an infinite difference between the Lord Jesus and all that were nam'd before But the better to see how the promise of the Keys was not made in particular to Peter but to the Colledge of the Disciples we must read the conclusion of that whole Conversation as 't is in ver 20. Then charged he his disciples not Peter alone that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ which implies that tho' Peter alone had said so yet thereby all his Disciples had owned him to be Christ the Son of the Living God and as their Confession concerning him was general so was his promise This on my way I thought fit to take notice of to shew how ill grounded is the Romish Church in her pretensions Now I return to Peter's pretended Infallibility as to his Person and say that if ever he was infallible it must be either before our Saviour's Death or after his Resurrection and after he had been restored to his Apostleship but neither of the two First not before the Lord's Death no Infallibility tied to his Person since Scripture mentions some gross failings of his as his Ignorance in the Transfiguration for when he spake of making three Tabernacles the Evangelist observes of him (Å¿) Luk. 9.33 Not knowing what he said A Man who knows not what he saith is not infallible nor he who wants Faith wherewith Christ upbraided him when he said to him (t) Mat. 14.31 O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt Again certainly Peter was not infallible when in the forequoted Chap. Mat. 16. the Lord having foretold his Death Peter took him and began to rebuke him saying be it far from thee Lord this shall not be unto thee when for that same end he came unto the World and without it there had been no Salvation which drew upon him this sharp and unusual reproof of our Saviour Get thee behind me Satan thou art an offence unto me for thou savourest not the things that be of God but those that be of men This passage by the Evangelist is related immediately after what had been discoursed between our Saviour and his Apostles concerning what he was v. 22.23 may be thereby to destroy all inferences that might afterwards happen to be drawn on Peter's behalf to the prejudice and exclusion of the rest of the Apostles for therein any pretended Primacy and Infallibility are overthrown and that circumstance of time makes it remarkable But if there was no other proof against his Infallibility but that sad Denial of his Lord and Master even with an Oath to confirm a Lie yea Cursing and Swearing and that thrice together it were too strong a proof against his Infallibility before our Saviour's Death But I say also he was not infallible after our Saviour's Ascension Witness St. Paul who in (u) Gal. 2.11 12 13. Antioch withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed and therein 't is expressed in what namely for his Dissimulation a thing so contrary to Faith Truth and Sincerity Besides that after his Conversion Peter was a Sinner still and no Sinner is infallible wherefore saith another Apostle speaking of himself as well as of others (x) Jam. 3.2 In many things we offend all and long before a great and a wise King had said (y) 1 King 8.46 There is no man that sinneth not And I suppose a thing which is not that one Man could be found who in his whole Life-time had committed but one Sin yet saith the same Apostle (z) Jam. 2.10 Whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all So then Peter was not infallible in the state of Grace and after his Repentance Much less hath any such thing as Infalibility been entailed upon any that were to Succeed him granting that which is not the Popes to be his Successors for there is not the least step thereof in Scripture and Experience teaches with a Witness how Fallible were his pretended Successors Before Men can well Dispute about a thing the Question must be Stated so before we come to Discuss this Matter of Infallibility let them first agree among themselves where to Lodge it which hitherto they could not for some would have it to be in the Council others in the Pope and others in both Pope and Council together The Council of Constance which was held in 1414. Decreed the Council to be above the Pope which is also a Lash against his Supremacy but in Italy this is accounted an Heretical Doctrine But why to talk of Infallibility a thing not be found in the World To Lodge it in any Man is to make a Contradiction and Nonsense for no meer Man was ever Infallible Hence it is that Scripture mentions flaws and failings in the best and most Holy Men to begin from Adam whose Fall Mankind hath cause to Remember Noah Abraham Lot Isaac Joseph Moses Job David Solomon Jonah Elijah that zealous Servant of God of whom James saith he was subject to the like passions as we are Jeremiah Peter Paul Barnabas In few Words Human Nature is attended with such frailties as render any Man subject to error and mistakes How then can Peter or his pretended Successors even in Cathedra as they term it claim an Infallibility By Vertue of what Priviledge and whereupon grounded Now let there be a Council of Men and every one fallible how then can the Council be Infallible Can the number of Men alter Human Nature when sometimes as many Men as many Minds Doth not experience shew how grossly Councils have Erred We find them one set against another The first of Nice condemned the Arrian Heresy which that of Arimini approved of Yet tho' Men and Councils have Erred we own there is an Infallible Rule which if they follow they shall not Err but not the Persons but the Rule is Infallible because it is the Word of an Infallible God Now these immediate Inspirations of the Holy Ghost are not necessary ast hey were at first when the Gospel of Christ was Published by the Ministry of Men for then Men were to be convinced who it came from and was approved by Heaven but now it is setled and hath been confirmed by so many Signs Wonders and Miracles and by the effectual and immediate working of the Holy Ghost we need it no more to demonstrate that truth which hath so often been proved only we are to follow that Rule which Christ and his Apostles have left us wherein he himself speaks as from Heaven If then Councils be Fallible why shall not those Men whom they consist of be so too Which reason is by woful experience confirmed in the persons of Popes in whom others would Lodge the imaginary Infallibility of the Romish Church among whom their own Authors as Platina Baronius and others own to have been Sorcerers Blasphemers Whoremongers Incestuous Sodomites Profane Blood-thirsty and the most abominable Wretches
Monsters and Villains in Nature How can men so notoriously wicked in Life and Conversation be Holy and Infallible in their Church about Spiritual things Ask where was the Infallibility when at the same time there were several Popes who Cursed and Excommunicated one another At once the Council of Constance Deprived three and did set up a Fourth one Thus that pretended Infallibility of the Romish Church doth Reside in Popes no more than in Councils How then can Council and Pope when together be Infallible if not so when asunder Can that junction alter their Nature No more than a thousand Sick Men can make one Healthful Man This opinion tends only to Trim between the other two perhaps to please them both but things of this Nature require more Sincerity and less Policy But this is the Spirit which Men of that Party are Generally acted by as not long ago it plainly appeared beyond Sea Lying dessembbling and the like Piae Fraudes the Pious Cheats which they allow for the propagating their Religion in France to promote the ruin of the Protestants they made use of several different ways to make Proselytes a Bait they had for every kind of Fish to the Covetous they offered Places of Gain and Profit to the Needy Money to buy Bread and actually they made Bargains and gave more Money to some and less to others to make them Change Religion as they did which verified the Merchandize which Babylon is said to make of Souls of Men Rev. 18.13 to the Ambitious they offered Honours and to the Voluptuous Means wherewith to supply their occasions in that kind And because there was a sort of People who had someting more of Honesty than others for these also they had a Bait and this hath been the Method of the Bishop of Meaux tending to remove the abhorrency which some Protestants had against many of their Doctrines therefore to take away or at least to conceal the ugliness and offence by many things they have among them he Plastered and Painted some over as to others he left it to their liberty to believe what they would concerning them Only he Invited them to come in with promise of Liberty for such a perswasion as they were led in to by their own Judgement they should be free from going to Confession and to their Communion if they would but come to their Churches they might Read the Bible in their Houses and such like things all which indeed ended in making Hypocrites and 't is well known what Place that way tends to But some of their Zealots declared openly they cared not whether or not the Fathers and Mothers were Damned if they might but make good Catholicks of the Children thus to bring upon them the Wo our Saviour pronounced against the Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 23.15 Hypocrites who compass Sea and Land to make one Proselyte and when he is made they make him twofold more the Child of Hell than themselves So against the Rules of Christianity and Charity any ways tho never so wrong are good enough if they can thereby compass their ends Thus in the Indies the Jesuites were content to see those Infidels set up their Idols and Worship them if somewhere behind they could lay a Crucifix which they must need thereby to Adore together with the rest To all this I shall add the great want of Sincerity in the French Government for whilest in that King's Declarations he affirmed he would have the Edicts to be observed at the same time the Dragoons by his Order were upon their March to force the Protestants to go to Mass Now Madam I found by your Discourse how you are much guided by the Method of the Bishop of Meaux and therefore I here beg leave to say how what upon some of those Matters he hath Published Is not the Doctrine of the Church of Rome from which he receded upon a Publick Account and only for that time to lay Snares for weak Consciences the Doctrines of the Romish Church are contained in the Canons of the Council of Trent and in the Writings of Bellarmin and such Authors of Note amongst them which I can assure you are contrary to several things Written by that Bishop of Meaux whose opinion in those things will not in Italy pass for the Doctrines of the Church of Rome And among others I shall take notice only of one about which you seemed to agree with me and 't is concerning the VVorship of Images which Meaux would fain put a fine Gloss upon and you would be against it but Madam you therein differ from the Romish Church and I wish it were so in every thing else wherein they are in the wrong for as to that Point the Council of Trent doth refer it to the Canon of the Second Nicene which saith that whosoever affirms that the Images of Saints are only to be Honoured not Adored let him be Anathema But Madam not to exceed the due bounds of a Letter and to conclude I say there is no such a Superiority in the Romish Church or Primacy of her Bishop over other Churches and Bishops and that the Titles of his Holiness Vice-God God's Lieutenant God upon Earth which all are Anti-Christian and names of Blasphemy and all such Offices are unnecessary in the Church In the State indeed Princes need Lieutenants because they cannot be every where and stand in need of being informed but 't is not so of the Son of God the Lord Jesus the Head and King of his Church who sees and knows all of and by himself and is present every where therefore needs no Vicar upon Earth And the Title of Visible Head of the Church is Presumptuous and unnecessary And seeing also there is no Infallibility either in Councils or Popes or in any other Man for we find Council against Council Pope against Pope Doctor against Doctor why then will you pin your Faith upon such Sleeves You may see how those two by them accounted unshaken Pillars cannot Support it therefore I pray Madam give God the Glory with your returning into the Bosom of the Church you have forsaken wherein the Voice of Christ alone is heard his Word alone is the Rule and the Holy Ghost the only Guide according to that Rule for Madam the Word and the Spirit of Christ may not be separated for they go together there you will find Peace Comfort Assurance and Rest unto your Soul in Christ whom we own to be the only Mediator and Saviour of the World And so leave that Popish Church which is a confused Babel defiled with Inventions and Traditions of Men when in ours Christ alone Reigns his Word and Voice alone is heard known and followed and he is our only High Priest who once upon the Cross by the Sacrifice of himself made atonement for our Sins and now in Heaven at the Right Hand of the Father maketh Intercession for us he is our All in All and the desire of our Souls which can neither hope in or trust to any Creature Wherefore Madam break out with these Expressions I will go and return to my Mother Church for then was it better with me than now You have forsaken Christ the Spring of Life in whom alone is Salvation and run to the Creatures Dead and Alive which are not able to help you nor themselves God hath given you time to come to your self and to return to him in the way of Repentance and to hasten you he hath been pleased to set a mark upon you therefore pray loose no time I hope Madam you will not take ill my Freedom and the plainness of Speech I use for therein without any Byass Self-end or Worldly Consideration I aim only at the Glory of God bearing Record for the Truth and promoting the good of your Soul which is the earnest desire and humble Prayer to God of Your Ladyships c. THE END
he nameth some as Repentance Faith towards God the explication of what is signified in baptism called the Doctrine of Baptisms of laying on of Hands of Resurrection and of Eternal Judgment And such Articles as are taught in Catechisms The Apostle doth not Institute many baptisms for there is but One that of John Baptist and of Christ being the same but the Doctrines of Baptism are several as of Repentance [k] Mark 1 4. of the Remission of sins of Regeneration c. Now though there be but one Sacrament of baptism there are two parts of it the Earthly or the sign and the Heavenly or thing signified which both are called baptism and in this place St. Paul meaning both calleth them baptisms In the Primive Church several good Rites were observed by those who being of competent Age were to be baptised as the giving in of their Name amongst those who professed themselves Christians the Examination they submitted to and gave an account of the Progress they had made in the Christian Doctrine then the Confession of Faith and the Apostle's Creed amongst the rest was a renunciation to the Devil and to his Works all which may well be continued in relation to those new Converts who are come to Years of Discretion before they be baptised And herein we shall not disagree with Anabaptists or others but as to Questions put to a Child newly born when he is baptised about that Renunciation Whether he will forsake the World c. and the Answer of the God-father and God-mother in his Name is Ridiculous and as it were a jest not to say worse in so holy and Serious a business to ask questions of a Child who can neither Hear Understand nor Speak and take the Answer of a stander-by who cannot well answer for himself without a special Proviso as if God thorough Free-grace will be pleased to enable him and though one could answer for himself it doth not follow he may answer for others All that Fathers God-fathers and the like can do upon such an occasion is to Promise when the Child is come to an Age capable of being taught they will take care to see he be Instructed in the Knowledge and Fear of God according to the Rules of Christian Religion FINIS A LETTER to a LADY who hath forsaken the Protestant Religion for the Romish MADAM SOME few opportunities which tho' in a kind of a broken manner I had to discourse with you about Religion afforded me matter of sad yet charitable thoughts for your Spiritual condition 'T is usual and not without some grounds to say there is in us a prejudice of Education which sometimes hinders from hearkning to things but reasonable enough in themselves But it seems that hath had no influence upon your Ladyship in the change you made of a Religion wherein you were born and bred you over-looked all considerations of that nature and I am afraid upon no serious thoughts or solid grounds What Worldly prospect you might at that time happen to have and in that conjuncture God knows and I leave it to your own examination but sure I am there could be none to balance the value of a Soul which thereby you ventured the loss of to all Eternity All the Temptation of the World and frailty of Human Nature which is the best and most that may be said on your behalf can never excuse you in the sight of God nor hardly in that of Men who have seen no just or reasonable cause for it But Madam what is past and done cannot be help'd yet out of a real desire for your good and to look to that which is to come this I may boldly say you can never answer it to God or men if hereafter you be not acted by an earnest care and diligence to settle your greatest concern in the World the Salvation or utter ruin of your Soul be very serious about it and avoid not coming to a discussion of the matter as some in your state are apt to do The Devil is the Prince of Darkness and he hates the light because his works are evil your Priests who under the notion of a Confession and by means of an Absolution do Blasphemously pretend to forgive your Sins and a power to open for or to shut upon you the Door of Heaven do thereby Tyrannise over your Conscience and will disswade you from coming to any Dispute because if the Word of God be the Rule their cause cannot abide it But as now they have you in their Snares so for their own ends they will omit nothing to keep you therein the Light of the Gospel might discover their Cheats and Tricks upon the Souls of Men and so make you to give them the slip they will endeavour to keep you to this jugling of theirs namely the blind Obedience and to Believe what the Church believes tho' you cannot tell what that is to do what she Commands and trouble your self no farther But Madam such Advisers and Ghostly Fathers or Spiritual Guides as you call them should by you be brought upon the Stage and put to this Tryal Come I will hear what you can say for the Religion that I now profess and against that which I left a friendly and peaceable Conference I desire about these things between you and some Ministers of the Church of England or other Protestant ones This Madam is the ready way not to be imposed upon and you nor no body else ought ever to refuse being farther or better Instructed and Informed and 't is high time for you to begin in earnest to go about it for indeed I may say you have been lull'd asleep tho' you wanted no warning from above And because for the good of your Soul I wish I might be instrumental in so Christian a Work I shall here upon this Paper set down some few thoughts of mine as are Conducing towards so great a Work And because the Romanists find themselves not very able out of Scripture the only competent Judge in these things to defend their Errors in Doctrine they for themselves have made what they call their Strong Hold under the Name of the Church For as Anciently the prevaricating Jews cry'd out the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord so Roman Catholicks thunder out the Church the Church in hopes to shelter themselves under so specious a Name But Madam pray be not mistaken that glorious Name out of some peoples mouth is but a Scare-crow and misapply'd That which at this time I intend by the Grace of God to offer to your serious consideration is chiefly this against the Primacy and Infallibility of the Romish Church which indeed are the two Pillars it stands upon for if you question any thing then to stop your Mouth she saith of her self she is Infallible and to get your Obedience she will say she is Head Mother and Catholick Church but then you must take their bare Word for 't if