combated Satan Matth. 4. He proved the Resurrection from the dead to the Saducees Matth. 22.23.29 31 32. And showed to his Disciples the necessity of his Death and of his Resurrection Luke 24.46 By them John Baptist proved his Mission Matth. 3.3 And by them the Apostles overcame the Jews and shewed powerfully that Jesus was the Christ Acts 9.22 and Acts 18.28 Q. Hath God commanded us to consult the Scriptures as our Judge A. The Prophet Esay 8.20 sends to the Law and to the Testimony and if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no Light in them And Jesus Christ commands the Jews to search the Scriptures because they testified of him John 5.39 and Luke 16.29 They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them And St. Peter after having mentioned the voice from Heaven This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased adds We have also a more sure Word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed 2 Pet. 1.17 18.19 Q. But when there is a difference about the interpretation and sense of the Scripture is it not necessary to have a Judge who can judge Infallibly and with Authority of the meaning of the Scripture and declare it to us for our agreement A. God hath not given this power to any in the world but Scripture must Interpret Scripture one passage must be Interpreted by another as they did in the time of Esra who made them understand the Law by Reading of the Scripture Nehem. 8.8 Q. How can you decide matters of Faith by the Scripture since it is obscure A. If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost of whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds even Unbelievers 2 Cor. 4.3.4 But it is not obscure to them who have received the Spirit of God that they might know the things that are freely given to us of God 1 Cor. 2.12 And to accuse the Scripture of obscurity is to accuse it falsely for David Psal 119.105 says Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my paths Q. Yet St. Peter says in the 2 Epistle 3.16 That in the Epistles of St. Paul there are some things hard to be understood A. I grant there are many obscure places in the Scripture to exercise the Faith of Believers and keep the most Learned humble but God hath so ordered that all things necessary to Salvation are clear and easie to be understood Q. But since St. Paul would have Believers to judge of his Doctrine 1 Cor. 10.15 I speak as to wise men judg ye what I say Why should not the Church assembled in Council hvve that Authority A. There are two kinds of judgment one is a judgment of Authority the other of discretion by which particular Believers ought to try the Spirits whether they be of God and discern the true Doctrine of Christ from lies and of this judgment Paul speaks when he says judge ye what I say but for the judgment of Authority God hath not given it to any Mortal man not to the Councils themselves which have no power to make any Canons or Decisions to oblige the Consciences of any but so far as they are conform to the word of God Jesus Christ only hath Soveraign Authority in the Church as the well beloved Son that the Father hath commanded us from Heaven to hear Matth. 3.17 and John 5.22 Jesus Christ says that the Father hath given all judgment to the Son SECT IV. Of the Perfection of the Scripture Q. IS the Scripture the perfect Rule of our Faith A. Yes Because all the Articles of Faith and Doctrines necessary to Salvation are contained therein and therefore St. Paul 2. Tim. 3.15 says That the Holy Scriptures are able to make wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus Q. St. Paul speaks there only of the Books of the Old Testament for the New was not then writ so it follows by your reason that the New Testament is superfluous since the Old is sufficient for to instruct us to Salvation A. Upon the contrary St. Paul speaking of the Books of the Old Testament only fortifies strongly our reason for the sufficiency and perfection of the Scripture for if the Books of Moses and the Prophets were sufficient to make the Church wise unto Salvation Why may not the Scripture be sufficient now since to Moses and the Prophets God hath added the Evangelists and the Apostles Besides it follows not that because the Books of the Old Testament were sufficient for the Church then that the New is Superfluous since God hath pleased to give it us to manifest the Doctrine of Salvation more clearly and fully as 2 Tim. 1.10 Paul says That Jesus hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel Q. Is all Tradition to be Condemned A. No for this word Tradition signifies nothing but a Doctrine given from hand to hand the Scripture it self is a Tradition and the Doctrine of Salvation before it was written was a Tradition and hath been called Scripture since it was put into Writing and St. Paul calls the Doctrine of the Gospel Tradition which is written 1 Cor. 15.3 I have given unto you that which I have received viz. That Christ dyed for our Sins according to the Scriptures Q. What Traditions then are to be condemned A. All Traditions of men wherewith they pretend to bind the Consciences of men and give them for Articles of Faith which S. Paul Colos 2.8 would that we should take heed of Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the Traditions of men after the Rudiments of the World and not after Christ Such were the Traditions that the Pharisees added to the Law which Christ condemns Matth. 15.3 Why do ye transgress the Commandement of God by your Tradition applying to them what God says of Hypocrites Esay 29.13 In vain they do Worship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandements of men Such are the Traditions which the Roman Church hath added to the Gospel as Worshipping Images and Praying to Saints which tho' they have no foundation in the Scripture but are formally condemned therein yet the Council of Trent hath commanded them to be received with the same Devotion and Piety that the Scripture is Q. Nevertheless St. Paul 2 Thess 2.15 Commands the Thessalonians to hold the Traditions that they had been Taught by Word or Epistles and 2 Tim. 2.2 He recommends to Timothy to commit to faithful men the things which he had heard in presence of many Witnesses A. I Answer that those Traditions and Instructions of St. Paul are not Traditions of men but the Word of God as he himself says 1 Thess 2.13 And the Instructions he gave Believers by Word and Living Voice are the same he hath writ in his Epistles and that we may be assured that his Doctrine is not Traditions of men he protests to the Jews Acts 26.22
No Popery OR A CATECHISM AGAINST POPERY WHEREIN The Heretical Doctrins Idolatrous Worship and Superstitious Practices of the ROMAN CHVRCH ARE Briefly yet Plainly Refuted and the Protestant Principles Proved by Testimonies of Holy Scripture and Evidence of Reason By a Minister of the Gospell Little Children keep your selves from Idols 1 Joh. 5.21 LONDON Printed for the Author and Sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel 1682. TO THE READER AMongst the various Methods of Instructing such as are weak and ignorant none hath been found more useful than that by way of Question and Answer And as Christianity did at first diffuse it self by this way of Teaching so the Truth and Purity of it have been best preserved when Pastors have effectually applyed themselves to Conscientious Catechising of those under their Care and inspection By this means did the Waldenses and Albigenses maintain the Doctrine and Worship of the Gospel among them when Error Superstition and Idolatry had overspread the face of the Western Churches Nor was any thing more useful to the promoting the Reformation than the Catechisms of several Eminent Persons whom God employed in that Blessed Work For tho' Preaching be a very good way of pressing known principles upon the Consciences of men yet Catechising doth much excell it in conveying Light and Knowledge into their minds And through the woeful and universal neglect of this does Ignorance come so much to abound even where Sermons are most frequent as well as plain and practical For through want of Acquaintance with the points and subjects concerning which Ministers treat in those continued Discourses they are incompetent Auditors of what is delivered and so lose much of the benefit of it And as the present decays in Religion are to be ascribed to no one thing more than a faileur of Catechising so the Ignorance which thereupon ensues is that which betrays multitudes to be imposed upon and perverted by such as lye in wait to deceive For next to the being strangers to the power of that Religion which we do profess the want of being well grounded in the Doctrines of it is that into which the revolt of so many to Popery is to be issued and resolved And as the apprehension of our security from the Re-introduction and Establishment of the Romish Religion in these Nations hath occasioned our sloth and negligence in unmasking and detecting the folly of the Tridentine Faith so the just fears we are brought under of its obtrudeing its self once more upon these Kingdoms do bespeak all who desire to approve themselves faithful to God and the Souls of Men to concern themselves more in discovering the falshood of all the Articles of the Romish Creed And as the difference betwixt the Professors in Britain and those that profess the Reformed Religion in France is to be admired with respect to that Ability which appears in them beyond what is in us to refute and expose the Papal Tenents so their present stedfastness in the Doctrines of the Gospel when they are called to suffer the Loss of all things for them is much owing to their having been instructed before hand in all the Principles that lye in Controversie between them and the Papists For tho' the Transcript of Gospel Truth upon our Hearts will be our best Preservative in a day of Trial yet the being able to give an account of the reason of our Belief is needful as well for the honour of our Religion as the prevention of our Apostacy when we come not only to be accosted with Arguments against it but threatned with Fire and Faggot unless we renounce and abandon it And tho' there be many Discourses wrote with great Strength and Learning both to inform and fortifie our minds in the Belief of the Doctrines which we profess yet there are but few Discourses in Print either of that brevity or accommodated for manner and plainness to the Capacity of the weak as is necessary The want whereof as it recommends the seasonableness of this Catechism and familiar Treatise so if People will but consult their own Souls they will have reason for being thankful to God for the provision which is here vouchsafed them In which as they will find the Errors of the Romish Church truly represented so they will find them as nervously confuted and overthrown The Order of Sections Sect. 1. OF the Scripture pag. 1 2. How the Scripture may be known to be Divine 4 3. Of the Authority of the Scripture 7 4. Of the Perfection of the Scripture 10 5. Of the Reading of the Holy Scripture 14 6. Of the Church 17 7. If the Church can Err. 20 8. Of the Marks of the true Church 24 9. Of our Separation from the Roman Church 30 10. Of the head of the Church 32 11 Of Invocation of Saints 36 12. Of the Intercession of Saints 42 Sect. 13. Of Images 45 14. Concerning Prayers for the Dead 47 15. Of Purgatory 48 16. Of human satisfactions 52 17. If the Sufferings of Christ were accomplished in the Cross 56 18. Of Pilgrimages 58 19. Of Monkish Vows 1. of that of single life 59 20. Of Vowing Poverty 61 21. Of Vowing obedience 62 22. Of Lawful Vows 63 23. Concerning Fasts 64 24. Of Holy Days 68 25 Of the Providence of God 69 26. Of man's free will in the state of Sin 72 27. Of man's free will in the state of Grace 74 Sect. 28. Of Justification 77 29. Of Merits 81 30. Of Predestination 84 31. of Perseverance 86 32. Of the certainty of perseverance and Salvation 88 33. Of Sin and if all men are Sinners 92 34. Of venial and mortal Sins 95 35. Of the Works of Supererogation 97 36. Of Repentance 100 37. Of Auricular Confession 101 38. Of Absolution 103 39. Of Satisfactions and Indulgences 105 40. Of the Sacraments 106 41. Of Confirmation 107 42. Of the Sacrament of Penitence 109 43. Of Marriage 110 44. Of Extream Vnction 112 45. Of the Sacrament of Orders 113 46. Of the Order of Priesthood 115 47. Of the Sacrifice of the Mass 118 48. of Baptism 122 49. If original sin continues after Baptism 124 50. Of the Necessity of Baptism 125 51. Of the Lords Supper 126 52. of the Communion under both kinds 134 ERRATA PAge 3. line 22. read imaginations pag. 9. l. 26. r. have p. 22. l. 9. 10. for interted r. interrupted p. 25. l. 24. for in r. ing pag. 31. l. 13. r. Schisme p. 38. l. 15. r. God's p. 59. l. 21. after resolution r. in p. 66. l. 8. r. Tim. p. 69. l. 1. r. of signal p. 72. l. 21. for freely r. spiritually p. 74. l. 5. r. calling ibid. l. 24. r. John 8. p. 80. l. 27. r. justifies p. 82. l. 4. r. cannot p. 88. l. 18. blot out the i. p. 99. l. 5. r. young ibid. l. 9. for hath r. hast p. 109. l. 8. r. you p. 113. l. 1. r. being p.
119. l. 1. r. offers ibid. l. 5. r. many p. 122. l. 11. r. Gratulatory A CATECHISM AGAINST POPERY SECT I. Of the Scripture Quest WHat Religion are you of Answ Of the Reformed Christian Religion Q. Why call you your Religion the Christian Religion A. To distinguish it from the Religion of the Jews Turks and Pagans Q. Why call you it the Reformed Religion A. To distinguish it from the Religion of the Church of Rome Q. Why are you not of the Romish Religion A. Because in and by that Religion none can be Saved Q. Why so A. Because the Roman Church hath perverted the Doctrine of the Gospel and established Idolatry and hath taken Antichrist for her head Q. Vpon what is the true Christian Religion Founded A. Upon the Word of God Q. What mean you by the Word of God A. The Holy Scripture contained in the Old and new Testament written by the Prophets Evangelists and Apostles which St. Paul calls Scripture divinely inspired 2 Tim. 3.16 And St. Peter 2d Epist 1.21 speaking of the Scripture says Prophesies came not by the will of men but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Q. Why call you the Scripture the Bible that is the Book or Writing A. Because it is the Book and Writing which ought to be most highly esteemed by us and wherein we may be instructed of the Will of God for our Salvation Q. How divide you the Scripture A. Into two Parts the Old and New Testament Q. What doth the Old Testament contain A. The five Books of Moses the Prophets and the Psalms Luke 24.44 Q. Why take you not in Tobit Susanna Judith and others which we call Apocripha A. Because the Jews to whom the Oracles of God were committed Rom. 3.2 never acknowledged these Books Jesus Christ nor his Apostles never cited them neither were they read in the Synagogue it is not reasonable then that these Books which were not received as Sacred and Canonical by the Jewish Church which then only was the Church of God should be received as such by the Christian Church Besides in these Books are found many Fables which are not agreeable to the Spirit of God who is Truth and Wisdom Q. What doth the New Testament contain A. The four Evangelists the Acts the Epistles of St. Paul of James of Peter of John of Jude the Epistle to the Hebrews and the Revelations Q. Why hath it pleased God that his Word should be put in Writing A. That men might not alter or change it and make their own imagination and inventions pass for Divine Inspirations and the Word of God Q. But why do you found your Religion on the Word of God A. That we may have solid and firm Comfort in Life and Death Rom. 15.4 Q. Wherein consists your Comfort in Life and Death A. In that Jesus Christ hath redeemed us from the power of the Devil so that living and dying we are his SECT II. How the Scripture may be known to be Divine Q. HOw know you the Scripture to be the word of God A. Three ways 1. By the Testimony of Believers under the Old and New Testament 2. By the Scripture it self for as the Sun makes it self to be seen by its own Light and the Fire makes it self to be felt by its Heat so the Scripture makes it self known to be Divine by the Majesty of its Stile and fullfilling of its Prophesies the excellency of its Doctrine and its efficacie to persuade and comfort Consciences as David Psalm 19.7 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple 3. By the Testimony of the Spirit of God such as Jesus Christ gave to the Consciences of the Disciples going to Emaus Did not our heart burn within us said they one to another while he talked with us by the way and opened to us the Scripture Luke 24.32 Q. How doth the Sprrit testifie the Scripture to be the Word of God A. Not by extraordinary Revelations as Prophesies were formerly made known to the Prophets which themselves often understood not but by Hearing and Meditating upon the Scripture instructing comforting and sanctifying the Heart he maketh known by these Divine effects to them that read and hearken thereunto with Humility Attention and Reverence that the Doctrine which is contained therein is truly Divine Q. Doth the Testimony of the Church give Authority to the Scripture A. No for seeing it is God that speaketh in the Scriptures its evident he cannot take his Authority from men John 5.34 I receive not testimony from man Q. Is then the Testimony that the Church gives to the Scripture unprofitable A. No for by it men are first brought to inquire after the Scripture and to read it and the Universal consent of the Church obliges them to an advantagious opinion of the Divinity of the Scripture which makes it be read with more Fear and Reverence Q. What is the difference between the testimony of the Church and that of the Scripture it self accompanied with the testimony of the Spirit of God A. The Testimony of the Church being only a Testimony from men can produce only an human Faith or an Opinion but the Testimony of the Scripture it self being the Testimony of God produces a Divine Faith The Testimony of the Church is like that which John Baptist gave to Jesus Christ John 5.33 and that of the Samaritan John 4. for as that woman brought those of Sychar to Jesus Christ so the Church brings us to the Word of God but the Scriptures Testimony of it self is like that of Christ himself by his Works which testifyed of him that the Father had sent him John 5.36 so that Believers knowing the Divinity of the Scripture by the reading of it may say as these of Sychar to the woman Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves The Testimony of the Church is only a simple Testimony but that of the Scripture is with Authority and from the Soveraign Judg. SECT III. Of the Authority of the Scripture Q. HAth God established in the Church a Soveraign Judg with full power to decide matters of Faith without Appeal A. None but the Word contained in the Holy Scriptures and it is by this Jesus Christ hath told us that men shall be judged at the last day John 12.48 He that rejecteth me hath one that judgeth him the word that I have spoken the same shall judg him at the last day And St. Paul Rom. 2.16 says That God will judg the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to his Gospel and Believers never acknowledged any other judg of their Controversies about matters of Faith but the Word of God by it the Priests determined about things difficult Deut. 17.9.11 By it Ezechias and Josaphat reformed the Church and re-established the pure service of God 2 Chron. 31. and 17.7.9 By the Scriptures Jesus Christ
with more liberty and less distraction but Jesus Christ himself says in the same place that all men cannot receive this saying Matth. 19.11 Q. Yet St. Paul Condemns widows who having consecrated themselves to the service of the Church would afterwards Marry 1 Tim. 5.12 Having damnation because they have cast off their first faith A. St. Paul condemns them because by Marrying they make themselves uncapable of fulfilling their promise to serve the Church and not for their Marrying and therefore least they should be obliged to quit their Office and so violate their Faith by Marrying he forbids to receive any into that number under threescore and commands young Widows to Marry saying I will therefore that the younger women marry 1 Tim. 5.14 Q. Is this command in the 1 Cor. 7.9 If they cannot contain let them Marry made to Ministers and Ecclesiastical persons as well as to other people A. Yes For Ministers are as much obliged to obey God as others and therefore Ecclesiastical persons under the Law did Marry both Priests and Prophets and under the Gospel St. Peter was Married and Philip the Evangelist St. Matth. 8.14 Acts 21.9 And St. Paul 1 Cor. 9.5 tells us that he had power to lead about a Sister a Wife as well as other Apostles and Brethren of the Lord and Cephas And 1 Tim. 3.2 he would have a Bishop to be the Husband of one Wife and therefore speaking of them who forbid Marriage he calls them seducing Spirits teaching Doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. SECT XX. Of Vowing Poverty Quest IS it lawful to Vow Poverty to God and quit our Goods for to shut our selves up the rest of our days in a Cloister and beg our Bread from door to door A. No Jesus Christ indeed Commands us to quit joyfully our Goods Wives and Houses for to follow him when we cannot keep them without dissembling or abandoning the Truth but he commands us not to beg but on the contrary would have us Gen. 3.19 to eat our bread in the sweat of our faces and 1 Tim. 6.18 that the Rich should be rich in good Works ready to distribute willing to communicate and Ephes 4 28 the Apostle would have us labour working with our hands the things which are Good that we may have to give to him that needeth Q. Yet Jesus Christ commandeth the young men Matth. 19.21 to sell what he had and give it to the poor A. Jesus Christ commanded this young man to do it that he might make manifest his Covetousness and to show that he loved not God with all his heart as he had boasted Luke 14.26 but he commandeth not others to do it SECT XXI Of Vowing Obedience Quest IS it lawful to Vow a blind Obedience without contradiction to a Superiour A. No For God only hath Soveraign power over our Consciences 1 Cor. 7.23 Ye are bought with a price be not ye the servants of men Q. What think you of the Vows of Children that without the consent and against the will of their Parents and Superiours put themselves into Monasteries A. That they are void for the Scripture tells us Numb 30.5 That if a Father disallow the Vows of a Child yet in his house they shall not stand and they that allow such Vows make void the Commandment of God Honour thy Father and thy Mother by their Tradition as Jesus Christ chargeth the Pharisees Matthew 15.6 SECT XXII Of Lawful Vows Quest WHat is requisite in lawful Vows A. First That they be made to God only and not to Creatures Psal 76.11 Psal 50.14 Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy Vows unto the most high Secondly That the things Vowed be lawful and good It was a wicked Vow of the Jews not to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul Acts 23.12 Thirdly That it be not rash as Jeptha's was to Sacrifice the first thing that should meet him after his Victory Judg. 11.31 and Herods Matth. 14.7 Fourthly That the thing Vowed be our own and that it be in our power to fulfil it Q. Are unlawful and wicked Vows to be kept A. No For a wicked and rash Vow ought not to make us violate our first Vow in Baptism to obey the Commandments of God and the keeping and fulfilling such Vows is as great or greater crime than the making of them SECT XXIII Concerning Fasts Quest WHat think you is to be blamed in the Romish Fasts A. Four things chiefly 1. Their making them consist in distinction of meats and not in abstinence from meats 2. Their ordering them precisely at a certain time of the year without respect to the fittest time in which we ought particularly to humble our selves before God 3. Their being become Superstitious and being imposed with as much or more rigour than the Commandments of God 4. And above all the believing that they merit Eternal Salvation in observing of them Q. Are such Fasts Condemned in the Word of God A. Yes for St. Paul forbids us to make any distinction of meats 1 Cor. 10.25 Whatsoever is Sold in the Shambles that Eat asking no question for Conscience sake And our Lord Jesus Christ tells us Matth. 15.11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man but that which cometh out of the mouth defileth a man And 1 Cor. 8.8 Meat commendeth us not to God for neither if we eat are we the better neither if we eat not are we the worse And Rom. 14.17 The Kingdom of God is not meat nor drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost And above all the Apostle speaks very expresly Col. 2.16 Let no man judge you in meat or in drink And 1 Tim. 4.3 he says that they are seducing Spirits teaching doctrins of devils who command to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth Q. It may be answered to these passages that in them St. Paul condemns two sorts of persons First Those who under the Gospel would oblige Christians to observe the Ordinances of the Law touching the distinction of meats which we ought not any more to observe because they were shadows of things to come but the body is of Christ Colos 2.17 And Secondly Those who looked on some meats to be polluted by Nature as some Hereticks have done but these passages do not seem to condemn those who in some certain times ordained abstinence from some sorts of meats to humble and subdue the flesh A. To the first I Answer That if S. Paul Colos 2.20 would not have us to Obey the Ordinances of the Law about the distinction of meat because we are dead with Christ though they were Ceremonies instituted of God much less are we obliged seeing we are dead with Christ to observe New Ordinances which are but inventions of men for we ought to stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and not be intangled again with the Yoke of