fearfull names of Priests and Altars Nay if one doe but mutter against the placing of the Altar after the old fashion for a warning he shall be well warmed by (b) A little Treatise so intituled printed An. 1636. a Coale from the Altar English Protestants are now put in (c) Sunday no Sabbath A Sermon printed An. 1636. pag. 38. minde that for exposition of Scripture by (d) Lib. Can. An. 1571. Can. 19. Canon they are bound to follow the ancient Fathers which if they doe with sinceritie euery learned Protestant Diuine who makes a conscience to belie his owne knowledge can tell what doome will passe against Protestancie euen by confession of Protestants themselues as the Answerer once anouched as shall appeare hereafter Chap. 5. n. 6. and this being only a matter of fact and requiring no more then reading and vnderstanding the toungs wherein the Fathers wrote or the Translations of their Works he cannot in morall honestie and therefore I hope will not gainsay his own words nor can be thought to speake sincerely if hee should forcedly now retract what then he freely wrote And I know that to some Protestants hee so cleerely demonstrated the Fathers to bee on our side that they remained conuineed and haue vpon occasion acknowledged no lesse But let vs goe on The foure prime Protestant Church-Chroniclers who pretend to deduce a succession of the true Church the Centurists I meane are without ceremonle demanded in a particular occasion with what face dare they vente such vntruths and with what conscience dare they (e) Sunday no Sabbath pag. 12. forge c. their bad carriage towards the ancient Fathers is displayd and for a generall Censure they are told that Their credit is eclipsed and their testimonie abated by their (f) Ibid. pag. 10. doings And to conclude all in one maine point The Protestant Church in England willingly professeth so small Antiquitie and so weake subsistance in it selfe that they acknowledge no other visible being for many Ages but in the Church of Rome Which position drawne from them by meere necessitie must force them to yeeld that the Roman Church doth not erre in any point necessarie to Saluation vnlesse they haue a minde to bee telling the world that in their owne Church for many Ages none could be saued They must therefore bee still content to heare vs tell them againe and againe this most necessary truth You cannot bee saued vnlesse you belieue that wee in our Church are capable of saluation but wee neither doe nor can yeelde that Protestancie is compatible with eternall happinesse For to allow saluation for men disagreeing in Faith Religion and Communion is one of the greatest absurdities in Turoisme or Socinianisme and is but disguised Atheisme Wee then are safe by your owne confession but you cannot bee so without repentance and reunion to our Church Besides if our Church enioyed all things necessary to Saluation how can Protestants bee excused from the grieuous sinne of formall Schisme who separated from that Church for points confessedly not necessary to saluation Yea how are they not guilty of Schisme who forsooke that Church which before Luther was only true Church if our Sauiour Christ had any visible Church vpon earth And what heighth of dangerous madnes is it to leaue a Church which cannot erre in points necessarie to Saluation and ioyne in beliefe and Communion with priuate persons who may deceaue and be deceaued euen in fundamentall articles of Faith And I would gladly know with what visible Church existing before Luther did hee ioyne when vpon pretence of Reformation hee departed from all Churches extant when hee first appeared and consequently how can hee auoide the iust imputation of Schisme But I will not vrge these points here refering my selfe to what hath beene said in Charitie maintained and euen to what will appeare in those very Motiues which induced the Answerer himselfe to leaue Protestatisme and afterward being resolued not to remaine Catholicke as not conducing to his temporall ends hee finally plunged himselfe in Socinianisme seeing full well that his owne Motiues could not bee answered in the grounds of Protestants But it is time to returne and shew that I spoke not without ground in accusing Socinians in generall of such vnchristian doctrines as you haue heard since you will see my word made good in particular Tenets of one of them which at this fit occasion came to my hands and I willingly impart them to the Reader as they were giuen me yet so as in charitie I conceale the partie taxed with them no otherwise then I forbeare to publish the name of the Answearer If guiltinesse driue any one to aske (g) Math. c. 26. v. 25. Nunquid ego sum Rabbi Maister am I he And that hee chance to be answered (h) Ibid. Tu dixisti Thou hast said so the blame and shame must rest on himselfe alone who alone would be discouering himselfe CHAP. III. Diuerse enormous Heresies maintained by a certaine Socinian contrary either to the 39. Articles of the Church of England or to the Faith of all Christians 1. THat the Sonne of God is not begotten from euerlasting of the Father is not very and eternall God of one substance with the Father and that two whole and perfect natures were not ioyned in one person Cont. Art 2. 2. That Christ did not ascend into Heauen in his Bodie with Flesh Bones and all things appertaining to the perfection of mans nature Cont. Art 4. 3. That the Holy Ghost doth not proceede from the Father and the Sonne nor is of one substance with the Father and the Sonne true and eternall God Cont. Art 5. 4. That all the Books of the Old and New Testament as they are commonly receaued are not equall in the authoritie and infallibility of holy Scripture Cont. Art 6. 5. That the three Creeds ought not throughly to bee receaued and belieued for that they may be disproued by most certaine warrants of holy Scripture and that among other falshoods in the Creed of Saint Athanasius this is one that if a man disbelieue any part of that Creed without doubt hee shall perish euerlastingly That the Apostles Creed is no certaine and authenticall Tradition and that the Article of Holy Catholicke Church is not necessarily to be belieued Cont. Art 8. 6. That Originall sinue is not the fault and corruption of the nature of euery man nor deserues Gods wrath and damnation Cont. Art 9. 7. That any man may bee saued by the Law or Sects which hee professeth so that hee bee diligent to frame his life according to that Law and the light of Nature Cont. Art 18. 8. That the Church hath no authority in Coutrouersies of Faith to oblige any mans conscience Cont. Art 20. 9. That the Sacraments bee only Badges or Tokens of Christian mens profession Cont. Art 25.27 And that they bee not necessary to saluation Cont. Catechism Protestant Anglie 10. That the
Baptisme of young Children is not to bee retained in the Church as most agreable to the instieution of Christ Cont. Art 27. 11. That the offering of Christ upon the Crosse is not a perfect propitiation and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world Cont. Art 31. 12. That the true Body and Blood of Christ is not in the Blessed Sacrament neither in a Reall nor Spirituall manner and that it is only a signe or token of his Body Cont. Art 28. 13. That Faith containes no infallible certaintie of the things belieued 14. That the reasonable Soule is not immortall naturall and perse but only per accidens as it is added to some Soules by way of punishment or reward to be immortall 15. That this immortality of wicked Soules is not to bee extended neither to all eternity and that it were vniust in God to punish finite offences with infinite torments 16. That no point of Christian Religion is to be belieued aboue Reason For an Epilogue to these grosse errors I could adde an Apologue of his owne and lay in his dish a couple of Frogs He vnderstands my meaning (a) If the Answerer publish his Booke and yet will not declare his opinion concerning cucrie one of these wieked Positions by omitting to plead not guiltie in that occasion euery iudicious c realous Christian will hold him to bee guiltie of them all Tell mee now Christian Reader what manner of man this Socinian is and what it is to be a Socinian or Protestant or any other Sectary denying the infallibility of Gods Church in all her definitions concerning matters of Faith For as I haue said already whosoeuer refuseth to relie on such Authoritie must resolue the truth of his Faith into the strength of his owne wit or to speake more truely of his will which is to take away all infallible supernaturall Faith without which as the (b) Heb. c. 11. v. 6. Apostle auoucheth it is impossible to please God And thus hauing shewed what Socinianisme is and vpon what ground it goes I may now oportunely deliuer the Answerer his direction least hee chance to mistake and in lieu of maintaining Protestancie hiddenly plant poison of Socianisme and leaue Charitie maintained not so much as once spoken to in his whole Answer as I noted in the beginning CHAP. IV. What the Answerer is to obserue if he will speake to any purpose FIrst it will be expected that he declare his owne opinion plainely and particularly and not thinke to satisfie by a meere destructiue (a) Sed quae rursum ratio reuocabat ne apud eos Manichaeos penitus haererems nisi quod ipsos quoque animaduertebam plus in refellendis aliis disertos copiosos esse quam in suis probandis firmos certos manere S. Aug. De vtilitat Creden cap. 1. way of obiecting such difficulties against Catholicks as vpon examination tend to the ouer throw of all Religion no lesse then of Catholicke Doctrine Secondly that his arguments destroy not some of his owne Tenets Thirdly that he contradict not D. Potter whome he pretends to defende and who maintaines the infallibilitie of Gods Church in fundamentall Articles the Supernaturalitie of Faith and diuers other points which I know the Answerer laughes at Fourthly that he oppose not the 39. Articles of the Church of England Fiftly that his grounds destroy not the bellefe of the most Blessed Trinitie the Deitie of our deare Lord and Sauiour and of the Holy Ghost Originall sinne and diners other doctrines which all good Christians belieue yea and all verities that cannot be proued by naturall Reason Sxithly that he relle not vpon such Principles as must bring with them the deniall of diuers Bookes of holy Seripture receaued into the Canon both by Catholicks and Protestants And if he asked whether the Epistle of Saint Iames the Apocalyps of Saint Iohn with some other parts of Scripture now receaued by English Protestants though heretofore controuerted be Canonicall let him not still thinke to satisfie by saying These are captious questions Seauenthly that he doe not ouerthrow the infallibility of all Scripture both of the Old and New Testament Eightly that his Arguments tend not to proue an impossibilitie of all Diuine Supernaturall infallible Faith and Religion that either hath been or is or shall be or possibly can be But now the reason why I preuent the Answerer with these Directions is this From Truth no man can by good consequence inferre falshood If then the Answerer produce such Arguments as either proue nothing or els must extend to proue that which is confessedly false it will remaine very cleare that his reasons are but Sophismes and artificiall falsities though they should seeme not easie to be answered especially to such as are either not learned at all or superficially learned and not versed in solid Philosophie or Schoole Diuinitie from whence Socinians are glad to borrow Obiections but either dissemble or vnderstand not the Solutions Wherefore if the Arguments of the Answerer be found to beate vpon some of the foresayd grounds and by that meanes appeare to proue too much euerie one will see they proue nothing at all And if notwithstanding this Direction to the contrarie he will be trenching on the sayd excesses his Booke is already answered euen before it appeare But let him not interpret this my preuention or Direction to proceede from feare that his Booke will be vnanswerable and that therefore I seeke afore hand to disgrace the Authour and forestall the publication For by Gods holie assistance his Booke shall be answered and the latent venome fetcht out though perhaps he will lay wagers to the contrarie and with his much confidence would perswade All Soules to belieue him And in truth what greater aduantage could wee wish against Protestants then that they should trust their Cause and possibilitie to by saued with a Champion who often and euen not very long since hath professed that he will neuer subscribe to their 39. Articles and hath set downe in writing Motiues which induced him to forsake Protestantisme to which indeed he neuer returned and which are extant still to be exhibited if need be vnder his owne hand But how soeuer I presente a copie of them in the next which shall be the last Chapter of my Direction CHAP. V. The Motiues for which the Answerer for sooke Protestantisme 1. BEcause perpetuall visible profession which could neuer be wanting to the Religion of Christ nor any part of it is apparently wanting to Protestant Religion so farre as concernes the points in contestation 2. Because Luther and his followers separating from the Church of Rome separated also from all Churches pure or impure true or false then being in the world vpon which ground I conclude that either Gods promises did faile of performance if there were then no Church in the world which held all things necessarie and nothing repugnant to Saluation or els that Luther and
his Sectaties separating from all Churches then in the world and so from the true if there were any true were damnable Schismaticks 3. Because if any credit may be giuen to as creditable records as any are extant the doctrine of Catholicks hath beene frequently confirmed and the opposite doctrine of Protestants confounded with supernaturall and diuine Miracles 4. Because many points of Protestant doctrine are the damned opinions of Hereticks condemned by the Primitiue Church 5. Because the Prophecies of the old Testament touching the Conuersion of Kings Nations to the true ReligioÌ„ of Christ haue been accomplished in by the Catholicke Roman Religion the Professors of it and not by Protestant Religion and the Professors of it 6. Because the doctrine of the Church of Rome is conformable and the doctrine of Protestants contrary to the doctrine of the Fathers of the Primitiue Church euen by the confession of Protestants themselues I meane those Fathers who liued within the compasse of the first 600. yeares to whom Protestanrs themselues doe very frequently very confidently appeale 7. Because the first pretended Reformers had neither extraordinary Commission from God nor ordinary Mission from the Church to preach Protestant doctrine 8. Because Luther to preach against the Masse which containes the most materiall points now in Controuersie was perswaded by reasons suggested to him by the Diuell himselfe disputing with him So himselfe professeth in his Booke de Missa Priuata That all men might takeheed of following him who professeth himself to follow the diuell 9. Because the Protestant Cause is now hath been from the beginning maintained with grosse falfifications and Calumnies whereof their prime Controuersie writers are notoriously and in high degree guiltie 10. Because by denying all humane authority either of Pope or Councels or Church to determine Controuersies of Faith they haue abolished all possible meanes of suppressing Heresie or restoring vnity to the Church These were the Answerers Motiues and they are good ones indeed and so strong that he could neuer since frame his minde to Protestancie And the Profession of Catholicke Religion not suting with his desires designes as I said before he fell vpon Socinianisme that is a No Religion I will not here ponder the foresaid Motiues only I must say as I noted in the precedent Chapter that since they all except perchance the last chiefly concerne matter of Fact rather then any subtile points of Doctrine he cannot with any probable shew of reason retract them and if he should yet who would not sooner credit his sinceritie whilst he speakes against the current of the times in this place and contrarie to worldlie hopes then now when all human respects concurre to sway his words profession and carriage â—â—en contrary to his inward thoughts But in the meane time it would be sport to behold Doctor Potter confuting these Motiues of the Answerer while he is pretending to defend Doctor Potter And it may well seeme a strange and preposterous zeale in the Answerer if he haue any regard to the Church of England to haue been so long carelesse in remouing this scandall against Protestants and answering his owne Motiues and yet now to shew such feruour in writing against others which whether he doe of his owne accord or by entreatie of Doctor Potter or from some Higher command I am neither certaine nor sollicitous My hartie wishes are that whosoeuer shall reade these Motiues may for the eternall good of his owne Soule consider them with indifferencie and at leasure and neuer rest from solliciting the learnedst Protestants either to giue him satisfaction which is impossible to be donne or els not take it ill if he hasten to the One alwaies Visible Catholicke Apostolicke Roman Church out of which none can without presumption hope to be saned and of which Blessed * Cont. part Donati Psal Saint Austin saith Numerate Sace dotes vel ab ipsa Petri sede in ordine illo Patrum quis cui successit videte Ipsa est Petra quam non vincunt superba inferorum portae Reckon the Priests euen from the very Sea of Peter and see who succeeded one another in that ranke of Fathers That is the Rocke against which the proud gates of Hell doe not preuaile ⸫ FINIS