containe all things necessary to Salvation That â—t is but a piece of a rule a nose of wax a two-handed sword But for to supply the Scriptures want there is a Tradition and unwritten Word which they cause to be received with like credit and certainty as the very Word of God And with this artifice and cunning the Pope hath set up himselfe in the Temple of God and hath changed the Christian Religion into Idolatry superstition and false Doctrine causing the people to receive whatsoever he saith and decrees as the very Word and ordinance of God though they be things directly contrary to the same which things by the grace of God I shall make plainly appeare by many places of the Word of God and necessary consequences drawne out of the same First as touching the darknesse of the Scripture which they suppose for to hinder the simple people from reading the same I say that in this very thing they truely shew themselves to be those blinde and incredulous ones of whom S. Paul speakes when he saith If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost In whom the God of this World hath blinded the mindes of them that beleeve not Lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them 2. Cor. 4. ver. 3. 4. If the Word of God be dark it is not in regard of it selfe but of men that are blinde by nature in things that are of God The natural man saith S. Paul receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1. Cor. 2. 14. And our Lord teacheth us that they which are not of God cannot heare the Word of God Joh. 8. 47. The Word of God is not dark to them that have received the Spirit of God that they may know the things which are freely given to them of God 1. Cor. 2. 12. I prove it by these arguments Whatsoever is a lampe unto the feet of the Faithfull and a light unto their paths the same is not dark unto them But the Word of God is a lampe unto the feet of the Faithfull and a light unto their paths Psal. 119. 105. Therefore the Word of God is not dark unto them Item Whatsoever illuminateth and makes the simple to have understanding the same is plain unto them But the Word of God enlightneth and maketh the simple to have understanding Psal. 119. 130. Therefore the Word of God is plain unto the simple Secondly The Pope and his Adherents teaching that the Word of God containeth not all things necessary to Salvation shew themselves wholly and absolutely adverse to Saint Paul these words are plain toTimothy The holy Scriptures saith he are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproofe for correction and for instruction in righteousnesse That the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works 2. Tim. 3. 15. 16. 17. The written Word of God hath the vertue and power to save soules S. James teacheth the same when he saith Receive with meeknesse the engrafted Word which is able to save your soules Jam. 1. 21. If you continue in my Word saith Christ You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free Joh. 8. 31. 32. These things are written saith S. John that you may beleeve that Jesus is the Christ the Sonne of God and in beleeving you may have life through his name Joh. 20. 31. The written Word of God therefore containeth all things necessary to Salvation and it is a needlesse thing to have recourse to mens Traditions Againe Christ saith That they worship him in vain teaching for doctrines the commandements of men Mark 7. 7. He would not therefore have men to take upon them to make laws commandements in his Church But rather that al should submit themselves to his doctrine and Commandements contained in his Word without either adding unto it or diminishing from it Deut. 4. 2. Apoc. 22. 18. 19. The fear of this people saith he is towards me through the commandements of men Esay 29. 13. In a word Christ and his Apostles in many places doe send us to the written Word of God but never to an unwritten word or humane Traditions But rather on the contrary S. Paul exhorteth the faithfull to take heed least they be surprised by the Traditions and vain deceits of men If any man saith he yea even an Angel from Heaven preach unto you any other Gospel than that which you have received let him be accursed Galat. 1. 8. The written Word of God therefore containeth all that which is necessary to salvation and consequently we need not seek after any other unwritten Word for that purpose Moreover We doe not reject all kind of Traditions but onely such as are contrary unto the Word of God or invented by men for to impose a yoake upon the consciences of men which God hath not imposed The true Church groundeth no Articles of faith upon the Traditions of men but upon the Word of God But our Adversaries build their Articles of faith upon the Tradition and the unwritten Word onely which they preferre before the holy Scriptures and set it up far above the same Gabriel de S. Maria in his treatise of the Authority of Scripture chap. 7. pag. 162. saith that If we doe compare the Tradition with the written Word of God we shall finde that the Tradition excels it infinitely for that it hath more necessity more light more firmenesse and more authority than the written Word of God The Church of God useth some Traditions but such as are not contrary unto the Word of God and which doe not impose a yoake upon the consciences of men But the Traditions of the Roman Church which as our Adversaries say excel the Word of God infinitely are directly contrary unto the same and impose a yoake upon the consciences of men which God hath not imposed which is clearly verified in these examples following 1 In the first place The Tradition and unwritten Word of the Roman Church teacheth That all the Faithfull ought not to reade and meditate upon the Word of God This doctrin is contrary to these places of the written word of God Blessed is he that readeth the Words of this Prophesie c. Apoc. 1. 3. Seek unto the Book of the Law and reade c. Esay 34. 39. 2 The Tradition and unwritten Word of the Roman Church teacheth That Saints departed are our advocates and mediators towards God This Doctrine is contrary to these expresse places of the written Word of God God is one and the Mediator one between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus 1. Tim. 2. 5. If any man sinne we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous John
those that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth John 4. 24. God is infinite and incomprehensible therfore he cānot be represented by such materiall and corporall things it being an horrible blasphemy to go about to represent the God-head with such things Wherefore the ProphetEsay cryeth aloud against such Idolaters To whom then will yee liken God or what likenesse will yee compare him unto or to whom shall I be equall saith the holy One Lift up your eyes on high and behold who hath Created these things Esay 40. 18. 25. 26. And the Apostle Saint Paul saith That professing themselves to be wise they became fooles and changed the Glory of the uncorruptible God into an Image made like to corruptible Man and to Birds and foure-footed Beasts Rom. 1. 22. 23. This adoration of Dulia which they give unto Saints cannot chuse but be a great sinne and Idolatry For this adoration is made without any warrant out of the Word of God and by Consequent done without Faith which cannot be but sinne and Idolatry In summe Our Adversaries are greater Idolaters in worshipping of their Images than the Pagans and ancient Idolaters were For those had not the knowledge of the true God and were not taught and instructed by his Word Besides They worshipped the Images of things which they beleeved to be gods as of Jupiter Hercules Apollo Juno Venus Diana and others But these Idolaters here see by the Word of God how much Idolatry is in abomination unto the Lord and neverthelesse they worship the Images of things which as themselves confesse are no gods as of the true Crosse of the Virgin Mary of Saint Francis of Saint Dominick and others and are come so farre even as to worship Tabernacles Boxes and such other like things But if any man thinke that I accuse them wrongfully and lay to their charge that which they doe not teach Let him take the paines to reade their Canons and Books and namely the Lessons of Francis Panigarolle a renowned Doctor amongst them and he shall finde that the Pagans never came to such a height of Idolatry CHAP. X. That foure rules shew unto us that there is a Figure in these Words This is my body And that the Transubstantiation of the bread into the body of Christ is contrary unto the truth of God and destroys the humane nature of Christ Item That in all Sacraments the Word is is put for signifieth or representeth BY that which hath been said already It appeareth plainly That the Doctrine of our Adversaries is altogether contrary unto the Word of God and therefore it is no wonder that they have forsaken the light for to hide themselves under the darknesse of a Tradition and unwritten Word It is true they boast much of these Words This is my body and make a shew to sticke close to those Foure small Words of the Gospel upon which words they will not admit of any Figure or interpretation but will take them at the bark of the Letter to draw out of the same a Doctrine contrary unto the Analogy of Faith and that wholy destroyeth the humane nature of our Lord Jesus Christ The which I will prove by these foure rules following which will put us out of all doubt For they certainly shew unto us when there is a Figure in any place of the holy Scripture The first is when the matter and the circumstances of the preceding and subsequent words shew that there is a Figure The second whether the time in which it is spoken is to make a Figure The third whether understanding the place literally and without a Figure there should from thence arise an impossible thing The fourth if taking it literally and without a Figure there should follow any absurdity According to these foure rules we must examine this place This is my body and see whether there be a Figure in it or no As for the first the matter and the circumstances doe shew That there is a Figure in these words This is my body For Christ was instituting of a Sacrament Now whatsoever is said in matters of Sacraments ought to be understood sacramentally and not literally Again The circumstances of the preceding and subsequent words doe shew also that there is a Figure For in the foregoing words the Scripture saith that Christ took bread brake it and gave it But it is not given till after the consecration therefore he gave bread And to the subsequent words hee addeth these words This is my body which is broken for you But the body of Christ was not broken in the Lords Supper no not on the very Crosse it selfe therefore they must be understood figuratively Moreover he said giving the Cup to his Apostles This Cup is the New Testament in my blood Luk. 21. 20. the which cannot be understood without a Figure For a Cup or that which is in it is not a Testament substantially Item he saith He will drink no more of the fruit of this Vine Mat. 26. 29. He commandeth to doe that in remembrance of him 1. Cor. 11. 24. Therefore there is a figure in these words This is my body By the second rule it appeareth also That there is a figure in these words This is my body For the time in which Christ instituted the holy Sacrament of his Supper was the same time in which he would leave the World and goe to his Father as he testifieth of himselfe saying I leave the World and goe to the Father John 16. 28. I am no more in the World John 17. 11. Yee have the poore with you alwaies but me yee have not alwaies Mar. 14. 7. But hee willing to have his Church to make a commenmoration of his death he Instituteth a Sacrament wherein he ordaineth bread to be broken and the Cup to be distributed in remembrance of him Doe this saith he in remembrance of me For as often as yee eate this bread and drink this cup yee doe shew the Lords death till he come 1. Cor. 11. 26. And that to represent unto us That even as the bread and wine nourisheth our bodies in this Temporall life So his flesh and his blood are the food of our soules in the Eternall life Therefore there is a figure in these words This is my body By the third rule it appeareth also clearely that these words This is my body are to be understood figuratively For as it is impossible that twice two be not foure but there must bee the first odde number umpire So it is likewise impossible That a true body be in divers places at once But the body of our Lord Jesus Christ is a true body Like unto his brethren in all things sinne excepted saith the Apostle Heb. 2. 17. Therefore it cannot be in divers places at once Our Adversaries would faine cover themselves with the omnipotency of God but it is in vain for the question is of his will and not of his power But it was his
the true Doctrin And contrariwise That that Doctrine which caÌ„not be proved out of expresse texts of the Word of God and necessary Consequences drawn out of the same is the false And that withall the Jesuits doe brag impudently in some of their Bookes to have put to silence all Our Ministers And make their boast That neither Minister nor any other can produce any expresse Text out of the Bible that either condemneth any of their Articles or justifies any of ours though we should produce them out of the Geneva Bible Moreover That by Expresse Texts they doe not meane we should shew them in the Bible the very same words of the debated Article but that they are contented with such like and equivalent words And that we cannot justifie any of our Articles of Faith nor condemne any of theirs by any good Consequence drawne out of the pure Word of God And in Jesuite Verons answer to my Book called The Caballe of the Jesuits c. after hee hath brought some lines wherein I say that the onely way to make them come out of this last entrenchment is to produce Expresse Texts out of the Word of God for the proofe of that which is in Controversie he answereth That it is all he desireth of us and offereth to be a Pâ—â—testant if we be able to doe it even in one onely Article Again in de Raconis Book containing the Acts of the Conference held between him and Mr. du Moulin Printed with the approbation of the Doctors p. 15 the said de Raconis confesseth That the Church is subject unto the written Word not to goe against it And in the 31. Pag. he admitteth the said du Moulin to necessary Consequences drawn out of the Word of God So that all we have now to doe is to produce Expresse Texts out of the Word of God and necessary Consequences drawne out of the same for the condemning of the Doctrine of 〈◊〉 Roman Church and Justifyâ—â—g of that of the Reformed Which thing I do in this Treatise upon the chiefe points of Controversie Whereby every one may easily perceive that according to our Adversaries own Confession the Reformed Church hath the true Doctrine and the Roman Church the false And therefore all they that desire to have Salvation ought to come out of it and joyne themselves to the Reformed Church THE MATTERS Contained in this TREATISE CHAP. I. THat the Word of God is not darke to them that have received the Spirit of God that they may know the things which are freely given them of God Item That it containeth all things necessary to Salvation and by Consequent that Mens Traditions are vain and unprofitable Pag. 1. CHAP. II. That it is necessary that all the Faithfull should reade the holy Scriptures and that they are even bound thereunto by the Commandement of our Lord Jesus Christ p. 23. CHAP. III. That a Man can doe no good worke without the Grace of God and that our workes theâ—efore are not dispositive for the obtaining of that Grace as our Adversaries say Pag. 27. CHAP. IV. That our Lord Jesus Christ hath fully and perfectly satisfied the Justice of God for our sinnes aswell for the guilt as for the punishment and Consequently that it is a vain and an unprofitable thing to desire to satisfie againe unto the same by works p. 31. CHAP. V. That a Man not being able to satisfie the Justice of God for his owne sinnes cannot by Consequent satisfie for the sinnes of others p. 44. CHAP. VI That the pretended treasure of the Romane Church was onely established to make void the merits of Christ and to make a little Saint of him that no body may know among the rest of the Saints Pag. 50. CHAP. VII That our good works have no merit at all and that all the merits of the Faithfull are in one Christ alone Pag. 57. CHAP. VIII That the Invocation of Saints departed is contrary unto the Word of God and tendeth to no other end but to give unto the creature the honour and glory that belongeth unto the Creator p. 64. CHAP. IX That the Images of the Romane Church are made against the Commandement of God and that the Adoration they give unto them is meere Idolatry p. 74. CHAP. X. That foure Rules shew unto us that there is a Figure in these words This is my Body and that the Transubstantiation of the bread into the body of Christ is contrary unto the truth of God and destroyes the humane nature of Christ Item That in all Sacraments the Word is is put for signifieth or representeth Pag. 84. CHAP. XI That it is not enough for to have eternall life to eat Christs flesh but we must also drink his blood And therefore all Christians indifferently ought to communicate under both kinds according to the Commandement of Christ and the Apostle Saint Paul p. 112. CHAP. XII That the pretended Sacrifice of the Masse was onely established for to annihilate the power and efficacy of the Sacrifice of the Crosse And that there is but one onely Sacrificator Sacrificing expiatorily in the Evangelicall Law to wit Christ Jesus our Lord Pag. 125. CHAP. XIII That S. Peter was not established by Christ Head of the Universall Church and Prince of the Apostles And Consequently that the Pope who challengeth this title but as S. Peters Successor hath intruded himselfe into that Office without any lawfull calling And shewes himselfe to be Antichrist in doing quite contrary to that which Christ and S. Peter did p. 148. Expresse Texts and necessary Consequences drawn out of the Word of God for the condemning of the Doctrine of the Roman Church and justifying of that of the Reformed Churches CHAP. I. That the Word of God is not dark to them that have received the Spirit of God that they may know the things which are freely given them of God Item That it containeth all things necessary to Salvation and by consequent that Mens Traditions are vaine and unprofitable THE Word of God contained in the Old and New Testament is the chiefe and principall meanes we have to know him It is it alone that declareth us his will and teacheth uâ— what the honour and service is we owe unto him In summe it is the only light that scattereth and disperseth the darknesse of our understanding and by whose pure brightnesse we are led into the way of the Kingdome of Heaven Therefore it is no wonder if the Pope and his disciples enemies of Mans Salvation have endeavoured and doe endeavour stiâ—â— to take away that holy light from before men to the end that they walking in darknesse may fall into eternall ruine and perdition Now the chief meanes they have used to attain to their ends is first to perswade and make the simple people beleeve That the Scriptures are full of darknesse and therefore that it belongeth not to every one to reade the same but only to Doctors and learned men Secondly That it doth not
ROMES DESTRUCTION OR Expresse Texts and necessary Consequences drawn out of the Word of God for the condemning of the Doctrine of the Roman Church and Justifying of that of the Reformed Churches First Written in French by C. D. R. A French Noble-Man And now Published in English at the Solicitation of divers Religious Men of this Nation By JAM MOUNTAINE Psal. 137. 8. O Daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served Vs LONDON Printed by Stephen Bulkley and are to be sould by Henry Twyford at the three Daggers in Fleetstreet neer the Inner-Temple-Gate 1641. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND most Illustrious Lord PHILIP Earle of Pembroke and Mongomery Baron Herbert of Cardiffe and Shurland c. Lord Chamberlaine of his Majesties Household Knight of the Honourable Order of the Garter and one of his Maiesties most Honourable Privy Counsell RIGHT HONOVRABLE IF Books were to be esteemed for their Bulke and not for their Worth I would not presume to Dedicate so little a Book as this is to so great a Lord as You are But since it is their Goodnesse and not their Bignesse that makes them recommendable the Book it selfe I hope shall answer for me For in It your Honour shall finde a great deale of good matter contained in a little roome In It You shall see the Doctrine of the Church of Rome flatly condemned and the Doctrine of the Reformed Church fully Justified And that not by any passages taken out of the broken Cisternes of the Traditions of men but by many expresse Texts and necessary Consequences drawn out of the Pure Fountain of the very word of God In a word though it be of a contemptible Stature yet you shall finde It to be a pretty tall Man of his hands skilfull in his weapons and so full of mettle and spirit that like a little DAVID comeing in the name of the Lord and being armed with his Word he foyles and utterly overthrowes that Great GOLIAH of Gath I meane the Church of Rome And now most Illustrious Lord the thing that hath encouraged me to make choice of Your Honour and seeke after Your Patronage is that my Author of Noble extraction himselfe Dedicated this Book of his to a Great and Religious Princesse of my Nation Daughter to that Renowned Prince the late Duke of ROHAN by which example I thought my selfe obliged not to disparage it in England But the most prevalent Motive and as I may say the very Loadstone that hath attracted me thereunto is chiefly those transcendent vertues which I see shine so brightly in Your Honor and wherewith God hath adorned Your Soule as with a garment I meane that Fervent love You have to the Truth That Ardent Affection You shew to the Sincerity of Religion and that Inbred and Holy Hatred You beare not onely to all Popery and Superstition but also to the least thing that might conduce thereunto And for the Confirmation of this testimony of mine Give me leave Most Noble Lord to boast that I am very strong and may with as much right as any man use in this the common English Proverbe that saith I come with a Witnesse since I bring no lesse with mee than the Voyce of the whole Kingdome For indeed Right Honorable though I have been in most places of England and have carefully and diligently observed the bent and affections of the People I never yet met with any man that dissented from that opinion What hopes then should not I have that Your Honor will accept of this poore Labour of mine and afford It Your Protection since It sutes so wel with Your disposition and that You shall see in It the Truth of that Religion which You Professe and the Falshood of that Religion which You Detest Vouchsafe therefore Most Illustrious Lord to receive It with a gracious eye and to afford It Your Countenance I know that for Your Honors sake it will be welcome to this Nation when they see Your Honorable Name in the front of It. And I make no question but after they have read It they will love it also for its owne sake If in these times wherein many looke back towards Babylon again and Popery hath been here so bold as to thinke her selfe at home the Publicke receive any fruit thereby they shall be obliged unto Your Honor for it but I more especially who will acknowledge my selfe bound so long as I live to be and remaine Your Honours most humble and most devoted Servant J. MOVNTAINE To the Reader THe Jesuits and other Doctors of the Romane Church having lurk'd a long time under the Cloake of a pretended Antiquity personall Succession false Miracles Councels and ancient Fathers And now perceiving that this old ragged covering is not able to hide any longer those Errors and Idolatries which the Pope hath brought into the Church because that the people whom they have deceived and by this meanes kept in their Errors beginne now to know That the Religion which hath the truth of the Word of God hath the Antiquity and that on the contrary That Religion which hath not this Truth hath the Falshood and Novelty Moreover That there is no succession of true Pastors where there is no succession of true Doctrin That Miracles belongeth now to Antichrist and are a marke of Apostasie and not of the Truth as the Word of God plainly teacheth Mat. 24. 24. 2. Thes. 2. 9 That they are forced to confesse That divers Councels and ancient Fathers have Erred and that they are not rules of the Word of God but that they ought to be ruled by the same Word They have been forced running from their colors to forsake their weather-beaten shelter to seek for a new retreat and cast themselves into a new intrenchment there to hold and lurke yet a while which is to aske of us some expresse texts out of the Word of God and necessary Consequences drawn out of the same for the proofe of our Doctrine and condemnation of theirs thinking by such means to perswade the simple people that we have bragd in vain that our Doctrine was conformable unto the word of God that we had expresse texts necessary Consequences drawn out of the same for the confirmation thereof and are not able to produce any But these Doctors imagining to hide themselves thereby have on the contrary stript themselves so stark naked that it is impossible for them to subsist any longer For I will shew in this Treatise with the help of the Lord that according to their own Maxime and proper Confession the Doctrine of the Roman Church is most false and That of the Reformed Church most true To come therfore to the Point without using any long digression We must understand that our Adversaries do confesse ingenuously That the Doctrine which may be proved both by expresse texts out of the Word of God and necessary Consequences drawn out of the same is
1. Epist. 2. 1. 3 The Tradition and unwritten Word of the Roman Church teacheth That we must make Images of God to worship him by them This Doctrine is contrary unto the written Word of God as appeareth by these expresse places Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven Image or any likenesse of any thing that is in Heaven above or that is in the Earth beneath c. Thou shalt not bow down thy selfe to them nor serve them c. Exod. 20. 4. 5. To whom will yee liken God or what likenesse will yee compare unto him Esay 40. 18. Professing themselves to be wise they became fooles And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an Image made like to corruptible man and to birds and to foure-footed beasts Rom. 1. 22. 23. 4 The Tradition and unwritten Word of the Roman Church teacheth That all Christians ought to abstain from certain meats both in Lent and other daies throughout the yeare This Doctrine is contrary unto the written Word of God as you may see by these expresse places Whatsoever is sold in the shambles that eat as king no question for conscience sake If any of them that beleeve not bid you to a feast and yee be disposed to goe whatsoever is set before you eate as king no question for conscience sake 1. Cor. 10. 25. 27. Now the Spirit speaketh expressely that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils forbidding to marry and commanding to abstaine from meates which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which beleeve c. 1. Tim. 4. 1. c. 5 The Tradition and unwritten Word of the Romane Church teacheth That all Pastors and other Ecclesiasticall persons in the Christian Church ought not to marry but rather that they should make a vow never to marry This Doctrine is contrary to the written Word of God as is proved by these expresse texts following To avoid fornication let every man have his own wife and let every woman have her owne husband c. 1. Cor. 7. 2. But if they cannot containe let them marry for it is better to marry than to burne 1. Cor. 7. 9. Marriage is honourable in all and the bed undefiled but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge Heb. 13. 4. A Bishop then must be blamelesse the husband of one wife ruling well his own house having his children in subjection with all gravity Item Let the Deacons be husbands of one wife ruling their children and their owne houses well 1. Tim. 3. 2. c. Saint Paul also calleth the forbidding of marriage a doctrine of Devils 1. Tim. 4. 1. 6 The Tradition and unwritten Word of the Roman Church teacheth that in all places Divine Service and Prayers ought not to be said but in Latine This Doctrine is contrary to these expresse texts of the written Word of God Except yee utter by the tongue words easie to be understood how shall it be known what is spoken for yee shall speak into the ayre I will pray with the Spirit and will pray with understanding also I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the understanding also Else when thou shalt blesse with the Spirit how shall he that occupieth the roome of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thankes seeing he knowes not what thou sayest Yet in the Church I had rather speak five words with my understanding that by my voyce I might teach others also than ten thousand words in an unknowne tongue 1. Cor. 14. 9. 15. 16. 19. 7 The Tradition and unwritten Word of the Roman Church teacheth That the Faithfull deserve Eternall life by their good works and the glory of the kingdome of Heaven This Doctrine is contrary to the written word of God as it is proved by these expresse places If it be by Grace it is no more of Workes otherwise Grace is no more Grace Rom. 11. 6. By Grace are yee saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Not of workes least any man should boast Ephes. 2. 8. 9. Tit. 3. 5. The Tradition and unwritten Word of the Roman Church teacheth That by the death and passion of Christ we are delivered from the guilt and punishment of sinnes committed before Baptisme but not from the punishment of sinnes committed after Baptisme for which we must pay and satisfie the justice of God both in this life by penance and after this life in a fire of Purgatory This Doctrine is contrary to these expresse places of the written Word of God All have sinned and come short of the glory of God Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus Rom. 3. 23. 24. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sinne John 1. Epist. 1. 7. By Grace are yee saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God not of works least any man should boast c. Ephes. 2. 8. 9. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus c. Rom. 8. 1. 9 The fifth Gospel of Cardinal Bellarmine teaches That Saints departed are in some kind our Redeemers lib. 1. de Indulg. cap. 4. This Doctrine is contrary to the written Word of God as it is proved by these expresse texts There is no Salvation in any other but in Christ Jesus neither is there any other name under Heaven given unto men whereby we must be saved Act. 4. 12. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin John 1. Epist. 1. 7. 10 The Tradition and unwritten Word of the Roman Church teacheth That after consecration the bread of the Masse is no more bread but is transubstantiated into the Body of Christ and the Wine into his Blood That Christ is betweene the hands of the Priests in as many places as there are Masses said as big and as large as he was upon the Crosse This Doctrine is altogether contrary unto these expresse places of the written Word of God Jesus took Bread brake it and gave it c. Math. 26. As often as yee eat this Bread c. 1. Cor. 11. 26. Let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of that Bread c. 1. Cor. 11. 28. The poore yee have alwaies with you but me yee have not alwaies John 12. 8. I leave the World and goe to the Father John 16. 28. Heaven must contain him untill the time of restitution of all things which God hath foretold c. Acts. â— 21. 11 The Tradition and unwritten Word of the Roman Church teaches That the Lay people men and women ought not to partake of the holy Sacrament of the Lords supper under both kinds This Doctrine is directly contrary unto the written Word of God as appeareth by these expresse texts Drinke yee all of it Mat. 26. 27. Let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of that Bread and
will that his Sonne should take a true humane body and by Consequent that he should be in one and not in divers places It is most true That God is omnipotent but he doth not all that he is able to do For he could transforme the Pope into a monster having seven heads and ten hornes and al his Disciples into Grashoppers but he doth not doe it In a word He will not have the body of his Sonne to be in divers places at once because there would be in him Yea and Nay Yea in that he will have every physicall and composed body to be in one onely place Nay If he would have the body of his Son which is such to be in severall places at once Moreover every true humane body is a materiall substance that hath his naturall and inseparable properties one of which is to be limited circumscribed and contained in one certaine place Take away from bodies the distance of places saith Saint Austin and they shall be nowhere and because they shall be nowhere they shall not be at all And speaking of the body of Christ he saith That if some space be not given unto it that may contain it after the same manner as other bodies are its humane nature is destroyed Epist. 37. ad Dardanum Therefore there is a figure in these words This is my body The fourth rule also shewes us very plainly That there is a figure in these words This is my body For if we take them literally and without a figure there followeth divers absurdities 1 First That a body like unto ours in all things sinne excepted should be in an infinite number of places at one and the same time For they teach it is in as many places as there are Masses said and that it is whole in every crumme of the Hoste and in every drop in the Chalice and yet budges not from Heaven neither is it in the space which is between both and by Consequent that one and the selfe same body may be higher and lower than it selfe and that there is some distance between Christs body and the body of Christ 2 Secondly That a true body hath all its parts under one point having the head where the feet are the eyes mouth and eares altogether and by Consequent it hath a length without extent that is a length and no length 3 Thirdly That Christ did eat himselfe and drank his own body and blood seeing after their own Doctrine his body is also in the Chalice And that by Consequent he had his head in his mouth and his whole body in his stomack having the inside out and the outside in which is a thing more absurd than if the scabberd were in the sword For being in the sword it were in another thing than it selfe But these Doctors put the body of Christ into the body of Christ 4 Fourthly That there is a Christ suffering and a Christ not suffering A Christ crucified and a Christ not crucified For as soone as Christ had supped he went to the Garden of Olives where he swate greate drops of blood was apprehended and finally Crucified But the same that was in his and the Apostles stomacks did not sweat great drops of blood was not apprehended nor crucified And by Consequent he was not our Saviour seeing he hath not suffered for us It appeareth therefore plainly by that which hath bin above said That these words This is my body must not be taken literally but figuratively Neverthelesse our Adversaries are so wilfull and obstinate in this as to affirme still That these words must be taken literally and without a figure and that the bread of the Masse is transubstantiated into the body of Christ alledging that God is able to doe it but as I have said already the Question is of his will and not of his power They should have proved first That it is his Truth and his Will before they goe about to tell us of his power There is no opinion so extravagant or fantasticall but may be maintained in saying that God is powerfull enough to make it to bee so To prove a doctrine onely because God is omnipotent is an open confession of their weakenesse There be some things that God cannot doe because he is omnipotent He cannot lye He cannot contradict himselfe Gods omnipotencie ought not to be a cloake unto Error nor serve as a refuge to falshood and Idolatry Therefore wee must see first whether it bee his truth or no 1. In the first place the Apostle to the Hebrewes telleth us that Christ is like unto his brethren in all things sinne excepted Heb. 2. 16. 17. Therefore it is a thing contrarie unto the truth of God to teach that he may be in a million of places at one and the same time For to have a true body and to be like unto his brethren in al things he must be in one and not in many places 2. Himselfe tels us that hee leaveth the World and goes to the Father John 16. 28. That hee is no more in the World John 17. 11. That we shall have the poore alwayes but we shall not have him alwayes Marke 14. 7. It is therefore a thing contrary unto the truth of God to teach that he is here on earth in a million of places at once They answer to this that we have Christ no more visibly but that wee have him invisibly under the Species of the bread and wine But that will not serve their turne For to have Christ invisibly is still to have Christ That man were a lyer that should say he had no clothes because they are hid in a trunke Even so hee were a lyer that should say he had not Christ because he is hidden under the Species of bread and wine But he saith expresly Wee shall not have him alwayes That he leaves the World and goes to the Father Sentences which should be false if he were yet in the world betweene the hands of a Priest saying Masse or lockt up in a pix or box And as touching that which hee saith Matth. 28. 20. That hee shall be with us unto the end of the World That is very true not according to his Humane nature but according to his Divinity power and efficacie of the holy Ghost whereby he guideth governeth and ruleth his Church We have Christ alwayes according to the presence of his Majesty saith Saint Austin but according to the presence of his flesh it was truly said unto the Apostles Ye shall not have me alwayes August 50 Treatise upon Saint John 3. Saint Peter saith That Heaven must containe him untill the times of restitution of al things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the World began Act 3. 21. It is therefore a thing contrary unto the Truth of God to teach that he is here on earth below in the hands of a Priest in as many places as there are Masses said 4. In the
drink of that cup 1. Cor. 11. 28. 12 The Tradition and unwritten Word of the Roman Church teacheth also That Christ Jesus sacrificeth himselfe every day really by the hands of the Priests both for the quicke and for the dead This Doctrine is directly contrary to the written Word of God that saith Christ is entred into Heaven it selfe now to appeare in the presence of God for us Yet not that he should offer himselfe often as the high Priest entred into the holy place every yeare with blood of others c. Heb. 9. 24. 25. By the which Will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Now where remission of these is there is no more offering for sinne Heb. chap. 10. 10. 14. 18. 13 The Tradition and unwritten Word of the Roman Church teacheth That Saint Peter was appointed by Christ to be head of the Universal Church and Prince of the Apostles This doctrin is directly contrary unto the written word of God as appeareth by these expresse texts God hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his Body Ephes. 1. ver. 22. 23. Yee know that the Princes of the Gentils exercise Dominion over them and they that are great exercise authority upon them But it shall not be so among you c. Mat. 20. 25. 26. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers ephess. 4. 11. It appeareth therefore plainly that this Tradition and unwritten word of the Roman Church is altogether contrary unto the written Word of God and that it imposeth a yoake upon the consciences of men that God hath not imposed Seeing it forbids marriage to certain persons which God for avoyding of fornication commandeth to every one Seeing it forbids the use of certain meats which God doth not forbid but rather commandeth to be used with thanksgiving Seeing it forbids all men to work upon a great number of Holy-daies thereby depriving them of the means to earne their bread which oftentimes is wanting on such daies to poore men charged with wives and small children the which thing is directly contrary to the Commandement of God Six daies shalt thou labour and doe all thy work Exod. 20. 9. Againe by bringing in such an infinite number of ceremonies in part taken from the Pagans and in part from the Jewes with a numberlesse number of Pilgrimages and other such like things as is almost impossible to declare and represent by particulars It is not then without cause and reason that we reject these Traditions and inventions of men seeing they were broached onely to bring in into Christian Religion Error and Idolatry as I shall prove hereafter more at large aswell by expresse texts and necessary consequences drawn out of the Word of God as by invincible reasons CHAP. II. That it is necessary that all the Faithfull should reade the holy Scripture and that they are even bound thereunto by the Commandement of our Lord Jesus Christ FRom the very same Spring floweth the prohibition which the Pope and his Associates make to the Lay people to reade the Word of God without special leave wherein their manifest hypocrisie appeareth plainly and the feare they have that by reading of the same men should come to know that the Doctrine which they have invented is false and wholly contrary unto the Word of God Our Lord Jesus Christ teacheth us far otherwise Search saith he the Scriptures for in them yee think yee have eternall life and they are they which testifie of me John 5. 39. And under the Parable of the rich Glutton he sends them still to the Scripture saying They have Moses and the Prophets Let them heare them Luk 16. 29. The Jesuits and other the Popes Disciples answer that there is Let them heare them but not Let them reade them But what will they answer to these expresse places Seek yee out of the Book of the Lord and reade Esay 34. vers. 16. Blessed is hee that readeth and they that heare the words of this Prophesie and keep those things which are written therein Revel. 1. 3. If sobriety must be kept in any Book of the holy Scripture it is in that of the Revelation Neverthelesse Saint John exhorteth all the Faithfull to practise the reading thereof saying Blessed is he that readeth the words of this Prophesie Let the word of Christ saith Saint Paul dwell in you richly in all wisedome teaching and admonishing one another c. Col. 3. 16. Saint Peter tels us That we shall doe well to hearken unto the words of the Prophets 2. Pet. 1. 19. The Jews of Berea did dayly search the Scriptures to know whether those things were so as Saint Paul taught Act. 17. 11. And are commended for it in the Scriptures being called more Noble than them of Thessalonica It is therefore lawfull for every Faithfull Christian to reade the Word of God that by it they may know the Doctrine and judge whether it be of God or no In a word as I have said already the principall means we have to know God and his Will is his word by which he declareth unto us his mercy in Christ Jesus and assureth us of his love Now the Pope and his Disciples take away and hide as much as in them lies this VVord from the people and so deprive them of the chiefe meanes to know God which is to cast them headlong into darknesse and ignorance of their salvation and finally into damnation For what can that man doe that is deprived of the knowledg of God and of his wil but run into damnation CHAP. III. That a man can doe no good Worke without the Grace of God And that our Workes therefore are not dispositive for the obtaining of that grace as our Adversaries say THe Pope and his Associates teach also That our works ought to bee considered three manner of wayes First as dispositive Secondly as satisfactory and Thirdly as meritorious Before we be in the state of Grace they will have our Works to bee dispositive to purchase Grace and after grace received to be satisfactory for the temporall punishment that remaineth for sin And after satisfaction finished then they will have their workes to deserve the Kingdome of Heaven A doctrine which is directly contrarie unto the word of God as I shall prove it hereafter out of expresse texts which I shall produce out of the VVord of God and necessary consequences drawn out of the same In the first place they teach that our Works doe dispose and prepare us to obtain the grace of God But now I aske of them whether we doe good Works before we be in grace or whether we doe them after yea or no If they say that we doe them before they know that men naturally are dead in sinne I