A Key for Catholics, Treatise 1 · Chapter 41
CHAP. XLI.
Detect. 32. ANother of their juglings is, By working upon the peoples natural affections, and asking them, Where they think all their fore-fathers are that dyed in the communion of the Roman Church? Dare they think they are all damned? Intimating that its cruelty to ſay their anceſtors are in Hell; and if they ſay they be in Heaven, then there is but one way thither, and therefore you muſt go the way that they went.
But a weak underſtanding may eaſily deal with this kind of Sophiſtry, if it be not maſtered by affection. For 1. What if we grant that many of our fore-fathers that dyed Papiſts are in Heaven? Doth it follow that we muſt therefore be Papiſts? No: becauſe it was not by Popery that they came to Heaven, but by Chriſtianity. What if many recover and live that eat not only Earth and Dirt, but Hemlock or Spear-wort, or other poyſons; muſt I therefore eat them? Or doth it follow that there is no other way to health?
2. Our fore-fathers were all ſaved that were holy, juſtified perſons, and no others. But among ſo many and great impediments as Popery caſt in their way, we have great reaſon to fear that far fewer of them were ſaved, then are now among the Reformed Churches. And muſt I needs go that difficult way to Heaven, becauſe that ſome of them get thither? Muſt I needs travail a way that is commonly beſet with thieves, becauſe ſome that go that way do ſcape them? This is our caſe.
3. If this were a good way of Reaſoning, then may all the Heathens, Infidels, Mahometans, uſe it, that have been educated in darkneſs. And indeed it is the Argument which the barbarous Heathens uſe, when the Goſpel is preached to them; [What think you, ſay they, is become of our fathers? If they were ſaved without the Goſpel, ſo may we.] The ſtory of that Infidel Prince is common, that being ready to go to the water to be baptized, ſtept back, and asked, Where are all my Anceſtors now? And when he was told that they were in Hell, and that the Chriſtians go to heaven, he told them then he would be no Chriſtian, for he would go where his Anceſtors are.
4. If this be good reaſoning, then we may uſe it much more then you. For we would ask you, where be all our fore fathers that are dead ſince the Reformation? and where be all thoſe that dyed between the Reſurrection of Chriſt and the appearing of Popery, or the prevailing of it in the world? And where be all that die in the Eaſtern and Southern Churches, that are no ſubjects of the Pope of Rome? Have we not as little reaſon to think that all theſe millions of men are damned, as to think ſo of our Popiſh Anceſtors.
5. Why ſhould we be more fooliſh for our ſouls then for our bodies? I would not be poor becauſe my Anceſtors were ſo: Nor would I have the Stone or Gout becauſe my Anceſtors had them: Nor will I ſay that they are no diſeaſes, for fear of diſhonouring my Anceſtors that had them. And why then ſhould I willfully lick up any Popiſh errors, becauſe my Anceſtors by the diſadvantage of the times and of their education were caſt upon them.
6. It is not our fore-fathers but God that we muſt follow: It is he, and not they, that is the Lord of our faith and of our ſouls. It will not excuſe us in judgement for diſobeying God, to ſay that our fore-fathers led us the way; Nor will it eaſe us in Hell to ſuffer with our fore-fathers. Chriſt tells us, Luke 16. of a Rich man that in Hell would have had his brethren warned, leſt they ſhould follow him: But theſe men would have us to follow our fore-fathers, even in their ſin againſt God. Whereas the Scriptures conſtantly make it an aggravation of a peoples ſin, when they follow their fathers in it, & take not warning by their falls. The Jewiſh Chriſtians were redeemed from the vain converſation, received by Tradition from their fathers, 1 Pet. 1. 18. Stephen tells the Jews, Act. 7. 51, 52. [As your Fathers did, ſo do yet which of the Prophets have not your Fathers perſecuted?] Chriſt condemneth the Jews for allowing the deeds of their fathers, Luk. 11. 47, 48. Mat. 23. 32. Nay God asketh wicked men where their fathers are, with a clean contrary meaning to this queſtion of the Papiſts, [Zach. 1. 4, 5, 6. Turn unto me ſaith the Lord of Hoſts be not as your fathers unto whom the former Prophets have cryed, Turn—your fathers, where are they, and the Prophets, do they live for ever?] Ezek. 20. 18, 27, 30. [I ſaid unto their children,—walk ye not in the Statutes of your Fathers, neither obſerve their judgements, nor defile your ſelves with their Idols: I am the Lord your God, walk in my Statutes—30. Say unto the houſe of Iſrael, Thus ſaith the Lord God; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations? Jer. 44. 9. [Have ye forgotten the wickedneſs of your fathers—They are not humbled even to this day.] The 18. of Ezek. is almoſt all of this, that the ſon that followeth his father in his ſins, ſhall die, and he that takes warning and avoideth his fathers ſins, ſhall live. A hundred more ſuch texts there are.
7. Our fore-fathers might be ſaved that ſinned in the dark, and yet we be damned if we will follow them in the Light, or at leaſt we ſhall be beaten with more ſtripes then they, if both muſt periſh. They had not our means, or liberty: If they had ſeen and heard what we have done, many of them would have repented long ago in ſackcloth and aſhes. Shall we ſin wilfully after the knowledge of the Truth, becauſe our fathers ſinned ignorantly for want of information?