General Councils 22d Of Purgatory 24th Of speaking in the Congregation in such a Tongue as the People understand not 25th Of the Sacraments 28th Of the Supper of the Lord. 29th Of the Wicked c. 30th Of both Kinds 31st of the one Oblation of Christ finished upon the Cross 32d Of the Marriage of Priests 34th Of the Traditions of the Church 36th Of the Consecration of Bishops and Ministers 37th Of the Civil Magistrate And Sancta Clara that went about to reconcile our Articles with the Doctrine of the Church of Rome might as well have attempted to reconcile the Masse-Book with the Alcoran 2. As to the Liturgy How many uncertain Stories and Legends Responds Verses vain Repetitions Commemorations c. have our Reformers cast out How many Anthems and Invitatories have they cut off which did break the continual course of reading the Scriptures How many of the principal points of Popery are countervened in our Liturgy (L) V. G. The Cup in the Holy Eucharist restored to the Laity The Mediation of the blessed Virgin Mary the Holy Apostles and Saints departed the Merit of our good Works the Sacrifice of the Masse Transubstantiation and the Adoration of the Host five of the Romish Sacraments Prayer for the Dead and the Superstitious Ceremonies of Baptism expresly excluded But they that make this Objection I suppose to say no worse never read either the Popish or our Service-Book (M) See the former part of the Morning Prayer the Liturgy Communion Service c. 3. To come to the Episcopal Government of the Church of England It is very well known saith B. Sanderson in the Preface to his Sermons to many what rejoycing the Vote for pulling down of Episcopacy brought to the Romish Party how even in Rome it self they sung their Io Paeans upon the Tidings thereof and said triumphantly Now the Day is Ours now is the Fatal Blow given to the Protestant Religion in England A thing little considered by them that were for Reforming the Church by the Extirpation of Popery and Prelacy and opposed the Roman Cause by the Abolition of that Government which the Strength and Policy of Rome have been so long employed against Do not all Historians agree That as the Monks and Friars were found to be more serviceable to the Papacy than the Prelates so the Popes enlarged their Priviledges granted them Exemptions from Episcopal Jurisdiction and all the Opposition of the Bishops against them have signified little in the Court of Rome so long as their Interest and Grandeur were maintain'd by those Creatures and Vassals of the Roman See V.G. Gregory the 9th published two Bulls forbidding all Bishops to exercise any Jurisdiction over them (N) Greg. Dicret l. 5. tit 31. c. 16.17 Greg. 9. Universis Ecclesiaâ—am Praelatis The following Popes confirmed their Priviledges and though some of them wearied with the Complaints of the Bishops confined them within certain Limits yet others revoked their Constitutions granted them new and more ample Charters nulled all former Bulls of Restriction and Decreed that they were immediately Subject to the Pope and to none else This Design was all along aimed at in the Institutions of the Regular Clergy and the Popes and Court of Rome always appear'd in it as much as they durst But the Complaints of the Bishops and Secular Clergy became so Universal that at length they fixed upon a new project set up the Order of the Jesuites or Spiritual Janizaries by whom they have ever since exercised an absolute Tyranny over the Bishops as well as the Parochial Clergy and People The Immunities and Privileges conferr'd upon them are such as these To Preach hear Confessions open their Schools without License of the Bishops or Vniversities to administer Sacraments and instruct Youth to Correct Interpret Expunge and Burn such Books as they dislike c. (O) V. Bullar Cherub tom 1. p. 653 154. Where the several Bulls or Charters of Priviledges are enumerated Thus were the Bishops in the Roman Church stript of their Authority the Government of the People committed to mere Priests and a Jesuite by Delegation from the Pope may ordain Priests too as well as the Bishops We see the Pope and Court of Rome are no great Friends to a Popish and do you think they have more kindness for a Protestant Episcopacy By whose means did Cranmer and Ridley Hooper Farrar and Latimer suffer Martyrdom Did not those Holy Men exercise the same Power and Jurisdiction then which our Bishops do at this day Is the same kind of Episcopacy Popish in our Times that was Heretical in theirs Were they esteemed by the Papists their most formidable Enemies and are their Successors become their Secret Friends In Fine How can you give credit to the Popish Plot and at the same time brand those very persons with the Infamous Names of Papists and Popishly affected which were to be made Examples of Popish Cruelty Hath not the first Discoverer of the Plot acquainted you with the Names of them which were to be put into their Places But I cannot pass over that memorable Passage of B. Hall in his Speech to the House of Peers Speaking of the base and scurrilous Libels and Pamphlets wherewith the Governours of the Church had been over-born and in which Papists and Prelates like Oxen in a Yoke were matched together O my Lords I beseech you to be sensible of this great Indignity do but look on these Reverend Persons do not your Lordships see here sitting on these Benches those that have spent their time their Strength their Bodies and Lives in preaching down and writing down Popery and which would be ready if occasion were offered to sacrifice all their old Blood that remains to the maintenance of that Truth of God which they have taught and written And shall we be thus â—…spightfully ranged with them whom we do thus professedly oppose (P) B. Halls â—…eech quoted â—…late Book â—…led The 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 art 1682. p. 4 5. But the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England are Popish and Superstitious And yet we have no Adorations of Saints Angels or any other created Beings no Superstitious Consecrations of Bells Candles Salt Water c. Hath not our Church put a manifest Difference between Naked Ceremonies and Superstitious Parts of Divine Worship Don't She reject all Opinion of Merit and Spiritual Efficacy and expresly declare that they are Things in their own Nature Indifferent and Alterable In short Would those men which make this Objection apply their Minds to the Study of the Popish and Protestant Doctrine I believe we should hear no more of this Groundless Calumny But to them which fasten this Odious Imputation upon our Church and Church-men I will only say these three Things 1. It is the highest Injustice and Uncharitableness For did ever any Order of men write with more Learning and Judgment with more Zeal and Vigour against Popery than the Episcopal Clergy
This is the Doctrine of all the approved Writers of that Church Of their General Councils of their Publique Offices and Breviaries An Account of those persons who have appear'd against the Deposing Doctrine 2. The King-killing Doctrine It is a necessary consequent of the Deposing Doctrine The Roman Divines equivocate in this Question The Jesuites generally assert it divers of the Popes and the Canon Law approve of it 3. Of destroying mens Lives for Religion The true State of the Question The Church of Rome damns all Haeretiques All Protestants are Haeretiques in her account She enjoyns all Christians to endeavour the Extirpation of them All Bishops of her Communion sworn to destroy them The Laws of the Church deliver them up to the Secular Power to be put to death 4. Of absolving his Majesties Subjects from their Allegiance CHAP. IV. Testimonies of the Loyalty of the Roman Church and Religion considered The first from St. Math. 22.21 The second from the Decree of the General Council of Constance The third from the Annotations of the Divines of Rhemes on Rom. 13. The fourth from the Censure of the Doctors of the Faculty of Sorbon against a Book of Sanctarellus CHAP. V. The Fifth Testimony of the Loyalty of the Roman Church from a late Treatise of a Romish Priest The Principles of that Treatise examined Of the Principles and Authority of the General Councils of that Church Of licensing men to lie and forswear themselves Of the Doctrine of Aequivocation and mental Reservation with a brief Account of the Propositions lately censured at Rome Of the Simplicity and Godly Sincerity of the Roman Church Of the Design of dividing the Papists Of the Distinction between the Church and the Court of Rome the grounds of that Distinction examined and confuted Of Dispensations c. CHAP. VI. Of the late Lord Staffords Declaration and Address to the House of Peers concerning a Comprehension for the Dissenting Protestants and a Toleration for the Papists 1. Of the Comprehension for the Dissenting Protestants Three Propositions concerning Comprehension 'T is neither the Duty nor Interest of any Roman Catholicks continuing true to their Principles to promote a firm and lasting Vnion of Protestants What Influence the Romish Agents had on the first Separation from our Church Of the late Declaration of Indulgence 2. Of the Toleration for the Papists Of their endeavours to procure a Toleration under Queen Elizabeth King James King Charles the First the late Vsurped Powers and his present Majesty What the Design of that Faction is in endeavouring to procure a Toleration They have been the worse for Favour and Indulgence as is evident from their Behaviour towards Queen Elizabeth King James King Charles the First and his present Majesty This Chapter concluded with the Protestation of King Charles the First CHAP. VII A short Reflection on the foregoing Discourse Some things offered to all such as desire to prevent the Designs of the Papists 1. Beware of Seditious Doctrines and Practises A brief Account of them This Consideration recommended to all Protestants especially to the Dissenters from the Established Church of England Of the Secluded Members and of the Solemn League and Covenant 2. Beware of being Instrumental to the weakning or subverting of the Church of England Popery can never enter into our Church so long as the Established Articles Liturgy and Government are maintained The Difference between the Ceremonies of the Church of Rome and those of the Church of England Three Considerations to them that charge our Church and Episcopal Clergy with Inclining to Popery Some other things propounded to the Dissenters by way of Consideration and Advice The Conclusion of the whole CHAP. I. The Principles of the Roman Church and Religion destructive of Piety and Vertue Three Cases wherein it is possible for R. Catholiques to be better than their Religion inclines or allows them to be Of the Principles and Practises of his Majesties R. Catholique Subjects in the time of the late Rebellion Of their Rebellion in Ireland and the Advantage which the Kings Enemies in England made of it Since his Majesties Restauration they refused to give him any reasonable security of their Allegiance for the future Many Papists actually in Arms against King Charles the First in England many others did him no Service Vpon what Motives the rest adhered to him A Consult of the English Jesuits about taking away his Life Of the Principles and Behaviour of the R. Catholiques under the Usurped Powers Of Mr. White 's Book THe ensuing Treatise is not intended for those weak and credulous persons that suffer themselves to be charmed with specious Titles and flattering Prefaces and therefore without any reflection on our Author's Arts of Insinuation I shall come to the Matter of the Book called by an odd kind of Antiphrasis A Brief and Impartial Account c. So far as it falls within the Compass of my Design The former Part of the Book is for the most part made up of Allegations in proof of the Plot in general and Reflections on the Depositions The Process against the late Lord Stafford in particular with the Evidence against him and his Lordships Exceptions the Observations of the Managers of the Tryal and the Papists Answers to them the Consideration of all which I leave to others But that I may not seem to pass over any thing which looks like a Proof of the Loyalty and Peaceableness of the Roman Church or of his Majesties Roman Catholique Subjects I shall fairly set down all such Passages as are material to that purpose Staffords Memoires p. 2. His Lordship was ever held to be of a generous disposition very Charitable Devout addicted to Sobriety inoffensive in his Words and a Lover of Justice During the time of the last bloody Rebellion he suffered much for his Loyalty to the King Of the Popish Plot he saith p. 8. This Plot must be managed by persons of Quality most remarkable peradventure of all others for firmness of Loyalty Again The whole Body of Roman Catholiques men before this hour of known worth vertue integrity and unblemished Reputation must all be involved by Vows and Sacraments in a Design so black and execrable that God and Nature abhor to think on p. 52. Certain I am Catholiques Roman Catholiques he means both taught and practised Principles of Loyalty at a time when the King and Kingdom felt the dire Effects of contrary Persuasions That I may proceed with all possible clearness in my Answer to these bold Assertions I shall reduce what I have to say to two Debates I. Concerning the Piety and Vertue of Roman Catholiques II. Concerning their Principles and Practices in the time of the late Rebellion I. I begin with the Piety and Vertue of Roman Catholiques That the Principles of the Roman Church and Religion do naturally tend to make men wicked and disloyal I shall prove in the following Discourse And yet I freely grant That some men of that
divers of them to Places of Trust and Honour But for a Testimony of their prodigious Ingratitude I refer you to that Royal Author The King himself avowed it to the whole Christian World That such was his Mercy and Clemency to them as not only the Papists grew to that height of Pride in confidence of his Mildness as they did directly expect and assuredly promise to themselves Liberty of Conscience and Equality with other of his Subjects in all things but even a Number of the best and faithfullest of his Majesties Subjects were cast in great Fear and Amazement of his Course and Proceedings ever Prognosticating and justly Suspecting that Sowre Fruit to come of it which shewed it self clearly in the Powder Treason How many did I honour with Knighthood they are his Majesties own Words of known and open Recusants How indifferently did I give Audience and Access to both sides bestowing equally all Favours and Honours on both Professions How free and continual Access had all Ranks and Degrees of Papists in my Court and Company How frankly and freely did I free Recusants of their Ordinary Payments My General Pardon extended to all convicted Priests in Prison whereupon they are set at liberty as good Subjects and all Priests that were taken after were sent over and set at Liberty there after a Proclamation That all Priests that were at Liberty might go out of the Country by such a Day But time and Paper will fail me to make Enumeration of all the Benefits and Favours that I bestowed in general and particular upon Papists in recounting whereof every Scrape of my Pen would serve but for a Blot of the Popes Ingratitude and Injustice in meating me with so hard a measure for the same (N) King James his Works p. 253. Grant them an Indulgence they will move for an open Toleration Give them a Toleration they will aspire to an Equality with other Protestant Subjects and then all the Art and Policy of Rome shall be employed to get the Power into their own hands I know nothing that could exasperate them under King Charles the First his Majesties Goodness and Clemency to them gave occasion to a wicked and malicious Imputation of his being popishly affected and what requital they made his Sacred Majesty I have already shew'd Since his Majesties Blessed Restauration they have enjoyed as great a measure of Peace and Liberty as ever any People did under a Prince of a different Religion As his Majesty was very tender of their Lives and Fortunes so his Protestant Subjects have been so far from thirsting after their Blood that they never gave them any disturbance which was not necessary for their own Safety till the breaking out of Plots and Designs against the Government awakened the sleeping Laws Let us appeal to the Testimony of the late Lord Stafford his words in the printed Tryal p. 200. are Since his Majesties Happy Restauration I do conceive and I think I may safely say it for you all know he was Gracious and Good to all Dissenters particularly to them of the Romish Church they had Connivence and Indulgence in their Private Houses and I declare to your Lordships I did then say to some that were too open in their Worship that they did play foul in taking more liberty upon them than was fitting for them too and that brought the Misfortune upon me which I will not name And now a man might wonder at the continual and loud Complaints of Persecution for their Religion and Consciences and their Restless Endeavours to procure Liberty of Conscience as they call it by any Means at any Price If ever they wanted Liberty since the Reformation they may thank themselves for it They have generally enjoyed the Private Exercise of their Religion but this is not the meaning of Liberty of Conscience in the stile of our times From these Instances it is evident That if Kindness and Lenity were the way to oblige the Roman Catholicks of these Kingdoms we had never heard of a Spanish Armada a Gunpowder Treason of an Irish Rebellion or of a Plot against his Sacred Majesty whom God long preserve they would have been indeed what they falsly pretend to be His Majesties Loyal and Dutiful Subjects But I wish they had not taken an effectual Course by the many Conspiracies within this last hundred Years and by this of equal or greater Horror than the rest to convince us how easily a Popish Zeal can break through all Obligations of Religion and Gratitude I will conclude this Chapter with the Judgment of our late Royal Martyr concerning these men and their Religion An. 1642. he call'd God to Witness That he would never Consent upon what Pretence soever to a Toleration of the Popish Profession or Abolition of Laws then in force against the Recusants This Solemn Protestation was made by his Majesty who had too much reason to understand their Tempers and Principles and though I find it quoted by his Enemies yet I cannot meet with any Proof that ever he alter'd his Mind in this Matter CHAP. VII A short Reflection on the foregoing Discourse Some things offered to all such as desire to prevent the Designs of the Papists 1. Beware of Seditious Doctrines and Practises A brief Account of them This Consideration recommended to all Protestants especially to the Dissenters from the Established Church of England Of the Secluded Members and of the Solemn League and Covenant 2. Beware of being Instrumental to the weakning or subverting of the Church of England Popery can never enter into our Church so long as the Established Articles Liturgy and Government are maintained The Difference between the Ceremonies of the Church of Rome and those of the Church of England Three Corsiderations to them that charge our Church and Episcopal Clergy with Inclining to Popery Some other things propounded to the Dissenters by way of Consideration and Advice The Conclusion of the whole THus far I have endeavoured to lay open the Mystery of Iniquity and Rebellion as it hath been carried on under a pretence of Zeal for God and Religion I have fairly represented those Doctrines and Principles which strike at the very root of our Established Religion and Government with the Arts and Instruments which have been used by the prevailing Faction of the Roman Church for the Subversion of them And I know no stronger Argument against the Truth and Goodness of any Religion than that it supplants Moral Righteousness and serves to be a Bond of Conspiracy allows of Sedition and Treachery Injustice and Cruelty For how can that Religion be from God which maketh Men unlike to God as bad or worse than if they were left to the Principles and Inclinations of their own Natures I have proved That there are no Doctrines or Rules of the Reformed Religion which enjoyn or countenance any Seditions or Bloody Practises for the Propagation of it and there is no reason why those Faults of Ill Men should