it not For the will it self is under a Law which puts it upon duty and not onely restrains it from sinful volition or nolition And therefore if the will do but suspend its act in whole or in part and thereby let the commanded faculties miscarry I shall yet believe that this is forbidden and a proper sin What if you have a charge of the souls of your flock and you sleep while they are misled Or if you were a Physician and had charge of your patients lives and you fall asleep till they are past recovery are you no sinner and do you not go against the Law Yes you are a murderer For though the thing be not voluntary quoad actum voluntatis it is morally or imputatively voluntary propter omissionem actus If Wolverhampton Papists be fed with such doctrine as this they may well be many but they are unlikely to be good Inconsiderateness which I took for one of the most destroying sins it seems is a notable preservative from sin For be sure you deliberate not and you break no Law of God what ever you do And if there be no Law against Lying except the lyes of the higher strain that are by H.T. excepted no wonder then if Papists be Lyars And can you think it any injury to you if from hence I interptet not onely many of your Historical writings such as the Image of both Churches c. but also much of the jugâ—ing that is in England at this day If you put your selves in the Garbe of Quakers Enthusiasts Anabaptists c. and pretend that you are of their opinions and deny your selves to be what you are as long as you think that these lies are pious and rather honor God then greatly dishonor him and rather do good to others by promoting the Catholike cause then notably injure them can any man say that 's of your opinion that they are against the Law of God And why call you that a venial sin which is against no Law when sin is a transgression of the Law and where there â—s no Law there is no transgression 1 Ioh. 3.4 Rom. 4.15 And why say you â—hat veniam meretur when yet you say that â—aenam aeternam non meretur How can there â—e venia sine merito vel debito paenae What â—eed you any pardon of that which was never â—eserved by you And what need you ask forgiveness of these sins or be beholden to God â—or it if the punishment to be forgiven were never due Will you beg the remission of a debt which is no debt Aquinas makes venial and mortal sin to differ as Reparabile irreparabile because from an inward principle the one may be repaired but the other not without infused supernatural grace But is it ever the less sin because it is reparabile Nay what needs it reparation if it be not a transgression But what is this Reparation that he speaks of Is it the remission of the guilt and punishment No sure for eternal punishment he saith it deserveth not and internal principles do not sure forgive the punishment of sin Can we forgive our selves What is it then Is it the removing of the blot No properly peccatum veniale non inducit maculam as before said Is it that venial sin is easier conquered and forsaken then mortal No sure For Aquinas tells us that a man may live for a little while without venial sin but not long but without mortal sin they may easily live till death What this reparation then is I do not certainly know But whatever it is methinks it should suppose a proper sin and not onely Analogical an a desert of eternal punishment to be remitted And here I must adde that another thinâ— that lately hath much disaffected me to youâ— profession is to see by what actual fraud and jugling it is propagated Do you think I see not the game that you are now playing in the darke in England in the persons of Seekers Behmenists Paracelsians Origenists Quakers and Anabaptists I must confess I naturally abhor collusions and dissimulation in the matters of God If your way were of God it needed not such devices to uphold it nor would it suit so well with works of darkness If you have the truth produce it naked and deal plainly and play above board For my part I do not fear being cheated out of my Religion by any thing but seeming force of Argument for I mean to know what I receive before I take it and to taste and chew it before I let it down but the blind incautelous multitude and half witted giddy persons and discontented licentious half studyed Gentlemen may possibly be caught by such chaffe as this Another of your dissimulations which increaseth my dissatisfaction is Your pretending â—o the ignorant people that you are all of a mind and there are no divisions among you â—nd making our divisions the great Argument â—o raise â—n odium against our doctrine calling us Schismaticks Hereticks and the like When â—ndeed no one thing doth so much turn away my heart from you as your abominable Schism Do we not know of the multitudes of Opinions among you mentioned by Bellarmine and other of your Writers If you call me out to any more of this work I mean the next time to present to the world a Catalogue of your Divisions among your selves that it may appear how notable your unity is If the Jesuites are to be believed what a silly sottish generation are your secular Priests If your Priests are to be believed what a seditious hypocritical cheating packe are the Jesuites I speak not the words of your Protestant adversaries but of those of your own Church Do I not know what Guiliel de Sancto Amore and many another say of your own Church Do you think I never read Watsons Quodlibets and the many pretty stories of the Jesuites exploits there mentioned by him I do not think that you suffer many of your own followers to read these books that are written against one another by your selves But the great division among you that quite overthrows your cause in my esteem is that between the French and Italian in your very foundation which all your faith is resolved into You have no belief of Scripture nor in Christ no hope of heaven you differ not from Turkes and Infidels but onely upon the credit and authority of your Church And this Church musâ— be infallible or else your faith is fallible Aâ— least it must be of sovereign authority And when it comes to the upshot you are not agreeâ— what this Church is One saith it is the Pope with a General Council and another saith it is a General Council though the Pope dissent One saith the Pope is fallible and the other saith a Council is fallible One saith a Pope is above the Council and another saith the Council is above the Pope And now what is become of your Religion Nay is it not
yet living in mortal bodies where they place them as behind the stage that they may be ready to act their parts in the fable oâ— Antichrist To the Article of creation is annexed the Article of providence 1. In this the Papists erre in making mans actions not to depend on Gods Providence but on mans Free-will which they make the absolute Lord of its own actions 2. And that they are not determined of God according to whose determinate Council things come to pass Act. 2.30 4.28 but that God rather who worketh all according to the Council of his will doth follow the determination of the will of man 3. And that he foreknows them from eternity only in mans will 4. Also in that they interpret the action of God as judge punishing sin with sin hardening men giving them over to their lusts and to the temptations of Satan to be naked permission as if the judge or Magistrate might not deliver a malefactor to the hangman as executioner of his judgement to be punished but should not onely permit him to be punished that is not hinder it § 3. Of Redemption IN the Doctrine of Redemption and Salvation we must consider 1. Whence we are redeemed to wit from sin and a state of obstinacy 2. By whom to wit by Christ who is the author and foundation of our Salvation 3. By what means the benefit of Redemption and Salvation is applyed to us where of the Covenant of God the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments 4. The effects of Gods Grace in Christ or the degrees of Salvation which are fruits of the Merits of Christ applyed to us In all these the Papists do filthily erre for as to sin which intercedeth between the works of Creation and Redemption as a medium they teach 1. That the blessed Virgin was free from all sin original and actual as being conceived without Original sin and having lived without actual sin 2. Under the name of the flesh which lusteth against the Spirit and is to be mortified among other things they mean the body of man 3. That all sin is not a transgression of the Law John defineth it 1. Jo. 3.4 Gal. 3.10 nor all transgression of the Law is sin 4. That there is no sin but what is voluntary which is not onely false of concupiscence habitual and actual which goes before the wills consent but of other sins also which are done of ignorance or infirmity for though the actions are voluntary by which they are committed yet the sin is not Sin is original or actual The Papists marvailously â—xtenuate original sin and amplifie and set forth the strength of nature 5. For some of them would have original sin to be only the guilt of Adams transgression most will have it to be onely the want of Original righteousness And so that the state of man after Adams fall and in pure naturals doth differ onely as a stript man and a naked man 6. Others would have it to be a very small sin and less then any venial sin and therefore needeth no repentance nor is punished with pain of sense but onely with pain of loss 7. Others deny original sin to be properly sin or that any thing is found in infants that properly hath the nature of sin 8. That we are not by nature dead in sin but sick nor do they acknowledge in us an impotency to spiritual good but a difficulty nor that Free-will to spiritual good is wholly taken from us but hindred and tyed 9. That men are naturally inclined to love God above all 10. They attribute to man a will that is the Ruler and Lord of it self such as belongeth to no creature Yea they say that the will of man is as free from Necessity as the Will of God 11. They deny the will of the unregenerate to be a servant 12. They deny also that all the works of the unregerate are sins or that the unregenerate sin when they do the works that are commanded 13. They say that before all grace a man hath freewill not onely to works natural and moral but also to works of piety and supernatural 14. That there is in mans free will not onely a possibility or passive power but also an active power to spiritural works 15. That the unregenerate can prepare and dispose themselves to justification 16. That a wicked man by doing his best may congruously merit the grace of justification 17. God necessarily giveth grace to him that doth his best 18. That the efficacy of preventing grace dependeth on the freedome of the will 19. That every transgresgression of the Law which yet pronounceth every man accursed that continueth not in all things commanded in the Law to do them deserveth not death But that there are many sins of themselves and of their own nature venial and deserving pardon 20. That charity is not violated by venial sins and that they are not aginst Gods precepts but besides them 21. That the blood of Christ is not necessary to wash them away but that they may be done away by Holy Water knocking the brest Episcopal benediction and other ridiculous means 22. That sin is called mortal because it brings death upon the soul that is depriveth it of Gods grace 23. And they teach that by every mortal sin grace is lost and charity expectorated 24. That this mortal sin is any that shall obtain the wills consent though the act be not performed 25. That the sins of the regenerate are in the same sence mortal even those committed of ignorance and infimity 26. And that it is such a mortal sin to neglect or not observe any Ecclesiastical law or tradition of the Romane Church 27. That the sin against the Holy Ghost is not unpardonable 28. Nor that its impossible for him that commits that sin to be renewed by Repentance § 4. Of Christ. IN Christ are considerable 1. His Person 2. His Office About his Person he erreth who thinks not rightly of his Godhead or of his Manhood 1. About Christs Godhead those Papists erre that deny Christ to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God of himself for that 's as much as to deny him to be Jehovah About the Humane Nature both Soul and Body they erre 2. For they deny that the soul of Christ did increase in wisdom and grace which Luke expresly affirmeth Luk. 2.52 3. Or that he was ignorant of the day and hour of the last judgement which yet himself confesseth Mat. 13.32 4. They seem to give him a phantastick body that neither consisteth of dimensions nor occupieth a place which when he was born did not open the wombe of his mother and when he rose did penetrate the stone of the sepulchre and when he instituted his Supper lay hid under the Species of Bread and Wine 5. Yea that they may stablish that monstrous opinion
faith which the Apostle calls the substance evidence and full assurance they will have to be doubtful and uncertain 36. Also hope which yet the Apostle commends as an Anchor sure and stedfast and that maketh not him that hopes ashamed § 13. Of Sanctification and good Works 1. THat concupiscence in the regenerate is no sin 2. That the regenerate or baptized may perfectly fulfill the Law 3. That the works of the righteous are simply and absolutely righteous 4. That sins are expiated by good works according to the proverb forsooth he that steals much and gives a little shall escape 5. That good Works do concur by way of efficiency to salvation or are necessary not onely for their presence but for their efficiency 6. And that good works are not onely such as are commanded by God but such as are voluntarily undertaken by men with a good intention 7. That the good works of the righteous not onely justifie but also by way of condignity deserve eternal life both for the Covenants sake and also the works themselves 8. And that that is merit of condignity by which a man indued with grace and the holy Spirit after he hath deserved the habit of love by former merit doth by his good works and their condignity deserve eternal life 9. To the merit of condignity there is required an equality of proportion in the merit to the reward 10. To the good works of the righteous eternal happiness is as well due as eternal sufferings to the sins of the wicked 11. That in every Christian work proceeding from grace the merit of Christs blood is applyed 12. That Christ by his death merited that our works might be satisfactory for sins and meritorious of eternal life or thus Christ merited that by our own merits we might attain salvation 13. That every act of charity or every good work proceeding from Charity doth absolutely deserve eternal life 14. That good works are meritorious of three things viz. of remitting the punishment of increase of grace and of eternal Life 15. That a righteous man may deserve for himself an increase of righteousness by way of condignity 16. Neither do they think they must trust to their own but to other mens merits also 17. That one believer may merit grace for another by way of congruity 1. That a justified and sanctified man may fall from the grace of God both totally and finally and perish for ever 2. That the grace of justification received is lost by every mortal sin 3. The grace of justification being lost by sin yet faith is not lost 4. That faith is lost by every act of unbeliefe 14. Of good works particularly of fasting 1. OF Fasting I have spoken already that the Papists place Fasting in the choice of meats 2. That their fasts are hypocritical 3. And superstitious 4. That fasting even as it is observed by them which indeed is the meer mockery of a true fast is a work satisfactory for sin and meritorious of eternal life they impiously and blasphemously teach 5. Their prayers they pour out not onely to God but to Angels and Saints 6. That we may lawfully and meritoriously beseech and pray the Saints both to intercede for us with God and to give assistance to us 7. They teach men to confess their sins to the Saints that are dead 8. That God reveals our prayers to the Saints which we put up to them and yet that we must go to them as Mediators betwixt God and us 9. They call upon God represented under some figure or shape 10. They mutter their prayers before images saying sometimes the Lords prayer before a picture of the Virgin Mary or of some other Saint and Ave Maries before a crucifix 11 They pray not onely in the name of Christ but also they believe they shall be heard for the prayers and intercession of the Saints 12. Neither do they pray for the living onely but also for the dead 13. That a general intention of worshipping God is sufficient when they pray though they neither understand nor mark what they say 14. They teach their Disciples to pray in an unknown tongue and so without faith without understanding without feeling like Parrots 15. They teach them to number their prayers upon certain Beads and to pay God as it were a task of numbred prayers 16. In which also they teach them mightily to tautologize and to hope they shall be heard for their much speaking 17. They not onely reckon the Salutation of the blessed Virgin and the Apostles Creed amongst their prayers but also teach them to say a hundred and fifty Ave Maries and after every ten Ave Maries one Pater Noster and after fifty one Creed 18. And that prayer even such as they are wont to bable before pictures in an unknown tongue either for the dead or to the dead without faith witâ—out understanding without feeling is a satisfactory work for sin and meritorious of eternal Life 19. Also Almes-deeds to be meritorious and satisfactory § 15. Of Glorification 1. AS to the state of Believers after this life they teach that Heaven was shut till Christs passion 2. That the thief converted on the Cross was the first of all believers that entred into the heavenly Paradice 3. They make three receptacles of Souls after death besides heaven and the place of the damned viz. limbus patrum limbus infantum and Purgatory to which they also adde a certain kind of flourishing light sweet and pleasant Meadow in which they place certain souls who suffer nothing but remaine there for a while because they are not yet fit for the beatifical vision 4. That the souls of the faithful before Christs resurrection were in a subterraneous pit which they call limbus Patrum 5. That the fathers dead before Christs ascension were not happy 6. All little ones dying before Baptism they thrust into limbus infantum to be punished with eternal punishment of loss not of sence 7. The faithful which depart either with venial sins upon them or with the guilt of punishment the sin being before remitted they cast into Purgatory to be burnt there with corporeal fire till they be fully purged 8. That the suffrages of the Church such as the â—â—crifice of the Mass and prayer penal and satisfactory works as Almes-Deeds Fasting Pilgrimages and the like do profit the dead in Purgatory and especially indulgences by which the satisfactory works of others are applyed to them 9. For the Pâ—pe can communicate the prayers and good works of believers to them whence it follows as Albertus said the condition of the rich in this case is better then the poor because he hath wherewithal to get suffrages for him 10. That the Saints in Heaven do not onely pray for the living on earth in particular but also for the dead in Purgatory 11. That the Saints are our mediators and advocates with God understanding our prayers and necessities
and therefore to be called upon to pray for us 12. That the Saints after death do obtain whatsoever they desire of God because they deserved it in this life 13. That their merits do profit us for salvation 14. That the Saints are helpers and coworkers of our salvation 15. That the faithful living are ruled and governed by the Spirits of blessed men 16. That the Saints are to be Canonized by the Pope and being Canonized to be worshiped 17. Therefore we must fly to the Saints in our misery § 16. Of the Church 1. THat the holy Catholike Church that we believe is visible 2. And alwayes is visible 3. That it depends not on Gods election nor on true faith and Charity that one belongs to this Church But even wicked and reprobate men are members of the Catholike Church 4. That the Catholike Church is no other than the Roman or that which the Roman Pope is over 5. That the Catholike Church and the Pope of Rome are the same terms 6. Neither are there any Catholicks but those of the Romish Church 7. That he is a Catholike who believes all that the Roman Church delivers whether it be written in the Bible or not 8. That there is no salvation out of the Roman Church 9. That the notes of universality antiquity unity and succession in the Apostles doctrine do agree unto it 10. That the sincere preaching of the Gospel and lawful administration of the Sacraments are not a certain note of the Church 11. To acknowledge the Roman Pope and to be under him as the Vicar of Christ the onely Pastor the head of the whole Church is a note of the true Church 12. That the particular Roman Church is the Mother Mistris and Lady of all Churches yea the Mother of Faith 13. That the Roman Church did obtain the primacy from our Lord and Saviour himself 14. That the Roman Church hath power of judging all neither is it lawful for any to judge her judgment 15. That the Roman Church hath authority to deliver doctrines of faith without or beside the Scriptures 16. That the Roman Church cannot erre in faith much less fail 17. That the Roman Church cannot erre in interpreting Scripture §. 17. Of the Roman Church The Head viz. The Pope The Members 1. THat the Roman Pope is the head foundation husband Monarch of the whole universal Church the universal Bishop or the Bishop of the whole world 2. That the Roman Pope is the rock upon whom the Church is built 3. The names which are given to Christ in the Scriptures from whence it appears he is above the Church all of them are given to the Pope Vnto this Antichristian throne he ascends by a gradation of most impudent lies such as these 4. That the universal Church cannot consist unless there be one in it as a visible head with chief power 5. Therefore the external regiment of the universal Church is Monarchical 6. That the Monarchy of the Church was instituted in Peter 7. That Peter in proper speech was Bishop of Rome and remained Bishop there untill death 8. That the Pope succeded Peter in the Ecclesiastical Monarchy 9. Neither do they give the Monarchy of Ecclesiastical power but of temporal also to the Pope 10 Neither do they make the Pope Christs General Vicar on earth but Gods also 11. They give a certain omnipotency to him 12. They give him power of deposing Kings and Emperors and absolving their subjects from the oath of fidelity 13. Moreover without shame they defend that the Pope teaching from his chair cannot erre 14. That his words when he teacheth from his chair are in a sort the word of God 15. That the Pope cannot erre even in those things which belong to good manners or in the commands of morality as well as in matters of Faith 16. We must piously believe that as the Pope cannot erre as Pope so as a private person he cannot be a heretick 17. That the chief authority of interpreting Scripture is in him 18. That the Pope is the chief judge in controversies of Religion 19. We must appeal from all Churches to him 20. They give him authority to dispense with humane and Divine Laws 21. They give him power of absolving men not onely from sin but from punishments censures laws vows and oaths 22. Also of delivering men from Pâ—rgatory 23. Of Canonizing Saints and giving them honors that they may be prayed to in the Publike Prayers of the Church that Churches and Altars may be built for their honor that Masses and Canonical hours be offered publikely for their honor and feast-dayes be câ—lebrated That their Pictures be drawn with a certain splendor that their Reliques be put into precious boxes and publikely honored 24. We must believe that the Pope who sometime puts Murderers Traitors King-killers and other Capital offenders into the Calendar of Saints and Martyrs never errs in the Canonizing of Saints § 18. The Members of the Church are considered either as Congregated in Councils or Severally 1. THe office of convocating General Councils properly belongs to the Pope 2 That in no case a true and perfect Council can be called without the Popes authority no not if it be necessary for the Church and yet the Pope will not or cannot call one nor if the Pope be a heretick And therefore that a Council held without the Popes Authority is an unlawful meeting or Conventicle not a Council 3. That 't is the proper office of the Pope that by himself or his Legates he be president of the universal Council and as the supreme judge do moderate all 4. That the decree of a General Council made without the consent of the Pope or his Legate is unlawful 5. That the Power of confirming or rejecting General Councils is in the Pope of Rome neither are the Councils authentical unless they be confirmed by the Pope 6. That the distinction of lawful and unlawful Councils does depend upon his onely will 7. That the sentence of a General Council in a matter of faith is the last judgement of the Church from which it cannot appeal yet that we may appeal from a General Council to the Pope 8. That the Pope can neither be judged nor punished by a Council or by any mortals 9. That the Pope cannot submit himself to the coactive judgement of Councils 10. That the Pope is absolutely over the universal Church and above a General Council so that he can acknowledge no judgement above him 11. We must believe with Catholike faith that General Councils confirmed by the Pope cannot erre neither in faith nor manners 12. That particular Councils approved by the Pope cannot erre 13. That the power of the Pope and Council together is not greater then the Popes alone Turrecrem l. 3. c. 41. § 19. Of the Members by themselves 1. THat to make a member of the Catholike Church there is not required grace or
Baptisme pardoneth it by way of obsignation and solemne conveyance But what is all this to your error that Original sin is not onely remitted but quite extinct or done away out of our natures by Baptisme so that the new baptized Infant is perfectly without any Radical sin as well as without the Guilt of it 4. He saith They say that works do justifie with faith You not Repl. They say that we are not justified by the Merit of Works but by the alone Merit of Christ and so do we We deny not in every sence that we are Justified by Works and not by faith onely for in James his sence we maintain it else we should deny the Scripture The question is not therefore absolutely whether we are Justified by Works but In what sence we are and in what not We say that Christ is the onely Satisfier of Gods Justice and Meriter of Righteousness and that Faith is the onely Receiving Condition and that the Works of the Law that Paul excludeth have no hand in it and that the Works of Grace which James takes in are but conditions without which our Justification begun without them shall not be continued and of our finall Absolution or Justification in Judgement and so are but a Particular and not an Universall or Legall Righteousnesse Of which I have given a full account in my Confession 5. He saith They maintain Freewill even in the best actions You not Repl. Freewill is either 1. Natural which is but its self-determining power with spontaneity and this we deny not For who denyeth man to be man and to have the Facultatem Volendi Or it is 2. Moral and that is 1. Political when a Governor gives the subject leave to do a thing and so we maintain that God giveth our Wills Freedom to all good and to no evil Or 2. Ethical which is nothing but the right inclination and Habits of the will with the absence of the contrary Habits And so we say that the better men are the Freer that is the better are their Wills And the unconverted have not this Freewill nor the converted in perfection till they come to Glory For the Freedom is the Goodness And seeing the Will so far Free Ethically as it is Good Vertuous or Holy the Question then is Whether every mans Will be Good and Holy which I am conceited you will not dare to affirme A covetous man a drunkard â—â— ungodly man is as much or more denominated such from the habite as from the act he is most vicious that is Habitually so To say therefore that such a mans Will is Free in this Ethical sence is to say that he is habitually no covetous man no drunkard no ungodly man no sinner which being contrary to unquestionable experience me thinks should be easily deserted If you know of any thing else called Freewill besides these three before mentioned we should be glad to know it too The natural Essential Freedom viz. A spontaneous self-determining power we all confess The Political Freedome yea and obligation none denyeth The Ethical Freedome that is Vertuous or holy Inclinations in wicked men you will deny your selves where then is the difference between us and either the Greeks or you Why you 'l say perhaps that it s here That we deny the will to have that Indifferency which you affirme as to opposite objects But we are loath to sight with you in the Dark Do you mean by Indifferency an Indifferency of Natural Power or an indifferency of inclination or Habite The first we do not deny The will is a natural faculty that hath naturally no determination to One where many means are propounded but is undetermined and hath a natural Power to determine it self to either But yet you know the Wills Natural Power is exercised according to inclining Objects and Habits And you cannot expect that men who are Habitually inâ—ined earthwards should Will Heavenly things and â—â—nounce earthly things meerly because they have a â—atural Power of choosing for they want that inâ—â—ination which is called commonly the Moral â—ower And I should suppose that in regard of this â—oral Power you will not affirm your selves that he â—ath indifferentiam ad oppositum To say that a mans â—ill is indifferently inclined to Good and to Evil â— to say that the man is habitually neither good nor â—ad unless as privation of due inclinations denomiâ—ate him bad I say the more of this â—ecause I finde others of your party and â—ome that seem to disown both you and us as a late Treatise of Repentance among others can witness â—o harp so much on this string and confusedly talke â—f Freewill before they tell us what they mean and â—o perswade the world that we teach that God hath â—aid such a natural necessity on man to sin as he hath â—o eat and drink and sleep and that God might as well damne men for being hungry or sleepy as for being sinful in our sence As if there were no more faultiness in a vicious disposition of the Will it selfe then in a necessary natural inclination or Appetite of those faculties which were never made to rule themselves but to be moderated by the Will of Reason It may be these men will either deny the truth of the words of the Holy Ghost that They that are accustomed to do evil cannot learn to do well no more then a Leopard can change his spots or a Blackamore his skin or else they will think such men excusable because they are so strongly enclined to evil and so if a man habituated to Lust shall vitiate their wives or a man habituated to malice shall beat them often or maim them or kill their friends they may think that he deserveth 〈◊〉 punishment but pity because he is so bad that 〈◊〉 could not morally that is he would not 〈◊〉 it But they say we teach that mens Wills have a â—â—cessity of sinning imposed on them But we hâ—â—â— learnt that Habites do not determine the Will natâ—â—â—ally nor alway infallibly but leave it free to a â—â—tural self-determination But yet we know that 〈◊〉 ordinarily determineth it self according to predominant habits And there must be somewhat extraâ—â—dinary to procure the Will to determine it self 〈◊〉 good where it is habitually inclined to evil So much may serve to vindicate our Doctrine about Freewill And as for the cause of its captivity it belongs noâ— to this subject to speak of it but to that of Original sin where the said Doctor so notably playes his part to which we shall not now digress The next instance of the Papist is this They iâ—â— the Greeks maintain seven Sacraments you not Repl. 1. This is another very immodest untruth I wonder that men dare venture their souls upon a Religion that must be thus upheld by falshoods Your own Writers before alledged witness that the Greeks deny the very use of confirmation and extreame Unction and how then can they account them Sacraments Nor
may change any thing that God appointeth about Sacraments except the substance And it were well if they would have left that unchanged The Council of Constance took the cup from the Laity Licet in primitiva Ecclesia hujusmodi sacramentum reciperetur a fidelibus sub utraque specie Though in the primitive Church this Sacrament was received of the faithful under both kinds So that they confess they contradict the Primitive Church Bellarmine plainly saith li. 4. de Pontif. c. 5. Si Papa erraret in praecipiendo vitia vel prohibendo virtutes teneretur Ecclesia credere vitia esse bona virtutes malas nisi vellet contra conscientiam peccare That is If the Pope should erre in commanding vices and forbidding virtues the Church were bound to believe that vices are good and vertues bad unless they would sin against conscience And against Barelay cap. 31. he saith In bono sensu dedit Christus Petro Potestatem faciendi de peccato non peccatum de non peccato peccatum That is In a good sense Christ hath given power to Peter to make sin no sin and no sin to be sin compare this doctrine with the Fathers The Glasse in Can. Lector Dist 34. saith Papa dispensat contra Apostolum The Pope dispenseth against the Apostle Innocent 3. Decret de conces prebend tit 8. c. proposuit saith Secundum plenitudinem potestatis de jure supra jus possumus dispensare According to the fullness of our power we can dispense with the Law above Law And the Glosse addeth For the Pope dispenseth against the Apostle and against the old Testament as also in vows and oaths And another Gloss saith The Pope dispenseth with the Gospel in interpreting it More such Glosses you may find if not yet more gross and impious which I 'le not stand to recite Gregory de Valentia Tom. 4. disp 6. qu. 8. p. 5. § 10. saith Et certe quaedam posterioribus tempâ—ribus rectius constituta esse in Ecclesia quam initio se haberent That is And certainly some things are more rightly constituted in the Church in the latter times then they were in the beginning Andradius Defens Concil Trident. lib. 2. pag. mihi 236. saith Vnde etiam liquet minime eos errasse qui dicunt Romanos Pontifices posse nonnunquam in legibus dispensare a Paulo primisque quatuor Conciliis ad Ecclesiam exornandam moresque componendos pro temporum necessitate edictis qualis est illa quae interdicit ut digamos creari ne liceat Episcopos i. e. Whence it appeareth that they did not erre who say that the Pope of Rome may sometime dispense with Lawes made by Paul and the four first Councils for the necessity of the times to the adoring of the Church and the composing of manners such as is that which forbiddeth those to be made Bishops who are the husbands of two wives Cardinal Perron against King James li. 2. Obser 3. â— 3. p. 674. hath a Chapter purposely Of the Authority of the Church to alter matters contained in the Scriptures And pag. 1109. 1115. he saith that When in the form of the Sacraments some great inconvenicies are met withal the Church may therein dispense and alter And that the Lords words Drink yee all of it were a precept not immutable nor in dispensable for the Church hath judged that there may be a dispensation for â—t Bâ—ovius Observ on C. 24. constit Apost saith Ecclesia Romana quae Apostolica utens potestate singula pro conditione temporum in melius mutat i.e. The Church of Rome using Apostolical power doth according to the condition of times change all things for the better Cardinal Tolet saith Cum certum sit non omnia qâ—ae Apostoli instituerunt jure Divino esse instituta i. e. It is certain that all things which the Apostles instituted were not instituted by Divine right And the Council of Trent hath shewed its usurpation of power above Scripture in dispensing with the degrees of Marriage in Lev. 18. 20. adding to what God hath prohibited and relaxing what God hath restrained and that To Great Princes and for a publike cause When they make it sin to other men These and many more of their gross sayings and usurpations against Scripture and above it they have been long ago told of by Jewell Reignolds Whittakers Molinaeus and others and how sleight their evasions are the considerate and impartial may discern I have therefore recited thus much of their words here that you may compare them with the Ancients and then see who are the Changlings and Novelists and who they be that keep to the old Church and Religion And among other ancient Writers I would desire you besides all the forecited to compare the Popish frame with the Directions of Vicentius Lirinensis which he giveth us for the discovery of Truth and avoiding heresie in his book Contr. Haeres Which I the rather mention because I admire that the Papists should be so immodest as to boast so much of him as if he were on their side The sum of his advice to avoid heresie is this 10 Fidem munire Divinae legis authoritate 20 Ecclesiae Catholicae traditione To fortifie our faith 1. By the Authority of Gods Law 2. By the Tradition of the Catholike Church This way he saith he was himself directed to by all the holy Learned men that he enquired of Saepa magno studio summa attentioae perquirens a quamplurimis sanctitate doctrina praestantibus viris quonam modo possem certa quadam quasi generali ac regulari via Catholicae fidei veritatem ab haereticae pravitatis falsitate discernere hujusmodi semper responsum ab omnibus fere retuli cap. 1. Edit Colon. a. 1613 pag. 617. Edit Perionii Lugd. 1572. So that we are given to understand by this passage 1. That this was no private opinion of Vincentius but the common way that was then taken by Holy learned men to discern Truth from Heresie 2. And note well that he doth not once in all the book direct us to the Determination much less to the Inâ—allible determination of the Pope or the Romane Church as the way to discern Truth from Heresie And can any man of common reason that is willing to know the truth imagine that there is the least probability that Vincentius should silence this Romish decision in a Treatise written purposely and onely on that subject and wherein he undertaketh to give us the full and certain direction to avoid Heresies if the Church had then been of the Romanists opinion O intolerably forgetful negligent delusory man that would not give us one word of that which is now the foundation of all and into which our faith must be ultimately resolved What never a word to tell us that whatsoever the Pope or Clergy of Rome are for or against may be known accordingly to be true or false because he is the infallible Head
they reckon amongst penal works 23. Fasting also and Almes deeds they teach to be satisfactory works 24. That one man may satisfie for another but less suffering is required of him that satisfies for another 25. That the satisfactory and penal works of the Saints may be communicated and applyed to others 26. That the vertue of Christs blood is applyed to us by the Priests absolution 27. That by vertue of the Prâ—â—sts absolution eternal punishment is turned into temporal which also the Priest imposes according to his discretion 28. That the words of absolution are not onely a sign but also a cause of remission of sin or that they do effect justification for by the Priests absolution is sin driven away removed ex operâ— operato as a cloud by the wind 29. That a man cannot be reconciled to God without a Sacramental absolution 30. That Sacerdotal absolution hath that force of justifying because many desiring reconciliation and believing in Christ are damned onely because they died before they could be absolved by a Priest or as they otherwise express their meaning do perish for that onely they could not have a reconciling Priest 31. To Papal absolution we refer the Jubilees and their sale of indulgences 32. Also in the year of Jubilee which they have reduced from the hundredth tâ— the fiftyeth and thence to the twenty fifth they promise full remâ—ssion of all sins to those that visit the Temples of Peter and Paul and the Lateran Church 33. They assert that there is a treasure of overflowing satisfactions in the Church not onely of Christ but also of the Saints which the Pope by indulgences can apply both to the living and dead by which they are delivered from the guilt of punishment before God 34. That souls are freed from Purgatory by indulgences 35. They confess there is no need to adde the satisfaction of the Saints to the satisfaction of Christ which they cannot deny to be infinite and alwayes overflowing yet they to whom gain â—s godliness think meet to add them 36. Neither do they bestow indulgences for a few dayes or years but for many thousands of years from whence it is manifest they do but make a jest of the Article of the day of judgement which according to their own opinion will put an end to Purgatory and all temporal punishments 37. To conclude in all their Sacramental penance they make no mention of faith at all and of Christ scarce any 38. For Repentance Penance which they will have to be a plank after shipwrack they say consists on the penitents part in contrition auricular confession and satisfaction on the Priests part in Sacramental absolution as the act of a Judge whose words are I do absolve thee from all thy sins in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost 39. That that is a pious prayer which some are wont to use in Monasteries after absolution given for sin let the merit of the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and the blessed Virgin Mary and of all Saints the Merit of Order and the burthen of Religion the humility of Confession the contrition of heart the good works which thou hast done and wilt do for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ bestead thee for remission of sin and increase of merit and grace and for the reward of Eternal Life Amen § 10. Of extream Vnction 1. THat the extream Unction is truely and properly a Sacrament of the New Testament and indeed an ordinary one 2. That this Sacrament doth confer grace making us acceptable ex opere operato doth restore health to the sick and blot out sins if any remaine 3. That by this Unction which they apply to the eyes to the ears to the mouth to the loynes and to the hands God doth grant to the sick whatsoever is wanting by that fault of the sences 4. That by this Sacrament a man may sometimes be saved who should otherwise plainly be damned 1. That Ordination is truely and properly a Sacrament of the new Law conferring to the Ordained Grace making him acceptable ex opere operato 2. There are seven or rather eight Sacraments of Order all which are truely or properly called Sacraments viz. The Order of Porters of Readers of Exorsists of Servitors of Sub-Deacons of Deacons and Presbyters and Bishops 3. In every one of is given to the Ordained the seven fold Grace of the Spirit yea Grace making them acceptable and that ex opere operato 4. That anointing is required in Ordination Of Marriage 1. That Matrimony though it were instituted in Paradise is truely and properly a Sacrament of the new Law 2. And therefore does confer grace upon the married making them acceptable ex opere operato 3. That the Church has power to constitute impediments that shall hinder marriage 4. That the Church has power to dispense with the degrees of Consanguinity forbidden of God and to make more degrees which shall not onely hinder marriage but break it 5. That marriage confirmed not consummated is also dissolved in respect of the Bond by the entrance of one of the parties into a vow without the consent of the other 6. That the solemn Vow of Chastity and holy Orders are an impediment both hindring marriage to be made and breaking it being made 7. Also difference of Religion does not onely hinder marriage to be made but also break it being made 8. That marriage contracted between Infidels when either is converted to the faith is broken viz. because that marriage was not a Sacrament 9. That the Church of Rome did rightly prohibit marriage of old to the seventh but afterwards to the fourth degree of Consanguinity according to the Canonical rule of reckoning but the fourth degree of Canonical reckoning is the seventh and eighth in the Civil Law 10. The Spiritual kindred which ariseth forsooth from Baptism and Confirmation may hinder marriage to be made and break it being made § 11. Of the Effects of Grace NOw follow the Effects of Grace or the degrees of Salvation such are vocation justification c. 1. Where first the Papists do egregiously erre in expounding the word grace for when the holy Spirit speaking of these effects of Divine grace saith we are justifieâ— by grace and saved by grace c. By grace they understand not the free favour of God in Christ but the gift of grace inherent in us as if the Scripture did not say we are called justified and saved by the same grace we are elected and redeemed by 2. And then when they divide the grace of God into eternal grace which they call the everlasting love of God and temporary such as the benefit of vocation and justification are again they divide this temporary grace into grace freely given and grace making acceptable both which they will have to be a quality inherent in us as if either all grace which they call temporary did inhere in us or that which doth inhere in us
superstition and wil-worship yea meer hypoâ—â—isie or a form of godliness resting in external works and observations 31. They worship God after the commandments of men 32. they defend the ceremonies invented by themselves or taken from Jews or Heathens to be a part of worship pleasing to God 33. And to be observed as the Law of God 34 That their observation deserves remission of sin 35 That no ceremonies appointed by the Church can be omitted without mortal sin nor without scandal 36. That things consecrated by themselves as holy Water Dei's c. have spiritual effects to drive away divels to blot out sins c. 37. They conjure salt yea and herbs and consecrate it that it may be healthful to the mind and body of those that take it 38. They Baptize and consecrate the Bels making them Godfathers to fright away divels and drive away Tempests 39. That their ringing does profit the dead 40. The Chrism being consecrated the Bishop and Presbyters salute it in these words God save St. Chrisma Ave S. Chrisma 41. They give it a power to confer upon the anointed health to the body and holiness to the soul and so the Holy Ghost himself 42. That every Church solemnely consecrated is indued with a divine vertue 43. The many abuses of fasting and prayer I touched before 44. They teach men to swear by the creatures 45. They deny oaths to be fit for the perfect 46. Vows made to the Saints they defend 47. That the Pope can absolve from the bond of vows and oaths 48. They consecrate feast dayes to the worship of Saints 49. And some they consecrate to patronize their own errors as the feast of Conception the feast of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin the feast of Christs body and of Peters chair and of all souls c. 50. That feast dayes are in truth more holy then others 51. They exempt the Clergy from the secular yoke i.e. they exempt Ecclesiasticks both persons and goods from the obedience of Temporal Lords and from their jurisdiction in personals and reals in civil things and criminal and therefore that the civil judge cannot punish Clergy-men 52. That the Clergy is not bound to pay tribute to Princes 53. That the Rebellion of a Clergy-man against the King is not Treason 54. That the Pope can forbid subjects to keep the oath of fidelity to Christian Kings if they be such as acknowledge not the Roman sea 55. That the Pope can absolve subjects from the oath of fidelity 56. That the Pope has power to depose Princes 57. That the subjects of such Princes are bound to obey such a sentence if it be published 58. That if grave and learned men such as the Jesuites especially are shall judge any Prince to be a Tyrant it is lawful for their subjects to overthrow them and if they want power to poison them 59 That the subjects of the most Christian Kings whom they call Lutherans and Sacramentarians are free from all bonds and that they may lawfully destroy their Kings 60. That 't is not lawful for Christians to tolerate a King that is an Infidel or a heretick indeavoring to draw men to his Sect but they are bound to depose him 61. That the ancient Christians did not depose such because they wanted power 62. That the Pope may give the Kingdoms and Principalities and Lordships of all those whom he judges hereticks unto his Roman Catholikes or may adjudge them to those that can lay hold of them 63. That 't is not onely lawful but meritorious to kill Princes that are excommunicated by the Pope 64. They suffer Stews and stoutly defend their toleration 65. They forbid the Clergy to mary 66. That Priest does better say they that keeps a Concubine then he that marries a wife 67. That marriage after the vow of Chastity is worse then Adultery 68. That single life even as it is vowed and practised in the Roman Church is a worship most acceptable to God and satisfactory for sin and meritorious of eternal life 69. That the Pope with a whorish intention makes gain as Leno did by the prostitution of Whores 70. That all faults are sold at a certain price in the Popes Taxe 71. An officious lye they allow of 72. They approve and teach the Mistery of equivocation 73. The act of counterfeiting and dissembling with great men they commend as good and profitable 74. They say Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks 75. That the desires of the will going before assent are not sins 76. Neither is concupiscence a sin in the Baptized 77. That in concupiscence there is onely the evil of punishment not of sin 78. By that command thou shalt not covet it is not forbidden that we have no evil desires I have recited a huge Catalogue of errors to which I doubt not but many more may be heaped up As those which we are refuting in this book about Antichrist By all which it appears that the opposition of the Pope to Christs truth is not a particular opposition as in some hereticks but universal such as we may look for from Antichrist Thus far Bishop G. Downame FINIS * The abominable wickedness of your party even the Romane Cardinals themselves is proclaimed by many that have been your Priests and turned from you as Copley Sheldon Boxhorne and many more saith Sheldon in his Survey of Rome Miracles p. 18. having spoken of the Cardinals Sodomy Believe it Reader the abominations which are committed by these purpured Fathers and the Supream Fathers of that Synagogue are so detestable that they pass all narration either of modest or immodest pen. And it 's long since Petrarch Dante 's Aventine Parisiens Clemangis Sabellicus Grosthead Ferus and more of your own Writers have said enough to satisfie us of your sanctity Many a one that hath been â—iced to Popery in England have been cured by a journey to Rome seeing the abominations of that place Veniale culpa non est sed dispositio ad culpam Reinerius Cont. Waldens ubi infra Armeniorum Ecclesiae Ethiopum jndorum caeterae quas Apostoli converterunt non subsunt Romanae Ecclesiae Reinerius cont VValdens Catal. in Biblotheâ— Par. T. 4. p. 773. * Much contrary to Damascene who saith that the Rebaptized do crucifie Christ again Orthod fid li. 4. c. 5. p. mihi 296. Though I suppose he is as far on the other side * Religion in the first sence seems to be as Martinius propriè actio ejus qui res divinas studiose Relegit pictatis ergo though the word be thence variously used 2 Lactantius saith Instit li. 4. c. 28. Hac conditione gignimur ut generanti nos Deo justa debita obsequia prebcamus hunc sâ—lum noverimus hunc sequamur Hoc vinculo pietatis obstricti Deo Religati sumus unâ—e ipsa Religio nâ—men accepit non ut Cicero interpretatus est a Relegendo Melius id nomen Lucretius
10. Mans will is the Ruler of it self under God and it s fully free from that necessity which is contrary to its natural essential Liberty 11 It is a willful servant onely 12. The matter of their works is oft good but because their end and manner is alwayes wrong therefore they sin in all for bonum est ex causis integris 13. The will is free and not free in several sences 1. It is not free from Gods Government 2. Nor from its natural inclination to good in general and therefore cannot will evil as evil For these were but slavery 3. Nor is it free from the moral force of a darke and erring judgment 4. Nor from temptations 5. Nor from its own vicious disposition till grace free it But it s free 1. From any natural determination to evil or to unknown good in particular 2. And free from coaction or violence 3. And from a physical efficient immediate exterior Determiner in ordinary natural or sinful actions 4. And its free from sinful habites in that measure as it is sanctified 14. No question but the will is potentia activa naturalis or hath such an active power which is imployed in spirituals when it is inclined by a habit thereto but till then will not act spiritually not because the natural faculty is absent but because the inclination without which it will not act is absent 15. No doubt but under the common grace of Christ an unregenerate man may do that which he shall be more disposed to conversion by then also he would have been as our practical Divines all teach and we are fain daily to preach it to our people or else we shall make but ill work with them 16. Many by congruous merit do mean no more then the foresaid aptitude comparative to others 17. This also some Protestants hold But no wicked man ever did his best 18. There is a common grace whose efficacy is laid on the will as Adams was And a special which shall infallibly bow and change the will 19. A self-contradiction to deserve pardon 20. Some sin is but consequentially against love and other sin directly but all is against Gods Laws 21. Who ever denyeth that sin may be done away without Christs blood doth know little of sin or Christ 22. Mortal sin 1. As to merit is all sin 2. As to signification symptomatically it is all sin inconsistent with regeneration 3. Effectually it is all that eventually kills which is in several degrees and sorts 26. O unmerciful men that will dig so many pits then to entrap poor souls in mortal sin 27 28. Many of the ancients also were of this mind of which see my Treat against infidelity Part. 3. 2. Of this see the writings between Dr. Hammond and Mr. Jeanes many Schoolmen say otherwise 6 7. Saints on earth must intercede under Christ for others especially Pastors whose office it is And we may pray them to pray for us But not the Saints departed 10. All Pastors of the Church do hold their office in a subordination to Christs Prophetical Office And many a Prophet there hath been under Christ But none that hath the Office of being the universal infallible Teacher of the Church as the Pope would be 11. All Christians are Priests to God to offer up spiritual sacrifice metaphorically so called And Pastors offer up Christ Representatively Commemoratively and Sacramentally but not really The name Priest is not worth contending about 15. No doubt but Christ merited the glorifying of his own humane nature But that was but consequential to his meriting for us 16. Some of them prosess that by merit they mean but Rewardableness by promise which we maintain 1. It s no Covenant of works in Pauls sence or as Moses Law was But humane Actions are its condition And as all the Ancients use to call it the new Law so it s justly seeing Christ is the King of the Church and it hath the nature of a Law But the promise is the chief part and the moral precepts prescribe no other obedience then they did before in nature But Positives are added 3. In this they have some new friends among our selves 4. So say some Anabaptists 5. I would we could see this in the fruits and proof But de opere operato they are not themselves agreed of the sence 7. His real intention is necessary to make it a lawful administration as to himself but not to others but his seeming intention and their own seeming intention is necessary to the external being of the Sacrament that it be no nullity And the receivers real intention is necessary to the effects and well being of it to himself 8. It is not the name of a Sacrament that we contend about but the nature and definition 9. They know not what to make of this Character themselves many Schoolmen make it to be but a Relation And we confess that Baptism Ordination c. do fix us in a Relation to God 10. They that think it their duty to serve God by such inventions will easily be drawn to think too well of their invented works 1. By nature all are Satans captives which exorcism will not deliver us from 2. This error in case of Necessity some ancients and Councils held 3. Some of them except those that have the toâ—um baptismi none can be saved without the thing signified in Baptism but they may without the sign 4. There is a ground work laid for the pardon of future sins but no actual pardon of them 6. If the Pope were the head of the Church we must needs be baptized into him 7. How comes it then to appear in all as 〈◊〉 as they come to age 8. What goes with iâ— in mâ—st before they come to age 9. In many things they agree and in many they differ more then all confess Of which see Zanchy oft and fully 10. So the Antients thought and I think it the safest way 11 12. There 's no end of humane inventions when once men depart from the Scripture sufficiency and give way to their own self conceitedness and arrogancy 38. This the antient Church used and I should not refuse it either way 1. The word Sacrament is not fit matter for much contention 2. There is some difference in the terminus a quo and ad quem as the Law differeth but not such as to make one a Sacrament and the other none Publike profession of Repentance for open scandalous sins is a needful duty sinfully neglected by us as it is brought to a Sacrament and ceremony with them 3. This is a certain truth but that freewill is enabled and moved by Gods grace 4. Many of them by merit mean but that ex pacto it is the qualification of these to whom God hath promised Salvation 5 6 7 c. In flying from their invented way of Confession we have lamentably wronged the souls of men by disusing so much as Christ hath made our duty and