having the knowledge thereof but declare against the deceit thereof and to give warning unto all to beware how they touch tast or handle it lest they be defiled and corrupted by it and their understandings darkned and their Consciences defiled And the Merchandize is this tituled A short Catechism against all Sectaries by way of Question and Answer wherein all the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome are asserted for infallible and Apostolical wherein also it is holden out That the Church of Rome is the onely true Church out of which there 's no salvation and some Arguments to prove the same Also in this said Book all that are not of the Church of Rome arecondemned already as Hereticks Sectaries wholly to be without salvation Newly published and translated by C. M. and London printed for P. S. 1662. And though we have given publick Testimony both in word and writing in divers Nations in doctrine and practice yet such hath been the envy of many professors who have denied the Church of Rome that they have accused us for holding Popish tenents yet now on the other hand by this Popish Author we are condemned as Hereticks and Sectaries and to be without salvation And thus they who have been under the Beasts power in the Apostacy have tost us upon their horns from one to another and have pushed us this way and that way and every party and sect hath reckon'd us and join'd us with them whom they judged to be transgressors but it is a small thing to us to be judged by man's Judgment for our Judgment is with the Lord and he judgeth in righteousness and unto him we appeal who in his own day when righteousness comes to be revealed in peoples hearts they shall come to know us as we are and the truth which we believe and walk in as it is in Jesus But that such a heap and bundle of false Doctrine and Superstitious and Idolatrous practices may not go unreproved God hath put it into my heart to bear my testimony against it and all the confused heap of darkness which is laid down for Catholick Doctrine and to discover the deceit thereof lest any should be beguiled and led into the dark paths of Ignorance and Error and should become an Inhabitant of that City which hath shed the blood of the Prophets and Martyrs where now Christ is crucified First of all the Author saith There is but one true Religion wherein any can be saved Ans. 'T is true there is but one true Religion in the which salvation is witnessed which is confessed by all who profess Religion and every one wil needs lay claim to it and many have contended even by force and arms since the Apostacy entered in and hath kill'd and destroy'd one another about the name or sound without the thing it self and all Professors of Religion who are in that nature are not in the true Religion in which salvation is witnessed The true Religion standeth in the Power of God and to be exercised in those things which the Power of God directeth every one in who believe in it and to be obedient unto the commands of Christ and to keep his sayings and to follow his Example in righteousness and holiness and in that which overcometh the World and giveth victory over it and keepeth out of the pollutions of it And this is the pure Religion which purifies the heart conscience from dead works and teacheth to love Enemies Now the Church of Rome is manifest not to be in the one true Religion but have departed from this Faith and this Doctrine Let all Nations bear witness where your Religion hath been professed how you have kept this Faith and walkt in this Religion if any have dissented from you these many hundred years and that upon good grounds as Luther and Calvin which thou art so angry at and bring'st many Calumnies against and slanderous things and lyes of which thy Vessel is ful Now they with all others that dissent from you you have reckon'd and do as Sectaries and Hereticks And in case it were really so if you were in the true Religion and in the Faith of Christ you would not destroy so many mens lives as you have done within these thousand years I appeal to all Nations where your Authority hath been exercised how many have you kill'd tortur'd burnt to ashes and destroyed the Workmanship of God But it may be thou judgest such a distinction as this will cover a little as To hate their Heresie and to love their persons but how you have lov'd their persons I hope England hath not yet forgotten instance John Wickliffe whose bones you took up and burnt forty one years after his decease and how many hundreds more hathbeen burnt to ashes in England in later years as Hereticks and Sectaries whose blood yet speaks and cries for vengeance upon that City that Church and Religion which hath drunk the blood of the Prophets Martyrs So in what I have said the Church of Rome to all unbyassed spirits wil appear to be out of that one true Religion and that Faith and Doctrine which Christ deliver'd and so salvation is not to be looked for amongst killers and destroyers And so what I have said may convince the Author of this Book that they are not in the one true Religion in which salvation is witnessed And this Roman Church hath been always visible and universal since the Apostles dayes and Infidels have alwayes been obliged to join unto her yet one cannot be bound to seek that which is invisible And the marks and signs of this Roman Church are four comprized in these words I believe in the true Church which is One Holy Catholick and Apostolick Answ. That there was a Church at Rome in the Apostles dayes is not denied so was there at Antioch at Philippi at Thessalonica at Corinth and divers other places that I might instance which were as visible as Rome was and as much a City set on a Hill as Rome was and not inferior in Doctrine Gifts good Works to Rome at all but as to Precedency and Antiquity may claim priority before Rome And if he pleads that Peter was at Rome and as he saith was Christs Vicar and Bishop and if because of this Rome doth excel which the Scripture is silent in Jerusalem might claim priority before Rome in this for he we read of was more conversant at Jerusalem and a Minister of Circumcision and Paul ministred to Gentiles who preacht two whole years both to Jews and Romans which were Gentiles but it seems the very imagining Peter to bee Bishop of Rome hath made Pauls work void and hath turned his work out of doors but however he which hath usurped the Name of Christs Vicar hath turned both Peter and Paul their Life and Doctrine and Practice out of doors to set up Pride and Deceit But what blindnesse and ignorance is this to judge that God hath bound
THE Rock of Ages Exalted above Rome's imagined Rock On which her CHURCH Is builded She proved not to be the onely Church of Christ her corrupt Doctrines reproved not to be Apostolick but contrary to the true Church of Christ in the Apostles Dayes Also Divers Arguments answered which may convince the Papists that they are not the true Church Wherein a Book is also answered called A Catechism against all Sectaries Newly published by C. M. in the Year 1661. By Francis Howgil a Member of that Church which is coming out of the wilderness LONDON Printed for G. C. at the west end of Pauls 1662. A Table of the principal things contained in this Book COncerning the true Religion what it is and where it is demonstrated Pag. 7 8 9. The Church of Rome proved to be the false Church P. 10 to the 20 and pag. 59. The Pope proved not to be the Head of the true Church and Christ proved to be the Head of the Body which is his Church and the Rock upon which his Church is built P. 20. to 24 Purgatory proved to be an erroneous Doctrine which is held forth by the Papists and their Praying for the dead proved to be another false Doctrine not commanded nor practised by Christ or his Apostles p. 25 to the 28 The Papists Doctrine which saith Christ is really and personally in the Masse and in the Eucharist proved to be Blasphemy and great Idolatry 29 to 36. The Papists Masse and their Ceremonies proved not to be Apostolical P. 36. to the 38 The Papists honoring of Reliques and Images of Saints and praying by Beads proved to be but the inventions and traditions of men and contrary to the doctrine which the Apostolick Church held forth P. 39 to 47 The Doctrine of forbidding certain kind of Meats and forbidding the Scriptures to be read by all answered P. 47. to 56. Concerning Miracles P. 76. Answers to eight Propositions set forth by C. M. in his Catechise aforesaid From P. 78. to the end A Booke entituled The Glory of the true Church discovered as it was in its purity in the Primitive time Written by the same Author The Rock of Ages exalted above Rome's imagined Rock on which her Church is builded c. GReat hath been the Havock and Spoile that the Beast which John saw rise out of the waters made against them in destroying them who received not his Mark in their foreheads and the cry hath been long Who is able to make war with the Beast and great hath the suffering been these many ages of the Children of Light and still is of the Members of the true Church of Christ which is in God which hath proceeded from her who sate as a Queen upon the Waters which are Nations Kindreds Tongues and People which hath been the seat of Mysterie Babylon the Mother of Harlots who hath held out her golden Cup of Fornication ful of Abomination false Doctrine and Error which the Nations have drunk of and the Kings of the Earth have been made drunk with and all have been in instability and have reeled and staggered up and down in the dark in the night of ignorance and have wildered in the Mysts oâ— Error and lost the true Foundation and are gone from the Rock upon which the true Church is builded which is neither Peter nor his Successor but Christ the true Foundation which abideth sure and all that believ in him and have their minds staid upon him know settlement and establishment in that which the Gates of Hell prevails not against But blessed be the Lord he is come revealed and made manifest who is able to make war with the Beast and his followers and a discerning is given unto his servants that they can distinguish betwixt the Cup of Fornication and the Cup of Blessing and betwixt the Table of the Lord the Table of Devils betwixt the true Church the Lambs Wife Mysterie Babylon the Mother of Harlots betwixt the Heavenly Treasure which is communicable to the Saints in Light who are Members of the true Church and the Merchandize and the corrupt treasure of the Harlot which the Nations Kindreds and Tongues have been forced to buy by reason of the forcing and compelling power of the Beast and so the Nations have been begotten into a strange nature into the cruel nature killing one another about the forms of Worship and shadows and the substance hath been known but to a few neither the Lambs nature which is meek and innocent and the Leaves of the Tree of Life which heals the Nations hath been known but to a few which is the cause of all the Broiles Murthers and Massacres Imprisonments and cruel Torments which the Nations have afflicted one another with who have professed Christianity but have been out of the life and out of the nature of the true Church which Christ is the Head of which is Wife unto the Lamb and herein is the true Church manifest from the false The false Church hath propogated and encreased her number of Members by force and awe and Cain's Weapons and many have been forced into a belief and a feigned kind of Profession rather than by sound Doctrine or answering God's Witness in Peoples hearts and consciences But the true Church who is of the Husband's Nature her weapons have been is and wil be spiritual and yet is mighty through God to beat down strong holds of sin wickedness in people and hath by sound Doctrine and a good example answered God's Witness in people's Consciences without forcing to any thing but recommended themselves to every one's Conscience in the sight of God and would have every one perswaded in their own hearts by the Lord of the truth which they believed and not to take things by tradition and hear-say as the false Church and her Members have done and so have had no assurance of God's Spirit in their hearts for what they did and so doubts have arisen in the mind because whatsoever is not of faith is sin But God is opening the eyes of many and enclining the hearts of many to seek after the assurance of God's blessed Spirit in their hearts for what they do believe And now Reader I shall present thee with a great fardal and bundle of the Whore's Merchandize and of the counterfeit Ware which she hath long deceived the Nations with which hath long laid as mouldy and rusty in this Nation but now new trim'd up and presented again to this Nation as for precious treasure and it is not to be concealed in a narrow corner or put off under hand so that this Merchant of Babylon hath presented it to publick view with a great confidence that people that hath been tossed up and down and have found no rest for their souls at last may come to make a trial of this Merchandize and see what it wil do but lest any should be cheated and deceived with such counterfeit Traffique I could not chuse
other Sectaries to shew where Matthew's Writing is called holy Scripture more than Nichodemus his Gospel and seeing they cannot prove the one no more than the other they must needs believe something that is not written in the holy Scripture Ans. I shall let Luther and Calvin alone they were men that God did honor and I do honor and many more as in their day they are at rest in the Sepulchers of their fathers where your reviling cannot touch them they prevailed in their Doctrine and Faith so much against you as you have not recovered in a hundred and thirty years neither I believe ever will so long as the Church of Rome will have any cause to call her self Christ's onely visible Church upon Earth And I do not believe Matthew's Writing onely because it is reckoned by you and us for holy Scripture but because we feel by the Spirit of God that gave forth all words that it is a declaration of those things which were brought to pass in his day and likewise Mark John and Luke testifie unto the same matter but for Nichodemus his Gospel as you are pleased to call it the Spirit of God doth not testifie in us unto the same but that it is repugnant unto the mind of the Spirit and is a meer patcht up thing in the corruption of time wherein many things are contained that are in opposition and contrary to Matthew Mark Luke and John their Declaration And so thy feeble Argument is answered which thou concludâ—st hath not been alterable these fifteen hundred years and let not him that puts on his Armour boast but him that hath overcome and puts it off 7. Proposition is That it cannot bee shewen for this fifteen hundred years that there hath been any Catholick that held that the Pope of Rome was Antichrist or that did rail at the most holy Sacrifice of the Mass or Invocation of Saints and Angels and usual Praying for the Dead and such like works of Piety belonging to our Faith and Religion which the whole world hath laudably practised and reverenced for fifteen hundred years It is a wonder that this Author belonging to the the Church of Rome is not ashamed of his Arguments the silly Propositions that he hath propounded from another hand It seems neither this Author nor Francis Costherus whose Propositions the Author hath vaunted in and boasted of knows the Apostles Doctrine who said The whole world lay in wickedness and If any man loved the World the love of the Father dwells not in him and Christ said to his true Church Ye are not of the World therefore the World hates you and again I have chosen you out of the World and John in his day saw through the Spirit all the World wandering after the Beast and worshipping his Image and not the Image of God and saw all Nations Kindreds Tongues and People to be Waters and the Nations Kindreds Tongues and People to drink the Whores Cup and these the two Authors brings in for a great proof and for an unanswerable Proposition as that the whole World lies in wickedness in whom the love of God dwells not in and they that have drunk of the Whores Cup of Fornication and they that have wondred after the Beast to wit the whole World these are his dark cloud of Witnesses to prove that the Pope was never called Antichrist Will they that have received the Roman Faith and accounteth the Pope Christ's Vicar and the Visible Head call him Antichrist which hath exalted himself and the Church of Romes Faith over the whole world as the Author boasts That the whole world hath laudably practised and reverenced Invocation of Saints and Praying for the Dead for the Piety Faith and Religion of the Church of Rome for this 1500 years This proves the Church of Rome to lye in wickedness and to be contrary to the Doctrine and Practice of Christ and his Apostles And this doth not clear the Pope at all but rather makes him to be an Antichrist and your Church to be the ill-favored Harlot and not the true Church of Christ. Hast thou forgotten how John Bishop of Constantinople would needs be chief Bishop over all the rest of the Churches about the year two hundred fifty and upwards and how the other Bishops cried out against him for to be Antichrist But your Bishop he got to be called Chief-Bishop over all Christian Churches not by consent of the Elders nor Churches but by the means of Phocus a Heathen Emperor as before I have said and is not he much more an Antichrist And as for the Sacrifice in the Mass Invocation of Saints and Praying for the Dead which thou saist is a laudable practice I say none hath or doth reckon it worthy of praise but they that worship the Beast and his Image and have drunk of the Whores Cup and are erred from the Faith and Religion that the Apostles and true Church of Christ were in which all the world did that wondred after the Beast Lastly this I say He that teaches a Faith a Religion a Doctrine contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles is an Antichrist But the Pope this 1500 years hath taught a contrary Doctrine therefore he is an Antichrist The first Proposition is evident from diverse testimonies of Scriptures who teaches onely to pray unto the Lord in the name of Christ and for them that are alive in the body and not for them that are dead The Second is proved by the Authors own testimony That the Pope and Church of Rome hath prayed unto the Saints and prayed for the Dead this 1500 years to his shame be it spoken therefore the consequence must necessary follow The Pope is an Antichrist 8. And last Proposition is this That the first Authors of the Christian Faith in Germany Italy Spain France England and Low Countries have acknowledged no other Faith nor brought any other to them then the Catholick Roman Faith which the whole Universe hath acknowledged which we have learned of our Forefathes therefore they that have brought in another are accursed That which the Whole Universe hath acknowledged in the Apostacy which lieth in wickedness seeing all hath wondered after the Beast and drunk of the Whore's cup since the Apostles dayes is but a lame and pitiful argument as to prove the Church of Rome the true Church and as for the Faith delivering such as it was to the Nations before-mentioned onely excepting Spain because it 's probable that the Apostle Paul spread the Faith there seeing that he said he had a purpose to come there into Spain which if he did thy boast may cease as for the planting of Religion there and we know he was no hypocrite but the same Faith and gospel which he had preached over the Regions he would preach there and his Gospel and Doctrine we find contrary to the Church of Rome he condemned diverse Doctrines which the Church of Rome holds as forbidding Meats
himself so by prom se to any place that he will always continue with them whether they abide in his Doctrine yea or nay And though Christ said The Gates of Hell should not prevail against the Church had this onely a Limitation to one place if it must needs be understood of a place outward because of these words afore-mentioned then why is it not extended as well to Antioch and the seven Churches of Asia and the rest afore-mentioned hath not the Gates of Hell and powers of darkness prevailed against them places and the Turks taken possession thereof And as for your Church at Rome which thou saith cannot err and hath always been visible and universal What saist thou to Marcilianus Christ's Vicar as you judge Whether did he not lose his keys when he sacrificed to Ido's in the tenth year of Dioclesian But it may be then thy Church must not reside in Christ's Vicar but in a general Council But hereafter we wil consider whether they have been alwayes one and could not erre Secondly That whereby the Roman Church gives us a Mark and Sign to be the true Church to wit Universality and Visibility makes her clearly to be a Harlot for John saw the true Church flye into the Wilderness for time times and half of time now if yours hath been visible and universal all this time times and a half then you are not the true Church for Universality comprehends all Nations Kindreds Tongues and People and if this be the Seat of your Church then absolutely your Church is Mysterie Babylon and not the Lambs Wife for she sate upon Nations Kindreds Tongues Peoples and Languages which were Waters And here is your Catholick Visible Church measur'd with God's Measuring-Rod First To be the Harlot because she was never in the Wildernesse Secondly because her seat hath been so Universal and Catholick as Natious Kindreds Tongues Peoples and Languages hath been the seat of your Church which are the Waters which John saw and so truly may be called the Great City And as for Infidels being obliged to join to you this hath been because you have forc'd and compell'd by your power and outward force where you had dominion and to escape your tortures rather than by sound Doctrine or a holy Example Or Secondly Because your Religion hath stood in so many formalities and ceremonies which hath been very pleasing and so near unto the Heathens nature And thou says that one cannot be bound to seek that which is invisible I say through faith God hath been seen who is invisible and Christ said Seek and ye shall find and the Kingdom of God is spiritual and invisible and the natural and visible eye never discerned it for the Church is in God and God is a Spirit and Christ is the quickning Spirit who is the Head of the Church which is his Body and the spiritual and invisible eye is that which discerns the Head and the Body and you that looke gazing after things that are visible have never discern'd the Members of the true Church of God as such neither have known them but have condemned them as Hereticks in all ages as your generation hath done who have been in Cains way Secondly If Unity Holiness Universal and Apostolick be the marks and figns of a true Church then yours is not the true Church no more then they you count Sectaries and Hereticks which thou saist are no more one than Cats and Dogs The comparison is odious and like a suarling catching spirit who would tear every one that cometh nigh thee And what if there be Protestants Puritans Anabaptists Independents and Quakers these titles are but nominal and there is not one amongst all these but they acknowledge one God and Jesus Christ to be the Head of the Body which is his Church and one Spirit by which the Saints are sanctified and they acknowledge Christs Doctrine in words and his Worship that it is in spirit and in truth and walketh nearer to the practice of the Apostles and the Church in their days than you do And if in some things they do vary why may not variety be allowed by thee where it is onely nominal and circumstantial as well as thou canst allow variety of Ave Maries Creeds and Pater Nosters which thou saist delighteth But why hast thou not judged at home Thou must not think to lead us like Animals by the Head as your Church doth poor ignorant people to receive every thing for Apostolick Doctrine because the Church of Rome calls it so and cryes Unity Might not the Sectaries as thou callst them return this upon your selves that you are not at unity and not one What meaneth the diversity of Orders in your Church which may be called sects that is Jerom's Order Austin's Order Gregory's Order Carmalites Crouched Fryars Franois Anthony's Bennet's Dominick's Trinity Basil Brigandine's Orders All these kind of Orders and many more with every one their distinct Service Formalities and Ceremonies what a heap of Sectaries are here and yet Rome cryes Unity Besides what contradiction in your Councils may hereafter be made manifest and in your Vicars one throwing down and condemning that which others have set up for Apostolick doctrine So if Unity be a mark of the true Church then you are without this mark and sign more than they which you call Sectaries Thirdly If Holiness be a sign of the true Church you are without this sign also more than the Sectaries as you are pleased to call them What cruel Murthers Massacres Tortures Bloodsheds hath been acted by your Church and that by Commission from his Holiness so call'd Christ's Vicar against them that have dissented from you upon good and warrantable ground onely upon the account of Religion because they could not acknowledge the Pope to be the Head and Christ's Vicar and receive all Decrees though never so repugnant unto the Doctrine of Christ yet because for Conscience-sake many have denied such things nothing but fire and sword have been threatned and the force thereof hath been known in many Nations as for instance in Germany and the Low-Countreys France Pyedmount Holland England and Ireland of late years many thousands massacred not in War but in holes hundreds of Houses burnt men women and children children taken from their Mothers Breasts knockt against the Walls toss'd upon Pikes and Spears wounded with Swords thrown into Lakes and Rivers stript naked starv'd in cold seasons through such like inhumane and savage cruelty Commissions given from your Nuntio's and Agents to rob to steal even Servants from their Masters even upon this account only to weaken enfeeble the Sectaries and Hereticks as you stile them to advance your Holinesse's Chair and to progagate your holy or rather unholy Church and Religion which things remain fresh in the memory of many Nations to this day besides doth not your Church tolerate Stews and Adulterous Houses in the Cities where you have Dominion Besides Pride abounds amongst
in the matter of the real presence after Consecration What Luther and Calvin have said unto you as about your Worship Doctrine and Practice hath been made good by themselves while they were living and in the body and what they said did not onely inform the minds of many of the Roman Catholicks but reform'd them too which were not of the silliest amongst you not onely one but thousands did see your error and deceit though they in some particulars did but differ from you But now that is manifest which denieth your Foundation in the very ground And what I have said as about the real presence of Christ's Body being in the Bread and Wine after consecration if thou dare put it and endeavour the trial thereof according as I have in reasonableness propounded unto thee it wil convince many of the Roman Catholicks of their error or else many of the Protestants of their error and so if thou dar'st adventure it make no more boasts but let it come to trial as before is propounded unto the Church of Rome if she or any of her Agents dare admit of it 3. The third Argument which he promiseth If it can be proved from the Scripture which he calls God's written Word that the Sabbath-day is commanded by God to be kept on Sunday and that little Children are to be baptized What others have said as to these two partibulars who were but departed a little way from you in diverse things as to their judgments I shal not stand to vindicate because the Church was rather but a coming out of the Wilderness rather then come already into her first purity but I am one of those amongst many thousands in Europe who denyes the Church of Rome as to be the Bride the Lamb's wife and yet I shall not vindicate either the one nor the other but deny both as amongst Christians viz. 〈◊〉 to keep the Jewish Sabbath upon Sunday as the Author calls it and Sprinkling of little Children is like the other an invention in the Apostacy never that we read of commanded commended or practised in the Apostles dayes as such The first day of the week the Apostles met together and worshipped God not by virtue of the Jewes commandment but in the power of God and you onely have them both and keep them both by Tradition and Custom without Commandment and so are out of the power of God and out of the Saints life 4thly The Fourth Argument Can the Sectaries with reason and ground sufficient condemn all Catholicks that were so many Ages before Luther and Calvin for being no better then Heathens and convince me that adhering to you I shall be more secure in my salvation then in joining to them that have time out of mind been of the onely saving Religion Ans. The Sectaries have not gone about to condemn every individual man before Luther and Calvin for no better than Heathens we believe some were and we believe many were as bad if not worse they that walk in the practice of the Heathen and bring forth fruit but not unto God are in the Heathens Nature but the generallity of the Church of Rome have for these many hundred years brought forth no better fruit than the Heathen and therefore are in the nature of the Heathen for like as the Heathen persecuted the Christians in former dayes even so hath the Church of Rome persecuted the true Christians in their day and in this are no better than Heathens instance the bloodshed murther cruel deaths you have put many unto since you have had the Name of a Church and therefore are no better than Heathens in nature And for Antiquity it proveth nothing without Verity and there can be no assurance in your Church seeing that it stands upon tradition and hear-say and outward performances and bodily exercises that profiteth little but some whom you call Sectaries have more assurance for it is the Spirit of God that gives it and as there is obedience yeilded unto the Lord that Spirit he giveth them assurance and them that are born of it do overcome the world and his Spirit beareth witnesse to their spirits that they have overcome by which they cry Abba Father And this Spirit of truth that leadeth into all truth bringeth more assurance unto them that are led by it and worship it in than can be had in all your outward Formalities Ceremonies and Traditions 5. Argu. Can you make evident at least that in your Flock and Luther and Calvin their Guides there is more holiness and virtue than can be found among the Catholicks and that you go the narrow way that leads to life I answer Yes I am one among many thousands who are not of the Church of Rome yet am of Christ's Flock which he hath cleansed by his blood and revealed his virtue in and his holy life and it 's made manifest that they are in the narrow way more than the Church of Rome they are in the way that leads to life and abide in Christ's Doctrine We love them that hate us we bless them that curse us we pray for them that persecute us but so doth not the Church of Rome but kill them and persecute them that oppose her We say Without righteousness and holiness be revealed and wrought in our hearts we can bring forth no fruit unto God neither can be members of the true Church but if any conform unto the practice of your Church in outward things he is counted a good Member of your Church though righteousnesse and holiness self-denial humility and love be wanting Therefore we are the Church in which there is more holiness virtue and life enjoyed than in the Roman Church 6. Can you shew us any miracles that ever were wrought in testimony of your Religion or that the Catholicks Miracles are wrought by Belzebub And now thou hast askt us a resolution of the doubts and let all that are illuminated judge how we are deluded It 's an adulterous generation that seeks a sign and what Christ wrought was reckoned as no miracles by them that are in the unbelief yet these signs have accompanied the Gospel which is the power of God the blind have been restored to sight and the dead have been raised and the deaf have heard and the lame have been made whole and this hath been witnessed by many and we have a cloud of witnesses which your Church know not of and by the effectual working of God's power these things have been done which doth give testimony and confirm our Religion And for your Miracles the most that ever I heard of hath been done by Pictures and Images as you have testified which are but fabulous stories And now let them who are lightned with the true Light of Christ judge who are in the delusion and now let all judge whether these be not satisfactory Resolutions unto the aforesaid Doubts or Questions which may convince them that have erred from Christ the power of God
and gone in their own traditions and inventions and have forsaken the strait way and the narrow path that leadeth to life and all are exhorted to come unto him who is the light and life of men that their souls may live and that they may witness assurance of the love of God unto them by his Spirit 's manifestation And now let us see whether the Author will keep to his word whether the church of Rome will all turn unto our way which is Christ the way the truth and the life or they will follow their visible Head the Pope who is changeable and doth not abide for ever who leadeth onely to an observance of outward things but neglects the weightier things to walk in And now I shall come to some Propositions which the Author saith hath been propounded which are unanswerable and the Propositions are against all Sectaries and the Propositions are laid down by Francis Costorus as the Author saith of the Society of Jesus which hath been laid down fifty years ago and they are in number eight and with them eight Propositions the Author saith he hath put all the ablest Ministers of Germany and the Low Countreys unto their wits end now I hope some will be able to give an answer and yet keep both their Faith Wit and Reason 1. The first Proposition is this That never since the Apostles time till the Year 1517. wherein Luther began his Doctrine were any found in the world who did consent with either the Lutherans Calvinists or Anabaptists or other Sectaries opinions nor ever shall any of the Sectaries prove that any of the Apostles or Evangelists were of their Faith so by consequence the Sectaries are without Faith they are the men whom the Scriptures in several places affirms that should come In the latter times false Prophets c. Answ. As I said before any opinion which Luther Calvin or the Baptized people do hold I shal not stand to vindicate it because they have so holden yet in many things they are separated from you upon good ground their Doctrine and Worship was far more consonant and agreeable unto the Apostles dayes then yours are but I am one that owns my self a Protestant who denies the Church of Rome and I do say this Proposition is silly poor and feeble and I do not believe that any was so hard put to it as to be brought to their wits end by answering of it for what need he talk of since the Apostles time till such a year we shal come to the Apostles time and age and if any society of people now are found the same in Faith in Doctrine in Worship in Life Practice and Conversation then they are the true Church And let Francis Costorus with the rest of the Roman Merchants take that Faith to themselves and that Doctrine to themselves and those particular points of Worship and Tradition to themselves since all the world hath wondred after the Beast and hath worshipped his Image and this was since the Apostles dayes And if the Church of Rome plead the whole world as for a proof John saw that Antichrist's false Prophets Deceivers were entred in then fifteen hundred years ago and the world went after them and he saw the whole world wonder after the Beast and the Whore sit upon the Waters Nations Kindreds Tongues and People and this comprehends the World the Whores seat and we matter not for her consent neither to Doctrines and Principles nor opinions nor for the approbation of them that have drunk of her Cup. But if we can prove a people which are gathered by the Word of God and thorow the preaching of the Gospel into the same Faith Hope Doctrine Life and Practice which the Apostls walked in then this is the Church which is coming out of the Wilderness again where she has been preserved while the Mother of Harlots has sit as a Queen and has been so visible as over all the World and hath made the Nations drink her Cup of Fornication and therefore your Unity in this thing and in this time is clear that the Church of Rome is not the Church of Christ but there are some whom Rome is pleased to call Sectaries that own the same Practice the same Doctrine the same Faith which the Apostles walked in and therefore this great Proposition is false That all that have separated from the Church of Rome have no Faith or a new fancied Faith and now I come to his second Proposition 2. Propositon The Religion and Faith of the Romane Church hath not been any way changed in any Article that belongs to Religion by any Pope Councils or Catholick Bishops but it is the very same Faith hath remained intire and inviolate from the Apostles to this present day There were Churches planted before there was any at Rome and the Faith which they received was that which did overcome the world and gave them victory over sin and death and the Religion which the Churches of Christ professed as Corinth Galathia Thessalonica and the rest of the Churches which the Apostles planted is no more like the Faith and Religion of the Church of Rome now then Black is to White as for instance Prove us out of the Scripture what foundation you have for Purgatory for selling Indulgences and Pardons for sins and vvhat Scripture have you for Auricular confession for an Unbloody Sacrifice for Prayer to Saints for worshipping of Images in the New-Testament for observing of Lent consisting of so many days And what Scripture and example from the Churches that were in the Apostles dayes before Rome was called a Church concerning prayer for the dead for yours crosses your tapers and candles for annointing with oyle and cream in Baptism which was onely invented by Pope Clement which another Pope Pope Silvester confirmed 315. Plat. Volat. Sabil And what example from the true Church for baptizing of Infants and for God-fathers and God-mothers in Christ's day when he planted the Church And that Infants should be baptized and onely at Easter and Whitsuntide was not this ordained by Pope Leo in the year 676. Lib. Council Volat. Pol. Chron. And was not Transubstantiation which you call the Body and Blood of Christ after the consecration when the Priest hath whispered over the Bread and Wine a few Latine words As Hoc est Corpus meum hic est enim sanguis meus c. The Bread is turned into the natural Body of Christ's flesh blood and bone was not this ordained by Pope Innocent held at Latterane by twelve hundred Romish Priests Monks and Fryars in the year 1215. decret de summa Trinitate Cap. firmiter And whether are not these articles of the Church of Rome yea or nay If I should traduce the church of Rome in their Bishops and Councils these 12. hundred years and upward I might bring a cloud of witnesses that the church of Rome is not the same in articles of faith in Religion
but divers Popes I might prove have made distinct articles and divers Councils and Bishops so that I might clearly prove and can and shall if God permit me with life if I hear any more of the church of Rome or the Author of this Book that I shall prove that the church of Rome in the articles of her Faith is not the same that the church of Christ was in before Rome was planted a church 2. I shall prove if need require her universal Councils as she calls them to vary and her Bishops to be different in their Decrees and that her faith in points of Religion is not the same from the Apostles day to this time as the author of this Book would make people believe but what I have said to this unanswerable Proposition as he calls it may be sufficient to convince both the Author and them that are doubtful in their minds about this particular 3. Proposition is That neither the Sacraments nor Ceremonies or any Doctrine of the Church of Rome contain any thing that is contrary to the Scriptures but learned Doctors maintain the same and that there is no alteration in any article of faith And then the Author makes a conclusion though full too hastily That they which dissent from the Church of Rome which he is pleased to stile Sectaries and Hereticks have no reason to withdraw from the Catholick Church Ans. As for that which you call the Catholick church of Rome we find such diversity of Orders and constitutions one distinct from another that to begin to enumerate them all would take up much time before one ended and would prove tedious to the Reader to view over the variety of Constitutions and Decrees that have been made concerning the ceremonies Sacraments as they call them and other Doctrines of the church of Rome which at this time is not my intention but Pope Alexander commanded that unleavened Bread should be used in the Supper in the year 1119. Lib Concil grat Sabil Before that time the outward Bread was indifferent whether it was leavened or unleavened notwithstanding the Greeks do use leavened bread unto this day in that which is called a Supper and they use Wine onely in the Cup but the Church of Rome mingle Water with their Wine according to Pope Alexander's Decree And the Doctrine of Transubstantiation of turning the bread into the body of Christ and wine into the blood as they say was an unknown Doctrine in the Apostles dayes and also among the Greeks until Pope Innocent the third 1215. Likewise Honorus the third he made a new Ordinance That the Sacrament of the Altar as the Church of Rome terms it should be worshipped and kneeled unto of the people and also it should be born unto the sick yea and that with Candle-light though it be at noon-day in the year 1214. D. 3. Tit. Cap. 10. Lib. Council Pant. And Innocent the third ordained that the Sacrament of the Altar should be kept under lock and key that such as were like to dye might not want spiritual comfort at the time of their death Lib. Council Cron. Pant. Pope Innocent the 8th permitted that the Priests of Norduegia might fing Masse with Water for lack of Wine in the year 1484. Math. Palm Pant. And as about the ceremonies about the Sacrament or Masse in a Council held at Rottomage it was decreed that the Sacrament should not thenceforth be given to Lay-men nor Lay-women in their hands any more but the Priests should put it in their mouths contrary to the use and practice of the primitive church yea and of the church of Rome it self many years after Lib. Council c. And so here the church of Rome is contrary to the former churches and to their own church of Rome in former times though C. M. would elevate the Propositions of Francis Costorus a Jesuit unanswerable 4. Proposition The Author saith It cannot be proved that any have been admitted Priests but were duly consecrated by Bishops Whence we infer That Lutherans Calvinists and other Hereticks are no true Ministers neither are of Divine Priesthood because they give to people a meer piece of bread and nothing else and they have no power to absolve people from their sins but send them away entangled with sin as when they came to them Ans. As for the consecration of the Priests of Rome you have consecrated many who are out of the Doctrine of Christ who are traytors to Kings and Governments and it 's a Maxime and a thing meritorious in your church to slay a Heretick that is one dissenting or not consenting to your corrupt principles and as one deceiver hath ordained and admitted another so hath your Bishops and Popes ordained the rest to execute their drudgery and corrupt traffick and as I have offered unto thee before if it be not a piece of bread and wine except mingled with water according to your changeable Ordinances before-mentioned put it to trial upon the terms I before mentioned that you may be made manifest to be deceivers or else we to all people And as for your Absolutions Pardons it hath been that which you have sold for money which made Luther and divers of your own church to deny you because it hath been contrary to Christ and the Apostles Doctrine And as for forgiveness of sins it properly belongs to Christ and to them that are in the same Power to them that confess forsake and turn from sin to pronounce forgiveness and mercy but the members of your Church confess from day to day unto your Priests that are as much entangled in sin as they who do confess and neither do repent nor find mercy at the hand of the Lord and your confessors and they that do confess they are defiled as much with sin when they end their work as when they began 5. Proposition It cannot be found in the holy Scripture that nothing is to be believed but what is clearly and expresly contained in the same Hence follows the overthrow of the ground work of the Sectaries who say that nothing is to be believed but what is expresly set down in the Scripture Ans. What others have said as to this particular I shall not now stand to vindicate because it is not my work to vindicate every particular judgement and person who believe contrary to your church but I say many are of that mind that are not of your church that things may be believed to be true according to the manifestation of God's Spirit though the Scripture in express words doth not declare the same yet you to bring in fabulous stories which you call unwritten verity that are to be believed though never so repugnant unto the Scripture and to the truth contained in it this we cannot receive neither believe and this will never be attributed by the Lord unto any for unbelief although you say it 6. Proposition The Author saith He would fain have Luther and Calvin and the