Chap. 2 Prov [...]ng that the Communio [...] was admīnistred under one kind in th [...] Primitive Church

The Authorityes which my adversary [Page 39] defies to be produc'd doe clearly make-out the ancient pra­tice of Receiving the Communi­on under one sole species in the Primitive Church therefore this doctrine was not first brought in by the present Chuch of Rome, either in the 6, 7, 8, or 9 age; the consequens is manifest, as will ap­pear hereafter. As for the antice­dent▪ it may be prov'd by the ex­ample of Christ himself [...], Luck c. 24 v : 30. 35 where we read the following words. It came to passe as he sate at me [...]t with them, he tooke bread & bless'd i [...] & b [...]ake, & gave to them. And they told wha [...] things were done in the way, & how he wa [...] know [...]n by them in breakīg of bread. But there is no mention made of the cup : [Page 40] no, not in the whole Chapter & St. Hierome in Paula's epitaph St. Augustin in his 3 book d [...] consensu Evangelistarum c : 23 venerable Bede, Thèophilactus and several others in the commentary of this chapter, do [...] plainly affirm [...], that our saviou [...] gave then the blessed sacremen [...] to those two disciples? moreove [...] we read in the acts of the Apostles [c: 2 v: 42) that the beliver [...] Continued stedfastly in the Apostle [...] Doctrine and fellowship, in breakin [...] of bread, and in prayers; but w [...] see no kind of mention made o [...] the cup, but rather a confirmation of the contrary, as is manifest b [...] the 46 verse of the same Chapter : wherefore I may lawfully īfe [...] [Page 41] that our Saviour Jesus Christ did not oblige all the belivers to Communicate in both species; otherwise certainly himself wou'd not be the first transgres­sor of his own law; neither wou'd he promise everlasting life to those who wou'd receive the communion under the forme of bread, as he did, John c. 6 v: 51 saying thus; I am the living bread, which came down from heaven, if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; where by we see plainly that everlasting life is promis'd to us, for eating worthily that heavenly bread.

Now let us see did those of the primitive Church ever practice to give the communion in one [Page 42] sole species; to prove which will produce the Authoritye and examples of those, Father [...] who then liv'd. Tertulian, wh [...] Liv'd th [...] year 230, in is bo [...] of Oration c. 14 and in his book ad Uxorem, c. 5. gives [...] understand that it was then custom to carry the Euchar [...] home for private Communi [...] St. Ambrose who liv'd in the Century, relates in his Oration [...] Obitu Satyri that then the peop [...] were wont to keep the Euchar [...] about them, and that his o [...] brother Satyras once in a shi [...] [...]rak was miraculously Sa [...] from being drown'd▪ by the v [...] tue of the blessed Euchar [...] which was ty'd about his ne [...] [Page 43] St. Basil, who liv'd in the same Century expressly affirms (in his Epist : to Caesaria Patricia) that it was a common practice to bring the Eucharist home to their hou­ses, and to receive it, when they pleas'd; which is a manifest sign that then the people did not al­wayes receive the Communion in both species, for those who tooke it under the forme of wine, re­ceiv'd it in the Church from the Priests, or Deacons; as St. Cyprian relates in his ser. De lapsis, and those who pleas'd to bring it home under the forme of bread for privat Communion were not hinder'd; until by reason of seve­ral abuses, which happen'd; the Father of the Council of Caesa­ragust : [Page 44] who sate the year 382 Can: 3, prohibit'd it. St. Denis who liv'd in the 2 [...] in his book de Eceles : [...] Chap : af­fir [...]s that it was [...] custom to give the Communion to the chil­dren under the [...] of wine, and St. Cyprian, who liv'd the year 250 in his sermon Delapsis, makes mention of acertain child, who receiv'd the Communion under the forme of wine and also of three more who receiv'd it un­der one sole species. St. Denis of Alexandria, who has been St. Cy­prians contemprory, in his Epists to Tobias, tells of a certain Priest▪ who gave a particle of the con­secrat'd host to aboy, in order to bring it, to serapion, who wa [...] [Page 45] desparate ill in his dying bead. Paulinus, who has been very fa­miliar with St. Ambrose and pre­sent at his deah, relates (writing his life) that he receiv'd the Communion only under the form of bread; and St. Basil did the same, as also we read in his Life; which neither of them wou'd offer to do, if they had believ'd it to be either agaīst the doctrine of the Church, or the institution of Christ. Sozomenus in his 8 book c : 5, & Nicepherus in his 13 : Book c 7 writes of a certain womā who was infected by the Macedonian heresie, but thinking to conceal her wickedness, and pretending before the people, to be a Catho­lick, she receiv'd the blessed Sa­crement [Page 46] under the form of bread from the hād of St. Chrisostome, which afterwards she gave pri­vately to her maid thinking to eat in its sted other bread, which shee brought from home▪ but it seems, that God Almighty was pleas'd to discover her prophane intention, for that bread which she thought to eat, was sudēdly turn'd into a stone before all the cōgregatiō. The Manichees who abhorr'd wine (believing it to be the Devils gall) never Communicated by only under the forme of bread : as St. Leos 4 Ser: in [...]ent expressly testifies: but Epi­phanius, St. Augustin & several others who writt of the Maniche­an errors never mention'd that [Page 47] they err'd in Receiving the Com­munion in one sole species. But I acknowledge that the Bishops of Italy about the year. 444. did much Recommend the use of the Chalice, that the Manichees might be discover'd, who lurking amōghst the Catholicks alwayes Receiv'd the Communion under the forme of bread; but never the Chalice & whosoever then dur­ing that Heresie wou'd not at the publicke Communion of Easter Receive the Chalice was sus­pected to be a Manichean; where­by the reader may plainly see, that the Church has reason to forbid at one time, what it per­mits, at an other; Christ having left unto it a dispensing power to [Page 48] alter all matters of indifferency in the discipline thereof, as the time, place, and circumstances wou'd require, which St Au­gustin (in his 118 Epistle openly declares, and it may be confirm'd by St. Pauls first Epistle: to the Corinthians. c. 11 v. 34. but the Manichean heresie being smothe­red, the Receiving of the [...]om­munion under one kind was after­wards Commōly practis'd in the Church as Hugo de sancto Vic­tore, who liv'd about the year 1130 relates in his book

Now before I shall proceed fur­ther in my Answer, let the reader observe those four points, which Commonly have been in practice in the Primitive Church (viz. [Page 49] that then the people wou'd bring the Eucharist home to their hous­es under the forme of bread for private Communion.

Secondly that the Communion was sent and given to the sick under the same forme.

Thirdly that infants & children Receiv'd the Communion under the forme of wine only:

Fourthly that the Primitive Christians Receiv'd publickly in the Churches, the Communion either under one or both species as they pleas'd, untill the Fathers of the Council of Constance a­bout the year 1414.) order'd the layties to Receive in one sole species; not decreeing that the Receivīg thereof in both species [Page 50] was unlawfull, or ever prohibited before by the Chur [...]h, but for se­veral other weighty reasons, of which I shall produce only two.

First, that (thereby) they might supresse and smother the Heresie of certain Germans & Bohemi [...]ns who then obstinatly deny'd th [...] integrety of the Sacrement to be contain'd in one sole species.

Secondly that for the future they might prevēt several abuses & prophanations which formerly happen'd, when the Chalice was given to the laity, who thro their weak zeal, and cold Devotion permitted very offtē drops of the holy blood to be spilt, as St. Chrys. ostome (in his first Epistleto Inno­centius, & Eneas Silviusin his di­alogue [Page 51] de utraque specie) relate [...], which is against the sub [...]ime Reveren [...]e due to this most excell [...]t Sacrament.

Wherefore it evidently appears, that neither the G [...]c [...]ā, or Lat [...]nes ever believ'd that all which is written in the Gospel touching the Communion under two spe­cies, is to be so universaly under­stood that it [...]on prehends all Christians▪ but that they alwayes suppos'd and believ'd from the very begining of Christianity that one sole spe [...]es was s [...]fficient for a true & lawfull Communion; so that the Council of Constance did but follow the tradition and Doctrine of all precedent ages, when it defin'd that the Commu­nion under, one sole species, was [Page 52] as good, and as sufficient as un­der both species; and that those who wou'd Receive it under one kind, wou'd neither contradict the institution of Christ or deprive themselves of the fruit of this holy Sacrament; for whether we eat or whether we drink, or whether we do both togeather, we alwayes apply the same Death of Jesus Christ, & alwayes Receive the same substance of the blessed Sacrament, and the same effec [...] of grace, for the true flesh, and blood of Jesus Christ are whoely and [...]ntirly contain'd in ever [...] drop of the blessed blood, an [...] in every particle of the blesse [...] Host: [...] as well as he is cōtaīd the whole cup, or in the whole Host [Page 53] or in both, therefore let no bodie foolishly belive, that more benefit is Receiv'd by taking the Com­munion in two species, than in taking it in one alone; for being that every drop of the blessed blood and every particle of the divided Host, is a maine Ocean of spiritual Blessings, many of them by the same moral action Receiv'd, affords no more grace then one alone; being that one alone contains the whole foun­taine intirly: therefore it appears that it was never our Saviours intention to oblige all Chris­tians to Receive the Sacrament in both species, for if this had been his intention, he wou'd cer­tainly institute i [...], in a materia [Page 54] more common to all nations, as he did in the institution of the Sacrament of baptism; knowing the wine to be so scarce in several parts of the world, that the poor inhabitants t [...]ereof cou [...]d but very seldom, or perhaps never Receive the Communion for the want of wine, therefore our Sa­viours intention was (when he said Drinke [...]e all of this [...]o o­blige the Disc [...]ples who only then were present, and also their suc­cessors w [...]o are the Priests, that da [...]y offer this most holy Sacri­fice under both species, and when he said to his Disciples John▪ c 6. v. 63. that the flesh profit­teth nothing, his meaning was, that it profitteth nothing [...]o [Page 55] believe his bodie to be only hu­man flesh excluding the divine nature as the Jews beliv'd, who deny'd Ch [...]ist to be the son of God.

C [...]ap 3 provi [...]g [...]hat t [...]e Co [...]m [...]n Prayers were [...] gen [...]al­ly unde [...]stood by all [...]hose of the Pr [...]mi­tive Chu [...]ch.

The holy scripture encourag [...]s us to p [...]ay tho' we [...]de [...]stand [...]o [...] what is said: the [...]ef [...]re [...]is law­full and expedient for us [...]o pr [...]y tho' we underst [...]nd no [...] [...] is sa [...] the an [...]cedent is manifest by S [...] Paul [...] fi [...]st Epist: to [...]e, Co­r [...]nthi [...]ns, chap. [...]4 v. [...] whe [...] [...]e sayes thu [...]: [...] [...]pea [...]eth [...]n [...] unknown tong [...], [...]eak [...]h not [...] men but unto God, for no man under­standeth [Page 56] him. Nay some times the speaker did not understand what himself said for the gift of lan­guages and the gift of interpre­ting languages are two distinct gifts as is evident by the 11. v. and did not alwayes meet togea­ther as may be seen by the 13. v. of the aforsaid chapter for there the Apostle exhorts him who spea­keth in an unknown tongue to pray that he may interpret; which is a sign that ordinaril [...] he cou'd not; as is manifest by the 14. v; where he sayes thus, [...] I pray in an un­known [...] spirit p [...]ay [...]eth, but [...] underst [...]n [...]g is unfruitfull where [...] see, that St. Paul [...] un [...]erstan­ding to be unfruitfull and not [Page 57] our prayers, when we pray in an unknown tongue; moreover you see, that St, Paul gives to understand that it is lawfull, and not prohibited to pray in an un­known tongue.

Now let us prove the consequen­ [...]e what the Apostles did, and practis'd, is lawfull and expedi­ent for us to practice: but the Apostles publick liturgies have been in languages, which were not Generally understood by all the nations they Converted therefore tis lawfull and expe­dient for our liturgies to be in a language not generally under­stood by all nations [...] use them: the major is evident and I shall prove the Minor [...]he [Page 58] Apostles publick liturgies were all in Hebrew, Greec [...], Syriack, or Latine, as is manifest by all Ancient writters.) which were not generally known languages, to all n [...]r [...]alf the Nations by them converted, and it was also in the same languages those of the primitive C [...]urch had their own publick l [...]turgies, af [...]er the Apostles death, as all the follo­wing. Fathers doe openly de­clare St [...]iprian (who liv'd in the 3 Century expounding the Lords Prayer) affi [...]ms that then the publick liturgie was in Latin, and St. August [...] [...] in his bookde Dono pe [...]e [...], chap 13, in his [...]. book de Doct [...]in Ch [...]istiana chap. 13, and also expounding the 123. [Page 59] Psal: and in his 173. Epistle de­clares that all the western Chur­ches had their Masse in Latin and St. Hierome ( [...]: in [...]:) affirms that all the [...]stern Chur­ches had their Masse in Greek and vs'd St. Basils Greek liturgie: but then the Latin and Greek were not the vulgar languages of all Nations for before those times there were several other languages as is manifest, by the acts of the Apostle [...] : Chap: 2. Ʋ. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. where we read the following words : and they were all fill'd with the holy Ghost, and began to speake with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance. [...]nd there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, de­vout men out of every Nation under [Page 60] heaven, Now when this was nois'd abroad the mult [...]ude came togeather and were confounded, because that every man hea [...]d them speake in his own language, and they were all a­maz'd, and marvell'd, saying one to an other; behold, are not all these who speak Galileans, and how hear we every man in our tongue, wherein we were born. Whereby it plainly appears, that neither the Apostles or the Fathers of the Primitive Church, ever judg'd it to be ex­pedient or necessary to translate the publick liturgie into the mo­ther tongue of every Nation; nor consequently that it was Requi­site, that it shuld be immediatly and expressly understood by eve­ry one of the hearers; for they [Page 61] knew too well that the end, for which the publick liturgie has been first instituted. does not re­quire this : for the drift which the Church had in appoin [...]ing liturgies, is that thereby a conti­nual tribute, or homage of pray­ers, and thanksgivings, might be publickly offer'd to God by the Priest & also that the Christi­ans (by their personal assistance at this publick service might unanimously exercise exterior acts of Religion agreeīg With the whole Church represented by the Ecclesiastical meeting of every pious congregation: moreover that every Christian by his pre­sence at this service, might con­sent to the publick Prayers, and [Page 62] thanksgiving of the Church, in order to be made partaker of the graces, fruits, and benefits, which the Church commonly obtaines by its liturgies and publick o­blation, for when the Priest cele­brats Masse, or sayes any publck prayers belonging to it, he offers them to God for the people pre­sent, for the whole Church, or for any other necessity of the people who are absent: so that it matters not, whether the people under­stands him or no : because they ha­ve as much benefit by his prayers, and oblation as if they had un­derstood what he sayes; for if they hear him not speaking a­word, they might be partakers of his prayers, and intercession, [Page 63] being God to whom they are of­fer'd, hears and understands him : for in Sacrifices, Prayers, and thanksgivings; the Priest speaks not to the Congregation, but to God : according to that of St. Paul's first Epist : to the Corinth : c 14. v 2 : which is Confirm'd by the following example: when any man layes sick, or in distress at home, he sends to the Church to be pray'd for, by the Priest, and Congregation: now, shall we believe? because he neither hears, or understands the prayers offer'd for him, that he obtains no bene­fit thereby? no, (the Lord forbid) for if so, the Prayers of the Righteous wou'd avail nothing, which is against that of St, James. [Page 64] c. 5. v. 15 16 : and w [...]ich is more, we wou'd never be the better for our Saviours intercession for us▪ to his heavenly Father because we neither heare nor understand him, or know when he interceds for us : yet we Receive innumer­able benefits by his intercession: and also by the Priests intercessi­on, when he Celebrats Masse, or sayes any other publick office or prayers instit [...]ted by the Church: for in this Common office he re­presents our Saviours place one earth: and we are certain that the fervent Prayers of a Righteous man availeth much, according to that of St. James c. [...] v. 15. 16. whe­ther we understand them, or no [...] for their effects doe not depend [Page 65] of our intelligence, but rather of the acceptation of God Almigh­ty, to whom they are offer'd.

But now [...]o discover the folly of those who do uncharitably cen­sure th [...] Church of Rome for ha­ving her Common Pray [...]rs in an unknown tongue: let them know, that there are many Millions of the said Church, who doe under­stand it in Latin and those who doe not, that they are so well instructed by the C [...]ergy, that they know when to kneel, when to stand, when to Pray▪ when to give thanks▪ and when to do re­verence, and when not : besides they have the most part of the Masse if not the whole, in their English, Italian, French, Dutch, [Page 66] and Spanish prayer book [...]: which also was formerly in the Irish prayer books▪ and would conti­nue so still; but that the penna [...] lawes of that Kingdom (in Qeen Elizabeth's raign) prohibited any Irish Schooles; which oblig'd them to use their Prayers in Latin and English? exceptsome of the vulgar, who were not able to a­low their Children Schooling to learn either of them: yet they ha­ve traditionaly from their Clergy and parents their prayers: and other necessary instructions in Irish, taught them by word of mouth, and also that part of the Masse wherein they might ha­ve any doubt, or scrouple. So that it is not said in Latin by [Page 67] the Priest, to the intent that the people might not understand him; or to the intent that the flock might be keept in darkness (as some of the pretended Refor­mers doe falsly reporte) but to the intent that the holy Catho­lick Church in her Liturgies might vse one generall, & Com­mon language, wherein all Na­tions doe indisputably agree, & which is more practis'd than any other langauge, by the whole world; so that if one trav [...]ls thro' all Europe, he shall alwayes find the same liturgie us'd in all Catholick Churches which conformity is a manifest sign of good Goverment, which is in the Church of Rome.

Chap 4 Proving the Pope of Rome's Supremacy in the Premitive Church.

Christ's promise to St. Peter, and the charge which he com­mitted unto him after his resur­rection, requires some ch [...]ef and Universal Pastor in the Church▪ whom all the rest ought to obey: but it was alwayes beliv'd in the Primitive Church. St. Peter and his successor (the Pope of Rome) to have been that chief and Uni­versal Pastor: therefore it was alwayes believ'd in the Primiti­ve Church, St. Peter and his successor (the Pope of Rome) to have been the chief and Uni­versal Pastor, whom all the rest ought to obey : the minor and con­sequence are manifest : as shall appear [Page 69] hereafter. In the mean time, let us hear our Saviour's Promise to St. Peter. Matt: Chap 16. v: 18, and I say also unt [...] yo [...], that thou art Peter, and upon this [...] I will [...]uild my Church, and the Gates of H [...]l [...] shall not prevail against it. By which words our Saviour promis'd the Supream Goverment of the who­le Church on Earth, to St Peter: as all the following Fathers and Doctor [...], do openly Declare. Ori­gines Homily 5 in Exo [...]um, Ter­tullian in his book de Praescrip: St, Cyprian in his Epist : to Quin­tus : St Athanasius in his Epist : to Felix: St. Basil in his book a­gainst Eunomius St. Hilarius & St. Hierome expounding the a­forsaid text: St. Chrysostome [Page 70] Hom: 55. in Matt : St. Cyrill of Alexandria in his 2 book c 1: in Ioann : St, Ambrose ser: 47, and in his book de Isaac c. 3, St. Leo ser: 11. of our Saviours Passi­on, and in his 2 ser : of St. Peter and St. Paul, St, Augustin in Psal : Contra partem Donati, and in his 2 book against Gaudentius Epistles, c 23. which promise was effectually fullfil'd after Christ's Resurrection, as all the aforsaid Fathers doe Testifie : and it mani­festly appears by our Saviour's own words: Iohn c. 21, v. 15 16. & 17 where we read that Christ Commanded St. Peter thrice con­sequently to feed the flock, say­ing thus: feed my Lambs, feed my Lambs, feed my Sheep, which words [Page 71] doe plainly make-out, that it was our Saviour's intention to ap­point Peter the Supream head and chief pastor over all Christians, under himself on earth : which is further Confirm'd [...]y the fol­lowing Testimonies. S. Denis the Areopagite (cited by S Da­mascen ora: 2. de dormitione Deiparae affirms, that he and Timothy were both present : at the blessed V [...]rgin Mar [...]'s death, to be hold that body, which gave t [...]e begining of life: and that there was also present bo­th fames, and Peter the Supream, and most an [...]ent top of Divines S, Irenaeus (who liv'd in the 2 Age, in his 3 book c 3) says, that all Churches round abou [...] ought to resort the Roman Chu [...]ch, by reason of her more pow [...]rfull Prin­cipality. [Page 72] Tertullia (who liv'd in the ye [...] 2 [...], in his boo [...] call' [...] Scor­pia [...]u [...] [...], speaking to a heretick) sayes thus : so al [...]ho' you th [...]k hea­ven to be still [...] [...]p: remember t [...]e Lord to have lef [...] her it's [...]eres, with P [...]ter, and by Peter to the Church. O­rigines (who liv'd about the same time Ho [...] 5 in Exod : sayes thus : Ob [...]rve what th [...] Lo [...]d said to [...]hat g [...]e­at f [...]ndation of the Church, and most solid [...]oc [...] upon whom Christ built his Church And o [...] t [...]e 6 Chap. of S. Paul's. Epist : to the Rome : he also sayes, the fol [...]owing whords : when the c [...]i [...]f char [...] of f [...]dīg Christ▪s sheep was given to S. Peter, and the Church found [...]d upon him—there was requ [...]r'd of him t [...]e Confess [...]on of no vertue, but of Charity. S. Cyprian [Page 73] (who also liv'd in the same Cen­tury. Epist to Iulian) sayes thus : we hold Peter to [...]e the h [...]d & root of the Church. Epist : 5, he sayes the following words : Peter upon whom the Church ha [...] been bui [...] spo [...]e for all, aswe [...]īg in the Church's name say [...]g, [...]nd to whom shall we go: and in hi [...] 71. Epist : he also sa [...]es thus: Peter whom th [...] Lor [...] first choes'd, and upon whom he built his Church St. Epiphanius, who liv'd in the year 3 [...]0 sayes' (heresie 51) that Christ cho [...]s'd Peter first in order to ma [...] him the Captaine of his Discipl [...]s; and heresie 5 [...], [...]e calls St. Peter the [...]ri [...] of the Apostles, St. Ambrose, who also liv'd about that same time, in his Commentary on St. Paul's Epist: to the Gala : c. 1, speaking of St. Paul sayes [Page 74] thus: I [...] was [...]it, that he long'd for to see Peter, who was the chiefest of the Apostle [...], to whom our Saviour intrusted the care of all the Churches. and also in his Commentary on St Paul's 2. Epist: to the Corin: c▪ 12, he says : Andrew fir [...]t f [...]llow [...] [...]ur Saviour, yet Andrew Receiv'd not the s [...]premacy, but Peter. Optatus, who liv'd in the year 365. sayes thus (in [...]is 2. book against Perminian) there is o [...]e chai [...], and you dar [...] not deny to [...]now that the chai [...] was first bestowed vnto Peter in the City of Rome, where Peter the head f [...]ll the Apostles continued. S. Basil (who also liv'd in the [...]ame age in his ser: de Iudicio dei) calls Peter that blessed one, who was pre­fer'd before the rest of the Apostles. [...]u­sebius Emissenus (who also liv,d [Page 75] about the same time, in his ser: de nativi: St. Joan▪ speaking of Christ) says that he first com [...]itted his Lambs, afterwards his sheep to Peter, bec [...]u [...]e he made him not only pastor, but p [...]stor of pastors; and Ecu­menius, who like wise then liv'd, sayes the following words, in his commentary on the 1. Cap. of the acts, Not Iames, but Peter rais'd up, as being both mor [...] fervent, and also the president of the Disciples. S. Cy­rill of Ierusalem ( [...]ho liv'd in the same Century, Catech : 2: sayes thus, Peter the Prince and most excel­lent of all the Apostles St Hierome (who liv'd, in the year [...]90, in his first book against the Pelagians c 14) calls, Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, upon whom the Lord's Church [Page 76] has been built: and also in his first book against Jovinian Cap. 14, he sayes, That one of the twelve was choe­sen to be the head of the rest that the occ [...]sion of s [...]hisme might be prevented St. Chrysostom, [who liv'd in the same time, in his 2 Hom : de paenit: in Psal. 50) calls St Peter the pillar: of the Church, the foundation of the fa [...]th and the head of the Apostolical qu [...]re: and in his last Hom: on Io [...]n he sayes, that the charge of the brothers (that is to say, of the Apostles) & of the whole wh [...]ld was c [...]mmited to Peter and also in his 55 hom : on Matt: he sayes; that the pastor and he [...]d of the Chu [...]ch was onc [...] a poor fisherman. Theodoretus who liv'd in the year 430. sayes thus, [in his Epist: to Leo.) Paul that preacher [Page 77] of the truth, and trumpet of the holy Ghost, run'd to great Peter, that he might bring his Sentence to those, who indeavor▪d, to establish the legals in Antioch. S Augustin who liv'd in the same age in his 24 Ser: de Temp: [...] cas [...]'s Peter, the governer of the Church. And in his 68. Epist: he calls him, the head of the Apostles, the gate keeper of hea [...]en, &c. & in his last Treatise in Ioan: he sayes thus: whom Peter by reason of the Su­premacy of his Apostle-ship &c. S. Leo (who liv'd in the year 440, in his 3 ser : de Aslump : sua ad Pon [...]i [...] :) sayes the following words: out of the whol [...] world one Peter [...]is cho [...]sen, who is prefer'd before all people, and before the Apostles, and be­fore all the fathers of the Church, and [Page] altho' among the people of God the [...] be many Priests, and many pastors, ye [...] Peter particularly governs them all and Christ governs them principaly S Gregory (in his 4. [...]ook 32. E. pist : which is to Mauritius the Emperor) sayes : that it was ma [...]ifes [...] to all that knew the [...]hosple, the char­ge of the wh [...]le Church to have been committ [...]d by the [...]ord to Peter the Prin­ce of all the Apostle. And the Ge­neral Council of Calcedon, whe­rein 630 Father [...] were assembled, call'd (action 3) S. Peter the Rock and pillar of the Church. All which proofs do sufficiently make-out, that it was alwayes believ'd, and acknowledg'd, by those of the Primitive Church, St. Peter to have been instituted a supream [Page 79] pastor : but the same charge still remains, being the office of a pastor is an ordinary, and a perpetual office and as long as there are sheep to be feed, so long there ought to be a pastor to feed them. which because St. Peter did not perform in his own person those many hundred years; there must needs be some other lawfull successor, to execute the office in his place : for we see by daily ex­perience many strifes and conten­tions to happen amonghst the flock, in matters of faith and dis­cipline : who then shall appease & reconcile them? you will say the Bishops; but how often doth dif­ferences of this sort araise, and happen amonghst the Bishops [Page 80] themselfs? perhaps you will an­swer, that they ought to appeal to Primates and Patriarches : but what if they be also at variance? as Flavianus and Dioscorus, Cy­rill and Nestor were : peradven­ture you may say : that they ought to goe to temporal princes, and civil Magistrates : but tis not their part to ingage themselves in Ecclesiastical affairs; and their factions may be more dangerous then any of the former : to whom then shall the people appeal? it will be said, to a general Council : but who shall summon? who shall order? or who shall direct, and guide that assembly? what if they decline from the true faith of Ie­sus Christ? as the Council of Ari­minium, [Page 81] the second Council of Ephesi [...]' and several other Schis­matical Councils did? who then shall Iudge their case? who shall deside their dissentions? unless some certain head be appointed by the divine providence of the holy Ghost : whose decrees are in­fallible & whose censures ought to be obey'd, and in respect of whom St. Peter may be still said to perform [...] his duty, and feed the sheep intrusted to his charge? as the premisses do plainly make-out

Now let us see, if those of the Primitive Church did belive, and acknowledge, the Popes of Rome (successiuely from age to age, sin­ce Peter's death) to have been that Supream head of the Uni­versal [Page 82] Church (as St Peter was in h [...]s own time, St. Irenous, who liv'd in the year 180, in his 3 book Chap 3) sayes, the following words: The fou [...]ders of the Church de­liver'd the Episcopa [...]y of over-seeing the Church to Linus, and Anacletus succeeded Linus, Clemens, Anacletus, Evaristus, Clemens: &c. numbring all the rest of the Popes of Rome, who govern'd the Church, from St. Peter's time, to that very in­stant St. Basil (who liv'd, in the 4 Century, in his 52 Epist : which is to St. Athanasius) sayes thus: It is convenient, that we shu'd write to the Bishop of Rome, that he might take notice of what is done here, and pro­duce his sentence—and use his Au­thority in the case, & choese some sound [Page 83] men—who can c [...]rrect those stoburn and crosse people, that are here with us—and cancel what has been done, by force ud viol [...]nce in Ariminium. St. Athauasius (in his Ep : written in the name of all the Bis [...]ops in Egypt, to Marke Pope of Rome) sayes the following words: To the holy and Ʋenerable Marke, Pope of the Ʋniversal Church, ruler of the holy Aposto [...]ical sea—we desire (by the Authority of your holy sea which is the Mother, and h [...]ad of all Churches,) that we may know by the present lega­tes, what ought to be done, for the re­covery and correction of the faith full Orthodox; fo [...] being supported by your Authority, and s [...]r [...]nthn'd by your Prayers, we can escape safe from the enemyes of God's Church, and ours—and [Page 84] & be able to root-out those committed unto us. such an other convincing Authority may be seen, in St A­thanasius's Epist : to Felix, and also in St, Cyprian's Epistles, to Cornelius, Lucius, and Stephen, Popes of Rome. St, Hierome (in his Epistle, to Pope Damas) sayes thus : altho' your grande [...] ter­risies me yet y [...]r mildness invicts me I do crave from the Priest, the victim of Salvation, from the Pastor, succo [...]r to a sheep—I speake to the succ [...]ssor of the fisher, and disciple of the cross, following none bu [...] Christ, I do joyne with your holynesse in communion, that is to say, with the chaier of Peter, for I know the Church to have been built upon that Rocke: whosover shall eat the [...]amb out of this house, is pro­phane: [Page 85] St Crysostome (in his first Epist : to Pope Innocentius be­seeches him, to declare the proceedings of the Eastern Bishops void, and of no effect, and to punish (with Ecclesiastical Censure) the promoters of the discorde, and in his 2 book (de Sacerdotio Ch [...]p [...] he syes the fallowing words (speaking of Christ) why did he s [...]ed his own blood? certainly it was to purchase those sheep, whose care he committed both to Peter, and to Peter's succesors, Theodoretus (in his Epist. to Pope Leo) sayes thus : I do expect the sentence of your Aposlo­lical sea, and I humbly beseech, and Pray your holynesse, that your just and upright judgment may a [...]de me, ap­pealing to you, and command m [...] to come before you: & in his Epist: to [Page 86] Renatus, he also sayes thus : I be­seech you to perswade the most holy Arch­bishop Leo to use his Apostolical Authori­ty and command me to appear, at your Council, for that holy sea has, the Go­verment of all Churches thro' the whole world: St Augustin (in his 262 Epist: which is to Pope Caele [...]stinus) sayes the following words: I congratulate your merits, that our Lord estab [...]ish'd you in that sea, without any opposion of the people, se­condly I do inform your holynesse of what is committed near us here that, not only by praying for us, but also by advising and assisting us, you may rel [...] ­ef us—I beseech you thro' the blood of Christ and remembrance of the A­postle Peters who admonish'd the chi­fest of the Christian people) not to su­fer [Page 87] these things to be done. All which Authorityes do plainly make-out, that the holy Fathers and Doctors of the primitive Church firmly believ'd, and acknowledg'd, the Popes of Rome to have been (suc­cessively from age, to age,) the Supteam head of the Universal Church on earth : Which may be further confirm'd by the cōtinual practice, and consent of several Nations : who in the primitive Church appeal'd to the Popes of Rome : acknowledging each of them [in his own time to have been Christ's Vicar-generall on earth : As for exemple, to whose high tribunal did Flavianus the Patriarch of Constantinople ap­peal from the [...] Ephesian Coun­cil [...] [Page 88] but to that of Leo Pope [...] Rome: as Liberatus in his breviate c 12. writes; whose assistance di [...] Athanasius Bishop of Alexandr [...] (depos'd by the Aerians] implore [...] but the assistance of Marke Feli [...] and Iulius, Popes of Rome: [...] St. Athanasiu's own Epistles ( [...] the aforsaid) do expressly testifi [...] and also Sozomenus, in his; boo [...] c. [...]. Under whose wings, did S [...] Chrysostome fly, for justice? (beit depos'd by Theophilus, and h [...] adherences) but under the win [...] of Innocentius the first: as appea [...] by St Chrysostome's 1. & 2. Epi [...] to the same To whom did For [...] na [...]us, & Felix (being depos'd Africk) appeal? but to Corneli [...] Pope of Rome. as St. Cyprian [...] [Page 89] his first book Epist: 3: declares. To whom did Basilide [...] appeal? but to Pope Stephen, as St. Cyprian testifies, Epist: 68. To the Pope of Rome, Valent, and Ursacius came to give an account of their treachery against St. Athanasius, and to crave pardon for the same as Epiphanius (heresie 68 relates) Marcion (being excommunicated by his own Bishop in Asia (came to Rome, to be absolv'd by P [...]us the first: as St. Epiphanius re­lates, (heresie 42) who depos'd Anthimus, the Patriarch of Con­stantinople? and establish'd in his place Mena; but Agapetus the Pope, as Liberatus affirms in his b [...]eviat [...] 62. and also Zonarias, writīg the life of Iustinian. Who [Page 90] depos'd Flavianus the Patrian of Antioch? but Pope Danias, Theodoret relates, in his 5 [...] c 23 who depos'd Polychron [...] Bishop of Ierusalem▪ about [...] year 434, but Pope Sixtus th [...] as appears, in the acts of Six [...] Who depos'd Dioscorus Paarch of Alexandria? but the of Rome : as Gelatius's Epistle the Dardanian Bishops, expre [...] declares: wherin he also rela [...] that Pope Iulius the first, reslo [...] Athanasius Alexādrinus, Pau [...] Constantinopolitanus, & Mar [...] lus Ancyranus to their own Bi [...] opricks. who re-establish'd Pe [...] (St. Athanasius successor be wrongfully depos'd by the A [...] ans) but Pope Damas : as Sozo [...] [Page 91] [...]us affirms, in his 6 bo [...]k c: 9. who [...]estor'd Theodoretus (being also [...]rongfull [...] depos'd, by the A [...]i­ [...]ns in the 2 Ephesian svnod, but Pope Leo: as is manifest by the first action of the General Coun­cil of Calcedon.

It was, only the Popes of Rome, [...]hat had (i [...] the Primitive Chur­ch) their deputies, and Vicar­generals in all foraign and re­mote Countryes (viz.) Anastasius Bishop of Thesalōica, in the Ori­ent: as a [...]pears by St. Leo's 84 Epist: Potentius' in Africk as the same Leo's 87 Epist declares: A­ [...]acius Patriarch of Constantino­ [...]le, in Egypt : whom the Pope of Rome, commanded to depose the Bishop of Alexandria, as Gelatius, [Page 92] relates in his Epist to the Dar­danian Bishops. Celestinus Pope of Rome, Authoriz'd St. Cyrill of Alexandria to proc [...]ed against Nestor (then Bishop of Coun­stontinople) as appears by Cae­lestinus's Ep : to St Cyrill: which is to be seen in St. Cyrill's 4. tome, where also St Cyrill declares) in his Epist : to those of Counstan­tinople) that the charge of that Bishoprick, was committed unto himself by the Bishop of Rome. Pope Hormisda instituted Salus­tius (Bishop of Sevil) his Vicar­general through Spain, and Por­tugall, as appears by the said Hormista's Epist : to the same: and St, Gregory instituted Vi­gilius Bishop of Orleance to be [Page 93] his Vicargeneral, thro' all France: as may beseen, in St Gregory's 4th. book Epïst : 52.

It was also the Pope of Rome's Legates, that were Presidents in the General Councils of the Pri­mitivc Church, as for example; Hosius, Vitus, and Vincentius, St, Sylvester's Legates, have been presidents in the General Coun­cil of Nice: as Cedrinus in his Compendio, Potius in his book de 7, Synodis, and St : Athanasius in his Epist (to those, who leade a solitary life) do relate. St Cyrill of Alexandria, Pope Caelestinu's Legate preceded, in the Coun­cil of Ephesias as Liberatus in his Breviate c, 15. & Evagrius in his first book c. 4 : do write. Paschasius [Page 94] L [...]c [...]sius, and Bonifacius, St. [...] Legates, were Presidents in the General Council of Calce­don, a [...] is evident by the [...] action of [...]he [...]ame Cou [...]cil, and also by S Leo's 47 Epist: Arch [...]d [...]mus, and Philaxen [...]s Iulius the first's Legates, pre [...]e [...]d in the Gene­ral Council of Sard [...]s : as St. A­thanasius in his [...] Apology, and Theodoretus in his a book c 15, do declare.

It was, only to the Pope of Rome, the decrees and Canons, of all General, and famous Councils, where sent (in the primitive Church) in order to be approv'd, and confirm'd, by his holynesse: as for example: it was, to St. Syl­vester Pope of Rome, the Fathers [Page 95] of the Council of Nice, sent a letter most humbly beseeching his holynesse, to Ratifie and con­firme, the decrees of the said Co­uncil: which letter is to be seen in the second Tome of the Coun­cils. The Fathers of this Coun­cil, were in number, 318, and sate in the year 325. The Fathers of the General Coūcil of Constātinople (being in number 150, assembled in the year 381) writ to Damas Pope of Rome, by (Cyriacus Eu­sebius, and Pris [...]ianus, Bishops) praying him, to aprove and con­firme their Canons : this Councils letter, is to be seen in Theodoret's 5th. book c. 9. The decrees of the General Council of Ephes [...]s (whe­rein 200 Fathers sate, in the year [Page 96] 431) were sent to Pope Celesti­nus, in order to be confi [...]m'd: as St. Cyrill's Epist : testifies: which Epistle is to be seen in the 3 Tome of the Councils. The Fathers of the General Council of Calcedon (being in number 630, and sate in the year 451) sent their Canons, to Pope Leo, in order to be con­firm'd, by him: as appears, by the said Council's Epistle to the same; which is to be seen in the 4th : To­me of the Councils. The Fathers of the Milevian Council, sent the­ir Canōs to Pope Innocentius the first, (in the year 416) to be con­firm'd : as appears, by this Coun­cil's Epistle; which is to be seen▪ in the 1 Tome of the Coūcils. The Fathers of the Council of Car­thage, [Page 97] sent their Canōs, (the year 356, to be confirm'd, by Pope Ste­phen : as is manifest by their own Epistle, which is to be seen in St. Cyrill's 2 book, and also in the first Tome of the Councils

I might produce several other convincing proofs, concerning this point; but that I may be easie to the reader : I will conclude, on­ly with these followīg Councils, who sate, in the Primitive Church and acknowledg'd in their very Canons, the Pope of Rome's Su­premacy (viz.) the 20 chap: of the Council of Rome, who sate in the year 324. The 3 chap: of the 3. & 4th : Council of Rome, who sate in the year 502. The 3, 4th & 9th Canon, of the Council of Sardis, [Page 98] wherein 376 Fathers were. The 6th Canon of the General Coun­cil of Nice. The 5 Canō of the Ge­neral Council of Constantinople. The 1, 2, 3, & 16. Action of the Ge­neral Council of Calcedon, who sayes thus : (in the 16th) we throughly consider [...]ruly, that all Pr [...]macy & chief honour, is to be keept, for the Arch Bishop of old Rome.

Chap: 5 Proving, that the Real Presen­ce, was believ'd by those of the Primiti­ve Church

The very words of Iesus Christ, and also the Authentical Testi­monyes of the holy Fathers and Doctors of the Primitive Church do clearly affirm, that Christ's true body and blood, are Real­ly and Substantially present, in [Page 99] the holy Sacrament: therefore this Doctrine was not newly bro­ught-in, since the Primitive Church : the consequens is most certain, as we shall see here-after, and I prove the first part of the Anticedent, by our Saviour's own words, Iohn c 6 v 51, where he sayes thus: I am the living bread, which came down from heaven, if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. But then the Iewes wanting true faith, said one to an other: how can this man give u [...] his flesh to eate v 52. certainly then our Saviour (who came to this world to instruct, and leade us, out of all darknesse, to the true [Page 100] light) hearing the Iewes murmu­ring so, and doubting of what he said to be true, wou'd explain the aforesaid words, if he had any mystical meaning : but he was so far from so doing, that he confir­m'd and repeated them again, o­ver and over [...] as is manifest by the 53 54 &c. v: where we read the following words. then Iesus said unto them, verily verily I say unto ye, except ye eate the flesh of the son of man, and drinke his blood, ye have no life in ye: whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternall life and I will raise him up at the last day: for my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drinke indeed: he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me and I [...] him: as the [Page 101] living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is the bread which came down from heaven: not as your Fathers did eate [...]anna, and are dead, he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. So that eve­ry faithfull & sincere Christian may plainly understand, that if our Saviour then had not meant, that he was to give his own true flesh and blood to be really eaten and dranke, that he wou'd not so proceed, in confirming what he said in the begining, and also that he wou'd not suffer his own disciples to part with-out declar­ing his mind to them, as he did often before when he spo [...]e in parables; neither wou'd he declare, [Page 102] at his last supper, that he gave to his discples, his own body and blood saying thus: Take eate, this his my b [...]dy: and he tooke the cup, and gave thankes, and gave it to them, say­ing drinke ye all of it; for his is my blood of the new test [...]me [...]t, which shall be sh [...]d for many for the remission of sinnes. Matt: c 26 v: 26 27 & 28

I leave it to all faithfull Christi­ans, seriously to be consider'd; whether Christ gave, only figura­tively his own body and blood, for the remission of our sinnes, or his reall body and blood? If he gave them really for our Salvati­on; he also gave them really t [...] his disciples, as his own word [...] do manifestly affirme; to deny which, is of no less consequence, [Page 103] than to charge Christ with un­truth: or at lest that he had not words significant, to explain his intention; which is rash and im­pious to judge of his infinite pow­er : therefore all Christians are oblig'd not to mistrust of the tru­th of Christ's words, or doubt of their literal sence, in the afore­said text: for being we acknow­ledge, that Christ is omnipotent, and consequently that it is in his Power to make of the bread and wine his own flesh and blood, (by his divine benediction) we ought not to doubt of what he said to be true; and if in case he had not exprest so plainly his mind unto us, concerning this mysterie, we ought to believe it firmly, by St, [Page 104] Paul's testimonye ( [...]ae Corinth: c: 11 v: 23 24 &c.) saying thus: for I have receiv'd of the Lord that which also I deliver'd u [...]to ye; that [...]he Lord Jesus (the same night in which he w [...] betrayed) [...]ooke bread, and when he had given thankes, he brake and said, take eate, this is my body which shall be [...]liver'd for ye thi [...] do ye in remem­bran [...]e of m [...]: afte [...] the [...]ame māner also he tooke the c [...]p when he had supped, saying this cup is the new testament, in my blood, this doe ye, as often as ye drinke it in remembra [...]ce of me; for as often as ye eate th [...]s br [...]ad and drinke this cup, ye do shew the Lords death till be come. whosoever shall [...]at this bread, [...] drinke this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the [...]o [...]d. By which [Page 105] words St Paul openly declares, that Christ gave his own body & blood to his disciples, at his last supper; and also he affirms, him­self to have been taught this doc­trine, by the Lord; and that he deliever'd the same, to the Corin­thians, that there by he might per­swade them not to doubt of what he said to be true; but to firmly believe the reall presence, be [...]ng it was the Lords doctrine delie­uer'd unto him, in order to teach it to the Christians.

Now let us heare the Authority­es of the holy Fathers & Doctors of the Primitive Church, where­with I shall prove the second Part of the antecedent. St. Ignati­us (the Apostles Disciple. in his [Page 106] Epist: to those of Smyrna, ci [...]ed by Theodoret in his [...] Dialogue) sayes thus : they [...]mit not the Eu­charists and o [...]lations, because they confess not the Euch [...]r [...]st to be the fles [...] of our Saviour, who suffer'd for ou [...] sinne [...]. Let the reader take [...]otice of those heretickes, against whose principles St Ignatius speaks in the aforsaid text: for they rejec­ted the Eucharist, lest they would be forc'd to confess, that Christ had true flesh: but if the Eucha­rist had not then been believ'd to be Christ's [...]rue flesh, those he­retiks could have no kind of rea­son to re-ject it, for they did no [...] deny the figure or Image of Chris [...] but what they deny'd was, tha [...] Christ had true flesh. The like argumen [...] [Page 107] may be form'd against the Jewes admiration (hearing the word▪ of Christ Iohn c: 6 v. 51 &c.) for if then the jewes would believe that Christ was to give his flesh only in figure and remembran­ce, they would have no reasō to murmur, or to mistrust the tru­th of Christ's words: so that it manifestly appears, that the Jewes suppos'd, that Christ meant his true flesh; and also that those he­retiks of the prmitive Church be­liev'd and acknowledge, that it was then some of the Catholick [...] Doctrine, to believe that Christ's true flesh, was really present in the holy Eucharist St. [...]ustin Martyr (who liv'd in the year 150, in his 2 Apology to Antoninus) [Page 108] sayes thus: we do not receive this as common bread, or as common drinke, but as the son of God Iesus Christ ou [...] Saviour in [...]rnate, had flesh and blood for our salvation, so—are we taught, that th [...] Eucharist is the flesh & blood of the same Iesus incarnate St Irenaeus (who liv'd in the same Century, speaking of the hereticks of the Synagogue, who deny'd, Christ to have been the son of God) sayes the following words : [in his 4th book c 34) how can they be as­sured, the bread in which thankes are given to be the body of our Lord, & the chalice his blood? if they acknowledge him not to be the son of the maker of the world. Tertullian (who liv'd in the year 230) sayes thus : (in his book of the resurrection of the [Page 109] flesh) the flesh is wash'd, that the soul may be clean'd, the flesh is anoin­ted, that the soul may be consecrated the flesh eateth of the body and blood of Christ: that the soul may be [...]urish|'d. Orig [...]n [...]s (who liv'd in the same age,) sayes thus (hom : 7th in Eum: speakīg of the old law) th [...]n the manna was meat in figure, but now the flesh of God, is meat inspecie, as himself sayes. my flesh is m [...]at in deed; and in his 5th Hom: in diversa loca Evangely (speaking of the Centurian) he sayes the follwing words : wh [...]n you receive the holy meat and uncorrupted banquet, when you receive the bread and cup of [...]ief▪ you eat & drinke the body & blood of the Lord, then the Lord inters into your house; you therefore (humbling your­self) [Page 110] immitate this Centurian, & say [...] o Lord I am not worthy, that thou sho [...] est inter into [...]y house. St Cypria [...] who liv'd in same Century, in his 5th : ser : de Lapsis) sayes thus Vio­lence is infer'd to his body & blood & they offend now more the Lord wi [...] their hands & mou [...]h, than when th [...] deny'd the Lord, and in his ser: o [...] the Lords supper, he also sayes the following words : the doc­trin of this Sacrament is streange, [...] the Evangelical schooles publi [...]h'd [...] this doctrine, & it first appear'd to th [...] world by Christ the teacher thereof, th [...] Christians should drinke blood, who drinking is most strictly forbidden [...] the Authority of the old law—but [...] Gospel commends to drinke it. Befo [...] I shall proceed further, I mu [...] [Page 111] take notice of St. Cyprian's words positively affirming, that this Doctrine of the real presence has been first taught by Christ, and his Disciples, and also that Christians are commanded to drinke blood, which was prohibi­ted by the old law : for the old law [...] did not prohibit to drinke blood in figure, or in remembrance; for the Jewes did drinke the blood of Christ figuratively, in drinking the water, which flow'd our of the Rocke: therefore that which was prohibited by the old law, was only to drinke true and real blood: but St. Cyprian clearly af­firms, that the Gospel commāds the Christians to drinke that, which was prohibited by the old law : [Page 112] therefore St. Cyprian affir [...] that the Christians are comman [...] ed by the Gospel, to drinke t [...] and real blood, and consequen [...] not in figure, as my adversa [...] would faine perswade. St. Hila [...] us (who liv'd in the 4th: Cent [...] ry, in his 18th : book of the T [...] nity, says thus : If the word be t [...] incarnate, we do truly receive the w [...] flesh—of the flesh & blood's [...] there is noe roome left for being doubt, for by the Lord's own confes [...] and by our faith, it is truly flesh truly blood—let us read what is wri [...] and let us understand what we r [...] and then we will perform the dut [...] perfect faith, for according to the tural truth of Christ in us, what [...] we learn, unless we learn it f [...]om [...] [Page 113] we learn it imprudently, & impiously; f [...]r he said, my fl [...]h is meat in deed &c. St. Cyril of Ierusalem (who liv'd in the s [...]me Century, Catech : 4) say [...] the following words. This of St. Paul's Doctrine can sufficiently make ye most certain co [...]cerning the divine mysteries—& seeing Christ himself so affirms, & sayes of the bread, this is m [...] body: wh [...] afterwards can presume to doubt? & the same also say­ing & confirming, this is my blood; who I say can doubt? & say, that it is not his blood. St. Ambrose (who also liv'd in the same Century, in his book de Mysterys Initian­dis c 9th :) sayes the following words : Perhaps you may say; I see the contrary; how can you affirm to me, that I can receive Christ's body? & this now [Page 114] we are to prove: therefore w [...] use great examples, that we may prove this not to be what nature form'd, but what be­nediction consecrated; & the benedic­tion to be of more power, than the na­tur [...]s, because even [...]he very nature is converted by the benediction; Moses threw a rod, which he converted into a serpent, & aft [...]rwards he tooke the serpent's tail & converted the same in­to a rod: therefore you see the nature of the serpent, & of [...]he rod to have been twi [...]e chang'd by a Prophetical benedic­tion—If human benediction be of such power, that it can change nature; what do we say to the divine consecra­tion? where the very words of the Lord our Saviour, do worke, for the Sacramē [...] which you receive is perfected by the words of Christ, what if Elias's words [Page 115] were of such force that they cou'd draw fi [...]e out of he [...]ven? will not Christs w [...]rds be able to change the nature of the ele­ments? Of all the workes in the world you have read! because he said & they were made, he commanded & they were created: therefore Christ's words which cou'd make that which was not, of no­thing, can they not change these things, which are, into that, which they were not? for it is not less to give things new beings, than to change their natures: but why doe w [...] use arguments? but let us use his own examples, & prove the truth of this mysterie by the Incarnatiō's example: did the course of nature take place, when the Lord was born of Mary?—it is manifest that the Virgin conceiv'd contrary to the order of nature, & this body which we perform is of [Page 116] the Virgin. Why do you i [...]quire here th [...] c [...]u [...]se of [...] Ch [...]st's body? when the Lord himself w [...] [...]or [...] of the Virgin beyond the co [...]rs [...] of nature. Sur [...]ly the true flesh of Christ was cruci­fi'd; & buri'd, truly th [...]n the s [...]crament i [...] of that same flesh. Tho' what I have already produc'd of this e­minent Doctor's, Authority might satisfie any impartial reader; yet I will adde these other Authori­tyes of his, confirming the same: in his 4th : book de Sacram: c: 5. he sayes thus : The Lord Iesus Christ declar'd unto us, that we receive his own body & blood, why shu'd we doubt of his Authority, & testimoney, and in his 6th: book c, 1, he also sayes thus : as our Lord Iesus Christ, is the true son of God—even so it is true [Page 117] flesh, which we receive, as himself said. St. Gregory Naz [...]anzen (who liv'd in the same age, in his 2 Oration de Pascha [...]e) sayes, the followings words : eate the body & drinke the blood, with-out confusion & doubt—be constant firm, & sted­fast, you need not be any thing troubl'd in mind, for the adversary's discourse. St Ephrem, (who liv'd in the year 365, in his book de Natura Dei minima Scrutanda c: 5) sayes the following words: why do you track­out unsearchable things? If you search curiously these things; new you will not be call'd faithfull, but curious, be faithfull & innocent partake of the immaculate body of thy Lord, with full faith, being sure that you do eat the intire lambe, the mysteries of Christ [Page 118] are everlasting fire, do not rashly sear [...] them over, [...]est you should burn in the­ir search. St. Epiphanius (who liv'd in the year 370, in his book nam'd Ancoratus] sayes thus : We see tha [...] our Saviour tooke in his hands (as th [...] Evangelist hath)—& when he gave thanks, he said this is my body—& none mistrusts his words, for he wh [...] dose not believe, it to be his true fle [...]h falls from grace & life; and in a no­ther place (cited by the Fathers of the 7th: General Council, in the 6th : Action) he sayes the fol­lowing words : Never shall [...]o find our Lord, or his Apostles, or the Fa­thers, saying that the unbloody sacri­fice, which is offer'd by the Priests, is an Image, but his very body & blood St. Hierome (who liv'd in the year [Page 119] 390, Epist : to Hedib :) sayes thus: but let us know, that the bread which the Lord brake & gave to his Disci­ples was the Lord our Saviours body; himself saying to them, take ye, & eat this is my body. St, Chrysostom, (who liv'd the year 398, Hon : [...]1 in Matt:) sayes, the following words: he who bestowed his own life for you, why will he s [...]orn to give you his own body? therefore let us h [...]arken the Priests—how noble how admira­ble is that thing, which is granted unto us—he has given us, his own flesh &c. He also sayes thus: (Hom : 53) Let us believe God, let us not contra­dict him, altho' what he sayes, may seem strange to our sense & imagination, for it surpas [...]es our sense & reason. I beseech you, what may we suppose of his [Page 110] words in all things, chiefly in mysteries not only considering [...]hese things, which layes before us, but also his words, for we cannot be deceiv'd by them, but our senses may easilie be deceiv'd: his words cannot be false—therefore because he said this is my body, let us he convinc'd by noe ambiguity, but let us believe, & perceive this, with the eyes of our understanding—O how many now sayes! I wou'd fain se [...] his face, & countenance, I wou'd wish to see his garments;—therefore you see him, you feele him, you eat him, you desire to see his garmēts, truly he delive­r'd himself to you, not only that you may see him, but also that you may touch him, & intertain him, in yourself, In his 3. book de sacerdotio, he sayes thus: he that [...]its above with his [Page 121] Father, even in the same instant of time, is touch'd by the hands of all, & gives himself to all those, who are wil­ling to receive him—whereas Christ leaving his flesh to us, yet ascending to heaven, there also he hath it. More of St. Chrysostom's Authorityes (plainly confirmīg the same) may be seen in his 8 [...]. Hom. on Matt. 45th. on John. 3 on St. Paus's E­pist. to the Ephes. in his 2. to those of Antioch, and in his 6th. book de Sacerdotio. St. Augustin (who liv'd the year 420) expounding that of the 33. Psal. he was carri'd in his own hands: puts the question inquiring, how can these words be understod; & āswers sayīg thus: we cannot find this in David according to the litteral sense; but we may [Page 122] find it in Christ; for C [...]r [...]s [...] [...] in his own ha [...]ds w [...]e g [...]v [...] [...] body▪ he said thi [...] [...] he ca [...]rid that b [...]d [...] [...]. In his [...]. book [...], legis e [...] Prophet c 9 he sayes, [...]he fol­lowing w [...]rds : w [...] receive the Me­diator of God & man Ie [...]us Christ, with a fu [...]l heart & mouth, g [...]v [...]ng us, his own fl [...]sh & blood, to be [...] & dranke. Here the Reader may take notice of the word mouth, that thereby he may understand S. Augustin to have openly de­clar'd, that we do not receive the flesh & blood of Christ in figure, and by faith only (as my adversa­ry believes) which may be fur­ther confirm'd, by S. Augustin's own words, in his 2. ser. de ver­bis [Page 123] Apostoli, where he sayes thus: we underst [...]nd the true master, divine redeemer, kīd Saviour, recommending unto us our price his own [...]lood, for he spoke of his own body & blood. More of S. Augustin's, Authorityes (proving the Real presence) may be seen, in his 11th. 26th. 27th. & 31 Treatise in John. in his commē ­tary on the 98th▪ psal. in his 2. book agaīst Petiliās letters in his 17th. book of the City of God, c. 20. In his 3. book or the Trinity c. 4. & 10. in his, book super Leviticum, [...]. 57. In his 2. ser. de Temp. an [...] in several other places, which wou [...]d be too tedious to produce here : therefore I will conclude only, with the two following Authori­tyes : S. Cyr [...]ll of Alexandria (who [Page 124] liv'd in the year 430, in his Epist. to Nestor, which Epist. was aprov'd of, by the Fathers of the Gene­ral Council of Ephesi [...]) sayes thus: so immediatly we come to the mystical blessings, & we are sanctifi'd, being partakers of the holy body, & pre­cious blood of Christ, the Redeemer of us all, not taking it to be, common flesh (God forbid)—But made the proper flesh of the word himself: that [...]s to say of the son of God. It was de­fin'd in the 18. Can. of the first General Council of Nice, That Deacons, who have no power to offer sa­crifice, ought not to give the body & blood of Christ to Priests, who have that power. All which proofs, do evidently make-out, that it was alwayes believ'd (ī the Primitive [Page 125] Church) that Christ's body and blood, were really and substanci­ally presēt in the holy sacrament▪ and consequently that our Savi­our had no mystical, or figurati­ve meaning, in the institution of this sacrament. So that it is to be admir'd, what pretence can my adversary aleadge, for denying the real presence, If he has not a mind to deny all mysteries, that surpasles, his own weake under­standing; if so, he may be the same rule, Presume to deny that of the blessed Trinity Incarnati­on, Resurrectiō &c. for they sur­passe his understanding and ca­pacity, as well as this of the reall presence.

Chap. 6 Proving that the holy Eucha­rist was ador'd, & worshipp'd [Page 126] by those of the Primit [...]ve Church.

If it was lawfull to fall down and worship our Sa­viour Jesus Christ with Godly honour, when he was in this world, tis also lawfull to fall­down and worship the holy Eu­charist with Godly honour, but it was lawfull to falldown & worship our Saviour Jesus Christ with Go­dly honour, when he was in this world therefore tis lawfull to fall down & worship the holy Eucha­rist with Godly hōour. The cōse­quence is most certain, as we shall see hereafter, and the minor is manifest Mat. c. 2 v 11. c. 14. v. 33. Jo. c 9 v. 38. as for The major it may be prov'd t [...]us: the same Saviour Jesus Christ, who was worship'd, [Page 127] in this world is really & subst [...]n­tially present in the holy Sacra­ment, as I have prov'd in my an­swer to the adversarys 5th. point, and will confirm it, in my answer to his 7th. therefore if [...]t was law­full to full-down, and worship our Saviour Iesus Christ with Godly honour whē he was in this world; tis also lawfull to fall-down, and worship t [...]e holy Eu­charist with Godly honour. Tho' the aforesaid argument might be a sufficient answer to this point. yet I will produce the following Authorityes, to confirm the same. St Denis the Areeopagite (who liv'd in the Apostles time, in his book de Eccles. Hier. c. 3) makes mention, of the Incencīg of the altar, [Page 128] of the Priest washing his hands, of [...] elevation of the blessed Host, & [...] the adoration thereof. Origines (wh [...] liv'd in the 3. Cētury in his 3. Ho [...] in Exod.) sayes thus : I design to [...] monish ye, with the examples of [...] own religion: ye know who are acc [...] ­m'd to be present at the divi [...] mysteries, when ye receive the Lor [...] body, how with all caution [...] veneration, ye take heed, least [...] smal particle of it, should fall down, le [...] any thing of the consecrated gift sh [...] slip out: for ye belive your selves, [...] guilty, (and ye rightly believe) if [...] thing of it wou'd fall by your neglig [...] ce. St Ambrose (who liv'd in th [...] 4th. Century, in his 3. book of th [...] Holy Ghost c. 12. expounding, th [...] of the 98. Psal: where we a [...] [Page 129] bid to worship the footstool of his fee [...]) sayes thus : therefore by the foot­stool, the earth is understood, and by the earth, the flesh of Christ, which, also evē at this day, we adore in myste­ries, and which the Apostles ador'd in the Lord Jesus. S. Chrysostome (who also liv'd in the 4▪ Century, in his [...]. hom. on S Pau'ls Epist. to the E­phesians.] sayes thus : we speake of the body, and of him, who differs nothing from it, how many are made partakers of that body? how many tastes of his blood? remember that it is the body, & blood of him, who refides above the heavens, who is humbly ador'd by the Angels. He also sayes the follo­wing words (hom. 24th. on St. Pauls first Epist. to the Corinthi­ans) the wisemen regarded thîs body [Page 130] la [...]ing [...]n the [...]ange [...], the i [...]pio [...] [...]a [...]arou [...] men, having le [...]t th [...]i [...] [...] t [...]ey & home, & made along voy [...] & when they a [...]riv'd, wi [...]h gr [...]at [...] & tremb [...]ing they wor [...]hipp▪d [...] let us therefore the Citizens of he [...] immitate the barbarous people—do not see him in the m [...]nge [...], but on [...] a [...]t [...], not a woman keepi [...]g: him, [...] the Priest holding him—let us the [...] fore weaken our selves, an [...] be gr [...] afraid, let us shew a great deal n [...] reve [...]ece, than these barbarous people [...] for open the gates of heaven, and l [...] and then you will see, that whi [...] said to be true; for that which i [...] t [...] most precious, and most to be ador' [...] a [...]l thinks, I do [...]h [...]w you the same [...] on earth, even as, in a Ki [...]gs pal [...] that which is most magnificē [...] of thīgs, [Page 131] not the [...]alls, no [...] [...] [...]t the King [...] [...], [...]t that y [...] [...] do n [...]t h [...]w yo [...] th [...] A [...]g [...]l [...] ▪ Ar­ [...]ge [...]s, o [...] he heaves b [...]t t [...]ir mas [...]er; [...] have perc [...]v'd, h [...]w [...]ou [...] on the [...]h, that which is most excellent, & [...]est to be regarded of a [...]l things, nei­ [...]her do [...]ou only see hi [...] but a [...]so yo [...] [...]h him▪ & you ea [...] him & after you [...]at him, you return home; clean & pu­ [...]ifie your soul, & prepare your mind against the receiving of these mysteries [...] [...]or if a King's son wi [...]h a neat, & pre [...]ious [...]own had been give [...] to you [...]o [...]e carri'd, you wou'd slight all the thīgs [...] the world, but now receiving, not [...]he son of a worldly King, but the only [...]egottn son of Go [...] &c. St Augustin who liv'd in the begining of the [Page 132] 5th. Century, expounding the 9 [...] Psal) sayes that the earth, is th [...] Lords footstool, according to th [...] of Isaiah c 66 v. 1. saying thu [...] the heaven is my throne, & the ear [...] is my footstool, and he inquires ho [...] is it lawfull to adore the earth with-out impiety : and then h [...] sayes the following words : being troubl'd in mind I do turn myself Christ, because I do seeke him & I find▪ how the earth is ador'd, with-out im­piety, the footstool of his feet is ador'd▪ for he receiv'd earth from the earth, be­cause the flesh is of the earth & he receiv'd flesh from the flesh of Mary▪ & because he walk'd here in that flesh, & gave us the same flesh to eate for our safety, none eats of that flesh if he adores it not before; tis found-out after [Page 133] what [...] [...]otstool of [...] Lord may [...] not only, [...]t we doe not [...] it, but [...] we si [...]n, in not a [...]ori [...]g it. More [...] S. Augustin's Author [...]yes may [...] seen (to the same purpose) in [...]s 118. Epist. c. 3. and in his 120 [...]pist c. [...]7. which I omit to produ­ [...] least, I shu'd be too trouble­ [...]e to the reader.

Chap. 7 Proving that Transubstātia­ [...] was believ'd by those of the Primi­ [...]ve Church.

I shall only here enlarge those [...]ts of scripture, produc'd in my [...]nswer to the 5th. point, with the [...]llowing Authorityes of the [...]ly Fathers and Doctors of the [...]rimitive Church. Tertullian (who [Page 134] liv'd in the begining of the 3. Cen [...]ury in his 4. book agai [...] M [...]cian c. 4 [...]) sa [...]es [...] [...] b [...]ead taken and distributed [...] his [...] sciples, he ma [...]e h [...]s ow [...] body: St. [...] martyr, and S I [...]eneus (who bo [...] liv'd before [...]ertulliā do aff [...] the same : as the reader may see [...] their Authorityes produc'd [...] my answer to the 5. point. S: [...] prian (who liv'd the year 25 [...] his sermon of the Lord's sup [...] [...]ayes thus : the [...]read which ou [...] gave to his Disciples, being chang [...] not in sh [...]pe, but in natûre b [...] the [...] nipotency of the word, was made [...]le [...] S, Cyrill of Jerusalem (who liv'd in the 4. Century speaking [...] Christ in his 4. Catech.) sayes th [...] followig words : he did once in Ca [...] of [Page 135] Galelee, only by his will, turn water [...]nto wine, which is near blood; a [...]d [...]hall he not be w [...]rthy, to be believ'd [...]o u [...]? that he tu [...]n'd wine into blood [...]erefore let us receive the body and [...]ood of Christ, with all assurance, for [...]nder the shape of bread the body is given to you, and under the shape of [...]ine the blood is given—therefore let us not consider it, as bare bread, and bare wine; for it is the body and blood of Christ, according to the Lord's own words: for altho' your sense wou'd not represent this to you, nevertheless let faith confirm you: you ought not to judge these things by the taste—there­fo [...]e knowing this & with all certain­ly holding, the bread which is seen [...]y us, not to be bread (altho' the taste perceives it to be bread) but to be the bo­dy of [Page 136] Christ, & the wine which is see [...] [...] altho' it may seem to the pall [...] be wine: notwithstandīg it is not [...] but the blood of Christ. Let the [...] der be Pleas'd to take notice [...] plainly St Cyprian affirms, (by [...] former words) that the substa [...] of the bread & wine is dissol [...] at the intrance of Christ's b [...] and blood : and also how St. Cy [...] bids us not to judge of this my [...] rie according to the apprehensio [...] of our senses, but to firmly belie­ve the true and real presence of Christ's body and blood unde [...] the shape of bread, and wine▪ that is to say under the accidents, which the bread and wine had, before cheir substance was chan­g'd. St. Gregorie Nysen, (who [Page 137] liv'd the year 380. in his Oration term'd Cateehetica c. 370.) sayes thus: I do also now rightly believe the sanctifi'd bread to be chang'd into the body of Christ—and these things he bestows transelementing the thīgs that are seen, into it, by the vertue of his blessings. which words do plainly make-out, that St. Gregorie posi­tively believ'd the Transubstan­tiation, otherwise he wou'd not have said these words. St Ambro­se (who siv'd about the same time, in his 4th. book of sacra­ments c. 4th.) sayes thus : perhaps you may say, my bread is ordinary, but the bread is bread before the words of consecration, but when consecration comes it is the flesh of Christ a no­ther convincing Authority of St. [Page 138] Ambrose may be seē in my answ­er to the 5th point St, Gaudentius (who also liv'd in the 4th. age, in his 2. Treatis on Exod.) sayes the following words : the Cream and Lord of natures, who brought forth the bread out of the earth, and again of the bread (because he can do it, & promis'd it) made his proper body: and who of the water made wine, made of the wine his own blood S. Chryso­stome (who liv'd in the year 398. in his 83. hom. on S. Matt. speaking of this mysterie) sayes thus: these are not the works of human power which the Lord perform'd in that supper, the same also offers now the sa­crifice he performs, we enjoy the office of ministers: truly tis he, who sancti­fies, and cha [...]ges these things. And [Page 139] (in his Homily of the Eucharist in [...]aenys) he also sayes the following words : do you see the bread? do you see the wine? do they go like other meat to the privy? (the Lord forbid) you ought not to imagin so: for evē as after wax is apply'd to the fire—nothing of the substance remains—even so, consider here the mysteries, the sub­stance of the body to be consum'd: that is to say, that the breads sub­stāce is annichilated, when Chri­st's body inters under those acci­dents, which formerly the bread had before it was annul [...]d St. Augustin [in his [...]8, ser▪ de ver­bis Apostoli [...] sayes thus : I told ye, that the bread which is offer'd is call'd bread, before the words of Christ; but as soone, as Christ's words are pronoun­c'd, [Page 140] then tis not call'd bread, but it is call'd the body. And in the book of the Incarnatiō of Christ, we read the following words : tis not to be believ'd, that the [...]ubstance of the bread, or wine remains, but that the bread is cheang'd into Christ's body, and the wine into his blood &c, St. Cyrill of Alexandria, in his Epist. to Calosyrius, and Eusebi­us Emissenus, Ser. de corpore Do­mini, do affirm the same. All which Authorityes do evidently make. out, the thing signifi'd by the word Transubstantiation (that is to say the real change of the substance of bread and wine, a [...] the intrance of Christ's flesh & blood) to have been alwayes be­liev'd, and maintain'd by the holy [Page 141] Fathers, and Doctors of the Pri­mitive Church; so that it plainly appears, that this Doctrine of Transubstantiation was not brou­ghtin, by the Church of Rome, either in the 6th. 7th. 8th. or 9th age; or by the Council of Latran (in the year 1215) as some of the pretēnded reformers do falsly aleadge.

It is not worth my while to an­swer here the Adversary's 8th. po­int; for it is sufficiently answer'd by what I have produc'd in my answers to the three last points : for tis manifest, that all those, who contradicted (in the Primitive Church) the aforsaid Doctrine, that they were esteem'd and be­liv'd (by the holy Catholicke [Page 142] Churh) to have been notorious heretickes: as I will shew in the later end of this worke.

Chap. 8. Proving the use, and veneration of Images, in the Primitive Church.

If it be lawfull to worship o­ther creatures, tis also lawfull to worship Images: but tis lawfull to worship other creatures : there­fore tis lawfull to worship Ima­ges, the major is manifest for the sa [...]e honour, which the scripture forbids to be given to the one; forbids it to be given to the other: (as I will shew hereafter) there­fore if it be lawfull to worship other creatures, tis also lawfull to worsh [...]p Images. whose making and puting up in Churches, is [Page 143] commanded by the holy scripture : as evidently appears by the follo­wing texts (Exodus c 25 v. 18. 19. 22) where we read that God com­manded two C [...]erubins to be made of go [...]d which were to be set up on both sides of the Arke, before which the people were to pray, and promis'd that there he wou'd meet with Moses▪ we read also (Numb. c. 21 v. 8 and 9) that the Lord commanded Moses, to make a fiery serpent, and to set it up, on a pole and that it shu'd come to passe, that if any one, would be bitten by a serpent, that he wou'd recover, when he wou'd looke upon the serpent of brasse. more examples may be seen in the [Page 144] 3 book of Kings c. 6. v. 35. c. 7. v. 25. 29. and 36. c. 10. v. 19. in the 2. book of Chronicles c 3. v. 10 and 14. where we read that Salomon caus'd, (at several times) Images to be made, but we can never find out, that ever he was repre­hended for so doing.

Now let us see is it lawfull to worship other creatures, that thereby the minor may be prov'd, Lot seeing the Angels, bow [...] him­self with his face to wards the ground, Gen. c. 19. v. 1. Ba [...]aam did the same, seeing the Angel of the Lord, Numb. c▪ 22 v. 31. and also Joshua: as may be seen Joshua c. 5. v. 14. Saul seeing the soul of Samuel, stoop'd with his face towards the groūd and [...]bowed himself: as may be seen in the first book [Page 145] of Kings c. 28 v. 14. and (in the 3. book of Kings. c 18 v 7.) we read, that Abadiah fell on his face, and worshipp'd Elyah. The sons of the Prophets seeing Elisha, they came to meet him, and bowed them­selves to the ground before him: as may be seen in the 4th book of Kings c. 2. v. 15. we also read in the 2. c. v. 46. of Daniel, that the King Nebuchad-nezzar fell upon his face, and worshipp'd Daniel, and commanded that they shu'd offer an oblation, and sweetodours unto him. Chirist approv'd of the making, and exalting of the brazen ser­pent, and owens it to have been the type and figure of himself exalted on the crosse, [...]ohn c. 3 v 14. S. Iohn the Baptist wor­shipp'd [Page 146] the very latehet of our Saviours shooe the latchet of whose shooes (saith he) I am not worthy to unloose: John. c. 1. v. 27. for which fact St Augustin on that place, concluds him to have been full of the holy Ghost▪ the Patriarch Jacob ador'd, the top of Jo [...]eph's rod (a signe, or Image of his re­gal power) as we read in S Pauls Epist to the Hebrews c. 1 v 2 [...]. the Primitive Christians venerated the very shadow, and garments of S Peter and Paul, and receiv'd thereby speciall benefit: as may be seen in the acts of the Apostles [...] 5. v. 15. and c 19 v. 11. and St. Paul in his Epist. to the Philippi­ans [...]. 2. v. 10. commands us to ho­nour the name of Jesus, which is [Page 147] only asign, or Image of our re­demptiō: as the name Ieho [...]a is of our creation, which was in so gre­at honour, with the Jewes that the common people durst not utter it: no ! nor the very Priests but on­ly in the time of sacrifice, and so­lemne benediction: as Phil [...] rela­tes, writing the life of Moses, nay the very plate on which the name of God was written, on the high Priest's forehead, is calld the plate of sacred veneration, Exodus c. 18. v▪ 36. 38. and we read in the 22. c. v 26 of Ezekiel, that God commanded the temple (which was an Image of his heavenly house) to be honour'd as a holy place, and reprehended those Priest's, who poluted it, saving [Page 148] thus : her Priests have violated my law, and have prophaned mine holy thinks; they have put no diference be­twen the holy and prophen [...].

Now let us see did those of the Primitīve Church, ever use or worship Images. Tertulian (who liv'd in the 3 age, in his 2▪ book de Pudici.) affirms, that the Image of Chrīst bearing a lambe on his shol­ders, was graven on the chalices us'd in Churches, St, Gregory Nysen (who liv'd in the 4th. Century, in his Oration of Theodorus) sayes : that the silent picture painted on the wall doth declare several things, and that it is very profitable, this same holy Father, was wont to weep contemplating the Image of Abraham facrifizing his son Isaac: as [Page 149] himself testifies, in his ser. preach|'d in Constantinople. S. Basil (who liv'd in the same Century, in his Epist. to Julian the Emperour) after numbering seyeral points of faith▪ which himself believ'd; brings in, the Apostles, Pro­phets, and Martyers, & then con­cluds saying thus : the characters of their Images. I do honour and worship, thiefly being this was deliver'd by the Apostles, and not prohibited: and why shu'd it not be shewed painted in all our Churches. & in hisser. of Barlaam, he also sayes, the followīg words: [...]ye famous painters raise-up! and ex­toll your arts in painting this saint's Image—and likwise let Christ's I­mage be painted St. Hierome (who liv'd in the year [...]90. writing the [Page 150] life of Paula) sayes, that shee was wont to prostrate herself before the cru­cifix, and ador'd it as if shee had be­held the Lord crucifi'd b [...]fo [...]e her eyes. S, Crysostome (in his ser. quod ve­teris et novi Testamenti unus sit Legislator) declar'd, that himself lov'd a picture of melted wax full of piery. and (in his Liturgy) he sayes, that the Priest was wont to how down his head before the Image of Christ: he makes also mention of Christ: Image in his ser. deferia quint [...] Caena D [...]mini Paladius (who liv'd in the same time, in his 11th. E­pist.) relates that the Bishop of Jeru­salem was wont yearly, at the solemnit [...] of Easter, to expose the crosse, to be a­dor'd by the people, he himself first a­doring it. St. Cyrill of Alexandria [Page 151] (who liv'd in the 5 Century, in his homily against Nestor) sayes thus : hail mother of God—through whom the precious crosse is made fa­mous, and ador'd throughout the world. Caelius Sedulius (who also liv'd in the 5 Century, in his 5th book) sayes the following words: neither is there any, who dose not know, that the Image of the crosse ought to b [...] wor­shipp'd. S. Gregorie (who liv'd in the same Century, in his 7 book Epist. 5) bids the Bishop Januarius. to take the crucifix and the Jmage of the blessed virgin from the Jewes, who did not give them the due veneration. And in his 53 Epist. (which is to Se­cūdinus) he sayes thus: I do know that you long for our Saviour's Image, that by contemplating it, you might [Page 152] burn the more with the love of the Lord, Eusebius (writing the life of Constant the great,) relates, that agreat many of Golden, and Sil­ver Images were put up in the Churches, which he caus'd to be built, in Palestine, & in his 7. book, c. 14. he affirms himself to ha­ve seē the Apostles Images, which then were very old, and in great veneration with the people. Da­mas relates (writing the life of St. Sylvester) that the afore­said Constantine commanded an Image of pure Gold to be made, which he order'd to be put up in the Church, wherein he was bap­tiz'd, on the right hand of which, he plac'd the Image of our Savi­our, and on the left hand, the [Page 153] Image of St. John the Baptist; he also order'd the Image of our Saviour, of four Angels, and of the twelve Apostles, to be put up in the Church of St. John Latran, in Rome, in order to be venerated by the Christians. Evodius (in his 2. book writing of S. Stephen's miracles) sayes that his Image was put up in the same Church wherein his reliques were pre, serv'd, and that agreat multitude­of people were vs'd to freqent that Church, out of particular devotion, who venerated both the Image & his reliques. The Disciples of S. Epiphanius, plac'd his Image in the Church which they built in his honour, and were wont to pray most fervently be­fore [Page 154] the same Image : as the Fa­thers of the 7th General Coun­cil do declare, in the 6th. Action. St. Ambrose (in his Oration of Theodosiu's death, sayes that it was discreetly done of Helena to order the crosse (where upon our Saviour was crucifi'd) to be taken up our of the ground (whe­re the Jewes absconded it, that it might be worshipp'd by the Chris­tians: and (in his Epist. de inven­tion sanctorum Gervasy et Prota­sy) he declares, that he knew him, who appear'd to himself, to be S. Paul, by his Image, which he had before. S Augustin (in his first book de Consensu Evangelista­rum) affirms, himself to have seen in several places Christ's Image, [Page 155] painted betwen S. Peter and St. Paul's Images: and (in his 3th. book of the Trinity c. 10. in his 2. de Doct. Christ. c. 25. and also in his 3. book c. 9) he sayes, that Images are very profitable, in or­der to move the people to devo­tion. Metaphrastes (in the life of Constantine the great) Euagri­us (in his 4t [...]. book c. 26) and Dams [...]enus (in his first book de Imaginibus) do relate, that a pa­inter endeavoring to [...]raw the I­mage of Christ, whose splendour when he cou'd not behold, our Saviour himself tooke a peece of white [...]nen and saving it on his face, imprinted there-on the Image of his divine countenance, and after-wards sent it to King [Page 156] Abagarus, who long'd to see our Saviour, which Image after a­while (out of of particular vene­ration) was brought by Philip the General of Mauritiu [...]'s ar­my unto the field, and gain'd the­reby a most glorious victory from the Persians: as Theopa [...]es re­lates in his 17th. book. Marianus scotus in his Cronicles (writing of the 39 year) makes mention of an other Image painted after the same manner by our Saviour, in a handkerchief offer'd to him (by a devout woman call'd Vero­nica) as he sweared carying the crosse to mount [...]alvary, which Image in the reign of Tiberius the Emperour,) was brought to Rome, and there honourably re­serv'd, [Page 157] and shew'd to the people every munday and thursday. Several other Images of Christ, were made even by those who liv'd in his one time : as for example, there was one made by the wo­man whom he heal'd of the bloody flux, which was set up in the city Penades, where several miracles were wrought upon the account of it : as Eusebius (in his 7 book c. 14th) Sozomenus (in his 5th. book c. 20) and Damascenus (in his first book de Imaginibus) do relate, for a certain herbe which grew at the foot of that Image, when it came to be so high that it cou'd touch the hem of the Image, it receiv'd vertue to heal all kind of distempers, and (as [Page 158] Sozomenus testifies) when Julia [...] the Emprour order'd to fall it down and to place his own I­mage in stead of it, his was im­mediatly consum'd by fire from heaven, which miracle the Pa­gans seeing, most impiously (by the instinct of the divel) brake our Saviours Image, not conside­ring, that he who caus'd their Em­prours Image to be burn'd, might by the same power, cause also fire to come down from heauen, in order to burn both themselves and thier Emprour too, only that his divine goodness and clemency had more patience to expect their conversion of which the Em­prours Image was uncapable. an­other Image of Christ was made [Page 159] by Nicodemus; which a Christian (43. years after it was made) carri'd from Jerusalem to Berith a Village in Syria, where (in de­ [...]ision of our Saviour's Passion) it was by the Jewes crown'd whip­p'd, pierc'd, &c & vs'd it with all manner of villany as they us'd our Saviour himself : but not with out great miracle for as they pierc'd it, there issu'd out of it, aboundance of water and blood : by which divers maladyes were cur'd, and several Jewes conver ted, seeing these miracles : as A­thanasius (in his book de Passione Imaginis Domini c. 4th.) and Gregorie of Tours (de gloria martyrum c. 21.) do relate. To which examples may be also ad­ded [Page 160] those Images of our blessed Lady; one made by S. Luke, which is to be seen at this very day in the Church of Loretta in Itali [...]; and an other of hers, wh [...]ch Eudoxia sent from Jeru­salem to Pulcheria, which shee plac'd near her own seat in the Church, that shee built in Con­stantinople : as Nicepherus wri­tes (in his 14th. book c. 2.) I [...] might Produce several other I­mages, which were made & wor­shipp'd by those of the Primiti­ve Church, If I had not suppos'd that any impartial reader might plainly perceive (by what I have already produc'd) that the vse of Images is no new Doctrine i [...] the holy Catholick Church, and [Page 161] consequently that their worship and veneration, is not prohibited by the second commandment, (as my adversary and his adhe­rence do falsly teach) for that which is prohibited by this com­mandment, and also by the scri­ [...]ture in several places, is to wor­ship, or adore any creature with that honour, which is due to the Almighty God : as formerly the Gentiles did, when they made I­dols and false Gods; which after­wards they worshipp'd and ador'd even as if every one of them had been a true, and an Eternal God : wherefore they are alwayes be­liev'd by those of the Church of Rome to have been Idolators, & impious for soe doing; which [Page 162] they wou'd not judge, if themsel­ves were guilty of the same crime, or of any other of that kind: there­fore the worship which is peculi­ar to God is commonly call'd by the divines, Cultus [...]atriae that is to say, a soveraign honour, and the Church of Rome most strictly forbids all her members, to give it to any creature : therefore the honour & veneration, which shee alowes to be given to Images, is not that of Latria, or severaign as all the Fathers of the 7th. Ge­neral Council do declare (in the 7th. Action) but it is an inferi­or kind of veneration call'd re­lative, that is to say, that they are worshipp'd, in as much as they represent unto us Godly thing [...] [Page 163] and are instruments apt to move the people to thinke of what our Saviour & the Saints, have suffer'd & done in this world, so that they serve in a māner as books to those who cannot read, & exci­tes the people to great devotion, & pietv, which other wise wou'd not have inter'd into their tho­ughts or imaginations: [...]o that the reader may take notice, how uncharitable the pretended re­formers do continually preach to their poor ignorant flock▪ that the Papists are Idolators and impi­ous, by worshipping graven Im­ages, as Gods, that thereby they might render the holy Ca­tholick Church odious and abo­minable, to the very simple peo­ple, [Page 164] fearing that any of the [...] wou'd embrace her principles, o [...] offer to find out the real verity of her uncorr [...]pted doctrine.

Chap. 9 Proving the invocation of Angels, and Saints to be lawfull, [...] practis'd by those of the Primitive Church

The Angels, and Saints his a special care of us, and we recei­ve several benefits by their as­sistance and merits : therefore it is lawfull to invocate them, that they may interced for us to God the antecedent is manifest by the following tex [...]s. And the Ang [...] of God call'd t [...] Haga [...] ou [...] of heaven and said unto her, what aileth th [...] Haga [...]? fear not: for God hath ha [...] the voice of the child. Genesis c. [Page 165] 17. and the Angel of the Lord call'd unto him out of heaven and said Abra­ham, Abraham; lay not their hand up­on the child, neither do thou any thing unto him, for I know that thou fearest God. Genesis c. 22. v. 11. 12. The An­gel which redeem'd me from all evil blesse these boyes. Genesis c. 48. v. 16. Then the Angel of the Lord went fo­rth, & smote in the camp of the Assy­tian, an hundred and fou [...] score & five thousand. Isaiah c. 37. v. 36. Then the Angel of the Lord Answer'd & said O Lord of hosts! how long will thou not have mercy in Jerusalem, and [...]n the cityes of Juda, against which thou hast indignation these three score and ten years. Zechariah c. 1. v. 12. Michael one of the Princes come to help me. there is none that holdeth with me [Page 166] in these things, but Michael Daniel [...], 10. v 13. & 21. But while he thought [...] these things, behol'd, the Angel of the Lord appear'd unto him in a dream, saying, Ioseph son of David, fear no [...] to take unto thee Mary they wife▪ for that which is conceiv'd in her is of the holy Ghost. Matt. c. 1. v. 20. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto ye that in heaven their Angels do alwayes behold the face of my Father, which is in heaven. Matt. c. 18. v. 1 [...]. And four & twenty el­ders felldown before the lambe having every one of them harps and golden vi­als full of odours, which are the pray­ers of the Saints. Revelations, c. 5 v. 8. and c. 8. v. 3. & 4. and an other Angel came & stood at the altar, ha­ving a golden censer, & there was [Page 167] given unto him much incense, that he shou'd offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar, which was before the throne: & the smoake of the incense which came with the prayers of the Saints ascended up be­fore God out of the Angels hands. we read in the 2. book of the Macca­bees c. 15. that Judas Machabeus had seen Onias the high Priest and Jeremiah the Prophet (after their death) interceding to God for the people of Israel, and that this book is Canonical I will pro­ve in my answer to the next po­int.) we read also in the 15 c. v. [...]. of Jeremiah that the Lord spoke unto him saying thus : Tho' Moses and Sa­muel stood before me, yet my minde cou'd not be towords this people cast [Page 168] them out of my sight, and let th [...] go forth: which words our Lor [...] wou'd not have said; If Moses [...] Samuel (tho' dead) were not wo [...] to interced for the Jewes: whi [...] may be confirm'd out of Exod [...] c. 32 v. 13. where we read th [...] Moses himself beg'd of the Lor [...] to shew his mercy to the peopl [...] for the sake of Abraham, Isaac, a [...] Israel, his own servants. for (as The­odoret q. 67. on Exod▪ saye [...] Moses thinking himself so [...] insufficient to pacifie the Lord [...] he sets down not only his o [...] promise, but also the aforsai [...] Patriarchs merits, that the reb [...] the Lord might be more willi [...] to have commisseration upon th [...] people, and pardon them, whic [...] [Page 169] then he did : as is manifest by the 14 v. of the same chap. Moses also endeavour'd an other time to pa­cifie the Lord's fury thro' the aforsaid Patriarchs merits, & assis­tance: as is evident out of Deut. c. 9. v. 27 wherre he sayes thus: remember they servāts Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: looke not unto the stoubborn­ness of this people, nor to their wicked­ness, nor to their sinne▪

Was it not for the sake of Abra­ham (tho' dead) his son Isaac ob­tain'd several requests & favours from the Lord? Genesis c. 26. v. 3. 4▪ 5. & 24. wou'd not the Lord divide Salomon's Kindom, & give it to his servants? If it had not been for the sake of David : as may be seen ïn the 3 book of Kings [Page 170] c. 11. v. 11. 12. was it not for the sake of David Aby as obtain'd? that his son Asa reign'd in Jerusalem : as may be seen in the same book c. 15. v. 4. was it not also for the sake of David (tho' dead) the Lord sav'd the city of Jerusalem from being destroy'd by the Assyrians: as is evident out of the 4th. book of King [...] c. 19. v. 32 & 3 [...]. & [...]. 20. v. 6. when Salomon beg'd any great request from the Lord, was not he wont, to set down the merits of David? that thereby he might the sooner obtain his request; as may be seen in the 131. Psalm. v. 1. 10. which is in the Protestant bi­ble the 132. Psalm.

Now let the reader consider what a great happiness it is to ha­ve [Page 171] a faithfull friend and Patron in great honour and request with God almighty thro' who [...]e merits and intercission, one may obtain several benefits, which otherwise wou'd not be granted : as the pre­misses do evidently make-out, for as God almighty was graciously pleas'd (thro' the bountifullnesse of his infinite mercy) to grant for the merits and intercession of these Patriarches, (who then we­re but in Limbo Patrum) so many benefits and requests, to those whom they protected in this world why also now in the law of grace wou'd not the same God (most mercyfully) grant us any lawfull request? for the intercession and great merits of his holy Mother, [Page 172] beloved Apostles, faithfull Mar­tyres, and true Confessors, who are in great honour and request, residing with himself in [...]eaven; Especially being this dose not de­rogate to the honour of Christ▪ as I will prove by the following passage.

If it be unlawfull to invocate Angel, & Saints either it is because they k [...]nown not what we say : or because it wou'd derogate to the honour of Christ, who is said to be the mediator betwen God & man, according to that of John in his first Epist. c. 2. v. 1. not for the first, as I have already shew'd and shall confirm it by the following examples. We read in the 4th. book of Kings c. 5. [Page 173] v. 26 that Eli [...]ha knew (tho' ab [...]ēt) Gehazie's Simonie : and (in the c, 6th. v. 12.) that Elisha also knew what was said in the King of Sy­ria's private Chamber : & (in the 15th▪ c. v. 10. of Luke) that the Angels of God doth rejoyce at the conversion of a sinner, which is the greatest secret that one can have; yet it can be known to the Angels, and also to the Saints in heaven, either by a dis­tinct revelation from the clear vision of God's essence, or by the visiō of themselves: as S. Grego­rie [in his 2. book of Dialogues c. 3.) affirms saying thus : what is it, that there they know not? where they know him who knowes all.

Neither dose it derogate to the [Page 174] honour of Christ, for the Church of Rome certainly believes, Ch­rist to be the chief Mediator be­twen God and man: as St Paul affirms, (in his Epist to Timothy c. 2. v. 5.) therefore she dose not allow to invocate Angels or Sa­ints in order to obtain any re­quest immediatly and directly from themsleves, for she acknow­ledges that to be a folly, & con­sequently not to be in their pow­er. So that she only allows to beg of them to join their prayers, & intercessiō with those of the faith­full, that thereby they might the sooner & easier obtain from God their requests, thro' the meri [...] and in [...]e [...]cession of Jesus Christ, which is manifest out of [Page 175] St. Leo's 2 Oration de Jejunio, and also by the publick Orations of the Church, wherein she im­plores the intercession of Angels and Saints : for she wou'd have them to be efficacious thro' the assistance and merits of Christ; it is therefore they alwayes end with the following words: Per Do­mi [...]um nostrum Jesum Christum Fili [...]m [...]um, qui t [...]cum vivit, et regna [...] in unitate spiritus sainti, Deus per osnnia saecula sae [...]ulorum A men, whereby the reader may plainly perce [...]ve, that the invocations of Saints dose not derogate to the honour of Christ: otherwise St Paul might be accus'd for beseeching the Romans Colossians, Hebre [...]s, & Theslalonians, to assist himself in [Page 176] his prayers, and also to pray for him to God: as is e [...]ident by St Paul's own Epistles: to the Ro­mans c, 15 v. 30. to the Hebrews c. 13. v. 18. 19. to the Colossians c. 4. v. 3. in his first and s [...]cond to the Thessalonians c. 5 v. 25. c, 3. v. 1 so that the Adversary must either Confess the invocation of Saints not to der [...]gate Christ's honour; or else to condemn St: Paul's Doctrine: for I d [...]fie him ever to make-out that the inter­cession of those, who live in this world, is acceptable to God, & n [...]t the intercession of [...]hose, who are cōfirm'd in grace & glory : or that one is prejudice to Christ & the other not

Now letus héare the holy Fa­thers [Page 177] Authorityes and the practice of the Primitive Church. St Ire [...]ae­us [...] who liv'd in the 2 Century, in his 5th book against hereses) sayes thus : and as Eve was seduc'd that the might avoid God: even so, ma [...]y was advis'd to obey God that she might become Eves advocate Origines who liv'd in the 3 Century, in his first homily on Ezech :) sayes thus -come Angel and receive the converted from the former error, from the devilish Doctrine—call the rest of your compa­ [...]ions that ye may together inst [...]uct in the faith, all those who formerly has [...]een deceiv'd: more of Origen's Au­thorityes may be seen hom. 3. in Diversa Loca Novi T [...]estamenti hom. 16. in [...]osue, and hom. 26: in Nume. Cornelius (who liv'd [Page 178] in the same century, in his first E­pist. sayes thus we are Praying God, & our Lord Jesus Christ that by the inter­cessions of his own holy Apostles, he may purge out the blemishes of your sinnes. St. Cyprian (who also liv'd in the 3. Century, in his book de Disiplina, et Habitu Virgi­num speaking to the Vir­gins) sayes thus: peform spiritually come prosperously, and be mindfull of us. Eusebius Caes. (who liv'd the year 326. in his 13. book de Evang. Praep. c. 7.) sayes, we [...]ouldiers of true pie [...]y do daily practise these thing, honouring the friend▪s of God—& praying to them—by whose intercession to God we do freely acknowledge to be much favour'd. S. Athansius (w [...]o liv'd in the same Century in his [Page 179] ser. in Evangelium, speaking of the blessed Virgin Mary) sayes the following words: incline they hearing to our prayers, and do not for­get they people—, we cry to thee, be mindfull of us most holy Virgin, who also after your delivery cont [...]nu'd a Virgin—Lady & Mistress, and Queen and Mother of God intercede for us. St Hilarius (who liv'd the year 355. in psal [...] 9) sayes that the na­ture of God dose not want the interce­ssion of Angels—God being ignorant of nothīg that we do but our own weak­ness wants it: he has such another Authority speaking of the Apos­tles, and Prophets intercession expounding the 124. Psalm. St. Basil (who liv'd in the same age, in his Oration of the 40. Marty­ [...]es) [Page 180] sayes thus: whosoever is oppress' [...] with trouble, let him sly for refuge t [...] these martyres, that he may be ridd o [...] his troubles: and whosoever rejoyces let him Pray to them [...]hat he [...]ay con­tinue in his prosperityes. And in his 205. Epist. which is to Julian, af­ter specifying several points of faith which himself beliv'd, he sayes the following words: and I do embrace the holy Apostles, Prophets and invocate them in my supplication to God, that by their intercession he might be mercyfull to me. S. Cyrill of Jerusalem (who liv'd about the same time, Catech. 5.) sayes thus: when we offer this sacrifice we also make mention of those who d [...]'d before us, first of the Patriarchs, Prophets, A­postles, and Martyres, that God may [Page 181] receive our prayer by their intercession. S. Ephraem (who also liv'd in the same Century in his ser. de Lau­dibus Martyrum) sayes the follo­wing words: we beseech ye most holy Martyres, who for the sake of the Lord readily and willingly suffer'd torments for which ye are all now most fa [...] ­liar with God, that ye may be pleas'd to intercede to the Lord for us poor sinners, that the grace of Christ might light upon us. St. Gregorie Nazian­zen (who liv'd the year 370, in his Oration speaking to S. Atha­nasius after his (death) sayes thus and look upon us favorably from a­love and govern this holy people, nu­ [...]ish and feed us in peace, direct and take us up in the battel, and place us with your self and with those, who are [Page 182] in the same cond [...]tion with you; he implores also St. Cyprian & St. Basil's assistance, in his Oràtions of them (after their death.) St. Ambrose (who liv'd the same ti­me) sayes the following words: the Ange [...]s who are employ'd to asist us ought to be pray'd to, and the Mar [...]yres—they can interced [...] for our sins, who with their proper blood wash'd a way if they had any sins—let [...]s not be asham'd to apply them a intercessors of our weakness. More of this holy Doctors Authority may be seen in his 2. book de Virg. in his 10, book in Lucam, expounding the 21. [...], and in his Preparation be­fore mass, where he begs the as­sistance and intercession of the Apostles, Martyres & Cōfessors, [Page 183] S. Gregorie Nysen (who liv'd the year 380 in his Oration of St. Theod [...]r M [...]r [...]yer) sayes thus : we stand i [...] [...]ed o [...] great favours, int [...]rc [...]de a [...]d p [...]ay ea [...]n [...]stly to the [...]niversal Ki [...] [...] Lord for the Coun­ [...]ey—for we [...], [...]e ex­ [...]ct dangers, the wicked S [...]ithio [...]s are [...]t far o [...] d [...]clari [...]g war against [...]s, [...] for us as a Sou [...]dier▪ as a mar [...]yer [...]se the liberty of [...] for your fellow [...]rvant: altho' you ha [...]e [...]e [...]s the world [...] you kn [...]w th [...] disposition, interest [...]d [...] of [...] n [...]ture; beg [...], that these [...]ublick assemblyes [...]ay not give over [...] the [...]urious, wi [...] ­ [...]ed and [...]orb [...]rous [...] wo [...]'d [...]aise agaīst us and ass [...]ls our Church­ [...] and Altars—but if it be requisite [...] have more assistance and prayers ga­ther [Page 184] your consorts the Martyres, and pray along with them, for the prayers o [...] many righteous doth wash away the [...] of many: admonish Peter, move Paul and John th [...]t beloved Disciple, tha [...] they may take care of those Churches, for whose sake they endur'd chains, suf­fer'd dangers and death. S. Hierome (who liv'd the year 390, in his Oratiō on Paula sayes thus : [...]earwel O Paula and help with your prayers thy worshipper in his old age—fo [...] you who is present will more easily ob­tain, what you demand. S. Chriso­stome (who also liv'd the same time, in his 45. homily, speaking of St. Meletuis) sayes thus: there­fore let us all together men and wo­men both young and old pray to holy Miletius &c. [Page 185] In his ser. speaking of the blessed Lady, he sayes the followīg words: [...]t us recurr to the most holy Virgin Mary Mother of God, that by her inter [...]ssion [...]e may obtain our request—we beseech [...]ee to intercede for us daily to our Lord Jesus Christ thy own son, that [...]y thee thro' his grace and benignity [...]e may be pardon'd. & in his 66. hom. to the people of Antioch he sayes thus : he who gose in his purple [...]d royal crown laying by his pride [...]raws near the Saints sepulchres, hum­bly beseeching them to intercede for him [...] God &c. More of St. Chrysostoms Authorityes may be seen in his 5th. hom. in Matt. in his ser. de Juventio, and Maximio and in his first hom. on St. Paul's first Epist. [...]o the Thessalonians, where he [Page 186] Numbers several benefit [...] grāted by the Saints intercession & thro' their merits S. Augustin (who liv'd the year 4 [...]0 in his 7 book against the Dona [...]sts [...], speaking of St. Cyprian) sayes the [...]ollo­wing words we beseech him to a [...] us with his prayers &c. in his 84. Treatise in John, he sayes, that it was therefore they did not pray for the Martyres as they did for other people who dy'd, because they knew that they did not want their payers; but they wanted the Martyres [...]rayers: and in his 29. Ser : of the Saints (speaking of St Peter's Miracles) he sayes thus : If then the shadow of his body coul'd relieve, how much more now the plenitude of his ver­tue? If then a certain noise of him passing [Page 187] [...]prevaic'd to these who beseech'd him, [...] much [...] [...]his [...] gra [...]s? [...]f the [...], he may see [...]ore of St [...] A [...]thorities, [...] V [...]rbis Apos [...]oli: [...] his [...] Q [...] [...] his book [...] c. 4. and in [...] [...] [...]n the 19. [...]. of [...] [...] pro­ [...], [...] with the Auth [...] [...] General Co [...]cil of [...] Fa­ [...]ers [...] [...] [...]. & earnest­ [...] [...] Fl [...]ianus (then [...] themselves as [...] [...] by the [...]. Action: we [...]re [...]d in the Bishop [...] of Eu­ [...]ps [...] to [...]eo the Emp [...]r [...] in the [...]ater end [Page 188] of this Council that they de­clar'd themselves to acknowled­ge, that holy Pro [...]erius was regis­ter'd in the Cathologue of Marty res, & that they beg'd God Almi­ghty to be favourable & mercifull to themselves thro' his intercessiō all which Authorityes do evidēt­ly make out that the Catholicks of the Primitive Church where accustom'd to invocate Saints.

Chap. 10 Proving that Purgatory, was believ'd by those of the Primitive. Church.

For the better intelligence of this point let the reader know, that altho' the sinners crime is forgivē, yet the sinner under gose some temporal punishment : as is mani­fest Numb: c. 12. v: 1. 2 10, 14; [Page 189] where we read that when the sin of murmuring was forgiven to Mary, by Moses intercession; yet in punishment thereof she had the leprofie for the speace of se­ven dayes, and was oblig'd to lev [...] the whole camp during that time. When the Israelites sinn'd against God, and offer'd to rebel against Moses tho' their sinnes [...]e [...]e forgiven thro' the Lord's infinite mercy, and by the inter­cession of Moses yet in punishmēt of their crime several of them dy'd in the wilderness and never [...]as admited to come to the land of promise Num [...] 14, v. 19. 20, [...]. [...]. 24▪ 3 7. & also when David sin­n'd against the Lord his crime was forgiven but in punishment [Page 190] thereof; his son dy'd the [...] book of Kings [...], 12 v 13 14 18▪ finally we read in St Paul's first Epist : to the Cormthians, [...] 11 v: 30 that several of the Cormthians were mortifi'd by the Lord and also that some of them dy'd; because they receiv'd unworthily the holy Sacrament, but then their sins has been forgiven : as is evi­dent by the 32, v, where St. Paul sayes the following words: but when we are judg'd we [...] chastized, by the Lord, that we shu'd not be con­demn'd. [...]hereby the reader may plainly [...] that God dose not [...] the punishment, as [...] forgiven the [...] [Page 191] [...]emency and infinite mercy changes that eternal punishment into some temporal affliction, [...] if the sinner dose not un­dergo in this world▪ he must suf­fe [...] for it after his d [...]ath, before ever he shall enter into the Kīg­dom of [...]eaven, for non [...] is re­ceiv'd there untill he is even as clean f [...]om all manner of sin, and fault as he was immediatly after his Baptism, as witnesseth that of Iohn [...]: c 21. v 27,

This presuppos'd I may lawfully inferr that ther [...] must be some place of tempor [...]l punishment [...] order to purifie and cleanse nos [...] [...]ouls who doe not perform [...] world, and [...] [Page 192] sins, to which [...]ternal punishmēt is not due; for it wou'd be a most ūreasonable thig of us to believe that he who immediatly has been in the state of grace and dyes suddenly after speaking an idle word, or committing some other smal offence shu'd be oblig'd to everlasting torments, even as he who suddenly dyes without any kind of repentance after com­mitting murder, adultry, or some other great crime : therefore be­ing he cannot inter the into hea­ven by reason of that small of­fence he must go to some other place untill he is pur [...]i'd which I shall prove by the following ar­gument. what ever the old and new Testament, the holy Fathers and [Page 193] Doctors of the Primitive Church, several Councils, true and won­derfull revelations, affirms; ought to be believ'd by all Christians: but the old and new Testament, the holy Fathers, and Doctors of the Primitive Church, several Councils, true and wonderfull revelation affirms that which the Church of Rome calls Purgatory; to be a place of temporal punish­ment wherin some souls are cha­stiz'd and purifi'd after lēving this world : therefore Purgatory ought to be believ'd by all Chris­tians: the consequence is evident; [...]s we shall see hereafter : and the major cannot be deny'd by a­ny true Christian: as for the min­nor, I will prove it after the same [Page 194] order, w [...]erei [...] [...]'s f [...]'d: there­fore I [...]ill beg [...]n [...] the Au [...]o­ [...]es of the old Testament. We fin [...] in the 6 [...] Ps [...] which is the [...] [...]n the [...] English [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] 3. [...] in [...] [...]18 [...]. O [...], [...] s [...] c. [...] [...]8. [...]t. [...] his [...] [...] [...] [Page 195] perpetual [...]y, and [...]o c [...]as [...]en one in his [...], is [...]o punish hi [...] seve [...]ly [...] this [...]ite i [...] or­der [...], and so concluds w [...] the following words : O Lord [...] p [...]eas'd to, [...] in this wo [...]ld—th [...] I [...] [...]ot w [...]nt tha [...] correctīg [...]ire. And it [...]hall [...] to p [...]sse, that he that is le [...]t i [...] z [...] and [...]e that remaineth in Jer [...]salem, sha [...]l be call'd [...]o [...]y. when t [...]e Lord that ha [...]e wash'd away the [...] of the da [...]g [...]ers of zion, & shall have pu [...]g'd the blo [...]d of Jerusalem from the [...]id [...]t the [...]o by the spirit of jugedment, and by the spirit of burning. Isaih c. 4. v 3. and 4. which text (according to St. Augustin in his 20th. book of the City of God c. 25.) m [...]ns the releasment, [...]hich souls do get from the bur­ning [Page 196] fire of Purgatory. Micah. c. 7. v. 7. 8. and 9 [...] will look unto the Lord. I will wait for the God of my sal­vation: my God will heare me, rejoice not against me O! mine enemy when I fall I shall arise, when I sit in dark­nesse the Lord shall be light onto me. I will beare the indignatiō of the Lord, because I have sinn'd against him, untill he plead my case, and execute judge­ment for me he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousnesse. Which words (as St. Hierome affirms in his commen­tary on the last c. of I saiah) means the releasment of those souls who do suffer in Purgatory fire. Zecha­riah c. 9. v, 11. you also by the blood of they covenant have brought forth your prisoners out of the p [...]t wherein [Page 197] there is no water. S [...]. Pete [...] speakïg of those Prisone [...]s (in his [...] Ep. c. 3. v. 18. 19 & 20,) sayes thus. for christ also hath once suffer'd for sins, the just for the unjust (that he might brīg us to God) bei [...]g put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit: by which also he went and preach'd unto the spirits in prison; which sometimes were disobed [...]ent when once the long suffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah, while the arke was a preparīg, M [...]lachi. c. 3 v. 3, and he shall sit is a refiner and a puri [...]er of silver: and [...]e shall purifie the sons of Levi, and [...]urge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offerīg in righteousnesse. Which text signifies the punishment of Purgatory; as the following Fathers do testifies [Page 891] Origines hom. 6. in Exod. S. Am­brose in his commentary on the 36. psal. St Hier [...]me in the expo­sition of this text, and St. Au­gustin in his 20th. book of the city of God c. 25. we find in the 2, book of Machabees, c. 12. v. [...]3. that Judas Machabeus had sent to Jerusalem twelve thousand pee­ces of silver to be offer'd for the souls of his souldi [...]rs, here are the very words of the scripture : and making a [...]athering he sent twel­ve thousand dracmes of f [...]ver to [...]erusa­lem for sacr [...]fice to be offer'd for [...]nne well and religiously thinking of the Resurection for unless he [...]p'd that they that were slai [...]e should raise againe, it should seem superflous and vain [...] [...] prayfor the dead and because he con [...]i­der'd [Page 199] tha [...] they, which had taken their sleep with Godliness, had very Good grace lay'd up for them. It is therefore a holy and healthfull cogita­ [...]ion to pray for the dead, that t [...]ey may [...]e loose from sinnes. perhaps you may Answer, saying that this book is not the word of God, or canonical, and consequently that it's Authority is of no force. but in case it wou'd not be canonical it self, it ought to be sooner belie­r'd then either Calvin or Luthers [...]nd consequently prefer'd be­fore their Authorityes; being Ju­ [...]as was always esteem'd to have [...]een a most faithfull servant to God Almighty, and then has [...]een a high Priest of the true Church. Moreover ti's false that [Page 200] this book is not Canonical, for Tradition and the Authority of the holy Catholick Church, (which is all the testimony we can produce to prove that any book of the whole Bible is cano­nical or the true word of God) expressly affirms, that this book is Canonical, and cons [...]quently the word of God: as may [...]e seen in Innocēt the first's letter to Exu­perius, in St Cyprian's first book c. 3. in his book de Ex [...]or [...]atio [...] Martyry; c. 11. in St. Gregorie Nazianzens Oration de Macha­baeis, in St, Ambrose's 2. book de Jacob c, 10. 11. 12. in St. Augustīs 2. book against Gaudent [...]us E­pistles, c. 23 in his 2 book de Doc. Christ. c. 8. & in his 18. book of [Page 201] the City of God c. 36. and also in the 47 Chap. of the 3. Coun­cil of Carthage, celebrated the year 397▪ whose very words are these: Item placuit, ut praeter scrip­turas Canonicas nihil in Ecclesia lega­tur, sub nomine divinarum scriptura­rum. Sunt autem canonicae Scripturae, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numeri, Deuteronomium, Jesus nave, Judicum Ruth Reg [...]um libriquatuor, Paralip [...] ­menon libri duo, Job, psalterium, Da­vidicum, Salomonis libri quinque, libri duodecim Prophetarum, Isaias, Jeremia, Ezechiel, Daniel, Tobias, Judith, Ester, Esdrae libri, duo, Macha­ba [...]rum libri duo, Novi autem Testa­menti, Evangeliorum libri quatuor, Actuum Apostolorum liber vnus, Pauli Apostoli Epistolae tredecim, ejusd [...]m ad [Page 202] Hebraeos una, Petri Apostoli duae, Joānis Apostoli tres, Judae Apostoli una, et Jaco­bi una, Apocalipsis Joannis [...]iber unus. Whereby the reader may plainly see that my adversary can have no kind of tolerable reason to reject the books of M [...]chabees, more than any other book of the whole Bible; Now let us heare those texts of the new Testament which speaks of Purgatory Mat. c, 5. v. 2 [...] But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother with­out a cause shall be in danger of judgment & whosoever shall say to his brother Ra­cha, shall be in dāger of Coūcil: but who­soever shall say thou fool shall be in danger of hell fire. Which text ex­pressly declares the soul to be punish'd after leavīg this world. [Page 203] for three several sinnes; and that only for the last of them he shall suffer Eternal fire: so that I m [...]y lawfully infer, that there must be some other place wherin the souls are punish'd for the two o­ther sinnes : but that other place cannot be heaven: as is evident; neither is it hell, as the text makes-out : therefore it must be that place of te [...]poral Punish­ment, which the holy Catholick Church commonly call's Purga­tory; Which may be confirm'd by the 2 [...] & [...]6. v. of the same Chap. where we read thus: agree with your adversar [...] quickly whil [...]s you are in the way with him, lest the adversary would deliver thee to the judge & the judge deliver thee to the officer. & [Page 204] thou be cast in pr [...]son. ver [...]ly I say unto thee, thou shal [...] by n [...] means come ou [...] thence till thou hast payed the uttermost farthing. Whereby the reader may see, that the word of God con­firms the prem [...]sses, by bidding us to make penance in this world, lest we shu'd be sent to that pri­son, out of which [...] cannot go till we pay the last farthing : that is to sa [...], untill our souls will be purifi'd from all manner of [...]innes : as the following Fathers do ex­pressly declare. [...]ertullian in his book de Anima. c 17. S. Cypri­an in his 4th. book Epist. 2 Ori­gines hom 35 in Luca [...] Euse­bius Emi [...]senus hom [...] de [...]piph [...]ia. St Ambrose expoundīg the 12. c of Luke & St. Hierome on thee afore­said [Page 205] text▪ where he sayes the following words: this is what St. Matthew declares you shall not go out of the prison, till also the small sin [...] be punish'd Matt. c. 12 v. 32. and whosoever speake [...]h a word against the son of ma [...] i [...] shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him nei­ther in this world nei [...]her [...]n the world. to come. Which words S Matthew wou'd [...]ot have said, If he ha [...] not suppos'd, that some si [...] will be fo [...]given in the world to come. We fi [...]d also the following words in St. Pauls first Epist. to the Co­rinthians c, 3 v. 15. [...]f any man [...] w [...]r [...]e shall be burnt, he shall suffer cosse; but hi [...]self shall be sav'd yet so, as by fire. By which words▪ S. Paul clearly [Page 206] firms that some souls after leaving this world shall be purg [...]d, and purifi'd by a temporal fire; as the following Fathers do testifie : St. Ambrose in his co [...]mentary on this text, & in his 20. ser. on the [...]18. psal: S [...] Hierome on the 4. Chap. of Amos, St. Augustin on the 37. Psal. & S, Gregorie in his 4. book of Dialogues c. 39.

Now let us beare the holy Fa­thers very words. S. Denis (who has been St. Paul's Disciple▪ in his book de Ecc [...]es. Hier, c. 7.) sayes thus : Then the Venerable Bishops do draw near▪ and perform the ho [...]y prayers over the dead, beseech [...]ng the divine clemency, to forgive the dead all the sinnes, which he commit [...]d by his human weaknesse, and to place h [...] ▪ in [Page 207] light, and in the region of the living, Ter [...]ullian (who liv'd in the year 230. in his book de Monogamia) bids ac [...]rtain wom [...]n, to pray and give offerings for the soul of her de­ [...]ased husband. Origenes (who liv'd in the year 220. ho [...]. 6 on Exod. speaking of the soul's progresse, when it comes to Purgatory) sayes the following words: and when it is ar [...]sl [...]d there [...] willbrīg many good wor [...]s a [...]d al [...]tle iniquity, that [...] is purg'd and disolv'd even as lead is by [...]re St. Athanasius (who liv'd in the 4 age, in his 34. Question to Ant [...]chus, speaking of the Prayer [...] and obla [...]ions of­fer'd for the dead) sayes thus: If they wou [...]d [...]ot receive some benefit by this, certainly there wou'd be [...]no [Page 208] commemorat▪ on made in grief, [...]orr [...] and [...]nerals—we know the [...]o [...]ls [...] sinners to receive som [...] b [...]efit by the [...] bloody sacri [...]i [...]e & by the gra [...]ific [...]i [...] offer'd for them [...]s our Lord who h [...] the dominion of both the qu [...]ck a [...] the dead [...]rde [...]'d and commanded. S [...] Cyrill of Ierusa [...]em (who liv'd i [...] the same age, Catech. Myst: [...].) sayes the following wor [...]is: we [...] pray f [...]r all [...]hose, who dy'd among [...] us, believing the obl [...]tion of the holy & terrible sacrifice to be a g [...]eat help to those souls, for whom it is offer'd St. Ephrem (who liv▪d the [...]ame time in his la [...]t will: earnestly be [...]eches the people to be alwayes mindfull of him [...]elf in their Prayers St. Ba [...]il (who also thē liv'd) instituted an Oration in his Liturgie, in order to [Page 209] [...]e said for the dead; and on the 9. [...]p of Isaiah, he sayes thus : there [...] if we w [...]l discover the sinne by [...]infession, we shall dr [...], even a [...] the [...]y which is ea [...]e [...], and it is [...]t that [...]urrasory fire so [...]uld make an [...] e [...]d of [...] [...]dose not treaten pe [...]p [...]tua [...] death, [...]d exile, but it grants purgin [...]: a cor­ [...]ng to that of the Apostle, bu [...] h [...]m­ [...]elf shall be sav'd, ye [...] so as b [...] f [...]re. Gregorie NaZ [...]anz [...]n (who liv [...]d the year [...]70. in his Funeral Ora­ [...]tion of Caes [...]rius most humbly be­seeche [...] the C [...]ristians to pray for the sou [...]s of the dead and himself prayes: for the soul of Cae [...]arius, in the same Oration. St. [...]p [...]pha­nius (who as been con [...]emporary to St Gregorie, in th [...] end of his [...]ork against Heresis [...] numbers the [Page 210] prayers for the dead amongst th [...] doctrine of the holy Catholic [...] Church; and Heresie 75. he call [...] Aerius an heretick, for denying it to be [...]awfull to pray for the de [...] ad. St. Ambrose (who also liv'd a­bout the same time, in his 2 boo [...] Epist. 8. which is to Faustus concerning his sisters death) saye [...] thus: therefore I do judge that she i [...] not as much to be moan'd, as she i [...] to be oblig'd b [...] prayers, neither is s [...] to he griev'd by your tears; but rath [...] h [...]r soul is to be recommended to G [...] by [...]blations & in his Orati [...]s of The odosius, Valētinianus & Satyrus death, he prays most fervently [...]o their souls, & promisses to offer sacrifices for them; And expound [...] the 3, Chap. of St. Paul's Epist. [...] [Page 211] [...]orinthians, he sayes the follo­ [...]ing words: but wh [...]n [...]aul sayes, [...]so, as by f [...]re indeed [...]e dec [...]ares it he shall be sav'd, but he will suf­ [...]r the punishme [...]t of fire, that he may [...]purg'd b [...] [...]ire and ma [...]e sound, and mus [...] not be tortur'd perpetually by [...]nal fire, a [...] the traitou [...]s [...]re. he has [...]ch a nother passage in his 20th [...] in psal [...]8. St. Gregorie Nys­ [...]n (who liv'd the year 380 in is Oration of the dead) sayes [...]us: wherefore, that both the digni­ [...] of human nature and free will mi [...]ht left, and that the evil might cease, [...]ivine w [...]sdom invented this means— [...]t either in this pesent life one must [...] purg'd by prayers, and exercise of [...]rtue, or after his death to be clea [...]s'd the for [...]ace of purging fire—he [Page 212] cannot be cap [...]ble to enjoye C [...]d, unle [...] Pu [...]gatory fire will take away the spi [...] dispe [...]s'd on the soul. St Hierom [...] (who liv'd in the year 390. in hi [...] [...]pist. to Pammachus concerning [...] the death of Paulina) sayes thus▪ other husba [...]ds dospread violets rose [...] lilyes, and flowers [...]pon the to [...]bs [...] their wifes; but our Po [...]machus [...] uses the bal [...]om of alms [...] : knowing [...] to be written, that as water quenchet [...] fire, even so alms quencheth the sinn [...]s; and expounding the 4. chap. of Amos, he also sayes thus: according to tha [...], whi [...]h we read in St Paul; he [...] shall be sav'd, yet so as by fire: therefore he [...]ho is sav'd by f [...]re, is hurry'd a­way as if [...] were a fire-brand out of the bu [...]ni [...]g slame. St Chrisosto [...]e (who liv'd in the year 398 hom 41 on St [Page 213] [...]uls first Epist. to the Corinthi­ [...]s speaking of the dead) sayes [...]e following words : l [...]t us ass [...]st [...]um, not with tears, but with prayers [...] supplica [...]ions, alms and oblations; [...] these things has not been rashly v [...]nted; neither is it in vain that we [...]ember those w [...]ody'd, in the divi­ [...] Mysteries, and that we pray for [...]m, bese [...]ehing the expos'd lambe, [...]ho takes away the sinnes of the world [...]at thence forth they might have some [...]solation—therefore let us help [...]m and let us per [...]orm their comme­ [...]nation; for if [...]obs sacr [...]fice made sa­ [...]sfaction for his [...]ons! what do you [...]ubt? if tho [...]e who dy [...] ha [...] some [...]solation we effe [...]ing sacrifice for [...]m More of St. Chris [...]stom 's Au­thority may be seen, in my answer [Page 214] to the first point? and in his [...] hom in Ioann & 2 [...] in act a Apos [...] St Augustin (who liv'd in th [...] year 426. in his 21. book of th [...] C [...]ty of God c. 27) sayes, that the [...] are some Saints, who a [...]ter thei [...] death gose straight to heaven an [...] afterwards can help oth [...]rs : an [...] that there are others of such a bad life, who after their death are no [...] sav'd, neither can they help others and finally that there are others, who after their death cannot go [...] straight to heaven by the vertue of their own proper merits; but that they can be reliev'd, by the merits and good works of their friends; and in the 16th chap of the same book, (speaking of the infants, who immediatly dye after [Page 215] [...]eir Baptism) he sayes thus : It is [...]t only that Eternal punishment is [...] prepar'd for them; but neither shall [...]ey suffer Purgatory torments; and [...] t [...]e 24 Chap. he puts a question [...]quirīg, why dose not the Chur­ [...]h pray for those who dye with­ [...]ut repentance; & answers sayīg [...]hus : Ti's because they are computed be of the divels party—but the [...]hurch & faithfull's prayers are heard [...] the behal [...] of others, who did not [...]have themselves so ill in this life, [...]ither did they deserve to go directly [...]heaven; In his book [...] of Homil yes [...]om. 16. he sayes, that those who [...]s sinnes deserving temporal [...]unishments, shall go thro' pur­ [...]tory fire according to that of [...]ul. he shall be sav'd, as by fire. [Page 216] And expounding the 37. psalm. he sayes thus : that [...]ire is slighted because ti's said he shall be sav'd; ti's sure▪ but altho' he shall be sav'd by fire; yet that fire is more grievous than any thing, that a man can suffer in this life. In his 2. book de Genesi c. 20 (speaking of him who makes not good use of his life) he sayes thus: after this life, he shall either suffer the purging fire, or eternal pu­nishment; & in his book de Cura pro Mortuis e. 1. he sayes the [...]ollowing words: we read in the Machabees that sacrifice has been of­fer'd for the dead but altho' it wou'd never be read in the old Testament, yet the Authority of the who [...]e Church which is manifest in this custom, is not weaks, where in the priests prayers, [Page 217] which are offer'd to God at his Altar, the commemoration for the dead has also it's one place. and in the 4 c of the same book he sayes thus : sup­plications for the souls of the dead ought not to be omttted, which are to be made for all those who dy'd in the Ch [...]istia [...] and Catholick society, tho' their names be n [...]t specifi'd the Church receives it vnder a General [...] [...]mmemoration, that it might be offer'd by the holy publick mother for them, even as for those who has not parents oy children, relation or friends to remember them; and in the 18. c. [...]speaking of the sacrifices, pray­ers, and alms which are offer'd for the dead) he sayes the follo­ [...]ing words : they do not avai [...] to all those for whom they are offer'd, but [Page 218] only to those who deserv'd it when they liv'd, but because we can not dis­cern who are those, it must needs be offer'd for all Christians; in his 9th. book of Confession c. 13. he earnest­ly beseeches others to pray for the soul of his mother Monica; and in his book of heresie c. 53. he calls Aerius a heretick for not allowing sacrifice to be offer'd for the dead; more of his Autho­rity may be seen in my answer to the first point.

Now let us heare the Council [...] decrees. It was enacted in the 29 Chap. of the 3. Council of Carthage the year 397. that the holy sacrament shu'd not be re­ceiv'd by any, but by those who wou'd be fasting, and in case [Page 219] that there wou'd be any office to be perform'd in the afternoon, for the dead, that it shu'd be only perform'd in prayers with­out offering the holy sacrifice. It was also decreed in the 47. [...]hap. of the 4. Council of Car­thage celebrated the year 398 that in prayers and oblations there shu'd be a commemoration made of those who accidentally would dye in their Journey or by sea, Jf they executed attentively the law of penance. Likewise it was enacted in the 34 chap of the first Council of Bracara (now call'd Braga a City in Portugal the year 412.) not to pray for the souls of those who wou'd kill themselves; and in the 39 chap. [Page 220] of the same Council the clergy where commanded to divide the ablations which wou'd be offer'd amongh themselves, that equaly they might be oblig'd to pray for the dead. It was also decreed in the Council of Cavaillon (a town in France the year 4 [...]0) that they shu'd pray in their solemn Masses for the souls of the dead c. 16. which may be seen de Con­see Dist 1. Can. Visum est; and the same was practis'd before in France: as is evident by the 6. Canon of the Council of Vasens produc'd in my answer to the first point.

But that I may not be too tedi­ous in proving the minor, I shall conclude with the following re­velations. [Page 221] St. Gregorie relates (in his 4th. book of Dialogues [...]. 40) that the soul of Paschasius appear'd to the holy Bishop St, Germa [...]s, and [...]ould him that God was pleas'd to release him­self ou [...] of Purgatory by his pra­yers; he also relates (c. 55) that the soul of a certain monke appear'd to himself, and [...]ould him that it [...]as releas'd by the vertue of thirty mas [...]es which he order'd to be said for him. St. Gregorie the bishop of Tours (in his book de Gloria Confes [...]orum c 5.) af­firms that the soul of Vitulina appear'd to St Martin, and [...]ould him that it suffer'd the punish­ment of Purgatory by reason of a smal si [...]ne which she commited [Page 222] ted in this life. Venerable Bede (in his 5. book of the Historie of Englād, c 13) relates that terrible vision of Driethelme, who after his death reviv'd and tould won­derfull things concerning hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. Petrus Damianus (in his [...]pist to Desi­derius) relates that the soul of Severinus the Bishop of Coliein appear'd to a certain Priest and tould that he sufferd in purga­tory, because when he was a live he did not use to say his canoni­cal hours in distinct times, but said all in the morning, that he might spend the whole day at­tending temporal affairs & also St. Bernard (writing the life of St. Malachias) relates that his [Page 223] Sisters soul appear'd to St. Mala­chias, and tould him that it suf­fer'd the pains of Purgatory. and Gul [...]us Abbas (w [...]i [...]īg the life of St. Bernard in his first book c. 10 sayes that one of St. Bernards monks ( [...]ho dy'd) ap­pear'd to St Bernard, and tould him that he was rel [...]ast out of purgatory by his prayers. It is also to be seen in the life of St Anselmus that he was for a [...]ole twelve-moūth offering sacrifices for the releasment of a certain friends soul, who was punish'd in Purgatory, but was releast thro' the merits of God and by his continual prayers. several o­ther revelations might be produ­c'd, which for brevity sake [...] o­mit [Page 224] to inse [...] here: for I suppose what I have already produc▪d to have evidently made out the ve­rity, of my minor, and also to have fully satisfi'd the reader.

Chap 11 Proving that all those of the Primitive Church had not the word of God in their Mother to [...]gue, and that the reading thereof is not profita­ble (or genera [...]ly allowed) to all people.

There were severall nations in the first five centuryes who did not generally understand either the Syriack, Hebrew, Greeck, or Latin To [...]gue: therefore there were several nations in the first five centuryes, who had not the word of God in their own ton­gue▪ the antecedent is evident [Page 225] Acts Cap 2. as may be seen in my answer to the adversary's 3. point. And [...] prove the consequence thus: the word of God was nei­ther written, or translated into any other language in the first five C [...]nturyes, but only in the aforesaid? as all ancient writters do unanimously affirm; therefore there were several nat [...]ons in the first five Centuryes, who had not the word of God in their own tongue, who conseqently cou'd not rea [...] the Scripture: nav those who cou'd understand some of these languages, had no General accesse to the reading thereof; for in those times there were but few exampl [...]s [...] of it, which were only in Manu-script (for the art [Page 226] of Printing was not then found­out, nor in a long t [...]me after) & researv'd by the Church: as St Denis the Are [...]pagite declares (in his book de Eccles. Hier.) saying, that the [...]acred mysteries were ke [...]pt secred from the commonality; whereby it appears that it was then needlesse to prohibit them to read the scrpture; whereas they were otherwise [...]nder'd by the aforsaid impediments; It also appears that the reading thereof in the Mother tongue is not ne­cessary for all nations; for if it were; certainly those of the Pri­mitive Church wou'd translate it into several other languages; and the Apostles, who had the gift of all tongues (Acts c. 2.) [Page 227] wou'd not only write the new Testament in Greek, Hebrew, & [...]atin, (as they have done) but also in other languages in which they preach'd the gospel through out the universal world, accordīg [...]o that of St. Paul to the Romans [...]. 10 v. 18. neither wou'd S. Paul write in Greeck, but in Latin to the Romans, whose v [...]lgar lan­guage was not the Greeck, but the Latin tongue; and St. Peter and St. James wou'd not write in Greeck their Epistles to the Jewes, bu [...] in the languages of those countryes wherein they were dispers'd, which then have been the Iewes maternal langua­ges, and not the Greeck : neither finally wou'd St. Iohn write his [Page 228] first Epist in Greeck to the Par­thians, whose, maternal Langua­ge was not the Greeck but an­other distinct Language; where­by it plainly appears that nei­ther the Apostles or the Primitive Church ever believ'd that it was necessary for all nations to have the word of God in their own tongue.

Now let us see, who are those, that are oblig'd to, expound read, and interpret the word of God, to thew which I will produce the followin [...] Authorityes. St. Basil (in his 25 Qvestion) sayes, that it is the superiors obligatio [...] (that is to say the pastors) to know and [...]earn those things, whi [...]h afterwards they ought to teach others, but of others not [...] [Page 229] know more then behoueth them; and S. Augustin (in his first book de moribus Ecclefie c. 1.) puts the Question inquiring, what man if judgment doth not understand that the exposiition of the scripture is to be ask'd of them who by their profession are Doctors of the Church. which may be further confirm'd by the Eun [...]ch's example (Acts c. 8. v. 30. 31 & 35) for when Philip ask'd him did he understand what he [...]as reading out of Isaiah he▪ an­swer'd saying, how [...]an I understand it, except some man should guide me wherefore he desir'd Philip to sit with him, in order to expound it to him, which Philip willingly perform'd (knowing that it was his obligation) whereby it ap­pears, [Page 230] that the Eun [...]ch, tho' a man of great Authority (with Qeen Candace) yet did not presume to interpret the scripture himself; but ask'd thê meaning thereof from one of those, who were ap­pointed by God in order to in­struct and teach others; accor­ding to that of St. Paul to the E­phesians c. 4. v. 11 12▪ & 14 saying t [...]us : and he gave some Apostles and some prophets, and some Evangelists & some pastors, and teachers for the pe [...] ­fecti [...]g o [...] the Saints, for the worke of the ministery, for the edifying of the bo [...] o [...] Christ; t [...]at we hence forth may be no more children toss'd to and fr [...], and carri'd about with every wind of Doctrine by the slight of men and cuning craftiness, whereby they lie in [Page 231] wait to deceive. to prevent which danger St. Paul himsel [...] his Epist. to the Hebrew [...]. 13 v. 17) expresly commands us to obey the pastors, and to submit our selves to their judgments [...]hom God imploy'd to rule us, and watch over our souls, for [...]hich they must give an account for the want of which submissi­on, and due obedience to the lawfull Pastors, and Doctors of the true Church ti's a [...]st la­mentable prospect to behold the miserable condition, wherein those of Ireland, England, Scot­land, Holland &c are, ever since they unfortunatly (by the apos­ [...]acy of Luther, and Calvin in the 16 age) have deserted their [Page 232] true and lawfull mother, the Chu [...]at [...]Rome, which is (as St. August [...] affirms in his first book of Symbol to the Cateched c. 6) the holy Church, the only Church the true Church, the Catholick Church, that fights against all hereitc [...]s, yet cannot be convine'd, all here [...]ies deserts he [...], even as usless twigs, that are cut from the vine, but she still remains in her root, in her vine and in her charity. which cha­racter the pretended reformers cannot give to any of their own new Conventicles; who are alwa­yes in a continual confusion, ne­ver agreeing among themselves, for every different sect of them supports the tenets of it's own doctrine by some misinterpreted [Page 233] text of scripture (even as those hereticks of the Primitive Chur­ch which is so inculeated in their brains, that each of them is rea­dy to sacrifice his life for the de­fence of his own particular Doc­trine : the Lutherans condemning the Calvinists, the modern Pre­byterians condemning the refor­m'd Church of England, the Ana­ [...]aptists, and Quakers despising all others, in repect of their own purity; some of them admiting all the books of scripture to be ca­nonical, others affirming part of it to be apocriphall; some adding to their Bibles, that which they suppose the Apostles either ne­glected, or forgot; others dimi­nishing, and taking away what [Page 234] in their opinion were first put-in over-plus, which now a dayes they fīd disagreable to their own prin­ciples; by reason of which altera­tion, several of their Bibles do differ in many places; which is to be admir'd, for how durst they be so presump [...]ious? as [...]e alter or cor­rupt it, being he is curs'd, who adds to, or diminisheth the word of God. Revelation, c. 22. v. 18. 19. for since we are all certain that the first Bible, which the holy Catholick Church receiv'd from the Apostles, (and us'd it for the space of 14. hundred and od [...] years, after Christs birth) was written by the inspiration of the holy Ghost▪ what kind of any to­lerable pretence can they have [Page 235] now after so many ages to alter and corrupt it, whereas very of­ten the alterīg of one letter chan­ges the sense of a whole sentence; much more whē they alter words, [...]ay whole sentence ! as if what God ordain'd in the beginig, had now need to be corrected by their wisdom; to such presumptious people might be we apply'd the following words of Christ Matt. c, 7. v. 6. give not that which is holy unto the dogs; neither ca [...]ye [...]our pearl [...]s before swine, l [...]st they trample them under their feet, and turn again, and rent you. So that it appears if those corrupters cou'd c [...]oake [...]y any pretention their ungodly de­sign, that they wou'd not leave one text in the who [...]e scripture, [Page 236] which they find disagreable to the­ir own principles, but what they woud a teror corrupt; & if in case any zelous Christian shu'd offer to diswade their followers from perusing it after that corruption, they wou'd imprudently answer, (as they do now) that if they shud be hinder'd from reading the word of God in their own tongue; that they wou'd be ke [...]pt in igno­ra [...]ce and darkness, as the Pa­pists are; so that as the serpent deceiv'd Eve perswading her to eat of the forbidden fruit, that she might come to the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. c. 3) even so the divel by his sub [...]ility and ambuss [...] deludes the poor igno­rant people perswading them to [Page 237] read expound and interpret their corrupted Bibles, and not to be beholding to the Church or past­rors, who might deceive them, in teaching that which wou'd be contrary to the word of God, to prevent which, now their very tinkers, coblers, butchers, tail­ers, and all sort of curious, and ignor [...]nt mecha [...]icks do take the liberty of interpreting and expounding the whole Bible to their own ruine and destruction, 2. Petri c. 3. v. 16. for how can such ignorant people understand, or expound either [...]o themselves, or to others the prophesie of Eze­kiel, of Daniel the Revela [...]ions of St. Iohn? where a [...] S. H [...]erome affirms, every sentence is a mist­tery: [Page 238] which of them can expound the Canticles, or what Salomon meāt by those similitudes of Gods Church? or the following texts? I am the Lord they God visiting the iniquit of [...]he Fathers upon the child­ren unto the 3. & 4. Generation Exod. c. 20. v. 5. which seems to be contradicted by that of Fzekiel c. 18. v. 20 saying thus : the soul that sinneth it shall die, the son shall not bear the iniquity of the Father, we are expressly commanded by the 20 c. v. [...]2. of Exodus to ho­nour our Fathers, and mothers. But it is said in the 14. Chap. of Luke v. 26 that he [...] heats not his Fa­ther and mother—cannot be the disci­ple of Christ. Moreover Deutero­nomie c. 6. v. 13. it is written, that [Page 239] thou shall fear the Lord thy G [...]d & serve him, and [...]w [...]ar by his Name. Which seems to be con [...]rad [...]cted by that of St. Mat. c. 5. v. 34. where we read thus. I sa unt [...] yo [...] swear not at all. these and several other texts (which [...]ight seem to the unlearned to contradict each others, and also the mister [...]es of the holy scripture) do excee [...] the poor ignorant people's under­standing and weake capacity, nay the very Disciples of Christ▪ cu'd not understand the prop esi [...]s of the old Testament, untill their understanding were open'd, whe­reby they came to their true knowledge : as evidently appears Luke c 24. v. 27. and 45 where we read the following words. and [Page 240] begining at Moses and all the prophets he exp [...]u [...]ded unto them that things concerning himself; then he opened their understanding that they might understand the scriptures. For want of which understanding in the law of God, the pretended refor­mers, and also the ancient here­ [...]ks of the Primitive Church, deserted their true Mother, the holy Catholick Church; by misin­terpre [...]ing the word of God; as for example: the Aerians den [...]ing t [...]e 2. person of the Bl [...]ssed T [...]in [...] ­t [...] to be God, and alle [...]ging for their ground, that of St. John c. 17. v. [...] saying thus : holy Father keep through thine own Name, tho [...]e who [...] [...]ou hast given me, that they may be one as we are▪ the Eunomians [Page 241] asserting the holy Ghost not to be God, and producing for their Authority that of Christ Matt. c. 11. v 27. where he sayes thus: all things are deliver'd unto me by my Father, neiher knoweth any man the Father, save the son' and he to whom­soever the son will reveal him the Eutychians affirming, the divine nature in Christ to have been converted into his human nature, and alleaging for their ground that of St John c. 1. v, 14. where we read the following words. & the word was made [...]lesh, and dowleth among us. The Berengarians, Wicklefians, Husites, Lutherans, and Caluinists err'd so grossly & in so many texts of scripture, by reason of the great liberty they [Page 242] tooke in interpreting, and ex­pounding it to the advantage of their own design that their errors (i [...] they were all related) woud require a whole book to them­selves; so that it plainly appears, that the reading, and interpre­ting of the ser [...]pture is not pro­fitable to all people, & specially to those, who do not [...]ecur for the interpretation thereof to the holy Catholick Church, which has a▪ promise of the infallible asistan­ce of the holy Ghost to the con­sumation of the world Matt c. 2 [...] v. 2 [...]. so that the Church of Rome had great reason to hunder the ignorant sort of people, (who might easily be deceiv'd) [...]rom pe­rusing it, with-out having license [Page 243] from their respective Bishops, & especially in those countryes where heresie abounds and where Bibles are corrupted; fearing lest that instead of acquiring more knowledge thereby, they might peradventure fall into greater ignorance, or some heresie as the aforsaid sectaries have done; & in so prohibiting she imitate [...] the example of fond parents, who keeps all sort dangerous weapons from the hands of their children & forbids them all kind of diea [...], which might occasion, or creat any ill distemper.

Chap. 12 Proving that the preten­ded reformers Doctrines are but a heap of several old heresies lawfully condem­n'd by the Primitive Church

[Page 244] Having sufficiently made-out by the same Authorityes (which my adversa [...]y in his Challenge de­fies to be produc'd) that the old and present Church of Rome is still the same in prīciples; ti's now fit that I shu'd let my adversary know what principles himself, & the rest of the new reformers do embrace; I will only produce the following point.

1 The Aerians demolish'd, and threwdown the Altars where up­on the holy sacrifice were wont to be offer'd; as the following Fathers do relate: St. Athanasius in his Epist. de fuga sua, Theo­doretus in his 4th. book of His­tory c. 19. & 2 [...]. and Ruffinus in his 11. book c. [...],

[Page 245] Martin Luther, who apostated from the Church of Rome the year 1517. and John Calvin who did the same the year 1538. cau­s'd al [...]o the Altars of those Chur­ches, which ere under their jurisdictions, to be throwdown & demo [...]ish'd : as may be seen in Luther's boo [...] de Formula Missa pro Ecclesia Witt [...]mbergen [...]i. & in Calvin's 4th. book of Institu­tions c. 18.

2 The A [...]rians rejected all tra­ditions, which were not written in the word of God : as St. Au­gustin in his first book against Maximi [...]us c. 2. & last, testifies; which heresie the Nestorians, & [...]utychians held afther-wards: as appears by the first Action of the [Page 246] 2 General Council of Nice, the N [...]itorians errors were condem­n'd by the General Council of Ephese the year 4 [...]1. as may be seen Tomo 3 Co [...]ciliorum.

Luther in his commentary on St. Pauls [...]pist. to the Gala [...]ans c 2. and Calvin in his 4. book of In­stitutions [...]. 8. held also the same heresie

3 The Aerians and Eunomians deny'd that Images ought to be venerated : as the Father [...] of the 2 Council of Nice, do relate in the 6. Action

John Calvin in his first book Chap. 11. and in his [...] 4 book c. 9. and now all the reformers do teach the same

4 The Aerians held that there [Page 247] is no difference between Bishops and Priests, but that they are of equal dignity and jurisdiction: As St. Epiphanius heresie 75. & St: Augustin heresie [...]3. do write.

Luther in his book of the Cap­tivity of Babylon cap. de Ordinis Sacramento, and adversus falso nominatum ordinem Episcoporum and Calvin in his 4. book of In­stutions c. 3 held likewise the same here [...]ie, which now the presbyte­rians, and several others doe em­brace

5 The Aerians did not judge it lawfull to pray for the dead, or to offer any sacrifice or alms for their releasment, and did not be­lieve that there was any place of temporal punishments after this [Page 248] life; as St, Augustin heresie 33 and St. Epiphanius heresie [...]5 do relate; the Cerinthians held the same as, St. Epiphanius writes heresie [...]8. the Cerinthians er­rors were comdemn'd by the Ge­neral Council of Ephese the year 431. as may be seen tomo 3. Conciliorum; as for the A [...]rians errors they have been condemn'd by all the following Councils (viz) by the Council of Alexan­dria the year 3 5. tomo 1. Concilio­rum, by the Councils of Rome which sate the year [...]37. and the year 369. by the first General Council of Nice the year 325. the first General Council of Con­stantinople the year 381. and by the Council of A reminium which sate the year 359. all which Coun­cils [Page 249] are to be seen tomo 2. Con­ciliorum, their errors were also condemn'd by the General Council of Ephese the year 431 tom. 3. Conciliorum [...] by the Coun­cil of Calcedon, that sate the year 451 tom. 4. Counciliorum, and by the Fathers of the 2. Council of Constantinople the year 536. which may be seen tomo 5. Con­ciliorum.

Luther in his Epist. to the Valdinians & Calvin in his & book of Institutions c. 5. taught also this last point of the Aerian heresie about Purgatory, which now all their followers do firmly believe;

6 The Novatians believ'd that confirmation was no sacrament [Page 250] as Theodoretus in his 3 book de Haere. Fab. writes; & the Donatists believ'd the same: as Optatus, in his 2 book against Perminian relates:

Luther in his book of the Cap­tivity of Babylon cap. d [...] Confir­matione, and Calvin in his 4th, book of Institutions c. 19 did embrace, & teach the same heresie

7 The Novatians held that the Church had no power to forgive sins committed after Baptism, & consequently they did not allow auricular confession, or that the Church cu'd grant Indulgence as all the following Fathers do write St, Cyprian in his 57. Epist. to Pope Cornelius St. Epiphanius heresie 59 St Augus­tin [Page 251] heresie 38 and Theodoretus in his 3 book de haereticis fabu­lis; the Novations errors have been condemn'd by the Coun­cil of Carthage the year 252. by the Council of Rome the year 253. by the Council of Ita­ly the same year & by the Council of Arles the year 452. as may be seen [...]omo 1. and 4. Concilio­rum.

Luther in his book of the Capi­tivity of Babylon Cap. de extre­ma unctione, & Calvin in his 4. book of Institutions c. 19 held also this point of the Novatian heresie.

8 The Donatists gave out that the Catholick Church fell from the true faith of Jesus Christ, [Page 252] and that themselves were renew­ing it again in Africk : as Opta­tus in his 1. 2. & 6. book against the Donatists, and St. Augustin heresie 69. and in his book de v­nitate Ecclesiae c. 12. do relate.

Luther in his discourse tomo 2. cap. de partibus and Calvin in his 4th. book c. 2. likewise gave-out that the holy Catholick Church fell visibly from the true faith, and that themselves were reviving it again: [...] therefore they & their followers are call'd reformers▪

9 The Donatists held that the holy Eucharist ought not to be ador'd, they brake-down the Al­tars, and gave the blessed sacra­ment to their dogs : as Optatus [Page 253] in his 2. & 6 book against Per­minian, and St. Augustin in his 2. book against Petilian c. 51. 60. in his 3 [...]. book c. 40. and also in his 163 Epist. do relate.

Luther in his book de Eucharis­tia ad Waldenses, and Calvin de vitand is supersti [...]ionibus, held likewise that the holy Eucharist ought not to be ador'd:

10 The Dona [...]ists deny'd the Pope of Romes s [...]premacy : [...]s O­patus and St. Augustin do declare in the aforsaid books.

Luther in his book de potestate Papae and assertione articuli 25. and Calvin in his 4th book of Institutions c. 6. deny'd the same.

11 The Donatists reprov'd the [Page 254] life and vows of monks and reli­gious people: as also Optatus & St. Augustin write in the afore­said books; Vigilantius and Pe­tilianus reprov'd the same; as St. Hierome in his book against Vi­gilantius, and St. Augustin in his 3. book c: 40 against Petilianus do affirm [...] but the Donatists er­rors were declar'd to be false & erronious Doctrines by the Coun­cil of Rome the year 313. by the Councils which sate in Africk in the time of J [...]nocentius the first being the begining of the 5. Century and by several other Councils

Marti [...] Luther writing of the monastical vows held also this last point of the Donatists here­ [...]e, [Page 255] that he might have some kind of pretence to dispence with himself in his three religious [...]ows & merrie Cathrine the Nun, whom he deluded out of her monastery; our Saviour Iesus Christ most strictly commands us to be ware of the doctrine of such false Prophets, and he tells us, that we shall know them by their fruits; here are his very words. Be­ware of false prophets, which come to you in she [...]ps clothing, but in wardly they are ruvening wolves. ye shall know them, by their [...]ruits : do men [...]a­ther grapes of thorns, or [...]igs of this­tles? even so every good tree bring [...]th forth good fruit, but a bad [...]ree b [...]ngeth for [...]h evil fruit. Matt c. 7. v. 15. 16. & 17.

[Page 256] 12 The Eustachians endeavor'd to demolish and extirpate the Ecclesiastical convents: as socra­tes in his 2 book c. [...]3 and sozo­menus in his 3. book c. 13, do re­late; the Eustachians errors have been condemn'd by the Fathers of the Council of Gangris, which sa [...]e the year 324.

Luther an [...] Calvins Disciples did embrace this Eustachian error, for they threw-down all the convents and monastarves of those Countryes and Provinces, wherein they made any conquest.

13 All the following here [...]icks rejected matrimony & den [...]'d it to be a Sacrament, as these Fathers do write of their heresie; Simon Magus : as St Augustin in his book [Page 257] [...]e here [...]ibus c, 1. Nicolaites as [...]t. Epiphanius heresie 25 Titia­ [...]us as St. Irenaeus in his first book. [...]. 31▪ Ad [...]miani, as St. Augustin [...]eresie 31 the Manicheans as St. Augustin heresie 46 the [...]usta­ [...]hians as socrates in his 2. book [...]. 33. Marcian as St Hierome in [...]is first book against Jovinianus, and the Prisillanists : as St Leos [...] Epist d [...]clares; the Prisillanists errors were condemn'd by all the following Councils (viz) by the Council of Caesaragust the year [...]8 [...]. by the Council of Toleto the year 400 the Council [...]f Bur­deaux the [...]ear 385. and by the Council of Spaine in the year 447 which Coūcils are to be seen [...]omo 2 & [...] Conci [...]orum [Page 258] Luther in his book de captivitate cap de matrimoni [...] & Calvin in his 4 book of Institutions c, 19. held also that matrimony is no sacrament

14 Iovinianus held that there are no venial sins, but that all sins are mortal, as St. Hierome relates in his 2 book c, 15 & 16. against Jovi­nianus, and also St. Augustin he­resie 28; the Pelagians were of the same opinion as St. Hierome wri­tes in his 2 book against them Jovinianus's errors were condem­n'd by the Fathers of the Coun­cil of Milan, which [...]ate the year 390 tomo secundo Con­ciliorum; and so were the Pela­gians errors by the following Councils (viz) by the Milevian [Page 259] Council the year 416 by the A­ [...]ican Council the year 4 [...]8, as [...]y be seen tomo [...] Conciliorum [...]and also b [...] [...] [...]ral Council of [...] which [...]e the year 43 [...] [...] Conci­ [...]orum

Luther assertione articuli 32 & [...]alvin in his 2 book of Ins [...]u­ [...]ons c. 18 and in his 3 book c 4 [...]eld likewise that all sins are mor­ [...]l.

15 Simon Magus and Menander [...]eld that Christs true flesh is not [...]lly present in the holy Eu­ [...]harist : as St. Ignatius declares [...] his Epist. to those of Smyrna, [...]f which Theodoretus makes [...]ention in his 3. dialogue, other [...]reticks of the Primitive [Page 260] Church held the same, as S [...] Cyrill writes in his Epist. to Calosirius,

Tho' Luther never expre [...]sl [...] affirm'd this point of the old he re [...]e; yet all his Disciples do endeavou [...] to defend it; and so di [...] Calvin in his book de Caena Domini, (where he reprehends Luther for not holding it,) and als [...] in his 4 book c. 17.

16 Simon Magus held that fait [...] alone is su [...]icient for salvation and consequently that good wo [...] kes are needless in order to savation: as St. Irenaeus in his fir [...] book c. 20. and Theodoret [...] de heretic is fabulis, do write Eunomius held the same erro [...] as St. Augustin in his book d [...] [Page 261] [...]eresibus declares, c. 54

Luther in his book de libertate [...]hristiana, and Calvin in his 3. [...]ook of Institutions c. 19. held [...]o the same error, that thereby [...]ey might provoke others to be [...]ven to all kind of vices as them­ [...]lves were.

17. The Eunomians held that [...]e reliques of Saints ought not [...] be ve [...]erated, as Magnes in [...]s 4 book against Theostines [...]firms▪ and Vigilantius held the [...]e error: as St. Hierome writes [...] his book against Vigilant [...]us [...]ut the Eunomians errors have [...]een condemn'd by the [...]. Coun­ [...]il of Rome the year 369. by the [...]eneral Council of Constantino­ [...]e the year 381 tomo secundo [Page 262] by the Council of Calcedon which sate the year 451 tomo 4. Coūciliorum & also by the Coun­cil of Constantinople the year 553. tomo 5 Conciliorum

Luther in his [...] de cruce and in his book de missa abroganda, held the same and so did Calvin admonitione de reliquiis

18 Vigilancius affirm'd that it is unlawfull to invocate Saints, as St. Hierome writes in his book against Vigilantius's errors.

Luther in his book de Eucharis­tia ad Waldenses, and Calvin in his 3 book of Institutions c. 20. believ'd and held the same error.

19 The Massalians rejected the fast commanded by the Church as St. Epiphani [...]s heresie 8. and [Page 263] Theodoretus in his 4. book c. 11. do relate; the Aerians did the same: as St. Augustin declares in his book of heresie c. 33. and so did the Eustachians as St. Epi­phanius heresie 75. and Socrates in his 2. book c. 33. do write.

Calvin in his 4th. book of In­stitutions c. 12 rejected the same: which error both his and Luthers Disciples do willingly embrace, that théy might indulge their own bodies, whilest they are in this world.

20 Thë Massalia [...]s held that holy order is no sacrament : as St. Damascenus relates in his [...]irst book of haeresie. the Massa­ [...]ians errors were condemn'd by [...]he Fathers of the Council of [Page 264] Syda, who sate the year 383. as may be seen Tomo▪ 2. Conci­liorum, and by a nother Council in the Orient the year 417 Tomo 3. Conciliorum

Luther in his book of the Cap­tivity of Babylon cap. de ordine, held also that holy order is no Sacrament, which error his Disci­ples do now firmly believe.

21 Helvidius raught that the Blesled Virgin Mary bore child­ren to Joseph, who were brothers to Iesus Christ; as St. Hierome relates in his book against Hel­vidius's errors, which were con­demn'd in the Council of Milan the year 390. as may be seen Tomo 2. Conciliorum.

Calvin ad Caput 1. Lucae af­firm'd [Page 265] the same error, which se­veral of his followers do now certainly believe.

22 Eusebius in his 3. book of his­tory c. 25. and St. Hierome in his book de viris illustribus, do make mention of certain hereticks, who deny'd the Epist. of St. James, o [...] Juda, the 2. Epist. of St Peter, & also the 2. & 3. of St. John to be canonical

Luther in his prologue on these Epist. rejects St James and Juda's Epistles; and he doubts of the rest to be canonical.

23 The Marcionites deny'd the revelations of St. John to be ca­nonical, as Tertullian relates in his 3. & 4. book against Marcion the Theodotians deny'd the same [Page 266] as St. Epiphanius wri [...]es here [...]ie 51. & 54. the aforesaid Martion [...]tes did also deny St. Pauls [...]pist. [...]o the Hebrews to be canonical, as St. Hierome declares in his pre­face on St. Pauls Epist. to Ti [...]us, and so did Arius, as Theod [...]retus relates in his preface on St. Pauls Epist. to the H [...]brews.

Luther in his preface on the old Testament affirms the [...]evelation not to be canonical, and in his prolog [...]e on that to the Hebrews he sayes likewise that it is not canonical

24 The Marcionites, & Basilidi­ans held that all the old Testamēt was apocryphal; as St. Irenaeus relates in his book c. 20. 22. & 29. the Manicheans held the same [Page 267] as St Epiphanius affirms heresie 66. but the Mani [...]heans errors were conde [...]n'd by the General Ephesian Council, the year 431. To [...]o [...]. Concilioru [...], and also by the Council of Rome the year 444. which is to be [...] in the sa [...]e Tom [...]. as for th [...] M [...]i [...]ni-te [...]ors, they [...] b [...]n c [...]dem­n'd by the Ge [...]ral Co [...]n [...]il o [...] Cal [...]o [...] the [...] 51. [...]o [...]o 4. Conciliorum, and by the [...] Coun­cil of Constan [...]in [...]le the year 553. where also the [...] er­rors were condemn'd, as may be seen Tomo 5. Conciliorum.

Lu [...]r and Calvins Disciples are something milder than the aforesaid hereticks, for they do no [...] [...] tha [...] all the old T [...]sta­ment [Page 268] is apocriphal, yet théy deny several books of it, to be cano­nical, and chiefly those books, which [...]vidently do falsifie their own principles.

If I had not suppos'd that the premisses might sufficiently de­monstrate, what Doctrines my ad­versary and the reformers do maintain; I wou'd produce seve­ral other points of [...]old heresies, which also they maintain, but lest I shu'd be too troublesome to thè reader, I will only conclude with the following passage.

Whosoever maintains or hath for his principles the aforesaid points, is lawfully accus'd, for maintaining old heresies, false and erronious Doctrines confu­ted [Page 269] by the holy Fathers, and law­fully condemn'd by several Coū ­cils of the Primitive Church: but th [...] pretended reformers do main­tain and have for their principles the aforesaid points: therefore the pretented reformers are law­fully accus'd for maintaining old heresies false and erronious Doc­trines confuted by the holy Fa­thers, and lawfully condemn'd by several Councils of the primitive Church. the minor is manifest, as for the major ti's prov'd, by what I have already produc'd: for certaīly all those holy Fathers and Doctors, wou'd not make it their business to reprehend, and confut [...] the chief promoters of the said points, if they had not [Page 270] understood, and firmly believ'd. that they taught false and erro­nious Doctrines : neither wou'd all the aforesaid Councils of the Primitive Church, (which my ad­versary in his challenge acknow­ledges to have then retain'd the true faith of Jesus Christ) con­demn their Doctrines if they were not also Hethrodox, & contrary to the true faith, which they and their forefathers receiv'd from Jesus Christ & his Disciples : ther­fore whosoever desires to find & embrace a Church, wherein the old incorrupted principles of Christianity are [...]aught, and such Doctrines only as were maintain|'d by the ancient & p [...]r [...] Church even of Ro [...]e for up-wards of 500 [Page 271] years after Christ, let him embra­ce the present Church of Rome, wherein the said principles are duely profess [...]d, the old, and the present Church of Rome being still the same in prīciples, where­as the Doctrines of those who now call themselves reformers, the Church of Englād, Presbyteriās, Quakers &c. & wherein the said convin [...]icles do now di [...]er from the presēt Church of Rome, [...] never maintain'd by the ancient Church of Rome; but [...] [...] ­piously brought in by a ser [...]es of Hereticks, who for these very Doctrines, were from time to [...] condemn'd by many [...], na­tional, & Provincial Councils; & [...] also by the most eminent [...] [Page 272] and Doctors of the primitive Church; as the premisses do evi­dently make-out, so that the rea­der may take no [...]ce of my adver­sarys ignorance and presumption for censuring, & contradicting a religion so anciēt, which lawfull mission, acknowledgment of an­tiquity, holy Fathers, several Councils, divine miracles, & the word of God, do plainly demōstra­te to be the only true and Aposto­lical line, which leads Souls to the true way of everlasting glory & happiness: therefore reader if you have been heretofore of my ad­versarys opinion, I beseech you for the love of Jesus Christ, to compare seriously his principles, and those of the Church of Rome [Page 273] togeather, and then to consider [...]ttentively the state and circum­stances, wherein you are out of [...]he holy Catholick Church; out of which there is no salvation to be expected, as the following holy Fathers do openly declare. St. Cy­ [...]rian in his book de vnitate Ec­clesiae (speaking of those who are out of the Church) sayes thus: do they thinke Christ is amongst them? [...] tho' they were drawn to torments, & [...]xecution for the confession of the name of Christ, yet this pollutiō is not wash'd away, no [...] not with blood this inexpia­ble, and inexcusable crime, of schis [...] is not purg'd away, even by death it­self. St. Chrysostome (in his 11. ho [...]. on St. Pauls Epist. to the Ephesiās) [...]ayes also thus: there is nothing so [Page 274] provokes the wr [...]th of God, a [...] the divi­sion of the Church, i [...] so [...]uch that tho' we shu'd have perform'd all other sort of good thi [...]gs, y [...]t we [...]hall in [...]urr a­p [...]is [...]ment [...] l [...]ss cr [...], for dividing the vnity of the Church, than those who have do [...], who [...] and di­vided Christs [...]. St. Augustin in his 4. book of [...]ymbole Cap : 10. sayes [...]e following words. If any man be so [...] s [...]par [...]ted from her, he sha [...]l be [...] from [...]he number of the child [...]n▪ [...]ither shall [...]e have God for his Father, [...] wou [...]d not have the Church for [...] [...]ther, [...]nd it will nothing [...] him to have rightly be­li [...]v'd, o [...] to [...] so many good workes, with [...]t the [...]clusion of the so [...]eraign good, [...] s [...]p [...]r g [...]a Emar. he say [...] also the following [Page 275] [...]ords: out of the Church a [...] heretick [...]ay have all things, but salvation, [...] may have the sacraments, he may [...]ave faith, and preach it—only salva­ [...]ion he cannot hav [...]; which may be [...]urther confirm'd by the words of [...]t. James c. 2. v. 10. sayīg thus : who­ [...]i [...]ver shall keep the whole law and [...]t offends in one point, he is guilty of [...]ll▪ therefore being the salvation [...]f your soul doth wholly depend [...]f the true belief, and intire ob­ [...]ervation of all those points of [...]ith, which the holy Catholick Church sufficiently proposes, & [...]iversaly teaches: I do earnestly [...]eseech you, to open the eyes of [...]our understanding (for I know [...]hat you have no invincible ig­norance [Page 276] whereby yo [...] might be excus'd) to embrace the principles and Doctrines of that pure & an­c [...]ent Church against which the ga­tes of hell cannot prevail Matt. c. 16. v. 1 [...]. assure your self that I do not invite you to any old he­resie (as my adversary does) no [...] (the Lord forbid) but to the reli­gion preach'd and taught by Je­sus Christ and his Disciples; to that I say where with your fore [...] fathers, and anteceslors have been still contented, since eve [...] they left Paganism, untill in the 16. age they were deceiv'd by the erronious Doctrines of those fal­se prophets; Luther, and Calvin▪ hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast hard from me in faith and [Page 277] live which is in Christ Jesus 2. Timo­thy c. 1 v. 13, neither give heed to fables, and endless genelogies, which minister questions, rather than Godly [...]ifying in the faith: from which some having sweru'd have turn'd aside unto vain ja [...]gling, desiring to be teachers if the law, understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. 1. Timothy c. 1. v. 4. 6. 7. let not villfull or gross ignorance, the temporal riches and vanity of this transitory world, or comply­ [...]nce to the request of your friēds deceive & mislead you, but con­sider seriously the very words of your Saviour and redeemer Jesus Christ Matt : c. 16. v. 26. saying thus : for what is a man profited, if he [...]hall gain the whole world & loose his [Page 278] own soul [...] or what shall a man give in exchang [...] for his own soul? what will it then a [...]il you (after this life) to be now for few years, or day­es in great honour, favour & re­quest in this deceitfull world? & afterward to be perpetually tor­mented in pain, grief, & miseryes, with out any hopes of mercy, or redemption, where neither frieds pompe, nor riches can prevail in order to give you the lest dram of consolation: from which pu­nishment the Lord Jesus Christ of his infinite mercy defend both you & me & all Christians, Amen.