A winding-sheet for the schism of England contriv'd for to inform the ignorant, resolve the wavering, and confirm the well principled Roman Catholick. By J. E. missioner. Everard, John, missioner. 1687 Approx. 141 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 70 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-07 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A38827 Wing E3534A ESTC R218229 99829840 99829840 34285 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A38827) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 34285) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2028:5) A winding-sheet for the schism of England contriv'd for to inform the ignorant, resolve the wavering, and confirm the well principled Roman Catholick. By J. E. missioner. Everard, John, missioner. [24], 96, [16] p. [s.n.], Printed at Dublin : permissu Superiorum, 1687. Dedication signed: John Everard. Final three leaves contain verses; "A divine poem disswasive from shism" has caption title. Reproduction of the original in the Trinity College Library, Dublin. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Catholic Church -- Early works to 1800. Church of England -- Controversial literature -- Early works to 1800. Schism -- Early works to 1800. 2003-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-04 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2003-04 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A WINDING-SHEET FOR THE SCHISM OF ENGLAND , Contriv'd for to inform the ignorant , resolve the wavering , and confirm the well principled Roman Catholick . By I. E. Missioner . Narraverunt iniqui fabulationes , sed non ut lex tua — Spal . 5. Veritas non erubescit nisi obscondi — Tertull. contra Valent. — Printed at Dublin , Permissu superiorum , 1687. TO THE KINGS Most Excellent MAJESTY . WHEN I contemplate the many Miracles of Divine Providence that led your most Serene Majesty by the hand through so many wonderful changes and imminent dangers to the Throne of your Royal Ancestors , maugre all the contrivements of Hell , and Plots of Horror and Impiety , sure all signalize you as pre-ordain'd by the Almighty for a great work of Ages , viz. To rescue the Virgin Spouse of Christ the Roman Catholick Church from the Jaws of the Dragon , it 's your rare Valour , and Piety , that must give the fatal blow to the many headed Hydra of this Schism-abounding Age , this heavenly work shall eternize your glorious Name and Memory at the Rising and Setting Sun even beyond the tracts of time , and manifest you to be among all earthly Kings the most meek , clement , valorous , most wise , merciful , and the most tender hearted truely Christian Prince , who hath Learning to understand , Wisdom to discern , and Powerful Authority to command and commend that Faith be observ'd in your Kingdoms , which is most conformable to the Scripture , most consonant to the Doctrine of the Primitive Church : and most warranted from the express priviledges , advantages , and promisses given by the Sacred mouth of ever glorious Jesus . — O great IAMES , in you signally is now verified that receiv'd Maxime , A fortibus fortes , a piis generantur pii , from a confluence of the most transcendently august blood of the best Kings of Europe , and from your great Grand-Father , and great Grand-Mother ; the ever blessed Queen Mary of Scotland , mark : Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae . Lo , their blood running in your most Sacred Veins , inflames your dread Majesty to most sublimely religious undertakings specially when in you is to a prodigy seen such a Spring of Valour and pious Zeal for to promote , vigorously , yet mildly , the Glory of the Almighty so as that no Posterity will keep it silent but blazon it throughout the whole World to your eternal Glory . For can any think that the all-bountiful God has imported all those stupendious Gifts in vain to you ? No undoubtedly , they are destin'd to glorious actings , for to fill the World with wonders of your happy Reign , in drawing after you to Christs holy Faith the hearts and obstinate Wills of your Subjects — Therefore may it please your most Sacred MAJESTY , this small Tract of Divine Faith confidently flies to be shelt'red under the Wings of the gracious Patronage of your most Serene MAJESTY , now by the Grace and Providence of God , Defender of the Faith — And now the most invincible HERO , the only Glory , moving Soul , and the most Tutelar Angel of Great Brittain , Y'our Prince whose Valour and Conduct is such , As none can praise , nor yet admire too much . In you all 's great , great in all Magnificence , Your graces and gifts excells all Excellence , You by grant of Liberty quite allays The Schisms of our late sore aflicting days , Now each of your Subjects to Faith may tread That way which safest him to Bliss may lead . Reign long great Prince , sure your course shall hold Though ten hundred thousands Whigs cross you should , Whose mad , vain , damn'd contrivings can't hide The woful stings of their dark inner side . They like guilty blind buzzards of the night Shrink from the clement terrour of thy might . Lo , Christ's Faith you maintain and that in sight Of all the World , in all the World's despight , In glorious Iesus you always confide Who sure for your all safety shall provide . God on whom all sublunary things depend Bless your designs , and you from all harm defend . Sweet Iesus grant , that upon Sea and Land All things prove prosperous you take in hand . May all the blessings my wishes can invent Prolong your days , and fill them with content . Therefore let us all your Subjects lift up our eyes , hands , and hearts to God on high , and let us earnestly beseech him mercifully to bless our dread Sovereign Queen MARY , with a most holy sweet Princely Graff , a rising from so august , high , and gloa Stock ; and this for the full comfort and succour of great Brittain , to the end , that ne'r any other hand than Stuarts , should sway the Scepter of this Land , to this Prayer let all true Subjects say , Amen , Amen . May it please your Majesty This is the daily Prayer of your most eternally devoted Servant . John Everard . Vive Iacobe diu dux optime , maxime princeps Te divina tegat dextera , prosper abi . TO HIS GRACE THE Duke of ORMOND . May it please your Grace , AS my well-intended and honest endeavors were never yet wanting to serve your Grace , not only ( by God's heavenly Inspiration ) in saving your precious life some years past , but even now also , by the direction of the same Divine Spirit , am endeavouring to prove instrumental in the saving your more precious Soul , that immortal Soul which is to survive either in the bosom of Glory , or in the flames of the Damn'd , to all Eternity . This small unpolish'd Tract , contriv'd by me for that purpose , I present your Grace ; the whole scope whereof may ( I hope ) be not unfitly applied to your present state , in matter of true Soul-saving Faith. — My Lord , it 's notoriously apparent that your moral Principles were all along for Monarchy , or Kingly Government ; all your life being eminently employed in real Loyalty through very many vicisitudes of Fortune , and trials of Constancy : First , having sacrificed your Estate and Ease , slighting all Cromwell's tempting offers , by a voluntary banishing your self after your Sovereign into Flanders ; Secondly , in gallantly exposing your life , in coming and remaining in London some fifteen days incognito , striving wisely and warily to pave the way for the Restauration and happy Re-inthroning of King Charles II. of Ever-glorious Memory , Dr. Huet and others being put to death for entertaining your Grace . Add to this , how you being last of all Lord Lieutenant in Ireland , you proved most Loyal , Wise , and Watchful , always striving to defend vigorously the Prerogatives of the Crown , to render Sedition odious , to undeceive the people of those Shams , Cheats , and Frauds that were palm'd upon them ; to purge away all venemous humours and distempers which the hellish Faction were always infecting the Subjects with : You exposed their wild Artifices to the derision and detestation of the World , preserving that Kingdom from fained and false Plots tending to destroy the Peace and Tranquillity of the Land , and involve it in Anarchy and Confusion . Such was the indefatigable Labour and Vigilance of your Grace to put a stop ( through your wise Government and prudent Counsels ) to the restless endeavours of the publick Enemies of Kingly Government . I should not forget , my Lord , your great Vigilance in relieving ( even in the dead of Winter , and to the hazarding your life ) with extraordinary speed the City of Waterford , when besieged eighteen days by the Vsurper Cromwell , he having assured all his Adherents that that City was most extremely his . These , my Lord , your Heroick Vndertakings to promote Loyalty , the same Loyalty which now stands the top and most visible of your Grace's most Illustrious Titles and Characters , which rendred you all along a great Favourite of our late deceased Sovereign , and makes you now most dear unto his present Majesty King JAMES the Second . — These , I say , are so notoriously known , both at home and abroad , that even base Envy and Detraction have but rendred them to be the more acknowledged , and most illustriously conspicuous . These , my Lord , not common actings , are patterns of your unbounded Merits ; these Heroick Efforts , Vndertakings , and brave never-to-be-forgotten Performances , proceeded sure from that your Noble Genius , or natural propension to Monarchy , in detestation of Democracy and Anarchy . Now , my Lord , you are to apply that your clear Eagle-ey'd Iudgment and great Wisdom in owning and honouring that great Monarchy which Christ established here on Earth , governed by one Visible Head , the Vniversal Pastor , Vicegerent of Christ , and Successor to St. Peter , to whom he gave special warrant to govern his Flock . And it 's an undoubted truth , my Lord , that the Interest and Conservation of Kingly Government is twisted with true , ancient , Christian Religion , that it seems animated with one and the same Soul ; for , like to Hippocrates's Twins , they smile and weep together , and live and die together : For even as Rebellion is the bane of Civil Kingdoms , and Peace and Concord the preservation of them , even so Schism is the utter ruine of the Church of Christ , Peace , Vnity , Vniformity , the special gift of God therein , and in the true Church above all Kingdoms or Common-wealths , because it 's in all points a glorious conspicuous Monarchy , tending every way to Vnity , there being but one God , one Christ , one Flock , one Pastor , one Hope , one Faith , one Body , one Head , as the Apostle assures us . To this heavenly Monarchy , my Lord , you are invited ; all Sects , or false new-fangled Churches , cannot pretend to be a Monarchy , having no Head , nor united Body , but a confused Chaos . I am confident that your Grace is a Master of more solid reason than to ground your Faith upon an uncertain Foundation , or to pin the Salvation of your Soul on the bare sleeves of any Sect whose Guides are failable and fallible in all mens Opinions , when you may enquire and find out a secure Infallible Guide , leading to that Eternity of Glory you were created for . The great reason , my Lord , the great motive that excited Dr. Vane , Dr. Cressey , Dr. King Bishop of London , the Bishop of Glocester , with very many more , to separate from the Protestant blind Sect , was because they found no safe , secure , certain , human infallible , unerring , warrantable Iudge , to interpret Scriptures , and define questions of Faith without errour , with any promise and privilege from Christ , among the Protestants . And consider , my Lord , that it 's very probable that the last Verdict and Sentence of the forlorn Protestant Sect is already written in Heaven , that it must soon yield , and fall to nothing , as all other damn'd Heresies have done : for it 's but folly to pretend to secure by human arts that which God is resolved to destroy . Are you , peradventure , afraid or asham'd that Sectaries will blame you of inconstancy , in changing , or removing to the Roman Communion ? Sure we Mortals have above bruit Beasts the Resurrection of our Bodies ; we have above Devils to repent , reclaim , and flie from sin , especially that most heinous sin of Schism and Heresie : for Sectae non possi debunt Regnum Dei , Galat. 5. So as that you must want constancy only to sin : Sapientis est mutare consilium ; nullus pudor est ad meliora convertie . — Sure it was no blemish to St. Paul to turn to Christ from a Persecutor ; it was no shame to Constantine the Great , of a Heathen to become a Roman Catholick , Converted and Baptized by Pope Sylvester ; and it was no blemish to Louis I. King of France , to be drawn to Christ's Faith by a Woman : Then what shame can it be to your Grace , to forsake Schism , and come to the true Mother-Church , the which King James I. of Blessed Memory did acknowledge in open Parliament to be the only Mother-Church of all Churches ? I hope , my Lord , you are none of those who say to God , Job 21. Depart from us , we will not have the knowledge of thy ways . I hope you are none of those which abhor to hear good Inspirations , flie and detest good Company and Books , lest by such occasions they might be touched in conscience , and so be converted and saved . I hope you are none of those most unfortunate hard-hearted men whereof the Prophet ( Isa. 28. ) speaketh , We have strucken a league with Death , and made a bargain with Hell it self ; which is in effect as much as if they had said , Trouble us not , molest us not with thy persuasions , spend not thy words and labour in vain ; talk to others who are not yet settled , let them take Heaven that will , we for our parts are resolved , we are at a point , we have made a league that must be kept , we have made a bargain that must be performed , yea , though it be with Hell and Death everlasting . O what a wonderful fury and obduration of an unrelenting heart is this ! My Lord , when men are byass'd or prepossess'd , they lie open to be imposed upon to the belief of a down-right Lye , or to the disbelief of a manifest demonstration of an infallible Truth , and so to be mis-led to a plausible Errour . The great reason why there are few in comparison who now-adays come to a right understanding , and a well-grounded persuasion in matters of Faith , is , because they are not many who make a due enquiry with sincerity and unbyassed disposition : sure such who wilfully remain under the power of the false Principles which were instill'd in them in their Education , or who blindly following failable and fallible Guides , whose persons they have in admiration and veneration , resolving never to trouble themselves with a free and impartial use of their own Iudgment concerning those Doctrines which they have in their own Opinion wisely and safely ( as they imagine ) taken upon trust , led away by lofty conceits and opinion of their own Reason and Capacity , will not suffer them to attempt any sincere ingenuous Examination of such things as imply a possibility of being deceived in points of Faith ; whence it comes to pass , that they weigh only what is offered in favour of their own side , and make it the great end of their search not to follow what shall appear to be true upon enquiry , but rather to be confirmed in their present erroneous Persuasion : it 's no wonder then that such as do enquire thus , are rather hardned in Errour , than convinced of the Truth . — I say then , that it is at once disingenuous , dangerous , and silly , to entertain such blind thoughts . I pray God these motives may have a strong influence upon you , by the assistance of God's Grace , which is never wanting to those that are not wanting to themselves , and imprint in your Soul the Character of Truth , that you may conquer all oppositions of Vnderstanding or Will , which may bar your ready Obedience thereunto . First , divest your mind of all prepossess'd Opinions and worldly respects in favour of any Sect , or in dislike of the true ancient Church , so as truly having deposed all obstinate prepossessions of your Iudgment , you 'll be easily persuaded that the Roman Church is the true Church , wherein only is Salvation to be had : Pursue this Quest , my Lord , suffer not your self to be mis-led by the seducing of flattering blind Guides , or Obstinacy ; Adjourn not this Quest ; Say not , as Felix said to St. Paul , Acts 24.25 . When I have a convenient season I will call for thee : The World expects your happy Return to the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God. Alexander the Great , my Lord , being asked if he would run at the Olympick Games , said , I could be content so I might run with Kings . Begin then to exercise a Virtuous Ambition , in running after Kings at the Olympick Game for an Eternity of never-ending Glory in the Roman Communion ; in so doing you may know that you run with two and twenty brave Kings of England that were Saints ; you run with King Charles II. ( whose dear Favourite you have been ) who by the quick-sighted piercing eye of his natural Iudgment said in his Speech , That Christ can have but one Church , and that the same is the Roman Catholick Church ; and that Christ left his Power to it , even to forgive sins . He desired to know , How came that Church to lose that Power , and by what Authority men separated themselves from it ? His Majesty answers saying , That it was , that particular men raised Schism for their own advantage . — Here , my Lord , you see the King leaves the heavy guilt of SCHISM at the door of the Protestant Sect. You run with our most Sacred Leige and Sovereign King JAMES II. ( whom God preserve for many many happy years ) whose Motto is , Let Life and Three Kingdoms lie at stake , Before I damn my Soul , or true Faith forsake . Run with King James I. of ever Renowned Memory , who did acknowledge in open Parliament , That the Roman Catholick Church is the only Mother-Church of all Churches , See Stow , pag. 840. Run finally , ( my Lord ) with all the present Kings in Christendom , excep those of Swedeland and Denmark , who reign in that Cold , Cloudy , and Sin-darkned Northern Corner of the World , where Heresie is entertained by a company of dull stupid people , that will not penetrate . Run , I pray , with the best part of Mankind in all Ages , with the wisest Heads of the World , for unfeigned Holiness and Learning . Run along with these irradiant Pole-Stars , and you cannot go astray : and it 's an undoubted truth , that the Life , Example , and Heroick Actions of a Prince , have usually a greater sway upon the minds of his Subjects , than his Laws ; for the Example of a King is a living Law , which secretly over-rules mens minds , and bends them to a compliance with it . None can deny this , but those who have their Iudgments swallowed up by prejudice , and whose blind passions have over-run their reason . — Listen therefore to the Voice of Heaven , Apoca. 18.24 . Go out of her , my people , that ye be not partakers of her sins , and that ye receive not of her plagues . Schism , my Lord , and damn'd Heresie , ( to which you pertinaciously adhere ) are most grievous Plagues , from it redeem your precious Soul from forfeiture , that has been this long time mortgaged to Death ; for Sectae non possi debunt Regnum Dei ; and non est prudentia , nec concilium contra Dominum ; and Sapientis est mutare concilium . Make it , my Lord , your daily Prayer to God to settle you in the right . This said , my very good Lord , begin to put on ( in the Name of Ever-glorious Iesus ) a Noble Resolution to shake off those Chains and Bonds of that Monstrous Tyrant Schism , which detains you in slavery : let the scales of blind misguided Zeal fall from your eyes , that you may see to find out a most secure Vnerring Guide in your Iourney towards a happy Eternity . — I beseech the Father of Lights and Mercy to illuminate your Vnderstanding with Beams of his Saving Grace , that you may learn , embrace , and practise the Faith of Christ , which shall be the daily Prayer of me , who intreats your Grace to bestow one Grace , which is , to permit me to bear all my Life-time the Title of your humble Chaplain ; being always Your most obsequious and faithful Servant , I. E. He may be won that longest does resist ; To pray for your Return I 'll ne'r desist . I 'll ne'r despair of any , whil'st I see A fruitless Tree may next year fruitful be . A WINDING-SHEET FOR THE Schism of England . CHAP. I. THe ALMIGHTY , as a most Divine Architect , rais'd the Fabrick of his Church in this World as a medium to Salvation ; a Man for not hearing this Church is term'd in St. Matth. 18.18 . a Publican or Heathen ; Protestants segregating themselves , and not hearing this Church , are in a most lamentable state . Sure a natural unity and connection of the Parts among themselves , and to the Head , is necessary for the conservation of the natural Body : Christ promised that there should be Unity in his Church ; St. Iohn 10.16 . They shall be made one Fold and one Pastor . This Unity is most requisite in God's Church ; St. Iohn 17.11 . Christ prayed , that his Disciples should be one . And again , 1. Cor. 1.10 . I beseech you that you all speak one and the same thing , and that there be no Schism among you , but that you be perfect in one judgment . Protestants denies , and flyes from this Unity , being divided and subdivided ; Christ praying : Sure his Prayer took effect ; his People , his Flock , and Congregation , being still one in the bonds of Peace . The pretended Reformation have no Unity , differing in most essential Points for Salvation , therefore no true Church ; the Roman Catholick Church , and no other , stands firm and infallible against all the tempests of Apostacy , Heresie , and Schism , and this by her Unity and Uniformity : Sure by confession of Protestants , the Roman Church was once the true Church according to St. Paul , Rom. 1.8 . First , I thank my Lord through Iesus Christ , that your Faith is spoken of throughout the whole World. And again , v. 7. To all that be in Rome beloved of God , call'd to the Saints , Grace to you , and Peace . Now I say , having it once , how could they but retain the same Faith still infallibly ? For no general Council even ever yet condemned her of Error , none of the holy Fathers ever wrote against her , and by no authority was she to this day reproved of Schism ; for she left no Church or Company ever yet , she went not forth from any Body or Congregation ; how could she ? being infallible in her self , 1 Tim. 3.15 . she being the House of God , which is the Church of the Living God , the Pillar and Firmament of Truth ; if not , why should any be esteemed a Heathen and Publican for not hearing her ? Add to this , Christ being the Head of the Church , the Holy Ghost the Soul thereof guiding and directing in all truth , the Church could not err , unless you 'l make Christ and his Spirit an Impostor , and a Lyer , which is down-right Blasphemy , seeing that he prophesied , That the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against her , viz. Error , Falshood , Schism , or Heresie ; hence I infer by good illation , that any Congregation of People despising Christ , forsaking his Church , and remaining out of it , pertinaciously is guilty absolutely of Apostasie and Schism , see St. Luke 10.16 . He that heareth you heareth me , and he that despiseth you despiseth me , &c. Lo the misery of Protestants ! who are likewise really guilty of Heresie , in adhering to so many false opinions and errors of Faith contrary to the generally approved Doctrine of the Church of Christ , from which they wilfully and blindly divided themselves , breaking of Communion with the ancient , one Holy-Catholick Apostolick Roman Church : And sure that Church , to which Apostacy , Schism , and Heresy , doth agree , is a false and erroneous Church ; and this is the Church of the pretended Reformation . The Power of glorious Jesus our Redeemer did marvelously shine in the Empire of his Church , which his heavenly Father did put into his hands to build it , raise it , cement it with his Sacred Blood , to illuminate it with his Light , nourish it with his Body , to make Laws in it , establish Sacraments as conveyances of Divine Graces , to eternize a most dread and propitiatory Sacrifice , to create Pastors and Priests , invisibly to rule it by a visible Head , a Power never to be shaken even to the Gates of Hell ; to exercise a Jurisdiction over Souls , to bind them , unloose them , pardon Sins , and change Hearts ; and you may know , that this ever blessed Jesus having the source of all power in him , did in Divine Providence distribute the same , his Divine Power , to Popes and Kings , constituting the one for Spiritual Government leading to eternal Glory , the other for the Temporal ; and it is his will and pleasure we honour the Character of that his Divine Authority , both in the one and the other , and not to argue , controul or impugn , upon idle whimsical Phantasies those heavenly Powers . And it is most evident , that in all times before Heresie began , there has been rendred to Popes Vicegerents of Christ , and lawful Successors to St. Peter , the Honour they deserved as such , and as the sovereign universal visible Pastors under Heaven ; see the Council of Calcedon , in Epist. ad Leonam Papam , where the Pope is called , Caput omnium Episcoporum & totius Christi Ecclesiae . Also we confess and acknowledge our Sovereign Liege-Lord and most gra-King IAMES the Second , true and absolute Monarch of these his three Kingdoms , singularly honouring and obeying him , and with most true , cordial , faithful , loyal affection , loving him as an animated real Portraiture of the greatness of the Divine Majesty ; and sure there is no Science more noble , nor more advantageous , than to honour and obey these two Powers ; neither can there be any true lasting Felicity , but in the accomplishment of the Will of the Almighty , the Sovereign Master and Ruler of all . On the contrary , it is observed in the History of many Ages , that dire Vengeance and Wounds from Heaven have fallen signally upon those who have disobeyed these two Powers , for the Wind blowing from blasphemous and seditious Mouths , returned on their own Heads , since it is fit such Impiety and horrid Iniquity should first kill it self with its own Poyson : What the Soul is to the Body , the same is true Religion to a Kingdom ; the Body without a Soul signifies nothing ; even so a Kingdom , without true Religion , is disjoynted , confused , and comes to ruin ; whereas Divine Religion in it self is the Basis and Foundation of all Moral Virtues , the ground and support of all just pious Laws , the cement that strongly combine all human Society , and is the very life of upright impartial Justice , and constant Honesty : Finally , true supernatural Religion is the golden Chain that unites God to Man , and Man to his Duty to God , and brings down the rich Blessings to poor mortal Sinners on Earth . O what a glorious and most happy Kingdom is that , where are to be seen , as in a clear optick Glass , these two most heavenly Objects , the King 's most excellent Majesty prostrate on bended knees , paying with ravishing Devotion the humble religious Homage of Heart , Hands , and Knees , to the Divine Majesty of Almighty God! As a Member and obedient Child of the visible Church of Christ , honouring a visible sepreme head Vicar of Christ , and Successor to St. Peter , as Universal Pastor of all Pastors . And it is a most undoubted truth , that Kings are not made by the invention of active , ambitious , or politick Wits , as blind Enthusiasts Dreams ; neither are they Creatures of the People's making , or the Product of a giddy Multitude , as the Independents , with many other seditious blind persons , maintains ; but they are grounded on the very Law of Nature in high paternal Authority coequal with the World , they are founded on the pure Law of right Reason , which gives a Dignity and Authority to the First-born over all his Brethren , so as Kings are rooted in the Original Laws of Nations , as Cicero , lib. 3. de legib . testifies ; Omnes antiquae Gentes Regibus paruerunt , All the ancient Nations in the World were ruled and governed by Kings : They are confirmed by God's unerring Law , who instituted Kingly Government over his own chosen People , Deut. 17.15 . and gave express command for David to be anointed King of Israel , 1 Sam. 16.1 . Finally , Kings are prophetically promised as a very great Blessing to his Church ; Isa. 49.23 . Kings shall be thy Nursing Fathers , and Queens shall be thy Nursing Mothers . And Plato , that Seraphick Philosopher , calls Kingly Government the most Divine Government . Herodotus , who is stiled , Pater Historiarum , The first Historian among the Heathens , calls it , The most ancient Government . Aristotle , the most rational of all Philosophers , stiles it , The most excellent Government , for Monarchical . Government is the meer imitation of the Government of Heaven , which is by one God ; 't is the restitution of the Primitive Government in this World , which was by one King , and it is the meer reflection of the admirable Government of Nature , which rules the many Members of the Body by one Soul. Daily experience proves that Ship to be best guided which is steered by one Pylot , tho' trimm'd by many Saylors ; that Army sure is best ordered which is commanded by one General , tho' assisted by many inferiour Officers ; Ergo , that Nation is more happy and best governed by one King ▪ tho' advised by divers prudent and religious Counsellors . And even Nature gives us a Hieroglyphick hereof in the Bees , whose sweet Commonwealth is ordered by one King : See Georg. lib. 4. Quemadmodum mirantur & omnes circumstant fremitu denso stipantque frequentes ; They all follow and obey , like little nimble Courtiers their little King , &c. All this considered , will not a good Judgment see , that to go about to oppose any of these two Powers , is to do that which St. Austin said , To suffer ones self to run into a folly , which hasten'd into the height of Insolency and Madness , and in the end find nothing but an Ocean of Disturbances , and unavoidable Perdition and Ruin. God bless King IAMES , our most gracious Pole-Star , no sooner His Royal Brother King Charles the Second , of ever glorious Memory , died , but he publickly went to hear Mass , confiding in the mercy of ever blessed Jesus , who for him doubtless will all Safety and Prosperity provide . O Prodigie never to be duly pondered , for which he is through all the World praised and admired ! Magna est Veritas & praevalet . We must not meddle with things Sacred , but with due reverence ; we must not confound the true Churches Spiritual Authority , with the Regal , Civil , and Temporal , both being distinct in Office , and severally given and appointed by the Almighty ; they are like the two Arms of his Divine Power employed by him , and distributed to their several Uses , the one exercising the meer Spiritual and Persuasive Power , the other the Corporal and Coercive Power ; the one holding the Pastoral-directing and Soul-corrective Staff , the other swaying the Royal and All-subjecting Scepter ; the one unsheathing the Spiritual Sword , cutting off by Authority Disobedient , Schismatical , or Heretical Sinners from the communion of the faithful Flock , and from eternal Life ; the other brandishing the Kingly Sword , cutting off the Lives of the Offenders of established just Laws ; and even as God holds this World in his hands that the vast Sea and firm Land may not mix together , but observe their just bounds , lest they should come to another Chaos ; So he will not have those two sovereign distinct Dignities be blinded into one , least Confusion , and inevitable Ruine should follow . Sure since King Henry the Eighth revolted from the Monarchical Spiritual Power of Christ's Church , nothing to this day followed but confusion , misery , disasters , in this brave Kingdom of England , by degrees ascending to height of unheard-of Iniquity and Tyranny , as to cut off the best of Kings Charles the First ; assuredly those miscreant Hell-hounds that murdered him would not stick to murder even Divinity : This is the woful Catastrophe of disjoyning the Spiritual , from Kingly and Monarchical Government . Now I must say this much of the Roman Catholick Church , that , according to St. Paul , Rom. 1. was , and is yet , and will continue , in perpetuum , famous for Faith , Religion , Sacrifice , and Sacraments , throughout the Universe , for the sound of her Doctrine hath been heard every where , and her Fame to the utmost Parts of the World , so as it is the same to say Roman , as Catholick or Vniversal ; whereas there , where the Roman Eagles Wings did never spread , the Roman Faith did , reaching down to all Ages , and spreading over all Kingdoms ; for who can view Christianity in its extent , but must consider how all Kingdoms and Nations were by Roman Emissaries converted to the true ancient Faith of Iesus , we need not make any further Enquiries , but embrace and walk confidently in those plain Paths in which Fools cannot err , following the foot-steps of the true Flock and the heavenly good Pastor , where alone Sanctity , Verity , and all Virtues , inerrability , infallibility , and perpetuity , are found ; for when , where , or how she ever err'd or fail'd , no Authentick Author have yet related , no faithful candid Writer recorded ; nor have any of those watchful Luminaries and Sentinels , whom God hath placed in his Church , ever given the least alarm of Innovations gotten into the same , only Schismaticks and Hereticks combining , conspiring , and reviling , and in vain . CHAP. II. Of the CHURCH . THe Church of Christ is one Society or Company of Men link'd and combin'd together in one and the same profession of Christian Faith , Religion , Sacrifice , and use of Sacraments under lawful Pastors , and under one supreme visible Head Pastor , or conservator of Peace , Union , and Verity : This is a true notion or definition of the Church established by Christ , and propagated by the blessed Apostles ; here the true nature , essence , and constitution of a Church is manifested , and doth truly distinguish it from all Hereticks and Schismaticks vain Pretences whatsoever , for they are apparently excluded from Christ's Church , and she appears glorious without spot , wrinkle , or any such thing ; she is described in holy Writ by the Emblems of a City , orderly govern'd by one chief supreme Governour , or of an Army govern'd by that Military Discipline , that requires subjection to one Generalissimo , the King had placed over it ; of the Body , each Member in due subjection to its visible Head on Earth , and the Pope in point of Government , rul'd by his invisible Head in the highest Heaven . Hence it followeth by order of good consequence , that Divine Faith and Belief ( wherein consisteth as well the ground and foundation of our eternal welfare , as also the Fruit and entire Utility of Christ's coming into this World ) is to be had in the Church , made plain by the Prophet Esay 45. he foreshewed the wonderful Providence of God , in providing for Christians so manifest a way of Direction for their Faith and Religion , as that the most simple and unlearned Man in the World should not be able ( but out of wilfulness ) to go astray therein , his words directed to the Gentiles are these : Take comfort , and fear not ; behold your God shall come and save you , then shall the Eyes of the Blind be opened , and the Ears of the Deaf shall be restored , and there shall be a Path and way , and it shall be called , The holy way ; and it shall be to you a direct way , as Fools shall not be able to err therein . Sure the plain and direct way mentioned by Esay , wherein no simple or ignorant Men can err , is the general Body of Christ's visible Church upon Earth , planted by his Apostles throughout all Nations and Countries , and continuing by Succession unto the World's end ; in which Church , who remaineth and believeth all things taught therein , cannot at all fall into any Error of Faith ; for that this Church is guided by Christ's Spirit , and therefore in no ways subject , or within the compass of Error : For which cause , St. Paul , ultimo , calls it , The Pillar and Firmament of Truth . And the same Church is so conspicuous and evidently manifest , that it is more easie to find it out , than it is to see the Sun or Moon when it shineth brightest at Noon , or to behold the greatest Hill or Mountain in the World ; and for more declaration of this , it 's to be noted , That in the time from Christ's ascension , until the 13 th year of Nero's Region , who first of the Roman Emperours began open Persecution against Christians , and put to death St. Peter and St. Paul : In this time ( I say ) of Toleration under the Roman Empire , ( which continued the space of 36 years ) the blessed Apostles and Disciples had preached one uniform Gospel and Faith throughout all the World , as may appear by their Acts recorded , and by the peculiar Testimony of St. Paul to the Romans , Rom. 1. which thing being most miraculously done by the Divine Power and Virtue of Christ , Bishops , Pastors , and Governours , being ordained in every Country and Church , for guiding and directing the same by themselves and their Successors in perpetuum ; this I say , being once brought to pass , then the blessed Apostles , for preventing of new false Doctrines that might afterward arise , most earnestly exhorted , and with all vehemency called upon the people to stand fast in the Doctrine , Documents and Traditions then received , to hold firmly the Faith and Doctrine already delivered as a Depositum or Treasure committed to them , to be safely kept till the last day . And above all other things , they forewarned them to beware of new fangled Teachers , whom they called Hereticks , who should break from the Unity of the Universal Body already made and knit together , and should devise new Glosses , Expositions , and Interpretations of Scripture , bringing in new Sences , Doctrines , Opinions , and damnable Divisions , to the utter renting of Christ's Church , Kingdom , City , already builded , and all this to the perdition of infinite Souls . Hence it is , that St. Paul , Tim. 1. pronounceth peremptorily of a contentious and heretical Man , that he is damned by the testimony of his own Judgment or Conscience ; for that he abandoned the common , direct , publick way , which all Men might see , devising particular Paths and pernicious Turnings to himself ; and the ancient Fathers of the Primitive Church disputing against the same kind of People , defended always , that their Error was of Malice and wilful Blindness , and not at all of Ignorance ; for they will not behold the plain , direct , sure , safe , unerring , and infallible way among Christians , wherein no man can err , tho' never so simple , but only of blind , wilful , and obstinate malice : Yet by promises of Christ himself in the Gospel we are absolutely ascertained , that the same visible Congegation , Body , Common-wealth , Church , Kingdom , and Government , which was established by Christ , and propagated by the blessed Apostles , shall endure and continue by Succession of Followers in perpetuum , and that no new Teacher of later Doctrines dissenting from the first , shall ever prevail against it ; albeit divers Errors and Heresies have sprung up , and made great blustering and disturbance for a time , yet have they been repress'd and condemn'd by the same Church , and her visible Pastors and Doctors in the end . For Example-sake , in the first Age there arose up certain seditious fellows among the Iews , as Simon Magus , Nicolaus , Cerinthus , Ebion , Meander , &c. that were Hereticks ; against these , stood in defence St. Peter , who broke the Neck and Black Art of Simon Magus , even by his Prayer : And after him , St. Martialis , St. Dionysius Areopagita , St. Ignatius , Policarpus , and others . In the second Age rose up Basilides , Cerdon , Marchion , Valentinus , Tacianus , Apelles , Montanus , and divers others ; against these stood in battel Iustin Martyr , Dionysius Bishop of Corinth , St. Ireneus , Clemens Alexandrinus , Tertullian , with many others , their equals : And so all along downward from Age to Age unto cursed Luther's days , whatsoever Heresie , or new false Opinions hath been raised contrary to the general consent of Christ's universal Church , it hath been check'd , controul'd , silenc'd , and condemn'd by vigilant Pastors and Doctors , chief Governours of the same Body , by general Assemblies and Councils gathered from time to time , as occasion serv'd , in all Parts of the World : Whereby it 's evidently most manifest , that he who relieth upon this general consent of Christ's Church , and the judgment thereof , cannot err in matters of Belief , but walketh in that sure , secure , and infallible Path , wherein 't is said in Isaiah 35.8 . That a very Fool cannot go amiss . Hence one may be persuaded of the Churches perspicuity and infallibility in her Traditions and Doctrines through God's Divine Providence , which did and will always preserve it from corruption , having a warrant for it out of Scripture , Isa. 59.21 . My Spirit which is upon thee , and the words which I have put into thy mouth , shall not depart out of thy mouth , nor out of the mouth of thy Seed , nor out of the mouth of thy Seed's Seed , from henceforth for ever . And St. Austin said , Ep. 118. That to dispute against a living multitude of the whole Church , is insolent madness . And to say , she may err through ignorance , wilfulness , or negligence , is most absurd and blasphemous , she having Christ for her Head , and the holy Ghost for her Guide and Spirit , who was sent by our Saviour to teach it all Truth ; wherefore to tax that heavenly Government with errors in Faith , is either to tax the holy Ghost with them , or to blaspheme against Christ our blessed Redeemer , by saying , He has not kept his word and promise , in sending the holy Ghost to teach his Church all truth for ever . King IAMES , in a publick Speech made in his Parliament , acknowledged the Church of Rome to be our Mother-Church , saying , I acknowledge the Church of Rome to be our Mother-Church : This you may find in Stow , pag. 840. Sure the Sacred Blood of his glorious Mother Queen Mary , the ever blessed Martyr , ran in the Veins of this her Royal Son King Iames , who would do wonderful things in favour of the Roman Catholick Church , if it were not for the black contriving of the Gun-powder Plot by the Matchevilian Policy of crooked Cicil , only for to hinder King Iames from favouring the Church of Christ ; Sanguis mantirum semen Ecclesiae . See Osburn . Sure there is no other certain Testimony to any prudent considering Man , no firm Ground or Motive to believe , that the Primitive Church received her Doctrine from the blessed Apostles , these from Christ , Christ from God the Father ; nor any way to bring it down from those times to these our days , but only the Tradition of the Church from hand to hand . For we may observe three properties of the Doctrine of Divine Faith to be true , to be revealed of God , to be preached and delivered by the Apostles . The highest ground by which a Man is perswaded that his Faith is true , is the Authority of God speaking and revealing it ; the highest proof by which a Man is assured that his Faith is revealed , is the Authority of Christ , and his blessed Apostles , who delivered the same as descending from God ; but the highest ground that moveth a Man to believe , that his Faith was preached by the blessed Apostles , is the perpetual constant Tradition of the Church succeeding the blessed Apostles unto this day , assuring him so much according to the saying of Tertul. depraes . c. 21. & 37. who made his Ladder of Belief thus : What I believe I received from the present Church , the present from the Primitive , the Primitive from the blessed Apostles , these from Christ , Christ from God , and God , the prime supreme Fountain of Verity , from no other Fountain different from his infallible Knowledge : So as we must cleave to the present Church firmly , believing the constant Tradition thereof successively . So as if any have taught contrary points of Faith than what is revealed , the Catholick Church hath condemned them for Hereticks ; which is a sufficient proof , that until such heretical Spirits , some one or more Traditions of the Church , were universally believed : As for Example ; The Doctrine of Christ's consubstantiality , or being of the same substance with the Father , no Man of reason will deny , but that it was generally believed in the Church before the days of the Arch-heretick Arrius , and that the Council of Nice condemning him , was a sufficient proof , that the Doctrine he opposed was the Universal Tradition of the Church , by force and vertue whereof he was overthrown , and not by Scripture only . The various ridiculous attempts of Protestants had hitherto no better success than Achelous had in fighting with Hercules , who took upon him several shapes , hoping in one or other to overcome him , but was by Hercules beaten through all his shapes , and forced at last to take his own proper shape , and yield : Even so Protestants fighting against Roman Catholicks are daily by them beaten thro' all their changes , forms , shifts , and inventions , through which they wander , yet are forced at last to take their true form of Protestancy , which is obstinately to deny , and even protest against manifest Truth , against general Councils , holy Fathers , and consent of all Nations . But I do heartily pray , that it would please God to bring them to the true ancient heavenly form which they ought to have , which is , of Roman Catholick , and not perpetually roul like the blinded Sodomites , wander and grope in the darkness of uncertainty and instabibity , until eternal Torments seize upon them . One great egregious fraud you may observe amongst the Canonical Protestants , viz. That when they dispute against Roman Catholicks , they have recourse to the Scripture , and will be tryed by that only ; but when they dispute against Puritans , and other Sectaries , who can deal with them at their own Weapon , the Scripture only , then they have their recourse to the Fathers , and the old Tradition of the Church , just using the very same Arguments against Sectaries that Catholicks do against them ; particularly in the baptising of Infants , against the Anabaptists ; and the keeping of the first day of the week holy , against the Sabbatarians who would have Saturday , for either of which there is not any command in Scripture . And shall Tradition serve them in those cases , and not in others ? And this shift is such a one as St. Augustin , Psal. 80. witnesses , to be common to Foxes , and now to Hereticks ; for even as the Foxes have two holes , to save themselves by one , when they are driven from the other ; so Hereticks ( whom the Scripture figured out by Foxes , Cant. 2.15 . ) have a double passage to save themselves , by the one when they are assaulted by the other ; so that he that will catch them , must set his Nets before both issues , and besiege both passages : As ever yet to this day , the excellent Writers among Catholicks have done , and have left them neither Tradition nor Scripture , whereby to escape Confusion , and the shame of Schism and Heresie ; for it is but folly to pretend to secure by human crafty Arts that which God is resolved to destroy . AN APPENDIX . PRotestants corrupts Scripture in their Translations most shamefully , wickedly and impiously , for to make good and justifie their Schism : To make Catholicks Idolaters , they in the year 1562. corrupted the Scripture , 2. Cor. 6. How agreeth the Temple of God with Idols ! They translated and printed in the English Bible , How agreeth the Temple of God with Images ! The same wickedness they practise in 1. Cor. 5. If any that is called a Brother be a Fornicator , Covetous , or server of Idols ; they printed in the year 1562. Or a worshipper of Images . It were too tedious a business to specifie all their false and absurd Translations , by which they brought the word of God to be ridiculous to the world . Priest , in their Language , is Elder ; Church , Synagogue ; holy Ghost , holy Wind ; Soul , Carcass ; Christ , Anointed ; Lord , Baal ; Eucharist , Thanksgiving ; Baptism , Washing ; Hell , Grave ; Devil , Slanderer ; Beelzebub , Lord of a Fly ; Angels , Messengers : So that an exhortation to Devotion in the Protestant Scripture-Language , will move Men more to Laughter than to Piety ; whereas in the Catholick Translation and Phrase , it moves to compunction . Suppose a Catholick Priest should exhort the People thus : I who am a Priest , placed in the Church by the holy Ghost for the feeding of your Souls , do denounce to you in the name of Christ our Lord , That unless you come to the Eucharist with more Devotion , and perform better your Promises made to God in Baptism , ye shall be condemned Body and Soul to Hell , and your Portion shall be with the Devil , I say , with Beelzebub and his Angels : Sure this Exhortation in the Protestant Language of Scripture goes very absurdly . Let us suppose , that a young spruse Protestant Minister should step up to the Pulpit , and repeat the Priests Exhortation in his own corrupt Phrase , thus : I that am your Elder , placed in the Synagogue by the holy Wind , for the feeding of your Carcasses , do denounce unto you in the name of the Anointed , our Baal , that unless you come to the holy Thanksgiving with more Devotion , and perform better your Promises made to God in washing , ye shall be condemned Body and Carcass to the Grave , and your Portion shall be with the Slanderers , I say , with the Lord of a Fly , and his Messengers . How therefore can any Man of reason and judgment joyn in Communion with such impious Sectaries that thus corrupts the holy Word of God , for to keep Souls in Schism , Heresie , and Damnation : Away , away ! Fie , fie on such hellish Practises ! The main thing Protestants deny , is the Antiquity of the Doctrine of the Roman Church , saying most impudently , That the Primitive Fathers taught the Protestant Doctrine , and not that which the Roman Church now-adays teacheth , which is found to be most false by the examination of Particulars . Let us take a view of the Roman Doctrines as they were held in S. Augustine's days , and the four first General Councils which were held between the year 315 , and 457 , to which four Councils Protestants give much honour , and subscribe to their Decrees : Sure in those times the Church believed in the true and real Presence of the eating with the Mouth the Body of Christ in the Eucharist , as Zuinglius , the Prince of the Sacramentarians , acknowledge , in these words : From the time of St. Augustin , the opinion of Corporal Flesh had really got the mastery ; St. Aug. lib. de vera & falsa Religione cap. de Eucharistia : And was adored with outward Gestures as the true Body of Christ ; in Concil . Ephes. in Epist. and Nestor . in Concil . Nicaen . c. 14. To give prime Honour , and supreme , to St. Peter , Bishop of the first See , as Universal Pastor and Vicegerent of Christ ; Concil . Nicaen . c. 15. Concil . Chalced. Act. 4. & 16. constit . c. 5. To pray to Saints , that they may intercede for us ; in Concil . Chalced. Act. 11. Prayers for the Dead offered publickly and privately in St. Augustin's time ; August . de cura pro mortuis . In those days the Church held the Fast of Forty days of Lent as Apostolical Tradition ; St. Hier. ad Marcel . Ep. 54. Fridays likewise Confession and priestly Absolution ; St. August . Homil. 49. saith , The Keys given to the Church is to some purpose sure : We must not frustrate the words of Christ. So St. Basil , Tertullian , St. Clement , &c. And thus of all other Points in Controversy we may find Reason , Authority , Practice , and uninterrupted Custom in all Ages , as Napier in his Treatise on the Revelations , pag. 145. confesseth , saying ; After 300 years , the Emperour Constantine subdued all Christian Churches to Pope Silvester , from which time , till these our days , the Pope and his Clergy hath possess'd the outward and visible Church ; Protestants employment being not at all to convert Heathens , but to pervert those already converted ; Tertul. praescr . c. 42. And we may find in the Writings of Roman Catholick Authors , Orthodox Fathers , that the Doctrine now held by Protestants , were condemned as Heretical in those Persons that then held them . For Example : The Protestant hold , that the Church may err ; so did the Donatists who were condemned by St. Augustin . Potestants deny unwritten Tradition , and urge Scripture only ; so did the Arrians , and were condemned by St. Augustin and Epiphanius . Protestants teach , that Priests may marry ; so did Vigilantius , and condemned by St. Hierom , contr . Vigilant . c. 1. Protestants deny Prayers for the Dead , so did Arrius , condemned by St. August . haer . 53. and St. Epiphan . haer . 75. Protestants deny invocation of Saints ; so did Vigilantius , for which he was condemned by St. Hierom , contra Vigilant . c. 3. Protestants deny the Real Presence ; so did the Capernaits , and Berengarius , who reclaimed and did Penance . Protestants deny confession of Sins to a Priest ; so the Novatian Hereticks did , reproved and condemned by St. Ambros. lib. de penitent . c. 7. So did the Montanists , condemned by St. Hierom , Epist. ad Marcel . 54. I leave off an addition of many other Points , which makes really the new-moulded Protestant Sect appear but a meer frippery or hodge-podge of old condemned Heresies . Hence you may understand , that the Doctrine of the Roman Church is this day , as it was 1600 years ago , still one , Holy , Catholick , Apostolick , and Unchang'd ; grounded on such a solid unshaken Foundation , that it is never to be brought down by the Gates of Hell , i. e. Heresie , Schism , Apostacy , Wranglings , foolish Fopperies , Lyings , Railings , &c. Now Sir , if you are sufficiently toss'd and wearied out with variety of Disputes , and desire to put an end to them now , follow the guide and direction of the Roman Catholick Church in Faith , Religion , Sacraments , Sacrifice , and Doctrine ; all which are derived from Christ himself to his blessed Apostles , from the Apostles down to us , and is to continue in the same heavenly Channel of Succession unto the end of the World : Which Roman Catholick Church hath obtain'd supreme Authority from the Apostolick See , by a wonderous succession of Bishops , by the judgment of the People , by the gravity and authority of Councils ; and lastly , by the Majesty of Miracles : And not to submit to this Divine Authority , sure is the height of Impiety , and precipitant Arrogancy , and not to Dotages of particular idle Intruders . Now as Rebellion is the bane of Civil Government in Kingdoms , and Peace and Concord the preservation of the same ; so is Schism , Division , and diversity of Faith , the ruin and calamity of the Church ; and Unity , Peace , and Uniformity , the special Blessing of God therein , and in the Church above all Commonwealths , because it is in all points a Monarchy tending every way to Unity , there being but one God , one Christ , one Church , one Faith , one Hope , one Head , one Body , one Baptism . Christ's Church is a Society of those that God hath called to Salvation , by the profession of the true Faith , Religion , dread Sacrifice , the sincere Administration of Sacraments , and the adherence to a lawful Pastor , as Head ; which Description is so fitted and proportioned to the Church , that it resembles the Nest of the Halcyon , which according to Plutarch is of such a just and exact size for the measure of her Body , that it can serve no other Bird , either greater or lesser . Since Christianity is a Doctrine of Faith , a Doctrine whereof all Men are capable of ; and since the high virtue of Faith is in the humility of our Understanding , and the merit thereof in the ready obedience to embrace it ; what madness it is for any Man to tire out his Soul , to wast away his Spirits in tracing out all the thorny Paths of the main Controversies of these our backsliding days , wherein to err is easie and dangerous , what through the malice of Authors abusing him , what through Sophistry beguiling him , what through blind Passion and Prejudice transporting him ; and not rather betake himself to the right way of Truth , whereunto Christ , Reason , Nature , and Experience , do all give witness ; and that is , to associate himself to that Church established by Christ , whereunto the custody of a heavenly and supernatural Truth hath been from Heaven it self committed , to weigh and find out discreetly which is the true Church , to receive it chearfully and discreetly without doubt or discussion , whatsoever it delivers , without any farther inquisition ; she having the warrant , that he that hears her , hears Christ ; and whosoever hears her not , hath no better place with God than a Publican and Pagan : And what folly is it now to receive Scriptures upon the credit of her Authority , and not to receive the interpretation of them upon her Authority and Credit also ? Sure if God should not always protect his Church from Error , and yet peremptorily commanding Men upon pain of Damnation to obey her always , then had he made very slender provision for the Salvation of Mankind ; which conceit concerning God would render us very ungratefully impious . These Considerations or Motives may very easily perswade Persons of Reason and Piety to embrace and maintain that which they know to be the Religion of their Fore-fathers , before her Adversaries had a Name , her Doctrine having had a very long continuance ; which cannot easily be supposed , in the present possessors , to be a Design , since they have received it down from so many Ages ; and it is not likely that all Ages should have the same purposes , or that the same Doctrine should serve the several different ends of divers Ages , relying upon the Grounds ; to wit , that Truth is more ancient than Falshood , and that God would not for so many Ages forsake his Church , and leave her in Error , Schism , or Novelty . Again ; Let us consider the exceeding Beauty and Splendor of her Churches , her solemn Service , stateliness and magnificence of her Hierarchy , the Name of Catholick which she claims as her own due , and to concern no other Sect of Hereticks ; the wondrous continual Succession of her Popes , of an honourable and most certain Line of 250 Popes , Successors of St. Peter ; both Tyrants , Traytors , Pagans , apostate Hereticks , in vain wresting , raging , combining , conspiring , and undermining it : Let us reflect , that beside the Roman Church , and such others as are united with it , you will find all other Churches to have failed , and have an end or decay long since , or their beginning of late . The Roman Church was founded by the Prince of the Apostles , with a Promise to him from Christ , that Hell Gates should never prevail against it , Mat. 16.18 . And that himself would be assistant to it to the consummation of the World. All the lawful general Councils that ever were in the World have approved and honoured it , condemning its Adversaries . God so miraculously hath blessed it from above , that very many famous , learned , wise , and godly Doctors in all Ages , have enriched it with their Writings , Legions of Saints with their rare Holiness and Virtues , Millions of Martyrs with their Blood , many Millions of Virgins with purity of Soul and Body have sanctified and embellished it : And even at this day of unjust Rebellions , Apostacy and cursed Schism of her revolted Children , she stretcheth out her Arms to the utmost corners of the world , daily and newly embracing whole Nations into her Bosom . Mark how that in all Sects opposite are found inward Dissensions , Contrarieties , change of Opinions , uncertainty of Resolutions in matters of Faith , rebelling against Governours , and daily confusion of Order ; whereas contrariwise in the Roman Church there is Unity , Uniformity undivided , and Resolutions unaltered , a most heavenly Order ; all with admirable Harmony , and undefective Correspondence , bending the same one way to the effecting of one and the same work : Wherefore let no Man doubt to submit himself and judgment to this glorious Spouse of Jesus Christ , reverently obeying her in all things ; whose Authority every Man may safely follow and rely upon , she being so happy in being instrumental in converting all Nations from Infidelity by unfeigned Miracles , and , among many other things , the Names of Hereticks and Schismaticks which she fathers upon all those that disagree and revolt from her Bosom . This brings me to mind that saying of St. Hierom , lib. 1. c. 14. contra Iovinian , concerning St. Peter's Primacy : Amongst the twelve Apostles one was chosen , that a Head being constituted and appointed , all occasion of Schism might be taken away . Melanghton holds , that the Primacy is most necessary for the retaining and preserving of Unity , and adhering to the Roman Catholick See. Seeing therefore , that Controversies in Religion in these our times are grown in number so many , and in matters so intricate , that few have time and leisure , fewer strength of Understanding to examine them , it remains for Men desirous of satisfaction in things of such consequence , diligently to search out which Church hath divine revealed Faith in it , and the same to embrace , follow , and practise . St. Paul says , That Faith is the substance of things to be hoped for , and an argument or demonstration of things not appearing to us . I wonder that St. Paul calls Faith a Substance , when it is but an Accident ; we must understand St. Paul thus : Even as the Substance is the foundation & stress of the Accidents , as of Quantity , Quality , Relation , &c. all cleaving and adhering to their substance , so as if those accidents become separated from their substance , then the substance will be reduc'd to a punctum indivisibile ; even so Divine Faith , if it be not whole and entire , believing all and every Article and Principle revealed , preached , and handed down from Christ and his Apostles ; then Faith will be no Divine Faith , but is become a folly , phantasm , and illusion ; it must be a Faith animated with Charity , Piety , Obedience , &c. that will avail for Salvation . For suppose you believe the Incarnation , Resurrection , Ascension of Christ , with all other Mysteries belonging to his Divinity and Humanity , and not to believe the Real Presence , Auricular Confession , Purgatory , &c. you have no Faith for Salvation : As if but one Wheel of your Pocket Watch be broken , nay if but one Tooth of it be broken , your Watch serves for nothing ; so one Article of Faith denied , destroys Faith. Sure he that admitted a leak in his Ship , drowns it ; and he that divides Faith , believing some Points , and denying other Points , comes to have no Faith at all ; for all that comes from one and the same Divine Authority , ought to be believed with like equality , reverence , and submission : Doing otherwise , is to suffer ones self to run headlong into real blindness , which hasten'd to the height of Insolency and Madness ; and to have nothing so assured as incertainty , nothing so undoubted as the loss of true Faith transform'd into a real Schism , the headlong descent of a horrible Precipice , to never ending scorching Flames . CHAP. III. Appendix to the former Chapter . THe Almighty God independent and immense in his Extent , eternal in his Duration , infinite in his Perfections , glorious in his Mercies , and mysterious in the wonderous communication and dispensation of his Favours , Mercies , and Graces to Man , above all sublunary Creatures ; for the Apostate Angels are lost without Redemption , and the punishment their insolent Pride hath merited , doth pursue them without relaxation , term , or pity ; it is Man therefore who must be plac'd and substituted in the empty Seats of Angels . O Mercy ! never to be duly ponder'd ! Lo God the fountain , cause , and origin of the Universe , drew Man out of Dirt and Morter , as the Master-piece and prime Substance of all his Operations ; it was Man that deserved the last wonderous touches of his omnipotent Hands ; so , as Plato cryes out , calling Man the Miracle of all visible Miracles , it 's certain , that of all Encomiums given to Man , the most noble , august , and transcendent , is , that he is created to the Image of God as a character of his Divine Nature : Herehence God's Goodness requires Homages , his Majesty all Worship and Acknowledgments , and Affections of all Hearts . Now we are to consider , that God , when he created Man , did not assign him to remain in the state of pure Nature , but did out of his goodness confer on him original Righteousness and Grace , and after did endow him with supernatural Means , which may bring him to the supernatural end he was created for , viz. The vision , fruition , and possession of Heavenly Glory for all Eternity . Now a supernatural End must require a supernatural Means , whereas by no natural helps we can arrive to be compleatly happy in the next Life , then of all supernatural Means or Gifts , the ground and stress of all the rest , is Divine , unerring revealed Faith. Now the Master and Author of that Doctrine we must believe , the Instructor of the Actions we must perform , and the promiser and performer of the final Happiness we may hope for is God himself , who cannot deceive or be deceiv'd , he being the prime Verity . Via veritas & vita . — So as Faith is not grounded upon our weak natural Judgment or Ratiocination , but upon obedience to the Church . Faith is a gift of God , a supernatural Quality infused by God into our Souls , by which we firmly believe all things revealed to us ; Without Faith , its impossible to please God , Heb. 11.6 . And , He that believed not , shall be damned ; Mark ult . v. 16. So as every one ought to know that there is a sovereign and blessed end , viz. Eternal Glory ; then every one ought to love and heartily wish to attain to the same , and earnestly seek out for those means and helps prescrib'd and ordain'd by God for the compassing it . Then in the first place we must find out Divine Faith , which partly proceeds from God as the source and Author thereof , as Prima veritas : And altho' those things we believe by Faith cannot be known by evident Demonstration , yet because they are taught us by supernatural means , we are more certain of their truth than of all other things , because those things are deliver'd over to us by a more certainly infallible Teacher , the Spirit of Truth , the Holy Ghost : Therefore enter I pray into a serious consideration of the End , for which you and all were created , viz. The Glory of God , and your eternal Happiness ; and for the knowledge of the means to attain thereunto , you may find by the consent of all Christians , this cannot be gotten by clear and evident sight , nor by human Discourse founded on the Principles of Reason , nor by reliance upon Authority meerly human , but only by Faith grounded on the Word of God , revealing to Men things that are otherwise , only known to his infinite Wisdom . Now God sure revealed all these things to Jesus Christ , and he to his blessed Apostles , as he saith , Iohn 15.15 . All things which I have heard from my Father , I have made known to you : This partly by word of mouth , but principally by the immediate teaching of the Holy Ghost ; to the end , that they should deliver them after to Mankind , to be received , believed , and obeyed over the whole World in perpetuum , as it is said , Matth. 28.19 . Go teach all Nations . Sure they did accordingly preach to all Nations , as it 's said by St. Mark 16.20 . They going forth , did preach every where ; and so planted an universal Christian Company , charging them to keep inviolable , and to deliver to their Posterity what they have received from them as the first Messengers of the Gospel , as St. Paul said to Timothy , 2 Tim. 2.2 . The things that thou hast heard of many Witnesses , the same commit thou to faithful Men , who may instruct others . Now tho' the blessed Apostles and their Hearers be departed out of this Life , yet still there remains a means now in the World , by which all men may assuredly know what the Apostles preached , and the Primitive Church received of them , seeing the Church to the end must be built on the Apostles , and believe nothing as matter of Faith beside that which was delivered of them , as St. Paul said , Ephes. 2.20 . Are built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets , Iesus Christ being the chief Corner Stone . Scripture is a Light only to the Faithful , because known from the Church's Tradition to be from the Apostles , by the Apostles Authority confirmed by Miracles to be of God , by God's supreme Verity , who cannot deceive nor be deceived , to be the truth : So Scripture is a Light which must be shewed by a Superiour Light , before it become light . The Church therefore must guide us to know the truth of Scripture , as St. Austin said , Contra Epist. fundamenti , c. 5. I would not believe the Gospel it self , unless the Authority of the Church Catholick did move me . The Word that is written tells us , that all is not written ; as St. Paul , 2. Thes. 2.15 . exhorts us to keep both the written and unwritten , saying , Stand fast and keep Traditions which you have learned by word , or by our Epistle . It is manifest , that the first Church of God from the Creation until Moses , which was about 2000 years , had no Word of God but what was unwritten ; which we call Tradition from hand to hand . And we do not read that the Apostles were sent to write , but to preach : And S. Iohn denies , that he had expressed in Writing all that he had to say , saying , Having more things to write to you , I would not by Paper or Ink , for I hope that I shall be with you and speak mouth to mouth , that your Ioy may be full : By which it is evident , that the blessed Apostles , beside their Writings , did preach other things which were wanting to their faith . And it 's manifest , that what the Apostles did write , was but accidental , and upon particular occasions . See Hooker . Eccles. Pol. Lib. 1. Sect. 15. P. 87. For instance ; the Epistles of St. Peter , Iames , Iohn , and Iude , were written against certain Hereticks , who misunderstanding St. Paul , did teach that Faith only without Works sufficed to Salvation : See St. Aug. de fide & operib . c. 14. And St. Iohn did not preach his Gospel till his last Age ( which was very long ) without writing , and took occasion to write ( as St. Ierom , de Scriptor . Eccles. affirms ) by reason of the Heresie of Ebionites then broke out . The like may be shewed of the rest . And take what is worth observation : That all Epistles were written to such persons only as were already converted to the Christian Faith , therefore were written not so much to instruct , as to confirm ; this Zuinglius also confesseth , Tom. 2. lib. de Eccl. fol. 43. By all which its evident , that the Apostles and Evangelists did write their Books not by Command of Christ , but upon some accidental occasion moving them thereunto ; and very many were saved before any Scripture , and that only by Tradition , which was before Scripture ; for the invention of Printing was not in the World till about 230 years ago , and the Bibles that were written being but few , by reason of the great labour of writing them ; and those that were written , not purchaseable but by few , because of their great price ; nor legible but by very few , because they were not printed , but written by hand ; and sure God by his Providence did and will always preserve his Church from extinction and corruption , having warrant for it out of Scripture , and no warrant for the preservation of the Text , the Church being a thing more easily known than Scripture , and consisting of a living Multitude , can express it self more plainly by the Mouth and Tradition of the Church ; Tradition being plain and easie Doctrine concerning the common , capital , and practical Articles of Christianity ; but Scripture , full of high , mysterious , and hidden sences , furnished with variety of Parables , Examples , Histories , Revelations , Figures , Allegories , so as it cannot be proved directly to be the word of God but by Tradition . The Christians of the Primitive Age , on pain of Damnation , held nothing of Faith , but what they received from Christ and his blessed Apostles ; for Moral and Apostolical Tradition without written Scripture , or written Books , was the means of planting and conserving Christian Religion ; see St. Paul , Galat. 21.8 . Altho' we or an Angel from Heaven preach to you , besides that which we have preached to you , he be Anathema . And again , 2 Thes. 15. Therefore Brethren stand ye fast , and hold ye the Traditions which ye have learned , whether by Word or by our Epistle . Sure Apostolical Tradition is the sure Guide by which we may infallibly be assur'd what Doctrin for Salvation Christ and his blessed Apostles left many years before any thing was written or printed . CHAP. IV. The Scripture of Protestants decry'd . FIrst , I say , that all Sectaries , tho' never so many , and opposite one to another , have ever risen , and have still pretended to Scripture ; nay , the Devil urged his Temptation with a scriptum est , Matth. 4. And so many frequently deprave the Scriptures to their own perdition , 2 Pet. 3. I decline not Scripture , but allow , admit , and embrace it , as containing that irrefragable Doctrine , which eminent Persons in the Church of God penn'd , even a thousand years before Printing was invented : Scripture is a good Instrument to draw Men from Paganism to Chistianity , but not Protestants to the Catholick Faith. When the Christian explicit Articles of Faith prepared and delivered to us by our Primitive Pastors , according as they had received them from Christ ( the prime Inventor ) were rashly annull'd , taken away , and rejected by Sectaries ; and the Bible put into all hands , for to search and find out by our own skill the Results and Principles of Religion implicitly couch'd in the Bible ; is not this extream Madness and Tyranny to Souls ? Is it not a tyrannous Cheat , and an Abuse hardly to be parallell'd , to put Men to seek for a thing with a fore-imprinted prejudice of that they go about to find , and seek for Faith with a prejudice against Faith ? With such-like prejudice do the English People read the Bible , being afore-hand advised by their Reformers fully to believe that the Catholick Mass is abomination ; the Real Presence , a late invention ; the Merit of Good Works , a Dream ; fasting and mortification of sensual Appetites , folly and madness ; the indifferency of Man's Free Will to Good or Evil , an Error ; the making a Vow , a Chimera ; restitution or satisfaction of Injuries done , a prejudicial Mistake ; all Expiation of our Sins , an inexpiable Crime ; honour to blessed Saints , Idolatry ; Sacrifice , Altars , and the whole Priesthood of Christ , Prophaneness ; the conscionable practice of Sobriety , Justice , and Piety , necessary to Eternal Life , detestable Popery ; for God's sake , what good can accrew to the drooping Soul of an Heretick by reading of Scripture with these Prejudices , these Diabolical Anticipations , these Antichristian Preconceptions , these meer Obstructions to all Faith , Grace , and Salvation ? Yet thus forewarn'd and prepossess'd , all Sectaries read the Scripture , no sound or solid Fruit arising thence to their Souls but hardness of Heart , Pride , Schism , sencelesness of God's Judgments , desperateness in all Sin and Injustice : Sure the Scripture do little or no good , but as it is presented by the Church , and received with her Interpretation , and practised in her Bosom . The Ark of God , so long as it was upheld by the Priests , comforted and sanctified them ; but look'd into , or touch'd by others , destroy'd them ; nor was it to them an Ark of Salvation , but an Offence , and occasion of Fall : Therefore it was a heavenly Caution that which we received by a Voice from Heaven , Act. 10. Things that God hath sanctified , do not make common . We see Scripture takes up Figures , Allegories , Parables , &c. wherein are inclosed Truths of a differing strain to what the Letter relates , which will cause an obscurity almost invincible , even to Church-men , singularly assisted , and inspired . It is therefore but madness to undertake Labour and Hazard for naught . The Law and Government of the Messias differs from the Law of Moses in this , That one was committed to Paper , but the Doctrine of Jesus should be written in the Heart and Entrails of his Church : He is a God that writes on the Paper of the Heart unto Eternity indelible Tenets . The Law of Christ is written not with Ink , but with the Spirit of the Living God ; not in Tables of Stone , but in fleshly Tables of the Heart , promising to animate the Body of his Church with his own Spirit , which should lead them into all Truth ; so as in very truth , Scripture of the New Testament was drawn by the Rule of our traditional Doctrine , and explicit Faith , and not our explicit Faith gathered out of them ; neither was ever any General Council called together to teach the Church her Doctrine , but upon the rising of Heresies judging by the Rule of Tradition , declared against Heretical Innovations : Here I infer how they are bereaved of Human Understanding , that do not see palpably , that a pretended Church which begun by breach of Promises to God , by Sacrileges and Impurities of Apostates , by general Revolt against Kings , against Divine and Human Laws , by the filth and ordure of the Carrion and caitive Flesh , by the dissolution of good Manners , by Blood , Furies , and Confusion , could not come and take its source from the Divine Spirit ; yet they boldly say , they find Scripture of their side . Ah lamentable Illusion ! To whom did the Scripture send them , but to the Priests and lawful Pastors ? What said the Scripture unto them , but that they ought to keep the Traditions , and obey Prelates ? That they must not trust to their own judgment , but captivate it in matters of Faith ; and that it was better to believe with holy Simplicity , than question with a proud Curiosity : And it 's observable , how the poor deluded People in England , after using their Bible now above a hundred years , how they have a Church without Apostolical Preachers ; these without Character , Mission , Priesthood , or Divine Jurisdiction , Sheep without true Pastors , faithful without Churches , Christians without Sacraments , Temples without Altars , Altars without Sacrifices , Religion without form or fashion , a Law without Obedience , a Faith without Works and Grace ; yet they all peruse Scripture , and all is , but that they overthrow themselves by these Scripture ways , by which they seek to establish themselves ; for if we ought not to believe any thing but that which is written , in what place of their Bible will they find , that the revealed , positive , and affirmative Principles of our Church must be denied and abrogated ? In what place will they shew , that these words , Hoc est Corpus meum , must be understood figuratively , not really ? In what place will they find , that Sunday must be kept holy , and not Saturday ? Where will they find , that there are but two Sacraments ? Where , that Children who cannot yet believe , or answer for themselves , are to be Baptized ? &c. And so many other things of this nature , which makes us sufficiently understand , they ruine themselves by their own Hands and Weapon , the Bible , which they force and wrest , to fit it to their depraved purposes . Alas poor deluded Pretenders ! To whom do you trust your Souls for Salvation , your Honours and Lives , having blindly rejected the old Belief and Truths of your Fore-fathers upon a bare pretext of Scripture , cast and moulded on the heads of changeable Men ? Let us therefore follow and embrace the Generality , the Antiquity , and common Consent ; let 's hold what is held every where , and always , and by all , so it be authorised by the Divine Law , and the Catholick Church's Tradition . Let us now see what the Ministers of Protestantism oppose against so many infallible Proofs , to cover their want of Antiquity , Mission , Succession , Miracles , Sanctity , Judgment , and Reason ? They cease not to buzz out every where a false pretext of Scripture 〈…〉 ich verily is the greatest illusion that can be imaginable ; for these pitiful ones seeing themselves batter'd on every side from the beginning of Reformation , know well in their consciences that the Scripture is against them ; yet say they , to mock at the faith of Mankind , and lead Souls to Atheism , We must avoid the decision of a Power lively and lawful , we must only take colour from the holy Text , we will make it say what we list , we will maintain nothing is to be believed but what is written , we will disguise it with glosses and consequences to catch these who seem to have reason and wit. Behold the only means to colour their pretences ! Who are endued with sufficient and solid Judgment , cannot but consider and discover how deceitful , weak , and ruinous , their Foundation is . Now behold the powerful and invincible Reasons , which made St. Austin resolve upon the Religion we profess : Many great Reasons ( said he ) with much reason keep me in the obedience of the Catholick Church , the consent of People and Nation 〈…〉 hold me , the Authority of the same 〈…〉 , which is risen up by Miracles , m 〈…〉 ed with Hope , augmented by Charity , established by its Antiquity , the succession of Bishops holds me therein ; which begins in the Seat and Authority of St. Peter , to whom God recommended the Care of his Flock , is maintained to this day . Lastly , the name Catholick holds me to it , adding Contra Epist. Manichaei , He would not believe the Gospel it self , if he were not convinced by the Authority of the Church . What can be more clear ? Yet tho' the Scripture doth so straitly recommend unto us in the practise of Humility ( the seat of Grace ) not to make our selves over-wise , or able , Rom. 12. Not to rest upon our own proper Judgment or Prudence , Prov. 35. To hearken to our Fore-fathers , to obey Pastors who have lawful Succession , to work out our Salvation in fear and trembling . What may a Man think of a Protestant Sect which authorizeth a peculiar Spirit , which hath ever been the Seminary of all Schisms and Disorders in Church and State , which without distinction puts the Scripture into all hands to judge of Points of Faith : Verily , from hence it is an admirable thing , to behold how the petty Spirits of silly Artificers , Mechanicks , and even simple Women busie themselves with their Bible , and to what degree of Pride they come , when abused by some imaginary Text of Scripture , they are puffed up with their own poor Ability , flattering themselves ( deluded Souls ) by some Text not rightly understood , with assurance of Salvation and Predestination in the greatest Exorbitancies , and neglects of Life : What Pride more irregular than this , to see Men not content with the Religion practised in England's three Conversions , doing all they can to deifie their own Opinions ? What Pharisee ever came near this height of Pride ? Yet the Bible they daily read and use . Verily I plainly see , they must hereafter live in Re-union ; it is the Spirit of God that commands it , and will effect it in due time . Whereas now a days Shism and Faction has evidently prevailed over Unity , Pride over humble Submission to reveal'd Truth , and ill stubborn Nature over real Truth . CHAP. V. Plain Testamonies of holy Scripture both Old and New , for the Church's Infallibility . WE read that the Jewish Synagogue had a Supream Court of Judicature to end all arising difficult controversies from whence there was no Appeal , because God promised that the Judge there , should shew them the Sentence and threatned Death , to those who should do presumptiously , and not harken to the Priest or Judge , Deut. 17.8 . nay , Christ himself commanded the people even in his time to do as they said , who sate in Moses Chair , but not to do as they did , Matth. 23.3 . So that till the spirit of God forsook the Synagogue it was to be obeyed , and by consequence was secured from giving a false Sentence in necessaries to Salvation . And can we imagine that God would leave his Spouse , his Church , without this so great a priviledge , to whom a Covenant with better promises hath been given , Heb. 8. The Prophesies that speak of the Churches , the New Law tells us , that there shall be in those daies a way of Holiness , that the way-faring Men , tho' Fools , shall not Err therein , Isa. 35.8 . Furthermore the Prophesies tells , that God had made a Covenant with his Church , that his Spirit shall be upon her , and his words which he had put into her mouth shall not depart out of her mouth , nor out of the mouth of her Seed , nor out of the mouth of her Seed's Seed for ever saith the Lord , Isa. 59.20.21 . Therefore no Errors , Read besides the 60. Chapter of Isa. Say , that all Nations that will not serve Her shall perish , she will Suck the Breasts of Kings , that her Sun shall not go down , nor her Moon withdraw it self , but the Lord shall be to her an everlasting light , sure ; this is to secure her from teaching false Doctrine , or falling into Idolatry ; the most abhorred of all Vices . From the New-Testament , Christ promises that he will Build his Church upon a Rock , and that the Gates of Hell ( which the Fathers interpret Error and Heresie ) shall not prevail against it , Matth. 16.18 . That he will be with her Pastors and Preachers , even to the end of the World , Amen . Matth. 28.20 . That he will send them another Comforter , the spirit of Truth to abide with them for ever , Iohn 14.16 . To teach them all things and to bring all that he has taught them , to their remembrance ver . 26. And that he shall guide them in all truth . chap. 16. v. 15. Moreover he has laid an Injunction upon all persons to hear his Church under the severe Sentence of being look'd upon as Heathens and Publicans : Matth. 18.17 . Christ told his Disciples and their Successors , that who heard them heard him , Luke 10.16 . he commanded to teach all Nations , and told them , that they who believed should be saved , and that they who believed not should be damn'd , Math. 28.19 . Mark 16.15 . O Soveraign and Heavenly Promises , Priviledges , and Graces of the true Catholick Roman Churches Infallibility . Add to this how the Apostles tell us , that the Chuch of the living God is the Pillar and ground of truth , 1 Tim 3.15 . Sure we may securely rely upon her , and they assure us that Christ gave his Son , Apostles , Prophets , Evangelists , Pastors and Teachers for the perfection of the Saints ; that henceforth we may be no more Children tossed to and fro , &c. Eph. 4. Are not these plain and wondrous texts of Scripture , and cannot you see clearly an infallible assistance promised to the directing and guiding men , that they should not be carried about with every wind of false Doctrine by the slght and wiles of men , and cunning craftiness , whereby some lie in wait for to deceive : No other Congregation under the Sun , but the Roman Catholick Church can stand up or pretend to these great Priviledges , it follows that Protestants are as they aver , fallible ; saying so , they tell all the World an Infallible truth , and thereupon we may be infallibly assured that they always are failable and fallible . And hence it follows , whilst Protestants themselve declare they are fallible , they can no ways pretend to be the infallible Church of Christ : For if the Word of God should have the first place , and serve as a basis , for the perpetuating of a Church infallible , ( as it is most reasonable ) I incessantly challenge Ministers to shew but one only Text of Scripture express , formal , and irreprovable , contrary to the Articles of the Roman Catholick Church ; sure this they could never yet perform , for hitherto they have produc'd nothing but Semblances , Stories , Lyes and Railings , for to delude weak inferior Judgments of the giddy Multitude , being unable to make them good before considering and learned understanding Men : And if a lawful Succession , sacred Mission , Character and real Consecration of true Pastors be required , which is absolutely necessary for the establishment of an Ecclesiastical Hierarchy ; the Roman Church can shew , that from the Apostles hitherward , our Popes and other inferior Pastors , do all to this day successively follow one another , above two hundred and thirty Popes — Magna est veritas & prevalet . If the Authority of Councils be requisite , which are the Sinews , Mouths and living Oracles of Religion ; in the Revolution of sixteen Ages , all Councils will be found , call'd for to confirm the Roman Church , & confute and condemn her Adversaries . If the Interpretations of Holy Doctors ( who have been the Lights of their times , Instruments of the Holy Ghost , and Secretaries of the Divinity ) they all with one accord and consent , speak for the Roman Church , condemning loudly the Errors and Schism of new Sects . If Miracles , which were wrought in all Ages , and in the sight of all Mankind , with so much approbation , that they have evicted Confession , even from the most Incredulous , and Reverence from the most Stupid , Millions and unfeigned Miracles , were and are daily wrought in confirmation of the verity of the Roman Catholick Religion . So as that there is not a Country wherein the Roman Catholick Religion is profess'd , which doth not produce Testimonies so prudently and evidently credible of true Super-natural Miracles , that to deny them , were to destroy all Humane Faith. Did not Simon Magus impiously boast , by the Spirit of his private Fancy , that he would do wonders , as St. Peter did ? who provok'd by the said Simon Magus , did prove that he had the Spirit of God , by raising a Child from Death , which the other , with all his Black Magick Art , could not do ; yet boldly challenging St. Peter , to fly from the Capitol to Mount Aventin ; while he was doing so , by the Prayer of St. Peter , loe he came tumbling down , and brake his Leg , whereof he died soon after . Even so that false Apostle Calvin , for the credit of his new Damn'd Doctrine , he would fain make a shew to the People of doing a Miracle , hir'd one that was Sick , to counterfeit himself Dead , who when Calvin should speak certain words , was to arise , as it were , from the Dead , but he not stirring , was found dead indeed . Withall , mark how that the Son of Calvin being bitten by a Mad Dog , his Father not being able to cure him , sent him to St. Hubert in Arden , where the Body of that Saint is kept with Veneration , and frequent Miracles wrought thereby , where he was perfectly made whole ; whereupon abjur'd his Fathers Sect , became a Roman Catholick , and lived and died so . Yet Protestants object , its strange themselves never see any Miracle , being so desirous , and miracles so frequent as we pretend . Herod was also very desirous to see a Miracle , but his curiosity excluded him from that favour : Men who believe nothing but what they see , deserve not to see Miracles , because they are obstinate . Yet there are few Protestants , who do not see Miracles ; what greater Miracle , than that all Catholicks turn not Protestants ? If the continual Victory over natural and vehement Inclinations doth require a Miracle of super-natural Grace , we are as naturally and vehemently inclined to their Religion , as we are to our own Liberties and Pleasures : What greater Miracle , than that Roman Catholick sober and learned Men , should be perswaded , that their Senses are deceived in the Sacrament of the Altar , and that they should suffer death for the Mystery of Transubstantiation ? There must be effects of super-natural Grace , and not of Ignorance , or Obstinacy , which cannot be laid to our charge , seeing we submit our Judgments to every definition of the Roman Church , and our very Adversaries know we are learned Men. Sanctity of Life , is a super-natural sign and effect of Grace , and of the true Church . This Sanctity is evident in the Roman Church . Not to speak of Antonies , Hilarions , or Stillitas , let 's draw nearer our times , and consider the Lives of St. Bernard , St. Dominick , St. Francis , St. Vincent Ferrer , St. Francis of Paula , St. Charles Barromeus , St. Teresa , St. Francis Xaverius , St. Anthony of Padua , and many more , who were known Roman Catholicks , professing the same Tenets , and Obedience to the Pope , which we now maintain against pretended Reformation . And not to speak only of the Dead , let any indifferent Person consider , how in all Vocations of both Clergy and Laity , we have many Persons eminent in Virtue , far above that degree of morality . Let our English Protestant be pleased to weigh with himself , whether young Ladies , of as great Quality , Fortunes , and Gifts of Nature , as England doth afford , could forsake their native Country , Kindred , and Friends , contemn all pleasures of the World and themselves , by embracing a religious , poor , and penitent Life , in perpetual Inclosure , submitting their wills to the Obedience and Humour of a Woman : could this , I say , be performed by so many , so continually , and with so great alacrity and content of mind , without a miraculous and super-natural Grace of the Almighty ? In my judgment it is a greater Miracle , that such Persons should resolve by a voluntary Banishment , to dye to their Country , and Friends , and to the whole World , by a Religious Profession , and to bury themselves alive in a Cloyster ; than if they had restored Life to others , and banish'd death from Graves and Monuments . 7. Now after that our Protestant Gentleman hath considered our Catholick Monasteries , let him examine , whether in his own Church there hath been , or now is , any thing resembling so much Religion , and super-natural Virtue , as that which amongst us is not admired ( though admirable ) because so ordinary . This kind of Life is as far from Protestants Practice and Doctrine , as it is from natural Inclination . Yet I have heard , that Master Laud of Canterbury , was once inclined to erect some Protestant Nunneries in England . I believe it would occasion as great stirs as his Reformation did in England , because nothing is more opposite to the Tenets of the reformed Gospel , and first Reformers , than to make Vows of Poverty , Chastity , and Obedience . Protestancy begun , and is founded upon the dissolving of Monasteries and Religious Vows , and is not compatible with their observance , if things must be carried on by the same means that acquired them a being . 8. The Conversion of Nations to Christianity , is not only a sign of the true Church , but also the end of its Institution . This is so proper to the Roman Catholick , even at this present , that none who heard the names of America , Angola , China , Monomotappa , India , or Iaponia , can be ignorant of our pious endeavours , and miraculous success , in preaching the Gospel to so remote Nations , where nothing that is coveted in this World , could be aimed at , or expected by our Apostolical Preachers . I will not say any more concerning the Signs of the true Church , these being sufficient to convince any Person that desires to be saved , that out of the Roman Church there is no Salvation , seeing it alone hath supernatural and visible Signs , whereby God doth declare sufficiently , that it is an infallible guide , to inform men of his Mysteries , and direct them in the way he hath prescribed for his Divine Service , commanding all men to hear and obey it , as they would hear and obey God himself . Now let us see what Luther the Apostate Apostle of Protestants says , Velit nolit , in praise of the Infallibility of the Roman Catholick , in his Book against the Anabaptists , who in hatred of the Pope of Rome , did reject Infant Baptism : Nos , We confess , sub papatu plurimum esse boni Christiani , imo omne bonum Christianismum , atque illinc ad nos devenisse ; quippe fatemur in papatu veram Scripturam Sacram esse , verum Baptismum , verum Sacramentum Altaris , veras claves ad remissionem peccatorum , verum praedicandi officium , verum Catechismum ut sunt articuli fidei decem praecepta , &c. Dico insuper sub papatu esse veram Christianitatem imo verum nucleum Christianitatis esse — O magna est veritas & praevalet . Mark what Calvin says , Instit. c. 10. § . 17. That St. Bernard was a godly and pious Writer . Adding , Et certe Papista fuit Bernardus , & nemo est Pius sine vera fide salutem & veritatem ab inimicis habemus . Mark lastly what Melancthon , one of the first Followers of Luther , said to his dying Mother , whom he perverted from the old Religion to his new one : Mother , send for a Priest , confess your sins before you die . Illa securior haec plausibilior via ad salutem . She did so , and died in the Communion of the old Roman Catholick Faith , in which she was born and bred . This you will find in Florimundus de Ortu Haeresis , lib. 1. cap. 9. What can be said more of the advantage of the Roman Catholick Church , than what her mortal Enemies proclaim to the World for to undeceive men , and guide them to the secure Ark of Sanctification and Salvation ? Now to deny this Infallibility so evidently demonstrated , is the great crime Protestant pretended Reformers are charged with ; in this Infallibility is founded all the Power of Christ's Church , obliging to believe the inviolableness of her Government , the unjustifiableness of any Schism , the firm security that Faith is certain , and whatever in the Church is Sacred . But Protestants never clear themselves from Schism , upon any other grounds , that those , which if admitted , would prove all Malefactors in the World innocent , and make it lawful , nay an obligation in conscience , to dissolve the whole Fabrick of the Worlds Government , whereas the very posture of a Fallibility of Faith , first lays , and in time hatches the Cockatrice Eggs of Anarchy and Atheism . What Man ever arrived to that height of mistake , as to endeavour to manifest his Innocency by the voluntary confession of a crime , which implies the objected sin of Schism ? Now Protestants are accused of Schism , they lay for the ground of their excuse , that they acknowledge not Christs Churches Infallibility , which is charged on them , to be both Schism and Heresie , and as the very sink of Infidelity . Sure they clearing themselves by denying the Infallibility of the Church , does the self-same as if some Male-contented Subject , having first out-lawed himself , by denying the Laws , and rejecting the Government of the Land , and afterwards this man becoming obnoxious to those Laws , by Robbing or Murthering , should endeavour to plead not Guilty , by alledging , that though indeed the Subjects , who accept the Laws , and allow the Government of England , are liable to punishment , if they offend against them . Yet , I ( quoth he ) who suppose this Government Tyrannical , and the Laws unjust , especially having a perswasion , and thinking in my Conscience they are so , cannot be obliged to obey them , and therefore I must not be accounted a Factious Man , nor liable to punishment if I break them . Pray what will become of this Malefactor ? Sure Protestants will clear him , in favorem Schismatis : But I am perswaded , wiser Judgments will think him more highly deserving the Gallows , for refusing subjection to the install'd Government ; then it is manifest , that Protestants do more deeply merit Excommunication , for denying and rejecting Church-Government and her Infallibility . CHAP. V. A Paraenetical Admonition to the People of England . PRotestants regard the antient Faith of Christ , whose Purity Ministers seek to blacken , by insufferable Injuries , Lyes , Invectives and Calumnies of the deepest Dye . They full well knowing , that its Purity cannot be attacqu'd with solid evident Reasons , nor Arguments , they found out by experience , that their Arguments to prove their new fangled false Doctrine , makes but slight Impression in the Peoples minds : And they daily see , that when they but faithfully represent the Sentiments and real Doctrine of the Catholick Church , they can neither justifie their Fatal Separation , nor excuse the Extravagancies and Impudencies of their first Reformers ; they finding it impossible by these means , to maintain the ground of their cursed Schism , they have a recourse to a most unjust , pernicious and hellish Artifice , viz. to impute to the Roman Catholick Church , an infinite number of gross Errors , representing them under the hideous Idea , of a Society professing most impious Doctrine ; thus no wonder that Peoples minds , under their conduct , should be alienated , as to feel Horror and Detestation of her Doctrine , so as their breach has been all along grounded upon Lyes , Calumnies and False Suppositions . Not being able to alledge in the behalf of their Schism , any thing that can bear weight , assuredly such disingenuous proceedings cannot but bring a deserv'd disrepute shame and confusion on the Protestant decaying Sect , even from the sober understanding men among them . And it is observable , that Incredulity is an immortal Disease , which hath reign'd from the beginning of the World , and which shall never end , but with the Worlds Dissolution . Dreams , Lyes , Illusions and Falshood are easily believ'd , because they insinuate themselves into the Hearts of men by Charms , but glorious Truth , which can never bely her self , hath much ado to make her self entertain'd and understood , yet we must know that there are many things unknown to us , wherein God doth exercise our Faith , but not satisfie our vain curiosity . It is said , that heretofore in Smyrna , a City in Greece , there was a false Mirror kept in the Temple , which did represent the most beautiful Faces with notable Deformity , and on the contrary , gave to ugly and mis-shapen a Lustre , of borrow'd and wholly imaginary beauty : It is most notorious , that the Protestant Ministers , in the false Glass of their Preachings , and lying printed Panphlets , represents the glorious Church of Christ the Spouse of Heaven ever Holy , as a Monster composed of Idolatry and Abomination , as the Horrid Beast , Whore of Babylon , &c. and on the contrary , a Protestant Sect , which begun by a revolt from all Obedience to lawful Superiors , and by an infinite number of Exorbitances , Sacriledge , and unparallel'd Cruelties , is forsooth represented as celestial , holy and beautiful ; and it is to be wondered to see even Dr. Stillingfleet , that Hircules and prime Advocate for Schism , and who undertakes like a Goliah , to defie the whole Hoast of Israel , in the false Glass of his Roman Idolatry , p. 8. Velit nolit , represents the Roman Catholick Church , as Idolatrous and Superstitious , and yet makes it out clearly , that she is the true Church , to whose Communion the purest of all Christians are bound to joyn , and that those who in any time did not joyn with it , acted against their Christianity , and must be counted as Schismaticks . Now , noble Sirs , you are intreated seriously to reflect and bear in mind that heavenly Virtue , of ready and true filial Obedience to lawfully authorized Superiors , as Guides of your Souls in this Valley of Misery , and sink of Death : this Virtue is of the first magnitude , and deserves all imaginable Encomiums ; Opposita juxta se posita magis clucescunt , said the most excellent Philosopher : contraries are their best Illustrations : Now Schism is Disobedience , and a most horrid Vice , considered in her own ugly shape , being carnality it self , so as there is not any crime so hainous as Schism , not Sacriledge , Idolatry , Paracide , nor worshipping the Devil , it 's an Abridgement of all the most damnable inexcusable , unexpiable Vices imaginable , it being impossible to receive such an injury or provocation from Church-Governours , as may make a Separation excusable ; for according to St. Austin , it is impossible that there should be any just cause for any to separate from the Catholick Roman Church . Sirs , such expressions as these cannot but strongly incite any understanding unbyass'd man , whom a tender care of Eternity invites to seek satisfaction in this Point , and seriously to consider , that the Decision of no one Controversie is more neerly concerning Salvation , than this , being the hinge on which the Ocean of particular Disputes and Controversies do hang. This said , let us see what Dr. Stillingfleet asserts in his Roman Idolatry , p. 8. That a Christian , by Virtue of his being so , is bound to joyn in some Church or Congregations of Christians , and that those who in any time did not joyn with it , acted against their Christianity , by virtue of which , they were bound to do it ; he adds that a Christian by being so , is bound to joyn in Communion of some Church , and to chuse the Communion of the purest ; from this his Doctrine , any understanding man must gather that he and his Protestant-pretended Church are guilty of Schism , for separating themselves , and remaining from joyning with the Communion of the Roman Catholick Church , notwithstanding the said Stillingfleet , strains all his Wits to palliate Schism , painting their idle Reformation to advantage , and not at all in its true colours , proclaiming often Roman Catholicks Idolators , superstitious , &c. which is the chief Rope whereupon he dances the Antick and triumphs ; O tempora , o mores ! himself and his Proselites being in Schism over head and ears . What then I pray , are Protestants the better for all the Sermons they hear , and Sacraments they receive ? Living in the cursed state of Schism ? for sure before Luther there was a glorious Church ; by the confession even of Adversaries , this must be the Roman , whose Communion was necessary to Salvation . Therefore the Church of England , separating , and remaining obstinately from joining in Communion with It , must be Schismaticks , and something more to boot ; and it 's notoriously evident , that the Roman Church hath the strongest warrantable promises , prerogatives , and motives , even given to it by the sacred mouth of glorious Jesus ; then sure she could not err , then sure she could not need any idle pretended Reformation . So as that all Stilling fleet 's blind preaching of Reformation is vain , his Faith is vain , his Sacraments vain , all his super-structures of daily printing lying new Books , and scurrilous Pamphlets , but all vain , and by consequence himself no better than a sorry Schismatick : So as any unbyass'd understanding man may plainly see , all those Arrows which Dr. Still . shoots against Roman Catholicks fall directly on his own head ; Muta fiant labia dolosa , quia narraverunt iniqui fabulationes , sed non ut lex tua . His Objection is , That Rome was an Harlot , Superstitious , the horned Beast , &c. It 's true that St. Ierome and other holy Fathers avers the same with reason ; but it was so called then when Rome was Gentile , infected with Errours , vain Superstitions of all Nations , blaspheming God , adoring Stocks and Stones , and shedding , in hatred of Christian Religion , the Blood of Saints . But after that Rome gave her name to Christ , she can no more be stiled the Whore of Babylon , but a glorious City , faithful City , replenished with all Grace and Righteousness , which by receiving and confessing the Faith and Religion of Christ , purely wip'd and wash'd off all Impurity , all Blasphemies , and superstitious Observances ; from that time it 's become the Tabernacle of God in the Sun , true Pillar and Ground of Faith ; no blemish , spot , or wrinkle doth she carry . When , I pray , is any able to say he saw her brave Sun go down , or her fair Moon withdraw ? she always being a perpetual Excellence of a spotless Light and Irradiancy . From this City of the Sun Decrees of pure Faith are daily call'd for , a pure Fountain from whence to the universal world streams of heavenly Truths , Doctrines , and Sanctity daily flow . This is the most triumphant Tribunal of Christ , whence the real Conviction and Condemnation of Heresies , Sects , and Errours do proceed ; the Oracle of Christians , by which , and in which alone , infallibly all arising doubts about true saving Faith are resolved . It 's the sublime and invincible Seat of glorious Peter , wherein to this day doth reign , and invisibly as President resides Christ , never forsaking the same . This is the holy Land , consecrated by the Sacred Blood of the Apostles , in which 72 Popes are Saints , so many our B. Saviour's Disciples were . O glorious triumphant Hierarchy ! O Queen ! O invincible and ever-blessed Kingdom of Christ ! O flourishing , potent , and brave resplendent City ! O Army embattell'd in a heavenly martial order ! where Christians must stand always upon their guard , with weapon in hand , fighting here , to be crowned in Heaven ; labouring here , to rest there ; sowing of tears here , to reap joys there ; in a storm here , to be in a calm there ; and therefore our Roman Catholick Church is called Militant here , but Triumphant there , both which are correlatives . I said it is a well-ordered Army set in Battel-array , in which the King and Chief in Command is Christ , his Under-Vicegerent , Vicar-General , Universal Pastor , is the Pope ; his Colonels , the Archbishops , Bishops , Prelates , and Pastors ; his Captains and Engineers are all Under-Priests of all Estates ; his Trumpetters are the Evangelical Preachers ; his Souldiers , all stout Christian Catholicks : This heavenly Army is furnished with all the Sacraments ; Matrimony peopleth the Army with men , Baptism presseth and enrolleth them , Confirmation armeth and strengtheneth them , the most Blessed Eucharist provideth the Camp with Ammunition-bread and heavenly Victuals . O brave Church of Christ , ever Glorious ! founded on a Rock , and this was Christ , who said , Matth. 7.25 , 26. The Rain fell , the Floods came , the Wind blew , and rushed upon the house , and it fell not , for it was founded on a Rock ; But the pretended Reformation established by Law on the 20 th . of May , 1549 ? And was it not quite abolished on the 26 th , of November , 1644 , by the like failing Authority ? Assuredly it could expect but the fate of the Fool 's House , It fell , for being built upon the sandy foundations of humane Invention , and black Arts. This sure happened by God's sweetly-chastising Mercy , that by weighing their fatal dissolution , and the causes of it , they may retrieve their wanderings , and at length recollect their scattered and distracted Members into the ever firmly united Body of the One Catholick Roman Church . This made Mr. Hooker , that prudent Protestant-writer , affirm , That the Protestant Church was not likely to continue more than fourscore years , lib. 5. num . 79. Nor could he judge otherwise , seeing it bears evidently the Principles of corruption and mutability in its very constitution , viz. the materia prima of a meer secular Basis : ; the first Governours of it being none of those to whom Christ promised his continual assistance to the Worlds end . Forsake then , and leave ( Sirs ) that fleeting and unbodied shadow of Shism , return and unite your selves to the Catholick Church , be not wandring Brethren , dry and sapless ; now seeing that as the Elements never rest contentedly but in their Centre , so you 'll find no rest but in the bosom of the true Church , which is the proper place of every Christian , to which I invite the brave Nobles of England , to begin to open their Eyes and consider that it 's very strange how that in a manner all the Nobility of England fell from their old Religion establish'd by unfeigned Miracles , and readily embraced a pretended Reformation . Sure it was not for Conscience sake , some fell for liberty , some for flattery , some for ambition , and some for sordid lucre of Church-Lands . I ask whether Henry the Eighth or the Nobles that fell with him found any fault or exception against the Sacraments , Divine Service , or the other holy Rites of the Church ? Not at all , then , their woful fall must proceed from their perverse wills , which they made their Law : hinc lacrymae . Sure this dismal change in King and Peers , was the sad in-let of all the Wars , Confusion and Calamities in Church and State that hapned ever since in this brave Kingdome this general defection from God ( against Conscience ) of the Nobility , may plead in some measure a plausible excuse , their being excited and provok'd thereunto by the example of their passionate King who hath strong influence on his Subjects , according to the Poet Claudian Regis ad exemplum totus componitur Orbis . Mobile mutatur una cum principe vulgus . Scilicet in vulgus manant exempla Regentum : Sure we may perceive a just judgment inflicted on the Nobility of England after their revolt , pray what 's become of all that manly Courage , Prowess , Gallantry and Valour , that made them still renowned in all Countreys of the whole World ? All now degenerated into a shameful effeminacy , debauch'd cowardice and inconstancy . Sure a touch of blindness and madness possessed them and whetted their high Spirits on to such impious actings as to yield to Injustice , Sacriledge , Schism and Heresie ; how came they ( I say ) to be so stupified as to forget the great Zeal and courage of their Christian Ancestors ? Who for some small temporal Concern or Priviledge have often bid defiance to their Prince , yet in King Henry the Eighth's time the Nobility prov'd Cowards , their Spirits low and base in the Cause of God and his old Religion , so as very few withstood the Innovation and Usurpation of Henry the Eighth's , hinc illae lachrimae , think you , could the Nobility ( in whose hands and power it lay to impede the innovations and unparrellell'd Sacriledge of their King ) expect to escape the Vengeance of God , who is a jealous God revenging the Crimes of Parents upon their Posterity even to the fourth Generation , yet the floud-gate of of Gods mercy is still open to all Sinners who with a contrite heart shall lay hold on Jesus Christ by Conversion from Schism to his Faith found only in the Roman Catholick Church . Fair warning take , O brave Nobility , sound a retreat , fight not any longer against Heaven , call to mind the dishonour you have done to glorious Jesus , trampling on his precious blood by your Sacrilegious contempt of his Sacred Religion and Sacraments : Know that non est concilium , nec Sapientia contra Deum , leave off to be embroil'd any longer in that most pernicious quarrel of Henry the Eighth's unjustly undertaken . — Vna manus vobis vulnus opemque feret . Sure your will gave you the deadly wound of Schism and Heresie , the same must sure heal you ; by perusing this small Treatise with Gods assistance it may convince your understanding , and reduce your perverse will to obedience . Begin therefore to reclaim , its high time for you to return to God who bindeth Nobles in Fetters of Iron , and who alone can en-noble the meanest , and laugh to scorn the proud that presume on Nobility in contempt of the Almighty , for he is noble that in Vertue shines , ill Life and Manners are degenerate Signs , Earth's Nobles in Heaven's Court unknown Heaven not Gentry but the just doth own , should you in power and strength excell all other men . — Plenty of Massie Gold and Silver , what then ? Injoy'd you Fortune's Wheel to raise thee to the Skie . Well ordered Servants that in Duty would outvie all others , what then ? All 's but Folly and distress , but God alone to serve is true Glory to possess . The want of a serious consideration hereof brought England to the Stage of Confusion , Disorder , Schism , and Sacriledge , pray did not your Schism occasion a grievious Civil War which continued for three years ? soon after a gloomy horrible Comet appear'd in the Air which did usher a most raging Plague , soon after Fire and dreadful Flames from Heaven , all but warnings and merciful invitations for to bring England to true obedience and re-union to the ancient , reveal'd and Soul-saving Faith of Christ : yet all proved ineffective : What ? A fiery Comet in the Van ? What , a frightful Plague in the main Body ? What , devouring Flames as horrid Executioners of Gods vengeance in the Rear , and yet no moving at all towards the fear of God irritated , notwithstanding all such prodigious Judgments and Visitatious sent from a hand more then humane , all did but harden the people of Londons hearts in Schism and Heresie : But now in a most happy hour . Lo our great Royal Iames , now displays his white Flag Clemency and Mercy to his Subjects assuring the World ( out of his Princely Mature Wisdome , and Experience ) that Liberty of Conscience in England cannot but mainly conduce as an Inlet for the reducing of all his Loyal Subjects from Dire Schism , and Heresie , to the one true Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church of Christ , ut fiat unum ovile , & unus pastor ovium . For his most Sacred Majesty by his well ordered Zeal and Dei-form intention labours to promote vigorously the common good , Spiritual and Temporal of his Subjects as he , like a most good , just , clement , and puissant Prince holds himself bound . O brave England do but seriously consider how the World cannot chose but discern you , ever since your Revolt , overcast with blindness and disingenuity , your Nobles and Gentry , become altogether most inconstant , unsteady , wavering and still dissatisfied with any Government , Monarchical or Anarchical ; even as when a Bone is out of joynt , the Patient can never be free from his pain till it be not only set , but set right again : So England , it is not only out of joynt , but even broken in pieces suffering inexpressible miseries , changes , and calamities both in Church and State , yet even to this day it feels no ease at all , because none have had it in hand to cure its distempers , but such as instead of healing its wound , have inflam'd its maladies and woful distractions . O brave Nobility of England joyn with your great Prince : according to that Axiom , per quascunque causas conponitur res , per easdem dissolvetur . Henry the Eighth began the dance in bringing in Schism , the Nobility followed him . Now great King Iames begins to chace away Schism & introduce union , peace , & prosperity , follow him a brave Pole Star , Take this Fable to our purpose , upon a time the Frogs petition'd Iupiter to grant them a King , he condescended , and tumbled among them a Log , after they had leap'd a while both on it and about it , and finding it to be insensible they once more petition'd for a King active and stirring ; whereupon he sent them a Crane which fell immediately a pecking up . The Moral hereof plainly shews , that nothing can give any lasting satisfaction to the desire of change to the people of England , for whether the Governour be a Frog or a Crane , passive or active , clement , or cruel , gracious or grievous , they disrelish all , unwilling to obey any , such are their Principles , so as that they leave no stone unmoved to unsettle or alter any Government , chosing to be enslaved by a bad rather then endure constantly a good one , and all this because they are blind and mad , out of all order for want of faith . I could not forbear letting fall some tears beholding such a Mockery of Heaven and Sacriligious Villany performed on St. Patriarks day last , in contempt of that Apostle of Ireland who by the Sign of the Cross wrought many Miracles , whereof one is most notorious , viz. That he chased away from that Kingdom all venomous Creatures even to this very day . Any considering man may plainly see how that Schism revealed its own turpitud , and betray'd it self to the full , on the 17 of September last : it 's sure then the semblance painted with Hypocrisie and Forgery was pull'd away , then it 's Vizard and adulterated colours were quite taken away , so as Schism discovered is a face unmasked , then sure by Schism ( the Origine of our holy Reformation ) the work was done to the full ; when all the grounds of Christian Religion then were quite pull'd down , Root and Branch ; pray what are all our Protestant Reformations , but the taking away the antient Principles of Faith without any positive institution , still proceeding by degrees from Schism , to Reformation , from this to Infidelity and Blasphemy , until of the whole Fabrick of Divine Faith there is not left one stone upon another . The Sign of the Cross only as a distinctive character between Christian and Pagan left , was on St. Patriarks day last , villified and exposed to the scorn and laughter of the giddy crowds of Protestants at London , when Bulls with Crosses in their Horns , Bears and Dogs with Crosses in their Foreheads were seen marching through the Protestant Streets of London , and none did appear with any touch of Zeal or Religion to reprove , check , or punish such a villanous devillism , o tempora , o mores ! What! To see the holy Cross pull'd from Churches , Altars , from the Crown of our Sovereign , and even from Baptism , then most prophanely translated to the heads of Bears , Bulls , and Dogs ; Sure such Heathenish practices suits better with Turks and Moors : now then , what other can the Permitters , Promoters , Applauders , and Abettors , of such prophane ridiculing of the prime Mystery of Christianity expect , then a heavy judgment from Heaven . Is this the fruit of all the plausible Sermons in Protestant Churches on every Sunday ? Is this the end of Schism and its deformation , now it 's come to the height of shame ? O plentiful Reformation , O Zealous , O Blessed , O Sober , O Godly , Protestant thorough Reformation : Now the work is done , non plus ultra . Who sees not how Schism produced Reformation , a disorder establish'd by humane Law which bred this confusion ; thus Protestant Preachers teaching their Proselites to hate Popery they have put them upon the over-acting the work ; so , as to leave their Religion a gasping : O London put on black and warning take . FINIS . TO THE Most Puissant , and most Renown'd JAMES the SECOND KING Of England , Scotland , France , and Ireland , Defender of the Faith , Long and Prosperous Reign is Wished and Prayed for . OUR bright Orient Star , King IAMES , long may shine . With True Faith's Rays , most Powerful and Divine ; Whom the Lustre of Glorious Greatness Crown'd : May God his Foes Convert , or them Confound . Whom all Admire , whom all almost Adore , Who to his Subjects doth now all good restore . Who for Valour , Wisdom , Piety , and Stature . Is a wond'rous Master-piece of Nature . His Deliverances from Plots a Miracle , His rare Judgements , Royal word an Oracle . He out-brav'd all Perils , his Prowess met , A calm Spirit amidst main Storms he kept . In Heaven's Annals , his Royal Acts are Enroll'd , His Heroick Feats are still in Flanders told : In Spain and France his pure conduct is Renown'd , And now through the World doth his Vertue sound . Ne'r since the Grecians call'd this World their own , Or Romans theirs , was greater Valour known Than his , if yet new Worlds to Conquer Were , Sure Brave IAMES were the fitter Conquerer . His Valour , and Conduct surpassing far , Great Champions , that were Thunderbolts of VVar , Bravest example of most Heroick worth , That ever yet this later Age brought forth ; VVhat Tongue or Pen is able to express , His matchless Gifts , Graces , and high minds Hapiness . — Therefore , Can Royal IAMES fear the VVhigs , those Scare-Crows then ? Those Bugbear VVretches , the meer shades of Men ? — NO , NO , for He wants no Arms to fit him for the Field , His Prayers are his Sword , True old Faith his Shield . He in sweet Jesus by true Faith confides : Mark ; Christ all safety still for him provides . VVhigs when they list may for VVar and Storms call , They with loud Thunder shall in fury fall : In vain they Plot , Contrive , Conspire , Combine , They 'll fail by God , of their most damn'd design : For if by Sedition they his Power contemn , For him Christ will dire Vengeance fling on them . For God's Transcendent Providence still bear sway , Which Plots against Kings doth with sorrow pay . Lo ! VVhen the Rare Arabian Bird doth burn , Her Beauties are not lost , but doth return , For when her Body 's laid on sweet Flames to Death , Out of her Cindars a new Bird takes Breath . From blest Queen Mary's Ashes , and Royal Blood , Y'our Sovereign Leige a Lovely Flower did bud : For your Deiform Zeal for True Old Faith doth show , That her Blood in your Sacred Veins do flow . Lo God printed in your Pure Serene Face , Mild Majesty , Royal Terrour , dreadful Grace . Live long , unpeer'd great Prince , I Prayers amain Will daily offer for your most Happy Reign , And humbly beg of God's Eternal bounty , That Peace , Union , One Religion , Plenty Of all Blessings , from his most Potent Hand Be pour'd down upon this thy British Land ; And on Christ's ( in thy Kingdoms ) Faithful Flock , Built on St. Peters Rome , and St. Peters Rock . Reign long great Phaenix now 'mongst Earthly Kings , Still prosper , Great IAMES , for VVits pure managings . Now you appear with mild , and sweet fervour , 'Gainst forlorn Sects , Lies , Schism , and all Errour ; Y'own St. Ambrose , Hierom , and St. Austin , Before Mad Luther , Beza , and blind Calvin . Your Majesty hates the new Sin-sick Tricks , Of deluded deluding Schismaticks ; Who to new fangled Faiths are so affected , That by them Christs Faith is quite rejected : Whose curs'd Spawn adventur'd t' expose to Sale The best of Kings , their Faith , their Souls , and all ; Who , to Rent his Church daily do devise , And God's pure Spouse , still Harlot like despise , Lying Pamphlets , Pulpits their black Art do try , To stop True Faith's most Triumphant Victory . In vain they Plot , Contrive , Conspire , Combine , They 'll fail by Gods power of their damn'd Design . — Therefore Let blind VVhigs stoop to serve at Royal IAMES's Feet , Where Valour , VVisdom , Mercy and Justice meet . Sure non can frown at King IAMES his gentleness , But those that have an apparent Guiltiness ; Or such as at length to foul Death must run , As Monmouth aiming at the Crown have done . God bless our KING , defend him from his Foes , Ill Fate befall those that will him oppose . VVe bless his Birth-Day , and the Ground he tread , — FOR His Zeal for True Faith through all VVorld is spread . Christ bless King IAMES , Queen MARY , and then Let all True , Real , Loyal Subjects say Amen . On their Seat their Seed may ever Flourish , VVhich may in One Truth Three Kingdoms Nourish . God grant that never any other Hand Then Royal Stuarts , sway the Scepter of this Land. May it please Your Most Sacred Majesty , this is the daily Humble Prayer of J. E. one of Your Majesties most devoted Subjects , Who For shew of his True , Real , Loyal Affection , Plain Lines and Life offers to Your High Protection . Perge age , prosper abi , Rex Vince JACOBE Secunde Hostes Armipotens Religione , Fide. A Divine Poem Disswasive from Shism . IN this vast World none full content can find , For tho , one may be rich indeed yet his mind Is empty still , for still he covets more , And is amidst his main heaps of riches , poor . Lo , the Spherick figure cannot suffice Equally to fill what is triangle wise Lay one upon another , and you 'll see , Always some corner will unfurnish'd be When the Almighty made man's Soul , the same Triangular by high Providence did frame To represent his matchless self , and be The image of one God in persons three , Ordaining man to love , fear , obey , and serve God alone , who always doth reward reserve . For , here beneath sure nothing can be found In this low Orb that 's Spherical and round Can satisfie Man's Soul ; nor can man rest In Creatures , who is ord'red to be blest By Gods sweet fruition , who to him gave The sublime being , and essence , which he have Good Sir , Slight not eternal goods and with much pain , For blind Schism ev'rlasting torments gain . Renounce thy right t'Heaven and purchas Hell , Chosing in dungeon , fire , and chains to dwell Don't forsake Christ ways safe , true , and immense , Pursuing lying , false doctrine to please thy Sence Which will debase thy nature , and the fruit Will be to leave thee level with the bruit . What will enoble you and truly raise Are Visions of those beams which God displays From his reconciled sweet face shall make Your Soul of his bles'd nature to partake Nought Sir can here be offer'd to thy eye That can the glory of Heaven outvie . Nought here beneath of comfort doth so thrive As when God pure hearts doth with grace revive Gods light must guide thee , how grace must be us'd Mercies proves judgment when they are abus'd . Schism breeds blindness and beats reason back Forgets shames blush , and doth honour wrack . By faith we know immortal Souls to be And that for Souls there 's an Eternity Become what will of all the rest you have Pray , Sir , mind still thou hast a Soul to save . A Soul , your only Soul which when you die Is either sav'd or damn'd eternally . This only thought will dark Schism controul , Saying , avant damn'd Sect I must save my soul , Thus retreat , now convert thy self and next Give joy to Angels , Church and Friends perplex't . Turn , Sir , live by true Faith e're you die Making provision for eternity . Is your precious soul's glorious future state Not worth caring for ? Wilt thou inhumane be Unto thy self ? O wretched cruelty ! If you will curs'd Heresie close pursue , Turning your self from Christ , I bid you adieu : By cautions warnings , and sad remors ▪ You 'll feel the hazard of that thy woful course . How in the paths of sad Schism you do stray And to Satanick wiles become a prey — In Christ's most divine face with scorn you spit , Finding but pains of that your darkn'd wit. What 's that most perverse Sect to which you 'r gon But from Christs Church a revolted Squadron ? Turn then to your Mother who as a guide Sure means to Heaven will for you provide . What Angel from God came to you to tell That errours are in Christ pure Faith and Gospel ? Sanctity of life , none could e're have seen In any who a Protestant have been . You 'll say your Sect hath Scripture on her side . Such vain conceit none can but fools abide . Know you not ! That Hereticks and Devils Us'd Scripture , to cloke their damn'd black evils ; To fly from Christ , and his pure Faith , what worse ? To strengthen Schism deserves a double curse Remember , Sir , that your poor soul has cost A price too great by Heresie to be lost . Then , Sir , with-draw your self from Apostar's place And with speed listen to the call of Grace — Lo , true faiths day-spring shining from on high Will relieve you that in deaths shade do lie . And will direct thy wandring thoughts aright Out of dark Schism to saith's pure light . Look , Sir , to 't awake shake off those cruel bands Of dismal Heresie , and proud commands Of the Devils powers , return and cry Then like the Dove to Christs blessed arms fly , Where Mercy 's ready still to comfort all That yields obedience to God's gracious Call , Pray , Sir , don't resist , but without delay Close in with glorious Jesus's voice this day . Know , Sir , that it's truth which alway bare date That true repentance never comes too late Be wise , beware , for he that will not take Example now , sure must example make Relent , reclaim , don't in Schism pleasure take , Least you fall in flames of that fiery lake . The scorching pile whereof is kindled by The breath of an incens'd great Majesty . O woful state ! Those torments who can tell Which with consuming fire for ever dwell . Still fill'd with lamentations , mournings , woes With floods of wrath that from dire vengeance flows . Lord , who 'l be so mad as for empty toys Lose for ever , pure substantial joys : Sure it 's but stark madness now to reject Those counsels which to faith doth thee direct . How oft you have extinguish'd that clear light Offer'd by friends to guide thy soul aright Sure there 's a war that gives your mind no rest Your judgment tells thee old faith's waies are best . Gold , jewels , honour , high promotion , wealth Revenues , soveraignity , pleasures , and health . What are all these vain transient things without true faith , souls to damnation brings . Your Conscience checks you that you don't obey Shewing you the danger of your blind delay . What you should do you know not , this you find That strong convictions still assaults thy mind . Till conscience with Gods help will interpose And by strong grace your dark Schism overthrows . O good , Sir , don't for dark Schism lose that place Where Saints and Angels still beholds the face Of God's eternal glory and do sing Joyful Hailelujah's to their King of Kings . Come , Sir , and tread those paths that will thee bring Unto a glorious everlasting spring , And on a most rich Throne thou shalt sit down , And there for ever wear a triumphant Crown Thy Soul 's immortal , Sir , look what can agree To it's nature , sure that must satiate thee , Nothing but the blest fountain God that will Suit with thy soul , and thy poor spirit fill . All worldly pleasures thou injoyest to day To morrow will take wings and fly away . Though true faiths happy ways may seem to be A thorny , rough , unpleasant path to thee : Yet try it , Sir , for what at first seems hard , Will prove to thee sure welcome afterward . For when thy heart is enlarg'd with love Unto those glorious things that are above Then wilt thou run these ways with great delight And wild Schism ways with all thy soul will slight . Turn then , and believe , thy conquest shall be sure If thou in Christ's faith till the end endure , Ask those who follow th' old faith they 'll say They feed on hidden Manna in their way . By acts of faith and love they now possess — They feel strong sweetness which they can't express Oft men of Note thro' pride are prompt to stray Thinking themselves too great for virtues way No truth , no faith in that Sect you profess Which can your drooping soul with grace refresh . No fast , nor maceration of the flesh Of pomp , lust , and vain pleasure , full excess . No Priest , no Mass , no moving sacred thing That sighs from hearts , or tears from eies may wring . Oh , Sir , return to Christ in whom from pain Unalter d joys , unmix'd delights you 'l gain To him the only object of thy love Let thy poor panting heart and will , now move For to true faith 's old ways thou ought`st to groan And so work for eternal bliss alone . May Christ dissolve your Schism and pull down All those that do oppose Christs tripple Crown In holy wars the Pope still triumphs alone And when Schism's disarm'd , he then extends his Throne Christ's Gospel steers to union and true love , And by conviction on hearts doth move . I. E. FINIS .