against that decree which was made against them at the Dyet in Germany Luther was presently writ against and confuted by many learned men in all Catholick Countries his Doctrine and he were condemned first by Pope Leo the tenth and afterward by the Councel of Trent so that Luthers going out and the beginning of his new Sect are most certainly known and recounted by many Yea the falshood and novelty of Luthers doctrine as also his going out of the Roman Church and that the said Church of Rome is Christs true Church is plainly demonstrated further by this thing which is most worthy to be taken notice of At that time when Luther began his new sect there were not in the world any Religions but these the Roman Paganisme Judaisme Mahometisme the relicks of Nestorianisme in Greece and some Hussites in Germany some one of these was Christs true Church for he had a visible Church upon earth Therefore the Roman must be it for even the Lutherans deny that any of the other could be it Hence infer first that Luther could not but know that he went out and separated himself from Christs Church by forsaking all Churches one of which he knew must be it Secondly that he could not but know that the Roman Church was it thirdly that supposing the Church of Rome were it which must be supposed or else the denyers must say Christ had no true Church upon earth it could not be guilty of any Heresie or Idolatry nor give any just cause to Luther of going out of it and consequently by his revolt from the communion of it he incurred the sin of schisme by teaching doctrine contrary to it he fell into the sin of heresie Fourthly that all that entered into that schismaticall league with him and embraced his opinions were guilty of the same sins so far forth as ignorance did not make their acts involuntary Fifthly that that schisme unlawfully begun by Luther cannot be lawfully continued by others and therefore all that are not Roman Catholicks expose themselves to evident danger of their souls unless they return to the communion of the Roman Church The fourth Point Consider now what may be drawn out of all the precedent points first that antiquity is not onely a mark of the true Church but it is one by which even the most ignorant soules may easily finde out which is the true Church and which are late sects and consequently false for a smal enquiry will bring them to the knowledge of which Religion is of the longest standing and a far lesse will discover unto them which are of the latest for of Luther above mention is made Calvin begun at Geneva anno 1538. and Protestant Religion in England begun under Queen Elizabeth though some symptoms of falling into it were difcovered in her predecessor Edward the sixth his dayes as is evident out of John Stows Chronicle and other Protestant Writers as also out of the Stature book 2. That since according to Saint Austins rule which is that if there be any thing practised in the Church universally and no time of its being introduced can be assigned that thing is to be supposed to have its first origin from the Apostles times no known beginning of the Roman Catholick Religion since the daies of the Apostles can be specified it must be the true Religion On the contrary since both the going out from the Roman Church and also the first beginnings of all later Sects are easily demonstrable none of these can be true or a soul saving Religion 3. That all who are not Roman Catholicks for these know it have great reason yea are obliged to inform themselves about the requisitenesse of antiquity in point of Religion For by a neglect of this they expose themselves to the danger of making an imprudent choice to the great prejudice of their soules whereas a compliance with this obligation of searching after the antiquity of Religion will bring them easily to a perfect insight into the defectivenesse and falshood of all save only that Religion of the Roman Catholicks Inquire therefore of the old paths you who are out of that way which your Ancestors held for above eight hundred years together in England before Luther was born you who have left the true worship of God and sacrifice to the Idols of your own fancies learn that lesson well which Moses reads to you Do ye thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise remember the dayes of old consider the years of many generations ask thy Father and he will shew thee thy Elders and they will tell thee What The ancient being and truth of the Catholick Religion and the non-entity of these late ones of our miserable times The Eleventh Meditation Of Unity The first Point Consider first that the true Church of Christ is but one The Scriptures Councels Fathers History and Reason prove this truth imprint in thy minde the many divine Oracles with which the true God of Wisdome hath confirmed this One is my Dove my perfect one Cant. 6. One God one Faith one Baptisme one body one spirit sayes Saint Paul Ephes 4. who also recommends to all Christians most earnestly that they will stand fast in one spirit with one minde Phil. 1.27 and that they will be like minded having the same love being of one accord and one minde Phil. 2.2 in all which places and many more he exhorts to unity in Faith Judgment and opinion Our Saviour every where speaks of his Church in the singular number tell the Church upon this rock will I build my Church intimating thereby it is but one the General Councell of Nice and Constantinople received by Protestants define and professe in their Creed that the Catholick Church is but one the holy Fathers all unanimously fight for the unity of Christs Church against Hereticks and schismaticks and History delivers unto posterity the continued succession of Popes Bishops Priests Doctours Confessors Virgins and Martyrs for fifteen centuries of years together and more all whose lives deaths books and blood have published signed and sealed their attestations that there is but one Church the Roman Church which is the Catholick Church Consider secondly and that seriously what forces natural reason brings to establish this Unity verity it self is but one and that indivisible and propositions contradictory cannot possibly be both true how then can Sects or Religions contradicting one another in one and the self same points be more than one of them true Different Nations people of different callings and qualities may meet in conjunction together and make one and the same body in Faith and Religion as it happened in the Primitive Church But different Sects and People of a contrary beliefe about the self same material objects or points of Faith for example about the real presence of Christs body in the Eucharist about Justification about Purgatory about the infallible Authority of the Church and such like cannot
may saved and this acknowledgment did produce this effect in that honourable Lady the Countesse of Buckingham which was present at that publick disputation betwixt Mr. Fisher a Jesuit and Master White a Minister held by the Kings order For Mr. Fisher demanding of Mr. White whether or no he thought that one dying a Roman Catholick might be saved and he answering that upon his soul he thought such an one might be saved presently upon this she resolved to become a Roman Catholick and what she then purposed she soon put in execution as many thousands could witnesse Thirdly They confesse that Roman Catholicks do not erre in any fundamentall point of Faith and that they want none of the things essentially requisite to salvation and therefore the most learned Adversaries grant that Roman Catholicks are a true Church or members of the true Church though not the true Church to wit alone The consideration of this also as of the former cannot but comfort ROMAN CATHOLICKS whilest they remain so Now what a madnesse is it to fall from that Religion in which all parties agree that salvation may be had Certainly a prudent man will not venter his temporal estate upon a probable security if he can have a certainty provided also that it be lawful much lesse his eternall No man can in conscience expose his soul to hazard if he may make sure work For though in things which are necessary necessitate pracepti only a probable opinion of Doctours will save a soul harmlesse yet in things which are absolutely necesfary and means without which salvation cannot be had as the being a member of the true Church is the surest way is to be chosen Fourthly that very thing which hath been by me prefixed to my self as the end of my endeavours in these twenty Meditation which was to shew that the marks of Christs Church were to be found onely amongst the Roman Catholicks and consequently that Christs true Church was onely with them is by many of the chief protestants Writers granted by granting those things which really are the marks of Christs true Church They grant that S. Malachy S. Bernard S. Francis S. Dominick others were Roman Catholicks that they were Saints and that they wrought Miracles they grant the mark of Antiquity and that no known beginning of the Roman Church since the Apostles time which is a convincing argument that it begun in the Apostles time can be assigned They grant that the Roman Church never went out of any Society of Christians ancienter than it self They grant that no particular time can be assigned in which any innovation of Faith was introduced or change made in the Church of Rome which three things notwithstanding they ought not onely to deny but are obliged positively to prove the contrary or els grant that their forsaking the Church of Rome and caluminating it is most unjust as most certainly it is Besides this in granting as they do that the holy Fathers of the Primitive Church held the same forementioned opinions which the now existent Roman Catholicks hold consequently they must grant these two to be both one as also the Roman Catholicks to have those who were eminent in Sanctity Miracles Prophesie and the like for the holy Fathers of the Primitive Church were persons priviledged with all these great endowments and by good consequence to have the marks of Christs true Church In brief it hath been most amply proved by Catholick Authors as by the Protestants Apology and other learned Books that the ablest protestant Writers grant those things to be amongst Roman Catholicks which are truly the marks of Christs Church Read also the eleventh and thirteenth chapter in every Century of the Magdeburgians and you will see how effectually the Protestants like good advocates plead the cause of the Roman Catholicks who may truly say with Moses Our enemies are judges of the equity of our cause The second Point Consider now what things the Protestants acknowledge against themselves And here a man may truly say Out of thy own mouth I judge thee naughty servant First they disclaim from the antient Fathers and will not own them That Luther and Calvin and the Centurists doe so it is well knowne to all that read theire workes And that many of the English Protestant writers doe the same their works do witnesse True it is many of them doe pretend to appeal to the Fathers but since as many or more of them doe not but the contrary it appears by this that the Protestants are divided amongst themselves in this main point Therefore Mittam Egyptios contra Egyptios I will put the Egyptions against the Egyptions belongs to them And since of the forementioned Protestant Authors many do plainly censure and condemne the Fathers for holding popish tenents hence also it followes that they must grant them to bee all one with the now Roman Catholicks Secondly they grant that the ancient Fathers condemned in the ancient hereticks many opinions which are held by the protestants themselves now a days This is instanced at large by the author of the Progeny and others that the assertions of the old hereticks were condemned and that notwithstanding the Protestants now hold the same is evident and therefore they are forced to grant it in particular about the Sacraments the Scriptures Freewill Faith Good-works Mariage of Priests Monachism and divers other points Thirdly they grant that the four first generall Councels lawfully condemned Arius Nestorius Eutyches and Macedonius and that these were truly hereticks and yet some of them erred but in one point Therefore since to deny any one point sufficiently propounded as a truth revealed by God makes an heretick and this by the protestants own consession let any prudent man judg whether the protestants do not expose their sules to evident danger First by denying so many points now held by the Roman catholicks and the same held by the antient Fathers also Secondly by not having amongst themselves one and the same body or number of things to bee believed but on the contrary taking to themselves all liberty in believing and being actually so various and disagreeing in matters of faith as every where they are amongst them selves and so by granting these former to have been truly hereticks for their denial of some one point as they must grant it seeing the four first general councells are received in England hence it followes that they condemne and undo themselves and their own cause Founthly they grant that when Luther began there was neither true preaching nor true pastors nor true doctrine in the world Which thing though it be most false yet by granting this they grant that they themselves had no Church till Luther began and what Church began then onely could not be the true Church of Christ for want of Antiquity apostolical succession Visibility and Indefectibility which proprieties Christs Church must have True it is that Prideaux as also some others troubled
Davids posterity must be understood of Christs Church as the Apostles and holy Doctours averre What an argument of inveterate hatered is it against the Roman Church in which only these promisses are fulfiled to say as some body to their own shame and their Auditory's injury have both said and preached that this Magnificency and greatnesse of the Romon Church argues it to be the Kingdom of Antichrist No no the Roman Church is thy Kingdom Christ This collection of converted Nations is that which was blessed in the seed of Abraham This is that Kingdom whose largenesse and eternal duration Daniel fore-saw this is that holy mount Sion which David fore told Christ should be King of Raigne therefore O King of Kings in this thy Kingdom for ever Amen The thirteenth Meditation Of the name of Catholick The first Point Consider first that this noble Surname Catholick is one of the many Marks which distinguish the true Church from every particular Sect of hereticks The Apostles themselves gave Christs Church this significant name for it is specified in that Article of our beliefe I believe in the holy Catholick Church The Counsel of Nice also in that Creed puts this as a Mark of the true Church together with the other three Vnam Sanctam Catholicam Apostolicam Ecclesiam And the Athanasion Creed gives the true Faith the same honorable Appellation Consider secondly that the holy Fathers made use of this namâ— Catholick amongst other marks thereby to prove against hereticks 1. that the Roman Church was the true Church because it kept still that name 2. That Hereticks were not members of the true Church because they were called not by this but by some other name 3. That they themselves were members of the true Church because they were members of that Church which had alwaies borne that name For Saint Austin after that he had summ'd up many excellent marks and motives which like forcible chaines held him in the Roman Church and made him believe it was the true Church he thus concludes Lastly the very name of Catholick holds me in this Church thus argued he against the Manicheans And Pacianus one of the Nicen Fathers sayes Christian is my name and Catholick my surname And Hereticks in all ages whom the modern sectaries imitate in this as in other things aimed at this name which they see was a mark of the true Church with hopes therby to conciliate to their doctrine an opinion of its being true if they could get it christned by the name of Catholick The second Point Consider now that this honorable name is theirs by right and only theirs who have and do adhear to the Church of Rome the reasons are First because ever since the Primative Church they have held it as their birth-right and part of that inheritance which their Ancestors the Apostles to whom they only succeeded as lawfull heires left them And though many attempts have bin made by heretical pretenders to put them out of the possession of this yet they were never able to effect it so that now the Roman Catholicks hold it both by title of inheritance and also by title of prescription not of years only but ages Secondly it is the Roman Catholicks only because in them only is verified that which the name Catholick imports The word Catholick is a Greek word and it signifies Vniversal now this Universallity may be taken either with reference to time or place or doctrine or communion all and every one of these several acceptions pleads yea and proves that title to be theirs who hold with the Roman Church for that Religion only stretcheth it selfe out to all times by its Antiquity embraceth all Places by its Amplitude or extension of bounds its Faith and Doctrine is universally one and the same for all persons and its communication betwixt the members and the head is also universally one and the same Thirdly the generality of all sorts and Sects of people have in all ages been of this minde and upon occasion expressed the same in words that by Catholicks are meant those who are in communion with the Church of Rome Fourthly even the by-name Papist proves them Catholicks for by calling one Papist they mean as really the word argues one who joines in communion with the Pope and is under obedience to him Now the Pope is one of that never interrupted line of Saint Peters successours and consequently chief pastor under Christ of the Catholick Church Fiftly the name of Roman-Catholick which every one willingly gives them proves the same that the former reason proves the intention also which Sectaries have in calling these Roman Catholicks argues the same for they do it First to prevent Roman Catholicks from ingrosing the name Catholick wholy to themselves Secondly out of hopes that these will rest content with the title of Roman Catholicks and not impugne others when at any time they terme themselves Catholick with some such restrictive adjective as Protestant added to the word Catholick The third Point Consider and ponder the reason why Sectaries have no right to that honorable and Antient appellation of Catholicks The first is because there is no congruity betwixt the signification of the word Catholick and any one of these sects for they are not Universall in any of the four wayes mentioned in the former point much lesse in them all Secondly they can pretend no more why they should be called Catholicks than the Donatists Arians or other Sects could formerly which not withstanding were opposed and confuted in this very point by Saint Austin S. Hierom Saint Chrysostom as also by Pacianus S. Athanasius S. Cyrill and Justin Thirdly The practice of all sorts of people yea of those who are of the particular Sects themselves is to give Sectaries their names either from the authors name who first broached that Sect as the Arians Pelagians Donatists Montanists Manicheans Lutherans Calvenists and others or else from some principall Tenent which they maintain Hence the Monothelites Protestants Puritans Independents and Presbyterians have their names or from some exploit or genious of the persons as the Iconaclasts Geuses Quakers none ever gave these the name of Catholick Fourthly Sectaries do not nor dare they own the name of Catholick at such times as fidelity to their Religion most requires as first when they are brought before any Justice Judge or Tribunal either upon score of Religion or to give evidence in Court upon any other action true it is in time of disputation about the name Catholick who should have the best title to it then being constrained by their Adversaries to a forc't put and positive answer to the question they will let fall these or the like propositions we are Catholicks as well as you we are all Catholicks all Christians are Catholicks ungroundedly spoken and sooner said than proved unlesse taking the question for the argument be good proof In like manner when any Protestant Presbyterian
thraldome so the reall Body and Blood of Christ is offered up when the priest by the power which Christ hath given him consecrateth it in Masse in remembrance and thanksgiving for the benefit of man's being redeemed by Christ from the more than Egyptian bondage of sin and therefore it is called Eucharist which signifies thanksgiving and it the sacrifice of Thanksgiving Is not this a better and more honourable remembrance of Christs passion than a bit of meer Bread and a sup of Wine The devout Ceremony of making the signe of the Crosse used and commended by the holy Fathers and all ancient Christians was plainly represented and commended to us all by that Thau in Ezekiel cap 9. and by the Angels signing the Servants of God in the Revelations cap. 7. v. 3. This as the rest is fulfilled perfectly only by the Church of Rome Gather hence that since the prophesies and types also the great promises contained in these prophesies are fulfilled in the Roman Church and in it only it follows evidently that it is Christs true Church The third Point Consider now the sad condition of Sectaries argued out of their having no share at all in this full table of sweet and comfortable promises foretold by the prophets for this evidently shews that they are not the Church of Christ nor members of it On the contrary they have just reason to fear that the heavy denounciations and threats of the prophets for in this kinde onely they are like to fulfill prophesies will fall upon them for as their novell opinions fond and prophane images of their own fancies made by their private spirit have some semblance of those Idols to which the Jews sometimes falling from the worship of the true God Sacrificed So let these modern imitatours of them take heed they be not delivered over to a reprobate sense and the like spirituall punishment with them And can you still persist in that perversnesse away with these fancies yeeld to truth and say with the repenting Jewes and in this they may by you be well imitated Signa nostra non videmus jam non est propheta Psal 73. v. 10. We acknowledge we have no signes nor miracles in behalf of our sects We grant there are no propheticall men amongst us We see not the marks of Christs Church upon our Sects We confesse the prophesies are not fulfilled by us And therefore from hence forth we will resolve and choose rather to be abject in the house of God his Church than to dwell in the Tabernacks of sinners of Sectaries any longer The eighteenth Meditation Of temporal blessings and felicities miraculously bestowed on the Defenders and Propagators of the Catholick Religion The first Point To understand how temporall felicity may be one mark amongst the rest which discovers the Church of Christ from all other Sects Consider first the difference betwixt the ordinary and extraordinary providence of God The first is that whose effects we see and feel in the production conservation and operation of creatures It appears also in the effects of mans morality industry or art and in the natural effects of all secondary causes The second appears to us chiefly in effects which are surpassing the forces of naturall causes the one confers riches honours victories kingdomes and the like after that manner which we have daily experience see or hear of By me Kings do raigne Prover 8. vers 15. sayes God and he cals them Ministers of his Kingdome Wisdome 6. vers 5. and Saint Paul sayes There is no power but from God Rom. 13. By the other he give principalities and victories miraculously when and to whom he pleases and without the cocourse of secondary causes any way proportionable to those prodigious effects Thus he gave the Jews Victories most miraculously as to Josu Gedeon Judas Machabeus and others which as they were extraordinary signes both of the Divine Protection over the Synagogue as also that it was then the true Religion so the same Argument holds in behalf of the Church of Christ that that people is it on which God bestows the like victories and benefits after a miraculous manner Consider secondly for the avoiding of errour in the weaker understandings that these temporall felicities are not to be supposed a mark of Christs Church in themselves but onely so far forth as they are conferred after a miraculous manner for certain it is that poverty is as conducing a means to eternal salvation as riches yea heaven is far casilier attainable by poverty if it be imbraced not only patiently but willingly than by riches yet they are in themselves both gifts originally arifing from the hand of God The Lord hath given the Lord hath taken away sayes Job chap. 1. The Lord maketh poore and enricheth he bringeth low and lifteth up 1 King 2. v. 7. Poverty and honesty are from God Eccles 11.24 He humbles this man and he exalteth that man Psal chap. 74. So that there is no doubt of this But we speak here of the manner of Gods dispensing out these temporals which when it is miraculous it argues which Religion is most favoured by Almighty God and consequently is his Hence infer that this mark is not any way repugnant to that other of persecution for different circumstances of time place and persons remove this difficulty the Jews though they were often miraculously protected by God yet at other times he permited them to be sore persecuted as by Antiochus and others The second Point Consider now by induction of examples how highly the Roman Church and its members have been favoured by Almighty God in a miraculous way Constantine the Emperour and honour of England his native country was a Roman Catholick well known by his great reverence to the Pope to the Saints and their Relicks and to the signe of the Crosse and his example methinks might move all England to reverence the same God gave him the Empire after a miraculous manner for as he were upon his march going out of England towards Italy with small forces against Maxentius the Tyrant who had in his Army a hundred and seventy foot with eighteen thousand horse espyed in the ayre about mid-day a faire Crosse with this inscription upon it In hoc vince overcome by means of this the next night our Saviour appeared to him and shewed him the same Crosse and gave him order to bear that signe in his Banner and so he should be victorious He did so overcame the Tyrant and then became Christian After which he was victorious in all his other Battails also by means of our Saviours promise made to him if he carried that figne of the Crosse which he did alwayes carry in his Standard called the Labarum causing it to be transferred alwayes to that quarter of the Army which was most weakned by the Enemy and the fight of it added new courage to the one by which the other were soon defeated Theodosius the elder a pious and
them they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover Here 's the promise of that power and behold the performance of it Matt. 16.20 They went forth and preached every where the Lord working with them and confirming their word with signes following And that this power of working Miracles was to remaine perpetually in the Church it is acknowledged by the Protestants in their Bible Printed Anno 1576. in their Comment in the Margent upon these words of S. John He that believes in me the works that I doe he shall doe and greater These words are clear their glosse sayes thus of that place and promise This is referred to the whole Body of the Church in which this vertue doth shine for ever So that this perpetuity of the Churches being priviledged with this power an admirable gift of Gods providence is by this clearly proved Ponder Secondly the necessity of miracles as also the sufficiency of them in order to convince that that doctrine is from God which is confirmed with them both which two things are proved by scripture and reason in the second and third point of the precedent Meditation The second Point Consider now how apparently this mark of Miracles is to be found amongst the Roman Catholicks for the better understanding of which these four things following are most worthy to be well pondered First The Authours who relate them or wrote in defence of them or urge them as an argument against Heathens and Hereticks Such are St. Ireneus in his Books against Hereticks S. Basil who writes of the miracles of S. Gregory Thaumaturgus Saint Gregory Nyssen in the life of the same Saint S. Athanasius in the life of S. Anthony S. Hierom who wrote the lives of many Saints Eusebius Russinus Nicephorus and Socrates S. Ambrose who relates the miracles which happened at the finding of the bodies of the Saints ' Gervasius and Protasius martyrs St. Gregory the great in his Books of Diologues Venerable Bede in his five Books of the Church of England S. Bernard who writ the life of S. Malachy S. Bonaventure who writ the life of S. Francis and our own Country men who lived since the Conquest Malmesbury Hoveden Huntington Paris Westminster Doctour Harpsfield and Doctor Stapleton Now reflect upon this that these authours are such as that many of them are acknowledged for Saints and Doctours the Church even by all Sects whatsoever out of which it follows that they cannot be suspected of ignorance lying or faining these miracles which they recount Yea they themselves teach that imposture and forgery in point of Miracles is a grievous sin Consider secondly the persons that wrought Miracles such were S. Gregory Thaumaturgus S. Anthony S. Hillarion S. Pacovius S. Nicolas S. Martin S. Boniface S. Remigius S. Augustine the Apostle of England S. Cuthbert S. Oswald S. Guthlack S. Omer S. Bertin S. Malachy S. Bernard S. Francis and Saint Dominick and many hundreds more of which the very Adversaries of the Roman Catholikes acknowledge many of them for Saints and workers of Miracles concerning which the Magdeburgian Centurists in the 13. chap. of every Century give a clear testimony And in this last Age Hackluit a Protestant and a great admirer of S. Francis Xaverius the Jesuite writes of this blessed man that he wrought Miracles and so does Hartwell in his Epistle to his book of the kingdome of Congo in Africa speaking of the conversion of it wrote of the same man and other Roman Priests Now concerning the miraculous prodigies which these men did Histories writ by the forementioned Doctors are so clear that they cannot be denyed without disavouching all humane faith history and authority and to say or suspect that these blessed men had any recourse to the Devil or commerce and assistance from him were intolerable impiety What can light have to do with darknesse Sanctity with inveterate and confirmed malice Saints with Devils they are irreconcileable enemies continuall Antagonists Now that these Saints were all Roman Catholicks it is undoubtedly true First because the Writers of their Lives and their Acts testisfie it Secondly because their Adversaries the Centurists and others ingeniously confesse it of most of them Thirdly Because Sectaries would challenge them and their Miracles to themselves thereby to strengthen their own faction if any probability appeared which might perswade that they were no Roman Catholikes Consider thirdly The nature and excellency of these their miraculous operations No Sympathy or Antipathy no Judiciary Astrology or Art Magick no Sorcery or ability of the wicked Spirits can produce so prodigious effects True it is the Devils are not by force of their Damnation devested of their natural abilities but can do strange things yet as St. Austin in his Books of the Trinity and the Angelicall Doctor St. Thomas of Aquin and others well versed in Philosophy Theology affirm they cannot give sight to those that are born blind nor streighten distorted limbs nor cure paralyticks nor give life to the dead nay nor cure diseases but by application of natural medicines nor will Devils put their associates out of their possession of mens bodies but rather indent with one another and plot both to keep their holds they have and to make new entries into others Catholicke Priests only are they that can and have outed these impious usurpers in all ages Nor will these wicked spirits concur to the preserving the dead bodies of Saints uncorrupted at which so many devout Prayers long Watches large Alms were offered up to God in honour of his Saints and by occasion of which Monasteries Colleges Churches Chappels and Hospitals were founded O the wonders and by occasion of them the good Works that were wrought at the Shrines of S. Thomas of Canterbury S. Hugh S. Edward S. John of Beverley and S. Cuthbert this one Saints body remained incorrupt and intire every limb and joynt with the hair on the head and Episcopal weed on for the long Tract of eight hundred and forty years till the sad daies of King Henry the eight caused the demolishing of that rare and rich Shrine and the conveyance of that body into an obscure Cave onely that Ring so long wedded to that Saints finger of all the riches of that Shrine came into good hands and is now with the right Reverend Lord Richard Smith Bishop of Calcedon as I heare The translation of this one Saints body to Durham what arguments for the Roman Religion there dos it not afford For out of the brambles and bushes of a woody hill rise a City and Episcopall See in which sate 37 Bishops all obedient to the See of Rome and Roman Catholikes every one of them Consider fourthly the number and multitude of these forementioned Saints Miracles how numerous and in a manner numberlesse the Miracles were may be best gathered from the number of the Saints Six Tomes filled with Saints lives hath one man alone hence how many Miracles
Ecclesiastical Prelat but even sense and reason requires to wit that he should use that power for the edification and not to the destruction of that Church which gave him it that he should Preach and Teach her doctrine that he should administer her Sacraments but he went beyond his Commission yea quite contrary to it he preached doctrine contradictory to that of the Church he taught her doctrine was false in many of the mainest points and that her Sacraments were not so many and so efficacious causes of grace as they were he could have no commission for this yea his revolt and rebellion against the Church quite annull'd his former Commission and devested him of all the faculties which had been delegated formerly to him as for Episcopacy though some of his clients stiled him Bishop of Wittenberg as Oecolampadius whose Grave stone expresseth him the first Bishop of Basil and Zuinglius of Tigur and Calvin of Geneva yet neither he nor these other ever gave out or pretended they had Episeopall Consecration or jurisdiction from the Roman Church or from any precedent Bishops so that what they acted in this kinde was by a usurped power and invalid Consider secondly the calling of the English Ministry the Protestant titular Bishops urged alwayes against their Catholick Antagonists that they were true Bishops their proof was because they were consecrated by the old Catholick Bishops Mark here for your comfort Catholicks that your Bishops and by consequence your Priests are acknowledged for true and lawfull even by their adversaries But you Protestants mark in order to your amendment that this very means and the onely argument by which they must prove themselves lawful Bishops which they make use of to establish your cause destroys it and with all confirms that the Roman Catholicks are the onely true Church For since that main thing which Christ gave his Church to wit power to ordain Bishops and Priests and to send them to seed souls with the word of God and the Sacraments is granted to be in the Church of Rome it follows evidently that it is the true Church of Christ and that its doctrine and Sacraments are onely true for Christ could not give that Church commission to Preach doctrin contrary to his nor could the Church which confessedly hath this power ordain others and give them commission to Preach against it self Hence also it followeth if these supposed Protestant Bishops were ordained by the old Catholick ones by going against their commission and preaching and acting against that Church which gave them their power first that their former true commission ceased and was annulled Secondly that Protestants and their Bishops were and still are guilty of Schisme by not holding communion with the Church of Rome and thirdly that they are guilty of heresie these Bishops and ministers to wit in believing and teaching Doctrine contrary to the Roman Church which they say gave them their power Fourthly that they incurred the Ecclesiasticall censures for the forementioned reasons and consequently could not give orders lawfully so that their Successors were not lawfully ordained Fifthly that since the Protestant Bishops neither used the true form nor matter in the consecration of their later Bishops and Ministers with which the first of them was supposed to have been consecrated with by the old Catholick Bishops even upon this score the later were no true Bishops nor Priests Sixthly that since none can lawfully succeed in a Bishoprick unlesse the former Bishop be either dead or canonically deposed even upon this ground all the first of the Protestant Prelates were unlawfull because the old Bishops were living and not deposed when the later usurped their Sees or were intruded by others But the truth is these first Protestants took to themselves that Ecclesiastical honour without being called by God as Aaron was and took upon them the Office of preaching without being sent contrary to the words of Saint Paul It must not be presumed but positively proved by them that they were consecrated by the old true Bishops and that they succeeded them legally they must be able to prove when where and by what Catholick Bishops they were consecrated and what faculties and commission they had All other Catholick Priests can demonstrate in behalf of their Apostolical calling all these particular circumstances but the Protestants could never yet prove their lawful calling thus and yet are obliged to do it otherwise they are to be looked upon as having got into the sheepfold not by entring in at the doore but by elimbing up another way And indeed the Catholicks urge which they are not liged to do very positive and probable arguments to convince the Protestants unlawful calling and that they had not any consecration or jurisdiction from them For first the Catholick Bishops all of them absolutely refused to consecrate any of the Protestants who seeing this and not hoping to obtain it of them by proceeding in a fair way aimed at the getting of it by underhand dealing but that good old and infirm Bishop of whom they thought to have taken orders without discovering that they were Protestants having got some hints of their designe rejected them their next plot was the producing of a Register in which were set down the names of divers Protestants ordained Bishops by such and such Catholick Prelates but the forging and fraud of this Register was soon laid open by the Catholick party and so that attempt ceased The next Machine they moved was by an Order from the Court that so many Divines and Lawyers should enter into consultation and resolve whether some new form of making Clergy-men might not be found out without dependence of the Church of Rome but the ridiculousnesse of this adynaton soon made that conventicle desist from proceeding further in that way at length therefore they resolved to ordain each other without more ado which seven or eight of them ventured upon all on one day not after the ancient Catholick manner publickly and solemnly in the Church at high masse and in the eyes of many hundreds of people but privately in an Inne and without any witnesses And lastly Queen Elisabeth and the Parliament ordained that all who had the Queens Letters Patents for to be Bishops should by the people be acknowledged for true Bishops notwithstanding what soever defect might have happened in the consecration of them Now these instances and particularly the last plainly intimate that all was not well with these Protestant Bishops in point of lawfull calling The fourth Point Out of the precedent points many fruitful consequences may be gathered and first that that Sect which wants Pastors lawfully called cannot possibly be the true Church of Christ 2. That none can be lawfully called unlesse they be consecrated by Bishops lineally descended from the Apostles 3. That since there must be a See Apostolick somewhere for otherwise Apostolical succession cannot be derived down from age to age till the world
end as the Scripture sayes it must and since there is no other but the See of Rome which can with the least shew of probability pretend to have a succession of Bishops uninterruptedly continued from the Apostles time to these our dayes the Romane See must be the Apostolick this being so as most assuredly it is change that simister opinion you misled men which you have had of the Church of Rome so long away with that contumelious language with which you vilifie and slander it lay aside passion and prejudice then let the Romane Religion be paralell'd with any one or all other Sects and after your second thoughts upon this subject you will assuredly frame a better conceipt of that so long continued and so well grounded faith Gather fourthly that the Church of Rome hath been alwayes visible which is proved by its continuall succession of chief Pastors Fifthly that since Christ must have a Visible Church upon earth and since no other but the Roman hath been visiblely conspicuous in all ages it must be Christs Church love it therefore honour it adhere to it Sixthly since there is no true religion without true Priesthood no true Priesthood without true consecration and that by Bishops Apostolically descended and since there are none of those among these later sects what hopes what comfort what security yea or probability of salvation amongst these O Chief Priest Christ O thou whom God hath anointed with the olye of gladnesse before thy fellows be thou ever blessed for sending them as thy Father sent thee be ever praised for giving that eternall Priest hood according to the order of Melchisedech to them which thy Father gave thee Silence we beseech thee all false and lying prophets that say the Lord saith and the Lord hath not sent them Send labourers into thy Vinyard and make the fruits of their labours many and great to thy glory Amen The Tenth Meditation Of Antiquity The first Point Consider first that antiquity is a mark of Christs Church this is most clear out of scripture all those places in which the indefectibility and infallibility of the Church is foretold promised or intimated prove also the Antiquity of it And I will make this my covenant saith the Lord my spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed from hence forth for ever A most ample promise of the Churches antiquity and never failing Vpon thy wals O Hierusalem have I set watchmen all the day and all the night for ever they shall not be silent These so significant words cannot be verified upon the City of Hierusalem since it hath been destroyed but of Christs Church Behold I am with you all the dayes even untill the consummation of the world most expresse words of our Saviour who also said That after the sower had sown good seed then came the enemy and sowed cockle upon it the good seed of Catholick doctrine was first sowen by Christ and afterwards the devill sowed the cockle of false doctrine and heresie upon it Confider secondly the antiquity of Christs Church gathered from other reason And first its very names import thus much it is called the Church of Christ because he founded it when in mortall flesh he conversed with men and therefore it would imply a contradiction to grant it to be Christs Church and yet deny it antiquity it is also called Catholick not onely because it imbraceth all places but all times also and it is called Apostolick because it begun in the Apostles retains their doctrine and keeps their succession 2. Reason dictates to all that truth is precedent in time to falshood which is nothing else but a denyall of truth and consequently posteriour in time to it for the Father of lyes brought falshood into the world when he tempted our first Parents after their creation in the state of Grace and Knowledge of Truth 3. The holy Fathers alwayes urged this mark of the antiquity of the Catholick Church against the Novellismes of the Hereticks and their comming after that the Church of Christ was begun so did Saint Austin urge this mark against the Manicheans and Saint Hierom in his Epistle to Pammachius Hence infer first that that Sect cannot possible be yea or conceived to be Christs true Church w ch begun in such or such a year after that Christs Church was instituted Why because this posteriority of times argues diversity which excludes identity Secondly that that sect cannot possibly be the true Church of Christ which though it began in Christs or his Apostles time yet hath not continued but is now annihilated and why because its antiquity which must not onely be derived from Christs time but the same must also be without interruption continued till the worlds end is come to an end Christs Church having still its being The second point Consider now the Antiquity of the Church of Rome by which Church is understood not onely that Congregation of the faithfull which in the City of Rome and the adjacent places adhere to that Supream Bishop but all others also dispersed over all the earth that are united to the Church of Rome by the same belief by communion in the same Sacraments and by obedience to the same Supream head under Christ the Antiquity therefore of this Church is first demonstrated out of the Scripture it self Saint Paul writ that famous Epistle of his to the Church of Rome in which he gives the members thereof many great Elogiums To all that be in Rome beloved of God called Saints and again your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world When Saint Paul was come near to Rome the faithful for even then there were Christians at Rome at Puteoli and thereabouts before Saint Pauls coming thither went out of Rome to meet him and his fellow prisoners as far as Appii forum He began presently upon his arrival to preach in sine he preached the faith of Christ in Rome without any disturbance for two whole years together Of the Church of Rome Saint Peter also makes mention in these words The Church which is in Babylon salutes you so that both the Antiquity and truth also of the Romane faith is demonstrated out of Scripture Consider secondly the Antiquity of the Romane Church continued conserved uninterrupted in all ages since its being founded in the Apostles time First at all times in every age there hath been apparent a visible body of Professours of the Roman faith this is evinced clearly by that brief Catalogue of Saints put down in the sixth Meditation as also by the never interrupted Apostolick Succession of chief Pastors treated in the preceding Meditation 2. The faith and Doctrine held now by the Church of Rome accords most perfectly with the faith and Doctrine of
the Holy Fathers in all points this truth hath been of purpose moved at large by many learned writers nor can Sectaries instance any one particular thing w ch the Roman Catholicks now hold as a point of faith which was not held by the Holy Fathers yea every particular point is granted even by Protestants themselves to have been the Doctrine or practice of the holy Fathers 3. Going out or separation is specified in the Scripture and by the holy Fathers as a note of novelty and heresie now certain it is that Sectaries could never assign any known time in which the Church of Rome went out and separated it self from any Society of Christians antienter than it self and this they grant which is a signe it is the antiontest of all Churches still and the only true 4. Of all sects of Hereticke the beginning of them withall the notable circumstances is known set down by writers No known beginning since the Apostles time of this Roman Religion which now is extant was ever mentioned by any authour whatsoever nor can be and this the very Adverfaries grant which is a sign that it is the most antient of all Religions and the very same which was established in Rome by the Apostles 5. since all Sectaries grant that the Romane Religion remained truly Catholick and Orthodox for many hundred years after the Apostles time it is and must be granted by all to be still the same unlesse evidence and that convincing can be brought in against it out of good and warrantable authours when Rome lost its true Religion in what point it did erre against its former true faith who taught that false saith first and what number adheard to it at first who stood in opposition against it who condemned it and what body of people stuck still to the true Religion for Christs true Church was still visible somewhere and to what countrey or town did any of them repair for Rome stood still for the Pope and he in it to exercise the true Religion in certain it is that most of all these circumstances would have been most exactly recorded if any such thing had happened that the Vicar of Christ should promulge an Heresie to be believed by the whole Church and that the true Church should lose its true faith which had been the greatest change and strangest point of news that ever the world had heard of since Christs time and no one Authour at least recount the circumst-nces of that great wonder is plainly incredible especially since the particular points and passages of all other heresies yea of all considerable points of news done in any Nation are alwayes commended to posterity by some Writers at least by some one the deep silence of all kinde of Authors in this businesse till Luthers time condemns this wretched Apostata and all that band against the Church of Rome upon that ungrounded and impious supposition of deadly sin of schisme of Hesie and obligeth all whom invincible ignorance excuseth not under pain of the same sins to return to the communion of the Church of Rome again Ponder further the antiquity and consequently the verity of the Roman Church upon this ground She was once in possession yea for many ages of the honourable title of being the most ancient and true Church Now this is her most just plea she hath still possession and melior est conditio possidentis of what her adversaries once her children grant was long hers by right Now by what law surely neither by the civill nor natural can she be thrust out of possession since her adversaries who are the Plaintiffs in this unjust action can prove nothing against her Deniall serves the Defendant the other must positively prove that which they can never prove Ponder lastly the Antiquity of the Roman Catholick Religion from the common sense or consent of all people from which arose that phrase of the Vulgar sort calling it the old Religion All these considerations questionless convince that the Roman Catholicks are the most antient and consequently the true Religion for here the one infers the other Si hi tacuerint lapides clamabunt if these arguments proclaim not with a voice loud enough the antiquity of the Roman Religion the very stones will speak in its behalf all ancient monuments even Gravestones and Church Windows all Abbies Collegies Churches and Chappels of which many lye buried in their own ruines for this Religions sake and crosses now groveling upon the ground for their too much favouring the antient Religion are strong witnesses of this truth Thou therefore that art wavering and carried about with every winde of doctrine harken to what the ancient of daies sayes to the of this ancient Religion Stand in the wayes and see and inquire of the old paths which is the good way and walk therein The third Point To understand the better that none but Roman Catholicks can justly pretend Apostolick antiquity consider first that rule which S. Hierom gives as a touch stone to try heresies by to reduce an heresie to its first beginning is to confute it this is it and it is well grounded in reason and Saint Irenaeus before him used the same rule and by it confuted the Valentineans and Marcionists Consider secondly this other proof of heresies novelty and salshood to wit going out and separation the scriptures make going out a distinctive mark of Hereticks Saint John speaking of Hereticks sayes They went out from us 1 Jo. 2. 19. Saint Jude sayes These are they which segregate themselves Jud. 19. Saint Paul sayes Out of our own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves Act. 20. 30. And the Apostles together in Councel said We have heard that certain going forth from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls Act. 15. 24. And our Saviour gave us all his expresse admonition against being seduced by Hereticks in these words Go ye not out Mat. 24. 26. So that going out is a badge or character of an Heretick and Novelist Hence inser that since Berengarius Waldo Wyckliffe Hus Luther Carolstadius Peter Maryr Bucer Oecolampadius Ochinus Zuinglius Calvin and Beza who had all been originally Româ—n Catholicks went out from that Church they are convicted to be Novelists Hereticks and Schismaticks and since both their going out of the Church of Rome is confessed by all and easily made manifest even by this alone their heresies are easily reduced to their first beginnings and consequently according to Saint Hieromes rule confuted As for Luther who led the Van of all these troups of modern Sectaries he in the year 1517. went out of the Church of Rome and began a new sect and in the year 1529. he and his adherentâ— gave to themselves their own posterity the name of Protestants a name never heard of before the occasion of the imposition of that new name was taken by their protesting
Scripture and that the twelve Articles were made by the Apostles they must believe which are not expressed either in Scripture or in the Creed what and how many these things were they never yet resolved nor do they agree in the meaning of the twelve Articles they admit what latitude and liberty in believing they please they neither agree about the Canon of Scripture for some admit parts of it which others reject nor have they one authentical Edition but a multiplicity nor one and the true sense but every one follows his own private interpretation hence is it that their Ministers cannot be unanimous and preach all the same doctrine they cannot agree about the number or nature of the Sacraments for some admit fewer others more and these are instrumentall causes of grace withsome bare elements with others in form of worship they come nearer a nullity than unity for nothing now but a Psalm and that not liked of by many is used in most of the Churches they have not one head of their Church but are become Acephalist◠or if otherwise every man at least Minister when he pleaseth makes himself head of a faith particular to himself or his houshold nor have they one yea any judge of Controversies but in that every man is his own Master whence it cometh that how many men so many minds are there even about going or not to Church in which exteriour action alone many place their whole Religion without any regard who preacheth or what is his doctrine they are various so like it others are aversed from it some go and others forbear in fine no uniformity nor unity but a kinde of multiformity appears even in the most famous Sects amongsts them which be it what it will is more like that Proteus Hieroglyphick of each modern Sect metamorphising himself now into one shape now into another then any way resembles the perfectly one mysticall body of Christs true Church The fourth Point Out of these former points gather first a perfect knowledge and a lively apprehension of the far different condition of Roman Catholicks from that of Sectaries in point of Religion the one hath an admirable Systema of Faith and Religion the other a confused Chaos of disagreeing fancies and judgments onely the one hath unity mixed with a most gratefull variety the other neither unity nor variety the one hath a summe of things to be believed which is one and the same for all persons and places the other hath nothing fixt or settled in point of belief 2. Since the Roman Catholicks have in a most perfect manner this mark of Unity so much mentioned in the holy Scriptures and no other sect hath any thing that is considerable of it the former ought to be embraced by all as the true Church of Christ and the rest forsaken as false and Heretical sects 3. Since the substance of the two former points parallel'd together cannot but work strongly upon an impartial and disingaged judgment and will prosecute draw Christian soul this comparison with a desire of the truth and thy souls good and at length thou wilt finde that onely the Roman Catholicks are that populus unius labii a people of one lip saying and believing every one the same thing in matters of Religion and Faith you will find that Saint Pauls exhortation to the Corinthians I beseech you that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no schismes among you but that ye be perfectly knit together in the same mind and in the same judgment is truly fulfilled by them We acknowledge sweet Saviour that your amorous prayer to your heavenly for your Churches Unity Neither pray I for these Apostles of mine alone but for them also which shall believe in me through their word that they all may be one we acknowledge that it was beard and also is fulfilled by the members of the Roman Church and by them onely and that in such manner as forceth us to admire and cry out with the Prophet O quà m bonum ac jucundum eft habitare fratres in unum O how good and pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity Psal 133.1 The Twelfth Meditation Of the Amplitude and extent of the Dominions of Christ Church The first Point COnsider first the Predictions of the Prophets concerning the great extent and Amplitude of the kingdome of Christs Church Of it said David It shall rule from sea to sea Psal 71 To it spoke God by the same Prophet I will give unto thee Nations for thy Inheritance and for thy possession the bounds of the earth Psal 2 Of it spoke Esay The Nation and kingdome which will not serve thee shall perish Isa 6 And to it spoke the same Kings shall be thy nursing Fathers and Queens thy nursing Mothers Isa 49.23 Upon which place the English Bible makes this glossa Kings shall be converted to the Gospel and bestow their power and authority for the preservation of the Church Daniel also hath most strange Predictions and representations of the greatnesse of the Kingdom of Christs Church in the interpretation of the meaning of that statua and the same thing is prefigured in the four beasts representing the same foure Monarchies after which the monarchy of Christs Church was to succeed and surpasse them all Consider 2d that since this kingdom of Christ whose great dominions are here promised foretold must be now some where extant and visible upon earth that Church whether it prove the Roman Catholick or some other sect which hath not this Amplitude salendour and greatness of limits and bounds cannot be it but on the contrary that to w ch most Nations Kings and Princes have yeelded to have honored acknowledged for the kingdome of Christ that must be and no other Christs true Church The second Point Consider first the amplitude of the Church of Rome from that time to wit of Saint Gregory the great about which Sectaries say it ceased to be any longer the true Church of Christ for their imputations aspersions with which they endeavour to brand the Church of Rome must be granted to be most unjust slanders and it to be still the true Church if this mark and the others attributed to Christs Church by the scriptures be still apparent upon it In the time of Saint Gregory therefore almost all parts of the world obeyed the Church of Rome and communicated with it this appears evidently by the Epistles of that holy Doctour to the Bishops both of the Orientall and Western Churches Constantinople with the other Patriarchal Seas obeyed then the Church of Rome the Bishops of Greece yeelded to it to it the Churches of Asia to it the Churches of Affrica submitted all these stood true to the Church of Rome and when they revolted from it they fell not only into schisme but into heresie also to wit the deniall of divinity to the holy Ghost which
Independent or the like being about to die is desired to declare himself in point of Religion he will not say thus I die a Catholick for the spectatours and auditours would immediately conclude that he dyed a Papist but he would declare himself thus I die a Protestant Presbyterian or the like or I die a member of the Church of England which is in effect to say he dies a Protestant and thus the titular Archbishop of Canterburie Mr. Laud and some other great Personages that died the same death before and after him declared themselves at that instant which was both most unseasonable for dissembling and at which period a man should be serious if ever and yet these great Persons to hold an argument whilest they were in discourse upon who had the best claim to the honourable title of Catholick would undoubtedly have stood for it themselves The fourth Point Out of these former points make these ensuing reflections first that the name Catholick is and hath been alwayes esteemed by venerable antiquity a mark of the true Church yea even Sectaries alwayes esteemed it so upon that account would somtimes challenge it thereby to Patronize and vent their new fashioned Religions the sooner 2. That those who desire to be accounted Catholicks by all Sects and sorts of people yea and which is better by God himself must joyn with those whom they call Roman Catholicks in the same Belief Communion and obedience to the spiritual Prelates 3. That the denominations of Catholick Papist or Roman Catholick are in substance all one thing and as it were termini convertibiles or synonima Now to the â—nd a man may be saved since it is not sufficient to bear onely the extrinsecall appellation of a Catholick but he must lead a life conformable to that name and Religion therefore Grant good Lord a large contribution of thy grace both to all aliens from thy Church that they may become members of it and to those also who are adopted into that honourable family already that they may speake by a good life what they professe in their belief Amen The fourteenth Meditation Of the Gift of Prophecy The first Point FOr a perfect information and understanding of this truth that the priviledge of prophesying is a mark of Christs Church Consider first the infallible testimony of Gods word Your sons and your daughters shall prophecy and your young men shall see visions Joel 2. Behold Gods promise by his Prophet and that this was made to the Church of Christ witnesse the Prince of the Apostles Saint Peter who cites these very words of Joel Acts 2. to prove what 's here intended Nor is Saint Paul inferiour to Saint Peter in the proof of this point for in his induction of the graces given to the Church Gratis he ranks the gift of Prophesie amongst the rest so that no doubt can be made of this truth Consider secondly the excellency of this endowment and how sufficiently able it is to notifie unto us which is the true Church Prophets are called videntes by reason of that kind of intuitive knowledge which they have of future things not as at a distance onely but as actually present they need no such window in mans breasts as that momus wished for thereby to see into mens hearts they anticipate what the succession of time brings to others and the celestiall secrets which others have from the second or third hand they have them immediately from the divine Wisdom and certainly the knowledge of future things contingent is not attainable either by the nature or art of man it can only be had from God and who have it may deservedly be held for great correspondents with him and this truth is expressed to the full in these words following Declare the things that are to come and we shall know that ye are Gods Isa 41. Now if these by this gift of Prophesie become as it were Gods or men of God certainly that must be the Church of God which is highly endowed with the same gift The second point Consider now how eminent the Roman Church hath been at all times in this point and to say nothing of the predictions of Saint Gregory Thaumaturgus mentioned by Saint Basil in his book of the Holy Ghost cap. 29. Of Saint Anthony recounted by Saint Athanasius the Writer of his Life of the Abbot John of whom Saint Austin in in his Book of the City of God makes honourable mention cap. 26. And to passe with silence the Saints of the Primitive Church famous in this kinde we will come to those times and persons which Protestants themselves acknowledge for papistical the argument will be the stronger by this supposition Saint Benedict the spiritual Father of many thousand Monks amongst his other strange Prophesies foretold Totilas King of the Goths that he should enter the City of Rome then crosse the Seas homeward and that he should depart this life after the period of nine years should be expired all these things Saint Gregory sayes he knew to have been effected Lib. 2. dial c. 25. Saint Cuthbert foretold the totall rout of Egfrid King of the Northumbers his Army by the Picts and the Kings death amongst the rest in the field and this the year before it hapened and the next year upon the approach of the time and a disaster prenunciated he went on purpose to Carlile to comfort the Queen Egfrids wife and to be with her against that fatall day there in spirit he saw the whole tragedy as it was acted a far off in the Country of the Picts and related the same to the Queen the same Saint foretold his own Election to be Bishop with the time when and other circumstances he foretold his own departure out of this life to the holy Ermit Herebert who earnestly requesting the Saint that he would negotiate with the divine Majesty for his passage together with his presently the Saint replyed that his petition was granted and indeed one and the same day carried them both out of this mortal life together He foretold but with the qualifying particle perhaps out of his humility that after his death men should have recourse to his body as to an asylum it proved so and that for the space of eight hundred and forty years These predictions with many more Venerable Bede recounts in a particular Book extant in his Tomes of S. Cuthberts life King Edward the Confessor whilest he was hearing Mass upon Whitsunday saw the King of Denmark fall into the Sea as he was going out of a Long-boat into the Admiral and drown by which accident that his intended invasion of England with that Navy was spoiled Saint Hugh Bishop of Lincolne whilst he was yet Prior of the Charterhouse Monks at Witham next under God delivered King Henry the second out of a dangerous Tempest at Sea for that King in that great danger had most earnestly wished for the assistance of Saint Hugh
his prayers immediately upon which the fearfull storm ceased to the great astonishment of the King and increase of his reverent respect to the man of God Saint Bernard being requested by a Noble mans son that he would pray for the conversion of his Father returned him this answer be not perplexed be not perlexed I shall bury him in this Monastery of Clarevall a perfect Monk and so it fell out he foretold also the conversions of foure more Saint Francis foretold the Captains of the Christian Army that if they gave the Sarazens battail upon their intended day they should loose the field they took little notice of the holy mans Caveat ingaged with the enemy and were defeated Saint Dominick falling sick at Bolonia called for the Religious Fryars of the Convent there and exhorting them to the study of perfection told them he should die of that sicknesse and yet it was far from mortal then Saint Ignatius founder of the order of the â—ociety of Jesus foretold that Francis Borgia then Duke of Gandia should forsake the world become religious and General of the forementioned order so he died and is now beautisied Hence infer that the Roman Church is highly priviledged with this Prerogative and gift of prophesie for these blessed men are known by all to have lived and dyed Roman Catholicks As for the Writers of their lives or Prophesies Saint Athanasius S. Austin S. Gregory Venerable Bede S. Bonaventure and other Authors of known fidelity with what face can they be suspected either of feigning or recountting these things without an assured knowledge of the truth of them The third Point Consider first for prevention of objections against the gift of prophesies being an argument that the Roman Church is the true Church that though God may or have revealed things to come by persons not known to be of the true Church or in his favours as he did by Balaam Number 24. v. 17. foretell the Star which appeared at our Saviours birth and by the Sybils whose acrostick Poem is full of most clear predictions about our Saviour Yet he will never permit a thing contingent to be foretold and fulfilled in confirmation of a fals religion Besides this makes nothing against the intent of this Meditation which is to shew first that the gift of prophesie is a mark of Christs true Church and this is proved by scripture 2. That this gift is found to be eminent in the Roman Church and so it appears evidently proved in this point going before 3. That that Sect cannot possibly be the true Church which is destitute of this gift because it wants this mark which is inseparable from the true Church for the Negative here as in all other marks admits no latitude but excludes all sects devoid of these marks from possibility of being the true Church and to understand how truly Sectaries are destitute of the gift of Prophesie Consider secondly that in reall truth they could never instance any particular Prophesies delivered by members of their Sects in confirmation of their doctrine nor indeed have they any person endowed with the gift of any true prophesie at all True it is that Luther prophesied once that if he lived but to preach his doctrine two years longer the Pope Cardinals Bishops Monks Nuns Towers Bels and Masses would all vanish away he preached afterwards according to his manner not onely two years but almost twenty two yet these things are al extant none of them vanished hence infer that Luther proved himself a false prophet by this and his doctrine false according to what is Writ in Deuteronomy cap. 18. of false prophets and that of Jeremy Thy Prophets England have seen false and foolish things Lam. 2. Calvin indeed prognosticated more truly but to the destruction of his own Sect in these words Concerning posterity I am so anxious that I dare not think of it for unlesse God send marvellous succour from heaven I seem to see extream barbarousnesse hang over the world and I pray God our children may not erelong feel that this is rather a prophesie than a conjecture Thou hadst had Calvin no need of such fear if thy sect had been that Church which Christ built upon that rock for the gates of Hell would not have been able to prevail against it But conformably to what Gamaliel said since thine is the work of man thy prophesie will be accomplished it will come to nothing And he that will apply to the Protestant what Hooker appropriated to the Puritan King Davids words of the life of man and withall summon up the years betwixt the establishing of Protestant Religion by Queen Elizabeths Parliament and the abolishing of the same by this late parliament will sinde a kinde of prophesie of the ruine of it in these the royal prophets words The dayes of our years are threescore years and ten and if by reason of of strength they be fourscore years yet is their strength labour and sorrow for it is soon cut off Psal 90. Thus speaks the Protestant Bible and thus out of this point it appears that Sectaries have not that gift of prophesie which is promised by scripture to Christs Church as a mark of it The fifteenth Meditation Of Easie decision of Controversies The first Point COnsider first what means the divine wisdome provided the Jewish religion with in order to deciding of Controversies amongst them In Deuteronomy 17. God declared in expresse terms many particulars concerning this matter and first he appoints for judge of the hardest controversies not the scripture as Sectaries doe but the Priests a living judge and particularly the chief Priest Secondly he commands all to stand to the definitive sentence of that judge even upon pain of death v. 12. And thirdly he promiseth that that judges definition verdict and decree shall be infallibly true v. 9 10 11. but particularly in these words He shall shew thee the truth of judgement judicii veritatem which words in the Protestant Bible are falsly translated the sentence of judgement Consider secondly the necessity of a living judge No form of Government be it Monareby Aristocracy or Democracy can subsist in an orderly being without it No suit either in Civil or Canon Law no action of debt or dammage can come to a tryal no sentence can be passed upon any person or cause without the voice of a living judge two Counsellors cannot without a Judge as Umpire put a final period to any one cause for example in the Court of Chancery so as that both parties shall understand and acknowledge it to be decided much lesse will the Plaintiffe and Defendant end their quarrell by themselves alone without a Judge for each one would still plead for himself the dead letters of the written law can never sufficiently expound either the legislatours mind or it is own meaning nor shal men at any time understand by it alone who is cast who
hath got the better in fine all injustices and outrages would be committed and no malefactours punished without a living judge and that such an one as from whose sentence there is no appeal Now if these instances prove as they do most effectually the requisitnesse of a living judge for the upholding of all true civill judicature and government much more is a living judge necessary in ecclesiasticall in which matters of Faith and Religion and consequently of eternal moment are to be tryed The second Point To understand how easie and efficacious means the true Church of Christ hath for the composing of Controversies Consider first that it belongs to the divine providence which extends it selfe to a care over every the least individuum of the most contemptible species amongst natural things not to let his Church want any thing of those which are required ad melius esse much more to supply it with what 's absolutely necessary as means clear and easie for the judging of Controversies is Secondly what perfection the Jewish Synagogue had in this kinde that à fortiori is to be supposed in Christs Church for it was but the handmaid this the Spouse if the shaddow this the Sun if the type this the reall thing prefigured if it had a living judge an infallible judge who was to shew the truth of judgment and a judge to whose final sentence that people was to stand upon pain of death shall the Church of Christ in which the most weighty controversies of divine Faith and eternal salvation are raised every foot by Hereticks want such means Assuredly no. Consider thirdly the many Texts of Scripture yea and as clear in the confirmation of this as of any point whatsoever by which the Church of Christ is impowred with an infallible authority for deciding Controversies even of the highest nature All power is given to me in heaven and in earth goe ye therefore and teach all Nations Mat. 28. in which words the emphasis of that particle theresore intimateth that a powerfull Commission was given them and consequently of teaching without danger of erring and that it was not given to them onely but also to their successors the ensuing words Behold I am with you alwayes even unto the end of the world Luke 10. Convince He that beareth you beareth me and be that despiseth you despiseth me If he will not hear the Church let him be to thee as a heathen and Publican Matt. 18.17 Our Saviour sayes of his Church that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it Mat. 16. And he sayes in most significant words that the holy Ghost shall teach the Church all truth Jo. 16. O divine spirit since you cannot but perform what our Saviour promised this teaching of the Church all truth what do they deserve that accuse it of truth And indeed either the verity of Christs promise or the fidelity of the holy Ghosts performance is questioned when the true Churches Infallible Authority is doubted of or its erring avouched The third Point Consider now that since the true Church of Christ where ever it be now hath his infallible power of resolving all doubts in matters of Faith as the forementioned places of scripture besides many more confirm and since some one of the various religions now extant in the world must be Christs true Church and have this power for still there is a Church and it the Ground and Pillar of Truth Tim. 1.3 let us see what Church sympathizeth best or rather is as some one must be identified with Christs true Church in this point and by good consequence in all others First therefore this infallible judge and composer of all controversies in Christs Church formerly could be no other than either the head of it or some representative body of the Church or both joyntly together no other means of having a living judge can more probably yea or possibly be affigned for all the mombers of the church men women children cannot be collected together into one consult we see also that a Parliament in w ch some one is president above the is the representative body of a Kingdom or Common wealth and what it being a law full one acts is the act of the whole Nation we know more over that in the primitive Church this judge was no other but such an one as is here intended to wit the chief pastor and head of the Church or a General Councel or both and by such a judge was Arius condemned to wit by the Councel of Nice in which Hosius Bishop of Corduba in Spain was Presidentin the place of Pope Silvester who sent him and confirmed the acts of that Councel So was Macedonius condemned in the first Councel of Constantinople So Nestorius in the Ephesine Councel so Eutiches in the Councel of Calcedon so in all suceeding ages Controversies as they rise were decided and Hereticks condemned after the foresaid manner therefore that living judge so necessary must be such an one Consider secondly that the same praxis hath alwayes been held in the Roman Church and is held still eighteen general Councels have been called and confirmed by the supream Bishops or Popes of Rome the first whereof was the Nicene Councel and the last the Councel of Trent in which sate six Cardinalls four Legates three Patriarks thirty two Archbishops and Bishops two hundred and twenty eight besides Abbots Generals of Religious orders and a great number of divines sent by such Bishops as for infirmity or other just reasons could not be present And that this Councell was not of as great Authority as any of the first four were can never be proved all that can be urged against this Councell must be grounded upon that false and ungrounded but dreadfull fince all Sectaries venter their salvation upon on the same supposition that the Roman Church hath fallen from the true and Primitive Faith Prove this your supposition you miserable men which you could never yet prove or be converted or loose your souls of which you run a most desperate hazard by forsaking that Church which is acknowledged by your selves to have been once the true Church meerly upon Luthers hare word that it hath lost the true faith Consider thirdly that since there is no other Church now in the world but the Roman Church which holds the same way and manner of deciding controversies which the Primitivs church held nay nor hath any means to procure such a judge for want of a head to call and confirm a Generall Councel and Bishops to consult enact and see that the inferiour Pastours put in execution what was enacted Hence it follows that the Roman Church is the onely true Church of Christ The fourth Point Consider lastly that since Sectaries reject the authority of the Popes nor can have General Councels and consequently no living judge they must fly either to scripture alone or to the private spirit As for the scripture first it cannot perform the Office
Pau. What lopping produceth in the Vines that persecution effecteth in the Church saith Saint Persecution Justin The blood of Martyrs is the seed of the Church in Triphon saith Tertullian in his Apologetick cap. ult and Saint Cyprian both said it sealed the truth of it with his blood King James also is said to have often repeated these Saint Cyprians words sanguis martyrum semen ecclesia and upon reflection of the truth of them to have often expressed his mislike of shedding Priests blood The blood of Tiburtius and Valerianus of Faustinus and Jovita of Saint Clement Saint Thecla and Saint Katherine shed for the Faith of Christ drew a far greater number than they were to believe in him did not the death of Saint Lucia the Roman widdow double in Geminianus and others converted what the Church was robbed of by her death Was not the number of Faithfull B lievers as much augmented in the conversion of Adauctus as it was diminished by the death of happy Felix And did not the Curch gaine by loosing Saint Januarius almost five thousand For so many were converted at his martyrdome Read the Martyrs sufferings those who love to read rare things and they will be convinced of what even the Apostata Julian was convinced that the sequell of persecuting Christians is the multiplication of Christians Consider a second effect of suffering for such a cause and that is the great glory which doth acrew both to God and to the sufferers thereby God cannot regale man more in this mortal life than to make him a Martyr and man cannot perform a greater point of service for God than by suffering as becomes a Martyr for no man bath greater charity than such an one In Martyrdome God compleateth man with the greatest of his favours and in the same man complieth with God in the superlative degree of his indeavours O strange and most perfect circle of perfect love Persecution betwixt God and man in martyrdom out of the Ocean of infinite love flows this felicity into man by a strange participation and from it runs back into the same abysse by a pure intention O strange reciprocation and unheard of communication betwixt God man in martyrdome O martyrdome a felicity which none conceives but he who receives it a secret which no man knows but from God who tels it a word which none understands but from him who gives it and a favour which none can deserve but let all desire it Pardon me said one I know what 's good for me fire crosse beasts breaking of my bones disjoynting of my limbs brusing of my body and all the torments that the Devill can inflict come upon me so be that I may enjoy Christ O myrrour of martyrdome blessed Bishop Ignatius if to us thy words seem so sweet how sweet were thy thoughts when thou uttered these words when thou suffered what thou longed for when thou enjoyed the reward of what thou suffered Answer thou O my soul at least guesse what a case that enamoured bea rt was in then think ruminate meditate with desire humility sorrow and purpose to be often that in affection which thou cannot till God please be in effect The third Point Ponder first that all who are out of the true Church are incapable whilest they remain so of this great purchase of martyrdome for without Catholick and true faith it is impossible to please God and without pleasing God as little possible to be a martyr Now those who are not members of Christs true Church cannot have true faith whilest they remain so Hence infer that though Sectaries suffer upon score of Religion as some of severall Sects have yet none of them are martvrs for as amongst severall Sects of believers there can be but one true Church so amongst several sorts of sufferers there 's one only of them can be true martyrs the reason of this is contained in these words of Saint Austin Non poena sed causa facit martyrem not the punishment which a man suffers but the cause for which be suffereth makes a Martyr Let him suffer torments and death never so willingly and that upon account of Religion yet he can be no martyr unlesse his Religion be the true one Occidi potest coronari non potest sayes that holy Father Infer secondly that he who will deny the Primitive Martyrs to have been of the same Religion with the Roman Catholicks which now are must positively prove in what and when the Roman Church which was once the true Church even by the Confession of all Sectaries did fall from being the true Church This fall this change this transition is inconceptible and yet Sectaries are obliged to prove it or else return to that Church again Ponder secondly that in case it were supposed that Sectaries might be capable of being truly Martyrs yet no one sect no nor all sects together out of all which Fox makes his Martyrs could make up a Martyrologe comparable to what is in the Church of Rome Gather out of the precedent points first that the mark of Martyrdome is only to be found in the Roman church and consequently that it is the true church Secondly that the martyrs of the Primitive Church and those Roman Catholicks that suffered under King Henry the eighth Queen Elizabeth and her successors were all of one Church all Roman Catholicks all true Martyrs for Sectaries could never yet prove any innovation in matters of faith or false doctrine introduced by the Church of Rome add to the former those martyrs all Catholick Priests and in number 21 who have suffered in England since the year 1640 till this present year 1654 inclusive Hail King of Martyrs Christ the meritory and exemplar cause of all true martyrdome we magnifie thee in these thy martyrs noble Champions and pious Prodigals of their blood for thee Please if it be thy blessed pleasure that in this thy cause my unworthy self with many more may have some share of these sweet sufferings and if not dye for thee at least dye for not dying for thee The seventeenth Meditation Of Prophesies and promises and the figures of the old law fulfilled in the true Church The first Point COnsider first that not only the the Prophets of the old law but Christ himself also foretold many things of great concernment which were to be verisied and fulfilled in his Church or by it in these prophesies also many large promises of ample privilegies and prerogatives made in reference to the same Church were included which were afterwards accomplished And Saint Paul often in his Epistles intimateth that the Jewish Synagogue with its sacrificies and ceremonies was a Symbol or Figure of Christs church and its proprieties So that no sect amongst Christians can or indeed doth deny these truths in affirming of which the scriptures are so clear and copious Consider secondly that the fulfilling of these prophesies is to be brought against Turks Jews Pagans
by sudden death before the morning came Oecolampadius going well in health to bed with his woman was found next morning lying stone dead by her an untimely end as is to be feared for one who had been not onely a Priest but was tyed also to the religious order of St. Briget with the triple cord of his three Vowes some Suppose hee was killed by the Devil others write that hee killed himselfe Nor was the end of Carolstadius less terrible for of him the Ministers of Basil write in their Funeral Epistle of him that hee was killed by the Devill he had been Archdeacon of Wittenberg and a Priest but presently upon Luthers revolt sided with him and took a Concubine Zuinglius who had been a Canon of Constance the incendiary of a bloody civill warre in his own Country was at last massacred in one of the battels himself his pretence was to extirpate Popery and to plant the Reformed religion as they called it But Erasmus in his Epistle to Goclenius sayes plainly That the aym of Zuinglius as also of Oecolampadius was tyranny and that they affected some temporall dominion Osiander before his miserable end was suddenly struck dumb like a beast as may be read in Prateolus And Calvin's end was by being eaten up by Vermine the horrour of which punishment and the frightfull terrours injected into his conscience made him spend his last minutes as Hierom Bolsecus writes in execrations and blasphemous ejaculations with invocation of the Devils O dreadfull punishments tragicall and dismall deaths untimely ends so truly spoke St. Paul when he said It is a horrible thing to fall into the hands of God Heb. 10.31 so truly said David that God is Terrible in his counsels upon the sons of men Psal 66.5 and can you still adhear to those your sects which had such founders Still persecute the Church of Rome and read such punishments Harken rather to what the Prophet saies and fulfill his words yea the words of God Love ye peace and verity saith the Lord Omnipotent Zach. 8 Consider lastly the unsuccessefull affairs and finall ends of three secular Princes who in their several countries did most harm to Roman Catholicks King Henry the eighth in England William Nassaw in the Low countries and Gustavus Adolphus in Germany they had been all three once Roman Catholicks and how sad enemies they proved afterwards to the persons places and practice of that Religion and yet not so much out of hatred of that religion as to compasse their other designs few are ignorant but they themselves were overwhelmed in the ruines they made and of the tragedies by them begun the Catastrophe fell chiefly upon them The one was delivered over to his own sensuality and made a slave to it even his very body was metamorphized out of that of a man almost into that of a monster he sunk still deeper into sin till his souls danger grew almost desperate and all his latter years were full of punishments of his Schisme and Sacriledge The second when death rushed in at the windows of those wounds which the bullets made in his breast and carried him presently to render up the accounts of his Stewardship to God and his King was not the heavy hand of God upon him The third after an ocean of Innocent bloodshed in his unjust invasion of the Empire after such a ruine of Catholick Houses Villages Towns Cities Monasteries and Churches after such a ransack of Religion and threats against Rome and the Vicar of Christ himself to be killed without a moments respite to repaire what was amisse was not this a fearfull scourge of God undoubtedly it was Hence infer that the whole complex of these examples proves evidently that the Roman Catholicks are the true Church of Christ and for this reason amongst others because God hath laid so remarkable punishments upon their enemies and persecuters Secondly gather that these examples efficaciously prove against Atheists that there is a God who punisheth wickednesse Thirdly infer what misery and punishment Luther made himself lyable to for his giving the first Allarum to all the Heresies of these later times O Luther what got thou by imitating Lucifer thy pride and disobedience to the true Church was like his to God thy fall from that state which is a kinde of heaven upon earth was like to his and I fear thy doom is not unlike to his The twentieth Meditation Confession of the Adversaries The first Point FOr the Conclusion of this Work let the subject of this last Meditation be that which these late Sectaries grant in behalf of the Roman Church and against themselves Consider therefore that the Sectaries since Luthers time and particularly Protestants do grant and acknowledge many things in behalf of the Roman Catholicks First they confesse that the Fathers and Doctours of the Primitive Church believed and taught the same things which the Roman Catholicks now hold and in which they and other sectaries differ First That Saint Peter was ordained by Christ the head of the Apostles and of the whole Church 2. That the Bishop of Rome succeeded S. Peter in the Primacy of the whole Church 3. That the Books of Toby Judith Esther Wisdom Ecclestasticus and two first of the Machabees were truly Canonicall scripture 4. Traditions 5. The reall presence and Transubstantiation 6. That Masse was a sacrifice truly propitiatory for the living and the dead 7. That Christ gave Priests power to forgive sins and the necssity of auricular Confession 8. Pardon or Indulgences 9. Purgatory and Prayer for the dead 10. Praying to Angels and Saints 11. Placing Christs image and his Saints in Churches and reverencing them 12. Reverence to the relicks of Martyrs and other Saints 13. That such as were made Clergy-men could never afterwards marry 14. That not only Faith but also good works do truly justifie and that these are meritorious of grace and glory These and diverse other Tenents of the Roman Catholicks are acknowledged by chief Protestant Writers to have been taught believed and practiced by the antient Fathers That the protestant Writers confesse these points which indeed is a strange thing and utterly ruines their cause those learned and laborious works to wit the Protestants Apology the Progeny of Catholicks and Protestants as also many other Authors do most amply declare and cite the very words of all the chiefest Protestant Writers most faithfully about the the forementioned points Secondly they confesse that Roman Catholicks dying Roman Catholicks may be saved this the most of all Sectaries grant both in their Writings and in their ordinary discourse truly as this acknowledgment ought to bring no smal comfort to Catholicks when they reflect that they are of a religion which even in the opinion of their Adversaries is soul-saving so me thinks it should make a great impression upon others which are not Roman Catholicks and move them to embrace that religion in which all parties think and say men
at this sequel denyes the former proposition pretends that the protestant Church was visible in every age But first neither he nor any other could ever yet prove any such visibility Secondly this argues that the protestants are here also as in other points at variance amongst themselves Lastly they confess and in confessing this alone they grant enough to undo themselves and establish the truth of the Roman Church that they went out from the Roman Catholicks The thing indeed in it self is most true and it hath been often proved by Catholicks that Waldo Wicliffe Hus Luther Calvin and the cheif of these new Reformado's were sirst Catholicks and members of the Roman Church before their change But the thing now to be considered is their own consession of this truth As for Luther he acknowledgeth in many places of his Works that he had been a Papist and went out from them And Caloin sayes in plain terms that he and his departed from the Church of Rome yea and from the whole world Discessionem à tot mundo facere coactisumus Mr. Jewel Fox Rainolds Mason and many more of them acknowledge their Church to have gone out of the Roman Church so that nothing remains now but to take notice of what sequels result out of this and their other ingenuous confessions The third Point Consider lastly Some inferences which may be drawn out of the two former points first by their granting that they went out of the Roman Church acknowledging also that those who dy in the same Church may besaved they evidently make themselves guilty of schisme 2. granting in this manner Salvation to Roman Catholicks whom they confesse also not to erre in fundamentals the latter of which is also inferred out of the former nor to want any of those things which are essntial requisites to salvation it followes that these other are not only guilty of Schisme but of heresie also if they hold any thing as they hold many contradictory to these confessedly foule saving tenents of Roman Catholicks 3. This grant of their going out from the Roman Catholicks which thing is evidently proved also in the third point of the meditation of antiquity this alone makes the protestant Religion guilty of novelty and by consequence of falshood for the true church of christ began in the time of the apostles theirs comming after that time could not be it by reason of its posteriority but some other false sect 4. The whole sum of what they have granted in behalf of the Roman catholicks and against themselves proves evidently that the Roman catholicks are the only true church of christ Since therfore in this great suite betwixt Sectaries especially Protestants and Roman catholicks about the true church of christ and whose it is by right we have not only proved that the marks of it and of that of the Roman catholicks are all one and consequently that these two are not in reallity two but one and the same church but our adversaries have moreover given us a judgement by confessing in substance that our claims are good and their own ill grounded what remaines but execution not that which the ministers of divine justice doe upon the wicked which God avert but that rather for such are my cordial wishes which the equity of this cause exacts to be done by convicted persons upon themselves by putting in execution that true conversion to the catholicke faith to which the evidence of these most credible testimonies the markes of the true church must needs incline an impartial reader Confident I am that the substance of these meditations cannot but convince that the markes of christs true church are to be found amongst the Roman Catholicks and only amongst them If passion prejudicate opinions obstinacy be laid aside if self-ends and temporal interests be not prevalent and disturb reason undoubtedly the testimonies of these markes will make it give sentence for the catholicke party Away with these fears of sequestration or temporal incumbrances heaven is a happy purchase though it cost you these yea life it selfe Such premisses as the praxis of your belief and life prepare such conclusions will death draw out in the end Nor can either belief or life be good in a Religion which is bad Choose therefore the best whatsoever it cost since thy salvation depends upon thy Election in point of Religion Mean while Let this be the last though not the least of the sequels which may be drawn out of the precedent Meditations to wit a cessasion of persecution Can reason yea can nature choose but cry out in seeing Catholicks persecuted where all Sects are tolerated and in beholding those mens blood shed or sought for even by those for the good of whose souls these others are so piously prodigall of their own blood England England which kill 's the Prophets and with the averse affections of thy hard heart ston's those that are sent to thee How often and how willingly would they have gathered thy children together as the Hen her Chickins under that shelter which he wished for who said Under the shade of thy wings protect me but thou wouldest not Behold thy house is left like a desert without Altar without Priest without Sacrifice stone upon stone and scarce that some where Alas The dayes will come in which thou must repent thy not taking notice of the visites which thy Saviour gave thee by his Servants England remember from whence thou hast fallen do pennance and do thy first works Return to thy self and consider how many thousands in the house of thy Father abound with bread the bread of Angels their daily bread whilest thou perishes with famine Rise goe and say Father I have finned against heaven and in thy sight now I am no more worthy to be called thy daughter since I have forsaken thy Spouse my mother And thou O God of hosts look down from heaven and behold and visite this vinyard and the Vineyard which thy right hand once planted let it by the same be again repaired to thy eternall glory Amen Soli Dei honor gloria ERRATA PAge 2. line 25 read proximus and marg Rom. 6.22 p. 3. l. 12 get p. 4. l. 11 dele all p. 8. l. 9 an oblation p. 14. marg dele Isa 7.9 p. 16. l. 27 dele ment p. 27. l. 13 what they are p. 28 marg Elogium's p. 40. l. 19 ingenuous mar del Jo. 5.24 p. 41. l. 10 machins p. 46. l. 20. Mar. 16.20 p. 54. l. 10 the enemy l. 13 eye witness reports p. 55. l. 7 a great blunder is l. 14 cambinding p. 47. marg 14.12 p. 57. l. 1 Ephpheta l 7 that way in p. 58. marg dele Lev. 15.16 p. 61. l. 26 believing p. 63. l. 18 least p. 65. l. 13 r. Patrick l. 15 Silverius p. 68. l. 21. Iohn Fox p. 85. marg 76.11 p. 86 l. 20 besanctified l. 25 need I p. 87. l. 6 I can p. 95. l. 3 Nervians p.