A brief discourse concerning the notes of the church with some reflections on Cardinal Bellarmin's Notes. Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707. 1687 Approx. 39 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 13 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A59792 Wing S3266 ESTC R17733 13164117 ocm 13164117 98208 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A59792) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 98208) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 751:25) A brief discourse concerning the notes of the church with some reflections on Cardinal Bellarmin's Notes. Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707. 24 p. Printed for Ric. Chiswell ..., London : 1687. Attributed to William Sherlock. Cf. NUC pre-1956. Reproduction of original in Duke University Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Bellarmino, Roberto Francesco Romolo, -- Saint, 1542-1621. -- De notis ecclesiae. Catholic Church -- Doctrines. 2003-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-12 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-12 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2004-12 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-01 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A BRIEF DISCOURSE Concerning the NOTES OF THE CHURCH . With some REFLECTIONS on Cardinal BELLARMIN's Notes . LICENSED , April 6. 1687. JO. BATTELY . LONDON : Printed for Ric. Chiswell , at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard . MDCLXXXVII . A BRIEF DISCOURSE Concerning the Notes of the CHURCH , &c. IF Cardinal Bellarmin had not told us , That this is a most profitable Controversie ; I should very much have wondered at that pains which he and so many other of their great Divines have taken , to find out the Notes of the Church . For is not the Catholick Church visible ? And if we can see which is this Church , what need we guess at it by marks and signs ? and that by such marks and signs too , as are matter of dispute themselves ? Cannot we distinguish between the Christian Church , and a Turkish Mosque , or Jewish Synagogue , or Pagan Temple ? Cannot we , without all this ado , distinguish a Christian from a Turk , or a Jew , or a Pagan ? And it will be as easie to find out a Christian Church , as it is to find out Christians ; for a Christian Church is nothing else but a Society of Christians united under Christian Pastors , for the Worship of Christ ; and where ever we find such a Society as this , there is a Christian Church , and all such particular or National Churches all the World over , make up the whole Christian Church , or the Universal Church of Christ. But this will not do the Cardinal's business ; Though the Christian Church is visible enough , yet not such a Church as he wants . For since there are a great many Christian Churches in the World , as the Greek , the Armenian , the Abyssine , the Roman Church , he would find out which of these Churches is the Catholick Church ; which after all their shuffles they can never make any better sense of , than which of the Parts is the Whole . Since there are many unhappy disputes among Christians , the use of Notes is to find out an Infallible Church , which must by an indisputable authority dictate to all other Churches , what they must believe , and what they must practise ; and to bring all other Churches into subjection , they must find out a Church , out of whose Communion there is no pardon of sin , no Eternal life to be had . That is , in short , the use of Notes is to prove the Church of Rome to be the only Catholick Church , the only Infallible Oracle of Faith , and final Judg of Controversies ; and that the promises of Pardon of Sin , and Eternal Life , are made only to the Church of Rome , and to those other Churches which are in subjection to her . Thus Bellarmine unriddles this matter , that the usefulness of this Inquiry after the Notes of the true Church , is , because in the true Church only there is the true Faith , the true remission of sins , the true hope of eternal salvation ; which is certainly true , that all this is to be had only in the true Church of Christ. For there can be no true Church without the true Faith ; and no remission of sins , nor hope of salvation out of the true Church . But then all the Churches in the World , which profess the true faith of Christ , are such true Churches . But this will not do the business neither ; for it is not enough to know that every true Church professes the true Faith ; but we must find out such a Church , as cannot err in the Faith , and has authority to correct the Faith of all other Churches ; and we must allow the pardon of sin , and eternal life , to be had in no other Church but this ; which is the only thing , which can make such a Church the Mistress of all other Churches ; and this Church must be the Church of Rome , or else the Cardinal is undone with all his Notes and Marks of the Church . The observing this , gives us the true state of this Controversie ; which is not , what it is which makes a Church a true Church ; which is necessary for all Christians to know , that they may take care , that nothing be wanting in their Communion , which is essential to a true Church ; which is the only use of Notes that I know of : but the dispute is , how among all the divisions of Christendom , we may find out that only true Church , which is the Mistress of all other Churches , the only Infallible Guide in Matters of Faith , and to which alone the promises of pardon and salvation are made ; and by some Notes and Characters of such a Church , to prove , that the Church of Rome is that Church . The first of these is what the Protestants intend in those Notes they give of the true Church ; to show what it is which is essential to the being and constitution of a Christian Church ; for that , and none else , is a true Church , which has all things essential to a true Church . The second is , what the Papists intend by their Notes of a Church ; to prove , that the Church of Rome is the only true Church : and some brief remarks upon both these ways , will abundantly serve for an Introduction to a more particular examination of Cardinal Bellarmin's Notes of the Church , which is the only design of these Papers . It is no wonder , that Papists and Protestants differ so much about the Notes of the true Church , since the questions , which each of them intend to answer by their several Notes , so vastly differ . When you ask a Protestant , What are the Notes of a true Church ? He answers to that question , What it is , which is essential to a true Church ; or what it is , which makes a Church a true Church ; that is , What a true Church is ? And examines the truth of his Church by the essential marks and properties of a Church . When you ask a Papist for Notes of a true Church , he answers to that question , Which is a true Church ? and thinks to point you out to a true Church by some external marks and signs , without ever inquiring what it is , which is essential to a Church ; and this he must of necessity do , according to his principles ; for he can know nothing of Religion till he has found the Church , from which he must learn every thing else . Let us consider then which of these is most reasonable . First , To begin with the Protestant way of finding out the Church by the essential properties of a true Church ; Such as the profession of the true Christian Faith , and the Christian Sacraments rightly and duly administred by persons rightly ordained , according to the Institution of our Saviour , and the Apostolical practise . This is essential to a true Church ; for there can be no true Christian Church without the true Christian Faith , and Christian Sacraments , which cannot be rightly administred but by Church-Officers rightly and duly Ordained . The Regular Exercise of Discipline is not necessary to the being of the Church , but to the purity and good government of it . This is the sum of what the Protestants alledg for the Notes of the true Church , and these are as infallible Notes of a true Church , as Humane Nature is of a man ; for they are the Essential Principles of it . By this every man may know whether he be a Member of a true Church or not ; for where this is , there is a true Church ; where this is not , there is no true Church , whatever other marks of a Church there be . And I know no other use of Notes , but to find out what we seek for . In answer to such Notes as these , Cardinal Bellarmin objects Three things . 1. That Notes , whereby we will distinguish things , must not be common to other things , but proper and peculiar to that of which it is a Note . As if you would describe a man to me , whom I never saw , so as that I may know him when I meet him ; it is not enough to say , that he has two Hands , or two Eyes , &c. because this is common to all Men. And this he says is the Fault of these Notes : For as for the sincere Preaching of the Truth , or the Profession of the true Christian Faith , this is common to all Sects , at least , in their own Opinion ; and the same may be said of the Sacraments . All Sects and Professions of Christians , either have the true Faith and Sacraments , or at least think that they have so ; and therefore these marks cannot visibly distinguish the true Church from any other Sect of Christians . Now I must confess , these Notes , as he well observes , are common to all Christian Churches , and were intended to be so : and if this does not answer his Design , we cannot help it . The Protestant Churches do not desire to confine the Notes of the Church to their own private Communions ; but are very glad , if all the Churches in the World be as true Churches as themselves . The whole Catholick Church , which consists of a great many particular Diocesan , or National Churches , has the same Nature ; And when the whole consists of univocal parts , every part must have the same Nature with the whole : And therefore as he who would describe a man , must describe him by such Characters as fit all Mankind ; so he who gives the Essential Characters of a Church , must give such Notes as fit all true Churches in the World. This indeed does not fit the Church of Rome , to make it the only Catholick , and the only true Church , nor do we intend it should ; but it fits all true Churches , wherever they are , and that is much better . To answer then his Argument , when we give Notes , which belong to a whole Species , as we must do , when we give the Notes of a true Christian Church ; ( there being a great many true Churches in the World , which make up the Catholick , or Universal Church ) we must give such Notes as belong to the whole kind ; that is , to all true Christian Churches . And though these Notes are common indeed to all true Christian Churches , yet they are proper and peculiar to a true Christian Church ; as the Essential Properties of a man are common to all men , but proper to mankind : And this is necessary to make them true Notes ; For such Notes of a true Church , as do not fit all true Churches , cannot be true Notes . As for what the Cardinal urges , That all Sects of Christians think themselves to have the true Faith , and true Sacraments ; I am apt to think they do ; but what then ? If they have not the true Faith , and true Sacraments , they are not true Churches , whatever they think of it ; and yet the true Faith , and true Sacraments , are certain Notes of a true Church . A Purchase upon a bad Title , which a man thinks a good one , is not a good Estate ; but yet a Purchase upon a Title , which is not only thought to be , but is a good one , is a good Estate . All that can be said in this case , is , That men can be no more certain , that they have a true Church , than they are , that they have a true Faith , and true Sacraments ; and this I readily grant . But as mens mistakes in this matter , does not prove , that there is no true Faith , nor true Sacraments ; so neither does it prove , that a true Faith , and true Sacraments , are not Notes of the true Church . 2. The Cardinal 's second Objection is , That the Notes of any thing must be more known than the thing it self ; which we readily grant . Now says he , which is the true Church , is more knowable than which is the true Faith : and this we deny , and that for a very plain reason , because the true Church cannot be known without knowing the true Faith : for no Church is a true Church , which does not profess the true Faith. We may as well say , that we can know a Horse , without knowing what the shape and figure of a Horse is , which distinguishes it from all other Creatures , as that we can know a Christian Church , without knowing what the Christian Faith is , which distinguishes it from all other Churches : or we may as well say , that we can know any thing without knowing what it is , since the very Essence of a true Church consists in the true Faith , which therefore must be first known before we can know the true Church . But the Cardinal urges , that we cannot know what true Scripture is , nor what is the true interpretation of Scripture , but from the Church ; and therefore we must know the Church before we can koow the true Faith. As for the first , I readily grant , that at this distance from the writing the Books of the New Testament , there is no way to assure us , that they were written by the Apostles , or Apostolical men , and owned for inspired Writings , but the Testimony of the Church in all Ages . But herein we do not consider them as a Church , but as credible Witnesses . Whether there be any such thing as a Church , or not , we can know only by the Scriptures : But without knowing whether there be a Church or not , if we know , that for so many Hundred years , these Books have been owned to be written by such men , and have been received from the Apostles days till now , by all who call themselves Christians ; this is as good an Historical Proof as we can have for any thing ; and it is the Authority of an uninterrupted Tradition , not the Authority of the Church , considered as a Church , which moves us to believe them : For setting aside the Authority of Tradition , how can the Authority of a Company of men , who call themselves the Church , before I know whether there be any Church , move me to believe any thing which was done 1600. years a-go ? But there is a Company of men in the World , and have been successively for 1600. years ( whether they be a Church or not , is nothing to this question ) , who assure me , that these Books , which we call the Scriptures , were written by such inspired men , and contain a faithful account of what Christ did , and taught , and suffered ; and therefore I believe such Books : and from them I learn what that true Faith is which makes a true Christian Church . As for the true interpretation of Scripture , that we cannot understand what it is , without the Church , this I also deny . The Scriptures are very intelligible to honest and diligent Readers , in all things necessary to salvation : and if they be not , I desire to know , how we shall find out the Church : for certainly the Church has no Character but what is in the Scripture : and then if we must believe the Church before we can believe or understand the Scriptures , we must believe the Church , before we can possibly know whether there be a Church or not . If we prove the Church by the Scripture , we must believe and understand the Scripture , before we can know the Church : If we believe and understand the Scriptures upon the Authority and Interpretation of the Church , considered as a Church , then we must know the Church before the Scripture . The Scripture cannot be known without the Church , nor the Church without the Scripture , and yet one of them must be known first , and yet neither of them can be known first , according to these Principles , which is such an absurdity , as all the , Art of the World can never palliate . 3. The Cardinal 's third Objection is , That the true Notes of the Church must be inseparable from it ; whereas the Churches of Corinth and Galatia did not always teach true Doctrine , some of the Church of Corinth denying the Resurrection , and the Galatians warping towards Judaism ; and the Church of Corinth being guilty of great miscarriages in receiving the Lords-Supper ; and yet were owned for true Churches by the Apostles . An argument which much became the Cardinal to use , it being the best evidence I know of for the Church of Rome being a true Church , that every corruption in Faith and Sacraments do not Unchurch ; but how this proves that true Faith and true Sacraments are not an essential note and character of a true Church , I cannot guess : I would desire any one to tell me for him , whether a corrupt Faith and false Sacraments be the Notes of a true Church ; or whether it be no matter as to the nature of a Church , what our Faith and Sacraments are ? Secondly , Let us now consider the Cardinal's way , by some certain marks and notes , to find out which is the true Church , before we know what a true Church is . To pick out of all the Churches in the World , one Church , which we must own for the only true Church , and reject all other Churches , which do not subject themselves to this one Church . To find out such a Church on whose authority we must rely for the whole Christian Faith ; and in whose Communion only pardon of sin is to be had . That this is the use of Notes in the Church of Rome , I have already shewn you ; and truly they are very pretty things to be proved by Notes ; as to consider them particularly , 1. To find out which is the true Church , before we know what a true Church is . This methinks is not a natural way of inquiry , but is like seeking for we know not what . There are two inquiries in order of nature before which is the true Church , viz. Whether there be a true Church or not , and what it is . The first of these the Cardinal takes for granted , that there is a Church ; but I wont take it for granted , but desire these Note-makers to give me some Notes to prove , that there is a Church . There is indeed a great deal of talk and noise in the World about a Church , but that is no proof , that there is a Church ; and yet it is not a self-evident proposition , that there is a Church ; and therefore it must be proved . Now that there is a Church , must be proved by Notes , as well as which is this true Church , or else the whole design of Notes is lost ; and I would gladly see those Notes , which prove that there is a Church , before we know what a Church is . To understand the mystery of this , we must briefly consider the reason and use of Notes in the Church of Rome ; according to the Popish resolution of Faith into the authority of the Church ; the first thing we must know , is , which is the True Church ; for we must receive the Scriptures , and the Interpretation of them , and the whole Christian Faith and Worship , from the Church ; and therefore can know nothing of Religion , till we have found the Church . The use then of Notes is to find out the Church before , and without the Scriptures ; for if they admit of a Scripture-proof , they must allow that we can know and understand the Scriptures without the authority or interpretation of the Church , which undermines the very foundation of Popery : Now I first desire to know how they will prove , That there is a Church without the Scripture ? That you 'l say is visible it self , for we see a Christian Church in the World ; but what is it I see ? I see a company of men who call themselves a Church , and this is all that I can see ; and is this seeing a Church ? A Church must have a Divine Original and Institution ; and therefore , there is no seeing a Church without seeing its Character ; for there can be no other Note or Mark of the being of a Church , but the Institution of it . And this proves , that we cannot know , that there is a Church , without knowing in some measure what this Church is ; for the Charter which founds the Church , must declare the Nature and Constitution of it , what its Faith and Worship , and Laws and Priviledges are . But now these essential Characters of a Church must not be reckoned by the Romanists among the Notes of a Church , for then we must find out the true Church by the true Faith , and the true Worship ; not the true Faith by the true Church ; which destroys Popery . Hence it is , that these Note-makers never attempt to give us any Notes , whereby we shall know that there is a Church , or what this Church is ; for there are no Notes of these , but such as they dare not give , viz. The Authority of the Scriptures , and every mans private judgment of the Sense and Interpretation of them ; for at least till we have found a Church , we must judg for our selves , and then the Authority of the Church comes too late ; for we must first judg upon the whole of Religion , if we must find out a true Church by the true Faith , before we can know the true Church ; and we cannot rely on her Authority , before we know her ; and therefore they take it for granted , that there is a Church , which they can never prove in their way , and attempt to give some Notes whereby to know which is the Church ; and then learn , what the Church is , from the Church her self ; which is like giving marks whereby to know an Unicorn , before I know whether there be an Unicorn or not , or what it is . 2. Another blunder in this Dispute about Notes is , That they give us Notes whereby to find out the true Catholick Church , before we know what a particular Church is . For all Bellarmin's Notes are intended only for the Catholick Church ; and therefore his first Note is the name Catholick ; whereas the Catholick Church is nothing else but all true Christian Churches in the World , united together by one common Faith and Worship , and such acts of Communion as distinct Churches are capable of , and obliged to . Every particular Church which professes the true Faith and Worship of Christ , is a true Christian Church ; and the Catholick Church is all the true Christian Churches in the World ; which have all the same Nature , and are in some sense of the same Communion : So that it is impossible to know what the Catholick Church is , before we know what a particular Church is , as it is to know what the Sea is , before we know what Water is : Every true , single , particular Church has the whole and intire nature of a Church , and would be a true Church , though there were no other Church in the World ; as the Christian Church at Jerusalem was , before any other Christian Churches were planted ; and therefore there can be no other Notes of a True Church , but what belong to every true particular Church ; and that can be nothing but what is essential to a Church , and what all true Christian Churches in the World agree in , viz. The True Faith and Worship of Christ. Now , so far as Bellarmin's Notes belong to every true particular Church , so far we allow them , and let the Church of Rome make the best of them She can ; for we doubt not to make our claim to them , as good , and much better than hers ; but he has named very few such ; the 6th , the Agreement and Consent in Doctrine with the Ancient and Apostolick Church ; and the 8th the Holiness of its Doctrine , are the cheif , if not the only Notes of this nature ; and these we will stand and fall by ; many of his other , are not properly the Notes of a true Church , any otherwise than as they are Testimonies of the truth of common Christianity , which is professed by all true Churches ; and if they are Notes of the Church , so every true particular Church has a share in them . Such as his 9th , the efficacy of Doctrine . The 10th , the Holiness of the lives of the first Authors and Fathers of our Religion ; and I suppose , the Holiness of Christ and his Apostles give Testimony to the truth of common Christianity , and therefore to all Churches who profess the common Faith once delivered to the Saints . The 11th , the Glory of Miracles , which also proves the truth of Christian Religion ; and I hope a little better than Popish Miracles do Transubstantiation . The 12th , is the Spirit of Prophesy , which as far as it is a good Note , belongs to the Religion , not to the Church . Other Notes he assigns , which I doubt will prove no Notes at all , as 13 , 14 , 15. because they are not always true , and at best uncertain . His third and fourth Notes are not Notes of a Church , but God's Promises made to his Church : as of a long Duration , that it shall never fail , and Amplitude or Extent , and multitude of Believers . These Promises we believe God will fulfil to his Church , but they can be no Notes , which is the true Church . For the first of these can never be a Note till the day of Judgment . That Church which shall never be destroyed is the true Church , but a bare long continuance is no Mark of a true Church ; for an Apostatical Church may continue by the patience and forbearance of God many hundred Years , and be destroyed at last ; and then this Argument of a long Duration is confuted : And as for Amplitude and Extent , that is not to distinguish one Christian Church from another , that the most numerous Church should be the truest ; but to distinguish the Christian Church from all other Religions ; and then I doubt this Prophecy has not received its just Accomplishment yet ; for tho we take in all the Christian Churches in the World , and not exclude the greatest part of them , as the Church of Rome does , yet they bear but a small proportion to the rest of the World. And now there are but three of his fifteen Notes of the Church left . The first concerning the Name Catholick , which makes every Church a Catholick Church , which will call it self so : Tho Catholick does not declare what a Church is , but in what Communion it is , and is no Note of a true Church , unless it be first proved , that they are true Churches , which are in Communion with each other : For if three parts in four of all the Churches in the World were very corrupt and degenerate in Faith and Worship , and were in one Communion , this would be the most Catholick Communion , as Catholick signifies the most general and universal ; but yet the fourth part , which is sincere , would be the best and truest Church , and the Catholick Church , as that signifies the Communion of all Orthodox and Pure Churches . His first Note is , the Succession of Bishops in the Church of Rome from the Apostles till now . This is a Note of the Roman Church ; and the Succession of Bishops in the Greek Church , is as good a Note of the Greek Church . And any Churches which have been later planted , who have Bishops in Succession from any of the Apostles or Apostolical Bishops , by this Note are as good Churches as they . So that this is a Note common to all true Churches , and therefore can do the Church of Rome no Service . His seventh Note indeed is home to his purpose : That that is the only true Church , which is united to the Bishop of Rome , as to its Head. If he could prove this , it must do his business without any other Notes , but that will be examined hereafter . But it is like the Confidence of a Jesuit , to make that the Note of the Church , which is the chief Subject of the Dispute . The Sum is this : There can be no Notes of a true Church , but what belong to all true Churches : for tho there is but one Catholick Church , yet there are a great many true particular Churches , which make up this Catholick Church , as homogeneal Parts , which have all the same Nature . But now very few of the Cardinal's Notes belong to all true Churches ; and those which do so , signifie nothing to his purpose , because they are common to more Churches than the Church of Rome . And as for the Catholick Church , that is known only by particular Churches ; for it is nothing else , but the Union of all true Churches in Faith and Worship , and one Communion , as far as distinct Churches at a great distance from each other are capable of it : And therefore there is no other way to know which is the Catholick Church , but by knowing all the true Churches in the World , which either are in actual Communion with one another , or are in a Disposition for it , whenever occasion is offered : For it is impossible that all true Christian Churches all the World over , should ever joyn in any visible and external Acts of Communion : and therefore tho we know and believe , that there is a Catholick Church , because we are assured that all true Churches in the World are but one Church , the one Body and Spouse of Christ ; yet it is next to impossible to know all the Parts of the Catholick Church ( without which we cannot know the whole Catholick Church ) because we cannot know all the particular true Churches all the World over . Nor indeed is there any need we should : For we may certainly know which is a truly Catholick Church , without knowing the whole Catholick Church . For every Church , which professes the true Catholick Faith , and imposes only Catholick Terms of Communion , and is ready , out of the Principles of Brotherly Love and Charity ( that cement of Catholick Communion ) to communicate with all Churches , and to receive all Churches to her Communion upon these Terms , is a truly Catholick Church , which shews how ridiculous it is to make the Catholick Church our first Inquiry , and to pretend to give Notes to find out the true Catholick Church by , before we know what a true Particular Church is . But the Mystery of this will appear more in what follows . 3dly . For another Mystery of finding the true Church by Notes , is to pick out of all the Christian Churches in the World one Church , which we must own for the only Catholick Church ; and reject all other Churches as Heretical , or Schismatical , or Un-catholick Churches , who refuse Obedience and Subjection to this One Catholick Church . For if this be not the Intent of it , what will all the Notes of the Church signify to prove , that the Church of Rome is the only true Catholick Church ? And if they do not prove this , the Cardinal has lost his labour . For tho the Notes he assigns were the Notes of a true Church , yet they may and must belong to all other true Churches , as well as to the Church of Rome ; unless he can prove , that there is but One true Church , or but One Church , which is the Mistress of all other Churches , and the only Principle and Center of Catholick Unity . And this ought to have been proved first , before he had thought of the Notes of the Church . So that there are many things to be proved here , before we are ready for the Notes of the Church ? They must first prove , that there is but one true Church in the World : for tho we all grant , that there is but One Catholick Church , yet we say , there may be , and hope , nay more than so , know that there are many true Churches , which make up the Catholick Church . Yet before the Notes of a true Church can do any Service to the Church of Rome , they must prove , that there is but one true Church in the World ; and then it will signify something to prove the Church of Rome to be that true Church . They must prove also , that the Catholick Church does not signify all the particular true Churches that are in the World ; but some one Church , which is the Fountain of Catholick Unity ; which all other Churches are bound to submit to , and communicate with , if they will be Members of the Catholick Church . For tho all the Churches in the World were in Subjection to that Church , yet they receive their Catholicism from their Communion with that Church ; and therefore that only is the Catholick Church . It is not meerly the Communion of all Churches together , which makes the Catholick Church ; but it is the Subjection of all Churches to that one Catholick Church , which makes them Catholick : So that they must prove , that there is one particular Church , which is the Catholick Church ; that is , that a part is the whole ; that one particular Church is all the Churches of the World ; for so the Catholick Church signifies in Ancient Writers . This is so absurd , that some of our Modern Advocates for the Catholick Church of Rome tell us , that they do not mean the particular Diocess of Rome by the Catholick Church , but all those Churches , which are in Communion with the Church of Rome : But suppose this , yet it is only the Church of Rome which makes all the other Churches Catholick , and therefore she only is the Catholick Church . And I will presently make them confess it to be so : For let us suppose , that no other Churches should submit themselves to the Church of Rome ( by the Church of Rome understanding the particular Diocess of Rome ) would she be the Catholick Church or not ? If notwithstanding this she would be the Catholick Church ; then it is evident , that they make the particular Church of Rome the Catholick Church ; if she would not , then I cannot see how Communion with the Church of Rome is essential to the Catholick Church . These things , I say , ought to have been proved , before the Cardinal had given us the Notes of the Church ; for it is a hard thing to prove by Notes , that the particular Church of Rome is the only Catholick Church , till it be proved , that a particular Church may be the Catholick Church , or that there is one particular Church , which is the Catholick Church . This he knew we all deny ; and it is a ridiculous thing to think to convince us by Notes , that the Church of Rome is the particular Catholick Church ; when we deny that there is any such Church ; and affirm , that it is a Contradiction to own it ; as great a Contradiction , as it is to say , that a Particular Church is the Universal Church . 4thly . But when I consider the farther Design of these Note-Makers , to find out such a Church on whose Authority we must rely for the whole Christian Faith , even for the holy Scriptures themselves , it makes me now admire , that they should think this could be done by some Notes of a Church ; especially by such Notes as the Cardinal gives us . For suppose he had given us the Notes of a true Church , which is the utmost he can pretend to ; before we can hence conclude that this Church is the Infallible Guide , and uncontroulable Judg of Controversies , we must be satisfied , that the true Church is Infallible . This indeed Bellarmin attempts to prove in his third Book of the Church ; and it is not my Concern at present to inquire how he proves it . But I am sure this can never be proved but by Scripture ; for unless Christ have bestowed Infallibility on the Church , I know not how we can prove she has it ; and whether Christ have done it or not , can never be known but by the Scriptures : So that a Man must believe the Scriptures , and use his own Judgment to understand them , before it can be proved to him , that there is an Infallible Church ; and therefore those who resolve the belief of the Scriptures into the Authority of the Church , cannot , without great Impudence , urge the Authority of the Scriptures to prove the Church's Infallibility ; and yet thus they all do ; nay prove their very Notes of the Church from Scripture , as the Cardinal does : and think this is no Circle neither , because we Hereticks believe the Scriptures without the Authority of their Church , and therefore are willing to dispute with them out of the Scriptures . But this is a fault on our side , and when we dispute with them , whatever we do at other times , we should not believe the Scriptures , till they had proved them to us their way , by the Authority of their Church ; and then we should quickly see what blessed Work they would make of it . How they would prove their Church's Infallibility , and what fine Notes we should have of a Church , when we had rejected all their Scripture-proofs , as we ought to do , till they have first satisfied us , that theirs is the only true Infallible Church , upon whose Authority we must believe the Scriptures , and every thing else . I confess , I would gladly hear what Notes they would give a Pagan to find out the true Infallible Church by . It is certainly a most sensless thing to resolve all our Faith into the Authority of the Church , as if the Church were the first Object of our Faith in Religion ; whereas ●t is demonstrable , that we must know and believe most of the Articles of the Christian Faith before we can know whether there be any Church or not . The order observed in the Apostles Creed is a plain Evidence of this , for all those Articles which are before the Holy Catholick Church must in order of Nature be known before it . That there is a God who made the World ; that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God , who was conceived by the Holy Ghost , born of the Virgin Mary , suffered under Pontius Pilate , was crucified , dead , and buried , and descended into Hell , that he rose again the third day from the dead , and ascended into Heaven , and sitteth on the Right-hand of God the Father Almighty , and from thence shall come to judg the Quick and the Dead ; I believe in the Holy Ghost ; and then we may add the Holy Catholick Church , and not till then . For the Church is a Society of Men for the Worship of God , through the Faith of Jesus Christ , by the Sanctification of the Holy Spirit , which unites them into one Mystical Body : So that we must know Father , Son , and Holy Ghost , before we can know what the Catholick Church means . And is it not strange then , that our Faith must be founded on the Authority of the Church , when we must first know all the great Articles of our Faith , before we can know any thing about a Church . This inverts the order of our Creed , which according to the Principles of the Church of Rome should begin thus . I believe in the Holy Catholick Church , and upon the Authority of that Church , I believe in God the Father Almighty , and in Jesus Chrst , and in the Holy Ghost : and no doubt but the Apostles , or those Apostolical Men , who framed the Creed , would have put it so , had they thought the whole Christian Faith must be resolved into the Authority of the Church . This short Discourse , I think , is enough in general concerning the Notes of the Church ; and I shall leave the particular Examination of Cardinal Bellarmin's Notes to other Hands , which the Reader may expect to follow in their order . The End. Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A59792-e210 Controv. T2 . L. 4. de Notic Ecclesiae . Omnes enim confitentur in solâ verâ Ecclesia esse veram fidem , veram peccatorum remissioonem , veram spem salutis aternâ . Bell. de Notis Eccl. cap. 1.