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A64702 The church-papist (so-called), his religion and tenets fully discovered in a serious dispute ... whereby the common ... arguments of pretended visibility, succession, universality, &c., of the Roman Church ... are briefly confuted : whereunto is added, a short discourse proving episcopacy to be of divine institution, kingly government of Gods setting up, and the religion of the Church of England, to be the best in the world / by one of the children of the late captivity, 1680. Underwood, John, fl. 1680. 1680 (1680) Wing U46; ESTC R7367 28,086 42

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Succession Numerate Sacerdotes vel ab ipsa Petri sede in illo ordine Patrum quis cui successit videte as saith St. August In hoc ordine successionis nullus Donatista Episcopus invenitur And our English Bishops had no succession from Roman Catholick for immediately after their Consecration Stapleton Harding c. told them to their faces they were no Bishops Ergo only the Roman Church have lawful Succession The Third Argument from pretended peculiar Privileges belonging to the Roman Church viz. 3. That Church only that have confuted and anathematiz'd all Hereticks converted Nations deprived Schismatical Bishops restored Orthodox Bishops called Councils c. that is the True Church But only the Roman is such Ergo only the Roman is the True Church The Proof THe Major is plain because these Privileges belong to the Authority of the Mother Church which is Matrix Radix omnium Ecclesiarum The Minor is proved for In Ecclesia Romana semper viguit Apostolicae Cathedrae Principatus therefore in the Oriental Councils when some Bishops would not agree divers cryed out Romam ambulent Let them go to Rome Nam a Petro inquit August ipse Episcopatus tota Authoritas nominis hujus emersit and 't is manifest no Protestant Church ever confuted Hereticks converted Nations deprived Schismaticks restored Orthodox Bishops but slept Endimion's Sleep for above a thousand years or like a Didopper dived in the Apostles time and never rose again until Squire Luther that second Elias that fift Evangelist The Fourth Argument from Universality of the Roman Church viz. 4. That Church is only Catholick which is dispersed through all Nations But only the Roman is dispersed through all Nations Ergo the Roman Church only is the Catholick Church The Proof THe Major is proved for Universality is an evident mark of the Catholick Church Si vestra Ecclesia saith St. August sit Catholica ostendite per universam terram ramos suos copia ubertatis extendere for no Heresie can be Universal no Heretick can be Catholick Protestants are so far from Universality that 't is as hard a matter to find a Protestant in fifteen hundred as motum in vacuo The Minor is as evident that the Roman Church was dispersed through all Nations by St. Paul to the Romans 3.8 where he faith that the Roman Faith was Preached in all the World that is Peter's Faith and what Faith the Romans had then the very same they have at this present for the Roman Church is not to be new bottom'd neither to be reformed of new Calciners Fidei enim Regula una omnino est sola immobilis irreformabilis as Tertullian the Doctrine of Faith once delivered to the Apostles by the prime verity Jesus Christ and assisted by the Holy Ghost for ever cannot be altered and the Church being built upon a Rock need no repairing of new Masons Soliditas illius Petrae quae Apostolorum Principe est laudata perpetua est sicut Petra permanet quod in Christo Petrus credidit ita permanet quod PetrO Christus instituit Here St. Leo saith the Church is Perpetual and cannot fail so long as Christ is the Son of the Living God And although the Protestant Church be fallible yet the Roman is infallible therefore Vivat Fides Catholica Vivat Ecclesia Romana quae fuit tempore Apostolorum est eritque per secula sempiterna THE ANSWER SIR I Derive not my Faith from Luther or Calvin as Beginners of it yet do confess with St. Paul Acts 24.14 that aften the way which they call Heresie so worship I the Lord God of my Fathers I mean as those Fathers did whom Justin Martyr calls Patres Patrûm professing the Ancient Catholick Faith all the Articles of my Faith being grounded on Scripture and the constant belief of Fathers and Couneils in the Church of Christ the first four hundred years Antiqua Ecclesia primisquingentis Aunis vera Reclssia fuit Bell. lib. 4. de not Eccl. c. 9. The Opinions of any Posterior Fathers where they vary from the Doctrine of the First I think it unsafe to follow For St. Hierom teacheth me well Nec Parentum nec majorum Error sequendus est sed Authoritas Scripturarum Dei docentis imperium nam Judaei post Baalim abierunt quos didicerunt a Patribus In Jerem. ca. 9. We are not to take error by Tradition from our Fathers or Ancestors but the true sence of holy Scriptures is to be followed and the Power of God instructing us in them for the Jews went after Baal by the example of their Fathers As your Fathers did so do ye Acts 7.51 I am of the Apostles belief and I am sure they were no Papists rather Protestants protesting the Truth and sincerity of Faith against Error and Schism So we by receiving the true Sacraments which are called Visible Signs protesting the Faith protest against those which are corrupted and against all Doctrines contrary to Scripture and the Apostolick Faith c. and so in that sence you may call me Protestant Now to prove only the Roman Church to be the True Church you say That Church only that is Visible in all Ages is the True Church but only the Roman Church is Visible in all Ages Ergo only the Roman Church is the True Church And to prove the Major you instance the words of St. Mathew Dic Ecclesiae To which I answer that 't is not said Dic Romanae Ecclesiae Tell it to the Roman Church therefore makes no more for Rome than for Greece or any other place where the Church is hath been or shall be And to prove the Minor you only say 't is cleer by Church Histories Councils and Fathers that the Roman Church only is Visible but bring not one particular proof from any of them to make it evident and evince that the Church was no where else Visible for History also tells us that the East or Greek Church though often in great misery and persecution was and is a Church from the Apostles time So that Argument which is common to others you cannot appropriate only to the Roman seeing it makes as much for the Greek Church in whose Language the Oracles of the Son of Ged were written as for it The Greek Church was first honoured with the Original written Gospel and the Latin Church had it only by Franslation from it That there was and is a Church constant in all Ages though not apparently flourishing and visible at all times to all the world I not deny but that there is no Church where 't is not Splendid and Visible to all eyes you have not yet made any ways apparent Certainly the Ark of God was not less an Ark in being in Dagon's Tent and the Hands of the Philistines Persecution the fare of the Church Militant obscured the Churches Rays in many Nations and sometimes so totally Eclipsed her as she was not visible to Humane Eyes Besides your Position that
St. Peter's and why not St. Paul's Faith was not his as good and the other Apostles the same that St. Peter taught Was there no true Faith but what came from Rome and 't is yet a question whether St. Peter was ever there Rome could never yet make it appear Was all the Doctrine of the other Apostles invalid Was not their power equal Matth. 28.19 20. and 18.18 Joh. 20.22 23. 'T is most sure one was not above another as before is proved Christs Word was delivered to all to Preach from which our very greatest Adversary is forced to confess Summa Potestas Ecclesiastica non solum data est Petro sed etiam aliis Apostolis Bellarm. li. de Ro. Pont. ca. 1. all are Supreme Then they who pretend to be St. Peter's Successors have not Supreme Ecclesiastical Power any more than the Successors of the other Apostles for St. August Tract 50. in St. Jo. saith Si hoc Petro tantum dictum est non facit hoc Ecclesia The Keys were given to St. Peter and all the rest in a Figure of the Church as one saith to whose power and to whose use they were given not to one to Lord it over the rest It shall not be so with you c. as before And St. Augustin de Agon Chri. ca. 30. Petrus Personam Ecclesiae Catholicae sustinet huic datae sunt Claves quum Petro datae so the Power is in the Catholick Church not any single Person as is evident by the practise of the Primitive Church many hundred years after Christ when was no Universal Bishop as before is proved to St. Gregory's time St. Peter's Faith not his Person is the Rock against which c. for afterwards to his Person Christ said Get thee behind me Satan c. And a Temptation did too much prevail on him when he most horribly fell in a personal and shameful denial of his Master which cost him many bitter Tears Epiphanius li. 2. Heres 59. tells us 't is his Faith Super hanc Petram solidae Fidei edificabo Ecclesiam meam So St. Greg. Nyssen also Haec sides Ecclesiae fundamentum est de Trin. adver Judaeos The same Interpretation gives St. Hilar. li. de Trin. Super hanc igitur confessionis Petram Ecclesiae edificatio est And this Faith the whole Catholick Church hath which is the Rock against which Hell Gates shall not prevail to cause the Church to fail fundamentally If any were supreme why not the beloved Disciple to whom it was never said Get thee behind me Satan and who never denyed his Master Or St. Paul though none of the twelve yet an Apostle for whom there is more colour for He had the Right Hand of Fellowship given him Gal. 2.9 And he himself owned expresly an Authority 1 Cor. 7.17 And so ordain I in all Churches In all Churches in the Roman as well as other if Rome was then a Church Sollicitudo omnium Ecclesiarum The Care of all the Churches he saith 2 Cor. 11.28 And where was St. Peter's Supremacy yea where was his Infallibility when St. Paul rebuked and opposed him to his face in that He walked not uprightly according to the Truth of the Gospel Gal. 11.3.4 And where was his Supremacy when he was sent on Errands by the Church viz. by the other Apostles Acts 11.3 4. and Acts 15.13 And how can St. Peter's pretended Successors claim a Supremacy that St. Peter had not himself If any succeeded our Lord in the Principality of the Church Epiphanius twice tells you it is St. James the Lords Brother Ille primus Episcopalem Cathedram cepit quum ei ante caeteros omnes suum in terris Thronum Dominus tradidisset Epiphan l. 3. Haeres 78. Page 103. You go on and say What Faith the Romans had then the very same they have at this present c. Not so neither for Rome was a right Church and is now a wrong Their Faith is changed at least what Faith they have now they had not then the true Church then and many hundred years after knew not your present Errors and Superstitions not your prayer in the Church in an unknown Tongue as St. Paul witnesseth 1 Cor. 14. The Church owned no supreme Prelate no Pope above his fellows usurping a power to depose Princes no worshipping of Images no invocation of Saints no adoration of the Bread in Sacrament no breaking of Christs Institution in the Eucharist giving the holy Sacrament but in one kind no Purgatory no Decretal Epistles and Canons against Scripture to be believed as Scripture No Doctrine of Devils c. Tim. 4.1 2 3. St. Augustin whose memory is honoured through the whole Christian world in all Churches was of the true Catholick Church no man will deny and yet he was no Romanist in Opinion for he was in the separation of the Affrick Church from Rome with many other Bishops and died therein Ergo 't is possible to be of the true Catholick Church and yet out of the Roman We are taught by St. August de Bap. con Don. ca. 4. Evident Scripture before all things must take place for it is as your own man Stapleton confesseth Relict con 4. q. Ar. 3. the Foundation and Pillar of Faith Scripturam Fundamentum esse Columnam Fidei fatemur Then I shall not easily be led away from the Foundation by the subtle tradition of men seeing St. Paul gives more warning Coloss 2.8 Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain Deceit after the Tradition of men Now what my Faith is I have told you in the beginning of my first Paper which I take to be the Faith of the present Church of England I embrace the Faith which the Apostles delivered I believe the holy Scripture and the Creeds and these in the sence of the ancient Primitive Church I submit in all humility to the four great General Councils so much magnified throughout Christendom their Determinations and Interpretations and I do believe all points of Doctrine generally received as fundamental in the Church of Christ This I confess and subscribe to and seeing I so do you are bound in charity to believe me for you have all the proof that can be had or that ever Man or Church required Now shew me where I do depart from the Foundation and yet I am no Papist or shew me if you can where the Church of England doth fail in any one point fundamental in the Faith We do not Hominis consuetudinem sequi sed Dei veritatem as St. Cypr. l. 2. Epist 3. teacheth for Consuetudo sine veritate vetustas est Erroris ibid. We are bid to go to the Law and the Testimony The Word is a Light unto our Feet and Lanthorn to our Paths we are taught to Search the Scripture which is able to make the man of God perfect saith St. Paul It was proclaimed from Heaven by God the Father first at Jordan then at Mount Tabor This is my
THE Church-Papist SO CALLED HIS RELIGION AND TENETS Fully Discovered IN A serious Dispute which long since happened between a then reputed Papist and an open professed Romanist whereby the common and trite Arguments of pretended Visibility Succession Universality c. of the Roman Church Travelling the Nation to amuse and stagger the Weak and to seduce and pervert the unstable sort of People are briefly Confuted WHEREUNTO IS ADDED A short Discourse Proving Episcopacy to be of Divine Institution Kingly Government of Gods setting up and the Religion of the Church of England to be the best in the World By one of the Children of the late Captivity 1680. LONDON Printed for Robert Hartford at the Angel in Cornhil near the Royal Exchange 1680. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY Lord Jermyn EARL OF St. Albans BARON of BURY St. EDMONDS and KNIGHT of the most Noble ORDER of the GARTER MY LORD THE Occasion of the following Tract happening in your Country your Native Country between your Country-men discoursing of Religion and particularly the one defending that Religion wherein your Lordship is most eminently Principl'd and of your exemplary Piety and Devotion therein the eyes of your Country have been often witnesses hath encouraged my presumption to this Dedication Nor will your Lordship deem the Patronage of these few Leaves a diminution to your Glory seeing you have made it the Glory of your Honourable Person and the Admiration and Joy of all Protestant Professors in the Church of England that amidst and after so many Tryals and Temptations in foreign parts where you have resided you should still remain unshaken in your Faith that no self or private Conveniences no politick respects to Times or Places could allure you from the publick profession of the Religion of the Church of England of that pure Religion confirmed to be the truest on Earth by the most signal proof under Heaven even by the crimson Stream of the dear blood of Gods Vicegerent who for the Church suffered many and bitter Agonies of Life as if the Thorns which once surrounded the Temples of our Saviour had been platted anew on the Brows of this holy Martyr We often read of an innocent Lamb without spot offered in Sacrifice but here a spotless Shepherd more innocent than his Sheep became an Oblation for his Flock a Royal Shepherd too whose Holiness entitled him to an Alliance with the Majesty of Heaven and made him truly a God on Earth and Son of the Most High It cannot be deny'd but in his sufferings for the Church this great Patron of Religion came neer to those of the Eternal Saviour of Mankind whom the Jews put to Death for planting Religion in the World and a People worse than Jews slaughter'd this good King for defending the same Religion Church which was nailed to the Cross in Mount Calvary his own people too imitated the Jews in perpetrating the horrid Villany that here is a Testimony and Reputation to the Protestant Profession transcending all the Testimonies of former Ages and the greatest that ever Age or Nation could boast of In all the Romish Kalendar of Canonized Saints in their whole Roll of pretended Martyrs where is there one since the Apostles time worthy to have been a Torch bearer or born a Flambeaux at his Grave Had Rome for their Faith such a glorious Name to boast of what Pilgrimages from their utmost Confines what Processions from all parts of their Territories would be made to his Shrine Even Divine Adoration would be given at his Tomb and indeed such Devotion would come neerer to true Worship there than at all the prophane Altars they have before bowed And as in the Infant Plantation of Christs Church the holy Shepherd the Lord of Life was smitten and the Sheep were scatter'd hid and concealed for a space so likewise as if true Religion had not only been deposed but Crucified too with this Martyr on the Scaffold the true Church was forced to walk invisible as to the knowledg of her Enemies in this Land and not to be found but in Cells and silent places for then were Instructions to right Faith and good Life chain'd up and temptations to Atheism Irreligion and Prophaneness let loose upon men Then holy Guides and Pillars of the Church suffered some Death some a barbarous Captivity Persecution raged on all her Children then Treason triumphed Rebellion was rampant and with Faction and Sedition became the Epidemical Tutors of the times then nothing was dangerous for men to practise but Loyalty and Vertue or to profess but the old Protestant Religion Thence followed the fatal Necessity forevery true Protestant to be his own Priest and to fortifie himself by consulting the Divine Oracles and Writings which the Saints of old Fathers of the Church had left to Posterity for our strengthning against the Assaults of Schism And then it was that I applyed my self to a sedulous examination of those Principles in Religion which Education had instill'd and to search the bottom on which my profession of Faith was founded and it was then that I found the best direction for my task and purpose from that most excellent Advice which I apprehended might well serve every Subject as the Son of a King of that glorified Saint and holy Martyr for the same Faith left to his Son then Prince of Wales which is able to rivet the most wavering Spirit on the rock of Assurance Indeed who can remember his holy Life in that Faith and his submission to Death for the same or read his Divine Writings and be faithless And who can be so merciless to himself as not to contemplate the former and read the latter for his Confirmation in Religion in the Religion of his King the best of Kings in the Religion proved by undeniable Authority to be the best in the world The King of Kings preserve his Sacred Majesty our Soveraign and the Royal Progeny and their Posterity in the perseverance of the same profession of Religion to the perpetual honour of their Names and Crowns the safety and glory of the Church and Kingdoms And the same Divine Providence bless your Lordship with long and happy days to be still a Light in your Sphere by your Zeal and Constancy in the Protestant Profession to the still Confusion of Face of those enemies of Gods Church whose malitious Impudence continually asperse the Devotion of great and cast a suspicion on the Religion of good men and as you have fervently imitated our grand Master of adored and blessed memory in his transcendent unimitable Constancy in the true Faith which set him not as his Enemies machinated in a Cloud a Sun in full glory ever shining after death so your Lordship after Life on Earth finished may be a Star of the next Magnitude with him in the Firmament of Glory is the fervent Prayer of My Lord Your Lordships most Humble and most Devoted Servant John Underwood THE CHURCH-PAPIST So Called A Church-Papist