that it is not so plain but that 't is necessary it should be Prov'd Now from whence shall we fetch the Proofs of the Churches Infallability I must take them from her own mouth and believe her to be infallible because she tells me so and for that only reason because she saith it This is manifestly absurd for no man's bare word is to be taken in a business wherein he hath a particular Interest to be partial Hath a Turk right to oblige me to believe the Divinity of his Alchoran only because Mahomet hath said that the Angel Gabriel brought him the Alchoran from Heaven Must I then consult Tradition that is the Councils and the Writings of the Fathers this is another plain Absurdity because it is evident that this way cannot be made use of by three Quarters of the number of Christians and more who are ignorant of Greck and Latin and so cannot read the numberless volumns wherein this Tradition is to be found Or must every one believe his Curate or Pastor when he tells him that the Church is infallible This is another Absurdity for this Pastor must be infallible or I cannot build my Faith upon his Testimony He tells me there is an infallibility in the Church but how doth he Prove it which way soever I turn my self I fall into the former inconveniencies for if he saith I must believe it without proof he deals with me like a Brute and not as a Rational Creature If he gives me Tradition for Argument in this case I tell him I know nothing of it if he turns me over to the Church I ask where is this Church If he sends me to the Pope I tell him I cannot go thither and if I could I 'm told he is not Infallible If he send me to a Councill I say there is none now sitting If he send me to the Canons of former Councills I shall answer that I cannot understand 'em and if I could have no assurance that these Canons were really made by such a Councill If he proves that these Canons were not forged but really made by a Councill there remains another difficulty which I cannot get over viz. that several Good Catholicks maintain the fallibility of a Council There is then but one way left to satisfie my self concerning the infallibility of the Church and that is the Testimony of the H. Scriptures But how can any man make use of that according to the Principles of the Roman Church for I shall say that the Scriptures have no Authority without the Church I cannot believe the testimony of the Scripture till I know it to be divine and I cannot know it to be divine but by the testimony of the Church as we are often told The Scripture then hath no Authority as to me without the Testimony of the Church and yet you would have me believe the Infallibility of the Church upon the Testimony of the Scripture you must therefore in the first place convince me that the Church is infallible without dependance on the Scriptures and then I shall believe the divinity of the Scriptures on the Testimony of the Church and after that I may be able to believe the infallibility of the Church on the Testimonies of the Scripture The absurdities of blind obedience If the Church be infallible a blind Obedience is my Duty to obtain this submission to the Church is the reason of asserting her infallibility I must blindly believe all that the Church affirms But till then I am not obliged to credit any thing which the Scripture saith or seems to say for I am not capable to understand the meaning and sense of the Scriptures without the Church so that until the Church hath declar'd that Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son of God and equal with the Father I have leave to doubt of it There was a time when the Church had not deliver'd her opinion in this point there was then a time when I was permitted to be an Arrian Photinian or Socinian But on the other hand whenever it shall please the Church to determine that the Ark was of a square figure equal in length and breadth or that Aaron's Sandals were with or without latchets it will be necessary that I must believe this or be damn'd Can any man be unapprehensive of the absurdities of such a Doctrine according to which at one time we may Blaspheme God without the least danger and at another time lie liable to Damnation for the least mistake about that which the Church hath decided to be the Truth These Gentlemen tell us that we must believe without examination all that the Church declares And by the same reason the Heathens were obliged to believe all that their Priests told'um and the Jews to receive all that was taught in their Synagogues No you will say they were false Teachers and so not to be credited very well But the Pagans and Jews say the same concerning my Pastors that they are false Guides And if the Jews and Heathens are bound to examin the truth of what is told them by their Guides why are not Christians obliged to know and examin what is told them by the Church at least they ought to examin the Church it self and her Authority and then we fall into the same Difficulties which were mention'd before After all this if a short and easy way could be found out to convince me that the Church is infallible this were not enough to quiet my mind because I know not where to find this infallible Church I see a multitude of differing Sects in the East and West in Europe and Asia who all say that they are the Church and that all other parties of Christians are guilty of Schism The Latins say this of the Greeks and the Greeks are even with 'em and say the same of the Latins the Protestants charge it on the Papists and the Papists on the Protestants I must know which of all these is in the right and to find out this I am plung'd into an abysse of difficulties and how shall I find my way out or extricate my self for there is no way left but by the Scriptures and that way is forbidden me till I am assured of the Infallibility and Authority of the Church without which I cannot be certain that the Scripture is divine It may possibly be said that I may believe the Divinity of the Scriptures before I know in what Sect of Christians is the Church because the Scripture is receiv'd by all the several Sects It matters not may it be said which of them is the infallible Church since they all bear restimony to the Scripture and there is one among them that is infallible viz. the true Church for her where-ever she be the Scripture hath an infallible testimony But this remedy will serve to little or no purpose because 't is necessary that I should know which of these Sects is the true Church before I can understand the
rejoyee in my own Light and Glory and of my Kingdom there shall be no end This is the stile of Rome of Mystical Babylon let us then discern the true Babylon in the language of Rome and hear the voice of Rome in the stile of Babylon The second fault to be found with this pretence of Infallibility and eternal Duration is the multitude of gross Absurdities contained in it which we are here to lay open Absurdities contain'd in the doctrine of Infallibility First 't is supposed without any show of Reason that God hath divided the Infallibility necessary to salvation into two parts and cut off one half of it There are two ways which lead to Heaven Faith and Charity sound Belief and Good Works First an Infallibility in matters of Faith and not of Charity 'T is in vain to pretend to be infallible in the one if without being so in the other a man may perish and fall short of Heaven The Church of Rome hath not the Impudence to say she is infallible in the point of Charity and yet she would be thought so in matters of Faith. But on what foundation doth she build this Pretence Where do we read that God hath divided Faith from Charity as if the latter were less necessary than the former as if men might be saved who sinn'd against the Laws of Charity but might not be so if they offended against the Rules of Faith As if these two ways were not equally certain to guide us to eternal Life as if God might dispense with Crimes against Charity but could not bear with Errors against the Truth All or nothing both or neither The Church must be infallible in both or it is so in neither Whence comes this extravagant Division why dae not the Roman Church pretend to be infallible in Charity as well as Faith but because she is convinc't of an abominable Defection and Disorder in Manners and Practice but ought she not to be equally convinc't that she is fallen into Error because she worships Images An Error in the Faith every whit as palpable and notorious as the Sodomies of the Popes is against Charity Infallibility in points of Right and not in matters of Fact is ridiculous Another division of Infallibility is with respect to matters of Fact and those of Right The Church of Rome dares not pretend to the former but challengeth the latter at this rate she will not be infallible in the most important Articles All the Christian Religion is founded on matters of Fact. 'T is a question of Fact to know whether Jesus Christ be risen from the Dead whether the Apostles wrought any true Miracles whether there have been any Prophets and inspired writers who were the penmen of such and such books or not 'T is concerning a matter of Fact to enquire whether such a Proposition be recorded in the H. Scriptures or not If the Church of Rome be not infallible in matters of Fact in general she cannot be so in these and if she may err in matters of Fact wherein lies her Infallibility Lastly there is yet another division of Infallibility viz. as to Discipline and Doctrines The Roman Church pretends not to Infallibility concerning the latter What is that Discipline wherein she saith she is infallible 'T is in every thing that concerns the Government of the Church The Roman Hierarchy the constituting of a Pope to be the Head of the Church is a point of Government she may err concerning that which is a Principal point and why then may she not err in other matters The seat of this Infallibility connot be found This Infallibility is no less absurd if we consider the subject of it in whom it resides Where and in whom is this Infallibility plac't they know not what reply to make If it be said in the Pope we can produce an hundred Popish Witnesses who depose the contrary and maintain that the Popes may err We can produce with them numberless Instances wherein several Popes have actually err'd we can bring undeniable proofs to manifest that neither the Scripture nor the ancient Christian Church did ever imagine the Bishops of Rome or any other Bishop to have been infallible One part of the Romanists assert that this Infallibility is seated in the Councills We confute this Party with the reasons of the other for those Gentlemen are Infallible when they confute one another but speak nothing to the purpose when they go about to establish their own opinion for when they oppose one another they argue for the Truth but when they endeavor to prove their own Opinion concerning the seat of Infallibility they maintain a falshood So that the Pope is not Infallible neither the Councills their infallibility then is no where for if it be said it is in the Pope and a Councill united together we shall make use of their Arguments who say it is not in the Pope and their Reasons who deny it is in a Councill and will therupon argue that if it be not in either separated it is not in both when joyn'd together for both united are the same they were in the time of their separation they act by the same spirit make use of the same Tricks to deceive the same Injustice and Violence as when considered severally We know not where to stop as to the point of Infallibility Infallibility then is foolish and absurd whether we consider the subject about which it is imploy'd or the subject in whom it is thought to reside But let us view it a little in the general notion of it and in the general term of the Church which they make use of The Church is Infallible they say but how shall I be assured of this for should the Church be never so Infallible if I know it not and have no way to ascertain my self about it it can be of no use to me Is it a Principle so self-evident as needs no other proof to manifest and evince it Is it as plain that the Church is Infallible as that two and two make four or that the whole is greater than a part That is an Absurdity too gross and palpable to be affirm'd by any Romanist 'T is so far from being evident that the Church is infallible that on the contrary we must proceed against all appearances of reason to believe it For we see the Church of Rome doth judge by humane methods debate contest urge sollicit equivovate and deceive and imploy all the arts of Human Craft and Policy to overcome such or such an Opinion We see her oftentimes to change her sentiments and say that at one time which she did not and would not at another we see her contradict the H. Scriptures forbid that which is there commanded and command that which is there forbidden at least she seems to do so This appearance of opposing the H. Scripture will at least refute the evidence of her Infallibility and tell us
Favoriti against the plea of the Procureur General concerning the affair of Charonne He hath prest the matter home in that point and made it evident that they themselves do acknowledg and grant this Authority in the Pope to dispense contrary to the Canons of the Church and even contrary to the laws of God because in France all the Benefices they injoy in Commendam are possess'd by vertue of the Popes dispensation and that marriages with near kindred which are as common in France as in other places are not contracted but by a dispensation from Rome which would otherwise be down-right whoredom and incest We must then conclude that Popery is Antichristianism in this respect as well as others and that by her words and actions she Blasphemes against God and against his Law. CHAPTER VII The fifth Character of Antichristianism that is found in Popery The extreme Corruption of its Head and Members First in their Popes THe Papacy is wont to accommodate her Divinity to her Interest in some instances however she forgets her self for Example when Holiness is made one of the signs of the true Church There is some equivocation in this mark of the Church because the Devil of Hypocrisie doth frequently assume the external Characters of an Angel of Light. Nevertheless at the bottom this is a truth that there is no true Holiness but in the Church and in whatsoever assembly or Society of men this is found I acknowledg it to be a true Church But withall it must be granted that where-ever the greater Corruption is to be met with that Society of all others is the Antichristian Church for this is one of its proper Characters she is called Sodom on this very account and represented as a dissolute strumpet sitting in a publick place to prostitute her self for money to all Comers presenting a cup full of the wine of her fornications to make men drunk with her unlawfull pleasures 'T is in this respect that spiritual Babylon is describ'd in the 18 Revel as a great City wherin every thing may be had that may foment and entertain those criminal delights 'T is on this account that her head is called the Man of Sin the son of Perdition or a lost son that is one sunk into debauchery who gives up himself to all manner of licentiousness This is no doubtfull or uncertain Character 't is granted on all hands that the Antichristian Kingdom must be such as is exceedingly corrupt in manners the only thing to be considered is whether we can find such a Corruption of manners in the Papacy as answers the Idea of what the H. Spirit hath foretold should be found in the Antichristian Kingdom if the Roman Church be pure Christianity her Head who is the Bishop of Rome will be eminent for Holiness Let us then begin the consideration of the Corruption of the Papacy by that of its head In order of nature the Head must be considered before the Members We begin this subject with a Maxim of those Gentlemen Exception 6. part 1. cap. 16 17 18. with whom we had so much ado for twelve or fifteen years past I mean the Writers of Port Royal. 'T is the wisdom of God Legal Exceptions against the Calvinists Chap. 3. say they in their Legal exceptions not only to fill the sermons and discourses of the Gospell with light and force to convince those who will attend to 'em but to give them likewise some external qualities which may engage men to hearken to 'em and oblige the unprejudic't to judge that 't is at least very unjust to reject them without a hearing It would be they add a very strange alliance which our New Reformers must suppose between so strange a privation of the gifts of Grace and so great an abundance of Light. Which is so contrary to what we know of the order of Providence and the divine Conduct that to believe it we must renounce all the Ideas which our reason faith and hope do give us These Gentlemen argue very variously according to their different Interests formerly they have told us that they who are the Guides of Jerusalem are oftentimes no other than the Citizens of Babylon Nevertheless I 'le admit their principle and I believe it a good one but I demand how they can have the face to make use of that Reflection against us which is one of the strongest we can imploy against them If that be true which we have just now mention'd to be written by the Divines of Port Royal how is it possible they can look upon that Church to be a true one whose Head is stigmatized with the most Infamous Characters of Vice that can any where be parallell'd How can they regard the Chair of Rome as the supreme Tribunal of the true Church since for above a thousand years we have seen those who have sat there instead of the spirit of J. Christ and the Gospel to have been acted by meer Humane policy and a boundless Ambition and guilty of the most abominable Crimes and infernal Practices no better than those of Nero and Heliogabulus 'T is there that we must suppose a very monstrous alliance between so strange a privation of the Gifts of Grace and such an abundance of Light. Is it not a prodigy that Vertue should be as rare in that Seat as Vice ought to be and that of all those who have sat on the several Thrones of Christian Europe there have been no Princes who had less of the Spirit of Christianity than the Popes This Prejudice and Exception against Popery seems very strong the pretention in matter of Right is very clear the Question will be concerning the matter of Fact and that will manifest the Truth This I shall do after having made these two Reflections To the Pope's being Antichrist 't is not necessary that every Pope be Impious and debanchâ— The first is this that we are not obliged to find that spirit which is directly opposite to the Spirit of Christianity in all the Popes who have sat at Rome from the time where we six the Rise of Antichrist We place it about the middle of the 5th Century since that time it will be said there have been some good Popes It will not be very easy to find any considerable number of 'em but supposing that there have been some good ones we say that Antichristianism is not a Monster that is born all in one day It is to speak properly that Corruption of Christianity now all sorts of Corruptions do advance by degrees The Spirit of Christianity did gradually abandon the Popes as they forsook the Truth and rose to Tyranny as long as they preserved any thing of the purity of worship God did not permit his H. Spirit absolutely to leave ' em But when Idolatry came to its height when the abomination was set up in the Sanctuary which came to pass when Images prevail'd then the Spirit of the Devil took