Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	authority_n	church_n	primitive_a	2,508	5	9.0550	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66982	The fall of Babylon, or, Seasonable reflections on the novelties of Rome with the rise, growth, and final overthrow of Antichrist now at hand, occasioned by the preface to a treatise called Nubes testium, or, A collection of primitive fathers giving testimony to the faith once delivered to the saints, being (as the author stileth it) a full discovery of the sentiments of the ancient fathers in the chief points of controversy at present under debate : written upon the first coming forth of the said treatise (but not permitted to be then made publick) for the benefit of all who abominate the corruptions of the great whore and would not be partakers of her sins of plagues / by B.W.	Woodroffe, Benjamin, 1638-1711.	1690 (1690)	Wing W3467; ESTC R27594	163,329	256

what 't is we are to understand by Novelty in Faith viz. Whatsoever hath at any time since the Delivery of the Gospel and Sealing the Canon of Scripture for 't is that as hath been shew'd which must contain the Faith once delivered to the Saints been broacht contrary to the sound Doctrine therein contain'd For 't is not a Day or a Year or an Age or indeed ever so many Ages make the difference that 's as much a Novelty in Faith which any way tended to the corrupting of it in the Apostles days as what hath ever since tended to the same be it 15 Ages after or in any Age whatever the World hath to continue The Mystery of Inquity which did then already work when St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians 2 Epist 2. 7. was a Novelty in Faith as well as when in all the degrees of it it should be finisht in the time of Anti-christ And it is but the same Novelty continued and improved by the Devil and his Instruments that hath in every Age set up it self against God v. 4. i. e. How different soever the ways have been which it hath wrought How various soever and multiform the Errors which have been levelled against Truth all are but the several Heads of the same Hydra the same Monster multiplying and increasing against all the Endeavours of those who have at any time set themselves to resist the Innovation i. e. To contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints Which being observed with respect to the stating what Novelty in Faith is 't is to be enquired in the second place 2. Whether the Collection of the Primitive Fathers giving Testimony to the Faith once delivered to the Saints as 't is here pretended will justifie that Society the Author pleads for from Novelty Now this will farther branch it self into a twofold Enquiry viz. 1. How far the Authority of the Fathers simply consider'd ought to obtain in Matters of Faith And 2. How far allowing the utmost that can be to their Authority 't will be for their Service whom they are here brought to countenance CHAP. II. How far the Authority of the Fathers simply consider'd ought to obtain in Matters of Faith 1. AS to the Authority of the Fathers simply considered there 's nothing more certain than that that can obtain no farther than what they speak is agreeable to the Faith they are brought to attest For 't is not to make Faith or to add to the Articles of it that they are produc'd 't is only to witness to what was once delivered and if they Speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isaiah 8. 20. And if so 't will be of little moment on whose side they speak I say not this to discredit those great names which have so long been renown'd in the World let them have all that is due to men of that Exemplary Piety and Abilities they were of but let them have no more No more then themselves ever pretended to or what in the reason of the thing can belong to them As for the purpose Can we imagine that they ever pretended or that in Reason their attesting ought should alter the nature of what they are brought to attest In the particular matter in debate will their asserting it make that to be Truth which before was Error Will their asserting that the Invocation of Saints in Heaven is profitable and convenient That there 's a respect and Veneration due to their Relicts Will their asserting that praying for the Souls departed is advantageous to them and was the practice of the Primitive Church Will their asserting that in the blessed Sacrament is contain'd the true real substantial Body of Christ the substance of the Bread and Wine being converted into the true substance of Christ's Body and Blood make all these things to be sound and Orthodox if in the mean time from the Letter of Scripture and the Analogy of Faith therein contain'd it shall be made to appear that most of these things are highly Superstitious if not Idolatrous Or to join Issue on so much of the other heads as can concern the points of Controversie at present under Debate if at all it doth concern them Will their asserting that Christ built his Church upon Peter c. If that were to the ends they pretend advance Him or his Successors to any higher Title or Dignity than Christ himself gave him in his Gospel Will their asserting that Traditions are to be received c. though all brought under that head no way reaches the present Controversie about Traditions Will their asserting lastly that the making the sign of the Cross the keeping Images of Christ and his Saints was the practice of the Primitive Church be a Reason either why Traditions should be of equal Authority with the Scripture or the sign of the Cross or Images should have Divine Honour paid to them For otherwise they come not up to what is at present under Debate Though had they said all this for I am contented he make the best of his Argument what is this or whatever else they would have the Fathers speak for them if at the same time they speak against themselves i. e. against what they have deliver'd directly contrary to it in any other of their writings And what is much more against Christ i. e. either against the direct Rule of Scripture or the purity of that Religion themselves so Zealously professed This as to the first viz. How far the Authority of the Fathers simply consider'd ought to obtain in matters of Faith and that can be no farther than they speak agreeably to that Faith they are brought to attest neither they nor any men as St. Paul gives the Rule 1 Cor. 11. 1. being to be any farther followed than they are the Followers of Christ The Author indeed suggests other Topicks from whence their Authority may be lessen'd Pref. p. 3. in these words 'T is true it cannot be denied but many things in the Ancient Fathers are Obscure their Names have been prefixt to Books of which they were never the Authors Additions have been made to some of their Writings besides the divers mistakes of Transcribers in the Publishing their Works To which I might add which alone is more than all this that Horrible abuse of the Indices Expurgatorii by which so many Additions Defalcations and alterations of all sorts have been made in them But this he hopes to blow away at a Breath by telling us that all this and more the greater their shame who have contributed to it and whither they in whose Defence he writes have not let Sixtus Quintus and Clemens Octavus their Editions of the Bible bear witness may be with Truth affirm'd of the sacred Volume of the Bible whose Authority notwithstanding stands firm and unshaken and in spite of all such like Objections is the pure Fountain of Life But the Comparison will very

this saith he Daniel delivers with the greatest clearness 't is Dan. 7. in his Vision of the four Beasts where he tells us v. 8. that among the Ten Horns of the fourth Beast there was to come up another little Horn which is generally agreed to be understood of Antichrist before whom there were three of the first Horns pluckt up by the Roots and behold in this Horne were eyes like the eyes of a Man and a Mouth speaking great things see v. 24 25 ibid. I shall not heap up other Testimonies in this matter the Fathers generally concurring in this opinion of Antichrist's being to succeed to the destruction of the Roman Empire And Cornelius à Lapide in their names makes it the common sense they had of this place that Nero and the Roman Emperours were to with-hold and when they were taken out of the way tunc revelabitur ille iniquus Antichristus then should be revealed that wicked Antichrist on 2 Thessal 2. 6. Now that we may come a little closer to the Matter in hand When was that when was it the Roman Emperors were taken out of the way For if that be made out especially so as to point any thing near the time he mentions I suppose the Author will no longer look upon those 10 Centuries of Sleep and Corruption in the Church as he phrases it Pref. p. 5. to be no more than a Dream of the Reporters but both He and every serious Reader will be awaken'd to see thorow his Nubes Testium at least to own that there was such a Cloudy time such an Eclipse as his own Metaphor is Pref. p. 4. The Church was to suffer I do not say with him for 1000 Years neither more nor less but for a Period in which He and Those for whom He writes will be equally concern'd to free themselves from the charge of many Novelties When I say was it the Roman Emperors were taken out of the way And methinks it should not be difficult to answer the Query especially the Holy Ghost himself having in a manner herein expresly directed us 't is in the 13th of the Revelations v. 10. He that leadeth into Captivity shall go into Captivity He that killeth with the Sword shall be killed with the Sword And to make it the more remarkable he calls up our Attention with that Eminent Saying of our Lord so often made use of by Him in the Gospel when He had some great and notable Lesson to recommend to his Auditors If any man have an Ear let him hear v. 9 and closes it with no less a note of Attention in the following words Here is the Patience and the Faith of the Saints Now who was it who led into Captivity Was it not the Roman Empire that had enslaved the Nations round about Was it not the Roman Empire which had so insolently triumpht over the Christians and made them its Vassals Who was it was the great red Dragon having seven Heads and ten Horns which stood before the Woman cloathed with the Sun which was ready to be deliver'd for to devour her Child as soon as it was born Rev. 12. 1. 5. Was it not the Roman Empire whilst Heathen which by its furious Persecutions endeavour'd to root out Christianity So that 't is not to be doubted who is here to be understood by Him that leadeth into Captivity But then How is it He was led into Captivity Consult their own Annals and you have the Answer For Was not Rome taken first by Alaricus the Goth in the 410 th year after Christ and again in the year 455 by Gensericus Or If not the taking of Rome but the Captivity of the Empire it self be to be understood hereby when could this be better verlfied than when the Empire was torn in pieces and divided into several Kingdoms those ten Horns of which both Daniel and St. John speak by the Goths Vandals and Hunns And when happen'd that but in or about the same Period of 455 or 456 Now then if in either of these Periods viz. of 410 or 455 or thereabout we grant to be the time when He that led was taken out of the way it will unquestionably follow that 'T was then that wicked lawless One was revealed Then was the Birth of Antichrist i. e. of Him who was more eminently to be so Then the time from whence in such a Latitude may be dated that great Eclipse which the Church was to suffer And beginning with either of these we fall upon what in the Event will extremely well answer the Prediction For if we reckon from 410 then will 666 bring us to the Year 1076 which was the Fourth of Hildebrand or Gregory the Seventh who as 't is Rev. 13. 13. made fire to come down from Heaven on the Earth in the sight of Men i. e. as we shall afterwards shew it to be the sense of that Phrase so openly and solemnly Excommunicated the Emperor which if considered in all its Circumstances will be but too plain a Description of that Man of Sin and Son of Perdition who was to oppose and exalt Himself above all that is called God or that is worshipt so that He as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that He is God 2 Thessal 2. 3 4. For what is it to exalt Himself above all that is called God and that is worship but to assume to Himself an Authority over those Higher Powers which God hath ordained those Gods as Princes are stiled in Scripture Psal 82. 1. Joh. 10. 34 35 What as God to sit in the Temple of God shewing Himself that He is God but to take to Himself the Power of Saving or Damning men as He shall think fit to say that he cannot Err which is the Incommunicable Attribute of the divine Nature and arrogate the setting up one and pulling down another which can belong only to the Supreme Governour of the Universe where not to take notice of any thing done by Him before he was Pope by which as I may say He seemed but to be preparing himself for the great Service he was to do the Chruch when advanced to the Pontifical See his carriage in the difference between the Emperor and the Saxons is what I shall first pitch on wherein the Bishops revolting from the Emperor fly to Hildebrand present their Complaints against the Emperor the Pope greedily embraces the Quarrel and so far pursues it as to cite the Emperor to appear at Rome and in case of his refusal threatens Him Excommunication The Emperor terrified herewith sends his Ambassadors to divert Him from his resolution But contrary to the Law of Nations however Baronius labours to contradict this He Imprisons his Ambassadors and having almost destroyed them with Hunger Thirst and Cold sends them out of Rome with the greatest disgrace Upon this the Emperor calls a Council at Wormes and in return hereof cites Hildebrand to appear imagining the Pope to have been thereby

of Ministers with the people subject in place and time in the Truth by the Ministry i. e. in the Truth mention'd above leading establishing and preserving in a faithful and frequent assembling together tending to Faith and good life according to the Customs and Obedience and diligent continuing in the practice and usage of the Lord over his Flock The duty of good Pastors The things which the Ministers are obliged to for the service of the people are these The Word of the Gospel the Sacraments join'd to the Word which certifie what hath been the intention and understanding and confirm the faithful in hope in Christ and the Ministerial Communion in all things according to Essential Truth And if there be any other Ministerial things they may all be referred to these above but of these particular Truths some are essentially necessary to the Salvation of men others conditionally are contain'd in the 12 Articles of Faith and in many of the discourses of the Apostles For Antichrist hath already reign'd in the Church in time past by the Divine permission A summary of the Errors and Impurities of Antichrist 1. Idolatries and superstitions of several sorts The Errors and Impurities of Antichrist forbidden by the Lord are these viz. Divers and innumerable Idolatries against the Commandment of God and Christ Worship given to the Creature and not to the Creator visible and invisible corporal or spiritual intelligible or sensible natural or fram'd by any Art under the Name of Christ or Saints of both Sexes and Relicks and Authorities which Creature is Worship'd by Faith Hope Works Prayers Pilgrimages Alms Offerings costly Sacrifices Which Creature they Worship Adore Honour in many manners by Hymns Speeches Solemnizings and Celebrations of Mass of Vespers bowing to the same Creatures by Hours Vigils Feasts by Acquisition of Grace which is essentially in one only God and meritoriously in Jesus Christ and is acquired by Faith alone and the holy Spirit The first cause of such superstitions For there is no other cause of Idolatry but a false Opinion of Grace of Truth of Authority of Invocation of Intercession which this Antichrist hath taken away from God to attribute it to Ceremonies and the Works of his Hands and to Saints and Purgatory And this Iniquity of Antichrist is directly against the first Article of Faith and against the first Commandment of the Law The second cause In like manner an Inordinate love of the World which is in Antichrist and that is it from whence sprung all the evils and sins that are in the Church in those who are the Guides to govern her and her Officers who sin without any restraint these are against the Truth of the Faith and against the knowledge of God the Father as St. John Witnesses He that sins neither knows nor hath seen God for if any one love the World the love of the Father is not in him The second Iniquity of Antichrist is trusting in the Creatures The second Iniquity of Antichrist lies in the hope which he gives of Pardon of Grace of Righteousness of Truth and of Life Eternal as being what are not in Christ nor in God by Christ but in men living or dead in Authorities in Ecclesiastical Ceremonies in Benedictions in Sacrifices in Prayers and in the other things above mention'd and not in true Faith which produces repentance by Charity and makes men to depart from evil and brings them to do good So that Antichrist teaches not firmly to trust on such things as Regeneration Spiritual Confirmation or Communion Remission of Sins and everlasting Sanctification but to trust in the Sacraments or in his base Simony by which the people is deluded so that selling all things he hath invented many Ordinances old and new to get Money suffering if any one hath done this or that hereby to obtain Grace and Life And this double Iniquity is properly called in the Scriptures Adultery or Whoredom and therefore those Ministers who lead the brutal People in these Errors are called the Whore in the Revelation And this Iniquity is against the second Article and also against the second and third Commandment of the Law The third Iniquity of Antichrist is the Establishing the merit of Works The third Iniquity of Antichrist lies in this That he hath invented besides what hath been already said false Religions and Rules and Monasteries giving hopes of obtaining Grace by building of certain Churches As also in this viz. If any one often and devoutly hears Mass if he hath partaken of the Sacraments if he hath been at Confession things that rarely shew men to be contrite or if they have satisfied by Fastings and emptying the Purse or if they have been or are Members of the Romish Church Or whether they have not devoted themselves already or vowed to be of any Order either to take the Cap or Monks Hood which they affirm against all Truth that they are obliged to And this Iniquity of Antichrist is directly against the 8th Article of the Creed I believe in the Holy Ghost The fourth Iniquity of Antichrist is covering all with specious titles The fourth Iniquity of Antichrist lies in this That as he is the fourth Beast before described by Daniel and the Apocalyptick Whore he covers himself nevertheless with the Authority Power Dignity of Ministers Officers and Scriptures and equals and compares himself to the true and holy Mother Church wherein Salvation Ministerially is and no where else wherein is Truth of Life and of Doctrine and of the Sacraments For if he should not cover both himself and his wicked Ministers these being known to be open sinners he would be abandon'd by all For Emperors and Kings and Princes looking upon him to be the true and holy Mother Church have loved and endowed him contrary to the Commandment of God And this Iniquity of Ministers and those subject to him who are thus upheld in error and sin is directly against the 9th Article I believe the Holy Church This as to what respects the first part Of Unction and the Superstitious Shaving of Priests and Monks Secondly for as much as they who partake only of the outward Ceremonies ordain'd by humane Inventions believe and hope to partake of the Truth of the Pastoral Offices and Cures provided that they be shorn like Lambs and Anointed and blessed by touching the Book and Calice with the hand they profess to be ordain'd as Priests ought In like manner as is above said the people who are under them communicating by the words signs and outward Exercises and their diverse Actions think they partake of the Truth drawn out from them And this is against another part of the 9th Article I believe the Communion of Saints Wherefore it 's necessary to depart from the wicked Communion of Monks by whom Carnal men are drawn in they through their Avarice making them trust in such vain things so that though they be Luxurious or Covetous yet if they do but give to them