though they were learned and pious men yet they were but men and consequently were lyable to error as well as other men And herein the Advice of S. Austin is to be followed to wit to follow (23) Neminem velim sic amplecti mea omnia ut me sequatur nisi in eis quibus me non errare perspexerit August de persever Sanct. cap. 21. tom 27. him and such as himself no further than they follow Truth and Holy Scripture Solis eis Scripturarum libris qui jam Canonici appellantur didici hunc timorem honoremque deserre ut nullum eorum autorem Scribendo aliquid errasse firmissime credam August 1 Epist 19. which ought still to be preferred before them And yet S. Augustin was neither the worst nor the meanest of those Christian Hero's Thus do we reverence but do not idolize them and only preferr the Scriptures before them whereas the Papists value their late Papal Decrees before the Primitive Doctors These things being premised I shall renew that fivefold Challenge about the Popes Supremacy formerly propounded by a Reverend and Learned Bishop of our Church which the Papists ought first to answer before they can justly obtain what they in vain pretend to as Consequences of that Supremacy For they failing to prove this which I think they will never be able to do their Attempts in the points depending thereon must needs be fruitless and ineffectual The Challenge is this 1. Whether our Saviour before his Ascension did constitute S. Peter his Vicar and gave him a monarchical Supremacy over the Apostles and the whole Church 2. Whether the Papists can prove that St. Peter while he lived exercised such Power and Supream Jurisdiction even over the Apostles In such Cases as these Idem est non esse non apparere 3. Whether if St. Peter exercised any such Authority it was not temporary and ceased with his Person as the Apostleship did 4. Whether if all these were true as they are wholly the contrary they can make it appear That the Bishop of Rome was the Successour of St. Peter and not the Bishop of Antioch and whether ever he was at Rome or no 5. Whether they can make it appear That our Blessed Saviour when on Earth exercised such a temporal Monarchy as the Pope now challengeth Confessions of the Popish Doctors in this Case To the first and second Queries it is Confessed by (25) Cusan de Concil Cath. 2.3 Cardinal Cusanus That St. Peter received no more Authority and then he could not exercise any Authority over his Fellows than the rest of the Apostles To the 3d and 4th Queries it is Confessed by (26) Aen. Sylvius de gestis Concil Basil Aeneas Sylvius afterwards Pope by the name of Pius 2. That the Pope's Succession is not revealed in Scripture and then it cannot be proved jure divino positivo And by Bellarmin (27) De Rom. Pont l. 4. c. 4. That neither Scripture nor Tradition habet allows then farewell Papal Supremacy That the Apostolic Seat or Chair was so fixed at Rome which I really believe as well as he that it could not be taken from thence And then why might it not be at Antioch or Jerusalem as well as Rome Confessed by him (28) Idem de Pontif. l. 2. c. 29. further That as long as the Emperors were Heathen the Pope was subject to them in all Civil Causes And That for above One thousand years his (29) Id. de Rom. Pont. l. 4. c. 2. Sect. Secunda Opinio Judgment was not esteemed Infallible nor (30) Idem de Concil l. 2. cap. 13. his Authority above that of a General Council Where was then the exercise or acknowledgment of this Supremacy and Infallibility of the Popes Was all the world a-sleep or ignorant so long of this Power which they now challenge to themselves Jure Divino No but the Pope I warrant you had not yet the opportunity to usurp and challenge it as he hath done since To four of these you see they have plainly yielded and the last they can never make good either from Scripture or Ecclesiastical History Add to these the Confession of that Learned Papist (31) Barns's Catholico-Romanus Pacificus MS. Sect. 31. Father Barns That allowing the Bishop of Rome to have Supremacy elsewhere yet the Pope hath no Supremacy in Britain Insula autem Britanniae gavisaest olim privilegio Cyprio ut nullius Patriarchae Legibus subderetur And afterwards Videtur pacis ergô retineri debere sinè dispendio Catholicismi absque Schismatis ullius notâ What can the Papists say to this so plain an acknowledgment But not designing to treat at large upon the Pope's Supremacy I have not as in the following Subjects produced the Testimonies of Fathers and Councils against this Doctrine of Rome but shall advise the Reader to consult herein Bishop Jewel against Harding Article 4. Archbishop Bramhal 's Schism Guarded against Will. Serjeant Dr. Barrow of the Pope's Supremacy and the Bishop of Lincoln 's Brutum Fulmen who will give him full satisfaction in that point THE CONTENTS Of the following TREATISE SECT I. OF the Scriptures Sufficiency Page 1. SECT II. Of the Scripture Canon p. 5. SECT III. Of Invocation of Saints and of the Blessed Virgin p. 8. Of Image Worship p. 10. Of Adoration of the Host p. 12. SECT IV. Of the Three Creeds and how the Pope imposes new Articles of Faith upon his followers p. 15. SECT V. Of the number of Sacraments and of Communion in one kind p. 17. SECT VI. Of Transubstantiation p. 21. SECT VII Of Purgatory p. 24. Of Indulgences p. 28. Of the Sacrifice of the Mass p. 29. Of Justification by Faith ibid. Of Merits p. 31. SECT VIII Of Prayers in an unknown Tongue p. 34. SECT IX Of the Marriage of Priests p. 37. Of Auricular Confession p. 44. SECT X. Of Obedience to Governors p. 47. THE Protestants Companion SECTION I. THE Protestant Church of England our Holy Mother admits of no other Rule for Faith and practice than the (1) Articles of the Church of England published Ann. Dom. 1562 for the avoiding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion Article 6 20. 2d Book of Homilies Hom. 2. Holy Scriptures which according to (2) 2 Tim. 3.15 the Apostles are able to make us wise unto Salvation The Church of Rome doth equal unwritten (3) Concil Trident. Sess 4. Decret 1. Traditions with the Holy Scriptures whom (4) Pighius Eccles Hierarch L. 3. C. 3. some of that Church do call a nose of Wax (5) Bellarmine di verbo Dei l. 4. c. 4. Another and that no less man than a Cardinal affirms That the Scripture is no more to be believed in saying that it comes from God than Mahomet's Alcoran because that saith so too Another (6) Pool de Primatu Romanae Ecclesiae fol. 92. Cardinal saith That the
Joh. 6. Lect. 7. Aquinas for above 1200 years by (62) In Manuali de communione sub utraque specie Becanus for 1400 years and last of all by the (63) Concil Constant Sess 13. They in that Council likewise contradicted the Judgments of their ancient Popes Leo Gelasius and Gregory the Great as may be seen in the Quotations of the Fathers Council of Constance it self It was acknowledged That Communion in both kinds had been instituted by our Blessed Saviour himself practised by the Primitive Church and to that very time and yet they had the confidence to alter it They certainly had confidence enough but neither too much Reason nor too much Religion who durst disannull what our Blessed Saviour had enjoyn'd and what carried his seal to that very day Where was then that reverence to Antiquity which their Followers to this day so much pretend to Concerning the number of Seven Sacraments see Birkbeck's Protestant Evidence Article 4. Of Communion in both kinds see Bishop Jewel's Article 2. against Harding Bishop Taylor 's Disswasive Part 1. Ch. 1. Sect. 6. Dr. Stillingfleet's Rational Account of the Grounds of Protestant Religion Part 3. Ch. 3. Archbishop Laud against Fisher Rodon's Funeral of the Mass Ch. 6. SECT VI. We do not believe that the Elements of Bread and Wine (64) Article 28 29. after Consecration become the very Body and Blood of Christ though the worthy Receiver partakes of both in a spiritual manner by faith because we herein have all the testimony we are capable of viz. that of our Reasons and of our Senses to believe That there is not a real Transubstantiation or a change of the Elements of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of our Saviour which is an absurd tenet and hath occasioned many Superstitions The Church of Rome holds that there (65) Concil Trident. Sess 13. c. 4. is a conversion of the whole substance of Bread and Wine into the substance of Christ's Body and Blood by Consecration Transubstantiation Contrary to Scripture Luk. 22.17 18 19 20. Contrary to the Fathers Justin Martyr Apol. 2. Irenaeus l. 4. adv Haer. c. 34. Tertullian cont Marcion l. 4. c. 40. Origen Comment in Matth. c. 15. Id. Homil. 3. in Matth. Eusebius Demonst Evangel l. 1. c. 1. c. ult Macarius Homil. 27. Gregor Nazianz. Orat. 2. in Pasch Ambros lib. de Bened. Patriarch c. 9. Epiphanius in Anchorat p. 6. Chrysostome Homil 24. in Epist ad Cor. Id. Epist ad Caesar Monach. Jerome Comment S. Matth. c. 26. Id. in Isa 66. in Hos 8. in Jerem. 22. Augustin Serm. 9. de divers Id. l. 3. de Doctr. Christ c. 16. Id. l. 20. contr Faust Manich. c. 21. in Psal 98. Id. de civit Dei l. 21. c. 25. Tractat. 26. in Joh. Gelasius in lib. de duab nat Christ Ephrem Patriarch of Antioch apud Phot. Cod. 229. Primasius Comment in 1 Epist ad Cor. Facundus Defens Conc. Chalced. l. 9. c. 5. Gaudentius Tract 20. Add to these that Hesychius Bishop of Hierusalem in Leviticum l. 2. c. 8. saith It was the custom in the ancient Church to burn the remainders of the Eucharist Which place when Cheyney a Protestant in Q. Mary's days insisted upon against the Papists and demanded what it was that was burned one answered That it was either the Body of Christ or the substance of Bread put there by miracle at which he smil'd and said a Reply was needless and I think so too Chillingworth hath a pretty joking Dialogue betwixt C. and K. about Transubstantiation and the Infallibility of the Roman Church in his Protestant Religion a safe way to Salvation Part 1. Ch. 3. Edit 2. 1638. p. 158 159. Transubstantiation Confess'd Not to be in the Canon of the Bible by these Learned Papists hereafter mentioned Scotus in 4. lib. sentent dist 11. Q. 3. Occam ibid. Q. 6. Biel Lect. 40. in Can. Missae Fisher Bishop of Rochester c. 1. cont captiv Babyl Cardinal Cajetan apud Suarez Tom. 3. Disp 46. Sect. 3. Melchior Canus Loc. com l. 3. c. 3. fund 2. That Transubstantiation was not touch'd by the Fathers was Confess'd by our English Jesuits Discurs Modest p. 13. and by Alphonsus à Castro de Haeres l. 8. verbo Indulgentia Not own'd as an Article * Deny'd to be the faith of the Church by Barns in his Romano-Catholicus Pacificus MS. Sect. 7. liter Q. of Faith before the Lateran Council held Anno Dom. 1215 and therefore it is no ancient Article Confess'd By Scotus apud Bellarm. l. 3. de Euchar. c. 28. And yet this was the bloody Test in Queen Mary's days by which so many Glorious Martyrs changed Earth for Heaven SECT VII Our Church acknowledges no Purgatory (66) Article 22 18. or Propitiation for our sins but that which was made once for all (67) Article 31. Heb. 10.10 by our Blessed Saviour and that upon the condition of Faith and Repentance We (68) Article 22. disown all Pardons and Indulgences as grounded upon no warranty of Scripture but rather repugnant to the Word of God since we are told that we have nothing (69) 1 Cor. 4.7 but what we have received We own that good works (70) Article 12. are the fruits of Faith and follow after Justification but that they cannot put away sins and endure the severity of Gods Judgment much less for the sins of others nor can (71) Article 14. we perform works over and above God's Commands call'd by the Papists works of Supererogation to say which is the highest arrogance For when we have done all we are commanded Christ enjoyns us to say We are unprofitable Servants And we look upon our selves as righteous before God for the merit of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith (72) Article 11 13. and not for our own works and deserts The Romish Church owns a Purgatory (73) Concil Trident. Sess ult Hence doth Bellarmine threaten us saying that whosoever believes not Purgatory shall be tormented in Hell de Purgat l. 1. c. ult And yet this same Cardinal forgetting what he had before affirm'd for herein he doth not only contradict himself but all Popish pretensions for Purgatory when he grants that Souls in Purgatory do not merit In Purgatorio animae nec mereri nec peccare possint Bellarm. de Purgatorio l. 2. c. 2. To what end then are they sent to Purgatory for sins pardoned so that there still remains a guilt of temporal punishment to be paid either in this life or hereafter in Purgatory Which upstart Doctrine of Purgatory for we shall anon shew it to be so hath prov'd the Mother of Indulgences and Pardons and thereby hath mightily enriched (74) Spalatensis de Republ. Eccles l. 5. c. 8. Sect. 73. the Church of Rome whereby remission of sins is set upon terms (75) Bellar. de Indulg l. 1. in the vile market of
ad Virgines Chrysostom in Matth. Homil. 53. Id. ad Stelechum de compunct cord ed. Savil. Tom. 6. p. 157. Jerom super Ephes 2. Tom. 9. Id. l. 6. in Isai c. 13. Id. lib. 17. c. 64. Tom. 5. Leo Serm. 1. de assumpt Id. Serm. 12. de pass dom Theodoret in Rom. 6. v. ult Id. in Rom. 8. Augustin Confess l. 10. c. 4. Tom. 1. Id. super Johan Tract 3. Tom. 9. Id. Tom. 8. in Psal 109. Fulgentius ad Monim l. 1. c. 10. Justus Orgelitanus in Cantic cap. 2. Cassiodore in Psal 5. Council of Orange 2. Can. 20. Caranza in summa Concil Gregor Magnus Tom. 2. in Ezech. ad finem Id. moral l. 5. c. 8. l. 9. c. 14. l. 29. c. 9. l. 35. c. ult Id. Psal 1. Paenit Tom. 2. Merit Not allow'd of in Anselm's time who liv'd An. Dom. 1086 as appears from him in upon Rom. 12. nor in S. Bernard's days as appears from him in Cant. Serm. 73. where he saith That the Saints had need to pray for their Sins that they may have Salvation through Mercy and not trusting in their own Righteousness So far was S. Bernard who liv'd An. Dom. 1120 from owning the Popish Doctrine of Merits Confess'd By Bellarmin That Good Works are rewarded above their deserts de Justi l. 1. c. 19. Concerning the Sacrifice of the Mass Consult Bishop Jewel 1 and 17 Article against Harding Bishop Morton of the Mass Dr. Brevint's Depth and Mystery of the Roman Mass Mons Rodon's Funeral of the Mass c. 7. and 8. Concerning the Popish Doctrine of Merits see Birckbeck's Protestant Evidence Article 9. That Men are not Justified by Faith only and for the Merit of our Saviour but by their own good Works too by which as the Papists hold they merit eternal happiness is Contrary to Scripture Rom. 3.28 and c. 4.4 5. and c. 5.1 2 3. and c. 11.6 Ephes 2.8 9. Contrary to the Fathers Irenaus l. 4. c. 5. Clemens Alexandrinus Padagog l. 1. c. 6. Stromat l. 5. Origen l. 3. in Epist ad Rom. c. 3. Ambrose or some in the same Age with him as Bellarmin confesseth de Justif c. 8. in his Comment upon Rom. c. 4. and in 1 Cor. c. 1. Theodoret de curandis Graecar affectib l. 7. Chrysostome in Rom. 1.17 Homil. 2. Id. in Tit. 1.13 Homil. 3. Augustin l. 1. contr duas Epistol Pelag. c. 21. Id. in Psal 8. concion 2. Primasius in c. 2. ad Galatas Fulgentius de incar grat c. 16. Confessed By Cardinal Bellarmin That it is most safe and sure to place all our trust upon the only Mercy of God because of the incertainty of our own Justice and the danger of vain glory De Justif l. 5. c. 3 after he had Confessed That good Works are rewarded above their deserts Id. de Justif l. 1. c. â—â— Consult herein Birkbeck's Protestant Evidence Article 8. SECT VIII Our Church performs all her Prayers and other Divine Offices and administers the Sacraments with such Rites as are agreeable to the Word of God being for (84) 1 Cor. 14.40 Decency and Order in a Language understood (85) Article 24. by all those that are concern'd therein The Popish Church (86) Harding against Bp. Jewel Article 3. Missal Rom. approbat ex decreto Concil Trident. Bulla Pii 5. Cherubini Bullar Tom. 2. p. 311. hath her Prayers in an unknown Tongue to which if the people do say Amen it is without understanding Which is not only an unreasonable Service but an abominable Sin Robbing God of his Honour and Men of their Devotion Prayers in an unknown Tongue are 1 Contrary to Scripture 1 Cor. 14. 2 Contrary to the Fathers Origen contra Cels l. 8. Basil lib. Qu. ex variis Script locis Q. 278. Ambrose in 1 Cor. 14. Chrysostom Hom. 18. in 2 Cor. Hierome Tom. 1. Epist 17. Augustin Epist 178. Id. in Psal 18. con 2. Id. de doctr Christ l. 4. c. 10. Bede Hist Angl. l. 1. c. 1. 3 Contrary to Councils and Papal Decrees Concilium Moguntinum An. Dom. 812. cap. 45. Concil Lateran An. Dom. 1215. c. 9. Greg. l. 1. titul 31. cap. Quoniam plerisque Baronius Tom. 10. A. D. 88. N. 16. Histor Boem c. 13. Written by Aeneas Sylvius who was afterwards called Pope Pius 11. 1 Confessed to be against Edification in Spiritual matters by Lyra and Cardinal Cajetan in 1 Cor. 14. Cassander in Liturgic c. 28. Consult Art 24. 2 Confessed to be Contrary to the Practice of the Primitive Church by Aquinas and Lyra in 1 Cor. 14. Consult herein Bp. Jewel against Harding Article 3. Bp. Taylor 's Dissuasive Part 1. ch 1. Sect. 7. SECT IX As our Church employs such persons in the Ministry of God's Worship and Sacraments and in feeding and governing the Flock of Christ as are (87) Article 36. Book of Ordination Mason of the Consecration of Bishops in the Church of England Archbishop Bramhal's works Tom. 1. Discourse 5. Tom. 4. Discourse 6. lawfully called to their Office and Ministry and are Consecrated and Ordained according to the Scriptures and Canons of the Universal Church and of whose Bishops we can shew (*) Which the Roman Ch. notwithstanding its big pretences to constant succession cannot justly challenge and that both from its five vacancies making up almost Nine years when Rome had no Bishop at all and the many Schisms by some Chronologers reckoned up to be Twenty nine a fair number indeed by Onuphrius to be Thirty and by Bellarmin himself to be Twenty six Whereof the Twentieth Schism lasted Twenty years and the 21st lasted 36 years during which time the Church of Rome had two Popes which excommunicated each other the 26th continued saith Genebrard Chron. l. 4. An. Dom. 1378. from Vrban 6. till the Council of Constance which was at least Thirty five years Baronius ad Annum 1044. Sect. 5. Tom. 11. calls the three Popes who then contended for the Papal Chair a Beast with Three heads ascending out of the bottomless Pit Add to these the 70 years stay of the Popes at Avignion which quite joints their boasted Succession For during these times where was the true Successour of St. Peter Or was the Church in their sense so long without an Head a Succession to the Apostles of our Saviour as fully as any other Church at this day can do so do we leave all (88) Article 32. Ecclesiasticks whether Bishops Priests or Deacons to Marry at their own discretion as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness since (89) Heb. 13.4 Marriage is honourable in all and not forbid but permitted and in Cases so requiring enjoyned by God's Law and practised as well as taught by persons of the same function i. e. Priests in the best and purest Ages of the Church as may be seen in the following Quotations The Church of Rome (90) Bellarmin lib. 1. de Cleric c. 20. Sect. Respondeo
AN IMPARTIAL SURVEY AND COMPARISON OF THE Protestant Religion As by Law Established With the main Doctrines of Popery Wherein is shewn That Popery is contrary to Scripture Primitive Fathers and Councils and that proved from Holy Writ the Writings of the Antient Fathers for several Hundred Years and the Confession of the most Learned Papists themselves Whereby the Papists vain pretence to Antiquity and their reproaching the Protestant Doctrines with Novelty is wholly overthrown By a True Son of the Protestant Church of England as established by Law LONDON Printed for Richard Chiswell at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard MDCLXXXV ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness 2 Tim. 3. 16. In vain they do worship me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men Matt. 15.9 But from the beginning it was not so Matth. 19.8 Non audiatur haec dico haec dicis sed haec dicit dominus Augustin de unit Eccles contr Petil. c. 3. Id verius quod prius id prius quod ab initio ab initio quod ab Apostolis Tertullian advers Marcion l. 4. c. 5. Id esse verum quodcunque primum id esse adulterinum quodcunque posterius Idem advers Praxeam c. 2. THE PREFACE TO THE Protestant Reader AS we have immortal Souls of infinite more value than all transient glories and sublunary advantages so ought we both in obedience to the tender and compassionate advice of our Blessed Redeemer who purchased them with his own dear Blood and out of a true concern for our Eternal Welfare to live such lives here as we may be happy hereafter Pursuant to this excellent design We ought carefully attend to that Holy Religion we have so long professed which teaches no Doctrines that are not agreeable to the Holy Scriptures and to the practice of the best and purest Ages of Christianity A Religion which neither robs God of his Honour nor the King of his due a Religion whose venerable Rites keep a just medium betwixt vain Popish Pomp and Fanatical Indecency a Religion that not only teaches us how to be good but obliges us so to be that is a Religion truly Christian and a Copy of that perfect Original which our Lord and Saviour hath left us for our direction And therefore as nothing ought to be dearer to us so we cannot be sufficiently thankful to his Sacred Majesty whom God preserve for the Gracious assurance he has given that he will support it and defend us in the profession of it A King whose Royal Progenitors of Immortal Memory for above 100 years have not only been the Ornaments but the supports too of the Protestant Religion His fam'd Grandfather King James Learnedly defending it by his Pen and thereby justly meriting the glorious Title of its Defender His Excellent (c) For so doth Mons Militere in his Epistle to His late Majesty confess Father dying a Glorious Martyr and his late dearly beloved Brother being a long time Exile for our Reformed Religion Let us then strive to shew that we are not unworthy of so Illustrious and Valiant a Protector by our Loyalty to him not unworthy of such a Religion by our conformity to its Principles in Holiness Sobriety and Charity and a stedfast adherence to it in opposition to any other that will destroy that which our Church hath built upon so sure a foundation And that we may rightly understand what this Religion is and the difference betwixt that which is established in our Church and what is owned in the Church of Rome I have made the following Collection wherein is demonstrated how contrary the Popish Religion is to our Church and how inconsistent with Scripture the practice of the Primitive and best Ages of Christianity and that prov'd not only from the Writings of the Apostles and choice Records of Antiquity but even granted to be so by the most (d) Vives de Instrumentis probab learned and no less impartial Papists themselves which as it is the testimony of one Friend against another is lookt upon as an undenyable Evidence Before I conclude I must admonish the Reader that I have not rendered the Authors at large but so quoted them that the Learned may examine them nor have I drawn Arguments as usually from them because that would have made this Book design'd for a Pocket-companion to have swell'd into a great Volume yet to make requital for that just omission I have at the conclusion of each Section directed the Reader to other Writers of our Religion which treat of that particular Controversy at large May then the All-wise God by whose Divine permission thus much hath been perform'd so bless this poor labour of his unworthy Servant that it may be instrumental to the good of his Church and the confirming of all our weak Brethren in our most Holy Faith which was the principal design of its publication THE INTRODUCTION THE Church of Rome though she talk aloud of the Antiquity of and an universal consent in her Doctrines is so far from either That therein she will be tied to no Rule nor observe any Law as if she would verify that Remarque of (1) Crantzius Metropol 7.45 Crantzius upon her in another Case Nunc ad se omnium Ecclesiarum jura traxit Romana Ecclesia That she hath engrossed to her self all the priviledges or rights of other Churches Her greatest (2) Bellarmin de verbo dei l. 4. c. 4. Pighius Eccles Hierarch l. 3. c. 3. Pool de primatu Romanae Ecclesiae fol. 92. defendants reject the Scripture though given forth by (*) 2 Tim. 3.16 Divine Inspiration and do say it is no more to be believed in saying it is from God than Mahomet 's Alcaron c. And good reason why (3) Concil de stabilienda Rom. sede p. 6. because her Doctrines are repugnant to the Holy Scriptures What then will she trust to Tradition that she equals with (4) Concil Trident. Sess 4. decret 1. the Scriptures themselves And yet her great Annalist Cardinal Baronius who was once as it were a living Library while he kept the Vatican (5) Dr. James his Corruption of the Fathers Part 4. p. 26. (6) Anno 44. Sect. 42. confesseth That he despaired to find out the truth even in those matters which true Writers have recorded because there was nothing which remained sincere and incorrupted This blow given by so skilfull an Artist dashes all the Characters wherein the defence of Oral Tradition should be legible And if Tradition in true Writers be so difficult to preserve how can it be expected to be safe from spurious ones or without any Writers at all However though the Papists do not grant that this ruins their Tradition I am sure it cuts off that definition of it by (†) Bellar. de 〈◊〉 cap. 9. Cardinal Bellarmin who affirms that to be a true
Tradition which all former Doctors mind that for then will the Fathers come in for a share have successively in their Ages acknowledged to come from the Apostles and by their Doctrine or Practices have approved and which the Vniversal Church owns as such Moreover Bellarmin 's Definition of Tradition gives us this encouragement and liberty to try Antiquity by Fathers Councils and Papal Decrees For the Fathers I hope the Romanists who boast so much of their being on their party will not refuse to be try'd by them when (7) Coster Enchirid Controvers cap. 2. Constat manifeste c. Campian rat 3 Seculis omnino quindecim c. rat 10. Testes res omnes Coster and others make such a fine flourish in their pretensions to Antiquity No the Fathers shall not be Judges of the Papists the Romanists will not be controlled by the Fathers For Cardinal (8) Baronius ad annum 34. Baronius saith The Catholick Church and this they would have you to believe is their own Church but against all Reason and Sense doth not in all things follow the interpretation of the Fathers This is a fair but modest Confession But Cardinal (9) Bellarmin de Concil autorit l. 2. c. 12. Sect. Respondeo Bellarmin goes further The Writings of the Fathers saith he are not rules to us nor have the Authority to bind us This is an (10) How the Papists contemn and condemn the Fathers See Dr. James's Corruption of the Fathers Part 4 home thrust and yet (11) Salmeron in Ep. ad Rom. cap. 5. disp 51. p. 468. Salmeron is more incivil with those Ancient Doctors when he saith That the latter Doctors are sharper sighted than they and therefore pronounces of many of them at once That we must not follow a multitude to deviate from the Truth I am afraid he gave his own Church a rude blow there for we may turn that Argument of his against the Church of Rome which ever and anon is pleading her great number of Professors To which let us add what another Romanist saith in this point And (12) Corn. Muss Episc Bitont in Rom. 14. p. 468. he tells you That he believes the Pope in matters of Faith before a thousand Augustines Jeromes or Gregories This indeed is plain dealing and no mincing of the matter But then again it is wholly opposite to their vain Pleas for Antiquity and wholly different from the modest procedure of (13) Apolog. adv Rufin l. 2. p. 219. tom 2. S. Jerome who thinks it great rashness and irreverence presently to charge the Ancients with heresy for a few obnoxious terms since when they erred they erred perhaps with a simple and honest mind or wrote things in another sense than they were afterwards taken But if this be all the esteem the Papists have for the Ancient Doctors then adieu to the Authority of the Fathers in the Church of Rome Moreover even the Councils fare no better in the Papists hands For it is usual in their Editions of the Councils to have some Printed with this Title Reprobatum or disallowed others Ex parte Approbatum (14) Vid. Bin. not ad 2. Concil Constant tom 1. part 1. p. 541. Item not ad Concil Chalced tom 2. par 1. p 410. accordingly as they agree or disagree with their Opinions and Interest at Rome Which verifies that (15) Lud. Vives in Aug. de civit Dei l. 20. c. 36. smart Censure of Ludovicus Vives That those are accounted Decrees and Councils which make for their purpose and all others are no more valued by them than the meetings of some tatling Women in a Weaving Shop or at the Baths But although they reject both Fathers and Councils when they are pressed by the Protestants with their Authorities yet to take away all testimonies of the Fathers from us the politick Council of Trent set up their Indices Expurgatorii which they referred to Pope Pius 4. whose Bull for that end bore date March 24. 1564. (16) See Dr. James's Corruption of the Scriptures Fathers and Councils Printed 1611. Part 4. And in these Tables they set down what Books were by them forbidden and in which to be purged and what places ought to be left out Thus design'd they that both Fathers and Councils should lisp their Language But though it be contrary to that Rule by which (17) Joh. 5.31 Christ himself was willing to be tried If I bear witness of my self my witness is not true and contrary to all equity and the old (18) Capitul Carol. Mag. c. 88. Laws viz. That they which are brought out of our own House ought not to be witnesses for us yet since they have disowned when pressed with strength of Reason and oppressed with Truth the Scriptures the Fathers and Councils We will pursue them to their last fort to wit to the Decrees of their Popes which they so much adore If they gain-say these then Conclamatum est their Case is desperate Well then it must be so for they have rejected the Traditions of old Popes for those of new ones One would have thought that old Friends and old Divines had been the surest and foundest but it is not so at Rome For they have slighted and contradicted that Decree of (19) Anaclet Epist ap Bin. Tom. 1. Part 1. p. 43. Anacletus That all who are present at Mass shall communicate That of (20) Gelas decr de Consec dist 2. cap. 12. Pope Gelasius of not taking the Bread alone which honest-man he called Sacrilege and (21) Binius in notis Tom. 1. part 1. p. 64. That of Alexander 11. of celebrating but one Mass in one day Which abominable practice of the Roman Church make good that saying of their own Pope (22) P. Gelas Ep. 4. Gelasius Quaero ab his judicium quod pretendunt ubinam possint agitari an apud ipsos ut iidem sint inimici testes Judices Which signifies in short that they would be both Enemies Witnesses and Judges in their own Cause as being Conscious to themselves of such Errors as will not bear the test nor can be defended without such foul play Who then can safely trust the conduct of his Salvation to that Church of Rome which refuseth to be tried by the Word of God by the Ancient Fathers by General Councils and even by the Decrees of her pretended Spiritual Heads But because in the following Book I have produced the Testimonies of the Fathers voting against Popish Doctrines it will not I judge be unnecessary to subjoin That although we highly esteem and respect the Fathers and especially those of the first Three hundred years after Christ and make use of their Writings as explaining the sense of the Scriptures and handling to us the Opinions of the Ages they liv'd in yet we never receive any of them with the same respect and esteem that we do the Word of God And that with good reason For
Protestant could have opposed this vain Doctrine with greater strength of Reason and Argument than these Papists have done Truth will Conquer The Romish Church (34) Concil Trident. Sess 25. Bulla Pii 4. super forma Juramenti ad calcem Concil Trid. Bellarmin de Imag. l. 2. likewise obliges all those in its Communion to Worship Images the Idolatrous practice of the Heathen World and that with the same (35) Azorius l. 9. Instit mor. c. 6. Art 3. Cajetan in Thom. Part. 3. Qu. 25. Art 3. Gregory de Valentia Tom. 3. disp 6. Qu. 11. punct 6. Coster Enchirid. p. 438. worship which is given to him whose Image it is and that I think is far enough so that the Worship may be terminated in the Image (36) Bellarmin de Imag. l. 2. c. 21. prop. 1. If this be not Idolatry I know not what can be such And yet that nothing might be wanting in their Worship to make up the measure of iniquity They deny (37) Index Expurgatorius Madri 1612. in indice librorum expurgatorum p. 39. dele-Solus Deus adorandus That God alone is to be worshipped I suppose they mean he must have sharers with him in that Honour for otherwise it cannot be sence I am sure however it is Blasphemy Image Worship is Contrary to Scripture Exod. 20 4 5. Hence do the Papists often leave the Second Commandment out of their Catechisms as in Vaux's Catechism Ledesma's Catechism Officium B. Mariae Pii 5. Pont. juffu editum Antwerp A. D. 1590. That the Second Commandment was meant of and designed against Images and Idols the following Fathers and Doctors do attest Justin Martyr Dial. cum Tryph. p. 321. Tertullian de Idol c. 3 4. Id. c. Marcion l. 2. c. 22. de spect c. 23. Clemens Alexand. stro l. 3. p. 441. Origen c. Celsum l. 4. p. 182. l. 7. p. 375. Id. in Exod. Hom. 8. Athanasius in Synops Nazianzen in vers de decal Ambrose Jerome in Ephes c. 6. Augustin Ep. 119. c. 11. Procopius Rupertus in Exod. c. 20. Contrary to Scripture Lev. 26 1. Deut. 4.15 16. and 5.7 8 9. Isa 40.18 19 20. Micah 5.13 Matt. 4.10 Joh. 5.21 Rev. 19.10 Contrary to the Fathers Justin Martyr Apol. 2. p. 65 66. Theophilus Antiochenus ad Autolycum l. 1. p. 77. 110. Clemens Alexandrinus strom l. 6. in paraenetico Tertullian adv Hermogen init Minutius Felix p. 33. who saith Cruces nec colimus nec optamus Origen c. Celsum l. 7. 8. The Council of Eliberis in Spain at An. D. 310. Can. 36. Lactantius lib. 2. cap. de Orig. error dubium non est c. Optatus l. 3. Epiphanius Epist ad Joh. Hieros Augustin de morib Ecclesiae Cath. l. 1. c. 34. de fide symbolo c. 7. Id. contr Adimant c. 13. Id. Tom. 3. de consens Evangel l. 1. c. 10. Id. de civit Dei l. 9. c. 15. Fulgentius ad Donatum Gregorius Mag. l. 9. Epist 9. Imagines adorare omnibus modis devita Moreover the (38) Concil Trident. Sess 13. Church of Rome would oblige us to adore the Consecrated Host or Bread in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and with the same Worship which is due to the true God Which by the (39) Coster Enchirid. Controv c. 8. de Euch. p. 308. Fisher c. Oecolampadium l. 1. c. 2. Confession of some of their Learned men is an Idolatry if (40) That the Apparitions which as the Papists pretend have appear'd upon the Altar instead of the Sacrament may and have been the Illusions of the Devil is Confessed by two Learned Schoolmen viz. Alexander de Hales sent 4. Qu. 11. Biel 51. Lect. upon the Canon of the Mass Transubstantiation cannot be made out which if it can we ought no more to believe our own Eyes more stupid than the sottish Heathens were guilty of Though this practice is so far from being Ancient That elevation of the Host accompanied with the ringing of a Bell at the consecration thereof that all who heard it might kneel and joyn their hands in adoring the Host was instituted but about An. Dom. 1240. (41) Naucler ad An. 1240. Krantz sex l. 8. c. 10. The Fathers were so far from worshipping the Host that some of them are sharp in reproving those who reserved the Reliques of it as appears by Clement's Epistle to St. James Origen in Levit. Hom. 5. and by the 11th Council at Toledo c. 14. And in Jerusalem they us'd to burn the remainders thereof Hesychius in Levit. l. 2. c. 8. Concerning Invocation of Saints Angels c. see Archbishop Laud's excellent Book against Jesuit Fisher so much commended by King Charles I. Dr. Stillingfleet's Rational Account of the Grounds of Protestant Religion c. Part 3. Ch. 3. Dr. Stillingfl Discourse concerning the Idolatry practised in the Ch. of Rome c. 2. Bishop Taylor 's disswasive from Popery Part 1. Ch. 2. Sect. 9. F. White against Jesuit Fisher pag. 289. Dr. Brevent's Saul and Samuel at Endor Bishop of Lincoln's Letter to Mr. Evelyn Concerning Image-worship and the Adoration of the Host see Bishop Jewel's Article 14 against Harding Archbishop Laud against Jesuit Fisher Dr. Stillingfleet's Discourse concerning the Idolatry practised in the Church of Rome and his Defence of it His Rational Account of the Grounds of Protestant Religion Part 3. Chap. 3. Bishop Taylor 's Disswasive from Popery Ed. 3. C. 1. Sect. 8 9. Ch. 2. Sect. 12. Monsieur de Rodon's Funeral of the Mass c. 5. Confessed By these Learned Popish Doctors hereafter mentioned That the making of Images was prohibited in the old Law and not to be found in Scripture Aquinas 3. Sent. Dist 9. Q. 2. ad 1. Prohibitum est Alexander Hales p. 3. Q. 30. m. 3. ar 3. Albertus 3. d. 9. ar 4. Bonaventure 3. d. 9. Marsilius 3. q. 8. ar 2. Rich. media villa 3. d. 9. Q. 2. Gerson compend tr 2. d. 10. Praecept Abulensis Exod. 20. Q. 39. Et Dominic Bannes in 2a 2ae Qu. 1. art 10. That the Fathers condemn'd Image-worship is Confess'd by Polydore Virgil de Invent. l. 6. c. 13. where he saith Sed teste Hieronymo omnes ferè veteres sancti Patres speaking of Images damnabant ob metum Idololatriae For fear of Idolatry And by Cassander Consult d. Imag. Quantum veteris initio Ecclesiae ab omni imaginum adoratione abhorruêrunt declarat unus Origenes And That for the first four Ages after Christ there was little or no use of Images in the Temples or Oratories of the Christians is Confess'd By Petavius Dogmat. Theol. To. 5. l. 15. c. 13. S. 3. c. 14. S. 8. SECT IV. Our Church contends for and embraces that faith which was (42) Jude 3. once delivered to the Saints and admits and professes that same which all true Christians have made the badge of their Holy Profession which (43) Articles and Jewel's Apology is briefly comprehended
in the Apostles Creed and explain'd in those others call'd the Nicene and Athanasian which may be prov'd by the Scriptures and have been approved by the Universal Church by the Decrees of the first General Councils and Writings of the Fathers The Popish Church especially that part of it which is called the Court of Rome obtrudes and imposes new Articles of Faith making (44) Bellar de Eccles l. 3. the Bishop of Rome the Infallible Judge and Arbitrator of all Doctrines enjoyning an implicit faith and blind obedience to his Dictates wherein we must renounce (45) M. Cressie in his Appendix c. 7. Sect. 8. saith That the Wits and Judgments of Catholicks he means Papists is to renounce their Judgment and depose their own wit I will make no Application let the Reader do it himself our very Reason so that (46) Exercitia Spiritualia Ign. Loyolae Tolosae 1593. p. 173. Reg. 1. if he call that white which we see to be black we are to say so since he hath as (47) Turrecremata summae de Ecclisia l. 2. c. 103. Petrus de Ancorano de Haerit n. 2. Augustinus Triumphus de Ancona p. 59. a. 1. art 2. And this knack of making new Creeds is very agreeable to that fancy of Salmeron Non amnibus omnia dedit Deus ut quaelibet aetas suis gaudeat veritatibus quas prior atas ignoravit Dis 57. in Ep. ad Rom. they say the power of making new Creeds Contrary to Scripture Gal. 1.8 9. Contrary to St. Augustin de Vnit Eccles contr Epist Petil. c. 3. and all the Fathers who shew an esteem for the Scripture Confess'd By Cardinal Bellarmine That till above a thousand years after Christ the (48) Bellar. de Rom. Pontif. l. 4. c. 2. Sect. Secunda opinio Popes Judgment was not esteemed Infallible nor his (49) Id. de Concil lib. 2. c. 13. Authority above that of a General Council much less then is it above that of the Holy Scriptures Hence must it necessarily follow That it is a new Article of the Creed to believe that the Pope can make new Creeds Consult Dr. Stillingfleet's Discourse concerning the Idolatry practised in the Church of Rome Chap. 4. SECT V. Our Church useth the same (50) Article 25. Sacraments which our Saviour Christ left in his (51) Mat. 28.19 Luk. 22.19 20. Church and no other to wit Baptism and the Lord's Supper which both the (52) Article 30. Laity and Clergy in our Communion receive intire without mutilation according to our Blessed Saviour's Institution (53) Mat. 26.27 1 Cor. 11.26 27 28. the practice of the Apostles and of the Latin Church for (54) Concil Constantiese Anno Dom. 1414. Sess 13. fourteen hundred years after our Saviour's Incarnation and of the (55) Apud Chytrae de Statu Eccl. Orient Primum Patriar Resp p. 149 c. The Greek Patriarch Hieremias's Letter to the Tuling Divines bearing date May 15. 1576. Greek Church in the last Age if not until this day The Church of Rome doth not only clogg its members with the number of (56) Concil Trident. Sess 7. seven Sacraments which precise number of Sacraments was not held for Catholick even in the Roman Church till above a thousand years after Christ and therefore far from Primitive Christianity but deprives the Laity (57) Concil Constant Sess 13. of the Cup in the Eucharist contrary to our Saviour's Institution which is at once the highest presumption and withal not one degree remov'd from Sacriledg The number of Seven Sacraments Contrary to the Fathers Justin Martyr Apol. 2. whom even Bellarmine himself confesses to have mentioned but two Sacraments de effect Sacram. l. 2. c. 27. Sect. venio Tertullian advers Marcion l. 4. c. 34. Id. de coronâ militis c. 3. Cyril of Jerusalem in his Catechisms S. Ambrose in his Books de Sacramentis Augustin de Doctr. Christi lib. 3. c. 9. Id. de Symbolo ad Catech. Tom. 9. Id. Epist 118. ad Januar. Tom. 2. Junilius in Genes Confess'd That Peter Lombard Master of the Sentences who liv'd Anno Dom. 1144. was the first Author that mentioned the precise number of Seven Sacraments and the Council of Florence held Anno Dom. 1438 was the first Council that determined that number By Cardinal Bellarmin de Sacram. lib. 2. c. 25. and Cassander Consult de num Sacram. Communion in one kind Contrary to Scripture Matt. 26.26 27 28. Luk. 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.26 27 28. Contrary to the Fathers Dionysius Areopagita Eccl. (58) Although some Learned men in our own Church will have Apollinaris who liv'd in the fourth Century to be the Author of that Book See Dr. Stillingfleet's Answer to Cress Apolog c. 2. §. 17. p. 133. and Dr. Cave in the Life of Dionysius Areopagita p. 73 74. Hierarch c. 3. which Author I quote in the front of the Fathers because the Papists would have him to live in the first Age though it is more probable that he liv'd later albeit not so late as Monsieur Daillé would have him Ignatius Ep. ad Philadelph Justin Martyr Apol. 2. in fine p. 162. Clemens Alexandrin Stromat l. 1. p. 94. Id. Paedagog l. 2. c. 2. p. 35. Tertullian de Resurrect c. 8. Id. l. 2. ad Vxorem c. 6. Origen Hom. 16. in Num. Cyprian Epist 54. Tom. 1. l. 1. Epist 2. Gregor Nazianzen Orat. 11. in laud. Gorgon Orat. 40. in Sanctum Baptism Tom. 1. Athanasius Apol. 2. contra Arrianos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Ambros in Orat. ad Theodos apud Theodoret. Hist Eccles l. 5. c. 18. Hieronymus Epist ad Rusticum Tom. 1. Id. sup Sophon c. 3. Tom. 6. Chrysostom in 2 Cor. Hom. 18. Tom. 3. Edit Savil. p. 646. Augustin 4 Qu. 57. in Levit. Leo Ser. 4. de Quadrages Gelasius Decret 3. part de Consecrat dist 2. cap. Comperimus Hincmar in the Life of the Archbishop Rhemes who converted King Clovis of France to the Christian Faith reports that the Archbishop gave a Chalice or Cup for the peoples use with this Motto Hauriat hinc populus vitam de sanguine sacro Injecto aeternus quem fudit vulnere Christus Remigius domino reddit sua vota sacerdos è Cassandri Liturg. c. 31. Pamelii Liturgic p. 618. Tom. 1. Gregorius Magnus Dial. l. 1.4 c. 58. Id. Dial. l. 3. c. 36. Tom. 2. Id. in Sab. Paschae Homil. 22. Tom. 2. Confess'd That Communion in one kind is against the practice of the Apostles by Paschasius Radbertus de corp sang domini c. 19. Confess'd That it was a General Custom for the Laity to Communicate in both kinds by Salmeron Tract 35. Confess'd By Cassander (59) Consult Sect. 22. That it was receiv'd in both kinds for above a thousand years after Christ by (60) In tertiam partem S. Thomae tom 3. Quaest 80. Disp 216. Art 12. cap. 3. nu 38. Vasquez and Thomas (61) In