Rome If any body should ask me what if the. Church be manifestly corrupted with Superstition and Idolatry In this case why may not able Men Preach without any Mission I must beg leave to ask him again what if the Church finds those Men of Abilities manifestly intoxicated with mistakes of Holy Scripture With a Spirit of perverseness and a desire of change Or perhaps an evil Eye at the Lands of the Church What is to be done in this case Let the Scripture he will say determine the business But the Scripture admits of various Interpretations and I would fain know what Rebel or Heretick shall ever be convicted that must be tryed by a Law whereof himself must be the Interpreter Well but Cranmer tho' he had no Mission to Reform was perhaps a Holy Man as for his Sanctity the Reader may be pleased to see him subscribing to a Letter in Foxes Acts and Monuments for Excluding his Lawful Sovereign the Princess Mary from Succession to the Crown And afterwards Recanting the Protestant Religion and relapsing into it again when he saw no hopes of a Reprieve The truth is when I reflect that Cromwel and He were the chief Engineers of the Reformation first to Divorce Henry VIII from his most Virtuous and Innocent Wife Queen Katherine then to Marry him to Anne Bolen and afterwards to dissolve that Marriage Then to destroy Religious Houses and hang up the poor Abbots disband four or five Sacraments set the People a madding after new Lights I cannot but look upon those two Politicians as the Ring-leaders of all that Confusion and Mischief which has since broke out upon the Stage of Great Britain So much for the former Answer that Cranmer and his Associates were sent and ordain'd by the Roman Pontifical to teach the People according to the Scriptures which they did according to their own Sense of the Scriptures If it be said that he Preach'd no new Doctrine nor Administred any new Sacraments but only the Primitive Doctrine and Sacraments of Jesus Christ according to the Sense of the Antient Fathers which is the second Answer I pray the Reader to remember that this was the very Answer of Luther Socinus Zuinglius Calvin and other Reformers I am not disputing what Doctrine he Preach'd but who sent him to Preach his Protestant Doctrine and Adminster his Protestant Sacraments 'T is not his Doctrine but Mission I am now enquiring after How shall they Preach except they be sent saith St. Paul. 'T is not a pretence of true Doctrine without External and Lawful Mission that makes a Man a Preacher of the Gospel The necessity of Mission appears from God's own word Jerem. 23. I have not sent these Prophets yet they ran I have not spoken to them yet they Prophesied vers 21. Therefore they shall not profit this People at all saith the Lord verse 32. There are but two sorts of Mission in Holy Scripture the one Ordinary the other Extraordinary The former is the License and Approbation of the Church in being The latter is the immediate Voice and Inspiration of God himself ever attested by Miracles Prediction of future and publick Events c. Now as for the first Preachers of Reformation some body must send them by an Ordinary or Extraordinary Commission or they must run on their own heads Fur latro est says St. Cyprian qui à nemine Missus nisi à seipso That is to say he enters not by the Dore as honest Men do but seeks Windows Corners or By-ways of his own as if the Divine Providence were wanting when necessity requires to send Preachers into the Church or to furnish them with sufficient Credentials so as to leave us without excuse Did not the Hand of God strike Vzzah with sudden death for presuming to put forth his hand un-commanded to support the Ark from falling 2 Sam. 6. And King Vzzah with a Leaprosy to the day of his death for Offering Incense which appertain'd to the Priests alone Are not these things Recorded for our instruction The not considering this matter hath brought a World of confusion upon these Kingdoms and till the people can be brought to understand it we are never like to see an end of our Religious Distractions For why may not I may a Presbyterian Minister say having the same Authority of Scripture as Cranmer pretended to Preach against the Superstition of Common-Prayer as well as He against the Idolatry of the Mass The second point wherein I was disatisfy'd was the want of Confession to a Priest I found Protestant Sermons had some Authority with the people but not much for lack of this Curb upon their Vices Catholicks commit sin 't is true but call themselves to an account for it by Confession and Submission to their Ghostly Fathers Protestants sin likewise without calling themselves to any such reckoning because they can make a shift without it I have divers times discoursed with Protestant Ministers and some Protestant Bishops about this matter I was sorry to find no Harmony in their Opinions Some said it was a thing allow'd by the Church of England as very expedient in some cases but no matter of necessity Others thought it but a Pick-Lock of secrets and a matter of ill consequence But when I urg'd that the Church of England seems to require it in her Offices for the Communion and Visitation of the Sick the reply was she does it with this Proviso If a man be troubled with any doubts or scruples Which reply did but add more to my dissatisfaction For thought I is Confession nothing else but to be resolv'd in our scruples and doubts I have sometimes wish'd her Exhortation before the Communion otherwise worded then saying If there be any of you which cannot quiet his own Conscience let him come to Me or some other Learned Minister of Gods Word and open his grief c. Which words seem to allow as much as that sinners may satisfy their own Consciences well enough without troubling themselves for the Absolution of a Priest although a Priest may be had In short I confess my dulness understands neither the Piety nor Policy of leaving off the practise of a thing so approv'd and frequented by all the Christian World except the people of our Islands and some few others that call themselves Reformed And that only for some Abuses which possibly may attend it By this means the Church of England appears to me to have lost that Interest in the Consciences of the People which both the Roman and Greek Priests are happy in at this day And what if some Catholicks are never the better for it What are many Protestants the better for all the Sermons they hear and Sacraments they receive If we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins saith St. John. Faithful and just to what Even to his own promise which he hath thrice repeated in the Gospel Whosoevers sins ye remit they are remitted
THE CONSIDERATIONS WHICH OBLIG'D PETER MANBY DEAN Of LONDON-DERY TO EMBRACE THE Roman Catholic RELIGION Humbly Dedicated to His GRACE the Lord Primate of IRELAND PSALM XLII Judica me Deus discerne causam meam de Gente non sancta Emitte lucem tuam veritatem tuam Ipsa me deduxerunt adduxerunt in Montem Sanctum tuum in Tabernacula tua Dublin Castle the 11th of March 1686 / 7. This following Discourse is Allow'd to be Printed Tho. Sheridan Secr. LONDON Re-printed for NATH THOMPSON at the Entrance into the Old Spring Garden near Charing Cross 1687. TO THE READER VVHen a Protestant rehearses this Article of his Creed I believe one Holy Catholique and Apostolique Church I would fain understand what Church he means Whether the Church of England alone as establish'd by Law or the Church of England in Communion with other Churches If the former then his meaning is I believe one Holy Protestant Church as settled in England by Act of Parliament If the latter I desire to know with what other Church under the Heavens does the Church of England Communicate in Sacraments and Liturgy Whether with Lutherans Calvinists Waldenses or Greek Church If with none of all these why does he pretend to believe One Holy Catholique Church This Church Establish'd by Law being Catholique neither as to Time nor Place because not Visible any where for many Ages before Edward VI. Good Reader if we believe our selves Catholiques let us not fancy to our selves a Church divided from all the rest of the World. And therefore I crave leave to ask St. Paul 's Question What came the Word of God out from you the establish'd Church or came it unto you alone 1 Cor. 14.36 Hath the Divine Goodness left all the World in Darkness except our Island And Vs too for so many Ages until Henry VIII took a fancy to Ann Bolen Is the Catholique Church dwindled away to the Church of England Perhaps you will Answer me that by One Holy Catholique Church you understand all the variety of Protestants as Church of England-men Presbyterians Lutherans Independants Anabaptists Fifth-Monarchy-men Quakers c. But all these wanting that first and Essential Mark of the Catholique Church call'd Unity cannot be That one Holy Society intended by our Creed And moreover this makes Protestancy so wandring and uncertain a thing that I for my part do not well understand it Can you say that Lutherans and the Church of England-men are the same in all Material points the Lutherans holding a Corporal Presence in the Sacrament and the Church of England denying it Or that Calvinists and good Protestants are the same in all necessary matters the former having no Orders of Priests and Bishops consequently no true Sacraments nor Power of Binding and Absolving Sinners Besides the Catholique Church can never fail But as for those Sects of Protestants Who ever saw or heard of them for many Ages before Henry VIII Well but you will insist upon it that God hath his People amongst all sorts of Protestants which Answer I have sometimes heard out of the Mouths of Protestants And it calls to my mind those excellent words of the late King's second Paper viz. The Protestants are not of the Church of England as 't is the true Church from whence there can be no Appeal but because the Discipline of that Church is conformable at that present to their Fancies which as soon as it shall contradict or vary from they are ready to embrace or joyn with the next Congregation of People whose Discipline or Worship agrees with their own Opinion at that time c. And further it brings into my remembrance these words of a certain Person once of my Acquaintance he was a Presbyterian and gave his Son leave to go for New-England to seek his Fortune Why said a Friend of his they are all Independants there and your Son will be in danger of losing his Principles I care not what he be reply'd the other so he be not a Papist In a word dear Reader it concerns thee to understand aright that Article of thy Creed I believe one Holy Catholique and Apostolique Church Because the only way to be at rest in this World and happy in the World to come is to find out that Church upon whose Authority thou mayst relie Noah 's Dove found no rest for the sole of her Foot until she return'd into the Ark. No more wilt Thou but shalt be tossed too and fro upon the unstable Waters of Schism until thou return into the Ark of one Holy Catholique Church I pray recollect what St. Paul admonishes concerning Schism I beseech you Brethren by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no Schisms among you 1 Cor. 1.15 But that ye glorifie God with one Mind and one Mouth That is that ye serve God not only saying the same things but the same Words especially about your Sacraments and Liturgy For by one Spirit We meaning all Christians are Baptiz'd into one Body Therefore he exhorts them to take heed of such Teachers as have no Mission or Authority for what they say but only good Words and fair Speeches to deceive the hearts of the simple In the following Discourse I hope the Reader shall find it briefly and yet fully made out to him that the first Reformers had no Mission for what they did nor any pretence to justifie their Seperation and breach of Unity but only the Scripture as interpreted by themselves not only without but against the Authority of the present Catholique Church Out of which a man may have all things except Salvation said St. Augustin And further he shall find me pressing for an Answer to such Questions as these viz. What Priesthood or Holy Orders had the first Reformers but what they received from the Hands of Roman Catholick Bishops Whether a Presbyterian Minister having received Orders from a Protestant Bishop can by virtue of such Orders pronounce the Church of England a corrupt Church Whether Cranmer and his Associates could condemn the Church of Rome by pretence of the Mission they received from her Bishops Whether an Act of Parliament in France Spain or Germany be not as good an Authority for Popery there as in England for Protestancy And in case there be no Judge to determine who have the true sense of Scripture Roman Catholicks or Protestants Whether the Catholick sense be not as good as the Protestants Finally I intreat the Protestant Reader to peruse Dr. Heylin 's History of the Reformation a Book that speaks bitterly enough against Popery yet as to matter of Fact so Honestly written that notwithstanding all Dr. Burnet 's industry to diminish its credit it hath opened the Eyes of many good Protestants See Dr. Burnet 's character of it in his Preface to his first Volume where he censures it not for telling untruths in matter of History but rather for speaking too much
Schisms among you that ye may with one mind and one mouth Gloriâ—y God 1 Cor. 1.10 Rom. 15.6 In fine let the Reader compare that Devotion which Catholicks pay to the Sacrifice of the Mass with that which most Protestants shew to the Common-prayer and then see how much better we are by Reforming the Mass into English As for St. Paul's 14th Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians I humbly think it not well understood by Protestants If any man be ignorant saith he let him be ignorant Wherefore Brethren covet no Prophecy and forbid not to speak with tongues ver 39. God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace ver 33. Upon the whole matter I desire to be inform'd whether the Protestant Church had any other foundation setting aside an Act of Parliament than every mans own Reason or which is the same thing the Scripture interpreted by every man's Reason There are but two Bases whereupon to settle our selves the Scripture and Fathers expounded by my own Reason or the Scriptures and Fathers expounded by the voice of the present Visible Church This later is Popish and cannot support a Reform'd Fabrick I have sometimes wonder'd at this Assertion of Calvin Instit. lib. 4. cap. 1. so incoherent with his own Principles of Reformation Extra Ecclesiae gremium nulla speranda salus nec remissio peccatorum quia non est alius in vitam ingressus Which I think may be thus render'd into English He that will enter into Life let him mortifie the pride of his own Reason and humbly cast himself at the feet of the Catholick Church If this be the meaning of his words as it must be in case he believed any such thing as one Holy Catholick Church how he will justifie his Reformation at the day of Judgement I cannot imagine In this Paper therefore I presume not to assert my own Reason which I confess to be as weak as any body else can think it but the Authority of the Church against the Aâ—rogance of the first Reformers This difference I understand betwixt the spirit of Catholiques and of Heretiques the former make use of their Reason with Submission the later with Contradiction and Petulancy against the Church and against the express words of Christ He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me Cranmer had no Mission from Heaven nor yet from the present Visible Church to authorize his doings but made himself Judge Witness and Accuser So did Luther so did Calvin Socinus Knipperdoling c. How they will Answer it at the last day I cannot understand A word or two more before I make an end I know divers Loyal Persons of the Church of England who are Protestants by the Tyranny of Prejudice or Interest but Catholiques by Inclination Of them I beg leave to ask a few Questions What Priesthood or Holy Orders have Protestants but what they Confess to have received from Roman Catholique Bishops Who gave them Authority to pronounce themselves Sound Members and the Church of Rome a Corrupt Arm of the Catholique Church Did not the Presbyterians anno 1641. pretend the very same warrant of Scripture for Reforming the Church of England And the Independants for supplanting the Presbyterians anno 1647. The Presbyterians said Hugh Peters are no other then Gibeonites who may help to hew Stones and square Timber for a more Glorious Reformation Now as for Roman Catholiques do they ever say Mass to any other Object but the Living God Father Son and Holy Ghost Read the Catechism of the Council of Trent and see whether they attribute any thing to Angels or Saints but as the Ministers and Favourites of the Living God receiving from him whatever understanding they may have of our Affairs upon earth The Angels must know our Affairs because They are ministring Spirits sent forth for the good of those who shall be Heirs of Salvation And because they rejoyce at the Conversion of Sinners And have glorified Saints no Communication or Intelligence with the Angels As for the Images of Christ's humane Nature see the 25th Session of the Council of Trent and enquire whether Roman Catholiques pay any more respects to Them than Protestants do to the Elements of Bread and Wine which say they are but a Figure or Image of Christs Body and Blood. Omnis Superstitio in imaginum usu sacro tollatur saith that Council Let all Superstition be taken away in the use of Images and then gives it in charge to all Bishops to look to it The Church of England Protestants are every jot as offensive to us say the Presbyterians kneeling before the Elements of Bread and Wine as the Pupists kneeling before the Images of Christ I humbly recommend to Protestants the perusal of a late Book Entituled Pax Vobis And of another styled Considerations upon the Council of Trent by R. H. I say no more only give thanks to Almighty God with all my heart that I am escap'd out of the unstable waters of Schism into the Ark of Christ's Church And I beseech him to inspire me with that Spirit of Devotion which I observ'd in the Mass and other Books of Catholicks As for the ill practises of some and the ill Opinions of other Roman Catholicks which Protestants are wont to charge upon the whole Church I pass it over as no Argument at all All Protestants are no more Saints than all Papists In the Council of Trent an unprejudic'd Reader shall find nothing but what is Judicious and Pious And let him view Popery not as Protestants but as Papists represent it who should best know their own Religion In the Church of Rome he shall find variety of Religious Orders but no Schism nor discord about their Sacraments or Liturgy In veste Ecclesiae varietas est scissura non est No confusion of Sects nor disobedience to Superiors but all things perform'd in excellent order and God Almighty served as he is the Creator and Emperor of the World with Reverence and distance O quam dilecta sunt Tabernacula tua Domine virtutum concupiscit deficit Anima mea in Atria Domini Beati qui habitant in domo tuâ in Saecula Saeculorum laudabunt te Amen Psal 84. P S IF any Protestant Reader instead of a material Answer to this Discourse shall think fit to revile the Author 't is but what I expect and what I intend to take no notice of But I intreat him to read the following Quaeries without his Spectacles of Prejudice and Interest Dubia quaedam super Reformatione Anglicanâ ECclesia Anglicana vel est tota Ecclesia Catholica vel membrum illius si membrum duntaxat ostende mihi sub sole Ecclesiam vel coetum cujus Sacramenta amplectitur nisi sit à reliquo corpore abscâ—ssum Num recipit Sacramenta Lutheranorum vel Calvinistarum Vnde Missas est Cranmerus primus ille Reformator Ecclesiae Anglicana quis misit illum ad praedicandum Evangelium