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| PpAPIST 7a.
segsaimuaniauetoes —T
OR,
i nibs A TWO-FOLD CHARACTER R Be
| PO P E 7 Y:
ers atin 4 SP peviege Si es ki : ee i a |
‘Principles laid to their charge f sisaat i
The other, laying open that Religion which thdse éertned
mpeg own ad profess ; ‘the. chief Articles ef” se
theis Faith; and the prineipal Grounds: endo : a
3 ‘Reasons whieh — eka tet. 2 haapeioaeT
e 4 net
Hoxie * HE: REV. V.douN corti. ~ ;
_ doce ane iGO,
Sse from the: eigal: of 1689, snd.
the late. © Wy seemere ant rial
RT REY: ‘RICHARD CHALLONER, Bi D Vs fb
FIRST CANADA—-FROM THE THIRTIETH ‘EDITION.
aa
MONTREAL:
JOHN CORCORAN,
Catholic Book Printer ond Publishers
1841.
pz ii x : ee sl
saved bhatt’ AAD nA ARED i SPST TC NTT
THE PUBLISHER OF THIS EDITION TO THE
’ READER.»
OR seeeecrch
TuE re-publication of this Tract calls for no: apolo yi:
as long as the faith and principles of Catholics ‘are mis-
nis
_ Fepresented, so long will it be their indispensable duty .
to oppose those misrepresentations, face to face, to the
Catholic faith, as it really is. This isa duty of:eharity':
for in:such a comparative statement, the best: interests
of Protestants, are by far. more concerned than those of
Catholics ;. as,‘ by a misrepresentation ‘of the faith of.
Christ, those, by deception, have been induced to pro-
test against the profession of what they themselves
deem important to salvation: whilst. the Catholic is
compensated amidst the obloquies and privations, found-
ed on those: misrepresentations, he is obliged to.endure,
by the exercise of his: patience, fortitude, resignation,
and Adelity, that. repays him here an hundred fold for
Mis present suffétings, and rewards’ hin hereafter with
eternal glory, = i )
Fe i atid ree rhc elias tills ie: e
SAL eae inl eewea oc, ne : =
RESTS” = 2th
AO ek es |g an a) ams oie die a, oe —
quently falls down prostrate before them ;. and,
with his eyes fixed upon-them, cries out, help me,
_ Mary ; assist me, Anthony ; remember mé Igna-
tius.”* va, 3 iy
A Papisr truly represented, believes it damna-
ble to worship stocks and stones for gods, to pray
to pictures or images of Christ, of the Virgin Ma-
ry, or ofany other Saints; to believe any virtue
or divinity in them, or to put any trust or confi~
dence inthem. He is expressly taught the con-
trary to all this by the Council of Trent, (Sess, 25.)
and his very childrén are instructed in their Cate-
chisms, which are ir. the hands of all, that they
must “ by no means pray to pictures or images,
because they can neither see, 2of heary nor help
them.” See Adstract of the Douay Catechism,
upon the first commanduient ; Abridoment of the
Christaan: Doctrine, chap. iv. &c. But what tse
then does the Papist make of pictures or images
of Christ, of the bigssed Virgin, or other Saints ¢
OF PRAYING TO IMAGES. M1.
Why, he keeps them by him, to preserve in. hig
mind the memory of the persons represented, by:
them, as people are wont to preserve the memory.
of their deceased friends by keeping their pic-
tures. Heis taught'to uge them, so as,to cast. hig:
eyesupon the pictures or gmages, and thence ta,
raise his heart to. the things represented; and:
there to employ it. in meditation, Jove, and thanks-
giving ; desire of imitation, &e. ax the object :re-
quires ; as many good Christians, placing a.death’s
head before them, from the sight of it, take ocea-
sion to. reflect.upon their last’ end, in order to.
their better preparing for it ; or by .seeing Qld.
Time,. painted with his fore-lock, hoyr-glass, and.
scythe, turn their thoughts ypon the suftness of
time, and. that whosoever neglects the. present, is
in danger, of beginning then:to desire to lay hold _
of it when there is no more of jt:to.come. ‘These.
pictures or images having this advaatage, that they.
inform the mind by one glance, of what in reads,
ing might require _a whole chapter ; there being
no other:difference between them, than that read-
ing presents leisurely, and by degrees, what a pics,
ture .shews at once. Elence he finds a conve-.
nience in saying. his prayers with some devout
pictures befure him, he being no sooner distract-.
ed, but the sight of these .recal his wandering
thoughts to the right object ; and as certainly’
brings something good into. his mind, as an im~.
modest picture disturbs .hig heart with. filthy
thoughts. And because he ia sensible that these
holy, pictures.and images, represent and bring ta
his mind such objects as in his: heart he loves, he-
nours. and venerates ; he cannot but ot that ace
count. love, honour, and respect the images them-
relves: as whosoever loves their husband, child,
ger greener ner omer
12:
or friénd, cannot but have some love and respect
for their pictures’: whosoever loves and honours
OF PRAYING TO IMAGES.
_hiseking, will have some honour and regard for
his image. Nc} that he venerates images or pic-
tures, for any virtue or divinity believed to be in
_ them, ‘or for any thing that is to-be petitioned of
thém; but because the honour that is exhibited
to them is referred. to those whom they represert.
So ‘that it is not properly the image he honours, |
‘but Christ and his saints by the images—as it is”
not properly the images or pictures of kings, or
-other men that we respect or injure, but by their
imagés ér pictures we respect or injure the per-
sons themselves.’ All the veneration therefore,
he expresses before all images, whether by kneel-
ing, lifting up the eyes, burning candles, incense,
_ &c. is not at all done for the image; but is wholly
referred to the thing represented, which he in-
tends to honour by ‘these actions, and liow by so
doing he breaks the second commandment, he
cannot conceive ; for he -acknowledges only one
. God,’ and'to him alone gives sovereign honour ;
and whatsoever respect he shews to a crucifix,
picture, or image, seems to him no more injurious
to any of the commandments, than it is fora
Christian to love and honour his neighbour, be-
cause he bears the image of God in his soul ; to
kiss and esteem the Bible, because it contains
and represents to him God’s word ; or to love a
good ‘preacher, because he reminds him of his
duty; all which respects do not at all derogate
from God Almighty’s honours, but are rather tes-
timonies of our great leve and honour of him ;
since, for his sake, we love and esteem every
thing that-has any respect or relation to him,
spect
ours
‘d for
* pic -
be in
ed of
bited
sent.
ours, |
3 itis.
38, or
their
per-
fore,
neel-
ense,
holly
e in-
xy sO
it, he
r one
jour ;
cifix,
rious
for'a
» be-
; to
tains
ve a
P his
gate
tes-
Lim H
very
13 | :
§ 2. oF worsnipPiNne ‘saints’
‘ TE Papist misreprsented, makes gods of dead |
ten + such as are. depaited hence, and are now
no more able to hear, or see, or understand his
necessities. And though God be so good-as to:
invite all: to come with hint, and to apply them-
selves to their only and infinite Mediator Jesus
Christ ; yet so stupid is he, that neglecting, and;
as it were, passing by both God and his own Son,
and all their mercies; he perce himself to fied
Saints, and there pouring forth his prayers, he
considers thenr ag bie sbecKasors and redeemers;
and expects no blessing but what is to come to’
him by their merits, and through their hands ;
and thus, without scruple or remorse, he robs God:
ofhishonour.” = yo
Tue Papist truly represented believes there is
only one’ (sod, and that it is a most damnable ido-
latry to make gods of men, either living or dead.
His church teaches hiny indeed, and he believes, -
“that it is good and profitable to desire the in-
tercession of the saints reigning with Christ iw
heaven ;” but that they are gods, or his redeem
er, he is no where taught, but detests all such |
doctrine. He confesses that we are all redeemed
by the blood of Christ atone, and that he is our
only mediator of redemption : but as for media-
tors of intercession, (that is, such as we may law.
fully desire to: pray for us) he does not doubt, but
it is acceptable to God we should have many.
Moses was such a mediator for’ the: Israelites ;
Job for his three friends ; St. ren for his perse-
cutors. The Romans were thus desired by St.
a]
_ . Paul to be his mediator ; so were'the Corinthians,
ait - aioe
ee
cree ata
14 OF WORSHIPPING SAINTS.
go the Ephesians; (Ep..ad Rom. Cor. Eph.) se
almost every sick man desires the congregation to
be his | mediators, by ‘temembering him in their
_ prayers: And:so, the: Papist desires the blessed
in hdaveri to be:his mediators, that is, that they:
may ptdy: to God for him. : And in this he does.
not at all neglect coming to Ged; or rob him of
his honour; but difecting all bis prayers up to
him, anid making hint the ultimate object of-all his
petitions; he only desires sometimes the just on:
edtth; sometimes those in heaven-to' join their
prayers to. hiy; thatso the: number of petitioners:
being increased, the petition may find better ac-~
ceptance in the sight of God: And this is not.to
make them gods but only petitioners to God ; it
jgviot to’ make them his redeemers; but.only in-.
tercéséots to his Redeemer, he having po hope of
obtaifiing any thing but of God alone; by. and
true the mefits of Christ; for which he. desites
the Saints in heaven, and good men. upon.earth,
to offer up their prayers with his, the prayers. of
the just availing much before God. But naw,
hidw the saints in heaven. know the. prayers aad
necessities of., those , who. address. themselves: to
them; whether by the ministry of angels, or in the,
vision of God, or by some..particular: revelation,
it is no. part of his faith, not is it, much his cons
cern that it should be determined. . For bis part
he does not doxbt, but. that God, who.aequainted
the prophets with the knowledge of things that.
were yet to come many hundred years after ; that
informed Elisha of the King of Syria's councils,
though privately resolved on in, his. hed-chamber,
and at a distance, (2, Kings, vi. 12.)\can never
>
want means of letting the saints koow the desires
oe es ee eet oe ee ante a Ba MO So:
mh.) 80
tion to
n their
ilesaed
at they.
je does
him of
; up to
“all hig
just on:
) their
itioners.
iter ac~
; not.to
rod 3 it
only in-.
hope of
by. and
desites,
n, earth,
iyers,.0
rers.and,
elves’ to
re in the,
velation,
his cons
his part,
quainted
igs. that.
ter; that
pouncils,
‘bhamber,
an never
e desires
-gilowed, that event
though departed this life, are.
@eud; as translated froma mortal life to. an immor-
nO
‘but
oie
Of ADDRESSING THE VIRGIN. 18
of thdse who. beg their intercession hereon earth ;
ecially since out Saviour infotms is; (Luke
svi) that ‘Abrahdit lieatd the petition of Dives,
whowas yet ata gteater distance, even in hell ;
and told him likewise the manner of his living,
- Nay, since it is generally
vety devils hear these des-
erate wretches who callon them; why should we
@oubt that the Saints want ecu cantons who;
while as yet one,
abt. so: properly
tub erie; whete enjoying God Almighty; they lase
perfeciidhs: which they-enjoyed while on:éarth,
posses all ina tote eminent mannéf, having
more charity, more knowledge, more interest with
God-than ever, and becoming like angels. (Luke
ea'86.) And aé these offered up their prayers
for Jerusalem and the eities of Judah, (Zac: 1,
12,).s0 undoubtedly they likewise fall down before
the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden
vials fall of odours, w ich dre the prayers of the saints,
Apo. v.89 |. Mais eRe ,
§& & OF ADDRESSING MORE SUPPLICATIONS To
THE VIRGIN MARY THAN TO-CHRIST.~—
“Tp Papist misrepresented, believes the Vir-.
in Mary to be much more powerful in heaven
al Christ; and that. she can. command him to
do: what she. thinks good : and for this, he ho~
‘fours:her much.more than he does.her Son, or
God the Father ; ‘for one prayer he says to: God,
‘saying ten to the holy Virgin.”
« Tur Papist truly represented, believes it. dam-
nable to think the. Virgin Mary more powerful
‘in heaven than Christ; or that she can in any
thing command him. He lionouts her indeed, as
A RT
16 oF PAYING DIVINE WORSHIP TO ‘RELICS.
one that was chosen to be the mother of God,
and blessed amongst women’; and. he believes:her
to be most acceptable to God in her intercession
for us, but owning her still as a‘ creature, and that
all she has of excellency isthe gift of God, pro-
ceeding from his mere goodness. Neither does:
he at any titne say even so much as one prayer to’
her, but what is directed. more. particularly to
God, because offered up as a thankful memorial
of Christ’s incarnation, and acknowledgment. of
the blessedness of Jesus, the fruit of the.womb:;
and this without imagining there is any more dis-
honouring of God in his reciting the Angelical Sa-.
lutation} than the first pronouncing it by the An-
gel Gabriel and Elizabeth ; or that his frequent
repetition of it is any more an idle superstition
than it was in David to repeat the same words’
over twenty-six times in the }26th: psalm.
§ 4. oF PAYING DIVINE WORSHIP TO RELICS,
“ Tre Papist misrepresented, believes a kind of
divinity to remain in the relics of his ‘reputed’ ~
saints; and,: therefore, adores their rotten. bones-—
their corrupt flesh—their old rags, with: divine
honour ; kneeling dowu to them—kigsing them—
and going inypilgrimage to’ their shrines and se-
pulchres': and he is so far possessed with a con-
ceited deity lying in those senseless remains, that’
he foolishly believes they work great miracles;
and raise riore to life than’ ever Christ himeelf
did.” bs
Tue Papist truly’ represented, believes it dam-
nable to think there‘is‘any divinity in tte relics
of saints—or to adore them with divine Honour .
or pray totheir rotten bores, old rage, or slirines
i
Gm, ll - . es oes 2 oe Ot ee Oe as "eh eet
Per Miglenay NEO I ine eT omen eee ay Lae NES a eo, Ra
fot &
’God,
es:her
ession
d that
|, pro-
> does:
yer to’
tly to
morial
ent. of
vomb:;:
re dis-
cal Sa-.
e An-
equent
stition
‘words:
LIc8,
tind of
eputed’ .
ones—
divine
hem—
ind se-
a cone
is, that:
racle# ;
himeelf
t dam-
e relics
nour .
glirines
OF PAYING DIVINE WORSHIP TO RELIcs, J7
ror that-they can work any strange cures or mi-
#acles, by any ‘hidden power of their own, But
he believes st good and lawful to keep them, with
veneration’; and to give them a religious honour
and respect: and this he thinks due to them—.
inasmueh as, knowieg himself obliged to respect
and honow God Almighty, from his heart ; he
Jooke upen himself as obliged to respect and ho-
nowr every thing that lhigg any particular relation
to him; but this with ag@duferior honour, such as
the Jews showed: to the Ark—to the Tables of
the Law—to Moses’ red—to the Temple—to the
Priests; such as we generally allow the: Bible,
because it: contains: God’s word—to the church,
because it is God's house-—to holy men and
Priests, beeause they are God’s servants : and so
he doesto relics, because they appertain to God’s
' favourites; and rg eae he things, are yet
ji
sensible pledges; and lively memorials of Christ’s
servants——deatl, iadeed, to this world ; but alive
with him in glory. And, more especially, be-
cause God himself has been pleased to honour
them; by making thera instruments of many evi-
dent miracles, which he has visibly worked by.
them ; as is evident: from undeniable records:
and ‘this he believes as easy for God Almighty
new, and:as-much redounding to, the honour of
his holy: name, asin the old law, te work such
miraculous effects by Moses’ rod—by Elias’ man-
tle, after he was taken up into heaven, (2. Kings,
ii, 14,)—Eliaeus’ bones, (2. Kiugs, xiii. 21.); and.
infinite other such insensible things; and also in
the. new lav, by the hem of .his own garment,
(Matt. ix. 22.)\—by the shadow of St. Peter, ( Acts,
v. 12)}—-by the napkin and handkerchiefs, that
had but touched tie bady of St. Paul, casting ous
ceca tmncnsinneanaa a AE CN oA ea
by
Wo esr OF THE RUCHARIST. “ne
devils, and curing diseases, (Acts, xix. 22.), and -
such like.. And, thus, by having a veneration-and
spect for these, he honours God ; and does not:
doubt. but that they who contemn and aenios
these,.do the like to Ged ; a8 much:ae they did
who.,profaned the bread. aod propitiation--the
temple, and the vessels that belonged ta it.
§ 5. oF THe pYCHARtsz.
“Tue Papist misrepresented, believes it lawful;
to commit idolatry; and makes it his deily prac-.
tice ta worship and adore 4 breaden gad—~giving
divine henour to those paor, empty elements of:
bread and wine. Of these he asks pardon for his
sins-—of these he desires grace end salvation-~
these he acknowledges to have been his Redeem-
er and Saviour; and hopes for no goad: bat what -
isto come to him by. means of. household gode,
And then, for his apology, he alleges’ such gross
contradictions, so contrary te all sense and rea-
son, that. whosoever. will be a Papigt must be no:
man-—fondly ‘believed. that what he adores ‘is:ne
bread or. wine; hut Christ, really present, under
those appearances: and he makes as many Christs
—as many Redeemers, ag there: are churches, als;
tars, or priests ;—when, according to God's infal-
lible word, there is but one Christ-and he not
on earth; bat at the right hand of his Father ia
heaven.” |
Tue Panist truly represented; believes it abo~
minable to commit any kind of idolatry ; and most
damnable to worship or adore a breaden god, or:
to give divine honour to the elements of bread
and wine, He worships only one God; whe made
heaven and earth, and his only Son, Jesus Christ,
our Redeemer+—who being, in all things, equal te
é
a a oe ee on es |
Ser ese 8s eof ef oS = 8S SS SS
pars
8, aI:
: infal-
he not
ther in
t abo-~
d most
zod, Or:
t bread
> made
Christ,
qual te
of THE EUCHARTST: 19
his Father, in truth and omnipotency : he believes
that-he made good, his words pronounced.at hia
last supper—teally giving his body and blood to
his dpostleethe species or accidents of bread
and wine ramaining as before. - The same he ber
lieves of the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist,
consecrated now by priests—that. it really con:
tains the body. of Christ; whieb was delivered. fos
us, and his blood, which was sted for, the remiagion.
of sins’; which being. there united: with.the divi;
nity, he confesse- whole Christ’ to -be present ¢
and he adores and acknowledges him as;his; Ree
deemer ; and not any bread:or wine sand for she
believing of this mystery, he-does not_at ell think
it meet for any Christian. to appeal from-Chriess
word tb his own senses or ‘redson, for. the examin:
ing the truth. of what he has said: byt ragher to
submit his senses and reason to Christ's .wondas
inthe obsequiousness of faith); and;that, being
the son ‘of Abraham,it is more becaming hits tober
lieve, as Abraham did; promptly,.with.a faith supe+
rior to all senges or reason,and whither these:eould
never, lead him... With. this, faith itis be believes
every mystery of his religion—the ‘Triwity, Incars
nation; &ci—with this faith he. believes.that what
descended upon dur Saviour, at; his baptiem:in-the
Jordan; was really the Holy Ghost; hough senses
or reason could discover,,it, to be. nothing ‘but
dove—with this faith he believes, that;the:;san.
that-Joshua saw standing over againat, him, with
his. sword-drawn, (Joshua, v. 13.),. andthe thee
men that Abraham entertained .in the,plains of
. Mambre,. (Gen. .xviii.),. were, reallysand-substan-
tially. noimen:; sud that, notwithstanding all the
information .and : evidence of sense, from their co-
-lour, features, proportion, —e &c.,:of
90 OF. THE EUCHARI81.
their being men; yet, without any discredit to
his senses, he really believes they were no sach
thing—because God’s word has assured him to
the contrary ;—and with this faith: he believes
Clirist’s' body and blood to be really present iy
the blessed sacrament ; though, to all outward
searance, there is nothing more than bread and
wine. Thus, not at all hearkening to his senses;
ina matter where God speaks, he unfeignedly
confesses; that he who made the world out of no-
thing; by his sole word—that cured diseases “by
his: word—that raised the-dead by his word—that
commanded the winds and the seas—that multi-
plied bread—that changec water into wine by his
word——and sinnefs into jist men, cannot want
eapsatber olan bread and wine into his own
ody and blood, by his sole word : and this with-
out danger of multiplying his body-—ef making as
many Christs as altars—or leaving the right hand
of his Father; but only by giving his*body a sue -
_ pernatural manner of existence—by whiich being
without extension of parts; rendered independent
of place, it may be ane‘and the same in émany
places at once—and whole in every-part of the
ymbols—and not obnoxious to any corporal eon-
tingencies. And this kind of existence is.no more
than‘what, in a manner, he bestows upon every
glorified body—than what his own body had,
when born, without the least violation of his mu
ther’s virginal integrity—when he arose from *)i¢
:dead, out of the sepulchre, without removing the
stone—when he entered amongst his disciples ;
‘the.doors being shut. And, though he cannot
asriderstand: b> thie is done; yet he: undoubtedly
_ pelieves th:: God is able to do: more. than. he is
able to understand. :
|| Es fo Wns ein pico eit ll) Oe Ee @ ol ed = Oe oo
lit to
. sach
him to
rlieves
ent in
itward
ad and
senses,
gnedly
of no-
ises “by
j——_that
multi-
» by his
ty want
lis Own
is with-
king as
ht hand
ly a Sue
h being
pendent
» #fmany
tof. the
ral eone
no more
mn every
cy had,
his mu-~
from ti
wing the
lisciples ;
e cannot
oubtedly
1an. he is
21°
§ 6 OF MFRIT* AND GOOD WORKS.
“ Tur Papist misrepresented,. believes Christ's
death and passion to be ineffectual and insignifi-
cant; and.that he has no dependency. upon the
merits of his sufferings, or the mercy of God, for
the obtaining salvation; but chat le is to be saved |
by his.own merits ; and, for this reagon, he. is
very zealously busy. in fasting—in. watching—in
going in procession—in wearing hair-shirts—and
using.a thousand such like mortifications;:. and,
having done. this, he thinks himself not_at all .be-
holden to God for his. salvation; and that to give
him heaven will be no fayour-—it being now. his
due, upon the account of his. meritorious achieve-
ments, without any God-a-mercy to Christ's, pas-
sion, or his Maker’s. goodness.
Tue Papist truly represented, believes, it dam-
nable to.say that Christ’s death and passion is .in-
effectual and ‘insignificant; and. that it:is.the doc-
trine of deyils, to believe that he, has no depen-
dance for. his'salvation upon the merits of Christ's
sufferings, or the mercy of God ;:but ‘only upon
his-own merits and good works. It is his faith to
‘believe, that of ourselves; we are not sufficient vo
much as to have.a good thought—that the grace
by which we are justified is given so purely gra-
tis—upon tke account of Christ’s merits. More-
over.-that no man, how just soever, can merit any
thing. either inthis life, or in that to come, inde-
pendently of the merits and passion of Jesus
Christ. Nevertheless, that, through the merits of
Chri-t, the good works of a just man, proceeding |
from grace, are so acceptable to God, that, through
his goodness and promise, they are truly merito-
||
ee '
Si
ei |
a
eal
_— = » 2 Mw: -
Sr nena ORES AA LO SARTO _ we .
er en ics Sn LEA TT TS SR LL RIT SLIM A aren ga pea i Ne ane
22 OF CONRESSION.
rious. of eternal life-. And this he has learned from
the. apostle, (2. Tim. iy, 3+), where he is taught
that there is a crown of justice, which our Lard,
the just judge, will render at the last: day ; not
only to St. Paul, but also to all thoge- who shall
‘have fought a good fight, and consuramated ‘their
courses kept the faith, and leved his. coming;
knowing, therefore, thet at the day of judgment
he-is to receive according to his works, he endéa-
vours by good works tu make his vocation und elec-
didnt sure, (2 Peter i. 10.) and in following this
‘eounsel, ‘hie thinks he no more offends against the
fultiess of the metits of Christ, or God's mercy, |
thart the #postle does in giving it.
. § 7. OF CONFESSION,
“ Tug Papist misrepresented, believés it part ‘of
his ‘religion to make gods of men, foolisiily. think-
itig they have power to forgive'sins : and, there:
fore; as often-as lie finds his conscience oppressed
with the guilt of his offences, he ‘calls for ‘one of
his priests; and having run'over a catalogue of ‘his
sins, he agks of him pardon and forgiveness’; and,
what is most absurd of all, he is so stupid as te
believe, that if his ghostly. Father, after ‘he has
heard all hig villainies in his ear, does but pro-
nounce three or four Latin words over his head,
his sins are forgiven him, although he had vever
any thoughts of gmendment, or intention to for:
sake his wickedness.” |
Tue Papist truly represented, believes it dam-
nable in any religion, to make gods of men. How-
ever, he firnily holds, that when Christ, speaking
to his apostles, said—(John xx. 22.) “ Receive ve
the Holy Ghost, whose sins you shall forgive, they
d from
taught
- ‘Lord,
y 53 not
0 shall
a:their
yming §
lgment
‘endéa-
nd elec-
ig this
inst the
mercy, —
part‘of
r think-
; there:
pressed
one of
e of ‘his
8’; and,
id as te
he has
ut pro-
is head,
d never
) to for.:
‘it dam-
\* How-
peaking
ceive ve
ve, they
OF INDULGENCES. — 23
are forgiven ; and whose sins you shall retain,
they are retained ;” he gave them and their suc-
cesgors, the bishops, and priests of the Catholic
Church, authority to absolve any truly penitent
sinner from his sin. And God having thus given
them the ministry of reconciliation, and made them
Christ’s legates, (2 Cor. v, 18, 19, 20:) Christ’s
ministers and the dispensers of the mysteries of
Chrisi, (1 Cor. iv.) and given them power that
whatsoever they loose on earth shall be loosed in hea-
ven, (Matt. xxviii. 18.) he undoubtedly believes,
that whosoever comes to them, making a sincere
and humble confession of his sins, with a true re-
_ pentance and firm purpose of amendment, and a
hearty resolyzion of turning from his evil ways,
may, from them receive absolution, by the authori-
ty given them from heaven ; and no doubt but God
ratifies aboye, the sentence pronounced in that
tribunal ; * loosing in heaven. whatsoever is thus
Joosed by them on earth” And that whuaisoever
comes without the due preparation, without a re-
peatance from the bottom of his heart, and a real
intention of forsaking his sins, receives no benefit |
by the absolution, but adds sin to sin, by a high
contempt of God’s mercy, and abuse of his sacra-.
ments, oy
§ 8. oF INDULGENCES.
“ Tug Papist misrepresented, believes that his
holy father the Pope, can give him leave to com-
mit what sin he pleaseth ; especially if he can
make him a present of around sum of money, he
never need doubt of indulgence or pardon for him-
self and his heirs for ever, for all sorts of crimes:
or wickedness, he, or any of his posterity may
have convenience of falling into ; + ot having his‘
d oF INDULGRNGEE.
commission in his pocket, under the Pope’s broad
seal, he'niay be confident that Christ will confirm
thing he ‘has:done, although he‘ghould chance to
die; without the least remorse of conscience; or.
repentance for his sins.”"
‘Tun Papist truly represented, believes it damna-
bie to hold :that the Pope, or any other power in
heaven or earth, can give him leave to commit
any sins whatgdever ; or that for any sum of mo- |
ney he can obtain an indulgence or pardon for his
sins that dre tobe committed by him, or his herrs,
hereafter. He firmly believes that no'sins can be
forgiven, without a true and hearty repentance ;
but that still there is ‘power in the church, of
granting indulgences ; by which, as he is taught
in his catechism, nothing more is meant than a
réleasing, to such as are truly penitent, the debt of
temporal punishment which remained due on ac-.
count of those sins, which, as to the guilt and
etérnal punishment, had been already remitted by
repentance and confession : for we see in the case
of King David, (2. Sat. xii. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,)
that the debt of temporal punishment is not al-
ways remitted when the guilt of the sin is remit-
ted ; and as the church of God, from the begin-
ning, was ever convinced of this truth, therefore
besides the hearty. repentance and confession
which she insisted.upon, in order. for the discharge
of the guilt of sin ; she also required severe pe-
nances, sometimes of three, seven, ten, or more
years, for the discharge of the debt of the tempo-
ral punishment due to divine justice, Now, the
releasing or moderating, for just causes, these pe-
nalties incurred by sin, is called an indulgence ;
gnd'stand ‘to all that his Vigar upon éarth hag
granted, and ‘not call him to dny account for any’
pNIeaas sinister Manan pO pat, carioe u NIumnr ae ian mtn nan Ei GL yraeet |S naRie ROM nae UML Er Gade t) SONS RE
broad
onfirm
th has
or any’
nce to
ACE; OF.
lamna-
wer in
ommit
of mo--
for his
; hetrs,
can be
tance ;
rch, of.
taught
than a
debt of
on ac-.
it and
itted by
he case
13, 14,)
not al-
3 remit-
: begin-
erefore
nfession
scharge
yere pe-
ir more
‘tempo-
low, the
hese pe-
Igence ;
OF SATISFACTION. 25
and the power of granting such indulgences is Vi-
sibly implied in the promise of the keys, and of
binding ‘and loosing, made to the pastors of the,
church, (St. Matt. xvi. 19.) And the exercise of
his power'was frequent in the primitive church,
and is even authorized by the example of St. Paul
himself, who granted such an indulgence to the
incestuous Corinthian, (2:Cor. ii. 10.) sorgrving,
as he says, in the person of Christ—that is, by the
ai and. authority he had-received from him.
ow, the good works usually required for the ob-
taining indulgences, are, prayer, fasting, visiting
churches, confession, communion, and_alins-
deeds ;-but what money there is given at any time
on this account, concerns not at: all the Pope's
coffers, but is by every one given:ag they please,
either to the poor, the sick, to prisoners, &c.,
where they judge it most charitable. As to the
rest, if any abuses have been committed in grant-
ing or gaining indulgences, through: the fault of
some particular persons, these capnot in justice
be charged upon the church, or to the prejudice
of her faith-and doctrine ; especially since she has
been so careful in the retrenching them, as may
be seen by what was done in the Council of Trent.
Decreta de indulgentiis. ats
iad
— § 9, OF saTISFACTION.
“Tue Papist misrepresented, believes very inju
riously of Christ’s passion,: being persuaded that
hia sufferings and. death were not suificiently sa-
tistactory for our sina, but:that it is necessary for
every one to make satisfaction for himself. And
for: this end, after he has been at confession, the
priest enjoins him a penance, by the performance.
af which he is to satisfy for his offences, and thus,
cle nne gR
sree neem peanyesvonersae aaa aaa
tains
26 OF . SATISEAU' ION.
confidently relying on bis own penitential works,
he utterly rejects Christ’s passion ; and, though
he professes himself a Christian, and that Christ
is.his Saviour, yet, by his litte trusting to him, he
seems to think him to be no better than what his .
crucifix represents, that is, a. mere wooden one.”
Tne Papist truly represented, believes it dam-
nable-to think injuriously of Christ’s passion , ne-
vertheless, he believes, that, though condign sa-
tisfaction for the guilt of sin, and the eterna pain
due to it, be proper only to Christ our Saviour—
et, that penitent ‘sinners, being redeemed by
Christ, and made his members, may in some .mea-
eure satisfy by prayers, fasting, alms, &c. for the
temporal pain, which by order of God’s justice,
sometimes remains due after the guilt, and the
eternal pains are remitted ; 80 that trusting in
Christ as his Redeemer, he yet does not think
that by Christ's sufferings every Christian is dis-
charged of his particular sufferings, but that every
one is’to suffer something for himself, as St. Padl
did,who by many tribulations, and by sufierings in
his own flesh, filled up that which was bebind of
the passion of Christ ; and this not only for him-
self, but for the whole church, (Coloss. 1.°22+) and
this he finds every where in scripture, viz 3. peo-
ple admonished of the greatness of their sins 3
doing penance in fasting, sackcloth, and ashes,
and by voluntary austerities, endeavouring to sa-
tisfv the divine justice ; and these personal satis-
factions, God has sufficiently also minded him of,
in the punishments inflicted ‘on Moses, Aaran,
David; and infinite others, and even in the afilic-
tions sent by God upon our own age, in plagues,
wars, fires, persecutions, rebellions, and such like ;
which, few are so atheistical, but they confess to
works,
though
Christ
1im, he
hat his .
one.
t dam-
mn, ne-
lign sa-
nai pain
viour—
med by
ne .mea-
, for the
justice,
and the
sting I
ot think
n is dis-
ldt every
St. Padl
erings In
yehind of
for him-
22.) and
iz 3. ped=
heir sins 3
nd ashes,
ing to sa-
nal satis-
qd him of,
s, Aaran,
the afflic-
1 plagues,
such like ;
confess to
oo enna armen nage Soames meneame ne ne ears locstolabietnealaneamaand cememed
mae saprame wovrrsasminanne 8 ey
.
OF READING*FHE HOLY SCRIPTURES, 27
be sent from heawen for the just chastisement of
our'sins, and which we are to undergo, notwith-
standing the infinite satisfaction made by: Christ,
and without any undervaluing it. Now being
thus convinced of same temporal punishments be-
ing due ta his sins, he aceepts of all tribulations,
whether in. body, name, or estate, from whence
soever they come; and with others of their own
-choosing, offers them up ta God for discharging
this debt,.stil] confessing that his offences deserve
still more; but these penitentia} works, he. is
taught, are no otherwise satisfactory, than as join-
ed.and applied to the satisfaction which Jesus
made upon the cross ;,in virtue of which alone, all
our good works find.a grateful -aeceptance in the
sight of God, | pee pas
$10. oF READING THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.
‘‘TuE Papist mesrepresented, believes jt part of
his duty, to speak irreverently of the Holy Scrip-
ture ; to do what he is able to lessen the repute
of it, and bring it into disgrace; and for this end,
he says it is obscure, full of ambiguous expressions, and
not fit to be read by the vulgar, not fit to be translated
into vulgar languages ; and, without respect to Christ
or his apostles, profanely teaches, that no ten books in
the world have done so much mischief to Christianity
as this one and under a vain pretence ‘of preventing:
‘farther inconveniences, endeavours to deprive all of this
spiritual comfort, of this divine food, of this heavenly
light, that so being kept in darkness, they may be also
preserved in ignorance, and damned eternally.”
Tux Papist truly represented, believes it damnable in
any: one, to think, speak, or, do any thing irreverently
towards the scripture, or by any means whatsoever te
bring it into disrepute or disgrace. He holds it in the
highest veneration of all met living ; he professes it to
Sere taenti AN
wae
posal f eg es TAIT Ee
RAE SSSR near mel
298 OF READING THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.
be the ‘pure oracle of God, and that we are rather bound Pi
to lose our dives than concur any way to its profanation, : *
It is true he does not think it fit to be read generally, )
by all, in the vulgar tongues ; not for any disrepect to §
it, but:——1. Because he. understands that private inter-
pretation is Pal a Ke for.the scripture, (2 Pet. i, 20,)
the
ee TT 3
HAL a A hI ORAL TEED APL CERIO TT :
2, Because in the epistles of St. Paul-are certain things ti
hard to be understoon: which the unlearned and unstable ‘a
i wrest, as also the rest'of the scriptures, to their own te
| perdition, (2 Pet. iii: 16.) 3. Because God has given cl
only some to be apostles, some.pr hets, other some evanz ‘si
gelists, and some pastors.and teachers, (Eph. iv. 11.) For ot
these reasons he is taught, that it is: not convenient: for a
the scripture to be read indifferently by all men ; 1) d
only by such as are humble, discreet, and devout 5 anc p
such as are willing to observe directions in the perusing. c
Att this sacred volume ; that is, to take notice of all Godly. a
1} histories, and imitate examples of humility, chastity, ir
| obedience, mercy to the poor, &c., and in all hard, ob-
| scure and disputable points, to refer all to the arbitra- te
}||| tion of the church, to the judgment of these whom God a?
j||| bas appointed pastors and teachers 5, never presuming : bh
‘|}|) to contend, control, teach, or talk of their own gense and g
‘} |) fancy in deep questions of divinity and high mysteries ae
Hii i of faith; but expecting the segse of these tom thé lips re
|) of the’ priest, who shall keep knowledge, and-from whose :
i] | | mouth they shall require the law, (Mal. ii. 7.) and this i
‘| \}) caution is used, lest the scripture in coming into the _ . C
\} hands of 4 presuming sort of proud, curious, and conten-. i
|||. tious people, be abused and perverted, who make it ty
Ny their business to inguire into the high and hidden se- h
(||! erets of God’s counsels, and upon the presumption of § ae
HH know not what spirit, immediately become teachers,
||| controlers, and judges of doctors, church, scripture, and '
‘| all); and acknowledging no authority left by Christ, to rf
which they are'to submit ; under pretence of scripture
and God’s word, make way for all sorts of profaneness, | +
irreligion, and atheism ; so that it is not for the pre~ t!
serving ignorance he allows‘ restraint upon the reading ti
the scripture, but for the preventing a blind, ignarant
bound
ation,
rally,
ect to
inter-
eneéss,
je pre+
eading
norant
_ mysteries of their fait
OF) JHE SCRIPTURB AS ARULE OF FatTHy . 26
presumption, -and that it maybe done to.edification,
anl-not to destruction; and without casting what is
holy-to dogs, and pearls to swine.
Ԥ 11. oF THE SCRIPTURE as A RULE,OF FAITH,
_. © Tue Papist misrepresented, believes it his obliga-
tion to ynderyalue the scripture, and take from it that
authority which Christ gave it. For, whereas-Christ
left this tothe world as the rule of Paith, and as.a sa-
cred oracle fiom whence all his followers might be in-
structed in the. peccee of a good life, }. arn all the
| . ir faith, and get a ‘solution of difficult
‘and doubtful points of religion ; he is taught flatly to
deny all this, and to believe that the scripture is not ca-
pable of deciding any one point of ‘controversy, or re-
conciling the different sentiments of men iu religion ;
and thus -he demeans himself towards the word of God
jn a- manner ynbecoming a Christian.” _
Tux Papist truly represented; believes it damnable
‘to update the scripture or to take from it theautho-
rity given it by Christ. He gives it all respect due to |
the word of God : he owns:it to. be of the greatest au-
thority upon eatth, and that it is capable of leadiny a
man ¢o ail truth, where it is tightly understood. But
to any one that understands it,and takes itin any other -
sense than it was intended by the Holy Ghost, he be-
Jieves it, to such a one, to be no scripture, no word of:
God; that to such aone, it isno rule of faith, nor judge
of controversies ;.andthat what he thinks to be the doc-
trine of Christ, or command of heaven, is nothing but
his own imagination or the suggestions of the devil.
And since by the experience of so many hundred here-
sies since our Saviqur’s time, all pretending to he ground-
ed on scripture, he finds. that almost every text of the
Bible, and even those that: concern the. most essential
and fundamental points of the Christian religion, have
‘been interpreted several ways, and made to signify
things contrary to one.another ; and thus, while con-
trary meanings are by seyeral persons drawn from the
30 . OF THE INTERPRETATION. OF SCRIPTURE,”
same word, the scripture is still silent,.without disco-
vering which of all these senses is that intended by the. -
Holy Ghost, and ageeable to truth; and which are er~
roneous and anti-Christian: he conclydes that the scrip-
ture alone, without taking along with it the interpreta-
tion of the church, cannot be to every private person
the whole rule of his faith. Not that there is any au-
thority wanting on the scripture side, but because no
private person cap be certain, whether, amongst all the
several meanings every text is liable to, that which he
understands it:.in is right or not. And without this
certainty of truth, and security from error, he knows
there is nothing capable of being:a gufficjent rule of his
~ faith. os , Peay
§ 12. oF THE INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE,
«¢ Tux Papist misrepresented, believes that his church,
which he calls catholic, is above the scripture ; and
profanely allows to her an uncontrolable authority of
being judge of the word of God ; and being fondly
abused into.a distrust of the scriptures, and that he can
be certain of nothing, not even of the fundamentals of
Christianity, from what -is delivered in them, though
they speak-everso plainly ; he is taught wholly to rely
upon this church, and not to believe one. word the scrip-
ture says, unless his church says so too.”? . :
_ Tue Papist truly represented, believes that the church
is not above the scripture ; but allows that order be-
tween them as is between the judge and the law ; and
is no other than what generally every private member
of the * reformation” challanges to himself, as often as
he pretends to decide any doubt of his own, or his
neighbour in religion, by. interpreting the scripture.—
Neither is he taught at all to distrust the scripture, or
not to rely on it, but only to distrust his own private
interpretation of it, and not to rely on his own judgment
in the resolution of any doubt concerning faith or reli-
gion, though he can produce several texts in favour of
his opinion ; but, in’ all such cases, he is commanded
‘'URE,.
ut disco+
2d by the. -
h are er-
he scrip-
terpreta-
ie person
! any au-
cause no
st all the
which he
n0ut this
ie knows
ule. of his
PTURE,
schurch,
ure 3 and
hority of
g fondly
at he can
rentals of
ny though
ly to rely
he scrip-
e church
order be-
aw; and
2 member
s often as
m, or his
ripture.—
ipture, or
n private
judgment
hor reli-
favour of
mmanded
' OF: TRADITION oa “Bl
‘to. recur to the church ; and, having learned from her
‘the trne sense of all such texts, how they have been
uncverstood by the whole community of Christians, isi
all.ages since the apestles:; amd what has been the re
ceived doctrine in such doubtful and difficult points; he
is obliged to submit to this, and never presume on his
own private sentiments, however seemingly grounded
on reason and scripture, to.believe or preach any new
doctrine opposite to the belief of the charch ; but as he
receives from her.the book; s0 also: to: receive frown het
the sense of the book; with a holy confidence, that she
thet did net. cheat him in delivering a false’book for a
true one, will not cheat him indelivering a false and -
erroneous sense for the true one ; her authority, which
is sulticient in the one, being net.less in the other; ‘and
his own private judgment, which was insufficient in
the one, that is in finding out the true scripture, and
discerning it from all other books, being as incapable
and insufficient in the other, that is, im certainly disco-
vering the meaning of the Holy Ghost, and avoiding all
other heterodox and mistaken interpretations. |
§13. oF TRADITION.
© Tue Papist misrepresented, believes the Holy
Scriptute to be imperfect ; and for the supplying of what
he thinks defective in it, he admits haman ordinances
and traditions of men; allowing equal authority to these
as to the scriptures themselves, thinking himself as
much obliged tosubmit to these,and believe them with
divine faith, as he does whatsoever is written in the Bi-
ble, and confessedly spoken by the Author of aii truth,
God himself. Neither wilkhe admit any one fo be a
member of his communion, although he undoubtedly
believesevery word that is written in the scripture, un-
less he also assents to the traditions, and gives as great
credit to thém as to the word of God, although in that
there is not the least footstep to be found.’?
Tue Papist truly ‘represented, believes the scripture
not to be imperfect ;: nor to want human ordinances, or
eee aeanetunimenanas
32 ‘OF COUNCILS:
traditions of men, for the supplying any defects in it's
neither does he allow the same autherity-to these ‘as td°
the word of God, or give them equal credit, or exact:it
from others that desire to be admitted into the commu-
niolt of his church. He béheves noidivine faith ought to
be givén to any thing but what is‘of divine revelation ;
and that nothing is to have:placein his creed, but what
was taught him « perpen sg hig: apostles, and has
been believed arid tai
God, the céngregation ot all:true believers; and has been
so delivered dow to him through all. ages. But now
whether that which has been delivered down to him as
the doctritiy of Christ and his. me been by word
of mouth, ér writing; is altogéther.indifferent to him, he
being ready to follow; ii this point, and-in all others,
the commatid of St: Paul; that is, to stand fast, and to
hold the traiition he has learned, whether‘by word of
epistle, (2 Thess. ii: 25;) and to look updn any One as
anathema that shall. preuth otherwise than he-has (thus)
recewed, ((tal: i. 9.) So that as:he undoubtedly holds
the whole bible to be the wordsof God; because in all
ages it has beet taught, preached, believed, and deli-
vered successively by the faithful, althouzh they are
not, nor have at any time: keen. able to prove what they
have thus taught and delivere@: with one text of scrip-
ture ; in the like manner, he is ready to receive ant
believe all this saine congtegation, together. with the
Bible, in all ages successively, without interruption
taught, preached, pes arid delivered as the doc-.
trine of Christ and his apgstles ; and assents to it with
divine faith, just as he dees to the Bible : and estecins
any one anathema that shall preach otherwise than he
has thus received. ;
$14. oF cotNcILs.
‘“‘ Tue Papist msrepresented, believes that the faith
of his church may receive new. additions every day,
and that he. is not only obliged to believe what Christ
and his apostles taught, but also every definition or de-
ght in. all. ages: by ‘the church of -
let: ae. ies gum ly, aa incall tht Semmes gcse it ta dn ale a a eat i iaeh a ad pe eS eM
is in it's
se ‘as t0°
exact it
commu-
ought to
elation ;
ut what
‘and has
hurch of -
has been
But now
0 him as
by word
him, he
1 others,
t; and:to
word oF
y one as
as (this)
ily holds
ise in all
and deli-
they are
hat they
of scrip-
eive anil
with the
erruption
the doc-.
‘o it with
1 estecims
2 than he
the faith
very day,
rat Christ
on or de-
OF cCoUNCIESK fi i 7 33
cree of any general council assembled by the Pope ;s0
- thatias often as any thing is isstied out by the aut otity
of any ofthese church parliaments, and ordered to be
believed, he thinks himself urider ppm of damnation;
immediately bound to receive it, an having added it to
his creed, to assent to it with as firm, steadfast, and di-
vine:a faith, 2s if it had been commanded by Chiist
bimself, and decreed in the consistory of heaven.”
Tre Papist truly represented, believes that the faith’
of the clittch can recerve no additions, and that he is.
obliged to bélieve nothing besides that Which Christ and’
his apostles taught, and if any thing contrary to this
shotld be defied and commanded to be believed, even
by ten thousand councils, he believes it damnable in
any one to receive it, and by such decrees to make ad-
ditrons to his creed. However, he maintains the au-
thority of general councils lawfully assembled, whose
basiness'it is, not to coin new articles of faith, or devise
fresh tenets, but only as éften as any point of received
_ doctrine is impugned, or called in question to debate
the matter, and examine what has been the belief ‘of
all nations {who are'there present in their prélates) in
that point, and this being agreed upon, to publish and
make known to the world which is the Catholic doc-
tnine left by Christ and his apostles, and which the new
broached error. And, by this means to prevent the loss
ofan infinite number of souls, which might otherwise
be deluded, and cartied away after itew inventions ;
and im this éase he believes he is obliged to submit, and
receive the decrees Of such a cowncil : the pastors and
prelates there present, being by Christ and his apostles
appointed for the decision of such controversies, they
having the ¢are of that flock committed to ‘them, over
which the Holy Ghost has made them overseers to feed
the Chuurch of God, (Acts, xx. 28.) and to watch against
those men who should arise from among themselves,
Speaking A witoop things tod w disciples’ afte them,
cActs ¥. 80.) aiid tie havin received command, as like-" -
wise the whole flock of @ sto obey their prelates,
‘
4
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oe ere enue
enema et rs re seta
Ob ie Oe CET a cceaaae
34 OF INFALLIBILIPY:IN“THE CHURCH,
and to be subject to them who,watch and are to render
an account of their souls,— Heb. xiii. 17.—with. an as-
surance, that he that heareth them, heareth. Christ ; and
he that. despiseth them, despiseth Christ, Luke, x. 16.
' §15. “OF INPALLIBILITY 1N THE CHURCH,
. Tus Papist misrepresented, believes that the pastors
and prelates of his church are infallible, and that Jike
so many divine oracles, or petty deities, they:are ex-
empt from error, and cannot deczive, or be deceived ;
but this especially when they are met to ether in a gé-_
neral council. It being a main part.o bis faith, hat
then they are secure from all mistake, and. that it js.as8
impossible tor them, how ignorant or wicked soever,
to decline either to the right hand or to the left in any
of their defintions and decrees, as it is for God to become
the author of lies.” |
Tux Papist truly represented, believes that the pas-
tors and prelates of his church are. fallible ; that there.
‘3 none of them but what may fall into error, and here-
sies, and consequently liable to be deceived. But:that:
the whole church can fail, or be deceived in any one
point of faith, this he believes impossible, knowing it to
be built on better promises, such as secure her from. all
error and danger of prevarication. Her foundation be-
ing laid by Christ, against. which the gates of hell shall
not prevail, Matt. xvi. 18. The power that protects
her being Christ himself, Behold, Lam with you all days.
Matt: xxviii, 20. The spirit that guides and teaches
her being the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, who shalt
teach her all things, and suggest to her all things that
Christ has said to her, John, xiv. 26. The time that
she js to be thus protected, taught, and assisted, being,
not only while the apostles lived, or for the first three,
four, or five hundred years next after, butfor ever, to
the end of the world—Behold I am with you all days,
evén unto the-end of the world, Matt. xxviii. 20. He
will give you another, Paraclete, that he may abide with
youfor ever; John xiv. 16, J1.--the Spirit of Truth.
3
CS TE on dl en en ee ee eee ee eee eee a) ee ee ee ee eee
render
an as°
1s and
‘ 16.
cH.
pastors
at like
ire: @X-
eived ;
1a ge-
h, that
itis. aa
soever,
in any
pecome
le pas-
it there.
d. here-
but that:
wy one
ng it to
from. all
tion be-
ell shall
protects
all dayss
teaches
10 shalt
ngs that
ime that
, being,
st three,
ever, to
ul days
0. He
ide with
f. Truth.
OF INFALLIBILITY 1N THE CHURCH: 36
And the thing, that she is to be thus taught to-the end
of the world, being ‘all truth, He shall teach you all
truth, John xvi. 13. Now, being assured by. these pro-
mises, that the church of Christ shall be taught all truth,
by the specia] assistance of the Holy Ghost, to the end
of the world, he has faith tobelieve that Christ will
ake his works good, and that his church shall never
ail, nor be ovata with antichristian doctriné, nor
be the mistress of errors, but shall be taught all truth,
to the consummation of the world ; and that whoso-
everhears her, hears Christ ; and whosoever despises
her,-despiseth Christ, and ought to be esteemed as a
heathen or a publican,” Matt. xviii. 17. The like as-
sistance of the Holy Ghost he belieyes to be in all ge-
neral councils, which is the Church representative, [as
the parliament is the representative of the nation,] by
which they are ‘specially protected from all ‘error, in
all-definitions and declarations in matters of faith. So
that what the apostles pronounced concerning the re-
sult of their counsel, Acts:xv. 28.,.it hath'seemed good
to the 00 Ghost, and. to us, he does: not doubt, may
be prefixed to all determinations in point of fajth, re+
solved upon by any general council, lawfully assem-
bled, since that time, or to be held to the world’s end—
the assistance being to extend as far as the promise,
And though it be possible that several of the prelates
and pastors in such an assembly, as also many others
in communion ‘with the’ church of Christ, should ‘at
other times, either through pride, or ignorance, preva+
ricate, make innovations in faith, teach erroneous doc-
trines, and endeavour to draw numbers after them, yet,
heis:taught that this does not at all argue .a fallibility
in the church, nor prejudice her faith, but anly the
persons that thus unhappily fall into these errors, and
cut themselves off from being members of the mystical
body of Christ upon earth. Whilst the belief of the
church remains ‘pure and ‘untainted, ‘and ‘experiences
the trath of what St. Paul foreteld, that erieaus wolve
shall enter tn amongst you, not sparing the flock ; also
cw ak. a ea
| p
Se oem
Se
i
ce
5 a:
$i
®
d
[3
-aacins tin tips Aa A = aaa
‘$6 © OF THE POPE.
of your own selves. shall men arse speaking per-
‘verse things, to draw away disciples after them,
‘Acts, xx. 29; 30., which, as it- proved true even
in the apostles’ time, by the fall of Nicholas and
several others, so it has been verified‘in all ages
since, by turbulent and presuming spitits broach-
ing new ‘doctrines, and making separations and
schisms ; but this, without casting any more as:
persion on the church or congregation of the
faithful, than the fall of Judas did on the apostles,
of the rebellion of Lucifer on the hierarchy of
angels. Neither does it reflect at all upon the
church’s authority, op make the truth of her doc-
trite questiqnable to him, that many of the mem,
bers or prelates have been, or are enormous sitl-
ners ; because he is convinced that the promises
of God’s continued and uninterrupted agsistance
to his caurch, are not to be made void by the
wickédnegs of particular men, in how great dig-
nity soever.
§ 16. of THE POPE.
“ The Papist misrepresented believes the Pope |
to be his great God, and to be far above all t
angels; that Christ is no longer head. of the
church, but that his holy Father hath taken his
place; and that whatsoever he orders. decrees, or
commands, is to be received by his flock with.the
same respect, submission, and awe, as if Cliriss
had spoken it by his own mouth, for this, his
Holiness, having once receiyed the triple crown
gp his head, he is now no: longer liadle to error,
but infallible, and can da npthing amiss.”
tian
them,
even
‘and
ages
sash:
s and
FE aS+
f the
hy’ of
n the
t doc-
mem,
g sitl-
omises
Stance
yy the
at dig-
all ¢
of the
cen his
ees, or
ith: the
Chriss
his, his
crown
) error,
> Pope -
OF DISPENSATIONS:. 3z..
Tae Papist truly represented, believes the Pope to
be none of his God—neither great nor little—that he is,
not above the angels, but enly a man. He believes that
Christ, as he is supreme master, governor, and Lord of
all created things ; so also, of his church, of which he
acknowledges him to be the founder and head, But
as, notwithstanding this lordship and headship of Christ,
over all things, every father of a family owns himself,
to be master of it, under Christ ; and every kingis con-,
fessed supreme lofd and governor of his dominions, un-.
der God ; 80 also, he believes that there is a pastor, go-.
vernor, and head of Christ’s church, under Christ—to °
wit, the Pope, or Bishop of Rome ; who is the success
sor of St. Peter, to whom Christ committed the care, of
his flock, and who hath been followed now by a visible:
successidn. above two hundred and fifty. bishops, ace.
knowledged as such, in all ages, by the hristian world.
And now believing the Pope to enjoy this dignity, he
looks upon himself obliged to show that respect, sub.
mnission, and obedience which is due to his place ; a
thing no body can, in reason or conscience, den toany
‘ohe in rule, ot that has any superiority. Nei her‘does
he'make any doubt but:God assists those who have this
pect to their office and function, fort ‘benefit of the
whole flock though he is not obliged to believe then
infallible-—much less impeccable---this being a point
never defined by the chutch.. ap
aos 8°79. © oF DIsPANsATIONs,
“Tue Papist misrepresented, believes that the Pope
has the authority’ to dispense with ‘the Jaws of God, an
absolve-any one from the obligation ‘of keeping the com-
mandments ; so that if he has but his holy father’s
leave, he may. confidently. dissemble, lic, and forswear
himself in all-whatsoever he. pleases, and never be in
danger of being called to anaccount at the last day---
especialiy, if his-iying and forsweating ‘be for the com-
mon good of the church ; there being then-a sure ‘re-
“ P . . ‘ Oe tb ee P a Cc ‘ buy ‘ ‘
high chargé, with @ particular helping grace, with res-
)
38 OF DISPENSATIONS:-
ward prepared for him in heaven, asa recompense for St
his good intentions and heroic achievements ; and if, A
at any time, he should chance to be caught in the ma-_ e1
nageinent of any of these public church concerns, and, he
being obnoxious to penal laws, should have sentence of he
death passed on him’; he has liberty, at his Jast hour, au
on the scaffold or ladder, to make a public detestation al
of all such ‘crimes, to make protestations of his inno- tr
cence, to.call God to: witness that he dies unjustly, and : cr
that as he is immediately to appear before his supreme m
judge ‘he knows no more of any such designs, and is. th
as clear from the guilt of them, as the child unborn. pe
And this, though the evidence against him be as clear SO
as noon day, and the jury be never so’ impartial, and hi
the judge never so conscientious—for, that he, having an
taken the sacrament and oath of secrecy, and received he
absolution, or a dispensation from the Pope, may then’ lu
lie, swear, forswear, and protest all: that he pleases,. or
without scruple, with a good conscience, Christian-like, ca
Holy, and canonically”? cane of
Tue, Papist truly ess believes that the Pope Sy
has no authority. to dispense with the law of God, and th
that there is no. power.on earth that can absolve any m:
one from the obligation of keeping the commandments, te:
or give leave tolie, or forswear, ormake that. the break- of
ing of any, the least divine precept, shall not.be ac- liv
counted for at the day of judgment. He is taught by. pou
his church, in all her books of direction,. in all cate- a
chisms, in all’sérmons, that every lie is a sin ; that, to pes
call:God to witness an untruth, is: damnable ; that'it th
ought not to be done to save:the whole world ; that the
whosoever does it, either for his own ersonal account, th:
or for the interest of. the Church, or Pepe, or whatso~ bet
ever else, must of necessity, answer for it at the last nes:
day, and expect his portion with the devil and his an- ou
ge s, if unrepented of ; and that no one can give leave dit
or lying, perjury, or commiting any Sin, Or, EVE prc- a
tend to it, unless it be the devil himself, or some devil-
ish minister of his, (the Catholic truly represented,) thi
se for
ind ify.
e ma-
, and,
nce of
, hour,
station
inno-
y, and
ipreme
and is
born.
s. clear
al, and
having
ceived
iy then:
nleases,.
in-like,
1e Pope
od, and
lve any
dments,.
» break-
be a
ught by.
sl cate-
that, to
; thatit
id; that
account,
whatso~
tithe last
d his an-
ve leave
¥en pre-
ne devil-
esented,)
OF DISPENSATIONS. __ 39
such as he detests in his heart, and utterly abominates-
And, in consequence of this, he believes, that: whoso-
ever, at the hour of death, denies any crime ot which
he is.guilty, and swears. himself to be innocent when
heis not so, can have no hope of mercy; but, depart-
jug out. of this world an enemy. to God and the: truth,
and with a lie in his mouth,.can expect no.reward. but
from the father of lies. And_this,, whatsoever his
crime was, ‘whether incurred by an undertaking for
mother, church or not, and whatsoever his pretences for
the denial of the truth were, whether absolutions, dis-
pensations, the sacrament or oath of secrecy, or what-
soever else, nothing of these beiny capable of excusing
himin lies or perjuries,or making them to be innecent,
and not displeasing to God. Nor indeed did he ever
hear of these so much talked of dispensations and abso-
lutions from any priest in his church, either in sermons
or confessions ; he never.read of them in his books and
catechisms ; he never saw the practice of them in any
_ of his communion—it having: been their custom, ever
since oaths were devised against them, rather to suffer
the logs of their. goods, banishments, imprisonments, tor-
ments,and death itself, than forswear themselves, or pro-
test the least untruth. . And it is not out of the memory
of man that several might have saved their estates, and
lives also, if they would have subscribed to, and owned
but one lie, and yet they retused it, choosing rather an
infamous death than to prejudice their conscience with
an untruth. So it seems .a great mystery to him, that
those of his profession should have leave and dispensa:
tion to lie and forswear themselves at pleasure, and‘yet
that they should need nothing else but lying and per-
juty for the quiet enjoyment of their estates, for the
saving their lives, for the obtaining places of the high-
est command’ and’ dignity, such as would be extraor-
dinarily advantageous to their cause, and the interests
of their church ; and yet they should generally choose
to forego all these so considerable conveniences, rather
than once lie or forswear themselves; And ‘ig it not
40 OF THE DEPOSING FOWER,
‘another gteat mystery, that these dispensatians for ly-
{ng and sweating should be according to the received
_docttine of his’ church, and yet that he, or any of his
‘communion, were never instructed or informed of any
ssuch djabolical oint ?---nay, had never come to the
‘enowledve of it, had it not’been far the information re-
‘ceived from some zealous adversaries, such as relate,
eithet merely upon trust, or else such as haye received
a dispensation for lying from the devil, that they might
‘charge the like doctrine on the Pope and the church of
§ 18. of THE DEPOSING POWER, ©
6 Tar. Papist misrepresented, believes that the Pope
‘hias authority te dispense with his ° illeatahee'to: fis
‘prince ; and that he neéds no longer be a loyal subject,
‘and maintain the rights, privileges, and authority of his
king, than the Pope will give him leave, And that if
this mighty father sheuld think fit to thunder out an ex-
‘communication against him then he shall be deemed
the best subject, and most cl ristian, that shall take up
‘arms against him, and make him a sacrifice to Rome :
go that'there can be no greater danger toa king than
- to have ad peg bes he holding his life amongst
them, only at the pope’s pleasure.” |
Itis:no part of the faith of the Papist truly represent-
ed, to. believe that the Pope has-authority to dispense
with his allegiance to, his sovereign, or that he, can de-
ie ptinces upon any account whatsoever ; or give
eave to their subjects to take up. arms against them,
and endeavour their ruin, He. knows that the deposing
wer has been maintained by some divines of. his
church, and that it is, in their opinion, annexed to the
papal chair, He knows likewise, that some popes have
éndeayoured to act according to, this power; but he also
knaws that his doctrine issa far from being looked upon
as an article of the Catholic Faith, that it is as earn-
estly opposed by the French papists as it is by: English
protestants, And as for any danger arising ta kings
See Ses a ae ae ges, EO, oe ee ES a” Ne ght eae en age
pike gees ae ie La
as ab oat et ey ae Fr ted
; for ly-
ece'ved
y of his
+ of any
é to the
ation re-
s relate,
received
y might
nureh of
Re
the Pope
eto. fis
[ subject,
ity of his
id that if
nt an ex-
deemed
I take up
‘o Rome ;:
ing than
amongst
represent-
» dispense
e, can de-
4 or give
nst them,
> deposing
es of his
‘ad to the
opes have
but he also
oked upon
$s as earn-
y English
; to kings
OF COMMUNION IN ONE. KIND- Ad
from having popish subjects, it is very well. known that
princes in popish countries sit as safe on their thrones,
and enjoy as much peace and security as any princes
whatsoever ; and the papists here in England can give
as good proofs. of their loyalty, and that to protestant
kings and princes, as the best of those that clamour so
loudly against them. He a
§ 19. oF COMMUNION IN ONE KIND:,
“‘ Tue Papist ‘misrepresented, believes that ‘he is ‘no
longer obliged to obey Christ’s commands’ than his
church will give him leave ; and that, therefore, though
Christ instituted the sacrament under both kinds, and
commanded it to be so received by all, yet he thinks it
not necessary for any to'do so now but priests; because
the church, forsooth hath forbidden the cup to the laity,
pr puta stop to the precept of Christ, Drink ‘ye all’ of
this”? ill Pa sare ee oe
ei
ry ae
Christ instituted the blessed sacrament under
“kinds, and so de’ ‘vered it to his Apostles, who only then
were present, and whom he then made priests, yet he
ere no command that it should be received by all the
aithful, but left this indifferent, as it is evident from
‘his own words, where he attributes the obtaining life
everlasting, which is the end of the institution, no less
to the receiving in one kind, than to the receiving un-
der both kinds ; as when he says, If any man eat of this
‘bread, he shall live for ever. He that eateth ‘me, the
‘same shall live by me. He that eateth this bread shall
live for ever, John vi. 51, 57, 58;) and a curious reader
may find as many texts for thus receiving under one
‘kind as for the other. Thus St. Augustine was of opi-
C “
#2 OF COMMUNION IN ONE KIND.
nion, that Christ himself administered the sacrament to
some of his disciples under one kind only, viz. to the
two going to Emmaus, (Luke xxiv. 30,,) and that the
msdgtles afterwards did often practise the like, when
ley assembled to break bread, (Acts ii. &c.,) which
places, he and other fathers explain of the sacrament,
Aug. L. Conf, Evang. c. 49; and that it was the cus-
tom ofthe priniitive Christians to give it under one
kind to children, to the sick, and. to the faithful im time
of:perseeution ; and that men on a jou’ “sed 10 car-
ry it with them, is attested both by anc —_ writers and
modern historians. Nay, he finds that ii was the prac-
tice of the church to communicate under one kind only,
or else under both, as was considered good, for.the first
four hundred years after Christ; and that the precept
of receiving under both kinds was g‘ven to the faithful
by Pope Leo I, in the year 443, and confirmed by Pope
Gelasius in 490, not for the correcting any abuse. that
had.crept into the church, but for discovering the Ma-
nichees, who, being of the opinion that Christ had no
true blood, and that wine was the gall ofthe devil,
used to. lurk among the Christians, and receiving “under
the form of bread only, as the rest di-l, remained undis-
tinguished, until by this obligation of all receiving the
cup, which they judged unlawful and abominable, they
were detected, And now, if a thing, until that time
indifferent, was for these motives determined by eccle-
siastical precept, and so observed for some hundred
yeats without scruple or questioning the authority, why
should he. doubt to submit to the same authority, when
upon different motives and circumstances they issue
forth another precept? Few doubt of this in the man-
ner of eating strangled meats and blood, which, though
forhid by the apostles, (Acts xv.) and so at that time
unlawful, is now, and upon other circumstances, be-
come a thing indifferent, like other things. And why
then should he scrupie in this, especialiy, since there
is no.injury done, nor he defrauded of any thing? For,
believing the real presence of Christ in the sacrament,
~ mom a FF, wee
——_<_ i _ dp f,f #£4«i°*¢._.,. ar at OS _ —<_
se a ee ee ee en ee lle ee ee eS a a ee ae a
ment to
, to the
hat the
. when
y which
rament,
he cus-
der one
in time
| 00 Car
ters and
1e prac-
1d only,
the first
recept
faithful
by Pope
use. that
the Ma-
| had no
e devil,
ig under
d undis-
ving the
ble, they
hat time
y eccle-
undred
ity, why
y, when
ey issue
he man-
) though
hat time
ices, be-
ind why
ice there
g ? For,
crament,
OF THE MASS. 48
he consequently believes whole and living Jesus to be
entirely contained’ ander either species; and® that re-
ceiving one kind, he is:truly partaker of the ‘whole’sa- -
crament, und not deprived of either the body or blood
of Christ. Ee
Gd § 20. oF THE Mass. wig
“ Tug Papist: misrepresented; believes. that theres
an insufficiency in the sacrifice made by Christ: upon
the cross, and that his death will little avail usin 6r-
der to our redemption unless we, by daily: sacrificing
him to his Father, perfect what he began ; and, there-
fore, taking little notice of what St. Paul’s words tothe
Hebrews, chap. x. 14. where he says: that ‘Christ, our
| High: Priest, by, one oblation, hath perfeeted for ever
them that are sanctified ; he thinks ‘he: shall’ never‘be
sanctified but by:the offerings made by his Mass Priests,
upon their.altars, when.they say Mass,’ :
Tue: Papist truly represented, believes that the’sa
_ efifice made by: Christ upon the cross, was-altogether
sufficient ; that by it he saved. and redeemed:us, pay-
ing the debt of sin, and satisfying the infinite justice of
his Father ; that by it he procured: for us'all: means for
our salvation ; all grace: , in order-for faith:and good
works ; all the sacraments; and which of all things, is
most: acceptable to God, the offering of a sacrifice. But
as Christ’s worshipping of God, his fasting, praying, and
suffering for us, does not hind cr or prevent our worship-
ping of God—our fasting, sufiering, or praying for our-
selves; so, neither, did his-sacrifice hinder or supersede
all sacrifices forever, And, as he instituted fasting,
praying, and suffering for. his followers, ‘that, by so:d0-
ing they might, apply what he did to themselves:s:so,
also, he instituted a sacrifice, that by it they might ap-
ply the merits. of his sacrifice, and make it beneficial to _
their souls. So that, though he firmly. believes that
Christ offered sacrifice for our redemption, and ‘by the
one-only offering, spoken of by St. Paul, perfected, by
way of redemption, the. sanctification of all those that
are sanctified ; yet he also believes, that to receive the
Miaka Mg cual
Se eat io Sai See RE Se ag
tates ee cet Oe ee ee
: Raed
ae
ae |
ba
a
Bs
Neh |
bana |
a
ae
ria
as
44 OF PURGATORY:
benefit.of this offering, we must also do. our, palts—
by our good works.concurring with Christ, and,1n.some
-manner purifying our own,souls—(1 John, lil, d-) and
therefore, not to omit the best of all works, which is
sacrifice ; which our Saviour, Jesus Christ, instituted
at his last supper ; when, leaving to. us his body and
blood, under the two distinct species of bread and wine,
he bequeathed as a legacy to his apostles, notonly a
sacrament, but also a sacrifice, a pure commemorative
sacrifice, lively representing in an unbloody manner,
the bloody sacrifice which was offered for us upon the
cross ; and, by a distinction of the symbols, distinctly
showing forth his(Christ’s) death. until he comes. This
he gave in charge to his apostles, as. to the: first ‘and
chief priests of the New Testament, and to their suc-
cessors, to offer ; commanding them to do the same'thing
he had-done- at his last supper, in commemoration of
him. And this:is the oblation, or sacrifice of the Mass,
which has been observed, performed, frequented by. the
faithful in ‘all ages, attested by the general consent of
all antiquity, universal tradition, and the practice of
the whole church—mentioned and allowed of by all
the fathers, Greek and Latin, and never called in ques-
tion till‘of late years ; being that: pure offering which
‘the prophet Malachi foretold should be offered among
the Gentiles in every place, (Mal. i. 11.):as this text’'was
ever understood by the ancient fathers. re Peo,
: § 21. oF. PURGATORY...
Tue Papist misrepresented, believes, (contrary to
all reason, to the word of God, and to ail antiquity ,)
that, besides heaven and hell, there is a third place,
which his:church is pleased to call purgatory—a’place
intended purely for those of his communion, where they
may easily have admittance after this life, without dan-
ger of falling into hell ; for that, though hell'was’ de-
signed first for the: punishment of sinners, yet that now,
since the blessed: discovery of purgatory, hell. may’ be
easily skipped over, and an eternal damnation avoided,
parts—
in.some
.o-) and
which is
stituted
ody and
nd wine,
Mtonly a
norative
manner,
upon the
istinctly
es. This
first ‘and
\elr ‘suc-
nie'thing
ration of
he Mass,
d by, the
onsent of
actice of
text'was
ntrary to
itiquity ,)
'd’ place,
—a'place
here they
hout’ dan-
“was de-
pe
I may’ be
avoided,
OF PURGATORY. 45 °
for an exchange of some short penalties, under-
gone in this the: Pope’s prison.” | |
Tue Parist truly represented, believes it dam-
nable to admit of any thing for faith that is con-
trary to reason, the word of God, and all-antiqui-
ty ; but that the existence ‘of a third’place, called
purgatory, is so far from being contrary ‘to all, or
any of ‘these, that it is attested, confirmed, and
established by them all. It is expressly tanght in
the second Maccabees, c. xii., where money ‘was
sent to Jerusalem, that sacrifice might be offered
for the slain ; and it is recommended as a whole-
some practice to pray for the dead, that they may
be loosed from their sins. Now, these two books
of Maccabees were certainly held in great venera-
tion by all’ antiquity ; and, as St. Augustine in-
forms us, L. xviii De Civ. Dei, were then account-
ed 'canonica! by the church. There being always
a third place, is plainly intimated by our Saviour,
(Matt. xii. 32.) where he sa 73, Whosoever speaks
‘against the Holy Ghost, rt shall not be forgiven ham,
neither in this world, nor in the world to come. By
which. words Christ evidently supposes, that though
these shall not, yet some sins are forgiven inthe world
to come ; which, since it cannot be in heaven,: where
no sin can enter---nor in hell, where there is no.remis-
sion, it. must necessarily be in some middle state ; and
in this sense it was understood by St. Augustine, about
1300 years ago, Civ. De. 1, 21. c. 13. and 24, I. 6..cont.
Juliun, c. 15. So, also, by St. Gregory the Great, L. 4.
Dial. c.'39. In the same manner does St, Augustine
understand these words of St. Paul, 1 Cor. iii. 15.
“He himself shall be saved, yet so. as by fire, where he
considers him speaking of a purging fire, Aug. in Psal.
37... So. the.same father understands. that prison, : of
which St. Peter.speaks, 1 Pet. iii, 19., to some: place
of temporary ).chastisement, dug. Ep. 99., And.if this
great doctor of the church, in tk
ose purer times, found
ues
gers e ae
Serer Mest doosay
4
dele ae mall
WEEE Sate ee en
* "
eens
ees "
46 OF PURGATORY:
no often in the Bible a place of pains‘after this
life, from whence there was release, how canany
oné say, withoat presumption, that the being of a
third place is contrary to the word of Gad? Nei-
ther can'the antiquity of this doctrine be. more
justly called,.in, question, of, which is; found so
early mention, not only in this holy father, but in
divers others, his. predecessors, ‘who. came not
long after the apostles, and were the best wit-
nesses of this doctrine. See Acta S'S, Herpet. at
_Felicit.. mentioned and. approved by St. Augustine,
lel de, Anima. et ejus Ong. c. 10.1. 3. ¢.. 9, et t., 4. ¢,
18. Tertullian, l. de Cor. Mil.
=
i
his r
ly cancelled, by repentance, here... 2. That. such
small sins do not deserve eternal punishment. 3. ;
That few depart.this life so. pure, as to be totally .
exempt. from spots of this nature, and from. eyery
Lind of debt due to God’s justice.. 4. Therefore,
that few will escape without suffering something
from hisjustice, for such debts as they may ‘have
carried with therm out of this world, according to
‘that rule ofdivine justice by which he treats every
soul’ hereafter, according to his works, and ac-
‘carding to the state in which he finds them in
death. Thus, his reason convinces him,, that
there: must be some third place ; for, since the'in-
finite goodness of God: can admit:no one:in hea-
ven that is not clean and pure from all sins, both
great avid small—and his infinite’ justide can pet'-
imit'none to receive the reward’ of” bliss, who a.
fil. c.3, et 1. de Monogamia, °
S. Cyprian, Ep. 66. ad Cler. 4rnobuus, l. 4. contra Gen,
“&ec. &c. As to the reasonableness of this tenet, -
éason convinces him : 1. that-every sin, how
slight soever, though no more. than an. idle word, .
as an offence to God, deserves punishment, and
will be ptinished by him hereafter, if not previous-.
;
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OF PRAYING TW AN UNKNOWN TONGUE. 47 f |
this yet are not out of debt, but have something, Fh ff
any justice, to suffer; there must, of necessity, be q
of & some place, or state, where souls departing this Af
as. lite, pardoned, as to the eternal guilt, or pain, yet a
one liable to same temporal penalty, or with’ nd Sng 7
ne pf 'some yenial faults, are purged and purified be- i
sole fore theip admjttanee into heaven. This is what q |
‘net he js taught concerning purgatory; which, though =f
it he knows not where it is, nor of what naturé the i
hab: | ‘paths are, nor how ‘long each soul is detained Je
tine, there, yet he believes that those who are in this ”
At. place, being the living menrbers of Jesus Chitist, | |
amia, ate relieved by the prayers of ‘their fellow mem- hs
Gen, - bers on earth, as also by the’ alms'and masses of- a
enet, . ‘fered up to God for their souls, “And as for such ‘
how. as have‘no relations or friends to pray for them, a
vord, ‘ar'ta give alms, ‘or procure masses for their relief, a
» and | they are nat neglected’ by the church, which if
ious~. | ‘makes a general commentoration of'all the faith- 4
such ‘ful departed ‘in every mass, and in ‘everyone of 7
~ a ‘the canani¢al'hqurs of the divine office. © i
sd § 22. oF PRAYING IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUR, |
sore, _: Tue Papist misrepresented, is: counselled by
thine his. church tu:be present at. sermons; but never oy
Mabe permitted.to hear any he. is able to ubderstand, .
ng to ‘they bejng all delivered in an unknown tongye. a
every ‘He is taught to pray, but it must be in Latin, He =
end is commanded to assist at the-church service and p
ge tahear mags, but it-must be without understand: ‘
that nga word, it being all performed in a language |
leh - of which he is altogether ignorant. And thus he ae
"a re js. miserably deprived of all the comfortable be- d
, both - nefits. of Christianity, hearing, but without under- +i
nper- 3 standing ;..praying, but without reaping any fruit
BWA a5 : assisting at any public assemblies, but like a stock
43 OF PRAYING IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE,
or stone, without feeling, or the least sense of de-
votion.” ._.. 7
Tue Papist fruly represented, is counselled by
his church to be present at sermons, such as he
is able to understand, they beiag always delivered
in: the. wulgar. language of every country :—in
France, French; in Spain, Spanish; in Italy, lta-
lian; and. in England, English: they being purely
intended for the good instruction of the congrega+
tion present. Heis taught to pray, and is, always
provided with such books of devotion as he..is
capable of understanding, every nation beirg.well
furnished with such helps extant in the language
proper tothe country. He.is commanded to.as-
sist at the church service, and to. hear mass,;—
and. in this he is instructed, not so much. to. un-
derstand. the words, as to know. what:is done. For
the: mass: being a sacrifice. wherein is daily com-
memorated.the death and. passion of Christ, by. an
oblation; made by. the priest, of the -body and
blood of the: immaculate. Lamb, under the sym-
bols of bread and wine, according to his own in-
stitution ; it is not so much the business of the
congregation present to employ their ears in‘ at-
tending to the words, as. their hearts in contem-
plation of the divine mysteries, by raising up’ fer-
vent affections of love, thanksgiving,:.sorrow’ for
gins, resolutions of amendment, &ci—that: thus
having their hearts and«intention united with: the
priest’s, theymay’be partakers of his prayers, and
the sacrifice he.is then offering, than which he
believes nothing more acceptable to “God, or be-
neficial to true believers.. And tor the raising:of
these affections in dis soul, and Siting: his beart
with: love and devotion, he thinks: .in sthisycase
UE.
of de-
led by
as he
jivered
in
Ly, Ita-
purely
grega-
always
he is
ng-well
nguage
| to.as-
a8s, ;—
to. un-
1e..For
y com-
» by. an
dy and
e sym-
wn in-
of the
3 in ‘at-
ontem-
up fer-
‘row for
at. thus
vith: the
ers, and
hich he
F or be-
ising’ ot
is: Beart
hisvecase
OF PRAYING IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE. 49
there is little need*of words ;'a true faith, without
these, is all-sufficient. Who’could but have burst
forth! inte’ tears ‘of love’ and thank~giving, if he
had’been present when our Saviour wiis tied'to the
pillar, scourged, and tormented, though he open-—
ed'not his mouth to the bye-standé?s, ‘nor spoke
a word? Who would have needed'a sermon, to’
have been filled with grief and compassion, if'he
had seer'his Saviour exposed to the scorn of the:
Jews, when he was. made’a bloody’ spectacle by
Pilate, with‘ an * Ecee Homo,’ Behold the Man!
Who could: Have stood cold ‘and senseless under
the cross ipon Mount Calvary, when his Redeem?
er Was hanging on it; though he had: not heard,
or understood a word that he spoke? Does any”
one think; that’ those holy women who followed:
our‘Lord in these sad passages, and were witness-—
esiof his sufferings, wanted holy affections in their:
souls because he spoke'not? Were they: scan-'
dalized‘at his: silence? . Was not their faith. in:
him that suffered, by which they believed him to-
be Christ Jesus,true God and man, laying down’
his fe tor the redemption of man,: sufficient to
excite in their soulsall the passions due from a:
sinful creature to ‘his ‘bleeding ‘Redeemer; his’
crucified Jesus? \The-tlike faith is ‘aleo sufficient’
to'fill him: with devotion, when he is present at
the ‘holy: sacrifice of the Mass ; for believing that:
Christ is there really present'before him, under’
the species of bread: and wine, and’’that he who
lies upon the‘altar, is the Lamb of God'that takes
away the sins of the world, what need of more to’
quicken :in his soul all the: affections of a devout
lover? - Can he behold his Redeemer-before-him,
and not break forth into love: and-thariksgiving’?
a
60 oF PRAYING IN°AN UNKNows ToncUE,
Can he see lim, who. gives sight to the blind;
health tothe sick, and life to the :dead,,and.yef .
standstill, senseless, and, unaioved, without. put-
ting up atty petition to him, without asking. any
thing for his blind, sick; and sinful soul:?.. Cam-he
believe that he who gives his life for the world,
and died for our sins,is there before him, and. tot |
to, be touched with sotrow atid conttition for his
offences ?.: Can he see evety doleful passage of
his:Saviour’s sufferings commemorated. in the. se,
veral mysteries of the Mass; and yet not be filled
with grief and compassion? Is. not Jesus, wel-
come to,a devout soul, although he come. do ‘sir.
lence ? Is notthe
cible motive to.a.C
could.be ?. And.if he must needs have words; let
him behold with the eye of faith, the gaping.
wounds of his. Redeemer, and see if they speak,
nothing to his.soul. If, they do not; it:is because
he wants faith. It nothing, therefore, concerns
his devotion that the Mass is said in Latin: if the
church-has ordered ‘thus, to’ preserve unity, ns in
faith, so in the external worship of God: and to
prevent the alterations’ and. changes. which it.
would be exposed to. if in the vulgar languages
and. for other good reasons, what is. that to him ?,
He should. receive but: little. advantage if. it wete
in his mother tongue.. For, besides that the gteat+
or part of it is said in.so.low a voice that it isnot
possible he should hear it, the words do not: be-
long to. him, bat to the priest’s: office only); bis
obligation. is, to accompany. the priest in prayer
and spirit; to be a jointofferer with him, to ¢on-
template the mysteries there represented, and to
excite in, his, soul devotions according to the ex-.
resence of Chtist a more: fof.
ristian than.any human,words ,
426 OH Ame 86 46.2 Ee 2as .
ZF? moe60.7 24°.
<6é
tides let
gaping:
y speak,
because
oncerns
4 if the
ys. ns in
> and fo
vhich) it.
nguage;
o:him ?,
it wete
e greats
it is not
not: be-
nly: ;, bis
n prayer
, fo cone
|, and to
the ex-.
of THE SECOND COMMANDMENT... “ 5h
igency of every passage ; according tr the ditec-
temp, he: finde, his. English prayer-books, .of
which there is a great variety extantyaet forth for
the help of the ignorant; by .which they. are
taught the meaning.of every part and ceremony
of the Mags, and. how to apply their devotions ac-
cordingly... And.if at any time he be present at.
other public devotions which are. performed. in,
Latin,, or should say any private prayers, or sing
a hymn in the same language, which he under-
stands not; yet is he taught that this can be done
with great benefit to his soul, and the acceptance
of God, if-on these occasions he does but endea-
vour to raise his thongs to heaven, atid to fix
his heart upon his Maker ; for that God does not
respect the: language ofthe lips, but of the heart ;
dogs not, attend to the motion of the tongue, but
of the mind. ; and if these be but, directed to him in
thanksgiving, in praising, or petitioning ; in humi-
liation,.in contrition, and such like acts as circum-
stances require, he need not doubt that God ac-
cepts his prayers and devotions, it being an un-
denieels thing, that to say prayets well and de-
voutly, it ig not necessary to have attention on
the words, or on the sense of tie prayers, but ra-
ther purely. .on God-—of these three attentions,
this last being approved by all, us of greatest per-
fection and most pleasing to God. And this he
can have, whether he. understands the words or
nut, it being very usual and easy for a petitioner
to accompany his petition, with an earnest desire
of obtaining -his suit, though the language in
which it is worded be unknown to him.
$29; OF THE SECOND COMMANDMENT. |
We Papist neisvepresenteds is kept in igno-
5g ON THE SECOND COMMANDMENT
rance as to the éssential part of his duty towards
_ God? never’ being ‘permitted ‘to kriow’ the com
mandiients* but*byhalves ; for in'the books deliv
véred'to-him’ for his ‘instruction, such ‘as ‘cates
chisme’and Mmanvals, the second commandment
ig wholly léft ‘out, arid he by this means‘ts taught
to fal into all sorts “of supe stitious worship, and’
did whibiebe fatale 22008 presen sak ame Wrakn
“Tux Papist truly represented, is instructed iv
his whole duty towards God, and most especially
in the ten commandments. He is tanght to un-
derstand them all and every one ; that there is an
obligation of observing them under pain of eter
rial damnation; and that whosoever breaks 2
one of them, looses the favour of God, and as cer
tainly hazards the loss of his ‘soul as if lie bre
them all. And though in some short catechisms
in which the whole Christian doctrine is delivered,
’
i
we
in the most compendious and easy method in con--
descension to’weak memories, and low capaci-
ties, the second commandment, as it is teckonéd
by some; be omitted ; yet itis to be seen at Halo
bead F
in other catechisms, manuals, and doctrinal boo
to be met with every where in, great plenty. And
ifany one should chance not to see any of these,
yet would he be out of all danger of alling. into
any superstitious worship or idolatry ; for that
having read the first commandment, T hou shalt
have no other gods before me, he is taught by this,
that he is commanded to serve, love, adore, and
worship one only, true, ee and eternal God,
and no more; that it is forbidden him to worship
any creature for a god, or to give it the honour
due to God ; and that’ whosoever worships any
ido}, image, picture, or any graven thing, whatso-
= 65 pe 2 Pp 8 nS AB SS
e
tl
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n
a
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2
d
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ips any
vhatso-
OF MENTAL. RESERVATIONS. 53
ever the object. be, whether in heaven,above,.in
the:.earth beneath, or. in) the watersunder the
‘earth, for. God,-breaks the commandment, by,com-
mitting. idolatry, and,stands guilty, of an:inexcus-
able.and mast damnable sin. Now, having, been
taught that this is the intent. of tbe. first,precept
-of the.decalogue, he. thinks there can:be but,little
danger of his becoming -superstitious. in. his, wor-
ship, ,or.an idolator, for want of the second ;.there
heing nothing. in. this but what. he jis fully;and
expressly. instructed in, by ,having: learned the
first ; it. being rather an explication of.this, than
any new and distinct precept ;. and, for this, rea-
son, he finds them in his books put together as
one, or rather, as the first commandment, with its
explication, by which meang it comes about that
there are only, three in the. first, table, teaching
him, his duty towards God; and seven in the lat-
2+
ter, concerning his duty to his neighbour, which
isthe, division, assigned by St. Augustine. And
though St. Jerome observes not this method, but
divides them into four and six; yet, there being
no direction in scripture concerning the number
of the commandments to be assigned to each ta-
ble—nor to let us know which is the first, which
the second, which the third commandment, or
which. the last commandment; he is taught that it
is but an. unnecessary trouble to concern himself
about, the number or division of them, when, his
whole business, ought to be, the observance of
them in his life and conversation. |
$24, OF MENTAL RESERVATION.
“Phe 'Papist misrepresented, is tauglit to keep
‘54 OF MENTAL. RESERVATION,
no faith with any that are reputed heretics by his
huteh’sand that whatever promise he has made,
thougli ever so positive and firm, with this sort of
‘péople; he may lawfully break ; and cheat and
‘céten them without any scruple ; and though he
‘ywust riot do this by downright lying, and ‘telling
‘utittuths,’ for this’ would'be a ‘sin, yet he may
fitdke tse of any indirect ways—such as dissimu-
lations, equivocations, and mental reservations,
‘atid ‘by these mieans draw them 1@fo his shates';
‘anid/this, without fear’ of offending God, wit’ bs
‘well pledsed witt these kinds of pious crafts, and
‘glows of these holy cheats,” | uae
Pue Papist truly represented, is taught to keep
faith with all sorts of peo te, of whatsoever judy-
ment or persuasion they be, whether in commu-
‘niga with the church or not ; he is taught to
stanid to his word, and observe his promise, given
or made to any whatsoever ; and that he cdanot
cheat or cozen, whether by dissembling, equivo-
cation, or mental] reservation, without defiance of
‘his own conscienc, and the violation of God's
law, i is the instruction he receives from the
pulpit, t
ap e confessional and his books of ditec-
tion, and nothing is more inculeated in his church
than sincerity and truth. But, as to the doctrine
and practice of equivocations and mental reserva-
ions, so far from being approved by his church,
he finds it expressly censured by Pope Innocent
‘X1., in a decree fecned forth, March 2, 1679,
prohibiting the teaching or maintaining of it, wn-
der pain of excommunication. He is taught there-
fore, to speak plainly and sincerely, without any
such pe which cannot but be very injurious
to all society, and displeasing to the first truth.
‘thade,
sort of
it and
he
ugh
telling
1e' may
igsirtue
ratiotis,
Bares’;
wito: is
its, and
(6 keep
¢ judy
Onn
ight to
2» given
carmnot
ivo-
pee of
f God's
rom the
f ‘ditec-
church
loctrine
reserva-
church,
nnocent
2, 1679,
if it, ut-
nt there-
cut any
njurious
st truth,
OF A BEATH-bED REPENTANC. 58
And now, if any authors, in communion with his
church, be produced as patrons and ‘abettors o:
these’ menial juggles, let them hold up théir hands
and answer for themselves ; thelr church’ has ap-
proved of nosuch doctrine, ‘and is no more to be
chargedjwith their particulat; opinions, than with
the unexemplary lives uf other of her members;
whose irtegularities are not at all?derived from
their religion, but from following their own cor
rupt.inclinations, and giving way to,the tempta-
tions of the enemy. : ‘ea tee
$25. OF A DEATH-BED REPENTANCE, |
*« Tue Papist ntisrepresented,is bred up in a to:
tal‘tieglect of the service of God, and of all virtue
Pdevdtion, while lie is well and ih good health,
upoh a presiimptioh of a death-bed repentatice,
ahd’a confidence, that all his sing will certainly be
forgiven, if he tan but once say “Lord have mercy
upon me,” at the last hour, : And it isa sufficient’
ericouragement to him to rely wholly upon this, to
see that thele dre no such profligate villains—no
one who has lived; thoughto the eighth of wicked-
hess and debauchery in ‘his communion, but at his
death he shall be assisted by a priest; and. shall
receive an absvlution from all his sins, with an ab=
sdlute promise of beitig soon admitted to bliss, atid
reigning with Christ, if he can but once say he is
sorry; Uy if his voice fail him, signify as much by
a nod of his head, or the motion of his fingers.”
ThE Papist truly represented, is bred up in the
service and love of God ; taught to. watk-out-his
salvation with fear.and trembling ; to provide in
time of health against the last hour, and ‘by, no:
means to rely upon a death: bedrepentance; forthat.
men (generally speaking) as they live, so they die;
?)
56 OF. FASTING.
and it is to be feared greatly, that those who ne-
lect God Almighty, and forsake him all their
life-time, will never find him at their death ; so
that (with St. Augustine) he doubts the salvation
of'as many as defer their conversion till that hour.
However, if any are found who. haye been so ne-
glectful of their duty, as to put off this great bu-
siness of eternity talthe last moment, he is taught,
that in charity, they ought to have. all assistance
possible to put them in mind of their condition,
a e
to excite them to a detestation of all their of-
fences, to let them know that although they de--
serve hell fire, in punishment for their wickedness,
yet they ought by no means. to despair, for that
God is merciful; and who knows, but if .they
heartily call upon him, and endeavour by sintere
repentance, with an humble confidence in the me-
rits and passion of Jesus Christ, he may hear their
prayers, shew them mercy, and give them time to
repent. These are all the promises that cam be
given in this point, and this.-is what he sees daily
practised ; and if some, by these means, are pre--
served from falling into despair, it ig well; byt, as
for. any, receiving from hence encouragement of
coming into the like. circumstances, he thinks
there is little danger, especially since there is no~
thing so often repeated in books—no more com-
mon subjects for sermons, than the displaying the
manifold peril of delaying one’s conversion, and
putting off repentance till the last hour.
. § 26. oF FASTING.
«Tar Papist misrepresented, is contented with
the abnearance of devotion; ‘and, not looking be-
yond ‘the: name of mortification, he sits down well
sativfied: with the shadow, without ever taking
nee
10, ne
. their
h ‘ so
vation
| houte
so ne-
at bu-
stance
dition,
eir of-
rey de-
odness,
or that
f apey
he me-
ar their
time to
can be
2s daily
re pre-~
but, as
ment of
» thinks
e is no~
ré com-
ying the
on, and
ted with:
king be-
wit well
r taking
OF FASTING. 57
care of the substance. And thus, being a great
pretender to fasting, and the denial of himself, he
thinks he has sufficiently complied with, his duty
in this point, and made good his claim, ‘if he has
but abstained from flesh ; and though, at. the same
time, he regales himself at once with all variety
of the choicest fish; and: stuffs himself. with the
best conserves and most delicate. junkets,. and
drinks all day the pleasantest wines, and other i-
quors; yet, he persuades himself that he is a, truly
mortified man, and that he has. done_a work of
great force, in order to the suppressing his corrupt
inclinations, and satisfying for the offences of his
_ past'life. Nay, he has such a preposterous con-
ceit of things, that he believes it is a. greater sin
to eat the least bit of flesh on a fasting day, than
to be downright drunk, or to commit any other
excess, as having less, scruple of breaking. the
commandments of God, than of violating any or-
dinance of the Pope, or any Jaw of his church.”
Tue Papist. truly represented,.is,taught by:his
church, that. the appearance of devotion, the name
of mortification; and pretence to it, are only vain
and fruitless things, if they are not accompanied
with. the substance; and that it is-but a very:lame
compliance with the ecclesiastical precept of fasts!
ing,,to abstain from flesh, unless.all other eXcesses:
are at the same time carefully avoided.. It’is true;:
his. church ‘has. not forbidden on these .days the:
drinking, of wine, but permits a moderate uée.of,
it, as at other times ; but is so far from giving di-
berty to. any of.her flock, of commitling excesses,
that she declares drankenness, and -all gluttony
whatsoever, to. be more. heinous;,and.seandalous.
sins on such days than on any other ; they being
58 ; OF FASTING:
expressly contrary, not only to the law of God,
‘hut also. to the intention of the church, which ap-
“points these times for the retrenching debauche-
“ries, and conquering our vicious appetites. And
now, if any of his profession make less scruple of
being drunk on a fasting day, than of eating the
‘
least bit of flesh, he knows nothing more can be
‘said of them than of many of another communion,
“who will not break the sabbath day by doing any
servile work on it; for all the world, laoking on
this a8 4 most damning sin, and yet at the same
‘time have’but little scruple of swearing, cursing,
lying, or revelling the greatest part of the day,
‘which is not because they have more liberty for.
these than thie former, they being all most wicked
‘offences ;° but, tiecause they who act thus are but
Christians by halves, who with q kind of pharisai-
‘cal and partial obedience, seem to bear some of.
tle commandments most zealously in their hearts,
whilst they trample others under their feet; scrup-
ling tnany times at a mote, and on other occasions
passing by a beam: undiscerned : for whioh their,
church is. not to be accoyntable, but they them-
selves,'as being guilty of a wilful blindness, and
@ most unchristian negligence. This is the real
case ofisuch of his eammunion, who, on days of:
humiNation, whilst they abstain fram flesh, yet
give scandal by intemperance. They haye a com-
mand of Ged, by whica they’are obliged on all
days’to live soberly, and to avoid all gluttony and
druakenness; and on fasting days, besideg this
command af God, they have a church precept, by
which they are bound, if able, to,eat but one
mel in a day, and that not of flesh, And now,
if nomeiare so ignorant and careless as to be seru-
of: God,
hich ap-
hauche-
$8 A mad
sruple of
ting the
e can be
munion,
oing any
king on
he same
cursing,
the eay
erty for
; wicked
; are but
pharisai-
some of:
ir hearts,
tL; scrup-
yccasions
ich their
ay them-
1ess, and
the real
1 days of:
lesh, yet
e acom-
ed on all
tony and
sideg this
acept, by
but one
ind now,
be seru-
OF DIVISIONS AND SCHISMS IN THE CHURCH. 59
pulously observant of one of these commands, and
wholly negligent of the other, it is not because
their religion teaches them to do so, (which de-
tests and condemns all such scandalous partiality,
and complying with their duty by halves,) but be-
cause they shut their ears to all good instruction,
and choose rather to follow their own corrupt ap-
petités, than the wholesome doctrine of their
church. | |
§ 27. OF DIVISIONS AND SCHISMS IN THE CHURCH
“Tue Papist-misrepresented, is of a religion in
which there is as many schisms as families ; ard
they are so divided in their opinions, that com-
monly, as many a3..meet in company, so many
different. tenets are maintained. Hence arise
their infinite and endless. disputes, and the dig-
agreement of their, divines, who pretend to give
‘a'true and solid explication of the mysteries of
the Christian faith, and yet differ in many points
they write of. Besides, what variety of judgrnents
are there in their religious houses: and cloisters,
no one agreeing with another in their foundation,
institution, and profession——this being of the reli-
gion .of St. Dominic, that of St. Francis, a third
of St. Bernard, another of St. Benedict, and so on
without number, so that there are as many reli-
gions as orders.
tian unity, amidst-this diversity growing upon them
every day.’’ Y :
‘Tur Papist truly represented, is of a religion in
which there are no schisms or separations, all the
members of it, however spread throughout’ the
world, agreeing like one man in every article of
their faith, by ‘an equal submission to the deter-
mination of their church ; and no one of them,
And yet they pretend to Chris-.
ee ee ee
PRS ede ot Ne eh ap OE PE ok
60 OF DIVISIONS AND SCHISMS 18 THE OHURCH.
though most learned and wise, ever followed any
other rule of their faith besides this, of assenting
toall that the church of God, planted by Christ,
and: assisted ‘and protected by the Holy Ghost,
proposes to the faithful, to be believed as the doc-
trine of the apostles, and received as auch in all
ages: that iz, all unanimously believe as the
church of God believes. No one of his conimu-
nion éver doubting of this, or scrupling to receive -
any thing after his church’s declaration. And
now, though they all thus canspire in every point
of faith, yet there isa great diversity among school-
men in their divinity paints, and-opinions of such —
matters as are no articles of faith ; and which, ne-
ver being defined by their church, may be main-
tained severally, either this, or that way, without
any breach of faith, or injury to their religion ;
and of these things only they dispute, and have
their debates in manner of a school-exercise, with -
out any disagreement at all in. their belief, but
with a perfect unity. The like unity is there
amongst their religious orders, all of which say
the same creed, own the same authority in the
church of Christ, and in every thisg profess the -
same faith, and have no other difference than as
it were of so many steps or degrees in the prac-
tice of a devout and holy life; some being of a
more severe and strict discipline, others of a more
gentle and moderate ; some spending more time
in praying, others more in’ watching, others more
in fasting ; some being intended for the catechis-
ing and breeding up of youth; others for taking
care of hospitals, and looking after the sick ; others
for going. among infidels, and preaching to them
the gospel of Christ, and for such like pious and
Christian designs, to the greater glory and honour
a
v
}
£
ad
d
w
i sik cia tail Se aa ii a Sa ies lee
> — ep?
CH.
ed any
enting
Christ,
Ghost,
1e doc-
: in all
as the
imu
eceive -
And
y point
;chool-
of such
ch, ne-
main-
vithout
ligion 3
d have
», with -
ief, but
. there
ich say
in the
fess the -
than as
@ prac-
ng of a
a more
re time
rs more
atechis-
taking
; others
0 them
pus and
honour.
OF FRIARS AND NUNS.. ol
of God. Which differences, make no other dif=
ference in the several professions than there was
between Mary and Martha, who expressed their.
love and service to'their Lord in a very. different
employ, but both commendably, and without any
danger of prejudicing the unity of their faith.
§ 28. OF FRIARS AND NUNS.
“Tue Papist misrepresented, is taught to have
a high esteem for those of his own communion,
who cloistering themselves up, become Friars and |
Nuns, a sort of people who call themselves reli-
gious, and are nothing but religious cheats ; un+
der the cloak of piety, and pretence of devotion,
deceiving the world, and living to the height of
wickedness, under the notion of saints.” ~
Tue Papist truly represented, is taught to have
a high esteem for those of his communion, who
undertake that sort of life ; which, according to
Christ’s own directions, and his apostles, is point-
‘ed gut as the best—a sort of people who endea-
vour to perform all that God has commanded, and
also, what he has confessed as the better part, in
order to more perfection. They. hear Christ de-
claring the danger of riches, they therefore em-
brace a yoluntary poverty, and lay aside all titles
to wealth and possessions. St, Paul preaches,
that he who giveth not his virgin in marriage, doth
better than he who does; and that she that is
unmarried, cares for the things of the Lord, how
she may be holy both in body and spirit ; they
therefore choose a single state, consecrating their
virginity to God, that so they may be wholly in-
tent on hig service, and careful how tc please.
him :—while she that is married careth for the
things of the world, how she may please her hus-
i
4
a
|
& i
al
i
re
a
a
|
A. t
at
"Br
a
poet <4
2B
‘ft
“49
4 ‘
if
i
ee paipeoataons |
62 CF «FRIARS AND NUNS.
band, (1 Cor. vii. 82, 33, 8438.) The gospel pro-
claims, that those who will follow’Christ must
deny themselves: they therefore renounce their
own wills, and without respect to their own pro-
per inclinations, pass their life in perpetual obe-
dience. And because the world is so corrupt,
that to a pious soul every. business is a distrac- ©
tion, every diversion a temptation, and more fre-
quent the provocations to evil, than examples to
vood; they therefore retire from it as much as
possible, and confining themyelves to a Kittle ‘cor-
ner or cell, apply themselves wholly to devotion,
making prayer their business, the service of God,
their whole employ, and the salvation of their
souls their only design. And now, if these re-
tirements, where every thing is so ordered, as to
be most advantazeous for the promoting of virtue
and devotion, and nothing permitted that is likely
to prove a disturbance to godliness, or allurement.
to evil, yet if some (for, God be praised, it is far
from being the case of the generality,) live scan-
dalously, and give ill example to the world, what
can be said; but that no state can secure any man,
and that no such provision can be made in order
toa holy life, but may be‘abused ? But yet he
does not think that such abuses, and the vicious-
ness of some, can be argument enough to any
just and reasonable man, to condemn the whole,
and the institution itself, . Is not marriage abused
in an infinite number of ways, and many forced
to embrace this state, or at least to accept of such
particular persons, contrary. to their own choice
and liking ¢ Is there any state in this world, any
‘condition, trade, calling, profession, ‘degree, ‘or
dignity whatsoever, which is not abused by some’
»
1 pro-:
must
> their
n pro-
1 obe-
rrupt,
istrac- |
re fre-
ples to
uch as
le ‘cor-
volion,
f God,
f their
ese re-
|, as to
‘virtue
s likely
rement.
t is far
- scan-
|, what
y man,
} order
yet he
icious-
to any
whole,
abused
forced
of such
choice
d, any
ree, “or
some’
»
OF WICKED PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES. 63
Are-churchesexempt from abuses? Are not bi?
‘bles and the word of God abused. Is not Chris-
tianity-itself abused, and even the mercy of God
abused? If,therefore, there is nothing so sacred
or divine in the whole world, which wicked and
malicious mem do: not pervert to their ill designs,
to the high dishonour of God, and their own dam-
nation, how can any one upon the mere consi-
deration of some abuses, pass sentence of ¢on-
demnation, against a ‘thing which otherwise is
good and holy? It is an undeniable truth, that
to embrace a life, exempt as muchas can be, from
the turmoils of the world ; and in a quiet retire-
ment to dedicate one’s self to the service of God,
and spend one’s days in prayer and contempla-
tion, is a most commendable undertaking, and
very becoming a Christian.. And yet, if some
who eater upon such a-course of life as this, fall
shore of what they pretend, and instead of be-
coming eminent in virtue and godliness, by their
exemplary lives, prove a scandal to their profes-
sion—is this rule and institution to be condemn.
ed, or rather they who swerve from it? No; let
not the dignity of An apostle suffer for the fall’ of
Judas, nor the commandments Jie under an as-
persion upon the account of those who break
them. 3 ‘
§ 29. of WiOxRD PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES.
“ Tne Papist misrepresented, is a member of a
church which is called holy, but in-her doctrine
and practices, so foul and abominable, that who-
soever admires her for sanctity, and may upon
the same grounds, do homage to vice itself. Has
ever any society, sincé Christ’s time, appeared 80,
black and deformed with hellish crimes as she 4
i
Se a ee eee enh Ee i 2 »
- aie ee a Me fit ay % sate
ee eee neat " e
Fic: namanctmediianetaiiaaialiaeientsammseraarmmnmetareny tenettdeerus tee ee Oe
Ln are eee ee ae. OL a ae he Mae eee
oo ri Bis we Ter capone erat,
64 OF WICKED PRINCIPLES AND RRACTICES,’
Has she not outdone even the most barbarous
nations, and infidels, with her impieties, and:
drawn a scandal upon the name of Christians, by’
her unparalleled vices? Take but a view of the:
horrid practices she has been engaged in :—con-
sider the French and Irish massacres; the mur-:
ders of Henry-IIl. and IV., kings of France ; the:
Holy League ; Gunpowder treason ; the cruelty:
of Queen Mary ; the firing of London; the death -
of Sir Edmunbury Godfrey ;—and an infinite
number of such like devilish contrivances ; and
then tell me, whether that church, which kas been
the author and promoter of such barbarous de-
signs, ought to be esteemed holy, and respected
for piety and religion, or rather to be condemned
for the mistress of iniquity, the whore of set
lon, which hath polluted the earth with her wicke
edness, and taught nothing but the doctrine of
devils? And let ever so many pretences be made, :
yet is it evident that all. these execrable practices
- have been done according to the known princi: |
ples of this holy church ; and that her greatest
patrons, the most learned of her divines, her most —
eminent bishops, her prelates, cardinals, andjeven
the Popes themselves, have been the chief mana- -
gers of these hellish contrivances. And, what
more convincing argument that they are all well
proved, than that they are conformable to the re-
ligion taught by their church.” |
Tue Papist tryly represented, is a member of achurch,
which, according to the ninth article of the Apostles’
Creed, he believes to be holy, and this is not only in
name, but also in doctrine ; and, for witnesses of her
sanctity, he appeals to her councils, catechisms, pul-
pits, and spiritual hooks of direction, in which the majn ’
tea,’
barous
, and:
ins, by’
of the:
CON
e mur-'
2; the:
cruelty :
: death -
infinite |
s; and
is been
us de-
pected
emned
Bab =
r wicke
rine of:
made, :
actices
princi:
reatest
er most —
idfeven .
*mana- -
|, what
all well
the re-
church,
\ postles’
only in
Ȥ of her
ms, pul-
he majn ’
-
OF WICKED PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES: 6%
design is, to imprint in the hearts of the faithful, this:
comprehensive maxim of Christianity; that they ought
to love God above alf things, with their whole hea
and soul, and their neighbour ag themselves ; and that
none shauld flatter themselves with a confidence to be
saved by faith alone, without living soherly, justly, and
piously, ag itis taught in the Council of Trent, Sess. 6,
ce. 11. So that he doubts not but that, as many. as live
according to the direction of his church, in observance
of her doctrine, live. holily in the service and fear of
God, and with an humble confidence in the merits and
assion of their Redeemer, may hope to be received af-
ter this life into eternal bliss. But that all in commu»
nion with this church do not live thus holily, and in
the fear of God, he knows is too evident ; there being
many,in all places, wholly forgetfulof their duty,
giving themselves up to vice, and guilty of most horrid
crimes. And, though he is not bound to believe all to
be.true. that is charged upon them by their adversaries,
there being no narrative of any such devilish contri-
yances and practices laid to them, wherein passion and
fury haye not made great additions—wherein things,
dubious, are not improved into certainties, suspiciong
into realities, fears and jealousies into substantial plots
and downright ljes and recorded perjuries, into pulpit,
nay, gospel truths ;. yet he really thinks that there have
been men of his profession, of every rank and degree—
learned and unlearned, high and low, secular and eccle-
siastic, that have been scandalous in their lives, wicked
in their designs, without the fear. of God in their hearts
er care of their own salvation, But whatthen? Is
the whole church to be condemned for the yicious lives
of some of her professars--and her dactrine to stand
guilty of as.many villanies as those commit, who ne-
glect to follow it? If so, let the men of that society,
judgment, or persuasion, who are net in the like. cir.
cumstances, fling the first stone. Certainly, if this way.
of passing sentence be. once allowed, as just and rea-
gonable, there. neyer was, nor ever will be, any: feliz:
66 OF WICKED PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES,
gion.or church of God upon earth. -A confident under-
taker would find no§difliculty in proving this, especially
if he had but the gift of exaggerating some things, mis-
representing others, finding authors for every idle sto-
ry, charging the extravagant opinions of every single
writer upon the religion they profess—raking together
all the wickedness, cruelties, treacheries, plots, conspi-
racies, at any time committed, by ambitious despera-
does, or wicked villains’; and then positively asserting,
that what these did, was ‘according to the doctrine of
that chureh of which they were members; and that the
trye measures of the sanctity and goodness of the church
in whose communion these men werc, may be justly
taken from the behaviour of such offenders. But, cer-
tainly ,no man of reason or conscience can allow of such
proceedings. No sober man would ever go to Newgate
or Tyburn, to know what is the religion’professed im
England, according to law ; nor would look into all
the sinks, jakes, dunghills, and common sewers, about
town—from such a prospect,.to give a true description
pf the city. Why, therefore, should the character of
the Church of Rome, and her doctrine, be taken only
_ fromthe loose behaviour’ and wicked crimes of such,
who are in communion with her, yet live not accord-
ing to her'direction? She teaches holiness of life ;
mercy to the poor ; loyalty and obedience to princes ;
and the necessity of keeping the commandments ; wit-
ness the many books of devotion and direction, made
English for public benefit, written originally by Papists,
and great numbers there are, God be praised, who prac-
tise this in their lives. And now, if there be many also,
who ‘stop their ears to good instruction, and follow the
: ps peg of their own governed appetites, or pride,
ambition, covetousness, é&c. who lay aside all concern
of salvation, and become so antichristian, both to God
and their neighbour, that they are a shame to their pro-
fession ; why shouid the church be represented ac-
cording to the wickedness of those who neglect her doc-~
trine; and not, rather, by the piety and exemplary lives
ICES,
it under-
specially
nes, mis-
idle sto-
‘y single
together
. Conspi-
despera-
sserting,
ctrine of
| that the
e church
ye justly
Sut, cer-
wv of such
Newgate
fessed im
¢ info all
rs, about
scription
racter of
ken only
of ‘such,
t accord-
of life’;
princes ;
its ; wit-
on, made
y Papists,
vho prac-
any also,
ollow the
or pride,
| concern
h to God
heir pro-
nied ac-
her doc-
lary lives
OF WICKED PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES ’ 67
of such as follow it? Let the character of the church
be given according to what she teaches, and not ace
cording to the writings of every positive opinionatot, or
the practice of evety wicked liver, and there is no feat
of its coming out so ugly and deformed. Neither let |
any one pretend to demonstrate the faith and principles
of Papists by the works of every divine in their com~
munion, or by the actions of every bishop, cardinal, ot
pope, which are not any rule of their faith. They own
that many of their writers are too loose in their opin
ions ; that all bishops and cardinals are not so edifying
as becomes their state ; and that popes, also, may have
their failings. But what then? the actions of popes
concern not the faith of those who ate in communion
with them ; they may throw a scandal, indeed, upon
their religion, but they can never alter its cfeed. But
what need any other return to the numerous: Clamours
made daily against the wickednes of the Papists ? It is
a sufficient vindication of their chief pastors atid popes,
to use the words of Lord Castlemaine, in his Apology~~
that among two hundred and fifty, that have now sttc~
cessively borne the charge, thete are not above ten or
twelve, against whom their most malicious adversaries
can find occasion of spitting their venom; and thata
challénge may be made to the world, to shew but the
first-part of so many successive governors, since the cre-
ation, of which there have not been far‘more that have
abused their power. And as for their flock, the people
owing this authority, it is true that many wicked things
have been done by some of them ; and too many, like
libertines neglect the care of their fold ; but, however,
the generality of them live-like Christians ; few come
to them, but, with their religion, they change also their
manner for the better; few desert them but such as
seem to have fallen out with all Christianity ; and,
whoever looks into any of our neighbouring popish
towns, as Paris, Antwerp, Ghent, &c. will find in any
one of them; more praying, more fasting, more receiv~
ing the sacraments, more visiting of prisoners and the
68. OF MIRACLES.
sick; more alms-giving, than in any two towns of the
Reformation. fen : 3
~-_-§ 80. or MIRACLEs.
_ Tue, Papist misrepresented, is so given up to. the
belief of idle stories and ridiculous inventions, in favour
of saints, which he calls miracles, that nothing can be
related, ever sd absurd or foolish, or almost impossible;
but it gains credit with him and he isso credulously
confident of the truth of them, that there is no. differ-
ence to him between tiese tales and what he reads in
Scripture. Res a
Tue Papist truly represented, is not obliged to believe
any one miracle besides what is in the Scripture ; and
for all others, he may give the credit which in prudence
he thinks they deserve, considering the honesty of the
relator, the authority of the witnesses, and such other
circumstances, which, on the like occasions, used to
gain his assent. And now if, upon the occount of mere
history, and the consent of authors, none have any
doubt but that there were such men a8 Cesarj Alexan-
der, Mahomet, Lutherj &c. or of many particulars of
their lives and actions, why should he doub’ the truth
of many miracles, which have, not dnly the like con-
sent of authors and history, but also have been attested
by a great number of eye-witnesses, examined by .au-
ae and found ujon record with all the formalities
due to such a. process? St. Atigustine relates many
miracles done in his time ; so does Sti Jerome, and other
fathers ; and if they doubted nothing of them then, why
should he question the tritth of them now ? He finds,
that ifi the time of the Old Law, God favoured many,
of his servants by working miracles by their hands, and
he thinks that God’s hand is not shortened now; that
SS ot oS
pt
O om or eg et ws ot ot meyers ot ot Ht
ns of the
up to. the
in favour
ig can be
possible;
edulously
no. differ-
e reads in
to believe
ure ; and
prudence
sty of the
uch other
3, used to
it of mere
have any
5} Alexan-
‘iculars o
the truth
like con
h attested
dd by aus
formalities
ates many
,and other
then, why
e finds,
red many.
hands, and
how ; that
of heaves
iw may be
articulaily
t promised
ater mira
n xiv. 12.)
@dicule atid bu
OF NMBRACLES. _ 69
And what if some miracles recounted by authors are so
wonderfully strdtigé a8 to seem to some, tidiculous and
ubsurd—are they less true, tipon this account ? Is not
every thing ridiculotis to unbelievers? The whole
doctrine of Christ is a scaitdal to the Jews, and a folly
to the Gentiles. And what more absurd, to one that
warits faith, than the miracles recounted in the Old Tes-
tament ? Mi ht not such a one turn them all into ri-
Ristiery ? Take but faith away, and what
becomes of Balaam and his ass, Sampson and his jaw
bone, Elias and his fiery chariot, Elisha’s mantle, axe-
head, and dead bones, Gideon’s pitchers, lamps, and
trumpets, the fall of the walls of Jericho, Moses holding
tp his hands for the victory over his enemies, his part
ing of the Red Sea, aiid Joshua commanding the sun to
stand still, &c: Might not these; and all the rest, be
pointed out as ridiculous as any supposed to be done
sirice Clirist’s time? A little incredulity; accompanied
with a presumption of measuring God’s works by hu-
man wisdom, Wiil really make the greater part of them
en for follies, and absurd impossibilities. And, though
eis so far from giving equal assent to the miracles
related in Scripture; atid the others wrought since; that
the former he believes with a divine faith, and the rest
with an inferidr kind of dssent, according to the grounds
or authority there is in favour of them, like as he does
in ce history ; yet the strangeness of these never
make him in the least doubt of the truth of them, ‘since
it is evident to him that all the works of heaven far sur-
i all his reasoning, and that while he endeavours but
0 lool even into the very ordinary things daily wrough
by God Alinighty, he quite loses hithself, and is bound
to confess his own igriorance aiid folly, and that God is
wonderful in all his works—a God surpassing all our
knowledge. Whiatever, therefore, is related upon good
gtotincs, as done by the extraordinary power of God, he
is ready to assent to it—although he sees neither the
tow, the why, tior the whereforebeing ready to attris
bute all to the honour and praise of his Maker, to whose
omnipotent hand, poor man’s impossibililtes are none,
:20
§ $1. oF HOLY WaTER, | |
Tus Papist misrepresented, highly approves the eu“
perstitious use of many inanimate things, and attributes
wonderful effects to such creatures, which are in a very
interior rank, and able to do no such things. Holy wa-
ter is in great esteem with him, so are blessed candles;
holy oil, &c., if all which he puts so much confidence;
that by the power of these he thinks himself secure frout
witchéraft, enchantment, ahd all the power of the de~
vil.”” |
Tur Papist truly represented, utterly disapproves all
sorts of superstition, and yet is taught to have an es-
teem for holy water, blessed candles, and holy oil ; not
doubting but that such men as have consecrated them-
selves to the setvice of God in preaching the Gospel,
and administration of the sacraments, have a patticular
respect due to them above the laity, as churehes, dedi-
cated to God; are othe: wise to be Jooked on than other
dwelling houses ; so, likewise, other creatures, which
are particularly devoted by the prayers and blessings of
the priest, to certain uses; for God’s owhi glory; and the
spiritual and corporal good of Christians, ought to be
respected in adegree above other common things; and
what superstition is there in the use of them? Has
not God himself described such inanimate things, and
holy men made use of them: for an intent above. theif
natural powers, and this without any superstition ?—
Was there superstitionin the waters of jealousy,(Nums
v. 17.).or in the salt used by Elisha for sweetening the
infected waters ? Was it superstition in Christ to use
clay for opening the eyes of the blind j or in the Apos-
tles to make use of oil for curing the sick ? (Mark vis
13.) And thouzh there be no express command int
Scripture for blessing water, candles, &e., yet, there is
this assurance that every creature is sanctified by the
word of Godand prayer. (1 Tim, iv. 55) and frequent
promises. that God wou!d hear the prayers of the faifhe
ul., Why, therefore should ka doubt buf ‘hat these
creatures, on which the blessing of God is Sdiemnly im-
the eu?
ue
nave
oly wa*
candles
fidence,
ure frost
‘the de-
raves all
e an es<
oil ; not
1d them=
. Gospel,
atticular
es, dedi-
an other
s, which
ssings of
and the
ht to be
23-3 and
1? Has
hes; and
ve theif
‘ition 2—
ys(Nums
ning the
ist to use
he Apos-
Mark vi.
amand int
, there is
rd by the
frequent
the faithe
sat these
only im-
OF HOLY WATER. "1
plored by the word of God, and the prayers of the
priest and people, for their sanctification, are really
sanctified, according to the assurance of the Apostle,
and the promises of God? St. Cyril of Jerusalem, who
lived in the beginning of the fourth century, made no
question as though those things that are offered to idols,
though. pure in their own nature, are made impure by
the invocation of devils; so,on the contrary, simple
water is made holy, and gets’ a sanctity, by: virtue re-
ceived from the invocation of the Haly Ghost, of Christ,
our Lord, and his Eternal Father, Cain. Catech. And
that.the blessed water was capable, by virtue received
from heaven, ‘of working effects above its own nature,
was certainty the sentiments ef the Christians in the pri-
mitive times. St. Epiphanius, tom. 2.1. 1, cont. Har.
30, relates a passage at length, how water being blessed
in: the name of Jesus, and sprinkled upon fire, which b
‘witchcraft was made inactive, and hindered from bum-
ing, icamediately the enchantment ceased, and the fire
burned ; as. also, that a possessed person, being sprin-
kled :with blessed water, the party was immediatly
cured. Theodore has the like narrative of the devil
hindering fire from burning, and how he was chased
away}; and the charm dissolved by blessed water being
thrown onit, lib. 5. Eccles. Hist, c,21.,and.St. Jerome
yelates, in Vit, Hilarion, how Italicus took water from
blessed Hilarion, and cast it on his bewitched horses,
‘iis chariot, and the barriers from which they used ta
run, and that the charms of witchery did cease upon
the sprinkling of this water, so that all cried out, Mar-
nus victus est a Christa, * Christ has conquered Marnus
the idol.?? _ And now, there is no jeering or ridiculing
those things, that will ever make them look like idle
superstitions, to.one that considers gerioysly how much
they are grounded upon reason, the word of God, anti-
quity, and the authority and practice of the Catholic
church, which approves the use of them, yet so plainly.
to teach, that’ there is no confidence to be put in any
thing, but. only in Jesus Christ ; and that whatever
72 OF BREEDING UP PEOPLE IN IGNORANCE.
power these things have, they have it not of them-
selyes, but only from heaven, and by. the invocation of
the name of Jesus ; who, as by his heavenly blessings,
he enables us to do things aboye the power of nature,
so also, by the prayers of hig church, he blesses these
things, in order to the working effects above theirewn.
natural qualities,that by them his fatherly benefits may
be applied to us, and that so the faithfnl may more par
ticularly honour and bless him in all his creatures,
§ 32. OF BREEDING UP. PEOPLE IN IGNORANCE,
“¢ Tup Papist misrepresented, is trained up in, igng?
trance ; and it is the chief means made use of by his
church for preserving men in that commynion, to hide
from them the manifold mysteries of iniquity, her sot=
tish superstitions, her unchristian doctrines, by perform-
ing all in unknown tongues, and not permjtting the poor
misled people to look into or understand any thing that
they: believe or profess, And by this blindness they
are persuaded to embrace such infinite number pf grosg
errors, that were but the veil faken from their eyes but
for one half hour, and they but permitted te have ene:
fair prospect of their religion, thousands and thousands
would dajly desert her, and come aver to the truth,”
Tue Papist truly represented, has all the liberty, en-
couragemeut, and convenience: of hecoming learned of
any people or persuasion whatsoever, And none thay
has eyer: looked overany library, byt hag found that
the greatest number and choicest books of all sciences
have had men of his communion for their authors ;_
none, who in his travels hag taken a thoroygh view of,
the universities jn Povish countries; of Paris, Louvain, —
Salamanca, Bologna, &c,, (and congidered their labo..
rious studies in philosophy, divinity, history, the fa-
thers, councils, scriptures, &c.n-rand, begides the stu-
dents here, has seen how many thougands there are in
religious houses, who, free from the disturbances of the
world, make virtue and learning the business of their
whole life, will ever Jay ignerance to the charge of the
NC#
’ them-
ation of
essings,
‘nature,
es these
1eir own.
fits may
ore par-
eS.
RANCE,
in. igng?
f by his
to hide
her sot=
perform-
the poor.
ing that
ess they
r pf grosg
eyes but
ave cne
housands
ruth,”?
erty, en-
piel of
one thay
ynd that
sciences
authors 3
. view of,
Louvain,
eir labo..
, the fa-
the stu-
re are {n
eq Of the
of their
gé of the
OF BREEDING UP PEOPLE IN IGNORAKCE. Wk
Papists,) but must in justice confess, that amongst them
are to be found as many and as good scholars as amongst
dny people or society in the world. And as for the
vulgar or. common sort of that profession, though they
understand not Latin, yet they are not trained up: in
ignorance of their religion, nor led along in blindness 5
hut are so well provided with books of instruction and
devotion, in their own mother tongue, wherein is ex-
plained the whole duty of a Christian, every mystery
of their faith, and all the offices. and ceremonies per
formed in the church, that they must be very negligent,
dr else have very mean parts, who do not arfive at a
sufficient knowledge of their obligation in every respect.
And whoever has seer the great pains and care some
good men take abroad in explaining on. Sundays and
holy days in their churches, and on week-days in other
places, the Christian doctiine to the crowds cf the izno=
rant and poorer sort of people ; not omitting to reward
such as answer well, with some small gifts, to encou-
ragé youth, and provoke them: to commendable emula-
tion, will never say that the Papists keep the poor peo-
ple in ignorance, and hide from them their religion 5
but rather that they use all means for instructing the ig-
yorant, and omit nothing that can any way conduce to
the breeding up of youth in the knowledge of their
faith, and jetting them see into the religion they are to
profess. Neither does it seem to-him even so much as
probable, that if the church offices and services, &c.,
were performed in the vulgar tongue, that upon: this
the now ignorant people would immediately discover
so many idlé superstitions, senseless devotions, and
gross errors, that they would in great numbers, upon
the sight, become deserters of that communion of which
they are now professed members. For since there IS
nothing done but in a language which the learned,
judicious, and leading men of all nations every where
understand, and yet these see nothing: to fright them
from their faith; but, notwithstanding seeing all through
and thtough, they yet admire all for solid, holy, and
apostolical, and remain steadfast in their profession—
‘3
Sy. sane as
iy
: ae oe Fi en eh ppe meri T= eee eS gC RR ER CR I oA SE IR I ig Eg BOS PX i tS a
- Ce eT ee ae center a a tiie icin ee — eager os tpn remem co cae en 4 gare a
EE ITP pn Se a pine ies per riseseseyes Samal ret a “. * — : “ ‘ie SH ws ee Ce eval
es iionamittnreugasin ie . i tees a ; - Bitte ‘“ 3 »
‘
Ciena eee ——_
. “
®
aa
H
4
4
|
}
|
+
i
His
; Yi
i 1
i
at)
‘ ;
74 oy Tim UNCITARITABLENESS OF THR PapisTs.
how can,it be imagined that the vulgar, weak, and un—
learned sort, dit they understand all as well as they,
find any such, errors, and superstitions, which these
others, with all their learning and judgment, cannot
discover? No,—he_ thinks there is no reason to fear
that what passes the test anon the wise and learned,
ean be well called in question by the multitude.
§ $3. OF THF UNCHARITABLENESS OF THE
PAPISTS.
« Tre Papist misrepresented, is taucht by his church
to be very uncharitavle, and to dain ali that are not of:
his persuasion,—so that let persons be ever so just in
their dealings, ever so charitable to the poor, ever so
constant in their devotions,—though they confess Jesus
Christ, and believe his insarnation, passion, resurrection,
ani ascension; yet if they are not in the communion
of his church, or if they disbelieve any one article de-
clared by any of his general councils, he marks them,
out as schismatics and heretics, aud sends them to hell
without mercy.”
Tur Papist truly represented, is taught by: his church
to have an universal charity for all mankind ; to wisk
well to all, to pray for all, to exercise both the corporal |
and spiritual works of mercy, according to his ability,
to all, of what pxrsuasion sovver, But then, charity
and truth, are not to be separated; and it would be a
false charity to promise heaven to any of those whom
the word of God condemns to hell. Hence he thinks it.
no part of the duty of charity to judge favourably of the
salvation of any of those who die in mortal sin unre-
pented of, for such a judgment as this would do them
no service, and would hurthimself, Now if we believe
plain scripture, and the universal tradition of the fa-
thers, and all antiquity,—heresy and schisms are mor-
tal sins; and therefore in saying that heretics and schis-
‘matics are ont of the state of salvation, his judgment is
‘not uncharitable, because he advances nothing; but a
scriptute truth. St. Paul in. plaid terms declares the
STS.
and un—
as they,
‘h these
y cannot
n to fear
learned,
Ze
OF THE
is church
are not of :
so just in
» Ver SO
‘ess Jesus
urrection
MUON:
rticle de-
irks them:
m to hell
sis church
; to wish
e corporal
is ability,
ny charity
vould be a
ose whom
e thinks it
ibly of the
sin unre-
d do them
we believe
of the fa-
gs are mor-
,and schis-
udgment is
thing: but a
eclares the
OF THE UNCHARITABLENTES OF THE PApIGTS. 79
same, (Gal. v. 20, 21.) where he reckons sects and he-
resics among those sins of which he pronounces that
they that do such things shall not inherit Ue kingdom of
God. Noris he uncharitavie in thinking those gulity
of heresy, who obstinately reiuse to belaeve any part af
the divine revelation ; or those guilty of schism, who
wilfully separate themselves irom the communion of
the church, aad refuse a due subordination to its pastors,
since scripture and all antiquity give no other defini-
tion of heresy anid schism.
in what then are Papists uncharitable ? Is it because
they charge all with heresy and schism that are not in
their communion 2?- No: tor they except all those
whose being out of their communion is owing, not to
any obstinacy, carelessness, W01 ldly interest, or human
respect,—but purely to their being deprived of the
means of knowing the truth, which they would gladly
embrace if they kuew it ; for such as these in the de-
sire and disposition of their souls are in the church, and
therefore are neither heretics nor, schismatics. Or are
they uncharitable in restraining the whole church of
Christ to one cemmunion, and believing that to be his
own? No: for nothing is more evident in scripture ;
nothing is more unanimously received by all antiquity
as a first principle in our religion, than that the church
of Christ can be but one: one fold, under one shepherd,
one body, one spouse, one house, one city, one king-
dom, and consequently ane society, united in one faith,
and in one communion, at first established by Christ and
his blessed apostles, and descending by an uninterrupted
succession ‘from them 3 ever one, holy, catholic, and
apostolical; and that the wilful breaking off from this
original communion is the crime of schism, as therde-
parting from its faith is the crime of heresy. So that
it is evident that many sects, disagreeing in faith, and
divided in communion, cannot compose the one, holy,
catholic, and apostolical church of Christ; and there~-
fore it cannot be uncharitable to maintain that the whole
church is but one in communion. And as all the marks
of the church agree te no other communion but his, it
ee
~ 16 OF INNOVATIONS IN MATTERS OF FAITH,
cannot be uncharitable in the Papist to believe that his
church is the true church of Christ, and upon this cone
viction to invite all to her‘communion. For she alone
has an uninterrupted succession of her pastors from the
apostles of Christ. She alone has always been one, by
her membeis professing one faith, in gne communion,
under one chief pastor, succeeding St, Peter, to whom
Christ committed the charge of his whole flock, (St,
John xxi. 15, &*,) and the keys of heaven, (St. Matt,
‘xvi. 19.) She alone has been always holy. teaching
all holiness, by inviting all to holiness, by affording all
helps and imeaus of holiness, and by having in all ages
innumerable holy ones in her communion. She alone
is catholic or universal, by subsisting in all ages, by
teaching all nations, and by maintaining all truths. She
alone is apostolical, by deriving her doctrine, her com-
munion, herorders and mission from the apostles of
Christ. She alone has converted infidel nations with
their kings to the faith of Christ ; and to this day sends
her priests and missionaries intg all parts of the world,
to propagate the kingdom of Christ. She. alone has
been in all ages illustrated by innumerable miracles,
and by the wonderful lives and deaths of innumerable
saints, -All other sects began by separating from her ;
their first teachers went out from her, and had before,
acknowledged her authority; they were all censured
by her-at their first appearance ; but she never departed
or-separated from any more ancient church, or was ever
censured-by any lawful authority. In a word, she is
the great body of Christians, descending from the pri-
mitive Apostolic Church, consequently she is the One,
Holy, Catholic, and Apostolical Church,
§ 34. OF INNOVATIONS IN MATTERS OF FAITH,
Tue Popish Church as misrepresented, has made se-
yeral innovations in matters of faith ; and howsoever
she lays claim to antiquity, with a pretence of having
preserved tire doctiine of the apostles inviolable and en-
tire ; yet it is evident to any serious observer, that the
greater part of her belief is mere novelties, not bearing
: ;
H.
that his
his cons
1e alone
rom the
one, by
muntony,
0 whom
ck, (st,
t. Matt,
eaching
‘ding all
all ages
he alone
ages, by
ths. She
1er com-
sstles of
ons with
ay sends
e world,
lone has
niracles,
imerable
rom her;
ad before,
censured
departed
was ever
1, she is
1 the pni-
the One,
FAITH.
made se-
owsoever
of having
e and en-
, that the
ot bearing
OF INNOVATION IN MATTERS OF FAITE. | 71
date from Christ or his apostles, but only from some of
her more modern synods; there scarce having passed
any. age yet, wherein there has not in these ecclesias-
tical min{s, been. coined new articles, which with the
counterfeit stamp of Christ-and his apostles, are made
to pass for good and current amongst her credulous and
undiscerning retainers. And besides these, what a
zreat number of errors have been introduced at other
times ; how many did Pope Gregory bring in, and how
many the ignorance of the tenth age ? So that if we
compare the church of Rome now, wit' tae primitive
times of the first three or four hundred years, there are
no two things so unlike ; she is a garden now, but quite
overgrown with weeds , she isa field, but where the
tures have perfectly choked up the wheat, and has little
iu lier apostolical besides the name.” Por
Tue Papist’s Church truly represented, has néy
made any innovations in matters of faith, what she be-
lieves and teaches now being the same that the Catho- -
lic church believed and taught in the the first three or
four centuries after the apostles. And though in most of
her general councils there have been several decisions
_ touching points of faith ; yet no one can, without an
injury to truth, say that in any of these have been coin-
a new articles, or are Christians forced to the accep-
tance of any thing contrary to scripture or ancient tra-_
dition, They have only trodden in the apostles’ steps,
as often as they have been in like circumstances with
them, doing exactly according to the form and example
left to the church by these perfect masters of Chris-
tianity, And therefore, as the apostles, in their assem-
bly, (Acts xv.) determined the controversy concerning
the circumstances, and proposed to the faithful what
was the doctrine of Christ in that point of necessity to
be believed, of which, till that decision, there had been
raised. several questions and doubts that are now no
longer to be questioned, without the shipwreck of faith;
so to all succeeding ages the bishops of the church, te
whom the apostles left the commission of watching over
: ¥3
%3' OF IXNOVATION IN°'MATTERS OF FAITH,
the ftock, in their councils have never scrupled to de-
termine all such points as were controverted among
Christians ;. and to propose to them, what of necessity,
they were to believe for the future, with anathema pro-
nounced against all such asjshould presume to preach
the contrary, Thus, in the year 325 the first Nicene
Council declared the Son of God to be consubstantial to
his Father against the Arians: with an obligation on
all to assent to this doctrine, though they, till then, ne-
ver proposed or declared in this form, Thus, in the
first Ephesian Council, anno 431, Nestorius was con-
demned, who maintained two persons in Christ, and
that the blessed Virgin was not mother of God ; witha
declz.ation, that both these his tenets, were contrary to
the Catholic faith. Thus, in the second Nicene Coun~
cil, 787, image-breakers were anathematized. Thus,
inthe great council of Lateran, anno 1215, transub-
stantiation was declared ; the sufliciency of commu-
nion in one kind, in the Council of Constance ; Pur-
gatory, in the Council of Florence ; and, all these, to-
gether with the sacrifice of the Mass, the invocation of
Saints, &c. in the Council of Trent, against Luther,
Calvin, &c. Now, though in all these, an: the other
general councils, the persons condemned took occasion,
from these new declarations, to cry out, * Novelties,
novelties,” to fright the people with the noise of new
coined articles, and that the inventions of men were
imposed upon them for faith ; yet, it is evident, that.
these declarations contained nothing but the ancient
faith ; andthat there would never have been any such
declarations made, had not the ancient doctrine propos-
ed to them been opposed and congradicted by some se-
ducing spirits, who, going out from the flock, endea-
voured, by making divisions, to draw numbers after
them, so that the new proposal of a tenet is buta falla-
cious proof of the doctrine being lately inv-nted, but a
gond argument of its being lately opposed. It is cer-
tein from Scripture, (Acts xv.) that the Aposties had
never declared the non-necessity of citcuiicision, had
H. /
to de=
Among
essity,
a pro-
endl
Jicene
tial to
ion on
n, ne-
in the
is COn-
t, and
with a
rary to
Coun~
Thus,
ansub-
ymmu-
; Pur
se, to-
tion of
suther,
2 other
casion,
elties,
of new
1 were
it, that.
uncient
y such
ropos~
me se-
endea-
3 after
1 falla--
|, but a
is Cer~
es had
" | oe |
Ti, had
OF INNOVATION IN MATTERS OF FAITH. ‘79
not certain men come down from Judea, and taught the
brethren the contrary. And that the consubsiantialit
of the Son had never been defined by any of the Ni-
cene fathers, had not Arius, with his followers opposed ~
this Catholic doctrine. And, as certain it is, the Coun-
cil of Trent had been altogether silent as to transubstan~
tiation, praying to saints, &c. had not Luther, Calvin,
and their disciples, once professors of this doctrine, gone
from the flock, and upon th~ presumption of a new
light, endeavoured to persuade the faithful that these
tenets, then believed by the whole christian world,
were no longer to be owned, but to be thrown quite
aside, as unchristian and diabolical. It was this obliged
the pastors to watch and take care of their flock ; and
therefore, not flying away, as the hireling does, when
the wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep, they assem-
bled together in a body, and declared to all under their
charge, that they ought not to follow strangers ; and
however these came, pretending to the shepherd’s
voice, yet since they came not by. the door into the
sheepfold, but climbed up some other way, they were
not shepherds, but thieves and robbers; such, whose
business was not to feed, but to steal, kill, and destroy,
it was this made them encourage all under their care
not to waver, but to stand fast, and hold the profession
of their faith ; and, notwithstanding all pretences, by
no means to suffer themselves to be deluded and led
away by strange doctrine ; and, that they might the
better secure them from falling into errors, they gave
them a draft of their christian doctrines, especially of
all those points which these modern self-commissioned
apostles did preach against, and endeavour to under-
mine; particularly declaring to them the faith that
they had been brought up in, which they had received
from their forefathers, and which had been derived
even down from the Apostles—assuring them, that
whatsoever was contrary to this, was novelty and error,
And now, in the pastors declaring this to the faithful,
bd g * ° .
where was the innovation? The ccuneil did nothing
80 OF INNOVATION IN MATTERS OF FAITH.
but propose fully and explicitly, what, before their
meeting was the doctrine of-all christendom, and had
been so among the primitive fathers. It was they made
the innovation, who preached contrary to the doctrine
thus believed and received, which Luther was not
ashamed to own himself guilty of ; plainly acknow-
ledging that he had separated himself from the whole
world.
But it seems that the whole world was then corrupt-
ed, and that the religion every where professed was
overgrown with superstitions, errors, and abominations,
such as had crept into the church, some five hundred,
some nine hundred, and some a thousand years before :
and it was from these Luther separated, intending to
reform christianity, and bring it tothe punty of the pri-
mitive times, of the first three hundred years. Now,
was it not strange, that somany gross fooleries, wicked
superstitions,—and even downright idolatry, should
creep into the church ; and spreading itself through all
nations, infect the whole world ; becoming the public
profession of Christendom for so many hundred years,
and be confirmed and established by the laws of evety
kingdom ; and that nobody should take notice of such
a change, either at its first rise, or in all its progress of
so many ages—insomuch, that had not Luther made the
discovery, it is likely we should never have come to
the knowledge of these thousand years of crrors and
corruptions ? Surely no. thinking man can judge it
ossible that the very fundamentals of christianity
should be shaken, and the religion planted by the Apos-
tles turned into ‘idolatry, and yet that no learned man
should any where appear to contradict these abomina~
tions—no zealous pastors to withstand them——no pious
princes to oppcse them. History suciliciently satisfies
any curious reader, that from the first planting of the
church, there has not been, in any age, auy man that
has preached any heterodox and erroneous tenets, and
by introducing novelties has endeavoured to infect the
minds of the faithful with heresy and superstition, but
ITH.
re their
nd had
xy made
doctrine
was not
iwknow-
e whole
corrupt-
sed was
nations,
undred,
before :
nding to
‘the pri-
. Now,
, wicked
, Should
ough all
\e public
od years,
of eveiy
> of such
ogress of
nade the
‘come to
rrors and
judge it
nistianity
he Apos-
ned man
abomina~
-no pious
satisfies
ng of the
nan that
nets, and
nfect the
ition, but
~
OF INNOVATION IN MATTERS OF FAITH. $1
immediately there have stood up virtuous and
learned men in defence of the truth—in ‘their
writings, and sermons, publicly confuting and
condemning the errors, and giving an alarm to the
world to be aware of such deceivers, and their
wicked doctrine ; and, withal, never omitting to
record their names to posterity, with an account
of the time when they began to preach, under
what emperors, and what was the occasion of their
revolt, Was not all this, and even more, done
‘against Arius? How many ap, eared against the
Manichees ? ‘How many against the Donatists,
against the Novations, against the Macedonians—
the Nestorians, the Eutychians, the Palegians, the
Berengarians? So that never didany thing make
so much noise in the world—so many commo-
tions—so many disturbances—nothing has been
so impossible to be carried on with secrecy and
silence, as the broaching any new heresy, or mak-
ing a schism, by the alteration of religion, or the
starting up of some new society, and pretenders
to reformation. What tumults did the foremen-
tioned sectaries raise, in preaching their new gos-
pel? What stir. and commotions ensued at the
reformation of church and faith, pretended by Lu-
her, Zuinglius, and Calvin ? How, then, can it
‘ be judged in the least probable, that a great va-
riety of erroneous tenets and unchristian doc-
trines should be introduced by the Papists, con-
trary to the sense and belief of all Christianity,
either in the fourth, fifth, sixth, or tenth century ;
and yet that there should not be the least distur-
bance occasioned by it, no tumult or opposition ;
but all done with so much quietness—in such pro-
found peace and silence—that, had it not been
fer the news brought some ages after, we had ne-
an ann SRP gee Se Lage eat ee re
Mi, ~ °
I a tc cl | St ie = z PD eter ainsi . ~ tg ‘ a
cian, | remem a blac ing SaNEa A STPL ACIST S TEES SBME EES sm ae NN NS I EES aN ee ne
on S paeeenates Soemncensaplincepsncienanesincnaes a nln ins shi.h “ aon nah iat Sper anenieeapacansonen.so sh aera rae sai soonti lia , clan-“edimanga = iepecaenaenaaneeiondl soe
= aa — —— sinupmptainnd mss NRE A ne ws ea
+
82 oF INNOVATION IN'MATYIERS OF FAITH.
ver suspected the alteration. - And is this possi+
ble? ls it possible that the whole Christian world
should change their :eligion, both as to its inter-
nal belief, and external profession and exercise,
and nobody be sensible of the change, so as'to
withstand the abomination, or to transmit to pos-
terity even the least word of its beginning or pro-
payation ? Let any man, upon some considera-
tion, tel me whether it be possible that this one
kingdom of England should fall from the pure
apostolical doctrine it now professes, into down~
right Popery, or any way alter the whole scheme
of its religion, and have the alteratign confirmed
by several acts of parliament. and continue in the
public exercise of it for 1:00, 500, or even 100
years, and yet no one in the kitydom, or out of
it, should be sensible of the alteration, but all to
be managed with such policy and craft, that the
whole business should remain secret for many
ages? And, if this be thought scarce possible of
one kingdom—what can be imagined when it is
confirmed by many nations—of the whole Chris-
tian world?) Can any thing look more like a fa-
ble, or romance? Or can any rational man, bare-
lv upon such a report, condemn the faith and re-
ligion of his ancestors, for novelty and human in-
ventions, and, laying this quite aside, take the
man for the rule of his retormation, who thus
without reason, justice, or truth, has thrown such
infamy von all the Christians who precedea him
for a thousand years.
But not to insist.upon those reasons for wiping
off the scandal of novelty from the doctriue of the
Church of Rome, it would not be amiss here to
jook beyond tie tenth century, as aiso beyond
the time of Pope Gregory. And if, in those ear-
A¥ INNOVATION IN MATTERS OF FAITH. 83
lier Christians, nothing can be found of that faith
and profession, which is charged as novelties and
errors against the Church of Rome ; all the Pa-
pists in the world shall join with their adversaries,
and, condemning Pope Gregory for a seducer,
and-all of the tenth age as ignoraniuses, shall in
one voice, with them, cry out against all such
doctrine.—-4 Novelty, novelty! Error, error !?—
But if, on the contrary, every point thus chal-
lenged, of novelty, shall appear to have been the
profession of the fairhful in the time cf the purity
of the gospel; and if before Pope Gregory, we
find that the invocation of saints, the real pre-
sence, transubstantiation, purgatory, prayers for
the dead, the use of holy images, relics, the sign
of the cross, &c. were the received doctrine and
“¢ommon practice of Christians in those primitive
times—then shall the Papists remain as they now
do, being of the same faith and religion with those
ancient believers, without any additions:or alter-
ations: and all their adversaries ought, in justice,
to retract their knputation of novelty to the an-
cient faith.
In order to this, I intended, in this place, to
have given the reader a fair prospect of the doc-
trine and belief of the fathers, of the first five hun-
dred years after Christ ; but, finding the matter
to increase 60 much beyond expectation upon my
hand-, I have reserved them for another occa-
sion.* But, upon confiderce of what, I am able
to produce on this paint, I cannot omit to assure
the reader, that {he chief and most material points
charged upon the church of Rome for novelty,
a et ne megs res lnene etre tt he i haere
*See, Gother’s ** Nunes Testium.” Also, Berringe
ton’s “ Fuith of Catholics.’?
Sen oe eagpee ARMED ES igs ee oust earns aoaaares gare 9 are ama ee caoelaemunainesphthbnein ce
v7 n T ”
(84 = oF INNOVATION IN, MATTERS OF FAITH.
the primitive fathers do so plainly own to have
been the faith and profes-iou of the (church mn
their days, and to have been delivered down and
taught as the doctrine of the apostles, that an_inr-
' partial commentator need not take much time to
conclude which are the greatest innovators,—
those who now believe and protess these tenets
and practices,—or they who disown and reject
them. It is evident that every point of this doc
trine, which is now decried for Popery, and basely
stigmatized with the note of errors introduced of
late, and a modern invention, is, by many ages,
older than those who are charged with being tie
authors of them ;—that every particular article
laid to the ignorance of the tenth century, or to
the contrivance of Pope Gregory, are as expressly
and clearly owned, and taught some ages before,
as they are at this day; that those great nen
were as downright Papists in these points as they
are now ; and that any disturber of Christianity
might have as well defamed them for believers of
novelties and errors, as we are at this present day.
The faith that they professed then, we profess
now, and if any of our doctrines be novelty, it ie
a novelty of 1800 years standing ; and who can
question it to be of an older date ? If it was the
public belief of the Christian world in the fourth
century, who can be better witnesses of what was
believed before them in the three first centuries,
than they? They tell us that the doctrine they
maintained and delivered is the doctrine of the
Catholic Church, received from their forefathers,
and as it was taught by the Apostles; and we do
not find, in any of these points, they were chal-
lenged by any authority, or opposed by the pas-
-“
ITEP
» have
urch mn
vn and
an. inr-
ine ta
tors,—
tenets
reject
is doc.
basely
iced of
y ages,
ing the
article
7, or to
pressly
before,
at inen
as they
stianity
avers of
nt day.
profess
ty, it ie
he can
vas the
fourth
lat was
nturies,
ne they
. of the
fathers,
| we da
‘e chal-
he nase
a
OF INNOVATION IN MATTERS OF FalTm | 85
tors of the church, or any writers then living, or
succceding them, Fut received always with great
- veneration ; and upon what ground can any one
challenge them now ? Is it possible that any
one now living can give a better account of what
was believed and practised in’ the third age than
they that immediately followed it ? Which wilt
be the more credible witnesses of what was done
jn thitty-four—those that shall be alive fifty years
hence, or they who are not to come these thou-
sand years? If, therefore, these loly men declare
to us the doctrine they believed, with an assu-
rance that it was the faith of the Catholic church,
so believed by their ancestors, and as they had
received it from the Apostles and their succes-
xors; do not they deserve better credit than
others, who, coming a thousand years after, cry
out against all these several points, that they are
nothing but novelty and error? It is evident,
therefore, that this noise of novelty was nothing
put a stratagem for the introducing of novelties ;
and those who brought infamy upon those points,
by this aspersion, might with as great applause,
anil as easily, have laid a ‘sedhdal upon every
éther article of the Christian faith, which they
have thought fit to retain, and have had them all
exploded for novelty ; and this has been so far
done already, that even three parts of their doc-
trine, picked out by the first reformers for apos-
tolical, and conformable to the word of God, ‘we
have seen in our days, clamoured against for no-
velty, and thrown by with a generai approbation,
and as clear an evidence of the charge as ever
they laid to transubstantiation and the supre-
itacyv.
¢
THE CONCLUSION.
fuese are the characters of a Papist as he is
misrepresented, and as represented ; and, as dif-
ferent as the one is from the other, so different is
the Papist, as reputed by his maligners, from the
apist as he is himself. The one is so absurd and
monstrous, that it is impossible for any one to be
of that profession without first laying by all
thoughts of Christianity, and his reason too. The
other is just contradictory to this, and, without,
any further apology, may be exposed to the pe-
rusal of all prudent and dispassionate considerers,
to examine if there be any thing in it that de-
serves the hatred of any Christian, or if it be not
in every point wholly conformable to the doctrine
of Christ; and not in the least contrary to reason.
The former isa Papist, as he is generally appre-
hended by those who have a Protestant educa-
ion; such as, whenever reflected on; is conceived
to be a perverse, malicious sort of creature ; su-
erstitious, idolatrous, atheistical; cruel, bloody~
minded, barbarous, treacherous, and so profane
and every way: inhuman, that it is in some mea-
sure doubted whether he be a man or not. ‘Fhe
other isa Papist, whose faith is according to the
proposal of the Catholic church, which, by Christ's
command, he is obliged to believe and hear ; and
whose whole design in this world is for obtaining
salvation in the next. And isit not strange, that
these two characters, so directly opposite, so
wholly unlike one to the.other, that heaven and
earth are not more unlike, should agree in the
same person? It is certainly a strange piece of
tt ting an erat ¥
injustice, and yet not atall strange to those who
ee ews wt Oo et SS OS
s he is
as dif-
arent is
om the
ird and
eto be
by all
o.. The
without,
the pe-
iderers,
-hat des
he not
loctrine
reason.
y appre-
t educa-
neeived
Ire; sue
bloody-
profane
ne mea-
t. Fhe
is to the
» Christ’?
ar; and
ybtaining
ige, that
osite, so
aven and
2e ‘in the
piece of
hose who
6é0NCLUSION: , SF
know, that those who follow Christ shall be hated
by the world ; that those who study the wisdom
of heaven, shall have the repute of fools » and that
as many as attend the Lamb, shall be painted in
the livery of Satan; our forefathers were so before
us, so were all the primitive Christians, the Apos-
tles, and even the Lamb himself, our Redeemer.
Calumny ever fallowed then, misrepresentation
waited upon them ; and what wonder, then, that
infamy was their constant attendant? And now, |
if the orthodox Christians have thus ‘jn all ages
had their double character—one of justice, exact~
ly drawn from what they really believed and prac-
tised ; the other of malice, copied from them as
misrepresented ; it is not. at all strange to find it
so in our days, when calumny, malice, ignorance,
&c. are as powerful as ever: which, though from
the beginning of the world, that is, above five
thousand years, tney have made it their chief bu
siness to paint, copy, and misrepresent things and
persons, yet they never did it with so much inju- -
ry, so altogether unlikely, as they do now to the
Papists, there being scarce any point of their
faith or profession which they do not either blind’
ly mistake, or basely disguise. ‘Fhe Papists be-
lieves it is convenient to pray before holy images,
and give them an inferior or relative respect.
These describe the Papists as praying to. images,
and worshipping them as idols. The Papists be-
lieve it is good to desire the prayers of the saints,
and honour them as the friends of God. These
paint ovt the Papists as believing the saints to be’
their redeemers, and adoring them as gods. Fhe
Papists believe that Christ left a power in the
priests of his Chucrh to absolve all penitent sin-
a aig aman tmmemaa cme t m say
ee
88 CONCLUSION.
ners from their offences. These represent the
Papists as believing that the priest can infallibly
forgive ‘all such as come to confession, whether
they repént or'not. ‘The Papists-believe there is
power in the supreme pastor, "pon due motives,
of granting indulgences; that is, of releasing to
the faithful such temporal penalties as remained
due'to their past sins, already remitted as to their
guilt, on ‘condition that they perform ‘such 'Chris-
tian duties as shall be assigned them : ‘t. e, hum-
ble'themselves by fasting; confess their. sins with
a hearty repentance, receive worthily, give alms
to the poor, &c. These make the Papists believe
that the Pope, for a sum of money, can give them
leave to commit what'sin they shall think fit, with
a certain pardon for all crimes already ineurred ;
and that there can be no danger of damnation to
any that can but make a large present to Rome
at his death. The Papists believe, that, by the
merits of Christ, the good works of a just man’are
‘acceptable to God, and, through His goodness
4
and promise, meritorious of eternal happiness.
These report, that the Papists believe they ‘can
merit heaven by their own works, without any de-
pendance‘on the works of our redemption. The
Papists worship Christ ‘really present in the ‘sacra-
ment, ‘true God and ‘man. These say they fall
down ‘to, and worsbip’a bit of bread. Some’ Pa-
pists maintain the deposing ‘power. These. will
have it to ve'an article of their faith, and that
they are obliged to it by their religion. Some Pa-
‘pists have been traitors, rebels, conspirators.—
These make these ‘villanies to be ‘meritorious
‘among the Papists, and that it is. the: doctrine: of
their church. ‘Thus, there is scarcely one thing
mii
ont the
fallibly
vhether
there is
notives,
sing to
mained
to their
1 Chris-
e, hum-
ns with
ve alms
believe
ve them
fit, with
eurred ;
ation to
o Rome
by the
man'are
oodness
ippiness.
they ‘can
any de-
n. The
ye ‘sacra-
they fall
ome Pa-
ese will
atid that
ome Pa-
rators.-—
ritorious
ctrine of
yne thing
|
|
|
a eterna enn ean aia es mmm
CONCLUSION. 89
belonging to their faith and exercise .of their reli-
gion, which is not wronged in describiug it, and
injuriously misrepresented. But are .not the Pa-
pists, then, such as they are represented ! No:
they are no more alike, than the christians of old.
were, under the persecutiug emperors, to what
they appeared when, clothed with lions’ and bears’
skins, they were exposed to wild beasts in the
amphitheatre, under those borrowed shapes, to
provoke their sa. ire opponents to greater fury ;
and that they might infallibly, and with more
rage, be torn to pieces. Let any one but search
into the councils of the Church of Rome, even
that of Trent, than which none can be more po-
pish: let them peruse her catechisms, that ad
Parochos, or others set forth for pastors to instruct
their flocks ; and for children, youth, and others,
to learn their Christian Doctrine, of which there
is extant a great variety in English ; let them ex-
amine Veron’s Rule of Faith, and that set forth
by Bossuet, Bishop of Meaux ; let them look into
the spiritual books: of direction—those of St.
Francis de Sales, the Following of Christ, the ©
Spiritual Combrt, Granada’s Works, and infinite
others of this sort, which Papists generally keep
by them for their instruction ; and then let them
freely declare, whether the Papists are so ill-
principled, either as to their faith or morals, as
they are generally made to appear, A little dili-
gence of this kind, with a serious inquiry into
their own cobversation, their manner of living
and dying, will easily discover the dress of the
Beast with which they are commonly exposed in
public, is not theirs, but only the skin that is
throwa over them. [he Papists own, that there
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CONCLUSION.
are nimong them men of very ill tives, and that
it every corner be natrowly sifted, there may
be found great abuses even of the most sacred.
things ; that some in great dignities have
been highly vicious, and ciuried on wicked
deSigns ; that some authors maintain and pub.’
lish very, absurd opinions, and of ill conse.
quence. But these things are no part of their
religion ; they ate the imperfections, indeed,
the crimes, the scandal of some in their com.
union: but such as they are,so far from be-
ing obliged to approve, imaintain, or imitate,
that they wish with all their heart there had
never been any such thing, and desire in these
points a thorough reformation. Though the
imprudence, the failings, the extravagances,
the vices that may be picked up throughout
the whole society of Papists, are very numer-
‘ous and great, and sufficient, if diawn toge,
ther, for the composing a most deformed an-
‘fichristian monster ; yet, the Popery of the
Roman Catholics is no such mouster as itis
painted, those things which’ are’ commonly
brought against them, being as much detested
by them, us by the persons that lay the charge
io their disfavour, and having no more rela~
tion to them than weeds and tares to the corn
ainongst which they grow, or chaff to the
wheat with which it lies mixed in one heap.
A Papist, therefore, is no more than he is
above misrepresented ; and whosvever enters
that communion, is uader no obligation of be.
Neving otherwise than tg bere specified. And
ANATHEMAS. 91
though in each: particular. Ichave cited no autho-
tities, yet, for the trueyand éxact conform:ty of
the character, I appeal to the Council of ‘Trent,
with which, if in any point it should be found to
disagree, I again promise, upon notice, publicly
to own it. As to the other part, it contains such
tenets as are wrongfully charged to the Papists ;
and in many respec‘s as # is opposite to the other
character, in so. many it.is contrary to the faith of
_ their Church; and so far they are ready to dis
own them, and subscribe to their condemnation ;
and though any serious inquirer be easily sa:
tisfied as to the truth of this; yet; for public: sa-
tusfaction, to show that these abominable unchris-
tian doctrines are no part of their belief, however
extravagant some men may be in. their opinions,
‘the Papist acknowledges, that a faith assenting 'o
such tenets is wholly, opposite to the honour of
God, and destructive to the gospel of Christ.—
Wherefore, since it is lawful for any Christian to
answer Amen to such anathemas as are pronotne-
ed against things apparently sinful; the Papists,
to shew to the world that they disown the follow-
ing tenets, commonly laid at their door, do here
oblige themselves, if the ensuing curses be added
to those appointed vn read on the first day of
rol = Seriously and heartily answer Amen to
them .all. !
ANATHEMAS
1.—Cursed is he who commits idolatry, who prays to
insages or relics, or worships them for God. R. Amen.
2. Cursed is every goddess worshipper, who believes
the Virgin Mary to be any more than a creature ; who
werships her, or puts his trust in her more than, or as
Pe SUNAARAO Sg NT I i aaa
es .
92 ANATHEMAS.
much as in God, or who believes her above her Soit;ot Fi
that shecan in any thingcgmmand him. R. Amen. iol
~ g. Cursed is he who believes the saints in heaven to at 1
be his redeemers ; who prays to them as such, or whg be
givesGod’s honour to them, or to any creature what- )
éver. R. dimen. | haus to |
4, Cursed is he who worships any breaden God, or ad
makes gods of the empty elements of bread ant wine. fey
R. Amen. if lav
--§. Cursed is he who believes that priests can forgive tho
sins, if the sinner do not repent ; or that there is any Am
power on earth or in, heaven that can forgive sins with- 1
out a hearty repemtance, and serious purpose ef amerd- ap
ment. R. men + pelican te wh
6. Cursed is he who believes there is authority ia in
the Pope, or any dther person, that can give leave to 1
dommnit sin; or that for a sum of money can forgive tea
him his sins... Rs Amen. : | the
7. Cursed is he who believes, that independently of 1
the merits and passion of Christ, he can obtain salvation any
by his own good works, or make condign satisfaction | of 5
for the guilt of his sins, or the eternal pains due to | tha
them. R. Amen. _ 1
8. Cursed is he who contemns the word of God, or cipl
who hides it from the people, in order to keep them doo!
from the knowledge of their duty, and to preserve them eur:
in ignorance and értor, R. Amen, ae hell
9. Cursed is he who undervalues the word of God, agai
or that forsaking scripture, chooses rather to follow hut D}
man traditions thanit. Rs. Amen. to a
{0. Cursed is he who leaves the con’mandments, mer
of God to observe the constitufion of men. R.. Amen. com
11. Cursed is he who omits any of the ten com- A
mandments,or keeps the people from the knowledge of ut
any one of them, to the end that they may not bave Ves
occasion of discovering the truth, R. Amen. : ene
12. Cursed is he who preaches to the peopie inua- ers
known tonzu:s, such as they tinderstand not, or uses pee
any other. means to keep them imignorance. |R. Amen. Ron
13, Cursed is he who believes that the Pope cam all t
AWATHEMAS’
Five to any, upon any occasion whatsoever, dispensa-
ons:to lie or swear falsely ; or that it is lawful for anys
at the lust hour, to protest himself innocent, in case hy
be guilty. R. Amen.., a ss
14; Cursed is he who encourages sin, or teaches men
to defer the amendment of their lives on presumption of
a death-bed repentance. R. Amen. rn
15. Cursed is he who teaches. men that they. may be
lawfully drunk on a Friday, or any other fasting day,
y must not taste the Jeast bit of flesh.. R.
though the
Amen. | es
16. Cursed is he who places religion in nothing but
& pompous show, consisting only in. ceremonies; and .
which teaches not the people to serve God. in spitit-and
in truth, R. Amen. ee
17. Cursed is he who loves or promotes cruelty; who
teaches people to be bloody-minded, and to lay-aside
the meekness of Jesus Christ. R. Amen. :
18. Cursed is he who teaches it to be lawful to do
any wicked thing, though it be for the interest and cood
of mother church; or that any evil action may be done,
that good may ensue from it. R. Amen:
19. Cursed are we, if amongst all those wicked prin-
ciples and damnable doctrines commotily laid at our
doors, any one of them be the faith of our ehurch + and
eursed are we if we do not as héartily det+st all those
hellish practices as they who so vehemently urge them
against us. R. Amen. ‘
20. Cursed are’we, if in answering or saying Amen,
to any of these curses, we use any equivocations, or
mental reservations ; or do not assent to them in the
common and obvious sense of the wor’s. R. _4men.
And can the Papists, then, thus seriously, and with-
out check of conscience, say Amen to all these curses?
Yes, they can, and are ready to do so, whensoever and
‘as often as it shall be required of them. What, then, is
tobe said of those ‘who, either by word pr writing,
marge these doctrines upon the faith of the church of
Rome? Shall { call it a lying spirit in the mouths of
all their p:ophets ? 1 will say no such thing but lave
Peetorar ane Vee oats eee ee Te
eee ae aRENCE a _ sunenes iieenant nearest .
inate anact pte it ea ant aA
we . -
JE iar Faas aa
|
‘
ANATHEMAS,
ft’ tothe judgment of ‘the impartial. coneiderer. One
ting con ya, tat tent he Pa
e a
eta misrepresented, and shewn in publis
‘as much unlike what they really are, as were, those:
_ ‘the christians of old under the slanders of the Gentiles ;
"What they “are shamefully calumniated, and: severely
eo in good name, person,
“they as much and heartil detest as those who lay
‘them ‘to their charge. But their comfort is—Christ
has aaid to his followers, Ye shall: be hated ofall. mon,
(Matt. x. 22.) ; and St. Paul, We are made a spectacle
‘ento the world, And can we doubt; but that whosoever
suffers with patience, shall, for ev lass and contempt
“here, receive a hundred-fold rewar in heaven.
’
ee ae ae ae ae a. wae eee ee ee he
1
3 CONTENTS:
Tue Preface, ~ - -
Introduction, - - - -
SECT.
1 Of praying to Images, “ is
2 Of worshipping Saints, = ce
3. Of praying to the Virgin Mary, =~
Of Relics, - - -
Of the Eucharist, = - -
Of Merits and Good Works, =~
Of Confession, - - “
Of Indulgences, ~ - -
Of Satisfaction, ~ 3 - ~
10 Of reading the Holy Scriptures, — -
11 Of the Scriptures as a Rule of Faith,
12 Ofthe Interpretation of Scripture, = *
ODI Roe
13, Of Tradition, - os
, 14. Of Corncil.s, a ~ is “ a
15 Of Infallibility in the Church, - “
16 Cf the Pope, ~
17 Of Dispensations,
18 Of the Deposing Power, --* -
- Cd «
19 Of Commurion in oné kind, = * » oe
20 Of the Mass, “ - ore: .
21 Of Purgatory = - “ .
2 Of praying inan unknown Tongue, =~
93 Of the Second Commandment, -
24 Of Mental Reservation, - - =
25 Of Death+bed Repentance, * “
96 Of Fasting, »
¥7 Of Divisions and Schisms in the Church,
98 Of Friars and Nuns, -. ee
29 OF wicked Principles and Practices, -
a) Of Miracles, + - °
21 Of Holy Waiter, ” - -
32 Of breeding up People in Ignorance, -
33 Of the Uncharitableness of the Papists, =~:
34 Of Innovations in Matters of Faith, - =<
The Conclusion, » « «
\
Anatiemas; om a > a.)
sn ne eR oT ia eS eet mane
es shee eA
sn wom ners 9