Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	ancient_a	rome_n	true_a	4,013	5	4.4555	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61683	A letter sent to a friend containing some reflections upon a late book intituled, The Roman church vindicated, and M.S. convicted of a false witnesse against her Wherein is declar'd, that the Pope may excommunicate and depose Kings according to the judgement of their greatest doctors, decrees and practices of several Popes, and Canons of their most approved councils; and the author convicted of most notorious falsities, &c. By J.S. B.D.	Stopford, Joshua, 1636-1675.	1675 (1675)	Wing S5743; ESTC R222081	29,048	37

of Rome have stigmatiz'd it This is as true as the former for my words are these And 't is worthy of our Observation that though the Inquisitors of Rome have placed the Taxa Cancel Apostol in their Expurgatory Index yet they except nothing against the Book printed by the Romanists but that only which was lately put forth with Banks his Annotations or which have been corrupted by Hereticks Obj. But why saith this Gentleman should I quarrel with them for this since our Spiritual-Swordmen or Lay-Absolvers do with approbation extract whole Estates out of the Peoples sinnes Ans What may be done in the dark by some needy and coveteous Persons I know not but that such Practices are allow'd by the Laws of England is most false And let this Gentleman make good his Charge against these Spiritual Swordmen as he calls them and I dare undertake that our Reverend Judges will make them Publick Examples Other Answers I could return to this Objection which for Brevity's sake I will pass over 3. To the last his Answer is That he doth not apprehend that their Church●s Doctrine and Sence of Indulgences truly understood can offer any scandal to the impartial Peruser p. 155. Sir if you please to cast an eye upon the incomparable Dr. Stillingfleet and the Learned Dr. Brevint who have lately discussed this Point you 'l see what little truth there is in this Gentleman's Assertion concerning Papal Indulgences I now leave this and pass on to his next Chap. where 1. He tells his Reader that I have pickt up 3 or 4 of the least Authentick or rather doubtful Miracles never as yet made use of by any Catholick Controvertist p. 166. That these Miracles are more then doubtful I take to be a great Truth But that they were never made use of by any Catholick Controvertist is most false for some of them are urged by Bellarmin to confirm their Doctrines De Imagin lib. 2. cap. 12. de Sacram. Euchar. lib. 3. c. 8. To pass by others 2. He brings a Gordion List of u●doubted Miracles in proof of several points of Catholick Faith p. 167. But alas the Authors he mentions are either confessedly Spurious as x Bellar. de Script Eccles p. 116. Ludovicus Vives in August Athanasius de Passione Imag. Christi S. Austin de Civit. dei lib. 22. c. 8. c. or notoriously fabulous as Gregorius Turonensis Paulus Diaconus Paschasius S Gregory Beda c. or most falsely quoted as I shall shew anon Sir if you desire further satisfaction in this Point be pleas'd to read the fore-mention'd Authors viz. Dr. Brevint and Stillingfleet where you 'l find the Question truly stated and enough to put any ●ober Man out of conceit with Romish Miracles Nothing now remains but that I give you a further account of this Gentleman 's unworthy dealing in these false and slanderous Assertions which make up a confiderable Part of his Book As That the Roman Church hath taught Protestants all they know of Christianity Luther in Gal. p. 292. Wh●taker Controv. 2. Q. 5. c. 14. False p. 2. That all Christians are free from the Obligation of the Mo●al Law Luth. in Gal. p. 46. 42. 49. 144. Calvin Instit lib. 4. c. 10. n. 5. lib. 3. p. 11. c. 19. n. 2. 4. All false That the Church took it very ill that Pope Gregory dealt so with the Emperor Aquinas 22. Quaest 12 Art 2. False p. 40. That Vincentius in his Speculum Histor lib. 15. c. 84. checkt that Fac● of Pope Gregory Most False That the Catholick Bishops in England with their Clergy declared to Q. Eliz. that it is not warrantable either by the Laws of God or Man p. 57. to act against the allegiance they owe to their Prince Holinshead Vol. 3. p. 1358 That Parry's Fact was condemned by them Holinshead Vol. 3. p. 1385. and 1387. False That not above 13 Lay-men and 4 Jesuits were either Actors in or privy to the Gun-powder Treason Baker p. 593. False p. 64. That this Plot was the Treasurer's device Osborn Mem of K. James False That Popish Princes punished the Albigenses for their rebellious Doctrines against Princes Illyricus Catal. Test Ver. p. 735. and 755. And p. 73. for their actual Bebellions Osiander Epitom Cent. 16. p. 715. For which Bishop Jewel disowns them in the defence of his Apology p. 48. All most False That Luther Calvin and other Principal Reformers are called the p. 76. Flower of all precedent Doctors and Fathers more knowing then all their Predecessors yea then the Apostles themselves Luther in Serm. de evers Hierusal p. 271. Beza Praef. in Nov. Test The first Messengers of Truth Jewel Apol. part 4. c. 4. divis 2. and Defence of Apol. p. 426. All false That among Christians no Man ought to be Superior to another that p. 77. none but Christ is Ruler over them Luth. de seculari potest Tom. 9. That he will disturb the Publick Peace and even confound and destroy the Prince himselfe Luth. Loc. Communes Class 4. c. 30. That we are exempted from all Human Laws by the Christian Liberty given us in Baptisme cap. de baptismo All false That notorious Rebellions and barbarous Cruelties immediately followed p. 78. upon these Doctrines by Protestants Sleidan H●st lib. 22. p. 345. Osiand Cent. 16. p. 115. False That Earthly Princes divest themselves of their power when they oppose themselves against God and therefore 't is fitter a Man should spit in their faces than obey them when they grow so sawcy Instit lib. 4. c. 20. and Comment in Daniel cap. 2. v. 39 cap. 6. v. 2. 25. All false That Protestants advanced their wicked Principles in every Countrie p. 79. to an execution of the most horrid practices of insolent Rebellion and Blood-shed Cruelty In France for thirty years together Osiand Cent. 16. p. 115 735. 599. Sutcliff Ans to a Supplic Libel p. 194. Hist of the Civil Wars in France In Germany Sleidan lib. 18. p. 263. In Swethland Chitraeus Chron. p. 74. 75. In Holland Osiander Cent. 16. p. 801. 803. That they deposed Ph●lip K. of Spain from his Dominions in the Low-Countries Osiarder Cent. 16. p. 941. 805. That they violently excluded Sigismund K. of Sweden from his Crown Osiand Cent. 16. p. 1115. and the Emperor from diverse of his Rights in Germany All false That Luther affi●ms That neither Austin nor Ambrose nor any p. 90. Doctor Di●ine since the Apostles times had so excellently instructed and confirmed Mens Consciences as he himselfe had done Luth in lib. ad ducem Georg. And that Calvin saith That all the Ancient Fathers for 1300 years had been blindly led with Error Instit lib. 3. c. 5. All false That whether Antichrist hath his seat at Rome or Jerusalem yet even p. 92. then neither the Church nor Pope of Rome shall be Antichrist but both be persecuted by him and persevere still visible and

saith That though Hereticks have endeavoured to deprave it which is all that our Adversaries Testimonies p. 98. do prove yet Catholicks were never wanting who discover'd and prevented those Corruptions That is Irenaeus Origen Basil Ambrose and Hierom. de Verbo dei lib. 2. cap. 7. And so much is affirmed by the great S. Austin who writing against the Manichees saith That with a deal of Impudence or to speak mildly with much weakness they charged the the Scriptures to be corrupted and yet could not prove any corruption by any Copies that are extant de Vtilit Credend cap. 3. And this Father lived almost 3 Centuries after Irenaeus almost 2 Centuries after Orig●n almost 1. Century after Basil and Ambrose and about 30 years after Hierom. And if the Hebrew and Greek Copies are so corrupt as this Gentleman pretends why did their Infallible Master Clement 8. correct the Vulgar Latin according to the Original in above 2000. places as Dr. James hath observed when the contrary Reading was established by Sixtus 5. Praef. ad Bibl. Clem. And he might have added several thousands more but consulto immutata relicta sunt ad offensionem p●pulorum vitandam they were purposely omitted lest the People should take offence at them ibid. Have not we then the greatest reason to rely on the Originals when the Pope himself appeals to them and reforms by them for certainly the Hebrew and Greek are as obvious to us as them Besides we are advised by the Ancients to go unto the Hebrew and Greek Fountains As the purity of the Books of the Old Testament must be examined by the Hebrew so the purity of the Books of the New Testament must be examined by the Rule of the Greek Text. S. Hierom Epist ad Lucinium Men whose natural Language is Latin have need of two other Tongues for the knowledge of the Holy Scripture the Hebrew and the Greek that they may have recourse to the precedent Hebrew and Greek Copies when the infinite variety of the Latin Interpreters brings some doubt S. Austin lib. 2. de Doctrin Christ cap. 11. To these Amandus Polanus hath added several both of the Greek and Latin Fathers Symphonia Cathol lib. 1. Nay we are obliged to this by their Pontifical Law Vt veterum librorum fides de Hebraeis voluminibus examinanda est ita novorum veritas Graeci sermonis normam desiderat Decret pars 1. dist 9. c. 6. In the next place he endeavours to confute those petty Instances as he calls them I urged against their Vulgar Latin p. 105 To the first viz. Gen. 3. 15. which the Vulgar Latin reads Ipsa conteret She shall bruise thy head contrary to the Hebrew Sept. Chald. Paraph. c. He answers that Victor Alcimus Avitus S Chrysost S. Ambrose read it so But the first though Ancient was not a Writer of any Note and Bellarmin gives this Character of him That he was more addicted to the study of Rhetorick than Divinity and the Holy Scriptures De Script Eccles p. 124. The second and third viz. Alcimus and Avitus I never heard of before and Challenge this Gentleman to produce them or any Authentick Writer that makes mention of them I suppose he means Avitus Alcimus urged by Bellarmin De V. D. who is an Author as obscure as the former That S. Chrysostom reads it so is false Indeed Philipus Montanus who translated Chrysostom renders it Ipsa but he hath placed a Note in the Margin that plainly shews the truer reading to be Ipse And so much is intimated in his Preface in Tom. 1. p. 8. and confessed by Pamelius Annot. in lib. 2. Cyprian Testim adversus Judaeos n. 51. S. Austin Ambrose Gregory and Beda have not only followed a corrupt Translation of this Verse but also given us an Exposition different even from all both Popish and Protestant Commentators and contrary to the plain scope of the place I could add as a further Proofe of this Corruption the Testimony of Irenaeus adversus Haeres lib. 3. cap. 38. and lib. 4. cap. 78. S. Cyprian lib 2. Testim adv Judaeos S. Hierom Quaest Hebr. in Gen. Pope Leo Serm. 2. de Nativ dom who lived in the 5 Century Isidorus Pelusiota lib. 1. Epist 426. who liv'd in the same Century And Lucas Brugensis assures us that almost all the Fathers read Ipse Annot. 1. Nay many Papists have acknowledged this Corruption Melchior Canus Loc. Theol. lib. 2. cap. 15. Andradius Defers Trident. lib. 4. c. 3. Cardinal Cajetan in Gen. c. 3. Brixianus Obj. 'T is false saith this Gentleman the Vulgar Latin reads so absolutely for some Editions have it for she p. 107. Ans If by Vulgar Latin he means that of Sixtus 5. and Clement 8. which is the only authoriz'd Edition 't is most false that any read it But it is time to consider what he answers to Gen. 4. 13. Heb. 13. 16. And here he tells us 1. That Primasius S. Austins Schollar used the word merit in this very Text as also Cyprian and others 2. That the same Greek Word is thus translated by us Heb. 10. 29. 3. That if we confire this Word to the most rigid sense viz. to obtain procure the Church will require no other merit But. 1. This Gentleman doth not inform us where Primasius Cyprian and others use the word merit in this Text and I am as backward to believe him as that Primasius was S. Austins Schollar who lived about 100. years after Austin according to Bellarmin's computation de Script Eccles p. 179. 246. 2. 'T is most false that the same Greek Word is thus translated by us Heb. 10. 29. And 3. As false that the Roman Church by merit understands no more than to obtain procure Concil Trident. Sess 6. can 32. The other four Instances he passeth over affirming p. 108. that they are confuted by Bellar. lib. 2. De V. D. whereas two of them are not so much as mention'd by Bellarmin May we not justly wonder that a man who professeth Christianity nay to be a Member of so excellent a Church should dare to assert such notorious Falsities From the Scriptu●es he proceeds to the Fathers p. 109. where he tells us 1. That the Fathers have suffered infinite Corruptions by ignorant Transcribers and the avarice of Book-sellers 2. That divers Fathers have writ erroneously even in things of importance 3. That some of them have been corrupted by Hereticks in those very things wherein they erred not And then infers That I must acknowledg that the Roman Church in correcting those Original or Accidental Errours executes her Office acts a Careful part and manifests her selfe the true Mother of Gods Children p. 111. And a little after assures his Reader That the summe of my Accusation is that the Roman Church took these corrupt Fathers in hand to make them speak suitably to her Doctrines Sir you have already seen what little reason we have to take this Gentlemans Word and here no more

is offer'd by him to ground our belief upon We have charged their Church with the Alteration of several places in the Ancient Fathers let this Gentleman prove those places to have been corrupted either by Hereticks or Transcribers and we 'l beg her pardon and call them from henceforth Charitable Corrections At present we cannot but think it strange that the Fathers should be so often printed by the Roman Church with so much professed care and fai●hfulness expressed in their Prefaces and for so long pass for Authentick without one Syllable of any Corruption and yet in this last Century when Pro●estants began to read them and urged from them so many express Testimonies against their Novel Doctrines they should be charged with so many Corruptions by Hereticks and Transcribers Here we must either condemn her former negligence or suspect her present honesty and whether of the two is obvious to any man But we cannot saith he suspect the Ancient Fathers to be corrupted by their Church to multiply Witnesses for Popery for those very Fahers whose Sayings or Corruptions She corrects afford plentiful Proofs of the Roman Church's Faith from those sound parts which are not call'd in Question either by the Catholick or the Protestant Church witness Perron Bellar. c. p. 116. If all the Fathers be so express for Popery why then have their most eminent Doctors urged so many spurious Treatises according to their own Confessions and falsely alledged others Let any Person look into Coccius Bellarmin Canisius c. who trade most with the Fathers and examine how many of those places are convicted of Forgery by Baronius Bellar Erasmus Sixtus Senensis Possevin c. and he must either deny what this Gentleman hath so confidently affirmed or grant that these great Champions and profound Scholars had been little conversant in the Fathers For take those spurious Treatises our and their large Folio's would dwindle into little Quarto's 'T is time to leave this and pass to his next Chap. where he lays down these three Propositions which contain and he might have added confirm the contracted Venome and Quintessence of all my objected Cases p. 137 1. That the Church of Rome hath universally degenerated from her wholesome and Primitive use and faithful dispensation of that most important Sacrament of Penance seeing that contrary to the express sense of Antiquity she daily and every where allows her Priests to admits evidently impenitent wilfully and uncorrected and daily relapsing sinners and all sorts without exception to the Sacred benefit of Absolution and Communion Not one Confessarius in ten Thousand daring once in twenty years to make use of the retaining part of his power for fear of incurring the shameful Censure of singularity 2. That the Primitive Practice of large and severe Injunctions is unwarrantably perverted into that fatal indulging of a five Paters or a Rosaries Pennance A Custom wofully experienced to beget in sinners a damnable presumption that Gods mercy is at the beck of the Courteous Confessor 3. That the universally established Doctrine and use of Indulgences do expresly thwart the Primitive sense and Practice of that Juridical Part lull Gods People into a presumptuous security and evacuate the Apostles Counsel to work out our salvation with fear and trembling Now in vindication of his Holy Mother three things are urged by him 1. That Pope Alexander 7. in the General Congregation at Rome an 1659. declared That the Doctrines held forth by those Casuists I mention'd are false erroneous scandalous dangerous p. 129. I confess this is as plausably urged as any thing I have met with in his whole Book yet there 's little in it when all things are well considered There had been for some years sharp Contests between the Jansenists and Jesuits in France and how Pope Alexander 7. stood affected towards the latter is clear from his severe Censures of several Books that were written against them In the Year 1657. he condemned the Provincial Letters Congreg 66. Sommaires des Declarations des Curez de Paris Congreg 69. Jesuitarum Atheismus detectus Congreg 84. Alphonsi de Vargas Toletani Relatio ad Principes Christianos de Stratagem Sophismat Politicis Societatis Jesu Congreg 85. c. But this would not do the work for the devout sort of Catholicks to use their own Words were scandalized at those Doctrines of the Jesuits and Hereticks made their advantages of them Therefore the Pope an 1665. not 1659. as our Adversary affirms censured certain Propositions delivered by those Casuists which were most insisted on by their Adversaries and offensive to some devout Catholicks We see now what 't was that put the Pope upon this Censure viz. the present State of Affairs in France and not any dis-like of the Doctrines for had they been really displeasing to his Holiness 1. He would have condemned the Authors of them and prohibited their Books which was not done 2. He would not have been so severe upon those Doctors that writ against them 2. He urgeth the severe Penances imposed by the Primitive Church upon notorious Offenders of which he gives us p. 146 an Instructive Index to use his own expression extracted out of Gratian c. And then assures his Reader that these are enough to confront the Minister's pretended List and acquaint us with the careful and strict Proceedings of those best Ages of the Catholick Church p150 But what is this to the present Church of Rome which as he told us before hath universally degenerated from her wholesom and primitive use and faithful dispensation of that most important Sacrament of Pennance The Roman Church whilst a Virgin was as severe as now she is become remiss and what the Whore obtains for twelve pence the honest Virgin had scarce granted for a Penance of twelve years It was not then as now at Rome where Dispensations and Pardons are presently got at a small rate according to their Taxa Cancellariae Apostolicae This Gentleman seems to question whether such a Book was ever printed and allowed by their Church I thought this was sufficiently clear'd from the pregnant Testimonies of their own Writers which he neither hath nor can object against And for his further satisfaction I will produce the Book when he or any other shall call upon me But suppose saith he p. 151. the World had seen or the Pope allow'd a Book of that Model yet I am so just as to clear the Church of that imputation and to acknowledge that not only some Sorbonists but even the Inquisitors of Rome have stigmatiz●d it Certainly this Gentleman deserves to be stigmatiz'd for an impudent Lyar. 1. I affirm saith he that some Sorbonists have condemned this Book But where doth he find any mentiond by me except Espencaeus whose pious Censure the Roman Church is so far from approving that the Spanish Inquisitors have commanded it to be blotted out in their Expurgatory Index p. 60. 2. I acknowledge saith he that the Inquisitors