Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	age_n	church_n	time_n	2,142	5	3.6322	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A00797	True relations of sundry conferences had between certaine Protestant doctours and a Iesuite called M. Fisher (then prisoner in London for the Catholique fayth:) togeather with defences of the same. In which is shewed, that there hath alwayes beene, since Christ, a visible church, and in it a visible succession of doctours & pastours, teaching the vnchanged doctrine of fayth, left by Christ and his apostles, in all points necessary to saluation and that not Protestants, but only Roman Catholiques haue had, and can shew such a visible church, and in it such a succesion of pastours and doctours, of whome men may securely learne what pointe of fayth are necessary to saluation. / By A.C.	A. C.; Sweet, John, 1570-1632, attributed name.; Floyd, John, 1572-1649, attributed name.; Fisher, John, 1569-1641, attributed name.	1626 (1626)	STC 10916.5; ESTC S118355	64,677	92

be hoped that all or the maior part will euer so agree as to remaine constant in one and the same mind Hath christ our Lord in this case prouided no meanes no rule no iudge which may Infallibly determine and end controuersyes procure vnity and certainty of belief being so necessary for the honor of God and the good of his church Must people for want of such a iudge rule or meanes continue not only moneths and yeares but whole Ages in vncertainty and disiunity of Fayth and in perpetuall Iarres about euen maine matters of diuine truth There is no earthly Kingdome that in case matters cannot be composed by Parlament which cannot be called vpon all occasions and at all tymes hath not beside the law-bookes some liuing Magistrates and iudges and aboue all one visible King the highest Magistrate and Iudge who hath authority sufficient to end controuersies and procure peace and vnity and certainty of Iudgments about all temporall affayres And shall we thinke that christ the wisest King hath prouided in his kingdome which is the church onely the Law-bookes of Holy Scriptures and no liuing visible Magistrats and Iudges and aboue all One cheife Magistrate and iudge so assisted with his spirit and prouidence as may suffice to end controuersies and breed vnity and certainty of Fayth which neuer can be while euery man may interprete Holy Scripture the Law-booke as he list x The chaplain saith that the B. said not only so but that it was no Generall Councell I answere that if the B. said so it was onely for want of memory that the Iesuite did not relate it so for the Exceptions which the B. did or can make against the lawfulnesse or generallnesse of the Councell of Trent may be made by Arrians against the councell of Nice It is not necessary to the lawfulnesse and generallnesse of a Councell that all Bishops of the world be actually present and actually subscribe or yield assent but that such promulgation be made as is morally sufficient to giue notice that such a Councell is called and that all may come if they will and that a competent number at least the maior part of those which be present yield assent to the decree y As Protestants do thinke that the councell of Trent is not lawfull for hauing in their Iudgment departed from the letter sense of Scripture so did the Arians thinke of the councell of Nice And as Protestants do iustifie that some were sent from the Pope to Trēt and that the Pope was President So doubtlesse did the Arians mislike that at Nice the Pope had Legats who did carry his messages and one of them in his place sate as President z The Chaplain saith that the B. did not say that the Pope made Bishops of purpose c. I answere that the Iesuite doth not say that the B. expresly said to but that by insinuation he did pretend so much which in effect the chaplaine seemeth to graunt when he saith pag. 40. the B. said the Pope made himself a strōg partie in it For although these words may be taken in another sense yet they may also be taken in that sense which the Iesuite by the circumstances of the B. his speach did then vnderstand and expresse in his Relation for that a great number of Italian Bishops which the Chaplain saith the B. alledged as a proof may very well import that the B. cōceiued the Pope to haue made more Italian Bishops then of other Countryes of purpose to haue a strong faction But this proof was so weake as the Iesuite might well say it was no proofe nor worthy of answere or of looking into the book for it it being only a surmise of Aduersaries who are apt to interprete euery thing to the worst Italian Bishops might be more as being neerer as in Greeke Councells more Grecians were present without any factious Combination with the Pope in any other sort then all the Cath. Bishops in the world who are as much vnited with the Pope for matters of Fayth defined in the Councell as any Italian Bishop Neither can the B. proue that any Catholique French or Spanish or of any other Country or the schismaticall Greekes did agree with Protestants in those points which were defined in the Councell especially after it was confirmed by the Pope For they all euen Grecians did do at this day vnanimously oppose Protestāts as appeareth by the Censure of Hieremias the Grecian Patriarch So as if such a free Councell as the B. and others wished were gathered out of East and West Protestants doubtles would be condemned for Heretiques and their negatiue refutes and denialls of ancient Articles for Heresies by more then the double maior Part compared to those who would take their part For although as all Heretiques vse to do Protestants perswade themselues Scriptures to be euident for their opinions and that with euident demon̄trations they should be able to conuince all the world that they teach truth and nothing but truth yet they would find innumerable others as learned to say no more and as well studyed in Scripture and skilfull in making demonstrations who are of another mind a I meruaile in what sort the B. will describe such a Generall Councell and how it should be gathered and what Rules are in it to be obserued which are morally likely so to be obserued as to make an end of cōtrouersies better then our catholique Generall councels b The Chaplaine saith that the B. added a Caution which the Iesuit omitteth saying The determination of a Generall coūcell erring was to stand in force and haue externall obedience at least yielded to it till euidence of Scripture or a demonstration to the contrary made the errour appeare and vntill thereuppon another Councell of equall Authority did reuerse it I answere that added Caution which eyther was not then added or not remembred by the Iesuite maketh the B. his Answere far worse then as the Iesuit did relate For whereas the Iesuite relateth onely thus Although it may erre this caution maketh the case to be that it doth actually erre And whereas the Iesuite relateth That we not knowing whether it do erre or not but only that it may erre are bound to hold it till another come to reuerse it this caution doth put the case so as if the determination of a Generall Coūcell actually erring were not ipso iure inualide but such as is to stand in force to haue externall obedience at least yielded vnto it till not onely morall certainty but euidence of Scripture or a demonstration to the contrary make the errour appeare and after the errour appeareth yet we must continue this yeilding of obedience And how long Vntill thereupon a Councell and not euery Councell but of equall authority do reuerse it which perhaps will not be found in a whole Age. Verily I can not belieue that the B. vpon better aduisement will allow this Caution or giue any

related only he sayd 1. That himselfe did not remember a point or two which both M. Fisher and M. B. did perfectly remember to haue bene so as is here related 2. He sayd that something more was sayd then is related which M. Fisher did not deny but was willing to add any thing that D. Whyte could put him in mind of or that himselfe should after remember and so being put in remembrance made by D. Whyte to wit Whereas M. Fisher vpon some occasion or other had sayd That although a generall Councell might erre in the premisses yet not in the Conclusion D. Whyte obiected saying That in all sciēces the conclusiō is no more certayne thē the Premisses therfore if the premisses in a general councell be fallible the conclusion cannot be infallible To which M. Fisher answered saying Although in sciences which depend only vpon the light of Nature the conclusion cannot be more certaine then the premisses yet in a generall councell assisted by the holy Ghost in the finall conclusion or definitiue sentence the conclusion is alwayes infallible although sometimes the premisses be fallible And M. Fisher had great reason to answere in this manner Indeed if to define a matter of Fayth were to conclude the same by way of discourse out of Principles as the Argument doth suppose then if Councels might erre in the Promisses they might likewise erre in their Conclusion and d●finitiue sentence But this supposition is false Infallibility in defining being a diuine Assistance not to inferre one thing out of another by way of connexion and consequence but to decree and declare what is conform 〈…〉 to the word of God by way of authority binding the Church so to believe And this definition is euer infallible though all the arguments the Councell bringes by way of discourse in proofe of the definition eyther before or after the same is made be not still demonstratiue Another obiection M. Fisher hath since that time remembred to wit that D. White alleaged something out of Abulensis in Matt. 7. 19. which M. Fisher differred to make answere vnto vntil he might see the Author himself hauing had experience inough how falsely many Ministers the Authors and how false their Note-Bookes be Now M. Fisher hath seene the booke and findeth the words cited by D. White to contayne two parts one as contrary to D. White as the other seemeth contrary to M. Fisher that the whole discourse of Abulensis in that place sheweth that euen that part which seemeth contrary to M. Fisher doth nothing preudice M. Fishers cause as will appeare to any that will duly ponder all that is there sayd of the Authority of the Church in defining what bookes be and what be not Canonicall For Abulensis expressly declareth that all and only those bookes are to be accounted Canonicall which the church doth define to be canonicall and the reason why he did in his priuate opinion thinke one or two Bookes not to be canonicall which we do now hold for canonicall is for that the Church had not then so cleerely defined them to be Canonicall as it hath done since A 〈…〉 sts wrot that passage as there are diuers other Bookes held for Canonicall euen by Protestants which haue not beene so esteemed by some of the Ancient Fathers in regard the church had not then so clearely defined them to be canonicall as is hath done in after times A third obiection was made by D. White about the worship of Images which D. White would needs affirme to be an Innouation and gross● Error of Papists Which M. Fisher denied and sayd that the worship meaning the same worship which is due to the Prototypon is not giuen by vs to the Image it selfe This obiection D. White vrged no further the first day but the next day of meeting he vrged those words of Bellarmine Datur veneratio ipsi imagini M. Fisher anwered that Bellarmine did not meane that the same worship which was due to the Prototypon was giuen to the Image it selfe but an inferior degree of worship and that also for the Prototypons sake Then D. White betooke himselfe to Suares saying That Suares did hold that the same worship which was giuen to the Prototypon was giuen to the Image M. Fisher answering sayd You do not vnderstand our Authors For sayd M. Fisher they that seeme to giue most giue the least to Images for those that say that one and the same worship is giuen to the Image and that which is represented by it hold the Image to be incapable of any part of worship and so the whole to pertayne to the thing Wheras others who distinguish one honour to be due to the thing and another farre inferior to be giuen to the Image giue something as M. Fisher explicated in the example of the respect one beareth to the picture of his friend which although it be not capable of that friendly respect and affection which by looking vpon it he exciteth in himselfe towards his friend represented by it yet is it capable of an inferiour degree of respect as to be set in a more worthy and eminent place c. then it should be if it were the picture of some other who were not ones friend These be the chiefe Passages of this Conference between D. White and M. Fisher so far as hath come to my notice who haue vsed so much diligence in inquiring the truth of this matter as I haue no doubt but for substance I haue not omitted any thing that may much import considering what the occasion and subiect of the Conference was to wit that Paper written by M. Fisher in which he proued the Roman Church and those who agree in Fayth with it to be that Company of whome euery one must learne what is the truth in all points and questions of Fayth necessary to saluation which paper not being substantially confuted as it was not by any thing sayd by D. White or any other at that time or after D. Whyte is yet obliged to make a better answere if he meane to giue satisfaction either to Catholiques or Protestants in this most important point of a perpetually visible church of which all forts must learne true diuine infallible Faith necessary to Saluation FINIS A RELATION OF THE Conference between a certain B. M. Fisher defended against the said B. his Chaplayne The Preface GENTLE Reader I think it needful to let thee vnderstand that whereas the Chaplaine of a certayne B. sayth in the Preface of his Answere to a Relation of what passed betweene the said B. and M. Fisher That the Iesuite spread abroad papers of this Conference which were full of partiality to his cause more full of calumney against the B. the truth is that the Iesuite did not at all so much as in speach much lesse in papers publish this or either of the other two Conferences which he had with D. White vntill he was forced vnto it by false

as superstitious and the doctrine as erroneous in Fayth yea as hereticall and euen Antichristian All this considered the B. hath no cause to be hartily angry either with the Iesuite for relating or with himself for granting Protestants to haue made a rent or diuision from the Rom. church but might with a safe conscience yet further grant as one did was it not He to an Honorable person That it was ill done of those who did first make the s●paration Which is most true both in regard there can be no iust cause to make a schisme and diusion from the whole Church for the whole Church cannot vniuersally erre in doctrine of Fayth and other iust cause there is none and also for that those who first made the separation Luther and his Associates gaue the first cause in manner aforesayd to the Rom. church to excommunicate them as by our Sauiours warrant she might when they would not heare the church which did both at first seeke to recall them from their nouel● opinions and after their breach did permit yea inuite them publikely with safe conduct to Rome to a Generall Councell and freely to speake what they could for themselues And I make no doubt so farre is the Rom. Church from being cause of continuance of the schismes or hinderance of Re-union that it would yet if any hope may be giuen that Protestantes will sincerely seeke nothing but truth and peace giue them a free hearing with most ampie safe conduct which is more then euer we English catholiques could obtayne although we haue made offers diuers times to come to publique Dispute first in Queene Elizabeth her dayes and also in his Maiesties that now is only requiring the Princes word for our safe●y and equality of Conditions of the dispute Vnto which offer our Aduersaries neuer did nor euer will giue good Answere As one saith Honestum responsum nullum dabunt praeter vnum quod numquam dabunt Regina Rex spondet Aduola Camp inrat Acad. red t This question the Iesuite made chiefly against that part of the B. his last speach in which he said There were errours in doctrine for if the B. meant as the Iesuite vnderstood him to meane that there were errours of doctrine of Fayth in the Generall Church neuer did any lawfull competent Iudge so censure neither can it so be No power in Earth or Hell it self can so far preuayle against the Generall Church of Christ built vpon a Rock as to make it or the pastours thereof erre generally in any one point of diuine truth Christs promises stand Matth 16. 28. Luc. 22. Ioan. 14. 16. and will neuer permit this no not in Antichrists dayes Particuler Pastors and Churches may fall into Heresy or Apostasy but the whole Church cannot It may sometyme not expresly teach or know all diuine truthes which afterwards it may learne by study of Scriptures and otherwayes but it neuer did nor can vniuersally by its full authority teach any thing to be diuine truth which is not and much lesse any thing to be a matter of Fayth which is contrary to diuine truth either expressed or inuolued in Scriptures rightly vnderstood So as no reformation of Fayth can be needfull in the Generall Church but only in particuler Churches in which case also when the need is onely questionable particuler Pastours or Churches must not take vpon them to iudge and condemne others of errour in Fayth but as S. Irenaus intimateth must haue recourse to that Church which hath more powerfull Principality the Church of Rome and to her Bishop being Cheife Pastour of the whole Church as being Successour to S. Peter To whom Christ promised the Keyes Math. 16. For whom Christ prayed that his Fayth might not faile Luc. 22. and whom he charged to confirme his brethren and to feed and gouerne the whole flock lambes and sheep loan 21. people and Pastours subiects and superiours which he shall neuer refuse to do in such sort as that this neglect shall be a iust Cause for any particuler man or Church to make a schisime or separation of himself and others from the whole Generall Church vnder pretence of Reformation either of manners or of Fayth Protestants therefore did ill in first deuiding themselues from the Generall Church and do still ill in continuing deuided from it Neither can those Protestants be excused from intolerable pride insolent madnes who presume to be Accusers Witnesses Iudges Executioners of the sentence pronounced by themselues against the Church in Generall and against the principall and Mother Church and the B. of Rome which is and ought to be their Iudge in this case For although it be against equity that Subiects and Children should be accusers witnesses iudges and executioners against their Prince and Mother in any case yet it is not absurd that in some case the Prince or Mother may accuse witnesse iudge and if need be execute Iustice against vniust or rebellious subeuects or euill children u It is true when the Question is about the Generall Fayth of the church the matter may be made most firme if the church in a Generall Coūcell with the full authority of her cheif Pastour and all other Pastours whome all people must obey Rom. 13. Hebr. 13. decree what is to be held for diuine truth by Visum est spiritui sancto nobis Act. 15. and by adding Anathema to such as resist this Truth For if this be not firme and infallible what can be so firme and well founded in the church which vnder pretext of seeming euidēt Scripture or demonstration may not be shaken and called in question by an erring disputer For if all Pastours being gathered togeather in the name of christ praying vnanimiter for the promised Assistance of the Holy Ghost making great and diligent search and examination of the Scriptures and other grounds of Fayth and hearing ech Pastour declare what hath been the ancient Tradition of his church shall in fine conclude and decree in manner aforesaid what is to be held for diuine truth If I say the Councell in this decree may erre and may be controlled by euery particuler or any particuler vnlearned or learned man or church pretending euident text of Scripture or cleere demonstration supple Teste Iudice seipsis what can remaine firme or certaine vpon Earth which may not by a like pretence be cōtrolled or at least by one or other called in question A Generall councell therefore being lawfully called continued and confirmed is doubtles a most competent iudge of all controuersies of Fayth But what is to be done when a Generall councell cannot be called as many times it cannot by reason of manifold impedimēts or if being called all will not be of one mind As among Protestants and others who admit no Infallible meanes rule or iudge beside Onely Scripture which ech man will interprete as seemeth best to his seuerall priuate Iudgment or spirit it is scarse to