dispositionis This par ratio is defended by him against the judgment of Gerson in lect 4. de vitâ spirituali and of Hugo de Sacram. p. 6. c. 5. 155. And de Clara confesses that there are others Qui asserebant Deum non permissurum ut aliquis decipratur in aliquâ veritate fidei absque suâ culpâ and then adds his opinion Ego ut ingenuè meum sensum hâc in parte aperiam c. to speak my own sence freely I think that the common people committing themselves to the instruction of their Pastors trusting their knowledge and goodness if they be deceived it shall be accounted invincible Ignorance 〈◊〉 saltem probabilis which truly excuses from fault 156. He goes on and says Imâ—… aliqui Doctores tantum tribuunt instructioni 〈◊〉 quibus incumbit cura ovium c. that if those Pastors on whom the care of the Flock dependeth do teach hic et nunc that God would be hated the rude Parishioner is bound to believe them Azorius also saith Rusticus et Imperitus qui parocho suo fidem babens credet diquid contra articules fidei excusatur a peccate where he cites Scotus and Gabriel to be of the same Opinion 157. 'T is true If their Priests did infallibly keep knowledge as they falsely sense those words in Mal. 2.7 saying further that the Law given is not a Law but in the mouth of the Priest then would it be the less sin to pin their faith upon the Sleeves of their Priests and the ignorance of their Laity would be invincible ignorance for want of information from their Clergy but we find in Story how notoriously their Priests have fallen short of keeping infallibly the knowledge of the Law of God 158. It is manifest in Ecclesiastical History that the Popish Priests like the Sons of Eli are Sons of Belial that knew not the Lord 1 Sam. 1.12 nor the Law of their God witness that (y) Acts and Monuments Fox Popish Bishop of Dunkelden in Scotland who boasted yea thanked God that he never knew what the Old and New Testament were and that he would care to know nothing but his Portuise and his Pontifical As likewise that Popish Priest in Germany who being asked by the Visitors whether he taught his people the Decalogue answered that he had not the Book so called 159. And of our own Popish Priests in England that were notorious Ignoramuses our Martyrology gives many examples as that Priest that told Justice Leland that the New Testament of Tindal's Translation was plain Heresie and none worse than it and bloody Bonner burning of Bibles and his Kinsman Darbyshire that said the Scriptures were sufficient to Salvation but not to Instruction but I would not rake in this Kennel Those Priests lips kept knowledge well 160. Chrysostom had long before discovered and lamented Multi Sacerdotes et tamen pauci multi in Nomine pauci in opere and Petrarch complained in his time that the stench of that Sink the Romish Clergy was come up to heaven this Ribera bewails also But above all Famous Luther speaks home to this affirming that Hell is paved with the Skulls of those prophane Popish Priests and Erasmus likewise lays them open in their colours who did them more mischief jocando than Luther did stomachando how can sober minds hang (z) As Luke 19. last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Ears at such lips as those 161. But the Romanists falsifie that Text in Mal. 2.7 reading it The lips of the Priests keep knowledge making it a plea for their Infallibility as if all things knowable were locked up in the Cabinet of their Breasts whereas in the Hebrew it is the Priests lips should keep knowledge which is not a prophesie but a Commandment by those words God doth not foretell that the Priests should never turn from the true Doctrine but forbiddeth them to turn from it 'T is equally absurd to make Commands Prophesies as to make Prophesies Commands (a) Moulin's Buckler of Faith pag. 65. as if Christs foretelling One of you shall betray me had been a bidding them betray him 162. And the following Verses in Mal. 2. plainly shows how those Priests lips had not preserved knowledge but had seduced the people and corrupted the Covenant of God They had forsaken the way and caused many to stumble v. 8. and must the Law be only a Rule in their mouths as if God were beholding to them for owning it (b) Cajetan Com nent on Matth. Cardinal Cajetan confesses thus much of the Popish Priests that they which should have been by their places the Salt of the Earth had lost their savour and minded nothing but the Rites and Revenues of the Church 163. Now are such Priests fit to be confided in in matters of knowledge and goodness as de Clara would bear us in hand must the people only believe as they believe must they look after no other knowledge and goodness but what is to be found in those doltish prophane Priests Our Lord gives us better direction than this quirking Fryar in bidding us try the Spirits 1 John 4.1 and prove all things 1 Thess 5.21 as those noble Bereans did Act. 17.11 and in telling us that if the Blind lead the Blind both falls into the Ditch Math. 15.14 164. Those blind guides indeed shall lye lowermost and have the worst of it but wo to them that follow their pernicious ways hoodwinked and blindfold This is their implicit faith believing as the Church believes and their blind Obedience walking in darkness and they know not whither but can never be judged invincible Ignorance to excuse from blame although Franciscus de Clara do affirm it especially here in England where so many Bibles godly Books and so much powerful Preaching may be easily come to 165. The holy Scriptures were written that we might believe John 20.31 and we are commanded to search them John 5.39 that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a more sure word 2 Pet. 1.19 upon the testimony of which we must depend primariò and not upon the Church as they say for this is to leave the Fountain and a going to broken Cisterns and 't is a damnable Religion that keeps ignorant of the Scriptures They have Moses and the Prophets c. Luke 16.29 31. 166. It is worth our observation to take notice what difference there is betwixt the Apostolical and Antichristian Spirit the Apostolical Spirit saith thus Moreover Brethren I would not that you should be ignorant 1 Cor. 10.1 he would not have them ignorant in spiritual things but would have them zealous according to knowledge but the Antichristian Spirit is well content that the Brethren should remain ignorant and continue in blind Devotion 167. This Popish Religion is therefore a blind Religion so dangerous and damnable because it puts out the eye of knowledge Thus Antichrist saith to the Inhabitants of the World just as Nahash the Ammonite said to the men of Jabesh-Gilead On
this Condition will I make a Covenant with you if I may thrust out all your Right Eyes 1 Sam. 11.2 that they might have been disenabled from taking up Arms and so become his Vassals for ever Thus doth the man of sin blow out the lights of the Gospel and takes away all means of knowledge 168. The Romish Priests are much like those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Lawyers that Christ speaks of Luke 11.52 that took away the Key of knowledge and neither would enter in themselves nor suffer others that would have entred Those Priests take away all means of knowledge by which as by a Key men are to have their entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven they interdict them the use of the Scriptures which is the way to Christ and consequently of Christ which is the way to Heaven 169. Knowledge is so necessary to a true Christian that there can be no sound believing nor Salvation without it It is required to the being of Saving Faith as a necessary Antecedent thereof for though there may be Knowledge without Faith yet there can never be Faith without Knowledge for one ingredient of Faith is Assent which is an action of the Understanding the object whereof is truth and there must be some knowledge and apprehension of this truth before we can Assent to it 170. Though Knowledge be not Faith but an habit distinct from it yet it doth concur to the being of Faith for no Assent can be without it as there is a Faith to be added to Knowledge for men may have Knowledge and want Faith so there is a Knowledge to be added to Faith 2 Pet. 1.5 to wit a more full understanding of heavenly Mysteries Yet so blind is the Popish Religion that it opposes the first sort of Knowledge which is an Antecedent of Faith much more this which is a consequent of it 171. Their implicit Faith therefore where by they give only a general Assent to all the Doctrines of their Church and Churchmen whilst they scarce know any one Article of their Faith distinctly is a mere bruitish unreasonable thing not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (c) Reasonable Service Rom. 12.1 like the motion of a Beast that is ordered by his Driver but knows neither whither nor wherefore how can their Laity give an account of their Faith 1 Pet. 3.15 172. How can their service which is not according to knowledge be acceptable to God 'T is our duty first to know God and then to worship him Scientiae praecedit Religio sequitur saith Lactantius Institu lib. 4. cap. 4. Our Understandings must first be informed and then our Affections reformed there must first be a scire facias and then a fieri facias how can a blind Papist do the Will of God that knows it not this brings upon him a double guilt to wit of Ignorance and Disobedience both which are damning 173. Ignorance is a damning Sin of it self for there is Vengeance to be rendred on them that know not God 2 Thess 1.7 8. it exposes us to the wrath of that dreadful day it makes men Aliens to the life of God Eph. 4.18 through the Ignorance that is in them So becomes it indeed a Mother Sin the Mother of many Transgressions not the Mother of any true Devotion How did this Mother Ignorance bring forth Blasphemy Persecution c. in the Apostle 1 Tim. 1.13 and in the Gentiles 1 Cor. 12.2 Ignorance is the proper Element of Sin where Knowledge is there Sin is tanquam Piscis in Arido out of its Element upon dry Land 174. All wicked men are under Satan but ignorant ones are in his very Dungeon this Sin is a Leprosie in the Head if it be affected and such are to be pronounced utterly unclean Lev. 13.33 That Ignorance which proceeds from a perverse disposition which will not know God as Pharaoh Exod. 5.2 is worse than hatred of God for such Ignorance is the cause of hatred and in Vices the cause must be worse than the effect this Ignorance makes us haters of God 175. There is a natural Ignorance which every child of Adam brings with him into the World forasmuch as every mans understanding is darkned and this in Infants being a part of their Original Corruption is more than purae negationis but is also pravae dispositionis as being ill disposed to know by their evil Nature Now where this simple Ignorance is without any stubborn and wilful neglect and contempt of the means of knowledge there Stripes are due Luke 12.48 It is a sin and deserves Death 176. Ignorance in things revealed and commanded to be known may incur (d) Christ died 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the not knowings of his people Heb. 9.7 Only such to be saved that come to the knowledge of the Truth 2 Tim. 2.25 eternal death though not so much torment 't is only fewer stripes and as Austin saith all that simple Ignorance can profit us in that day is ùt mitiùs ardeamus that we may burn the slowlier but wilful Ignorance shall have many stripes they shall have the hottest place in Hell and God expresses great wrath against such They that are ignorant let them be ignorant still 1 Cor. 14.38 if they affect it let them perish in it 177. It must follow then that the Popish Religion is a dangerous and damnable Religion that makes a direct profession of this shameful sin as if it were the best way to do our duty not to know it at all as if the faith of a ghostly Father would save us without our own hath God wrath for Heathens that know him not who are left in the dark to grope after him Jer. 10.25 then double Damnation attends those Papists that reject means of knowledge saying depart from us c. (e) God will say to them depart from me as they to him depart from us Job 21.14 John 3.19 26. 178. The same Romanists that have so little charity for us saying that a Protestant cannot be saved have a great deal of charity for the Heathens on whom the Lord hath said he will pour out his fury because they know him not maintaining that Infidels may be saved though they believe not the Articles of the Christian Faith as if that were not necessary to Salvation Thus through their partial and ungrounded censures they cast out the Protestants and receive Infidels into the bosom of their Church 179. But Christ tells us that Heathens are strangers to the true Church and not Members of it and such as are excommunicate should be as the heathen Matth. 18.17 and our best Writers hold that Negative Infidelity is a Sin as well as a punishment of Sin though Stapleton and others deny it from John 15.22 If I had not come and spoke to them they had not had sin The Pagans never had Christ preached to them and therefore they believe not so 't is not their sin 180. How can that Text be understood
say that those which live and dye in Popery be damned we know how durus (u) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sermo was replied to Christ himself John 6.60 I shall discuss its harshness 140. As it may be presumption in us to pry too much into the book of Life that is sealed from us and into the decrees of Heaven about Salvation and Damnation for it is not given to the Sons of men to know infallibly who are Elect and who Reprobate who be for Hell and who for Heaven So it is pusillanimity and a putting off that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that becomes the Ministers of God to strengthen the hands of the wicked That he cares not to return by promising him life Ezek. 13.22 141. 'T is true the Patrons of the Reformed Religion do affirm that some in the Church of Rome may be saved to wit such as do expect Salvation by Christ and not by the merit of their own works as the Trent Papists do None amongst the Judicious ever taught that a Papist universally owning the Trent Faith and Religion living and dying so could be saved 142. The Romanists indeed make some advantage of our charitable Judgment concerning them saying that some of our Reformed Religion acknowledg that the Papists hold all things necessary to Salvation then it will follow by necessary consequence that a Papist quà talis may be saved They especially improve that saying of Luther that the Kernel of true Faith remains yet in the Church of Rome inferring from thence that we take only the Shell of Religion 143. (w) Dr. Sclater 's Exposition on 2 Thess 2.10 pag. 153. Dr. Sclater tells us of his meeting once with a wandring Star to wit a Traveller that had been foraging France Italy to seek his Religion and bewraying his Inclination to Popery by preferring it in his choice upon this ground that a man may be saved holding the Faith and Religion of Rome quoth he our selves confess that any can be saved in our heresie as they term it Papists confidently deny thus he argued 144. But the Learned Dr. thus answered the Argument of this Planetick Sophister 1. That argues not that the Papists have more verity but that we Protestants have more Charity 2. But who amongst our judicious Divines ever did confess that a Papist universally joyning to the Tridentine Faith and Religion can be saved nisi fortè detur Regressus in viam unless he make an honourable Retreat 145. Let the Romanists obferve that our own Mr. Perkins that Romanistarum malleus hath solidly proved that a Papist cannot go beyond a Reprobate yea and Hunnius hath writ a book to prove them no Christians and 't is the concurring Opinion of all our profoundest Writers that where Popery prevaileth against the practical points of Christianity and is predominant even in Fundamentals there can be no Salvation for such without Conversion 146. We distinguish also betwixt affected and invincible Ignorance that of purae negationis and pravae dispositionis there is a simple Ignorance to wit where means of knowledge are wanting as Act. 17.30 This God winks as the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 over-looked it this may excuse a tanto but not a toto it may extenuate Sin but cannot annihilate it one Sin cannot excuse another totally but rather in some sense doubles the Crime 147. Not to do Gods Will is sin and not to know Gods Will as it were doubles the sin for Ignorance is a sin of it self as well as Disobedience Yet Knowledge in conjunction with Disobedience is a greater aggravation to it than Ignorance is Luke 12.47 Jam. 4.16 17. and where Ignorance is affected among means of Knowledge this is worse with God than where 't is invincible for want of means 148. There must a difference be put betwixt Papists in Spain and Papists in England those in Spain have indeed an Ignorance but we call it Ignor antiam purae negationis non praevae dispositionis they are not guilty of that Ignorance which hath a perverse disposition in it as those in England that live in the midst of blessed means of Knowledge yet shuts their eyes willingly lest the light of the glorious Gospel should shine unto them those are Devils to themselves 2 Cor. 4.4 149. The Papists in England have an affected Ignorance because as those Peter speaks of 2 Pet. 3.5 they are Willingly or wilfully ignorant Quando habent a quo discant et tamen non discunt They put away knowledge though God offer it them far from them and as Bernard saith excellently libenter ignorant ut liberiùs peccent light would stare in their faces and controul them in their unwarranted fooleries and Popish transgressions 150. Indeed the Papists every where call Ignorance the Mother of Devotion and do embrace it with some affectation as Children do a Mother yet as 't is no Mother in Israel if it be in Babylon 't is none in Sion The Prophet tells us Hos 4.6 'T is a Mother of Destruction not of Devotion my People are destroyed for want of knowledge So English Papists be the worst 151. English Papists are not willing to know what they should and might do lest they should do what they would not and what their Popish principles may not allow of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They have winked Act. 28.27 They stubbornly shut their Windows lest the light of knowledge should spring in upon them The word is nigh them they need not cross the Seas for it Rom. 10.6 7 8. the Spanish Papists have no such advantages How then can they escape if they neglect such great Salvation Heb. 2.3 152. Spanish Papists have that Ignorance which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex negatione because the word of God is not nigh them in the preaching of the Gospel they may wander from Sea to Sea and not meet with means of knowledge as Amos 8.11 12. That Country is like the Mountains of Gilboa that had neither Dew nor Rain discending on them 2 Sam. 1.21 Gods Doctrine doth not drop as the Rain upon it nor bis Speech distil as the Dew Deut. 32.2 153. But English Papists have that Ignorance which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is of an evil disposition and which excuses not but aggravates God rains down Manna at their Tent doors and they will not vouchsafe to go out to gather it but rather loaths it as light bread and prizes their own foolish trash before Christs precious Treasure 154. Indeed (x) Francise de Sancta Clara Deus Natura et Gratia probl 15. pag. 122 123. Franciscus de Clarâ alias Damport that quirking Scotist and Reconciler to Rome would confound these two kinds of Ignorance and make them in some cases aqui Reatus quoting Vega lib. 6. cap. 18. in Trid. who says as Ignorantia purae Negationis about many Articles of Faith may be without fault so there is the same reason of that Ignorance which is pravae
absolutely then it would follow that if Christ had not come amongst the Jews they had not been sinners and Gentiles that had not the Gospel were without sin which be both absurd but Austin in Tract 89. understands Sin there the great Sin of Unbelief under which all Sins are comprehended and saith expressly that though those which never had the Gospel have some excuse for their unbelief yet none for other Sins 181. The same Augustine proceeds saying such as amongst whom Christ came not may indeed have their excuse for sin but yet are not thereby freed from being damned for Sin for the Apostle is plain They which sinned without the Law shall perish without the Law Rom. 2.12 Yet there are degrees of Punishments as there be of Sins which Humane conjectures cannot comprehend they to whom Christ came and spake shall want this excuse they cannot say we have not seen nor heard him 182. And in Tract 91. in Johan he says others that can thus excuse themselves if they be not delivered from all judgment yet certainly their judgment shall be somewhat lighter than those that had seen his great works for Christ did works which none other did As the feeding of five thousand with a few Loaves and Fishes his walking upon the Water and causing Peter to come to him his turning Water into Wine and his opening the Eyes of the man that was born blind c. for which he deserv'd their best love but having hatred for Love after all these great works their Sin was inexcusable 183. To this Purpose also Chrysostom in Hom. 76. in Johan saith the Lord Christ having according to Moses Law confirmed his Doctrine by marvellous works sheweth that the Jews withstanding him yet should have no pardon For Moses had charged them to obey (f) Christ wrought Miracles as a Master by his own Authority and Command All others but as Servants him who proved his Doctrine by miracles such as none other ever did yea themselves restified that (g) John 9.32 There was never the like done in Israel and since the World began was it heard that any opened the Eyes of one born blind 184. Seeing then not to have heard any thing of Christ doth not sufficiently excuse Infidelity because it many times happens through mens own fault God justly punishing their own sin thereby with a denyal to them of the Preaching of the Gospel (h) Polan Synt. Theolog. lib. 9. cap. pag. 591.1 Col. Polanus saith well Ignorantia non excusat eos qui fidei capaces sant quandoquidem ignorantia in Adamo in quo omnes peccârunt voluntaria fuit et debent omnes et scire et credere 185. He saith also that Negative Infidelity vel sola damnat et a Regno coelorum arcet It is no hard matter to prove that even the want of a due preaching of the Gospel and of a right propounding of the knowledge of Christ to them is a punishment for their sin and sin can never excuse sin Infidels ought themselves to seek after the knowledge of the truth now if Negative Infidelity do damn the Heathens then Positive Infidelity such as is in Papists that hear and believe not must needs double damn them 186. The Papists are despisers of most clear light of the truth that hath been spread before them by many famous men so they sin against knowledge and have no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or pretence for their Sin Minor erat culpa ubi erat culpae Ignorantia saith Ambrose lib. 9. Ep. 71. But because they say they see as the Pharisees that saw the works of Christ therefore their sin of a (i) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Twice dipt Scarlet Sin double dye remaineth (k) John 9.41 187. But to let pass their blind charity for blind Infidels which is a mere design for up holding their Kingdom and palliating their opinions about an implicit Faith I come to their uncharitableness towards us in making us worse than Infidels and passing this partial censure that Protestants cannot be saved though Infidels may (l) Coster Resp ad Refut Osiand propos 8. Costerus saith Fierinequit ut Lutheranus moriens salvetur This is a brave Romish Dictator 188. And it is determined by a general Council and the Pope that no man can be saved out of their Church as headed by the Pope extra Ecclesiam Romanam nulla est salus that it is necessary to Salvation to be a subject of the Pope of Rome Yet can they take in Infidels and lay the Church as common to the world for as many as will but believe in the Pope though they believe not in Christ whose Vicar he pretends to be 189. How can this Popish Censure be of any moment that Judges no Salvation can be among us yet if we were Infidels we might be saved so we had but an implicit Faith and believed in the Pope But the choicest Saint and Servant of God that hath an explicit Faith in Christ cannot be saved if he believe not in the Pope and be of the Church of Rome Is this a Judging according to God 190. If it had been essential to Christianity and necessary to salvation to believe in the Pope or Church of Rome then the Apostles would have preached it for converting the People would have baptized the converted into the Pope and Roman Church and it would have been inserted in some of those antient Creeds or in some of the expesitions of them but there is not a word in Scripture or any Ecclesiastical History that intimates any of those Premises and sure such a necessary point would not have been omitted 191. But Thousands and Millions were saved in the Primitive times without ever believing in the Pope or Roman Church and Paul and Silas were much mistaken when the Jaylor cryed to them Sirs what must I do to be saved in answering him Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house Act. 16.30 31. According to the doctrine of the Romanists they should have directed them thus Thou must believe in the Pope and in the Roman Church and thou shalt be saved 192. It cannot be proved that one Christian believed in the Pope or Church of Rome for many an hundred year after Christ much less that all believed so yet for want of this belief not only we Protestants are all damned by the Romish Church but such is their uncharitableness that they damn all the Christians among the Greeks Moscovites Armenians Abassines Aethiopians Waldenses c. that believes not in the Pope 193. (m) Baxter's Key for Catholicks pag. 262. Mr. Baxter very acutely retorts upon the Romanists for this uncharitableness saying If Charity be the life of all the Graces or holy qualities of the Soul and that which above all others proveth a man to be justified and in a state of Salvation then judge by this Argument of their own whether our charitableness to them or
their uncharitableness to us and to all other Christians be the better sign 194. And whether it be safer to joyn with the charitable or uncharitable yea with them that are so notoriously uncharitable as to condemn the far greatest part of the Church of Christ merely because they are not Papists Thus we see how their Principles and Practises be not Relatives but interfere with their professions for while they cry up the Grace of Charity as the most splendid grace of their Religion yet in the mean time they are the most uncharitable people in the world 195. Indeed the Romanists argue point blank to this drawing this general conclusion from the charitable opinion of some well disposed Protestants (n) Answer to Mr. Fisher's Relation of a third Conference at the end of Dr. White 's Reply to Fisher pag. 68. We see the Protestants at least some confess there may be salvation in our Church we absolutely deny there may be salvation in theirs therefore 't is safer to come to ours than to stay in theirs to be where almost all grant Salvation than where the greatest part of the World deny it 196. 'T is great pity that our Charity towards them which is a grace they cry up so much for the lustre and glory of their own Church and which is a grace that hopeth all things believeth all things c. 1 Cor. 13.6 7. should be so wrested to the hardning of their hearts in their evil way 't is pity our charitable opinion of them should give any Papist occasion to live and dye in the bosom of that damnable Religion whereas we should rather warn them in the Name of God to come out of Babylon left they be partakers of her Plagues (o) Rev. 18.4 197. But when we say a Papist may be saved (p) Baxter's Key for Catholicks p. 262. Mr. Baxter shews in loco supradicto that it is with all those limitations As 1. We say that a Papist may be saved as a Christian but not as a Papist as a man that hath the Plague may live but not by the Plague 2. We say that Popery is a great enemy and hindrance to mens salvation and therefore those among them that are saved must be saved from Popery and not by it 198. And 3. We say that therefore Salvation is a rarer thing among the Papists than among the reformed Protestants Where it is most difficult there it must be most rare many more of the Protestants are like to be saved than of the Papists And 4. we say where Popery prevails against Christianity and so much mastereth the Heart and Life that the Christian Doctrine is not practically received such cannot be saved without Conversion 199. Thus with those and the like limitations the charitable opinion concerning them on our part which they improve so to their advantage must be restrained which doth not amount to such a judgment of safety in their way as they pretend Our learned (q) Whitaker ad Camp Rat. 10. Whitaker sends this Summons to their great Champion Survey Heaven and all the Heavenly host look well into all the Parts and Coasts of it while you list and you shall not find there upon my word one Jesuit or one Papist 200. For saith he none shall stand upon Mount Sion with the Lamb that have receiv'd the mark of the Beast or belong to Antichrist Thus this great Scholar even in Bellarmine's own Judgment who kept his Picture by him and wrote under it Quanquà m Hareticum doctum tamen habeo adversarium had not an over-charitable opinion of Jesuits which have the mark of the Beast and are their Ring-leaders into Error and of Papists to wit such as hold the doctrine of the Modern Church of Rome and Council of Trent 201. And our famous (r) Hooker in his Discourse of Justification Hooker also saith when we say that a Papist may be saved we do not propose to you a Pope with the Neck of an Emperor under his feet or a Cardinal riding his Horse up to the Bridle in the blood of Saints but a Pope or Cardinal penitent disrobed and not only stripped of his usurped power but also reclaimed from his Error Let them and their Proselytes abjure all their pervertings of the truth and be converted let them fall down prostrate at Christs feet and he will not kick them 202. Although many Protestants have this charitable opinion toward such Papists as fall under the foresaid Qualifications yea and also towards all such as by an invincible and compelled Ignorance resign up their own understandings to their Priests and Jesuits and look through such Spectacles as those temper for them not daring to contradict the dictates of their Teachers but are led on hood-winked in an implicit Faith and blind Obedience 203. Such Papists I say so long as they hold fast the true faith of Christ without opposing any fundamental point of the Christian Religion and furthermore do according to the light and Grace given them with purpose of heart cleave unto the Lord and rely wholly and solely on the merits and mediation of Christ both for safety here and Salvation hereafter such as those may find mercy because they adhere to the Romish Church in other things ignorantly 1 Tim. 1.14 204. This is the most candid Construction that our Charity can afford them and yet here be two things very observable 1. That such as those though they live Papists yet they dye Protestants to wit in the principal foundation of our Faith Justification and Salvation by Christ This Bellarmine himself their great (ſ) Bellarm. de Justif lib. 5. cap. 7. Tutissimum est t is safest to rely wholly on the mexits of Christ though he had taught in his health that partly our own merit and partly the merit of Christ gives right to heaven Champion was driven to for succour when the terrors of death were upon him 2. In our Charity there is no certainty for them only a possibility barely stated They may be saved 205. Yet we have no such Charity for such Papists as live in States and Kingdoms where the word of God is power fully preached and the Sacraments of Christ be purely administred where also much care is taken for their better information and means used for reclaiming them from their Error and instructing them in the knowledge of Christ and his ways Such Papists I say being willingly ignorant and wilfully shatting their eyes against the light their state is more desperate and damnable 206. Those Papists are guilty before the Lord of an affected Ignorance and of a wilful despising of the knowledge of the Lord when they might attain to it 'T is not a bare want of the means of Grace but the contempt of them that damus saith Ambrose Those say in effect unto God (t) Job 11.14 15. depart from us as if God were below them and with the Swinish Gergasites desire him to depart out of their
Coasts How just it is with God to fill them with the evil of their own ways and to say to them as they to God depart ye cursed 207. These desire not the knowledge of Gods ways (u) Rom. 1.28 they like not to retain God in their knowledge because their minds are reprobate and injudicious they love darkness rather than light and Cain like they get as far from God as they can How Righteous is Gods Retaliation upon all such Reprobates in saying to them Ye have rejected my Company I will also reject yours and as you will not know my ways I will not know your persons at the last day Luke 13.27 208. This is the Character of those Roomanists that live in those Countreys of the reformèd Religion where many famous Churches are founded worshiping God after that manner which the Romish Church calls Heresie as Act. 24.14 yet teaching no other Doctrine than what Moses the Prophets and Apostles have spoken before them and without controversie all people lye under an obligation to resort thither for true knowledge where the Mountain of the Lord is exalted on the top of the Mountains God teaches his ways there Isa 2.3 209. We have a famous example of those in the Ten Tribes whose hearts the Lord had touched with the finger of his Spirit in that universal depravation of Religion under Jeroboam 2 Chron. 11.14 16. The Levites left their Suburbs and their Possessions that belonged to them a great act of self denyal and came to Judah and Jerusalem to do the service of the Lord in the Temple there And after their example many people out of all the Tribes of Israel that abhorred Jeroboam's Idolatry came thither also for the true worship of God 210. Oh! that the Lord who perswaded Japhet to dwell in the Tents of Shem may perswade all such Romanists to forsake the Tents of the Romish Church lest they perish with her Come out of her my People to wit all such as set their hearts to seek God as those Religiously disposed Jews did lest ye perish in the way and partake of her Plagues Revel 18.4 as those in the Tents of Korah's Conspiracy 211. Moreover in those Reformed Churches God hath raised up many famous Witnesses who have discoursed the controversies betwixt us and them at large the sound of whose writings hath gone even to Rome it self yea and their own Champions have set down our Arguments against them in their writings of answers to them for which some of them have met with interdictions for reprinting lest knowledge of the truth should come to light thereby as Bellarmine and Gregory de Valentia c. so zealous are they to keep people in ignorance by those helps might understand their own Errors 212. Besides in those reformed Countreys many blessed Martyrs and Confessors have made publick Confessions of their Faith even in the Presence and Audience of their persecuting Papists such as loved not their lives for the sake of the truth by whom much light was communicated for those Martyrdoms and Massacres were not done in a Corner but were famous even in the Popes Palace as Phil. 1.13 and in all places which administred occasion to all persons for enquiring after the cause of such sufferings 213. Now seeing those Romanists living in those Countries have so many advantages for knowing the truth and yet shut their eyes against all in a pertinacious and incorrigible hardness of heart their Ignorance is affected and pravae dispositionis there is a price put into their hinds and like Fools they have no heart to it Satan hath filled their hearts to believe Lyes they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 self-condemned Tit. 3.10 214. Sed quid opus est multis We have many Scripture Characters and Evidences that the Popish Religion is damnable all which will make it appear that it is but blind Charity and not only foolish pity but also plain cruelty to promise Life and Salvation to such Papists as be impenitent and repent not of their doctrines and doings and 't is but a mealy-mouth'd soothing them up in their sinful state and sowing pillows under their Elbows in those that fear to say to them that living and dying Papists they cannot be saved 215. (w) The 1. Scripture Evidence of the Damnableness of the Romish Religion The 1. Scripture Evidence is they are decypher'd in graphical terms to be such whose Names are not written in the Lambs book of life Rev. 13.8 Those whose Names are not recorded in the book of life those whom God hath not predestinated to be saved from all eternity by the death of Christ those and those only should be worshipers of the Beast Those that dwell upon the Earth or stand upon earthly Principles and carnal Doctrines such as that flesh-pleasing Religion consists of wonder after the Beast 216. This Inhabitants of the Earth is contradistinct to Saints whose Conversations is in heaven Phil. 3.20 Now if none of the Beasts worshipers have their Names written in heaven it concludes strongly that there is no Salvation for Papists living and dying in their Popish State and Religion they are not Elect but Reprobate ones a people devoted to destruction see also Revel 17.8 217. (x) The 2. Scripture Evidence The 2. Script evidence is Revel 14.9.10 If any man worship the beast c. The same shall Drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation and he shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone c. This plainly demonstrates that all the obstinate worship pers of the Beast which in my treatise of Antichrist I have proved to be the Pope shall drink of the wine of gods Indignation because they have drank of the wine of the popes fornications 218. They that love the wine of Idolatry must at length pledg in the wine of Gods Anger and severest Judgment and this Cup of Vengeance which is prepar'd for them shall not be allayed with the water of mercy at all Jam. 2.13 no mixture of mercy in their misery as in the afflictions wherewith God exercises his own people in this world wherein god in wrath remembers mercy Hab. 3.1 and Stirs not up all his wrath Psal 78.38 whereas the Saints sip onely of the top of the Cup those Sinners drunk up the dreggs of the fiercness of his Anger Isa 51.22.23 219. Those worshippers of the beast shall be tormented with fire and Brimstone in Hell-fire where they shall have no intermission of their tortures v. 11. they shall have misery without mercy and torment without end in the presence of the Angels who shall not only be Spectators but executioners also and in presence of the Lamb for all their Agnus Dei c. 220. The 3. Scrip. Evidence is 2. Thessal 2.10 (y) The 3. Scripture Evidence Those that the man of Sin the grand Antichrist seduces with his lying wonders or Counterfeit miracles are such as