their Prayers and thereby make God himself our Debtour for he that giveth to the Poor lendeth to the Lord. Lastly The Champions for Popery alledge for Purgatory 1 Pet. 3.19 20. By which also he went and preached to the Spirits in prison by which they undrstand the Descent of Christ into Purgatory to loose some Souls there from their Torments But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which relates to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirit that is set down just before it by which Spirit in Noah who is called a Preacher of Righteousness Christ Jesus is said to Preach to the Generation of Men immediately before the Floud whose Souls are now shut up in Hell for their Disobedience For this Preaching was not performed by an immediate act of the Son of God as if he personally had appeared on Earth and actually Preached to the Old World but he did it by the Ministry of a Prophet for to doe any thing by another that is not able to perform it without him as much demonstrates the existence of the principal cause as if he did it of himself without any intervening instrument But if Purgatory be intended in these words we must be mightily mistaken in our conceptions about a future state then the days that follow after Death do afford opportunities of obtaining a better Life then may Men rise from a life of torments to a life of joy whereas the Angels had one Instant either to stand or fall eternally what that Instant was to them that this Life is to us for after Death immediately follows Judgment the Soul at its departure from the Body knows its doom and what it must trust to for ever The Schoolmen labour all they can to destroy the true Belief of Christians in this matter and have the face to propose it as a matter of Faith that Christ delivered the Souls of the Saints from the very suburbs of Hell which they call Limbus of the Fathers It is pity but the wits of these Men had been better employed than in building such Castles in the Air or in filling Mens thoughts with imaginary Ideas of strange places in the other World that have no foundation in Scripture which is our surest guide against all such Notional wandrings opens our eyes to perceive the reality of things and clears the brain not onely from Darkness but form false and useless Light especially the Ignis fatuus of Purgatory which serves onely to mislead Men out of the way and so lose them in the bogs or woods of perpetual errour which teaches us to believe quite otherwise than the Papists do for such as these are the instructions of the Holy Spirit Joh. 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life he shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life Mat. 18.8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee cut them off and cast them from thee it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed rather than having two hands and two feet to be cast into everlasting fire Mat. 19.29 And every one that hath forsaken houses or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my names sake shall receive an hundredfold and shall inherit everlasting life Mat. 25.46 And these shall go into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life everlasting In the sixteeth Chapter of St. Luke's Gospel from the nineteenth to the one and thirtieth Verse we reade how the Rich Man was cast into Torments and the Poor Man lodged in Abraham's Bosome between the places of both these Men there was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Wide Gulph never to be passed insomuch that Dives did despair of any relief out of his misery when the gift of a drop of water to cool his tongue would not be granted him If we can assent to what the Papists say they have paved a large Caus-way over this wide Gulph and have opened a very easie passage from a life of torments to that of eternal happiness For by virtue of some prayers oblations and indulgences they have made the way broad to Heaven and narrow to Hell a Man that hath money in his pocket cannot be damned and a Camel may as soon pass through the eye of a needle as a poor Man be saved But granting that the written word of God hath nothing of Purgatory in it the Romanists will tell you that Tradition will defend them in the belief thereof which word Tradition they are wont to alledge to give a colour to most of their present innovations Wherefore in the second place I am to shew how they are mistaken in this case of Tradition also and to declare for what reasons the Fiction of Purgatory was first set on foot The Traditions we receive as good and authentick are the Doctrines which we now reade in the holy Scriptures but I have proved Purgatory to be none of these therefore those of the Romish Perswasion must mean some other Tradition that is not to be found written in the word of God But here we ought to observe that the Scripture in this case aswell as in all others is the onely rule of Faith therefore Traditions Councils and Fathers are onely to be used as helps to understand the Scripture better but not to be entertained as any rule of Faith in which case we are bound to be of the Apostle's mind If I or an Angel from Heaven preach any other doctrine than that which we have delivered let him he accursed For this reason we cannot receive those Doctrines for truth which the Church of Rome presses upon our Belief upon the account of Tradition especially when we consider with what strategems of force and fraud this Church hath laboured to keep the People in ignorance for the sake of her New Doctrines that they may be swallowed the more glibly which is an artifice to enslave Mankind by disabling them either to see or know what she is a-doing whereas if we would keep up the honour and privilege of Humane nature if we would preserve our Bibles from being sequestred into Hucksters hands if we have any regard to God's pure and undefiled Religion we must resolve against the Novelties of Popery For in the true Religion there is nothing which the reason of Mankind can challenge wherein the judgments of Men may not have so good an account as to receive full and ample satisfaction And to speak the truth I do not understand that there is among Protestants what more is to be found among the Papists is accommodated to serve some bye-ends and purposes For this reason a great Abbat in the Roman Church was wont to say that he did greatly suspect his Religion must needs fail being not built upon so firm a Rock as was supposed because there was so little Ground for many Tenents of it in the Word of God I may add that there is
not we degenerate into the lower Rank of Animals and very deservedly pull God's vengeance upon us for disappointing the end of our Creation which was to serve our Creatour in all Faithfulness and Truth it being a fault never to be forgiven for any Creature to say that he is not beholding to God for giving him a Being unless he may be freed from the dreadfull apprehensions of that everlasting punishment which is due against all such as wilfully offend so good and wise so holy and just a God Wherefore let no vain expectations of escaping the wrath to come betray us into so great a sottishness as to put off our Repentance or to defer making provision for Eternity to be throughly regenerate is a harder task than to mumble over so many Pater Noster's or Ave-Mary Prayers I fear those ignorant People whose Religion hangs on a string of Beads and whose Prayers are set upon Tallies understand very little what true Sanctification imports what reconciliation with the nature will and mind of God signifies unless we are thus qualified for the enjoyment of God no Flames of Purgatory will ever prepare us for it Now therefore is the time of working out our Salvation the next World will be the time of giving an account of what we have done either good or evil as this Life leaves us so eternal Life will find us what advantages then we have to day of knowing the will of God and of learning his statutes let us make use of them that we may be able to stand before his Judgment Seat and receive the rewards of good and faithfull Servants in order to the acquitting our selves well at this Bar we have the direction of holy Scripture which we may search as curiously as we please we have all God's institutions to guide us we have the assistance of God's Spirit to help and encourage our endeavours and the promises of the Gospel to assure us that our labour shall not be in vain These are the benefits of the present time but what warrant have we from Scripture that those duties may be performed hereafter which are now neglected No we are told the quite contrary because I called saith God and ye would not answer I will then laugh at your destruction and mock when your fear cometh so St. Luke 15. The rich Glutton is tormented who was always for spending his present time in Riot and Luxury he applauds himself in his wisedom and foresight when he had made such plentifull provisions for many years ease and pleasure but alas how soon is his unprepared Soul surprized with a sad arrest of Death how blank did the Fool then look when he heard the fatal News that that Night should put an end to all his hopes How was he confounded with the terrours of the other World poor wretch how did he tremble when he found himself beset with Devils and damned Spirits On the other side Lazarus is comforted because he did his work in this World through much poverty and hardship he got at last to Heaven This is the case of all Men an eternity of happiness or misery awaits them hereafter there is no other state of things so great and so unalterable the Divine Providence hath made use of all the best and wisest methods to disabuse the enchanted reason of Man that he may not be miserable but happy for ever and if Men could be brought to reflect seriously on the dismal and astonishing events of a wicked Life they would never suffer themselves to be so much imposed upon by Cheats and Impostours who recommend to them an implicite Faith and a belief in such a state as Purgatory whereby their eyes are shut that they may not be affrighted by the sight of their misery The fears of one Parâ—y betray Men into Superstition the vices of another into Atheism the covetousness of a third draws them into the most pernitious mistakes about the World to come But if Men would be at the pains to enquire into the affairs of Religion and be not indifferent whether their condition hereafter be happy or miserable they will easily discover its principles to be highly reasonable and the keeping of its Commandments to be their highest interest they will plainly see the paths of Truth and Blessedness for it sets down the most easie rules both for living well and for believing right because errours in Belief are no less destructive of Christianity and the ends thereof than a general viciousness of manners is But if Men will be Fools and follow trifling opinions no wonder if they perish by their own folly do they believe the immortality of the Soul a future state or a judgment to come if they believe all this to what a degree of madness do they act that will venture the fury of an Almighty vengeance for the sake of obeying one sort of Men who have contrived New and Antiscriptural Articles of Faith who will run the hazard of forfeiting an eternal Happiness and of being cast into an eternal Flame because they fansie their Church is an infallible guide whereas St. Paul writing to the Romans speaks not one word of their privilege of infallibility but rather puts them in fear in the 11. Chap. that they aswell as the Jews were in danger of falling way St. Peter also in his Catholick Epistles doth not once acquaint the Christians whom he writes to what Guide they were to follow after his departure there was no need for any such thing for they had all along told them that by following the Scripture they may be saved having then an infallible way there was no use at least no necessity of an infallible Guide But as the Church of Rome without any colour of reason sets up for an infallible Guide in points of Controversie so with like boldness she may lay claim as some of her disciples do to demonstration in matters of Faith whereas if we will define Faith to be that assent by which we receive the word of God as such and upon account thereof give our assent to all things which therein are propounded to us to be believed then there are to be assigned two several acts of Faith one of which is that judgment by which we acknowlege that word to be truly divine the other is that assent which we give to all those things that are contained therein Faith in the former respect is less certain than Science but in respect of adherence is more certain than the other Now there cannot be so great a certainty in Faith as in Science the Mathematicks for instance because Faith is more lyable to doubting than Science is if any Man perceives the strength and force of a Geometrical Demonstration he cannot in the mean while doubt of the conclusion but now a true Believer doth often struggle with doubting and unbelief wherewith his Faith is assaulted and yet it ceaseth not to be true Faith We must confess that the mind doth less
ADVERTISEMENT A Demonstration of the Messias In which the Truth of the Christian Religion is proved especially against the Jews By Richard Kidder in Octavo Printed for B. Aylmer A DISCOURSE AGAINST PURGATORY LONDON Printed for Brabazon Aylmer at the Three Pigeons against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill MDCLXXXV A DISCOURSE AGAINST Purgatory AMONG all the Errours of the Church of Rome the Superstructures she hath made of hay and stubble upon the substantial Doctrine of Christianity this Fable of Purgatory is one of the most notorious invented on purpose to encrease the treasury of the Church by putting the grossest abuses upon the ignorant and unwary People over whom she hath got such an absolute dominion as that she can make them believe what she pleases and then can impose her additions to the word of God as infallible decrees How easily are the multitude led into bye-paths when that light of Scripture is taken away from their eyes which God revealed on purpose that by the search thereof they might find Eternal Life For the Scriptures are the most full and complete systeme of God's Laws the most sufficient and certain means of Man's Salvation I cannot then but wonder how it came to pass that this middle state called Purgatory hanging thus between Heaven and Hell was not known to the Pen-men of God's word or if it were known that they should either be so envious of the Churches happiness or so forgetfull of the work they took in hand which was to write the whole Gospel of Christ as not so much as one of them should give us notice of this place But this new Doctrine with many others was introduced when the World was in the dark for in the ninth and tenth Centuries such a General ignorance and stupidity had seized the minds of Men that scarce any one knew what the Doctrine of Christ was when the Wolrd was thus stupid and Superstitious Men were inclined to believe strange things upon this fair opportunity some cunning Men drew the simple People into the Belief of the most absurd Doctrines under the notion of being great and profound Mysteries the gallantry of Faith they imagined was mightily shewn in swallowing downright Contradictions when this breach was once made upon the minds of Men then any errour might enter though as senseless and ridiculous as Purgatory it self Which Opinion I will first shew to have no foundation in the Canonical Scripture Secondly For what reasons it was introduted Thirdly What we are to believe in this matter Lastly I shall conclude with some reflexions upon the Authours of this and other new-invented Doctrines in the Church of Rome First I am to prove that this opinion hath no foundation in Scripture The Papists themselves are sensible enough of this therefore they put all the false glosses they can upon it so that the People may discern nothing in the Scripture it self though it be as clear as the Sun for by this craft they have their living as Demetrius and his Crafts-men had herefore But let them fairly and honestly lay open the Books of God to every one's eye without any unreasonable interpretations or spurious additions made to it and I doubt not but the vanity of asserting Purgatory will soon appear Now in Scripture there are matters of a different nature I. Ancient Records the History of former Times and these things were far better known than they are now at this distance of time II. There are things that are wholly expired and out of date and so of less use to us as the whole Mosaical Dispensation III. In Scripture there are matters of Prophecy fitted for those times which they then far better understood than we do now and wherein they were far more concerned than we are for they are transactions partly of things performed which when fulfilled were best understood IV. There are matters of deep Philosophy aswell as great Mysteries which do not belong to the business of Religion Lastly There is the moral part of Religion and our Savior's Doctrine in which two our Regilion consists and this is that Doctrine which hath brought life and immortality to light but hath not revealed any such thing as Purgatory which will appear if we consider what Bellarmine hath alledged in the defence thereof both out of the Old and New Testament According to him the Texts for Purgatory in the Old Testament are first the Fasting of David for Saul and Jonathan 2 King 1.12 and again 2. Sam. 3.35 for the death of Abner Which Fasting of David must be as he fansies for the obtaining of something for them at God's hands after their deaths and when nothing can be obtained for Mens Souls that are already in Heaven or Hell it follows that some Mens Souls are in neither of those places but must be in Purgatory We Answer that Mourning and Fasting were never practised upon a design of procuring thereby any benefit to the Deceased but they were customs onely and ceremonies made use of to testifie the honour and respect they had for their Friends departed and all Nations have had their particular ways of discharging their last Duty to their Friends when they have left this World without any thought of doing them any service thereby in the World to come The Cardinal is not contented with this Argument but he produces other places of the Old Testament to support his opinion in the behalf whereof he cites almost every Text wherein there is the word anger or fire or burning or purging or cleansing it were an infinite task to answer every thing he alledges and altogether needless because there is not so much as any shew or colour of proof in any one of them Therefore we will pass to those Texts of the New Testament which he says are for him First He alledges that of St. Matthew 12.32 Whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man it shall be forgiven him but whosoevrer speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world nor that which is to come This world to come if you will believe him must needs be Purgatory Now by the world to come nothing else is meant in Scripture but that everlasting state which we shall enter upon after death in which all agree there shall be no middle state between that of Heaven and the other of Hell therefore the world to come and Purgatory are inconsistent for one Scripture is the best Comment upon another so that this way of Expression 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neither in this World nor that which is to come is made easie and plain by St Mark c. 3. v. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now this manner of Expression in St. Matthew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world nor in that which is to come signifies just so much and no more as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath never forgiveness but is in danger of Eternal Damnation as
clearly perceive this to be the word of God than it doth those things which are self-evident and the conclusions logically deduced from them there is no reason therefore that any one should fear to acknowledge that assent to be also less certain notwithstanding it follows not upon this account that Faith is uncertain for That which arises not to the certainty of Science is not therefore uncertain for although that certainty which is called Moral be of an inferiour degree to Demonstration yet it is a true certainty leaves the mind satisfied and free from doubt But how can a Man be said to have a certainty greater than that of Science when he hath not that certainty of evidence from the Arguments upon which the matter is grounded It may be answered that no Man can deny but there may be just cause why a Man may adhere to the objects of his Faith more strongly than the Arguments brought for the truth thereof do require for when a Man is sufficiently perswaded by due reasons and arguments that what is propounded to him for Divine Revelation is indeed such this Man if he duly attends and seriously considers that it is God who speaks he will be wholly bent to yield obedience thereunto he will entertain the word of God with the highest veneration he will closely adhere to it and he will be fully resolved to suffer and renounce all things rather than withdraw his assent from those matters of Faith which are contained in it and confirmed by it From thence there arises in his mind a greater or at least a more effectual adherence to the Articles of his Faith than there is in Science for the mind so affected and disposed doth more affectionately embrace and more firmly hold that word of God than any thing else by what light soever it be propounded or by whatever strength of demonstration it be confirmed neither is there any knowledge which he doth so carefully retain nor is there any assent which he will suffer so hardly or with such difficulty to be forced from him which firmness of Faith and strong adherence of mind to the objects of it is not produced by the evidence thereof but by the great weight and moment of it for the mind being enlightned by the holy Spirit understands that any other speculative scientifical Doctrine doth little or nothing conduce to a happy and blessed life but that on This our everlasting happiness doth depend and that we cannot reject This without certain Ruine Therefore we ought to take heed that cunning Men do not deceive us that we do not hearken to the Teachers of New Doctrines which have no foundation in the Scripture their pretences to infallibility and demonstration in matters of Faith are false and unreasonable for they assume these great and unwarrantabe privileges onely to deceive the Ignorant and to obtrude fictitious articles of Faith upon Mankind Wherefore all that now remains is to make some short Reflexions upon the Authours of Purgatory and other new-invented Doctrines in the Church of Rome First They may be charged for imposing upon our belief things contrary to reason self-inconsistent and incongruous of this I will give but one instance which is their asserting that the Bread and Wine in the Sacrament is changed into the real and substantial Body and Bloud of Christ For this is the hardest thing that ever was put upon Men in any Religion because they cannot admit it unless their reason be laid aside as no competent Judge in the matter unless also they give the lye to the report of their senses And if we do this how shall we think that God made our Faculties true which if he did not doe we are absolutely discharged from all duty to him because we have no faculty that can resolve us that This is of God for if our reason must not be trusted we must cease to be Men if our senses are not to be believed the chiefest proof of Christianity falls to the ground which was the sight of those who saw our Saviour after he was risen from the Dead Now if I may not believe the reason of my mind in conjunction with three or four of my senses how shall I know that any thing is this or that therefore I say that this Doctrine is a gross invention of Men contrary both to reason and sense Secondly The Truths they do acknowledge are made void subtile distinctions or equivocations as for example their Doctrine of probability and of directing the intention if a Man can find any Doctour among them that held such an opinion it makes that Doctrine probable and there is nothing so contrary to the rules of vertue and conscience but what some Romish casuistical Doctour hath resolved to be good and practicable just as Tully says there is nothing so absurd or ridiculous which some Philosopher or other hath not maintained and asserted So by directing their intention they may declare that which is false and deny that which is true because they intend the credit of their Church and Religion this mere intention shall excuse them from the guilt of downright falshood and lying They are so well practised in equivocations that you cannot confide in any words they speak they are so ambiguous and of such doubtfull meaning in their evasions their Speech shall bear a double sense whereas no Man ought to use wit and parts to impose upon another or to make a Man believe That which he doth not mean For the Christian Law is plain and obvious void of all ambiguity or ensnaring speeches free from all Sophistications and windings of Language never flies to words of a dubious or uncertain signification but plainly declares the truth to Men therefore these practices are contrary to that simplicity and plain-heartedness which ought to be in the conversation of every Christian Thirdly They super-add to Religion things altogether unlikely to be true and dishonourable to God which will appear in these following particulars I. The use of Images in the Worship of God an Idolatry they are too guilty of otherwise they would never leave out the Second Commandment and divide the Tenth into two to conceal it from the People We find better Doctrine than this among the Philosophers who say God is to be Worshipped by Purity of Mind for this is a rational service and a worship most suitable to an immaterial Being it being the use of that in us which is the highest and noblest of our Faculties II. the veneration of Reliques a very vain and foolish thing for there can be no certainty at this distance of time what they are and if they were indeed what they are taken for what veneration is or can be due to them For inanimate things are far inferiour to those that have life and for the living to worship things that are dead is unaccountable and irrational III. The Invocation or Worship of Angels and Saints our Fellow-creatures particularly of the Virgin Mary
direct and give Counsel not with Pride to rule but in Compassion to lead others into the way of Truth and to recover them out of mistakes In short we tell the People that the Scripture is the onely rule of their faith that it is full and perspicuous in all matters necessary for good life and practice so that if the use diligence and mind them well they may easily understand them and be satisfied we never demand any implicâ—te Faith from them neither do we expect that they should resign up their Faculties as others believe blindfold and without Reason Therefore the Reformed Church is honest in all its dealings doth not deceive Men by any ways of fraud or falshood such as the whole Doctrine of Merit is and the Relieving of Souls out of Purgatory by Masses But there is a place in the World where coelum est venale Deusque Heaven and God himself is set to sale The premisses considered we may conclude that the Church of England had good reason to declare in her twenty second Article that The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory Pardons Worshipping and Adoration aswell of Images as of Reliques and also Invocation of Saints is a fond thing vainly invented and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture but rather repugnant to the word of God For the whole Scripture is against Purgatory wherein we reade 1 Joh. 1.7 That the bloud of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin that the Children of God who dye in Christ do rest from their labours that as they are absent from the Lord while they body they are present with the Lord Joh. 5.24 they come not into Judgment but pass from Death to Life The same Doctrine is taught by the ancient Fathers of the Church Tertullian says it is an Injury to Christ to maintain that such as be called from hence by him are in a state that should be pitied Thus St. Cyprian affirms the Servants of God to have Peace and Rest assoon as they are withdrawn from the storms of this lower World And Hilary observes in the Gospel of the Rich Man and Lazarus that every one is sent either to Abraham's bosome or to torments assoon as this Life is ended St. Basil declares this World to be the time of Repentance the other of Retribution this of Working that of receiving a Reward So Nazianzen in his Funeral Orations plainly denies that after this Life there is any purging to be expected and therefore he tells us that it is better to be purged now than be sent into torments where the time of punishing is and not of purging St. Hierome also comforts Paula for the Death of her Daughter after this manner let the Dead be lamented but let us whom Christ cometh forth to meet after our departure be the more grieved because so long as we remain here we are Pilgrims from God I could cite more Fathers to this purpose but the Testimonies of these may suffice to shew that all were not of Bellarmine's mind as he pretends by his precarious assertion that Antiquity constantly taught there was a Purgatory Whereas the Grecians are so far from being of his Faith that they do not believe it at this day The oldest and best Authours that I know to be on his side are Plato in his Gorgias and Phaedo Tully in the end of the Dream of Scipio and Virgil in his sixth Eneide Tertullian likewise when he was an Heretick seemed to favour his opinion and Origen was very much of that Belief who acknowledges no other punishment after this life but Purgatory-pains onely Notwithstanding the Romish Clergy have the confidence to impose this extravagant Doctrine upon the World now it was never heard of in the Church for the space of a thousand years after the Birth of our Saviour when Thomas Aquinas and other Fryars had framed the cheat the Doctours of the Greek Church did publickly oppose it afterwards the Pope and his Agents prevailed so far in the Council at Florence that for Peace sake they were contented to yield That the middle sort of Souls were in a place af Punishment but whether that were Fire Darkness and Tempest or something else they would not contend But as I have said the Greek Church the Muscovites and Russians the Cophtites and Abassines the Georgians and Armenians could never be brought to submit to it But this opinion with some others no less absurd and ridiculous came into the World when Ignorance and Interest had fatally depraved the Primitive purity of the Christian Faith and Worship The Broachers of these Fictions are very crasty and industrious in contriving ways how they may fasten them upon credulous People and although it is more than an hundred years since our Ancestours threw off the Pope's Tyranny yet if he doth not meet with a proportionable zeal in their Posterity to oppose his designs it will not be hard to conjecture the success of a vigorous attacque and a faint defence As therefore we are Members of a Christian Church in which we may assuredly find Salvation if we continue in it let us be firmly united among our selves against all innovatours in Religion As we have no other rule of Faith and practice than the Holy Scripture let us reject all notorious innovations that are obtruded upon us for fundamentals As we are taught to be obedient to the supreme Magistrate not onely for Wrath but Conscience sake so we are bound to avoid the Communion of that Church which claims a Power of deposing him and of knocking those on the head who keep close to the Faith once delivered to the Saints What obligations then have we to the Church we are of and to the Religion we profess which hath deliverd us from the Laws of the Roman Religion that are written in Bloud that hath recovered us from the Idolatrous practice of the heathen World that will not suffer us to Worship Images or fall down to the stock of a Tree that doth not rob us of the benefit of publick Prayers by putting them into an unknown tongue that doth not enjoin an implicite Faith or blind obedience but allows to every Christian a judgment of Discretion who keeps within the bounds of due obedience and submission to his lawfull Superiours that he may prove all things hold fast That which is good a Church that hath no pardons at a set price for guilty persons no forged miracles to amuse the credulous and ignorant no pompous shews Beads Tickets Agnus Dei's Rosaries to please the Vulgar or to gratifie the Superstitious If therefore we have any love of our Religion or any concern for the happiness of our Church and Nation if we have any desire to hold the freedom of our Consciences or any care for the eternal safety of our Souls it behoves us to beware of the Emissaries of Rome in whose success we must expect to forfeit all these interest every one of which ought to be dearer to us than our lives Let us not be imposed upon by the specious Name of Roman Catholick it is a mere contradiction one of the Pope's Bulls as if he should say universal particular a Catholick Schismatick Let us not be afraid to encounter this pretended Catholick with the Councils and Fathers though these are a Labyrinth an intangled Wood which Papists love to fight in not so much with hope of victory as to hide the shame of an open overthrow which in this kind of combat many of our Divines have given them But let them bound their Disputations on the Scripture onely and an ordinary Protestant well read in the Bible may turn and wind their ablest Doctours for as among Papists their ignorance in the Scripture chiefly upholds Popery so among Protestants the frequent and serious reading thereof will soonest baffle it And we need not doubt of an entire conquest if we add to this the amendment of our lives with all speed lest through impenitency pride luxury bold and open Atheism uncharitable jarring and pelting at one another through stubborn disobedience to the Laws of God and Man we run into that sottishly which we seek so warily to avoid the worst of Superstitions that enervates and destroys the whole design of Christianity FINIS Advertisement of Books A Learned Treatise of the Pope's Supremacy To which is added a Discourse Concerning the Unity of the Church By Isaac Barrow D.D. late Master of Trinity College in Cambridge may be had alone In Folio Now in the Press Five Sermons of Contentment one of Patience and one of Resignation to the Divine Will By Isaac Barrow D. D. Never before Published In Octavo A Discourse against Transubstantiation Printed for Brabazon Aylmer in Cornhil Tertul. lib. de patien ch 9. Cyprian de Mortali sect 2. edit Goulart Hilar. in Psal 2. St. Basil Prooem in Regulas c. Nazianz. orati 9. ad Julianum Hierom. Epist 25. Concil Florentin Sess 25.