perfidia cannot have successe which scarce will imply error in faith or misbeliefe but malitious falsitie in matter of trust and action such as Faelicissimus and his complices hasted to Rome with against Saint Cyprian Saint Hieroms orbis Major urbe may dismisse him and his zeal to Presbyterie confirm no friend to Papal glory For Saint Austin he is quoted to call himselfe rash detestable and strangely imprudent in a Councell to resist them with whom Christ could only be to the consummation of the age Saint Cyprian in a schism is pack'd to hell se judice macula istanec sanguine abluitur nec pasâ—ione purgatur inexpâ—abilis culpa non erit fidei corona sed perfidiae poena He oppos'd Pope Stephen and Saint Austin and he being both of the African Church dyed excommunicate from the Roman and if a Saint Greoories prayers brought them not from hell with Trajan to bear him company we may misdoubt a bene esse to those Romanists invoke as Grandees in the Court of heaven if extra Ecclesia parietes Romanae non sit salus But God be praised a Saint Hierom comes to their rescue with a non altera Romanae urbâ—s Ecclesia alteratotius orbis aestimanda est Gallia Bithynia c. unum Christum adorant unam observant regulam veritatis si authoritas quaeritur orbis major est urbe ubicunque fuerit Episcopus sive Regio ejusdem meriti est ejusdem sacerdotii potentiae divitiarum potestatis gradus paupertatis humâ—litas sublimiorem vel inferiorem Episcopum non faciunt omnes Apostolorum successores sunt Sect. 69. If the Roman Church be a branch she cannot be the Root though an elder sister she can be but a co-heir we need not cry out with Esau Hast thou but one blesâ—â—ng O my father Nor is it the essence of the Church nor the representative part in a synod but the vertuall power in the Pope and his Cardinalls which are the Elixir by whose vertue the name of Catholick is derivative To be blanch'd with Innocence or gul'd with Martyrdome to carry the Enfigns of the Lamb are nothing worth without the crosse keyes of Saint Peter the Purple of Christ invaluable should we deny the Cardinals scarlet Robe Who mock'd Christ more then the Jewes who cloth'd him in it with a hail King while the exorbitancy of their power takes away his plants Thorns in Christianity and buffets him in his members who by uncharitable censures have not only separated Protestants from their communion but Russian African Asiatick Graecian Churches where some praise God in the flames while these lasciviating in the sunshine of Gods mercies have kick'd against Divinity and retiring into the shade bellowing like mad beasts have preferred forms and shadowes before the light and glory of Religion yet if we will believe what their Bulls roar ten times their number is damned for not being Catholicks for sooth since every Christian under pain of damnation must be subject to the Roman Bishop Who taught us Our Father which art in heaven forbids us an inclosure and he who intends a Monopoly will leave out Christ with his brother The name of Catholick in the Creed plac'd in opposition to the Jewish inclosure of mercy it will be strange if universall should now turn particular and by not retaining the phancy of a particular Church a man could not be of the universall and yet every Church hath a particular phancy and it is probable all generally phancy by an audi Ecclesiam and in the Commission dic Ecclesiae what Christ never intended If thy brother trespasse against thee tell the Church viz. a company of Christians and if he will not hear the Church let him be to thee as an heathen or a publican cite him before the Gentiles tribunall as thou wouldst an heathen or a publican It is true there is but one true Faith one true Church but both Faith and Church is the Catholâ—ck Christian not the particular Roman and this Catholick Christian Church he who will not both hear and obey the particular Church where he lives so far as it dissents not with the universall in my opinion is worse then pagan or publican Sect. 70. The Catholick Church is Gods house all Nationall Churches are in this universall house as so many daughters to whom as Christs Vicegerents the care of the houshold is commited by God the Father and the Catholick Church the mother of all Christians If sisters disagree in a family will the Father and the Mother God and the Church eject one child because that an other is petulant waspish or hath Christ given power to Rome because she is an elder sister that she or her steward the Bishop should cast out of the family which she pleaseth of the children of the family for telling stories of an elder sisters or stewards enormities Romana Ecclesia particularis according to Bellarmine and without there be two Roman Churches there cannot be both a particular Roman Church and a Catholick No sense will admit the Roman Catholick she is not universall so not Catholick in extent not entire in Doctrine in things belonging to the foundation so not Catholick in beliefe nor the prime Mother Church Jerusalem was that so not Catholick as fountain head or root of the Catholick Sect. 71. Catholica autem quae diffusaper universum orbem That Catholick Church which all Nations shall flow unto Kings and Queens shall be nursing Fathers and Mothers shall suck the milk of Gentiles this is the way which the fool cannot erre when the wisest may mistake there 's universality antiquity succession and unity here are unquestionable while all agree if not in manner yet matter of beliefe have the same limbs of Christian warfare that Constantines 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is the Arke of the Covenant holy City fructiferous Vine direct way sole Dove excelse mountain celestiall Kingdome spouse and body of Chirst the house of God gate of Heaven a pillar and firmament of verity a light in a Candlestick a Tabernacle in the Sun a ship secure in storms a rock which though the winds of schism arise and waves of heresy beat cannot be moved here the sayings of Fathers writhed by Papists to rivet Saint Peters tattering chair are all verified that which was the Church of all ages is apostated perish'd this they say who are not in her see lest thou may not be she will be though thou art not in vain he sayes he hath God for his Father who will not acknowledge the holy Catholick Church for his Mother since in the expans'd arms of her charity she entertains the whole body of Christiâ—nity Be wise my soul lay thee a foundation here so though storms arise and waves beat thou shalt not be moved the quicksandâ— of heresie shall no more swallow thee up the waves of schism warp â—hee to irreâ—lâ—gion or byasse thee toward Atheisme Sect. 72.
by their light to heaven they cannot to mortifie the flesh thus is not the way to quicken the spirit We must rather inform Eliah like in fiery chariots of zeal to mount up to heaven Lend them examples to live well not precepts to contend Christ would not own those spirits who would have fire come down from heaven to destroy adversaries He sent down fire from heaven to save not destroy his enemies in cloven tongues to divide truth not divide by falshood who are divided in their waies show whose footsteps they follow the Devill whose feet are cloven He whose fiery zeal for the least dissention calls his brother to do penance in ashes it must needs be so far from the spirit of God as it is manifest his alliance is with the old Serpent whose food is in the dust The holy Father told the revenge-meditating Catholicks against their blood-thirsty enemies the Arians in the reign of the good Theodosius that Christians are not to recompence evill for evill but blesse them that curse pray for them that despitefully use yet if they cannot arrive to this perfection yet must at least leave revenge to God who in his time will repay it God fan is in his hand I will not snatch it out where God hath an Harvest Belial will have a seeds-time the wicked one will sow tares by night men benighted in black and wicked waies are dispos'd to imbibe the seeds of error God grant the light of Heaven may so shine in us that men may be converted from the darknesse of their waies and we may pluck up error not them we must not question his wil who permits them to grow till harvest he that knows his own it shall be my onely endeavoâ—r he may own me for his and not for raising flames of contention here be cast into unquenchable fire hereafter I will not renounce Christ because a Judas bears him company nor any Christian communion because a Judas may have his hand in the dish but rather strive I my self prove no Traitor draw near with my lips my heart remote from him cry hail Master when I think to recrucifie him in his members Alasse poor souls though a Judas may veil impiety with kisses the irrepentant wretch will dissipate and discover his black soul naked I will note them that make contentions and avoid the contentions not the men till three or four times admonition if Physitians were to fly from the sick wee should gain little skill and have a poor profession Sect. 77. I can converse with a Jew with no passion beside a sorrow lend tears to mollifie him and not fire to obdurate and should he encounter my ear with a buffet and bid me turn the other to express Christianity I should not with that Christian with a do as you would be done by requite but by my Saviours example for my sake buffeted pray for him who knew not what he did it is a strange humour in some Christians to pray for the conversion of those Jewes they will not admit into their society to effect it by a peaceable cohabitation Wee might teach them by their Chà ldean Paraphrast their Messiah and by R. Jonathan or R. Shimeony Son of Ishas or R. Moses the Son of Nicar or R. Haccodesh shew how R. Shahadiahs 1200. years R. Solomon and R. Jehudas 1390. R. Elias 4230. years are expir'd and no Messias come Judas the Son of Marbaeus Theudas Arthronges Barchosba the Senior and Junior imposing even upon their Rabbies the Bethlem which they confesse to be the place of their Messiahs birth having now no being their groundlesse phancies may vanish like it while we show him who had a being with it who dy'd for his people whose hands and feet they pierced and for whose Vesture they cast lots who was humble and sat on an Asse after 62. weeks slain shewing the cause of their miseries because they sold the innocent for silver and the poor for shooes The same day Christ was taken their City taken entred at the Brook Cedron on the same feast day same time of the year thirty Jews sold for the price they sold him We might show their Rabbines their letter and learn their grave Fathers Christs Crosse row we could lend them light out of darknesse while even a Pagan could confesse aut Deus Naturae patitur aut machina mundi dissolvitur we could inform them by the rending of their Temple not to divide from the Church which open'd wide to instruct them of him who was ordain'd to enter into the holiest of holies even Christ Jesus the High Priest though they trifle about Nazarite and Nazareth wee could dilucidate who was Natsar the branch of the root of Jesse but oh in vain we may tell them of him who is love when we want it towards one another how can they believe us to be heirs when wee have lost his Legacy Defective not onely in dilection he bequeath'd his but even that love he commanded to enemies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or ill savor in Jews so often inculcated as if lies could sweeten them and make not Christianity stink in their nostrills worse then they in ours for crucifying Christ. May all Christian Churches sweep their own doors from pride and malice and uncharitablenesse which are ingendred by trifling questions and unnecessary disputes the dirt and trash which clings to them and keeps them from entrance who are without Lo the Jews who look for a sign and Gentiles who inquire after wisdom may find both and all Christians by reforming themselves may act no lesse then miracles for the conversion of others Si ex avaritiae in liberalitatem transieris sâ—ccam mancam manum recuperasti si theatralibus ludis spretis relictisque caetos Ecclesiasticos petieris claudicanti pedi incolumitatem si oculos tuos ab alienâ forma meretricum aspectu revocaveris caecum te illuminasti si diabolicos cantus despexeris eorum loco spirituales Psalmos dediceris tum loqueris qui antea mutus esses haec maxima miracula signa eximia such signes and miracles as these might call home the Jews and bring in the plenitude of the Gentiles so may their souls desire to enter into our secrets and their glory be joyn'd to our assemblies while all Churches having their Lamps trimm'd with the oyl of good works by the light of faith may lead to the Bridegroom who biddeth the Bride come and if she hath not the soundnesse of interior charity all the gummes and spices of alms and prayers do not sweeten her breath to her divine Lover Odours after which the Bridegroom runneth smelleth them when he kisses her with the kisses of his mouth Sect. 78. It was the saying of the Doctor of the Gentiles If any man be contentious wee have no such custom nor the Churches of God I could wish those who call themselves the Churches of God had no such custom as being contentious fighting about
CHARITY Commended OR A Catholick Christian Soberly Instructed By J. C. M. D. Quicquid deficiunt alia unica supplet charitatis gratia quae in aeternum non deficiet St. Ber. LONDON Printed and are to be sold at most Book-Sellers Shops 1667. TO THE READER PAper Kites on all sides fly high born up with the air of popular applause and wind off phancy to the admiration of plebeian heads thoâ—gh the prayer-toyes of idle children while they misuse paper and mispend time are of as great value as the elaborate pieces of most polemicks whose books are the disguises of faction and diseases of Charity by irreligious disputes of what they miscall religion drawing that blood which should quicken the heart of Religion from mens hearts into their heads leaving their hearts destitute of zeal to God and mutuall dilection and filling their hearts with choler which produces that phrantick zeal which discomposes the world or stuffing them with phâ—egm which lulls them into a Lethargy of indifferency in religion or raising those melancholy vapors which cause these Epileptick paroxisms in quaking enthusiasts Hence comes this morris dance of religions the glorious body of Christianity minced into factions makes but an Olio distastefull to Jew or Gentile and it would be a wonder to have a Iew converted to Christianity to what sect soever he was converted the other would condemn him and this might not seem a way to come to God but a path to Belial even amougst Christians I have known not a few whose too forward zeal to find out religion hath carried them out of all religion when their fiery zeal had made a blaze it went out in the stench of Atheism The specious name of Catholick hath biassed no lesser numbers to Rome but the spiders web of papall infallibility spun fine by school wits not strong enough to hold them finding the lines drawn from bowels poysoned with self-interest breaking this Cobweb net they disdain all religions as religations to insnare and believe religion not above a state trick or a vizard to fright Children and cheat the world since the world varies dssguises as frequently as it changes interests A giddy minorage instructed me to make prodigious sallies joyn with these Babell builders to try if I could elix truth out of so great a confusion of Languages but the fruits of my curiosity prov'd not above the Apples of Sodom I was discompos'd by the noise rather then edify'd by the tongues and taught with Octavian to cry out utinam nescissem literas to wish often that I had been ignorant of letters since they could not furnish me with the knowledge of Christs Cross I retir'd within to seek that at home which I could not find abroad and having anatomized others in vain I now dissect my self rather then be inexperienced here I find not those antipathies which I meet in others I seem constellated for all Countries and could live peaceably under any national Church though I would not joyn with any schism which is made to colour over a rebellion while a monstrous zeal player-like takes a vizard which hee rejects his part once acted for this indifferency though Erasmus-like I am hung up betwixt Heaven and Hell renounced of all Communions yet Conscientiae satisfeci nihil in famam laborati sequatur vel mala dum bene mereor By being charitable to all I cannot deserve evill of any and I hope no national Church so ill but may deserve my charity the first sally of my pen intended nothing beside an Apologeticall Epistle and by an autopsâ—e or self-unravelling to satifie my self and a Romanist of him of whom he had talk'd much and knew little proposing neither order or method it being my Province to unravel the mysteries of riddling nature rather then the disguises of Antick Polemicks but my glib penne found it easier to ingage then to retreat and while the multitude of my own thoughts oppress'd me the fear of my own disability would not suffer me to betray the succours which reason offer'd even the whole militant Church lending the weapons of Antagonists and offering the Canons of the Church against them which I shall bring in with the flag of defiance to no Christian Communion neitheir make use of the forces to gratifie any faction for all carry the Angels motro glory be to God on high and goodwil towards men I introduce Charity neither maim'd nor mutilated Since she is inrich'd with a plenteous offspring which she holds within the arms of Christian Communion I would not deprive herof any of her Children whom none can truly expresse it they do not describe her with her arms full and although the Papist terme it it is mistaken yet mistaken charity is to bee preferr'd before none and should heady and shallow Enthusiasts misconstrue it yet the learn'd and more refin'd spirit who is more blear-ey'd with prejudice or squints to self-interest will afford me that charity which I afford all to whom as Vespasian to Aâ—ollonius I conclude with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To a Learnd Romanist APologies serve onely to multiply Discourses and the itch of dispute becomes the Scab of the Church Controversies being either the Ebullitions of indigested Idleness symptomes of distemper'd zeale or inebriations of Passion while men in distractions ly idle seriously foolish or drunke with dispute forget the Holy Ghost to talke of an holy Church and by relinquishing their Charity lose the Communion of Saints most Polemick Divines being no more to be beleev'd then Lawyers who have least right to that they pleade for and doe it onely for the fees of promotion while the people are wrung by the eares they easily remitt their ear-rings to reare a golden Calfe to worship or forge one out of silver each Country being as able as Ephesus from a silver forge to produce a Diana Who phancy profit raise Idols of their Phancy gaine profits by maintaining Prophets to maintain them And no coyne can be so adulterate as not to passe currant if it bee but stamp'd with the face of Religion I would not act high treason against heav'n by adulterating my Kings Coyne or by an uncharitable clipping of it take away the Crowne and obscure the Image of my Redeemer or by a pruriginous affectation of scribling increase the Scab of Church or State or that the Luxury of my phancy should like the ranknes of other's wanton out into weeds in the garden of the Spouse If errour would not triumph over tacit truth silence argues no assent and introduces no supposition of guilt though all may accuse the sallies of a prodigious curiosity none should the excursions of a rasher pen the spitle cast on me from inane and jejune noddles should only mortifie my quick silver and it heale the itch of my curiosity the inke which I have tooke from the pens of all ages be appli'd to cure the tetters of my own dilating vanity and not profus'd on others