even unto such as having lived in sinand ignorance are ready to receive condign punishment for their villanies deceiving them of those few minutes which might be improved in seeking after Evangelical Faith and Repentance But this is the least use they make of it There are in the world among those that are called Protestants Mighty men Nobles men of Dignity and Revenue who live in their sins and are resolved so to do Yet are they not able by any means to secure their consciences from troublesome fears of eternal miseries that will ensue on the course wherein they are By all crafty waies of access and compliance the Factors of this Church do insinuate themselves or by others are introduced into the acquaintance of this sort of Persons And the first thing they offer unto them is absolute security of eternal salvation if they will but relinquish Heresie wherein it is impossible they should ever be saved and betake themselves unto the conduct of the Church of Rome of the change of their lives the Relinquishment of their sins of Repentance from dead works of the Life of God and universal Obedience therein there are no words between them Many of these persons who are resolved beforehand rather to part with all the Religion in the world than with one of their lusts and sins do readily embrace the composition offered For really that which is tendred unto them is a consistency between living in sin and assured going unto Heaven which before they knew not that they could be reconciled For however they shall live for the future suppose in the sins of adultery fornication prophane swearing luxury drunkenness or the like the Church will take care that by Confessions Masses and Purgatory they shall be undoubtedly saved At this door have entred great numbers of unclean beasts unto the encrease of the Herd who often prove the most forward Zealots for the Catholick Cause 3. Secular Interests and advantages accommodated unto all sorts of Persons are another means of their prevalency There are no sorts of Persons from the highest to the lowest that come within their walk and compass or unto whom they can have access with the least probability of success unto whom they have not in a readiness to propose some secular advantages suited unto their State Condition Inclinations and Abilities Great men shall have favour and correspondencies with Potentates abroad besides a principal interest in that alteration in national affairs which they doubt not but they shall introduce Schollers shall be used and preferred at least when they have any eminency in abilities they shall not want steem and advancement Mechanicks shall be employed and the poorest one way or other provided for And for all sorts of discontented Persons who may be of any use unto their Interest they have the refuge of their Monasteries for their entertainment And is it any wonder if in this degenerate age wherein the most of men do openly and visibly declare a predominancy in their minds and affections of things carnal and temporal above those that are spiritual and eternal many be ensnared by these promises which either shall be made good unto them or at least are sufficient to keep them in expectation untill they are ingaged beyond recovery 4. Mâ—ny it is to be feared fall under the dreadful account given of Gods Righteous dealings with those who obstinately 〈…〉 under the Profession of the Truth 2 Thess. 2. 10 11 12. Because they received not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved God shall send them strong Delusions that they should believe a lie that they all might bedamned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness This is that which we have more cause to fear with respect unto this Nation than all the Artifices of of the Roman Church Lastly How powerful and prevalent the last voice of this Church may prove I know not The Motto of some potentates on their great Guns is Vox Vltima Regum the last voice of Kings that of this Church is fire and fagot wherewith I pray and hope that they shall never more be heard to speak in England Allowing them these advantages I shall now prove that no wise or sober man who takes care of his own Salvation can give up himself to the conduct of the Church of Rome in his choice of Religion then when there are the most abounding contests about the Truth and the right way of its Profession which is supposed our present case In my first reason I shall proceed no farther but to render this pretended Guide suspected with all wise and sober men For it will be granted I suppose that we ought throughly to consider who or what that Guide is whereunto we do absolutely resign the disposal of all our spiritual concernments without power of Revocation If any men were to make such an absolute Trust of their Lives Estates aud Liberties into the hand of another man or of other men putting them all absolutely out of their own Power certainly they would think it their Wisdom and Interest to consider aright how and what they are unto whom they do so fully and absolutely resign themselves and all that they have And if they have any just suspicion of their honesty or Faithfulness or that they seek themselves or their own advantage in taking this Trust upon them they will not easily be induced to resign up their all unto them Yea the more earnest they are to perswade them the more will they suspect that there is Knavery in the cause How much more carefull ought we to be in the chusing a Guide into whose power and disposal we must resign all the eternal concernments of our souls which all men do who absolutely give give up the conduct of themselves unto the Church of Rome in all matters of Religion For notwithstanding all their pleas of a sure and safe bank for the consciences of men there are great presumptions that they will break at last and leave them who have entrusted them unto eternal beggary I shall give but one Reason which renders this pretended Guide so justly suspected as that no wise man can commit himself thereunto in things of this importance And this is the prodigious worldly secular advantages which the Church of Rome hath made unto it self by this pretence of being the only Guide of all Christians in matters of Religion For this pretence is the sole foundation of the whole Papacy which when the sand of it is removed must fall to the ground And we may consider both what they have obtained by it and how they use their Acquisition For 1. By vertue of this pretence alone they have erected their Popedom obtained Principalities and Soveraignties possessed themselves of the principal Revenues of most Nations of Europe have heaped up huge Treasures of wealth wherewith they maintain innumerable Persons who have nothing to do but by all Arts to promote their Interest especially that
opposite unto the Way and Means prescribed by God himself unto that end It is so whether we respect the internal Qualifications of our minds or the Duties that he prescribeth or the Aid that he promiseth thereunto For as unto the first he requireth that those who would learn the Truth ought to be meek and lowly and humble for such alone he will teach Psal. 25. 8 9 14. Joh. 6. 45. and if we are not taught of God we learn nothing as we ought or not unto any purpose that they cast out all wickedness and superfluity of naughtiness that so they may receive the ingrafted Word with meekness Jam. 1. 21. Without these things they may be alwaies learning but shall never come unto the Knowledge of the Truth And as unto Means and Duties two things he enjoyns and indispensibly requires of us in order unto this end 1. That we study the Word continually that we meditate upon it and place our delight in it Joh. 1. 8. Deut. 6. 7. Psal. 1. 2. Isa. 8. 20. Joh. 5. 30. 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Psal. 119. 18. Joh. 16. 13. 1 Joh. 2. 20. 2. Fervent and diligent Prayer that we may be lead into and preserved in the Truth that we may be enabled to receive it and hold it fast against Temptations and Oppositions For our Aid and Assistance herein he commands us to wait for it and expect the Spirit of Wisdâ—m and Revelation to open our eyes to bring us unto the full Assurance of Understanding or to lead us into all Truth Of these things of the necessity of them unto the due Knowledge of the Truth we hear nothing from this pretended Guide She knows well enough that to put the Minds of men into these Waies and the use of these Means whereby they may be taught of God and learn the Truth as it is in Jesus is to loose them from her self for ever Howbeit they are the only Waies and Means prescribed and blessed of God unto this end with those other especial Duties which belong unto them They will say it may be that they do instruct their Converts in these things and press them withal unto higher Acts of Devotion and Mortification than others do But there are two things which deprive them of any advantage by this pretence For 1. We see and know of what sort for the most part their Converts are I shall not give that character of them in words which generally they give of themselves in their works for I have nothing to do with the Persons of men And I should rejoyce to see them give a better evidence of being instructed in these things than as yet they have done But 2. Whatever of this nature they propose and prescribe unto them it is not unto this end that they may learn and know the Truth They require no more of any hereunto but that on their sophistical and frivolous pretences he give up himself unto their Guidance or submit himself unto the Authority of the Pope For hereby he formally becomes a member of the Catholick Church whose Faith whether he know it or no immediately becomes his and for particulars he must wait for the Priests information as occasion shall require This is I confess their great advantage in this World The way they propose to attain the Knowledge of the Truth is easy consistent with the lusts of men exposed equally to the wise and foolish to the sober and intemperate puts men out of all doubts giving them all the quiet assurance which deceit and falsehood can communicate The way of God unto the same end is difficult unto flesh and blood destructive unto the lusts of the flesh of the mind requiring Diligence Humility and Watchfulness in the Exercise of Grace all our Daies which things few are pleased withal Yet is this Way of God so suited unto the Nature of Religion so becoming the importance of this Duty so effectual not only unto the attainment of the Knowledge of Truth but unto all the ends of it in the Life of God is so necessary on the account of the Infinite Greatness and Holiness of God with the Nature of Divine Revelations as that no man who is not blinded with prejudices and corrupt Affections can decline it to embrace the other There are other things yet if it be possible of an higher Abomination to deter all sober Persons from touching with this Guide than those already insisted on And such they are as the present contrivances and practices of our adversaries do unavoidably compel us to plead in this cause and are in themselves sufficient for ever to divest that Church of this great and gainful pretence of being the only Guide of all men in Religion For Fifthly Consider what it is wherein they instruct many of them who betake themselves unto their Conduct and Guidance I mean of the Agents for and in the name of the Church of Rome The first thing which they labour to fix on their mindes and consciences is absolute Obedience unto their immediate Guides with a blind belief of what they propose unto them And this they prevail on them unto by assuming a twofold Authority unto themselves And the first is that of forgiving them all their sins though against the light of Nature and of their own consciences which they confess unto them and this confession they are obliged unto under pain of Damnation Some things indeed they do require of them in order unto a participation of Priestly absolution But they are all in the Power of the Priest to prescribe decline or accept which latter they will not be uneasy unto when it conduceth unto their advantage The issue is that in this pardon of their sins the souls of men may as safely acquiesce as if they were immediately pardoned by Christ himself And if they have occasion for the advantage of the Catholick Cause to put them on things that are openly sinful as Murder and Sedition either by vertue of the Direction Guidance and Commands of the Priests they loose their Nature and become no sins at all or they are so assured of pardon as puts them in their consciences into as good a state and condition as if they had not sinned And 2. They assume unto themselves an Authority to grant especial Priviledges and Rewards in Heaven and Earth to the doing of what tâ—ey command or require whatever it be As unto the Earth so many Prayers so many Masses shall be assigned unto their advantage and in some cases Canoninozation with all the glorious Priviledges of it And as unto Heaven what they so do shall have such a proportion of merit as shall exalt them unto the second third or fourth place of precedency and honour therein among all the Holy Martyrs It is uncredible what Power and Dominion over the consciences of their Proselytes they obtain by these means with other artifices of the like Nanture Hence many of them know of no other dependance
THE CHURCH OF ROME NO Safe Guide OR Reasons to prove that no Rational man who takes due care of his own Eternal Salvation can give himself up unto the Conduct of that Church in matters of Religion By John Owen D. D. JEREM. 7. 4 9 10. Trust ye not in lying words saying The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are these Will ye steal murder and commit Adultery and swear falsly and burn Incense unto Baal and walk after other Gods whom ye know not and come and stand before me in this house which is called by my Name LONDON Printed for Nathaniel Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultry over against the Stocks Market 1679. Imprimatur March 5. 1679. PREFACE THE Ensuing Discourse was the Subject and Substance of two Sermons Preached unto a Private Congregation The Author of them had no design or purpose ever to have made them Publick The importunity of many who judged they might be of use unto others because they found them so unto themselves gave occasion unto this Publication of them Yet had they not so prevailed but that he judged it was neither unmeet for him nor unseasonable for others In publico discrimine omnis homo miles est No man is to be forbidden to bring his Bucket to help allay the flames of a raging Fire And it is the Pretence of the Church of Rome to be the only Guide of all Christians in Religion which is here examined a work which a concurrence of all sorts of circumstances renders seasonable For as this Pretence is the sole Foundation of the whole Papacy with all the Power and secular Advantages that it hath obtained unto it self so it is that alone which gives countenance and warranty unto the Factors and Agents of that Church to design and prepetrate such things as are destructive of all that is praise-worthy or desireable among Mankind and unspeakably scandalous unto Christian Religion Remove the sand or rubbish hereof and the whole Fabrick will dissolve of it self and fall to the ground This small Discourse is an Attempt unto that end whose success is humbly recommended unto the care of God over his Church If there seem to be any severities of expression used towards some of the Church of Rome the Reader is to consider that hard things cannot well be represented in soft and pliant words And if there be nothing of this nature found but what hath the appearance of severity from the things themselves which are expressed there is no blameable excess However the Author is one who heartily desires and prayes for the outward Peace and Tranquility of all men in this world whose Principles will allow them to live peaceably with others THE CHURCH of ROME NO SAFE GUIDE THE Foundation of the small ensuing discourse shall be laid in a Position wherein as I suppose Persons of all sorts who are concerned in the things treated about are agreed namely that it is the Duty of every man who taketh care of his own eternal Salvation to betake himself into some Guide or Conduct that may safely lead him unto the Knowledge of the Truth and the Practice of Christian Obedience The Nature of Religion the State of our own Minds in this World with the eternal Importance of a safe unerring Guidance in things Spiritual and Supernatural do require that the utmost of our Diligence and Prudence be used in the discharge of this Duty in the choice of this Guide No man of himself is sufficient by his own Reason alâ—ne to be his own Guide They who thinking themselves wise have attempted so to be have waxed vain in their Imaginations and their foolish hearts have been darkned Rom. 1. 21. The warning and instruction given by Solomon do principally respect this case He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool but whoso walketh wisely shall be delivered Prov. 28. 26. But the Knowledg of and Adherence unto such a Guide are eminently necessary when there are great Differences and Divisions amongst men about Religion especially if they are mannaged in waies and by means not only scandalous unto Religion it self but pernitious unto Humane Society in their consequents When men not only say and contend that here is Christ and lo there is Christ Matth. 24. 23. but also on the account of these differences ingage into waies and practices ruinous unto the souls of men and destructive unto all that is praise worthy in this World those who are not careful to chuse and adhere unto a faithful Guide and conduct are no less defective in Wisdom than negligent in their Duty Were a man in a Wilderness where are a multitude of cross paths all pretending to lead unto an inhabited City whither he must go or perish if he see men not only contending some for one way some for another but killing and destroying one another about the preference of the several waies they esteem best and safest he deserves to wander and perish if he refuse a Guide that is tendred unto him with sufficient evidence of his Truth and Faithfulness That there is such a one ready in our present case shall be immedately evinced The differences in Religion that are at present among us are of two sorts First Such as comparatively are of small moment as unto the principal ends of the Life of God The measure of these differences is that which way soever they are determined in the minds of men they neither overthrow the Foundation nor obstruct the due exercise of Faith and Love For this is our great Duty with respect unto Doctrines in Religion that we hold fast the form of sound words in Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 1. 13. And if any of them are so small as that it cannot be pretended that they overthrow the Foundations of Faith and Love yet if they hinder them in their operations and due exercise according unto the Rule of the Gospel they are pernicious unto the souls of them in whom they have that effect But such differences which comply with this measure tend unto nothing in themselves that is obstructive unto the Glory or Power of Religion whatever they may be pressed and wrested unto by the Lusts Prejudices and carnal Interests of men For there is no ground to be taken from them for severe thoughts concerning the state and condition of them who so differ as unto their Interest in present Grace and future Glory To live in a neglect of Love in all the effects and fruits of it towards such on any pretences to design their hurt and evil is to live in open contradiction unto all the Rules of the Gospel Such severe thoughts are the principal causes and occasion of all pernicious evils in Religion especially those which are most scandalous unto it and most inconsistent with that good of Mankind which Christian Religion is designed to promote For things are come to that pass among the generality
they and they alone are the Church of Christ All others who are called Christians in the World are Hereticks and Schismaticks who belong not unto it nor have any Interest in it Howbeit if the description given us of the Church of Christ in the Scripture be right and good it is almost impossible there should be any Society or combination of men on a religious account more unlike it than that which is called the Church of Rome This therefore must be taken upon their own credit and vehement Affirmation by them who have a mind so to do 2. That this Church which they alone are is entrusted with Authority over the souls and consciences of all Christians and all that would be so to be their only Guide in all that they are to know believe and do in Religion so that whoever gives not themselves up unto their conduct must perish eternally It were no hard task to manifest that a supposition hereof is destructive unto the Nature of Evangelical Faith and Obedience as also of all the Directions and Precepts given by Christ and his Apostles for the discharge of our Duty with respect unto them But this they must obtain or the whole present Popal Interest falls unto the ground Yet neither will a supposition that there is such a Church secure them their own pretences to be this Church being openly contradictory to the Scripture Nor is the Power claimed herein derived from the Apostles who professed themselves not to be Lords of the Faith of Believers 2 Cor. 1. 24. 1 Pet. 5. 3. 3. They plead that hereon no more is required of any man who takes care of his Salvation but that he give up himself absolutely and entirely unto the conduct of their Church believing what it proposeth and that on this ground alone that it is proposed by it and obeying all its commands whereby they seem to set this pretended Guide in the Temple of God shewing him that he is God This is the claim of the Church of Rome these are the Principles whereinto it is resolved which whether they have any thing in them of Truth or Modesty will immediately be made to appear Secondly The Holy Scripture with the Divine Aids and assistances for the understanding thereof which God hath promised unto all that diligently seek him is pleaded to be the only Rule and Guide that men ought to betake themselves unto in case of those important differences in Religon which are under consideration And the plea on the behalf thereof is reducible unto these five Heads 1. That this Scripture is a Divine supernatural Revelation of God his Mind and his Will This Foundation is unquestionable and will never fail them that build upon it Those of the Roman Religion will propose ensnaring Questions about it unto them on whom they design They will be asking how they know the Scripture to be the Word of God labouring to disprove the evidences they produce to prove it so to be But this bold artifice is of no use in this case for themselves confess it so to be only they prefer the Authority of their Church testifying it so to be as more safely to be rested in and trusted unto than that of God himself which cannot be unto the advantage of their cause with any considerate Persons 2. That it is a Divine Revelation of the whole Mind and Will of God as unto all things that are necessary unto his Glory and our Salvation This it frequently testifieth of it self and on the former supposition of its being such a Divine Revelation its Testimony must be granted to be infallibly true Both these Assertions the Apostle expresly conjoyneth 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Somewhat they except here in respect of their unwritten Traditions but dare not positively deny that the Scripture is a sufficient Revelation of all things absolutely necessary unto Salvation Indeed to do so will leave no assurance unto any man that he can ever know what is necessary unto salvation But they have a reserve whereunto they betake themselves on a concession hereof namely that whatever be contained in it it cannot be understood but as the sense of it is declared by their Church But this is a bold unproved presumption contrary unto the design of God in giving us his Word and the experience of all who have been exercised in it 3. The Way Manner and Method of this Revelation are such as are suited unto Divine Wisdom and Goodness whether they please men or no. It is with reference unto these things that they expatiate and enlarge themselves in charging the Scripture with obscurity and unfitness thereon to be our only Rule and Guide For the Bible they say is a Book composed of Histories Prophecies Songs Prayers and Epistles and is therefore unmeet for any such use or end But these things are of no consideration in our present case It is thus given out immediately by God himself and therefore every way answers Divine Wisdom and Goodness whether men are pleased with it or no we are not at all concerned He who designed it for the instruction of the Church alone knows what was to be the Method of its composure unto that end And it hath been proved on another occasion that considering the state of the Church in its several Ages the nature of that Faith which is to be wrought and confirmed by this Divine Revelation with the manner of teaching becoming the Authority of God and the holy Scripture could not have been given out unto us in any other Order or Method than that wherein it is disposed 4. On these suppositions there neither is nor can be more required of us in order unto our eternal salvation but that we understand aright firmly believe and yield obedience unto the Revelation of the Mind and Will of God that is made therein The Assurance hereof is so evidently included in the foregoing Assertions that it needs no confirmation Every thought unto the contrary is so injurious unto the Wisdom Goodness Grace and Truth of God so opposite unto all the Notions of the Minds of men on a supposition of Gods speaking unto them that it ought to be rejected with detestation 5. There are efficacious Aids promised and assured means appointed by God himself to help all that diligently seek him unto a certain infallible understanding of his Mind in the Scripture so far as the Knowledge of it is necessary unto our Salvation This also I have lately confirmed in a peculiar discourse These are the Heads whereunto the Plea for the Guidance of the Scripture in all differences and divisions about Religion may be reduced The case being thus plainly stated the enquiry hereon is whether of these Guides a man that takes care of his own eternal Salvation should betake himself and firmly adhere unto to the end In answer unto this Enquiry I shall prove that no wise man who feareth God and is careful of the eternal condition of his own soul
can chuse the Church of Rome for this Guide foregoing the other of the Scripture with the Divine Aids promised and given for the understanding thereof The Person of whom I speak I suppose to be a wise man that is one who prefers things eternal unto those that are temporal so as not to be ensnared by earthly Interests and Advantages unto the forfeiture of his Interest in things above and will be careful not to be imposed on by men who design their own Advantage in what they would perswade him unto He who is otherwise minded is a fool He is also one that feareth God and therefore is real and in good earnest in Religion as desiring to please him in all things For there are many who give the world no small disturbance about religious concerns who do on all occasions manifest that they have little or no regard unto God in what they say or do But in the Persons whom I address unto I suppose that they really take care above all other things of the eternal salvation of their souls And I shall not deal with them by abstruse Arguments nor by Testimonies of men that may be bandied up and down on the one side and the other but by such plain Reasonings as are accommodated unto the common understanding of all sober sedate rational Persons who own the Principles of Christian Religion which have their force from the general usage of mankind in things of an alike nature the common natural Principles of mens minds where they are not vitiated and depraved with the experience of what they have found already in any Duties of Religious Worship Indeed if we could but prevail with men to be perswaded that every man must believe for himself and obey for himself and give an account for himself this difference would be at an end For the choice of the Church of Rome to be the Guide enquired after is nothing but the putting of the care of saving our souls unto others who will not be able to answer for us when our Trial shall come And this subject in particular I have chosen at present to insist upon for two Reasons 1. Because as was before observed those who at present do plead the Interest of this Church among us do decline what they can all particular Controversies and under various notions betake themselves to this alone about an Authoritative Guide and Leader of all Christians which they pretend their Church to be They do not in their projection for Proselytes go to them and enter into Disputes about Transubsubstantiation the Sacrifice of the Mass Adoration of Images or the like no nor yet about the Popes Infallibility But supposing themselves to be greatly advantaged by the differences in Religion that are among us which usually they enlarge upon without either truth or modesty under a concealment of greater differences among themselves they insist only on the necessity of such a Guide which they pretend their Church alone to be Hereby have they prevailed on many who on one account or other do think themselves unmeet any longer to take care of their own salvation And when once they have prevailed herein there is nothing so horrid nothing so wicked that they cannot impose on the consciences of their Proselytes They will not now scruple or stick at all at those things which they would have dreaded to have thought of whilst they had the care of themselves in any measure upon them Not one man of a thousand who supposeth that he hath himself and his own soul in charge that he must give an account of and for himself will venture on those waies and practices which they will with great satisfaction rush into under their conduct 2. Because of the strange waies they have lately taken to put this pretence into use and practice and to take us all under their conduct Pretending unto the guidance of our souls in the things of God they have attempted to take us into their power as unto our Lives Liberties Laws and all other our concernments in this world which whosoever doth unlawfully forfeits all his own And a sufficient Indication it is of what Guidance we were like to meet withal when way was to be made unto it by Fire Confusion Blood Massacres and Sedition Should there be a School erected pretending unto an easie certain way of teaching all Sciences Divine and Humane should it pretend a Grant that nothing of this nature should be taught or learned but in and by it yet if I saw the posts of the house hung like Shambles with the limbs of slaughtered person if the ground about it be strewed with the bones and ashes of men burned to death here lying one strangled there another stabbed a third poisoned all for no other cause but either because they would not submit to the teaching thereof or would not learn things foolish and wicked I should avoid such a School and its Power so far as I were able But yet because there hath of late among us a great accession been made really unto this Guidance by persons formerly professing the Protestant Religion I shall a little enquire into the Causes of it or the Means whereby it hath been brought about And I shall not fear to say that as unto the most of them who have relinquished the Protestant Religion they are these that follow 1. A profound Ignorance of the Internal Powers of Religion with an utter want of all experience of them in themselves makes them an easie prey to seducers Persons who have never had any concernment in Religion beyond the out-side solemnity of it with some notions and opinions about the Doctrines of it are easily tossed to and fro from one Religion unto another or unto none at all through the cunning slights of men who lye in wait to deceive When men have only a form of Godliness in the Profession of the Truth but know nothing of the Power of it it is an uncertain Accident whether they persevere in that Profession or no. There are Internal Powers of true Religion which are efficacious on the minds of men to enlighten them to purifie them and give them liberty from the adverse Powers of darkness vanity and bondage unto sin Where men have experience of them in their own hearts there and there alone if a vigorous impression unto the contrary do befall them will they be constant in the Profession of the Truth The success of our Roman Emissaries is confined almost unto that sort of Persons who under the outward Profession of the Protestant Religion have been totally ignorant of the vertue and power of the Truth contained therein 2. Wickedness of Life taking shelter in the Promises of eternal security which that Church with presumptuous confidence tenders unto all that will give up themselves unto her conduct though in the last moment of their lives gains them a multitude of Proselytes This engine they apply unto many when they are leaving the world
what profit and advantage they make unto themselves by the conduct which they have assumed others according to their proportion shall be sharers therein The Holy Apostles succeeded unto the Personal Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ as unto this conduct of the souls of men Such Power was committed unto them by him who sent them even as the Father sent him such Assurance was there in their conduct through Infallible Inspiration and the presence of the Holy Ghost with them in an extraordinary manner as that all men were bound to give up themselves unto their Conduct and Guidance Howbeit they judged that there was no Duty more incumbent on them than to make it evident unto all the world that they neither sought nor would accept of any temporal Advantages unto themselves by the Trust reposed in them but were contended that their portion in this world should lye in all the extremities and calamities of it And this they willingly submitted unto that all men might he encouraged to trust them in their everlasting affairs when they saw what loosers they were by it in this World without desire hope or expectation of any better condition The Church of Rome laies claim to the very same Authority over and conduct of the consciences of men in Religion as were committed unto Jesus Christ and his Apostles It is as safe as they pretend for a man to cast off the Authority and Institutions of Christ himself as to dissent from those of the Pope But what in the mean time meaneth this bleating of the Sheep and lowing of the Oxen whence is it that they have mannaged the pretence hereof to the gaining of Power Dominion Wealth and Revenues unto themselves beyond that of the greatest Kings and Princes in this World Let others do as they shall think fit I shall never commit the conduct of my soul unto them who for ought I know would never look after me nor any other were it not for the advantage they make by it unto the service of their earthly desires It may be said that other Churches and Persons do make advantages unto themselves by that conduct of the souls of men which they lay claim unto And if this be sufficient to render such Guides suspected we shall scatter the Churches and leave none to guide them I answer it doth no way follow For the Rules Measures and outward Allowances for and in the name of their Labour and Guidance unto the Ministers of the Gospel are in general so stated in the Scripture as that men cannot mistake therein unto their prejudice But we are not at all concerned in what Advantages men make unto themselves hereby provided that the conduct they pretend unto be such as is accompanied with no dominion over our Faith but is proposed only as an help thereunto Whilst men require not an absolute Resignment of our souls and consciences unto them but leave us unto the perfect libert of our own minds to judge upon and receive what they propose unto us to examine and try all that they instruct us in which we may reject or refuse according as it evidenceth it self to be good or evil unto us there is no great danger in our conduct This I say is sufficient to render this pretended Guide which with so much vehement importunity would impose it self upon us to be so justly suspected unto all men not forsaken as well of common Reason as of all due Reverence unto the Word of God as that they will not readily embrace it 2. As what hath been spoken is sufficient to render this pretended Guide suspected with all sober and considerate Persons so there are cogent reasons why it ought to be absolutely rejected by all who take care of their own eternal Salvation The cause peculiarly under consideration is stated on a double supposition 1. That there are such differences in and about Religion among us as wherein the eternal Salvation of the Souls of men are immediately concerned For some of them consist in Opinions Principles and Practises pernicious and destructive unto Salvation as each side doth acknowledge and contend And it is meet the cause at present should be expresly stated on this supposition because those of the Roman Church design their great advantage from it 2. That in this case we ought diligently to apply our selves unto some safe Guide which may lead and conduct us in the right way wherein we may glorify God and obtain eternal Blessedness unto our own souls This also is not only allowed by them but fiercely contended for as a Foundation of their whole cause Wherefore to determin our Thoughts aright in our enquiry on these suppositions we may consider the things that follow 1. The first Supposition is plainly stated in the Scripture It is plainly affirmed therein that such things were then beginning in the Church that they would fall out in after ages and encrease towards the End Consummation of all things See to this purpose Acts 20. 29 30. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. 2 Pet. 2. 1 3. 1 John 4. 1 2 3. all in compliance with the holy warnings and predictions of our blessed Saviour himself unto the same purpose Matth. 24 4 5 11 23 24 25 26. In all these places and many other the Cause as stated in our supposition is expresly foretold with the pernicious effects of Opinions and Heresies overthrowing the Foundation of Faith and destroying the souls of men In this cause is a certain Guide necessary in a peculiar manner 2. In no one place either in express words or by direct consequence are Believers or the Disciples of Christ directed in this case to betake themselves unto such a Guidance of the Church of Rome They are not so in any one place where these Divisions are foretold where properly such directions should be expected or no where nor yet in any other place whatever Any one Divine Testimony unto this purpose giving this Direction on that supposition shall for ever determine this Controversie Shall we think that the Lord Jesus Christ foreknowing foretelling and warning all his Disciples of such a dangerous state and condition as from which they cannot escape or be delivered without a Guide that will safely lead and conduct them if there were but one such Guide prepared and appointed by him should no where in any Divine Revelation direct them thereunto Doth a supposition hereof truly represent unto us his love care and compassion towards the Church Can any thing more injurious unto his Wisdom Faithfulness and Honour be once imagined It is impossible therefore that any man in the case supposed should betake himself unto the sole conduct of the Pope or Church of Rome without casting contempt on him and his Authority But 3. Yet there is farther Evidence of his Mind herein in that we are expresly in this case directed unto another Guide without any mention of the Church of Rome which is utterly exclusive of
Wherefore for men to suffer themselves to be inveagled their souls to be perverted and their Faith overthrown by a few captious Sophystical Reasonings of men of perverse minds pursuing their own secular Interest to turn aside from the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles in so plain evident and indisputable a case and Duty is such a folly in it self such an impiety against God such a contempt of the Lord Christ his Wisdom Authority and Care as must be eternally accounted for Thirdly The things for the most part which this pretended Guide proposeth unto and imposeth on the Consciences Faith and Practice of them who give up themselves unto its conduct are so unreasonable so contrary unto the common sense of Christians and the very first notions of the minds of men any way enlightened with the Doctrine of the Gospel so directly opposite unto the design of God in the Revelation of himself unto us and his commands concerning our Faith and Obedience that it is a thing astonishable how they should attain an access unto them who have any sense of these things But when once men have their eyâ—s bored out as they do it for themselves in the Resignation they make of their understandings and consciences unto the conduct of this Church they must grind whatever is brought unto them I shall briefly instance in some few things of this sort 1. The keeping of the Scripture from their daily and continual use I speak not directly unto them who being brought up from their infancy in that Church know nothing of the Scripture but that the Bible is an obscure dangerous Book unto all Lay-men which Hereticks make use of unto their advantage Such Persons can be contented to want it or be without it all their lives especially seeing it is full of Light and Principles inconsistent with their carnal Lusts and Interest But I speak of such who many of them like Timothy have known the Scriptures from Children and having been conversant in them have had some experience of their Power Unto such as these come Persons in the name and on the behalf of this pretended Guide And a compass of plausible words they will use fit to distract and amuse weak and unstable minds But the plain sense of what they say in this case is cast away this Bible this Book it doth but perplex you and disturb your minds with things that are above you which you cannot understand and is therefore an occasion of almost all the pernicious errors that are in the World Will not any such Person be ready to say hath God given this Book this alone as the only Revelation of his Mind and Will unto us as the Guide and Rule whereby we may come unto the eternal Enjoyment of him which you dare not directly deny hath he commanded me to Read Study Meditate and be conversant in it continually have I found the benefit of the Light counsel and consolation administred by it in my own soul and shall I now forsake it cast it away to betake my self unto your Guidance and direction shall I forsake God and Christ and the Holy Spirit all the Prophets and Apostles who daily speak unto me in and by this word to comply with you The very horror of the Proposal is enough to secure the minds of any who have the least spark of spiritual Light or Grace from a compliance with it Wherefore whether it be reasonable to leave the Word of God which is full of Light shining like the Sun in the Firmament to follow the glimmerings of this wandring Meteor which arose out of an horrible pit and there will end is left unto their consideration who take care of the eternal salvation of their own souls 2. The Solâ—mn Worship of God by the Guides of the Church in a Tongue and Language which the people do not understand is another of their Proposals This they are bound to attend unto on pain of damnation But how any thing can be more contrary unto the common sense of them who know what it is to pray in a due manner no man can conceive As unto them who do not yet is it not hard to convince them where they are not obstinate on other prejudices how irrational this Proposal is how inconsistent with that reasonable service that God requireth of us Others will say that they find hinderances and difficulties enough from and in this Duty from the weakness of their Faith and instability of their Minds the suggestions of Satan with diversions from outward objects if you add thereunto that they shall not understand a word of what is spoken in Prayer and they know well enough they shall never pray at all And the Truth is did we not know whence they took occasion for this strange contrivance so contrary to the nature of all Religion and what advantage they make of it unto themselves it could never be sufficiently admired how such a sensless Imagination should befall their Minds I do not design to shew how contrary it is to Scripture Precepts and Examples to the practice of all the Saints under the Old Testament and the New with that of the Primitive Churches and on all accounts what an abominable Sacriledge it is so to rob the Church of its chiefest Treasure it hath been done by others sufficiently I only give it as an instance how unmeet this pretended Church is to be such a Guide as whereunto we are to make an absolute Resignation of our understandings and consciences in all concerns of Religion And there is nothing that can make them who have any regard unto their own souls to reject its Guidance with more detestation Shall they accept them for their Guide in Religion who under pain of damnation confine them in all the publick Worship of the Church unto the use of a Language that they do not understand That instead of praying with their understandings they must be content with a dumb shew with postures and gestures with Altars and Pictures the antick actings of a Priest and a noise of words whose sense they know not at al If a man would seek for an Infallible Guide to Hell it is hard to find one more likely and better qualified unto that purpose than is this Church of Rome 3. There is at the same instant proposed unto us by this Guide the Doctrine of Transuâ—stantiation with the Sacrifice of the Mass thereon depending This they say we must believe at least avow that we do believe on pain of eternal and temporal destruction also But herein they require of us that on the meer credit of their conduct we must renounce the use of our senses the exercise of our Reason and actings of Faith on Divine Revelations all things whereby we are either Men or Christians that we may become blind Idolaters But they who pretending to be our Guides in Religion do thereon impose this monstrous Imagination on our credulity with the Idolatrous Practice
on any as unto present Peace and eternal Blessedness than that on the Priests alone Woful Practices do follow on these Principles For the minds of men being thus prepared they dispose of them unto such occasions or services for the Interest of the Catholick Cause as their own Nature Inclinations the fierceness or softness of their tempers their outward Greatness Power and Wealth or their Straights Wants and Necessities render them meet unto For now they are ready for such things which if they had not relinquished the care and charge of their own souls if they had not absoluteâ—y resigned them unto others they would never have entertained a thought of without detestation and abhorrency Poor deluded creatures who could sufficiently bewail their condition but that for the most part through the Love of sin and the wages of it they chuse these delusions Some now shall fire Cities some shall murther innocent Persons some shall assassinate Kings and Potentates some shall creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins lead about with divers lusts and some shall prostitute themselves unto the carnal Lusts and Pleasures of others all as they judge conducing unto the Catholick Cause and their own Intrest therein These are they who must answer not only for the blood of them that are murdered but of their murderers also I heartily wish these things were not so that they never had been so but being so it is well that they are known so to be and that they are written in such legible characters in most Nations of Europe especially in this wherein we live as that he who runs may read them I shall not descend unto particular Instances every ones mind and thoughts will suggest them unto them or they may learn them in Westminster Hall It will be said that on a supposition that these things are so yet this is the crime of but a few it may be of a few Jesuites which others especially the Church is not concerned in They are but a few who teach and instruct their Converts unto such purposes but a few that are possessed with those Maxims and Principles which lead unto these Practices Notwithstanding their miscarriages the Church it self may be a Safe Guide unto the souls of men I answer two things 1. That those who have these Principles who teach these Practices are all of them appointed unto their Office and Work imposed on the consciences of men as their only Guides by the Authority of the Church it self No Caution is given by it against them no Rule prescribed whereby they may know them but they come all armed with the Authority of the Church and as such are received by their credulous followers The whole therefore of what they do may justly be ascribed unto the Church it self 2. It may be made to appear that for about an hundred and fifty years past no Plot no Design hath been conceived or perpetrated wherein Kings Princes private Persons were to be murdered or destroyed wherein Nations were to be embroyled in blood and confusion in order unto the promotion of the Catholick Cause but the Church it self was either the Contriver or Approver of it Who approved of the murder of the two Kings in France one after another of the Massacre there of an hundred thousand Protestants who designed and blessed all preparations for the murder of Queen Elizabth with the unjust Invasion of the Nation in 88 who blessed and protected what in them lay the horrible Massacre of Ireland with the slaughters that have been made in other places on the same Principles was it a few Jesuites only was it not the Church it self in its Head the Pope and its Horns the Cardinals at Rome Wherefore although it seem good unto this Church to assume unto it self the sole Conduct of the souls of all men in the matters of Religion which hath thrived in its hands unto an incredible Grandeur in Dominion Power and Wealth yet other men of an ordinary wisdom and capacity who are not yet taken alive by them at their pleasure will be ready to judge especially now the Cave of Cacus is opened that it is necessary for them to take more care of their own souls Some will say that all these things Principles and Practices are separable from their Religion and that they will take sufficient heed unto themselves that they give admittance unto none of them especially such as are against the Light of Nature and the known Rules of common Honesty Both the Goodness of their own natural temper and the Principles of Morality which they will never part withal will give them and others security herein God forbid I should ever charge any Persons with any thing that is Criminal whereof they are not or may not be easily convicted Those who make these Professions shall pass with me at the rate and upon the credit of their Professions As shall all men in this World untill they contradict and disprove themselves by their Actions But even such Persons had need be very careful that they are not deceived herein The Resignation which they are to make of themselves and their Consciences unto the conduct of this Church doth quite change both their Light and Rule for it includes a Renunciation of all Principles and Perswasions in things Divine and Moral that do or may in the least interfere with that Conduct It is true that neither that Church nor any else can change the Nature of things Moral in themselves for although they may call Good Evil and Evil Good Light Darkness and Darkness Light yet they cannot make that which is Good Evil nor that which is Evil Good but they may make a false Representation of the one and other unto the minds of men Hence what was Evil unto them antecedently unto this Resignation of themselves as the Fireing of Cities the Murther of Innocent Persons the Overthrow of Governments and Nations for their own Ends shall be imposed on them by this pretended Infallible Guide as things Good and Meritorious with reference unto their Catholick Ends. These are the two most pernicious Divices in all their Superstition 1. That the Consciences of men are exempted and taken off from an Immediate Dependance on and Subjection unto the Authority of Christ and put in immediate Subjection unto the Priests seeing he neither promiseth any thing unto them nor commands any thing but by the Church 2. That their Commands because they are theirs do regulate their Consciences even as unto Moral Good or Evil. Nor is it safe for these men to trust too much unto the Goodness of their own Natures nor it may be unto others who are concerned in what they shall do For as it is the Glory of the Doctrine and Grace of the Gospel to change the Wolf the Lion and the Leopard Isa. 11. 6 7 8 9. Persons of the Fiercest and most Violent Inclinations unto quiet Associates of Lambs and Children so it is to be feared
from many instances that by Vertue of their Conduct they can change appearing Sheep at least as unto their natural Tempers into that which is Violent Bloody and Poysonous 6. Under pretence of being this Guide and to impose their Pretensions thereunto on the Minds and Consciences of men this Church hath filled most Nations of Europe with Blood and Slaughter making horrible Devastations of innumerable Persons both fearing God and living Peaceably in the World Ten times more Blood of Christians hath been shed by them unto this End than was shed in all the Primitive Pagan Persecutions All that Dissent from them may say Quae Regio in terris nostri non plena cruoris Is there any Nation in Europe that is not filled with our Bloud The Last Day alone can discover the Blood that hath been shed secretly or with little noise by the Inquisition in the Spanish and some of the Italian Territories England France Germany Flanders Holland Ireland can speak for themselves in the Cruelties which unto this End have been executed in them The sole Reason of all this Inhumane Violence hath been that men would not submit their Souls and Consciences unto that Absolute Power over them and Conduct of them which their Church claimeth unto it self And it is most Probable that their Absolute Conduct is of the same Nature with the Ways and Means whereby they do Attempt it or have Obtained it When men by Force and Fraud Blood and Slaughters do endeavour to impose their Rule upon us we are not to expect but that the Rule will be answerable unto the Means that are used for the Attaining it As in the first Planting and Propagation of Christian Religion the Way and Means of them were Spiritual Light and the evident Exercise of all Graces especially Meekness Humility Patience in Sufferings and Contempt of the World Hereon men had just Grounds to Believe and Expect that the Conduct which they were Invited and Called unto under the rule of Christ would be of the same Nature Meek Holy Just and Good whereof by Experience they found full Assurance So where the Rule of our Souls and Consciences is attempted and carried on by Violence Blood Cruelty and Desolation of Nations we have just Ground to believe that if those who use them do prevail therein their Leading and Rule will be of the same Nature It is but Reasonable therefore for any man before he make choice of this Guide to ask of himself or others these few Questions Is there any thing in the Gospel which gives countenance unto this way of imposing a Guide in Religion on the Minds and Consciences of men Was there any thing like it in the Practices of our Lord Jesus Christ his Apostles or the Primitive Churches Doth this way make a just Representation of the Spirit the Meekness the Holiness the Love the Patience of our Lord Jesus Christ Is it consistent with the Genius of the Doctrine of the Gospel the Religion taught therein as unto its Nature and Ends concerning our Deportment in this World and our Tendency unto another Can any man think without Horror that our Lord Jesus Christ should be the Authour of this way that he hath appointed that all men should be Starved or Hanged or Burned or otherwise Slaughtered who would not Submit unto this Doctrine or Rule of this or any Church as some of the worst of men shall please to state them Is not this that which among other things gives us Assurance that the Doctrine and Superstition of Mahomet were from Hell from the Old Murderer in that it is a prime Dictate of them that those who will not Submit unto them are to be destroyed with Fire and Sword By that time a man hath a little weighed these Enquiries with such other of the same Nature that may be added unto them if he be not forsaken of all sense of the Glory of Christ of the Honour of the Gospel of the Reputation of Christian Religion and all care of the Salvation of his own Soul he will make a long stand before he give up himself Absolutely unto the Conduct of this Church 7. I cannot but mention in the next place that which because it is commonly pleaded I shall but mention And this is that many important Principles and Practices of the Religion which this pretended Guide would impose upon us are evidently suited unto the Carnal Interests and Lusts of them who have the Conduct of it Such are Purgatory Papal Pardons Sacrifices for the Dead Auricular Confession with Priestly Absolution thereon Many have already declared how the Notion and Superstition of these things did both raise and do maintain their Revenues and are otherwise made use of to make Provision for the Flesh to fulfill it in the Lusts thereof And there lyeth no Encouragement herein to ingage Wise men to give up themselves unto its Conduct But 8. Considerate men will be afraid of that conduct under which Christian Religion hath lost all its native Beauty Simplicity spiritual Glory and Power How are these things represented unto us in the Gospel How were they exemplified unto us in the lives of the Apostles and of all the sincere primitive converts The Church was through them a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelt Righteousness The whole of Religion as it was at first professed was nothing but a Representation of the Wisdom Truth Holiness Love and Compassion of Christ an evident and glorious means to recover mankind from its Apostacy from God and to re-introduce his Image on the Soules of men a blessed way continually to exercise the Power of Love Goodness Charity Bounty Zeal and Delight in God a Testimony given unto the Truth Reality and substance of things spiritual invisible and eternal with their preference above all earthly things Under their conduct is this Beauty this Glory of Christian Religion lost and defaced Wee may say with the Prophet of old how is the faithfull City become an Harlot Righteousness lodged in it but now Murderers Isa. 1. 21. The Church is the Temple of God could we have looked into it of old wee might by faith have seen Christ sitting on his Throne the train of his Light Holiness Love and grace filling the whole Temple Look into it under their conduct and there is the dreadful Appearance of the Lawless Person the man of sin sitting in the Temple of God shewing himself to be God to our Horror and Amazement Look into the Primitive Assemblyes of Christians 2. Cor. 3. 8 9 10. you shall see Meekness Humility and the glorious Ministration of the Spirit in outward Simplicity Look into those of this Guide and you shall see them like the House of Micah Judg. 17. 5. an House of Gods with Molten Images graven Images Ephods and Teraphims multiplyed Instruments of Superstition and Idolatry Look on their Conversation of old in the World and it was humble peaceable useful profitable unto Mankind with a contempt of