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A42315 The old Roman Catholik, as at first he was taught by Paul, in opposition to the new Roman Catholick, as of latter he is taught by the Pope the one being apostolicall, the other apostaticall : derived and proven only out of the Epistle of Paul to the Romanes : whereunto is added a clear probation that the same also was the doctrine of the primitive bishops of Rome ... discovering to all clearly the apostasie of that church from the ancient Roman fayth and puritie thereof to the noveltie of gross heresie and idolatrie, and sufficient to convince, if not convert, any papist that is not wilfully obdured / by W. Guild. Guild, William, 1586-1657. 1649 (1649) Wing G2210; ESTC R30326 38,314 116

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poor souls going after that Antichrist spoken of in the Revelatiō as the seduced Israelits did after Absolon in the simplicity of their hearts being drawn away and held on in the way of damnable Errour and gross Idolatrie by this principle and pretence that the church can not erre And that this infallible church is the Roman only and again that this Roman Church is that same for integrity and stability of trueth which it was in the Apostles tyme when for her fayth shee was famous throughout the whole world and in the tymes of their immediate Successours Which indeed if it were so and that the faythfull Citie had not become an Harlot as Isaiah speaketh yea a mother of harlots as shee is called Rev. 17. 5. It were for any a sure and short courss for resolution to know vnto what society amidst so many differences any should betake themselues adhere as to the only true Church out of which there were no Salvation And in all poynts of Fayth and practise of worship without farder hesitation to embrace the breasts of such a Mother and chaste Spouse to her Husband CHRIST believing and practising as such a Church doeth of whose infallibility there were so great certaynty and evidence But if after due tryall and impartiall witnessing it be clearly found and no less clearly may be seen by all who wilfully as it were at noon day will not close their eyes agaynst inforcing light that de facto shee hath left that Primitiue Trueth that either PAUL taught her or her Primitiue Bishops Successours to the Apostles for diverss hundreths of years did lykewyse preach and profess and so that of Bethel the houss of GOD she hath become since that tyme Bethaven the houss of Vanitie Errour and Idolatrie forsaking her first loue and cleaving to Baall I hope then that there are none who would not perish with her but will leaue her in so farre as she hath left ANCIENT TRUETH and imbraced the Noveltie of after succeeding Errour lyke the super-semination of the Tares in the LORDS Field by that envyouss man whyle the Servants were asleep and that as our Saviour reduced these that were misled by the Pharesees corrupt doctrine to consider that which was ab initio or from the beginning which the Apostle calleth that Fayth which was once delivered to the saincts So they will according to the Prophets advyse and exhortation ask for the OLD WAY which is the GOOD WAY and walk therein that they may fynd rest to their soules That is ask and try what was the doctrin which was taught from the beginning by PAUL to the Romanes and to the Church of CHRIST there in His tyme and the tymes of her next primitiue and succeeding Pastours in these poynts controverted now-a-dayes and accordingly adhere thereto disclayming all contrary if they would be accounted true Roman Catholicks that is the Professours of that Apostolicall Trueth Religion which was Universally then taught to the whole Church of CHRIST in generall and to the ROMANES at that tyme in particular For which end I haue set down in this short Treatise the summe of that doctrine collected only out of the Epistle of PAUL TO THE ROMANES as also out of the writs of one for all of their ancient Bishops beyond all comparison of greatest account amongst them Pope Gregory the first for his Pietie and Learning surnamed by them The Great who lived in the six hundreth year of CHRIST To which if they adhere then they must quyte that doctrine of the Church of Rome now-a-dayes because it is in direct tearms as contrary thereto as Light to Darkness GOD and Beliall as shall bee shown here-after Or if they wilfully will adhere to that doctrine of the Romane Church now-a-dayes which is Apostaticall and false then they must quyte that doctrine of the Church of Rome which was taught by PAUL TO THE ROMANES and by her primitiue Bishops which was Apostolicall and true For as Eliah sayd to the people of Israell They can not halt between two opinions If the LORD bee GOD then follow Him But if Baal bee god then follow him Even so say I If Pauls doctrine be true which he taught the Church of Rome then follow it but if they will bee that absurd to think the Popes doctrine to be true which he teacheth and is contrarie to Paulls as the ensuing particulars proves then follow him For there is no midst neither let them think it strange or improbable let bee impossible that the Church of Rome who pleadeth such infallibilitie should make Apostasie and fall from the trueth as Ierusalem farre more priviledged and renowned than shee of a faythful citie became a harlot elss what needed the Apostle Rom. 11. 20. to set before her eyes the example of the cutting off of the Iewish Church who were the natural branches for their Apostasie and therefore to exhort her who yet stood by fayth not to be highmynded but fear Which exhortation had bene altogether vnnecessary if by her priviledge of infallibility which is greatest high-myndedness she had no cause to fear Agayn what needed him to vse this fore-warning of her verss 21. 22. Behold GODS Goodness towards thee if thou continue otherwyse thou shalt be cut off which commination also had bene vnnecessary if shee had this priviledge that shee could not erre but continue And therefore for any Apostasie could never be cut off neither should he haue spoken conditionallie or doubtinglie after this manner if thou continue but particularlie excepted her as one that could not but continue in the fayth and not erre therefra Next if without contradiction it bee evident that both in head and members shee hath erred de facto and fallen from the fayth by the witnessing of Romanists themselues It will be much more than evident that de jure shee may erre and fall from the fayth But that de facto she hath erred is cleare by these few instances 1. Pope Gregorie the great speaking of the title of Universall Bishop he calleth the assuming of it by any who-so-ever to bee the assuming of a new prowd prophane perverss and Antichristian style and a name of Blasphemie which he nor none of his predecessours would ever assume and that In isto scelesto vocabulo consentire nihil aliud est sayeth he quam fidem perdere that is to consent to this most wicked style it is no other thing than to lose the Fayth or make Apostasie therefra But so it is that from Boniface the third his tyme who by great opposition to him by sundrie sayeth Platina the Popes Secretarie obtayned from the Emperour Phocas to be styled so all the latter Popes hitherto haue vsurped the same the whole latter Roman Church consenting thereto Whence it followeth That according to Gregories own words Fidem perdiderunt or they haue fallen from the fayth both the Pope and the Church vnder him Agayn the Pope as Pope whom
they call the Virtuall Church de facto hath erred Ergo hee and the Church following him may erre The Antecedent is proven by the testimonie of many famous Romanists themselues as Nilus Gerson Almain Alfonsus à Castro and which is to be noted Pope Adrian himself as Bellarmine acknowledgeth lib. 4. de Pontif. Rom. c. 2. The lyke doeth Cardinall Cusanus witness Ambrosius Catharinus Lyra Erasmus and the Councell of Basill who in their 34. Session deposed Eugenius the fourth as hereticall So did the sixt Generall Councell of Constantinople condemne Pope Honorius as a Monothelite as Bellarmin confesseth lib. 4. de Pont. c. 11. That Pope Liberius also was an Arrian and Pope Anastasius an Nestorian no man will doubt sayeth Alfonsus à Castro who hath read histories also that Vigilius was an Eutychian that Zepherin was a Montanist and that Iohn the 23 denyed the Resurrection is evident by most famous Histories of their own witnessing 2. Lykewyse to come to poynts of Doctrine wherein by their own confession they haue erred and departed from the Ancient Fayth I will instance first the Roman Churches prohibition of the people to reade the holy Scriptures And if it be asked whether in this poynt shee hath erred and departed from the fayth and practise of the Primitiue Church Their own Bishop Claudius Espencaeus on Titus 2. will tell them saying It is manyfest by the doctrine of the Apostle Col. 3. 4. And by the practise of the Church sayeth hee that of old the vse of the Scriptures was permitted to the people Here then a confessed departure from the Ancient Fayth 3. The Roman Church hath decreed That all publick Prayers and Worship bee in a tongue vnknown to the people And if it bee asked Whether herein shee hath erred and departed from the Ancient Fayth Their own Cardinall Cajetan will tell them saying By the doctrine of Saynct Paull it is to bee held that it is farre better for the edifying of the Church that the publick Prayers which are vttered in the hearing of the people bee sayd in a language that is common and known both to Clergie and people And that this was lykewyse the practise of the Primitiue Church This both Lyra and Aquinas testifieth Here then agayn a confessed departure from the Ancient Fayth and practise of the Primitiue Church 4. The present Roman Church teacheth Invocation of Sayncts And if it be asked Whether in this they hold the Ancient Fayth taught by the Apostles or hath departed therefra Their own Eckius Luthers great Antagonist will tell them saying Besydes that we haue nothing hereof in the Old Testament In the New lykewyse the Apostles nor Evangelists neither taught by word sayeth hee nor left any such thing by writ that the Sayncts departed should be invocated nor would the holy Ghost by whose inspiration they spake suffer them so to do sayeth he and yet as Paull testifieth they taught the whole Councell of GOD Whence it followeth that the Invocation of Sayncts is no part thereof And consequently a departure from the Ancient Catholick and Apostolicall Fayth and practise Iustly accursed by GOD For if an Angell from Heaven sayeth the Apostle teach any thing besyde that which wee haue preached vnto you let him bee accursed 5. The Church of Rome now teacheth That the people should not participate of the consecrated cup in the Communion And if it be asked If herein they follow CHRISTS Institution or the practise of the Primitiue Church Not only doeth their own Lyra and Aquinas ingenuously confess That shee hath departed therefra But also the whole Councell of Constance holden anno 1414. Sess. 13. confesseth clearly That CHRIST indeed instituted this Venerable Sacrament in both kynds of bread and wyne and gaue it so to His Disciples As also that in the Primitiue Church say they the same was receaved by the Faythfull in both kynds And yet for certayn causes the Roman Church hath ordayned the contrary Here then a clear confession of a gross departing from the Ancient Fayth and practise of the Primitiue Church 6. The present Roman Church teacheth Transsubstantiation of the bread into the Body of CHRIST in the Sacrament of the LORDS SUPPER And if it bee asked If this bee the Ancient Catholick and Apostolick Fayth 1. The Apostle 1. Cor. 11. 26. will teach them the contrary affirming That after Consecration the bread remayneth in substance Even when it is eaten And if next to the Apostle they will heare one of their most ancient Popes whom they say cannot erre Gelasius will tell them playnly saying tho the Sacrament bee a divyne thing becauss therein wee receaue the body and blood of CHRIST yet the substance and nature of the bread and wyne ceasseth not still to remayn sayeth hee And as for the Words of CHRIST whereby they would proue Transsubstantiation if they will hear the exposition of them out of their Popes Canon Law it will tell them saying The Heavenly Sacrament which truely REPRESENTETH CHRISTS FLESH is called CHRISTS BODIE but improperlie So that in this mayn poynt we see they haue departed from the Ancient Fayth which was taught by the Apostle and believed by their own ancient Popes and Canonists 7. The present Romane Church teacheth That after this lyf for soules of them that are saved there is a fyre of Purgatorie And if it bee asked If this was the Ancient Fayth of the Catholick Church Their own Fisher Bishop of Rochester will tell them That in the Western or Roman Church it is but Sero cognitum or lately only known And as for the Eastern or Grecian Church even vnto this day sayeth hee they never did belieue Purgatorie Here then a clear confession that the present Roman Church holdeth not the Ancient Fayth of the Catholick Church Eastern nor Western but hath swerved therefra 8. And if by farder witnessing they would be informed of the defection of the Church of Rome by Fathers others a matter indeed wherein they are lyke to Thomas hard of belief let Ierom testifie what progress it had made even in his tyme which was a mystery of Iniquity working even in Pauls dayes who about the four hundreth year of CHRIST wryting to Paulinus sayeth thus When I was in Babylon calling Rome so and lived an inhabitant of that Purple Whore I desyred as it were to prattle somewhat of the holy Ghost and to dedicate my work to the Bishop of that Citie to wit Damasus and behold the Assembly of the Pharisees there cryed me down amongst whom there was not any learned Scrybe but the whole faction of ignorance conspyred agaynst mee as if I had proclaymed some Doctrinall Warre agaynst them c. Which words even vnto admiration calling Rome Babylon the Scarlet Whore The Clergie whereof were a faction of blynd Pharisees who cryed downe all Godly and Learned Men for advancing themselues only and their own credit would seem
rather to bee a Protestants speach of Rome now-a-days than Ieroms words of Rome in his tyme To whom I wil adjoyn amongst many others but one of latter tymes that famous Florentine and so much extolled Petrarcha who lived in the 1300 year of CHRIST and who out of experience speaketh thus of Rome wryting to his Freind saying Behold now thou seest with thyne eyes groapest with thyne hands what a Citie this last spoken of Babylon is hot and burning in Lust c. And therafter there thou maist see a people not only an enemy to CHRIST but which is worss vnder the Banner of Christian Profession rebelling agaynst CHRIST militating for Satan drunk with the blood of the Members of CHRIST for what I pray thee is not dayly done amongst these enemyes of CHRIST the Pharesees of our tymes For do they not here on earth buy and sell and make merchandise of CHRIST Himself whose Name night and day they with high prayses extoll whom in His images they cloathe with Purple and Gold decketh with precious stones and whom they salute and worship and yet they blyndfold as it were the same CHRIST as if Hee could not see they crown Him with the thorns of their ill gotten goods they pollute Him with the spittinges of their most vnclean mouth with their viperous mockings they persecute Him they pearce Him agayn with the speare of their poysonable actions and so farre as in them lyeth sayeth hee mocked naked poor whipped they draw Him agayn to Calvaerie and by a wicked conspiracie they crucifie Him over agayn O shame O grief O indignitie Of such men consisteh Rome this day as I haue sayd Where Iudas himself shall bee admitted if hee bring with him the thirtie pieces of silver the pryce of blood and poor CHRIST shall be thrust out of doors which thing to bee notourlie true there is no Christian but may know and yet none lamenteth it and none revengeth CHRISTS quarrell And where the head thereof the Pope acteth not sayeth he the part of an Apostolick but of a robber nor is famous for signes of vertue or miracles but for militarie ensigns and is stored with threatning legions as if thou wouldest think him another Hanniball nor a successour of PETER With which Petrarcha notably jumpeth also Platinae the Popes own Secretarie speaking of the Popes and Romane Clergie in the lyf of Marcellinus Gregory the fourth and Paull the second where he sayeth That by Envy Pryde and Malice they exercysed rather Tyrannie nor the Office of Priesthood altogether having forgotten Christianitie and prophaning holy mysterie And vnto whom I could adjoyn a cloud of mo witnesses of their own most famous wryters as Baptista Mantuanus de calamitatibus temporum Nicolaus Clemangis de corrupto Ecclesiae statu Marsilius Patavinus in his Defensor Pacis AEneas Sylvius Afterward Pope by the name of Pius secundus in his Epistolae familiares and of late Claudius Espencaeus a Spanish Bishop and others But what hath bene adduced may bee sufficient to such who without a prejudice agaynst Trueth haue not wedded themselues so to Errour that lyke Babell they will not be cured being so inebriated with that bewitching cup of the Filthiness of the Whores Fornications that as the Apostle sayeth GOD hath sent them strong delusion to belieue a lie because they would not receaue the loue of the trueth that they may be saved But as for others concerning whom the LORD hath a purpose in Mercie to call out of Babell as he had to Abraham whom hee called from idolatrous Ur of the Chaldees I doubt not but such following the Berean practise without prejudice wil yeeld an obedient ear to hear and heart to belieue that Ancient Roman Fayth which they fynd so clearly set down in Scripture and especially that Epistle written to the Romanes that so they may bee truely esteemed Catholick and Apostolick Romanes indeed and no more followers of that Beast horned lyke the LAMB but who speaketh lyke the Dragon to their own perdition And as for vs to whom the LORD hath revealed His Trueth and preserved from the deceavableness of Errour as the Apostle speaketh we are bound alwayes to prayse the LORD That Hee hath chosen vs from the beginning vnto Salvation thorow Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Trueth wherevnto He hath called vs by the Gospell of CHRIST Of the which Blessing the LORD grant wee may walk worthie adorning our Profession by an holy lyff to the Glory of GOD good example of others and the Salvation of our own soules in the day of our account AMEN The Old Roman Catholik Religion taught to them by PAULL In opposition to The New Roman Catholik Religion taught them by the Pope The one beeing APOSTOLICALL the other Apostaticall CHAP. I. OF SCRIPTURE SECTION 1. That the Apocrypha books are not Canonicall Scripture ROM. 3. 2. Vnto them to wit the Iewes were committed the Oracles of GOD That is as all expound the Canonicall Scriptures of the Old Testament which CHRIST comprehendeth only in Moses and the Prophets wrytings Luke 24. 27. of whom Malachi was the last But vnto them were never committed these Books as the Oracles of GOD or Canonicall Scripture which are called Apocrypha nor were they ever acknowledged by the Iewes to be such as Bellarmine and others confesseth being written after Malachi who was the last of the Prophets as is already sayd Therefore it followeth That these Books are not Canonick Scripture Whence it is That Ierom sayd in his tyme The Church indeed readeth these Books sayeth he but receaveth them not amongst Canonicall Scriptures 2. That people should not be debarred from reading of the Scriptures ROM. 15. 4. What-so-ever things were written aforetyme were written for our instruction that wee through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may haue hope Whence it followeth If the Scriptures were written for the instruction of all Christians and that they may attayn by them to Patience Comfort and Hope that therefore for this end they should bee read and perused by them But so it is That they were written as sayeth this Text for that end Therefore for the same end they should bee read by GODS people and perused diligently Agayn Rom. 1. 7. The Apostle directeth his Epistle To all that bee in Rome sayeth hee beloved of GOD called to be Saincts Whence it followeth If the Apostle directeth his Epistle as a part of divyne Scripture To all Christians in common that were at Rome Therefore that all such were permitted to reade the same and consequently that no Christian should bee debarred from reading holy Scripture Wherefore sayeth Chrysostom say not that it is the part only of religious persons to reade the Scriptures for it is the part of every Christian so to do 3. That the Authoritie of the Church is not aboue the Scriptures ROM. 11. 32. It is sayd That GOD concluded them all vnder the
That it can not be subject or what fore-going preparations in him were I pray you to this same Apostles conversion Act. 9. 1. 2. Wherefore sayeth Fulgentius the elect GOD preventeth with grace being otherwyse altogether vnworthy of mercie 6. That the first conversion of a sinner is a work only of GODS meer grace and not partly flowing from mans Free-will ROM. 7. 18. For I know that in mee that is in my flesh or vnregenerate part there dwelleth no good thing and if no good thing Then it followeth That in the vnregenerate and carnall man there is no inclination of his will to bee subject or obey GODS will because as is sayd The carnall mynd is eninimitie agaynst GOD and is not subject to the law of GOD nor indeed can be till GOD work in vs as the Apostle speaketh else-where Both to will and to do Wherefore sayeth Bernard they are not my words but the Apostles that any good that can bee whether to think or to will or to do the good which hee willeth hee ascryveth all to GOD and no wyse to his own free-will 7. That wee are not justified before GOD by works or anie inherent Righteousness in vs but of GODS free Grace and by Fayth onlie ROM. 3. 24. Being justified freely by His Grace thorow the redemption that is in IESUS CHRIST Rom. 11. 6. And if by Grace then it is no more of works otherwyse grace were no more grace c. Rom. 3. 27. Where is boasting then It is excluded By what law Of works Nay but by the law of fayth Rom. 3. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight Rom. 3. 28. Wherefore wee conclude sayeth the Apostle that a man is justified by fayth without the deeds of the law Behold then here by this deduction of the Apostle and his conclusion in end That the poynt is clear that wee are not justified by works but of grace and by fayth only Whence it is that thus sayeth Ambrose This is my good that we are not justified by works Therefore I haue not whereof to glorie in my works And therefore I will glorie in CHRIST I will not glorie then that I am righteous but that I am redeemed and not that I want sinne but that my sinnes are forgiven mee c. 8. That Fayth is a sure Confidence in GOD and a full perswasion of the performance of His Promises and not an vncertayn conjecture ROM. 4. 12. Walk in the steps of that fayth of our father Abraham which he had being yet vncircumcised And what a fayth this was the Apostle subioyneth saying Rom. 4. 20. 21. He staggered not at the promise of GOD through vnbelief but was strong in fayth giving glorie to GOD being fully perswaded that what Hee had promised Hee was able to perform Whence it followeth That the nature of a true and saving Fayth where ●nto we are exhorted after the example of the godly before vs is not an vncertayn conjecture or probable opinion only but a full perswasion without staggering or doubting which the Apostle calleth vnbelief as contrary to fayth and which full perswasion of the performance of GODS Promises to a penitent believer is so farre from sinfull presumption whereby GOD is offeuded That on the contrary the Apostle declareth that GOD is thereby glorified and acknowledged true in His Promises And that on the other syde doubting of the performance of GODS Promises to vs is rather presumption for thereby wee make GOD a liar Wherefore Augustin speaking of this perswasion sayeth Neither is this presumption but fayth sayeth hee for to tell what thou hast gotten is no presumption but devotion 9. That the godly therefore may be assured of their Salvation and should not doubt thereof as Romanists teach them to do How-so-ever thorow infirmitie they may so often tymes ROM. 8. 16. The spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit that wee are the children of GOD The Apostle speaking here not of extraordinanary revelation but of GODS ordinary dealing with His Sayncts Whence it followeth If the Spirit of GOD witness to our soul or spirit that we are GODS children then hee witnesseth that we are heirs of Salvation and consequently if he witness this we should belieue his witnessing and rest assured of the certainty thereof because Hee is true Which is not presumption as Papists teach but as hath bene sayd it is rather presumption to doubt of the Trueth of this witnessing of the Spirit Agayn Rom. 8. 38. I am perswaded sayeth PAULL that neither Death nor Lyf nor Principalities nor Powers c. shall bee able to separate not mee an Apostle but vs speaking of all the Godlie from the Loue of GOD which is in CHRIST IESUS our LORD Remark then The Apostles full perswasion of his own salvation and of all the Godlies without any doubting or staggering in his fayth And yet I hope no man will call this Perswasion Presumption in the Apostle Paul 10. That no implicite Fayth doeth saue ROM. 10. 9. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD IESUS and shal belieue in thy heart that GOD hath raysed Him from the dead thou shalt bee saved c. Whence it followeth Seing we must belieue with the heart and confess with the mouth the express Articles of the Christian fayth Especially CHRISTS Death and Resurrection if we must be saved Therefore what we belieue we must distinctly know and not rely on an implicite fayth to be saved thereby 11. That no man can perfectlie keep GODS Commandements let bee to Supererogate ROM. 7. 13. But I see another law in my members warring agaynst the law of my mynd and bringing mee into caeptivitie to the law of sinne which is in my members O miserable man then that I am Who shall deliver mee from this bodie of death Whence it followeth That if so great an Apostle could not perfectly keep GODS Law and so be free of sinne Then what is hee that can claym to a greater then Apostolicall Perfection Wherefore sayth Ierom If thou canst show mee but a man who hath fulfilled the Commandements Then thou mayest show mee a man that needeth not GODS mercy 12. That our good works are not meritorious of Eternall Lyff ROM. 6. 23. For the wages of sinne is death But Lyff Eternall is the free gift of GOD through IESUS CHRIST our LORD Where wee see That death is called the wages of sinne because merited thereby But so is not lyff everlasting called the wages of righteousness But the free gift of GOD that thereby sayeth Augustine wee may vnderstand that it is not for our merits but according to His own Mercy that GOD bringeth vs to Eternall Lyff Agayn Rom. 8. 18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present tyme are not worthy to bee compared with the glory which shall bee revealed in vs Whence it followeth That if the ve●ie sufferinges of Martyrs meriteth