which be effectual because of Christs Institution and Promise although they be Ministred by Evil Men. Nevertheless it appeartaineth to the Discipline of the Church that enquiry be made of Evil Ministers and that they be accused by those that have knowledge of their offences and finally being found guilty by just Judgment be deposed The Presbyterians The Grace which is exhibited in or by the Sacraments rightly used is not conferr'd by any Power in them neither doth the Efficacy of a Sacrament depend upon the Piety or Intention of him that doth Administer it but upon the work of the Spirit and the Word of Institution which contains together with a Precept authorizing the use thereof a Promise of benefit to worthy Receivers The Papists The Sermons of Hereticks so they term all Protestant Ministers must not be hear'd though they Preach the Truth Their Prayers and Sacraments are not acceptable to God but are the howlings of Wolves The seven and twentieth Article of the Church of England Of Baptism BAptism is not only a sign of Profession and mark of difference whereby Christian-Men are discerned from others that be not Christned but it is also a sign of Regeneration or new Birth whereby as by an Instrument they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church the promise of the forgiveness of Sins of our Adoption to be the Sons of God by the Holy Ghost are vtsibly signed and sealed Faith is confirmed and Grace increased by vertue of Prayer unto God The Baptism of young Children is in any wise to be retained in the Church as most agreeable with the Institution of Christ The Presbyterians Baptism is a Sacrament of the New Testament ordained by Jesus Christ not only for the solemn Admission of the party Baptized into the visible Church but also to be unto him a Sign and Seal of the Covenant of Grace of his ingrafting into Christ of Regeneration of Remission of Sins and of his giving up unto God through Jesus Christ to walk in newness of Life which Sacrament is by Christs appointment to be continued in his Church until the end of the World Not only those that do Actually pro fess Faith in and obedience unto Christ but also the Infants of one or both believing Parents are to be Baptized The Papists Maintain 1. As to the Effects of Baptism That it takes away all Sin The Sacrament of Baptism doth it self wash away Sins and therefore doth not only signifie as the Hereticks affirm That our Sins be forgiven before or otherwise by Faith only remitted whereby the Churches Doctrine is proved to be fully agreeable to the Scriptures That the Sacraments give Grace ex opere operato that is by the force and Vertue of the Work and Word done and said in the Sacrament Not only is all Sin so taken away by Baptism as not to be imputed but it leaves no Sin Inherent nothing that can be imputed as a Sin to those Baptized 2. That Children dying without it are Damn'd The Church hath always Believed that Children perish if they depart this Life without Baptism As no Man can enter into this World nor have his Life and being in the same except he be born of his Carnal Parents no more can a man enter into the Life and State of Grace which is in Christ or attain to Life Everlasting unless he be born and Baptized of Water and the Holy Ghost whereby we see First This Sacrament to be called our Regeneration or second Birth in respect of our Natural and Carnal which was before Secondly That this Sacrament consisteth of an external Element of Water and internal vertue of the Holy Spirit wherein it excelleth John's Baptism which had the external Element but not the Spiritual Grace Thirdly That no Man can enter into the Kingdom of God nor into the Fellowship of Holy Church without it whereby the Pelagians and Calvinists be Condemned that promise Life everlasting to young Children that die without Baptism 3. As to the Minister of Baptism any Person may do it Therefore in case of necessity any Person Man or Woman may Baptize lawfully one may do it be he Jew or Pagan let but the matter and form be right with a due Intention 4. They add and practise several Ceremonies besides the Institution in and about Baptism As That the Priest must Exorcise or conjure the Devil out of the Party to be Baptized and Exsufflation as they call it that is a puffing hard upon the Party to le Baptized in token of outing the Evil Spirit and breathing in the Good in the room thereof putting Holy Salt into his Mouth annointing his Ears and Nostrils and pronouncing the word Epheta thatis be opened Anointing him upon the Crown with Holy Crism of the Bishops own making putting a lighted Taper into the Childs hand and a white Garment on its back to shew that he is translated out of Darkness into Light and denote the purity of his Soul with Several other the like Ceremonies to the Number of one or two and twenty reckon'd up by Bellarmine particularly in his First Book of Baptism Can. 25 26 and 27. All which though they have not the leastWarrant from Scripture they require to be punctually and necessarily observ'd For so their Council of Trent Sess 7. Can. 13. does Decree If any one shall say That the received and approved Rites used in the solemn Administration of the Sacraments may be contemn'd or at pleasure omitted by the Administrators without Sin or chang'd into any new ones by any Pastor of the Churches Let him be Anathema 5. Not yet herewith content They further have prophan'd this Ordinance by applying it to Bells which they Baptize thereby giving them as they imagine a vertue of cleansing the Air from Devils preventing the mischiefs of Lightning and saving from other Calamities that arise from Tempests of which Holy Christening Pope John the 14th hath the Honour of being first Author Sec Centuriatores Magdeburgenses Cent. 10. Cap. 6. 'T is true Bellarmine de Rom. Pontiff l. 4. cap. 12. being half ashamed of this Practice and no way able to find any colour to defend it would shuffle it off by alledging That not the Popes but common People apply the name of Baptism Metaphorically to the Benediction of the Bells with Holy naming of them and Prayers also all which he does acknowledge still in use But that there is or at least formerly was more in the Case appears by the hundred grievances of the Germans exhibited to the Popes Legate no longer ago than since Luthers time by the Princes of Germany at the Dyet of Norimberg where the one and fiftieth grievance is this That the Suffragans have invented that only themselves and none other Priest shall Baptize Bells for the Laity and the ruder People do believe by the Affirmation of the Suffragans that Bells so Baptized will drive away Devils and Tempests Wherefore Multitudes for
of whose Authority was never any doubt in the Church viz. Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalmes Proverbs Ecclesiastes Solomons Song Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi And the other Books as Hierom saith the Church doth Read for Example of Life and Instruction of Manners All the Books of the New Testament as they are commonly Received we do Receive and Account them Canonical The Presbyterians Under the Name of Holy Scripture or the Word of God Written are now Contain'd all the Books of the Old and New Testament which are these Genesis c. just as the Church of England reckons them All which are given by Inspiration to be the Rule of Faith and Life The Books commonly called Apocrypha not being of Divine Inspiration are no part of the Canon of the Scripture and therefore are of no Authority in the Church of God nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other Humane Writings The Authority of the Holy Scripture for which it ought to be Believ'd and Obey'd dependeth not upon the Testimony of any Man or Church but wholly upon God who is Truth it self the Author thereof and therefore it is to be Receiv'd because it is the Word of God We may be mov'd and induc'd by the Testimony of the Church to an High and Reverend esteem of the Holy Scriptures And the Heavenliness of the Matter the Efficacy of the Doctrine the Majesty of the Stile the Consent of all the Parts the Scope of the whole which is to give all Glory to God the full Discovery it makes of the only way of Mans Salvation the many other incomparable Excellencies and the entire Perfection thereof are Arguments whereby it doth abundantly Evidence it to be the Word of God yet notwithstanding our full Perswasion and Assurance of the Infallible Truth and Divine Authority thereof is from the Inward Work of the Holy Spirit bearing Witness by and with the Word in our Hearts The whole Council of God concerning all things necessary for his own Glory Mans Salvation Faith and Life is either expresly set down in Scripture or by good and necessary Consequence may be deduc'd from Scripture unto which nothing at any time is to be added whether by New Revelations of the Spirit or Tradition of Men nevertheless we do acknowledge the Inward Illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are Revealed in the Word and that there are some Circumstances concerning the Worship of God and Government of the Church Common to Humane Actions and Societies which are to be ordered by the Light of Nature and Christian prudence according to the general Rules of the Word which are always to be observed The Old Testament in Hebrew which was the Native Language of the People of God of old and the New Testament in Greek which at the time of the Writing of it was most generally known to the Nations being immediately inspir'd by God and by his singular Care and Providence kept pure in all Ages are therefore Authentical so as in all Controversies of Religion the Church is finally to Appeal to Them But because these Original Tongues are not known to all the People of God who have Right unto and Interest in the Scriptures and are Commanded in the Fear of God to Read and Search them Therefore they are to be Translated into the Vulgar Language of every Nation unto which they come that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all they may Worship him in an acceptable manner and through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures may have hope The Infallible Rule of the Interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture it self and therefore when there is a question about the true and full Sense of any Scripture which is manifold but one it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly The Supream Judge by which all Controversies of Religion are to be Determined and all Decrees of Councils Opinions of Ancient Writers Doctrines of Men and Private Spirits are to be examined and in whose Sentence we are to rest can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture The Papists The Decree of the Council of Trent touching the Canonical Scriptures Session the Fourth The Holy Oecumenical and General Tridentine Council lawfully Congregated in the Holy Spirit the three Legats of the Apostolick See presiding therein considering That the Purity of the Gospel as to Truth and Discipline is contained in Books Written and in Traditions not Written which received by the Apostles from the Mouth of Christ himself or by the Apostles by the Dictates of the Holy Ghost delivered as from Hand to Hand have come down even unto us following the Example of the Fathers does with an equal Affection of Piety and like Reverence receive and regard as well all the Books of the Old and New Testament since one God is Author of both as such Traditions pertaining either to Faith or Manners the same being dictated either Orally by Christ or by the Holy Spirit and Conserv'd by a continual Succession in the Catholick Church and as touching the Books of Holy Scripture that none may doubt which they are which by this Sacred Synod are received an Index of them is annexed and they are as follows Of the Old Testament five Books of Moses that is Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth Four Books of Kings under that name they include the two Books of Samuel two of Chronicles the first of Esdras and the Second which is called Nehemias Tobias Judith Esther Job David's Psalter of 150 Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes the Canticles Wisdom Ecclesiasticus Isaiah Jeremiah with Baruch Ezekiel Daniel Twelve lesser Prophets viz. Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonas Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechary and Malachi and the First and Second of the Maccabees Of the New Testament the Four Evangelists Matthew Mark c. as we reckon them And if any Person shall not receive all the said whole Books with all their Parts as they have wont to be read in the Catholick Church and as they are in the old Vulgar Latin Edition for Sacred and Canonical or knowingly shall contemn the aforesaid Traditions Let him be Anathema or Accursed And the said Sacred Council does also Appoint and Declare That the said old Vulgar Latin Edition which hath by the long use of so many Ages been approved of in the Church shall in all publick Readings Disputations Preachings and Expositions be esteemed Authentick And that none on any pretence whatsoever shall dare or presume to Reject the same And for the restraining of wanton Wits does likewise Decree That no one Person leaning on his own Prudence shall in matters of Faith and Manners pertaining to
are wrought by us they are defiled and mixed with so much Weakness and Imperfection that they cannot endure the severity of Gods Judgment The Papists The Works which we do more than Precept be called works of Supererogation And ' t is evident against the Protestants that there be such Works A reward of Supererogation is given to them that of abundant Charity do more in the Service of God than they be commanded 'T is plain that the fastings and satisfactory deeds of one Man are available to others yea and that Holy Saints or other vertuous Persons may in measure and proportion of other Mens Necessities and Deservings allot unto them as well the Supererogation of their Spiritual Works as those that abound in Worldly Goods may give Alms of their Superfluities to them which are in necessity The fifteenth Article of the Church of England Of Christ alone without Sin CHrist in the Truth of our Nature was made like unto us in all things Sin only except from which he was clearly void both in his Flesh and in his Spirit He came to be a Lamb without Spot who by the Sacrifice of himfelf once made should take away the Sins of the World And Sin as St. John saith was not in him But all we the rest although Baptized and Born again in Christ yet offend in many things And if we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us The Presbyterians Christ the Son of God became Man by taking to himself a true Body and reasonable Soul being Conceiv'd by the power of the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the Virgin Mary of her substance and born of her yet without Sin The Covenant being made with Adam as a publick Person not for himself only but for his Posterity all Mankind descending from him by ordinary Generation sinned in him and fell with him in that first Transgression The Papists For the most part hold and maintain That not only our Lord Jesus but also that the Virgin Mary was without Sin both Original and Actual touching which the Council of Trent thus expresses it self This Holy Synod does declare That in this Decree wherein Original Sin is handled it does not intend to comprehend the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary the Mother of God but that the Constitutions of Pope Sixtus the Fourth of happy memory shall be observ'd under the Penalties therein express'd The better to understand this The Reader must know that about the year 1200 Peter Lombard the Schoolman being very much at leisure began to dispute whether when the Virgin Mary by the Holy Ghost conceiv'd Christ it might not come to pass that she her self might then be cleansed and freed from all Sin and even Original Corruption Observe now how dangerous 't is and into what Absurdities they run that without Scripture will with shew of good Intention advance their own Conceits This which Lombard only disputed some of his Successors in the Schools went further and in short time prest it as an Article of Faith to be believ'd of all Christians That the Virgin Mary was Conceiv'd without Sin And of this Opinion the Franciscans were stout Asserters which was so far countenanc'd by the Pope that by a Bull he caused a Feast to be Celebrated in Honour of such the Virgins Conception But the Dominicans no less vigorously oppos'd this new Doctrine and so all Christendom came into a slame about it each Party charging the other with Heresie To appease which not daring to disoblige either Party he did by another Bull leave it indifferent making either side that should brand the others Notion as Heretical to be liable to Excommunication Which two Orders are the Constitutions here referr'd unto and for the Readers satisfaction that he may see what kind of things they are that must be so observ'd we shall here insert so much of them as is material faithfully translated as follows Pope Sixtus's first Bull. WHen with the search of a devout Consideration we inquire into and revolve in the secrets of our Breast those high and lofty Titles of Merits wherewith the Queen of Heaven the glorious Virgin-Mother of God preferr'd above the Etherial Seats shines as the morning Star far more bright than any of the rest of the Celestial Constellations That she being the Way of Mercy the Mother of Grace and the Friend of Piety the Comfortress of Humane kind the diligent and watchful Oratress that with the King whom she brought forth continually intercedes for the Salvation of the Faithful who are oppress'd with the burden of Sins We cannot but think it fit nay our Duty That all the Faithful of Christ should give Thanks and Praises for the wonderful Conception of the said Immaculate Virgin to Almighty God whose Providence from Eternity regarding that Virgins Humility for the reconciling Mankind obnoxious to Death by the fall of their first Parent again to its Author constituted her by the preparation of the Holy Spirit the Habitation of his only begotten Son who of her assumed the Flesh of our Mortality for the Redemption of his People and yet she after her Delivery an Immaculate Virgin to invite them by Indulgences and Remission of Sins to say and to be present at the Masses and other Divine Services appointed in the Church of God That so by the Merits and Intercession of the said Virgin they may be rendred more apt and fit for Divine Grace wherefore induc'd by this Consideration confiding in the Authority of the same Almighty God and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul We do by our Apostolical Authority and this our Constitution for ever to be in force Appoint and Ordain That all and singular Christians of either Sex who shall devoutly Celehrate or say Mass and the Office of the Conception of the said glorious Virgin according to the Pious Devout and laudable Form and Institution of our beloved Son Mr. Leonard de Nogarolis Clerk of Verona our Notary and which is publisht by our Authority or shall be present at the Canonical Hours on the day of the Feast of the said Virgin Maries Conception and its Octaves as often as they so do shall altogether obtain the very same Indulgence and Remission of Sins as those do who according to the Constitutions of Urban the 4th approv'd in the Council of Vienna and Martin the 5th and others our Predecessors Popes of Rome Celebrate the Mass and Canonical hours on the Feast of the Body and Blood of our Lord from the first Vespers and during its Octaves These Presents to be observed for ever Dated at St. Peters at Rome the third Calends of March in the year of our Lord 1476 and of our Popedom the 6th The second Constitution T IS always very grievous and troublesome to us when ill things are related to us of Persons Ecclesiastick But so much the more sensibly are we provok'd with the excesses committed in Preaching by those who