that point And these honest well-meaning Informers if they had imagined indeed that I did so acquit them rather should have challenged mee of contradiction than of Popery For it seemeth as much Popery to accuse the Fathers of Errors as to excuse them of Erring seeing those three IESUITES than whom scarce were ever three more eminent in the Society doe not excuse or acquit them but accuse them rather for going so farre in applauding of Free-will In this point it is plaine my meaning was that their Vnderstandings were not so darkened as their words at first apprehension may seeme to import to erre so grossely in the point as they seeme to doe nor did then and in that particular those worthie Lights of the Church of GOD faile in discerning of the Truth of GOD in that particular as to use the words of the forenamed learned Bishop they inclined contrary to Scripture unto Pelagianisme For things must bee taken and considered as they are spoken and upon what occasion and ground they are spoken If you were not so acute to conceive this indeed so honest to expresse it yet your dullest Readers would have observed it had there beene in you so much ingenuity as to have added that which ensueth in M. MOUNTAGU thus That they being to deale against fatall Necessity urged by many PATNIMS Philosophers in those dayes as also against the execrable impiety of the MANICHEES they extended the power of FREE-WILL unto the uttermost and set it upon the Tenters especially having then no cause to fear anyenemy at home unto the contrary ante mota certamina PELAGIANA There being yet no PELAGIANS sprung up in the world enemies to Grace advancers of Nature and Naturall powers beyond degree of Power and of Possibility In effect M. MOUNTAGU as touching freewill heer in this case hath said the same and no more but the same that before him Bishop MORTON did in his Appeale pag. CCII. THE occasion of this difference we learne to have beene a whirlwind of contrary Heresies wherewith in those dayes the Church of GOD was miserably afflicted Then the MANICHEES and before them the STOICALL CHRISTIANS had taught an absolute fatall Necessity of every mans Actions thereby taking from man the guilt of sinne For the overthrow of which pestilent Heresie as is confessed concerning S. CHRYSOSTOME some FATHERS did contrarily yeeld too much unto the power of will This was the occasion of their by-sliding who notwithstanding did often recover their footing and in their more intimate meditations gave direct acknowledgement of our Orthodoxall Defence Iust to an haire up and downe the same Popery that M. MOUNTAGU hath Delivered That Bishop and my poor self say one and the same thing and yet will even the Informers I dare say acquit Him of Popery why not Me as well in the selfe same case with him CHAP. IV. Private and publick doctrine differenced In what sense the Church is said to be alwaies visible The Author acquitted from Popery againe by others learned Divines Of the Church of Rome INFORMERS HE calleth the doctrine of the INVISIBILITY of the Church a private opinion no doctrinall decision nor to bee imputed unto the resolved doctrine of the Protestants Nusquam est saith hee quod nun quam videtur CHAP. V. pag. XLVIII And againe pag. L. Moderate men on both sides doe confesse that this controversie may cease MOUNTAGU MY words were onely these It may be some private opinions have run upon Invisibility of the Church But since you put me to it if there bee any such doctrine as you speak of it is a private opinion and I will now say expressely I hold that doctrine a PRIVATE opinion yet then and there I did not ponere that any had so said in terminis or runne that way but onely with restriction by a May-be of concession that some men singular from the doctrine of the Church in their owne private opinions had fallen upon and supported an Invisibilitie Now every man but your selves knowes that the doctrine of a Church Publick and Authorized is one thing and your doctrine or my doctrine and private opinion is another thing For such doctrine as you talk of I know none I acknowledge none but that of Libertines and Brownists with whom if you have any commerce intercourse or confarreation look unto it the Church of England as it detesteth them so is it for and of another straine ARTIC XIX touching the Church thus we read The VISIBLE CHURCH of CHRIST is a congregation of faithfull men in the which the pure word of GOD is preached and the Sacraments be duely ministred c. Where Church and Visible are convertible tearmes That doctrine then to which you should and would seeme to have subscribed talketh of no invisible but a visible Church tendreth no Invisibility And it is a Position drawne out from thence and published that there is a Church of CHRIST not onely invisible but also visible Though for invisible it is more than that Article specifieth yet is it most true that there is a Church also invisible which was never denied or thought upon to be denied Secondly it is also concluded thence that the visible Church is a Catholick Church So the Church is visible and the Church is invisible both which I beleeve and professe distinctly taken and as it ought to bee understood For these though seeming are not contradictory Propositions The Church is invisible in her more noble parts the Saints both regnant in heaven and militant in earth such as be secreti and occultè intus such as bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the secret hidden the reserved Ones of GOD Psal LXXXIII IV. as Iewels of price of value of account I doe also beleeve and professe a visibility of the Church on earth necessarily toto sui though not totâ se in some part or other at all times though in all parts of the world or it selfe intire at no one time Nothing visible in the amplest maner that can be is so visible that there is nothing in it or of it but is visible It never was it never shall be it is wholly impossible to bee that at some time or other there could not be found in any one part or corner of the world not any part visible of that Church Catholick The Divell never did nor ever shall so farre and fully prevaile against GOD and GOD'S Kingdome as to effect or procure such an absolute desolation And so is it true for of this onely restrainedly I spake Non est quod nusquam videtur not generally true I grant and without limitation There ever was and will bee ever upon earth a visible Church some where or other with visible cognisances marks and signes to be discerned by such as be assigned by the XIX Article to which men may repaire to heare GOD'S Word where Sacraments are ministred and may be received unto salvation where Priesthood and Ordination is and may be had according to CHRIST'S
all hostilitie calling themselves interim Musulmans that is the right Beleevers so that religion is openly pretended for hostilitie Furthermore yet MAOMET personally as a private man and a false Prophet was truely and indeed a man of Sinne not only for his morall parts in his loose licentiousnesse lewd carriage abominable life impietie improbity and impuritie every way unto the highest but in his ALCORAN that execrable Law of his damned Sect he commendeth and tendreth unto not only alloweth and tolerateth in his Sectaries all filthie carnall pleasures and prostitutions and in reward of such a life a semblable recompence also after death in a Paradise of that uaure abounding withall beast-like brothelries Seventhly hee directly and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without more ado thrusteth himselfe into the roome place state and office of CHRIST He exalteth himselfe above CHRIST above the Prophets Apostles all holy men all holy things and his Successors in State arrogate and challenge unto themselves absolute supreme independent power over the Kings and Monarchs of the earth calling themselves in their high-swelling stiles Lords of Lords GOD of the earth c. as is to bee seen in the Letters of SOLYMAN AMURATH and others challenging absolute irresistable incontrouleable power to set up pull downe order alter and dispose the world and all things in the world at pleasure That wretch MAOMET like ANTICHRIST indeed commandeth his ALCORAN and most abominable Law to bee received of all as the Message of GOD beeing nothing but a TYROTARICHON and hotch-potch of errors fables lies impieties impurities blasphemies derived from and made up out of Iewish Paganish Manichean Arian heresies religion and superstition He commendeth it unto his Followers as comming downe from heaven by the ministery of his familiar and old acquaintance the Angell GABRIEL He preferreth it before the Law the Gospell all or any Word of GOD. Hee threatneth torments eternall unto the despisers of it and unto the observers promiseth his carnall Paradise abounding with all sensuall delights and carnall pleasures and to conclude as in effect in despight of GOD conculcating and trampling under foot whatsoever is named GOD advanceth his owne blasphemous reprobate and forlorne miscreant as he is divine power and authority forsooth in the Divels name above all things whatsoever in heaven and earth If these be not certain signes and remonstrances of ANTICHRIST I cannot tell what are or may be thought to be Eightthly the TURK is and hath been long possessed of Ierusalem and the Land of promise that pleasant Land and holy City HOMAR the successor of MAOMET took it and since it hath been a neast of uncleane birds in the hands of those barbarous blasphemous miscreants except for some few yeers under the French The Iewes when MAOMET first declared himselfe came flocking unto him as unto their MESSIAS the sooner and rather because he was circumcised as bee all of his Sect at this day receiving in their flesh the marke stamp and character of the Beast They greatly advanced and propagated his impiety They paid him tribute to the intent to incite him against CHRIST and Christians and having prevailed and instigated him thereunto assisted him readily in that enterprize Ninthly the TURK fitteth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is verified in him take the meaning for either IN the Church or AGAINST the Church in both which senses it is expounded Take Templum materially or formally or figuratively any way that note will also fit him At Mechae was he buried in the Church there HOMAR his Successor enshrined him there appointed an Obit and Anniversary for him there made it meritorious to visit his Sepulchre to undertake Pilgrimages unto his Reliques which religion and custome continueth yet unto this day And yet more The same HOMAR having after two yeares siege taken in Ierusalem Templum exquisivit as writeth THEOPHANES cited by BARONIUS quod SALOMON extruxerat ad Blasphemiae suae Oratorium constituendum Which being done and his Oratory erected in place of the Iewish Temple SOPHRONIUS the then Patriarch of Ierusalem took up this saying as having reference unto ANTICHRIST In veritate ista est abominatio desolationis quae dicta est à DANIELE Prophetâ stans in loco sancto And yet farther MAOMET the Great having taken Constantinople and ruined the Empire of the Greekes sate him downe and made his Palace in the Cathedrall Church of SAN SOPHIA and in the Close and Cloisters the Bishops and Priests lodgings thereabout where is his Seraglia unto this day Part of that large and admirablest piece of worke one of the wonders of the world the Church of SAN SOPHIA namely the Chancell of that Church where stood the High Altar or Communion-Table and Patriarchall Throne is now made and so used as a Turkish Moschie whither the GRAUND SIGNIOR also himselfe goeth often a Procession unto their Service or blasphemous Rites and Ceremonies of their Religion Spiritually figuratively he sitteth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against or upon the living Temples of GOD the Church of the Redeemed by the bloud of IESUS because hee hath demolished ruined and brought unto confusion very many famous and renowned Christian Churches in Syria Palestina Egypt Persia Armenia Arabia Africa and Asia the Lesse and the More Graecia Thracia and many other Countries Those Churches all but one to which Saint PAUL wrote Those in the Revelation hee hath removed put out cast off their Candle and Candlestick bereft them of their spirituall life in CHRIST of the power of his Kingdome in preaching the Gospell hath set the marke of the Beast upon them circumcised them in their flesh taught them to blaspheme and to open their mouthes against the GOD of heaven He maketh and ever hath made warre against the Saints that is against the Christians called according to the calling of grace unto a profession holy and sanctified eo nomine alone because they professe the Name and Faith of CHRIST that they acknowledge the Onely true GOD and Him whom GOD hath sent CHRIST IESUS the Saviour and Redeemer of all mankinde and because they detest those execrable blasphemies of that false Prophet and man of sinne against GOD against CHRIST and true Religion seeking by all meanes to make them as they speake Musulmans that is to deny CHRIST IESUS and to goe to hell And for this cause one amongst many hee extremely tyrannizeth upon their bodies and temporall states a note of ANTICHRIST to doe so but in more cruell and wretched sort upon their soules especially in that his barbarous and unheard of Tribute of CHRISTIANS children every third year or as occasion serveth oftner or seldomer to be violently rest away from their Parents from their GOD Redeemer Religion hope of Salvation and everlasting life to become the Eunuchs in his Seraglia worse than those in the Court of the King of Babylon his Ianisaries Spahies Beglerbegs and Bashaes the publick meanes and instruments of his Tyranny and insolences against GOD and his Church Tenthly
and I doubt not in others of that stamp are all made ours That by Hell is meant now this now that as almost in every Catechisme such Pamphlets whereof we have abroad so good store as I thinke would freight a Dryfat to the Mart every man making and using and printing a Catechisme a New Modell of his owne according to his owne private motion contrary to Order and Injunction by which we are tyed unto One the best of all And lastly if any man leaning to your Doctrine though not to your Discipline say That we know not the native and undoubted sense of this ARTICLE all is still cast upon the CHURCH of England I confesse these are disadvantages for us against the Papists as it were so many thornes in our sides but yet they choake us not For the Doctrine of the Church is plaine direct affirmative as it should be without figures allegories far-fetched obscure interpretations which never were intended to bee inserted into must not be tolerated in Articles of our CREED easie plaine even and perspicuous of themselves and made so purposely for the use capacity and instruction of the simple and ignorant who are not capable of obscurities It was not impossible that the humane soule of CHRIST should have been or might be or was in triduo mortis separationis suae really truely properly in Hell that land of darkenesse abode and habitation of the damned Not improbable against Scripture religion piety reason No inconveniency incompetency absurdity much lesse impiety No compulsion drew Him thither It was no needlesse thing I have given reasons of it mo than one He went not to deliver to stay to suffer for all was finished upon the Crosse quae praedicta quae praefigurata Therefore according to the Church of England I conclude in the words of Saint AUGUSTINE DOMINUM quidem carne mortificatum venisse in INFERNUM satis constat Neque enim contradici potest IOEL Prophetae qui dixit Quoniam non derelinques animam meam in Inferno Quod ne aliter quisquam sapere auderet in Apostolorum Actibus idem PETRUS exponit vel ejusdem PETRI illis verbis quibus eum asserit solvisse Inferni dolores in quibus impossibile erat eum teneri Quis ergo nisi INFIDELIS negaverit FUISSE APUD INFEROS CHRISTUM But if it be urged he went downe to free those that were bound there as intended by loosing the sorrowes of Death of which though it were impossible himselfe should be holden yet others were then detained under quibus alij tenebantur quos ille noverat liberandos S. AUGUSTINE will rejoine admit it so Quinam tamen isti sunt temerarium est desinire Since him men are growne wiser or more adventurous to resolve The truth is he that will beleeve no more than hee seeth nor embrace but what he hath demonstration for or sensible apprehension were better never meddle with the things of GOD where Faith is the Evidence of what is not seene Antiquity beleeved CHRIST went into Hell they beleeved when he ascended into Heaven he went a way nullius ante trita solo and had the prerogative royall as he well deserved it to be the first that removing the Cherubin at the gates of Paradise made a way for himselfe and for us into Heaven and though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he came up from the field of Blood thousand thousands did attend him and came up with him in his Royall Passe yet they were not brought forth from Limbus Patrum of the Papists The Fathers of old heard no newes thereof the Protestants detest it as much as you and be it knowne unto you so doe I as much as any Puritan in the Kingdome And yet I am of opinion for it is not of that nature or necessity to come within my Creed CHRIST was the first that entred Heaven The soules of the Righteous were not there before Him taking Heaven for that supreme and highest Heaven though otherwise in a more generall sense and acceptance they were in Heaven enjoied Happines did see good though not visione plenâ faciei Many questions peradventure may arise heerabout but fitter for Schooles than popular cognisance I conclude all as I began You understand not the state of Limbus Patrum nor the depth of the Question but scumme upon the surface and gibberish you cannot tell for what CHAP. XXXIV The seventh point of Poperie touching IMAGES The Historicall use of Jmages maketh nothing for the adoring of them Popish extravagancies INFORMERS TOuching Images thus he writeth IMAGES have these uses assigned by your Schooles stay there goe no farther and we charge you not with Idolatry Institutionemrudium Commonefactionem Historiae excitationem Devotionis You and we also give unto them these MOUNTAGU THAT for this and no more than this the Church of Rome is Idolatrous you affirme I deny prove your assertion if you can Though that Church for their enormities deserve no defence yet is it they say a shame to bely the Divell I doe not I cannot I will not denie that Idolatry is grossely committed in the Church of Rome The ruder sort at least are not excusable who goe to it with downe-right Idolatry without any Relative adoration worshipping that which they behold with their eyes the Image of the B. VIRGIN S. PETER S. PAUL the CRUCIFIXE as if CHRIST IESUS were present This Idolatry is ancient in their Schooles THOMAS AQUINAS doth directly vouch it Quòd eadem reverentia exhibeatur imagini CHRISTI ipsi CHRISTO Cùm ergo CHRISTUS adoretur adoratione latriae consequens est quòd ejus IMAGO sit adoratione LATRIAE adoranda which is now an Article of Faith in the Romane Church and the opposite Doctrine flat Heresie for so CABRERA upon that place of THOMAS writeth who alledgeth for his purpose and opinion many old and later Divines of their Schoole And AZORIUS the Iesuite telleth us Constans est Theologorum sententia Imaginem eodem honore cultu honorari coli quo colitur id cujus est Imago and because DURAND of old opposed such grosse Idolatry in THOMAS and his Schollers hee is censured to deliver Doctrine dangerous rash relishing Heresies nay plainely Hereticall say they But what hath Historicall use of Images to do with this so great extravagancy I know none beside your selves that censure or condemne the Historicall use of Images for Idolatry CHAP. XX. S. GREGORIES Doctrine concerning Images farre from Poperie INFORMERS ANd again Images in GREGORIES time were very much improved to bee bookes for the simple and ignorant people Hold you there and wee blame you not MOUNTAGU NOT for Idolaters against the First and Second Commandement for to bee Bookes for the ignorant and unlettered will not reach home unto Idolatry My words concerning S. GREGORY and his times are these XVII pages after the foreremembred Imputation S. GREGORIE is of later date than S. AUGUSTINE and of lesse credite by much