Controversie that one could not plainly tell whose Cause carried it but both Parties should shill contend for the decision of their Cause he would be accounted by all Men a very improper Judge since no Controversie can be determined by his sentence for after it there is as great debate for whom the Judge gave sentence as about the Difference they brought before him But such a Judge is the Holy Scripture if you set aside the Exposition of the Church and the Fathers for so it always gives sentence that it cannot plainly appear to either Party which side it favoureth but both stifly affirm that it stands clearly for him Hence it comes to pass that Controversies never have an end 'T is ridiculous therefore to make only the Scripture the Judge of Controversies For in all Controversies such a one ought to be made a Judge so as to give sentence that all and chiefly the Parties in dispute may clearly see which side the Judge is for or else there can be no end of Controversie Therefore they that make only the Scripture their Judge shew plainly that they will have no Judge to decide the Cause but their own private judgment For they do as if Titius and Caius having a Suit at Law would have no other Judge but the Book of Justinian with his Pandects secluding the Interpretation of the Doctors and Titius for his Right should produce some Law and say that it is clear for his Cause but Caius denies it Likewise Caius alledgeth another Law affirming that it clearly makes for him but Titius denies it and so both Parties depart without decision of their Cause would not this be a ridiculous thing and make all say that neither of them would have their Cause decided since both of them would be their own Judge It is plainly so with them that will have no other Judge but the Scripture For whosoever reserves the Interptetation thereof to his own Spirit shews plainly that he would not have his Cause lawfully decided but be his own Judge Fourthly Experience it self shews how insufficient this Rule of Faith is For we see that there is no end of Controversies amongst them even in their chief Points of Faith For the Lutherans Calvinists and Fanaticks in many things extreamly differ at this very time and condemn one another of Heresie The very Lutherans disagree amongst themselves in many things also from Luther their Parent and Apostle insomuch that at this very time there are counted Thirteen Principal Sects of Lutherans differing by certain Names and Opinions The Calvinists dissent amongst themselves chiefly in the Article of the Head of the Church for a great part of them ascribe this Power to the Secular Prince although she be a Woman these they call Protestants Others esteem this a great Sin and Blasphemy these they call Puritans The Fanaticks dissent amongst themselves in many things so that there is reckoned Fourteen several Sects of them distinguished by Names and Opinions Lastly It is come now to that pass that when any one thinks to follow this Rule and depend on it there are almost as many Heresies as Hereticks For many especially the ignorant sort say they care not what Luther or Calvin teacheth for that they stick to the Holy Scripture and Word of God wherein there can be no Errour and so they think themselves very secure for every one interpretes the Scripture according to his Capacity and Judgment Hence it is that when they think they have Scripture for their Rule of Faith instead of Scripture they have only their own Imagination For what they fancy the Words of Scripture signifie they take for the true sence of Scripture And thus there are as many different Rules of Faith as Imaginations of Men. But how comes it to pass that every ones imagination should seem to be the pure Truth and right sence of Scripture This proceeds partly from a great self-love and self-esteem for he that has a high conceit of himself is easily perswaded that all his own inventions and conceptions of Mind are extraordinary partly also from a Diabolical operation which inwardly perverts the fancy of Men that what they apprehend upon never so slight a reason presently they imagine it to be the clear Truth For where Men through a weariness of the Antient Religion have an aversion to the Truth and Itching Ears to Novelties they are suffered by the just Judgment of God to be deceived of the Devil Whilst therefore he operates interiourly in their Sences they think they are illuminated with the Divine Spirit and attribute to this Spirit their whole judgment touching points of Faith Hence it is that the apprehension or judgment of every Sect and almost of every private Man seems to be the pure Word of God nor do they regard any reasons to the contrary The Apostle signifies this 2 Thes 2.10 saying Because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved therefore God shall send them strong delusions to believe a Lye He shall send not by commanding but by letting the Devil loose to deceive them and lead them into a thousand Errors for despising the Truth or Ancient Religion But many of them say especially the simple and ignorant God will not suffer those to be deceived who seek the Truth with an humble Heart ' For he has promised to ' give the Good Spirit to those that ask him Luk. 11.13 But I do so I beg of God to enlighten me and open unto me the true sence of Scripture and I daily search the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 This is a great delusion of the Devil For how do they seek the Truth with an humble Heart who despise the judgment of the Doctors of the Church the judgment of the Holy Fathers and the judgment of General Councils Who will not use that way which our Lord hath shewed and ordained but require unnecessary Revelations For from them they may understand the Truth and be freed from all Error but they will not submit to them and think that by their own industry wit and private Spirit they can more certainly find the Truth out of the bare Scriptures As if the Holy Fathers Doctors and Prelates of the Church had not searched the Scriptures or were destitute of the Spirit of God and right Judgment that they could not rely upon them Now what greater Pride can be imagined than for a private Man and for the most part silly and ignorant of all Antiquity and the Liberal Arts to prefer himself before so great Wisdom so great Authority and Sanctity and such a multitude of Doctors Let them not therefore think so long as they are of this mind that they shall receive any thing of God because they wrongfully seek him and proudly ask him but rather that they are deceived by the Spirit of Pride and a Lye to which they are delivered by the just judgment of God for so great a Crime This is that Spirit which all
the Mass Veneration of Holy Relicks and Images Pilgrimages Invocation of Saints Monasteries Monks Obedience to the See of Rome and other things proper to the Catholick Religion which hath ever flourished among these nations ever since their Conversion till of late they were abolished by these New Religions Who that considers these things can doubt but the Roman Catholick Religion is the true Religion of Christ In it we see this Divine Promise of the Conversion of Nations fulfilled Hereunto so many Peoples so many remote Nations so many potent Kingdoms have fled and forsaking their Idols impurity of Life multiplicity of Wives barbarity of Manners and former licentiousness humbly stoop to the yoke of Christ have imbraced the fear of God conformed to an honest Life and were inflamed with contempt of the World and love of Heaven How can it be that this Religion should be false and impious which makes so great a change in the Minds of barbarous People To conclude how can it be that the Divine Providence for so many Ages should permit all these Nations to be deceived when they willingly forsook their Idolatry imbraced the Truth and united themselves to the Church of Christ and be plunged into other pernicious Errors and a new Idolatry and that by those who in the Church were esteemed by every one the most Lawful Ministers thereof as being famous for Holiness of Life Wisdom and Miracles God forbid we should so judge of the Divine Goodness and Providence which has so much care for the Salvation of Men. But now on the other side there has never been any Conversion of Nations made by the Lutherans Calvinists and Fanaticks never any accession of Pagan Kingdoms to their Religion but only a Revolt of those who bearing the Name of Christians but weary of their former Religion and Discipline have followed their Novelties and Liberty of the Flesh which is a clear Argument of Heresie For Heresie is nothing else but a corruption of the Catholick Doctrine and revolt of Christians from the Primitive Religion retaining still the Christian Name and it is the study of Heretical Doctors not to convert Heathens but to pervert Christians Therefore Tertullian hits them home Lib de Praescrip What shall I say touching the Ministration of the Word since it is their business not to convert Infidels but to seduce Catholicks They take greater Glory to ruine those that stand than pains to lift up them that are down For this Work of theirs is not of their own building but a demolishing of the Truth They undermine our Church to raise their own so that they can easier destroy the House that stands than raise a new Building out of ruines The Sixth Consideration from the Name of Catholick and the thing signified by this Name THat Religion is to be judged the true Christian Religion which has always been accounted and called Catholick according to the Apostles Creed I believe in the Holy Catholick Church But the Roman Church is only called Catholick and the Professors thereof Catholicks Therefore the Roman Catholick Religion only is the true Religion of Christ That it alone has been always and still is called Catholick 't is evident First By the general use of the Name over all the World Hence it is that even Hereticks many times call it the Catholick Religion and the Professors thereof Catholicks nor did ever any Sect merit this Name For the Marcionists Montanists Vid. Pacia Epist denom Cath. St. August c. 4. contr Epist sund Manicheans Donatists Pelagians Vigilantians Waldenses Lutherans Calvinists Anabaptists c. were never called Catholicks nor their Doctrine the Catholick Religion only the Church of Rome and that part of Christianity which adheres to it is called the Catholick Church and the Religion Belief and Doctrine of this Church the Catholick Religion the Catholick Faith and Catholick Doctrine and her Followers Catholicks Secondly Because the word Catholick signifies the same as Vniversal The Catholick Religion is spread over all the World or General spreading over all the World But such is the Roman Religion because being spread over all the known inhabited parts of the World it extends it self to all Nations and Kingdoms For there is no Kingdom nor Nation known to us which has not still this Religion or formerly had it or doth not now begin to profess it yea at this very time there is well near amongst all Nations a publick profession of our Religion namely in Japan China the Indies Persia Tartary Turky Affrica Brazil Peru Mexico c. For in all these places there are Catholicks to be found Churches Altars Images of Christ and his Saints celebration of Mass administration of our Sacraments observation of our Feasts and Fasts and in Fine there is publickly held the Roman Catholick Religion Who can doubt that this is the true religion and the true way of Salvation which our Lord would have proposed and preached to all Kingdoms which he hath made to grow and increase at convenient times in all Kingdoms and which every where in a manner he now preserves causing Catholicks to be dispersed through the whole World that Infidels by them might come to the knowledge of the true Religion Moreover it is Catholick in point of Time as well as Place The Catholick Religion extends it self to all Ages for it has been derived thro' all Ages from Christ's and his Apostle's time For there is no Age since that time can be assign'd wherein this Religion was not held In all Ages Mass was celebrated for the living and dead Festival and Fasting days were kept Monastick Vows were frequented the Saints invocated and their Relicks honoured with other things proper to our Religion in use and practice as 't is manifest by all Ecclesiastick Writers On the contrary if we consider all kind of Sects No Sect is called the Catholick Religion none of them were ever called the Catholick Religion or the Professors of them Catholicks as aforesaid but they took the Name of their Religion from the first Broachers of it as Simonians from Simon Magus Valentinians from Valentine Pelagians from Pelagius Lutherans from Martin Luther Calvinists from Calvin c. and none of their Religions are spread over all the World Nor dilated over all the World At first when the Catholick Religion began to appear and shew it self it was not long before it was diffused over all the World and did increase and fructifie almost in every Kingdom notwithstanding the Persecutions thereof as S. Paul tells us Rom. 10. Colos 1. But the religion of Luther Calvin and Fanaticks now for the time that it hath been in the World which is about 150 years hath made no such progress but being confined only to some few Countries does daily lose ground either by crumbling into other Sects or else by returning into Catholick religion again As also not one of them is of any ancient standing but all of them of new invention but
one way to Eternal Happiness It is an Atheistical Opinion that every one may be saved in different Religions for as there is but one God one Christ one Truth one Right-way one Justice so there is but one true Faith one true Religion one true Congregation or Church of God and Christ out of which there is no Salvation Let them beware lest by a curiosity of reading or hearing or uncautious conversation with Hereticks or desire of pleasing any Mortal Man or fear of Persecution or loss of Temporal Life or Estate or loss of gain or ambition of Honour or for any other cause they lose so great a Good For what is a Man profited if he shall gain the whole World and lose his own Soul Or what shall a Man give in exchange for his Soul But a loss of the true Religion is a loss of the Soul which no Wise Man will part with upon any account Those are unhappy Souls and unworthy the Name of a Christian who little regard the ruine of the Catholick Church or Religion so they may but safely and quietly enjoy a Temporal Peace to live in sensuality or hoard up riches and the trifling goods of this Life But this madness and vile esteem of so great a Good shall cost them dear when this momentary Life shall be ended and they suddenly fall into an endless Eternity Many Seducers are gone forth into the World many under Sheeps cloathing under a smooth pretence of God's Word hide a Wolfish Nature to the destruction of Christ's Sheep Our Lord hath admonished us more than once carefully to beware of them The Apostles and Holy Fathers have often warned us Eccles 13. He that touches pitch shall be defiled and he that loveth danger shall perish therein Eccles 3. The Times were never more dangerous and destructive to our Salvation than now the Fascination of the Devil was never greater nor a Spiritual frenzy more powerful with Men the operation of Errour was never more prevailing and successful and the minds of Men never blinder all which deservedly possess the understandings of those that disesteem this great Gift of the Catholick and Orthodox Religion and prefer Temporal Things before it Let those therefore that heartily desire to be saved preserve this Celestial Jewel and keep it with all carefulness because Life proceeds from it and because 't is a Supernatural Gift which without the Divine Assistance can neither be acquired nor preserved being invironed with so many Enemies Let them daily implore Gods help for themselves their Children and whole Family and add unto their Prayers Alms to the Poor with other Works of Piety for Prayer is good with Fasting and Alms and better than to heap up Treasures of Gold Job 12. Let them lead Lives agreeable to their Religion and allay their Thirst after the Goods of this Life with expectation and hope of Celestial and Eternal remembring the Saying of the Apostle 1 Tim 6.9 They that will be rich fall into Temptation and the snares of the Devil and many unprofitable and hurtful desires which drown Men in destruction and perdition for the root of all Evil is Covetousness which some desiring have erred from the Faith and intangled themselves in many sorrows By these helps they may securely walk amongst the differences and dangers of these Times and preserving intire the Gift of the only true Religion by it easily obtain Everlasting Life Amen To the Immortal and Invisible King of all the World the only God be all Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen An APPENDIX to the foregoing Consultation Whether every one may be saved in his own Faith and Religion WE have said in the Preface of the foregoing Treatise that it was a stupid and gross Errour of some that think it sufficient to Salvation if they believe in Christ and that he died for our Sins and we briefly demonstrated their Errour with certain Reasons But because this Errour is now far spread and hath infected the Minds of many I am intreated to explicare the same more at large Therefore I shall divide the matter into Two Questions The First is Whether it be sufficient to Salvation to believe in God and do no Body any injury that is to say Whether every one may be saved in his own private Faith or Belief if he endeavours to live honestly and virtuously The Second is That supposing that Faith in Christ is necessary Whether that alone be sufficient or whether we ought to believe something else The First Question AS to the First Question many at this time The Foundation of our Adversaries Opinion are of Opinion that every one may be saved in his own Faith or Religion The Reason which they chiefly give is because it seems to them incredible that all Jews and Turks many of which Worship God devoutly in their way and deal justly with their Neighbours should be damned eternally only because they do not believe in Christ since in this regard they seem not to offend very much because from their infancy they were taught otherwise For why should God who would have all to be saved make the way of Salvation so strict 1 Tim. 2.4 Joh. 3.17 Why should he condemn to Eternal Punishment these miserable Wretches who study to please him according to their Capacity who do no Man any Wrong but observe Justice and honesty of Life meerly for ignorance of that which they have not been sufficiently instructed in But this Opinion though consulting only Natural Reason It is refuted with Four Reasons ir seems to have some shew of Truth and Equity yet considering those things which God hath revealed to us in Scripture is altogether a Paradox For if every Turk or Jew may be saved in his own Faith or Belief then in vain the Apostles and Holy Fathers laboured so much to plant the Faith of Christ for they might abstain from a profession of this Doctrine without loss of their Salvation and remain contented with the Jews with a coufession of one God I add moreover Christ therefore was made Man in vain he wrought so many Miracles in vain that People might believe him to be the Messias and Saviour of the Would in vain he was Crucified and died for none of these things were necessary to Man's Salvation It had been enough to have sent Preachers through the World to perswade Mortals to believe in one God The Apostle uses this way of arguing saying If Justice be by the Law then Christ died in vain Gal. 2.21 that is if Justice may be obtained by the knowledge of one God and observation of the Law then Christ died in vain because his Death was not necessary to Salvation Second Reason Again the whole Scripture will he found false and lying which teaches That Christ is our Mediator Redeemer and Saviour which proposes him a Propitiator for us by Faith in his Blood Rom. 3. by whose Svcrifice we are reconciled to God by whose Blood we are
Man is unable to make his ways good or bad For if there is Liberty there is properly no Sin as a Lyon by devouring a Man though he does a mischief yet he sins not because he does it not freely but by the impulse of Nature nor is is it in his Power to moderate this impulse No Man will deserve punishment because what he does is of necessity therefore there will be no Hell nor punishment after this Life For it would be a great and intolerable Cruelty that Men should be condemned to Eternal Torments for doing that which they cannot possibly avoid Why then do they fear to follow the Lusts and Desires of their Heart and commit what Sins soever they list Fourthly When they teach That all the Works of Men as well good as bad are predestinated of God from Eternity Luth. sup Cal. l. 1. c. 17. § 5. c. 13. § 1. and that they may be done in time God inclines incites forces and decrees Man's Will to act them all For if God equally operates good and bad in us there is no reason why we should fly Evil or fear any punishment For God is not a Revenger of that of which he himself is the Author nor can he justly punish us for those Crimes which he will have done and which he forces us to do for this were more than Tyrannical Cruelty which is far from God Hereby 't is clearer than the Noon Day that these Religions four ways shake off all fear of God from Men's Hearts and give as great License to all manner of Wickedness as ever any Atheist And 't is so much the more pernicious because not so openly impious but having a shew and pretence of Religion and Honour of God namely under the specious and plausible Titles of a Special Faith Satisfaction of Christ Liberty of the Gospel and Providence of Divine Predestination Under colour of these fair Words so much Poyson is swallowed as totally corrupts the Minds and Manners of Men. Who therefore that has but a spark of right Reason and Understanding can believe these Religions are of God The Third Consideration from the Sanctity of the Professors THat Religion is to be preferred wherein most are famous for Holiness of Life For it cannot possibly be that a bad Religion should bring us to Piety or that true Sanctity can consist with a Wicked Religion But the Catholick Religion has had many in all Ages that have led most Holy Lives by the General Confession of all Christians Among whom to single out some of each Age and omitting innumerable others I reckon the Great St. Anthony St. Hilarion St. Gregory Thaumaturge St. Nicholas Bishop of Myre St. Athanasius St. Gregory Nazianzen St. Basil St. Symeon Sty lite St. Cyprian St. Hilary St. Martin St. Ambrose St. Hierome St. Augustine St. Benedict St. Gregory the Great St. Vaust St. Amand St. Wineck St. Bertin St. Willebrord St. Romuald St. Norbert St. Dominick St. Boniface St. Bruno St. Bernard St. Francis St. Bonaventure St. Thomas of Aquin St. Francis of Paul and many in our own Age. That all these were of the Roman Catholick Religion is not to be doubted since they adhered to the Roman Church made profession of her Faith and strongly maintained it and because likewise a great many of them were Monks and obliged by their Vows to lead a Monastick Life yea all the Rules of Monastick profession sprung from them That these were most Holy Men is verifyed by the general Confession of all Christians throughout so many Ages wherein each of them lived nor was there ever any question made of it the same being confessed by Hereticks especially of St. Bernard St. Dominick and St. Francis It would therefore be a great absurdity and impudence to deny the Truth of that or in the least question it which is acknowledged by the general consent of all the World If these Men therefore were Saints and Catholicks as all the World believes the Roman Catholick Religion which they held and professed must necessarily be the true Religion and proceed from the Spirit of God First Because 't is impossible that a false Religion can bring us to true Sanctity for Religion is the Foundation of Sanctity That Celestial Edifice cannot be built upon a vain thing upon a pernicious and sacrilegious Lye as every Lye in Religion is It cannot be that a false Religion should withdraw the Mind from Earthly Things and raise it to Heavenly that it should inflame the Heart with Divine Love and urge it to have a care of our Neighbour's Salvation with so much pains and Labour Now the Holy Catholick Religion which these Men professed and practiced perfected all these things in them and therefore it cannot possibly be false Secondly Without the true Religion it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. But by the consent of all these Men pleased God and were his great Friends Therefore their Religion was true For how by a false Religion could they please God who is the Truth Thirdly If their Religion was not true and from God then 't was from the Devil For he is a Lyer from the beginning and the Father of Lies Jo. 8.44 He hath always contrived by his Lyes and Deceits to deprave and corrupt the true Religion to the end to destroy Men's Souls If it were from the Devil how could it bring them to so great Sanctity and Piety and make them the Devil's Adversaries and Friends of God For what Society hath Justice with Iniquity What Communion hath Light with Darkness And what Agreement hath Christ with Belial 2 Cor. 6.14 c. Fourthly 'T is altogether incredible that God should permit so many innocent Men so great Despisers of themselves and all Earthly things so studious of the Divine Glory and such ardent Lovers of God to be deceived for so many Ages in a matter of so great Concern as the business of Religion which is the Foundation of all Piety Who can so wickedly censure the Goodness of God They omitted nothing on their side whereby to please God to advance his Honour and Glory they undertook the greatest Labours and Difficulties for his sake and did wholly consecrate and devote themselves to his service How can it possibly be that this infinite Goodness this true Light which enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World Jo. 1.9 should not shew his true Light and Truth to such eminent and beloved Servants but leave them in Darkness and Mortal Errours That would then be false which our Lord with double and repeated Promises so often said Ask and it shall be given you seck and you shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Matth. 7.7 Luk. 11. For S. Bernard S. Benedict S. Francis S. Dominick and other Lights and Miracles of the World all their Life-time earnestly craved sought and knock'd to obtain
accord without any Authority or Commission which is a certain sign they ought not to be believed but rejected For how shall they Preach except they be sent Rom. 10.15 He that entreth not by the door into the Sheep-fold but climbeth up some other way the same is a Thief and a Robber but he that entreth in by the door is the Shepherd of the Sheep Joh. 10.1 They enter not in by the door who usurp the Pastoral Office without Ordinary or Lawful Authority Whether Sectaries are sent by Christ But perhaps they will say that they were sent by Christ and received Authority from to reform the Church But 't is not enough to say so for all Arch-Hereticks or Sect-Masters affirm this of themselves therefore they ought to produce their Letters-Patents that Christ sent them whereby to convince us and confirm our Belief as the Apostles confirmed their Mission with great Miracles otherwise we ought not to accept their Reformation but are bound rather to reject them as Imposters Again how did Christ send them when they teach such different and contradictory Doctrine amongst themselves For if Christ sent Luther Calvin could not be sent by him who overthrows Luther's Doctrine in many points and damns it as Heritical On the contrary if Christ sent Calvin Luther then could not be sent by him for God is not contrary to himself nor does the Spirit of the Prophets contradict each other I omit other things which might be said to this purpose The Eighth Consideration from the consent of the Ancient Fathers and Doctors and their decision of Controversies without which there is no certainty THat Religion is to be imputed to Christ and to be preferred before all others wherein there is an unanimous consent of the chief Doctors and Fathers of every Age and Country since Christ about points of Faith which is an easie end to all Controversies and from which if you recede there is nothing to be relyed on for a certainty But such is the Roman Catholick Religion therefore 't is the only true Religion of Christ And First Touching the consent of Fathers about the Tenets of our Religion it appears by their Writings For as many ancient Doctors as have written in Greece in Asia in Egypt in Affrica in Spain in Italy in France in Germany in England of the Mysteries of our Religion are all consenting to Free-Will merit of Good Works the Sacrifice of the Mass for the Living and Dead Monastick Vows Fastings Feasts Invocation of Saints c. which are disowned by these New Religions neither can the Lutherans and Calvinists deny it but say these were the Spots and Blemishes of the ancient Fathers then inclining to Superstition and the Traditions of Men Cal. l. 2. c. 2.5.14 16. l. 3. c. 4 5. whence they fly to the Scriptures according to their own sense and interpretation But how improbable is this that all the ancient Fathers writing of these matters in divers places with so general a consent should err For the consent of many especially before they communiceate one with another in the same opinion is a great sign of Truth attracting their Minds to an unanimous consent thereof by divine illumination For 't is the property of Truth being but One to joyn and unite in consent but of Falsity being manifold to disperse into sundry Opinions and Errors Hence it is that Hereticks in several Countries writing of the same subject scarce ever agree but are divided into many Opinions having once forsaken the Truth Again there is no Tenet of the Catholick Religion can be shew'd which has been introduced a-new by any in the Church which is a manifest sign that it has always been in the Church and descended from the Apostles For if it were brought in a-new after the Apostles against Apostolical Doctrine it could be shew'd in what Generation or Age it was done where and by what Author and who opposed the same For no new Opinion is ever raised without great stir and contradiction Therefore we can shew the rise of all Heresies where when and by what Authors they first began who opposed them what strifes they made and finally what Pope and Council condemned them But if this can be demonstrated of particular Heresies how much more of the chiefest points of Religion if any innovation were made in them It is clear therefore that our Catholick Religion not only by the Succession of Ministers but also by Consanguinity of Doctrine as Tertullian expresseth it Lib. de Prescrip is continued and accords with the Ancient and Apostolical Religion That the Opinions of these New Religions disagree with those of the ancient Fathers Hereticks themselves abundantly confess since in the Chapters aforesaid they blame them of Superstition and averr they cannot be excused of Errour as we shall see more at large hereafter The Controversies of the Cath Church are easily appeased Secondly The Controversies that sometimes arise in the Church are easily decided by the continual practice of the Church For the Catholick Church hath an Infallible Judge of Controversies the Pope with a General Council by which Judge all Controversies have hitherto been easily concluded all Heresies sprung up in divers Ages have been condemned and Catholick People kept in one Faith one Religion and one Doctrine through the whole World In this manner was the Arrian Heresie condemned by the Synod of Nice under Pope Silvester the Macedonian Heresie by the Council of Constantinople under Pope Damasus the Nestorian Heresie by the Council of Ephesus under Pope Celestine the Eutychian Heresie by the Council of Calcedon under Leo the First the Iconomachists by the Second Council of Nice under Adaian the First and to omit others the Berengarian Heresie concerning the Eucharist by the Synod of Rome and Vercelles under Leo the Ninth by the Synod also of Tours under Victor the Second by the Synod of Rome under Nicholas the Second and by another Roman Synod under Pope Gregory the Seventh For all Reason requireth that the Cause of Religion being common to the whole Church should not be judged by private Persons that have obtained no Dignity nor Degree in the Church but by the Supreme Pastor of the Catholick Church together with other particular Prelates to whom the Regiment of the Church is committed and who are the Representatives of the whole Catholick Church As the Controversies about Laws and Privileges of a Kingdom are decided by none but the King and Chief Men who represent the whole Kingdom For to those who are made Superiors in any Community Spiritual or Temporal it belongs to allay Differences and decide Controversies about matters properly pertaining to their Government thereby to take away all contradiction for the suture And indeed unless the Church had this power it would have been very imperfect lamely instituted and more miserable than any Temporal Kingdom or Common-Wealth For there would never have been an end of Disputes and Contentions touching the chief points
and this he confesses he did on purpose against Limbus Patrum Purgatory and Christ's descending into Hell which he calls foul Errors and marvelleth that most of the ancient Fathers were in that error namely of Christ's descent into Hell and delivering the old Fathers What need we more He opposeth himself both against plain Scriptures and ancient Fathers perverting the one and contemning the other to overthrow that truth which is an Article of our Creed whereby it is evidently false which some of them say for their defence That none of them did purposely translate falsly Calvin so expounds almost all the places of Scripture which the Holy Fathers alledge to prove the Trinity of Persous and Godhead of the Son and Holy Ghost as to make them invalid whereby as he followed the Jews Sabellians Arians and Macedonians so he made way for the Socinians who first came up from among his followers The whole 53 Chapter of Isaiah which manifestly speaks of Christ's Passion Death and Satisfaction he Metaphorically Expounds of the troubles of the Jews which they suffered for their sins What could be more violently wrested oe more absurdly explicated What can more resemble the Jews perfidiousness Christ says If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandments Matth. 19.17 Calvin will have this to be spoken ironically or in a Jeer. It is written in the Epistle to the Hebrews Christ was heard for his Reverence Calvin Expounds for his fear and doubt and says that it signifies Christ was strucken with so great fear and terror of Death that he despaired as it were of his Eternal Salvation Monsieur de Plessis a Calvinist in a certain Book of his touching the Lord's Supper has corrupted above a hundred Testimonies of the ancient Fathers and Doctors by adding or diminishing and several Objections which the said Fathers urged against the Truth and afterwards solv'd as 't is frequent with St. Thomas and other School Doctors he has produced as their proper Judgment and Opinion Of which matter he was publickly convicted by the Bishop of Eureux be fore the King of France These things are known over all France The same tricks use all their Writers when they allege any thing out of the Fathers in defence of their Heresies Besides they omit plain places where the Scriptures or the Fathers explicate their meaning on set purpose and clearly and fly to obscure places of Scripture and of the Fathers where they speak only by the by or of another thing and do but touch upon the point in dispute How many Arguments do they bring not only against the Real Presence of Christs Body in the Eucharist but also against other most evident Articles of Faith As against Free Will Inherent Justice Merit of Good Works Authority of General Councils c. for there is nothing in our Faith so clear which may not in appearance be contradicted by certain obscure places in Scripture or the Fathers Nor is there any thing so absurd which may not be defended For what can be more absurdly said than that Christ's Body is every where as his Divinity is And yet they endeavour to confirm this by many Testimonies of the Scriptures and Fathers What is more absurd than to say God is the Author of all Evil That Man has no Free-Will And yet they instance many obscure places out of the Scriptures and Fathers to ratifie these things If they seek the Truth why do they let pass the clear places of Scripture and run from the plain to the obscure and in the explication of them why do they not acquiesce to the Judgment of the Antient Fathers and Doctors who were before our time but will rely upon their own sence only When any obscure Sayings of the Fathers seem to favour them presently they cite them and endeavour to strengthen their Doctrine with the Authority of Fathers But when Catholicks quote out of the Fathers that which clearly overthrows their Doctrine They Answer That the Fathers were men subject to Errour but themselves depend upon the Word of God which cannot err They reject the Fathers If you tell them that the Fathers relied upon the Word of God They Answer That the Fathers followed not the mind or Spirit of the Divine Word and therefore they were deceived If you ask them how they came to know that the Fathers observed not the true sence of God's word but that themselves do observe it They will Answer It is evident by the Word of God But how is it evident when there are so many different Interpretations thereof and all the Fathers interprete otherwise than themselves and the Lutherans otherwise than the Calvinists or Anabaptists Then they reply 'T is evident to him that has the Spirit but to others it is not evident So the Patrons of each Sect will Answer and the final Judgment of their several and different Opinions they refer to the private Spirit They reduce all things to the private Spirit The Calvinists therefore say that all the Fathers and Doctors and all the General Councils wanted the Spirit to understand the Scriptures the same Holy Spirit they affirm the Lutherans and Anabaptists wanted but themselves only possess him that God has given him only to the Calvinists and therefore to themselves its manifest that whatsoever they teach is the pure word of God The Lutherans say the same thing of the Councils and Pathers and also of the Calvinïsts and Anabaptists that they all want the Spirit of God which is given only to themselves and so say they it is clear that what we teach is the plain pure word of God In fine the Anabaptists do the same challenging to themselves the said Holy Spirit and denying him to all others But how absurd are all these things and how distant from all reason How incredible is it that all the Catholick Doctors and Fathers should lack the Spirit of understanding the Scriptures and that this Spirit should be granted only to the Calvinists Lutherans or Anabaptists How vain and ridiculous is it for every Sect to claim this Spirit to their own followers and without any other proof than to say It is manifest and clear to him that has the Spirit but not manifest and clear to him that has not the Spirit Is not this to walk in a Circle and beg the Principle and resolve all Controversie into that which is chiefly obscure and can be manifest to none For how shall I know that you have the Spirit When ever did the Doctors of the Catholick Church in this manner prove their Tenets For every proof or provation ought to be drawn from that which is more manifest to the Adversary and easier granted by him But this probation upon which is founded all their Principles proceeds from what is more obscure and depends only upon the Testimony of a private Man who is a Party and Accuser in the Cause for you cannot prove to me that you have this Holy Spirit but by
ean a false Faith avail to Salvation Then 't is all one Whether you believe the Creed in such a manner or in no manner Then every one may be saved though he does not believe many Articles of Faith The same I may say of the Scriptures for if it be sufficient to believe the Scriptures according to every one's interpretation since his sence may be oftentimes erroneous 't will be also enough though you do not believe them at all For a false Faith can be no more necessary to Salvation than no Faith whereby a Man believes nothing absolutely But if you say that we must believe the Symbol or Creed in its true sence then you condemn the Sectaries of these times none of which believe all the Articles of the Creed in the same sence with Catholicks and all of them differ in the explication of the Creed amongst themselves Therefore since there is but only One Truth all the Religions of these Times must necessarily swerve from the Truth except One only and therefore are insufficient to Salvation That they differ much in the sence or meaning The differences of Sectaries in understanding the Creed of the Creed is manifest For that Article And in Jesus Christ his only Son is explicated one way by the Arrians and many Calvinists namely that the Son is less than the Father and by the Catholicks and Lutherans another way for they hold him equal and of the same Substance with the Father The Article concerning Christ's descent into Hell the Calvinists interpret one way saying Christ sustained the Torments of the Damned doubted of his Salvation and was afraid he should have been utterly swallowed up by Eternal Death The Catholicks and Lutherans interpret it another way and will admit of no such exposition saying it is Calvin's Blasphemy The Article of Christ's Ascension into Heaven c. the Lutherans and Vbiquitarians expound one way holding Christ's Body to be every where as his Divinity is otherwise the Calvinists and Catholicks who doubt not but that such Expositions do overthrow in a manner all the Creed as Christ's Incarnation Nativity Passion Death Assension into Heaven and his Coming to Judgment The Article of Judging the Quick and Dead Catholicks expound one way saying that Christ shall so Judge as to reward our Good Works in Heaven and punish our Bad Works in Hell otherwise the Calvinists and Lutherans who deny all reward to Good Works and averr that an account will be only had of our special Faith at the Day of Judgment The Article concerning the Holy Ghost Catholicks and Lutherans understand one way the Arrians and many Calvinists another way The Article of the Church Lutherans and Calvinists understand of the invisible Congregation of the Predestinate Catholicks of the visible Congregation of Catholicks in which many are Predestinated and many Reprobate The Article of the Communion of Saints the Luthcrans and Calvinists so extenuate that they take away almost all Communion which is taught by Catholicks The Article of Remission of Sins they explicate of no imputation not acknowledging any Internal Renovation by inherent Justice and Grace infused as Catholicks judge Sins to be remitted Hereby is manifest how great a difference there is in the understanding of the Creed Therefore since there is but one Truth this we have shewed in our Consultation to be amongst Catholicks all Sects must of necessity hold a false Faith and false exposition of the Creed If therefore a true belief of the Creed is requisite it cannot be that every one may be saved in his own Faith If a false Faith sufficeth how can a false Faith be profitable to Salvation Sixth Reason The Holy Scripture is of no less Authority than the Apostles Creed nor is it a less injury to God to deny any thing expresly declared in the Scriptures than to reject any Article of the Apostles Creed therefore there is no reason why our Faith should be tyed to the Creed and in other things we should be left to our Liberty seeing we are as much obliged to believe all things in Scripture as in the Apostles Creed For although we are not bound to know all things distinctly contained in the Scriptures yet we ought to believe in general insomuch that we cannot without the sin of Heresie reject any part thereof as false and doubtful With what colour therefore or what probable shew of reason can it be said it matters not how you believe in other things so be it you believe in Christ and the Apostles Creed Why are we bound to believe the Creed rather than the whole Scripture since it is not of greater Authority than the Scriptures This is a fancy certainly too vain and rude void of any foundation Seventh Reason In all our Faith we must not only regard what we believe Our whole Faith depends on the foundation or motive of our belief but likewise and that chiefest of all upon what foundation we believe or what is the sole motive of our belief For upon this the whole Nature and Property of our Faith depends For as the motive of our belief is which we call the Foundation of our Faith such is the Faith it self If that be certain and cannot be deceitful our Faith also is certain and infallible If it be deceitful our Faith also will be uncertain and liable to Errour For Example The Turk believes that there is one God Creator of all things Why Because the Alcoran so teaches which he believes to be written by the Spirit of God His Faith although this which he believes be true depends on a false and fallacious foundation by force of which he is bound to believe many false and blasphemous things as that there are not Three Persons in the Godhead Father Son and Holy Ghost that Christ is not God and that he is less than Mahomet that Circumcision is to be observed and the like Therefore this Faith by virtue of this foundation is fallible and erroneous 'T is the same case with all Hereticks The Faith of all Sects depends on a false foundation This being laid down I thus argue That Faith which depends on a fallacious foundation although it believes some things which are true yet cannot be said to be sufficient to Salvation but the Faith of all Sectaries of this time depends on a fallacious or wrong foundation therefore it cannot be sufficient to Salvation The Proposition is manifest of it self For how can that which is false and lying be the Basis or Foundation of Eternal Salvation how can the true Religion whereby we please God be founded on a false belief Certainly this is as far from all reason as if you should say that Truth depends on a Lye Wisdom upon Errour and Vertue upon Vice It remains then to prove the Assumption or other proposition viz. That all Sectaries rely on a fallacious foundation A threefold foundation I shew thus They believe their Opinions either for the authority of
have some Rule of Faith and Foundation of their Belief agreeable to Natural Reason namely the consent of their Ancestors or the Scripture interpreted according to the Sence and Religion of their Ancestors But most of the Hereticks of our Times regard not much their Ancestors and Apostles from whom they first received this New Gospel but looking upon them as Men subject to Errour though they also pretended to the Spirit as well as these forsake them and rely totally upon their own judgment or testimony of their own private Spirit or which is all one the Holy Scripture according to the sence of their own judgment or private Spirit which is an evident sign that Satan so effectually operates in them and infatuates their Minds that not only every one frames to himself New Heresies and Opinions but makes his own judgment the foundation of his Faith and Rule of Belief for every one thinks he is taught of God even Women and Children and therefore secure from all Errour What greater facination and Delusion can there be than this Hence it is that they have no certain and established Principles they decree no Body of Doctrine and Religion but ramble in uncertainties as the private Spirit shall drive them Nor can there be any dispute with them about any of their Principles because they stick to none and by reason of their ignorance they know not the Doctrine of their Ancestors But of this Spirit of Giddiness we have said more in our Consultation Consid 9. and Reason 11. Hereby it is manifestly concluded that the whole Foundation of Faith which the Sectaries of our time rely on is deceitful and therefore their Belief which depends on it is unprofitable to Salvation Eighth Reason If every one may be saved in his own Faith that confesses Christ why is there so great a dissension amongst Religions Why do they all condemn one another of Heresie and Thunder Anathema's against each other Why do the Lutherans refuse to acknowledge the Calvinists for their Brethren and publickly in their Sermons and Books avouch them to be impious and blasphemous Why in the like manuer do the Chief of the Calvinists among whom Theodorus Beza is the Father of all after Calvin so treat the Lutherans Why do the Anabaptists call themselves the only faithful Christians and esteem all others as Infidels whereby is apparent that this new fancy of being saved in any Religion is not only against the Catholick Doctrine but also against all the Sects that have any zeal for Religion or Piety and is only too proper for Atheists Ninth Reason That one may be saved it sufficeth not to keep two or three of the Commandments but of necessity he must observe all according to that of our Lord If thou would'st enter into Life keep the Commandments Mat. 8.9 For Example If any one should be an Adulterer or Thief although he should keep the other Commandments yet he cannot be saved without Repentance as the Scriptures every where teach So likewise it sufficeth not to Salvation to believe three or four Articles of Faith but of necessity we must believe all Articles which God hath revealed and propounded to our Faith by his Church For the true Faith is no less necessary to Salvation than Obedience to Gods Commandments nor ought Faith to be less perfect and intire than Obedience and Observation of the whole Decalogue As therefore our Obedience ought to extend it self to all the Commandments so Faith ought to extend it self to all things revealed according to St. James Whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one is guilty of all for he that said thou shalt not commit Adultery said also thou shalt not kill Now if thou do not commit Adultery yet if thou kill thou art become a Transgressor of the Law Jam. 2.10 As if he should say he is made guilty of all and shall be punished as a Transgressor or Violator of the whole Law for despising the Law-maker who is the Author of the whole Law Therefore in like manner he that shall deny one Article of Faith although he believes all the rest is become guilty of the breach of his whole Faith and Religion because he contemns God the Supream Truth who revealed no less this than the others He contemns also the Catholic Church 1 Tim. 3.5 which is the Spouse of Christ and the Pillar and Ground of Truth and which proposes to our Belief as well this Article as the rest Note And this is the reason why he is no less an Heretic that obstinately denyeth one Article of Faith than he that denyes an hundred because in regard of this one which he denyes he despiseth God the first Verity which revealed it and he despiseth the Authority of the Church which propounds it he makes the Church also subject to Errors and a Lye whereby he makes all the rest uncertain and destroys all Divine Faith Note For if you take away the Foundation of Divine Faith all Faith must necessarily fall to ruin and decay and only Opinion or human Belief liable to Error remain Tenthly and Lastly This Opinion is very dangerous in the practice for it makes a man not care what Religion he is of what he believes or disbelieves Therefore he seeks not after the Truth and as easily and securely receives Falsehood as Truth And yet not only Catholics but even the more noted Sects such as are more eminent for Learning and Wisdom hold for a certain and undoubted Truth that without the true Faith and Religion none can be saved but will perish everlastingly Therefore the followers of this Opinion are condemned by all wise Men and they promise to themselves Salvation upon no Authority no Testimony of Scripture nor the support of Reason relying meerly upon the vain and foolish Imagination of their own Brains Let them hear therefore out of St. Fulgentius what Antiquity has ever held and what the Church hath taught in all Ages For so he writes as a general Rule of Faith Hold this for a most certain and infallible Truth Lib. de fide ad Pet. 6. Diac. c. 38. That not only all Heathens but likewise all Jews Heretics and Schismatics which end this present Life out of the Catholic Church shall go into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Again Most firmly believe and doubt not in the least chap. 39. That every Heretic or Schismatic baptised in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost if he be not reconciled to the Catholic Church whatever Alms he gives and let him live never so vertuously and devoutly though be should lay down his Life and shed his Blood for Christs sake yet he cannot be saved For every one that sticks not to the Vnity of the Catholic Church neither Baptism nor Plentiful Alms nor Martyrdom for Christ will profit to Salvation so long as any Heretical or Schismatical perverseness remains in him which leads to Death This was always the belief of the Holy Catholic Church and the undoubted Doctrin of all the Fathers which if all who are out of the Catholic Church would seriously and sadly consider and lay to heart they would clearly see what a dangerous State they live in and being sensible of their danger with Holy Resolutions hasten to the Ark of Salvation to preserve themselves from Eternal Ruin Which that they may do Do thou O Christ The True Light of the World Enlighten their Minds Amen FINIS