Tatianites the Eucratites the Priscilianists and Eustachians her Fastings her Abstinences her Vow of Poverty Her Distinction of Meats And her Law of Celibat or Single Life By all which is accomplished the Prophecie of S. Paul which we have 1 Tim. 4.1 c. With the Marcionites and Pepusians she permits Women to Baptise With the Pelagians and Semipelagians she doth establish Free-will The Merit of Works The Perfection of Holinesse whereof the Monks do principally boast Adding thereunto of their own the Works of Supererogation as a mark of a Supream arrogancie With the Manichees though under another consideration in the Eucharist she hath cut off the use of the Cup. It were a thing too tedious to particularise more upon this matter 8. From the abovesaid it manifestly appears that the Church of Rome is Heretical yea above all others who ever have been Heretical Because she is not infected onely with two or three Heresies but with a great number and multitude of them And because her maladies are not small and slight but the poison of Heresie hath thrust it self through her whole body having almost corrupted all the Articles of Faith Which causeth us to say with the Prophet Isaiah c. 1.21 22. How is the faithful City become an harlot it was full of judgement righteousnesse lodged in it but now murderers Thy silver is become drosse thy wine mixt with water 8. The same also causes us to acknowledge that the Church of Rome hath onely an outward shew Her fairest is the frontispiece and fore front all covered with magnificent Titles But within it is nothing else but falsehood and Corruption She is like unto the Temples of the Egyptians of old which outwardly were fair and magnificent But within nothing was to be found but Cats and Crocodiles and Serpents and such other Beasts fitter for a Den then for such a Temple 9. If so many fair Churches in the East planted by the sacred hands of the Apostles and watered with their bloud are now changed in Mosquies of Mahumetans or in lodgings of Hereticks why then shall we find strange that such a change be happened in the West Since the thousand years ended of the binding in Chains of Satan by Jesus Christ in the preaching of the Gospel he hath been loosed according to the Prophesie of S. John Rev. 20.1 2 3. to work again a little season about the seduction of the Inhabitants of the Earth §. Antithesis of the Popish Doctors 1. Objection Against the Above Exercitations they object 1. That By Testimonies of Stories No Heresie was brought into the Romane Church Or any Change of Doctrine was ever made in the same Answer to that Objection 1. VVE Answer to that Objection That the Papists Histories written in the Time of Antichrists Tyranny Ought not And do not Deserve to be regarded by us Reformed Because the Authors of Them were Infected with the Errors of the Pope And did not Dare write for the most Part otherwise then might well stand with his Honour 2. And to All Histories That since the Defection have commended the Faith of that Church We Oppose the Word of God Which plainly convinceth it of manifold And Damnable Heresies 3. Besides we could alledge Sundry Writers in all Ages That openly have reproved the Same To Instance in one Doth not Sigisbertus the Monk An Historiographer mentioned by the Papists Expressely Charge Gregory the Seventh And his Successours For maintaining and practising Not only an Error But an Heresie Also In taking upon Them Authority to Excommunicate the Emperour And other Civil Princes This Heresie hath ever since continued in that See And is at this Time by the Pope And his Popelings Avouched And therefore by the Confession of the Popish owns Historiographers Some Heresles hath taken Place in the Church of Rome Which is contrary to the Obiection before propounded 2. Objection 2. Against the Above Exercitation The Popish Writers demand At what Time Vnder what Bishop By what way And By what Proceeding Was a New Religion Spread Over the City of Rome And over tho whole World Answer to that Objection 1. IT is hard for us to Answer At what Time Neither is it Necessary to set down the very Instant of Time All Things were not at once overturned in the Church of Rome Sinne And Error Came to their Height by Degrees And by Leisure to Ripenesse The Hairs of our Head are not all Gray of a Sudden Neither doth any thing suddenly come to his Maturity And the Growth of every Thing appeareth long after This is manifest in such Things as having small beginning go on forward unto a greater Quantity Until they come to Perfection 2. But doth it follow that the Church of Rome is not Corrupt Because we cannot tell the Moment of Time When it began to be Corrupt But being so manifest as it is What need we search the Histories to Shew the Beginning What we Pray If you see a Man sick of the Pestilence If you see a City corrupt with Riots and wickednesse If you see a House Ruinous And Ready to Fall If you see a Ship Sinking Will you deny all These Unlesse one can tell you the Time When that Man began to be Sick The Means how the City grew Corrupt Who was Owner And in what Year The House grew Ruinous And in what Day the Ship began first to Leak And what is the Force of the Papists Reason and Demand other then This 3. But do not their own Histories Tell When And By whom Innovations and Corruptions Entred Let Them See a Few of Them 1. He that first usurped Authority over other Churches was Pope Victor After Him Zozimus And Boniface the Third And Celestine And their Successours 2. Pope Syricius first forbad Priests Marriages 3. The Manichees first Denied the Cup to the People 4. The 2. Council of Nice first ordained Worshipping of Images 5. Pope Nicholas the Second first taught the Body of Christ must Carnally be handled broken and Eaten 6. Pope Innocent the Third first established the Doctrine of Transubstantiation 7. Boniface the Third first Declared That the Pope was the Head of all Churches 8. Gregory the Great taught first Purgatory for a certain Truth 9. The Florentine Council first taught And Declared that the Pope was above Councils 10. Innocent the Third brought in Auricular Confession If these were not Sufficient We could produce the Rest of the Popish Errors 3. Objection 3. Against the above Exercitation The Popish Writers take an Objection From the Perpetuity and Continuance of Christs Vniversal Church And demand of the Reformed Doctors With what face they durst accuse of Corruption the Present Church of Rome If they Remember how Christ promised his Spouse Perpetual Preservation Hos 2.19 I will even betroth thee unto me for ever Isa 59.21 As for me This is my Covenant with Them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee And my words which I have put in thy Mouth shall not
Omnipotencie of God 5. And notwithstanding that God having so permitted it those false Miracles did serve to Introduce and settle many Errors 1. By this Means the Popes and their Clergie did endeavour to establish the Doctrine of Transubstantiation Sometimes saying that Beasts did leave their Food to worship the Host Sometimes That the Host being pricked some blood came out of it That a part thereof being fallen in the water when the Priest washed his hands all the water had been changed into blood 2. By this Means also the Pope and his Clergy did establish The Intercession Adoration and Invocation of the departed Saints And upon that How many Miracles have been boasted of Namely That many blind do recover their sight Many lame do go That many sick do recover health If any Mineral Waters be found in a Country that have some virtue there a Chappel of some Saint is builded unto whom the virtue of these waters is attributed which is called by the Name of Miracle 3. By this Means likewise hath been established the Adoration of Images being said that in certain places the Crucifix being ill used by the Jewes did render Bloud Also that in another place a Child without Feet having vowed himself to the Virgin Mary whose Image was worshipped in the place where he was Born did see in sleeping his two Feet be given unto him That in some other Places some Images did render Oyle like unto Sweat which did serve for the Cure of many Diseases 4. By this Means besides hath been established the veneration of Relicks 5. And for the Admiration of the Dignity of Popes this Means hath been also used 4. I have said That the Fourth of the Means used by the Popes and the Church of Rome to seduce People Consisteth in Persecution and Cruelty 1. IT is that which is represented in the Apocalypse chap. 17.6 In these words And I saw the woman drunken with the bloud of the Saints and with the Bloud of the Martyrs of Jesus And in the 12. Chapter all along Particularly and Expressely in the verses 13 15 and 17. of that Chapter 2. In that the Church of Rome is gone farre above the Cruelty of the Pagan Emperours and that of the most wild and Barbarous of them 3. This Cruelty and Persecution hath been exercised and tried by the Popes the Church of Rome in all the places where the Reformed Religion was Imbraced 4. And if at this Time it doth not appear so violent as in time past It is because the strength of Antichrist weakenth and not his will The Popes do hold That no other waies are to be used towards the Reformed then that of Punishments and of warre 1. BEcause say they there is but small hope of their Conversion Hereticks being very obstinate and whatsoever is done to exhort them to Repentance being by them attributed to the want of strength to force them 2. That there was not any Remembrance that ever Moderation had done any good 3. But that Experience had shewed that the sooner it is proceeded against them by the Justice and the Executions thereof it fareth the better 4. And where this way doth not suffice to proceed against them by warre Again Of the Cruelty of the Popes and of the Church of Rome and of the Popish Inquisition 1. THe Reformed call to witnesse all the people of the Christian World who have yet any sense of Humanitie and Equitie remaining in them Whether the Cruelty of the Church of Rome hath not been of all Cruelties the greatest 2. Thereupon let Italy speak also Germany Spain France the Low Countries besides our Kingdom of England 3. It were tedious to recite the Horrible Murders The Fearful Burnings and the Exquisite Punishments that the Papists have exercised in those States 4. The Sword The Rack The Gallows and the Fire have been the Instruments of their Cruelty 5. And had it not been for these the Church of Rome had been overthrown long ago For by these Weapons it was first Founded after increased and now maintained 6. If once these faile the Roman Church questionlesse cannot long continue § Of the Popish Inquisition 1. THe Horrors of this Popish Inquisition are above all that the Devil did ever invent 2. The Tortures thereof are so cruel and barbarous that that justifies all the Torments of Phalaris 3. It is to speak of it too softly to call it the Image of Hell 4. A man is laid in prison not knowing for what cause 5. After the Darknesse and Solitarinesse of a year he is questioned upon some certain deeds 6. If he declares himself to be a good Catholick and Abjures Heresie then he is put to death more mildly For there to be guilty of death it sufficeth to have been accused 7. If he persevere in the defence of the Truth which he did professe and resolves himself to martyrdom after infinite Torments he is produced in publick his head covered with a horrible cover which they call S. Benedict with a mouth and a tail of the Devil 8. And so he is burned with a slow fire at sundrie times that so he may feel himself dying 9. Which is an horror to the Turks and Mahometans although they be mortal Enemies to the Christian Name For they never did any thing to Christians which came near to this Crueltie Of the Perfidiousnesse and Cruelty Exercised by the Council of Constance upon John Husse and Hierome of Prague 1. 1. IOhn Husse of Bohemia and Hierome of Prague came to the Council of Constance trusting in the protection of a publick promise namely of Sigismund the Emperour who gave his publick warrant 2. And yet they were burned in that Council 3. Was it not fit that the Council should have given credit to the publick warrant of the Emperour Exception of the Jesuites BUt say the Jesuites John Husse was not called by the Council of Constance neither did he receive from it any publick promise Answer of the Reformed to that Exception 1. THe Emperour Sigismund gave him his publick Warrant which the Council most dishonorablie infringed 2. And after they had put Husse to Death contrary to publick promise they Enacted a Law That a promise made unto Hereticks by the Emperour or by any King or Secular Prince should not hinder any Ecclesiastical Judges from proceeding against them According to Law Concil Constant Sess 19. 2. HIerom of Prague likewise came to the Council of his own accord and making publick profession of his Faith was burned 3. SO that the Case of these Two than the which all Christendome at that time had not any more Holy or Learned 1. Shall remain as a perpetual Monument of the Papists Treachery and most horrible Cruelty 2. And also as a notable Caveat unto all the Godly to beware of them for the Time to come §. The Doctrine of the Church of Rome is false Concerning the Faith given to Hereticks 1. AFter that the Council of Constance had most
undoubted Demonstrations of the Forgerie of this Edict of Donation 2. For in the Charter are all these Not onely related as certain truths but they are made the very ground and occasion why Constantine made this Charter 3. Seeing then there is neither truth nor reality in the foundation Certainly there is no truth at all in the Charter it self 4. But leaving these we will propose a few other Considerations in this Cause 1. In this Edict is mentioned the See of Constantinople as one of the Patriarchal Sees Whereas neither it had Patriarchal Dignitie before the Second General Council that is more then fiftie years after the Donation is supposed to be made Nor was there at that time so much as the name of Constantinople For this City was then called Byzantium And divers years after when Constantine had much enlarged it and made it as Socrates saith Parem aequalem Romae equal to Rome choosing it for the Imperial Seat It was then first called by his Name Constantinople And this was done as Baronius himself acknowledgeth a little after the Nicene Council was ended But as Sigonius more truely teacheth five years after that Nicene Council when Gallicanus and Symachus were Consuls So very stupid was the forgerer that to gain to the Pope to the See of Rome principality over Constantinople he makes Constantine write of that City which was not no nor the name of it so much as extant in the World at that time 2. Had Constantine given principality to the Roman See above all Churches in the World as the Charter saith he did What folly was it in John Bishop of Constantinople in Cyriacus and in others to strive for that Preheminence What meant Boniface the third that he would never shew this Charter and grant of principalitie made by Constantine Why did he use so much intreaty and means to Phocas a murtherer that the Church of Rome might be called the first of all Churches when the same was long almost 300. years before given by a fair Charter to the Roman See by Constantine so Worthy and Renowned an Emperour 3. In this Edict Constantine is made solemnly to give unto Pope Sylvester the Lateran Palace whereas not only Sigonius witnesseth that this was given long before to Pope Meltiades Augustale Palatium in Laterano impertiit Constantine gave to Meltiades the Lateran Palace but Baronius and Binnius avouch the same for a certainty and say that no wise body will doubt thereof Those Augustissimae Lateranenses Aedes say they That most princely Palace of the Lateran was given by the same Constantine to Pope Miltiades the Predecessor of Sylvester and to his Successors and that in the Seventh year of Constantine which was twelve years before he was either Baptized or made this Charter of Donation Is not this now a piece of great munificence in the Emperour to give that which it is not his own to give or to give that to Sylvester which many years before that gift was Sylvesters own and his Successours for ever 4. To the above said considerations let us add the Testimony of their great Cardinal Baronius to whom accords Gretser who hath written an Apologie for him in this very point He by many Reasons and at large proves the Edict to be Commentitium prorsusque falsum A meer Figment and Forgerie And as Gretser saith Commentis accensendum docuit He hath taught that it is a Counterfeit One Reason is That this Edict was not in the Ancient Acts of Sylvester but was by forgerie inserted into them The time when this was done he defines to have been after the 1000 year of Christ The Parties by whom this forged Edict was made and published he also declares It was fained by some Grecian under the name of Eusebius and set forth by Theodorus Balsamon whereas a nullo Graecorum hactenus in lucem editum until then no Grecian had published it And from the Grecians it came to the Latins and Western Church Leo the 9. being the first Pope who makes mention thereof Thus the Cardinal By whose acknowledgment it may be seen what truth there is in the Popes specially in Pope Leo who in his Decretal Epistle most solemnly commends this Edict for an Ancient and undoubted Evidence Such as he knew by sight and sense to be the true deed of Constantine Which yet their great Cardinal after long sifting of Monuments and Records testifieth to be a Forgerie and that of the Grecians First of all devised as he saith about 700. years and published 800. years after the Death of Constantine Fraud Of the Fraud and Imposture of the Popes and of the Church of Rome in regard of pretended Revelations both by Dreams and by Extraordinary Visions and Apparitions of the Dead 1. THe Pope and the Church of Rome make use of these pretended Revelations to lead the poor People by the Nose and to make him believe some Doctrines which the word of God doth condemn 2. So was it said that some were Appeared who had said That to come out of Purgatory such and such things were to be done so Sing Masses and by some certain kind of persons that by such forged Impostures the Fable of Purgatory should be established 3. Likewise was it said that some were Appeared who said That they had seen some Tormented in Hell Fire who told them That they were there for sundry Sinnes but particularly for having Stolne a Chalice from the Convent of the Benedictine Monks 4. Others who being Tormented did say That it was because they had Taken and Appropriated to themselves some Possessions belonging to the Church 5. Besides others said That some certain Priests godly persons singing Masse did see an Angel which did accompany them 6. In the Times of the deepest ignorance there was nothing more common then the speech of such Visions and Apparitions either Imaginaries and Phantastical or proceeding from the Devil to abuse the poor people and to establish his False Doctrine Fraud It is a Fraud and a meere Cavillation for the Refutation of the Falshood of a Religion and also for the Proofe of the Truth of a Religion to demand only Formal Places of Holy Scripture contained word by word in it Which Fraud and Cavillation is used by many Doctors of the Church of Rome disputing with the Reformed but wrongfully BEcause if all that which is not opposed by Formal Texts cannot be said to be grounded in the Word of God Then there are none so abominable Heresies nor any so monstrous opinion which may not boast although wrongfully to have the word of God for its Ground So for Example 1. The Heretick Arrians could say That they were grounded upon the Word of God because there is no passage which formally saith That the Son is consubstantial to the Father and that it is not a Created God 2. The Nestoreans also could say That they were grounded upon the Word of God because there is no formal place which saies That
heads were shaven Baruch v. 31. And so are our Popish Priests Crownes 7. The Heathens about the Calends of February visited all their Temples with Lights A like Ceremony the Papists use at Candlemasse 8. The Heathen commended every City and Village to the protection of some god or goddesse Juno was Lady Guardian of Carthage Venus of Cyprus Diana of Ephesus Pallas of Athens c. And have not our Papists likewise multiplyed their Saints according to the number of their Cities And do they not share the Patronages of them between them Doth not Venice fall to S. Marks Lot Paris to S. Genouiefs Spain to S. James France to S. Dennis Scotland to Andrews Ireland to S. Patricks England to S. Georges 9. The Heathen assigned several offices to several Gods Calling upon Ceres for Corn Upon Bacchus for Wine Upon Aesculapius for Health Upon Mercury for Wealth Upon Apollo for Wisdome c. In like manner the Papists address themselves to particular Saints upon particular and special occasions To St. Genovief for Rain To St. Marceau for fair weather To St. Michael in Battle To St. Nicholas in a Sea Tempest To St. Eustace in Hunting To St. Roch and Sebastian for remedies against the Plague To St. Raphael against Catarrhs To St. Apollonia against the Tooth-ache To St. Anthony against Inflammations To St. Margaret for safe Delivery in Child-birth And to other Saints upon other occasions as if God had granted a kind of monopolie to the several Commodities of this Life to several Saints 10. Will you have yet more Hercules hath left his Club to St. Christopher Janus hath resigned up his Keyes to St. Peter Lucina hath resigned her Office of Midwife to St. Margaret The Muses have resigned their instruments of Musick to Cecilia And Jupiter Hamun hath resigned his Horns to Moses Concerning worshipping of Saints departed thereupon the Church of Rome doth commit a great Idolatry 1. VEneration and honour of Saints departed the Protestant Churches do maintain and practice 1. We worthily esteem of their persons and recognize their excellency and glory 2. We give them honour by commemoration and by imitation of their faith and vertues 3. When they depart this life we afford their bodies a decent Burial Psalm 112. v. 6. Jos 1. v. 2. Prov. 10. v. 7. John 8. v. 39. James 5. v. 10. Acts 8. v. 2. 4. And some of our learned Adversaries seem to require no other Veneration of Saints but this Peres de Tradit p. 3. 2. But the Jesuits maintain the adoration of Saints departed with sacred and Religious worship 1. Erecting Altars 2. Building Temples 3. Placing their Images in Churches to be adored 4. Inclosing their relicks in Caskets and proposing them to be worshipped 5. Offering up Masses in the honour of them 6. And worshipping them by Church service and by Canonical hours 3. And they teach that the adoration belonging to them is after a sort divine approaching so near to divine worship as that it is exercised by the same materials and sacred rites 4. We acknowledge then on both parts that Saints are to be honoured We differ in the manner To wit whether they be to be honoured with adoration or such a kind of worship as is in a manner divine or with sacred rites appertaining to Gods religion and above rehearsed 5. St. Hierom is so far from the practise hereof that he affirmeth we do not worship and adore the relicks of Saints nor the Sun Moon Archangels or any other name spoken of in this World or in the next but we honour the relicks of Martyrs and adore him whose Martyrs they be And against Vigilantius who at any time adored Martyrs 6. And with him consent the faithful Christians of the Primitive Church who being traduced of superstition for adoring Martyrs deceased affirm that they adored Christ Jesus onely and exhibited no more to martyrs but the honour of love Euseb Histor Eccles lib. 4. cap. 15. 7. Some of our Adversaries would patronise the Popish superstition of worshipping of Saints departed with the sentence of Hierom saying That he honoureth Paula deceased Cultoris tui that is to say that worshippeth thee But to them we answer That every honour and worship is not such as Papists require and therefore to reason from honour in general to a certain kind thereof is to mock the Readers Fraud This is a great Fraud and Imposture of the Church of Rome that the members of it do not onely worship Saints against the word of God but besides worship Imaginary Saints which never were in the World AS one St. Longis who pierced as it is said our Saviours side As one St. Martial St. Peters Cozen who as it is said did serve at the Table when Jesus Christ did administer the holy Sacrament And also that he had in the time of the Gotes driven Paganism out of the Gaules when there were no Gotes in the Gauls As likewise one Saint Vrsula which is said to have been daughter of a King of England Captain of an Army of twelve thousand Virgins when there was no King in England Item one St. Katherine which is said to have been the daughter of Castor King of Alexandria And in the time of the Emperour Maxentius to have converted the Queen Faustina and fifty Philosophers All the above-said Saints were here indeed in the World as easie it may be proved and whose life by Baronius confession in his Martyrologie is full of Fables Not one good ancient Author that hath lived five hundred years after the time in which these imaginary Saints are set up doth speak of these Saints and yet prayers are made unto them It is the same of St. Margarite of which it is said that the Devil did swallow her who also bursted by that which is a kind of Child-birth from whence is the custome to read her Legend to the women that are delivered The adoration of the Virgin Mary is unlawful Thereupon the Church of Rome doth commit a great Idolatry 1. VVE say with Epiphanius Let Mary have honour and let the Lord our God be adored 2. But the Papists instead of honour exhibite errour to the blessed Virgin as the same Father speaketh and their manner of worshipping her according to the said Father is Heresie and dotage 3. For some part of that worship which Papists give to the Virgin Mary are the actions of Divine adoration Namely Invocation Rom. 10. v. 14. Vows Psalm 50. v. 14. Oaths Deut. 6. v. 13. And yet Tursellin the Jesuit commendeth Paul an Hermit and saith He adored God and his mother 4. Epiphanius had another Belief for by many of his Speeches he condemneth in general all Religious Adorations of the Virgin Mary Although saith he Epiphan Haeref 72. in fine v. 79. she is glorious holy and honourable yet she is not appointed to be Adored Again the Lord in the Gospel speaketh to the Virgin his Mother What have I to do with thee woman In which Speech to
Reformed Churches 1. THey are the Churches which are entirely Reformed of which by Gods Grace we are Members 2. That is to say those Churches who having the true Marks of the Church have them also with all the Purity which is required in regard of the Doctrine of Faith and in regard of the Worship of God 1. 1. The Socinians 2. The Anabaptists Are not comprehended by the Protestants under the Appellation of Reformed and True Churches Because in their Assemblies the very Notes of the True Church do not appear 1. FOr we do not comprehend under that Appellation those Assemblies who having forsaken Idolatry Superstitions and some Errors of the Roman Church are fallen into others very great and most pernicious Such are the Assemblies of the Socinians or the New Samosatenians And such also are the Assemblies of the Anabaptists In which Assemblies the very Notes and Marks of the true Church do not appear The Reformed Religion is True and Orthodox 1. 1. THe Reformed Churches Faith is sound That appears in their Belief of God the Father Of his onely Son Jesus Christ Of the Holy Ghost Of the Church Of the Sacraments Of the Ministery Of the Scriptures Of Ceremonies And of every part of Christian Belief 2. They abandon and detest as plagues and poysons all those old Heresies which either the Sacred Scriptures or the Ancient Councils have utterly condemned 3. They call home again as much as in them lieth the right Discipline of the Church which our Adversaries have quite brought into a poor and weak case 4. They punish all licentiousness of Life and unruliness of Manners by the Old and long continued Laws And with as much sharpness as is convenient and lieth in their power They maintain still the state of Kingdomes in the same Condition and State of Honour wherein they have found them without any diminution or alteration Reserving unto their Princes their Majesty and Worldly Preheminence safe and without impairing to their possible power 6. They have so gotten themselves away from that Popish Church which the Popes had made a Den of Thieves and wherein nothing was in good frame or like to the Church of God as Lot in times past gat him out of Sodome or Abraham out of Chalde Not upon a desire of Contention but by the warning of God himself 7. They have searched out of the holy Bible which they are sure cannot deceive them their sure Form of Religion and have returned again unto the Primitive Church of the Apostles and of the Ancient Fathers that is to say to the ground and beginning of things unto the very foundations and head-springs of Christs Church The Reformed Churches are the same in kinde with all the good Churches which were before them 1. THe Reformed Churches are the same with all Good Churches that had been in the World before them and do succeed the sound and firm Members of the General Visible Church in whom was the Life of true Religion in the substantial matter of Faith and Godliness 2. But they having shaken off their former Errors they differ from them in manner and quality As a man who was deceived in sundry things when he becomes wiser differs from himself as he was Ignorant 3. And as a sick body when it is healed and a Commonwealth after it hath reformed disorders are in substance the same but differ in in Quality and in Goodness so the Protestant Churches have purged sundry corruptions and perfected that which was defective But are the same in kinde with all the good Churches and Christians that were before them And succeeds them of the General Visible Church in whom was the Life of Faith and of Religion Concerning the Antiquity of the Reformed Religion Jesuites THe Jesuites say That the Reformed for fifteen hundred Years could not spy out one Town one Village one House seasoned with the Doctrine that they follow Now. Answer of the Reformed 1. THe Reformed do answer That such an Accusation is very false for in the Apostles time all Churches all Cities and Towns every Family embraced the same Faith and Religion which now they profess 2. Antichrist that Man of Sin could never prevail so much nor so far in corrupting the Christian Religion and Church but a great multitude of the Saints remained and those whose Names were written in the Book of Life did utterly abhor all those filthy and wicked Superstitions of Antichrist For in the Church of Rome it self even in the worst times of it many were ever found who worshipped the God of their Fathers and kept themselves unpolluted with that horrible Idolatry And this can Histories of all Times witness which we could now Recite Vide Catalog Testium veritatis if it were needful and reckon up to the Jesuites many Houses Villages Towns Cities and Countries where Christ had many and populous Churches 3. We add That the Greek Church could never yet be brought to joyn it self to the Roman Church and it is now as opposite to Her as ever the Reformed was and is 4. Furthermore we answer to this Question of the Jesuites Where was your Church for so many years before Luther That it did never lie so hid but it was discerned by their Pope unless for so many years he persecuted shaddows § Another Answer of the Reformed to the Question of the Jesuites Where was the Reformed Religion before the Reformation made by Luther and other Divines 1. THey answer That the Apostles and the Primitive Church for almost six hundred years after Christ taught as they do 2. They answer That ever since that time there have been some that have contended for the maintenance of the Faith which they profess For Example 1. In matter of Supremacy they taught as the Reformed do till after Gregories time which was six hundred years after Christ yea Gregory himself writing against them of Constantinople held this Language If any shall call himself Vniversal Bishop I say it confidently that he is Antichrist 3. In matter of the Sacrament for a thousand years together that the People received the Wine as vvell as the Bread Aquinas cannot deny 3. In the point of Images at first the Church admitted no Images at all as Erasmus and Gregory sheweth yea Polydore Virgil confesseth That the Fathers condemned Images for fear of Idolatry and this continued till the second Nicene Council But now of late the Trent Council and Bellarmine have given unto them Divine honour 4. Bristow a Popish Doctor confesseth this The Truth is saith he that some have been in all Ages of the Protestants Opinion 5. And Illiricus Flaccus doth remember one Reynerius who discoursing of the Waldenses a People for substance of the Protestants Religion saith in these termes They are in all the Cities of Lombardy and of Provence No Sect hath continued so long Some say it hath been since Pope Sylvesters time Some since the Apostles These Waldenses believe all Articles concerning God but they
By whom Alone Having Satisfied the Justice of God his Father His wrath may be Appeased towards Sinners who Repent And Believe 3. It Prescribes in what Manner the true God is to be Served And Honoured Namely in Spirit and in Truth Refers All to the Glory of God And the Salvation of Men And Admits Nothing Either Absurd Or unjust Of the Agreements And of the Differences Between the Religion of the Ancient Jewes And the true Christian Religion which we Christians doe imbrace 1. Of the Agreements between both the said Religions 1. GOd is the Authour and the Efficient Cause of both 2. Christ is the foundation of both By whose onely merit all the Faithful since the first sin of our first Parents have been and are reconciled unto God See Heb. 13.8 Rev. 13.8 3. As Christian Religion so the Religion of the Ancient Jewes did aim to stirre up a desire of the blessed Immortality and to confirm the hope of the same 4. Both the Religions did bring and doth bring Justification and Sanctification to the Faithful of the Old and of the New Testament See John 8.56 5. Both the Religions have been sealed and confirmed to the Faithful of the Old and of the New Testament by the self-same Holy Spirit 2. Of the Differences between both the said Religions 1. THe Religion of the Ancient Jews did belong onely to one Nation and People The Christian Religion belongs to all People 2. The Religion of the Ancient Jews by many Ceremonies did shadow and represent Christ which was to come The Christian Religion doth teach and clearly publish that he is come 3. In the Religion of the Ancient Jews the Lord under some earthly benefits did represent the fruition of the heavenly Inheritance But in the Christian Religion directly he doth direct our minds to the Meditation of Eternal Life Omitting those earthly means and helps which he did use towards the Ancient Jewes 4. The Religion of the Ancient Jewes was darker But the Christian Religion is Clearer 5. In the Religion of the Ancient Jews the Rites of their Sacraments were bloody And difficult Namely the Rites of Circumcision and of the Paschall Lamb. But in the Christian Religion they are without blood and Easy 3. 1. FRom the abovesaid Things it appears That since the first Sin of Adam there hath been but one way to attain to the fruition of Salvation And this way hath been the Faith in Jesus Christ the Mediator See thereof Gen. 3.17 and Chapt. 22.18 Act. 15.11 and 10.43 2. Therefore the doctrine of those is to be rejected who teach a three-fold way to attain unto Salvation Namely 1. One to those who did live before the written Law by the observation of the Law of Nature 2. The second to those who did live under the written Law by the fulfilling of the same 3. And the third to those who did and do live under the grace of the Gospel by the Faith in Jesus Christ 3. The Reason why such Doctrine is to be rejected and exploded is because the Faithful and Believers under the Old Testament have had Redemption in Christ by his blood which was to be shed As we have by his Bloud which is shed For the Expiatory Sacrifice of Christ hath had a saving vertue not onely since it was offered unto God upon the Cross But even from the Eternal Decree of God And the Efficacy thereof hath been as well before as after it was exhibited In which regard it is said of Christ Heb. 13.8 That he is the same yesterday and to day and for ever And Rev. 13.8 Christ is called the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world 4. Therefore all the Faithful and Believers under the Law have had Redemption by Faith in Christ the Redeemer as we have under the Gospel Abraham did see the day of Christ and was glad as it is said John 8.56 He did see it by the eyes of Faith and not of the flesh Of the Mutation which happened to the First Christian Religion In the Great Prosperity and Pomp which happened to the Church under the Empire Constantine The First Christian Religion Suddenly Changed By the Introduction in It. Of the Ceremonies and Superstitions of the Pagans Converted To the said Christian Religion And in Borrowing the Words And the Ceremonies of the Jewes 1. 1. THe Church before this Empire had been bred In the Hills and Wildernesses 2. It came out of them clothed with Camels Haires That is to say Clothed with all Sobriety with all Simplicity And with all Innocencie 3. The Bishops for the most Part manifesting Her to the World Were ashamed to Present Her such to the Centiles That is to say to Those who Newly came out Or would come out from Paganism 4. The Good Emperours Likewise Who were Desirous that the Christian Religion should be Received by Their People More Curious of the Outward then of the Inward Of the Appearance then of the Truth Of the Ceremony then of the Substance 5. They make then no Conscience to clothe the said Church after the Fashion of the Pagans And to Adorn Her with the Ornaments of the Gentiles To Fit the Christians Services and Ceremonies to those of the Pagans As far as without wrong to the Faith They did think They could do it 6. And this Proceeding was called Among Them Zeal and Prudence Which Tertullian would have called Sacriledge Being a Severe Observation of the first Simplicity And Purity as long as he Lived in the Church 2. 1. IN which Besides the said Bishops were to keep this Temperament That in the same Time being to give content to the Jews who did Imbrace the Christianism which for the most part did believe that their should be a Greatnesse under the Kingdom of the Messias They were very Glad to shew unto Them the Fulfilling Thereof in the outward Splendour of the Christian Church 2. And where They did Conceive that They should Adorn the Simplicity of the Christian Religion They willingly borrowed as much as they could The Terms or Words And the Ceremonies Of the Jewes Of the Terms or Words And of the Ceremonies Borrowed From the Jewes And the Pagans When the Christian Church Vnder the Empire of Constantine Did Passe From Persecution to Peace And from Thraldome To the Domination 1. AS All the Outward Service of the Jewes And of the Gentiles did chiefly Consist in Sacrifices Those of the Gentiles without a certain Scope And those of the Jewes aiming All at One onely Jesus Christ It did seem hard and scandalous unto Them To Abolish all Sacrifices Because Those New Converts believed That Religion could not be without such Sacrifices Not Concerning that All Sacrifices are Nothing But in as much as they are Referred to the only Sacrifices of the Son of God Accomplished in the Crosse Therefore to the End That Neither the one Nor the others should be Frighted The Christians used Themselves to Speak Of Altars And of Sacrifices And
Depart out of thy Mouth Nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed Nor out of the Mouth of thy Seeds Seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever And Such Like Answer to this Third Objection 1. TO what Purpose doth this Objection serve the Popish Writers Or what Argument may the Perpetuity Of Christs Universal Church afford Them against our former Assertion 2. We Believe and Confesse to the Comfort of our Souls That Christs Church hath continued And shall never fail so long as the world endureth 3. And we account it a prophane Heresie to teach that Christs Universal Church hath Perished from the Earth at any Time For this Assertion shaketh the Foundation of all Faith and Religion 4. But the Popish Writers who makes this Objection Should prove by invincible evidence of Scripture That the Catholick Universal Church of Christ is nothing Else But the Outward Succession of the Roman See If They can Prove This They should Prove their Objection Soundly And should confute our Opinion Truely 5. But it is a Thing which They cannot Doe They cannot bring us Either Texts of Scriptures or Reasons To shew that Christs Church Either is the Popes Succession Or Else dependeth upon the same See 6. For as Touching External Shew And Succession of Churches The Scriptures have foretold Apoc. 12. and 13.16 That Antichrist shall Seduce Great and Small Rich and Poor Free and Bond And that the Church shall flie into the Wildernesse And there Remain Of all which no word could be true If the Catholick Church were tied To the Popes Chaire And the Popes Chaire were the Rock That cannot be removed 7. And yet notwithstanding this General Dispersion And the Flight of the Church under Antichrist The Catholick Church shall for all That Continue 8. Although not in that outward strength And Glory In which sometimes it hath appeared And Flourished 4. Objection Of the Popish Writers Against the above Exercitations That the Now Church of Rome is Changed And is not Now what it was in the Beginning What Impudence is This say the said Writers There was never Heresie that Assaulted the Church of Rome Of which it carried not the Victory As Over the Donatists Over Jovinian Over Pelagius the Britain And over Others Answer to this Fourth Objection 1. THe Triumphs of which the Popish Writers do boast of Are no more proper to the Now or Latter Church of Rome Then the Triumphs of old Rome Over Pyrrhus Over Annibal Over Perses Over Antiochus are to be esteemed the Triumphs of Rome Now Being 2. And for the pretended Victory over Pelagius the Britain we say that he Triumphed over the Popish Kingdome For did he not Teach That Grace was imbred in Nature And the Popish Crew of Jesuites Defendeth the same Who seeth not then Pelagius sitting in the Popish Triumphant Chariot Popery is not of the first and Primary Antiquity That is many of the present Doctrines of the Church of Rome And in what Time Errors were received in it 1. PApists are not able to produce any Record Expresse and direct testimony Canon of Council or Ecclesiastical constitution For their burning Lights in the Church at noon day before the Decree of Pope Sabinianus in the year of our Lord 605. 2. Nor for Rome to be the Head of all Churches before Pope Boniface the Third in the year 606. 3. Nor for the Invocation of Saints in their Publick Lithurgy before Boniface the Fifth in the year 618. 4. Nor for their Latine Service thrust upon all Churches before Pope Vitalian in the year 666 which is the very number of the name of the Beast 5. Nor for the Cutting of the Host into three parts and offering one part for the Souls in Purgatory before Pope Sergius in the year 688. 6. Nor for setting up Images in Churches Generally and worshipping them before Pope Adrian the First and the Second Council of Nice in the year 787. 7. Nor for Canonization of Saints departed before Leo the Third about the year 800. 8. Nor for the Orall Manducation of Christs Body in the Sacrament before Pope Nicholas the Second in the year 1053. 9. Nor for the entire number of seven Sacraments before Peter Lombard in the year 1140. 10. Nor for Indulgences before Engenius the third in the year 1145. 11. Nor for Transubstantiation of the Bread into Christs body before the Fourth Council of Lateran in the year 1215. 12. Nor for the Elevation of the Host that the People might adore it before Honorius the Third in the year 1216. 13. Nor for any Jubilee before Pope Boniface the Eighth in the yeer 1300. 14. Nor for the Carrying the Sacrament in Procession under a Canopy before Pope Vrban the Fifth In the year 1262. 15. Nor for the Day and half Communion before the Council at Constance in the year 1416. 16. Nor for the suspending the Efficacy of Sacramental Consecration upon the Priests Intention before the Council at Florence in the year 1439. 17. Nor for the Popes Superiority to General Councils before the Sixt Council at Lateran under Leo the Tenth in the year 1517. 18. Nor the vulgar Latine Translation to be held for Authentical And upon no pretended Cause whatsoever to be reiected before the fourth Session of the Council of Trent in the year 1546. 19. Nor for the Second book of the Macchabees and the Apocryphal Additions to Hester and Daniel with the History of Bell and the Dragon which S. Jerome termeth a Fable to bereceived for Canonical Scripture before the said Session in the year above named 1. Frande 1. These be the Principles and Grounds of Faith and Worship that the Church of Rome doth Produce 1. Scriptures 2. Traditions of the Apostles 3. The Catholick Church 4. General Councils 5. The Ancient Fathers 6. The Pope which she calls the Supream Pastour of the Church 2. These be the Fraudes of the Church of Rome Concerning all the Principles and Rules above Produced The 1. of those Fraudes is That the Church of Rome careth indeed for none of Them but for the last which is The Determination of her Pope 1. THe Scripture must not be Scripture in any other Sense then as the Pope will Expound So that the Scripture being the Meaning of the Scripture And the Meaing of the Scripture being the Popes Exposition Hereof it followeth That the Scripture is nothing else but the Popes Interpretation 2. So Likewise In Traditions In Doctors In Councils In Churches If any Thing Dissent from the Popes understanding and Determination It is Rejected Abolished Condemned 3. And Finally all Faith all Religion all Divinity of the Church of Rome is only the Popes Sacred will and pleasure Papists give the Churches Authority to the Pope And take all Authority quoad nos from the Scripture So that by the Church they understand the Pope 1. THe Papists 1. take all Authority from the Scripture 2. They give it to the Church And 3. They give the Churches Authority to
all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse in them that perish because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved Of the same also is spoken Apoc. 13.12 where it is said of the Second Beast That he causeth the Earth and Them which dwell therein to worship the first Beast whose deadly wound was healed And a little after namely vers 14. That this Second Beast deceiveth them that dwell on the Earth by the means of those Miracles which he had Power to do in the sight of the Beast And that he causeth all both small and great rich and poor free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads And that no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark or the name of the Beast or the number of his Name And Chap. 13.7 8. It is said That it was given unto him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them And power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and nations And all that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world And Chapt. 17.2 It is said That with the great Whore the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication and the Inhabiters of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication 4. All That hath been seen before the last Reformation of the Church 2. NOw as Satan to the end he may tempt the better doth often transform himself in an Angel of Light So Antichrist and his Followers to seduce better the world and to spread with greater fruit and successe the venome of his False Doctrine in corrupting that of Christ and of his Apostles hath made use of four Means the fittest for the fulfilling of his designe 1. The first of these Means consisteth in Mysteries and Secrets 2. The second of these Means consisteth in Frauds and Impostures 3. The third of these Means consisteth in Signes and Miracles 4. And the Fourth of these Signs consisteth in Persecution and Crueltie 1. I have said That the First of the Means used by the Popes and the Church of Rome to seduce People consisteth in Mysteries and Secrets 1. FOr Poperie having not found convenient openly to propound her false Doctrines hath cloathed them with Mysteries that so they may be more easily received In this regard it is said of the great Whore Apoc. 17.5 That upon her forehead was a Name written Mysterie Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth 2. Let the Rationals be read and the book of Ceremonies of the Church of Rome and no piece or part of the Divine Service thereof shall be found which containeth not some Mysteries even to the Priests Garments and to the Lamps alwaies burning 3. The Doctrine of an Oecumenical and Universal Bishop and Head was softly introduced under this Mysterie That thereby the Unitie of the Church was represented 4. Marriage hath been prohibited to the Roman Clergie permitting unto them under this colour to keep Concubines And under this Mystery That Virginity is far more excellent then Marriage 5. The Life and the Monastical Vowes have been introduced under this Mystery That the Contemplative Life is by much to be preferred to the Active And that thereby Grace and Glory are merited And moreover that thereby more is done then God commandeth in his Law 6. The use of Holy Scripture in an unknown Tongue hath been introduced under this Mystery To avoid and hinder the contempt of Her Mysteries And to entertain an Union in all the Churches 7. How many Mysteries are found out in the Masse to the end that it may be received 2. I have said That the Second of the Means used by the Popes and the Church of Rome to seduce People consisteth in Impostures 1. IN that they are like to False Coyners and to Jugglers Like again to the Serpent who by Imposture and Fraud did deceive our Mother Eve and by the same Means did indeavour to seduce Jesus Christ our Saviour but was not able to do it 2. Which Impostures and Frauds have been shewed and continue to be shewed by the Popes and by the Roman Clergie in divers manners 3. We will produce in particular those divers Manners after we have set down the other Means used by the Popes and the Church of Rome to seduce People 2. I have said That the Third of the Means used by the Popes and the Church of Rome to seduce People consisteth in Signs and Miracles 1. OF them doth Christ our Saviour speak Matth. 24.24 in these words For there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. Of them also doth S. Paul speak 2 Thess 2.9 in these words Even him namely Antichrist whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders Of them likewise doth S. John speak Apoc. 13.14 in these words And them that dwell on the earth meaning Antichrist by the means of those Miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the Beast 2. The Popes which are that Antichrist boasting of this Gift of Miracles hath noised more of them then any other Religion Either the True Or the False Religion More then Simon the Magician did More then Mahomet hath done More then Moses and the other Prophets have done Nay more then Christ hath done and his Apostles although they have made of them in great Number 3. Is it not the most ordinarie Subject of the Legends of the Saints by which in time past the Preachers of the Church of Rome did so beat the ears of their Auditors It is true That since the Reformation of the Christians those Legends are not so much esteemed but still Citations are made out of them although not so commonly 4. But these Miracles boasted by those of the Church of Rome were not true but lying Miracles And that in regard of all manners and kinds of Causes 1. False in regard of the efficient Cause Because they were wrought by Satan who is the father of Lyes 2. False in regard of the final Cause Because they were done to introduce a false Doctrine and full of Lyes 3. False in regard of the Material Cause Because most of them are but Illusions and Impostures Not true Resurrections of some Dead as they are pretended to be Neither also curing of some Diseases 4. False in regard of the Formal Cause For if some of these Miracles are true in respect of the Matter they shall not be so in regard of the Form because they shall not be above the strength of Nature as are all the true Miracles but shall be wrought by Natural Causes Either Manifest or Hidden Satan applying Active Things to Passives They may be wondrous things but not Miracles which are wrought onely by the