Against the Revolt to a Foreign Jurisdiction, Chapter 11 – Chapter 13
Chap. XI. The Judgment of Mr. Herbert Thorndike, a late Eminent Divine of the Church of England.
§ 1. MR. Thorndike hath written so much on this Subject that I need no more than refer the Reader to his Books, for the discovery of his mind. The sum of his late Writings (these thirty years past) is to call us all into one visible Catholick Church which is unified by one Humane Government of all, out of which nothing will excuse us from Schism, or make our failing tolerable. His arguments for an Universal Aristocracy answered by Dr. Izaak Barrow in the end of his Treatise of Supremacy, I will not here recite, because they are there so fully and learnedly confuted.
§ 2. In his [Just Weights and Measures] he tells us that the Church of Rome being a true Church, Reformation lyeth in Restoration, and not in Separation.(a)Confusion. 1. The form denominateth: The Church of Rome which we separate from is a pretended Soveraignty over all Christians. This is no true Church of Christ. 2. But we separate not from them in point of Christianity. But 1. From their Usurpation. 2. And other Sins.
Page 5. he saith, [Who will take upon him to shew us that the Worship of the Host in the Papists is Idolatry.
Page 6, 7. They that separate from the Church of Rome as Idolaters are thereby Schismaticks before God.
For in plain terms we make our selves Schismaticks by grounding our Reformation on this pretence.
Should this Church declare that the Change which we call Reformation is grounded on this supposition, I must then acknowledge that we are Schismaticks.
Ch. 2. Is to disprove them that make the Pope Antichrist, and Papists Idolaters, and shew that the supposition of one Catholick Visible Church, is the ground of all Communion and supposed to Reformation. And Ch. 3. Nothing to be changed but on that Ground of such Visible Unity.
Ch. 5. If our Lord trust his Disciples and their Successors with the Rule of his Church, he trusteth them also to make Laws for the Ruling of it— These Laws are as Visible as the Laws of any Kingdom or Common-wealth that is or ever was are Visible — I maintain the Popes Canon Law (and the same is to be said of the Canon Law, by which the Patriarch of Constantinople now Governs the Eastern Church) to be derived from those Rules whereby the Disciples of our Lord and their Successors governed the Primitive Church in Unity. — The power of Giving Laws to the Church; the power of Dispensing the Exchequer which God hath provided for the Church, are in the Governors of the Church; and the power of admitting into and excluding out. It's a Visible Society founded by God under the Name of the Catholick Church, on the command of holding Communion with it.
Page 41. The Church in the form which I state it is a standing Synod, able by the consent of the Chief Churches, containing the consent of their resorts to conclude the whole.
Page 48. The Church of Rome hath and ought to have when it shall please to hear reason, a Regular pre-eminence, over the rest of Christendom in these Western parts. And he that is able to judge and willing to consider shall find that Pre eminence the Only Reasonable means to preserve so great a Body in Unity. And therefore I am not my self tyed to justifie Henry the Eighth in disclaiming all such pre-eminence.
Page 48. That the difference may be visible between the Infinite and the Regular Power of the Pope.
Page 91. The perpetual Rule of the Church makes them Hereticks to the Church that Communicate with Hereticks and Schismaticks that Communicate with Schismaticks.(b)And having before made the Church of England Schismaticks he makes all Schismaticks that Communicate with it.
Page 94. The Flesh and Blood of Christ by Incarnation, the Elements by Consecration being united to the Spirit, that is, the Godhead of Christ, become both One Sacramentally, by being both One with the Spirit or Godhead, to the conveying of Gods Spirit to a Christian.
Page 125. The worshipping the Host in the Papacy is not Idolatry.
Page 132. He saith that the Oath of Supremacy is but to exclude the Popes Temporal power: But because the words seem to exclude the power of General Councils, of which the Pope is and ought to be the chief Member, of necessity the Law gives great offence: And that offence is the sin of the Kingdom, and calls for Gods Vengeance on it; which though all are involved in the account in the other World will lye on them, which may change it and will not.
Page 134. But the authority of those Divines of this Church who have declared the sence of the Oath of Supremacy with publick allowance are now alledged by the Papists themselves to infer that the matter of it is lawful (as excluding only the Popes Civil Power.)
Page 141. We receive the Body and Blood of Christ, and by consequence his Spirit Hypostatically united to the same, to inable us to perform.
Page 149. The Church of Rome cannot be charged with Idolatry. The Pope cannot be Antichrist.
Ch. 22. The Reformation pretended is abominable and Apostasie, and the usual Preaching a hinderance to Salvation; and new Homilies to be formed to restrain Preaching.
Page 146. I confess I can hope for no good end of any dispute without supposing the sence of the Articles of One Catholick Church, which hath carried us through this discourse, for the Principle on which all matter in debate is to be tryed.
P. 214. And oft he professeth that Presbyters not ordained by Bishops, baptize and give the Eucharist, void of the Effect of a Sacrament, and only by Sacriledge—speaketh against killing and and banishing— [But this will require the like Moderation to be extended to the Recusants of the Church of Rome, (p. 234.) The Recusants being for the most part of the Good Families of the Nation, will take it for a part of their Nobility freely to profess themselves in their Religion; if they understand themselves: Whereas the Sectaries, being people of mean quality for the most part, cannot be presumed to stand on their reputation so much.
In his Book called The Forbearance of Penalties, c. 3. p. 12, 13. he makes the foundation of all Union to be the Government and Laws of the Church as visibly Catholick, which Laws must be one and the same, the violating whereof is the forfeiture of the same (Communion.) And here I crave leave to call All Canons, All Customs of the Church, whether concerning the Rites of God's Service, or other Observations, by one and the same name of Laws of the Church.
P. 23. As for the Canons of the Church, it was never necessary to the maintenance of Commumunion that the same Customs should be held in all parts of the Church. It was only necessary the several Customs should be held by the same Authority. That the same Authority instituted several Customs; for so they might be changed by the same Authority, and yet Unity remain.
Whereas questioning the Authority by questioning whether the acts of it be agreeable to ☞ God's Law or not, how should Unity be maintained? It is manifest that they (the Fathers) could not have agreed in the Laws of the Church, if any had excepted against any thing used in any part of the Church, as if God's Law had been infringed by it. — It followeth of necessity, that nothing can be disowned by this Church as contrary to God's Law, which holdeth by the Primitive Church.(c)Here is 1. An Universal Legislative Power over all the Church on Earth. 2. This Power is in Councils, of which the Pope is the chief Member; and the only reasonable means of the Union of so great a Body, is his Regular Power as distinct from Infinite Power. 3. All the Canons Rites and Customs, are these Laws of the Church. 4. All Kings and Kingdoms are bound to obey them. 5. No man must question whether these Laws or Customs, or any of them are contrary to God's Law. 6. The men that must have this Absolute Power over all the Kings and Kingdoms on Earth, that will be Christian, are themselves the Subjects of the Turks, the Moore, the Emperor of Abassia, the Persian, the Emperor of Indastan, called the Mogal, the Kings of Poland, Hungary, Spain, France, England, Denmark, Sweden, the Emperor of Germany, and abundance more; when it's known that few Bishops are chosen in any of these Countreys Mahometans or Papists, but such as the Princes like, and that they dare not go against their wills in any great matter. 7. Their minds are known already, and consequently what they would do in Councils, if all these Princes would agree to call an Universal Council. The Major Vote, if it were called in Mesopotamia, or that way would be such as Rome calleth Hereticks: If called in Greece it would be Greeks: If in Italy, or Germany, or France, they would be Papists; no where Protestants. Few would travel above a thousand miles to the Council. 8. Tho' one would think that this platform of Governing the whole Earth, could be believed by no man in his wits, yet you see Learned men are so far deceived: And it is by judging of the World by the Old Roman Empire. There indeed Councils were Nationally General: They were Courts: They had Legislative Power and Pretorian Command: None might appeal from them for Relief in Foro Humano. Emperors gave them this Power. It was but rational, over their own Subjects: What Power had they over others? The Convocation in England, or the General Assembly in Scotland may be made and called a Court by the King: But France or Spain were never Governed by them, nor took them to be over them unquestionable Legislators: Yea, I believe King and Parliament at home are not so subject to their Laws.
Page 27. He saith (as Mr. Dodwell) It is agreed on by the whole Church, that Baptism in Heresie or Schism (that is, when a man gives up himself to the Communion of Hereticks or Schismaticks by receiving Baptism from them) though it may be true Baptism, and not to be repeated, yet it is not available to Salvation, making him accessory to Heresie or Schism that is so Baptized.(d)And are not these unmerciful men that will let men take up with a damning Baptism, and will not rebaptize them that they may have a saving Baptism, which yet they hold necessary to Salvation? They fear Anabaptism it seems more than mens Damnation.
Pag. 28. The promise of Baptism is not available, unless it be deposited with the true Church, nor to him that continueth not in the true Church that may exact the promise deposited with it.(e)The true Church that is an Usurped Power of Universal Legislation, is here made by him and Mr. Dodwell as necessary to Salvation as Christ, and more than the holy Scriptures. But what will now become of all the Papists that (by dispensation) come in to Protestant Churches? They also are all damned as Schismaticks for communicating with them; unless he forgot to except them that the Pope dispenseth with.
Page 33. [It is out of love to the Reformation that I insist on such a Principle as may serve to reunite us with the Church of Rome; being well assured that we can never be well reunited with our selves otherwise. Yet not only the Reformation, but the common Christianity must needs be lost in the divisions, which will never have an end otherwise.(f)How much wiser are these men than Christ and St. Paul, who made it the duty of all that were baptized Christians, to live as one Body of Christ in Love? Him that is weak in the faith receive, but not to doubtful disputations, Rom. 14.1. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. He that in these things serveth Christ, is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
Pag. 111. [If it be said that it is not visible where those Usurpations took place, I shall allow all the time which the Code of the Canons contains, which Pope Adrian sent to Charles the Great, pag. 128. which I would have this Church to own.(g)This yet is some mercy to us: But is it as your grant? 1. How will this stand with all that you have written for the continued Universal Legislative Church? Did it cease at Charles the Great's time? and yet are all damned that are not subject to it? 2. How shall we be sure that the Canons bind us till Adrian's time, and not since? 3. But Sir, we take him for a Papist that is for all the Canons and Customs till Charles the Great: And there are many things before that which we cannot Conform to without renouncing the Laws and sufficient Government of Christ, which we cannot do upon such pitiful reasonings as yours.
In Mr. Thorndike's large folio Book, there is yet much more for his Universal Legislative Aristocracy mixt with Regular Papacy. The sum of all is, The Pope Governing at least in the West by the Canons in the intervals of General Councils (that is, alwaies,) and as the chief Member with Councils making Laws for all the World. Thus the French and Italian Papists differ whether the Pope shall Govern the World as the King of Poland doth his Land; or, say some, as the Duke of Venice, or rather as the King of France. But Protestants know no such thing as an Universal Legislative Church, nor owns any Universal Laws but Gods; unless you mean Nationally Vniversal, as in the Empire Councils and Laws were called. I refer you again to Dr. Barrows Confutation of the rest of Mr. Thorndikes.
Chap. XII. The Judgment of Dr. Sparrow Bishop of Norwich, and divers others.
BIshop Sparrow Pref. to Collect. [As my Father sent me, so send I you. Here committing the Government of the Church to his Apostles, our Lord Commissions them with the same Power that was committed to him, for that purpose when he was on Earth; with the same necessary standing Power that he had exercised as Man for the good of the Church. (a)The standing Power of the Head or Soveraign, and that of Official Ministers much differ.Less cannot in reason be thought to be granted, than all Power necessary for the well and peaceable Government of the Church. And such a power is this of Making Laws. (b)All necessary power since Christ by his Apostles published his Universal Laws, is but that all Ministers in their several Churches guide the Flocks by these Laws of Christ, and teach them the people, and determine of incidental Circumstances pro loco & tempore; and not to make new Universal Laws.This is a Commission in general for making Laws: Then in particular for making Articles and Decisions of Doctrines controverted the power is more explicite and express, Mat. 28. All power is given me: Go therefore and teach all Nations, that is, with authority and by virtue of the power given me. And what is it to teach the Truth with authority, but to command and oblige all people to receive the Truth so taught? (c)Christ expresly limiteth the Apostles to teach the Churches what he had commanded them, and promiseth to give them the Spirit to bring all to their remembrance, and lead them to all Truth.And this power was not given to the Apostles persons only; for Christ then promised to be with them in that Office to the end of the World; that is, to them and their Successors in the Pastoral Office: To the Apostles or Bishops that should succeed them to the end of the World. (d)When the King send… out Judges and Justices he doth not make them Kings or Legislators. The Apostles had the Spirit for promulgating and recording Christs Laws: Others have it only to preserve and teach them, and rule by them, and not to make more such, as if they were insufficient, and Christian Religion were still to be changed by new additions, and were half Divine and half Humane: Gods Word and the Bishops in medley.To this One holy Church our Lord committed in trust the most holy Faith, &c. commanding under penalties and censures all her Children to receive that sence, and to profess it in such expressive words and forms as may directly determine the doubt. Thus she did in the great Nicene Council— This authority in determining Doubts and Controversies the Church hath practised in ALL AGES, and her constant practice is the best Interpreter of her right.(e)The three first Ages had no General Councils: The three next had National or Imperial General Councils. The thousand years last past (which you include in [All Ages] had such Councils and practices as prove not her right. Else why do not you now practise accordingly? — Bishop Guning owneth but six General Councils, which were all but in three Ages. And others but four, and none that I know of but eight, who do not openly profess Popery. Hath Christ given any new commands since those which he sent the Apostles to deliver? Have you any more of his commands to give us than the Apostles delivered in their times? If you may make new ones, you have more than Apostolick power, which was to teach whatever Christ commanded them. He is with them to the end of the World. 1. In blessing the Word delivered and recorded by them. 2. In blessing those that teach it. But not those that add to it the supplement of their own Universal Laws. And which is the Church that in all Ages (th…se thousand years) have had this power? Three parts of the Christian World say, It is not the Roman. The Roman Church say, It is not the Greeks. Both say, It is not they in Abassi…, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Armenia, Georgia, &c. The Protestants confess it is not they. And is obedience to an unknowable Power necessary to Concord and Salvation?
I shall not tire the Reader with the needless recitation of many more late Divines that lived since 1630. enough are known. Those that have defended Grotius of late I pass no judgment on; you may read their own Books and judge as you see cause; viz. Dr. Thomas Pierce now Dean of Salisbury, and the famous Preface to Archbishop Bromhall's Book against me, &c. I fear all this History is needless. Men now laugh at me for proving by Mens writings their endeavours to subject the King and Kingdom to a Foreign Jurisdiction, when they say it is more sensibly and dreadfully proving it self.
Chap. XIII. Dr. Parker's Judgment (since Bishop of Oxford.)
THE last mentioned Author Dr. Sam. Parker, besides what he hath said against me in his large Preface before Archbishop Bromhall's Book, hath since gone so far beyond all his Fellows, that finding himself unable to answer this Argument otherwise, [The World must not have one Universal Humane Civil Governor (King or Aristocracy) ergo, It must not have one Humane Priest or Church Governor] desperately denieth the Antecedent, and saith, that though de facto the Kings of the Earth have not one Soveraign over them all (that is meer Man) they ought to have. Audite Reges. I cannot conjecture who he meaneth unless it be the Pope, and he be of Cardinal Bertrand's mind, that God had not been wise if he had not made one Man a Vice-God, or his Deputy to Rule all the World: For sure he never dreamed that all Kings and States on Earth would meet or voluntarily agree to chuse one Universal King over them.
I met newly with an extraordinary Wit, who saith that after the Conflagration, in the Millennium of the New Heaven and Earth, Christ or his Vice-Roy will triumphantly Rule, &c. But 1. I never read before of a Vice-Roy after the Conflagration, which he saith will first consume Antichrist. 2. I know not how much of the New World he assigns to this Vice-Roy's Government; for if Gog and Magog after cover the Earth, and the New Generation be numerous, (which he thinks the Earth will bring forth like lower Animals,) it may be the New Jerusalem may be so small that one Vice-Roy may Rule it. 3. But sure that holy Generation will make Government and Obedience far easier things than now they are.