Pennance Extream Vnction Orders of which there are seven viz. Priests Deacons Sub-deacons Acolytes Exorcists Lectors or Readers Ostiaries or Door-keepers and Matrimony God is to be invocated and Religiously worshipped Yea and the Images of God also Crosses Crucifixes Altars Angels Saints with their Reliques and Images Christ is the Head of the Church And the Pope also Christ is our Mediator and Advocate So are the Angels and Saints likewise Christ was conceived without original sin And the Virgin Mary also Christ was once sacrificed on the Cross for the Redemption of the world Christ is dayly offered up in Mass a propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of quick and dead We are saved by the merits of Christ And also by the merits of the Saints We are justified by Faith And by hope love fear of God good works which merit Salvation All the words and actions which Scripture records to be used by Christ in the celebration of the Supper are to be used by us also The sacred Hoast must also be elevated adored reserved carried in solemn procession Christ is truly present in the Eucharist Christ is corporally present by Transubstantiation and may be received into the mouths of wicked men yea of Rats and Mice There are two places for the Souls of such as depart hence And two besides viz. Purgatory and Limbus Infantum The three Creeds commonly called the Creed of the Apostles of the Nicene Councel and of Athanasius are to be received and beleeved And Pope Pius his Creed also or his additions to the Nicene Creed are also to be received and beleeved These and the like positive Points of the Reformed Religion whereof I omit sundry are truly and properly Catholique for in them not only Papists but in a manner all Christians in the world concur with us but in your Additions you stand single and have multitudes of Christians in the Eastern and Western Churches dissenting from you 2. Peruse the Book of nine and thirty Articles the Homilies Leiturgy and Catechisms or the late Directory Confession of Faith or Catechisms larger or shorter and find if you can the Doctrine of our Church contrary to any one Article of those several Creeds which in the first six hundred years were Badges of Catholique Profession or produce any one of those Articles to which we do not willingly subscribe 3. Though the ancient Church did undoubtedly beleeve and profess all that was necessary to Salvation yet there is not one Creed of General or National Counced particular Church or Father within a thousand or twelve hundred years after Christ in which the Articles of Pope Pius his Creed were imposed as now they are for Articles of Faith necessary to be beleeved unto Salvation 4. The Church of God as might be proved by Scriptures or Fathers if it were not acknowledged by your own Authors cannot make a new Article of Faith nor any addition to the Creed save by way of Explication of that which was formerly upon Scripture grounds beleeved and professed But these additions of yours were not beleeved if you should say that they were beleeved implicitely this suppose it true would take away the Visibility of the Profession thereof by the Ancient Caâ—holique and Apostolique Church 5. None of your side hitherto hath or hereafter can produce any one visible Church which in the Apostolique and in all succeeding Ages did approve and use Communion in one kind Private Mass Prayer in an unknown Tongue Image-worship Pardons Indulgences which beleeved the Popes Infallibility his Superiority over General Councels his temporal Authority over Kings and Emperors to depose them and dispose of their Dominions the necessity of auricular Confession the determinate number of seven Sacraments Purgatory and the Popes Power to deliver Souls from thence which forbade Lay-men without a special dispensation to read the Scriptures or Priests to marry c. 6. Nay you cannot name any one person in each several Age out of whose words or writings notwithstanding there were sundry Creeds Confessions of Faith Catechisms Sermons or Homilies Summaries of Christian Doctrine the aforesaid particular Points of Popery may be collected descending from the age of Christ to the days of Luther 7. Nay you cannot name any one Father or Catholique Writer for twelve hundred years after Christ that did hold all those Tenets which are now taught by the Romish Church and authorized by the Trent Councel 8. None of your side hath or can prove that any of the Primitive Martyrs or Confessors suffered Death Banishment Torment Confiscation c. for the Popish Religion or any particular thereof in which they differ from the Church of England as Papal Supremacy Communion in one kind Image-worship c. 9. You cannot shew that any one Article of your Faith in which we dissent from you is Catholique according to Vincentius Lirinensis his Rules viz. which was Ancient in his time and in respect of the Arrian Heresie which he calls novellum dogma a novel tenet and that which you know that not unus aut duo tantum sed omnes c. not only one or two but all though living in several times and places have with one consent openly frequently constantly held written and taught 10. None of your side dare for shame affirm that Communion in both kinds Prayer in a known Tongue communion of Priest with people Lay-mens reading of the Scriptures Worship of God without Images Invocation of God without mediation of Saints or Angels and other the aforesaid affirmative and positive Doctrines were invented by Luther or that they are not in themselves so lawful and agreeable to the Scriptures and practise of the first six centuries of years as Communion in one kind Prayer in an unknown Tongue c. 11. There are few or no Points denyed or affirmed against us by you in which you vary not amongst your selves and if any of you will distinctly set down avoyding general and ambiguous terms what he thinketh to be the truth in any Question or Exposition of Scripture controverted betwixt us I verily beleeve I can name him another Papist new or old that saith the contrary Bellarmine doth obiter discover to the world above three hundred several Opinions of Papists and those only in and about the Points controverted between you and us and Navane mentions about sixty Dissentions of your Doctors in one only Point to wit Confession 12. I shall hold till herein I be convinced of Error by instance to the contrary that whatsoever titles are by the ancient Fathers given to the Eucharist whereby you would prove Transubstantiation Adoration Sacrifice c. the same phrases or some equivalent to them may be found in the Fathers concerning Baptism in which you confess there is neither Transubstantiation nor Sacrifice 13. Also that those glorious things which were spoken by them of the Bishops of Rome may be parallel'd by such as read them throughly with the like honorable mention of other Patriarchs and Bishops 14. Also
that as good testimony may be produced out of the Fathers for the absolute necessity of the Eucharist as for the absolute necessity of Baptism 15. Also that though gemina or duo Sacramenta be sometimes found yet septem Sacramenta or words equivalent to them cannot be found in any ancient Father though they did call by the name of Sacraments not only Ordination Matrimony c. but ablution of the feet sign of the Cross c. which are not properly so called 16. I desire to be satisfied why you so frequently and suspiciously the matter being so mainly controverted do in your allowed Manuals Catechisms c. leave out of the Decalogue all the second Commandment or that large passage prohibiting the worship of Images 17. Also how you can reconcile the two Bibles of Sixtus and Clement between which are so many and material differences or if you cannot reconcile them how you can satisfie your Conscience whether of them is Authentical seeing they have equal Authority from the See Apostolique equal Absolutions from Oaths of admitting any other equal Imprecations and Curses to them which receive them not for Authentical so that either you must use no Bible at all or undergo the curse of Pope Sixtus if you use that of Clement or of Pope Clement if you use the other of Sixtus 18. For as much as Traditions are defined to be the Rule of Faith and equal to the Scriptures and nothing is more necessary for the Chuâ—ch to do then to deliver the Rule of Faith clearly and precisely what is the cause I pray you that no Pope or Councel no not that of Trent hath given an exact Catalogue or List of divine and infallible Traditions is it because you are not fully as yet agreed of them or are they for some politique ends reserved in the Popes Brest 19. This Assertion that the Roman Church is infallible in all her Decrees and Definitions is the Foundation of your Faith and if it fail your Faith fails also yet it is much doubted of yea denyed by some Romanists nor as I suppose was it ever declated decreed or defined by the Church in any General Councel if it was I pray you shew me when where and in what terms 20. Suppose this was so defined and thereupon you be assured that the Church is infallible yet you cannot be infallibly assured what is meant by the Church which some of your Doctors interpret to be the Church essential some the Church representative which as some of them hold is a General Councel though without the Pope others the Councel and the Pope together some the Church virtual the Pope alone which yet are not agreed amongst themselves when where and in what matters the Pope may or may not err 21. If herein you were resolved yet you cannot be infallibly assured that the present Pope is a true and lawful Pope seeing he may be promoted by Simony or his Baptizer or Ordainer or the Baptizers or Ordainers of them or some of them might miss the right intention of Baptizing or Ordaining in which case he cannot be in the sight of God a lawful Pope 22. Put case you hope well of your Pope yet it is possible you may mistake Papal Decrees Definitions c. and not understand them in their true and genuine sence Soto and Catharinus who were present at the Trent Councel could not agree what was the Councels meaning in the Points of Original Sin and Justification but writ Books one against another of that Subject 23. You will say perhaps The Pope is a living Judg to determine these or the like doubts which if it were granted yet still you have no such infallible certainty as you pretend for you never heard the Pope preach propound Truths or resolve Doubts you only hear his Priests and Jesuits whom I hope you will not exempt from a possibility of deceiving or being deceived especially seeing both Priests and Jesuits Dominicans and Franciscans do pretend the Pope to be their Patron and their Tenents though contrary one to another to be the Tenents of the Church 24. Lastly to omit other Observations till further occasion If proof of the Churches Infallibility be demanded of you you will alledg Matth. 16.18 or Luke 22.32 or some other Scripture If again you be demanded what assutance you have that Matth. 16.18 Luk. 22.32 and the other Scriptures are of divine Authority and that they are not corrupted nor mis interpreted you must answer That the Church is infallible which keeps and interprets the Scripture Thus you prove the Infallibility of the Church by the Scriptures and the Infallibility of the Scriptures by the Church which is nothing else but to run round in a circle to beg the Question and in effect to prove the Churches Infallibility by the Infallibility of the Church Imprimatur Edm Calamy March 4. 1652. FINIS
THE Catechist Catechized OR AN EXAMINATION OF AN Anabaptistical Catechism Pretended to be Published for the Satisfaction and Information of the People of God in Lancashire c. ALSO SOME OBSERVATIONS Both Old and New Concerning the pretended Visibility Universality Antiquity Infallibility Unity and Purity of the present Roman Church and Religion Sent to a Gentleman upon his revolt to Popery and now published for the Churches good By RICHARD HOLLINVVORTH Mancuniens LONDON Printed by J. M. for Luke Fawn and are to be sold at his shop at the Parrot in Pauls Church-yard 1653. SIR THere is an Anabaptisticall Catechism that walks abroad lately directed to Lancashire when it is of age and can answer for it self you shal know the name of it it is but newly brought forth to this County and therefore not Christned If you meet with it it would be a good work to Lancashire in which you dwel to the Town of Manchester the place of your Nativity and Ministry to make some Annotations of it a few smooth stones out of soft Siloam hurl'd out of your sling might lay it dead a friendly arrow shot beyond it may give warning that there is danger I would not engage you to the contest with this A. B. C. but that Error is a springing Leprosie in contagious times Wormes in children may turn to the Plague a few vacant hours will serve the business and satisfie the earnest desire of Sir Your Brother and fellow-Labourer in the Work of Christ Richard Heyricke January 1. 52. For Mr. Richard Hollinworth with my Love These To all in Lancashire that love and seek the Lord in all his Soul-filling Ordinances especially them of the associated Churches about MANCHESTER Dearly Beloved and longed for our Joy and Crown YOu shall with more praise to God light and stability to your selves read the ensuing Treatise if you first consider and lament that for abuse of Ordinances Satan transforming himself into an Angel of Light hath undermined all Ordinances of divine Light and Life The Lords-Day not moral publique solemn Assemblies turned into House-meetings publique Ministry exchanged for private Conferences publique preaching of the Word common to gifted Brethren with called Ministers no prayer but when the Spirit moves no communion in the Supper but in Churches newly gathered and no Baptism for Infants No wonder if religious Ordinances be thus undermined when the Doctrine of the holy Trinity the Deity of Jesus Christ and of the Holy Ghost the divine Authority of the Scriptures the Obligation of the Decalogue and other Fundamentals of Faith Holiness and Righteousness are by the Ministers of the Prince of Darkness professedly overturned No wonder that Children are unchurched when so many Churches are unchurched many of them that have done the former having begun at the latter They who would not be saved by Ordinances shall perish for want of Ordinances and they that would not unite themselves to the Fountain of Life by Faith shall be separated from the streams and conveyances of Life that they may apparantly wither and dye only upon the living in Jerusalem that by the subtilty of delusion or power of interest are darkened and benummed pray and weep that the Sun of Righteousness may arise with healing in his wings But the Ordinances being the purchase of Christs blood as well as the Church the gifts of his Princely Government the Ensigns of his Victory over the Kingdom of Darkness and of his glorious Ascension he will by his soveraign Power maintain And to that end successively enoble the spirits of some with beams of heavenly light and courage that they shall discover the stratagems of Opposers and adventure upon their Armies marshalled against them and triumphantly overcome by his glorious power redeeming the captived Ordinances of their King unto a just and glorious Liberty This being so high a favor from Christ the glory of his Grace and Power it is most thankfully to be accepted and his Instruments to be had in honor by all that rejoyce in the glory of his Kingdom His Ministers he hath designed to be the Executors of his last Will and Testament to them it belongs by divine appointment to give out the several Legacies there bequeathed and to put in suit all them in the high Court of sacred Scripture who shall upon any pretence whatsoever detain any Legacy bequeathed and where will their faithfulness more appear then to open their mouth for the dumb and to sue for Childrens rights whil'st they are forcibly wronged and unable to right themselves where is greater Trust and more shining Fidelity The right of Infants to Baptism hath of late been openly impleaded in reference to Lancashire and the Bill printed to be published there in special with expectation of the concurrence of the godly but blessed be God one of the Lords Executors in Manchester where part-taking was most desired and expected hath wisely and faithfully joyned issue and by clear Evidence hath procured a determinate sentence for the setling of their undoubted right upon Infants to our great comfort and the honor of the Kingdom of Christ in the Right whereof Infants are rightly baptized And our hope in the Lord Jesus is that the questioning of the Right of Infants and the shaking of their title will have that influence upon all the godly in Lancashire especially Parents peculiarly in Manchester and the rest of the associated Churches that out of enflamed love to Christ and the Souls of their Children they will so much the more settle their Judgments in this Truth by the conscionable and diligent use of this hâ—lp provided by the Lord amongst them so seasonably in respect of danger and so suitably in respect of clearness brevity and charge that will happily lead to the believing repenting and prayerful use of this Ordinance which is the Covenant-way of conveying to their Children the sure and saving Mercies of the Covenant so shall they and others who have seen the holy Seal set on in Infancy clearly behold in their holy life the lively characters of the Spirit of the Covenant the Image of the Lord Jesus in their riper years To their own abundant satisfaction the silencing of Adversaries the increase of the Church mystical the encouragement of them that have carefully and painfully pleaded their Right and above all the honor of the Lord Jesus who in their Infancy opened unto them his Arms and Bosom in his Church that in an hidden way he might warm them with a spiritual Life to be manifested in due time In this hope we pray for you and labor amongst you that we might present Parents and Children in Covenant-obedience and blessing at that great Day This is the principal Desire and Soul-travel of The Lords unworthy Servants who in reference to Infants do rejoyce in our Ministry John Angier John Harison Nathaneel Rathband William Meek March 10. 1652. THE Authors Preface to the Christian Reader IN these times the Lords Builders are compelled while they
nor example nor good warrant for your contrary opinions and practices what clearer command can we shew for that then for Infant-Baptism Women were not admitted to both the Sacraments of the Old Testament Christ did not admit women no not his own Mother to the Supper There is express uncontroverted mention in the New Testament of women being baptized but not so of women communicating If you alledg that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a name common to women as well as mâ—n ought to communicate 1 Cor. 11.28 it is early evaded by saying that the Apostle confines it to the Male by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 28 29. and the same word is used of Circumcision of which the Male only was capable Joh 7.22 General terms of Disciples Church-members persons in Covenant will carry it for Infants Baptism as well as womens communicating If you alledg That such and such Assemblies in which there were women did break bread you know it may be yea it is doubted by some sober spirits whether that breaking of bread was Sacramental or no and it may be said that the company is said to do it because the Males did it as the whole house of Israel is said to be circumcised and called Circumcision though the Females thereof were not circumcised If you should tell us of housholds admited to the Supper though I know not any such instance in Scripture I might as well say there was no women there or they were excluded as you say there was no Infants in such or such an houshold or if there were they were excluded Lastly If men should bend their strength that way they might as plausibly except against your admission of women usually the forwardest part of your Societies to the Supper as you do or I believe can do against Paedobaptism Oh that our good God would in mercy to this distracted Church and to the deluded Souls therein remove prejudice out of our hearts ANABAPT CAT. Q. Whether do you think Baptism administred in Infancy to be a lawful Baptism and sufficient A. To me it is not for I think it to be a Profanation of an Ordinance for these Reasons 1. Because it is taught by the precepts of men Isai 29.13 not by God Jerem. 7.22 23. YOu hold Exam. Chap. 11. it seems that it is neither lawful nor sufficient and in plain English it is null voyd no Baptism at all But consider I pray you could you prove the nullity of Infant-Baptism as you have a great mind to do what sad consequences would ensue 1. That the people of God for the space of 1600 years using Paedobaptism were destitute of one if not by consequence of both the Sacraments 2. That the Churches in England Scotland France Denmark Sweden Germany Geneva Holland New England c. which have usually no other Baptism but Child-Baptism are no Churches the members thereof being not so much as Christians outwardly nor Sacramentally initiated into the Church in doing whereof you dishonor God and do Satan great service Gods work being to disciple and enchirch the Nations of the World Matt. 28.19 Mark 16.16 2 Cor. 5.19 and Satan's to undesciple and Heâ—thenize the Church either in realty or in reputation for the advancement of his own Kingdom 3. That these and all others must for ever as the case stands want the Sacrament of Baptism except a special and particular warrant come from Heaven as to John Baptist for the setting up of this Ordinance for no man who is both unseparated to the work of the Ministry and unbaptized his Paedobaptism being a nullity and ununited to the Church of Christ can warrantably baptize himself or any other any more then Saul might sacrifice Vzzah stay the Ark Vzziah offer Incense a Midwife Turk Jew or Pagan administer the Sacraments of Christs Church for if Paedobaptism be a nullity because of default in the subject this also will be a nullity for want of commission for you can shew neither precept president nor good warrant for the Word for any man that is unbaptized having no special Commission from God to baptize himself or to baptize any other or for any man to accept of Baptism from such an one which is indeed no Baptism at all John as he had commission from God for his baptizing so he affirms that a man can receive nothing viz. no authority to baptize as he did except it be given him from Heaven John 3. 26 27. as if he would professedly caution the Church against such courses 4. That the Societies of the Independents and Separatists notwithstanding their separation from us do yet except they also turn Anabaptists live within one of the strongest holds of Antichrist are guilty of observing traditions and precepts of men of will-worship of profanation of Gods holy Ordinance of filling the Church with rotten members of confounding the Church and the World together yea say some of you they have the mark of the Beast in their soreheads and by consequence are in the high way to eternal damnation And what worse can you say of any Your Texts prove that God hates hypocrisie and over much regard of the commandments of men and that God did command Obedience rather then Sacrisice as 1 Sam. 15.22 for God did command Sacrifices and Offerings Levit. chap. 1. 2.3 c. What is this to Paedobaptism Will you acknowledg that God hath commanded it to us as he did burnt-offerings and sacrifices to the Jews we our selves say no more for it But if your Texts do forbid all humane inventions in the Worship of God Paedobaptism is yet safe enough for it hath been proved in the foregoing Chapter to have as good warrant from the Word as some other by your self acknowledged Ordinances of God have and better then your opposite Opinion and Practicas ANABAPT CAT. A. Paedobaptism is done in a Wrong manner by sprinkling in stead of Dipping THis exception you begin your Catechisun with telling us that Baptism signifies Dipping Examinat Chap. 12. By Dipping is never signified Sprinkling whence you would infer That Baptism should be by Dipping only and that it is done in a Wrong manner When it is done by Sprinkling wherein you much mistake For. 1. Should the original signification of other Scriptures words be so much squeezed then because the holy Communion is callâ—d a Supper 1 Cor. 11.20 the word signifying a whole meal and the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 14. Ephes 5. signifies not simply to sing but to sing to a musical Instrument and the original words for the gesture at the Supper signifie lying or leaning on a bed you might with as good reason collect That the holy Communion should be a whole meal That there should be instrumental musick in Churches as well as vocal That men ought to lie or lean on beds at the receiving of the Supper or else the Ordinances are dons in a Wrong manner 2 The word Baptism by