22. Ios 5.14 and els where how the holy Prophets adored God in Images or in Angels representing his person prostrating themselues before them and though their intention was directed to God yet their outward worship was directed to those sensible apparitions or Images representing God to their imaginations wherein they conceiued God as represented and these Images representing God morally one obiect in the same manner as it hapneth in the honour of Images and in the worship of the figuratiue Communion or as all Ciuill Nations do when they honour the Chayre of State or Presence Chamber of a King without wrong to Christ or to the King 26. These three arguments do manifestly shew that whether in the Commandment we read Idol or Image by it nothing can be proued against the declared manner of worshiping Images vnlesse we will proue a Contradiction in holy Scripture Moreouer since it is cleerly proued by those examples and practice taken out of holy Scripture that in such worship there is no signe of dishonour to God it is doubtles more secure with the common practice of the world to honour them then by the deniall of it to condemne such manifest authority 27. That in the refusing there is no security it is also manifest since the Scripture brought is not cleere for condemnation of Image-worship therfore not sufficient to cry downe an ancient practice proued by sound Texts of Scripture which can neuer be reconciled with those words of the Law vnlesse where Image is read we reade Idol which word signifieth a Commād that no Creature should be made nor worshiped as God This vse of Images declared is iustified both in respect of making and worshiping by other texts of Scripture without any Contradiction to those words of the Law when the contrary without any necessity compelleth a man to deny cleere reason and Scripture 28. It may be obiected that since Idolatry hath been begun and maintained by Images and since men are prone to forget God and apply themselues wholy to corporall obiects the secure way is to abandon Images at the least in Churches This is spoken without reason or law Without law for there can be none brought since not Images but Idols were the beginning and maintayning of Idolatry Images I haue proued warrātable in holy Scripture Without reason for whereas an Idol representeth nothing besides it selfe and so is worshiped an Image representeth a true thing therefore moueth a man to a reuerence proportionable to the obiect represented Whence in reason an Idol occasioneth Idolatry not representing any further obiect whither our thoghts and honour may be transferred when contrarywise an Image of a true obiect necessarily draweth our minds and reuerence to some thing besides it selfe so that aske any simple Belieuer whether he pray to an Image or put any Confidence in it he will say no aske him againe when he is kneeling before a picture with his eyes fixed on it whither he directs his prayers he will say to Christ or some Saint What hurt is there in this S. Mary Magdelen prostrate kissed and bathed with her teares the feet of Christ what iustified that act but the vnion which those sacred feet had with his diuinity which notwithstanding she saw not but apprehended by fayth Though betweene Christ and his picture there be not so immediate connexion yet a morall Connexion there is such as betweene the King and his Picture Chayre of state Embassadour c. why then may not a Christian apprehend this connexion betweene Christ and his Image representing him and accordingly exhibite due honour without danger of Idolatry Whether is holy Scripture the only Rule of our Faith 29. HIther to I haue shewed that supposing Scripture the only rule beleefe is more secure then deniall for both parties relying vpon the same Scripture can neuer conuince ech others interpretation of falsity as experience sufficiently sheweth and probability at least must be supposed on both parts in which case finding no further euidence prudence compelleth me to choose that part which is most remote from danger of Condemnation Who will not betieue shall be damned 30. Now that there may remayne no doubt at all of the secure Choice of beliefe I will shew it consequent to reason holy Scripture that we must admit of some other rule besides Scripture If then beliefe be grounded not only vpon probable authority of Scripture wherin it is equal at the least with authority of Deniers or Disbelieuers but also vpon an other rule apparently knowne and seene as it is fit for a rule to be there can be no doubt of the security of beleefe 31. And first I suppose it is more then probable or either Physically certaine that there hath euer beene a Church teaching and practizing those points of beliefe aforementioned not sufficiently disproued in point of Continuance incorruption in Doctrine though the gates of Hell haue breathed forth all malice against it 32. Secondly I suppose holy Scripture as inspired by the holy Ghost to be a certaine rule of Christian beliefe yet for that it is certaine that al is not written that was deliuered by Christ neither doth it any where say that it is the infallible and sole word of God and for that it is obscure doth not cleerly explicate it selfe as it is manifest by experience it can not be an infallible rule for the deciding of contradictory opinions drawne from the same though it alone may be a sufficient direction to let vs know what more securely may be belieued 33. The question then is Whether besides the Scripture a Church also as an vnpartiall Interpreter thereof be to be admitted which is as much to say Whether the commō voice of a Church interpreting holy Scripture be a more secure rule then the voice of some particular men whose priuate interpretations as before I shewed are not certaine proofes out of holy Scripture but only probabilityes out of their owne iudgment which notwithstanding some will oblige all to admit as Scripture and contemne the explication of an ancient Church 34. For the negatiue part I find no cleere Scripture but such texts as require hard interpretation and which as much oppose the practice of the first Primitiue Church then admitted as a doubtles rule as it will appeare to any that shall consider them You shall not ad a word Deut. 4.2 Search the Scriptures Ioan. 5.39 These things are written that you may belieue Io. 20.31 All Scripture diuinely inspired is profitable Are not these places of as much force against the Primitiue Church Do they the like say that all truth is written or that what is written is diuine Scripture or that it needs no helpe of interpretatiō no not of a Church but of priuate spirits What ground then doth there remaine for the inforcing of sole Scripture as the only rule of our beliefe 35. For the affirmatiue part we haue first that Article of the Apostles Creed I belieue the holy
A SECVRE AND PRVDENT CHOICE of Beliefe Written by a Student in Diuinity Anno M.DC.XXXIX NOTHING in this world doth more import a Man for his good both temporall and eternall then the professiō of a true Religion What more confessed amongst Christians not infected with Atheisme yet such is our poore Condition that nothing ordinarily is lesse valued many stubbornly retayning what they haue beene taught from their youth Others embracing what is most commō where they liue Others indifferent meerely Animals their wits seruing them no further then how to haue good dayes Others loath to take paines least thereby their Conscience be moued to Crosse their couetous appetites Others with a kind of frenzy perswading themselues of I know not what Ghost Others lurking vnder affected willfull ignorance perswaded they are vncapable of their right leuell in these troubled waters Multitudes finally apprehending little difference in points of Religion sleepe securely vpon any pillow Many of these though of different beleifes flatter themselues with hope of saluation when they haue little reason to be secure thereof as it will appeare by the infallible rule of a Secure Choice I will propose in this ensuing Discourse For which purpose 1. I suppose first that our Blessed Sauiour when he was to depart in visible presence from this world his last care was to leaue his Church prouided with such as should sufficiētly gouerne teach and augment it after him to whom their Successors for that purpose he promised his especiall assistance and protection to the end of the world As my Father hath sent me so I send you Io. 20.21 Going into the whole world preach the Gospell Marke 16. Heere we see the Apostles Commission not only to go as being sent but also to send others their Successours with the like authority to be successiuely deliuered That also he left ample power for the perfect gouernmēt of the same Church besides these places that of S. Matth. 28. deserueth speciall Consideration All power is giuen me in heauen and in earth going therefore teach all Nations Where that illation Going therefore implieth a most ample authority for hauing said all power is giuen me he presently practizeth and giueth the like saying going therefore Moreouer that we may know nothing should be wāting to the perpetuall gouernment of this his Church and that iustly it may be esteemed to be directed not so much by humane wit or industry as by the spirit of God he promised Io. 14. And I will pray my Father and he will giue you another Comforter that he may abide with you for euer the Spirit of truth 2. It cannot be denied but these places enforce an eminent perpetuall and infallible Authority of Christes Church to which such ample power is giuen where the spirit of truth is promised to reside Yet because meanes are found to delude the force of them as of any others there may be I insist not vpon them but for the present only make this Dilemma Either these Texts are cleerly to be vnderstood as they lye or not if they are then there hath euer beene a perpetuall absolute and infallible power of gouernemēt in the Church of christ established If not this only I will gather as out of other Texts it may be that scarce any can be produced so cleere for the proofe of any verity which may not maliciously be wrested to a strange sense by tongues sounding nothing more sacredly then Scripture Thus all Sectaries though contrary amongst themselues auouch for their vndoubted warrant Holy Scripture some vnderstanding it in one sense others in an other when indeed the proofe is not out of Scripture but out of their owne priuate iudgment Who then doth not see how vainely Scripture only is pretended for warrant of their contrary inuentions and how hard it is to conuince the truth by it alone not for that it containeth not all truth and all sufficient instruction for saluation but because following our owne priuate iudgement we may erre in the sense therof Since therefore no man though of neuer so entire iudgment can sufficiently shew his owne sense to be true and the contrary false as it appeareth by such monstrous Contradictions vpon the same Texts it is euident that from Scripture alone we can promise our selues little or no security 3. Secondly I suppose there is a Church of Christ extant that beareth the true markes of his promises and prouidence renowned for antiquity and continued Succession perspicious for extent knit in vnity adorned with vnanimous Consent of Doctours throughout the world established and maintained by Councels beautifyed enriched with multitudes of holy men admirable for their Conuersation and vertue strengthned with miracles finally in Doctrine and Custome professing piety that any one beholding it may say heere is the finger of God this is the light this the hill on the topp of hills 4. Thirdly I suppose what truth it selfe Marc. 16. denounceth He that will not belieue shall be damned Whence vnder paine of Damnation we are obliged not to disbelieue any point proposed vnto vs in holy Scripture for Christ specified not any particular article or articles but to all disbeliefe of his Gospell he denounceth Damnation Going into all the world preach the Gospell he that will not belieue c. Hence it followeth that amongst different opiniōs concerning the same Scripture that part is lesse secure that denieth the articles proposed out of it since for disbeleife Damnation is denounced not for beleife 5. Fourthly I suppose as consequent to what is said that if an article commonly belieued be iudged hard by any priuate man it is not secure for him to condemne it relying only vpon human discourse though ioined with his owne or some others interpretation of holy Scripture for all this is but in the degree of probability and not different from the meanes the Arians and other impious heretiques vsed consequently vnsufficient to disproue the contrary possessed beliefe though it be but supposed probable but he must produce cleere Scripture without addition diminution supposition or interpretation since these are subiect to doubt consequently to danger of leading into disbeliefe who doth not see how impossible this is 6. Finally for the end of this prudent Choyce I suppose as sufficient in that religion which first belieueth many articles denied afterwards by others a moral probability of the sense of Christs word and this no wise man can deny to a Church ancient and consisting of Councels and learned men in all parts of the world agreeing in one opinion without any alteration euidently proued To say that any article is improbable because it is impossible is to proue by a ground not possible to be proued and to ouerthrow all fayth as is manifest We seeke not then what seemeth possible or impossible to our poore apprehensions but what most probably Christ deliuered and he that with probabilities only denieth what is but probably belieued is not in secure
in heauen Questionlesse the prime sense of these words import a power giuen to men to forgiue sinnes nothing then is presumptuously assumed by the Belieuers thereof for though it is proper only to God to forgiue sinnes by his owne power and of himselfe yet the light of nature teacheth that man may also forgiue sinnes by Cōmission from him as it is proper to a King only to forgiue Treasons committed against his person yet by Commission his name a Subiect may haue power to do the same without iniury to the King or exceeding the degree of a Subiect Why may not the Minister of God by authority giuē him forgiue sinne in his name without offending or exceeding the limits of a dutifull creature this is at the least probable In opposition I find no Scripture but only admirations of a few dangers in comparison of the Belieuers euidēt reason there can be none Dangerous then is the deniall Beliefe secure Qui non crediderit Who will not belieue shal be damned What of one Church and one Head thereof 14. IN Common Wealths throughout the world I find an Vnity is most sought for and to that end one supreme gouernour and ruler in one house one Maister in one Towne one Maior in one Company one Captaine in one Army one Generall in one Kingdome one King can it beare any colour of offence to belieue that in the most perfect Common-wealth instituted by Christ there is ordained one flock vnder one Pastour Vt fiat vnum ouile vnus pastor We see that in two supreme gouernements there is no mutuall subordination therefore not properly one and where there are two Kings it is sufficient to conclude two Kingdomes If then in Gods Church we admit diuers supreme Gouernours we cannot so perfectly call it one Church as one flock is one vnder one Pastor which Christ promised should be so Whence it seemeth manifest that for the preseruing of vnity in Gods Church one head is necessary and that in the beliefe therof there is no danger though there were no Scripture at all to warrant it For as temporall Kings though they haue no warrant for their ech particular regall power out of holy Scripture yet by law and iustice and conscience we are iustly obliged not to question it So I vnderstand not with what security a man may deny the authority of one supreme Gouernour of a Church so many hundred of yeares prescribed I need not heere heape vp texts of holy Scripture for proofe of the beliefe of one Church vnder one head since in the beliefe thereof there is no shew of impiety but in the deniall as much danger of impiety as in denying any Prince his due Yet that it may appeare that the deniers are not only in danger of iniustice but also of disbelieuing Christs words I lay downe some few Texts to be pondered Matth. 6. Thou art Peter vpon this rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hel shall not preuaile against it Behold one rock one Church that permanent against all assaults Io. 21. to Peter he said feed my sheepe which words imply the full office of a Pastor that is not only to prouide nourishment but also to gouerne and defend without which the office of a Shepheard is not complete That also these words were spoken only to Peter it is manifest by that thrice repeated interrogation of Christ saying Simon Peter louest thou me especially when he addeth more then those wherby he excluded the rest of his Apostles to which when S. Peter had answered that he loued him Christ thereupon replyed feed my sheepe as if he should say the supreme dignity of Pastorship and Vicegerency which I giue you requireth greatioue and charity as you truly loue me so be a true Pastor in my Church because I giue you a dignity aboue the rest whome you are to rule 〈◊〉 my place therfore I require that your loue to me be singular 15. This litle I haue obserued yeildeth such probability at the least that it is manifest it cannot without danger be denied but that God his Church is one vnder one head But grant these places are not cleere in themselues yet the Common voyce of the world so long continued expressed also in the two Creeds may iustly excuse any Belieuer from the least danger of that sentence Who will not belieue c. Securely then with the Apostles creed we cōses to belieue the holy Catholique Church and with the Nicen One holy Catholique and Apostolique Church and not one vnles it haue a supreme visible Gouernour to whom all are subordinate What danger can there be in this beliefe if feare of God Cōscience only be regarded What concerning recommending our selues to the intercession of Saints 16. TO iustify the beliefe and practice of this point it is sufficient that it is conformable to reason and void of iniury to Christ I aske then why may not we commend our selues to the intercession of Saints as well as S. Paul did commend himselfe to the prayers of liuing Christians If it be answered it is an iniury to Christ who biddeth all come to him I see not first how S. Paul can be excused that oft commended himselfe to the intetcession of inferiour Creatures who should haue gone to Christ only and to no body els Looke what must be answered in excuse of S. Paul the same must iustify our praying to Saints Moreouer to iustify S. Paul and those that commend themselues to the intercession of Saints it seemeth euident that both he and we go truly to Christ for we go not to Saints to giue vs this or that but to obtaine their mediation for fauours at God's hand as truly we are said to haue recourse to the King for honour if we desire his Fauorits to intercede for vs as notwithstanding this mediation we are truly said not to wrōg the King but to seeke to him so by our intercession to Saints we wrong not Christ but go to him vnles a man should be conceiued not to seeke to Christ at all but only to pray to Saints which in no good Christian can be imagined 17. If it be answered that Saints in heauen cānot heare vs I aske how can this be knowne not by Scripture since it witnesseth that many Prophets saw obiects not only absent but not existent many hundred yeares after their time only by diuine inspiration nor by reason for though were their hearing by corporal eares there might be some difficulty yet since their hearing is vnderstanding which is indifferent to conceiue obiects as well absent as present this difficulty to any will appeare vaine and impertinent since we know not how our soule vnderstands nor how our eyes see or eares heare 18. Hence I gather that the Belieuers of this Article though they had no expresse Scripture for proofe thereof which for the present I examine not yet since their practice is conformable to reason and