traditions before the Scriptures they lay aside the Scriptures accounting and calling them dumb Judges A nose of Wax The black Gospel Inken divinity c. Piggins Contr. 3. de Eccl. Hierarch lib. 3. cap. 3. A certain Popish Doctor reasoning with M. Tindal was not ashamed to say that we were better to be without Gods Law then the Popes They likewise set up Images to be Lay-mens books and so in all this they deny by consequence his Propheticall office Christ is also a Priest and that for ever after the order of Melchisedec Heb. 7.24 And in this his Office he hath none to succeed him They acknowledge not this but maintain still an outward and corporall Priesthood to offer up an outward Sacrifice even Christ himself Rhem. on Heb. chap. 7.7 Sect. 7.8 C. If this were true why then the Priest were become a Mediator between God and Christ the which is most absurd to think that any creature should be such a one M. It is indeed most absurd and yet in the very Canon of the Mass they intimate this much when they request God to accept their gifts and offerings namely Christ himself offered as he did the Sacrifices of Abel and Noah And which is more absurd then this yea blasphemy for any to affirm they by then former doctrine do make the Priest to be more worthy in some respect then Christs for the person that doth offer a sacrifice is of more worth and honour then the thing which he offereth but the Priest as they say offered up Christ to God his Father therefore the Priest that offered him is of more worth and honour than Christ whom he ostereth As Christ is a Priest so He alone and that but once for all offered himself and by his own offering once offered hath made a full and perfect satisfaction for all our sins Heb. 9.12 14 26 10 14 18. They teach that in the Mass there is dayly a Sacrifice offered for the sins both of the quick and the dead and so they make Christs Sacrifice not to be the perfect and onely Sacrifice of the New Testament but set up another in the stead thereof C. They say that their sacrifice is not a new sacrifice or another from Christs but that it is the same M. The Author to the Hebrews teacheth that Christs sacrifice neither may nor ought to be reiterated and repeated for as it is but one so it was but once offered And this word Once he useth five several times Heb. 7.27 9 12 26 28 30. C. They say that Christ indeed was offered but once after a bloâ—dy manner but he is often offered after an unbloody manner M. This distinction of theirs hath no warrant out of Gods Word nay rather it is directly against the Word for Heb. 9.22 it is said Almost all things are by the Law purged with blood and without shedding of blood is no remission From whence we may thus reason Without shedding of bloud is no remission but in the Mass is not shedding of bloud therefore no remission And therefore it is no sacrifice for sin C. Though this their distinction be not to be found in the Scriptures yet it is in the writings of the Fathers M. The Fathers indeed make mention of unbloudy Sacrifices but they hereby understand not outward and bodily Sacrifices for sin but the Spirituall Sacrifices of Christians and they so call them in comparing them with the bloudy sacrifices of the Law and with Christs bloudy Sacrifice C. The Papists do not say that the Sacrifice of the Mass is an expiatorie but an applicatorie Sacrifice that is it serves not properly to make any satisfaction to God but rather to apply unto us the satisfaction of Christ already made M. Their doctrine is that it is a Sacrifice propitiatory that is available to obtaine ex opere operato by the very work wrought remission and pardon of all their sins yea that it is available to obtain all other benefits as peace health and such like Concil Trid. Sess 2.2 can 3. Bellar. lib 1. de Miss cap. 25. lib 2. cap. 3. But let it be as you say that they account it but an applicatory sacrifice yet this maketh nothing for them The Sacrifices of the Law did serve to apply the vertue of Christs Cross and yet the Apostle excludeth them by this reason that where there is remission of sins there is no more Sacrifice Heb. 10.18 Wherefore if the Apostles reason be good it concludeth also against their Sacrifice applicatory Again the Apostle teacheth that therefore the Sacrifices of the Law are abolished by the death of Christ because they were but shadowes of good things to come and could not make the offerers perfect c. Heb. 10.1 2 3. And therefore this kind of applying sacrifice which they fain themselves hath ceased We need not now a Sacrifice for the application of Christ death for Christ to that end hath appointed the preaching of the Word and hath instituted Sacraments whereby his death with all the benefits thereof are most fruitfully applied unto us Gal 3.1 1 Cor. 11.26 Again this their applying sacrifice is against the nature of a Sacrament in which God gives Christ 〈◊〉 us whereas in a sacrifice God receives from man and man gives somthing to God C. The ancients Fathers used to call the Supper of the Lord a Sacrifice it should seem therefore that there is some sacrifice offered therein to God M. It is true that they called it so not that Christ is therein offered a Sacrifice to God but in other respects First because that therein there was an offering and giving of Alms Bread Wine c. which are a spirituall Sacrifice Secondly they called the Sacrament a Sacrifice not properly but figuratively because there was therein a representation of that Sacrifice which was offered upon the Cross and because it is a commemoration of Christs body which he offered for us and of his bloud which he shed for us Thirdly It is called a Sacrifice because it is an application of the Sacrifice offered upon the Cross unto our selves Fourthly It is so called because of the sacrifice of prayers and thanksgivings and because in the Lords Supper we offered our selves unto God to be consecrated unto him and serve him in body and soul C. What is then your opinion of the Popish Mass M. It is an abridgement of all Superstition and Idolatry there is in it adoration directed to bread there is as they say the body of Christ offered really in a sacrifice of propitiation which which was never offered but once with shedding of blood There is adoration of stocks and stones invocation of dead men saying of Masses to the honour of Saints and Angels worshipping of dead mens bones and such like abominations C. If the Masse be such an Idoll and so contrary to Christs sacrifice whence had it then its first beginning M. The Mass had this originall First the Lords Supper was celebrated in most
the merits of Saints and Martyrs you pray unto God not only through the merits of Jesus Christ but through the merits of Saints whose Reliques are under your Altars your devotoes affirm that the holy Virgin saves us and brings us to heavenly glory not only by her prayers but by her merits and the Roman Divinity saith plainly that there are some Saints and Martyrs that have suffered more then their sins did deserve and that their superabundant satisfactions are put into the Treasury of the Church and distributed by the Popes Indulgence They after cry By the prayers and by the Merits of the holy Virgin Mary of Michael the Archangel of S. John Baptist of the holy Apostles Peter and S. Paul and of all the Saints without making any mention at all of Jesus Christ and his merits And Tenthly and lastly for I should tire you if I should proceed to farther Instances the Papists do profess to believe with us that the blood of Jesus Christ purgeth and cleanseth us from all our sins Why then have they invented the fire of Purgatory If all sins are washed away and purged by the blood of Christ what then remains to be purged in this Imaginary fire They mock the world in calling of it pugatory for according to Romish Doctrine it serves not to purge but to punish souls and to satisfie Gods Justice so that it is not a purging but a pain and a punishment and what resemblance can there be betwixt this subterranean fire and the blood of Jesus Christ Is the grace and pardon of a King applied to a man by breaking him on a Wheel or by burning of him quick But the most torturing Wheels and the most ardent fires are nothing in comparison to this pretended Purgatory if it be true which those of your party say that it is ten times hotter then our fire and that it differs from hell fire in duration only Open then your eyes and see the Sun of truth which shines so bright in the Gospel Jesus Christ hath by himself purged our sins Heb. 1. And the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all iniquity 1 John 1. And that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 That they pass from death to life And when they put off this body of flesh they have a house eternal in the heavens 2 Cor. 5. They then are over with the Lord And blessed they are who die in the Lord so saith the Spirit They rest from their labors and their works follow them Rev. 14. But what rest or comfort can there be in such dreadful torments Do they not manifestly contradict the words of Wisdom which say the souls of the righteous are in the hands of God and no torment shall touch them I could make the like observations upon all the other controverted points of that Religion And therefore had not our forefathers reason to separate the pure and simple Christian Doctrine from this prodigious medly of so many humane Inventions and Traditions Did they not well in shaking off the yoke of so many Ceremonies and Superstitions borrowed the most part from Paganism Judaism Of which yoke we may truly say as S. Peter did of the Jewish It is a yoke the which neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear In vain do they tell us of the writings of their Fathers and the distinctions of their Doctors we are resolved to hearken to no other proof then what can be alleged out of the word of God or by consequence deduced from it for what concerns our salvation and the service of God We will trust him alone who is our Lord our God he hath merited heaven for us and he alone can shew us the way thither while we follow the light of his word we are sure we shall not go astray Let not then the Papists trouble themselves to force us to their abominable fooleries For the most eloquent discourses imaginable the most plausible humane reasonings the most authentick Authorities of the Fathers The subtilest distinction of the Schools are not sufficient to make us believe either adoration of Creatures the Invocation of Saints the worshipping of Angels the Veneration of Images the power of the Pope the merit of works their most unreasonable Doctrine of Transubstantiation the pretended Sacrifice of the Mass the imaginary fire of Purgatory or the like Nothing is capable to make us acknowledge any other Mediator any other Saviour and Redeemer then Jesus Christ Any other sacrifice then that of his Cross any other Purgatory then his blood nor any other merit then his obedience Nor any other Infallible guide then the holy Scripture And therefore though we are by the uncharitable Papists damned for Hereticks that we have no reason to fear that God Almighty will condemn us because we have trusted to his Divine Word and holy Ordinances we have fashioned our service according to that pattern he hath left us in the Scriptures we have closely adhered to the purity and simplicity of the Christian Doctrine We cannot give that honor and glory to the creatures which is due only to the Creator We content our selves in Worshipping of one only God in Spirit and in truth we put our whole trust and hope in him alone and we put up all our petitions to him in the name only and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. We cannot believe those false Priests who tell us that Christ is here and there we admit of no other sacrifice then that of the Cross nor any other purgatory than that of his blood we admit of no more Sacraments then those which Christ did Institute and we celebrate them no otherwise then the Apostles have done before us we pray to no Saints worship no Angels nor bow down to any Image Crucifix or Picture and therefore we hope through the infinite merits of God in Christ Jesus because we have been faithful in his service obedient to his commands and observed his Ordinances we shall not be condemned or eternally rejected from his presence But we hope to hear from our Saviours own mouth These words of eternal Consolation Because you have kept the words of my patience been faithful in my service to the death you shall receive the Crown of Life You have been good servants enter you into the joy of your Lord Inherit the Glorious Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the World Which God Almighty grant us for our Lord Jesus Christ his sake Amen A PILL TO PURGE OUT POPERY OR A CATECHISM FOR ROMISH CATHOLICKS Shewing that Popery is contrary to the grounds of the Catholick Religion and that therefore Papists cannot be good Catholicks The Speakers A weak Christian A Minister DIALOGUE I. Christian AMong the diversities of opinion that are in the world how may I know which is the truth whereto I must cleare and who are the true Church and true Catholicks Minister a Believe not every spirit
sins Mat. 1.21 Acts 4.12 Heb. 7.25 The Papists teach that there must also some satisfaction of our own come to make up our perfect Redemption Concil Trid. Sess 14.6.8 Can. 11.15 They will not be saved only by Jesus Christ but by the merits also of Saints their own merits Popes pardons c. yea they ascribe that to others which is proper to Christ alone and so consequently make them their Saviours As for example They ascribe to S. Francis the same titles properties power and the very same office due to Jesus Christ and in all respects they make him like to Christ whatsoever Christ did that as they say did S. Francis And what is this in effect but to make him their Saviour That they do ascribe the former things to S. Francis is to be seen in a book written on purpose to shew the conformitty between him and Christ called the conformity of Francis the which hath bin confirmed by the authority of the Church of Rome Pope Gregory the Ninth enjoined the faithful to hold and firmly to believe the things taught in the said book concerning S. Francis and that he should be punished as an Heretick that would think the contrary Confor P. 2. lib. 1. Fol. 3. C. To whom else do they ascribe that which is proper to Jesus Christ M. To the Virgin Mary They describe her nature by her name Maria consisting of five letters and these as they say do import the five offices to be exercised by her toward us The first is Maternitatis of Mother hood signified by the letter M for the as they say is the Mother of mercy through whom we obtain mercy Her second office is Conservationis of crnserving the treasure of God signified by the letter A which representeth Aream thesauri the chest of treasure for in her as they say we shall find an infinite treasure of the wisdom and grace of God Her third office is Directionis and gubernationis of direction and governing by example of her life This is imported by the letter R and therefore she is named Regina the Queen Her fourth office is Jaculationis repulsionis inimicorum of slinging and repelling back of enemies signified by the letter I and therefore they pray thus to her Tu nos ab hoste protege hora mortis suscipe Protect thou us from the enemie and receive us at the hour of death Her last office is Advocationis of Advocation imported by the letter A. From whence they pray thus O our Advocate turn thy merciful eyes unto us And what doe they herein but even place her in the room of Jesus and make her their Saviour These be the very words of Frier Iohn Viguerius a Doctor yea and a publick professor of Divinity among them in his Institutions to his Catholick Theologie Cap. 20. Sect. 9. Fol. 21 4. And herein he is like to such as can make bells to sound even what pleaseth their phantastical brain and as best may seed their superstitious humours Further they say That she is the original of our salvation and the recoverer of grace and forgiveness our hope our salvation resurrection c. Yea that to her it is given to bruise the Serpents head that she hath done it and procured that peace between God and man which no man could procure Viguerius ibid 214 215 Comfor Fran. in conclus Lib. 1. Is not this to make her a Saviour C. Surely yes and I think it most horrible blasphemy M. Account you this blasphemy what say you then to that which Carolus Scribanius a Iesuite hath written of her As namely First that the milk of Mary may come into comparison with the blood of Christ Secondly that that the Christian mans Faith may lawfully take hold on both as well as one Thirdly that the best compound for a sick soul is to mix together her milk and Christs blood Fourthly that the sins and spiritual diseases of the soul are cured as well by her milk as by his Blood Fifthly that her milk and the merit and vertue of it is more precious and excellent than Christs blood These most horrible blasphemies with many such like are to be found in the aforesaid Iesuites book which M. C. hath put into English and sufficiently answered calling it The Jesuites Gospel Besides all these things in a book called the Ladies Psalter they have put out the word Lord and put in the Word Lady As for example Psalme 110.1 The Lord said unto our Lady Sit thou mother at my right hand c. The like they doe in the rest of the Psalms And is not this good stuffe think you C. These Books were written long agone and it may be that they are now rejected by the Papists M. The latter of them was indeed written long agone but is not rejected but stand uncontrouled or rather defended by the Jesuites and those of the principall The former was written but lately And whereas both the Author and his book as M. C. saith deserved the fire and halter it was so farre from being misliked in the Romane Synagogue or any way censured that the book hath bin reprinted and the Author and his book stand enrouled approved and commended in their great Volumes set out for that purpose for good and Catholick As they place S. Francis and the Virgin Mary in Christs room so do they the Pope also ascribing that to him which is proper unto Iesus Christ and may not without blasphemy be ascribed to any creature They say that the Pope is the Sun The Church the Moon The Pope is the Bridegroom the Church the Bride The Pope is the head the Church the Body And what is this but to place the Pope in the room of Jesus Christ and even to say that the Pope is Christ Confor F. 2. li 2. fol. 10. That they do thus place S. Francis the Virgin Mary and the Pope in Christs room and so make them Saviours is more at large and sufficiently proved out of their own writers in a little Treatise set forth by M. Thomas Rogers in the year 1589. intituled An historicall Dialogue of Antichrist and Popery DIALOGVE 3. C. Hitherto you have shewed how the Son of God is called Jesus because he is a Saviour and how the Papists do place others in his room Now shew me also why he is called Christ and what that title signifieth M. Christ signifieth Anointed which title setteth forth his office namely that he is our only true Prophet Priest and King C Do they teach any thing contrary hereunto M. They do even deny this office of his and so consequently deny the fruits of his coming in the flesh 1. Ioh 4.3 C. Sheâ— me wherein they deny his Office M. Christ is a Prophet to teach his Church and to reveal the will of God unto us to whom all are to hearken Mat. 17 5 Ioh. 10 27. Act 3 22 23 And this he hath perfectly done in the Scriptures They preferred their own blind