Father Cotton a Jesuit, Text 2
A NEW CHALLENGE to all Papiſts, in foure and twentie Popiſh Articles, by a learned Diuine now liuing, and ready to iuſtifie the ſame, if any Papiſt ſhall accept the Condition.
1 IF any Papiſt can ſhew mee any approued Father or Councell before Saint Auguſtines dayes, which teſtifieth, that the Bookes of Tobith, Iudith, Wiſdome, Eccleſiaſticus; the firſt and ſecond of Maccabees are Canonicall Scripture, I yeeld to Poperie: If on the contrarie he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him an approued Father or Councell, before S. Auguſtines dayes, which teſtifieth that they are not Canonicall.
2 If any Papiſh can ſhew mee any approued Father or Councell within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, which teſtifieth, that any Latine tranſlation is to be preferred before, or equalled with the Hebrew and the Greeke, I yeeld to Poperie: if on the contrarie he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him any approued Father or Councell, within that time, which teacheth, that the Hebrew and the Greeke are to be preferred before whatſoeuer Latine tranſlation.
3 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father, or Councell, within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, vvhichwhich taught; that it was vnlawfull to tranſlate the Bible into the knowne languages of the common people, I yeeld to Poperie: if on the contrarie hee will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him by approued Fathers or Councels, that in the beſt ages of the Church it was thought profitable and commendable to hauehave the Scripture ſo tranſlated.
4 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, which held it vnlawfull for the people of God to reade the Scriptures in their Mother tongue, I yeeld to Poperie: If on the contrarie he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him out of approued Fathers or Councels, that in the beſt ages of the Church they might lawfully hauehave read them.
5 If any Papiſt can ſhew mee any approued Father or Councell, within 600. yeeres after Chriſt, vvhichwhich teacheth; that common prayers ought to be made in a language vnknowne to the common people, I yeeld to Popery: if on the contrary, he will become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him by approued Fathers or councels, that common prayer ſhould be made in a knowne language.
6 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, (except Saint Auguſtine onelyonly) which teacheth; that there are but three commandements in the former Table, ſeauen in the latter, I yeeld to Poperie: If on the contrary he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him by Fathers or Councels, that there are foure Commaundements in the former Table, and ſixe in the latter.
7 If any Papiſt can ſhew mee any approued Father or Councell, within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, that it was lawfull to picture God the Father, I yeeld to Popery: if on the contrary hee will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him approued Fathers or Councels which thought it vnlawfull to picture him.
8 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, which taught that Latria might be giuen to Images, I yeeld to Popery: If on the contrary he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him an approued Father or Councell, within that time, which taught that Latria ſhould not be giuen to Images.
9 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, which ſpeaking of Sacraments, named ſeauen onelyonly, and neyther moe or fewer, I yeeld to Popery: if on the contrarie, he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him an approued Father or Councell, within that time, who names no moe but two, to wit, Baptiſme and the Lords Supper.
10 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, vvhichwhich teacheth that women may baptiſe, I yeeld to Poperie, if on the contrary he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him an approued Father or Councell, which abſolutely forbad women to baptiſe.
11 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father, or Councell, within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, which teacheth; that it is vnlawfull for any, ſaue the Miniſter or Prieſt, who conſecrates, to drinke of the Sacramentall Cup, I yeeld to Popery: If on the contrary he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him an approued Father or Councell, within that time, which held it ſacriledge not to drinke of the Cup, hauing eaten before of the Bread.
12 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father, or Councell, within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, which forbad Communicants to receiue with their hands the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, I yeeld to Popery: If on the contrary he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him out of approued Fathers or Councels, that within that time, it was vſually deliuered into their hands.
13 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 600. yeeres after Chriſt, which called the Sacrament, their Lord and their God, I yeeld to Popery: If on the contrary, he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him an approued Father or Councell, which ſpeaking hereof, cals it panem Domini, not panem Dominum, the bread of the Lord, not, Bread, his Lord.
14 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 600. yeeres after Chriſt, which held it lawfull for a Chriſtian at Communion time to ſtand by, and looke on, though he partaked not thereof, I yeeld to Popery: If on the contrary he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him out of approued Fathers or Councels, within that time, that ſlanders by were required to depart, or elſe, to draw neare and communicate.
15 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, which taught, that a man may dine of a faſting day, I yeeld to popery: If on the contrary he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him out of approued Fathers Councels, that the conſtant practiſe of the Church was, to faſt till night.
16 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, vvhichwhich taught, that a Miniſter, or Prieſt (as they call him) ſinnes more grieuouſly if he marry, then if he play the fornicator abroad, or if he keep a whore at home, I yeeld to Popery: If on the contrary he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him out of an approued Father, or Councell within that time, that it was held much worſe for a Miniſter or Prieſt, to play the whoremaſter, then to marry.
17 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, vvhichwhich was of opinion, that a man who had vowed chaſtitie, was not guiltie of breaking his vow by whoring, but onelyonly by marrying, I yeeld to popery. If on the contrarie he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him out of an approued Father or Councell, that by whoring, Votaries were guiltie of breaking their vow of chaſtitie, as well as if they marryed.
18 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 1000. yeers after Chriſt, which taught that a notorious offender might be abſolued from his fault before ſome penance was inioyned and performed by him, I yeeld to Popery: If on the contrary he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him out of approued Fathers or Councels, within that time, that before abſolution they alwaies inioyned ſome penance, and ordinarily ſaw it performed.
19 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, which held it vnſeemely for men and women to ſing Pſalmes together in their publike aſſemblies, I yeeld to popery: If on the contrary he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him an approued Father or Councell, vvithin that compaſſe of time, which approued of ſuch ſinging.
20 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 100. yerees after Chriſt, vvhichwhich …aught, that men might vow to goe on pilgrimage, eſpecially to Ieruſalem, vvithout their Wiues conſent, and goe according to their vow, I yeeld to Popery: If on the contrary, he vvill promiſe to become Proteſtant if I can ſhevv him, that ſuch vowes are flat contrarie to the Scripture.
21 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 500. yeeres after Chriſt, which writeth, that the Pope by his command called all, or any of the firſt foure generall Councels, I yeeld to Popery: If on the contrary, he will promiſe to turne Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him out of approued Fathers or Councels, within that time, that the Emperours called all thoſe foure, by vertue of their authoritie.
22 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 500. yeeres after Chriſt, which writes, that the Biſhop of Rome was preſident in all thoſe foure generall Councels, eyther in his owne perſon, or by his deputies, I yeeld to Popery: If on the contrary, he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him out of approued Fathers or Councels within that time, that other Biſhops ſate as preſidents, in ſome of thoſe foure, and in other generall Councels following, and that in their owne right.
23 If any Papiſt can ſhew me out of any approued Father or Councell, within 600. yeeres after Chriſt, that the Pope was not ſubiect vntounto the Emperour, I yeeld to Popery: If on the contrary he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him out of approued Fathers or Councels, within that time, that the Pope was ſubiect vntounto the Emperour, and that the Chriſtians acknowledged none but God himſelfe to be aboue the Emperour.
24 If any Papiſt can ſhew me any approued Father or Councell, within 1000. yeeres after Chriſt, which appropriated the name Pope to the Biſhop of Rome onelyonly, I yeeld to Popery: If on the contrary, he will promiſe to become Proteſtant, if I can ſhew him out of approued Fathers or Councels, that all Biſhops generally, and ſome Elders in ancient time, were called Popes.
FINIS.
End of the text · Pierre du Moulin Sr, Father Cotton a Jesuit (1614)