greatnesse after the doctrine and the example of our Saviour should chiefly stand in humbling themselves And that the Bishop of Rome did by intolerable ambition challenge not only to be the head of all the Church dispersed throughout the world but also to be Lord of all kingdoms of the world as is expressely set forth in the book of his own Canon-Lawes He became at once the spoyler and destroyer both of the Church which is the kingdom of our Saviour Christ and of the Christian Empire and all Christian kingdomes as an universal Tyrant over all The particulars of whose actions to that end are there related viz. The Bishop of Rome stirring up subjects to rebell against their Soveraigne Lords even the Son against the Father pronouncing such Schismaticks and persecuting them who resused to acknowledge his above-said challenge of supreme authority over them discharging them from their oath of fidelity made not only to the Emperour but to other Kings and Princes throughout Christendome The most cruell and bloody wars raised amongst Christian Princes of all kingdoms the horrible murder of infinite thousands of Christian men being slain by Christians the losse of so many great Cities Countries Dominions and Kingdomes sometimes possessed by Christians in Asia Affrick and Europe The miserable fall of the Empire and Church of Greece sometime the most flourishing part of Christendom into the hands of the Turks The lamentable diminishing decay and ruine of Christian Religion and all by the practice and procurement of the Bishop of Rome chiefly which is in the Histories and Chronicles written by the Bishop of Rome's own favourites and friends to be seen claiming also to have divers Princes and Kings to their vassals liege men and subjects c. behaving themselves more like Kings and Emperours in all things then remained like Priests Bishops and Ecclesiastical or as they would be called spiritual persons in any one thing at all c. and so concludes with an exhortation of all good subjects knowing those the speciall instruments of the Devill to the stirring up of all Rebellion to avoid and flee them Is not this a full description of the pride of that man of sinne 2 Thess. 2. in exalting himselfe above all Kings and Princes and that son of perdition being understood actively who was the cause of the perdition or losse of so many thousands of Christian mens lives And in the sixth part of the same Sermon you have a more particular relation of the Bishop of Rome's blood-shed accoding to the description of that Harlot Revel 17. 6. in these words viz. And as these ambitioâ—s usurpers the Bishops of Rome have overflowed all Italy and Germany with streams of Christian blood shed by the rebellims of ignorant subjects against their naturall Lords and Emperours whom they have stirred thereunto by false pretences so is there no Countrey in Christendome which by the like means of false pretences hath not been over-sprinkled with the blood of subjects by rebellion against their naturall Soveraigns stirred up by the same Bishops of Rome c. And in conclusion as the Sermon often entitles the Bishops of Rome unsatiable wolfes and their Adherents Romish greedy wolfes so doth it in speciall call the See of Rome the Babylonicall beast in these words viz. The Bishop of Rome understanding the bruit blindnesse ignorance and superstition of the English in King Johns time and how much they were inclined to worship the Babilonical beast of Rome and to fear all his threatnings and causelesse curses he abused them thus c. I have transcribed these the more largely out of the Book of Homilies both that such as have rejected them as Popish may see their errour and those that now so much favour the See of Rome that they call such language railing may have their mouthes stopped being it is from the mouth of the Church of England in her Homilies which is a good warrant for her sons to say after her Let the Reader judge whether these passages do not confirme rather then contradict or be contrary as Doctor Heylene saith to the Articles of Ireland and the Primates judgement of the See of Rome I shall only alledge one passage more and that is in the conclusion of the second part of the Sermon for Whit-sunday viz. Wicked and nought were the Popes and Prelates of Rome for the most part as doth well appear by the story of their lives and therefore worthily accounted among the number of false Prophets and false Christs which deceived the world a long while the Lord defend us from their Tyranny and pride that they may never enter into this Vineyard again but that they may be utterly confounded and put to flight in all parts of the world And he of his great mercy so work that the Gospel of his Son may be truly preached to the beating down of sin death the Pope the Devill and all the kingdome of Antichrist c. This latter passage is only produced by Doctor Heylene as an evidence that the Pope is not declared to be Antichrist either here or any where else in the book of Articles or Homilies which how the force of it can be extended so farre beyond its own sphere both not appeare For his principal argument that he finds here the Pope and Antichrist distinguished as much as the Devil and the Pope 'T is answered The destiuction here is not between the Pope and Antichrist but between him and his Antichristian kingdom for the words are not the Pope the Divell and Antichrist but and all the kingdome of Antichrist That Universality all comprehending both head and members And if we should allow a Duumvirate in the Pope and Devill for the government of that kingdom one as the visible head the other as the invisible or the one him that reigneth the other by whom he receiveth power so to do Rev. 13. 4. both might be thus owned without infringing the title of either Howsoever 't is not the arguings from such niceties in the placing of words which the book of Homilies are not strict in as might be shewed in several instances but the observation of the scope and drist of the place the comparing it with others the concurrance of the judgement of severall eminent Bishops afore-cited who cannot be imagined to declare against the doctrine of it will carry the sense of it accordingly with the judicious and unbiassed Reader and so much for the book of Homilies Unto which I might also adde the opinion of some learned men liveing and dying within the outward communion of the Church of Rome To instance onely in Padrio Paulo who wrote the History of the Councill of Trent After whose stabbing by an Emissarie from Rome many of the Clergy of Venice brake out into that application calling that See Impura insana superba meretrix pestis ac lues mortalium and her ruine to be expected according to Rvelat 18. Some of the verses are printed at the end
Fornication with her In the Greek the Text is so but might as well for the force of the Words and better for the circumstances be rendred of the wine of the heat of her Fornication And so Chapter 14. 8. This seems to be a Declaration of the liquor contained in the golden Cup which she hath in her hand full of â—bominations and unclean Fornications And in this Chapter Verse 23. by thy Sorceries were all Nations deceived by all which is meant that with hot intoxicating love drenches she had besotted the Kings of the Earth to be enamored of her How to declare this of Heathen Rome I cannot well tell unless it were that by benefits favours and shew of honor Kings and Provinces were alured to bear the Romane yoak and conform themselves to Rome but for Papal Rome the matter is more easie for under the pretence of religious Holiness and Spiritual profit the blessing of Almighty God and of the blessed Apostle Saint Peter and Saint Paul Christs Vicar and Saint Peters successor the Keyes of Heaven fulness of Power And the Apostolical Sees Exemptions Dispensaons Pardons Faculties Indulgences Iubilees inlarging of souls out of Purgatory she hath brought all sorts to her love and lure Princes and great men finding how needful her favour is for dispensing with some disadvantagious Oaths or incestuous marriages or a soldering some crackt title to some signory have been in Emulation and jealousie one with another about her love and contented their subjects should flatter her and be seduced by her so as at length she hath brought them to believe at least to make profession that they believe She cannot deceive them though she would never so fain Volens Nolens errare non potest If this cup of Inchantment were not were it likely were it possible that she should perswade Christians to be content not to hear Christs Voice speaking in his Word not to receive the Holy Sacrament of his body and blood whole and intire though he so gave it and the Church for many Ages so kept it Not to pray with understanding in a known tongue not to take the ten Commandements as God pronounced and wrote them twice with his owne finger but as she hath rased and deformed them Not to say Amen to the Lords Prayer in the company with other Christians because she would not allow it were it not for this cup of Errour could she have ever perswaded that she can dissolve the bonds of feâ—lty betwixt Subject and Prince depose and denounce Kings and warrant their Subjects to kill them and had she not first with this cup of Sorcery transformed men into beasts could she have found any that would have adventured to execute these her ungodly and wicked designs Here by the way let me tell you of an old Babylonian trick by which especially the Westerne Babylon hath conveyed this cup of Errour into the hands of all Nations We read in the first of Dâ—niel that Nebuchadnezzar commanded the Master of his Eunuches That he should bring certain of the Kings â—eed and of the Princes Children in whom was no blemish and of able witts to teâ—ch them the Learning and â—ongue of the Chaldeans Thus were Daniel and his fellowes used and had other name and education given them that they might forget their own though Gods special Grace in them went beyond the pâ—llicy of Babylon Such and worse hath been and is the practice of new Babylon in drawing younger Brothers of great houses and good wits to Rome and Romish Colledges and Seminaries some of their names changed makeing them their chiefe instruments of State to mould and frame their own Families and Countreyes to the Romane Doctrine and Obedience Those of the Council of the Samaritanes that resisted the building of the Temple render the reason of their careful advertising the King of his interest viz. that because they were salted with the salt of the Palace it was not meet for them to see the Kings damage how should not they that have had their Education at the new Babylons Charges but in gratitude further her affaires and draw all they may to her Obedience and Devotion And thus much concerning Babylons Cup. It followeth after in process of our Lords speech upbraiding her that she glorifies her selfe and lives in wantonness and pride and saith I sit as a Queen and shall not be a widow nor â—re any sorrow c. It would require a long time to recite the Provâ—rbs and by words only which have been cast up and down concerning the wantonness and uncleanness of Rome since she came to be the seat of the Popes Court and how she hath drawn to her self and spent the wealth of all Nations in this matter I will spare rather your Ears and this place then my own pains for the Boast of sitting as a Queen consider her maximes viz. The Church of Rome is the Mistress and Teacher of all Churches without spot or wrinckle and it is necessarie to salvation to every humane Creature to be under the Bishop of Rome that no man may judge him nor say unto him Domine cut itafacias If any man have a desire to see the vaunts of Rome in this kind let him be pleased to view the image of the Man of â—in exalting himself in the Temple of God as it is drawn by Master Fox in the end of the former Tome of his Acts and Monuments Ecclesiastical out of the Popes own Decrees and Decretals And if any make scruple to look on that Book let him see Bellarmine undertaking that the Pope intending to teach the whole Church can in no case erre in things appertaining to Faith no nor yet the particular Church of Rome that it is probable and pious to believe the Pope cannot become an Hereticke even as a particular Person that he is the judge of Controversies in the Church and his judgement certain and infallible Add to these that the same Bellarmine makes Temporal Felicity one of the notes of the Church One point more rests in the speech of the last Angel concerning Babylon in this Chapter Verse the last That in her was found the bloud of the Prophets and Saints of all that were slain upon the Earth And in the former Chapter Iohn saw the woman drunken with the bloud of Saints and Martyrs of Iesus That Heathen Rome was such there is no doubt And although Bellarmine would draw the Text another way to Ierusalem that this is the great City where the bodies of two witnesses shall lie unburied where also the Lord was Crucified since in the Romane Empire and by a Romane Deputy and to a Romane Death our Lord was put But this doth no less stick by Christian Rome unto this day to be drunken with the bloud of Saints and Martyrs of Iesus Let Histories be turned and an exact account taken how many thousands otherwise good Christians have been slain and massacred merely
Petrarcha An. 1347. in Epist. 18. c. applies the prophesie of the Babilonish harlot to Rome not Heathen but Papal the then Court of Rome in these words Tu es famosa dicam an infamis meretrix fornicata cum Regibus Terrae illa equidem ipsa es quam in spiritu sacer vidit Evangelista illa eadem inquam es non alia sedens super aquas multas i. e. Thou art the famous should I say or infamous harlot which hast committed fornication with the Kings of the Earth thou art the very same which in the spirit the holy Evangelist saw i. e. Iohn thou art I say the same and not another sittingupon many waters c. Besides throughout these ages from the year 1100. how many were there of those whom the See of Rome called Waldenses whom Reynerus confessethto have filled France Spaine Italy and most of those Western parts they with one mouth declared accordingly thousands of them suffering death by that See upon that account whom we find then in most points consenting with us and declaring against most of the errours of the Church of Rome being guiltlesse of those scandals put upon them by Sanders Cocciâ—s and specially F. Parsons which are fully cleared by the late Arch-Bishop of Armagh in his book de Eccles. Christi Success statu p. 159. even by the testimony of their own Authours their witness agreeing not together For Iohn Wickleiffe our Countryman one of great learning and piety 't is known sufficiently to have bin his judgment and declaration as those succeeding him Iohannes Purveius Iohn Hus Savanorola and divers others long before Luthers time after which it was more generally received in the reformed Churches and the most learned men of each whom time would fail me so much as to name Only as we have given you the votes of our own country-man and others while they lived under the tyranny of the Bishop of Rome so let me adde the votes of the most eminent of our English Bishops since the withdrawing our selves from him that it may the rather appear that the judgement of the Primate concurres with the rest of his brethren before him Bishop Iewell that learned Bishop of Sarisbury in his Exposition of the second Epistle to the Thessalonians cap. 2. is very large in the application of the whole prophesie to the See of Rome as that of the vision of Saint Iohn concerning Babylon p. 373. c. Concludes that Antichrist shall not be a Iew but a Christian not a King but a Bishop and a holy Father and should weare a Mitre For on whom saith he should an Army of Priests attend as Gregory the great a Bishop of Rome prophesied of Antichrist but upon a Bishop and an universal Bishop at least one so claiming that universality see his recollection of the whole pag. 319. wondring any man should doubt of it 't is so apparent And what he saith p. 279. viz. that he knew what he should speak would be ill taken of many such affection they bear to him whom the Apostle deciphers to be Antichrist though I shall say nothing but what the holy scriptures and learned writings of the Fathers have left unto us and which the Church of God hath at this time proved to be true will be found I fear also in many of this age whose inclinations are too much declared in the defence of that See in this particular Bishop Abbot one of his successours Bishop of Sarisbury in that book of his called Antichristi demonstratio which were his Lectures at Oxford is as full also Wherein at his entrance having spoken of the name of Antichrist and given some descriptiption of him he addes these words All which are most fitly to be applied to him whom with Gods assistance we shall demonstrate to be the very Antichrist I say the Bishop of Rome who arrogates unto himself to be the head of the Church of Christ and his Vicegerent c. and p. 92. wonders at the blindness of men like Owls at noon day not to see it accordingly Arch-bishop Whitgift in his defence of the Answer to the Admonition often applies the Title of Antichrist to the Bishop of Rome as a thing taken for granted See Tract 8. p. 349. where having spoken much of him before he thus concludes I know that those Sects and Heresies gave strength unto Antichrist and at the length were one speciall meanes of placing him in his throne even as also I am perswaded that he worketh as effectually at this day by your stirres and contentions whereby he hath and will more prevail against this Church of England then by any other means whatsoever Therfore it behoveth you to take heed how you divide the Army of Christ which should unanimitèr fight against that Antichrist That he means the See of Rome none can doubt Whosoever shall read Bishop Andrews his Tortura Torti cannot but conceive his judgement to be the same Where he hath many of the observations which have been mentioned already from the situation on seven hills and the 7 head governments And p. 183. upon the grant on both sides that Babylon is Rome he states the question for the time and resolves it cannot be Rome Ethnick for then it had been no prophesie it being at that time a persecutor of the Christians and a shedder of the blood of the Saints which Saint John then had the experience of himself with divers other arguments from her inchantments manner of destruction making merchandize of soules the persons which shall burn her which could not agree to Heathen Rome Adding to be the same beast which hath horns like the lamb sits in the Temple or Church of God exalts himself above all that is called God one that was not in being in Saint Johns time pretendeth to to the working of miracles and so concludes that though Rome Christian may not go into perdition yet Rome Antichristian shall which hath been drunk with the blood of the Saints and the Martyrs of Iesus c. Bishop Bilson on in his book of the difference between Christian subjection and unchristian Rebellion delivers his judgement often accordingly as a matter out of controversie affirming the Tyranny of Rome to be the power of darknesse and kingdom of Antichrist applying the pride of the Papacie to that of the man of sin exalting himself in the Temple of God 2 Thessal 2. It was saith he the ancient device and drift of Antichrist to make himself mighty when it was first attempted by Hildebrand Greg. 7. and now coloured by the Papists with the name of Religion p. 527. 817. c. Bishop Hall that elegant and pious Bishop of Norwich hath much to this purpose dispersed throuh his works No peace with Rome Sect. 1. Look on the face of the Roman Church she is Gods and ours look on the back she is quite contrary Antichristian Sect. 22. shall we ever grow to that height of madnesse
as to come from the Standard of God to the tents of the Roman Antichrist The heavens shall passe away by a change Rome by a destruction not a change The Honour of the married Clergy Were it not for this opinion i. e. the forbidding it the Church of Rome would want one evident brand of her Antichristianisme Sect. 15. Speaking of a Popish Priest Well doth it become the son of that Babylonish strumpet the lips drenched in the cup of those fornications c. and abundance of the like might be produced Bishop Downham the learned Bishop of Derry in Ireland from whose mouth I have heard sufficiently that way in his book entituled Papa Antichristus is the most large of any we have yet named dividing his discourse into the description of the place and person and the designation of the time out of the 2 Thess. 2. and Revelat. 17. and all directly applyed by him to the See of Rome Bishop Morton that famous and Reverend Bishop of Durham coetaneous with the former and yet living hath much of this in divers parts of his works Bishop Davenant the eminent Bishop of Sarisbury and professor of Divinity at Cambridge hath often declared his judgement accordingly in his Determinations pag. 24. Pontifex Maximus Antichristianam suam superbiam c. audacia plusquam Antichristianâ c. Vniversalem Papae jurisdictionem in totam Ecclesiam non esse jure divino sed usurpatione Antichristiana Bishop Prideaux in his Lectures saith the like often specially in that de Antichristo that he cannot be the Turk but the Pope c Unto which Bishops might be added the votes of many other learned orthodox and Episcopall men whose judgements have been declared accordingly As that learned Professor of Divinity Doctor Samuel Ward in his Lectures and Determinations at Cambridge lately printed specially in those three questions Romana Ecclesia est Idololatrica Apostasia à Paulo praedicta est adimpleta Romana Ecclesia est schismatica i. e. 1. The Roman Church is Idolatrous 2. The Apostasie foretold by Saint Paul is fulfilled 3. The Roman Church is schismaticall Thus concluding in relation to the See of Rome Haec scilicet est illa Babylon quae in corde suo dicit sedeo regina sola sum non est praeter me i. e. This is that Babylon which saith in her heart I sit as a Queen I am only there is none besides me And who knowes not till of later yeares how both the Vniversities in their publick disputations and determinations abounded in their conclusions accordingly I shall only adde the judgement of that meek and judicious man Mr. Hooker see his Treatise of Justification Sect. 10. God hath spoken by his Angel from heaven to his people concerning Babylon by Babylon we understand the Church of Rome Go out of her my people that ye be not partaker of her plagues he expounds the going out of her to be specially meant out of Popish superstitions and heresies calling the maintainers of them Popish Hereticks and by plagues not only temporal but eternal Sect. 20. compares the Pope to Ieroboam Rome to Samaria that played the Harlot c. Sect. 27. speaking of the Bishop of Rome and the Church of Rome addes this As Frenzy though it take away the use of reason doth notwithstanding prove them reasonable creatures which have it because none can be frantick but they so Antichristianity being the bane and plain overthrow of Christianity may nevertheless argue the Church wherein Antichrist sitteth to be christian Sect 57. God did in all ages keep his elect from worshipping the Beast and from receiving his mark in their foreheads he hath and will preserve them from receiving any deadly wound at the hands of the man of sin whose deceit hath prevailed over none unto death but only such as never loved the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thessal 2 Sect. 35. speaking of Christs mercy to the worst of men upon their repentance saith thus if a Pope stripped of usurped power Antichrist converted penitent and lying prostrate at the foot of Christ c. shall I think Christ will spurn at him In his Sermon on Saint Iude Sect. 14. He calls the Pope the man of sin and son of perdition who hath fawned upon the Kings and Princes of the earth and by spiritual cousenage proclaiming sale of Pardons c. hath taken the children of the Noblest families and made them his Cardinals built Seminaries and hereby as at this day the man of sin warres against us c. with the cup of whose deadly abominations this Ierobâ—am of whom we speak hath made the earth so drunk that it hath reeled under us c. Now of whom the Prophet speaketh this whether of the Bishop of Rome or some other man needs no further resolution and so much for Mr. Hooker And whether or no those of the Remonstrants are of a contrary judgement which some call the Arminian party 't is apparent Arminius himself consented with the aforesaid Bishops and Authours in his 31. Theol. disput intituled Of the Bishop of Rome and of the chief Titles which are attributed unto him Wherein after the rejection of the title given unto him by his favourites as blasphemous and asserting his deserts of others viz. the false Prophet Revel 19. 20. cap. 16. 23. cap. 12. 14. Which did wonders before the beast out of whose mouth three impure spirits came forth The overthrower and destroyer of the Church in matters of faith and worship and raising of divisions between Princes and their subjects S. 12. he asserts the name of Autichrist most evidently to belong unto him for the Apostle gives it unto him 2 Thessal 2. 3 4 5 6 7 8. where he there calls him the man of siu the son of perdition that opposeth and exalts himself above or against all that is called God or worship sitting in the Temple of God and saying he is God who upon the fall of the Roman Empire should rise up in his stead and take his vacant dignity That these saith he are to be understood of the Bishop of Rome and are to be understood of him only we do affirm And for the name of Antichrist that most specially 't is appliable to him whether 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be understood by way of opposition to Christ a pretended substitution or a subordination in his stead c. Sect. 13. He hath made use of all sorts of instruments hypocrisies lies equivocations treacheries perjuries poison force and armes that he may well be said to have succeeded that beast like to a Leopard a Beare and a Lion Revel 13. 2. by which the Roman Empire is signified whose Image he bare and brought it to passe whosoever would not worship the image of the beast should be put to death c. and concludes with a prayer that God would grant that the Church might be delivered from the fraud and tyranny of Antichrist And so much for
the judgement of Arminius Now that the Divines of the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas do generally accord also in it need not to be inserted being sufficiently known such as Daneus Franciscus-Iunius Tilenus Morneus Viguierus Rivetus Chamerus etc. The Reformed Church of France have made it one of their Articles in their confession as â—e may find in Chamier Paustrat Cathol Tom. 2. lib. 16. de Antichristo cap. 1. where he gives you the words of the 31 Article conceived in Synodo Papinsensi owned by him to be the confession of the reformed Churches in France in these words following Whereas the Bishop of Rome having erected to himself a Monarchy over the Christian world doth usurp a Dominion over all Churches and Pastors and hath rose to such a height of pride as to call himself God will be adored and all power to be given him in heaven and earth disposeth of all Ecclesiastical things defines Articles of Faith saith the authority of the Scripture and the interpretation of it to be from him maketh Merchandize of soules dispenseth with vowes and oathes institutes new worships of God As also in civil affaires treads upon the lawful authority of the Magistrate in giving taking away translating of Empires We do believe and assert him to be the very proper Antichrist son of perdition foretold in the word of God the scarlet harlot sitting on seven mountains in the great city which hath obtained a rule over the Kings of the earth and we do expect when the Lord according to his promise and as he hath begun will destroy him with the spirit of his mouth and at length abolish with the brightnesse of his coming And Maresius in his preface to the Answer of Hugo Grotius his Observations upon the 2 Thes. 2. and other places gives us the like Article agreed upon in Synodo Nationali Gapensi Anno 1604. which hath very little or no difference from the former and so needlesse to be repeated Which do fully agree with the Synod of Ireland by by the Arch-bishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergy there in the Convocation holden at Dublin 1615. num 80. viz. The Bishop of Rome is so farre from being the supreme head of the Vniversal Church of Christ that his works and doctrine do plainly discovar him to be the man of sin foretold in holy Scripture whom the Lord shall consnme with the spirit of his mouth and abolish with the brightnesse of his coming The former Synod may possibly be undervalued with some by bearing the name of Presbyterian but seeing it consents with the latter which was Episcopal why may it not be an introduction to a further moderation betweene them in other matters And it stands but with justice that if Presbytery have had a hand in the match of Episcopacy with Popery which seems to have been without consent of parties it should upon this evidence be the more forward in assisting in the divorce Now in regard that above-said Article of the Church of Ireland confirmed by the judgement of the late Primate hath been objected against by Doctor Heylene for that as he saith there is no such doctrine in the book of Articles nor in any publick monument or record of the Church of England but the contrary rather â— shall cite some passages out of the book of Homilies which are approved by the book of Articles as a larger declaration of the Doctrine of the Church of England and leave it to the Readers judgment In the third part of the Sermon of good works speaking against the Popish singing of Trentals and the superstitious Orders in the Church of Rome introduced to serve the Papacy these words are as followeth viz. Honour be to God who did put light in the heart of King Henry the eighth to put away all such superstitions and Pharisaical Sects by Antichrist invented c. which can be meant of no other but the See of Rome by the words not long after viz. Let us rehearse some other kinds of Papistical superstitions c. In the second part of the Sermon of salvation speaking against the Popish opinion of justification by works these words are as followeth Iustification is not the office of man but of God for man cannot make himself righteous by his own works neither in part nor in the whole for that were the greatest arrogancy and presumption of man that Antichrist could set up against God etc. and so accounts it not the doctrine of a Christian that sets forth Christs glory but of him that is an adversary to Christ and his Gospel and a setter forth of mans vain-glory c. And that passage in the third part of the Sermon against the perill of Idolatry p. 69. I leave to the Readers judgement if the sense can be understood otherwise then of the See of Rome in these words following viz. Now concerning popish excessive decking of Images and Idols with painting gilding adorning with pretious vestures pearles and stones what is it else but for the further provocation and inticement to spiritual fornication which the Idolatrous Church understandeth well enough For she being indeed not only an harlot as the Scripture calls her but also a foule filthy old harlot for she is indeed of ancient yeares and understanding her lack of nature and true beauty and great lothsomnesse which of her self she hath she doth after the custome of such harlots paint her self and deck and tire her self with gold pearle stone and all kind of pretious jewels that she shining with the outward beauty and glory of them may please the foolish fantasie of fond lovers and so entice them to spiritual fornication with her Who if they saw her I will not say naked but in simple apparel would abhorre her as the foulest and filthiest harlot that ever was seen According as appeareth by the description of the garnishing of the great strumpet of all strumpets the Mother of whoredomes set forth by Saint Iohn in his Revelation Apoc. 17. who by her glory provoked the Princes of the earth to commit whoredome with her c and it followeth pag. 77. And it is not enough to deck Idols but at the last come in the Priests themselves likewise decked with gold and pearle and with a solemn pace they pass forth before these golden puppets and fall down to the ground on their marrow-bones before the sehonourable Idols and then rising up again offer up odours and incense to them c. He that reads the whole cannot judge of it to be meant otherwise then of the Papacy And if the fifth and sixth part of the Sermon against wilful rebellion be viewed there will be found such a large narration of the pride and ambition of the Bishop of Rome that there will not need any further help to an application of that 2 Thes. 2. to him which thus beginneth viz. After that ambition and desire of dominion entred once into Ecclesiastical Ministers whose
of the Interdict writ by Padrio Paulo and translated out of Italian into Latin by Bishop Bedell who was often an ear-witnsse when he lived in those parts of divers learned men producing that of 2 Thes. 2. the man of sin who exalts himself above all c. and shall sit in the â—emple of God c. both as an argument that the Bishop of Rome is the person sitting and that those who are oppressed and tyrannised over by him are the Church of God and from thence rejecting any application to Mahumet and fixing it upon the Bishop of Rome some questioning Is it he or shall we look for another others saying as the Jewes of the blind man This is one very like him but many This is he which puts me in mind of the confident assertion of Cardinal Perron who affirms that whosoever maintaineth this wicked doctrine that Popes have no power to put Kings by their supreme thrones they teach men to beleeve that there hath not been any Church for many ages past and that indeed the Church is the very Synagogue of Antichrist and the Pope in good consequence to be the Antichrist which Oration the Cardinal himselfe addressed to King Iames upon a supposition it might have converted him See King Iames Preface to the defence of the right of Kings Now whereas both sides as you have heard are agreed upon the place to be Rome which checks the phansie of such as would apply it to Constantinople or to persons that never were at either I shall only confirm it out of one of the Popish Writers who hath quoted most of the rest to save the Reader any farther labour if he hath a mind to satisfie himself in it 't is Tyrinus the Jesuit in his Commentary upon the 17. Revelat. Where comparing the vision of the beast with 7 heads and 10 hornes cap. 13. with that of the 17. and granting it to be meant of the same like Pharaoh's dreames the seven eares of corne and the seven kine were both one then for the vision there he saith by the great harlot whose Mystical name is Babylon cannot possibly be meant of any other then Rome 't is plain saith he she sits upon seven Mountains and raigns over the Kings of the earth which can agree to no other city besides And urgeth that place of Saint Peter 2 Peter 5. 13. the Church which is at Babylon salutes you to be meant of Rome for as Bishop Andrewes observes rather then Peter should not be at Rome which they have slender or no proofes for out of Scripture but yet is of great consequence to the Papacy they will confesse it to be Babylon And though 2 Thes. 2. he saith the Temple of God where the man of sinne sits is Ierusalem yet here his seat of Babylon must be Rome Produceth the expresse Testimonies of the Fathers for it Lactantius Tertullian Ierome Ambrose Augustine c. and saith he even our hereticks meaning the Protestant Writers for after the same way he calls heresie so worship we the God of our Fathers and in conclusion produceth most of his own associates the Writers of the Church of Rome Sixtus Senensis Bellarmine Bozius Zuarez Salmeran Alcazar unto which I may adde Baronius 'T is most certaine saith he by the name of Babylon the City of Rome is signified Ribera in his Commentary upon it saith the same adding also all things fitly agree to it and somewhat that can be applied to no other then Rome as The seven heads are seven hills and The City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth Viegus saith We conceive wheresover Babylon is mentioned in the Revelation it signifies Rome and all things in the 17. and 18. Revel very fitly appliable to it According to that of Bellarmine formerly quoted and Lessius who saith Iohn calls Rome Babylon as being the figure of Rome and by his words he elearly sheweth it to be Rome All which may well give a check to the Novelty of some among our selves who without the ballast of sound or sollid judgement have been carried about with the winds of other imaginations which yet I could easily believe some Popish Agents upon second thoughts have had their hands in to get it driven off the further from their shore Though how farre not-withstanding our aforesaid Writers and these are from an agreement in the above-said hath been made apparant in the two former Treatises viz. Those of the Popish Writers would have it Rome while it was Heathen and the fall to be with the Hearhen Empire and ours Rome since it became Christian and the fall yet to come Those of ours who in defence of our Ordination from the scandal of Antichristian by its passing through the See of Rome have endeavoured to take off that See from being such in the aforementioned places as it was a needlesse refuge so the cure is worse then the disease And those who have with the Popish Writers yeelded the man of sin and the son of perdition by that manner of expression to be meant of a single person were not forced to it for it may notwithstanding be meant of a successive race of men in one place and government non de unitate individui sed speciei according to the like instance in Scripture Esa. 23. 15. Tyre shall be forgotten 70 years according to the days of one King i. e. of one Kingdom viz. The Empire of the Caldeans which after Nebuchadnezar and his successors Evelmerodach andâ— Belshazar was given to the Medes and Persiaus and Dan. 7. 17. the 4 beasts are 4 Kings i. e. the four successive Empires the Chaldean Persian Grecian Roman as the seven Kings do accordingly Rev. 17. signify seven succeâ—â—ive governments and so the man of sin may be meant accordingly not of a particular man but of a race of men succeeding in that Tyranny as when they say the Pope is the Head of the Church they do not limit it to this or that particular Pope but mean it of the continued succession from S. Peter Neither is the Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of any more force for the limitation of it to one man there 2 Thes. 2. then it is in Luk. 4. 4. Man lives not by bread only or Mark 2. 27. The Sabbath was not made for man both includeing all mankind or 2 Tim. 3. ult That the man of God may be perfect c. which is not confined to one but takes in all the Ministery For which or any thing else concerning this controversie which I shall not enter into I shall referre the Reader to Bishop Downham Bishop Iewel Bishop Abbot with others from whom he may receive full satisfaction Only thus much in confirmation of the Iudgement of those two Reverend and eminent Bishops a Vindication of it from the aspersion of singularity and novelty THE Late Arch-Bishop of ARMAGH'S judgement of the sense of that place Heb. 6.
the Lord sanctify themselves Chap. 24. 5. called young men of the Children of Israel sent of Moses who offered the burnt offerings and sacrifice unto the Lord and this is usually interpreted to be the First-borne and that of the principall of the families instead of which the Levites were afterward taken see Numb 3. 12. And what a setled Priesthood there was in Moses and Solomons time to the Captivity and after it upon their return who knows not see Mal. 2. A speech to the Priests and for that five hundred-yeer gap betwixt the Old Testament and the New when the Prophets ceased yet a Priesthood continued that the service of God then was not to put to the charity of Passengers as beggars are by the high way but some were appropriated to it Ieroboam that forsook the Temple yet retained a Priesthood though of his own corrupt appointment Obâ—ect That of the Law was a Priesthood but we speak of a Ministery Resp. 1. We stand not upon words or Titles neither doth the Apostle for as 2 Cor. 3. 7 8 9. he calls the Priests of the Law Ministers and their office a Ministration so he implies that the Ministers of the Gospel might have that Title of Priests 1 Cor. 9. 13. by taking his Argument for their maintenance from the Priests Altar and Temple as they that serve at the Altar partake of the Altar even so hath God ordained that those that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel and the name hath only grown ignominious by the Church of Rome's retaining it whom if by way of distinction they had been called by us sacrificers as Bishop Downham observes there had been no offence in it All that read the Fathers know it is the term used by them whose Tractates of the Ministery are intituled De Sacerdotio And the Apostle makes it only a change of the Priesthood Hebr. 7. 12. not a nulling of it upon which change of a ministration none presumed of themselves to officiate without an Ordination Iohn Baptist who was the preparative voice of the Gospel was ordained to it and his disciples were set apart by him our Saviour did the like in ordaining first Twelve for preaching and baptizing and then 72 after them when one of the twelve was lost no other stepped into his place without a solemne choice of him Paul and Barnabas Acts 14. 23. wheresoever they came and converted any nation were carefull of ordaining Successors Saint Paul as his last gives that charge to Timothy and Titus after him and in all Ages of the Church from the Primitive times both in the Greek and Latine Church it hath been observed to this day successively So that for such as would have no such office of a Ministery by ordination but all men left to themselves to officiate at their pleasure we may say with the Apostle 1 Cor. 11. 16. We have had no such custome neither the Churches of God or as Eliphaz to Iob cap. 5. 1. call now if there be any will answer thee and to which of the Saints wilt thou turn where is there any such President in all the reformed Churches The Israelites would have a King as all other nations These are upon the contrary singularity 'T is true the New Ierusalem Revel 21. 22. meant heaven is found without a Temple and a Priest because Christ shall then give up his kingdome to his Father 1 Cor. 15. i. e. the manner of this present government by the Scepter of his word and Seale of Sacraments and then God shall be all in all but till then a setled Ministery must be continued Secondly if no successive ordained Ministery why doth Saint Paul spend so much time in exhorting to a future provision for them 1 Cor. 9. Gal. 6. 6. 1 Tim. 5. 17. can we think it was only for himself and such then living who expected Martyrdome weekly why such large directions for the qualification of such as were to be ordained by his Successors in his Epistles to Timothy and Titus surely it was written for our instruction now Thirdly consider what conclusion must be the issue of the contrary our Saviour pitied the people when they were like Sheep without a Shepherd That which is every mans work is no bodies As in reason the office of the Ministery must be weakly and negligently done when no persons are appointed to make it their study and sabour fo when gaps are thus opened for any person may not Iesuits and such lik Agents creep in under other forms and privily bring in damnable heresies to the seducing of the hearers I am loth to imagine that this should be at the bottome of this assertion that so with the more specious pretext they might take away the maintenance as indeed one must follow the other for if there be no need of a setled ordained Ministery what use of a setled meanes alotted for it If any shall stumble at that speech often in the mouthes of some Isa. 54. 13. All thy children shall be taught of the Lord he may be satisfied by this double Answer 1. It was fulfilled in that time of our Lord and Saviour teaching them immediately by himself which he expounds accordingly Iohn 6. 45. It is written in the Prophets they shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath learned of the Father cometh unto me c. 2. The Lord is said to teach when he doth it by a Ministery sent by him according to that of Ierem. 3. 15. I will give you Pastors after my own heart that shall feed you with knowledge and understanding c. fulfilled under the Gospel And we grant that though the proposal of the doctrine is by the Minister yet the illumination of the mind and the rectifying of the heart through it is from God Object If that of Saint Peter 1 Eph. 4. 10. he objected As every man hath received the gift so let him minister the same as good Stewards of the manifold grace of God Answ. I conceive it is not meant the gift of preaching but of Almes The words immediately before are these Vse hospitality one to another without grudging there is the manner and then in these words As every one hath received the gift so let him minister is implyed the measure of it agreeing with that of Saint Pauls injunction 1 Cor. 16. 2. Let every one lay by him to that end as God had prospered him c. That these temporal things are the gift of God the fourth Petition of the Lords Prayer shewes sufficiently And that collections of these and giving them to the poor is called a ministring to the Saints See 2 Cor. 8. 4. cap. 9. 1. and stiled grace cap. 8. 19. and what other sense can there be of that cap. 9. 8. God is able to make all grace abound but of temporall blessings as the next words shew to multiply your seed sowen and minister bread for your food V. 10. and they may be called the
CERTAIN DISCOURSES Viz. Of BABYLON Rev. 18. 4. being the present See of Rome With a Sermon of Bishop BEDELS upon the same words Of laying on of hands Heb. 6. 2. to be an ordained Ministery Of the old Form of words in Ordination Of a Set Form of PRAYER Each being the JUDGMENT of the late Arch-Bishop of ARMAGH and Primate of IRELAND Published and enlarged by Nicholas Bernard D. D. and Preacher to the Honourable Society of Grayes-Inne London Unto which is added a Character of Bishop BEDEL And an Answer to Mr. Pierces Fifth Letter concerning the late PRIMATE London Printed for Iohn Crook at the Signe of the Ship in St. Pauls Church-yard 1659. TO THE Right Worshipfull Sir WILLIAM ELLIS BARONET His HIGHNES Sollicitor GENERALL The Readers and Benchers With the Ancients Barresters and Students Of the Honourable Society of Graies-Inne YEe are thus intituled to these Treatises The occasion of publishing the First was a Sermon preached by the late Arch-Bishop of ARMAGH in your Chappell of the same subject Nov. 5. 1654. who out of his old love to this society whereof he was a member intended it as his last the request then made to him for the permission of printing that he did satisfy in his consent to the publishing of this For the other some parts of them have been long agone preached before you by the Authour though now in another manner enlarged which as a testimony of his due observance and respect to this Honourable Society he desires may be accepted from him who is Yours in the service of Christ N. BERNARD Grayes-Inne Octob. 27. 1658. To the Reader HOw Popery and Prelacy came first to be contracted is not my enquiry but sure I am they are here very far a sunder such as do apply that of Babylon Rev. 17. and the Man of sin 2 Thes. 2. to the Pope can hardly be accounted Popish which you find affirmed by the late Archbishop of Armagh and Bishop Bedell in their discussing of the same words And who are supported in if by the most Eminent Bishops of England and Ireland since the Reformation Archbishop Whitgift Bishop Jewell Abbot Bilson Andrews Downham Morton Hall Davenant Prideaux with others who have unanimously given their votes the same way as is hereafter shewn And indeed it could not be otherwise expected from some of them who had been taught to put him into their Letany From the Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable enormities Good Lord deliver us So that if any of later years professing themselves to be the sons of those old Prophets have so far favoured the See of Rome as to divert the stream of that application some other way it appears they have in it degenerated from their Ancestors The first Treatise being the Primates three positions concerning Babylon was wrot above 40 years agone which appears by the places of Scripture rendred according to the old Translation and sent to an Irish Jesuit in Dublin as I take it Christophorus à sacro bosco there called F. Halywood the summe of which having been delivered by the Primate in a Sermon which he preached at Grays-Inne Nov. 5. 1654. and being much desired by some of the Auditours to be published he did condescend to permit this with that other Letter following in their satisfaction The learned Sermon of Bishop Bedels being of the same subject I heard him preach it in Christ-Church Dublin 1634. before the Lord Deputy and Parliament The occasion of his giving a copy of it was at the request of a Papist to have shewen it to some learned men of his own Religion and my opportunity to have it was the near relation I had to him for divers years in that See which after these 22 yeares lying latent with me I have taken this fit occasion to publish it That which I have added is by way of confirmation from some grounds out of Ancient Fathers the successive votes both of the learned Writers in those ages who lived under the Tyranny of the See of Rome as of our eminent Bishops and Writers since that yoke was cast off in England with the concurrence of our book of Homilies severall Synods of our own and other reformed Churches the determination of the Dutch and French Divines It being very observable that whatsoever differences there are in the reformed Churches in other matters yet there is a marvellous unity in this To which is added the like judgement of Arminius and some of the Church of Rome continuing at least in that communion who professe it out-right others by way of consequence Their chief Writers who meet us halfe way granting the place only disputing the time contending as much as we that Babylon Rev. 17. must be meant Rome the difference between us whether Ethnick or Papall For that of the Primates judgement seconded by some eminent Writers what is meant Heb 6. 2. by laying on of hands and of the sense of the old form of words in Ordination viz. Receive the holy Ghost whose sins thou forgivest c. and the use of them to be continued I had leave from himself for the manifesting and enlarging of it And I suppose the last subject concerning a Set Form of Prayer will passe with the lesse opposition by the concurring of divers eminent and worthy Persons whom the contrary-minded cannot but highly esteem of Having both in the former and this taken up Saint Pauls manner of arguing with the Athenians as certain also of your own have said c. or as elsewhere one of themselves even a Prophet of their own c. And surely the Primates appearing so much against the See of Rome in the first cannot but be a preparative to the hearkning unto him the rather in the two later For my self I have no other design in the whole but the peace and unity of the Church which we are all bound to seek and without which end and aim all gifts whatsoever coveted by us are of no value and I hope to have that interpretation from such as are so affected Two things which have been enlarged by way of Vindication of the Eminent Primate from the injuries of Doctor Heylene came so in my way that I could not passe them which else by his being in the esteem of men so far above his reach there had been no need of He having in those and divers other aspersions which he hath cast upon him in his late book which may hereafter be fully cleared done himselfe the chiefest wrong I commend the whole to the Readers charitable and impartiall censure that no prejudicate opinion doe obstruct his right apprehension THE CONTENTS Of the Severall TREATISES The First consists of three POSITIONS 1. THat a great City called Babylon shall be a Seducer 2. That by this City is meant ROME 3. Not Heathen Rome but since it was freed from the Government both of Heathen and Christian Emperours and became the possession
of the Pope The Second How the Papacy may be said to be the Beast that was and is not and yet is Rev. 17. 18. The Third being Bishop Bedels Sermon on Rev. 18. 4. Come out of her my people c. The Speaker our Saviour Christ His people those within the Covenant of Grace A paralleling the Speeches here with those of the Prophets Of Litterall Babell who meant by Mysticall Babylon The judgement of Bellarmine Salmeron Viegas to be the City of Rome How the title of Babylon the great and her reigning over the Kings of the earth rather agrees to Rome Papal then Heathen The Cup of inchantment whereby she hath deceived all Nations and one in speciall in imitation of literall Babell Dan. 1. applyed to that See Her Wantonnesse Pride sitting as a Queen glorifying her self the blood of Christians shed by the Papacy to be beyond that of Heathen Romes persecution his conclusion from the Premises That there are some of Gods people in Babylon That they are to goe out not only in affection but the place also Of Baptisme Grounds of the Catechisme Faith taught there of the doctrine of of merits What is to be thought of those that doe yet live there and cannot come out Whether the Church of Rome be a true Church rightly stated p. 83. Of the Ordination had there by the use of these words Whose sins ye remit c. That the Papall Monarchy is Babylon proved by arguments at the barre of Reason and from common principles of Christianity p. 89. Answer to that motive of staying in Babylon because they are told they may be saved in it An exhortation of such as are yet in that captivity to come out and of our selves to come further out Of Impropriations Dispensations c. with a conclusive prayer for the destruction of Babylon The Fourth A Confirmation of the abovesaid judgment From some grounds out of the Ancient Fathers consenting in an expectation that Rome must be the place and the successor of the Emperour there the Person A clear application of it to the See of Rome by the Fathers and Writers in successive ages before and after the tenth Century The Judgment of the eminent Bishops of England since the reformation the book of Homilies especially in 2 places calling the Pope Antichrist and the Babylonical beast of Rome A Synod in France as Ireland How far confessed by the prime writers of the Church of Rome The mistake of such as have diverted the application of it some other way an Answer of a passage of Doctor Heylenes concerning it in relation to the Primate and Articles of Ireland The Fifth Of laying on of Hands Heb. 6. 2. Reasons why not confirmation but ordination Paraeus and Mr. Cartwrights concurrence in it with the Primate The necessity of an ordained Ministry The neglect of it as undermining the foundation Objections answered with a seasonable application to the present times The necessity of an external call The Authority not from the People That objection against our ordination being derived from Rome at large answered p. 218. That personal faults in the ordainers doth not null the ordination Some application The 6. Of the old form of words in Ordination Receive the Holy Ghost not meant of the sanctifying grace of the spirit nor extraordinary gifts of it but of ghostly or spirituall Ministeriall authority 1 Cor. 3. verse 3. 6. and 1 Iohn 2. 20. The anointing teacheth you c. illustrated An objection out of S. Augustine answered Whose sins thou forgivest c. In what sense Ministers are said to forgive sins The Primates judgement in his answer to the Iesuits Challenge defended to be according to the doctrine of the Church of England which Doctor Heylene hath scandalized him in it The 7th Of a Set Form of Prayer The judgment of Calvine Dutch and French divines with their Practice Examples out of the Old Testament and New The pattern of our Saviour giving a form to his disciples taking one to himself and observing the set forms made by others That objection of Stinting the spirit answered An Vniformity in publique prayer a means of reducing unity in Church and State The full concurrence of Mr. Rogers Mr. Egerton Dr. Gouge Mr. Hildersham Dr. Sibbs Dr. Preston c. Of the length and gesture in prayer Mr. Hildersham of an outward reverence in the publick A Character of Bishop Bedell his industry at Venice and at home humility moderation government and sufferings An answer to Mr. Thomas Pierces fifth Letter wherein three Certificates have been published by him for the justification of a change of judgement in the late Primate of Ireland in some points ERRATA SOme omissions of Accents Poâ—nting and number of pages the intelligent Reader may correct himself Page 39. l. 2. r. professed p. 40. l. 8. r. â—o-ammi p. 44. l. 18. r. irâ— p. 45. Lo. for there t is related that p. 46. l. 15. d. and p. 48. l. 8. circun p. 49. l. 6. ly p. 63. l. 〈◊〉 d. â— p. 59. l. 11. although p. 60. l. 4. her p. 63. l. 1. As gods l. 21. disâ— p. 64. l. 22. they they p. 70. l. 10. val p. 82. l. 20. d. 〈◊〉 p. 92. l. 6. may p. 160. l. 23. p. 161. l. 11. Padre p. 162. mar l. 8. justif p. 185. l. 2. baptizing p. 189. l. 2 -mining p. 198. l. 6. of the p. 248. l. 22. mediatly p. 250. l. 22. a. p 278. l. 12 there p. 317. l. 8. Wethersfield p. 322. l. 18. prayer p. 329. lâ— 21. and Mr. p. 362. l. 12. d. following p. â—78 l. ult d. which The judgement of the late Arch-bishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland what is understood by Babylon in Apoc. 17. 18. Apoc. 18. v. 4. Go out from her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and receive not of her plagues IN these words we are straightly enjoyned upon our peril to make a separation from Babylon For the understanding of which charge these three Positions following are to be considered The first Position THat it is plainly foretold in the the Word of God that after the planting of the Faith by the Apostles the Kings and Inhabitants of the earth should be seduced and drawn into damnable errours and that the mother of all these Abominations of the Earth should be a certain great City called Babylon in a Mysterie Proof THis we finde directly laid down in the Revelation that a great Citie called in a mystery Babylon should become the mother of the spiritual whoredome and abominations of the earth so that the Kings of the earth should commit fornication with her and the Iâ—habitants of the earth should be made drunke with the wine of her fornication The second Position THat by this great City Babylon the Mother of all the abominations of the earth is understood Rome Proof 1. BY the clear Testimony of Scripture in the seventeen Chapter of the Revelation where
this City is described unto us First by the situation that it is seated upon seven Hills v. 9. 18. and then by the largeness of the Dominion thereof That it is that great Citie that ruleth over the Kings of the earth v. 18. Now that by these two marks Rome was most notoriously known in the Apostles dayes may appear even by the Romane Poets who describe Rome just after the same manner as Ovid Sed quae de septem totum circumspicit orbem Montibus imperii Roma Deumque locus Rome the place of the Empire and of the Gods which from seven hills doth take a view of the whole world And more shortly Propertius Septem urbs alta jugis toti quae praesidet Orbi The City mounted on seven hils which ruleth the whole world No man reading Propertius ever made question but that Rome was here described and therefore no reason why any doubt should be made what that great Citie may be which with the same colours is painted out unto us in the book of the Revelation 2. By the judgement of the anancient Fathers affirming expresly that Rome is meant by Babylon in the seventeenth Chapter of the Revelation as the Rhemists themselves doe voluntarily confess in their last note upon the first Epistle of Peter 3. By the Confession of those who are most Devoted to the See of Rome as to name one for many Bellarmine the Cardinal Jesuite whose words are these Iohn in the Revelation every where calleth Rome Babylon as Tertullian hath noted in his third Book against Marcion and in his Book against the Jewes and it is plainly gathered out of the seventeenth Chapter of the Revelation Where great Babylon is said to sit upon seven Mountains and to have Dominion over the Kings of the earth For there is no other City which in the time of Iohn had Dominion over the Kings of the Earth but Rome and the building of Rome upon 7. hills is a matter most famous Hitherto Bellarmine The third Position THat old Rome onely under the Heathen persecutors from the time of the first Emperour till Constantines dayes was not Babylon as the Proctors of the Church of Rome would perswade us but Rome in her last dayes being free from the Government both of Heathen and Christian Emperours And that Rome was to be that Babylon which should draw the Kings and Nations of the world unto Superstition and Idolatrie from such time as it ceased to be subject to the civil Prince and became the Possession of the Pope until the last destruction thereof which is yet to come Proof 1. THe matter of Babylon is revealed unto Saint John as a mysterie Apocâ—7 â—7 6. But the persecution of the Church by the Heathen Emperour was far from being a mysterie For it being openly committed Saint Iohn himself at the same time being a companion with the rest of the Saints in this tribulation banished for the Word of God and for the witnessing of Iesus Christ into the Iland Pathmos this could not be shewed as a secret and mystical thing And therefore some further matter not then openly known to the world must here be intended 2. The state of Babylon after her fall is thus declared Apoc. 18. 2. 〈◊〉 is fallen it is fallen Babylon the great Citie is become the habitation of Devils the hold of all foul spirits and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird for all Nations have drunken of the wine of the wrath of her fornication and the Kings of the Earth have committed fornication with her c. If Heathen Rome onely were Babylon it would follow that upon the fall thereof in the dayes of Constantine the Emperour Rome professing the Faith of Christ should then become the habitation of Devils and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird Which being a most grosse and absurd imagination it must needs be granted that after the dayes of the Christian Emperour the faithful Citie should become a harlot even Rome whose Faith was once renowned throughout all the world should become Babylon the mother of whoredomes and abominations of the Earth 3. Such a Desolation is foretold should come upon the great City Babylon which in the second position is proved to be Rome that it should utterly be destroyed and never built again nor reinhabited Apoc. 18. v. 21 22 23. Now at that very time when this judgement shall come it is said that the Kings of the Earth which have committed fornication with her shall bewail her and lament her Rev. 18. verse 9. whereby it is most evident that Rome is not to cease from being Babylon till her last destruction shall come upon her and that unto her last gaspe she is to continue her spiritual fornications alluring all Nations unto her superstition and idolatrie 4. Saint Paul 2 Thessalonians 2. 7. Declareth that there was One in his time who did hinder the revealing of that wicked man who was to be the head of this Apostacie and falling away from the Faith And when that he should be taken out of the way then saith the Apostle Verse 8. Shall that wicked man be revealed He that with-held and made this hinderance in the Apostles time could be no other but the Emperour in whose hands as long as the possession and governement of Rome remained it was impossible that that wicked One of whom the Apostle speaketh should raigne there So that upon his removal that man of sinne must succeede in his roome whereupon that great Citie wherein he placeth his Throne falleth to be that Babylon which should deceive all Nations with her inchantments Now all the world can witnesse that the Emperour who sometime was the Soveraigne Lord of Rome is now quite turned out of the Possession thereof and the Pope entered thereupon in his stead Whereupon it followeth that the Pope for all his Holiness is that wicked one of whom the Apostle Prophesied that he should sit in the temple of God exalting himself above all that is called God or worshipped And consequently that Rome where he hath settled his Chayre hath long since begun and yet continueth to be that Babylon from whose communion we are charged to sever our selves by that voyce from Heaven Goe out of her my People that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and receive not of her Plagues The judgement of the Primate wrot by him long agoe in answer to the request of a learned Friend what is meant by the beast that was and is not and yet is and other passages in the 17. and 18. of the Revelation IN the Revelation these four Particalars must be carefully distinguished The woman which is the great City Babylon The first beast which ariseth out of the Sea Apoc. 13. 1. The second beast which ariseth out of the Earth Apoc. 13. 11. and the false Prophet which ministreth to the second beast that goeth to destruction Apoc. 16. 13. 19. 20. by
endure a short space To make this short space a thousand years or else to put in so many years of the Popes government over Rome before Antichrist come who shall forsooth revolt from his Obedience It seemes rather the dream of a waking man then to hold any likelyhood of Truth Howsoever it resteth even by Viâ—gas consent notwithstanding his cunning combination of two states of Rome that under Paganisme and that under Antichrist with a thousand years between that Rome must have continued Christian for sundery Ages before her Desolation and for ought doth yet appear the present Monarchy which she claims to exercise over the Christian World is the Mystical Babylon out of which Gods People are called For the better clearing whereof let us consider the Description that is made of this Babylon by the Angels and our Saviour Christ himself more distinctly to see whether it doe agree to the present estate of Rome or no The Angel tells Iohn in the last Verse of the former Chapter The woman which thou sawest is the great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth and before Verse 5. upon her forehead is a name written Mysterie Babylon the great Touching this greatness I may spare my pains to speak much there is a learned Book of Iustus Lipsius which he intitles Admiranda marvells touching the greatness of Rome not long after in concurrence thereto there was another made by Thomas Stapleton our Countreyman Professour at Lovaine which he intitles Vere admiranda Marvels indeed touching the greatness of the Church of Rome wherein by comparison he indeavours to shew that for largeness of Extent strength and power over Princes themselves honour yielded unto it the greatness and magnificence of the Romane Church doth far surpass the Roman Empire These two books were both printed together and set forth at Rome against the year of Jubilee 1600. as if the Papacy laboured to carry in her forehead the name Great Babylon For the reigning over the Kings of the Earth by this great City which is another point of the Angels description It is true that heathen Rome had anciently in the borders and confines of the state sundry Kings that held their Kingdomes of her Such were the Herods Aretas and Agrippa mentioned in the New Testament but these were neither in number nor dignity nor in the absolutenâ—ss of their subjection to be compared with those that the now Rome reigneth over And no great marvel if the Roman Emperour armed with thirty or fourty Legions had many Kings at command saith Stapleton but that the Pope being altogether unarmed should give Lawes to the Kings of the Earth and either advance them to their Kingdomes or depose them who would not account worthy of great marvel true but the Angel shewes us the true reason the ten hornes which thou sawest are ten Kings which have received no Kingdome as yet but receive power as Kings at once with the beast c. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his Will and to agree and to give their Kingdome unto the beast until the Word of God shall be fulfilled And consider I pray you here the manner how they have given their Kingdomes to the beast Vpon the Election of any new Pope they send a solemne Embassage to profess their Obedienee to him And one of those which is extant in Print as great a Monarch as any the Christian World hath Offers himself and all his Kingdomes his Seas Firm lands Islands Armes Forces Treasures Ships Armies whatsoever he is whatsoever he hath whatsoever he is able to doe and falling down at the Popes feet as a most obsequious Sonne he acknowledgeth and confesseth him to be the true Vicar of Christ our Saviour on Earth the successour of Peter the Apostle in that See the head of the Vniversal Church the Provost Parent and Pastor of all Christians praying him and humbly beseeching him that he would receive all whatsoever be hath offered to the profit defence of the Church into his Pâ—otection and Patronage And these words c. are said with a gesture corespondent the Embassador falling down upon his knees let Lipâ—ius if he can with all his reading in Story shew us such an Example of any King subject to old Pagan Rome It is true that Nero accounted it for his highest Glory to have set the Crown upon Tiridates the King of the Armenians head in the City of Rome with great state and pomp But let us see saith Stapleton If the Majesty of the Church of Rome hath not had an equal part of this glory yea and a greater and then he reckons how Pope Leo the third gave the Empire to Charles the great and how other Popes conferred to others a great many other Kingdomes One thing he forgets that neither Nero nor any other Emperour of old Rome ever Crowned any with his feet as Celestine the third did Henry the sixth nor caused him to hold their stirrops or kiss their feet much less set their feet upon their neckes as Pope Adrian the fourth and Alexander the third did to the Emperor Frederick And that we may not spend more time in proving that the present Papal Rome reigneth over the Kings of the Earth the Merchants of Babylon are now resolved That all the Kingdomes of the Earth are the Popes insomuch that the best Title that any Prince can have to his Crown is Dei Apostolicae sedis gratia by the grace of God and Apostolick See And Cardinal Bellarmine recognizing his works retracts that which might seem to Cross this title about the Popes dividing the new world to the Portugals and Spaniards And tempers that which he had said that Christ himselfe whose Vicar the Pope is had no temporal Kingdome and lastly asserts more roundly contrary to his former opinion viz. That the Church may deprive infidels of their Dominion which they have over the Faithfull yea albeit they do not endeavour to turn away the Faiâ—hful from the Faith Howsoever she doth not alwayes so because she wanteth strength or doth not judge it expedient but questionlesse if those same Princes do goe about to turn away their people from the faith they may and ought to be deprived of their Dominions I shall not need to call to rememberance here what Faith or infidelity is at this day in the Roman Language when Paul the Fift teacheth the Catholickes that they cannot take the Oath of Fidelity salva fide Catholica with safety of the Catholick Faith which shewes that if the Pope may deprive infidels of their Dominions how much more such as are Christians being thereby more under the verge of his Authority concerning the Popes ruling over the Kings of the Earth this may suffice The Angel which in the begining of this Chapter proclaimeth the fall of Babylon saith that all Nations have drunke of the wine of the wrath of her Fornication and the Kings of the earth have committed
little to satisfie for thy sins For as for thy siâ—s thou must offer Christs works his pains and wounds and his death it self to him together with that love of his out of which he endured these things for thee These are available for the satisfaction for thy sins But thou whatsoever thou dost or sufferest offer it not for thy sins to God but for his love and good pleasure wishing to find the more grace with him whereby thou mayest doe more greater and more acceptable works to him let the love of God then be to thee the cause of well-living and the hope of well-working thus he and I doubt not but many there be on that side that follow this Councel here with I shall relate the speach of a wise and discreet Gentleman my neighbour in England who lived and died a Recusant he demanded one time What was the worst Opinion that we could impute to the Church of Rome It was said there was none more then this of our merits And that Cardinal Bellarmine not onely doth uphold them but saith we may trust in them so it be done soberly And saith they deserve Eternal life not onely in respect of Gods propromises and Covenant but also in regard of the work it self whereupon he answered Bellarmine was a learned man and could pâ—rhaps defend what he wrote by learning But for his part he trusted to be saved onely by the merits of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and as for good works he would do all that he could Et valeant qâ—uantum volere possint To proceed In or under the Obedience of Rome there is Persecution and that is a better mark of Christs people then Bellarmines Temporal felicity all that will live godly in Christ Iesus saith the Apostle shall suffer persecution ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake saith our Saviour and so are all they on that side that are less superstitious then others or dare speak of redress of abuses yea there is Martyrdome for a free opposing mens traditions Image-worshipers Purgatory and the like Add that inobedience to this call of Christ there do some come dayly from thence and in truth how could our Saviour call his people from thence if he had none there How could the Apostles say that Antichrist from whose captivity they are called shall sit in the Temple of God since that Ierusalem is finally and utterly desolated unless the same Apostle otherwhere declaring himself had shewed us his meaning that the Church is the house of God and again ye are the Temple of the living God and the Temple of God is Holy which are ye It will be said that there are on that side many gross errors many open Idolatries and superstitions so as those which live there must needs be either partakers of them and like minded or else very Hypocrites But many errors and much ignorance so it be not affected may stand with true Faith in Christ and when there is true Contrition for our sins that is because it displeaseth God there is a general and implicite repentance for all unknown sins Gods Providence in the general revolt of the ten Tribes when Elias thought himselfe left alone had reserved seven thousand that had not bowed to the Image of Baal and the like may be conceived heâ—e since especially the Idolatry practised under the obedience of Mystical Babylon is rather in false and will-worship of the true God and rather commended as profitable then as absolutely necessary enjoyned and the corruptions there maintained rather in superfluous addition then retraction in any thing necessary to salvation Neither let that hard term of hypocrisie be used of the infirmity and sometime humble and peaceable carriage of some that oppose not common errors nor wrestle with the greater part of men but do follow the multitude reserving a right knowledge to themselves and sometimes by the favour which God gives them to find where they live obtain better conditions then others can We call not Iohn the beloved Disciple an hypocrite because he was known to the High Priest and could procure Peter to be let to see the arraignment of our Saviour nor Peter himself that for fear denied him much less Daniel and his companions that by suit obtained of Melzar their keeper that they might feed upon pulse and not be defiled with the King of Babels meat and these knew themselves to be captives and in Babel But in the new Babel how many thousands do we think there are that think otherwise that they are in the true Catholike Church of God the name whereof this harlot hath usurped And although they acknowledge that where they live are many abuses and that the Church hath need of reformation yet there they were born and they may not abandon their Mother in her sickness Those that converse more inwardly with men of Conscience on that side doe know that these are speeches iâ— secret which how they will be justified against the commands of Christ come out of her my people belongs to another place to consider For the purpose we have now in hand I dare not but account these the people of God though they live very dangerously under the captivity of Babylon as did Daniel Mordecay Hester Nehemiah and Ezra and many Jewes more notwithstanding both Cyrus Commission and the Prophets Command to depart This point may give some light in a Question that is on foot among learned and good men at this day Whether the Church of Rome be a true Church or no where I thinke surely if the matter be rightly declared for the tearms there will remain no question As thus whether Babylon pretending to be the Church of Rome yea the Catholick Church be so or not or this Whether the people of Christ that are under the captivity be a true Church or no either of both waies declare in these tearms and the matter will be soon resolved Except some man will perhaps still Object Though there be a people of God yet they can be no true Church for they have no Priesthood which is necessary to the Constitution of a Church As Saint Cyprian describes it Plebs sacerdoti adunata people joyned to their priest They have no Priesthood being by the very form of their Ordidination Sacrificers for the quick and the dead I answer under correction of better judgements they have the Ministery of Reconciliation by the Commission which is given at their Ordination being the same which our Saviour left in his Church Whose sins ye remit they are remitted whose sinnes ye retain they are retained As for the other power to sacrifice if it be any otherwise then celebrating the Commemoration of Christs sacrifice once offered upon the Cross It is no part of the Priesthood or Ministery of the New Testament But as superfluous additions thereunto which yet worketh not to the destruction of that which is lawfully conferred otherwise
2. Of laying on of hands enlarged and defended THis and the former verse may well be called the Apostles Catechisme consisting of six Principles or Fundamentals of Christian doctrine as they are called in the former verse of which this is the Method The two former concern this life viz. Repentance from good works and Faith towards God The two latter the end of this life viz. the Resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement The two middle viz. the doctrine of Baptismes and laying on of hands are in relation to both either as Conduits to convey the two former into us or as Chariots to carry us with comfort to the two latter That they are Fundamental Principles as well as the other cannot be doubted of by their being placed in the midst of them only the question is what is meant by them First by the doctrine of Baptismes I conceive is meant the Sacrament of Baptisme which is often joyned with the two former Fundamentals By our Saviour with Faith he that believeth and is baptized Mark 16. 16. By Saint Peter with repentance Acts 2. 38. Repent and be baptized The objection against it is that 't is Baptismes in the plurall number Answ. First the Syriack reads it in the singular number and Saint Augustine in his book de fide operibus renders it Lavacri doctrina the doctrine of the font from whence Ribera gathers there might be some Ancient Greek Copies accordingly But secondly it is an Enallage Numeri the plural for the singular as Genes 8. 4. The Ark rested on the Mountaines of Arrarat which Tremelius by way of explanation renders uno montium Matth. 27. 44. Theeves for one of them only Luke 23. 39. So accordingly The Israelites having made one golden Calfe said these are thy Gods O Israel c. Exodus 32. 4. and verse 33. Moses saith they have made themselves Gods of Gold yet verse 24. it is called by Aaron This Calfe Drusius hath divers of the like as Sepulchers for Sepulcher Cities for City c. and so here Baptismes for Baptisme I am not ignorant of other conjectures by learned men signifying a threefold Baptisme Sanguinis flaminis fluminis or the thrice dipping or sprinkling the number of persons coming to be baptized the two several times in the year in the Ancient Church set apart for it Easter and Pentecost called dies baptismatum which is Calvins and Bezaes or implying the double act in it the inward Baptisme of Christ and outward baptisme of Iohn that is to say the Ministers which are Mr. Cartwrights words upon the place who also saith by a trope both Sacraments are here noted under one but I conceive that which we first gave is the best And 't is observable that the Apostle saith the doctrine of Baptismes 't is not the absolute want of it when it cannot be had but the rejecting of the doctrine of it that damnes 'T is possible that some of those three thousand converted by Saint Peters Sermon might have died before they could come to the water and yet be saved but if they had rejected the doctrine of it when they were bad to be baptized like the Pharisees rejecting the Counsel of God against themselves or like Naman who despised the river Iordan I question it A well ordered discipline is the ornament of the Church but upon the confession and doctrine of Saint Peter it was to be founded in which sence the Apostles and Prophets in their doctrines are called the foundation of it Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone and as some think is the sence of that Revel 21. 14. that in the twelve foundations were the names of the twelve Apostles in relation to their doctrinals So much for that Now the next is the doctrine of laying on◠of hands Here is the great question What is meant by it That it is a Fundamentall cannot be denied if Baptisme be one this must be another see in the verse how like twins they are borne and bred under the same roof And 't is observable that in the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the plural number doctrines referring to both In the search of several Authours I find these two expositions most worthy of consideration The first is Confirmation of children after Baptisme which hath somewhat of Antiquity for it most of the Writers of the Church of Rome incline that way and even Calvin is of that mind also and in his Comment upon this place stands much for it and wisheth it had not been laid aside hodie retinenda pura institutio superstitio autem corrigenda and produceth this custome of confirming of children in the Primitive times to be an argument they were then baptized but I conceive it cannot be the sence for this reason because 't is not a Fundamentall and hard to prove it was then like Baptisme and the rest esteemed to be of a necessary use and belief in the Catholick Church according to that of Vincentius Lyrinensis That is to be held for a Catholick verity which hath been believed every where alwayes and by all And our Church saith children baptized have all things necessary to their salvation The Papists that hold it to be a Sacrament do not say 't is a Fundamentall and when it was observed by us we took it to be only an ancient laudable custome of the Church and whether it was so in Saint Pauls time in the Church of the Hebrewes it doth not appear The second Exposition is that it should be meant an ordained Ministery which clearly in Saint Paul's time we find was wont to be by laying on of hands This is Pareus his sense upon this place It was saith he an initial doctrine concerning the Ministery of the Church then ordained by imposition of hands Gualterus in his Comment upon this place saith In this is contained the whole function of Preachers c. designed unto it by imposition of hands But none so full as Mr. Cartwright in his answer to the Rhemists upon this place his words are these viz. By the imposition of hands the Apostle meaneth no Sacrament much lesse confirmation after Baptisme but by a trope or borrowed speech the Ministers of the Church upon the which hands were laid which appeareth in that whosoever believeth not that there ought to be a Ministery by order or Ordination to teach and govern the Church overthroweth Christianity whereas if Confirmation of children were a Sacrament as it is not yet a man holding the rest and denying the use of it might notwithstanding be saved And some lines after gives us summarily the sense of this verse viz. to be the doctrine of the Sacraments and of the Ministery of the Church Ye see in his opinion what a dangerous thing it is no lesse then the hazard of their own salvation to lay aside an ordained Ministery or to deny the doctrine of it which men now frequently presume And 't
but his authority and commission for it A Popish Judge gives a just sentence in Court his sentence is not erroneous and Antichristian though himself may be so his act is good in Law how bad soever he is in matter of Religion so the act of Ordination being an act of office is not nulled or voided by personal defilements It was the errour of the Donatists to put the vertue of Ministerial acts wholly upon the holinesse of the person ministring no as Saint Augustine saith a foul hand may sow good seed But there is one objection more to be answered frequently in the mouthes of men viz. Your Orders were derived from Rome and therefore Antichristian 1. Observe what contrary inferences are against us The Papists say we have no lawful Ministery because we have it not from Rome having renounced our subjection to that See others among our selves argue the same from our being deduced from it Secondly If they mean of our receiving it from thence immediately after the Apostles time which the ancientest of the Brittish Writers extant do not grant but averre that we received it from such as came from Ierusalem hither even in Tiberius his time it is no disparagement to us for it was then a famous Church see Saint Pauls Epistle to it as Ignatius after him But if they mean since the corruption and Apostasy of it we may distinguish between from and through as between the Fountain and Conduit we received it from the Apostles though running through some corrupt times of Popery of which since our reformation it savours no more then the Fish doth of the salt water or as the three children in the furnace when they came out there was not so much as the smell of fire found upon them 3. If they mean of Austine the Monke sent from Rome in Gregory the great his time about 600 yeares after Christ there were then no such defilements of doctrine in it that it should be a scandall to us either And yet we were not then to seek for an ordained Ministery there having been for many hundreds of years before that a flourishing Church among us which the Saxons whom he came to convert had been the persecutors and destroyers of as Gildas tells us so that in that or the former sense the objection is not worth the answering But fourthly I suppose they mean of later Centuries when that complaint of the Prophâ—et concerning Ierusalem might be appliable to Rome How is that faithful City become a harlot it was full of judgement righteousnesse lodgeed in her but now murderers c. i. e. Since the Bishop of Rome became corrupt in doctrine and worship For this first we thus answer While we were under the tyranny of the Bishop of Rome it doth not appear that he ordinarily usurped more then a mandatory nomination of the Bishop to be consecrated which out of a blind fear of his excommunication was assented unto but the consecration was not by him but other Bishops here within our selves And I account the ordination or consecration to be derived from such as gave imposition of hands not from the mandate for them to do it Henry the eight and the Kings succeeding assumed the like power in the nomination of the person which accordingly might not be gainsaid but from thence it cannot be argued that our ordination or consecration was deduced from them for the Kings mandate served not to give power to ordain which those Bishops had before intrinsecally annexed to their office but only was a warrant to apply this power to the person named in that Mandate Now this being all which was usurped by the Bishop of Rome in relation to the consecrations of our Bishops in England when we were under the Tyranny of the Papacy there is as little force for our deriving our ordination from him also And if those Bishops of Sidon which as Arch-Deacon Mason tells us assisted in the first consecration in Hen. 8. as in Edward the sixth's time were not meerly Titular but had their consecration from the Greek Church which is altogether a stranger to the See of Rome it would take off somewhat from the pretence of a totall derivation from thence But still it may be objected that we have at least received our Ordination from such as professed the Religion of Rome First it could not be called properly the Religion of Rome till the Councell of Trent which determined many years after our falling off from the See of Rome The Papists ask us Where was our Religion before Luther we might reply Where was the Popish Religion before that time 'T is true most of those poysonous errours were sowen up and down the world before but not collected fully into a body and so owned and headed by the Papacy till then For till that time scarce any point we hold now against them but there were some of their own Authours who held it also So that to speak properly the now Romish Religion in their new Creed with other appurtenances was established since our form of ordination 2. Suppose we received our ordination from such who were corrupted with Popish errours yet if they retained the Fundamentalls of Christian Religion their ordination may be valid those like some part of the barke of the tree uncut may convey the Sappe from the root to the preserving of life in the branches What Saint Augustine saith of the Donatists in some things mecum sunt they concurre with me in other things they are defiled may be applicable to the Church of Rome and if so why may we not receive through them what was of Christs remaining in them without being defiled with that corrupt part which is their own why may not there be in this a separation of the precicious from the vile And in our reformation we withdrew our selves no further from her then she hath declined from her self in the Apostles time and from the ancient state and condition of it then as one saith well Nostra Ecclesia ab hodierna Romana Ecclesia contaminata recessit ut ad pristinam puram Apostolicam Romanam accedere posset We forsook the present corrupted Church of Rome that we might be nearer a kin to the first pure Apostolical Roman Church in the primitive times 3. In a word we do affirme that neither their corruption in opinion or vitiosity of life do or did void it to the party ordained none doubts of the Baptisme of our fore-fathers administred by those of the like in the Church of Rome as if there needed any reiteration by them who survived our reformation neither do we renew the orders received in that Church when any Priest is converted and betakes himself to our communion and why should it be questioned here Let the Seal be of Silver or brasse the impression is alike valid if affixed by order to the deed Parents in generation convey to the child what is essentiall to
Phygellus Hermogenes and Diotrephas but as in neither of them doth there appear any sanctified grace of the spirit so we do not read it caused any suspension of the vertue of their ministerial acts to the receivers or that the Apostles gave order for any reiteration of them personal faults not voyding Acts of Office and so why should the like be a prejudice to it in these succeeding Ages Receiving supposeth a gift but 't is as the giving of a summe to a Steward by his Lord not to his own private use but for the dispensing of it to the family And to say no more there are some learned Interpreters do apply that passage 1 Iohn Chap. 2. 20. to an ordained Ministery yee need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you all things and is truth Beza 's words upon the place are these the same anointing he could not with a more cleare Testimony have adorned the Pastors and Teachers from whom they were instructed and daily as yet are then to say they were taught by the holy Ghost had bin formerly c. Piscators words are these The anointing teacheth i. e. the Ministry of the word or the Holy Ghost efficacious by the preaching of the Gospel wherefore the Ministery ought to be in a great esteem with us Ye see they do not understand by this Vnction or anointing signifying the Holy Ghost an immediate teaching or inspiration as by some Enthusiasme but immediately through the Ministery ordained for that end by a Metonymy as they say of the Adjunct the oyntment for the hand which applyes it or delivers it to you and the teaching you all things is meant of all things necessary to salvation the credenda and agenda which by the Ministery had bin so fâ—lly taught them that they needed not to be taught by Saint Iohn again here If any shall object as it hath been nnto me that of Saint Augustine lib. 15. de Trinit cap. 27. Quomodo ergo Deus non est qui dat Spiritum Sanctum imò quantus Deus est qui dat Deum neque enim aliquis discipulorum ejus dedit Spiritum Sanctum orabant quippe ut veniret in eos quibus manus imponebant non ipsi eum dabant quem morem in suis praepositis etiam nune servet Ecclesia c. i. e. How should not he be God who gives the Holy Ghost nay how great a God who gives God for neither any of his disciples gave the holy Ghost they prayed indeed that it might come upon those on whom they imposed hands they did not give it themseles which custom the Church now observes c. 1. In the words before these he speaks of a double giving of the Holy Ghost by our Saviour the one on earth after his resurrection the other from heaven after his Ascension upon the day of Pentecost now in relation to the latter in those extraordinary gifts of the spirit the words objected have their principal application which doth not concern that we have in hand which is only of the former being meant of successive ministerial authority for the ordinarie dispensing of the office Secondly whereas he saith the Church hath observed that custome in imposition of hands to pray for the persons reciving of it hath bin formerly acknowledged to be one sense of that clause viz. by way of impetration Take the gift of the spirit pro dono infuso so we use the words per modum impetrationis take it pro officio so we use it per modum collationis ministerially conferring the power of executing the office of a Minister there is no contradiction but that in the same act there may meet a collation of the office with authority to execute and an impetration for the persons receiving an assistance of the spirit in the executing of it which in the old in junction immediately followed in a prayer for the person ordained accordingly so that the custome and intention of our Church is no other then what was in Saint Augustines time not presuming to give the Holy Ghost in the latter sense only praying it might be given of God to him but only in the former So much for opening of the first clause in ordination Receive the Holy Ghost which rightly understood is not such a rock of offence as some have taken it to be in the disuse of it The second clause is whose sins thou forgivest they are forgiven whose sins thou doest retain they are retained At which as much if not more offence hath been taken then at the former as if it savoured of Popery which â— shall give you the Primates sense of also That it may be retained in ordination and attributed safely to the office of the Ministery without the least savour that way which no man that knew him and what Popery is but will acquit him of the least grain of it Thus far it will be granted by all sober persons 1. The Ministers may be said to remit sins by way of preparative to it in being the instruments by preaching the word of reconciliation to dispose men towards it in bringing them to repentance whereby they are capable of it 2. By way of Confirmation in exhibiting the seales of remission in the Sacraments according as one well glosseth upon these words 'T is Gods act onely to forgive sins but the Apostles are said to do it not simply but because they apply the means appointed of God for that end viz. the word and Sacraments What is there more in forgivenesse of sins then in reconciliation of God and man now ye find this given to the Ministery 2 Cor. 5. 18 19. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word or ministery of reconciliation Gods act onely authoritate propria by his own supreme authority the Ministers act potestate vicaria as a substitute in Christs stead and the word doth include the Sacraments also as in our usual speech the Letters Pattents doth the Seale affixed to them as the Ministery doth the whole ministerial office 3. Declaratively in testifying this grace of God and declaring Gods good pleasure accordingly upon repentance unto the person like that of Nathan to David or Saint Peter to his Auditory Acts 3. as Ferus saith man doth not properly forgive sin but doth declare and certifie that it is remitted of God so that absolution received from man is as much to say behold my son I certifie thee that thy sins are forgiven thee I declare unto thee that God is at peace with thee which I relate the rather out of him both for his being a writer of the Church of Rome and that this passage is purged out of his book by them as erroneous as may be seen by comparing the Edition of Mentz with the Edition at Antwerp 1559 and 1570 Which agrees with that in the Articles of
old had under the Law in curing the Lepers who therefore accordingly may be said to forgive and retaine sins whilst they shew and declare they are forgiven or retained of God So the Priests put the name of the Lord upon the children of Israel and were commanded to blesse the people in saying The Lord blesse thee but it was the Lord himself that blessed them according to the next words and I will blesse them And thus in these four things I leave it to be calmly considered of if the Ministers have not power left them by Christ in relation to forgivenesse of sins and with these limitations whether that part of the old form of the words of Ordination might not be continued also which seems to me to be explained in the next following them viz. And be thou a faithfull dispenser of the word and Sacraments c. through both which the graces of the Holy Ghost and remission of sins are conveyed and sealed in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost According as in the words at the Communion used to the recipient the former clause was added in Q. Elizabeths dayes to give the more full sense of the latter And let not any by this Moderate expression extenuate the office of the Ministery as Bellarmine would by this inferre that any Lay-man Woman or Child may absolve as well as the Minister as we have among our selves too many of that judgement For it consisteth not in speech but in power or Authority he being as the officer of a King Authorized to make Proclamation of his pleasure Every man may speak one to another to the use of edifying but to them is given 1 Cor. 10. 16. power to edification God hath made them able Ministers not of the letter but of the Spirit That from them it comes 1 Thess. 1. 5. not only in word but in power also and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance which accordingly hath been experimentally found that howsoever another may from the Scripture shew as truly unto the penitent what glad tidings are there intended to him yet to drooping and doubting soules it hath not been so efficacious in quieting them and giving satisfaction to their consciences either in sicknesse death-bed or otherwise as by the Ministery ordained and commissionated for that end That as 't is their office to pray and exhort you in Christs stead to be reconciled unto God so having listened to that Motion and submitted your selves accordingly 't is their office to declare and assure unto you in Christs stead that God is reconciled with you All which appeares to be the ancient doctrine of the Church of England by what is publickly declared in the exhortation before the Communion to be read sometimes at the discretion of the Minister which is the recitd and approved by the Primate as followeth And because it is requisite that no man should come to the holy Communion but with a full trust in Gods mercy and with a quiet conscience therefore if there be any of you which by meanes aforesaid i. e. Private examination and confession of sinnes to God cannot quiet his own conscience but requireth further Councell and Comfort then let him come to me or some other discreet and learned Minister of Gods word and open his grief that he may receive such Ghostly Councel Advice and Comfort as his Conscience may be relieved and that by the Ministery of Gods word he may receive comfort and the benefit of absolution to the quieting of his conscience and avoyding of all scruple and doubtfulnesse And now let the Reader judge if Dr. Heylene hath not cause to repent of his rash censure of the Primate in his late book p. 108. as if in this part of his Answer to the Jesuite he had as he saith in this particular utterly subverted as well the doctrine of this Church as her purpose in it c. when those two arguments which himself urgeth from the words of Ordination and the exhortation at the communion are produced and defended by the Primate also What would he have he saith the doctrine of the Church of England is that The Priest doth forgive sins authoritativè by a delegated and commissionated power committed to him from our Lord and Saviour doth not the Primate say the same that 't is not only declarativè but designativè not only by way of information out of the word of God as another understanding Christian may do to the penitent that his sins are pardoned but he doth it authoritative as having a power and commission from God to pronounce it to the party and by the seale of the Sacrament to assure the soule of the penitent that he is pardoned of God which no other man or Angel can do ex officio but the Minister of Christ according to that of the Apostle To us is committed the word of reâ—couciliation this is the summe of the Primates judgement He that would have more must step over into the Church of Rome for it I shall only make a trial whether Doctor Heylene will so conclude against Mr. Hooker as he hath against the Primate who in his sixth book of Ecclesiasticall Policy consents fully with him where after his declaring that for any thing he could ever observe those Formalities which the Church of Rome do so esteem of were not of such estimation nor thought to be of absolute necessity with the Ancient Fathers and that the form with them was with invocation or praying for the penitent that God would be reconciled unto him for which he produceth Leo Ambrose Ierome c. p. 96. He thus declares his judgement viz. As for the Ministerial sentence of private absolution it can be no more then a declaration what God hath done it hath but the force of the Prophet Nathan's absolution God hath taken away thy sins then which construction especially of words judiciall there is nothing more vulgar For example the Publicans are said in the Gospel to have justified God the Iewes in Malachy to have blessed the proud man which sin and prosper not that the one did make God righteous or the other the wicked happy but to blesse to justifie and to absolve are as commonly used for words of judgement or declaration as of true and reall efficacy yea even by the opiâ—ion of the Master of sentences c. Priests are authorized to loose and bind that is to say declare who are bound and who are loosed c. Saint Ierome also whom the Master of the Sentences alledgeth directly affirmeth That as the Priests of the Law could only discern and neither cause nor remove Leprosies so the Ministers of the Gospel when they retain or remit sinnes do but in the one judge how long we continue guilty and in the other declare when we are clear or free Tom 6. Comment in 16. Mat. So saith Mr. Hooker when conversion by manifest tokens did seem effected Absolution
ensuing which could not make served onely to declare men innocent p. 108. When any of ours ascribeth the work of remission to God and interprets the Priests sentence to be but a solemn declaration of that which God himselfe hath already performed they i. e. the Church of Rome scorne it And so after much to this purpofe he thus concludes p. 113. Let it suffice to have shewen how God alone doth truly give and private Ministerial absolution but declare remission of sinnes And thus I leave Mr. Hooker under Doctor Heylen ' s Censure who hath already concluded that forgivenesse of sins by the Priest onely declarativè doth not come up to the doctrine of the Church of England Though the reason he gives because it holds the Priest doth forgive sins authoritativè I do not see the force of The former supposing the latter for the Officer whose place it is solemnly to make Proclamation of the Kings pardon doth it authoritativè nay dares not do it unlesse he were authorized accordingly And so much for the Primates judgement of those words of Ordination Receive the Holy Ghost whose sins thou forgivest are forgiven whose sins thou retainest are retained The PRIMATES judgment of the Vse of a set Form of Prayer heretofore declared and now more fully enlarged and confirmed with the concurrence of the Votes of such eminent persons who are so esteemed by the contrary-minded THis Subject hath been so sufficiently discussed and determined by others that no new thing can be expected from me onely you have here the Iudgement and Approbation of this eminent Primate which being of so great esteem with all good men 't is possible now upon near an even scale of mens opinions in it his may be of that weight as to give satisfaction First that the Vse of a set Form of Prayer is not a setting up of any new doctrine as the Athenians judged of Saint Paul appeares in that 't is the practise of the Belgick Churches for which ye have the determination of the Divines of Leyden Polyander Rivetus Wala'us Thysius in their Synopsis Theologiae And the resolution of Mr. Aimes our countryman who lived and died a Professor of Divinity among them in his cases of conscience who saith 't is lawfull from the approved practice of the Saints in the Psalmes and other Formes of blessing in the Scripture nay profitable and necessary for some though it be read out of a book Then for the judgement and practice accordingly of the Reformed Church of France Ludovicus Capellus gives us a sufficient account of who is Professor of Divinity in the University of Somer in one of his Theses lately published de Liturgiae formulis conceptis or a set form of a Liturgie where after hee hath answered all the pretended arguments against it which it seemes he had gleaned up out of some of our English Writers of late he concludes that 't is very necessary both for the most learned Pastors and congregations as unlearned and the edification of both being used throughout the Christian world in all ages at least for these 1300 years and is still at this day in all places excepting only as he saith some of late with us in England whose censure of them ◠is so severe that it would be offensive in me to repeat it And surely the general custome and practice of the reformed Churches which Saint Paul urgeth 1 Cor. 11. 16. cap. 14. 33. cannot be contemned by any sober Christian unto which may be added the judgement of diverse pious and eminent men of onr own nation and so esteemed by such as have asserted the contrary whose judgements being too large to be inserted here I shall deferre them till the last who do very fully concurre with the Primate in it Calvin was a wise and learned man now as Beza tells us it was his constant practice to use a set form of Praier before Sermon without alteration So was it his advice in his Epistle to the Protector of England in Edward the sixth's time which hath bin mentioned elsewhere for the establishing of a set form of a Liturgy here from which it might not be lawfull for pastors to depart both for the good of the more ignorant preventing of an affected novelty in others and the declaring of an unanimous consent in all the Churches For which practice and advice he had sufficient warrant from the President of the Ancient Fathers in the Primitive times which might be here also produced And doubtlesse the councell of Eliphaz is is good Iob 8. Enquire I pray thee of the former ages and prepare thy selfe for the search of their Fathers for we are but of yesterday and know nothing shall not they teach thee c. as that of the Prophet Ieremiah cap. 6. 19. aske for the old way and walk therein which may well rebuke the presumption of some who are so led by their own fancies that the Ancient Fathers are of no exemplary esteem with them Onely I may safely reprepresent this to the consideration of any ingenuous person that if it were the practice of the Church of God in all ages for 1500 or but 1300 yeares after Christ not only of the vulgar but of such as were glorious Martyrs and the most eminent Preachers of former and later yeares with whom the holy spirit did much abound doth not the assertion of the contrary condemn the generation of the just or at least argue a bold presumptuous censure of the spirits of just men now made perfect in heaven This only by way of preparative to the Readers attention that there is no singularity in it 2. See the warrants for it in the Scripture i. e. in the Old Testament Numb 6. 23. the Lord gives a form of words to Aaron and his sons to be continued as a perpetual Liturgy from age to age for the blessing the children of Israel saying unto them the Lord blesse thee and keep thee the Lord make his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace c. Numb 10. 35. Moses gives himself a set form at the rising and resting of the Ark. When the Ark set forward Moses said Rise up Lord and let thine enemies be scattered and let them that hate thee flee before thee And when it rested he said return O Lord unto the many thousands of Israel Continued by David at the removall of the Ark in his time Psal. 68. 1. In the 26. of Deut. ye have two set formes prescribed of God himself First to him that offers his first fruits verse 3. thou shalt say unto the Priest c. verse 5. thou shalt speak and say before the Lord thy God c. consisting chiefly of confession to the 11. verse and then to him that offers his third years tythes verse 13. when after a solemne protestation of bringing all the hollowed things paying his Tythes truly