Popes Supremacy 7. Their Superstitious Fasts 8. Their Worshipping of Images 9. Their praying unto Saints 10. Their praying for the Dead 11. Their Satisfaction 12. Their Forgivenesse by Works of Penance 13. And for many more the like Points of their false Doctrine 2. 1. And therefore they will be rather Tried and Judged by the Writings of the Fathers then by Scriptures 2. Although for a Fashion in Defence of some of the Points above propounded they pretend Scriptures Yet being easily beaten from them they fall at last to Rail on Them as not containing sufficient Doctrine and rather will be Tried and Judged as we have said By the Writings of Fathers 3. At whose Hands albeit they find not such Relief as they would make Men to Believe in no one Point of Controversie between us and them As hath been oftentimes plainly proved by many Doctors of the Reformed Church And by Bishop Jewel notably 4. 1 Notwithstanding by Reason of the Fathers manifold oversights and slips 2. And the Corruption that daily increased in the Church They may bring somewhat such as it is for their Maintenance 5. Wherefore in That we Reformed will not admit the Fathers for Judges in Matters of Religion but hold them hard to the Trial of the Scriptures 6. Which the Papists cannot abide This puts them out of patience and driveth them into vehement passions 7. But let them mend themselves where they can They shall never get more at our Hands Then that which we have said before concerning the Scriptures and the Fathers 8. This is then a very true saying that our Adversaries Doctrine cannot stand unlesse we Reformed will allow for Good those Things That in the writings of the Fathers are most Faulty §. Again of this Matter more briefly 1. IT is a peculiar Thing to the Popish Doctors that they even greedily hunt after and pursue whatsoever is Faulty in any Ancient Author As if all the Fathers Errors served to make up the Body and Faith of their Religion 2. They rake up even out of the Fathers oversights watsoever seemeth to favour their Errors Papists suck Errors from the Fathers unsound Speeches And of a small Error of the Fathers do occasionally procreate a great one 1. AS Horseleaches suck the naughtie blood out of the veins So Papists excerpt that which is most imperfect and unsound from the Fathers 2. And thus Popery according to D. Whitaker is a patcht Coverlet framed of the Fathers Errors and sewed together 3. Moreover the Papists of a small error of the Fathers may occasionally procreate a great one As from praying for the dead used in one respect by the Fathers The grosse praying for the dead with a reference to purgatory 4. And so we have great cause to tax the slipperie dealing of Popish Hucksters in abusing the Fathers Frauds concerning Councils Another Principle of the Church of Rome 1. Fraud Of many Frauds and Slights committed in the last Councils of the Church of Rome 1. THat before they were Assembled their Decisions were Debated And concluded at Rome 2. That notwithstanding all Disputations And Proof done on the contrarie they passed by absolute Authority 3. That the Holy Ghost or rather the Spirit of Satan was brought there from Rome weekly by the Post 4. That the Presidents in them and those who did Dispute in them and those who Concluded in them did Respire nothing but the good will of the Popes And did Aime onely at this to obey and please Them 5. By that it evidently appears That it is not much needful to produce Proofs that such Assemblies might have erred 6. On the contrarie it should be found strange if they could have concluded any thing without Error 2. Fraud This is a great slight of the Popes in these last Times to oppose themselves to the holding of Councels believing that they would Decree against them Against the Roman Clergie And against the Court of Rome CLement the 7 th Pope of Rome very much versed in Affairs of State even during the Life of his Predecessor Adrian the 6th had still maintained That in the Occurrences of that Time the Councel to make use of the Mean of Councels was most pernitious 2. And commonly did say That Councels were profitable whensoever any other thing should be Handled then the Popes Authoritie But when it came to be Debated That then there was nothing more pernicious 3. For as in former times the Popes weapons were to have Recourse unto the Councels So in those Times the Safety of the Papacy did consist to shun and avoid them 4. And so much the more that Leo the 10. his predecessors having already condemned Luthers Doctrine This same matter could no more be referred to a Councel to Examine it And Deliberate upon it without wronging the Authority of the Holy See 3. Fraud Observation This was a great Fraud and Sleight in the Court of Rome to endeavour as much as could be done to suppresse the Relation of what was passed in the Councel of Trent 1. MAny clear sighted persons have done what they were able to do to suppresse the Historie and Relation of that which did passe in the Councel of Trent 2. Whereupon we say That it is true That the Great Things deserves to be held in some Mysterious Secret But it is when the publick Good requires that it should be so 3. But when the Ignorance of the whole is notably wrongful to one of the parties and Advantagious to the other It is no marvel if in Contrarie Intentions and Ends it is proceeded also by opposite and contrarie waies 4. And here it is true and received the Common and Famous Sentence That with more Reason it is endeavoured to avoid Losse then to get profit Addition Of the History of the Council of Trent written by Patre Paulo 1. AS the Council of Trent holds the first Ranck among the Affairs happened in Christendome in the former Age and which also may happen in the following Times 2. So may it be said in very Truth That the History which we have of the said Council by Patre Paulo is the most Excellent of the Histories that have been written in that time and perhaps surpassing the others which had been written afore 3. For if we have a Regard to the Matter which it contains we shall find there those of the Religion and of the State and if exactly we consider the Form of it we shall find that nothing is wanting in it 4. He that shall Read it carefully shall not be ashamed to confesse that he hath received much profit by the Reading of it For in the Discourses which by Digression are made in it by its Author concerning Religion and the Church There is a Depth of Learning A Clearnesse of Wit And a Solidity of Judgement most Admirable As also a true free and bold Decision of many Points of Importance which are in Controversies between the Reformed Churches and the Romane Fraud The Acts
restrain them what we can what we cannot we suffer 6. But we do not for the Tares sake forsake the Field For the Chaffe leave the Floor of Christ For the evil Fish break the Net For the Goats sake refuse the Fold of Christ 7. When Religion was partly corrupted partly contemned in Israel and the Prophets cried go out from them and touch no unclean thing Did they then sever themselves from them In Evang. Serm. 8. I find no such thing saith Augustine yet doubtless they did themselves what their Prophets willed others to do 8. Hoc ergo est exire ore non Parcere hoc Immundum non tangere voluntate non consentire 9. Liber in conspectu Dei est cui nec Deus sua peccata imputat quae non fecit Neque aliena quae non approbavit Neque negligentiam quia non tacuit Neque Superbiam quia ab unitate Ecclesiae non necessit There is a necessity to have a certain Form of Liturgie for the publick Administration of all the Parts of Divine Worship in the Christian Church 1. THis certain and set Form of Publick Liturgie is necessary to entertain Uniformity in a National Church 2. There was such an one in the Eastern and Western Churches as it appears by their Liturgies which are in our hands 3. There is such an one in all the Reformed National Churches As in the National Reformed Church of France And in that of the Low-countries And in the Church of Geneva And in the Reformed Churches of Germany c. 4. By such a certain and set Form of publick Liturgie no wrong or injurie is done to the Holy Ghost as if one would undertake to inclose him within the Bars of certain Words For if that were true Christ should have committed such a fault because he hath given to his Apostles and with them to the whole Church an express and set Form of Prayer David also should have committed the like fault having given us in his Psalms so many Forms of Prayer of Thanksgiving and of confession of Sins Rather let us say that the set Form of Prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Forms mentioned of the Prophet David being proceeded from the Holy Ghost the Will of God is that we make use of them to call upon him by prayer and to render thanks unto him by the very words of his Holy Spirit 5. And concerning the Ecclesiastical set Form which we require and commend by it we do not pretend to prescribe any thing to the Holy Ghost But besides the benefit of a National Uniformity our scope is to succour our common Infirmitie which is done when the Minister in the Administration of the parts of publick Divine Worship doth make use of the help of the Church thereupon and esteems it better to perform it in certain and set words then to let out from his mouth impertinent and ill digested conceptions and words 6. It is left to the liberty of every National Church to frame such a set Form of Liturgie §. The Reformed State and Church of England do condemn utterly and publickly Anabaptists Atheists the Family of Love and also the Separatists 1. ANd if notwithstanding that condemnation there be such in the State of England and secretly in the Church thereof so have there been alwayes Hereticles and wicked persons in the Church 2. And in respect of them the Reformed Religion of the Church of England is no more to be accused then the good Corn may justly be condemned because together with it many Tares and Weeds spring up and cannot be avoided §. From the time of the Reformation of the State and Church of England the Jesuites and Priests did never cease to trouble them and assault them 1. 1. IT is not unknown to the Soveraign Prince and also to the subordinate Magistrates of England how since the Reformation of the Religion and Church of that Kingdom the Adversaries Popes Jesuites and Priests have never ceased to trouble the State thereof and that by their Books in great number written and published and by all other means that possibly they were able to devise and also to defame that holy Religion of Christ which through Gods great mercy and the godly Laws of the Soveraigns is according to Gods word established in this State 2. What they have wrought with many of all Estates and how mightily they have prevailed with that strong and effectual 〈◊〉 of Sathan which hath advanced Antichrist unâ—â— that Supremacie of Power Authority and Credit in the World whereof the Holy Ghost by S. Paul and by S. John hath foretold lamentable experience can witness And that in the backfliding and continual Apostating of many a way from us to the final perdition of such Apostates to the grief of the Godly and to the great encouragement and comfort of the Enemy 2. ANd we have no doubt that all the English Jesuites and Seminarie Priests of Rome or of the Colledge of Rhemes are all most wilfully bent and earnestly disposed to do what harm any of them possibly can to the Church of England §. All the English Jesuites and Seminary Priests by their writings have gained nothing against the Reformed Religion of England 1. THese English old Souldiers of the Popish party Sanders Harding Allen Stapleton Bristol have imployed in the assailing of the Reformed Religion of England whatsoever Either Reading Or Leasure Or Cunning. Or Wit Or Diligence Or Malice Could supply unto them and for all this have gained nothing 2. Should New-discovered others of that kind that are not worthy to be compared with these hope to Reform that wherein they have failed §. Refutation of the Censure of the Manners of the State and Church of England made by the Jesuites 1. HE that reproveth the Manners of others it were meet that he should be without fault 2. Now is there so great a change made of Rome upon the sudden Is their Life now such Are there Manners begun to be so godly that the Jesuites being thence returned here Friers dare strive with us about Vertue Shamefastness and Honesty 3. Howsoever there be in England many things done which ought not to be done Yet if the Jesuites shall say that there is as great Impunity and Licentiousness of sins in England as they themselves have seen at Rome which is the very Towre of their Religion and Kingdom all men will judge them to be too too impudent 4. Surely as long as those publick Stewes and Dens of Whores stand still in Rome the Jesuites could scarce honestly make mention of Manners Of the English Service Book and of the Change in it since the beginning of the Reformation in the Raign of Edward the Sixt. 1. THe first Service Book of King Edward was not altogether approved by Bucer and Peter Martyr but in some things reproved As the censure of Bucer upon the same doth declare Vide Bucer Script Anglican pag. 428. 2. That first Service-book was rather
onely to the Gospel of Jesus Christ but even to their own Law Which Deutorologies of theirs our Saviour condemneth Mat. 15.3.6 When he saith That they transgressed the Commandment of God and made it of none effect by their own Tradition 4 Both these waies do the Jews shew their enmitie to Christ and Christian Religion and are thereby retained and encouraged in their Errors Jesus Christ is the true Messiah 1. MAugre all Christ is the true Messiah 2. Whatsoever was prophesied of the Messiah is performed in Christ 1. Christ came of the Stock of David and of the Root of Jesse so should the Messias 2. Christ was born of a Virgin so should the Messiah Christs Star appeared and the Princes did worship him Christ was born in Bethlehem He fled out of Judea into Egypt The Children were slain for his sake He was called out of Egypt and was called a Nazareth All which things were prophesied of the Messiah 3. He had John Baptist his forerunner and cryer and that was foretold of the Messiah 4. He vanquished the Devils and had the Angels to minister unto him which was foretold of the Messiah 5. He called his Disciples and his Conversation was in Galilee foretold of the Messiah 6. His Miracles were altogether Divine and from the power of God prophesied of the Messiah 7. His Preaching and Conversation were in humility and gentleness foretold of the Messiah 8. He was reproached reviled whipped and Crucified foretold of the Messiah 9. He Rose and Triumphed forespoken of the Messiah 10. He called the Gentiles unto the unity of Faith fore prophesied of the Messiah 2. 1. The Messiah must be true God and true Man so was Christ 2. The true time when the Messiah should be born was when Judea should be subject unto the Romans Christ was born in that time 3. The Messiah should be born of a Virgin so was Christ as S. Matthew doth witness 4. The Place where the Messiah should be born was Bethlem the same is where Christ was born according to the Evangelists 5. Things forespoken by Esay and foretold by David concerning the Mâ—ssiah were fulfilled in Christ as the Preaching of the Apostles the banding of Pilate and of Herod the Kingdome of Christ after the death of the Cross his sitting at the right hand of God and the destruction of the Jewes for killing the Anointed 6. Also the Prophesies concerning the Miracles of the Messiah concerning the slaughtering of good Men concerning the Calling of the Gentiles are accomplished in Christ 7. Also are the Prophesies of the death of the Messiah of his Resurrection and of his Ascention into Heaven 8. All these things Prophesied of the Messiah being accomplished in Christ it follows against the Jewes that he is to be believed and worshipped as the onely Son of God and Saviour of the world The Jewes shall be converted to Christ before the End of the World 1. THe Scripture hath determined that this Conversion of the Jewes shall be that appears Rom. 11.26 And so all Israel shall be saved 2. But of the day and year of this Conversion the said Scripture hath said nothing 3. All that we dare say of it is by way of probability 4. And it may be comprised in the following Propositions 1. The Conversion of the Jewes is not as yet past for though some be here and there converted yet the promise being more general is not yet fulfilled 2. It will not be long before the second coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ but toward the latter end of the world 3. Nor when that day shall be that is to say when God will convert this Nation or come in the Clouds of Heaven to Judge the Earth no man can tell It is not for us to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his own power Acts 1.6 4. If we say so little of so great a Point our Apologie is that of what we know not we speak not 5. If any man out of a proud spirit for ostentation shall take upon him to determine the time we professe that we believe him not 6. We dispute not whether they shall have a Policy and shall recover the holy Land and dwell there for it is likely they shall never recover it because we find no such promise We must have pity and compassion of the blindness of the Jews and pray God earnestly that they may be enlightned with the saving knowledge of God his Christ and holy Gospel 1. FOr if their Case be to be pitied and lamented who through bodily blindnesse run into innumerable mischiefs and fall at last into a deep gulph without hope of recovery how much more should we pity and bewail their miserable condition who through spiritual blindness plunge themselves for the present into far greater evils and at last fall irrecoverably into the Pit of everlasting destruction 2. Neither let their fury and faultinesse in opposing Christ in his truth and members lessen our pity but rather encrease it 3. For what can they doe otherwise so long as they are under this heavy Judgement of Spiritual blindnesse who is angry with a blind man because he goeth out of his way or stumbleth at every block or falleth into every pit and ditch yea who doth not pity him in all or any of these miseries and laboureth not that he may either prevent or be delivered out of them 4. And how much more then should we stand thus affected towards those who lie under the punishments of spiritual blindnesse and phrensie which without all comparison are greater than the other and much more desperate and durable What things from Christians do alienate and detain the Jewes from Christianity 1. IT is on one side the Idolatry of the Papists they see in Babylon some Sacrifice to Idols some prostrate themselves before Creatures and other such Idolatries 2. And on the other side the Libertinage of the Protestants and their profane Life and bad Conversation 3. For when the Jews do see that the Papists believes not well and that the Protestants live not wel it is a Rock of offence to them that they can approve neither the one nor the other Let us help and set forward the Conversion of the Jews and how 1. LEt us to that end endeavour by our pure and sincere service of God by our Zeal by our Godly Life by our just Dealing and by our good Conversation to give light unto the Jews to provoke them to Emulation and to win them to Christ 2. That there may be one Fold and one Shepherd as our Saviour speaks John 10.12 3. Let us so behave our selves towards the Jews as S. Peter taught once the Jews to behave themselves towards us 1 Pet. 2.12 Have your Conversation honest among the Gentiles that they by your good works which they shall see may glorifie God in the day of their Visitation 4. Example is very powerful there is nothing more available to the winning of one that believeth not than the good conversation and life of him that doth believe S. Peter teacheth that 1 Epist 3.1 Of the Falsehood of the Religion of Turks and Mahumetans in particular 1. THe Mahumetans have learned of the Christians to serve and honour onely one God But they soil with many fables the Doctrine of the Nature of God and of the Providence which they acknowledge which appears by their Alcoran 2. The Mahumetans seek the means of their Reconciliation in some outward and foolish Ceremonies in Washings and Purifications and such other like things whose conscience being awaked they are forced to acknowledge as we have said also of the Jews that by such things the Remorse of the Conscience and the Sting of Sin cannot be plucked out from the sinful Man 3. Among the Turks 1. Pluralitie of Women 2. Private Vengeance 3. The Murther of Brethren by their Emperour are things in recommendation and praised 4. That which they hold concerning the Life to come relishes nothing but the Fable 5. They make their happiness to consist in the satisfying of their Carnal lusts FINIS