Catholic Church As to the nature of the Christian Church the Trent-Catechism out of St. Augustine doth thus instruct us Ecclesia est Populus fidelis per universum orbem dispersus Cat. Rom. P. 1. c. 10. Sect. 2. The Christian Church is The Company of Believers A Society of men professing the Faith of Christ dispersed and scatter'd over all the world And this Church is stiled Catholick in these Two respects 1. With respect to the Persons who make this Profession Who are not now confined to one Nation or limited to one People as the Jewish Church was But in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him Hence St. Augustine Ep. 170. tells us The Church is called CATHOLIC because it is spread throughout the whole World. 2. With respect to the Faith which is professed And so Catholic is the same with sound and Orthodâ—x In which sense Particular Churches and the Bishops of those Churches in antient Writings are often stiled Catholic in opposition to Hereticks and Schismaticks Now in whether of these Two respects will this Missioner pretend that the Church of Rome is the Catholic Church 1. Will he affirm that she is Catholic with respect to the Persons who make this Profession Then she is the whole Church Then there is no other Church but the Roman taking in those other Churches which submit to her Authority In short Then the Roman-Catholics alone do make Profession of Christianity and there are no other Christians in the World but Papists If this be his meaning for his conviction let me then desire him to resolve me When any Member of the Church of England is reconciled as they phrase it to the Church of Rome Was that Person before his Reconciliation a Member of the Church of Christ or was he not Was he a Christian or was he not If not Why then do they not admit him into the Church by Baptism But if this Missioner is forced to grant That such a Convert was a Christian and a Member of the Church of Christ even before he was a Roman-Catholic Then there are other Christians besides Papists and there are other Churches besides the Roman Then the Church of Rome is not the Whole Church and consequently in this first sense of the woâ—d is not the Catholic Church But 2. Will this Missioner pretend That the Church of Rome is the Catholic Church in the other notion of the word i. e. Sound and Orthodox If this be his Project 't is then expected that he prepare us an Answer to that larg Bill of Indictment which the Reformed Writers have prefer'd against her And when he shall have given us Satisfaction as to all those Errors and Corruptions with which she is charged As for instance The Sacrifice of the Mass Transubstantiation Half-Communion Prayers in an unknown Tongue Worship of Images Invocation of Saints Purgatory and Prayers for the Dead c. Then and not till then we may grant That the Church of Rome is Catholic in this Second sense of the word And that she is a Sound and Orthodox Church And so I leave him to his Defence which he may prepare at his leasure and proceed to consider his Second Supposition viz 2. That the Bishop of Rome is the Supream Pastor of the Church of Christ This is the Fundamental Article of the Romish Faith. And yet there is not one word of it in the Apostles Creed which is the Sum of the Christian Faith. No nor yet in the Holy Scriptures out of which that Creed was taken That de facto this Supremacy was not granted to the Bishops of Rome in the first and purest Ages of the Church but that their Encroachments were still opposed is most evidently shewed by the Learnd Dr. Cave in A Dissertation concerning the Government of the Ancient Church That the Britannick Churches were ever exempted from all forreign Jurisdiction for the first Six Hundred Years and so ought to continue if this Missioner will be so modest as to hearken to Instruction the renowned Arch-Bishop Bramhal hath undeniably proved And therefore if prosperous Usurpation may be called in Question I would ask Quo jure This Supremacy of the Pope whence was it from Heaven or of Men Who gave him this Authority to Rule and Govern the whole Church of Christ ch Their usual pretence for such exorbitant Power is known to be this viz. That our Blessed Saviour before his Ascension did constitute St. Peter his Vicar Deputy and Vicegerent and as such gave him a Monarchical Supremacy and Jurisdiction over the rest of the Apostles and the whole Church The which Supremacy was not Personal and Temporary to cease with his Person as the Apostleship did but was to be transfer'd to his Successor The which Successor say they is the Bishop of Rome This is their Plea. In confirmation of which these following Propositions must be established 1. That St. Peter had a Primacy over the Apostles 2. That this Primacy did include a Supremacy of Power and Dominion or Jurisdiction over the Apostles 3. That St. Peters Primacy with its Rights and Prerogatives was not Personal but derivable to his Successors 4. That St. Peter was Bishop of Rome and continued till his Death in possession of that Office. 5. That the Bishops of Rome as Successors of St. Peter according to Gods institution and by original Right derived thence should have an Universal Supremacy and Jurisdiction over the Christian Church 6. That in fact the Roman Bishops continually from St. Peters time have enjoyed and excercised this Sovereign Power 7. That this Power is indefectible and unalterable These are the Pillars of the Romish Cause And therefore if this Missioner will be shewing his skill let him practise upon these Points But when he attempts it he shall find to his cost that the Learned Dr. Barrow hath examined them before him In his excellent Treatise of the Pope's Supremacy To which I refer him So much for that I am next to examined his Third Supposition viz. 3. That the Catholic Church spread over the face of the whole world is in Communion with the Bishop of Rome To determine this matter we must consider the nature of Church-Communion Of which briefly thus Church-Communion to speak properly doth chiefly respect the Universal Church For to be in Communion with the Church it is to be a member of the Church Catholick in plain terms it is to be a Christian as we were made by Baptism the Seal of the New Covenant Into which Covenant being thus admitted we are united to the whole Church And by virtue of this union as Church-Members have a common Right to all Church-Priviledges and Blessings and a common obligation to all Church-Offices and Duties The which Communion or Communication in Religious Duties though it be limited and restrained in the use and exercise of it to particular Churches and Congregations for all Christians in the world cannot meet together yet all such
A DEFENCE OF THE Plain-Man's REPLY TO THE Catholick Missionaries Being a further Examination of the Pretended Infallibility of the Church of Rome Imprimatur Guil. Needham R. R. in Christo Patri ac D. D. Wilhelmo Archiep. Cant. a Sac. Domest March 29. 1688. By the Author of the Plain-Man's Reply to the Catholick Missionaries LONDON Printed by T. B. for R. Wild at the Bible and Crown on Ludgate-Hill 1688. Advertisement SOme Papers having lately passed betwixt a Romish-Missioner and a Country-Parson it may not be improper so far to gratify the Reader 's Curiosity as to acquaint him with the occasion of them Which shall thus briefly be represented under the Title of The Argument A Romish Priest being wearied with the noise and hurry of the Town for his Diversion and Health retires into the Country Where observing a Farmer in a pleasant field holding his Plough in hopes of a Convert he enters into a close Discourse with him The Plough-man at first is much started with his Address and fenceth as well as his Mother-wit wil allow him and gives very good Reason according to some Directions received from his Parson why he ought not to engage in Discourses of that nature Till aâ— last conquered by the civility or importunity of the Priest he admits the Debate And to bring the matter to a short Issue the Farmer puts him to prove the Infallibility of his Church And withal desires him particularly to inform him Who is this Living Infallible Judg that so upon occasion he may consult him Who is this unerring Guid that so he may submit himself to his Conduct Wherein the Priest not being able to give him any tolerable Satisfaction the Plough-man is so far from embracing the Communion of the Church of Rome that he is more firm and affectionate to the Church of England than he was before And in Charity to the rest of his Brethren of the same Capacity with himself by the Advice and with the Direction of his Parson he publisheth the substance of the Conference under the Title of The Plain-mans Reply to the Catholic Missionaries Which together with the forementioned Directions of his Parson called The Country-Parsons Admonition to his Parishioners was so displeasing to the Romish Party that they have Published a pretended Confutation of them both Titled The Plain-mans Answer to his Country-Parsons Admonition Together with the Missioners Answer to the Plain-mans Reply To the former of these an Answer hath been lately Published with this Title viz. A Defence of the Country-Parsons Admonition against the Exceptions of the Plain-mans Answer And a Reply to the latter being a full Vindication of the Plain-man against the Missioner is attempted in this following Discourse THE Country-Parson's REFLECTIONS Upon the Missioners Answer A Parishioner of mine an honest Plain-man was prevailed upon by the Importunity of others to hearken to the Whispers of a Romish Priest Who suggested to him that as without Faith there is no Salvation so without Infallibility there is no Faith and that this Infallibility is only to be found in the Church of Rome The Plain-man with whom Saying and Doing are two things very bluntly demands How it appears that the Church of Rome is Infallible And desires the Priest to give him in Writing one or two of his best Arguments and then promiseth to consider them at his leasure The Missioner assures him he can prove by undeniable Arguments That the Church of Rome is infallible Which he will undertake in this method By shewing 1. What is meant by the Church of Rome 2. What is meant by Infallible 3. From whence the Church of Rome had this Infallibility 4. How they prove it 5. Where we may find this Church 6. And lastly How we may know when she speaks to us and what she teacheth Missioners Answer p. 9. This Paper being sent to the Plain-man he gives it to his Parson and desires his judgment of it Intimating further that the Missioner thinks these Arguments very convincing and therefore expects an Answer to them p. 21. Now in order to the Plain-mans satisfaction and the Missioners also if he please to accept it I do thus examine that Paper in its own Method And First I am not satisfied with his Description of the Church of Rome viz. By the Church of Rome we do not mean the particular Diocess of Rome or any particular Church or Assembly but the Catholick Church spread over the face of the whole World in Communion with the Bishop of Rome the Supream Pastor of the Church of Christ Missioners Answer pag. 9. In this Description here are three Things supposed 1. That the Church of Rome is the Catholic Church 2. That the Bishop of Rome is the Supream Pastor of the Church of Christ 3. That the Catholick Church spread over the face of the whole World is in Communion with the Bishop of Rome The Two former are deny'd therefore I expect their Proof And the Third must not be granted without its due explication 1. As to the first the Plain-man hath told him That though it is the noted mistake of some writers to call the Church of Rome the Church Catholic and then to apply all the Promises of Protection and Preservation to her as such yet this is only their own confident Supposal without the least manner of Proof Plain-mans Reply p. 10. Being thus admonished why did not the Priest confirm this Proposition wherein his Cause is so much concern'd Nay Why did he thus prevaricate in omitting to do it when so fair an occasion was offer'd For Several Texts of Scripture of which more anon being cited by the Missioner To prove the Infallibility of the Church of Rome The Plain-man thus Reply's I must confess these are great Privileges but I have been told these belong to the Universal Church composed of all Christians So that if you can shew me 5. That these promises were made to the Roman Church or That she is the only true Church of Christ I shall most willingly hear you Missioners Answer p. 14. This Demand was rational and to the purpose To which the Missioner makes this Answer This may be easily made clear to you if you do but remember what I told you we mean by the Roman Catholic Church p. 15. And what was it that he had told him Even this but then you must take it upon his word The Church of Rome is the Catholic Church And further this Deponent saith not Now in kindness to this Missioner that I may direct him in his Proof which I 'le assure him is expected from him I shall a little more distinctly examine this matter Whoever shall pretend to prove that the Church of Rome is the Catholick Church He must consider 1. The nature of the Christian Church 2. He must examine Why and upon what account the Christian Church is stiled Catholic And from thence he will be prepared to determine Whether the Church of Rome is the
which they were not yet able to bear To those who had been with Christ from the Beginning To those from whom Christ was now going away And whom he had before told of his Departure Lastly to whom the Holy Ghost was to shew Things to come A Promise which the present Church of Rome dares not pretend to If here it shall be urged that the Clause for ever must needs extend this Promise beyond their own Persons and so to their Successors To this I Answer 1. This for ever signifies no more then to the end of their Lives According to those known Forms of Speech This is mine for ever Or This shall be yours for ever 2. Suppose these Promises had been made to them and their Successors Had they no Successors but them of the Roman Church This hath been confidently pretended but was never yet proved Math 18. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them tell it unto the Church but if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen man and a Publican pag. 14. What Church is this that must be heard The Church of Rome only nothing less 'T is evident by the Church in this Text can be meant no other than that particular Church of which the offending Brother was a Member But suppose that by the Church were meant the Church of Rome and that this Church of Rome were to be heard and obey'd What then Is she therefore Infallible Are all those that are to be heard and obey'd Infallible Are not Kings and Parents and Masters and Prelates and Abbots are not all these to be heard and obey'd And are all these Infallible Matth 28. 19. compared with Mark. 16. 15 16. Go ye therefore and Teach all Nations and preach the Gospel to every creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned p. 14. What then Therefore The Church of Rome is Infallible This is such a Demonstration as Euclid never dreamed on 1 Tim 3. 15. That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of God which is the Church of the living God the pillar and ground of the truth p. 14. The Church Catholick without controversie is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth Nay even Particular Churches as sound parts and members of the Catholick and the Bishops of those Churches may be adorned with that Title But whatâ—s this to the Church of Rome Which is neither the Catholick Church nor a sound Member of it Indeed had Timothy been Bishop of Româ— I should then have been obliged to examine how and in what sense a Particular Church may be called the Pillar and ground of the truth without being Infallible But since he was Bishop of Ephesus and not of Rome and since the Infallibility of Rome and not of Ephesus is to be proved there is no occasion for that Inquiry Ephes 4. 11 12 14. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints that we henceforth be no more Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive but speaking the truth in love may grow up in him in all things who is the head even Christ p. 14. Amongst all these Orders here 's no mention of an Infallible Judge of Controversies much less that this Judg is only to be found in the Church of Rome And thus I have briefly shewed how impertinently these Scriptures have been urged by this Missioner When I say Impertinently I do not thereby blame the conduct of this Writer who hath taken the true method to defend his Church but by that word do only express the weakness of his Cause Which hath been so often and so effectually exposed that it may well puzzle even the skill of a Missioner to make a decent Defence And indeed it is no little surprizing to observe how perplexing and confused an Answer is here given to the most plain and easy Question The Plain-man having often been admonished to return as they Phrase it into the Bosom of the Church of Rome and as a further inducement to hasten his Change having been assur'd That the Church of Rome is Infallible and that Protestant Churches for want of this Infallibility are neither able to interpret Scripture nor compose Differences in matters of Faith I say being thus admonished he makes this short Reply viz. That if the Church of Rome is infallible as they pretend it would be a seasonable Charity to instruct him in this matter This is the Substance of that little Treatise Which indeed is no other then a Paraphrase upon this Question Who is this Infallible Judg that so upon occasion I may consult him Tell me distinctly Who is this unerring Guid Where may I find him And I do faithfully promise to resign my self to his Conduct Plain-mans Reply p. 18 19 22. Observe now what Answer the Missioner hath given to this important Question Pray mark it 'T is worth your notice Mistake me not I pray I tell you distinctly that the Church is my infallible Guide And this Church is to be found spread over the face of the whole World I may therefore securely rely upon what she teacheth without troubling my self to search whether this or that particular Person in her be Infallible or no. Missioners Answer p. 16 A most learned Determination And very much no doubt to the satisfaction of the Plain-man For whose further Instruction I do thus expostulate with this Missioner The Country Parson to the Missioner YOu say Sir the Church is my Infallible Guide Pray what do you mean by this Church Is it in your Language the Teaching Church or the Learning part of the Church p. 14. Or in more proper Terms Is it the Church Representative or the Church Diffusive sure not the Church Diffusive For that comprehends every private Christian even the most ordinary Mechanick And in case of Differences about the sense of Scripture or any Divinely revealed Truths I hope these are no fit Persons to decide the Difference and end the Controversy Missioners Answer p. 10. It remains therefore That the Church Representative is this Infallible Guide And then our next thought is to inquire who this infallible Representative is And though you assured the Plain-man That he may securely rely upon what the Church teacheth without troubling himself to search whether this or that particular Person in her be infallible or no pag. 16. yet in contradiction to your self you are forced to Declare That a General Council the Supream Court of Judicature is the Legal Infallible Representative of the Church p. 18. So that whether the Controversie be about the sense of Scripture or about the Canon of a Council there must be a Living Judg to determine it and this I say is the Church in
our Blessed Saviour was condemned as a Blasphemer was it a just and Legal Sentence or was it not If not Then the Jewish Church which pronounced it was not Infallible And consequently this Argument so triumphantly repeated is utterly lost But if this Missioner dares pretend That the Sentence of the Sanhedrim was a Legal Sentence and that the Holy Jesus was justly condemn'd as a Blasphemer let him take heed least contending for Infallibility he forfeits his Christianity However for Arguments sake suppose it were granted That the Jewish Church was Infallible Must it thence be inferr'd That the Christian Church hath the same Priviledg Yes doubtless think 's this Missioner For to her hath been given a Covenant with better Promises True But was Infallibility any of those Promises This ought not be supposed but proved But now let it be further granted That the Christian Church is Infallible What 's this to the Church of Rome Is there no other Church besides the Roman Or Is she only the true Church of Christ Let the Missioner prove this And I shall most willingly hear him Missioners Answer p. 15. Secondly He fills up his Pages with several other Places out of the Old Testament Which I shall only transcribe and then it will sufficiently appear they are nothing to his purpose He tells us The Church shall be like a Mountain upon the top of Mountains Isa 22. Like a Tabernacle seated in the Sun Ps 18. 4. That all Nations shall flow unto her That Kings shall be her Nursing Fathers and Queens her Nursing Mothers Isa 49. 23. That all the ends of the Earth shall remember and turn unto the Lord and all the Kindred of the Nations shall worship before him Psal 22. 27. Besides these plain Prophecies which speak not one word of the Infallibility of the Church of Rome but only shew the Visibility Universality and Durance of the Christian Church which are not now the Dispute and therefore shall be consider'd when occasion is offered I say besides these we are told that in this House of the God of Jacob he himself will teach us his ways and will judg amongst the Nations Isa 2. 3 4. And then certainly we shall neither be taught an Error nor have a wrong Sentence Missioners Answer p. 12 13. That 's granted God will certainly teach us Truth And we shall never err Provided that we follow his Instructions Now all extraordinary ways being ceased the Divine wisdom ordinarily doth instruct us only by the Scriptures Which as St. Peter hath admonished us are a more sure word of Prophecy then a voice from Heaven Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place 2 Pet. 1. 19. These Holy Scriptures are the good old way By walking in which the way-faring men though fools shall not err Isa 35. 8. Missioners Answer p. 12 21 22. For the Testimony of the Lord is sure and giveth wisdom unto the simple Psal 19 7. But now if the Church of Rome for instance shall leave this good old way of Truth to wander in By-paths of her own If she shall neglect vilify and forsake the Holy Scriptures to follow her own blind Traditions 'T is not her confidence that she is in the Right that can keep her out of the Ditch or secure her from falling He tells us moreover That God will not be wroth with his Church neither shall his kindness depart from her nor the Covenant of his peace be removed That all her Children shall be taught of the Lord That she shall be established in righteousness That whosoever shall gather together against her shall fall for her sake And that every Tongue that shall rise against her in judgment shall be condemned by her This is the Heritage of the Servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord Isa 54. Furthermore he tells us that God hath made a Covenant with his Church That his Spirit shall be upon her and his words which he hath put into her mouth shall not depart out of her mouth nor out of the mouth of her seed nor out of the mouth of her seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Isa 59. 20 21. You see here a promise to the Church in all Ages that she shall speak the very words which God shall put into her mouth and therefore no Errors pag. 13. To all this flourish I briefly Reply in the words of Mr. Chillingworth If the Church of Rome be Zion and they that turn from iniquity in Jacob they may have Title to this Covenant If not They must forbear and leave it to the Jews after their Conversion To whom it is appropriated by a more Infallible Interpreter than the Pope I mean St. Paul Rom. 11. 26. And it seems the Church of Rome also believes as much For otherwise why does she in the Margent of her Bible send us to that place of St. Paul for an Exposition Addit Discourses p. 36. Out of the New Testament he hath cited several Texts which I shall set down in their order with short remarks upon them Math. 16. 18. Vpon this Rock I will build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it pag. 13. This Text hath been so often and so fully Answer'd that I admire the confidence of this Missioner who at this time can pretend to urge it In short This Text is a Promise of the Perpetuity of the Catholick Church But not of the Infallibility no nor the Perpetuity of the Roman Church Matth 28. 20. And I am with you alway even unto the end of the World. Amen What You only You of the Church of Rome Are there no other Pastors and Teachers besides You in the Church of Christ But doth Presencâ— signify Infallibility Hath he not promised Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them Matth 18. 20. And are all such Assemblies Infallible John 14. 16. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever V. 17. even the Spirit of Truth whom the World cannot receive V. 26. He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you Ch. 16. V. 13. When he the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall be speak and he will shew you things to come What hath the Church of Rome to do with these Scriptures Did the Church of Rome ever hear the Sermons and Discourses of our Blessed Saviour If not How can they be brought to her Remembrance Is it not therefore evident from several Passages in both those Chapters that these Promises do belong only to the Apostles who personally conversed with our Saviour As being made to those To whom he had many more things to say