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scripture_n believe_v church_n tradition_n 10,027 5 9.5895 5 true
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A66388 Christianity abused by the Church of Rome, and popery shewed to be a corruption of it being an answer to a late printed paper given about by papists : in a letter to a gentleman / by J.W. Williams, John, 1636?-1709. 1679 (1679) Wing W2698; ESTC R3178 13,046 24

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it seems they themselves did then as little understand their own Priviledges as they did the Principles of Faith for this was never so much as thought of in all those Councils which were called on purpose for the suppression of Heresies and where the Legats of the Pope were present Nay to this very day they are at a loss where to go for it whether to the Pope or a Council or both or Tradition or the Collective Body of Christians that is they know not whether to give up the Cause or to maintain it I must confess if I should hear a person solemnly declare that he hath Treasure enough in his possession to enrich the whole World and should gravely invite all persons to address themselves to him but in the mean time perceive though he hath been of the same mind for several years that he can neither tell where it is nor is he and his Family for all this the richer or in a better condition than other Folk I should vehemently suspect him either to be a notorious Imposter or perfect Lunatick And when we hear the Church of Rome confidently asserting its own Infallibility but find withal that she knows not where to fix it and that its ruptures and differences are in the mean time as great as in other Churches and what are never ended by the way it pretends to but by plain Turcism and downright force I cannot for my heart but think there is more of Interest than Reason in the case and what they themselves do rather live by than believe But in my mind there is no better Evidence that this is new than that its false and no better evidence that it is false than that it hath mistaken Of which besides what hath been or shall be farther said of alterations in that Church I shall give you two plain Instances The Council of Trent saith that Traditions are to be received with equal reverence as the Scriptures and Maldonet tells us that The giving the Eucharist to Children was a Tradition in the Church for 600 years after Christ which is now condemned as he shews by the Council of Trent Again S. Hierom saith that the Latine Church then did not receive the Epistle to the Hebrews amongst the Canonical Scriptures But that is now taken into the number by them and required so to be under an Anathema Sess 4. Decr. 1. Counc Trid. Now Infallibility and Fallibility are contradictory and if that Church hath erred as erred she hath then she cannot be Infallible and so consequently the Infallibility of the Church of Rome was not the Principle of the Primitive Church of Rome I could shew as much of Novelty in the Doctrines of Indulgences Purgatory the Mass's being a Propitiatory Sacrifice and of no Salvation out of the Romish Church c. but what I have said I think is sufficient 2. The Alterations are as great in point of Practice the Church of Rome differs therein as much from what she originally was As 1. The keeping the Scriptures and Publick Service in an Unknown Tongue is new The first is evident from the Translations of the Scripture into several Languages and especially into the Latine at that time a vulgar Tongue of which no sufficient Reason can be given were it not for the use of those that understood not the Originals The latter is not only clear from 1 Cor. 14. but what Bellarmine doth acknowledge who saith that the custom of the Peoples saying Amen that is to what they understood as they did in the Apostles time continued long in the Western as well as Eastern Church 2. Worshipping of Images which was first established in the second Council at Nice but is so different from and contrary to the practice of the Primitive Church that Cassander an Author of theirs saith that the Christians had not then so much as Images in their Churches and doth further declare from Origen that the Ancients ab omni veneratione the very word used by the Council of Trent Sess 25. decret de Invocat imaginum abhorr●erunt that all veneration of them was abhorred To this I refer the worshipping of Saints which was so little thought of that many of the Fathers did not think that the Souls of any should enjoy the beatisick Vision and be in a state of happiness till the Resurrection as Stapleton doth shew And it seems not to have been an Article of Faith in the time of Lombard or Scotus the former of which saith it's not incredible the Saints do hear what we say and the latter that it 's probable God doth reveal our prayers that are offered unto them It was then the Doctrine of probability only but now are required to believe it under an Anathema by the Council of Trent As much is to be said concerning the innovation of Worship to the Virgin Mary of which we read nothing in Scripture or Antiquity unless in what was practised by the Hereticks called Colyridiani in Epiphanius that used to carry about her Image and offer Cakes and Worship to it with whom that good Father thus encounters What Scripture hath delivered any such thing c. Let Mary be in honour but let the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost be worshipped let no man worship Mary 3. Communion in one Kind expresly contrary to the Scripture and the practice of the Romish Church The former is acknowledged by the Council of Constance when they decreed notwithstanding for it The latter is acknowledged by Cassander who saith that the Roman Church it self retained the practice of receiving in both Kinds for above one thousand years after Christ as is evident from innumerable testimonies of ancient Writers To these I might add the practice of saying private and solitary Masses of the Adoration of the Host and carrying it about in Procession Confession as used in their Church c. but I shall forbear 3. These alterations are to the worse and gross Corruptions For if the Pope is not Christ's Vicar originally and by his Deputation then he is a great Usurper If he hath not a Power over Kings to depose them and absolve their Subjects from Allegiance to them he is a notorious disturber of the World If their Church be not Infallible and can no more penetrate into or resolve and determine points of Faith than another they are great Impostors If Transubstantiation be a Doctrine of their own and not of Christ's they are great Deceivers If the Scriptures are free to all then their Church is guilty of the damnation of all amongst themselves that perish through the want of knowing and understanding them and of all the ignorance in the Christian World which proceeds from that Cause If worshipping Images Saints and Angels the Host and Relicks be not Christian Doctrine and that these are no lawful Objects of such Worship then they are Idolaters If Christians are obliged to partake of the Wine as