Man and his redemtion by Christ and other Mysteries which were made known unto them saith the Apostle in the Churches by the Ministery of the Gospel See Estius in 4. Sent. dist 46. Paragr 19. p. 294. And so while your Doctors without any warrant of Scripture generally lay this for a Foundation That the Saints in Heaven do know our state and bear our Praiers when they come to the proof and confirmation every one abounds in his own sense and they easily confute one anothers Reasons and Opinions and manifest unto their Readers upon due consideration that they are full of uncertainties in the Point which they take for granted and can urge only fallible Arguments to confirm that which they would have receiv'd by all Men as a mesur'd Truth but we have not learn'd to subscribe to Mens Dictates And you acknowledg your Doctor makes not proof of his Assertion which is a great defect this being the main Hinge whereupon the Controversie turns We conclude therefore there is no reason we should call upon the Saints when they do not hear us as a Child doth not ask his Fathers Blessing when he is out of hearing Now you assert with Bellarmin That the Saints in Heaven out of doubt do hear us but you know not how It is probable say you that in the Face of God they see and know all things that concern them but give no reason of that probability and is it fit that a Doctrine of your Church which takes up in that part the Devotion of all Gods People should be grounded only upon such a probability whereof you can give no reason How can I call upon the Saints with Faith and Comfort when I have no assurance that they can hear me I may with as much reason daily beg the Praiers of pious Friends who live far from me and say It is probable God will revele to them that I desire the assistance of their Praiers Phil. Your Instance runs not parallel Our condition here is a state of ignorance their 's a state of comprehension They can see the Face of God and live for ever they certainly know all things which tend to their consummation in Bliss for they are arriv'd at the state of Perfection and perfect Knowledge is the foundation of their Happiness Theoph. The perfect knowledg of God is so Here we know in part saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 13. ver 12. but there we shall know as we are known i. e. fully perfectly and this knowledg and Vision of God is Beatifical But how doth this prove their knowledg of the necessities and Praiers of us poor Mortals here on Earth whom they have leâ—t behind them in the vale of Misery we may rather suppose the wisdom of God hath excluded them from the knowledg of their Friends and Relations and of miserable Man here beneath least it should prove a diminution of their Joy and Bliss Your Angelical Doctor holds o Aqu. part 1. qu. 12. Art 8. ad 4. Cognoscere singularia cogitata aut facta c. non est de perfect It belongs not unto the perfection of a created Intellect to know particulars the thoughts or actions of Men. If God only be seen it sufficeth to make men happy As S t Augustin â— He is happy who knoweth Thee altho he have nothing else In a word Cardinals Cajetane was a Learned Advocate of your Church and had studied the Point in hand much and he concludes at last That we have no assurance that the Saints know when we pray to them altho we piously believe it Phil. I well perceive you have a Spirit of contradiction and please your self much in eluding such Arguments which our Doctors urge from Scripture and reason to prove the Doctrine of our Church touching the Invocation of Saints I will therefore take a more convincing way unto such refractory persons and plainly shew by matter of Fact and express Testimony of the Antients That this Doctrine hath bin receiv'd in the Church Catholic from the beginning Theoph. I presume you mean not from the beginning of Christianity you have heard how the attemt of your Doctors to prove it out of Gods Word hath been altogether unsuccessful and some of your Doctors have confes'd that it is delivered in Holy Scripture very obscurely and others have shew'd the reason even the humility and modesty of the Apostles which with-held them from publishing this Doctrine least they should appear to make themselves as Gods after their decease by requiring the People of God to make their Praiers and Supplications to them Seeing therefore your Doctrine is not sounded in the Holy Scripture I could give a short Answer unto your pretended usage of the Church and Testimony of the Ancient That which S t Augustin gave to Cresconius urging the Autority of Cyprian r I am not bound to the Autority of this Epistle for I do not hold the Writings of Cyprian as Canonical but judg of them by the Canonical Scripture and whatsoever is consonant to the Holy Scripture I receive with praise what agrees not with his leave 〈…〉 eject If you could prove what you have urg'd out of the Canonical Books of the Apostles and Prophets I would not contradict but seeing what you haue is not Canonical with that liberty whereunto God hath called us I do not receive his Testimony whose due Praise I can never equal with whose Writings I dare not compare mine own whose Learning I embrace whose 〈…〉 y I admire whose Martyrdom is venerable Again S t Augustin to the same effect elsewhere It is not sufficient unto the Autority of Faith and of the Dostrines of the Church to say Thus Esay or thou faist or he saith 〈◊〉 Thus saith the Lord. So the Blessed Martyr Gyprian himself We must not been what any one hath done before us but what He who is before all Ages hath taught or communded to be don Once more I could answer you out of Gratian t A Custom without the Word of God to back it is not â— B 〈…〉 quâ— T 〈…〉 scit etiamsi alia n 〈…〉 t. 〈…〉 sec 〈…〉 secundie â—hem qn 88. Art 5. Certaratione nescimus an Sancti vota 〈…〉 se 〈…〉 2. contr Cresconium c. 32. Ego hujus Epistolae c. 〈…〉 do sine verbo Lei non esse veritatem sed vetustatem erroris Truth but the Antiquity of Error The Council of Cartbage resolved thus â— The Lord said in the Gospel I am Truth He said not I am Castom Phil. Can you so easily trample upon the Autority of the Fathers You have formerly pretended much honor to the venerable Testimony of Antiquity where you conceiv'd it consonant unto your Principles and now you would decline that Touch-stone because you know full well it is against you in this Point of the Invocation of Saints Theoph. These Sentences I have produc'd are of the Fathers and seeing the Word of God doth not establish your Doctrine
of Christianity against the Innovations of the Church of Rome But seeing your self have receiv'd such satisfaction from their Books and from their Priests as to become a Proselyte to Rome I pray be ingenious and free to communicate and impart your new discoveries unto your Friend Phil. The rule of Friendship and of Charity obliging I am much devoted to this good service and most willing to lead such a Friend and Neighbor in the way of Truth and Holiness Theoph. You suppose the new way wherein you have lately chose to walk to be the right and it will much concern you to make it plain and remove those stumbling-blocks and rocks of Scandal which lye therein before you can expect that I should follow you Phil. Engage Theophilus that you will not stumble at straws and I will undertake to remove all other Obstacles out of your way Theoph. I shall not design to trifle in a serious Discourse and therefore will propose only such Objections against your new way as I judg material Phil. Upon this condition I am ready to answer Theoph. I will first give you in such Exceptions which are obvious unto the meanest Understanding and wherewith your self was much dis-satisfied before your new discoveries viz. 1. With the Latin Service of the Church of Rome 2. With her half Communion 3. With her worshipping of Images Phil. I must confess these things gave great offence unto me before I was better inform'd but now I can give a reason of the Churches practice and answer your Objections against it Theoph. We will therefore take them in their order into consideration First The Church of Rome where she hath Autority requires the public Offices of Praier and of the Sacraments to be performed in the Latin Tongue altho it be unknown and nor understood by the common people and this is contrary unto the reveled will of God in Holy Scripture and to the great end of public Praier Phil. Make your Arguments and Prooss and I will answer them Theoph. S t Paul in that known passage to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 14. speaks expresly to this point that in the Church and public Assemblies of the Saints All things should be don to edification ver 12. and that he that preacheth or prophesieth should utter words easie to be understood by the hearers that it may be known what is spoken otherwise he speaketh into the air ver 9. and if I know not the meaning of the voice saith the Apostle I shall be unto him that speaketh a Barbarian and he that speaketh shall be a Barbarian unto me ver 11. Phil. We grant that Homilies and Sermons should be made to the People in a known Tongue that they may understand and receive instruction Theoph. The same reason holds for Praiers and Spiritual Hymns and Benedictions that the People who are oblig'd to be present and to hold Communion in the Praiers of the Church should understand them For S t Paul in the same Chapter saith expresly He that praieth in an unknown tongue that is unknown to himself his understanding is unfruitful ver 14. and therefore saith he I will pray and sing with the spirit and with understanding also ver 15. and he immediatly adds when thou shalt bless with the spirit that is with such a Tongue as the Holy Ghost hath by an extraordinary gift enabled thee to speak how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest For thou verily givest thanks well but the other is not edified ver 16 17. and therefore he declares That altho he had the gift of Tongues more then they all yet in the Church he had rather speak five words with his understanding that by his voice be might teach others also then ten thousand words in an unknown Tongue Phil. You are not ignorant how the Learned have sufficiently answered all these Arguments taken out of this Chapter Theoph. That they have not sufficiently answered them I know full well and that it is impossible they should I pray impart that satisfaction which they have given you Phil. Bellarmine Tom. 1. Lib. 2. De verbo Dei cap. 16. plainly shews That the Apostle in this Chapter doth not speak of the common Forms of Praier and Hymns of praise but of some particular Praiers and Benedictions which by the gift of the Spirit by immediate Inspiration some were enabled to speak in a Tongue unknown to most of the hearers and somtimes not understood by themselves Theoph. How doth he prove the first part of his Answer that the Apostle in that Chapter doth not speak of public Praiers and Benedictions and reading of the Scriptures For these are his words Vera sententia est Apostolum hoc loco non agere de divinis Offici is nec de publica Scripturarum Lectione Phil. He proves it thus Because saith he out of doubt the Corinthians had the Scriptures read in the Church in Greek and the Divine Service in the same Tongue which they understood Scripturae sine dubio legebantur Graece Divina Officiaâ—fiebant graece in Graecia Ibid de verbo Dei cap 16. Theoph. This we readily grant and make no more doubt of it then himself Corinth was an eminent City in Greece and the Greek was the vulgar Tongue with them and therefore doubtless all their public Service was in that Tongue understood by all And because the Apostle would alwaies have it so in this Chapter he forbids everyone to disturb that good edifying way of the Church That none should pray or bless in public or speak in an unknown Tongue because thereby the People who did not understand the Language could not be edified But that which Bellarmine puts out of all doubt and we easily grant That the Corinthians had their public offices of Praier and reading of the Scriptures in Greek I pray observe well how he proves it Graece in Graecia therefore they had their Service in Greek because they were Grecians And the Argument concludes alike for every Country that doubtless they had their public Service and Worship of God in their own Language Graece in Graecia and Anglice in Anglia because they were Grecians they had theirs in Greek and because we are Englishmen we have ours in English and so every Country in their own Tongue For set aside the reason of this Chapter That S t Paul requires the public Service should be in the vulgar Tongue to the end that all the People may understand and be edified and be able to say Amen and Bellarmine could never prove what he takes for granted That the Corinthians had their Divine Service in Greek by his leave the Chapter shall serve our turn as well as theirs That according to the Apostles general rule in England we should serve God in English Phil. But you will find how Bellarmine puts a vast difference between the first Age of Christianity and those which
his Words so strictly but that for the most part what is written is clear and when we understand not he adviseth us to consult Meanwhile it is very unjust to with-hold such an inestimable Tresure as is Gods Holy Word from the People because some passages are obscure and hard to be understood whereas the far greater part of the Holy Scriptures being Historical or Moral or the plain discovery of Divine Mysteries and fulfilling of Prophesies matters of Faith and matters of Practice is most evident and condescending to the meanest capacities If in some difficult and deep places of Holy Scripture the Elephant may swim i. e. the most Learned may find work enough to fathom them in other places the Lamb may wade i. e. the meanest understanding may apprehend them as Augustin hath made the Allusion Phil. a Lib. 2. De verb. Dei cap. 15. Eo sunt obscuriores quo magis in peregrinis Ling. transferuntur Bellarmin shews How the Scriptures become more obscure by their Translations one Language being not able to express the Idioms of another Theoph. This Argument proves more then he or you would have it even against your Darling vulgar Latine Translation We easily grant the Originals as the Fountain to be most clear unto those who can understand and consult them Yet Translations made with Learning and Judgment and Fidelity give the full sense of Holy Scriptures altho they may come short of some Elegancies and Proprieties of the Originals And unto the People who understand the Language of the Translation the Word of God is certainly more manifest then if it were lock'd up in an unknown Tongue altho it be the Original Phil. a Ibid. Populus non solum non capit fructum è Script sed detrimentum occasionemsc errandi tum in doctr fidei tum praecept vitae Bellarmin in his great Wisdom and Observation looks farther and discovers How the People instead of reaping Fruit usually receive detriment by reading the Scripture easily taking the occasion of Errors both in matters of Faith and Precepts of Life and moral Conversation From reading the Holy Scriptures and not rightly understanding them spring up Heresies and corruption of Mens manners Theoph. b Praefatione in Epistolam ad Rom. Chrysostom in his great Piety and Fidelity assures us the contrary For as I have cited him before upbraiding his hearers with their supine negligence in reading and studying the Holy Scripture he tells them Hence arise myriads of evils even from the ignorance of Gods Word And to cross point-blank Bellarmines division of Corruptions in Doctrine and in Manners from reading the Scripture he tells them That by the neglect of reading and understanding the Scripture have proceeded the pest of many Heresies the neglect of Mens lives and the corruption of their manners Phil. We grant these Evils spring from the ignorance of the Scripture which are Chrysostoms own words c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that may be from the misunderstanding of them and therefore we with-hold them from the People least they should wrest and prevert them Theoph. But this is the plain way to make them altogether ignorant of the Scripture And you will find in that place Chrysostoms complaint was Not that they did misinterpret but that they did neglect to read the Scripture And he had ask'd the Question before with indignation d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. How canst thou understand who wilt not vouchsafe to look into the Scripture And in another place e Homil. 8. in Epistolam ad Hebraeos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. he sadly complains for the growth of the Manichecs Heresie and lays it to the charge of his Hearers for negleding the Scripture None of you saith he heed the Scripture for if we did so we should not only keep our selves out of the snare of Deceit and Errors but free others also and draw them out of the pit wherein they were taken Observe I pray the direct opposition between your Doctors and the Primitive Fathers The Peoples reading of the Scripture in the vulgar Tongue is a great cause of Heresie and corruption of Manners say you The neglect of reading the Scripture is the cause say they Phil. 'T is in vain to urge Autority against Experience f Loco cit supra Bellarmin shews how Sects and Heresies have swarmed where the vulgar sort read and study the Scriptures He tells you how David George knew no other Language but the Dutch and yet could prove himself out of the Scripture to be the Messiah and the Son of God And that Aeneas Sylvius who wrote the Bohemian History ascribes the gross Errors of the Thaborites and Orebites and the other Sects among the Bohemians unto the common Peoples studying the Scripture and therefore a Lutherus Scrip. Librum Hereticorum vocavit Luther saith he call'd the Scripture The Book of Heretics Theoph. For David George that Dutch Monster altho I do not understand the Language yet I am perswaded his Mother Tongue never promted him to such horrible Blasphemies neither did the Holy Scripture which he read in his Dutch give the occasion unless by Prophesie and Prohibition Christ had foretold how Deceivers should come in his Name and in his Person Mark 13. 21. That false Christs should arise and men should say Lo here is Christ and there is Christ but go not after them and believe them not You see therefore how the Scripture would have fore-warn'd and fore-arm'd him against such a Blasphemous attemt had he not bin given over to reprobate mind You may as well say our Saviors converse with Judas made him the Traitor As for the Bohemian Heretics as your Doctors commonly call them we know the Court of Rome was much perplex'd with their clamor and demands to have the Scripture in the vulgar Tongue and the Communion in both kinds c. and so bitter things are written against them but when you shall instance in any particulars of their damnable Doctrines as you suppose I will undertake to clear the knowledg and reading of the Holy Scripture from the imputation That they did erre because they knew the Scripture Ye do therefore greatly erre because ye know not the Scripture Mark 12. 24. saith our Blessed Savior to the Sadduces The Bohemians did therefore erre because they did read and know the Scripture say you As for Luther's calling the Scriptures the Book of Heretics Bellarmine cites not the place and if they do not bely him according to their accustomed dealing with him and others we do blame him and think not our selves obliged to justifie the fumes of heat and choler or the infirmities of good Men. But now what will you say if I turn the Scales and shew you how Heresies and damnable Doctrines have bin minted in the Brains of subtle Clerks and not of the simple Laity in comparison Marcion and Arrius were Priests Nestorius Sergius Dioscorus
Holy Scripture or Fathers speak of receiving Christs pretious Body and Blood for remission of Sins and the nurishment of our Souls you answer In one kind whole Christ is received and all his Benefits by a Concomitancy If we go further and prove the Elements were receiv'd distinctly by the People in the Apostles time and for so many Ages after You answer Vsu non praecepto they receiv'd it so by Custom and not by Precept Phil. Yes And upon this account we are not troubled with all your proofs of both kinds administred to the People so many Ages of the Church seeing afterwards that Custom generally ceas'd in the Western Church and the contrary Custom was introduc'd and confirm'd by three General Councils Constance Basil and Trent Theoph. 'T is truth in the 13 th Century giving the Cup unto the Laity began to grow out of use a Part. 3. Quaest 80. Art 12. Ex parte Sacramenti convenit ut utrumque sumutur c. Aquinas moves the Question Whether it be lawful to receive Christs Body without the Blood And concludes That in regard unto the Sacrament it self it was convenient that both kinds should be received because the perfection of the Sacrament consists in both but in regard unto the Receivers reverence and caution was required and that therefore in some Churches it was well observ'd not to give the Cup unto the People And yet before the same Aquinas had determin'd b Quaest 74. Art 1. Quantum ad effect in unoquoque sumentium Saeâ—â—mentum hoc vales ad tuicionem c. As to the effect of every Receiver the Sacrament secures both Body and Soul and therefore the Body of Christ is offer'd for the salvation of the Body and the Blood under the Species of Wine for the Soul Phil. He saith 't is offer'd to wit by the Priest but not communicated to the People Theoph. Put the Proposition together it is this Bread and Wine are the Materials of the Sacrament requir'd in regard of the benefit and effect in every Communicate for the preservation of his Body and Soul by the Body and Blood of Christ Well Aquinas he starts the Question Whether it was lawful to receive in one kind and determins the Point very tenderly But after this Angelical Doctor as they call him the School-men follow the Cry with full Mouth That there is no Precept to receive in both and no prohibition to receive in one kind That upon many Considerations it is expedient to with-hold the Cup from the Laity That the Church hath power to order things of this nature and That after the express determination of the Church in some General Councils it is even become necessary to with-hold the Cup and an Heresie to dispute against it Now to prepare the World for this new practice of receiving only in one kind that so it might be entertain'd in some places and get ground and afford some plea of a Custom in the Church the School-men started some preliminary Questions and concluded That whole Christ was received under each kind and he that received only the Body of Christ received likewise his Blood and Soul and Divinity by a concomitancy 2 sy That the whole intent of the Sacrament as to the People all the Essentials thereof were communicated under the Species of Bread with the Body of Christ. 3 sy That he who received in both kinds had no advantage of those who receiv'd only in one kind Altho we find this last Thesis not so generally admitted among themselves yet such as oppose must not be peremtory least the People should be sensible of some injury don them in being depriv'd of that benefit which should be exhibited more in both kinds then in one Phil. By your own relation you give us opportunity to observe how they proceeded upon good grounds and in a rational way to make good their Thesis and their practice of the Communion in one kind Theoph. It was necessary they should say somthing to endere the People unto a compliance designing to cheat them of one half of the Sacrament they would impose upon their credulity and tell them the other half which they receiv'd was as beneficial as the whole Phil. You are not ignorant how they shew many good Causes and Considerations for their with-holding the Cup and notwithstanding your pretensions and claim to the practice of the Church for so many Ages on your side our Doctors shew it was always free to communicate in one kind or in both and shew the early practice of the Church for this half Communion as you call it and I hope you will now give me leave to put in their Plea Theoph. Content And if you can ballance those Autorities which I have brought I will yield the Cause Phil. I am glad to see in you some hopes of Moderation and that you will be rul'd by Reason and Autority Theoph. Taking Christs Institution and the Holy Scripture along with us Phil. 'T is suppos'd there is no express Precept of Christ to determine the Church in all Ages to give the Communion in both kinds and where the Church is left free she may use her liberty and determin as occasion serves Theoph. You beg the Question and we have urg'd Christs Institution and Example in giving the Sacrament in both kinds and his Command to them to do likewise We have urg'd the Traditions of St. Paul the practice of the Apostolical Tunes Phil. You have urged and we have answered and let the impartial Reader judg between us but besides these Instances of the Sacrament in one kind out of the Holy Scripture Luke 24. Acts 2. 42. and 20. 7. we have also Testimonies of the Primitive Church which speak on our side Theoph. We have prov'd our way abundantly by the practice of so many Ages do you so yours and then I will grant we are left free in this case every one to do as seemeth good in his eyes Phil. Not so neither when the Church hath restrain'd this liberty and forbid the Cup. Theoph. Whether your Church hath done better in the restraint then the Church for so many Ages before in allowing that Christian Liberty which you pretend for to receive in one or both kinds let the World judg but we deny any such liberty taken by the Church or allow'd by Christ to communicate in one or both kinds as the Church should please and we desire your proof Phil. First Bellarmin proves it lawful to communicate in one kind because the Church never condemn'd it Theoph. You should prove that they allow'd it But how should they condemn that which was not practic'd Could they divine a new Generation of Monks and Fryars should arise and perswade the People by subtlety and craft to lose their Spiritual Birth-right half the Legacy of Christ or rather the whole in a maim'd and undue Administration And moreover you have heard when the Manichees and other Heretics would have brought up this
not doubt but stedfastly believe That whole Christ his Body and Blood is contain'd under either Species of the Sacrament And therefore such a custom of giving the Sacrament in one kind introduc'd by the Church and the Holy Fathers and observ'd for a most long time let it be taken for a Law Theoph. The first part is warily penn'd c Tam sub Specie panis quam sub specie vini veraciter contineri We must stedfastly believe that whole Christ is verily contain'd as well under one Species as the other So it may be if it be in neither and so we hold Christ is contain'd in neither singly but he is signified and Sacramentally represented and really and spiritually exhibited by the Sacrament in both kinds unto the Faithful Receiver His Body that was broken for us is signified by breaking of Bread and his Blood shed by the Wine poured out of the Cup and separated from the Bread in the Sacrament and therefore at present we will dismiss this School nicety and by the Councils leave not take it for granted That whole Christ Body and Soul is in either Species Quod nullus Presbyter sub poena Excommunicat communicet Populum sub utraque Specie But the principal motive follows Seeing such a custom of giving the Sacrament in one kind hath been introduc'd and most long observ'd by the Church and Fathers we Decree it shall be taken for a Law which shall not be changed or reprobated without the Autority of the Church b Bin. Tom. 8. Concil Basil Sess 30. Sub qualibet Specie est integer totus Christus landab quoque consuet commun Laices c. The Council of Basil makes and confirms the same Decree upon the same Motives Whole and intire Christ is under either kind and the laudable custom of Communicating the Laity under one kind induc'd by Church and Fathers and hither to most long observ'd and approv'd by Doctors skilful in Gods Law and in the Holy Scripture and in Church Canons long since Let it be a Law c. Phil. Yes The Custom and Practice of the Church should prevail with sober Men not given to Faction especially when confirm'd by General Conncils Theoph. Why should not then the Custom and Practice of the Church which we have prov'd for so many Ages prevail for administring the Sacrament in both kinds especially being exactly conformable unto Christs Institution and Command and Apostolical Tradition Phil. Stay there We absolutely deny any command of Christ or of his Apostles or of the Church representative in a General Council to administer the Sacrament in both kinds and we shew two Councils forbidding it Theoph. You deny but the Scriptures affirm And the reason why no General Council determin'd the Sacrament to be in both kinds was because the Institution of Christ and the Tradition of the Apostles and the practice of the whole Church was so full and express for it It was never put to the Question as I can find until the 13 th Century and from that time when the School-men began to swarm most of them being sworn Champions of the See of Rome The laudable Custom as the Council speaks approv'd by Holy Fathers viz. Monks and Friers crept insensibly into the Church And this must be made a ground of Canons to establish the Communion in one kind and forbid the Cup and declare a Curse upon all those that shall dispute it And now when I shall declare the reason I hope your goodness will excuse that great trouble to my self and you in those numerous Quotations and Testimonies I have brought to prove the practice of the Church for 1200 Years in giving the Sacrament unto the People in both kinds It was chiefly upon this design to manifest the gross absurdity of those two Councils Constance and Basil who as you have heard do ground their Decree for one kind upon the laudable custom of the Church taken up not above 100 Years before against the Institution of Christ and the conformable practice of the Church for 1200 Years And withal to manifest their impudence in calling that a custom rationally introduc'd when such a Diutissime obs trifling Motives are brought to establish it And in saying it was diutissime observata for a long time observ'd when they cannot shew one clear Instance save in the Age immediatly before That the Sacrament was administred in public in one kind in any Christian Church Phil. It doth not become your Prudence and Moderation so to undervalue General Councils Theoph. Alass Those two pitiful Councils of Constance and Easil you may call them Oecumenical but you give no more Autority to them then you think fit As far as their Decrees suit the Genius of the Court of Rome they are confirm'd and no farther a Part. 2. Tom. 7. pag. 1134. Exparte Approbatum in iis quae consra Wicclesum c. Binius in his Notes upon the Council of Constance tells us It was approv'd in part in those Decrees against Wicliff Husse and Jerome of Prague But in the determination of the Autority of a General Council above the Pope it was abrogated by two General Councils of Florence and the Lateran b Bin. Tom. 8. Sâ—ss 34. Câ—nâ— Basil Tan suum Simâ—niacum perjurum incorig Scismaticum fide devium injurium bonarum Ecclesiâ—e pâ—â—ditorâ—m So the Council of Basil deposing Eugenius the 4 th from his Papacy As a Simoniacal and perâ— jur'd Man an incorrigible Schismatic erring from the Faith injurious and betraying the Goods of the Church And choosing Amadeus Duke of Savoy Pope called Felix the fifth and Declaring That a Council is above the Pope and hath its Power immediatly from Christ Alas for these things this poor Council is hist off the Stage of the World c Sess 11. Bin in notis in Concil â—asil p. 526. Conciliabulum Schismat c. And in the Lateran General Council under Leo the 10 th It is call'd a Schismatical and Seditious Conventicle and altogether of no Autority And yet these are the Councils upon whose Aurority you so much depend to establish your half Communion and pronounce us all Heretical and Contumacious for not submitting our Reason and our Consciences thereunto even against the Scripture and against the Fathers of the Church Phil. But the General Council of Trent hath no Exception being held 18 years and confirm'd by Pope Pius the fourth and subscrib'd by his Cardinals as appears by the Bull of Confirmation See the Council of Trent set forth in Latin by John Gallemart D. D. and Professor at Douey Theoph. Of the Council of Trent read the History of Father Paul a Frier at Venice a Man of Learning Judgment and Piety beyond compare and there you will find what just cause the World â—ath to decline the Autority and Decrees of that Cabal That great Ecclesiastical Body whose Soul and Spirit was at Rome receiving day by day Orders and Directions and
wall Phil. This Canon may respect the Pictures of God and not of the Saints and you have dismist that Point Theoph. Your Church however is to blame to transgress this Canon in admitting Images of God and of the Trinity But seeing you allow Worship and Adoration to the Images of Christ and of the Saints the reason given in the Canon reacheth them also The Fathers would not have that which is worship'd pictur'd on the Wall Phil. You will find other Answers given to that Canon That it prohibited Images in the Church because then the People were newly weanâ—d from Idolatry and might be apt to return For the Council was held under Pope Marcellus Anno 305. and withal the Heathen among whom they liv'd might suppose Christians did worship Idols like themselves whilst they condemn'd them and there was danger least the Gentiles should break in upon them and do despite unto the Images of Christ and the Saints Theoph. The Reason given in the Canon confutes these Answers and manifests them to be but shifts That which is worship'd must not be pictur'd Phil. b De Im. l. 2. c. 9. Bellarmin having reckon'd others chiefly approves this Answer The Canon forbids Images upon the Walls least they should be defil'd and stain'd with the moistness and mouldring of the Wall but Pictures in Arrasor Tables are not forbid as not being so liable to such Inconveniencies Theoph. He will say somwhat tho to little purpose such a ridiculous Answer deserves no Consideration Phil. But withal he shews how the Eliberitan Council consisted but of 19 Bishops And what are they if compar'd with such General Councils which afterwards establish'd Images Theoph. This is like himself when any thing makes against him to slight it But this Council was alwaies held in great esteem for the Antiquity and Piety thereof Hosius presided therein and the other Bishops were most of them Confessors and at that time assembled with the hazard of their lives to give Rules and Directions to the People of God And in those days Bishops were not so numerous the World being not subdued to Christianity And lastly Binius acknowledgeth there were six and thirty Presbyters in the Council besides the Bishops Phil. Once more Bellarmin shews That Council did incline to Novatianism denying Reconciliation unto the Church even at their deaths unto some Offenders as appears in the three first Canons of that Council whereas about 20 years after the great Council of Nice in the 13 th Canon Decreed the contrary a Bin. Tom. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. We determin in general That any one departing this life and desiring to receive the Eucharist the Bishop upon examination shall give it him Theoph. Bellarmin doubtless was not ignorant That Pope Innocent the first had vindicated the Eliberitan Council from this imputation of Novatianism and reconcil'd the difference of the Canons by the times wherein they were made b Innocent Epist 1. c. 2. Cum illis temporibus crebrae essent persecut c. In those persecuting Times the Fathers of the Eliberitan Council were more severe least the easiness of Reconciliation to the Church should encourage some to Apostatize they Decreed That such as did fall off should not be admitted to the Eucharist even at their deaths But when Constantine restored Peace to the Church and Persecution ceas'd the Council of Nice releas'd the former Canon and Decreed The Communion should be given to such as desired it upon their death beds Now Bellarmin's brother Cardinal c Annal Tom Anno 305. Fatetur se paulo liberius de hoc Concil loquutum c. Baronius taking into consideration this Justification of the Eliberitan Council by Pope Innocent makes acknowledgment That he spoken too freely against this Council in his Annals before and Declares That there could be no suspicion of Novatianism in that Council Phil. d Baron Tom. 1. Anno Christi 57. Baronius suspects this Canon against Pictures may be supposititious put in among the rest by some who had ill will to Images in after times Because saith he the Image-breakers take no notice of this Canon in their defence Theop. This is their constant practice to suspect all that makes against them They have accustomed themselves much of late to the corrupting of Fathers and Councils and would have us believe they have learn'd that Art from the Primitive Times And withal you may observe Baronius's cheat upon his Reader In the year 570. he much labors to undermine the Autority of this Council as being but a particular Council of few Bishops given to Novatianism and for this Canons sake against Images all this indignation and therefore the Canon must be thought supposititious Now when he hath prepossest his Reader with these prejudices against this Council long after in the year 305. as you have heard he recants acknowledging he had spoke too freely against it and that Pope Innocent had acquitted the Council of Novatianism c. Do you not believe the Learned Cardinal knew as much of this Concern when he wrote his first censure of the Council as when he cries peccavi only he was willing to undervalue the Council in the first place and might presume many of his Readers might never go so far as to read this his Recantation But to proceed in Church History concerning Pictures of the Saints in Churches we have a notable passage of Epiphaninus a Learned Bishop in Cyprus who going towards Bethel with John Bishop of Jerusalem in the way he turn'd into a Church in a Village call'd Anablatha to Pray And seeing there a piece of hanging before the door of the Church painted and having the Image of Christ in it or some Saint for afterwards in his Letter to John Bishop of Jerusalem he saith That he did not well remember whose Picture it was he cut the hanging and Picture into pieces and wish'd the Keeper of the Church to wrap some dead Body in it and bury it When some of the Village standing by expostulated with him for the Fact and said That however he should buy another piece of hanging before the door he promis'd to do so and sent it afterwards to the Bishop of Jerusalem to be put up instead of the other Now in this Letter to the Bishop who had Jurisdiction in that place he gives a reason of his action a Hierom. Tom 2. Epist Epiphan ad Jeannem Episc Hiros cum vidissem in Ecclesia Christi contra Script Autorit hominis c. When I saw in the Church of Christ against the Autority of Holy Scripture the Image of a Man set up I cut it in pieces And in the close of his Letter he adviseth the Bishop to command That such hangings should not be admitted into the Church which are against our Religion that so he might take away all scandal and scruple c. Phil. Many Answers you will find given to this memorable Passage Theoph. Yes it
confirm'd in Grace and Glory the great Favorites of the King of Heaven So proceed your Arguments for the worshipping of their Images we give unto them say ye a relative inferior dependent honor according to the Analogy of Reason he that loves the Person will love his Image But where is the Autority of Holy Scripture God cannot be offended you will say that the Images of his Saints and Servants should be had in honor and what is done to the Image redounds to the honor of the Saint represented by it and of God who hath highly honored him But still you must keep within your Bounds God is jealous of his Honor and will not permit any degree thereof to be communicated to any other whether Saint or Angel much less to their Images For instance Adoration falling down and worshipping the Angel refus'd it and sends the Apostle to give that to God Peter refus'd it the Divel desir'd it upon great promises If thou wilt fall down and worship me or before me a Luke 4. ver 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all these things will I give Thee but our Blessed Savior repli'd It appertains only to God Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and yet this Adoration and Worship ye give to Images ye bow down and worship before them Phil. But this Adoration we give is infinitely inferior to the Worship of God Theoph. This you say but many of your Doctors say otherwise b Part. 3. q. 25. Art 3. Imag. Christi cultu Latr. coli deberi c. Aquinas the great Oracle of the Schools expresly holds That the Image of Christ is to be ador'd with that Worship call'd Latria and he gives the reason because the honor of the Image redounds to the Prototype and according to Aristotle saith he the same motion of the mind tends to the Image as an Image and to the thing represented by it and therefore seeing Christ is worship'd with Divine Adoration so likewise his Image c Art 4. Crux Christi adoranda est adoration Latriae Quia in ca ponimus c. In the next Article he declares the same for the Crucifix It is to be worship'd with the worship due to God and proves it thus Because in the Cross we put our hope of Salvation For upon the Passion-day saith he the Church hath taught us to say All hail O Cross our only hope Increase to the Godly salvation and give pardon to the guilty Phil. One Doctors Opinion signifies but little Theoph. If your Church do not approve it why after so long a time do they not censure it But what do you speak of one Doctor a Lib. 9. Inst Mor. c. 6. Azorius a Jesuit and Casuist shews it is the common Opinion of the Doctors and quotes Aquinas Bonaventure Alexander Hales Richardus Albertus Paludanus Almaine Marsilius Capreolus Cajetan caeteros juniores many others after them And whereas the second Council of Nice hath determin'd That the Image of Christ and the Cross is not to be worship'd Latria with that worship due to God but with such Veneration as is due to the Holy Bible and to Holy Vessels c. It is plain saith he that Council speaks of the Image and the Cross as in themselves they are sacred things and so to be honored as holy Vessels c. but if we consider them as Images representing Christ and his death so we must worship them as we do Christ with the same honor as the thing represented is worship'd And he brings the c Concil Trid. Sess 25. Honos qui iis exhibetur refertur ad prot c. Council of Trent to confirm his Opinion saving The honor given to the Image is refer'd to the Prototype so that by the Images which we salute and before which we uncover the head and fall down we do worship Christ and the Saints And because I am not willing to multiply Quotations I will refer you to d Naclantus Episcopus Clugiensis in Comment in 1 cap. ad Rom. propefinem Representatum est in Imag. sicut in speculo in quo cernitur honoratur c. one of your great Doctors whose Works are dedicated to Pope Pius the fifth He tells us The Prototype is in the Image as in a Looking glass wherein it is both seen and honored and therefore seeing the Image contains the exemplar and doth not only represent it when we speak of the Adoration of an Image as an Image referring unto and containg the thing represented we without any scruple affirm that we ought to worship not only before the Image as some would seem to speak cautiously but to worship the Image it self with the same worship as we do the Prototype In the same place he supposeth the e Respiciebat populus serpentem religiose forte obtulit c. Israelites in the Wilderness did worship the Brazen Serpent and perhaps offer Incense to it and yet without fear of Idolatry because it was a Type of Christ and therefore Moses and the seniors among them who knew the Mystery might fall down and worship it Religiously and be no Idolaters and the People also who knew not the Mystery believing as the Elders believed and resolving their Faith into the Faith of the Elders might without sin worship the Serpent altho they did not understand it to be the Type of Christ Phil. These are School-subtleties arguing from the Image to the Exemplar and from a notion of Aristotle and Naclantus going farther then the rest is but a single Testimony fancying an Image to be a Looking-glass and the thing represented by it to be presentially contain'd in it But you have heard the plain determination of the Nicene Council b Loquitur de Cruce prout est res quaedam sacra non ut refertur ad exemplar was That the Image of Christ and the Cross and so any other Image was not to be worship'd with that worship due to God but with a worship far inferior Theoph. You may perceive by this how much your School-men value Fathers and Councils when they speak not for them But why doth your Church and after Councils permit them to pass without censure and an Index expurgatorius Naclantus dedicates his Book to the Pope and therefore did presume upon his allowance and protection Phil. Baronius excuses the School-men and our Doctors in maintaining the Image of Christ and of the Cross are to be worship'd with the worship call'd Latria because saith he they were mistaken and did suppose with the Council of Francford that the Nicene Council had determin'd Divine Honor to be given to them Theoph. If this were so it manifests your Doctors and School-men to have been grosly ignorant of the Councils And secondly That they are resolv'd to assert whatsoever they believe a Council hath determin'd right or wrong yea altho it be against the dictate of their Conscience and rule of
this Canon as of the sixth general Council when he could not be ignorant how that Council made no Canons only he was willing to found the Doctrine of Saints Invocation upon the Autority of general Councils and you see how shamefully he hath pretended to them If this be the way to uphold their Church Let not my soul enter into their Councils Your Doctor cites likewise the next general Council the second Council of Nice of which I have given you formerly an Historical large account It instituted the worship of Images and did allow the Invocation of Saints but this was held 800 Years after Christ about which time this Superstitious Worship of the Saints was publicly avowed From the general Bellarmin proceeds to the Testimony of six Provincial Councils which speak not to his purpose They appoint the Litanies of their Churches to be solemnly used in the times allotted for them now because the Saints are praied to in their new Litanies therefore your Cardinal supposeth they were so in the old and wheresoever he finds a command for the use of Litanies there he infers Invocation of Saints commanded And the Council of c Bin. Tom 6. Concil Moguntinum c. 32. Adrogandum Deum c. Mentz is one of them which your Cardinal quotes and that Council held under Charles the Great Anno 813. tells us That Litanies or Rogations are solemnly appointed to beseech the Lord and implore his mercy viz. when some diresul Calamities are eminent not one word of calling upon the Saints Phil. Bellarmin in this place shews how Walfridus Strabo in the 8 th Book of Ecclesiastical Affairs chap. 28. declaring what these Litanies were mention'd in these Councils saith a Litaniam de qua agitur in bis Conciliis esse Sanctorum Invocationem They were the Invocation of Saints Theoph. Turn to the place and you will not find it so First Strabo gives an account of the original and use of Litanies and then for their matter he saith They are not only Invocations of Saints for help b In adiutorium â—um infirmitatis cuncta quae fiunt Orationibus but any Supplications to God are Litanies He adds farther That the Invocation of Saints was brought into the Litany after S t Jeromes days but how soon after he asserts not neither that those Councils which Bellarmin quoted did include the Invocation of Saints you have heard how the Council of Mentz did rather exclude them And therefore I pray now judg upon a sober recollection of the Cardinals proofs from Councils they are in part false in part impertinent It is almost incredible that in less then one page he should manifest unto as many as shall examin him so much deceit and imprudence but we impute all to his desperate cause which can be no otherwise maintain'd then by imposing upon the unwary Reader Farewel therefore unto the Testimony of Holy Scripture and the Testimony of any Council for more then 700 Years after Christianity unto your Doctrine of Saints Invocation Phil. I presume Bellarmin relied not much upon these Councils as you observe he hudled them up in few lines but his Testimony from the Fathers are numerous and significant Theoph. I presume he well knew there was little in those Councils for his purpose yet he was willing to make his credulous Reader believe he had the Autority of all these Councils on his side and I am much satisfied for my great trouble and pains in the full discovery of the contrary being destitute of any proof from Scripture and Councils be pleas'd to produce his Allegations from the Fathers of the Church for the Invocation of Saints departed Phil. He cites a full Testimony of Dionysius the Areopagyte who lived in the Apostles daies c Ecclesiast Hierarch c. 7. That as he who puts out his eyes in vain desires the light of the Sun d Sic qui Sanctorum preces flagitat c. so in vain do we desire the Praiers of the Saints whilst we live and act contrary to their purity Theoph. The passage refers rather to the Praiers of the Saints living then of the Saints deceas'd such as neglect holiness of Life shall not be benefited by others Praiers And he instanceth in Samuels Praying for Saul and the design of that Chapter principally concerns the Rites of Burial in the Church to shew how our Praiers for the living or for the dead at their Burial avail nothing except the Persons for whom we pray are worthy And for a second answer I must tell you this Book is falsly ascrib'd to Dionysius it discovers it self to be written after the Nicene Council as I may have occasion to prove hereafter Phil. However Bellarmin takes his next Argument to be most evident It is taken from the early Testimony of Ireneus a Lih. 4. c. 19. ut Virginis Evae Virgo Marin fieret Alvocata As Eve was temted to turn from God so Mary was well perswaded to obey him That the Virgin Mary might prove the Advocate of the Virgin Eve b Quidclarius What is more evident to the Point then this saith the Cardinal Theoph. It is his Artifice to set out a weak Argument with the greatest confidence for this place doth not prove the Point He should prove the Invocation of the blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints and he attemts to shew her Advocation Phil. If she be our Advocate we ought to implore her Intercession Theoph. Not so neither as you have bin often told the Saints in Heaven may pray for the Church in general the Blessed Virgin for the Generations of Adam and Eve and yet not hear our Praiers in particular or be sensible of our condition However this Passage out of Ireneus proves not so much That the Virgin Mary is the Advocate of the Virgin Eve as the Fathers words seem to declare for the Blessed Virgin was not in being until thousands of Years after Eve was a Virgin Neither can you conceive that now she makes Intercession for the Mother of all living None of your Doctors can be so cruel as to keep our Mother Eve so long in Purgatory Ireneus his plain meaning is this That as by the prevarication of the Virgin Eve all her Posterity did suffer so by the obedience of the Blessed Virgin to the Angels Message and by the Blessed Fruit of her Womb all Man kind is comforted and relieved We have not Ireneus his Works in Greek as they were first written Suppose his word he made use of was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you know that signifies as well a Comforter as an Advocate The Virgin Mary hath made amends for the transgression of her Sex in our Mother Eve This is the sense of that comparison in the Father Phil. What sense you will fix upon his Words I see must pass for currant Bellarmin brings the Testimony of Pope Cornelius in the third Century between whom and S t Cyprian there past many Letters
of Heaven the Throne of God and Gate of Paradise hear the praiers of the poor and despise not the sighs of the miserable Let our groans and our desires be brought by thee into the sight of our Redeemer which by our misdeservings are cast out f Dele peccata relaxa facinera erige lapsos solve compeditos Blot out our transgressions release our sins raise the faln and loose such as are bound Let the branches of vices be cut off and the flowers of vertue planted g Placa precibus Judicem quem puerp genuisti Redemt c. Appease the Judg by thy praiers whom thou hast brought forth a Redeemer That as by thee he was made partaker of the humane nature so by thee he may make us partakers of the Divine Nature One passage more neer the close of the service I will produce The Catholic Church celebrates the holy memory of Mary Mother of God who stands in need for her salutary help without ceasing h Quoniam reverent quae Matri exhibetur Christo dofertur ideo totis desideriis c. Vt Matrem sentiamus piissimam et felium ejus Judicemisereniss And because the reverence towards the Mother redounds to Christ therefore with all the desire of our hert we will insist on her praises that the Mother may be favorable to us and the Son a serene Judg. Phil. You see most of these passages do proceed upon her praiers and intercession that she would interpose for us and present our supplications and sighs unto our Redeemer Theoph. But you shut your eies and not observe these absolute petitions which are put up to her and where any reference is made to Christ even there it much derogates from his mediation and intercession because it represents Christ as a Judg by her praiers and mediation to be appeas'd the blessed Virgin becoming our Intercessor unto Christ And so by the stamp of public Authority you see these extravagancies confirm'd which above you would not justify as being the fancies as you call'd them of private persons Now in confutation of such blasphemies the Holy Scriptures shew Christ to be our Advocate until the day of judgment not a juige A merciful and faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God Hebr. 2. 17. Hebr. 4. 15. 16. For we have not High Priest which cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities but was in all points temted like as we are yet without sin Let us therefore come boldly saith the Apostle unto the Throne of grace that we may obtain mercy It is the design of Holy Scripture to make poor sinners come with confidence and comfort to Christ and to the Father It is the designe of your Church to discourage them with a sense of their unworthiness and to teach them to look upon Christ as a severe Judge that so they may fly to the Virgin Mother and to the Saints to be their Mediators and Intercessors Nothing is more opposite to the Covenant of Grace to the Love of God towards such as are reconcil'd in Christ to the tender compassion of our blessed Saviour and to the gracious promises and Invitations of the Gospel And upon this account I may pronounce your Doctrine of the Saints Invocation and Intercession to be a damnable doctrine destructive to the Souls of men Phil. Satis pro imperio Doubtless you think your self as infallible as we the Pope and you design to put Christs Vicar besides the Chair to place your self therein and magisterially declare against the doctrines of our Church Theoph. If our Declarations like the Pope's many times be against the Tenor of Holy Scriptures regard them not but if the word of God condems your practise that which your Church teacheth in her public Offices Wo unto them by whom offences come I have follow'd your prescription and have kept close to such instances as are approv'd among you by Councils and Popes and Missals of your Church and when you cannot refute the objection you scoff at the opponent But because this Conference hath bin spun out into a great length I will favor you and my self with the omission of many things and give you only one Instance more out of the same Ordinary and Missal according to the use of the Church of Sarum In the Office of S. Thomas the Martyr as you call him Archibishop of Canterbury Chancellor of England He was indeed a Martyr for the Pope standing so highly for his Authority in the justification of Appeals to Rome and not submitting the Clergy to the Laws of the Realm that he betrai'd his Native Cuntry to a sorreign Jurisdiction and became a rebel to the King and Kingdom Hereupon he was banish'd divers years and by the interest of his great Patron the Pope in neigboring Princes he created great vexation trouble unto his lawfull Prince King Henry the II d. After 7. years a reconciliation was made by the mediation of the Pope and other Princes between the King and him and he return'd into England the King abiding in his Territories in France Upon his return by the Popes Bull he Excommunicates the Arch-Bishop of York and those other Bishops who in his Banishment officiated in the Coronation of the Kings son Henry according to his Fathers command alleading that the priviledg of Coronation of Kings of England belong'd to him as Arch-Bishop of Canterbury This and other insolencies being soon related to King Henry in France he spake passionately against the proud Prelate and immediately four Commanders in his Camp went over into England entred the Bishops Palice and purfu'd him into the Chappel and there Inhumanly and Sacrilegiously murder'd him a See Gulielmus Nubrigenses his Hist. of England l. 2. c. 16. p. 25. c. Hereupon by the Pope he was Canoniz'd for a glorious Saint and Martyr and an b Baro. Martyr Rom. in 29. Decembris Annual feast was Instituted afterwards in memory of his Martyrdom upon the 29 th of December a solemn office and service there is appointed for the day as we find it in the missal wherein the Account is given that the first Solemnity of his Translation was kept in the Cathedral of Canterbury Henry the third being present and the Popes Legat Pandulphus the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury all the Prelates and Nobles in the Year 1220 Fifty Years after his Passion and that the Martyr Thomas of Becket honor'd his Translation with many Miracles c Caecis ad visum surdis ad Audit c. Restoring sight to the Blind Hearing to the Deaf Speech to the Dumb and Life to the Dead In the Office we have these Praiers O Jesus Christ by the Merits of Thomas Forgive us our Trespasses Again d T is per Thomae sanguin c. By the blood of Thomas shed upon thy score make us to follow where he 's gon before Another Petition there is to the Martyr himself in that Office e O Thomas give us help Strengthen those