former Church is broken and dissolved If ever the Church of Rome divided her self by Schism from any other Body of faithful Christians brake Communion or went forth from the society of any elder Church I pray satisfie me to these particulars 1. Whose company did she leave 2. From whom did she go 3. Where was the true Church that she did forsake For it appears a little strange to me that a Church should be counted schismatical when there cannot be assigned another Church different from her which from age to age hath continued visible from whence she departed CHAP. III. A Dialogue between a Catholick and a Protestant concerning Religion 1. IT happened on a time that a certain Roman-Catholick and a Protestant discoursing together of Religion after many words changed concluded in this manner following Catholick Do you believe in God the Father Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ his onely Son our Lord Protestant I do Cath. Do you believe in the Holy Ghost the Holy Catholick Church Prot. I do Cath. Why then would you not hear and obey the Holy Catholick Church as Christ and his Father under pain of eternal damnation commands thee Do you not know that the Scripture affirmeth It is not every man that saith Lord Lord to Christ shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven but he that doth the will of his Father Matth. 7. 21. But the Will of the Father is that every man hear Christ. This is my beloved Son him hear ye Matth. 17 5. Therefore every man that heareth not Christ shall not enter into the Kingdome of Heaven But Christ willeth and commandeth that every man hear the Church Mat. 18. 17. He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent Luc. 10. 16. He that heareth not the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen and Publican Mat. 18. 17. Therefore every man that heareth not the Church shall not enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Why then I say would you not hear and obey the Church which is always Holy and Catholick why would you not believe all whatsoever she proposeth to be believed why forsake you her why follow you the Protestant 2. Prot. I do hear and obey the Catholick Church I believe all whatsoever she proposeth to be believed I forsake her not I follow the Protestant because this is the Catholick Church Cath. How can you prove that the Protestant Church is the Catholick Church Prot. I must confess though I have not sufficient learning to prove it yet I have faith enough to believe it because our learned Ministers tell us so Cath. You cannot tell but your learned Ministers may be mistaken Prot. Neither can you prove they are mistaken Cath. Yes I can Prot. How I pray you 3. Cath. Very well because there is but one Catholick Church that is to say one Church which is universal for time place and believers Luk. 1. 33. Mark 16. 15. which is the faithfull people dispersed throughout the world St Augustin in Psalm 149. which is the Light of the world and a City built upon a Mountain that cannot be hid Matth. 5. 14. and consequently visible and known and easily discerned from Turks and Jewes and Heathens and Hereticks even by her name But this Catholick Church is the Romane Pontificial for Shee alone is the visible and known universal Church for time place and believers All the rest are not universal for time place nor believers for they began of late they are but in few places they are but on handfull in respect of the Catholick Church Therefore they are mistaken that tell you She is the Protestant 4. Moreover if the visible and known Catholick Church cannot fail or err in matters of Faith She must have alwaies remained since Christs time to this day without interruption and errour But the visible and known Catholick Church cannot fail or err in matters of Faith for She is alwaies Holy I believe in the Holy Ghost the Holy Catholick Church The Apostles Creed She is the spotless Spouse of Christ Hos. 2. 9. with which her Head and spouse and the Spirit of Truth abides for ever Matth. 28. 20. John 14. 16. The pillar and firmament of Truth 1 Tim. 3. 15. and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against her Matth. 16. 18. Therefore She must have alwaies remained since Christs time to this day without interruption errour Otherwise we could have nothing sure But no â—ther visible Catholick Church remained since Christs time to this day without interruption and errour but the Romane Pontificial Therefore the Romane Pontificial alone is the visible and known Catholick Church 5. If any can say that the Romane Pontificial Church hath not alwaies remained since Christs time to this day without interruption and errour let him tell when was the Succession of her Bishops Pastours and Believers interrupted or when and wherein did She err what general Council condemned her what holy Father wrote against her Or that there remained any other visible Church on earth since Christs time to this day without interruption and errour Let him tell what was She what is She where was she where is She what is her name what Bishops and Pastours had She or as yet hath She what Emperours or Kings did adhere unto her or now do what General Councils did She hold what Hereticks did She condemn what Academies did She confirm what Churches Monasteries and Hospitals did She build c. Sure the Greek Church or Churches have not alwaies remained since Christs time to this day without interruption witness the world nor yet without errour for they Heretically deny the Procession of the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son c. The Lutheran and Calvinian Church which they call Reformed is erroneous and new for it began with the Reformation from whence it hath its name which was done by Luther and Calvin as their Followers gloriously averr But I ask them that so glory in this Reformation were not Luther and Calvin when they first boasted of the Spirit and began to reform the Church were they not I say then to be tryed Prot. They needed no tryal for their Spirit was of God Cath. How do you know their Spirit was of God or how can you make this appear Prot. I know it very well and though I cannot make it appear yet our learned Ministers can sufficiently prove it Cath. They never yet could prove it nor ever shall we defie them and suppose their Spirit were from God yet still they were to be tryed according to the Scripture 1 John 4. 1. Beloved believe not every Spirit but trye the Spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world Upon which words even your own newest Bible in the Argument of this Chapter saith He warneth them not to believe all Teachers who boast of the Spirit but to
Miracles not ceas'd TO HIS GRACE GEORGE Duke of Buckingham c. Of his miraculous Cure and of the rest of all the most wonderfull and glorious Miracles and Cures wrought by a Roman Catholick Priest in and about the Cities of London and Westminster in the Moneths of Iune and Iuly 1663 in confirmation of the holy Roman Catholick Faith By A. S. These Signes shall follow them that believe Mark 16. 17. Benedicite Deum coeli coram omnibus viventibus confitemini ei quia fecit vobiscum misericordiam suam Etenim sacramentum Regis abscondere bonum est opera autem Dei revelare confiteri honorificum est Tob. 12. 6 7. Obedire oportet Deo magis quà m hominibus Act. 5. 29. Printed at London the first of August 1663. Clama nè cesses quasi tuba exalia vocem tuam annuntia c. Isaiae 58. 1. Io nobIsCVM DeVs IsraëL gaudeamns exultemus demus gloriam ei Alleluia Amen Alleluia sine fine Dominum formidabunt Adversarii ejus super ipsos in coelis tonabit 1 Reg. 2. 10. Miracles not ceas'd CHAP. I. To his Gnace George Buckingham c. of his miraculous Cure c. 1. BY a Fall from your Horse my Lord you have lost the use of your right Hand but by the Prayers of a Roman Catholick Priest with the sign of the Cross in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost when you vowed and promised to God that if he should restore you to your health again you would become a Roman Catholick you were forthwith perfectly Cured Confiteantur Domino misericordiae ejus et mirabilia ejus fillius hominum Psal. 106. 9. Behold thou art made whole sin no more John 5. 14. Hitherto my Lord you have lived in Heresie and Sin henceforth be converted and godly given and delay not to pay and perform what you have vowed and promised to God for An unfaithful and foolish promise displeaseth him Eccles. 5. 3. And it were much better for your Lordship not to have vowed at all then not to perform after you have vowed Pay then your vows my Lord else know that what happened to you in Body is but a type or figure of what hereafter shall happen to your Soul you shall be cast off your Horse that is your Soul shall be separated from your Body and you shall lose the use of your right Hand that is your hope of everlasting bliss shall fade and perish for ever Perform therefore your promise my Lord which you have confirmed with an Oath no less then the holy and terrible Name of God and sin no more least some worse thing chance to thee John 5. 14. 2. Sin is the cause of all infirmities sin is the cause why some once perfectly cured do fall again into a greater relapse When the unclean spirit departeth out of a Man he wandreth through places without water seeking rest and not finding he saith I will return into my House whence I departed and when he is come he findeth it swept with a Besome and trimmed then he goeth and taketh seven other spirits worse then himself and entring in they dwell there and the last of that man is made worse then the first Luke 11. so it is with infirmities and this is the reason why many who were sometimes cured by the man of God are as ill now again or perhaps worse then they were before Therefore let such as received benefit by him give God thanks pay their vows and perform their promise to him and sin no more and so once made whole they shall be preserved and kept whole and sound as long as it is to the glory of God and good of their souls 3. Were not ten made clean and where are the nine Luke 17. 17. How many tens how many thousands ha's been made clean and cured by this holy man to God and how few of them returned to give glory and due thanks to God Give glory then to God my Lord give glory to God and good example to others be you this one of the ten that returns and give glory and due thanks to God for his benefits become a good and holy Roman Catholick according to your promise and so God will prosper and bless your Grace Amen 4. For your scruples in matters of Faith if your Grace have any Read I beseech you my Lord my little Book entituled The Reconciler of Religions where I clearly prove First Tha◠the Roman Catholick Church is the onely true way to God out of which no man can be saved Secondly That the Protestant or Sectarian Religion is but a meer cheat a delusion an heresie an heathenisme Thirdly That the Roman Catholick Church is the insallible and inerrable Judge of all Controversies in matters of Faith Fourthly That the Protestant or Sectarian Bible is not the Word of God more then the Alcaran of the Turks and the old vulgar Latin Bible is defended Fifthly That the Protestant Bishops Ministers and Preachers are but Cheaters and Deluders false Prophets and Priests of Baal Sixthly and lastly All our Adversaries objections answered and confuted to all which I suppose they will not answer in haste otherwise then thou lyest Bellarmine or some such way which shall not be enough for me nor I believe for any other sincere and reasonable man In the mean time your Grace may be pleased to peruse this ensuing Challenge of one of your own Ministers lately converted Dr. Baylie to all Schismaticks Sectaries and Hereticks whatsoever CHAP. II. Doctor Baylie's Challenge to all Sectaries IT * Rom. 1. V. 8. 12. White 's defence of his way pa. 435. King James Speech in parliament Whitaker in answer to Doctor Sands 2. demonstrat Fulk in Epist. 2. ad Thessolsect 7. will not be denied but that the Church of Rome was once a most excellent flourishing Mother Church This Church could not cease to be such but she must fall either by Apostasie Heresie or Schism 1. Apostasie is not onely a renouncing of the Faith of Christ but the very name and title to Christianity No man will ever say that the Church of Rome had ever such a fall or fell thus 2. Heresie is an adhesion to some private and singular opinion or errour in Faith contrary to the general approved Doctrine of the Church If the Church of Rome did ever adhere to any singular or new Opinion disagreeable to the common received Doctrine of the Christian World I pray you satisfie me to these particulars viz. 1. By what general Councels was she ever condemned 2. Or which of the Fathers ever writ against her 3. Or by what authority was she otherwise reproved For it seems to me to be a thing very incongruous that so great a Church should be condemned by every one that hath a mind to condemn her 3. Schism is a departure or division from the unity of the Church whereby that bond and communion held with some
trye them by the Rules of the Catholick Faith Therefore they were to be tryed and so they were indeed tryed by the Rules of the Catholick Faith that is to say by a General Council approved by the Head and received by the Body of the Catholick Church and they were found guilty of Apostacie pertinacious error of going out of the Catholick Church and her religious Monasteries contrary to their Rules and Sacred Vows into the world of preaching new Doctrine prophesying falsely and consequently Anathematized and condemned for Hereticks they and all their followers according to that of the Galatians 1. 9. If any Evangelize unto you contrary to that you have received be he Anathema Therefore the Reformed or Protestant Church is not the Catholick The Independents the Anabaptists the Socinianists the Quakers and Shakers c. are also erroneous and new neither can they or the Reformed Church shew any continual and uninterrupted Succession of Bishops Pastours or Believers from Christ if they can let them produce it But the Romane Pontificial alone is old and alwaies remained since Christs time to this day without errour or interruption of Doctrine Bishops Pastours Believers c. and will to the consummation of the world what can all your learned Ministers answer to this Prot. I 'le warrant it our Ministers will answer them word by word Know Sir we have as learned Head-pieces of our Church as any in yours Cath. Who are these I pray you Prot. Dr. Pierce Mr. Calamy Mr. Gunning and divers others which will make nothing to answer these Cath. Alas good Sir lean not so much upon a broken stick I assure you that neither Pierce nor Calamy nor Gunning nor any cunning Sophister of them all nor all the Shismaticks and Sectaries and Hereticks in the world can refute these or answer them categoricè and clearly Prot. No Cath. No truly and if you do not believe me trye and then believe your self when you have found it true that I tell you 8. Prot. May it please you Sir to give me this Discourse in writing Cath. I will give it you even in writing though not the whole Discourse yet more of it then ever they will answer unto Prot. I thank you Sir if God bless me I will present it them Cath. Do so and if they cannot answer it in scriptis categoricè and clearly without any shifting and winding about leave them and become a Catholick Prot. I promise you by the grace of God I will and God forbid but I should For I think it neither Duty nor Devotion nor Discretion nor yet Religion nor Reason nor Right to be of a Church that is not alwaies able and ready to give a satisfactory answer to every man that asketh her a reason of the hope that is in her Whence I ask you also whether the Romane-Catholick Church can give me a satisfactory answer why She worshippeth Images prayeth to Saints prayeth for the Dead c. Cath. Yes that She can if true Scripture right Reason General Councils holy Fathers and the Consent of all Ages may satisfie you Prot. Say you so Cath. Come and see praIseD be the thrICe hoLy naMe of oVr IesVs AMEN Now let us come to the Miracles CHAP. IV. A Praeludium to the Miracles 1. ALL men naturally are moved in matters of Religion by Miracles nay some are so perverse that otherwise they cannot be moved Whence considering seriously with my self the perversness and height of Infidelity the Sectaries and Hereticks of this Nation are come to I alwaies thought it as it were needfull for their conversion to the true Religion that God should send some one thereof that would work Miracles before their faces Neither was I mistaken as it clearly appears for God who loveth the souls Sap. 11. 27. and willeth that all men be saved and come to the knowledg of the truth 1 Tim. 2. 4. of his infinite mercy and goodness was pleased to send them a Romane Catholick Priest who in confirmation of the holy Romane Catholick Church and of her Tenets and Doctrines was for the space of five weeks dayly working Miracles before their eyes and would be longer had not they repelled him and as it were judging themselves unworthy of eternal life commanded him away which the Turks or most barbarous Infidels would not have done yet England has done this evil 2. Mountebanks and Cheaters are permitted but the man of God must be repelled Foxes that is cunning Hereticks have holes and Birds of the air that is fantastical frentick mad Sectaries have nests in England but the man of God hath not whereupon to lay his head Not this man cry the Antichristian Pseudo-Bishops the Sons of Iniquity and Fathers of Mischief not this man but Barrabas Of the man of God then what shall be done Let him be banished cry they Blessed be God they did not cry Take him away Take him away Crucifie him they were though against their nature so civil as to conten◠themselves with his Banishment onely Amaziah the Protestant Bishop said unto Amos the holy man of God O thou the Seer go flee thou away into the land of Iudah to Rome or amongst Romane Catholicks and there eat thy bread and prophesie or work wonders there But prophesie no more at Bethel at London or amongst Hereticks for it is the King's Chappel and it is the King's Court. So the Protestant Bible Amos 7. 12 13. But ours hath it somewhat otherwise and adds Amos answered and said unto Amasias c. Thou saist thou shalt not prophesie upon Israel that is upon the Tribes of Israel that fell from Iuda that is to say upon Schismaticks Sectaries and Hereticks that fell from the Romane Catholick Church and thou shalt not still upon or preach unto the House of the Idol in Hebr. it is Risus that is to say upon the Idolatrous and ridiculous Protestant Religion See 3 Regum 12. 26 c. usque ad finem For which thus saith the Lord Thy Wife c. Amos 7. 16 17. He must be banisht then and why What harm has he done Because he is contrary to the Protestant Bishops the rebellious and idolatrous Priests of Bethel because he is holy they wicked because he would convert the Nation to God they would keep it in flavery to the Divel because he works Miracles they can work none He must go therefore he is gone then blessed be God even while they were consulting and saying What shall we do for this man doth many Miracles He is gone even before they remembred if we let him go so all will believe and be converted by him and the Roman Catholick Bishops shall come and take both our Place and our Dignity which we have wrongfully kept from them almost this hundred years He is gone then 3. Notwithstanding good God hath done his work and his Servant whom he hath sent hath also in an high degree finished his course for even in the space of those five weeks
answered 1. SUch as desire to hear and know more of those admirable wonders of our Lord let them hearken to publick Fame and enquire of Mr. Sheldon at the Queens Chappel and of Mr. Digby in Queens-Street and others that have taken particular Lists of many of them and they may further inform them if they please as they ought for the great Mercies and admirable Wonders of God are not to be concealed or hid under a Bnshel I said of many of them because they could not of all for this man of God has wrought innumerable other Miracâ—es also in the face of the Church and in the view of the World which are not written in this little Paper nor in their Lists and these are written that you may believe in the Holy Ghost the Holy Catholick-Church and that believing you may have life everlasting Amen 2. Here I could and would check all such as stiff-necked and of uncircumcised hearts and ears do alwaies resist the Holy Ghost had I not stinted my self to the August capacity or inscription of this little Book a great volume in Folio being ready to come forth Entituled The most remarkable Miracles wrought by the Reverend Fathhr J. O. E. wherein all such Backbiters and Murmurers are clearly confuted 3. In the mean time to such as say First That he is a Cheater and Deluder and that what he does is but Sorcery and Witchcraft Secondly That many comes to him he cannot eure at all Thirdly That to some he gives but little ease or partly cures them not wholly Fourthly and lastly That others whom he hath cured whether partly or wholly do continue so but a little while and fall back again into a relapse and are afterwards as ill or worse then they were before to all which one after another I answer 4. To the First The Jews said to Christ that in Beelzebub Prince of the Devils he cast out Devils who then can wonder hat Jewish Hereticks should say the like to the Servant of Christ If they called Christ Beelzebub Sedueer and Cheater who can think that their Successours the Hereticks should give better Language to his Disciple Let them therefore say what they will and think what they please what then they can prove nothing of what they say nor yet disprove what is said and done against them Certainly if this holy man of God were a Seducer or Cheater as indeed he is not he does not seduce nor cheat us for in casting out Devils and in all his Cures he useth no Charms nor unknown words but he useth the Prayers of the Holy Catholick-Church the Sign of the Cross and the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost so that if he were I say a Deluder he does not delude us but the Church and Christ who commands us to hear and obey her But Christ and his Church cannot delude or deceive us therefore he is no Deluder nor Deceiver We never yet heard nor read that Seducers or Cheaters or Thieves or Murderers or Witches or Wizards or False Prophets or Priests of Baal could or did work Wonders by the Sign of the Cross and in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost as he does Nay it 's impossible they should as we proved in the Reconciler of Religions chap 3. num 9. and elsewhere Whence we conclude with the holy Scripture Iohn 9. 33. If this man were not of God he could not do any thing 5. To the second I answer did those whom he could not cure at all deserve to be cured had they requisite faith to be cured was it to the glory of God and good of their souls that they should be cured forsooth you know not why then do you murmure is' t because some were cured all must be cured is it because God is good you must be nought cannot God distribute his gifts as he will and to whom he please why then say you does he pretend to cure all I answer you mistake Sir he does not pretend nor profess to cure all no nor any at all but through the bowels of Charity he receiveth all and refuseth none and cures only such as please God He is not to the right or left hand of their cure but as please God whence to whom God please to give little he gives little and to whom God is willing to give much he gives much and that freely and gratis 6. To the third I answer were they who received but a little cure worthy of greater was the faith they had greater then the cure they received was it to the glory of God and to the good of their souls that they should receive more neither this do you know why then do you backbite was not the least cure or benefit they had by him supernatural and consequently miraculous and from God yes you will say why then do you despise or undervalue it forsooth because you are envious or ignorant or both No say you but Gods works are perfect Deut. 32. 4. I answer Gods works are perfect indeed every work in its own kind and therefore when he gives a little ease it s his perfect work as well as when he gives much or wholly cures otherwise a man that 's born blind should not be the work of God which to affirm were absurd Read Iohn 9. 1 3. and Mark 8. 24 25 26. and see my former answers to such objections in the Epistle Dedicatory of the reconciler of Religions 7. To the fourth and last I answer did they who were once cured and afterwards fall into a relapse give due thanks and glory to God for his benefits bountifully and gratis bestowed on them did they amend their life and conversation did their good works abound did their faith continue or persevere longer then their cure lasted did not St. Peter walk upon the water while his faith was strong but when he staggered did he not begin to sink did he not hear said to him you of little faith why didst thou doubt Let themselves lay hand on their brest and answer to this for your part you know nothing of it therefore you may sit down hold your peace and admire the wonderfull works of the holy Ghost 8. But all such as have received any benefit by him let them stand up and bless God and before all the world confess unto him for whether they have been cured partly or wholly God hath shewed them his mercies according to his good will and perhaps also according to their preparation or merit de congruo And if afterwards any of them has fallen into a relapse it was not Gods fault nor in any wise to be imputed to his servant by whom he hath once so cured them but either to themselves or to their demerits de condigno or may be to the further mercies and goodness of God towards them for his greater glory and everlasting good of their souls Quis enim cognovit sensum Domini aut quis consiliarius ejus fuit Rom. 11. 34. Alleluia ThrICe bLesseD be JehoVa JesUs aMen The Father and the Son and the holy Ghost holy holy holy Lord God of Sabaoth Alleluia Amen Alleluia without END An Additional Advertisement to § 8. of CHAP. V. NOte here That this poor man Thomas Elder being cured and glorifying God like him that was cured by Christ and examined by the Jews Iohn 9. was brought to Hixe's-Hall and there publickly examined How were your eyes opened how did you see He answered The Holy man of God cured me They like the Jews replyed We know he is not a man of God but rather of the Divel a Papist Priest a Seducer a Witch a Cheater c. and therefore we command thee speak no more of him for if you tell any man that he cured thee we will put thee in prison O potent Command O wise Threatning Put me in prison said he You may indeed imprison my body if you please but you cannot imprison confine or coarct my soul. While I have breath in my body said he I shall openly acknowledg and confess God's admirable Wonders and respect and honour his Servant whom he made an Instrument and Minister of his Mercies unto me c. Ask himself he is alive still Ask his neighbours Ask them at Hixe's-Hall To the King and Parliament HOw long my Liege how long my Lords and Gentlemen how long will you halt in parts If Jesus Christ be God follow him and observe his Commands but if Baal be God follow Baal If the holy Roman Catholick Religion be the true and onely way to salvation be of it But if the Sectarian or heretical Protestant be it remain Sectaries and Hereticks If all the Sectarian and Protestant Bishops and Ministers in England can disprove and falsifie what I say let me suffer what you please But if all what I say be substantially true let the Priests of Baal let the Ministers of Satan let the Enemies of God and of your Souls dye and perish if they will not be converted and live Si veritatem dico quaren on creditis mihi Why would you damne your selves and the whole Nation committed by God to your Charge Operibus credite Exurgat Deus dissipentur inimici ejus fugiant qui oderunt eum à facie ejus Amen A Commemoration for the King Antiphona God save the king and convert his Enemies the Sectaries and Hereticks of England Ireland and Scotland V Lord give thy Judgement to the King R And thy Justice to the King's Son Let us pray O God in whose hand is the Kings heart and who canst turn it as you will grant we beseech thee to our King Charles the Second Holiness in His Head Urim and Thummim in His Breast Booz at His Side and Jachin on His right Hand that He may know and do sweetly and strongly what is pleasing to thee and Good for Himself and His Loyal Subjects through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen IESVS MARIA EASVS VIRGO Iesu Fili Dei vivi miserere nobis Sancta Maria Mater Dei Virgo perpetua ora pro nobis α ω AMEN FINIS