THE Catholic Representer OR THE PAPIST Misrepresented AND REPRESENTED Second Part. Publish'd with Allowance LONDON Printed by Henry Hills Printer to the King 's Most Excellent Majesty For his Houshold and Chappel 1687. THE CONTENTS CHAP. I. OF the Veneration shewn to Images of Christ the Virgin Mary c. Whether the Papists Pray to Images in Relation to a Passage of a Book Entituled A Catechism truly Representing the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome and its Vindication CHAP. II. Whether Papists Pray directly to the Cross as is positively Asserted by a Protestant with an Essay of a Heathen-Catechism after the Copy of the Truly-representing Protestant-Catechism in which this Calumny is publish'd CHAP. III. Whether the Doctrine of Transubstantiation be contrary to the Writings of the Primitive Fathers or agreeable to them The Papist believes his Senses in this Mystery as much as the Protetant being Notes upon a late Pamphlet Entituled The Papists Doctrine of Transubstantiation not agreeable to the Primitive Fathers CHAP. IV. The Form of the Catholic Church Establish'd by Christ No hopes of Salvation out of it The Practice of the Apostles and Primitive Church in this Point Good at this day The Protestants as uncharitably Damn the Papists as These are said to do the Protestants In reference to the Preface of Wholsom Advices from the B. V. c. CHAP. V. The Papist as to the Articles of his Belief follows the Method prescrib'd by Christ practis'd by the Apostles and the Primimitive Church The Method is of Divine Institution and more according to Reason than what Others follow The Word Worship is Equivocal and acknowledg'd so by St. Austin CHAP. VI. The Papist do's not Believe but upon most Convincing Reasons Mysteries of Faith above Reason not contrary to it The Papist is not depriv'd of the Word of God nor kept from the Knowledge of the Gospel He do's not Pray to the Cross more than Protetestants Pray to their Bibles or the Sacrament Three Protestant Queries Answer'd CHAP. VII The Vulgar among the Papists not depriv'd of the Word of God. They are better Instructed in the true Sense of it than those of other Perswasions who Teach themselves The Vnlearned and Vnstable wrest it to their own Destruction CHAP. VIII The Vulgar not permitted to read the Bible among the Papists for fear they should discover the Errors of their Religion an Absurd Calumny The Restraint is That there may not be as many different Words of God as there are Heads amongst them and may have something better Ground than their own Imagination to direct their Faith. A Word to a Lay-Friend CHAP. IX The Scriptures not always the Same to the same Person No Possibility of meeting in One Faith whilst Private Reason sets up for Interpreter of the Word of God. The Sham-Story of the Frogs and Crabs The Truth of the Anniversary Solemnity CHAP. X. Private Interpretation of Scriptures the Occasion of Divisions Some Protestant Divines call in the Assistance of Authority and Guides but all ends in the Private Spirit The Question started Where was the Protestant Religion as it is now Reform'd before Luther The Answers of some Protestant Divines CHAP. XI An Enquiry into the Religion of the Primitive Times and particularly That of Constantine the First Christian Emperor For the Satisfaction of those who desire to know whether the Protestant Religion was generally Profess'd amongst the Christians of those Purer Times CHAP. XII Protestant Historians shew us Popery in the Primitive Church under Constantine but no Protestancy The Christians of that Age never Protested against the Popish Doctrines professedly Taught and Practis'd in those Times Therefore they were no Protestants An Enquiry into the Religion of the Ages succeeding Constantine CHAP. XIII The Professors of Popish Doctrines in the Primitive Times no Protestants but Papists Popish Tenets not only the Opinions of Private Doctors but the Doctrine of the Primitive Church The Four First General Councils no Protestants CHAP. XIV No Protestant Harangue in the First Four General Councils to fill the Fathers Heads with Fears and Jealousies No Canons made by the said Fathers to prevent the Growth of Popery at that Time professedly Taught and Practis'd is an Argument that the Fathers of those Councils were no Protestants CHAP. XV. The Appeal of Protestants to the Primitive Fathers shewn Injurious to Protestancy from the Concessâ—ons of Protestant Writers Luther the Apostle of the Reformatiâ—â— disclaims the Doctrine of the Fathers as not being for his purpose of Reforming CHAP. XVI A New Way of making all the Popish Sayings of the Primitive Fathers to be Good Protestancy The Art of Interpreting do's Feats it makes way for Atheism and Infidelity THE PAPIST Misrepresented AND Represented SECOND PART CHAP. I. Of the Veneration shewn to Images of Christ the Virgin Mary c. Whether the Papists pray to Images in Relation to a Passage of a Book Entituled A Catechism truly Representing the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome and its Vindication THe Papist Misrepresented worships the Images of Christ and his Saints he kisses them uncovers his Head falls down before them offers Incense and Prays to them and uses all such Postures of Worship as he would do to the Person or Persons thereby represented if they were present And whosoever thinks otherwise amongst them is accursed Catech. truly repres the Doctr. of the Ch. of Rome p. 42. THe Papist Represented is taught That the Images of Christ of the Virgin Mary and other Saints ought to be kept and especially in Churches and due Honour and Veneration given them not for that any Divinity or Vertue is believed to be in them or that any thing is to be asked of them or any confidence to be placed in them as was anciently done by the Heathens who put their trust in Idols but because the Honour which is exhibited to the Images is referr'd to the Prototype or Thing represented by them So that by the Images which he kisses and before which he kneels or puts off his hat he adores Christ and reverences his Saints whom the said Images represent This is what He is taught and are the Words of the Council of Trent Sess 25. And tho some endeavour to cast an Infamy upon this Doctrine and Practice by letting loose the School-debates amongst the multitude and raising Mists and Confusion from the disagreeâ—ng Opinions of Divines Yet in honest Practice he 's conscious to himself of doing no more than what he sees done every Day by such who commendably follow the regular Motions of Humane Nature the Dictates of unbiass'd Reason First therefore as Men judge it nothing but Decent and Reasonable to set forth and adorn their Houses with the Pictures of such Persons as belong to their Family of their old Friends Benefactors Governours such as they esteem and whose Memory they desire to preserve and honour So he cannot but think it as agreeable to Reason that the House of God be
others Invisibly profess'd others travel a great way to find it and return back with a May be and it may be 't was under the Rubbish And what if one should here enforce the Argument in The Plain Mans Reply He 's upon Enquiry Who is the Infallible Judge asserted by Catholics and because he don't find Authors agree upon the Point Where he shall find him p. 18. 25. he there concludes them all to be but Triflers and that there 's no such Judge in the World. Would not this conclude as forcibly that there was no Protestant Church in the World before Luther Since being now upon the Search to what Church or Communion one was to have applyed himself in K. Henry the Seventh's time to have been instructed in the True Faith and Doctrine of Christ they generally agree there was such a Church in the World but some send us to Armenia for it some to Greece some to the Hussites some to an Invisible Corner some to a Cloud some to look under the Rubbish What can a Man call this but in the Plain Man's phrase Trifling And yet Plain as he is he stands fair for this same Title of Honour he has so bountifully bestow'd upon others For as others so He tells us p. 10. that True Religion shall never be so far driven out of the World but that it shall always have somewhere or other some that believe and profess it in all things necessary to Salvation I enquire Where these were twenty years before the Pretended Reformation He assures me They were certainly in the World some where or other Great satisfaction to an Enquirer Is not this just as if I were travelling to a certain Town as as 't is in the Plain Mans Reply p. 19. and do ask the next Man I meet which is the right way He tells me 't is a very Cross-Road to find and I may easily miss it But saith he tho' I cannot direct you my self yet there is a Man lives in that Village who knows every step so exactly that if you take him for your Guide you cannot possibly be mistaken Pray say I at what House do's this Honest Man live How may I come to the speech of him Nay saith he I know nothing of all that but you must find him as you can Now suppose every Man in the Village gives me the same wise Answer What an admirable Direction would this prove Is this any thing but Trifling This is just our Case I am enquiring to find out the True Protestant Church before Luther All assure me 't was certainly in the World but when I come to ask Where the Plain Man's Reply is Some where or other Misrepr Tho' they don't agree where 't was just before Luther Yet all agree 't was generally profess'd by the Primitive Christians Represent Then I see we must despair of finding it the thousand Years before Luther And what was the Primitive Church we 'l enquire in our next Publish'd with Allowance LONDON Printed by Henry Hills Printer to the King 's Most Excellent Majesty for his Houshold and Chappel M DC LXXX VI. THE CATHOLIC REPRESENTER CHAP. XI An Enquiry into the Religion of the Primitive Times and particularly That of Constantine the First Christian Emperor For the satisfaction of those who desire to know whether the Protestant Religion was generally Professed amongst the Christians of those Purer times Represent WE are now to enquire into the Belief and Practice of the Primitive Church and see whether that was Protestant or Catholic But we must first know how many Years or Ages you 'l allow us to look into that is how long you say the True Pretestant Religion as now establish'd was profess'd and practis'd Anciently and Generally among Christians after the Apostles days before corruption crept in upon it Setle this Point and then we 'll proceed Misrepresent If you are in good earnest He give you some account of this The Author of the Discourse Concerning a Judge of Controversie lately publish'd says p. 15. For Authority We appeal to the best Authority of the Christian Church the Three First Ages after the Apostles So that I presume by him the Protestant Religion was Anciently and Generally profess'd and practis'd to the year of Christ 400. Calvin Reynolds and Fulk own the Church of Rome to have continu'd in the Doctrine of the Apostles that is Protestant in the time of Cyprian Jerom Austin the last of whom liv'd till the year 430. Agen in the Discourse entitled Papists not Mis-represented by Protestants 'tis said p. 56. The Tradition of the Church remain'd Clear and Strong till after the First Four General Councils the last of which being that of Chalcedon establish'd in England by Act of Parliament An. 1 Eliz. was held in the Year 450. So that I may allow you to search into the Primitive Church for the first four hundred and fifty years for so long I question not the Protestant Religion was Generally profess'd and practis'd and that Religion as then practis'd is the same as now establish'd by Law here in England and 't is a shame You and Yours shou'd so declaim against it Represent Pardon me here for I profess my self to have so great a veneration for the Primitive Church that I resolve to believe as that believ'd and if it appears that That Church was the Protestant Church I le e'en be Protestant to morrow But let us go on upon our Enquiry You say you have reason to believe the Protestant Religion was Generally profess'd in the Primitive Times for the First Four hundred and fifty years For your satisfaction and mine we 'll take a view of the Christian Religion as then profess'd And that we may proceed with more security and certainty we 'll not descend at present so low as you allow but look at it as 't was practis'd in the time of Constantine the Great who died about the year 337. I make choice of this time because This was the First 〈◊〉 that gave liberty for the Publick Profession of Christianity and establish'd it by Law. 'T was under him all those Pious Learned and Holy Men first appear'd wâ—o till then had been confin'd by cruel Persâ—câ—â—ors to Caves Rocks and Wildernesses 'T was under him the First General Council of Niâ—e was held which we all venerate and whose Creed we all recite and assent to as Apostolical Misrepresent I approve the circumstances For if ever Christianity was Pure and Vncorrupt it must certainly be then when it first shew'd it self to the world and rais'd up its Head from under Perfecution And now you put me in mind of it Dr. Swadlin in his Answer to the 36 Questions reckons This Emperor Constantine the Great for one of the Fathers or Professors of the Proteâ—tant Relition in old times Answ 11. So that I have no exceptions against Him. But who shall give us the account of the Religion then Profess'd Represent Ee'n the Fathers or Professors that then liv'd
he think Bishop Jewel pray'd directly to the Sacrament do's he think He pray'd to the Bible and yet he owns he Worshipp'd them Both And in this WE Worship he expresses himself so like a Witness of the Doctrine of his Church that if our Modern Divines have not prevaricated from their Fathers and brought in New Protestantism being weaâ—y of the Old all the Sons of that Church are oblig'd to Worship them as much as that Prelate and this they may easily find a way to do without any necessity of praying to them directly 'T is not every thing that is any ways Worshipp'd is presently made an Obâ—ect capable of being Pray'd to I shew'd in my Last many things to be in some manner Objects of Worship which to Pray to would be an Absurdity For as Bishop Jewel Worship'd the Sacrament and Bible so we Worship the Bible too and as we Worship the Cross so likewise the Holy Sepulchre the Hâ—m of our Saviour's Garment his Crown of Thorns the very Ground on which his Sacred Feet stood and the Linnen in which his Body was laid not as God nor as Things capable of being pray'd to but as Bishop Jewel expresses it as Things in Religious wise to Christ belonging or as the Answerer has it as Things which have an eminent Relation to God and his Service And Jewel gives the Reason ib. p. 409. The Sacraments be ador'd says he but the whole honour resteth not in them but is passed over from them to the things signified As the Reverence shewn to a Bible or Church or Chair of State resteth not in them but passes over to God and the King. And as the Contempt shewn to a Duke's Picture or Pope's resteth not there but passes over to the Persons Represented This Nature Honest Reason and Practice easily understand however Learned Wranglers whose business is to overthrow not to build up may endeavour to confound it But we must Answer his Queries Quer. Whether the Crosses used in the Religious Service of the Church of Rome be mere Peices of Wood Answ Nothing more capable of being Pray'd to than mere Pieces of Wood. Quer. Whether they may not and are not to adore the Cross though they may not adore a mere Peice of Wood Answ Just as much as Bishop Jewel thought himself oblig'd to adore the Sacrament though he would not adore a mere piece of Bread. Quer. How the Cross which they Pray to Christ to Bless is made the Stability of Faith and Increase of Good Works Answ Just as the Bread and Wine may be to Protestants by being a Figure of Christ's Passion and a Remembrance of his Sufferings Quer. How the Cross upon which Christ hung may be Christ who hung upon the Cross Answ How the Cross may be Christ I can't tell But how the Word Cross may signifie Christ every School-boy knows as David in his Psalms often distinguishes the Earth from the People upon the Earth And yet often uses the Word Earth to signifie the People upon the Earth This is but a poor Cavil and very unbecoming Christians or Scholars to disturb the Nation withal Publish'd with Allowance LONDON Printed by Henry Hills Printer to the King 's most Excellent Majesty for His Houshold and Chappel 1686. THE CATHOLIC REPRESENTER CHAP. VII The Vulgar among the Papists not depriv'd of the Word of God. They are better instructed in the true Sence of it than those of other Perswasions who teach themselves The Vnlearned and Vnstable wrest it to their own Destruction A Papist Misrepresented takes up all his Belief upon trust he is led through all the Mysteries of his Religion by the hand without seeing which way or whether he goes All from begining to end is blindness and ignorance the Scripture which should be his light is taken from him and what knowledg can he have when the Word of God which was ordain'd by the divine Wisdom for the instruction and comfort of poor Sinners is snatcht out of his hand and kept from him A Papist Rerepresented believes as the Church of God teaches and this not blindly but knowingly and understandingly as far as the littleness of humane Reason and his own Capacity will give him leave In order to this his Church has provided him of variety of learned Books explicating to him the Sence of the Scriptures as likewise the Articles of his Creed every Mystery of his Religion the ten Commandments the Sacraments and the whole Duty of a Christian and this in such numbers both in Latin and English and all other Languages that whosoever reproches him with blindness in the midst of so many Lights may with as good Reason prove him to be in the dark when Noon-day shines upon him Besides these Books the Church has given direction to all Parish-Priests to explicate on Sundays and Holy-days the Gospel and some Mystery of Faith to such as are under their Charge and to instruct them how to live vertuously and die holily And now if notwithstanding these helps and assistance some in his Church believe without Understanding and live without the knowledg of their Duty 't is not the Church is to be blam'd which has provided them of sufficient Means but they themselves to be condemned of negligence and sloth who thus carelesly starve in the midst of plenty and die with the Remedy before them Neither does he understand that the charge of being led in blindness and ignorance can be justly laid to any even to the Vulgar of his Communion because they have not the Scriptures permitted them to read and interpret at pleasure since 't is evident to any that has taken a considerate view of the Christian World in those Countries where the Scripture is thus permitted there 's as much Vice as much Blindness as much Ignorance of the Christian Faith and Profession as in any place whatsoever So that tho they have a Light about them they are either not taught how to use it or else approching it with too much Confidence and Presumption come too near it and put out their eyes Besides what danger of Ignorance and Blindness can there be to the Vulgar of his Communion from the not reading the Scripture Since such means are us'd for the instructing them in the Mysteries therein contained that they are not at all depriv'd of it nay since 't is deliver'd to them with much greater advantage and more for the improvement of their knowledg in the Mysteries of Faith and Duty of a Christian than those have it amongst whom 't is promiscuosly thrown to read and judg it themselves For let any one upon a due consideration tell me Which is the Scripture what is properly the Word of God Is it the Words of the Bible or the true Sence and Meaning of those Words 'T is certain the letter availeth nothing 't is the Spirit that enlivens 't is the Sence that instructs to Salvation Our concern then at present is not which have more of the Words of
the whole is come to be no more than a Perswasion a Judgment an Opinion And now since these and infinite other mischiefs arise from the free permitting the Bible among the Multitude he thinks it commendable in his Church out of a true Solicitude for the Salvation of Souls to prevent these evils by teaching them the true Sence of this Sacred Volume and instructing them in their whole Duty as to all they are to believe and practice without leaving the Book to be scann'd by them as they please and so not permitting them to turn the Food of their Souls into Poyson or abuse that to theit Destruction which was ordain'd by Christ for their gaining of Heaven They are not therefore depriv'd of the Holy Scripture but have the whole benefit of it and all the comfort being instructed in the whole word of God only with this Advantage that 't is not left in their power to do themselves any mischief by abusing it And this is so ordered only in consideration of the Vulgar who are commonly very ignorant unsteady bold presuming or as St. Paul stiles them Vnlearn'd and Vnstable and easy to be deceiv'd whilst judicious men of his Communion any one that is Learned Prudent and Sober may be easily permitted to have the perusal of this Book to read it as much and as often as he pleases because such are not in danger of prejudicing themselves by false interpretations or preferring their own Sence before that which they receive from their Pastors and the Church 'T is not the Book therefore that is properly forbidden but only false and presumptuous interpretations of it and such only who are in all probability likely to do this are not permitted to read it And upon the whole there 's nothing more in this great noise of the Papist being depriv'd of the Word of God than that such as for the most part are not capable amongst them of reading it as they ought have not leave to read it and those that are capable may have in most Countreys leave to read it as they please Those that can read it to edification may have it at desire and those that are likely to read it to the perverting of Gods Holy Word and the destruction of their own Souls 'T is thought fit they should let it alone Publish'd with Allowance London Prnted by Henry Hills Printer to the King 's Most Excellent Majesty for his Houshold and Chappel 1686. THE CATHOLIC REPRESENTER CHAP. VIII The Vulgar not permitted to read the Bible among the Papists for fear they should discover the Errours of their Religion an Absurd Calumny The Restraint is That there may not be as many different Words of God as there are 〈◊〉 amongst them and may have something better ground that their own Imagination to direct their Faith a word to a Lay-friend Misrepresent YOu gave me no room to put in one word in your last but for all your long-winded Reasons there why the Vulgar of your Communion do not generally read the Scriptures I can apprehend no other but only that your Priesis and Jesuits being conscious of the unreasonableness of Popery and how contrary it is to the Truth of God's Word dare not allow the People the reading and perusirg it left finding their Religion not to stand the trial of the Scriptures they should discover the delusion and run over to the Reformation Represent I expect no better from you 't is your trade to make the worst of every thing the Papists do but the best on 't is your Misconstructions lie so open that there needs no more than a mere glimpse of Reason to discover all your Art. For if any of your Auditors should but once consider that tho' the Vulgar and unlearned of the Papists have not in some Countries the Bible promiscuously allow'd amongst them yet that in those same Countries and all others there 's no Colledge Vniversity Community or place of learning but where the Scriptures are publickly read and expounded if they should consider this I say Is it possible for them to believe that that Restraint is upon the Vulgar for fear they should see into the Foliies of their Religion If their Religion were so contrary to Scripture as you pretend is it not more likely the learned should make this discovery in their reading the Bible than the Vulgar if they had the like liberty Cannot Scholars as easily see the Truth of Scripture and what is erroneous and at defiance with it as the Vnlearned Or are the Errors and Foliies of Popery such that of necessity a man must be a Block-head to understand them Since when became Mechanics and Apron-strings so priviledg'd that to be bred up to the Anvil the Needle or the Ell should qualifie better for the understanding the Scriptures than application Study and the education of a Vniversity Or is it probable that every man amongst the Papists no sooner becomes Scholar but he turns Atheist That upon their search in the Bible they plainly see all the errors of their Religion and yet are so bewitched as to go on boldly and jocondly to the Devil without speaking a word or moving a step to save their own Souls or their Relations Come Misrepresenter this looks so like a sham of yours that I cannot but admire your confidence I wonder how you dare venture your credit in exposing such weak and ill-grounded Arguments You have men of sense and reason to deal with and 't is much they do not make exceptions But I suppose you rely upon the hearty Prejudice they have against Popery in which case you know they 'l take upon trust they 'l pin their Faith upon any mans Sleeve and let impossibilities pass for evident Truths without examination Misrepresent You may prove and preach as long as you please but I am sure thousands and thousands that I meet with will never believe otherwise than I tell you You do all things by design and you have no other reason notwithstanding all your loud pretences for keeping the Eible out of the hands of your common people but only the jealousie your Pastors have that by that Light they 'l see into the deformitys of Popery and prove Deserters Represent The men of this Creed are only such whose Eyes you have put out to lead them by the Nose after you where you please What ground can there be for this pretension at least here in England where the Bible in English or Rhemes-Testament is to be found in most Catholic Families If the Prohibition of not reading the Bible be as you pretend in other Countries for fear of the Vulgar discovering the Errors of their Religion How comes it they donâ—t make this discovery here Do you find so many Deserters in this Nation upon this score Many have quitted that Communion upon other motives best known to themselves but never any one I could meet with left them yet by reading and following the Word of God. Again
expected he should know or deliver truly the Doctrine of our Church who is so unhappy as not to know his own Mind But in one breath desires to be inform'd and Vows to follow wheresoever Truth â—or Charity shall lead him and in the very next without condition or reserve desires rather to die than to move one step from where he stands No this coming with Vow'd Docility in one hand and sturdy Presumption in the other is no good Argument of Sincerity and Honesty the qualities he so eagerly pretends to and ungroundedly questions in me Misrepresent Well but he has prov'd beyond the possibility of Reply that the Papists are on the Uncharitable side and Protestants on the Charitable out of your own Authors and your Charitable Doctrine to be new Popery Represent You have his Word for 't p. 8. But any besides a Layman will call it only a Say-so instead of a Proof His Protestant Charity which he even boasts of is the granting Salvation to Papists upon no other score than Invincible Ignorance and for this he thinks them p. 6. Charitable to a high degree And yet this is the very same Charity Papists have for Protestants the allowing of Salvation possible for such as through invincible Ignorance remain separate from the Church being a common opinion of the Modern and Antient Schoolmen And all those who pronounce so severely against Protestants 't is against Protestants remaining such as he words it p. 8. that is Obstinately and Pertinaciously continuing in Error and Schism in which circumstances Papists too are allow'd no claim to Salvation by Protestants Now where 's the Contradictions and the two sorts of Popery he brags of p. 8. Come Misrepresenter I look upon your Friends put to a hard shift when they begin to talk of New Popery They have been making the Papists odious these hundred Years for their Vncharitableness to Protestants and now the Disguise begins to wear off and the Papists appear as Charitable as Protestants nothing can serve to amuse the people and hinder their seeing the delusion but the noise of New Popery This may do with some but methinks a Sincâ—â—e Layman who desires to be led into all Truth p. 5. might be glad to find Men better than he thought them and not seek for one disguise to palliate another If his mind be tinctur'd with the Blood that runs in his Veins p. 11. yet assure him a Friend of his wishes heartily 't wou'd flow something Cooler and cause in him a more Even Pulse than to require as he does p. 12 nothing less than an Infallible Certainty to better his Opinion of the Papists whilst yet a Fallible Perswasion will content him for all the rest of his Religion Publish'd with Allowance LONDON Printed by Henry Hills Printer to the King 's Most Excellent Majesty for his Houshold and Chappel MDCLXXXVI THE CATHOLIC REPRESENTER CHAP. IX The Scriptures not always the Same to the same Person No Possibility of meeting in One Faith whil'st Private Reason sets up for Interpreter of the Word of God. The Sham-story of the Frogs and Crabs The Truth of the Anniversary Solemnity Misrepresent YOur last attempt of Proving the Scriptures to be as various in the Heads of Protestants as there are Heads amongst them was very Bold and I am perswaded now you are Cooler you 'l disown the Assertion Represent What I said was to lay before you the Reason why amongst the Catholics the Reading of the Bible is not promiscuously allow'd the Vulgar And to that end I shew'd you that the Ordinary People in all Nations being for the most part Vnlearned and Vnstable wheresoever the Canvassing the Scripture is freely permitted them without exception they generally understand it several ways and consequently what is the Scripture to Them is Multiplied and made as Numerous as their different Conceptions and Imaginations of it And now I 'll go farther with you for 't is not only thus in several People but even the same Person many times has the Faculty of Multiplyiâ—g the Word of God. For how many are to be found amongst the Vulgar who according to their different Humours as their Interest changes according to the different Impressions they receive from Confidents especially such as have gain'd their good Opinion espouse different Doctrines and Perswasions and run through as many Sects as there are Divisions in the Nation And yet in all their Windings they still follow as they imagine the Scriptures always guiding themselves by what they think the Word of God evidently speaks to them Don't you see how to these same Persons the Word of God is not always the same It alters according to Seasons and Times and 't was one Word of God directed them the last year another this and it may be another before the next So that tho' it be always the same Vnchangeable in their Hands as to the Letter yet it often changes in their Heads as the Meaning Misrepresent This is a fine Whim to undermine the Authority of the Scriptures But say what you will the Word of God is Plain Easie and Clear and God has given to every one Reason enough to Understand it the Reading it is comfortable the Following it a Duty And 't is an injury of the highest nature to deprive any tho the meanest Soul of so considerable a Blessing Represent If it be so Plain and Easie as you say how comes it there 's so little agreement in the Vnderstanding it How are there so many Different and Contrary Divisions Sects and Perswdsions in this One Nation How comes it that even in the Essentials of Christianity concerning the Trinity Incarnation the Divinity of Christ the Sacrament Baptism the Holy Catholic Church the Communion of Saints the Forgiveness of Sins the Resurrection of the Flesh c. there has been and at present is so great diversity amongst those that read the Scripture The business is you are for setting up every mans Private Reason to be Judge of Scripture If you have seen the Answer to the Protestant Plea for a Socinian you 'l find there p. 26. he points it out for the Mark of a Right Socinian to make Reason the Rule of the Scriptures Such a one says he makes Reason the Rule of that Rule And are not you far worse in this than the Rankest Socinian in the World whilst with him you do not make Common Reason the Measure of that Rule but every mans Private Reason which when put to the Test proves in Thousands and Thousands to be nothing better than Passion Prejudice Interest Imagination Guessing or Phancy Don't you find by experience there 's no such Trivial Proposal made but presently the Company 's divided there 's Head against Head Reason against Reason and this tho' the concern be but of Hay or Straw or the most obvious in the World Don't you see again that almost every Man's Reason is different as their Capacity Parts Education Temper Inclination Impressions are different
Clouts and some other Reports that have been warmly carried about this last Month by Men of all Coats came all out of the same Miâ—t And were it not that the People you deal with were so wonderfully short-memory'd when a Lie is discover'd and again so wretchedly Credulous when a Fresh one is Broach'd these Fictions would be your utter Confusion But I 'll tell you the Truth of all this matter There 's a Mourning Hearse indeed plac'd in the Chappels in Memory of the Deceas'd Party and Prayers are offer'd up for his Soul after the Practice of the Primitive Church in the time of her Purity above Thirteen hundred years ago and as 't was then perform'd to Constantine the First Christian Emperour whose Body after his Decease as 't is related by Eusebius l. 4. de Vit. Const c. 71. being expos'd upon a stately Throne great numbers of People together with the Priests offer'd up Prayers to God not without Sighs and Tears for the Soul of the Emperour thus performing a most acceptable Office to their Prince of Pious Memory And this Pious Office was not only perform'd to the Faithful Departed at the time of their Departure but every year at the return of that Day and thus says Tertullian l. 10. de Monog c. 10. speaking of a Christian Widow She prays for his her Husbands Soul and makes Oblations on the Anniversary days of his Departure This is what VVe now do and all that is perform'd in our Chappels but for the Erogs and Crabs they are no where but in your Brains Misrepresent I 'll send some to see within a day or two Represent You have enough ready to go upon such an Errand If they bring you any Crabs or Frogs thence pray let me have a sight of them Publish'd with Allowance LONDON Printed by Henry Hills Printer to the King 's Most Excellent Majesty for his Houshold and Chappel MDCLXXXVI THE CATHOLIC REPRESENTER CHAP. X. Private Interpretation of Scriptures the Occasion of Divisions Some Protestant Divines call in the assistance of Authority and Guides but all ends in the Private Spirit The Question started Where was the Protestant Religion as it is now Reform'd before Luther The Answers of some Protestant Divines Represent YOu broke off my last Discourse with your Dream of Frogs and Crabs But I 'll take it up now and therefore I must tell you I cannot but admire your Procedings in leaving the Holy Bible to the Vulgar to be scann'd and Interpreted by them at pleasure 'T is evident they being of Different Capacities and Inclinations they can never so agree in their Interpretations as to meet in One Faith to be of One Mind and One Spirit as is commanded by St. Paul. 1 Cor. 1. 10. This is too clearly Demonstrated in the Distractions of this our Nation where so many setting up for Interpreters of Scripture there are Religious Sects Divisions Perswasions Faiths and Creeds multiplyed without number to the scandal of the Christian Name every-one pretending to the Truth while yet these being so numerous the true Faith is but One One God and one Faith Eph. 4. 5. And the Reason of these divisions is obvious For tho' the Bible is but one in all their Hands yet this Sacred Book doe's not instruct and direct them but by certain means to be us'd on their part And these Means being according to D. Reynolds and Whitaker The reading it their conference of Places their weighing of the circumstances of the Text their skill in the Tongues their Diligence and Prayer How is it possible they should all agree in their Expositions of H. Writ since these Actions on their behalf are but Humane Endeavours Subject to Error Oversight Infirmity and as different as their several Parts and Capacities Can all compare Texts alike Can they all weigh Circumstances alike Are they all skill'd in Languages alike How then shall they be instructed and directed alike when their Instruction and Direction as to the Christian Faith depends upon these Means And while they thus rely on their own endeavours their own searching and interpreting the Scriptures as the Means whereby to arrive to the True Faith is it not a miserable thing to consider that these Divided Christians having rejected the Interpretation of the Catholic Church do now every one rely on so unsafe Means for their Faith and Salvation that no man dares trust to but themselves that is every Private Person on his own Private Search and Interpretation of H. Writ Which whilst every one depends on for himself yet no body dares trust to besides nor think it sufficient whereon to build their Salvation And the result of this is to bring all to the Private Spirit Misrepresent I have let you run on so long declaiming against the Interpretations of the Private Spirit to see what you wou'd be at And now you have spent so much breath you have at last said nothing but in the air Why We are not for the Private Spirit If you read Mr. Sa. Crispe 's Sermon at the Primary Visitation of the Bishop of Norwich 1686. You 'l see the Guidance of the Private Spirit prov'd nothing better than Enthusiasm p. 6. That it has made so much havock in the World in the worst designs in the murder of Princes the overturning of Kingdoms and Churches that there is nothing so vile or Monstrous Earthly sensual or devilish but if this pretence be admitted may pass for Inspiration And that consequently 't is not to be rely'd on as proper to conduct any to salvation He declares plainly the necessity of a Guide in this affair And that all those who desire not to miss their way must not only apply themselves with due modesty to the searching the Scriptures but must likewise carefully use the Ministerial Aids of the Christian Church And the reason why so many are given over to Strong Delusions and to believe a Lye He says p. 7. is because out of Pride or Wantonness they forsake the Guides of Gods appointment The like application to Church Guides or Ministerial Helps is required by the Author of the Discourse concerning a Guide in matters of Faith p. 38. as likewise by the late Discourse Concerning a Judge of Controversies So that you see These Protestant Divines are not for encouraging the Enthusiasms of every mans Private Interpretation of Scripture No they are for a just deference to Authority and the use of Guides Represent I confess some of them to keep up the Face of a Church do Speculatively contend for Authority and Guides but then in Fact they again defeat all these their Pretensions whilst they own no Authority to be so Great or Safe with them but 't is to be subjected to the control of every Private Examiner and so to be follow'd or not follow'd as every man in his own Private Capacity shall think fit So that the Vltimate Appeal with them is not to Authority but to the Private Spirit They maintain the
currant Testimonies of the Ancient Fathers are so certain and evident that many Learned Protestants upon this Consideration refuse to stand the Test of their Authorities thinking it far more advantageous to their Cause to give them a general Disclaim Hence Mr. Whitaker affirms the Popish Religion to be patcht up out of the Fathers Errors Cont. Dur l. 6. p. 423. And Dr. Humfrey most severely reprehends Mr. Jewel for his so bold Appeal to the Primitive Fathers affirming that herein Mr. Jewel gave the Papists too large a scope was injurious to himself and after a manner spoil'd himself and the Church Misrepres So then I see you intend to claim the Fathers not only of Constantine 's Time and the Following Ages as Abettors of Popery but likewise Those who in the First Centuries immediately succeeded the Apostles And what Room then do you leave for Protestancy Repres 'T is not only I that claim Them but even the Protestants themselves you see of the precedent Age such who were not asham'd to speak the Truth make a surrender of them laying aside all Pretensions either to Them or their Doctrine And when they have disown'd all the Fathers one by one from Clement Ignatius Irenaeus who liv'd in the Apostles Days and succeeded them in their Function to S. Jerome Austin Leo Gregory the last of which surviv'd the Fifth Century when they have declar'd that Antichrist began his Reign and obscur'd the Light of the Gospel even from the Time of the Apostles I wonder what Room as you say there 's left for Protestancy It savours something of a Mystery methinks call'd Nonsense to say the Protestant Religion is the same Pure Religion as was Anciently and Generally Profess'd amongst the Fathers and Christians of the Primitive Church and then to condemn the same Fathers and Christians of the Primitive Church for being infected with Popery and giving way to Antichrist Wherefore to avoid these Inconveniences if you 'l take my Advice Misrepresenter I believe you had better pretend no longer Right to the Primitive Fathers but as you have condemn'd the Eight hundred Years next before the Reformation of Damnable Errors and Popish Superstitions to take one step further back and e'en take in the other Six hundred Years too and so condemn them all in the lump from Christ's Time to Luther for being Papists and Popishly affected Never Mince the matter They were all Men you know and subject to Error and when you are once in 't is as easily condemning your Fore-fathers for Fourteen Ages as for Eight Your First Reforming-Apostles were something of this mind and thought it no more difficulty to Censure and Condemn the Primitive Fathers than Those they found in the time of K. Henry 8. but were for Reforming all with the same Hand Hearken a little to your courageous Luther In the Writings says he of Jerome there is not a word of True Faith in Christ and Sound Religion Tertullian is very Superstitious I have held Origen long since Accursed of Chrysostome I make no account Basil is of no worth he is wholly a Monk I value him not of a Hair Cyprian is a Weak Divine The Apology of Philip Melancthon far excels all the Dostors of the Church and exceeds even Austin himself Coll. Mens c. de Patr. Eccles And in another place The Fathers says he of so many Ages have been plainly Blind and most Ignorant in the Scriptures They err'd all their Life-time and unless they were mended before their Deaths they were neither Saints nor pertaining to God's Church To. 2. l. de Serv. Arbit Peter Martyr is of the same mind and therefore says plainly That as long as we stand to Councils and Fathers we shall always remain infected with the same Errors viz. of Popery And certainly Misrepresenter these Your First Setters up for Reformation were in the Right on 't for nothing can possibly so strengthen Protestancy and justifie the Separation as this Levelling Divinity For your Going by halves and pretending to be of the Religion of the First Ages of the Church fills People with Doubts and Scruples whilst looking back upon the Professors of those Times instead of Protestancy they find so much Popery amongst them Publish'd with Allowance Printed by Henry Hills Printer to the King 's Most Excellent Majesty for his Houshold and Chappel M DC LXXX VI. THE CATHOLIC REPRESENTER CHAP. XVI A New Way of making all the Popish Sayings of the Primitive Fathers to be Good Protestancy The Art of Interpreting do's Feats it makes way for Atheism and Infidelity Represent HOW stands your Head to day Misrepresenter have you Consider'd the Proposal I made you at our last Meeting Are you for disclaiming all Title to the Primitive Church and Huffing those Ancient Fathers as Luther Peter Martyr and others did who designing a Through-Reformation were alike for calling those Great Doctors to an account of the First Ages as they did those they found in the Time of King Henry 8 Or are you for Reforming upon These First Reformers and taking in those Primitive Fathers of the Church for Protestants which They cast off and Condemn'd for Papists Misrepres I have Consider'd this Matter very seriously and taken the Advice of Friends upon the Point And therefore to be short with you I value no more the Saying of Luther than he did Those Ancient Fathers whom he condemn'd as Weak Divines Superstitious and Valu'd not of a Hair. He was so near the Times of Darkness that he could not well look back and make Judgment of any thing behind him Repres Nay I commend you in this 't is only just to serve him in his kind 'T was Tertullian's Saying Curâ—â—nm idem licet Marcionitis quod Marcioni If Marcion has rebell'd against the Church why should his Followers think much to rebel against him And since Luther cast off all Authority and valu'd not the Writings and Doctrine of the most Eminent Fathers of the Primitive Church why shou'd any one think much of undervaluing him by his own Example If Luther could so easily throw by S. Cyprian for a Weak Divine and S. Basil for being wholly a Monk is not this Precedent enough for any Follower of Luther to cast him off for an Apostate Friar and an Ambitious Divine Well but if you Reform upon Luther in this Point and don 't think fit with him to lay aside all the Writings of the Ancient Fathers as Erroneous and Superstitious what do you do with all those troublesome Passages in their Works wherein They are such Positive Asserters of Popish Doctrines that 't is impossible for any Man to take the Authors for any thing but Papists which do's not well suit with your Claim to them as Protestants Misrepres Pish I value no more these Difficulties than Luther did the Fathers that is not of a Hair. If the First Reformers bad their Eyes but half open what 's that to us who have the Noon-light of the Gospel shining upon us
Ignorance remain in that Communion which is the utmost it seems of what they 'll allow the Papists Do you see Misrepresenter by this how injuriously busie you have been in slandering the Papists How many thousand Mouths and Pens have you influenc'd to render the Papists black and odious for their uncharitablenss for their excluding all others from Salvation besides themselves when upon examination of the matter the Doctrine of Papists and Protestants in this affair is the same in reference to each other and the Protestants are as Vnchristian Damners of the Papists as they are made to be of the Protestants Misrepresent Come you abuse the Protestants they are too tender-hearted have more Charity then to say you are damn'd I never heard so foul a word fall from any of them And if you have found any thing like it in this Preface you are to consider the Author of it professes himself a Layman and you are not to take measure of their Religion from him he may be overseen through Zeal or Passion he 's dabling out of his element and may he mistaken Represent 'T is true he says he 's a Layman but he speaks so like a Clergy-man so almost in the very words and phrase of a Doctor of his Church mention'd at large in my last Reply that I cannot but take it for Church-sence dropping through a Lay-pen They both agree that the only hope of Salvation for the Papists is invincible Ignorance They both meet first in declaring against the Papists for their Vncharitableness and then unluckily jump in asserting the very Principle they condemn Then if you take the other Doctor along with you quoted in the same Reply who declares That all those who are Members of the Church of Rome must by the terms of Communion with that Church be guilty either of Hypocrisie or Idolatry either of which are sins inconsistent with Salvation You 'll find it most evident that this Preface speaks the sence of the Protestant Church and that the throwing it upon a Layman is but a vain Apology However to give the Protestants their due this I 'll say for them that amongst the kind They are the most Gentile and Courtly Damners that can possibly be met with For as you observe they are seldom or never heard to say The Papists must be damn'd no this Grim-divinity would alarm the dull Congregation and make 'em jealous of their Leaders that they condemn the Papiâ—ts for uncharitable and are as bad themselves They declare their sentiments therefore in softer language and instead of saying The Papists must be damn'd they only say there 's no reasonable hope of their Salvation We hope that such of them as by invincible Ignorance are detain'd in that Communion upon a general repentance will find mercy with God. They are Idolaters or Hypocrites Superstitious Blood-suckers c. and must be necessarily guilty of such sins as are inconsistent with Salvation but they are Members still of the true Church the corrupt and God's merciful In this kind of modest Cant and with the shew of Charity do they cast out the Papists amongst the Reprobate But all this if 't were put in plain English is just the same as to say They are damn'd and 't is only not to betray them selves to the people they do not speak out Tell me Misrepresenter when a Man has done his best to prove me an Idolater a Hypocrit a Corrupter of the Laws of God that I incur the most horrid of crimes without remorse or Conscience according to the Principles of my Religion Do's not he smooth me up with a very unseasonable Complement to tell me after all this dreadful Indictment that he has Charity enough to hope I shall be sav'd He first in good earnest makes a Devil of me and with the same breath seems willing to complement me into a Saint But however I don't think the Papists are much beholden to these for their so civil hopes for those that pretend to have Charity enough to hope thus of the Papists after they have made 'em Idolaters and Hypocrites I don't question may have the like charitable Hopes for the Socinian the Turk the Jew and the Atheists And if more Doctors then One don't in this lay a fair ground for the taking in the Devils too within the extent of their Charity I am mistaken But these their pretended hopes I can look on no better then bare Complements 't is plain their allowance of Salvation to Papists is upon no other score than the supposal of invincible Ignorance and this makes their damning Doctrine to be of as Iarge an extent nay to be the very same they decry in the Papists And 't is a Mystery to me how they impose upon the People making that look black and odious in the Papists which They practice themselves without the least breach of Christian Charity Misrepresent ' This is a Paradox then to you it seems come 't is a time of Christian liberty and I 'll be free with you They know the People they have to deal with the word Pope is an Enchantment and Papist an Infatuation to them Let them hear these but nam'd and they are so wholly possess'd their discerning Faculties so stupified that they 'll pass you over fifty contradictions without once stumbling No fear of their enquiring How can this be And pray now where 's your difficulty of perswading these people any thing Consider upon this and then call me Mis-representer again if you think I deserve it Publish'd with Allowance LONDON Printed by Henry Hills Printer to the King 's most Excellent Majesty for His Houshold and Chappel 1686. THE PAPIST Misrepresented and Represented SECOND PART CHAP. V. The Papist as to the Articles of his Belief follows the Method prescrib'd by Christ practis'd by the Apostles and the Primitive Church The Method is of Divine Institution and more according to Reason than what Others follow The Word Worship is Equivocal and acknowledg'd so by St. Austin THe Papist as Misrepresented has no good Reasons to defend his way of Worship and Religion and therefore the most Soverain means he has to work upon weak minds is plentifully to thunder out against them threatnings of Hell and Damnation and Poor Man What should he do He finds himself at a loss to convince their Vnderstanding and therefore he must not be wanting to work upon their Passions But since the strength of his Cause lies in nothing but pouring out Curses and pronouncing others to be in a Damnable condition it proves nothing but his own Confidence His Zeal may be great but being not grounded on good Reasons it only makes him the more Ridiculous and is uncapable of shaking any ones constancy because it arises without knowledge and judgment The Sum of the ninth page of the Preface THe Papist as Represented has so good Reasons for every Point of his Faith and Religion that whosoever casts them by as Weak and Ridiculous must
upon the same grounds turn Christianity out of doors and own it to be built on no better foundation than the Ignorant Zeal and Confidence of its Asserters The Motive of St. Augustin for his embracing the Scriptures for the Word of God was the Authority of the Catholic Church he expresly declaring cont Ep. Fundam That he would not believe the Gospel except the Authority of the Catholic Church mov'd him to it From this same Authority it is he receives every Article of his Faith and since in his very Creed he is taught to believe the Holy Catholic Church he thinks he has Reason enough to do it And whosoever taxes him of Weakness or Confidence for so doing do's nothing less than call him a Fool for believing his Creed and this is only one Remove from telling him that if he 'll be Wise and have good Reasons for what he do's he must be no Christian Others may be so Wise as to believe only Eleven Articles of their Creed for his part he thinks it no reflection upon his Wisdom to believe Twelve he was taught so many when he was a Child and he do's not find he has outgrown any one of the number This Catholic Church which by the Creed every Christian is bound to believe is as was explicated in our last the Congregation of all true Believers under the Government and Direction of Pastors and Teachers in an uninterrupted Succession descending from the Apostles who by Gods appointment are set over the Flock to feed and rule it and whom the Flock is oblig'd to hear and obey and whose Faith they are bound to follow in each respective Age. 'T is thus deliver'd to him by St. Paul Heb. 13. 7 17. Remember them which have the Rule over you whose Faith follow Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves And this way of the Faithful receiving their Instruction in the Christian Belief from the Catholic Church speaking to them by the Pastors and Teachers of the said Church which is the Method he observes as to every Article of his Faith has been always look'd on so sound and reasonable that in the time of the very Apostles and of the Primitive Church there was never any us'd but this 't was by this means the World first became Christian and by the very same Orthodox Christianity has been always preserv'd in its vigour and purity notwithstanding all the oppositions of Subtle Malicious or Self-interested Adversaries He that has but read the Scriptures cannot but have observ'd that the Method prescrib'd by Cbrist himself for the planting and propagating the Mysteries of his Holy Faith in the World was by ordaining and commissionating Apostles and Disciples to inform all Mankind of his Doctrine and Religion and the only Reasonable Means for any at that time to arrive to the certain Knowledge of the True Faith was to hear and submit to the Doctrine deliver'd by Those that were thus sent to Preach and Teach it This is the way by which the Christian Religion was first planted in the World and by this it has been ever since maintain'd The same Pastors and Overseers that were to teach the Gospel having another part of their Charge viz. To stand up in case of any Difficulties or Divisions arising in Point of Faith and by their Decision to put an end to the Controversie So to preserve Unity amongst the Faithful and defeat all the attempts of Turbulent and Presuming Spirits This Method of Pastors and Teachers directing and feeding and the Obligation of the Flock to Submit and Obey as necessary for continuing One Faith amongst Believers he has learnt to be Reasonable and of Divine Institution from the Practice of the Apostles For he finds Acts 15. that a Controversie being started at Antioch concerning the necessity of Circumcision 't was not left to every Particular Believer to think and decide the matter as they judge fit according to the best of their Knowledge and Parts neither did Paul and Barnabas with other Overseers of the Church of Antioch undertake to define any thing in this Particular No what was the Common Concern of all Christians was not to be determin'd by the Rulers and Pastors of any Particular Church but as belonging to All 't was to be remitted to the Consideration and Decision of Those who had All under their Charge that is the Pastors of the Vniversal or Catholic Church And thus did Paul and Barnabas for going up to Jerusalem the Cause was committed to the Hearing and Sentence of All the Apostles and Elders assembled at Jurusalem And as 't was determin'd by Them thus in Body 't was receiv'd by the Faithful with consolation not only at Antioch but in all other Places wheresoever the Gospel of Christ was preach'd by the Apostles who as they went through the Cities deliver'd them the Decrees for to keep that were ordain'd of the Apostles and Elders who were at Jerusalem Act. 16. 4. This was the Practice of the Apostles as it stands recorded in Holy Writ providentially there describ'd that their Successors the Rulers and Pastors of the Church in future Ages from this Authentic President might be provided of a Means whereby to maintain a Vnity in Faith amongst all True Believers however spread throughout the different and divided Nations of the Universe and know how to give a check to all growing Schisms and Heresies As therefore the Apostles put a stop to this Debate concerning the Circumcision by determining in Council in what manner the Faithful were to be taught were to believe and do in this Particular and by this Determination preserv'd the Vnity of Spirit in the Bond of Peace amongst the Faithful and prevented the many Divisions which otherwise might have torn the Flock asunder had they been every one lest to their own thoughts to judge of it as they pleas'd In like manner did the Pastors of the Church succeeding them in their Charge in the like Circumstances for when there appear'd any entring in among the Flock as was foretold by St. Paul Act. 20. 29. and like grievous Wolves not sparing it but speaking Perverse things to draw away Disciples after them The Overseers who were to feed the Church of God and commanded by the same Apostle to Watch and take heed to all the Flock ib. v. 28. assembled in Council and by their Determination declar'd to all under their Charge the Faith deliver'd and directed them which way to believe as to the Point in debate This was the Practice of the Primitive Church when as yet acknowledg'd Pure and Vncorrupted Thus did the Pastors then in the First General Council at Nice decide the Controversie rais'd by Arius thus they did in the Second at Constantinople in the Third at Ephesus in the Foutth at Chalcedon The Faithful always receiving with great Veneration the Determination of their Pastors thus Assembled and looking upon this Submission to their Doctrine as the most Reasonable Means whereby