The Papists Reasons of State and Religion, Reason of religion 12 – Reason of religion 16
Reaſon of Religion. 12 12. REASON OF RELIGION.
A ReligionaA manifeſt vntruth, it is cleare by the Anſwere. vnchanging and of admirable conſent in her doctrine, having evermore the ſame boundes of faith in all places, and not varying in every country and ſtate, as doe other religions which hauehavebIf they ſpeak… of our religion, we hauehave Chriſt, our head, & his word the rule of truth. not one ſupreame head, and an acknowledged power to define, but make the letter of ſcripture (cBlaſphemie againſt the word of God. miſinterpretable by every contentious ſpirit) the only touchſtone and chiefe Iudge of all differences in faith, whereby ſo many opinions and formes of religiōsdHorrible blaſphemie, as if diverſe opinions and formes of religion might bee ſquared out of the Scriptures; wheras no Scripture is of private interpretation, nor can bee the ground of errour. may be ſquared out, as there be private fancies raigning.
Reſolution of the 12. Reaſon.
Popiſh Religion, is a religion of admirable conſent and vnitie in her doctrine, not varying in every country and ſtate.
Ergo.
It is true religion, and therefore to be tolerated.
ANSWERE.
I To the Antecedent.
1 IF Popiſh religion be of ſuch admirable conſent and vnitie in her doctrine; wherefore cannot the heades therof agree amongſt themſelues in teaching & delivering of that vniforme doctrine? Who ſo readeth the hiſtory of their Popes, written by their owne friendes, beſides a number of hote and cōtentious ſchiſmes troubling al Chriſtēdome, for many yeeres togither, yea ſometimes fortie yeeres continuing betwixt their Popes and Antipopes, he ſhall finde it a cōmon thing for the ſucceeding Pope, to contrarie & abrogate the actes, decrees, & proceedings of his predeceſſour.
2 Not to inſiſt in many particulers. Platina writeth, that when Pope Formoſus was dead Anno Dom. 896. Stephen VI. who ſucceeded not long after him (for Boniface VI. his immediate ſucceſſour was Pope but 25. daies) carried ſuch hatred towards him & his proceedings, that he cauſed his decrees to be abrogated, and made him to be taken out of his grave (for ſo others write of him) and ſolemnely degraded in a Councell: which when hee had done, he cut of his tow fingers, wherewith he vſed to cō ſecrate, and caſt them into the river Tibris. But Romanus I. ſucceeding him, ratified againe Formoſus doings, & abrogated and diſanulled al Stephens proceedings againſt him. Whoſe courſe Theodorus II. & eſpecially Iohn X. followed, condēning Stephens doings in another Coūcel at Ravenna, conſiſting of ſeventy foure Biſhops. Albeit Sergius III the fourth Pope after him, taketh Stephens parte againſt Formoſus, and that ſo hoately, that once againe though he were the ninth Pope from Formoſus, he cauſed his body to be taken vp out of the grave, degraded him againe, beheaded him, cut of the three fingers that were left him of his right hand, and threw his body, & the pieces thereof deſpitefully into the river Tibris.
3 Againe, wherefore do not the Popiſh Doctours agree amongſt themſelues in explicating and interpreting a religion ſo certaine in her doctrine; whereas nowe the world ſeeth, they differ amongſt themſelves, in 237. articles of doctrin, as Ioannes Pappus hath gathered, out of Bellarmine. In l. de Contradict. Doctor, nunc-Romana Eccleſ. The Ieſuites Catechiſme alſo, is a ſufficient witneſſe hereof.
4 Nowe what doth this diſſention amongſt Popiſh Doctours, but proclaime indeed the diſagreement, iarres & cōtradictions, which are in the very doctrine of Popery. The Pope, in their doctrin, is Chriſts vicar, Peters ſucceſſour, meeke, humble and the Servant of ſervants. And yet they bluſh not to ſay, that he is King of Kings, & the Monarch of the whole world. The ſacrifice of the Maſſe, they ſay, is externall: and yet indeed, it is not external, for, that which they call the ſacrifice, is hid vnderunder the formes of bread and wine. But I haſten.
II. To the Conſequence.
1 If Popery were ſo conſtant, ſo vnchangeable, ſo agreeable in her doctrine, as the Suppliants pretend: yet is that no proofe, that it is therefore true Religion;
I. Becauſe the Iewes, Turkes, Pagans, and Heretikes doe marvelouſly agree one with another: and yet is not their profeſſion true.
II Becauſe we ſee that oftentimes great men within the Church hauehave fallen into hote cōtentions among thē ſelues. As Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Peter, Meletius and Peter B. of Alexandria, Epiphanius & Chryſoſtome, Ierome, Auguſtine & Ruffiaus, Cyrill, Iohn B. of Antioch and Theodoret. And indeed the Iewes did vpbraid the Chriſtians in the Primitiue Church with their diſſentions amongſt themſelues.
2 The Papiſts vnity and agreement amongſt themſelues, is to betray the ſouls of men, which Chriſt our Savior hath redeemed by his blood: for otherwiſe they are at as great iarres vvith their owne men, as with vsus.
Reaſon of Religion. 13 13. REASON OF RELIGION.
A Religiō, which by the grant of our Adverſaries, hath had for the laſt thouſand yeeres and more, the cuſtody of the ſacredaOf the outward letter. Bible, of the Apoſtles, Athanaſias and the Nicene Creede, & preſerved thē from periſhing by Pagan, lew or heretike: yea & from whoſe hands or Treaſure-houſe, the Religiō now eſtabliſhed, not onlybThe Chriſtians of the primitiue Church received the Scriptures from the Scribes and Pharaſies, and we from the Papiſts their ſucceſſours. received all the partes of Scripture ſhee maketh vſe of; but alſo learned thecTheſe we hauehave learned frō the Scriptures. forme of Chriſtening, Marrying, Churching of women, Viſiting the ſicke, Burying, and ſundry other like, as their books, tranſlated out of ours, doe declare. And therfore our religion muſt needs be thedA manifeſt non ſequitur. elder. Nor can it be told (as we can eaſily tel al other ſorts of Religiōs) whateThe Papiſtes fell by litle and litle, from the purity of the Primitiue Church vntill as length their Church formalcy became the Church of Antichriſt. former Society we did ever ſupplant or invade, or took from it, either our firſt poſſeſſion of the Scriptures, forme of Sacraments, or any other Eccleſiaſticall rites or ceremonies.
Reſolution of the 13. Reaſon.
Popiſh Religion hath had for the laſt thouſand yeeres and more, the cuſtodie of the ſacred Bible, &c.
Ergo:
Popiſh Religion is true Religion and to be tolerated.
ANSWERE.
I. To the Antecedent.
1 By the ſame reaſon the Iews alſo may proue the truth of their Religion: for vntounto thē (as the Apoſtle ſaith) were of truſt committed the Oracles of GOD; and it is certaine the Chriſtians received the Scriptures from the Iewes. Alſo Ptolemaeus Philadelphus King of Egypt, might confirme his Religion, if this Reaſon were currant. Ioſeph. Antiq. Iudaic. li. 14. cap. 2. Zonar. li. 1. Annal. But I anſwere.
2 As the Iewes & Ptolemaeus Philadelphus, ſo hauehave the Papiſts kept the outward letter of the Scriptures: but, regarding more their owne fantacies and traditions, they loſt the ſincerity of doctrine; as is manifeſt by examination of the particuler points of their religion, by the Scriptures, whereof they bragge ſo much.
3 We hauehave learned the forme of Chriſtening, Marrying &c. out of the Scriptures. Neither, if we had learned theſe of the Papiſts, could they gaine any thing thereby; for we doe not condemne al ſuch things as they beleeue or practiſe, but only thoſe, whereof (in matters of faith) they were the auctors & inventours,14. Reaſon of Religion. or borrowed of other heretiques.Popiſh Religion obſerveth daies & times, contrary vntounto the doctrine of the the Apoſtle, Gal 4.10. & worſhippeth GOD in vaine, teaching for doctrines, mens precepts. Matt. 15.9. And therfore it is the religion of Antichriſt.
II. To the Conſequence.
As the Scribes and Pharaſies, and Ptolemaus Philadelphus were not the true Church, albeit they had the keeping of the Oracles of God: ſo neither are the Papiſtes the true Church, although they hauehave had the cuſtody of the Bible.
14. REASON OF RELIGION.
A Religion, that' inſtituted the feaſts, the faſting daies, and al the goodly ceremonies, and ſolemne obſervations, which are yet vſed (though many other pared away) and commanded in the Proteſtant religion, as the feſtivities of Chriſtmas, Eaſter, Aſcenſion, Whitſontide, and the Eues and feaſts▪ of the Apoſtles, likewiſe the faſtes of Lent, and Ember daies, a…ſtinence on Frydaies & Sauirdaies, much holeſome and very commodious to the Common-weale: Semblably the rites and ſacred formes kept in Coronations, inſtalments, and in all other ſorts of ſolemnities, that carry either ſtate, decency, or veneration with them.
Reſolution of the 14 Reaſon.
Popiſh Religion, inſtituted the feaſtes, and faſting daies, and all goodly ceremonies and ſolemne obſervations.
Ergo:
Poperie is true Religion, and therefore to be tolerated.
ANSWERE.
I. To the Antecedent.
1 IT was not Popery, which was the inſtitutour of theſe ceremonies, which we vſe. For the Papiſts thēſelues confeſſe they hauehave receaved them by tradition from the ancient fathers. And ſuch indeede, as hauehave bin invented by them, we hauehave abrogated and condemned.
2 The Popiſh faſt, & our abſtinence from fleſh vponupon ſome daies, doe infinitely differ; theirs beeing ioyned with the opinion of merits and of divine worſhip: Ours being only a civill and politique conſtitution, not ioined with any opinion of religion.
II To the Conſequence.
Speaking of thoſe ceremonies, whereof the Papiſtes are auctors and inſtitutors; we may iuſtly argue the plain contrary, thus:
Popiſh Religion obſerveth daies and times, contrary vntounto the doctrine of the Apoſtle: it inſtituteth ſet daies of faſting prohibiting certaine meates, for religion and conſcience ſake, as the ancient Heretikes were wont to do; and neglecting the Scriptures, embraceth vaine and wicked traditions, contrary vntounto the doctrine of our Saviour. Matth. 15.
Ergo:
Popiſh Religion, is not Apoſtolicall, but the Apoſtatied Religion of Antichriſt.
Reaſon of Religion. 15 15. REASON OF RELIGION.
Popiſh Religigion being weary of Chriſtes yoke, hath reli… quiſhed his diſcipline; & turned againe vntounto impotent & beggerly rudiments, Gal 4.9. yea and invented the Canon law, which ſetteth vp the Pope aboue Ieſus Chriſt, & therefore, it is the religion of Antichriſt.A Religion, that a founded the Eccleſiaſticall cenſures, and ſorts of diſcipline, as ſuſpenſion, interdiction, excommunication, irregularity, degradation and the like, and was alſo the author of the Canon law, ſtudyed through out the vniverſall Chriſtian world, & many points, both of her cenſures, lawes and diſcipline, practiſed by the Proteſtants themſelues.
Reſolution of the 15. Reaſon.
Popiſh Religion, founded the Eccleſiaſticall Cenſures, & ſortes of diſcipline, and was the auctor of the Canon Law.
Ergo:
Popiſh Religion is true, and conſequently to be tolerated.
ANSWERE.
MIſerable, ſilly, baſe Sophiſters! Doe the Suppliants thinke theſe currant arguments in this learned age? I anſwere,
1 Eccleſiaſticall Cenſures be ancienter then Popery, as is manifeſt in the monuments of Apoſtolicall writing; in the Goſpel, the Acts, & Epiſtles of the Apoſtles.
2 If Popery were the founder of any Eccleſiaſticall cenſures, yet were it not therefore true Religion. For may not the rankeſt Heretiques ordaine ſome things well, but they muſt needs therefore challendge all other partes of their doctrine for true and ſound?
3 Popery ſwarved from the right diſcipline inſtituted by Chriſt and his Apoſtles, & invented infinit numbers of baſe and beggerly ordinances, whereby they crucifie mens ſoules and conſciences; & declare themſelues Apoſtataes and contemners of Apoſtolique Cenſures.
4 The Canon Lawe, the whole ſcope and end of it being the eſtabliſhing of the Popes auctority aboue Ieſus Chriſt, and aboue al that is called GOD, doth moſt manifeſtly teſtifie, the Pope to be Antichriſt, and his Church Antichriſtian: as I hauehave elſewhere plainely demonſtrated.
Reaſon of Religion. 16 16. REASON OF RELIGION.
A Religion that only hath canonized her profeſſor for Saints after death, and celebrateth their annuall memories, wherby their names ever liue in honor, and all poſterity incited both to glorifie God for his graces beſtowed on them, and alſo ſtudiouſly to imitate their vertues Whereby that aſſeveration of the Prophet is verified,aPopiſh religiō having out of the Scriptures, no other bleſſings to beſtow vponupon her profeſsours, but that of the Devill vntounto Saule 1. Sam 28.18. To morrow ſhalt thou & thy ſonnes bee with mee: Becauſe ſhee would bee equall with GOD, ſeizeth vponupon heaven, and placeth therein ſuch as hauehave committed fornication with her; And therefore it is the religion of Antichriſt. Thy friends (ô God) are very much honoured of me. Likewiſe that ſaying of Eccleſiaſticus fulfilled, * Nations ſhall declare his wiſdome, & the church ſpeake forth his praiſe: and alſo the rites of friendſhip & true louelove obſerved, which is to louelove our friends frind for our friends ſake, and incomparably more the Saints of God, for their and our louelove towards God. a Pſalm 138.17. * Cap. 39.14.
Reſolution of the 16. Reaſon.
Popiſh religion only, hath canonized her Profeſſours for Saints after death, and celebrateth their annuall memories.
Ergo. What?
Popiſh religion is Antichriſtianiſme.
ANSWERE.
1 I grant the whole.
2 Blaſphemous wretches! Is it not inough, & more then inough, that miſerable Papiſtes, with intolerable boldnes, arrogate vntounto themſelves the name of Catholiks, & al the prerogatiues & priviledges of Chriſts Church in earth: but with ſacrilegious impiety, they will needs lay violent hands, and ſeize vponupon heavē, the throne of GOD, the kingdome of the SAINTS; & blaſphemouſly challenge the ſame, for their Profeſſours; who, it is moſt certaine, are caſt downe head-long into the pitte of hell.
3 Iudge not, Chriſtian Reader, that I pronoūce this ſentence vnadviſedly, raſhly, or vncharitably,*Note well. Never any Man DYING a PAPISTE enioyed heaven, or eſcaped hel. I have the word of GOD for my warrant herein, which muſt iudge both thee and me. Read Apocalypſ. 14. verſ. 9.10. & 11. the Text is pregnāt & plaine. This point I hauehave handled at large, in my booke De Eccleſia Antichriſti.
4 Holy Sainte LVTHER ſaith. Papa mule…s in ſanctorum Catalogum refert, qui taima detruſi ſunt tartara: loannē Huſſū damnatum Satanae tradidit, quem coeli beatum eſſe incolam nemo dubit averit, niſi qui Chriſtum veracem eſſe negaverit. Abſit, ô Papa, me tibi Sanctū indicari; te Satanae Sanctum eſſe faecilè patior. Luth. in Colloq. de Ioanne Huſſ.