The Protestant Religion Truly State and Justified, Part 10 – Part 15
The Twelfth Point accuſed.
That a Woman may be Head, or Supreme Governeſs of the Church in all Cauſes, as the late Queen Elizabeth was.
Anſ. A cheat by Confuſion and Equivocation.
The Church hath two ſorts of Government: One by the Word of God, and the Keys called Eccleſiaſtical. The other by the Sword, called Princely or Magiſtratical: We never had King or Queen that claimed the former, and none but Enemies of Government deny the latter: Queen Elizabeth and all our Kings ſince have publickly diſclaimed the Prieſt by Office of Words, Keys and Sacraments, which maketh the Clergy Tryers and Judges what to Preach, and whom to Baptize and receive to Church Communion, abſolve or Excommunicate. But ask this Deceiver, Muſt the Church have none to Govern by the Sword? All Chriſtians are the Church, and ſo all Chriſtian Princes are depoſed, becauſe they are Chriſtians. Or muſt the Clergy have no ſuch Government over them? Yes, the Pope, ſay the Papal Canons; he is Sword-bearer over the Clergy: So you ſee what Church-power is come to. But I trow, few Papiſt Kings will grant that they have no Sword-Government over the Clergy, leſt every Prieſt be Maſter of their Houſes, Wives, and Lives. The King is no Phyſicain, or Philoſopher, no Architect, Shipwright, Pilot, &c. but may he not be King and Ruler of all theſe? He is no Clergy-man or Prieſt, but the Ruler of the Clergy.
But they ſay, it muſt not be in Cauſes Eccleſiaſtical. Anſ. Cauſes Eccleſiaſtical have two ſorts of Government, in order to two Ends. As if one be accuſed for Preaching againſt God or Chriſt, or the Life to come; or for Perjury, Adultery, Murder, &c. Here the Biſhops are Judges, (and the Church,) whether this man be Guilty in order to his Communion or Excommunication, or admonition. But the King and his Judges are to Judge, whether he be Guilty, and ſo whether to be Impriſoned, Fined, Baniſhed, &c. ſo far as Cauſes of Religion or Church, are to be puniſhed by the Sword, the King is Head or Governour, and Judge: who would think that a ſort of men that deny this, ſhould have the Face to ſay that they are Loyal to Kings, or any forcing Government: Muſt Kings Burn or Kill, as many Thouſands at the Popes command as the Pope will call Hereticks, and yet never have power to judge whether they are ſuch, and do deſerve it? O! how much worſe than Hangmen, would ſuch men make all Kings and Magiſtrates!
Was not all the Chriſtian World in a ſad caſe then, when the Pope was under the Arrian Goths, and the Subject of a Foreign Arian muſt Rule all Kings and Kingdoms?
No man of Brains can be ignorant that Popedom or Prelacy, do not always make men mortified Saints, (that oft have been ſcarce Men, much leſs Chriſtians;) nor that the Prince hath a great Power, both in Chooſing and Ruling the Clergy that are his Subjects. It fell out happily, that Theodorick the Arian, (and divers Spaniſh Arian Kings,) were an honeſt ſort of men; but ſure they were very mighty Princes at Rome, when one Subject of an Arrian Goth, was Ruler of all the Kings and Souls on Earth, (de jure, ſay our Deceivers.) And if the Turk ſhould poſſeſs Rome, as he doth C.P. all Kings and Nations muſt be ſubject to his Subject? And what Power he hath over the four Patriarks of C.P. Alexandria, Antioch, and Jeruſalem, is too well known. And when Baronius, Binnius, &c. tell us of famous Whores, (Marozia, and Theodora,) that made, and Ruled and unmade Popes, how was the World Governed? As it was ſaid by a Lord Mayors Child, that he Ruled all London, ſaying, my Father Ruleth London, and my Mother Ruleth my Father, and I Rule my Mother; ſo might it be ſaid, theſe Whores Ruled all the Kings and Nations of Chriſtians on Earth; (if the Roman claim be Currant, for they made and Ruled Popes that claimed the Rule of all the World.) O! how much greater was a Roman Whore, (Marozia, Theodora, &c.) than Pallas, Venus, or the great Diana of the Epheſians! But the miſchief was, that they were mutable, and could unmake a Pope, as well as make him, and ſet the City and Country by the Ears: as Aequa Venus Teucris; Pallas iuiqua fuit. And if all Kings muſt be Subjects to the Subject, (or Chaplains) of him that can win Rome, let us wiſh that he may not be a Mahometan, Pagan, or Arian: And why ſaid I an Arian, when an Anti-arian Pope, can Murder Chriſtians by Thouſands, when a Theodorick would not have hurt them.
The Thirteenth Point accuſed.
That Antichriſt ſhall not be a particular man, and the Pope is Antichriſt.
Anſ. This is Popiſh Stating Caſes; Proteſtants find in the Creed, the Name of Chriſt, but not the Name of Antichriſt; and therefore while they know and truſt Chriſt, they think it not neceſſary to Salvation to know Antichriſt: But they believe Chriſt, who ſaid, that many ſhould come in his Name ſaying, I am Chriſt and deceive many, even before the Deſtruction of the Jews; and rhey believe St. John, that ſaid, there are many Antichriſts already: The Fathers and Papiſts ſay, there is ſome one Great Antichriſt to come towards the end of the World: Moſt Proteſtants think it is Antichriſt that is deſcribed, in 2 Theſ. 2. and Rev. 12.13, 17. To confute King James, Biſhop George Downame, Dr. Henry More, (above all) Mr. Mede, Cluverus, Graſſerus, &c. will require more than this Writers Impertinencies. There are many Proteſtants that think it a meer miſtake, that there will be any one Antichriſt ſo Eminent as to obſcure all the reſt: And they pretend not to judge, of Antichriſt by the Apocalyps, but by the Ten Commandments, and all the Goſpel: And they believe, that he is Antichriſt that uſurpeth Chriſts Prerogative, and yet oppoſeth his Kingdom: And ſuch they think the Eaſtern Antichrist Mahomet is the moſt notorious, and the Weſtern Antichriſt, the Pope is his Second; in that he claimeth Chriſts Prerogative of Governing all Nations of the Earth as Vice-Chriſt, and yet by Lies, Malice and Blood, ſuppreſſeth his true Goſpel, Grace and Kingdom; confute this if you can; Amending would be your beſt defence.
We doubt not but Antichriſts paſt, have been Individual men, ſuch was Barchocheba, and ſome ſay Herod, and ſome Diocleſian, but undoubtedly Mahomet: And if the Pope be the Weſtern Antichriſt, it is the Individual Popes that are ſuch; but many of thoſe Individuals may make a Succeſſion of Antichriſtian Policy. Anſwer Dr. More, and Cluveru… of this, if you are able.
We lay not our oppoſition to Popery chiefly, on the dark Revelation, Prophecy, or on the queſtion, Who is the Antichrist: But on the plain Word of God: If we find a Succeſſion of men, claiming Omnipotency and Chriſts Prerogative, to Govern all Kings and Nations on Earth, and this by bare and baſe Ʋſurpation and Novelty; and find theſe men ſet up their numerous, falſe treaſonable, inhumane Canons, and forbid and revile Gods Law and Word, and find them turning Gods Worſhip into unintelligible Mummery and Stage-Shows, and Ceremony, and find them living at Leeches on Blood, yea, on the Blood of Thouſands of the beſt Chriſtians, and damning and ſeparating from the far greater part of the Chriſtian World, becauſe they refuſe Subjection to this uſurping Vice-Chriſt, and judging all to Fire and Ruine that renounce not all humane Senſes, and worſhip not Bread pretended to be deifyed by daily numerous Miracles of the baſeſt Prieſts, and depoſing Kings that will not be ſuch Executioners, and juſtifying their Subjects in Perjury and Rebellion: We will not differ with you for the Name, whether you will call thoſe that are ſuch, Antichriſts, or Diaboliſts: Whether ſuch a State be the Babylon, or far worſe, as ſinning againſt more Light, and by more horrid abuſe of the Name of Chriſt againſt himſelf.
The Fourteenth accuſed Point.
That no man, nor any but God, can forgive or retain Sins.
Anſ. Falſe as undiſtinguiſhed. We hold, 1. That to forgive Sin, being the forgiving of the Puniſhment of Sin, and the obligation thereto, 1. Parents may on juſt cauſe forgive Corrective puniſhment to their Children, and Maſters to their Servants.
2. Magiſtrates may on juſt cauſe, forgive Corporal puniſhment to Subjects.
3. Equals may forgive Injuries to Friends and Enemies.
4. Paſtors may on juſt cauſe, forgive the Church penalties, of Excommunication, which they had power to inflict: And all the Flock muſt forgive and receive the penitent accordingly.
5. When a Sinner by Faith and Repentance, truly performeth the Condition of Gods pardon expreſſed in Scripture, the Miniſters of Chriſt are by Office authorized to declare and pronounce him pardoned by God, and by the Sacraments of Baptiſm and the Lords Supper to Inveſt him in a pardoned State, by delivering him a Sealed pardon: But only Suppoſitively, If his Faith and Repentance be ſincere, elſe he hath not Gods pardon of the Divine Puniſhment. This is all true and plain, and enough.
But we deteſt their Doctrine that ſay, 1. That men can pardon the Spiritual and Eternal Puniſhment, any otherwiſe than conſequently declaring and delivering Gods pardon, which ſhall hold good, if the Prieſt refuſe to declare or deliver it.
2. Or that Popes or Prieſts pardon, Purgatory pains, and Maſſes, and Money, and the Redundance of Saints Merits, and pleaſing the Pope, conduce thereto.
But if you will Speak ſo abſurdly, as to ſay, that if the King ſend a pardon to a Traytor or Murderer, the Meſſenger pardoned him; we leave you to your phraſes.
None of the Texts or Fathers cited, ſpeak for any more than what we hold. The Paſtors are to declare men pardoned, that God pardoneth: And while they ſo judge according to Gods Word, it is pardoned in Heaven: But not if they pardon the wicked and impenitent.
The Fifteenth accuſed Point.
That we ought not to confeſs our Sins to any man but to God only.
Anſ. This is a mere impudent Lie.
1. We ought to confeſs our Sin, to the Magiſtrate at his Judicature, when we are juſtly accuſed of it.
2. And to thoſe that we have injured, when it is needful to repair the wrong, or to procure their forgiveneſs.
3. And to thoſe that we have tempted into Sin, or encouraged in it, when it is needful to their Repentance.
4. And to ſome faithful boſome Friend, when it is needful that ſuch know our Faults, that they may watch over us, or adviſe us, or pray for our pardon and deliverance.
5. And when in Sickneſs, danger of Death, or other Affliction, we get the Paſtors of the Church to pray for us; we ſhould confeſs our Sin to them, that they may know on what cauſe they ſpeak to God for our forgiveneſs.
6. And in any caſe of Guilt, Trouble, Fear, or Difficulty, in which we need the Paſtors Counſel for our ſafety, eaſe and peace of Conſcience, our ſelves and other Friends being inſufficient hereto, we ſhould confeſs our Sins to the Paſtors, whoſe advice we ſeek: As a Patient muſt truly open his Caſe to his Phyſician, and a Clyent to his Councellor, if he will not be deceived, by deceiving them. Is all this no Confeſſion?
But Proteſtants believe not, 1. That we muſt go to a Phyſician for every Flea-biting, or Scratch, or Cut-Finger, or to a Lawyer to give him an account of all our Actions, Money, ot Lands; nor to Prieſts in caſes that our ſelves or ordinary Friends can ſafely and ſatisfactorily reſolve.
2. Nor that our Confeſſor muſt needs be a Papiſt Prieſt, or one choſen by the Pope, or our Enemies; and not by our ſelves.
3. Nor that we muſt open all our Secrets to him; or make any Confeſſion, which will do more hurt than good; nor over far to truſt the Fidelity of a Knave, nor a ſuſpected or untryed perſon.
4. And we have reaſon to ſuſpect them that are importunate to know our Secrets.
5. And when Confeſſion is required, as in order to obtain a falſe forged pardon, and to ſet up the Domination of Uſurpers over men's Conſciences, and over the World, it's then unlawful: If Proteſtants would force Papiſts to confeſs all their ſecret Sins to them, would not this ſame Deceiver ſay, it were unlawful?
The Sixteenth accuſed Point.
That Pardons and Indulgences were not in the Apoſtles time.
Anſ. Another meer Lie, as undiſtinguiſhed. Such Pardons as I before owned were in the Apoſtles times: But the Popiſh feigned pardons were not.
The Seventeenth accuſed Point.
That the actions and paſſions of the Saints do ſerve for nothing to the Church.
Anſ. Moſt impudent calumny and falſehood. 1. We hold that the Prayers of all the Saints on Earth, are of great importance for the Churches welfare.
2. And that their Doctrine, Counſel, and Reproof is ſo too, they being the Lights of the World, and the Salt of the Earth.
3. And that their Example is of grea… benefit to the Church and World, whi… their Light ſo ſhineth before men, that the… may ſee their good works, and glorifie the… Father which is in Heaven.
4. And their Charitable Works of themſelves, ſure are beneficial to the Church: And ſo is their Defence of the Truth.
5. And their Sufferings Glorifie Gods Power, and his promiſes of reward; and they encourage others to Victorious Conſtancy. Do all theſe ſerve for nothing to the Church?
6. Yea, we are ſo far from holding what he feigneth, that it is not the leaſt cauſe of our hatred of Popery, that it liveth by the Defamations, Slander, Perſecution, and cruel Murder of Saints.
7. Yea, as Abels Blood cryed againſt Cain, ſo the Blood of Martyrs, and dead Saints, cryeth for Vengeance againſt the Perſecutors of the Church.
8. And ſeeing Chriſt ſaith, that the Children of the Reſurrection are like or equal to the Angels, we have reaſon to believe that even now they are perfected Spirits, Heb. 12.24. And knowing that Angels are very ſerviceable and beneficial to the Church on Earth, we know not how far the Spirits of the juſt are ſo too.
But we have a ſufficient Mediator and Advocate with the Father, whoſe Sacrifice, Merits, and Advocation are perfect, and need no ſupplement: And the Spirits of the juſt do praiſe him as ſaved by his Merits, and never boaſt that they have of their own a Redundancy to ſave others. But we all with thankfulneſs confeſs, that God uſeth to bleſs the Houſes of the Faithful; the Children for the Parents ſake, and hath expreſt this in the Decalogue, and by many Promiſes: Yea, that he would have ſpared Sodom, had there been but Ten Righteous perſons there: And a Potiphars Houſe, and a Priſon may be bleſt in part for Joſephs ſake. And when Parents are Dead, this bleſſing may be on their Children, through many Generations. And God remembred Abraham, when his Poſterity provoked him. David had a ſpecial promiſe for his Seed. None of this is denyed by us.
But, 1. There is no Merit in any mans Works, but their Rewardableneſs by Gods free Grace and promiſe, for the ſake of Chriſts meritorious Righteouſneſs, Sacrifice, and Interceſſion, their Imperfection being pardoned through him, and their Holineſs amiable to God.
2. No man ſhall be ſaved for anothers Merit, or Holineſs, or Works, that is not truly Regenerate and Holy himſelf.