Several weighty considerations humbly recommended to the serious perusal of all, but more especially to the Roman Catholicks of England to which is prefix'd, An epistle from one who was lately of that communion to Dr. Stillingfleet, Dean of St. Pauls, declaring the occasion of the following discourse.
      
       
         
           1679
        
      
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             Several weighty considerations humbly recommended to the serious perusal of all, but more especially to the Roman Catholicks of England to which is prefix'd, An epistle from one who was lately of that communion to Dr. Stillingfleet, Dean of St. Pauls, declaring the occasion of the following discourse.
             T. S. Epistle from a late Roman Catholick to the Very Reverend Dr. Edward Stillingfleet, Dean of St. Paul's.
             Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
          
           [6], 46 p.
           
             Printed for and to be sold by John Holford ... and John Harding ...,
             London :
             1679.
          
           
             "An epistle from a late Roman Catholick to the Very Reverend Dr. Edward Stillingfleet Dean of St. Pauls, &c." signed: T.S.
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Catholic Church -- Controversial literature.
        
      
    
     
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           Several
           Weighty
           CONSIDERATIONS
           Humbly
           Recommended
           To
           the
           Serious
           Perusal
           of
           ALL
           ,
           but
           more
           especially
           To
           the
           Roman
           Catholicks
           OF
           ENGLAND
           .
        
         
           To
           which
           is
           prefix'd
           An
           Epistle
           from
           one
           who
           was
           lately
           of
           that
           Communion
           ,
           to
           Dr.
           Stillingfleet
           ,
           Dean
           of
           St
           Pauls
           ;
           Declaring
           the
           Occasion
           of
           the
           following
           Discourse
           .
        
         
           
             He
             is
             not
             joyned
             to
             the
             Church
             ,
             who
             is
             departed
             from
             the
             Gospel
             .
          
           
             S.
             Cypr.
             de
             Lapsis
             .
          
        
         
           
             Am
             I
             therefore
             become
             your
             Enemy
             because
             I
             tell
             you
             the
             Truth
             ?
          
           
             Galat.
             4.
             16.
             
          
        
         
           
             Yet
             —
             I
             will
             very
             gladly
             spend
             and
             be
             spent
             for
             you
             :
             though
             the
             more
             abundantly
             I
             love
             you
             ,
             the
             less
             I
             be
             loved
             ,
          
           
             2
             Cor.
             12.
             15.
             
          
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           sold
           by
           
             John
             Holford
          
           ,
           in
           the
           Pall-Mall
           ,
           over
           against
           St.
           Albans-street
           ;
           and
           
             John
             Harding
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Bible
           and
           Anchor
           in
           St.
           Pauls
           Church-yard
           .
           1679.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           Mart.
           
             12.
             1678
             
             /
             9.
          
           
        
         
           IMPRIMATUR
           ,
        
         
           Guil.
           Sill
           ,
           R.
           P.
           D.
           Henr.
           Episc.
           Lond.
           à
           Sacris
           Dom.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           TO
           THE
           Right
           Reverend
           and
           Honourable
           HENRY
           LORD
           BISHOP
           of
           LONDON
           ,
           Dean
           of
           His
           Majesties
           Chapel
           ,
           and
           one
           of
           his
           most
           Honourable
           Privy
           Council
           .
        
         
           
             My
             Lord
             ,
          
        
         
           I
           Have
           some
           Years
           since
           met
           with
           a
           Prophecy
           (
           and
           many
           talk
           of
           such
           things
           at
           this
           Time
           )
           which
           may
           yield
           a
           little
           Comfort
           in
           this
           
             Day
             of
             our
             Visitation
          
           .
           The
           Original
           it self
           I
           have
           not
           seen
           :
           but
           it
           is
           taken
           out
           of
           
             Telesphorus
             de
             Tribulat
          
           .
           and
           thus
           cited
           by
           Dr.
           
             John
             White
             :
             Antichristus
             non
             poterit
             subjugare
          
           Venetias
           ,
           nec
           Parisios
           ,
           
             nec
             Civitatem
             Regalem
          
           Angliae
           .
        
         
           The
           Memorable
           Baffle
           that
           the
           Venetians
           gave
           to
           Paul
           the
           Fifth
           ;
           the
           frequent
           Picqueering
           of
           the
           Sorbon
           with
           the
           same
           See
           ,
           may
           in
           part
           Justifie
           :
           But
           the
           Wonderful
           Preservations
           ,
           both
           Antient
           and
           Modern
           ,
           of
           this
           Kingdom
           and
           Metropolis
           ,
           from
           the
           Restless
           Attempts
           
           of
           many
           of
           that
           Faction
           ,
           will
           ,
           I
           hope
           ,
           Evince
           its
           Probability
           .
        
         
           How
           Instrumental
           your
           Lordship
           hath
           been
           towards
           that
           Security
           and
           Happiness
           we
           yet
           Enjoy
           ,
           how
           Indefatigable
           your
           Pains
           ,
           how
           Undaunted
           your
           Courage
           in
           the
           most
           Critical
           Conjunctures
           ,
           is
           with
           Gratitude
           and
           Applause
           proclaimed
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           not
           only
           by
           your
           own
           Large
           and
           Numerous
           Flock
           ,
           but
           by
           the
           Loud
           Acclamations
           of
           the
           Whole
           Nation
           .
           And
           though
           I
           never
           was
           so
           fortunate
           as
           to
           be
           an
           Eye-witness
           of
           those
           Heroick
           Vertues
           which
           daily
           Influence
           Your
           Charge
           ,
           rendring
           You
           so
           Amiable
           to
           the
           Churches
           Friends
           ,
           and
           at
           the
           same
           time
           so
           Formidable
           to
           her
           Enemies
           :
           yet
           that
           Universal
           Character
           which
           is
           every
           where
           given
           of
           You
           ,
           engages
           me
           to
           look
           on
           you
           as
           no
           less
           than
           a
           Person
           in
           whom
           Concentre
           those
           Requisites
           ,
           which
           some
           Criticks
           in
           Morality
           (
           how
           justly
           I
           dispute
           not
           )
           have
           exacted
           to
           make
           up
           a
           Compleat
           Christian.
           They
           are
           these
           :
           
             The
             Orthodox
             Faith
             and
             Loyalty
             of
             a
             true
          
           English
           Protestant
           ;
           
             the
             Zeal
             and
             Good
             Works
             of
             a
          
           Roman-Catholick
           ;
           
             the
             Gratious
             Words
             and
             Painful
             Preaching
             of
             a
          
           Puritan
           .
           And
           all
           these
           Inculcated
           by
           your
           Life
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           Injunctions
           on
           your
           most
           Learned
           and
           Religious
           Clergy
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           must
           remember
           my self
           at
           the
           
             Judges
             Barr
          
           ,
           and
           not
           at
           the
           
             Heralds
             Office
          
           ;
           and
           that
           this
           Paper
           attends
           You
           as
           a
           Petition
           ,
           and
           not
           as
           a
           Panegyrick
           .
           Your
           most
           Gracious
           Approbation
           of
           my
           Desires
           (
           intimated
           to
           you
           by
           the
           Reverend
           Dean
           of
           St.
           
             Pauls
             )
             Invites
          
           
           the
           one
           ;
           as
           Your
           undoubted
           Worth
           and
           Honour
           Extorts
           the
           other
           .
        
         
           Vouchsafe
           then
           ,
           my
           Lord
           ,
           to
           Accept
           into
           the
           Arms
           of
           your
           Noble
           Charity
           what
           is
           penn'd
           purely
           with
           a
           Spirit
           of
           Charity
           .
           They
           are
           such
           Reflexions
           as
           Reclaimed
           my self
           ,
           and
           may
           ,
           with
           Gods
           blessing
           ,
           contribute
           to
           the
           Reducing
           of
           some
           others
           ,
           as
           unwarily
           mis-led
           as
           I
           was
           .
        
         
           To
           which
           purpose
           ,
           I
           endeavour
           Brevity
           and
           Perspicuity
           :
           designing
           this
           Discourse
           for
           the
           Vulgar
           ,
           (
           the
           Learned
           have
           richer
           Mines
           to
           recurr
           to
           )
           and
           therefore
           waving
           that
           Accurateness
           of
           Method
           and
           Expression
           ,
           which
           Your
           Lordships
           Judicious
           Eye
           may
           expect
           ;
           but
           neither
           my
           Intent
           ,
           the
           present
           Affliction
           I
           lye
           under
           ,
           the
           unsettledness
           of
           my
           Affairs
           ,
           nor
           Absence
           from
           my
           Books
           (
           all
           which
           afford
           not
           that
           
             Tranquillum
             Scribentis
             &
             otia
          
           )
           will
           admit
           .
        
         
           However
           ,
           when
           all
           Athens
           was
           Busie
           and
           in
           Motion
           ,
           the
           Cynick
           for
           Company
           would
           needs
           rowl
           about
           his
           Tub.
           And
           ,
           if
           so
           obscure
           a
           Person
           as
           my self
           ,
           intrude
           into
           the
           Crowd
           of
           those
           Many
           Able
           
             Contenders
             for
             the
             Faith
             once
             delivered
             to
             the
             Saints
             ,
          
           which
           daily
           almost
           appear
           upon
           the
           Stage
           ;
           I
           have
           St.
           Augustines
           Advice
           for
           my
           Apology
           .
           
             De
             Trinit
             .
             l.
          
           3.
           c.
           3.
           
           
             In
             places
             infected
             with
             Heresie
             ,
             all
             men
             should
             write
             ,
             that
             have
             any
             faculty
             therein
             ,
             though
             it
             were
             the
             same
             thing
             in
             other
             words
             :
             that
             all
             sorts
             of
             People
             ,
             among
             many
             Books
             ,
             might
             light
             upon
             some
             ;
             and
             the
             Enemy
             in
             all
             places
             might
             find
             one
             or
             other
             to
             encounter
             him
             .
          
        
         
         
           Besides
           ,
           I
           thought
           this
           the
           best
           Expedient
           ,
           Publickly
           to
           testifie
           my
           Sincere
           Re-union
           to
           that
           Church
           in
           which
           I
           received
           my
           Baptism
           and
           Education
           ;
           and
           how
           faithfully
           I
           am
           ,
           and
           resolve
           by
           Gods
           Grace
           to
           continue
           ,
        
         
           
             My
             Lord
             ,
          
           
             Your
             Lordships
             most
             Humble
             and
             Obedient
             Servant
             T.
             S.
             
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           
             AN
             EPISTLE
             From
             a
             Late
             Roman
             Catholick
             To
             the
             Very
             Reverend
             Dr.
          
           EDWARD
           STILLINGFLEET
           
             Dean
             of
             St.
          
           Pauls
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           
             Very
             Reverend
             and
             Honoured
             Sir
             ,
          
        
         
           THough
           I
           am
           not
           altogether
           Ignorant
           of
           your
           Person
           ,
           yet
           my
           chief
           Acquaintance
           is
           with
           those
           Learned
           Works
           of
           Yours
           ,
           (
           the
           best
           Representative
           )
           wherewith
           you
           have
           enriched
           this
           Age
           ,
           obliged
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           (
           I
           speak
           it
           experimentally
           )
           given
           the
           greatest
           Satisfaction
           to
           ingenious
           Minds
           ,
           that
           sober
           and
           unaffected
           Reason
           (
           I
           do
           not
           mean
           such
           stuff
           as
           Mr.
           
           White
           's
           and
           Mr.
           Serjeant's
           Demonstrations
           )
           can
           possibly
           perform
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           I
           have
           been
           your
           most
           intimate
           Friend
           and
           Servant
           these
           seven
           or
           eight
           years
           .
        
         
           All
           which
           space
           I
           have
           been
           a
           very
           attentive
           Spectator
           of
           your
           famous
           Encounters
           ,
           and
           to
           my
           Comfort
           seen
           single
           Truth
           and
           modest
           Reason
           combate
           with
           whole
           Troops
           of
           Old
           ,
           Subtle
           ,
           Confident
           ,
           Cholerick
           ,
           and
           I
           may
           add
           ,
           Malicious
           Adversaries
           ,
           And
           I
           hope
           I
           shall
           have
           Cause
           to
           bless
           God
           to
           all
           Eternity
           ,
           and
           thank
           you
           for
           so
           Glorious
           a
           Sight
           .
           But
           before
           I
           return
           my
           full
           Acknowledgments
           to
           you
           ,
           I
           must
           crave
           Leave
           to
           give
           you
           a
           Short
           but
           True
           Narrative
           :
           only
           be
           pleased
           not
           to
           believe
           it
           (
           as
           you
           style
           Mr.
           Cressey's
           )
           a
           Legend
           of
           my self
           .
        
         
           I
           had
           my
           Education
           in
           one
           of
           the
           chiefest
           Free-Schooles
           in
           London
           ,
           under
           the
           Care
           of
           a
           very
           able
           Instructor
           ,
           and
           by
           him
           was
           sitted
           for
           the
           University
           ▪
           But
           about
           a
           year
           before
           my
           advancing
           thither
           ,
           it
           happen'd
           that
           an
           ancient
           Gentleman
           came
           frequently
           to
           divert
           himself
           in
           a
           Walk
           that
           was
           near
           the
           School
           ,
           and
           so
           took
           Occasion
           to
           discourse
           with
           divers
           of
           the
           Lads
           :
           I
           being
           the
           Head
           of
           the
           School
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           he
           pretended
           a
           particular
           Complacency
           (
           though
           I
           know
           not
           why
           )
           in
           my self
           .
           He
           never
           conferred
           about
           any
           Point
           in
           Religion
           ,
           but
           still
           entertained
           me
           with
           speaking
           Latin
           ,
           which
           he
           did
           very
           fluently
           and
           politely
           :
           and
           his
           constant
           Discourse
           was
           about
           the
           rare
           Method
           of
           Education
           used
           beyond
           Sea
           ,
           the
           great
           Number
           of
           their
           Students
           ,
           the
           Diligence
           of
           their
           Tutors
           ,
           the
           Exactness
           of
           their
           
           Discipline
           ,
           and
           much
           more
           to
           the
           like
           Effect
           .
           What
           this
           Conversation
           would
           have
           produced
           at
           last
           ,
           I
           know
           not
           .
           But
           the
           chief
           Master
           of
           the
           School
           perceiving
           me
           often
           with
           him
           ,
           at
           last
           forbad
           me
           his
           Company
           ,
           and
           told
           me
           he
           shrewdly
           suspected
           the
           Gentleman
           to
           be
           a
           Jesuit
           .
           And
           I
           remember
           he
           instanced
           in
           some
           particular
           slie
           wayes
           those
           Persons
           used
           to
           Intice
           and
           Spirit
           away
           Youths
           ,
           whom
           they
           judged
           fit
           for
           their
           Employment
           .
        
         
           So
           this
           Correspondence
           broke
           off
           ,
           and
           I
           never
           had
           more
           to
           do
           with
           him
           .
           However
           I
           must
           confess
           that
           much
           of
           his
           Discourse
           did
           recoil
           upon
           my
           Childish
           Fancy
           a
           long
           time
           after
           .
           And
           though
           within
           a
           short
           while
           I
           went
           to
           Cambridge
           ,
           viz.
           in
           the
           year
           1658.
           yet
           my
           mind
           was
           not
           quiet
           :
           and
           those
           stupendous
           Distractions
           both
           of
           Church
           and
           State
           that
           immediately
           followed
           ,
           did
           infinitely
           add
           to
           my
           Perplexity
           .
        
         
           Then
           happen'd
           his
           Majesty's
           happy
           Restauration
           :
           which
           being
           as
           it
           were
           a
           year
           of
           Jubilee
           ,
           no
           wonder
           if
           the
           younger
           sort
           of
           the
           University
           did
           take
           the
           Benefit
           of
           the
           Indulgence
           :
           I
           mean
           
             Indulgere
             Genio
          
           ,
           and
           use
           some
           Liberties
           ,
           which
           at
           other
           times
           the
           strictness
           of
           an
           Academical
           Life
           would
           not
           have
           permitted
           .
           Here
           likewise
           I
           acknowledge
           I
           swam
           with
           the
           Stream
           ,
           and
           did
           not
           so
           seriously
           mind
           those
           Affairs
           I
           was
           designed
           for
           by
           my
           Friends
           ,
           and
           so
           fell
           into
           those
           Inconveniencies
           ,
           which
           ,
           not
           long
           after
           my
           having
           proceeded
           Batchelor
           of
           Art
           ,
           induced
           me
           to
           leave
           the
           University
           .
        
         
           Coming
           up
           to
           London
           I
           light
           into
           the
           Company
           of
           an
           ancient
           Acquaintance
           ,
           and
           among
           other
           Discourses
           we
           at
           last
           fell
           upon
           Religion
           .
           The
           Gentlewoman
           adjured
           mee
           by
           no
           small
           Considerations
           to
           advise
           well
           what
           I
           fix'd
           upon
           ,
           and
           likewise
           to
           recurr
           to
           some
           able
           Person
           of
           her
           Perswasion
           ,
           which
           was
           that
           of
           the
           Roman-Catholicks
           .
        
         
           Hereupon
           I
           was
           introduced
           to
           one
           of
           the
           most
           Grave
           ,
           Subtle
           ,
           and
           Acute
           Fathers
           then
           in
           the
           Nation
           (
           one
           whose
           Works
           I
           perceive
           you
           are
           not
           wholly
           a
           Stranger
           to
           ,
           )
           I
           mean
           
             F.
             Fran.
             à
             S.
             Clara
          
           :
           with
           whose
           winning
           discourse
           I
           was
           extreamly
           taken
           ,
           and
           to
           whose
           extraordinary
           Civilities
           I
           must
           always
           account
           my self
           extraordinarily
           obliged
           .
        
         
           You
           cannot
           be
           long
           in
           Suspense
           concerning
           the
           Issue
           of
           this
           Interview
           .
           He
           who
           had
           triumphed
           over
           so
           many
           Persons
           of
           Honour
           and
           Quality
           ,
           Clergy
           and
           Laity
           ,
           (
           witness
           among
           the
           rest
           ,
           Dr.
           G.
           Bishop
           of
           Gloucester
           )
           might
           easily
           bassle
           such
           a
           young
           Stripling
           as
           my self
           ,
           and
           soon
           dazle
           my
           Eyes
           with
           the
           glittering
           Pretenses
           of
           
             Infallibility
             ,
             Antiquity
             ,
             Unity
             ,
             Universality
             ,
             Succession
             ,
             Councils
             ,
             Fathers
             ,
             Saints
             ,
             Miracles
             ,
             Religious
             Orders
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           These
           ,
           with
           the
           Example
           of
           several
           learned
           men
           ,
           Converts
           of
           our
           own
           Nation
           ,
           as
           
             Dr.
             Baily
             ,
             Vane
             ,
             Carrier
             ,
             Cressey
             ,
             Walsingham
             ,
             Montague
             ,
             Crashaw
             ,
          
           with
           many
           others
           yet
           living
           and
           therefore
           nameless
           ,
           were
           ,
           I
           then
           thought
           ,
           too
           great
           a
           
             Cloud
             of
             Witnesses
          
           for
           my
           single
           Wit
           either
           to
           oppose
           or
           so
           much
           as
           question
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           you
           may
           easily
           guess
           what
           became
           of
           me
           .
           For
           about
           nine
           or
           ten
           years
           I
           was
           wholly
           imuiured
           up
           ,
           forced
           to
           comply
           with
           and
           swallow
           every
           thing
           ,
           durst
           not
           propose
           any
           Scruples
           for
           fear
           of
           being
           suspected
           Heretically
           inclined
           .
           
           And
           thus
           I
           continued
           till
           the
           latter
           end
           of
           the
           year
           1671.
           
           At
           which
           time
           ,
           by
           Gods
           great
           Mercy
           I
           got
           some
           respite
           to
           reflect
           upon
           what
           I
           had
           done
           in
           revolting
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           engaging
           with
           one
           ,
           the
           ignorance
           of
           whose
           Proselytes
           is
           often
           made
           Use
           of
           for
           something
           more
           than
           bare
           Devotion
           .
        
         
           Since
           that
           Time
           ,
           I
           take
           God
           to
           witness
           ,
           I
           have
           most
           impartially
           survey'd
           all
           the
           several
           Writers
           I
           could
           procure
           on
           both
           sides
           ;
           but
           especially
           your
           own
           Books
           ,
           Dr.
           Tillotson's
           ,
           and
           Dr.
           Lloyd's
           .
           (
           To
           both
           whom
           ,
           I
           beseech
           you
           ,
           in
           my
           name
           to
           tender
           my
           most
           humble
           Thanks
           for
           that
           Great
           Satisfaction
           I
           have
           reaped
           by
           their
           Writings
           ,
           especially
           
             The
             Rule
             of
             Faith.
          
           )
           And
           ,
           I
           assure
           you
           ,
           I
           found
           the
           
             Infallible
             Principles
          
           so
           shaken
           by
           those
           Solid
           and
           Learned
           Treatises
           ,
           and
           my self
           so
           intrigued
           by
           my
           own
           Experience
           of
           the
           Juggling
           Practices
           of
           some
           Persons
           most
           cryed
           up
           for
           Perfection
           ,
           that
           neither
           
             Father
             Bellarmine
          
           (
           for
           as
           you
           well
           observe
           ,
           amidst
           that
           great
           boast
           that
           is
           made
           of
           Fathers
           ,
           He
           is
           the
           
             Great
             Father
          
           with
           most
           of
           our
           Neoterick
           Controvertists
           )
           nor
           Dr.
           
             T.
             G.
          
           nor
           Mr.
           Cressey
           ,
           nor
           Mr.
           
             Serjeant
             himself
          
           ,
           who
           speaks
           nothing
           but
           
             Scientifical
             Oracles
          
           ,
           could
           Unblunder
           my
           thoughts
           :
           (
           that
           I
           may
           not
           wholly
           forsake
           the
           Rhetorick
           of
           my
           old
           Friends
           .
           )
        
         
           And
           this
           hath
           been
           the
           true
           state
           of
           my
           Soul
           for
           several
           years
           ,
           just
           like
           S.
           
           James's
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           unconstant
           in
           his
           wayes
           .
           For
           ,
           what
           with
           the
           Terrour
           of
           that
           Theological
           Scare-crow
           ,
           Schism
           ,
           on
           the
           one
           hand
           ;
           with
           the
           Flattery
           of
           an
           acknowledged
           possibility
           of
           Salvation
           in
           the
           Roman
           Church
           on
           the
           other
           (
           though
           the
           Dean
           of
           Canterbury's
           Sermon
           on
           that
           Subject
           hath
           now
           perfectly
           cleared
           me
           )
           I
           was
           still
           detained
           in
           a
           Communion
           with
           that
           Church
           ,
           which
           I
           conceived
           to
           hold
           all
           the
           Fundamentals
           of
           Christianity
           .
           To
           which
           (
           to
           acknowledge
           something
           of
           Humane
           frailty
           )
           I
           may
           add
           the
           Advantages
           I
           enjoyed
           ,
           and
           the
           Damages
           I
           should
           unavoidably
           incurr
           ,
           by
           quitting
           a
           Party
           ,
           whose
           Inveterate
           and
           Implacable
           Malice
           towards
           a
           Deserter
           ,
           though
           upon
           the
           strongest
           Convictions
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           is
           sufficiently
           known
           ,
           and
           particularly
           taken
           notice
           of
           by
           the
           afore-mentioned
           Reverend
           and
           Learned
           Author
           ,
           in
           his
           Discourse
           on
           that
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           
             There
             is
             joy
             in
             Heaven
             over
             one
             Sinner
             ,
             &c.
          
           and
           I
           my self
           have
           already
           begun
           to
           experiense
           from
           some
           ,
           from
           whom
           I
           neither
           expected
           nor
           deserved
           it
           .
           To
           omit
           that
           Innate
           Reluctancy
           ,
           well
           nigh
           in
           All
           ,
           of
           Recanting
           a
           Committed
           Errour
           .
           Though
           these
           were
           but
           Difficulties
           of
           the
           
             Second
             Rate
          
           .
        
         
           Yet
           at
           last
           those
           Desperate
           Practices
           whereof
           many
           of
           that
           Party
           stand
           suspected
           ,
           and
           some
           indicted
           ,
           made
           me
           resolve
           to
           break
           through
           all
           Obstacles
           ,
           and
           publickly
           declare
           my
           Detestation
           of
           their
           Actions
           ,
           by
           Renouncing
           their
           Communion
           ,
           and
           Protesting
           against
           those
           Principles
           and
           Doctrines
           (
           as
           is
           evident
           in
           the
           most
           General
           Council
           of
           Lateran
           ,
           and
           others
           ,
           seconded
           by
           the
           undeniable
           Practice
           of
           many
           Popes
           ,
           in
           Actual
           Deposing
           of
           Princes
           ,
           and
           Disposing
           of
           Kingdoms
           )
           which
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           be
           feared
           ,
           had
           but
           too
           much
           Influence
           on
           such
           Traiterous
           Designs
           .
        
         
           This
           Tenent
           of
           a
           Foreign
           Power
           ,
           either
           Direct
           in
           Spirituals
           ,
           or
           Indirect
           in
           Temporals
           ,
           is
           most
           manifestly
           inconsistent
           with
           the
           Peace
           and
           Safety
           of
           our
           English
           Nation
           ;
           and
           till
           it
           be
           Renounced
           or
           Disabled
           ,
           we
           shall
           never
           be
           free
           from
           Jealousies
           and
           Fears
           .
        
         
         
           There
           is
           another
           Point
           of
           as
           Fatal
           Consequence
           to
           Common
           Conversation
           ,
           as
           the
           former
           to
           the
           Publick
           Government
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           the
           Trick
           of
           Equivocation
           ,
           or
           
             Refined
             Art
             of
             Lying
          
           .
           I
           will
           not
           say
           it
           is
           a
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ;
           but
           I
           know
           it
           to
           be
           both
           the
           Doctrine
           and
           Practice
           of
           a
           Leading
           Party
           in
           that
           Church
           ;
           and
           never
           ,
           as
           I
           ever
           yet
           heard
           of
           ,
           was
           it
           yet
           Censured
           by
           the
           Church
           it self
           ;
           no
           more
           than
           the
           Deposing
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           other
           such
           like
           Hellish
           Maxims
           have
           been
           disowned
           .
        
         
           Of
           this
           Latter
           I
           had
           a
           famous
           Instance
           not
           long
           since
           :
           A
           known
           Jesuit
           being
           apprehended
           in
           a
           Neighbouring
           Town
           ,
           upon
           the
           Interrogatories
           put
           to
           him
           by
           the
           Magistrate
           ,
           he
           denied
           himself
           to
           be
           a
           Priest
           ,
           protested
           he
           was
           a
           Married
           man
           ,
           had
           Wife
           and
           Children
           .
           And
           all
           this
           was
           salved
           by
           that
           pittiful
           Evasion
           (
           you
           know
           the
           shift
           of
           the
           Crucifix
           in
           the
           Sleeve
           used
           at
           
             China
             )
             That
             his
             Breviary
             was
             his
             Wife
             ,
             and
             his
             Penitents
             his
             Spiritual
             Children
             .
          
           This
           was
           a
           very
           great
           Scandal
           to
           all
           that
           heard
           of
           it
           ,
           both
           Protestants
           and
           Romanists
           ;
           and
           for
           my
           own
           part
           ,
           I
           was
           so
           Concerned
           in
           it
           ,
           that
           I
           writ
           expresly
           to
           my
           old
           Learned
           Friend
           
             F.
             Fran.
             à
             S.
             Clara
          
           ,
           to
           be
           satisfied
           .
           Who
           ,
           quite
           contrary
           to
           my
           Expectation
           (
           and
           which
           hath
           much
           diminished
           the
           Esteem
           I
           had
           for
           him
           )
           gave
           we
           this
           Answer
           in
           Writing
           ;
           That
           he
           had
           done
           nothing
           amiss
           ,
           nor
           misbeseeming
           an
           Honest
           man.
           Nay
           then
           ,
           thought
           I
           ,
           the
           Good
           Lord
           open
           our
           Eyes
           !
           And
           ,
           to
           deal
           plainly
           with
           you
           ,
           from
           that
           very
           Moment
           I
           have
           been
           very
           much
           unsatisfied
           ,
           whether
           the
           
             Roman
             Principles
          
           be
           safe
           to
           
             Dye
             in
          
           :
           much
           less
           to
           Ruin
           Estates
           ,
           and
           
             Dye
             for
          
           .
        
         
           Thus
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           being
           very
           timorous
           of
           diverting
           your
           many
           Weighty
           Employments
           ,
           I
           have
           given
           you
           a
           Cleer
           ,
           Faithful
           ,
           and
           Succinct
           Account
           of
           my self
           .
           And
           so
           now
           ,
           
             Laqueus
             contritus
             est
             ,
             &c.
          
           
           The
           Snare
           is
           broken
           ,
           and
           we
           are
           escaped
           .
           My
           remaining
           Business
           is
           ,
           as
           speedily
           as
           I
           can
           procure
           it
           ,
           to
           be
           received
           into
           the
           Bosome
           of
           my
           antient
           Mother
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           whom
           with
           unfeigned
           Contrition
           of
           heart
           ,
           I
           acknowledge
           to
           have
           forsaken
           before
           I
           throughly
           understood
           :
           and
           purpose
           ,
           by
           Gods
           help
           ,
           to
           Evidence
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           far
           more
           Considerable
           Motives
           to
           return
           ,
           than
           I
           had
           to
           Wander
           .
           And
           though
           I
           shall
           not
           make
           such
           a
           noise
           as
           Those
           who
           have
           Published
           
             Exomologeses
             ,
             Challenges
             ,
             &c.
          
           yet
           I
           hope
           I
           shall
           make
           it
           appear
           ,
           that
           the
           Change
           I
           now
           make
           ,
           is
           done
           upon
           the
           maturest
           Deliberation
           ,
           back'd
           by
           the
           most
           earnest
           Imploring
           of
           the
           Divine
           Assistance
           .
        
         
           About
           five
           years
           since
           ,
           it
           was
           my
           hap
           ,
           at
           the
           Instance
           of
           a
           Person
           of
           Quality
           who
           had
           Considerable
           Sums
           to
           Dispose
           of
           ,
           to
           publish
           a
           Small
           Tract
           entituled
           ,
           
             The
             Case
             of
             Interest
             ,
             or
             Usury
             ,
             as
             to
             the
             Common
             Practice
             ,
             examined
             in
             a
             Letter
             to
             the
             same
             Person
             .
          
           It
           is
           the
           onely
           Piece
           I
           ever
           yet
           penn'd
           :
           and
           I
           mention
           it
           ,
           that
           if
           you
           please
           you
           may
           perceive
           ,
           that
           I
           alwayes
           proceeded
           upon
           Principles
           of
           Honesty
           ,
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           Moderation
           ;
           and
           even
           then
           had
           an
           Honourable
           Regard
           for
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
           But
           ,
           Good
           Lord
           !
           what
           Outeries
           were
           then
           made
           against
           it
           by
           the
           Jesuitical
           Party
           ,
           who
           look'd
           on
           it
           as
           purposely
           written
           to
           affront
           their
           Trade
           !
           what
           Excommunications
           threaten'd
           by
           others
           !
           So
           you
           may
           easily
           foresee
           what
           I
           am
           to
           expect
           ,
           when
           I
           disingage
           my self
           of
           the
           Promise
           I
           just
           now
           
           made
           you
           .
           But
           a
           Good
           God
           ,
           a
           Good
           Cause
           ,
           and
           a
           Good
           Conscience
           ,
           will
           ,
           I
           question
           not
           ,
           carry
           me
           through
           all
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           no
           small
           Comfort
           to
           me
           ,
           when
           I
           think
           how
           that
           Vast
           Wit
           ,
           Mr.
           Chillingworth
           ,
           could
           not
           escape
           those
           very
           Snares
           that
           I
           have
           been
           entangled
           with
           .
           And
           I
           presume
           it
           may
           serve
           as
           an
           Apology
           for
           the
           Slips
           and
           Failings
           of
           my
           Weak
           Intellectuals
           ,
           when
           such
           a
           Great
           Master
           of
           Reason
           as
           He
           ,
           was
           for
           a
           time
           led
           Captive
           .
           Yet
           at
           last
           ,
           he
           most
           happily
           Discovered
           and
           Proved
           
             The
             Protestant
             Religion
             a
             Safe
             way
             to
             Salvation
             .
          
        
         
           Those
           whom
           I
           forsake
           have
           a
           Tradition
           (
           as
           indeed
           they
           have
           too
           many
           )
           That
           none
           ever
           Retire
           from
           their
           Communion
           ,
           but
           they
           presently
           become
           depraved
           in
           their
           Morals
           .
           (
           If
           they
           mean
           the
           Jesuits
           Morals
           ,
           it
           is
           no
           great
           Matter
           )
           I
           have
           no
           wayes
           to
           Confute
           them
           fully
           ,
           but
           as
           Diogenes
           did
           Zeno
           ,
           by
           Walking
           :
           
             viz.
             with
             a
             Conscience
             void
             of
             Offence
             both
             towards
             God
             and
             Man.
          
           And
           if
           they
           shall
           ,
           after
           their
           Charitable
           Method
           ,
           think
           to
           bespatter
           me
           for
           any
           thing
           past
           ;
           I
           have
           such
           Publick
           ,
           Authentick
           and
           Late
           Testimonies
           under
           Hand
           and
           Seal
           from
           the
           Chief
           among
           them
           ,
           of
           my
           Comportment
           (
           though
           I
           will
           not
           disown
           the
           Allayes
           of
           Common
           Frailties
           and
           Imperfections
           )
           that
           shall
           be
           able
           to
           Silence
           the
           most
           Impudent
           Calumny
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           fear
           I
           have
           already
           trespassed
           upon
           your
           Patience
           ;
           and
           I
           must
           referr
           what
           else
           I
           had
           to
           propose
           ,
           till
           such
           time
           I
           am
           so
           happy
           (
           and
           truly
           till
           then
           ,
           I
           shall
           neither
           be
           happy
           nor
           satisfied
           )
           as
           to
           see
           you
           .
           Many
           Doubts
           I
           have
           to
           Object
           ,
           fitter
           to
           be
           committed
           to
           a
           Ghostly
           Father's
           Ear
           ,
           than
           to
           Paper
           :
           and
           many
           Particulars
           there
           are
           ,
           wherein
           I
           may
           perhaps
           gratifie
           your
           own
           Curiosity
           ▪
           But
           ,
           having
           been
           so
           long
           a
           Romanist
           ,
           and
           being
           still
           a
           Reputed
           one
           ,
           I
           should
           he
           loth
           that
           Disobedience
           to
           Royal
           Proclamations
           (
           however
           they
           have
           been
           slighted
           by
           some
           )
           should
           be
           the
           first
           fruits
           of
           my
           Conversion
           .
           And
           therefore
           I
           must
           patiently
           attend
           that
           good
           hour
           ,
           when
           I
           may
           satisfie
           both
           my
           Obedience
           and
           my
           Inclinations
           together
           .
        
         
           In
           your
           Conference
           with
           Sir
           
             P.
             T.
          
           and
           Mr.
           Coleman
           (
           that
           Wretched
           man
           ,
           who
           ,
           had
           he
           meddled
           with
           nothing
           but
           what
           he
           then
           pretended
           himself
           so
           desirous
           to
           be
           resolved
           in
           ,
           had
           never
           come
           to
           that
           sad
           Catastrophe
           )
           you
           express
           so
           much
           Candour
           ,
           Meekness
           ,
           Christian
           Zeal
           and
           Charity
           for
           Satisfying
           those
           Dissenters
           ,
           who
           in
           reality
           did
           nothing
           but
           shuffle
           with
           you
           ;
           that
           it
           emboldens
           me
           to
           Address
           a
           Request
           to
           you
           (
           besides
           my
           Thanks
           ,
           which
           most
           Cordially
           I
           do
           by
           these
           Presents
           .
           )
           viz.
           That
           because
           I
           apprehend
           Danger
           from
           some
           of
           those
           I
           relinquish
           ,
           having
           already
           tasted
           a
           little
           of
           their
           kindness
           that
           ways
           ,
           and
           because
           I
           would
           not
           long
           remain
           in
           an
           Unfix'd
           ,
           Neutral
           posture
           ;
           you
           would
           be
           pleased
           to
           procure
           leave
           that
           I
           might
           come
           up
           to
           London
           ,
           where
           I
           may
           attend
           you
           ,
           and
           both
           Give
           and
           Receive
           all
           desired
           Satisfaction
           possible
           .
           I
           know
           you
           so
           Eminent
           ,
           that
           you
           may
           procure
           a
           License
           .
           This
           would
           Complete
           my
           Felicity
           :
           and
           as
           for
           your
           own
           Reward
           ,
           besides
           the
           Complacency
           you
           take
           in
           the
           very
           Performance
           of
           such
           Charitable
           Offices
           ,
           I
           can
           but
           referr
           you
           to
           that
           of
           St.
           
             James
             ,
             cap.
             &
             v.
             ult
             .
             Brethren
             ,
             if
             any
             of
             you
             do
             err
             from
             the
             Truth
             ,
             and
             one
             Convert
             him
             :
             Let
             him
             know
             ,
             that
          
           
           
             he
             who
             converteth
             a
             Sinner
             from
             the
             Error
             of
             his
             wayes
             ,
             shall
             save
             a
             Soul
             from
             Death
             ,
             and
             shall
             hide
             a
             multitude
             of
             Sins
             .
          
        
         
           There
           is
           one
           Cavil
           I
           must
           needs
           remove
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           this
           :
           How
           chances
           this
           Change
           just
           now
           ?
           why
           in
           this
           present
           Conjuncture
           ?
           It
           is
           to
           be
           suspected
           you
           act
           more
           out
           of
           Fear
           than
           Conscience
           .
           This
           Surmise
           I
           insinuated
           before
           ,
           and
           partly
           adverted
           to
           it
           But
           more
           particularly
           I
           have
           these
           things
           to
           offer
           in
           Reply
           :
        
         
           I
           might
           ,
           
             ad
             hominem
          
           ,
           put
           the
           Objectors
           in
           Mind
           how
           
             Dr.
             Vane
             ,
             Mr.
             Cressey
          
           ,
           and
           others
           forsook
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           when
           it
           was
           in
           a
           very
           low
           ,
           persecuted
           Condition
           :
           and
           were
           not
           ashamed
           in
           their
           Writings
           to
           intimate
           as
           much
           .
           For
           one
           of
           the
           Motives
           of
           their
           withdrawing
           was
           ,
           that
           She
           never
           had
           been
           well
           grounded
           ;
           and
           therefore
           God
           seemed
           to
           forsake
           her
           ,
           and
           
             Lopt
             off
             her
             Head
          
           :
           with
           much
           more
           to
           the
           same
           Purpose
           ;
           as
           is
           particularly
           to
           be
           seen
           in
           
             Dr.
             Bailey's
             End
             to
             Controversie
          
           .
           But
           I
           scorn
           such
           Disingenuous
           ,
           Mean-spirited
           Principles
           .
           And
           I
           desire
           that
           they
           would
           withal
           consider
           that
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           was
           then
           reduced
           to
           those
           Exigences
           for
           her
           constant
           and
           never
           blemished
           Loyalty
           .
           Whereas
           divers
           of
           themselves
           now
           stand
           charged
           with
           something
           else
           besides
           Idolatry
           and
           Phanaticisme
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           answer
           for
           once
           and
           all
           ;
           I
           confess
           I
           do
           it
           out
           of
           Fear
           ;
           not
           of
           any
           temporal
           Incommodity
           ;
           for
           that
           might
           several
           other
           wayes
           be
           avoided
           :
           but
           of
           having
           Fellowship
           with
           any
           of
           those
           horrid
           Works
           of
           Darkness
           ,
           whereof
           many
           of
           its
           Professors
           ,
           and
           the
           Religion
           it self
           are
           accused
           .
           And
           this
           may
           serve
           for
           my
           old
           Friends
           .
        
         
           Now
           as
           for
           your self
           and
           all
           other
           candid
           disinterested
           Persons
           ,
           I
           know
           it
           will
           be
           satisfactory
           to
           put
           you
           in
           mind
           ,
           that
           to
           impute
           my
           Proceedings
           to
           the
           frowning
           of
           the
           Times
           on
           that
           Party
           ,
           is
           
             Fallacia
             non
             Causae
             pro
             Causa
          
           :
           a
           Mistake
           of
           the
           Adjunct
           or
           Circumstance
           of
           Time
           ,
           for
           the
           Principal
           Motive
           .
           The
           Conversion
           of
           a
           Sinner
           is
           the
           Work
           of
           Omnipoteuce
           ;
           who
           as
           he
           is
           most
           free
           in
           all
           his
           Actions
           
             ad
             Extra
          
           ;
           so
           especially
           in
           the
           reclaiming
           of
           a
           strayed
           Sheep
           .
           He
           is
           no
           wayes
           tied
           up
           to
           the
           Circumstances
           of
           
             Whom
             ,
             How
             ,
             Where
             or
             When.
             Nescit
             tarda
             Molimina
             Spiritûs
             Sancti
             Gratia
             ,
          
           sayes
           S.
           Bernard
           .
           And
           if
           he
           were
           graciously
           pleased
           more
           effectually
           to
           touch
           my
           Heart
           now
           ,
           than
           at
           any
           other
           time
           (
           and
           times
           of
           Affliction
           are
           his
           especial
           Seasons
           .
           
             Afflictio
             dat
             Intellectum
             .
             Cum
             Occideret
             eos
          
           &c.
           )
           I
           know
           no
           other
           Account
           can
           be
           given
           of
           it
           than
           that
           of
           our
           B.
           Saviour
           ,
           
             Even
             so
             Father
             ,
             for
             so
             it
             seemed
             Good
             in
             thy
             Sight
             .
          
           Nay
           I
           have
           before
           demonstrated
           that
           these
           Thoughts
           have
           been
           long
           hovering
           in
           my
           Mind
           ,
           though
           perhaps
           they
           had
           not
           been
           altogether
           so
           suddenly
           declared
           ,
           but
           out
           of
           a
           deep
           Resentment
           of
           the
           Dangers
           of
           any
           further
           neglecting
           the
           Divine
           Call
           :
           and
           a
           seasonable
           Desire
           to
           Testifie
           to
           the
           World
           my
           perfect
           Abhorrence
           of
           such
           desperate
           Practices
           and
           Principles
           ,
           which
           I
           am
           convinced
           are
           pernicious
           both
           to
           Publick
           Polity
           and
           Civil
           Society
           .
           And
           I
           hope
           none
           can
           reasonably
           be
           angry
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           gained
           more
           Experience
           now
           I
           am
           thirty
           six
           years
           old
           ,
           than
           I
           had
           when
           I
           was
           but
           twenty
           .
        
         
           These
           are
           the
           Principal
           Matters
           I
           thought
           worth
           your
           Knowledge
           at
           present
           ,
           wherein
           I
           protest
           before
           God
           and
           Man
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           no
           other
           Design
           but
           the
           Quiet
           of
           my
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           the
           Salvation
           of
           my
           Soul.
           And
           when
           I
           have
           given
           a
           publick
           
           Tolerable
           Account
           of
           this
           Affair
           ,
           I
           will
           take
           my
           leave
           of
           this
           
             Noble
             Science
             of
             Controversie
          
           (
           as
           Mr.
           Serjeant
           calls
           it
           )
           having
           alwayes
           been
           more
           addicted
           to
           
             Ascetick
             Theology
          
           ;
           and
           sit
           down
           with
           Divine
           Anselm's
           Resolution
           ,
           
             Quid
             restat
             per
             Totam
             Vitam
             meam
             ,
             nisi
             ut
             Defleam
             Totam
             Vitam
             meam
             ?
          
           Crosses
           and
           Afflictions
           are
           no
           more
           than
           I
           except
           and
           deserve
           ,
           having
           hitherto
           been
           so
           little
           acquainted
           with
           them
           .
           The
           Wise
           man
           hath
           read
           my
           Doom
           to
           me
           ,
           
             Fili
             ,
             accedens
             ad
             servitutem
             Dei
             ,
             praepara
             Animum
             tuum
             ad
             Tentationem
             .
          
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           sincerity
           of
           my
           Resolutions
           ,
           I
           can
           but
           Appeal
           to
           that
           Great
           Searcher
           of
           Hearts
           and
           Tryer
           of
           Reins
           .
           And
           though
           some
           Folk
           talk
           of
           Dispensations
           from
           Rome
           for
           the
           taking
           All
           Oaths
           ,
           and
           Complying
           with
           All
           Externals
           :
           and
           no
           meaner
           a
           Person
           than
           the
           Author
           of
           the
           Difference
           between
           the
           Church
           and
           Court
           of
           Rome
           ,
           out
           of
           Arch-Bishop
           Spotswood's
           History
           ,
           mentions
           some
           such
           like
           thing
           practised
           in
           Scotland
           :
           yet
           ,
           with
           submission
           to
           the
           Learned
           Author
           ,
           I
           conceive
           there
           is
           no
           such
           matter
           :
           since
           the
           Pope
           himself
           could
           never
           be
           induced
           to
           Approve
           even
           the
           single
           Oath
           of
           Allegiance
           ;
           but
           expresly
           condemned
           it
           ,
           and
           severely
           prohibited
           the
           taking
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           containing
           ,
           saith
           he
           ,
           divers
           Points
           contrary
           to
           Salvation
           .
           And
           moreover
           ,
           put
           case
           any
           thing
           of
           that
           nature
           were
           in
           Being
           ;
           I
           here
           solemnly
           Avow
           ,
           that
           I
           disown
           all
           such
           Pretended
           Authority
           .
        
         
           One
           Circumstance
           ,
           not
           very
           Material
           I
           confess
           (
           but
           I
           would
           not
           too
           much
           swerve
           from
           the
           Accurate
           Exactness
           of
           Writers
           of
           
             Epistles
             Apologetical
          
           :
           though
           Mr.
           Cressey
           observe
           it
           in
           the
           Beginning
           ,
           and
           I
           in
           the
           Conclusion
           )
           must
           not
           be
           forgotten
           ;
           and
           thus
           it
           is
           :
           To
           you
           above
           all
           Persons
           living
           ,
           I
           have
           an
           Obligation
           to
           recurr
           in
           Spiritual
           Concerns
           ;
           for
           I
           am
           your
           Parishioner
           :
           Holborn
           having
           been
           the
           place
           of
           my
           Nativity
           .
           I
           have
           nothing
           more
           ,
           but
           with
           all
           Respect
           and
           Gratitude
           to
           assure
           you
           I
           am
        
         
           
             
               December
               
                 15.
                 1678.
              
               
            
          
           
             Reverend
             and
             Honoured
             Sir
             ,
          
           
             Your
             most
             obliged
             and
             Humble
             Servant
             T.
             S.
             
          
        
      
       
         
         
           Several
           Weighty
           CONSIDERATIONS
           Humbly
           Recommended
           To
           the
           Serious
           Perusal
           of
           ALL
           :
           especially
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           of
           England
           .
        
         
           IT
           is
           a
           very
           good
           Rule
           prescribed
           by
           some
           Spiritual
           Writers
           ,
           
             That
             in
             Converse
             ,
             we
             should
             rather
             discourse
             of
             Things
             ,
             than
             Persons
             .
          
           And
           I
           intend
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           the
           Matter
           will
           permit
           ,
           to
           observe
           it
           in
           this
           subsequent
           Treatise
           ;
           carefully
           avoiding
           all
           personal
           Reflections
           ,
           especially
           upon
           such
           as
           are
           living
           ;
           and
           shall
           only
           bring
           some
           Doctrines
           and
           Practices
           to
           the
           Test
           ,
           which
           ,
           though
           they
           pass
           for
           currant
           with
           many
           ,
           will
           yet
           be
           found
           adulterate
           and
           contrary
           to
           Holy
           Scripture
           ,
           the
           best
           Genuine
           Antiquity
           ,
           and
           Right
           Reason
           :
           highly
           scandalous
           to
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           in
           General
           ,
           destructive
           of
           Civil
           Government
           ,
           fatal
           to
           Humane
           Society
           ,
           and
           very
           pernicious
           both
           to
           the
           Spiritual
           and
           Temporal
           Concerns
           of
           the
           Practisers
           even
           in
           their
           private
           Capacity
           .
        
         
           In
           short
           ,
           I
           shall
           very
           plainly
           and
           briefly
           endeavour
           to
           make
           good
           two
           Assertions
           :
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           there
           is
           no
           sufficient
           Ground
           for
           any
           one
           to
           forsake
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           incorporate
           with
           that
           of
           Rome
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           there
           is
           all
           Reason
           imaginable
           both
           for
           such
           as
           have
           been
           educated
           in
           the
           Roman
           Communion
           ,
           to
           Reform
           ;
           and
           for
           such
           as
           have
           unwarily
           ingaged
           with
           her
           ,
           to
           Return
           .
        
         
           This
           was
           the
           happy
           Result
           of
           these
           following
           Considerations
           upon
           my
           own
           Heart
           :
           And
           it
           shall
           be
           my
           Prayer
           that
           they
           may
           have
           the
           same
           Blessed
           Effect
           in
           the
           impartial
           Perusers
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           The
           sacred
           Oracles
           of
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           deservedly
           Command
           our
           first
           Inquiry
           .
        
         
           We
           have
           Cardinal
           Bellarmine's
           own
           Concession
           ,
           that
           in
           the
           grand
           Question
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           the
           Scripture
           is
           better
           known
           than
           the
           Church
           .
           Consequently
           then
           ,
           not
           only
           her
           Authority
           but
           her
           very
           Being
           must
           be
           subordinate
           to
           it
           .
           And
           therefore
           in
           the
           first
           place
           let
           us
           see
           what
           Sentiments
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           hath
           of
           these
           Heavenly
           Records
           ,
           and
           whether
           Hers
           ,
           or
           those
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           be
           more
           Consonant
           to
           Pure
           Antiquity
           ,
           Reason
           ,
           and
           Holy
           Writ
           it self
           .
        
         
           All
           Protestants
           ,
           and
           particularly
           the
           Church
           of
           
             England
             ,
             Artic.
          
           6.
           look
           upon
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           to
           contain
           all
           things
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ;
           so
           that
           whatever
           is
           not
           read
           in
           them
           ,
           or
           cannot
           be
           proved
           from
           them
           ,
           is
           not
           to
           be
           Imposed
           on
           any
           ,
           to
           be
           received
           as
           an
           Article
           of
           Faith
           ,
           or
           a
           Necessary
           Requisite
           
           to
           Salvation
           .
           Whence
           it
           appears
           ,
           that
           they
           take
           Them
           to
           be
           the
           Onely
           ,
           Complete
           ,
           and
           Adequate
           Rule
           both
           of
           Faith
           and
           Life
           :
           sufficiently
           intelligible
           and
           easie
           in
           matters
           that
           concern
           what
           is
           simply
           necessary
           to
           make
           us
           Good
           and
           Happy
           .
        
         
           They
           consequently
           hold
           ,
           that
           since
           Holy
           Scripture
           is
           the
           Rule
           of
           our
           Faith
           ,
           it
           must
           have
           an
           exact
           Proportion
           to
           that
           ,
           whereof
           it
           is
           a
           Rule
           .
           So
           that
           Matters
           of
           Faith
           are
           not
           to
           be
           extended
           beyond
           this
           Rule
           ,
           nor
           can
           any
           unwritten
           Traditions
           any
           way
           be
           pretended
           to
           appertain
           to
           the
           Substance
           of
           Faith.
           
        
         
           Moreover
           ,
           the
           Rule
           being
           the
           Idea
           ,
           Model
           and
           great
           Exemplar
           of
           what
           is
           regulated
           by
           it
           ,
           it
           is
           in
           order
           of
           Nature
           before
           the
           thing
           so
           regulated
           .
           And
           if
           the
           word
           of
           God
           be
           antecedent
           to
           Faith
           it self
           ,
           it
           must
           likewise
           precede
           the
           Faithful
           themselves
           ;
           and
           if
           the
           Faithful
           ,
           then
           must
           it
           have
           Preheminence
           before
           the
           Church
           it self
           ,
           which
           is
           nothing
           else
           but
           the
           Congregation
           of
           the
           Faithful
           .
           Thus
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           will
           evidently
           fall
           short
           of
           that
           Prerogative
           she
           so
           presumptuously
           arrogates
           ,
           of
           being
           both
           Before
           ,
           and
           Above
           the
           Scripture
           .
        
         
           Again
           ,
           a
           Rule
           consisting
           in
           Indivisibili
           ,
           as
           we
           say
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           being
           of
           that
           Nature
           that
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           inlarged
           or
           diminished
           ;
           how
           guilty
           are
           they
           who
           either
           make
           Additions
           to
           ,
           or
           Substractions
           from
           it
           ?
           Both
           which
           the
           Roman
           Church
           practiseth
           ,
           as
           
             de
             facio
          
           will
           be
           manifest
           in
           the
           Sequele
           of
           this
           small
           Tract
           .
        
         
           In
           Fine
           they
           hold
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           written
           ,
           to
           be
           that
           one
           ,
           infallible
           ,
           entire
           Rule
           ,
           whereby
           all
           men
           ,
           Learned
           and
           Unlearned
           ,
           may
           in
           all
           necessary
           and
           fundamental
           Points
           of
           Faith
           and
           Manners
           be
           sufficiently
           instructed
           what
           is
           to
           be
           embraced
           for
           True
           and
           Good
           :
           That
           it
           is
           a
           Rule
           most
           Certain
           ,
           Plain
           ,
           Universal
           ,
           Impartial
           ,
           not
           addicted
           to
           one
           Side
           more
           than
           another
           :
           (
           which
           neither
           Pope
           ,
           Conclave
           nor
           Councel
           can
           so
           much
           as
           pretend
           to
           )
           of
           Power
           and
           Authority
           able
           to
           convince
           the
           Consciences
           of
           such
           as
           use
           it
           ,
           and
           from
           which
           there
           can
           be
           no
           Appeal
           .
           And
           the
           only
           Cause
           why
           any
           miss
           of
           the
           True
           Faith
           ,
           is
           ,
           because
           they
           do
           not
           sincerely
           seek
           and
           find
           out
           this
           infallible
           Rule
           ;
           or
           having
           found
           it
           ,
           will
           not
           with
           an
           obedient
           Mind
           captivate
           their
           Understanding
           ,
           but
           have
           Access
           to
           it
           with
           Pride
           ,
           Curiosity
           ,
           Prejudice
           ,
           or
           some
           other
           unmortifyed
           Lust
           or
           Impediment
           .
        
         
           More
           especially
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           besides
           that
           high
           Veneration
           that
           she
           her self
           hath
           for
           these
           sacred
           Books
           ,
           labours
           to
           confirm
           and
           root
           the
           same
           in
           the
           Hearts
           of
           her
           obedient
           Children
           ,
           by
           her
           Devout
           Practice
           .
           For
           ,
           to
           omit
           the
           Frequent
           ,
           Laborious
           and
           Judicious
           Preaching
           and
           Expounding
           of
           them
           in
           this
           Church
           ;
           she
           hath
           so
           prudently
           disposed
           of
           her
           publick
           Liturgy
           ,
           that
           every
           day
           some
           Part
           and
           Portion
           of
           both
           Testaments
           is
           appointed
           to
           be
           read
           :
           The
           whole
           Book
           of
           Psalms
           is
           gone
           through
           once
           a
           Moneth
           ,
           the
           Old
           Testament
           once
           ,
           and
           the
           New
           thrice
           every
           year
           ;
           with
           other
           most
           excellent
           Exercises
           of
           Piety
           ;
           (
           at
           which
           even
           the
           Romanists
           themselves
           
           can
           take
           no
           just
           Exception
           ;
           and
           a
           very
           great
           Author
           affirms
           ,
           that
           a
           modern
           Pope
           would
           have
           approved
           the
           whole
           Service-Book
           ,
           had
           his
           Authority
           but
           been
           acknowledged
           )
           which
           discreet
           Course
           cannot
           but
           afford
           much
           heavenly
           Instruction
           and
           Consolation
           to
           the
           constant
           Attenders
           on
           such
           Blessed
           Opportunities
           .
        
         
           But
           what
           saith
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           all
           this
           while
           in
           this
           Business
           ?
           In
           her
           Tridentine
           Council
           ,
           Sess.
           4.
           
           Can.
           1.
           
           She
           expresly
           Decrees
           ,
           that
           unwritten
           Traditions
           are
           of
           equal
           Authority
           with
           the
           written
           Word
           ;
           that
           they
           are
           to
           be
           received
           with
           the
           same
           Reverence
           and
           Affection
           .
           And
           Cardinal
           Hosius
           ,
           who
           was
           one
           who
           in
           the
           Popes
           Name
           presided
           at
           that
           Council
           ,
           defends
           that
           most
           Blasphemous
           Speech
           of
           
             Wolfangus
             Hermannus
          
           ,
           that
           the
           Scripture
           is
           of
           no
           more
           Authority
           than
           
             Esop's
             Fables
          
           ,
           but
           for
           the
           Churches
           and
           Popes
           Approbation
           ,
           lib.
           3.
           
             de
             Authorit
             .
             Script
          
           .
           The
           Council
           of
           Basil
           would
           fain
           perswade
           us
           that
           the
           Churches
           Acts
           and
           Customs
           must
           be
           to
           us
           instead
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           
             (
             Instar
             habeant
             Sacrarum
             Scripturarum
          
           )
           for
           that
           the
           Scripture
           and
           Churches
           Customs
           both
           require
           the
           same
           Affection
           and
           Respect
           .
        
         
           Indeed
           I
           find
           the
           Romish
           Doctors
           in
           nothing
           more
           fluent
           than
           in
           degrading
           and
           vilifying
           the
           Scriptures
           .
           Our
           Country
           man
           ,
           Dr.
           Stapleton
           ,
           positively
           affirms
           ,
           that
           the
           Church
           hath
           Authority
           to
           put
           into
           the
           Number
           of
           Books
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           Canonical
           the
           Writings
           of
           Hermes
           and
           Constitutions
           of
           Clemens
           (
           two
           famous
           Counterfeits
           )
           and
           that
           then
           they
           would
           have
           the
           same
           Authority
           which
           other
           Books
           have
           ,
           canonized
           by
           the
           Apostles
           themselves
           .
           Some
           call
           them
           a
           Nose
           of
           Wax
           ,
           to
           be
           wrested
           any
           way
           .
           
             Cardinal
             Cusanus
          
           blushes
           not
           to
           write
           that
           the
           Scriptures
           are
           fitted
           to
           the
           time
           ,
           and
           variously
           understood
           ;
           the
           sense
           thereof
           being
           one
           while
           this
           ,
           and
           another
           while
           that
           ,
           according
           as
           it
           pleases
           the
           Church
           to
           change
           her
           Judgment
           .
           Some
           teach
           that
           the
           Scripture
           is
           not
           simply
           necessary
           ,
           that
           God
           gave
           it
           not
           to
           the
           People
           but
           to
           the
           Doctors
           and
           Pastors
           ;
           and
           that
           we
           must
           live
           more
           according
           to
           the
           Dictates
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           than
           the
           Scripture
           .
           Eckius
           ,
           the
           great
           Antagonist
           of
           Luther
           ,
           would
           make
           us
           believe
           that
           Christ
           never
           gave
           any
           Command
           to
           his
           Apostles
           ,
           to
           write
           any
           thing
           .
           Which
           yet
           seems
           very
           odd
           ,
           when
           such
           an
           express
           Injunction
           was
           lay'd
           on
           S.
           John
           to
           write
           that
           mystical
           Book
           of
           the
           Apocalypse
           ,
           which
           certainly
           is
           not
           more
           conducing
           to
           the
           Churches
           Edification
           than
           our
           B.
           Saviour's
           Sermon
           on
           the
           Mount
           ,
           and
           the
           many
           other
           practical
           Discourses
           both
           of
           himself
           and
           his
           Disciples
           .
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           the
           most
           ingenuous
           and
           civil
           among
           their
           Writers
           think
           they
           have
           pay'd
           all
           due
           Respect
           to
           Holy
           writ
           ,
           when
           they
           term
           it
           a
           Dumb
           Judge
           ,
           Dead
           Ink
           ,
           or
           Ink
           shaped
           into
           various
           Forms
           and
           Characters
           .
           Notwithstanding
           which
           I
           humbly
           conceive
           ,
           that
           let
           an
           Indifferent
           Person
           open
           the
           Bible
           and
           the
           Canons
           of
           the
           Council
           of
           Trent
           together
           ,
           and
           he
           will
           receive
           at
           least
           as
           clear
           and
           full
           Satisfaction
           from
           the
           Bible
           ,
           as
           from
           the
           other
           ;
           unless
           we
           will
           impiously
           deny
           Almighty
           God
           the
           Faculty
           of
           expressing
           his
           holy
           Will
           and
           Pleasure
           as
           intelligibly
           as
           frail
           Men
           can
           theirs
           :
           or
           without
           any
           shew
           of
           Reason
           affirm
           with
           a
           late
           Divine
           ,
           that
           Religion
           it self
           was
           never
           fully
           setled
           till
           that
           upstart
           Conventicle
           .
        
         
         
           Conformable
           to
           the
           Sentiments
           are
           the
           Practices
           of
           that
           Church
           ,
           in
           keeping
           the
           Bible
           lock'd
           up
           in
           an
           Unknown
           Tongue
           from
           the
           Use
           of
           the
           Vulgar
           .
           Clement
           the
           Eighth
           very
           strictly
           orders
           all
           Vulgar
           Translations
           to
           be
           put
           into
           the
           Index
           of
           Prohibited
           Books
           .
           And
           in
           Italy
           and
           Spain
           ,
           and
           wherever
           the
           Inquisition
           hath
           the
           least
           Jurisdiction
           ,
           the
           very
           keeping
           of
           them
           is
           a
           Crime
           no
           less
           than
           Capital
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           true
           ,
           where
           the
           Reformation
           hath
           got
           any
           footing
           ,
           Faculties
           are
           sometimes
           granted
           to
           read
           a
           Translation
           ;
           but
           clog'd
           with
           so
           many
           Proviso's
           and
           various
           Cautions
           ,
           and
           their
           Spiritual
           Guides
           give
           so
           small
           Encouragement
           to
           it
           ,
           that
           it
           seems
           rather
           a
           Trick
           to
           stop
           the
           Mouthes
           of
           their
           Adversaries
           ,
           when
           they
           Object
           the
           Prohibition
           of
           Reading
           Scripture
           ,
           than
           any
           real
           Intention
           of
           Promoting
           so
           Pious
           an
           Exercise
           among
           their
           Devotes
           .
           Besides
           ,
           their
           other
           Forms
           of
           Devotion
           ,
           Rosaries
           ,
           or
           saying
           over
           the
           Beads
           after
           divers
           Methods
           ,
           our
           Ladies
           Office
           ,
           Prayers
           for
           the
           Dead
           ,
           Manuals
           ,
           the
           long
           Litanies
           of
           Saints
           ,
           hearing
           of
           Masses
           ,
           reading
           of
           Legends
           ,
           &c.
           are
           in
           so
           great
           Vogue
           ,
           and
           take
           up
           so
           considerable
           a
           Time
           ,
           that
           I
           scarce
           see
           how
           any
           can
           be
           allotted
           for
           that
           contemned
           Employment
           of
           studying
           Gods
           Word
           :
           which
           ought
           to
           be
           the
           Meditation
           of
           every
           good
           Christian
           Day
           and
           Night
           .
           Indeed
           this
           neglect
           (
           to
           say
           no
           worse
           )
           of
           Holy
           Scripture
           is
           so
           notorious
           among
           ,
           and
           so
           peculiar
           to
           those
           of
           that
           Way
           ,
           and
           the
           Ignorance
           not
           only
           of
           the
           Laity
           but
           of
           divers
           of
           the
           Clergy
           in
           that
           kind
           of
           Learning
           especially
           ,
           is
           so
           gross
           ,
           that
           it
           would
           be
           a
           Work
           of
           Supererogation
           to
           attempt
           the
           proof
           of
           it
           :
           Their
           Doctors
           generally
           pretending
           Translations
           of
           Scripture
           to
           be
           the
           cause
           of
           all
           Heresies
           and
           Phanaticism
           .
           Nay
           ,
           I
           have
           met
           with
           one
           so
           frantick
           ,
           that
           he
           thinks
           it
           was
           the
           Devils
           invention
           to
           permit
           the
           people
           to
           read
           the
           Bible
           .
           
             Martin
             .
             Peres
             .
             de
             Tradit
             .
          
           And
           I
           remember
           
             Thyrraeus
             de
             Daemoniac
          
           .
           c.
           21.
           says
           ,
           that
           thence
           he
           knew
           certain
           Persons
           to
           be
           possess'd
           by
           the
           Devil
           ,
           because
           being
           but
           Husbandmen
           they
           were
           able
           to
           discourse
           concerning
           Scripture
           .
        
         
           We
           will
           now
           see
           what
           Holy
           Writ
           it self
           ,
           untainted
           Antiquity
           ,
           and
           unprejudiced
           Reason
           alleage
           in
           this
           Case
           :
           and
           which
           side
           they
           patronize
           ,
           the
           Reformation
           or
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           .
        
         
           S.
           Paul
           gives
           this
           Encomium
           of
           his
           Disciple
           Timothy
           ,
           2
           Ep.
           c.
           3.
           v.
           15.
           
           That
           from
           a
           Child
           he
           had
           been
           Conversant
           in
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           tells
           him
           they
           were
           able
           to
           make
           him
           
             Wise
             to
             Salvation
          
           (
           which
           I
           hope
           is
           Knowledge
           enough
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           sure
           is
           a
           more
           plain
           ,
           compendious
           Path
           ,
           than
           the
           crooked
           Labyrinths
           of
           uncertain
           Traditions
           ,
           forged
           Decrees
           ,
           Canons
           and
           Fathers
           .
           )
           He
           further
           assures
           him
           ,
           that
           the
           same
           Divine
           Scriptures
           were
           profitable
           for
           Doctrine
           ,
           for
           Reproof
           ,
           for
           Correction
           ,
           for
           Instruction
           to
           Righteousness
           ;
           that
           the
           Man
           of
           God
           might
           be
           perfect
           ,
           throughly
           furnished
           to
           every
           good
           Work.
           For
           my
           part
           I
           know
           not
           what
           remains
           then
           for
           Tradition
           and
           such
           like
           Trash
           to
           perform
           ,
           since
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           alone
           can
           so
           compleat
           us
           .
           
             Solomon
             ,
             Prov.
          
           2.
           9.
           assures
           us
           that
           Gods
           Law
           alone
           will
           make
           a
           man
           understand
           Righteousness
           ,
           and
           Judgment
           ,
           and
           Equity
           ,
           and
           Every
           good
           Work.
           The
           Prophet
           Esa.
           c.
           8.
           20.
           refers
           us
           to
           try
           all
           things
           by
           the
           Law
           and
           Testimony
           :
           and
           that
           
           we
           must
           conclude
           those
           to
           have
           no
           light
           ,
           who
           speak
           not
           according
           to
           that
           Word
           .
           Our
           B.
           Saviour
           Luke
           10.
           26.
           
           When
           a
           Lawyer
           inquired
           of
           him
           what
           he
           should
           do
           to
           inherit
           Eternal
           Life
           :
           bids
           him
           have
           recourse
           to
           what
           was
           written
           in
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           asked
           him
           how
           he
           read
           there
           .
           S.
           Luke
           writ
           his
           Gospel
           to
           Theophilus
           a
           Lay
           Person
           .
           Luke
           1.
           4.
           to
           the
           end
           he
           might
           certainly
           know
           those
           things
           wherein
           he
           had
           been
           instructed
           .
           S.
           John
           writ
           his
           ,
           as
           he
           himself
           testifies
           ,
           c.
           20.
           v.
           31.
           that
           we
           might
           believe
           that
           Jesus
           is
           the
           Christ
           ,
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           that
           believing
           we
           might
           have
           Life
           through
           him
           .
           Abraham
           sends
           Dives
           his
           Brethren
           to
           Moses
           and
           the
           Prophets
           ,
           rather
           than
           to
           Visions
           ,
           Apparitions
           ,
           and
           private
           Revelations
           :
           which
           yet
           are
           so
           much
           pretended
           to
           and
           boasted
           of
           in
           the
           Roman
           Church
           .
           Christ
           himself
           submitted
           the
           Tryal
           both
           of
           his
           Doctrine
           and
           Miracles
           to
           the
           Censure
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           .
           John
           5.
           39.
           
           Search
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           for
           they
           are
           they
           which
           testifie
           of
           me
           .
           Thoughts
           are
           free
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           apt
           to
           think
           that
           some
           will
           take
           the
           Liberty
           to
           judge
           it
           a
           little
           unreasonable
           ,
           that
           our
           B.
           Saviour
           should
           so
           readily
           stand
           to
           the
           Verdict
           of
           Moses
           and
           the
           Prophets
           ;
           and
           yet
           his
           pretended
           Vicar
           should
           scorn
           to
           submit
           to
           the
           Censure
           of
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           ;
           but
           defie
           both
           their
           Doctrines
           and
           Practices
           with
           so
           many
           Non
           Obstante's
           ,
           as
           appears
           by
           their
           new
           model'd
           Creed
           at
           this
           day
           :
           wherein
           Pius
           the
           fourth
           hath
           coined
           twelve
           new
           Articles
           of
           Faith
           ,
           to
           shew
           his
           single
           Power
           equivalent
           to
           that
           of
           all
           the
           Apostles
           in
           General
           ,
           who
           did
           but
           every
           one
           contribute
           his
           single
           Article
           to
           that
           ancient
           Symbole
           bearing
           their
           Name
           .
        
         
           S.
           
           Paul's
           Auditors
           the
           Bereans
           are
           highly
           commended
           for
           searching
           the
           Scriptures
           daily
           ,
           to
           examine
           whether
           the
           Doctrine
           they
           heard
           were
           true
           or
           no.
           Act.
           17.
           11.
           
           In
           Sum
           ,
           the
           old
           Law
           was
           severely
           injoyned
           to
           the
           Reading
           and
           Meditation
           both
           of
           Prince
           ,
           Priest
           and
           People
           ;
           men
           ,
           Women
           and
           Children
           ,
           as
           is
           obvious
           to
           observe
           all
           along
           the
           Style
           thereof
           .
           And
           the
           Jews
           were
           so
           versed
           in
           it
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           able
           to
           reckon
           up
           the
           Number
           of
           the
           Words
           ,
           nay
           Letters
           contained
           therein
           .
           And
           the
           new
           Law
           excludes
           none
           ,
           either
           from
           that
           
             Common
             Salvation
          
           it
           holds
           forth
           ,
           or
           the
           means
           to
           attain
           it
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Gospel
           .
           The
           Epistles
           are
           directed
           to
           Persons
           of
           all
           sorts
           and
           both
           Sexes
           .
           In
           fine
           ,
           the
           whole
           Oeconomy
           both
           of
           the
           Old
           and
           New
           Testament
           is
           so
           diametrically
           opposite
           to
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           in
           this
           Point
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           but
           too
           too
           palpable
           that
           the
           three
           Main
           Pillars
           of
           Popery
           ,
           are
           to
           keep
           the
           
             Prince
             in
             awe
             ,
             the
             Priest
             in
             Honour
             ,
             and
             the
             People
             in
             Ignorance
             .
          
        
         
           Antiquity
           is
           so
           luxuriant
           in
           this
           point
           ,
           that
           it
           will
           be
           a
           greater
           Difficulty
           to
           select
           than
           to
           accumulate
           .
           Famous
           is
           that
           Speech
           of
           Constantine
           the
           great
           to
           the
           Fathers
           in
           the
           Niccne
           Council
           ,
           recorded
           by
           
             Theodor.
             Histor.
          
           l.
           1.
           c.
           7.
           and
           this
           Saying
           among
           the
           rest
           is
           very
           remarkable
           :
           We
           have
           the
           teaching
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           written
           :
           for
           the
           Evangelical
           and
           Apostolical
           Books
           and
           the
           old
           Prophets
           do
           evidently
           teach
           us
           the
           things
           that
           are
           needful
           to
           be
           
           known
           concerning
           God.
           Wherefore
           laying
           aside
           all
           Contention
           let
           us
           out
           of
           
             the
             Divinely
             Inspired
             Scripture
             ,
             take
             the
             Resolution
             of
             those
             things
             we
             seek
             for
             .
             Tertullian
          
           contr
           .
           Hermog
           .
           in
           plain
           terms
           calls
           the
           Scripture
           
             The
             Rule
             of
             Faith.
          
           St.
           Chrysostom
           Hom.
           13.
           in
           2
           
             ad
             Cor.
          
           styles
           it
           ,
           A
           most
           Excellent
           Rule
           and
           Exact
           Ballance
           to
           try
           All
           things
           by
           .
           St.
           August
           .
           in
           l.
           2.
           
             de
             Nupt.
             &
             Concup
          
           .
           c.
           33.
           speaks
           thus
           :
           This
           Controversie
           depending
           between
           us
           requires
           a
           Judge
           :
           let
           Christ
           therefore
           judge
           ,
           and
           let
           the
           Apostle
           Paul
           judge
           with
           him
           :
           because
           Christ
           speaks
           in
           his
           Apostle
           .
           But
           most
           Memorable
           is
           that
           Passage
           of
           
             Optatus
             contr
             .
             Parmen
          
           .
           l.
           5.
           where
           he
           thus
           presses
           the
           Donatist
           :
           We
           are
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           to
           enquire
           out
           some
           to
           be
           Judges
           between
           us
           in
           these
           Controversies
           :
           The
           Christians
           cannot
           ,
           because
           both
           sides
           cannot
           yield
           them
           :
           and
           by
           part-taking
           the
           Truth
           will
           be
           hindred
           :
           the
           Judge
           must
           be
           had
           from
           
             without
             our selves
          
           .
           If
           a
           Pagan
           ,
           he
           knows
           not
           the
           Mysteries
           of
           Christianity
           :
           if
           a
           Jew
           ,
           he
           is
           an
           Enemy
           to
           Baptisme
           :
           therefore
           on
           Earth
           no
           judgment
           concerning
           this
           matter
           can
           be
           found
           .
           The
           Judge
           must
           be
           had
           from
           Heaven
           .
           But
           to
           what
           end
           should
           we
           knock
           at
           Heaven
           ,
           when
           here
           we
           have
           one
           in
           the
           Gospel
           ?
           Quotations
           might
           be
           Infinite
           ,
           but
           I
           Supersede
           .
        
         
           Nor
           did
           the
           Antient
           Fathers
           onely
           think
           this
           themselves
           ,
           but
           by
           their
           frequent
           Translations
           of
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           vehement
           Exhortations
           to
           the
           People
           to
           read
           them
           so
           translated
           ,
           they
           endeavoured
           to
           beget
           the
           same
           awful
           Respect
           to
           Gods
           Holy
           Word
           in
           the
           Minds
           of
           all
           .
           Ulphilas
           ,
           a
           Bishop
           of
           the
           Goths
           ,
           turned
           the
           Scripture
           into
           that
           Barbarous
           Language
           ,
           as
           Socrates
           witnesses
           .
           Methodius
           into
           the
           Sclavonian
           .
           S.
           Chrysostom
           .
           hom
           .
           1.
           in
           Johan
           .
           makes
           mention
           of
           
             Syrian
             ,
             Aegyptian
             ,
             Indian
             ,
             Persian
          
           and
           Ethiopian
           Translations
           .
           
             Theodoret
             de
             Curand
             .
             Graec.
             Affect
             .
          
           assures
           us
           the
           Bible
           was
           turned
           into
           all
           Languages
           used
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           
             Greek
             ,
             Latin
             ,
             Armenian
             ,
             Scythian
             ,
             Sarmatian
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           And
           we
           have
           at
           this
           day
           divers
           Fragments
           of
           them
           remaining
           .
           Venerable
           Bede
           shews
           the
           same
           of
           our
           own
           Country
           .
        
         
           To
           speak
           plain
           :
           I
           know
           no
           Topick
           the
           Fathers
           are
           more
           Copious
           upon
           ,
           than
           in
           calling
           upon
           the
           People
           to
           get
           Bibles
           ,
           to
           read
           them
           ,
           to
           examin
           what
           they
           hear
           by
           them
           ,
           and
           severely
           inveighing
           against
           the
           Negligence
           of
           such
           as
           did
           not
           :
           According
           to
           the
           Apostles
           Advice
           even
           to
           the
           Laity
           ,
           Colos.
           3.
           16.
           
           
             Let
             the
             Word
             of
             Christ
             dwell
             in
             you
             richly
             in
             all
             Wisdom
             ,
             teaching
             and
             admonishing
             one
             another
             .
          
        
         
           Theodoret
           ,
           before
           cited
           ,
           gives
           this
           Account
           of
           his
           Times
           .
           
             You
             shall
             every
             where
             see
             these
             Points
             of
             our
             Faith
             to
             be
             known
             and
             understood
             ,
             not
             only
             by
             such
             as
             are
             Teachers
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             but
             by
             Smiths
             ,
             Weavers
             ,
             and
             all
             kinds
             of
             Arcificers
             :
             yea
             ,
             all
             our
             Women
             ,
             not
             only
             such
             as
             are
             Book-learned
             ,
             but
             also
             by
             them
             who
             get
             their
             Living
             by
             the
             Needle
             ,
             Maid
             servants
             and
             Waiting-women
             :
             and
             not
             Citizens
             only
             ,
             but
             Husbandmen
             are
             very
             skilful
             in
             these
             things
             .
             You
             may
             hear
             among
             us
             Ditchers
             and
             Neat-herds
             discoursing
             of
             the
             Trinity
             and
             the
             Creation
             .
          
        
         
         
           And
           that
           the
           Laity
           were
           thus
           familiar
           with
           the
           Bible
           ,
           may
           evidently
           be
           made
           out
           ,
           in
           that
           Nectarius
           ,
           of
           a
           Judge
           ,
           was
           made
           Bishop
           of
           Constantinople
           ;
           St.
           Ambrose
           ,
           of
           a
           Secular
           Deputy
           ,
           Bishop
           of
           
             Milan
             ;
             Gregory
          
           the
           Father
           of
           Nazianzen
           ,
           of
           a
           Lay-man
           was
           made
           a
           Bishop
           :
           Origen
           from
           a
           Child
           was
           Learned
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           ;
           and
           to
           the
           great
           Joy
           of
           his
           Father
           Leonides
           ,
           a
           Holy
           Martyr
           ,
           often
           questioned
           with
           him
           concerning
           the
           meaning
           of
           difficult
           places
           .
           Macrina
           ,
           St.
           Basil's
           Nurse
           ,
           taught
           him
           the
           Scriptures
           when
           he
           was
           very
           young
           :
           and
           Gorgonia
           ,
           the
           Sister
           of
           
             St.
             Gregory
             Nazianzen
          
           ,
           was
           rarely
           well
           experienced
           in
           them
           .
        
         
           I
           will
           wind
           up
           this
           Argument
           with
           declaring
           what
           was
           St.
           Jerom's
           mind
           in
           so
           Weighty
           a
           Business
           .
           He
           ,
           besides
           his
           Writing
           to
           divers
           Women
           ,
           as
           
             Eustochium
             ,
             Salvina
             ,
             Celantia
             ,
             &c.
          
           commending
           their
           Labours
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           encouraging
           that
           study
           :
           speaking
           of
           the
           Noble
           Roman
           Lady
           Paula
           ,
           in
           the
           Epitaph
           he
           made
           upon
           her
           ,
           he
           extolls
           her
           for
           imposing
           a
           daily
           task
           of
           reading
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           on
           her
           Companions
           and
           Maids
           .
           But
           more
           signally
           in
           an
           Epistle
           to
           L●t●
           ,
           he
           gives
           her
           these
           Directions
           for
           the
           Education
           of
           her
           little
           Daughter
           .
           
             Let
             the
             Child
             be
             deaf
             in
             hearing
             of
             light
             Musical
             Aires
             ;
             but
             cause
             her
             every
             day
             to
             render
             a
             task
             of
             the
             Flowers
             of
             Holy
             Scripture
             .
             Let
             her
             not
             be
             sought
             for
             in
             the
             press
             of
             secular
             People
             ,
             but
             in
             the
             Closet
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
             asking
             Counsel
             of
             the
             Prophets
             and
             Apostles
             concerning
             Spiritual
             Nuptials
             .
             Let
             her
             first
             learn
             the
             Psalter
             ,
             and
             with
             those
             Heavenly
             Songs
             wean
             her self
             from
             light
             Sonnets
             .
             Then
             let
             her
             be
             taught
             to
             Govern
             her
             Life
             out
             of
             
               Solomons
               Proverbs
            
             ,
             and
             repair
             to
             Job
             for
             Examples
             of
             Vertue
             and
             Patience
             ,
             Let
             her
             then
             come
             to
             the
             Evangelists
             ,
             and
             never
             lay
             those
             Books
             out
             of
             her
             hands
             .
             With
             these
             she
             must
             joyn
             the
             
               Acts
               of
               the
               Apostles
               ,
               &c
               ,
            
             But
             let
             her
             be
             cautious
             in
             
               Apocryphal
               Books
            
             ,
             and
             if
             she
             read
             them
             ,
             let
             her
             understand
             ,
             that
             they
             are
             not
             those
             Author's
             ,
             whose
             Names
             they
             carry
             ;
             and
             that
             many
             things
             faulty
             are
             mix'd
             with
             them
             ;
             and
             it
             is
             no
             small
             Wisdom
             to
             fund
             Gold
             among
             Dross
             .
          
        
         
           To
           which
           excellent
           Advice
           ,
           let
           me
           onely
           subjoyn
           what
           I
           find
           scattered
           up
           and
           down
           in
           
             S.
             Augustin
             ;
             viz.
          
           To
           read
           plain
           Passages
           first
           ,
           and
           heartily
           to
           practice
           what
           we
           understand
           ;
           and
           as
           for
           obscure
           Places
           ,
           Prophecies
           ,
           Genealogies
           and
           Mysteries
           ,
           whereof
           we
           shall
           never
           be
           demanded
           an
           Account
           at
           the
           Day
           of
           Judgment
           ,
           let
           us
           leave
           it
           to
           the
           Divine
           Pleasure
           ,
           either
           to
           reveal
           them
           to
           us
           ,
           or
           reserve
           them
           still
           Concealed
           :
           since
           our
           Saviour
           told
           his
           own
           Disciples
           that
           it
           was
           not
           for
           them
           to
           know
           the
           Times
           and
           Seasons
           :
           but
           plainly
           informed
           them
           ,
           that
           he
           who
           did
           his
           Will
           should
           know
           of
           his
           Doctrine
           ,
           whether
           he
           spoke
           from
           God
           or
           from
           himself
           .
           The
           same
           Father
           acquaints
           us
           with
           the
           admirable
           Commixture
           of
           Plainness
           and
           Obscurity
           in
           the
           Holy
           Scripture
           :
           that
           hereby
           
             Wanton
             Wits
             are
             wholsomely
             curbed
             ,
             Weak
             Wits
             cherished
             ,
             and
             Great
          
           
           
             Wits
             delighted
          
           :
           and
           that
           nothing
           of
           highest
           Importance
           is
           so
           perplexedly
           delivered
           in
           one
           Place
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           as
           plainly
           set
           down
           in
           another
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           inlarged
           a
           little
           more
           than
           I
           intended
           on
           this
           Theme
           ,
           because
           I
           am
           verily
           perswaded
           ,
           that
           if
           the
           Sober
           ,
           Judicious
           Roman
           Catholicks
           of
           this
           Nation
           would
           be
           induced
           but
           for
           Tryal
           sake
           a
           while
           to
           intermit
           some
           of
           those
           Dry
           ,
           Insipid
           Devotions
           ,
           which
           take
           up
           so
           much
           of
           their
           Time
           ;
           and
           exchange
           them
           for
           a
           Pious
           ,
           Humble
           conversing
           with
           God's
           Word
           ;
           they
           would
           soon
           be
           out
           of
           Conceit
           with
           what
           they
           are
           now
           so
           fond
           of
           ;
           and
           discover
           the
           sandy
           Foundation
           of
           many
           of
           their
           Principles
           :
           and
           perhaps
           at
           last
           become
           of
           that
           good
           Abbots
           mind
           who
           was
           Unkle
           to
           Arch-Bishop
           Whitgift
           ,
           and
           was
           often
           heard
           to
           complain
           ,
           that
           their
           Religion
           must
           needs
           at
           last
           fail
           ,
           because
           he
           found
           no
           ground
           for
           it
           in
           Gods
           Word
           .
        
         
           Having
           considered
           hitherto
           the
           great
           Rule
           of
           our
           Faith
           and
           Life
           ,
           we
           will
           now
           descend
           to
           that
           Article
           of
           our
           Creed
           which
           makes
           such
           a
           noise
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           I
           mean
           the
           
             Holy
             Catholick
             Church
          
           :
           which
           ,
           omitting
           the
           various
           Acceptations
           of
           the
           Word
           Church
           ,
           as
           to
           our
           present
           Purpose
           ,
           is
           nothing
           else
           but
           a
           Company
           of
           People
           united
           in
           the
           Profession
           of
           the
           True
           Faith
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           due
           Use
           of
           the
           Sacraments
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           not
           ignorant
           that
           the
           Papists
           would
           fain
           foist
           in
           another
           Requisite
           ,
           to
           wit
           ,
           
             Under
             the
             Obedience
             of
             the
             Bishop
             of
             Rame
             ,
             the
             only
             Vicar
             of
             Christ
             upon
             Earth
             .
          
           But
           to
           omit
           many
           other
           Absurdities
           ,
           I
           shall
           only
           instance
           at
           present
           in
           two
           :
           that
           hereby
           they
           exclude
           Universality
           ,
           which
           they
           put
           down
           as
           an
           Essential
           Note
           of
           the
           True
           Church
           ;
           and
           Charity
           ,
           which
           I
           am
           sure
           is
           a
           certain
           Badg
           of
           Christ's
           true
           Disciples
           .
           For
           by
           this
           very
           Clause
           ,
           they
           very
           ridiculously
           obtrude
           less
           than
           a
           fourth
           part
           for
           the
           Whole
           ;
           and
           by
           excommunicating
           all
           the
           rest
           from
           the
           Pale
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           in
           them
           lies
           ,
           very
           mercifully
           Doome
           greater
           ,
           more
           antient
           and
           better
           Churches
           than
           themselves
           to
           everlasting
           flames
           .
        
         
           To
           make
           this
           good
           ,
           we
           will
           take
           our
           Measures
           by
           the
           Judicious
           Observation
           of
           Sir
           
             Edwyn
             Sands
          
           ,
           who
           in
           his
           
             Survey
             of
             Europe
          
           ,
           assures
           us
           that
           the
           Greek
           Church
           in
           Number
           exceeds
           any
           other
           :
           and
           the
           Protestants
           in
           Multitude
           and
           extent
           of
           Territory
           fall
           very
           little
           short
           of
           those
           that
           are
           under
           the
           Papal
           Yoke
           .
           So
           that
           here
           we
           have
           two
           four
           Parts
           .
           To
           which
           add
           all
           the
           Oriental
           Christians
           ,
           and
           those
           in
           the
           Vast
           Empire
           of
           
             Prester
             John
          
           ,
           or
           the
           Abyssines
           ,
           who
           are
           all
           out
           of
           the
           Roman
           Communion
           ;
           and
           questionless
           we
           shall
           find
           another
           fourth
           Part.
           And
           thus
           we
           have
           three
           to
           one
           ,
           even
           in
           the
           point
           of
           Universality
           .
        
         
           I
           will
           put
           this
           out
           of
           all
           dispute
           by
           a
           particular
           Induction
           .
        
         
           In
           Asia
           we
           have
           Multitudes
           of
           Christians
           who
           have
           nothing
           to
           do
           with
           the
           Pope
           .
           Those
           of
           Palestine
           are
           subject
           to
           the
           Patriarch
           of
           Jerusalem
           :
           the
           Syrians
           ,
           under
           him
           of
           Antioch
           :
           the
           Armenians
           and
           
           Georgians
           have
           their
           own
           Patriarchs
           .
           The
           Circassians
           ,
           and
           those
           of
           the
           lesser
           Asia
           ,
           are
           under
           him
           of
           Constantinople
           :
           The
           Jacobites
           and
           the
           Christians
           of
           St.
           Thomas
           have
           also
           their
           peculiar
           Patriarchs
           .
        
         
           In
           Africa
           ,
           where
           we
           find
           any
           steps
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           the
           Egyptians
           and
           Cophtes
           are
           under
           the
           Patriarch
           of
           Alexandria
           ;
           the
           Ethiopians
           or
           Abyssines
           ,
           which
           are
           innumerable
           ,
           are
           under
           their
           own
           Governours
           Ecclesiastical
           .
        
         
           In
           Europe
           ,
           the
           Greeks
           submit
           to
           the
           Patriarch
           of
           Constantinople
           .
           The
           spatious
           Empire
           of
           the
           Russians
           hath
           a
           Patriarch
           at
           Mosco
           .
           The
           Kingdoms
           of
           
             England
             ,
             Scotland
          
           and
           
             Ireland
             ,
             Denmark
             ,
             Swedeland
          
           ,
           and
           the
           far
           greatest
           part
           of
           the
           United
           
             Netherlands
             ,
             Switzerland
             ,
             Germany
          
           and
           Hungaria
           ,
           are
           subject
           to
           Bishops
           and
           Church-Officers
           of
           their
           own
           ,
           without
           any
           dependance
           upon
           Him
           at
           Rome
           .
           Even
           in
           
             Bohemia
             ,
             Poland
             ,
             France
             ,
             Transylvania
             ,
          
           some
           Countreys
           of
           Italy
           there
           are
           multitudes
           of
           Reformed
           Churches
           ,
           which
           have
           nothing
           to
           do
           with
           the
           Popes
           Jurisdiction
           .
           And
           thus
           that
           Large
           Universality
           of
           Power
           that
           the
           Old
           Gentleman
           at
           Rome
           brags
           of
           ,
           is
           at
           last
           shrunk
           away
           into
           Spain
           ,
           part
           of
           
             France
             ,
             Italy
          
           and
           Poland
           ,
           some
           of
           the
           Cantons
           of
           Switzerland
           ,
           some
           of
           the
           
             Low
             Countreys
          
           and
           Germany
           .
           And
           here
           you
           have
           a
           
             Map
             of
             the
             Papal
             Universality
          
           .
        
         
           They
           boast
           indeed
           much
           of
           their
           New
           Acquisitions
           in
           the
           Indies
           :
           but
           (
           not
           to
           Examine
           by
           what
           Right
           they
           Invaded
           those
           Countreys
           )
           after
           such
           a
           brutish
           manner
           were
           those
           Conversions
           made
           ,
           driving
           the
           poor
           Natives
           to
           Baptisme
           ,
           like
           Herds
           of
           Beasts
           to
           Watering
           ,
           that
           their
           own
           Writers
           blush
           at
           Recording
           it
           .
           And
           when
           all
           comes
           to
           all
           ,
           it
           will
           appear
           ,
           that
           they
           Butcher'd
           more
           than
           they
           
             Baptiz'd
             .
             Bartholomaeus
             Casa
          
           ,
           a
           Bishop
           that
           lived
           in
           those
           Countreys
           ,
           and
           Acosta
           the
           Jesuit
           ,
           are
           sufficient
           Witnesses
           in
           this
           matter
           .
        
         
           And
           since
           We
           are
           entred
           upon
           this
           much
           cryed
           up
           Universality
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           it
           will
           not
           be
           amiss
           to
           glance
           a
           little
           at
           those
           other
           Claims
           and
           Pretensions
           whereby
           she
           would
           Impose
           her self
           on
           the
           World
           ,
           for
           the
           Onely
           ,
           Immaculate
           Spouse
           of
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           .
        
         
           Antiquity
           is
           much
           talked
           of
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           a
           kind
           of
           Universality
           in
           regard
           of
           Time
           ,
           as
           that
           before
           mentioned
           ,
           was
           of
           Place
           and
           Persons
           .
           But
           how
           groundlesly
           the
           Roman
           Church
           appropriates
           and
           ingrosses
           it
           to
           her self
           ,
           is
           too
           apparent
           from
           the
           Novel
           Tridentine
           Constitutions
           and
           Articles
           .
           And
           besides
           ,
           it
           can
           be
           no
           Discriminating
           Note
           ,
           in
           as
           much
           as
           it
           is
           applicable
           to
           things
           prophane
           as
           well
           as
           Sacred
           ;
           even
           to
           Paganism
           it self
           ;
           and
           to
           Heresies
           (
           many
           of
           which
           are
           as
           Antient
           as
           the
           first
           Century
           )
           as
           well
           as
           to
           Orthodox
           Doctrine
           .
           And
           if
           we
           come
           down
           to
           Practice
           ,
           we
           shall
           find
           it
           far
           more
           feasible
           to
           discover
           the
           
           True
           Church
           here
           or
           there
           at
           present
           ,
           than
           to
           discern
           where
           it
           was
           in
           the
           constant
           Series
           of
           many
           Ages
           .
           History
           being
           one
           of
           the
           most
           obscure
           ,
           intricate
           ,
           tedious
           and
           fallacious
           Principles
           ,
           in
           this
           case
           ,
           whereon
           we
           can
           possibly
           proceed
           .
           Nor
           could
           any
           particular
           Church
           or
           the
           Catholick
           Church
           it self
           at
           the
           Beginning
           lay
           any
           Claim
           to
           the
           Title
           of
           being
           ancient
           .
           Besides
           ,
           the
           Characteristical
           of
           Truth
           is
           not
           so
           much
           to
           be
           Antiqua
           ,
           Old
           ,
           as
           Prima
           ,
           from
           the
           Beginning
           from
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           :
           and
           such
           Antiquity
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           is
           very
           willing
           to
           be
           tryed
           by
           in
           every
           one
           of
           her
           Articles
           .
           So
           that
           here
           are
           two
           Conditions
           deficient
           ,
           
             Soli
             &
             Semper
          
           :
           Antiquity
           belongs
           not
           only
           to
           the
           True
           Church
           ,
           nor
           is
           it
           alwayes
           competible
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           To
           this
           is
           reducible
           their
           Duration
           or
           Continuance
           ,
           but
           this
           is
           rejected
           in
           the
           same
           manner
           as
           their
           Antiquity
           is
           :
           to
           which
           it
           is
           so
           near
           allyed
           .
        
         
           And
           here
           by
           the
           way
           we
           have
           a
           most
           Satisfactory
           Reply
           to
           that
           thred-bare
           Demand
           ,
           
             Where
             was
             your
             Religion
             before
             Luther
             ?
          
           I
           will
           not
           at
           present
           use
           his
           Answer
           ,
           though
           very
           good
           ;
           
             That
             it
             was
             in
             the
             Bible
             ,
             where
             their
             's
             never
             was
             .
          
           Nor
           will
           I
           demand
           where
           theirs
           was
           before
           the
           late
           Assembly
           at
           Trent
           ,
           some
           years
           after
           Luther
           ?
           But
           I
           say
           it
           was
           by
           wonderful
           Providence
           preserved
           all
           along
           down
           from
           the
           Apostles
           dayes
           to
           ours
           ,
           and
           so
           will
           be
           to
           the
           Consummation
           of
           the
           World.
           So
           we
           need
           not
           turn
           over
           all
           the
           Immense
           Volumes
           of
           Antiquity
           to
           give
           in
           a
           Catalogue
           of
           visible
           Professors
           of
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           (
           and
           yet
           this
           may
           and
           hath
           been
           sufficiently
           done
           )
           but
           our
           only
           Task
           is
           to
           prove
           our
           Religion
           the
           same
           which
           was
           taught
           by
           the
           Blessed
           Jesus
           and
           his
           Apostles
           ;
           which
           can
           only
           be
           done
           by
           appealing
           to
           the
           Sacred
           Records
           of
           the
           Gospel
           :
           and
           as
           for
           the
           Professors
           ,
           we
           have
           his
           Promise
           that
           he
           will
           preserve
           a
           Select
           Company
           (
           though
           sometimes
           living
           in
           a
           corrupt
           visible
           Church
           ,
           as
           Wheat
           among
           Tares
           ,
           or
           the
           seven
           thousand
           in
           
           Elisha's
           time
           that
           had
           not
           bowed
           their
           Knees
           to
           Baal
           .
           1
           Kings
           19.
           18.
           
           )
           to
           his
           second
           Coming
           ;
           though
           he
           hath
           not
           told
           us
           where
           to
           find
           them
           in
           every
           year
           .
           And
           therefore
           such
           as
           go
           about
           to
           demonstrate
           that
           such
           Professors
           were
           not
           in
           Being
           ,
           do
           but
           attempt
           to
           enervate
           our
           Saviours
           Promise
           ,
           and
           render
           themselves
           and
           Christianity
           equally
           ridiculous
           .
        
         
           The
           Multitude
           Extent
           ,
           and
           Variety
           of
           their
           own
           Professors
           is
           indeed
           Matter
           of
           great
           Ostentation
           ;
           and
           it
           hath
           in
           part
           been
           adverted
           to
           in
           the
           Business
           of
           Universality
           .
           But
           in
           Truth
           it
           is
           so
           far
           from
           being
           a
           certain
           Argument
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           their
           Church
           ,
           that
           it
           rather
           concludes
           the
           Contrary
           .
           Fear
           not
           
             little
             Flock
          
           ,
           sayes
           our
           Saviour
           ;
           and
           strive
           to
           enter
           in
           at
           the
           
             Straight
             Gate
          
           .
           What
           shall
           we
           think
           of
           that
           time
           S.
           Jerome
           speaks
           of
           ,
           
             Cum
             ingemuit
             Orbis
             &
             Mirabatur
             se
             factum
             Arianum
             ?
          
           when
           ,
           as
           
             Vincentius
             Lyrinensis
          
           speaks
           ,
           in
           a
           manner
           all
           the
           Latin
           Bishops
           partly
           by
           Force
           and
           partly
           
           by
           Fraud
           ,
           were
           deluded
           into
           Arianisme
           ?
           It
           is
           indeed
           a
           Note
           of
           Anti-Christ
           .
           Revel
           .
           17.
           
           That
           the
           Whore
           shall
           sit
           upon
           many
           Waters
           ;
           which
           Waters
           are
           People
           ,
           and
           Nations
           and
           Tongues
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Name
           Catholick
           ,
           so
           often
           objected
           ,
           we
           know
           that
           Names
           have
           little
           Weight
           with
           wise
           men
           ;
           that
           there
           were
           some
           Hereticks
           who
           called
           themselves
           
             Apostolical
             Men
          
           ;
           that
           S.
           John
           in
           his
           Apocalypse
           tells
           us
           there
           were
           such
           as
           had
           a
           Name
           to
           live
           ,
           but
           were
           dead
           ;
           and
           that
           Bellarmine
           himself
           acknowledges
           ,
           that
           if
           one
           only
           Province
           should
           retain
           the
           True
           Faith
           ,
           yet
           might
           it
           be
           called
           Catholick
           .
        
         
           The
           Succession
           of
           Bishops
           from
           the
           Apostles
           times
           ,
           is
           another
           very
           plausible
           Topick
           ,
           on
           which
           they
           much
           Descant
           :
           and
           I
           confess
           it
           bore
           great
           Sway
           with
           me
           for
           a
           long
           time
           ,
           especially
           as
           to
           the
           Validity
           of
           Holy
           Orders
           .
           Yet
           upon
           Mature
           Deliberation
           I
           found
           more
           of
           Pomp
           than
           real
           Solidity
           in
           this
           Pageant
           :
           though
           our
           Ears
           are
           continually
           filled
           with
           Clamour
           about
           it
           .
           For
           neither
           doth
           it
           agree
           only
           with
           the
           true
           Church
           ,
           since
           themselves
           acknowledge
           it
           among
           the
           Greeks
           ,
           (
           as
           in
           the
           Patriarchates
           of
           Constantinople
           and
           Alexandria
           :
           the
           former
           whereof
           derives
           from
           S.
           Mark
           ,
           the
           other
           down
           successively
           from
           S.
           Andrew
           to
           this
           day
           :
           )
           nor
           ,
           if
           you
           will
           credit
           S.
           
             Ambrese
             de
             paenit
          
           .
           l.
           1.
           c.
           6.
           is
           Succession
           of
           Persons
           so
           much
           to
           be
           heeded
           as
           Succession
           of
           Doctrin
           ;
           
             Non
             habent
             haereditatem
             Petri
             ,
             qui
             fidem
             Petri
             non
             habent
             .
          
           Wherefore
           if
           the
           present
           Roman
           Church
           want
           the
           Life
           and
           Soul
           of
           True
           Apostolical
           Succession
           ,
           to
           wit
           ,
           Apostolical
           Doctrine
           ,
           a
           meer
           local
           and
           titular
           Succession
           is
           little
           worth
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           Mischief
           is
           ,
           that
           the
           visible
           Succession
           of
           Bishops
           in
           that
           Sea
           ,
           is
           not
           so
           Glorious
           and
           Uninterrupted
           as
           is
           pretended
           .
           And
           this
           is
           notorious
           in
           all
           Monuments
           of
           History
           and
           Antiquity
           ,
           that
           it
           hath
           been
           fouly
           stained
           by
           Simoniacal
           and
           Violent
           Entries
           upon
           the
           Popedom
           ;
           by
           Schismatical
           Intrusions
           ,
           and
           by
           a
           perfect
           Alteration
           of
           the
           very
           Form
           and
           Substance
           of
           Election
           appointed
           by
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           practised
           in
           the
           primitive
           Church
           .
           For
           either
           S.
           Peter
           named
           his
           Successor
           ,
           or
           he
           was
           chosen
           by
           the
           Clergy
           alone
           ,
           or
           else
           by
           the
           Clergy
           and
           People
           ,
           and
           then
           confirmed
           by
           the
           Emperour
           .
           But
           now
           he
           is
           chosen
           by
           a
           pack
           of
           Cardinals
           ,
           a
           sort
           of
           Clergy
           altogether
           unheard
           of
           in
           primitive
           Ages
           ,
           all
           created
           by
           Popes
           themselves
           ,
           some
           in
           Favour
           to
           their
           Kindred
           ,
           others
           in
           Faction
           ,
           and
           to
           curry
           Kindness
           with
           some
           Christian
           Princes
           ,
           especially
           those
           of
           France
           ,
           and
           the
           House
           of
           Austria
           ,
           who
           alwayes
           have
           their
           Creatures
           very
           busie
           in
           the
           Conclave
           ;
           most
           of
           them
           as
           fit
           for
           Clergy-men
           as
           
             S.
             Peter
          
           was
           for
           a
           Courtier
           ,
           as
           my
           Lord
           of
           Hereford
           speaks
           in
           his
           Legacy
           ;
           a
           Spruce
           ,
           Delicate
           ,
           Effeminate
           Clergy
           :
           (
           and
           the
           World
           talks
           far
           worse
           things
           of
           them
           )
           very
           fit
           persons
           for
           the
           Choice
           of
           
             S.
             Peters
          
           infallible
           Successor
           .
        
         
         
           The
           truth
           is
           ,
           this
           boasted
           succession
           is
           so
           weak
           a
           support
           to
           the
           Roman
           Cause
           ,
           that
           their
           most
           confident
           Champions
           could
           never
           so
           much
           as
           pretend
           the
           very
           shadow
           of
           Divine
           Authority
           for
           it
           .
           
             Alphonsus
             à
             Castro
          
           and
           others
           very
           frankly
           acknowledge
           it
           is
           not
           
             De
             fide
          
           ,
           a
           matter
           of
           Faith
           ,
           that
           this
           or
           that
           ,
           or
           the
           present
           Pope
           is
           
             S.
             Peter's
             Successor
          
           .
           But
           of
           this
           more
           by
           and
           by
           .
           Nor
           is
           there
           the
           least
           agreement
           in
           Ecclesiastical
           History
           concerning
           the
           Immediate
           Successor
           of
           
             S.
             Peter
          
           .
           Some
           put
           Linus
           next
           ,
           some
           Clemens
           ,
           some
           Cletus
           .
           And
           it
           is
           a
           most
           miserable
           Shift
           that
           Bellarmin
           is
           put
           to
           ,
           and
           below
           his
           great
           Wit
           ,
           to
           affirm
           the
           business
           may
           be
           thus
           Composed
           ;
           That
           
             S.
             Peter
          
           left
           his
           Episcopal
           Seat
           to
           Clement
           :
           but
           Clement
           ,
           when
           
             S.
             Peter
          
           was
           dead
           ,
           out
           of
           his
           Humility
           would
           not
           ascend
           the
           Chair
           ,
           as
           long
           as
           Linus
           and
           Cletus
           were
           living
           ,
           who
           had
           been
           the
           Coadjuters
           of
           
             S.
             Peter
          
           in
           his
           Episcopal
           Function
           :
           so
           Linus
           succeeded
           
             S.
             Peter
             ,
             Cletus
          
           to
           Linus
           ,
           and
           Clemens
           to
           Cletus
           .
           But
           if
           
             S.
             Peter
          
           left
           his
           Chair
           to
           Clement
           ,
           how
           comes
           this
           Apostolical
           constitution
           to
           be
           abolished
           ,
           and
           why
           do
           not
           the
           Popes
           now
           design
           their
           Successors
           ,
           but
           leave
           a
           matter
           of
           so
           high
           Consequence
           to
           the
           factious
           Canvassing
           of
           the
           Haughty
           Ambitious
           Cardinals
           ?
           How
           durst
           Clement
           refuse
           the
           Charge
           ;
           intrusted
           to
           him
           by
           so
           great
           an
           Apostle
           ,
           and
           that
           only
           out
           of
           a
           Compliment
           ?
        
         
           A
           Man
           that
           duly
           ponders
           this
           Circumstance
           ,
           might
           very
           well
           conclude
           it
           to
           be
           a
           most
           remarkable
           Providence
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           intended
           for
           the
           humbling
           of
           that
           proud
           Church
           ,
           that
           when
           they
           come
           to
           make
           good
           their
           claim
           to
           that
           Exorbitant
           ,
           unlimited
           Authority
           they
           at
           this
           day
           Exercise
           in
           the
           Christian
           World
           ,
           they
           should
           stumble
           at
           the
           very
           Threshold
           ,
           as
           we
           say
           ,
           and
           fail
           in
           the
           very
           first
           name
           of
           their
           Vaunted
           Catalogue
           .
           In
           a
           Word
           ,
           all
           things
           here
           are
           dark
           and
           in
           a
           Riddle
           ,
           and
           afford
           not
           sufficient
           matter
           even
           to
           ground
           an
           
             Implicit
             Faith
          
           upon
           .
        
         
           But
           what
           shall
           we
           think
           of
           those
           long
           and
           frequent
           Vacations
           in
           that
           See
           for
           some
           years
           together
           ?
           and
           Schisms
           for
           30
           nay
           70
           years
           ?
           Which
           was
           a
           long
           Vacation
           indeed
           ;
           for
           it
           is
           Bellarmin's
           Rule
           ,
           
             An
             uncertain
             Pope
             is
             accounted
             for
             none
             at
             all
             .
          
           Nay
           many
           and
           great
           Authors
           have
           put
           a
           Woman
           into
           the
           Succession
           ;
           many
           of
           their
           Bishops
           have
           been
           Hereticks
           ,
           and
           this
           makes
           another
           Interruption
           :
           even
           Occult
           Heresie
           rendering
           the
           Pope
           ,
           
             ipso
             sacto
          
           ,
           none
           .
        
         
           Let
           Cardinal
           Baronius
           ,
           a
           Man
           of
           undoubted
           Authority
           with
           them
           ,
           serve
           instead
           of
           a
           thousand
           Witnesses
           .
           He
           ,
           treating
           of
           the
           year
           of
           our
           Lord
           ,
           912
           ,
           thus
           represents
           the
           wretched
           ,
           deformed
           Face
           of
           that
           Church
           .
           How
           filthy
           a
           time
           was
           it
           when
           Whores
           bare
           all
           the
           sway
           at
           Rome
           ?
           At
           their
           pleasure
           Sees
           were
           changed
           ,
           Bishopricks
           disposed
           of
           ,
           and
           which
           is
           most
           horrible
           and
           scarce
           to
           be
           uttered
           ,
           their
           Gallants
           were
           thrust
           into
           the
           Seat
           of
           Peter
           .
           We
           find
           no
           where
           any
           mention
           of
           Clergy
           choosing
           or
           giving
           Consent
           ,
           all
           Canons
           were
           put
           to
           silence
           ,
           the
           Pontifical
           Decrees
           were
           choaked
           ,
           Antient
           Traditions
           proscribed
           ,
           and
           all
           Sacred
           Rites
           extinguished
           .
           Thus
           had
           Lust
           gotten
           every
           thing
           into
           its
           own
           hand
           .
        
         
         
           Where
           did
           this
           Uninterrupted
           Succession
           sleep
           all
           this
           While
           ?
           Well
           near
           200
           years
           together
           ,
           saies
           the
           same
           Annalist
           ,
           did
           these
           monstrous
           abuses
           continue
           .
           Certainly
           if
           Discontinuance
           of
           Time
           ,
           or
           Illegal
           Entry
           can
           marr
           a
           succession
           ,
           this
           of
           the
           Romish
           Church
           is
           sufficiently
           spoiled
           .
           Benedict
           the
           9th
           was
           a
           Boy
           of
           10
           years
           old
           .
           John
           the
           13th
           .
           a
           Hectoring
           Lad
           not
           above
           18.
           
           John
           the
           11th
           .
           was
           set
           up
           by
           that
           Infamous
           Strumpet
           Theodora
           :
           and
           her
           Daughter
           Marozia
           by
           force
           of
           Arms
           deposed
           him
           .
           John
           the
           12th
           .
           was
           Bastard
           to
           Sergius
           by
           Marozia
           ,
           and
           was
           violently
           intruded
           into
           the
           Popedome
           by
           his
           Mother
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           not
           so
           much
           the
           wickedness
           of
           these
           Popes
           Lives
           ,
           as
           the
           manner
           of
           their
           Creation
           ,
           that
           we
           urge
           to
           invalidate
           the
           Succession
           .
           Above
           50
           Popes
           were
           thus
           installed
           successively
           for
           those
           200
           years
           :
           besides
           many
           other
           occasions
           ,
           frequently
           occurring
           in
           History
           ,
           wherein
           this
           applauded
           Succession
           hath
           been
           very
           notably
           disturbed
           .
        
         
           To
           which
           if
           we
           adjoin
           the
           30
           Schisms
           ,
           wherein
           2
           and
           3
           Popes
           have
           been
           set
           up
           in
           opposition
           to
           one
           another
           ;
           the
           matter
           will
           be
           out
           of
           all
           Controversie
           .
           One
           of
           these
           Schisms
           ,
           viz.
           that
           between
           Clement
           and
           Urban
           lasted
           for
           70
           years
           ,
           till
           the
           Duke
           of
           Savoy
           was
           Elected
           Pope
           by
           the
           Council
           of
           Basil
           ,
           to
           put
           a
           period
           to
           that
           fatal
           Tragedy
           .
           And
           many
           of
           these
           Competitors
           had
           such
           Learned
           Advocates
           and
           Patrons
           ,
           that
           Bellarmin
           cannot
           assign
           which
           was
           the
           true
           Pope
           .
           
             —
             pudet
             haec
             opprobria
             vobis
             —
             Et
             dici
             potuisse
             et
             non
             potuisse
             reselli
             .
          
        
         
           Their
           Unity
           is
           no
           less
           bragg'd
           of
           ,
           than
           their
           Universality
           and
           Succession
           ;
           and
           with
           as
           little
           Justice
           ;
           for
           Unity
           without
           Truth
           and
           sincere
           Charity
           is
           but
           a
           Conspiracy
           or
           Confederation
           .
           I
           find
           Revel
           .
           17.
           13.
           that
           in
           the
           Kingdome
           of
           Anti-Christ
           ,
           they
           are
           of
           
             one
             mind
          
           ,
           and
           make
           War
           with
           the
           Lamb.
           And
           the
           Devils
           themselves
           in
           the
           possess'd
           person
           could
           unite
           into
           a
           Legion
           .
           And
           if
           we
           a
           little
           better
           consider
           this
           pretended
           Roman
           Unity
           ,
           it
           will
           soon
           be
           discovered
           to
           be
           purely
           slavish
           and
           enforced
           :
           an
           Unity
           of
           Fear
           more
           than
           of
           Affection
           ;
           a
           product
           of
           the
           Inquisition
           rather
           than
           of
           Charity
           .
           Bellarmin
           seems
           to
           intimate
           as
           much
           ;
           They
           cannot
           think
           otherwise
           ,
           saith
           he
           ,
           because
           they
           have
           subjugated
           their
           sence
           to
           the
           sence
           of
           another
           ;
           meaning
           the
           Pope
           .
        
         
           Nor
           yet
           is
           this
           their
           Unity
           ,
           let
           the
           Quality
           of
           it
           be
           what
           it
           will
           ,
           so
           compleat
           as
           they
           would
           make
           us
           believe
           .
           How
           do
           the
           Jansenists
           and
           Jesuits
           at
           this
           day
           hug
           one
           another
           ?
           The
           large
           Order
           of
           the
           Dominicans
           look
           upon
           the
           Jesuits
           as
           no
           better
           then
           Semi-Pelagians
           in
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Grace
           and
           Free
           Will
           :
           and
           the
           Jesuits
           to
           requite
           them
           call
           them
           Calvinists
           .
           The
           Seculars
           and
           Regulars
           how
           Unanimous
           they
           are
           ,
           appears
           by
           their
           continual
           Clashing
           .
           And
           those
           who
           are
           throughly
           acquainted
           with
           their
           Customs
           ,
           may
           easily
           perceive
           that
           there
           are
           as
           many
           Sects
           and
           Factions
           in
           point
           of
           Opinion
           ,
           as
           there
           are
           
             Religious
             Orders
          
           in
           that
           Church
           ;
           and
           in
           point
           of
           Charity
           and
           Affection
           as
           many
           parties
           as
           there
           are
           
             Religious
             Houses
          
           .
           But
           as
           for
           that
           real
           Unity
           ,
           which
           
           according
           to
           
             Dominie
             .
             Bannes
          
           ,
           in
           2.
           2.
           q.
           1.
           a.
           10.
           consists
           in
           having
           one
           God
           and
           Christ
           for
           our
           King
           ,
           in
           being
           governed
           by
           the
           same
           Holy
           Law
           ,
           in
           having
           the
           same
           Faith
           ,
           Hope
           and
           Charity
           ,
           the
           same
           Heavenly
           Example
           ,
           one
           worship
           in
           Spirit
           and
           in
           Truth
           ,
           one
           Communion
           or
           Communication
           of
           the
           Members
           ;
           which
           is
           the
           Unity
           of
           that
           Church
           which
           includes
           all
           the
           Faithful
           from
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           World
           to
           the
           end
           ,
           &c.
           
           In
           short
           ,
           such
           an
           Unity
           as
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           require
           ,
           in
           being
           derived
           from
           one
           beginning
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           who
           as
           one
           Soul
           quickens
           and
           moves
           all
           the
           Parts
           :
           in
           having
           one
           Head
           which
           is
           Jesus
           Christ
           :
           and
           in
           being
           but
           one
           Body
           ,
           partaking
           the
           same
           Doctrine
           ,
           Sacraments
           and
           Worship
           of
           God
           :
           This
           Unity
           by
           God's
           Grace
           all
           true
           Protestants
           breath
           after
           ,
           as
           may
           apparently
           be
           evinced
           by
           the
           Harmony
           of
           their
           Confessions
           ;
           although
           in
           points
           of
           smaller
           importance
           there
           may
           be
           some
           little
           differences
           :
           and
           most
           of
           their
           Dissentions
           are
           rather
           Verbal
           then
           Real
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           the
           Sanctity
           of
           that
           Church
           ,
           let
           but
           the
           Lives
           of
           the
           Roman
           Bishops
           be
           perused
           ,
           written
           by
           their
           own
           Authors
           (
           a
           noysomer
           Sink
           and
           Kennel
           of
           Abomination
           can
           never
           be
           raked
           up
           in
           all
           Antiquity
           :
           some
           Atheists
           ,
           some
           Conjurers
           ,
           some
           
             Adulterers
             ,
             Murderers
             ,
             Incestuous
             ,
             Sodomites
             ,
             Sim●niacks
             ,
          
           and
           what
           not
           ?
           )
           the
           manners
           and
           conversation
           of
           their
           Clergy
           ,
           Religious
           Men
           and
           Women
           ,
           so
           heinously
           tax'd
           and
           inveigh'd
           against
           by
           those
           Famous
           Writers
           of
           their
           own
           side
           ,
           
             S.
             Bernard
             ,
             Nic.
             Clemangis
             ,
             Alvar
             ,
             Pelagius
             ,
             Claud.
             Espencaeus
             ,
          
           &c.
           and
           at
           least
           they
           will
           have
           little
           cause
           so
           boldly
           to
           challenge
           ,
           and
           appropriate
           it
           to
           themselves
           above
           all
           their
           Neighbours
           .
           These
           things
           are
           sufficiently
           known
           to
           any
           that
           have
           viewed
           their
           Doctors
           ,
           or
           conversed
           even
           with
           their
           Modern
           practices
           :
           (
           though
           themselves
           are
           very
           much
           amended
           since
           the
           Reformation
           .
           )
           But
           I
           love
           not
           to
           tell
           stories
           out
           of
           the
           School
           ,
           and
           I
           promised
           at
           first
           to
           refrain
           from
           personal
           Reflections
           .
           There
           are
           Books
           enough
           on
           this
           Subject
           ,
           and
           the
           World
           talks
           sufficiently
           loud
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           If
           all
           the
           precedent
           Prerogatives
           signifie
           nothing
           ,
           at
           last
           we
           must
           be
           over-born
           by
           whole
           Legions
           of
           Innumerable
           Miracles
           that
           are
           obtruded
           upon
           our
           Credit
           .
           But
           so
           spurious
           ,
           so
           ridiculous
           ,
           so
           impious
           many
           of
           them
           ,
           that
           the
           more
           modest
           and
           discreet
           among
           themselves
           dare
           not
           own
           them
           .
           Their
           best
           Writers
           affirm
           ,
           That
           Miracles
           are
           not
           necessary
           for
           the
           Being
           of
           a
           Church
           ,
           but
           onely
           for
           the
           Begetting
           of
           a
           new
           Faith
           ,
           or
           an
           Extraordinary
           Mission
           .
        
         
           Nay
           I
           may
           add
           not
           for
           an
           Extraordinary
           Mission
           neither
           ;
           as
           we
           may
           see
           in
           many
           of
           the
           Prophets
           of
           the
           Old
           Testament
           ,
           of
           whose
           Miracles
           not
           one
           word
           is
           mentioned
           .
           Nor
           are
           they
           at
           all
           to
           be
           expected
           from
           or
           by
           the
           Protestants
           ,
           who
           neither
           profess
           a
           new
           Faith
           nor
           an
           Extraordinary
           Mission
           .
           The
           Miracles
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           his
           Apostles
           and
           the
           first
           Age
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           are
           sufficient
           Seals
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           they
           own
           .
           And
           as
           for
           those
           so
           importunately
           urged
           by
           the
           Romanists
           ,
           they
           are
           but
           too
           often
           convinced
           to
           be
           meer
           juggles
           ,
           contrivances
           for
           filthy
           Lucre
           ,
           Sleights
           to
           uphold
           some
           gainful
           Doctrine
           ,
           or
           to
           advance
           the
           reputation
           of
           some
           particular
           place
           or
           Religious
           Order
           ,
           done
           
           in
           a
           Corner
           ;
           of
           a
           far
           different
           Nature
           from
           those
           of
           our
           B.
           Saviour
           ,
           and
           rather
           of
           the
           same
           stamp
           with
           those
           the
           Apostle
           speaks
           of
           .
           2
           Thess.
           2.
           9.
           belonging
           to
           him
           ,
           who
           comes
           with
           all
           Power
           and
           
             Signs
             and
             Lying
             Wonders
          
           :
           and
           Revel
           .
           13.
           13.
           who
           doth
           
             great
             Wonders
          
           ,
           so
           that
           he
           makes
           fire
           come
           down
           from
           Heaven
           on
           Earth
           in
           the
           Sight
           of
           Men.
           A
           man
           that
           duly
           ponders
           the
           most
           palpable
           Cheats
           and
           Impostures
           of
           this
           kind
           daily
           practised
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           for
           these
           By-Respects
           ,
           would
           almost
           be
           of
           Mr.
           
           Chillingworth's
           mind
           ,
           that
           it
           cannot
           be
           sufficiently
           made
           out
           ,
           that
           ever
           so
           much
           as
           a
           Lame
           Horse
           was
           cured
           by
           way
           of
           Miracle
           in
           confirmation
           of
           any
           Popish
           Tenet
           .
        
         
           Some
           insist
           much
           on
           the
           Outward
           Prosperity
           ,
           Pomp
           ,
           Splendour
           and
           Magnificence
           of
           their
           Church
           .
           To
           this
           the
           Wise
           Man
           hath
           given
           an
           answer
           ,
           Eccles.
           9.
           1.
           
           
             Our
             Works
             are
             in
             the
             hand
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             no
             man
             knows
             either
             Love
             or
             Hatred
             by
             all
             that
             is
             before
             him
             .
          
           Nay
           ,
           our
           Saviour
           puts
           it
           down
           as
           a
           Mark
           of
           the
           false
           Church
           .
           Joh.
           16.
           20.
           
           
             Verily
             I
             say
             unto
             you
             ,
             that
             you
             shall
             weep
             and
             lament
             ,
             but
             the
             World
             shall
             rejoyce
             .
          
        
         
           It
           remains
           then
           ,
           that
           the
           onely
           Certain
           and
           Evident
           marks
           of
           a
           True
           Apostolical
           Church
           are
           ,
           
             The
             Sincere
             Preaching
             of
             God's
             Word
             ,
          
           and
           a
           
             Due
             Administration
             of
             the
             Sacraments
          
           .
           To
           which
           may
           be
           annexed
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Discipline
          
           ;
           but
           this
           is
           reducible
           to
           the
           other
           two
           .
           These
           are
           All
           that
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           afford
           us
           .
           Matth.
           28.
           19.
           
           
             Go
             and
             Teach
             all
             Nations
             ,
             baptizing
             them
             in
             the
             Name
             of
             the
             Father
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Son
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ;
             Teaching
             them
             to
             observe
             all
             things
             whatever
             I
             have
             commanded
             you
             .
          
           Act.
           2.
           42.
           
           
             And
             they
             continued
             stedfastly
             in
             the
             Apostles
             Doctrin
             and
             Fellowship
             ,
             and
             in
             Breaking
             of
             Bread
             ,
             and
             Prayers
             .
          
        
         
           Having
           thus
           survey'd
           the
           Roman
           Church
           in
           general
           ,
           it
           will
           hardly
           be
           thought
           Good
           Manners
           ,
           if
           we
           neglect
           his
           Holiness
           the
           Pope
           in
           particular
           ,
           or
           as
           some
           are
           pleased
           to
           flatter
           him
           ,
           
             The
             Church
             Virtual
          
           .
           For
           what
           ever
           stir●
           and
           bastle
           they
           make
           about
           the
           Church
           their
           Mother
           ,
           the
           plain
           English
           of
           their
           meaning
           is
           nothing
           but
           the
           Pope
           their
           Father
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           the
           express
           Doctrin
           of
           S.
           
             Thomas
             Aquinas
          
           (
           and
           his
           Doctrin
           in
           that
           Church
           is
           little
           less
           than
           Canonized
           )
           2.
           2.
           q.
           1.
           a.
           10.
           that
           the
           making
           of
           a
           true
           Creed
           belongs
           to
           the
           Pope
           ;
           as
           all
           other
           things
           do
           which
           belong
           to
           the
           Whole
           Church
           :
           and
           that
           the
           Whole
           Authority
           of
           the
           Universal
           Church
           abides
           in
           him
           .
           2.
           2.
           q.
           12.
           a.
           2.
           
           Thus
           as
           they
           take
           all
           Authority
           and
           Sufficiency
           from
           the
           Scripture
           and
           give
           it
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           so
           all
           the
           Churche's
           Authority
           they
           attribute
           to
           the
           Pope
           .
           
             Gregorius
             de
             Valentia
          
           ,
           one
           of
           the
           Learnedst
           Jesuits
           ,
           tells
           us
           plainly
           ,
           That
           by
           the
           Church
           they
           mean
           
             Its
             Head
          
           ;
           that
           is
           to
           say
           ,
           the
           Roman
           Bishop
           ,
           in
           whom
           resides
           the
           full
           Authority
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           when
           he
           pleases
           to
           Determin
           matters
           of
           Faith
           ,
           whether
           he
           d
           th
           it
           with
           a
           Council
           or
           without
           .
           Bellarmine
           teaches
           ,
           that
           the
           Pope
           himself
           without
           any
           Council
           may
           decree
           matters
           of
           Faith.
           Bannes
           affirms
           ,
           that
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Universal
           Church
           ,
           the
           Authority
           of
           a
           Council
           ,
           and
           the
           Authority
           
           of
           the
           Pope
           ,
           are
           one
           and
           the
           same
           thing
           .
           
             The
             Canon
             Law
             in
             Sext.
             Extrav
             .
             Johan
             .
          
           22.
           
             c.
             Cum
             inter
             .
             in
             Gloss.
          
           speaks
           thus
           ,
           It
           is
           Heresie
           to
           think
           
             Our
             Lord
             God
             the
             Pope
          
           may
           not
           Decree
           as
           he
           doth
           .
           And
           Distinct.
           19.
           
             in
             Canon
          
           .
           His
           Rescripts
           and
           Decretal
           Epistles
           are
           Canonical
           Scripture
           .
        
         
           All
           which
           passages
           clearly
           convince
           us
           what
           is
           the
           meaning
           of
           those
           perpetual
           Braggs
           of
           the
           Catholick
           Church
           .
        
         
           His
           Holyness
           must
           excuse
           me
           ,
           if
           ,
           being
           no
           Courtier
           ,
           I
           address
           not
           my self
           to
           him
           in
           the
           phrase
           of
           the
           Roman
           Inscription
           to
           Paul
           the
           V.
           yet
           to
           be
           seen
           in
           that
           City
           ,
           saluting
           him
           as
           a
           Vice-God
           ,
           and
           the
           Stout
           Assertor
           of
           the
           
             Pontifical
             Omnipotency
          
           :
           or
           as
           the
           
             Gloss
             of
             the
             Canon
             Law
          
           in
           their
           last
           and
           best
           Editions
           ,
           viz.
           the
           Roman
           ,
           1580
           ,
           and
           Parisian
           ,
           1612.
           
           
             Our
             Lord
             God
             the
             Pope
          
           .
           Waving
           therefore
           these
           Ceremonies
           ,
           I
           shall
           summarily
           consider
           his
           Authority
           ,
           both
           what
           he
           pretends
           to
           ,
           and
           what
           it
           really
           is
           .
        
         
           And
           here
           starts
           forth
           a
           material
           Difficulty
           ,
           even
           at
           our
           first
           setting
           out
           :
           namely
           ,
           Whether
           S.
           Peter
           ,
           whence
           all
           this
           Power
           and
           Soveraignty
           is
           pretended
           ,
           were
           himself
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           ,
           or
           were
           indeed
           ever
           at
           Rome
           ?
           I
           will
           not
           Deny
           either
           ,
           because
           I
           know
           many
           of
           the
           Antients
           plead
           for
           both
           .
           But
           the
           Point
           being
           onely
           grounded
           on
           Humane
           Authority
           (
           for
           Divine
           Authority
           seems
           rather
           to
           contradict
           it
           )
           
             i.
             e.
          
           Ecclesiastical
           History
           ;
           and
           the
           Differences
           among
           the
           Reporters
           being
           so
           Many
           and
           so
           Considerable
           ,
           both
           in
           Chronology
           and
           divers
           other
           Weighty
           Circumstances
           ;
           and
           the
           Probabilities
           that
           are
           produced
           against
           it
           being
           not
           altogether
           Contemptible
           ,
           I
           hope
           a
           Man
           may
           be
           excused
           from
           being
           a
           
             Damn'd
             Hererick
          
           ,
           if
           he
           do
           not
           believe
           it
           to
           be
           a
           Fundamental
           Article
           of
           Faith
           
             (
             The
             Article
             of
             the
             Standing
             or
             Falling
             Church
             ,
          
           sayes
           a
           Modern
           Famous
           Controvertist
           )
           and
           consequently
           hath
           a
           Meaner
           Esteem
           for
           all
           that
           prodigious
           Train
           of
           Positions
           ,
           which
           are
           thence
           deduced
           .
        
         
           These
           following
           Inducements
           make
           it
           at
           least
           Doubtful
           whether
           S.
           Peter
           ever
           was
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           ,
           or
           was
           ever
           there
           .
        
         
           For
           his
           ever
           having
           been
           at
           Rome
           ,
           we
           do
           not
           much
           stand
           upon
           it
           .
           But
           the
           Reasons
           and
           Testimonies
           brought
           out
           of
           Humane
           Histories
           (
           which
           onely
           mention
           it
           )
           are
           so
           uncertain
           and
           involv'd
           with
           such
           difficulties
           ,
           as
           may
           make
           any
           Man
           deservedly
           question
           it
           .
           Vellenus
           hath
           published
           several
           Demonstrations
           that
           he
           was
           never
           there
           .
           And
           those
           Authorities
           of
           the
           Fathers
           that
           are
           alleged
           for
           it
           are
           so
           Various
           ,
           that
           the
           Learned'st
           Romanists
           cannot
           r.
           concile
           them
           .
           
             Marsilius
             Patavinus
          
           in
           his
           
             Defens
             .
             Pacis
             ,
             part
          
           .
           2.
           c.
           16.
           sayes
           ,
           By
           Scripture
           it
           cannot
           be
           made
           out
           ,
           either
           that
           S.
           Peter
           was
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           ,
           or
           that
           he
           was
           ever
           there
           at
           all
           :
           and
           when
           he
           considers
           the
           Ecclesiastical
           Historians
           that
           affirm
           it
           ,
           he
           doth
           it
           so
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           evident
           he
           doth
           not
           believe
           them
           .
           It
           is
           true
           ,
           S.
           Peter
           in
           his
           1.
           
           Ep.
           c.
           5.
           13.
           writes
           as
           from
           Babylon
           ;
           but
           that
           Babylon
           was
           in
           Assyria
           .
           For
           though
           in
           the
           Apocalyptical
           Visions
           ,
           Rome
           is
           designed
           by
           Babylon
           ;
           yet
           in
           a
           plain
           Epistolary
           Salutation
           there
           was
           no
           reason
           at
           all
           for
           such
           a
           Trope
           .
           Nor
           doth
           S.
           Paul
           or
           
             S.
             Luke
          
           ,
           who
           make
           frequent
           mention
           of
           Rome
           ,
           ever
           call
           it
           Babylon
           .
        
         
         
           There
           is
           indeed
           an
           
             Old
             Chair
          
           at
           Rome
           ,
           pretended
           to
           be
           S.
           
           Peter's
           ,
           and
           on
           certain
           daies
           it
           is
           shewn
           to
           the
           people
           ;
           as
           likewise
           a
           Sepulchre
           ,
           and
           certain
           parts
           of
           his
           Body
           as
           Relicks
           .
           But
           the
           Jugling
           and
           Imposture
           with
           Reliques
           and
           such
           like
           Trumpery
           is
           so
           well
           known
           ,
           that
           the
           World
           hath
           long
           since
           lessen'd
           her
           Credit
           to
           such
           Monuments
           .
           Nor
           hath
           it
           been
           the
           lowest
           part
           of
           
           Rome's
           Policy
           for
           many
           Ages
           with
           Feigned
           Miracles
           ,
           Counterfeit
           Relicks
           ,
           and
           Forged
           Records
           and
           Legends
           to
           raise
           in
           the
           Vulgar
           an
           Opinion
           of
           her
           Holiness
           ,
           and
           so
           maintain
           her
           Grandeur
           .
           But
           we
           have
           been
           too
           long
           on
           this
           Impertinency
           .
        
         
           Whether
           He
           was
           ever
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           ,
           deserves
           our
           stricter
           Examination
           .
           Holy
           Writ
           seems
           not
           silent
           here
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           former
           Case
           ,
           but
           fully
           Opposite
           .
        
         
           S.
           Peter
           and
           S.
           Paul
           by
           the
           Instinct
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           made
           an
           Accord
           that
           S.
           Peter
           should
           Preach
           to
           the
           Jews
           ,
           and
           S.
           Paul
           to
           the
           Gentiles
           .
           Whereupon
           in
           the
           Sacred
           Text
           S.
           
           Peter's
           peculiar
           Title
           is
           ,
           
             The
             Apostle
             of
             the
             Circumcision
          
           :
           and
           Consequent
           to
           his
           Charge
           we
           see
           ,
           that
           he
           wrote
           his
           Epistles
           to
           the
           scatter'd
           Jews
           :
           neither
           did
           he
           direct
           any
           to
           ,
           or
           date
           any
           from
           Rome
           .
           So
           that
           it
           is
           incredible
           he
           should
           be
           Bishop
           or
           Resident
           there
           for
           25
           years
           .
           Whereas
           S.
           Paul
           was
           the
           
             Great
             Doctor
             and
             Apostle
             of
             the
             Gentiles
             ,
          
           and
           both
           writ
           to
           the
           Romans
           ,
           and
           taught
           and
           was
           imprisoned
           at
           Rome
           for
           several
           Years
           ,
           as
           is
           evident
           from
           Scripture
           .
           Again
           ,
           the
           Authours
           of
           this
           Story
           (
           the
           first
           whereof
           were
           probably
           Papias
           and
           Dionysius
           ,
           the
           one
           too
           Credulous
           and
           Erroneous
           ,
           the
           other
           a
           Counterfeit
           )
           are
           wholly
           at
           a
           loss
           in
           declaring
           when
           S.
           Peter
           came
           to
           Rome
           ,
           how
           long
           he
           sat
           there
           ,
           when
           he
           dyed
           ,
           and
           who
           were
           his
           Successours
           .
           And
           the
           most
           tolerable
           Account
           that
           is
           given
           by
           the
           best
           Writers
           ,
           How
           S.
           Peter
           ,
           the
           5th
           Year
           after
           Christ's
           Passion
           ,
           went
           to
           Antioch
           ,
           and
           there
           fix'd
           his
           Episcopal
           See
           for
           7
           years
           ,
           thence
           removed
           to
           Rome
           ,
           and
           there
           continued
           25
           Years
           ;
           is
           no
           waies
           coherent
           with
           what
           is
           related
           of
           S.
           
             Peter
             ,
             Galat
          
           .
           1.
           
           &
           2.
           
           Act.
           12.
           
           &
           15.
           
           From
           which
           places
           it
           is
           manifest
           ,
           that
           S
           
           Peter's
           most
           usual
           Abode
           was
           at
           Jerusalem
           ,
           at
           least
           till
           the
           18th
           year
           after
           Christ's
           death
           ,
           and
           the
           17th
           of
           S.
           
           Paul's
           Conversion
           .
           Nor
           is
           it
           likely
           that
           S.
           Peter
           setled
           his
           Chair
           at
           Antioch
           so
           long
           ,
           since
           Galat.
           2.
           we
           read
           only
           of
           his
           passing
           by
           there
           ;
           and
           that
           he
           was
           so
           far
           from
           behaving
           himself
           as
           their
           Bishop
           ,
           that
           he
           seems
           to
           have
           understood
           little
           of
           the
           Affairs
           of
           that
           Church
           ,
           till
           S.
           Paul
           had
           rightly
           informed
           him
        
         
           In
           the
           16.
           to
           the
           Romans
           St.
           Paul
           salutes
           very
           many
           by
           name
           ,
           yet
           takes
           not
           the
           least
           notice
           of
           S.
           Peter
           ,
           nor
           gives
           them
           the
           least
           account
           where
           he
           was
           ,
           or
           how
           he
           did
           :
           which
           seems
           something
           odd
           ,
           if
           S.
           Peter
           had
           then
           been
           their
           
             Soveraign
             Pastor
          
           .
           And
           when
           S.
           Paul
           was
           himself
           at
           Rome
           ,
           and
           writ
           diverse
           Epistles
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           Nero
           (
           at
           which
           time
           Bellarmin
           would
           have
           S.
           Peter
           to
           have
           been
           at
           Rome
           )
           though
           he
           make
           mention
           of
           many
           others
           of
           inferior
           rank
           ,
           yet
           not
           one
           syllable
           of
           S.
           Peter
           .
           Nay
           he
           generally
           denies
           that
           there
           was
           any
           such
           present
           with
           him
           .
           Colos.
           4.
           11.
           
           And
           2
           Tim.
           4.
           16.
           he
           grievously
           complains
           that
           at
           his
           first
           Answer
           ,
           when
           he
           appeared
           before
           Nero
           ,
           All
           
           men
           forsook
           him
           .
           And
           when
           S.
           Paul
           came
           first
           to
           Rome
           ,
           the
           Jews
           there
           ,
           who
           were
           S.
           
           Peter's
           peculiar
           charge
           ,
           seemed
           to
           know
           nothing
           of
           the
           Gospel
           .
           Act.
           28.
           
           Thus
           S.
           Peter
           must
           be
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           25
           years
           ,
           and
           yet
           never
           be
           at
           Rome
           ,
           when
           ever
           the
           Scripture
           mentions
           the
           Roman
           Church
           :
           And
           S.
           Paul
           could
           never
           find
           him
           there
           ,
           though
           he
           is
           reported
           to
           be
           Martyred
           there
           at
           the
           same
           time
           with
           him
           .
        
         
           We
           see
           then
           upon
           how
           tottering
           a
           Foundation
           this
           mighty
           Fabrick
           depends
           :
           I
           mean
           ,
           how
           justly
           Questionable
           the
           Papal
           Monarchy
           is
           ,
           even
           in
           matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           and
           to
           its
           very
           
             An
             sit
          
           .
           But
           perhaps
           it
           may
           plead
           better
           for
           it self
           in
           point
           of
           
             Right
             and
             Equity
          
           .
        
         
           We
           will
           briefly
           here
           inquire
           into
           two
           things
           .
           1.
           
           What
           Authority
           S.
           Peter
           had
           .
           2.
           
           What
           Authority
           the
           Pope
           pretends
           to
           derive
           from
           him
           ,
           and
           how
           justly
           .
        
         
           That
           our
           Lord
           and
           Saviour
           never
           intended
           such
           an
           
             Absolute
             ,
             Arbitrary
             ,
             Soveraign
             ,
             Monarchical
             Government
          
           in
           his
           Church
           ,
           as
           the
           Pope
           at
           this
           day
           exercises
           both
           over
           Clergy
           and
           Layity
           ,
           is
           as
           evident
           in
           the
           Gospel
           as
           any
           Truth
           there
           contained
           .
           Matth.
           20.
           25.
           
           
             You
             know
          
           ,
           saith
           Christ
           ,
           
             that
             the
             Princes
             of
             the
             Gentiles
             exercise
             Dominton
             over
             them
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           
             But
             it
             shall
             not
             be
             so
             among
             you
             :
             Whosoever
             will
             be
             great
             among
             you
             ,
             let
             him
             be
             your
             servant
             .
          
           And
           the
           Apostle
           ,
           Eph.
           4.
           11.
           reckoning
           up
           the
           whole
           
             Sacred
             Oeconomy
             ,
             Ministry
             and
             Government
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
          
           le
           ts
           not
           fall
           one
           word
           concerning
           a
           
             Visible
             Monarch
             :
             He
             gave
             some
             Apostles
             ,
             some
             Prophets
             ,
             some
             Evangelists
             ,
             some
             Pastors
             and
             Teachers
             ;
             for
             the
             Perfecting
             of
             the
             Saints
             ,
             for
             the
             edifying
             of
             the
             Body
             of
             Christ.
          
           And
           when
           he
           recommends
           Unity
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           one
           Body
           ,
           one
           Spirit
           ,
           one
           Hope
           ,
           one
           Faith
           ,
           one
           Baptism
           ,
           one
           Lord
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           mention
           at
           all
           of
           any
           Pontifical
           Monarch
           .
        
         
           In
           all
           the
           New
           Testament
           there
           is
           not
           any
           one
           called
           the
           Head
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           but
           only
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           .
           Eph.
           1.
           22.
           
           
             God
             hath
             put
             all
             things
             under
             his
             feet
             ,
             and
             given
             him
             to
             be
             Head
             over
             all
             things
             to
             his
             Church
             .
          
           And
           chap.
           4.
           15.
           
           
             Grow
             up
             to
             him
             in
             all
             things
             ,
             who
             is
             the
             Head
             ,
             even
             Christ.
          
           Colos.
           1.
           18.
           
           
             He
             is
             the
             Head
             of
             the
             Body
             ,
             the
             Church
             .
          
           Wherefore
           they
           are
           highly
           injurious
           to
           our
           Saviour
           who
           set
           up
           any
           other
           .
        
         
           Nor
           do
           Protestant
           Princes
           take
           themselves
           to
           be
           Heads
           of
           their
           own
           particular
           Churches
           ,
           in
           any
           other
           sence
           than
           the
           good
           Kings
           of
           Israel
           and
           Juda
           were
           ;
           to
           defend
           the
           Orthodox
           Religion
           ,
           and
           maintain
           good
           Order
           and
           Discipline
           in
           the
           Church
           ;
           and
           take
           cognizance
           of
           abuses
           crept
           in
           among
           any
           persons
           Ecclesiastical
           or
           Civil
           ,
           and
           reform
           what
           they
           find
           amiss
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Canon
           of
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           by
           the
           advice
           of
           their
           Chief
           Clergy
           .
           And
           not
           as
           the
           Papists
           impertinently
           object
           concerning
           Q.
           Elizabeth
           ,
           that
           she
           had
           assumed
           power
           to
           preach
           ,
           administer
           the
           Sacraments
           &c.
           
        
         
           And
           all
           this
           ,
           as
           I
           said
           before
           ,
           is
           the
           undoubted
           Right
           of
           Soveraign
           Princes
           in
           their
           own
           Territories
           ,
           and
           was
           practised
           by
           the
           Good
           Princes
           under
           the
           Old
           Law
           ,
           with
           great
           Commendation
           and
           Reward
           .
           It
           was
           likewise
           promised
           
           to
           the
           New
           ,
           That
           Kings
           should
           be
           
             Nursing
             Fathers
          
           ,
           and
           
             Queens
             Nursing
             Mothers
          
           to
           the
           Church
           .
        
         
           In
           fine
           ,
           that
           Paternal
           Wisdom
           and
           Providence
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           so
           plentifully
           revealed
           to
           us
           All
           matters
           of
           importanee
           for
           our
           own
           private
           Good
           ,
           for
           the
           Being
           or
           Well-being
           of
           his
           Church
           ;
           (
           and
           certainly
           this
           great
           pretended
           Jurisdiction
           most
           be
           of
           that
           Nature
           )
           that
           the
           most
           Curious
           Inquirer
           can
           desire
           nothing
           more
           ;
           and
           which
           did
           under
           the
           
             Mosaical
             Dispensation
          
           so
           exactly
           describe
           the
           Condition
           and
           Power
           of
           the
           High
           Priest
           ,
           even
           to
           the
           minute
           Circumstances
           of
           his
           Garments
           ;
           so
           that
           none
           could
           be
           so
           stupid
           among
           the
           Jews
           ,
           but
           if
           he
           read
           the
           Books
           of
           Moses
           ,
           he
           might
           sufficiently
           understand
           that
           there
           was
           a
           High
           Priest
           constituted
           ,
           and
           what
           Authority
           he
           had
           ;
           would
           certainly
           have
           left
           us
           some
           intimation
           of
           the
           like
           Regiment
           under
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           had
           there
           been
           any
           such
           matter
           to
           be
           expected
           .
           Whereas
           on
           the
           contrary
           we
           cannot
           there
           find
           so
           much
           as
           the
           Name
           or
           Title
           of
           any
           such
           Dignity
           ,
           nor
           of
           any
           Seat
           appointed
           for
           his
           Residence
           ;
           no
           singular
           Office
           is
           assigned
           to
           him
           above
           others
           ,
           no
           Ensigns
           of
           Soveraignty
           are
           recorded
           ,
           whereby
           He
           might
           be
           distinguished
           from
           others
           ,
           no
           manner
           of
           Succession
           is
           provided
           for
           ;
           nor
           is
           there
           the
           least
           practice
           or
           exercise
           of
           such
           a
           singular
           Absolute
           Power
           so
           much
           as
           hinted
           at
           in
           the
           whole
           New
           Testament
           .
           And
           therefore
           we
           may
           justly
           conclude
           it
           to
           be
           an
           upstart
           Usurpation
           ,
           and
           no
           Authority
           of
           Divine
           Institution
           .
        
         
           There
           are
           but
           two
           passages
           in
           Scripture
           that
           with
           any
           tollerable
           shew
           can
           be
           made
           use
           of
           ,
           to
           countenance
           this
           Supremacy
           that
           is
           so
           much
           urged
           to
           be
           conferred
           on
           S.
           Peter
           ,
           and
           intayled
           on
           his
           Successors
           .
           The
           one
           ,
           wherein
           it
           seems
           to
           be
           promised
           ;
           the
           other
           ,
           wherein
           they
           say
           it
           was
           actually
           bestowed
           .
        
         
           The
           first
           is
           that
           famous
           place
           ,
           the
           Achilles
           of
           the
           Roman
           Cause
           .
           Matth.
           16.
           17
           ,
           18.
           
           
             Thou
             art
          
           Peter
           
             and
             upon
             this
             Rock
             will
             I
             build
             my
             Church
             ,
             and
             the
             Gates
             of
             Hell
             shall
             not
             prevail
             against
             it
             .
             And
             I
             will
             give
             unto
             thee
             the
             Keys
             of
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             ;
             and
             whatsoever
             thou
             shalt
             bind
             on
             Earth
             shall
             be
             bound
             in
             Heaven
             ,
             and
             whatsoever
             thou
             shalt
             loose
             on
             Earth
             shall
             be
             loosed
             in
             Heaven
             .
          
           These
           words
           which
           they
           think
           so
           plain
           and
           obvious
           ,
           do
           yet
           contain
           two
           Metaphors
           of
           a
           Rock
           and
           the
           Keys
           ;
           and
           I
           cannot
           find
           in
           any
           other
           part
           of
           Scripture
           that
           they
           are
           explained
           in
           the
           Romanists
           sence
           ,
           Simply
           and
           without
           
             a
             Metaphor
          
           .
           I
           am
           sure
           they
           were
           not
           so
           easie
           to
           the
           Aposiles
           themselves
           ,
           nor
           did
           they
           understand
           thereby
           any
           principality
           intended
           for
           S.
           Peter
           ;
           as
           appears
           by
           sundry
           contentions
           among
           them
           ,
           after
           these
           words
           were
           spoken
           ,
           who
           should
           be
           the
           Chiefest
           .
        
         
           Nor
           can
           the
           Antient
           Fathers
           ,
           Good
           men
           ,
           discover
           any
           such
           Energy
           or
           Prerogative
           in
           them
           for
           S
           Peter
           ,
           or
           the
           Pope
           .
           For
           our
           Saviour
           doth
           not
           plainly
           and
           literally
           affirm
           that
           he
           will
           build
           his
           Church
           upon
           S.
           Peter
           ,
           but
           upon
           the
           Rock
           which
           he
           confess'd
           :
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           upon
           this
           Rock
           :
           not
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           upon
           this
           
             Peter
             .
             Non
             dictum
             est
             illi
             ,
             Tu
             es
          
           Petra
           ,
           
             sed
             Tu
          
           
           es
           Petrus
           :
           Petra
           
             autem
             erat
             Christus
          
           .
           It
           was
           not
           said
           to
           him
           ,
           Thou
           art
           the
           Rock
           ,
           but
           Thou
           art
           Peter
           :
           for
           the
           Rock
           was
           Christ
           :
           says
           
             S.
             Augustin
             ,
             Retract
             .
             l.
             c.
          
           21.
           
           The
           same
           Father
           in
           his
           124
           
             Tract
             .
             on
             S.
             Joh.
             &
             Ser.
          
           13.
           
             deVer
             .
             Dom.
          
           thus
           paraphrases
           this
           Text
           :
           
             Upon
             this
             Rock
             which
             thou
             hast
             confessed
             ;
             upon
             this
             Rock
             which
             thou
             hast
             acknowledg'd
             ,
          
           (
           saying
           ,
           
             Thou
             art
             Christ
             the
             Son
             of
             the
             Living
             God
             )
             will
             I
             build
             my
             Church
             :
          
           that
           is
           ,
           upon
           my self
           ,
           the
           Son
           of
           the
           Living
           God
           will
           I
           build
           my
           Church
           :
           I
           will
           build
           Thee
           upon
           Me
           ,
           not
           Me
           upon
           Thee
           .
           For
           the
           Rock
           was
           Christ
           ,
           whereon
           Peter
           himself
           was
           built
           .
           I
           am
           punctual
           in
           citing
           this
           Great
           Doctor
           and
           Father
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           because
           the
           Romanists
           give
           out
           that
           they
           desire
           to
           stand
           to
           the
           alone
           Judgment
           of
           this
           Learned
           Father
           .
        
         
           The
           Holy
           Martyr
           S.
           Cyprian
           could
           not
           apprehend
           any
           such
           Intrigue
           in
           these
           words
           .
           
             l.
             de
             Unit.
             Eccles.
             The
             rest
             of
             the
             Apostles
             ,
          
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             were
             the
             same
             that
          
           Peter
           
             was
             ,
             being
             endowed
             with
             an
             equal
             share
             both
             of
             Honour
             and
             Power
             .
          
        
         
           Nor
           S.
           
             Ambrose
             ,
             Serm.
          
           66.
           
           S.
           Peter
           and
           Paul
           
             were
             eminent
             among
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             and
             it
             is
             doubtful
             which
             is
             to
             he
             preferred
             before
             the
             other
             .
          
        
         
           
             S.
             Hillary
             .
             l.
          
           6.
           
             de
             Trin.
             S.
             Chrysost.
             hom
          
           .
           55.
           
             in
             Matth.
             Euseb.
             Emissen
             .
             Greg.
             the
             Great
             .
             V.
             Beda
             .
             Haymo
             ,
             the
             Gloss
             of
             Gratian
             ,
             Lyra
             ,
          
           and
           a
           multitude
           of
           others
           ,
           understand
           the
           Text
           of
           S.
           Matthew
           ,
           as
           S.
           Augustin
           doth
           .
           Cardinal
           
             Cusanus
             l.
          
           2.
           c.
           13.
           
           
             Concord
             .
             Cath.
          
           is
           very
           positive
           ,
           that
           nothing
           was
           here
           said
           to
           S.
           Peter
           ,
           but
           what
           was
           said
           to
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Apostles
           And
           the
           words
           of
           
             Sixtus
             Senensis
          
           ,
           a
           very
           Learned
           Pontifician
           ,
           
             Biblioth
             .
             l.
          
           6.
           are
           worth
           our
           notice
           .
           
             We
             believe
             and
             acknowledge
             with
             a
             sure
             faith
             ,
             that
             Christ
             is
             the
             first
             and
             Chief
             Foundation
             of
             the
             Whole
             Ecclesiastical
             Edifice
             :
             But
             we
             also
             affirm
             that
             upon
             this
             Foundation
             there
             are
             other
             Rocks
             lay'd
             ,
             namely
          
           Peter
           
             and
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             whom
          
           John
           
             in
             the
             Apocalypse
             names
             the
             Twelve
             Foundations
             of
             the
             Heavenly
             Jerusalem
             .
          
        
         
           In
           sum
           ,
           I
           find
           three
           Interpretations
           of
           these
           words
           among
           the
           Antients
           :
           viz.
           That
           Christ
           is
           the
           Rock
           :
           That
           the
           Confession
           ,
           Faith
           and
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           is
           the
           Rock
           ;
           and
           that
           
             S.
             Peter
          
           himself
           as
           an
           Apostle
           ,
           is
           Metonymically
           a
           partial
           Rock
           .
           All
           which
           meanings
           agree
           very
           well
           together
           ,
           but
           nothing
           favour
           the
           Supremacy
           that
           the
           Romanists
           desire
           .
        
         
           Nor
           do
           the
           Protestants
           deny
           S.
           Peter
           a
           Primacy
           of
           Authority
           and
           Spiritual
           Jurisdiction
           over
           the
           Church
           as
           an
           Apostle
           :
           or
           in
           respect
           of
           his
           Fellow
           Apostles
           a
           Primacy
           of
           Order
           ,
           Calling
           ,
           Graces
           ,
           Gifts
           ,
           Courage
           ,
           &c.
           or
           that
           he
           was
           a
           Ministerial
           Rock
           .
           But
           since
           the
           Rock
           and
           the
           Keys
           signifie
           the
           same
           thing
           ,
           to
           wit
           ,
           the
           power
           of
           Binding
           and
           Loosing
           ;
           which
           Matth.
           18.
           18.
           is
           expresly
           promised
           to
           all
           the
           Apostles
           ;
           and
           the
           same
           words
           ,
           of
           Binding
           and
           Loosing
           are
           there
           used
           ,
           which
           were
           before
           to
           S.
           Peter
           :
           and
           after
           the
           Resurrection
           ,
           John
           20.
           21.
           the
           same
           power
           was
           amply
           bestowed
           on
           all
           the
           Apostles
           equally
           ,
           and
           their
           Successors
           :
           He
           breathed
           on
           his
           Disciples
           ,
           saying
           :
           
             As
             my
             Father
             sent
             me
             ,
             even
             so
             send
             I
             you
             ▪
             Receive
             you
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
             Whose
             sins
             you
             retain
             they
             are
             retained
             ,
             and
             whose
             sins
             you
             remit
             they
             are
             remitted
          
           ;
           so
           that
           no
           mans
           Jurisdiction
           came
           from
           Peter
           to
           him
           ,
           but
           every
           one
           had
           it
           alike
           and
           equally
           from
           
           our
           Savióur
           ,
           who
           sent
           him
           :
           and
           since
           S.
           Paul
           assures
           us
           Ephes.
           2.
           20.
           
           
             That
             we
             are
             built
             upon
             the
             Foundation
             of
             the
             Apostles
          
           (
           in
           general
           )
           
             and
             Prophets
             :
             Jesus
             Christ
             himself
             being
             the
             Chief
             Corner-stone
             :
          
           and
           S.
           Anselm
           well
           comments
           on
           S.
           M●th
           .
           16.
           
           
             This
             power
             was
             not
             given
             alone
             to
          
           Peter
           ,
           
             but
             as
          
           Peter
           
             answered
             o●●●●●●
             all
             ,
             so
             in
          
           Peter
           
             he
             gave
             this
             Power
             to
             all
             :
          
           This
           Text
           will
           not
           evince
           S.
           P●ter
           to
           have
           been
           Constituted
           the
           Universal
           Monarch
           of
           Christs
           Church
           :
           Nor
           in
           the
           whole
           Series
           of
           Divine
           History
           do
           we
           meet
           with
           any
           Monarch-like
           Action
           of
           his
           Recorded
           .
        
         
           ●●t
           ●n
           the
           contrary
           ,
           we
           read
           that
           He
           was
           sent
           as
           a
           Messenger
           by
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           Act.
           8.
           14.
           
           That
           he
           gave
           the
           Right
           Hand
           to
           S.
           Paul
           and
           
             Bar●●●●
             .
             Galat.
          
           2.
           9.
           
           That
           he
           was
           accused
           to
           the
           other
           Disciples
           ,
           pleaded
           his
           ●●●●
           before
           them
           ,
           and
           submitted
           to
           their
           Judgment
           .
           Acts.
           11.
           1.
           
           &c.
           And
           that
           S.
           Paul
           withstood
           him
           to
           his
           face
           ,
           finding
           that
           he
           walk'd
           not
           uprightly
           ●●●●rding
           to
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           Gospel
           .
           Galat.
           2.
           11
           ,
           14.
           
        
         
           Thus
           far
           they
           think
           this
           Soveraignty
           was
           only
           promised
           .
           In
           S.
           Joh.
           21.
           17.
           where
           Christ
           said
           to
           
             Peter
             ,
             Feed
             my
             sheep
          
           :
           they
           teach
           that
           this
           power
           was
           absolutely
           delivered
           and
           confirmed
           .
        
         
           But
           neither
           was
           this
           charge
           so
           lay'd
           on
           S.
           Peter
           ,
           that
           the
           rest
           were
           excluded
           .
           For
           they
           g●●nt
           that
           no
           more
           was
           here
           Given
           ,
           than
           what
           was
           Promised
           ,
           M●th
           .
           16.
           where
           the
           Keys
           are
           mentioned
           .
           Now
           we
           have
           evidently
           proved
           that
           all
           the
           Apostles
           were
           equal
           in
           the
           power
           of
           the
           Keys
           ;
           and
           that
           those
           wor●s
           concern
           S
           Peter
           no
           more
           than
           the
           other
           Disciples
           .
        
         
           In
           Scripture
           phrase
           the
           word
           ,
           Feed
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           accommodated
           to
           Ecclesiastical
           Functions
           ,
           is
           the
           same
           as
           to
           Teach
           .
           They
           shall
           Feed
           them
           with
           knowledge
           and
           understanding
           ,
           saies
           the
           Prophet
           Jeremy
           .
           And
           then
           we
           shall
           find
           the
           same
           Command
           and
           Commission
           given
           to
           all
           the
           Apostles
           .
           Matth.
           28.
           19.
           
           
             Go
             and
             Teach
             all
             Nations
          
           ,
           &c.
           
           B●sid●s
           ,
           since
           All
           the
           Apostles
           had
           before
           been
           sent
           as
           Shepherds
           to
           Feed
           the
           Flock
           .
           Muth
           .
           9.
           36.
           
           &
           10.
           6.
           and
           were
           afterwards
           furnished
           with
           more
           full
           Instructions
           ,
           and
           Abilities
           to
           the
           same
           end
           ,
           Muth
           .
           28.
           
           John
           20.
           which
           they
           executed
           most
           diligently
           and
           Couragiously
           ,
           as
           appears
           by
           their
           Acts
           and
           Epistles
           ;
           no
           man
           can
           reasonably
           deny
           but
           that
           
             pas●e
             Oves
             ,
             Feed
             my
             sheep
             ,
          
           belong'd
           to
           them
           as
           well
           as
           to
           S.
           Peter
           :
           and
           they
           themselves
           gave
           the
           same
           Duty
           in
           Charge
           to
           other
           Pastors
           .
           Act.
           20.
           28.
           
           
             Take
             heed
             to
             your selves
             and
             to
             all
             the
             Flock
             ,
             over
             which
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             hath
             made
             you
             Overseers
             ,
             to
          
           Feed
           
             the
             Church
             of
             God
             which
             he
             hath
             purchased
             with
             his
             own
             blood
             .
          
           Neither
           would
           S.
           Peter
           ingross
           this
           privilege
           to
           himself
           ,
           but
           communicated
           it
           to
           others
           .
           1
           Pet.
           5.
           2.
           
           
             Feed
             the
             Flock
             of
             God
             that
             is
             among
             you
             .
             S.
             Cyprian
             de
             Unit.
             Ecclis
             .
          
           speaks
           home
           
             They
             are
             all
             Pasters
             ,
             but
             the
             Flock
             is
             one
             ,
             which
             by
             one
             consent
             is
             fed
             by
             all
             the
             Apostles
             .
          
           And
           S.
           
             Chrysostom
             l.
          
           2.
           
             de
             Sacerdotio
             ,
             Our
             Saviour
             at
             that
             time
             intended
             to
             teach
             both
          
           Peter
           
             and
             Us
             ,
             how
             dear
             his
             Church
             is
             to
             him
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           This
           is
           a
           True
           ,
           Short
           and
           Plain
           Account
           of
           S.
           
           Peter's
           Authority
           ;
           both
           what
           was
           given
           him
           by
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           and
           what
           was
           exercised
           by
           himself
           .
           But
           ,
           
           alas
           ,
           this
           is
           too
           scant
           for
           his
           pretended
           Successour
           ,
           as
           we
           shall
           now
           manifest
           .
        
         
           And
           I
           shall
           be
           a
           little
           more
           exact
           in
           this
           
             Seasonable
             Argument
          
           because
           that
           I
           know
           many
           of
           our
           English
           Roman
           Catholicks
           will
           not
           believe
           that
           this
           Vast
           ,
           Unlimited
           Power
           is
           owned
           by
           their
           Church
           ;
           but
           is
           onely
           the
           product
           of
           the
           Flattery
           of
           private
           Doctors
           ,
           and
           the
           Pope's
           particular
           Parasites
           .
        
         
           I
           will
           onely
           mention
           how
           the
           Usurpings
           ,
           Innovations
           and
           Incroachments
           of
           the
           Roman
           Bishops
           have
           been
           constantly
           opposed
           by
           the
           Greatest
           part
           of
           Christendom
           in
           all
           Ages
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           first
           General
           Council
           of
           Nice
           ,
           he
           was
           consined
           to
           his
           own
           particular
           District
           ;
           as
           the
           Patriarch
           of
           Alexandria
           and
           others
           were
           to
           theirs
           .
           In
           the
           first
           General
           Councils
           of
           Constantinople
           and
           Ephesus
           ,
           the
           Provinces
           of
           the
           World
           were
           distinguished
           ,
           and
           the
           Patriarchs
           restrained
           to
           their
           own
           Circuits
           ,
           and
           He
           of
           Constantinople
           is
           by
           name
           made
           Equal
           to
           Him
           of
           Rome
           in
           all
           Ecclesiastical
           Matters
           .
           He
           of
           Rome
           had
           indeed
           the
           Chief
           Honour
           ;
           but
           that
           consisted
           not
           in
           Jurisdiction
           ,
           but
           in
           sitting
           in
           the
           first
           place
           ,
           and
           such
           like
           Ti●les
           .
        
         
           The
           Council
           of
           Chalcedon
           confirms
           the
           same
           Decrees
           ,
           and
           adds
           withal
           ,
           
             Our
             Fathers
             gave
             the
             Privileges
             to
             the
             Seat
             of
             Elder
             Rome
             ;
             because
             that
             City
             had
             the
             Empire
             :
             and
             the
             150
             Bishops
             assembled
             at
             the
             Council
             of
             Constantinople
             moved
             with
             the
             same
             reason
             ,
             gave
             the
             same
             Privilege
             to
             the
             most
             Sacred
             Throne
             of
             New
             Rome
             :
             thinking
             it
             reasonable
             ,
             that
             the
             City
             which
             is
             honoured
             with
             the
             Empire
             and
             Senate
             ,
             should
             also
             have
             Equal
             Privileges
             with
             Elder
             Rome
             ,
             and
             in
             Ecclesiastical
             Matters
             be
             advanced
             alike
             with
             her
             .
          
           Another
           Council
           at
           Constantinople
           Enacted
           the
           same
           .
           But
           the
           Council
           of
           
             Carthage
             ,
             Anno
          
           418.
           consisting
           of
           217
           Bishops
           ,
           is
           most
           Worthy
           of
           our
           Remark
           .
        
         
           In
           this
           Council
           ,
           when
           Sozymus
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           claimed
           a
           Right
           to
           receive
           Appeals
           from
           all
           parts
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           pretended
           a
           Canon
           of
           the
           Nicene
           Council
           that
           should
           give
           it
           him
           :
           the
           Bishops
           strongly
           debated
           the
           Matter
           ,
           and
           having
           searched
           the
           Original
           Copies
           of
           the
           Nicene
           Council
           ,
           whereby
           the
           Untruth
           of
           his
           Claim
           was
           discovered
           ,
           they
           wrote
           sharply
           to
           him
           ,
           not
           to
           meddle
           any
           more
           with
           their
           Provinces
           ,
           nor
           admit
           into
           his
           Fellowship
           such
           as
           they
           had
           Excommunicated
           .
           Telling
           him
           he
           had
           nothing
           to
           do
           in
           their
           Causes
           ,
           either
           to
           bring
           them
           to
           Rome
           ,
           or
           to
           send
           legats
           to
           hear
           them
           at
           home
           :
           and
           that
           this
           pretence
           of
           his
           was
           expresly
           against
           the
           Nicene
           Council
           .
        
         
           The
           Evidence
           of
           this
           Great
           Testimony
           stands
           to
           this
           day
           unanswerable
           by
           the
           Roman
           Party
           .
           It
           is
           abundantly
           known
           how
           Pope
           Stephen
           was
           sleighted
           by
           S.
           Cyprian
           ;
           and
           Victor
           by
           the
           Bishops
           of
           the
           East
           .
           But
           this
           is
           an
           Infinite
           Theme
           ,
           and
           I
           must
           not
           forget
           my
           promised
           Brevity
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           onely
           Request
           the
           Gentlemen
           of
           the
           
           Roman-Catholick
           Persuasion
           ,
           seriously
           to
           lay
           to
           heart
           what
           Trivial
           Grounds
           this
           Grand
           Article
           of
           their
           Church
           ,
           the
           Pope's
           Supremacy
           ,
           even
           in
           Ecclesiastical
           Affairs
           ,
           is
           founded
           upon
           ;
           and
           to
           consider
           how
           many
           Difficulties
           must
           be
           cleared
           to
           make
           it
           a
           
             probable
             Tale.
          
           1.
           
           That
           S.
           Peter
           was
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           .
           2.
           
           That
           he
           dyed
           at
           Rome
           by
           the
           special
           Command
           of
           Christ.
           3.
           
           That
           he
           dyed
           Invested
           with
           such
           a
           
           Supremacy
           ,
           as
           is
           now
           Exercised
           in
           that
           Church
           .
           4.
           
           That
           his
           so
           dying
           there
           is
           sufficient
           (
           without
           a
           new
           Revelation
           from
           God
           )
           to
           make
           the
           Succession
           of
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           of
           Divine
           Authority
           .
        
         
           We
           shall
           now
           take
           a
           View
           of
           that
           
             Grand
             Machine
          
           of
           the
           Pope's
           power
           over
           Temporal
           Princes
           ,
           and
           make
           it
           most
           evident
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           an
           Article
           and
           Doctrin
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ;
           and
           being
           so
           ,
           that
           this
           alone
           were
           a
           sufficient
           Motive
           to
           forsake
           her
           Communion
           ,
           since
           She
           Teaches
           Justifies
           and
           strictly
           Commands
           (
           even
           under
           the
           penalty
           of
           being
           accounted
           no
           Christians
           )
           Treason
           and
           Rebellion
           .
           The
           present
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           Lincoln
           hath
           written
           a
           Learned
           and
           Satisfactory
           Treatise
           on
           this
           Subject
           ,
           and
           I
           find
           his
           Lordship
           very
           faithful
           in
           his
           Citations
           .
           Wherefore
           I
           may
           be
           the
           more
           sparing
           .
        
         
           However
           ,
           because
           I
           heartily
           desire
           ,
           that
           Honoured
           ,
           Pious
           and
           Loyal
           Persons
           may
           not
           unwarily
           ingage
           their
           Liberties
           ,
           Estates
           and
           Lives
           for
           the
           Maintainance
           of
           so
           Extravagant
           and
           Tyrannical
           a
           Power
           ,
           which
           hath
           in
           all
           Ages
           caused
           so
           many
           disinal
           Tragedies
           in
           the
           Christian
           World
           ,
           and
           is
           in
           it self
           Fatal
           and
           Destructive
           to
           all
           Civil
           Government
           ,
           I
           shall
           briefly
           treat
           of
           this
           Matter
           ,
           to
           undeceive
           others
           :
           especially
           since
           I
           was
           herein
           miserably
           seduced
           my self
           ,
           till
           I
           had
           Maturely
           and
           Exactly
           Examined
           the
           whole
           Business
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           begin
           with
           General
           Councils
           ,
           whose
           Decrees
           if
           they
           will
           not
           admit
           ,
           I
           confess
           I
           as
           yet
           understand
           not
           what
           the
           Doctrin
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           is
           ,
           nor
           do
           I
           know
           where
           to
           find
           it
           .
        
         
           The
           Third
           Council
           of
           
             Lateran
             ,
             c.
          
           27.
           after
           it
           had
           Condemned
           and
           Excommunicated
           many
           Hereticks
           ,
           (
           and
           you
           must
           know
           that
           All
           Protestants
           are
           both
           accounted
           so
           ,
           and
           as
           such
           ,
           are
           once
           every
           year
           solemnly
           accursed
           by
           His
           Holyness
           in
           Person
           on
           
             Maundy
             Thursday
             :
          
           )
           It
           Absolves
           All
           that
           had
           sworn
           Fidelity
           or
           Homage
           to
           them
           ,
           from
           those
           Oaths
           
             (
             and
             we
             know
             who
             they
             are
             ,
             to
             whom
             Fidelity
             and
             Homage
             ,
             strictly
             speaking
             ,
             is
             due
             :
             )
          
           and
           they
           are
           required
           in
           Order
           to
           the
           Remission
           of
           their
           Sins
           ,
           
             to
             fight
          
           against
           them
           .
           And
           those
           who
           dye
           doing
           Penance
           in
           that
           manner
           ,
           may
           undoubtedly
           expect
           Indulgence
           for
           their
           Sins
           ,
           with
           Eternal
           Rewards
           .
           Then
           by
           the
           Authority
           of
           S.
           Peter
           and
           Paul
           ,
           the
           Council
           remits
           to
           all
           who
           shall
           
             rise
             and
             fight
          
           against
           them
           ,
           two
           years
           penance
           .
        
         
           Here
           a
           General
           Council
           uses
           all
           its
           Industry
           to
           poyson
           people
           with
           Rebellious
           Doctrin
           ,
           and
           calls
           Treason
           ,
           
             Doing
             of
             Penance
          
           .
           Not
           long
           after
           ,
           Pope
           Celestin
           ,
           Predecessor
           to
           
             Innocent
             the
             Third
          
           .
           with
           more
           than
           Luciferian
           Arrogance
           ,
           sets
           the
           Crown
           on
           the
           Head
           of
           the
           Emperour
           Henry
           the
           6th
           with
           his
           two
           feet
           ,
           and
           then
           kicks
           it
           off
           again
           .
           And
           the
           fact
           is
           produced
           by
           no
           meaner
           a
           Person
           than
           Cardinal
           Baronius
           ,
           to
           shew
           that
           it
           is
           in
           the
           Pope's
           power
           to
           Give
           and
           
             Take
             away
          
           Empires
           .
           But
           to
           as
           much
           purpose
           as
           He
           produced
           that
           Text
           ,
           
             Rise
             Peter
             ,
             Kill
             and
             Eat
          
           ;
           to
           incense
           
             Paul
             the
             5th
          
           against
           the
           Venetians
           .
        
         
           The
           second
           Evidence
           shall
           be
           the
           Fourth
           Great
           ,
           and
           ,
           as
           they
           call
           it
           ,
           Most
           General
           Council
           of
           Lateran
           ,
           wherein
           were
           assembled
           1200
           of
           one
           sort
           or
           other
           .
           These
           ,
           C.
           3.
           make
           a
           Decree
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Aid
             of
             Secular
             Princes
             should
             
             be
             required
             for
             the
             Rooting
             out
             of
             Hereticks
             (
             i.
             e
             ,
             
               All
               that
               are
               not
               of
               the
               Roman
               Communion
               )
            
             and
             that
             when
             the
             Temporal
             Lord
             ,
             required
             and
             admonished
             by
             the
             Church
             ,
             shall
             neglect
             to
             purge
             his
             Territory
             from
             Heretical
             Wickedness
             ,
             He
             shall
             be
             Excommunicated
             by
             the
             Metropolitan
             and
             his
             Suffragans
             .
             And
             if
             he
             persist
             in
             neglecting
             to
             give
             satisfaction
             for
             the
             space
             of
             a
             year
             ,
             let
             him
             be
             signified
             to
             the
             Pope
             ,
             that
             he
             from
             thenceforth
             may
             pronounce
             his
             Subjects
             discharged
             from
             their
             Obedience
             ,
             and
             expose
             his
             Territory
             to
             be
             seized
             on
             by
             Catholicks
             ,
             who
             having
             exterminated
             the
             Hereticks
             ,
             shall
             possess
             it
             without
             Contradiction
             ,
             and
             preserve
             it
             in
             the
             Purity
             of
             the
             Faith.
             So
             as
             no
             Injury
             be
             done
             to
             the
             Right
             of
             the
             Supreme
             Lord
             ,
             where
             there
             is
             such
             ;
             provided
             He
             do
             not
             any
             ways
             oppose
             himself
             .
             And
             the
             Law
             is
             to
             take
             place
             in
             them
             who
             have
             no
             Superiour
             Lord.
             —
          
           Which
           Last
           Clause
           perfectly
           comprehends
           Soveraign
           Princes
           ,
           and
           so
           anticipates
           that
           Reply
           which
           some
           make
           ,
           That
           the
           Decree
           was
           only
           made
           for
           Feudatory
           and
           Subordinate
           Princes
           .
        
         
           And
           whereas
           some
           few
           deny
           it
           to
           be
           a
           General
           Council
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           made
           any
           Canons
           ;
           it
           is
           a
           most
           Impudent
           Cavil
           .
           For
           both
           the
           Council
           and
           Canons
           have
           been
           and
           are
           Universally
           received
           by
           the
           Roman
           Church
           :
           the
           Council
           as
           General
           ,
           and
           Approved
           so
           by
           Innocent
           the
           III.
           and
           the
           Canons
           as
           Authentick
           .
           All
           their
           Writers
           concerning
           Councils
           put
           this
           down
           among
           the
           General
           ones
           ,
           ●●●●
           commonly
           call
           it
           the
           
             Great
             General
             Council
             of
          
           Lateran
           :
           and
           Joverius
           says
           ,
           he
           cannot
           see
           with
           what
           face
           a
           Man
           dare
           deny
           it
           .
           They
           always
           put
           it
           among
           those
           Councils
           that
           are
           Approved
           by
           the
           Church
           :
           for
           you
           must
           know
           that
           some
           are
           Reprobated
           ,
           some
           are
           partly
           Approbated
           and
           partly
           Reprobated
           .
           Their
           Canon
           Law
           so
           esteems
           of
           it
           .
           The
           Council
           of
           Constance
           puts
           it
           among
           those
           General
           Councils
           ,
           to
           the
           Observation
           whereof
           the
           Popes
           were
           to
           swear
           at
           their
           Installment
           .
           The
           Council
           of
           Trent
           ,
           which
           I
           hope
           none
           will
           boggle
           at
           ,
           Sess
           24.
           
           C.
           5.
           in
           express
           terms
           calls
           it
           a
           
             General
             Council
          
           ,
           and
           Confirms
           one
           of
           its
           Canons
           .
           To
           which
           I
           may
           add
           ,
           because
           it
           concerns
           us
           ,
           a
           Synod
           at
           Oxford
           ,
           where
           this
           Council
           was
           received
           for
           England
           .
           And
           though
           some
           Princes
           that
           were
           deposed
           out
           of
           the
           Pope's
           meer
           Spite
           and
           Malice
           ,
           got
           some
           Advocates
           to
           write
           for
           them
           ,
           and
           Synods
           of
           Bishops
           to
           Protest
           against
           the
           Pope's
           Proceedings
           :
           yet
           in
           the
           case
           of
           
             Pretended
             Heresie
          
           ,
           (
           which
           neerly
           touches
           Protestant
           Princes
           )
           not
           one
           Writer
           or
           Bishop
           appears
           in
           Vindication
           of
           the
           Temporal
           Power
           .
           A
           shrewd
           Sign
           that
           this
           Deposing
           Heretical
           Magistrates
           ,
           is
           in
           General
           the
           Romish
           Doctrine
           .
        
         
           The
           General
           Council
           of
           Lions
           is
           next
           .
           It
           was
           summoned
           by
           Innocent
           the
           4th
           ,
           against
           the
           Emperour
           Frederick
           the
           2d
           .
           Here
           the
           Pope
           having
           consulted
           with
           the
           Council
           ,
           Declares
           the
           Emperour
           deprived
           by
           God
           of
           his
           Dominions
           :
           and
           thereupon
           they
           
             Actually
             Depose
             him
          
           ,
           and
           Absolve
           All
           from
           their
           Oaths
           of
           Fidelity
           to
           him
           :
           strictly
           charging
           All
           persons
           to
           acknowledge
           him
           no
           more
           for
           Emperour
           ,
           and
           denouncing
           All
           that
           did
           otherwise
           ,
           Excommunicated
           
             Ipso
             facto
          
           .
           So
           we
           have
           another
           whole
           General
           Council
           concurring
           with
           the
           
           Pope
           in
           asserting
           this
           
             Deposing
             Power
          
           ,
           and
           with
           Candles
           burning
           in
           their
           hands
           ,
           thundering
           out
           Sentence
           against
           the
           poor
           Emperour
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           Council
           of
           
             Constance
             ,
             Sess.
          
           19.
           we
           often
           meet
           with
           this
           Clause
           ,
           
             That
             All
             Breakers
             of
             their
             Privileges
             ,
             whether
             Emperours
             ,
             Kings
             ,
             or
             any
             other
             Degree
             ,
             were
             thereby
             
               Ipso
               facto
            
             subjected
             to
             the
             Banns
             ,
             Punishments
             and
             Censures
             in
             the
             Council
             of
             Lateran
             :
          
           and
           Sess.
           17.
           in
           the
           Pass
           they
           gave
           to
           the
           King
           of
           Arragon
           ,
           they
           decree
           ,
           That
           whatsoever
           Person
           ,
           either
           King
           ,
           Cardinal
           ,
           &c.
           hinder
           him
           in
           his
           Journey
           ,
           he
           is
           
             Ipso
             sacto
          
           deprived
           of
           all
           Honour
           ,
           Dignity
           ,
           Office
           or
           Benefice
           ,
           whether
           Ecclesiastical
           or
           Secular
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           true
           ,
           with
           much
           Importunity
           and
           Danger
           ,
           Gerson
           procured
           a
           Decree
           in
           this
           council
           that
           No
           Subject
           should
           Murder
           his
           Prince
           .
           But
           that
           Practice
           was
           only
           condemned
           in
           such
           as
           did
           it
           ,
           
             without
             waiting
             the
             Sentence
             of
             any
             Judge
             whatsoever
             .
          
           So
           that
           if
           Sentence
           be
           past
           by
           the
           Spiritual
           Judge
           ,
           notwithstanding
           this
           Decree
           ,
           a
           Prince
           may
           be
           Assassinated
           .
           But
           there
           is
           a
           further
           Mystery
           in
           it
           .
           For
           a
           King
           once
           declared
           to
           be
           no
           more
           such
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           being
           Deposed
           ,
           He
           then
           becomes
           a
           Rebel
           and
           an
           Usurper
           ,
           according
           to
           their
           Principles
           ,
           and
           then
           it
           is
           lawful
           to
           kill
           him
           .
        
         
           The
           Council
           of
           Siena
           confirms
           all
           the
           former
           Decrees
           made
           against
           Hereticks
           ;
           and
           the
           Favourers
           of
           Heresie
           are
           declared
           liable
           to
           all
           Pains
           and
           Censures
           of
           Hereticks
           :
           and
           consequently
           to
           the
           Greatest
           of
           them
           ,
           viz.
           Deposition
           .
        
         
           The
           Council
           at
           Basil
           rati●●s
           the
           Decree
           of
           Constance
           by
           which
           ,
           Emperours
           and
           Kings
           ,
           that
           presumed
           to
           hinder
           any
           from
           coming
           to
           the
           Council
           ,
           are
           subjected
           to
           excommunication
           ,
           Interdicts
           ,
           and
           other
           Punishments
           Spiritual
           and
           Temporal
           .
        
         
           Finally
           ,
           the
           
             Council
             of
             Trent
             ▪
          
           though
           the
           world
           was
           then
           much
           changed
           ,
           and
           they
           durst
           not
           trample
           on
           Crowned
           Heads
           as
           formerly
           ,
           yet
           they
           would
           still
           be
           nibling
           at
           this
           sweet
           Morsel
           ,
           as
           near
           as
           they
           could
           ,
           and
           still
           endeavoured
           ,
           though
           covertly
           ,
           to
           continue
           the
           Claim
           to
           this
           
             Deposing
             Authority
          
           .
           For
           in
           the
           Decree
           against
           D●els
           ,
           Sess.
           25.
           c.
           19.
           they
           declare
           ,
           
             If
             any
             Emperours
             and
             Kings
          
           ,
           &c.
           
             did
             assign
             a
             field
             for
             a
             Combate
             ,
             they
             did
             thereby
             lose
             their
             Right
             to
             that
             place
             ,
             and
             the
             City
             ,
             Castle
             ,
             or
             other
             places
             about
             it
             .
          
        
         
           If
           Councils
           then
           ,
           as
           surely
           they
           are
           ,
           be
           fit
           deliverers
           of
           the
           Churches
           sence
           ,
           we
           have
           here
           no
           less
           than
           seven
           General
           Councils
           to
           prove
           this
           to
           be
           the
           Churche's
           Doctrine
           .
           For
           my
           own
           part
           ,
           I
           can
           see
           no
           ways
           they
           can
           extricate
           themselves
           ,
           but
           either
           by
           Confessing
           their
           Church
           hath
           erred
           ,
           or
           by
           obstinately
           going
           on
           in
           a
           most
           wretched
           Justification
           of
           such
           Damnable
           Tenents
           and
           Practices
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           nothing
           more
           to
           do
           in
           this
           business
           ,
           but
           by
           way
           of
           surplusage
           to
           give
           a
           General
           Touch
           at
           these
           following
           particulars
           .
        
         
           By
           the
           
             Book
             of
             the
             Sacred
             Ceremonies
          
           (
           which
           is
           Authentick
           and
           of
           great
           Esteem
           with
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           )
           the
           Emperour
           as
           soon
           as
           he
           sees
           the
           Pope
           ,
           must
           bare-headed
           ,
           bow
           ,
           till
           his
           knee
           touch
           the
           Ground
           ,
           and
           worship
           the
           Pope
           :
           coming
           nearer
           he
           must
           bow
           again
           ,
           and
           when
           he
           comes
           to
           the
           Pope
           
           he
           must
           bow
           a
           third
           Time
           ,
           and
           devoutly
           kiss
           the
           Pope's
           Toe
           .
           The
           same
           book
           informs
           us
           that
           the
           Pope
           never
           gives
           any
           Reverence
           to
           any
           Mortal
           ,
           either
           by
           rising
           up
           ,
           or
           uncovering
           or
           bowing
           his
           head
           .
           That
           the
           Emperour
           must
           hold
           the
           Pope's
           stirrup
           till
           he
           gets
           on
           horseback
           and
           then
           lead
           the
           Horse
           for
           some
           paces
           .
           And
           some
           mean
           spirited
           Emperors
           have
           
             de
             facto
          
           performed
           these
           slavish
           offices
           .
        
         
           The
           Emperour
           must
           swear
           Fealty
           to
           the
           Pope
           ,
           and
           be
           his
           Hector
           to
           maintain
           all
           his
           Rights
           and
           Honours
           .
           That
           horrid
           
             Extravagant
             of
             Boniface
             .
             VIII
          
           .
           makes
           it
           absolutely
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ;
           that
           all
           Christians
           be
           subject
           to
           the
           Pope
           ;
           who
           hath
           
             both
             the
             Swords
          
           ,
           and
           Judgeth
           all
           Men
           ,
           and
           is
           Judged
           of
           None
           .
           And
           the
           Gloss
           upon
           that
           Extravagant
           dares
           to
           say
           our
           Saviour
           had
           not
           done
           discreetly
           ,
           unless
           he
           had
           left
           such
           a
           Vicar
           behind
           him
           .
        
         
           Bz●vius
           an
           approved
           and
           applauded
           Author
           in
           that
           Communion
           ,
           tells
           us
           the
           Pope
           is
           Monarch
           of
           All
           Christians
           ,
           Supreme
           over
           All
           Mortals
           ,
           there
           lyes
           no
           Appeal
           from
           him
           ,
           He
           is
           the
           great
           Arbitrator
           of
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           
             Istodorus
             M●scomus
          
           ,
           Vicar
           General
           to
           the
           Arch-Bishop
           of
           Bononia
           ,
           and
           a
           great
           Lawyer
           ,
           terms
           the
           Pope
           the
           Universal
           Judge
           ,
           King
           of
           Kings
           ,
           Lord
           of
           Lords
           ,
           and
           saies
           that
           God's
           Tribunal
           and
           the
           Pope's
           are
           one
           and
           the
           same
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           the
           same
           Consistory
           ,
           and
           therefore
           all
           other
           powers
           are
           his
           Subjects
           ,
           that
           the
           Pope
           is
           judged
           of
           none
           but
           God
           ,
           not
           of
           the
           Emperour
           ,
           Kings
           ,
           Clergy
           or
           Laity
           .
        
         
           Pope
           Innocent
           the
           Third
           ,
           
             Extra
             .
             de
             Major
          
           .
           gives
           this
           description
           of
           the
           Papal
           power
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           as
           much
           greater
           than
           the
           Imperial
           ,
           as
           the
           Sun
           is
           than
           the
           Moon
           .
           And
           the
           Gloss
           saies
           that
           is
           47
           times
           greater
           :
           but
           the
           note
           in
           the
           Margin
           puts
           57
           times
           :
           nay
           there
           is
           an
           Author
           that
           adds
           7744
           times
           .
           This
           Decr●tal
           of
           Innocent
           the
           III.
           and
           the
           forecited
           Extravagant
           of
           Boniface
           VIII
           .
           are
           both
           put
           into
           the
           body
           of
           the
           Canon
           Law.
           
        
         
           It
           would
           be
           endless
           to
           enumerate
           the
           Romish
           Authors
           that
           defend
           this
           prodigious
           power
           of
           deposing
           Kings
           .
           
             Bellarmin
             ,
             Suarez
             ,
             Sa
             Mariana
             ,
          
           maintain
           and
           prove
           this
           Doctrine
           .
           Nor
           do
           I
           know
           one
           Jesuit
           that
           teaches
           the
           contrary
           .
           And
           it
           is
           very
           well
           worth
           our
           notice
           what
           an
           odd
           kind
           of
           answer
           Mr.
           Fisher
           gave
           to
           King
           James
           ,
           who
           demanded
           of
           him
           what
           he
           thought
           Subjects
           ought
           to
           do
           in
           the
           case
           of
           the
           Pope's
           deposing
           a
           Prince
           ?
           The
           Jesuit
           gives
           this
           sly
           return
           :
           I
           will
           pray
           for
           Peace
           and
           Tranquillity
           between
           both
           Parties
           ;
           I
           will
           exhort
           all
           to
           do
           good
           offices
           conducing
           thereto
           ,
           and
           will
           rather
           dye
           than
           any
           wayes
           be
           accessory
           to
           your
           Majestie
           's
           death
           .
           And
           no
           more
           could
           be
           got
           from
           him
           but
           this
           Compliment
           .
           But
           else
           where
           he
           told
           the
           King
           more
           plainly
           ,
           that
           he
           disclaimed
           any
           singular
           opinion
           of
           his
           own
           ,
           or
           more
           than
           the
           Definitions
           of
           Councils
           and
           Consent
           of
           Divines
           did
           force
           him
           to
           hold
           .
           And
           what
           those
           are
           ,
           we
           have
           pretty
           well
           discovered
           .
        
         
           The
           Canonists
           ,
           Casuists
           and
           Schoolmen
           are
           Generally
           ,
           if
           not
           Universally
           of
           this
           opinion
           ,
           some
           teach
           that
           it
           is
           evident
           to
           all
           ,
           that
           Emperors
           are
           to
           be
           Deprived
           and
           Deposed
           by
           the
           Pope
           ,
           not
           onely
           for
           things
           pertaining
           to
           Faith
           ,
           
           but
           for
           Manners
           ,
           Others
           ,
           that
           the
           Secular
           Power
           is
           subject
           to
           the
           Spiritual
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           is
           no
           Usurpation
           ,
           if
           the
           Spiritual
           judge
           the
           Secular
           :
           and
           that
           the
           Pope
           hath
           Supreme
           Power
           over
           Christian
           Kings
           and
           Princes
           and
           may
           Correct
           ,
           Depose
           and
           
             put
             others
             in
             their
             places
          
           :
           that
           he
           may
           deprive
           a
           King
           of
           Royal
           Dignity
           for
           
             Heresie
             ,
             Schisme
             or
             any
             intolerable
             Crime
             ,
             Negligence
             or
             Lazyness
             ;
             if
             in
             great
             matters
             he
             break
             his
             Oath
             ,
             or
             oppress
             the
             Church
             ,
          
           and
           several
           other
           Cases
           :
           and
           that
           the
           Pope
           himself
           is
           sole
           Judge
           both
           of
           the
           Crime
           and
           of
           the
           Condemnation
           .
           And
           
             Bzovius
             de
             Pontifice
             ,
             Rom.
             c.
          
           46.
           p.
           611.
           gives
           us
           a
           Catalogue
           of
           above
           30
           Kings
           and
           Princes
           who
           have
           
             de
             facto
          
           been
           Deposed
           ,
           or
           by
           Anathema's
           damn'd
           by
           the
           Pope
           .
           They
           count
           them
           Martyrs
           that
           dye
           for
           the
           maintaining
           this
           Power
           ;
           which
           cannot
           be
           unless
           they
           Esteem
           it
           an
           Article
           of
           Faith.
           And
           we
           have
           a
           late
           Instance
           of
           
             F.
             Paul
             Magdalen
          
           ,
           alias
           
             Henry
             Heath
          
           ,
           a
           Learned
           and
           in
           his
           way
           Pious
           ,
           Franciscan
           ,
           who
           was
           put
           to
           death
           by
           the
           Long
           Parliament
           about
           the
           year
           1643.
           
           Who
           just
           before
           his
           Execution
           being
           desired
           to
           give
           his
           Judgment
           of
           the
           Oath
           of
           Allegiance
           (
           which
           chiefly
           concerns
           our
           present
           purpose
           )
           declared
           it
           absolutely
           unlawful
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           would
           as
           soon
           lay
           down
           his
           Life
           for
           the
           Refusal
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           for
           any
           Article
           of
           the
           Roman
           Belief
           .
        
         
           
             Eman.
             Sa
          
           is
           not
           ashamed
           to
           publish
           that
           if
           a
           Clergy
           Man
           rebell
           against
           his
           King
           it
           is
           no
           Treason
           ,
           because
           Clergy
           men
           are
           not
           the
           Kings
           Subjects
           .
           
             Aphorism
             .
             Confess
             .
             verbo
             Clericus
             .
          
           Others
           ,
           (
           though
           I
           will
           not
           say
           this
           is
           so
           generally
           taught
           )
           that
           Faith
           is
           not
           to
           be
           kept
           with
           Hereticks
           .
           And
           if
           my
           Memory
           fail
           not
           ,
           the
           Famous
           Navar
           hath
           written
           a
           whole
           Tract
           in
           Defence
           of
           Equivocation
           and
           Mental
           Reservation
           ,
           and
           takes
           upon
           him
           the
           Defence
           of
           the
           Noble
           Society
           of
           Jesus
           ,
           as
           he
           calls
           them
           ,
           for
           Universally
           teaching
           it
           :
           and
           to
           my
           knowledge
           practising
           it
           .
        
         
           It
           were
           very
           Easy
           to
           collect
           these
           Corollaries
           out
           of
           the
           Canon
           Law
           ,
           and
           the
           Decretal
           of
           Boniface
           the
           VIII
           .
           That
           Emperors
           and
           Kings
           are
           the
           Popes
           Subjects
           ;
           that
           they
           may
           be
           Deposed
           for
           Heresie
           and
           any
           great
           Sin
           :
           that
           the
           Pope
           hath
           power
           over
           the
           whole
           World
           in
           Spirituals
           and
           Temporals
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           hath
           this
           Temporal
           power
           in
           a
           more
           worthy
           ,
           Superior
           and
           perfect
           manner
           than
           Temporal
           Princes
           :
           that
           Statutes
           made
           by
           Lay
           Men
           do
           not
           bind
           the
           Clergy
           :
           that
           it
           is
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           to
           be
           subject
           to
           the
           Pope
           ,
           and
           he
           who
           affirms
           the
           contrary
           is
           no
           Christian
           ;
           without
           any
           hope
           or
           possibility
           of
           Salvation
           .
           
             A
             most
             Pious
             and
             Charitable
             Rhapsody
             of
             Canonical
             Theology
             !
          
        
         
           Now
           you
           must
           understand
           that
           this
           Canon
           Law
           is
           approved
           ,
           received
           and
           obeyed
           in
           that
           Church
           ,
           as
           The
           Rule
           of
           Justice
           in
           All
           their
           Courts
           and
           Consistories
           .
           In
           this
           we
           further
           learn
           ,
           that
           the
           Holy
           Church
           by
           her
           frequent
           Authority
           ,
           
             absolves
             Subjects
          
           from
           their
           Oaths
           to
           Superiors
           ;
           and
           it
           exemplifies
           in
           Pope
           Zachary
           ,
           who
           deposed
           the
           King
           of
           France
           ,
           not
           so
           much
           for
           his
           Iniquity
           as
           for
           his
           Unprofitableness
           .
           And
           Cardinal
           Turrecremata
           in
           his
           Comment
           on
           this
           Canon
           proves
           that
           Subjects
           ,
           if
           they
           have
           the
           Popes
           Consent
           may
           Depose
           their
           Kings
           .
        
         
         
           The
           Bulls
           os
           many
           Popes
           against
           the
           Princes
           both
           of
           our
           own
           and
           other
           Nations
           ,
           are
           too
           well
           known
           ,
           and
           may
           at
           any
           time
           be
           seen
           in
           the
           
             Roman
             Bullary
          
           .
        
         
           To
           draw
           to
           a
           Conclusion
           in
           this
           Odious
           Matter
           .
           Our
           Country
           Man
           Creswell
           the
           Jesuite
           in
           his
           
             Philopater
             .
             sect
          
           .
           2.
           affirms
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           the
           Opinion
           of
           All
           Catholicks
           ,
           that
           Subjects
           are
           bound
           to
           Depose
           an
           Heretical
           King
           :
           that
           they
           are
           obliged
           by
           the
           Law
           of
           God
           ,
           by
           the
           most
           strick
           bonds
           of
           Conscience
           and
           utmost
           peril
           of
           their
           Souls
           to
           do
           this
           .
           
             Bellarmine
             de
             Rom.
             Pontif.
             l.
          
           5.
           c.
           7.
           assures
           us
           ,
           it
           is
           the
           Consent
           of
           All
           Roman
           Catholicks
           ,
           that
           Heretical
           Princes
           ,
           May
           and
           Ought
           to
           be
           Deprived
           of
           their
           Dominions
           .
           And
           the
           English
           Cardinal
           Allen
           ,
           speaking
           how
           S.
           Thomas
           defended
           this
           Position
           ,
           and
           how
           Cardinal
           Tolet
           expounds
           him
           ,
           adds
           these
           words
           of
           his
           own
           (
           in
           his
           Answer
           to
           the
           Book
           of
           
             English
             Justice
          
           )
           Thus
           doth
           this
           Notable
           School-man
           write
           :
           Neither
           do
           we
           know
           
             any
             Catholick
             Divine
          
           of
           any
           Age
           to
           say
           the
           contrary
           .
        
         
           If
           now
           ,
           the
           Testimonies
           of
           their
           Own
           most
           eminent
           Writers
           ,
           their
           established
           Laws
           and
           Canons
           ,
           their
           Authentick
           Papal
           Bulls
           and
           Decretal
           Constitutions
           ,
           the
           Decrees
           and
           Canons
           of
           their
           own
           General
           Councils
           (
           the
           confess'd
           Representatives
           of
           their
           whole
           Church
           )
           seconded
           by
           Actual
           Deposing
           of
           Emperours
           &c.
           be
           not
           undeniable
           Evidence
           that
           this
           Seditious
           ,
           Desperate
           and
           Pernicious
           Doctrine
           ,
           is
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ;
           I
           must
           humbly
           crave
           Pardon
           for
           my
           Ignorance
           in
           their
           Faith
           ,
           and
           must
           so
           far
           disown
           my self
           from
           ever
           having
           Embraced
           ,
           that
           I
           never
           understood
           their
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           consequently
           never
           was
           a
           Roman
           Catholick
           .
        
         
           But
           how
           Repugnant
           are
           these
           Positions
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           and
           Example
           of
           our
           Humble
           ,
           Meek
           Jesus
           and
           his
           Apostles
           ?
           Learn
           of
           me
           for
           I
           am
           Meek
           and
           Lowly
           .
           The
           Son
           of
           man
           came
           not
           to
           be
           Ministred
           to
           ,
           but
           to
           Minister
           .
           My
           Kingdom
           is
           not
           of
           this
           World.
           Man
           ,
           who
           made
           me
           a
           Judge
           or
           Divider
           over
           you
           ?
           Luk.
           12.
           14.
           
           If
           I
           your
           Lord
           and
           Master
           have
           washed
           your
           feet
           ,
           &c.
           
           Render
           to
           Caesar
           the
           things
           that
           are
           Caesar's
           .
           And
           He
           himself
           paid
           Tribute
           to
           Caesar
           ,
           and
           made
           S.
           Peter
           do
           so
           too
           .
           He
           submitted
           to
           the
           Power
           and
           Jurisdiction
           of
           Pilate
           ,
           who
           was
           
           Caesar's
           Deputy
           .
           And
           this
           not
           
             quia
             deerant
             Vires
          
           ,
           because
           he
           wanted
           power
           to
           resist
           (
           as
           Bellarmine
           fondly
           affirms
           of
           the
           Primitive
           Christians
           :
           )
           for
           He
           could
           have
           called
           for
           more
           than
           12
           Legions
           of
           Angels
           .
           Nay
           so
           far
           was
           He
           from
           granting
           the
           
             Two
             Swords
          
           ,
           so
           much
           boasted
           of
           ,
           to
           S.
           Peter
           ,
           that
           he
           severely
           checks
           him
           for
           making
           Use
           of
           one
           .
           And
           the
           Two
           Princes
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           styled
           ,
           S.
           Peter
           and
           Paul
           ,
           were
           perfectly
           of
           their
           Master's
           temper
           in
           this
           point
           .
           The
           former
           would
           not
           permit
           a
           Common
           Centurion
           to
           fall
           down
           at
           his
           feet
           ,
           Act.
           10.
           25.
           and
           his
           Doctrine
           was
           far
           different
           from
           his
           Successors
           at
           Rome
           ,
           1
           Pet.
           2.
           13.
           
           
             Submit
             your selves
             to
             every
             Ordinance
             of
             man
             for
             the
             Lord's
             sake
             :
             Whether
             it
             be
             to
             the
             King
             ,
             as
             Supreme
             .
          
           &c.
           
             Fear
             God
             ,
             Honour
             the
             King.
          
           S.
           Paul
           preaches
           the
           very
           same
           .
           Rom.
           13
           1.
           
             &c.
             Let
             every
             Soul
             be
             subject
             to
             the
             Higher
             Powers
             ,
             &c.
             
             For
             he
             bears
             not
             the
             Sword
             in
             vain
             .
             Wherefore
             you
             must
             needs
             be
             subject
             not
             only
             for
             Wrath
             ,
             but
             for
             Conscience
             sake
             .
          
           And
           in
           matter
           of
           Jurisdiction
           he
           expresly
           Appeals
           to
           the
           Judgment
           Seat
           of
           Nero
           the
           Emperour
           .
        
         
           And
           till
           the
           Mystery
           of
           Iniquity
           had
           gained
           Head
           ,
           the
           Roman
           Popes
           themselves
           
           spake
           in
           a
           different
           Dialect
           from
           what
           they
           now
           use
           .
           We
           were
           in
           hopes
           ,
           says
           Pope
           
             Leo
             ,
             Ep.
          
           44.
           to
           the
           Emperour
           Marcianus
           ,
           that
           your
           Clemency
           would
           have
           condescended
           so
           far
           as
           to
           have
           deferred
           the
           Council
           ;
           but
           since
           You
           resolve
           it
           should
           be
           kept
           ,
           I
           have
           sent
           thither
           Paschasme
           .
           Pope
           Stephen
           speaks
           thus
           to
           another
           Emperour
           ,
           Hath
           not
           the
           Roman
           Church
           sent
           her
           Legats
           to
           the
           Council
           when
           you
           Commanded
           it
           ?
           We
           offer
           these
           things
           to
           your
           Piety
           ,
           says
           Pope
           Hadrian
           to
           the
           Emperour
           Basilius
           ,
           with
           all
           Humility
           ,
           &
           
             veluti
             praesentes
             Genibus
             Adv
             l●●i
          
           ,
           as
           if
           we
           were
           present
           before
           you
           on
           our
           Knees
           .
        
         
           Having
           thus
           as
           briefly
           as
           the
           matter
           would
           permit
           ,
           dispatched
           what
           was
           chiefly
           in
           my
           Design
           of
           penning
           this
           Discourse
           ,
           and
           what
           had
           the
           greatest
           Insluence
           on
           the
           satisfying
           my
           own
           mind
           ,
           I
           shall
           make
           much
           shorter
           work
           with
           what
           follows
           .
        
         
           General
           Councils
           ,
           when
           truly
           so
           ,
           are
           highly
           venerated
           by
           Protestants
           ,
           and
           the
           Four
           first
           ,
           so
           much
           honoured
           by
           
             S.
             Gregory
             the
             Great
          
           ,
           are
           better
           observ'd
           by
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           than
           by
           that
           of
           Rome
           .
           Nor
           are
           we
           so
           severe
           as
           S.
           
             Gregory
             Nazian
             .
             Ep.
          
           42.
           
             ad
             Proc●p
          
           .
           Who
           professes
           he
           had
           never
           seen
           any
           good
           or
           Happy
           Issue
           of
           any
           of
           them
           :
           but
           look'd
           on
           them
           as
           the
           Increase
           rather
           than
           Remedy
           of
           the
           Churche's
           Evils
           .
           Which
           Censure
           is
           certainly
           true
           of
           those
           Conventions
           which
           have
           been
           for
           diverse
           Ages
           last
           past
           .
           No
           ,
           we
           desire
           nothing
           more
           than
           a
           Free
           ,
           General
           Council
           to
           conclude
           differences
           in
           Religion
           :
           and
           are
           most
           ready
           to
           submit
           to
           the
           Determinations
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           yield
           the
           same
           Authority
           to
           it
           ,
           which
           the
           Antient
           Church
           in
           the
           days
           of
           Constantine
           the
           Great
           ,
           Theodosius
           ,
           &c.
           and
           which
           S.
           Augustine
           did
           .
        
         
           And
           that
           we
           may
           not
           be
           slandered
           as
           being
           our
           own
           Judges
           ,
           We
           only
           desire
           it
           may
           be
           Qualified
           according
           to
           Cardinal
           C●sanus
           his
           Doctrine
           .
           
             Concord
             ,
             Cath.
             l.
          
           2.
           
           Where
           he
           declares
           that
           a
           Compleat
           General
           Council
           consists
           of
           All
           the
           Patriarchs
           and
           Principal
           Governours
           of
           the
           Universal
           Church
           .
           That
           a
           Council
           kept
           by
           the
           Roman
           Bishop
           ,
           and
           those
           only
           who
           are
           subject
           to
           him
           ,
           excluding
           others
           ,
           is
           but
           a
           particular
           Council
           .
           That
           a
           General
           Council
           may
           be
           celebrated
           ,
           though
           the
           Pope
           refuse
           to
           concurr
           by
           his
           Presence
           and
           Consent
           .
           That
           All
           that
           meet
           in
           Councils
           ,
           ought
           to
           have
           free
           Liberty
           ,
           orderly
           to
           declare
           and
           Determin
           Maters
           in
           question
           .
           That
           whatever
           must
           oblige
           as
           Divine
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           confirmed
           by
           the
           Authority
           of
           Holy
           Scripture
           .
           That
           no
           Councils
           are
           Legitimate
           ,
           where
           private
           Respects
           are
           managed
           ,
           under
           pretext
           of
           Faith
           and
           Religion
           .
           That
           the
           Roman
           Bishop
           hath
           not
           that
           power
           ,
           which
           many
           flatterers
           attribute
           to
           him
           :
           viz.
           That
           he
           alone
           is
           to
           Determine
           ,
           and
           Others
           only
           to
           Consult
           and
           Advise
           .
           That
           a
           General
           Council
           is
           Superiour
           to
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Patriarchs
           ,
           and
           also
           to
           the
           Roman
           Bishop
           .
           That
           a
           General
           Council
           may
           be
           deficient
           ,
           and
           that
           
             de
             facto
          
           Councils
           lawfully
           assembled
           have
           erred
           .
        
         
           And
           since
           they
           have
           failed
           ,
           and
           have
           contradicted
           one
           another
           ;
           as
           appears
           in
           the
           Second
           Council
           of
           Nice
           ,
           and
           that
           of
           Constance
           among
           many
           others
           ;
           the
           one
           Decreeing
           the
           Worship
           of
           Images
           ,
           the
           other
           prohibiting
           Communion
           in
           both
           Kinds
           ;
           against
           the
           express
           words
           of
           Scripture
           ;
           the
           Councils
           of
           Lateran
           in
           Deposing
           Kings
           :
           the
           Council
           of
           Frankfort
           opposite
           to
           that
           of
           Nice
           in
           the
           Business
           
           of
           Images
           :
           the
           Council
           of
           Florence
           against
           those
           of
           Basil
           and
           Constance
           ,
           in
           the
           point
           of
           the
           Pope's
           Superiority
           over
           a
           Council
           ;
           It
           is
           certain
           that
           Councils
           are
           to
           be
           Regulated
           and
           Examined
           by
           God's
           Word
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           Received
           or
           Rejected
           as
           Conformable
           to
           ,
           or
           Disagreeing
           from
           that
           .
           And
           for
           this
           we
           have
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Great
           S.
           
             Augustin
             ,
             contra
             Maxim.
             Arian
             .
             l.
          
           3.
           c.
           14.
           
           
             Nec
             ego
             Nicenum
             ,
             &c.
          
           Neither
           ought
           I
           to
           produce
           the
           Nicen
           ,
           nor
           Thou
           the
           Ariminum
           Council
           ,
           as
           having
           already
           prejudged
           or
           absolutely
           Determined
           the
           Cause
           ,
           beyond
           all
           Appeal
           .
           For
           I
           am
           not
           bound
           up
           by
           the
           Authority
           of
           this
           ,
           nor
           Thou
           by
           the
           Decree
           of
           that
           ;
           but
           let
           us
           regard
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Holy
           Scripture
           ;
           witnesses
           not
           partial
           or
           appropriated
           to
           either
           party
           ,
           but
           common
           to
           both
           .
           A
           speech
           worthy
           the
           Gravity
           ,
           Learning
           ,
           and
           Piety
           of
           S.
           Augustin
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Councils
           of
           the
           Later
           Centuries
           ,
           they
           neither
           have
           been
           General
           ,
           nor
           hath
           either
           their
           Assimbling
           or
           Proceeding
           been
           Lawful
           ;
           and
           they
           have
           most
           Industriously
           thwarted
           the
           Canons
           of
           the
           most
           Pure
           and
           Antient
           Councils
           .
        
         
           Their
           Assembling
           hath
           not
           been
           Legal
           ,
           in
           that
           the
           Modern
           Popes
           have
           Usurped
           the
           whole
           Right
           and
           Authority
           of
           Convocating
           Councils
           contrary
           to
           the
           Primitive
           Custom
           and
           Practice
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           The
           first
           Nicene
           Council
           was
           called
           by
           Constantine
           the
           Great
           ;
           the
           first
           Constantinopolitan
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           second
           General
           Council
           ,
           by
           Theodosius
           ;
           that
           of
           Ephesus
           ,
           by
           Theodosius
           Junior
           ;
           that
           of
           Chalcedon
           ,
           by
           Martianus
           ;
           the
           fifth
           ,
           by
           Justinian
           ,
           &c.
           
           All
           which
           are
           such
           evident
           Proofs
           ,
           that
           the
           Cardinals
           ,
           
             Cusanus
             ,
             Jacobatius
          
           ,
           and
           Zabarella
           confess
           ,
           that
           in
           the
           first
           Ages
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           the
           Right
           of
           Calling
           Councils
           belonged
           to
           the
           Emperour
           .
        
         
           Nor
           are
           Their
           Proceedings
           any
           better
           .
           For
           the
           Popes
           admit
           no
           Assessours
           or
           Judges
           in
           Councils
           ,
           but
           their
           own
           Faction
           ,
           Men
           beforehand
           enslaved
           by
           a
           Solemn
           Oath
           (
           which
           all
           Bishops
           of
           that
           Communion
           take
           at
           their
           Consecration
           )
           to
           maintain
           the
           
             Regalia
             Petri
          
           ,
           all
           the
           Usurpations
           of
           that
           See.
           The
           Pope
           is
           the
           only
           Authentick
           Judge
           in
           All
           matters
           ,
           Approving
           and
           Refusing
           whatever
           He
           pleases
           .
        
         
           Their
           own
           Histories
           afford
           us
           Examples
           enough
           to
           confirm
           this
           .
           I
           shall
           instance
           but
           in
           the
           Sleights
           and
           Wiles
           of
           the
           Late
           so
           much
           cryed
           up
           Trent-Council
           .
           Wherein
           ,
           to
           make
           sure
           work
           ,
           on
           the
           Pope's
           side
           there
           were
           more
           Italian
           Bishops
           than
           of
           all
           the
           World
           beside
           .
           And
           most
           ridiculously
           to
           dazle
           the
           eyes
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           some
           of
           these
           subscribe
           themselves
           Eastern
           Patriarchs
           ,
           as
           of
           Jerusalem
           ,
           &c.
           and
           Others
           as
           if
           they
           were
           Greek
           Prelates
           .
           Some
           had
           the
           Titles
           of
           Archbishops
           ,
           who
           had
           neither
           Church
           nor
           Diocess
           ;
           as
           Upsalensis
           and
           Armachanus
           ,
           who
           were
           Created
           on
           purpose
           to
           fill
           up
           the
           Number
           .
           And
           when
           the
           Pope
           on
           a
           certain
           Occasion
           wanted
           Voices
           to
           sway
           the
           cause
           ,
           He
           sent
           a
           fresh
           supply
           of
           40
           Bishops
           newly
           made
           .
           And
           this
           was
           part
           of
           that
           Leigerdemain
           ,
           which
           an
           Eminent
           French
           Bishop
           ,
           
             Claud
             ,
             Espenc
          
           .
           one
           of
           those
           vvho
           sat
           in
           the
           Council
           ,
           calls
           
             the
             Great
          
           Helena
           
             which
             of
             late
             Ruled
             All
             at
          
           Trent
           .
           
             in
             Ep.
             ad
             Tit.
             c.
          
           1.
           
        
         
           All
           the
           Oriental
           and
           Greek
           Patriarchs
           and
           Bishops
           were
           Excluded
           :
           None
           out
           of
           
             England
             ,
             Scotland
             ,
             Ireland
             ,
             Danemark
             ,
             Swedland
          
           ;
           few
           out
           of
           France
           and
           Spain
           ;
           fewer
           out
           of
           Germany
           it self
           ,
           were
           admitted
           .
           When
           the
           Protestants
           required
           ,
           
           Audience
           ,
           they
           could
           not
           be
           hearken'd
           to
           ,
           upon
           any
           tolerable
           terms
           .
           It
           was
           long
           before
           they
           could
           get
           a
           Safe-Conduct
           ;
           and
           when
           it
           was
           procured
           ,
           it
           was
           clogg'd
           with
           this
           Clause
           ,
           
             That
             it
             should
             belong
             to
             none
             ,
             but
             such
             as
             would
             Repent
             and
             Return
             to
             the
             Bosom
             of
             the
             Roman
             Church
             .
          
           This
           Partiality
           and
           Jugling
           when
           the
           Princes
           of
           Europe
           saw
           ,
           they
           sent
           their
           Protestations
           against
           the
           Council
           ,
           as
           being
           Insufficient
           to
           Resorm
           Religion
           .
        
         
           In
           Trying
           and
           Deciding
           Controversies
           ,
           they
           adhered
           more
           to
           Tradition
           than
           Scripture
           :
           and
           pass'd
           nothing
           till
           the
           Pope
           with
           his
           Consistory
           had
           seen
           it
           at
           home
           ,
           and
           approved
           it
           ;
           and
           then
           he
           transmitted
           it
           to
           his
           Legats
           .
           So
           that
           ,
           as
           One
           said
           ,
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           was
           continually
           posted
           in
           Cloakbags
           between
           Rome
           and
           Trent
           .
           (
           Though
           ,
           by
           the
           way
           ,
           their
           own
           Doctors
           teach
           that
           the
           Assistance
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           is
           a
           personal
           Privilege
           and
           cannot
           be
           Delegated
           .
           )
           While
           the
           Divines
           were
           formally
           Disputing
           at
           Trent
           ,
           the
           Pope
           was
           as
           busie
           in
           Ingrossing
           Canons
           at
           Rome
           ,
           and
           sending
           them
           to
           the
           Council
           to
           be
           published
           .
           Thus
           they
           proceeded
           ,
           sometimes
           by
           a
           wrong
           Rule
           ,
           sometimes
           by
           none
           at
           all
           .
           In
           the
           4th
           Session
           they
           Decree
           ,
           That
           none
           should
           give
           any
           other
           Exposition
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           than
           such
           as
           might
           agree
           with
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           .
           And
           yet
           this
           very
           Doctrine
           was
           the
           Thing
           questioned
           ,
           and
           the
           Scriptures
           were
           to
           have
           been
           the
           Touchstone
           to
           try
           it
           by
           .
        
         
           Take
           this
           whole
           Affair
           in
           the
           Words
           of
           
             Andraeas
             Dudithius
          
           ,
           a
           Bishop
           in
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           and
           an
           Eminent
           Member
           of
           this
           Council
           .
           He
           thus
           writes
           in
           an
           Epistle
           to
           the
           Emperour
           Maximilian
           the
           2d
           ,
           what
           good
           could
           be
           done
           in
           that
           Council
           ,
           where
           voices
           were
           taken
           by
           Number
           ,
           and
           not
           by
           Weight
           ?
           The
           Pope
           was
           able
           to
           set
           an
           100
           of
           his
           against
           every
           one
           of
           ours
           ;
           and
           if
           an
           100
           were
           not
           sufficient
           ,
           he
           could
           on
           a
           sudden
           have
           created
           a
           thousand
           to
           succour
           those
           that
           were
           ready
           to
           faint
           .
           We
           might
           every
           day
           see
           hungry
           and
           needy
           Bishops
           ,
           and
           those
           for
           the
           most
           part
           Beardless
           Youngsters
           ,
           come
           in
           Flocks
           to
           Trent
           ,
           hired
           to
           give
           their
           Voice
           according
           to
           the
           Pope's
           humour
           :
           unlearned
           indeed
           and
           foolish
           but
           of
           good
           Use
           to
           him
           for
           their
           Audaciousness
           and
           Impudency
           The
           Holy
           Ghost
           had
           nothing
           to
           do
           with
           that
           Conventicle
           .
           All
           things
           were
           carried
           by
           Humane
           Policy
           ,
           which
           was
           wholly
           employed
           in
           Maintaining
           the
           Immoderate
           ,
           and
           indeed
           most
           Shameless
           Lordship
           and
           Domineering
           of
           the
           Pope
           .
           From
           thence
           were
           Answers
           waited
           for
           ,
           as
           from
           the
           Oracles
           of
           Delphos
           or
           Dodona
           .
           From
           thence
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           who
           ,
           as
           they
           brag
           ,
           was
           President
           of
           their
           Council
           ,
           was
           sent
           shut
           up
           in
           Carriers
           Budgets
           ,
           who
           (
           a
           thing
           worthy
           to
           be
           laugh'd
           at
           )
           when
           the
           Waters
           were
           up
           ,
           as
           it
           falls
           out
           many
           times
           ,
           was
           fain
           to
           stay
           till
           they
           were
           down
           again
           ,
           before
           he
           could
           repair
           to
           the
           Council
           .
           By
           this
           means
           it
           came
           to
           pass
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Spirit
             was
             not
             carried
             on
             the
             Waters
             ,
          
           as
           in
           Genesis
           ,
           but
           along
           besides
           the
           Waters
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           Nothing
           is
           more
           talk'd
           of
           than
           the
           Infallibility
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           :
           and
           this
           I
           know
           to
           be
           a
           most
           tempting
           Bait
           to
           get
           Proselytes
           ;
           especially
           amidst
           those
           Many
           Dissentions
           in
           the
           Christian
           World
           at
           this
           Day
           .
           But
           because
           this
           Pretext
           hath
           been
           utterly
           destroyed
           by
           the
           Lord
           Falkland
           ,
           Mr.
           Chillingworth
           ,
           and
           other
           most
           Learned
           Pens
           ,
           I
           will
           only
           Recommend
           this
           Single
           Consideration
           to
           All
           Judicious
           Roman
           Catholicks
           ,
           who
           would
           not
           be
           chouced
           out
           of
           their
           Wits
           ,
           Estates
           
           and
           Liberties
           by
           a
           Gang
           of
           Ecclesiastical
           Mountebanks
           ,
           viz.
           That
           this
           Huge
           ,
           Swelling
           Prerogative
           of
           Infallibility
           is
           so
           Sensless
           a
           Thing
           ,
           so
           Ungrounded
           ,
           that
           no
           Romanist
           according
           to
           his
           own
           Principles
           ,
           can
           have
           so
           much
           as
           a
           probable
           Moral
           Assurance
           of
           that
           wherein
           he
           thinks
           himself
           Infallible
           .
           And
           unless
           every
           one
           in
           particular
           be
           Infallible
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           little
           purpose
           to
           boast
           of
           an
           Infallible
           Judge
           .
           For
           a
           Man
           may
           as
           well
           mistake
           the
           Meaning
           of
           his
           Sentence
           ,
           as
           the
           Sentence
           of
           one
           who
           proceeds
           only
           upon
           prudent
           Moral
           Assurance
           :
           and
           we
           see
           that
           thousands
           do
           erre
           in
           the
           Interpretation
           of
           those
           acknowledged
           Infallible
           Oracles
           ,
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           .
        
         
           The
           Consideration
           I
           recommend
           is
           this
           .
           That
           after
           All
           the
           Stirr
           that
           is
           made
           about
           Infallibility
           ,
           the
           Learnedest
           amongst
           them
           knows
           not
           where
           to
           meet
           with
           it
           ;
           nor
           in
           what
           cases
           it
           is
           annexed
           to
           that
           Chair
           ,
           in
           what
           it
           forsakes
           it
           .
           Some
           ,
           as
           the
           Jesuits
           generally
           ,
           will
           have
           it
           in
           the
           Pope
           :
           but
           then
           whether
           with
           his
           Cardinals
           ,
           or
           by
           Himself
           is
           controverted
           very
           briskly
           .
           Others
           will
           have
           it
           in
           a
           General
           Council
           :
           and
           this
           Opinion
           is
           backt
           by
           no
           less
           Authority
           than
           the
           Councils
           of
           Basil
           and
           Constance
           .
           But
           then
           the
           Church
           hath
           been
           very
           long
           without
           it
           ,
           and
           possibly
           may
           never
           injoy
           it
           by
           means
           of
           a
           General
           Council
           to
           the
           End
           of
           the
           World.
           That
           wherein
           they
           fix
           it
           with
           most
           plausibility
           is
           both
           the
           Pope
           and
           a
           Council
           together
           .
           But
           even
           here
           we
           are
           at
           a
           great
           many
           losses
           .
           For
           as
           to
           the
           Pope
           ,
           no
           man
           can
           be
           assured
           of
           his
           being
           a
           true
           Pope
           ;
           considering
           the
           various
           defects
           that
           may
           render
           him
           otherwise
           ;
           as
           a
           fundamental
           Error
           in
           his
           Election
           ,
           Simoniacal
           Induction
           ,
           the
           female
           Sex
           ,
           Want
           of
           true
           Baptism
           and
           Holy
           Orders
           ,
           both
           which
           depend
           upon
           the
           Intention
           and
           Validity
           of
           those
           ,
           from
           whom
           he
           receives
           them
           ;
           and
           theirs
           upon
           the
           like
           Qualifications
           in
           their
           Predecessor
           &c.
           
           Occult
           Heresie
           and
           Many
           others
           .
           And
           then
           as
           to
           a
           Council
           ,
           which
           consists
           chiefly
           of
           Bishops
           (
           tho
           the
           Popes
           ,
           for
           some
           ends
           best
           known
           to
           themselves
           have
           now
           pack'd
           in
           Cardinals
           ,
           Abbots
           ,
           Generals
           of
           Orders
           ,
           &c.
           besides
           that
           ,
           the
           Validity
           of
           a
           Council
           depends
           upon
           the
           uncertainty
           of
           the
           Pope's
           being
           truly
           Qualified
           ;
           the
           very
           same
           Difficulties
           occur
           in
           every
           particular
           Member
           ,
           as
           did
           in
           respect
           of
           the
           Pope
           himself
           .
           The
           like
           uncertainty
           appears
           in
           every
           Sacrament
           administred
           in
           that
           Church
           ,
           some
           whereof
           are
           absolutely
           necessary
           ,
           both
           
             Necessitate
             Medii
             &
             Praecepti
          
           .
           v.
           g.
           in
           Baptism
           ,
           Absolution
           ,
           Consecration
           of
           the
           Host
           ,
           which
           if
           it
           be
           not
           duly
           performed
           ,
           Idolatry
           is
           committed
           by
           the
           People
           in
           adoring
           it
           ,
           even
           by
           their
           own
           Concessions
           .
           Azorius
           the
           Jesuit
           ,
           Enchirid.
           c.
           8.
           openly
           proclaims
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           a
           more
           tolerable
           Error
           in
           them
           who
           worship
           Golden
           and
           Silver
           Statues
           ,
           as
           the
           Gentiles
           did
           their
           Gods
           ;
           nay
           ,
           a
           piece
           of
           red
           Cloth
           on
           the
           top
           of
           a
           Spear
           ,
           as
           the
           Laplanders
           are
           reported
           to
           do
           ,
           than
           in
           those
           who
           adore
           a
           piece
           of
           Bread.
           
        
         
           And
           now
           I
           would
           fain
           know
           of
           a
           Lay-Roman-Catholick
           ,
           what
           is
           become
           of
           his
           Infallibility
           ,
           where
           it
           is
           ,
           and
           to
           what
           purpose
           it
           serves
           him
           ?
           No
           where
           is
           it
           to
           be
           found
           ,
           as
           I
           know
           of
           ,
           but
           in
           the
           bold
           Assertion
           of
           every
           pragmatical
           Confessor
           ,
           Who
           bids
           you
           be
           sure
           to
           look
           to
           your
           Faith
           ;
           (
           who
           are
           the
           Solifidians
           now
           ?
           )
           to
           believe
           as
           the
           Church
           believes
           ,
           and
           then
           all
           is
           safe
           ;
           for
           the
           breach
           of
           the
           Ten
           Commandments
           ,
           there
           are
           Merits
           and
           Indulgences
           enough
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           which
           being
           mixt
           with
           a
           little
           Attrition
           and
           Confession
           will
           do
           the
           
           work
           .
           Though
           in
           the
           mean
           while
           He
           himself
           can
           neither
           tell
           where
           this
           Infallible
           Church
           is
           ,
           nor
           what
           she
           certainly
           believes
           .
        
         
           Methinks
           S.
           Paul
           spoke
           as
           much
           like
           a
           Prophet
           as
           an
           Apostle
           :
           as
           if
           he
           foresaw
           the
           Haughtiness
           of
           the
           Members
           of
           that
           Church
           to
           which
           he
           wrote
           .
           And
           therefore
           to
           curb
           them
           and
           banish
           from
           their
           Minds
           all
           such
           vain
           conceits
           of
           Infallibility
           ,
           he
           tells
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           she
           stood
           on
           no
           firmer
           grounds
           than
           her
           Neighbours
           .
           His
           words
           are
           these
           ,
           worthy
           to
           be
           had
           in
           everlasting
           Remembrance
           by
           All
           Roman-Catholicks
           .
           Rom.
           11.
           18
           ,
           19
           ,
           
             Boast
             not
             against
             the
             Branches
             ,
             &c.
             
             Well
             :
             because
             of
             unbelief
             they
             were
             broken
             off
             ;
             and
             Thou
             standest
             by
             Faith.
             Be
             not
             high-minded
             ,
             but
             fear
             .
             For
             if
             God
             spared
             not
             the
             natural
             branches
             ,
             take
             heed
             lest
             he
             also
             spare
             not
             Thee
             .
             Behold
             therefore
             the
             Goodness
             and
             Severity
             of
             God
             :
             on
             them
             which
             seli
             ,
             Severity
             ,
             but
             towards
             Thee
             Goodness
             ;
             if
             Thou
             continue
             in
             his
             Goodness
             :
             otherwise
             Thou
             also
             shalt
             be
             cut
             off
             .
          
           Which
           words
           need
           rather
           your
           Practice
           than
           my
           Paraphrase
           .
        
         
           How
           much
           Safer
           and
           more
           Satisfactory
           is
           it
           to
           rely
           on
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           themselves
           ;
           which
           by
           all
           Sides
           are
           acknowledged
           Infallible
           ?
           For
           as
           much
           as
           they
           were
           divinely
           Inspired
           by
           that
           great
           Infallible
           Truth
           ,
           which
           neither
           can
           be
           deceived
           ,
           nor
           deceive
           his
           Creatures
           ;
           which
           can
           make
           you
           wise
           enough
           to
           Salvation
           and
           who
           hath
           promised
           to
           every
           humble
           Petitioner
           ,
           and
           devout
           Practiser
           ,
           a
           sufficient
           Competency
           of
           Knowledge
           ,
           in
           what
           is
           necessary
           for
           his
           present
           Condition
           and
           Eternal
           Happiness
           .
        
         
           Now
           all
           this
           you
           will
           find
           abundantly
           provided
           for
           in
           the
           Doctrine
           and
           Constitutions
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
        
         
           Here
           is
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           faithfully
           Translated
           ,
           and
           exactly
           ,
           as
           far
           as
           the
           Idiomes
           of
           Languages
           will
           permit
           ,
           compared
           with
           the
           Originals
           :
           and
           All
           those
           Books
           received
           ,
           of
           whose
           Authority
           there
           was
           never
           any
           doubt
           made
           in
           the
           Church
           .
           Some
           others
           called
           Apocryphal
           ,
           are
           read
           indeed
           ;
           but
           as
           Ruffinus
           in
           
             Exposit.
             Symboli
          
           ,
           speaks
           ,
           
             non
             ad
             Fidem
             firmandam
             sed
             ad
             Mores
             Instruendos
             :
          
           Not
           for
           confirming
           Faith
           ,
           but
           for
           direction
           of
           Manners
           .
           And
           they
           are
           excluded
           from
           the
           Canon
           upon
           very
           weighty
           Reasons
           .
           For
           that
           they
           were
           never
           committed
           as
           of
           Divine
           Authority
           to
           the
           Jews
           :
           to
           whom
           the
           Oracles
           of
           God
           were
           intrusted
           ,
           Rom.
           3.
           2.
           
           Nor
           are
           they
           to
           be
           found
           in
           the
           Hebrew
           Canon
           .
           They
           are
           never
           found
           cited
           by
           Christ
           or
           his
           Apostles
           :
           and
           in
           some
           places
           they
           contain
           things
           manifestly
           false
           ,
           contradictory
           both
           to
           themselves
           &
           the
           other
           Genuine
           Prophetical
           Writers
           .
        
         
           You
           have
           here
           the
           three
           Creeds
           ,
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           that
           of
           the
           Nicene
           Council
           ,
           and
           that
           of
           S.
           Athanasius
           :
           together
           with
           the
           four
           first
           General
           Councils
           ,
           which
           represent
           to
           us
           the
           Sincere
           Scheme
           of
           Apostolical
           ,
           Primitive
           Doctrine
           and
           Discipline
           .
        
         
           You
           have
           here
           good
           works
           Recommended
           ,
           Preach'd
           and
           Practiced
           ,
           as
           the
           Fruits
           of
           Faith
           and
           Evidences
           of
           our
           Justification
           :
           and
           though
           not
           as
           Expiatory
           for
           our
           Sins
           ,
           yet
           as
           in
           Obedience
           to
           the
           Divine
           commands
           ,
           and
           as
           a
           Sacrifice
           acceptable
           to
           God.
           And
           even
           in
           this
           Degenerate
           Age
           of
           Christianity
           it
           might
           be
           made
           to
           appear
           ,
           that
           as
           many
           Acts
           and
           Monuments
           of
           Real
           Charity
           have
           been
           exhibited
           since
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           as
           were
           in
           many
           Ages
           before
           .
           But
           
           for
           those
           Works
           of
           Suprerecogation
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           called
           ,
           whereby
           we
           are
           presumed
           to
           perform
           more
           than
           is
           our
           Duty
           ,
           this
           Church
           worthily
           disowns
           them
           ,
           as
           savouring
           of
           too
           much
           Pride
           and
           self
           Conceitedness
           in
           us
           ,
           who
           at
           the
           best
           are
           but
           unprofitable
           Servants
           .
        
         
           You
           have
           here
           a
           just
           and
           Competent
           Authority
           allowed
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           of
           appointing
           Decent
           Rites
           and
           Ceremonies
           ,
           and
           of
           determining
           Controversies
           in
           Religion
           :
           provided
           she
           decide
           nothing
           Repugnant
           to
           the
           Holy
           Scripture
           .
           And
           the
           Apostles
           themselves
           challenged
           no
           more
           ,
           Witness
           S.
           
             Paul
             :
             Be
             ye
             followers
             of
             me
             as
             I
             am
             of
             Christ.
             
          
        
         
           You
           have
           here
           a
           
             Lawful
             Call
          
           to
           and
           Succession
           in
           the
           Ministerial
           Function
           (
           and
           this
           Succession
           ,
           if
           need
           were
           ,
           may
           be
           shewn
           to
           be
           more
           Sincere
           and
           less
           Interrupted
           than
           that
           in
           the
           Roman
           Church
           .
           )
           As
           likewise
           those
           Three
           most
           Antient
           degrees
           of
           
             Bishops
             ,
             Priests
          
           and
           Deacons
           :
           and
           the
           manner
           of
           their
           Ordination
           most
           conformable
           to
           God's
           Word
           and
           Primitive
           Constitutions
           and
           Practice
           .
        
         
           You
           have
           here
           all
           the
           Divine
           Services
           and
           Administration
           of
           the
           Sacraments
           ,
           performed
           in
           the
           known
           Vulgar
           Tongue
           of
           the
           Country
           ,
           to
           the
           Edification
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           Divine
           Precept
           .
           On
           which
           Subject
           S.
           Paul
           hath
           written
           a
           whole
           Chapter
           ,
           1
           Cor.
           14.
           no
           ways
           reconcilable
           to
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           :
           which
           herein
           is
           confessed
           to
           disagree
           with
           Antiquity
           ,
           by
           the
           most
           Learned
           of
           our
           Adversaries
           ,
           and
           many
           of
           them
           wish
           that
           the
           Custome
           were
           abolished
           .
           Nor
           doth
           their
           
             Common
             Plea
          
           avail
           ;
           that
           God
           understands
           any
           Language
           :
           for
           many
           parts
           of
           their
           Service
           are
           addressed
           to
           the
           People
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           God
           :
           as
           the
           Instructions
           out
           of
           the
           Epistles
           and
           Gospels
           ,
           
             Orate
             Fratres
          
           ,
           &c.
           and
           many
           Occurrencies
           in
           the
           Administration
           of
           the
           Sacraments
           .
        
         
           Here
           you
           will
           find
           the
           
             two
             great
             Sacraments
          
           of
           the
           New
           Law
           ,
           Baptism
           and
           the
           
             Sacred
             Eucharist
          
           .
           The
           first
           never
           so
           much
           as
           questioned
           by
           our
           Adversaries
           as
           to
           its
           Validity
           .
           And
           the
           other
           Administred
           in
           the
           due
           Matter
           and
           Form
           of
           Divine
           Institution
           ;
           and
           that
           intirely
           ,
           without
           committing
           that
           
             Grand
             Sacrilege
          
           of
           taking
           away
           the
           Cup
           from
           the
           Layity
           .
           And
           if
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           Embrace
           all
           that
           is
           Really
           conveyed
           to
           us
           in
           those
           High
           Mysteries
           ,
           viz.
           The
           Application
           of
           those
           Ineffable
           Benefits
           and
           Advantages
           of
           the
           
             Sacred
             Body
          
           and
           Blood
           of
           Christ
           ;
           it
           is
           as
           much
           as
           every
           Good
           Christian
           can
           desire
           ,
           and
           enough
           ,
           if
           duly
           received
           ,
           to
           make
           him
           Happy
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           for
           that
           Wonderful
           Doctrin
           of
           Transubstantiation
           ,
           we
           have
           the
           Romanists
           own
           Acknowledgment
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           not
           believed
           in
           that
           Church
           till
           the
           Councel
           of
           Lateran
           ,
           which
           likewise
           
             Decreed
             the
             Deposing
             of
             Kings
          
           :
           and
           I
           am
           sure
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           hath
           
             Scripture
             ,
             Antiquity
             ,
             Reason
          
           ,
           and
           the
           concurring
           Testimony
           of
           
             all
             our
             Senses
          
           ,
           when
           she
           acknowledges
           a
           
             Real
             Presence
          
           to
           the
           True
           Believer
           ,
           without
           Annihilating
           the
           Substance
           of
           the
           Elements
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           sure
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           at
           the
           Institution
           calls
           the
           whole
           Action
           a
           Commemoration
           :
           and
           in
           the
           Consecration
           of
           the
           Cup
           he
           most
           apparently
           uses
           a
           double
           Figure
           ;
           both
           in
           the
           Cup
           ,
           used
           for
           what
           is
           in
           it
           ,
           and
           the
           Testament
           ,
           for
           what
           is
           conveyed
           by
           it
           .
           He
           himself
           calls
           it
           the
           Fruit
           of
           the
           Vine
           .
           And
           S.
           Paul
           ,
           1
           Cor.
           11.
           26.
           27
           ,
           28.
           in
           3
           verses
           together
           expresly
           calls
           it
           Bread
           even
           after
           the
           Consecration
           ;
           
           Whoever
           shall
           eat
           this
           Bread
           ,
           &c.
           
           As
           often
           as
           ye
           eat
           this
           Bread
           ,
           &c.
           
           Let
           a
           man
           examine
           himself
           and
           so
           let
           him
           eat
           of
           this
           Bread.
           
        
         
           And
           whereas
           our
           Saviour
           saies
           
             This
             is
             my
             Body
          
           :
           to
           omit
           the
           multitude
           of
           Authorities
           that
           might
           be
           produced
           ,
           let
           the
           great
           
             S.
             Augustin
          
           speak
           the
           sence
           of
           All
           Antiquity
           :
           Christ
           did
           not
           stick
           to
           say
           
             This
             is
             my
             Body
          
           ,
           when
           he
           gave
           the
           
             Sign
             of
             his
             Body
          
           ,
           in
           Psalm
           .
           98.
           and
           
             de
             Doctrin
             .
             Christian.
             l.
          
           3
           c.
           10.
           he
           lays
           down
           this
           notable
           Rule
           ;
           If
           you
           find
           a
           Commandment
           that
           forbids
           a
           Crime
           ,
           or
           injoins
           any
           good
           Action
           ,
           then
           its
           sense
           is
           not
           Figurative
           :
           but
           it
           is
           otherwise
           when
           it
           seems
           to
           command
           a
           Crime
           and
           prohibit
           a
           good
           Action
           .
           Except
           you
           eat
           the
           flesh
           of
           the
           Son
           of
           Man
           and
           drink
           his
           blood
           ,
           you
           have
           no
           life
           in
           you
           ,
           saies
           Christ.
           That
           word
           seems
           to
           command
           a
           Crime
           :
           it
           is
           therefore
           a
           Figure
           ;
           which
           bids
           us
           Communicate
           in
           the
           passion
           of
           our
           Lord
           ,
           and
           call
           into
           our
           Memories
           with
           sweetness
           and
           benefit
           ,
           that
           his
           Flesh
           hath
           been
           wounded
           and
           nailed
           on
           the
           Cross
           for
           us
           .
        
         
           Thus
           doth
           
             S.
             Augustin
          
           teach
           .
           And
           indeed
           nothing
           is
           more
           frequent
           in
           Holy
           Writ
           ,
           than
           such
           manner
           of
           Speech
           :
           
             This
             is
             the
             Lord
             's
             Passover
             .
             I
             am
             the
             true
             Vine
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           But
           to
           examine
           this
           business
           fully
           ,
           would
           require
           a
           just
           Volume
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           already
           done
           by
           very
           able
           Pens
           .
        
         
           The
           5
           other
           Sacraments
           in
           use
           in
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           are
           solemnly
           used
           by
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           though
           not
           under
           that
           notion
           :
           excepting
           the
           Ceremony
           of
           Anoynting
           ,
           which
           was
           a
           Miraculous
           guift
           of
           Healing
           peculiar
           to
           the
           Apostles
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           you
           may
           injoy
           the
           true
           use
           and
           Advantage
           of
           Confession
           and
           Absolution
           ,
           in
           a
           far
           more
           serious
           and
           less
           suspicious
           manner
           than
           in
           the
           Roman
           Church
           .
           And
           as
           for
           Absolution
           ,
           even
           the
           Form
           of
           it
           is
           as
           full
           and
           Compleat
           as
           theirs
           .
           I
           will
           set
           it
           down
           here
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           found
           in
           the
           Service
           for
           the
           Visitation
           of
           the
           Sick.
           
             —
             Our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             who
             hath
             left
             power
             to
             his
             Church
             ,
             to
             Absolve
             all
             Sinners
             ,
             who
             truly
             Repent
             and
             Believe
             in
             him
             ,
             of
             his
             Great
             Mercy
             forgive
             thee
             thy
             offences
             :
             And
             by
             his
             Authority
             committed
             to
             me
             ,
             I
             absolve
             thee
             from
             all
             thy
             Sins
             ;
             in
             the
             name
             of
             the
             Father
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Son
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             .
          
        
         
           Her
           Churches
           are
           decently
           kept
           and
           adorned
           ,
           (
           at
           least
           it
           is
           her
           desire
           they
           should
           be
           so
           )
           though
           not
           crowded
           with
           Images
           :
           the
           Historical
           use
           of
           which
           she
           rejects
           not
           :
           but
           the
           Adoration
           of
           them
           she
           worthily
           esteems
           most
           Dangerous
           and
           Detestable
           .
           And
           truly
           for
           my
           own
           part
           ,
           I
           think
           that
           Dr.
           Stillingfleet
           ,
           now
           the
           Reverend
           Dean
           of
           S.
           Pauls
           ,
           hath
           little
           less
           than
           Demonstrated
           it
           to
           be
           Idolatry
           .
           Let
           any
           but
           impartially
           examin
           the
           general
           practice
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           especially
           on
           Good-Friday
           in
           creeping
           to
           the
           Cross
           :
           and
           he
           will
           find
           an
           undeniable
           proof
           of
           their
           
             Adoring
             Images
          
           .
           The
           Priest
           by
           degrees
           uncovers
           the
           Crucifix
           ,
           lists
           it
           upto
           be
           Adored
           with
           these
           words
           ,
           
             Ecce
             Lignum
             Crucis
          
           ,
           &c.
           
           
             Behold
             the
             Wood
             of
             the
             Cross
             ,
             come
             let
             us
             Adore
             it
             .
          
           Then
           first
           he
           himself
           ,
           then
           all
           that
           are
           present
           ,
           with
           three
           Prostrations
           of
           the
           Body
           ,
           even
           to
           the
           Kissing
           of
           the
           very
           Earth
           ,
           approach
           to
           it
           ,
           and
           with
           all
           Reverence
           Imaginable
           
             Adore
             it
          
           .
        
         
           The
           Worship
           and
           Invocation
           of
           Saints
           and
           Angels
           ,
           is
           here
           looked
           upon
           as
           at
           least
           very
           Dangerous
           ,
           and
           not
           having
           any
           President
           in
           the
           Old
           or
           New
           Testament
           ,
           S.
           Paul
           hath
           imparted
           his
           mind
           to
           us
           in
           this
           matter
           ▪
           Coloss.
           2.
           18.
           
           
             Let
             no
          
           
           
             man
             beguile
             you
             of
             your
             reward
             ,
             in
             a
             voluntary
             humility
             ,
             and
             worshipping
             of
             Angels
             ,
             intruding
             into
             those
             things
             which
             he
             hath
             not
             seen
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Doctrines
           of
           
             Merit
             ,
             Indulgences
             ,
             Purgatory
          
           ,
           &c.
           are
           presumptuous
           at
           best
           ,
           and
           full
           of
           Abuses
           ,
           contrived
           more
           for
           the
           Priests
           profit
           than
           the
           Penitents
           comfort
           .
           All
           which
           considered
           ,
           together
           with
           the
           small
           grounds
           for
           the
           belief
           of
           them
           ,
           they
           are
           worthily
           disowned
           by
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
           Nor
           was
           Bellarmin
           ,
           when
           out
           of
           the
           heat
           of
           School
           Disputes
           ,
           of
           a
           Different
           Judgment
           ,
           l.
           5.
           
             de
             Justif.
             c.
          
           7.
           
           
             Propter
             incertitudinem
          
           ,
           &c.
           By
           reason
           of
           the
           Uncertainty
           of
           our
           own
           Justice
           and
           the
           Danger
           of
           Vain
           Glory
           ;
           
             Tutissimum
             est
          
           ,
           &c.
           
           It
           is
           the
           safest
           course
           to
           repose
           all
           our
           Confidence
           in
           the
           alone
           Mercy
           and
           Benignity
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           In
           short
           ,
           you
           will
           find
           that
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           in
           her
           Reformation
           ,
           which
           was
           most
           Regular
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           Supreme
           Authority
           of
           the
           Whole
           Nation
           ,
           retains
           all
           the
           Essentials
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           onely
           Rectified
           such
           things
           as
           She
           found
           ,
           and
           the
           whole
           World
           complained
           ,
           were
           some
           Ridiculous
           ,
           some
           Impious
           ;
           Others
           Sensual
           and
           Cruel
           .
        
         
           Such
           are
           the
           Innumerable
           Crossings
           ,
           Repetitions
           of
           Names
           ,
           Kissings
           of
           the
           Pax
           and
           Images
           ,
           Offering
           up
           of
           Incense
           and
           Candles
           ,
           Impertinent
           Pilgrimages
           ,
           &c.
           and
           a
           Thousand
           the
           like
           absurdities
           .
        
         
           Such
           as
           teach
           men
           to
           put
           their
           Confidence
           in
           Bless'd
           Beads
           and
           Medals
           ,
           Counterfeit
           Relicks
           ,
           Confraternities
           ,
           Sodalities
           ;
           to
           trust
           to
           Mundayes
           Prayers
           for
           the
           Dead
           ,
           and
           our
           Ladie
           's
           Litanies
           :
           and
           Ascribe
           to
           pieces
           of
           Wax
           called
           
             Agnus
             Dei's
          
           ,
           Divine
           power
           and
           Efficacy
           ,
           even
           as
           much
           as
           is
           due
           only
           to
           the
           
             Pretious
             Blood
             of
             the
             Son
             of
             God.
          
           Nor
           is
           this
           the
           belief
           and
           practice
           onely
           of
           a
           few
           Old
           Wives
           :
           but
           the
           
             Authentick
             Book
             of
             the
             Sacred
             Ceremonies
          
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           tells
           us
           how
           Urban
           V.
           sent
           three
           
             Agnus
             Dei's
          
           to
           the
           
             Greek
             Emperor
          
           ,
           with
           most
           Blasphemous
           Rythmes
           annexed
           concerning
           their
           Virtue
           .
           Amongst
           others
           this
           is
           Verbatim
           set
           down
           ,
           
             —
             Peccatum
             frangit
             ut
             Christi
             sanguis
             et
             angit
             —
          
           that
           it
           Destroys
           Sin
           as
           the
           Blood
           of
           Christ
           doth
           .
        
         
           And
           this
           was
           not
           the
           Practice
           of
           one
           Phantastical
           Pope
           alone
           ,
           but
           according
           to
           the
           foresaid
           Book
           ,
           l.
           1.
           
           Every
           Pope
           in
           blessing
           these
           
             Agnus
             Dei's
          
           uses
           this
           Prayer
           .
           
             That
             it
             would
             please
             thee
             ,
             O
             God
             ,
             to
             bless
             these
             things
             ,
             which
             we
             purpose
             to
             pour
             into
             this
             Vessel
             of
             Water
             prepared
             for
             thy
             Name
             :
             so
             as
             by
             the
             Worship
             and
             Honour
             of
             them
             ,
             we
             thy
             Servants
             may
             have
             our
             heinous
             offences
             done
             away
             ,
             the
             blemishes
             of
             our
             Sins
             wiped
             off
             ,
             and
             thereby
             we
             may
             obtain
             pardon
             ,
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           No
           Meaner
           a
           Person
           than
           the
           Angelical
           Doctor
           S.
           
             Thomas
             Aquinas
          
           ,
           attributes
           the
           same
           Virtue
           of
           taking
           away
           Venial
           Sins
           ,
           to
           
             Holy
             Water
          
           .
           And
           likewise
           3.
           qu.
           25.
           a.
           3.
           in
           c.
           most
           Orthodoxly
           defends
           ,
           That
           Stocks
           and
           Stones
           ,
           I
           mean
           Images
           ,
           are
           to
           be
           worshipped
           with
           Latria
           ,
           the
           
             same
             Honour
          
           that
           is
           due
           to
           the
           Creator
           .
           Suarez
           and
           Vasquez
           teach
           the
           same
           .
        
         
           To
           Conclude
           this
           Discourse
           .
           In
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           You
           will
           meet
           with
           all
           that
           is
           Good
           and
           Warrantable
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ;
           what
           ever
           is
           Necessary
           to
           Salvation
           :
           and
           that
           by
           the
           Confession
           of
           the
           Learnedest
           Romans
           .
           Let
           Bellarmin
           
           speak
           for
           all
           .
           l.
           4.
           
             de
             Verbo
             Dei.
             c.
          
           11.
           
           
             The
             Apostles
             themselves
             never
             used
             to
             Preach
             openly
             to
             the
             people
             (
             much
             less
             propounded
             as
             Articles
             of
             Faith
             )
             other
             things
             than
             the
             Articles
             of
             the
             Apostles
             Creed
             ,
             the
             Ten
             Commandments
             ,
             and
             some
             few
             of
             the
             Sacraments
             :
             because
             ,
             saies
             he
             ,
             These
             are
             simply
             Necessary
             and
             Profitable
             for
             All
             Men
             :
             the
             Rest
             besides
             are
             
               Such
               ,
               as
               that
               a
               Man
               may
               be
               Saved
               without
               them
               .
            
          
        
         
           This
           made
           
             Antonius
             de
             Dominis
          
           ,
           Archbishop
           of
           Spalatto
           ,
           even
           at
           his
           Return
           to
           Rome
           ,
           to
           acknowledg
           the
           
             English
             Church
          
           to
           be
           a
           
             True
             Apostolical
             Church
          
           .
           And
           Father
           Fulgentio
           the
           Venetian
           ,
           Companion
           to
           Father
           Paul
           ,
           the
           Famous
           Compiler
           of
           the
           History
           of
           the
           Council
           of
           Trent
           ,
           had
           a
           most
           High
           value
           and
           Tender
           Respect
           for
           this
           Church
           ,
           as
           having
           in
           it
           all
           the
           Requisites
           for
           Faith
           ,
           Manners
           and
           Discipline
           .
           And
           that
           Incomparable
           Man
           ,
           
             Hugo
             Grotius
          
           ,
           had
           so
           Venerable
           an
           Affection
           for
           her
           ,
           above
           all
           other
           Reformed
           Churches
           ,
           that
           he
           told
           our
           Embassador
           in
           France
           ,
           That
           he
           Intended
           after
           his
           Return
           from
           Swedland
           ,
           whither
           he
           was
           designed
           Embassador
           from
           the
           
             States
             General
          
           ,
           to
           transport
           himself
           with
           his
           whole
           Family
           hither
           ,
           on
           purpose
           to
           dye
           in
           the
           Bosome
           of
           the
           English
           Church
           .
           In
           such
           Repute
           is
           She
           even
           with
           Foreigners
           .
        
         
           And
           to
           speak
           one
           word
           to
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           of
           England
           even
           in
           their
           own
           Language
           .
           By
           their
           own
           Concessions
           ,
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           is
           safer
           to
           Communicate
           with
           than
           that
           of
           Rome
           .
        
         
           For
           ,
           To
           Believe
           onely
           what
           is
           in
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           is
           as
           much
           as
           is
           necessary
           ,
           as
           Bellarmin
           Confesses
           .
           To
           worship
           God
           without
           an
           Image
           ,
           is
           acknowledged
           by
           all
           both
           safe
           and
           acceptable
           .
           To
           pray
           immediately
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           use
           the
           Lord's
           Prayer
           ,
           without
           Repeating
           so
           many
           Ave
           Maria's
           ;
           to
           perform
           the
           best
           works
           we
           can
           ,
           and
           not
           stand
           on
           the
           point
           of
           Merit
           ,
           &c.
           and
           so
           of
           the
           other
           matters
           in
           Controversie
           ,
           is
           by
           both
           Sides
           granted
           secure
           :
           Whereas
           the
           other
           Things
           in
           debate
           ,
           are
           strongly
           disputed
           by
           very
           Learned
           and
           Pious
           Men.
           Now
           what
           would
           a
           Man
           require
           more
           than
           what
           all
           acknowledge
           to
           be
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           :
           viz.
           Means
           effectually
           conducing
           and
           sufficient
           to
           
             Believe
             Well
          
           ,
           to
           
             Pray
             Well
          
           ,
           to
           
             Live
             Well
          
           ,
           and
           to
           
             Dye
             Well
          
           .
        
         
           It
           remains
           onely
           ,
           that
           the
           Truly
           Devout
           and
           Loyal
           Persons
           in
           our
           Nation
           that
           are
           of
           the
           Roman
           Persuasion
           ,
           will
           but
           vouchsafe
           to
           take
           the
           Courage
           and
           Pains
           following
           Our
           Blessed
           Saviour's
           Advice
           ,
           John
           5.
           39.
           
           
             Search
             the
             Scriptures
          
           ;
           and
           S.
           
           Paul's
           ,
           1
           Thess.
           5.
           21.
           
           
             Prove
             all
             things
             ▪
          
           2
           Cor.
           13.
           5.
           
           
             And
             examine
             your selves
             whether
             you
             be
             in
             the
             Faith.
             
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           A
           POST-SCRIPT
           To
           the
           Roman
           Catholicks
           of
           my
           Acquaintance
           .
        
         
           
             Ever
             Honoured
             and
             still
             Respected
             Friends
             ,
          
        
         
           HAving
           thus
           fairly
           and
           ingènuously
           unbosomed
           to
           you
           the
           very
           thoughts
           of
           my
           Heart
           ,
           I
           beseech
           You
           not
           to
           take
           with
           the
           
             Left
             Hand
          
           what
           I
           offer
           with
           the
           Right
           .
           Many
           of
           You
           I
           know
           to
           be
           Truly
           Vertuous
           ,
           Noble
           and
           Loyal
           :
           to
           Many
           I
           have
           most
           Endearing
           Obligations
           ;
           and
           I
           think
           none
           can
           contradict
           me
           if
           I
           affirm
           ,
           That
           my
           Converse
           among
           You
           was
           repay'd
           with
           Love
           and
           Esteem
           :
           and
           I
           take
           Heaven
           and
           Earth
           to
           witness
           ,
           that
           I
           still
           value
           you
           as
           tenderly
           as
           I
           do
           my
           own
           Soul.
           God
           onely
           knowes
           how
           many
           Throes
           and
           Struglings
           I
           had
           to
           part
           with
           those
           ,
           whom
           I
           so
           Earnestly
           affected
           .
           But
           Truth
           (
           at
           least
           as
           it
           seems
           to
           me
           )
           is
           Great
           ,
           and
           will
           prevail
           .
           My
           Request
           to
           You
           All
           is
           ,
           That
           You
           would
           not
           let
           us
           break
           in
           point
           of
           Charity
           ,
           though
           our
           Opinions
           are
           not
           altogether
           Coincident
           :
           That
           You
           would
           ,
           for
           the
           removing
           any
           scruples
           that
           may
           arise
           ,
           believe
           me
           ,
           as
           I
           shall
           answer
           at
           the
           Last
           Tribunal
           ,
           That
           I
           was
           not
           onely
           Sincere
           but
           Zealous
           ,
           while
           I
           remained
           among
           You
           :
           and
           that
           whatever
           I
           performed
           ,
           was
           with
           the
           perfect
           Intention
           of
           ,
           and
           Compliance
           with
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ;
           and
           as
           Validly
           done
           as
           any
           Actions
           of
           that
           nature
           are
           capable
           of
           admitting
           .
           Lastly
           ,
           I
           desire
           for
           God's
           ,
           Religion's
           ,
           and
           Your
           own
           sake
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           refrain
           from
           All
           Contumelious
           Reflexions
           on
           one
           another
           .
        
         
           In
           that
           Long
           Converse
           and
           Great
           Familiarity
           I
           had
           with
           you
           ,
           it
           is
           impossible
           ,
           but
           Failings
           and
           Imperfections
           must
           be
           discovered
           on
           both
           sides
           .
           Let
           All
           be
           concealed
           Under
           the
           Mantle
           of
           that
           Charity
           ,
           which
           hides
           a
           multitude
           of
           Sins
           :
           still
           think
           of
           me
           as
           you
           ever
           found
           ,
           One
           that
           
             sought
             not
             Yours
             ,
             but
             You
             :
          
           an
           honest
           ,
           plain
           down-right
           meaning
           Person
           .
           And
           as
           for
           my
           present
           Proceedings
           Leave
           me
           to
           stand
           or
           fall
           to
           that
           Great
           Judge
           ,
           to
           whose
           ,
           and
           his
           Churche's
           Censure
           ,
           I
           with
           the
           most
           profound
           Obedience
           Submit
           ,
           whatever
           I
           Write
           or
           Do.
           
        
         
           And
           Once
           more
           I
           recommend
           to
           your
           most
           impartial
           and
           serious
           Consideration
           this
           Important
           Quaery
           :
           Whether
           it
           be
           not
           Sufficient
           Ground
           to
           withdraw
           from
           the
           Communion
           of
           a
           Church
           ,
           when
           She
           is
           convinced
           publickly
           to
           
             Teach
             ,
             Practise
          
           and
           
             Command
             Treason
          
           and
           Rebellion
           to
           its
           Members
           ?
           
             Sicut
             Reputari
             cupiunt
             &
             Haberi
             Fideles
             ,
          
           (
           as
           the
           Lateran
           Council
           Thunders
           it
           out
           )
           as
           they
           desire
           to
           be
           Accounted
           and
           Treated
           as
           Christians
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           the
           Traiterous
           and
           Monstrous
           Plot
           now
           in
           Question
           ;
           What
           Mr.
           Oats
           and
           Mr.
           Bedlow
           ,
           with
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Informers
           Evidences
           are
           ,
           I
           know
           not
           ,
           nor
           am
           I
           much
           Inquisitive
           .
           His
           Sacred
           Majesty
           ,
           and
           his
           Great
           Council
           are
           Judges
           of
           that
           .
           But
           of
           this
           I
           am
           as
           sure
           as
           I
           can
           be
           of
           any
           humane
           Transaction
           ,
           That
           the
           Roman
           Church
           Teaches
           and
           Commands
           such
           Practices
           ;
           That
           they
           have
           been
           frequently
           
           put
           in
           Execution
           abroad
           and
           especially
           at
           Home
           ;
           And
           that
           consequece
           to
           such
           Doctrines
           ,
           Mr.
           Colem●●
           by
           his
           own
           Confession
           and
           Letters
           which
           he
           did
           not
           deny
           ,
           was
           very
           Busie
           in
           attempting
           to
           Dissolve
           the
           Parliament
           ,
           and
           in
           procuring
           Assistance
           from
           the
           French
           King
           ,
           by
           the
           interposition
           of
           Monsieur
           
             le
             Chese
          
           the
           Jesuit
           ,
           who
           was
           that
           King's
           Confessor
           (
           to
           use
           his
           own
           words
           )
           
             To
             Carry
             on
             the
             Mighty
             Work
             in
             their
             hands
             ,
             no
             less
             than
             the
             Conversion
             of
             Three
             Kingdoms
             ,
             and
             the
             Utter
             Subduing
             of
             a
             Pestilential
             Heresie
             ,
             which
             hath
             Domineer'd
             over
             a
             great
             part
             of
             this
             Northern
             World
             a
             long
             time
             ;
             and
             that
             there
             never
             was
             such
             hopes
             of
             success
             since
             the
             days
             of
             their
             Q.
             Mury
             ,
             as
             now
             in
             These
             days
             ,
             —
          
           And
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           that
           a
           most
           
             Worthy
             Justice
             of
             Peace
          
           was
           Barbarously
           Murder'd
           ,
           who
           took
           the
           Examinations
           upon
           that
           occasion
           ;
           and
           that
           many
           other
           Insolent
           Actions
           were
           committed
           by
           that
           Party
           .
           Nor
           can
           it
           be
           any
           satisfaction
           to
           the
           Nation
           for
           well-minded
           Persons
           to
           say
           they
           Disclaim
           and
           Detest
           such
           Actions
           ;
           unless
           they
           Kenounce
           the
           Principles
           ,
           and
           Disown
           the
           Authority
           which
           have
           promoted
           and
           still
           are
           ready
           to
           prompt
           men
           to
           such
           Desperate
           Practices
           .
           God
           Almighty
           grant
           Us
           All
           his
           Grace
           to
           Consider
           in
           This
           Our
           Day
           the
           Things
           that
           Belong
           to
           Our
           Peace
           ,
           before
           they
           be
           Hid
           from
           Our
           Eyes
           .
        
         
           Amen
           .
        
         
           FINIS