condemn them of horrible wickedness therein Doth not the Romish Church allow the reading of the Scripture Wheresoever the Pope rules absolutely he forbids the people to read the Holy Scripture and in the Index of prohibited Books made by the Council of Trent and approved of by the said Pius Quartus it is expresly declared That if the Holy Bible were allowed to all indifferently in the Vulgar Tongue there would come more hurt than good of it This is an express and direct opposition to our Lord Jesus Christ who saith to all indifferently Search the Scriptures for in them you think to have eternal life and they are they that testifie of me And to his holy Apostles who address their Epistle not only to Bishops but also to all those that call upon the name of the Lord Jesus and not only to men but also to women young folk and children adjuring them by the Lord that they be read to all the holy brethren Whence we argue thus All who forbid Christian people to read the holy Scripture do directly and formally oppose Jesus Christ and his holy Apostles But the Pope and his Creatures forbid Christians to read the holy Scriptures therefore they directly and formally oppose Jesus Christ and his Apostles But doth not the Church of Rome own the holy Scripture to be the word of God Nevertheless she hath falsified and corrupted it in many places As for example in Heb. 11.21 It is said that Jacob worshipped leaning upon the top of his staff but the Romish Bible saith that Jacob worshipped the top of his staff thereby to confirm the adoration of creatures which is the same abuse which is found in Psal. 132. where David saith worship at his footstool the Romish Bible says worship his footstool Jesus Christ when he gave the Cup said This Cup is the New Testament of my blood which is shed for you but the Romish Bible reads it which shall be shed for you left it might be perceived that Jesus Christ speaks of the effusion of his Sacramental blood For he did not then really shed his blood which he began to shed in his passion In Gen. 3.15 God says that the seed of the woman which is Jesus Christ shall bruise the serpents bead The Romish translation saith The woman shall bruise the serpents head attributing that to the Virgin Mary which belongs to Christ. To establish the uncertainty of salvation the vulgar translation reads the first verse of Eccles. 9. thus man knows not whether he be worthy of love or hatred but all things are reserved in uncertainty for the future But the Hebrew Text is this No man knows either love or hatred by all that is before them To establish mans merit the Romish Bible corrupts the 13. verse of Heb. 16. And to the same purpose they have curtail'd the 6. verse of Rom. 11. leaving out two links for these words of the Apostle If it be of Works then it is no more of Grace otherwise work is no more work are rased out and omitted in their vulgar translation A great collection might be made of many other passages and of Romes enormities in her like practices Yet is not the Church of Rome the mother and mistress of all Churches No For the preaching of Christ was to begin at Jerusalem in the Prophesie of Isaiah 2.2 Mic. 4.2 and in the completion in Luke 24.47 Nor was it Rome but Antioch in which the Disciples were first called Christians Act. 11.26 So there was a Church at Antioch before there was one at Rome And it is expresly affirmed by Gildas an Author very much revered by the Romanists themselves that Christianity was in Britain in the latter time of Tiberius Caesar and 't is known St. Peter remained in Jury some time after his death so that Rome which pretends to be a Mother Church could be no more at best when she was Christian indeed than a Sister Church and not the eldest Sister neither And as for the pretended Universality of the Roman that is to say of a particular Church it began with Boniface the third whose vile compliance with Phocas that Heretick and murtherer of Mauritius their Master and Emperor was both the bribe and price that bought that Title and not out of respect to the Pope but in displeasure to Cyriacus of Constantinople who from John his predecessor had first usurped that Title of Universal Bishop So that Gregory the Great of Rome writing to Mauritius touching the name of Universal which the said Bishop of Constantinople had taken unto himself calls it a wicked profane and blasphemous Title a Title importing that the times of Anti-Christ were at hand little thinking that Pope Boniface after his decease would presently usurp the same and prove the Pope to be Anti-Christ by the confession of a Pope And have not the successors of that heretical traiterous bloudy Boniface exactly followed his steps to this present age Beside if we look back to the beginning we find that Paul was equal at least to Peter when he withstood him to the face and rebuked him in publick for his dissimulation Gal. 2.11 12 13 14. Nay St. Peter as well as James and John who were his peers perceiving the grace that was given to Paul gave to Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship Gal. 2.9 and good reason for Peter was but one of the many Apostles of the Jews whereas Paul was much more the great Apostle of the Gentiles to whom the Jews were no more than a river to the ocean Moreover Cyprian positively affirms the Apostles were every one of equal authority and St. Jerom is as express That all Bishops in all places whether at Rome Constantinople Rhegium or Eugubium are of the same merit as to the quality of their office though they may differ in point of revenue Nay by the Canons of the two first general Councils Nice and Constantinople every Patriarch and Bishop is appointed to be chief in his proper Diocess And a strict Injunction is laid on all none excepted that they presume not to meddle in any Diocess but their own And the very primacies of order were granted to Rome and Constantinople not for their being Sees of such or such an Apostle but for being the two seats of the two great Empires Did not the Church of England first depart from the Church of Rome They of Rome by their excommunications and barbarous murders and hostilities properly first departed from us separating from the primitive Church of Christ and we then made a secession that we might not be partaker of their Schism and Heresies What difference is there between the Reformed Church and the Church of Rome They are very many I shall only hint some as first The Reformed Church gives addresses which may be followed and exhorts men to study and strives to instruct them in the holy Scripture and conceals nothing from the
Apostle So the Pope pretends to be the Vicar of Christ though his enemy and the more wicked because he pretends to be Christ's Vicar So the Church of Rome is a Church and the Pope Antichrist who hath impudently pearched and with all ungodliness erected his seat therein As the Scripture teacheth us that Antichrist must sit in the Temple of God But it is not possible that such should belong to the mystical Church which is the whole Company of Gods Elect in Heaven Earth and not yet born In which Invisible or Universal Church alone is Salvation Because that only consists of the true Servants of Christs and such as are Christians indeed Obj. But what is the main difference betwixt Christianity and Popery Ans. Christian Religion doth most honour God and most humble man but the sum of Popery is to disenthrone God and to deifie man Obj. Wherein doth Popery principally consist Ans. In merit mediation satisfaction supererogation and pardon which is an humane invented Religion or an Antichristian superstructure to undermine and as much as possible to overthrow all that is truly Christian. This Popery the very word of a Mediator doth sufficiently refute for if a man can merit mediate satisfie supererogate pardon and do all himself what needs he either Saviour or Mediator Beside the Holy Scripture gives us a general Rule which is alone sufficient to make us reject the Mass Purgatory Papal Indulgences Invocation of Saints Veneration of Reliques Adoration of Crosses and all Humane Invented Traditions For it tells us That they worship God in vain who teach for doctrines the commandements of men Mat. 5.9 and to such as add or detract from Gods commandments Cursed be he that addeth or detracteth from the least of these sayings Rev. 22. And to such as create new Articles of Faith praeter quam or contra quam beside or contrary to the doctrine of the Scripture if an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel then that you have received let him be accursed Gal. 1.8 Obj. How came this Popery to be so greatly confirmed Ans. To establish this mock Religion or cheat upon Christianity the Popes at last forged that Council or rather Conventicle of Trent and there added numbers of new Articles of Faith having these Pillars to prop her sandy foundation viz. allurements and all vain-glorious enchanting enticements on the one hand and all manner of prodigious tortures by fire sword c. on the other Trent for Romes last support was forced to borrow of Lucifer his main engins and for executioners the Jesuites and the prati de l'inferni as they are termed in Spain i.e. The holy Fathers of the horrid Inquisition these are the perpetrators of Romes bloody Bulls This Popery is that which is generally preached in Spain Italy c. vide Sands Survey of the Western Religion and seldom is Christianity except on certain days and then with that mixture of Popish vanities enough to destroy the good seed of the Gospel of Christ. For refusing and denying this Trentine Popery but for denying nothing of Christianity have so many thousands of Orthodox Christians been massacred drowned burned in all parts of Europe by that Antichristian Romish Hierarchy Obj. How is it that the World could be so long deceived by Rome Ans. Because the Lambs horns were upon the head of Antichrist and if a Traytor carry the colours of a Prince in War all the common Souldiers stock to him and fight under his Banner till the Traytor be known and the Treason be discovered So the Popes of Rome pretending the common principles of Faith and Manners and giving themselves out to be colour-bearers to Jesus Christ without which they could not so easily have insinuated themselves into the hearts of the world most of the Western Churches whom they had wrought by policy and power flocked unto them But when their pretences were discovered and we would no longer take their parts against Christ then the Popes made a faction and head against us in that Council of Trent and Excommunicated us as if it were our fault that would not drink their poison and not theirs who were so trayterous and wicked to force it upon us Obj. What are the marks of Antichristian Papists Ans. They are such as have their heads and hearts poisoned rejecting the word of God and taking pleasure in falshood which is manifested two ways First by an over-eager pursuit of the things of Antichrist without examination as if they should say we will be thus because we will be thus doting upon a spirit of Infallibility Secondly by cruel killing and sacrificing all opposers with fire and sword Idolatry being naturally cruel of such the Apostle saith They shall be damned Obj. Have all Papists been and shall be damned Ans. When the Church was low in the eyes of the world then as God gave his people less so he required less at their hands and such as had the knowledge of the Belief the Ten Commandments the Lords Prayer and the Sacraments these being speciously in the Church of Rome though with hideous corruptions as is before-mentioned and having hearts willing to be informed in the truth when our provident God should offer opportunities with purposes and indeavours to know and do aright and holy obedience to what was known and being ignorant or at least not so fully stated in the pernicious errors of the Popish corruptions though they have been in that Church yet were not of it as many of our Fathers from age to age have been Such in these qualifications might be saved but such are not acknowledged by the Pope to be right Catholicks Here note Gods power and faithfulness in all Ages in singling out his servants in the very tents of Antichrist and delivering them from the power of hell and darkness But such as worship the Beast and his Image and are in inward fellowship and mystery with him being by wilfulness and resolution as it were embowelled in that state Of such the Holy Ghost saith They shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God These latter only are owned by the Pope to be his true Catholicks and not the former You may here see the difference between the antient Christian Catholicks and the new Roman Catholicks and withall consider how vigilant and careful Satan is to distinguish and appropriate his own Vassals that they may also partake with him of his just reward Obj. But do not Papists believe in Christ and hold it the surest way to put their confidence in God for Salvation Ans. Yes but withall that men may put their confidence also in their own and in other mens works Bellar. 5. c. 7. de Justificat And by this confidence in the creature they presently overturn all true confidence in the Creator Beside they teach that we must not only believe but apply to our selves the promise of everlasting life But mark the deceit in applying all for this must
resemblances of things in Heaven and bow down to them and worship them beside they make Images of God himself and represent him both in carved work and painting which are used in their Churches and are received almost everywhere as Bellarmin confesseth in lib. 2. of Images c. 8. And is not this contrary to this Law which God himself uttered with his own mouth and wrote with his own finger Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them and also contrary to what God expressly forbids in Deut. 4. and Isay chap. 40. And this they audaciously do notwithstanding the penalty that is added to such Vid. Confounded be all they that worship carved Images Psalm 97. 7. Fourthly The Romish Church commands under pretence of Religion on certain days to abstain from certain meats and forbids Marriage to Priests and thus directly opposes St. Paul and expresly teaches what this great Apostle calls a doctrine of devils Col. 2. 2 Cor. 10. 2 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. Fifthly The Popish Church professes to believe that Jesus Christ is on earth in respect of his humane nature which is contrary to what he himself saith in St. John ch 18. 16. and contrary to the express words of St. Peter Acts 3. That the Heaven must receive him until the times of the restitution of all things Sixthly The Romish Church teaches that Christ is offered often in the Sacrament of the Ma's which directly contradicts the Apostle who expresly saith and without exception That he is not offered often Seventhly Papists teach the Mass is an unbloody sacrifice and yet propitiatory for the remission of the sins of the quick and dead which directly opposeth the Apostle who saith in express words without shedding of blood there is no remission And where there is remission of sins there is no more offering for sin but in the sacrifice which Jesus Christ offered to God on the Cross there is remission of sin therefore there is no more offering for sin and consequently it is false that the Mass is an offering for sin and a propitiatory sacrifice Eighthly Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Institution of his holy Supper presents the Cup to all those to whom he had distributed the bread saying to them Drink ye all of this c. But the Church of Rome forbids the people the use of the Cup of the Lord and therefore directly and formally opposeth our Lord Christ and his Apostle St. Paul who ordains in express words Let a man examine himself and so let him drink of that Cup. Papists believe and teach that the Souls of those that dye in the Lord are tormented after this life in a fire which they call Purgatory which is directly contrary to the Holy Ghost who declares in express terms that Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them and against the express words of the book of Wisdom which was Canonized by Trent Council The souls of the just are in the hand of God and no torment shall touch them The Popish Church ordains a prodigious number of Festivals against the express clause of that Law which the Soveraign Law-giver hath given Six days shalt thou labour whence we argue thus Whosoever forbids people to work six days of the week on pain of a mortal sin doth manifestly set himself above God who expresly permits us to work six days But the Pope and his Prelates do forbid people to work six days of the week on pain of a mortal sin Therefore the Pope and his Prelates do manifestly set themselves above God Papists say that the works of regenerate men are Christs works in them not their own and as Christs they save and so are saved by Christs merits Whereas St. Paul saith we are not saved by such works as God hath ordained regenerate men should walk in Eph. 2.10 And St. Paul opposeth all works done in matter of Justification and Salvation to the Grace of Christ Rom. 11.6 Phil. 3.8 Rom. 3. 27. This their finest web being so clearly cut in sunder by those plain texts they grosly dare avouch and teach that a man is saved by works and can merit the eternal felicity of Heaven and degrees of glory and bliss and thus directly fight against the doctrine of the Son of God and of his blessed Apostles Luke 17. When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you say we are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do And Ephes. 2. By grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast And in Rom. 6.11 The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. And if it be by grace then it is no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace but if it be of works then it is no more of grace otherwise work is no more work And thus Papists works become not only unprofitable unto them but plainly damnable yea and blasphemous because they ruinate the very foundation of our faith and make frustrate the all and alone sufficient sacrifice of our Redemption viz. the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Shall we then call those Catholiques or think such men believe in Christ and are Christians indeed when St. Ambrose saith Non videtur ab his exhiberi fides Christo à quibus evacuatur passio ejus atque distrahitur It seems not that such men do believe in Christ who go about to frustrate and distract his passion Obj. Is not then a Papist a true Christian Ans. No. Qua◠Papist But as a thief is a true man in regard of his essence as he is a creature indued with reason but not a true man in regard of his honesty or goodness So the Popish Church is a true Church in regard of the essence of a Church as a Church is a company which profess Christ and are baptized but it is a false Church in respect of its heretical doctrine Obj. But can a man belong to the visible Church of Christ and to the Synagogue of Satan Ans. They maybe of the visible Church in regard of some part of their outward profession who in regard of their inward disposition of mind and of their external conversation yea and of the greatest part of their outward profession also are hateful unto God and execrable in the eyes of the founder part of the visible Church of Christ. So may a legion of devils incarnated if they will profess the name of Christ and be admitted by the Baptism of Christ may be of the visible Church so was Judas an Apostle and a traytor too but the more wretched because an