not be done say they by Faith assuring us of our Salvation but only by hope in likelyhood and conjectural Here you may see that great point in the Mystery of Iniquity for by this wavering hope and uncertain application of the promise of Salvation to our selves they overturn half the doctrine of the Gospel for as in coloured words they seem to agree with the true Christian Church in the doctrine of Faith so indeed they deny and abolish the substance thereof that is the particular and certain application of Christ crucified unto our selves Obj. How then do Papists believe the Truths of Faith Ans. Papists believe the truths of Faith not distinctly in themselves but in their common principle wherein all things to be in this manner believed are as they hold contained and that not so much to be the holy Scriptures but absolutely their Church Now their Church to affirm it self cries up their traditions and these not Gods word do they give for the Rule of their creatures and yet these Traditions must stand and fall at the pleasure of the Pope Thus their Church flies to their invented Traditions for bottom and their Traditions Church and Faith fly to the Pope to center all in his personal Infallibility and notwithstanding one Pope can condemn another for an Heretick and yet every Pope must be still Infallible and as Dr. Harden avouches can dispense with all things against the Law of Nature against the Apostles Creed against the New and Old Testament and above General Councils So that the Pope exalts himself above all that is called God for God in the Creation made but creatures but the Pope can make as many Gods as he list Secondly he make himself of more authority then God because he will not have Gods word to be authentical without his allowance but what he saith however contrary to the Text must be ipsissimum Dei verbum Beside this head of Antichristian Heresies assumes to himself the Title of Universal Pastor Rex regum Dominus dominantium Admirabilis Leo de Tribu Judae Radix David His doctrine is also that Papa habet Imperium in Angelos Daemones and is not this to make himself a God Is not this that Beast full of the names of Blasphemy And as his Majesty of blessed memory observed most prudently that there is no Church State nor Man that hath been since the penning of the Revelations to whom those things foretold by the Apostle from the mouth of the Lord Jesus can in any reasonable fort agree but the Church and Pope of Rome alone I might add much but will only instance the sayings of Pius Quintus recited by Cornel à Lap. in Numb 11.11 When I was first in Orders I had some good hopes of salvation when I was made a Cardinal I doubted but now that I am made a Pope I do almost despair And that saying of Pope Marcellus the Second wherein he seems to be pretty ingenious for striking his hand upon the Table he uttered these words Non video quomodo qui hunc locum altissimum teneant salvari possunt I see not how any Pope can be saved Now let us cast our eyes upon Gods word and promise and firmly believe if Agag be to be slain God is raising up some Samuel to do it yea let us cast our eyes upon Gods work already and we shall see him gone a great way in the accomplishing of his word whereby we may strengthen our Faith in that which remaineth For how hath the word preached discovered him to be that man of sin detected his frauds and impostures with which for many Ages he deluded the blind world How are his Bulls and Excommunications esteemed as wind How do all Reformed Churches detest his Antichristian usurped power over the Scripture Churches and Mens Consciences How do many Princes despise his claws over them How weak are all their Popish endeavours to prevent final ruine viz. Sophistry knotty distinctions to hide and delude the plain sense of Scripture threatnings treacheries Machivilian contrivances wars treasons murders massacres powder-plots firing of Towns and Cities c. Lo these are the inseparable marks of Popery and the brands of their devillish Religion And these do but hasten their incurable destruction rendring them odious to Christian States Princes and People yea and to Turks and Infidels Certainly the date of her reign is almost out and the time draweth on apace wherein both she and her King Abaddon shall be laid in the dust That man of sin the son of perdition c. who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he is as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God 2 Thess. 2. 3 4. The Gospel now being so restored and that Antichrist of Rome so clearly manifested wo be unto them that delight in the whore They shall be tormented with fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and the Lamb and the smoke of their torment shall ascend for evermore and they shall have no rest day nor night who worship the Beast and his Image Seeing then the followers of Antichrist shall be damned let not our souls enter into their secret As the wicked man shall not meddle with a Christians joy so let not a good man meddle with Antichristian wo. But what are the Doctrines of the Church of Rome that are against the Foundation of Truth and Salvation They are all those which draw from Jesus Christ that honour that is due unto him as Saviour of the World Which are Papal Monarchy this undermines and opposes Christs Kingly Office Traditions as the object of Faith Papal Infallibility c. these undermine and oppose Christs Prophetick Office Justification by Merits Adoration of the Mass and all other Idolatrizing points of Antichrist these undermine and oppose Christs Priestly Office To take pleasure in and to be obstinately given over unto these things cannot stand with Salvation Come hither and I will shew thee the judgment of the great whore c. Rev. 17.1 Babylon the great is fallen c. cap. 18.2 Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues v. 4. Epigramma G.B. de Roma Papa Non ego Romulea miror quod pastor in urbe Sceptra gerat Pastor conditor urbis erat Quumque lupae gentis nutritus lacte sit Autor Non ego Romulea miror in urbe lupos Haec tantum superat nostrum admiratio captum Quomodo securum praestet ovile lupus The same Translated It is not strange a Shepherd reigns in Rome For he that built it was a Shepherds Groom Nor is it strange that Wolves in Rome abound He suck't a Wolf that did the City found But this is strange and far above my skill How Wolves should keep the flock secure from ill FINIS Quinquecclesiae is a City in Hungary called in German Funskirchin in Turkish Periâ—hen or Petschen Object Ans. Object Ans. Popish abuse of Lords Prayer Obj. Ans. 2. Of the Creed 3. Of the Decâ—… Obj. Ans. 4. Of the Holy Scriptures â—… abuse of â—uity â—…e no Mother â—…e eldest sister 〈◊〉 neither Obj. Ans. Obj. Ans. Papists the first Separatists Popish guiltineâ—… Protestant Ministers have a calling Popish Pâ—… have no calling Popish Mass nâ—â—… â—…r Sacrament 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ish Religion â—â—…hes vice and â—â—â—ish abuse of â—â—â—riage â—heir abuse of Civil Law â—â—â—ish lies Whether a Papist may be saved Romes destruction Papists no true Catholicks Papish gross Idolatry Popish presumptions and impudencies Popish blasphemies Colos. 2. Gal. 4.9 10 11. Papists no true Christians The difference between Christianity and Popery Popery a cheat upon Christianity The marks of Popish Antichristians Marks to know Christian Catholicks from Roman Catholicks Popish deceits The Pope the bottom of Romish Faith The Pope Anichrist Popish doctrines against the Foundation of Truth and Salvation
condemn them of horrible wickedness therein Doth not the Romish Church allow the reading of the Scripture Wheresoever the Pope rules absolutely he forbids the people to read the Holy Scripture and in the Index of prohibited Books made by the Council of Trent and approved of by the said Pius Quartus it is expresly declared That if the Holy Bible were allowed to all indifferently in the Vulgar Tongue there would come more hurt than good of it This is an express and direct opposition to our Lord Jesus Christ who saith to all indifferently Search the Scriptures for in them you think to have eternal life and they are they that testifie of me And to his holy Apostles who address their Epistle not only to Bishops but also to all those that call upon the name of the Lord Jesus and not only to men but also to women young folk and children adjuring them by the Lord that they be read to all the holy brethren Whence we argue thus All who forbid Christian people to read the holy Scripture do directly and formally oppose Jesus Christ and his holy Apostles But the Pope and his Creatures forbid Christians to read the holy Scriptures therefore they directly and formally oppose Jesus Christ and his Apostles But doth not the Church of Rome own the holy Scripture to be the word of God Nevertheless she hath falsified and corrupted it in many places As for example in Heb. 11.21 It is said that Jacob worshipped leaning upon the top of his staff but the Romish Bible saith that Jacob worshipped the top of his staff thereby to confirm the adoration of creatures which is the same abuse which is found in Psal. 132. where David saith worship at his footstool the Romish Bible says worship his footstool Jesus Christ when he gave the Cup said This Cup is the New Testament of my blood which is shed for you but the Romish Bible reads it which shall be shed for you left it might be perceived that Jesus Christ speaks of the effusion of his Sacramental blood For he did not then really shed his blood which he began to shed in his passion In Gen. 3.15 God says that the seed of the woman which is Jesus Christ shall bruise the serpents bead The Romish translation saith The woman shall bruise the serpents head attributing that to the Virgin Mary which belongs to Christ. To establish the uncertainty of salvation the vulgar translation reads the first verse of Eccles. 9. thus man knows not whether he be worthy of love or hatred but all things are reserved in uncertainty for the future But the Hebrew Text is this No man knows either love or hatred by all that is before them To establish mans merit the Romish Bible corrupts the 13. verse of Heb. 16. And to the same purpose they have curtail'd the 6. verse of Rom. 11. leaving out two links for these words of the Apostle If it be of Works then it is no more of Grace otherwise work is no more work are rased out and omitted in their vulgar translation A great collection might be made of many other passages and of Romes enormities in her like practices Yet is not the Church of Rome the mother and mistress of all Churches No For the preaching of Christ was to begin at Jerusalem in the Prophesie of Isaiah 2.2 Mic. 4.2 and in the completion in Luke 24.47 Nor was it Rome but Antioch in which the Disciples were first called Christians Act. 11.26 So there was a Church at Antioch before there was one at Rome And it is expresly affirmed by Gildas an Author very much revered by the Romanists themselves that Christianity was in Britain in the latter time of Tiberius Caesar and 't is known St. Peter remained in Jury some time after his death so that Rome which pretends to be a Mother Church could be no more at best when she was Christian indeed than a Sister Church and not the eldest Sister neither And as for the pretended Universality of the Roman that is to say of a particular Church it began with Boniface the third whose vile compliance with Phocas that Heretick and murtherer of Mauritius their Master and Emperor was both the bribe and price that bought that Title and not out of respect to the Pope but in displeasure to Cyriacus of Constantinople who from John his predecessor had first usurped that Title of Universal Bishop So that Gregory the Great of Rome writing to Mauritius touching the name of Universal which the said Bishop of Constantinople had taken unto himself calls it a wicked profane and blasphemous Title a Title importing that the times of Anti-Christ were at hand little thinking that Pope Boniface after his decease would presently usurp the same and prove the Pope to be Anti-Christ by the confession of a Pope And have not the successors of that heretical traiterous bloudy Boniface exactly followed his steps to this present age Beside if we look back to the beginning we find that Paul was equal at least to Peter when he withstood him to the face and rebuked him in publick for his dissimulation Gal. 2.11 12 13 14. Nay St. Peter as well as James and John who were his peers perceiving the grace that was given to Paul gave to Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship Gal. 2.9 and good reason for Peter was but one of the many Apostles of the Jews whereas Paul was much more the great Apostle of the Gentiles to whom the Jews were no more than a river to the ocean Moreover Cyprian positively affirms the Apostles were every one of equal authority and St. Jerom is as express That all Bishops in all places whether at Rome Constantinople Rhegium or Eugubium are of the same merit as to the quality of their office though they may differ in point of revenue Nay by the Canons of the two first general Councils Nice and Constantinople every Patriarch and Bishop is appointed to be chief in his proper Diocess And a strict Injunction is laid on all none excepted that they presume not to meddle in any Diocess but their own And the very primacies of order were granted to Rome and Constantinople not for their being Sees of such or such an Apostle but for being the two seats of the two great Empires Did not the Church of England first depart from the Church of Rome They of Rome by their excommunications and barbarous murders and hostilities properly first departed from us separating from the primitive Church of Christ and we then made a secession that we might not be partaker of their Schism and Heresies What difference is there between the Reformed Church and the Church of Rome They are very many I shall only hint some as first The Reformed Church gives addresses which may be followed and exhorts men to study and strives to instruct them in the holy Scripture and conceals nothing from the
people But the Church of Rome endeavours to keep the people in ignorance especially in the business of Religion and therefore forbids them the use of the Scriptures giving them service in an unknown tongue amusing them with Images exterior ornaments and addresses the people to where they know nothing giving them undiscernable marks as the succession of Chairs whereof some are more antient than that of Rome and their successions imbroiled with many interruptions and contradictions in History The Ministers of the Reformed Church will be judged by the word of God but the Priests of the Romish Church will be judges of the word of God which argues their guilt for when they are accused of Heresies and Blasphemies they will be themselves judge of this question and consequently will be both judge and party The Protestant Ministers have a charge and calling the institution whereof is found in the holy Scripture for the word of God speaks oftentimes of Pastors Doctors and Ministers This being as clear as the day the calling of the Priests of Rome falls necessarily to the ground and is of no use for in the Ordination of their Priests they are not charged to preach the Gospel But they are expresly established to be sacrifiers of the body of Jesus Christ which is an Imaginary Charge never established by Jesus Christ nor practized by the Apostles and whereof there is not any one word in all the New Testament And yet these are they which question others concerning their Calling whereas there is not any word of the sacrifiers of the body of Christ. The Reformed Church in the Sacrament of the Eucharist indeavours to raise up mans heart to Jesus Christ which is in heaven But that of Rome abaseth Jesus Christ and puts him into the hands of men they make their breaden God adore and then eat him up And according to their doctrine Christ did eat his whole self and drink his own body for they will have the body to be in the Cup which is highly scandalous both to Jews and Turks And note in all sacrifices that which is offered must be consecrated and they pretend to sacrifice the body of our Saviour which cannot be consecrated For who can consecrate the Son of God who is he alone that doth consecrate us So then the sacrifice of the Mass doth in this appear to be null And as to their Objection Take eat this is my body It must be either cibus animae vel corporis if bodily food how can it nourish the soul if spiritual how can it enter into the body Besides Deus non potest facere qua naturae suae sunt contraria Now Ambrose resolves this with us and says That Corpus nutritur pane symbolice anima vero corpore Christi Which agrees with the whole scope of the Scripture speaking of it every where in a spiritual sense and â—â—guratively Moreover if Christs Body be really present in the Sacrament as Papists affirm where is the outward visible sign And the Institution of the Eucharist being but to last usque quo venerit until I come If Christ be really corporeally and substantially present in the Sacrament as the Church of Rome teacheth her creatures to believe upon pain of damnation their Transubstantiation is a meer cheat for the Sacrament then ceaseth The Council of Trent also determined that there are neither more or less but just seven Sacraments whereas instead of seven the Romish Church hath thirteen For themselves say That the Sacrament which they call Orders is subdivided into seven which have each of them a particular form and different Ceremonies Vid. The Porters Readers Conjurers Acolytes Subdeacons Deacons and Priests But let them justifie if they can their seven or thirteen pretended Sacraments In the mean time the Reformed Church doth as clearly as the Sun evidence that there are but two and that these two are sufficient seeing one of them which is Baptism is the Sacrament of our spiritual birth and entrance into the Church And the other which is the Eucharist is the Sacrament of our nourishment and growth untill we attain unto the measure of the perfect stature of our Lord Jesus Christ. Besides The Reformed Church hath no Rules which teach Vice But the Romish Religion hath many Rules which teach to disobey God in doing evil Such is the Rule of the Council of Constance That no faith is to be kept with Hereticks Such is the Doctrine which saith The Pope may dispense with Oaths and Vows i. t. may give a man leave to forswear himself and not make good what he hath promised to God Such is the disobedience of Children to their Parents authorized by the Church of Rome when a child enters into a Monastery or Nunnery against his or her Fathers will Such is the allowance of Bawdy-houses for which the Pope receives a Tribute out of Rome it self Such is the revolting of Subjects against their Prince when the Pope dispenseth with them for the allegiance they have sworn to their King Such are the Taxes in the Popes Chancery wherein Letters for absolution are given for every sin at a certain price But offences done against the Pope are always rated higher then sins against God Such is their calling Marriage a great Sacrament that it might appertain to the Church and thus take from secular Judges the cognizance of cases matrimonial Such is the order of Canonists and Scholasticks which they have set up against the power of the Civil Law which antiently maintained the power of the Emperor and Princes and they have confirmed those Canonists and their Decretals to be unquestionable thus as much as in them lies to annihilate the authority of the holy Scriptures Such are their plae fraudes pia mendacia their aequivocations their godly deceits and lies as are made and told for the advancement of Religion and to stir up Devotion Hence they bely their Adversaries in their Lives Doctrine and Deaths as we know in Luther Calvin Beza Bishop King and others Hence they counterfeit false Fathers and by their Index Expurgatorius make the true ones speak as they list and thrust thousands of lies on the poor people as the history of Loretto the Dalmatian Priest who having his bowels plucked out of his body by the Turks took his guts in his hand if we will believe it and went many days to Loretto and there was cured They also abuse the credulous people by their Legends in Latin English and other Languages That the power of St. Patricks prayer as they write made a sheep bleat in the belly of him that stole it and of an Heretick who was converted by seeing St. Anthonies horse worship the Host with innumerable like ridiculous fopperies Obj. But may not bad actions happen in a good Religion Ans. This of the Church of Rome is not only a malady of manners and these examples are not only bad actions but they are prescribed Laws and