under earth expresly by the same Law forbidden for example Moon and Stars Dogs and Cats Whales and Dolphins The Picture of Martin Luther in their Chamber is the lawful effigies of a man But Saint Stephen in our Closet is a Calf Can any man who talks at this rate be thought to be one that has conversed either with the learned sort of Papists or the wiser sort of Heathens or one rather that had never any conversation at all either with reason or men O but Catholicks worship God by their Images which Protestants do not I marry this is a huge fault indeed that Catholicks take thereby occasion to think of God and his manifold mercies and bless his name and trust in him For they no other way worship God by Images This is the mortal sin which Catholicks commit And if that illogical speech of the Doctor Catholicks worship God by Images be drawn into any kind of sence it can be no other than this that Catholicks take occasion by the pious faces of their Martyrs to think of Gods manifold graces and mercies towards them and thereupon trust in him afresh and bless his name which great errour the Doctor it seems does carefully avoid The ancient devout Christians thought of God and worshipped him by any thing any good thing they enjoyed the verdant fields and sweet flowers comfortable air and pleasing light mountains valleys and liquid streams Plumbs Pears Apples and chearful Grapes by the vertue charity and devotion of men the ministry of Angels c. But now we must take heed of that We may taste a Plumb or a Cherry we may eat a Venison Pasty and drink good Wine if we can get it nay we may have fine Pictures in our Chambers even the Picture of Jesus Christ crucified or any of his followers we may have all this if we be such good Protestants as Mr. Stillingfleet and never think of God or worship God by it But if we worship God by it if we think of God by it then it is all poison to us All is suddenly turned to Moloch to Remphan to Bâ—al Peor to Ashtaroth to Aarons golden Steer and the Calves of Bethel If we do but eat a custard thinking of God or worshipping God by it presently it becomes a Ramphan or Chiun the Idol of the Arabians Walking upon Hamstead hill as people use innocently enough to do if casting our eyes about the prospect we think of God by it as Catholicks are wont the hill before innocent is now become a Baal Peor the Idol of the Moabites A Citizâ—n walking to the Tower may look harmlesly enough upon the Crown and royal Robes there But he must take heed then that he fall not into a meditation of Heaven or the glory of its great King to worship him in his heart by it For then it becomes to him an Adramelech the idol of Sepharvaâ—m And he must beware of the like abuse when he sees the Chamber and Table where his Majesty sits in Council with his Peers lest it become a Moloch to him the idol of the Moabites The very Flags and Banners often seen in London-streets make some simple soul to think of Jerusalem above the peace and happy company there and the God of all but then O how suddenly is the Streamer metamorphosed and tâ—rned into Nesroch the idol of Senacherib Some are so bold when they either see or hear of any corrupted by the French-pox and lecâ—eâ—y to thank God who has preserved them and worship God by it And thereby sin no less grievously than Maacham the Mother of Asa King of Judah in worshipping her idol Priap or Nimphleseth A Gentleman called upon God not in words onely but very heaâ—tâ—ly when a troublesome Fly got into his Eve and much afflâ—cted him but he little thought that by that piety of his he had sinned as deeply as they that worship Baalzebub the idol of Acaron Nothing is more ordinary with Country Gentlemen when walking abroad they behold a goodly fair Flock of Sheep in pasture of their own than to thank God and worship God by it but little do they think good men they are guilty of idolatry thereby as much guilty as they that worshipped Ashtaroth the idol of the Philistins Nay a very Cow or Calf in the Meadows if we take occasion by it to thank God for his benefits or to worship God by it is the same thing then as Aarons Moulten heifer or Jeroboams Calves set up in Dan and Bethel And as it is for substance so for the figures of things St. Paul's picture so long as we do not think of God by it is a lawful picture But if we come once to think of God to worship God by it O then that is a Calf too Aarons Calf one of Jeroboams Calves c. This thinking of God this worshipping of God by any thing this is the pestilential blast that spoils all It turns sweet into bitter lawful into unlawful things innocent into sin and good things to death The representation of our blessed Lord crucified for us so long as we think not of him may pass for a good innocent or at least indifferent thing but if we once think seriously of him if we worship God by it then O Mr. Stillingfleet what is it then And yet answer me not For I will not have those blasphemous words here repeated Speak them to a Jew in order to Jesus Christ and he will embrace and love you But a Christian cannot enduâ—e to hear them § 5. Papists saith he worship God by images and so are guilty of idolatry Catholicks may hear this but can never understand what he means They are never taught in any of their Catechisms to worship God by Images None of their spiritual books wherein all religious Duties are importunately urged and pressed upon them ever mention it and their practice does not infer it For if it did they would easiliest understand it who best know what themselves do They are taught and do in their practice endeavour to worship God in their heart and soul and ardent affections streaming forth thence towards him They worship him with bended knees lips voice hearts and eyes lifted up unto him They worship him with the assistance of Gods good Spirit the Priests Sacrifice and help of mutual Prayers They worship him by mortifying their sensuality and carnal appetites by giving alms and relieving the poor and needy for his Love by observing his Laws and Counsels by resigning to his good will and pleaâ—ure in all things especially in time of afflicting persecutions when they suffer all manner of reproach lies and calumnies loss of goods and sometimes life it sell for his name sake patiently They worship him in Closets in Church-assemblies in the fields as they are walking on Land or Sea where they have oppportunity to do it Thus doth their religion teach them to worship God as with the right causes and instruments as by the true effects and
Lord must needs then have appeared among us on this our Earth in vain For both himself and all the whole truth he delivered us was in his time and all following ages contradicted round about and opposed and rendred thereby doubtful by Jews and Pagans and no less by those people who Apostatized from that Catholick Society than any other their outward and forrein Adversaries And I suppose the Giantly witts of former ages amongst the Rabbies and Philosophers did with somwhat a more stronger shot from sâ—nce and reason invade our Christian assurance than any is here discharged out of his Elder potgun by our doubt-making Doctor This is uncertain Church is slighted Fathers are otherwise interpreted there are now who deny it c. What news in all this can trouble me who could not but foresee if I did but use my common reason that all these things would happen It is not to be expected that all men should believe at once And he that believes not will both conceive doubtâ— and urge them both hare a believer and persecute him too perhaps to death without any doubt at all These doubts and oppositions and 〈◊〉 raised against Faith can have no other effect in a true believer but to strengthen and spread the roots of it more wide and deeper in his heart There was a notable Propheâ—ie of our Lord uttered by St. Siâ—â—â—on a worthy great Personage at his birth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Jesus is set both for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign to be contradicted Both Christ and his whole Faith delivered by him is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Signe and eminent Trophy set up in the eyes of the whole world by all grumbling unbelievers to be enviously glanced at malitiously traduced and all possible ways opposed and persecuted O but what if this Faith of Papists should prove to be false saith he then cannot Papists be excused from Idolatry as their own learned men acknowledg This is even wondrous true whether our own learned men who are still brought in by him for the imbellishment of his own Clarkship do acknowledg it or no. And so if Jesus Christ himself should prove not to be what he is believed by Catholicks then would the Doctor also who is ready to worship him upon the account of that our Faith declared and maintained by the Catholick Councel of Nice be an Idolator too A false consequence may easily flow from a false and impossible supposition But wise men are more apt to consider their own danger than other mens And the Doctor if he were indeed in earnest and heeded rather his own Salvation then vain glory should rather ask his own soul I should think what if this Catholick Faith should be true Catholicks have for it clear Gospel universal tradition all Christian Churches in the world believing it and that in all ages the Doctor has nothing but his own sence and John Calvin who fell from that Church to plead for him Were not the Manichees censured as Idolaters for worshiping the Sun in the Firmament believing it to be God They well deserved to be censured For that was a fancy of their own grounded upon that word he hath set his Tabernacle in the Sun drawn unto a fond sence by their private interpretation contrary to the Authority of the Church and Pastors whom they would not obey when they checked and reproved them for it Even as now our present Protestants do put their various fanciful interpretations of signe and figure upon the words of Gospel This is my Body which the whole Church of God out of which they fell ever loved and reverenced as the most clear evidence of a Heavenly Legacy the truest and reallest that was ever made to man and of highest concernment to him Only the Maâ—â—chees judged by their erring surmise that our Lords Body was really there where the Church taught them it was not Protestants think it not really there where the same Church teaches them it is And thus have we passed through those handful of doubts which the Dr. casts before our eyes to perswade us we are not sure where he knows we are immoveable And we may worship our Lord in the Eucharist still as we did before for Stillingfleet § 10. The residue of this Chapter bewraies our third Catholick Idol Saints namely and their invocation There be but three or four words in it of substance if a falshood may be said indeed to subsist at all dilated so by his pretty rhetorick as if he had a mind to teach young Lawyers how to plead in a false cause The Heathens saith he were not blamed by Christian Doctors for their ill choice of worship Venus for example or Vulcan who were wretches but for giving divine honour to any but the true God as Papists do Here are two untruths and both notorious ones For neither do Catholicks give divine honour to Saints their fellow Servants and Domesticks of Faith neither is it true that antient Christian Doctors did not blame the Heathens for their ill choyce of worship as monuments yet extant various and weighty monuments do witness both in St. Austins Civitate Dei and elsewhere Wise Heathens worshiped one God supreme heeding the rest as inferiour powers under him as Papists do their Saints These be two more falshoods as is already declared in part For neither are Saints any inferiour powers to help us from themselves as the Sun Moon or Mercury but friends of God in Heaven and welwishers to their Brethren on Earth ready as Onias Job Abraham and Daniel and all the good Angels both to desire and rejoyce at their conversion and peace Neither did the wise Heathens worship one God supreme as St. Paul expresly testifies in his Epistle to the Christians at Rome where he tells them that even the Pagan Philosophers whom Dr. Stilling fleet calls the wiser Heathens held the truth in injustice that they did not glorifie nor worship the supreme God that they became as vain in their thoughts and deeds as any even the unwiser sort of them that pretending to be wise or wiser Heathens they became starke Noddies that they transformed Gods truth discerned even by his works of Creation into a lye and that they worshiped and served the Creature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not the Creator I know well enough that Varro with some others of the Heathens about Rome where all sorts of Idols were brought together for the renown and pomp of that conquering City began to plead thus and excuse their Idolatry as the Doctor has learned by him here to do But did St. Austin admit that plea or was there ever any Christian who opposed it not together with all our holy Prophets and Apostles What subordination was there amongst the Egyptian Cyrian and Chaldean Idols or what Country ever was there among the Heathens who looked not upon their own Idol-God as Supreme Papists build Churches to Saints offer Sacrifice
the poor of God the orphans and widows their lame old decayed feeble neighbours as they used to do formerly in Catholick times But if infected by the contagion of sin and sinners they will not be moved to this yet a charitable distribution at their death though it be a late offering it is better than none at all And several prayers poured forth to God for them after they are departed hence though they may not perhaps equal their condition to the Soul of a poor believing Lazarus yet will alms-deeds plead their cause before God and prayers will not be in vain Make your selves friends saith our Lord of the mammon of iniquity that when you fail they may receive you into eternal tabernacles And although it be surer and a more certain way to make those friends betimes and continually all our whole life time yet are not they excluded from some benefit thereof who make them late and at their last hour For they who receive temporal good things out of charity in God are obliged now in the same charity to repay spiritual and all other spiritual recompence is now out of season save onely prayer and hearty good wishes which are never in vain before God And it were much to be wished that Mr. Still would cease at length to make jests of sacred Gospel and apply it seriously to his own heart and soul as it is intended by our holy Lord. Perhaps he would not then endeavour any more to inrich himself or court promotion by this wicked trade of defaming his innocent neighbours Gods ancient and renowned servants It is neither impossible to God that a camel or cable rope should pass through a needles eye nor yet that a rich man should be saved if he will bend himself to his duty § 3. Prayers in an unknown tongue hinder all sincerity of devotion among Papists Here the Author wriggles and winds himself like a snake in a bush speaking sometimes as if people knew not what their Priest says and sometimes again as if they knew not what themselves pray confounding all things that he may more freely sport himself It is better faith he to know what we pray than not Christian prayers are not to be used like charms God understands more than one language The more people understand the better they pray Why some pray and not others if some understand and not others Why should any pray but he that understands All this is very true but what and whom does it concern People may as well pray at the chiming of Bells as at the jargon of Priests words What does he mean by praying at the jargon of words and how at them Is not this a merry conceited man And what harm is it if a Christian do pray at the chiming of Bells Hundreds of good Catholicks pray at the striking of the clock daily and what then what harm is this But his chiming jargon put together makes the merriment If a Catholick priest appearing among the Christian flock met together to pray and meditate and offer themselves and all their friends to God joyn himself with them and place himself between them and God to offer to him his own and their necessities to sacrifice for their peace as our Lord in his last supper appointed to meditate and pray with them for himself and all the people placed in their humble and silent posture in the Church what chimes or jargon is there here But when a man speaks against he knows not what he must needs say he knows not what against it For Catholicks whose devotion he here derides pray and meditate both privately all alone in their own closets or oratories and publickly in their Synaxis or assembly at Liturgy Their private devotions take them up an hour or two every day in the week wherein they keep peculiar prayers and meditations about the creation and Gods providence the incarnation passion mysteries of grace the duties of life vice and vertues Gods mercies and judgments mans misery and weakness punishments and rewards eternal And all these prayers made either in their own tongue or no words at all cannot be concern'd in any of this our doctors talk And their conventual converse with God in their Synaxis or Mass is no otherwise For there met all together they do but meditate and pray as they did before but now in a community either without any words as was most familiar in antient times or with words as now is more usual understanding well enough both the thoughts and aspirations of their own hearts and the words of their lips if they utter any Onely there is required here a little more instruction that they may conceive both what the Priest does with them and for them and also how to comply and joyn their hearts with his that they may all unanimously endeavour in this their silent and yet busie and earnest commerce with God to offer up themselves with the divâ—ne sacrifice unto their own reconciliation and peace For the Priests great work there is rather visible actions than audible words and whether he speak english or latin it is all one to them who can seldom hear him and attend not so much to his words as deeds whenever they cast their eyes that way And that this is the capital devotion of all antient Christians in their Synaxis and not any few prayers read in our ears by a Minister in a Pew has been amply demonstrated by Catholick Doctors in all the languages of Europe at this day Their Synaxis was never any hearing or fitting business but such a posture of humiliation where every heart submits every tongue confesses and every knee bows to God in Jesus our onely hope and refuge And if the doctour is ignorant of all this let him turn Catholick that he may understand it better § 4. The efficacy of sacraments in the Church of Rome depending upon bare administration without any preparation of mind is another great enemy to Piety For their Sacraments confer grace ex opere operato as the Council of Trent has defined This being so what need is there of any preparation of mind by the exercise of faith prayer repentance any strict examination or endeavour of raising our selves unto any worthy use of Sacraments Devotion will never be more easily banished out of the world than by a perswasion that grace and its comfortable effects may be had without it without prayer without endeavour of a holy life without mortification and watchfulness after the benefits which Christs life and death obtained for us This is a goodly and very plausible harrangue if it had any foundation or truth in it Dâ—d ever any Council or Doctor or Catholick man either say or believe that our Lords Sacraments do confer grace unto the receiver without any of their preparation or disposition of heart towards them Never any one But all the whole world of Catholicks prepare themselves for them with all their whole utmost care and