Soveraign Princes in that Decree or not is not material for since the Rights of Inferiour Princes are properly their Soveraigns to absolve Subjects from their Allegiance without asking the Soveraigns leave is to deprive the Soveraigns of their due That this Power hath been challenged and executed by divers Popes upon Soveraign Princes as well as Subordinate Lords and particularly upon Henry the 8th and Queen Elizabeth is notorious to all the World and they did no more than the Laws of the Roman Church allow (E) Decret par 2. caus 15. qu. 6. c. 4. Nos Sanctorum c. Decret Greg. l. 5. tit 7. c. 16. I know not why the Roman Catholiques should call this an Usurpation of the Popes when they are entrusted by the General Councils with the Interpretation and Execution of all their Decrees But what need I insist on the proof of this Proposition When his Lordship in the printed Tryal declared He could not say the Church of Rome does not hold it only he never beard it did And a learned Author of that Church in Answer to this Charge saith ' As to the Popes Power of absolving Subjects I beg leave is wave such curious Controversies (F) See Dr. Stilling fleets Answer to several late Treatises 1674 in the Preface where his words are cited Thus I have endeavoured to give a clear and satisfactory Account of these four great Questions and proved my Assertions by as good Law as any is in the Roman Church at this day I know nothing that can invalidate the Testimonies which I have produced unless they can shew either that I have misquoted any of the Laws or mistaken the Sense of them that they have been condemned or abrogated by some publique Act of the Church binding to all persons of that Communion or else that the same Principles which oblige the Roman Catholiques to receive the other Articles of Faith wherein we differ from them do not also oblige them to receive these Canons and Decrees But if none of these things can be proved then let all men judge Whether the Treasons and Seditions in other Countries especially the late bloody Wars in England and Hellish Murder of the Lords Anointed may by the same reason be imputed to the Protestant Religion as Queen Mary's Cruelties the Powder Plot the Irish Barbarism the French Massacre and many other Instances of Popish Malice and Bloodiness from former Examples may be charged on the Roman Church and Religion CHAP. IV. Testimonies of the Loyalty of the Roman Church and Religion considered The first from St. Math. 22.21 The second from the Decree of the General Council of Constance The third from the Annotations of the Divines of Rhemes on Rom. 13. The fourth from the Censure of the Doctors of the Faculty of Sorbon against a Book of Sanctarellus LEst this might seem a meerly extorted Profession of a despairing Man p. 44. My Lord endeavoured to prove by several convincing Testimonies he had ever been Instructed and Educated in the same Sentiments as the established Doctrine of the Roman Catholick Church 1. His first Testimony was taken from places of Holy Scripture particularly that of St. Math. 22.21 Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars c from the plain and clear sense of which and other Texts of Holy Writ nothing he said in this World was able to remove him That we are bound to render to all Men their dues and to Caesar the things that are Caesars is not disputed among any sort of Men that I know But how shall a Roman Catholick understand which are the Rights of Caesar or by a just and equal distribution give to God what is Gods and to the King what is the Kings The Holy Scriptures indeed have told us with all plainess and sincerity what we are to give to Caesar but the lusts and interests of Men have perverted the clearest Texts and made them serve their own Pride and Covetousness I believe his Majesty will hardly stand to the determination of the Rhemish Divines by whom his Lordship saith he was instructed in the Principles of Faith and Loyalty For our Blessed Savior commands us to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and his own practice was a Comment on his Precept But the Rhemists in their Annotations outhat Text are afraid to speak plain as Men that mean honestly should do They are more afraid of giving too much than too little to Caesar (A) See the Rhemists Annotations on St. Math. 22.21 In their Annotations on St. Math. 17. they roundly tell us that Caesar hath no right to any payments from the Clergy (B) Rhem. Annot 8. St. Mat. 17.26 Though Christ tò avoid scandal paid Tribute yet indeed he sheweth that himself ought to be free from such payments as also his Apostles and in them the whole Clergy c. Which Exemption and Priviledge being grounded upon the very Law of Nature it self c. And in Hebrews 5.1 in all Matters touching God his Service and Rellgion the Priest hath only Charge and Authority as the Priest Temporal is the Peoples Governour Guide and Sovereign in the things touching their worldly Affairs And one of the Holy General Councils of the Roman Church tells us and pretends to prove it from Scripture too that Secular Princes ought not to require any Tribute from the Clergy (C) Conc. Lat. 3. c. 19. p. 455 456. Ne Laici imponant Ecclesiis onera And in the Margent we have Gen. 47. quoted 2. His second Testimony was taken from the Authority of the General Council of Constance to which all Roman Catholicks are bound to submit the 15th Canon and definition of which Council is Quilibet Tyrannus potest debet licitè meritorie occidi c. Every Tyrant lawfully and meritoriously may and ought to be killed by any Vassal or Subject whatsoever even by hidden Treacheries and subtle Flatteries or Adulations notwithstanding any Oath given or confederation made with him without expecting the Sentence or Command of any Judge whatsoever Which Clause is added in regard of the right of Supream Temporal Monarchs over Inferiour Princes subordinate to them This Doctrine the Synod declares to be erronious in Faith and Manners and the same as Heretical condemns c. The Council condemned this Proposition And would not an Assembly of the old Heathen Philosophers have done as much Had the same Proposition been brought before them and upon the same occasion I am confident as far as we can judge by their Writings they would have made a better provision for the security of Princes than the Fathers at Constance did But since it is acknowledged That all Roman Catholicks are bound to submit to this Council of Constance I will fairly represent some of the Doctrines of it That damnable Doctrine of breaking Faith with Hereticks was notoriously Patronized and put in practice by this Council For the Emperour had granted a safe Conduct to J. Husse
THE LOYALTY OF Popish Principles EXAMIN'D In Answer to a late Book Entituled STAFFORD'S Memoirs With some Considerations in this present Juncture offer'd to Protestant Dissenters By ROB. HANCOCK Fellow of Clare-Hall in Cambridge and Rector of Northall in Bedfordshire LONDON Printed by S. Roycroft for Thomas Flesher at the Angel and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1682. The PREFACE to the Christian READER IT may be expected that I should according to Custom say something towards the Recommendation of the following Discourse to the perusal of the Reader and tell him what Motives I had to undertake this work But the truth is I have neither studied nor ever seen any great Effects of this kind of Courtship I know the Weight and Importance of the Subject the Honesty and Charitableness of the Design the Truth and Evidence of the Matter the Importunity of Friends and the Authority of others whose Judgment we value above our own are the common heads of Excuse in such Cases If any or all of these will serve for an Apology I hope I have some right to them if they will not it must undergo the Readers Censure However I shall acquaint him with the Scope of the whole Treatise viz. To make a Faithful Representation of such Principles and Designs as under a colour of Religion do naturally tend to disturb the Publick Peace Settlement of this Church and Kingdom subvert the true Reformed Religion Destroy Christian Charity by fomenting Intestine Commotions or Foreign Vsurpations And if there be such a thing in the World I am loath to call it Religion as teaches men to advance it self by Treason and Bloodshed by Falshood and Treachery it is our Duty and Interest to detect the Fraud and Hypocrisy of it In the treating of this Subject 1. I have not only justified the Charge of Disloyalty and Cruelty against the Court and church of Rome but also examined and confuted the most plausible Arguments of Romish Loyalty and Charity 2. Because the Doctrines and Practises of some reputed Protestants have given a deep Wound to the Reputation of our Religion and some most horrid things have been taught and acted in this Nation out of a real or pretended zeal for the Protestant Cause I have vindicated the Honour Peaceableness of the Reformation and shewed from whence the most Fanatick Sectaries derived their Principles by whom they were Influenced and whom they gratified in that management of them 3. I have given a brief account of Comprehension and Toleration so far as they fell within the compass of the late Lord Staffords Design and I am sensible it would have been an Argument of weakness or arrogance in me to have entred upon a larger Discourse upon those Heads so soon after the late Proposals of a great and learned Man for the satisfaction of Dissenters (A) Preface to the unreasonableness of Separation printed 1681. Lastly I have concluded with such Important Considerations to all sober Dissenting Protestants whom I distinguish from wild Fanaticks as I believe are necessary for the keeping out of Popery In the Prosecution of the whole Argument I have neither made any uncharitable Reflections nor charged any persons with the remote Consequences of their Doctrines And though I will not answer for all little Mistakes or Inadvertencies in the Writing or Printing I have neither taken any Quotations upon trust nor misrepresented the words or sense of the Authors which I make use of But I must here informe the Reader that in my Animadversions upon Staffords Memoirs I have not meddled with the Life and Actions the Charge or Arraignment of the late Lord Stafford the Depositions of the Witnesses or the Observations upon them For I am not angry with the person of any Roman Catholick nor do I love to trample upon the Grave of a dead man besides it doth not become me to go out of my own Profession or discuss such matters as do not concern Religion And yet I think I may safely say that I have not omitted any thing which looks like an Imputation in the Reformed or a Vindication of the Roman Church and Religion If this Book should fall into the Hands of any of that Communion I confess I have not much hope of convincing them who by the very Principles of their Religion are bound to disbelieve their own Senses If any of the Dissenting Protestants shall please to look into it I have only this kindness shall I say or justice to beg of them that they would read the two last Chapters with the same sincerity and freedom from Passion with which they were written and then let them judge whether those Considerations and Advices are not as necessary to their own as to our Safety Farewel The Contents CHAP. I. THe Principles of the R. Church and Religion destructive of piety and vertue Three Cases wherein it is possible for R. Catholiques to be better than their Religion inclines or allows them to be Of the Principles and Practises of his Majesties R. Catholique Subjects in the time of the late Rebellion Of their Rebellion in Ireland and the Advantage which the Kings Enemies in England made of it Since his Majesties Restauration they refused to give him any reasonable security of their Allegiance for the future Many Papists actually in Arms against King Charles the First in England many others did him no Service Vpon what Motives the rest adhered to him A Consult of the English Jesuits about taking away his Life Of the Principles and Behaviour of the R. Catholiques under the Usurped Powers Of Mr. White 's Book CHAP. II. The Treasons and Seditions in other Countries especially the Bloody Wars in England and the Murder of King Charles the First charged upon the Protestants The Reformed Churches abroad and the Church of England vindicated from this Imputation The King brought to the Block by a prevailing Faction against the Consent of the Nobility and People of England The Romish Faction had a great Influence on the beginning and progress of the Rebellion The Troubles in Scotland fomented by Cardinal Richlieu's Agents The Letter of the Scotch Covenanters to the French King The Design of the Papists against the King discover'd Ann. 1640. What Influence they had on the War which followed in England and upon the Kings death Two Propositions added to the foregoing Discourse 1. That the Grounds on which the War against the King was justified were first laid by the prevailing Faction of the Roman Church This Proposition proved from Gregory 1. Zachary Gregory the 7th c. From Parsons Creswel Suarez Bellarmine Bouchier Mariana Fr. de Verone Reynolds They which have written in defence of the War or of the Kings death go upon the same Principles 2. That in the Reign of King Charles the First the Pope animated his Subjects to rebel and sent over divers Bulls to that purpose CHAP. III. Doctrines and Principles of the Roman Church 1. The Doctrine of Deposing Princes
Communion may have a great and just Sense of their own Honour and that Duty which they owe to their King and Country They may be better Men and better Subjects than the Principles of their Church and Religion do either incline or allow them to be This may come to pass any of these three ways 1. When they do not understand the Sense of the Roman Church or the natural tendency of the Principles of their Religion for the Confessors and Guides of Souls which have the Faith and Consciences of the Laity in their keeping do not think fit at all times and in all places to instruct their Disciples in such Doctrines 2. When their natural Tempers and Dispositions are stronger than the Principles of their Church and Religion For I do not think the worst Religion in the World can root out all common Reason and natural Conscience all good Nature and Humanity and make all men Bloody and Disloyal whom Nature hath made Kind and Peaceable Some men have more of the Generosity of the English Man than of the Treachery of the Papist the very names of Murder and Treason strike a kind of Horror into the minds of men and natural Conscience if it be not bribed or biassed by a bad Religion or a vicious Life will startle at the thoughts of Assassinations and Rebellions the violation of Oaths and Contracts 3. When they have not much Zeal for Religion For if men be cool and indifferent in that Religion which they profess they may be over-ballanced with the Love of their King and Country And yet after all no man knows just how much ignorance good-nature or indifferency in Religion will serve to ballance the Fury of a misguided Zeal II. I come to consider the Principles and Practices of the Roman Catholiques in the time of the late Rebellion And though I would not lessen the Services which some persons of that Religion have done to his Majesty or Royal Father of Blessed Memory yet I must say there are many things which overthrow all the Pretences of Loyalty to the Crown that are made by the main Body of Roman Catholiques That this is no uncharitable Surmise will appear if we look back as far as the Irish Rebellion wherein the Roman Catholiques of that Kingdom were almost universally engaged I know the Seditious Practices of such as called themselves Protestants were by so much the more inexcusable by how much Protestant Principles are more inconsistent with Religion than these of the Papists But the Tumults in Scotland were now in a great measure suppressed and the King had by some Acts of Grace and Additions of Honour to the Malecontents of that Kingdom quieted if not obliged his Enemies when he was surprized with the news of a desperate Rebellion and barbarous Massacre of many thousand Protestants in Ireland And as his Majesties Affairs were hereby put into a much worse condition than before so the Parliament in England became more unreasonable in their Demands more resolute in their Answers than otherwise they either would or durst have been For the King conjures them by all that is or can be dear to them or him to take into consideration the case of his distressed Protestant Subjects but to use his Majesties own Words The Distractions and Jealousies here in England made most men rather intent to their own Safety or Designs they were driving than to the Relief of those who were every day inhumanely butcher'd in Ireland (A) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 printed 1649. p. 92. The Parliament in England pass a Vote That the Kingdom be forthwith put into a posture of Defence and soon after another That the Ordinance for the Defence of the Kingdom is not prejudicial to the Oath of Allegiance They Vote That what was done at York for a Guard to the King was a Preparation for War against the Parliament a breach of the Trust reposed in him by his People c. (B) Memorials of the English Affairs printed 1682. ad an 1641 1642 But to return to Ireland Here was a Plot and Design against the Crown and Government of which his Majesty expressed the greatest Abhorrence and Detestation and offer'd to go in Person to reduce the Rebels to Obedience A Plot in which the main Body of the Papists and no others were actually concerned (C) In the Preamble to the Bill of Settlement in Ireland an 1662. it is called An Unnatural Insurrection against his Majesties Royal Father his Crown and Dignity which first broke out Octob. 23.1641 and afterwards spreading it self over the whole Kingdom it became a formed and almost National Rebellion of the Irish Papists And in an Act of Parliament for keeping the 23d of October as an Anniversary Thanksgiving It is said That many malignant and rebellious Papists and Jesuits Seminary Priests and other Superstitious Orders of the Popish pretended Clergy most disloyally treacherously and wickedly conspired to surprize the Castle and City of Dublin and all other Cities and Fortifications of that Realm and that all Protestants and English throughout the whole Kingdom which would not joyn with them should be cut off c. See the late History of the Irish Rebellion in Folio And F. Walsh in the Dedication of his History of the Irish Remonstrance tells us of an Universal Rebellion or Insurrection of all the Catholiques in Ireland a very few excepted against his Majesties Laws Authority and Deputies of that Kingdom An. 1641. Of their Confederacy formed and a War continued by them for many years after of two several Peaces the first 1646. the second 1648. with his Majesties Lord Lieutenant in that Interim scandalously violated by the prevailing party among them Yea to that prodigious height did the Insolence of the rebellious Faction arise that at length they banished his Majesties Lieutenant and took the Royal Authority upon themselves But it may be since his Majesties happy Restauration they have repented of their former Wickedness Repented of a Rebellion that was Blessed and Sanctified by the Pope A Catholique Army for so they stiled themselves repent of fighting for the Catholique Cause They were so far from repenting that the Popish Clergy of that Kingdom assembled in a National Synod Ann. 1666. refused to petition the King for Pardon though there were at least thirty then present and above five hundred more of them alive which were obnoxious to the Laws for their carriage during the late Wars of the Roman Catholique Confederates (D) History of the Irish Remonstrance p. 667 671 672. Indeed since his Majesties Return some of the Irish Clergy and Laity agreed to present such a Remonstrance to his Majesty as might seem to give him some tolerable security of their Loyalty for the future But the whole number of Ecclesiastical Subscribers was only Sixty nine the Opposers being two thousand or thereabouts besides all others in the Irish Colleges and Seminaries abroad And of these few Subscribers some fell off immediately
the prevailing Faction of the Roman Church This Proposition proved from Gregory 1. Zachary Gregory the 7th c. From Parsons Creswel Suarez Bellarmine Bouchier Mariana Fr. de Verone Reynolds They which have written in defence of the War or of the Kings death go upon the same Principles 2. That in the Reign of King Charles the First the Pope animated his Subjects to rebel and sent over divers Bulls to that purpose STaffords Memoires p. 12 13 To the Instances given of Popish Malice and Bloodiness (A) This resers to the printed Tryal of the late Lord Stafford P. 9. from former Examples he answers That by the same reason and to as good purpose the traiterous Seditions and Outrages in Germany France Bohemia and Holland authorized and fomented by Calvin Zuinglius Beza and other Reformers the late bloody Wars in England the almost yesterdays Remonstrances and Practises in Scotland but above all that never to be paralell'd hellish Murder of the Lords Anointed our Glorious Soveraign Charles the First in cold blood by outward form of Justice on pretence of Reformation might be imputed to the Protestant Religion for all these horrid Villanies were committed by Protestants Protestants who gloried in being more than ordinarily refined from Popish Errors and Superstitions If it be said as most justly it may the Churth of England never taught such Practises the same say and protest the Papists in behalf of their Church Let this Author bestow as hard names as he pleases upon the Contrivers and Actors in these horrid Villanies and let that Religion if so wicked a thing must be called Religion which gave encouragement to them go as it deserves for Infidelity and Irreligion I am sure there are no greater Enemies to the Christian Religion than those which endeavour to pretend to promote it by such ways as are contrary to the very Nature and Design of all true Religion Indeed our Adversaries of the Roman Communion lay as bad things to the charge of the Protestants as we can do to their Church and Religion and as often as we put them in mind of the Fifth of November they are ready to reproach us with the Thirtieth of January And that I may not make any cause or persons look either better or worse than they are I shall make a faithful representation of the Doctrines and Practises of both sides so far as they are pertinent to the present Debate viz. Whether the traiterous Seditions and Outrages in England and other Parts of Christendom may be imputed to the Protestant Religion with as much reason as the Instances of Popish Malice and Bloodyness from former Examples may be to the Roman Church and Religion Some years ago was published a Seditious Libel under the Title of Philanax Anglicus wherein the Author taxes not only some Protestant Reformers but the very Reformation it self with Rebellion charges the English Reformers with Treason against Queen Mary and with a Roman boldness asserts That the Seditious Doctrines are allow'd by the generality of them that call themselves Protestants But this Book having had a solid and substantial Answer by Dr. Du Moulin I will not trouble my self or the Reader with any thing which he hath written in vindication of the Protestant Religion and the Reformed Churches and Divines abroad But I cannot but take notice of the ignorance or rather the Malice of the Author of the Controversial Letters out of whom the substance of the present imputation is taken who tells us He doth not know that the Church of England hath proceeded so far as the Roman Church hath done in the Council of Constance or condemned those Errors by any Authentick Censures And our Author is not afraid or ashamed to say that some Roman Catholiques are most remarkable peradventure of all others for firmness of Loyalty I shall endeavour therefore with as much brevity as the Subject will allow to vindicate the Honour of the Reformation of our own Church and Nation from this unjust and malicious Charge 1. The Confessions of the several Reformed Churches abroad are so full and clear in asserting the Obedience of Subjects to their Princes that I do not find our Adversaries of Rome have much to say against them (B) V. Corpus Syntagma Confessionum c. Aurei Allob. 1662 V.G. The Bohemian the Helvetian the French the Augustine the Saxon the â—…gick Confessions in the Articles concerning the Civil Powers We are told that the Protestants of France had towards the beginning of the War resolved upon a Declaration against the Parliament and Subjects of England taking Arms against the King and hâ—… published it if it had not been dasht by Cardinal Richlieu 〈◊〉 Englands Complaint by L. Gatford Printed 1648. pag 10. And 't is observable That upon the reprinting of all the Confessions of the Reformed Churches at Geneva An. 1654. it was moved That instead of the 39 Articles of the Church of England which do with the greatest plainness and sincerity assert the Duty of Subjects to Princes they would insert the Confession of the Assembly of Divines but the motion was utterly rejected by the University Senate and Church of Geneva and the 39 Articles put in as before (C) Durell vind Eccles-Angl c. 2. As to the Sayings of particular Doctors of the Reformation I cannot indeed I need not defend them they are no Pillars of our Faith nor do their Writings bear the stamp of publick Authority And since none of our Adversaries have proved that any of the Reformed Churches have by any Authentick Act approved of Seditions and treasonable Principles as I shall prove the Roman Church doth they cannot be imputed to the Protestant Religion with the same reason that we charge them upon the Roman Church Let the Papists say and Protest that their Church never taught any Seditious Practises yet I shall sooner trust my own Senses than such men as by the Principles of their Religion are under no Obligation of speaking Truth 2. No Church under Heaven did ever more expresly declare against all Seditious and Disloyal Practises than the Church of England Our Reformation was begun and carried on in a peaceable and legal manner and our Reformers proposed to themselves that excellent Rule of our Saviour They restored to God the things that were Gods and to the Kings the full exercise of their lawful Power We are Members of a Church whose just Glory it is not only to have constantly taught the Duty of Subjects to their Princes but suffered for her Loyalty to them Our Kings and the Church of England have always rejoyced and wept together and none ever forsook the Royal Cause in its Distress which had not first forsaken the Church or at least lost all their Zeal and Affection to her In Fine our late Royal Martyr declared That he died for maintaining the true Protestant Religion he acquitted not only the Church of England but all the true Sons of the Church from
conscientious persons is only this That we may hope they do not yet know their Churches Sense in this matter at present they do not know the repugnancy between their Duty to Princes and the Principles of their Communion And if so how we shall discover whether these men think themselves more obliged to their Duty to their King and Country than to the Judgment and Interest of their Church I am yet to learn But I cannot without too great a digression enter upon this Debate which would afford matter enough for an entire Discourse And yet I cannot pass by a very plausible pretence which some Roman Catholiques of late have very much insisted upon to vindicate themselves and their Religion A Roman Catholique Peer maintain'd a Distinction some years ago in the House of Lords between the Catholiques of the Church and those of the Court of Rome part of whose Speech I will here transcribe My Lords Give me leave to remind you what kind of Catholick I am that is a Catholick of the Church of Rome not a Catholick of the Court of Rome A distinction if I am not much deceived worthy of your memory and reflexion whenever any severe Proceedings against those whom you call Papists shall come in question since Catholicks of the Court of Rome do only deserve that Name (H) E. of Bristols Speech in the House of Peers March 15. 1673. The Publisher of his Lordships Speech refers us to the Dedication of Peter Walsh his History for a Proof of the Reasonableness of this Distinction And if this Distinction be just and reasonable as they say it is then it must be acknowledged that a man may be a true Son of the Roman Church that he may understand and act according to the Principles of that Religion and yet abhor the Abominations of the Court of Rome of its Adherents and Flatterers I am therefore obliged to examine the Grounds of this Distinction because it is inconsistent with the Principles laid down in the beginning of this Treatise For though I do not involve every person of the Romish Religion in the guilt of those horrid Doctrines and practises yet I charge them on the Roman Church and all such as both understand and act in conformity to her Principles I have perused and considered the Dedication of F. Walsh his Book and yet I cannot see that we are beholden to that Church for the Goodness and Loyalty of any Roman Catholicks but either to their Lukewarmness in Religion or to their Ignorance of the natural Tendency of its Principles either to the prevalence of common Reason and Christianity or of their natural Dispositions above their Religion Nor can I understand what they mean by the Church of Rome distinct from the Court where this Church is to be found What Judge of Controversies she hath established what Judicatory she hath erected to which an Appeal may be made from the Court of Rome or how they can maintain an external Communion with the Church if they lye under the Censures of the Court of Rome I speak of such times when no General Council is to be had and according to the present constitution of the Roman Church we are not like to see another so long as the World endures But waving these difficulties I shall endeavour to make the whole Matter obvious to a common Understanding Let us therefore put that very Case which we find in the Dedication of F. Walsh his History It is too evident from the Dedication and History of his Remonstrance that they which offer his Majesty the least Pledge of their Duty and Allegiance are in danger of being Censured and as much as lies in the Court of Rome cast out of the Communion of the Church The Irish Remonstrance was condemned in formal Terms as Vnlawful Detestable Sacrilegious yea in effect as Schismatical and Heretical by the publick Letters of the Internuntioâ—'s and of the Roman Cardinals de propaganda Fide They have not ceased for many years last past to persecute and defame the few remaining constant Ecclesiastical Subscribers they have kept them in continual châ—ce with Monitories Citations Depositions Excommunications and even publick affixion or Posting of them Of all which there was no Cause pretended but a manifest Design to force them to renounce their Allegiance (I) F. walsâ—… Ep. Ded. p 2 3. And though some Romanists in Ireland continued Loyal to the King during the late Rebellion in these Kingdoms yet they were all Excommunicated for their Honesty by the Popes Nuntio and his Irish Clergy (L) The Popes Bull against the Loyal Irish Catholâ—… was dated Rome Augâ—… 1665. by which they are required to do publique Penance their Obedience to the King Walsh Ep. Ded. p. 31.32 And that Sentence being judicially ratified at Rome we were very lately assur'd that many of them then continued under it (M) Considerations touching the true way to suppress P c. Ed. 1677. p. 44. Besides The Author of the Controversial Letters in his 8th Letter acknowledges That the Court of Rome and its Dependents are so diligent in suppressing all Books written against the Popes Power that a private man cannot write without hazard of a Censure on his Book and possibly on his Person Were not Barclay and Widdrington formerly condemned at Rome for opposing the Popes Power of Deposing Princes And have not those few English and Irish Writers which have since had the boldness to speak the Truth been branded and censured for that unpardonable Crime And now I shall bring this whole Matter to a short Issue 1. The Church Diffusive is no Body Politick nor can do any Act as such It can neither judge of Persons or Causes but as assembled in a Council and what if a General Council after all the Complaints of the injured Parties be hindred or deferred for many years and for many more sometimes assembled sometimes dissolved as the Council of Trent was During the Intervals of Councils there is no Authority that doth or can act in contradiction to the Court of Rome for neither the Church Representative nor the Authentick Laws of the Church have entrusted any Judicatory Independent on that Court with the Exposition or Execution of the Canons and Decrees of the Church No Council can be called but by the Popes Authority (N) Decret par 1. dist 17. c. 5. The Title is Non est Concilium sed Conventiculum quod sine sedis Apostolicae auctoritate celebratur And in the Intervals of Councils all matters of Importance are to be referred to the Papacy by the Laws of the Roman Church (O) Decret par 1. Dist. 17. c. 5. Majores vero difficiliores quaestiones ut sancta Synodus statuit beata consuetudo exigit ad sedem Apostolicam semper referantur I know the Council of Constance decreed That General Councils should for ever be held once in ten years and made as they thought a sufficient Provision for
the Observation of that Canon (P) Concil Constant Sess 39. p. 577. tom 29. Et Conciliis Generalibus provisione erga futura schismata quem terminum lice at summo Pontifici de fratrum suorum S. R. Ecclesiae Cardinalium Consilio ob emergentes forté casus abbreviare sed nullatenús prorogetur but how easily the Court of Rome hath eluded the force of their Decree all the World knows 2. Suppose a General Council should be called yet according to present Constitution of the Roman Church it cannot act in opposition to the Court of Rome For not to insist on the great Numbers of Monks and Friars of Canonists and such like Creatures and Vassals of the Papacy with which their Councils are filled all the Bishops who have Decisive Votes in Councils are under an Oath of as absolute Allegiance to the Pope as any Subject in Christendom is to his Natural Prince For proof hereof I appeal both to the Roman Pontifical where the Oath is to be seen (Q) Pontif. Rom. p. 59 60. and to F. Walsh himself to whom the Catholicks of the Church of Rome refer us (R) F. walsh in the Dedication of his History p. 19. All the Bishops bind themselves at their Consecration Liege-men to his Holiness by the strictest Oath that could be sworn or penn'd especially being the Pope himself is the only Interpreter thereof See also the History part 1. p. 513. In this Oath among other things they swear to defend the Roman Papacy and the Regalities of St. Peter to observe with all their might the Rules of the Holy Fathers the Apostolical Decrees and Commands by which are undoubtedly meant the Popes Canons and Commands They are bound by this Oath to observe at least all the Canons that are already set forth and enjoyned and are not many of those Canons destructive of the Rights of Princes Is there the least notice taken in this Oath of the Obedience due to them And though the Papal Usurpations have been for some Ages lamented and complained of by the better part of the Christian World yet the Church of Rome hath not used any effectual means to prevent them as she was bound both in Prudence and Conscience to do if she had no mind to let the Pope keep up their Pretensions to them Besides when it was desired that the Pope would dispence with this Oath at the Council of Trent and leave the Bishops to the freedom of their Consciences the Motion was rejected as not only F. Paul but Cardinal Pallavizine himself acknowledges (S) Pallavi Hist. Cone Trid. Tom. 2. p. 366.367 Ed. 1670. 3. If any Decrees of General Councils should chance to prove prejudicial to the Papacy they shall signifie no more than his Holiness please For if the Pope think fit to dispense with them or to interpret them according to his own mind who can help it Was not the Order of the Jesuites set up against a Decree of one of their General Councils (T) Bullar Cherub tom 1 p. 654. Paul the third in his Bull of approbation of that Order hath this expression Non obstantibus Generalis Concilii Faelicis recordationis Gregorii Papae 10. acquibusvis aliis Constitutionibus Ordinationibus Apostolicis caeterisque contrariis quibuscunque The Council to which he refers is that of Lateran under Innocent the third c. 13. De Novis Religionibus prohibitis where 't is expresly said firmiter prohibemus ne quis de caetero novam Religionem inveniat c. Are not all men by the Laws of the Church bound to resort to the Pope for the Sense of their Decrees (V) Decret par 1. dist 17. c. 4. Quoties aliqua de Universali Synodo aliquibus dubitatio nascitur ad recipiendam de eo quod non intelligant rationem aut sponte ii qui salutem animae suae desiderant ad Apostolicam sidem pro recipienda ratione conveniant aut si forté it a obstinati contumaces exteterint c. 4. To put this matter out of all doubt I add That whatever pretences there might be for this Distinction between the Church and Court of Rome before the Council of Trent yet they are utterly destroyed by that Great Oracle of the present Roman Church For the Fathers of that Council tamely gave up the Cause betrayed their own and their Churches Liberties abetted the Usurpations of the Court of Rome took away the Legality of Appeals from that Court to a General Council and the Superiority of their own Power to that of the Papacy they enjoyned all the Beneficed Clergy to take an Oath of Obedience to the Pope made him the Judge and Interpreter of all their Decrees provided that all Writers should either speak for the Court of Rome or be silent What was the Issue of this goodly Convention but the confirming the Pope in his Usurped Power the enslaving the Consciences of the Clergy and leaving the whole Christian World of that Communion under an impossibility of ever having a Free General Council (X) History of the Church of Trent by F. Paul l. 8. an 1563. Conc. Trid. Sess 25. Decret de Ref. c. 2. c. 5. c. 21. de libt prohibit reg 10. c. And Card. Pallavizine Hist. Conc. Trid. tom 2. p. 367. And now let al Wise and Impartial men judge whether the Distinction between the Church and Court of Rome be not utterly insignificant as to those purposes for which it is commonly produced Object Hereunto some Persons stick not to say That Dispensations and I know not what Indulgences and Pardons whereby to legitimate the Crimes of Lying and Forswearing when the Interest of our Church requires it are a main part of our Religion and by Consequence the Denial of our Principles is no sufficient Justification of our Innocence I have not leisure to discourse of their Dispensations Indulgences and Pardons But that Dispensations have been granted from Rome to legitimate these Horrid Crimes we are assured by Persons of unquestionable Credit Whether the Generality of the English Papists in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign had any Dispensations for the Dissembling their Religion and coming to our Churches I know not but not long after The very Dispensations were intercepted in Scotland and shewed to the King by which they were allowed to Promise Swear Subscribe and do what else should be required of them so as in Mind they continued firm and did use their Diligence to advance in secret the Roman Faith (Y) Spotswoods History of the Church of Scotland ad an 1580. p. 308. And sure it was not without Reason on the Irish Remonstrants part That they left out that Clause in their Formulary which was contained in the Oath of Allegiance viz. That the Pope cannot dispense with this Oath We know no less Person than Laynez the General of the Jesuites declared in the Council of Trent That to say the Pope cannot by Dispensations disoblige
and Sobriety to such as I believe have a real tho misguided Zeal for the protestant Religion for their King and Country To such as have not forgotten that a War was raised for the Preservation of Religion and Liberty but ended in the ruin of them both That an Army turned their Arms against them from whom they received their Commission (B) Prinnes Epistle before his Speech of Decemb. 4. 1648. It is clear that the very Officers and the Army being not our Masters but Servants particularly raised waged and engaged by Solemn League and Covenant among other things to protect and defend the Parliaments and Members Rights Priviledges and Persons from all force and violence whatsoever in such manner as both Houses and the Committee of both Kingdoms should approve cannot pretend the least shadow of Reason or Authority from the Law of God or Man thus traiterously to seize imprison and seclude 〈◊〉 without the Houses License before any particular Charge against â—… That a Covenant was first entred into for the Defence of the King and afterwards to the astonishment of many that had taken it made use of by others against his Person and Authority (C) See the Declaration of the Army at St. Albans Novemb. 16. 1648. presented to the House by the Army Officers wherein they demand the bringing the King to a speedy Tryal In this Remonstrance they say Whereas It might be objected that by the Covenant they were obliged to the Preservation of his Majesties Person and Authority it was with this Restriction In the Preservation of the True Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom So that considering Religion and the Publick Interest were to be understood the Principal and Supream Matters engaged for and the Kings Person and Authority as Inferior and Subordinate thereto And whereas the Preservation of his Person and Authority was not consistent with the Preservation of Religion and the Publick Interest they were therefore by the Covenant obliged against it The Clause in the Covenant to which they refer is Art 3. On the other side the Secluded Members remind the Army Officers of the Solemn League and Covenant by which they say they were obliged to preserve the Kings Person and Dignity from violence and give this among other Reasons for their Voting the Kings Answer Satisfactory c. I know 't is unreasonable to charge men with all the Consequences of their Principles when they not only declare against those Consequences which are charged upon them but also protest against them by their Practise as many Gentlemen did especially after they were surprised with the Votes of No further Addresses to the King And therefore I shall not here enquire into the Nature and Tendency of the Covenant Declaration Remonstrances c. of those times which have been so often quoted both for and against adhering to the King However all men of Conscience and Loyalty may from hence learn how easie it is for a Leading and Potent Faction to strein the Consequences of things and how little all Arguments signifie to them them that have gotten the Sword into their Hands (D) Mr. Baxter in his Preface to the Cure of Church-Divisions I have seen how confidently the Killing of the King the Rebellious demolishing of the Government of the Land the killing of many thousands of their Brethren the turnings and overturnings of all kinds of Rule even that which they themselves set up have been committed and justified and prophanely Fathered upon God To conclude this Head Let it be the peculiar honour of Papists and Turks to propagate their Religion with Sword and Bloodshed Let us regulate our Zeal with Prudence Obedience and Charity which make up the truly Christian Temper of English Protestants Let no private Passion or Interest transport us beyond the bounds of our Duty to God and our Allegiance to our Soveraign For if they do we shall convince all Impartial men that we have as little sense of True Religion as ous Adversaries of Rome You have seen the Operation of these Principles in the inciting and animating the People to Tumults and Commotions Evil Principles brought forth Seditious Words and they were quickly followed with Seditious Practises against the Government But those Holy Scriptures which blessed be God you have in your own Language forbid you To curse the King in your thought (E) Eccles 10.20 To despise Dominion and speak evil of Dignities (F) St. Jude ver 8. They command you to pray for the King and for all that are in Authority (G) 1 Tim. 2.1 and to be Subject not only for Wrath but also for Conscience sake (H) Rom. 13.5 2. As we desire to keep out Popery and strengthen the Interest of the Reformation let us beware of contributing any thing towards the subverting of the Church of England A Church which is the most Impregnable Bulwark of the Protestant Cause A Church which hath the Support of Scripture and Antiquity of purity of Doctrine and Piety of Devotion and therefore the busie Factors for the Roman Religion have made use of more Arts and Instruments for destroying this than any other Church in Christendom But whether will the misguided Zeal of some men transport them Whilst one Faction labours to break it in pieces as the most probable means of introducing Popery the other strives to overthrow the Constitution of it out of Zeal against Popery Our Liturgy for they have not much to say against our Articles of Doctrine is but the Masse-Book translated into English Our Church-Government Antichristian and our Ceremonies but Popish Trumpery And yet the Compilers of our Liturgy the Bishops and Episcopal Divines suffered Martyrdom by the hands of the Papists they had the Substance of our Liturgy the same kind of Episcopacy the same Rites and Ceremonies with us I do not say That no Constitutions of our Church are capable of being explained or amended for what Church under Heaven is perfect in all matters of Doctrine and Worship of Order and Discipline But did we lay aside all Prejudices and groundless Disaffections did we allow to them the same Favour shall I say or Common Equity which is allowed to all other things of Humane Composure we should not only be freed from the loud clamours of Antichristianism and Popery but we might assure our selves that Popery can never enter into our Church whilst the Established Doctrine and Liturgy Government and Order are preserved For 1. Doth the Church of England impose any other Doctrines as necessary to Salvation besides That Faith which was once delivered to the Saints Is our Creed swelled of late by the Addition of any of the new Articles of the Roman Church (I) See Article the 6th Of the sufficiency of the Holy Scripture for Salvation 9th Of Original Sin 11th Of the Justification of Man 14th Of works of Supererogation 15th Of Christ alone without Sin 19th and 20th Of the Church 21st Of the Authority of
This is the Doctrine of all the approved Writers of that Church Of their General Councils of their Publique Offices and Breviaries An Account of those persons who have appear'd against the Deposing Doctrine 2. The King-killing Doctrine It is a necessary consequent of the Deposing Doctrine The Roman Divines equivocate in this Question The Jesuites generally assert it divers of the Popes and the Canon Law approve of it 3. Of destroying mens Lives for Religion The true State of the Question The Church of Rome damns all Haeretiques All Protestants are Haeretiques in her account She enjoyns all Christians to endeavour the Extirpation of them All Bishops of her Communion sworn to destroy them The Laws of the Church deliver them up to the Secular Power to be put to death 4. Of absolving his Majesties Subjects from their Allegiance CHAP. IV. Testimonies of the Loyalty of the Roman Church and Religion considered The first from St. Math. 22.21 The second from the Decree of the General Council of Constance The third from the Annotations of the Divines of Rhemes on Rom. 13. The fourth from the Censure of the Doctors of the Faculty of Sorbon against a Book of Sanctarellus CHAP. V. The Fifth Testimony of the Loyalty of the Roman Church from a late Treatise of a Romish Priest The Principles of that Treatise examined Of the Principles and Authority of the General Councils of that Church Of licensing men to lie and forswear themselves Of the Doctrine of Aequivocation and mental Reservation with a brief Account of the Propositions lately censured at Rome Of the Simplicity and Godly Sincerity of the Roman Church Of the Design of dividing the Papists Of the Distinction between the Church and the Court of Rome the grounds of that Distinction examined and confuted Of Dispensations c. CHAP. VI. Of the late Lord Staffords Declaration and Address to the House of Peers concerning a Comprehension for the Dissenting Protestants and a Toleration for the Papists 1. Of the Comprehension for the Dissenting Protestants Three Propositions concerning Comprehension 'T is neither the Duty nor Interest of any Roman Catholicks continuing true to their Principles to promote a firm and lasting Vnion of Protestants What Influence the Romish Agents had on the first Separation from our Church Of the late Declaration of Indulgence 2. Of the Toleration for the Papists Of their endeavours to procure a Toleration under Queen Elizabeth King James King Charles the First the late Vsurped Powers and his present Majesty What the Design of that Faction is in endeavouring to procure a Toleration They have been the worse for Favour and Indulgence as is evident from their Behaviour towards Queen Elizabeth King James King Charles the First and his present Majesty This Chapter concluded with the Protestation of King Charles the First CHAP. VII A short Reflection on the foregoing Discourse Some things offered to all such as desire to prevent the Designs of the Papists 1. Beware of Seditious Doctrines and Practises A brief Account of them This Consideration recommended to all Protestants especially to the Dissenters from the Established Church of England Of the Secluded Members and of the Solemn League and Covenant 2. Beware of being Instrumental to the weakning or subverting of the Church of England Popery can never enter into our Church so long as the Established Articles Liturgy and Government are maintained The Difference between the Ceremonies of the Church of Rome and those of the Church of England Three Considerations to them that charge our Church and Episcopal Clergy with Inclining to Popery Some other things propounded to the Dissenters by way of Consideration and Advice The Conclusion of the whole CHAP. I. The Principles of the Roman Church and Religion destructive of Piety and Vertue Three Cases wherein it is possible for R. Catholiques to be better than their Religion inclines or allows them to be Of the Principles and Practises of his Majesties R. Catholique Subjects in the time of the late Rebellion Of their Rebellion in Ireland and the Advantage which the Kings Enemies in England made of it Since his Majesties Restauration they refused to give him any reasonable security of their Allegiance for the future Many Papists actually in Arms against King Charles the First in England many others did him no Service Vpon what Motives the rest adhered to him A Consult of the English Jesuits about taking away his Life Of the Principles and Behaviour of the R. Catholiques under the Usurped Powers Of Mr. White 's Book THe ensuing Treatise is not intended for those weak and credulous persons that suffer themselves to be charmed with specious Titles and flattering Prefaces and therefore without any reflection on our Author's Arts of Insinuation I shall come to the Matter of the Book called by an odd kind of Antiphrasis A Brief and Impartial Account c. So far as it falls within the Compass of my Design The former Part of the Book is for the most part made up of Allegations in proof of the Plot in general and Reflections on the Depositions The Process against the late Lord Stafford in particular with the Evidence against him and his Lordships Exceptions the Observations of the Managers of the Tryal and the Papists Answers to them the Consideration of all which I leave to others But that I may not seem to pass over any thing which looks like a Proof of the Loyalty and Peaceableness of the Roman Church or of his Majesties Roman Catholique Subjects I shall fairly set down all such Passages as are material to that purpose Staffords Memoires p. 2. His Lordship was ever held to be of a generous disposition very Charitable Devout addicted to Sobriety inoffensive in his Words and a Lover of Justice During the time of the last bloody Rebellion he suffered much for his Loyalty to the King Of the Popish Plot he saith p. 8. This Plot must be managed by persons of Quality most remarkable peradventure of all others for firmness of Loyalty Again The whole Body of Roman Catholiques men before this hour of known worth vertue integrity and unblemished Reputation must all be involved by Vows and Sacraments in a Design so black and execrable that God and Nature abhor to think on p. 52. Certain I am Catholiques Roman Catholiques he means both taught and practised Principles of Loyalty at a time when the King and Kingdom felt the dire Effects of contrary Persuasions That I may proceed with all possible clearness in my Answer to these bold Assertions I shall reduce what I have to say to two Debates I. Concerning the Piety and Vertue of Roman Catholiques II. Concerning their Principles and Practices in the time of the late Rebellion I. I begin with the Piety and Vertue of Roman Catholiques That the Principles of the Roman Church and Religion do naturally tend to make men wicked and disloyal I shall prove in the following Discourse And yet I freely grant That some men of that