THE NOVELTIE OF POPERIE Discovered and chieflie proven by Romanists out of themselves IER. 6. 16. Ask for the old path's where is the good way and walk therein TERT. L. 2. CONT. MARCION Omnino res Christiana sancta antiquitate constat nec ruinosa rectiùs reparabitur quà m si ad originem reducatur By William Guild D. D. and Preacher of Gods word ABERDENE Printed by IAMES BROWN 1656. TO The worshipfull and worthie of all respect DAVID WILKIE Dean of gild of Edinburgh Worshipfull Sir THere are two remarkable points of Policie which are used by the enemies of the Trueth the Papists for bearing down the same and for upholding the Dagon Diana of their idolatrous worship The first is the claime of venerable Antiquitie to be only on their side being herein like the Gibeonites who tho they dwelt near hand yet preteÌ„ded that they wer come froÌ„ a far or like the Pharisees who deryved the leaven of their new and corrupt doctrine from the verie chayre of Moses it self The second is the imputation of Noveltie to us and laying that foule aspersion on the faire face of trueth and of our profession as tho like Elihues confession of himself Iob 32. 6. the same were but young and of yesterday but theirs like Iobs other friends wâ—r onlie old or ancient which imputation indeed is no new tricke of enemies to the Trueth seing we see the same aspersion cast on our Saviours and his Apostles doctrine Act 17. 19. and whereby also Pagans laboured to make the Christian religioÌ„ at first odious to the world But we are content to be tryed by Antiquitie the old way as Ieremieâ—â—eakes 6. 16. being the only good way and as Tertullian sayeth cap. 4. ad praxeam That that onelie is trueth which is first and most ancient as that was the good seed onelie which was first sowen in the Masters field it being tares onlie which were sowen later by the envyous enemie Therfore we must distinguish between Antiquitie of Trueth which is like the Legitime first borne between Antiquitie of Errour which is later and of a bastard broode which made our Saviour to oppose to this Math. 5. it was said of old this other speech of his but from the beginning it was not so by which sort also of primitive antiquitie Ierusalem was somtimes a faithfull Citie as Isaiah calleth her 1. 21. but afterwards by the other sort became a Harlot as Ezekiel also speaketh 23. 43. waxed old in her adulteries even as Rome in likemanner was first famous for her faith throughout the world by holding the antiquitie of trueth But thereafter like Ierusalem making defection to errour and Idolatrie shee hath in likemaÌ„ner played the Harlot waxed old in her Adulteries Whose followers as Demetrius cryed up their great Diana of Ephesus or the Iewes the Temple of the Lord so tho they in likemanner cry up the holie RomaÌ„ Church Mother and Mistresse of all other yet justlie we may reply as is said of her Revel. 17. 5. That shee is a mother indeed but the Mother of harlots and abhominations of the earth and so old indeed but as Ezekiel speaketh old in adulteries and who because of the multitude of her whoredomes as the Prophet Nahum speaketh 3. 4. is the mistres of witch-crafts whose skirts the Lord hath discovered upon her face and will more and more shew the Nations her nakednes and the Kingdomes her shame who at last shall hate the Whore as Revel. 17. 16. make her dosolate eate her flesh and burne her with fire for strong is the Lord who judgeth her Howsoever therefore they upbraid us with Noveltie who are of that Apostaticke Church of Rome and synagogue of Antichrist yet it shall bâ—e seene God willing by this ensueing Treatise That 〈◊〉 Potiphars wife was onlie guiltie of that foull aspersion wherwith shee accused innoceÌ„t Ioseph so that they in likemanner are onelie guiltie of that aspersion of Noveltie which they impute to us and to our profession and that their doctrine is neither that first sowen seed in the Lords field by his Apostles whereanent Paul sayeth Gal. 1. 8. If an Angell from heaven should â—each any thing beside that which we haue taught let him be accuâ—sed nor yet consonaÌ„t thereunto but altogether disagreeable and dissonant therefra and like the supersemination mixture of the tares by the envyous enemie in the LORDS field Which paines I haue Dedicate to you Sir as a pryme lover of the Trueth and promover of learning to whom by Divine providenoe as the patronage of six Bursers of Philosophie in the Vniversitie of Saynt Andrewes Leonardin Colledge thereof now belongeth founded by that worthie and never to be foregotten Principall thereof Master ROBERT WILKIE of happie memorie So your godlie care and conscientious manageing therof with your loue to that place which oweth so much to you and to your surname hath moved mee in this barren age of encouragements to vertue and learning to single you out as fittest and most worthie to whom my pen and paines may contribute their best respects the increase of whose prosperitie and happinesse everie way I shall ever wish who am Sir Your's most affectionatlie devoted William Guild The Noveltie Of POPERIE CHAPTER I. That the most Auncient Religion is onelie true and Catholicke THERE can bee no better direction in matter of Religion than that of the Prophet saying Stand in the wayes and see and aske for the olde way which is the good way Neyther can there bee a greater prescription agaynst Hereticall pravitie than that of our SAVIOVR'S from the beginning it was not so Or can there bee a surer preservatiue agaynst the seduction of those who speake lies in Hypocrisie than that which is set downe by the Apostle S. IVDE to wit Earnestlie to contende for that Fayth which was once delyvered to the Saynctes to wit at the beginning and therefore who are sayde to bee built onelie as the Apostle speaketh vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets IESVS CHRIST Himselfe beeing the Corner-stone Therefore as it was PAVL'S Protestation to the CORINTHIANS That what hee receaved of the LORD that onelie hee delyvered vnto them So it was his precept to TIMOTHIE and TITVS To holde fast that forme of sound doctrine and word of Fayth which they had beene taught and had heard of him It was the primitiue Churcheâ— practise in lyke-manner next to these Apostolicall tymes as witnesseth Lyrinensis not to delyver their owne inventions to posteritie but to holde fast onelie that which they receaved from their Predecessoures so that as anie one more flowrished in Religion sayeth hee the more hee with-stood ever anie newe inventions Whence it is that the Church was called a diligent and warie preserver of these doctrines of Fayth which were concredit vnto her without changing anie thing ever therein without diminishing therefrae or adding anie thing thereto sayeth the same Father
Her teachers venting that which was concredit to them not invented by them which they receaved not excogitate and not anie brood of their owne ingyne but the bread of heavenlie doctrine which is not of private vsurpation but of publicke deliverie or traditioÌ„ brought to them not broached by them wherein they should not bee Authors but keepers not instituters but observers not leaders but followers teaching the same thinges to others by word which themselues had from the Apostles by WRIT So that tho they speake after a new manner of speaking or expression yet they should speake no new thing for matter observing that as in the growth of our bodies there is no increase of new members in number but augmentation of the same in measure So in the Churches knowledge that the growth there-of should bee in the same doctrine of Fayth alreadie delyvered but no new Article of doctrine afterward to bee broached For preventing whereof therefore did that holie Apostle lyke BONARGI or a sonne of Thunder throwe that dreadfull Thunderbolt agaynst all Novelists saying Tho we or an Angell from Heaven preach vnto you {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} beside that which wee haue preached let him bee accursed So that it did not suffice sayeth Lyriâ—ensis for keeping sound that doctrine of Fayth which was once delivered to make mention of man altho it were peter Andrew Iohn or all the companie of the Apostles except that hee comprehended in lyke-manner the verie excellencie of Angelicall powers And which speach of the Apostles Augustine explayneth thus If wee or an Angell from Heaven preach vnto you anie thing concerning Fayth and Lyfe besides that which yee haue receaved in the Legall and Evangelicall Scriptures sayeth hee let him bee accursed limiting so what the Apostle preached in the matter of Fayth or manners within the pale of the written word and leaving no place therein to vnwritten traditions Thus it beeing cleare that the true Religion is onelie most Ancient and that the most Ancient Religion lykewyse is onelie most true as having it whole Origen from CHRIST and His Apostles and from that warrand of holie Scripture which they haue left behinde them which made Tertullâ—an to say Doubtlesse that is to bee helde sayeth hee which the Church hath receaved from the Apostles and the Apostles from CHRIST and CHRIST hath receaved from GOD It followeth necessarilie that that Religion or Doctrine what-so-ever that wanteth this Antiquitie and is of later invention is neither true nor Catholicke The first propertie of Catholicisme beeing that of time to wit which hath beene ever and from the beginning taught in the Church therefore sayeth the fore-named Vincentius Lyrinensis In the Catholicke Church a speciall care must bee had that wee holde that which was ever everie where and by all believed so that that Doctrine which is deficient in the verie first poynt to wit the vniversalitie of tyme and was not semper or ever in GOD'S Church but whereof it may bee sayde as our Saviour sayeth of the Iewish Bills of Divorce From the beginning it was not so the same is no wayes sound and Catholicke Doctrine but lyke that later Supersemination of Tares after the good Seede in the LORD'S Field neyther is anie person who professeth the same verus genuinus Catholicus a true and vpright Catholicke but on the contrarie a giddie and prophane Novelist whose lust as it were of prophane and new hatcht Curiositie sayeth the same Father can not contayne it selfe within the chaste limites of sacred and vncorrupt Antiquite CHAPT. II. The Noveltie of Poperie instanced in 14 particular poyntes of Erronious Doctrine THis challenge then of Noveltie and consequentlie of an vnjust vsurpation of the name of Catholickes wee justlie lay to the charge of the Romanistes of these tymes which the better that wee may cleare and confirme wee shall instance the same first in 14 particular poyntes of Doctrine as making vp a sufficient Dittie the Noveltie where-of severallie next shall bee God willing proven by the witnessing of their owne mouthes vt ex ore suo judicetur servus nequam or by the vndenyable recordes of venerable Antiquitie The Poynts are these that follow THat beside Scripture there are sundry doctrinall vnwritten traditions which men are bouÌ„d no lesse to reverence and belieue than GOD'S written Word and as Articles of Fayth vnder payne of damnation That people should not bee permitted to reade the holie Scriptures That beside CHRIST the Church is also built vpon the Bishop of Rome as S. Peter's successour so that hee is both the foundation and head there-of as vniversall Bishop That by vertue of the same prerogatiue hee is over and aboue all the members there-of even in temporall thinges That Prayer in the Church should or may bee in an vnknowne Tongue That beside prayer to GOD wee may lawfullie lyke-wyse pray both to Sayncts and Angels That beside the worshipping of GOD wee may also worship Images Reliques and such lyke with a Religious Adoration That beside CHRIST'S meriting our good workes are also meritorious causes of the Kingdome of Heaven so that GOD were vnjust if for their condignitie Hee bestowed not the same vpon vs That beside Hell and Heaven there is a third place also after death for the soules in Purgatorie That beside CHRIST'S satisfaction there are also satisfactions of the Saynctes whereof with the sufferings of CHRIST is made vp the Churches Treasure of indulgences That beside Baprisme and the LORD'S Supper there are also fiue other Sacramentes of the Gospell properlie so called That the Bodie and Blood of CHRIST is not onelie truelie and reallie present in the Sacrament of the Supper but lykewyse that the verie visible Elements are transubstantiate into the verie substance of CHRISTS Bodie and Blood That the Cup in the Communion should not bee permitted or given to the people That beside CHRIST'S Sacrifice of Himselfe once vpon the Crosse forever there is also a daylie proper propitiatorie and reall sacrificing of Him vpon the Altar for the quicke and the dead and this is the sacrifice of the Masse CHAPT. III. Of the Noveltie then first of the doctrine of vnwritten traditions whereon the mayne bodie of Poperie is built altogether THE first vrgers then of vnwritten Traditions in the Christian Church wee finde to haue beene some Heretickes who arose in IRENEVS dayes Anno 180 of whom hee wryteth thus When they are convinced by the Scriptures they fall out into the accusation of the Scriptures sayth hee as if they were not rightlie alleadged or of authoritie of themselues and because they are ambiguouslie set downe and that the trueth can not bee found out of them by those who knoweth not Tradition which was not delyvered by writ but by word for which cause Paull himselfe sayde Wee speake wisedome amongst these that are perfect In which wordes is not onelie set downe what Armour onelie the Orthodox
it is most evident that GOD is to bee prayed vnto sayeth hee yea GOD onelie as the authour of all good giftes 11. Wee say that after this lyâ—e tâ—ere is Heaven prepared for the godlie who die in the LORD and Hell fo the wicked who die not in the LORD Bell. l. 1. de Purg. c. 12. §. resp ad liâ—eram and so sayeth BELLARMINE Calling the South whereinto the tree is sayde to fall in ECCLESIASTES Hâ—aven and by the North that Hell is vnderstood 12. Last of all in a word wee belieue the holie Trinitie and whole Articles of the Creede which contayne the whole summe of the Christian fayth so that heere by the Antiquitie of our doctrine and Religion and in all the fore-named positiue poynts thereof may bee cleaâ—lie seene beside which what-so-ever doctrines of fayth since haue beene vented and invented in Popeâ—ie as the lâ—tter supersemination of Tares is branded with that Apostolicall Anathema and is to bee rejected Therefore for our part wee say with Vincentius Lyrinensis Let that vessell of election to wit PAVLL crye and that teacher of the Nations and that trumpet of the Apostles that preacher of the World and who had knowledge of the verie Heavens Let him I say crye and crye over and over agayne and vnto all men and ever and everie where let him by his letters proclayme If anie man shall teach anie doctrine of fayth which is new let him bee accursed AN ANSWERE Then 1. to that vsuall and customable Question Whereby the Romanistes aske vs where was our Religion before Luther HAving therefore ininstanced the positiue poynts of our doctrine which are the verie foundamentall poyntes of Christian Religion helde ever and mayntayned as truethes in the verie bosome of the Romane Church even vnto this day as is cleare by their former confessions wee see how easie it is to answere to their vulgar question whereby they aske where was our Religion before Luther Indeede as that woman descrybed in the REVELATION Thorow the furie and crueltie of that red Dragon was driven for aâ—time into the Wildernesse which the Râ—emistes themselues expone to bee the true Churches lurking for a season in time of persecution so this hath beene the condition of the professoures of the trueth sundrie tymes to bee brought to a verie few number and by persecution made lyke-wyse to lurke in the tyme of errouâ—es pâ—evayling Hierâ— dialogadvâ— which wee may see clearlie in that tyme whereof S. IEROME speaketh when the whole world groaned Luciferianos Athanasius ad so litariaÌ„ vitam ageÌ„tes and wondred that it was turned Arrian and of which tyme Athanasius thus complaineth What Church now doeth freelie worship sayeth hee seeing if it bee holie and true it lyeth vnder manie dangers and if there bee in anie place faythfull servantes of CHRIST as there bee yet they are hid Stapleton l. 2. princip. doâ—ctrina lium c 18. Pererius in Dan. l 15. in 〈◊〉 veniet teÌ„pus Abbas in Revel. â— 2. lyke that great Prophet ELIAS So that the profession of the Orthodoxe fayth sayeth Stapleton was then but with a few and those lyke-wyse living in exyle As also the verie Romanistes themselues giue vs to vnderstand that the same shall bee the estate of the true Church in the time of their pretended Antichrist to wit that then the true worship sayeth their Iesuit Pereriuâ— shall bee onelie in private and the whole Congregation of of the godlie shall bee hid sayth Ioachim Abbas For so shall the Elect bee wyse vnto themselues that they shall not presume to practise openlie because that darknesse shall prevayle and as the Rhemistes affirme Rhem annot in 2. Thess. 2. 3. The externall â—ate of the Romane Church and publicke intercourse of the saythâ—ull with it is lyke to ceasse and the communion of Christians with the fame shall bee onelie in heart say they and their worship in private Thereâ—ore what was the estate of true Religion and the proâ—essoures thereof in the time of Arrianisme prevayling or to bee â—n the tyme of their pretended Antichrists prevayling it were â—ot absurde for vs to say that the â—ame was the estate of true Religion and professoures thereof in the tyme of the prevayling of Poperie which wee count Antithristianisme But yet to come nearer them in answering to this question wee say that as it is easie to answere fit were asked in lyke-manner Where were GOD'S people before they came out of BABELL Revel 18. 4â— by replying thus that they were even in BABELL it selfe even so our Religion which consisteth in the mayne positiue poyntes forenamed and wherein wee agree the same was in the bosome of the Romane Church it selfe as hath beene showne helde by the Doctoures thereof and preached and preserved by them in the verie tyme of erroures greatest prevayling the same beeing in their mouthes as the vncorrupted text of the Law and sound doctrine of the Iewish religion in manie thinges conforme thereto was in the mouthes of the Scrybes and Pharisees who in that respect were sayde to sit in Moses Chayre and the people were commanded by our SAVIOVR to heare them But in so farre as those Pharisees lyke the Romanistes joyned their owne traditions to the Law of GOD teaching them for doctrines and put false Glosses vpon the Law it selfe in that respect our SAVIOVR declared â—â—em to be blinde guydes and wilâ—â—d all men to beware of the leaven â—f their false doctrine Agayne if they aske in these â—oyntes wheerein wee disagree â—nd oppose them where was our â—eligion before Luther wee anâ—were that the same was proâ—â—ssed taught and mayntayned â—y the Romane Church her selfe â— her purer integritie and by the â—â—ncient Fathers both in the â—reeke and Latine Church and â—anie of their owne latter Doâ—oures who lived manie hunâ—reth yeares long before Luâ—â—er The particular places are noted and the words set down after as 1. That the Bookes of APORYPHA are not Canoniâ—kâ—â—cripture not onelie doeth Athaâ—asius Hilarie Ruffinus and â—amascen declare bâ—t also S. â—rome and with him Lyra telleth â—s That the whole Church in â—hose tymes helde so long before â—uther 2. That all doctrines of fayth â—nd manners necessarie to salvation are contayned in Scripture the particular poynts of doctrine handled orderlie as they lye in the first part of this Treatise and in the witnes sing of Antiquitie subjâ—yned in everie poynt to the without vnwritten traditions Athanasius and Augustine with dyverse others haue taught long before Luther 3. That the Scripture is plaine in all thinges necessarie to salvation and therefore should bee read by the people and nowayes with-holden from them Augustine Chrysostome Theodoret with sundrie others mayntayned this long before Luther 4. That the true Church or number of Orthodox professours hath beene redacted sometymes to a verie few who haue beene made to lurke for a tyme because of cruell persecution S. Ierome Ambrose and Athanasius haue demonstrate long before
trueth and her former estate when shee was once the faythfull Citie it beeing our duetie as sayeth Lyrinensis to receaue true teachers with the Church but not with false teachers in the Church to desert the true fayth of the Church and embrace Novelties For if anie man follow him sayeth Ignatius who haue departed form the trueth hee shall never inherite the Kingdome of GOD and hee who departeth not from a teacher of lies shall bee condemned to Hell fire for neyther must wee depart from them who are godlie teachers nor must wee haue fellowship with these who are wicked Let her therefore with Ephesus returne to her first loue renounce her Whoredomes quyte her Erroures reject her Novelâ—ies forsake her Idolatries and from Babell turne Bethâ—ll else wee solemnlie protest that wee would haue cured Babell but shee would not and as LYRINâ—Nâ—IS speaketh That our care is heereby to reduce the seduced multitude of the woâ—ld stricken with the cruell tempest of repentiue Heresie from new broached errour to the auncient fayth from the phrenesie of Noveltie to their wonâ—ed health and from the blindnesse of former darknesse to the primitiue light of most sacred Trueth that so GOD may haue 〈◊〉 ie the Church her luster Satan an over-throwe BABELL a downe-fall the Saynctes may haue joye and Veritie the victorie AMEN Glorie to Him who giveth abilitie to the faynt increaseth strength in them who haue no might ISAIAH 40. 29. AN APPENDIX To this Treatise Of the Noveltie of Poperie Clearlie showing next The antiquitie of the Protestant Religion HAving thus singled out Poperie from the profession of true Christian Religion as Chaffe from the Corne or Popple rather from the good Wheat and having showne the Noveltie thereof as of a disease which hath overtaken a bodie which was sound and healthfull at first but lyke BABELL had neede of cure at last it will not bee amisse to set downe the points of the true Christian Religion which is that onlie Auncient Catholicke and Apostolicke Fayth Which was once sayeth S. IVDE delyvered to the Saynctes and which in all the positiue poyntes thereof wee at this day contende for and professe and wherein also our verie adversaries doe not dissent from vs Which thing doeth serue 1. to show the great advantage that wee haue of them heerein to wit that what are the positiue poynts of our Religion therein they agree with vs and cannot say but the same is the trueth but in all the former poyntes of Poperie which they doe professe wee justlie disagree from them because of the proven Noveltie thereof and disagreement from the Word of GOD Next this shall serue to answere two ordinarie and customable questions of theirs to wit 1. whereby they aske where was our Religion befor Luther and 2. what became of the soules of our fore-fathers who dyed before the reformation First then this Catholicke antiquitie of our doctrine wee shall proue GOD willing by the playne inâ—uction onelie of the positiue poyntes thereof wherein as is sayde our verie Adversaries the Romanists themselues doe agree First therefore concerning the Scriptures wee say according to Scripture that they are the sure and safe rule of fayth and so sayeth Bellarmine Bell. l. 1. de verbâ— c. 2. with vs The Scripture is the rule of our fayth most sure and most safe sayeth hee 2. Wee say that all doctrines of fayth and manners which are simplie necessarie for all men are playnlie set downe in Scripture and so doeth Bellarmine professe Bell. l. 4. de verbo c. 11. vltimo that as this was the doctrine of Augustine so it is true of the doctrines of fayth sayeth hee which are simplie necessarie for all men to salvation 3. Next to the word to come to the Sacramentes wee say that Baptisme and the LORD'S Supper are the two proper Sacramentes instituted by CHRIST vnto our salvation Bell. l. 2. de effectâ— sacrâ— c. 24â— and this Bellarmine also confesseth saying Of Baptisme and the LORD'S Supper there is no question at all 4. Wee say that in the Lords Supper the bodie and blood of CHRIST is present not onelie in a signe or figure but truelie and reallie yet spirituallie and mysticallie Bell. l. â— de Euchar c. 20. §. 30. vegula and so doeth Bellarmine confesse as Bernard teacheth in his sermon of S. Martine where hee sayeth That in the Sacrament is exâ—ibite vnto vs the true substance of Christs flesh but yet spirituallie not carnallie sayth he 5. From the word and Sacraments to come to the Church we say that the Rocke whereon the same is built Bell. l. 1. de Rom. pont â— 10. is CHRIST and so granteth Bellarmine saying No man doubteth but Christ is that Rocke 6. As Hee is the Rocke and Foundation wee say in lyke-manner that Hee is the onelie Head and King of His Church and so sayeth Bellarmine Bell l. 2. de Rom. pont c. 31. Onelie Christ is the head of all the Churches and all others vnder Him are not heads nor Princes thereof 7. As Hee is onelie King so is Hee the high Priest thereof whose righteousnesse and sufferinges in our justification is made ours so that wee may offer vp the same vnto the Father as ours for the remission of our sinnes and so sayeth Bellarmine That Christ is called our righteousnesse Bell. l. 2 de â—ustif â— 10. bâ—cause Hee hath satisfied the Father for vs and so gifteth vnto vs 〈◊〉 satisfaction sayeth hee and communicateth it to vs when Hee justifieth vs that it may bee called our satisfaction and righteousnesse and this way it is not absurde for anie man to say that Christs righteousnesse and merites are imputed to vs sayeth hee seeing they are so given and applyed to vs as if wee our selues had made satisfaction to GOD 8 Wee say that good workes are necessarie to salvation as Bellarmine acknowledgeth Bell. l. 4. de justif. c. 1. saying Calâ—in and Luther doe teach That good workes are to bee done and in some sort are necessarie ††Ephes. 2. 10. seeing they affirme that it is not true fayth which bringeth not foorth good workes and so saye the Romanistes jumping heerein with vs 9. Yet notwithstanding that wee affirme them to bee necessarie wee saye That to obtayne salvation it is the onelie safe way to put our whole confidence in the onelie mercie of GOD and merites of CHRIST onelie and so sayeth Bellarmine For the vncertayntie of our owne righteousnesse Bell l. 5. de â—ustif c. 7. and danger of vaine glorie sayeth hee it is safest to repose our whole confidence in the onelie mercie and free favour of GOD 10. Lyke-wyse for religious worship wee say that the holie Trinitie is to bee so worshipped and to GOD onelie wee should pray as the authour and giver of all good thinges Bell. l. 1. de Sâ—nct c. 20. and so sayeth Bellarmine That this most divyne excellencie is to bee worshipped and