Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
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A89813
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The plain mans defence against popery: or, A discourse, shewing the flat opposition of popery to the Scripture. By J.N. chaplain to a person of honour
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J. N.
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1675
(1675)
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Wing N22; ESTC R9788
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31,034
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79
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The Plain Mans DEFENCE AGAINST Popery OR A DISCOURSE SHEWING The Flat Opposition of Popery to the Scripture Fitted for the use of the meanest Capacities and such as have not time to read Great Books By J. N. Chaplain to a Person of Honour London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst And are to be sold at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel 1675. Christian Reader THou wilt find in this little Tract an Account of the proper and chief Doctrines of the Romish Religion and their Contrarietie to the express Texts of Gods Word though indeed there is not one Point in which Papists differ from Protestants wherein they are agreed among themselves I shall only desire this of thee that thou be willing to submit thy Soul and Conscience to the clear and obvious sense of Scripture-Propositions and Testimonies J. N. THE CONTENTS 1. OF the Scripture Q. 1.2 3 4 5. 2. Of Antichrist Q. 6. 3. Of Controversies in Religion Q. 7.8 4. Of Reading the Scripture Q. 9. 5. Of the judgment of Discretion Q. 10. 6. Of the Apocrypha Q. 11. 7. Of sin Q. 12.13 8. Of Separation from the Church of Rome Q. 14. 9. Of Idolatry and Image worship Q. 15.16 17 18 19 20. 10. Of Toleration Q. 21. 11. Of the great danger in Tolerating Popish Idolatry 12. Of good works Q. 23.24 13. Of Assurance of Grace Q. 25. 14. Of Prayer Q 26.27 28 29 30. 15. Of Aequivocation Q. 31. 16. Of St. Peter Q. 32.33 17. Of the Head of the Church Q. 34. 18. Of the most wholesom Doctrine of justification by faith only Q. 35.36 37 38. 19. Of the lawfulness of Ministers Marriage Q. 39. 20. Of private Confession to a Priest Q. 40. 21. Of Christ's Satisfaction and merit Q. 41. 22. Of Popish pardons Indulgences Jubilees Q. 42. 23. Of Purgatory Q. 43. 24. Of the Sacraments Q. 44.45 46 47 48 52 53. 25. Of the Horrible Idolatry and Blasphemy of the Popish Masse and danger of going to it Q 49. 26. Of Transubstantiation and the damnable Idolatry of Papists in giving Divine worship to their Breaden God Q. 50.51 A plain Discourse shewing The flat opposition of Popery to the Scripture 1. Q. ARE People at first moved and induced to an high esteem of the holy Scripture by the Testimony of the Church A. The Church is the Pillar and ground of Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 Note the Apostle doth not say that the Church cannot err for the purest Churches under Heaven are subject to Errours but it holds forth and makes known Gods word and truth as Pillars hold forth the Proclamations and Edicts of Magistrates and Princes 2. Q. Are there not greater evidences for our belief of the Scripture to be the word of God than the bare Testimony of the Church which is but a humane Testimony and so fallible A. If we rceive the witness of men the witness of God is greater 1 John 5.9 When the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth John 16.13 The anointing teacheth you of all things and is the truth 1 John 2.27 The Gospel came to you not in word only but also in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance 1 Thes 1.5 Note our full perswasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine Authority of the Scripture is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the word in our hearts Yet he doth not cause us to believe by Enthusiasme without any reason or evidence but he enlightens the understanding removes the blindness and depravedness thereof and makes us see what clear evidences and reasons there are to satisfie us that the Scripture is the word of God 3. Q. What are those clear evidences and reasons that prove the Scripture to be the word of God A. Declare things to come that we may know ye are Gods Isa 41.22 When the word of the Prophet shall come to pass then shall it be known that the Lord hath truly sent him Jer. 28.9 We know thou art a Teacher come from God for no man could do the miracles which thou dost except God be with him John 3.2 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul Psal 19.1 The word of God is quick and powerful sharper than any two edged Sword a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4.12 Through comfort of the Scripture we have hope Rom. 15.4 Note Besides the Testimony of the Church Five things especially evince the Scripture to come from God 1 The antiquity of it far exceeding the most ancient humane writings 2. It s miraculous preservation in all Ages against the rage of Satan and persecution of Tyrants 3. The wonderful and supernatural effects of it convincing converting and comforting the Soul 4. The marks of Divinity and Lineaments of Heavenly wisdom that plainly appear in it viz. Its Majesty purity perfection scope profound and glorious Revelations excellent rewards dreadful punishments c. 5. The seals of divine Authority annexed to it viz. 1. The spirit of Prophesie foretelling future events 2. The power of working famous and illustrious miracles to confirm the Doctrine of it 4. Q. Are all things necessary for mans salvation set down in Scripture either expresly or by necessary consequence A. The holy Scriptures are able to make thee wise to salvation that the man of God may be perfect and throughly furnished unto all good works 2. Tim. 3.16 The Law of God is perfect Psal 19.7 see Gal. 6.16 Isa 8.20 John 20.31 Deut. 12.32 Note The Scripture is called a Testament the chief property of which is to declare the whole will of the Testator Note The Papists teach that there are unwritten Traditions necessary to salvation because otherwise they know the main points of Popery must needs fall to the ground as having no proof of Scripture for them And because many things held and practised by them are not only besides but also repugnant to the Scripture they will not endure to have their Religion tryed by the Scripture Note In the age next to the Apostles Papias introduced the errour of the Chiliasts under Title of an Apostolical Tradition In like manner under the same Title the Papists have brought in an infinite number of corrupt Superstitious Idolatrous opinions and practices Note The ancient Fathers do oft by the name of Tradition understand the Doctrine contained in the Scripture and sometimes by unwritten Traditions they mean such things which are found in the Scripture not in express words but are contained therein by right and just consequence Note St. Paul 2 Thes 2.15 Doth not say that he did Preach or deliver any thing by word of mouth that is not set down in the Scripture The Popish argument runs thus all things necessary to salvation are not written in the Epistle to the Thessalonians therefore all things necessary to salvation are not contained in the Scripture This pittiful argument they manage with as much
body the Church A. What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols Come out from among them and be ye separate touch not the unclean thing 2 Cor. 6.16 17. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels c. not holding the head Col. 2.18 Come out of her my people that ye be not partaker of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues Rev. 18. ver 4. Note The Church of Rome is guilty of Idolatry many wayes 1. In giving Divine and Religious worship to the Sacrament as their God 2. In worshipping and praying to Angels and Saints especially the Blessed Virgin Mary whom they honour above Christ 3. In worshipping of Images Images of the Trinity of Christ upon the Cross of the Saints 4. In ascribing a Divine and supernatural efficacy to the reliques of Saints the sign of the Cross holy water c. to cure diseases restore health cast out and drive away Devils 15. Q. Doth the second Commandement expresly forbid any Religious Adoration and worship either outward or inward to be given to any Images of God of the Saints or any other Creature A. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image or any likeness of any thing in Heaven above or that is in the Earth beneath or that is in the water under the Earth thou shalt not bow down thy self to them c. Command II. Exod. 20.4 Note The second Commandement forbids all Images referring to Divine worship and religious use The first Commandement forbids false Gods this in its primary sense the worshipping of the true God by false means as Images c. Note The second Commandment forbids not only the higher but also the lowest degree of religious worship to Images the very bowing down to them thou shalt not bow down thy self to them it forbids all religious worship and honour of Images whether absolutely or relatively mediately or ultimately for it saith Thou shalt not serve them Note The Hebrew word Pesel signifies any Image whatsoever and the following words plainly shew the meaning of it Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image or any likeness of any thing in that is thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor any other of what kind so ever for religious worship Note The Papists are sorely put to it to shift off the force of this Commandement that doth so clearly and evidently condemn their Idolatry in giving religious worship to Images Therefore some of them would make people believe that only Idols or Images of false Gods are here forbidden others say that this Commandement is Ceremonial and proper to the Jews only now though they cannot agree about the exposition yet they agree to leave the second Commandement out of their Books and craftily conceal it from the people least by the light thereof the mystery of their iniquity should be discovered Note The second Commandement can not be Ceremonial or binding the Jews only for 1. It is not repealed in the Gospel 2. It is ratified in the Gospel 3. It is a Commandement of the Decalogue equally ranked amongst the Morals which are alwayes binding 4. The reason of it is immutable therefore this law is so 16. Q. How doth Moses expound the second Commandement A. The Lord spake unto you ye heard the voice but saw no similitude only heard the voice Take ye therefore good heed for ye saw no manner of similitude least you corrupt your selves and make you a graven Image the similitude of any figure c. Deu. 4.12 c. Note â—he second Commandement forbids the worshipping of the true God by Images as is plain by Moses his interpretation of it God did forbear to shew himself in any visible shape at the delivery of the law to the end that it might be the better made known that the worshipping of Images not only as they have reference to the Creatures or false Gods but also as they have relation to himself did come within the compass of Idolatry 17. Q. Doth the Scripture in sundry places condemn the worshipping of the true God by Images for abominable Idolatry A. Aaron after he had made a Golden Calf he built an Altar before it and made Proclamation and said to morrow is a feast to the Lord Jehovah Exod. 32.5 I had wholly dedicated the Silver unto the Lord Jehovah Now I know that the Lord Jehovah will do me good because I have a Levite to my Priest Judg. 17.3.13 Behold thy Gods O Israel which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt 1 King 12.28 One of the Priests whom they carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the Lord 2 King 17.28 Note The Scripture manifestly attests that those who erect Images to God and in and by them worship God do commit Idolatry thus the Israelites by making a Golden Calf committed Idolatry they could not be so silly as to think that the Calf that they made was God that brought them up out of Egypt but because the Egyptians worshipped their false Gods by Hieroglyphick signs in the shape of an Oxe they would worship Jehovah in like manner So Micha made an Image in honour of Jehovah So also Jeroboams Calves were made to represent not false Gods but Jehovah as it is evident by the fore-mentioned Scriptures The Jews are now so sensible of the evil of Idolatry that they say there is no punishment which befalls them but there is a drachme weight of the Golden Calf in it and when they see any Church in which there are Images they call it Beth Hatturpha the house of filthiness 18. Q. Doth the Scripture affirm that they who worship God by Images are indeed worshippers of Devils and Idols whatever they intend A. They provoked him to jealousie with strangé Gods they Sacrificed unto Devils Deut. 32.17 They made a Calf in those dayes and Sacrificed to the Idol Act. 7.41 Note The Golden Calves are called Idols and the Jews are said to Sacrifice to Devils Now this is not to be understood of the judgment and intention of the men worshipping them as if they did design to worship Devils and false Gods by them but of the truth of the thing and of the judgment of God testifying that such worship being contrary to his command did displease him and had the Devil for its Authour and so whatever they intended was indeed the worshipping of Devils and false Gods By all this it appears that the Papists are as vile Idolaters as were the Jews of old or the Heathens 19. Q. Did the Heathens hold the Images themselves to be Gods or when their blocks were so old that they placed new in their stead did they think that by this change of their Images that they made a change also of their Gods what saith the Scripture of this A. Consider diligently and see if there be such a thing hath a Nation changed their