The Safe Way Leading All Christians, Section 2
Sect. 2. The occaſion of the contention betwixt the Churches originally proceeded from the Romaniſts by their owne confeſsion.
BVt before we enter into the debates and differences of theſe times, it will not be amiſſe to looke backe and examine the cauſe of this great calamitie and diſtraction in the Chriſtian Church, and to inquire by whom and what meanes this bitter contention is fallen out betwixt two Siſters; Caſſander a learned Papiſt tooke ſpeciall notice that theſe two ſiſters were fallen aſunder, euen to the diuiding of the houſhold: hee obſerued the Author of thoſe freſh bleeding wounds, and accordingly as an eyewitneſſe of thoſe differences, proteſteth openly that the fault is to bee layed vponupon thoſe which being puffed vp with vaine inſolent conceits of their Eccleſiaſticall power, Caſſand. Conſult. 56. & 57.proudly and ſcornefully contemned and reiected them which did rightly and modestly admoniſh the reformation: If we ſhall further inquire of him: what remedy to apply to ſuch incurable diſeaſes: he profeſſeth ſeriouſly, that the Church can neuer hope for any firme peace vnleſſe they begin to make it, which hauehave giuen the cauſe of that diſtraction. If we further preſſe him for his aduiſe how to procure that Peace from them which firſt occaſioned the falling off, he replies and confidently aſſures vsus, that this cannot be effected, vnleſſe thoſe which are in place of Eccleſiaſticall gouernment, would be content to remit ſome thing of their too much rigour, and yeeld ſomewhat to the peace of the Church, and hearkening vntounto the earneſt prayers and admonitions of many godly men, will ſet themſelues to correct manifeſt abuſes according to the rule of diuine Scriptures and the Primitiue Church, from which they hauehave ſwerued.
Here is a plaine confeſſion of a learned Romaniſt, that many abuſes are crept into the Romane Church; here is likewiſe an acknowledgement of a diſtemperature that proceedeth from the head (and we know when the head is diſtempered commonly the whole body is out of order.) Now to rectifie theſe abuſes, he preſcribes a Rule which is the holy Scriptures, and he ſets before vsus an ancient patterne for our inſtruction which is the Primitiue Church.
If the Scripture be the rule of Truth, and the ancient doctrine be the patterne of a true Church, how can our Religion bee charged with hereſie, which profeſſeth the Scripture to be the ſole rule of faith, or how can it be iuſtly accuſed of Noueltie as deriued from Luther, when it is a Canon publiſhed for the direction of Preachers and Paſtors in our Church, (viz.) that they ſhould neuer teach any thing as matter of faith religiouſly to be obſerued, Jn lib. Can. diſ. Eccleſ. Ang. cap. 6. p. 19.but that which is agreeable to the doctrine of the old and new Teſtament, and collected out of the ſame doctrine by the ancient Fathers and Catholique Biſhops of the Church.
Let vsus aſcend higher and looke into former ages, and there let vsus examine whether theſe two Siſters agreed in vnitie of doctrine in one and the ſame houſe.
It is reported of Redwald king of the Eaſt Saxons,Camdens Britannia Eng. pa. 465. that he was the firſt of all his Nation that was baptized and receiued Chriſtianitie: but afterward being ſeduced by his wife: hee had in the ſelfe ſame Church (ſaith Bede) one Altar for Chriſts Religion, and another for ſacrifices vntounto diuels. Such was the ſtate of the Romane Church eſpecially in the ages after the diuell was let looſe: there were ſome that did conſecrate themſelues and their ſeruice to the right worſhip of God alone: others to the adorations of Saints and Images; there were ſome that did conſtantly adore the Creator in his bodily preſence in heauen: whilſt others in the ſame Church did ignorantly worſhip the Creature in a conſecrated hoſt vponupon the Altar: and thereupon Michael Cecaenas Generall of the order of Franciſcans, about 400. yeares paſt, obſeruing the different opinions of different members in the ſame Church, complained: There were two Churches, Mich. Cecaenas contra Tyrannidem Papae.the one of the wicked ſort flouriſhing in which the Pope raigned: the other of godly & good men, and this Church he perſecuted.
This learned Friar by his diſcouerie of two Churches, ſhewes that long ſince there was a difference in Religion betwixt the two Siſters, and thereby he plainly intimates the different eſtate betwixt Papiſt and Proteſtant in the ſame Church; the maior part was ſubiect to the Pope, and that flouriſhed and was viſible in the eyes of the world: but, ſaith the Franciſcan, that part conſiſted of the wicked, and conſequently was the malignant Church: the other part was obſcured and perſecuted by the Pope, but (ſaith he) it conſiſted of the faithfull and true beleeuers, and conſequently was the true Church.
I could aſcend yet higher, and ſhew that the falling out of the two Siſters was about a husband; the one was conſtant to her firſt louelove Chriſt Ieſus the ſole head of her Church; the other ſought a diuorce from her husband, acknowledging the Pope to be the vniuerſall head of all Churches: but I leaue this to a longer time and a larger Tract.