Gods decree Revel 18.2 and that with a double Fall then 't is both unreasonable and unseasonable for any Reconcilers to lend their Shoulders for supporting that which God will have to fall who hath resisted his Will Rom 9.19 Rome shall fall certò citò penitùs certainly speedily utterly Their own Jesuits Ribera and Corn. a Lapide confess it Yea Cotton the Jesuit acknowledges 't is now falling for he saith the Popes Authority is incomparably less than it was and that how their Catholick Church is but a diminutive and Bellarmine saith also that ever since the Pope hath been called Antichrist the Church of Rome hath been losing ground as before Yea 't is evident what a cold Sweat lyes upon the Limbs of the Beast from the growing greatness of the Protestant Religion Roma diu titubans variis erroribus acta Corruit et Mundi desinit esse Caput And had those Reconcilers the Shoulders of Sampson they cannot shore up this falling Temple of Dagon 12. To those Scripture Arguments I might add many more had I room for it As the tenth Argument Those Reconciling Modelators would set up a Linsey Woolsey Religion and would sow Gods Field with Miscelane or mingled Seeds Levit. 19.19 and would teach to swear by God and Malcham Zeph. 1.5 The eleventh Argument That which ought to be rejected and Renounced ought not to be Reconciled to but Popery ought to be so because of its Heresie Tit. 3.10 2 ep John v. 10. Leprosie in the Head made the Leper utterly Vnclean and to be thrust out of the Camp Levit. 13.43 44 45. Yet those Reconcilers would not have such Lepers to live alone they dare adventure among them or meet them the half way The twelfth Argument if such as have only a Form of Godliness but deny the power of it must according to Gods Command be turned from 2 Tim. 3.5 then they ought not to be turned to by way of Reconciliation but the Romish Church hath only a Form c. The thirteenth Argument If Hâ—â—red be the Affection that is due to the Romish Church then 't is not Reconciling Love but the Antecedent is true Revel 17.16 They shall hate the Whore The fourteenth Argument If we must beware the Leaven see Dr. Humphrey of this Leaven his Conclusion ut supra of the Pharisees Luke 12.1 then we may not embrace it c. To all these Scripture Arguments some Reasons may be adjoyned As 1. If she be Incurable no Reconcilers can mend her and she is so as Infallible so she calls her self and says she cannot err Peter should not have said I perceive now c. Act 10.34 Should she yield up one pin of her Opinion to the Reconcilers she loses her Pillar of Infallibility 2. She is Irreconciliable to her self such discord 'twixt Thomists and Scotists c. so that their own Binnius who was employed to take it up saith the foundation of their Faith was shaken thereby then less Reconciliable to those Reconcilers 3. Religion is a brittle thing 't will break saith Dr. Preston not bend it cannot be Accommodated to those Reconcilers Dr. Prest Pillar and Ground p. 16.4 All Protestants protest against it so not to Reconcile to it 5. Who dare take this Beast this horned Beast into his Bosom 6. So long as the Pope hath Paul's Sword as well as Peter's Keys he scorns it 7. He will not write in black but in Blood as Draco did concluding all his Arguments in Barbara and Ferio or Blood-letting THE CONCLUSION THus I have drawn a summary Representation of the seven cursed Characters of the Romish Religion that as by the Print of Hercules Foot was guessed the Stature of his whole Body so by this scantling Landskip or Compendium all sober Minds may judge whether this be a Religion safely to be embraced by any true Englishman that truly desires to be holy here and to be happy hereafter seeing it is a Religion which is 1. Superstitious and who will can or dare forsake the Substance for a mere Shadow He that makes a Bridge of the shadow of a Tree shall be sure to fall down into the Deep 2. 'T is Idolatrous and who may can or dare own its Dunghil Deities which provoke the Great and Terrible God to the highest Jealonsie against Man as the second Commandment which the Romish Catechism leaves out as none of the Ten plainly declareth 3. 'T is a Bloody Religion The Romanists would eat up Gods people as Bread Psal 14.3 and they would tear in pieces as if there were none to deliver Psal 50.22 But blessed be the Lord God of Mercy when those wicked ones our Enemies came upon us to eat up our Flesh they stumbled and fell Psal 27.2 Had those bloody Romanists any power over our Bodies they would send away our Souls in Chariots of Fire Their own Bannes speaks plainly saying English Papists are excused for not Rebelling only because they have not sufficient strength God Almighty grant they may ever want it Cursed is their wrath for it is Cruel c. Gen. 49.7 Every true lover of the Land of his Nativity should hate this Religion as Rebellion it self the very Collect for Gunpowder Treason day calls that Religion no better than Rebellion Yea 't is a Religion that is not only cruel to others that oppose it but also to themselves that profess it putting them upon Whippings Scourgings and self-Macerations like to those Priests of Baal who cut and slashed their own Flesh 1 Kin. 18.28 How may can or dare any good man love this Religion 4. 'T is Desperate and Damnable its whole Doctrine is a Doctrine of Desperation and can never afford any solid comfort to any Sin-sick Soul because it sends them to Hepher and Arpad Rivers of Damascus or Babylon to wit unto their Pennances and Pilgrimages it sends Souls from Christ to Works from Scripture which they do scornfully call Ink and Paper-Divinity unto Tradition c. Thus Popery which is but a foppery altogether walks like the unclean Spirit wherewith she is possessed Matth. 12.44 in dry places and is not only cruel to the Body as before but 't is no less to the Soul by its leaving it always in doubt and despair Oh! who may can or dare love this Desperate Religion which is Damnable as well as desperate Though some may be saved in the Popish Church yet none can be so by the Popish Faith Purus-putus Papist a non potest salvari saith Dr. Willet And 't is universally affirmed that a learned English Apostate Papist cannot be saved 5. 'T is a Novel Mushroom Religion that springeth out of the Earth Bevel 13.11 like a Mushroom or Toadstool called by the Poets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Earth born gradually and by little and little from Phoca's time ascending out of the Earth from small beginnings not descending down from Heaven ab initio It was not so from the beginning Matth. 19.8 Porphury indeed calleth Toadstools Deorum
Qui sunt in Carne non possunt placere Deo Vide Chronicon Carionis in the third Century 72. In the year 336. Pope Marcus brought in the singing of the Nicene Creed and the superstitious Vestment called the Pall which was to be of Wool not of Silk or any other Stuff to signifie the Skin of the lost Sheep in Luk. 15. And in the year 367. Gloria Patri was brought in by Damasus to close up every Psalm In the year 398. Anastasius brought in the standing up at the reading of the Gospel 73. In the year 417. Pope Zosimus brought in Tapers into the Church In the year 461. Pope Hilarius brought in the Letany and the Rogation week In the year 526. Foelix the fourth brought in extreme Unction to be ministred to dying people and in the end of this fifth Century Pope Gregory the Great brought in Candles for Candlemas and added four days to Lent with many other superstitious orders Fuit enim superstitionum tanquam Monachus egregius Patronus ac ceremoniis ritibus plusquam Judaicis Ecclesiam Christi mirum quantum eneravit (z) Pareus Medull Histor Eccles p. 210. 74. Thus we see in the first 600 years how the man of sin prevailed in bringing all those Superstitions one after another before his full Revelation as appears at large in Osiander's Epitome Pareus Medulla histor Eccles And our own Dr. Prideaux's Introduction who makes this Gregory the last of the good and the first of the bad Popes to be signified by the Angel flying between Heaven and Earth for he gave his Testimony against Antichrist though he brought in many Superstitions of Antichrist 75. After the sixth Century commenced Superstition came not by drops as before but whole floods of it and that in Doctrine too as well as Ceremony Then entred in Invocation of Saints Prayer for the dead and Purgaory the Doctrine of Justification by the merit of works of Traditions of worshipping Reliques and Images of the Mass c. Transubstantiation c. all which be supra Statutum 76. Thus were those Cockatrice Eggs hatched by degrees out of which at length came forth Antichrist That Fiery Flying Serpent into the world and 't is a seasonable caution which the Prophet gives us in this case Isaiah 59.5 They that Eat of those Cockatrice Eggs shall dye As men would therefore shun death so let them avoid those Eggs of Superstition in the Romish Church because Mors in ollâ Death is in them CHAP. II. The Second Property is the Idolatry of the Romish Religion 77. AS the Romish Religion is a Superstitions Religion exceeding all divine warrant in those forecited Customs and Practices which neither Christ nor any of his Apostles but such and such Popes in several Ages brought into the Church so 2. it is an Idolatrous Religion also Plato himself could say that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Mother of all Superstitions in lib. 10. de legibus So Polanus affirms that Superstition is the Mother of Idolatry and that this Daughter is found in the Romish Church is evident because she is called the great Whore and spiritual Whoredom is in Scripture Phrase Idolatry Ezck. 16. oft and Isa 1.21 78. 'T is a very honourable undertaking of Mr. Thorndike and other Reconcilers to Rome to wipe the Whores mouth of this Sin of Idolatry But when those men have said all they can they can never unsay what the Champions of our Religion have said to prove it as Rivers the nearer they come to the Sea the more brackish tast have they so those men coming so near the See of Rome discover but a brackish Spirit 79 That the Romish Church disowns the Paganish Idolatry they may warrantably justifie for the worships not those heathen Gods such as Jupiter Apollo Mars Mercury c. yet the spirit of whoredom is among them as Hos 5.4 She goes a whoring after other Idols as Ezek. 6.9 and commits Adultery with stocks and stones as Jer. 3.9 and Isa 16.17 Her Idolatry in worshipping of Images Reliques Crosses and the Host is altogether as abominable as that of the Pagans 80. It is laid to Mr. Mountague's Charge by those Informers against him supposed to be Mr. Ward and Mr. Yates that in his gagging of the Gagger he says touching Images they have these uses assigned them by your Popish Schoolmen Institutionem Rudium commonefactionem Historiae et excitationem devotionis Stay there saith he to the Jesuit go no farther and we charge you not with Idolatry you and we also give unto them these 81. And yet this same Mr. Montague in his Appeal to Caesar pag. 249. ingeniously says I do not I cannot I will not deny that Idolatry is grosly committed in the Church of Rome The ruder sort at least go to it with downright Idolatry without any relative adoration worshipping that which they behold with their eyes as the Image of the Virgin c. and the Crucifix as if Christ himself was present 82. But Mr. Perkins more solidly and fully says that the Romish Religion which he calls the great Italian Diana is Idolatrous in many respects (a) Perk. Idolatry of last times pag. 673.1 Vol. 1. As it presents to us a deformed Christ spoiled both of his Manhood and of his Offices Of his Manhood as if it could be made of the substance of Bread as well as of the substance of the Virgin and as if a solid Body of many foot long could be contained in a small round Cake of two or three Inches 83. He goes on to shew how it spoils him of his Offices as of his Priesthood by their own satisfactions the Sacrifice of the Mass c. Of his Kingly Office by giving power to the Pope to pardon Sin and to make binding Laws to the Conscience Lastly of his Prophetical Office by adding and detracting from Christ's word and making the Pope an Infallible Judge The Popish abuses herein he calls notorious and detestable Idolatry Perk. Idol of last Times pag. 673 674. 84. The second Respect wherein the Church of Rome is Idolatrous is her worshipping God otherwise and by other means than he hath revealed in his Word as in Images Crucifixes Host c. seeing spiritual Adoration is now only required John 4.21 22 23. (b) Babylon is a Worshipper of Idols Rome is Babylon Ergo. And that worship which is tyed to either place or thing on Earth is by that Scripture utterly abodished and forbidden Then in a third Respect she is Idolatrous in giving Gods property to Creatures as to the Virgin Mary to Saints and Angels in her Invocating of them and to the Pope in her flattering Titles to him of Infallible Universal c. 85. For the better understanding of this we must know there is a two fold Idolatry as Peter Martyr saith loc commun cap. 4. pag. 197. Vnaest quâ nobis Deum qualem volumus pravis doganatis in animo fingimus altera verò quâ externum
the Child viz. Truth or Worship because she is for dividing it but God accounts it an abomination when any part of his Worship is imparted to Idols or Images God will have all or none at all and all Will-worship devised out of mans brain whereby men warp either to the Right Hand or to the Left from Gods prescribed Will the Lord abhors 115. The Just and Jealous God hateth and plagueth all Lukewarmness and Neutrality in Religion all dough-baked Duties or mixtures of Religion a mingling of the Cup of the Lord with the Cup of Devils 1 Cor. 10.21 The Religion of the house of Micah mixed Gods worship ship with the Devils Judg. 17.5 The Ephod resembling that of the High-Priests for the true worship of God and the (h) The Teraphim was the Image of a mans head wrung from the Body salted and spiced and under the Tongue spake the Unclean Spirit The King of Babylon had his Teraphim to consult with Ezek. 21.21 or Images Teraphim or Images in mans shape to divine by for the worship of the Devil 116. It was not lawful to mix Judaism with Gentilism Lev. 19.27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads nor make any cutting in your flesh for the dead c. These were the Ceremonies of the Heathen therefore the Lord prohibits his people from the observation of them Such a practice had the Aegyptian Priests who worshiped the Idols Isis and Anuhis shaving round their heads or as others say had their Crowns shaven as the Popish Priests have at this day 117. Thus the Religion of the Gergasites was a mixt Religion who learned many things of the Heathen as to eat Swines flesh hence we read of herds of Swine which the Jews abhorred in their Country and not to circumcise c. And such is the Religion of the Ebionites who observe both the Jewish and the Christian Sabbath 118. Neither is it lawful to mingle Judaism with Christianism as the Galatians did who would observe the Ceremonies of the Law in times of the Gospel Those Ceremonies were in their own time mortales in Christs time after he had said consummatum est they were mortal but in following times they were mortiferae and a denying of Christs coming in the flesh for if the substance be come those shadows must vanish away yet those Galatians joyned a dead Law the Law of Ceremonies with a living Gospel 119. The Church of Rome is the speckled Bird that hath mingled Ceremonies with Gospel worship above all that went before her and surely Religion is past the Meridian in that Church where she can hardly be seen for the length of her own shadow The shadows of her Evening have been long a stretching out and her day is going away Jerem. 6.4 (i) Fuller Abel Redivivus pag. 72. Erasmus in his time found Doctrine turn'd into Sophistry and Discipline into Ceremony 120. The Romish Church hath sowed divers seeds in Gods Vineyard she hath plowed with an Ox and an Ass in Gods Husbandry She hath worn Linsey-woolsey Garments in the Temple of God contrary to Levit. 19.19 She hath set up Dagon with the Ark of God and though the Apostle forbid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to play the huckfter with the word and worship of God 2 Cor. 2.17 yet hath she adulterated both 121. Her Bastard Devotion ought not to be admitted as Co-partner with the true worship of God for 't is opposite to the Nature of God to wit his Unity Soveraignty and Al-sufficiency as if there were more Gods than he more hearers of Prayer more pardoners of Sin and more Saviours from trouble than he And 't is opposite also to the Nature of Religion which is called a Bond the Reubenites may not build another Altar without warrant Josh 22.10 't is a spiritual marriage so must be chast or God will be jealous 2 Cor. 11.2 122. But the Romish Church hath played the Harlot and in the Revelation is called the great Whore with whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication and who knows not but that by spiritual Fornication is always in holy Scripture understood Idolatry And though indeed some of the Fathers say Antichrist shall be an hater of Idolatry they must mean only Paganish Idolatry for his worshipping a piece of Paste for Christ c. is as abominable Idolatry as Paganism was 123. That place in Dan. 11.38 literally meant of Antiochus but Analogically agrees to Antichrist Junius and Tremel reads it thus As for the God of Forces he to wit Antiochus shall in his Seat worship with Gold Silver c. a God which his Fathers knew not Thus the Pope hath set up a new God in the Church (k) To their breaden God they ascribe power to forgive sins to protect from evil and to bring to Heaven namely a piece of bread in the Mass which none of the Apostles knew and dedicates Gold c. to it yea burns all that will not bow to it 124. 'T is true the Romanists have found out sundry fine shifts to clear themselves of this Idolatry as their absolute and respective Adoration and their objectum quod and objectum quo Absolute Adoration is when the worship is terminated in the Creature as objectum quod Adorationis and the worship is limited to the Creature Respective Adoration is this when worship is given to dead and senseless things for the Examplar's sake 125. Then the Exemplar or Pattern is the objectum quo and the dead senseless thing or Portraiture is the objectum quod that is they adore the Portraiture for the Patterns sake the dead and senseless thing for the sake of it which is its Exemplar As when homage is done to the Viceroy for the King the Viceroy is the objectum quod and the King is the objectum quo thus the most modest of the Papists of old made but their Image objectum quod Adorationis and God himself objectum quo 126. But now they go further and maintain that Images are not only to be worshiped accidentally or improperly but also by themselves and properly so that they end and terminate their worship as they are considered in themselves and not only as they are Pourtraitures of the Pattern represented (l) Gregor di Valen. disput 6. quast 11. punct 6. and Greg de Val. saith that the same worship which is due to God is due to the Image too which he calls coâ—dâ—ratio or conjunct-worship 127. Plutarch tells us of Sysigambis Darius's Mother coming before Alexander the Great and mistaking Haephestion for Alexander she fell down before Haephestion but perceiving her mistake she began to blush but Alexander said to her Be not ashamed Non errâsti Mater nam Hephaestion est etiam Alexander (m) Thou art not mistaken Mother for Hephaestion is also Alexander But if a Papist falling down before an Image and mistaking the Image for Christ himself Christ will not say to him Be not ashamed thou
dispositionis This par ratio is defended by him against the judgment of Gerson in lect 4. de vitâ spirituali and of Hugo de Sacram. p. 6. c. 5. 155. And de Clara confesses that there are others Qui asserebant Deum non permissurum ut aliquis decipratur in aliquâ veritate fidei absque suâ culpâ and then adds his opinion Ego ut ingenuè meum sensum hâc in parte aperiam c. to speak my own sence freely I think that the common people committing themselves to the instruction of their Pastors trusting their knowledge and goodness if they be deceived it shall be accounted invincible Ignorance 〈◊〉 saltem probabilis which truly excuses from fault 156. He goes on and says Imâ—… aliqui Doctores tantum tribuunt instructioni 〈◊〉 quibus incumbit cura ovium c. that if those Pastors on whom the care of the Flock dependeth do teach hic et nunc that God would be hated the rude Parishioner is bound to believe them Azorius also saith Rusticus et Imperitus qui parocho suo fidem babens credet diquid contra articules fidei excusatur a peccate where he cites Scotus and Gabriel to be of the same Opinion 157. 'T is true If their Priests did infallibly keep knowledge as they falsely sense those words in Mal. 2.7 saying further that the Law given is not a Law but in the mouth of the Priest then would it be the less sin to pin their faith upon the Sleeves of their Priests and the ignorance of their Laity would be invincible ignorance for want of information from their Clergy but we find in Story how notoriously their Priests have fallen short of keeping infallibly the knowledge of the Law of God 158. It is manifest in Ecclesiastical History that the Popish Priests like the Sons of Eli are Sons of Belial that knew not the Lord 1 Sam. 1.12 nor the Law of their God witness that (y) Acts and Monuments Fox Popish Bishop of Dunkelden in Scotland who boasted yea thanked God that he never knew what the Old and New Testament were and that he would care to know nothing but his Portuise and his Pontifical As likewise that Popish Priest in Germany who being asked by the Visitors whether he taught his people the Decalogue answered that he had not the Book so called 159. And of our own Popish Priests in England that were notorious Ignoramuses our Martyrology gives many examples as that Priest that told Justice Leland that the New Testament of Tindal's Translation was plain Heresie and none worse than it and bloody Bonner burning of Bibles and his Kinsman Darbyshire that said the Scriptures were sufficient to Salvation but not to Instruction but I would not rake in this Kennel Those Priests lips kept knowledge well 160. Chrysostom had long before discovered and lamented Multi Sacerdotes et tamen pauci multi in Nomine pauci in opere and Petrarch complained in his time that the stench of that Sink the Romish Clergy was come up to heaven this Ribera bewails also But above all Famous Luther speaks home to this affirming that Hell is paved with the Skulls of those prophane Popish Priests and Erasmus likewise lays them open in their colours who did them more mischief jocando than Luther did stomachando how can sober minds hang (z) As Luke 19. last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Ears at such lips as those 161. But the Romanists falsifie that Text in Mal. 2.7 reading it The lips of the Priests keep knowledge making it a plea for their Infallibility as if all things knowable were locked up in the Cabinet of their Breasts whereas in the Hebrew it is the Priests lips should keep knowledge which is not a prophesie but a Commandment by those words God doth not foretell that the Priests should never turn from the true Doctrine but forbiddeth them to turn from it 'T is equally absurd to make Commands Prophesies as to make Prophesies Commands (a) Moulin's Buckler of Faith pag. 65. as if Christs foretelling One of you shall betray me had been a bidding them betray him 162. And the following Verses in Mal. 2. plainly shows how those Priests lips had not preserved knowledge but had seduced the people and corrupted the Covenant of God They had forsaken the way and caused many to stumble v. 8. and must the Law be only a Rule in their mouths as if God were beholding to them for owning it (b) Cajetan Com nent on Matth. Cardinal Cajetan confesses thus much of the Popish Priests that they which should have been by their places the Salt of the Earth had lost their savour and minded nothing but the Rites and Revenues of the Church 163. Now are such Priests fit to be confided in in matters of knowledge and goodness as de Clara would bear us in hand must the people only believe as they believe must they look after no other knowledge and goodness but what is to be found in those doltish prophane Priests Our Lord gives us better direction than this quirking Fryar in bidding us try the Spirits 1 John 4.1 and prove all things 1 Thess 5.21 as those noble Bereans did Act. 17.11 and in telling us that if the Blind lead the Blind both falls into the Ditch Math. 15.14 164. Those blind guides indeed shall lye lowermost and have the worst of it but wo to them that follow their pernicious ways hoodwinked and blindfold This is their implicit faith believing as the Church believes and their blind Obedience walking in darkness and they know not whither but can never be judged invincible Ignorance to excuse from blame although Franciscus de Clara do affirm it especially here in England where so many Bibles godly Books and so much powerful Preaching may be easily come to 165. The holy Scriptures were written that we might believe John 20.31 and we are commanded to search them John 5.39 that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a more sure word 2 Pet. 1.19 upon the testimony of which we must depend primariò and not upon the Church as they say for this is to leave the Fountain and a going to broken Cisterns and 't is a damnable Religion that keeps ignorant of the Scriptures They have Moses and the Prophets c. Luke 16.29 31. 166. It is worth our observation to take notice what difference there is betwixt the Apostolical and Antichristian Spirit the Apostolical Spirit saith thus Moreover Brethren I would not that you should be ignorant 1 Cor. 10.1 he would not have them ignorant in spiritual things but would have them zealous according to knowledge but the Antichristian Spirit is well content that the Brethren should remain ignorant and continue in blind Devotion 167. This Popish Religion is therefore a blind Religion so dangerous and damnable because it puts out the eye of knowledge Thus Antichrist saith to the Inhabitants of the World just as Nahash the Ammonite said to the men of Jabesh-Gilead On
absolutely then it would follow that if Christ had not come amongst the Jews they had not been sinners and Gentiles that had not the Gospel were without sin which be both absurd but Austin in Tract 89. understands Sin there the great Sin of Unbelief under which all Sins are comprehended and saith expressly that though those which never had the Gospel have some excuse for their unbelief yet none for other Sins 181. The same Augustine proceeds saying such as amongst whom Christ came not may indeed have their excuse for sin but yet are not thereby freed from being damned for Sin for the Apostle is plain They which sinned without the Law shall perish without the Law Rom. 2.12 Yet there are degrees of Punishments as there be of Sins which Humane conjectures cannot comprehend they to whom Christ came and spake shall want this excuse they cannot say we have not seen nor heard him 182. And in Tract 91. in Johan he says others that can thus excuse themselves if they be not delivered from all judgment yet certainly their judgment shall be somewhat lighter than those that had seen his great works for Christ did works which none other did As the feeding of five thousand with a few Loaves and Fishes his walking upon the Water and causing Peter to come to him his turning Water into Wine and his opening the Eyes of the man that was born blind c. for which he deserv'd their best love but having hatred for Love after all these great works their Sin was inexcusable 183. To this Purpose also Chrysostom in Hom. 76. in Johan saith the Lord Christ having according to Moses Law confirmed his Doctrine by marvellous works sheweth that the Jews withstanding him yet should have no pardon For Moses had charged them to obey (f) Christ wrought Miracles as a Master by his own Authority and Command All others but as Servants him who proved his Doctrine by miracles such as none other ever did yea themselves restified that (g) John 9.32 There was never the like done in Israel and since the World began was it heard that any opened the Eyes of one born blind 184. Seeing then not to have heard any thing of Christ doth not sufficiently excuse Infidelity because it many times happens through mens own fault God justly punishing their own sin thereby with a denyal to them of the Preaching of the Gospel (h) Polan Synt. Theolog. lib. 9. cap. pag. 591.1 Col. Polanus saith well Ignorantia non excusat eos qui fidei capaces sant quandoquidem ignorantia in Adamo in quo omnes peccârunt voluntaria fuit et debent omnes et scire et credere 185. He saith also that Negative Infidelity vel sola damnat et a Regno coelorum arcet It is no hard matter to prove that even the want of a due preaching of the Gospel and of a right propounding of the knowledge of Christ to them is a punishment for their sin and sin can never excuse sin Infidels ought themselves to seek after the knowledge of the truth now if Negative Infidelity do damn the Heathens then Positive Infidelity such as is in Papists that hear and believe not must needs double damn them 186. The Papists are despisers of most clear light of the truth that hath been spread before them by many famous men so they sin against knowledge and have no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or pretence for their Sin Minor erat culpa ubi erat culpae Ignorantia saith Ambrose lib. 9. Ep. 71. But because they say they see as the Pharisees that saw the works of Christ therefore their sin of a (i) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Twice dipt Scarlet Sin double dye remaineth (k) John 9.41 187. But to let pass their blind charity for blind Infidels which is a mere design for up holding their Kingdom and palliating their opinions about an implicit Faith I come to their uncharitableness towards us in making us worse than Infidels and passing this partial censure that Protestants cannot be saved though Infidels may (l) Coster Resp ad Refut Osiand propos 8. Costerus saith Fierinequit ut Lutheranus moriens salvetur This is a brave Romish Dictator 188. And it is determined by a general Council and the Pope that no man can be saved out of their Church as headed by the Pope extra Ecclesiam Romanam nulla est salus that it is necessary to Salvation to be a subject of the Pope of Rome Yet can they take in Infidels and lay the Church as common to the world for as many as will but believe in the Pope though they believe not in Christ whose Vicar he pretends to be 189. How can this Popish Censure be of any moment that Judges no Salvation can be among us yet if we were Infidels we might be saved so we had but an implicit Faith and believed in the Pope But the choicest Saint and Servant of God that hath an explicit Faith in Christ cannot be saved if he believe not in the Pope and be of the Church of Rome Is this a Judging according to God 190. If it had been essential to Christianity and necessary to salvation to believe in the Pope or Church of Rome then the Apostles would have preached it for converting the People would have baptized the converted into the Pope and Roman Church and it would have been inserted in some of those antient Creeds or in some of the expesitions of them but there is not a word in Scripture or any Ecclesiastical History that intimates any of those Premises and sure such a necessary point would not have been omitted 191. But Thousands and Millions were saved in the Primitive times without ever believing in the Pope or Roman Church and Paul and Silas were much mistaken when the Jaylor cryed to them Sirs what must I do to be saved in answering him Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house Act. 16.30 31. According to the doctrine of the Romanists they should have directed them thus Thou must believe in the Pope and in the Roman Church and thou shalt be saved 192. It cannot be proved that one Christian believed in the Pope or Church of Rome for many an hundred year after Christ much less that all believed so yet for want of this belief not only we Protestants are all damned by the Romish Church but such is their uncharitableness that they damn all the Christians among the Greeks Moscovites Armenians Abassines Aethiopians Waldenses c. that believes not in the Pope 193. (m) Baxter's Key for Catholicks pag. 262. Mr. Baxter very acutely retorts upon the Romanists for this uncharitableness saying If Charity be the life of all the Graces or holy qualities of the Soul and that which above all others proveth a man to be justified and in a state of Salvation then judge by this Argument of their own whether our charitableness to them or
restrictive as intimating that there be some heresies which are not damnable and so 't is to be restrained to the worst sort of Heresies only but rather descriptive as describing what heresie is in Suo Genere that it hath in it a downing nature Especially when there is a Concatenation of them as in this place 234. The holy Ghost uses the word here in the plural number to point out to us that there should be many of them linked together and indeed one heresie persisted in with an obstinate mind ushers in others dato vno absurdo mille sequntur Thus some Etymologists derive the word Heresie ab Haerendo because of ' its Glutinous property men do pertinaciously cleave to it but 't is rather a Greek word so cannot have a d Latin Thema but comes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to chufe an Opinion 235. (e) 'T is a choice that cannont be reclained Such be the Heresies of the Romish Religion as they are damning in nature so they are many in number as justification in part by the works of the law This is a damning heresie If Paul say true Gal. 5.4 such are faln from Grace and Christ shall profit them nothing as their doctrine of merits de Congrue et Cendigno which is not holding of the head Col 2 19. But a despoiling of Christ his plenteons Redemption and becoming Saviouts to themselves 236 As also their congruent merits afforded by nature their freedome and innate power of will excited to apply and determine it self to Gods gracious perswasion Their expiation of Sins both of quick and dead by the unbloody Sacrifice of their Masses And many others ejusdem forma Which are both tanght and believed of the Romanists whereof I shall speak more particularly in the 2. part 237 (f) The 7. Scripture Evidence The 7. Scripture Evidence is Tim. 4.1 Popery teaches many Doctrines of devils as I have shewed in my treatise of Antichrist their forbidding of meats and marriages their teaching the lawfulness of Committing fornication which is the divelifh Doctrine of the Nicolaitans Revel 2.15 Or worshipping Idols of murthering Princes and of massacring Protestants and that because they are Hereticks Now these Doctrines of Devils must needs carry them to the Devil 238. The Apostle in this 1. Epistle to Timothy speaketh of latter times and in his 2. to Timothy 3.1 of the last times In the latter times those Doctrines of devils are broached to wit in the times of Antichrists rise and revelation when the Antichristian leaven shall be spreading it self over all christian Churches as 2. Thess 2.8.10 but in the last times which he says shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to wit about Antichrists destruction the harvest of those devil Doctriners shall be ripe and God will cut them down with his sharp sickle and cast them in bundles to the devil in Hell from whence they came 239. Thus both those times in both those Epistles have relation to Antichrist and the older Antichrist grows the worse and more perilous times shall be For those Doctrines of Devils shall like an Epidemical and vniversal Pestilence be so Contagious and catching that men yea good men will be put hard to it how to secute themselves from that overspreading Abomination then the Righteous should scarcely be saved were not their Names writ in the Lambo book of Life 240. But as for those dwellers upon the Earth whose Names are not found written in that Book these doctrines of Devils prevails with them and brings in that black bedroll of Sin whereof sinful self Love is the first of 19 as the Root of them all and love of pleasures the last all which lead directly to damnation and are found most predominant in the Romish Church above all others which hath a form of Godliness but denies its power 2 Tim. 3.1 to 6. 241. Having thus from Scripture Evidences made this clear demonstration how dangerous a Religion the Popish Religion is to live and dye in how can we but conclude that the Romanists are in a damnable State For 1. (g) Revel 13.8 Their Names are not found in the Lambs book of life 2. (b) Revel 14.9 10 11. They must drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God 3. (i) 2. Thess 2.10 They are in a perishing State 4. (k) 11 12. And believe lyes to be damned 5. (l) Rev. 19.21 Depart ye cursed shall be denounced against them 6. (m) 2 Pet. 2.1 They hold damnable Heresies And 7. (n) 1 Tim. 4.1 They â—uch and believe doctrines of Devils 242. But some will object here and say this is to pass the same uncharitable censure of them that they do of us and this is to conclude all that ever have dyed in Popery to be in a state of damnation To which I answer 1. Their censure of us may truly be termed uncharitable because it is unwarrantable being not grounded upon any clear Scripture Evidence but arising from their obstinate blindness which causeth them to (o) Jude v 10. speak evil of what they know not 243. And 2. I answer 't is not we but the Word of God that judges them by which they must be judged at the last day John 12.48.3 As we do not conclude all Pagans whom God suffered to walk in their own ways Act. 14. 16. to be damned for God might have vessels of mercy among them some became Proselytes so nor all those Papagans for some have held the head Col. 2.19 (p) 1 Cor. 3.11.15 and been sound in the Foundation although they lose their stubble yet not their Souls neither did Popish Errors come to their height at first but now their Heresies be more damnable than ever 244. I might have added several other Scripture Evidences as 1 Cor. 6.9 No Idolater shall inherit the Kingdom of God And Revel 21.8 All Idolaters and all lyars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Now that Popery is Idolatry and a Compound or Cento of many lying Doctrines I have shewed before why then should we be afraid to say that Papists living and dying in the Trent Faith without Repentance are Castaways and destinated to damnation Why strengthen we the hands of the wicked that he cares not to return by promising him life Ezek. 13.22 245. What warrant from the Word of God can be found of any hope that such damnable Hereticks as hath been made apparent they are can be saved or such plain Infidels in as much as they believe not either the Al-sufficiency of Christs meritorious Passion or the incommunicable Propriety of his mediatory Office in which two points lies the very life and soul of true Faith and Religion and thus far they are Infidels in saying that men must satisfie for their own venial sins and that Saints and Angels meritoriously intercede for us 246. What probability is there that such Infidels as believe not the holy
lib. 8. To say nothing of look beyond Luther at large and of Dr. Humphrey in his Prax. Jesuitismi fol. 17. who shews how many witnesses Oxford hath afforded against the Romish Religion which I speak largely of in my Appendix to the Treatise of Antichrist I shall conclude this Paragraph with setting Dolman against Dolman who confesseth ingeniously in his pag. 19. that either Simon Zelotes the Apostle or Joseph of Arimathaea the Disciple brought Religion into this Land from Jerusalem Hence I Argue if it came hither first from Jerusalem then it came not hither first from Rome as he elsewhere saith 13. Moreover if we consider either the name or the thing the Novelty hereof will be more evident 1. Consider the name Papist 't is but a novel name and not found among the Ancients What need any further Testimony of this when their own Father Bristow doth confess it saying in his eighth Demand that the name Papist was never heard of till the time of Pope Lee in the fifteen hundredth year of Christ Habemus reum Confitentem 't is enough The Testimony of an Adversary against himself is unquestionable Secondly Consider the thing Popery in its Popish Points which are all novel Points and not known to the ancient Church We are able to shew the first Authors of their corrupt Doctrines which were not received into the Church for six hundred years after Christ and though we could not do this yet would it not follow that the Romish Church is the true ancient Church For first Many Heresies did spring up after the Apostles time yet none knew how 1 Joh. 2.18 and 4.1 yea Popery it self began to work at that time 2 Thes 2.7 Secondly The Head of some Errors may be as hard to discover as the Head of the River Nilus and the rather because Satan that Super-Seminator sows his Tares in the night while men slept Mat. 13.15 They are so privily and so creepingly brought in Gal. 2.4 2 Tim. 3.6 2 Pet. 2.1 and Jude 4. But above all that Grand Error of Popery in as much as it is called a Mystery of Iniquity was foisted in less discernably Thirdly The Romanists themselves do acknowledge that there are many Errors crept into the Church the first Authors whereof cannot be named And Fourthly It would be enough to discover the Novelty of Popery by demonstrating that it cannot be found in the Holy Scriptures which is the truest Antiquity 14. I have already discovered the Novelty of many Popish Points of the Romish Religion in pag. 26. Paragraph 65 66. c. of this Treatise That they were not from the beginning but are all additions by the man of sin and therefore accursed Revel 22.18 My Additions therefore thereunto shall be such only as my brevity proposed can admit to say but little to their inferior practick Points as of their Popish Beads Holy Water Missal Vestments Latin Service c. 1. The use of their Beads in their blind devotion came not from Peter the Apostle but from Peter the Hermit that Trumpet to the Holy War so called who taught them the manner of praying with Beads that thereby they might reckon their Prayers as if God should be verily in their Debt for their so many Pater Nosters and Ave Maries whereas true Devotion is not so much Numeranda ut Ponderanda numbered as pondered with the Lord he will have weight and worth in right Prayer and not Vain babbling Mat. 6.3 Battilogia Pentificia vel ipsum Satanam pudeat Their vain Repetitions are so gross and shameless that the Devil himself had he any shame in him would be ashamed of them faith learned Beza 2. Their Holy Water Polidor Virgil makes Pope Alexander the first to be its Author Anno Domini 118 or 121. see Prideaux his Introduction pag. 69. I confess they may go to Nama Pompilius and other Heathens for consecrated Water long before this Pope Alexander for they had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at their Idol-Temple doors and their Baronius alledges Juvenal's sixth Satyr for their Lustral Water Surely this is not an Antiquity for the Romanists to boast of to borrow from Devil-worshippers 15. It must not be denied that if their Holy Water be derived from Numa Pompilins it hath Antiquity in it because Numa was seven hundred years before Christ a good Warrant for Christian Holy Water and in nothing better than in this that Numa was a reputed Conjurer and so a fitter Author of that conjured Water It is truly called so from their own form of consecrating this Holy Water which is as followeth I conjure thee O thou Creature Water in the Name of God †the Father Almighty and in the Name of Jesus †Christ the Son and by the power of the Holy †Spirit with certain Prayers mumbled over it then they blasphemously equal it to the blood of Christ for purging away sins you may suppose 't is only such Sins as have no deep rooting in us that a few drops of this Holy Water can wash away I wonder they should overlook that Holy Water mentioned Numb 5.17 there 's Antiquity indeed better than Baronius's sixth Satyr of Juvenal Baron Annal. ann 44. but the mischief is that was an Holy Water that caused the Curse Num. 5.21 Water is indeed an Element that God hath given us both for Natural and Celestial use the first in Household Affairs the second in the Sacrament of Baptism these are truly ancient things but the Romanists converting it beyond all Divine Ordination by their Exorcisms and Inchantments to other Magick and Idolatrous Uses This is a mere Novelty and Nullity The words of their Exorcisms run thus Exorcizo te Aqua Benedicta ut fias aqua exercizata c. that thou maist have power to drive away Devils Oh ridiculous Much more might I say to this point but my Book intended little swelleth much already 16. So I must be abrupt in it as likewise 3. In their Missal Vestments wherein they do plainly Judaize yea more than so or rather Heathenize it therein For 1. They cannot plead the Garments of the Levitical Priesthood seeing this were to send the Messiah to Moses School and so to deny that Christ is come in the Flesh Which is the spirit of Antichrist 1 Joh. 4.2 3. for Christ by his coming changed the Law of the Levitical Priesthood Heb. 7.11 and together with it the Rites and Apparels which glittering Garments could not congruously correspond with the Simplicity of the Gospel 2. Popish Priests do more than Judaize in as much as they abound more in their Holy Garments than ever the Mosaical Priests did for the High Priests had but seven Garments appointed them and the other Priests but two yet the Popish Priests have six their Popish Prelates nine more Ration Divin Offic. lib. 3. cap. 1. and Bellarm. lib. 2. de Miss cap. 14. And the Popes in their Pontificalibus said Erasmus may better be compared to Julius Caesar
Religion will be found there although the same Dr. Hammond would help to wipe her mouth in saying that there can be no superstition in a bad sence in any unprescribed Ceremonies Could this be made good it would prove a notable medium for wiping the Harlots mouth of Superstition 46. The Dr. makes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Superstition to be Daemonum cultus a worshipping the Poetical Gods or of Angels or dead men and yet he calls it a creditable word as also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How these things can be I cannot understand for as it is a deifying of Daemons it cannot be a word that is creditable But to say so belongs rather to the doctrine of Daemons which the Apostle condemns in 1 Tim. 4.1 2. 47. And though the word may have an Euphemismus or good sence after the Pagan Construction for with them (t) Explicat Plutarchus esse nimium Deorum metum unde exortae sunt superstitiosae Ceremoniae Beza 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is one that fears the Gods but if we consider that the Pagan Gods were no other but Devils Moses called them so Lev. 17.7 Deut. 32.17 and David Ps 106.37 And more plainly the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.20 The Gentiles Sacrifice to Devils I see not how a word that indeed signifies a worshipper of Devils should be a creditable word in any Christian though it may in Pagan construction 48. The large Annotator on the 17 of the Acts v. 22. saith that there as commonly 't is taken in the evil sence and he quotes Clemens Alexandr for signifying a superstitious man by this word such an one as Lactantius describes a worshipper of the Images of his Ancestors the Penates or houshold Gods this Virgil calls Vana Superstitio c. and not creditable 49. Although the worshipping of Daemons be indeed a Superstition as it is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a false Religion practised amongst Pagans yet the Superstition properly so called quasi supra statutum more than is appointed in the Law of God will upon enquiry be found among the Papagans which the soundest Divinity defines to be a Vice opposite to Religion (u) Yea Aquinas himself gives it this Definition ut supra according to excess and a superstitious man to be rather Gods flatterer in circumstantials than his Friend inSubstantials 50. Yea there is a superstitious worship of the true God as well as of false Gods when man either chuses a worship for God or those things whereon divine worship depends or when he exceeds the measure in worshipping and as Polanus saith Serviliter Muliebriter Pueriliter se gerit Syntag. Theol. lib. 9. cap. 3. pag. 580. To the same purpose speaks the Author of the (w) Polyanthaea Polyanthaea though a Papist that Superstition is not called an excess in Religion because it gives more to divine worship than the true Religion doth but more than it ought to do de superst 51 This superstitions worship of God is when a certain singular force and efficacy is ascribed ex opere operato to external Rites prescribed of God As when a power of driving away Devils and healing of Diseases is attributed to some words repeated or writings hung about the Neck whereas those words and writings have no such power neither from their own Nature nor from any divine Institution 52. To ascribe that to any thing which it hath no natural power unto nor divinely enabled for is notorious Superstition as to attribute to the Sacraments a power of themselves both of Sanctification and Salvation from the work done or to so many prayers and vows a vertue of well deserving at Gods hand or to give to some meats or days more sanctity than others beyond any divine warrant Yet all this Superstition and much more is found in the Church of Rome as will appear more plainly in the sequel of this Treatise 53. Dr. Hammond acknowledges that Superstition is a nimiety or excess in Religion then are not those Romish Rites and unprescribed Ceremonies which are of a mystical signification to use his own word a nimiety and is not a placing of vertue in the sign of the Cross c. an excess in Religion why doth he then say 't is a dogmatizing to abstain from unprohibited Ceremonies as well as from unprohibited Meats Col. 2. for to argue from a non-prohibition suppose they were not prohibited is an argument ab authoritate negative and so of no force 54. However this Dr. gratifies the Romanists in his charitable glosses upon Superstition and Will-worship or worshipping of Daemons I am sure learned Mede does not so in his Doctrine of Daemons who applies it wholly to the Popish Church in her bowing to breaden Idols and Crosses like Daemon pillars c. all which make a lively Image of the Gentiles Theology of Daemons 55. Thus we see as Atheism is a defect in Religion so Superstition is an excess 't is a going super statutum as Isidore saith beyond the precepts of God which commands us to do only those things that he biddeth us do whatsoever thing I command you observe to do it thou shalt not add thereto nor diminisb from it Deut. 12.32 with Ch. 4.2 If any man shall add unto those things which God bath commanded God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written in the Book and if any man shall take away from them God will take away his part out of the book of life Rev. 22.18 19. as Atheists are guilty of the latter so the Superstitious of the former 56. Superstition is a being righteous or religious overmuch Eccles 7.16 as Atheism is a being righteous or religious over little as when men do hot only believe that Christ is our satisfaction for sin but also there is need of Alms Prayers Fastings Vows c. to satisfie for our sins this is an addition of our own merit to the merit of Christ as if the righteousness of Christ were not complete enough without the beggarly Eeke of our filthy righteousness This nimiety or excess is found in the Church of Rome 57. Tertullian condemns all things to be vacuae observationis et superstitioni deputanda quae fine ullius Dominici aut Apostolici praecepti autoritate facta sunt Tertul. de oratione Chap. 12. V. It seems he was not of the Dr.'s Opinion that thinks it enough that Ceremonies though they be not commanded if not prohibited may be embraced Tertullian was for a divine warrant and I have shewed in my Tractate of Ceremonies that they are prohibited in thou shalt not add 58. All divine Worship must have divine Warrant and whatsoever exceeds divine warrant is Superstition the Commands of God ought diligently to be observed Matth. 28.20 Act. 1.2 Revel 12. last v. But to observe more than God commands is to be superstitiously wise above that which is written Such were the Pharisees in the Jewish Church that Taught for Doctrines the Commandments if Men Matth. 15.9 that their
Laws must be observed though they were inconsistent with Gods Law 59. The Chaldee Paraphrast and the Syriack Version renders those two Scriptures Isa 29.13 Matth. 15.9 Reverentia quam mihi exhibent est ex praecepto et documento humano plainly unputing the reason of Gods rejecting their worship to be the want of a divine command What the Scribes and Pharisees did in the Jewish Church that the Priests and Jesuits do in the Romish Church imposing upon people not only additions to but also inconsistencies with the Commands of God therefore God rejects their worship as that of the Jews 60. Finally Superstition is an undue or ungrounded worship of God not grounded upon Gods word but upon mans wisdom not only for the manner but also for the matter or 't is a putting more into the means than God puts into them as the Jews put more into the Sabbath than God put into it and many more superstitious observances as I could transcribe out of Buxtorf's Jewish Synagogue whereby they do violate the Institutions of God with their Inventions and Amos. Co. 5. v. 26 27. shows they carried a Tabernacle for Venus and Saturn as well as for the true God 61. Having now made this large discovery of this right-hand Enemy of the true Religion it remains that I make known where this Thief hath his principal Residence that would steal away from us our Religion which is a daughter to the King of Heaven and the beauty of all the Kingdoms of the Earth and would put such a cheat upon us as Michael did upon Saul 1 Sam. 19.12 13. in dismissing David and laying an Image that was bed-rid in his stead (x) Supposed to be the Teraphim that was made in the shape of a man Hebr. Teraphim signifies Images 62. I shall now largely prove that as Atheism had its chief Residence in Rome-Pagan so Superstition hath its principal seat in Rome-Anti-Christian This is the design of our present Treatise for the preservation of our blessed Religion received from our godly Ancestors to the salvation of our poor posterity and for the prevention of that Romish cheat in dismissing our David of the Reformed Religion and laying the Image of their own Religion in the room of it 63. That I may the better manifest how the Romish Religion is but an Image of Straw whereas the reformed Religion hath the real David and Christ in it I shall use this method discoursing 1. Generally and then 2. Particularly of it and all to shew the rottennest of the Romish Faith that threatens us so much at this day and to secure our own as our best treasure CHAP. I. In General The seven bad Properties of Popery viz. 1. Superstitious 2. Idolatrous 3. Damnable 4. Bloody 5. Novel 6. Inconsistent with publick peace 7. Irreconciliable to the Protestant Christian Religion Those seven bad Properties are as the seven Unclean Spirits which possessed the empty house Matth. 12.43 45 64. IN my disswasive from Popery I shall I. show in general the seven wretched Properties of the Romish Faith for which it may not be embraced but rather to be abhorred 1. Of the first The Romish Religion is a superstitious Religion 't is made up of a worship altogether supra statutum as sundry intimations hereof afore mentioned do abundantly illustrate 't is so notoriously clogg'd with Ceremonies of Humane invention while the Magnalia legis lay neglected that while they write up service God writes up sin saying who requir'd those things at your hands Isa 1.12 65. Superstition sprung up betimes in the Church of Rome Satan sowed Tares so he is called superseminator very early Many superstitious Doctrines from this superseminator did the Bishops of Reme bring into the Church in the first six hundred years after Christ which signifies that Antichrist was then growing up there until the time of his full maturity for his Revelation in that place 66. Alexander the First Bishop of Rome brought in the mingling of water with the Sacramental Wine and of Salt with water for benediction agreeable to the Pagans about 112th year after Christ After him about 20 years comes Telesphorus and ordained a Lent-Fast for seven weeks about the year 130 after Christ and about the year of Christ 144. Pius the first appoints the celebration of Easter upon the Lords day 67. About the year of Christ 159. the shaving of the Priests Crowns was brought into the Church by Anicetus the Bishop of Rome to whom Polycarp came about composing the differences concerning the Celebration of Easter because it was pretended that the celebrating of it on Sunday (y) The dissenters were called Quartadecimani as they called it one Hermes received by Revelation from an Angel in a Shepherds habit This having of Crowns was a superstitious Custom derived from the practice of the Aegyptian Priests of Isis 68. This superstitious Shaving was condemned by divers of the Fathers as Clemens of Alex. Paedagog lib. 3. cap. 11. Optatus Contra Parmenionem lib. 2. and Jerome on Ezek. 44. Yea and the fourth Council of Toledo cap. 40. About the year of Christ 221. were also introduced into the Church the Fasts of four times by Calixtus the first and about six years after silver Cups were brought into the Celebration of the Supper by Pope Vrbane 69. About the year 240. It was ordained by Pope Fabian that new Chrism should be made every year and that the old should be burnt at the Eucharist then about the year 277. Pope Foelix appoints Divine Service to be Celebrated upon the Sepulchres of Martyrs About five years after Pope Eutychianus brings in the Benediction of the fruits of the Earth upon the Altar as if with the Manichees they had held them unclean until they were thus purified 70. This Pope Eutychianus the Tuscan is said to bring in that custom that no Martyr should be buried but in the Vestment called Palmatica and a Purple Hood Thus Superstition began to grow unto some strength in the Church of Rome betimes and that not only in matters of Ceremony but also of Doctrine for then began Temples to be built to the honour of the Virgin Mary of the Apostles and Martyrs to the great dishonour of God in following Ages 71. Augustine witnesseth that as all divine Worship is to be given to God so all Temples that are for the exercise of that worship are to be erected to him Angust contra Maxim Arrian lib. 1. tit 11. Yet Sylvester the first perswaded Constantine to erect that Church in Rome dedicated to the honour of St. Peter himself digging the Foundation and carrying away twelve Baskets full of Earth in honour of the twelve Apostles upon his Imperial Shoulders and at his instance many other Churches were built to many other Saints And Ciricius about this time brought in that doctrine of Daemons forbidding the Priests to marry and commanding those that were married to repudiate their Wives urging it from that place