established which at the Kings first arriuall among vs was so much desired by the Brethren And finally being the same let vs not doubt but perswade our selues that we shal find the Antichristian Church of Rome too the same which for the same doctrine and for none other cause persecuteth al Christian Churches but ours of England especially with sword fire and power in most horrible yea and hellish manner the effect of whose hatred against vs as we have often seene so especially had we felt the same the next yeere after our Kings ratification of these Articles had not our euer mercifull God most miraculously detected both the Treason and Traitors Ann. 1605 For which his fauours his holy Name be glorified of vs and our posterity throughout all generations The Brethren no changelings 36. So our Church is the same But the Brethren the faithfull and godly Brethren too the same now which they haue also beene If they be then will they not deny which An. 72. they writ that we hold the substance of religion with them nor which An. 602. they published and is afore remembred that the true Faith by which we may be saued and the true doctrine of the Sacraments and pure worship of God be truely taught that by publike authority and retained in the booke of Articles And in this Confession I pray God they may constantly perseuere Howbeit euen these men which in a generality doe allow the doctrine of our Church being called by authority to acknowledge their assent vnto every Article thereof in particular they doe not a little debase the estimation of this doctrine of ours and shew themselues but too apparent and professed dissentors from the same And though all of them doe and will approoue some yet not one of them will subscribe vnto all and every of the Articles For vnto the articles of religion and the Kings supremacy they are willing to subscribe And they may subscribe as afore hath beene noted vnto such of them as containe the summe of Christian Faith the doctrine of the Sacraments But vnto the same Articles for number 36. agreed vpon in this Conuocation at London an 62. they neither wil nor dare nor may subscribe For neither the rest of the Articles in that booke nor the Booke of common prayer may be allowed no though a man should be depriued from his ministery for it say the said brethren in a certaine Classicall decree of theirs The late Polititian is not afraid to mooue the high and most honorable Court of Parliament that Impropriation may bee let to Ferme vnto incumbent ministers viz. which faithfully preach in the Churches the true doctrine of the Gospell according to the Articles of Religion concerning faith and Sacraments meaning that such Ministers as preach the same doctrine if they proceed to the rest of the Articles concerning either Conformitie in externall and ceremoniall matters or Vniformitie in other points of doctrine contained in that booke should not be partakers of that benefit or of Benefices Impropriate 31. If it be demanded what the causes may be Why the Br. will subscrib vnto some but not vnto all the Articles why they will vnto some but will not vnto all or why they will vnto those Articles which concerne Faith and the Sacraments but will not vnto the rest subscribe The reasons thereof be two whereof The one is for that in their opinion there is no Law to compell them to subscribe vnto all For say the Brethren resiant I know not where Wee have alwayes beene ready to subscribe to the Articles of Religion concerning the doctrine of Faith and of the Sacraments which is all that is required by Law Also the Brethren in Deuonshire and Cornewall We are ready say they to subscribe to the third which concerneth the Booke of Articles of Religion so farre as wee are bound by Statute concerning the same viz. as they concerne the doctrin of the Sacraments and the confession of the true faith And the 22. London Brethren tell King Iames to his head how the Subscription which he calleth for is more then the Law requireth Their other reason is because as the Lincolnshire doe say sundry as the London Brethren affirme many things in that booke be not agreeable but contrary to Gods Word 32. If these things be true which they doe alleadge surely then are those men to be chronicled for the Faithfull the godly and innocent Brethren indeed whom neither present Benefices can allure nor the angry countenance and displeasure of a King even of the puissant powerful King of great Brittaine can force to doe anything at his becke and pleasure either against Law or for which there is no law and who had rather to forgoe all their earthly commodities liuings yea and to goe from their charges and ministery and to expose themselues their wiues and children to the miseries of this world grieuous for our flesh and blood to endure then to approue any thing fob true sound by their hands which is opposite or not agreeable to the reuealed will and Scriptures of God But if these allegations of theirs be but weake and sinfull surmises or rather apparantly most false scandalous and slanderous imputations to their Prince their mother Church and this State then doubtlesse as they euen Christians now liuing cannot but take them so ages to come will euerlastingly note and censure them both for disloyall Subiects that so traduce a truly and most Christianly religious King ill deseruing children that so abuse their honorable and reuerand Fathers and superiours of State and authority turbulent spirits not peaceable men which raise such broiles troubles and diuisions in the Church and Kingdome the issues whereof no tongue can foretell and are fearefull being thought of without cause and finally neither faithfull nor godly Preachers but vngodly broachers of vntruthes and slanders and the very authors and fautors of horrible confusion and faction in Gods Church whose peace they should seeke and promote euen with their dearest blood 33. Since the Statute for Vniformity in rites and doctrine was first enacted moe then 35. yeeres haue passed in all which space neither the Brethren now being nor the Brethren afore them liuing haue hitherto shewne of the 39. Articles for names and titles Which for number How many the Articles be which Ecclesiasticall Ministers necessarily must how many which they may not or need not vnlesse they list subscribe vnto which I am sure they or some of them at one time or other would have expressed had the Law fauoured there recusancy and they bin able to have justified their Maxime which is That they are not compellable by subscription to approoue them all Againe since the first establishment of that Statute Law the most reuerend Fathers and truly reformed Ministers of this Church sound for iudgement profound for learning zealous for affection sincere for religion faithfull in their Churches painefull in their charges more
signis visib cc. Hill e In his Quartron and Alabaster f In his Motives 2. Of the Brownists who make discipline and that too of their owne devising such an essentiall argument of the visible Church as they think where that is not the Magistrates there be tyrants the Ministers false prophets no Church of God is Antichristianity doth raigne g R.H. in Psal 1.22 Bar. disco p. 86. Ans to M. Cartw. letter p. 13. 3. Of the same Brownists and Barrowists who neither allow frequenting of Sermons and ministring of the Sacraments nor have any Sacraments administred among themselves h Alison consu of Green Bar. p. 133. 116 4. Of the Family of Love which have in utter contempt and derision both the Preachers and the Sacraments scornfully tearming the Preachers Scripture learned men i H N. Evang. c. 33. sect 11. Ceremoniall and Letter-Doctors k Fam. letter to the B. of Roch. and the water at Baptisme Elementish water l H. N. Evang. c 13. sect 56. Neither doe we approve them who for the visible and externall put down invisible and spirituall tokens of the visible Church as Faith in Christ Iesus and Love towards the Saints which thing I. K. doth m In his confut of Pop. L. 4. b. 6. Proposition The visible Church may and from time to time hath erred both in doctrine and conversation The proofe from Gods Word Had not this bin most true it had never bin avouched both by our Saviour Christ and Saint Paul Our Saviour saith unto his Disciples concerning doctrine Take heed c. a Matth. 24.4 Beleeve it not b Ibid. v. 23 26. Beware of the leaven of the Pharises and of the leaven of Herod even of the doctrine of the c Mark 8.15 Pharises and Sadduces d Matth. 16.11 Many shall be deceived e Matth. 24.11 yea the very Elect if it were possible f Ibid v. 24. Shall he find faith on earth g Luke 18.8 And concerning conversation and manners he prophesied that iniquity shall be increased and the love of many shall be cold h Matth. 24.12 Saint Paul writeth touching doctrine that We know in part i 1 Cor. 13.12 Antichrist sitteth in the Temple of God k 2 Thess 2.4 c. whose comming is by the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders and in all deceiveablenesse among them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved and therfore God shall send them strong delusion that they should beleeve lyes l Ibid. v 9 10.11 Beware of dogges beware of evill workers beware of concision m Phil. 3.2 And touching conversation Restore c. lest thou also be tempted n Gal. 6.1 I doe not the good thing which I would but the evill which I would not that doe I if I doe that I would not it is no more I that doe it but the sinne that dwelleth in me o Rom. 7.19 20 There is a fight even in the best men meÌ„bers of Christ p Ibid. v. 23. Besides that Churches visible and glorious have erred it appeareth evidently by the superstition heresies yea and Atheisme now raigning at Ierusalem Alexandria and Antioch This with us the Churches in their confessions doe acknowledge q Confes Helv. 2. Saxon. ar 11. Wittemb ar 32. Suev ar 15. Errors and adversaries unto this truth The Premises will not be granted for true neither by the Papists which maintain that in faith doctrine the Church meaning thereby the visible Church a Test Rhem. an 2 Thes 2.4 whose Rector is the Pope of Rome b Ibid. an 1 Tim 3.13 never erred c Ib. an Eph. 5.24 never hath erred d Ib. an marg p. 264. Gab. Bâ—el l. 4. hist 6. quaest 2. and never can erre e Ibid. an 1 Tim. 3.3 câ—tech Trid. in exposit Symb. Apost Coster enchirid controvers c. 3. de summo Pont. p 36. Nor yet by those which say the Church cannot erre for manners such were the Donatists and are the Anabaptists with the Family of Love f See of this art prop. 1. 3. Proposition The Church of Rome most shamefully hath erred in life ceremonies and matters of faith The proofe IVstly is the Church of Rome condemned of us and all Churches reformed because she hath erred and still very badly every way doth offend 1. In life For At Rome the harlot hath a better life Then she that is a Romans wife a W. Thomas hist of Italy O Roma à Roma quantum mutata vetustaes Nunc caput es scelerum quae caput orbis eras If ye spell Roma backward saith I. Bale ye shall finde it to be Amor Love in this prodigious kinde For it is a preposterous Amor Love out of kind b Acts of the Eng. votaries 2. booke praef Hence the pasquill Poets Roma quid est Quod te docuit praeposterus ordo Quid docuit Iungas versa elementa scies Roma Amor est Amor est qualis Praeposterus Vnde hoc Roma mares Noli dicere plura scio Againe Roma vale vidi satis est vidisse Revertar Cum Leno aut meretrix Scurra Cynaedus ero 2. In ceremonies which are in number infinite Gerson writeth how divers men have runne into desperation others have killed themselves finding that they were not able to keepe and performe the ceremonies of the Romish Church c Confes Aug. ar 4. For use also they are vaine impious as their leading up and down of an Asse on Palme Sunday their battering of hell their buriall of the Crosse c. yea and damnable because Romish ceremonies are held both necessarily to be observed as well as the Lawes of God d Eckius enchir de hum const axiom 2. and also to merit heaven For sins veniall say the Rhemists be taken away by sacred Ceremonies e Test Rhem. an marg 258. 3. In doctrine For proofe hereof see the Popish errors in every article almost if not proposition of this booke Againe looke we unto the head of the Antichristian Synagogue and we shall finde that of them Some have beene Conjurours Sorcerers and Inchanters as were Pope Martin 2. Silvester the second and third Benedict 8. Iohn 19 10 21. Sergius 4. Gregory 6. and 7. and such were all the Popes even 18. for number from Silvester the second untill Gregory the seventh f Cyp. Valera in his Treatâ—se of the Pope c out of Cara. Benom Some Heretikes For Siricius Calixtus Leo 9. and Paschalic condemned the marriage of Priests Liberius was an Arrian Marcellinus an Idolater Honorius a Monotheâ—ite g Cath. Apol. 2. part p. 93. Test Rhem. an Luc. 22.31 Iohn the 22. held many errors whereof W. Occam wrote a booke h Biblioth Simleri one wherof was that the soules of the wicked should not be punished till
Scripture k Conf. Cath. de Eccles and Lindau The Scriptures would be of no validitie neither had continued till this day but for traditions l Lâ—nd l. 1. c. 4 5. 7. Proposition The Church may not enforce any thing to be beleeved as necessary unto salvation that is either contrary or besides the Word of God The proofe from Gods Word YEe shall put nothing unto the Word which I command you neither shall yee take ought there-from a Deut 4.2 Put nothing unto his words lest he reprove thee and thou be found a lyer b Prov. 30.6 Though it be but a mans covenant when it is confirmed yet no man doth abrogate it or addeth any thing thereto c Gal. 3.15 If any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this book And if any man shall diminish of the words of the booke of this prophecie God shall take away his part out of the booke of life and out of the holy Citie and from those things which are written in this booke d Rev. 22.18 19. And so witnesse with us the Churches reformed e Conf. Helv. 1. ar 4. 2. c. 2. Basil ar 10. Bohem. cap 1. Gal. ar 5 Belg. ar 7. Saxon. ar 1. Wittemb c. 30.33 Sucvica ar 1. Whatsoever also is grounded upon Gods written Word though not by our common and vulgar tearmes to be read therein we doe reverently embrace which maketh us for doctrine to embrace the Consubstantialitie of our Saviour with the Father and the holy Ghost which the Arrians would not a Trinitie of persons in the Godhead which the Sabellians would never doe the justification by faith onely which the Papists will not the Baptisme of Infants and young children which the Anabaptists dare not and for discipline not to refuse of Church officers the names Archbishops Patriarches Primates Metropolitanes Suffragans Parsons Vicars c. of Ecclesiasticall censures the tearmes Suspension Excommunication of Ceremonies none at all which tend either unto order comelinesse or edification But from the heart we abhorre in matters both of doctrine and discipline whatsoever either agreeth not with the Canon of the Scripture or is not grounded thereupon Errors and adversaries of this truth Hence detest we both all the old heretikes and their fancies with the new prophets of Basilides the manifestation of Marcion the mysteries of the Manichies the Iobelaea of the Scythians the Symbonia of the Achontikes the Cabasa of the Iewes the Alcaron of the Turkes and also all new heretikes and Schismatikes with all their cursed opinions as first the Anabaptists and namely the Libertines and Davigeorgians and Family of Love and all the codeified Elders thereof as Henry Nicholas Eliad Fidelitas Christopher Vitell Theophilus the Exile and the rest Next the Papists whereof Some have commanded that all the Popes Decrees should be taken as confirmed by the mouth of God himselfe so did Pope Agatho the first a Gra. d. â— 16. Sic. Some write as Busgradus that if the Pope beleeve there is no life to come as some Popes have done we must beleeve it as an Article of our faith Some say if the Pope carry innumerable soules with him unto Hell yet he may not be judged so did the Pope Boniface the eighth b Decr. lib 3. cit 2. Crantz lib. 8. c. 36. Some as Bellarmine conclude that it is a point of faith to hold that the Bishop of Rome hath succeeded Peter in the universall regiment of the Church c Bellarm. de Pontif Rom. l. 2. c. 12. Others as the Iesuites perswade their Catholikes that the King of Spain their Catholike faith are so linked together as it is become a point of necessitie in the Catholike faith to put all Europe into the hands of the said King otherwise the Catholike religion will be utterly extinguished and perish d Spaâ— dis of the Eng. Ies d. 7. Others of them have published a new Gospel called Evangelium aeternum Spiritus Sancti which they say doth so far excell the Gospel of Christ as the kernell surpasseth the shell the Sunne the Moone and light darknesse The author whereof was one Cyrillus a Carmelite And lastly the Puritanes and all the speculations of Brown Barrow Greene Penry Marprelate T.C.E.G.R.H.A.C.I.B. with the new Sabbatarians and their fancies 21. Article Of the authority of generall Councels Generall Councels 1 may not be gathered together without the commandement and will of Princes And 2 when they be gathered together forasmuch as they be an assembly of men whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God they may erre and 3 sometimes have erred even in things pertaining unto God whorefore 4 things ordained by them as necessary unto salvation have neither strength nor authority unlesse it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scriptures The Propositions 1. Generall Councels may not be gathered together but by the commandement and will of Princes 2. Generall Councels may erre 3. Generall Councels have erred even in things pertaining unto God 4. The things ordained by generall Councels are so farre to be embraced and beleeved as they are consonant to Gods holy Word 1. Proposition Generall Councels may not be gathered together but by the commandement of Princes The proofe from Gods Word GReat is the power and authoritie of Kings and Princes by the Word of God For as the defence of Religion is committed unto them so must they see that all men doe their duties That these things the better may be performed they are as just occasion is offered not as men under the power of others to summon but as supreme governours within their own territories and dominions to command all sorts of men to meete together and that either to the implanting of the truth where it is not or to the suppression of sin errors idolatry and superstition where or in whomsoever it doth arise or is rooted Such Councels were holden both in the time of the Mosaicall government by the commandement of the most godly Kings David a 1 Cor. 3.1 2. Salomon b 1 King 8.1 Asa c 2 Chr. 15.9 Ezechiah d 2 Chr. 29.4 and Iosiah e 1 Chr. 34.29 and since the Gospel hath bin received into Kingdomes and Common-weales by Christian Princes Kings and Emperors who gathered Councels both Generall as the Nicene was by Constantine the Great f Ruffi l. 10.1 1. Eus de vita Const l. 3. c 9. The Councell of Constantinople by Theodosius the elder g Theo. l 5 c. 6. the Councell of Ephesus by Theodosius the younger h Euang. l 1. c. 2 the Councell of Calcedon by Marcian i Leo ep 43.53 and Nationall and Provinciall so the Councell at Franckford Rhemes Turon Arelot and Moguntia by the will and commandement of Charles the Great k Aventin Carrâ—â—zâ— summa Conc. Carion lib. 3. at Marison by Gunthranus
offreth it selfe by their ministery to the view of the whole world which afore did but peepe out at the Screene and what the things be which they of meane gifts doe see and our Fathers and the Martyrs Bishops and Preachers both in King Edwards dayes and afterwards knowne and acknowledged to be men of excellent parts either did not see at all or ouersee and what likewise the points of doctrine newly now reuealed their aternum Euangelium which without great danger may not be preached in England no more then the doctrine and Articles of the Church of England may be preached at Rome and for defence whereof they ought to afford euen their very liues were they so many as the haires of euery of their heads is and be they demonstrate themselues to be most childishly vaine and idle in their imaginations which they take yet to bee illuminations of the spirit 13. For all their doings The vncouth doctrine of the factious Brethren and discourses to say the best of them are but to erect a new which they tearme a true ministery and their Discipline among vs. Themselues doe say The controuersie betwixt them and vs is not as the Bishops and their wil-willers they would beare the world in hand for a Cap a Tippet or a Surplesse but for greater matters concerning a true ministery and regiment of the Church according to the word the one whereof that is a true ministery they shall neuer haue till Archbishops and Bishops be put downe and all ministers made equall the other also will neuer be brought to passe till Kings and Queenes doe subiect themselues vnto the Church and submit their scepters and throw downe their Crownes before the Church and lick vp the dust of the feete of the Church and willingly abide the censures of the Church that is of the Presbytery For as the Church is subiect vnto the ciuill magistrate in respect of his civill authority so must the Magistrate the King and Queene subiect themselues and be obedient to the iust and lawfull authority of the Church The ciuill magistrate is none officer at all of the Church For Church-officers be non Magnates aut Tetrarchae not gracious or honorable Lords but Ministers of the Church The Presbytery is the Church and euery Congregation or Church should and must in it haue a Presbytery This is the Light which indeed the Martyrs neuer saw the Religion which our Brethren striue for the Truth which they may not preach not childish doctrine like the Bishops Articles but the wise Gospel the maine and materiall points of Religion now in the dayes last of all yea after the eighth Thorow breaking of H. N. his Euangelium regni reuealed and for furtherance whereof they are to lend and spend euen all their liues if occasion be ministred 14. Strange and strong delusions First to take these and other such assertions for Truths and heauenly mysteries which are but the fancies of troubled braines not grounded nor truly gathered from Gods Word Next to teach one another and all their fauourers how they should be as ready and prepared euen for these matters to give other their liuings and to giue their liues were they as many as the haires of all their heads as Cranmer Ridly Latimer did and Parker Grindall and all other Preachers would and euery Christian man and woman should if they be called thereunto for the Apostolicall and Catholique doctrine of our Church which all Gods people doe know and the Brethren themselues as afore hath bin noted doe confesse is originally from God and his written Word These and many moe too many here to be recapitulated such phantasies of theirs or phrensies rather this first subscription brought first to light and yet happy had it bin for Gods Church and people they had neuer bin broached Of the second Subscription vrged an 84. 15. Semblably the next subscription called for by the last Archb. your L. predecessor an 84. discouered euen the very thoughts and desires of those Brethren before but now stiled faithfull Brethren which haue and doe seeke for the Discipline reformation of the Church Many Treatises afore but now and diuers yeeres ensuing they flew about and abroad like Atomies and by them the same things which afore but in a differing sort and in other words they publish For touching Church officers they name who and how many sorts they be of them viz. Doctors Pastors Gouernors Deacons and Widdowes no moe no fewer They say euery Church must be furnished with a Teacher and a Pastor as with two eyes with elders as with feet with Deacons as with hands Euery Congregation must haue eyes hands and feete and yet neither all nor at all any Congregation is to haue an Head answerable to those Feet Hands and Eyes The Doctor by their doctrine must be a distinct minister from the pastor and onely teach true doctrine and neither exhort nor apply his doctrine according to the times and his auditory nor minister the Sacraments For these things the pastor is to performe Which pastor also whensoeuer he administreth the Sacraments must necessarily make a Sermon or else he committeth Sacriledge And concerning discipline by their doctrine euery Congregation must haue absolute authority to admonish to censure to excommunicate and to anathematize all offending persons yea euen Kings and Princes if they be of the Congregation And no Prince but must be of some Parish and vnder one Presbytery or other alwayes Where this power is not in their iudgements one of the tokens of a true Church is wanting For this Discipline with them is a marke of the Church and numbred among the Articles of their Faith 16. This say they is the great cause the holy cause which they wil neuer leaue suing for though there should be a thousand Parliaments in their dayes vntil either they obtaine it or bring the Lord in vengeance and blood against the State and the whole land for repelling the same The Brethrens diuine conceipts of their Discipline The discipline is Gods holy yoke Gods scepter the kingdome and throne of Christ Our controuersie say they whether Iesus Christ shall be King or no. Againe the end of all our trauell is to build vp the walles of Ierusalem and to set vp thē Throne of Iesus Christ our heauenly King in the midst thereof the aduancing whereof is a testimony vnto vs that we shall haue part in that glory which shall be reuealed hereafter So learne we now from their said bookes learned and demonstratiue discourses which the Fathers and our forefathers neuer saw nor had learned both that their Discipline established and exercised is a visible marke of a true Church and to desire the aduancement of the same an inuisible token of an elect childe of God so as neither is that a Church at least no true Church where their Discipline is not neither they but titular Christians no true Christians indeed which either sigh or seeke not to
Imper and S. Augustine to write unto Maximinus Neither ought I to object against thee the Synode of Nice nor thou against me the Synode of Ariminum r D. Aug. contra Max. lib 3. and Nazianzene openly to pronounce that He never saw any good end of a Councell Å¿ Naz. ad Pro. cop epist 42. and The French Kings Embassadour to say unto the Chapter of Trent that scarcely any good at all or very little came by Councels unto the State of Christendome t Orat. Synod Legat. regis Fran. an 1562. and Cornelius Bishop of Bitonto to breake out into these words in the face of the Councell at Trent I would that with one consent we had not altogether declined from Religion unto superstition from faith unto infidelitie from Christ unto Antichrist from God unto Epicurus u B. Jewels dvf. par 1. fol. 39. The adversaries unto this truth This notwithstanding the Papists doe continue in an opinion that Councels cannot erre x Test Rhem. an Joh. 16.13 4. Proposition The things ordained by Generall Councels are so farre to be embraced and beleeved as they are consonant to Gods holy Word The proofe from Gods Word GEnerall Councels we simply condemne not yet doe we not ground our faith upon any Councell but onely upon the written Word of God Therefore in generall Councels whatsoever is agreeable unto the written Word of God we doe reverently embrace but whatsoever is contrary unto or besides the will of God revealed in the holy Scriptures we doe carefully avoid And so are wee commanded to doe even by God himselfe Whatsoever I command you take heed you doe it thou shalt put nothing thereto nor take ought there-from a Deut 12.33 Walk ye not in the ordinances of your fathers neither observe their manners c. I am the Lord your God walke in my Statutes and keepe my Iudgements and doe them b Ezek. 20 18 19. Though that we or an Angel from heaven preach unto you otherwise then that which wee have preached unto you let him be accursed As we said before so say I now againe If any man preach unto you otherwise then that yee have received let him be accursed c Gal. 1. â— 9. And so think the Churches reformed with us d Conf Helv. 2 c. 18. Bohe. c. 1 Gal. ar 5. Bâ—lg ar â— Witâ—â—mâ— c. 33. The aduersaries vnto this truth Contrary hereunto are the opinions of the Papists For of them Some doe think that the decrees of Councels doe binde all nations as Pope Hormisda decreed they should Some as Pope Gregory the great supposed that some Councels and namely the Councell of Nice of Constantinople Ephesus and Chalcedon a Greg. 1. l 1. epi. 24. l. 2. epist 49. some as Campian b Campian 12â— 4 thought that all Councels were of equall authority with the Word of God Others as the Guisian faction in France be resolved in matters of religion to follow the footesteps of their ancestors though Gods Word and a thousand Councels decree to the contrary c Calvin epist Bulling 1231. 22. Article Of Purgatorie The Romish doctrine concerning 1 Purgatory 2 Pardons worshâ—pping and adoration as well 3 of images as 4 of reliques and 5 also of Invocation of Saints is a fond thing vainely invented and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture but rather repugnant to the Word of God The Propositions The Romish doctrine concerning 1. Purgatory 2. Pardons 3. Worshipping and adoration of Images 4. Reliques 5. Invocation of Saints is a fond thing and not warranted by the holy Scripture nor consonant but contrary unto the same 1. Proposition The Romish doctrine concerning Purgatory is fond and not warranted by the holy Scripture nor consonant but contrary unto the same The proofe from Gods Word IT is granted as well by the Romish or false as by the true Church that none uncleane thing can enter into the Kingdome of God And because all men either have been or be still uncleane therefore they must be purged from sinne But in the manner of purging them who are unpure they do greatly differ For the true Church looking into the Word of God doth finde that we are sanctified or made cleane in divers respects diversly as by Baptisme a Christ loved the Church gave himselfe for it that he might sanctifie it and cleanse it by the washing of water through the Word Eph. 5.25.26 by the Word preached b Now yee are cleane thorow the word that I have spoken unto you John 15.3 by the blood of Christ c The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.7 and by the Spirit of God d Ye are washed ye are sanctified ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. â—1 and that in this life and not in the other world For in the sacred Scripture there is mention but onely of two wayes one leading unto destruction the other bringing unto life e Mat. 7.13 14. of two sorts of men whereof some beleeve they are saved some beleeve not and they are damned f Matt. 16.16 Joh. 3.18 and of two States one blessed where Lazarus is the other cursed where Dives doth abide g Luke 16. A third way or sort or state cannot be found in the Word of God And therfore the Purgatory in another world both denied hath alwayes beene by the Greeke Churches h Alphons de haeres l. 8. de Indulgentiis Polydor. de Inventor l. 8. c. 1. Cons Helv. 2. c. 26. Gal. ar 24. Sax. ar 11. Aug. ar 11. Wittemb cap. 25. and neither is nor will be acknowledged by any of Gods reformed Churches in this world as their Confessions doe testifie The adversaries unto this truth Erronious therefore and not warrantable by Gods Word concerning Purgatory is the doctrine both of the old Heretikes the Montanists who thought there was a purging of soules after this life a Tertul. de cot militis De Anima in siâ—â— and of the new and renued Heretikes the Papists For They think it to be unsound doctrine and not sufferable in any booke for Christians to deliver that it is unpossible for godly and faithfull men or women to be punished after they be dead Therefore deleatur say they Blot out such doctrine b Puâ—ari pios post mortâ—m impossibile deleatur lâ—dex expurg p. 26. They teach by their Catechismes that to doubt whether there is a Purgatory or no is a breach of the first Commandement c Vaux catech chap 3. Thus doe they pray for the soules of the faithfull as they fancie boyling in the torments of Purgatory Avete omnes animae fideles quarum corpora hic abique conquiescunt in pulvere Dominus Iesus Christus qui vos nos redemit suo preciocissimo sanguine dignetur vos à poenis liberare c. that is
silver stone wood paper copper c c Non inficiamâ—â— haec nos latriae admatione Câ—r sti praeclaressimam crucem â—â—re veneâ—aâ—i Aâ—drad orthodox expl lib. 9 p. 284. 4. Proposition The Romish doctrine concerning Reliques is fond and not warranted by the holy Scriptures nor consonant but contrary unto the same The proofe from Gods Word OF all the erroneour opinions among the Papists which are infinite none is more to the illusion of well meaning Christians then their doctrine concerning worshipping b Confes Helv. 1. ar 11. c. 5. Basâ— ar 10. Bohem c. 17. Gal. ar 24. and adoration of the reliques of Saints A doctrine which is so farre from being found as it is forbidden in the holy Scripture a Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serve Matth 4.20 and a doctrine in the purer times and writers of the Church no where to be found and in all the best Churches at this day utterly condemned Adversaries unto this truth Such notwithstanding is the Satanicall boldnesse of the Antichristian Synagogue of Rome that as they will delude men with the reliques of Saints which are not such so likewise they teach the people which is most offensive and execrable to give divine adoration and honour unto them a Praedâ—catio autem ecclâ—siastica hoc scâ—â—pâ—â—enâ—â—it Sanctorum reâ—iquias ess ex fide venerandas Stap â— antidot evang in Mat 8.21 p. 30 The Catholike affirmeth worshipping of Saints prayer unto them feasts of them adoration of their reliques and images the Protestant denieth all Hils quartron 14. reas p 71. Hence it is that some doe pray unto St. Benet whose Reliques they had stolne O Benedict after God our onely hope leave us not orphanes who art come hither not through our merits but for the salvation of many soules b Viâ—â— Lir. l. 23 cap. 155. Others have published that the bodies of Saints and specially the Reliques of the blessed Martyrs are with all sinc rity to be honoured as the members of Christ c. If any denie this conclusion he is to be thought not a Christian but an Eunomian and Vigilantian c Raâ—â—l 6. c. 10. de Sâ—â—â—ropâ—â— The Councell of Trent also hath decreed that they are to be taken for damned which affirme how worship and honour is not to be given unto the Reliques of Saints d Conc. Trid. sess 25. decr de Invoc c. Of this preposterous devotion they have appointed a certaine and common service for the holy Crosse whereon Christ was hanged e Massa de S. Cruce Offi ium de S. Cruce they have made a feast for the speare and Nailes wherewith Christ was fastned to the Crosse f Beâ—-hâ—ve lib. â— cap. 3. they have canonized for a Saint the chaines which bound S. Peter g â—â—racian dist 3â— Nul â—olat To say nothing of the adoration they gave unto the Haire Milke Smocke of the blessed Virgin unto the Head Haire Thombe Coate of Iohn Baptist unto the breeches of Ioseph the sword and Handkerchiefe of Saint Paul the Keyes of Saint Peter and unto many other things which of modesty I will not mention but doe over-passe 5. Proposition Invocation of Saints is a fond thing not warranted by the holy Scriptures nor consonant but contrary unto the same The proofe from Gods Word THe Christian exercise of Prayer is a duty which may not be either sâ—curely omitted or vainely abused And though many things in prayer be necessarily to be observed yet a speciall point it is that in our Supplications and Prayers we doe call onely upon God For so to doe we are both commanded even by God himselfe a Call upon me in the time of trouble Psal 50.15 After this manner â—â—ay Our Father which are in heaven c. Matth. 6.6 When ye pray 〈◊〉 Our Father 〈◊〉 are in heaâ—â—n Luk. 11 2. and thereunto also allured by manifold as well promises of large blessings b Psal 50.15 Math. 7.11 Luk 11.12 18 7 8. Ioâ—â— 16.23 24. as by the examples of godly men in all ages Patriarks Abraham c Gen. 13.4 Isaac d Gen. 26.25 c. Iacob e Gen. 32.9 Prophets as Daniel f Dan 9.16 c Elias g 1 King 18.36.37 c. Ieremy h Ier. 14.7 c. Centurions i Act. 10.2 Publicans k Luke 18.13 Apostles as Paul l Act. 16 25. and through his Epi tles Peter m Acts 1 24. c. yea of all the Elect of God in this world n Luke 1.87 On the other side to pray unto any creature that is out of this world besides Iesus Christ there is in the Scripture neither Law to command nor promise of blessing nor any example of godly men or women to provoke Finally as all Gods people in the purer and former times have so in these dayes the Protestant Churches utterly condemne the invocating of or praying unto creatures whatsoever o Confe Helv. 1. ar 1. 2. c. 5. 23. Basil ar 10 Bohe c. 2. 17. Gal. ar 14. 24. Belg. ar 20. Au. ar 21. Wit c. 23. Suc. ar 11. 21. The adversaries unto this truth Therfore the Romish doctrine that Saints are to be prayed unto a Test Rhem. pag. 187. Orationem Dominicam fundimus Sanctis Censur a Colon. f. 208. and their daily praying as occasion serveth unto S. Agatha that have sore brests unto S. Benedict that either be or feare to be poisoned unto S. Clare for them that have sore eies S. Damian that be sick for health S. Erasmus for help in the intrals S. Feriol for Geese S. Giles for women that would have children S. Hubberts for dogges S. Iob for them which have the pox S. Katherine for knowledge S. Loys for horses S. Margaret for women in travaile S. Nicholas for little children S. Otilia for the head-ach S. Petronil for the Ague S. Quintin for the cough S. Ruffin for lunacy or madnes S. Sebastian for the plague S. Thomas Becket for sinners S. Valentine for the falling sicknesse S. Winefrid for virginity S.X. or Crosse for all things it is vaine not warrantable by Gods Word but altogether repugnant to the holy Scriptures The vanity and Idolatry of the Popish Invocation further demonstrated from that booke of theirs entituled Horae beatissima virginis c. Oremus Majestatem tuam Domine suppliciter exoramus ut sicut Ecclesiae tuae beatus Andreas Apostolus tuus extitit praedicator rector ita apud te sit pro nobis perpetuus intercessor per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Oremus Deus pro cujus Ecclesia gloriosus martyr Pontifex Thomas gladijs impiorum occubuit praesta quaesumus ut omnes qui ejus implorant auxilium piae petitionis ejus salutarem consequantur effectum per Dominum nostrum Versus Ora pro nobis beata Katherina Resp Vt digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi Versus Ora a