Faith Grounded Upon the Holy Scriptures Against the New Methodists, Part 3 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI. A Refutation of that which the Adverſaries pretend to elude the paſſages of the Scripture, contrary to their Beliefs by certain diſtinctions of their Invention.
WHoſoever will diligently read the Scriptures, will finde many other things there incompatible with the Doctrine of the Church of Rome. But this little proof is ſufficient for our deſigne. I know our Adverſaries endeavour to ſhun theſe blows, and to that purpoſe uſe many diſtictions. But for the moſt part ſo ſtrange, that 'tis not poſſible to comprehend them; they wrap up things in inexplicaple contradictions; as 'tis eaſie to be ſeen particularly upon the Subject of Tranſubſtantiaon, of the Sacrifice of the Maſs, of the ſervice to Saints and their Images. Secondly, All of them preſuppoſe their Opinion, and live by the paſſion wch they have for it. For example, before ever they had eſtabliſhed Tranſubſtantiation, the world never heard ſpeak of a body which hath its quantity, and not the manner of its quantity; which ſhould be in many places at a time, which penetrates the dimenſions of another body, which hath all its parts confounded under one point, and not diſtinctly extended the one out of the place of the other; neither of Accidents which ſubſiſt without ſubject, a roundneſs without any thing of a Circle, a whiteneſs without any thing of white; neither a changing of Subſtances; where the terms in which they were confined was in its full and entire being fifteen or ſixteen years before the change arrived. So before they had eſtabliſhed the Service and Prayers to the Saints, humane-kinde had never heard that the Religious Services of God were diſtinguiſhed into Latria, Doulia, and Hyperdoulia; from whence it follows, that before they imploy theſe diſtinctions, they are neceſſarily oblig'd firſt, to ground the Opinion which they have produced, and out of which they cannot finde for them neither in Nature, nor in Scripture any ſtay where they may be able to ſubſiſt. I ſhew that the Euchariſt is not a humane body, becauſe it hath not the quantity of it; that it is not the body of the Lord, becauſe the body of the Lord is in Heaven. To that theſe Gentlemen anſwer, that the Euchariſt hath the quantity of a humane body, but it hath not the manner of it, that is to ſay, it is five or 6 foot long, although all its length is not extended more than two fingers; that the body of Chriſt is in Heaven indeed, but according to its manner of natural exiſtence, and that it is in the ſame time ſubſtantially elſewhere in a certain manner of exiſtence, the which though it can hardly be expreſſed by words, is nevertheleſs poſſible to God. Now what light doth theſe diſtinctions carry to the Subjects where they are imployed? Do not they confound all our thoughts? Do not they redouble the darkneſs inſtead of diſſipating it? And indeed what other things do they, except to repeat the ſame thing that is in Queſtion? for when a body hath its quantity and not the manner of it, and that he ſhould ſubſiſt in one place in one manner, and in the ſame moment ſhould be in an infinite other places in another manner, this I ſay, is not grounded but upon the Doctrine of Tranſubſtantiation without which never any of them would have thought to affirm things ſo inconſiſtent. One ought then to begin by the proof of this pretended Doctrine. For till they have grounded this well, their diſtinctions are unuſeful, and our proofs clear and ſolid. Now we have ſhew'd here above, that they cannot prove by the Scriptures any of the places which they uſe to this end, nor infer any thing like it. There is then no need to examine their diſtinctions. Since 'tis thus, 'tis an injuſtice in them to make uſe of them; and it would be loſt time to me to ſtay to conſider & confute them. In a word, we have imployed this ſecond means for the abundance of proofs, and not by any neceſſity that obligeth us to it. For although the Doctrines of Rome ſhould not oppoſe (as they do viſibly) ſo many truths of the Holy Scriptures, it ſhould be always enough for us not to receive them, ſince they cannot be proved by Scripture.
Thus have we ſufficiently, in my Opinion, juſtified our faith by the Scriptures, having ſhewed that they teach clearly the Articles which we believe, and that they aſſert neither directly nor indirectly, but rather ſhake and deſtroy thoſe of the Doctrine of Rome which we reject. From whence it appears that it is againſt all reaſon and truth which ſome of our adverſaries reproach us with, that we cannot prove by the Scriptures, no not one Article of our controverſed faith, inſtead of acknowledging, that it is upon them that the blame falls. Being evident that of all the Beliefs which they preſs us to believe with them, they have not been able hitherto, nor will they ever be able to ground any of them upon the Scriptures. Pray God enlighten them, and confirm us in the knowledge of his truth, and give to both of us the ſpirit of Peace and Charity, to treat our Differences with ſweetneſs convenient to the Profeſſion which we make of being Chriſtians.
FINIS.
End of the text · Jean Daille, Faith Grounded Upon the Holy Scriptures Against the New Methodists (1675)