than it found them upon a twofold Account 1. By confirming those Errors and Corruptions that were before 2. By adding others to them 1. By confirming the Errors and Corruptions before introduced That the Fathers made no Reformation of these I have already shew'd I now add That they undertook the Defence of them made Decrees to confirm them and cursed all those who should dare to oppose them The Popes Supremacy Transubstantiation Adoration of the Host Communicating in one Kind Invocation of Saints Veneration of Images and of Reliques Purgatory Indulgences were all establish'd and as much as in them lay render'd immovable against all Assaults I need not prove this because it is not only confessed by all but is by some insisted upon as a mighty Argument against the Protestants That the Fathers were unanimous in condemning their Tenents that is in condemning all those Doctrines that were opposite to the Romish Errors and in asserting the contrary (b) R. H. Considerat c. S. 152. 2. Nor did they only support the old but introduced many new Errors in the Faith Those who were read in Ecclesiastical Story said That in all the Councils held in the Church from the Apostles time until then there were never so many Articles decided as in the sixth Session only in which saith the Historian Aristotle had a great part by having exactly distinguished all the kinds of Causes (c) Soav l. 2. p. 228. Thanks to Father Aristotle One would think his Logick and Metaphysicks added to the Holy Scriptures might make them a compleat Rule without the Addition of unwritten Traditions 'T is true that some of those Points were not then first broach'd but had for some time before been commonly taught and received in the Church of Rome but none of them were Articles of their Faith or any more than disputable Points among themselves before they were defined by the Council And therefore in further Prosecution of this I shall do these two things 1. I shall mention several of their new Definitions some of which are at the best but matters of Opinion others of them palpably False 2. I shall shew That these new Articles some at the best doubtful others manifestly false are by the Council made necessary to be believed in order to Salvation 1. For their new Definitions besides many others which I shall omit take these following which I shall for the greater part but barely mention 1. That unwritten Traditions are of the same Divine Authority with the Holy Scriptures (d) Sess 4 2. That the Books of Tobit Ecclesiasticus Wisdom Judith and the two Books of Maccabees are Canonical Scripture (e) Ibid. The contrary to which was Catholick Doctrine at Rome it self but a few years before this Council (f) Et quoniam Hieronymum sortiti sumus Regulam ne erremus in Discretione Librorum Canonicorum nam quos ille Canonicos Tradidit Canonicos habemus quos ille a Canone discrevit extra Canonem habemus Cajetan Comment in 1. cap ad Heb. vers 1. and approv'd by Pope Clement VII (g) Divo Hieronymo Pater Beatissime Universa Ecclesia Latina plurimum debet non solum ob Annotatas ab eo in Libris Veteris ac Novi Test particulas tum adjectitias tum ambiguas sed etiam propter discretos ab eodem libros Canonicos a non Canonicis Liberavit siquidem nos ab Hebraeorum opprobrio quod fingamus nobis antiqui Canoni◠Libros aut Librorum partes quibus ipsi penitus carent Cajetan Epist Dedicat. ad Pap. Clement VII ante Comment in Libros Hist V. T. See Bishop Cosins Scholast Hist of the Canon of the Scripture I know R. H. (h) C. 11. §. 198. and many more Romish Writers tell us That this was defined in the Council of Florence If it was this will add but very little either to its Antiquity or to its Authority but that it was there can be no proof produced but a spurious Article in Caranza's paultry Epitome the least Intimation of which is not to be met with in any of the larger Editions of the Councils 3. That by the Grace conferr'd in Baptism all that which hath the true and proper nature of Sin is removed (i) Sess 5. c. 5. 4. That Concupiscence in the Regenerate is not truly and properly Sin (k) Ibid. 5. That the Works of justified Persons are truly Meritorious of Eternal Life and increase of Glory (l) Sess 6. Can. 32. 6. That the Catholick Church from the beginning hath always observ'd the manner of confessing to a Priest alone in secret (m) Sess 14. Can. 6. 7. That Confession to a Priest is necessary to Salvation by the Law of God n Ibid. 8. That to obtain Remission of Sins it is necessary by the Law of God to confess all and every mortal Sin which a man can call to remembrance to a Priest o Sess 14. Can. 7. 9. That it is necessary by the Divine Law to confess the Circumstances of every mortal Sin which change the nature of the Sin p Ibid. And is there one in an hundred that knows which are the Circumstances that change the kind 10. That a man conscious of mortal Sin how contrite soever he thinks himself is not duly prepared for the Eucharist without preceding Confession to a Priest q Sess 13. Can. 11. 11. That the Mass is a true and proper Sacrifice r Sess 22. Can. 1. 12. That Christ by these words Do this in remembrance of me did institute his Apostles Priests and ordained that they should offer his Body and Blood ſ Can. 2. 13. That the Sacrifice of the Mass is Propitiatory and ought to be offered for the Living and Dead for Sins Punishments Satisfactions and other Necessities t Sess 22 Can. 3. 14. That the Mystical Benedictions Lights Incense Garments and many other things of like nature used in the Mass are by Apostolical Tradition u Cap. 5. This is so palpably false that it hath not the least Colour of Truth And this the Trent Fathers knew well enough For Antonius de Valletelina a Dominican told them That it was plain by all History that anciently every Church had her particular Ritual of the Mass brought in by use and upon occasion That the Roman Rite hath been to gratifie the Pope received in many Provinces tho the Rites of many Churches are still most different from it That the Roman also hath had great Alterations as will appear to him that readeth the Ancient Book called Ordo Romanus which have been made not only in Ancient times but even in the latter Ages also and the true Roman Rite observed within 300 years is not that which is now observed by the Priests in the City but that which is retain'd by the Order of St. Dominick For the Vestments Vessels and other Ornaments of the Ministers and Altars it appeareth not by Books only but by
which yet will not pass for much among many Men of his own Church But suppose they are is it a thing granted that all is true that is in the Vatican Manuscripts He frequently quotes the Acts of the Council the Vatican it seems is furnished with plenty of them the Acts of Paleottus of Mensottus of the Bishop of Salamanca c. O how thankful would many Men be to his Holiness would he bless the World with the sight of these Yea what would they not willingly give to purchase them If then they are such as will abide the Test why are they still kept under Lock and Key Is it not to be suspected that the Wares are adulterate when the Merchant will not be persuaded to bring them into the Light Is the Court of Rome so self-denying as not to publish those things which make for their advantage May we not then conclude That either they are such as will not endure the Trial or in case they will that besides what makes for them they contain those matters also which make more against them Besides It is a thing known to the World that the Legats in the Council had two sorts of Instructions one Letter was to be shew'd to give satisfaction to the Bishops and Ambassadors another ran counter to it and was to be concealed And may we not suppose that those Letters which the Cardinal so frequently cites were of that sort only which were to be communicated which were direct contrary to those that were concealed What credit then is to be given to his Proofs For these and many other Reasons which to avoid tediousness I omit the Cardinals Counter-History hath not met with that esteem among learned Men of the Church of Rome as was expected and instead of blasting the Reputation of Father Paul's History hath made it to be more highly valu'd by many Men than it was before CHAP. III. The Vanity of the pretended Reformation of the Council of TRENT HAving given Father Paul his due I shall now proceed to treat of the Reformation made by the Council I might premise several general Considerations by which all impartial Persons will be abundantly satisfied that no Reformation to purpose could be made by it viz. such as these 1. The Pope and his Court were very averse from such a Reformation 2. The Pope by his Legats presided in the Council 3. The proposal of all matters to be treated of was reserved to the Legats 4. The Legats in doubtful matters confulted the Pope before they proposed them to be discuss'd 5. After matters had been discuss'd in the Congregations before they were proposed in the Session the Legats sent to Rome to know the Pope's Pleasure 6. The Bishops of the Council were generally such as were addicted to the Pope either as they were Italians or as they were his Pensioners or both And therefore such as would not contradict him except in such rare Cases in which the Pope's Interest and their own could not be reconciled such as the Exemption of Regulars and the Divine Right of Episcopacy 7. When any considerable opposition was like to be made all Arts were used the most disingenuous not excepted to bring over the Dissenters to the Pope's Party 8. Nothing was proposed in the later Sessions to be defined till they were before secure of a Party to carry it that way which the Pope desired He that considers these things cannot expect any good from this Council But passing over all these I shall at present consider matter of Fact only what was done and what was not done by the Council which shall be reduc'd to these three general Heads 1. That in those matters in which a Reformation was most necessary not the least Reformation was made or so much as pretended 2. That in those matters in which a mighty Reformation was pretended little or rather none was really made 3. That instead of Reformation the Council produc'd a greater Deformation what it found bad it left in many respects worse SECT I. In those matters in which a Reformation was most necessary not the least Reformation was made or so much as pretended First That in those matters in which Reformation was most necessary not the least Reformation was made or so much as pretended And these things were of two sorts matters of Doctrine and matters of Worship In which I say Reformation was most necessary because Errors in these are of the most dangerous consequence First That the Romish Errors in Doctrine were numerous and many of them in points of the highest moment I have already shew'd (a) Part. 1. and therefore shall spare the labour of mentioning them here That the Protestants with one Mind and one Mouth demanded a Reformation of these especially as absolutely necessary I need not prove it being a thing notorious to all Men who have read but so much as the Ausburg Confession Yea That many Errors in Doctrine were so gross that those very Romanists who in compliance with their worldly Interest resolv'd not to reform them were not able to shut their Eyes so close as not to discern them we may conclude from that Counsel which the Bishops assembled at Bononia gave to Pope Julius III. for the establishment of the Roman Church viz. The Lutherans receive and confess all the Articles of the Athanasian Nicene and Apostles Creed The same Lutherans refuse to admit any Doctrine except that only which hath the Prophets Christ and his Apostles for its Authors and wish that we would imitate the ancient Churches and not think of receiving any Traditions which it is not more manifest than the Noon-day light were dictated and instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostles But we on the contrary following the opinion of your Holiness will have all Traditions Constitutions Rules and Ceremonies which have heretofore either by the Fathers or Councils or even by any private Man with a good Zeal been introduc'd into the Church to be believ'd and accounted necessary to Salvation And particularly as to Tradition we intirely believe and confess as a true Article of Faith That which the Council of Trent hath determin'd in the Decree of the third Session And although we cannot prove this for we plainly confess between our selves that we cannot prove that which we hold and teach concerning Tradition yet we confess it to be true because the Roman Church holds it But that we may confess the Truth which must be kept as a secret in the time of the Apostles and for some Years after the Apostles there was no mention of the Papacy or the Cardinalship much less were there these Doctrines these Laws these Customs no nor the Empire over the Nations that we now obtain But all Ministers of all Churches of the Roman no less than of others did voluntarily obey Kings and Princes and Magistrates b Lutherani Symboli Apostolorum Nicaeni Athanasii Articulos omnes recipiunt c. Consil de
stabiliend Rom. Eccles Vergerii Tom. 1. p. 95 96. And a little after he proceeds thus Certainly we scarce retain in our Churches so much as a shadow of the Doctrine and Discipline which flourish'd in the times of the Apostles but have brought in another quite different from it c Certe vix umbram quandam retinemus in nostris Ecclesiis ejus doctrinae disciplinae quae Apostolorum temporibus floruerunt prorsus aliam accersivimus p. 97. And in the conclusion they give the Pope this Counsel as the most weighty of all That he labour with all his might that as little as possible of the Gospel especially in the vulgar Tongue may be read in the Cities that are under his Dominion that that very little which is wont to be read in the Mass may be sufficient and that no mortal Man may be permitted to read more of it For as long say they as Men were contented with that little your affairs succeeded according to your wish which began to decline to the contrary as soon as Men took upon them to read more In brief this is the Book which hath raised the Tempests and Storms with which we are toss'd And the truth is if any Man shall diligently consider that Book and shall take a view of those things which are done in our Churches he will see that there is a vast disagreement between them and that our Doctrine is not only altogether different from that but which is more is often contrary to it d Denique quod inter omnia consilia quae nos dare hoc tempore Beatitudini tuae possumus omnium gravissimum ad extremum reservavimus oculi hic aperiendi sunt omnibus nervis adnitendum erit ut quam minimum Evangelii poterit praesertim lingua vulgari in iis legatur civitatibus quae sub tua ditione ac potestate sunt sufficiatque tantillum illud quod in Missi legi solet c. p. 102. 1. This was the Confession of Popish Bishops but made in the Pope's Ear and afterward divulged to the World by a great Bishop of that Church who a little before was so zealous an Advocate for the Romish Faith and so much the Popes Favorite that he made choice of him before all others for his Legate to reduce the Hereticks in Germany Forty years before this the Cardinals and Bishops in the Council of Pisa not only confess'd their Errors in Doctrine but decreed a Reformation in Faith as well as in Manners e Sess 3. Richer Hist Concil general l. 4. parte 1. p. 430. For though as I said before that Decree was made by them to serve a Design yet the serving of that Design was a plain Demonstration that such a Reformation was judged needful by many of the Roman Church Add to these the Emperor the King of France and the Duke of Bavaria who demanded such a Reformation from the Trent-Council as was in many points plainly repugnant to the received Doctrines of the Roman Church f Natalis Comes l. 14. Hist sui temp Soave l. 6. p. 513. p. 527. l. 7. 652. And was any thing done by the Council in compliance with these Confessions and Demands No not one of their Doctrines was so much as reflected upon much less condemn'd Yea so far was the Council from making any alteration in Doctrine that the Emperour with all his Authority could not obtain leave for the Protestants so much as to propose their Doctrine g Soave l. 4. p. 359. 360. Vergerii Secret Pontif. Actio 1. And to make all sure against any such kind of Reformation the Pope provided that his most learned Prelats might not come acquainted with any other Doctrine than what their Mother the Church had taught them For he prohibited not only the Bishops but the Cardinals too to look into the Books of the Lutherans h Verger secret Pontif. Act. 3. p. 77 78 82 83. And were not they think you likely to be equal Judges who were to condemn those Doctrines which they were not permitted to examine But 't is needless to shew that no Reformation was made in Doctrine since R. H. confesses That the Tridentine Fathers were unanimous in condemning the Protestant Tenets i Considerat on the Counc of Trent s 150. And that the Pope had no need of the Italian Bishops to that purpose because the whole Council did concurr in condemning them k S. 167. Nor did the Fathers so much as pretend to any such Reformation the very notion of Reformation being by them limited to so narrow a compass as not to reach it Nor could they extend it further without quitting their claim to Infallibility Secondly Nor was any the least Reformation made in matters of Divine Worship No not so much as in the Language in which it was celebrated though earnestly desired by the Emperor the King of France the King of Poland the Duke of Bavaria c. But notwithstanding the importunity of these great Catholick Princes back'd with the most persuasive Arguments in plain contradiction to Scripture and to the Practice of the ancient Church in defiance to Reason and the common sense of Mankind the Church-service was still continued in a Language not understood by those that heard it No nor many times by those that read it and an Anathema denounc'd against those who shall dare to say that Mass ought to be celebrated in the vulgar Tongue l Concil Trident. Sess 22. Can. 9. And could it be expected that they should reform any Abuse in the Object or matter of their Worship who would not remove that which defeats its very end and makes it instead of a reasonble a brutish Service especially considering that it might as one would think have been done without the least detriment to any of their worldly Interests I know that R. H. in his Catalogue of those Grievances which he says the Council took into consideration and rectified what they judg'd amiss so far as that iron Age would permit m Considerat on the Counc of Trent c. 12. s 209. mentions the withholding of the Cup as if this had been one of the Grievances rectified That the Council took this into Consideration is granted but 't is certain they did not rectifie it and therefore it seems judged nothing amiss in it for had they done so the obstinacy of the Age could not have hindred them from rectifying it for that Iron Age how stubborn soever in other matters as to this piece of Reformation was so flexible that excepting the Spaniards it generally inclined to it And yet after all the consideration the Council had about it they at length determined not to determine it but to refer it intirely to the Popes Judgment n Hoc decreto Sancta Synodus refert ad Pontificem Max. sententiam judicium integrum illorum duorum Articulorum quos antea propositos nondum discusscrat nimirum an Consuetudo Catholicae
former Council They might as well have left it to him to make them as they in effect did for nothing was decreed without first asking his leave 4. The imposing on Provincial and Diocesan Synods an Oath of true Obedience to the Pope o Sess 25. cap. 2. another new piece of Tyranny for tho the Bishops at their Consecration fomerly took an Oath of Fidelity to him yet never before was any Oath imposed upon them when met together in Provincial and Diocesan Synods 5. Usurping the Rights of Bishops by making them the Pope Delegates in matters which belong to their Ordinary Jurisdiction (p) Episcoporum potestas non solum non aucta sed ex ea multum delibatum est cum ea potestas quae ipsorum propria est ex Dei instituto iis attributa iis tanquam a sede Apostolica delegatis concedatur Thuan. l. 6. c. 2. Review of the Council of Trent l. 6. c. 2. Whereas anciently every Bishop governed his own Diocess without Dependence upon or Subordination to the Pope by the Laws of Trent they can do almost nothing unless by Delegation from him May Bishops provide Vicars to supply the room of such Clergymen as are dispensed with for non-residence and assign them a competent Salary out of the Fruits Not by their own Authority but as they are Delegates of the Apostolick See (q) Sess 6. cap. 2. May they depute Assistants to unlearned and ignorant Parish Priests They may as Delegates of the Apostolick See (r) Sess 21. cap. 6. May they take upon them to Examine a Notary and if they find him unfit forbid him the Exercise of his Office in Ecclesiastical matters Yes but as Delegates of the Apostolick See (s) Sess 22. cap. 10. But surely in matters which belong to Visitation and the Correction of Manners the Bishops may of themselves ordain and execute those things which they judg necessary for the good of their People and for the profit of the Church No but only as Delegates of the Apostolick See (t) Sess 24. cap. 10. This is the enlargement of the Bishops Power which R. H. so much boasts of (u) Considerat on the Council of Trent c. 12. § 211 Many more Instances of like nature might be produced but these may suffice to shew how palpably untrue that Assertion of Pallavicino's is viz. That there is not so much as one Syllable in this Council for any new Emolument to the Pope (w) In hoc Concilio ne una quidem conspicitur syllaba pro novo Pontificis Emolumento Apparat ad hist c. 10. n. 3. And how unjustly the same Cardinal charges Soave with falsity for saying That this Council hath so established the Popes Power that it was never so great nor so solidly founded (x) Ibid. And likewise that R. H. had as little reason to carp at a like passage of Dr. Stilling fleet 's viz. That which was intended to clip the Wings of the Court of Rome had confirmed and advanced the Interest of it (y) Considerat c. 12. § 103. For as all those Decrees that might otherwise have retrenched their Exorbitances were themselves so clipt by Exceptions or Restrictions or by some other Counter Decree that they could effect nothing so many other Decrees were made by which the Interest of the Pope and his Court were highly promoted particularly this last mention'd of deriving all Jurisdiction from the Pope by making all other Bishops his Vicars and Commissaries And therefore no wonder that his Holiness was transported with Joy and gave immortal Thanks that the Council had such an happy Issue (z) Pallav. l. 24. c. 9. n. 5. For to use the words of Du Ranchin you shall never read of any Council that was so much to the Popes Honour and good liking as this Amongst so many Bulls and Constitutions which have come forth since you shall scarce find any which doth not make mention of this Council which doth not name it with Honour which doth not express an earnest desire of the observation of it and which doth not in some sort confirm it Among all the Councils that ever were no compare with this for Reverence and Respect It hath quite defaced and extinguished the memory of all the rest It is their Minion their Favourite their Champion their Arsenal their Bulwark their Protector their Creature and good Reason why they should make so much of it (*) Review of the Council of Trent l. 1. c. 1. FINIS AN ADVERTISEMENT Of Books lately Printed for Richard Chiswell THe History of the Reformation of the Church of England by GILBERT BVRNET D. D. in two Volumes Folio The Moderation of the Church of England in her Reformation in Avoiding all undue compliances with Popery and other sorts of Fanaticisms c. by TIMOTHY PVLLER D. D. Octavo A Dissertation concerning the Government of the Ancient Church more particularly of the Encroachments of the Bishops of Rome upon other Sees by WILLIAM CAVE D. D. Octavo An Answer to Mr. Serjeants Sure Footing in Christianity concerning the Rule of Faith with some other Discourse by WILLIAM FALKNER D. D. Octavo A Vindication of the Ordinations of the Church of England against the Romanists by GILBERT BVRNET D. D Octavo The APOLOGY of the Church of England and an Epistle to one Signior Scipio a Venetian Gentleman concerning the Council of Trent Written both in Latin by the Right Reverend Father in God JOHN JEWEL Lord Bshop of Sarisbury Made English by a Person of Quality To which is added The Life of the said Bishop Collected and Written by the same Hand Octavo The LETTER writ by the last Assembly General of the Clergy of France to the Protestants inviting them to return to their Communion Together with the Methods proposed by them for their Conviction Translated into English and Examined by GILBERT BVRNET D D. Octavo The Life of WILLIAM BEDEL D. D. Bishop of Kilmore in Ireland Together with Certain Letters which passed betwixt him and James Waddesworth a late Pensioner of the Holy Inquisition in Sevil in matter of Religion concerning the General Motives to the Roman Obedience Quarto The Decree made at ROME the Second of March 1679. condemning some Opinions of the Jesuits and other Casuists Quarto A Discourse concerning the necessity of Reformation with respect to the Errors and Corruptions of the Church of Rome Quarto First and Second parts A Discourse concerning the Celebration of Divine Service in an Unknown Tongue Quarto A PAPIST not Misrepresented by PROTESTANTS Being a Reply to the Reflections upon the Answer to A Papist Misrepresented and Represented Quarto An Exposition of the Doctrine of the Church of England in the several Articles proposed by the late BISHOP of CONDOM in his Exposition of the Doctrine of the Catholick Church An Answer to THREE PAPERS lately printed concerning the Authority of the Catholick Church in matters of Faith and the Reformation of the Church of England Quarto A CATECHISM Explaining the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome with an Answer thereunto by a Protestant of the Church of England Octavo