as it is usual amongst Conquerors had introduced and impos'd their own Language upon those they had subdued and made their Slaves So they have to the uttermost of their Power established their Liturgies Ceremonies and Language in all Churches that they might serve afterwards as a Monument of their Jurisdiction and Authority upon others 2. I say that the Roman Church doth diminish from the Word of God when she forbids the Reading of the Holy Scriptures to the common People For this forbiding of hers is wholly contrary to the Commandment of Jesus Christ who in the 5th chapter of St. John 39 Verse speaks thus Search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me And quite contrary to this Ordinance of St. Paul who writing both to the Bishops and all his Brethren either Men or Women either young or old speaks thus in his first Epistle to the Thessalonians 5. 27. I charge you by the Lord that this Epistle be read unto all holy Brethren And writing to the Colossians 4. 16. he saith When this Epistle is read among you cause that it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans and that ye likewise read the Epistle from Laodicea However as if the Church of Rome were wiser than Jesus Christ St. John St. Paul and all other Apostles and holy Fathers who did so much and so often recommend it she forbids it to the common People stifly affirming that it is dangerous that it causes Schisms several Sects and Heresies For in the Council of Trent it is written that if the Reading of the Holy Scripture be permitted in a known Tongue amongst all People it will be more hurtful than profitable The abuse some make of the Holy Scripture ought not generally to condemn the use of it otherwise the best things would be taken away from us because they are sometimes misused The use of Wine would be forbidden because many are Drunk with it and is the cause of several Disorders It is enough to forbid what is essentially bad without forbidding that which is essentially good Jesus Christ doth not only permit the Reading of the Holy Scripture to some particular Jews but he enjoyns it unto all â—earch saith he the Scriptuâ—â—â— And that he may the better 〈◊〉 them he makes them remember That in them they think they have eternal Life He seems in another place to attribute all their Errors to the Ignorance of that Sacred Book when he said to the Saducees Matth. 22. 29. Ye do err not knowing the Scriptures Had not the Eunuch read the Prophet Isaiah he should never have understood him And it was by this Reading he began to be a Christian as it may be seen in the Acts 8. 30. The People of Berea as it appears in the 17th Chapter of the Acts were highly commended that they searched the Scriptures to see whether those things were true or no which Paul did Teach For whosoever he be though he were an Angel from Heaven if he Teach Matters contrary to the Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures we are to hold him accursed as saith St. Paul Gal. 1. 8. All Scripture saith the same Apostle 2 Tim. 3. 16. is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works Nevertheless the Church of Rome doth forbid to the common People so good a Book so useful to Piety and so necessary to Salvation Is it not then a great Cruelty to forbid Children to see and read the Testament of their Fathers Is it not an excess of rigour to deprive them of that which nourishes their Souls for an Eternal Life And is it not an extreme Tyranny to hinder them from seeing that which they are to be judged upon 3. I say that the Church of Rome diminishes from the Word of God when in the Lord's Supper she takes away the Cup from the common People and from the Clerks that are not Priests For we read in St. Matthew 26. 27. that in the Institution of this Sacrament Jesus Christ took the Cup and gave it all his Disciples saying drink ye all of it Objection When Jesus Christ said to his Disciples Drink ye all of it He spake to the Priests only saith the Roman Church and therefore the Priests only ought to drink of the Cup. I Answer that St. Paul writing to the Corinthians amongst whom were more Laics than Priests doth evidently shew the contrary for speaking to every one he saith 1. Cor. 11. 28. Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. St. Ignatius Bishop of Antioch and Disciple of the Apostles in the 69th Year of our Lord Jesus Christ Epist 9. ad Philadelph saith That one and the same Bread was broken to all and one and the same Cup distributed to all Justin Marty tells us That the consecrated Bread and Wine were in his time distributed to every Communicant And St. Chrysostome Hom. 18. upon the second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians speaks thus There is a time where there is no difference between Priests and thâ—se that preside over as when we receive the holy Mysteries for we are all equally admitted to them It is not now as it was under the Old Testament where the Priest did eat particular things and the People others where it was not lawful to the People to eat that which the High Priest was then eating It is not so now for one and the same Body and one and the same Cup is given to all The Pope Gelasius in the Year 490. 2. Distinct 2. Can. Comperimus did Decree that all they should be Excommunicated which would receive the Lord's Supper but in one kind and his Predecessor Leo did call those Sacrilegious that did refuse to take the Cup. And tho' in the general Council of Constance Sess 13. the Roman Church do confess this holy Sacrament was receiv'd in the Primitive Church with the Bread and the Cup yet in the general Council of Trent she speaks thus If any man say that the Catholick Church had not just Reasons to give the Communion to the Laics and Clerks who did not say Mass under the accidents of Bread only and that she Erred in this let him be Anathema The Reasons saith the Roman Church why they took the Cup from them are many Inconveniencies and several Absurdities I Answer that besides there is no Inconveniency though there should be any it ought not to be above the Commandment of Jesus Christ and St. Paul Christ the Primitive Church and the Apostles were very Wise and Wiser than shall ever be the Church of Rome and since they have commanded and given the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper with the Cup the Roman Church ought to follow their example and obey them The Inconveniencies which they suppose at
that is in Heaven above c. signifie the one and the other I mean both Idols and Images Secondly I say that besides this distinction of a Worship of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is new and not found in the holy Scripture the Roman Church according to her own Confession and the Doctrin of her Angelick Doctor Thomas Aquinas Worships the Cross with a Worship of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Truth is especially seen upon Good Friday at which time ye may see that not only the Monks Priests Bishops Cardinals and the Pope himself bow and kneel down before it and kiss it all Singing Ecce lignum Crucis venite adoremus but that all the common People imitate them also and even that Princes and Kings lay down before it their Crowns and Scepters They confess also that they do Worship the Images of God the Father with a Worship of Latria and likewise those of the Son and the Holy Ghost Objection This Worship say they that they do render to the Cross and Images of the Godhead and Saints is Relative it is not related to the Cross and Images but to God and Saints and that is the reason say they why they are not Idolaters I Answer That these words of Samuel Prepare your hearts unto the Lord and serve him only and that those of Jesus Christ in St. Matthew Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve do quite destroy all these distinctions of the Church of Rome concerning the Relative Worship of Latria and Dulia For that it is a flat Idolatry to Worship God in any Image I evidently shew it by the Children of Israel when they made the golden Calf to be a Representation of God Exod. 32. For the Text shews that it was a flat Idolatry for which many of them were Plagu'd and Punish'd And yet their Worship was Relative for their meaning was to Worship the true God in the Calf for they were not so simple as to think or believe that that dead Idol or Image was God The Idolatry then of the Church of Rome by Worshiping the Cross and the Images of the Godhead and by bowing down before the Images of Saints Martyrs Apostles and kissing them and imploring their assistance and offering Frankincense unto them is as gross and wicked as theirs was The Origine of the Worshiping mages proceeds from Irenea Empress of Constantinople about the year 790. She called a Council at Nice wherein by Intreagues and Threatnings she did so prevail that it was concluded we ought to Worship Images notwithstanding the Oppositions that were then made in all Parts For the Emperor Carolus Magnus did at the same time call a Council at Francfort wherein that of Nice was Condemn'd and the Decree of Worshiping Images made void But because they remained still in Churches this Superstition of Worshiping them to which the Ignorant People was always inclin'd got at last the uppermost It is then true as I have clearly made it appear that the Church of Rome is Idolater Thirdly I shew that she is Heretick for all those that are obstinate in their Errors are Hereticks The Church of Rome is obstinate in her Errors therefore she is Heretick The Major Proposition is true and all Divines are of that Opinion As for the Minor which is in question I prove it thus All those that refuse to obey the Holy Scripture in several Points of Faith and Practice are obstinate in their Errors The Roman Church refuses to obey the Holy Scripture in several Articles of Faith and Practice Therefore she is obstinate in her Errors The Major Proposition is true also and it is the consent of all Divines As for the Minor behold as I prove it All those that do add to the Holy Scripture and diminish from it several Articles both of Faith and Practice refuse to obey the Holy Scripture for Deut. 4. 2. It is commanded us neither to add to the Word of God nor to diminish from it And St. Paul 1 Cor. 4. 6. Forbids to think above that which is Written But the Church of Rome adds to the Word of God and diminishes from it several Articles both of Faith and Practice Therefore she refuses to obey the Word of God therefore she is obstinate in her Errors therefore she is Heretick That the Church of Rome does add to the Word of God and diminish from it several Articles both of Faith and Practice is that I shall endeavour to shew evidently 1. I say that she adds to the Word of God several Articles of Faith which she obliges to believe under the Pain of Damnation For though it be manifested in several places of the Holy Scripture that Jesus Christ is our Saviour Redeemer and Mediator that there is no Salvation in any other and that there is no other name under Heaven whereby we must be saved Acts 4. 12. That we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and that he is the Propitiation for our Sins 1 John 2. 1. And that there is one God and one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus Tim. 2. 5. Nevertheless those of the Church of Rome call the blessed Virgin the She-Redeemer of the World as it may be seen in Bellarmin c. 4. of Indulgences And in the Litanies and Hymns Composed in her Honour they call her the Queen of Heaven Mother of God and their Hope and give her such Titles as belong to God only They implore the help of Saints they put their Trust and Confidence in them and take them for their Advocates and Mediators as we may see in several Prayers wherein they speak thus O great Saint in whom I put my Trust and Confidence Pray for me miserable Sinner c. And though Jesus Christ Teaching his Disciples how they ought to Pray bid them to call upon his Father and say Our Father which art in Heaven And although the Almighty spake thus by his Prophet Isaiah 45. 21. There is no God else beside me a Just God and a Saviour there is none beside me Yet those of the Church of Rome will have us to implore the help of Saints to trust in them and take them for our Advocates and Mediators as it is declared in the Council of Trent Sess 25. It is then evident that this Doctrine being not found in the Holy Scripture they add to the Word of God and think above that which is Written Object We Pray say they and beg the Favour of the Saints as we pray a Friend at Court to Request a Kindness from His Majesty I Answer they ought not to do so for it is Written We have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous And we do not read that any other is our Advocate If the King's Son should say when ye will ask my Father any Favour come ye unto me and not unto another if after this Declaration some body should
Peter after he had confessed him to be that Christ and the Son of the Living God Thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church But these words give no Superiority to St. Peter above the other Apostles only they shew that the Church is builded not upon the Person of Peter but upon the Rock namely upon Christ whom St. Peter confesses to be the Son of the Living God For as saith St. Paul 1. Cor. 3. 11. That Rock was Christ and other foundation can no man lay but that which is laid already namely Jesus Christ And in the second Chapter to the Ephesians he saith That the Church is built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himself being the head stone in the corner Where then can they find that St. Peter was made Prince of the Apostles and had Pre-eminence or Authority over them They say it is when Jesus Christ gave unto Peter the Keys of Binding and Loosing I answer that Christ therein gave no more Authority to St. Peter than to the rest of the Apostles for he doth not say I give unto Thee but I will give unto Thee which Promise was afterwards perform'd and when it was perform'd the Keys or the Power of Binding and Loosing was given not only to St. Peter but also unto all the rest together Go ye saith Jesus Christ Matth. 28. 19. unto all nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And in the twentieth Chapter of St. John he speaks thus Receive ye the holy Ghost whatsoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whatsoever sins ye retain they are retained By these words ye may clearly see that Jesus Christ speaks unto all the Apostles and not to Peter only And so it is evident that St. Peter receives no more Power than the rest of the Apostles I grant that St. Peter may be called the first of the Apostles in the way of reckoning or as it is commonly seen amongst Men who though they be equal do notwithstanding determine one amongst themselves to whom without being greater than the others leave is given to speak first St. Matthew 10. 2. did mean nothing else when he said Now the names of the twelve Apostles are these the first Simon who is called Peter He doth not distinguish him from the others but by the order of counting If he be then the first of the Apostles it is only by the way of reckoning For the Scripture tells us Ephes 2. 20. That the Church is no less builded upon the others than upon him when she saith that the Faithful are builded upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles and that there is no other Foundation nor other Head-stone to prop the Church but Jesus Christ on whom the whole Edification is laid He is the chief and principal Foundation all the others are only subalterne and dependent It is then impossible that St. Peter be the Foundation of the Church more than are the other Apostles and consequently have more Authority For as I have already made it appear Jesus Christ spake to all his Disciples gathered together when he said Matth. 18. 18. Whatsoever ye shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven He sends them all as his Father had sent him He equally makes them his Ambassadors and gives no more Power or Authority to one than to the other Where was Peter's Supremacy or Authority when St. Paul Gal. 2. 11. withstood him to the Face because he was to be blamed And where was Peter's Pre-eminence when in the Council held at Hierusalem where the Apostles were present St. James and not St. Peter did Rule in the Action And when there was a dispute among the Apostles which of them should be accounted the greatest Luke 22. 25. Jesus Christ said unto them The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them and they that exercise authority upon them are called Benefactors but ye shall not be so but he that is greatest among you let him be as the younger and he that is chief as he that doth serve If the greatest ought to be as the younger and he that is chief as he that doth serve what Authority has he over the rest Since then the Pope's Authority over the other Bishops is grounded by the Church of Rome upon St. Peter's Authority over the other Apostles and since St. Peter has no such Authority over them it follows that the Popes have none over the other Bishops This is confirmed by the Popes themselves For John Bishop of Constantinople aiming to be the first and have the Title of Universal Bishop Gregorius Bishop of Rome withstood him and in his 54th Epistle to the Empress speaks thus of him By this Pride and Vanity what is foretold but that the time of Antichrist is at hand and art like Lucifer who making no account of that Happiness he had in common with the whole Army of Angels aspired to a singularity over all the others saying as it is written in Isaiah I will raise my Throne above the stars of Heaven And in 28 Epistle he affirms That whosoever takes the Title of Universal Bishop to himself he cannot be less than Antichrist And St. Hierome ad Evag. saith That the Bishop of Eugubium or any other the least See is equal to the Bishop of Rome For they are all joyned in the same Commission they must serve in the Church and be diligent to discharge that great Charge which their Master Jesus Christ has eaqually laid upon them 3. I say that the Popes have no Power to Depose Kings and Princes from their Thrones and are not above them For the pulling down of Princes God has reserved to himself alone that Power for it is he that putteth down the Mighty from their Seats and Exalteth them of low Degree By me saith he the Kings Reign and Princes bear Dominion He removes Kings and setteth up Kings wherefore since it is God that has this Authority proper to himself which way can the Popes claim it without Injury to the Power of God and to that of Kings whereunto they ought to be submitted They say it is by reason of their Keys as it appears in the Bull of Excommunication which the Pope Sixte the fifth thundered in the year 1585 against Henry King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde wherein he saith That the Authority given to St. Peter and his Successors by the infinite Power of God is above all Powers upon Earth that it belongs to that Authority to cause the Laws to be observ'd and punish the Offenders by pulling them down from their Seats how Powerful soever they be This is the Origine and the Ground of the Popes Authority over all Men and of Deposing Kings and Princes from their Thrones But