were put over them for their rule and direction they might be perfectly join'd together in the same mind and same judgment 1 Cor. 1. 10. That they might be preserv'd in the Unity of Peace and be no more Children rossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine Ephes 4. 14. And that the People or Flock might have no scruple or solicitude upon them for fear of being led into Error by these Apostles and Pastors but might securely and without anxiety of Spirit rest under their Guidance and Direction Christ did most solemnly promise the said Overseers the Apostles and Pastors the assistance of his Holy Spirit I am with you always even unto the end of the world Mat. 28. 2c The Comforter the Holy Ghost shall teach you all things Jo. 14. 26. By which effectual Promise they were constituted Guides were taught all Truth and all those secur'd from Error who committed themselves to their Instruction The Catholic Church being thus constituted and ordian'd by Christ himself and provided with Apostles and Pastors divinely assisted for the instructing the Flock in the Mysteries of the Christian Faith with an obligation on all that heard them to believe upon pain of damnation He that believeth not shall be damn'd Mat. 16. 16. it is certain that all such as did separate themselves from the Communion of the Apostles either by contradicting or disbelieving their Doctrine or being refractory to their Government did in this most heinously offend the Divine Majesty and exclude themselves from the hopes of Salvation the former by rejecting the true Faith without which 't is impossible to please Him Heb. 11. 6. the latter by disobedience resisting the Ordinance of God They that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13. 1. 2. This was the Face and Constitution of the Church of Christ in the time of the Apostles Salvation being promis'd to those that believ'd He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and Damnation threatned to disbelievers He that believeth not shall be damned Mar. 16. 16. So that 't was no Uncharitable but a most Evangelical Assertion in the Evangelist to say The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Act. 2. 47. And the declaring that there was no Salvation out of their Church was nothing but a necessary Doctrine The Church being thus by Christ himself founded the Pillar and Ground of Truth 2 Tim. 3. 15. consisting of Pastors and Teachers to instruct and of the Flock under an indispensable obligation of receiving and Submitting to their Instruction it was so to continue to the end of the World Christ's Spirit being to abide with her for ever Jo. 14. 16. The Promise of his assistance being not limited to the Persons of the Apostles but annex'd to their Function As therefore St. Paul when he left Ephesus Act. 20. 28. appointed others to oversee and rule the Flock with their Commission from the holy Ghost So he and the other Apostles when they departed this Life had others to succeed them for the Direction and Government of the Faithful And as those who cut themselves off from the Communion of the Apostles incurr'd the guilt of Damnation by unavoidably in so doing erring in Faith or Disobedience so likewise all those who separated from the Communion of their Successors it being at all times most certainly true that there was no true Faith nor true Charity in any that separated themselves from the Doctrine and Government of the Church of Christ over which the Apostles were Overseers and Rulers for their time and their Successors to be so after them to the end of the World. This as to the Apostles is evident from the severe censure of Deceivers pronounc'd against all those who endeavour'd to make Divisions in their time Ephes 4. 14. where they are said to work by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive And 2 Tim. 2. 18. Such as dissented from the Apostles are condemn'd for erring concerning the Truth and overthrowing the Faith. And Tit. 3. 11. They are said to be subverted and in sin and to be condemn'd of themselves And as to their Successors the Practice of the Primitive Church in the time of her confess'd Purity is a most convincing Argument there being none that in the first three or four Centuries ever separated from them either in point of Doctrine or making Schisms tho under the most colourable pretext of Reforming Errors or rejecting Innovation but were declar'd Innovators as men to be avoided as cut off from the Mystical Body of Christ by the Pastors and Overseers then in being The Rule of St. John 1 Joh. 4. 6. being always the standard-Measure of the Church He that knows God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error Here then 't is evident that the Catholic Church in the time of the Apostles as also of their Successors was the Depository of the true Faith and that to dissent from her in Faith was to fall into Error to divide from God He that hears you hears me and he that despises you despises me Luke 10. 16. If he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen and a Publican Matth. 18. 17. and consequently no Promises of Christ nor Salvation to be expected by such who were not of her Communion This same One holy Catholic Church he believes to have continued in all Ages it being at all times true what has been always said by the Faithful in the Creed I believe the holy Ca-Cholic Church and that 't is to remain to the end of the World assisted by the Spirit of God and preserv'd from teaching errors according to the Promise of Christ Matth. 28. 20. Joh. 14. 16. So that as then so now at this time there is a Church succeeding that of the Apostles which teaches all Truth and from which none can separate without erring in Faith or incurring the guilt of Schism Sins altogether inconsistent with Salvation And because after most serious Considerations and the weighing of all Reasons he believes this Church to be that in whose Communion he is he do's not question but what is truly affirm'd of the Church of the Apostles and succeeding Ages and those that fell from it is most true of the same Church now in being of which he 's a Member and of all those who separate from it upon what pretext soever And however this may be painted out for Vncharitablenss yet 't is certainly the very Doctrine deliver'd by the Apostles and the Practice of the Primitive Church And when the worst has been made of it yet still he do's not come short of Dr. Tillotsons Charity for notwithstanding all this yet so much Charity he has and he desires always to have it as to hope that a great many of other separate Perswasions who live piously and have been
set forth with the Memories of such Eminent Persons who by a singular Favour of Heaven have been made chosen Vessels for the Propagation of the Religion there profess'd or have sealed the Truth of the Doctrine there delivered with the Effusion of their dearest Bloud This God himself did in a manner direct and approve when filling Bezaleel and Aholiâ—b Exod. 35. 31. with the Spirit of God in Wisdom in Vnderstanding and in Knowledge He Inspir'd them to make Two Cherubims of Gold Exod. 37. 7. on the side of the Mercy Seat openly declaring by this Fact the best Ornaments of his Seat and House here on Earth to be the Images Pictures and Representations of those Divine Spirits who are continually finging Praises to him before his Throne in Heaven This he was pleas'd to suggest to the Jews tho so prone to Idolatry and why should Christians be so Squeamish as not to follow when the Finger of God himself is giving Direction not in any Ceremony particularly relating to that People but in the Ornament of that Place which by his own Order was consecrated to his Presence and Service But 't is not all Christians even of Those Separated from the Communion of his Church that wholy disallow of this Practice there are several degrees amongst them as to this particular The Lutheran Protestants have their Altars and Church Walls set out with the Images and Pictures of the Apostles of the Virgin Mary of Christ upon the Cross c. Other Protestants who think the best temper of Religion to be in the Compounding Luther and Calvin together dare not go so far and therefore instead of Christ and his Apostles expose only two Saints of the old Law Moses and Aaron in their holy Places admitting generally too the Judaical Ornament of the Ark some Cberubims over their Church doors and Windows but nothing of a Cbristian Representation besides a Modern Sainted Queen This is in such Churches where the Clamours of the Croud overrule where nothing more of Cbrist must appear for fear of offending tender Consciences with the looks and smell of Popery whilst yet in other Places as in some Cathedrals and Vniversities where the People don't awe the Clergy where the Charge of Popery is neglected and the Walls and Windows not left as naked as senceless Fears would have them Cbrist and his Apostles stand with as much Veneration as Moses and Aaron elswhere and a Primitive Martyr is as becoming an Ornament as Queen Elizabeth And this seems so reasonable to some true Sons of this Church that they think nothing more suitable to their Retirement where they design to converse with Heaven than a Crucifix thâ— this Practice some think fit to wave for fear of raising Jealousies in their Family and becoming the talk of the Neighbourhood And this which he sees thus approv'd by many and practis'd by some Protestants he owns and declares for the allow'd and establish'd Practice of his Church So that to be a Papist in this particular is nothing more than to think the Pictures of Christ of his Apostles and Saints to be as ornamental in a Cbristian House as others of Relations Benefactors or Emperours c. And not to joyn hands with him who broke in pieces the Image of Christ upon the Cross while he left those of the Two Thieves stand untoucht 'T is to look upon the Cross or Crucifix as proper in a Church to shew that that Place and Congregation belongs to Christ as the Lion and the Vnicorn or Kings Arms to Intimate that they own the King as Supreme Governour 'T is to esteem the Apostles and Martyrs as fit to have place there for preaching the Gospel there deliver'd and ratifying it with their Bloud as Moses and Aaron for publishing the Commandments or as Queen Elizabeth for establishing the Religion by her Statutes As he is a Papist therefore he cannot have a good Opinion of those who love all sorts of Pictures whether of Relations Landskips Monsters Dogs or Devils but can brook nothing of Christ or his Mother who with Satisfaction enough can Admit of Mahomet Luther Calvin a suffering Russel or Sidney The Saviour of the Nation any Prophane or Immodest Picture whatsoever but presently turn Stomach at the sight of the Worlds Redeemer upon the Cross at any Passage of Christs Passion or sacred Mystery of our Religion represented in Colours No better Christians can he esteem those who cannot endure to be without their Signet to shew their Family who cannot see their Shops or Sign-Posts without the Arms of the Company they are Free of who must have their Scutcheon over their Hall doors to publish the Corporation they belong to and yet can allow of nothing to shew they are Christians who can see Crosses on their Houses and Walls both private and public on their Signs Barges their Ships and Colours as often as you will to speak them belonging to Citizens but a Cross to declare themselves Christians they repute as intollerable These he cannot much esteem for their Christianity as to this Point since he sees they are ashamed of nothing but what is to shew them to be Christians Secondly as to what concerns the Respect and Veneration He shews to Sacred Images of Christ his Mother or Apostles c. he does nothing but what Nature and Reason oblige him too and to explicate what this is he needs no more than declare that as a Loyal Wife who has a tender Love and sincere Respect for her Husband cannot chuse from the pressing Impulse of innocent Nature but have a Love and Respect for his Picture and expresses that Love by kissing it and hanging it at her Breast in the same manner He having a hearty Love and true Honour in his Soul for his Blessed Redeemer Apostles and Martyrs of Christ cannot hinder the irresistable force of Nature from having a Respect and Honour for their Pictures and this same Respect he expresses by kissing them placing them in his Oratory the Church c. Again as Christians Honour and Respect the Bible above all other Books and tho it be made of nothing but Paper Ink Leather Pastboard like all other Volumes yet because the Stroks of that Ink are so order'd and joyn'd in that Paper that they Signifie and Represent to him the Doctrine and Passion of Christ c. for this Reason they cannot chuse but Love and Respect and Honour this Book and if in reading and perusing it any more devout than the rest express these Sentiments of their Souls by kissing it never taking it into their Hands but with an awful Reverence with their Heads uncovered and on their bended knees they do nothing but to the Honour and Glory of God and what may without Superstition or Suspicion of giving Idolatrous Worship to the Paper or Ink of that Book be paid to that Sacred Volume and what has been the Practice of many holy Christians and Saints Upon the same Account and for the
Doctrine it is taken ill of them when they disclaim all such Tenets 't is call'd a Clamour and a Noise when they justifie themselves in Protesting against such false Imputations And if they say they are fouly Misrepresented this draws out a Vindication in a Postscript to sink the dirt in deeper For his part 't is no satisfaction to him to be engag'd in Disputes or Quarrels But yet he confesses he can no more forbear crying out when he sees Dirt unworthily thrown at his Religion than if it were cast in the Face of his Dearest Relations his Father or Mother and therefore he must needs say that if he finds any one dressing up a Papist to the Multitude as a Monster and shewing his Horns and cloven Foot to the Crowds he cannot stand by in silence but will cry out A Cheat A Cheat with endeavours to find out who the cloven Foot belongs to But however he could heartily wish there were no occasion for this that there were more Charity in the World and when Men speak of their Neighbours Faith and Religion that they would be truly serious and not think it a less Crime to cast an Aspersion in this particular than in other Concerns of their Good Name and Reputation he that wrongfully defames him for a Thief only injures his Person and at most his Family But he that casts an Infamy upon his Religion wrongs Millions and abuses the Multitude into a false Perswasion that upon this score 't is now more a Christians Duty to hate than to love one another The Divisions and Animosities amongst Christians at this day are but a sad Spectacle And God knows how far the Passionate Exaggerations and Rash Charges upon others Faith and Religion have been an Encouragement to these Evils He heartily wishes there were some Moderation in this Particular It being no Commendation to Christianity that her Members like the Canibals of America have no other way of Thriving than by Devouring each other nor a good Argument of the Truth of any Perswasion because they can make the greater Devil of their Neighbour But the Catechist in his Postscript will convince his Reader that the Papists Pray to Images For why says he do they direct their Prayers to them As they do to the Cross which they Salute after this manner Hail O Cross our only Hope c. But this shall be the Subject of our Next Publish'd with Allowance LONDON Printed by Henry Hills Printer to the King 's most Excellent Majesty for His Houshold and Chappel 1686. THE PAPIST Misrepresented and Represented SECOND PART CHAP. II. Whether Papists pray directly to the Cross as is positively asserted by a Protestant with an Essay of a Heathen-Catechism after the Copy of the Truly-representing Protestant-Catechism in which this Calumny is publish'd THe Papist Misrepresented does not only ascribe peculiar Vertues to the Cross praying that God would make the wood of the Cross to be the stability of Faith an increase of Good Works the Redemption of Souls as the Pontifical has it in Bened. nov Cru But they Pray directly to it saluting the Cross after this manner Hail O Cross our only Hope in this time of the Passion Increase Grace in the Godly and blot out the Sins of the Guilty in which very words they directly pray to it in the Hymn of the Passion which is in the Public Office of their Church Catech. tru repres Q. 46. Postsâ—r THe Papist Represented confesses and believes God to be the Fountain of all Goodness to be the Centre of all Vertue Power and Wisdom and that there is no Good whatsoever whether Spiritual or Temporal can arrive to him but what is to come immediately from God the Father through the Merits and Passion of Jesus Christ his only Son Our Redeemer Blessed for ever more in the Vertue of the Holy Ghost the Comforter Whatsoever Good therefore he desires whether the Stability of Faith Increase of good Works or the Redemption of his Soul c. he can hope to obtain from no other than from God the Author of all Good Gifts and Father of Mercies This Truth he owns and professes and believes himself bound rather to lose his Life then any ways contradict or deny it it being the very Doctrine deliver'd by St. James in his Epistle c. 1. v. 17. that Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights And having thus acknowledg'd that in God is infinitly treasur'd up all that can be called Good he likewise confesses that Man can be no otherwise partaker of any of these Blessings but according to the Pleasure and Ordinance of this infinit Being who essentially comprehends them all so that no Creature whatsoever whether in Earth or in Heaven tho the greatest Angel or Saint has power of themselves to bestow any of these Gifts upon Man they being wholy in the disposure of Him who is their Author and not to be communicated to any but as He shall order and appoint The Principal Means by which these Heavenly Blessings are deriv'd to the World is the Passion of Christ And the Way ordain'd for Christians to apply to themselves the Blessings thus purchas'd by our Redeemer is the Doing the Will of Heaven and Prayer By these he has access to that Heavenly Treasure and is made partaker of that rich store without which he can be nothing but eternally miserable Whensoever therefore he desires Increase of Grace Forgiveness of Sins or any other Divine Benefit from the Hand of God he endeavours to compose his Life and Actions according to the Prescript of the Commandments and Will of Heaven and raises his Heart and Soul by Prayer to petition assistance and a supply of his necessities from the Divine Throne And because he is taught from Scripture that God hears the Prayer of the Righteous he therefore desires sometimes the Just on Earth sometimes those in Heaven to unite in Prayer to be joynt-petitioners with him to the Seat of the Divine Majesty that so he may find more acceptance in the sight of God and obtain his desires through the Merits and Passion of Him who died for all But to think that he prays to the Cross or from any material Crucifix expects relief either for Body or Soul is only to render him more sottish than the worst of Heathens and in one extravagancy to make him out-do all the Frenzies of Bedlam He confesses it evident to the least glimpse of Reason that a piece of Wood or Stone fashioned into a Cross is no more capable of hearing his prayers or praying for him or granting his Requests than when it lay regardless upon the ground without either shape or figure And that if his Religion did either teach or practice such sâ—upid Idolatry as praying to a piece of Wood c. he could no more be any longer of her Communion than he could sacrifice to Molech or with the Zidonians and
almost inevitably detain'd in their Perswasion by the prejudice of Education and an Invincible Ignorance will upon a sincere general Repentance find mercy with God. Misrepresent Enough of this dry reasoning What do you say to a Piece not long since publish'd Wholsome Advices from the Blessed Virgin to her Indiscreet Worshippers which being compos'd by one of your own Perswasion has laid you more open than all your Adversaries could do Come let me tell you the blow that comes from a Friend is the severest and this true Representer has quite blasted all your Representing Characters and Expositions Represent Then I see you intend I should sâ—t up for Reader of Anatomy upon all the Pamphlets that come into the World. I am highly oblig'd to you for the kindness but I think the Scavanger has much tbe better Office who has nothing but Dirt and Sinks to deal with much less offensive than to be always raking in filthy Calumnies fulsome Incongruities and noisome Impertinencies No Misrepresenter I would not undertake it tho I were certain to enlarge my Interest and become as Popular as you have done by your so taking knack of Misrepresenting However to pleasure a Friend as you are I 'll touch at some particulars which seem to fall within my Province of Representing Misrepresent Why I hope there 's no Misrepresenting there you don 't sure do that ill office to one another I thought none but Protestants had been Misrepresenters Represent Yes yes 't is Protestant Misrepresenting I mean to be at As long as it has a Protestant Preface to it never question Misrepresenter but I shall find your finger in it And what think you of the sourth and fiâ—th leaves of the Preface where he sets out the Papist as Weak as Confident as Ridiculous as Foolish as he can well make them are not these Colours of your laying on Misrepresent He do's not assert this barely without giving a Reason for 't He says your pronouncing Damnation against all those that are separated from your Church is an argument of the weakness of your Cause and that your declaring all others to be out of the way of Salvation is only because you are at a loss for other Reasons to convince Mens Vnderstanding and therefore by these Threats and Thunders you work upon their Passions which to considering Men proves nothing more than your own Confidence and Ridiculousness and makes them doubt whether in this you have more of the Fool or the Artist And what Misrepresenting I pray you in this Represent Never more Unreasonable Misrepresenting then when Calumnies are set out with the Colours of Reason You Friend see but with one eye and I fear have that Curse upon you to think even contradictions reasonble so they be but in favour of the Cause you have espous'd He gives a Reason you say for what he says But is it reason or fair dealing in him to load the Papists with the most Ignominious Names and Ridicule them to the Multitude for making such Declarations in reference to such as are out of their Communion which is nothing more than what is done by his own Church nay what he himself do's most solemnly make before he concludes his Preface almost in the same breath with which he so positively declaim'd against the Papist Consider this a little if Considering be not out of thy power The Papists declare that such as separate from the Faith and Communion of their Church sounded by Christ and continued down from the Apostles under a visible Succession of Pastors and Teachers do by that depart from the Truth from the Doctrine and Commands of Christ and consequently are out of the way of Salvation This by the Preface-maker is presently set out for Thundering of Hell and Damnation 't is their Confidence 't is the Weakness of their Cause puts them upon it and for so doing they are void of Charity And yet see how condemning this in the Papists he do's the very same thing himself hear his solemn Profession which he makes in the presence of God the last page of his Preface but one I do here solemnly profess says he in the presence of God that I cannot but conclude the Worship the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome to be so extremely dangerous that nothing but invincible Ignorance of which God only can be judge can give us any reasonable hope of their Salvation who live and die in that Communion Is not here the very same sentence pronounc'd by Protestants a-against the Papist which the Papists declare against the Protestants And yet He that Unchurches the Papists for so doing thinks himself as safe in the very doing of what he condemns that he could venture the Salvation of a thousand Souls if he had them upon the ground on which he stands Pray now tell me how that comes to be so safe so reasonable and secure in Him and his Church which in the Papist he condemns for so Vncharitable and Ridiculous Or how happens it that having dress'd up the Papists in a Fools-coat and afterwards slipping it over his own shoulders he thinks himself to look so Wise and Grave upon 't Come Misrepresenter here 's more of your hand in this Preface then I expect you 'l own if you had net by your malignant influence indispos'd the Author's eye-sight Red and Yellow had been the same Colours to him upon a Protestant-back as upon a Papist Misrepresent Come you wrong the Author by your Misconstructions he do's not say the Papists are damn'd but that their condition is extremely dangerous and this do's not leave them without hope of Salvation Represent 'T is true he 'll allow the Ignorant and Fools of his Communion so much Charity as to think the Papists way he sav'd But for the judicious and learned Protestants who go by Reason who consider and weigh things no such Charity in them there 's no Reasonable hope says he of their Salvation who live and die in that Communion of the Papists So that if any are so Charitable amongst the Protestants 't is for want of being advis'd for want of being better instructed in their Religion 't is for want of being like those that Guide 'em for want of Reason for there 's no Reasonable hope says he of their Salvation no reasonable hope at all unless it be for such of them whose invincible Ignorance will excuse them And is not this the very same which is most frankly allow'd the Protâ—stants by the Papists who after they have been proclaim'd so often to the gaping Crowds for most Vncharitable Damners Thunderers of Hell and Damnation against the poor Protestants do not advance their damnation one ace farther against them then the Protestants themselves most solemnly in the presence of God and after good consideration do against the Papists There being no Papist but what will grant such Protestants hopes of Salvation who living piously and repenting sincerely of all offences through invincible
see Misrepresenter how many different Conceptions of the Mind and Affections or Motions of the Heart are express'd by this one and the same Word Worship And all these the Papists give to these several Objects due proportion being always observ'd according to their different Degree of Excellency So that tho they are all call'd by the same Name of Worship yet it signifies a different Affection of the Soul as due to each respective Object Upon this hinge turns this Controversie and if you would be so sincere as to explicate this Truth and not presently make every thing Idolatry where you see a Worship paid much of this Unchristian Wrangling which has disturbed the World these hundred and fifty years might be prevented for the future Mr. Thorndike was so honest as to give this notice to his Readers Epil p. 3. p. 353. Where he says that the words Adoration Worship Respect Reverence or howsoever you translate the word Cultus are or may be in despite of our hearts equivocal and the cause of this equivocation is the want of Words properly to signifie Conceptions which came not from common use St. Augustine declar'd this Truth long ago l. 10. de Civit. Dei c. 1. where he shews all these Words Servitus Cultus Religio Pietas Service Worship Religion Piety to be Equivocal and may be applied both to God and Creatures And thus Catholics many times use them without the least entrenching upon the Divine Prerogative or scandal to their Neighbour which had never been heightned to that degree as is at this day had not some as the Pharisees did to our B. Saviour stood by and taken as much pains to wrest every thing into a Wrong Sense as Charity obliges to interpret in a Right one And as Worship is understood in all this latitude 't is hard to make it out that Men are to pray to every thing they Worship or that Prayer is necessarily depending on it But then again if the Catechism by his Praying to means no more than Praying at or before Images I have nothing to say to it I only complain'd of it because by his Expression as it stands there he seems willing to have his Reader understand it that the Papists so pray to Images as if they expected to be heard by them or that They should obtain or grant their Request which is a most foul Misrepresentation But as for Praying before them 't is what we own and Practice And since to at and before come to be all one with him let the Words of Abjuration quoted by Spelman be thus Understood as Dr. Stillingfleet makes Bowing to the Name of Jesus and at it Idol of Ch. R. p. 111. Ed. 1. to be the same and then it plainly declares our Doctrine and we shall not fall out much upon this matter Publish'd with Allowance LONDON Printed by Henry Hills Printer to the King 's most Excellent Majesty for His Houshold and Chappel 1686. THE CATHOLIC REPRESENTER CHAP. VI. The Papist do's not believe but upon most Convincing Reasons Mysteries of Faith above Reason not contrary to it The Papist is not depriv'd of the Word of God nor kept from the Knowledge of the Gospel He does not Pray to the Cross more than Protestants pray to their Bibles or the Sacrament Three Protestant Queries Answered THe Papist Misrepresented knows no reason for the Religion he professes He 's over-ruled by Authority and is forc'd to submit his Belief to such Points as are contrary to his Reason He 's depriv'd of the Word of God and kept in a miserable Ignorance of his Duty both to God and his Neighbour THe Papist Represented very commendably enquires into the Reasonableness of his Belief He searches into the Motives of his Faith and here applys all the Reason he is able to Examine Consider Weigh and Judge of things aright not taking one step forward in order to give the least assent by Faith till his Judgment is thoroughly convinced that in Reason he 's bound to do it and that he should be self-condemn'd by his own Knowledge or Conscience if he did not submit upon such Evidence and full conviction This is what he is taught to do as to the Motives or Reasons of his Believing all those Points which are purely Mysteries of Faith. But although he has good Reason for giving his assent by Faith to all the Articles of Christian Religion Yet because the greatest part of them are above his Reason and therefore properly call'd Mysteries he cannot pretend to measure them by his short-sighted Reason no more than take the demensions of the Heavens by his Span which are out of his reach For how can Reason without a daring Presumption undertake to fathom such things which however agreeable to the Infinite Vnderstanding of God bear no proportion with any Created Faculties whilst encompassed with Flesh In the Mysteries therefore of his Faith his Reason is over-rul'd by Authority so that in these he goes much farther than his Reason will carry him His Reason indeed directs him to the Authority but then having discover'd this his Faith follows with Certainty and Security where Reason can give her no Light. Misrepresent Vpon this account it is I declare to my Followers that the Papists believe without Reason that whosoever will be a Papist must cast a Blind over all his Rational Faculties and by a slavish Obedience submit his Faith without controul Represent And for this very reason you are a Misrepresenter and slander the Papists For the Papists use their Reason as much as any Protestant in the World can do I have told you already they apply their Reason to search with the strictest scrutiny into all the Motives which are apt to make a thing Credible and never Submit their Faith but where their Reason upon the strongest and most convincing Arguments obliges them to it and that so forcibly that 't would be a contradiction to their Reason not to submit Can any Protestant do more than this Misrepresent Yes We search into the very Mysteries of the Christian Faith and believe no farther than is agreeable to our Reason at least so as not to be against it A Protestant by his Religion is so reasonable a Creature that no Authority in the World can oblige him to believe contrary to his Reason he 'll believe things above his Reason but not contrary to it Represent Thus you deceive your selves and all that follow you Why all this is nothing but what the Papists are taught to do You pretend to Reformation condemning the Papists for going Blindfold and yet what you do is downright Popery There 's no Papist in the World is taught to believe contrary to Reason they believe such Mysteries as are above Reason but nothing contrary to it Let me examine you a little in this Point and we shall soon find what agreement there is betwixt us You believe the Mysteries of the Trinity and Incarnation Misrepresent Yes Represent But can any
the Scripture in their Memory more Texts at their tongue's command more of the Books in their hands but 't is where more care is taken for imprinting the true Sence of these Words in the Vnderstanding of the People and where is us'd the most prudential method for the leading them into the truth of all the Mysteries contain'd in that sacred Volume And in this Point the Papist will yield to none for it is an unquestionable truth that when a Book contains high Mysteries of Religion Mysteries superiour to all Sence and Reason and those not deliver'd in expressions suited to every capacity but obnoxious to various interpretations such as may be wrested by the unlearned and unstable to their own Destruction in this case 't is an unquestionable truth I say that that People is in all probability likely to have more of the true Sence of this Book and to be better informed of the truth of the Mysteries it contains who are instructed in it by the Learned of that Communion and taught it by their Pastors Prelates and those whom God hath placed over them to govern and feed the Flock than any other People who have the Book put into their own hands to read it and search it and satisfie themselves For why Are not the Pastors more capable of teaching the People than the People are to teach themselves Or is it commendable in Scripture only and Religion for every one to be his own Master which in any other matter whosoever doe's it shall be esteem'd a Fool We know Moses Deut. 31. 9. gave the Book of the Law to the Levites to keep and read it every seven years to the People and in King Jehoshaphats reign 2 Chron. 17. 9. the Priests and Levits did read it and teach the People so did Jeremy Jer. 36. by Gods command so Isaiah so Ezekiel so the Levits Nehemiah 8. 8. Read in the Book in the Law of God distinctly and gave the Sence and caus'd them the People to understand the Reading And did not our Blessed Saviour Luc. 4. 17. take the Book of the Prophet and read it and expound it to the People And was not this the Office of the Apostles and Deacons to interpret the Scriptures and instruct their Followers what they were to believe and doe For this intention was Ananias sent to Saul Peter to Cornelius and Philip to the Eunuch who professedly own'd he could not understand the Prophet in so necessary a Point as that of the Messias without an Interpreter How can I understand said he except some man should guide me Act. 8. 31. Since therefore the Papists in delivering the Scripture come nearest to this Method commanded by God in the Old Law prescrib'd and practis'd by Christ and his Apostles in the New what People can be better instructed in the true sence of it and understand more of the Mysteries of the Christian Faith than they With what Reason can it be urg'd against the Vulgar of his Communion that the Scriptures are hid from them that they are bred up in blindness and ignorance Do not the Pastors expound the Scriptures to them do not they instruct them in every Point of their Religion and teach them the whole Duty of a Christian Is it not this they do in their Pulpits in their Catechisms in the Confessionaries in so many hundred spiritual Books plainly laying before them their whole obligation both as to Faith and Good manners And is this to conceal from them the Scripture Is the Word of God hid from them because they have their Pastors to instruct them in it Or are they any ways injur'd because they have learneder men than themselves to teach them Is the Multitude a better Judge of Scripture and more able to discover the truth of it than those whom God has plac'd over them Has God so deserted the Pastors and Prelates of his Church and is the Flock of late become so Wise The Faith of Christ was first planted by Christ's Preaching it to the Multitude by the same way 't was propagated by the Apostles and so it is to be deliver'd down to the end of the World Faith comes by hearing By this means many Barbarous Nations saies St. Irenaeus l. 3. adv har c. 3. believe in Christ have the Doctrine of Salvation written in their Hearts by the Holy Ghost without the help of Books and religiously observe the Traditions believing in one God c. Now 't is certain the Truth of this Christian Faith with all its Mysteries is unquestionably preserv'd in Christs Catholic Church and the People are to receive it and not to find out their Faith and Religion every one for themselves If they are afraid of being deceiv'd when they rely on their Pastors for it they run ten times the hazard when they trust to themselves The Papist therefore is taught that since Christ has a Church upon earth in which is conserv'd the truth of the Gospel 't is safer and more prudential for the People to be instructed in this Truth from the Pastors of this Church and by this means come to the Knowledg of the Word of God that is of its true sence and meaning than by committing the Book it self into the hands of the Multitude and leting every one understand it for themselves He knows 't is a very popular thing and acceptable to the prying Multitude to have a Book at command which directs the Way to Salvation but since 't is not the Book is to save him but the Truth and Doctrine which it teaches he believes 't is better learning this from those who are Wiser and are commissionated from Heaven to teach than to venture at it himself without any Authority The unhappy Divisions among Christians sufficiently inform him that to such Readers as St. Peter calls unreary and ignorant however wise they may think themselves Aâ—ianism may be as obvious in this Book as Christs Divinity and that when such an one undertakes the interpreting of it 't is an hazard whether at the end he comes out Quaker Anabaptist Presbyterian Independent Mugletonian Socinian or Atheist 'T is a Venture whether the Trinity shall have place in his Creed or no whether he 'll allow of Baptism or any Sacrament and whether Cruelty cutting of Throats Oppression Tyranny Dethroning of Kings and Murder of Princes shall not with him become a necessary Duty and a true serving of the Lord. For all these and more damnable Doctrines has he seen preach'd up and practic'd by those who have had the Bible in their Banners who have been esteem'd Searchers of the Word of God and presumptuously made their Comments upon this Sacred Text. And is it not this abuse that has occasion'd so many Schisms and almost broken the Mystical Body of Christ into pieces That whereas all his Followers should be of one mind now no body knows what Religion his Neighbour is of but every Wall now parts Religions more than Seas did heretofore And
currant Testimonies of the Ancient Fathers are so certain and evident that many Learned Protestants upon this Consideration refuse to stand the Test of their Authorities thinking it far more advantageous to their Cause to give them a general Disclaim Hence Mr. Whitaker affirms the Popish Religion to be patcht up out of the Fathers Errors Cont. Dur l. 6. p. 423. And Dr. Humfrey most severely reprehends Mr. Jewel for his so bold Appeal to the Primitive Fathers affirming that herein Mr. Jewel gave the Papists too large a scope was injurious to himself and after a manner spoil'd himself and the Church Misrepres So then I see you intend to claim the Fathers not only of Constantine 's Time and the Following Ages as Abettors of Popery but likewise Those who in the First Centuries immediately succeeded the Apostles And what Room then do you leave for Protestancy Repres 'T is not only I that claim Them but even the Protestants themselves you see of the precedent Age such who were not asham'd to speak the Truth make a surrender of them laying aside all Pretensions either to Them or their Doctrine And when they have disown'd all the Fathers one by one from Clement Ignatius Irenaeus who liv'd in the Apostles Days and succeeded them in their Function to S. Jerome Austin Leo Gregory the last of which surviv'd the Fifth Century when they have declar'd that Antichrist began his Reign and obscur'd the Light of the Gospel even from the Time of the Apostles I wonder what Room as you say there 's left for Protestancy It savours something of a Mystery methinks call'd Nonsense to say the Protestant Religion is the same Pure Religion as was Anciently and Generally Profess'd amongst the Fathers and Christians of the Primitive Church and then to condemn the same Fathers and Christians of the Primitive Church for being infected with Popery and giving way to Antichrist Wherefore to avoid these Inconveniences if you 'l take my Advice Misrepresenter I believe you had better pretend no longer Right to the Primitive Fathers but as you have condemn'd the Eight hundred Years next before the Reformation of Damnable Errors and Popish Superstitions to take one step further back and e'en take in the other Six hundred Years too and so condemn them all in the lump from Christ's Time to Luther for being Papists and Popishly affected Never Mince the matter They were all Men you know and subject to Error and when you are once in 't is as easily condemning your Fore-fathers for Fourteen Ages as for Eight Your First Reforming-Apostles were something of this mind and thought it no more difficulty to Censure and Condemn the Primitive Fathers than Those they found in the time of K. Henry 8. but were for Reforming all with the same Hand Hearken a little to your courageous Luther In the Writings says he of Jerome there is not a word of True Faith in Christ and Sound Religion Tertullian is very Superstitious I have held Origen long since Accursed of Chrysostome I make no account Basil is of no worth he is wholly a Monk I value him not of a Hair Cyprian is a Weak Divine The Apology of Philip Melancthon far excels all the Dostors of the Church and exceeds even Austin himself Coll. Mens c. de Patr. Eccles And in another place The Fathers says he of so many Ages have been plainly Blind and most Ignorant in the Scriptures They err'd all their Life-time and unless they were mended before their Deaths they were neither Saints nor pertaining to God's Church To. 2. l. de Serv. Arbit Peter Martyr is of the same mind and therefore says plainly That as long as we stand to Councils and Fathers we shall always remain infected with the same Errors viz. of Popery And certainly Misrepresenter these Your First Setters up for Reformation were in the Right on 't for nothing can possibly so strengthen Protestancy and justifie the Separation as this Levelling Divinity For your Going by halves and pretending to be of the Religion of the First Ages of the Church fills People with Doubts and Scruples whilst looking back upon the Professors of those Times instead of Protestancy they find so much Popery amongst them Publish'd with Allowance Printed by Henry Hills Printer to the King 's Most Excellent Majesty for his Houshold and Chappel M DC LXXX VI. THE CATHOLIC REPRESENTER CHAP. XVI A New Way of making all the Popish Sayings of the Primitive Fathers to be Good Protestancy The Art of Interpreting do's Feats it makes way for Atheism and Infidelity Represent HOW stands your Head to day Misrepresenter have you Consider'd the Proposal I made you at our last Meeting Are you for disclaiming all Title to the Primitive Church and Huffing those Ancient Fathers as Luther Peter Martyr and others did who designing a Through-Reformation were alike for calling those Great Doctors to an account of the First Ages as they did those they found in the Time of King Henry 8 Or are you for Reforming upon These First Reformers and taking in those Primitive Fathers of the Church for Protestants which They cast off and Condemn'd for Papists Misrepres I have Consider'd this Matter very seriously and taken the Advice of Friends upon the Point And therefore to be short with you I value no more the Saying of Luther than he did Those Ancient Fathers whom he condemn'd as Weak Divines Superstitious and Valu'd not of a Hair. He was so near the Times of Darkness that he could not well look back and make Judgment of any thing behind him Repres Nay I commend you in this 't is only just to serve him in his kind 'T was Tertullian's Saying Curâ—â—nm idem licet Marcionitis quod Marcioni If Marcion has rebell'd against the Church why should his Followers think much to rebel against him And since Luther cast off all Authority and valu'd not the Writings and Doctrine of the most Eminent Fathers of the Primitive Church why shou'd any one think much of undervaluing him by his own Example If Luther could so easily throw by S. Cyprian for a Weak Divine and S. Basil for being wholly a Monk is not this Precedent enough for any Follower of Luther to cast him off for an Apostate Friar and an Ambitious Divine Well but if you Reform upon Luther in this Point and don 't think fit with him to lay aside all the Writings of the Ancient Fathers as Erroneous and Superstitious what do you do with all those troublesome Passages in their Works wherein They are such Positive Asserters of Popish Doctrines that 't is impossible for any Man to take the Authors for any thing but Papists which do's not well suit with your Claim to them as Protestants Misrepres Pish I value no more these Difficulties than Luther did the Fathers that is not of a Hair. If the First Reformers bad their Eyes but half open what 's that to us who have the Noon-light of the Gospel shining upon us