they are to be reproved and admonished and after the second Admonition rejected not cast into Prison or spoiled of their Goods and the like if men be in an Error the Bishops and Ministers ought rather to convince them by the truth and stop their mouths by sound Doctrine than to stir the King and his Council to make Laws to imprison them and take their Estates from them c. as it is now practised in France against the poor Protestants But to make them suffer meerly for Religions sake I think it is not lawful it being contrary to the Law of Nature and Christ's Doctrine as it is proved by these words of the most worthy and learned Dr. Tillotson in his most excellent Sermon preached before the honourable House of Commons and printed by their Order Jesus Christ saith he going to worship at Hierusalem because the Samaritans who were of another Religion would not receive him in his Journey two of his Disciples James and John presently take fire and out of a well-meaning Zeal for their Master and of the true God and of of Hierusalem the true place of worship they are immediately for dispatching out of the way these Enemies of God and Christ and the true Religion And to this end they desire our Saviour to give them Power to call for fire from Heaven to consume them as Elias had done in a like ease But Jesus Christ seeing them in this heat notwithstanding all the Reasons they pretended for their passion and for all they sheltered themselves under the great example of Elias doth very calmly but severely reprove this temper of theirs saying Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of for the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them Ye own your selves to be my Disciples but do you consider what spirit now acts and governs you Not that surely which my Doctrine designs to mould and fashion you into which is not a furious and persecuting and destructive spirit but mild and gentle and saving tender of the lives and interest of men even of those who are our greatest Enemies You ought to consider that you are not now under the rough and sowr dispensation of the Law but the calm and peaceable institution of the Gospel to which the spirit of Elias though he was a very good man in his time would be altogether insuitable God permitted it then under the imperfect way of Religion but now under the Gospel it would be intolerable No difference of Religion no pretence of Zeal for God and Christ can warrant and justifie this passionate and fierce this vindictive and exterminating spirit This persecuting killing and destroying one another about Religion is contrary to Christs Doctrine for He is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them He came not to kill and destroy but for the healing of the Nations for the Salvation and Redemption of mankind not only from the wrath to come but from a great part of the evils and miseries of this life This spirit of persecution which our Saviour here reproves in his Disciples is directly opposite to the main and fundamental Precepts of the Gospel which command us to love one another and to love all men even our very Enemies and are so far from permitting us to persecute those who hate us that they forbid us to hate those who persecute us They require us to be merciful as our Father which is in Heaven is merciful to be kind and tender-hearted forbearing one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven us and to put on as the Elect of God bowels of mercy meekness and long suffering and to follow peace with all men and to shew all meekness to all men To all which Precepts nothing can be more opposite than inhumane Cruelties and Persecutions Christs great business was to be beneficial to others to seek and to save that which was lost He went about doing good to the Bodies and to the Souls of men He could if he had pleased by his miraculous Power have confounded his Enemies and have thundred out death and destruction against all Hereticks and Schismaticks but intending that his Religion should be propagated in humane ways and that men should be drawn to the Profession of it by the bonds of Love and by the gentle and peaceable methods of Reason and Perswasion he gave no Example of a furious Zeal and religious Rage against those who despised his Doctrine When he went about making Proselytes he offered violence to no man only said If any man will be my Disciple if any man will come after me And when his Disciples were leaving him he doth not as the Church of Rome set up an Inquisition to torture and punish them for their defection from the Faith only says Will ye also go away And in Imitation of this blessed Pattern the Christian Church continued to speak and act for several Ages And this was the Language of the holy Fathers Lex nova non se vindicat ultore gladio The Christian Law doth not avenge it self by the Sword This was then the Style of Councils Nemini ad credendum vim inferre To offer Violence to no man to compel him to Faith and Gregory saith Nova in audita praedicatio quae verberibus exigit fidem And indeed if Hereticks and Schismaticks from the holy Catholick Church were to be persecuted the Samaritans who were both Hereticks and Schismaticks and had affronted our Saviour himself in his own Person the honour of God and of that Religion which he had set up in the World ought certainly to be punished so that if ever it were warrantable to put on this fierce and furious Zeal here was a case that seemed to require it but even in these Circumstances Jesus Christ thinks fit to rebuke and discountenance this spirit Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of And he gives such a Reason as ought in all differences of Religion how wide soever they be to deter men from this temper For saith he The Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them that is this spirit is utterly inconsistent with the great design of Christian Religion and the end of Christs coming into the World What then hath the Church of Rome or any other whatsoever to plead for her Persecution to men for the cause of Religion which James and John might not much better have pleaded for themselves in their Case against the Samaritans Does she practise these severities out of a Zeal for truth and for the honour of God and Christ and the true Religion Upon these very accounts it was that James and John would have called for fire from Heaven to have destroyed the Samaritans Is the Church of Rome or any other whatsoever perswaded that those whom she persecutes are Hereticks and Schismaticks and that no Punishment can
Children were circumcised now since Baptism is in the place of Circumcision weare to baptize young Children since they were circumcised and seeing Circumcision which was a Ceremony and divine Institution did neither require Doctrine nor Repentance in young Children though it were necessary in adult Persons as it appears in Abraham and in all others who turned Jews even so Baptism which is a Ceremony and a divine Institution doth neither require Faith nor Repentance in young Children although it doth in adult Persons Which is confirmed by the words of St. Matthew where it is said that They brought unto Jesus Christ little Children that he should put his hands on them and pray and that the Disciples rebuking them Jesus said suffer little Children and forbid them not to come unto me for of such is the Kingdom of God From whence I argue thus To whom do belong the things signified unto them belong the Signs also as the Crown which is the Sign and Mark of Royalty belongs to him to whom the Kingdom belongs but unto little Children belongs the Kingdom of God as it is written in St. Matthew 19. 13. Therefore unto them belongs Baptism which is the Sign of the entring into that Kingdom For except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Therefore young Children born with original sin as it appears in several places of the holy Scripture but especially by these words of St. Paul to the Romans By the Offencof one Ju dgment came upon all men to Condemnation are not to be deprived of Baptism lest they should not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven which is the Reason that St. Cyprian and Austin have so often declared the Baptism of little Children to be necessary Moreover if they brought unto Jesus Christ young Children and he put his hands on them and prayed for them why shall they not bring unto him little Children in the Church Why shall not the Minister pray for them And why shall he not confer unto them the Ceremony or the Institution of Baptism as Jesus Christ gave unto little Children the Ceremony or Institution of Imposition of hands I ask this Question whether the Ceremony of Imposition of hands was in vain or whether they received by it some particular Grace from Christ Ye will not say that it was in vain because then Jesus Christ in whom were hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg would not have used it if they received by it some special Grace notwithstanding their want of Repentance and Faith which they were not then capable of why shall not young Children now receive the Ceremony of Baptism and thereby all Graces annexed unto it though they be not capable of Faith and Repentance When a Father or Mother were baptized all those of the Houshold were baptized also as it appears in the Acts where it is said that Lydia a seller of Purple of the City of Thyatira was baptized and her Houshold and that the Keeper of the Prison was baptized he and all his And in the first Chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians St. Paul saith that he hath baptized the Houshold of Stephanus but it is probable though not convincing that in so many Families there were Children And since our Fathers and their Children were baptized in the Cloud and in the Sea and they being the Figures of our Baptism as is evident by St. Paul that that which is by them figured may be accomplished the Children now ought to be baptized in the Baptism of Jesus Christ Object It is forbidden in several places of the holy Scriptures to Swear or to take an Oath Ye have heard that it hath been said to them of old time thou shalt not forswear thy self but I say unto you Swear not at all neither by Heaven c. But let your Communication be yea yea and nay nay for whatsoever is more than these cometh o evil and in the Epistle of St. James Above all things my Brethren swear not lest ye fall into Condemnation But the Church of England is not against swearing or taking an Oath yea she uses and maintains it lawful therefore she believes and practises an Article forbidden in the holy Scripture therefore she is not the holy Catholick Church Before I give an Answer it is necessary to know that an Oath is an Invocation to God or an Appeal to him as a Witness of the Truth of what we say so that in case that that we swear be not true we if not expresly at least virtually invoke God as a Judge and Avenger There are two sorts of Oaths one Assertory and the other Promissory an assertory Oath is when we promise by Oath something that is Future and if our promise be made directly and immediately to God 't is called a Vow if to men an Oath That being supposed I Answer That an Oath is not only lawful but also is sometimes necessary as when mens Estates are concern'd and no Evidence can be had to decide and clear the matter but what is assured by Oath Then it is necessary to make an end of and decide the Controversie as it appears by these words of St. Paul An Oath for Confirmations is to them an end of strife And its lawfulness appears by several Texts of the holy Scripture wherein God who is truth it self and cannot lie and consequently might be believed of men upon his bare word and without necessity of making an Oath yet to confirm his promises is willing to take it For when God made the Promise to Abraham because he could not swear by a greater he sware by himself And verse 17. God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his Counsel confirmed it by an Oath Therefore if God himself swears and takes an Oath why shall it not be lawful to men to take an Oath in dubious matters and of great Concern and when no Evidence can be had to decide and clear them Was not Mephibosheth spared because of the Lord's Oath that was between them between David and Jonathan the Son of Saul Did not the Law of Moses in many cases require them Doth not St. Paul use them oftentimes as when he saith God is my witness I call God for a Record upon my Soul Before God I lie not Which Oaths St. Paul who was to teach the Precepts of Christ to others should not have used if they had been unlawful and forbidden in the holy Scriptures And Christ himself as ye may read Mat. 26. 63 64. did not refuse it when the High-Priest asked him to answer upon his Oath whether he was the Son of God I adjure thee saith the High-Priest by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ the Son of God and Jesus said unto him thou hast said Therefore seeing Jesus Christ himself doth answer when he is
Church I answer That they are deceived for when the Fathers said that the Catholick Church did confist in such and such a thing as for Example in the belief of the Trinity they did not intend to exclude the belief of the other points of Faith nor the practise of the Commandments enjoyned us in the holy Scripture And Jesus Christ who saith to the young man that if he will enter into Life he must keep the Commandments here mentioned pronounces Wo unto the Authors of Heresies as unto all Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites will have us to eat his Body and to drink his Blood Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood ye have no Life in you bids us to be baptized Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Besides practice he desires belief He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Wherefore it is not enough to say I thought I was a Member of the Catholick Church because I thought it did consist in believing and practising such and such things only our ignorance is not sufficient to excuse us before God we are bound to inquire after Truth and the true Worship of God A wilful and affected ignorance is a double Crime and we must not believe because we think we do well and are Members of the Catholick Church that this is sufficient to excuse us this is a mistake otherwise the Jews should not have been guilty when they crucified Jesus Christ because they did it ignorantly and thought they acted according to their Law For had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory We could not say that Paul was guilty when breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord he went unto the High-Priest desiring Letters from him to Damascus to the Synagogues that if he found any Christians whether they were men or women he might bring them bound to Hierusalem Nor when he made havock of the Church entring into every House and haling men and women committing them to Prison Nor when he was consenting unto the death of Stephen and kept the Cloaths of the Witnesses who stoned him though Austin speaks thus of him Vt enim esset in omnium lapidantium manibus ipse omnium vestimenta servabat magis saeviens omnes adjuvando quà m suis manibus lapidando For he thought he did well transported by a Zeal which he had for his Law Neither could we now blame the Papists when they act so horrid and cruel Tragedies against those that they call Hereticks for as I suppose they think they do a Sacrifice well-pleasing unto God If any ignorance can excuse a man it is that which is called Invincible as that of young Children and mad People Therefore when we live in a Kingdom wherein Religion there practised is not contrary to the holy Scripture we are bound to conform unto it I know that We had rather obey God than men but it is when their Commandments are contrary to the Commandments of God otherwise we are obliged to obey the Princes and Magistrates which we are subject to put them in mind to obey Principalities and Powers to obey Magistrates Tit. 3. 1. Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves Heb. 13. 17. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of men for the Lord's sake whether it be to the King as Supreme or unto Governors as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well 1 Pet. 2. 13. Let every Soul be subject unto the higher Powers for there is no Power but of God The Powers that be are ordained of God whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves Damnation Rom. 13. 1 2. Wherefore the holy Powers enjoyning usto conform to the Church of England which as I have made it appear teaches or practises nothing contrary to the holy Scripture we are obliged to obey them Neither do I see how those that are convinced of what I have here written and still refuse to obey can excuse themselves from being Schismaticks and from being out of hope of Salvation He shall not have God for his Father who will not have the Church for his Mother Whosoever resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves Damnation O Ecclesia Romana aut quaecumque sis alia quid insultas quid exsufflas quid etiam ad tempus multa usurpas adversus Ecclesiam Anglicanam Licet haec doleat non te magna metuit sponsa Christi sancta Catholica Ecclesia cum enim respexerit ille sponsus ejicieris tu ut ancilla cum filiis tuis quoniam non erunt haeredes filii ancillae cum filiis liberae O Church of Rome or whatsoever other Church thou art Why dost thou boast Why art thou puffed up Why also dost thou usurp upon the Church of England Though she be sorrowful yet the great spouse of Christ the holy Catholick Church doth not fear thee for when the Bridegroom looks upon her then thou shalt be cast out as the Bond-woman with thy Children because the Children of the Bond-woman shall not be heirs with the Sons of the Free woman Although I have made appear that the Church of England is the holy Catholick Church and that all those who knowing her to be such and still refuse to conform are Schismaticks out of hope of Salvation and shall not be heirs with the Sons of the free-woman but cast out as the bond-woman with her Children yet I am not of that Opinion that they ought to be persecuted this Doctrine of Persecution being contrary to the Law of Nature and to the Doctrine of our Saviour Jesus Christ As ye would that all men should do unto you so do you unto them We would not be persecuted for our Religion therefore we must not persecute others But the Reader will object we have a Law and by our Law they ought to be persecuted I Answer if that were a sufficient Reason to warrant Persecution we could not blame the Jews when they killed the Prophets and stoned them and crucified Jesus Christ who is Heir and Lord over all and God blessed for ever For they said We have a Law and by our Law he ought to die And we could not blame Queen Mary who by a Law in her days caused so many to suffer Martyrdome nor now the Papists who formerly and at this very time in France Spain and Italy establish Cruelty and Oppression by Law If any men be Plotters or contrive any evil against the King or Government or breed Sedition and Disturbance in the Kingdom they must suffer according to the Law but if they be found without Plots or evil Contrivances but erring only concerning Religion
Peace among our selves love towards one another and union to the holy Catholick Church out of which whosoever is is a Schismatick and excluded all hopes of Salvation as I will make appear hereafter then they will cease to hate and begin to love me But oftentimes it happens quite contrary to our good intention as when Jesus Christ manifested unto the Jews the Vices which they were given to his intention was that they should hate their sins and not the Physician who was willing to heal them But it hapned on the contrary they were ungrateful saith Augustine for being grown mad they assaulted the Physician who came to cure them I may say the same thing concerning those who are unwilling to hear Christian Doctrines their Interest is to know them since it concerns their eternal Salvation and therefore they ought to receive those who are so charitable as to instruct them with a greater kindness than a King doth the dearest of his Courtiers But too often we see the contrary They look upon those Physicians of their Souls as upon their greatest Enemies nevertheless since there are some who are glad to hear the truth and receive it in meekness to those especially I direct this Discourse my design is to convince them and so to draw them out of the Error in which they have walked many years wherein I hope with God's assistance to have good success because I shall say nothing but grounded upon sound Reason and the Authority of the holy Scripture and Fathers which I shall quote faithfully to the end that these Authorities may be as many Bucklers to defend me from all the stroaks which some would offend me with that I may not be wounded before I see them run through and overthrown Naked Truth and the publishers of it are commonly hated in this World And though it be written in Esdras that Truth is stronger than Wine than Women than Kings yet we daily see by experience that for all its strength it is oftentimes cruelly assaulted and miserably subdued upon Earth Every one knows what Persecutions Jesus Christ suffered because he would make it appear unto all men his Apostles Disciples and Martyrs were not only hated but after his Example endured several Torments even death it self because they would defend and make it manifest If I have written any thing not agreeable to the Word of God or sound Reason I shall be very glad and thankful in being informed of it therefore I submit this small Treatise to the censure of the Church and to the judgment of all learned and godly men whose delight is to draw Truth from the holy Scripture Farewel ADVERTISEMENT IF any Gentleman or Gentlewoman hath a mind to learn French or Latin the Author of this Treatise will wait upon them he liveth in Thames-street over against Baynard's Castle THE Church of England Prov'd the Holy Catholick Church THe Roman Church appropriates this glorious Title to her self only thunders Anathema's against all other Churches whatever calls them Hereticks and Schismaticks declares unless they unite themselves with her they are without any hope of Salvation uses a thousand subtilties to draw them to her Communion deceives and frightens the simple and ignorant making them believe that out of her there is no Salvation offers great rewards to the learned persecutes them that will not be either corrupted with fat Preferments or deceived and frightned with several Fables wherewith they are entertain'd deprives them of their Estates and Employments c. and forces them to forsake their Country as the poor Protestants of France are now necessitated to either causing them to be burnt alive or inflicting several other cruel torments upon them as it is at this time the Custom in Italy and Spain I confess that the Roman Church was not always cruel I grant that in the Apostle's time and first Ages I mean when they observed the holy Scripture both in its Practice and Doctrine they could justly boast of this glorious Title Holy Cacholick But since they were corrupted and have diminished from and added unto the holy Scripture several points of Faith which they impose upon us under pain of Damnation and since they are fallen into Heresie they have lost this fair and glorious Title These words Holy Catholick cannot be justly attributed unto them it is the Church of England which now most 〈◊〉 and gloriously possesses these honourable Qualities But as women that have lost their honour are grown debauch'd when they quarrel with them that are honest and vertuous are used to call them Whores first lest that villainous and odious name should be cast upon themselves so the Church of Rome having lost the fair qualities of Holy Catholick and being fallen into Heresie is wont to call the Church of England Heretical lest she should justly reflect upon her that which she falsly accuses her with I will not go abovt here to prove that the Church of Rome is Heretick I have done it already per argumentum adhominem that is by their own Principles in a small Treatise so intituled Those who have the Book and have read it over are fully convinced of it and those that have it not if they desire to have it may be satisfied as soon as they are pleased to acquaint me with their laudable intention Wherefore I shall here make it evident that the Church of England is the holy Catholick Church which being proved there being but one holy Catholick Church it will appear that the Church of Rome hath lost this glorious and noble Title But before I make it appear it will be necessary rightly to understand the words Church Holy Catholick The word Church is usually taken either for the place where people are gathered together to pray and worship God or else for a Congregation of humane Persons professing the Christian Faith whereof Jesus Christ is the foundation For other Foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ and though the Apostles and the Prophets be also termed the Foundation yet Jesus Christ himself is the chief corner Stone in whom all the Building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy Temple in the Lord. We accept the word Church in this latter sence wherefore by the Church we understand a Body or Collection of humane Persons professing the same Faith in Christ gathered together in several places of the World for the Worship of the same God The Church thus described may be called Holy in several respects and for several Reasons First In reference to the Vocation by which all the members thereof are called and separated from the rest of the World to God which Separation in the Language of the Scriptures is a Sanctification and so the calling being holy for God called us with an holy calling the Body which is thus separated and congregated may well be termed Holy Secondly In relation to the Offices appointed and the Powers exercised in the Church
which by their Institution and Operation are holy Thirdly In reference to the Saints departed from this life and admitted to the presence of God and of this Church speaks St. Paul when he saith Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it by the washiâ—g of Water by the Word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrink'e or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Fourthly In respect of every Person who is a member of that Church because in professing Faith in Christ he is thereby engaged to holiness of life according to the words of the Apostle Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity The Church that we are speaking of and call holy is that that embraces all the Professors of the true Faith of the holy Scriptures when they are in this World which Church comprehends good and bad being both externally called and professing the same Faith for the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Field in which Wheat and Tares grow together into the Harvest Like unto a Net that was cast into the Sea and gathered of every kind Firmissime tene nullatenus dubites aream Dei esse Ecclesiam Catholicam intna eam usque in finem seculi frumento mixtas paleas contineri hoc est bonis malos Sacramentorum Communione misceri that is Hold this most sirmly and doubt not of it in any wise that the Catholick Church is a Floor and that therein as long as the World shall stand Wheat and Tares together shall be contain'd that is to say that the bad and wicked shall be mingled with the good and just in the Communion of the same Sacraments This is that Ark of Noah in which were preserved Beasts clean and unclean This is that great house in which there are not only vessels of Gold and Silver but also of Wood and Earth and some to honour and some to dishonour Therefore when we speak of the Holy Church we do not consider her in respect of the Vocation which is holy neither of the Offices and Powers which likewise are holy nor in reference to the Saints departed this Life and enjoying the presence of God nor in relation to the Persons who compose the Church in this Life since in that respect the Church comprehends both good and bad but in relation to the Doctrine taught therein which is pure and holy and without blemish The Church thus described is also called Catholick that is universal which word is used in our Creed to teach us to discern the true Church from the false The word Catholick may be taken either in reference to time or relation to places or in respect of Persons or else in reference to Doctrine It is here taken in respect of the Doctrine only so that by the Catholick or universal Church we mean that Church that teaches and believes the whole Christian Doctrine For as the Holy Ghost did lead the Apostles into all truth so did the Apostles leave all truth unto the Church which is called Catholick from the universality of necessary and saving Truths contain'd therein This being granted it follows that that Church which embraces the Faith once delivered to the Saints and keeps the holy Scriptures in Purity without adding to or diminishing from them is the holy Catholick Church for whatsoever Church pretendeth to be holy Catholick and keeps not the whole Faith once delivered to the Saints and imposes things to be believed which are not found neither can be deduced from the Scriptures by evident and necessary Consequences as the Church of Rome doth falsly attributes this name to her self Since then the Church of England keeps the Faith once delivered to the Saints preserves the holy Scripture in its Purity and imposes nothing to be believed but what is therein distinctly contained or can be deduced therefrom by evident and necessary Consequences it follows that she is the holy Catholick Read over the Old and New Testament and if you can make it appear that the Church of England believes or practises one point of Faith which is not contain'd in the holy Scripture or doth not believe or practise those Articles of Faith which are contained therein as too often the Roman Church doth then I will grant freely that she is not the holy Catholick bnt no body being able to make this appear I am in the right in asserting the Church of England to be the holy Catholick Church 'T is certain they do not make unto themselves any graven Images nor worship kiss and serve them neither bow pray and offer Incense unto them They do not make Images of God the Father in the shape of an old man holding the Globe of the World in his hands nor of the Holy Ghost in the form of a Dove nor of the Cross and do not worship them as the Church of Rome doth with a Worship of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is with a Worship due unto God only They do not believe in any other Saviour and Redeemer than Jesus Christ they hold him for their only Mediator and Advocate and they will not put their trust and confidence in any other They do not believe any other Purgatory than the Blood of Jesus Christ nor believe that the Pope with a little Indulgence laid unto a Bead or Cross or Medal or with a Mass said upon certain days of the week is sufficient to procure a release to the Souls of men detained in torments wherein to fill his Trunks with Money and to fatten his Kitchin he would make ignorant People to believe they are imprisoned They do not believe that he is Infallible that he hath any Power to depose Kings and Princes from their Throne to dispense their Subjects from their Allegiance or to kill those that he calls Hereticks Neither do they believe that Christ's Body is still upon Earth they believe and put it in practice that we are bound to sing pray and give thanks to God Almighty in a known tongue they believe they ought to give the common People the liberty of reading the holy Scriptures in their own Tongue They give the Sacraments of Christ's Body and Blood with Bread and Wine give leave to eat Flesh at all times do not forbid Bishops Priests and those which are in orders to marry knowing that such a Doctrine is the Doctrine of Devils they add nothing to nor diminish from the holy Scriptures as the Church of Rome often doth therefore it is clear that the Church of England believes the whole Christian Doctrine as it was once delivered to the Saints and consequently that she is the Holy Catholick Object The Church of England believes in the Trinity but the word Trinity is not found in the holy Scripture therefore the Church of England believes a point of Faith not contained in the Word of God
Comparison between that Infinite Eternal and Independent Being and what is Finite Temporal and Dependent He therefore who did truly think himself equal with God as being in the form of God must be conceived to subsist in that one infinite eternal and independent Nature of God And therefore as here Christ was really and essentially man of the same Nature with us in whose similitude he was made so certainly was he also really and essentially God of the same Nature and Being with him in whose form he did subsist This truth is confirmed by these words of the 1st of John We know that the Son of man is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is the true God and Eternal Life And by these of St. Paul to the Romans Out of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever From whence we may infer that he who was truly subsisting in the form of God and equal with him before he was in the Nature of man and who is called God and the true God the Almighty and that in all those ways by which the supreme Deity is expressed hath an eternal and indivisible Essence and Nature with God But Christ was so and is so called therefore c. Moreover is it not written in your Law saith Christ Ye are Gods Are not these the very words of the eighty second Psalm If God himself so spake or the Psalmist from him if this be the Language of the Scripture if Kings and Magistrates and they be called Gods unto whom the Word of God came may we not say with greater Reason of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the World and in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily that he is God We grant That the Father is the true God we grant that God only is to be worshipped and served Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Therefore we must grant that the Son also is the true God since we are commanded to worship him and the same honour is given to him as to the Father which is seen by these words Let all the Angels of God worship him and by these of John Who hath committed all Judgment unto the Son that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father If then we be obliged to worship the God of Israel only if we be also commanded to give the same worship to the Son which we give to the Father or to the God of Israel it is necessary that we should believe that the Son is the God of Israel and consequently truly and properly God Which is seen clearly by these words of Austin upon those of St. John All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made Neque enim dicit omnia nisi quae facta sunt id est omnem Creaturam Vnde liquido patet ipsum factum non esse per quem facta sunt omnia si factus non est Creatura non est si autem Creatura non est ejusdem cum Patre substantiae est Omnis enim substantia quae Deus non est Creatura est quae Creatura non est Deus est Et si non est Filius ejusdem substantiae cujus est Pater ergo fact a substantia est si facta substantia est non omnia per ipsum facta sunt at omnia per ipsum fact a sunt unius igitur ejusdemque cum Patre substantiae est ideo non tantum Deus sed verus Deus That is For he doth not say all things but the things which are made to wit all Creatures From whence it appears clearly that he by whom all things were made was not made And if he was not made he is not a Creature if he be not a Creature he is of the same substance with the Father for every substance which is not God is a Creature and that which is not a Creature is God And if the Son be not of the same Substance with the Father then he is a Substance made if a Substance made all things were not made by him but all things were made by him therefore he is of the same Substance with the Father and consequently he is not only God but true God Which is confirmed by these words wherein he is said to exist before all things for if he was not true God he should be a Creature if a Creature we could not say that he is before all things because he who should have created him should have his Existence before him for every Creature supposes a Being antecedent from whom it hath received its Existence Since therefore he is said to be before all things it is because he is the true God for none but the true God can be said properly to be before all things every Creature having its Being of him and he neither hath nor can have his Existence from any thing whatsoever having it of himself from all Eternity Object The Church of England believes as an Article of Faith that the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son and though they can make it appear that he proceeds from the Father from the words of St. John 15. 26. yet they cannot prove that he proceeds from the Son I answer as before to wit that these words the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son are not found distinctly in the holy Scripture but yet are inferr'd from it by clear and necessary Consequences So these words of Jesus Christ All things that the Father hath are mine and those of the 17. Chapter All mine are thine and thine are mine prove this evidently for if it be true as it is granted by all Divines viz. That all things that the Father hath the Son hath likewise the Relation of Paternity only excepted the Father producing the Holy Ghost it follows that the Son doth produce him also and consequently that the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Son as he proceeds from the Father This is manifested by these words of St. John It is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart part I will send him unto you And by that of the 15. When the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father For if ye suppose what ye do already believe and as I will make appear in the sequel of my Discourse viz. That the Holy Ghost is God as it is declared by the words of the 5th of the Acts To lie to the Holy Ghost is to lie unto God and as it appears by the essential Attributes of the Godhead ascribed unto him as the Sanctification of Souls and Omniscience For
the Spirit searches all things yea the deep things of God It follows because he cannot be sent as Servants are by their Masters or Ambassadors by their Lords since in that mission there is always some dependency there is a Superior and inferior there is one Major and one Minor which can never be found in God it follows I say by a necessary Consequence he being sent from the Father and the Son it is because he proceeds from both You may further urge the Holy Ghost is not truly and properly God therefore he doth not proceed from the Father and the Son according to the manner as it is believed in the Church of England The Antecedent appears by these words of St. John When the spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and will shew you things to come From whence I thus argue First He that doth not speak of himself supposes another distinct Person from whom he hath received Instruction but the Holy Ghost doth not speak of himself therefore he supposes another distinct Person from whom he hath received Instruction therefore he is not truly and properly God because he that is truly and properly God cannot suppose any other Person from whom he should receive Instruction Secondly He that speaks what he heareth supposes another Person speaking distinct from him that heareth but the Holy Ghost speaketh what he heareth therefore he supposes another Person speaking distinct from him therefore he is not truly and properly God because he that is truly and properly God cannot suppose any other Person speaking unto him from whom he could receive Instruction this being contrary to the Nature of the true God The Major Proposition of these two Arguments is clear and certain the Minor is from St. John therefore it follows that the Holy Ghost is not truly and properly God and consequently that he doth not proceed from the Father and the Son as the Church of England believes Answ I grant that the Holy Ghost doth not speak of himself but speaks what he heareth he being not of himself but of the Father and the Son however it doth not follow but that he is truly and properly God But before I make it appear it is necessary to observe that the Holy Ghost is sometimes taken for God himself sometimes for a divine Quality sometimes for a Person really distinct from the Father and the Son First He is taken for God himself God is a spirit John 4. 24. For God being Holy and a Spirit it is evident that he is holy Spirit and Reciprocally he that is called holy Spirit per Excellentiam and without dependency is God For these Terms God and holy Spirit are really one and the same thing as likewise these following Eternal Lord Creator Conservator They differ only in reference to the different effects which we apply them to God is named Eternal because he is without Beginning and Ending Is called Lord because of his Power over all things Creator because he made them of nothing and Conservator because he keeps them from returning into nothing And he is called Holy Ghost per Excellentiam because to speak properly none but he is truly Holy and because he receives his Holiness from no body all other Creatures whatsoever have their holiness by Communication and Dependency In that sence the Holy Ghost is not really distinguish'd from the Eternal Father but only per Intellectum or in as much as the Definition which is ascribed to the Eternal Father is different from that of the Holy Ghost as the Eternal is distinguish'd from the Creator For although it be really one and the same thing yet our Understandings conceive the Eternal otherwise than the Creator in as much as the Eternal is a Being without beginning and ending and the Creator is a first and Independent Cause who produced all things out of nothing Therefore in that sence the Holy Ghost being not really distinguish'd from the Eternal Father we cannot say that he proceeds from him because it would follow that one and the same thing should be supposed at the same time existing and not existing existing because we conceive it to be so and not existing because in that instance of Reason when we should conceive it proceeding from the Father it should not be existing which is contrary to Reason since there is no instance of Reason wherein we can conceive the true God not to be Therefore it follows that the Holy Ghost in the aforementioned sence doth not proceed from the Father Secondly He is taken for a divine Quality as when the Holy Ghost said unto those of Antioch Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them We must conceive it was God who spake these words but because God did all this by that Power within him which is his Spirit therefore these words and actions are attributed to the Holy Ghost in that sence likewise the Holy Ghost is not really distinguish'd from the Eternal Father and consequently is not proceeding from him Thirdly He is taken for a Person really distinct from the Eternal Father and that he is so is evidently proved by these Texts Grieve not the holy spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption and by this to the Romans The spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered and by that of the first to the Corinthians The spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God For Grief is certainly a personal Affection of which a quality is not capable We can understand what is an interceding Person but we have no apprehension of interceding and groaning Qualities and we understand also that to search is a property belonging to a Person and not to a Quality You will urge that it is ordinary in the holy Scripture to find the like Expressions which are proper unto Persons given unto those things which are no Persons as when the Apostle saith Charity suffereth long and is kind charity envieth not vaunteth not it self c. All which personal Actions are attributed to Charity which is no Person but belonging to that Person which is charitable because that Person which is so qualified doth perform those Actions according to and by the vertue of that Charity which is in him In the same manner personal Actions are attributed to the Holy Ghost which is no Person but only the Virtue Power and Efficacy of God the Father who is a Person and doth perform those personal Actions attributed to the Holy Ghost by the Virtue Power and Efficacy in himself which is the Holy Ghost Answ This giveth no satisfaction for there are several personal Attributes given in the holy Scriptures expresly to the Holy Ghost which cannot be ascribed to God the Father as for Example to make Intercession is a
personal Action and this Action is attributed to the Spirit of God as it appears by these words of St. Paul Because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God But to make Intercession is an Act which cannot be attributed to God the Father for it would follow that the Father should make Intercession to himself which is absurd because he that maketh Intercession is supposed to be distinct from him to whom he maketh Intercession Moreover To come unto men as being sent unto them is a personal Action but the Comforter or the Holy Ghost did come being sent as it is seen by these words of St. John When the Comforter is come whom I will send you from the Father and if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you ergo the Holy Ghost cannot be ascribed in this place to God the Father since God the Father sendeth but is never sent And to speak and hear are personal Actions and both together attributed to the Holy Ghost in such a manner as they cannot be attributed to God the Father as it appears by those words of John When the spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that he shall speak Now to speak and not of himself cannot be attributed to God the Father since he doth all things of himself And to speak what he heareth cannot be also attributed to God the Father who can receive no Instruction from another Seeing then the Holy Ghost speaketh and not of himself and speaketh what he heareth it followeth evidently that he is not God the Father neither a divine Quality which cannot be said properly to speak and hear but that he is a Person distinct from the Father Now that the Holy Ghost as a Person really distinct from the Father is truly and properly God appears by these words of St. Peter for when Peter said Ananias Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost He repeateth the same Question in reference to the same Offence Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart Thou hast not lied unto men but unto God He means there the true God as it appears by these words Thou hast not lied unto men but unto God For when he saith Thou hast not lied unto men but unto God it is as if he should say thou hast not lied unto Creatures since men are Creatures but thou hast lied unto him who is no Creature and consequently unto him who is true God And if the Holy Ghost could be taken sometimes for a Creature this Proposition of St. Peter To lie to the Holy Ghost is to lie unto God would not always be true therefore St. Peter speaking without distinction and without a limited sence 't is to prove that this word Holy Ghost is never taken in the holy Scripture but for the true God Moreover to whom the divine Attributes do belong as certainly as they belong unto God the Father he is truly and properly God because these are divine Attributes which are properties of the Divine Nature and none can be indued with to whom the Nature of God doth not belong But the divine Attributes as Omniscience the Sanctification of Souls and the like do belong as certainly unto the Holy Ghost as they do unto God the Father therefore it followeth that the Holy Ghost is truly and properly God and consequently that he proceedeth from the Father and the Son as it is declared in the Symbole of Nice Obj. The Church of England doth neither believe nor practice all that is contained in these words viz. Abstain from meats offered to Idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication therefore she is not the holy Catholick Church since the holy Catholick Church is that that believes and practises the whole Christian Doctrine as I have made it appear already Answ This Commandment was in the time of the Primitive Church but was abolished by the Apostles Because the Jews would not eat things strangled nor Blood the Apostles enjoyned that the Gentiles embracing the Christian Religion ought in Charity to Conform herein to the Jews and not give Offence where the thing was it self indifferent Wherefore St. Paul saith If meat make my brother to offend I will eat no flesh while the World standeth lest I make my brother to offend But now this Commandment is past and abolish'd by the Apostles and therefore it is not true that the Church of England doth believe and practise any thing contrary to the holy Scripture For the-better understanding of this Truth we must know that in these words enjoyned to the Gentiles embracing the Christian Religion to wit Abstain from pollution of Idols and from Fornication and from things strangled and from blood there is something bad in it self and something bad by Accident something bad for a time only something belonging to the Moral Law and something belonging to the Ceremonial The thing bad in it self for ever and belonging to the Moral Law is to abstain from Idolatry and from Fornication and the thing bad by accident for a time only and belonging to the Ceremonial Law is to abstain from things strangled and from Blood Now it is certain that to abstain from Idolatry and Fornication is a part of the Moral Law seeing it is written Thou shalt have no other Gods but me and thou shalt not commit Adultery It is also true that these things are bad of themselves and for ever because they were forbidden in time past are now unlawful and shall be for time to come which appears by these words of St. Paul to the Corinthians Neither Fornicators nor Adulterers shall inherit the Kingdom of God 'T is likewise certain that to Abstain from things strangled and from Blood belongs to the Ceremonial Law it is also without doubt that it was abolished as it is seen in these words of St. Paul Whatsoever is sold in the Shambles that eat asking no question for Conscience sake for the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof if any of them that believe not bid you to a Feast and ye be disposed to go whatsoever is set before you eat asking no question for Conscience sake And by these to Timothy where it is said that Every Creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving and forbidding to abstain from meats is a doctrine of Devils And by these to the Romans I know and am perswaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of it self but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean to him it is unclean And that ye may not say that these words of St. Paul were written before those of the Council held at Hierusalem or of the 15th of the Acts the