SPIRITVALL FOOD AND PHYSICK Viz. MILKE for the Younger MEAT for the Stronger The Substance of Diuinitie A Pill to purge out Poperie The Second EDITION corrected and inlarged LONDON Printed by H. L. for Beniamin Fisher and are to be sold at his Shop in Pater-noster Row at the signe of the Talbot 1623. TO ALL CHRISTIAN Parents and Gouernours of Families Grace Peace be multiplied IT is as yee know welbeloued the Commandement of God that Parents should teach and instruct their children in the true Religion and worship of God as it is to be seene in these places following Deut. 4.9.6.6.11.18 19. Prouerbs 22.6 Ephes 6.4 Examples also there are of many that did it as Abraham Dauid c. Gen. 18.19 1 Chro. 28.9 Prouerbs 4.3 4. Timothy knew the Scriptures from a child 2. Tim. 3.15 that no doubt by the instruction of his mother and his grandmother who are commended for their faith by S. Paul 2. Tim. 1.5 Secondly the benefit that followeth heereof is great Prouerbs 22.6 And the want heereof is the cause of much euill to your children and many times of great griefe to your selues Be diligent therefore and carefull to performe this duty Parents generally teach their children to say the Lords prayer the Creede and the ten Commandements and it is a good and commendable thing for them so to doe But they are not there to stay as if it were sufficient to say these things without booke but to goe further and to teach them the meaning thereof Many aged persons there be that can say the words but vnderstand little or nothing thereof nay know not so much as what the Creed is but vse it for a prayer The reason heerof is they were not â—nstructed in their youth That all therefore euen the simplest may be able to teach their children the meaning of the things aforesaid I haue heer framed first of all a very short Catechisme for little ones from the age of foure to 6 or 7 yeeres In which time I think there is scarce any of so weak capacitie but may be able to learne it Secondly I haue framed another fit for such as are of six or seuen till they come to ten or twelue yeeres of age and may in that time be easily learned and the rather because the first is comprehended in it Then thirdly I haue more particularly largely set downe the meaning of each Article of the Creede of the Sacraments of euery Commandement and of euery petition of the Lords prayer with diuers other points necessary to be knowne of all Christians and that before they come to bee partakers of the Lords Supper And this also may the more easily be learned because the second Catechisme is included in it And in all three I haue laboured for three things namely order breuitie and plainness For this I finde by almost 30. yeeres experience in the Ministerie that things orderly briefly and plainely handled are best remembred and soonest learned and though the Answeres bee many yet if they bee short and plaine both children and others will learne them with ease and delight Concerning the method and order heere obserued it is this First briefly it sheweth the benefit of Catechizing what it is and what be the parts of it Quest 1. to Q. 8. Secondly it sheweth what God is and setteth downe his workes of Creation and Prouidence and namely mans creation All which are comprehended in the first Article of the Creed Quest 8. to 30. Thirdly it discouereth our misery by reason of sinne Quest 30. to 44. Fourthly it declareth how we are redeemed from our misery namely by Christ where is shewed what Christ is concerning his person Quest 44. to 57. Then what hee did to worke our redemption and to make it perfect the which is set downe in the 4.5 and 6. Articles Quest. 57. to 74. And what is the last worke that Christ shall performe on earth Quest 74 75 76. Fiftly it maketh knowne how all that which Christ hath done is made profitable to vs Quest 77. to 81. Sixtly it sheweth who they are which are sanctified and ioyned to Christ namely the Church and what benefits belong to the Church Quest 81. to 98. Seuenthly it sheweth what is required on our behalfe that we may be partakers of Christ and his benefits namely a true faith what this faith is how it is wrought in vs and wherefore wee are said to bee saued by faith onely Quest 98. to 104. Now because the Sacraments are ordained of God for the helpe of our faith it sheweth next what these Sacraments are what things are thereby signified and sealed to vs and what is required to the right vse of them Quest 104. to 144. And forasmuch as that faith whereby we are iustified is not a dead but a liuely faith it sheweth what this faith doth bring forth in vs namely repentance and repentance good workes what these good workes are namely such as God hath commanded Quest 144. to 159. And then followeth in order the meaning of the ten Commandements Quest 159. to 247. Then after that follow certaine points concerning the Law as whether wee can bee iustified by the workes of the Law If not then to what end the Law doth serue and wherefore wee are to doe good workes how they are to bee done and whether they shall be rewarded of God or no Quest 247. to 258. Lastly it sheweth that wee of our selues can doe no good work but onely by the grade of God and that the grace of God is to be obtained of vs by prayer and then followeth the meaning of the Lords prayer and what shall become of all after this life Quest. 258. to the end All which things are briefly familiarly and plainely set downe by Questions and Answers that euen the simplest may easily if they will vse the meanes both learne and vnderstand the same And because that in matters of Religion nothing is to bee receiued but what is plainely proued by the Scriptures I haue at the end of almost euery Answere quoted the places of Scriptures for the proofe of the same And the places for the most part are plaine and easie as you shall finde if you turne to them And that you may see that whatsoeuer is necessary to be knowne beleeued and practised of vs to saluation is conteined in the Scriptures I haue also set downe in order the very substance of Diuinity in Texts of Scripture Lastly to the end that all may the more detest Popery I haue added a Dialogue betweene a weake Christian and a Minister shewing that Popery is contrary to the very grounds of the Catholike Religion and that therefore Papists cannot be good Catholikes And this I haue done not in hatred of their persons for I wish vnfainedly their conuersion in this world and their saluation in the world to come but in hatred of their false doctrine and that the simple may not be seduced with the title and colour
parents but also Princes Magistrates Ministers and other superiours Q. What are the duties of children and other inferiours A. To honour that is to a Leu. 19.3 feare b 1. Th. 5.13 loue c Tit. 3.1 Rom. 13.6 Heb. 13.17 obey relieue and d 1 Tim. 5.3 4 16 maintaine if néede require their parents and superiours Q. What is there promised to such as doe it A. The blessing of long life and good â—ayes Ephes 6.3 Q. How is this performed seeing that many times the obedient haue but a short life and the disobedient liue long A. It is promised to the obedient and performed so far as God séeth it good for them Esa 57.1 2 2. Chr. 34.28 and to the disobedient it is no blessing for they liue long to their further condemnation Q. VVhat is the sixt Commandement A. Thou shall not kill Q. VVhat doth this concerne A. The preseruation of our neighbours life Q. VVhat is forbidden heerein A. a Mat. 5.22 Anger b Le. 19.27 hatred and malice all c Leuit. 24.19 20 quarrelling and fighting with all such things as are hurtfull to the person of our neighbour Q. VVhat is commanded heerein A. That we loue one another Mat. 5.44 1. Ioh. 3.16 and séek to preserue the life of our neighbor Q. VVhich is the seuenth Commandement A. Thou shalt not commit Adultery Q. VVhat doth this Commandement concerne A. The preseruing of chastity both in our selues and others Q. VVhat is heerein forbidden A. Adultery 1. Cor. 6.18 Ephes 5.3 fornication and all manner of vncleannes Q. VVhat else A. All vnpure thoughts and lusts of the heart Mat. 5.28 Q. VVhat more A. All occasions and intieements to lust and vncleannesse Q. What be these inticements A. a 2. Sam. 11 1 Ezec. 16.49 Pro. 23.33 Idlenes pride gluttony and drunkennes b Ephes 4 39 5 3. 2 Cor. 7.1 1 Co. 7.34 filthy talk wanton dancing and such like Q. What is commanded heerein A. That we kéep our selues chaste both in bodie and soule and carefully vse the meanes thereto Q. What is the eightth Commandement A. Thou shalt not steale Q. VVhat doth this concerne A. The presernation of our neighbours goods Q. VVhat is forbidden herein A. That we doe not by theft by bribery Leuit. 19.1 Thes 4 6 vsurie or by any vniust dealing get to our selues other mens goods Q. What is commanded herein A. That we a 2 Thes 3 10. labour in some lawfull calling for the things of this life and deale b Mica 6.8 iustly with all men Q. VVhat else A. That we be c Heb. 13.5 content with that wée haue and d Ephes 4 28. doe good therewith to others Q. What is the ninth Commandement A. Thou shalt not beare false witnes against thy neighbour Q. What doth this Commandement concerne A. The good name of our neighbour Q. What is forbidden heerein A. All lying flattering and backbiting Eph. 4.25 Psal 101.5 with all other such things as are hurtfull to the good name of our neighbour Q. What is commanded heerein A. That we speake the truth from our hearts Psal 15.2 Philip. 4.8 and be carefull to maintain the good name and credit both of our selues and others Q. Which is the tenth Commandement A. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house c. Q. What is condemned heerein A. Originall corruption and the very euill thoughts and lusts of the heart without consent Gen. 6.5 Ier. 17.9 Q. What is commanded heerein A. A pure and cleane heart 1 Tim. 1.5 good thoughts and a desire of the good of our neighbour Q. Who is our neighbour A. Euery one euen our enemie Luk 10.29 30 37 247. Q. Can we be iustified or liue by the Law A. No because wée cannot fulfill the Law Rom. 3.20 Gal. 3.12 Q. Whereby then are we iustified and saued A. By the grace of God through faith in Christ Rom. 3.24 Ephes 2.8 Q. Why then doth Saint Iames say that a man is iustified by workes and not by faith onely A. His meaning is that as by faith we are iustified before God so by good workes wée are iustified before men Iam. 2.20 21 c. Luke 7.29 35 that is declared and approoued to be iust Q. If we cannot be iustified by the law then wherefore serueth the Law A. To shew vs our sinnes and our iust condemnation Rom. 3.20 Gala. 3.10 19 24 and so to bring vs to Christ Q. Wherefore doth it serue when we are come to Christ A. To be vnto vs the rule of righteousnes Psa 119.105 Psal 119.1 and a way for vs to walke in Q. Wherefore are we to doe good workes if we are not saued by them A. In respect of thankfulnes to God and that he may be glorified thereby Ioh. 14.15 Mat. 5.16 Q. Wherefore else A. In respect of our selues that thereby we may know that wée haue a true faith Titus 3.8 2. Pet. 1.10 and be assured of our calling and election Q. And wherefore else A. In respect of others that we may thereby eyther draw them to Christ 1. Pet. 2.12 15.3.1 or stop their mouthes Q. What is required that our works may be good and accepted of God A. That they bée a Deut. 12.32 commanded of God that they procéede from a true b Heb. 11.6 faith and bée done to the c 1. Cor. 10 31 glorie of God Q. Shall they then be rewarded of God A. Yes and that with eternall life Mat. 10.42 cha 25.34 35 Q. Doe our good workes deserue this reward A. No Luk. 17.20 Rom. 2.6 7.6.23 God doth fréely reward them for his promise sake and for the merits of Christ The fourth part of the Catechisme Quest. 254. CAn we of our selues doe any good workes A. No 2 Cor. 3.5 Philip. 2.13 but onely by the grace of God Q. How shall we obtaine the grace of God heereunto A. By earnest and hearty prayer Luke 11 13. Iames. 1.6 Psal 50.1 Iohn 16.23 Q. What is prayer A. A religious calling vpon God alone in the name of Christ Q. What be the parts of prayer A. Two petition and thanksgiuing Philip. 4.6 Q. Are the Creed and the ten Commandements a prayer A. No because there is neither petition nor thanksgiuing in them Q. What forme of prayer is there left vnto vs in the Scriptures A. That which wée call the Lords prayer Q. How many parts be there of it A. Thrée a preface six petitions and a conclusion Q. Which is the preface A. Our Father which art in heauen Q. What doth it teach vs A. To pray onely to the true God who both can will grant our requests Q. How know you that he can and will doe it A. He is our a Mat. 6.32 7.11 Father and therefore will doe it hée is in heauen and therefore hath b Ephes 3 20 power
his subtiltie Gen. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6. Now the Serpent was more subtill then any beast of the field c. Eccles 7.29 God made man vpright but they haue sought out many inuentions Rom. 5.12 By one man sinne entred into the world c. for in him all haue sinned Psal 51.5 Behold I was borne in iniquity and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me 1. Ioh. 3.4 Sinne is the transgression of the Lawe Of the punishment of sinne Rom. 5 12. By one man came sinne into the world and death by sinne Rom. 6 2â— The wages of sin is death 2. Thess 1.9 10. VVho shall be punished with euerlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Of the Couenant of Workes The Couenant of works is she Morall Law put into mens hearts by God and afterwards repeated by Moses Leuit. 18.5 Yee shall keepe my Statutes and my iudgements which if a man doe he shall liue in them Deut. 27.26 Galat. 3.10 Cursed is euery one that continueth not in all things which are written in the booke of the Lawe to doe them This Couenant all haue broken and therefore are vnder the curse Ierem. 31.32 Which my Couenant they brake Gal. 3.19 Wherefore then serueth the Lawe It was added because of transgressions till the seede should come to whom the promise was made Rom. 3.20 By the Lawe is the knowledge of sinne Of the Couenant of grace Gen. 3.15 I will put enmitie betweene thee and the woman and betweene thy seede and her seed it shall bruize thy head c. Gen. 22.18 In thy seed shall all the Nations of the earth be blessed Heb. 8.10 11 12. This is the Couenant that I will make with the house of Israel sayth the Lord I will put my Lawes into their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to mee a people And they shall not teach euery man his neighbour and euery man his brother saying Know the Lord For all shall know me from the least to the greatest for I will be mercifull to their vnrighteousnes and their sinnes and iniquities wil I remember no more Of CHRIST the Mediator I. Tim. 2.5 There is one God and one Mediator betweene God and man the Man CHRIST IESVS Heb. 9.15 And for this cause is hee the Mediatour of the new Testament that by meanes of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were vnder the first Testament they which are called might receiue the promise of eternall inheritance Iohn 11. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God Vers 14. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among vs. Of Christs Propheticall office Christ performeth this office in opening and reuealing vnto vs the will of God Iohn 17.26 I haue declared vnto them thy name and will declare it Iohn 15.15 All things that I haue heard of my Father I haue made known vnto you Acts 3.22 For Moses truly sayd vnto the Fathers A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise vp vnto you of your brethren like vnto me him shall yee heare in all things whatsoeuer he shall say vnto you Luke 4.18 The Spirit of the Lord is vpon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospell to the poore to preach deliuerance to the Captiues and to preach the acceptable yeer of the Lord. Of the Priestly Office of Christ. Christ performeth this office by appeasing God and reconciling vs vnto God through his death and obedience 2. Cor. 5.18 19. who hath reconciled vs to himselfe by Iesus Christ God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself c. Ephes 2.16 And that he might reconcile both vnto God in one body by the Crosse c. Heb. 5.6 Thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech Heb. 9.28 Christ was once offered to beare the sinnes of many c. Heb. 10.14 By one offering he hath perfected for euer them that are sanctified Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able to saue them to the vttermost that come vnto God by him seeing hee euer liueth to make intercession for them Of the Regall or Kingly Office of Christ This Christ performeth by gouerning all things for the saluation of his elect and destruction of his enemies Dan. 7.14 And there was giuen vnto him dominion and glory and a kingdome that all people nations and languages should serue him c. Luke 1.3 He shall raign ouer the house of Iacob for euer of his kingdome there shall be no end Eph. 1.22 23. And hath put all things vnder his feete and gaue him to be the Head ouer all things to the Church which is his body the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all Lu. â—0 27 But those mine enemies which would not that I should raigne ouer them bring hither and slay them before me Thus far of the Couenant of grace of Christ the Mediatour and of his thréefold office The next thing to be considered of is the application of the Couenant to the Elect giuing them a part in Christ and in all his benefits Heb. 3.14 For we are made partakers of Christ c. The part they haue in Christ is first vnion with Christ Secondly thereby Communion Of our vnion with Christ which is by the Spirit and Faith Ephes 5.30 For we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones 1. Cor. 12.13 By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body Ephes 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith Of our Communion with Christ The which is the participation of the benefits flowing from his seuerall offices The benefit we receiue from the Propheticall office of Christ is the reuelation of the Couenant of grace whereby we are made wise vnto saluation Mat. 11.27 All things are deliuered vnto me of my Father and no man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father saue the Sonne and he to whomsoeuer the Sonne will reueale him 2. Tim. 3.25 The holy Scriptures are able to make thee wise vnto saluation c. The meanes of reuealing the Couenant of grace are both outward and inward The outward are the word and the Sacraments By the Word is meant the Gospell preached which containeth and publisheth the promises of saluation by Christ Rom. 1.16 17. The Gospell of Christ is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth c. For therein is the righteousnes of God reuealed from faith to faith c. 2. Tim. 1.10 Christ hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospell Of the Sacraments Rom. 4.11 And hee receiued the signe of Circumcision as a seale of the righteousnes of faith c. Mat. 28 19. Goe ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Mark 1.8 I indeed haue baptized you with water but
oath viz. that if hee knew that the Scriptures should bee put into English and that the King would haue them to bee read in the Church rather then hee would liue so long to see it he would cut his owne throat But as Hall saith who heard him speake it hee was not so good as his word for in stead of cutting his throat he hanged himselfe C. What is the cause that they cannot abide to haue the Scriptures in their owne Language M. S. Iohn giues the reason For euery one that doth euill hateth the light neither commeth to the light lest his déeds should be reproued and discouered Iohn 3.20 If the Owle fly abroad by day the birds by and by discerne him follow him and fall vpon him and therefore hee flyes abroad vsually in the night and then he is quiet If the Scriptures should be suffered to be expounded and read of all Nations in their owne language then that Owle of Rome the Pope I meane with all his fooleries and abominations would be discerned and discouered and then the world would hate him follow after him and persecute him euen as the small birds doe the Owle and therfore they cānot abide the Scriptures in the vulgar tongue but loue darknes rather then light because these déeds are euil Ioh. 3.19 C. What say you then to their good works as building of Churches giuing of Almes c. M. These and such like works required in the Law of God in themselues are good and to be practised of all but to them they are as the Fathers called the vertues of the Heathen but splendidae peccata glittering drosse and beautifull deformities C. Do they teach any thing contrary to the Morall Lawe and to the doctrine of good workes M. Yes they do both teach practise many things directly contrary to Gods Commandements They teach for good workes such things as are not commanded but rather forbidden in the Law of God as namely to goe on Pilgrimage to vow single life to fast forty dayes and forty nights c. First concerning set Pilgrimages vnto certaine Images there was none of the Fathers that did so much as dreame of them for 600. yéers after Christ at the least Perkins 2. Vol. page 541 542. Secondly the necessitie of the vowe of continency was established first and annered vnto Orders about 380. yéeres after Christ and that by Pope Siricius But it had no vniuersall admission vntill the time of Pope Hildebrand in the yéere 1070. Perkins 1. Vol. 583. to 587. 2. Volume 575 576. Acts and Monuments 1151. Thirdly their doctrine of single life was nener commanded of God nor knowne in the Primitiue Church but hath sprung vp since and is indeed the very doctrine of diuels 1. Tim. 4.13 So is also their forbidding of meates for religions sake They teach also that a man may fulfill the Lawe yea do workes of Supererogation that is more then the Lawe doth require and that men of their abundance may allot vnto others such works of Supererogation Rhem. on 1. Cor. 9. sect 6. 2. Cor. 8. sect 3. This doctrine of theirs makes the Law of God to bée vnperfect and is directly contrary to the words of Christ Luke 17.10 And it was not knowne of the ancient Fathers They spake indeede sometimes of supererogation but in a far other sense then the Papists doe There are no such works to be found in the person of any meer man or Angell but onely in the person of Christ God and man Perk. 1. vol. 598.599.2 vol. 540.541 DIALOGVE 8. C. Shew me I pray you in particular what things they teach contrary to the Commandements M. I could plainly proue vnto you that they doe both teach and practise many things contrary to euery one of the Commandements but I wil onely set downe the chiefest and such as most men know to be true The first Commandement concernes the inward worship of God the ground of which worship is the true knowledge of God and without which none can truly worship and serue him for such as our knowledge is such is our worship 1. Chron. 28.9 Psal 9.10 Ier. 9.24 The Papists teach that ignorance is the mother of deuotion but the truth is it is the mother of superstition and idolatry Gal. 4.8 The Papists therefore being ignorant and without the true knowledge of God cannot truely worship him but must néeds bee Idolaters worshipping they know not what The first Commandement requireth that we haue the true Iehoua for our onely God They make Christs body to bee God because they hold that it may be in many places at once which thing is proper onely to God They make the Pope to bee God and that in plaine words Christopher Marcellus said to the Pope Thou art another God vpon earth and the Pope tooke it to himselfe Concil Later Sess 4. They giue the power to the Pope which is proper to God and so make him to be God As that hee can make holy that which is vnholy pardon sinnes c. Perk. 1. vol. 400.1 and they giue diuine worship to creatures and so make them their Gods The second Commandement concerneth the outward worship of God or the forme and manner of his worship This Commandement they haue cleane put out of the Decalogue and to fill vp the number they diuide the last into two The scope of this Commandement is that no image is to be made of God nor any worship performed to him in an image Deut. 4.15 16. But they teach it lawfull to make images of the true God and to worship him in them and that there is a religious worship due to them Bellar. de imag sanct lib. 2. cap. 21. And in the second Nicen Councell it was decreed that the Image of God should be worshipped with the same worship that is due vnto God Their practice is answerable to their doctrine for they worship the Images of God of Christ the Saints the woodden Crosse yea a piece of bread C. They say that they doe not worship the images but God Christ and the Saints in the image M. Suppose that this were true yet in so doing they commit grosse idolatry and the same that the people of Israel did for which God plagued them greatly Exod. 32.5 28. I think there is none so very a Calfe as to thinke that they did worship the Calfe it selfe The Calfe was but a representation of God and yet they sinned greatly in making it and worshipping God in it The Heathen in times past could say as much for themselues concerning their worshipping of Images as the Papists now do and yet as they were Idolaters so are the Papists for as touching their superstition and idolatry bloud cannot be more like to bloud or an egge to an egge then one of them is to another The Heathen had for euery nation and prouince some peculiar god Among them the Elements had their seuerall gods to rule ouer them The Heathen had a certaine god
imputation of Christs righte ousnesse to vs. The Papists teach many things contrary to this Article First that men are to make satisfaction for their sinnes Now satisfaction for sinnes and forgiuenes of sinnes are contraries If wee satisfie in our owne person we are not iustified fréely if we be iustified fréely as most certainly we are Rom 3.23 then we make no satisfaction at all If a man can satisfie and pay a debt then he néedes no forgiuenes but if the debt be forgiuen him then it is plaine that there is no satisfaction made The satisfaction for our sinnes was made by Christ and not by vs. C. Did not the ancient Fathers teach men to make satisfaction for their sinnes M. The satisfaction which they maintained was an ecclesiasticall and publike mulct or penalty imposed vpon notorious offenders thereby to testifie their repentance and to satisfie the Church whom they had offended Perkins 1. V. 577 c. 2. vol. 165.2 D. 166. The efficient cause of our iustification is God alone It is God only that forgiueth our sins Esa 43.25 Mar. 2.7 Ro. 8.33 They teach that the Pope can forgiue sins and we know that he giues pardons not only for the time past but also for the time to come yea they teach that priests haue full right to remit sins they alleadge these places to prooue it Mat. 16.19 Ioh. 20.23 Now we are to note this that as none can forgiue a debt but the party to whom the debt is due so none can forgiue sins but God only against whom the sin is committed Ps 51.4 The power of binding and loosing committed to the Apostles Ministers of the Word is by declaring the wil and pleasure of God out of his Word both to pronounce forgiuenes of sins to al that are truly penitent and the retaining of them to the impenitent The Pope and his Clergie are neuer able to proue themselues to bee she true Ministers of Christ and therefore they cannot so much as challenge this latter authoritie and power to themselues much lesse she former which is proper to God only The motiue or impulsiue cause which moued God to iustifie vs was not any thing in vs but only the grace of God that is the free good wil pleasure of God Ro. 3.24 Eph. 2 8. Tit. 3.5 7. They teach that we are not iustified by grace only but by works also that is by the merit of our workes And to this end they haue of late yéeres deuised a first and secand iustification The first is when a sinner of an euill man is made a good man and this they say commeth only of Gods mercie by the merit of Christ The second is when one of a good of iust man is made better and more iust and this procéedeth from workes But wee are to know that there are not two kinos of iustification a first and second but one and the same iustification considered in different respects In respect of Gods actuall acceptation of a maus person iustification is absolute but in respect of the actuall application and manifestation of Gods acceptation vnto a mans conscience iustification is by parts and degrées M. Scudder on the Lords Prayer page 303. to 309. And further we are to note that the Papists second iustification is no other then sanctification which is an effect and fruit of iustification the which is imperfect and not able to iustifie vs before God Themateriall cause of our iustification is the actiue and passiue righteousnesse and obedience of Iesus Christ his inherent holines his fulfilling of the Law his death sacrifice and full satisfaction The formal cause or the forme of iustification is the righteousnes of Christ imputed of God vnto vs Rom. 5.19 Rom. 4.5 6 7 8. 1. Cor. 1.30 2. Cor. 5.19 21. Phil. 3.9 The Papists detide this doctrine that Men are iustified by the imputation of the righteousnes of Christ which righteousnes is not in vs but in Christ The Rhemists call it a new no-iustice a phantasticall apprehension of that which is not Rhem. on Ro. 3. Sect. 7. They hold them accursed that so affirm and teach And they teach that the onely formall cause of our iustification is the iustice of God whereby we are not reputed and accounted iust but are made iust indéede and this iustice is that which euery man hath within himselfe and is inherent in him Concil Trid. Sess 6. can 10.11 Rhem. on Phil. chap. 3. Sect. 3. The instrumentall cause of iustification on our part is a true and liuely faith whereby wee receiue and apply vnto our selues the merrie of God Christ Iesus and all his benefits resting vpon him alone for our saluation They teach that faith doth not iustifie as an instrument in apprehending the righteousnes of Christ but as a proper and true cause it actually iustifieth by the dignity worthines and meritorious work thereof Bellarm. lib. 1. de iustificat cap. 17. They teach also that faith is not the only cause of our iustification but that there are other also as hope charity almes-déedes and other vertues yea they say that workes are more principall then faith in the matter of iustification and pronounce him accursed that shall say a man is iustified onely by faith Rhem. on Rom. 8. Sect. 6. and on Iames 2. Sect. 7. Bellarm. lib. 1. de iustificat cap. 13. Concil Trid. Sess 6. can 9. These and other such like things they teach contrary to the doctrine of iustification which is a maine ground of Religion And if there were no more points of difference betweene vs these were sufficient to kéepe vs from vniting of our religions for héereby the Church of Rome doth raze the very foundation C. You said before that we are iustified freely I would know how this can be if we be iustified by the righteousnes and for the merit of Christ M. Because the decrée of God the Father for our redemption is frée and we pay nothing againe to God of our owne And therefore by the word fréely our merits are excluded but not Christs By which it appeareth that in respect of our selues we are iustified fréely of Gods méere mercie and grace without any respect of our owne righteousnes or worthines but yet through Christ and for his righteousnes and obedience imputed to vs both which are signified by the Apostle Rom. 3.23 24. C. Shew mee I pray you what is meant by Merit what the doctrine of the Papists is concerning merit and whether that our works be meritorious or no. M. By Merit we vnderstand any thing or any worke whereby Gods fauour and life euerlasting is procured and that for the dignitie and excellencie of the work or thing done Now the true merit whereby we looke to attaine the fauour of God and life euerlasting is to be found in the person of Christ alone in whom God is well pleased The Papists make two kindes of merit the merit of the person and the merit of the worke The
merit of the person is as they say a dignitie in the person whereby it is worthy of life euerlasting The merit of the worke is a dignity or excellencie in the work whereby it is made fit inabled to deserue life euerlasting for the doer of the worke See Rhem. on Rom. 8. Sect. 5. We now do renounce our owne personall merits and all merit of our owne workes and rely onely vpon the merits of Christ and wee hold that no workes of ours can merit That no man by any workes of his can merit may bee proued by the properties and conditions that must be in a worke meritorious and they are fiue First the worke must be absolutely perfect but all our workes are vnperfect aswell in parts as in degrées of accomplishment In parts because we omit many things which the Law prescribeth and doe many euill things which the Law prohibiteth In degrees because the workes of the Saints are vncleane Esay 64.6 Phil. 3.8 Secondly a man must doe the worke of himselfe and by himselfe for if it bee done by the hélpe of another the merit doth not properly belong to the dooer But the good workes which we doe are not ours but are wrought by God in vs. Thirdly a man must doe the worke of his owne free will and pleasure not of due debt for when we doe that which we are bound to doe we doe no more but our duty But whatsoeuer we doe we doe it as poore debters nay we are worse then poore debters wee are miserable bankrupts wee haue nothing wee haue lesse then nothing to pay Luke 17.10 Fourthly the worke must bée done to the benefit and profit of him from whom we looke to be repayed But no man by any worke of his can bring any profit vnto God Iob 22.2.35.7 Psal 16.2.50.12 Wée may benefit men but wée cannot benefit our Maker from whome wee haue receiued life and limbe soule and body and all that we haue wee can giue him nothing and therefore can deserue nothing from him Ro. 11.35 36. Lastly the worke and the reward must be in proportion equall for if the reward be more then the worke it is not then a reward of desert but a gift of good will But there is no proportion betweene our workes which are altogether vnperfect and the excellencie of those great blessings and benefits which the Father giueth vs freely in his Sonne Rom. 8.18 And therefore in this and the former respects there can bee no merit in any meere man wherefore it is no lesse absurd to say that wee merit saluation at Gods hands by good workes then if one should say Thou hast giuen mee an hundred pounds therefore thou oughtest to giue mee a thousand C. Was not this doctrine of merit taught in the times of ancient Fathers M. Merit being taken in his proper sense for due and iust desert was neuer allowed of the sound Professours for a thousand yeeres after Christ Perkins first Vol. 574 575. second Vol. 535 536 Such therefore as will be iustified and saued by their owne workes and challenge eternall life by their merits do shew themselues to be most proud and vnthankfull persons and deserue most iustly to bee condemned eternally C. The Papists at their end doe renounce their owne merits and professe that they look to be saued only by the merits of Christ M. If there were nothing else but this it were enough to proue their doctrine of merit to be a false doctrine for if it were a truth then a man is not only in his life time to professe it and maintaine it but also in his death yea rather to dye for it then to deny it But séeing they in their life professe it and maintaine it but at their death renounce it it is a manifest argument that euen they themselues do know that it is not a true but a false doctrine C. If they know that it is not a truth what makes them then in their life time so stifly to maintaine it M. It serues greatly to maintaine and vphold the Popes kingdome for they teach that the ouer-plus of Christs merits and of the merits of Saints and Martyrs is the treasure of the Church which being gathered together and put into a store-chest is in the Popes custodie and he alone hath the plenary opening and shutting of this Chest and the ordering and disposing of these merits by vertue whereof he giues out Indulgences and Pardons when and to whom he will So that such as haue not merits enow of their owne may haue them from thence And so héereby he maintaines and vpholds his kingdome for heerby comes in infinite wealth and reuenewes Perkins 3. vol. 1. part page 165.2 D. 2. vol. 590. 2. a. In these and many other particular points the Papists teach contrary to the Articles of the Créed and therefore are no true Catholikes neither doe they belong to the Catholike Church as is thus proued Whosoeuer haue not the Catholike faith doe not belong to the Catholike Church but the Papists haue not the Catholike faith therefore they do not belong to the Catholike Church That they haue not the Catholike faith is plaine by that aforegoing DIALOGVE 6. C. Doe they teach any thing contrary to the doctrine of the Sacraments M. Yes many things Christ ordained but onely two Sacraments The Church of Rome hath added to them fiue more namely Confirmation Penance Matrimonie Orders and ertreme Vnction C. Are not these Sacraments indeede M. No surely for there are foure things necessarily required to make a Sacrament First the authority of Christ commanding it Secondly the element or outward signe as the matter of it Thirdly the word of institution as the forme Fourthly the end and vse to bee a scale of our faith for remission of sinnes These foure things are not to be found in their fiue latter Sacraments and therefore they are no Sacraments indéede Master Attersoll on the Sacraments page 119. to 150. Synopsis Papis Controu 14 15 16. C. May not the Church then institute and ordaine Sacraments M. None may ordain a Sacrament but only the Lord. As none may put a signe and seale to a mans last will and Testament but onely the maker of the Testament so none may ordaine Sacraments which are signes and seales of the new Testament and couenant of grace but onely the Lord which made the couenant And therefore the Church of Rome in doing the contrary proues her selfe not to be the true Church of Christ but rather the Church of Antichrist They doe also in many other things teach contrary to the doctrine of the Sacraments As First that the Sacraments doe giue grace and namely remission of sinnes ex opere operato by the worke wrought Rhem. Acts. 22. Sect. 1. Secondly that not onely faith doth iustifie but the Sacraments also Rhem. Rom. 6. Sect. 5. Whereas Sacraments me signes and seales of iustification Rom. 4.11 Thirdly that Infants dying without Baptisme cannot bee saued
6. you may terme in plaine English lying and cogging They are not orious lyers slanderers railers and workers Willet on Iude page 195 and 205. 212. They haue falsified mens writings putting in and putting out what they please as is to bee séene in their Index expurgatorius See Perk. 2. vol. page 489 c. There haue bin in times past games appointed for lying If there were any such now the Papists would carry the whet stone from all the heretikes in Christendome The tenth Commandement condemneth originall corruption and the very euill thoughts and lusts of the heart without consent They teach that concupiscence in it selfe is not sinne These are the very words of the Concell of Trent This concupiscence which the Apostle sometime calleth sinne the holy Synod declareth that the Catholike Church did neuer vnderstand to be called sinne because it is truly and properly sinne in the regenerate but because it commeth of sinne and inclineth vnto sinne If any man thinke the contrary let him be accursed Sess 5. cap. 1. de pecc orig Wherein they both decrée against the Apostle himselfe Rom. 7.23 and also they gain-say themselues for if this concupiscence boyle out of originall sin as out of a fountaine and that is damnable it followeth that conrupisence or lust is also sinne before God and doth deserue condemnation They say that in the regenerate it is veniall But this is an vndoubted principle that all sinnes in themselues and their owne nature are mortall And concerning this veniall sinne it was not knowne among the Fathers for 700 yéeres after Christ And thus you see what grosse things they both teach practise contrary to the Commandements of God whereby it plainely appeareth that Popery cannot be of God for thus I reason Whatsoeuer religion doth teach things contrary to the Commandements of God is not of God but Poperie doth so and therefore it is not of God and so by good consequence Papists cannot be good Catholikes DIALOGVE 13. C. Hitherto you haue shewed that the Papists teach many things contrary to the Creed the Sacraments the ten Commandements now tell me I pray you whether they teach any thing contrarie to the Lords prayer M. They doe likewise teach and practise many things contrary thereunto I will but onely name some of them The Lords prayer teacheth vs to call vpon God onely They teach and practise prayer to Saints In the first petition we pray for the hallowing of Gods name They giue vnto Saints departed that which is proper to God and so dishonour Gods name In the second position we pray for the erecting of Gods Kingdom of grace in our hearts and also for the meanes thereof namely the preaching and hearing of Gods Word They hinder the comming of Gods kingdom in reiecting the Word of God and in persecuting such as will preach heere and reade it Contrary to the third petition is their doctrine of frée-will Contrary to the fift petition is their doctrine of satisfaction for sin In the sixt petition we pray for strength to withstand Satan and his temptations They teach people to driue away the diuell with holy water and such like childish toyes These and other such like things they teach practise contrary to the Lords prayer DIALOGVE 14. C. If Popery be so contrary to the grounds of Religion then we may not ioyne with the Papists in their profession M. It is true indéede we must therfore do as the Lord bade Ieremy chap. 15.19 Let them returne to thée but returne not thou to them We may ioyne with them in respect of ciuill societie but not in respect of Religion and yet euen then we are to take héede lest wee bee corrupted by them for hee that teacheth pitch shall bee defiled therewith Some think that our Religion and the religion of the present Church of Rome are all one for substance and that they may be vnited but they are grossly deceiued for a vnion of these two religions can neuer bee made more then the vnion of light and darknes and that because the Church of Rome as hath at large bin shewed hath strooke at the very foundation C. If Popery bee so contrary to the very grounds of Religion then what is the cause that so many yea euen of the more wise and learned sort do embrace and cleaue to it M. One speciall cause of it is that because men will not receiue the loue of the truth therefore God shall send them strong delusion that they should beléeue a lie 2. Thes 2.10 11. A second cause is ignorance of the Scriptures and of the grounds of Religion for if men would well acquaint themselues héerewith they should easily fee the grossenes of Popery A third cause is that Popery is very agreeable and pleasing to mans corrupt nature As for example to be iustified by our good workes to haue Images to worship God in to liue in ignorance to haue pardons for our sinnes to serue God in outward ceremonies as in choice of meat difference of daies c. these are things very agreeable and pleasing to our corrupt nature and therefore one speciall cause why so many embrace Popery A fourth cause is the tyrannie of the Church of Rome whose chiefe meanes to vphold her religion is fire and sword for were it not for this many thousands in a few yeeres would vtterly renounce Poperie A fift cause why so many specially of the Learned doe embrace it is pomp and profit that is ambition and couetousnesse This was that which made the Scribes and Pharises euen against their owne knowledge to withstand Christ and his Gospell And this makes many learned Papists to doe the like They know no doubt that in some things they erre as it doth appeare by the words of Stephen Gardiner on his death bead The Bishop of Chichester séeing him to be in a desperate case comforteth him with the hope of remission of sinnes by the merits of Christ Gardiner héereunto answereth thus What will you open that gape now you may speake it to mee to such as are in my case but if you teach it to the people then farewell all meaning our authority pompe and profit by absolutions Masses c. These are the speciall causes why so many embrace Poperie C. There is one thing more that I would gladly know concerning the Papists and that is whether a Papist may be saued seeing that Poperie is so contrary to the grounds of Religion M. You are then to marke what a Papist is A Papist as the Rhemists on Acts 11. Sect 4. doe describe him is one that cleaueth to the Pope in Religion and is obedient to him in all things Euery one now that is vnder the iurisdiction of the Pope is not to be counted a Papist for their are some euen in Italy Spaine c. that hold the Grounds of Religion doe sigh and grone vnder the Romish yoke and desire to bee fréed from it yea would reioice to
accounted the true Church and true Christians bee carefull to adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things and that by a godly conuersation and by dooing of good workes C. The name of God bee blessed for this our conference whereby I finde my selfe much edified There remaineth yet one thing more which I will demand of you and that is how I may come to know and be assured that I am indeed a member of the true Church and that I shall certainely be saued M. Bee diligent to heare the Word of God preached Reade the Scriptures Receiue often the Sacrament Acquaint your selfe throughly with the aforesaid grounds of Religion Ioyne heereunto earnest and hearty prayer Set apart some time for these things specially bee carefull to spend the Sabbath heerein And to all these things ioyne an holy conuersation indeuouring aboue all things to haue alway a cleare conscience toward God and toward men In doing this you shall at length come to that full assurance whereof S. Paul speaketh namely that you are the childe of God and that nothing shall bee able to separate you from the loue of God which is in Christ Rom. 8.38 Babylon is fallen is fallen Reuelation 14.8 Prayse honour glorie and power bee vnto him that sitteth vpon the Throne and vnto the Lambe for euermore Amen Reuelation 5.13 FINIS A TABLE OF the Simples whereof the Pill is compounded IMplicit faith Dialogue 1. Denying of Christs humanitie Dialogue 2. Merits of Saints Ibid. Saint Francis the Virgine Mary and the Pope made Sauiours Ibid. Blasphemies Ibid. Popish Traditions Images Denying of CHRISTS Propheticall Office Dialogue 3. Popish Priest-hood Ibid. Sacrifice of the Masse Ibid. Intercession of Saints Ibid. Denying of Christs Priesthood Ibid. Pope the head of the church Denying of the Kingly office of Christ Ibid. The Christ of the Papists a counterfeit Christ Ibid. Conception of the Virgine vvithout sinne Dialogue 4. Purgatory Ibid. Carnall presence Dialogue 5. Catholike Church of Rome Ibid. Canonizing of SAINTS Ibid. Humane satisfactions Ibid. Iustification by workes Ibid. Merits Ibid. Fiue bastard Sacraments Dialogue 6. SACRAMENTS giue grace Ibid. Sacraments iustifie Ibid. Cuppe taken away Dialogue 6. Reseruing of the Bread Ibid. Adoration of the Sacrament Ibid. Transubstantiation Ibid. Workes without faith Dialogue 7. Scriptures in a strange tong Ibid. Pilgrimages Ibid. Vow of single life Ibid. Workes of Supererogation Ibid. Ignorance the mother of deuotion Dialogue 8. CHRISTS body The Pope c. are made gods Ibid. Images made and worshipped Ibid. Prayer in a strange tongue Ibid. Popish vowes and fasting Ibid. Swearing by Saints Dialogue 9. Periurie Ibid. Blasphemie Ibid. Popes Supremacie Ibid. Popes pride Ibid. Disobedience to Parents Ibid. Killing of KINGS Dialogue 10. Crueltie Treacherie Flatterie Ibid. Priests marriage made vnlawfull Dialogue 11. Filthy liues of Popes Monks c. Ibid. Popes Bulls and Pardons c. Ibid. Equiuocation Dialogue 12. Railing Mocking c. Ibid. Lying Ibid. Concupiscence Ibid. Veniall sinne Ibid. Prayer to Saints Dialogue 13. Free will holy water c. Ibid. No vnion can bee made betweene Poperie and the Religion now professed in England Dialogue 14. Fiue causes why so many embrace Popery Ibid. The Church of England a true Church Dialogue 15. Diuisions and contradictions among Papists Ibid. Separatists Dialogue 16. Barren professours are but hypocrites Ibid. The Conclusion Ibid. FINIS LONDON Printed by H. L. for Beniamin Fisher and are to be sold at his Shop in Pater-noster Row at the signe of the Talbot 1623.