of our sins sting us look up upon him who was lifted up with healing under his wings and have respect to the fruits of the land of promise that blessed Canaan not being discourag'd by the Gyants of our sins but lift up our hands with Moses strengthned by the two Tables the Commandements of God till we overcome them and having the Corner stone Christ Jesus to support us in our weaknesse who will not fail them who rely on him in all their conflicts with the world the flesh and the Devill we may subdue the enemies of our peace who hinder us in our progresse to the promis'd Land Sect. 16. I may believe him conceiv'd of the Holy Ghost yet may safely neither believe the Popes and some Pontificians nor the conceptions of our Enthusiasticks of the holy spirit I can believe Christ born of a Virgin Mary yet need not believe a Virgin Maries Temple born by Angels to Loretto nor doubting the truth of the Virgins milk with which the Popish Priests impose on the vulgar may impose the stigma of infidel on me and deprive me of the milk of the word of truth He who had respect unto her humility will not have respect unto them who too much humble her since the glory of Heaven overshadow'd and the Bridegroom of our souls shined forth from the closet of her womb Nor exalt them who her that was humbled in her own eyes exalt in theirs above their Creator Casheer his name to admit hers in the Psalter while an Ave Mary can bring a Te deum Laudamus out of fashion and Christ himself must stil be in pupillage May we all provide innocent spotlesse and Virgin hearts for a Saviour to be born in so that we all may have by the overshadowing of the holy spirit a right Conception of him whose Conception could not be without it and be accounted for the mother and brethren of the Lord while wee do the will of his Heavenly Father Sect 17. I could wish that Christ still suffer'd not under a Roman Governor but instead of a Pilate he would be a good Pilot no longer steer by the gales of profit or the Whirlewind of ambition which may ingulph the bark of the Church into an Abysse of misery but calming the troubled Sea of his own lusts into moderation the winds of error and waves of false Doctrine may cease and the leaky vessell of the Roman Church by the pump of Faith and sincere repentance may arrive at the Haven of eternall security in vain like Pilat he may seek to wash his hands from the guilt of Christs blood while he can embrue them in the blood of Christians and suffer his Polemicks to plant thorns on Christs brow spinous questions and with the mock pageantry of state make Christian Religion ridiculous to Jew and Gentile Neither the Clergy though their name implies lot should as relative to their name and Christian warfare Souldier-like cast lots for Christs Coat neglecting internall purity quarrell about the supervesture externall ceremonies of Religion while their tongues sharp as spears pierce Christs sides through their brethren who is still crucified by Jews and betwixt theeves who rob Gods word while we apprehend examine accuse condemn shame and crucifie one another when we should rather crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof as pride envy malice and contention conforming our selves to the Image of a crucified Saviour and not to the crucifyers of a Saviour by our vices since some truths though seemingly precious are not so plac'd in competition with Christian-charity peace and communion with all who are fellow-members of Christs body Wee must relinquish that which is valuable rather then him who is above all value while dissention can renew his wounds in his members Dull phlegmatick and Plebeian constitutions are not only subject to paralytique but even apoplectick distemperatures sometimes they tremble and discompose Religion in their jealous furies and sometimes are superstitious and supine and stupid in trivial and ridiculous fooleries Resembling Apes and Dotterells more apt to imitate mops mows and gesticulations then vertues while others are madder then those who are asham'd of humanity because Apes have some resemblance with humane nature Sect 18. Cannot any one be perswaded Christ descended not into Hell since a S. Cyprian averrs this Article neither in the Roman or orientall Symbole and Tertullian takes no notice of it and Shâ—ol and his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 implies the grave without descending thither May I leave the works of Hell pride malice and uncharitablenesse by works of light treat with God where he is in Heaven by believing Christ was in Hell will not much advantage me in the way to Heaven though my uncharitablenesse to a misconceiving brother may warp me toward Hell Hell is described by the valley of Hinnom where sacrific'd children weak ones in Christ while their tongues are kindled at Hell fire who with trifling differences make schisms in the Kingdom of Gods Church and Communion which Saints should have for the service of Christ their King the Lords anointed against the powers of darknesse Sect. 19. May not any one believe in the Holy Ghost though hee should not phancy the picture or the sencelesse story of the Doves want of gall or the holy spirits non-appearance in that shape but onely hovering like a descending Dove Oh doubt the infallible pontificiall and enthustiasticks spirit one being repraesentative of the other where murder revenge Adultery and treasons are Cohabitants and by a necessary illation must passe for the fruits of that all-disposing spirit consecrate impiety and make villany precious while God himself must be introduc'd witnesse to a lie May we have the innocency of Doves in our Conversation the mourning of Turtles in the sorrow for our sins and a delight in the streams of life the holy Scriptures as the Dove in the waters finally all the resemblances with the Dove which imitate the gifts of the holy Ghost that the holy spirit may dwell in us which is pictur'd in the shape of a Dove Sect. 20. Wil it not suffice to believe a holy Church and not to believe in it since a Saint Cyprian informs me God is onely to be believ'd in or believe not a Church or Christian can be out of the Catholick Church since all men and Churches make up but one Catholick and the notion of Catholick introduc'd in opposition to the Jewish Church may not as oppositely be oppos'd to the Roman who like Jews presume a monopoly of Gods mercy the light of ages light of nature supernaturall light of Scripture must onely shine in their dark lanthorns and all blind who believe things not onely above reason but against it while a part must be greater then the whole a particular Church the Catholick resembling the mad-man who lived in a Sea-port town called all ships his own which arived at the haven All Bishops who have either writ appealed or communicated with
world Sect. 52. I cannot be so much an Iconomachist as to think all image making Idolatry it 's eminently true of graven and molten which after the câ—remonies of consecration was by the Gentiles conceived bodies of inspir'd Deities Pictures by Gods own appointment lawfull as the cherubims or if unlawfull to the Jewes the commandment is as little relative to Christians as the Sabbath as little understood as the taking Gods name in vain meant by forswearing Yet he who keeps the seventh day to praise God for the Creation as the first in memoriall of the Redemption or he who is so farre from using Gods name in vain by forswearing it as he will not misuse it in vain conversation or hates so much an Idol as his eyes will not treat with a picture I honour him for his zeal I wish I could as well commend him for his charity and not misapprove him for his ignorance We should not offend weak ones yet some are so weak that all things offend them madder then he who perswaded himselfe he was made of butter the sunshine of the Gospell terrifies them and the least scintillation of charity seems dangerous Others have the weaknesse of children whom nothing but rattles and pictures will please take away these they grow querulous baul and disquiet the whole houshold of faith Sect. 53. The braâ—en Serpent the emblem of our Saviour curing the stingâ— of the fiery Serpents our sins while we wander in this wildernesse of error may be erected But if the old Serpent creeps into the body and tempts to Idolatry a Monk like an Idols Priest can give responses from a rood and make it move by a wire to induce a puppet-play in religion a prestò be gone befits both the Jugler and his Hocus had not foure Councels condemned them and a jury of Fathers Basils and Eusâ—bius testimonies on their side mistook Athanasius Chrysostoms and Damasus suffrages for them suspected therefore with Saint Hierom nos unam tantum veneramur imaginem Jesum nempe Christum qui est imago patris Though Basil saies the honour due to the abstract is due to the pattern if any one can show such an image of Christ as Christ is of the Father we will worship else we may believe with the Father Errare omnino meruerunt qui Christum non in divinis codicibus sed in parietibus quaerunt Or as Irenaeus saith where Pastors became dumb there Images became their Pastors These books of the unlearned though made use of by Paulinus Bishop of Nola since wooden Priests leave the rabble as unlearned as their books it is better the images of Christ be defac'd in Churches then the image of Christ should be defac'd in the people which should be the Temples of the holy Spirit But if any be lawfull sure the picture of the Father cannot being a piece of intollerable folly which in our fecunditie of sects may tempt a weak brother to reimbibe the humour of an Anthropomorphite God who loves decency in his spouse is so jealous of his honour in her that he cannot approve that fucated face of Religion which may shame honesty out of countenance This Italian wash and Spanish die disfigures the face of Religion whose grace is simplicitie What Caesar of his wife can we believe Christ should expect lesse of his spouse to be free not only from crime but even suspicion Sect. 54. Superstition which makes such a noise the worshiping of Daemons or Superstitum Cultus the worship of the survivor to dead mens souls as little as Idolatory an Image inspir'd by a Devill hath relation to Christians the part of that commandment which forbids adoration bowing down or corporall worship to an Idol seems to intimate a tribute due to God the worshipping God in spirit and truth plac'd in opposition only to that in the Mountain and Jerusalem impugns not this who redeem'd both body and spirit expects reverence from both Our spirits not lesse such by corporeall allegation even corporall worship is in spirit and in truth Henry Burtons Jesu-worship Idolatry prov'd the ridiculous non-conformist an Idolater who could Idolize his own fancy Most of our Polemick Divines more Andabâ—tarum pugnant their valour proceeds from their ignorance hacking and hewing fellowes which play prizes with the two eâ—g'd sword of Scripture and care not how they maim and mutilate Christian communion rather then not retain the aery name of Masters in the science of defence Yet the decryers of Idolatry are the greatest Idolaters covetous persons who would be gilded o're with promotion and made worshipfull like petty theeves they care not what hedges they break so they may warm their own fingers take away the fences of the Church to fence their own broken fortunes Ceremonies are the hedge that fences the substance of Relgion from the indignities which prophanes and sacriledge too frequently put on it While the divines of England have preached down ceremonies they have pulled up the hedge and not only let in Foxes into their Vinyards but opened a gap for the sheep to wander out of pasture of the Church and become a prey to Romish wolves seducing thâ—m in sheeps cloathing It is true that interâ—all worship of the heart is the greatest service of God but externall worship of God in his service is the great witnesse to the world that our hearts stands right in the service of God take away this and what light is there left to shine before men that they may see our Devotion like a day-spring from above or a starre guiding wise men to Jesus and glorifie our Father which is in heaven The Kingdome of heaven his Church without civill order and comlinesse religious exercises will be disorderly and confused like the first Chaos God made in the beginning void and without form and whose face darknesse covered Sect. 55. That Romanists deny Christs humanity by transubstantiation make irrite his death by merits and satisfaction Credat Judaeus Apella non ego Christian charity will lend me no such deductions A Chrysostom Theodoret Isychâ—us Eucheâ—â—us and some Primitive Fathers with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if not a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 transfiguratioÌ„ conversion mutation translation transelementation transition if not a transubstantiation generally believed a mysterie a matter of faith not sense to be believ'd not grosly phancy'd if they have lent soÌ„e an occasion of error shall administer to me an occasioâ— Charity though both within and without the pale of the Church it may afford opportunity to scandall not to be redeemed by a fictitious miracle of an Hoasts conversion into flesh when Christs body is no longer present then the form of bread remains how is Christs body in the miracle when the Species being gone it is no longer a Sacrament I love not such acute disputing about Christs body as the killing of 1000. in a battell and at Beziers 60000. how can we not dread Christs appearance who singe his Livery
if it be confirmed by the Pope it cannot be confirm'd till finish'd if finish'd it hath err'd or not err'd if err'd the Pope ought not to confirm falshood if not err'd it was truth before he confirm'd it and at best his assent is but signum pro causa or a Councell must be either infallible by the means or the prophetick part the conclusion the means humane learning fallible meanes may have fallible effects or if by the conclusion the spirit makes no use of meanes they must either make means uselesse or open a gap for Enthusiasts to ruffle the Church Where two or three are conven'd Christ is in the midst of them to concede what he shall think fit for them not they fit for themselves a generall Councell may bee supposed not to erre led by the spirit of truth in Scripture and not presuming to lead both spirit and Scripture no Father having to deal with Hereticks intitled Councels infallible The letters of Bishops according to Saint Austine may bee disputed by more learn'd Bishops nationall Councells by plenary and even plenary may be amended the former by the later that onely which is found in Scripture may be neither doubted nor disputed The comforter shall abide with them and lead them into all truth viz. the Holy Ghost that lead the Catholick Church not into all curious truths in or about the faith but all truth necessary to salvation in which the Catholike Church can't erre for if it could erre it could not bee holy Sect. 67. Now let us peruse a little of the Elixir of the Fathers which some Pontificians sure rightly understood would turn al into Catholike Gold in which we may believe them but never that it is able to convert one intelligent man to be a Papist Illa Ecclesia quae fuit omnium gentium jam non est periit apostavit hoc dicunt qui in illa non sunt O impudentem vocem illa non est quia tu in illa non es vide ne tu ideo non sis nam illa erit etiamsi tu non sis O vocem abominabilem detestabilem c. hanc praevidit spiritus Dei ecce ego vobiscum sum usque ad Consuminationem seculi Sed forte ista civitas quae mundum tenuit universum aliquando evertetur absit Deus enim fundavit in aeternum si Deus fundavit in aeternum quid times ne cadat Portae inferorum non praevalebunt contra eam quod si non credâ—s verbo ipsis operibus crede Multo facilâ—us mâ—hi persuaderem Christo non esse credendum quam de illo quidquam nisi ab his per quos credidissem esse credendum Deus posuâ—t in sole tabernaculum suum qui contra Lucernam in candelabro positam oculos claudunt quid amplius dicturus sum quam caecos esse Quomodo impurâ—ssâ—me Diabole Ecclesiam te posse putas deâ—jcere adulterari non potestâ— sponsa Christi incorrupta est Pudica est domum unam novit unius cubiculi Sanctitatem casto pudore custodit Hoc Ecclesiae proprium est ut tum vincat cum laeditur tum intelligatur cum arguitur tum obtineat cum de seritur Haec ergo navis Ecclesia est quae si quotidie saeculum istud tanquam aliquod pelagus fortiter infestum nunquam elidâ—tur ad saxum nunquam mergitur ad profundum super petram fundata Ecclesia nullâ tempestate Concutitur nullo turbine ventisque subruitur Quorsum haec what a flood of Fathers is here without a drop of reason who ever deny'd God would have a Church spread ore the face of the Earth yet this implies that the Roman is only Catholick a Monopoly of heaven and mercy by usurpation of the name or because the Rivers of life shall not cease while time flowes to stream in the Citty of God his holy Catholick Church they lose their current if they stream not in the channells of Romish phancies Who would not with Saint Austin rather believe nothing of Christ then the Gospell of Peter Bartholomew Nicodemus the Acts of Paul and Tecla c. ridiculous figments of giddy heresie where the Devill in an Angell of lights shape would have brought darknesse in fashion this implies not sure we must not believe the true Gospell without it is maâ—gin'd with Pontifician notes and fenc'd with profit-angling baits of phanatick interpreters Gods Tabernacle is in the Sun and he hath a Church like the Sun shining with light and eminent in vertues who see not this light in a candlestick or so great a mountain as Gods Church Christianity more eminent then all other Religions with the Father I could call them no lesse then blind I should think them hallucinate could not see through the disfigurements of truth and veils of ceremonies a face of Religion in the Romish Church but desperately blind could see no other and after he had received the phantasticall garb would shut his eyes and think it immodesty to view poor truth naked I may believe with Saint Cyprian the Devill cann't deject the spouse who leaves not Christs bed to lie with Adonis or exchanges Christianity for Paganism the joyes of his Spirit for the salt waters of Mundan complacencies or the pure streamâ— of life for polluted puddles of phanatick interpretations I can assent to Saint Hilary Persecution is the Churches seed to Saint Ambrose the Church is a Ship secure in storms to Saint Hierom a Rock which windes nor waves move Yet believe these sayings have no other relation to the Roman Church then the Roman hath relation to the Catholick Church by being part of the whole body of Christianity of which Christ is the head Sect. 68. Papists while they bring in the Fathers in vizards may terrifie some weak ones but the vizards once pluckt off from the faces of the Fathers the children whom they have afrighted dare play with them and wise men conclude the cause not honest which needs a disguise since the confines of truth is to be naked Ignatius called the Roman Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most chast and Metropolis of the Region of the Romans and wishes those things may be firm which they teach May the Roman Church be firme to what it then taught and then may all firmly believe what she teaches and though not in a power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Ignatius was ignorant of but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which he mentions be President Polycarp communicated with the Roman Church though disagreed about Easter was content to passe over rather a trifling formality then renounce his charity who instructs us nothing of their Roman power may instruct us in the power of Godlinesse not to relinquish Christian communion for triviall observances Irenaeus praises the Roman faith succeeding with Episcopacy yet oppugns Victor sure he dream'd not of Pontificiall infallibility Saint Cyprian saies the Romans are such to whom