enim plausibilior erit dismissio quorumcunque †Bernardi Giraldi Patavini pro Repub Venetorum Apologia p. 129. He cites Mariana's words in his Book de Regimine societatis Jesu c. 2. Si ipse Paulus Apostolus Generali Jesuitarum assentatoribus ejus contradiceret neque errores illorum probaret futurum esset ut pro extravagante inquieto turbatore pacis haberetur ‖ Anthony Tirrell in his exam before Commissioners June 25. 1602. See it at the end of Dr. Harsenet's Declaration of the Popish impostures Lond. 1603. 4 to * Four Letters on several subjects p. 69. 1686. †Hospir Histor. Jesuit p. 249 Pontum Tyardaeum Episcopum Cabillonensem eruditionis ac pietatis singularis â—irum cum Jesuitae in suam factionem conspirationem contra Regem Henricum Tertium pertrahere non possent populi furiosum odium invidiam in caput ejus modis omnibus concitare studuerunt Est Collegium Divioni Jesuitarum quod Episcopi hujus non exiguis beneficiis adauctum fuit Erat enim bonae partis fundi illius Clientelaris Patronus quamobrem libello etiam Graecis Latinis Gallicis versibus atque oratione soluta scripto ipsi dicato cum amplissimo laudum ejus praedicatione habuerunt gratiam fidem dederunt Sed quod in conspirationem Jesuitarum parricidium Regis consentire nollâ—t quidam Carolus inter Jesuitas Collegii istius ascriptus linguam suam Calamum superiorum instinctu vehementer contra illum acuit Contra hunc Praesulem ob dictam causam non solum in familiaribus colloquiis sed etiam publicis in contionibus atque editis quoque libellis debacchatus est ac inter alia 〈◊〉 se quadraginta quatuor haereses in tribus foliolis Homiliarum ejus in orationem Dominicâ—m exprompsissâ— c. vid. locum * Provincial Letters p. 368 369 370 371. †Viz. Mr. De ville Vicar General to the Cardinal of Lyons M. Scarron Canon and Pastor of St. Pauls M. Margat messieurs Borrand Sevé Aubert and Darvie Canons of St. Nicier M. du Guâ— President of the Treasurers of France M. Groslier Provost of Merchants M. de Flechere President and Lieutenant General Messieurs de Boissat de St. Romain de Bartoly Gent. M. Bourgeois the King's Advocate in the Treasurers Court of France M. de Cotton Father and Son and Mr. Boniel In their Answer to the fifth Letter * Burnet's Hist. of the Rights of Princes p. 399. Lond. 1682. 8 vo †Europ Spec. p. 101. ‖ Novelty of Popery p. 627. * Advice to the Confuter of Bellarmine p. 1. Lond. 1687. 4 to * Def. of the Confut. of Bellaâ— 2 d. note of the Ch. p. 1â— Lond. 1687. 4 to †Laurentii Surii Comment brevis p. 259. Col. 1574. 8 vo Quod quidem nos de sectarum authoribus dictum praecipue volumus quos plerosque perspicuum est contra suam mentem conscientiam longe aliter scribere docere quam rem ipsam se habere non sint nescii ‖ Bishop Vsher's Life and Letters p. 63.65 Lond. 1686. fol. * Mr. Thomas Davis his Letter to Arch-B Vsher ib. 381. †Smith's acc of the Gr. Ch. p. 266 267 268. Lond. 168â— 8 vo See also his Miscellanea p. 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103. Lond. 1686. 8 vo * Mr. Davis's Letter ut supr †Fowles Hist. of Rom. Treasons p. 470. Lond. 1681. fol. Ibid. p. 514. ‖ Sheldon's Survey of the Miracles of the Church of Rome p. 25. Lond. 1616. 4 to * See their Examinations in Dr. Samâ—el Harseneâ—'s Declaration of Popish Impostures in casting out of Devils * Defence of the Papers written by the late King p. 126. Lond. 1686. 4 to †Hind and Panther in the Pref. Lond. 1687. 4 to ‖ Difference between the Protest Socinians and methods p. 62. Lond. 1686. 4 to * Sâ—illin Unreason of separat pref p. 22. Lond. 1681. 4 to †Lord Carend against Cressy p. 13 14. * Speed in his Chronicle reckons that in the beginning of King James his time there were 4543. Livings under ten pound Edit Lond. 1623. at the end of the Reign of K. Henry the Eighth p. 1101. †Ibid. p. 1100. * The Undeceiving of the people in the point of Tithes by Ph. Trelinie Gent. Lond. 1651. 4 to †Fifth part of Ch. Government p. 68. See Appendix to Dr. Burnet's History of the Reformation vol. 2. p. 396. Reflect on the Hist. part of Ch Government par 5. p. 35. Oxford 1687. 4 to †Adami Contzen Politicorum Libri decem p. 96. he advises to follow the example of those Qui cum recusarent quasi superbi contumaces in obedientes magistratui accusabantur c. * Long 's Hist. of Plots p. 89. Lond. 1684. v8 o. Dr. Stillin unreasonableness of separation p. 21. of the preface †The Agreement between the Ch. of Eng. and the Ch. of Rome Lond. 1687. 4 to ‖ The Difference between the Ch. of Eng. and the Ch. of Rome Lond. 1687. 4 to * Considerations on the spirit of Maâ—tin Luther sect 32. †Pulton's Remarks p. 1. * Luke 4.41 †Mar. 1.23 24. ‖ Luke â— 28 29 30. * Aâ—â— 16.16 17. †Act. 19.13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. ‖ In vita Antonii inter Athan â—pera vol. 2. Edit Colon. 1636. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Answer to a Letter to a Dissenter p. 4. Printed for H. Hills 1687. 4 to †Mr. Pain 's Answer to the Letter to a Dissenter p. 2. 1687. 4 to ‖ Reply to the Reasons of the Oxford Clergy against Addressing p. 6 7. 1687. 4 to * Letter in answer to two main Questions p. 7.14 by T. G. Lond. 1687. 4 to †Discourse for taking off the Test p. 35. Loâ—d 1687. 4 to * Defence of the Expos. of the Doct. of the Ch. of England p. 3◠†Reply to the Defence c. p. 62. ‖ Expos. of the Doctrine of the Chathol Church p. 20 Lond. 1685. 4 to * Policy of the Clergy of France p. 57 58 59. Lond. 1681. 8 vo †Hunting of the Romish Fox p. 94 95. Duâ—lin 1683. 8 vo * Matt. 5 11. †Psal. 101.5 ‖ Answer to a Letter to a Dissenter p. 5. printed for Henry Hills * Disc. of the notes of the Church p. 333. to 365. Lond. 1687. 4 to †Ecces 7.15 ‖ Chap. 8.14 * Chap. 9.2 †Luk. 13.4 ‖ Luk. 13.1.2 * Europae Spec. p 135. †Wilson's Hist. of Great Britain p 26. Lond. 1653. fol. ‖ Fowlis Hist. Rom. Treasons p. 470. * Wilson 's Hist. of Great Brittain p. 241. †Mirror or Looking-glass both for Saints and Sinners p. 195. Lond. 1671. fol. ‖ Key for Catholicks p. 258. Lond. 1674 4to Europ Spec. 114 115. * M. Spon's History of the City and State of Geneva p. 144. Lond. 1687. fol. †Jesuits Catech p. 62. ‖ Sands Europ Spec. p. 113. * Jes. Catech. p. 62. †History of Gen.
little before were sound and Orthodox That Passion and Interest as Doctor Holden observes influence all the determinations of that Court is so well known to our English Romanists that the Author of Nubes Testium not onely read but transcribed his whole Book out of Alexandre Natalis though the Pope had two years before forbidden all the faithfull under pain of incurring Excommunication ipso facto without any other denunciation to read keep print transcribe or use any of that Fryers Works and when his Learned Adversary told him of this he makes so light of it as to turn it off with a flout as a matter not worth regarding and not only so but he affirms that Natalis was then of very good Repute as to his Authorities and every thing else And as little respect have the Romanists of France shewn to the Decree of March 2. 1679. for by the Jesuits means who informed the Procurator General that since the Court of Inquisition was not acknowledged in France it would be prejudicial to the King's Authority to suffer any Decree made in it to be printed there a Remonstrance was made to the Court of Parliament at Paris and the Censure declared to be of no Authority in that Kingdom so an Impression that was made of it was called in since which it hath not been publickly sold in France The pretence of the Jesuits for procuring this Act was the Honour of the King but the true motive appears to be their love to the Propositions condemn'd in it For the first draught of the Declaration of the Parliament had these words Though that these propositions are justly condemn'd but Father le Chaise caus'd them to be struck out Thus in this part of the world we find the Censures of that Court to have no Authority and even among those who pretend to own them a faculty may take off the Obligation and they be dispenced with from yielding Obedience to them and we know that such private Dispensations are not difficult to be obtain'd in the Roman Court. So that upon all accounts the Romanists according to their own Principles and Practices are at liberty still to teach those Doctrines which are censur'd in that Decree and there is some reason to believe that it was not design'd to hinder them but onely to amaze the world seeing it was not made by the Pope in Consistory which would have given it much more Authority than the Cardinals of the Court of Inquisition could stamp upon it § 4. In the fourth Chapter I have mention'd the Bulla Coenae as a lasting Evidence of the claim which the Pope lays to a power over Kings but not having the Bull by me I onely gave a short hint of it from a late Author of that Communion but I find in Cardinal Tolet that not onely the persons there mention'd are Excommunicated every year but that the Absolution which is given the next day after the publishing of that Bull extends not to such as impose Taxes on their people without the Pope's Consent who imprison or punish or otherwise bring a Clergy-man into secular Courts who harbour Hereticks or read so much as two or three lines in their Books who furnish Hereticks with Arms or Materials for Arms with Ships or Timber to build them with who hinder Appeals or Journeys to Rome who hinder the Romish Clergy from exercising their Jurisdiction and who possess any Church-Lands or Goods but all these are left under the Sentence of Excommunication till by repentance they obtain Absolution from his Holiness and all Ecclesiastical Persons are required to publish this Bull in the greatest Congregations that all the faithfull may know the Contents of it Thus his Majesty of Great Britain the French King the States of Venice and Holland Sweden Denmark the Princes of Germany c. are Excommunicated by this Bull who have done and daily do refuse to observe several if not every part of it and what they look upon an Excommunicated Prince to be may be seen in their Canon Law whereby all those who have sworn Allegiance to him are absolved from their Oaths and forbid to yield him any manner of Obedience I reserve the Account of their Treasons to be published when ever Mr. Pulton or any for him shall think fit to begin with us as he hath threatned he would upon the first provocation WHICH I HAVE GIVEN HIM but having affirmed p. 71 72. that they have been often both in publick Courts of â—ustice and in other places call'd upon to renounce the Deposing Power as unlawfull but could not be perswaded to it to prevent their Cavils at that Assertion I thought it not unnecessary to give some few instances which may suffice to prove it We are assured by the greatest States-man of his and perhaps of any Age that the Priests who were apprehended and executed for Treason in his time always restrain'd their Confession of Allegiance onely to be the permissive Form of the Popes Toleration As for Example if they were ask'd whether they did acknowledge themselves the Queen's Subjects and would obey her they would answer yes for they had leave for a time so to do And at their very Arraignment when they laboured to leave in the minds of the people an opinion that they were to dye not for Treason but for matter of Faith and Doctrine they cryed out that they were true Subjects and did and would obey her Majesty immediately they were asked by the Queens learned Councel whether they would obey and be true Subjects if the Pope commanded the contrary they answered by the Mouth of Campion this place meaning the Court of her Majesties Bench hath no power to judge of the Holy Fathers Authority and other Answer they would not make The very same account of them with some other Particulars is given us by the secular Priests in their Important Considerations that being ask'd which part they would take if the Pope or any others by his appointment should invade the Realm some answered when that case happened they would then consider what they had best to do others that they were not resolved what to do and others positively that if any such deprivation or invasion should be made for a matter of Faith they were then bound to take part with the Pope Which Mr. Campion was so zealous for that he was not contented to affirm that he would take part with his Holiness but very earnestly demanded Pen Ink and Paper that he might sign his Resolution And Mr. Kirby Cottom Richardson Ford Shert Johnson Hart and Filbee all Priests affirmed under their hands to her Majesties Commissioners appointed to examine them that the Pope hath Power to depose Princes and her Majesty was not to be obeyed against his Holiness's Bull in which answer they all agreed only two sheltred themselves under this general Assertion That thâ—y held as the Catholick Church held And
his Majesty of Blessed Memory K. James tells us that The Conspirators who suffered for the Gunpowder Treason justified themselves and even at their deaths would acknowledge no fault And when Faux and Winter were admitted to discourse together in the Tower they affirmed they were sorry that no body set forth a Defence or Apology for the Action but yet they would maintain the cause at their death When some of the Plotters escap'd to Callis and the Governour assured them of the King's Favour and that though they lost their Country they should be received there they replyed that the loss of their Country was the least part of their Grief but their Sorrow was that they could not bring so BRAVE A DESIGN to perfection And not onely they who were ingag'd in it justifi'd the Design but Mr. Copley assures us that he could never meet with any one Jesuite who blam'd it Some time after the Jesuits were banish'd FRANCE for the attempt upon the KING by Chastel one of their Scholars when they were soliciting a repeal of that Sâ—â—tence the Parliament of PARIS remonstrated to the KING that it was absolutely necessary for them to renounce those treasonable Doctrines of the Popes power over Princes or else France could not with safety admit them to return but tho' they were very desirous of admission they would not renounce those positions for it It is notoriously known how many Breves were sent over into England to forbid the taking the Oath of ALLEGIANCE which they affirm to contain many things contrary to the Catholick Faith. Immediately after the Murther of K. Henry the Fourth of FRANCE the Jesuits desir'd leave to teach Schools in their Colledges upon which the Parliament required that they should first declare that it is unlawfull for any person to conspire the death of the King that no Ecclesiastick hath any power over the Temporal Rights of Princes and that all are to yield the same obedience to their Governours which Christ gave to Caesar these positions were proposed to them to subscribe but they refus'd to do it without leave from their General Ann. 1614. Father Ogilby a Jesuite was taken in Scotland who being asked whether the Pope be judge in Spirituals over his Majesty refus'd to answer except the Question were put to him by his Holiness 's Authority but affirmed that the Pope might Excommunicate the King and that he would not to save his life say it is unlawfull if the K. be depos'd by the Pope to kill him In the time of the late Confusions when Mr. Cressy published the Reasons of his leaving the Church of England and turning Romanist he therein inserted a Declaration differing little from the Oath of Allegiance affirming that all the Roman Catholicks in England were ready to sign it but his â—uperiors were of another mind and therefore that Edition was soon bought up and the profession of OBEDIENCE omitted in the second and when some English Gentlemen of that Communion had subscribed certain propositions of the same import with that declaration their subscribing was by the Roman Congregation censur'd as unlawfull What opposition was made to the Irish Remonstrance after the King's Restauration is generally known and I have given a short account in the third and fourth Chapters all that I shall remark here is this that it was a Transcript of Mr. Cressy's declaration which the Pope forbad the Irish Clergy and they refus'd to sign Nay when Father Walsh advised them to beg his Majesties pardon for the Execrable Rebellion they not onely refus'd to ask pardon but so much as to acknowledge that there was any need of it affirming publickly THAT THEY KNEW NONE AT ALL GVILTY OF ANY CRIME FOR ANY THING DONE IN THE WAR They often offer'd to declare that the Deposing Power was not their Doctrine but could not be perswaded to condemn the Doctrine which abets it as unsound and sinfull wherein they have been imitated by some late Writers on their side who tho' call'd upon to affirm it unlawfull to maintain such a power over Kings would never do it But tho' Father Cann would not renounce these Doctrines he proposed at Rome that a formal OATH abjuring the OATH of ALLEGIANCE should be imposed upon those who had taken it and that all who should be admitted Students in the Jesuits house should SWEAR never to take the OATH since as he affirmed a time might come in which it would be necessary for their interests that they be under no such tye to an Heretical Prince § 5. The last Chapter of the following sheets gives a brief Account of some of their Artifices to MISREPRESENT the Doctrines of the REFORMED CHURCHES for every single instance I might have given some hundreds for I never yet saw any of their controversial writings which represent our Doctrines as they are but lest I should be charg'd with imitating such a bad Example I desire the Reader to take notice that the first Quotation out of Securis Evangelica is not quoted as a strict Misrepresentation but to shew how while they tell us that the People swallow all down greedily in the lump that Antecedents and Consequenâ—s go down with them all at once and therefore we ought not to draw odious Consequences from their Doctrine they are doing that which they blame us for and are licens'd to do it by the greatest Licensers of their Church now if their Rule be good then is Father Porter guilty of a notorious Misrepresentation in that instance if it be not good then they must acquit us from that imputation which with so much Noise and little Reason they have endeavoured to fix upon us Let them choose which side they think best § 6. Before I close the Preface I must take notice of one thing more which I have not touched in the Book it self it being my design there onely to prevent the danger of their usual manner of Address which would be of no force if our People did not give them a very great Advantage by running on all occasions into disputes with them I would not have them kept in ignorance FOR BLESSED BE GOD OVR CAVSE NEEDS NO ROMISH ARTS TO VPHOLD IT but it is an ill-thing to be making Experiments in Religion and for unskilfull and weak men to be trying their skill with those who by reason of their Sophistry will be too hard for them I cannot therefore but earnestly request the Reader to keep them if he fall into their company to plain Scripture which it is his duty to be well acquainted with or else to propose their Arguments to some learned Minister and I dare appeal to the judgment of any impartial Person on which side the truth lies I designed to have published some directions for the help of the unlearned by which they might be able to deal with the Missionaries but I am happily prevented by the Learned and
then made insomuch that Saint Ambrose is positive it is not of the flesh but of the Faith of Peter that this is said but that main stream of Antiquity runs this way to establish that exposition which St. Austin so plainly gives that the Church was established upon that Faith which Peter had then confessed when he said thou art Christ the Son of the living God nay so far are the Ancient Writers from being unanimous in this point that there are three several Opinions among them some and but very few affirming it was Peter's Person in the same sense as all the Apostles are called the Foundation of the Church others that it was himself CHRIST designed by the word ROCK and the third that which I have mention'd that it was the Faith then confessed by St. Peter which hath near threescore Fathers and Councils to authorise it where the first hath hardly six judge now on which side the NEMINE CONTRA DICENTE lies By this time I think it pretty evident that these Gentlemen are too much akin to those who are desirous to be Teachers of the Law but understand not or at least mind not what they say nor whereof they affirm which makes the Advice of one of themselves in another case very seasonable who tells us that this huffing humour is caution enough to any reasonable man to take care for if it be our duty to take nothing in Religion upon trust it is certainly of very great concern that we be suspicious in trusting those whose insincerity is so very great that they are not asham'd to publish the most palpable Vntruths what is to be expected then from their discourses with ignorant and unwary men especially in private where they are in no such danger of being expos'd CHAP. III. Of their Slanders WHen the Prophet Jeremiah was in the name of the Lord endeavouring to Reform the Corruptions of the JEWISH CHURCH he complains that his enemies said one to another Come and let us devise devices against him and let us smite him with the Tongue Report say they and we will report it which made him give that Caution and Advice to those who obeyed the Voice of the LORD by him Take ye heed every one of his Neighbour and trust ye not in any Brother for every Brother will utterly supplant and every Neighbour will walk in Slanders whose Case being so very like that of the REFORMED CHURCHES both in the work he undertook REFORMATION and in the opposition which was made to him by CALUMNIES and SLANDERS his Advice is as seasonable to us as to the Reforming Jews we having to deal with a politick sort of men who notwithstanding the WISE Solomon hath pronounc'd that he that uttereth Slanders is a fool establish it as a Maxim which they are very diligent observers of THAT IT IS NO MORTAL SIN TO CALVMNIATE FALSLY TO PRESERVE ONES HONOVR like the Hereticks St. Augustine speaks of who not being able to defend their Cause set themselves to revile their adversaries spreading the most false reports that seeing they cannot evade the force or obscure the evidence of the truth contained in the holy Scriptures they may render those who preach it odious by reporting all the evil of them they can invent I know this is a severe charge and will be look't upon even by many sober and impartial men as uncharitable but if they can either prove that the passages I relate are false or the Authors I cite who maintain it lawfull are forged and corrupted I am willing to lie under that imputation But on the other side if they prove to be truly cited I must desire of the Reader that their Character of religious men and their formal pretences to sincerity may be look't upon as indeed they are but a fair covering and cloak for their designs and I CHALLENGE the WHOLE BODY of them to prove one particular Instance or Citation false wherein I do not as Mr. Pulton in his Remarks charge those Slanders on them which are only the additions which a story gets by running from hand to hand for I know it is possible a man may relate things that are false without being guilty of the Slander by being deceived in the account which was given him of those matters but when men make it their business to defame and assert the lawfulness of doing it by false Reports I think it is no piece of injustice or want of Charity to call them SLANDERERS I am not insensible that the generality of men are apt to reason with themselves that surely Religious Men cannot be of such sear'd Consciences as to damn themselves by such malicious backbiting but in this case such a reflexion is ungrounded for their great Casuists defend it to be lawfull and are so far from being apprehensive of damnation that they justifie its practice as Father Dicastillo informs us I have maintained saith he and do still maintain that Calumny when it is used against a Calumniator though grounded on absolute Falsities is not for that any mortal sin either against Justice or Charity And to prove it I have brought a cloud of our Fathers to witness it and whole Vniversities consisting of them all whom I have consulted and among others the Reverend Father John Gans Confessor to the Emperor the Reverend Father Daniel Bastele Confessor to the Arch Duke Leopold Father Henry sometimes Preceptor to those two PRINCES All the publick and ordinary Professors of the Vniversity of Vienna all the Professors of the Vniversity of Grats all the Professors of the Vniversity of Prague of all whom I have at hand the Approbations of my opinion written and sign'd with their own hands Besides that I have on my side Father Pennalossa a Jesuite and Confessor to the King of Spain Father Pillecorolli a Jesuite and many others And when this was objected to the Jesuits by the Author of the Provincial Letters in his fifteenth Letter the Answerers of that Letter where they undertake to defend themselves instead of condemning add more Authority to Father Dicastillo's Position by citing several Authors besides those mentioned before in defence of it Neither do they deny the Doctrine of Caramuel who asserts that it is a probable opinion that it is not any mortal sin to caiumniate falsly to preserve ones honour for it is maintained by above TWENTY grave Doctors so that if this Doctrine be not probable there is hardly any such in all the body of Divinity And the same is asserted by the Theses of the Jesuits at Lovain Ann. 1645. in case of calumniating and imposing false Crimes to ruine their Credit who speak ill of us Besides these Vniverslties and Divines who teach the lawfulness of Calumnies and false Reports we find it among other Rules of the Jesuits that they should be sure to put this Doctrine in Practice even against those of their own Cummunion the
Father Drury a noted Jesuit â—reach in the Black Fryers Oct. 26. 1623. it pleas'd God that the Chamber where they were fell down and near a hundred Persons with the Preacher were kill'd out-right and many hurt yet had they the Confidence to affirm that this was a Protestant Assembly publishing a Book relating great Iudgments shewn on a â—ort of Protestant Hereticks by the fall of an house in Black Fryers London in which they were Assembled to hear a Geneva Lecture and Dr. Gouge tells us when and where this Relation was Printed in his Account of that sad Providence I might particularize in abundance of such passages but these are enough to let the Reader see that it was not without cause I gave him Caution in the first Chapter to suspect them for into what a maze of Errors doth he run who takes the Accounts given by those men of the Lives and Deaths of their Adversaries upon their Authority who give themselves such a Liberty to devise Fables and then report them This over politick and wise sort of men reach yet a note higher and knowing of how great Consequence the Revolt of any eminent Divine is are as liberal in their Reports that such and 〈◊〉 Persons are become Catholicks as they call them in which they have as little respect to truth as in the former Instances But they find by their experience that news make their impression upon their first reporting and that then if it be good it greatly raises up the Spirit and confirms the Mind especially of the Vulgar who easily believe all that their betters tell them that afterwards when such Stories happen to be controll'd mens spirits being cold are not so sensible as before and either little regard it or impute it to common error or uncertainty of things yea and that the good news comes to many mens ears who never hear of the Check it hath and at least it may serve their turn for some present Exploit as Merchants do by their news who finding some difficulty in accommodating their Affairs have in use to forge Letters or otherwise to raise bruits either of some prosperous success in Princes actions or of some great alteration in some kind of merchandise which may serve for that present instant to expedite their business Whether the Missionaries take this piece of Policy from them or are onely imitated by them is not material but that being secure of an evasion if their report be found untrue that they were mis-informed and knowing well that hundreds who hear the account they give are never undeceiv'd by wanting opportunities to discover its falsity they are no modester in this particular than in the other Slanders is most certain Thus in the year 1597. they spread a report throughout Germany Holland and Italy that Beza had renounced his Religion before the Senate and had exhorted the Magistrates to reconcile themselves to the Church of Rome and that by his example many Citizens of Geneva had done the like whereupon he was absolv'd by the Bishop of that City before his death by special Order from the Pope This we are assur'd by several French Priests was generally believed till Beza wrote several French and Latin Letters to convince the world of the Forgery and that he was yet alive and he died not till six years after Of the very same nature was the report of the Conversion of the Reverend Peter Du Moulin which even while he was Minister of the Protestant Church in Paris and writing against Rome was publickly preach'd in the City in many Pulpits and Benefices assigned to him they asserted in their Sermons that he was preparing to go to Rome which was so generally believ'd that the people flocked to a certain Church and there waited expecting to hear him make his Recantation Upon which he observes that such tricks are apt to astonish the people for a season and an untruth that was belieâ—â—d for three days hath done some effect And I am able to prove that a Minister now in England travelling in company with others of our Nation of the Protestant Religion and making a small journey alone to a neighbour City to that they then resided in the Priests came to several of his fellow Travellers assuring them that the said Minister was become a Romanist that he was publickly reconcil'd and therefore surely they would not refuse to relinquish that Religion which he whose Profession obliged him to defend it and who understood it best durst not continue in This report was affirmed with so much confidence that upon the Ministers return several persons of the Roman Catholick Religion congratulated him for his happy Change and one of the English was ready to follow his example if he had not in time discovered the cheat And it is no longer since than the Winter 1685. that a report went current through all the Countreys in England where there are many Romanists that Dr. Burnet was at Rome become a Papist and 〈◊〉 great Preferments were bestow'd upon him this hath been 〈◊〉 to me by several for a certain truth when I made 〈◊〉 enquiry those Gentlemen affirming that they had it from very good hands and had seen some Letters from foreign parts which confirm'd it But more immodest was the pretence of the Dean of Norwich's Conversion about two years since which several Priests affirm'd to a Servant Maid whom they knew to be a great admirer of that Divine urging â—er to follow the example of such a Learned Man who was so deservedly esteem'd by her which they reiterated with so much confidence and frequency that the Maid promised to turn likewise but being convinc't by an eminent Person who carried her to hear the Reverend Dean preach that she was abus'd by a notorious untruth she was confirm'd in her aversion to that Church which is upheld by such unworthy means And I cannot but observe the Providâ—â—ce of God in this matter that the Sermon which the Maid was carried to hear was levell'd against the Popish Errors whereby she was not onely inform'd of the abuse but instructed too But their greatest traffick is in the pretended Conversion of dying persons thus they would make a Romanist of dying Beza six years before his death and this blot they have endeavoured to cast upon the Memory of that excellent Prelate Bishop King Mr. Musket the Jesuite publishing a Book of his Conversion to Rome upon his death-bed intituled the Bishop of Londons Legacy This relation we are assured did mightily shock the peoples minds but it is wholly false his Son Dr. Henry King since Bishop of Chichester Preaching a Sermon for his Fathers Vindication at St. Pauls Cross Nov. 25. 1621. where he assures the world that the Bishop before his death received the Eucharist at the hands of his Chaplain Dr. Cluet together with his Wife his Children his Family Sir Henry Martin his Chancellor Mr. Philip King his
their part that they may catch at an occasion to make the world believe that they have forfeited that Protection his MAJESTY hath so graciously promised to afford them But our Loyalty hath a better Foundation than to be shaken by such malicious Arts it being founded upon the same Bottom with our Church the Apostles and Prophets and our Blessed Saviour the chief Corner-Stone of the building which all the Arts of men and Devils shall never overthrow not upon the will of man as theirs is Yet these Gentlemen think it sufficient to prove us disloyal to cull out a few Instances of men of rebellious Practices and this they charge upon the Church of England but with what justice let the world judge They cry out upon us as misrepresenters of their Doctrines because we affirm they teach the deposing power to rest both in the Pope and in the People and shew their Practices to accord with that Doctrine when ever they had occasion If this be to misrepresent what name may we call their dealing by who charge us with Rebellion when we freely condemn all such practices and that openly and that in our Religion there is no Rule to be found that prescribeth Rebellion nor any thing that dispenseth Subjects from the Oath of their Allegiance nor any of our Churches that receive that Doctrine When on their side several General Councils have asserted above TWENTY of their Popes pronounc'd that right inherent in them and I am able to prove that above three hundred of their Divines defend and plead for either the Popes or Peoples power to depose their Princes And though I know there are many in that Church who at least at present do heartily disown that Doctrine yet I will not stick to affirm that it hath all the Characters of an Article of Faith nor doth the dissent of so many hinder it from being so for there are multitudes among them who disown Transubstantiation others the Pope's Supremacy and several other points which others amongst them acknowledge to be Articles of their Faith. Neither will a late Author's plea that if it were such an Article the opposers of it would not scape without a brand of Heressie prove the contrary for we know that they have been often mark'd with that Brand and are once a year Excommunicated at Rome in the Bulla Coenae wherein all persons who hinder the Clergy in exercising their jurisdiction according to the decrees of the Council of Trent which France does all secular powers who call any Ecclesiastical Person to their Courts all Princes that lay any Taxes on their people without the Popes consent are declar'd Excommunicate and if they remain so a whole year they shall be declar'd Hereticks We are told by one of themselves that a Doctrine when inserted in the body of the Canon-Law becomes the Doctrine of their Church now in the Canon-Law we find it asserted that the Pope may absolve persons from their Oath of Allegiance that Pope Zachary deposed the K. of France not so much for his Crimes as that he was unfit to rule that we are absolv'd from all Oaths to an Excommunicate Person and it is our duty to yield no obedience to him That Clergymen ought not to swear Allegiance to their Prince and that they are exempt from the jurisdiction of the secular Magistrate And the Council of Trent hath confirmed all these Canons to the observation of which all their Priests and dignifyed men are sworn Let the world then judge whether this doctrine be an Article of Faith or no. But they have not onely taught and establish'd this treasonable Principle upon the same foundation with their other Doctrines but though often call'd upon to joyn in a denial of it and to condemn it as sinfull they could never be prevail'd on to clear themselves from such an odious Charge as hath been all along justly brought against them This was once thought the only way they had to justifie themselves by a person who hath since made himself a Member of their Church who tells us 'T is not sufficient for the well-meaning Papist to produce the Evidences of their Loyalty to the late King Charles the First I will grant their Behaviour to have been as loyal and as brave as they can desire but that saying of their Father Cress. is still running in my head that they may be dispenc'd with in their obedience to an Heretick Prince while the necessity of the times shall oblige them to it for that as another of them tells us is onely the effect of Christain Prudence but when once they shall get power to shake him off an Heretick is no lawfull King and consequently to rise against him is no Rebellion I should be glad therefore that they would follow the advice which was charitably given them by a Reverend Prelate of our Church namely that they would joyn in a publick act of disowning and detesting those Iesuitick Principles and subscribe to all Doctrines which deny the Pope's Authority of deposing Kings and releasing Subjects from their Oath of Allegiance And a late Author of their own Church judges this so necessary that he affirms NO CLERGY MAN OUGHT TO BE RECEIVED WITHOUT SUBSCRIBING THE CONDEMNATION OF THE BULL DE COENA DOMINI AND TILL THE MONKS AND JESUITS SHALL SOLEMNLY RENOUNCE AND CONDEMN IT IT WILL BE NO GREAT INJUSTICE DONE THEM TO ACCUSE THEM OF ATTEMPTING AGAINST THE LIVES OF KINGS If any man did suspect me to be an Arian and I knew it and could justifie my self from such cursed opinions and did it not the world would have reason to impute to me all the Consequences of this pernicious Heresie and the same Author tells us it is well known all the Monks and especially the Jesuits have by their fourth Vow obliged themselves to the Execution of this INFERNAL BVLL Nor is it onely by private men they have been exhorted to such a Renunciation of those Doctrines but in publick Courts of justice both in France and England It is indeed very usual with them to deny this Doctrine in discourse but that it is onely a formal denial when they really maintain it I offer to prove against them from their own Principles and Practices a plain instance whereof Mr. Sheldon gives us of his own knowledge who was one morning denied Absolution by a Sussex Jesuit because he would not acknowledge the Pope's Power to depose Princes and yet the very same day at dinner in the presâ—â—ce of several this Jesuit denied any such power in the Pope But the Doctors of Rome have been very carefull to provide against any such scrupulous persons as cannot perswade themselves of the lawfulness of this point and therefore have found out a way to discharge the Conscience from any guilt and set men at liberty to follow an opinion which they believe unsound upon which Principle there is no manner