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Jlor/o CT/iadicui. JSuLylonu. jtinaitur. ast curl Orbem nailk/cenamjrater utenrj jrac u .

Vixjpectiztvr entcjhiltv modd totte HieatrtuiL;

Jfec jRo/nte, de/nptj Cordate, J^ntCul e/^it.

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• uoo-ffrtq- l/zy z' jiioyjiM .tn>£ ,7^,7 MpijCofc'

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Sold by Miriam Marfia/S .it the JiihU ,n Nen'^Ate Sa-esb .

THE

CHURCH R OM E

Evidently proved

H E R ETIC-K.

y

Peter iBerault, D.

Who abjured all the Errors of

the laid Church in London at

the Savoy upon the 2d. day

of Jprily 167 1.

Heretici farit , qui fnpra Seripuram fa~

punt. Ivacneus lib. 5. c. 17.

__

LONDON,

tinted by Tbo. Hodgkjn for the ■ Author MDCLXXXIi.

I

Au tres Reverend Seigneur,

H E N R Y,

Evefque de LOJS(p(l{ES,

Doyen de la Chapelle de la

Majefte, &• Pun de fbn

Confeil Prive.

Ulomon dit quil riy a rien M nouVeau fous le foleil j I^JfQs paroles , Mon Seig- neur, ejlant veritables, tout ce quon a efcrit cy Levant pour decoW\>rir les erreurs de I' Eg* life ^omaine , <tr tout ce que j'en pourray dire , ne femblera que des redites. Cette cojijidera- A z tion

Epiftre Dedicatoire.

tlon a long temps arrejle ma plume, & je croy que je nau- rois jamais efcnt fur cette ma- tter e , fi ma confcience ne my eujl oblige & ft mes amis ne my etijjent incite.

Ce que je yow prefente , Mon Seigneur , c'efl TEglife Romaine clairement proves Heretique, <&- cefl la raifon pour la quelle je I' ay abandon- nee ; & quand je yom prefente cedifcours, Mon Seigneur, c'e ft- A une perfonne autant illufre par fon profond fcayoir, que par J a probite. Je ne m'arrefle pas icy a prouVer Van & I' an* ire, mon Jnfuffifance m'enem-

pefche,

Epiftre Dedicatoire.

pefcbe, $$ yo/lre zModefite me le defend, & cela jeroit fort Inu- tile , put/ que tout ce ^(oyaume en eft pla'mement conVicmcu ; les eminences charges que yorn poffede^j <6^ dont Vow Vow acquite^ ft dignement; <&* les pieufes & fcayantes InjlruBi* ons que yous donne^ 2 yoHre peuple t, & de bouche <&* par efcr'it ; I'Bftime particnliere que le ti(py & tons le Grands, <£?* Scayants de ce ^oyanme font de Voflre perfonne , <6t« V amour &•* le refpeH que tow tes yos brebis yous portent, comme k un yentable <<r Ion (pafteur, font des marques of- A 3 furies

r.

Epiftre Dedicatoire.

furies que tout ce que je d'u eft Writable. Je fuis ennemy de la flatterie ; J'aime lafince- rul\ je fcay que yous nai* me^pas les louanges, ceSi pour* quoy Je finiray eette lettre en tlifant que, puis quun chacun yous eftime, honor e, & cherit, ceft un ftgne eyident qtt'on eft cony amen de yous merit es.

Je ne park pas du zele que yous aye% fait paroislre ces jours pajfe^ en yous oppofant yigoreujement aux pemickux fentiments des Tapifles, & en faifant yos efforts pour decou* yrir les autheurs d'une Confpira* tion ft crueUe & fi horrible.

Epiftre Dedicatoire.

je dtray feukment que vow pouVe^ dire comme St. *Paul, J'ay combatu le bon Combat , J 'ay paracheve ma courfe , J'ay garde la foy , quant au refte la Couronne de Juftice m'eil refervee, la quelle me ren- dra le Jufte Juge. Otiy fans doubte, Mon Seigneur, ce Jufle Juge yotts donnera cette Couronne, quit promet a tout fes bons & fide ties feryi* tears , tys'il differe a Vous en honorer, c*eft que vous eftes encore neceffaire en ce monde pour instru'tre & convertir les antes. Puis done que ce font A 4 Us

Epiftre Dedicatoire.

Us [euls perfeVerants qui en jouiffent. Je prie T>ieu quil yous donne cette Vertu, & Vous fupplie tres humblement de me croire avec refpeB,

JMonfetgneur9

Voftre tres humble & Obeijfant Serviteur

Pierre Berault.

TO

T O

The Right Reverend Lord

HENRY,

Bifliop of LONDON,

Dean of his Majefties • Ghappel, and one of his moft honou- rable Privy Council.

■

\Qlomon faith , there it no- thing new under the Sun.. This, My Lord, being true, whatfbever hath been written before, to difcover the Errors of the Roman Church, and whatfbever, I may fay, will appear but a Repetition. This. Confederation hath a long time A i , put

Tiie Eplftle "Dedicatory.

put a flop to my Pen, and I be- lieve that I fhould never have written upon this Subject, if my Confcience had not obliged me, and my friends incited me to do it.

That which here I prefent to you, My Lord, is the Church of Rome clearly proved Heretick, which is the reafbn why I have lorfaken it; and when I pre- lent this Difcourfe to your Lordfhip, I offer it to a peribn as much famous by his deep Knowledge , as by his Vertue. I do not defrgn here to prove the one and the other, my In- efficiency hindreth me , and your Modefty forbiddeth it me : And it fhould be very unprofi- table, fince this whole King- dom is fully convinced of it ; your Eminent Dignities, where- in

The Epijile Dedicatory!

in you acquit your felf fb worthily , and the Godly and learned inftru£tions that you give to your People both by mouth and writing; the par- ticular eflreem that the KingL and all the great and learneci of this Kingdom have for yous Perfbn, and the love and re- fpeft that all your Sheep have fos you, as for a true and good She^ pherd, are fure marks that what I fay is truth.

I hate flattery , I love fince- rity, I know you do not defire to be praifed ; therefore I will finiflh this Epiftle -, faying, that fince every body efteems, honours, and loves you, it is an evident figrr that they are convinced of your Merits.

I do not fpeak of the zeal that you fhewed thefe laft days,

in.

TJ?e EpiBle Dedicatory.

in oppofing vigoroufly the per- nitious Sentiments of the Pa- pifts, and the endeavouring to difcover the Authors of fo cru- el and horrible a Confpiration. I will only write here , that it may be faid of you, that which St. Paul faith, / have fought a good fight 7 I have fix i (bed my courfe , 1 have kept the faith ; henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteoufnefs, which the Lord the righteous Judge fhall give me : Yes certainly , My Lord , this juft Judge will give you this Crown , that he promifeth unto all his good and faithful Servants ; and if he de- fers to give it you, it is becaufe you are ftill ufeful in this world to inftruft: and convert fouls. Since then thofe only which continue to the end do enjoy it,

*The Bp'iHle Dedicatory.

I pray to God to give you per- feverance , and moft humbly beg this favour of you to believe me with refpe£b

My Lord,

Your nrioft humble and Obedient Servant,

Peter Berault.

A u

AU LECTEUR.

CHer LeBeury av ant que tu life ce petit traite, il faut mtttre bas le prejuge la & pafjion \ car Pun & P autre empe- cbent de jttger fainement. C'efl le prejuge ou la pafjion qui fait czoire veritable, ce qui de foy efi fanx. Si tu fuu Padvis charitable que je te donne, je m* ajfure que tu advoueras , aprez, que tu auras leu c£ petit difcours , que ce que fay efcrit touch ant I rglije Ro- mdine efi fans aucun dout>$«. Je croy pourtant quil y aura quel- quun parmy les Francois refor- mer qui condamnera ce trait e , avantque a avoir commence a le lirey caraabord quil verra qtiil

efi

eft compofe par un Profelyte^ creft

affezpour luy fair e dire ^ qtiilriefl

pat bien fait, comme sril efloit itto*

poffible de bien efcrire r & d?eftre

Profelyte ; d r avoir du fens com-

mun, & d?eftre Profelyte \ & de

faire ce que fait un autre homme

& drefire Profelyte. Voila ]uf

quou <va fon pre]uge ou fa paffion :

mats sril met bas Van & Pantre^ il

fera contraint Jfavouer que les

plus beaux livres que nous ayonsr

ont efie faits par des Profelytes ;

& fans parle des efcrits de Cal~

vin, de Luther, £ Auguflin^ & de

la pi a f part des Peres, qui eftoient

Profelytes y ce que nous lifons des

Evangeltftes & des Apoflres , Li-

vre tant eflime de tons les Chre-

fiienSj ne Pavons nous pas par des

Profelytes ?

THE

r%

THE

Roman Church

Evidently proved

HER.ETICK.

"Any, if .they write but a Pamphlet are wont to make a great Preamble ; they -buildras the Proverblaith, :the Door bigger than the T fej they promife l „a y and perform but ji.:ele. That I may not be guilty of fuch a fault , and intending to be brief, Ifhall immediately enter into my Subjed 7 and

prove

•

The ti(omdn Church

prove thus, that the Church of Rome is Here- tick.

That Church which is obftinate in her errors, is Heretick ; the Roman Church is obftinate in her errors, Ergo.

The Major Proportion is true, and granted by all Divines ; as for the Minor, which is in queftion, I prove it thus.

That Church which re- fufeth to obey the holy Scripture in feveral points both of faith and pra&ice, is obftinate in her errors: the Roman Church refuf- eth to obey the holy Scripture in feveral points both of faith and pra&ice, Ergo.

The

proved Heretick. 3

The Major Proportion is alfb true, and granted by all Divines ; as for the Minor which is in quefti- on, I prove it thus.

That Church which addeth fbmething to the holy Scripture and dimL nifheth from it in feveral points both of faith and pra&ice, and thinketha- bove that which is writ- ten, refufeth to obey the holy Scripture; for we are commanded not to add to the word of God nor to diminifb from it; and * ^M-tf» PWfbrbids to think above that which is written. But the Roman Church addeth to the holy Scripture, and diminifheth from it, and thinketh above that which

4 "The ^pman Church

is written,in feveral points both of faith and practice. Ergo. She refufeth to o- bey the holy Scripture, in feveral points both of faith and practice ; ergo She is obftinate in her errors; ergo She is Keretick.

That the Roman Church addeth to the holy Scrip- ture.and diminifheth from it in feveral points both of faith and pra&ice, and thinketh above that which is written, I fhall endea- vour to prove it evident-

In the firft place it is

written in the Law,which

God did pronounce and

Exod. 20. write ; thou {halt not make

4* unto thee any graven I-

magei nor any Likenefs of

any

proyed Herettck. 5

any thing that is in Heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters under the earth y thou ^alt not bow down thy [elf to them, nor ferve them. And in Deut. take ye good 010.41$. heed unto yonr [elves, for ye faw no manner of Simi- litude on the day that the Lord fpake unto you in Ho- reb, out of the mid(l of the fire , left ye corrupt your (elves, and make you a gra- ven Image the fimilitude of any Figure, the likenefs of Male or Female; and in Jfaiah, it is faid, to whom tf*'ah 4°» wJll ye liken God, or what l likenefs will ye compare unto him ?

The Roman Church maketh graven Images

and

6 1 be <\oman Ihttrcb

and boweth down her- ielf, and prayeth to them, worfhipeth, kiffe^h, and ferveth them, aijd offereth incenfe to them: She maketh alio Images of God the Father in the fhape of an old Man, hold- ing theGlobe of theWorld in his hand ; and of the Holy Ghoft, in the form of a Dove. And though the Council of Confianti- mple condemned the wor- shiping of Images, and did forbid the placing them in Oratories and Church- es, where the Divine Ma- jefty is worfhipped^never- thelefs theChurch ofRome fets them up, and ordains that they fliall not on- ly be received into places

of

proved tierencK

of adoration, but alfb fhali be adored and worfhip- ped : and the Bull of Pope Pius the fourth, contain- ing the form of the Oath fox profefling of faith, dated at Rome in the year 1564. makes Image-wor- fhip abfblutely neceflary to be believed by all men, as an Article of Faith. And mofi firmly I avouch (faith he ) that the Images of Chrijl, and the Mother of God always virgin y and the other Saints are to be had and retained, and that to them honour and vene- ration is to be given. Then it is manifeft fhe addeth to the holy Scrip- ture, and thinketh above that which is written.

And

The ^oman Church

And fhe muft not fay to excufe herfelf, that this forbidding is only againft Idols, and not againft I- mages ,. becaufe thefe words following (nor any Likemfs of any thing) do contain and fignifie the one and the other, I mean both Idols and Images.

Likewife fhe muft not fay that file worfhippeth and ferveth them with a fervice of </W*, and not with a worfhip of A**?*'*, for befides this diftin&ion is new, and unufed in the Primitive Church, and not found in the holy Scrip- ture ; it isalways true, the the Roman Church add- eth to the word of God, and thinketh above that which

proved Here tick. 9

which is written. It is cer- tain, according to her own confeflion, fhe worihipeth with a worfhip of ***?«'* the Images of God the Fa- ther, the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft , and of the Crofs. And thefe words of Samuel, Prepare your hearts 1 Sam. 3* unto the Lord, , and ferve him only , do deftroy : all thefe diftin£tions of the Roman Church concern- ing the fervice of </w* and worfhip of km?i%*.* and that it is a flat Idolatry to worfhip God in any Image is exprefled and manite- fted by the Children of Ifraelfxhzn they made the golden Calf to be a repre- sentation of God i for the B Text

io The (Roman Church

Zxed. 32. Text fheweth that it was Idolatry, for which many of them were plagued and punifhed ; and yet their meaning was to worfhip the true God in the Calf; for they were not fb Am- ple as to think or believe that that dead Idol or I- mage was God; and there- fore the Idolatry of the Church of Rome is as grofs and wicked as theirs was.

Pray let us reprefent to our lelves two Souls , one .Proteftant and the other Papift, and both before Je- fus Chrift at the fearful day of his Judgment. If Chrift ask the Proteftant Soul , why fhe did not make Images, nor bow down

y <

proved Heretick. . 1 1

down her felf to them, nor worfhip them, nor ferve them ; fhe will an- fwer him, it is becaule thou didft fay unto me , thou fha.lt not make unto thee any graven Image , or any likenefs of any thing ; thou /halt not bow down thy felf to them, nor ferve them. And if Jefus Chrift, as I flip- pole fhould fay unto her, thou ought to underftand thereby Idols, and diftin- guifh between the wor- ship of Kdu7fHA and Aas««, and harken unto the Ro- man Church ; fhe will re- ply boldly ,Lord thou didft tell me in thy Goipel, In Mar&.j. vain do they worfhip thee, teaching for DocJrines the B 2 Com-

1 i The Ionian Cmrch

Copimandment s of ■ men. Thou didit tell me by St.

GaU i. 8. Paul, Though an Angel from heaven preacheth any other Gcfpel unto me , 'than that which I have received, let him be ac cur fed. Thou didfl: * tell me by the fame Apo-

i c$r. 4><$ ftle, not to think of men a- hove that which is written \ Thou didft tell men in thy

Mat. 40. Gofpel, Thott firalt rvorfhip the Lord thy God, and him only (halt thouferve. This is the realbn why I have not made Images , nor worfhipped them, nor fer- ved them. But what (hall a Papift Soul anfwer, when Jefus Chrifl: will fpeak with her thus. I told thee , thov {halt not make

10,

proved Here tick . * 3

make unto thee any graven Image, or the likenefs of any thing that is in heaven a- hove^ &c. I told thee, thou jhalt not bow down thy ft If to them , nor ferve them. Likewife I told thee thefe words of Ifaiahy To whom ^^ 40# will ye liken God) or what 18. likenefs will ye compare unto him ? and thou haft not kept my words. What fhall this poor Papift an- fwer ? I believe nothing but that the Pope and the Roman Church taught him the contrary , and Jefus Chrift will undoubt- edly reply , feeing thou haft preferred the Com- mandments of the Pope before mine ; Go away B 3 with

14 The tifyman Church

with the Pope, and fee whether he is able to de- liver thee from everlaftmg fire, and perpetual prifon.

Secondly, It is written in feveral places of the holy Scripture, that Jefus Chrift is our Saviour and Redeemer, and neither is

Act* 4. 12. there any Salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we mu(i beftved, as it is faid in the Acts : It is alio declared

1 John i. in the firft of John, We

l* have an Advocate with the

Father, Jejws Chrift the righteous y and he is the pro- pitiation for our fins. And

1 77/3,2.$. in the firft to Timothy, There is one Me di at our be- tween-

proved Hwetkk. 1 5

tween God and men , the man Chrift Jtfus. And not- withstanding all that, the Papifts call the Bkffed Virgin the She-Redeemer of the World , they lay the Saints are in fbme way seliam. c. our Redeemers, they put ^gL?" their truft and confidence in them, as we. may fee in feveral Prayers wherein they (peak thus. O great Saint, in whom I put my truft: and confidence, &c. and they take them for their Advocates and Me- diators : and though Chrift teaching his Difciples to pray, commands them to dire£fc their prayers to his Father,and fay, Our Father which art in heaven, &c. B 4 And

And though the i l.'iirh hy //■/'./ i •;. In m

tin hIs the Pop* to iPattt ti

his (hecks j and i 1 11 his

'l'i links w nil nu>iiL\ , u 111 haw us to ha uric

unto Saints, and taketl fbf our Advocates and Me- diators^ n may he leen in the Council of '25. It is then evident the

Roman Church addcth to tlie holy Sbripture , and

ihinketh aIhWC that which is written ; and (he mufl not lav die pia\ etli

and bdggith tlie fcavQwi of the saints , as we pray a Friend at ( !ourt to requcft a Kiiidnels from Jus Maic

ftyj

ilv ; lor in [\w lull pkca ir is wmuii, // ;. mtb i Chi (I /'' and u Is not \\ ritten that any other isour Advocate* Secondly , If the Kings

n Uioukl l.'iv, wlirn j

will ask my Fat her an j ft your come ye tthto mej

and nor unto .uiothci . a afterwards [Qme body

iliouKl go unto .mother,

Ik- Should be very Impru- dent, Jctus C hull tpe.ilv- ctli ihllS. < / Mkt. in

/ iVili r. i S I

Therefore wje mud

not h.ivc .mother /Vivo

cace. ( [peakiqg <<•••>/*/?.

of the woman of i 2- d*

n i Can MM.

# 5 who

.

18 The <]{pmdn Church

who though fhe were a firmer was bold to come unto Chrift , faith thus, Enprudentiam hujus mulie- ris^ non precatur Jacobumy non fupplicat Joanni 5 non adit ad Petrum^ nee Apo- ftolorum ccetum rejpicit, aut. ullum eorum ree^mrit^fedpro his omnibu* pcenitentiam fibi comitem adjungit, & id ip- fum fontem progreditur. Be- hold the wifdom of this wo- man y /he doth not pray to James, fhe doth not befeech John.fhegoeth not to Peter, fhe looketh not to the compa- ny of the Apoftles 9 neither doth re que ft of any ofthem°7~ but for all this fhe taketh repentance for her compani- on^ and goeth to the 'very foun-

proved Hertiick* Jp

fountain it ftlf. -Ambrofe Amhrof. in likewife anfwereth the Rm* carnal reafbn of the Pa- pifts. Solent, faith he, mi- fera uti excufatione7 dicentes per iftos pojfe ire ad Deum, ficut per comites itur ad Re- ges. Idea ad Regem per tri- turns & comites itur? quia homo utique eft Rex; adDe- um autem, quern utique ni- hil laiet ^fuffragat ore non eft opus y fed mentc devota, ubi- cunqueenim talis locutus fu* erity rejpondebit illi : That is^ They are wont to ufe a pitiful excufe , faying , by thefe ( 'Saints) they may have aacefs jtnto God, as by Earls thevk is aczefs tjs> 'KJngs* Therefore it is that by Offi* Mrs mi Earls accefsis mads

to

20 Tl)e <l{pman Church

to the Kjng^becmfe theKJng himfelf is. a mdn ; but to come to God*, from whom no* thing is bid, there is no need ofafpokefman, but of a de- vout mind ; for wherefoever fuch one fpeaketh to him he will anfver him. Hereunto I may add that which is EuUf. 9. written m Eccleftaftes, The dead know not any thing, neither have any more a por- tion for ever in any thing that is done under the Sun* And therefore. I may fay the Roman G&urch in- treateth in vain the help of the Saints/ And the moft u learned Do&ors thereof cannot fay how they may hear the pray- ers of men * for they con-

fefc

• proved Heretick* 1 1

fefs it is not a property of their happinefs ; and fbme lay they fee in the face of God, as in a looking-glafs^ all things here below. Some fay they fee only the things which belong to them. Some fay God dif- covereth to them the Prayers of men ; fbme fay the faithful which are up- on the earth give notice of their defires and minds to the Saints, as the An- gels do communicate their thoughts one with ano- ther. To make it fhort, the Roman Church is fb uncertain, concerning the Saintsvtharoftentimes, as I think, Ihe worfhippeth andprayeth to them that

are

2 2 The G(pman Church

are now burning in ever- lafting fire.

Thirdly, it is written in

the'firft Chapter to the

*• 3* Hebrews j. that Jefus Chrift

purged himfelfour fins \ and

John i. in St. John j His blood clean- feth us from all fins y and

Rom. 1. 1. jn St. Paul to the Romans, There is now no condemna- tion to them which are in Chrift Jefus. And in the

Revel. 14. Revelation, Bkjfed are the

*3' dead which die in the Lord,

from henceforth , yea faith the Sprit , that thev may rtft from their labour sy and their works do follow thorn.

wi{d. 3. 1. And in the-book of Wif dom canonized by the ge- neral Council of Trent, The fouls of the Righteous

are

proved Heretick. 23

are in the hand of Go dy and there {hall no torment touch them. Nevertheless the Roman Church believeth and teacheth that there is a place called Purgatory, wherein the Souls of the Juft are tormented andaf- fli&ed, fbme for a fhort time, fomefor a hundred years, Ibme for a thoufand and upwards, and others to the end of this world. / do con (I ant ly hold^ faith Pope Pirn the fourth, find- ing Purgatory to be very lerviceable for his Kitchin, there is a Purgatory , and that the Souls there detained are hoi fen by the ftffr ages of the faithful. Mandat fantta conc.Tri-

Synods, faith the Council denU Sef

of2*'

24 The ^{oman Church

of Trent, omnibus Epifcopis^ ut [mam de Purgatorio do- Elrinxm a fmftis P at rib us y drfacris Conciliis traditam^ a Chrifti fidelibus credir te- neri^doceri, & ubique pra- dicari diligenter Jiudeant: And though the Roman Church cannot tell whe^ ther this Purgatory is in the air, or in the earth, or in the place wherein fins were committed, yet fhe faith the Pope with a little Indulgence layed unto a Bead, or Crofs, or Medalj or with a Mafs laid upon certain days of the week* gives power to deliver from thisPurgatory whom he pleafeth, and when he pleafeth. Ifaythejiin the

firft

proved Heretick. 1 5

firft place , fince this Do- ctrine is not found in the holy Scripture , the Ro- man Church addeth to the Word of God, and think- eth above that which is written. Secondly, I fhew file doth deftroy her felf, when fhe will have us to believe under the pain of damnation, that there is a Purgatory. For if there be a Purgatory, either it is to purge fins, or to purge the pain due unto them : it is not for the firft , be- caufe the Roman Church believeth Jefus Chrift did by himfelf purge ail our fins ; and becaule they are to be purged afore we be feparated from this world.

It x

2 6 The ^oman Church

It is then for the purgati- on of the pain ; but the pain is puniftied and not purged; for a Gallows is not for the purgation of a murther, but for the pu- nifhmcat of it. There- fore feeing Purgatory, ac- cording to the Papifts, is only for the pain due to fins, they deftroy them- feives, when they call it Purgatory. For it hath no warrant in the holy Scrip- ture ; Chrift Iheweth but two places, Heaven and Hell, faying that the rich mans foul, which was un- merciful to Lazarus , went after his death to Hell, a«d there was tormented, and that Lazarus foul (he being

proved Heretick. 1 7

being dead) was carried into Abrahams bofbm , a place of joy and comfort. To the Thief which was executed with Chrift at his paflion, and believed in him, Chrift anfwered, This day jhalt thou be with Luty 25, me in Paradife : Which 4?* fheweth that the fouls of the faithful never come into Purgatory fire, to be burnt and punifhed; for all their fins are forgiven, and confequently the pu- nifhment incident to the fame is forgiven alfb, and their fouls pafs from death to life , namely Heaven. Bkjfed are the dead which Reve'. 14. die in the Lord, from hence- l 3* forth they refi from their la- bours^

.^

2 8 *lbe tf^pinan Church

bours, and their works foU low them. If from the time of their death they have bleffednefs and reft, fchen they are not in any Pur- gatory fire to be burnt and Jfyp. /. 5. tormented. And Aufiin fpeaketh thus ; The fir ft place the faith of the Cath^- licks doth by divine Autho- rity believe to be the Kjng- dom of Heaven, the fecond Hell ; a third place rve are utterly ignorant of neither can we find any fuch in the holy Scriptures. And in another place he faith,

Encbirid. j^Jat t^)ty wfccJ, (?eHeve a ad Laurent* ^ y r , ,

c.67. Purgatory pre, are much de- ceived, and that through a humane conceit.. Kjiov this, faith he, that when the foul

is

proved He re tick. 29

is feparated from the Body*dm ?' ro J A , . . J . / , ,< 7 van* fecuu pre jent ly it is either placed in ca« u

Paradife for its good works 0 or cafi headlong into the bottom of Hell for its (ins. And Jufim Martyr faith, Pofi mortem ji at im (it bono- rum & impicrum diftinttio^ & boni dicuntur in Paradi- fum\ That immediately af- ter death there is made a J e- paration between good and bad men, and that the good are carried unto Paradife.

Fourthly , the Papifts hold their General Coun- cils and their Pope cannot err ; but they are deceiv- ed, for Saint Aufiin plain- ly teacheth, that only the Scriptures cannot err ; General Councils , faith he, which

^j*-'

30 The tffyman Church Aug.^ urn. which are gathered of all the

6clnnaD^Chriftian mrld> are °ftm

natift. corrected, the former by the latter , when by any trial of things that is opened which Tvasjhuty and that is known which was hidden. If a Ge- neral Council may be cor- refted?as faith Auflin> ergo it may err ; and therefore he Ipeaketh thus to Maxi- miand the Bifhop of the Augxontra. Arians ; Neither ought I to *£im- u alledge the Council of 'Nice, nor thou the Council ofAii- mene , to take advantage thereby \ for neither am I bound nor held by the autho- rity ofthis^nor thou of that J forfet Matter with Matter ; Caufe with Caufe , Reafon with Reajon j try the mat- ter

proved Heretkk. 3 1

ter by the authority of the Scriptures. The Council of Constantinople condemned the letting up Images in the Church,and the Coun- cil of Nice afterwards al- lowed them. One of them being contrary, muft needs be erroneous. And that is granted by it felf, when in a fet form of prayer, which is appointed to be laid after every Council, they pray, That God would & ordt.ce- /pare their ignorance , and ^at' Con" pardon their errors.

The Pope himfelf may Ub. ad bo- - err. Pope Innocent im doth *f£ co™x teach, 1 hat young children gin c.^ cannot befaved except t^ey receive th^Baptifm ojXhrifty and alfo theCommtmion of the

Body

3 1 The <%oman Church

Body and Blood of Chriji*

comperimus Pope Ga/atius decreed that

conftcra.de a/j theyfhouldbe Excommu-

mcated which would receive

the Sacrament of the Lords

Supper but in one kind. But

this Dofrrine is taxed for

an error by all Papifts, and

the Council of Trent made

a Decree contrary to the

Do&rine of the Pope Ge-

conc.Trid.Jafius. Si quis dixerit ex

fif 2I* £)e/* precept 0 *utl neceffitate can. 1. r / ■ 7

Jalutu ornnes (jr Jingulos

Chrijlifideles, utramquefpe-

ciern fanciifjimi Euchariftix

Sacramenti fumere debere,

anathetna fit. Ergo the

Pope of Rome may erre ;

and we may fee it in their

Decrees, wherein it is

written, that he it to be

judged

proved Heretick- 35

judged of none except he be Far*'J.\ found erring from the faith^ 40.^. /? whereby it appeareth that papa. they thought he might err in matters of faith,orelfe that exception was put in vain. All men are fub- je<3: to error ; all men are lyers in their own words, and finners in their works, therefore by their own confeffion, General Coun- cils and Popes are not in- fallible; therefore when they lay they cannot err, they both contradict themfelves and add to the word of God, and think above that which is writ- ten.

They boaft alfb the ! Popes Supremacy; they C fay

34 Tbe^oman Church

fay that the Pope hath preheminence or authori- ty over all the other Bi- fhops ; but upon what ground, I know not. They lay it is becaufe he is Suc- ceffor to Peter, and be- caufe Peter had fiich a pre- heminence and authority over the reft of the Apo- ftles, therefore the Pope being his Succeffor, muft be fb over all Bifhops. But it is falfe that Peter had fiich preheminence over the reft of the Apoftles.

?rant that Chrift faid to *eter, after he had con- fefTed him to be that Chrift, and the Son of the living God, Thou art Pe- ter 5 and upon this Rock 1

mil

pro Ved Heretick. 3 5

will build my Church ; but thefe words give no fupe- riority to Peter, above the reft, only they fhew that the Church is builded, not upon the Perfbn of Pe- ter, but upon the Rock, namely upon Chrift , whom Peter confeffeth to be the Son of the living God, for as faith St. Pau/f That Rock was Chrift, ando- x CoyaQmi ther foundation can no man lay, but that which is laidlCor+11' already, namely Jefus Chrift. And in the fecondChapter to the Ephefians, he faith that the Church is builded upon the foundation of the Prophets , and Apo files , Chrift Jefus himlelf being the head ftone in the cor- C 2 ner.

3 6 T1?e <!{c}nan Church

ner. Where then can they find that Peter was made Prince of the Apo- ftles ? and had prehemi- nence or authority over them? they anfwer it is when Chrift gave unto Peter the Keys of binding and loofing ; but hereun- to I fay that Chrift there- in gave no authority more to Peter than to the reft; for he doth not fay I give unto thee, but I will give unto thee, which pro- mife was afterwards per- formed, and when it was performed, the Keys or the power of binding and loofing was given not on- ly to Peter, but alfb un- to all the reft together.

Go

proved Heretkk. 37

Go ye faith Chrift, unto all Ma. 28. Nations, baptizing them in - the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Ho- ly Ghofl, teaching them to obferve all things what foever I have commanded yon. And in the twentieth of John he fpeaketh thus, Receive ye the Holy Ghoft ; whatjo- John 20, ever (ins ye remit, they are21*2 remitted unto them, and what foever fins ye retain, they are retained. By thefe words we may lee that Chrift fpeaketh unto all the Apoftles, and not to Peter only, and fo it is e- vident that Peter receiv- eth no power more than the reft of the Apoftles j Pray, let them tell me, C 3 where

3 8 The ^oman Church

where was Peters Supre- macy, when /^#/reprov-

Gal. 2. ii. ed him to his face? J rvithftood him to his face, faith Paul, becaufe he was to be blamed. Where was Peters Supremacy, when at the Council held at Je- rufdem where the Apo- ftles were, yet not Peter, but James ruled thea£H- on, and acording to his fentence was the Decree made? and when there was a contention amongft the Apoftles, who fhould be the greateft amongft them, Chrift told them

iJ^ 22. plainly thefe words. The Kjngs of the Gentiles exer- cije Lordjhip over themy md they thatexercife autho- rity

proved Heretkk. Jp

rity upon them are called be- nefailors ; but ye [hall not be mu 20> foy but he that is greatest 5" among you , let him be as the younger y and he that is chief as he that doth jerve. If - the greateft muft be as the leaft, what authority hath he above the reft ? therefore fince the Popes Supremacy over all the other Bifliops, is ground- ed by the Papifts upon Pe- ters Supremacy over the reft of the Apoftles; and fince Peter hath not fuch a preheminence or authori- ty over them, it follow- eth that the Pope hath none over the other Bi~ fhops.

G 4 This

4P The dUpman Church

This is confirmed by St.

Mirof. ad Hkrofm ad Eva?ramr he

Evagrm. fakh ^hat ^ £^ of

Eugubium , or any other the ieafl See, is equal to the Bifhop fl/Rome ; for tliey all joyned in the lame Commiflion , they mult ferve in the Church, be diligent to difcharge that great charge in the Church, which their Ma- tter Jefus Chrift hath e- qually laid upon them. And Pope Gregory himfelf affirmeth that whofoever taketh the title of Vniver- fal Bifhop to his See, he cannot be lefs than Anti- Qhrifl.

Therefore the Roman

Church addeth to the

Word

proved Heretickl 41 Word of God, and think- eth above that which is written, when fhe boaft- ' eth of the Supremacy, or Superiority of their Popes over all other Bifhops, fince this do£trine hath no ground in the holy Scrip- tures.

Fifthly, the Church of Rome believeth that their Pope hath authority to depofe Kings and Princes, and to kill thofe that they call Heretick. But upon what ground, I know not ; It is certain that in fb doing or attempting to do, he is both a nota- ble Traitor unto God, whole authority he doth claim and arrogate; and C 5 un-

4r The tf{oman Church

unto Princes, to whom he is to be fiibje£t: for the pulling down of Prin- cefs God hath referved to himfelf alone that power : for it is he that putteth down the mighty from their feats, and exalteth them of low degree. By mey faith he. Kings reign r andPrin* ces bear Dominion. He re- moveth Kings, andfetteth up Kings; feeing there- fore it is God, that hath this authority proper to himfelf, which way can the Pope claim it, with* Mat. 16. out injury to the Power of F* ■ God? they anfwer, it is, byreafbnofhisKeys; but they muft remember that the Keys given, were the Keys

proved Heretick. 43

Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and confequent- ly by authority of the Keys he cannot meddle with terreftrial Kingdoms to fhut out thofe that are in them. And he hath no more authority by the power of the Keys, or of binding and loofing, than any other Bifhop ; for the Keys were given to all the reft of the Apoftles as well as to Peter; for Chrift fpoke thus; Re- ceive ye the holyGbofi, tvhofe John 20. foever fins ye remit, they 2?- are remitted unto them , and whofefo ever (ins ye re- tain , they are retained. And therefore for any Mi- nifter of the Gofpel,there-

by

44 ■ Tfo ^pman Church

by to claim authority a- bove another, is contrary to the will of Chrift, for they are all indifferently joyned in one commiflion,. and confequently have all equal authority. And therefore the Pope hath' no more authority by the vertue of his Keys, than any other Bifhop, that is. to fay, none at all to de- pofe Kings and Princes i his duty is rather to obey them, and to teach the fame obediehce to others, as the Apoftles of Chrift iFet.2.13. did. Submit your felvesy faith Peter y to every ordi- nance ofmenfbr the Lords J^aikey whether it be to the , KJng as Supream. And

St.

proyed Heretich 4?

St. Paul faith, Let every Rm%l~u foulbe fub]ett unto the high- er powers, &e. and Chrift himfelf faid, His KJngdom j0hn 10, w/?<s not of this world \ he 3^ refufed to be made a King. Himfelf payed tri- bute to C<zfar , and com- manded others to do the fame. If Chrift were fub- je£t to C<efar, is it not a fhame to the Pope to ex- alt himfelf above C<efar, 1 I mean above a King ? The Papifts anfwer that he got this fbvereign au- thority by donation from Conftantine r but I will- grant fbme Chriftian Em- * peror was fb foolifh as to give his Empire, (which is neither likely, nor cre- dible;

46 The ti^pman Qhurch

dible^ yet I fay it was not lawful to take it , if he will be a Minifter of the Gofpel, or Succeflbr of the Apoftles : for Chrift hath exprefly forbidden his A- poftles , and in them all the Minifters of the GoP pel, all fuch Dominions, laying thus unto them. M&L20.26 The KJngs of the Nations reign over them^ and they that be great amongft themy bear Rule or Dominion > but it foall not be Jo with you \ which words being prohi- bitory, fhew that they muft not reign like Kings of Nations, but they muft ferve in the Church, and be diligent in the great Charge, that Jefus Chrift

hath

proved Heretkk. 47;

hath laid upon them ; and therefore the Pope hath no Authority over Kings and Princes, that may be leen by thefe words of Tertullian., Colimm Im-TmuLin peratoremut hominemu Deo Atolo& fecundumr & Jolo Deo mi~ nor em ; We honour the Em- peror as the next man to God, and inferior to God only. And again he faith, that Princes are a Deo fe- cundi^pojl eum primi, ante omnes & fuper omnes ; The fecond to Godr the fir (I next after Godf and before and over all ?nen\ Optatus , optat. fm faith , Super Jmperatorem tra* p,ar~ non ejt nip Jolm Dew, qui f- fecit Imperatorem; There is none above the Emperor

but

48 Tiie Q{pman Church

but God only which made the cbryf. ad ^ Emperor ; and Chryfoftome Horn. I. U feitli, partm nullum fuper t err am habet, He hath no equal on Earth. And Gre- gory Bifhop of Rome him- felf affirmeth, that Power is given to Princes from Heaven r not only over Souldiersj but Priefis alfo ; and therefore it is evident that the Pope hath no Au- thority over Kings and Princes : nor to kill thofe they callHeretick; for that Do&rine which they teach is contrary to Ghrifts Do£trine, as we may read in St. Luke. lukf'9*3^- Becaufethe Samaritans 35* would not receive Jefus

Chrifthis Difciples j^\r

and.

proved Heretic k. 4p

and John feeing this, faid, Lord wilt thou that we com- mand fire to come down from Heaven, and confume them ; but Chrifi turned and rebuked them^ and faid, ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of for the Sow of man is not come to de- fir oy mens Lives , but to five them. It is certain that all Papifts are not in that Opinion ; fbrne of them are very good, and I know fbme who would ftart, if they fliould hear fuch a Do&rine; but yet it is clear that this Doctrine is taught and pra&ifed a- mongft them. Their fe- veral Plots here in En- gland , their Mafacres in

Zreu

5 o The Ionian Church

Inland,, France and other Countries , as we may read in Hiftory, and their proper words as they are written here, prove it evi- dently. Decnt. con. Si verb Dominus tempo-

uw an. rans requiCitiw & monitus fab.Inn.pap. f ^ , r r

ctub.c/p.i. a&hcclejta, ten am Juam pur- gar e neglexerit ab hac Here- tics fceditate } per Metro- politanum Excommuncatio- nis vinculo Innodetur, & (i fat is f ac ere contempferit, ex tunc vafaUos ab ejus fideli- tate denuntiet abfolutosj & 'lerram exponat Catholicis occttpandAm ; That is> if a I* rime being admonished and required by the Church, {ball refufe to purge his Country of that foul Herefie, let him be

Ex-

pro Ved Heretick. 5 1

Excommunicated by the Bi- /hop j and if he refujeth to give fatisfaffion, from that time let him pronounce his Subjects difcharged of their Allegiance, and expofe his Country to be pojfejfed by the Catholicks.*

And in the following words great Indulgences and Privileges are granted to them which fhall en- deavour to deftroy thofe they call Hereticks. Ca- tholic /, qui cruris affumpta Characiere^ ad Hereticorum exttrminium ft accinxerintf ilia gandeant indulgentia , illoque Privilegiojint muni- tiy quod accedtnttbm inTer- r& Sanff* fubfidiam conce- ditur. Let the Catholickfy

who

5 2 The ^pman Church

who taking the ftgn of the Crofs, fbaS attempt to root out the Hereticks, re Joyce in that Indulgence ', and be defended, with that Privi- ledgej which is granted to them who go to the Aid of the Holy Land.

Therefore I conclude . that the Pope hath no power to depofe Kings and Princes, nor to kill thofe that he calls here- tick, and that the Roman Church addeth to the Word of God, and think- eth above that which is written, and therefore fhe is heretick. And if accord- ing to their Do8:rine , thofe which are heretick may be killed lawfully,

and

proved Heretick. 53

and their Land poffefled by the Catholicks, they being themfelves heretick, as it is proved clearly, I let to the Reader to draw the Conclufion*.

6ly9 JefusChrift being .about to leave the World, and his Difciples afflict- ing themfelves, he doth not comfort them, by lay- ing I leave you my Body, under the Species of Bread and Wine, but he tells, them, The poor always lohn 12. 8. ye have with you, but me ye have not always ; I came i5. 28. forth from the Father, and, , am come into the World ; again I leave the World, and go to the Father. He' tells them tjhat his Fa- ther

54 The G(prnan Church

ther will prote£t them, and fend them his Holy Spirit, and that he is go- ing to prepare them a place in Heaven, He tells them of his Inter ceflion, * and of his Second coming, and that the Heaven muft rAft. 3. 2i. receive him, until the time of the refiitution of all things. By thefe words it appeareth clearly that it is contrary to the holy Scripture, to fay, that the Body of Jefus Chrift is yet upon Earth ; yet the Roman Church believes that Chrifts Body isftill upon Earth in feveral pla- ces, therefore fheaddeth to the word of God, and -thjnketh above that which

proved Here tick. 5 5

which is written, there- fore fhe is Heretick.

I know what the Church of Rome faith for the Proof of her Belief; her principal Argument is this ; Chrift took Bread and MAt.26.26 gave thanks, and f aid, Take ye and eaty this is my Bo- dy, which is broken for you. Jefus Chrift faith the Ro- man Church, is true : He hath faid in giving the Bread , this is my Body, therefore this Bread ought to be changed into the true Body ©fj efiis Chrift ; and tof^lhew (fhe faithj that it is not the Figure of Jefus Chrift, and thefe words, this is my Body , are not Metaphorical (as

the

5 6 The d{oman Church

the Protectant Church be- lieveth) becaufe he faid, which is broken for yow ; now it is not the Figure of Jefus Chrift, which was broken for us, but the true Body.

To which I anfwer, it is certain that Jefus Chrift is true, and though he faid , This is my Body which is broken for yon, and that it was the true Body of Jefus Chrift which was broken for us, and not the Figure ; that doth not hinder thefe words from being Metaphorical : And to let you fee clearly, ob- lervemy Reafbn. This is my Body which is broken for youy (\s) that is to fay ,

k-

proved Here tick. 57

fignijieth or reprejenteth, as you may fee in feveral o- therpafTages of the Scrip- ture, as for example in this ; the Rock ma<s Chrift, where this word (was) means did fignifie or repre- sent. Which is broken for you^ the Relative (which) doth not ferve to ihew the Tranfabftantiation, or that the Bread is changed into the true Body of Je- fus Chrift, becaufe it is related to the word (Body) and not to the proportion This is my Body ; it hath relation to the Attribute, and not to the Subje£t ; || that which, according to Cardinal Cajetav, hinder- eth not this Proposition to D be

5*8 The. doornail Church

be Metaphorical, no more than this 9 the Rock was Chrij} ; for if the Evan- gelifl: had added, which was crucified, or which was raifed again; as the Relative, ( which ) would not hinder this Propofition from being Metaphorical ; likewife thefe words , which is broken for you7 hinder not the other Pro- pofition, to be Improper or Metaphorical.

Mark that his Body was not broken before he Suffered. How did he lay then, which is broken? before it was broken?there is no fenfe of it but this the Bread wras broken, and iignihed that his Body fhould

proved Heretich 59

fhould.be broken ; now as the breaking of the Bread, did fignifie the breaking of his Body, lb the Bread muft fignifie his Body : But as his Bo- dy was not broken indeed, when the Bread was bro- ken, fb the Bread could not be his Body indeed, for then his Body fhould have been broken, when the Bread was* broken. If, becaufe Cfarift faith, This is my Body, this is my Bloody they will have thefe words to be ex- pounded Literally ; why then do they not expound the other words of Chrift Literally alio, as concern- ing the Cup ?. for the D 2 Text

6o The tf^onun Church

Text faith that he took the Cup, and faid, This is my Blood. I am fure they will not fay that the Cup was the Blood of Chrift, (as the words be) but they will grant a Figure in thole words, namely Con- tinens pro Conttnto, that by the Cup is meant the Wine in it ; if then they will admit a Figure in this, why may not there be a Figure in the other? namely, Signatum pro Sig- W} that thefe words, this is my Body fhould be un- derftood thus, the Bread i is a Sign of my Body.

I may prove as well1

that Chrift is a Door, be-

caufe he faith, / am a

Door

proved Heretick* 6 1

Door ; or a Vine, becaufe he faith, I am a Vine ; for his fayings are alike ; Fi- gurative fpeeches muft not be conftrued Lite- rally : Now that they may fee, that not we on- ly fay it is Bread and Wine nye. 27. after Confecration, Chrifl: M'rk ** himfelf doth call it Bread 2* and Wine after he had given it as he did before ; and in Mark he fays , / will Drink no more of the Fruit of the Vim : Here Chrift faith, that it was the Fruit of the Vine, which he drank, but his Blood is not the Fruit of the Vine, therefore Wine was his Drink, and not Blood ; Therefore after D 3 Con-

6z The ^oman Church

Confederation, Wine was ftill Wine. And St. Vanl faith plainly and exprefly, that the Communicant doth */r **> eat Bread, ergo, it remain- # eth Bread after the words ofConfecration: For if it were Tranfubftantiated into the Body of Chrift, then were there no Bread to eat, but the Body of Chrift is the thing that fhould be eaten, and fb it fhould not be called Bread. What I fay ; may be feen again by thefe words of Jefus Chrift, when he

of Life , and that all which would live, mujl eat him ; his Difciples murmured untill he expounded his words

pro Ved Here tick . 6 £

words, and how did he expound them ? . thus* He that cometh unto fflh hath eaten, and he that believ-. eth in me hath\drank. A£ ter, when he instituted this Sacrament in like words y they murmured not, which they would as* before, if he had not refolved them before, that to eat his Body and to drink his Blood, was no- thing but to come to him, and believe in him : Af- ter he had laid fb, they murmured not , becaufe they did fee fbme rea- fbn in it. And as it is plainly laid, this is my Bo- John 6.6-$. dy, fb it is plainly faid, thefe words are Spirit, that D 4 is

64 The G(pman Church

is they muft be under- ftood Spiritually, and not Literaly ; fb faith Auftin, Augaft. Believe and thou haft eaten. It was Chrifts manner to teach by Similitudes, and Figures, fhewing one thing by another. For example , Chrift calleth the Lamb the PafTover, in place whereof this Sa- crament fucceeded , and therefore prefently after they had eaten the PafTo- ver, Chrift Inftituted this Sacrament to be ufed for it ; Chrift, I fay, called the Lamb the PafTover, and yet the PafTover was this, an Angel pafTed over the houfes of thelfraelites, and ftruck the ALyfgtUns ;

this

proved Here tick. 6 5

this was not a Lamb, and yet becaule a Lamb was a Sign of this PaiTover, as the Bread and Wine is of Chrifts Body, therefore Chrift called the Lamb the PafToverras he called the Bread and Wine his Bo- dy. That may be fctn again in Circumcifion, Baptifine, and the Cup. For Circumcifion is called the Covenant , and yet Circumcifion was nothing but the cutting away of a skin j and the Covenant is this, In Abrahams feed all Nations [hall be bleffed^ I will be their God, and they fijall be my people r I mil defend and jave them, and they /hall ferve and worjhip D 5 mc

66 Tlie <Hpman Church

me. This is not Circum*- cifion, and yet as though Circumcifion were the Covenant it felf, it is called the Covenant, be- caufe it fignifieth the Co- venant ; lb Bread and Wine are called Chrifts Body, becaufethey fignifie Chrifts Body.

Baptif me is called Rege- neration , and yet Bap- tifin is a dipping our 'Bodies in water ^ and Regeneration is the renewing of the mind to the Image where- in it was created. This is not Baptifm, and yet as though Baptifm were Re- generation it felf, it is called Regeneration ; be- caufe it fignifieth Rege- nera-

proved Heretick. 67

neration \ fb the Bread and Wine are called Chrifts Body and. Blood, becaufe they fignifie them.

And the Cup is called the New Teftament, and yet the Cup is but a piece of Metal, filled with Wine, and the New Te- ftament is , he which Be- lieves in the Son< of God Jha/I bt faved. This is not a Cup, and yet as though j the Cup were the New Teftament it felf, it is called the New Tefta- ment ; fo the Bread and Wine are called Chrifts Body and Blood, becaufe they fignifie Chrifts Body and Blood.

And this Doctrine of ours>

68 The %oman Church

ours may be confirmed, becaufe every Sacrament was called by the thing which it fignified, and yet never any Sacrament was taken for the thing it felf ; what reafbn have they then to take this Sacra- ment for the thing it felf, more than all the reft? It is the confent of all Writers,that a Sacrament is a Sign, therefore not the thing fignified no more than the Bufh at theDoor, is the Wine in the Cellar. But what then, will the Papifts fay, is there nothing in the Sacrament but Bread and Wine? Nay, we fay not that the Sacrament is nothing

but

proyed Heretick. 6<?

but $ bare Sign, or that we receive no more than that you fee ; for Chriffc faith that itis bis Bodv, and Paul faith, that it is the Communion of Chrifls Body and Blood : Therefore there is more in Sacra- mental Bread than in com- mon ^read ; though the nature be not changed, yet the ufe is changed ; it doth not only ferve the Body as it did before, but alio it bringeth a Bread with it which nourifheth the fbii I ; for as fiire we receive Bread, (b fare we receive Chrift. And you may fee this by this Simi- litude ;Thou haft an Obli- gation in. thy hand, and I

ask

7Q j. uc ±\u/fiun ^rsntLU

ask thee what haft thou there ? and thou fayft, I have here an hundred Pounds; why, fay I, there is nothing but Paper, Ink and Wax* Oh, but by this, fayft thou, Iwillre- cover an hundred Pounds, . and that is as good. So this is as good, that un- der thefe Signs you re- ceive the vertue of Chrifts- Body and Blood by Faith, as if you did eat his Body, \ and drink hisBlood indeed.

yth. This Do£trine of Tranfubftantion is alio contrary to the Senfes, to Reafon and to the Holy Fathers.

When the Church of Rome would oblige me to

be^

proved Heretkk* 7*

believe that what my Sen- fes behold, is not Bread nor Wine, but the true Body and Blood of Jefus Chrift, it is clear that it is contrary to them, fince they are fenfible of the contrary ; for my eyes fee them to be Bread and Wine; Ifmell Bread and Wine ; I tafte Bread and Wine ; and my hands feel Bread and Wine.

They confefs with us that it is contrary to the Senfes, but that thisMy:- ftery ought not to be mea- fured by the Senfes, and that Jefus Chrift being true, and having taken Bread and Wine, faying, this is my Body, and this

is.

72 Ihe i{oman Lhurcb

is my Blood; this Bread and 'Wine muft be chan- ged into his Body and Blood : that indeed it is contrary to the Senfes,but they ought not to be Judges in the Myfteries of Faith.

I anfwer that Jefus Chrift made ufe of the Senfes to prove to his A- poftles, that he was not a Spirit; but a Body , when he faith to them, handle luk- 24« me and fee, for a Spirit hxth not fl-fb and boms is ye fee ?ne h.iv? ; and if the Fa- thers difputing againft the Marctonttts and Eutichi- ms, the former of which believed that Jefus Chrift had not a true body,

but

J2

proved Heretick. 7 3

but only the appearance ; and the latter, that the fubftance of his body was changed into the Cod- head, after his Refurrefti- on : they made life of the fame words of Jefus Chrift, handle me and feey for a Spirit bath no flefo and bones as ye fee me have. To prove the falfity of their belief, I may, after their example, make ufe of my Senfes in the Sacra- ment of the Eucharift, and fay, to let the Church of Rome- know, that what they believe to be the true Body and Blood of Jefus Chrift, is truly Bread and Wine, handle and fee. They fay befides that, the

y 6 The tftyman Church

ther , as the Church of Rome would have which faith and obligeth to be- lieve, that the Body of Je- ius CI -lift is fubftaatially in Heaven, and Earth, and in every pLce, where the Pneft pleafeth to Confecrate, or pronounce thefe words , This is my Body j this is my Blood ; and in every part of the Con- fecrated Bread ; fb that if you divide it into a thou- land parts, it is there in every part wholly : it is that which is contrary to reafbn, becaufe according to reafbn, a body of fix foot in dimenfion, cannot occupy no more place, than the circumference of

fix

proved Heretick. yy

fix foot; and though it may be fiicceflively in feveral places, yet it cannot at the lame time.

And thefe words of Peter, whom the Heaveil A%% 3, 22. muft receive until the times of reftitution of all things prove my fayings evidently. For if his Bo.- dy be in Heaven, and that he hath a true Body fas all men know he hath) how can it be that it fhould be both in Heaven and in Earth, as touching his Bo- dy, at one time? for though he have a glorifi- ed Body, yet he retaineth the nature and property of a true Body ftill, which can be but in one place at once

78 The Ionian Church

once, and fo faith Aufiin^ Aug. in Corpus Domini in quo re- tft 2 fafexit > uno t Ant um loco ejfe pot eft ; The Body of the Lord wherein he rofe again , can be but in one place only. Secondly, It isagainit reafon, becaufe it maketh Accidents exift without any Subject \ it is the na- ture of Accidents to be joyned to their Subject : as for example, it is the na- ture of the whitenels of a ftone to be joyned to the ftone ; lb that if you de- ftroy the nature or fiib- ftance of the ftone, you muft of neceflity deftroy its whitenefs, and other its Accidents, and accord- ing to the opinion of

mo-

proved Here tick. 79

modern Philofbphers, who lay that Accidents are no- thing elie than matter modified, that is to fay, as it is difpofed to this or that fafhion, it folio weth that Matter cannot be de- ftroyed without its Acci- dents being dettroyed likewife with it. It is the opinion of Irxneus, who1***'** faith, that we cannot confi- der water j without its hu- midity^ nor fre without heat, nor a (lone without hardnefs ; theft things be- ing fo united \ that the one cannot be without the other y but that they muft exifi to- gether. And the Church of Rome teacheth the con- trary, for in their myftery

of

8 o The Ionian Church

ofTranfubftantiation,they put the Accidents with- out any SubjeQ: ; they put colour and quantity with- out matter, fmell and tafte without fubftance; hard- nefs and humidity with- out there being any thing that is hard and moift, which I may very well fay or affirm is contrary to reafbri.

Ninthly, Likewife it is contrary to the holy Fa- thers ; they fay that the Eucharift Confederated is Bread, fiich as we eat and which fatisfieth the Belly. ThzodJiatr Theodore t faith, Neque 2t enim figna myftica poft. Jan-

Eiifictfiontm recedunt a na~

tura

proved Here tick- 8 i

tura fua, manent enim in

friore fubftantiay figura dr

forma, & videri & tangi

poffmt ficut friths, that is,

The myjlical figns after con-

fecration do not depart from

fheir nature, for they abide

(till in their former fub-

ft am, figure and formy and

may be both feen and felt as

before.

The fame Theodoret ToeodJiai. faith , that Jtfa Chrifi u hath honoured the vifible Symbols with the name of his Body and Blood, not in changing their nature, but in adding grace to it.

Chryofiome faith thatdw/iO- the myftical Simbols do?lft:adc*m not lofe their proper ria- * ture, but remain in their E firft

Eutich.

8:2 The (lyoman Church

firft fubftance, as the Bo- dy of Chrift hath pre- ferved the true iubftance of a Body, when it was glorified. Topi GiU And Pope Gelafim faith,

l&. nit. tllat the Confecrated aivirfus. * Bread is honored with the ^hrt name °f the Body of the Lord, and yet the nature of Bread remaineth in it ; non defwit, inquit^ftbftan- tia vel natura Panis & Vi- ni : & certe, Imago & ft- militudo Corporis & San- guinis Chrift h in aclione mifteriorum Corporis Chri- fti Celtbratur. The fib- ftance, faith he, or nature of Bread and Wine doth not ceafej and verily there is the Image And Similitude of the

Body

proved Fleretick* 8 3

Body and Blood ofChrifi celebrated in the aft ion of the my ft tries of the Body of Chrifi.

Qrigines faith thus, the origins in Bread that is fan&ified ^•I5- with the word of God, as touching the material fubftance thereof, goeth into the belly, and forth a- gain like other meats.

Chryfofiome writing to chrifoft. to the people of Antioch, *' jjf^ falthyGodgiveth m things Hom. 6. fpiritaal under things vifi- ble and natural; and again. Being fanctified, it is deli- vered from the name of Bread, and is exalted to the name of the Lords Body, al- though the nature of the Bread ft ill remaineth.

E 2 Jufiin

84 The ^oman Church juffm Bi- Jpfiin Martyr Bifhop of

Sand I*** faith, that OUT fijb IS Martyr, nourijhed with the Cup , which is the Blood ofChrift, and is increafed with the Bread which is the Body of thrift. This paffage cte- firoyeth thofe of the Ro- man Church , who be- caufe they believe that the Bread and Wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Chrift, are compelled to fay that our Body is not nourished with the Bread and Wine but with their Accidents, or by fome Subftance tha|L God createth. Ten. lib. 4. Tertullian faith, Jefus *dv-M'rc' Cbrift took the Bread, and giving tt to his Dijciples

made

proved Hcretkk. 8 5

made it his Body, faying this is my Body > that is to fay, ffaith Tert.) the figure of my Body.

And Auftin faith, Non Aug. con, dubitavit dominws dicerey Aiiam* hoc eft Corpus meumr cum daret fignum Corporis fiii. The Lord doubted not to fay , this is my Bodyjvhen he gave but thefign of his body.

Chrifti miranda patient ia l^m l* adhibuit Jflldam ad convi- Ja viumy in quo Corporis & Sanguinis fui figuram difci- pulis tradidit. The admira- ble patience of Chrift, (faith Jtftuftin) admitted Judas to 'the banquet^ wherein he de- livered to his Dijciples the figure of his Body and Blood. l^m EP*$< m He faith that the Sacra- ***** E 3 ment

8 d The Ofyman Church

ments are called by the name of the things they reprefent.

The Sacrament then of the Lords Supper may be taken either conjun- ctively with what it re- prefents, and in this fenfe it is (aid to be the Body and Blood of Chrift - or (eparately from the things which it fignifieth, and in this fenfe, it is the type, the fymbole, or figure of the Body and Blood of Je- fus Chrift : and that is to be feen in the affairs of the World, where we fay, the letters which are brought, wherein is con- tained the pardon, which the King giveth to a Cri-

mi-

proved Heretkk* 17

minal, are the Kings par- don.

Baronim faith>thatT/;e^ Baron, an. dore Bifhop of Rome, forJfgJs.Sl the Condemnation of Py- $. r^r, and the Council held at Conftamwople for the Condemnation of Rhotius, took the ConfecratedCup, and poured ink into it, and having dipped their Pens into thefe two mixt li- quors, they fubfcribed the Depofitions of thefe men. If they had believed that the confecrated Wine was the blood of Jefus Chrift, ^as now the Church of Rome believeth, is it cre- dible that they would have mixt ink with it, and dipped their Pens with it ? E 4 no,

1 8 The QUpman Church

no, it is not to be believed, for the Church of Rome would not do fo now, but would believe they fhould commit an horrible Sacri- ledge.

That which confirms all that I am about to al- ledge from the Fathers a-

§ainft the pretended my- ;ery of Tranfubftanti- ation, is, that when they difputed againft Idolaters, they confuted them with thefe words ; Why do ye adore what your hands have made^ and which hath nei- ther fpeech, nor motion^ and which is fubjeff to fire, and to corruption^ and to bejtul- len aivay by Thieves? If at that time, they had be- lieved

proved Here tick. 8 ^

lieved that Jefus Chrift had been under the Acci- dents of Bread and Wine, and if the fathers had taught that Do£trine, it is moft certain the Idola- ters would have retorted their argument, and have laid, that the God which they adored in the Bread was a work of their own hands, which hath nei- ther fpeech, nor motion, but was fubjeQ: to cor- ruption, to fire, and to be ftolen away ; but we do not find they made liich an Anfvver. Therefore it is a fign that this Do- ftrine was not taught by the Fathers but was con- trary to them. Moreover E 5 if

if they had believed Tran- fubftantiation, that is to fay, the changing of the Bread and Wine into the true Body and Blood of JefusChrift, they would not have failed to inftrufl us that a body is under a point, that it hath Acci- dents without any fubjeft ; that it is after the manner of a Spirit ; they would have taught us what nou- rishes our bodies in the receiving oftheSacramentr and from whence come the worms which are in- gendred in the Bread ; they would have told us what kind of a£tion it is w hich maker h Chrift ex- ift under the Species of Bread

proved Here tick . p I

Bread and Wine ; whe- ther it was a Reproduction, or Adduction fix Vbification? I fay they would have taught us all thefe things, fince the Church oHlomcy giveth now a particular Jnftru&ion in it : now fince they were as wife and learned, as the preient Dofrors of the Church oi Rome now , and fince t'Ifey, faid nothing; of it, it is a mark that this Doctrine was contrary to their opi- nion.

And when they dis- puted again ft the Marci- onites and Eutichhns the former of which believ- ed that Jefus Chrift had not a true Body, but only

an

9* The <I{oman Church

an appearance ; and the latter that the fubftance of his body was changed into the Godhead after his Refurre£tion ; they al- ledged thefe words of our Lz\+ 24. Lord, Handle me and fee, &• for a Spirit hzth no fie/b and

bones as ye fee me have. If they had believed that in ti.^Lords Supper the Ac- cidents had continued witnout the fubftance of Bread and Wine (as the. prefent Church of Rome believ7es) the Mar donates would not have failed to afledge this example to prove that the fenfes per- ceived in Jefus Ghrift an appearance of a body without reallitv, as they

did'

proved Heretick. 9$

did fee in the Lords Sup- per an appearance of Bread and Wirie when they were not really there. But fo it is that they did never al ledge fuch an ex- ample ; therefore I may ttuly fay that this was not the belief of thofe times, and that it was contrary to the opinion of the anti- en t Fathers.

And to fhew you the right Father of Tranfub- ttantiation, it was one of the dreams of Innocentim the third in the year of our Lord 121^. So many years palled before Tran- fiibftamiation was named^ and then a Pope fet it firft on foot ; fo it came out of Rome,

c>4 H?e ^omin Church

Rome y and for want of Scriptures hath been de- fended with Fire and Sword.

You fee then that the Do&rine of Tranfubftan- tiation is contrary to the holy Scriptures ; andfince notwithiianding the Ro- man Church doth believe it, it is evident they add to the word of God, and think above that which is written , and therefore they are Heretick.

The Roman Church doth not only think above that - which is written, and add to the word of God; but alio diminifli-

c^c. you evidently.

Firft,

proved Heretich 6 5

Frft the Apoftle of the Gentiles will not only have us to fpeak in the Church with a known tongue; but alfb he fheweth the confufion of them which fpeak in an unknown. Ex- cept Pipe or Harp, faith he, give diflinciion in the founds how (hall it be known what is piped or harped ? if the Trumpet giveth an uncer- tain found, who (hall prepare himfelf to the Battle ? So likewife you, except ye utter by the tongue words eafte to be under floods how fhall it be known what is fpoken ? for ye (hall fpeak into the air. 1 thank my God, faith he, I fpeak with tongues more than you all, yet in

the

9 6 The ^orhan Church

the Church 1 had rather fpeak Jivt words with my un- der ft \wding y that by my voice I rmoht teach others alp), then ten thouf and words in an unknown tongue. And the Roman Church muft not fay St. Paul thereby fpeaketh concerning Ser- mons , and confequently doth not fpeak againft her, becaufe fhe preacheth in known tongue,for St. Paul Ipeaketh concerning Pra- yers, Rfalms, andThankf- givings. // Iprajj faith,he r. 14. 15. ^ an unknown tongue ^ my 1 6' fptrit prayeth, hut my under-

ftanding is unfruitful. H hat is it then ? / will pray with thefyirityind I will pray with the under Jlanding alfo \ I will

pro Ved Heretick . 9 7

(ing rvitb the Spirit^ and I will ftng with the under - flanding alfo ; elfe whtn thou jhalt bltfs with the Spi- rit r how (hall he that occupi- eth the room of the unlearn- ed fay Amen at thy giving of thanks , feeing he under- fiandeth not what thou fay- eft ? And notwithftand- ing this ordinance of Paul and the confufion of them which go againil it, as it is declared by the com- parifons of the Pipe, Harp, and Trumpet, the Roman Church prayeth, fingeth^ and giveth thanks in an unknown tongue : and though in the Primi- tive Church the Bleflings and other common Pray- ers

9 8 The (fio man Church

ers were performed in the Gnt^r. vulgar tongue, & lingua i!fca?'l6i auditor thus non tgnota omnia peragebantiir^ & confuttudo itaferebat ut tot a Ecciefa (i- ?<:i;d pfalitret^ all things were difpatcht in a Ungnage not unknown to the people y and the cuftom^was that the whole Church did fmg together. And a multitude of their: Authors acknowledge , that the publick prayers in the firft age were in a tongue, that the people underftood. And though An ft in faith, Deus vult ut quod canamusy intelligamus, dr human* ratione, non qua- ft avium 'voce canamus \ God requires thxt we under- (land what wt ftng, like men

en^

proved Here tick. 99

endued with reafony and not chatter like birds.

Neverthelefs, when the BiOiops of Rome had mounted themfeives to an eminent degree of gran- deur in the world, then nothing would ferve their turns, but they muft be giving Laws , and pre- bribing Rules, though ne- ver fb irregular and unrea- fcnable j and asConquerors ufually bring in, and oft tentimes impofe their own language, on thofe they have fubdued, and intied for their Slaves ; fo the Popes made it their bufi- nefs to plant their Roman Rites , Ceremonies and Language in what other Church*

I o o The %omm Church

Churches they could, that the fame might afterwards ferve as an argument of their JurifdiQiion, and the others dependence.

It is then manifett the

Rpman Church diminifh-

ethfrom the Word of God,

and thinketh above that

which is written.

Secondly, St. PW writes

al of 2. to the QolofJiansJLet no man

judge you in meat or drink ;

i cor. to. and to the Corinthians,

24-25'2 7- Whatsoever is fold in the

Shambles j that eat ^asking no

quefiionfor confciencefake.if

any of them that believe not \

bid you to a feafl^ and ye be

difpofedtogOj whatfoever is

ftt before youy eat, asking no

qnejtion for confcience fake ;

and

frovcd Heretic k. i o i

and writing to Timothy y he l TimoH- faith , every creature of God 4' is good , and nothing to he refufedj if it he received with thank [giving. And con- cerning Marriage,he faith, Have tve not power to lead a- bout a Sifter ', a Wife, as well as other Apoftles^ and as the Brethren of the Lord and Cephas. And a Bifhop can i Timot.$. be the husband of one wifey and in the thirteenth to the Hebrews, Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undt fled ; but Whoremon- Hebr. 1 3 4. gers y and Adulterers God will judge ; and writting to Timothy , he faith, forbid- 1 r/mot. 4. ding to marry y and com- 3,<5* manding to abfiain from meats y is a Doctrine of De- vils

102 The ^oman Qmrch

vils ; if thou puttefi bre- thren in remembrance of theft things, thou (halt be a good Mini fier ofJefusChrif nourifbed up in the words of faith, and of good Do- cirine, whereunto thou hafi attained. And Jefus Chrift himfelf honoureth fb much the marriage of the Priefts, that he chooiesthe Son of the high Prieft,^- chariasy to be his forerun- i cor. 1-2. ner. Becaufe of fornication ', JaithPzul let everyman have his own wife ; that is, who- ever hath not the gift of continency,\vhether Cler- gy or Lay-man ; fb faith Chrjfj/l.hom.ig.upon thefe words. And the Roman Church commandeth to abftain

proved Pier e tick. 103

ftain from meat in certain time and days, and all Bifhops and Priefts to mar- ry ; and in the Council of Nice, of which the Eccle- fiaftical Hiftorian Socrates lib. i.e. 11. writes thus. It pleafed fome of the Bi- fhops to bring in a New Law into the Church,that thofe that were dedicated to the holy Miniftry, isix,. Bifliops, Priefts, or Eiders, and Deacons fhould not fleep any longer with their wives : ButPaphmtius an EgyptianBiihop, who had one of his eyes pluckt out formerly for the Teftimo- ny of Jefus, ftood up in oppofition thereunto, cry- ing out aloud, that they fliould

1 04 The ^onuin Church

fhould not impofe fo hea- vy a yoak, for the Marri- age Bed was honourable, and Matrimony unpollu- ted, left with too much precifenels they fhould ra- ther hurt the Church ; for all men could not bear the exercife ofContinency,and that accompanying with mans lawful wife, was not breach of chaftity. Which prevailed fo far, that the Council acquiefcing in his opinion, only decreed that Clerks fhould not accom- pany with other women, befides their wives.

But Gregory the leventh by cruel decrees of Ex- communication, deprived Iviinifters of their lawful wives,

proved Here tick. 105

Wives, and compelled the

Clergy to the Vow of Con-

tinency ; and the Council

of Trent forbids Marriage

unto all thole that are in

Orders, andcurfeth thofe

that fay that they may

marry. Si qim dixerit Cle- cone. trid.

ricos in facris Ordmibus con- f^ 2^

jtitutoS) i/el ReguUres cajti-

tatem folemniter "profeffos

pojfe Matrimonium contra,-

\ herejcontraffumqu.e validum

ejfe^non obftante Lege Eccle-

fi.tftica vdVotojfr oppofitum

nihil aliwd ejfe qtiam damna-

re Matrimonium , pojfeque

omnes contrahtre Matrimo-

nlum^qiunonfentiunt fe ca-

ftitatis j etiamfi voverint,

habere dommi^ Anathema fit.

It is then manifeft the Ro-

F man

to6 The (t{o7?ian Church

man Church diminifheth from the Word of God, and thinketh above that which is written.

She forbiddeth alfb the reading of the holy Scrip- tures to the common Peo- ple ; and in the Council of

ccns.rrid-Trevt, it is written, if the reading of the holy Scrip- ture, is permitted indiffe- rently in a known Tongue amongft all People, it will be more hurtful than pro- fitable. And fb the Roman Church is wifer than St.

John$^9--J°^i which faith, Search the Scriptures , for in them ye think yehaije eternal life ; and wifer than St. Paul, who writing both to the Bifhops, and all his Bre- thren.

proved Heretick. 107

thren, either Men or Wo- men, either young or old, ipeaketh thus : I charge you \ Thtfo. by the Lordfhat this Epiftk 2?# be read unto all holy Bre- thren ; and writing to the Coloffians, he faith, When coiojf. 4. this Epiftle is read among ft l5# you, caufe that it be read alfo in the Church of the Laodi- ceans, and that ye likewife read the Epiftle from Lao- dicea.

The People of Berta were highly commended that they learched the Scriptures, to fee whether thofe things were true or Aft. 17. no, which Paul himfelf teacheth. For whofbever he be, though he were an ; Angel from Heaven, if he F 2 teach

1 06 The ^{oman Church

man Church diminifheth from the Word of God, and thinketh above that which is written.

She forbiddeth alfb the reading of the holy Scrip- tures to the common Peo- ple ; and in the Council of

mc.Trid.Trevt, it is written, if the "reading of the holy Scrip- ture, is permitted indiffe- rently in a known Tongue amongft all People, it will be, more hurtful than pro- fitable. And fb the Roman Church is wifer than St.

'JohnM9:J°hvj which faith, Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think yehalje eternal life ; and wifer than St. Paul, who writing both to the Bifhops, and all his Bre- thren,

proved Heretick* 107

thren, either Men or Wo- men, either young or old, fpeaketh thus : I charge you 1 Mtfo. by the Lor df hat this Epiftle 2?# he read unto all holy Bre- thren ; and writing to the Coloffians, he faith, When coioff. 4. this Epiftle is read among ft l6% yott) caufe that it be read alfo in the Church, of the Laodi- ceans, and that ye likewife read the Epiftle from Lao- dicea.

The People of Ber.ea were highly commended that they fearched the Scriptures, to fee whether thofe things were true or Act. 17. no, which Paul himfelf teacheth. For whofbever he be, though he were an I Angel from Heaven, if he F 2 teach

io 3 The %pman Church

teach Matters contrary to the DoQrine of the holy and Canonical Scriptures, we are to hold him accur-

Gai.lt 8. fed; as the Apoftle of Jefiis Chrift commandeth} and the Church of Rome for- biddeth them to thecom- rnon People, faying, it is perilous,it caufeth fchifms, Se£ts,and Herefies.as if file were wifer than Chrift, St. Jofm and St. Paul.

Mau 26. Thirdly, We read in St.

27* M'ttthewfihrifl took the Cup

and gave it to them, faying, drink ye all of it ; and the Ro?nav Church will have no body to drink of the Cup but the Priefh; think- ing Jefus Chrilt fpake to the Priefts only, when he

faidg

proved Heretic k. * 09

folder ink ye a/iofit,B\lt St. Paul writing to the Covin- 1 cm* 2.8. thians y amongft whom were more Laicks thag Priefts, fheweth the con- trary, faying, Let a;man examine hiwfelf a -id Jo let him eat of that Bread? arid .drink of thai Cyp And though in the general Council of Confiance^ the cone. tmf. Roman Church doth con- */is* fefs this holy Sacrament , was received in the primi- tive ; Church with the Bread and the Cup, yet in the general Council of Trent fhe fpeaketh thus : cone. TtU. If any man faith, that thes*»'2u Catholick Church had nojuft Reafons to give the Commu- nion to the Laicks,and Clerks F l who

ill *lhe tf^pman Church

above that which is writ" ten ; the Church of Rome taking away the Cup from the common People , and from the Clerks which are not Priefrs, it is clear that fhe diminifheth from the holy Script ure,fince we are commanded to drink of the Cup ; for, as it is faid here above, Chrift faith, Drink ye all of it ; and St\ Paul fpeaking indifferently unto all, fays thus ; Let a man examine himfelf and fo let him eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup ; and con- fequently it is manifeft, that flie is Heretick.

They fay , the true Church of God here upon Earth is vifible to the out- ward

proved Lleretick..

ward eye^ and was fo alT ways ; and fo they tell us, that our Church is not the true Church of God, be- caufe it was not always y£ fible to the outward eye ; for where was your Church (iky they) before Cdvjn^ Luther, and thofe that you call Reformators ? To which Ianfwer, That though the true Church of God here Militant upon Earth were always?yet Hie was not always vifible to the outward eye ; pray fpt them tell me, where the Church was vifible, when being gathered at Jerxfa- /emxhtYQ aroie a great: Per- .fecution againfi her, in fo much as they were ail fcat- F 5 ter'd;;

II

1 1 4 The %pman Church

ter'd : for as it is faid in the rA8s2.i. Acts y At that time there was ferfecution againfi the Church that was at Jerufa- lerny and they were all fcatte- red abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Sama- * ria. Where was the Church of God vifible when Jefus Chrift was fmitten, and all the reft were fcattered and hid, as it is written in Mark ? Where was the Church vifible in the time of Eli as theProphet,when he com- plained that he was left i Kings alone ? 0 Lord fzid he,they have for fake n thy Covenant ; they have dejlrvyed thine • Altar s^and flaw thy Prophets with the frord} and lam left

io.ir.

alone.

proved Here tick * I if

alone. By thefe words,/ am It ft done, every body may fee that Eli as knew not where was the trueChurch of God \ though as it is ma- nifeft by the Anfwer whichGod gave him,there were, befides him, leven thoufand true worfhippers of God yet remaining , which had not bowed their knee to Baal. The true Church of God then may be,though fhe is not vifible to the outward eye, So was the Primitive "Church, in the time of the Heathen Emperors ; fo fhe was in the days of Queen Mary here in England \ io file was in the other Times, when fhe was perlecuted

by

1 1 6 The tftyman Church

by the Romifb Popes ; and ib (he was before the days of Calvin, Luther, and all the other Reformators; (he had her fecret Meetings andAfTemblies,th€ugh un- known to her PerfecutorSy there were in thofe days many true worfhippers of God, which were not par- takers of the Errors and Corruptions of theChuah ofjR^e,and who had their fecret Meetings amongft themfelves , though they were unknown, though they were not vifible to. the Papifts. And therefore they do not conclude well, when they hold ftifly that the Church of England, is aot the true Church of God,

proved Heretick. i * 7

God y becaufe before the days of ^ Cdv in ^Luther ^ and other Reformators,fhe was not vifible to their eyes ; feeing I have proved clear- ly that a Church may be a true Church of God, though not vifible to the outward eye.

They hold befides^their unwritten Traditions to be received with equal and like Authority ,as the holy Scripture ;and confequent- ly, they hold the, facred Scripture to be imperfect, and not contain all things neceflary to Salvation, That this is theirDcclrine, . maybefeen in xhz Council Co^n- of Trent Joy thefe following J^#r# words i Nee non traditione* 4. Stfi

1 8 The Oxonian Church

ipfts, turn ad fidem turn ad mores pertinentes, tanquam vel ore tenusfi Chriftoyvela Spiritu Santlo dictitas, & continue fuccefjione in Rcck- fta Catholica Confervatas, -pari pet at is affect u ac reve- rent iafufcipit ac veneratur. That isyThis general Council receiveth and honour eth with an equal piety and reverence the Traditions as well be- longing to faith as manner s7 as they were dictated by the Holy Ghofty or by the very mouth ofChri/ly and kept in the 'Catholick Church by a* continual S'tcct/Jijn. And a- gain in this fame Seflion, Qui traditiones prddittas fciens & prude ns contempfe- r it, Anathema jit. Whofoever know-

proved Heretick. i 1 9

knowing the faid Traditions, and {ball furpofely contemn them, let him be Anathema. And Pope Leo the fourth, faith thus, He that receiv- eth not without difference the Popifh Canons ,as well as the four Gojpehybelieveth not a- right, nor holdeth the Catho- lic/? Church effectually ; and fb they do not hold the ho- ly Scriptures to be perfeft, and to contain all things neceffary to Salvation , which is againft thefe words of John^ Thefe things are written that ye may be- lieve, and that in believing you may have life eternal. Contrary to St, Paul, who 2 Tim. 3. faith, Thou haft known the 1 5' holy Scriptures , which are

able

i 20 The Q^pman Church

able to make thee wife unto

Salvation through Faith

which is in Chrifi *Jefu4.

chifof. h And contrary to::hryf)fio?n,

Mat. 24. wj faith mMtfoever n Horn. 4. > J .

requijite for our Salvation is contained in the Scriptures : idem in 2. And in another place he Tbefii. fpeaketh thus ; All things are clear and mrmftfl in the Scriptures ;, and what foever things are needful, are mani- fcfl th*re.

Therefore I conclude thus, fince.as faith Ir.eneus, 1 . 5 . C . 1 7 . FL re tici font qiu fupra Script/tram fapinnt ; and fince that Church is Heretick which is obfti- nate in her Errors ;j and : fince that Church is obfti- nate in her Errors, which refu-

proved Heretic h 121

refufeth to obey the holy Seripture in feveral points both of faith and practice ; and iince that Church re- fufeth to obey the holy Scripture which addeth to the Word of God, and di- minifheth from it , and thinketh above that which is written ; for God faith, Te fba/I not add unto the But. 4.2* word which I command you, neither (hall you diminiffr from /V.The RommQhxkx&i adding to the Word of God.and diminifhing from it,and thinking above that wrhich is written, (as I have provM clearly)it follo\veth that fhe refufeth to obey the divine and facred Scri- ptures ; and ccnfequently,

that

12 2 The <3i(pman Church

that fhe is obftinate in her Errors ; and therefore that file is Heretick. I could lay more,but I think this Effi- cient to prove what I did undertake in this fmall Treatife.

Ifc is then with good rea- fbn I am gone out of that Communion ; when I was amongftthem, I dare fay, both my Ignorance and Zeal were fuch thefe laft few years, that the fpecial Motives which induced me to enter into a Covent, being about 1 7 years old, was to Preach the Holy Gofpel unto them that I did believe deceived, and to give the light of the Truth

proved Heretick* 123

Truth to the Protefiants, which I thought to live amidft the darfcnefs of Ig- norance. I continued in that relblution about 11 years, and being ready to perform it , that which happened toSt.PW,a!moft happened unto me ; for as he went unto the High- Prieft, and defired Letters from him to Damafcus to the Synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were Men or Women,he might bring them bound unto Jerufa- km ; and as he came near Damafcus, fuddenly fhined round about him a light from Heaven;he fell to the earth, and heard a voice

lay-

124 T^-e ^{pman Church

faying unto him,*SW,vSW, why perfecute& thou me ? it is hard for thee to kick againft the pricks ; and he trembling faid, what wilt thou have me to do, O Lord ? the Lord faid unto him, Arife and go into the City, and it fliall be told thee what thou muft do : The men which were in journey with him?brought him mtoDamafcusJaz there received his fight by Ana- nias, and was filled with theHoly Ghoft,and having lived certain days with the Difciples which were at Damafcus , he Preached Chrift,whom he did perfe- cute, that he was the Son of God. And when I was

rea-

proved Here tick* 115

ready to ask and receive Letters to lurky or Eng- landy that I might bring unto the Roman Church thole that I could find le- parated from her,whether they were Men orWomen, and being ready to per- form my relblution ,1 heard an inward voice faying un- to me,Thy zeal is not juft, thole which thou wilt perfecute , are the true Children of God ; aftonifh- ed by that voice which (poke to my heart, Ian- fwered, Lord Jet me know the truth ; and after I had leveral times inftantly begged that favour from the Lord, his Divine Pro- vidence prefented me two Books,

i z 6 The fyman Church

Books, The Perpetuity of Faith% written by one Claude Minifter living at Park i and Calvin's Institutions ', and after I had ex- amined , and compared thefe two Books with the holy Scrip- ture, and difcours'd fome few days with the faid Claude^ Mi- nifter, I found that this inward voice which fpoke to my Heart was truei therefore leaving my firft refolution 1 came into Eng- hnd^not that I might bring un- to the Roman Church thofe that I fhould rind feparatedt from her, but that I might feparate them, thatl (hould find of that Communion.

I thank God , becaufe he made me know the truth, and I will give him thanks as long as I live i it is certain I am out of my Countrey , and fcparated from my Friends and Kindred j it is5 becaufe they would not

give

proyed Here tick. 117

give me leave to ferve God and worihip Him according to his Will, and Commandments. I know they curfe me, and call me Heretick and Excommuni- cated > but 1 had rather bear the Curfe of men , than of God. Wbofoever, faith Chrift, lovetb Mat. 10. Father or Mother, or Brethren, or 31, Sifter more than me, he U not wor- thy of me h fuch love better their Brethren than Chrift, who, to pleafe and humour them, keep not his Commandments. Chrift taught me not to be aftiamed, nor to blufh for the Gofpel, and wbvfoever (ball deny him before Mat, io> men, be will deny him before bis 3 3* Father which U in Heaven : I will confefs him before all men, and obey him, and fuffer what he pleafeth for his fake i. therefore I fay, who (hall feparate me from the truth of the holy Scriptures ? (hall tribulation, or difticfs. per-

fifcu-

n8 The Ofyman Church

fecution or famine, or nakednefs or peril, or fword ? I hope that neither death nor life, nor An- gels5nor Principalities,nor Pow- ers , nor things prcfent nor things to come, nor any other Creature, (hall be able to fepa- . .rate me from the truth of the Holy Scriptures. I pray to my . God to keep me in that mind as long as Ilive^ Amen.

FINIS.

ADVERTISEMENT.

IF any Gentleman, or Gentlewo- man , have a mind to learn French or Latin, the Author of this 'Treatife will wait upon them > he hath a very good Method. He liveth in Thames-ilreet , over againfi Bernards-Caftle, Pauls- Wharf.

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