Religion will be found there although the same Dr. Hammond would help to wipe her mouth in saying that there can be no superstition in a bad sence in any unprescribed Ceremonies Could this be made good it would prove a notable medium for wiping the Harlots mouth of Superstition 46. The Dr. makes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Superstition to be Daemonum cultus a worshipping the Poetical Gods or of Angels or dead men and yet he calls it a creditable word as also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How these things can be I cannot understand for as it is a deifying of Daemons it cannot be a word that is creditable But to say so belongs rather to the doctrine of Daemons which the Apostle condemns in 1 Tim. 4.1 2. 47. And though the word may have an Euphemismus or good sence after the Pagan Construction for with them (t) Explicat Plutarchus esse nimium Deorum metum unde exortae sunt superstitiosae Ceremoniae Beza 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is one that fears the Gods but if we consider that the Pagan Gods were no other but Devils Moses called them so Lev. 17.7 Deut. 32.17 and David Ps 106.37 And more plainly the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.20 The Gentiles Sacrifice to Devils I see not how a word that indeed signifies a worshipper of Devils should be a creditable word in any Christian though it may in Pagan construction 48. The large Annotator on the 17 of the Acts v. 22. saith that there as commonly 't is taken in the evil sence and he quotes Clemens Alexandr for signifying a superstitious man by this word such an one as Lactantius describes a worshipper of the Images of his Ancestors the Penates or houshold Gods this Virgil calls Vana Superstitio c. and not creditable 49. Although the worshipping of Daemons be indeed a Superstition as it is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a false Religion practised amongst Pagans yet the Superstition properly so called quasi supra statutum more than is appointed in the Law of God will upon enquiry be found among the Papagans which the soundest Divinity defines to be a Vice opposite to Religion (u) Yea Aquinas himself gives it this Definition ut supra according to excess and a superstitious man to be rather Gods flatterer in circumstantials than his Friend inSubstantials 50. Yea there is a superstitious worship of the true God as well as of false Gods when man either chuses a worship for God or those things whereon divine worship depends or when he exceeds the measure in worshipping and as Polanus saith Serviliter Muliebriter Pueriliter se gerit Syntag. Theol. lib. 9. cap. 3. pag. 580. To the same purpose speaks the Author of the (w) Polyanthaea Polyanthaea though a Papist that Superstition is not called an excess in Religion because it gives more to divine worship than the true Religion doth but more than it ought to do de superst 51 This superstitions worship of God is when a certain singular force and efficacy is ascribed ex opere operato to external Rites prescribed of God As when a power of driving away Devils and healing of Diseases is attributed to some words repeated or writings hung about the Neck whereas those words and writings have no such power neither from their own Nature nor from any divine Institution 52. To ascribe that to any thing which it hath no natural power unto nor divinely enabled for is notorious Superstition as to attribute to the Sacraments a power of themselves both of Sanctification and Salvation from the work done or to so many prayers and vows a vertue of well deserving at Gods hand or to give to some meats or days more sanctity than others beyond any divine warrant Yet all this Superstition and much more is found in the Church of Rome as will appear more plainly in the sequel of this Treatise 53. Dr. Hammond acknowledges that Superstition is a nimiety or excess in Religion then are not those Romish Rites and unprescribed Ceremonies which are of a mystical signification to use his own word a nimiety and is not a placing of vertue in the sign of the Cross c. an excess in Religion why doth he then say 't is a dogmatizing to abstain from unprohibited Ceremonies as well as from unprohibited Meats Col. 2. for to argue from a non-prohibition suppose they were not prohibited is an argument ab authoritate negative and so of no force 54. However this Dr. gratifies the Romanists in his charitable glosses upon Superstition and Will-worship or worshipping of Daemons I am sure learned Mede does not so in his Doctrine of Daemons who applies it wholly to the Popish Church in her bowing to breaden Idols and Crosses like Daemon pillars c. all which make a lively Image of the Gentiles Theology of Daemons 55. Thus we see as Atheism is a defect in Religion so Superstition is an excess 't is a going super statutum as Isidore saith beyond the precepts of God which commands us to do only those things that he biddeth us do whatsoever thing I command you observe to do it thou shalt not add thereto nor diminisb from it Deut. 12.32 with Ch. 4.2 If any man shall add unto those things which God bath commanded God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written in the Book and if any man shall take away from them God will take away his part out of the book of life Rev. 22.18 19. as Atheists are guilty of the latter so the Superstitious of the former 56. Superstition is a being righteous or religious overmuch Eccles 7.16 as Atheism is a being righteous or religious over little as when men do hot only believe that Christ is our satisfaction for sin but also there is need of Alms Prayers Fastings Vows c. to satisfie for our sins this is an addition of our own merit to the merit of Christ as if the righteousness of Christ were not complete enough without the beggarly Eeke of our filthy righteousness This nimiety or excess is found in the Church of Rome 57. Tertullian condemns all things to be vacuae observationis et superstitioni deputanda quae fine ullius Dominici aut Apostolici praecepti autoritate facta sunt Tertul. de oratione Chap. 12. V. It seems he was not of the Dr.'s Opinion that thinks it enough that Ceremonies though they be not commanded if not prohibited may be embraced Tertullian was for a divine warrant and I have shewed in my Tractate of Ceremonies that they are prohibited in thou shalt not add 58. All divine Worship must have divine Warrant and whatsoever exceeds divine warrant is Superstition the Commands of God ought diligently to be observed Matth. 28.20 Act. 1.2 Revel 12. last v. But to observe more than God commands is to be superstitiously wise above that which is written Such were the Pharisees in the Jewish Church that Taught for Doctrines the Commandments if Men Matth. 15.9 that their
in a false manner For 1. Such binds Gods Presence and Influence of Grace to such places as God never bound his presence c. unto 2. There is neither precept nor promise for it 3. 'T is expresly forbidden Deut. 4.16 17 18 19. 101. And though they say we intend not to worship the Image but God in the Image this is not a sufficient salvo for the Israelites worshiped not the Calf but God in the Calf yet are they said to worship the Molten Calf and to sacrifice unto it in Gods account Exod. 32.8 God writes up sin where they write up service and 't is no matter what their meaning is in their worship so long as God abhors the manner of their worship 102. The Heathens in their Idolatry had such a meaning as this as Arnobius contra gentes lib. 6. tells us Deos per simulachra veneramur just saying as the Papists say at this day The Athenians and other Gentiles worshiped the true God Act. 17.23 yet by false mediums and meanings and if this worshipping the true God falsely be not Idolatry there hath been little in the World 103. Oecumenius tells us that the whole Inscription upon the Altar mentioned Act. 17.23 was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which intimates that besides Penates or houshold Gods for whom they had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or devout Adorations they had also Gods of Asia Europe and Lybia which they religiously worshipped Yet the ultimate end of their adorations was to the true God whom yet they knew not dwelling in thick darkness 1 Kin. 8.12 Hereby Paul takes occasion to inform them that the worship of the true God consisted not in those made Gods the work of mens hands but in Spirit and Truth John 4.22 23. 104. But to leave the Idolatry of the Gentiles I have consulted Josephus about that of the Jews in the days of Jeroboam who says that Jeroboam worshiped God in his Calves yet was he esteemed an Idolater (c) Josephus Antiqu. lib. 8. cap. 3 4. He brings in Jeroboam speaking thus God is in all places in my two Temples at Dan and Bethel as well as in Solomon's Temple at Jerusalem therefore I have Consecrated two Golden Calves in those two places to the end that ye may adore God He doth not say Adore my Calves 105. Yet when Jeroboam's Wife went to the Prophet about their sick Son the Prophet as Josephus says bids her tell Jeroboam from God that he should be rooted up for honouring his new Gods and his people should be carried Captive for adoring those Gods that he had forged But more plainly and fully 1 Kings 14.9 Thou hast made thee other Gods not representations of God though he accounted them so yet God did not so account of them but was provoked to anger by them for no sin provokes God more to anger than Idolatry 106. Whereas the Romanists plead they do but worship God before their Images as Israel worshiped God before the Ark I answer Israel had an express Command from God to worship before the Ark and they had a promise also that their Persons and Prayers should be accepted there When the Church of Rome shall produce such a Precept and such a Promise for their worshipping God before an Image I shall then believe that she is not herein guilty of Idolatry 107 The Church of Rome indeed covers her Idolatry with Coverings but not of Gods Spirit Isa 30.1 rather with such Cobweb Coverings as that of the Harlot Phaedra who committing lewdness with Hypolitus protested she embraced her Husband Theseus in him whom Hypolitus so nerely resembled As this protestation of Phaedra's would not free her from the guilt of Adultery no more will the protestation of the Whore of Rome saying she embraces the Person whom the Image nerely resembles while she commits lewdness with the Image it self free her from the guilt of Idolatry (f) Bishop Wren abandoning Scots Covenant pag. 20. Bishop Wren hath a good Notion saying Every thing that is not the Covenant of God is Baal let them nick name it what they will 't is an Idol and all the worship they give it is flat Idolatry no better than the worshiping of Baal That worship which is not found in the word or Covenant of God is Baal worship in his account no better than Idolatry the Romanists be halters 'twixt God and Baal 109. They that halt do incline their Bodies now one way and now another the Romanists as those Idolatrous Israelites 1 Kin. 18.21 halt in their worship 'twixt God and their Images inclining their minds now one way and now another to worship two Gods is a sin against the first Commandment but to mix the means of Gods worship is a sin against the second 110. That was a mixed Religion in 2 Kin. 17.28 32 and 34. 'T is said there that those Idolaters feared the Lord and also that they feared not the Lord v. 25. because though they worshiped the true God yet not according to his Law v. 38. as (g) Bishop Wren pag. 31. Abandoning of Covenant Bishop Wren in libro supra dicto pag. 31. says they thrust into their new model of Religion whatsoever pleased themselves so 't is accounted no fear at all They worshiped the true God and their own Gods too there was right worship of the true God but it was mixed with tricks of their own 111. That Mongrel Generation feared the Lord to wit acknowledged Jehovah to be a God and did offer some slight services and sacrifices to him yet 't is said they served their own Gods too v. 33. called Graven Images v. 41. Their Adrammelech which signfies a glorious King yet made in the shape of an horse and their Anammeleck or afflicting King in the form of a Mule Satan was glorious in their esteem yet afflicted them in the burning of their Sons to him 112. Those old Samaritans were halters betwixt two opinions They would swear by the Lord and swear by Malcham too Zeph. 1.5 They would consecrate themselves as by Oath to the service of God and yet they would worship Malcham also that Idol of the Ammonites otherwise called Molech 1 Kin. 11.7 and 2 Kin. 23.10 13. and Jer. 49.3 This is a joyning light and darkness or God and Belial together 2 Cor. 6.14 15. 113. Those worshippers of Malcham would not utterly renounce the true God yet would they set up Rivals with him to share of his honour which he will not give to another God cannot admit of any Corrivals They mixed Gods worship with their Idolatry or they worshipped God in this Idolatrous way as the Israelites did so the Papists do that divides worship some to God and some to their Images they swear by God and by their Saints too they pray to God and to their Saints also committing themselves to them together with God as to Patrons of their protection 114. Hereby the Church of Rome discovers her self not to be the true Mother of
Slaughter-house of the Saints and if the blood of men cry for Vengeance the blood of Saints doth roar for it yea and the blood of Kings Emperours some of which they have actually murthered more intentionally and some of which they have poysoned with the Bread in the Sacrament As she hath done so God will do unto her Obad. v. 15 16. God loves to Retaliate and to give severity for cruelty Psal 18.26 Levit. 26.18 21. Prov. 14.14 Revel 6.10 and 13.10 and 18.6 c. If the Blood of one Abel had so many tongues as drops and every drop a Voice to cry for Vengeance Oh! then how loud is the cry of those many Thousands yea Millions murthered by her Tot ora quot vulnera God will not pardon her murthers 2 Kin. 24.4 but fill her with the evil of her own ways Prov. 14.14 Rome's Ruine hastneth who dare shake hands with her hands so imbrued in blood horrible to God and Man CHAP. V. The Fifth Property is The Novelty of Popery 1. THe Fifth Character of the Romish Religion is the Novelty of it for which it ought to be abhorred The Romanists do indeed but unjustly impeach us of Novelty which in truth is their own Crime The Maxim is Actori non Reo incumbit probatio the Plaintiff that affirms not the Defendant that denyes should prove his Plea they complain of our Novelty we defend our Antiquity they do scornfully call us Novellers and ask where our Religion was before Luther we answer our Religion was always in the Sacred Scriptures where their Religion could never be found We can look beyond Luther even to the true Catholick and Apostolical doctrine wherewith ours holds consonancy in all points but their brags and boastings of Antiquity is no better than that Cheat which the Gibeonites put upon Israel with their old Shooes and mouldy Bread Josh 9.5 As they did work wilily teaching their Tongues to lye and covering their Falshood with Rags of Antiquity even so do the Romanists in our day with their old Shooes and clouted with their old Sacks old Bottles and old Garments to delude the World with their lying Doctrines for when they are put to prove the Antiquity of their Religion they can go no higher than about a thousand years ago and such an upstart Original as this made great Athanasius to deride Arrianism the elder Sister to Antichristianism for its Novelty because it had no higher a Rise than in such an Emperors Reign non erat sic ab initio It was not so from the beginning Matth. 19.8 2. 'T is a Romish Scoff that Turkeys Hops and Heresie came into England all together in one bottom to wit when Luther's Books and Tindal's Translation of the Bible were brought hither as if no such Man as blessed Wickliff with many other faithful Witnesses to the Truth had ever been heard of and as if the Writings of that holy Martyr John Husse had never been brought hither and wrought much good here above an hundred years before Luther's time and might not the mockers of the Jewish Religion take up the same Taunt against the godly Jews after the great defection in their Captivity of Literal Babylon saying Where was your Religion before Ezra and where was your Church before him It might have been answered then Our Religion is in the word of God in the five Books of Moses but our Church hath been in the bondage of Babylon from which God hath mercifully delivered it by his Servant Ezra So we may answer Our Religion hath been ever in Gods holy Word and will ever remain so but our Church hath been in the Bondage of Babylon Mystical as they of Babylon Literal which the Lord hath been delivering out of this many Years by many of his Servants in many Ages Yea and might not the Scribes and Pharisees have made the same Objection against our Lord Christ himself and his Gospel for an upstart Religion This is well Anticipated 1 Joh. 2.7 This is the old Commandment which was from the beginning 3. 'T is true the Scribes and Pharisees might have pleaded for their Traditions to be of more account than Christs own Instructions just as the Romanists do against us because of their Antiquity Universality c. for assuredly their Traditions had been received in the Jewish Church and had an universal Approbation amongst that degenerate Generation long before Christ was born Yea and during his whole life all the Jewish Clergy the Priests Levites Scribes and Pharisees consented together as one man to maintain their own Superstitions and to suppress the Religion of our Lord Jesus they having been with the people that were their Proselytes time out of mind the visible Church Yet were these men nothing so profound in their speculative Questions as the Romanists are in our day to require a Catalogue from Christ of all the Names of such as had from time to time professed that same Religion which he preached so contrary to theirs to his own time Had they required this Christ must have confessed to them that for the last three hundred years at the least no such Succession could be demonstrated and yet our Lord rectifies the Extravagancies of those blind Guides by reducing them to the first Institution which is the best Rule of all right Reformations telling them that from the beginning it was not so Matth. 19.8 Yea and the beloved Disciple which lay in Christs Bosom seems studiously to decline all suspicion of Novelty in saying I write unto you no new Commandment 1 Joh. 2.7 as if he would have us to have a jealous eye upon new Notions seeing Truth is like Wine the Older the Better Luke 5.39 Gods people are called the Antient People Isa 44.7 that stand in the old way Jer. 6.17 and walk in the antient Paths Jer. 18.15 but Idolaters are said to sacrifice to New Gods such as came newly up Deut. 32.17 And whether those many he-Saints and she-Saints which the Romanists do worship be not so many new Gods that be newly come up the Sequel may discover 4. The Romish Religion being brought to the touchstone of the Word cannot justly become a Loadstone unto any Souls after a true tryal of it to draw them after it we should prove all things and hold fast that which is good 1 Thess 5.21 Now the best Religion is that which is truly the oldest Religion according to that Axiom Illud verissimum quod Antiquise simum that Religion is the truest which is the ancientest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 new things are nothings or at the best vain things saith the Greek Proverb Of Witnesses Aristotle witnesseth that the more Ancient they are the more Credible and Creditable they are because less corrupted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist Rhet. lib. 1. Antiquity if it be right is of great Authority and hence Moses sends the Israelites to Antiquity Remember the days of Old Consider the years of many Generations Ask thy Father and he will shew
opposes Religion on the left hand I come now to the second Thief upon its Right Hand to wit Superstition which spoils Religion of its Native Beauty and puts it into such a painted gaudy dress as makes it a ridiculous Puppet and more meretricious than Matron-like 19. Plutarch makes this right-hand Thief the worst of the two saying that Atheism is better than Superstition for the Superstitious do Worship sordid base and cruel Gods Insomuch that it were far better there were no Gods at all than such as they worship 't is lest impiety to say there is no God than to give divine honour to bloody Devils and senceless Stocks or stones 20. And so he concludes that Superstition is the cause of Atheism because men looking upon the ridiculous Gestures practised in their Temples that are superstitious Worshippers they conclude it were better to have no Gods than to give Gods facred honour to such abominable Deities I had rather saith he men should say there is no Plutarch than that they should say that Plutarch is what he is not Plutarch de superstit Whether Plutarch be mistaken in this assertion altogether I shall not here determine Such Problems as utrùm prastat non esse quà m malè esse belongs to the Schools to decide and whether Superstition which is a Nimiety (l) Paul the second Pope ob nimiam Religionsm factus est Cardinalis Pasciculus Temporis and excess in Religion be worse than Atheism which is a defect therein is not much (k) Plutarch de superst in Moral to our purpose 't is enough to discover them both as Thieves to Religion 22. However there is not much difference 'twixt nequam and nequaquam the Proverb is as good never a whit as never the better betwixt making Sin a duty and making a duty sin Superstition makes sin a duty (m) Supperstition will by all means hew the Stones of Gods Altar as if whole Stones were not fine enough for God though he command it so Exod. 20.25 and Deut. 27.6 Superstition despises those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 septuag which the Hebrew calls perfect Stones 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Abanim Shelemoth in worshipping the true God after a false manner Act. 26.9 11. I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus and Atheism makes a duty sin in not worshiping God at all as if it were a sin to do it 23. Thus Religion with the Lord and Founder of it suffers hard things betwixt two Thieves and 't is not very easie to determine which of those two is more injurious to Religion and the Author of it whether that which makes the Principles of it to be question'd or that which makes the practice of it to be despised as the superstitious worship of the Romish Church makes the Jews at this day to contemn the Christian Religion 24. This is a most certain truth and taken pro confesso of all that Superstition is a Reproach to Religion and without a Vail is a very deformed thing though the Church of Rome would not willingly own any such deformity in her but like the Adulterous woman Prov. 30.20 Eats and wipes her mouth and saith I have done no wickedness yet will be found guilty 25. Superstition Grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Vice opposite to Religion according to excess Thus Aquinas in his Sec. Secundae quaest 92. Art 10. or thus Superstition is when worship which is only due to God is not exhibited to him in that manner as it ought or when it is exhibited to him to whom it ought not Thus Mich. de Obellis Or 't is a superfluous and vain devotion which God alloweth not 1. Neither by his Command 2. Nor by any Apostolical Rule for indifferent things 't is called also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a false Religion 26. Polanus defines it thus 'T is a Vice inhering in the Mind arising through Satan's craft by which men departing from the word of God contained in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles take up erroneous Opinions of God and false ways of worshipping him Polanus Syntag. Theol. lib. 9. cap. 3. pag. 579. and Szegedin thus Est opinio quae nec habet mandatum Dei nec physicam rationem vel est nimia et superabundans pietas sen Religio Virgil brands this Vice thus Vana superstitio veterumque ignara Deorum 27. Superstition is caused 1. from the pravity of our Nature which is over-desirous of forbidden evils whereby man is become inversus decalogus a diametrical opposite to God's holy will 2. from the wisdom of the Flesh which loves to be wise above that which is written 3. Servile fear for the Superstitious do fear where no fear is Psal 53.5 4. The insinuations of Satan and 5. the false Romish Church as the Devil begets them so the Mother of Harlots brings them forth 28. Sometimes it is falsely applied to true Religion (n) Beza in Act. 25.19 as Act. 25.19 but truly 't is that Worship which God commanded not nor came into his mind Jer. 7.31 A worshipping after our own hearts Numb 15.39 or a doing that which is right in our own eyes Deut. 12.8 Judg. 17.16 Or 't is a worshipping of that which God commanded not Deut. 17.3 and 29.26 'T is an observing of times Deut. 18.10 14. Gal. 4.10 Levit. 19.26 or of Mans traditions Math. 15.3 9. Marks 7.4 7. or 't is Will-worship that hath more of mans Will than of God in it Col. 2.18 21 23. 29. The Gentiles were guilty of Superstition Act. 17.22 (o) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Fearers of evil Spirits Act. 17.22 The Apostle saith they were too superstitious So were the Israelites in not eating of the sinew of common meat because the sinew of Jacob's Thigh shrank Gen. 32.32 So were the Philistims in not daring to tread upon the Threshold of Dagon's house because Dagon brake his Neck upon it (p) 1 Sam. 5.4 5. So was Naaman in carrying two Mules load of Earth out of Canaan into his own Country to make an Altar of (q) 2 Kin. 5.17 And lastly so were the Scribes Pharisees and Jews not only in straining at the Gnat of entring into the Judgment Hall when they swallowed the Camel of murdering Christ Joh. 18.28 but also in all their Traditions 30. As there is a Pagan Superstition which I shall not speak to here as being beside my present purpose so there is a Papagan Superstition whereby Papists think it a greater Crime to eat flesh on Fryday than to commit Adultery this is a being Righteous or Religious overmuch Eccles 7.17 31. This Papagan Superstition consists either in the worship of the Creator or of the Creature 1. In the worship of the Creator a superstitious man doth frame to himself a worship of God out of his own Will and not out of Gods will which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 2.23 and 't
the Child viz. Truth or Worship because she is for dividing it but God accounts it an abomination when any part of his Worship is imparted to Idols or Images God will have all or none at all and all will-Will-worship devised out of mans brain whereby men warp either to the Right Hand or to the Left from Gods prescribed Will the Lord abhors 115. The Just and Jealous God hateth and plagueth all Lukewarmness and Neutrality in Religion all dough-baked Duties or mixtures of Religion a mingling of the Cup of the Lord with the Cup of Devils 1 Cor. 10.21 The Religion of the house of Micah mixed Gods worship ship with the Devils Judg. 17.5 The Ephod resembling that of the High-Priests for the true worship of God and the (h) The Teraphim was the Image of a mans head wrung from the Body salted and spiced and under the Tongue spake the Unclean Spirit The King of Babylon had his Teraphim to consult with Ezek. 21.21 or Images Teraphim or Images in mans shape to divine by for the worship of the Devil 116. It was not lawful to mix Judaism with Gentilism Lev. 19.27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads nor make any cutting in your flesh for the dead c. These were the Ceremonies of the Heathen therefore the Lord prohibits his people from the observation of them Such a practice had the Aegyptian Priests who worshiped the Idols Isis and Anuhis shaving round their heads or as others say had their Crowns shaven as the Popish Priests have at this day 117. Thus the Religion of the Gergasites was a mixt Religion who learned many things of the Heathen as to eat Swines flesh hence we read of herds of Swine which the Jews abhorred in their Country and not to circumcise c. And such is the Religion of the Ebionites who observe both the Jewish and the Christian Sabbath 118. Neither is it lawful to mingle Judaism with Christianism as the Galatians did who would observe the Ceremonies of the Law in times of the Gospel Those Ceremonies were in their own time mortales in Christs time after he had said consummatum est they were mortal but in following times they were mortiferae and a denying of Christs coming in the flesh for if the substance be come those shadows must vanish away yet those Galatians joyned a dead Law the Law of Ceremonies with a living Gospel 119. The Church of Rome is the speckled Bird that hath mingled Ceremonies with Gospel worship above all that went before her and surely Religion is past the Meridian in that Church where she can hardly be seen for the length of her own shadow The shadows of her Evening have been long a stretching out and her day is going away Jerem. 6.4 (i) Fuller Abel Redivivus pag. 72. Erasmus in his time found Doctrine turn'd into Sophistry and Discipline into Ceremony 120. The Romish Church hath sowed divers seeds in Gods Vineyard she hath plowed with an Ox and an Ass in Gods Husbandry She hath worn Linsey-woolsey Garments in the Temple of God contrary to Levit. 19.19 She hath set up Dagon with the Ark of God and though the Apostle forbid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to play the huckfter with the word and worship of God 2 Cor. 2.17 yet hath she adulterated both 121. Her Bastard Devotion ought not to be admitted as Co-partner with the true worship of God for 't is opposite to the Nature of God to wit his Unity Soveraignty and Al-sufficiency as if there were more Gods than he more hearers of Prayer more pardoners of Sin and more Saviours from trouble than he And 't is opposite also to the Nature of Religion which is called a Bond the Reubenites may not build another Altar without warrant Josh 22.10 't is a spiritual marriage so must be chast or God will be jealous 2 Cor. 11.2 122. But the Romish Church hath played the Harlot and in the Revelation is called the great Whore with whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication and who knows not but that by spiritual Fornication is always in holy Scripture understood Idolatry And though indeed some of the Fathers say Antichrist shall be an hater of Idolatry they must mean only Paganish Idolatry for his worshipping a piece of Paste for Christ c. is as abominable Idolatry as Paganism was 123. That place in Dan. 11.38 literally meant of Antiochus but Analogically agrees to Antichrist Junius and Tremel reads it thus As for the God of Forces he to wit Antiochus shall in his Seat worship with Gold Silver c. a God which his Fathers knew not Thus the Pope hath set up a new God in the Church (k) To their breaden God they ascribe power to forgive sins to protect from evil and to bring to Heaven namely a piece of bread in the Mass which none of the Apostles knew and dedicates Gold c. to it yea burns all that will not bow to it 124. 'T is true the Romanists have found out sundry fine shifts to clear themselves of this Idolatry as their absolute and respective Adoration and their objectum quod and objectum quo Absolute Adoration is when the worship is terminated in the Creature as objectum quod Adorationis and the worship is limited to the Creature Respective Adoration is this when worship is given to dead and senseless things for the Examplar's sake 125. Then the Exemplar or Pattern is the objectum quo and the dead senseless thing or Portraiture is the objectum quod that is they adore the Portraiture for the Patterns sake the dead and senseless thing for the sake of it which is its Exemplar As when homage is done to the Viceroy for the King the Viceroy is the objectum quod and the King is the objectum quo thus the most modest of the Papists of old made but their Image objectum quod Adorationis and God himself objectum quo 126. But now they go further and maintain that Images are not only to be worshiped accidentally or improperly but also by themselves and properly so that they end and terminate their worship as they are considered in themselves and not only as they are Pourtraitures of the Pattern represented (l) Gregor di Valen. disput 6. quast 11. punct 6. and Greg de Val. saith that the same worship which is due to God is due to the Image too which he calls coâ—dâ—ratio or conjunct-worship 127. Plutarch tells us of Sysigambis Darius's Mother coming before Alexander the Great and mistaking Haephestion for Alexander she fell down before Haephestion but perceiving her mistake she began to blush but Alexander said to her Be not ashamed Non errâsti Mater nam Hephaestion est etiam Alexander (m) Thou art not mistaken Mother for Hephaestion is also Alexander But if a Papist falling down before an Image and mistaking the Image for Christ himself Christ will not say to him Be not ashamed thou
Star falling by degrees so far as to adore St. Ignorance so much that the works of Bellarmine their great Champion and of Gregory de Valentia were not allowed to be sold in Italy because the Arguments which the Protestant Authors use in their own defence are rehearsed in them The longest look the Romanists can take is at this blazing Star that Lieutenant General to the Dragon who sent forth whole bands of Locusts to wit Monks Fryars Priests and Jesuits both numerous and voracious Rev. 9.3 9. Even their own Bellarmine speaks something that hath a tendency to the gradual falling of this Star Wormwood saying Ab eo tempore quo per vos papa Antichristus esse capit non modo non erevit ejus imperium sed semper magis ac magis decrevit Bellarm. do Pap. Rom. lib. 3. cap. 1. Since saith he you Protestants began to call the Pope Antichrist he did not only not increase but a great part of his Command and Commodity hath decreased and is lost Whence I note by the way 't is not cautelously done by any of our Divines in my judgment so much as to doubt at this day who is the Antichelst Seeing we have here their own great Champion quasi Reum penè si non planè confitentem as if guilty almost if not altogether confessing the thing and the rather because he doth so ingeniously acknowledg that the very calling the Pope Antichrist hath been an Ordinance in Gods hand to bring down the Kingdom of the Beast and to make this bitter Star fall gradually And how probable it is that the Key of the bottomless Pit was given to this falling Star falling from the heavenly doctrine of the Christian Church at Rome in the Apostles time and after down into the Carnal and Earthly Religion of the now Romish Antichristian Church with which Key he lets into the bottom less Pit Souls innumerable insomuch that in the days of Hildebrand that Pope which was called The Brand of Hell alluding to his Name some Letters were set forth as sent from Hell wherein the Devil and his Angels give the Popish Clergy many thanks for sending them in so many Souls as they never had in any Age before Now if Popery began at this Star then it cannot be accounted an ancient thing 10. I know the Romanists use to beguile people by telling them that men of their Religion built all the Churches Colledges Hospitals c. in all the world To which I answer 't was not men of the Popish but of the Christian Religion that did most of those things Constantine built a Church on Mount Calvary and Justinian built another at Constantinople and our Ethelbert built Paul's here at London These were all done before the fall of the Star Wormwood or before Popery was heard of in the World and before the man of Sin that mistery of Iniquity was revealed 'T is true indeed Dolman alias Parsons doth labour in the very fire to defend the Antiquity of the Romish Religion here making all the three Conversions of England to be from Rome and to the Romish Faith but the absurdity hereof appears out of their own Baronius Who 1. confesses that Joseph of Arimathea came into England nine years before Peter went to Rome from whence it necessarily follows that our Church must be ancienter than that at Rome by nine years 2. The Christians here kept their Easter after the Eastern manner upon the fourteenth day which they would not have done had they received the faith from the Western Church from Rome 3. Pope Victor in the second Century would have altered this custom had this Land been then under his Jurisdiction 4. The Mother of Constantine Helene one of this Island did not hold any such points of Popery as the Romish Church now holdeth 11. To these add 5. Pelagius one of this Island also differed not from Augustine in the Third Century only in Freewill and Original Sin no other Popish points were known to them or discussed between them 6. Pope Elentherius did acknowledge our King Lucius to be Gods Vicar in his own Land which was far from those Ambitious Popes his Successors who make themselves Gods Vicars in all Lands As to that pretended Conversion by Austin that Arrogant Monk which Dolman would defend 't is answered that factious fellow found much opposition here about his imposing upon our Ancestors those Romish Rites of Easter day Church-musick Letany single life of Priests processions c. though at that time we read not a word of Pardons Indulgencies Transubstantiation the Sacrament in one kind c. all of them upstart things Hereupon Austin the Monk thus opposed doth conspire with King Ethelfred to cut off 1200 of his Opposers to wit the holy Monks of Bangor who were altogether unlike the Monks in after Ages for they lived by the sweat of their brows and by the labour of their hands and gave themselves to Fasting and Prayer not only lest the Christian Britains should be overrun by the heathen Saxons but also lest they should be corrupted by the Romish Superstitions which this insolent Austin whom they discerned and disowned as no man of God by his pride and ambition would have from Gregory in the sixth Century intruded upon them hence Gregorii Vicarius was justly stiled Gregis Sicarius and his Reformation so called was rather a Deformation yea his Conversion as Dolman terms it was rather a Perversion and which is worse as much as in him lay a plain Eversion in the slaughter of those holy men so that instead of a Prophet's Reward he better deserved the Punishment of a Murderer Beda lib. 2. cap. 2. Isaac Chronol pag. 406. Fuller's Chur. Hist 2. b. 10. Anno Dom. 605. 12. I might add many other Witnesses which all do witness that the Christian Religion which is the same that we Protestants do protest to profess and practice was long before the Romish Religion as now it is found any footing amongst us and that many in this Island suffered Martyrdom for it in the time of Diocletian the Emperor long before this Austin Beda hist lib. 3. Bishop Vsher De Primord Eccles Britan p. 102 and De Ecclesiae statu Successu at large and Aicentinus in his Annals lib. 3. to say nothing of Pareus Osorius or of the Magdeburg Centurists whom Dolman scornfully calls a Quadrilio or round Table because writ by four men Illyricus Vigandus Judex and Faber because prejudiced against them Their own Gregory of Monmouth confutes that fond opinion of Pope Gregory's sending this Austin to plant the Christian Faith in this Island seeing it had been planted here above four hundred years before Austin's time saying In patria Britonum adhuc vigebat Christianitas qua ab Apostolorum tempore nunquam inter cos defecerat it had never failed amongst them since the Apostles times And that Austin found many great places all furnished with good religious men Greg. Monmouth de Britan. Gestis
filios the Product of the Gods because they spring up without Seed yet are they but the sweat and superfluity of putrefyed Earth and therefore never can continue many Months Weeks or Days but soon shrivles into Fuz-balls This is the exact Resemblance of the Beast with seven Heads to Plot with and ten Horns to Push with ascending out of the Earth or Sea or Hell Revel 13.1.11 and Revel 11.7 and of his Beastly Religion that Smoke which ascendeth out of the bottomless Pit Revel 9.2 with abundance of Craft and Cruelty Though the Romanists say of it as the Town-Clerk said of Diana's Image that it fell down from Jupiter or as the Syriack reads it which descended down from Heaven Act. 19.35 yet Christ saith to them as John 8.23 Vos Infernales estis ye are from beneath Earth-sprung as so many Mushrooms and born from base Beginnings God grant they may dwindle away into Fuz-balls yea into nothing when their forty two Months the Beasts Lease are expired Assuredly Christ will smite Antichrist that Earthy one that lump of Earth which is both cold and dry heavy and bearing downward toward Hell as Earth with the Rod ef his Mouth Isa 11.6 And if John Baptist could say Christ must increase but I must decrease much more may this Earthy Antichrist this Toadstool Beast that only speaketh of the Earth not at all minding Heaven say so John 3.30 31. 6. 'T is Inconsistent with Rublick Peace in its Principles and Practices Insomuch that the very Collect for Gunpowder-Treason day in the Comon-Prayer Book calls the Romish Religion no better than absolute Rebellion How then can may or dare any sober mind do but hate this Religion as Rebellion it self which is as the Sin of Witchcraft 1 Sam. 15.23 Yea Dr. Davenant and Dr. Prideaux the two worthy Professors of our famous Universities have both determined that an absolute Papist living under a Protestant Prince and standing up to his own Principles must be an absolute Traitor And Mr. Fuller of later date affirms that an absolute Papist living under a Protestant King is battered with this two horn'd Dilemma of being either a Traitor if he walk up to his own Popish Principles or an Heretick if he deny them he cannot serve two Masters Matth. 6.24 This cursed Achan with his Babylonish Garment c. hath troubled Israel's peace in all Lands and therefore is to be stoned and burn'd Josh 7.15 to 25. with Rev. 17.16 Lastly 'T is Irreconciliable Implacable Rom 1.31 that admits not of a Truce much less of a peace like the old hatred of the Philistins to Israel Ezek. 25.15 or like the inveterate Enmity of the Seed of the Serpent against the Seed of the Woman that can never be reconciled but will last as long as the World lasts When you hear that the Devil is reconciled to God then may you have the Romish Religion reconciled to the Reformed 't is not any Amicable Reconciliation with Rome our Lord hath foretold but an utter extirpation Oh! then let not my Countrymen now Court the Whore which hath been so long Carted for a Whore the affection that is due to the Beast and his beastly Religion is hatred and not love Revel 17.16 I conclude this first Part with a lightsome story of a French Gentleman that being asked merrily which was the best Religion the Romish or Reformed Answered I may best know for I have been of both and surely saith he the Reformed which I left is the better for when I changed I had this Romish Religion and three hundred Crowns per year to boot Oh! pray that those seven unclean Spirits with the Romish Religion may be cast out of England for ever and never to return Mark 9.25 FINIS Books newly Printed for Dorman Newman at the King's Arms in the Poultrey THe Sinners last Sentence to Eternal Punishment for Sins of Omission where is discovered the Natuee Causes and Cure of those Sins by George Swinock price 2 s. 6 d. 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