The Four Principal Pillars of Papistry, Pillar 3 · Part 1

The Four Principal Pillars of Papistry · Pillar 3 · Part 1

p. 101The first part setting forth the loose and light argumentes, whereby papistrie is vpholden.

FIrstlet vsus see how pithily our aduersaries dispute, & how lustely they lay about them for the supremacie, and peerlesse authoritie of the pope.

Peter did excommunicate Ananias and 1Sapphira: He healed the sicke by his shadow: Ergo he was head of the Church, Rhemist, annot. act. 5. 8. Peters person was garded with 4. quaternions of souldiers. Act. 12. 4. the Church praieth for him, ibid. sect. 4. Paule nameth him Cophas 1. Corinth. 9. 5. Ergo he was chiefe of the Apostles, & consequently the pope his successor is head of the Church.

Christ said vntounto Peter, I will giuegive vntounto thee the keyes of the kingdome 2of heauen. Math. 16. 19. And Christ againe bid Peter feede his sheepe, Iohn. 21. Ergo Peter and his successors the popes, are the iudges of the true sense of the scripture, Bellarm. de verb. interpret. lib. 3. cap. 5.

Christ saith Iohn 10. 16. There shall be one shepheard, and one sheepefolde… 3Ergo there ought to be one chiefe pastor of the vniuersall Church, and that is Peter and his successors, Bellarm. lib. 1. de pontisi…. 'Roman. cap. 9. Whereas Christ in that place speaketh of the calling of the Gentiles: Other sheep I hauehave also, which are not of this fold: That they together with the Iewes shall make but one sheepefold vnderunder Christ.

Christ said to Peter, I hauehave praied for thee, that thy faith should not faile: 4Ergo the pope cannot faile, nor erre in faith, Bellarm. de Roman pontif. lib. 4. cap. 3. So Christ praieth for all the faithfull. Iohn. 17. 20. Therfore by this reason all beleeuers should be priuiledged from errour.

p. 102Wheresoeuer two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the 5midst of them, Math. 18. 20. Ergo it belongeth to the Pope to cal and congregate coūcels: for to be assembled in the name of Christ, is nothing else but to be gathered together by the popes authoritie, which he hath receiued from Christ, Bellarm. de concil▪ lib. 1. cap. 12.

So by this reason if two or three of the faithfull meete together in the feare of God, Christ wil not be present, vnlesse they hauehave the popes leaue to come together.

Christ said to Peter, Put vp thy swoord into the scabberd: Ergo the pope 6hath both swordes, Harding ex Iuel. pag. 579. A simple argument, Peter was rather rebuked for striking with the swoord, then commaunded to vse it.

The Church that is at Babylon saluteth you, 1. Pet. 5. 13. Ergo Peter was at 7Rome: for by Babylon here he meaneth Rome, Bellarm. lib. 2. de pontif. cap. 2. A silly argument to prooue Peters being at Rome: he was at Babylō, Ergo at Rome: yet by their owne confession Rome is Babylon, which is the seate of Antichrist.

Your faith is published through the whole world, Rom. 1. 5. Ergo the Church 8of Rome can not erre, Rhemist. ibid. So S. Paule saith of the Church of the Thessalonians, Your faith is spred abroad into all quarters, 1. Epist. 1. 8. Ergo neither could their Church erre in faith.

God tooke of the spirit that was in Moses, and gaue it among the 70. Elders, 9Num. 11. 16. Ergo Bishops hauehave their authoritie from the pope, Bellarm. Ans. The pope might rather chalenge to be Aarons successor, who was the high priest, then Moses. And hath the pope then such abundance of the spirit of God, that he can afoord a portion thereof to all the Bishops in the world, and yet keepe enough for himselfe?

Melchisedech was both King and Priest, Ergo the pope is also a temporall 10prince, Bellarm. lib. 5. de Rom. pontif. cap. 9. This argument beside that it hath no sequele at al, containeth blasphemic: for Melchisedech was onelye a type and figure of the spiritual kingdom and priesthood of Christ, as the Apostle maketh the application. Hebr. 7.

Then beganne men to call vponupon the name of the Lord, Gen. 4. 26. Ergo 11there were Monkes before the flood, Bellar. de Monach. lib. 1. cap. 5.

Suffer little children to come vntounto me, Math. 19. Ergo young men and children 12may be made Monkes, Bellarm. de Mon…ch. lib. 2. cap. 35.

God said to Abraham, Go out from thy kinred and from thy fathers house, 13Gen. 12. 1. forget thine owne people and thy fathers house. Psal. 25. 10. Ergo it is lawfull for children without their parentes consent to enter into profession of Monkerie, Bellarm. ibid. cap. 36.

Nowe for purgatorie, which they imagine to be a place of temporall 14torment after this life, they reason thus out of scripture. The prophet Dauid saith: Lorde rebuke me not in thine anger, nor chastise me in thy wrath▪ p. 103Psal. 38. 1. Wee went through fire and water. Psal. 66. 12. Who shall abide the day of his comming? for hee is like a purging fire, and as fullers sope. Malach. 3. 2. Ergo there is a purgatorie fire after this life. These arguments are too vaine for children: As though where the Scripture speaketh of fire, it must needs bee vnderstood of purgatorie fire, whereas the prophet Dauid by water and fire vnderstandeth the afflictions of the Church: and the Pophet Malachie, the day of the Lords visitation.

The like pithie argumentes they ground out of the newe Testament, 15as Math. 5. 22. Hee that is angry with his brother is culpable of iudgement, hee that saith Racha, shall bee iudged by a Councell. Luke 23. the thiefe vppon the crosse sayd to Christ, Remember mee, when thou commest into thy kingdome. Act. 2. 24. whom God hath raysed vp, and loosed the sorrowes of (hell as they read) for it was impossible for him to be holden of it. Ergo, there is a purgatorie after this life, Bellarm. de purgator. lib. 1. cap. 4. loc. 5. 7. 8. These bee their goodly arguments, which if they prooue any thing, do insinuate thus much, that Christes kingdome is purgatorie, as in the second place, and that Christ himselfe was in purgatorie, as it followeth by their collection out of the third place alledged: And that a man for a rash word speaking shall be tormented in purgatorie, which they say exceedeth all the paines and punishments of this life, as out of the first place.

The like argumentes they hauehave for purgatorie drawen from prophane 16authoritie, as from the Turkes Alcaron, out of Plato in Gorgia, out of Cicero in somnio Scip…onis, and Uirgils Aeneads, and last of all, flames of fire doe breake foorth from the great hil Aetna, and out of other places: ergo there must needs be a purgatory, Bellarm. cap. 7. & 11. Are not these substantial arguments to ground a mans faith vponupon? for Bellarmine sayth, it is an article of fayth to beleeue purgatorie, and that hee which beleeueth it not, is sure to goe to hell, Lib. 1. de purgat. cap. 11. Thus the vnbeleeuing Turkes, the heathen philosophers and poetes, are become maisters of Christian mens fayth.

Christ raysed Lazarus from the dead. Ioh. 11. the rulers daughter. Mat. 179. the widowes sonne, Luk. 7. Ergo, Wee ought also to pray for the deade, Bellarm. lib. 2. de purgat. cap. 15.

Rom. 2. 7. To them, which continue in weldoing, glorie, honor, and immortalitie. 18Ergo Saintes are to bee worshipped. Bellarm. de Sanctor. beatitud. lib. 1. cap. 13. argum. 7. Moses prayeth thus, Remember O Lord, Abraham, Isaac, & Israel thy seruantes, Exod. 32. Iob sayth, hauehave pitie vponupon me, O my friends, Iob. 19. 21. Ergo, wee may and ought make our prayers vntounto Saintes, Bellar. ibid. cap. 19. these argumentes doe rather mooue laughter, then minister any matter worthy of confutation.

The Israelites were commanded to strike the bloode of the Paschal 19Lambe vponupon the two side postes of the doore and the vpper doore post, p. 104Exod. 12. 7. Iacob laying his handes a crosse did blesse Iosephs sonnes, Gen. 48. Apocalyps 14. 1. hauing his fathers name written in their foreheades: this is the signe of the crosse: Ergo it is an holy and venerable signe, Bellarm. de imaginib. Sanctor. lib. 2. cap. 29. Is not this well reasoned for the crosse?

The Israelites were commaunded thrise a yeare to go vp to Ierusalem, 20Deuteron. 16. Christ went vp with his mother and Iosepth to Hierusalem, Luk. 2. Paule made hast to go vp to Ierusalem to keepe the feast of Penticost, Act. 20. Ergo now also Christians may go in pilgrimage to Ierusalem and to the holy Land, Bellarm. de cult. sanctor. lib. 3. cap. 8. Thus we learne a new point of popish diuinitie, that our sauiour Christ and the Apostles went in pilgrimage: Whereas Christ him selfe saith the contrarie: The time commeth, when ye shall neither in this mountaine, nor in Ierusalem worship the father, Iohn. 4. 23. This agreeth with an other popish tale, that Christ came in pilgrims weede to S. Gregories table of hospitalitie, Rhemist. annot. Heb. 13. sect. 2.

Sweare not by heauen, it is the Lordes seate, nor by the earth, it is the Lordes 21footestoote. Math. 5. The place where thou standest is holy ground. Exod. 3. Thou hast knowen the holy scriptures of a childe. 2. Timoth. 3. 15. The very letters of scripture are called holy, because of the holy contentes. Ergo also Images of Saintes, because they are signes of holy thinges are to be reuerenced and worshipped, Bellarm. de imaginib. sanctor. lib. 2. cap. 12. And these, with the like are their stout argumentes, for the adoration of Images.

The prophet commaunded Naaman to wash him himselfe 7. times, 222. King. 4. The Altar must be cleansed 7. daies, Exod. 29. 37. Iob offered 7. Bullocks and 7. Rammes for his friendes, Iob 42. So in the Apocalips, 7. Churches, 7. Angels, 7. Starres, 7. Candlestickes, 7. Thunders, and the like. Ergo there are 7. Sacramentes, Bellarm. de sacrament. lib. 2. cap. 26. Rhemist. an…ot. Apocal. 1. sect. 3.

Act. 8. 17. They did lay their handes vponupon them, and they receiued the holy 23ghost. Ergo confirmation which is done by laying on of handes is a sacrament, Act. 19. 6. Paule laide his handes vponupon them, and the holy ghost came vponupon them, and they spake with tongues. Ergo a sacrament of confirmation, Bellarm. de sacram. confirmat. lib. 2. cap. 2.

God is able to bring a Camel through the eye of a needle, Math. 20. 26. 24Christ came in vntounto his Apostles the dooers being shutte, rose out of his graue, the stone lying vponupon it. Ergo he may as well, and is present bodily in the Eucharist. Rhemist. Math. 26. sect. 11. Bellarm. lib. 3. de sacram. cap 6. Christ trans…igured his bodie in the Mount, Math. 17. he turned water into wine, Iohn. 2. Appeared to Saule out of heauen. Act. 9. Ergo he may as well be present in the sacrament, and consequently is, Rhemist. Iohn. 2. sect. 2. Act. 9. sect. 1.

For the sacrifice of the masse they reason thus: Prou. 9. 1. wisedome hath p. 10525built her an house, s…ine her victuales and drawen her wine: Melchisedech brought forth breade and wine to Abraham, Gen. 14. The Priestes and Leuites shall not want a man, to offer burnt offeringes continually, Ierom. 33. 18. Ergo there is a sacrificing priesthood vnderunder the Gospell, and the masse is properlie a sacrifice: Bellarm. lib. 1. de missa. cap. 6. 9. But here they hauehave prooued nothing, vnlesse they say, that the masse is a burnt offering, or that therein there is an oblation of bread and wine, which they will not graunt.

Likewise they reason out of the new testament: as Iohn 4. Christ saith, 26The houre commeth, when the true worshippers shall worship my father in spirit and trueth. Acts. 13. 2. As they ministred and fasted, the holy Ghost said, Seperate me Paule and Barnabas. Christ also said, Hoc facite, Do this in remē brance of me. In all these places by worshipping, ministring, doing, we must vnderstand sacrificing, Ergo the masse is truely and properly a sacrifice, Bellarm. cap. 11. 12. 13.

Iob offered sacrifice vntounto God for his friendes, Iob. 42. Ergo the Masse a 27sacrifice propitiatorie. Bellarm. lib. 2. cap. 2.

Timoth, 1. epist. 2. 1. I exhort (saith the Apostle) that first of al supplications, praiers, 28and giuing of thankes be made for all men, for Kinges, and for all that are in authoritie, that we may leade a quiet, and a godly life. Ergo the Masse is a sacrifice auailable for the obtaining of temporall blessinges, for these are the supplications which are made in the Masse, Bellarm, lib. 2. de Miss. cap. 3.

Christ hanging vponupon the Crosse vttered but seauen short sentences in 29the hearing of those that stoode by, for the space of 3. howres, all the while beside holding his peace: Ergo, the priest at masse is not bound to vtter all the canon with a lowd and audible voice, lib. 2. cap. 12.

The prophet Dauid saith, Let my praier be directed before thee as incense, 30Psal. 141. 1. Ergo censing and burning of incense is to be vsed in the masse, Bellarm. lib. 2. de Missa. cap. 15.

For Auricular confession, they bring these and such like argumentes▪ 31Adam and Eua confessed their sinnes vntounto God, Genes. 3. and Cain also, Genes. 4. At the voice of Christ Lazarus came forth of the graue, and was loosed by his Apostles from his graue cloathes, Iohn, 11. So men confessing their sinnes to the priestes, by them receiue absolution. Ergo Auricular confession necessarie with particular enumeration of sinnes.

It were too long to heape together, either all, or most of those childish and wanton argumentes, wereby our aduersaries do rather dally then dispute with vsus, ministering rather matter of sport and laughter, then enforcing any sound perswasion of their cause: But by these, which wee hauehave seene wee may gesse of the rest. Let indifferent men nowe iudge, whether we may not iustly say vntounto them (their proofes and argumentes p. 106being so weake, & hanging so euill together, as Irenaeus obiected to the heretikes, that they make a rope of sande. All the worlde beginneth to see their nakednes & beggerie, what sleight arguments, what loose coniectures, what poore shifts they vse: and how in most of their chiefe questions, they are faine to begg some help of the Iewes, and runne to their beggerly ceremonies, as S. Paul calleth them, for succour. It shall not be a misse to see a few examples of this matter.

To proue their traditions beside scripture, they alledge the vnwritten 1traditions of the Iewes, Bellarmine de verb. lib. 4. cap. 8. And yet wee read of no such authentical traditions which they had, but those which were vnlawfull & superstitious, condemned by our Sauiour Christ, Mark. 7. 9. Ye reiect the commandements of God, to obserue your own traditions.

They ground the vsurped Monarchie of the Pope ouer the whole 2Church vponupon the example of the high priesthood in the law, which was a type and figure of Christ, and in him accomplished, Heb. 4. 15. & 9. 24. Bellarmine, de Roman. Pontif. lib. 1. cap. 9.

The name of Clerkes or Clergie men Bellarmine deriueth from the 3Iewes: amongst whom the Leuites were said to be the Lords lot & inheritance, Numb. 18. Bellarm. li. 1. de Clericis. ca. 2. And thus he would bring in a legal & Iudaicall difference between the Ministers of the Gospel & the people, as there was between the Leuites & the other tribes: Wheras before the Lord there is no difference between them in that respect: for they are al, both people & pastors, the Lords inheritance & lot, 1. Pet. 5. 3.

The single life of the Clergie he would proue, by the example of the 4priests in the lawe, who when their course came to sacrifice, separated themselues from their wiues, Bellarm. de Cleric. li. 1. ca. 19. But who seeth not, that this was a legal sanctitie onelyonly, representing the integritie & puritie of the true & perfect priest Christ Iesus? for otherwise by the same reason, they may exact the like abstinence of all Christian people, because all Israel was commaunded to keepe from their wiues 3 dayes, before the Lord appeared in Sinai, Exod. 19.

Vowes & Monkerie proued by the example of the Nazarites & Rechabites, 35. 5amongst the Israelites, Bellar. de Monach. lib. 1. cap. 5.

Their lenten fast waranted by Moses & Elias fourtie daies fast, Rhemist. 6Math. 4. Sect. 2.

They say, the Temples of Christians ought to be built, ad similitudinem 7templi Salomonis, after the similitude and patterne of Salomons Temple, Bellarm. lib. 3. de cultu Sanctor. cap. 3.

Their consecrated oyle, salt, water, ashes & such trumperie, they would 8warrant by the like ceremonies vsed in the law, as the salt water, Num. 5. the water mingled with ashes, Num. 19. Bellarm. de cultu Sanctor. li. 3. ca. 7.

Their Chrisme, which is vsed in the Popish Church in Confirmation, p. 1079brought in by superstitious imitation of the holy oyntment, whereby the Priests and the tabernacle were annointed in the lawe, Bellarmine, de sacram. Confirm. lib. 2. cap. 8.

The Masse, a sacrifice propitiatorie, because the Iewes had sacrifices10 40 for sinne, Leuit. 4. 5. Bellarmine, de Missa. lib. 2. cap. 2. As though all those sacrifices were not types and figures of one onelyonly propitiatorie sacrifice of Christ vponupon the crosse.

Their priuate Masses, wherein the Priest receiueth alone, the people 11standing by, authorised by the practise of the Priests in the law, whosacrificed within, and the people waited without, Bellarmine, ibid. cap. 9. As though the vaile of the temple was not rent asunder in the passion of Christ, which before kept the people from the sight of the holy things: and now the Papistes would draw the curtaine before their eyes still.

Popish Massing garmentes inuented to resemble the costly attyre of 12the high Priest in the lawe, Bellarm. de Missa▪ lib. 2. cap. 1 5. Whose rich ornaments, and beautifull attire, were euident types and figures of the spiritual beautie and excellencie of the kingdome and Priesthood of Christ, Psalm. 45. 9. 13. 14.

The superstitious dedication of their Churches they borrow from the 13practise of the people vnderunder the law: as the Church was solemnely dedicated in Salomons time, in Esra his daies, 2. Chronicor. 7. Esra. 6. And by the Machabees. 1. Macchab. cap. 4. And therefore Christian Churches ought to be dedicated in like sort, Bellarmine, de cultu sanctor. lib. 3. cap. 5. Whereas it is certaine, that the solemne dedication of the Iewish temple, was a liuely resemblance of the dedication of the true tabernacle, which was the bodie of Christ, Heb. 8. 2. And of the newe and liuing way, dedicated vntounto vsus by the vayle, that is his flesh, Heb. 10. 20. And yet neuer did the Iewes vse halfe of those ceremonies (but such toyes none at all) in dedicating the temple, as papistes doe in hallowing of theirs: Such are the burning of tapers, picturing of Crosses vponupon the walles, sprinkling of water, and of ashes vponupon the pauiment, making of characters▪ The Iewes themselues would blush to behold such things, Bellarm. ibid.

The adorning of their Churches, with Images, crosses, vestements, of siluer, gold, silke, precious stone, their gorgious and sumptuous buildings, warranted by the example of Salomons temple, which was beautifull both within and without, Bellarm. ibid. cap. 6. yet they might hauehave knowen this, that the beautie and glorie of the first house did shadow foorth vntounto the Iewes the spirituall comelinesse and excellencie of the last house, that is, the Church of God vnderunder Christ. Haggeus. 2. 10. And so saith the Prophete Esay, speaking of the spirituall Temple: I will laye thy stones with the Carbuncle, and thy foundations with Saphirs. Chapter 54. 11.

Yet we denie not, but that the externall Churches also of Christians, p. 108ought to bee built, and adorned, with moderate cost after a decent and comely sort.

The priestes in the lawe, were to iudge of leprous persons, and to discerne 15their leprosie, Leuitic. 13. 14. Therefore Christians are nowe also bound to make particular confession and enumeration of their sins in the eares of the priestes, Bellarm. de poenitent. lib. 3. cap. 3. Yet the priestes were not to take knowledge of eueryevery infirmitie or disease, but of this contagious and infectious kinde: howe then can they hence conclude, that the knowledge of all sinnes both great and small belongeth to the priest? And who knoweth not, that herein the priesthood of the lawe, did decypher the priesthood of Christ, by whome our spirituall leprosies are discerned and cured?

Nay they doe not content themselues with an apish imitation of Iewish 16ceremonies, but they also belie them, and father vponupon them such thinges, as they neuer vsed: as that they pray for the dead, which it is certayne the Iewes to this day doe not, And whereas the fact of Iudas Machabaeus is commended for praying for the deade, 2. Machab. 12. 44. It seemeth to bee put into the storie by the author (whosoeuer hee was) of his owne: for Iosephus, who writte fiue bookes of those matters, and out of whose workes this storie seemeth to bee abridged, entreating of this place, maketh no mention at all of prayer for the dead. Lib. 3. cap. 19. And againe, in this place prayer is made for open Idolaters, which is contrarie to the practise of the popish Church, who deny prayer to be made for those which die in deadly sinne.

In like manner they burthen the Iewes with authenticall vnwritten traditions besides scripture: Such they had none as wee hauehave shewed before. Loc. 1.

Lastly, the papistes doe farre exceede the Church of the Iewes, in number of ceremonies, but in lightnesse and vanitie of such childish toies, the Iewes neuer came neere them, or were once like vntounto them. We will…7 47 giuegive one instance of the ceremonies vsed in baptisme: First they touch the eares and the nostrels with spittle of the partie baptized, that his eares may be opened to heare the worde, and his nostrels to discerne betweene the smell of good and euill. Secondly, the priest signeth his eyes, eares, mouth, breast, forehead with the signe of the crosse, that all his senses thereby may be defended. Thirdly, hallowed salt is put into his mouth, that hee may be seasoned with wisedome, and keept from putrifying in sinne. Fourthly, the partie is annoynted with oyle in his breast, that he may be safe from euil suggestions; & betweene the shoulders, which signifieth the receiuing of spiritual strength. Fifthly, he is anointed with the Chrisme in the toppe of the head, and therby is become a Christian: Sixtly, a white garment is put vponupon him to be token his regeneration. Seuenthly, a vayle p. 109is put vponupon his head, in token that he is now crowned with a royall diademe▪ Eightly, A burning taper is put into his hand, to fulfill that saying in the Gospel, Let your light shine before men, Bellarmine, lib. 1. de Baptism. cap. 26. 27. I report me now to the Iewes, if euer they vsed such toyes, or do to this day in any of their rites and ceremonies. So that wee may iustly say with Augustine, Ipsam religionem oneribus premunt, vt tolerabilior Epist. 119. cap. 19.sit conditio Iudaeorum, qui legalib. sarcinis, non humanis praesumptionibus subijciuntur: They cumber religion with their burdensome inuentions: so that the Iewes case was more tollerable, (than theirs that liue vnderunder Poperie) who were subiect onelyonly to legall ceremonies, not to the inuentions of men. And thus wee see the weakenes of Popish religion, and feeblenesse of their cause, who through verie beggerie are constrained to patch vp their tattered garments with Iewes ragges. Thus much for the first part. Now to the next.