Church ought to Preach but those that are sent by Lawful Authority according to the Apostle How shall they Preach unless they be sent Otherwise a great confusion would spring in the Church For every one then would take upon him the Office of Preaching and governing the Church and sow what Errors he pleased For if in a Temporal Republick or Humane Government no Man can intrude himself and assume the Magistracy to govern the People in Earthly Affairs pertaining only to this Life but ought to have Commission from the Prince how much less in the Church in the Spiritual Kingdom of Christ can any one arrogate to himself the Office of a Pastor to govern the People in things belonging to their Eternal Salvation but ought to have Authority from the Supreme Head of the Church For a confusion of Government in the Church is much more to be avoided than in a Republick since this tends to a destruction of Souls whereas the other is but the loss of our Fortunes or Bodies Again He that entreth not by the door into the Sheepfold but climbeth up some other way the same is a Thief and a Robber saith our Lord Joh. 10. But he that without any Lawful Mission and Authority assumes the Office of a Pastor in the Church does not enter in at the door but climbeth up some other way as the Fathers every where expound it and as 't is plain enough of it self For what is it else to enter by the door than to enter by a Lawful way by legitimate Authority For a door is the ordinary way appointed whereby to enter into the Sheepfold and signifies this Lawful Authority whereby Ministers ought to be admitted into the Sheepfold of Christ to govern and feed Christ's Flock Moreover our Lord says by St. John He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own Glory but he that seeketh his Glory that sent him the same is true and no injustice is in him Joh. 7.18 By which Words he signifies we must not believe those who come of themselves and are not lawfully sent because they seek their own glory and profit to which end all their Doctrine is directed Lastly The Apostle in his Epistle to the Hebrews judges this Mission to be so necessary that he requires it in Christ our Lord No Man taketh this Honour to himself but he that is called of God as Aaron So Christ also did not glorifie himself that he might be made a High Priest but he that said to him Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Hence it is that our Lord so often inculcated to the Jews his Mission namely that he did not come of himself but was sent by his Father and confirms the same many ways Hereby it is clear that Luther Calvin and the like new Doctors are not to be heard nor their Doctrine believed but avoided and detested because 't is apparent they came of themselves without any Lawful Authority It is evident that they have usurped to themselves this Function and Duty of Pastors and a Right to Reform the Church It is manifest they entred not by the door and by a legal way but climb'd up another way into the Sheepfold and therefore according to the Sentence of our Lord they are to be taken for Thieves and Robbers Perhaps they will say they were sent immediately from Christ Christ sent them not as of old God sent the Prophets in an extraordinary manner to Reform the People and as Christ sent his Apostles to convert the World and as St. Paul after our Lord's Ascention was not sent by Men nor received the Gospel from Men but immediately from our Lord Jesus Christ But First 't is not enough to say this and boldly to affirm it but they must prove it and evince it to be true lest the People and other ordinary Pastors lawfully renounce them as Impostors As the Prophets of old and the Apostles did not only say that God sent them but abundantly prov'd and demonstrated the same by many Miracles Secondly All Arch Hereticks and false Prophet in all Ages have said the like namely that they were sent of God and received their Authority from him Therefore all are to be imbraced or none For why should I believe for example sake that God sent Calvin rather than Luther Munster Arrius or any other Arch Heretick since he cannot shew greater Proofs or Reasons of his Mission than the others Thirdly If God sent Calvin then he did not send Luther and so the contrary because if two Prophecy contradictions and condemn one another in their Doctrine of resie they destroy the Religion of each other Wherefore if God sent both of them he should be against himself deny and overthrow himself destroying by one what he built up by the other Amongst the Prophets which God sent there was always an exact agreement of Doctrine Fourthly If God sent Luther or Calvin to reform the Church I ask at what time and in what place did God confer on them this Ministry What Words did he say to them either outwardly or inwardly How did he declare to them the points of Reformation what order and method did he prescribe them How or in what Form did he appear to them Whither exteriourly in a visible manner as he did to St. Paul or interiourly by an imaginary Vision in some ecstasie as to the Prophets and to S. John the Evangelist in his Revelations For all these things God is wont to do when he sends any One extraordinarily and the Prophets themselves presently when they began to Preach declared all this that the People might understand by whom they were sent or what charge was given them as it appears by the Prophet Isai Chap. 1. c. Ezek. 1. c. Dan. 2. and 9. c. In fine all the Prophets were used to Evidence this in the first place as you may see in their Prophecies In like manner it is known at what time and by what Words our Lord sent his Apostles and what he enjoyn'd them c. But these new Prophets were so inconsiderate that they never thought of this to be reputed immediately sent from God for there is no mention hereof made by them which is a most certain sign that they are compelled of necessity to tell a most grievous untruth by saying God sent them For who can doubt if they had the least colour of Divine Mission they would not have inserted it in their Writings and presently manifested the same to the whole World expressing the time place manner and precept of our Lord together with other circumstances Fifthly If God sent them he did not only send them as Reformers of Manners as the Prophets were sent but as Reformers of all Doctrine and Religion and therefore an exact narration and description of their Mission was chiefly necessary and a nomination of the points which God would have reformed and in his Name and Words propounded to the Church as the Prophets
in the last Century Therefore neither in respect of time nor in respect of place can these religions be called Catholick I add farther that the Roman Catholick religion is one and the same every where but these new religions are divers differing one from another even in Fundamental Points of Doctrine while one accuses and condemns the other of Heresie How then can they be counted Catholicks For we must take notice that this Name Christian given at first to all Believers and to the whole Church was specially used to distinguish them from from the Jews and Heathens who believed not at all in Christ as the same now severeth and maketh known all Christian People from Turks and others that either deny Christ or know him not But when Hereticks began to rise from among the Christians who professed Christ's Name and owned some Articles of Faith as true Believers do while they denied others and brought in new Doctrines of their own the name of Christian was too common to distinguish and sever these Hereticks from the true faithful People and thereupon the Apostles by the Holy Ghost imposed this name Catholick upon such Believers as in all points were obedient to the Church's Doctrine When Heresies were risen says S. Pacianus and endeavoured by divers Names to tear the Dove of God meaning the Church and rent her in pieces Epist ad Sympho the Apostolical People acquired their Sirname whereby the uncorrupted might be distinguished c. and so those that before were called Christians are now sirnam'd also Catholicks Christian is my Name saith he Catholick my Sirname Hence this word Catholick is the proper note whereby the Holy Apostles in their Creed taught us to discern the true Church from any false Heretical Congregation what soever .. The very Name of Catholick says S. August keeps me in the Bosome of the Church And again We must hold the Communion of that Church which is named Catholick not only by her own Cont. Epist fundam c. 4. De vera Relig. c. 7. but also by her Enemies For whether they will or no the Hereticks and Schismaticks themselves when they speak not with their own Companions but with Strangers call no other Church Catholick but this for they could not be understood unless they did distinguish it by this name whereby it is known and called over all the World The Seventh Consideration from Succession THat Religion is to be judged the true Religion whose Pastors are all descended from the Apostles and are the Apostle's Successors or who derive their Authority and Ordination from them For by this reason it is evident that that Religion and that Church which holds that Religion is Apostolical but such is the Catholick religion therefore that is the true religion Now that all Ministers of the Catholick religion descend from the Apostles whether you regard the Power of Order or Jurisdiction is manifest for all her inferior Ministers especially Sub-deacons Deacons and Priests are ordained by Bishops the Bishops receive their Order from other Bishops and these again from others and so upwards to the Apostles who receiv'd this Power immediately from Christ as Christ from his Father As my Father sent me says he I send you and so must you send others and so I am with you and them to the end of the World As therefore all Men according to the Life of Nature by a long tract of Generations descend from Adam so all the Ministers of the Catholick Church according to Super-natural Power by a long race of Ordination and Consecration descend from Christ our Lord who is the Second Adam There is no Minister therefore in the Church of God but can derive his Power of Consecration to offer Sacrifice absolve from Sins and to administer other Sacraments whereby Christians are sanctified from Christ the Chief Fountain and Author Whence it follows that all his Works which he does by this Power are attributed to Christ as the Supreme Author who instituted this Power and invisibly presides and assists therein Man being only his Instrument whereby he does all this as St. Augustine and other Fathers excellently observe and teach In like manner all power of Jurisdiction of Ministers to rule and govern Christians to preach the Word of God to them Tract 5. in Joan. Chrysos hom 80. ad pop Ambros l. 4. de Sacram. c. 4 5. and officiate in their Pastoral Duty descends from Christ and may clearly be reduced to him for the Curates or Parish Priests have their Jurisdiction from the Bishops and Bishops from the Chief Bishop the Pope the Pope seeing he is Blessed Peter's Successor in the same Chair and Authority of governing the Vniversal or Catholick Church must needs be invested with the same Jurisdiction which was immediately conferred upon St. Peter and in him to all his Lawful Successors And also only those who have not an ordinary but a delegated Authority in the Church must have it from Parochial Pastors or Bishops or the Pope So that there is no Minister in the Catholick Church no Preacher of God's Word or Catechizer who cannot shew plainly his Mission and demonstrate the same to be derived from Christ And indeed if they could not do so they were in no wise to be heard but suspected and esteemed as Wolves in Sheeps-cloathing since they enter not into the Sheep-fold by the door but creep in privately another way Joh. 10. This Argument alwas the Ancient Fathers chiefly made use of Irenae l. 3. c. 1. Tertul. de prescrip to convince all Hereticks for by it the Continuation of our Religion from several Ages up to the time of the Apostles is clearly shew'd The Succession of Priests from the See of St. Peter the Apostle to whom our Lord commended the care of feeding his Sheep to this present Bishop August Epist 165. Optatus l. 2. cont Parm. Hier. cont Lucif keeps me in the Church says St. Augustine and the like says St. Hierome in his Dialogues But now none of the Ministers of the New Religions can shew this And indeed the power of Order whereby the Sacraments are administred and the People sanctified they cannot derive from Christ and his Apostles because they have taken it quite away Nor is there any amongst them that have received the Episcopal or Sacerdotal Order unless it be some Apostares from the Catholick Religion whose Orders then are of no more use and service and yet the Church of Christ has had always these degrees and been govern'd by them Likewise they never had any power of Jurisdiction to preach the word of God as true Pastors or to administer Baptism and rule the People in Spirituals and Divine Worship For I ask of whom had Luther and Calvin this power Of whom was either of them sent to preach their New Gospel and Reform the People For they were not sent by the Ordinary Pastors of the Church as 't is sufficiently manifest They came therefore of their own
were occult and therefore could not be the Religion of Christ which hath been always visible manifest and publick What hath been said and proved in this Discourse against the religion of Luther and Calvin may be also said of all other Protestants whether Anabaptists Independents Quakers and the like Heresies for there is the same Novelty in them all and therefore the same reasons may be urged against them but for clearness sake and not to cloy the Reader with repetition of Names I have only made use of One or Two I conclude therefore in the Words of St. Hierome Dialog contr Lucif in fiae who writes thus I 'll tell you briefly and plainly my Opinion We must live and die in that Church which being founded by the Apostles remains to this day If in any place you hear some who are called Christians to derive a Name from some other Person besides Jesus Christ as Marcionists Valentinians Montanists Lutherans Calvinists c. know they are not of the Church of Christ but the Synagogue of Antichrist For by this very token that they have been brought in under such a Name in after Ages they are known and convicted to be some of those whom the Apostle foretold Nor let them flatter themselves by quoting Scripture for their Tenets since the Devil quoted Scripture also which consists not in the reading but understanding of it As Novelty therefore is a sign of Heresie foretold by the Apostle so such a Sectary Name a sign of Novelty and as for bringing of Scripture it is common to the Devil as well as Hereticks The Second Reason from a defect of Succession ANother reason why these Religions are not to be approved is They want Succession because they want a Succession of Ministers derived by a continued Order from the Apostles which Succession is necessary that our Religion or Church should be judged Apostolical For without this Succession it cannot be continued with the Religion of the Apostles Hence it is the Fathers teach every where that those who would be accounted the true Church of Christ ought to shew the Succession of their Bishops by a continual Series or order of them from the Apostles But if they cannot do this 't is a clear sign that they are not of the true Church of Christ So Optatus Milevitanus to convince the Donatists that they were not of the true Church saith Shew the Original of your Chair if you claim to your selves the true Church And Tertullian Let Hereticks shew the Original of their Churches Tertul. prescrip advers Heret let let ehem declare to us the Order of their Bishops by such a continued Succession that their first Bishop have either an Apostle or Apostolical Man for his Predecessor The same Argument other Fathers mke use of as Irenaeus Epiphanius St. Hierome and St. Augustine Iren. l. 3. c. 3. Epiph. Her 1.27 infir cont Lucif August c. 4. cont Epist fundam But it is manifest that neither the Lutherans Calvinists or Fanatticks have the least appearance of any such Succession for to whom I pray succeeded Luther who was for the most part the Author and Parent of those Religions Whose Chair and Authority did he seize upon Who was Chief of the Lutheran religion before him Who of the Presbyterian religion before Calvin and Swinglius But if none can be nominated it is clear they want that Succession which the Fathers require to make their Church Apostolical Again They do not only want Succession of Chair and Authority but also a degree Ordination of descending from the Apostles For a double Power in the Ministers of the Church has been always requisite and both of them to be derived by a continued Order from the Apostles as aforesaid in the Seventh Consideration to wit the power of Order whereby Sacrifice is offered and the Sacraments administred to sanctifie the Faithful and the power of Jurisdiction whereby a Right and Authority is granted to govern and feed the Church with the Word of God c. But neither of these can they derive from the Apostles not the power of Jurisdiction as it has been shew'd nor likewise the power of Order for who ordained Luther or Calvin Bishops of their Church If they say that Ordination is not necessary they contradict all Antiquity and the continual practice of the Church for there was never any made a Bishop in the Church to perform all Episcopal Functions unless by another Bishop to whom two other Bishops were to be assisting according to the Institution of the Apostles as is expresly commanded Can. 1. Apost Can. 4. Synod of Nice And St. Paul insinuates the same writing to the Bishop St. Timothy saying Neglect not the Grace that is in thee which is given thee by Prophecy with the imposition of the Hands of Priesthood 1 Tim. 4. That is the Assembly of Bishops who laid their Hands upon him that was to be ordain'd as the Fathers expound it Hereby it is clearly manifest that the Lutherans and Calvinists have neither of the said powers of Order and Jurisdiction from the Apostles and that they are not descended from the Apostles according to either nor can trace back either of these two from themselves up to the Apostles and consequently that they have neither true Religion nor the Church of Christ among them for this ought to descend and be as it were continued from the Apostles by the means of these two Powers as hath been declared For all Spiritual Power ought to be derived from Christ by the Apostles and their Successors through a certain continued Succession and Communication upon other Ministers as our corporal Life by a chain of Causes is derived from the First Man Adam and so must be to the last Man that shall be born For as in the Old Testament none were to be Priests unless they descended from Aaron of the Tribe of Levi so in the New Testament none are Priests or Bishops unless they derive their degree of Order and Jurisdiction from Christ the Chief Bishop by the Apostles and their Successors As therefore the Synagogue of the Jews could not be without Priests descended from Aaron by a continued Race so the Church of Christ cannot be without Priests or Bishops descending from the Apostles to their Successors by a perpetual continued Order and Succession But the Congregations of Luther and Calvin had never any such Ministers they never had any Bishops lawfully ordained amongst them that could derive their power of Jurisdiction from the Apostles and their Successors to govern the People 'T is plain therefore that they have not the Church of Christ amongst them The Third Reason from the defect of Mission THE Third Reason is from a want of Mission because they introduced these Religions of themselves without any Lawful Authority This therefore should make them worthily to be suspected as erroneous and the Authors of them to be Wolves and Seducers For no body in the
of old were used to do when they proposed to the People the Divine Commandments in the Name of God But these New Prophets have not proceeded in this manner but by chance and as their matter required they fell from one Opinion to another as it happens in Disputes and Contentions when their Minds were more and more exasperated and as by experience they could learn how to accommodate themselves in their Affairs and incommode or undermine the Pope's Authority which condemned them For what ever they perceived would be most prejudicial to the See of Rome or advantageous to it they decreed points of Faith accordingly and varnished them over with the Word of God as I shall shew hereafter Sixthly In Humane Policy if any should pretend Authority to govern it is not sufficient to say that he was sent by the Prince of the Country who was far of and could not conveniently come himself but he must shew his Patent or Commission signed with the King's Seal which then is diligently examined least there should be any fraud in the case and if there should be the least sign of a shamm or cheat it is not to be admitted till a full and certain proof thereof be made The same we see in the Apostolical Legates who all shew their Patents authentick wherein their Mission and Commission is contained otherwise they are not credited nor have Authority What madness is it then to admit into the Church and Kingdom of Christ not only New Pastors but likewise Reformers of the whole Religion of the Church only upon their saying that Christ sent them and that they have the Spirit of God without shewing any Patent or Miracle to prove it Seventhly The account of time also is strongly against them for if the Church fell away about 600 years after Christ and became the Synagogue of Antichrist as they teach Why was the Mission of these Reformers delay'd to these times Why did God forsake his Church 900 years together and suffer it to continue in its ruines in Superstition and Idolatry as nothing belonging to him and after the accomplishment of so many Ages should send first to her these New Reformers or Chief Masters Is this the Love of Christ towards his Church which he hath cleansed with his Blood which he hath quickened with his Spirit and which he hath adopted or chosen for his Spouse He shew'd himself much kinder to his Handmaid the Synagogue by sending them many Prophets to reclaim them still prone to Idolatry and grand Impieties Therefore if these Men would have been thought Reformers they should have feigned the Church to have faln but a little before them and not for so many Ages to have lain putrified in its ruines Otherwise this long distance of time confutes their Mission and shews it to be very imprudently forged Eightly Hereunto may be added other most certain signs that Christ did not send them as their vicious Life Pride contempt of the Holy Fathers the Errors and Lies wherein they were taken besides their inconstancy of Doctrine which I shall declare in the following Reasons Ninthly and Lastly They teach that nothing is to be believed but what is in Scripture Let them therefore shew out of the Scriptures that they were sent by God to reform the Church In what place and by what Words of Scripture did our Lord give this Authority to Luther or Calvin Otherwise we cannot believe them being themselves Judges nor receive them as Reformers of the Church And here I cannot forbear to insert a ridiculous fancy of the Lutherans which yet made a great noise among them They endeavoured to establish the Mission of their Prophet by a certain Prophecy of St. Ambrose and St. Augustine contained forsooth in this verse Tibi Cherubin et Seraphin incessabili voce proclamant that is To thee Cherubins and Seraphins continually do cry For some years ago they erected an Effigies of Luther cut in Brass with this Inscription A divine and wonderful Prophecy of St. Ambrose and St. Augustine shewing the time and coming of Luther wherein he began to write against the Roman-Antichrist as it is contained in the Letters of this Versicle representing the date of the year which is a thing worthy the note and admiration of all Faithful Christians TIbI CherVbIn et SeraphIn InCessabILI VoCe proCLaMant The Numeral Letters of this Versicle are 1517. in which year of our Lord Luther began first to Preach But this was certainly a very poor shift For First By such Numeral Hitts nothing certain can be concluded by any Wise Man as hath appeared by many Examples in former ages from the success of things But Secondly Grant it a prophetical speech concerning Luther the exultation and gratulation of the Celestial Spirits for the Preaching of Luther need not to be signified thereby as the Lutherans would have it but rather the blindness of Luther and all that are of his Sect as in the 6th of Isaiah where the Seraphins in like manner cry Holy holy holy is the Lord God of Hosts the whole Earth is full of his Glory from which place these Versicles are put in the Hymn is designed the excecation or blindness of the Jews as by the sequel it is gathered For God is provoked at the view of his Holiness which abominates all Sin to execute revenge and just Judgment upon so great Wickedness and Impiety In like manner they shall cry for Vengeance at the end of the World Apoc. 4.8 To conclude if we write these Names according to the Hebrew manner by m and not by n that is Cherubim and Seraphim as they ought to be written so the Number will rise to 3157. which being ended the Cherubims and Seraphims will still cry Holy holy holy but this Clamour will not be for joy of the success of Luther's Gospel but an approbation of his just punishment whereby he and all his Associates shall be tormented to all Eternity The Fourth Reason from a want of Miracles Miracles necessary THese new Religions with the Authors of them are very much to be suspected because they were introduc'd without Miracles or Signs from God For these were chiefly necessary First That so they might shew themselves to be no Impostors but true Pastors sent by Almighty God and to convince the World they ought to be received For since it is manifest in Scripture that in the later days many false Prophets shall arise bragging to be sent from God therefore our Lord gave us a special warning of them not to give ear to them without infallible proofs of their Mission which cannot be but by Signs and Tokens from God as are Miracles Prediction of things to come Revelation of things hid c. for since these things are above the power of Creatures 't is plain demonstration they are of God And therefore they are like Patents signed with God's Great Seal in proof of their Mission from him Hence it is that as many as were ever
de unitati Ecclesiae Ninthly They both deny Prayer for the Dead Fasts in Lent or at any other time c. This heretofore taught the Arrians Witness Epiphanius Heres 75. and St. Aul de Heres c. 33. Tenthly Both of them deny Veneration to Sacred Images of Christ and his Saints and to Holy Relicks and call it Idolatry The same of old did Vigilantius as St. Hierome witnesseth and so did the Iconomachists witness Zonoras Cedrinus Nicephorus Iconomachis Hereby is clearer than the Sun at Noon day that the Chief Tenets of Luther and Calvin's Religion are old Heresies long ago condemned by the Church and were always taken for Heresies in the Church The same might be easily proved of other Sects Hence it follows that these New Religions are nothing but the Filth and Scum of old Heresies formerly condemned Vid. Bel. de nov Eccl. c. 9. Coccium de sign Eccl. l. 8. c. 30. The Eleventh Reason from the want of a Rule of Faith THese New Religions have no certain Rule of Faith which you may follow Therefore they are not to be allowed For Points of Religion ought to be defined certain and immutable That they have no certain Rule of Faith whereby can be determined what is necessary to be believed and what not is manifest First Because they will not allow the Traditions of the Church nor the Authority of General Councils nor of the Ancient Fathers and Doctors of the Church who were before our Debates Luther rejects all Traditions in the First Chapter to the Galat. And Calvin l. 4. Instit And both of them teach That nothing is to be believed nor received which is not contained in Holy Seripture L. 4. c. 8. s 6 7 8. in Antidoto ad 4. Sess Coneil Triden General Councils which have had hitherto in the Church the highest Authority for they are as the Assemblies of Princes and Noblemen in Christ's Kingdom Luther so contemns that whatsoever they have defined he would have it all to be subject to the judgment of every private Person Nay he says 'T is a great madness that Councils should conclude what we are to believe In Art 115. c. Moreover what we ought to believe and what not is to be left to the judgment of every Spiritual Man The same Calvin insinuates saying ' The ' Church ought not to judge what Books are Canonical and what not but this belongs to the private Spirit L. 1. c. 7. s 1.24 Lastly as touching the Fathers Luther ' cares not for a thousand Augustines ' nor a thousand Cyprians Lâ— cont Reg. Augl Calvin also in many places contemns them and averrs that they erred Therefore none of these is a Rule of Faith to them Whether the Scripture is a sufficient Rule of Faith but they say The Scripture it self is their Rule of Faith for this cannot err But 't is easie to shew that this Rule is not sufficient First Because by this Rule we cannot judge of Scripture it self that it is Scripture So that this Rule is uncertain to us which ought to be the most certain of all things For it cannot appear out of Scripture that this or that Book is truly the Scripture that it is not supposititious or counterfeited by some Impostor that this or that Sentence is not perverted c. Lastly that there is nothing added or diminished pertaining to the substance of Doctrine All this cannot appear out of Scripture but is only proved by some humane and weak Conjectures if you exclude the Tradition of the Church and so the whole Foundation of our Faith will depend upon a few uncertain Conjectures Then again the force of Scripture consists not in the sound of Words but in the Sence which is the Life and Soul of Scripture But there may be a thousand Controversies of the Sence which cannot be decided out of Scripture if you exclude Tradition and Exposition of the Fathers as 't is manifest by experience For touching the sence of these Words This is my Body and of many others there is a great dispute between the Lutherans and Calvinists If you say with Calvin that the Judge of Scriptures Whether the judgment of Scripture belongs to the private Spirit and the Sence thereof belongs to the inward Spirit this is nothing else but to constitute the dictamen of the Interior Spirit that is the private judgment of every one to be the chief Rule of Faith For every one may say that he has the Spirit and by his inspiration judges this part to be Holy Scripture and not that this to be the right sence of Scripture and not that So a Lutheran according to his Spirit judges the Epistle of St. James to be straw and the Revelations of St. John to be of doubtful Authority But a Calvinist by his Spirit judges both to be the Word of God So Luther judges by his Spirit to abolish the false Opinion That there are Four Gospels In the Prologue of the New Testament for the Gospel of St. John is the only true beautiful and principal Gospel and to be preferred far before the other three Likewise the Epistles of Baul far excel Peter's The thee Gospels of St Matthew Mark and Luke he would willingly have renounced because they are clearly for Merits necessity of Good Works and Observation of the Commandments and commend Chastity and Poverty But since he durst not totally reject them he is willing to disparage their Authority and to insinuate that they were not written by the Spirit of God In like manner Calvin by his Spirit judges this to be right sence of these Words This is my Body That is This Bread is the Figure of my Body But Luther according to his Spirit judges otherwise and says these Words of Christ This is my Body are thus to be understood This Bread is truly my Body I omit many other sayings whereby it is manifest that according to them the private Spirit of every one makes a Rule of Faith or which is the same thing the Scripture is expounded according to every Ones private judgment Secondly That is not to be held a proper Rule of Faith which is equally accommodated or fitted to all contrary Opinions For all the Sects of this time although they are at Daggers-point about many principal Tenets adopt the Scriptures to be their Rule and fit it for their purpose For the Lutherans say they rely upon Scripture so do the Calvinists and likewise the Anabaptists nor is it any wonder because every one receives the Scripture not according to the common understanding of the Church or exposition of the Fathers as Catholicks do but according to the sentiment of every one's private Spirit So you may easily adapt the Scripture for all Heresies Whence it is plain that a Rule thus framed can be of no moment being referred to every one's private judgment Thirdly If there should be a Judge that should so give sentence in any
Controversie that one could not plainly tell whose Cause carried it but both Parties should shill contend for the decision of their Cause he would be accounted by all Men a very improper Judge since no Controversie can be determined by his sentence for after it there is as great debate for whom the Judge gave sentence as about the Difference they brought before him But such a Judge is the Holy Scripture if you set aside the Exposition of the Church and the Fathers for so it always gives sentence that it cannot plainly appear to either Party which side it favoureth but both stifly affirm that it stands clearly for him Hence it comes to pass that Controversies never have an end 'T is ridiculous therefore to make only the Scripture the Judge of Controversies For in all Controversies such a one ought to be made a Judge so as to give sentence that all and chiefly the Parties in dispute may clearly see which side the Judge is for or else there can be no end of Controversie Therefore they that make only the Scripture their Judge shew plainly that they will have no Judge to decide the Cause but their own private judgment For they do as if Titius and Caius having a Suit at Law would have no other Judge but the Book of Justinian with his Pandects secluding the Interpretation of the Doctors and Titius for his Right should produce some Law and say that it is clear for his Cause but Caius denies it Likewise Caius alledgeth another Law affirming that it clearly makes for him but Titius denies it and so both Parties depart without decision of their Cause would not this be a ridiculous thing and make all say that neither of them would have their Cause decided since both of them would be their own Judge It is plainly so with them that will have no other Judge but the Scripture For whosoever reserves the Interptetation thereof to his own Spirit shews plainly that he would not have his Cause lawfully decided but be his own Judge Fourthly Experience it self shews how insufficient this Rule of Faith is For we see that there is no end of Controversies amongst them even in their chief Points of Faith For the Lutherans Calvinists and Fanaticks in many things extreamly differ at this very time and condemn one another of Heresie The very Lutherans disagree amongst themselves in many things also from Luther their Parent and Apostle insomuch that at this very time there are counted Thirteen Principal Sects of Lutherans differing by certain Names and Opinions The Calvinists dissent amongst themselves chiefly in the Article of the Head of the Church for a great part of them ascribe this Power to the Secular Prince although she be a Woman these they call Protestants Others esteem this a great Sin and Blasphemy these they call Puritans The Fanaticks dissent amongst themselves in many things so that there is reckoned Fourteen several Sects of them distinguished by Names and Opinions Lastly It is come now to that pass that when any one thinks to follow this Rule and depend on it there are almost as many Heresies as Hereticks For many especially the ignorant sort say they care not what Luther or Calvin teacheth for that they stick to the Holy Scripture and Word of God wherein there can be no Errour and so they think themselves very secure for every one interpretes the Scripture according to his Capacity and Judgment Hence it is that when they think they have Scripture for their Rule of Faith instead of Scripture they have only their own Imagination For what they fancy the Words of Scripture signifie they take for the true sence of Scripture And thus there are as many different Rules of Faith as Imaginations of Men. But how comes it to pass that every ones imagination should seem to be the pure Truth and right sence of Scripture This proceeds partly from a great self-love and self-esteem for he that has a high conceit of himself is easily perswaded that all his own inventions and conceptions of Mind are extraordinary partly also from a Diabolical operation which inwardly perverts the fancy of Men that what they apprehend upon never so slight a reason presently they imagine it to be the clear Truth For where Men through a weariness of the Antient Religion have an aversion to the Truth and Itching Ears to Novelties they are suffered by the just Judgment of God to be deceived of the Devil Whilst therefore he operates interiourly in their Sences they think they are illuminated with the Divine Spirit and attribute to this Spirit their whole judgment touching points of Faith Hence it is that the apprehension or judgment of every Sect and almost of every private Man seems to be the pure Word of God nor do they regard any reasons to the contrary The Apostle signifies this 2 Thes 2.10 saying Because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved therefore God shall send them strong delusions to believe a Lye He shall send not by commanding but by letting the Devil loose to deceive them and lead them into a thousand Errors for despising the Truth or Ancient Religion But many of them say especially the simple and ignorant God will not suffer those to be deceived who seek the Truth with an humble Heart ' For he has promised to ' give the Good Spirit to those that ask him Luk. 11.13 But I do so I beg of God to enlighten me and open unto me the true sence of Scripture and I daily search the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 This is a great delusion of the Devil For how do they seek the Truth with an humble Heart who despise the judgment of the Doctors of the Church the judgment of the Holy Fathers and the judgment of General Councils Who will not use that way which our Lord hath shewed and ordained but require unnecessary Revelations For from them they may understand the Truth and be freed from all Error but they will not submit to them and think that by their own industry wit and private Spirit they can more certainly find the Truth out of the bare Scriptures As if the Holy Fathers Doctors and Prelates of the Church had not searched the Scriptures or were destitute of the Spirit of God and right Judgment that they could not rely upon them Now what greater Pride can be imagined than for a private Man and for the most part silly and ignorant of all Antiquity and the Liberal Arts to prefer himself before so great Wisdom so great Authority and Sanctity and such a multitude of Doctors Let them not therefore think so long as they are of this mind that they shall receive any thing of God because they wrongfully seek him and proudly ask him but rather that they are deceived by the Spirit of Pride and a Lye to which they are delivered by the just judgment of God for so great a Crime This is that Spirit which all
Luther and Calvin c. should be in the Number of those False Prophets which Christ warns you to beware of for these came forth clad with a fair pretence of the Word of God and purity of the Gospel as if God sent them to the Salvation of his Sheep but in the mean time they destroyed these Sheep with the venomous Food of their Doctrine You shall know them Christ by their Fruits Matth. 7.16 Now what were their Fruits Seditions Wars Plundering subversion of Churches and Monasteries destruction of Cities extirpation of the Antient Religion and a License to all Wickedness We know by information of the Apostles that many Heresies shall arise in the latter days many false Prophets and Seducers by the Midwifry of Satan shall appear in the World As oft therefore as any New Doctrine riseth against the Church we ought at least to suspect it and the Author of it Therefore I most humbly and earnestly beseech all those who live out of the Communion of the Catholick Church A Conclusion of the Work by the Goodness of God which created us and by the Blood of Jesus Christ which redeemed us by the Eternal Inheritance which we expect in Heaven and the Torrent of Divine Pleasure which they shall drink of that retain Truth and Justice to lay this business seriously to Heart that they would consider whether they rely upon a sure and firm Foundation that may make them secure of their Religion at the hour of death when they shall stand before the Tribunal of Christ and in that very moment shall receive an eternal and immutable Sentence Let them examine this our Consulâ—ation which we have written for that end Let them never rest or give over till they have rightly weighed and discussed all things and have obtâ—ined a full perswasion in a business of so great moment as the Salvation of their Souls Let them consider what great punishment they incur if the Religion which they profess is Heresie and they themselves Hereticks That it is a Heresie and a most notorious and pernicious one too all Catholick Doctors all Universities and the whole Christian World except those which are of it who are but few in number and slender in Learning to those that are against them undoubtedly and for certain affirm it So that finite Numbers have died and are ready to die for the Confession of it to be Heresie rather than venture the Eternal Damnation of their Souls by complying with it Heresie certainly is a most grievous sin How great a sin Heresie is First Because it makes a Man prefer his own judgment before the judgment of all the Fathers of all the Doctors of the Church of all Councils and Bishops of the whole World for he contemns them all as Men void of the Spirit of God and arrogates this Spirit to himself alone and his Companions Secondly The Spouse of Christ which is the Church it censures to be an Adulteress of Satan and Daughter of Perdition Thirdly It charges her with the crime of Idolatry and divers Superstitions Fourthly It belches forth many Blasphemies against the most Holy Eucharist and all the Saints Fifthly It abuses all Sacred Things most unworthily and scornfully Sixthly It calls the Vicar of Christ Antichrist and casts a thousand aspersions indignities and slanders on him without any shew or colour of Truth the same it does upon all Orders and Degrees of the Church Lastly Every Heretick wishes an overthrow of the whole Church and that the Catholick Religion were totally extinguished The Heresies therefore of our times swell with Pride many horrible Blasphemies many invectives and detractions many Sacrileges and most bitter hatred against the Church of Church of Christ for these things are as it were intrinsically in Heresie which habitually inclines to all these things and daily urges and excites to action All Catholick Doctors thus judge of Heresie and the matter is plain enough of it self Therefore Heresie with its issue and attendance is a greater Crime than innumerable sins of Catholicks Now I beseech them to consider How great a punishment the sin of Heresie deserves what will be the great punishment of this sin of Heresie For if for one Crime of Theft for one Act of Fornication without true repentance a Man shall suffer Eternal Fire as the Scripture plainly tells us Gal. 5. Col. 3. 1 Cor. 16. 1 Tim. 1. how great punishment shall he endure for the sin of Heresie which is more grievous than a thousand Thefts and a thousand Fornications If the pain which our earthly Fire Inflicts by the force of Nature may be increased a hundred-fold and so augmented till it be hundred times more grievous how horrible how insufferable how incomprehensible would that punishment be Let no Man flatter himself that Hell-Fire will be no pain but only I know not what Terrours of God's anger as Calvin dreameth The Scripture too plainly shews the contrary Dâ—part from me ye cursed into everlasting Fire Matth. 25.41 Their Worm never dieth and the Fire is never quenched Mark 944 God shall rain suares upon the Wicked Fire and Brimstone and a burning Tempest this shall be the Portion of their Cup. Thou shalt make them as a fiery Oven in the time of thine anger Our Lord shall swallow them up in his Wrath and the Fire shall devour them Psal 11.6 The False Prophet was cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever Apoc. 20 10. The same is the Opinion of all the Antient Fathers and Doctors of the Church It is therefore most certain that Hell-fire is a true and real Fire greater and fiercer than all our Fires made never so furious by the Art of Man which are but as painted Fires in comparison of the heat of Hell-fire wherein all Hereticks shall burn and be tormented day night for all Eternity as long as Hell shall be Hell as long as Heaven shall be Heaven and as long as God shall remain God and the smoak of their Torments shall ascend before the Face of our Lord for ever and ever These are most faithful and true Words Then they will curse their Deceivers and Masters who brought them into this Misery They will curse the Devil which blinded them and with divers delusions bewitched them under the colour and shew of Piety They will curse themselves for being so facile to give ease to them and believe their new Doctrine so foolishly without any diligent inquiry that in a business of so great consequence they were so blind and sloathful Lest therefore they should rush headlong into this Sea of Misery let them with all care and diligence examine this whole business of Religion by prudent and pious Counsellors particularly let them but suspend their prejudice a little which uses to be a great hindrance to this serious deliberation Things requisite to inquire the Truth I mean a certain prepossessed Opinion which many have
Christians about it out of hatred to Christian Religion or any other cause they render themselves inexcusable before God For the Affair of Religion and Salvation is of so great moment and concern that it is to be preferred before all other things and ought with the greatest care and diligence to be sought after where there is just occasion to doubt although you were to go into the remotest Countries for satisfaction The Second Question THe other Question is Whether it be sufficient to Salvation to believe in Christ and that he died for our Sins although we refuse to believe many other things Many especially the Vulgar think this to be sufficient if they believe those things concerning God and Christ which are contained in the Apostles Creed all other matters they count indifferent and that every one may believe of them as he is really convinced for they think that every one may believe the Creed according to his own sense and interpretation Therefore they judge that every one which confesseth Christ may be saved in his own Faith or Belief whether he be a Papist or Lutheran or Preâ—byterian or Anabaptist or of any other Sect For all these hold the same Head which is Christ Col. 1.19 and 2.8 all rely on the same Foundation which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 Therefore they cannot fail of their Salvation although they dissent in many other things Hence it is that some Princes which are of these New Religions labour very much to establish and amplifie their Dominions by making the Lutherans and Calvinists but one Church and endeavouring to perswade the People that there is no difference amongst them but only in some small Matters and Ceremonies But this Opinion brings with it many ill Consequences First Because it saves almost all ancient Hereticks This Opinion is confuted with Ten Reasons First Reason For many of them confessed Christ and believed the Apostles Creed according to their own interpretation The Arrians then may be saved in their Heresie who deny the Son of God to be of the same Substance with his Father The Macedonians who made the Holy Ghost inferiour to the Son The Nestorians who held two Persons in Christ The Eutychians who affirmed that the Flesh of Christ was converted into his Divinity The Apollinarists who held the Divine Word instead of a Rational Soul united to the Flesh of Christ The Monotholites who maintained that there was but only one Will and Operation in Christ The Pelagians who denied Original Sin and taught that Man by the force of Nature might be able to merit the Grace of God and Salvation The Donatists who averr'd that the Church of Christ was every where perish'd but only in their own Communion The Novatians who denied repentance to faln Sinners The Montanists who thought Montanus was the Holy Ghost All these according to this Opinion are saved in their several Faiths and Heresies because they believed in Christ and the Apostles Creed as now the Lutherans and Calvinists do But what can be counted more absurd and a greater Paradox in the Church of Christ For if Salvation may be had by such a Faith why were so many Councils by a Convocation of Bishops throughout the whole World celebrated at so great labour and charge against these Heresies Why were they so often Anathematized Why did the Holy Fathers strive so much to extirpate them Why were Catholicks so much afraid of society and familiarity with those Hereticks Why did many of them rather suffer banishment death and all kind of torments than subscribe to any of their Heresies Certainly all these things were done in valn foolishly and injuriously if Salvation might be obtained in these Sects which since no Wise Man can affirm we must needs confess that these Heresies are the Plagues of the Mind and no Salvation can possibly consist with them Second Reason Because it condemns all Antiquity of Errour which always judged that Hereticks could not be saved and therefore so fiercely opposed them and always studied so carefully to confute them Third Reason Because it condemns the Apostle who thus writes to Titus A Man that is an Heretick after the First and Second Admonition avoid knowing that he that is such a one is subverted and sinneth being condemned by his own judgment Why is he commanded to avoid him if his Errour was not prejudicial to Salvation Why does he say that he is subverted Again Their Speech spreads as a Canker or Gangreen 2 Tim. 3.17 As therefore a Canker is Mortal to the Body unless it be cut so is an Heretick to the Company of the Faithful and therefore they are forbid to hear their Sermons or read their Heretical Books which are infectious spreading like a Canker But it may be some will say that no Body is to be esteemed a Heretick unless he denies Christ or some Article of the Apostles Creed But this is altogether ignorantly and absurdly said for then he would not be an Heretick that should renounce the Old and New Testament and say that it is connterfeited or written by the Spirit of Man and liable to many Errours as are the writings of prophane Authors He would not be an Heretick that should deny Hell or Eternal Punishment or that should hold that all the Devils shall be saved since none of these things are in the Apostles Creed He would not be an Heretick that should condemn Marriage and alledge that Matrimony is Diabolical that should judge some Meats to be impure or unclean of their own Nature which the Apostle esteems Heretical Lastly he would not be an Heretick that should affirm that there were Two Persons in Christ whom St. John calls an Heretick and Antichrist 1 Epist c 4. nor would he be an Heretick that denies Baptism and all the Sacraments Lastly none of those fore-mentioned should be reckoned Hereticks which is repugnant to all Antiquity and all Doctors of the Church since the Apostles days Fourth Reason This Opinion renders all Heresies and Sectaries equal with the Orthodox Faith judging Salvation may as well be obtained by them as by it Then the true and Orthodox Religion will be no better than Arrianism Pelagianism Nestorianism Eutychianism and other false Religions whieh is in it self most absurd and nothing else but to introduce meer Atheism For to grant all Religions to be good and that it concerns nothing our Salvation what Religion we profess is to regard no Religion at all For if there be any Religion this can be but only one as there is but one Truth one Justice one Faith one Beatitude one God and Lord of all things one Mediator of God and Men the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 Fifth Reason 'T is ridiculous to say that it is enough for a Man to believe the Creed Of the Faith of the Creed according to his own sence or meaning since there is but only one Truth which if he does not attain to then he believes falsely but what
Man is unable to make his ways good or bad For if there is Liberty there is properly no Sin as a Lyon by devouring a Man though he does a mischief yet he sins not because he does it not freely but by the impulse of Nature nor is is it in his Power to moderate this impulse No Man will deserve punishment because what he does is of necessity therefore there will be no Hell nor punishment after this Life For it would be a great and intolerable Cruelty that Men should be condemned to Eternal Torments for doing that which they cannot possibly avoid Why then do they fear to follow the Lusts and Desires of their Heart and commit what Sins soever they list Fourthly When they teach That all the Works of Men as well good as bad are predestinated of God from Eternity Luth. sup Cal. l. 1. c. 17. § 5. c. 13. § 1. and that they may be done in time God inclines incites forces and decrees Man's Will to act them all For if God equally operates good and bad in us there is no reason why we should fly Evil or fear any punishment For God is not a Revenger of that of which he himself is the Author nor can he justly punish us for those Crimes which he will have done and which he forces us to do for this were more than Tyrannical Cruelty which is far from God Hereby 't is clearer than the Noon Day that these Religions four ways shake off all fear of God from Men's Hearts and give as great License to all manner of Wickedness as ever any Atheist And 't is so much the more pernicious because not so openly impious but having a shew and pretence of Religion and Honour of God namely under the specious and plausible Titles of a Special Faith Satisfaction of Christ Liberty of the Gospel and Providence of Divine Predestination Under colour of these fair Words so much Poyson is swallowed as totally corrupts the Minds and Manners of Men. Who therefore that has but a spark of right Reason and Understanding can believe these Religions are of God The Third Consideration from the Sanctity of the Professors THat Religion is to be preferred wherein most are famous for Holiness of Life For it cannot possibly be that a bad Religion should bring us to Piety or that true Sanctity can consist with a Wicked Religion But the Catholick Religion has had many in all Ages that have led most Holy Lives by the General Confession of all Christians Among whom to single out some of each Age and omitting innumerable others I reckon the Great St. Anthony St. Hilarion St. Gregory Thaumaturge St. Nicholas Bishop of Myre St. Athanasius St. Gregory Nazianzen St. Basil St. Symeon Sty lite St. Cyprian St. Hilary St. Martin St. Ambrose St. Hierome St. Augustine St. Benedict St. Gregory the Great St. Vaust St. Amand St. Wineck St. Bertin St. Willebrord St. Romuald St. Norbert St. Dominick St. Boniface St. Bruno St. Bernard St. Francis St. Bonaventure St. Thomas of Aquin St. Francis of Paul and many in our own Age. That all these were of the Roman Catholick Religion is not to be doubted since they adhered to the Roman Church made profession of her Faith and strongly maintained it and because likewise a great many of them were Monks and obliged by their Vows to lead a Monastick Life yea all the Rules of Monastick profession sprung from them That these were most Holy Men is verifyed by the general Confession of all Christians throughout so many Ages wherein each of them lived nor was there ever any question made of it the same being confessed by Hereticks especially of St. Bernard St. Dominick and St. Francis It would therefore be a great absurdity and impudence to deny the Truth of that or in the least question it which is acknowledged by the general consent of all the World If these Men therefore were Saints and Catholicks as all the World believes the Roman Catholick Religion which they held and professed must necessarily be the true Religion and proceed from the Spirit of God First Because 't is impossible that a false Religion can bring us to true Sanctity for Religion is the Foundation of Sanctity That Celestial Edifice cannot be built upon a vain thing upon a pernicious and sacrilegious Lye as every Lye in Religion is It cannot be that a false Religion should withdraw the Mind from Earthly Things and raise it to Heavenly that it should inflame the Heart with Divine Love and urge it to have a care of our Neighbour's Salvation with so much pains and Labour Now the Holy Catholick Religion which these Men professed and practiced perfected all these things in them and therefore it cannot possibly be false Secondly Without the true Religion it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. But by the consent of all these Men pleased God and were his great Friends Therefore their Religion was true For how by a false Religion could they please God who is the Truth Thirdly If their Religion was not true and from God then 't was from the Devil For he is a Lyer from the beginning and the Father of Lies Jo. 8.44 He hath always contrived by his Lyes and Deceits to deprave and corrupt the true Religion to the end to destroy Men's Souls If it were from the Devil how could it bring them to so great Sanctity and Piety and make them the Devil's Adversaries and Friends of God For what Society hath Justice with Iniquity What Communion hath Light with Darkness And what Agreement hath Christ with Belial 2 Cor. 6.14 c. Fourthly 'T is altogether incredible that God should permit so many innocent Men so great Despisers of themselves and all Earthly things so studious of the Divine Glory and such ardent Lovers of God to be deceived for so many Ages in a matter of so great Concern as the business of Religion which is the Foundation of all Piety Who can so wickedly censure the Goodness of God They omitted nothing on their side whereby to please God to advance his Honour and Glory they undertook the greatest Labours and Difficulties for his sake and did wholly consecrate and devote themselves to his service How can it possibly be that this infinite Goodness this true Light which enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World Jo. 1.9 should not shew his true Light and Truth to such eminent and beloved Servants but leave them in Darkness and Mortal Errours That would then be false which our Lord with double and repeated Promises so often said Ask and it shall be given you seck and you shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Matth. 7.7 Luk. 11. For S. Bernard S. Benedict S. Francis S. Dominick and other Lights and Miracles of the World all their Life-time earnestly craved sought and knock'd to obtain
Great and St. Hilarion St. Martin St. Nicholas St. Benedict St. Malachy St. Bernard St. Dominick St. Francis of Paul St. Francis Xaverius to omit innumerable others Besides that their Miracles were not counterfeited Their Miracles were no Lies may easily be proved many ways 1st Because they were written by most grave and authentick Authors For the Miracles of St. Gregory who was therfore call'd Thaumaturgus that is the Worker of Miracles were written by St. Gregory Nyssen in the Life of him and by St. Basil in his Book of the Holy Ghost chap. 29. The Miracles of St. Anthony by St. Athanasius and St. Hierome of St. Martin by Severus Sulpitius of St. Nicholas by divers Greek Authors of St. Benedict by St. Gregory the Great and others of St. Malachy by St. Bernard of St. Bernard by several eminent Authors in his own time of St. Francis by St. Bonaventure of St. Dominick by those who being Eye-witnesses of them were reconcil'd to the Catholick Faith of St. Francis of Paul by the Bull of his Canonization and the Miracles of St. Francis Xaverius after a strict scrutiny and sworn Witnesses were approv'd of by publick Testimony of the Vice-Roy of India Who can believe that these Men famous for Sanctity Learning and Authority would to the damnation of their Souls and eternal infamy of their good Name forge these Miracles and impose them upon the World For a Lie in things pertaining to Religion is a most grievous mortal Sin Then again if they were false and feigned the vanity of them might easily have been discovered by the Men of that Age wherein they were written But no body ever rejected them except Heathens Jews or Hereticks Add hereunto that many of these Miracles were confirm'd by the publick Testimony of Bishops or Magistrates through a previous knowledge of them Lastly to say that they were false and counterfeited is to take away all belief of History and overthrow all knowledge of former times For all the Acts of Antiquity may be said to be false and feigned since they cannot be proved but by the Authority of the Writers In like manner that their Miracles were not wrought by help of the Devil nor by the Devil is manifest divers ways 1st Because they were done by most holy Men and such as were entirely devoted to God's Service Who can believe that St. Francis St. Dominick St. Bernard St Benedict St. Martin c. had any Commerce with the Devil Again because their Works were far above the Devils Power For the Devil cannot open the Eyes of the blind nor cure the lame nor raise the dead nor give immediate cure to Paralitticks or restore dead and withered Limbs c. All these things are above the power of Nature And hence never any Magicians could do such such things by the Devil's aid But our Saints have done many such Miracles and almost innumerable and that in a trice by the touch only or by the sign of the Cross by a short prayer and oftentimes only by a word of Command 3dly Because those which are done by the Art of the Devil either continue but a little while being delusions and deceptions of the Sight as appears by that which Conjurers do or if they last long they are done by natural Causes and exceed not the power of them Moreover they are for the most part unprofitable to Men vain and hurtful as to make Fire to descend from Heaven to make a Statue or Idol speak c. which shall be done by Anti-Christ and his false Prophets in the last days as 't is written in the Revelations Chap. 13. nor do they tend to amendment of Life But the Miracles of the Saints have a permanent and solid effect and are profitable to Mankind exciting us to the fear of God and amendment of our Lives 4thly New Miracles are never allowed of in the Church but by great Examination before-hand for Witnesses are examined and commonly under Oath the Fact it self is also looked into whether 't was not done by Virtue of Nature or Help of the Devil all Circumstances are likewise considered as by what means order and occasion in what place and time to what end and for whom and before whom the Miracle was wrought And oftentimes there are not wanting Persons that are emulous who are willing to undervalue and slight the matter overmuch or endeavour what they can to render it suspicious and therefore they let nothing escape untry'd or unexamin'd So that it is impossible the Fraud should lie hid long if there were any and it concerns the Divine Providence not to permit Men to be so miserably deluded especially after so great care and diligence used by them to find out the Truth 5thly If the Miracles of the Church were from the Devil to retain Men in a flase Religion Why does he not do the same in other false Religions namely amongst the Turks Arrians Anabaptists Libertines c. Why does he forbear to work Miracles amongst all these and do them only in the Catholick Church Is it because he loves it better than all the rest But he should not neglect them by whom he may enlarge his Dominions He is delighted with variety of false Worships and accommodates himself to the Genius Dispositions and Affections of all Therefore since only the Catholick Religion hath Miracles and no false Religion hath or can have them 't is a clear sign that the Miracles of the Catholick Church are not from the Devil Lastly What reason is there that they should be counted Fictions or performed by the Devil Is it because they cannot be done But God is Omnipotent and did many the like by his Apostles as appears in Scripture Or is it because they are repugnant to Scripture But our Lord hath plainly promised this Grace of Miracles saying Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth in me the Works that I do shall he do also and greater Works than these shall he do because I go to my Father and whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son Joh. 14.12 c. By which Words he insinuates that the Gift of Miracles shall always remain in the Church not only amongst the Apostles but many Apostolical Men and People of eminent Sanctity in due time and place This Promise therefore of our Lord we see fulfilled when Holy Men do Miracles Or is it for lack of Witnesses Besides the Writers most worthy of belief we have the credit and consent of the People the Testimony of Bishops and Magistrates after a strict enquiry and examination of the matter by Sworn Witnesses There are not any ancient Matters of Fact except those recorded in the Holy Scriptures which have so many and so considerable Witnesses Add hereunto that in every Age yea almost every year there are many great Miracles done in several places by the Saints reigning with Christ in Heaven especially
the Mass Veneration of Holy Relicks and Images Pilgrimages Invocation of Saints Monasteries Monks Obedience to the See of Rome and other things proper to the Catholick Religion which hath ever flourished among these nations ever since their Conversion till of late they were abolished by these New Religions Who that considers these things can doubt but the Roman Catholick Religion is the true Religion of Christ In it we see this Divine Promise of the Conversion of Nations fulfilled Hereunto so many Peoples so many remote Nations so many potent Kingdoms have fled and forsaking their Idols impurity of Life multiplicity of Wives barbarity of Manners and former licentiousness humbly stoop to the yoke of Christ have imbraced the fear of God conformed to an honest Life and were inflamed with contempt of the World and love of Heaven How can it be that this Religion should be false and impious which makes so great a change in the Minds of barbarous People To conclude how can it be that the Divine Providence for so many Ages should permit all these Nations to be deceived when they willingly forsook their Idolatry imbraced the Truth and united themselves to the Church of Christ and be plunged into other pernicious Errors and a new Idolatry and that by those who in the Church were esteemed by every one the most Lawful Ministers thereof as being famous for Holiness of Life Wisdom and Miracles God forbid we should so judge of the Divine Goodness and Providence which has so much care for the Salvation of Men. But now on the other side there has never been any Conversion of Nations made by the Lutherans Calvinists and Fanaticks never any accession of Pagan Kingdoms to their Religion but only a Revolt of those who bearing the Name of Christians but weary of their former Religion and Discipline have followed their Novelties and Liberty of the Flesh which is a clear Argument of Heresie For Heresie is nothing else but a corruption of the Catholick Doctrine and revolt of Christians from the Primitive Religion retaining still the Christian Name and it is the study of Heretical Doctors not to convert Heathens but to pervert Christians Therefore Tertullian hits them home Lib de Praescrip What shall I say touching the Ministration of the Word since it is their business not to convert Infidels but to seduce Catholicks They take greater Glory to ruine those that stand than pains to lift up them that are down For this Work of theirs is not of their own building but a demolishing of the Truth They undermine our Church to raise their own so that they can easier destroy the House that stands than raise a new Building out of ruines The Sixth Consideration from the Name of Catholick and the thing signified by this Name THat Religion is to be judged the true Christian Religion which has always been accounted and called Catholick according to the Apostles Creed I believe in the Holy Catholick Church But the Roman Church is only called Catholick and the Professors thereof Catholicks Therefore the Roman Catholick Religion only is the true Religion of Christ That it alone has been always and still is called Catholick 't is evident First By the general use of the Name over all the World Hence it is that even Hereticks many times call it the Catholick Religion and the Professors thereof Catholicks nor did ever any Sect merit this Name For the Marcionists Montanists Vid. Pacia Epist denom Cath. St. August c. 4. contr Epist sund Manicheans Donatists Pelagians Vigilantians Waldenses Lutherans Calvinists Anabaptists c. were never called Catholicks nor their Doctrine the Catholick Religion only the Church of Rome and that part of Christianity which adheres to it is called the Catholick Church and the Religion Belief and Doctrine of this Church the Catholick Religion the Catholick Faith and Catholick Doctrine and her Followers Catholicks Secondly Because the word Catholick signifies the same as Vniversal The Catholick Religion is spread over all the World or General spreading over all the World But such is the Roman Religion because being spread over all the known inhabited parts of the World it extends it self to all Nations and Kingdoms For there is no Kingdom nor Nation known to us which has not still this Religion or formerly had it or doth not now begin to profess it yea at this very time there is well near amongst all Nations a publick profession of our Religion namely in Japan China the Indies Persia Tartary Turky Affrica Brazil Peru Mexico c. For in all these places there are Catholicks to be found Churches Altars Images of Christ and his Saints celebration of Mass administration of our Sacraments observation of our Feasts and Fasts and in Fine there is publickly held the Roman Catholick Religion Who can doubt that this is the true religion and the true way of Salvation which our Lord would have proposed and preached to all Kingdoms which he hath made to grow and increase at convenient times in all Kingdoms and which every where in a manner he now preserves causing Catholicks to be dispersed through the whole World that Infidels by them might come to the knowledge of the true Religion Moreover it is Catholick in point of Time as well as Place The Catholick Religion extends it self to all Ages for it has been derived thro' all Ages from Christ's and his Apostle's time For there is no Age since that time can be assign'd wherein this Religion was not held In all Ages Mass was celebrated for the living and dead Festival and Fasting days were kept Monastick Vows were frequented the Saints invocated and their Relicks honoured with other things proper to our Religion in use and practice as 't is manifest by all Ecclesiastick Writers On the contrary if we consider all kind of Sects No Sect is called the Catholick Religion none of them were ever called the Catholick Religion or the Professors of them Catholicks as aforesaid but they took the Name of their Religion from the first Broachers of it as Simonians from Simon Magus Valentinians from Valentine Pelagians from Pelagius Lutherans from Martin Luther Calvinists from Calvin c. and none of their Religions are spread over all the World Nor dilated over all the World At first when the Catholick Religion began to appear and shew it self it was not long before it was diffused over all the World and did increase and fructifie almost in every Kingdom notwithstanding the Persecutions thereof as S. Paul tells us Rom. 10. Colos 1. But the religion of Luther Calvin and Fanaticks now for the time that it hath been in the World which is about 150 years hath made no such progress but being confined only to some few Countries does daily lose ground either by crumbling into other Sects or else by returning into Catholick religion again As also not one of them is of any ancient standing but all of them of new invention but
accord without any Authority or Commission which is a certain sign they ought not to be believed but rejected For how shall they Preach except they be sent Rom. 10.15 He that entreth not by the door into the Sheep-fold but climbeth up some other way the same is a Thief and a Robber but he that entreth in by the door is the Shepherd of the Sheep Joh. 10.1 They enter not in by the door who usurp the Pastoral Office without Ordinary or Lawful Authority Whether Sectaries are sent by Christ But perhaps they will say that they were sent by Christ and received Authority from to reform the Church But 't is not enough to say so for all Arch-Hereticks or Sect-Masters affirm this of themselves therefore they ought to produce their Letters-Patents that Christ sent them whereby to convince us and confirm our Belief as the Apostles confirmed their Mission with great Miracles otherwise we ought not to accept their Reformation but are bound rather to reject them as Imposters Again how did Christ send them when they teach such different and contradictory Doctrine amongst themselves For if Christ sent Luther Calvin could not be sent by him who overthrows Luther's Doctrine in many points and damns it as Heritical On the contrary if Christ sent Calvin Luther then could not be sent by him for God is not contrary to himself nor does the Spirit of the Prophets contradict each other I omit other things which might be said to this purpose The Eighth Consideration from the consent of the Ancient Fathers and Doctors and their decision of Controversies without which there is no certainty THat Religion is to be imputed to Christ and to be preferred before all others wherein there is an unanimous consent of the chief Doctors and Fathers of every Age and Country since Christ about points of Faith which is an easie end to all Controversies and from which if you recede there is nothing to be relyed on for a certainty But such is the Roman Catholick Religion therefore 't is the only true Religion of Christ And First Touching the consent of Fathers about the Tenets of our Religion it appears by their Writings For as many ancient Doctors as have written in Greece in Asia in Egypt in Affrica in Spain in Italy in France in Germany in England of the Mysteries of our Religion are all consenting to Free-Will merit of Good Works the Sacrifice of the Mass for the Living and Dead Monastick Vows Fastings Feasts Invocation of Saints c. which are disowned by these New Religions neither can the Lutherans and Calvinists deny it but say these were the Spots and Blemishes of the ancient Fathers then inclining to Superstition and the Traditions of Men Cal. l. 2. c. 2.5.14 16. l. 3. c. 4 5. whence they fly to the Scriptures according to their own sense and interpretation But how improbable is this that all the ancient Fathers writing of these matters in divers places with so general a consent should err For the consent of many especially before they communiceate one with another in the same opinion is a great sign of Truth attracting their Minds to an unanimous consent thereof by divine illumination For 't is the property of Truth being but One to joyn and unite in consent but of Falsity being manifold to disperse into sundry Opinions and Errors Hence it is that Hereticks in several Countries writing of the same subject scarce ever agree but are divided into many Opinions having once forsaken the Truth Again there is no Tenet of the Catholick Religion can be shew'd which has been introduced a-new by any in the Church which is a manifest sign that it has always been in the Church and descended from the Apostles For if it were brought in a-new after the Apostles against Apostolical Doctrine it could be shew'd in what Generation or Age it was done where and by what Author and who opposed the same For no new Opinion is ever raised without great stir and contradiction Therefore we can shew the rise of all Heresies where when and by what Authors they first began who opposed them what strifes they made and finally what Pope and Council condemned them But if this can be demonstrated of particular Heresies how much more of the chiefest points of Religion if any innovation were made in them It is clear therefore that our Catholick Religion not only by the Succession of Ministers but also by Consanguinity of Doctrine as Tertullian expresseth it Lib. de Prescrip is continued and accords with the Ancient and Apostolical Religion That the Opinions of these New Religions disagree with those of the ancient Fathers Hereticks themselves abundantly confess since in the Chapters aforesaid they blame them of Superstition and averr they cannot be excused of Errour as we shall see more at large hereafter The Controversies of the Cath Church are easily appeased Secondly The Controversies that sometimes arise in the Church are easily decided by the continual practice of the Church For the Catholick Church hath an Infallible Judge of Controversies the Pope with a General Council by which Judge all Controversies have hitherto been easily concluded all Heresies sprung up in divers Ages have been condemned and Catholick People kept in one Faith one Religion and one Doctrine through the whole World In this manner was the Arrian Heresie condemned by the Synod of Nice under Pope Silvester the Macedonian Heresie by the Council of Constantinople under Pope Damasus the Nestorian Heresie by the Council of Ephesus under Pope Celestine the Eutychian Heresie by the Council of Calcedon under Leo the First the Iconomachists by the Second Council of Nice under Adaian the First and to omit others the Berengarian Heresie concerning the Eucharist by the Synod of Rome and Vercelles under Leo the Ninth by the Synod also of Tours under Victor the Second by the Synod of Rome under Nicholas the Second and by another Roman Synod under Pope Gregory the Seventh For all Reason requireth that the Cause of Religion being common to the whole Church should not be judged by private Persons that have obtained no Dignity nor Degree in the Church but by the Supreme Pastor of the Catholick Church together with other particular Prelates to whom the Regiment of the Church is committed and who are the Representatives of the whole Catholick Church As the Controversies about Laws and Privileges of a Kingdom are decided by none but the King and Chief Men who represent the whole Kingdom For to those who are made Superiors in any Community Spiritual or Temporal it belongs to allay Differences and decide Controversies about matters properly pertaining to their Government thereby to take away all contradiction for the suture And indeed unless the Church had this power it would have been very imperfect lamely instituted and more miserable than any Temporal Kingdom or Common-Wealth For there would never have been an end of Disputes and Contentions touching the chief points
of Faith no end of Dissentions and Contradictions and it must necessarily in a short time have been divided into a Thousand Sects as we see it happens by the Conventicles of Hereticks Hence it is that in the Catholick Church all points of Faith are certain and defined and no variation made of them and all Catholicks unanimously consent acquiesce and are satisfied in the belief of them Hereby it follows Thirdly If you depart from the Catholick Religion you have no certainty to depend on for the true way of Salvation For what Religion will you make choice of in so great a variety The Lutheran But why not the Presbyterian or any other Fanatick Why do you profess Luther's Religion before the rest For the Presbyterians and Fanaticks have Scripture for their Religion as well as the Lutherans Again if you will imbrace the Religion of Luther which sort would you have the mild or rigid That pure Religion which Luther the German Prophet recommended or that which Philip Melancton renewed But this also is of divers sorts for the Augustane Confession was often changed If you are for Calvin's Religion why not Luther's since he is the Parent of all and the first that brought into the World this new Light of the Gospel Again if you are for Calvin's Religion whether that of Puritans or Protestants For they are very different as the English well know I omit many differences wherein these Sects are divided There is no solid Reason can be given why you should profess one for the certainly of it rather than the other since they all stiffly alledge the Word of God to be of their side that they have the Spirit of god and that the sence of Scripture is clearly for their Doctrine and that all the rest are false and manifestly against Scripture nor can they otherwise prove it but by saying that 't is clear to every one that has the Spirit Therefore they all urge the same reason for their Doctrine and rely on the same foundation You must therefore be of all their Religions or of none But the Catholick Religion proves her Tenets far otherwise namely from Sacred Scripture according to the exposition of the Holy Fathers and Doctors of all Ages from the Sanctity Miracles and Prophetick Spirit of those that profess this Religion from the perpetuity and uniformity of Doctrine through all Ages from the purity of Life which this Doctrine induceth from the Conversion of Nations to this Doctrine and from all the other Considerations set down in the foregoing Chapters The Ninth Consideration proceeding from divers Reasons why these New Religions are to be suspected and avoided ALL other Religions besides the Catholick expresly and particularly that of Luther Calvin and the Fanatick which I chiefly speak of here ought worthily to be suspected and abandoned as Heretical Sects for many Reasons which I shall here briefly commemorate and referr to your serious Consideration The First Reason from the Novelty of it ALL Novelty or all New Cutts and Fashions as St. Gregory Nazianzen calls it in any Government and chiefly in the Affair of religion are to be shunn'd and avoided The Christian religion is an ancient solid and immutable thing intended to last to the end of the World For it is the Form Strength and as it were the Soul of Christ's Church for as by the Soul the Flesh is animated into a Living Man so by religion an Assembly of Men who otherwise of themselves are but carnal is formed into the Church of Christ which is a Spiritual Kingdom As therefore the Church and Kingdom of Christ is ancient and never to be rooted out as against which the Gates of Hell that is to say no Herefies or other wicked attempts shall ever prevail Mat. ult and with which Christ has promised to remain to the end of the World De August de utit caeden c. 17. Such also must the Religion be by which this Church and Kingdom of Christ do subsist Therefore Novelty is repugnant to the true Religion But that these are New Religions is manifest First Because we can shew the first Authors of them the place time and manner how they began who resisted them what great Commotions Troubles and Mobbs were raised by reason of them and finally by whom they were condemned Now what clearer signs can there be of Novelty In the same manner all Heresies introduced against Apostolick Doctrine are convinced of Novelty because we can shew how they crept into the Church at what time they began in what place by what Author who opposed and condemned them Secondly Before the year of our Lord 1517. Luther's religion was not in the World nor Calvin's nor the other Fanaticks which are but two branches of the Lutheran Religion For it appears by Historians of that time wherein Luther first shew'd Head that there was no religion in the World but the Catholick Religion and a very few Hereticks called Hussites except the Judaick Mahometan and Pagan Religion Thirdly If you should say that some of them were existent in the World namely the Lutheran Religion c. but lay hid I ask in what place it was in what Kingdom in what Town who were the Defenders or Maintainers of it Lastly How do you know it was in Being before since it could not be manifest but by Writers who report no such thing but the contrary Besides when there were in every place Inquisitors of Heresies how could this Religion lie hid so many hundred years and not be discovered and never any one of the Followers of it fall into their Hands and be corrected Never any Heretical Sect could so hide it self but be often taken and publickly called in question and examination Again if this religion was in the World before Luther why did not the Professors of it who have hitherto lay hid come forth and acknowledge him as a Doctor of their Faith and a Champion of their religion Why did they not appear in publick and join with him as their Partner and Patron who had set at liberty their religion before suppressed and persecuted But no such ever appeared that had been of this religion before him but all of them were of the Catholick Religion before they turned to Luther as Luther himself before he revolted was a Roman Catholick and a Friar L. de Missa augular l. 2 contr Swingl and said Mass seriously and devoutly fifteen years together as himself confesseth Whereby it is clearer than the Sun at noon day that Luther's Religion is altogether new and was unknown to the World before his time Not any Congregation of Men and perhaps no single person was ever in Being before him that professed the same Religion that is all the same points of Faith his whole Body of Doctrine For although he might hold some Opinions of ancient Hereticks yet the Relagion of Luther and the ancient Hereticks is not therefore the same but in part For Religion is a
Complex or comprehension of all those things which pertain to Faiths But no body before him ever taught all the same Tenets This is also convinc'd by another reason for 't is manifest the ancient Doctors and Fathers florishing in former Ages were not of Lutheran's Religion for They all confess Free-Will the necessity of Good Works Merits of life eternal and possibility of keeping Gommandments They approve of the Invocation of Saints the Veneration of holy Relicks and Images the Sacrifice of the Mass for the living and dead the Ordination of Ministers the Evangelical Counsils of Monaftick Vows the custom of Fasting in Lent c. all which Luther's Religion denies and denounces as superstitious injurious to God and wicked That the ancient Fathers confess and approve all these things is clear by their Writings nor can Lutherans and Calvinists deny the fame but say they were the Spots of the ancient Fathers beautiful spots indeed Superstition Idolatry Impiety But if the Doctors of former Ages were not of this Religion but always decry'd and condemn'd the same 't is evident that it is not Ancient but New Now in the Church there is no Religion taken for the true Religion of Christ besides that which the ancient Fathers and Doctors of the Church have held Hence it plainly follows that the Lutheran Religion is not the Religion of Christ for Christ's Religion is not new but old But Luther's Religion is new and not old as 't is shewed The Religion of Christ has been always in the World from the time of the Apostles but the Religion of Luther has not been always but began in the year of our Lord 1517 as aforesaid Again if Luther's Religion is the true Religion of Christ the Congregation of People holding this Religion is the true Church of Christ therefore the Church of Christ was not before Luther as has been declared because the Lutheran Religion which constituted this Church was not before Luther If you say it was in the Apostles time and some Ages heretofore it is to be proved there were some then living that held all Luther's Tenets We can for certain and with ease prove the contrary For it is aparent the Sacrifice of the Mass for the living and the dead Ordnation of Ministers Monastical Vows and the like which are repugnant to Luthers Religion were in the Church of God in the Apostles time and the Ages nearest to it Moreover suposing but not granting that that it had been in the Apostles time and some time after yet at least in the Third and Fourth Age it began to vanish and be quite lost which also the Lutheran Doctors confess in the Book of Centuries published by them Therefore Cent. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. cap. 4. for 1300. years the Church of Christ fell away and perished For at least so long it is manifest the Lutheran Religion was not but what florished was point blank contrary to it The true Religion then for so so many Ages was extinct the Gospel obscured the Church of Christ overthrown till Luther the German Prophet rose and dispell'd this mortal darkness brought into the World the light of the Gospel and repaired the ruines of the Church The Lutherans in several Towns of Germany declare this in writing upon the Frontispiece of their Houses in Capital Letters in these or the like words in such a year the true light of Christ's Gospel shin'd first in this City by abolishing Superstition c. Now if the Church of Christ had perished for so many Ages how is it true that it was built upon a Rock Matth. 16. and not rather upon Sand How is it true that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it How is the House of God the Ground and Pillar of Faith 2 Tim. 3. How is the Kingdom of Christ which is th Church stable firm eternal and never to be dissolved Dan. 2. If you say the Church and Lutheran Religion hath continued in all Ages from the time of Christ and his Apostles but lay hid it is more than can be proved and without any probability as hath been demonstrated But les us grant it to be hid therefore it was not the Church of Christ For the Church of Christ is like a City placed upon a Hill which cannot be hid Matth. 5. She is the Mountain of our Lord's House established in the top of the Mountains and exalted above the Hills conspicuous to all and all Nations shall flow unto it Isa 2. She is extended from Sea to Sea and from the River unto the ends of the Earth Psal 71. She is that great Mountain which filled the whole Earth Dan. 2. For the Church of Christ ought to be manifest that by her Worship Splendor Manners and outward Form the Nations might be attracted to her and that those who desire to be made Christians might know whom to go to advise with and receive instructions from In like manner her Doctrine and Belief ought to be manifest or else 't would be unprofitable to the World and could not convert Nations Therefore in the time of Persecutions it was never so obscure but every where known as Ecclesiastical Writers tell us And from hence came such a multitude of Martyrs Again if it lay dormant so many Ages it was altogether unworthy of the Christian name For how could this be call'd the true Church of Christ which durst not confess the sincere Doctrine of Christ But was of such a cowardly nature and so affraid of death as to hide it self in the dark and not dare for so many Ages to appear in the light Nay did not only hide her self so many Ages and suppress the sincere Profession of Faith but also confess a false Faith namely the Papistical adore Idols and defile her self with a thousand Superstitions and Sacriledges For before Luther all Christians in outward shew at least behav'd themselves like Catholicks or else they would have been presently taken by the Inquisitors and Bishops and punished as Heriticks So that the Church of Christ would have been more miserable and deformed than the ruines of the Synagogue or the Jewish Sect which always held their Meetings in some places or other and made a profession of their Religion nor was ever compell'd at least in general to the Worship of Idols It would also have been more wretched and in a worse condition than all Heretical Sects For there has been no Sect of any name which has not had their Churches Preaching Houses or Conventicles and some form and prtfession of their religion whereby it was known From these things it is clear nothing can be more absurd than to say that the Church of Christ for so many Ages absconded I conclude therefore with this Dilemma either the Lutheran and Presbyterian religion were before their Authors or not If not then they are plainly Novelties and therefore not the Religian of Christ which is ancient but if they were existent then they
sent immediately from God to teach the people were impowered to work Miracles or supernatural Signs to prove the verity of their Mission So Moses being about to conduct the Children of Israel out of Egypt and give them a Law came with authority to do prodigious Miracles and he himself did innumerable or God also about him who so often appeared to him in a visible shape So all their Prophets proved the truth of the Mission by Miracles or revealing of Secrets The same did Christ himself Lord of the Prophets who although 't was demonstrable in Scripture that he was the Messias and that it evidently appeared by the testimony of St. John the Baptist yet presently at the beginning of his Preaching he shewed that he was sent by his Father for the Salvation of Mankind by many Miracles and said to the Pharisees that out of hatred would not give credit to him if they would not believe him for his own sake at least they should believe him being convinced by the greatness of his Works In like manner all the Apostles proved the legality of their Mission amongst the Jews and Heathens by many Miracles To conclude so did the first Doctors of divers Nations which were converted from Paganism to our Faith Wherefore since their new Prophets say that they were immediately sent from God if they do not confirm it by Miracles or supernatural signs as all others have done whom God immediately sent they ought not to be credited or believed Nor does it avail any thing to say that St. John the Baptist did no Miracles because God work'd many Wonders and supernatural things about him whereby his Mission was sufficiently manifest Also his Austerity of Life and Sanctity of Manners was no small Miracle Therefore no body could doubt but that God sent him Moreover Miracles were absolutely necessary to prove them to be sent not only as Converters of Manners but also as Reformers and Correctors of all Religion to re-edifie the Church lapsed to raise again the Kingdom of Christ extinct and to make all things new How great Miracles had been necessary for them whereby to convince the World that they were bound to believe such Wonders and Paradoxes and to receive them for such Reformers If they had raised a thousand from the dead and cured a hundred thousand lame blind and sick of the Palsie it had been scarce enough to make one believe so great a matter First Because the Apostle saith Though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be Anathema that is accursed Gall. 1.8 And repeating the same again for greater confirmation of the matter he adds as I said before so say I now again If any one preach any other Gospel unto you than that you have received let him be Anathama Gal. 1.9 If we ought not to believe an Angel from Heaven preaching any thing contrary to the received Doctrine of Faith how many and great Miracles were requisite to be shewed by a mortal Man that preaches contrary to the approved Faith before he is to be certainly believed as that Christ's Church is utterly fallen that Idolatry hath got into it and extinguished the Faith that all are in the state of Damnation that the chiefest points of Religion are to be reformed and that God sent Luther or Calvin to make this Reformation Was it not fit that all the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles should have been revived by this Reformer Again because the Catholick Religion which now storishes has been above a thousand years in possession as our Adversaries confess and esteemed over all the World for the true Religion of Christ and they that fell from it were counted Hereticks Therefore without great and evident Miracles to make it appear a wicked and unjust possession it cannot lawfulâ—y be disturbed And the Signs from God ought to be so apparent and convincing that there 's no room left for any Tergiversation or denial otherwise we are not bound to believe them but rather obliged to favour so long a possession and not desert the Catholick Religion I add farther that the Catholick Religion in all those Ages was famous for the Glory of Miracles Wisdom and Sanctity of the Professors and even now is Therefore there is need of many greater and more renowned Miracles to be shewed before she can be lawfully dispossessed cast down and rejected also of greater Wisdom and Piety and that by publick Fame in the followers of these new Religions than were ever in the Professors of the Catholick Religion Lastly When the Religion of the Old Testament amongst the Jews was to be changed and to pass from the Shadow to the Truth from the Type to the Exemplar although our Lord could clearly out of the Scriptures convince that this change was to be made and that God sent him for this purpose yet he was pleased to confirm the same with many and great Miracles thereby to take away all occasion of cavilling and back-sliding How many Miracles therefore shall we think needful when a change is attemted to be made of the Religion of the New Testament which the Scriptures expresly declare shall never be changed but that God will be with it to the end of the World and the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against it Who can prudently believe without great Miracles a thing so strange and new such a Parodox as well against the Scriptures as the judgment of the Fathers Yea what Miracles can be sufficient to make one to believe it to be probable By this it is plain that we deservedly require Miracles of them and that they deal with us most injuriously and impiously when they command us to believe them in matters of so great weight without any Miracles and unless we do believe them to persecute us grievously But say they we prove our Tenets from the Scripture Whether they prove their Tenets from Scripture True but in your own sense not according to the consent of the Holy Fathers and received Doctors of the Church who lived before our Controversies and therefore could not be partial in their Opinions Again those proofs of yours drawn like a Spider's Web out of your selves are as easily dissolved by Catholick Doctors And there have sprung up so many new Reformers so many Repairers of the ruined Church so many Ralsers of Religion extinguished who though they are very contrary amongst themselves and contradict one another each Sect striving to destroy what the other builds yet all of them confirm their Principles by Scripture all of them relie solely upon this Testimony for their Foundation according to their own Construction Threfore this way of probation must be to all or none And to each of these Expositors it may be said if nothing is to be believed but what is in the Scripture where I pray does it tell you that God sent you to reform the fallen Church or Religion
In opere Inscripto Lutherus Septiceps Of the Communion of the Eucharist Gasper Querhamer a Lay Saxon observed in Luther's Works In Tabula contrad Luther Thirty six Contradictions and printed them when Luther was living to his great shame and confusion and the diminution of his Authority And of Communion under both kinds Cochlaeus has noted seven contradictory Articles In fine Cochlaeus's whole Book called Lutherus Septiceps contains nothing else but Luther's Contradictions and contrary Opinions in almost all his controverted Articles in the express Words of Luther Now in every contradiction of necessity one part must be false As to Calvin Coccius relates Twenty four Contradictions of his in his very own Words It is enough for me to set down two of them Touching God's Omnipotency in one place he says nothing is impossible to the Word of God Luk. 1. And in another place he says That Dream of an Absolute Power in God which the School Doctors have introduced is an execrable Blasphemy Psa 23. Again I abhor this Doctrine in which the Papist Divines please themselves feigning in God a certain Absolute Power Of Christ's Godhead in one place he writes That Christ is true God of the same Essence with his Father De Predestin 1 Joh. 5.1 In another place he says The Name of God by way of excellency Contr. Gentil refutat 10. belongs to the Father only that he only and properly is the Creator of Heaven and Earth ay and that Son according to his Godhead is subject to the Father Again That it is a hard and improper expression of the Nicene Creed God of God Light of Light In his Second Epistle to the Polanders he affirms That Christ according to his Divine Nature is less than the Father Lo whither he tumbles by being a Novelist These things being positive and clear in their own Writings what Wise Man can be induced to believe that God sent them to reform the Church For how shall they raise the fallen Church when they so vilely destroy their own Doctrine Who have so little Learning or Prudence and circumspection as not to avoid contradictions in matters of the greatest moment Certainly whosoever contradicts himself and presently pulls down what he hath newly erected 't is clearer than the Noon-day that he speaks not by the Spirit of God For if I build again the things which I destroyed says St. Paul I make my self a Prevaricator Gal. 2.18 The Spirit of God cannot be contrary to himself cannot deny himself Take notice likewise That although in many things they contradict themselves and overthrow their own Principles yet they have Face and Impudence to say that they are certain their Doctrine is true and the very Doctrine of Christ For thus Luther writes I am certain I received my Doctrine from Heaven Cont. Reg. Aug. Again I am certain that my Doctrine is not mine but Christ's And in another place he says that he is so absolutely sure Cont. Stat. Eccles that he will have no Body to be Judge of his Doctrine no not the Angels and that none can be saved who believes not his Doctrine In like manner Calvin oftentimes says That he is a Prophet that he can deceive none unless God deceive him as I have shewed in the Fifth Reason Hereby 't is a clear demonstration that not only they speak not by the Spirit of God having such open and manifest Errours and Contradictions but also are to be look'd upon as Impostors who deceive the People For he that says he is certain that his Doctrine in which are many Errours and Contradictions is of God may well be supposed not to deal fairly and sincerely but to speak against his own Conscience and so to impose upon the People 'T is manifest that such a one hath no Internal Illumination from God to make him certain of the Truth of his Doctrine by the Testimony of God For God cannot testifie or reveal Contradictions With what Face therefore can they so impudently affirm that they are sure their Doctrine is of God or Christ's Doctrine Therefore they deal not honestly and sincerely but endeavour to blind the World But some will confess that they erred now and then at the beginning when they had not yet fully received the Spirit of God but afterwards they did not err nor change their Opinions But this has no colour of Truth at all For all those who ever have been immediately sent by God to teach the People have presently at the beginning of their Mission had the infallible assistance and direction of God so that they could never in the least err in their Doctrine As 't is manifest by the Prophets and Apostles Nay there was greatest need of this direction in the begiuning because then chiefly all things were to be discussed the Teachers and their Doctrine to be examin'd that so they might gain Authority and be believed For if they had been catch'd in any Errour or Contradiction at first all their Authority would have fallen to the ground and perished In the like case if Calvin and Luther were sent by God to reform the Church there was great need that presently at the beginning their Doctrine should be solid and sound free from all Contradiction and Errour least they might justly be rejected as Impostors Then again I ask when at length did they obtain this plenitude or fulness of the Spirit so as never to err any more How could that appear to the World that Men may know they are to be credited at last though they were not at first For unless this can be shew'd we may rightly presume that they may erre in their future who manifestly have erred in their former Writings To conclude that they were various in their Life that they changed and mended their Principles and in divers little Books which they published and sometimes in one and the same Book they writ several contradictions it is apparent by those few things afore-mentioned and by many more which Cochlaeus Coccius and others have recorded in their own words For the longer they stood out in opposition to the Catholick Church more invective and bitter they became against it and what more mildly they alledged at first afterward they made worse or changed to the contrary The Seventh Reason from tht malicious Deceits and Frauds they make use of THat Religion is to be suspected whose Authors and Defenders use malicious Deceits Frauds and Lies to propagate it For the true Religion wants no such helps but only the false which being destitute of true and solid Reasons must necessarily place its hope and confidence in a Lye But the Authors and Propagators of the Lutheran and Calvinistical Religion used many Frauds and Lies to encrease their Sect therefore it is worthily to be suspected That they used most malicious Frauds and Deceits False Tenets imposed upon Catholicks is manifest because they imposed upon Catholicks many things falsely that so they
your own Testimony alone which is to bear Witness of your self But he that gives Testimony of himself his testimony is not true Joh. 8.13 That is is not to be esteemed true unless by some other way he can prove it For Example These Calvinists cannot prove by other ways that they have this private Spirit but would have us believe them upon their bare word and naked assertion whereby they affirm to know it secretly Therefore there is no reason why they should be credited but rather there is great reason why all should be disbelieved for the Spirit of God cannot be contrary to it self but they are contrary to themselves and others also Therefore they are not guided by the Spirit of God And hereunto and this also pertaining to their fraud and deceitful Machinations and Contrivances they revolted from the Antient Faith which had flourished so many Ages and they embraced these New Religions Their Princes according to the custom of the Church received from the time of Constantine the Great would compel them to return to the Antient Religion which sometimes they professed and forsake their Novelties For which cause they rail against Catholick Princes and accuse them of Tyranny call them Enemies of the Gospel and over all the World raise envy against them as those that would do violence to their Consciences against their Eternal Salvation And lastly under colour of this Liberty they raise Sedition and wage War against them But when themselves God permitting it for our sins get possession of our Goods or Estates they grant no Liberty to Catholicks but raise bitter persecutions against them and force them with divers Torments and Confiscation of their Goods to desert their Ancient Religion and embrace the New which they never learned which never had any Name but of their Sect which they owe nothing unto which they never saw confirmed by any rational Arguments but on the contrary condemned by the Church in all the Christian World with the greatest and most-weighty Reasons Is this to deal sincerely candidly and equitably Is not this the Society of Lyons whose Right consists in their Power and Strength who make and unmake Laws for their Interest And what Tyranny of Conscience can be compared to this In the Church none are ever compelled to the Catholick Faith but those who formerly professed it nor they neither but after a lawful and full Proof and Conviction to which the Deserters cannot Answer But these New Reformers compel those that never professed their Novelties and before they have convinced them of Errour In which thing they act against their own Doctrine For they teach that Man has no Free-will but all things are done by the Divine impulse and decree which none can resist and that God infuseth Faith into his Elect only By what Law then do they inforce Catholicks to believe them since it is not in their power Again since the whole cause of believing according to their Decrees is reduced to the Testimony of the private Spirit they do very unjustly in forcing Catholicks to believe them not only against the Testimony of the private Spirit but also against the Testimony of the publick Spirit of the Universal Church For it is certain out of the Scriptures that the Church is governed by the Spirit of God and therefore cannot err but yet this is in no manner certain of private Men. The Eighth Reason from their overthrow of Good Works THat Religion which takes away all Practice of Good Works is not to be imputed to Christ who every where commends Good works and the Observation of God's Commandments But the Religion of Luther and Calvin takes away all desire of Good works therefore neither of them is to be esteemed the Religion of Christ That these two Religions take away all desire of Good works is manifest First Because both teach That Man with all his Good Works is never the juster before God never the more deserves Eternal Reward and shall receive neither more or less Glory in Heaven for doing but a few or many or no Good Works at all That God regards Man only for his Faith That all Justice is contained in Faith alone For thus says Luther I would not give one Half-penny for all the Merits of St. Peter to help me De 10. Precept c. 1. because he cannot help himself but whatever he hath he had it from God through Faith in Christ Here he plainly teaches that St. Peter is never the juster for his own Good works or hath received a greater Happiness in Heaven for the same but was Crowned for his Faith only And again in another place De captio Bacyl cap. de Baptis Do you see how rich a Man is that is a Christian and Baptized who cannot be damned for what sinns soever he commits though he would unless he will not believe for no sins are damnable but only incredulity all other sins if he returns and fixes his Faith upon the Divine Promise are in a moment absorpt through the same belief Again in another place Good Works cannot be taught De Votis Monast without prejudice to Faith since Faith and Good Works in the case of Justificarion are extreamly contradictory in such sort that the Doctrine of Good Works is necessarily the doctrine of Devils and apostacy from the Faith Calvin is of the same Opinion as 't is manifest in his Institutions where he saith The Justice of Good Works can by no means be joyned with the Justice of Faith not only Works done by the force of Nature but all other whatsoever Title they are adorned with are excluded by the Justice of Faith L. 3 c. 11. s 13. l. 3. c. 15. s 2. sequen cap. 19. s 2.4.7 The same he teaches in many other places If there is not Merit in Good Works if they do not render us more gracious and acceptable to God and that for them we shall receive no reward in Heaven why should we trouble our selves about them Why should we spend our Fortunes in works of Mercy and relief of the Poor What should we Fast for and afflict our Bodies Why should we be instant in Prayer 'T is great folly to busie our selves in those things and be sollicitous for that which will redound nothing to our profit or advantage Who sees not by this Doctrine that the study of all Good Works is extinguished Secondly Because both their Religions teach ' That all our Good Works are so far from meriting any thing of God that they are sins and mortal sins too although by reason of Faith they are not imputed to Believers Luther teaches this in many places A just Man says he sins in every Good Work Again A Good Work well done In Presol cont Eckium in assert art 31. is a Venial Sin by the Mercy of God but a Mortal one according to the Judgment of God Again in another place In assert art 32. Our best Works whereby
Salvation as not only all Catholick but likewise Lutherans Calvinists and Anabaptists teach Therefore your special Faith will avail you nothing unless you have the true Religion of Christ Now that all Professors of the Catholick Religion may easily render an account of their Religion to the Supreme Judge and fear no danger for being Catholicks is manifest For suppose that I stand before that terrible Judgment-Seat of Christ and am asked why I followed the Catholick or as Hereticks call it the Papists Religion and not rather by forsaking it turn'd to the New Reformed Religion of Calvin I will answer with great security Therefore I professed the Catholick Religion because it teaches me to withdraw my mind from the love of earthly things and fix it upon heavenly It teaches me to mortifie the Flesh to fear God to practice Good works to obey my Superiours to be instant in Prayer and to cut off all occasions of Sin I stuck to the Catholick Religion because I saw therein many famous over all the World for Wisdom Holiness Miracles and the Spirit of Prophecy it being impossible for them to be deceived in so great a matter because I saw God hath established this Church for several Ages by many Miracles because I saw therein the Promises of God fulfilled for it is spread over all the World To this Church the Conversion of Nations has been made hitherto and is dayly making In this Church there has been a continual Concord of the Doctors in points of Faith In this Church there has been a perpetual Succession of the Chair and Connexion of all Ministers with the Apostles In this Church there is a speedy decision of all Controversies This Church for many Ages has stood immovable against all Heresies and Persecutions of Tyrants so that the Gates of Hell could never prevail against it Matth. 16.18 But I perceived in all these New Religions all things contrary to this therefore there was no reason for me to renounce the Catholick Religion or in the least to doubt of it But though I should omit all this which I haye said Is not this alone sufficient for my security that I have followed a Religion which those have been of who were most Holy and Famous for Miracles over all the World as S. Benedict S. Bernaod S. Diminick S. Francis c. For it clearly appears that such Heavenly Souls so dear and devoted to God such beloved and familiar Friends could not possibly be deceived in so great a business as the Salvation of their Souls Therefore I may securely follow these Guides in reference to Religion But you now who have followed some other New Religion What a Heretick can answer what account I pray can you make of it when you shall be examined before the terrible Judgment-Seat of Christ Perhaps you will answer the Judge Therefore I deserted the Catholick Religion because I thought it full of Idolatry Superstition and Humane Traditions I thought that Antichrist reigned in it and I thought that Catholicks depended upon their own Merits and not upon the price of your Blood But what if the vail of Diabolical delusion which now blinds you being then taken off you see your self clearly deceived what Counsel will you take For there will be ro more time and place for repentance Perhaps you will plead Ignorance but this will not excuse you because you might have easily known the Truth if you had used that diligence which the matter required nor did you ever want a just occasion of doubting which should have stirred you up to a diligent enquiry As therefore it shall not excuse the Jews that they erred by ignorance because they might have known the Truth if they would so neither shall it excuse you For to depart from the Catholick Religion without sin you ought not only to think and surmise by reason of some slight suspicions but to know certainly that such Evil Doctrine is taught in the Catholick Church by using diligence and setting aside all worldly interest so that no farther scruple could be left nor any just reason to doubt But you are so far from having any such certainty of the Churches Errors that no probable reason can be given for it For what probability or shew of Truth could induce you to believe that Religion was full of Idolatry and Errours which you saw professed by so many eminent Men for Wisdom and Holiness of Life Which you saw or might have seen confirmed with so many Miracles and Martyrs Which you beheld diffused through the whole World In which you saw so great Concord in points of Faith and constant Succession Continuation and Conjunction with the Apostles How could it possibly be that in so many Ages none of the Holy Fathers and Doctors should spy this Idolatry these Superstitions and Errors Again how could you be perswaded to believe that to be the true Religion of Christ which makes God the Author and Forcer of all Sin Which takes away from Men Free-will Which extirpates all Good Works Which opens the Gate to all manner of Wickedness as much as Atheism Which takes away subjection to Laws and obedience to Princes under pretence of Christian Liberty Which recalls from Hell many old and condemned Heresies Whose Authors were renowned for no austerity of Life no Piety no Miracles but Men given to the Pleasures of the Flesh covetous of worldly Goods ambitious slanderous envious seditious infamous for Apostacy sacrilegious Marriages preposterous Lust and inconstancy of Doctrine Lastly If any of these New Religions are true then the Church of Christ is fallen for so many Ages the Kingdom of Christ is overthrown the Divine Promises touching the stability of the Church are frustrated and the Gates of Hell have prevailed against it Then for so many Ages the Gospel has been Preached in vain and in vain believed so many Gentiles have been in vain converted from Paganism in vain Baptized and received other Sacraments in vain they fasted and mortified the Flesh and so many thousands in vain suffered Mrrtyrdom by the effusion of their Blood for the Confession of Christ Then all our Ancestors are perished the Holy Fathers are perished so many Myriads of Confessors which were wholly devoted to God and famous for Sanctity Miracles and Prophecy are all perished and damned For they were all without the true Religion and Righteousness of God and all addicted to Idolatry But if these things are false blasphemous and horrible to think how could it be you did not conceive these New Religions to be false or at least to doubt of them from which such cruel and frightful things are clearly deduced But if you doubted why did you not endeavour to know the Truth upon which your Salvation depends Our Lord admonishes us to beware of False Prophets which come to us in Sheeps-cloathing but inwardly they are ravening Wolves Matth. 7.16 What 's the reason it did not come into your Mind sometimes and make you afraid lest
one way to Eternal Happiness It is an Atheistical Opinion that every one may be saved in different Religions for as there is but one God one Christ one Truth one Right-way one Justice so there is but one true Faith one true Religion one true Congregation or Church of God and Christ out of which there is no Salvation Let them beware lest by a curiosity of reading or hearing or uncautious conversation with Hereticks or desire of pleasing any Mortal Man or fear of Persecution or loss of Temporal Life or Estate or loss of gain or ambition of Honour or for any other cause they lose so great a Good For what is a Man profited if he shall gain the whole World and lose his own Soul Or what shall a Man give in exchange for his Soul But a loss of the true Religion is a loss of the Soul which no Wise Man will part with upon any account Those are unhappy Souls and unworthy the Name of a Christian who little regard the ruine of the Catholick Church or Religion so they may but safely and quietly enjoy a Temporal Peace to live in sensuality or hoard up riches and the trifling goods of this Life But this madness and vile esteem of so great a Good shall cost them dear when this momentary Life shall be ended and they suddenly fall into an endless Eternity Many Seducers are gone forth into the World many under Sheeps cloathing under a smooth pretence of God's Word hide a Wolfish Nature to the destruction of Christ's Sheep Our Lord hath admonished us more than once carefully to beware of them The Apostles and Holy Fathers have often warned us Eccles 13. He that touches pitch shall be defiled and he that loveth danger shall perish therein Eccles 3. The Times were never more dangerous and destructive to our Salvation than now the Fascination of the Devil was never greater nor a Spiritual frenzy more powerful with Men the operation of Errour was never more prevailing and successful and the minds of Men never blinder all which deservedly possess the understandings of those that disesteem this great Gift of the Catholick and Orthodox Religion and prefer Temporal Things before it Let those therefore that heartily desire to be saved preserve this Celestial Jewel and keep it with all carefulness because Life proceeds from it and because 't is a Supernatural Gift which without the Divine Assistance can neither be acquired nor preserved being invironed with so many Enemies Let them daily implore Gods help for themselves their Children and whole Family and add unto their Prayers Alms to the Poor with other Works of Piety for Prayer is good with Fasting and Alms and better than to heap up Treasures of Gold Job 12. Let them lead Lives agreeable to their Religion and allay their Thirst after the Goods of this Life with expectation and hope of Celestial and Eternal remembring the Saying of the Apostle 1 Tim 6.9 They that will be rich fall into Temptation and the snares of the Devil and many unprofitable and hurtful desires which drown Men in destruction and perdition for the root of all Evil is Covetousness which some desiring have erred from the Faith and intangled themselves in many sorrows By these helps they may securely walk amongst the differences and dangers of these Times and preserving intire the Gift of the only true Religion by it easily obtain Everlasting Life Amen To the Immortal and Invisible King of all the World the only God be all Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen An APPENDIX to the foregoing Consultation Whether every one may be saved in his own Faith and Religion WE have said in the Preface of the foregoing Treatise that it was a stupid and gross Errour of some that think it sufficient to Salvation if they believe in Christ and that he died for our Sins and we briefly demonstrated their Errour with certain Reasons But because this Errour is now far spread and hath infected the Minds of many I am intreated to explicare the same more at large Therefore I shall divide the matter into Two Questions The First is Whether it be sufficient to Salvation to believe in God and do no Body any injury that is to say Whether every one may be saved in his own private Faith or Belief if he endeavours to live honestly and virtuously The Second is That supposing that Faith in Christ is necessary Whether that alone be sufficient or whether we ought to believe something else The First Question AS to the First Question many at this time The Foundation of our Adversaries Opinion are of Opinion that every one may be saved in his own Faith or Religion The Reason which they chiefly give is because it seems to them incredible that all Jews and Turks many of which Worship God devoutly in their way and deal justly with their Neighbours should be damned eternally only because they do not believe in Christ since in this regard they seem not to offend very much because from their infancy they were taught otherwise For why should God who would have all to be saved make the way of Salvation so strict 1 Tim. 2.4 Joh. 3.17 Why should he condemn to Eternal Punishment these miserable Wretches who study to please him according to their Capacity who do no Man any Wrong but observe Justice and honesty of Life meerly for ignorance of that which they have not been sufficiently instructed in But this Opinion though consulting only Natural Reason It is refuted with Four Reasons ir seems to have some shew of Truth and Equity yet considering those things which God hath revealed to us in Scripture is altogether a Paradox For if every Turk or Jew may be saved in his own Faith or Belief then in vain the Apostles and Holy Fathers laboured so much to plant the Faith of Christ for they might abstain from a profession of this Doctrine without loss of their Salvation and remain contented with the Jews with a coufession of one God I add moreover Christ therefore was made Man in vain he wrought so many Miracles in vain that People might believe him to be the Messias and Saviour of the Would in vain he was Crucified and died for none of these things were necessary to Man's Salvation It had been enough to have sent Preachers through the World to perswade Mortals to believe in one God The Apostle uses this way of arguing saying If Justice be by the Law then Christ died in vain Gal. 2.21 that is if Justice may be obtained by the knowledge of one God and observation of the Law then Christ died in vain because his Death was not necessary to Salvation Second Reason Again the whole Scripture will he found false and lying which teaches That Christ is our Mediator Redeemer and Saviour which proposes him a Propitiator for us by Faith in his Blood Rom. 3. by whose Svcrifice we are reconciled to God by whose Blood we are
But it may be they will say they have no need of Miracles Whether it be a Miracle that they have so many Followers for 't is a Miracle great enough that in so short a time so many have embrac'd this new Gospel Perhaps this might be some pretence or argument if their new Religion were stricter and more mortifying to the Flesh than the Catholick Religion But since they have abolished all the Severities of the Catholick Religion and given all liberties to the flesh what wonder is it if so many follow it What wonder is it if heavy things by removing the impediments fall downwards and Rivers by taking away their dams run speedily to the Sea Our depraved and corrupt nature is very prone to a licentious life which it finds in these new Religions Therefore so many profess them not because they are convinc'd by force of Reason to believe that they are more holy but because they find in them that liberty which they covet and seek after and can now enjoy the same without any fear under pretext of an honest and pious Religion I add also that this Miracle may be as well brought by all these new Religions for many have flock'd not only to the Lutherans but to the Calvinists and Anabaptists c. therefore all should be holy and authorized of God But God cannot deny himself nor destroy what himself hath established and therefore cannot be the Author of so many contrary Religions which condemn one another The Fifth Reason from the Life and Manners of the First Reformers THE Fifth Reason Because these New Religions were introduced by Men of Evil Life and noted Infamy Pride Envy Malice and Detraction having not the least shew of an Apostolical Spirit in them For as to Luther's Life we know that he was a professed Friar and Priest about fifteen years and therefore strictly bound by a double Vow of Continency We know also that this Man forsaking his Monastery Habit and Profession returned to a Secular Life and seducing a professed Nun out of her Monastery married her and lived daily with her whereby in the opinion of the whole World he committed a double Sacrilege and that as many times as he used the act of Matrimony What way of living could be more scandalous We know that he was so addicted to Gluttonny and Lust as frequently in his Banquettings and Compotations he would say That the use of a Woman was more necessary than to eat drink Lib de Vit. Conjugal Serm. de Matri and sleep and that it was Lawful to use the Handmaid if the Wife refused the Debt or Right of Marriage Hierome Bolsecus Julius Brigerus and others describe Calvin's Life to be full of the worst of Crimes as false Witness or Perjury Murders Thefts bestial Impurities c. many other Authors write the same things which I never saw yet confuted But touching Luther's infamy it is apparent by the Fact aforesaid and notorious to the whole World when being a Religious Man professed and a Priest he presumed to Marry a professed Nun for this raises a scandal in the judgment of Divines for if in the Civil Law he is become infamous that is taken in Adultery how much more he that contracts a double sacrilegious Marriage For Spiritual Adultery committed against Christ is much more horrible and filthy than carnal Adultery of Husband or Wife And as to the infamy of Calvin It appears out of the Judicial Acts at Noyon Bol. in vit Cal. c. 5. Jul. Brig p. 59. that he was convicted and by Sentence condemned to be publickly burnt for Sodomy had not the punishment of Fire by the intercession of the Bishop been changed into the penalty of Whipping and stigmatizing his Back with an hot Iron Hence it is manifest both by Law and Fact he was infamous Concerning Luther's Pride and slander it is manifest First Because his whole Doctrine took its beginning from it For when certain Indulgences were to be published in Germany this Office was given to to the Dominicans which had often been granted before to the Augustine Friars whereof Luther was one This Luther took so extreamly in dudgeon and so disdainfully to Heart that first of all he began to disclaim against Indulgences and being reprehended for the same by degrees he alledged many and greater things against the Pope's Authority and other points of Faith and thereby raised great Commotions and Troubles in Germany as John Coclaeus a Spectator of all these things writes at large in the Acts of Luther Anno Dom. 1517. This Pride and Indignation is the very Fountain and Origin of all Luther's Doctrine without it Luther's Religion had not been nor many others of which this is the Parent Secondly Luther in his Epistle to the Citizens of Strasburg says He would willingly deny the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist on purpose to prejudice the Papacy were not the Scriptures so clear to the contrary And in another place he says thus If any Council should decree or permit the Sacrament to be received under both Kinds Lib. de form Missan then we would do neither but in despight of the Council and its Decree we would either receive under one or none and curse all those that should observe the Decree of a Council Here in contempt and spight of a Council he teaches to abstain from a thing necessary to Salvation when yet we may obey even a Tyrant if he commands things Lawful and oftentimes we are obliged to it From whence you may clearly see by what Spirit he was moved What can be compared to so great Fury and Madness Also in his Book against the King of England he writes That Kings Princes and Bishops are not worthy to unty his Shooes and that he will be taken for a Holy Man in spight of their Teeth In the same place he says That he cares not a Fig for a thousand Cyprians and a thousand Augustines also he calls Christian Princes Kings and Emperors Tyrants Block-heads Asses Fools Wild Beasts Hang-men Nitts Bubbles the Enemies of God most wicked Knaves and makes many scurrilous Songs on them Of Calvin's Pride and Detraction there is enough to be seen in Bolsecus although 't is sufficiently apparent in Calvin's own Writings for he despises therein all the ancient Fathers and impudently taxes them of Errors He calls the Scholastick Doctors Sophisters and frequently in his Sermons Lib. 2. Instit c. 14. s 3. l. 3. c. 4. s 38. c. 5. s 10. l. 4. c. 12. s 20. c. breaks forth into these expressions I am a Prophet I have the Spirit of God if I err it is you O God which leads me into Error and deceives me for the Sins of the People In his Letters and smaller Works also he publishes his own Praises Dignities and Merits in the Church under some counterfeited Name as Bolsecus and others tell us Many more things of this Nature I might instance as