account to impose the proof upon the lawfull possessors but among all methinks it seems very unfair for any that stiles himself of the church of England to deny this principle of lawfull possession since their own best writers do much insist upon it to make out their right against thoses secttaryes who like new swarms separated from the stock As the Presbyterians Anabaptists Quakers sosinians c. But to come to the present point let us see the arrogant challange of this proud Goliah which runs to this purpose Whosoever is deserious to find and embrace a church where the old incorrupted principles of christianity are taught such doctrines only as were maintain'd by the ancient and pure church even of Rome for upward of 300 years after christ let him embrace the present church of England where the said principles are duely profess'd the old church of Rome and the present church of England being the same in principles whereas the doctrines which the presnt church of Rome has added over and above what the church of England maintains wherein the said churches do now differ were never maintain'd by the said ancient church of Rome but newly brought-in some eight or nine hundred years others seven the most of theÌ„ 600 years after christ In justification of which charge we alwayes have and still do bid defiance to any Roman catholick liviÌ„g to bring any sufficient sentence out of any old doctor or father or out of any old council or out of the holy scriptures or any one example of the primitive church whereby it may be clearly and plainly prov'd 1 That there was any privat masse in the whole world at that time for the space of six huÌ„dred years after christ 2 That the communion was administred unto the people under one kind 3 That the people then had their common prayes in a toÌ„gue which they understood not 4 That the bishop of Rome was then call'd the universal â—ishop or the head of the universal church 5 That then the people were taught to believe that christs body is really or substantially in the sacrament 6. That then the people did fall down and worship it with godly honour 7. That in the sacrament after the words of consecration there reman only the accidents shew without the substance of bread and wine 8. That whosoever had then said the sacrament is only but a figure a pledge a token or remembrance of christs body had therefore been judg'd for an here tick 9. That images were then sett up in churches to the intent that the people might worship them 10. That then the people did invocate saints or pray to them 11. That then the people believ'd that there is a third place which commonly the Papists call purgatory 12 That then the people were forbiddeÌ„ to read the word of god in their own tongue If these thiÌ„gs be as we alleage it follows that whosoever maiÌ„taiÌ„e the aforsaid abus'd principles are not of the aÌ„cieÌ„t church of Rome but only of the preseÌ„t corrupted church of Rome if our allegatioÌ„s be false we desire to be disprov'd Before I come to any particular answer to the several points of this extravagant challange which the mans ignorance or vanity makes him belive unanswerable I will only thus in general retort his own argument upon himself that J may form his discurse in the true and right method Whosoever desires to find and embtace a church wherein the old incorrupted principles of christiaÌ„ity are taught and such doctrines only as were maintain'd by the ancient and pure church even of Rome for upwards of 300 years after christ let him embrace the present church of Rome wherein the said principles are duely profess'd the old and the present church of Rome being still the same in principles whereas the doctrines of those who now call themselues the church of England and wherein the said churehes do now differ were never maiÌ„tain'd by the aÌ„cieÌ„t church of Rome but rather impiously brought in by a series of hereticks who for those very doctrines were from time to time coÌ„demn'd by many general national and provincial councils and also by the most eminent fathers and doctors of the catholick church in those respective ages whose authorityes and very words I will hereafter produce in my answer to the several points heré controverted that every impartial reader may see how all the aspersions and calumnies rais'd by our pretended reformers against the church of Rome are but meer fictions without any toserable ground reason or authority In the mean time I think it is very plain that my retortion ought to take place before my adversaryes precaâ—ious sort of discourse and consequently that such a challange belogs properly to the church of Rome and not to any upstart sectary whatsoever for as J hinted before it is a principle in all well govern'd common-wealths that a peacable possessor ought not to be disturb'd untill by manifest proof he is convicted to be an unlawfull possessor but the church of Rome which undenyably was a peaceable possessor of thé true faith for the first 300 or as my adversary is willing to allows for six hundred years after christ was never convicted by any competent authority or proof that ever she fell from the true faith of Jesus christ therefore it necessarily follows that shee must be still suppos'd to retain the same true faith to this very day The major is manifest and a maxim in law and the minor J prove thus If the church of Rome could at any time be juridically condemn'd or declar'd to have fallen from the true faith it must have been either by some immediate revelation or commission from God as the written law was abrogated to make Place for the law of grace and as the high Priesthood was transfer'd from the house of Heli to an other family or by some other Church call'd and summon'd by the inspiration of the holy Ghost in some National or general Council as the Arians Macedonians Nestorians Pelagians Eutychians and many other Heresies were condemn'd in former times but neither of those can be alleag'd in the case propos'd the first is not so much as pretended nor can the later be alleag'd by any man in his wits for no National or General Council no nor any old Chronicles Registers Ecclesiastâ—al or prophane Histories makes tention that ever the Roman Church fell from the true faith so that if we except the inconsiderable dregs of coÌ„demn'd Heresies which lay hid in obscurâ— corners of the earth there waâ— no Church or society of ChristiaÌ„s extaÌ„t in the sixth seveÌ„th eighthâ— ninth c. Centuryes but were aâ—â— in communion with the Church oâ— Rome in their respective ages all the eminent Doctors Fatherâ— of those times seriously exposâ— her cause as the cause of Chrisâ— wherefore either the Church Rome kept the true faith inviolably all that while or Christ haâ— no true Church upon earth whicâ— is
the said points if they had not understood and firmly believ'd that they taught false and erronious Doctrines neither wou'd all the aforesaid Councils of the Primitive Church which my adversary in his challenge acknowledges to have then retain'd the true faith of Jesus Christ condemn their Doctrines if they were not also Hethrodox contrary to the true faith which they and their forefathers receiv'd from Jesus Christ his Disciples therfore whosoever desires to find embrace a Church wherein the old incorrupted principles of Christianity are â—aught and such Doctrines only as were maintain'd by the ancient pâ—râ— Church even of Roâ—e for up-wards of 500 years after Christ let him embrace the present Church of Rome wherein the said principles are duely professâ—d the old and the present Church of Rome being still the same in priÌ„ciples whereas the Doctrines of those who now call themselves reformers the Church of EnglaÌ„d PresbyteriaÌ„s Quakers c. wherein the said convinâ—icles do now diâ—â—er from the preseÌ„t Church of Rome 〈◊〉 never maintain'd by the ancient Church of Rome but 〈◊〉 â—â—piously brought in by a serâ—es of Hereticks who for these very Doctrines were from time to 〈◊〉 condemn'd by many 〈◊〉 national Provincial Councils â— also by the most eminent 〈◊〉 and Doctors of the primitive Church as the premisses do evidently make-out so that the reader may take noâ—â—ce of my adversarys ignorance and presumption for censuring contradicting a religion so ancieÌ„t which lawfull mission acknowledgment of antiquity holy Fathers several Councils divine miracles the word of God do plainly demoÌ„strate to be the only true and Apostolical line which leads Souls to the true way of everlasting glory happiness therefore reader if you have been heretofore of my adversarys opinion I beseech you for the love of Jesus Christ to compare seriously his principles and those of the Church of Rome togeather and then to consider â—ttentively the state and circumstances wherein you are out of â—he holy Catholick Church out of which there is no salvation to be expected as the following holy Fathers do openly declare St. Cyâ—rian in his book de vnitate Ecclesiae speaking of those who are out of the Church sayes thus do they thinke Christ is amongst them â—â—â— tho' they were drawn to torments â—xecution for the confession of the name of Christ yet this pollutioÌ„ is not wash'd away noâ— not with blood this inexpiable and inexcusable crime of schisâ—â— is not purg'd away even by death itself St. Chrysostome in his 11. hoâ— on St. Pauls Epist to the EphesiaÌ„s â—ayes also thus there is nothing so provokes the wrâ—th of God aâ— the division of the Church iâ— so â—uch that tho' we shu'd have perform'd all other sort of good thiâ—gs yâ—t we â—hall inâ—urr apâ—â—isâ—ment â—â— lâ—ss crâ—â—â— for dividing the vnity of the Church than those who have doâ—â— who 〈◊〉 and divided Christs 〈◊〉 St. Augustin in his 4. book of â—ymbole Cap 10. sayes â—â—e following words If any man be soâ—â—â— sâ—parâ—ted from her he shaâ—l be 〈◊〉 from â—he number of the childâ—â—n â—â—ither shall â—e have God for his Father 〈◊〉 wouâ—d not have the Church for 〈◊〉 â—â—ther â—nd it will nothing 〈◊〉 him to have rightly beliâ—v'd oâ— to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so many good workes withâ—â—t the â—â—â—clusion of the soâ—eraign good 〈◊〉 sâ—pâ—r gâ—â—â—a Emar he sayâ— also the following â—ords out of the Church aâ— heretick â—ay have all things but salvation â—â— may have the sacraments he may â—ave faith and preach it only salvaâ—ion he cannot havâ— which may be â—urther confirm'd by the words of â—t James c. 2. v. 10. sayiÌ„g thus whoâ—iâ—ver shall keep the whole law and â—â—t offends in one point he is guilty of â—ll therefore being the salvation â—f your soul doth wholly depend â—f the true belief and intire obâ—ervation of all those points of â—ith which the holy Catholick Church sufficiently proposes â—â—iversaly teaches I do earnestly â—eseech you to open the eyes of â—our understanding for I know â—hat you have no invincible ignorance whereby yoâ— might be excus'd to embrace the principles and Doctrines of that pure ancâ—ent Church against which the gates of hell cannot prevail Matt. c. 16. v. 1â— assure your self that I do not invite you to any old heresie as my adversary does noâ— the Lord forbid but to the religion preach'd and taught by Jesus Christ and his Disciples to that I say where with your foreâ— fathers and anteceslors have been still contented since eveâ— they left Paganism untill in the 16. age they were deceiv'd by the erronious Doctrines of those false prophets Luther and Calvin hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast hard from me in faith and live which is in Christ Jesus 2. Timothy c. 1 v. 13 neither give heed to fables and endless genelogies which minister questions rather than Godly â—â—ifying in the faith from which some having sweru'd have turn'd aside unto vain jaâ—gling desiring to be teachers if the law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm 1. Timothy c. 1. v. 4. 6. 7. let not villfull or gross ignorance the temporal riches and vanity of this transitory world or complyâ—nce to the request of your frieÌ„ds deceive mislead you but consider seriously the very words of your Saviour and redeemer Jesus Christ Matt c. 16. v. 26. saying thus for what is a man profited if he â—hall gain the whole world loose his own soulâ— or what shall a man give in exchangâ— for his own soul what will it then a â—â—il you after this life to be now for few years or dayes in great honour favour request in this deceitfull world afterward to be perpetually tormented in pain grief miseryes with out any hopes of mercy or redemption where neither frieds pompe nor riches can prevail in order to give you the lest dram of consolation from which punishment the Lord Jesus Christ of his infinite mercy defend both you me all Christians Amen FINIS An Answer to what oâ—e Wâ—ealy â—lleages in his Almanack against St. Peters Supremacy AFter having compos'd this little work Wheaâ—y's Almanack for the year 1â—99 came accidentally into my haÌ„ds wherein he or some other malicious person in his name labours to infect the whole Kingdom with false pernicious Doctrine which he pretends to ground on some nonâ—ensical arguments that he forms against St. Peter the Pope of Rome's Supremacy and tho' 't is hardly worth any mans while to coÌ„fute them yet because it concerns what I have said in my Answer to mr lennings fourth poit â— thiÌ„ke it fit to let him know his own ignorance and the errors of his pretended Doctrine First he offers to infer by a new invented consequence of his own that Peter was neither Bishop of Antioch or Rome because as he falsly alleages the Papists have not as yet agreed amoÌ„g themselves about the time he first remov'd from
AN ANSWER TO THE CHALLENGE Of Mr. Henry Jennings Protestant Arch-deacon of Dromore which evidently makes-out the present Church of Romes doctrine to have been maintain'd in the first five ages the adversarys Principles to be only a heap of heresies lawfully condemn'd by the primitive Church To which is annexed An Answer to one Whealy Set forth by JAMES O SHIELL Reader of Divinity Remember the dayes of old consider the years of many generations aske thy Father he will shew thee thy elders they will tell thee Deut c. 32. v. 7. Permissu Superiorum 1699 TO THE QUEEN MADAM THis little book makes bold to adress it self to your Sacred Majestie not to inform or instruct you in any thing it containes for beside the gifts of nature and great perfections with which your Majestie is so richly indowed you had the advaÌ„tage of being born bred in the most Catholick Country of Europe beiÌ„g well educated throwly instructed in vertue piety religioÌ„ in all other things proper for so great a Princess to learn The end and scope of this small treatise is Madam first to answer a ChalleÌ„ge made to all Catholicks in General by one of the most dareing most presumptuous of the protesaÌ„t it party next to prevent unwary and well meaning Christians from being seduc'd or impos'd upon by such artifices which it will effect by Gods help so it be but countenanc'd by your Sacred Majestie If you consider only its style contexture or the Author that compos'd it it caÌ„not on either of those accounts deserve this honour but the Docttrine it comprehends being compiled faithfully extracted out of the scripture holy Fathers Ancient CouÌ„cils it may on that score well pretend the patronage protection of so great a Quen a desceÌ„ded from the Glorious House of Est which has furnish'd Europe for many hunderds of years with Illustrious Dukes Princes Famous Generals great states-men most Eminent prelates Church-men yet never did oblige it more than in giving it so great a Princess so fit a consort for our Gratious King whose piety zeal are with-out example who for his religion only has lost the Imperial crown of three Kingdoms for his great resignation ChristiaÌ„ patience will infallibly receive a crown of everlastiÌ„g Glory your Majestyes Heroycal sted fast resolution of still prefering religio beforé all Temporal inâ—rest and your great zeal for the service of God the Catholick cause do evidently prove that no other Princess but yourself could be so agreable to his Majestie so conformable to his generous inclinations in this particular as well as in all other Royal perfections The King your Majesties chief study is to maiÌ„taiÌ„ support that religion for which both have sacrific'd your all your daily businesse is to comfort the poor to cloath the naked to feed the hungry to provide for the Fatherless widowes to supply all their waÌ„ts ever to the straitning of yourselves in a word to promote in others ' by your own example the practice of all the workes of piety Charity imaginable Now since standing-up in defence of truth endeavouring to instruct the ignorant in matters of salvation has ever been accounted a work of Charity this little book how ever meanly write may deservé your Majestie 's Royal protectioÌ„ approbation this will render it more acceptable to all good Christians supply it's want where-ever it is defective either in language or composition for this reason Madam the Author does most humbly presume to lay it at your Majesties feet to beg you wou'd be Graciously pleas'd not only to afford it the honour of your Royal patronage but also ot accept of it as a small testimony of the fidelity greatfull respect justly due from all his Country where with he is oblig'd daily to pray for your Majestie ever to continue MADAM Your Majesties Most obedient and most Loyal and most Humble Subject and Sevarnt JAMES O SHIELL An Answer to Mr. Iennings Challenge ALtho' this Treatise be but small yet it treats not of small matters the subject of it being of no less consequeÌ„ce than the salvation of those christians who are led astray from the true faith because they are not guided by any christian motive or Authority but rather by their own wordly interest and libertinism whith now a days too many preferre before gods cause and the salvation of their own souls notwithstanding all the convincing arguments both of our ancient and modern controvertists who with a great deal of pains have shifted the wheat from the tares and inspite of all oppositioÌ„ have made out very clearly the reall and naked truth of their assertions in all controverted points between our pretended reformers the present church of Rome for which reason I wou'd at present forbear writing of a subject so often scann'd and discuss'd before but that I was over perswaded at the earnest request of a certin person of quality who faithfully promis'd to be come a Roman catholick if she cu'd get but a satisfactory answer to an extravagant bold challange of one that stiles himself a prelat of the church of England now residing in the north of Ireland where he makes a great figure and wou'd faine perswade the ignorant and vnwary to belive that his notions are truely catholick To prevent wdich imposture and in hopes that some copyes of this litle work may for the good of souls pass over the seas to that afflicted country where books of controversy are very scarce J made it my business to get it printed haviÌ„g compos'd it as succint and compendious as the subject cou'd possibly permit that it may-be no burden in a mans pocket If the reader be not of the church of Rome I do advise him to perruse it with a serious consideratioÌ„ and remorse of conscience which if he does perhaps it may be an ocasion of leading him to the true light and way of salvation whatever he may carp vpon the method or language I shall bear it patieÌ„tly if he does but observe and consider the meaning and doctrine thereof But before I proceed further I must take notice of this daring champions legerdemain who being sensible â—â— of his own want of proofs and authoritys to make out any one point now controverted he wou'd faine turn the scale impose upon the Roman catholicks to prove their assertions whereas it is plain that since he owns the church of Rome to have been in a legal possession of the true faith for above 300 years after christ he ought coÌ„sequently to suppose that she kept the same faith all along unless he can prove the contrary yet this is no peculiar device of our bold challenger but rather the ordinary practice of all preteÌ„ded reformers who finding no solid grounds for their new notions are forc'd to trust wholy to negatives and endeavor upon that
plainly giveing the lye not only to the Angel Gabriel who dâ—clar'd that â— of Christs Kingdoâ— which is his Church ther shouâ—â— be no end Luke chap. the 1. v. â— but also to Christ himself who expressly promis'd that the Gates of Hell shou'd not prevaile agaiÌ„st his Church Math. chap. the 16. v. 18. and that he wou'd be with his disciples in the administration of their function even to the end of the world Math. chap 28. v. the 20. For a further confirmation of this point it is evident that no Church or society of Christians can shew their lineal and lawfull succession of pastors and Bishops ever since the Apostles time but the present Church of Rome and such as are in communion with her for those that now stile themselves the Church of England cannot for their lives shew any before Cranmer in Edward the fixth time as appears by Goodman the Protestant Bishop of Hereford in his Catalogue of all the Bishops of England since the first plaÌ„tatioÌ„ of ChristiaÌ„ religion amoÌ„gst them where he expressly names Thomas Cranmer to be the first protestant Bishop thaâ— was ever seen in England Upon the whole matter since none but the preseÌ„t RomaÌ„ Catholik Church can pretend to have had since the Apostles time a continued series of Bishops with whom all their coÌ„temporaryes of the orthodox part of Christians alwayes agreed in one faith and comunion it plainly follows that she alone can pretend to the purity of the Christian faith And therefore whosoever desires to find and embrace a Church wherein the old incorrupted principles of Chrstianity are taught and such principles only as were maintain d by the Ancient and pure Church of Rome for upwards of 300. years after Christ let him embrace the present Church of Rome wherein the said principles are duely profess'd as I shall manifestly prove in my Answer to the aforsaid points for being the ancient Father St. Basile in his 63. Epistle declares unto us That we ought not to pase â—â—er calumnyes not out of revenge but lest we shu'd seem to give way to a lyeor suffer men seduc'd to be further decev'd I shall therefore answer my Adversary a challeÌ„ge in the same order that he has laid â—â— chap. 1. Proving both publick and privaâ—â— Masses to have been celebâ—cated in the premitive Church This Challenger seens to lav his main stress upon the word privat Masse but what he means by it he does not explain t is certain that altho' Masses were said privately in all age especially during the persecution of the Heathens when Christians perform'd their Devotions in caves and vaults under ground yet the word privat masse was seldom us'd by Catholick writers either before or since the year 600. until Martin Luther by his book de-Missa privata oblig'd Catholick Divines to write upon that subject and confute to the full Luthers arguments against it but why is the question rais'd about private masse does my adversary own that publick Masses were in use in the primitive church If so he must either quitt the old as well as the present Church of Rome or condemn his own Church of England which declares against all masses both privat publick and indeed whosoever admits one can have no tolerable reason to deny the other contrary to the practice of so many ages But let him deny or own what he pleases t is evident to us by the undeniable testimonyes of several Fathers and Councils more ancient than the year 600 that both publick and privat masses were then in use in the Catholick Church and offer'd to the Almighty both for the living and the dead as occasion requir'd St. James the Apostle speaking to Almighty God in his liturgy sayes we offer unto thee an unbloody sacrifice for our sins and for the ignorance of the people And St. Andrew likewise said as the Priests and Deacons of Achia in the book they writt of this Apostles passion I sacrifice daily unto Almighty God an immaculate lamb who when he is truely sacrific'd and his flesh truely eaten remains still wholy and alive St. Ireneus who liv'd the year 180 in his 4. book against heresies c 32 after speaking of the sacrifices which were offer'd in the old law sayes that our Lord taught the Apostles to offer anew sacrifice which the Church afterwards beiÌ„g taught by the Apostles offer'd through the universal world St. Cyprian who liv'd the year 250. prohibit'd to offer any sacrifice for the soul of Gemininus Faustus because he did not observe the decree of his own antecessors the Bishops Cornelius Bishop of Rome who liv'd about the year 254. complains that the persecution was so great in his own time that they could not say masses either in publick Churches or in Caves under ground which Authority may be seen Tomo 1. Biblia Sanctorum Patrum Tertuiliam who liv'd in the same century sayes in his book decorona miâ—it s c. â— that masseâ— were then offer â— so the souls of the dead and Fusebius Cesariensis who liv'd the year 326 relates in his 4. book c 4â— that there were masses said for the soul of Constant the Great St Cyriâ—l of Jerusalem who liv'd in the same century Catech 5. sayes thus we belive that the holy and dreadfull sacrifice which is offer'd upon the altar is agreat relief to those for whom its offer'd so Zomenus relates in his 7. book c. 5. that St. Gregory Nazianzen said Masse in a privat chappel and Paulinus writing the life of St. Ambrose affirms that St. Ambrose said Masse in a certaiÌ„ Gentel somans house St. Ambrose himself in his commentary on the 38 Psal â— bids the Priests to offer this holy sacrifice for others Theâ—dâ—â—et who liv'd the year 4â—0 in his History c 20. declareâ— himself to have said masse in a Hermits cell and St Gregorie in his 37. Homily affirms that the holy Bishâ—p Cassins was wont to say masse in his oratory being hinder'd from going to the church by reason of his infirmity St. Hierome who liv'd the year 390. in his Commentary on the â— chap of the proverbs sayes the following words It s to be Observ'd that altho' there is no hopes of pardon for the wicked after their death yet there are those who dye with small sins and after their death can be discharg'd either by chastifing them with punishments or by their friends prayâ—rs alms and celebration of masses In his commentary on St. Pauls Epist to Titus he sayes thus If the Laity are commanded to abstaine from their wives in the time of communion what is to be suppos'd of the Bishop who daily for his own and the peoples sins offers to God the underfiled sacrifice he hath such an other Authority in his first book against Jovinian c. 19. speaking of the priests St. Chrisostome who liv'd in the later end of the 4. century in his homily on St. Pauls Epist to the Philippians speaking of those who dye in the fear of God
peoples owne Devotion but in the time of the aforesaid solemnityes specifi'd by the council of Agatho all which may be confirm'd by St. Chrysostomes words who in his 3. Homily on Saint Pauls Epistle to the Ephesians complains that then the people were so undevout that tho' there was Masse daily celebrat'd yet none of them Communicated There are several other Authorityes that might be produc'd for the further proof of this point but to avoide tediousnesse J will conclude with the following passage 'T is not pertinent to the Essence of a Sacrifice the standers by or those for whom 't is offer'd to be partakers of it but Masse is a Sacrifice therefore 't is not pertinent to the essence of Masse the standers by or those for whom it 's offer'd to be partakers of it The major is evident out of the 6. 7. chap. of Leviticus where we read that the Priests of the old law were commanded to offer Sacrïfices that the standers by or any of those for whom they were offer'd did not take the least particle of them the minor also is evident out of the 9 thâ— canon of the Apostles and out of the 24 chap of the 3 Council of Cartage who sate in the year 397 and declar'd masse to be a lawfull sacrifice as for the consequence t is undenyable being the argument is in forme Chap. 2 Provâ—ng that the Communioâ— was admiÌ„nistred under one kind in thâ— Primitive Church The Authorityes which my adversary defies to be produc'd doe clearly make-out the ancient pratice of Receiving the Communion under one sole species in the Primitive Church therefore this doctrine was not first brought in by the present Chuch of Rome either in the 6 7 8 or 9 age the consequens is manifest as will appear hereafter As for the anticedent it may be prov'd by the example of Christ himselfâ— Luck c. 24 v 30. 35 where we read the following words It came to passe as he sate at meâ—t with them he tooke bread bless'd iâ— bâ—ake gave to them And they told whaâ— things were done in the way how he waâ— knowâ—n by them in breakiÌ„g of bread But there is no mention made of the cup no not in the whole Chapter St. Hierome in Paula's epitaph St. Augustin in his 3 book dâ— consensu Evangelistarum c 23 venerable Bede Thèophilactus and several others in the commentary of this chapter doâ— plainly affirmâ— that our saviouâ— gave then the blessed sacremenâ— to those two disciples moreoveâ— we read in the acts of the Apostles c 2 v 42 that the beliverâ— Continued stedfastly in the Apostleâ— Doctrine and fellowship in breakinâ— of bread and in prayers but wâ— see no kind of mention made oâ— the cup but rather a confirmation of the contrary as is manifest bâ— the 46 verse of the same Chapter wherefore I may lawfully iÌ„feâ— that our Saviour Jesus Christ did not oblige all the belivers to Communicate in both species otherwise certainly himself wou'd not be the first transgressor of his own law neither wou'd he promise everlasting life to those who wou'd receive the communion under the forme of bread as he did John c. 6 v 51 saying thus I am the living bread which came down from heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever where by we see plainly that everlasting life is promis'd to us for eating worthily that heavenly bread Now let us see did those of the primitive Church ever practice to give the communion in one sole species to prove which will produce the Authoritye and examples of those Fatherâ— who then liv'd Tertulian whâ— Liv'd thâ— year 230 in is boâ—â— of Oration c. 14 and in his book ad Uxorem c. 5. gives â—â— understand that it was then custom to carry the Eucharâ— home for private Communiâ—â— St. Ambrose who liv'd in the Century relates in his Oration â—â— Obitu Satyri that then the peopâ—â— were wont to keep the Eucharâ— about them and that his oâ—â— brother Satyras once in a shiâ—â—â—rak was miraculously Saâ—â— from being drown'd by the vâ—tue of the blessed Eucharâ— which was ty'd about his neâ—â— St. Basil who liv'd in the same Century expressly affirms in his Epist to Caesaria Patricia that it was a common practice to bring the Eucharist home to their houses and to receive it when they pleas'd which is a manifest sign that then the people did not alwayes receive the Communion in both species for those who tooke it under the forme of wine receiv'd it in the Church from the Priests or Deacons as St. Cyprian relates in his ser De lapsis and those who pleas'd to bring it home under the forme of bread for privat Communion were not hinder'd until by reason of several abuses which happen'd the Father of the Council of Caesaragust who sate the year 382 Can 3 prohibit'd it St. Denis who liv'd in the 2 〈…〉 in his book de Eceles 〈…〉 Chap affirâ—s that it was 〈…〉 custom to give the Communion to the children under the 〈◊〉 of wine and St. Cyprian who liv'd the year 250 in his sermon Delapsis makes mention of acertain child who receiv'd the Communion under the forme of wine and also of three more who receiv'd it under one sole species St. Denis of Alexandria who has been St. Cyprians contemprory in his Epists to Tobias tells of a certain Priest who gave a particle of the consecrat'd host to aboy in order to bring it to serapion who waâ— desparate ill in his dying bead Paulinus who has been very familiar with St. Ambrose and present at his deah relates writing his life that he receiv'd the Communion only under the form of bread and St. Basil did the same as also we read in his Life which neither of them wou'd offer to do if they had believ'd it to be either agaiÌ„st the doctrine of the Church or the institution of Christ Sozomenus in his 8 book c 5 Nicepherus in his 13 Book c 7 writes of a certain womaÌ„ who was infected by the Macedonian heresie but thinking to conceal her wickedness and pretending before the people to be a Catholick she receiv'd the blessed Sacrement under the form of bread from the haÌ„d of St. Chrisostome which afterwards she gave privately to her maid thinking to eat in its sted other bread which shee brought from home but it seems that God Almighty was pleas'd to discover her prophane intention for that bread which she thought to eat was sudeÌ„dly turn'd into a stone before all the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ The Manichees who abhorr'd wine believing it to be the Devils gall never Communicated by only under the forme of bread as St. Leos 4 Ser in â—ent expressly testifies but Epiphanius St. Augustin several others who writt of the Manichean errors never mention'd that they err'd in Receiving the Communion in one sole species But I acknowledge that the Bishops of Italy about the year 444. did much Recommend the
use of the Chalice that the Manichees might be discover'd who lurking amoÌ„ghst the Catholicks alwayes Receiv'd the Communion under the forme of bread but never the Chalice whosoever then during that Heresie wou'd not at the publicke Communion of Easter Receive the Chalice was suspected to be a Manichean whereby the reader may plainly see that the Church has reason to forbid at one time what it permits at an other Christ having left unto it a dispensing power to alter all matters of indifferency in the discipline thereof as the time place and circumstances wou'd require which St Augustin in his 118 Epistle openly declares and it may be confirm'd by St. Pauls first Epistle to the Corinthians c. 11 v. 34. but the Manichean heresie being smothered the Receiving of the â—ommunion under one kind was afterwards CommoÌ„ly practis'd in the Church as Hugo de sancto Victore who liv'd about the year 1130 relates in his book Now before I shall proceed further in my Answer let the reader observe those four points which Commonly have been in practice in the Primitive Church viz. that then the people wou'd bring the Eucharist home to their houses under the forme of bread for private Communion Secondly that the Communion was sent and given to the sick under the same forme Thirdly that infants children Receiv'd the Communion under the forme of wine only Fourthly that the Primitive Christians Receiv'd publickly in the Churches the Communion either under one or both species as they pleas'd untill the Fathers of the Council of Constance about the year 1414. order'd the layties to Receive in one sole species not decreeing that the ReceiviÌ„g thereof in both species was unlawfull or ever prohibited before by the Churâ—h but for several other weighty reasons of which I shall produce only two First that thereby they might supresse and smother the Heresie of certain Germans Bohemiâ—ns who then obstinatly deny'd thâ— integrety of the Sacrement to be contain'd in one sole species Secondly that for the future they might preveÌ„t several abuses prophanations which formerly happen'd when the Chalice was given to the laity who thro their weak zeal and cold Devotion permitted very offteÌ„ drops of the holy blood to be spilt as St. Chrys ostome in his first Epistleto Innocentius Eneas Silviusin his dialogue de utraque specie relateâ— which is against the subâ—ime Reverenâ—e due to this most excellâ—t Sacrament Wherefore it evidently appears that neither the Gâ—â—câ—aÌ„ or Latâ—nes ever believ'd that all which is written in the Gospel touching the Communion under two species is to be so universaly understood that it â—on prehends all Christians but that they alwayes suppos'd and believ'd from the very begining of Christianity that one sole speâ—â—es was sâ—fficient for a true lawfull Communion so that the Council of Constance did but follow the tradition and Doctrine of all precedent ages when it defin'd that the Communion under one sole species was as good and as sufficient as under both species and that those who wou'd Receive it under one kind wou'd neither contradict the institution of Christ or deprive themselves of the fruit of this holy Sacrament for whether we eat or whether we drink or whether we do both togeather we alwayes apply the same Death of Jesus Christ alwayes Receive the same substance of the blessed Sacrament and the same effecâ— of grace for the true flesh and blood of Jesus Christ are whoely and â—ntirly contain'd in everâ— drop of the blessed blood anâ— in every particle of the blesseâ— Host 〈◊〉 as well as he is coÌ„taiÌ„d the whole cup or in the whole Host or in both therefore let no bodie foolishly belive that more benefit is Receiv'd by taking the Communion in two species than in taking it in one alone for being that every drop of the blessed blood and every particle of the divided Host is a maine Ocean of spiritual Blessings many of them by the same moral action Receiv'd affords no more grace then one alone being that one alone contains the whole fountaine intirly therefore it appears that it was never our Saviours intention to oblige all Christians to Receive the Sacrament in both species for if this had been his intention he wou'd certainly institute iâ— in a materia more common to all nations as he did in the institution of the Sacrament of baptism knowing the wine to be so scarce in several parts of the world that the poor inhabitants tâ—ereof couâ—d but very seldom or perhaps never Receive the Communion for the want of wine therefore our Saviours intention was when he said Drinke â—e all of this â—o oblige the Discâ—ples who only then were present and also their successors wâ—o are the Priests that daâ—â—y offer this most holy Sacrifice under both species and when he said to his Disciples John c 6. v. 63. that the flesh profitteth nothing his meaning was that it profitteth nothing â—o believe his bodie to be only human flesh excluding the divine nature as the Jews beliv'd who deny'd Châ—ist to be the son of God Câ—ap 3 proviâ—g â—hat tâ—e Coâ—mâ—n Prayers were 〈…〉 genâ—â—ally undeâ—stood by all â—hose of the Prâ—mitive Chuâ—ch The holy scripture encouragâ—s us to pâ—ay tho' we â—â—deâ—stand â—oâ— what is said theâ—efâ—re â—â—is lawfull and expedient for us â—o prâ—y tho' we understâ—nd no◠〈…〉 is saâ—â— the anâ—â—cedent is manifest by Sâ— Paulâ— fiâ—st Epist to â—â—e Corâ—nthiâ—ns chap. â—4 v. â— wheâ—â—â—e sayes thu◠〈…〉 â—peaâ—eth â—n 〈◊〉 unknown tongâ—â— â—â—eakâ—â—h not 〈◊〉 men but unto God for no man understandeth him Nay some times the speaker did not understand what himself said for the gift of languages and the gift of interpreting languages are two distinct gifts as is evident by the 11. v. and did not alwayes meet togeather as may be seen by the 13. v. of the aforsaid chapter for there the Apostle exhorts him who speaketh in an unknown tongue to pray that he may interpret which is a sign that ordinarilâ— he cou'd not as is manifest by the 14. v where he sayes thus â—â— I pray in an unknown 〈…〉 spirit pâ—ayâ—eth but 〈◊〉 understâ—nâ—â—â—g is unfruitfull where 〈…〉 see that St. Paul 〈…〉 unâ—erstanding to be unfruitfull and not our prayers when we pray in an unknown tongue moreover you see that St Paul gives to understand that it is lawfull and not prohibited to pray in an unknown tongue Now let us prove the consequenâ—e what the Apostles did and practis'd is lawfull and expedient for us to practice but the Apostles publick liturgies have been in languages which were not Generally understood by all the nations they Converted therefore t is lawfull and expedient for our liturgies to be in a language not generally understood by all nations 〈◊〉 use them the major is evident and I shall prove the Minor â—he Apostles publick liturgies were all in Hebrew Greecâ— Syriack or Latine as is manifest by all Ancient writters which were not generally known languages to all
the â—hosple the charge of the whâ—le Church to have been committâ—d by the â—ord to Peter the Prince of all the Apostle And the General Council of Calcedon wherein 630 Fatherâ— were assembled call'd action 3 S. Peter the Rock and pillar of the Church All which proofs do sufficiently make-out that it was alwayes believ'd and acknowledg'd by those of the Primitive Church St. Peter to have been instituted a supream pastor but the same charge still remains being the office of a pastor is an ordinary and a perpetual office and as long as there are sheep to be feed so long there ought to be a pastor to feed them which because St. Peter did not perform in his own person those many hundred years there must needs be some other lawfull successor to execute the office in his place for we see by daily experience many strifes and contentions to happen amonghst the flock in matters of faith and discipline who then shall appease reconcile them you will say the Bishops but how often doth differences of this sort araise and happen amonghst the Bishops themselfs perhaps you will answer that they ought to appeal to Primates and Patriarches but what if they be also at variance as Flavianus and Dioscorus Cyrill and Nestor were peradventure you may say that they ought to goe to temporal princes and civil Magistrates but t is not their part to ingage themselves in Ecclesiastical affairs and their factions may be more dangerous then any of the former to whom then shall the people appeal it will be said to a general Council but who shall summon who shall order or who shall direct and guide that assembly what if they decline from the true faith of Iesus Christ as the Council of Ariminium the second Council of Ephesiâ—â— ' and several other Schismatical Councils did who then shall Iudge their case who shall deside their dissentions unless some certain head be appointed by the divine providence of the holy Ghost whose decrees are infallible whose censures ought to be obey'd and in respect of whom St. Peter may be still said to performâ— his duty and feed the sheep intrusted to his charge as the premisses do plainly make-out Now let us see if those of the Primitive Church did belive and acknowledge the Popes of Rome successiuely from age to age since Peter's death to have been that Supream head of the Universal Church as St Peter was in hâ—s own time St. Irenous who liv'd in the year 180 in his 3 book Chap 3 sayes the following words The fouâ—ders of the Church deliver'd the Episcopaâ—y of over-seeing the Church to Linus and Anacletus succeeded Linus Clemens Anacletus Evaristus Clemens c. numbring all the rest of the Popes of Rome who govern'd the Church from St. Peter's time to that very instant St. Basil who liv'd in the 4 Century in his 52 Epist which is to St. Athanasius sayes thus It is convenient that we shu'd write to the Bishop of Rome that he might take notice of what is done here and produce his sentence and use his Authority in the case choese some sound men who can câ—rrect those stoburn and crosse people that are here with us and cancel what has been done by force ud violâ—nce in Ariminium St. Athauasius in his Ep written in the name of all the Bisâ—ops in Egypt to Marke Pope of Rome sayes the following words To the holy and Venerable Marke Pope of the Vniversal Church ruler of the holy Apostoâ—ical sea we desire by the Authority of your holy sea which is the Mother and hâ—ad of all Churches that we may know by the present legates what ought to be done for the recovery and correction of the faith full Orthodox foâ— being supported by your Authority and sâ—râ—nthn'd by your Prayers we can escape safe from the enemyes of God's Church and ours and be able to root-out those committed unto us such an other convincing Authority may be seen in St Athanasius's Epist to Felix and also in St Cyprian's Epistles to Cornelius Lucius and Stephen Popes of Rome St Hierome in his Epistle to Pope Damas sayes thus altho' your grandeâ—â— terrisies me yet yâ—â—r mildness invicts me I do crave from the Priest the victim of Salvation from the Pastor succoâ—r to a sheep I speake to the succâ—ssor of the fisher and disciple of the cross following none buâ— Christ I do joyne with your holynesse in communion that is to say with the chaier of Peter for I know the Church to have been built upon that Rocke whosover shall eat the â—amb out of this house is prophane St Crysostome in his first Epist to Pope Innocentius beseeches him to declare the proceedings of the Eastern Bishops void and of no effect and to punish with Ecclesiastical Censure the promoters of the discorde and in his 2 book de Sacerdotio Châ—p â—â— he syes the fallowing words speaking of Christ why did he sâ—ed his own blood certainly it was to purchase those sheep whose care he committed both to Peter and to Peter's succesors Theodoretus in his Epist to Pope Leo sayes thus I do expect the sentence of your Aposlolical sea and I humbly beseech and Pray your holynesse that your just and upright judgment may aâ—de me appealing to you and command mâ— to come before you in his Epist to Renatus he also sayes thus I beseech you to perswade the most holy Archbishop Leo to use his Apostolical Authority and command me to appear at your Council for that holy sea has the Goverment of all Churches thro' the whole world St Augustin in his 262 Epist which is to Pope Caeleâ—stinus sayes the following words I congratulate your merits that our Lord estabâ—ish'd you in that sea without any opposion of the people secondly I do inform your holynesse of what is committed near us here that not only by praying for us but also by advising and assisting us you may relâ—ef us I beseech you thro' the blood of Christ and remembrance of the Apostle Peters who admonish'd the chifest of the Christian people not to sufer these things to be done All which Authorityes do plainly make-out that the holy Fathers and Doctors of the primitive Church firmly believ'd and acknowledg'd the Popes of Rome to have been successively from age to age the Supteam head of the Universal Church on earth Which may be further confirm'd by the coÌ„tinual practice and consent of several Nations who in the primitive Church appeal'd to the Popes of Rome acknowledging each of them in his own time to have been Christ's Vicar-generall on earth As for exemple to whose high tribunal did Flavianus the Patriarch of Constantinople appeal from the â— Ephesian Councilâ— but to that of Leo Pope â— Rome as Liberatus in his breviate c 12. writes whose assistance diâ— Athanasius Bishop of Alexandrâ— depos'd by the Aerians imploreâ— but the assistance of Marke Feliâ— and Iulius Popes of Rome â— St. Athanasiu's own Epistles â— the
to prevent which now their very tinkers coblers butchers tailers and all sort of curious and ignorâ—nt mechaâ—icks do take the liberty of interpreting and expounding the whole Bible to their own ruine and destruction 2. Petri c. 3. v. 16. for how can such ignorant people understand or expound either â—o themselves or to others the prophesie of Ezekiel of Daniel the Revelaâ—ions of St. Iohn where aâ— S. Hâ—erome affirms every sentence is a misttery which of them can expound the Canticles or what Salomon meaÌ„t by those similitudes of Gods Church or the following texts I am the Lord they God visiting the iniquit of â—he Fathers upon the children unto the 3. 4. Generation Exod. c. 20. v. 5. which seems to be contradicted by that of Fzekiel c. 18. v. 20 saying thus the soul that sinneth it shall die the son shall not bear the iniquity of the Father we are expressly commanded by the 20 c. v. â—2 of Exodus to honour our Fathers and mothers But it is said in the 14. Chap. of Luke v. 26 that he 〈◊〉 heats not his Father and mother cannot be the disciple of Christ Moreover Deuteronomie c. 6. v. 13. it is written that thou shall fear the Lord thy Gâ—d serve him and â—wâ—ar by his Name Which seems to be conâ—radâ—cted by that of St. Mat. c. 5. v. 34. where we read thus I sa untâ— yoâ— swear not at all these and several other texts which â—ight seem to the unlearned to contradict each others and also the misterâ—es of the holy scripture do exceeâ— the poor ignorant people's understanding and weake capacity nay the very Disciples of Christ cu'd not understand the prop esiâ—s of the old Testament untill their understanding were open'd whereby they came to their true knowledge as evidently appears Luke c 24. v. 27. and 45 where we read the following words and begining at Moses and all the prophets he expâ—uâ—ded unto them that things concerning himself then he opened their understanding that they might understand the scriptures For want of which understanding in the law of God the pretended reformers and also the ancient hereâ—â—â—ks of the Primitive Church deserted their true Mother the holy Catholick Church by misinterpreâ—ing the word of God as for example the Aerians denâ—ing tâ—e 2. person of the Blâ—ssed Tâ—inâ—tâ— to be God and alleâ—ging for their ground that of St. John c. 17. v. â—â— saying thus holy Father keep through thine own Name thoâ—e whoâ—â—â—ou hast given me that they may be one as we are the Eunomians asserting the holy Ghost not to be God and producing for their Authority that of Christ Matt. c. 11. v 27. where he sayes thus all things are deliver'd unto me by my Father neiher knoweth any man the Father save the son ' and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him the Eutychians affirming the divine nature in Christ to have been converted into his human nature and alleaging for their ground that of St John c. 1. v 14. where we read the following words the word was made â—lesh and dowleth among us The Berengarians Wicklefians Husites Lutherans and Caluinists err'd so grossly in so many texts of scripture by reason of the great liberty they tooke in interpreting and expounding it to the advantage of their own design that their errors iâ— they were all related woud require a whole book to themselves so that it plainly appears that the reading and interpreting of the serâ—pture is not profitable to all people specially to those who do not â—ecur for the interpretation thereof to the holy Catholick Church which has a promise of the infallible asistance of the holy Ghost to the consumation of the world Matt c. 2â— v. 2â— so that the Church of Rome had great reason to hunder the ignorant sort of people who might easily be deceiv'd â—rom perusing it with-out having license from their respective Bishops especially in those countryes where heresie abounds and where Bibles are corrupted fearing lest that instead of acquiring more knowledge thereby they might peradventure fall into greater ignorance or some heresie as the aforsaid sectaries have done in so prohibiting she imitateâ— the example of fond parents who keeps all sort dangerous weapons from the hands of their children forbids them all kind of dieaâ— which might occasion or creat any ill distemper Chap. 12 Proving that the pretended reformers Doctrines are but a heap of several old heresies lawfully condemn'd by the Primitive Church Having sufficiently made-out by the same Authorityes which my adversaâ—y in his Challenge defies to be produc'd that the old and present Church of Rome is still the same in priÌ„ciples ti 's now fit that I shu'd let my adversary know what principles himself the rest of the new reformers do embrace I will only produce the following point 1 The Aerians demolish'd and threwdown the Altars where upon the holy sacrifice were wont to be offer'd as the following Fathers do relate St. Athanasius in his Epist de fuga sua Theodoretus in his 4th book of History c. 19. 2â— and Ruffinus in his 11. book c. â— Martin Luther who apostated from the Church of Rome the year 1517. and John Calvin who did the same the year 1538. caus'd alâ—o the Altars of those Churches which ere under their jurisdictions to be throwdown demoâ—ish'd as may be seen in Luther's booâ— de Formula Missa pro Ecclesia Wittâ—mbergenâ—i in Calvin's 4th book of Institutions c. 18. 2 The Aâ—rians rejected all traditions which were not written in the word of God as St. Augustin in his first book against Maximiâ—us c. 2. last testifies which heresie the Nestorians â—utychians held afther-wards as appears by the first Action of the 2 General Council of Nice the Nâ—itorians errors were condemn'd by the General Council of Ephese the year 4â—1 as may be seen Tomo 3 Coâ—ciliorum Luther in his commentary on St. Pauls â—pist to the Galaâ—â—ans c 2. and Calvin in his 4. book of Institutions â— 8. held also the same heresie 3 The Aerians and Eunomians deny'd that Images ought to be venerated as the Fatherâ— of the 2 Council of Nice do relate in the 6. Action John Calvin in his first book Chap. 11. and in his â— 4 book c. 9. and now all the reformers do teach the same 4 The Aerians held that there is no difference between Bishops and Priests but that they are of equal dignity and jurisdiction As St. Epiphanius heresie 75. St Augustin heresie â—3 do write Luther in his book of the Captivity of Babylon cap. de Ordinis Sacramento and adversus falso nominatum ordinem Episcoporum and Calvin in his 4. book of Instutions c. 3 held likewise the same hereâ—ie which now the presbyterians and several others doe embrace 5 The Aerians did not judge it lawfull to pray for the dead or to offer any sacrifice or alms for their releasment and did not believe that there was any place
sayes thus It was not in vain the Apostles order'd that they shou'd be remember'd in the venerable and terribile mysteries for they knew this to be a relief and help to them for when all the people with open arms and the priests offer that dreadfull sacrifice full of veneration how shall we not pacific God praying for them he hath such an other Authority in his 41. Homily on St. Pauls first Epist to the Corinthians and in his 7. Homily on his Epist to the Hebrews he sayes thus speaking of Christ we offer alwayes the same truely noe other but still the same therefore it is one sacrifice for this reason because he is offer'd in several places are they many Christs no not at all but one Christ in all places who is wholy and intirely here and there one boâ—â— in his 32. de Consubstantiali â—â— Sharply reprehend those who neglect to hear masse and in his 2â— Homily de baptismo he compare those who leave masse before thâ— last benediction to Judas who the Lords last supper departe before giving thanks More â—â— his Authorityes may be seen nâ— only in his liturgy but also iâ— several places manifestly proving the ancient practice of celebrating masses St. Augustin whâ— liv'd in the begining of the 5. century declares in his 9 book oâ— Confession c. 12. that there wâ— masse said for the soul of his own Mothâ— Monica her body being laid beside tâ— sepulchre In his 32 Ser de verb is Apostoli speaking of the dead he sayes the following words the prayers of the holy church the comfortable sacrifice and the alms which are offer'd for those spirits is not to be doubted that they are help'd by them for this hast been deliver'd by the Fathers which new the universal Church observes that those whodye in the communion of the body blood of Christy are remembr'd when the sacrifice is offer'd who doubts them to be favour'd for prayers are not in vain offer'd for them to God And in his Enchiridion c. 110. he also sayes that it is not to be deny'd that the soul of the dead are oâ—s'd when the holy sacrifice is offer'd for them In his 22. book of the city of God chap. 8. he relates that when Hesperious's couÌ„try house was troubl'd by malignant spirits thaâ— he desir'd one of his priests to go thither by the vertue of whose prayers the spirits might give over one of them went saith he and offer'd there the sacrifice of the body of Christ and afterwards the House was no more troul'd More of St. Augustins Authorityes may be seen in hiâ— 46. Epist in his book de cura promorcuis c. 18. in his book desancta virgin c. 45. in his first book de origine animae c. 9. 11 in his 84. treatise in JoaÌ„nem All which I omit to produce for breviti sake shall only insert that of venerable Bede who in his first book c 29 â—â—lates that St. Gregory had sent Priestly ornaments to St. Augustin the apostle of England and in his 4 book c â—2 he tells that when Jâ—ma was taken captive by the enemyes that he cou'd never bety'd by reason of several masses which his brother Tunna the monke said for his soul believing that he was kill'd in the battel and also in his 5 book c. 13. speaking of that terrible vision of Driethelme who after his death reviu'd and told wonderfull things concerning the pains of purgatory from which said venerable Bede Prayers alms fasts and celebrations of masses doe release many before the day of Judgment Now let us see the councils Authorityes It was decree'd in the 5 can of the council of Vasens atowne in France where 18 Bishops gather'd the year 442 that kyrie eleison shu'd be said in the masses throughout all the Churches of France as it was said long before in the East and in all Italy here are the councils very words quia tam in sede apostolica quam etiam per totas Orientis atque Italiae provincias dulcis et nimis salubris consuetudo in tromissa est ut kirieelcison cum grandi affectu accompuÌ„ctione dicatur placuit etiam ut in ominibus Ecclesiis nostris ista consuetudo sancta et ad matutinum et ad missas et ad vesperam deo propitiante intromittatur Likewise it was enacted in the 6 can of the same council that the following words holy holy holy shu'd be said iÌ„mornig masses iÌ„ the masses of lent and in those masses which were offer'd for the dead as it was accustom'd to be said in solemn Masses the words of the CouÌ„cil are these In omnibus missis sive matutinis sive quadragessimalibus sive in illisquae prodefunctorum commemorationibus siunt semper sanctus sauctus saÌ„ctus eo ordine quo ad missas publicas dici debeat quiatam dulcis et desiderabilis vox etiam die noctuque possit dici fastidium non potest generare et hoc nobis justum visum est ut nomen Domini Papae quicunque sedi apostolicae praefuerit in nostris Ecclesiis recitetur Which Authorieyes doe not only make out the ancient practice of celebreating Masses but also the Popes supremacy of which I shall treate in my answer to the 4 point In the mean time let us hear the Declarations of other old Councils concerning the present point We read in the 18 can of the council of Agato celebreated the year 506 that the seculars were then oblig'd to receive the CommunioÌ„ trice in the year viz at Christemas haster and Whitsuntide and in the 47 can of the same couÌ„cil t is expres'd that they were oblig'd to hear masse every sunday Which plainly makes out that in the primitive Church it was lawfull for the Priest to say masse tho' none else wou'd receive the Communion along with him to confirm which I shall produce the Authorityes of the two following Councils who sate above a thousand years agoe the fathers of the 12 council of Toleto can 5 sharply reprehend'd certain Priests for not receiving the Communion when they said Masses which is asign that they acknowledg'd the Masse to be lawfull tho' none wou'd communicate but onely the Priest And the council of Nant c 30 quoted by Ivo p 3 deer e 70 â— prohibit'd the Priests to say masse alone withoÌ„ut the assistance of one to answer them which Authority proves the ancient practise of celebrating privat masses Tho' Luther and his doctrine aleadges the contrary for the fathers of that Council only obliges the Priests to have clerks to answer them but mentions not a word of a second person to be requisite for receiving the communion along with the Priest for they knew too well that there was no divine or Ecclesiastical precept obliging the Priest not to say Masse if none else wou'd communicate along with him and moreover that there was no Precept commanding others to receive the Communion as often as the Priest wou'd celebrat Masse for that was left to the
mean time let us hear our Saviour's Promise to St. Peter Matt Chap 16. v 18 and I say also untâ— yoâ— that thou art Peter and upon this 〈◊〉 I will â—uild my Church and the Gates of Hâ—lâ— shall not prevail against it By which words our Saviour promis'd the Supream Goverment of the whole Church on Earth to St Peter as all the following Fathers and Doctorâ— do openly Declare Origines Homily 5 in Exoâ—um Tertullian in his book de Praescrip St Cyprian in his Epist to Quintus St Athanasius in his Epist to Felix St. Basil in his book against Eunomius St. Hilarius St. Hierome expounding the aforsaid text St. Chrysostome Hom 55. in Matt St. Cyrill of Alexandria in his 2 book c 1 in Ioann St Ambrose ser 47 and in his book de Isaac c. 3 St. Leo ser 11. of our Saviours Passion and in his 2 ser of St. Peter and St. Paul St Augustin in Psal Contra partem Donati and in his 2 book against Gaudentius Epistles c 23. which promise was effectually fullfil'd after Christ's Resurrection as all the aforsaid Fathers doe Testifie and it manifestly appears by our Saviour's own words Iohn c. 21 v. 15 16. 17 where we read that Christ Commanded St. Peter thrice consequently to feed the flock saying thus feed my Lambs feed my Lambs feed my Sheep which words doe plainly make-out that it was our Saviour's intention to appoint Peter the Supream head and chief pastor over all Christians under himself on earth which is further Confirm'd â—y the following Testimonies S. Denis the Areopagite cited by S Damascen ora 2. de dormitione Deiparae affirms that he and Timothy were both present at the blessed Vâ—rgin Marâ—'s death to be hold that body which gave tâ—e begining of life and that there was also present both fames and Peter the Supream and most anâ—â—ent top of Divines S Irenaeus who liv'd in the 2 Age in his 3 book c 3 says that all Churches round abouâ— ought to resort the Roman Chuâ—ch by reason of her more powâ—rfull Principality Tertullia who liv'd in the yeâ—â— 2â—â— in his booâ— call'â— Scorpiaâ—u◠〈◊〉 speaking to a heretick sayes thus so alâ—ho ' you thâ—â—k heaven to be still 〈◊〉 â—p remember tâ—e Lord to have lefâ— her it's â—eres with Pâ—ter and by Peter to the Church Origines who liv'd about the same time Hoâ— 5 in Exod sayes thus Obâ—â—rve what thâ— Loâ—d said to â—hat gâ—eat fâ—â—ndation of the Church and most solid â—ocâ— upon whom Christ built his Church And oâ— tâ—e 6 Chap. of S. Paul's Epist to the Rome he also sayes the folâ—owing whords when the câ—iâ—f charâ—â— of fâ—â—diÌ„g Christ s sheep was given to S. Peter and the Church foundâ—d upon him there was requâ—r'd of him tâ—e Confessâ—on of no vertue but of Charity S. Cyprian who also liv'd in the same Century Epist to Iulian sayes thus we hold Peter to â—e the hâ—â—d root of the Church Epist 5 he sayes the following words Peter upon whom the Church haâ—â— been buiâ—â— spoâ—e for all asweâ—iÌ„g in the Church's name sayâ—g â—â—nd to whom shall we go and in hiâ— 71. Epist he also saâ—es thus Peter whom thâ— Lorâ— first choes'd and upon whom he built his Church St. Epiphanius who liv'd in the year 3â—0 sayes ' heresie 51 that Christ choâ—s'd Peter first in order to maâ—â— him the Captaine of his Disciplâ—s and heresie 5â— â—e calls St. Peter the â—riâ— of the Apostles St. Ambrose who also liv'd about that same time in his Commentary on St. Paul's Epist to the Gala c. 1 speaking of St. Paul sayes thus Iâ— was â—it that he long'd for to see Peter who was the chiefest of the Apostleâ— to whom our Saviour intrusted the care of all the Churches and also in his Commentary on St Paul's 2. Epist to the Corin c 12 he says Andrew firâ—t fâ—llowâ—â—â—ur Saviour yet Andrew Receiv'd not the sâ—premacy but Peter Optatus who liv'd in the year 365. sayes thus in â—is 2. book against Perminian there is oâ—e chaiâ—â— and you darâ— not deny to â—now that the chaiâ—â— was first bestowed vnto Peter in the City of Rome where Peter the head fâ—ll the Apostles continued S. Basil who also liv'd in the â—ame age in his ser de Iudicio dei calls Peter that blessed one who was prefer'd before the rest of the Apostles â—usebius Emissenus who also liv d about the same time in his ser de nativi St. Joan speaking of Christ says that he first comâ—itted his Lambs afterwards his sheep to Peter becâ—uâ—e he made him not only pastor but pâ—stor of pastors and Ecumenius who like wise then liv'd sayes the following words in his commentary on the 1. Cap. of the acts Not Iames but Peter rais'd up as being both morâ— fervent and also the president of the Disciples S. Cyrill of Ierusalem â—ho liv'd in the same Century Catech 2 sayes thus Peter the Prince and most excellent of all the Apostles St Hierome who liv'd in the year â—90 in his first book against the Pelagians c 14 calls Peter the Prince of the Apostles upon whom the Lord's Church has been built and also in his first book against Jovinian Cap. 14 he sayes That one of the twelve was choesen to be the head of the rest that the occâ—sion of sâ—hisme might be prevented St. Chrysostom who liv'd in the same time in his 2 Hom de paenit in Psal 50 calls St Peter the pillar of the Church the foundation of the faâ—th and the head of the Apostolical quâ—re and in his last Hom on Ioâ—n he sayes that the charge of the brothers that is to say of the Apostles of the whole whâ—â—ld was câ—mmited to Peter and also in his 55 hom on Matt he sayes that the pastor and heâ—d of the Chuâ—ch was oncâ— a poor fisherman Theodoretus who liv'd in the year 430. sayes thus in his Epist to Leo. Paul that preacher of the truth and trumpet of the holy Ghost run'd to great Peter that he might bring his Sentence to those who indeavor d to establish the legals in Antioch S Augustin who liv'd in the same age in his 24 Ser de Temp â— casâ—'s Peter the governer of the Church And in his 68. Epist he calls him the head of the Apostles the gate keeper of heaâ—en c. in his last Treatise in Ioan he sayes thus whom Peter by reason of the Supremacy of his Apostle-ship c. S. Leo who liv'd in the year 440 in his 3 ser de Aslump sua ad Ponâ—iâ— sayes the following words out of the wholâ— world one Peter â—is choâ—sen who is prefer'd before all people and before the Apostles and before all the fathers of the Church and altho' among the people of God theâ— be many Priests and many pastors yeâ— Peter particularly governs them all and Christ governs them principaly S Gregory in his 4. â—ook 32. E. pist which is to Mauritius the Emperor sayes that it was maâ—ifesâ— to all that knew
aforsaid do expressly testifiâ— and also Sozomenus in his booâ— c. â— Under whose wings did Sâ— Chrysostome fly for justice beit depos'd by Theophilus and hâ— adherences but under the winâ— of Innocentius the first as appeaâ— by St Chrysostome's 1. 2. Epiâ—â— to the same To whom did Forâ—â— naâ—us Felix being depos'd Africk appeal but to Corneliâ— Pope of Rome as St. Cyprian â—â— his first book Epist 3 declares To whom did Basilideâ— appeal but to Pope Stephen as St. Cyprian testifies Epist 68. To the Pope of Rome Valent and Ursacius came to give an account of their treachery against St. Athanasius and to crave pardon for the same as Epiphanius heresie 68 relates Marcion being excommunicated by his own Bishop in Asia came to Rome to be absolv'd by Pâ—us the first as St. Epiphanius relates heresie 42 who depos'd Anthimus the Patriarch of Constantinople and establish'd in his place Mena but Agapetus the Pope as Liberatus affirms in his bâ—eviatâ— 62. and also Zonarias writiÌ„g the life of Iustinian Who depos'd Flavianus the Patrian of Antioch but Pope Danias Theodoret relates in his 5 â—â—â— c 23 who depos'd Polychronâ— Bishop of Ierusalem about â— year 434 but Pope Sixtus thâ— as appears in the acts of Sixâ— Who depos'd Dioscorus Paarch of Alexandria but the of Rome as Gelatius's Epistle the Dardanian Bishops expreâ—â— declares wherin he also relaâ— that Pope Iulius the first resloâ—â— Athanasius AlexaÌ„drinus Pauâ— Constantinopolitanus Marâ—lus Ancyranus to their own Biâ—â—opricks who re-establish'd Peâ— St. Athanasius successor be wrongfully depos'd by the Aâ—â—ans but Pope Damas as Sozoâ— â—us affirms in his 6 boâ—k c 9. who â—estor'd Theodoretus being also â—rongfullâ— depos'd by the Aâ—â—iâ—ns in the 2 Ephesian svnod but Pope Leo as is manifest by the first action of the General Council of Calcedon It was only the Popes of Rome â—hat had iâ— the Primitive Church their deputies and Vicar-generals in all foraign and remote Countryes viz. Anastasius Bishop of ThesaloÌ„ica in the Orient as aâ—pears by St. Leo's 84 Epist Potentius ' in Africk as the same Leo's 87 Epist declares Aâ—acius Patriarch of Constantinoâ—le in Egypt whom the Pope of Rome commanded to depose the Bishop of Alexandria as Gelatius relates in his Epist to the Dardanian Bishops Celestinus Pope of Rome Authoriz'd St. Cyrill of Alexandria to procâ—ed against Nestor then Bishop of Counstontinople as appears by Caelestinus's Ep to St Cyrill which is to be seen in St. Cyrill's 4. tome where also St Cyrill declares in his Epist to those of Counstantinople that the charge of that Bishoprick was committed unto himself by the Bishop of Rome Pope Hormisda instituted Salustius Bishop of Sevil his Vicar-general through Spain and Portugall as appears by the said Hormista's Epist to the same and St Gregory instituted Vigilius Bishop of Orleance to be his Vicargeneral thro' all France as may beseen in St Gregory's 4th book Epïst 52. It was also the Pope of Rome's Legates that were Presidents in the General Councils of the Primitivc Church as for example Hosius Vitus and Vincentius St Sylvester's Legates have been presidents in the General Council of Nice as Cedrinus in his Compendio Potius in his book de 7 Synodis and St Athanasius in his Epist to those who leade a solitary life do relate St Cyrill of Alexandria Pope Caelestinu's Legate preceded in the Council of Ephesias as Liberatus in his Breviate c 15. Evagrius in his first book c. 4 do write Paschasius Lâ—câ—â—sius and Bonifacius St. 〈◊〉 Legates were Presidents in the General Council of Calcedon aâ— is evident by the â— action of â—he â—ame Couâ—cil and also by S Leo's 47 Epist Archâ—dâ—mus and Philaxenâ—s Iulius the first 's Legates preâ—eâ—â—d in the General Council of Sardâ—s as St. Athanasius in his â— Apology and Theodoretus in his a book c 15 do declare It was only to the Pope of Rome the decrees and Canons of all General and famous Councils where sent in the primitive Church in order to be approv'd and confirm'd by his holynesse as for example it was to St. Sylvester Pope of Rome the Fathers of the Council of Nice sent a letter most humbly beseeching his holynesse to Ratifie and confirme the decrees of the said Council which letter is to be seen in the second Tome of the Councils The Fathers of this Council were in number 318 and sate in the year 325. The Fathers of the General CouÌ„cil of ConstaÌ„tinople being in number 150 assembled in the year 381 writ to Damas Pope of Rome by Cyriacus Eusebius and Prisâ—ianus Bishops praying him to aprove and confirme their Canons this Councils letter is to be seen in Theodoret's 5th book c. 9. The decrees of the General Council of Ephesâ—s wherein 200 Fathers sate in the year 431 were sent to Pope Celestinus in order to be confiâ—m'd as St. Cyrill's Epist testifies which Epistle is to be seen in the 3 Tome of the Councils The Fathers of the General Council of Calcedon being in number 630 and sate in the year 451 sent their Canons to Pope Leo in order to be confirm'd by him as appears by the said Council's Epistle to the same which is to be seen in the 4th Tome of the Councils The Fathers of the Milevian Council sent their CanoÌ„s to Pope Innocentius the first in the year 416 to be confirm'd as appears by this Council's Epistle which is to be seen in the 1 Tome of the CouÌ„cils The Fathers of the Council of Carthage sent their CanoÌ„s the year 356 to be confirm'd by Pope Stephen as is manifest by their own Epistle which is to be seen in St. Cyrill's 2 book and also in the first Tome of the Councils I might produce several other convincing proofs concerning this point but that I may be easie to the reader I will conclude only with these followiÌ„g Councils who sate in the Primitive Church and acknowledg'd in their very Canons the Pope of Rome's Supremacy viz. the 20 chap of the Council of Rome who sate in the year 324. The 3 chap of the 3. 4th Council of Rome who sate in the year 502. The 3 4th 9th Canon of the Council of Sardis wherein 376 Fathers were The 6th Canon of the General Council of Nice The 5 CanoÌ„ of the General Council of Constantinople The 1 2 3 16. Action of the General Council of Calcedon who sayes thus in the 16th we throughly consider â—ruly that all Prâ—macy chief honour is to be keept for the Arch Bishop of old Rome Chap 5 Proving that the Real Presence was believ'd by those of the Primitive Church The very words of Iesus Christ and also the Authentical Testimonyes of the holy Fathers and Doctors of the Primitive Church do clearly affirm that Christ's true body and blood are Really and Substantially present in the holy Sacrament therefore this Doctrine was not newly brought-in since the Primitive Church the consequens is most certain as we shall see here-after
and I prove the first part of the Anticedent by our Saviour's own words Iohn c 6 v 51 where he sayes thus I am the living bread which came down from heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live forever and the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world But then the Iewes wanting true faith said one to an other how can this man give uâ— his flesh to eate v 52. certainly then our Saviour who came to this world to instruct and leade us out of all darknesse to the true light hearing the Iewes murmuring so and doubting of what he said to be true wou'd explain the aforesaid words if he had any mystical meaning but he was so far from so doing that he confirm'd and repeated them again over and overâ— as is manifest by the 53 54 c. v where we read the following words then Iesus said unto them verily verily I say unto ye except ye eate the flesh of the son of man and drinke his blood ye have no life in ye whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternall life and I will raise him up at the last day for my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drinke indeed he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I 〈◊〉 him as the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father so he that eateth me even he shall live by me This is the bread which came down from heaven not as your Fathers did eate â—anna and are dead he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever So that every faithfull sincere Christian may plainly understand that if our Saviour then had not meant that he was to give his own true flesh and blood to be really eaten and dranke that he wou'd not so proceed in confirming what he said in the begining and also that he wou'd not suffer his own disciples to part with-out declaring his mind to them as he did often before when he spoâ—e in parables neither wou'd he declare at his last supper that he gave to his discples his own body and blood saying thus Take eate this his my bâ—dy and he tooke the cup and gave thankes and gave it to them saying drinke ye all of it for his is my blood of the new testâ—meâ—t which shall be shâ—d for many for the remission of sinnes Matt c 26 v 26 27 28 I leave it to all faithfull Christians seriously to be consider'd whether Christ gave only figuratively his own body and blood for the remission of our sinnes or his reall body and blood If he gave them really for our Salvation he also gave them really tâ— his disciples as his own wordâ— do manifestly affirme to deny which is of no less consequence than to charge Christ with untruth or at lest that he had not words significant to explain his intention which is rash and impious to judge of his infinite power therefore all Christians are oblig'd not to mistrust of the truth of Christ's words or doubt of their literal sence in the aforesaid text for being we acknowledge that Christ is omnipotent and consequently that it is in his Power to make of the bread and wine his own flesh and blood by his divine benediction we ought not to doubt of what he said to be true and if in case he had not exprest so plainly his mind unto us concerning this mysterie we ought to believe it firmly by St Paul's testimonye â—ae Corinth c 11 v 23 24 c. saying thus for I have receiv'd of the Lord that which also I deliver'd uâ—to ye that â—he Lord Jesus the same night in which he wâ—â— betrayed â—ooke bread and when he had given thankes he brake and said take eate this is my body which shall be â—â—liver'd for ye thiâ— do ye in remembranâ—e of mâ— afteâ— the â—ame maÌ„ner also he tooke the câ—p when he had supped saying this cup is the new testament in my blood this doe ye as often as ye drinke it in remembraâ—ce of me for as often as ye eate thâ—s brâ—ad and drinke this cup ye do shew the Lords death till be come whosoever shall â—at this bread â—â— drinke this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the â—oâ—d By which words St Paul openly declares that Christ gave his own body blood to his disciples at his last supper and also he affirms himself to have been taught this doctrine by the Lord and that he deliever'd the same to the Corinthians that there by he might perswade them not to doubt of what he said to be true but to firmly believe the reall presence beâ—ng it was the Lords doctrine delieuer'd unto him in order to teach it to the Christians Now let us heare the Authorityes of the holy Fathers Doctors of the Primitive Church wherewith I shall prove the second Part of the antecedent St. Ignatius the Apostles Disciple in his Epist to those of Smyrna ciâ—ed by Theodoret in his â— Dialogue sayes thus they â—â—mit not the Eucharists and oâ—lations because they confess not the Euchâ—râ—st to be the flesâ— of our Saviour who suffer'd for ouâ— sinneâ— Let the reader take â—otice of those heretickes against whose principles St Ignatius speaks in the aforsaid text for they rejected the Eucharist lest they would be forc'd to confess that Christ had true flesh but if the Eucharist had not then been believ'd to be Christ's â—rue flesh those heretiks could have no kind of reason to re-ject it for they did noâ— deny the figure or Image of Chrisâ— but what they deny'd was thaâ— Christ had true flesh The like argumenâ— may be form'd against the Jewes admiration hearing the word of Christ Iohn c 6 v. 51 c. for if then the jewes would believe that Christ was to give his flesh only in figure and remembrance they would have no reasoÌ„ to murmur or to mistrust the truth of Christ's words so that it manifestly appears that the Jewes suppos'd that Christ meant his true flesh and also that those heretiks of the prmitive Church believ'd and acknowledge that it was then some of the Catholickâ— Doctrine to believe that Christ's true flesh was really present in the holy Eucharist St. â—â—ustin Martyr who liv'd in the year 150 in his 2 Apology to Antoninus sayes thus we do not receive this as common bread or as common drinke but as the son of God Iesus Christ ouâ— Saviour inâ—â—rnate had flesh and blood for our salvation so are we taught that thâ— Eucharist is the flesh blood of the same Iesus incarnate St Irenaeus who liv'd in the same Century speaking of the hereticks of the Synagogue who deny'd Christ to have been the son of God sayes the following words in his 4th book c 34 how can they be assured the bread in which thankes are given to be the body of our Lord the
substance was chang'd St. Gregorie Nysen who liv'd the year 380. in his Oration term'd Cateehetica c. 370. sayes thus I do also now rightly believe the sanctifi'd bread to be chang'd into the body of Christ and these things he bestows transelementing the thiÌ„gs that are seen into it by the vertue of his blessings which words do plainly make-out that St. Gregorie positively believ'd the Transubstantiation otherwise he wou'd not have said these words St Ambrose who siv'd about the same time in his 4th book of sacraments c. 4th sayes thus perhaps you may say my bread is ordinary but the bread is bread before the words of consecration but when consecration comes it is the flesh of Christ a nother convincing Authority of St. Ambrose may be seeÌ„ in my answer to the 5th point St Gaudentius who also liv'd in the 4th age in his 2. Treatis on Exod. sayes the following words the Cream and Lord of natures who brought forth the bread out of the earth and again of the bread because he can do it promis'd it made his proper body and who of the water made wine made of the wine his own blood S. Chrysostome who liv'd in the year 398. in his 83. hom on S. Matt. speaking of this mysterie sayes thus these are not the works of human power which the Lord perform'd in that supper the same also offers now the sacrifice he performs we enjoy the office of ministers truly t is he who sanctifies and chaâ—ges these things And in his Homily of the Eucharist in â—â—â—aenys he also sayes the following words do you see the bread do you see the wine do they go like other meat to the privy the Lord forbid you ought not to imagin so for eveÌ„ as after wax is apply'd to the fire nothing of the substance remains even so consider here the mysteries the substance of the body to be consum'd that is to say that the breads substaÌ„ce is annichilated when Christ's body inters under those accidents which formerly the bread had before it was annulâ—d St. Augustin in his â—8 ser de verbis Apostoliâ— sayes thus I told ye that the bread which is offer'd is call'd bread before the words of Christ but as soone as Christ's words are pronounc'd then t is not call'd bread but it is call'd the body And in the book of the IncarnatioÌ„ of Christ we read the following words t is not to be believ'd that the â—ubstance of the bread or wine remains but that the bread is cheang'd into Christ's body and the wine into his blood c St. Cyrill of Alexandria in his Epist to Calosyrius and Eusebius Emissenus Ser. de corpore Domini do affirm the same All which Authorityes do evidently make out the thing signifi'd by the word Transubstantiation that is to say the real change of the substance of bread and wine aâ— the intrance of Christ's flesh blood to have been alwayes believ'd and maintain'd by the holy Fathers and Doctors of the Primitive Church so that it plainly appears that this Doctrine of Transubstantiation was not broughtin by the Church of Rome either in the 6th 7th 8th or 9th age or by the Council of Latran in the year 1215 as some of the preteÌ„nded reformers do falsly aleadge It is not worth my while to answer here the Adversary's 8th point for it is sufficiently answer'd by what I have produc'd in my answers to the three last points for t is manifest that all those who contradicted in the Primitive Church the aforsaid Doctrine that they were esteem'd and beliv'd by the holy Catholicke Churh to have been notorious heretickes as I will shew in the later end of this worke Chap. 8. Proving the use and veneration of Images in the Primitive Church If it be lawfull to worship other creatures t is also lawfull to worship Images but t is lawfull to worship other creatures therefore t is lawfull to worship Images the major is manifest for the saâ—e honour which the scripture forbids to be given to the one forbids it to be given to the other as I will shew hereafter therefore if it be lawfull to worship other creatures t is also lawfull to worshâ—p Images whose making and puting up in Churches is commanded by the holy scripture as evidently appears by the following texts Exodus c 25 v. 18. 19. 22 where we read that God commanded two Câ—erubins to be made of goâ—d which were to be set up on both sides of the Arke before which the people were to pray and promis'd that there he wou'd meet with Moses we read also Numb c. 21 v. 8 and 9 that the Lord commanded Moses to make a fiery serpent and to set it up on a pole and that it shu'd come to passe that if any one would be bitten by a serpent that he wou'd recover when he wou'd looke upon the serpent of brasse more examples may be seen in the 3 book of Kings c. 6. v. 35. c. 7. v. 25. 29. and 36. c. 10. v. 19. in the 2. book of Chronicles c 3. v. 10 and 14. where we read that Salomon caus'd at several times Images to be made but we can never find out that ever he was reprehended for so doing Now let us see is it lawfull to worship other creatures that thereby the minor may be prov'd Lot seeing the Angels bowâ—â— himself with his face to wards the ground Gen. c. 19. v. 1. Baâ—aam did the same seeing the Angel of the Lord Numb c 22 v. 31. and also Joshua as may be seen Joshua c. 5. v. 14. Saul seeing the soul of Samuel stoop'd with his face towards the grouÌ„d and â—bowed himself as may be seen in the first book of Kings c. 28 v. 14. and in the 3. book of Kings c 18 v 7. we read that Abadiah fell on his face and worshipp'd Elyah The sons of the Prophets seeing Elisha they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him as may be seen in the 4th book of Kings c. 2. v. 15. we also read in the 2. c. v. 46. of Daniel that the King Nebuchad-nezzar fell upon his face and worshipp'd Daniel and commanded that they shu'd offer an oblation and sweetodours unto him Chirist approv'd of the making and exalting of the brazen serpent and owens it to have been the type and figure of himself exalted on the crosse â—ohn c. 3 v 14. S. Iohn the Baptist worshipp'd the very latehet of our Saviours shooe the latchet of whose shooes saith he I am not worthy to unloose John c. 1. v. 27. for which fact St Augustin on that place concluds him to have been full of the holy Ghost the Patriarch Jacob ador'd the top of Joâ—eph's rod a signe or Image of his regal power as we read in S Pauls Epist to the Hebrews c. 1 v 2â— the Primitive Christians venerated the very shadow and garments of S Peter and Paul and receiv'd thereby speciall benefit as may be seen in
the acts of the Apostles â— 5. v. 15. and c 19 v. 11. and St. Paul in his Epist to the Philippians â— 2. v. 10. commands us to honour the name of Jesus which is only asign or Image of our redemptioÌ„ as the name Iehoâ—a is of our creation which was in so great honour with the Jewes that the common people durst not utter it no nor the very Priests but only in the time of sacrifice and solemne benediction as Philâ— relates writing the life of Moses nay the very plate on which the name of God was written on the high Priest's forehead is calld the plate of sacred veneration Exodus c. 18. v 36. 38. and we read in the 22. c. v 26 of Ezekiel that God commanded the temple which was an Image of his heavenly house to be honour'd as a holy place and reprehended those Priest's who poluted it saving thus her Priests have violated my law and have prophaned mine holy thinks they have put no diference betwen the holy and prophenâ— Now let us see did those of the PrimitiÌ„ve Church ever use or worship Images Tertulian who liv'd in the 3 age in his 2 book de Pudici affirms that the Image of ChriÌ„st bearing a lambe on his sholders was graven on the chalices us'd in Churches St Gregory Nysen who liv'd in the 4th Century in his Oration of Theodorus sayes that the silent picture painted on the wall doth declare several things and that it is very profitable this same holy Father was wont to weep contemplating the Image of Abraham facrifizing his son Isaac as himself testifies in his ser preach'd in Constantinople S. Basil who liv'd in the same Century in his Epist to Julian the Emperour after numbering seyeral points of faith which himself believ'd brings in the Apostles Prophets and Martyers then concluds saying thus the characters of their Images I do honour and worship thiefly being this was deliver'd by the Apostles and not prohibited and why shu'd it not be shewed painted in all our Churches in hisser of Barlaam he also sayes the followiÌ„g words â—ye famous painters raise-up and extoll your arts in painting this saint's Image and likwise let Christ's Image be painted St. Hierome who liv'd in the year â—90 writing the life of Paula sayes that shee was wont to prostrate herself before the crucifix and ador'd it as if shee had beheld the Lord crucifi'd bâ—foâ—e her eyes S Crysostome in his ser quod veteris et novi Testamenti unus sit Legislator declar'd that himself lov'd a picture of melted wax full of piery and in his Liturgy he sayes that the Priest was wont to how down his head before the Image of Christ he makes also mention of Christ Image in his ser deferia quintâ— Caena Dâ—mini Paladius who liv'd in the same time in his 11th Epist relates that the Bishop of Jerusalem was wont yearly at the solemnitâ— of Easter to expose the crosse to be ador'd by the people he himself first adoring it St. Cyrill of Alexandria who liv'd in the 5 Century in his homily against Nestor sayes thus hail mother of God through whom the precious crosse is made famous and ador'd throughout the world Caelius Sedulius who also liv'd in the 5 Century in his 5th book sayes the following words neither is there any who dose not know that the Image of the crosse ought to bâ— worshipp'd S. Gregorie who liv'd in the same Century in his 7 book Epist 5 bids the Bishop Januarius to take the crucifix and the Jmage of the blessed virgin from the Jewes who did not give them the due veneration And in his 53 Epist which is to SecuÌ„dinus he sayes thus I do know that you long for our Saviour's Image that by contemplating it you might burn the more with the love of the Lord Eusebius writing the life of Constant the great relates that agreat many of Golden and Silver Images were put up in the Churches which he caus'd to be built in Palestine in his 7. book c. 14. he affirms himself to have seeÌ„ the Apostles Images which then were very old and in great veneration with the people Damas relates writing the life of St. Sylvester that the aforesaid Constantine commanded an Image of pure Gold to be made which he order'd to be put up in the Church wherein he was baptiz'd on the right hand of which he plac'd the Image of our Saviour and on the left hand the Image of St. John the Baptist he also order'd the Image of our Saviour of four Angels and of the twelve Apostles to be put up in the Church of St. John Latran in Rome in order to be venerated by the Christians Evodius in his 2. book writing of S. Stephen's miracles sayes that his Image was put up in the same Church wherein his reliques were pre serv'd and that agreat multitude-of people were vs'd to freqent that Church out of particular devotion who venerated both the Image his reliques The Disciples of S. Epiphanius plac'd his Image in the Church which they built in his honour and were wont to pray most fervently before the same Image as the Fathers of the 7th General Council do declare in the 6th Action St. Ambrose in his Oration of Theodosiu's death sayes that it was discreetly done of Helena to order the crosse where upon our Saviour was crucifi'd to be taken up our of the ground where the Jewes absconded it that it might be worshipp'd by the Christians and in his Epist de invention sanctorum Gervasy et Protasy he declares that he knew him who appear'd to himself to be S. Paul by his Image which he had before S Augustin in his first book de Consensu Evangelistarum affirms himself to have seen in several places Christ's Image painted betwen S. Peter and St. Paul's Images and in his 3th book of the Trinity c. 10. in his 2. de Doct. Christ c. 25. and also in his 3. book c. 9 he sayes that Images are very profitable in order to move the people to devotion Metaphrastes in the life of Constantine the great Euagrius in his 4tâ— book c. 26 and Damsâ—enus in his first book de Imaginibus do relate that a painter endeavoring to â—raw the Image of Christ whose splendour when he cou'd not behold our Saviour himself tooke a peece of white â—â—nen and saving it on his face imprinted there-on the Image of his divine countenance and after-wards sent it to King Abagarus who long'd to see our Saviour which Image after awhile out of of particular veneration was brought by Philip the General of Mauritiuâ—'s army unto the field and gain'd thereby a most glorious victory from the Persians as Theopaâ—es relates in his 17th book Marianus scotus in his Cronicles writing of the 39 year makes mention of an other Image painted after the same manner by our Saviour in a handkerchief offer'd to him by a devout woman call'd Veronica as he sweared carying the crosse to
the other not Now letus héare the holy Fathers Authorityes and the practice of the Primitive Church St Ireâ—aeusâ— who liv'd in the 2 Century in his 5th book against hereses sayes thus and as Eve was seduc'd that the might avoid God even so maâ—y was advis'd to obey God that she might become Eves advocate Origines who liv'd in the 3 Century in his first homily on Ezech sayes thus come Angel and receive the converted from the former error from the devilish Doctrine call the rest of your compaâ—ions that ye may together instâ—uct in the faith all those who formerly has â—een deceiv'd more of Origen's Authorityes may be seen hom 3. in Diversa Loca Novi Tâ—estamenti hom 16. in â—osue and hom 26 in Nume Cornelius who liv'd in the same century in his first Epist sayes thus we are Praying God our Lord Jesus Christ that by the intercessions of his own holy Apostles he may purge out the blemishes of your sinnes St. Cyprian who also liv'd in the 3. Century in his book de Disiplina et Habitu Virginum speaking to the Virgins sayes thus peform spiritually come prosperously and be mindfull of us Eusebius Caes who liv'd the year 326. in his 13. book de Evang. Praep. c. 7. sayes we â—ouldiers of true pieâ—y do daily practise these thing honouring the friend s of God praying to them by whose intercession to God we do freely acknowledge to be much favour'd S. Athansius wâ—o liv'd in the same Century in his ser in Evangelium speaking of the blessed Virgin Mary sayes the following words incline they hearing to our prayers and do not forget they people we cry to thee be mindfull of us most holy Virgin who also after your delivery contâ—nu'd a Virgin Lady Mistress and Queen and Mother of God intercede for us St Hilarius who liv'd the year 355. in psal â— 9 sayes that the nature of God dose not want the intercession of Angels God being ignorant of nothiÌ„g that we do but our own weakness wants it he has such another Authority speaking of the Apostles and Prophets intercession expounding the 124. Psalm St. Basil who liv'd in the same age in his Oration of the 40. Martyâ—es sayes thus whosoever is oppress'â— with trouble let him sly for refuge tâ— these martyres that he may be ridd oâ— his troubles and whosoever rejoyces let him Pray to them â—hat he â—ay continue in his prosperityes And in his 205. Epist which is to Julian after specifying several points of faith which himself beliv'd he sayes the following words and I do embrace the holy Apostles Prophets and invocate them in my supplication to God that by their intercession he might be mercyfull to me S. Cyrill of Jerusalem who liv'd about the same time Catech. 5. sayes thus when we offer this sacrifice we also make mention of those who dâ—'d before us first of the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and Martyres that God may receive our prayer by their intercession S. Ephraem who also liv'd in the same Century in his ser de Laudibus Martyrum sayes the following words we beseech ye most holy Martyres who for the sake of the Lord readily and willingly suffer'd torments for which ye are all now most faâ—â—liar with God that ye may be pleas'd to intercede to the Lord for us poor sinners that the grace of Christ might light upon us St. Gregorie Nazianzen who liv'd the year 370 in his Oration speaking to S. Athanasius after his death sayes thus and look upon us favorably from alove and govern this holy people nuâ—ish and feed us in peace direct and take us up in the battel and place us with your self and with those who are in the same condâ—tion with you he implores also St. Cyprian St. Basil's assistance in his Orà tions of them after their death St. Ambrose who liv'd the same time sayes the following words the Angeâ—s who are employ'd to asist us ought to be pray'd to and the Marâ—yres they can intercedâ— for our sins who with their proper blood wash'd a way if they had any sins let â—s not be asham'd to apply them a intercessors of our weakness More of this holy Doctors Authority may be seen in his 2. book de Virg. in his 10 book in Lucam expounding the 21. â— and in his Preparation before mass where he begs the assistance and intercession of the Apostles Martyres CoÌ„fessors S. Gregorie Nysen who liv'd the year 380 in his Oration of St. Theodâ—r Mâ—râ—yer sayes thus we stand iâ—â—â—ed oâ— great favours intâ—rcâ—de aâ—d pâ—ay eaâ—nâ—stly to the â—niversal Kiâ—◠〈◊〉 Lord for the Counâ—ey for we 〈…〉 â—e exâ—â—ct dangers the wicked Sâ—ithioâ—s are â—t far oâ— dâ—clariâ—g war against â—s 〈◊〉 for us as a Souâ—dier as a marâ—yer â—se the liberty of 〈◊〉 for your fellow â—rvant altho' you haâ—e â—eâ—s the world 〈◊〉 you knâ—w thâ— disposition interest â—â—d 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 nâ—ture beg 〈◊〉 that these â—ublick assemblyes â—ay not give over 〈◊〉 the â—urious wiâ—â—ed and â—orbâ—rous 〈◊〉 woâ—'d â—aise agaiÌ„st us and assâ—â—ls our Churchâ—â— and Altars but if it be requisite â—â— have more assistance and prayers gather your consorts the Martyres and pray along with them for the prayers oâ— many righteous doth wash away the 〈◊〉 of many admonish Peter move Paul and John thâ—t beloved Disciple thaâ— they may take care of those Churches for whose sake they endur'd chains suffer'd dangers and death S. Hierome who liv'd the year 390 in his OratioÌ„ on Paula sayes thus â—earwel O Paula and help with your prayers thy worshipper in his old age foâ— you who is present will more easily obtain what you demand S. Chrisostome who also liv'd the same time in his 45. homily speaking of St. Meletuis sayes thus therefore let us all together men and women both young and old pray to holy Miletius c. In his ser speaking of the blessed Lady he sayes the followiÌ„g words â—t us recurr to the most holy Virgin Mary Mother of God that by her interâ—â—ssion â—e may obtain our request we beseech â—â—ee to intercede for us daily to our Lord Jesus Christ thy own son that â—y thee thro' his grace and benignity â—e may be pardon'd in his 66. hom to the people of Antioch he sayes thus he who gose in his purple â—d royal crown laying by his pride â—raws near the Saints sepulchres humbly beseeching them to intercede for him â— God c. More of St. Chrysostoms Authorityes may be seen in his 5th hom in Matt. in his ser de Juventio and Maximio and in his first hom on St. Paul's first Epist â—o the Thessalonians where he Numbers several benefitâ— graÌ„ted by the Saints intercession thro' their merits S. Augustin who liv'd the year 4â—0 in his 7 book against the Donaâ—â—sts 〈◊〉 speaking of St. Cyprian sayes the â—ollowing words we beseech him to aâ—â—â—â—â— us with his prayers c. in his 84. Treatise in John he sayes that it was therefore they did not pray
wou'd translate it into several other languages and the Apostles who had the gift of all tongues Acts c. 2. wou'd not only write the new Testament in Greek Hebrew â—atin as they have done but also in other languages in which they preach'd the gospel through out the universal world accordiÌ„g â—o that of St. Paul to the Romans â— 10 v. 18. neither wou'd S. Paul write in Greeck but in Latin to the Romans whose vâ—lgar language was not the Greeck but the Latin tongue and St. Peter and St. James wou'd not write in Greeck their Epistles to the Jewes buâ— in the languages of those countryes wherein they were dispers'd which then have been the Iewes maternal languages and not the Greeck neither finally wou'd St. Iohn write his first Epist in Greeck to the Parthians whose maternal Language was not the Greeck but another distinct Language whereby it plainly appears that neither the Apostles or the Primitive Church ever believ'd that it was necessary for all nations to have the word of God in their own tongue Now let us see who are those that are oblig'd to expound read and interpret the word of God to thew which I will produce the followinâ— Authorityes St. Basil in his 25 Qvestion sayes that it is the superiors obligatioâ— that is to say the pastors to know and â—earn those things whiâ—h afterwards they ought to teach others but of others not 〈◊〉 know more then behoueth them and S. Augustin in his first book de moribus Ecclefie c. 1. puts the Question inquiring what man if judgment doth not understand that the exposiition of the scripture is to be ask'd of them who by their profession are Doctors of the Church which may be further confirm'd by the Eunâ—ch's example Acts c. 8. v. 30. 31 35 for when Philip ask'd him did he understand what he â—as reading out of Isaiah he answer'd saying how â—an I understand it except some man should guide me wherefore he desir'd Philip to sit with him in order to expound it to him which Philip willingly perform'd knowing that it was his obligation whereby it appears that the Eunâ—ch tho' a man of great Authority with Qeen Candace yet did not presume to interpret the scripture himself but ask'd thê meaning thereof from one of those who were appointed by God in order to instruct and teach others according to that of St. Paul to the Ephesians c. 4. v. 11 12 14 saying tâ—us and he gave some Apostles and some prophets and some Evangelists some pastors and teachers for the peâ—fectiâ—g oâ— the Saints for the worke of the ministery for the edifying of the boâ—â— oâ— Christ tâ—at we hence forth may be no more children toss'd to and frâ— and carri'd about with every wind of Doctrine by the slight of men and cuning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive to prevent which danger St. Paul himselâ—â—â— his Epist to the Hebrewâ—â— 13 v. 17 expresly commands us to obey the pastors and to submit our selves to their judgments â—hom God imploy'd to rule us and watch over our souls for â—hich they must give an account for the want of which submission and due obedience to the lawfull Pastors and Doctors of the true Church ti 's aâ—â—â—st lamentable prospect to behold the miserable condition wherein those of Ireland England Scotland Holland c are ever since they unfortunatly by the aposâ—acy of Luther and Calvin in the 16 age have deserted their true and lawfull mother the Chuâ—â—at â—Rome which is as St. Augustâ—â— affirms in his first book of Symbol to the Cateched c. 6 the holy Church the only Church the true Church the Catholick Church that fights against all hereitcâ—s yet cannot be convine'd all hereâ—ies deserts heâ— even as usless twigs that are cut from the vine but she still remains in her root in her vine and in her charity which character the pretended reformers cannot give to any of their own new Conventicles who are alwayes in a continual confusion never agreeing among themselves for every different sect of them supports the tenets of it's own doctrine by some misinterpreted text of scripture even as those hereticks of the Primitive Church which is so inculeated in their brains that each of them is ready to sacrifice his life for the defence of his own particular Doctrine the Lutherans condemning the Calvinists the modern Prebyterians condemning the reform'd Church of England the Anaâ—aptists and Quakers despising all others in repect of their own purity some of them admiting all the books of scripture to be canonical others affirming part of it to be apocriphall some adding to their Bibles that which they suppose the Apostles either neglected or forgot others diminishing and taking away what in their opinion were first put-in over-plus which now a dayes they fiÌ„d disagreable to their own principles by reason of which alteration several of their Bibles do differ in many places which is to be admir'd for how durst they be so presumpâ—ious as â—e alter or corrupt it being he is curs'd who adds to or diminisheth the word of God Revelation c. 22. v. 18. 19. for since we are all certain that the first Bible which the holy Catholick Church receiv'd from the Apostles and us'd it for the space of 14. hundred and odâ— years after Christs birth was written by the inspiration of the holy Ghost what kind of any tolerable pretence can they have now after so many ages to alter and corrupt it whereas very often the alteriÌ„g of one letter changes the sense of a whole sentence much more wheÌ„ they alter words â—ay whole sentence as if what God ordain'd in the beginig had now need to be corrected by their wisdom to such presumptious people might be we apply'd the following words of Christ Matt. c 7. v. 6. give not that which is holy unto the dogs neither caâ—â—ye â—our pearlâ—s before swine lâ—st they trample them under their feet and turn again and rent you So that it appears if those corrupters cou'd câ—oake â—y any pretention their ungodly design that they wou'd not leave one text in the whoâ—e scripture which they find disagreable to their own principles but what they woud a teror corrupt if in case any zelous Christian shu'd offer to diswade their followers from perusing it after that corruption they wou'd imprudently answer as they do now that if they shud be hinder'd from reading the word of God in their own tongue that they wou'd be keâ—pt in ignoraâ—ce and darkness as the Papists are so that as the serpent deceiv'd Eve perswading her to eat of the forbidden fruit that she might come to the knowledge of good and evil Gen. c. 3 even so the divel by his subâ—ility and ambussâ— deludes the poor ignorant people perswading them to read expound and interpret their corrupted Bibles and not to be beholding to the Church or pastrors who might deceive them in teaching that which wou'd be contrary to the word of God
denys Peter to have been bishop for it was resolv'd by those that were in that â—ssâ—mbly that it wou'd be expeâ—ient to send Bishop to the Samarians who then receiv'd thâ— faith in order to confirm them in the same so that it was agreed that John and the chifest Bishop viz Peter shoud go thither to perform the same which they did to the Samarians great satisfactâ—on After this Whealy produces an argument which he sound in a manuel of coâ—troveâ—sie priâ—ted at Doway the â—ear 654 proviÌ„g that to be the only Church of God whiâ—h hath had a cotinued succession of Bishops pastors from the time of Christ and the Apostles to this present daâ— which he denys with out giving any Authority or reason but promises in the following page to confute it I will be silent in the matter untill I see what he can alleadge agaiÌ„st it He afterwards â—ites out of the same manuel the following texts Isa c. 59. v. â— c. 60. v 1. 3. 1. c. 62 v. â— Ezâ—â—â—iâ—l c. 37 v. 26 Daniel c. 7 v. 13. 14 proving the infallibility of the Church which in Whealy's opinion can have no relation â—o â—â— they being write long before the Apostles dayes but if this shu'd taâ—e place it would as well prove that all the prophesies of the old Testament concerning Christs passion resurection and assention could have no relation to the said Mysteries they being prophesy'd loÌ„g before any â—f hâ—m came to pass all Whealy's witt can shew noe tolerable reason for denying the one and admitting the other as for the texts which he brings out of Matt c. 28 v. 20 John c 14 v. 16. Ephe c. 4 v. 11. 12 it is but some of Whealy's calumnyes to alleage that the Author of the said Manuel ever Produc'd them in order to prove St Peter supremacy whereas he only â—akes use of them to prove the visibility and infallibility of the true Church and its contiÌ„nued succession of Bishops Pastors from the time of the Apostles till now as appears in the 2. 37 45 page of the same Manuel After this Whealy denyes Peter to have been Bishop of Antioch or Rome for six several reasons and sayes in the first that he cannot grant it because the scriptures are wholy silent in the mattâ—r But if he can grant nothing wherein tâ—e scrâ—ptures are silent he is no true Christian for he does not believe or grant the Apostles creed or tâ—at the present Bible of which he makes use himself to be the uÌ„corrupted word â—f God or the baptism of children before they come to the years of discrection to be lawfull and sufficienâ— for salvatioÌ„ seeing the scriptures are â— holly silent in these matters beside he Possitively swears to several poiÌ„ts that are not mention'd therein and consequently contradicts his owne assertion this is too evident to require a proof for he wickedly swears believes that the true flesh blood of Christ are not really present in the blessed Sacrament that the Virgin Mary Mother of God hath no more power than a nother Woman that the Bishop of Rome hath no spiritual or temporal jurisdiction over England Ireland or Scotland and several other points propos'd by the present goverment therefore he believes and wickedly swears to several points as articles of faith wherein he himself pretends the Scripture to be wholly silent but let Whealy deny or own what he pleases its evident to us by the testimonies of all ancient writers and the following holy Fathers Doctors that Peter was Bishop of Rome viz St. Irenaeus in his 3. book c. 36. Tertullian in his book de Prescrip adversus hereticos St. Cyprian in his first book Epist 3. and in his 4. book Epist 2. Eusebius in his chronicle of the 44. year S. Epiphanius heresie 27. S. Athanasius in his Epist to those who lead a solitary life Dorotheus in his Inventory Sozomenus in his 4. book c. 4. Optatus in his 2. book against PerminiÌ„an S. Ambrose in his book of the Sacraments c. 1. St. Hierome de Viris Illustribus and in his first Epist to Damas St. Augustin in his 2. book against Petilian c. 51. and in his 165 Epist Theodoret in his Epist to Leo. Isidorus writing the life of Peter and all other ancient writers till the year 1400. before which time I defie Whealy to produce any Author that ever write of Peter's not being Bishop of Rome Whealy's second reason for denying this matter the office of an Apostle was deriv'd immediatly from Christ and by consequence more honourable and supream than that of Bishop which was ordain'd by men only it were therefore no less than madness to think Peter so weake of judgment to quitt the more honourable for the lesser or the superiour for an inferior But in this Answer Whealy makes two false suppositions first he supposes that Peter was ordain'd Bishop by men and not by Christ as Aron was formerly ordain'd by God chief Priest over the Isralites secondly he supposes that there is an incompâ—â—â—bility between the office of an Apostle and that of Bishop which â—s also 〈…〉 tho' they be two 〈…〉 they do not tend to incompaâ—ible effects for they both tend to the glory of God propagating the Doctrine of Christ and establishing the holy Catholick Church which no man of sence can deny As to Whealy's third reason wherein he sayes that the commission of an Apostle go ye forth teach all nations c. was then more universal than that of Bishoprick c. If this wou'd prove any thing against Peters being Bishop it wou'd also prove that James was not Bishop of Jerusalen or John Bishop of Ephese because their commission was also to go forth and teach all nations c. which hinder'd them not from being Bishops of the aforesaid seas as all ancient writers do unanimously testifie as to that which he adds saying that 't is epressly agaiÌ„st the special command of Christ to accept of bishoprick at all 't is but some of his presbyterian Doctrine where with he not only attakes the Church of Rome but also the present Church of EnglaÌ„d as manifestly appears by what he produces in his last argument out of Luke c. 12. v 25 26. His fourth reason against Peter being Bishop is that Peter was Apostle of the circumcision and such as write his Epistles from Babylon not to Rome but to the scatered â—eâ—es c. which reason coÌ„tradicts Whealys third Answer where in he sayes that it was agaiÌ„st Christs commaÌ„d that Peter should accept of bishoprick at all because as he alleages he was oblig'd to go fâ—â—th and teach all nations but if Peter was oblig'd to teach all nations he was not only an Apostle of the circumcision for the word all nations compreheÌ„ds both the Jewes and Gentiles by which it appears that Whealy in his owne discourse coÌ„tradicts himself as for Peters being Apostle only of the circumcision and Paul only of the Gentiles 't
nâ—r â—alf the Nations by them converted and it was also in the same languages those of the primitive Câ—urch had their own publick lâ—turgies afâ—er the Apostles death as all the following Fathers doe openly declare St â—iprian who liv'd in the 3 Century expounding the Lords Prayer affiâ—ms that then the publick liturgie was in Latin and St. Augustâ—â—â— in his bookde Dono peâ—â—eâ— chap 13 in his â— book de Doctâ—in Châ—istiana chap. 13 and also expounding the 123. Psal and in his 173. Epistle declares that all the western Churches had their Masse in Latin and St. Hierome 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 affirms that all the â—â—stern Churches had their Masse in Greek and vs'd St. Basils Greek liturgie but then the Latin and Greek were not the vulgar languages of all Nations for before those times there were several other languages as is manifest by the acts of the Apostleâ— Chap 2. V. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. where we read the following words and they were all fill'd with the holy Ghost and began to speake with other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance â—nd there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews devout men out of every Nation under heaven Now when this was nois'd abroad the multâ—â—ude came togeather and were confounded because that every man heaâ—d them speake in his own language and they were all amaz'd and marvell'd saying one to an other behold are not all these who speak Galileans and how hear we every man in our tongue wherein we were born Whereby it plainly appears that neither the Apostles or the Fathers of the Primitive Church ever judg'd it to be expedient or necessary to translate the publick liturgie into the mother tongue of every Nation nor consequently that it was Requisite that it shuld be immediatly and expressly understood by every one of the hearers for they knew too well that the end for which the publick liturgie has been first instituted does not require this for the drift which the Church had in appoinâ—ing liturgies is that thereby a continual tribute or homage of prayers and thanksgivings might be publickly offer'd to God by the Priest also that the Christians by their personal assistance at this publick service might unanimously exercise exterior acts of Religion agreeiÌ„g With the whole Church represented by the Ecclesiastical meeting of every pious congregation moreover that every Christian by his presence at this service might consent to the publick Prayers and thanksgiving of the Church in order to be made partaker of the graces fruits and benefits which the Church commonly obtaines by its liturgies and publick oblation for when the Priest celebrats Masse or sayes any publck prayers belonging to it he offers them to God for the people present for the whole Church or for any other necessity of the people who are absent so that it matters not whether the people understands him or no because they have as much benefit by his prayers and oblation as if they had understood what he sayes for if they hear him not speaking aword they might be partakers of his prayers and intercession being God to whom they are offer'd hears and understands him for in Sacrifices Prayers and thanksgivings the Priest speaks not to the Congregation but to God according to that of St. Paul's first Epist to the Corinth c 14. v 2 which is Confirm'd by the following example when any man layes sick or in distress at home he sends to the Church to be pray'd for by the Priest and Congregation now shall we believe because he neither hears or understands the prayers offer'd for him that he obtains no benefit thereby no the Lord forbid for if so the Prayers of the Righteous wou'd avail nothing which is against that of St James c. 5. v. 15 16 and wâ—ich is more we wou'd never be the better for our Saviours intercession for us to his heavenly Father because we neither heare nor understand him or know when he interceds for us yet we Receive innumerable benefits by his intercession and also by the Priests intercession when he Celebrats Masse or sayes any other publick office or prayers institâ—ted by the Church for in this Common office he represents our Saviours place one earth and we are certain that the fervent Prayers of a Righteous man availeth much according to that of St. James c. â— v. 15. 16. whether we understand them or noâ— for their effects doe not depend of our intelligence but rather of the acceptation of God Almighty to whom they are offer'd But now â—o discover the folly of those who do uncharitably censure thâ— Church of Rome for having her Common Prayâ—rs in an unknown tongue let them know that there are many Millions of the said Church who doe understand it in Latin and those who doe not that they are so well instructed by the Câ—ergy that they know when to kneel when to stand when to Pray when to give thanks and when to do reverence and when not besides they have the most part of the Masse if not the whole in their English Italian French Dutch and Spanish prayer bookâ— which also was formerly in the Irish prayer books and would continue so still but that the pennaâ— lawes of that Kingdom in Qeen Elizabeth's raign prohibited any Irish Schooles which oblig'd them to use their Prayers in Latin and English exceptsome of the vulgar who were not able to alow their Children Schooling to learn either of them yet they have traditionaly from their Clergy and parents their prayers and other necessary instructions in Irish taught them by word of mouth and also that part of the Masse wherein they might have any doubt or scrouple So that it is not said in Latin by the Priest to the intent that the people might not understand him or to the intent that the flock might be keept in darkness as some of the pretended Reformers doe falsly reporte but to the intent that the holy Catholick Church in her Liturgies might vse one generall Common language wherein all Nations doe indisputably agree which is more practis'd than any other langauge by the whole world so that if one travâ—ls thro' all Europe he shall alwayes find the same liturgie us'd in all Catholick Churches which conformity is a manifest sign of good Goverment which is in the Church of Rome Chap 4 Proving the Pope of Rome's Supremacy in the Premitive Church Christ's promise to St. Peter and the charge which he committed unto him after his resurrection requires some châ—ef and Universal Pastor in the Church whom all the rest ought to obey but it was alwayes beliv'd in the Primitive Church St. Peter and his successor the Pope of Rome to have been that chief and Universal Pastor therefore it was alwayes believ'd in the Primitive Church St. Peter and his successor the Pope of Rome to have been the chief and Universal Pastor whom all the rest ought to obey the minor and consequence are manifest as shall appear hereafter In the