theirs must have sworn vassalage to the Papacy Sect. 20. Or that communion of Saints was an article of levelling taken up pro necessitate temporum since Saint Cyprian takes no notice of it in his time and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Praising God and having all things common was the Saints communion May we all be members of one body while we show a mutuall sympathy partake of the same head by obeying Christs directions cemented together with his blood and knit by the unity of his spirit though every part may conduce to the good of the other none can so supererogate as the other may be uselesse similar nor dissimilar breeds no contrarietie but all parts comply to the service of the whole no dissimilitude of site motion ceremony divide but the gangreen of sin only enforces an amputation ne pars sincera trahatur The eyes are not incensed against the feet for not seeeng nor doth the ear commence a quarrell with the hands for not hearing or the back parts about the faces uncovering since decency of one part is the indecency of another every part not made for it self but for others all to the captivity of the head in compliance of whose dictates we must expect an unity in the body But an uniformity would prove a monster above a sober expectation above the chymaera's or phantasms of Enthusiasts who damn all the world that weather-cock-like turns not round with their own vertiginous heads Scimus quosdam quod semelimbiberint nolle deponere nec proposituÌ„ suum facile mutare sed salvo inter collegas pacis concordiae vinculo quaedam propria apud se semel usurpata retinere nec nos vim cuique facimus nec legem damus was the opinion of Saint Cyprian I could wish those who pretend most to be of his opinion would challenge a little of his charity Sect 22. For forgivenesse of sins I as little believe a Solifidian as a Romish Priest that attrition by absolution becomes contrition the one while he deceives himselfe by a lie or the other while he imposeth upon others secure neither from being deceived they may send to the father of lies but lying will scarce bring to the God of truth since none can be implanted in the death of Christ who bring not forth the fruit of this tree of life nor partake of the resurrection to life everlasting He that will be saved must keep the faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sound in faith and free from reproach in conversation holy as well as whole and so his holinesse himselfe may be prov'd the most fallible and though they violate the sense of the word while they render it inviolate yet God grant that they may keep it inviolate no more writh and wrench it to rivet in their own ambitious designes and we may keep it so undefiled that Momus himselfe may not carp at our lives since Christs death is mention'd for our regeneration birth for mortification resurrection for our rising in newnesse of life that we may enjoy the communion of Saints remission of sinnes and resurrection of our bodies to eternall life Sect. 23. There are but a few credenda petenda and agenda where I cannot avoid an Anathema non credendo non opponendo I will seek security embrace verities all hold if I cannot those wherein they differ though sometimes enterlacing discords graces the best Musick yet a quiet error is rarely not to be preferred before an unruly truth and crochets and quavers prove unseasonable when they disturb the plain songs of peace and it is better a son of the Church should be unknown then what they report of the viper he should make his way through the bowells of his Mother or a Milstone hung about his neck and he buried in the depth of his imaginations rather then they soar in the narrow way and keep weak brethren from heaven It shall not trouble me with Delrio whether the old Serpent was a Viper with Bonaventure and Comestor a Dragon or with Eugubinus a Basilisk or with others a common Snake it shall trouble me rather to continue the delusion of the Serpent by endeavours of propagating error that Adam tasted forbidden fruit may trouble me what fruit shall not I shall number it among the foâ—bidden fruits of knowledge which so many wiser heads have made disquisitions after and would have truth satisfied by the relish of their palats Sect 25. Whether our Saviours Crown was made of Paliurus or a piece of it visited Glassenburie and the precursor of his death turns an Angel of his Nativity blooming every Christmas day is not worth a disquisition I could make a Rose by moistning dilate and by rendring again insucâ—ous close may I rather avoid those thorns the curse of my sins which may render me incapable of both Whether Durantes distick of the Crosse be true need be no part of my creed Pes Cedrus est truncus Cupressus oliva supremum Palmaque transversum Christi sunt in cruce signum May I partake of no corruption like the Cedar in mourning for sin resemble the Cypresse by fertility in goodnesse assimilate the Olive so shall I flourish like a Palm even in the storms and pressures of this world mount upward by taking up the Crosse and following be partaker of him who was crucified Prudent symbols and pious applications may have an influence upon ingenious conceivers which may elevate devotion but on the mad rabble melancholy Monks and ignorant Priests they have no other efficacy beside warping to Magicall applications and miraculous expectancies It shall not trouble me whether the soul of Christ in triduo mortis went into Hell really as Thomas Aquinas believes or virtually and by effects only as Durand or whether the soul of Christ did descend really and in essence into the lowest pit of hell and place of the damned or really only into the place or region of hell called limbum Patrum and then but vertually from thence into the lower hell The Father to him who ask'd what God did before he made the world answe'rd Provide hell for such curious scrutinists as you are Non per difficiles Deus ad be atam vitam quaestiones vocat c. in absoluto nobis facili est aeternitas Jesum suscitatum à mortuis credere ipsum esse Dominum confiteri I will not procure a certain purgatory to my selfe here to make stranger guesses of an incertain one hereafter or whether the inventor of it Origens purgatory which could even purifie Devills reform them to Angels of light or the differing purgatory of S. Gregory Nissen St. Cyprian or St. Austin carry a greater probability or the Roman purgatory which took a platform from neither I can believe I may find a way to heaven without taking purgatory in my way or else the Fathers before Gregory the great might mistake never any one was directed that way with above an ut
grease of maintenance onely creak make a noise and disquiet the world Sect. 2. Most Polemicks while they have too rashly charg'd the body of error have made themselves her Captives and lent Antagonists Trophies of their rashnesse Though truth is a strong fort inconsideration may become a traytor and expose it to the mercy of an enemy Most men are so drunk with dispute and inebriated by their passions that they cast at Antagonists heads all they can lay hold on not fearing a rebound or what weapons they administer to their own ruine show the weakness of their adversaries with so much of their own that they lend opportunities to error they permit the wild bore in their Vineyards would keep out the Foxes and open a gap for the Foxes would expell the Wild bore they whose malice nam'd the Bishop of Rome Antichrist their weaknesse opened a door to the Brownist to bring in their own orders as rivolets from that See into the premunire of Antichristian While Rome would prevent dissentious they are forc'd to dissent from themselves admit that overgrown monster tyrannons infallibility like the Wild Bore of the Forrest to lay wast Gods Vineyard grown cruelly subtle by age and confidence in his tuskes gores all that stand in opposition â—oming with maliâ—e ambition and Avarice and wallowing in impurities they who dissent from these have not learn'd to agree with themselves each one hath his distinct Idol different Concubine various glosse on which their phancies set produces a brood of sects While they adulterate the Scripture and seem to approve that which they so much decry while they wed themselves to the Idols of their own phancy become the greatest Idolaters or confirm Copernicism with their whimzies the Earths motion by a continuity of giddinesse Sect. 3. With the Lyrck Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri me quocunque rapit tempestas deferor Neither shall I put gall in the ink I write of Religion because others sowre their language If I open sores the launching shall be onely to let out their corruption or take away the proud flesh that keeps the wounds of the Church from healing And though I may confess with S. Bernard Non sit major superbia quam ut unus homo toti congregattoni judicium suum praeferat tanquam ipse solus spiritum Dei habeat yet 't is a different thing for a man modestly in some points dis-satisfied to propose quaeres not to a Congregation onely but the Catholick Church and a sober man may without trenching on irreligion or the least touch of madness or insolency dispute a matter of Religion with the Roman or Church or Prelate as Irenaeus with Victor modesty accompanying and a desire to fist out truth free from vanity and purpos'd opposition even against a particular Church though to dispute an â— Article of Faith what the Catholick Church hath alwayes believ'd is what S. Austine calls insolent madness But in other things Consent of Nations Authority confirm'd by Miracles and Antiquity of S. Peters chair and succession from it motives to keep in the Catholick Church must not hold against demonstration of truth quae quidem si tam manifesta monstratur ut in in dubium venire non possit proponenda est omnibus illis quibus in Catholicâ teneor ita si ali quid apertissimum Evangelioâ— they have opened the gates and made the way that went before us non Domini nostri sed duces fuere truth lies open to all it is no mans severall patet omnibus veritas nondum est occupata multum exilia etiam futur is relicta dissentire licet sed cum ratione non mihi credendum sed veritati Sect. 4. Though I cannot look upon the Pope with that dreadfull apparition which some affrighted with the horror of their own imaginations who character him by a Virgils Polyphemus monstrum horrendum informe ingens cuilumen ademptum Or some sad and distorted phancies flutering betwixt the twilight of ignorance and self-conceit bandy against the name with prejudice as it nothing could result from thence might not taint the odour of virtue and innocence yet could I but believe infallibility to bee the Prerogative of the the pontificial chair I might believe with the Schoolmen sin a non-entity that Pontificial impurities passing for nothing the chair might be secur'd from rasher imputations St. Irenaeus might not accuse a Victor S. Cyprian a Stephen S. Athanasius a Pope Liberius for Arrianism all that pretend to goodnesse Heresie in an Anastatius Honorius John 22. Necromancy in a Silvester Magick in a third Paul a John the 8th 12 13 14 15 16 17. as if the name which implies gratious could import a concatenation of mischiefe they being link'd together in with the 7th Boniface for the most part entring like Foxes living like Lyons and dying like Dogs non montes parturient ridiculum murem sed secundum ridiculum morem in the eight John and Benedâ—ct the 9th supposed to appeare in the shape of a Monster after death because in all his life hee appeared not lesse then a Monsteâ— in all his Actions a 6th Vrban could drown five Candinalls for revenge andas if this had been too little let loose a deluge of impiety the 5. Cardinal virtues suffering for name sake But these are modest vey'd with witchcrafts incests cruelties of a sixth Alexander Idolatrous sacrifices in a Marcelln Diabolicall applications in a Celestine inhumations and such ridiculous peeces of cruelties in others that even Paganism is charitable and Mahometism it self comparatively virtuous Should I omit a 10th Leo's that Father of Christendom in long Coats who before the times others do arrive at age had attain'd to be Father of all the Aged a Pope at twenty quantum peperit nobishaec fabula Christi and after a dispure de animâ redit in nihilum quod fuâ—t ante nihil but I would sally no further shrowds best befiit the dead and by a candid retrogradation to draw a white veil of innocence over those who should have been nursing Fathers to the Church yet let mee tell you Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how assents he to Christ in his words who dissents from him in his works Three blazing Comets conspicuous in the Roman Horizon at the same time it would be strange if they should produce no alteration in the Ecclesiastick body three Popes cohabiting at Rome three in diverse Countries a schism for forty years Popes at the French and German devotion Ambition and Corruption to the attaining the Papall dignity as Platina being more prevalent then a Christian life it would be a miracle above any Legends pretend to that Contrariety should râ—concile mutuall Contradictions render infallible while the Church musick must bee onely set out of such discord Antipopes not onely in competition for but opposition to the pontificial dignity of the Popes infallibility see your own
either riches are to be preferr'd before poverty or marriage before Virginity and though I think marriage both honorable and lawfull in the Clergy yet I am of the L. Bacons opinion Charity can hardly water the ground where it must first fill a Pond aâ—d that many men believe not themselves wâ—at they would perswade others lesse do the things they would impose least know what they most confidently boast they onely set the sign of the Cross over their outer doors and sacrifice to the gut and grain in their inner closets and I must suspect the Sun of righteousness declining among these once not impious orders wher the shadows so far exceed the substaÌ„ce Sect. 59. Monachism prevails not so much in the sustentation of Popery as what is call'd Arminianism might against it I cannot think Bernevelt lesse the tongue and Genius of Holland because they could separate both from the body Politick nor that they inlarg'd not ignorance while they confin'd Grotius and learning and excellence suffer'd no lesse then by an Ostracism in this admirable Hugo Men born to raise the Low-Countries a pitch of excellence above their neighbours had not the envy of their neighbours conspiring with headstrong ignorance cast them below themselves but that which rais'd a tumult there and gilded a war here hath subdued even the Conquerors There is scarce a souldier but defends it and by it repels not introduces Popery into the Land Sect. 60. Calvin lends more occasion to mak Romish Proselytes then Ignatius Loyola and the Gomarists of Holland expell'd not Popery with Arminanism but opened a gap for the wild bore to lay wast their Vineyard whose entrance is by servile will irrespective Election and irreprobation paritie of sins the consequences of which to some more refin'd wits may seem to exceed the absurdities of a Talmud Alcoran and Popish Legends asperse the deiety with Tyranny jugling and partiality intitle goodnesse it self to sin while God is made Author of iniquity take away virtues essence by absuming will the Gospell promises and force of Laws confound the rationall faculties of the soul adequate humane nature to bestiall leave us to obey our fate and follow the duct of stars and teach such a trumpeter as the Jesuit Campian who could only sound to battail set others gether with noise and have himself no weapon or Trumpeter-like without a point not come to the purpose or can at most but scratch the face of Charity and disfigure Christian communion with quorsum corruptio haeretica contagio niâ—i ut qui solâ— side gloriam rapturi sunt in omnium tur pitudinum caeno volutati noturam accusent virtutem desperent praecepta deonerent as if these phancies were onely broched to vent irreligion and impiety by accusing nature despairing virtue and deonerating precepts ot wallow in the mud of impurities yet these may be deducible from a Saint Augustine their own Dominicans and a stream of interpreters while the Camells are forc'd to swim by the reason of the depth of the Enigmaticall Apostle and even the Roman Oracle himselfe dares not bee more confident then the Delphian gives onely dubious responses etripode Nay 't is affirm'd in their Angelick Doctor Aquinas who if the Elogies of three Popes carry credit quot articulos edidit tot miracula in jungimus ut ejus doctrinam tanquam veridicam Catholicam sectem â—ni ecce plus quam Solomon hic who with trifling arguments concludes for that the envy of which they would fix on the reformation In some distempers who feed the body feed the diseases if the too indulgent hand of some too officious Parent instead of help hath reach'd death to her beloved children while zealous ignorance in a supposed antidote administers poyson we know what a discracy the Roman Mother by rasher indulgences hath reduc'd the body Ecclesiastick if the preposterous zeal of other Churches hath begot an atrophy in some constitutions while ignorantly they take away Laws terror perswasions make us loath food or think our selves incapable it would be a strange Law would punish with death the rash zeal of a mistaking parent in the ruine of a child with the same medicine she cur'd others Quos praedestinavit ad finem praedestinavit ad medâ—a Endeavour to make your Calling and Election sure may counterprise the poyson in some and strength of nature work it out in others God of his mercy send the oyle of his holy Spirit that by the holy annointing the tumors of venemous malice may subside in all Sect. 61. The Satyr in the Fable seeing his Host blow his fingers to heat them and his broth that he might cool it renounc'd his society We are all too Satyricall have too much of a Satyrs nature in us the beastiall part so farre exceeds humanity that we renounce communion for that which might be rectified by reason That which can infrigidate an Italians zeal may inflame a frozen Islanders devotion Urban the eight demanded by a Cardinall why he preferr'd one for Nuntio whose capacities had arrived to no higher eminencies then the trash and refuse of mankind before a quick and refined piece in whom nature as in an Elixir had plac'd all that might inrich in the mysterious excellencies of state replyed This Eagle would not be lur'd to flies and those higher elevations of phancy would only render him incapable of himselfe and others who measure other mens thoughts by their own will prove ill Judges both of themselves and others Sect. 62. From those whom I am divided in opinion I will not prove a Separatist in my charity I shall contend in nothing but not to approve my selfe contentious As I am an English man I will use the liberty which God hath permitted me was I a Spaniard or Italian I would think with Erasmus si quid tyrannidis quod tamen non cogat ad impietatem satius est fâ—rre quâ—m seditiose reluctare nec esse pium nec esse rutum de potestate publicâ sinistram concipere aut serere opinionem c. Singularity not so precious as to cost the quiet of a Mother neither should I be troubled with those squibs and erackers the noise and fire that flies up and down the stories of hell for not confessing God before men to confesse the God of peace the best way is to bepeaceable I am not of the Gnosticks humour to deny God in the time of persecution and worship Idolls which the mistaken places of these Scripture wire-drawers import I should suppose I denyed God a common Father and persecuted the truth should I so wed my selfe to the Idoll of my own phancy as not to worship the true God after any form Sect. 63. Errors are more worthy of pitty then hate Reformations have been so tumultuous and refractory that quiet error to sober Christian might seem to be preferr'd before unruly truths All Churches betwixt invitation and menace would perswade resignation of faith to a simple