of other communions in defense of their rights The Churches both in the East and South divided into several Patriarchates and Bishopricks vindicated their privileges which they enjoyed according to the decrees of the Council of Nice in their several limits and districts The title of Universal Bishop was not then known or pretended to no one had either the vanity or the ambition to usurp such an unlimited power This honour was reserved for Pope Boniface the third and his Successors as if all the world hence forward were to be included within the walls or Pomoeria of the city of Rome The world was astonished at this procedure and could not with any patience admit and suffer so great an imposition Christian Carthage despised the insults of the Bishop of Rome as much as their Heathen Ancestors did the Senate and although Constantinople unwillingly enough allowed the honour of the first and chief See to Rome yet it ever maintained its own liberty and though now horribly oppressed and sadly groaning under Turkish tyranny is not so forgetful of its ancient honour as basely to submit to the claims of Rome They would very willingly retain communion with her and with all the branches of the Catholick Church if the hinderances of that communion were once removed and that pretended universal authority laid aside in which holy desire we join with them Let the Bishop of Rome be the first of that order provided that he be not lookt upon as the sole universal Bishop and that all others be deemed to be as indeed they are by the constitution of Christ and his Apostles independent and not his Vicars and Deputies and provided also that their rights which rely upon the same Ecclesiastical laws be reserved to them in their full and just extent and that the decrees of the Roman Court be not imposed upon the world with a non obstante to Apostolical constitutions and that its jurisdiction be contained within the limits of the antient Canons If this bar were removed a way would quickly be opened to let peace into the most divided parts of Christendom This all good Christians all but such worldly-minded men whose interest it is to keep up these differences earnestly wish sigh and pray for and would readily unite upon these honest and just conditions if truths necessary to salvation were only proposed to be believed according to the antient forms if all fiery censures and excommunications were utterly condemned and abolished and if superstition were removed from the service of God and the publick offices of Religion Unless this be done we must as in the presence of God and his holy Angels and all mankind lay the schism at the Romanists door and wholly impute it to them that the Catholick Church does not enjoy the great blessing of Ecclesiastical peace In the mean while we of the Church of England are very ready to admit of any conditions of obtaining this most blessed and glorious end provided that by them the peace of our consciences be not violated and disturbed that they do not contradict and thwart the principles and analogy of faith that the Scripture and its best and most genuine interpreter Antiquity be admitted to have the highest and only lawful authority in determining controversies of faith that no prejudice be done to Ecclesiastical Government and lastly that all things be tryed by the rules and canons and customs which were in use in the first ages of Christianity by which the Catholick Church was then governed O happy O blessed O glorious day in which all these confusions which no good man can think of without great disorder of mind shall be removed and all who worship the same crucified Saviour shall unite in brotherly love charity and communion But the wicked lives of Christians and base secular interest will not permit us to expect so great a blessing We must first endeavour to restore the piety the strictness the humility the disinterestedness of the antient Christians before we can pretend to the same hearty unity But alas we degenerate from their examples religion is no longer lookt upon as a rule and institution of life and manners but is turned into an art of disputing and our vices alienate our minds from all thoughts and designs of union pride and malice and naughty affections and love of worldly splendor and greatness shut out all hope of peace It must be the work of Almighty God and the wonderful effect of his Providence and grace to dispose the hearts of the Christian Princes and great Ecclesiasticks of the Roman Communion to set upon this great design of reforming in order to a perfect union and agreement and I doubt not but thousands of that communion especially in the Gallican Church where they have set bounds to the exorbitant power of the Pope by their late decrees in compliance with the antient canons and in vindication of their own privileges and where they begin to be ashamed of several gross errors which have hitherto passed for good wholsome Catholick doctrine as appears by their new Expositions and Interpretations and Catechisms long to see this happily effected for which purpose it becomes us all to put up incessant prayers to God that all who call and own and profess themselves Christians may remember from whence they are fallen and repent and ever after exercise themselves in the practices of all Christian virtues and in the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness that laying aside all vain jangling about lesser matters they may follow after things which make for peace and mutual edification and that being guided and governed by the good spirit of God they may be led into the way of truth and hold the faith the truly Christian the truly Apostolical the truly Catholick faith in unity of spirit in the bond of peace and in righteousness of life May the God of all mercy and comfort at last restore unity to his Church now labouring under grievous distractions for the merits and intercession of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen FINIS ERRATA PAge 16. line 30. for contributes read contribute l. 31. for difference r. differences Books Printed for Sam. Smith at the Prince's-Arms in St. Pauls Church yard COncio ad Clerum habita coram Academia Cantabrigiensi Junii 11. An. 1687. Pro Gradû Baccalaur in S. Theologia Ubi Vindicatur Vera Valida Cleri Anglicani ineunte Reformatione Ordinatio Cui accessit Concio habita Julii 3. 1687. De Canonicâ Cleri Anglicani Ordinatione Latinè reddita aucta A T. Browne S. T. B. Coll. D. Joh. Evang. Soc. Annexum est Instrumentum Consecrationis Matth. Parker Archiepiscopi Cantuariensis ex MS. C. C. C. Cant. The State of the Church of Rome when the Reformation began as it appears by the Advices givento Paul III. and Julius III. by Creatures of their Own. With a Preface leading to the Matter of the Book Remarks upon the Reflections of the Author of Popery Misrepresented c. on his Answerer particularly as to the Deposing Doctrine In a Letter to the Author of the Reflections Together with some few Animadversions on the same Author's Vindication of his Reflections Jacobi Usserii Archiepiscopi Armachani Opuscula Duo Nunc primùm Latinè Edita Quorum alterum est de Episcoporum Et Metropolitanorum Origine Alterum De Asia Proconsulari Accessit Veteris Ecclesiae Gubernatio Patriarchalis Ab E. B. Descripta Interprete R. R. E. B. P. Praetereà accedit Appendix De Antiquâ Ecclesiae Britannicae Libertate Privilegiis Miracles Work 's above and contrary to Nature Or an Answer to a late Translation out of Spinoza ' s Tractatus Theologico-Politicus Mr. Hobb ' s Leviathan c. Published to undermine the Truth and Authority of Miracles Scripture and Religion in a Treatise Entituled Miracles no Violation of the Laws of Nature The Difference between the Present and Future State of our Bodies considered in a Sermon by Jeremy Collier M. A. The Life of St. Mary Magdalene of Pazzi a Carmelite Nunn Newly translated out of Italian by the Reverend Father Lezin de Sainte Scholastique Provincial of the Reformed Carmelites of Touraine At Paris For Sebast. Cramoisy in St. James ' s Street at the Sign of Fame 1670. And now done out of French With a preface concerning the nature causes concomitants and consequences of Ecstasy and Rapture and a brief discourse added about discerning and trying the Spirits whether they be of God. The Vanity of all Pretences for Tolleration wherein the late Pleas for Tolleration are fully Answered and the popular Arguments drawn from the Practice of the United Netherlands are stated at large and shown to be weak fallacious insufficient The Duty of Servants containing First Their Preparation for and choice of a Service Secondly Their Duty in Service Together with Prayers suited to each Duty To this is added a Discourse of the Sacrament suited peculiarly to Servants By the Author of Practical Christianity The History of the Original and Progress of Ecclesiastical Revenues Wherein is handled according to the Laws both Ancient and Modern whatsoever concerns matters Beneficial the Regale Investitures Nominations and other Rights attributed to Princes Written in French by a Learned Priest and now done into English. a Commonitor cap. 32. a V. Salvian de gubernat Dei lib. 5. p. 100. ex editione Baluzii
business or curiosity of travelling brought Christians of different nations together upon the first acknowledgement of this faith which shewed that they were Christians they run into each others embraces and found that they agreed in the same points of religion as if they had been bred up under the same masters and had spent their whole time together And indeed it could scarce be otherwise through the piety innocence zeal and constancy of those times not as if there were no opinions started about which they might have different sentiments for that in such great variety and disproportion of understanding and temper was scarce possible but they held fast to the Apostolical doctrine and tradition and provided that their faith in Christ was entire and orthodox in lesser matters liberty of judgment was allowed without censure No one was oppressed with unjust suspicions and prejudices they shunned not such an ones company as if he had been excommunicated but received and embraced him as a Brother and fellow Christian. The holy Apostles who by their unwearied diligence and preaching had form'd and establisht Churches every where that they might make just provisions for the Christians of all ages after their decease thought it highly concerned them to commit to writing the doctrine of faith which they had taught that in case any doubt should arise in aftertimes and new doctrines should be introduced by wanton and over curious wits desirous and over apt to innovate in matters of religion under a pretense of Apostolical tradition these infallible oracles might be consulted as the measure and standard of divine truth Accordingly to these sacred writings they had recourse as to the only rule of faith they derived all the streams of saving truth from these uncorrupt springs here was the tryal whether any one was sound or reprobate concerning the faith so the great truths of Religion were preserved entire there was no trouble given to any one upon the accompt of any subtle or nice questions All equally enjoyed the same right of communion they were present at the same holy offices of religion with a most agreeable piety they all were partakers of the same holy Sacrament from which if any were by the strict discipline of the Church debarred it was wholly to be imputed to the miscarriages of life whereof they were guilty which the Church desired to amend and make them sensible of by this severe course and method But when the pertinaciousness of Hereticks relying upon the quirks and subtilty of unsound wit would in no wise acquiesce in Scriptural propositions of faith when with a sacrilegious boldness they would break into the very secrets of heaven which were above the capacity of humane understanding fully to make out and comprehend when despising and rejecting the revelations of Scripture they disclaimed the profession and acknowledgment of the truths and mysteries of the Christian religion and when by their evil designs arts and practices the weaker sort of Christians whom they had infected with their corrupt and poisonous doctrine were drawn away from the profession of the true faith it then became necessary and most worthy the serious thoughts and care of Constantine the great and the other pious Emperors to call General Councils in order to prevent those disturbances and breaches of the Churches peace which were likely to arise from the change and alteration of faith and all the industry of those great men who were summoned to attend and assist at those solemn and venerable assemblies was laid out and imployed not in inventing and making new Articles but in interpreting and explaining the old ones for both their zeal and piety forbad that they should give way to any innovation or suffer the ancient Catholick faith which was at first delivered to be antiquated and the profession of it disused For to use the words of Vincentius Lirinensis what other thing has the Church of Christ designed and effected by the decrees of Councils but that that which was before simply believed might now be believed with greater diligence that which before was more rarely and gently preached might now be preached with greater zeal and concern and that which was held and maintained more securely might now be studied and maintained with greater care and solicitude So that to stop the mouth of heresy and to give it its deaths wound those Heroes mostly and chiefly relying upon the authority of the sacred scripture and calling in to their aid and assistance the constant practice and consent of the Orthodox Christians of the preceding ages and antient and Catholick tradition made a most excellent provision for the security of the Christian faith which Arius Macedonius Nestorius and the other infamous Haeresiarchs had with their false glosses perverted by laying down short forms and professions of faith that so the several mysteries of it upon the belief of which the true religion and the happiness of its Professors depend might be better and more easily admitted and understood By this Test the Catholick Church distinguished those of her communion from the hereticks and by this unity of faith united their hearts in love and affection all who made profession of her doctrine in what part of the world soever they were being acknowledged and received for friends for brethren for Catholicks For there was no need of any other character or recommendation and hence that pious and laudable custom and practice of keeping up and maintaining this Ecclesiastical communion by the Epistolae formatae which were usually sent from one Bishop to another nor did the Bishop of Rome exempt himself upon their instalment had their original nor was there any other proof exacted or demanded of their retaining the profession of the true Christian faith than a firm and hearty assent to those antient Creeds How happy it had been for the Catholick Church if the terms of communion had continued thus enlarged the meanest capacity may easily be sensible of for most assuredly if the antient faith the profession of which has saved so many myriads of Christians had been preserved uncorrupt and entire from the encumbrance and addition of novel opinions which owe their original and propagation to meer phantasy and superstition and secular interest and if all who acknowledge that Faith might have been present at the publick worship and service of God upon the same conditions as in the first ages according to the rules established by the supream Ecclesiastical authority there had not been that great confusion every where in the world as now there is By this just and easy method schism might have been prevented and a liberty of judgment being allowed in matters no way fundamental and essential to faith an eternal peace had been established Of the violation of which we justly accuse the Roman Church which having wholly neglected and laid aside the rules of primitive Antiquity has as mistress of the faith of all Christians obtruded new articles under the specious pretense and
to the first ages are hugely encreased and multiplied as is too too manifest from the present state and condition of the Roman Church and the obscure confessions of other Churches what other effect can we expect should proceed from this mighty industry and zeal but that Christendom being divided into so many parties and factions all just hope of union should be wholly removed and taken away when the effecting of it hereby seems to be rendred morally impossible 3. The arrogant pretensions of the Popes unbounded power contributes not a little to the heightning and augmenting the difference in Christendom It does not seem at this day to comport with the greatness of the Roman Church to be content to be included within the antient limits of the Suburbicary regions For not satisfied with a Primacy of order or with her antient Patriarchate to whose jurisdiction the Britannick Churches were not of right subject or with her other privileges conferred upon her out of a respect to the Imperial city as if the spirit of the old Romans were infused into her she proudly affects an empire over the whole body of Christians throughout the world If the other Patriachs who owe that honour and dignity to the same original the favour of Princes and the decrees and constitutions of general Councils in the assignment of which as it is most evident from the 28th Canon of the Council of Chalcedon they had onely a regard to the privileges and dignities of cities to which the Ecclesiastical government was accommodated defend their rights and liberties against the attempts and encroachments of the Bishop of Rome if they will not submit to a forraign yoke unless they with a base and a most unbecoming flattery adore Rome as their Mistress and Patroness and obey her decrees and orders presently there is an end of them they are arraigned and accused as guilty of schism nor shall they be thought worthy of the honour and favour of her communion When some time after the Empire was divided into East and West there seemed to be a kind of agreement at least and a fair and amicable correspondence kept up the ambition and pride of the Bishops of Rome who would needs busy and interest themselves in the affairs of the Greek Church spoiled all For to no other cause can the original of that sad and fatal separation be ascribed altho it was afterward heightned and the wound festered more and more when the article of the procession of the holy Spirit from the Son was added to the Constantinopolitan Creed without ever so much as consulting the Oriental Bishops who upon the knowledge of it soon after vehemently opposed it justly alledging that it was utterly unlawful so to do it being expresly against the 7th canon of the council of Ephesus But things were more securely advanced and carryed on in the Western Empire by the artifice and policy of the Popes of Rome for the opposition which was made now and then by two or three honest and stout men to their tyrannical and arbitrary proceedings signified little or nothing and was run down with noise violence and power When then they had no regard to the canons of antient Councils by which the Catholick Church was formerly governed when they had trodden under their feet all divine and humane law and right when they had arrogated to themselves the disposition of all Church-affairs and had usurpt a power over all Christians and nothing for the future was to be admitted and believed but what was agreeable to the Bulls and decrees of the Roman Court can any one wonder when things were brought to this pass that Christendom should at last awaken from its deep lethargy and grown sensible of the miserable slavery of its condition should complain of the exercise of this usurped unjust and tyrannical power and seriously think of recovering its true antient original hristian liberty In the mean time what did they at Rome did they enter upon serious counsels and resolutions honestly and effectually to satisfy the requests and demands of Kings Princes and Republicks concerning a Reformation which were continually sent thither by their Ambassadors and Agents did they restore their ill-gotten goods which they had seized upon most unjustly and as unjustly had detained by force and violence I mean the common rights and privileges belonging to the Bishops and to all Christian people nothing less they exclaim they rage they are furious and mad and let fly their thunderbolts of excommunication from the Vatican hill and devote men to hell and damnation only for this unpardonable fault because they were at last quite tyred with and weary of the slavery which they had laboured under for so many years This is that which troubles and grieves them now at Rome and which they are endeavouring with so much art and policy to effect and bring about and this is that which unless God shall vouchsafe to avert the omen and open the eyes of all such who are deluded by the witchcrafts and sorcery of Rome to forsake her communion which is so dangerous to their salvation will make the schism irreconcileable and eternal For as things stand at present there can be no peace and accommodation with Rome unless we part with our liberties and our laws and our consciences and our religion the true Christian religion and every thing which is dear to us nor yet such is the restlesness of that party and especially of the Jesuits that if the counsels of such fiery Bigots may prevail we shall never be at quiet unless we submit our necks once more most stupidly to the Roman yoke which our Popish Ancestors even both before and after they were enlightned with the knowledge of the truths of God threw off with great indignation as not being able to bear it Lastly we are convinced by sad experience that these differences about religion which have divided Christendom into so many sects to the great disturbance of its peace and quiet owe no small part of their original to the great decay of true solid piety through idleness and carelesness and to the departure from the most holy rules of living which Christ our blessed Lord and master has prescribed us which is every where so visible I need not here labour in the proof of this by heaping up arguments when the fact is so evident nor shall I tragically exclaim or inveigh against the unmanly softness the luxury the prophaneness the wickedness of the age and the evil lives of Christians this reflexion deserving our sighs and tears rather than satyre and invective I do not here mean so much those whose wicked corrupt principles and most scandalous lives sufficiently shew that they have no sense of any religion but I chiefly intend such as make a fair shew of Christianity how little of true piety is found about them but how much of superstition and immoderate zeal for the peculiar tenents of their sect by which they
of the Christian doctrine by arrogant presumptions of false reasonings and by sophistical arguments and by their blasphemies against Christ the eternal Son of God and turn the grace of God into the lasciviousness of humane wit and deny the divinity of our Saviour are not to be honoured with this name why should not the foundation and ground-work of Ecclesiastical peace and unity after the example and practice of the primitive Church be laid in the same faith with what pretense of reason ought any opinion after the first preaching and establishment of the faith all the world over after the conveyance of it down to so many ages be superadded as a necessary point of faith which was unknown to all Antiquity by what right can such a number of articles be obtruded upon the understandings and consciences of Christians and especially such as have been invented and propagated for base and secular interests and advantages and to maintain worldly grandeur and reputation That Christians do so little agree in some of their sentiments about Religion as if there were not the same rule of faith equally and under the same obligation proposed to all this must not be imputed either to our B. Saviour or his Apostles or to the nature of his Religion which proposes in easy terms and Propositions to the most ordinary and less intelligent Christians enough to conduce to their obtaining eternal salvation but to certain fiery Zealots who venting their beloved tenents and notions for oracles impose them upon others under direful curses and Anathema's What fuller proof and argument can there be of this surious zeal than what the Romanists are guilty of in inveighing against us as they do most falsly and unjustly for not receiving several tenents which are but of a few ages standing and which are destitute of all authority whether of Scripture or Antiquity But this is our comfort if yet it be any comfort to persons in distress to have any to share with them in it we shall not be condemned alone but at the same time they condemn us they must draw into the guilt of the same heresy as they are pleased most civilly to word it all such as have a true and just veneration of uncorrupt Antiquity and for this reason among others reject the Creed of Pope Pius the fourth But if we are to think well of the condition of those who in the first ages preserved the integrity and purity of the Christian faith with Creeds and other holy writings as so many sacred amulets and preservatives against the infection and poison of heresy truly so called who were ambitious of dying and lost their lives for the profession of that faith and embraced the flames rather than dissemble or disown it if the primitive Saints and Martyrs be happy and blessed we need not fear the noise of their thunder which can do no execution upon us and which are meer bug-bears to affright persons of weak and childish phansies we tread in the steps of those holy Saints and Martyrs we are safe we are secure provided we copy out their lives and imitate those glorious examples they have set up of consummate piety as well as profess the same faith Wherever the Christians were dispersed whether in the Patriarchate of Rome or Alexandria or any other by virtue of this Profession of faith they were received into communion and admitted to the common rights of Religion not denying or envying to each other salvation in the world to come but by joint exercises of devotion mutually promoting and advancing it nay their charity was so great that notwithstanding the most unchristian censures and unjust Schism of the Donatists they lookt upon them as Brethren still though horribly perverted by a false and ignorant zeal to make a separation from them nay they did not pass a damnatory sentence upon the Arians nor altogether despair of their sâ—â—â—ation but left them to stand or fall to their own Master 2. Upon and after a ready acknowledgment of the articles of faith without which no one can pretend to be a Christian let a liberty of judging in other less material points of doctrine be allowed and indulged for variety of opinions does no more dissolve the unity of faith than variety of rites and ceremonies How had that wide wound which schism has made in the body of the Church been long since closed and perfectly healed if this soveraign medicine had been applyed and if they had not proceeded so dogmatically and boldly by confessions of faith and by new and unheard of canons to determine points uncertain and doubtful by which way of procedure the minds of Christians are oppressed and the doctrine of faith rendred perplext and obscure by scholastick subtilties and niceties It were to be wisht indeed that all Christians and especially those who for most just and weighty and indispensable reasons and motives have relinquished the Roman communion could agree in a general systeme of Theological opinions but because this is not to be hoped for considering the different apprehensions tempers inclinations interests judgments way of education method of study and arguing and interpreting scripture and consequently there not being the same light of knowledge the same force and sharpness of wit and understanding the same industry and impartiality why should we not for peace and quiet sake bear with others who though they may differ from us in some particulars agree with us in fundamentals as they are contained in easy texts of Scripture and in the ancient Creeds with all Christian charity and compassion and moderation Let that evil custom of reviling which is almost become habitual and natural and that odious calling of names and branding private notions with ill characters if they may admit of a more favourable interpretation without prejudice to the essential truths of the Gospel for ever cease and be totally laid aside For by this mutual indulgence and condescension which all Lovers of peace cannot but acknowledge to be most fit and equitable there is no one whatever be his capacity never so mean and dull but he will foresee and presage that a mighty benefit would redound to Christendom and a happy stop would be put to the disorders and confusions of it 3. Let the antient canons about Church-government be restored to their full vigour and every National Church enjoy its just rights and the Bishop of Rome be reduced to his original jurisdiction and all pretensions to an Oecumenical power for ever be abolished and annulled For the Romanists in the height of all their pride and usurpations which have violated the peace of the Church of which they cannot but be convinced in their consciences may remember that communion with their Church was never held necessary but onely as it was a part and branch and member of the Catholick Church Besides who can be ignorant of the great disputes maintained with the See of Rome in antient and latter times by the Christians