if it be confirmed by the Pope it cannot be confirm'd till finish'd if finish'd it hath err'd or not err'd if err'd the Pope ought not to confirm falshood if not err'd it was truth before he confirm'd it and at best his assent is but signum pro causa or a Councell must be either infallible by the means or the prophetick part the conclusion the means humane learning fallible meanes may have fallible effects or if by the conclusion the spirit makes no use of meanes they must either make means uselesse or open a gap for Enthusiasts to ruffle the Church Where two or three are conven'd Christ is in the midst of them to concede what he shall think fit for them not they fit for themselves a generall Councell may bee supposed not to erre led by the spirit of truth in Scripture and not presuming to lead both spirit and Scripture no Father having to deal with Hereticks intitled Councels infallible The letters of Bishops according to Saint Austine may bee disputed by more learn'd Bishops nationall Councells by plenary and even plenary may be amended the former by the later that onely which is found in Scripture may be neither doubted nor disputed The comforter shall abide with them and lead them into all truth viz. the Holy Ghost that lead the Catholick Church not into all curious truths in or about the faith but all truth necessary to salvation in which the Catholike Church can't erre for if it could erre it could not bee holy Sect. 67. Now let us peruse a little of the Elixir of the Fathers which some Pontificians sure rightly understood would turn al into Catholike Gold in which we may believe them but never that it is able to convert one intelligent man to be a Papist Illa Ecclesia quae fuit omnium gentium jam non est periit apostavit hoc dicunt qui in illa non sunt O impudentem vocem illa non est quia tu in illa non es vide ne tu ideo non sis nam illa erit etiamsi tu non sis O vocem abominabilem detestabilem c. hanc praevidit spiritus Dei ecce ego vobiscum sum usque ad Consuminationem seculi Sed forte ista civitas quae mundum tenuit universum aliquando evertetur absit Deus enim fundavit in aeternum si Deus fundavit in aeternum quid times ne cadat Portae inferorum non praevalebunt contra eam quod si non credâ—s verbo ipsis operibus crede Multo facilâ—us mâ—hi persuaderem Christo non esse credendum quam de illo quidquam nisi ab his per quos credidissem esse credendum Deus posuâ—t in sole tabernaculum suum qui contra Lucernam in candelabro positam oculos claudunt quid amplius dicturus sum quam caecos esse Quomodo impurâ—ssâ—me Diabole Ecclesiam te posse putas deâ—jcere adulterari non potestâ— sponsa Christi incorrupta est Pudica est domum unam novit unius cubiculi Sanctitatem casto pudore custodit Hoc Ecclesiae proprium est ut tum vincat cum laeditur tum intelligatur cum arguitur tum obtineat cum de seritur Haec ergo navis Ecclesia est quae si quotidie saeculum istud tanquam aliquod pelagus fortiter infestum nunquam elidâ—tur ad saxum nunquam mergitur ad profundum super petram fundata Ecclesia nullâ tempestate Concutitur nullo turbine ventisque subruitur Quorsum haec what a flood of Fathers is here without a drop of reason who ever deny'd God would have a Church spread ore the face of the Earth yet this implies that the Roman is only Catholick a Monopoly of heaven and mercy by usurpation of the name or because the Rivers of life shall not cease while time flowes to stream in the Citty of God his holy Catholick Church they lose their current if they stream not in the channells of Romish phancies Who would not with Saint Austin rather believe nothing of Christ then the Gospell of Peter Bartholomew Nicodemus the Acts of Paul and Tecla c. ridiculous figments of giddy heresie where the Devill in an Angell of lights shape would have brought darknesse in fashion this implies not sure we must not believe the true Gospell without it is maâ—gin'd with Pontifician notes and fenc'd with profit-angling baits of phanatick interpreters Gods Tabernacle is in the Sun and he hath a Church like the Sun shining with light and eminent in vertues who see not this light in a candlestick or so great a mountain as Gods Church Christianity more eminent then all other Religions with the Father I could call them no lesse then blind I should think them hallucinate could not see through the disfigurements of truth and veils of ceremonies a face of Religion in the Romish Church but desperately blind could see no other and after he had received the phantasticall garb would shut his eyes and think it immodesty to view poor truth naked I may believe with Saint Cyprian the Devill cann't deject the spouse who leaves not Christs bed to lie with Adonis or exchanges Christianity for Paganism the joyes of his Spirit for the salt waters of Mundan complacencies or the pure streamâ— of life for polluted puddles of phanatick interpretations I can assent to Saint Hilary Persecution is the Churches seed to Saint Ambrose the Church is a Ship secure in storms to Saint Hierom a Rock which windes nor waves move Yet believe these sayings have no other relation to the Roman Church then the Roman hath relation to the Catholick Church by being part of the whole body of Christianity of which Christ is the head Sect. 68. Papists while they bring in the Fathers in vizards may terrifie some weak ones but the vizards once pluckt off from the faces of the Fathers the children whom they have afrighted dare play with them and wise men conclude the cause not honest which needs a disguise since the confines of truth is to be naked Ignatius called the Roman Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most chast and Metropolis of the Region of the Romans and wishes those things may be firm which they teach May the Roman Church be firme to what it then taught and then may all firmly believe what she teaches and though not in a power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Ignatius was ignorant of but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which he mentions be President Polycarp communicated with the Roman Church though disagreed about Easter was content to passe over rather a trifling formality then renounce his charity who instructs us nothing of their Roman power may instruct us in the power of Godlinesse not to relinquish Christian communion for triviall observances Irenaeus praises the Roman faith succeeding with Episcopacy yet oppugns Victor sure he dream'd not of Pontificiall infallibility Saint Cyprian saies the Romans are such to whom
grease of maintenance onely creak make a noise and disquiet the world Sect. 2. Most Polemicks while they have too rashly charg'd the body of error have made themselves her Captives and lent Antagonists Trophies of their rashnesse Though truth is a strong fort inconsideration may become a traytor and expose it to the mercy of an enemy Most men are so drunk with dispute and inebriated by their passions that they cast at Antagonists heads all they can lay hold on not fearing a rebound or what weapons they administer to their own ruine show the weakness of their adversaries with so much of their own that they lend opportunities to error they permit the wild bore in their Vineyards would keep out the Foxes and open a gap for the Foxes would expell the Wild bore they whose malice nam'd the Bishop of Rome Antichrist their weaknesse opened a door to the Brownist to bring in their own orders as rivolets from that See into the premunire of Antichristian While Rome would prevent dissentious they are forc'd to dissent from themselves admit that overgrown monster tyrannons infallibility like the Wild Bore of the Forrest to lay wast Gods Vineyard grown cruelly subtle by age and confidence in his tuskes gores all that stand in opposition â—oming with maliâ—e ambition and Avarice and wallowing in impurities they who dissent from these have not learn'd to agree with themselves each one hath his distinct Idol different Concubine various glosse on which their phancies set produces a brood of sects While they adulterate the Scripture and seem to approve that which they so much decry while they wed themselves to the Idols of their own phancy become the greatest Idolaters or confirm Copernicism with their whimzies the Earths motion by a continuity of giddinesse Sect. 3. With the Lyrck Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri me quocunque rapit tempestas deferor Neither shall I put gall in the ink I write of Religion because others sowre their language If I open sores the launching shall be onely to let out their corruption or take away the proud flesh that keeps the wounds of the Church from healing And though I may confess with S. Bernard Non sit major superbia quam ut unus homo toti congregattoni judicium suum praeferat tanquam ipse solus spiritum Dei habeat yet 't is a different thing for a man modestly in some points dis-satisfied to propose quaeres not to a Congregation onely but the Catholick Church and a sober man may without trenching on irreligion or the least touch of madness or insolency dispute a matter of Religion with the Roman or Church or Prelate as Irenaeus with Victor modesty accompanying and a desire to fist out truth free from vanity and purpos'd opposition even against a particular Church though to dispute an â— Article of Faith what the Catholick Church hath alwayes believ'd is what S. Austine calls insolent madness But in other things Consent of Nations Authority confirm'd by Miracles and Antiquity of S. Peters chair and succession from it motives to keep in the Catholick Church must not hold against demonstration of truth quae quidem si tam manifesta monstratur ut in in dubium venire non possit proponenda est omnibus illis quibus in Catholicâ teneor ita si ali quid apertissimum Evangelioâ— they have opened the gates and made the way that went before us non Domini nostri sed duces fuere truth lies open to all it is no mans severall patet omnibus veritas nondum est occupata multum exilia etiam futur is relicta dissentire licet sed cum ratione non mihi credendum sed veritati Sect. 4. Though I cannot look upon the Pope with that dreadfull apparition which some affrighted with the horror of their own imaginations who character him by a Virgils Polyphemus monstrum horrendum informe ingens cuilumen ademptum Or some sad and distorted phancies flutering betwixt the twilight of ignorance and self-conceit bandy against the name with prejudice as it nothing could result from thence might not taint the odour of virtue and innocence yet could I but believe infallibility to bee the Prerogative of the the pontificial chair I might believe with the Schoolmen sin a non-entity that Pontificial impurities passing for nothing the chair might be secur'd from rasher imputations St. Irenaeus might not accuse a Victor S. Cyprian a Stephen S. Athanasius a Pope Liberius for Arrianism all that pretend to goodnesse Heresie in an Anastatius Honorius John 22. Necromancy in a Silvester Magick in a third Paul a John the 8th 12 13 14 15 16 17. as if the name which implies gratious could import a concatenation of mischiefe they being link'd together in with the 7th Boniface for the most part entring like Foxes living like Lyons and dying like Dogs non montes parturient ridiculum murem sed secundum ridiculum morem in the eight John and Benedâ—ct the 9th supposed to appeare in the shape of a Monster after death because in all his life hee appeared not lesse then a Monsteâ— in all his Actions a 6th Vrban could drown five Candinalls for revenge andas if this had been too little let loose a deluge of impiety the 5. Cardinal virtues suffering for name sake But these are modest vey'd with witchcrafts incests cruelties of a sixth Alexander Idolatrous sacrifices in a Marcelln Diabolicall applications in a Celestine inhumations and such ridiculous peeces of cruelties in others that even Paganism is charitable and Mahometism it self comparatively virtuous Should I omit a 10th Leo's that Father of Christendom in long Coats who before the times others do arrive at age had attain'd to be Father of all the Aged a Pope at twenty quantum peperit nobishaec fabula Christi and after a dispure de animâ redit in nihilum quod fuâ—t ante nihil but I would sally no further shrowds best befiit the dead and by a candid retrogradation to draw a white veil of innocence over those who should have been nursing Fathers to the Church yet let mee tell you Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how assents he to Christ in his words who dissents from him in his works Three blazing Comets conspicuous in the Roman Horizon at the same time it would be strange if they should produce no alteration in the Ecclesiastick body three Popes cohabiting at Rome three in diverse Countries a schism for forty years Popes at the French and German devotion Ambition and Corruption to the attaining the Papall dignity as Platina being more prevalent then a Christian life it would be a miracle above any Legends pretend to that Contrariety should râ—concile mutuall Contradictions render infallible while the Church musick must bee onely set out of such discord Antipopes not onely in competition for but opposition to the pontificial dignity of the Popes infallibility see your own
CHARITY Commended OR A Catholick Christian Soberly Instructed By J. C. M. D. Quicquid deficiunt alia unica supplet charitatis gratia quae in aeternum non deficiet St. Ber. LONDON Printed and are to be sold at most Book-Sellers Shops 1667. TO THE READER PAper Kites on all sides fly high born up with the air of popular applause and wind off phancy to the admiration of plebeian heads thoâ—gh the prayer-toyes of idle children while they misuse paper and mispend time are of as great value as the elaborate pieces of most polemicks whose books are the disguises of faction and diseases of Charity by irreligious disputes of what they miscall religion drawing that blood which should quicken the heart of Religion from mens hearts into their heads leaving their hearts destitute of zeal to God and mutuall dilection and filling their hearts with choler which produces that phrantick zeal which discomposes the world or stuffing them with phâ—egm which lulls them into a Lethargy of indifferency in religion or raising those melancholy vapors which cause these Epileptick paroxisms in quaking enthusiasts Hence comes this morris dance of religions the glorious body of Christianity minced into factions makes but an Olio distastefull to Jew or Gentile and it would be a wonder to have a Iew converted to Christianity to what sect soever he was converted the other would condemn him and this might not seem a way to come to God but a path to Belial even amougst Christians I have known not a few whose too forward zeal to find out religion hath carried them out of all religion when their fiery zeal had made a blaze it went out in the stench of Atheism The specious name of Catholick hath biassed no lesser numbers to Rome but the spiders web of papall infallibility spun fine by school wits not strong enough to hold them finding the lines drawn from bowels poysoned with self-interest breaking this Cobweb net they disdain all religions as religations to insnare and believe religion not above a state trick or a vizard to fright Children and cheat the world since the world varies dssguises as frequently as it changes interests A giddy minorage instructed me to make prodigious sallies joyn with these Babell builders to try if I could elix truth out of so great a confusion of Languages but the fruits of my curiosity prov'd not above the Apples of Sodom I was discompos'd by the noise rather then edify'd by the tongues and taught with Octavian to cry out utinam nescissem literas to wish often that I had been ignorant of letters since they could not furnish me with the knowledge of Christs Cross I retir'd within to seek that at home which I could not find abroad and having anatomized others in vain I now dissect my self rather then be inexperienced here I find not those antipathies which I meet in others I seem constellated for all Countries and could live peaceably under any national Church though I would not joyn with any schism which is made to colour over a rebellion while a monstrous zeal player-like takes a vizard which hee rejects his part once acted for this indifferency though Erasmus-like I am hung up betwixt Heaven and Hell renounced of all Communions yet Conscientiae satisfeci nihil in famam laborati sequatur vel mala dum bene mereor By being charitable to all I cannot deserve evill of any and I hope no national Church so ill but may deserve my charity the first sally of my pen intended nothing beside an Apologeticall Epistle and by an autopsâ—e or self-unravelling to satifie my self and a Romanist of him of whom he had talk'd much and knew little proposing neither order or method it being my Province to unravel the mysteries of riddling nature rather then the disguises of Antick Polemicks but my glib penne found it easier to ingage then to retreat and while the multitude of my own thoughts oppress'd me the fear of my own disability would not suffer me to betray the succours which reason offer'd even the whole militant Church lending the weapons of Antagonists and offering the Canons of the Church against them which I shall bring in with the flag of defiance to no Christian Communion neitheir make use of the forces to gratifie any faction for all carry the Angels motro glory be to God on high and goodwil towards men I introduce Charity neither maim'd nor mutilated Since she is inrich'd with a plenteous offspring which she holds within the arms of Christian Communion I would not deprive herof any of her Children whom none can truly expresse it they do not describe her with her arms full and although the Papist terme it it is mistaken yet mistaken charity is to bee preferr'd before none and should heady and shallow Enthusiasts misconstrue it yet the learn'd and more refin'd spirit who is more blear-ey'd with prejudice or squints to self-interest will afford me that charity which I afford all to whom as Vespasian to Aâ—ollonius I conclude with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To a Learnd Romanist APologies serve onely to multiply Discourses and the itch of dispute becomes the Scab of the Church Controversies being either the Ebullitions of indigested Idleness symptomes of distemper'd zeale or inebriations of Passion while men in distractions ly idle seriously foolish or drunke with dispute forget the Holy Ghost to talke of an holy Church and by relinquishing their Charity lose the Communion of Saints most Polemick Divines being no more to be beleev'd then Lawyers who have least right to that they pleade for and doe it onely for the fees of promotion while the people are wrung by the eares they easily remitt their ear-rings to reare a golden Calfe to worship or forge one out of silver each Country being as able as Ephesus from a silver forge to produce a Diana Who phancy profit raise Idols of their Phancy gaine profits by maintaining Prophets to maintain them And no coyne can be so adulterate as not to passe currant if it bee but stamp'd with the face of Religion I would not act high treason against heav'n by adulterating my Kings Coyne or by an uncharitable clipping of it take away the Crowne and obscure the Image of my Redeemer or by a pruriginous affectation of scribling increase the Scab of Church or State or that the Luxury of my phancy should like the ranknes of other's wanton out into weeds in the garden of the Spouse If errour would not triumph over tacit truth silence argues no assent and introduces no supposition of guilt though all may accuse the sallies of a prodigious curiosity none should the excursions of a rasher pen the spitle cast on me from inane and jejune noddles should only mortifie my quick silver and it heale the itch of my curiosity the inke which I have tooke from the pens of all ages be appli'd to cure the tetters of my own dilating vanity and not profus'd on others
of our sins sting us look up upon him who was lifted up with healing under his wings and have respect to the fruits of the land of promise that blessed Canaan not being discourag'd by the Gyants of our sins but lift up our hands with Moses strengthned by the two Tables the Commandements of God till we overcome them and having the Corner stone Christ Jesus to support us in our weaknesse who will not fail them who rely on him in all their conflicts with the world the flesh and the Devill we may subdue the enemies of our peace who hinder us in our progresse to the promis'd Land Sect. 16. I may believe him conceiv'd of the Holy Ghost yet may safely neither believe the Popes and some Pontificians nor the conceptions of our Enthusiasticks of the holy spirit I can believe Christ born of a Virgin Mary yet need not believe a Virgin Maries Temple born by Angels to Loretto nor doubting the truth of the Virgins milk with which the Popish Priests impose on the vulgar may impose the stigma of infidel on me and deprive me of the milk of the word of truth He who had respect unto her humility will not have respect unto them who too much humble her since the glory of Heaven overshadow'd and the Bridegroom of our souls shined forth from the closet of her womb Nor exalt them who her that was humbled in her own eyes exalt in theirs above their Creator Casheer his name to admit hers in the Psalter while an Ave Mary can bring a Te deum Laudamus out of fashion and Christ himself must stil be in pupillage May we all provide innocent spotlesse and Virgin hearts for a Saviour to be born in so that we all may have by the overshadowing of the holy spirit a right Conception of him whose Conception could not be without it and be accounted for the mother and brethren of the Lord while wee do the will of his Heavenly Father Sect 17. I could wish that Christ still suffer'd not under a Roman Governor but instead of a Pilate he would be a good Pilot no longer steer by the gales of profit or the Whirlewind of ambition which may ingulph the bark of the Church into an Abysse of misery but calming the troubled Sea of his own lusts into moderation the winds of error and waves of false Doctrine may cease and the leaky vessell of the Roman Church by the pump of Faith and sincere repentance may arrive at the Haven of eternall security in vain like Pilat he may seek to wash his hands from the guilt of Christs blood while he can embrue them in the blood of Christians and suffer his Polemicks to plant thorns on Christs brow spinous questions and with the mock pageantry of state make Christian Religion ridiculous to Jew and Gentile Neither the Clergy though their name implies lot should as relative to their name and Christian warfare Souldier-like cast lots for Christs Coat neglecting internall purity quarrell about the supervesture externall ceremonies of Religion while their tongues sharp as spears pierce Christs sides through their brethren who is still crucified by Jews and betwixt theeves who rob Gods word while we apprehend examine accuse condemn shame and crucifie one another when we should rather crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof as pride envy malice and contention conforming our selves to the Image of a crucified Saviour and not to the crucifyers of a Saviour by our vices since some truths though seemingly precious are not so plac'd in competition with Christian-charity peace and communion with all who are fellow-members of Christs body Wee must relinquish that which is valuable rather then him who is above all value while dissention can renew his wounds in his members Dull phlegmatick and Plebeian constitutions are not only subject to paralytique but even apoplectick distemperatures sometimes they tremble and discompose Religion in their jealous furies and sometimes are superstitious and supine and stupid in trivial and ridiculous fooleries Resembling Apes and Dotterells more apt to imitate mops mows and gesticulations then vertues while others are madder then those who are asham'd of humanity because Apes have some resemblance with humane nature Sect 18. Cannot any one be perswaded Christ descended not into Hell since a S. Cyprian averrs this Article neither in the Roman or orientall Symbole and Tertullian takes no notice of it and Shâ—ol and his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 implies the grave without descending thither May I leave the works of Hell pride malice and uncharitablenesse by works of light treat with God where he is in Heaven by believing Christ was in Hell will not much advantage me in the way to Heaven though my uncharitablenesse to a misconceiving brother may warp me toward Hell Hell is described by the valley of Hinnom where sacrific'd children weak ones in Christ while their tongues are kindled at Hell fire who with trifling differences make schisms in the Kingdom of Gods Church and Communion which Saints should have for the service of Christ their King the Lords anointed against the powers of darknesse Sect. 19. May not any one believe in the Holy Ghost though hee should not phancy the picture or the sencelesse story of the Doves want of gall or the holy spirits non-appearance in that shape but onely hovering like a descending Dove Oh doubt the infallible pontificiall and enthustiasticks spirit one being repraesentative of the other where murder revenge Adultery and treasons are Cohabitants and by a necessary illation must passe for the fruits of that all-disposing spirit consecrate impiety and make villany precious while God himself must be introduc'd witnesse to a lie May we have the innocency of Doves in our Conversation the mourning of Turtles in the sorrow for our sins and a delight in the streams of life the holy Scriptures as the Dove in the waters finally all the resemblances with the Dove which imitate the gifts of the holy Ghost that the holy spirit may dwell in us which is pictur'd in the shape of a Dove Sect. 20. Wil it not suffice to believe a holy Church and not to believe in it since a Saint Cyprian informs me God is onely to be believ'd in or believe not a Church or Christian can be out of the Catholick Church since all men and Churches make up but one Catholick and the notion of Catholick introduc'd in opposition to the Jewish Church may not as oppositely be oppos'd to the Roman who like Jews presume a monopoly of Gods mercy the light of ages light of nature supernaturall light of Scripture must onely shine in their dark lanthorns and all blind who believe things not onely above reason but against it while a part must be greater then the whole a particular Church the Catholick resembling the mad-man who lived in a Sea-port town called all ships his own which arived at the haven All Bishops who have either writ appealed or communicated with
theirs must have sworn vassalage to the Papacy Sect. 20. Or that communion of Saints was an article of levelling taken up pro necessitate temporum since Saint Cyprian takes no notice of it in his time and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Praising God and having all things common was the Saints communion May we all be members of one body while we show a mutuall sympathy partake of the same head by obeying Christs directions cemented together with his blood and knit by the unity of his spirit though every part may conduce to the good of the other none can so supererogate as the other may be uselesse similar nor dissimilar breeds no contrarietie but all parts comply to the service of the whole no dissimilitude of site motion ceremony divide but the gangreen of sin only enforces an amputation ne pars sincera trahatur The eyes are not incensed against the feet for not seeeng nor doth the ear commence a quarrell with the hands for not hearing or the back parts about the faces uncovering since decency of one part is the indecency of another every part not made for it self but for others all to the captivity of the head in compliance of whose dictates we must expect an unity in the body But an uniformity would prove a monster above a sober expectation above the chymaera's or phantasms of Enthusiasts who damn all the world that weather-cock-like turns not round with their own vertiginous heads Scimus quosdam quod semelimbiberint nolle deponere nec proposituÌ„ suum facile mutare sed salvo inter collegas pacis concordiae vinculo quaedam propria apud se semel usurpata retinere nec nos vim cuique facimus nec legem damus was the opinion of Saint Cyprian I could wish those who pretend most to be of his opinion would challenge a little of his charity Sect 22. For forgivenesse of sins I as little believe a Solifidian as a Romish Priest that attrition by absolution becomes contrition the one while he deceives himselfe by a lie or the other while he imposeth upon others secure neither from being deceived they may send to the father of lies but lying will scarce bring to the God of truth since none can be implanted in the death of Christ who bring not forth the fruit of this tree of life nor partake of the resurrection to life everlasting He that will be saved must keep the faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sound in faith and free from reproach in conversation holy as well as whole and so his holinesse himselfe may be prov'd the most fallible and though they violate the sense of the word while they render it inviolate yet God grant that they may keep it inviolate no more writh and wrench it to rivet in their own ambitious designes and we may keep it so undefiled that Momus himselfe may not carp at our lives since Christs death is mention'd for our regeneration birth for mortification resurrection for our rising in newnesse of life that we may enjoy the communion of Saints remission of sinnes and resurrection of our bodies to eternall life Sect. 23. There are but a few credenda petenda and agenda where I cannot avoid an Anathema non credendo non opponendo I will seek security embrace verities all hold if I cannot those wherein they differ though sometimes enterlacing discords graces the best Musick yet a quiet error is rarely not to be preferred before an unruly truth and crochets and quavers prove unseasonable when they disturb the plain songs of peace and it is better a son of the Church should be unknown then what they report of the viper he should make his way through the bowells of his Mother or a Milstone hung about his neck and he buried in the depth of his imaginations rather then they soar in the narrow way and keep weak brethren from heaven It shall not trouble me with Delrio whether the old Serpent was a Viper with Bonaventure and Comestor a Dragon or with Eugubinus a Basilisk or with others a common Snake it shall trouble me rather to continue the delusion of the Serpent by endeavours of propagating error that Adam tasted forbidden fruit may trouble me what fruit shall not I shall number it among the foâ—bidden fruits of knowledge which so many wiser heads have made disquisitions after and would have truth satisfied by the relish of their palats Sect 25. Whether our Saviours Crown was made of Paliurus or a piece of it visited Glassenburie and the precursor of his death turns an Angel of his Nativity blooming every Christmas day is not worth a disquisition I could make a Rose by moistning dilate and by rendring again insucâ—ous close may I rather avoid those thorns the curse of my sins which may render me incapable of both Whether Durantes distick of the Crosse be true need be no part of my creed Pes Cedrus est truncus Cupressus oliva supremum Palmaque transversum Christi sunt in cruce signum May I partake of no corruption like the Cedar in mourning for sin resemble the Cypresse by fertility in goodnesse assimilate the Olive so shall I flourish like a Palm even in the storms and pressures of this world mount upward by taking up the Crosse and following be partaker of him who was crucified Prudent symbols and pious applications may have an influence upon ingenious conceivers which may elevate devotion but on the mad rabble melancholy Monks and ignorant Priests they have no other efficacy beside warping to Magicall applications and miraculous expectancies It shall not trouble me whether the soul of Christ in triduo mortis went into Hell really as Thomas Aquinas believes or virtually and by effects only as Durand or whether the soul of Christ did descend really and in essence into the lowest pit of hell and place of the damned or really only into the place or region of hell called limbum Patrum and then but vertually from thence into the lower hell The Father to him who ask'd what God did before he made the world answe'rd Provide hell for such curious scrutinists as you are Non per difficiles Deus ad be atam vitam quaestiones vocat c. in absoluto nobis facili est aeternitas Jesum suscitatum à mortuis credere ipsum esse Dominum confiteri I will not procure a certain purgatory to my selfe here to make stranger guesses of an incertain one hereafter or whether the inventor of it Origens purgatory which could even purifie Devills reform them to Angels of light or the differing purgatory of S. Gregory Nissen St. Cyprian or St. Austin carry a greater probability or the Roman purgatory which took a platform from neither I can believe I may find a way to heaven without taking purgatory in my way or else the Fathers before Gregory the great might mistake never any one was directed that way with above an ut
obedience to believe our own without enquiring into others cannot satisfie conscience Damnation by all visible Hierarchies every mouth smutcht with hells fire-brands is thundred against them which believe any Doctrine but theirs It cannot be fit to believe God inspir'd this Church and no other since mankind is come from the same carnall Ancestors and God the common Father Must we believe our Priests call their Doctrine faith or argue controversies if argue how much time and wealth must we expend by learning languages reading Authors unravelling ages examining Fathers conferring expositions and reconciling contradictions travailing over countries pilgrims on earth and at last we may be strangers to heaven come as short of it as life of examining all To embrace all opinions is as impossible as to learn or number since they are as numerous as the sand which hath an analogy with their foundations To reject all must relish of a stranger impiety when one way all other serve God though it would be a folly to leave a Meridian light to follow the ignis fatuus of every phanatick brain We then that are Layicks must build upon such infallible grounds that whatsoever superstructures of faith be raised these may support them All conclude vertues so eminent that it includes the rest ceremonies rites volumes tend to it and no Sacrament but finally resolves into it all essentialls of Religion close in our faith and love of God by a pious life and mutuall charity by fraternall dilection amongst Christians among the propitiations for sin contrition for it repenting to God and satisfaction to our neighbours all believe necessary heaven or hell recompence or castigation attendants of good or evill life with these the Lamb may wade to an haven of perpetuall felicities while the swimming Elephant cramp'd with difficulties drowns or meeting with the quicksands of controversy is swallowed up in an Abysse These indubitable verities may not only prevent the inroads of impiety and Atheism usher in repentance and reduce men from aery controversy to solid vertue and dispose to concord since we agree in eternall causes why should we disagree in triviall these common truths being firmer bonds of amity then any thing emergent out of traditions should dissolve in any who uses not Religion for a cloak while profit is as the body for whose ease he changes it at pleasure or as the thiefe whose quotidian prayer was that God would prosper him in his theevery which he called the work of his vocation and having inrich'd himselfe with spoile praised God for the blessing his endeavours Or seek their own and not Christs while religion so zealously pretended is made but a stalking horse to shoot at other foul upon which their aim is set While men change Religions more licentiously then a sober man would his clothes and put them on alike asham'd to seem naked and in some times perilous to be found without any Sect. 64. I have not been much troubled with the toy of the worlds Religion Weather-cock like to turn round with every gale of profits toties quoties vertitur annulus Politicus have not sought Religion for ends but made it the end of my curiosity I should not think Christ the lesse Christ for being sprinkled o're with blood or suffering not the scarfe of Christian warfare but I believe the Jesuites Martyrologie like our Foxes where weaknesse and ignorance hath many Martyrs but God few Saints Christ is still crucified between theeves I wish a timous repentance may not only make one but both good and poor truth may be rescued from the pillory of phanatick interpreters nor have her ears bor'd through with a Roman Ecclesia and a Pontifex maxmimus in Theology like the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Philosophy one bafling Religion the other cashiering Reason with a contra negantem principâ—a take a view of those bulwarks of human knowledge which have past impregnable in the esteem of ages elated even above divinity while divinity by the Schoolmen hath been brought to the touchstone of Philosophy and when you find these mountains have travelled with a ridiculous mouse having scarce left an infallible maxime beside an Humanum est errare think what 't is to be infallible Sect. 65. Reflect upon the great Hagarite who conquered more of the world then his Master Alexandeâ— by his reason subdued ages yet see this praecursâ—r Christi in naturalibus sicut Johannes in gratuitis as some have tearm'd him discompos'd by Telesius degraded by Campanella bills of accusation brought in against him by B. Chartes Bacon Digby Hobs nay by all pregnant wits and teeming constitutions who have deserved to be a secretioribus naturae consiliis by the nobility of extracts in Chymistry or arriv'd to the exquisitenesse of parts by anatomicall inspections found guilty and exploded after so great a revolution of ages In medicine see Hippocrates alter the Antients Galen him Paracelsus both Van Helmont dissenting from all lacteall veins found out by Asellius inlarg'd by Pecquer in dogs by Bartholine in men and the knowledge of them arrived to the Zenith in the elaborate pieces of that great Master of generation and circulation Doctor Harvey the Liver hath lost his office the Senses their seat and the use of the Nerves now only found out by Doctor Glisson View the decay of nature against the opinion of all ages contradicted by Doctor Hackwell whose arguments are so irrefragable that nature must seem to admit a stranger decay in him assents not to it Let us contemplate Heaven Earth and Sea and all of them will instruct us of human fallibility The Jewes calculated by the Lunar account Pythagoras by the Solar and Copernicus rectify'd both Divert towards Astrology Astronomy and Geometry and see how the Professors by a stranger improvement have verified what they call themselves Mathematicks see the Sea rul'd by compasse which the land makes no use of and the Land prov'd as giddy as her inhabitants since Copernicâ—sm is aprov'd by all Unravell Lycostenes Apothegmsâ— Erasmus Adages Cicero's jests all the wisdome of Roman and Grecian and if you find nothing among Flores Poetarum Wits Commonwealth and the Elixir of the Sages which may outvie the Urbanities of a common wit Cease to be so passionate an admirer of Antiquity See the Antipodes confess'd by all which the poor Bishop Vergilius asserting by the fiery zeal of Pope Zachary was committed to the flames to instruct how infallible the Roman Oracle is in condemning that which all do maintain and he himselfe maintained an Antipodes in his life his footsteps being opposite to those of meek and pious Ancestors If these be dissatisfactory unspread what elapsed times have rolled up and as in a piece of Tapestry you shall see Snakes lasciviating among Roses and this Linsey-Wolsey interweaving truth with falsity the fashion of all ages There hath never wanted some who blinder then Moles have perswaded Moles have wanted eyes Lampreys have many Snakes at each horn Cameleons living