Indices so that now it is hard to find the Fathers in the Fathers And our Adversaries of Rome have not only corrected and corrupted the printed Volumes but also the Manuscript Copies of the Fathers I remember Dr. James of the Fathers in his Appendix to the Reader tells us that in the Vatican Library there are certain men maintained onely to write out the Acts of the Councells and Copies of the Fathers Works who are brought up to imitate the ancient Letters and thus Manuscripts themselves are purged by the Romanists This information he received from an eye witnesse And this Story we have confirm'd in the Proposition presented to the Noble Prince Henry to advance that glorious design which he had of erecting a Royal Library with all sorts of Books and Editions in these words The Pope gathereth up all the Manuscripts he can into his Library the Vatican and there useth them at his pleasure One of their tricks is notorious they have men that can counterfeit any hand and write the old hands that were written 500 and 1000 years ago then they have an artificial Inke which within three dayes after the writing looks as if it had been written 500 yeares before Thus having altered and taken out all that made for us and against them they suppress the old true Copies and produce these now ones as the Authenticall all Books And doubtlesse these are the antient Manuscripts which Manutius and others follow in their late Editions of the Primitive Fathers Neither have our Romanists contented themselves in corrupting the Fathers whether printed or written but they have proceeded to corrupt the holy Scriptures which is a degree of wickednesse beyond all degrees of comparison I will instance in a few places 3 Gen 15. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed it shall bruise thy head The Vulgar Latine Ipsa centeret She shall bruise thy head that is the Virgin Mary â—s their Doctors expound iâ— But the Hebr Septuag Chald Paraph Targ Onkel Hebr Samarit Syriack and Perâ—ick Versions read it either Ipse or Ipsâ—m And what use do they make of this corâ—uption To extoll the praises of the Virgin Mary and prove her patronage and protection 4 Gen 13. And Cain said unto the Lord â—â—y punishment is greater then I can bear The Vulgar Latine reads it mine iniquity â— greater quam ut veniam mâ—â—ear then I an merit pardoâ— contrary to the Hebr â—eptuâ—g Targ Onkel Syria Arab and Pers Versions And this is done to countenance their doctrine of merit de congruo Psal 99 5. Exalt ye the Lord our God and worship at his footstool for he is holy The Vulgar Latine reads it Adorate seabellum pedum ejus quia sanctum est adore his footstool because it is holy Contrary to the Heb Septuag Chaldee paraphrase c. And this place is urged by Bellar for adoration of Saints De Sanct Beatitud lib 1 cap 13. Joh 14 26. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom tbe Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you The Vulgar Latine reads it Spiritus sanctus suggeret vobis oÌ„nia quaecâ—â—nque dixere the holy Spirit will suggest to you all things whatsoever I shall say unto you contrary to the Greek Syr Pers and Arab Versions And what use do they make of this corruption To prove that whatsoever is defin'd in Councells is to be received as the Oracles of God Eph 5 32. This is a great mistery speaking of Marriage The Vulgar Latine reads it Sacramentum hoc magnum this is a great Sacrament Contrary to the Original word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is never used in Scripture for that which we properly call a Sacrament and to the Syr Arab and Aethiop Vers And this place thus corrupted they urge to prove that Matrimony is a Sacrament Heb 11 21. Jacob worshipped upon the top of his staff The Vulgar Latine reads it adoravit fastigium virgae ejus he adored the top of his staff Conâ—rary to the Original the Syn Arab and Aethiop Vers And this place they urge for Image worship Heb 13 16. With such Sacrifices God is well pleased The Vulgar Latine reads it talibus hostiis promeretur Deut by such sacrifices we merit of God Contrary to the Original the Syr Arab and Aethiop Vers And this place is urged to prove works of Charity to be Meritorious Many more places both in the Old and New Testament might be produced but these are sufficient to convict the Vulgar Latine of notorious corruptions Nay many of their own Doctors confesse as much †Iâ—stit Moâ— lib 8. cap 3. p 1155. Azorius the Jesuite saith that many of their Writers since the Councel of Trent Viega Canus Payna and Lindanus have noted many Errors in the Vulgar Latine not only by the fault of the Printer but by the ignorance of the Interpreter And Isidore Clarius Brixianus * This Preface is commanded to be expung'd by the Councell of Treat Index lib prehibit reg 3 Praef in Bibl affirmeth that the Vulgar Latine is corrupted in 8000 places And yet the Councel of Trent hath Constituted this the only Authentick Edition by which all Controversies must be determined †Coâ—c â—râ—deâ—t Sessio 4. Caâ— 21. In all publick Lectures Disputations Sermons and Expositions this Edition must be used as Authentick and let no man dare to reject it upon any pretext whatsoever Obj This Translation is St. Jeromes who lived in the fourth Century and therefore not corrupted by Papists to maintain their Novel Doctrines Ans Many Papists deny this to be St. Jeromes and produce invincible Arguments Others say it is partly not wholy Jeromes so Driedo Some affirme saith he that this Latine Translation * De Eccles Scriptur â—â—b 2. p 40. is neither Jeromes nor in all things consonant to the Original And afterwards in his first Proposition he saith that this Latine Interpretation is neither altogether different from St. Jeromes nor in all things agreeable to it I will conclude this with the testimony of their great †De verbo dei lib 2. cap 11. p 120. Bellarmin The Vulgar Edition hath not one Author but some things from Jerome and some things from Lucian and some things from Theodotion and some things from another unknown Interpreter And so much concerning Romish Forgeries and Corruptions which give us just cause to suspect the Antiquity of their Doctrines For if the Ancient Fathers vote for them as they would perswade the world why do they produce so many counterfeit Treatises and corrupted passages as lawful witnesses against us May we not well question that mans title who in Court produceth a forged or corrupted Deed when he knows his Adversary is able to prove the Forgery CHAP V. Of Romish Treasons and bloody Cruelties 3. WEE now proceed to the
Lessius lib. 2. cap. 41. dub ◠num 80. p. 537. And if a Tayler who is commission'd by a Gentleman to buy stuffe or silk to make his Cloaths go commonly to one Mercer or Merchant who for this reason sell him a good pennyworth or returns somthing back he may retain to himself the benefit of his good market or what is so return'd Escobar tract 3. Exam 6. cap 5. p. 406. To these Instances many more might be added which do countenance and justify most thefts and robberies committed in this licentious age By this Induction of particulars for its needlesse to mention more you may see how farre they dispense with Divine Commands They that would see more upon this Subject let them peruse the Jesuits Morals of which I have made very little use no not so much as an hand to direct me to the places and passages which I have produced Sect. II. Obj THese are the Opinions of some particular Casuists which perhaps have been consured by his Holynesse as Erroneous and Heretical Ans 1. I doe not hear that any of these Doctors except Baunies Summarie of sins which I have made no use of are censured at Rome nor find any passages in them which their Inquisitors command to be blotted out in any of their Expurgatory Indices And therefore since they are so severe in prohibiting Books which they judge erroneous and expunging all offensive passages we may rationally conclude that these Casuists have written nothing contrary to the sentiments of their infallible Lord and Master If they deliver any thing which is not consonant to their Canons and Constitutions why are they not put into their Index of prohibited Books 2. The Doctors I have mention'd are no pitiful obscure Fellows but persons of great note and eminency and their Books printed cum Privilegio and highly prized by all Catholicks 3. That where I have Cited but one or two Casuists ten or twenty might be produced which I have passed over for brevity sake 4. The Doctrine of probability which is unanimously received by their great Doctors at least the Jesuits which are the most prevailing partie in the Church of Rome and the Popes principal Factors will remove all doubts and scruples Here they lay down with much confidence and defend with great zeal these following propositions 1. That we may safely follow a probable Opinion In this there is a perfect agreement amongst them and Layman †Lib 1◠p 5. gives this reason for it because in Morals we cannot easily obtain a certain knowledge of the truth of things 2. That is a probable Opinion which having no certainty is supported by great Authority or some reason of Moment p 5. So Layman defines a probable Opinion And in the explication of this definition he tells us that by great Authority we are to understand the judgement at least of one learned and honest man that hath not embraced an Opinion rashly and inconsiderately but after he hath well weigh'd and examin'd the reasons which are brought for the contrary Opinion Escobar saith that one grave Theol Mor p. 25. Doctor is able to make an Opinion probable because a man eminently learned will not espouse an Opinion without sufficient reason Emanuel Sa speaks more freely affirming Aphor p. p. 41. that the judgement of one grave Doctor or the example of good men is enough to make an Opinion probable And to the same purpose speak Sylvest Navar. Vasquez and Sanchez cited by Layman Filliucius declares himselfe to be of the same judgement Tom 2. tr 21. cap. 4. p. 9. 3 That of two probable Opinions its lawful to follow that which is more favourable though lesse safe and probable This Theol Mor Lib 1. p. 5. proposition is defended by Layman who brings Navar. Medina Arrag Lopez Suarez Azorius c. concurring with him And if the testimony of these learned Doctors be not sufficient he gives you this convincing reason In moral actions it is not necessary to follow that which is best and safest but sufficient that we follow what is good and safe And Escobar propounding this Question If two probable Opinions occur is a p. 27. man obliged to follow that which is more probable He answers no because he cannot be reprehended as rash and imprudent who adhaeres to reason or authority of moment and it would be an intollerable burthen if every unlearned man should be obliged to Instit Mor lib 2. p. 202 find out the more probable Opinions But Azorius ascends one step higher and saith that a man may lawfully follow the probable Opinion of other men though it be against his own proper Opinion Thus a man may commit any sin to which interest or corrupt nature shall incline him against his own Conscience if he can but find out one grave Doctor that allowes it and that 's no difficult taske 4. That a Confessor is oblig'd to absolve his Penitent who followes a probable Opinion though contrary to his own Lib 2. p. 205. judgement Azorius handling this Question Whether a Priest who hears Confessions may reasonably submit to the Opinion of his Penitent when 't is contrary to his own After he hath propounded the distinctions and limitations of several Doctors affirms that in every case without exception or distinction every Confessor as well ordinary as delegate may and ought to submit to the judgement of his Penitent As for example suppose the Confessor is fully convinced that his Penitent is obliged to make restitution of goods unjustly detain'd and hereupon scruples to absolve him yet if the Penitent will not submit unto his judgement he may doe it And observe his reason because he who hears the confessions of Penitents is oblig'd to provide for their salvation Layman affirms the same thing and Lib 1. p. 6. tells us that Sot Victor Navar. Medina Sanchez and Vasquez are of this perswasion And he gives this weighty reason for it The Confessor confession being made cannot deny absolution to his Penitent that is rightly dispos'd but in following a probable Opinion the Penitent doth not sin and so as to this is rightly disposed And Escobar propounding the same Question returns the same answer and gives the same reason Nay he addes that the Confessor who denies absolution upon this account is guilty of mortal sin when the sins confessed are mortal because he forceth his Penitent to discover those sins to another Confessor which is a grievous burthen Theol Mor p. 28. To these I could adde the testimony of Filliucius * Tom p 113. Cardinal Tolet and many others Now what wickednesse may be committed †Lib 3. 51◠under the protection of this Doctrine is obvious to an ordinary understanding How doth it favour loose and licentious persons and indulge them in their immoralities for what Crime can be committed but some one or other of their Doctors doth allow and justifie it Canst thou not keep
Valentinus a Dominican by his Impostures in this kind obtained Saith Cath Orthod Tom 1. p. 374. Rivet a great name in Bononia and so deluded the Magistrates and people that they look't upon him as come down from Heaven they thought themselves happy if they could but touch the hemme of his Garment His Confederates by agreement swore that he had raised 18. persons from the dead that he could cure all diseases and cast out Devils c. And by these Arts before the cheat was discovered he had got in one year twenty thousand pounds And Tyrrel the Priest in his Confession which he drew up in writing â—aid that within the compasse of halfe a year in Queen Elizabeths Raign when all attempts against her sacred Person were defeated by their cheating Exorcisms they prevailed upon 500 some say 5000 persons to embrace the the Roman Religion That these Miracles which they so much boast of are not true is most evident because the Doctrines which they would confirm by them are false but God never puts forth his divine power in working Miracles to establish erroneous Doctrines he never sets his Seal to a false Deed. That Story of the Lives of their Saints which they call Legenda aurea the golden Legend is made up of lying prodigies and prodigious Lyes So much is confessed by their own Doctors Ludovicus Vives speaking of it saith How unworthy both God and men is the Story of the Saints I see no reason why it should be called the Golden Legend being written by one that De corrupt Artâ—â— lib. 2. had an Iron face and leaden heart And Chamier confirms it by the testimony of Canus I do not excuse the Author of that Book intituled Speculum Exemplorum nor of this History which is called the golden Legend In that thou maiest read monsters of Miracles more frequent than true miracles and this was written by one that had neither prudence nor honesty Panstrat Cathol Tom 2. p. 677. And Espencaeus saith that no Stable is so full of dung as their Legends are full of Fables In 1. Tim digress lib 1. p 224. Consider as an Antidote against this tempation that things may be done which may seem to be real miracles in the judgement of the wisest man on earth by men of corrupt hearts 7 Math 22 23. and of corrupt heads 24 Math 24 and therefoâ—e we must not judge by the Miracles what Doctrine is true but by the Doctrine what Miracles are true 13 Deut 1 3. CHAP VIII Of Popish Lyes and Slanders 6. I Now proceed to the last way or method of Romes advancement or which the Pope and his Agents use to propagate their Religion viz impudent lyes and slanders against their Adversaries or who refuse to submit to the Conduct and government of the Roman Church This Method Rome Pagan used for the extirpation of Christianity and this Method Rome Christian hath used for the propagation of Popery That Rome Heathen took this course to suppresse the the growth yea the being of Christianity is very clear from Ecclesiastical Hystory When Nero that monster of men had set Rome on fire which burned nine dayes to transfer the Odium of that impious act upon the Christians he gave out that they had done it out of malice and revenge And after wards the Heathen raised many malicious slanders against them and laid to their charge most horrid crimes as that they lived in incest that in their night meetings putting out the Candles they mixed together in a filthy manner that they killed their Children and fed upon mans flesh that they kept the Feasts of Thyestes and committed the incest of Oedipus that they were guilty of Sacrâ—ledge and Sedition and Rebellion and worshipped the head of an Asse In Athens there was a Conjurer which made an Image of Jupiter that uttered these words Jupiter commands the Christians to be banished out of this City because they are enemies to him Harlots also were suborned to swear that formerly they had been Christians and so were privie to the wickednesse and impiety which they committed amongst themselves at their Sabbath-meetings Vid Tertul Apol c. 7. 9. c. These and many more such like calumnies we meet wâ—th in Eusebius and other Ecclesiâ—stical Hystorians by which the hearts of the Common people were set against Christianity and the Emperours and other inferiour Governours incensed against the Professors of it The truth of this appeares by an Epistle which the Christians in France writ to the Brethren in Asia and Phrygia recorded by Eusebius They feigned against us speaking of the Heathen and reported that we used feastings Eccles Hyst lib 5. cap. 1 of Thyestes and the inâ—est of Oedipus with many other Crimes which may neither with piety be thought upon nor with modesty be uttered nor without impiety believed And these things being bruited abroad every body was moved and incensed against us Then was that saying of our Saviours fulfilled viz The time will come when as every one that slayeth you shall thinke that therein he doth God good Service Then suffered the holy Martyrs such torments as no tongue can expresse Great was the rage both of people and Presidents against us c. To this I could adde many more proofs out of Eusebius but that is needlesse And that the Pope of Rome and his Factors have observed the same Method to propagate their Doctrines is most notorious How have they loaden with Calumnies and false accusations the Enemies of their Church especially those of the reformed Religion They charge us Protestants with infidelity cruelty impiety and what not 1. With infidelity that we dis-believe the Existence of God the Divinity and Humanity of Christ the immortality of the soul the resurrection of the dead and all the Articles of the Christian Religion 2. With cruelty How have they aggravated Sands p. 98. our proceedings here in England against their rebellious Priests and Complices in Queen Elizabeths time to the height of Nero's and Dioclesians Perfecutions and the Sufferers of their side in merits of cause in extremity of torments in patience constancy to the renowned Martyrs of that hercical age Of this Subject they have published a great Volume compiled with great industry many passages being illustrated with pictures and approved by Authority in short there 's nothing wanting but truth and honesty 3. With impiety that all manner of Crimes are committed and countenanced amongst us Bellarmine saith that there are many wicked men among the Roman Catholicks but not one good man among the Lutheran Hereticks Their Fryars raised and published many foul slanders against the Waldenses as that they were Sorcerers Buggerers c. that when they assembled together in the night-time their Pastors commanded the lightâ— to be put out saying Qui potest capere capiat whereupon they committed abominable Incests the Son with his Mother the Brother with his Sister the Father with his daughter c.