swayeth in Europe Asia Africa and America where one and the same belief is embraced for one and the same motive Gods Revelation proposed by the Church The third part is lawfully sent This agreeth to the said Company for in that company No man clarifieth himself but one receiveth power from another the Subdeacon Deacon Priest from the Bishop the Bishop from the cheif Bishop or Pope The fourth part is Able to shew c. This a greeth to the said Company for in that company an exact succession of power and doctrine is faithfully and with clearness deduced Writers of severall ages and Nations having put forth and published to the view of the world authentick schemes Catalogues of Popes Coccius Gualterius Bishops Pastours succeding each other from Christ and the Apostles and from time to time layd open their Doctrine The fifth part is without the least interruption And this agreeth with the said Company for in that Company a Continual pure stream of power and Doctrine is demonstrated by the said writers to have been ever sweetly gliding from its head Christ and in its proper Channell Bishops and Pastours and not any moment of time can be pointed at in which its course was stopped from beating down infidelity and imbalming true Belieuers with the fragrant odours of vertve and Religion 2. 1. The second Proof is that Company composeth and maketh up the true Catholick Church which doth acknowledg and embrace a power generally claimed and Doctrine generally professed by the Apostles and Christians ever since But the said Company acknowledgeth and embraceth a power generally claymed and a Doctrine generally professed by the Apostles and Christians ever since Therefore that composeth and maketh up the true Catholick Church The first Proposition is undeniable in asmuch as Apostolicall power and Doctrine where communion is not wanting are sure Evidences of the true Catholick Church The second Proposition I shall sufficiently clear by instancing the beginning and after-rising of those Tenets which Sectaries hold against Catholicks by she wing how the learned of Catholicks who were as the mouth pen of the rest opposed the said Tenets as new and never heard of before lastly by producing Councells witnessing and confirming the Orthodoxness of this mouth and pen and branding the contrary for heresies Now forasmuch as it is easier to evidence our Fathers acts than our Grandfathers or great Grandfathers c I resolve to take this way making my first instance in the last so upwards to the Apostles When Calvin 1534. changed the Hierarchie of the Church into Presbyterie framed a spirituall presence of Christs body in the Eucharists establisht a perpetuity in the Possession of Grace destroyed all possibility of keeping the Commandments Christians generally professed as the said Company doth that their Commission was to inculcate that the Government of the Church was instituted by Christ Hierarchicall and not to be altered that Christs presence in the Eucharist was corporall that grace once had might be lost by sinne that keeping of the Commandments was the way to Salvation therefore as possible as salvation its self Staphilus Lindanus Hosius Claudius de Xaintes Morus conc Trident. when Zuinglius 1525. set up a signe and figure in the place of Christs body Christians generally professed as the said Company doth that their Commission was to inculcate that the Body of Christ was truly and really in the Eucharist Lindanus Fleidan Luth. conc Trid. When Luther 1517 reviled the Pope calling him Antichrist impugned the Authority of Generall Councells Grace from the Sacraments Mass taught impanature ubiquity of Christs Body Christians generally professed as the said Company doth that their Commission was to inculcate that the Pope was Christs Vicar appointed to Rule his flock That Generall Councells in their Canonicall decrees were to be obeyed That the Sacraments did confer grace to all that received them worthily that Mass was an holy sacrifice instituted by Christ for a Commemoration of his Death and Passion for exhibition of soveraign honour to his Eternall father for propitiation to the living and dead That ubiquity was proper to the Godhead Echius Cochlaeus Alphonsus Acastro Fisherus the vniversality of Collen Louen Paris Henrie the 8th Conc. Trident When Valdesius 1170 inveighed against Indulgences and Purgatory Christians generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate that the Catholique Church had power to forgive not onely the fault or guilt of sinne but likewise the pain and punishment due for the same That out of this world there was a place of satisfaction for such as departed in grace Antoninus Claudius Cossiodus Conc. Florent Trident. When Photius with other greekes 1049 opposed the Popes supremacy Christians generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate That the Pope was the supream Bishop and head of the Church Rabanus Haym Antoninus Conc. Florent Conc. Constant 8 When Berengarius 104. grew to that impudence as to out Christ quite the Eucharist Christians generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate That Christs Body was truely and realy there Lanfranc Guitmundus Blondus Conc. Lugdunense When Albanenses 796. questioned extreme unction Christiás generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate that extreme unction was one of the seaven Sacraments instituted by Christ Bede Conc. Worm When Jacobus 584 took away Confession Christians generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate that Confession of sinns to a Preist rightly impowered was availeable and necessary Saint Gregory Cassiodorus Conc. Trident When Sonaras 495 despised Images Christians generally professed as the said Company doth that their Commission was to inculcate that as to other things relating to God and his saints so also to Images a certain degree of respect and reverence was due Saint Hier. Theodor Conc. 2. Nic. When Vigilantius 424. cried down holy Reliques and prayer to Saints Christians generally professed as the said Company doth that their Commission was to inculcate that respect to holy things and prayer to Saints was both laudable and beneficiall Saint Epiphan Saint Aug. Saint Hier. Saint Greg. Niss Conc. Constant Conc. Laodi when Pelagius 405 denied originall sinne and the necessity of Baptisme Christians generally professed as the said Company doth That their Commission was to inculcate that since the fall of Adam all were conceived in originall sinne and that to remove it Baptisme was requisite Saint August Saint Gregory Naz. Nisse Saint Basil Theodoret Saint Ambr. Saint Hier. Saint John Conc. Milev When Jovinian 395 made sinns all alike greivous had the same esteem of Marriage and virginity Christians generally professed as the said Company doth that their Commission was to inculcate That sinns according to their more or less repugnancy to reason were greater some than other that how be it Marriage was good and honourable yet that virginity was
was truly and infallibly coucht on the sacred leaves of the Bible so assisting and strengthening his Church she becomes in all matters concerning faith powerfull and infallible God is not tyed to this or tother he is free to worke his wonders where when and to whom he pleaseth Neither is there any disproportion betwixt men thus assisted and infallibility it being not necessary for the production of a supernaturall effect that every part of the total cause be supernatural for it is visible to the eye that God frequently makes use of secondary causes in the production of supernaturall effects in that of faith Rom. 10. of hearing and preaching in that of Grace Mat. 18 19 of Elements and words in that of the blind man Jo. 6. of spittle and earth CHAP. 6. Of the possibilitie of keeping the Commandements 1 NOt onely that it is possible to keep the Commandements but also that divers have kept them is a truth so cleerly delivered both in the old and new Testament that there is cause to wonder any can make question thereof In the old Moses speaking of the Commandments sayes Deut. 30. They are not above but very near us in our Mouths in our hearts to doe them Noe Ezekias Josias Josaphat Asa Gen. 6. 4 Kings 18. 2 Paral. 30. 4 Kings 22. 1 Paral. 15 2 Paral. 20. Tob. 2. Iob 1.17 2 Kings 7. 3 Kings 9. Luke 2. Mat. 11.21 Luke 1. Joacham Tobias Job kept them In the New Christ is no lesse plain My yoke is sweet my burden light Simeon St John the Baptist Zacharias Elizabeth the B. Virgin kept them Gods conditional promises to David and his Posterity could be termed no better than Jeers unlesse the commandements were possible To what purpose so much perswasion in Books and Pulpits to live well if the Commandements be impossible is living well any other than keeping of the Commandements It is assuredly as rid culous as impious to tearm him a good liver that steales murthers and commits adultery c. The justness of lawes that inflict severe punishments vpon the breakers of the Commandements are not at all consistent with the impossibility of keeping them Necessity is a good and forcible excuse against the strongest charge The very light of Reason giveth testimonie to the Commandements possibility they being all grounded upon Reason and suited to her bent and inclination The wickedest man alive cannot say with truth that he breaketh any Commandment without some secret check of conscience 2. To alledge that God onely requires mans indeavour is repugnant to Christs express words which are not Mat. 19. If thou wilt come to heaven endeavour to keep but keep the Commandements Many a good endeavour as many a good purpose burns in Hell Heaven being the reward of doing not of endeavouring Besides it is equally unnaturall to endeavour impossibilityes and to desire things unknown Who could Choose but smile to see one leap and skip as ayming to soar fly in the Ayr knowing it to be possible onely for Birds that are fitted with wings and feathers for the purpose Indeed to point at any particular that doth keep the Commandements is hard no man knowing Eccles 9. whether he be worthy of love or hatred But that all in generall may keep them Christ himselfe assures it 2. Tim 2. Willing all to be saved God wills nothing impossible and he that wills the end wills the meanes 3. True it is neither Men nor Angells can love God as he is loveable that 's a perfection God onely is capable of nevertheless it is in the power both of Angells and Men to love God so far forth as the capacity of their condition reacheth which though it be a perfection of a lower degree yeâ— it is sufficient to denominate and render the subject it is in perfect And even this I confess is aâ— effect which Gods grace hathâ— chief hand in but that is no Baâ— for Man having his share to Grace and Nature are not inconsistent yea Grace supporteth nay bettereth Nature they may then joyn and endeavour together as two of unequall strength drawing a boat one draweth more but yet both draw The part Grace acts in the working of salvation is to enlighten the understanding move and enable the Will The part Man acts is to comply with Grace Cor. 6.1 to yield and consent to her good Motions Apocj 3.20 Wherefore salvation is the work not of Grace alone nor of man alone but of Grace and Man joyning hand and heart together St Austin Tom. 10. Serm. 15. de verb. Apost post med speakes truth He that made you without you will not justifie you without you CHAP. 7. Of Religion 1 SUch is the dread of Gods awfull Majesty imprinted in Man that the most bararous people deem it a duty to set apart some time to worship him in the light of reason teaching that a certain return of honour and veneration is due from the effect to its cause whereby to express subjection gratitude and thankfullness and albeit impiety wants not Proselites that rejecting the Deity refuse to do him homage their folly is to be imputed to lack of grace and not oâ— the said light as appeares by readiness observeable in them to suffer for their opinion If thâ— other world yield no Punisher nâ— Rewarder no Hell nor Heaven it is madness to fear and vain prodigality to give away life the chief good and best flower of natures garden 2. This naturall propension to praise and magnify God begets religious acts and Religious acts that great moral vertue called Religion but Religion in a more common acception consists in Beliefe not humane grounded upon Reason but divine relying on the Churches Authoritie and the assistance of the holy Ghost It is the doctrine of Christ delivered by himself in plain and express terms Mar. 16. All power is given to me in heaven and in earth goe ye therefore and preach the Gospell unto all nations hee that believeth shall be saved he that believeth not shall be condemned Jo. 14. I will send unto you the holy Ghost who shall teach you all Truth Christ here speakes to the Apostles the Church giveth power to preach the Gospell to the Apostles the Church promiseth salvation to Believers of the Apostles the Church threatens damnation to unbelievers of the Apostles the Church lastly that there may be no pretence for disobedience he assureth to the Apostles the Church a peculiar assistance of the holy Ghost whose proper effect is to keep power from excess and failing 3. Not a word of or to Reason what colour then for attributing so much to Reason and so little to the Church as to deny Christ to have intrusted her with his Truth as if the Gospell were not Christs truth or Christs impowering the Church to preach the Gospell meant any other thing than to intrust her with his truth Had Reason the preheminence of Belief St Paul would not have subjected Reason unto Belief bidding all
to the contrary inconsistent with these and consequently agreeable to all sorts of Governments that State or Common-wealth that refuses to protect and defend them from violence and oppression appeares clearely wanting to its interest in not complying with Prudence and Iuffice which bid to love and cherish all safe and fast subjects O but Catholiques have a dependance on the Pope who is a forraign Prince they haue so but not as he is a temporall Prince for so he is confined within certain territories of Italy and France their relation to him is onely as hee is their common spirituall Father whose office being to keep off Rebellion and to teach obedience cannot endanger the least St Peter and the rest of the Apostles were forreigners to severall Provinces the interest of Christ brought them to yet in regard their power was spirituall the Civill Magistrate had no cause to fear but rather to rejoyce as at a Good drawing towards them God having given the spirituall power as the soul to the body for comfort and support not for hurt or anoyance what say you then to the practise of severall Popes I say that Popes may prevaricate and exceed their Commission and in case they doe that they are to stand by themselves I strange cases are maintained by some which seem to induce to murder theft lying cases appertain not to religion but to action whose rule is reason and not revelation for God hath not revealed all belonging to charitie as he hath in relation to Faith Now reason being in most men weak and by ast by passion or interest what cause is there so much to wonder at the strangeness of conclusions resulting thereof the worst can be inferred hence is that sectaries seem void of reason that make reason the rule of their belief which is so defective and uncertain in the reach even of naturall and morall truths Then the stewes are allowed in severall places A clear mistake they are onely permitted that is not hindred or punisht for no Catholicke approves of Whoredome as an act well done which is the proper signification of allowing now not to hinder or not to punish some kind of sinne at least wise in certain causes is not ill or if it be how can God bee good who permitts all manner of sinne Nay the forbearance to is but from violence there being all the sweet and charitable meanes used to take off of that lew'd way as pious exhortations godly sermons offers of entertainment in Religious houses founded of purpose for such as repent lastly an assurance of an unchristian like buriall to those that Dye impenitent Further the Inquisition admits of no perswasion but her own The Inquisition hath lesse relation to religion than cases being a meer peice of State Policy as is apparant in France and Germany where Catholicke Religion bearing the sway the Inquisition is not at all owned Protestants enjoying in both places as much freedome of Conscience as Catholickes themselves At least wise it is not to be denied that the Romish Religion allowes of Breaking of faith with sectaries upon which accompt outrages have been committed Most false she abhominates all such doctrine as destructive to fidelity which she magnifies as the ground of Iustice Whence then this Monster Marry from ill composure weak understanding depraved will crooked nature prompts to ill weak understanding conceives amisse depraved will receiving erronious judgment for good and currant musters her forces stirs up Anger and hatred which heightned trample under foot all regard of Religion vertue and transports to disorder and mischief so that ill composure weak understanding depraved will wild passions and not Religion were the guilty let them suffer and not those who in order to their Religion hate all barbarousness in opinion keep under and curb unruly naughty passions It were a strang peice of Iustice to punish equally flyers and followers of Theft and Murther Scripture is express for every one to abide the shame of his own sinne wherefore the concurrence seemes generall to free and keep inocency from molestation and trouble CHAP. 10 Of the truth of the Roman Catholique Religion 1 I Strange at the Partiality inconsequence of those who Justify the Enemies of the Roman Catholique Religion whiles they are in a readiness to condemne of folly perversness such as should goe about to call in question the conquest of England by William the Conquerour I say I strange at it in as much as the evidence of the conquest comes farre short of the evidence of the Roman Catholique Religion that amounting onely to an attestation from the oral tradition and history of England whereas this besides the oral tradition and history of England hath the like testimony of France Spain Italy Germany Greece Asia and Affrica all unanimously witnessing that the Roman Catholick Religion was first taught and delivered by Christ as may appear to any that will lay aside prejudice make a through enquiry of the truth Whence resulteth that if it be ridiculous and absurd to question the conquest much more is it repugnant to reason to doubt of the Roman Catholique Religion Notwithstanding the Conquest is preferred by some as more evident in regard it was never questioned the Roman Catholique Religion often What then questioning is no mark of falshood The Trinity the Incarnation the Scriptures have been all questioned and yet are confessedly true questioning argue rather ignorance and malice in the Questioner than want of truth in the thing questioned whereto adde that the Roman Catholique Religion was sometime unquestioned yea acknowledged for true even by them that afterwards questioned its truth Others will oppose that the Pope bearing great sway in the world might and did first bring in the Roman Catholique Religion Christ bore greater why not he now that Christ and not the Pope did first teach deliver the Roman Catholique Religion Tradition both oral and historicall give testimonie here is the proper proof of a thing done so many Ages past their onely surmise and saying can there be any Comparison in the desert of credit but to shew further even an impossibility in these opposers assertion I must observe unto them that the Rule of the Catholique Church is not the Popes pleasure as they fondly imagine but as St Paul calls it the depositum which importing to hold what was delivered and to recieve no other for divine truth could not but defeat this pretended Pope of all possibility of bringing in a Religion of his own coyning for either he kept to the Rule of the Catholique Church or he did not if he kept to the Rule of the Catholique Church what he taught was delivered to him and consequently not invented by him if he did not the generalitie of Christians could not follow his example because the universality of contingent causes is unchangeable because Christ's iterated promises of the holy Ghosts assistance would not suffer it Now the Roman Catholique
poor illiterate men to perswade a Religion so contrary to flesh and blood as mortification of Wills Fasting Chastity c. Luther was a man of learning and parts who had onely to instil a doctrine acceptable and pleasing to the depravedness of nature to perform which needed not abilities other than naturall 3 A third shape is Protestants received their Mission from Catholick Bishops in Queen Elizabeths dayes and since ANSWER 1. If some did which is to be proved Nay the contrary seemes demonstrated by Doctor Champney it is evident the greater part did not and what a Church must that company make of which most are judged fit to preach the word of God and administer the Sacraments without authority But admit the calling of Protestant Bishops and Pastours were right in all of them it would not follow that the Protestant Church is true so long as she advanceth Protestanisme contrary to the meaning of the Catholique Bishops who never impowr'd any but in relation to the setting up and upholding of Catholique Religion 2. Furthermore Communion with the true Church being as necessary a requisite to the making up of a true Church as union of parts to the compleating of a naturall body what colour for truth in the Protestant Church that is at variance with the Catholique of whom she gloryeth to have her power and which she confesseth to be a true Church whereto adde that Protestants derivation from Catholiques is not proof for a personall succession of Bishops and Pastours agreeing in all points with Protestants which ought to be the scope and ayme of that derivation it being not required of Protestants to deduce a succession from Christ and his Apostles of men meerly sent but withall professing the doctrine maintained in the Church of England For although doctrine be no mark of the true Church as shall be shewn hereafter nevertheless it is her inseparable Mate insomuch that where true Doctrine is wanting there the true Church cannot be Christ having intrusted her with his truth and ordained her keeper and preserver thereof 3. It will be said such a succession may be shewn but mingled pale-male with Catholiques as corn with chaffe good fish with bad conformably to Scripture comparing the Church to a barn-floor where there is corn and chaffe together Math. 3. to a Net replenished with all sortes of fish Math. 13. Repl. This mixture must have been either of Protestant and Catholique doctrine in the same company of men making profession of both or in severall companies one professing one another the other It could not be the former because that would be a clear argument that the Church hath erred contrary to what was proved in the fift Chapter Besides the name of Protestant to this company would be very improper holding a Doctrine inconsistent with the Protestant Surely whosoever over and above the Protestant Doctine should profess the Arian or Nestorian would deem himself jeered and laughed at to hear himself styled by the name of Protestant Doctrine being in nature much like unto number the least addition or diminution altering its kind and grounding a new denomination Nor the latter in as much as there is no agreement betwixt the Temple of God and Idols no concord with Christ and Belial 2. Cor. 6. The Arke of God and Dagon may not stand together 1. Kings 5. It were a strange example if the Church unparaleld for love to her spouse that professeth so much to truth and strictly forbiddeth ill company as dangerous to her Children should receive into her company Lyers and Innovatours This would leave a stain upon her reputation make her sincerity be suspected her Doctrine contemned and despised But she who is all fair Cant. 6. Without spot or wrinkle Epes 5. is free from any such guilt Sectaries being as hideous and hatefull in her sight as their suggestions are full of poyson and destructive to soules 4. It will be said Protestant Bishops and Pastours were not so near mingled with Catholiques as either to believe or profess their Doctrine they onely concealed and covered their own for fear of the formidable rigour of Catholiques Repl. such Bishops and Pastours could neither be true nor make a saving Church Not true because the Mission of true Bishops and Pastours being founded upon persecution and suffering Loe I send you as sheep among Wolves Math. 10. Luke 11. it is proper for them to fear no colours Cruelty in her gastliest hue is not able to fright or daunt them from preaching the word of God and administring the Sacraments The Apostles gave testimony to this truth when commanded by higher powers to forbear mentioning Christ or his actions they bravely and with stoutness reported that they could not choose but declare What they had seen and heard yea even outraged and ill entreated for this behalf they went away glad and rejoycing to be thought worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus Acts. 5. All the glorious Martyrs and Confessours confirm the same by their profession of faith amidst the loathsome stenches of close Prisons and horrible torments of bloody persecutours 5. Nor make up a saving Church by reason profession of Faith is necessary to salvation Rom. 10. In heart it is believed to justice by mouth profession is made unto Salvation Mat. 10. He that denies me to men I will denie him before my father c. The Comparisons are meant of private men for matter of manners not of any mixture of true and false Doctrine Orthodoxall Heretical Bishops Pastours together 6. A fourth shape is in all ages since Christ and his Apostles there have been Protestant Bishops and Pastours but through the negligence of men and hard fate of times their names have miscarried and perish'd And as it is no argument many famous Romans and Graecians are not named therefore never were any such men so it is no less fals a sequell Protestant Bishops and Pastours are not mentioned all the way from Christ and the Apostles therefore they were sometimes wanting ANSWER 1. It is not the same of private men and of Bishops and Pastours These have Christs Warrant and assurance for a Continuance of visibility so have not those Math. 28. Bishops and Pastours are as Aqueduces and Limbecks through which the vivifying waters of Christs holy Doctrine are derived into our eares and distilled into our soules so are not private men should they be at any time clouded and in obscurity Christ would be worse than his word his Doctrine fall short and not come home to us 2. It will be said visibility is a badge private men wear as well as Bishops and Doctours therefore it cannot be inferred more of the one than of the other Repl. Visibility is not peculiar to Bishop and Pastours but necessity of visibility is private men in this way of visibility being onely contingently visible So that though this inference be not right they are visible men therefore they are Bishops and Rastours no more
than that there are white fowle therefore they are swans whiteness belonging as well to Geese Ducks Pigeons c. Yet there are Bishops and Pastours therefore they are visible holds good as there are swans therefore they are white fowl in asmuch as visibility agreeth necessarily to Bishops and Pastours as whiteness doth to swans 3. It will be said Divers Bishops and Pastours have been whose names are not extant therefore Bishops and Pastours have no stricter relation to visibility than private men Repl. Bishops and Pastours are necessarily visible either indeterminately or determinately indeterminately all for some are necessary to make a visible Church determinately so many without which there could not be a sufficient number to make a true visible Church Even as Ships in respect of passing the Sea all are necessary either indeterminately or determinately indeterminately all some being necessary to pass with determinately so many without which the Sea is not to be passed Wherefore as the Antecedent is true the Sequell is false Bishops and Pastours having either indeterminately or determinately a necessary Reference to this sort of visibility private men onely an accidentall 4 It will be said Bishops and Pastours are necessarily visible whil'st they live dead that necessity ceaseth Repl. Such a visibility would be to no purpose it not providing the Church of means to defend and make good her right in case of opposition for the question of lawfulness in Bishops and Pastours and of their truth in point of Doctrine soaring as high as Christ commonly be satisfied by a shewing of equall rise which supposeth a visibility reaching from Christ to the end of the World as power to the Act. The question of the Churches Right is to be decided not unlike that of two great men laying claim to a Principality by vertue of some pretended descent from a certain Prince or to that of 〈◊〉 River whether it hath its ofâ—â—ring from such a Hill or Mountain For as to Evidence this the surest way will be to derive their Pedigree and to trace the River up to the Head so to clear that no means more effectuall than to take a view of the ages gliding betwixt Christ and us If Bishops and Pastours be found succeeding each other without intermission it is Evident they are true and Catholick if otherwise they may not escape the brand of usurpation and intrusion 5. The Truth of Doctrine is discernable much after the same manner If it be found to have no way varied but to have kept its own from Christ and the Apostles doubtless it is Orthodox if not most certainly it is new and false In short by the good help of this visibility the Bishops and Pastours of Gods Church together with his Doctrine shine so bright throughout all ages since Christ that who will open their eyes to see and their mouthes to ask may with ease finde whom to obey and what to believe for want of this visibility Sectaries boast they never so much of Antiquity prove but of late creation and their Doctrines fond devises of unsetled and wavering mindes 5. The last shape is That Church is true and Catholick which professeth the Apostles Doctrine clearly delivered in Scripture but the Protestants Church doth this therefore c. ANSWER 1. TRue Doctrine is no mark of a true Church it being to be seen among Schismaticks who for want of Communion are not able to make a true Church Besides Doctrine is as divers as there are divers seeming Churches and so not affording any determinate motion drawes in opposition of a mark of truth to which adde that Doctrine supposeth Bishops and Pastours as the means whereby it is conveyed unto us For Doctrine comes not in the ayre or by infusion but by preaching and teaching of men not only sent inwardly by inspiration but likewise outwardly by ordination or imposition of hands of such as have power as the Priests in the old Law the Apostles and their successors in the new were Exod. 3. Levit. 8. Math. 28. therefore it importeth as much to name Bishops and Pastours before way be given to the mentioning of Doctrine as it is necessary passing from one extreame to another to touch first the middle It is no less untrue that Protestants maintain the Apostles Doctrine delivered in Scripture inasmuch as they cleave to a sense which the words neither do nor can beare without wresting forcing as Dr. Smith late Bishop of Chalcedon hath clearly shewn in his Collation to which I must remit you for avoyding of tedious quotations as opposite to my professed brevity To be of the Apostle belief requires a full and entire admission of what they believed For if belief of some points only were enough to make two of one belief Catholicks and Protestants Turks and Jews might crack of unity in Religion because though they differ in some points yet in other some they consent and agree Now Heaven being a reward only intended and promised where there is a full performance of Duty belief of part of the Apostle Belief is as ineffectuall to Salvation as perseverance for a time which moved St Athan to say that he that did not hold the Catholick Faith intirely should for ever perish And it is agreeable to reason in regard punishment is the reward of contempt offered to Gods Majestie which may be done as by transgressing any one Commandment so by disbelieving any one point Gods Majesty shining no less resplendently in his veracity than in is Will. It will be said Protestants agree with the Apostles in sundamentalls which is sufficient to be of the Apostles belief and to Salvation Repl. There are two sortes of Fundamentalls answerable to the twofold precept of belief affirmative He that believes shall be saved and negative He that doth not believe shall be condemned Mar. 16. The first sort is points to be believed explicitly or in particular as the Trinity the Incarnation c. The second sort is points to be believed at leastwise implicitly or in generall as all points whatsoever relating to belief both are Fundamentalls because both are necessary to Salvation and both are necessary to Salvation because both are equally grounded upon Revelation whence ariseth the necessitie and obligation of belief Now admit it should be granted that Protestants agree with the Apostles in the first sort of Fundamentalls that is in points necessarie to be believed explicitly according to the affirmative precept of belief which may well be a question they not believing them upon account of the Church but for fancie or some other humane respect yet disagreeing in the second sort that is in points necessarie to be believed at leastwise implicitly according to the negative precept of belief How is it true that they do not disagree from the Apostles in fundamentalls It will be said those points Protestants disagree in were not revealed to the Apostles Repl. It is manifest they were there being the same light for the revelation of them
shapes Protestants put their Church in to make her pass for true 1 The first is Protestants are a company of Christans under the government of Bishops Pastors that have power and authority from Christ and his Apostles to administer the Sacraments and preach the word of God But such a company is the true Church therefore Protestants are the true Church ANSWER 1 Neither Christ nor the Apostles ever conferred any power or Authority on Protestant Bishops and Pastors they were dead and gone long before these had any being To give Power and Authority of this nature requireth presence of the Giver so was God present to Moses Exod 3. Christ to his disciples Mat. 6.28 Neither is their any Testament or Monument extant to shew that the power or Authority Christ bequeathed should lye obscure and dead for such a tract of time and then be brought to light and revived when Protestant Bishops and Pastors sprang up or that it was for them 2. It will be said Christ and the Apostles shared their power to Protestant Bishops mediately immediately to those lived in their dayes and those to others downe to these Repl. By this is implyed a continuation of succession in the Protestant Bishops and Pastors ever since Christ the Apostles it is not concievable any other way how power could be transmitted from one hand to another as is averred as also a visibilite of the same for as much as it was their partes to preach the word of God and administer the Sacraments if visible they may be produced they ought to be produced they may because that power is vaine and fictitious that is not reducible to act Math. 5. They ought because Bishops and Pastors in case of Controversy are to give an accompt of their calling Luke 7. as well to settle the wavering as to bend and make supple the stifness of stubborne misbelievers 1 Peter 3. 3. How necessary this is Tertullian admirably well vrged Lib de praescrip Iren. adver Heres Hieron in Lucifer Optat. lib. 2. contra Parmen when he bad the Sectaries of his time let him see the beginning of their Bishops Pastors Likewise Optatus the Origin of your Chaire shews yee that needs will challenge to your selves the holy Church St. Austin came not behind these in pressing the necessity of succession and derivation Augustin de utilit credend Epist cont Faustum Manich. where he ingenuously acknowledgeth them to be of force to hold keep him in the bosome of the Church There keepeth me said that great Saint in the Church the succession of Priests from the very sitting of St. Peter to whom our Lord after his Resurrection committed the feeding of his sheepe even to this present Bishop And well did it become the Pious zeale of those ornaments lights of Gods Church to shew earnestness vehemency in this behalfe inasmuch as derivation of succession is so proper to the true Church that it cannot agree to any false as St. Hierom in Micam 1. observeth assuring Sectaries to have no such riches as come to men by plain inheritance from their fathers and as is evident in it selfe by reason the true Church was planted and established before any false began The Parable of the good man sowing first good seed and the enemy over-sowing Cockle evince no less Mat. 13. Therefore must needs be a non plus ultra a stopp bar betwixt whatsoever Counterfeit Church and Christ to keep off the like continuation of succession 4. It will be said if derivation of succession be a sure Marke of the true Church Arians Turkes may claim the true Church Arians deriving themselves without interruption from Arius and the Turks from Mahomet Repl Arian and Turk derivation climb not so high as Christ it reacheth no further than Arius and Mahomet who grew up long after Christ the Argument from succession is not grounded upon any succession but upon derivation of succession from the Apostles and Christ and that holds good because Christ was not onely man but God also and therefore had power to constitute a true Church Arius and Mahomet were no more than men who may not assume any such prerogative So that derivation of succession from them onely demonstrates them to have been the Founders and beginners of Arianisme and Turcisme 5. It will be said divers Sectaries were contemporary with Christ therefore that argues Antiquity onely not Truth Repl. It may be severall Sectaries had the honour to see some part of the time Christ lived in but not his institution that was a speciall favour reserved for onely granted to his deare spouse the Church Sectaryes crept in after as opposers of Christs institution 6. It will be said There have been named in severall ages the Albigenses the Apostolici Osiand Epitom AEn Sylvius de gest Bohem. Guid Carmel in Albigens Antoninus Luxemberg in paup de Lugdun Vspergens chron 212. Cesar Cistert dial 5. Vincent speculum hist Prateolus Sandeus Wickliffe Hus. Repl. None of these were Protestants they holding not in all points with them nor yet with themselves asis to be seen in Osiander Aeneas Sylvius and other approved Historians Besides there was a great distance between them and the Apostles in which they could not be mentioned for as much as they were not begun or were quite extinct 2 Another shape is Luther descended from Catholiques Catholiques from the Apostles therefore Protestants had their originall from the Apostles they deriving themselves uninterruptedly from Luther ANSWER 1. Protestants derivation from Luther is frivolous and of no weight Luther wanting Episcopall Authority without which all Ordinations are null and frustrate by the confessions of the cheif Protestants themselves See Saravia Sutcliffe Bilson Andrews White Mason Mountague Hall and others 2. It will be said Luther received Episcopal power immediately from God Repl. Such a power being extraordinary is alwayes accompained with that of Miracles as appeared in Moyses Exod. 3. and the Apostles Act. 2.14 Luther never wrought Miracle neither did he ever pretend to any such gift the season of Miracles as some of his Disciples avouch being than past And for his wonders alleadged in drawing so many after him maugre the Pope Emperour and other Potentates it shews onely a strange itching in men after Novelties proneness to Libertinage Arius in a shorter space lead away far more and greater ones that to use Saint Hieroms words cont Lucifer the world did groan again to see it self on a suddain become Arian But this could be no Miracle for Miracles are done for the asserting of truths it was most untrue that Christ was not God that he was not equall to his eternall father as Arius contended 3. It will be said it was Miraculous in the Apostles to convert thousands to the faith of Christ in a time of greatest opposition and resistance Repl. In them it was it being a work of too high a nature for the undertaking of