea of the more wise and learned sort do embrace and cleave to it M. One special cause of it is that because men will not receive the love of the Truth therefore God will send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie 2 Thes 2.10 11. A second cause is ignorance of the Scriptures and of the grounds of Religion for if men would well acquaint themselves herewith they should easily see the grossness of Popery A third cause is that Popery is very agreeable and pleasing to mans corrupt nature As for example to be justified by our good works to have Images to Worship God in to live in Ignorance to have pardons for our sins to serve God in outward Ceremonies as in choice of meat difference of days c. These are things very agreeable and pleasing to our corrupt nature and therefore one especial cause why so many embrace Popery A fourth cause is the tyranny of the Church of Rome whose chief means to uphold her Religion is fire and sword for were it not for this many thousands in a few years would utterly renounce Popery A fifth cause why so many especially of the Learned do embrace it is pomp and profit that is ambition and covetousness This was that which made the Scribes and Pharisees even against their own knowledg to withstand Christ and his Gospel And this makes many learned Papists to do the like They know no doubt that in some things they err as it doth appear by the words of Stephen Gardiner on his death bed The Bishop of Chichister seeing him to be in a desperate case comforteth him with the hope of remission of sins by the merits of Christ Gardiner hereunto answereth thus What will you open that gap now you may speak it to me and to such as are in my case but if you teach it to the people then farewell all meaning our authority pomp and profit by absolutions Masses c. These are the special causes why so many embrace Popery C. There is one thing more that I would gladly know concerning the Papists and that is whether a Papist may be saved seeing that Popery is so contrary to the grounds of Religion M. You are then to mark what a Papist is A Papist as the Rhemists on Act. 11. Sect. 4. do describe him is one that cleaveth to the Pope in Religion and is obedient to him in all things Every one now that is under the jurisdiction of the Pope is not to be counted a Papist for there are some even in Italy Spain c. that hold the Grounds of Religion do sigh and grone under the Romish yoke and desire to be freed from it yea would rejoyce to see it Again there may be some that for want of knowledge and the means thereof are entangled with some points of Popery but yet they hold the foundation which is Christ Jesus and look to be saved by his merits and not by their own or any others Such we account not Papists but the true Church and children of God But by Papists we mean such as cleave fast to the Pope in Religion are in all things obedient to him will not be reclaimed from their errors refuse to hear the Word of God to read the Scriptures or any other good books Of such we may boldly say that if they thus continue to the end they cannot be saved DIALOGUE 15. C. I do now plainly see that Papists are no good Catholicks because they are neither of found faith nor good life but tell me I pray you who indeed are the true Church and the true Catholicks M. All that do truly and sincerely embrace profess and practise the afoâ—esaid grounds of Religion in what countrey soever they live C. Is the Church of England the true Church M. Yes for it hath the special marks of the true Church namely the Word of God sincerely and soundly preached and the Sacraments rightly administred C. The Papists say that there are diversities of opinions among us that we cannot agree among our selves and that therefore we are not the true Church M. In all substantial points of Religion we agree both amongst our selves and also
A CATHOLICK PILL To Purge POPERY WITH A Preparatory Preface OBVIATING The growing Malignity OF POPERY AGAINST Catholick Christianity By a true Son of the Catholick Apostolick Church Useful for all private Families Imprimatur G. Jane LONDON Printed for J. Coles in Vine-street near Hatton-garden and Will. Miller at the Gilded Acorn in S. Paul's Church-yard near the Little North Door 1677. A CATHOLICK PILL TO PURGE POPERY THere is no Subject for these few years last past that hath more exercised the Pen and the Press than the Controversies between the Protestants and Papists And he that hath taken the pains seriously to examine both their Arguments and hath had competent abilities to weigh the strength of their Allegations must needs without flattery give the glory of the conquest to the renowned and victorious writings of the late famous assertors of the Protestant Religion professed in the Church of England Never was such strength of Reason brought to convince Never such sound Arguments from Scripture Fathers and Councils never such pure discovery of the Falseness Novelty Idolatry of that vain idle false worship practised in the Roman perswasion as hath of late been published among us to the Immortal Honor of those Famous Authors 'T is impossible for the wit and learning of man to add any thing de Novo to what hath been said proved and wrote upon that voluminous Subject Yet because many of those writings may be above the Vulgar capacity many likewise so dear that a poor Mans purse cannot purchase them unless the sixpeny book published as I take it By that Reverend Divine D. Floyd of Reading called the book with the Blew Cover whose Title is A Seasonable Discourse shewing the necessity of maintaining The established Religion in opposition to Popery Unless I say those discourses I find none of that worth or Cheapness of that condescension to the meanest Capacities as this Pill to purge out Popery put forth with general approbation and cum privilegio in the year One thousand six hundred twenty four What need every one hath to furnish himself with good preservatives against the Poyson and Infection of that Soul and Body destroying Religion none will question but such as care for neither Debauch'd and loose Creatures who live as if there were no God and die as if they should become like the beast that perish 'T is upon such as these the Popish Priests do prey And where these Carcasses are thither the Roman Eagles do resort But to men of reason and understanding to persons of civility learning and good manners there they are shie how they make their approaches There they tremble and quake for fear of a Bastle to such as these they only insinuate plausible stories And tell them there is no difference between us in Fundamentals they believe the same Creeds with us and Worship the same God and the Lord Jesus Christ as we do The matter is only in some circumstantial things which the Church hath power from Christ to enjoyn the performance of Wherein they say we differ But who doth not see the vanity of this Allegation For if the difference between us indeed were only in things Circumstantial and Ceremonial we might be blame worthy to have withdrawn our selves from their Communion for surely it cannot be lawful to separate from the Church for enjoyning some Ceremonies though perhaps they seem to us but useless and vain Were there nothing but that to hinder us from their Communion We should not refuse to be Roman Catholicks to morrow But if we make it appear that the things we differ in are of the substance and foundation of Religion which to comply with themin is not only to deny the Faith but incur to our selves Everlasting Damnation Then we hope we have reason and Religion on our side to continue in that way we are in And utterly detest the damnable Doctrines of the Romish perswasion And that I may make it appear as plain as the light of the Sun Do but consider with me these few instances And I will detain you no longer from the Romish Catholick Catechism First They say indeed that they believe the holy Scripture to be the Word of God and that they have not taken away any Institution of the Gospel But is it not apparent that they esteem Humane Traditions not only equally with But many time above whatsoever is written either in the Old or New Testament under the pretence of an unwritten Word which increases every age and changeth it's face every day and is made to speak whatsoever they will have it They introduce into Religion whatsoever their Popes and his Creatures have a mind to And all must pass as currant Coyn that comes from their fingers But our Lord Jesus Christ doth not condemn those only who reject the Commandments of God but those who make them of none effect by their Traditions And he professeth that they Honor God in vain who teach for Doctrines necessary to be believed upon pain of Damnation the Traditions of Men c. Secondly They adore God I confess And who would not adore the Creator of the World but do they not adore divers Creatures likewise Not only those which they suppose to be changed into the Substance of the Body of our Creator as the Bread and Wine in the Sacrament but also divers others Which they confess to be but meer Creatures as Saints Reliques Images and the Cross which as many of their Doctors say positively ought to be adored with the worship of Latria that is to say with the Sovereign Adoration wherewith they adore God but God Almighty commands us not only to adore and serve him with all possible Reverence and Veneration But worship him only and solely Matth. 4.10 And the Scripture doth expresly condemn those who adore worship such as by nature are no Gods Gal. 4.8 And we know and you may know too if you will that the Angel not only exhorts Saint John in the Revel 19.21 To adore God but he refused the adoration which that holy Man being as it were surprised would have given him fee saith he thou do it not Worship God Thirdly You pray unto God I confess and who would not pray unto so good a Father and so gracious and merciful a God but you pray also to the Saints departed though the Scripture afford neither command promise or example Abraham is ignorant of us and Israel knows us not And you worship Angels likewise as Gabriel Michael c. contrary to the command of S. Paul Coll. 2.18 Let no man beguile you in a voluntary humility of worshipping of Angels intruding into those things which he hath not seen Fourthly You say you put your trust and affiance in God but do not you trust also in Creatures what else mean those prayers so frequently in your books O glorious Saint in whom I put my trust And it is very ordinary with the devoutest person among you to call the
Blessed Virgin your confidence your refuge and your only hope but the holy Scripture not only commands you to trust in God but it forbids you to trust in the Creatures Jer. 17. Cursed be man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his Arm but blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is Fifthly You confess that it is by the goodness and mercy of that God you are saved so far you are right But you believe also that you are saved by the merit of your Works and if you have none good of your own you buy some of other of folks which Priests make you believe they have store of And counsel you as many as have money to buy But doth not the Apostle say That every one shall give an account of himself to God Again Every one shall give an account what he hath done in the body whether it be good or evil And the Apostle expresly Rom. 11. If it be by grace then it is no more of works Ephes 2. We are saved by grace through faith and not of our selves it is the gift of God and not of Works lest any man should boast Sixthly You would be no Christians if you did not believe that Jesus Christ was made of Woman in respect of his Humane Nature and like unto his Brethren in all things sin only excepted And that in respect of his Divine Nature he is the express Image of the Father Very God of Very God But you believe and adore another Christ who is made of bread and is not at all either God or Man having not the least resemblance of either nature though by his resurrection from the dead his glory is much Augmented Yet it hath not destroyed the verity of his humane Nature nor made his body invisible or impalpable After the Consecration of your Priests I neither see or touch any thing but bread I cannot see or touch the natural body of Christ is it possible any man living should perswade me by any Arguments in the World in this particular contrary to my five senses Behold my hands and my feet Handle me and see for a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones as you see me have and where there is not Flesh and Bones to be seen and felt there cannot be a Corporal presence Behold then oh you Papists to what a Religion you invite and call us even to the Idolatrous practice of the Heathen World to pray unto our fellow Creatures to Worship Images and fall down to the Stock of a tree I say to the worshipping of the consecrated Host which is a more stupid Idolatry then the worst of the Heathens were ever guilty of you invite us to a Religion that takes from us half the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Notwithstanding the Institution of Christ in express words and the constant practice of the Primitive Church to the contraty You practise the heathen persecution of taking away our Bibles and would involve every Layman in being a Traditor the next step in the account of the Primitive Church to Apostacy from the Christian Faith You tempt us to a Religion that contrary to the command of trying all things and holding fast that which is good and paying to God a reasonable service enjoyns an implicite faith and blind obedience To a Religion that instead of the guidance of the Word of God sets up an Infallible Judge and Arbitrator of all Doctrines the Pope of Rome Who instead of the Faith once delivered to the Saints adds new Articles of Faith And instead of that our propitiation made by Christ and the condition thereof Faith and Repentance sets remission of sins upon quite other Terms and proposes the gift of God to be purchased with money For instance Sacrilege is valued at seven Groats Incest at five Simony at seven Perjury six Murther five And so on for every sin if you have but money you need not fear a pardon though you never Repent or forsake your sins But let me instance a little further In the seventh place you confess with us that Jesus Christ is ascended into heaven and there sits at the right hand of God but you pretend to believe that he is also on Earth and in a Million of places at once That he is on Altars and in Pyxes in the hands or in the stomach of the Priests and of all those that do Communicate But the holy Ghost tells us not only that Jesus Christ in respect of his Humane Nature is ascended into Heaven but that the Heavens must contain him until the time of the restitution of all things Act. 3. and that he shall then descend in the same manner as he ascended Act. 1. This glorious Saviour not only saith I go to my Father but to shew us that he withdrew his body out of the world so absolutely that it should be no more there in any manner whatsoever he saith I leave the world and go unto the Father John 16. The poor you have always with you but me you have not always John 12. And he gives express caution against the false Imagination of his Corporal Presence If they say Christ is here or he is there believe it not Behold he is in the desart go not forth behold he is in the secret chambers believe it not Matth. 24. Again in the eighth place you give Jesus Christ the Honor to call him the Saviour and Redeemer of the World But then do you not affront him to Communicate these glorious Titles to meer Creatures do not the devoutest persons in your Religion call the Blessed Virgin the Redeemer and Saviour of the World and Bell. in his fourth chapter of his Book of Indulgences saith expresly that the Saints are in some sort our Redeemers But the Gospel tells us Not only that Jesus Christ is our Saviour but it tells us plainly that there is no salvation in any other and that there is no name under heaven given amongst men whereby we must be saved Act. 4. Ninethly In appearance you exalt the sacrifice which Christ hath offered on the Cross But in effect you annihilate it and tacitely accuse it of Insufficiency for you have invented another which is that of the Mass But the Apostle doth not only say That Jesus Christ offered up himself to God That he hath purchased Eternal Redemption for us And that by one oblation he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified But he teacheth expresly that he offered not himself often for then must he have often suffered from the foundation of the World And as it is appointed for men once to die and after that to judgment so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many And that where there is remission of sin there is no more offering for sin and that without shedding of blood there is no remission Heb. 9.10 With one hand you Papists lay hold on the merits of Christ but with the other you lay hold on