A Protestant Antidote Against the Poison of Popery, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. The Seventh and laſt Property is, Its Irreconciliableneſs to the Proteſtant Religion.
1. THe Romiſh Religion is (in the ſeventh place) Irreconciliable to the Proteſtant (which is the true Ancient Chriſtian) Religion: I am not ignorant that there have been ſome Pontificians, or (as the word ſignifies) Bridge-makens on both ſides, that have endeavoured to make a paſſage over to each others Religion. On the Popiſh part, Caſſander and the Caſſandrian Papiſts, which are the French, who are far more moderate Papiſts than the Spaniards and Italians are; for they would never yet receive the Confeſſion of the Council of Trent, nor the points of the Popes Infallibility, or his power over General Councils, or over the Churches and Biſhops of other Nations: Upon the mixture of the French and Engliſh Blood, Franciſcus de ſancta Clara (aliàs Davenport, that quirking Scotiſt) makes a ſtrong Eſſay to reconcile the thirty nine Articles of the Church of England with the Trent Council, for ſo high muſt he have us to go, or he can admit of no reconciliation. 2. On the Proteſtant part, Hugo Grotius (a man of great Learning) who being impriſoned for the Arminian Commotions in Holland, yet eſcaping (by being carried out in a Trunk) became the Suedes Ambaſſador to the French King, and there was influenced by the Jeſuits (his great Familiars) to undertake the Reconciling of Papiſts and Proteſtants in a Caſſandrian Popery, and this he doth with all his might. Hereupon he publiſhes Caſſander with his Notes, and writes his Vote for peace, wherein he pleads for [foreign] or tranſ-elementation, in favour of the Popiſh Tranſubſtantiation) and ſays that [foreign or Bread worſhippers, are no more to be condemned than [foreign] or Ark-worſhippers: Therein alſo he rails againſt Calvin, and defends that Saints departed do know our Affairs on Earth, as Eliſha did Gehazi's: And as Ezekiel (in Chaldaea) did know what was done in the Temple at Jeruſalem: What was all this but a pleading for Baal? (whom Gideon's Father would have to plead for himſelf) Inſomuch that the Dutch Divines (in their Synopſis purioris Theologiae) ſay with one conſent, [Quòd Hugo Grotius papizat,] that Hugo Grotius plays the Papiſts part therein; he endeavoured to reduce us to the Trent Council, though not to the Opinion of their private Doctors.
2. Such Bridg-makers as theſe have been amongſt us ſome conſiderable time, who would have made paſſage over to receive the Romiſh Religion into their Boſoms, as the only way of Patronizing Unity and Antiquity: To croſs this Project famous Mr. Perkins wrote his Reformed Catholick, which broke the deſign of Recomiling in his day, and conjur'd down that curſed Spirit. But alas! that unclean Devil is raiſed up again in our day by the charms of the man of Sin: I have ſometime wondred at Biſhop Bramhal (who had excellently told Monſieur Melliteirs, that their Romiſh Church had 1. Error in her Faith, 2. Idolatry in her Worſhip, And 3. Tyranny in her Government, and as excellently alſo that Truth muſt not be ſacrificed for Peace,) yet ſhould hold the Pope to be Principium Ʋnitatis to the Catholick Church, and that the Romiſh determinations might ſtand, excepting thoſe of the laſt four hundred years, p. 7, 8. And there be many others (as Reverend Mr. Baxter ſhows, that be Proteſtant Reconcilers) who do condeſcend thus far; But, ſaith he, the Grotian Papiſts go farther, making king the Church of Rome the Miſtreſs of all other Churches, and the Pope to be the Univerſal Head, as Thorndike, Pierce, and others, that defend Grotius, who ſpake things [Meliterio Conſona] that the Romiſh Faith was [Vera & Sincera] true and ſound, ſee Mr. Baxter's Preface to five Diſputatious, p. 31. and Saravins's Character of Grotius. But if we well conſider the four abominable things in that Church, (as Dr. Boys in his Poſtils, fol. p. 787. calls them,) to wit, 1. Her unlimited Juriſdiction derogatory to all Princes. 2. Her inſolent Titles, prejudicial to all Paſtors. 3. Her corrupt Doctrine injurious to all Chriſtians. And 4. Her filthy Life deteſtable to all men: It will confirm us that Biſhop Hall was in the right, when conſidering her Principles and Practices, he wrote his [No peace with Rome.]
3. Notwithſtanding all the endeavours of former and latter Reconcilers, yet there is ſuch a [foreign] or great Gulf fixed, (as that in Luke 16.25.) by the unmovable and immutable decree of God betwixt Papiſts and Proteſtants, as there is 'twixt Light and Darkneſs, 'twixt Truth and Falſhood, ſo that no Bridge of Reconciliation can be made over it. Not unlike to that vaſt hollowneſs of the Valleys, betwixt thoſe exceeding high Mountains (that Cambden ſpeaks of) in Merionethſhire in Wales, whoſe hanging tops come ſo cloſe together, that Shepherds can audibly talk together from the tops of them, and yet will it be a days Journy before they can meet perſonally to embrace one another. Thus, upon ſound and ſolid ſearch ſuch will be found that grand diſtance and remoteneſs 'twixt the Popiſh and Proteſtant Religion, (how nere ſoever they ſeem to be repreſented, by the falſe glaſſes of our Reconcilers, and tending to an Accommodation) that they can never be rightly Reconciled no more than Aaron's Rod and the Magicians Rods, until the former of the Rods have ſwallowed up the latter, Exod. 7.12. The real Rod did ſwallow up the ſeeming ones, and the true Chriſtian Religion will ſwallow up the Romiſh, (that only ſeems to be Chriſtian but is indeed Antichriſtian, a mere deluſion and Phantaſm) as Chriſt ſwallowed up ſin and death in victory, 1 Cor. 15.55. And though De Clara, Grotius, Caſſander, and others do ſeem to make fair proffers, yet theſe be more of the nature of Baits than Gifts, eſpecially ſeeing they have no Commiſſion from the Church of Rome to treat; and therefore, (ſhould their Offers be accepted as ſome would gladly do) yet the Romiſh Church would not look upon her ſelf as bound to pay their promiſes. Mr. Fuller further ſaith, though we ſhould go ninety nine ſteps to meet them, yet the Romiſh Church will not vouchſafe the odd one ſtep to meet us, Full. holy State, p. 57. Beſides this I add, though the Church of Rome would reconcile, yet ſure I am, the Court of Rome will never do it.
4. 'Tis therefore no better than a labour in vain, to undertake any Reconciliation with Rome, who will have either all or nothing: If not the Church of Rome, yet the Court of Rome abhors all Accommodations. Hence ſome of great Reading and Judgment doubt not to ſay, that our late Civil (uncivil) Wars, were promoted by the Popes Influence, merely for breaking the Project of Reconcilement that then was on foot; for had that deſign been ſucceſsful, the Pope (who will have all and will be abſolute, the way of Peace he knows not and hates) would have been ſafe no where: And therefore 'tis not improbably ſaid further, that King Charles the Firſt was wickedly murther'd by the Popes Inſtigation, leſt he and the French King, together with Chriſtiana (Queen of Sueden) ſhould have conſtrained the Pope (by means of ſuch an Accommodation endeavoured) to have lour'd his Top-Sail. In fine, 'tis as unpracticable to Reconcile them as it is to Reconcile God and Baal,
[Quàm malè inequales veniunt ad Aratra Juvenci. Ovid. Epiſt.
How can any Concord be 'twixt Chriſt and Belial; an Ox and an Aſs might not be coupled together under the Law, Levit. 19.19. upon which Scripture the Doctors of Doway give this notorious Note: Here (ſay they) all participation with Hereticks is prohibited, and they have no better mind to an Accommodation, than to a Participation with us.
5. If we then ſeriouſly conſider 1. The vaſt Oppoſition of the Popiſh Religion to the true Chriſtian Proteſtant Religion, almoſt in all the fundamental points of Chriſtianity, as Reverend Beza ſhows at large in the End of his Confeſſio fidei Chriſtianae, from p. 263. to 357. Almoſt an hundred Pages doth that learned Man write to ſhew how the Romaniſts deny all truth, concerning God in his Attributes, Chriſt in his Offices, Mans Fall, Law, Goſpel, Faith, Works, Sacraments, Miniſtry, &c. none of all which (he ſhews) they do know aright. 2. Conſidering the Architects or Arch-Maſter builders of this Babel are Jeſuits, who make Princes find them Materials, perſwading them that their work is deſigned for the Houſe of their Kingdom, and for the Honour of their Majeſty: Many hewers of Wood and drawers of Water they have, and ſuch as tread Mortar alſo, and rather than their Mortar ſhould be over dry, they will have the blood of Hereticks to mingle it. This curſed Faction of the Jeſuits is a moſt agile ſharp Sword, whoſe Blade is ſheathed at pleaſure in the Bowels of every Commonwealth, but the handle of it reacheth to Rome. They are unceſſantly ſollicitous every where, (as if ubiquitarians) to ſubdue all to the Pope, and the Pope to themſelves. 'Tis a thouſand pityes that ſuch a ſweet Name as Jefu is, (who went about doing good, Act. 10.38.) ſhould be put upon this Viperous brood, who go about doing evil, thoſe Sons of Belial ſhall be all of them as Thorns thruſt away, becauſe they cannot be taken with hands, ſaith holy David, 2 Sam. 23.6, 7. How then can our Reconcilers handle thoſe untractable Thorns (that have been pricking Bryars and grieving Thorns in the ſides of all Nations where they come, they are fitter for burning than for building withal, as they are doomed, Revel. 19.20. Heb. 6.8. Joſh. 4.13. And ſuppoſe they could handle them, ſtill Having is not Holding; what hold can they have of thoſe Monkeys that ſlips on a Collar for their Maſters pleaſure, and ſlips it off again for their own. 3. Conſidering their Maſter the Popes Inſolency, that can never condeſcend that ſo much as one ſtone ſhould be ſtirred out of his Babel Tower, leſt his yielding to the removal of that Stone, ſhould endanger the fall of the whole Fabrick of his Papal Dignity, or at leaſt ſhake it. Theſe and many other Conſiderations, do render Reconciliation no better than a Labour in vain.
6. Yet theſe are the Jeſuitical Engines to reduce Britain to Babylon, thoſe reſtleſs Spirits the Jeſuits (ſent of God (as they ſay) to withſtand Luther, who was ſent of the Devil to withſtand the Pope) leave no Stone unturn'd to promote the Catholick Cauſe, to which they are ſworn Swordmen, and
[Flectere ſi nequeunt ſuperos Acheronta movebunt,]
If Heaven will not be perſwaded to become propitious to them, but the God of Heaven will needs turn Lutheran, (as ſome of them moſt blaſphemouſly ſaid, when his Stars fought in their courſes againſt their Spaniſh invincible Armado) they will then conjure up all the Devils in Hell with Beelzebub their Prince to aſſiſt them with Auxiliaries, and therefore have they been the dread of Nations, entertaining them more out of fear than Love, as Dr. Humphrey, de Jeſuitiſmo, at large demonſtrates: Yet what Vegetius ſaith of Chariots armed with Sithes and Hooks, (lib. 1. cap. 24.) will be every day more and more applyed to the Jeſuits, [At firſt they were a Terror, but afterwards a Scorn. Their diſſembled Sanctity is double Iniquity, when thoſe cunning Gameſters cannot play their Game at firſt for an abſolute Alteration, yet then (from pretended Sanctity) they do influence ſome brackiſh Divines amongſt us, (ſuch Rivers as run nearer the See (of Rome) the more brackiſh they become) and by theſe they bid fair to win their Game by a plauſible Accommodation: And thoſe Moderators (for a Correſpondency with Popery) would make a goodly ſhow were there no Bible; but were they the wiſeſt men in the World, and ſhould live to the Worlds end; they would be brought to their Wits end, before they could Accompliſh this Works end, to make a Reconciliation betwixt Chriſt and Antichriſt, betwixt Papiſt and Proteſtant.
7. Beſides, what would thoſe men ſhake hands withal? do they conſider that Popery is but a Patchery, a confuſed heap of Traſh and Trumpecy; ſo that what Joſephus ſaid of Appian's Writings, that they were [foreign an Hodg podg of Shameleſs Ʋntruths, a ſtinking Dunghil of Lyes; and what Livy ſaid of Hannibal's Army, that it was made up [ex Colluvie omnium Gentium] of the very Scum of all Nations. The ſame may be ſaid of the body of Popery, 'tis but a Patchery of Judaiſm, Paganiſm, and Hereſie, deviſed and compounded ſecundum artem Satanicam, preſcribed and made up according to the Devils Art, as Dr. Whitaker, Dr. Morton, Dr. Willet, and many others do largely ſhow; and Dr. Reynolds (de Idolatria) doth prove it rank Idolatry ſo unanſwerably, that their own Weſton ſaid it made his Head ach to read that Book: Oh, that it might make not only the Heads, but alſo the Hearts of thoſe Reconcilers to ach, when they ſo much as but think of ſhaking hands with Idolatry, and of loving thoſe that hate the Lord, (as all Idolaters do, Pſal. 139.22.) and in helping thoſe ungodly ones, which ought not to be done, 2 Chron. 19.2. Popery is the moſt fatal Hereſie that ever was in the World, and hath had the longeſt Reign, and is no more but the Botch of Aegypt or Plague-ſore of the old Church of Rome, (which once flouriſhed in the Faith) and who dare touch ſuch an unclean thing? 2 Cor. 6.17. The genuine Notion of Popery now is Apoſtacy, the Mother of it is Infallibility, and the two Daughters be Implicit Faith and Blind Obedience; and Theodoricus Ʋrias (one of Rome's good Sons in Germany) complains thus, An. Dom. 1414. That the Church of Rome was degenerated, of Gold was become Silver, of Silver Iron, of Iron Earth; [Quid ſupereſt niſi ut Stercus abiret] what remains, but that of Earth ſhe would become Dung? This ſhe is become already (ſince his day) and ſtinks above ground, now rotting in its own Slime. Oh, then what kind of handfuls would thoſe Reconcilers have, that deſires and endeavours to take hold of her in their Accommodations: The Kings of the Earth ſhall burn her for an old ſtinking Bawd, Rev. 17.16. She hath been Carted already and ſhame is come upon her; 'tis ſtrange that any ſhould be found under ſuch ſtupefactions as to be Courting this Whore, that for her ſhameleſs Filthineſſes hath ſo long been Carted.
8. Thus 'tis made manifeſt that no Reconciliation with Rome can be made [de facto,] 'tis not practicable or poſſible, the Romiſh Religion is not Reconcilable, being as inconſiſtent with Truth as Dagon with the Ark; neither ought any Accommodation to be made with it [de jure] 'tis neither lawful nor expedient, if (together with the Premiſes) thoſe following Arguments be well weighed. As 1. We ought to ſay with Zerubbabel and Joſhna to thoſe Romiſh Samaritans, [Ye have nothing to do with us, to build with us, but we our ſelves together will build, &c. Ezra 4.2, 3. That the Romaniſts are Samaritans, Mr. Hilderſham upon John 4. p. 36. excellently ſhows, ſaying, They Reſemble them moſt in Adoring Saints as they did St. Jacob, they ſay (juſt in the Samaritan Language) St. Peter gave us this Authority, as they ſaid St. Jacob gave us this Well, John 4.12. And thoſe new Samaritans ſay as the old did, [Are the Founders of your Religion greater than our St. Peter, (greater than our St. Jacob,) that gave us this Religion? But it doth appear, Jacob gave no ſuch Well, and Peter no ſuch Religion as they boaſt, Hilderſh▪ on John p. 37. Thoſe Samaritans were a kind of Mongrels in Religion, 2 Kin. 17.24, 32, 33, 34. They did and they did not fear the Lord, their Religion was a Gallimaufrey, a mixture of true and falſe, which is as good as none, for God will not divide with the Devil Hence the Jews muſt have no dealing with the Samaritans, John 4.9. And they were called the Jews Adverſaries, Ezra 4.2. having the diſeaſe called [Noli me tangere] upon them. Hence 'twas anſwered them, [Ye ſhall not build with us, &c.] They craftily offered their Coſt and Pains, that mingling with them they might foment differences amongſt them, and ſo ſtop their work; as the Jeſuits now turn Lutherans, building with them ſeemingly, but blowing up the Strife 'twixt them and Calviniſts really.
9. The ſecond Argument, Our running from Rome (and not our running to it in plauſible Reconciliation) is our duty; 'tis our Obedience to Gods Call and Command, Iſa. 52.11. Rev. 18.4. Run out of her my people, and partake not of her Sins, leſt ye alſo partake of her Plagues.
[Eſto procul Româ qui cupis eſſe Pius.]
Flee from this Myſtical Babylon, as you would a Peſthouſe; the cauſe of our running from Rome lyeth (ſaith learned Perkins) in her ſelf, namely the Cup of Fornication and of all Abomination that the Whore holds in her hand, Perk Prolog. to his Reformed Catholick. To this a Cloud of Witneſſes might be added, all unanimouſly holding out that this is our duty, and that upon pain of Damnation: ſee Wootton's Run from Rome at large. The Command of God is upon us in reſpect to this Myſtical Sodom (as was upon Lot, Gen. 19.17.) Look not back or behind thee, neither tarry in all the Plain, but flee for thy Life. Alas! thoſe Reconcilers both look behind them and loiter in the plains of Sodom, in their Caſſandrian Enterpriſes; and therefore may juſtly expect to be turned into Pillars of everlaſting Shame and Obloquy, as Lot's Wife. The third Argument in ſhort is, [that played loth to depart] ſhe turned her about and ſhe was turned, ſo may they be; we muſt neither turn towards them nor return to them; for the Command of God is upon us that was upon Jeremiah [Let them Return to thee but do not thou return to them, Jer. 15.19.] Now Conformity (in ſome caſes) is certainly the Chriſtians duty, Be not Conformed to this World, Rom. 12.2. That is, to the corrupt Cuſtoms and Courſes of it, yea and in ſuch caſes as Gods Prophet ſtood in, God will not have him to Chime in with Idolaters as the falſe Prophets did, but, ſaith the Lord, let them Conform to thee, and do not thou Conform to them; no nor meet them in the half way as our Reconcilers do. The fourth Argument, we may not halt betwixt two Opinions, 'twixt God and Baal, 1 Kin. 18.21. How long will ye halt, &c. Thoſe halters ſprung from halting Jacob, that halted upon his Thigh as he paſſed over Penuel, Gen. 32.31. So ſuch Halters may be found among thoſe that paſs over a profeſſion of the Proteſtant Religion, who deſerve not to carry the Bleſſing as Jacob did, notwithſtanding his halting, but rather the Halter for being myſtical Halters, in ſo far gratifying the man of Sin as to offer a Reconcilement. Bleſſed Bradford, Martyr, could ſay with Elijah, If God be God follow him, but if the Maſs be God, let him that will, hear it, ſee it, be preſent at it, and go to the Devil with it, Act and Monum. upon Bradford and others.
10. The fifth Argument, The Ark and Dagon cannot ſtand together; the Philiſtins brought the Ark of God into the Houſe of Dagon, and ſet it by Dagon, &c. 1 Sam. 5.1, 2. Behold, Dagon was faln upon his Face, &c. v. 3, 4. As if he had been bowing to the God of Iſrael. as if he had heard the Pſalmiſts, [Worſhip him all ye Gods,] they endeavour their Conſiſtency the ſecond time, and then Dagon's fall was more fatal. He breaks off his Head the Seat of Wiſdom, and his Hands the Seat of Power, and then he lyes upon the Threſhold to be troden under Foot, (by his Worſhippers at their entrance into the Temple) as if no better worth, being unſavory Salt and a Dunghil Deity, v. 4. Surely they wanted the wiſdom of our Reconcilers to ſtudy out ſome handſom Accommodation, and not have ſaid, [The Ark of God ſhall not abide with us, v. 7.] They might have taken up the Controverſie, and never have cryed [What ſhall we do with the Ark of God? v. 8.] They would have taught it the Rule of good Fellowſhip; but aſſuredly, had thoſe Philiſtins happily hit upon ſaying, [Away with Dagon] inſtead of [Away with the Ark] and ſaid to their Idols [Get ye hence, Iſa. 30.22. What have we any more to do with Dagon, that cannot ſave himſelf much leſs us.] They had been wiſer than our Reconcilers that will keep both. The ſixth Argument is, We ſhould not be unequally Yoked, (as aforeſaid) for what Fellowſhip hath Righteouſneſs with Ʋnrighteouſneſs? and what Communion hath Light with Darkneſs? And what Concord hath Chriſt with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel? And what Agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? 2. Cor. 6.14, 15, 16. Theſe are the Apoſtles ſerious Queſtions, all which he implicitely anſwers in the Negative, as appears by his Inference, v. 17. Wherefore come out, ſaith he, from among them, and be ye ſeparate and touch not the unclear thing, and I will receive you, and I will be a Father to you, and ye ſhall be my Sons and Daughters ſaith the Lord Almighty, v. 18. But thoſe profound Reconcilers (as if they had a knack beyond the bleſſed Apoſtle, yea a reach above the only Wiſe God himſelf) do cry [foreign] with Archimedes, as if they had found out the Arcanum or deep myſtery ('tis ſurely of Iniquity) to anſwer all thoſe Apoſtolical Queſtions in the Affirmative, having invented an Art (diabolical no doubt,) whereby to make an happy Compoſition of things diametrically, contrary, notwithſtanding the Philoſopher's Maxim, [Contraria ſeſe mutuò expellunt a ſuo ſuſcepibili] Contraries cannot conſiſt together at the ſame time in the ſame Subject: They can do Impoſſibles by their God Almighty the Pope above the True God, and have found out the North Eaſt paſſage to the Weſt Indies, a ſhorter way to get into Gods Boſom as Sons and Daughters, than ever either the Apoſtle (though wrap'd up to the third Heaven) or God himſelf thought of; and ſo it is indeed.
11. The ſeventh Argument (as the other following) I ſhall not thus enlarge upon, ſeeing this Tractate (intended only as a little Manual) ſwells beyond expectation: 'Tis this, if Chriſt ſay, Every Plant that the Father hath not Planted ſhall be plucked up; then Reconcilers ought not to eſtabliſh ſuch Plants (by ſeeking to twiſt Truth with Falſhood) yea and to tranſplant them into our Native Soil, which hath been either too hot or too cold for that Southern Plant: Chriſt ſaith ſo, Matth. 15.13. and Popery is ſo, is obvious to every man that hath his Eyes opened with Chriſts Eye-ſalve; God never planted it by his Divine Inſtitution, nor watered it by his Divine Benediction; 'tis not the Planting of the Lord, a Tree of Righteouſneſs, Iſa. 61-3. but 'tis rather of the Devil's Planting and Watering, which never proſpered in any Land without being watered with the Blood of Saints and Hereticks. The eighth Argument, If John (divinely Inſpired) called Rome aright, a Whore, a great Whore, as if [Meretrix Meretriciſſima] worſe than Thais, Lais, Phryne, Meſſalina, or Pope Joun her ſelf, (whom God permitted to Climb that Chair when the Popes were moſt buſie to ſubject the Kings of the Earth (as Vaſſals) to the Triple Crown, that he might point out to them this Mother of Harlots) Revel. 17.15. Then this holy Mother Church (ſo called in the ſame ſenſe that Hebrews call Harlots holy) muſt have a Bill of Divorce, Hoſ. 2.2. Iſa. 50.1. and not a Diploma for Reconcilement: The Sons of that Church ſhould plead with their Mother, [Quae gremium nemini claudit] (which opens to all that will be her Paramours, and let her ſit upon their Conſciences) to put away her Whoredoms before Reconciliation, Jer. 3.1, 20, 22. She muſt firſt Repent, and then (with God) you may Reconcile.
The ninth Argument, If Babylon be fallen, as certainly it is in Gods decree, Revel. 18.2. and that with a double Fall; then 'tis both unreaſonable and unſeaſonable for any Reconcilers, to lend their Shoulders for ſupporting that which God will have to fall, who hath reſiſted his Will, Rom 9.19. Rome ſhall fall certò, citò, & penitùs, certainly, ſpeedily, utterly: Their own Jeſuits, Ribera, and Corn. a Lapide, confeſs it: Yea Cotton the Jeſuit acknowledges 'tis now falling, for (he ſaith) the Popes Authority is incomparably leſs than it was, and that how their Catholick Church is but a diminutive; and Bellarmine ſaith alſo, that ever ſince the Pope hath been called Antichriſt, the Church of Rome hath been loſing ground as before: Yea, 'tis evident what a cold Sweat lyes upon the Limbs of the Beaſt, from the growing greatneſs of the Proteſtant Religion,
Roma diu titubans variis erroribus acta,
Corruit, et Mundi deſinit eſſe Caput,
And had thoſe Reconcilers the Shoulders of Sampſon, they cannot ſhore up this falling Temple of Dagon.
12. To thoſe Scripture Arguments I might add many more had I room for it. As the tenth Argument. Thoſe Reconciling Modelators would ſet up a Linſey Woolſey Religion, and would ſow Gods Field with Miſcelane or mingled Seeds. Levit. 19.19. and would teach to ſwear by God and Malcham, Zeph. 1.5. The eleventh Argument, That which ought to be rejected and Renounced, ought not to be Reconciled to; but Popery ought to be ſo becauſe of its Hereſie, Tit. 3.10. 2 ep. John v. 10. Leproſie in the Head made the Leper utterly Ʋnclean, and to be thruſt out of the Camp, Levit. 13.43, 44, 45. Yet thoſe Reconcilers would not have ſuch Lepers to live alone, they dare adventure among them, or meet them the half way. The twelfth Argument, if ſuch as have only a Form of Godlineſs, but deny the power of it, muſt (according to Gods Command) be turned from 2 Tim. 3.5. then they ought not to be turned to by way of Reconciliation; but the Romiſh Church hath only a Form, &c. The thirteenth Argument, If H…red be the Affection that is due to the Romiſh Church, then 'tis not Reconciling Love; but the Antecedent is true, Revel. 17.16. They ſhall hate the Whore. The fourteenth Argument, If we muſt beware the Leaven, ſee Dr. Humphrey (of this Leaven) his Concluſion ut ſupra, of the Phariſees, Luke 12.1. then we may not embrace it, &c. To all theſe Scripture Arguments, ſome Reaſons may be adjoyned, As 1. If ſhe be Incurable no Reconcilers can mend her; and ſhe is ſo, as Infallible, (ſo ſhe calls her ſelf) and ſays ſhe cannot err: Peter ſhould not have ſaid [I perceive now, &c.] Act, 10.34. Should ſhe yield up one pin of her Opinion to the Reconcilers, ſhe loſes her Pillar of Infallibility. 2. She is Irreconciliable to her ſelf, ſuch diſcord 'twixt Thomiſts and Scotiſts, &c. ſo that their own Binnius (who was employed to take it up,) ſaith, the foundation of their Faith was ſhaken thereby; then leſs Reconciliable to thoſe Reconcilers. 3. Religion is a brittle thing, 'twill break (ſaith Dr. Preſton) not bend, it cannot be Accommodated to thoſe Reconcilers, Dr. Preſt. Pillar and Ground, p. 16.4. All Proteſtants proteſt againſt it, ſo not to Reconcile to it. 5. Who dare take this Beaſt, this horned Beaſt into his Boſom? 6. So long as the Pope hath Paul's Sword as well as Peter's Keys, he ſcorns it. 7. He will not write in black but in Blood, as Draco did, concluding all his Arguments in Barbara and Ferio, or Blood-letting.