The Novelty of Popery Discovered, Chapter 1 – Chapter 2
CHAPTER I.
That the most Auncient Religion, is onelie true and Catholicke.
THERE can bee no better direction in matter of Religion, than that of the Prophet, saying, Ierm. 6. 16Stand in the wayes, and see, and aske for the olde way, which is the good way. Neyther can there bee a greater prescription agaynst Hereticall pravitie, than that of our SAVIOVR'S, Math 19. 8.from the beginning, it was not so. Or can there bee a surer preservatiue agaynst the seduction of those who speake lies in Hypocrisie, than that which is set downe by the Apostle S. IVDE: to wit, Iude 3. 4.Earnestlie to contende for that Fayth which was once delyvered to the Saynctes? to wit, at the beginning: and therefore, who are sayde to bee built onelie (as the Apostle speaketh) vponupon the foundation of the Apostles, Ephes. …, 20.and Prophets; IESVS CHRIST Himselfe beeing the Corner-stone.
Therefore, as it was PAVL'S Protestation to the CORINTHIANS. 1 Cor. 11. 23That what hee receaved of the LORD, that onelie hee delyvered vntounto them; So it was his precept to TIMOTHIE, and TITVS, To holde fast that forme of sound doctrine,2 Tim. 1. 13. Titus 1. 9. and word of Fayth, which they had beene taught, and had heard of him.
It was the primitiue Churche… practise in lyke-manner, next to these Apostolicall tymes, (as witnesseth Lyrinensis) not to delyver their owne inventions to posteritie;Vinc. Lyrin. adversus here…. but to holde fast onelie that which they receaved from their Predecessoures: so that as anie one more flowrished in Religion (sayeth hee,) the more hee with-stood ever anie newe inventions. Whence it is, that the Church was called a diligent, and warie preserver, of these doctrines of Fayth, which were concredit vntounto her, without changing anie thing ever therein: without diminishing therefrae, or adding anie thing thereto, (sayeth the same Father.) Her teachers venting that which was concredit to them, not invented by them, which they receaved, not excogitate, and not anie brood of their owne ingyne, but the bread of heavenlie doctrine; which is not of private vsurpation, but of publicke deliverie or traditiō, brought to them, not broached by them, wherein they should not bee Authors, but keepers; not instituters, but observers; not leaders, but followers: teaching the same thinges to others by word, which themselues had from the Apostles by WRIT. So that tho they speake after a new manner of speaking or expression, yet they should speake no new thing for matter: observing that as in the growth of our bodies, there is no increase of new members in number, but augmentation of the same in measure: So in the Churches knowledge, that the growth there-of should bee in the same doctrine of Fayth, alreadie delyvered, but no new Article of doctrine afterward to bee broached.
For preventing whereof, therefore did that holie Apostle, lyke BONARGI, or a sonne of Thunder, throwe that dreadfull Thunderbolt, agaynst all Novelists▪ saying, Tho we, Gal. 1. 8.or an Angell from Heaven, preach vntounto you (foreign) beside that which wee hauehave preached, let him bee accursed. So that it did not suffice, (sayeth Lyri…ensis) for keeping sound that doctrine of Fayth, which was once delivered, to make mention of man, altho it were peter, Andrew, Iohn, or all the companie of the Apostles, except that hee comprehended in lyke-manner, the verie excellencie of Angelicall powers.
And which speach of the Apostles, Augustine explayneth thus, If wee or an Angell from Heaven, preach vntounto you anie thing concerning Fayth and Lyfe, besides that which yee hauehave receaved in the Legall, and Evangelicall Scriptures, (sayeth hee) let him bee accursed: limiting so what the Apostle preached in the matter of Fayth, or manners, within the pale of the written word; and leaving no place therein, to vnwritten traditions.
Thus it beeing cleare, that the true Religion, is onelie most Ancient, and that the most Ancient Religion lykewyse, is onelie most true: as having it whole Origen from CHRIST, and His Apostles, and from that warrand of holie Scripture, which they hauehave left behinde them: which made Tertull…an to say,Tertul. de praescript. adv. hereticos c. 6. Doubtlesse that is to bee helde (sayeth hee,) which the Church hath receaved from the Apostles, and the Apostles from CHRIST, and CHRIST hath receaved from GOD. It followeth necessarilie, that that Religion, or Doctrine what-so-ever, that wanteth this Antiquitie, and is of later invention, is neither true nor Catholicke. The first propertie of Catholicisme, beeing that of time, to wit, which hath beene ever, and from the beginning, taught in the Church: therefore sayeth the fore-named Vincentius Lyrinensis. In the Catholicke Church a speciall care must bee had, that wee holde that which was ever, everie where, and by all believed: so that, that Doctrine which is deficient in the verie first poynt, to wit, the vniversalitie of tyme, and was not semper, or ever in GOD'S Church; but whereof it may bee sayde, as our Saviour sayeth of the Iewish Bills of Divorce, From the beginning it was not so: the same is no wayes sound, and Catholicke Doctrine, but lyke that later Supersemination of Tares, after the good Seede in the LORD'S Field; neyther is anie person who professeth the same, verus & genuinus Catholicus, a true and vpright Catholicke, but on the contrarie a giddie and prophane Novelist, whose lust as it were of prophane and new hatcht Curiositie, (sayeth the same Father,) can not contayne it selfe within the chaste limites of sacred and vncorrupt Antiquite.
CHAPT. II.
The Noveltie of Poperie, instanced in 14 particular poyntes of Erronious Doctrine.
THis challenge, then, of Noveltie, and consequentlie, of an vnjust vsurpation of the name of Catholickes, wee justlie lay to the charge of the Romanistes of these tymes, which the better that wee may cleare and confirme, wee shall instance the same, first in 14 particular poyntes of Doctrine, as making vp a sufficient Dittie, the Noveltie where-of severallie next, shall bee (God willing) proven, by the witnessing of their owne mouthes, vt ex ore suo judicetur servus nequam, or by the vndenyable recordes of venerable Antiquitie.
The Poynts are these that follow.
THat beside Scripture, there are sundry doctrinall vnwritten traditions,Concil. Trid. S…ss. 4▪ which men are boūd no lesse to reverence and belieue, than GOD'S written Word, and as Articles of Fayth; vnderunder payne of damnation.
That people should not bee permitted to reade the holie Scriptures.
That beside CHRIST, the Church is also built vponupon the Bishop of Rome, Bel. l. 1. de Rom. pont. c. 10.as S. Peter's successour: so that hee is both the foundation and head there-of, as vniversall Bishop.
That by vertue of the same prerogatiue, Bel. l. 4. de rō. pōt. c. 22. …hee is over and aboue all the members there-of, even in temporall thinges.
That Prayer in the Church, should or may bee in an vnknowne Tongue.
That beside prayer to GOD, wee may lawfullie lyke-wyse pray,Cō …il. Trid. Sess… 9. both to Sayncts and Angels
That beside the worshipping of GOD, wee may also worship Images, Reliques, and such lyke,Ibidē. with a Religious Adoration.
That beside CHRIST'S meriting,Cōcil. Trid. Sess. 6 Rhem in …eb. 6. 10. our good workes are also meritorious causes of the Kingdome of Heaven: so that GOD were vnjust, if for their condignitie Hee bestowed not the same vponupon vsus.
That beside Hell and Heaven, there is a third place also after death,Concil. Trid. Sess. … for the soules in Purgatorie.
That beside CHRIST'S satisfaction, Cōcil. Trid. Sess. vl….there are also satisfactions of the Saynctes; whereof with the sufferings of CHRIST, is made vp the Churches Treasure of indulgences.
That beside Baprisme and the LORD'S Supper,Concil. Trid. Sess. 7 there are also fiue other Sacramentes of the Gospell, properlie so called.
That the Bodie and Blood of CHRIST, Cōcil. Trid. Sess. 3 sub Iulio 3.is not onelie truelie and reallie present in the Sacrament of the Supper, but lykewyse that the verie visible Elements, are transubstantiate into the verie substance of CHRISTS Bodie and Blood.
That the Cup in the Communion should not bee permitted,Cōcil. Trid. Sess. 5 41. or given to the people.
That beside CHRIST'S Sacrifice of Himselfe once vponupon the Crosse forever, there is also a daylie, proper, propitiatorie, and reall sacrificing of Him vponupon the Altar, for the quicke and the dead: and this is the sacrifice of the Masse.