A FRIENDLY DEBATE BETWEEN A Roman Catholick AND A PROTESTANT Concerning the Doctrine of TRANSUBSTANTIATION WHEREIN The said Doctrine is utterly Confuted and Antichrist is clearly and fully Described and his inevitable Destruction predicted With a Challenge to all the Romish Doctors that Preach and Teach the said Doctrine to Answer it LICENSED September 24. 1688. LONDON 〈…〉 A FRIENDLY DEBATE BETWEEN A Roman Catholick AND A PROTESTANT CONCERNING THE Doctrine of TRANSUBSTANTIATION c. PRotestant Sir Do you believe that there is a Real Change wrought upon the Elements of Bread and Wine after they are Consecrated by the Priest in the Sacrament of the Eucharist into the Substantial Material Living Body and Blood of Christ which makes up his Real Person to wit of Body Soul and Divinity Roman Catholick Yes Sir I do believe that the Elements are Transubstantiated into the very living person of Christ to wit of Body Soul and Divinity that is into the very same Body which he assumed before he died the same Body in which he suffered and died upon the Cross without the Gates of Jerusalem the same Body that laid in the Grave three days and the very same Body in which he ascended up into Glory and is sat down at the right hand of God in Glory Prot. I must confess Sir according to the genuine sense of your Doctrine of Transubstantiation it must be so or else it is a mere sham and mockery For if the Elements be Transubstantiated into the very Body Soul and Divinity of Christ and then be offered up a sacrifice propitiatory and sufficient for the sins of the living and the dead then Christ must be alive or else you do offer a dead sacrifice But I do utterly deny it and therefore Sir I 〈…〉 Rom. Yes Sir I will prove it by Scripture from our Saviour Christ's own words and also from the words of the Apostle St. Paul. Prot. Pray Sir let me hear that Rom. First of all I shall prove it from our Saviour Christ himself by the words of Institution when he Instituted this Ordinance of the Sacrament of the Eucharist Luke 22.19 20. And as they were cating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my Body Likewise the cup after supper saying This cup is the new-testament in my blood Matt. 26.26 27 28. And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my body And he took thâ— cup and gave thanks and gave it to them for this â—â— my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins And in John 6.52 53 54 I am the living bread which came down from heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for every And the bread that I will give is my flesh which I wiâ—â— give for the life of the world Then Jesus said unto them Verily verily I say unto you except ye eat thâ—â— flesh of the son of man and drink his blood ye have 〈◊〉 life in you Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh mâ— blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at thâ— last day Thus you see I have clearly 〈◊〉 〈…〉 That it is Christ's Real Body and Blood that we do eat and drink in the Sacrament of the Eucharist And secondly I shall prove this Doctrine from the Apostle St. Paul's words also in the 1 Cor. 11.24.25 where he saith Take Eat this is my Body which is broken for you After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood. Thus you see I have proved this Doctrine of Transubstantiation by Scripture and I could also prove it by Councils and Decrees and Canons and Traditions of our Fathers and the like And besides all that has been said it is an Article of the faith of our Church which is infallible and cannot err And we are bound to believe as the Church believes and commands us to believe And therefore this Doctrine must be infallibly true Prot. Sir is this all that you have to say to prove this Doctrine of your Infallible Church Rom. Yes Sir and I think it is a sufficient proof of it too Prot. Why then I pray Sir Give me leave to answer you as well as I can from Scripture and from Reason also Rom. Yes Sir with all my Heart Prot. Why first of all Sir in the first place give me leave to tell ye you have not taken the whole verses or sentence in some of these Scriptures which you have quoted you have gone away with part of a Text even so far as will serve your turn which is a very dangerous thing for it is no less than to clip the King of Heavens Coyn which is Spiritual High Treason which is the worst of Treason and is punishable with no less than all the Curses of the Book of the Holy Word of God without true Repentance Rev. 22.18 19. Deut. 4.2 Prov. 30.6 Sir you know Satan when he tempted our Blessed Saviour Christ he quoted part of a Text of Scripture to serve his own turn Matth. 4.5 6. Then the Devil taketh him up into the holy City and setteth him on a pinacle of the Temple and saith unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down for it is written He shall give his Angels charge concerning thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone 'T is written saith Satan quoting Psal 91.11 12. for he shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways they shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone The Devil leaves out that part of the Text to wit He shall keep thee in all thy ways Sir you do own and believe these Scriptures which you have quoted to be understood literally and properly and not Mystically and Spiritually but according to the plain letter of them Rom. Yes Sir I do for the Text is plain and clear Prot. Now Sir I will answer you from the words of our Saviour Christ in the same Chapters and in some of the same verses which you have quoted and also from the words of the Apostle Paul in that same Chapter which you have made use of and also in many other places of the Holy Scriptures whereby you shall see by God's assistance this Doctrine of yours overthrown and utterly confuted therefore let us bring it to the Touchstone of Gods Word To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8.20 1. First of all By the words of our Blessed and only Mediator and Redeemer in Luk. 22.19 20. And he took Bread and gave thanks and brake it and gave it unto them saying
Ages from Adam to the end of the World are the purchase of Christ Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Job 19.25 For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth This was spoken about One thousand six hundred years befor ever Christ was born or took flesh upon him Thus you see that Christ is the only Sacrifice that is sufficient and propitiatory for the sins of all true Believers both under the Law and under the Gospel for they are all of them purchased at the price of his precious Blood alone And none else beside him is the Sacrifice for sin and his Blood is the only Purgatory for sinners and no other for we are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot Now dear Sir Pray be pleased to take the Candle of the Lord and look about all Christendom and see and consider well with your self who there be and what Sect or sort of persons are there to be found among them that are called Christians or do but own the name of Christ that do make a Sacrifice of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and they are the persons that are here intended by the Holy Apostle who spake as he was moved and inspired by the Holy Ghost for he could see by the Infallible Spirit of God even in that day That a certain Sect or sort of people would come up upon the Stage of Christendom or into the Temple of God that would forbid Marriage to pretended Religious Orders of Men and Women tho the Holy Scripture saith plainly and literally that it is better to Marry than to Burn. And the same Apostle saw by the same Spirit That the same sort of people that forbid Marriage would further reject the Scripture by commanding all persons whatsoever to abstain from Flesh The Apostle had an Expres◠sent him from 〈…〉 tidings 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. But the Apostle tells us we may eat whatsoever is sold in the Shambles to wit Butchers meat asking no questions for Conscience sake And the Apostle did see by the same Infallible Spirit clearly and spontaneously that a sort of Idolatrous Gentiles which are only nominal Christians would come into the Church or Temple of God that would make a Sacrifice of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in that Scripture which I quoted before to wit 1 Cor. 10.20 21. But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice unto devils and not unto God and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of Devils ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's Table and of the Table of Devils Now Sir the Protestants do not make a Sacrifice of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper they do not look upon the Elements of Bread and Wine to be Transubstantiated into the real person of Christ namely of Body Soul and Divinity after their Blessing or Consecrating of them and so offer him up as a Sacrifice as you of the Roman Community do own and pretend to believe and that the Elements are miraculously turned into the real substantial Body of Christ viz. Body Soul and Divinity and then offer him up as a Sacrifice sufficient and propitiatory for the sins of the living and the dead But here will appear two Sacrifices you will see by and by in this one The Apostle saith that it is a Sacrificing unto Devils and not to God and they that are guilty of this practice have fellowship with Devils in it and not with God for saith he Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of Devils ye cannot be partaker of the Lord's Table and of the table of Devils Thus you do hear what the Apostle saith it is not my word but his which he spake by Divine Inspiration They offer up sacrifices unto Devils But here I say are two Sacrifices as you may observe in this one The first is this whereas the Priest doth pretend to offer up a Sacrifice sufficient and propitiatory for the sins of the living and the dead why here the Apostle telleth us plainly that this is to offer a Sacrifice unto the Devil and not unto God So that it is clear that they do offer a Sacrifice unto the Devil under a specious pretence of sacrificing unto God. And the second Sacrifice that springs out of this one Sacrifice is this viz. The poor Lay-people do really offer up their Senses Reason Understanding and Faith and all that should be dear unto them both as Christians and Men in Sacrifice to the Priest and they are no longer Masters of their own Senses Reason Understanding Soul and Conscience for 〈…〉 another They have eyes and see not they have cars and hear not they are fallen under that heavy Judgment which the Gospel Prophet predicted and also our Saviour Christ himself Isa 29.10 11 12. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep and hath closed your eyes the prophets and your rulers the seers hath he covered And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed which men deliver to one that is learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I cannot for it is sealed And the book is delivered to him that is not learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I am not learned Matt. 13.14 15. And in them is fulfilled the prophesie of Esaias which saith By hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive For this peoples heart is waxed gross and their cars are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them I do believe that this Prophesie does principally refer to the Jews and took place upon them first for rejecting and disbelieving Christ the true Messiah but those Christians that have contracted the same guilt as they did to reject the Gospel of Christ they do make themselves guilty of the same sin with the Jews and by that means have lain themselves in the bed of unbelief with them and are both Sacrificers now in Gospel times which is to deny that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh so they lay themselves under the same Judgment with the Jews for one and the same cause produceth one and the same effects at one time as well as at another without preventing Mercy But the Apostle Paul speaks clearly of a sort of Christians that would cast off and reject the Gospel of God for which God did bring the like judgment upon them in 2
fiesh and bones as ye see me have And when he had thus spoken he shewed them his hands and his feet Joh. 20.19 20 24 25 26. Then the same day at evening being the first day of the week when the Doors were shut where the Disciples were assembled for fear of â—he Jews came Jesus and stood in the midst and saith unto them Peace be with ye This made them so terribly afraid because Christ came in personally among them notwithstanding the Doors being fast â—hut And when he had so said he shewed unto them his â—ands and his side then were the Disciples glad when â—hey saw the Lord. That was when our Saviour had â—atisfied their sences and reason and their understanding that it was he himself and not another â—ow if you could satisfie any body of the reality of â—our Christ that is Transubstantiated or if that â—hrist himself would satisfie people of the truth of 〈◊〉 as our true Saviour Christ did it would be someâ—â—ing But Thomas a Didimus being absent this first â—â—y that Christ appeared he mist sight of him vers â—â— 25 26. But Thomas one of the Twelve called Didiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 not with them when Jesus came The other Disciples therefore said unto him We have seen the Lord But he said unto them Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side I will not believe And after eight days again his Disciples were within and Thomas with them then came Jesus the Doors being shut and stood in the midst and said Peace be unto you then said he to Thomas Reach hither thy fingers and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing If you of the Roman Catholicks that are Lay-persons were but as incredulous about your Doctrine of Transubstantiation as Thomas a Didimus was of Christ's Resurrection I know not how the Priests would do to satisfie you but here you see that our Saviour Christ did satisfie all his Disciples for he satisfied their sences and reason and all the scruples that did arise in them and he did not send their understandings empty away nor hoodwinkt here was seeing hearing and feeling fully satisfied and reason and understanding sent full fraighted or laden away and no room left for the least doubt or scruple to be made of the truth and reality of those Miracles But your Transubstantiated Miracle is so far from satisfying any persons Senses Reason and Understanding whether Romanist or others that will but be true to their Intellectuals that it both betrayeth and destroyeth Sense Reason and Understanding for ye must not believe one of them noble faculties if you believe your Miracle which is quite contrary to the very nature of Miracles Pray mind our Saviour Christ he comparatively did stoop down and condescend to Thomas's unbelief but it was to destroy it And this he did by satisfying his Senses Reason and Understanding also John 20.24 25 26 27. Now if your Priests could do so then it were something like but because they cannot do it it is not only nothing but it is that which is insinitely worse than nothing it is a very dangerous pernicious Doctrine for it is a strong Delusion and it is one of Antichrist the Man of Sin 's Lying Wonders for they that pretend to work this Miracle do despise and contemn the Holy Scriptures as you may see in that same Chapter where Antichrist the Man of Sin is described For these are two of his Characters viz. Lying Wonders and Disowning the Gospel 2 Thess 2.9 10 11 12. Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders That is he claims all power both spiritual and temporal which either his craft or his cruelty can reach Dan. 8.24 25. And his power shall be mighty but not by his own power and he shall destroy wonderfully and shall prosper and practice and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people And through his policy he shall cause crast to proster in his band and 〈◊〉 shall magnify himself in his heart and by peace shall destroy many he shall also stand up against the prince of princes but he shall be broken without hands Rev. 17.14 16 17. The Apostle saith that he should come with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believe not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness It is a most dreadful judgment you see that you poor souls do lye under who do believe this Doctrine The Lord in Mercy open your eyes and thorowly convince your Consciences of the evil and danger of it before it be too late while the door of Mercy stands open for it is as great a Judgment as that which the Jews lieth under for as your sins and theirs is much alike so are the judgments which both the one and the other lieth under the Jews they deny Christ openly and you deny him privately you do confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh in words but in works you deny him 3. Thirdly and lastly The Apostles whenever they wrought Miracles the people saw that they were Miracles Acts 8.6 7. And the people with one accord gave good heed unto these things which Philip spake hearing and seeing the Miracles which he did For unclean spirits crying with loud voices came out of many that were possessed with them and many taken with palsies and that were lame were healed And their very enemies did see the Miracles which they wrought and were forced to confess and own it as you may see in Acts 4.16 Saying What shall we do to these men for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done it is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem and we cannot deny it And the Apostles did raise the dead also and the people both good and bad did hear and see the Miracles which they wrought and were all satisfied with the reality of them or else it could be no Miracle There was never any Miracle wrought that ever I read of in the Sacred Scriptures as I can remember either by the Prophets who were inspired by the Holy Chost before Christ came in the flesh or by our Saviour Christ himself or by any of his Apostles that ever destroyed mens Senses and Reason and put out the very light of their Understanding but the Miracles which they all wrought brought their own clear and undeniable evidence along with them They have as we may say spoken clearly and fully for themselves they need no tricky nor force nor cunning artisices to create a belief in the people of the real truth of them but all the people
that saw them have always been satisfied that it was a real thing Tho it is true the wicked enemies many times 〈…〉 believing Jews did of our blessed Lord and Saviour's casting out Devils when they said that he cast out Devils by Beclzebub the Prince of Devils Matt. 12.24 But when the pharisees heard it they said this fellow doth not cast out devils but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils They blasphemously and boldly did assert that Christ the Eternal Son of God did derive his Power and Authority to work Miracles by from the Devil when as Christ himself is the Omnipotence God the Second person in the most Glorious Trinity Rev. 1.8 I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is which was and which is to come the Almighty John 8.58 Jesus saith unto them Verily verily I say unto you Before Abraham was I am Prov. 8.23 30. I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the carth was Then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was dayly his delight rejeycing always before him And likewise concerning that wonderful Miracle of Christ rising from the dead How did they porsuade and bribe the Soldiers that watched the Sepulchre to tell the Governor that while they slept his Disciples came by night and stole him away Matt. 28.11 12 13. But now this Transubstantiated Miracle of yours does not nor cannot satisfy any Man's Senses or Reason unless it be with Ignorance I dare be bold to say and appeal to all men that no Romanist himself can have his Sense and Reason satisfied as to the truth of it for it cannot be it is impossible All that can be said is this their unbelief has overcome and captivated their Sense and Reason and so they do lay a force upon it and suspend the following of the dictates of it as our Saviour Christ saith Mark 4.12 That seeing they may see and not perceive and hearing they may hear and not understand They may force their Tongues and so extort a Confession that the Bread or Wafer in the Sacrament is the Real Body and Substantial Flesh of Christ but the Eye saith Tongue thou liest at the same time for the Eye seeth no change upon the Accidents but they remains still as they were before which if there were such a change wrought upon them then the Elements would cease to be and quite disappear but he seeth the Elements still remaining as they were But implicit Faith and Unbelief hath so blinded his spiritual Eyes that he must not believe his own corporeal Eyes by which means be cannot or will not perceive the deceit And their hearts being so hardened through the deceitfulness of sin that they will not exercise their thoughts about it and their hearts are so beclouded or vailed over with their false Doctrine that although they hear better things with their Ears yet-they must not believe them because they are bound to believe as their Church commands them to believe And the Hand that 〈…〉 Mouth that can taste nothing but Bread or the Wafer the Mouth cannot taste one bit or morsel of Flesh or feel the least Bone or Gristle in it And as for the Wine that is really turned into blood they must take the Priests word for that and pawn the Salvation of their Souls for the truth of it too But tho they do blind themselves in this nature yet their Senses and Reason do their Office tho they will not hearken unto them nor give the least credit unto what they inform them And Christ and the Apostle tells them that it is Bread after Consecration and that the Cup is a Cup in which the Wine is 1 Cor. 10.16 17. And their own Senses and Reason tell them that it is so but they will not believe Christ nor the Apostles no nor their own Eyes Nose Hands nor Mouth but they will believe as the Church believes or believe the Priest before them all altho they have neither their own Senses Reason nor Understanding on their side nor the Holy Scriptures on their side which is the revealed will of God and ought to be the Rule for every Christian to live and walk by But Sir your own sense and reason and understanding and the Sacred Scriptures are all against you and this is the main reason why your Priests will not permit nor allow the use of the Gospel-light that holy and Sacred Touchstone to the people for if they did it would discover all their spiritual coyn to be but dross and counterfeit and it would never pass among the people Joh. 3.20 For every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved They first put out the light of the Gospel and then they bring them to resign up their sences and reason and understanding and conscience and souls and all unto the conduct of the Priests or Church And when they have them thus in the dark why then they lead them which way they please for he is no longer acted nor guided by his own reason or understanding nor by the holy Scriptures but by the Priests O Sirs look to the Word of God Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them O precious souls do not deceive your selves I beseech you by sollowing these blind Guides but take our blessed Redeemer's advice and counsel in Mat. 15.14 Let them alone that is as much as to say do not follow them they be blind leaders of the blind and if the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch And the Prophet Isaiah saith in Isa 9.16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err and they that are lead of them â—re destroyed Again secondly if it be so that your Priests do by vertue of their Consecration convert the Bread â—nd Wine into the real substantial person of Christ 〈◊〉 wit of Body Soul and Divinity why then it 〈…〉 follow that Christ must be as compleat substantial and intire lacking nothing of all these blessed personal perfections as he was when he was here personally upon Earth before he ascended up into Glory for this must be the inevitable and necessary consequence of it for even so it must be or else it is but a meer fantastical imaginary Sham-Christ and is of the number of those sort of false Christs which our Saviour Christ bids us beware of which are out in the desert among the false Prophets Matt. 24.23 24 25 26. Then if any man shall say unto you Lo here is Christ or there believe it not for there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets This was prophesied by our Saviour Christ that when Antichrist the Man of Sin did or should arise that then these false Christs and false Prophets should arise in great numbers with him and shall shew great signs and
wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect Behold I have told you before Wherefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desert go not forth behold he is in the secret chambers believe it not And Antichrist was to arise and come with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders saith the Apostle which is the same character which our Saviour gives of him This desert where these false Christs are I take it to be a Church or People professing the name of Christ in words but deny him in works being abominable disobedient and unto every good work reprobate Titus 1.16 They are a Company of Deserters that have deserted Christ and run from the true Christian Colours for you see they are a sort of nominal Christians that do own Christ's Name but they do follow another Jesus as I have already shewed from the Apostles words 2 Cor. 11.4 They are a people that have deserted Christ's Standard who himself is Generalissimo of all the Christian spiritual Soldiers or Army But these false Prophets and others are those that are gone over to Antichrist who is Head and Generalissimo of all the many Antichrists and Apostates Now that our Saviour Christ prophesied here of Antichrist's rising it appeareth to me to be as clear as the Sun that shineth in the firmament because the Apostle hath laid down the very same Character of Antichrist and his Disciples and false Prophets as our Saviour had done before for our Redeemer saith that there should arise false Christs and false Prophets which should shew great signs and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very elect And the Apostle saith that the Man of sin Antichrist should come after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish Our Saviour saith consequentially Signs and Wonders and Deceit And the Apostle also saith Signs Wonders and Deceit If it were passible they shall deceive the very elect saith our Saviour that is by their great Signs and Lying Wonders They shall come with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish saith the Apostle And then here followeth their desertion of the Standard of Christ their General Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved Here they first desert God and then God deserts them as you may see in those following words of the Apostle as I have already proved And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believe not the truth That is those who believe not the Gospel of God in opposition to this lie but had pleasure in unrighteousness Surely then this must needs be a dreadful desert when a Church or people desert and leave God And God doth cast off them and desert and leave them this I humbly conceive to be the meaning of our Saviour Christ in Matt. 24. which does agree and suit so well with that of the Apostle Paul's description of Antichrist the Man of Sin this is that desert where these swarms of false Christs and false Prophets are and do reside it is a deserted false worship And hear again what is said in 1 John 2.18 19. with which Scripture I shall close this Head and so go on towards the finishing of this Discourse Little children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time There be the false Prophets which Christ tells us should arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive the credulous people And here followeth their Apostatizing or Desertion to wit They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us But they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us Thus you see that this Doctrine of yours is not true and your Tronsubstantiated Christ is but a false Christ and of the number of those Christs that are out in the Desart Now I pray Sir do not take it amiss that I deal thus plainly with you nor do not think much of my repeating over some things that have been mentioned under former Heads for you know in a trial at Law among Men you have often one and the same thing repeated over and over by the Witnesses and others c. Ay and we have it so in Scripture also in many places and in many cases and I will give you one which relates unto this our Tryal or Discourse Gal. 1.6 7 8 9. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel Which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ But tho we or an angel frem heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again If any man preach aâ— other gospel unto you than that ye have received 〈◊〉 him be accursed And what the Apostle saith 〈◊〉 say I and let all good men say Amen to it 3. Thirdly If this Doctrine of yours be truâ—â— then after Consecration as you call it there would appear all the lineaments of a Man visibly to aâ— the spectators with all the faculties of a Man for 〈◊〉 was Christ when he was here upon Earth personallâ— in Body Soul and Divinity before he laid dowâ— his Life and after he took it up again viz. after he arose again from the dead Luke 24.39 Behoâ—â— my hands and my feet that it is I my self handle 〈◊〉 and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see 〈◊〉 have If this Doctrine of yours be really truâ— why then it would necessarily follow that all thâ— spectators as well as the partakers would be satisfied that it is so and not an imaginary fancy for such is the nature of Miracles as you see haâ—â— been clearly proved by several instances both from Scripture and Reason which do witness the trutâ— of it 4. Fourthly If this Doctrine of Transubstantiation in your sense be true viz. That Christ is iâ—â— tire in his person with all the lineaments and facuâ—ties of Man after Consecrating the Elements in thâ— Sacraments then Sir I would fain know what 〈◊〉 the Reason that he doth not speak or what should hinder or impede Christ from speaking personally and vocally now as well as he did to his Disciple after he arose from the dead when they were under doubts and fears whether it was he or no wheâ— he said unto them Why are ye troubled and why 〈◊〉 thoughts arise in your hearts Behold my hands and mâ—â— feet that it is I my self handle me and see for a spirâ—â— hath
be a Whoremonger nor an Adulterer for the Scripture saith That Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judg 6. Sixthly It could not be a Thief or a Murderer nor an Unrighteous Person nor a Lier nor a Fornicator nor an Extortioner nor a Reviler nor a Conjuring Sorcerer nor an Effeminate Person nor an Abuser of himself with Mankind neither could it be a Drunkard or a Glutton It could not possibly be any of all these sorts of bad Men that made or invented the Scriptures because they would never have denounced such heavy Judgments against themselves for all these Sins which are against the very Light of Nature 1 Cor. 6.9 10. 7. Seventhly It could not be any of these two Bed-Rolls of Sinners that made or invented the Holy Scriptures which you have discovered by the Apostle Paul in Rom. 1.26 27 28 29 30 31 32. and in 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. Surely these Sinners would never have pronounced such a dreadful Sentence against themselves 8. Eighthly It could not be a Persecutor that made or invented the Scripture for it hath set a Cain-like mark upon him viz. the vilest and basest of Men Acts 17.5 But the Jews who believed not moved with envy took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort and gathered a company and set all the city in an uproar and assaulted the house of Jason and sought to bring them out to the people And our Saviour Christ calls them A generation of vipers and scrpents Matth. 23.31 32 34 35. Surely then if Persecutors had made or invented the Scriptures they would never have written thus against themselves 9. Ninthly It could not be a Sabbath-breaker or one that profaneth the Lords Day that made or invented the Scriptures because the Scriptures are very strict for the due observing the Sabbath or for keeping a Day unto the Lord and there is severe Penalties prescribed and made to be inflicted upon the Tranfgressors of that Holy Law of God. 10. Tenthly It could not be an Atheist that made and invented the Scriptures because it discovers the glorious Attributes of the Divine Being and his Works of Creation and Providence and denounceth Hell and Damnation against all Atheists therefore it could not possibly be an Atheist that made and invented the Holy Scriptures 11. Eleventhly and Lastly to name no more bad Men It could not be any Person made and invented the Scriptures that was an Idolater that invents and makes to himself any graven images or the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the sea or in the waters under the earth Exod. 20.4 5. That bow down to them and say their Prayers before them and perhaps pay Divine Adoration unto them Read what the Scripture saith of these Psal 115.4 5 6 7 8. Psal 97.7 Isa 40.18 19 20. To whom will ye liken God or what likeness will ye compare unto him The workman melteth a graven image and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold and casteth silver chains He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image that shall not be moved Isa 44.16 17. He burneth part thereof in the fire with part thereof he eateth flesh he rosteth rost and is satisfied yea he warmeth himself and saith Aha I am warm I have seen the fire And the residue thereof he maketh a god even his graven image he falleth dewn unto 〈◊〉 and worshippeth it and prayeth unto it and saith Deliver me for thou art my god Now certainly it could be none of these sorts of Persons that made or invented the Holy Scriptures which we Protestants do own and believe to be the eternal unalterable Word and Law of God. Object But it may be some may say Yes it might be such a Person that made the Scriptures for we do not make these Images for any other end or design than to put us in mind of God and our Duty towards him and that they are the Lay-mens Books to teach and instruct them Pray give me leave to put a Case unto you Now suppose for Argument sake to illustrate the matter that the King's Majesty in Concurrence with his two Houses of Parliament the Great Council of the Land should make a Law for some Reason of State that it should be no less than High Treason for any of his Subjects to make his Image or to have his Picture or the Likeness of any thing that doth belong to him in Imitation of it and Issue out his Proclamation straightly and strictly forbidding all his Subjects attempting the doing it upon Pain of the inevitable escaping the severest Punishment which properly belongeth unto those that are Guilty of High Treason But yet notwithstanding this severe Prohibition of the King there should be some Persons would be so daring and bold as to presume to do it out of a pretended but blind Zeal of Loyalty and not rest satisfied in nor with their own Treason and Rebellion but they would force others of his Subjects to do so likewise or else they would knock them in the head or burn them because they were truly Loyal and kept to the Kings Laws in this Case made and provided Pray which of these two forts of Persons are the best and the most Loyallest Subjects think you I know you will say those that obeyed the Kings Laws for as it is in Spiritual things so in this Obedience 〈◊〉 better than Sacrifice Why the Law of the King of Heaven who is King of Kings and Law-giver to all his Creatures viz. the Great Charter of Heaven is that we shall not make nor have nor bow down to nor worship any sort of Images â—or the likeness of any of the things in Heaven or â—n Earth or in the Sea or in the Waters under the Earth Whatever some People think of it I will â—ssure them from the Word of a Jealous God it is â—â—o less than Spiritual High Treason and punishable by the Great Charter of Heaven with no less â—han Hell and Damnation without unfeigned Reâ—entance and a thorough Reformation Deut. 5. â— 9. Thou shalt not make thee any graven image or any â—â—keness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is 〈◊〉 the earth beneath or that is in the waters beneath 〈◊〉 earth Thou shalt not bow down thy self unto them 〈◊〉 serve them for I the Lord thy God am a jealous 〈…〉 God. Therefore it could be none of these sort of bad Men nor no other bad Men whatsoever that had any hand in the least in making or inventing the Scriptures which we that are Protestants of all sorts do own and believe to be the Word of God. 2. Secondly In the second place neither could it be good Men that made and invented the Scriptures of their own Brain First It could not be them which count themselves Good Nor Secondly Could it be them whom
which is that wherein the strength of their father's Dominion lieth and doth afford no manner of relief nor support to the Devils Kingdom nor no kind of countenance to his subjects or children But the whole bent and stream of the Scripture is against his Kingdom subjects and children therefore the Holy Scriptures could not be invented or made by any of them but it must be the infallible true word of the everlasting God who cannot lie nor deny himself and it was indicted by his Holy Spirit and written by holy men of God as they were moved and inspired by the Holy Ghost Eighthly and Lastly If it be not in the Power of a Good Man to give the Reward that cometh by Grace of Eternal Life and Salvation which is the full Fruition and Enjoyment of God for ever in Glory which is promised in Scripture unto all them who believe and obey it Nor to execute the threatnings of Hell and Damnation by punishing all those with eternal torment which the Holy Scriptures have denounced against all them that transgress by their disobedience unto it because it would be to promise that which he was no way in the least measure or degree capable to perform or make good and threaten that which he hath not a power to execute Then it could not be a good man that made or invented the Scriptures But it is not in the power of a good man to give the reward that cometh by Grace of Eternal Life and Salvation Tit. 1.2 which is the full fruition and enjoyment of God for ever in Gloty which is promised in Scripture unto all them who believe and obey it nor to execute the threatnings of Hell and Damnation by punishing all those with eternal torment which the Holy Scriptures hath denounced against all them that transgress by their disobedience unto it 1 Pet. 4.17 18. Because it would be to promise that which he knew in his own Conscience that he was no way in the least measure or degree capable to perform or make good and to threaten to inflict that punishment which was not in his power to execute and so he would have been a liar and an impostor which is quite contrary to the Principle of a good man and it is utterly inconsistent with his Goodness Therefore it could not be a good man that made or invented the Sacred Scriptures because this power is peculiar and wholly in the hands of God and therefore it must be the word of God. The Apostle St. Paul saith But I certifie you brethren that the Gospel which was preached by me is not after man for I neither received it of man neither was I taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ Thus you see clearly proved That the Holy Scriptures were not made nor invented by either good men or bad men Therefore it must be undoubtedly the Infallible Word of the True and Ever-living God and not a humane Invention Now I shall close up this Discourse in drawing a Parallel between some part of the Holy Scriptures of Christ and the Scriptures of Antichrist which is that another Gospel as the Apostle called it in 2 Cor. 11.4 and Gal. 18.9 And I shall Answer another Objection with Three Arguments and so finish the whole 1. First the Gospel of Christ teacheth Love Peace Meekness Humility and lowliness of mind Col. 3.15 2 Tim. 2.24 25. But the Gospel of Antichrist teacheth men Hatred Variance Pride Malice and Haughtiness of Spirit 2. Secondly The Gospel of Christ teacheth men to do good for evil But the Gospel of Antichrist teacheth men to do evil for good for if they know that a man doth but endeavour to convince them of their Errors and Heresie which is the greatest and best good that any man can do for a Person they will Burn or Hang him or clap him up in the Inquisition for a Heretick if it lieth in their Power which is to do the greatest evil for the greatest good 3. Thirdly The Gospel of Christ teacheth men to do to others as they would be done by themselves Matth. 12. But the Scripture of Antichrist teacheth men to do by others as they would not be done by themselves 4. Fourthly The Gospel of Christ teacheth men to pray for their Enemies that persecute them Matth. 5.44 But the Gospel of Anrichrist teacheth them account them their Enemies that pray for them and 〈◊〉 persecute them 5. Fifthly The Gospel of Christ teacheth 〈◊〉 to love our neighbours as our selves But the Gospel of Antichrist teacheth them 〈◊〉 betray and murder their neighbours for Hereticks if they be not of their Perswasion 6. Sixthly The Gospel of Christ teacheth 〈◊〉 Ministers of Jesus Christ to compel people to conâ—â—â— unto Christ and believe in him for Life and Salvation by peaceable suasive Arguments drawn and deduced from the Holy Scriptures But the Gospel of Antichrist teacheth his Ministers to compel Persons to come unto him a 〈◊〉 embrace his Religion and Worship by the forcible Arguments of Dragoons and Inquisitions 7. Seventhly The Gospel of Christ teacheth 〈◊〉 That God is a spirit and they that worship him 〈◊〉 worship him in spirit and in truth John 〈…〉 But Antichrist's Gospel teacheth That God is an Old Man sitting in Heaven and must be worshipâ—ed carnally and falsely by Images c. 8. Eighthly The Gospel of God teacheth Men Wisdom and Understanding 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding to the â—imple But the Gospel of Antichrist maketh men of Understanding simple and teacheth that Ignorance â—s the mother of Devotion but I will assure you it â—s not fatherless for it has a Father too for if Ignorance be the Mother of it then the Devil must be the Father of it John 8.44 9. Ninthly the Gospel of Christ teacheth men and women to be better than their own natural Dispositions and corrupt Inclinations which is the great Doctrine of Christianity nameiy Self-denial which is the Excellency of the Christian Religion above all other pretended Religions in the world if performed in a right manner and to a right end it is this that maketh a man more excellent than his neighbour for it teacheth a man to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly and righteously 〈◊〉 teacheth a man to deny sinful-self and righteous-self too which is a higher Attainment than the denying of sinful-self for many Persons can â—eny sinful-self that cannot deny righteous-self for it is one of the hardest duties that is incumbent upon a Christian to deny righteous-self which is â—o do good works and discharge every Duty as carefully and as consciously as if he should be justified and saved by and for so doing and when he has done all to cast them behind his back as if he had done nothing