the Sacrament belongeth unto Christ sitting in Heaven and is an inward worship of the heart or lifting up of the mind being stirred up with the outward signs Pope Honorius the third in the year 1220. was the first that ever instituted the adoration of the Sacrament And after him Vrban the fourth ordained a Feast in honor of the body of Christ Perkins 2 Vol. 564. Attersol on the Sacraments 388 389. Fourthly they turn the Sacrament into a sacrifice for the quick and the dead abolishing the fruit and remembrance of the death of Christ disannulling his Priesthood giving him to his Father whereas the Father hath given him to us c. ib. p. 309. Fifthly they maintain Transubstantiation These are their very words If any man shall say that there remaineth the substance of Bread and Wine in the Sacrament after the words of consecration or shall deny that the whole substance of Bread and Wine is changed and converted into the body and blood of Christ the forms and shews only of Bread and Wine remaining which singular and miraculous conversion the Church calleth Transubstantiation let him be accursed Con. Trid. Sess 13. Can. 2. This their Doctrine of Transubstantiation is a very fable to mock fools withal and it overturneth both the nature and use of the Sacraments pag. 45 46. pag. 365. to 369. If there were a miraculous conversion as they say there is of the Bread and Wine it would appear to the outward senses For all true miracles are wrought openly cleerly and evidently to mens senses John 6.26 But the Bread and Wine by the judgment of all the senses remaineth and appeareth to be the same in substance which it was before of the same quality quantity colour taste handling smelling vertue and nourishment there is not any one sense or all the senses together that can judge otherwise of it then it did before If a man should be called in when the Bread and Wine is set on the Table and bidden to consider well what he there seeth smelleth and tasteth and then is willed to go forth and to come in again after the Consecration is ended by the Priest and to do the like and then is asked what he thinketh of it he no doubt will answer unless fear of persecution make him to conceal the truth I see feel smell and taste the same wafer-cake and wine that I did before I can perceive no natural and substantial change therein And therefore it followeth that there is no miracle wrought and consequently no Transubstantiation at all The difference that is is in the end and use only Before consecration it was common Bread and Wine ordained for the nourishing of our bodies After consecration it becometh holy Bread and Wine sanctified by the Lord not so much to feed the body as the soul C. Did not the Ancient Fathers hold this Doctrine of Transubstantiation M. They knew nothing hereof for at least Eight hundred years after Christ Afterwards begun the disputations of Transubstantiation but not approved as an Article of Faith The Church for a whole thousand years taught no other then spiritual receiving of Christ In the year One thousand two hundred and fifteen Transubstantiation was decreed and determined in the Council of Lateran under Pope Innâ—cent The third and made a main matter of Faith Perk. 2 Vol. 558 559. C. What say you then of their Transubstantiated or consecrated host as it is called or the bread in the box carried in procession and worshipped M. Surely it is nothing else but a wheaten or breaden god or rather an Idol nothing inferior to Aarons Calf or Jeroboams Calves or the Nehustan and piece of Brass that Ezechias brake in pieces nay as vile and detestable as an Idol among the Heathen And for a conclusion of their doctrine of Transubstantiation I will here set down a witty conceit which one shewed me not long since I have kept the matter but changed the Meeter to make it somewhat the sweeter The Priests do make Christs body and blood Hereof none must once doubt They eat they drink they box him up They bear him all about DIALOGUE 7. C. I am satisfied touching the first point namely that the Papists are not of sound Faith but how do you prove that they are not of good life seeing they do so many good works M. I prove it thâ—â— Where the Doctrine is corrupt the life â—annot be good but their Doctrine as yea have heard is most corrupt therefore then life cannot be good A true saith is the ground of a good life and without which it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 yea whatsoever is not of Faith is sin Rom. 14 23. A true saith they have not and therefore their works cannot be good and such as may please God That they have not a true and sound Faith hath bâ—â—n shewed in many particulars and it further appeareth also in this that they do even wilfully reject the means whereby it is wrought namely the preaching hearing and reading the Word of God They have not neither will they have the Scriptures to be soundly preached read and heard in their own tongue That they cannot abide to have them in their own Language appeareth by this one example One Panier a Town clark of London in the time of King Henry the Eighth hearing that the Scriptures should be put into English he spake to this effect and confirmed it with an Oath viz. that if he knew that the Scriptures should be put into English and that the King would have them to be read in the Church rather then he would live so long to see it he would cut his own throat But as Hall saith who heard him speak it he was not so good as his word for instead of cutting his throat he hanged himself C. What is the cause that they cannot abide to have the Scriptures in â—heir own Language M. S. John gives the reason For every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to it lest his deeds should be reproved and discovered John 3.20 If the Owl flieth abroad by day the bâ—dâ—â—â— and by discern him follow him and â—all upon him and therefore he flies abroad in the night and then he is quiet If the Scriptures should be suffered to be expounded and read of all Nations in their own Language thâ—n that Owl of Rome the Pope I mean with all his fooleries and abominations would be discerned and discovered and then the world would hate him follow after him and persecute him even as the small birds do the Owl and therefore they cannot abide the Scriptures in the vulgar tongue but love darkness rather then light because their deeds are evil C. What say you then to their good works as building of Churches giving of alms c M. These and such like works required in the Law of God in themselves are good and to be practised of all but to them they are as the Fathers called the
the merits of Saints and Martyrs you pray unto God not only through the merits of Jesus Christ but through the merits of Saints whose Reliques are under your Altars your devotoes affirm that the holy Virgin saves us and brings us to heavenly glory not only by her prayers but by her merits and the Roman Divinity saith plainly that there are some Saints and Martyrs that have suffered more then their sins did deserve and that their superabundant satisfactions are put into the Treasury of the Church and distributed by the Popes Indulgence They after cry By the prayers and by the Merits of the holy Virgin Mary of Michael the Archangel of S. John Baptist of the holy Apostles Peter and S. Paul and of all the Saints without making any mention at all of Jesus Christ and his merits And Tenthly and lastly for I should tire you if I should proceed to farther Instances the Papists do profess to believe with us that the blood of Jesus Christ purgeth and cleanseth us from all our sins Why then have they invented the fire of Purgatory If all sins are washed away and purged by the blood of Christ what then remains to be purged in this Imaginary fire They mock the world in calling of it pugatory for according to Romish Doctrine it serves not to purge but to punish souls and to satisfie Gods Justice so that it is not a purging but a pain and a punishment and what resemblance can there be betwixt this subterranean fire and the blood of Jesus Christ Is the grace and pardon of a King applied to a man by breaking him on a Wheel or by burning of him quick But the most torturing Wheels and the most ardent fires are nothing in comparison to this pretended Purgatory if it be true which those of your party say that it is ten times hotter then our fire and that it differs from hell fire in duration only Open then your eyes and see the Sun of truth which shines so bright in the Gospel Jesus Christ hath by himself purged our sins Heb. 1. And the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all iniquity 1 John 1. And that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 That they pass from death to life And when they put off this body of flesh they have a house eternal in the heavens 2 Cor. 5. They then are over with the Lord And blessed they are who die in the Lord so saith the Spirit They rest from their labors and their works follow them Rev. 14. But what rest or comfort can there be in such dreadful torments Do they not manifestly contradict the words of Wisdom which say the souls of the righteous are in the hands of God and no torment shall touch them I could make the like observations upon all the other controverted points of that Religion And therefore had not our forefathers reason to separate the pure and simple Christian Doctrine from this prodigious medly of so many humane Inventions and Traditions Did they not well in shaking off the yoke of so many Ceremonies and Superstitions borrowed the most part from Paganism Judaism Of which yoke we may truly say as S. Peter did of the Jewish It is a yoke the which neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear In vain do they tell us of the writings of their Fathers and the distinctions of their Doctors we are resolved to hearken to no other proof then what can be alleged out of the word of God or by consequence deduced from it for what concerns our salvation and the service of God We will trust him alone who is our Lord our God he hath merited heaven for us and he alone can shew us the way thither while we follow the light of his word we are sure we shall not go astray Let not then the Papists trouble themselves to force us to their abominable fooleries For the most eloquent discourses imaginable the most plausible humane reasonings the most authentick Authorities of the Fathers The subtilest distinction of the Schools are not sufficient to make us believe either adoration of Creatures the Invocation of Saints the worshipping of Angels the Veneration of Images the power of the Pope the merit of works their most unreasonable Doctrine of Transubstantiation the pretended Sacrifice of the Mass the imaginary fire of Purgatory or the like Nothing is capable to make us acknowledge any other Mediator any other Saviour and Redeemer then Jesus Christ Any other sacrifice then that of his Cross any other Purgatory then his blood nor any other merit then his obedience Nor any other Infallible guide then the holy Scripture And therefore though we are by the uncharitable Papists damned for Hereticks that we have no reason to fear that God Almighty will condemn us because we have trusted to his Divine Word and holy Ordinances we have fashioned our service according to that pattern he hath left us in the Scriptures we have closely adhered to the purity and simplicity of the Christian Doctrine We cannot give that honor and glory to the creatures which is due only to the Creator We content our selves in Worshipping of one only God in Spirit and in truth we put our whole trust and hope in him alone and we put up all our petitions to him in the name only and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. We cannot believe those false Priests who tell us that Christ is here and there we admit of no other sacrifice then that of the Cross nor any other purgatory than that of his blood we admit of no more Sacraments then those which Christ did Institute and we celebrate them no otherwise then the Apostles have done before us we pray to no Saints worship no Angels nor bow down to any Image Crucifix or Picture and therefore we hope through the infinite merits of God in Christ Jesus because we have been faithful in his service obedient to his commands and observed his Ordinances we shall not be condemned or eternally rejected from his presence But we hope to hear from our Saviours own mouth These words of eternal Consolation Because you have kept the words of my patience been faithful in my service to the death you shall receive the Crown of Life You have been good servants enter you into the joy of your Lord Inherit the Glorious Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the World Which God Almighty grant us for our Lord Jesus Christ his sake Amen A PILL TO PURGE OUT POPERY OR A CATECHISM FOR ROMISH CATHOLICKS Shewing that Popery is contrary to the grounds of the Catholick Religion and that therefore Papists cannot be good Catholicks The Speakers A weak Christian A Minister DIALOGUE I. Christian AMong the diversities of opinion that are in the world how may I know which is the truth whereto I must cleare and who are the true Church and true Catholicks Minister a Believe not every spirit
sins Mat. 1.21 Acts 4.12 Heb. 7.25 The Papists teach that there must also some satisfaction of our own come to make up our perfect Redemption Concil Trid. Sess 14.6.8 Can. 11.15 They will not be saved only by Jesus Christ but by the merits also of Saints their own merits Popes pardons c. yea they ascribe that to others which is proper to Christ alone and so consequently make them their Saviours As for example They ascribe to S. Francis the same titles properties power and the very same office due to Jesus Christ and in all respects they make him like to Christ whatsoever Christ did that as they say did S. Francis And what is this in effect but to make him their Saviour That they do ascribe the former things to S. Francis is to be seen in a book written on purpose to shew the conformitty between him and Christ called the conformity of Francis the which hath bin confirmed by the authority of the Church of Rome Pope Gregory the Ninth enjoined the faithful to hold and firmly to believe the things taught in the said book concerning S. Francis and that he should be punished as an Heretick that would think the contrary Confor P. 2. lib. 1. Fol. 3. C. To whom else do they ascribe that which is proper to Jesus Christ M. To the Virgin Mary They describe her nature by her name Maria consisting of five letters and these as they say do import the five offices to be exercised by her toward us The first is Maternitatis of Mother hood signified by the letter M for the as they say is the Mother of mercy through whom we obtain mercy Her second office is Conservationis of crnserving the treasure of God signified by the letter A which representeth Aream thesauri the chest of treasure for in her as they say we shall find an infinite treasure of the wisdom and grace of God Her third office is Directionis and gubernationis of direction and governing by example of her life This is imported by the letter R and therefore she is named Regina the Queen Her fourth office is Jaculationis repulsionis inimicorum of slinging and repelling back of enemies signified by the letter I and therefore they pray thus to her Tu nos ab hoste protege hora mortis suscipe Protect thou us from the enemie and receive us at the hour of death Her last office is Advocationis of Advocation imported by the letter A. From whence they pray thus O our Advocate turn thy merciful eyes unto us And what doe they herein but even place her in the room of Jesus and make her their Saviour These be the very words of Frier Iohn Viguerius a Doctor yea and a publick professor of Divinity among them in his Institutions to his Catholick Theologie Cap. 20. Sect. 9. Fol. 21 4. And herein he is like to such as can make bells to sound even what pleaseth their phantastical brain and as best may seed their superstitious humours Further they say That she is the original of our salvation and the recoverer of grace and forgiveness our hope our salvation resurrection c. Yea that to her it is given to bruise the Serpents head that she hath done it and procured that peace between God and man which no man could procure Viguerius ibid 214 215 Comfor Fran. in conclus Lib. 1. Is not this to make her a Saviour C. Surely yes and I think it most horrible blasphemy M. Account you this blasphemy what say you then to that which Carolus Scribanius a Iesuite hath written of her As namely First that the milk of Mary may come into comparison with the blood of Christ Secondly that that the Christian mans Faith may lawfully take hold on both as well as one Thirdly that the best compound for a sick soul is to mix together her milk and Christs blood Fourthly that the sins and spiritual diseases of the soul are cured as well by her milk as by his Blood Fifthly that her milk and the merit and vertue of it is more precious and excellent than Christs blood These most horrible blasphemies with many such like are to be found in the aforesaid Iesuites book which M. C. hath put into English and sufficiently answered calling it The Jesuites Gospel Besides all these things in a book called the Ladies Psalter they have put out the word Lord and put in the Word Lady As for example Psalme 110.1 The Lord said unto our Lady Sit thou mother at my right hand c. The like they doe in the rest of the Psalms And is not this good stuffe think you C. These Books were written long agone and it may be that they are now rejected by the Papists M. The latter of them was indeed written long agone but is not rejected but stand uncontrouled or rather defended by the Jesuites and those of the principall The former was written but lately And whereas both the Author and his book as M. C. saith deserved the fire and halter it was so farre from being misliked in the Romane Synagogue or any way censured that the book hath bin reprinted and the Author and his book stand enrouled approved and commended in their great Volumes set out for that purpose for good and Catholick As they place S. Francis and the Virgin Mary in Christs room so do they the Pope also ascribing that to him which is proper unto Iesus Christ and may not without blasphemy be ascribed to any creature They say that the Pope is the Sun The Church the Moon The Pope is the Bridegroom the Church the Bride The Pope is the head the Church the Body And what is this but to place the Pope in the room of Jesus Christ and even to say that the Pope is Christ Confor F. 2. li 2. fol. 10. That they do thus place S. Francis the Virgin Mary and the Pope in Christs room and so make them Saviours is more at large and sufficiently proved out of their own writers in a little Treatise set forth by M. Thomas Rogers in the year 1589. intituled An historicall Dialogue of Antichrist and Popery DIALOGVE 3. C. Hitherto you have shewed how the Son of God is called Jesus because he is a Saviour and how the Papists do place others in his room Now shew me also why he is called Christ and what that title signifieth M. Christ signifieth Anointed which title setteth forth his office namely that he is our only true Prophet Priest and King C Do they teach any thing contrary hereunto M. They do even deny this office of his and so consequently deny the fruits of his coming in the flesh 1. Ioh 4.3 C. Sheâ— me wherein they deny his Office M. Christ is a Prophet to teach his Church and to reveal the will of God unto us to whom all are to hearken Mat. 17 5 Ioh. 10 27. Act 3 22 23 And this he hath perfectly done in the Scriptures They preferred their own blind