Of true religion, hæresie, schism, toleration, and what best means may be us'd against the growth of popery the author J.M. Milton, John, 1608-1674. 1673 Approx. 26 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A50917 Wing M2135 ESTC R8629 11982847 ocm 11982847 51894 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Theology -- Early works to 1800. Theology -- History -- 17th century. Papacy -- Controversial literature -- Early works to 1800. 2002-09 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-10 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-11 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2002-11 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-12 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion OF True Religion , HAERESIE , SCHISM , TOLERATION , And what best means may be us'd against the growth of POPERY The Author J. M. LONDON Printed in the Year , 1673. OF True RELIGION , HAERESIE , SCHISM , and TOLERATION . IT is unknown to no man , who knows ought of concernment among us , that the increase of Popery is at this day no small trouble and offence to greatest part of the Nation ; and the rejoycing of all good men that it is so ; the more their rejoycing , that God hath giv'n a heart to the people to remember still their great and happy deliverance from Popish Thraldom , and to esteem so highly the precious benefit of his Gospel , so freely and so peacealy injoy'd among them . Since therefore some have already in Publick with many considerable Arguments exhorted the people to beware the growth of this Romish Weed ; I thought it no less then a common duty to lend my hand , how unable soever , to so good a Purpose . I will not now enter into the Labyrinth of Councels and Fathers , an intangl'd wood which the Papist loves to fight in , not with hope of Victory , but to obscure the shame of an open overthrow : which yet in that kind of Combate , many heretofore , and one of late , hath eminently giv'n them . And such manner of dispute with them , to Learned Men , is useful and very commendable : But I shall insist now on what is plainer to Common apprehension , and what I have to say , without longer introduction . True Religion is the true Worship and Service of God , learnt and believed from the Word of God only . No Man or Angel can know how God would be worshipt and serv'd unless God reveal it : He hath Reveal'd and taught it us in the holy Scriptures by inspir'd Ministers , and in the Gospel by his own Son and his Apostles , with strictest command to reject all other traditions or additions whatsoever . According to that of St. Paul , Though wee or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you , than that which wee have preacht unto you , let him be Anathema , or accurst . And Deut. 4. 2. Ye shall not add to the word which I command you , neither shall you diminish ought from it . Rev. 22. 18 , 19. If any man shall add , &c. If any man shall take away from the Words , &c. With good and Religious Reason therefore all Protestant Churches with one consent , and particularly the Church of England in Her thirty nine Articles , Artic. 6th , 19th , 20th , 21st , and elsewhere , maintain these two points , as the main Principles of true Religion : that the Rule of true Religion is the Word of God only : and that their Faith ought not to be an implicit faith , that is , to believe , though as the Church believes , against or without express authority of Scripture . And if all Protestants as universally as they hold these two Principles , so attentively and Religiously would observe them , they would avoid and cut off many Debates and Contentions , Schisms and Persecutions , which too oft have been among them , and more firmly unite against the common adversary . For hence it directly follows , that no true Protestant can persecute , or not tolerate his fellow Protestant , though dissenting from him in som opinions , but he must flatly deny and Renounce these two his own main Principles , whereon true Religion is founded ; while he compels his Brother from that which he believes as the manifest word of God , to an implicit faith ( which he himself condemns ) to the endangering of his Brothers soul , whether by rash belief , or outward Conformity : for whatsoever is not of Faith , is Sin. I will now as briefly show what is false Religion or Heresie , which will be done as easily : for of contraries the definitions must needs be contrary . Heresie therefore is a Religion taken up and believ'd from the traditions of men and additions to the word of God. Whence also it follows clearly , that of all known Sects or pretended Religions at this day in Christendom , Popery is the only or the greatest Heresie : and he who is so forward to brand all others for Hereticks , the obstinate Papist , the only Heretick . Hence one of their own famous Writers found just cause to stile the Romish Church Mother of Error , School of Heresie . And whereas the Papist boasts himself to be a Roman Catholick , it is a meer contradiction , one of the Popes Bulls , as if he should say , universal particular a Catholic Schismatic . For Catholic in Greek signifies universal : and the Christian Church was so call'd , as consisting of all Nations to whom the Gospel was to be preach't , in contradistinction to the Jewish Church , which consisted for the most part of Jews only . Sects may be a in true Church as well as in a false , when men follow the Doctrin too much for the Teachers sake , whom they think almost infallible ; and this becomes , through Infirmity , implicit Faith ; and the name Sectary , pertains to such a Disciple . Schism is a rent or division in the Church , when it comes to the separating of Congregations ; and may also happen to a true Church , as well as toa false ; yet in the true needs not tend to the breaking of Communion ; if they can agree in the right administration of that wherein they Communicate , keeping their other Opinions to themselves , not being destuctive to Faith. The Pharisees and Saduces were two Sects , yet both met together in their common worship of God at Jerusalem . But here the Papist will angrily demand , what ! Are Lutherans , Calvinists , Anabaptists , Socinians , Arminians , no Hereticks ? I answer , all these may have some errors , but are no Hereticks . Heresie is in the Will and choice profestly against Scripture ; error is against the Will , in misunderstanding the Scripture after all sincere endeavours to understand it rightly : Hence it was said well by one of the Ancients , Err I may , but a Heretick I will not be . It is a humane frailty to err , and no man is infallible here on earth . But so long as all these profess to set the Word of God only before them as the Rule of faith and obedience ; and use all diligence and sincerity of heart , by reading , by learning , by study , by prayer for Illumination of the holy Spirit , to understand the Rule and obey it , they have done what man can do : God will assuredly pardon them , as he did the friends of Job , good and pious men , though much mistaken , as there it appears , in some Points of Doctrin . But some will say , with Christians it is otherwise , whom God hath promis'd by his Spirit to teach all things . True , all things absolutely necessary to salvation : But the hottest disputes among Protestants calmly and charitably enquir'd into , will be found less then such . The Lutheran holds Consubstantiation ; an error indeed , but not mortal . The Calvinist is taxt with Predestination , and to make God the Author of sin ; not with any dishonourable thought of God , but it may be overzealously asserting his absolute power , not without plea of Scripture . The Anabaptist is accus'd of Denying Infants their right to Baptism ; again they say , they deny nothing but what the Scripture denies them . The Arian and Socinian are charg'd to dispute against the Trinity : they affirm to believe the Father , Son , and Holy Ghost , according to Scripture , and the Apostolic Creed ; as for terms of Trinity , Triniunity , Coessentiality , Tripersonality , and the like , they reject them as Scholastic Notions , not to be found in Scripture , which by a general Protestant Maxim is plain and perspicuous abundantly to explain its own meaning in the properest words , belonging to so high a Matter and so necessary to be known ; a mystery indeed in their Sophistic Subtilties , but in Scripture a plain Doctrin . Their other Opinions are of less Moment . They dispute the satisfaction of Christ , or rather the word Satisfaction , as not Scriptural : but they acknowledge him both God and their Saviour . The Arminian lastly is condemn'd for setting up free will against free grace ; but that Imputation he disclaims in all his writings , and grounds himself largly upon Scripture only . It cannot be deny'd that the Authors or late Revivers of all these Sects or Opinions , were Learned , Worthy , Zealous , and Religious Men , as appears by their lives written , and the same of their many Eminent and Learned followers , perfect and powerful in the Scriptures , holy and unblameable in their lives : and it cannot be imagin'd that God would desert such painful and zealous labourers in his Church , and oft-times great sufferers for their Conscience , to damnable Errors & a Reprobate sense , who had so often implor'd the assistance of his Spirit ; but rather , having made no man Infallible , that he hath pardon'd their errors , and accepts their Pious endeavours , sincerely searching all things according to the rule of Scripture , with such guidance and direction as they can obtain of God by Prayer . What Protestant then who himself maintains the same Principles , and disavowes all implicit Faith , would persecute , and not rather charitably tolerate such men as these , unless he mean to abjure the Principles of his own Religion ? If it be askt how far they should be tolerated ? I answer doubtless equally , as being all Protestants ; that is on all occasions to give account of their Faith , either by Arguing , Preaching in their several Assemblies , Publick writing , and the freedom of Printing . For if the French and Polonian Protestants injoy all this liberty among Papists , much more may a Protestant justly expect it among Protestants ; and yet some times here among us , the one persecutes the other upon every slight Pretence . But he is wont to say he enjoyns only things indifferent . Let them be so still ; who gave him authority to change their nature by injoyning them ? If by his own Principles , as is prov'd , he ought to tolerate controverted points of Doctrine not slightly grounded on Scripture , much more ought he not impose things indifferent without Scripture . In Religion nothing is indifferent , but , if it come once to be Impos'd , is either a command or a Prohibition , and so consequently an addition to the word of God , which he professes to disallow . Besides , how unequal , how uncharitable must it needs be , to Impose that which his conscience cannot urge him to impose , upon him whose conscience forbids him to obey ? What can it be but love of contention for things not necessary to be done , to molest the conscience of his Brother , who holds them necessary to be not done ? To conclude , let such a one but call to mind his own Principles above mention'd , and he must necessarily grant , that neither he can impose , nor the other believe or obey ought in Religion , but from the Word of God only . More amply to understand this , may be read the 14th . and 15th . Chapters to the Romans , and the Contents of the 14th , set forth no doubt but with full authority of the Church of England ; the Gloss is this . Men may not contemn , or condemn one the other for things indifferent . And in the 6th Article above mentioned , Whatsoever is not read in Holy Scripture , nor may be proved thereby , is not to be required of any man as an article of Faith , or necessary to salvation . And certainly what is not so , is not to be required at all ; as being an addition to the Word of God expressly forbidden . Thus this long and hot Contest , whether Protestants ought to tolerate one another , if men will be but Rational and not Partial , may be ended without need of more words to compose it . Let us now enquire whether Popery be tolerable or no. Popery is a double thing to deal with , and claims a twofold Power , Ecclesiastical , and Political , both usurpt , and the one supporting the other . But Ecclesiastical is ever pretended to Political . The Pope by this mixt faculty , pretends right to Kingdoms and States , and especially to this of England , Thrones and Unthrones Kings , and absolves the people from their obedience to them ; sometimes interdicts to whole Nations the Publick worship of God , shutting up their Churches : and was wont to dreign away greatest part of the wealth of this then miserable Land , as part of his Patrimony , to maintain the Pride and Luxury of his Court and Prelates : and now since , through the infinite mercy and favour of God , we have shaken off his Babylonish Yoke , hath not ceas'd by his Spyes and Agents , Bulls and Emissaries , once to destroy both King and Parliament ; perpetually to seduce , corrupt , and pervert as many as they can of the People . Whether therefore it be fit or reasonable , to tolerate men thus principl'd in Religion towards the State , I submit it to the consideration of all Magistrates , who are best able to provide for their own and the publick safety . As for tolerating the exercise of their Religion , supposing their State activities not to be dangerous , I answer , that Toleration is either public or private ; and the exercise of their Religion , as far as it is Idolatrous , can be tolerated neither way : not publicly , without grievous and unsufferable scandal giv'n to all consciencious Beholders ; not privately , without great offence to God , declar'd against all kind of Idolatry , though secret . Ezekiel 8. 7 , 8. And he brought me to the door of the Court , and when I looked , behold a hole in the Wall. Then said he unto me , Son of Man , digg now in the wall ; and when I had digged , behold a Door , and he said unto me , go in , and behold the wicked Abominations that they do here . And verse 12. Then said he unto me , Son of Man , hast thou seen what the Antients of the house of Israel do in the dark ? &c. And it appears by the whole Chapter , that God was no less offended with these secret Idolatries , then with those in public ; and no less provokt , then to bring on and hasten his Judgements on the whole Land for these also . Having shown thus , that Popery , as being Idolatrous , is not to be tolerated either in Public or in Private ; it must be now thought how to remove it and hinder the growth thereof , I mean in our Natives , and not Forreigners , Privileg'd by the Law of Nations . Are we to punish them by corporal punishment , or fines in their Estates , upon account of their Religion ? I suppose it stands not with the Clemency of the Gospel , more then what appertains to the security of the State : But first we must remove their Idolatry , and all the furniture thereof , whether Idols , or the Mass wherein they adore their God under Bread and Wine : for the Commandment forbids to adore , not only any Graven Image , but the likeness of any thing in Heaven above , or in the Earth beneath , or in the Water under the Earth , thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them , for I the Lord thy God am a Jealous God. If they say that by removing their Idols we violate their Consciences , we have no warrant to regard Conscience which is not grounded on Scripture : and they themselves confess in their late defences , that they hold not their Images necessary to salvation , but only as they are enjoyn'd them by tradition . Shall we condescend to dispute with them The Scripture is our only Principle in Religion ; and by that only they will not be Judg'd , but will add other Principles of their own , which , forbidden by the Word of God , we cannot assent to . And the common Maxim also in Logic is , against them who deny Principles , we are not to dispute . Let them bound their disputations on the Scripture only , and an ordinary Protestant , well read in the Bible , may turn and wind their Doctors . They will not go about to prove their Idolatries by the Word of God , but run to shifts and evasions , and frivolous distinctions : Idols they say are Laymens Books , and a great means to stir up pious thoughts and Devotion in the Learnedst . I say they are no means of Gods appointing , but plainly the contrary : Let them hear the Prophets ; Jerem. 10. 8. The stock is a Doctrin of Vanities . Habakkuk 2. 18. What profiteth the graven Image that the maker thereof hath graven it : The Molten Image and a teacher of Lyes ? But they alleadge in their late answers , that the Laws of Moses giv'n only to the Jews , concern not us under the Gospel : and remember not that Idolatry is forbidden as expresly , [ in several places of the Gospel , ] But with these wiles and fallacies compassing Sea and Land , like the Pharisees of old , to make one Proselite , they lead away privily many simple and ignorant Souls , men or women , and make them twofold more the Children of Hell then themselves , Matt. 23. 15. But the Apostle hath well warn'd us , I may say , from such Deceivers as these , for their Mystery was then working . I beseech you Brethren , saith he , mark them which cause divisions and offences , contrary to the doctrin which ye have learned , and avoid them ; for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ , but their own belly , and by good words and fair speeches deceive the heart of the simplea Rom. 16. 17 , 18. The next means to hinder the growth of Popery will be to read duly and diligently the Holy Scriptures , which as St. Paul saith to Timothy , who had known them from a child , are able to make wise unto salvation . And to the whole Church of Colossi ; Let the word of Christ dwell in you plentifully , with all wisdome , Coloss. 3. 16. The Papal Antichristian Church permits not her Laity to read the Bible in their own tongue : Our Church on the contrary hath proposd it to all men , and to this end translated it into English , with profitable Notes on what is met with obscure , though what is most necessary to be known be still plainest : that all sorts and degrees of men , not understanding the Original , may read it in their Mother Tongue . Neither let the Countryman , the Tradesman , the Lawyer , the Physician , the Statesman , excuse himself by his much business from the studious reading thereof . Our Saviour saith , Luke 10. 41 , 42. Thou art careful and troubled about many things , but one thing is needful . If they were ask't , they would be loath to set earthly things , wealth , or honour before the wisdom of salvation . Yet most men in the course and practice of their lives are found to do so ; and through unwillingness to take the pains of understanding their Religion by their own diligent study , would fain be sav'd by a Deputy . Hence comes implicit faith , ever learning and never taught , much hearing and small proficience , till want of Fundamental knowledg easily turns to susperstition or Popery : Therefore the Apostle admonishes , Eccles. 4. 14. That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carryed about with every wind of Doctrine , by the sleight of men , and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive . Every member of the Church , at least of any breeding or capacity , so well ought to be grounded in spiritual knowledg , as , if need be , to examine their Teachers themselves , Acts. 17. 11. They searched the Scriptures dayly , whether those things were so . Rev. 2. 2. Thou hast tryed them which say they are Apostles , and are not . How should any private Christian try his Teachers unless he be well grounded himself in the Rule of Scripture , by which he is taught . As therefore among Papists , their ignorance in Scripture cheifly upholds Popery ; so among Protestant People , the frequent and serious reading thereof will soonest pull Popery down . Another means to abate Popery arises from the constant reading of Scripture , wherein Beleivers who agree in the main , are every where exhorted to mutual forbearance and charity one towards the other , though dissenting in some opinions . It is written that the Coat of our Saviour was without seame : whence some would infer that there should be no division in the Church of Christ. It should be so indeed ; Yet seams in the same cloath , neither hurt the garment , nor misbecome it ; and not only seams , but Schisms will be while men are fallible : But if they who dissent in matters not essential to belief , while the common adversary is in the field , shall stand jarring and pelting at one another , they will be soon routed and subdued . The Papist with open mouth makes much advantage of our several opinions ; not that he is able to confute the worst of them , but that we by our continual jangle among our selves make them worse then they are indeed . To save our selves therefore , and resist the common enemy , it concerns us mainly to agree within our selves , that with joynt forces we may not only hold our own , but get ground ; and why should we not ? The Gospel commands us to tolerate one another , though of various opinions , and hath promised a good and happy event thereof , Phil. 3. 15. Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded ; and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded , God shall reveal even this unto you . And we are bid , 1 Thess. 5. 21. Prove all things , hold fast that which is good . St. Paul judg'd that not only to tolerate , but to examine and prove all things , was no danger to our holding fast of that which is good . How shall we prove all things , which includes all opinions at least founded on Scripture , unless we not only tolerate them , but patiently hear them , and seriously read them ? If he who thinks himself in the truth professes to have learnt it , not by implicit faith , but by attentive study of the Scriptures & full perswasion of heart , with what equity can he refuse to hear or read him , who demonstrates to have gained his knowledge by the same way ? is it a fair course to assert truth by arrogating to himself the only freedome of speech , and stopping the mouths of others equally gifted ? This is the direct way to bring in that Papistical implicit faith which we all disclaim . They pretend it would unsettle the weaker sort ▪ the same groundless fear is pretended by the Romish Clergy in prohibiting the Scripture . At least then let them have leave to write in Latin which the common people understand not ; that what they hold may be discust among the Learned only . We suffer the Idolatrous books of Papists , without this fear , to be sold & read as common as our own . Why not much rather of Anabaptists , Arians , Arminians , & Socinians ? There is no Learned man but will confess he hath much profited by reading Controversies , his Senses awakt , his Judgement sharpn'd , and the truth which he holds more firmly establish't . If then it be profitable for him to read ; why should it not at least be tolerable and free for his Adversary to write ? In Logic they teach , that contraries laid together more evidently appear : it follows then that all controversies being permitted , falshood will appear more false , and truth the more true ▪ which must needs conduce much , not only to the confounding of Popery , but to the general confirmation of unimplicit truth . The last means to avoid Popery , is to amend our lives : it is a general complaint that this Nation of late years , is grown more numerously and excessively vitious then heretofore ▪ Pride , Luxury , Drunkenness , Whoredom , Cursing , Swearing , bold and open Atheism every where abounding : Where these grow , no wonder if Popery also grow a pace . There is no man so wicked , but at somtimes his conscience , will wring him with thoughts of another world , & the Peril of his soul : the trouble and melancholy which he conceives of true Repentance and amendment he endures not ; but enclines rather to some carnal Superstion , which may pacify and lull his Conscience with some more pleasing Doctrin . None more ready and officious to offer her self then the Romish , and opens wide her Office , with all her faculties to receive him ; easy Confession , easy Absolution , Pardons , Indulgences , Masses for him both quick and dead , Agnus Dei's , Reliques , and the like : and he , instead of Working out his salvation with fear and trembling , strait thinks in his heart ( like another kind of fool then he in the Psalmes ) to bribe God as a corrupt judge ; and by his Proctor , some Priest or Fryer , to buy out his Peace with money , which he cannot with his repentance . For God , when men sin outragiously , and will not be admonisht , gives over chastizing them , perhaps by Pestilence , Fire , Sword , or Famin , which may all turn to their good , and takes up his severest punishments , hardness besottedness of heart , and Idolatry , to their final perdition . Idolatry brought the Heathen to hainous Transgressions , Romans 2 a. And hainous Transgressions oft times bring the slight professors of true Religion , to gross Idolatry : Thess● 2. 11 , 12. For this cause , God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lye , that they all might be damed ▪ who believe not the truth , but had pleasure in unrighteoussness . And Isaiah 44. 18. Speaking of Idolaters , They have not known nor understood ▪ for he hath shut their Eyes that they cannot see , and their hearts that they cannot understand . Let us therefore using this last means , last here spoken of , but first to be done , amend our lives with all speed ; least through impenitency we run into that stupidly , which we now seek all meansso warilyto avoid , the worst of superstitions , and the heaviest of all Gods Judgements , Popery . FINIS .