Ecclesiarum matrem magistram agnosco Romanoque pontifici beati Petri Apostolorum principis successori ac Jesu Christi vicario veram obedientiam spondeo ac juro 25. Caetera item omnia à sacris canonibus aecumenicis conciliis ac praecipue à Sacro-sancta Tridentina Synodo tradita definita declarata indubitanter recipio atque profiteor simulque contraria omnia atque haereses quascunque ab ecclesia damnatas rejectas anathematizatas ego parite◠damno rejicio anathematizo The words which follow in the Bull Hanc veram Catholicam fidem imply a perfect form of doctrine or faith is promised or declared and therefore so this is to be looked upon Now it s greater impiety and presumption to add new Articles than to reject the old It more properly befits Antichrist to deny the Faith ex consequenti indirecte than to renounce the external profession of it For the mouth of Antichrist ought to be as a fountain sending forth sweet and bitter waters he is to have a form of godliness but to deny the power of it He is to pretend himself to be a Christian and to be built upon the true foundation of the Apostles but he is also to overthrow this foundation upon which in some sort he is and pretends to be built by superinducing damnable doctrines ex consequenti indirecte contradicting and denying that faith which he doth externally profess The Devils themselves may make profession of the Christian Faith to the same end that Antichrist doth that is to deceive by it And it 's probable that the Devils do more certainly know and believe the Historical truth of the Creed than some Popes have done Lastly the Papists themselves cannot deny but that their imaginary Antichrist who shall be as they pretend of the Tribe of * Dan must believe or at least Dr. P. Heylin saith That the Pope of Rome is not Antichrist because Antichrist must be a single person a Jew that must kill Elias Enoch as I find him alledged by Dr. C. of Schism p. 81. profess himself to believe so many of the Articles of the Creed as the Jews now do or as may evidently be proved by the old Testament By all which it is evident that the external profession of faith can no way priviledg the Pope from being Antichrist which was to come into the world but rather it may be truly said that this external profession is causa sine qua non such a thing as could not but concur to his Constitution For Antichristianism consists in two parts the one being an open yet feigned and hypocritical profession of Christianity the other a secret and indirect yet a real and effectual eversion of it So this form of professing the Faith above mentioned consisting of 25 Articles of which 12 belong to the first part and 13 to the second may be fitly esteemed a perfect sum and character of Antichristianism Besides Mr. Potter shews in many things that the number 25 doth agree to and is affected by the Church of Rome e. g. 1. There were 25 Bishops met at the first Session of the Popes Council of Trent They met not by accident but as they were appointed by the Pope though more met afterwards and sometimes less yet the first Session was that which gave nomen esse to the Council and therefore the number in this Session is most remarkable and rather to be observed than any other number 2. The whole Council is divided into 25 Sessions as all Editions of the History testifie 3. The number of Popish * Vide acclamationes patrum in fine Concilii p. 397. Archbishops which subscribed to this Council was 25 as the History testifies Though many others subscribed yet Archbishops are most remarkable because as Bishops in General Councils represent their whole Clergy so Bishops themselves especially in the Romish Hierarchy are virtually and representatively contained in their Archbishops 4. The number of the Decrees was 25 I mean such as concern matters of 'T is observable that the number of the Fathers which subscribed the 25 Decrees of the Council of Trent ended in that unlucky number 5 for the number of all the subscribers was 255 as is to be seen in the acclamations at the end of the Council faith and reformation which only are to be accounted for the Decrees of the Council as appeareth by the last words of the last Session 5. Where the Pope hath had rule he hath planted many of his Creatures with that fatal number 25 as here in England there were 25 Abbots which had voices in the Parliament-house as Cambden witnesseth In many of the Abbies and Priories they affected the number 25 as appeareth in the Book called Bibliotheca Cluniacensis in which he reckons up 13 Societies of that Order that had 25 Monks The Pope hath lately erected the Order of Knights of the most Glorious Virgin Mary instituted at Rome by Paul the 5th An. 1618. wherein 't is ordered that 25 always remain resident at Rome in the Court of the holy Father having 20 Ducats by the Month and the like number at Loretto In the highest Court at Rome are instituted 25 Officers 6. Upon St. Peter's Church at Rome saith Angelus Bocca in appendice Bibliothec. Vatican p. 419. upon the top of that Church there is placed upon a gilded Globe of brass a gilded Cross of 25 hands-breadth in length In the fore-part of this Church are 5 Gates which are commonly used and one other Gate which is called Porta sancta the holy Gate which stands open only one year in 25 and the 25th year being ended it 's again shut by the Pope as Onuphrius de praecipuis Romae Basilic c. 4. In this Church as also in St. Mary the great have been 25 Altars as Onuphrius particularly recites them de praecipuis Romae Basilicis c. 6. p. 289. 1. Altare S. Christi 2. altare S. Leonis 3. altare S. Hadriani 4. altare S. Mariae 5. altare S S processi 6. altare S. Mauritii 7. altare Silvestri 8. altare Mariae 9. altare Gibinii 10. altare Martialis 11. altare Bartholomei 12. altare Pastoris 13. altare S. Thomae 14. altare S. Andrei Gregorii 15. altare beatae Virginis 16. altare Innocentii 17. altare Sudarii 18. altare S. Antonii 19. altare S. Tridentii 20. altare S. Philippi Jacobi 21. altare novum S S. Apostolorum 22. altare Mortuorum 23. altare vetus Simonis Judae translatum in mediam ecclesiam 24. altare Habundii nunc dict S. Catharinae 25. altare Petronellae All these 25 Altars were erected and altogether actually existing in St. Peter's Church at Rome before the year 1500 that is before there was any new addition to the building of the Church 7. They have imprinted upon every one of these altars 25 round spots which in Arms do signifie numbers as is observed by the Author of Armory E. B. p. 179. and they are used to make
A Renunciation OF SEVERAL Popish Doctrines BECAUSE Contrary to the Doctrine of Faith of the Church of ENGLAND By R. R. B. D. Babylon's Brats must not be dandled but dasht against the wall Phinehas his Zeal Jehu's March Josiah's Resolution Luther's Heroical Spirit have ever best prevailed against the mystery of iniquity Bishop Prideaux his Sermon upon Revel 2. 4. Pag. 25. Whosoever denieth this Doctrine That Faith alone justifieth is not to be accounted a Christian man nor for a setter forth of Gods glory but for an adversary to Christ and his Gospel and for a setter forth of mans vain glory Homily of Salvation of mankind Pag. 16 17. Bona opera non praecedunt justificandum sed sequuntur justificatum S. August l. de fide operibus c. 4 14. The Pope is Antichrist and Popery is the loosing of Satan for blasphemeth he not in denying us to be saved by the imputation of Christs righteousness King James his Godly Meditations upon certain Verses of Revel 20. Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints Jude vers 3. LONDON Printed for Tho. Cockeril at the Three Legs in the Poultry over against the Stocks-Market 1680. CHRISTIAN READERS THough I confess I have long had it in my thoughts to prove That the Doctrine of the Laudensian faction is not the Doctrine of faith of the Church of England and that the greatest Conformists to the Ceremonies are the greatest Nonconformists in deed and in truth to the Doctrine of faith or the articles of Religion of the Church of England concerning the Confession of the true Christian faith and the Doctrine of the Sacraments yet I sate still earnestly expecting that some one Orthodox Conformist or other whom it most concerned to maintain it would appear to prove the former or some learned Nonconformist to the Ceremonies would do the latter but neither seeing nor hearing of any one of them to attempt either the one or the other being incouraged by the Parliaments late Act for renouncing Transubstantiation I have though the unfittest of a thousand adventured to renounce not only that blasphemous Doctrine but many more of the Papists erroneous and Antichristian Doctrines and in doing of this may possibly be thought obliquely if not directly to do them both And I begin with renouncing their abominable Transubstantiation partly because the Parliament did so and also because it 's not only destructive of the humane nature of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ but also inductive of adoration of the Lords-supper and the Tables or Altars whereon 't is celebrated Several of our high Conformists having so beld and 't is feared that some do so now the presence of Christs Body in the Sacrament of the Altar as they have been pleased to call it that they might well be thought to hold it after the Papists or Lutherans Doctrine for 't is clear that they have not only been against Orthodox mens discovery of the way that Christs body is not in Bp. Forb's de Eucharist l. 1. c. 1. par 7. A. B. Laud in his Star-Chamb Speech Dr. Heyl. Hist of Presbytery p. 2. the Sacrament of the Lords-supper but they have plainly held that he is more and some other way in that Sacrament than in that other of Baptism and that he is there truly really substantially as 't is in the 18th Article of the Popes Creed to be seen in this Renunciation Article 14th yea essentially as Dr. Lawrence speaks in his Court-sermon p. 18. And in the second place I have renounced Adoration or bowing to Altars or Communion-Tables purposely and upon the Religious account of more religâ—ouâ— excelâ—â—nâ—â— c. because that Doctrinâ— and practise being â—dmitted worshipping of the Sacrament of Images of the Cross of Relicks c. may easily be introduced and maintained And thirdly I have renounced their Heretical Doctrine of Justification of mens persons before God by their own good works because it overthroweth the Gospel and in effect denieth Christ to be come in the flesh and is most dangerously Antichristian and very commonly brâ—â—ched amongâ—â— us and the sound Doctrine of the Church of England against it called Antinomianism and the imputation of Christs Righteousness vilified and denied and Faith as an act habit or work or as it includes sincere obedience set up in its room and the Papists Justification of our persons before God by our own actual or habitual righteousness re-introduced I have also renounced the sufficiency of the natural active power of mans Free-will while in the state of nature to turn of it self to God to believe c. and there by the ground and foundation of the Old and New Pelagian long since condemned though of late too much revived and affected Doctrine and those that usually flow from or are companions of it as also the lawfulness of setting up and suffering of Images in places of publick worship because they have been are and will be occasions of Idolatry Superstition and much mischief in Church and State where they have been and are tolerated as may be seen in that excellent Homily against the peril of Idolatry I have also proved by the Doctrine of the Church of England and our own learned mens approved works That the Pope of Rome is the Antichrist and that therefore he is not supreme Head of the Church and that therefore his humane inventions should not be imposed upon nor followed by the Churches of Jesus Christ but that Christ himself the supreme Head of his Church should be only so acknowledged his word duty and constantly consulted and followed in all matters which concern his Church â—is pure Doctrine Discipline and Worship and Truths countenanced and maintained and not suppressed or disgraced and also that Antichrists erroneous and Antichristian doctrines usurpations superstitious and scandalous ceremonies and other Worships should be detested * Vide the Confessioâ— of Faith made the 28 of Jan. 1581 in the 14 year of K. James his Reign there and subscribed and sworn to by K. James his Houshold and whole Kingdom of Scotland set down in the latter end of the Harmony of Confessions and renounced and suppressed 'T was once a sad and great complaint made to a Sub-Committee in which were many eminent Bishops and three Doctors of Divinity That all the tenents of the Council of Trent except only such points of State-policy against the Kings Supremacy as were made Treason by the Statute as good works co-causes with Faith in Justification private Confession by particular enumeration of sins needful necessitate medii to Salvation that the oblaâ—ion or as others the consumption of the Elements in the Lords-Supper holdeth the nature of a true Sacrifice Prayers for the Dead lawfulness of Monastical Vows the gross substance of Arminianism and some dangerous points of Socinianism had been preached or printed by some amongst us saith Dr. Fuller in his Ecclesiastical History Dr. Heylin ' s Cypr. Anglicus l. 5. p. 472
they please and as experience shews oppose them too against the determination of the Church which allowance I hope I may have to defend them But do not these men lay a foul aspersion upon the Church who say They do allow those men that will give an hearty assent and subscribe to their authority ceremonies and traditions and injunctions to interpret and secretly undermine and openly oppose the Doctrines of Faith of the true Christian Religion I profess I do not believe it of the whole Church-representative of England of which I should believe he speaks though I have not heard of one of them or of any Conformist that hath appeared against these mens false interpretations yea open contradictions of the articles of Religion concerning the true Christian faith But what security of peace and truth the Magistrate whom like their elder brethren in Holland they claw while he will suffer them to carry on their destructive designâ— can have by these mens subscriptions declarations yea oaths I know not Would not all the Jesuits of Rome subscribe declare and swear too upon these conditions I have heard of one Minister that would subscribe assent consent and declare if they would hate him but one syllable un And so it may be would others too if they might do as they do not perform what they promise and write against what they subscribe assent and consent to too as these men say they are allowed by the Church But I know not well what Church the man means by our Church for I do not know well of what church he is though I hear he is in the Church of England and promoted so was the Bishop of Spalato till King James found out his Knavery and so was Dr. Lewes who returned to Winchester and when he had received some thousands of pounds of current English money he returned to his Church of Rome who therein followed not the cunning advice of Thuanus a learned and cunning Papist to Casaubon * Wedderbornes Book p 23 vid. Supplement to Laudensium autocatacrifis p. 18. not to come away to them but stay here seeing he had and might have more means here than he could or would have there and might do them more service here than he could do them if there I have dwelt too long upon this large man else I could set before your eyes many more of his erroneous and dangerous Doctrines but I must leave him What I have said in my following Renunciation will I hope sufficiently confute Dr. Patrick's Doctrine of Justification by our own good works and by faith as it worketh by love and some Friendly Debate pag. 13 〈◊〉 14. other of his false Doctrines I meddle not with some others because better heads and pens have undertaken them Though the Arminian c. faction he they say much increased yet that it was greater and more Popish before the late Civil Wars and that there was more danger of bringing in Popery then than there is now I could offer many reasons as I. That the body of Popery except the Popes Supremacy was then preached and printed as Dr. Fuller shews was complained of and so much Dr. Heylin confesseth as was shewed before and may in a very great part he seen gathered to your hands in Laudensium Autocatacrisis and the Supplement thereunto and Laudensium Apostasia which I believe cannot be proved now 2. Then there were the High Commission and the Star-Chamber Courts which are not now wherein A. B. Laud and his party used to crush whosoever appeared in the least against their Arminian Doctrines and Popish Innovations 'T is true we have some disadvantages we want a Dr. Humphrie Abbot Holland and Prideaux in the Chair in Oxford a Cartwright Whitakers Davenant and Ward at Cambridge a Dr. Ames Twisse Kendal and a Mr. Jeanes who are gone to their Rests and we lack liberty and encouragement for our thousands of Orthodox Nonconforming Ministers freely to preach and print against Popish Arminian and Socinian Innovations in Doctrine Discipline and Worship If orthodox and learned and godly Divines Nonconformists indeed to the Ceremonies but real Conformists to the Doctrine of Faith of the Church of England who did not only preach the truth to the elder but taught it to the younger sort of people had not been turned and kept out of the Ministry and silenced and cast out of their Freeholds and Corporations except they would do such things as they judged unlawful or at least inexpediâ—â— and put into their places either ignorant or erroneous or scandalous persons men either unapt or unfit to teach though I acknowledg there are many learned sober men sound in the faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apt to teach in the Ministry whose persons God knows I love and whose learning I honour and admire yet I say there are many as selfish malicious covetous ambitious some as erroneous if not idolatrous men as many that are of the Church of Rome and so would openly profess themselves to be if time should serve them 't is very probable and verily believed that neither Popery nor Arminianism that cunning way to bring in Popery nor Prophaneness and Atheism would have gotten that head which some say they have Where the fault is is not for me to determine not suggest But verily I think his Gracious Majesty cannot be so much as suspected much less accused of it for he was graciously pleased to issue out a Declaration for liberty for tender Consciences from Bredah and another soon after his return home which was turned into a Bill by a worthy Gentleman and offered to the Parliament then called healing Since that his Majesty made another Gracious Declaration for liberty of Conscience but that 't is known was cried down by the Episcopal party and now at last his Majesty upon pious and politick accounts hath given forth another and more Gracious Declaration for liberty of Conscience and licensed several sound Protestant Divines who have lost their livings and suffered the spoiling of their goods and refused dignities rather than comply with our Bishops and their Latitudinarian party in things they judged unlawful inexpedient and inductive to Popery c. to preach and teach the word of God truly and worship God purely as he hath commanded in his Word without humane additions and inventions c. But this also the Episcopal party under the specious pretence of being against bringing in Popery which many of them preach and practise and love more than the truth and the pure worship of God as God and their own consciences well know though they have formerly extolled the Kings Supremacy and Prerogative above Law Right Reason and Religion and these thirteen years last past scarce ever executed one Law of those many that are made against Popish Recusants no nor mentioned publickly any fear of Popery till his Majesty granted his most loyal Protestant Subjects liberty to serve God purely as he hath commanded in his Word