First it teacheth its Members to Swear and again gives Absolutions to remit them of their Oath if she think fit and both must be reckoned infallible and them that are your Enemies instead of praying for them you Curse them and instead of doing good to them you Hate them and stir up all your strength against them to Destroy them instead of Convincing of them in love and sound Judgment Instance the dayes of King John and divers other Princes which felt your Fury and Wrath and also Frederick the Emperour after he was Interdicted was made to go to Rome before the Popes Palace and to stand bare Foot and bare Leg with his Wife and Children two or three dayes in Winter waiting for Peter's Successor his Absolution But it may be thou wilt say this was in love to them and in Charity to their Souls but let all unbyassed Spirits judge and whether have not you when you have been the strongest party made force Violence and success your greatest engin and plea to plead with all Nations whatsoever People that dissented from you either in matter or form instance Germany Bohemia Moravia and divers other Kingdoms and Provinces besides the Indians in America which you Destroyed chiefly for their Gold and Treasure under this pretence that they were Infidels and forced a Faith upon some and a belief by the violence of your Cruelty and Swords which made the Noble Man of India say he had rather go to Hell with the Infidels of America as you call them then to Heaven with the Spainards so cruel a People Members of your Catholick Church What might I speak of the King of Castile against the poor Moors of Grandia who were put to cruel Torments by force and violence which is a Reproach upon this sort of Christianity unto this day And what Persecution was raised against the Pyedmount Christians by the force of this infallible Judge falsly so called and what Massacres in France and also in Ireland in latter Years propagated by the Popes Nuncio a chief Embassadour from the Roman Sea to carry on that design to root out the Hereticks what destruction of People in a most Barbarous Inhuman preposterous and prodigious Cruelty some killed in their Beds some knocked in the Head like Oxen some stripped naked in cold Winter and bereaved of all their Enjoyments and driven as Sheep naked to the Shambles and at last driven by scores into Lakes and Rivers and drowned some Burned alive in their Houses some tender Woman strangled in Childbed and their tender Infants taken from their Mothers Breasts and tossed upon Spears points and to my knowledge license and Pardons given and sent from Rome to divers of their Emissaries there that it should be lawful for any Servant or Catholick bondman to Steal waste and Purloyn their Masters Goods if Hereticks for the weakening and disenabling of them to resist the Roman Enterprise begun these things and many more are legible in Bloody Characters which I hope this Generation will not easily blot out of their Memories so as to commit all Faith all Hope all Religion and all infallibility and Judgment to such a degenerated Generation as R. E. would have us do and with such Audaciousness is not ashamed to blow his Trumpets as in the head of an Host to animate and encourage all to come to this Black Standard for protection and direction Judgment certainty and infallibility under no less then pain of Damnation and why but because Peter was sometime Bishop of Rome as they say and had given unto him the Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatsoever he bound on Earth was bound in Heaven and whatsoever he loosed in Earth was loosed in Heaven and because Christ said giving an Answer to Peters's Faith upon this Rock I will build my Church therefore all the Bishops and Popes as heirs apparent succeed him in laying claim to headship and do none of his Office nor none of his Work and this foolish foppery and private interpretation hath been put off at a very great rate for Catholick Doctrine which brings to my mind a pleasant Story I have some time read of a certain poor Man meeting a certain Bishop at a certain time in great Pomp and Glory which the poor Man beholding took up a Laughter and being enquired of by the Bishop wherefore be laughed said he That Peter should be such a Fool as to live such a poor miserable Life as he did and Persecuted in the World and to leave his Successors so Rich to inherit such Pomp and Glory With that the Bishop replyed and said Thou fool I am not in this Glory as I am Bishop of such a place but as I am Duke of such a place at that the man smiled again and said When the Duke was in Hell for his Pride where then would the Bishop be But to let this pass I am sure them that lay claim to be Peters Successors as to Patrimony and Riches which he was never endowed with for sometime he said Silver or Gold have I none but do little of his Work in Converting of Souls or feeding of the Flock of Christ and do lay claim unto his Priviledge and Power but will not come near him in doctrine labour and Suffering for his Members and therefore I say to thee in thy own Words lay aside thy Folly with the consequences of it as destructive to the Church of God to hang all their Faith upon such uncertainties but even to human societies which I have mentioned and might instance more but that I would not be too tedious to the Reader Lastly Yes some have some other Testimony by which Spirits are tryed and may be tryed to be of God otherwise then by Force carnal Sword a strong Party or Success that 's thy own and not ours we have the holy Unction which is poured forth whereby the Saints knew all things and tryed the Spirits whether they were of God or no and he that confesseth not that Christ is come in the Flesh is Anti-christ and he that confesseth that Christ is come in the Flesh only in Word and because others have said so and doth not witness Sin condemned in the Flesh and turned from and to have Power over it the same is a false Witness and is an Anti christ also and also we have other Things to try Spirits by we know a proud angry hasty perverse Spirit is not the Spirit of God a persecuting lording Spirit is not the Spirit of God and again they that teach a contrary Doctrine to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles they have the Spirit of Error again they whose Practice and Conversation is not suitable to the Practice and Conversations of Christ and the Apostles and primitive Christians that they are in the Spirit of Error again they that would force a Faith by any human Constitution or Law which is repugnant to the Law of God or by Force of the Sword or any carnal
he pleadâ— that Peter was at Rome and as he saith was Christ's Vicar and Bishop and if becauâ—e of this Rome doth excell which the Scripture is silent in Jerusalem might claim Priority before Rome in this for he we read of was more conversant at Jerusalem and a Minister of Circumcision and Paul ministred to Gentiles who preached two whole Years both to Jews and Romans which were Gentiles but it seems the very imagining Peter to be Bishop of Rome hath made Paul's Work void and hath turned his Work out of Doors but however he which hath usurped the Name of Christ's Vicar hâ—th turned both Peter and Paul their Life Doctrine and Practice out of Doors to set up Pride and Deceit But what Blindness and Ignorance is this to judge that God hath bound himself so by Promise to any Place thâ—t â—e will alwayes continue with them whether they abide in his Dâ—ctrine 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 And though Christ said The Gates of Hell should not 〈…〉 the Church had this only a Limitation to one Place if i◠〈…〉 understood of a Place outward because of these Words afore mentiâ—ned theâ— why is it not extended as well to Antâ—och and the seven Châ—rches 〈◊〉 Asiâ— and the rest afore-mentioned have not the Gates of Hell and 〈◊〉 of Dâ—rkness prevailed agâ—inst them Places and the Turks taken Pâ—sâ—ession thereof And as for your Church at Rome which thou say'st 〈◊〉 err and hath alwayes been visible and universal what sayâ—st thou to Marcilianus Christ's Vicar as you judge whether did he not loose his Key when he sacrified to Idols in the tenth Year of Dioclâ—sian But it may be then thy Church must not reside in Christ's Vicar but in a general Council but hereafter we will consider whether they have been alwayes one and could not err Secondly That whereby the Roman Church gives us a Mark and Sign to be the true Church to wit Universality and Viâ—ibility makes her clearly to be an Harlot for John saw the true Church fly into the Wilderness for Time Times and half of Time now if yours hath been visible and universal all this Time Times and a half then you are not the true Church for Universality comprehends all Nations Kindreds Tongues and People and if this be the Seat of your Church then absolutely your Church is Mystery-Babylon and not the Lamb's Wife for she sate upon Nations Kindreds Tongues Peoples and Languages which were Waters And here is your Catholick Visible Church measured with God's Measuring-rod First To be the Harlot because she was never in the Wilderness Secondly Because her Seat hath been so universal and catholick as Nations Kindreds Tongues Peoples and Languages have been the Seat of your Church which are the Waters which John saw and so truly may be called the great City And as for Infidels being oblieged to joyn to you this hath been because you have forced and compelled by your Power and outward Force where you had Dominion and to escape your Tortures rather then by sound Doctrine or an holy Example Or Secondly Because your Religion hath stood in so many Formalities and Ceremonies which have been very pleasing and so near unto the Heathens Nature And thou say'st That one cannot be bound to seek that which is invisible I say through Faith God hath been seen who is invisible and Christ said Seek and ye shall find and the Kingdom of God is spiritual and invisible and the natural and visible Eye never discerned it for the Church is in God and God is a Spirit and Christ is the quickning Spirit who is the Head of the Church which is his Body and the spiritual and invisible Eye is that which discerns the Head and the Body and you that look gazing after Things that are visible have never discerned the Members of the true Church of God as such neither have known them but have condemned them as Hereticks in all Ages as your Generation hath done who have been in Cain's Way Secondly If Unity Holiness Universal and Apostolick be the marks and signs of a true Church then yours is not the true Church no more then they you count Sectaries and Hereticks which thou saist are no more one then Cats and Dogs The comparison is odious and like a Snâ—rling catching Spirit who would tear every one that cometh nigh thee And what if there be Protestants Puritans Anabaptists Independents and Quakers these Titles are but nominal and there is not one amongst all there but they acknowledge one God and Jesus Christ to be the Head of the Body which is his Church and one Spirit by which the Saints are Sanctified and they acknowledge Christ's Doctrine in Words and his Worship thâ—t it is in Spirit and in Truth and walketh nearer to the Practice of the Apostles and the Church in their dayes then you do And if in some things they do vary why may not variety be allowed by thee where it is only nominal and Circumstantial as well as thou canst allow Variety of Ave Maryes Creeds Pater Nosters which thou saist delighteth But why hast thou not judged at home Thou must not think to lead us like Animals by the Head as your Church doth poor ignorant People to receive every thing for Apostolick Doctrine because the Church of Rome calls it so and cryes Unity Might not the Sectaries as thou callest them return this upon your selves that you are not at Unity and not one What meaneth the diversity of Orders in your Church which may be called Sects that is Jerom's Order Austin's Order Gregory's Order Carmelites Crouched Fryars Francâ—â— Anthony's Bennet's Dominick's Trinity Bâ—sil Brigandine's Orders All these kind of Orders and many more with every one their distinct Service Formalities and ceremonies what a heap of Sectaries are here and yet Rome cryes Unity Besides what contradiction in your Councils may hereafter be made manifest and in your Vicars one throwing down condemning that which others have set up for Apostolick Doctrine So if Unity be a mark for the true church then you are without this mark and sign more then they which you call Sectaries Thirdly If Holiness be a sign of the true church you are without this sign also more then the Sectaries as you are pleased to call them What cruel Murthers Massacres Tortures Blood-sheds have been acted by your church and that by Commission from his Holiness so called Christ's Vicar against them that have dissented from you upon good and warrantable Ground only upon the account of Religion because they could not acknowledge the Pope to be the Head and Christ's Vicar and receive all Decrees though never so repugnant unto the Doctrine of Christ yet because for Conscience sake many have denyed such things nothing but Fire and Sword hath been threatned and the force thereof hath been known in many Nations as for instance in Germany and the Low-Countries France Pyedmount Holland England and Ireland of late years many Thousands Massacreed not in War
but in Holes hundreds of Houses burnt Men Women and Children Children taken from their Mothers Breasts and knockt against the Walls toss'd upon Pikes Spears wounded with Swords thrown into Lakes and Rivers stript Naked starv'd in cold Seasons through such like in human and Savage cruelty Commissions given from your Nuntio's and Agents to Rob to Steal even Servants from their Masters even upon this account only to weaken and enfeeble the Sectaries and Hereticks as you stile them to advance your Holiness's Chair and to propagate your holy or rather Unholy Church and Religion which things remain fresh in the memory of many Nations to this Day besides doth not your Church tolerate Stews and Adulterous Houses in the Cities where you have Dominion Besides Pride abounds amongst you more then the Nation beside And so your Church hath neither this Mark nor Sign of Holiness Fourthly As for your Church being Cathâ—lick and Universal you want this Sign also If it be One Universal comprehends all Nations like aâ— all the World in comparison were your Church What is Germany France England Scotland and Ireland nothing What is all the Turks Dominions of your Faith And thou saist In Asia Affrica and America all is coming to an End There is that risen and arising in America which must spread over the Nations the Breath of the Lord bloweth which will daily dry up the Waters which is the Seat of your Church which you so much Boast of And what have you converted all the Indians nay have you not hardned their Hearts against the Name of Christ because of your cruelty and unholy conversation among them So that the Name of Christ and christian is become as Odious unto them as Mahomet is unto you And so you are without this Sign as that you are the true church Lastly That your church is Apostolick if this be the Mark of the true church then you are without this also for you are neither Apostolick in Doctrine nor Practice your Weapons are carnal theirs spiritual their Head was Christ the Light of the World your Head is visible and carnal which darkens the World they turned People from Darkness to Light and to the Word of Faith in their Hearts and to know Christ in them to justifie them But one of your Rabbies told us lately you had no such Doctrine in the church of Rome as Christ in you The Apostles turn'd them to the Anointing and to the Spirit to be taught by it and to be led by it into to all Truth and to worship in it and you turn them to Images Pictures Crucifixes Beads and Altars and so keep People in outward things which feed the Sensual and corrupt part Lastly they said Bodily exercise profiteth little and most of your Worship stands in observing of Days Meats Drinks Washings Sprinklings Altars Tapers lighting and bearing Candles Bowing creeping to the Cross turning wheeling this way and that way in all time and parts of your Worship so that there is no time left for the Heart to be exercised towards God And so you are not Apostolical and so are without this true sign of being the true Church of God But I shall descend to particular things which are asserted and seem to be proved but very weakly But we can expect no Wine but such as is in the Bottle It is asserted by this Author That the Pope is the Head of the true Church in which Salvation is only to be expected And his proof he brings is this Christ hath so ordained it in saying to Peter Matth. 16.18.19 Upon this Rock will I build my Church and Christ hath given Power to him and his Successors to be a Head to rule and govern the Church and as there is an Emperour to be the Head of the Empire and a King of the Kingdom so Peter and hâ—s Successors are the Head of the Church and have the Keys of the Kingdom of heaven to bind and to loose and to remit and to retain Sins The Apostolick Church hath this Doctrine That Christ was given to be the Head of the Body which is the Church which is spiritual though in the World yet not of the World and the Father hath committed all Power in Heaven and Earth to the Son and hath ordained him to be a Leader a Teacher and Feeder of his Flock and to be his Salvation to the Ends of the Earth and his Glory he will not give unto another But it seemes the Church of Rome hath soared so high in their Conceiâ—s and Imaginations that they judge all this Power to be given unto the Pope Peter's Successor as thâ—y say Now we do not read of two Heads to the one Body which is the true Church Ephes. 4.4.15 And so this is a contrary Doctrine then that of the Primitive Church and Christ who is the Head of the Body he said Lo I am with you to the End of the World And so it is the meer Arrogancy and Pride of the Pope to be called the head of the Church and an intrenching Christ's Power and Prerogative and that ever Peter was called the Head of the Church we do not read and that of the 16 th of Matthew is but a poor Proof to prove Peter to be the Head of the Church for Christ spoke unto his Disciples ver 15. and asked them Whom say ye that I am Peter as one amongst the rest said Thou art Christ the Son of the living God and Christ said Upon this Rock will I build my Church viz. Upon him which was reveal'd unto Peter by the Father the Son of God which was the Rock which the Fathers eat of and drank of Christ the Rock of Ages and another Foundation can no man lay said the Apostle then that which is laid already Christ the Rock and Corner-Stone and not Peter for Christ is unchangeable and abideth for ever and so was not Peter though Peter and the rest of the Apostles received Power from Christ yet in the 22 d. and 23 d. verses of the same chapter he was gone out of the savour and discerning and Christ said unto him Get thee behind me Satan for thou savourest not the things of God and what though it could be proved that Peter was at Rome a Pastor an Elder or a Bishop who fed the Flock and did feed the Flock and so might be reckoned as an Elder and worthy of Honour in respect of his Labour and Diligence in the Work of Christ is the Promise so entailed to Rome or to any Place that the next that succeeds in that Place must needs receive the same Honour when he doth not the same Work which is worthy of Honour neither is in the same Power but this I am sure of though the Church of Rome lay claim unto Peter's Bishoprick as they say yet they have not done his Work And secondly If Peter was at Rome and a Pastor yet he was not a Lord for Christ reproved that when they strove which
1. As first That Church is not to be heard whose Authors and Doctors are Cozeners and Impostors 2. But all are Cozeners and Impostors but the Church of Rome Again That the Church of Rome hath the Marks of the true Church and no other as Antiquity Miracles holiness of Life Universality Again That the Church of Rome takes the narrow Way that leads to Life Again Because the Church of Rome keeps Sunady instead of Saturday by Tradition therefore she is the Church of Christ. To the first If that church is not to be heard neither her censures regarded whose Authors and Teachers have been cozeners and Impostors then the Church of Rome is not to be heard nor her censures regarded because the chief Authors have been Cozeners Cheaters and Impostors who have been out of the Power of God and have taught for Doctrine the Traditions of men as Purgatory Prayer for the dead only to cozen and cheat by to fill the Bags and Coffers of the Popish Clergy which Doctrine is contrary unto the Doctrine of Christ the Apostolick church therefore the church of Rome is not to be heard 2. That the Church of Rome hath the Marks of the true Church and no other as Antiquity holiness of Life Miracles and Universality This is false there were Churches before Rome that had these Marks and there have been since and are now more then the church of Rome Antiquity some of them called Sectaries will allow you a Thousand Years to be called a Church and yet prove you apostates both in Doctrine and Practice Your Miracles are but cheats deceits and lying Stories if your own Authors be serched you confess most of your Miracles are wrought by your Images Works of your own Hands 2. Antiquity without Truth proveth nothing and Holiness of Life if your Church be holy which is prophane tolerating as I said before Whoredoms Stage-plays vain Sports and Pastimes which draw People from the fear of God and many foolish fopperies which I shall not now mention so that there are them that have dissented from you which are more ancient in the Faith more holy in Life and Conversation more agreable in Doctrine and Practice to the true Primitive Church then you are And as for Miracles which are wrought by the true Power and Finger of God there have been and are more amongst them called Sectaries then in the Church of Rome The blind have received their sight the Lepers have been cleansed the Lame have been made to walk and the deaf have heard and the Dumb have spoken the dead have been raised and many that have bound by Satan fourty Years are loosed and there are thousands that are Witnesses of it and can testifie the Truth thereof even in this time and in this Year in Scotland England Ireland Germany and America 1662. So there is a true Church which hath the Marks of the true Church of Christ more then the Church of Rome therefore the Roman church is not the alone true Church 3. To the third Argument That the Church of Rome keeps God's Commandments and walks in the narrow way of Christ's Counâ—el therefore she is to be head How she keepeth the Commandments of God is known if he mean the ten Commandments Thou shalt not make to thy self any Graven Image nor the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven or Earth neither bow down to Worship them Now you make Images of things in Heaven as of God and Christ and the Holy Ghost and of Mary and as for things in Earth you have Images of all sorts witness your Mass-Houses called Churches your Cloisters Fryaries and Covents so that every place is filled full and Worship unto them is taught by you for Doctrine contrary to God's Doctrine and your distinction of Latria and Dulia will not serve for it 's meer Deceit he that Honours an Image and bows down before it in his Heart whether you may judge it represents this or that is an absolute Idolater and knoweth not the Spirit which Christ said he would send to the true Church which should bring all things to their remembrance both what he did and said and the Saints Life and Example to remembrance without your Pictures And how you are in the narrow Way is known to many thousands that you do not walk in it at all neither take up the Cross of Christ which is to crucifie the Lusts affections and desires of the Flesh but taketh up outward Crosses and bear them on your Necks or Pin them on your sleeves or hang them about your Necks and all because Christ was crucified on the Cross And here you are honourers of Pilate and the Jews who crucified Christ upon the Cross as a Blasphemer rather then honourers of Christ and the strait and narrow Way you are ignorant of and Christ's sufferings you are all strangers to What! your Popes are as Emperors your Cardinals as Law-givers your Ecclesiastical Officers as Lords of great Possessions in the Earth except some begging Fryars which you have prest into a Voluntary humility without necessity And how do you love your Enemies How many Indians have you destroyed and killed as Dogs and how many that have professed the Name of Christ have you Burned destroyed as though they had been Wood and only Fewel for the Fire And how can you say your Pater-Noster about which you make so much ado and say Forgive our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us if the Heathen have trespassed against you if them you call Sectaries have trespassed against your church how do you forgive them and how do you fulfil the Law of Christ and keep his counsel seeing that you are out of his Doctrine away with such Deceit and Hypocrisie God hath found it out and is judging it by his Saints who rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the Flesh nor in fleshly Traditions and Imaginations but live in the Power of God and walk in the Spirit and therefore because you walk contrary to the command of God and Christ's Counsel and are out of the narrow Way that leads to Life your church is neither to be heard minded nor heeded The fourth Argument That the Church of Rome is the true Church because they keep their Sabbath of the Sunday by Tradition and not upon the Saturday as the Jews did and therefore the Church of Rome is to be heard because they have Tradition and solid Reason on their side Thy Speech bewrayes thee which bespeaks thee rather a Heathen then a Christian for the Heathens had a day that they celebrated to an Idol made like the Sun caled Sunday and another day which they celebrated to an Idol called Saturnus called Saturday and in this your Church is not to be heard who is out of the form of sound Words but the Seventh day was the Jews Sabbath which none that profess Christianity ought to keep seeing that Christ put an End to the shadows and the
invisible thing But stay Sirs do you keep this Day which you call a Christian Sabbath holy to the Lord Is not this your Market Day upon which you sell your Traffick one or two Glasses for twenty or thirty Shillings a Day besides what you get for sprinckling of Infants Do you not speak your own Words nor think your own Thoughts nor work your own Works If you say you do not how comes it to pass that there are all these Defects in your Performances and all this Iniquity in your holy Things I hope you dare not say that Defects are from God or that Iniquity or Sin is of God and if you have not a Male in your Flock let sacrificing or offering alone and do not think that God will be pleased with your lame blind maimed defective Sacrifices neither with your strangled Things nor your Swines Flesh so I say unto you repent and learn to be reformed in your selves before you prescribe Rules for others lest both you and them that follow you fall into the Pit because the Merchants of this Rank and Order do love to be medling with every Thing wherein there is Hope of any Thing to be got they will try all kinds of Merchandize and so present they their Direction about Marriage to any who will take their ignorant Counsel Direct They say Marriage is no Sacrament nor peculiar to the Churâ—h of Gâ—d and they say we judge it expedient that it be done by a lawful Ministâ—r and to be published there Times before it be solemnized by the said Minister Answ. If you mean by Sacrament an holy thing then Marriage is either holy or unholy if unholy then fit to be done by none if holy why is it not proper and peculiar to the Church of God if they who are Members of the Church of God may marry in the Lord and in the covenant in which man was made the male and the female then what hath any to do with it who are not of the Church of God and what hath the Church of God to do with them that are without and what hath a Priest to do with this where was Abrahams and Sarahs Priest when they were married and where was the Priest to solemnize the marriage of Isaac and Rebeccah and of Zachariah and Elizabeth and because you say it is not peculiar to the Church of God whether were these of the Church of God before mentioned but what hath the Priest to do to publish it three times like a Bel-man for the loss of a Horse or Cow through the Market or rather why ought not the Man and the Woman both in the fear of the Lord if they be moved thereunto by the Lord publish their own intentions And moreover their joyning together in the Church of God when the members of the Church of God are present but this frustrateth the Priests 5 or 10 s. and his Clerk 6d or a Shilling more or less as they can get Direct Further more they say It may be done any time of the Year but on a Fasting-day or on the Lord's Day Answ. Why are these Dayes prohibited if Marriage be a holy thing or an honourable thing why may it not be done in the Fear of God and the Power of God why not on any Day were Dayes made for man or man made for Dayes your ignorant Predecessors the Pharisees judged as you do that it was not expedient or convenient that he should heal a Daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound on the Sabbath day And now they say that the honourable Estate of Marriages is the Covenant of their God and before it was laid It was not peculiar to the Church of God if entering into a state of Marriage be the Covenant of God and if the Covenant of God be peculiar to the Church of God then what is the reason you Reformers that Marriage is not peculiar to the Church of God And now take their directions who hath a desire to Trade any more with their Merchandize concerning the visitation of the Sick Direct The party sick is to send for the Minister timely and seasonably before their understanding fail them and if the Minister suspect the party of Ignorance he shall not examine them in the principles of Religion especially touching Repentance and Faith and to make known unto him the danger of deferring Repentance Answ. If he be such a one who is the sick as hath traded much with the Priests Merchandize if he be capable of understanding there is some hope he may give the Priest 5 Pound or ten Pound and it hath been high time for the Minister to have shown him the danger of deferring Repentance before now when he is like to go out of the Body not to have deferred his exhortation till this time and if the party be ignorant it were more time to inform him about the Principles of Religion and Repentance and Faith then to have him make answers to that which he knowes nothing of and then you conclude if desired the Minister shall pray for him to this Effect Direct Confessing and bewailing Original and actual Sin and the miserable condition of man by Nature and that God would give him an evidence of an interest in Christ and the Seal of Eternal Life by Christ. Answ. In Sin you began and in Sin you will End complaining of original and actual Sin before you know what it is and holden on till you come to the Grave and never depart from it and what must not the Minister pray except he be desired it seems they alwayes must please other mens desires rather then mind the Spirits motion in themselves And what is interest in Christ yet wanting and evidence and Seal of eternal Life yet wanting and it may be the party 40 or 50 Years old What was not this man baptized when he was an Infant and have not you said in the 48 page and 45 page of your Directory that Water-baptism is the Seal of the Covenant of Grace and of being ingrafted into Christ and of Regeneration Adoption and eternal Life and what is the evidence and Seal lost now useth not this to be the doctrine amongst you once in and ever in Christ and whom he loves once he loves to the End and hath not this man partaken of the Sacrament and eaten the Flesh of Christ and drank his Blood and a Church-member as you call it and is his Evidence now to seek and the Seal now wanting utter Darkness is your dwelling Place Direct And now we come to the Directory for solemn Fast That when some great and notable Judgment is inflicted upon some People or apparently evident or when some special Blessing is to be sought or obtained then solemn Fasting is a Duty that God expects from a Nation and People and they are to abstain from all Food and from worldly Labour and Discourses and bodily Delights and rich Apparel and Ornaments and such like although lawful at
Marcellus succeeded one Lucina a rich Maid of Rome dying made Marcellus her Heir and gave him all her Substance and from that time saith Pollidore Lib. 1. the Bishops of Rome were greatly inriched and he began to grow up in earthly Honours higher and higher But Constantine the Emperor about the Year 318 caused a Cross to be made of Gold and precious Stones and to be born before his Army instead or a Standard when he went to fight against Maxentius Maximinius and Licinius these were the last Persecutors of the Christians in the Roman Monarchy which this Constantine did vanquish and set the Christians at Liberty who had been persecuted about three hundred Years and so afterwards this Cross others began to imitate and set up in their Churches and became a flat Idol notwithstanding after this some Persecution was stirring in the eastern Countries yet in Rome and the western Parts there was no general Persecution for many Years also in the East Part he subdued those Tyrants we read of no Persecution against the Christians until the Time that John Wickliff suffered which was when the Spirit of the Heathen was entered into the Bishops of Rome and Popes who had retained the Name of Christian but lost the Life and the Power he began with Fire to persecute the Members of Christ. But long before this Time the Wisdom and Power of God was much lost among many of the Bishops of Rome and also divers others that the Apostacy was entered in and they made great Contentions about Easter and about Dayes which should be fasted and some were for two and some were for three and some were for forty Dayes all the Churches of Asia and their Bishops were for keeping it the fourteenth Moon as Eusebius saith lib. 5. For Asia observed the Feast of Easter and they called a great Council together and decreed that it should be observed the fourteenth Moon upon what Day soever in that Week the Moon fell and appointed fasting-dayes and Meetings and Synods in all Parts met together about this trivial Matter in the Year 199. at Rome likewise there was a Synod gathered together wherein Victor the fourteenth Bishop was President and the eastern Churches decreed it the Day aforesaid and Fastings before it and a western Church decreed it to be the Day wherein Christ rose from Death to Life but Victor Bishop of Rome with the adjoyned Congegations pronounces flatly all the western Churches to be excommunicated Persons and gives them up to Satan so that it became a Proverb That the Bishop of Rome must judge all and be judged of none this was about the year one hundred ninety nine after Christ when they had respite from Persecution And Ireneus Bishop of Lyons he was of Victor's Mind that it ought to be celebrated on the Sunday only yet reproved Victor Bishop of Rome Peter's Successor as they say for cutting off all the Churches of God in Asia for such a trivial Thing And Polycarpus and Anicetus contended about trivial Things and although there was much Good in them both yet this weakened the Christians and led the Minds of People out into the Observance of outward Things and neglected the Life and Power Luâ—ius the two and twentieth Bishop of Rome about the year 255 and Stephanus who succeeded him a great contention in their Time about baptism the Matter was whether they that returned from any Heresie shall be re-baptized or be received in with Prayer and laying on of Hands only and so here was a great jangling and contention about outward things which were getting up as Idols and Cyprian Bishop of Carthage judged that Hereticks had no Way to be purged from Error but by Baptism but Stephanâ—â— was greatly offended with Cyprian for this After Stephen Sixtus succeeded and Dionysius writes unto him how that all Cilicia Cappadocia Gallatia and the bordering Nations how greaâ— Synods had decreed that they would not communicate with them because they re-baptized Hereticks and saith further the greatest Synod of Bishops hath decreed that such as renounce any Heresie should first be instructed and then washed and purged of their impure Leaven and thus they wrangled and â—angled about Things with one another and brake into Fractions notwithstanding many of these Men suffered under the merciless Cruelty of the Heathen Emperors likewise they excommunicated one another and called Councils and censured one another and hurt the spreading of Truth amongst them that believed in the Name of Jesus all this is to shew that they were declining and coming to Loss in this Time though so near the Apostles Time and though they suffered under the Emperors and found Peace with the Lord yet many Practices and Institutions were made which are not according to the primitive Times which ought not to be binding to all Generations afterwards because of the Antiquity of them as the now called Church of Rome would have all to receive as Apostolick Doctrine But to return to Constantine the Emperor when Peace was established in the empire he set forth a general proclamation or edict not constraining therein any Man to any Religion but giving Liberty to all Men to exercise their Religion whether Christians or others which Thing was taken well by the Romans and all wise Men this Licinius joyned with Constantine in the Government of the empire seemingly favoured the Christians joyned with Constantine in setting forth an edict for the Christians Liberty yet afterwards he had great Hatred towards Constantine and conspired his Death reâ—ecting the Christiâ—n Râ—lâ—gion and persecuted them who said He would become an Enemy to the Christians for that in their Meetiâ—gs and Assemblâ—es they prayed not for him but for Constantine so cast the Christians into Prison and persecuted them within his Dominions and many were put to Death but at length he was slain after several Battels between him and Constantine by the Souldiers in the year 324. Constantius the Emperor the Father of Constantine dyed a natural Death and was buried at York Dioclesian dyed at Salena as some say by his own Poyson in the year 319. he was the chief of the seven Tyrants in the tenth Persecution Maximinian the second who was hanged at Mazâ—lla by Constantine in the year 310. Thirdly Galerius who was plagued with a terrible Disease Severus the fourth was slain by Maximinian the Father of Maxentius the wicked Tyrant who was banished by Constantine in the year 318. The sixth was Maxentius who dyed not long after in the year 320. Lastly Licinius was overcome by Constantine and slain about the year 324. And thus the Lord plagued the Cruelty of the Heathen Emperors who knew not God but hated his Appearance and rewarded them according to their Deeds The Christians in these three hundred years wherein were the ten Persecutions they were Sufferers under the Power of the Dragon who ruâ—ed in the Emperors and then they were not Persecutors having not the outward Power in their
Saturdayes and Sundayes by candle-light as Socrates saith Lib. 5. In this time it is said the Customs and Observations were so many that none were able to find two that did retain one Order of the Service At Caesaria in Cappadocia they receive not into Communion such as sin after Baptism and even so the Macedonians in Hellespont did the same The Phrygians allow not of two Marriages The original Authors of so great Diversity of Services Rites and Customs were Bishops which governed their Churches at several times and such as do like of such Practices have commended them to posterity for Laws and such vain and frivolous contentions did arise in this Age whereby it is manifest the Apostacy from the Life and Power of God was great and God's Wisdom and the Unity of the Spirit was wanting and Philosophy and customary Practice was their chief Foundation and one Bishop exiled another and complained to the Emperors and banished one another and so the Sheep were made havock of and starved â—nd scattered and the Name of Christ and Christians came to be evil spoken of by the many factions and contentions that were among them But to return to the Bishops of Rome after the Reign of Constantine in which Persecution ceased many superstitious Injunctions and Idolatrous Practices were set up in the first five hundred years which I shall not much trouble the Reader with further then what is already said but divers other things were brought in afterwards more gross then the former Gregory called the Great the Bishop of Rome of whom it is said of all that went before him he was the basest or worst and of all that câ—me after him he was the best It is he that brought in this Title among the Roman Bishops to be called the Servant of God's Servants but by his practice he proved a Lord over God's Servants consciences and over their Faith he made an Act that Priests should not Marry a Wife and he ordained a Book called the Service or Letany which goes under the Name of Gregory's Mass-book to be received in all Churches After the death of him Sabinus was Bishop who continued scarce two Years he was the last of the Roman Bishops who had not the Title of Universal Bishop or Head of the Church he was the last of sixty five Bishops before the first Pope he died in the year six hundred and five Palagius the first was the 69 Bishop of Rome in the year 355. he Ordained that Hereticks and Schismaticks should be punished with Temporal death there was 65 Bishops before Boniface the third who was the first Pope and since there hath been 179 Popes Boniface the third who succeeded Sabinus was the first Pope he Reigned but one Year and did more hurt in that year then Gregory could do in many before he obtained of the Emperour Phocas that he and his Successors after him in the See of Rome above all other Churches should have the Preeminence that the Bishop of Rome should be the Head of all the churches of Christ in Christendom alledging this frivolous and reasonless Reason that Saint Peter had left to Saint Peter his Successors in Rome the Keys of binding and loosing for before this Constantinople Asia and other Churches their Bishops had some stroak and divers times many of the Bishops of Rome were reprehended by the rest but now obtaining this Decree of Phocâ—s he began to take head over all other churches and this Phocâ—s to aspire to the Empire of Rome he murdered his own Master Mauritius the Emperor and his children so Phocas somewhat fearing and willing to have Boniface's Favour gratifies him and condescends to all his Petitions and grants him to be universal head-Bishop over all christian churches and there was the first Rise of the Pope but Phocâ—â— for his Murder was justly rewarded for Heraclius the Emperor cut off his Hands and Feet and cast them into the Sea but Rome would not so soon loose her Supremacy once given as the Giver lost his Life and ever since that time the Popes have holden defended and maintained the same by all Force Pollicy and Cruelty that possible can be this was in the Year six hundred and six and so the Bishop now became Pope his rise was not because of his Holiness or Righteousness or Doctrine or holy Practices suitable unto Peter whom he saith he succeeded for his Doctrine and Practice Peter had condemned the same things before Boniface was but his Rise was by a heathen Emperor who had command over a great Party at that time and so by the Force of his Edict he claims Authority Vitilianâ—s the eleventh Pope in the Year 657. he confirmed that Practice which was set up before by some other of the Bishops of Rome that Organs should be set up in Churches Paschal in the year 817. was the first that appointed Cardinals to be in Number 70. Adrian the third the 47th Pope in the year 884. ordained that the Emperor of Rome from thenceforth should have no more to do with the Election or Confirmation of the Pope but that it should be left wholly to the Roman Clergy so that which first gave the Pope Power to wit the Emperor he now throws off the yoak and if the Emperor please not him hath stirred up the People to mannage War against him and against divers Princes as may be seen in the Histories of latter Ages Sergius the third was the first who ordained bearing of Candles in the Feast of the Purificâ—tion of Mary thence called Candlemas-day Celestine the second in the year 1143. was the first Inventer of cursing or anathematizing any who received not his Ordinances with Bell Book Candle Innocent the third 1198. was the first that brought in the Doctrine of Transubstantiation and imposed auricular Confession upon the people Clement the fifth 1350. was the first that sold Indulgences and Pardons Sixtus the fourth 1471. brought in the Beads to be numbred when they prayed and authorized the Ladies Psalter Leo the tenth in the year 1553. set Indulgences and Pardons on sale in Germany and France which things caused Luther in Germany and Zuinglius among the Switzers to write against the Pope's Ministers and afterwards questioned many points of popish Doctrine upon which the Pope burned Luther's Writings and condemned him for an Heretick and Luther burned the Pope's Canon-Law at Wittenberg and declared the Pope to be a Persecutor and a very Anti-christ The Inquisition began first in Spain which was set up by the Papists there to terrifie the Moors who had inhabited Spain for 760 years and so long Spain was governed by the Emperor of the Moâ—rs in Africa until the year 1492. And after this time the Inquisition began against the Moors which was not so cruel at first as afterwards it began to be against the Protestants and is now accounted the greatest Violence and Torture and the greatest Tyranny and severest kind of Persecution upon the Earth
Dissention arose because of some of the Pharisees that believed and yet would needs judge it needful for all that believed to be circumcised so they that stuck in the outward Types and Figures would needs lay Yoaks upon the Necks of them who where come to the Substance So the Apostles Elders and Brethren coming together seeing how the State of the Matter stood not disputing years together as the Council of Trent forty years but they as they saw in the Wisdom of God sent some chosen men from Jerulalem to the Gentiles to certifie the Gentiles by the Spirit of the Lord that they abstained only from Meats offered to Idols and from Blood and from Things strangled and from Fornication from which if you keep your selves you shall do well Acts 15. they pressed not upon them the Ordinances of the Jews neither the Custom of the Gentiles in the â—â—belief which since this the Church of Rome hath done and divers Councils appertaining to her have cumbered People with multitudes of Things and heavy Yoaks some bâ—rrowed from the Jews in the Unbelief and sâ—me from the Heathens in the Unbelief and prest their Institutions and Inventions as Ordinances of Câ—riâ—t upon all the Members of the Church which are so many and so innumerable and all contrary to the primitive Church and they have been of the Natâ—re of those Councils that David speaks of Pâ—â—l 2. who took Counsel aâ—ainst the Lord and against his anointed and that was a Council which condemned the Son of God Christ Jesus and these Councils though Rabbies and great men yet they erred from the Life But to come downward among the Doctors and Bishops of that which they call the Catholick Church the Council that was held at Carthage under Cyprian decreed that those who were baptized by Hereticks ought to be baptized again which others called Error and that Council's Proceedings were condemned The Nicene Council decreed flat Idolatry about worshipping of Images The Council of Constantinople condemned that Proceeding and their Decrees The Council of Basil as Albertus Phigius saith decreed against all Reason and against the Scriptures The Council of Arminium decreed for the Armenians that Christ was not God The Council of Calcedon which was one of the four that Gregory the great compares to the four Gospels that the Decrees were as sure and Constitutions as certain and Infallible as the Scripture yet Pope Leo did not stick to condemn it and all them as unadvised and these Councils have been one against another and the multitude of their Votes is brought for great Proof not only amongst the Romanists but also amongst them that are separated from them so Councils have erred and have opposed one another yea and the Popes and Biâ—â—ops of Rome to Leo the fourth abrogated and made void the Acts of Adrian and yet they both said they were Peter's Successors and infallible and Stephanus Bishop of Rome made void the Acts and Decrees of 〈◊〉 and Sabinian the Pope commanded that Gregory's Mass and all Pope Gregory's Writings should be burnt and all of these said they had the Keyes to bind and loose and yet one bound that which another loosed and another loosed that which the former had bound and yet all these clâ—â—med Infallibility The Council of Carthage decreed that the Bishop of Rome would not be called high Priest nor chief of Priests nor the Head of the Church but following Councils have stiled him chief Priest chief Bishop and Head of the catholick Church The Eliberine-council decreed that no Images should be set up in the Churches nor worshipped nor the Walls painted likewise the council of Constantinople before mentioned decreed that Images were not to be â—â—ffered in the Churches or Meeting-places but on the other Side the second Nicene-council determined that Images were not only to be placed in the Churches but also to be worshipped and the Pope said that Images were to be Lay mens Calendars The latter council under Julius the second did repeal the Decrees of the Pâ—san-council The Basil-council determined that a council of Bishops was above the Pope but the Lateran-councâ—l under Leo decreed that the Pope was above the council and they decreed also that he that should â—hink otherwise should be held for an Heretick and yet the Bishops and and Abbots in the Council of Basil aforesaid decreed that they that judged that the Bishops were not above the Pope were Hereticks and yet these Councils the Church of Rome layes claim 〈◊〉 to be of their Faith and Church and yet one making void what another hath decreed the same Council did with an uniform Consent remove the Pope Eugenius and put Amidius in his place but Eugenius vilifies the Council's Decrees and condemns them The Council of Trent commanded that Bishops should teach the People and should have no more Benefit for Preferment then one Place but since they have made this Decree void and now whole Countries are too little and the Protestants imitate the same and do not teach the People and so of what Validity have these Councils been worth or of what Force hath the Decrees been of mutable Men who have been tossed up and down like Waters I nominate the several Convocations and Councils that have been amongst the reformed Churches as they are called and their Synods one while decreeing this the next throwing it down again and yet all these will lay claim to be Ministers of the true Church and persecute as Hereticks to Death them who own not their changeable Decrees and mutable Institutions but such hath been the Arrogancy and Pride of her that hath set as a Queen upon the Waters that she must be the only Judge and then the Prophets must be slain Pope Julius said no Council is of any credit unless it be confirmed by the Church of Rome And Boniface the eighth saith that no Man in the World can be saved unless he be subject to the Roman Church And Pope Paschal thus said as though said he any Council could make Laws for the Church of Rome and all Councils do subsist by it and receive their Strength from it and that which the Pope approveth or disapproveth And so all Confederacies and Councils of Men who are out of the Life and Power of God do decree that which brings the Seed of God into Bondage Now Rome look to thy Infallibility and Universality which thou so much cryest up and thy Unity one while sets up one thing another time throws it down again when it will not serve particular Interests and what a Stir hath there been amongst them that call themselves reformed in these latter Ages one setting up this and another that sometimes this Service for a Worship then the next calls it idolatrous and then another Service and this Ceremony and the other Ceremony and this Pater-noster and the other Creed this Catechism and the other Catechism these Articles of Faith and the next Synod makes them void and so leads
do believe And now Reader I shall present thee with a great Fardel and Bundle of the Whore's Merchandize and of the counterfeit Ware which she hath long deceived the Nations with which hath long laid as mouldy and rusty in this Nation but now new trim'd up and presented again to this Nation as for precious Treasure and it is not to be concealed in a narrow Corner nor put off under-hand so that this Merchant of Babylon hath presented it to publick View with a great Confidence that People that have been tossed up and down and have found no Rest for their Souls at lâ—st may come to make a trial of this Merchandize and see what it will do but lest any should be cheated and deceived with such counterfeit traffick I could not chuse having the Knowldge thereof but declare against the Deceit thereof and to give Warning unto all to beware how they touch taste or handle it lest they be defiled and corrupted by it and their Understandings darkned and their Consciences defiled and the Merchandize is thus tituled A short Catechism against all Sectaries by Way of Question and Answer wherein all the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome are asserted for Infallible and Apostolical wherein also is holden out that the Church of Rome is the only true Church out of which there is no Salvation and some Arguments to prove the same also in this said Book all that are not of the Church of Rome are condemned already as Hereticks and Sectâ—ries wholly to be without Salvation newly published and translated by C. M. and London printed for P. S. 1662. And though we have given publick testimony both in Word and Writing in divers Nations in Doctrine and Practice yet such hath been the Envy of many Professors who have denyed the Church of Rome that they have accused us for holding Popish tenets yet now on the other Hand by this Popish Author we are condemned as Hereticks and Sectaries and to be without Salvation And thus they who have been under the Beast's Power in the Apostacy have tost us upon their Horns from one to another and have pushed us this Way and that Way and every Party and Sect hath reckoned us and joyned us with them whom they judged to be Transgressors but it is a small thing to us to be judged by Man's Judgment for our Judgment is with the Lord and he judgeth in Righteousness and unto him we appeal who in his own Day when Righteousness comes to be revealed in Peoples Hearts they shall come to know us as we are and the Truth which we believe and walk in as it is in Jesus But that such a Heap and Bundle of false Doctrine and superstitious and idolatrous Practices may not go unreproved God hath put it into my Heart to bear my Testimony against it and all the confused Heap of Darkness which is laid down for Catholick Doctrine and to discover the Deceit thereof lest any should be beguiled and led into the dark Paths of Ignorance and Error and should become an Inhabitant of that City which hath shed the Blood of the Prophets and Martyrs where now Christ is crucified First of all the Author saith There is but one true Religion wherein any can be saved Answ. 'T is true there is but one true Religion in the which Salvation is witnessed which is confessed by all who profess Religion and every one will needs lay claim to it and many have contended even by Force and Arms since the Apostacy entered in and have killed and destroyed one ather about the Name or Sound without the Thing it self and all Professors of Religion who are in that Nature are not in the true Religion in which Salvation is witnessed The true Religion standeth in the Power of God and to be exercised in those Things which the Power of God directeth every one in who believe in it and to be obedient unto the Commands of Christ and to keep his Sayings and to follow his Example in Righteousness and Holiness and in that which overcometh the World and giveth Victory over it and keepeth out of the Pollutions of it and this is the pure Religion which purifies the Heart and Conscience from dead Works and teacheth to love Enemies Now the Church of Rome is manifest not to be in the one true Religion but hath departed from this Faith and this Doctrine let all Nations bear Witness where your Religion hath been professed how you have kept this Faith and walked in this Religion if any have dissented from you these many hundred Years and that upon good Grounds as Luther and Calvin which thou art so angry at â—nd bring'st many Calumnies against and slanderous Things and Lyes â—f which thy Vessel is full Now they with all others that dissent from you you have reckoned and do as Sectaries and Hereticks and in case it were really so if you were in the true Religion and in the Faith of Chrisâ— yâ—u would not destroy so many mens Lives as you have done within these thousand Years I appeal to all Nations where your Authority hath been exâ—râ—ised how many have you killed tortured burnt to Ashes and destroyed the Workmanship of God but it may be thou â—udgest such a Distinction as this will cover a little as To hate their Heresie and to love their Person but how you have loved their Persons I hope Englâ—nd hath not yet forgotten instance John Wickliff whose Bones you took up and burnt forty one Years after his Decease and how many Hundreds more have been burnt to Ashes in England in later Years as Hereticks and Sectaries whose Blood yet speaks and cryes for Vengeance upon that City that Church or Religion which hath drunk the Blood of the Prophets and Martyrs So in what I have said the Church of Rome to all unbiasâ—ed Spirits will appear to be out of that one true Religion and that Faith and Doctrine which Christ delivered and so Salvation is not to be looked for amongst Killers and Destroyers And so what I have said may convince the Author of this Book that they are not in the one true Religion in which Salvation is witnessed And this Roman Church hath been alwayes visiâ—le and universal since the Apostles Dayes and Infidels have alwayes been obliged to joyn unto her yet one cannot be bound to seek that which is invisiâ—le and the Marks and Signs of thiâ— Roman Church are four comprized in these Words I believe in the True Church which is One Holy Catholick and Apostolick Answ. That there was a Church at Rome in the Apostles Dayes is not denyed so there was at Antioch at Philippi at Thessalonica at Corinth and divers other Places that I might instance which were as visible as Rome was and as much a City set on a Hill as Rome was and not inferiâ—r in Doctrine Gifts and good Works to Rome at all but as to Prâ—â—edâ—ncy and Antiquity may claim Priority before Rome and if
Judaism among the Christians brought in by their Leaders and from the Opinions of these and other Ancient Fathers Tythes Easter and Pentecost came to be introduced and brought into the Church among the Christians Also Jerome in these Words I do not take a Part as the rest of the Tribes of Possessions of Lands but as a Levite I live of the Tenth and as I serve at the Altar I am sustained by the Oblation of the Altar being content with Food and Rayment I follow nakedly the naked Cross But there is no Necessity to understand his Words of Tythes but as the Levites lived of Tythes serving at the Altar even so am I maintained by the free Offering of them that do believe But it is to be observed that there were divers Councils in and about the 600 Year only provincial as Mascon and Arles and some others do take it for granted that a Tenth was due by Way of Offering and put into the Hands of them that ministred to the Church is spoken of as good Antiquity grounded upon the Mosaical Laws which they call their Divinas all which did spring from the Doctrine of the four Fathers before mentioned but especially Ambrose and Austin about the Year 400. but take his own Words It is not fit for us saith he to prefer our selves as Christians unless we do the Work of Christians viz. to offer the tenth Part of Corn and of Cattel and all the first Fruits of the Earth and took it for granted as due only his Ground from Moses's Law and if they should offer less then a Tenth their Offering was not accepted Also agreeing with him is Augustine in a Sermon after this Manner viz. Dear Brethren forasmuch as the Day of Christ draws near we ought to assemble our selves together and to give Thanks to God who hath given unto us by our offering unto God our Tenths for God is worthy to have the whole and this he grounds from that of Malachi Honour the Lord with thy Substance c. Farther exhorting them to pay their Tribute to the poor and their Sacrifice to the Priests then urging more Texts out of the old Testament he tells them That the Neglect of Payment of Tythes was the Cause of Sterility and Blasting of their Corn and the like These two great Bishops agree and as was said before from the Law of Moses infer their whole Doctrine yet notwithstanding the great Pressures and hard Threats of some of the Bishops at that Time it was not a general received Doctrine that Tythes ought to be payed until about the Year 800. neither was any Thing by the Church then determined or ordained touching the Quantity that should be given though no Doubt in many Places the Offerings of the more devout Sort Tenâ—hs or a greater Part of their Encrease were given according to the Doctrine then in Use And then about this Time the Offerings and Gifts to the Church were disposed of on this wise being received into a common Treasury one fourth Part to the Priests out of which every one that laboured had his Portion another Part for the Relief of the Poor sick and Strangers and a third for the repairing Places of publick Worship and the fourth to the Bishop and generally then the Bishop lived in some Monastery and his Clergy with him from whence he sent them to preach in the Diocesses and Countries and there they received such Offerings as were made and brought them to the Treasury so that hereby the Reader may take Notice that the Priests had not such a peculiar Interest in that which was given but others had a Share with them but now they claim all their Churches were builded out of the Gifts of the People the Poor Fatherless and Widdow were relieved out of them and the Prisoners who suffered for the Faith they held were relieved also the Bishop and his whole Clergy were sustained but now they claim it as due and take Tythes by Force and Violence three or four fold and sometimes ten fold and People thrown into Prison and Widdows Goods spoiled how unsuitable these Practices are from what they were in the Apostles time and the ancient Fathers for 500 Years though they are very proud and boast much of their ancient Fathers yet they will not so much as come near them in Example yet they cry up the Church the Church and Antiquity when they are far enough off from their Practice though they were in a declining Condition in this Age I have been speaking of before Also Jerome upon the third of Malachy in his Commentary doth admonish Christians to give their Alms to the poor and double Honour to him that labours in the Lord's Service not binding at all to offer this oâ— that Part yet exhorts them not to be more backward then the Jews wherein they payed their Tenths Neither is Chrysostome at all different from him in his Doctrine in perswading even Labourers and Artificers to give bountifully their Alms to the Church for Holy Uses according to the Apostolical Ordinances relating to the weekly Offerings in the Churches of Corinth Galatia Antioch and the Jews Liberality was brought as a President below which he would not have Christians determine their Charity and sayes withal that he speaks these Things not as commanding or forbidding that they should give more yet as thinking it fit they should not give less then a tenth Part for holy Uses as the Phrase was Cyril Bishop of Alexandria speaking upon that Passage of Abraham Gen. 14.23 who after he had gained the Victory over the King of Sodom's Enemies and rescued Lot when the King of Sodom offered him Part of the Spoils he would receive nothing but a few Victuals Though saith he the holy Teachers do war in the Behalf of perishing Mankind yet do they not take any thing from the Men of the World nor do they heap up unto themselves Riches lest the World should say We have made you rich they only ought to receive the Sustenance from the Hands of those whom they have converted to the Faith for it 's Christ's Command saith he that those who preach the Gospel should live thereby So that it 's evident that very many of the ancient Fathers whom this Generation have talked so much of did deny Tythes and a forced Maintenance from the World but in this Point it 's like they will be judged but weak-sighted or erroneous in their Judgment by this Generation as they do the Quakers or Men of mean Understanding but I see many will traduce them in Words but few in Practice It was the Judgment also not of private Persons but of the most learned and sound Teachers of that Age in five or six hundred Years after Christ. Prosper saith They that live of the Gospel who will be Propriators of nothing who neither have nor desire to have any thing not possessing their own but the common Goods and what
Devil did when he brought it is written to Christ and left out half the words so R. E. hath left out the Conditions on the Disciples part and that which was their duty teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I command you and then lo I am with you c. But R. E. likes not obedience it seems unto Christ's commands and yet he will needs be a sharer in the Promise and of the Power that was given and bind God unto that and he and his Church to be loose to do and to teach what they will but as to all the Scriptures he hath brought and minced them and cut them in piece-meal and all the inferences he makes this we acknowledge without multiplicity of words that whatsoever was promised to the Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ as the Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ the same Promise of Christ doth belong to the Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ in every Age and stands upon the same condition viz. Obedience unto hâ—s will and that they still do teach and no other thing but what he commands them then he is with them according to his Promise but let not R. E. nor his Roman Catholicks look if they teach things repugnant to his mind and contrary to his will and press upon others to believe that which Christ hath never taught that then the Promise of God will be so intailed to them as that they cannot Err and here the deceit of thine and your Hearts hath led you aside and this is one of the cunning sleights of Men and craftiness whereby you lay in wait to deceive and by this you have deceived many because God hath made such large Promises unto his Church how that they should be led into all Truth and preserved out of Error and you are their Successors and must needs Inherit this Promise by way of intail and you cannot Err you cannot be deceived because the Apostles were infallible therefore you must needs be infallible though you Err and go aside never so much from the infallible Spirit the true Guide and Judge of and in the Church of God as though you had been born to infallibility and the Spirit of Truth had come by succession but the inward Light which thou scoffs at and the Spirit of Truth which thou calls a private Spirit often hath discovered you and your Spirit though thou boastest of fifteen Ages that your Doctrine hath been held by the Pastours and Teachers in your Visible Church as in the fifty seventh Page of thy EPISTLE suppose I should grant the fifteen hundred Years which I neither can nor will but I will lead thee to the sixteen hundred years and try thee your Doctrine that you have held this fifteen hundred Years if it be so as thou saist but this thou likes not but seeing thou plead'st Antiquity let us come on and joyn issue prove us Transubstantiation in the first hundred Years nay I will give thee five hundred more and if I give thee five more thou would'st hardly prove it before the Council of Trent prove us the Doctrine of Purgatory in the first hundred Years and if thou take two it shall not offend me prove us the forbidding of Ministers to marry in the first hundred years and abstinence from Meats as though they were unclean which are created by God for the use of Believers prove us that Man hath a two-fold right to the Kingdom of Heaven as your great Bellarmine saith the one by Christ the other by a Man 's own Works prove us Invocation of Angels and Prayer and Sacrifice for the Dead the first hundred years after Christ prove us their selling of Pardons in Christ's and the Apostles dayes for Money prove us setting up of Images as to put Men in mind of the Saints deceased and of their Works prove us Baptism of Infants with Cream and Spittle and singing with the Cross and God-fathers and God-mothers and let us have some example beyond bare report for we dare not relie upon your infallible Spirit in these things therefore convince us for we are Gain-sayers and upon good Ground and we do look upon all these Doctrines and many more not to be of such a great Age as thou tells on neither to have any affinity or congruity with the Church of Christ in his or the Apostles time nor sundry Years after but rather look upon them as Doctrines of Devils and a very novelty a further Scripture R. E. urges 1. Tim. 3.15 the Church of the living God the Pillar and Ground of Truth and may we not relie of that Pillar that God hath erected for us saith he and he that hears you hears me and go teach all Nations and I am with you alwayes and yet if after all these Promises if the Church may not be believed except she teacheth according to the Scriptures and be only infallible but when she doth her duty then the Church hath no more priviledge then the Devil hath for so long as he teaches conformable to the Scripture he may be believed and so long as he teaches Truth he may be believed saith R.E. in page 58 59. Answ. The Church is in God 1 Thes. 1. and is the Pillar and Ground of Truth she is in the World though not of the World and though the Members thereof be visible in the World yet the world that lies in Wickedness never owned them as such either saw the Glory of this Church but alwayes Persecuted it and was so far owning it as Rule and Judge as it altogether gain-sayed its direction but they that did believe in the word of Life and were separated from the World and hated by it were willing to hear the Counsel to receive the instruction of the Church of God and the Church only medled with their own Members as in matter of Judgment and not of the World further then by preaching Repentance in it for the Apostle saith What have we to do to judge them that are without and this Church as in God was secure to relie upon for she had the Oracles of God committed unto her every one may relie upon this Pillar if they dare trust it which I see R. E. dares not because he likes not to be tyed to their Doctrine declared of in the Scriptures but would have all to take what they say for granted without the Scripture or the Apostles example or Spirit and is not this unreasonable in thee that would'st have the Church to be believed or that which calls it self so by Name when she teacheth not conformable to Scriptures and to the Faith which was once delivered among the Saints and wouldst thou have a Church reckoned infallible and to be believed when she doth not her duty the Churches priviledges are in speaking Truth and judging Righteously and the Devil was a Lyer from the beginning and is out of the Truth and where hast thou read that he teaches
that led into variance and he leads out of the occasion of Evil and from that which was the cause of the Addition of the Law unto everlasting Righteousness again which was in the beginning before Sin entred and they that come to believe in him are not under the Law but under Grace moreover the Apostle saith Rom. 7.14 The Law hath Power over a Man so long as he liveth even as a Wife is bound by the Law of her Husband so long as he liveth and no longer so as long as Man liveth in Sin Unâ—elief Transgression Discord Variance and Strife and Idolatry the Law hath Power over him to correct and reprove him and judge him and was to be a limit unto that Nature but Christ leads out of the occasion of all these for which the Law was added to do the Truth and speak the Truth and ceaseth Strife for which the Law was added Again the Law was added as a cure and a remedy to decide Controversies and ill distempers that were entred into the Hearts of Men in the unbelief and that is one reason which Doctor Gauden gives why solemn Swearing should and ought to be in judical proceedings among Christians to take away Jealousies Distrusts Dissimulations frauds unsatisfactions and insecurities and Quotes Grotius That Swearing is necessary not absolutely and morally or preceptively but by way of Consequence and remedy as to the state of the Jews we shall not nor have not denyed it but as to the State of Christians who are truly such we say that the cause is taken away and the effect follows all Jealousies distrusts Dissimulations and strifes and Insecurities and so the remedies to wit Oathes cease and the necessity of them and that was one main thing why Oathes were permitted to end Strife and Strife is a Work of the Flesh and variance and discord and it is inconsistent with true love to our Neighbour to hold that which Answers the Strife and that part for love fulfills the Law works no ill to the Neighbour ends Strife and so puts Swearing the means to end strife and the remedy out of place and date But A. S. goes on and tells us That Oaths advisedly and reverently taken upon necessary occasions are so far from displeasing God or hurting our Neighbour that on the contrary they are acceptable to the one and advantagious to the other for by them Princes are secured of their Subjects Allegiance and Generals of their Souldiers fidelity Leagues confirmed betwixt Nations every Man 's just right maintained Offenders discovered and duly punished and Controversies and Suits decided and these are such great and good Ends that Men cannot be in any Degree of security or happiness without them Reply To this I answer that notwithstanding all the great and good ends and the necessity of Oathes which A. S. conceives that Men cannot subsist in any degree of security without yet we see by experience notwithstanding all the reverent taking and all the solemn taking and the necessity that is put upon Oaths yet they have never answered the end purposed for where perfidiousness and unbelief and distrust and jealousies and strifes are which is no where so much as among those that plead for Swearing yet Oaths do not nor have not bound them when they had a mind to be loos'd and see that to stand to such Obligations will not be for their profit or present safety many instances might be given what security had the Pope when all the Nobility and Clergy in England were bound to maintain his Supremacy by Oaths and no doubt but they Swore reverently and it was judged both by the then Church and State to be binding and yet notwithstanding all the Obligation all was broken and the Pope's Supremacy denyed in the time of Hen. 8 th and Edward 6 th in their time all Swore against the Pope's Supremacy either in Church or State and how much security was the Nation in when Queen Mary came to the Crown though the Nobles and the Bishopes and Prelates did all Swear against the Supremacy yet behold it was brought in again and confirmed by Oath again and yet in the dayes of Elizabeth renounced again and of lâ—tter days what Oaths have been exacted first by one and then by another and one party contrary to another though every pâ—rty fancyed a security for the time but it proved of no more effect neither were they in degree more secure then if there had been none at all for indeed that frequent Swearing hath made Men being got into a Custom of it that it is become a light thing unto them though otherwise they look upon themselves as bound Generals how have they turn'd one way and another way and Soudiers the like so that one may conclude indeed that Oaths are made no more of but even to stand in force while that bears up head and is exalted that to please the present time and Power they seem to be devoutly obliged to it but if it come under any Ecclipse or diminution then they reckon themselves no longer obliged so that indeed their Oaths are become of little or no force at all and for Controversies we see they begin many and are the cause of much disiention and discord but end few for why may not all these foresaid states and conditions be secured and as well and the good and great ends accomplished that A. S. pleads for by true evidence of every one concerned in any of the foresaid relations by declaring and confessing the Truth and speaking it unto Men as necessity requires without Oath yea and all the foresaid States have as much security and subsist as well if not better then by all this Swearing which more properly belonged to the Judaism then to Christians and there is no such necessity of them among Christians if any at all who dare not Swear for fear of offending Christ or denying his Doctrine and yet will not Lye but speak the Truth and indeed it is the custom of Swearing that hath been used in the Nations since the Apostacy entred in that is more looked upon then any thing else more then any legality necessity or security under the Gospel seeing in the Primitive times truly so called it was enough to say Christianâ— sum and that sort of Swearing that is imposed now hath no other Ground but Custom which Jer. 10.3 is accounted to be vain neither hath it so much as an inch of Ground from the Scripture and therefore doth not bring so much â—lory to God as A. S. tells on because whatsoever is added or super-added to whatever God commanded as to matter or Form is but Will-worship at the best and a making whatsoever was said or commanded or practised before imperfect and no way sufficient but more of this shall be said after if the Lord permit Fourth Argument Had Christ intended Universally to forbid all kind of Oaths in the words Swear not at all then those amplifications neither by Heaven
nor by Earth neither by Jerusalem neither by the Head had been useless as being generally included in the general prohibition but had he meant that no Oath should be used upon any occasion the subsequent Words are so far from giving Light to the preceding that they much obscure them but had he said no more thâ—n Swear not at all it might have been said he disallowed all Oaths but he descending to thâ—â— or that Creature may rationally imply that this purpose was only to forbid such Swearing and not that which was formerly enjoyned and his conclusion is only Creature Swearing or Swearing by Creatures is that he would have forbidden Answ. Christ knew better what he intended then A. S. who would make his words one thing and his intention another it is evident by the preceding Doctrine and by that which follows after the Text that Christ prohibits all Swearing which shall be further spoken on when the second part of the Discourse is spoken of some stumble ignorantly and some wilfully would pervert and turn aside from that which they have no mind to receive and would hold up that which they assert true or false and that makes all this disputing and reasoning about the plain Words of Scripture Christ's words But I say unto you Swear not at all by Heaven or Earth is a general Negative of all Oaths even of those which before were used in the time of Moses and by Heaven and Earth and Jerusalem are more ample expressions of Christ to make the Scribes and Pharisees understand his mind of his dislike of these Oaths by Creatures that they frequently used though these and much more were included in the general Negative Swear not at all yet they are not to be excluded as superfluous neither do they obscure the former Swear not at all but give more Light to the former to any but them that sees with A. S. his Eyes for by Heaven by Earth by Jerusalem are more ample expressions of his mind and a further explication of the former Swear not at all and though they seem to A. S. to obscure and darken Christ's words if he did intend all Oaths yet they that see with another Eye then he doth is that they are only more large expressions thereby to make the Pharisees understand who were in the unbelief and dull of hearing that did not only forbid what the Law had forbid before but even those Oaths that they frequently used under those terms and forms which the Law had spoken of in those Words as Heaven Earth Jerusalem Head and Foot and therefore he enumerates them as an amplification of his former prohibition and so they are to be joyned and we shall not stop as A. S. sayes some do at the words Swear not at all but shall joyn that which Christ hath joyned viz. Heaven Earth and Jerusalem and to be enumerated only and joyned to the former Negative and spoken as to their Capacities in those full and large Terms that they might understand his mind that he prohibited not only by Heaven and Earth and Jerusalem but even any other Oath which the Law had commanded or the Jews permitted to Swear before and though A. S. would have it limited only to Swearing by Creatures which indeed was forbiden under the Law but Christ who taught a more Evangelical and exact obedience then the Law he said It hath been said of old time thou shalt not forswear thy self But I say unto you who saith more then the Law hath said Swear not at all but let your yea be yea and nay nay for whatsoever is more cometh of Evil. And of this mind was Bp. Usher late of Ardmagh who pleaded the Cause of the Waldenses or Leonists whose Names are famous amongst the Reformed Churches and were the most Ancient and true Protestants if any Reformation be looked at beyond Luther they professed it no way lawful for a Christian to Swear and the said Bishop Usher de Succes Chap. 6. doth esteem that place of the 5 th of Mat. Swear not at all and that of 5 th James to be a sufficient plea for them against the Papists and he pleads their cause and this made Renerius and Jansenius so much Envy the Waldenses two Romanists who said Amongst all the Sects which are or have been there is not any more pernicioâ—â— to the Church meaning the Church of Rome then the Waldenses and that for three Reasons first their Antiquity secondly because of their Universality thirdly in that they did maintain and hold it no way lawful for a Christian to Swear on any occasion But it may be that A. S. will tell us that these and other were condemned in some general or Provincial Council for Heresie and if he do it is no great matter since most of these have erred especially since all Nations have drunk of the Whores Cup of Fornication and have Erred from the Fâ—ith and have lost the Power and then contend for a form and bind all to receive it upon some commination or malediction or other or else they were Hereticks And why who said so the Church hath so decreed and if these Canons and such like must be binding A. S. will hardly escape their Censure if he continue in the profession of the Faith he is 〈…〉 and they seem to agree in this particular about Swearing But I come to his fifth Argument Fifth Argument Christ never forbad any thing but that was intrinsecally evil as may be proved by induction he forbids anger abusive Language he forbids Lust and divorce and Swearing by Creatures and therefore what ever he forbad was Evil and that in it self and not meerly as forbidden but Swearing in general is not for that hath not only been the practice of Holy Men but of Angels Dan. 12.7 Revel 10.6 Reply Was it Evil in it self under the Law if a Man smote out anothers Eye or tooth or cut off his Hand or his Foot or give one a wound in any part of the Body Deut. 21.24 Levit. 1.24.20 Deut 19.11 was it Evil in it self for the Judges in those days to give Sentence that he that had struck out his Neighbour's Eye or struck out his Tooth or cut off his Hand to pronounce give the same judgment unto the offender that he should be so done withal was this eternally evil or intrinsecally evil for the party so wronged to seek remedy or was it not an act of Justice equal and good not only because enjoyned and commanded but in it â—â—ll just and was it or is it an act in it self intrinsecally evil if a Man sued a Man wrongfully at the Law and takes a Man's Coat or Garment away to seek to defend himself and preserve his Coat or cloak if not A. S. his Argument is of no moment for even in the same Chapter where Envy and Murther and divorce saving for Fornication and abusive Language and all Swearing is forbidden so is that forbidden which is not
intrinsecally evil by Christ Mat. 5.39 40. But I say unto you that you resist not evil and whosoever shall smite the one Cheek turn hâ—m the other also and if a Man sue thee at the Law and take away thy Coat let him have thy Cloak also and whosoever shall compell thee to go a mile go with him twain And it is in the new Testament I hope written Avenge not your selves And was iâ— evil in it self or morally Evil to keep the seventh day of the Week as a Sabbath or only good because commanded or was it lawful to fight with Amalicks Edomites Egyptians Canaanites because Israel was only commanded or because they were real Enemies to God in their Hearts or as Samuel Fisher well said in Answer to Doctor Gauden which A. S. quarels with that Circumcision Sacrifices and Offerings Passover and New-Moons Fasts and Swearing was not Evil in themselves but because forbidden and though A. S. give such a great Challenge to S. F. to produce one Instance that any thing was prohibited by Christ but what was intrinsecally evil or else his Argument is in vain I say the afore-mentioned thing prove it that something was forbidden that was not Evil eternally intrinsâ—â—â—lly but because prohibited and again in the same Chapter ver 44. But I say unto you love your Enemies bless them thaâ— Curse you though under the Law they did fight and might fight with the aforesaid Enemies the Canaanites and Gentiles but now I say put up forgive love your Enemies Peter put up thy Sword he that takes hold on it shall perish by it Avenge not go not 〈◊〉 Law one with another 1 Cor. 6.7 suffer forbear forgive if thy Brother siâ— against thee seventy times 7. times And though A. S. says That nothing was forbidden by Christ or in all the New-Testament but what was in it self Evil or in some respect conducing thereunto methinks he hath given 〈◊〉 bâ—ld a Challenge what will he say to all the former things mentioned and what evil had Circumcision in it or the Passover or Sacrificing or New-Moons and the Sabbath days or what tendency had they to Evil but rather were good for the end they were ordained to be Signs and Types and Figures of holy things to come like a Swearing was among the rest what-ever A. S. say or Argue and yet when the substance of the good things was to come to them that had believed and received him who was sum of all the Apostle said Gal. 5.2 3. If you be Circumcised Christ profits you nothing after he was offered up And Gal. 4.9 10 11. You observe new-Moons and Holy days and Sabbaths And these things that were once as really good as ever Swearing was considering the End wherefore they were enjoyned and these things were never Evil in themselves yet the Apostle reckoned them beggarly Rudiments and told them they had begun in the Spirit and now sought to be made perfect through the Flesh and so stood in doubt of them that his labour had been in vain and thereof if A. S. or any other will needs uphold Swearing because commanded to the Jews before the Seed Christ was revealed I say he is Gal. 5.34 a debter to the whole Law and is as much bound to keep it in all other points as this or else he is a Transgressour and is one of those that would be laying Yoaks upon the Disciples Necks unto whom they were never intended for if the Ceremonies and Rights and outward observations which properly did belong to the Jewish Church and State to observe till the fulness of time when the partition Wall should be broken down and the Jews and Gentiles should be one and one Shepherd and one Fold for them both and no longer and they were never given to the Gentiles to observe and therefore for ought I can perceive many would have the gentile-Christians who never were under the Law neither the Ordinances of the first Covenant neither ever given to them yet they would compell the Christians to live as do the Jews and to observe their Ordinances and therefore are greatly to be blamed Gal. 2.13 14. Therefore we do not look upon any Swearing to be now a duty under the Gospel among true Christians truly such as some Swearing was once under the Law but affirm all Swearing to be now a Sin because forbidden by the positive Law of Christ under the Gospel who by his Death ended the right of that and many more legal Rites and Rudiments which whoso doth observe now as Christians doth it not without Sin and Guilt and Superstition and therefore S. Fisher that faithful Servant of God who suffered in Bonds till Death for his Testimony even in this particular saith well That that sort of Swearing which was not Sin simpliciter in its Nature under the Law is now a sin upon the account of Christ's Universal prohibition of all Swearing who was of Authority to put to an End as he did by his Death unto the Law And therefore that sort of Service and Worship which stood in outward Observations which was duty because commanded under the Law and no Sin in their own Nature neither were Evil in themselves nor in any respect conducing thereto as they were observed but had some single good in them once and yet who observes them now as Service of God maketh Christ of so little effect to himself as that he profits him nothing at all I hope A. S. will not deny but these things as forbidden in the new Testament which sometime were not Evil in their own nature but now are evil when the Substance is come in whom they all End and therefore S. F. his Argument is not vain but of force And yet let A. Smallwood know that there were many things observed and done not only by the Jews but by them that believed in Christ and thought well of him while he was present with them and yet did not see to the end of those things which were Shadows and Signes and good as once commanded and had no Evilin them but were Good as commanded and for the end for which they were ordain'd which afterwards in the more full growth and Knowledge in the Mystery of Christianity they came more to be seen through and that was felt in which they all ended and though Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it and to observe the Ordinances commanded in that Covenant to fulfill that which was written of him Psal. 40.6 In the Volume of the Book it is written I am come to do thy will O God And further he said himself It behoveth us to fulfill all Righteousness and that which was commanded but this was before he was offered up and was as a middle dispensation betwixt the ending of the Law and publishing of the Gospel yet howbeit Christ knew it and did speâ—k of it at some time that those things that had been sometime commanded Deut. 12 5. and