The Safe Way Leading All Christians, Section 5
Sect. 5. Worldly pollicie and profit hinders the Reformation of ſuch things which are altogether inexcuſable in themſelues.
I Speake not this as if there were hope of a Reformation in the Romane Church: For when I conſider that many opinions which formerly crept in the Church are now eſtabliſhed for Articles of faith, when I conſider that ſome of their points are ſo linked together, that the vnlooſing of one is ſometimes the loſſe of all, when I plainely ſee vponupon one point of faith (namely, one Purgatorie) Trentals, Maſſes, Diriges, Requiems, Prayers for the dead, the doctrine of Merits, works of Supererogation, Indulgences, Pardons, Iubilies, the power of binding and looſing; ſince, I ſay, all theſe attend vponupon the opening and ſhutting of Purgatorie, and this Purgatory is created a point of faith, and this faith is confirmed by Councels, meerly for the benefit of the Pope and Clergie. What hope can wee hauehave to get theſe golden keyes of Purgatorie from them? by what means can we procure them to exerciſe the facultie of ſhutting, as well as opening: the power of binding as well as looſing, when no man will giuegive mony to be bound, but to be looſed in Purgatory?
Againe when I conſider the ſaying of Maldonat the Ieſuite, daily practiſed by the Church of Rome againſt our Church and doctrine,Mald. Comment. in Ioh. 6.62. viz. Although I hauehave no other Author for my expoſition but my ſelfe, yet I allow it rather then Auſtens, Although his be moſt probable; becauſe this of mine doth more croſſe the ſenſe of the Caluiniſts: When, I ſay, our Religion is directly and immediatly deriued from the Scripture, when our doctrine agreeth in the fundamentall points with Saint Auſten, and the Fathers; when the Primitiue and Reformed Churches hauehave ſhakē hands together, is it not a meere malice to oppoſe a knowne ancient doctrine, and to make a league againſt God and his Word, againſt the true religion & her Church? They are baſe wits (ſaith Viues) which are ſo affected, Ʋiues Lib. de cauſis art. corrupt.whereas ingenious minds and natures well giuen will rather ſeeke how true that is which they hold; then how they may defend it, making greater price of veritie then victorie: yet it cannot be denied that this is the common practiſe of the Romane Church; for otherwiſe what man in his right ſenſes would take vponupon him to be wiſer then God, and in their Pſalters leaue out the ſecond Commandement, & hazard that heauie doome: Curſed bee he that addeth or detracteth from the least of theſe ſayings? Reu. 22.18.19.What ſenſe is there, that the Church of Rome ſhould preſume to alter Chriſts Inſtitution, and take away the Cup from the Laitie, when it is confeſſed by their owne generall Councell,Concil. Constant. Seſ. 13. that Chriſt did inſtitute the Cup for the people, and the Primitiue Church did continue it in both kinds? what reaſon can be alledged why an ignorant man ſhould pray without vnderſtanding, when the Apoſtle commands vsus to pray with the Spirit, 1. Cor. 14.and to pray with the vnderſtanding alſo? What diſcretion ſhould leade men to inuocate Saints and Angels, when the Apoſtle doth make this vnanſwerable queſtion: How ſhall they call vponupon him in whom they hauehave not beleeued? Rom. 10.14.What confidence and aſſurance of humane frailtie ſhould cauſe them to leane to leane to a broken ſtaffe of their own merits, when they may ſafely relye vponupon the ſole merits of Chriſt Ieſus? What madnes is it to adore a peece of bread, which depends vponupon the intention of another man, ſeeing his intention may faile and cauſe flat idolatrie in the worſhipper; when they may ſafely & certainly adore Chriſt Ieſus ſitting at the right hand of the Father? What ſtupiditie is it to worſhip a picture, the worke of mens hands, and to aduenture idolatry vponupon nice diſtinctions; when without danger they may worſhip the true God in Spirit and truth, Ioh. 4.24.as he will be worſhipped? Laſtly, what fooliſhnes is it for man to relye vponupon the Church which is the authority of man that may erre, when he may build vponupon the infallible rule of Gods word, which is agreed on all hands that cannot erre? If men for aduantage of their cauſe, or for their owne preferment, will by ſhifts and cauils turne the necks of Scriptures and Fathers cleane about, and wreſt them to their owne ſide, let them beware of their example who could not beleeue, or if they did beleeue, durſt not confeſſe Chriſt, Becauſe they ſought the praiſe of men more then the praiſe of God!Ioh. 5.44.