A NET FOR THE Fishers of MEN And the same which Christ gave to his Apostles Wherein the Points contraverted betwixt Catholiques and Sectaries are briefly vindicated by way of Dilemma By two Gentlemen Late CONVERTS Mark 1.17 And Jesus said unto them come ye after me and I will make ye to become Fishers of Men. Printed Anno 1686. To Her Most Excellent Majesty Mary Queen of Great Britan. May it please your Sacred Majesty WHat in this little Book is contained being the Motives of of our Conversions to the amient Apostolical Catholique Roman Church we have made bold to Didicate it to Your Serene Majesty and also our Harts Blood and Life to the Service of your Royal Spouse Great James the Second We humbly beg Pardon for presuming to put the Products of so weak Brains under so Princely and Gracious a Patronage acknowledging a Matter of so great Moment not only far above our unlearned Capacities but that rather it required the Learning of St. Hierome the Eloquence of St. Chrisostome the Quick Witt of St. Augustine the Sobriety of St. Ambrose and sweet Stile of St. Barnard But Madam if favourably received by your Great Majesty our Adversaries who will undergo to answer it shall find that Children set upon the shoulders of so High Giants as the forementioned Pious Fathers were shall see farther into Heavenly Religion than he that proudly will not follow Scripture Councils nor Fathers but his own human Inventions and private Spirits after the creuel Example of the Tyrant Proclus who made Men of all Proportions fit the length of his Bed by cutting off him what was too long or by drawing him longer who was too short Most Sacred Madam what is promised if received into Your Majesties Protection which we most humbly beg may be the easier performed because the chast Spouse of the most High wanteth not a thousand Bucklers of Defence Again humbly beging Pardon for this Ambition of avowing our selves Your Majesties Most Humble Most Obedient and Most Loyal Subjects C. J. J. M'C TO THE READER SAcred Writ informs us that in the primitive Times our Blessed Saviour begining to lay the Foundation of his holy Church called Fishermen to the Apostleship and to those he gave a Net which was the Wisdom and Knowledg of the Eternal Father suitable for taking such Fish as swim in the Ocean of Apostacy Heresy and Schisme The Apostles after Experiencing the great good that did â—â—â—own'd to the World by the special benefit of this Net and the many Souls that were caught therein would not prejudice the Church 〈◊〉 robbing her of so â—agnificent a Gift â—ut bury'd the same in the Bowels of holy Scripture where we illuminated by the Father of Light finding so precious a Treasure though â—it to present it unto you Curteous Reader as a pledg of our affectionate Respects it being the only Motive of our Conversions hoping if perused with no more Passion prejudice or Interest then we did who had as great Aversion against the Catholique Church as you or any other can have that it may produce the same effects in your heart that it hath in ours If you acknowledg to be convinced in all Points saving these which we omitted for brevitys sake Viz. the unbloody Sacrafice of the Mass Communion under one kind the Works of Supererogation c. We hope to go Victorious out of the Field But if any will undertake to answer this little Treatise he shall not be the Instrument only of our Recantation but oâ— many more We with all Christian sincerity desire that if you can resolve the following Queries for to annex your Answer thereunto if not we Pray the devine Majesty of his infinite Mercy to iluminate you with the Beams of his holy and saving Grace which shall ever be the Prayers of your well Wishers in Christ Farewel C. I. J. M'C TO The Holy Wisdom of of the Glorious Trinity BLessed Everliving Wisdom Exellent and Supream Intelligence behold us prostrate before the Majesty of your Great and Divine Light to offer up the Hommage of our Persons and Book humbly acknowledging the Nothing both of the one and the other and with all the Powers of our Souls protesting to have neither Spirit nor Pen which is not of Yon and from You who are the Scource of all good Thoughts and Accomplishment of all Honourable and Praise-worthy Discourses A NET For the FISHERS of MEN. First GOD hath a true Church in the World or not if not then Christ left Man without a Medium to Salvation if he hath yours is that true Church or not if not than yours is not the true Christian Church if it be than your Church must have these following marks viz. Visibility Unity Universality and Sanctity which the Scriptures teacheth to be the Signes of Christ ' s Immaculate Spouse VISIBILITY Demonstrated to be a Mark of the true Church 2. THe House of our Lord shall be prepared on the top of Mountains or not if it be why then do you deny that the Church may be always visible if not why do you deny that of Isa 2.2 The Mountain of the house of our Lord shall be prepared on the top of Mountains 3. A City seated on a Hill can be hid or not if it can why do you deny that of St. Mat. 5 14. A City seated upon a Hill cannot be hid if not than the Church cannot be invisible 4. Christ founded a Church on Earth that all Nations may be edified therein or not if not why do you deny that of Isa 2.2 All Nations shall flow unto her 〈◊〉 again Psal 85.9 All Nations whatsoever thou hast made shall comâ— and adore before thee if he did why then do you say the Church may be invisible since all Nations cannot be edified in a Church unseen 5. A Man for not hearing the Church is tearmed in Scripture a Heathen and Publican or not if not why theâ— do you deny the worâ—â— of St. Mt. 18.18 He thâ—â— will not hear thee Church let him be to the as an Heathen and Publican if he be how than shall a Man be termed an Heathen for not hearing a Church that was not visible or yet extant in the World UNITY Demonstrated to be a mark of the True Church 6. A Natural Unity and conection or the parts among themsâ—lves and to the head is necessary for the conservation of the natural body or not if not how can a natural body subsist if the parts be devided and torn from one another from the head If it be why is that natural conection proper to a natural body and not a spiritual conection proper to a spritual body 7. Christ promised that there should be unity in his Church or not if not why do you deny that of St. John 10.16 there shall be made one folâ— and one Pasâ—oâ— if he did why do you deny unity 8. Unity is requisite in Gods Church or not if not why do you deny that of
shall be given for you and again Mathew the 26.28 This is my Blood of the new Testament which shall be shed for many for the Remission of Sins If it be why do you deny the real presence in the Eucharist 60. Christ gave his Body and Blood to his Apostles at his last Supper or not if not than you make Christ a lyer and the Scriptures false if he did why do you deny the real Presence 61. When Christ said this is my Body did he speak Metaphorically or not if not why do you deny the real Presence if he did prove the Metaphor out of Scripture 62. The blessed Body of Christ not being contained in the Bread can be eaten or not if not why do you maintain that you eat the Body that is not contained in the Bread if it can doth iâ— not imply a great contradiction seeing you hold the Body is eaten in the Eucharist and not eaten in the Eucharist LITURGIE In an unknown Tongue Vindicated by most sollid Texts in Scripture 63. THat which the Apostles practised is lawful for us to pâ—actise or not if not then you accuse the Apostles of doing that which was not lawful if it be why do you deny the lawfulness of the Liturgy in an unknown Tongue seeing the Apostles had their publick Liturgies in Hebrew Greek Syriack and Latin as is manifest in History 64. Seeing God hath commanded nothing concerning the Language of the publick Liturgy we ought to follow the Commands of the Church or not if not why do you deny that of St. Mat. 18.18 If he will not hear the Church let him be to the as an Heathen and Publican if it be why then do you deny the Liturgy in an unknown Tongue being the Church commands the same 65. The Man that Prays and gives Thanks in an unknown Tongue doth well or not if not why do you condemn that of Scripture 1 Cor. 14.17 Thou indeed givest thanks well but the other is not edified If he doth why do you condemn the Liturgy in an unknowu Tongue 66. That which is praised in Scripture and proved to be pleasing to God is lawful and expedient for us to practise or not if not then the Scriptures contain unlawful and unnecessary things if it be why do you deny Liturgy in an unknown Tongue seeing the Apostle says 1 Cor. 1.14.2 He that speaketh with Tongues speaketh not to Men but to God and again ver 14. If I pray with Tongues my Spirit prayeth but my Vnderstanding is without fruit and finally ver 30. To speak with Tongues forbid 〈◊〉 not Sacramental CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Vindicated to be Pious Good and Lawful by the most sollid Texts of Scripture 67. THe Apostles being made Spiritual Judges by Christ our Lord had power from him to bind and loose from sin or not if not why do you deny that of St. Mat. 18.18 Whatsoever ye shall bind on Earth shall be bound also in Heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on Earth shall be loosed also in Heaven if they had why do you reject Absolution 68. The Laity is obliged to disclose their faults to their Judges or not if not how can they absolve them from what they know not if they be why then do you deny confession of Sins 69. Christ in speaking these Words Joh. 20. 24 Whose Sins ye shall forgive they are forgiven and whose Sins ye shall retain they are retained spoke true or false if false then you condemn the Author of Truth in Lyes if true why do you deny the Power of Absolution 70. That which the Scripture commands is necessary or no if not then the Scriptures command unnecessary things if it be why do you deny that of St. Jam. 5.16 Confess your faults to one another PURGATORY Vindicated by the most sollid Texts of Scripture 71. THere is a penal Prison or place of temporal Punishment and Payment after this Life or not if not why then do you falsifie that of Scripture Zach. 4.11 Thou also in the Blood of thy Testament hast let forth thy Prisoners out of the Lake wherein there is no Water And again Maâ— 3. He shall sit as purging Fire and shall purge the Sons of Levy And again 1 Cor. 3.14 15. The work of every Man shall be manifest for the day of our Lord will declare it because 〈◊〉 will be revealed in Fire and the work of every one of what sort it is the Fire shall try if any mans work abide he shall receive a reward if any ones works burn he shall suffer loss but himself shall be saved yet so as by Fire And finally Mat. 5.27 Be at agreement with thy Adversary betimes whiles thou art on the way with him least thy Adversary deliver thee to the Judge and the Judge to the Gaoler and thou be cast into Prison Amen I say to thee thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay the last farthing if there be why do you deny Purgatory 72. Those Souls which our Blessed Saviour and his Apostles raised from death they were in Heaven or Hell or not if not why then do you deny a third place if they were how could they return to mortality 74. Christs descention was into the Hell of the Damned or not if not then it was into the third place if it was then you Blaspheme 74. When Christ preached to the Souls in prison 1 Pet. 3.13 it was to the Damned oâ— not if not then it was to the Souls in Purgatory If it was to the Damned then you would have Christ to preach in vain seeing out of Hell there is no redemtion Mortal and Venial SINS Vindicated by most solid Texts of Scripture 75. ALL kind of sins robs the Soul of Justice and makes her guilty of Damnation or not if not then some sins are only Venial if they do why then doth Christ make three different sorts of sins of which the last only renders a man guilty of Demnation Mat. 5.23 Whoever shall be angry with his brother shall be in danger of judgment whosoever shall say to his brother Racha shall be in danger of council and whoever shall say thou fool shal be in danger of hell fire 76. All Sins are mortal and sufficient to break Charity betwixt God and Man or not if not then there must be some venial and not sufficient to break Charity betwixt God and Man if they be then the Apostles themselves were not in the Charity of God seeing it is said in St. Jam. 3.2 We all offend in many things 77. All Idle Words are mortal Sins or not if not then there must be some venial if they be how then can any hope for Salvation seeing no man morally speaking can avoid idle Words 78. All Sins are unto Death or not if not then there are some venial if there be then you make Christ a Lyar who said There is a Sin unto Death and a Sin not unto Death Joh. 5.16 The Invocation OF ANGELS AND SAINTS
Jesus Christ that your Faith is spoken of throughout the whole World and again ver 7. To all that be in Rome beloved of God called to be Saints grace to you and Peace c if they had they retain the same Faith still infalliably or not if they do then we agree if not then they must have their fall either by Apostacy Heresy or Schism to the contrary 37. The Ancient Apostolick Catholique Roman Church fell by Apostacy or not if not then she is free from Apostacy if she did what prudent Man will say that she ever renounced the sweet Name of Jesu which she ever hath in so great Veneration 38. The Antient Catholique Roman Church fell by Heresy or not if not then she is free from all Heresy if she did by what general Council was she ever condemned which of the Fathers ever wrote against her or by what Authority was she otherwise reproved 39. The Antient Catholique Roman Church fell by Schism and by deviding her self from some other Church or not if not then she is not guilty of Schism if she did whose company did she leave from what body did she go forth where was the true Church she forsook 40. The true holy Apostolique Catholique Church is Falible and can er or not if not why do you falsly condemn her if she be how can that of Scripture be true 1. Tim. 3.15 the House of God which is the Church of the living God is the pillar and firmament of truth 41. The Church of God is Infalible in all her proposals and definitions of Faith or not if not why should a Man be esteemed a heathen and a publican for not hering afals and eronious Church Mat. 11.18 if she be why do you deny Infalibiltiy 42. Christ being the head of the Church and the holy Gost the soul of the Church guiding and directing the Church in all truth she can er or not if not then she is not falible if she can then Jesus Christ and the holy Ghost is her directors into errors Jo. 16.13 43. Christ is a true Prophet or not if not then you are Blasfemers if he be how then can the Gates of Hell prevail against the Church seeing that he prophecy'd in St. Mat. 16.18 the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against her 44. The holy Ghost suggesteth all truth to the Church or not if not why do you deny that of St. Jo. 14.16 he shall teach you all things and suggest unto you all things whatsoever I shall say unto you if he doth then he 'll suggest no errors c. 45. Christ is a wise Man or a fooll if a wise why did he build his house upon the sand and make it subject to the Infernal Tempests if a fool then you are Blasfemers 46. A Congregation of people in dispiseing Christ is guilty of Apostacy or not if not then you deny the true definition of Apostacy if they be how can you clear your selves of Apostacy in dispiseing his Church seeing it is said in Scripture Luke 10.16 he that heareth you heareth me and he that dispiseth you dispiseth me and he that dispiseth me dispiseth him that sent me 47. Your Church is guilty of Heresy or not if she be c. if not how doth the definition of Heresy agree with you in adhereing to so many private and singular Opinions and errors of Faith contrary to the general approved Doctrine of the Catholique Church 48. Your Church is guilty of Schism or not if she be c. if not how then doth the definition of Schism agree with you in dividing your selves from the body of Faithful Christians and in breaking comunion with the Antient Apostolique Catholique Roman Church 49. That Church to which the above mentioned marks doth agree to wit Apostacy Heresy and Schism is a false Church or not if not then you do not esteem Apostacy Heresy and Schism to be marks of a false Church if they be then your Church is false erronious and no Church seeing they so aptly agree with you 50. All that which the Antient Holy Catholique Roman Church holds as articles of Faith is Pious Good and Lawful which we prove thus out of Holy Writ and by common Sence and reason The Pope 's SUPREMACY Vindicated by the most solid Texts of Scripture 51. The Foundation of the Church of God next after Christ was builded on St. Peter or not if not why doth the Scriptures say St. Mat. 16.18 Thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church if it was why do you deny Peter's Supremacy 52. Christ bid prefer Peter before the other Apostles or not if not why did he say to Peter only Joh. 21.16 17 18. Feed my Lambs feed my Lambs feed my Sheep if he did why do you deny Peter's Supremacy 53. The Apostles were of like Authority or not if not why do you deny Peter's Supremacy if they were why have you Primates Arch-Bishops Bishops and no equal Authority as they had 54. To whom the cheif charge of feeding Christ 's Sheep was given was cheif of the Apostles or not if not why was the cheif charge given to him if he was why do you deny Peter's Supremacy to whom the cheif charge was committed Oral and Apostolical TRADITION Vindicated by the most solid Texts of Scripture 55. ORal and Apostolical Traditions without writen Books was the means of planting and conserving the Christian Religion or not if not how did the Apostles propagate the Faith of Christ without written Books if it was why do you deny Oral and Apostolical Tradition 56. The number of the Canonical Books is mentioned in Scripture or not if not how do you know the Canonical Books but by Oral Tradition if they be in what Book Chapter or Verse doth it appear 57. The Christians of the Primitive Age on pain of Damnation held nothing for Faith but what they received from Christ and his Apostles for such or not if not why do you condemn that of Scripture Gal. 1.8 Although we or an Angel from heauen preach to you besides that which we have preached to you be he Anathema And again 2. Thes 15. Therefore Brethren stand ye fast and hold ye the traditions which ye have learned whether by word or byour Epistle if they did why do you deny Tradition 58. Apostolical Tradition is the Rule by which we may infalliably be assured both what Doctrine Christ and his Apostles taught and what Books they wrote or not if not how otherwise can we be assured if it be Why do you deny Apostolical Tradition The Blessed EUCHARIST Vindicated to be the most Precious Body and Blood of our Saviour by the most sollid Texts of Scripture 59. THat natural Body and Blood which Christ offered for the remission of Sins on the Cross was the same that Christ gave to his Apostles at his last Supper or not if not why do you deny that Scripture of St. Luke 22.19 This is my Body which