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A57847 The Tridentine-gospel, or, papal creed made at Trent, and promulgated at Rome, by Pope Pius IV : exhibited and demonstrated to be new, heterodox, and antichristian : in a sermon / by William Ramsay ... ; hereto is added, Pope Pius his Bull in Latine and English, necessary to be seen by all that would know the present faith of Rome, especially in these our nations where they conceal it. Ramsay, William, B.D.; Catholic Church. Pope (1559-1565 : Pius IV). Professio fidei Tridentina. English & Latin. 1672 (1672) Wing R221; ESTC R14528 21,776 35

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Supremacy which was not from the beginning but laid by man is to be raised by man The holy Spirit buildeth the faithful on the first foundation by hope in the grace and merits of Jesus Christ The Pope builds his credulous children on his own foundation by hope in the grace and merits of his Pardons and Indulgences The charity of Jesus Christ which is to love one another as he loved us is the furniture and perfection of the first building but slavery and bondage to Papal jurisdiction is the top and consummation of the Roman Edifice Recitâsse confutâsse est The bare rehearsal of such a Creed is a full conviction of its heterodox absurdity Yet that its novelty may more appear we will set before it three illustrious Opposites of Evangelical Light to wit Primitive Creeds Primitive Councils and Primary Texts of Scripture As for Primitive Creeds The whole Christian World ever held yea the present Church of Rome in word though not in effect holdeth that the Apostles Creed was by them in the H. Ghost designed as a sum of all Christian belief necessary to salvation wherefore the primitive Church never presumed to add but only to declare it in more open exp●essions of the same thing as appetrs in the Creeds of Athanasius of Nice o● Constantinople But this Creed of Trent is a palpable piece of Creation for it's totally new both in matter and in form And to deny its novel● were as gross an absurdity in point of understanding as to deny the rising of the Sun were an absurdity in sense yea greater as its difference from the Primitive Creed is as manifest as the identity of the rising and setting Sun is certain For its Articles are of an impertinent and opposit● import to the Primitive more in number greater in bulk stranger to sense harder to Reason burdensom to Conscience contemptible to Religion The Primitive Creeds may justly glory in the foundation of Christ to wit his written Word in which they a●e found contained The Creed of Trent hath nothing to glory in greater than the Romish Schools Papal Decrees Canons Customs Constitutions and Senses of Men. The Primitive Creeds have the Testimony of the whole World Christian and Antichristian The Creed of Trent besides repugnance with Christian Principles is reprobated by the most learned and sober part of Christendom to wit Protestant Churches and Nations The Primitive Creeds sound nothing but Gods honour and worship through Jesus Christ This of Trent sounds nothing but Lucre through a form of godliness denying the power thereof with popular Superstition vendible Devotion and tyrannical exaction of Faith and Obedience The Primitive Councils are four of Nice of Constantinople of Ephesus and of Chalcedon In these the whole Christian World on which as yet the dew of the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles stood fresh and fair unanimously made a Catholick united and most solemn attestation of the Faith of Christ Which the Council of Nice first did Ann. 325. not by defining new Articles or creating new matter or producing new form of Faith but by declaring and defending the Old contained in the Apostles Creed Which as a just measure of Faith instituted by the Holy Ghost that great Council presumed not to transgress The same was observed by the Council of Constantinople Ann. 381. which repeated confirmed and ratified the Symbol of Nice defending the Article of the Holy Ghost by a clear expression of his p●oceeding from the Son The Council of Ephesus Ann. 431. presumed no addition of Articles but confirming the Apostolical number defended that of Christs divine and unique personality against Nestorius The Council of Chalcedon 451. confi●med the method of the former Councils defending and declaring the two distinct Natures of Christ against Eutiches Thus these four Catholick Councils had no other product of Faith than is formally contained in the four Catholick Gospels In fine The work of the Holy Spirit in the Primitive Councils was nothing more or less than to establish that Faith which he inspired the four Evangelists to write in the Gospel and the Apostles to preach in their Creed But in these last days non Sanctus Spiritus sed sanctissimus Pater not the Holy Spirit but the most Holy Father for so he loveth to be entituled who superlatively exalts himself above whatsoever is God in Heaven or is called God on Earth hath wrought a new work est mirabile in oculis nostris a New Gospel of Apostolical and Ecclesiastical that is Roman Traditions Customs and Constitutions grounded on the Cathedral word of a Pope not as the old Creed a sum of the work of the Scriptures written by the instinct and confirmed by the wonderful works of the Holy Spirit but a sum of the work on Earth to wit of the Canon law of Rome written by the instinct and confirmed by the most mighty Bulls of the most Holy Fathers the Bishops of Rome Which sum his said Most Holy Paternity defines to be the true Catholick Faith without which no man can be saved which Definition whosoever infringeth he shall not only incur his Holiness displeasure but the indignation also imperet ei Deus God rebuke him of Almighty God And the rebuke will quickly follow if you please to consider four Primary Texts of Scripture Joh. 20.31 These things of which the Apostolical Symbol is a Sum are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing you may have life by his name Why then were not these other things of which this Papal Symbol is a Sum written if as his Holiness defines there is no life no salvation without them Acts 15.28 It is approved of the Holy Ghost and us say the Apostles at Jerusalem not to impose on you a greater burthen than these necessary things Hath the Holy Ghost in length of years disapproved in Trent what he approved in Jerusalem to double the burden of belief and obedience It 's far more just and reasonable to judge that he who glorieth in the Vicairship of Christ and Succession to Peter is heir and possessor of that spirit of Roboam 1 King 12.20 Speaking hard things to the people of Christ making his least finger grosser than the back and shoulders of Jesus making his sweet yoke uneasie and scourging with Scorpions the flock of Christ for which the good Pastor was scourged with whips The Apostle Jude in his Catholick Epistle v. 3. thinks it necessary to exhort us to contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints But Pope Pius commands us to fight for the Faith now of late inspired into the holy Fathers of the Council of Trent initio Bullae But let us obey the holy Apostle who like a Messenger of God exhorts us with a salutation of Mercy Peace and Charity But let us avoid the Papal Spirit as of a contrary Satanical mission for more Impious indeed than Pius by name he usurps a threat of the
the Obedience of the Church of Rome We also having a Will that the same be observed and practised by all such as shall be provided for out of Monasteries Convents Houses and whatsoever other places of Regulars of whatsoever Orders even of Military Professions under whatsoever Name or Title and desiring also that so much sollicitude as concerns our self may not to any one seem to be wanting in this matter to the end that a Profession of one and the same Faith may be uniformly made by all and one only and certain form thereof may be exhibited to all We by Apostolical Authority and by the tenour of these Presents districtly commanding command that the form which is expressed in these presents be published and throughout all Nations by these to whom it belongs according to the decrees of the said Council and by others abovesaid be received and observed and under such pains as the said Council hath decreed against the Refractory the said Profession shall be solemnly made in this following and no other form and under this following tenour IN. with firm saith believe and profess all and several the things which are contained in the Symbol of Faith † This Symbol of Faith is not only the short Constantinopolitan Creed which here immediately follows but also the long 14 Articles added by the Council of Trent and here by the Pope commanded to be professed as a sum of Orthodox Faith which the holy Church of Rome doth use to wit I Believe in One God * 4 the Father Almighty maker of heaven and of earth of all things visible and invisible and in one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God and born of the Father before all time God of God Light of Light True God of a True God begot and not made consubstantial with the Father by whom all things were made Who for us men and for our salvation descended from heaven and took flesh by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary and was made Man crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate suffered and was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven sitteth at the right hand of the Father and is to come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead of whose Kingdom shall be no end and in the holy Ghost the Lord and giver of Life who proceedeth from the Father and the Son and is adored and glorified together with the Father and the Son who spake by the Prophets and one holy Catholick and Apostolick Church I confess one Baptism to the remission of sins and expect the resurrection of the dead and life of the world to come Amen 1. I most firmly receive and embrace the Apostolical and Ecclesiastical * 5 Traditions and all other Customs and Constitutions of the same Church † † Here is begun the principal part of the Roman Creed and the real sense and import of this first Article is I believe in the Pope 2. Also I admit the holy Scripture * 6 in that sense which the holy Mother Church hath held and holdeth to whom it belongs to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the holy Scriptures nor will I ever receive or interpret them but according to the unanimous consent of the Fathers 3. I profess also that there are seven true and proper Sacraments of the new Law instituted by Jesus Christ our Lord for the salvation of Mankind although all are not necessary to each one to wit Order Baptism Comfirmation Eucharist Pennance Extreme Vnction Matrimony and these all give grace and of these Baptism Confirmation and Order cannot be reiterated without Sacriledge 4. I also receive and admit all received and approved Rites of the Catholick Church in the solemn administrations of all the abovesaid Sacraments 5. I also embrace and receive all and several the things * 7 which have been defined and declared in the sacred and holy Synod of Trent concerning Original sin and Justification 6. I also profess that in the Mass there is offered to God a true proper and propitiatory sacrifice for the Living and the Dead and that in the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist is contained truly really and substantially the Body and Blood together with the Soul and Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and there is made a perfect change of the whole substance of the Bread into his Body and of the whole substance of the Wine into his Blood which change the Catholick Church calleth Transubstantiation 7. I confess also that whole and entire Christ and the true Sacrament is received under one only species of Bread 8. I constantly hold that there is a Purgatory and that souls there detained are holpen * 8 by the suffrages of the faithful 9. Likewise that the Saints reigning with Christ are to be worshiped and invocated and that they offer prayers * 9 for us to God and that their reliques are to be worshiped 10. I most firmly assert that the Images of Christ the Virgin Mary and of the other Saints are to be had and kept and duty of honour and worship to be given them 11. I also affirm that the power of Indulgences was left in the Church by Christ and that the use of them is most conducive to the salvation * 10 of the Christian people 12. The holy Catholick and Apostolick Church of Rome * 11 I acknowledge to be the Mother and Mistress of all Churches and I vow swear and promise true Obedience to the Bishop of Rome as successor of B. Peter Prince of the Apostles and Vicair of Jesus Christ 13. Also all and whatsoever other things delivered by way of Tradition defined and declared by the holy Canons and the General Councils and chiefly by the sacred and holy Synod of Trent * 12 I undoubtedly receive and profess and together all contrary things and whatsoever heresies by the Church damned rejected and accursed I also damn reject and accurse 14. This true Catholick Faith without which no man can be saved * 13 which at this present I freely profess and truly hold I the same N. do promise vow and swear most constantly God assisting to retain and confess entire and enviolate to the very last gasp of life and to procure as much as shall lie in me that the same be held taught and preached by all my inferiours and by those who are committed to my care and charge So God help me and these holy Gospels of God Farther It is is our will † † This new and voluntary Gospel and Creed having no other foundation than the will and work of Man will dissolve of it self as all other works of men however glorious for a time that these present Letters be read in our Apostolical Chancery according to the custom and that they may be more open to all they shall be writ in the Quintern of our said Chancery and also imprinted Therefore it shall be lawful to no man
whatsoever to infringe the page of this our Will and Commandment or with daring rashness to contradict it But if any one be so presumptuous as to attempt that let him know that he shall incur the indignation of Almighty God and of the B. Peter and Paul his Apostles * 14 Given at Rome at S. Peters Ann. Chr. 1564. the Ides of Nov. in the fifth Year of our Pontificate Fed. Cardinalis Caesius Cae. Glorierius The Letters above-written were read and published at Rome in the Apostolical Chancel Ann. 1564. on Saturday the 9. of Decemb. in the fifth year of the Pontificate of the Most Holy Father and Lord in Christ our Lord Pope Pius the fourth A. Lomelinus Custos The little Stars inserted in this Romish Symbol are to lead the Reader to the following Notes which discover the Sophistry of Mysterious Iniquity hid therein Notes upon this BULL THis Profession of Faith is truly that form of Godliness of which the Apostle speaks 2 Tim. 3.5 which the Papal Church professeth yet really denieth the power thereof as these following Stars make clearly appear For first * 1 Here is a solemn celebrity of a form of Profession of the Orthodox Faith of Jesus Christ Yet weigh the matter contained and it proves nothing else in fine but a vow of unlimited obedience to the Pope and of a Faith totally captivated to his Councils Canons and Decrees as most specially appears in the 12. 13. and 14. Articles of the New Creeed * 2 Here is a form of the most Christian Humility imaginable where the Bishop of Bishops terms himself the Servant of the Servants of God but consider a Satanical pride or a greater if possible wherewith he exalts himself above all that is called God glorying in the title of the Most Holy Lord which he prints above in Capital Letters and maintains in trampling on the heads of Kings and Emperours by usurpt supremacy * 3 Here is an extern form of Divine Doctrine which is pretended to be inspired by God into the Holy Fathers congregated in his name But the real truth is that these Fathers were Schoolmen more famous for knowledge in the Canon-law of Rome than for holy life in the law of God inspired with the Spirit of Aquinas and Scotus and other School-Evangelists more than with the Spirit of their Master Christ as appears in their long New Creed drawn from their Schools and not from the Gospel Congregated not in the name of the Lord for then his Law would have been their Rule but in the name of the Pope whose Kingdom they have sought for as most faithful Vassals * 4 Here is an illustrious form of Catholick and Apostolical Belief to wit a solemn Profession of the Primitive Creed of the Apostles illustrated by the Council of Nice and of Constantinople as a just sum of the Faith of Christ But this same Faith is mysteriously subverted by a New Creed of Traditions immediately added exceeding the former in number of Articles in weight of difficulty and in measure unlimited of School-Assertions * 5 Under the form of these words Apostolical Ecclesiastical Catholick Holy Church Mother c. lies always hid the adulterate matter of the Romish Synagogue * 6 Here is a form of receiving the Scripture but in truth they receive it only in such tenour and sense as the Fathers admit that is the School-men approved by the Pope For although this Article craftily seems to mean the ancient Fathers of the Primitive Church yet truly they are admitted no more than the Pope and his School-men are pleased to approve and what is really here meant by the Mother-Church you may see plainly in Art 12. * 7 This seems a short Article in form but in matter it is greater than a just Creed for the things declared and defined by the Council of Trent concerning Original sin and Justification are many and weighty * 8 This and the following Articles of this New Creed are very fallacious by a diminutive form of expression which craftily hideth a matter of greater Moment As here the souls in Purgatory are only said to be holpen by the Suffrages of the Faithful Yet certain it is that the Pope lays claim to a greater power in that infernal Territory and boasteth to possess the Keys thereof and to open and shut at pleasure especially to such as are liberal in Alms. * 9 Here is also a diminution of words For indeed the Roman tenet is That the Saints are to be adored and worshiped for this cause chiefly to wit because Salvation and other divine benefits are obtained by their Merits and Grace as the Catechism of the Council of Trent plainly expresseth Part. 3. Num. XXIV Whence is manifest that the Roman Church makes the Saints fellow-Saviours with Christ for Christ is not a Saviour any other way than by procuring us salvation and other benefits by his merits and grace * 10 Here is also a diminutive expression For the Pope usurpeth Indulgences not only as conducing to salvation but truly as fully sufficient to save all those that receive them for to such he promiseth infallible forgiveness of all sin and pain due to sin especially if the Indulgence include a condition of giving Alms. * 11 This Twelfth Article is both diminutive in expression and captious in consequence For first it means that all the Churches and Nations of the World are subject to the Laws and Canons of Rome A thing which neither Scripture nor Reason nor any Christian Principle can sustain Secondly It would infer That the Pope as Vicar of Christ is Lord and Master of the Nations of the World and can dispose of Empires Crowns and Diadems when and how he shall at any time define * 12 By this appears that the Council of Trent is the only measure and rule of Faith in the Church of Rome Whereas on the contrary S. Paul instructeth the Churches of Galatia Gal. 1.8 to measure their Faith by that Gospel only which from the beginning they had received and was by himself preached unto them And indeed this long New Creed of Rome is not derived in the least from Canonical Scripture but in whole and in part from the Canons of Trent * 13 Without which no man can be saved This evidently sheweth That this Profession of Faith is not made as a means of uniformity only as are the Articles of the Church of England but as a New Creed Gospel or Rule of Essential belief and as such is here imposed by the Pope upon his Subjects to be professed vowed sworn and maintained under pain of eternal damnation * 14 By this direful Curse of the Pope so confidently cast on those that reject his New Creed and Trent-Gospel appears how contrary the Papal Spirit is to the Spirit that spake in Paul Gal. 1.8 where a Curse is declared to fall on those who shall preach a Gospel other than that which was already preached by Paul The Curse therefore except we manifestly deny the Holy Ghost in his great Apostle must fall on the Pope and and Papal Preachers except they can find a Priviledge greater than given to Apostles or Angels to preach and establish New Gospels at pleasure Wherefore no man so much a Christian as to believe the Scriptures can in Conscience make scruple to reject this Papal Symbol as Anathematized with its Author Otherwise as captive to accursed Doctors let such an one certainly expect to be led in darkness deprived of the Truth and Light of Christ In fine It appears That as the sum of the Primitive Creed and Gospel is to believe in God so the sum of the Romish Creed and Gospel is to believe in Man the Pope And as the Rule of the Primitive Faith is the Word of God the holy Scriptures so the Rule of the Romish Faith is the word of Man Papal definitions And as the end of the Primitive Faith is the Charity of God to keep his Commandments so the end of the Romish Faith is Slavery to Man to ma●●tain his Supremacy Thus alass Rome hath left the Fountain of livi● waters God for the broken Cisterns of the digging of man wh●●hold no water Jer. 2.12 FINIS A Discourse concerning the Idolatry practised in the Church of Ro●● and the hazard of Salvation in the communion of it In Answer● some Papers of a Revolted Protestant wherein a particular acco●● is given of the Fanaticism and Divisions of that Church By EDWARD STILLINGFLEET D.D. Sold at the Phoenix in St. Pauls Church-yard and at the White Har● in Westminster Hall 1672.