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A39769 The truth and certainty of the Protestant faith with a short and plain account of the doctrine of the Romish Church in its visible opposition to Scripture and the very being of Christianity : to which is adjoined some serious considerations anent popery & the state of that controversy. Fleming, Robert, 1630-1694. 1678 (1678) Wing F1277B; ESTC R37829 39,817 62

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what pretext so ever for any to be Popish Nor is it strange that after such abused light hell becometh now more hot and more inevitable than before whilst so much of the Christian World who own that name and Profession do shut their eyes and ears at so clear and distinct a sound from the Scripture seemes to roll over all certainty hereof to the decision and irrevocable Sentence of the Great Judge CONSID. II. SEcondly Can it be in the dark this day if this be not upon Choice that the great interest of the Reformed Church in contending against Popery is a most express appearance and contending for the Truth of Christianity and Doctrine of the Scripture delivered to us in the Old and New Testament And is so discernable upon these great Heads 1. That there is but one Mediator betwixt God and Sinners against such direct opposition thereto in the Doctrine of the Romish Church that brings in a plurality of Mediators and the Worshipping of Angels and Saints departed for that end 2. In behalf of the reality of Christs humane nature which by the Doctrine of Transubstantiation is subjected to have a new created being in their consecrated Hostia at each time every where at the pleasure of a wretched man which is in effect a most express denying of his blessed body to be humane and finite 3. It is clear how expresly concerned the Protestant Church is in opposition to Popery to contend for the reality of Christs death and suffering for his Elect. And that this time is come and past no more possibly to be repeated again wherein he once appeared in the end of the world to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself Heb. 9 26. And by one offering hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified Heb. 10 14. Against that horrid blasphemy of the Mass which they own as a repeated offering of the blessed body of the Redeemer by the hands of the Priest unto God as a Propitiatory sacrifice for the living and the dead which is so evident a subverting the foundations of Christianity and to make void the infinite value and efficacy of the death and suffering of Christ once offered and for ever in behalf of his Elect whilst they thus own a continued offering of his body which as the Apostle shewes Heb. 9 25. that if Christ had offered himself often he behoved to have fuffered often 4. And is it not clear that great interest of truth the Reformed Church is now pressed to appear upon against Popery is the Doctrine of Christ delivered to us in the Scripture as that whereon we must found and resolve our faith and not the Authority of men which they so expresly oppose and deny so as it is no less than the Christian cause and quarrel for which all who loves the truth are called to contend and that we should not be berest of that blessed infallible rule and standart of truth by those whose great aime is to have it denuded of all Authority but what is precarious and dependent on them nor to be so much as intelligible and to have an articular voice until they cause it speak and put what sense thereon they please CONSID. III. THirdly It may be astonishing and is surely one of the greatest depths of the Judgment of God this day to see what of the world with their own consent is subjected to so visible and notour an imposture as Popery is whilst such as it would seeme not conceiveable how men can exerce reason and not as in a deep sleep and have this hid from their eyes the obvious deceit and imposture of such a way where no Religion but a compound of humane Policy with their own private interest and gain is wholly intended About which I shall offer I hope I may with some confidence say it 's for the truths sake a short touch here at in some undeniable justances 1. None will debate how this way is framed for such an interest that there may be a g●aunt and allowance from the Pope for any sin and to transgress the express Lawes of the great Lawgiver yea this put to sale Oh what a strange device that for money men may have a liberty to destroy themselves Whilst on the other hand nothing is followed with more severe threatnings then an absolute subjecting ●o their arbitrary Commands so that one may safely disobey the holy God and this with a warrant but not the Pope and his Clergy under the hazard of condemuation 2. That such a stock and treasure of merites should be in keeping by the Romish Church and under their trust to dispose of as a thing deposited into their hand by such who had more than enough for themselves to serve for the use of others And thus at their disposal to give out thereof to satisfy divine Justice for those who have not sufficient merite of their own this only being necessarily provided that these who get a share of such a treasure compense it by somewhat equiv●lent and buy it ere they have it but herein could they never resolve the world how to be sure if these merites were truely more than such whose they were needed themselves or how they came into their hand or was intrusted by them to apply or if their strength be not long since spent and exhausted by so long continued application in such innumerable indulgences given out of that treasury Oh! what a deplorable contrivance is here which I confess should be owned as one of the greatest Master pieces of cheatry as ever the world knew if it were only to cheat men of their purse but this goes further to those great interests of the immortal soul and yet so many will not see the visible intent of this trade and merchandice that it is indeed the merchandice of the souls of men so expresly foretold by the holy Ghost Rev. 18 13. 3. Their taking on them to change the condition of the dead and ensure to their friends the happy estate of their soul upon some large offerings to the Church for this As likewise that respect and veneration they require from men to the reliques of the Saints deceased whereto they ascribe such power both against fin and for healing diseases of the body yea most of these pretended reliques such as must necessarily plead some extraordinary miracle to be wrought for their continued preservation that thus they may with confidence perswade the world their having some bone or scull of the Apostles Primitive Saincts to be still seen if any have a heart to give a price for it 4. That the Romish Pope is the true Successor of Peter and thus Christs Vicar as they tearme him upon the earth which men must needs take upon trust with an implicite faith from such whose preferment and gain in the World should be other wise ruined if this be not taken off their hand whilst yet it is so undeniable at what a strait they are
Ans It is sure 1. That the wages of sin is death Rom 6 23. And no difference there is shewed betwixt venial and mortal 2. If a full acquittance from the guilt and punishment of sin be by Jesus Christ and that he hath payed the whole price no Satisfaction to Justice can be of use for temporal punishment 3. It is clear the most sharp chastisements of the Saints in this life are for healing and no effect of Vindictive Justice nor can give the last ground to plead for humane Satisfaction or such a thing as Purgatory after this life SECT XII Qu. BUt is there no Scripture warrant for the Romish Mass as a real external Sacrifice propitiatory for the living and the dead and that wherein the body of Christ is really offered up Ans It is clear 1. That not the least footstep of a Sacrifice or of Christs offering his Body and Blood was in the first institution of the Eucharist nor in these Offices given to the Church of Apostles Pastors Teachers c. Rom. 12 6 7 8. 1 Cor. 12 28. is there mention of any such as a sacrificer of Christs Body 2. No external Sacrifice can be now under the New Testament these under the Law being only typical of that which was accomplished in Jesus Christ who offered himself but once Heb. 7 27. And by this one offering hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10 18. So as this denies the perfection of Christ's Offering and his everlasting Priesthood 3. No sacrifice can be propitiatory which is without blood since without that There is no remission Heb 9 22. 4. It is clear in a true Sacrifice the thing sacrificed must be destroyed in the act of sacrificing which none dare say of the blessed Body of Christ nor can it be conceived how a repetition of the Offering up of Christ should really be and not of his Sufferings also Qu. Can it be denyed but some Offerings are even under the New Testament unto God Ans We know in the Lords Supper there are Offerings of praise and love with a solemn commemoration of Christ death but no external Sacrifice there or the least shadow of ground from the Scripture for it Qu. Did not Mel●hizedeck offer Bread and Wine who was the Priest of the most High God Gen. 14 18. Ans His bringing it forth to Abraham is there shewed but nothing to shew his Offering of it or what could give ground for the Idolatrous service of the Mass though on this they lay its greatest weight Qu. Are there not Priests now in times of the Gospel as under the Law Ans We know One only eternal High Priest who is such as can have no successour and it is clear Heb. 7 26. that the Priest and Offerer under the New Testament should be holy undefiled and separate from sinners which I judge they dare not own But what do they mean thereby since it must either be to repeat over again Christs Sacrifice which is impossible and blasphemous or to present what was then done by him which is a Sacrament and no Sacrifice yea even in this are they manifestly divided to give an account wherein the action of sacrificing consists whether in the words of consecration This is my Body or in putting it on the altar Qu. Yet may not some be present there with a safe Conscience when no evil is intended Ans We ought not from these grounds 1. The scandal and offend●ng of our Brother which is not to be judged from our intention but from what is manifest to others in our doing such a thing 2. The hardening of Papists in their way this being a special symbol of their profession whereby they are discerned 3. It were an obvious dissimulation before God and with the adversary in that professed communicating with them in an external part of worship SECT XIII Qu. IS it not an essential of the Christian Religion that such a precise number of Sacramen●s is and neither more nor fewer than Seven as is the Doctrine of the Romish Church Ans It is indeed an essential of their Religion but such as could never shew its warrant from the Bible where two Sacraments only can be found of Christs appointment Baptism and the Lords Supper as having these requisites to a Sacrament of the New Testament 1. An external visible element 2. That it be of expresse Divine institution 3. To have a promise of Grace and Pardon annexed thereto which is not only signified but offered and sealed to all who rightly partake thereof 4. That it be perpetual unto the Worlds end Qu. Are these other five Sacraments of the Romish Church but of humane invention to wit Confirmation Pennance Extreme unction Orders and Marriage Ans Since Divine Worship must be according to the Rule given us by the Lawgiver it is clear these have not the least impress of a Divine appointment thereon Qu. Is not Confirmation an ancient practice of the Church Ans It was a custom in the Primitive times to bring Children Baptized and after they came to some years before the Church to put them in mind of their Baptism and engagements they were under which they now turn into a Sacrament and therewith use Chrism which is Oyl mixed with Balm putting it on the forehead in the form of a Cross with these words I sign and confirm thee with the Chrism of Salvation giving them a blow on the face with other foolish rites by which they say the fulnesse of the Holy Ghost is given But how this is a Sacrament or by what Institution ordained or what promise of Grace and Pardon is annexed hereto must be sought elsewhere than from the Bible Qu. But is not Penances a part of Repentance and a visible sign thereof Ans The publick profession of Repentance for publick scandalous sins is a duty but no such outward sign was ever instituted in the Word as Whipping Pilgrimage c. Yea nothing more contrary thereto than their declared meaning of this to be a Satisfaction to justice and Compensation of the wrong done unto God thereby nor can they agree among themselves about the Sacramentality thereof if the form be in the act of the Priests Absolution or not Qu. Are not Marriage and Orders unquestionably of Divine appointment Ans None will deny that Marriage and these Offices appointed by Christ in his house have their Warrant in the Scripture but not as Sacraments yea is it not amazing how the Romish Church should assert this who maintain the use of these Sacraments to be necessary to Salvation when all of their Church are by their own Doctrine excluded from one of them the whole Laity from Orders and the Clergy from Marriage Qu. Is there not yet ground for extreme Unction Jam. 4 14. In which with the Oyl of Olive they anoint divers parts of the bodies of those who are in death bed with such words I anoint such a place that wherein thou hast sinned