and Man They should nevertheless upon the very brink of Eternity Wittingly and Willingly cast Themselves Head-long into an Assured Damnation and this at a Time when they might have saved both Bodies and Souls by meerly Discharging a good Conscience in acknowledging the Truth and becoming Honest Men. This I say is Inhumane and contradictory to all Sense and Reason to believe Now therefore I am come to what you so often and so earnestly press me to viz to satisfy the World and clear my Self my Fellow-sufferers and my Religion from the Imputation laid upon Us on pretence of such Principles by a True and Candid Explanation of my Belief and Judgement in the Main Points of Faith and Loyalty Controverted between Catholicks and Protestants as they severally Relate to God and the King PARAGRAPH I. Of the CATHOLICK FAITH and CHURCH in General 1. THE Fruition of God and Remission of Sin is not attainable by Man otherwise then in and by the Merits of Jesus Christ who gratis Purchased It for Us. 2. These Merits of Christ are not applyed to Us otherwise than by a Right Faith in Christ 3. This Faith is but One Entire and Conformable to its Object being Divine Revelations to all which Faith gives an undoubted Assent 4. These Revelations contain many Mystcries transcending the Natural Reach of Humane Wit or Industry Wherefore 5. It became the Divine Wisdom and Goodness to provide Man of some Way or Means whereby he might Arrive to the Knowledge of these Mysteries Means Visible and Apparent to all Means proportionable to the Capacities of all Means Sure and Certain to all 6. This Way or Means is not the Reading of Scripture Interpreted according to the Private Reason or Spirit of every Disjunctive Person or Nation in Particular But 7. It is an Attention and Submission to the Doctrine of the Catholick or Vniversal Church established by Christ for the Instruction of all Spread for that end throughout all Nations and visibly continued in the Succession of Pastors and People throughout all Ages From which Church Guided in Truth and secured from Error in Matters of Faith by the promised Assistance of the Holy Ghost every one may and ought to Learn both the Right Sense of the Scripture and all other Christian Mysteries and Duties respectively necessary to Salvation 8. This Church thus Spread thus Guided thus visibly Continued in One Vniform Faith and Subordination of Government is that Self-same which is termed the Roman Catholick Church the Qualifications above-mentioned viz. Vnity Indeficiency Visibility Succession and Vniversality being applicable to no other Church or Assembly whatsoever 9. From the Testimony and Authority of This Church it is that We Receive and Believe the Scriptures to be Gods Word And as She can assuredly tell Us This or That Book is Gods Word so can she with the like Assurance tell us also the True Sense and Meaning of it in Controverted Points of Faith The same Spirit that Writ the Scripture Enlightning Her to Understand both It and all Matters Necessary to Salvation From These Grounds it Follows 10. All and only Divine Revelations deliver'd by God unto the CHURCH and proposed by Her to be Believ'd as such are and ought to be esteem'd Articles of Faith and the contrary Opinions Heresie And 11. As an Obstinate Separation from the Vnity of the Church in known declared Matters of Faith is Formal Heresie So a wilful Separation from the Visible Vnity of the same Church in Matters of Subordination and Government is Formal Schism 12. The Church proposeth unto Us Matters of Faith First and chiefly By the Holy Scripture in Points plain and Intelligible in it Secondly By Definitions of General Councils in Points not sufficiently Explained in Scripture Thirdly By Apostolical Traditions deriv'd from Christ and his Apostles to all Succeding Ages Fourthly By her Practice Worship and Ceremonies Confirming her Doctrine PARAGRAPH II. Of Spiritual and Temporal Authority 1. GEneral Councils which are the Church of God Representative have no Commission from Christ to Frame New Matters of Faith these being sole Divine Revelations but only to Explain and Assertain unto Us what anciently was and is Received and Retained as of Faith in the Church upon arising Debates and Controversies about them The Definitions of which General Councils in Matters of Faith only and proposed as such Oblige under pain of Heresie all the Faithful to a Submission of Judgement But 2. It is no Article of Faith to believe That General Councils cannot Err either in Matters of Fact or Discipline alterable by Circumstances of Time and Place or in Matters of Speculation or Civil Policy depending on meer Humane Judgement or Testimony Neither of these being Divine Revelations deposited in the Catholick Church in regard to which alone she hath the promised Assistance of the Holy Ghost Hence it is deduced 3 If a General Council much less a Papal Consistory should undertaâ—◠〈◊〉 depose a King and absolve his Subjects from their Allegiance no Catholick as Catholick is bound to submit to such a Decree Hence also it followeth 4. The Subjects of the King of England lawfully may without the least breach of any Catholick Principle Renounce even upon Oath the Teaching Mantaining or Practising the Doctrine of deposing Kings Excommunicated for Heresie by any Authority whatsoever as Repugnant to the fundamental Laws of the Nation Injurious to Sovereign Power Destructive to the Peace and Government and by consequence in His Majesties Subjects Impious and Damnable Yet not properly Heretical taking the Word Heretical in that connatural genuine sense it is usually understood in the Catholick Church on account of which and other Expressions no wise appertaining to Loyalty it is that Cathoclicks of tender consciences refuse the Oath commonly call'd the Oath of Allegiance 5. Catholicks believe That the Bishop of Rome is the Successor of S. Peter Vicar of Jesus Christ upon Earth and Head of the whole Catholick Church which Church is therefore fitly stiled Roman Catholick being an universal Body united under one visible Head Nevertheless 6. It is no matter of Faith to believe That the Pope is in himself Infallible separated from a General Council even in Expounding the Faith By consequence Papal Definitions or Decrees though ex Cathedra as they term them take exclusively from a General Council or Vniversal Acceptance of the Church oblige none under Pain of Heresy to an interior Assent 7. Nor do Catholicks as Catholicks believe that the Pope hath any direct or indirect Authority over the Temporal Power and Jurisdiction of Princes Hence if the Pope should pretend to Absolve or Dispence with His Majesties Subjects from their Allegiance upon account
of Heresie or Schism such Dispensation would be vain and null and all Catholick Subjects notwithstanding such Dispensation or Absolution would be still bound in Conscience to defend their King and Countrey at the hazard of their Lives and Fortunes even against the Pope himself in case he should invade the Nation 8. And as for Problematical Disputes or Errors of particular Divines in this or any other matter whatsoever the Catholick Church is no wise responsible for them Nor are Catholicks as Catholicks justly punishable on their Account But 9. As for the King-Killing Doctrine or Murder of Princes Excommunicated for Heresie It is an Article of Faith in the Catholick Church and expresly declared in the General Council of Constance that such Doctrine is Damnable and Heretical being contrary to the known Laws of God and Nature 10. Personal Misdemeanors of what Nature soever ought not to be Imputed to the Catholick Church when not Justifyable by the Tenents of her Faith and Doctrine For which Reason though the Stories of the Paris Massacre the Irish Cruelties Or Powder-Plot had been exactly true which yet for the most part are Notoriously mis-related nevertheless Catholicks as Catholicks ought not to Suffer for such Offences any more then the Eleven Apostles ought to have Suffered for Judas's Treachery 11. It is an Article of the Catholick Faith to believe that no Power on Earth can License Men to Lye to Forswear and Perjure themselves to Massacre their Neighbours or Destroy their Native Country on pretence of promoting the Catholick Cause or Religion Furthermore all Pardons and Dispensations granted or pretended to be granted in order to any such ends or Designs have no other validity or Effect than to add Sacriledge and Blasphemy to the above-mentioned Crimes 12. The Doctrine of Equivocation or Menâ—al Reservation however wrongfully Imposed on the Catholick Religion is notwithstanding neither taught nor approved by the Church as any part of her Belief On the contrary Simplicity and Godly Sincerity are constantly recommended by her as truly Christian Vertues necessary to the Conservation of Justice Truth and Common Society PARAGRAPH III. Of some Particular controverted Points of FAITH 1. EVERY Catholick is obliged to believe that when a Sinner Repenteth him of his Sins from the bottom of his Heart and Acknowledgeth his Transgressions to God and his Ministers the Dispensers of the Mysteries of Christ resolving to turn from his evil ways and bring forth Fruits worthy of Penance there is then and no otherwise an Authority left by Christ to Absolve such a Penitent Sinner from his Sins which Authority Christ gave his Apostles and their Successors the Bishops and Priests of the Catholick Church in those words when he said Receive ye the Holy Ghost whose Sins you shall forgive they are forgiven unto them c. 2. Though no Creature whatsoever can make Condign satisfaction either for the Guilt of Sin or the Pain Eternal due to it This satisfaction being proper to Christ our Saviour only yet penitent Sinners Redeemed by Christ may as Members of Christ in some measure satisfie by Prayer Fasting Alms Deeds and other Works of Piety for the Temporal Pain which by order of Divine Justice sometimes remains due after the guilt of Sin and Pains Eternal are gratis remitted These Penitential Works are notwithstanding satisfactory no otherwise than as joyned and applyed to that satisfaction which Jesus made vpon the Cross in vertue of which alone all our good works find a grateful acceptance in God's Sight 3. The Guilt of Sin or Pain Eternal due to it is never remitted by Indulgences but only such Temporal Punishments as remain due after the Guilt is remitted These Indulgences being nothing else than a Mitigation or Relaxation upon just causes of Canonical Penances enjoyned by the Pastors of the Church on Penitent Sinners according to their several Degrees of Demerit And if any abuses or mistakes be sometimes committed in point either of Granting or Gaining Indulgencies through the Remisness or Ignorance of particular Persons contrary to the ancient Custom and Discipline of the Church such Abuses or Mistakes cannot rationally be charged on the Church nor rendred matter of Derision in prejudice to her Faith and Doctrine 4. Catholicks hold there is a Purgatory that is to say a Place of state where Souls departing this Life with Remission of their Sins as to the Eternal Guilt or Pain yet Obnoxious to some Temporal Punishment still Remaining due or not perfectly freed from the Blemish of some venial Defects or Deordinations as Idle Words c. not liable to Damnation are purged before their Admittance into Heaven where nothing that is defiled can enter Furthermore 5. Catholicks also hold That such Souls so detained in Purgatory being the Living Members of Christ Jesus are Relieved by the Prayers and Suffrages of their Fellow-members here on Earth But where this place is Of what Nature or Quality the Pains are How long each Soul is detained there After what manner the Suffrages made in their behalf are applyed Whether by way of Satisfaction or Intercession c. are Questions Superfluous and Impertinent as to Faith 6. No Man though just can Merit either an Increase of Sanctity or Happiness in this Life or Eternal Glory in the next Independent on the Merits and Passion of Christ Nevertheless in and by the Merits of Christ Jesus the good Work of a just Man proceeding from Grace and Charity are acceptable to God so far forth as to be through his Goodness and Sacred Promise Truly Meritorious of Eternal Life 7. It is an Article of the Catholick Faith That in the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist there is Truly and Really contained the Body of Christ which was delivered for us and his Bloud which was shed for the Remission of Sins the substance of Bread and Wine being by the powerful Words of Christ changed into the Substance of his Blessed Body and Bloud the Species or Accidents of Bread and Wine still remaining Thus 8. Christ is not present in this Sacrament according to his natural way of Existence that is with extension of parts in order to place c. but after a Supernatural manner one and the same in many places and whole in every part of the Symbols This therefore is a real Substantial yet Sacramental Presence of Christ's Body and Blood not exposed to the external Senses nor Obnoxious to corporeal Contingences 9. Neither is the Body of Christ in this Holy Sacrament Separated from his Bloud or his Bloud from his Body or either of both disjoyned from his Soul and Divinity but all and whole living Jesus is entirely contained under either Species so that
whosoever receiveth under one kind is truly partaker of the whole Sacrament and no wise deprived either of the Body or Bloud of Christ True it is 10. Our Saviour Jesus Christ left unto us his Body and Bloud under two distinct Species or Kinds in doing of which he instituted not only a Sacrament but also a Sacrifice a Commemorative Sacrifice distinctly shewing his Death or Bloudy Passion until he come For as the Sacrifice of the Cross was performed by a distinct Effusion of Bloud so is the same Sacrifice Commemorated in that of the Altar by a distinction of the Symbols Jesus therefore is here given not only to us but for us and the Church thereby enriched with a true proper and propitiatory Sacrifice usually termed Mass 11. Catholicks renounce all Divine Worship and Adoration of Images or Picturs God alone we Worship and Adore nevertheless we make use of Pictures and place them in Churches and Oratories to reduce our wandering thoughts and Enliven our Memories towards Heavenly things And farther we allow a certain Honour and Veneration to the Picture of Christ of the Virgin Mary c. beyond what is due to every Prophane Figure not that we believe any Divinity or Vertue in the Pictures themselves for which they ought to be Honoured but because the Honour given to Pictures is referred to the Prototype or things represented In like manner 12. There is a kind of Honour and Veneration Respectively due to the Bible to the Cross to the Name of Jesus to Churches to the Sacraments c. as things peculiarly appertaining to God also to the glorified Saints in Heaven as Domestick Friends of God yea to Kings Magistrates and Superiors on Earth as the Vicegerents of God to whom Honour is due Honour may be given without any Derogation to the Majesty of God or that Divine Worship appropriate to him Furthermore 13. Catholicks believe That the blessed Saints in Heaven replenished with Charity pray for us their fellow-Members here on Earth that they Reioyce at our Conversion that seeing God they see and konw in him all things suitable to their happy state that God is Inclinable to hear their Requests made in our behalf and for their sakes grants Us many Favours That therefore it is Good and Profitable to Desire their Intercession And that this manner of Invocation is no more Injurious to Christ Our Mediator nor Superabundant in it self than it is for one Christian to beg the Prayers and Assistance of another in this World Notwithstanding all which Catholicks are taught not so to Relie on the Prayers of Others as to neglect their own Duty to God in Imploring his Divine Mercy and Goodness in Mortifying the Deeds of the Flesh in Despising the World in Loving and Serving God and their Neighbour in Following the Footsteps of Christ our Lord who is the Way the Truth and the Life To whom be Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen The Conclusion THese are the PRINCIPLES These are the TREASONS These are the IDOLATRIES and SUPERSTITIONS which though no other than what We have Receiv'd of our Fore-fathers and what the greatest part of the Christian World now profess yet have drawn upon Us poor Catholicks in ENGLAND such Dreadful Punishments I Beseech you Sir consider our Case without Passion or Prejudice and I am confident you will see We are not such Monsters as our Adversaries Represent Us to be nor entertain such Principles as are Inconsistent with our Duty to GOD and the KING You seem to say This very PLOT with which We are charged proves Us Guilty of wicked Principles But under Favour You here commit a Vicious Circle in way of Arguing For first here are wicked Principles alledg'd to make good the Proof of a PLOT And these being deny'd the PLOT is introduced to make out the wicked Principles As if a Man should say a thing because he thought so and give no Reason why he thought so but only because he said so which instead of Proof is to beg the Question Certain I am Catholicks both Taught and Practised Principles of Loyalty at a Time when the KING and Kingdom felt the Dire Effects of contrary Perswasions You add The two Houses of Parliament the Judges and in a manner the whole Nation seem'd to Believe and cry up the Evidence given of a PLOT I answer The most Upright Persons and those even of Supreme Authority may sometimes be misinform'd and consequently abus'd by the Perjury and Malice of wicked Men Especially when Minds are exasperated Jealousies heightned and Forgeries abetted and multiplyed by the clandestine endeavours of a Malignant Party who love to Fish in Troubled Waters and who by raising Feuds and Fomenting Disorders make their way to sinister ends You your self are sensible there are a sort of People who under a colourable Zeal against Popery as they term it strike at Monarchy and undermine the Government I shall not need to dilate on this Subject our Nation hath once had a sad Experience of this Zeal and I heartily wish the same Tragedy may not be Acted over again In Fine whatsoever is pretended against Us it is manifest We suffer for our Religion wrongfully traduced It is a farther Comfort to Us that our Sufferings God be praised are in some measure not unlike to those of Christ our Lord For it was laid to his Charge as it is to Ours that he was a Traytor to Caesar That he perverted the People and endeavour'd the Destruction of Church and State Nor were there wanting then as now an OATS and BEDLOE two false Witnesses to Swear all this Thus God I hope hath Predestinated Us as the Apostle saith to be conform to the Image of his Son to the end that Suffering with Him We may through his Mercy be Glorified together with him Sweet Jesus Bless our Soveraign Pardon our Enemies Grant Us Patience and Establish Peace and Charity in our Nation This is the daily Prayer of SIR Your Faithful though Distressed Friend M. B. Errors escaped in the Marginal Texts Page 6. against Numb 5. for Isa 38. 8. r. Isa 35. 8. Pag. 6. against Numb 6. for Mat. 29. 29. r. Mat. 22. 29. Pag. 12. against Numb 1. for Luk. 3. 18. r. Luk. 3. 8. Pag. 13. against Numb 2. for Acts 10. 44. r. Acts 10. 4. Psalm 35. Verse 11. FALSE WITNESSES did rise up they laid to my Charge things that I knew not Matthew 5. Verse 11. Blessed are ye when Men shall Revile you and Persecute you and shall say all manner of Evil against you FALSLY for my sake Rejoyce and be glad for great ir your Reward in Heaven Miseries inflicted on Catholicks Through the Perjuries Of Wicked Men. Evil Principles wrongfully Imputed And always disown'd by Catholicks