shapes Protestants put their Church in to make her pass for true 1 The first is Protestants are a company of Christans under the government of Bishops Pastors that have power and authority from Christ and his Apostles to administer the Sacraments and preach the word of God But such a company is the true Church therefore Protestants are the true Church ANSWER 1 Neither Christ nor the Apostles ever conferred any power or Authority on Protestant Bishops and Pastors they were dead and gone long before these had any being To give Power and Authority of this nature requireth presence of the Giver so was God present to Moses Exod 3. Christ to his disciples Mat. 6.28 Neither is their any Testament or Monument extant to shew that the power or Authority Christ bequeathed should lye obscure and dead for such a tract of time and then be brought to light and revived when Protestant Bishops and Pastors sprang up or that it was for them 2. It will be said Christ and the Apostles shared their power to Protestant Bishops mediately immediately to those lived in their dayes and those to others downe to these Repl. By this is implyed a continuation of succession in the Protestant Bishops and Pastors ever since Christ the Apostles it is not concievable any other way how power could be transmitted from one hand to another as is averred as also a visibilite of the same for as much as it was their partes to preach the word of God and administer the Sacraments if visible they may be produced they ought to be produced they may because that power is vaine and fictitious that is not reducible to act Math. 5. They ought because Bishops and Pastors in case of Controversy are to give an accompt of their calling Luke 7. as well to settle the wavering as to bend and make supple the stifness of stubborne misbelievers 1 Peter 3. 3. How necessary this is Tertullian admirably well vrged Lib de praescrip Iren. adver Heres Hieron in Lucifer Optat. lib. 2. contra Parmen when he bad the Sectaries of his time let him see the beginning of their Bishops Pastors Likewise Optatus the Origin of your Chaire shews yee that needs will challenge to your selves the holy Church St. Austin came not behind these in pressing the necessity of succession and derivation Augustin de utilit credend Epist cont Faustum Manich. where he ingenuously acknowledgeth them to be of force to hold keep him in the bosome of the Church There keepeth me said that great Saint in the Church the succession of Priests from the very sitting of St. Peter to whom our Lord after his Resurrection committed the feeding of his sheepe even to this present Bishop And well did it become the Pious zeale of those ornaments lights of Gods Church to shew earnestness vehemency in this behalfe inasmuch as derivation of succession is so proper to the true Church that it cannot agree to any false as St. Hierom in Micam 1. observeth assuring Sectaries to have no such riches as come to men by plain inheritance from their fathers and as is evident in it selfe by reason the true Church was planted and established before any false began The Parable of the good man sowing first good seed and the enemy over-sowing Cockle evince no less Mat. 13. Therefore must needs be a non plus ultra a stopp bar betwixt whatsoever Counterfeit Church and Christ to keep off the like continuation of succession 4. It will be said if derivation of succession be a sure Marke of the true Church Arians Turkes may claim the true Church Arians deriving themselves without interruption from Arius and the Turks from Mahomet Repl Arian and Turk derivation climb not so high as Christ it reacheth no further than Arius and Mahomet who grew up long after Christ the Argument from succession is not grounded upon any succession but upon derivation of succession from the Apostles and Christ and that holds good because Christ was not onely man but God also and therefore had power to constitute a true Church Arius and Mahomet were no more than men who may not assume any such prerogative So that derivation of succession from them onely demonstrates them to have been the Founders and beginners of Arianisme and Turcisme 5. It will be said divers Sectaries were contemporary with Christ therefore that argues Antiquity onely not Truth Repl. It may be severall Sectaries had the honour to see some part of the time Christ lived in but not his institution that was a speciall favour reserved for onely granted to his deare spouse the Church Sectaryes crept in after as opposers of Christs institution 6. It will be said There have been named in severall ages the Albigenses the Apostolici Osiand Epitom AEn Sylvius de gest Bohem. Guid Carmel in Albigens Antoninus Luxemberg in paup de Lugdun Vspergens chron 212. Cesar Cistert dial 5. Vincent speculum hist Prateolus Sandeus Wickliffe Hus. Repl. None of these were Protestants they holding not in all points with them nor yet with themselves asis to be seen in Osiander Aeneas Sylvius and other approved Historians Besides there was a great distance between them and the Apostles in which they could not be mentioned for as much as they were not begun or were quite extinct 2 Another shape is Luther descended from Catholiques Catholiques from the Apostles therefore Protestants had their originall from the Apostles they deriving themselves uninterruptedly from Luther ANSWER 1. Protestants derivation from Luther is frivolous and of no weight Luther wanting Episcopall Authority without which all Ordinations are null and frustrate by the confessions of the cheif Protestants themselves See Saravia Sutcliffe Bilson Andrews White Mason Mountague Hall and others 2. It will be said Luther received Episcopal power immediately from God Repl. Such a power being extraordinary is alwayes accompained with that of Miracles as appeared in Moyses Exod. 3. and the Apostles Act. 2.14 Luther never wrought Miracle neither did he ever pretend to any such gift the season of Miracles as some of his Disciples avouch being than past And for his wonders alleadged in drawing so many after him maugre the Pope Emperour and other Potentates it shews onely a strange itching in men after Novelties proneness to Libertinage Arius in a shorter space lead away far more and greater ones that to use Saint Hieroms words cont Lucifer the world did groan again to see it self on a suddain become Arian But this could be no Miracle for Miracles are done for the asserting of truths it was most untrue that Christ was not God that he was not equall to his eternall father as Arius contended 3. It will be said it was Miraculous in the Apostles to convert thousands to the faith of Christ in a time of greatest opposition and resistance Repl. In them it was it being a work of too high a nature for the undertaking of
poor illiterate men to perswade a Religion so contrary to flesh and blood as mortification of Wills Fasting Chastity c. Luther was a man of learning and parts who had onely to instil a doctrine acceptable and pleasing to the depravedness of nature to perform which needed not abilities other than naturall 3 A third shape is Protestants received their Mission from Catholick Bishops in Queen Elizabeths dayes and since ANSWER 1. If some did which is to be proved Nay the contrary seemes demonstrated by Doctor Champney it is evident the greater part did not and what a Church must that company make of which most are judged fit to preach the word of God and administer the Sacraments without authority But admit the calling of Protestant Bishops and Pastours were right in all of them it would not follow that the Protestant Church is true so long as she advanceth Protestanisme contrary to the meaning of the Catholique Bishops who never impowr'd any but in relation to the setting up and upholding of Catholique Religion 2. Furthermore Communion with the true Church being as necessary a requisite to the making up of a true Church as union of parts to the compleating of a naturall body what colour for truth in the Protestant Church that is at variance with the Catholique of whom she gloryeth to have her power and which she confesseth to be a true Church whereto adde that Protestants derivation from Catholiques is not proof for a personall succession of Bishops and Pastours agreeing in all points with Protestants which ought to be the scope and ayme of that derivation it being not required of Protestants to deduce a succession from Christ and his Apostles of men meerly sent but withall professing the doctrine maintained in the Church of England For although doctrine be no mark of the true Church as shall be shewn hereafter nevertheless it is her inseparable Mate insomuch that where true Doctrine is wanting there the true Church cannot be Christ having intrusted her with his truth and ordained her keeper and preserver thereof 3. It will be said such a succession may be shewn but mingled pale-male with Catholiques as corn with chaffe good fish with bad conformably to Scripture comparing the Church to a barn-floor where there is corn and chaffe together Math. 3. to a Net replenished with all sortes of fish Math. 13. Repl. This mixture must have been either of Protestant and Catholique doctrine in the same company of men making profession of both or in severall companies one professing one another the other It could not be the former because that would be a clear argument that the Church hath erred contrary to what was proved in the fift Chapter Besides the name of Protestant to this company would be very improper holding a Doctrine inconsistent with the Protestant Surely whosoever over and above the Protestant Doctine should profess the Arian or Nestorian would deem himself jeered and laughed at to hear himself styled by the name of Protestant Doctrine being in nature much like unto number the least addition or diminution altering its kind and grounding a new denomination Nor the latter in as much as there is no agreement betwixt the Temple of God and Idols no concord with Christ and Belial 2. Cor. 6. The Arke of God and Dagon may not stand together 1. Kings 5. It were a strange example if the Church unparaleld for love to her spouse that professeth so much to truth and strictly forbiddeth ill company as dangerous to her Children should receive into her company Lyers and Innovatours This would leave a stain upon her reputation make her sincerity be suspected her Doctrine contemned and despised But she who is all fair Cant. 6. Without spot or wrinkle Epes 5. is free from any such guilt Sectaries being as hideous and hatefull in her sight as their suggestions are full of poyson and destructive to soules 4. It will be said Protestant Bishops and Pastours were not so near mingled with Catholiques as either to believe or profess their Doctrine they onely concealed and covered their own for fear of the formidable rigour of Catholiques Repl. such Bishops and Pastours could neither be true nor make a saving Church Not true because the Mission of true Bishops and Pastours being founded upon persecution and suffering Loe I send you as sheep among Wolves Math. 10. Luke 11. it is proper for them to fear no colours Cruelty in her gastliest hue is not able to fright or daunt them from preaching the word of God and administring the Sacraments The Apostles gave testimony to this truth when commanded by higher powers to forbear mentioning Christ or his actions they bravely and with stoutness reported that they could not choose but declare What they had seen and heard yea even outraged and ill entreated for this behalf they went away glad and rejoycing to be thought worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus Acts. 5. All the glorious Martyrs and Confessours confirm the same by their profession of faith amidst the loathsome stenches of close Prisons and horrible torments of bloody persecutours 5. Nor make up a saving Church by reason profession of Faith is necessary to salvation Rom. 10. In heart it is believed to justice by mouth profession is made unto Salvation Mat. 10. He that denies me to men I will denie him before my father c. The Comparisons are meant of private men for matter of manners not of any mixture of true and false Doctrine Orthodoxall Heretical Bishops Pastours together 6. A fourth shape is in all ages since Christ and his Apostles there have been Protestant Bishops and Pastours but through the negligence of men and hard fate of times their names have miscarried and perish'd And as it is no argument many famous Romans and Graecians are not named therefore never were any such men so it is no less fals a sequell Protestant Bishops and Pastours are not mentioned all the way from Christ and the Apostles therefore they were sometimes wanting ANSWER 1. It is not the same of private men and of Bishops and Pastours These have Christs Warrant and assurance for a Continuance of visibility so have not those Math. 28. Bishops and Pastours are as Aqueduces and Limbecks through which the vivifying waters of Christs holy Doctrine are derived into our eares and distilled into our soules so are not private men should they be at any time clouded and in obscurity Christ would be worse than his word his Doctrine fall short and not come home to us 2. It will be said visibility is a badge private men wear as well as Bishops and Doctours therefore it cannot be inferred more of the one than of the other Repl. Visibility is not peculiar to Bishop and Pastours but necessity of visibility is private men in this way of visibility being onely contingently visible So that though this inference be not right they are visible men therefore they are Bishops and Rastours no more
as there is for the revelation of the other to wit the Churches Tradition which giving a like exidence of both ought not to be deemed less sufficient for the latter than the former It will be said before Scripture had being the power and right of declaring Revelation belonged to the Church but since they were transferred and given to Scripture so as now Gods Revelation is to be known thence without recourse to the Church Repl. The power and right of declaring Gods Revelation were bestowed upon the Church not for the Apostles time only but for all the time after for the Commission was not each same but all Nations Mat. 6. which is not to be accomplisht till the end of the World when the Jews shall be gather'd from their dispersion and consequently imparts the fulness of him that is to say so long as this World lasteth or there is time in being It will be said to what purpose then did the Evangelists set pen to paper Repl. For more comfort to give Testimony of the Church and her sincerity in teaching and not for every one to be his own carver and interpreter St Paul is positive let men esteem of us c. as the dispencers of Gods mysteries 1. Cor. 4. It was ever held an effect of great improvidence and an occasion of much confusion for the people in any state or Common-Wealth to have the freedome and liberty of construing the Law Therefore wise Lawmakers to shew their care and foresight for the good and weal publick as they caused then Laws to be written so did they appoint certain select persons of great abilitie and in egritie to administer and dispense the same This being true what an undervalueing must it be of Gods wisdom and providence to think that in a Commonwealth of his own immediate establishing as the Church is he hath left to all indifferently a liberty to make what sense they please of his Law on which as on a shelf or Rock her peace and safety would be in perpetuall danger of Wrack The Jarres and Garboyles of Sectaries having scarce had any other source than the priviledge every of them took of reading and interpreting Scripture The Reason is clear because all men are not apt to understand alike for being for the most part of different tempers and composures they have various fancies which of necessity will beget a diversity of understanding Let twenty read and reason upon Scripture and not relate to some former exposition and I dare be bold to say that no two of them shall agree Experience is my warrant in Luther Zuing lius Calvin who for all their reading and reasoning made no less than three contrary and repugnant senses of those plain words This is my Body This is my Blood 10. It will be said those selected persons intrusted with the administring and dispensing of the Laws utter by mouth what they understand and they understand no more than what their private reading and reasoning are able to inform them so that even this way man would be to seek Repl. Judges have not only their reading and reasoning to inform and direct them but likewise the practise of former Courts from the very promulgation of the Law at which time the sense and meaning of the same was declared by the Law-makers themselves The Church besides the letter of Scripture which she reads assiduously with watching fasting and prayer for a right and happy understanding thereof and her own reasoning hath the help of a better and surer tradition and the assistance of the Holy Ghost Now I leave it to the impartial Reader to judge whether is more like to informe right and sure of Gods revealed truâ—h â—he that hath-onely his own private reading and reasoning to help him or she that over and above all these is favoured both by infallible Tradition and the Holy Ghost And again whether in a matter concerns Salvation it be not an act of imprudence and folly to believe him rather than her CHAP. 16. Of the Roman Church BY the word Roman are not onely comprized the Inhabitants of that particular Territory of Rome but likewise all Christians in the world that acknowledgâ— the Bishops of Rome for their cheif Pastour appointed by Christ to govern his flock My taske in this Chapter is to prove that this company together with the said Bishop compose and make up the true Catholique Church 1 1. My first proof is that company of Christians compose and make up the true Catholique Church to which the definition of the true Catholique Church doth agree But the difinition of the true Catholique Church doth agree to the above mentioned company therefore they compose and make up the true Catholique Church The first Proposition is evident every thing being really one and the same with its definition as Man with rationall Beast with irrationall The second Proposition I shew The definition of the true Catholique Church is a society of men linck't together in the profession of one Faith in the use of the same Sacraments and under the government of Bishops and Pastours lawfully sent that are able to shew their personall and doctrinall succession from Christ and his Apostles without the least interruption A society of men And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and other some Evangelists others Pastours and Doctours to the consmmation of the saints unto the work of Ministery unto the edifying of the body of Christ linck't together Eph. 4. One body one spirit one faith one Baptisme ibid Lawfully sent No man taketh the honour to himself but he that is called as Aaron of God Heb. 5. How shall they preach unless they be sent Rom. 10. That are able to shew c. The Mountain of the house of our Lord shall be prepared in the top of Mountaines and all nations shall flow unto it Jsa 2. He hath placed his Tabernacle in the sunne Psal 118. Their Personall and doctrinall succession He gave some Doctours and Pastours c. Untill wee all meet in the unity of faith Ephes 4. without the least interruption Behold J am with you alwaies unto the end of the world Ma. 6.28 2. Let us look upon this definition in its severall parts and veiw if any be discrepant from the a forenamed company The first is a society of men this agreeth to the said company for in that company is to be seen Hierusalem descended from above Apoc. 4. A goodly Hierarchy or Heavenly order and subordination of Subdeacon to Deacon of Deacon to Priest of Priest to Bishop of Bishop to chief Bishop or Pope and of the Laity to all And which is yet more admirable these degrees are so masterlike set that they doe not hinder and trouble but as great less strings musically tuned make and preserve the Melodious Harmony of Peace and Concord The second part is linck'd together This agreeth to the said Company for in that company there is no diversity of belief but one as Monarch
than that there are white fowle therefore they are swans whiteness belonging as well to Geese Ducks Pigeons c. Yet there are Bishops and Pastours therefore they are visible holds good as there are swans therefore they are white fowl in asmuch as visibility agreeth necessarily to Bishops and Pastours as whiteness doth to swans 3. It will be said Divers Bishops and Pastours have been whose names are not extant therefore Bishops and Pastours have no stricter relation to visibility than private men Repl. Bishops and Pastours are necessarily visible either indeterminately or determinately indeterminately all for some are necessary to make a visible Church determinately so many without which there could not be a sufficient number to make a true visible Church Even as Ships in respect of passing the Sea all are necessary either indeterminately or determinately indeterminately all some being necessary to pass with determinately so many without which the Sea is not to be passed Wherefore as the Antecedent is true the Sequell is false Bishops and Pastours having either indeterminately or determinately a necessary Reference to this sort of visibility private men onely an accidentall 4 It will be said Bishops and Pastours are necessarily visible whil'st they live dead that necessity ceaseth Repl. Such a visibility would be to no purpose it not providing the Church of means to defend and make good her right in case of opposition for the question of lawfulness in Bishops and Pastours and of their truth in point of Doctrine soaring as high as Christ commonly be satisfied by a shewing of equall rise which supposeth a visibility reaching from Christ to the end of the World as power to the Act. The question of the Churches Right is to be decided not unlike that of two great men laying claim to a Principality by vertue of some pretended descent from a certain Prince or to that of 〈◊〉 River whether it hath its ofâ—â—ring from such a Hill or Mountain For as to Evidence this the surest way will be to derive their Pedigree and to trace the River up to the Head so to clear that no means more effectuall than to take a view of the ages gliding betwixt Christ and us If Bishops and Pastours be found succeeding each other without intermission it is Evident they are true and Catholick if otherwise they may not escape the brand of usurpation and intrusion 5. The Truth of Doctrine is discernable much after the same manner If it be found to have no way varied but to have kept its own from Christ and the Apostles doubtless it is Orthodox if not most certainly it is new and false In short by the good help of this visibility the Bishops and Pastours of Gods Church together with his Doctrine shine so bright throughout all ages since Christ that who will open their eyes to see and their mouthes to ask may with ease finde whom to obey and what to believe for want of this visibility Sectaries boast they never so much of Antiquity prove but of late creation and their Doctrines fond devises of unsetled and wavering mindes 5. The last shape is That Church is true and Catholick which professeth the Apostles Doctrine clearly delivered in Scripture but the Protestants Church doth this therefore c. ANSWER 1. TRue Doctrine is no mark of a true Church it being to be seen among Schismaticks who for want of Communion are not able to make a true Church Besides Doctrine is as divers as there are divers seeming Churches and so not affording any determinate motion drawes in opposition of a mark of truth to which adde that Doctrine supposeth Bishops and Pastours as the means whereby it is conveyed unto us For Doctrine comes not in the ayre or by infusion but by preaching and teaching of men not only sent inwardly by inspiration but likewise outwardly by ordination or imposition of hands of such as have power as the Priests in the old Law the Apostles and their successors in the new were Exod. 3. Levit. 8. Math. 28. therefore it importeth as much to name Bishops and Pastours before way be given to the mentioning of Doctrine as it is necessary passing from one extreame to another to touch first the middle It is no less untrue that Protestants maintain the Apostles Doctrine delivered in Scripture inasmuch as they cleave to a sense which the words neither do nor can beare without wresting forcing as Dr. Smith late Bishop of Chalcedon hath clearly shewn in his Collation to which I must remit you for avoyding of tedious quotations as opposite to my professed brevity To be of the Apostle belief requires a full and entire admission of what they believed For if belief of some points only were enough to make two of one belief Catholicks and Protestants Turks and Jews might crack of unity in Religion because though they differ in some points yet in other some they consent and agree Now Heaven being a reward only intended and promised where there is a full performance of Duty belief of part of the Apostle Belief is as ineffectuall to Salvation as perseverance for a time which moved St Athan to say that he that did not hold the Catholick Faith intirely should for ever perish And it is agreeable to reason in regard punishment is the reward of contempt offered to Gods Majestie which may be done as by transgressing any one Commandment so by disbelieving any one point Gods Majesty shining no less resplendently in his veracity than in is Will. It will be said Protestants agree with the Apostles in sundamentalls which is sufficient to be of the Apostles belief and to Salvation Repl. There are two sortes of Fundamentalls answerable to the twofold precept of belief affirmative He that believes shall be saved and negative He that doth not believe shall be condemned Mar. 16. The first sort is points to be believed explicitly or in particular as the Trinity the Incarnation c. The second sort is points to be believed at leastwise implicitly or in generall as all points whatsoever relating to belief both are Fundamentalls because both are necessary to Salvation and both are necessary to Salvation because both are equally grounded upon Revelation whence ariseth the necessitie and obligation of belief Now admit it should be granted that Protestants agree with the Apostles in the first sort of Fundamentalls that is in points necessarie to be believed explicitly according to the affirmative precept of belief which may well be a question they not believing them upon account of the Church but for fancie or some other humane respect yet disagreeing in the second sort that is in points necessarie to be believed at leastwise implicitly according to the negative precept of belief How is it true that they do not disagree from the Apostles in fundamentalls It will be said those points Protestants disagree in were not revealed to the Apostles Repl. It is manifest they were there being the same light for the revelation of them
swayeth in Europe Asia Africa and America where one and the same belief is embraced for one and the same motive Gods Revelation proposed by the Church The third part is lawfully sent This agreeth to the said Company for in that company No man clarifieth himself but one receiveth power from another the Subdeacon Deacon Priest from the Bishop the Bishop from the cheif Bishop or Pope The fourth part is Able to shew c. This a greeth to the said Company for in that company an exact succession of power and doctrine is faithfully and with clearness deduced Writers of severall ages and Nations having put forth and published to the view of the world authentick schemes Catalogues of Popes Coccius Gualterius Bishops Pastours succeding each other from Christ and the Apostles and from time to time layd open their Doctrine The fifth part is without the least interruption And this agreeth with the said Company for in that Company a Continual pure stream of power and Doctrine is demonstrated by the said writers to have been ever sweetly gliding from its head Christ and in its proper Channell Bishops and Pastours and not any moment of time can be pointed at in which its course was stopped from beating down infidelity and imbalming true Belieuers with the fragrant odours of vertve and Religion 2. 1. The second Proof is that Company composeth and maketh up the true Catholick Church which doth acknowledg and embrace a power generally claimed and Doctrine generally professed by the Apostles and Christians ever since But the said Company acknowledgeth and embraceth a power generally claymed and a Doctrine generally professed by the Apostles and Christians ever since Therefore that composeth and maketh up the true Catholick Church The first Proposition is undeniable in asmuch as Apostolicall power and Doctrine where communion is not wanting are sure Evidences of the true Catholick Church The second Proposition I shall sufficiently clear by instancing the beginning and after-rising of those Tenets which Sectaries hold against Catholicks by she wing how the learned of Catholicks who were as the mouth pen of the rest opposed the said Tenets as new and never heard of before lastly by producing Councells witnessing and confirming the Orthodoxness of this mouth and pen and branding the contrary for heresies Now forasmuch as it is easier to evidence our Fathers acts than our Grandfathers or great Grandfathers c I resolve to take this way making my first instance in the last so upwards to the Apostles When Calvin 1534. changed the Hierarchie of the Church into Presbyterie framed a spirituall presence of Christs body in the Eucharists establisht a perpetuity in the Possession of Grace destroyed all possibility of keeping the Commandments Christians generally professed as the said Company doth that their Commission was to inculcate that the Government of the Church was instituted by Christ Hierarchicall and not to be altered that Christs presence in the Eucharist was corporall that grace once had might be lost by sinne that keeping of the Commandments was the way to Salvation therefore as possible as salvation its self Staphilus Lindanus Hosius Claudius de Xaintes Morus conc Trident. when Zuinglius 1525. set up a signe and figure in the place of Christs body Christians generally professed as the said Company doth that their Commission was to inculcate that the Body of Christ was truly and really in the Eucharist Lindanus Fleidan Luth. conc Trid. When Luther 1517 reviled the Pope calling him Antichrist impugned the Authority of Generall Councells Grace from the Sacraments Mass taught impanature ubiquity of Christs Body Christians generally professed as the said Company doth that their Commission was to inculcate that the Pope was Christs Vicar appointed to Rule his flock That Generall Councells in their Canonicall decrees were to be obeyed That the Sacraments did confer grace to all that received them worthily that Mass was an holy sacrifice instituted by Christ for a Commemoration of his Death and Passion for exhibition of soveraign honour to his Eternall father for propitiation to the living and dead That ubiquity was proper to the Godhead Echius Cochlaeus Alphonsus Acastro Fisherus the vniversality of Collen Louen Paris Henrie the 8th Conc. Trident When Valdesius 1170 inveighed against Indulgences and Purgatory Christians generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate that the Catholique Church had power to forgive not onely the fault or guilt of sinne but likewise the pain and punishment due for the same That out of this world there was a place of satisfaction for such as departed in grace Antoninus Claudius Cossiodus Conc. Florent Trident. When Photius with other greekes 1049 opposed the Popes supremacy Christians generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate That the Pope was the supream Bishop and head of the Church Rabanus Haym Antoninus Conc. Florent Conc. Constant 8 When Berengarius 104. grew to that impudence as to out Christ quite the Eucharist Christians generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate That Christs Body was truely and realy there Lanfranc Guitmundus Blondus Conc. Lugdunense When Albanenses 796. questioned extreme unction Christiás generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate that extreme unction was one of the seaven Sacraments instituted by Christ Bede Conc. Worm When Jacobus 584 took away Confession Christians generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate that Confession of sinns to a Preist rightly impowered was availeable and necessary Saint Gregory Cassiodorus Conc. Trident When Sonaras 495 despised Images Christians generally professed as the said Company doth that their Commission was to inculcate that as to other things relating to God and his saints so also to Images a certain degree of respect and reverence was due Saint Hier. Theodor Conc. 2. Nic. When Vigilantius 424. cried down holy Reliques and prayer to Saints Christians generally professed as the said Company doth that their Commission was to inculcate that respect to holy things and prayer to Saints was both laudable and beneficiall Saint Epiphan Saint Aug. Saint Hier. Saint Greg. Niss Conc. Constant Conc. Laodi when Pelagius 405 denied originall sinne and the necessity of Baptisme Christians generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate that since the fall of Adam all were conceived in originall sinne and that to remove it Baptisme was requisite Saint August Saint Gregory Naz. Nisse Saint Basil Theodoret Saint Ambr. Saint Hier. Saint John Conc. Milev When Jovinian 395 made sinns all alike greivous had the same esteem of Marriage and virginity Christians generally professed as the said Company doth that their Commission was to inculcate That sinns according to their more or less repugnancy to reason were greater some than other that how be it Marriage was good and honourable yet that virginity was
better and to be preferred Saint Hier. Saint August Conc. Tolens When Arius 364 deprived the Dead of the livings prayers Christians generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate that to pray for the dead was an act of Piety and mercy Saint August Saint Ambr. Saint Hier. Saint Chrys Saint Epiphan Conc. Constant 3 Conc. Nic. 2. When Eunomius 358. attributed to Faith strength and vertue to keep off the harm of sin from the faithfull Christians generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate That Christians in sinne were notwithstanding their faith in state of Damnation Saint Basil Saint Ephrem Saint Chryso When Novatus 250. refused admission to the Penitent after Baptisme constituted a Church of meer just Christians generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate that a sinner truly repentant was to be received at any time and that the Church Militant was not without mixture of bad Saint Cypr. Saint Ephrem Saint Hier. Saint August Conc. Rom. When Gnostici 129 fancied a Justice extrinsecate and imputative Christians generally professed as the said Company doth that their Commission was to inculcate That justice was inherent to the soul and that it consisted of a spirituall quality called grace whose property is to expell sinne to enlighten the minde to incline and enable the Will to all good Iren. Iustin Conc. Trident. When Simon Magus 55 destroyed freewill opened heaven to faith unaccompanied with good workes blasphemed God to be the Author of sinne Christians generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate that through Adams disobedience freewill was weakened and ill inclined but not lost that faith did dispose and help but without good works that shee was too weak to justify a sinfull soul that God did all good things and for sinne that he did no more than suffer and permit Saint Peter Saint Paul Saint Luke Saint John Saint Mathew Saint James Saint Jude Act. Saint Dionys Saint August Conc. Trid. 17. This Proof will gather strength by observing that the above named but few dayes or Months before their opposition held as the rest of Christians did in all points with the said Company and that neither they nor others in their behalf have left to posterity the least mention of any number of men in being before their opposition with whom to joyn and side to make good the same Assuredly if any such thing had been so great an advantage would not have been passed over in silence 3. 1 The third and last Proof is That Company composeth and makethup the Catholique Church which is acknowledged even by their Adversaries to be Apostolicall But the above mentioned Company is acknowledge even by their Adversaries to be Apostolicall therefore that Company composeth and maketh up the Catholique Church The first Proposition is evident for as much as Apostolicall in a right and genuin sense sinignifyeth to believe as the Apostles believed which is to be Catholique The second Proposition appeares no less cleer in severall Protestan writers who expressely account that the Apostles first planted the Christian faith in England That the same was retained by Bissiops and Pastours from the first Plantation to Saint Austin That in substance it differed not from that which Saint Austin brought in That Saint Austin was by Gregory the great Bishop of Rome to convert the Saxons in England to the Roman faith That the Roman Church in Gregory the greats time was the same it is at this present See to this purpose Perkins Exposi on the Creed Pag. 266. Powell Cons pap rer pag. 103. Stow How Speed Cambden and all the English Chronicles Now the Axiom in Philosophy which assureth Two Extreames which are one with a third to be one amongst themselves will justify this form Saint Austins Church and Doctrine were Apostolicall Saint Austins Church and Doctrine were the same with the now Roman Therefore the Roman Church and Doctrine are Apostolicall CHAP 17. Of certain Objections made against the Roman Church Answered IT is incdent to vain-glorious and haughty men to spurn at Authority and to asperse superiours with failings Pride sets them on and malice contrives the means as black as their end which is to shake off obedience to live at pleasure and without controule The Enemies of the Roman Church have not shewn more Pride in con temning her power than malice in raising false and slanderous reports against her good name As therefore in the former Chapter I have done my endeavour to assert her power so will I in this to clear her fame and shew her innocencie mainly clouded and shot at by the ensuing Objections Objection 1. 1. The first Objection is The Church of Rome teacheth Christs Body to be present in many places at once which implyeth contradiction Answer The measure of Gods power is his will and his will is above the reach of our capacity Therefore no wonder if God oftentimes doth that we cannot dive into the understanding of it sufficeth we know the thing is done and that we do by his word which being plain and express for the presence of Christs Body in the Sacrament and consequently in many places at once to doubt thereof is no less than to question Gods veracity As for implicancy some labour to convince this Mysterie of there is none at all for though a body cannot be locally in two places at once by reason of locall extension which confines it to one yet this extension being removed as it is possible to the omnipotent power it is as easie for a Body to be in severall places at once as for the Deity to be in three persons at once or for the soul to be in the Head the middle the feete at once Neither doth Christ calling himself a Door a Vine c. Jo. 10.15 any way contradict this truth because in these propositions I am a Dore a Vine two distinct things and of different kinds are affirmed of each other which according to the literall and proper signification of the words cannot be true in that this is my Body the same identicall thing is affirmed of the same to wit the body of Christ out of the Sacrament when the words began to be in the Sacrament when they end which without trope or figure is as properly true as this is the signe of the cross Tabitha come forth Acts 9. Nor yet those other sayings the Flesh profiteth nothing my words are Spirit Jo. 6. in as much as they were uttered to satisfy the Caphurnaites who being a grosse carnall people apprehended of Christs saying the bread which I will give is my flesh my flesh is truely foode unless ye eate the flesh of the Son of man c. Jo. 6. that he meant to give his body to be gnawn and torne in pieces as ordinarie butchers meat and that he was not of power to give it any other way that