A Protestant Antidote Against the Poison of Popery, Chapter 3

A Protestant Antidote Against the Poison of Popery · Chapter 3

p. 56CHAP. III. The Third Property. 'Tis unſafe to Live and Dye in; Or, A Damuable Religion.

139. THe Third Property is, The Romiſh Religion is an unſafe Religion to live and dye in: We ſhould fear and tremble to live in any Religion, that we are afraid to dye in; for death may ſuddenly ſurpriſe us, Luke 12.20. It hath been, indeed, accounted an harſh Doctrine, to ſay that thoſe which live and dye in Popery be damned; we know how [durus (u)(u)foreign.ſermo] was replied to Chriſt himſelf, John 6.60. I ſhall diſcuſs its harſhneſs.

140. As it may be preſumption in us to pry too much into the book of Life (that is ſealed from us) and into the decrees of Heaven about Salvation and Damnation; for it is not given to the Sons of men to know infallibly who are Elect and who Reprobate, who be for Hell and who for Heaven: So it is puſillanimity and a putting off that foreign (that becomes the Miniſters of God) to ſtrengthen the hands of the wicked, That he cares not to return by promiſing him life, Ezek. 13.22.

p. 57141. 'Tis true, the Patrons of the Reformed Religion do affirm, that ſome in the Church of Rome may be ſaved, to wit, ſuch as do expect Salvation by Chriſt and not by the merit of their own works, as the Trent Papiſts do: None (amongſt the Judicious) ever taught, that a Papiſt univerſally owning the Trent Faith and Religion (living and dying ſo) could be ſaved.

142. The Romaniſts (indeed) make ſome advantage of our charitable Judgment concerning them; ſaying, that ſome of our Reformed Religion acknowledg, that the Papiſts hold all things neceſſary to Salvation, then it will follow by neceſſary conſequence, that a Papiſt (quà talis) may be ſaved. They eſpecially improve that ſaying of Luther, [that the Kernel of true Faith remains yet in the Church of Rome] inferring from thence, that we take only the Shell of Religion.

143.(w)(w)Dr. Sclater's Expoſition on 2 Theſſ. 2.10. pag. 153.2 Thess 2:10 Dr. Sclater tells us of his meeting once with a wandring Star, to wit, a Traveller, that had been foraging France, Italy, to ſeek his Religion,) and bewraying his Inclination to Popery, by preferring it in his choice upon this ground; that a man may be ſaved, holding the Faith and Religion of Rome (quoth he) our ſelves confeſs, that any can be ſaved p. 58in our hereſie (as they term it) Papiſts confidently deny: thus he argued.

144. But the Learned Dr. thus anſwered the Argument of this Planetick Sophiſter: 1. That argues not that the Papiſts have more verity, but that we (Proteſtants) have more Charity. 2. But who (amongſt our judicious Divines.) ever did confeſs, that a Papiſt (univerſally joyning to the Tridentine Faith and Religion) can be ſaved; niſi fortè detur Regreſſus in viam. unleſs he make an honourable Retreat.

145. Let the Romaniſts obferve, that our own Mr. Perkins (that Romaniſtarum malleus) hath ſolidly proved, that a Papiſt cannot go beyond a Reprobate; yea, and Hunnius hath writ a book to prove them no Chriſtians, and 'tis the concurring Opinion of all our profoundeſt Writers, that where Popery prevaileth againſt the practical points of Chriſtianity, and is predominant (even) in Fundamentals, there can be no Salvation for ſuch without Converſion.

146. We diſtinguiſh alſo betwixt affected and invincible Ignorance, that of purae negationis and pravae diſpoſitionis; there is a ſimple Ignorance, to wit, where means of knowledge are wanting, as Act. 17.30. This God winks as, [the Greek foreign, over-looked it,] this may excuſe a tanto but not a toto, it may extenuate Sin but cannot annihilate it; one Sin cannot excuſe another totally, but rather (in ſome ſenſe) doubles the Crime.

p. 59147. Not to do Gods Will is ſin, and not to know Gods Will (as it were) doubles the ſin; for Ignorance is a ſin of it ſelf as well as Diſobedience: Yet Knowledge (in conjunction with Diſobedience) is a greater aggravation to it, than Ignorance is, Luke 12.47. Jam. 4.16, 17. and where Ignorance is affected among means of Knowledge, this is worſe with God, than where 'tis invincible for want of means.

148. There muſt a difference be put, betwixt Papiſts in Spain and Papiſts in England; thoſe in Spain have indeed an Ignorance, but we call it [Ignor antiam purae negationis, non praevae diſpoſitionis] they are not guilty of that Ignorance which hath a perverſe diſpoſition in it, as thoſe in England, that live in the midſt of bleſſed means of Knowledge, yet ſhuts their eyes willingly, leſt the light of the glorious Goſpel ſhould ſhine unto them, thoſe are Devils to themſelves, 2 Cor. 4.4.

149. The Papiſts in England have an affected Ignorance, becauſe (as thoſe Peter ſpeaks of 2 Pet. 3.5.) they are Willingly, or wilfully ignorant; Quando habent a quo diſcant, et tamen non diſcunt: They put away knowledge (though God offer it them) far from them; and, as Bernard ſaith excellently, libenter ignorant ut liberiùs peccent; light would ſtare in their faces and controul them in their unwarranted fooleries and Popiſh tranſgreſſions.

150. Indeed the Papiſts every where call Ignorance p. 60the Mother of Devotion, and do embrace it with ſome affectation, as Children do a Mother; yet as 'tis no Mother in Iſrael, if it be in Babylon, 'tis none in Sion: The Prophet tells us, Hoſ. 4.6. 'Tis a Mother of Deſtruction, not of Devotion, [my People are deſtroyed for want of knowledge:] So Engliſh Papiſts be the worſt.

151. Engliſh Papiſts are not willing to know what they ſhould and might do, leſt they ſhould do what they would not, and what their Popiſh principles may not allow of: foreign, They have winked, Act. 28.27. They ſtubbornly ſhut their Windows, leſt the light of knowledge ſhould ſpring in upon them: The word is nigh them, they need not croſs the Seas for it, Rom. 10.6, 7, 8. (the Spaniſh Papiſts have no ſuch advantages) How then can they eſcape, if they neglect ſuch great Salvation, Heb. 2.3.

152. Spaniſh Papiſts have that Ignorance which is foreign ex negatione, becauſe the word of God is not nigh them in the preaching of the Goſpel; they may wander from Sea to Sea, and not meet with means of knowledge, as Amos 8.11, 12. That Country is like the Mountains of Gilboa, that had neither Dew nor Rain diſcending on them, 2 Sam. 1.21. Gods Doctrine doth not drop as the Rain upon it, nor bis Speech diſtil as the Dew, Deut. 32.2.

153. But Engliſh Papiſts have that Ignorance which is foreign, which is of an p. 61evil diſpoſition, and which excuſes not but aggravates: God rains down Manna at their Tent doors, and they will not vouchſafe to go out to gather it, but rather loaths it (as light bread) and prizes their own fooliſh traſh before Chriſts precious Treaſure.

154. Indeed,(x)(x)Franciſe. de Sancta Clara, Deus Natura et Gratia probl. 15. pag. 122, 123. Franciſcus de Clarâ (alias Damport) that quirking Scotiſt and Reconciler to Rome, would confound theſe two kinds of Ignorance, and make them in ſome caſes, aqui Reatus, quoting Vega, lib. 6. cap. 18. in Trid. who ſays as Ignorantia purae Negationis about many Articles of Faith may be without fault; ſo there is the ſame reaſon of that Ignorance which is pravae diſpoſitionis: This par ratio is defended by him againſt the judgment of Gerſon in lect. 4. de vitâ ſpirituali, and of Hugo de Sacram. p. 6. c. 5.

155. And de Clara confeſſes that there are others, Qui aſſerebant Deum non permiſſurum ut aliquis decipratur in aliquâ veritate fidei abſque ſuâ culpâ; and then adds his opinion, [Ego ut ingenuè meum ſenſum hâc in parte aperiam &c. to ſpeak my own ſence freely: I think that the common people committing themſelves to the inſtruction of their Paſtors (truſting their knowledge and goodneſs) if they be deceived, p. 62it ſhall be accounted invincible Ignorance [… ſaltem probabilis] which truly excuſes from fault.

156. He goes on and ſays, Im… aliqui Doctores tantum tribuunt inſtructioni …, quibus incumbit cura ovium, &c. that if thoſe Paſtors (on whom the care of the Flock dependeth) do teach hic et nunc that God would be hated, the rude Pariſhioner is bound to believe them: Azorius alſo ſaith, Ruſticus et Imperitus qui parocho ſuo fidem babens, credet diquid contra articules fidei, excuſatur a peccate; where he cites Scotus and Gabriel to be of the ſame Opinion.

157. 'Tis true, If their Prieſts did infallibly keep knowledge, (as they falſely ſenſe thoſe words in Mal. 2.7. ſaying further, that the Law given is not a Law but in the mouth of the Prieſt,) then would it be the leſs ſin to pin their faith upon the Sleeves of their Prieſts, and the ignorance of their Laity would be invincible ignorance for want of information from their Clergy; but we find in Story how notoriouſly their Prieſts have fallen ſhort of keeping infallibly the knowledge of the Law of God.

158. It is manifeſt in Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory, that the Popiſh Prieſts, like the Sons of Eli, are Sons of Belial, that knew not the Lord, 1 Sam. 1.12. nor the Law of their God; witneſs that(y)(y)Acts and Monuments, Fox. Popiſh Biſhop of Dunkelden in Scotland, who p. 63boaſted, yea thanked God, that he never knew what the Old and New Teſtament were; and that he would care to know nothing but his Portuiſe and his Pontifical: As, likewiſe, that Popiſh Prieſt in Germany, who being asked by the Viſitors, whether he taught his people the Decalogue? anſwered, that he had not the Book ſo called.

159. And of our own Popiſh Prieſts in England, that were notorious Ignoramuſes, our Martyrology gives many examples; as that Prieſt that told Juſtice Leland, that the New Teſtament (of Tindal's Tranſlation) was plain Hereſie, and none worſe than it; and bloody Bonner burning of Bibles, and his Kinſman Darbyſhire, that ſaid the Scriptures were ſufficient to Salvation but not to Inſtruction, but I would not rake in this Kennel; Thoſe Prieſts lips kept knowledge well.

160. Chryſoſtom had long before diſcovered and lamented, [Multi Sacerdotes et tamen pauci, multi in Nomine, pauci in opere:] and Petrarch complained in his time, that the ſtench of that Sink (the Romiſh Clergy) was come up to heaven, this Ribera bewails alſo: But above all, Famous Luther ſpeaks home to this, affirming that Hell is paved with the Skulls of thoſe prophane Popiſh Prieſts; and Eraſmus, likewiſe, lays them open in their colours, who did them more miſchief jocando, than Luther did ſtomachando: how can ſober minds hang p. 64(z)(z)As Luke 19. laſt. foreign.Luke 19their Ears at ſuch lips as thoſe?

161. But the Romaniſts falſifie that Text in Mal. 2.7. reading it, [The lips of the Prieſts keep knowledge, making it a plea for their Infallibility, as if all things knowable were locked up in the Cabinet of their Breaſts,] whereas in the Hebrew it is, [the Prieſts lips ſhould keep knowledge,] which is not a propheſie but a Commandment; by thoſe words God doth not foretell that the Prieſts ſhould never turn from the true Doctrine, but forbiddeth them to turn from it: 'Tis equally abſurd to make Commands Propheſies, as to make Propheſies Commands;(a)(a)Moulin's Buckler of Faith, pag. 65. as if Chriſts foretelling [One of you ſhall betray me] had been a bidding them betray him.

162. And the following Verſes in Mal. 2. plainly ſhows, how thoſe Prieſts lips had not preſerved knowledge, but had ſeduced the people and corrupted the Covenant of God: They had forſaken the way and cauſed many to ſtumble, v. 8. and muſt the Law be only a Rule in their mouths, as if God were beholding to them for owning it?(b)(b)Cajetan Com nent on Matth. Cardinal Cajetan confeſſes thus much of the Popiſh Prieſts, that they which ſhould have been (by their places) the Salt of the Earth, had loſt their ſavour; and minded p. 65nothing but the Rites and Revenues of the Church.

163. Now, are ſuch Prieſts fit to be confided in, in matters of knowledge and goodneſs? (as de Clara would bear us in hand:) muſt the people only believe as they believe? muſt they look after no other knowledge and goodneſs, but what is to be found in thoſe doltiſh, prophane Prieſts? Our Lord gives us better direction (than this quirking Fryar) in bidding us try the Spirits, 1 John 4.1. and prove all things 1 Theſſ. 5.21. as thoſe noble Bereans did, Act. 17.11. and in telling us, that if the Blind lead the Blind, both falls into the Ditch, Math. 15.14.

164. Thoſe blind guides indeed ſhall lye lowermoſt and have the worſt of it, but wo to them that follow their pernicious ways hoodwinked and blindfold: This is their implicit faith, (believing as the Church believes,) and their blind Obedience (walking in darkneſs, and they know not whither) but can never be judged invincible Ignorance to excuſe from blame, (although Franciſcus de Clara do affirm it) eſpecially here in England; where ſo many Bibles, godly Books, and ſo much powerful Preaching may be eaſily come to.

165. The holy Scriptures were written that we might believe, John 20.31. and we are commanded to ſearch them, John 5.39. (that foreign, a more ſure word, 2 Pet. 1.19.) upon the teſtimony of which we muſt depend primariò, p. 66and not upon the Church (as they ſay;) for this is to leave the Fountain, and a going to broken Ciſterns; and 'tis a damnable Religion that keeps ignorant of the Scriptures: They have Moſes and the Prophets, &c. Luke 16.29, 31.

166. It is worth our obſervation, to take notice what difference there is betwixt the Apoſtolical and Antichriſtian Spirit; the Apoſtolical Spirit ſaith thus: [Moreover, Brethren, I would not that you ſhould be ignorant, 1 Cor. 10.1.] he would not have them ignorant in ſpiritual things, but would have them zealous according to knowledge; but the Antichriſtian Spirit is well content, that the Brethren ſhould remain ignorant and continue in blind Devotion.

167. This Popiſh Religion is therefore a blind Religion, (ſo dangerous and damnable) becauſe it puts out the eye of knowledge: Thus Antichriſt ſaith to the Inhabitants of the World, juſt as Nahaſh the Ammonite ſaid to the men of Jabeſh-Gilead; [On this Condition will I make a Covenant with you, if I may thruſt out all your Right Eyes; 1 Sam. 11.2. that they might have been diſenabled from taking up Arms, and ſo become his Vaſſals for ever: Thus doth the man of ſin blow out the lights of the Goſpel, and takes away all means of knowledge.

168. The Romiſh Prieſts are much like thoſe foreign (or Lawyers) that Chriſt ſpeaks of, Luke 11.52. that took away the Key of knowledge, p. 67and neither would enter in themſelves, nor ſuffer others that would have entred. Thoſe Prieſts take away all means of knowledge, by which (as by a Key) men are to have their entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven; they interdict them the uſe of the Scriptures, which is the way to Chriſt, and conſequently of Chriſt which is the way to Heaven.

169. Knowledge is ſo neceſſary to a true Chriſtian, that there can be no ſound believing nor Salvation without it: It is required to the being of Saving Faith, as a neceſſary Antecedent thereof; for though there may be Knowledge without Faith, yet there can never be Faith without Knowledge; for one ingredient of Faith is Aſſent, which is an action of the Underſtanding, the object whereof is truth; and there muſt be ſome knowledge and apprehenſion of this truth, before we can Aſſent to it.

170. Though Knowledge be not Faith, but an habit diſtinct from it, yet it doth concur to the being of Faith, for no Aſſent can be without it; as there is a Faith to be added to Knowledge, (for men may have Knowledge and want Faith) ſo there is a Knowledge to be added to Faith, 2 Pet. 1.5. to wit, a more full underſtanding of heavenly Myſteries: Yet ſo blind is the Popiſh Religion, that it oppoſes the firſt ſort of Knowledge, (which is an Antecedent of Faith,) much more this, which is a conſequent of it.

p. 68171. Their implicit Faith, therefore (where by they give only a general Aſſent to all the Doctrines of their Church and Churchmen, whilſt they ſcarce know any one Article of their Faith diſtinctly) is a mere bruitiſh unreaſonable thing; (not foreign,(c)(c)Reaſonable Service. Rom. 12.1.) like the motion of a Beaſt that is ordered by his Driver, but knows neither whither nor wherefore; how can their Laity give an account of their Faith, 1 Pet. 3.15.

172. How can their ſervice (which is not according to knowledge) be acceptable to God? 'Tis our duty firſt to know God and then to worſhip him; Scientiae praecedit & Religio ſequitur, ſaith Lactantius, Inſtitu. lib. 4. cap. 4. Our Underſtandings muſt firſt be informed and then our Affections reformed; there muſt firſt be a ſcire facias, and then a fieri facias; how can a blind Papiſt do the Will of God that knows it not? this brings upon him a double guilt, to wit, of Ignorance and Diſobedience, both which are damning.

173. Ignorance is a damning Sin of it ſelf, for there is Vengeance to be rendred on them that know not God, 2 Theſſ. 1.7, 8. it expoſes us to the wrath of that dreadful day; it makes men Aliens to the life of God, Eph. 4.18. through the Ignorance that is in them: So becomes it, p. 69indeed, a Mother Sin, the Mother of many Tranſgreſſions, not the Mother of any true Devotion: How did this Mother Ignorance bring forth Blaſphemy, Perſecution, &c. in the Apoſtle, 1 Tim. 1.13. and in the Gentiles, 1 Cor. 12.2. Ignorance is the proper Element of Sin: where Knowledge is, there Sin is, tanquam Piſcis in Arido, out of its Element upon dry Land.

174. All wicked men are under Satan, but ignorant ones are in his very Dungeon; this Sin is a Leproſie in the Head) if it be affected) and ſuch are to be pronounced utterly unclean, Lev. 13.33. That Ignorance (which proceeds from a perverſe diſpoſition, which will not know God as Pharaoh, Exod. 5.2.) is worſe than hatred of God; for ſuch Ignorance is the cauſe of hatred, and in Vices the cauſe muſt be worſe than the effect; this Ignorance makes us haters of God.

175. There is a natural Ignorance, which every child of Adam brings with him into the World, foraſmuch as every mans underſtanding is darkned; and this in Infants (being a part of their Original Corruption) is more than purae negationis, but is alſo pravae diſpoſitionis, as being ill diſpoſed to know by their evil Nature: Now where this ſimple Ignorance is, (without any ſtubborn and wilful neglect, and contempt of the means of knowledge) there Stripes are due, Luke 12.48. It is a ſin and deſerves Death.

p. 70176. Ignorance in things revealed and commanded to be known, may incur(d)(d)Chriſt died (foreign) for the not knowings of his people, Heb. 9.7. Only ſuch to be ſaved that come to the knowledge of the Truth, 2 Tim. 2.25.Heb 9:72 Tim 2:25 eternal death, though not ſo much torment; 'tis only fewer ſtripes, and as Auſtin ſaith, all that ſimple Ignorance can profit us in that day is, ùt mitiùs ardeamus, that we may burn the ſlowlier; but wilful Ignorance ſhall have many ſtripes they ſhall have the hotteſt place in Hell, and God expreſſes great wrath againſt ſuch; [They that are ignorant let them be ignorant ſtill,] 1 Cor. 14.38. if they affect it let them periſh in it.

177. It muſt follow then that the Popiſh Religion is a dangerous and damnable Religion, that makes a direct profeſſion of this ſhameful ſin, as if it were the beſt way to do our duty, not to know it at all; as if the faith of a ghoſtly Father would ſave us without our own; hath God wrath for Heathens that know him not, who are left in the dark to grope after him, Jer. 10.25. then double Damnation attends thoſe Papiſts that reject means of knowledge, ſaying depart from us, &c.(e)(e)God will ſay to them, depart from me; as they to him, depart from us. Job. 21.14. John 3.19, 26.Job 21:14John 3:19John 3:26

178. The ſame Romaniſts that have ſo little charity for us, ſaying [that a Proteſtant cannot be ſaved] have a great deal of charity p. 71for the Heathens (on whom the Lord hath ſaid he will pour out his fury, becauſe they know him not) maintaining that Infidels may be ſaved, though they believe not the Articles of the Chriſtian Faith, as if that were not neceſſary to Salvation: Thus through their partial and ungrounded cenſures, they caſt out the Proteſtants, and receive Infidels into the boſom of their Church.

179. But Chriſt tells us that Heathens are ſtrangers to the true Church, and not Members of it; and ſuch as are excommunicate ſhould be as the heathen, Matth. 18.17. and our beſt Writers hold that Negative Infidelity is a Sin, as well as a puniſhment of Sin, (though Stapleton and others deny it, from John 15.22.) [If I had not come and ſpoke to them, they had not had ſin:] The Pagans never had Chriſt preached to them, and therefore they believe not; ſo 'tis not their ſin.

180. How can that Text be underſtood abſolutely? then it would follow that if Chriſt had not come amongſt the Jews they had not been ſinners, and Gentiles that had not the Goſpel were without ſin, which be both abſurd; but Auſtin in Tract. 89. underſtands Sin there, the great Sin of Unbelief, under which all Sins are comprehended; and ſaith expreſsly, that though thoſe which never had the Goſpel, have ſome excuſe for their unbelief, yet none for other Sins.

p. 72181. The ſame Auguſtine proceeds, ſaying, ſuch as amongſt whom Chriſt came not, may indeed have their excuſe for ſin, but yet are not thereby freed from being damned for Sin; for the Apoſtle is plain, They which ſinned without the Law, ſhall periſh without the Law, Rom. 2.12. Yet there are degrees of Puniſhments, as there be of Sins, which Humane conjectures cannot comprehend; they to whom Chriſt came and ſpake, ſhall want this excuſe; they cannot ſay we have not ſeen nor heard him.

182. And in Tract. 91. in Johan. he ſays, others that can thus excuſe themſelves, if they be not delivered from all judgment, yet certainly their judgment ſhall be ſomewhat lighter, than thoſe that had ſeen his great works; for Chriſt did works which none other did: As the feeding of five thouſand with a few Loaves and Fiſhes, his walking upon the Water and cauſing Peter to come to him; his turning Water into Wine, and his opening the Eyes of the man that was born blind, &c. for which he deſerv'd their beſt love; but having hatred for Love after all theſe great works, their Sin was inexcuſable.

183. To this Purpoſe alſo Chryſoſtom, (in Hom. 76. in Johan.) ſaith; the Lord Chriſt having according to Moſes Law, confirmed his Doctrine by marvellous works; ſheweth, that the Jews withſtanding him yet, ſhould have no pardon: For Moſes had charged them to obey p. 73(f)(f)Chriſt wrought Miracles as a Maſter, by his own Authority and Command: All others but as Servants.him, who proved his Doctrine by miracles, ſuch as none other ever did; yea themſelves reſtified, that(g)(g)John 9.32.John 9:32 [There was never the like done in Iſrael, and ſince the World began was it heard, that any opened the Eyes of one born blind.]

184. Seeing then, not to have heard any thing of Chriſt, doth not ſufficiently excuſe Infidelity, becauſe it many times happens through mens own fault; God juſtly puniſhing their own ſin thereby, with a denyal to them of the Preaching of the Goſpel.(h)(h)Polan. Synt. Theolog. lib. 9. cap. pag. 591.1 Col. Polanus ſaith well, Ignorantia non excuſat eos, qui fidei capaces ſant, quandoquidem ignorantia in Adamo, in quo omnes peccârunt, voluntaria fuit, et debent omnes et ſcire et credere.

185. He ſaith alſo, that Negative Infidelity (vel ſola) damnat et a Regno coelorum arcet: It is no hard matter to prove, that even the want of a due preaching of the Goſpel, and of a right propounding of the knowledge of Chriſt to them, is a puniſhment for their ſin; and ſin can never excuſe ſin: Infidels ought themſelves to ſeek after the knowledge of the truth; now if Negative Infidelity do damn the Heathens; then Poſitive Infidelity (ſuch as is in Papiſts, p. 74that hear and believe not) muſt needs double damn them.

186. The Papiſts are deſpiſers of moſt clear light, of the truth that hath been ſpread before them by many famous men; ſo they ſin againſt knowledge, and have no [foreign,] or pretence for their Sin: Minor erat culpa, ubi erat culpae Ignorantia, ſaith Ambroſe lib. 9. Ep. 71. But becauſe they ſay they ſee, as the Phariſees (that ſaw the works of Chriſt;) therefore their ſin (of a(i)(i)foreign, Twice dipt Scarlet Sin. double dye) remaineth(k)(k)John 9.41.John 9:41

187. But to let paſs their blind charity for blind Infidels (which is a mere deſign for up holding their Kingdom, and palliating their opinions about an implicit Faith) I come to their uncharitableneſs towards us, in making us worſe than Infidels, and paſſing this partial cenſure, that Proteſtants cannot be ſaved, though Infidels may:(l)(l)Coſter. Reſp. ad Refut. Oſiand. propoſ. 8. Coſterus ſaith, Fierinequit ut Lutheranus moriens ſalvetur. This is a brave Romiſh Dictator.

188. And it is determined by a general Council and the Pope, that no man can be ſaved out of their Church, as headed by the Pope, [extra Eccleſiam Romanam nulla eſt ſalus.] that it is neceſſary to Salvation to be a ſubject of the Pope of Rome: Yet can they take in Infidels p. 75and lay the Church (as common) to the world, for as many as will but believe in the Pope, though they believe not in Chriſt, whoſe Vicar he pretends to be.

189. How can this Popiſh Cenſure be of any moment, that Judges no Salvation can be among us, yet if we were Infidels we might be ſaved; ſo we had but an implicit Faith and believed in the Pope: But the choiceſt Saint and Servant of God, (that hath an explicit Faith in Chriſt) cannot be ſaved, if he believe not in the Pope and be of the Church of Rome: Is this a Judging according to God?

190. If it had been eſſential to Chriſtianity, and neceſſary to ſalvation to believe in the Pope or Church of Rome; then the Apoſtles would have preached it for converting the People, & would have baptized the converted into the Pope and Roman Church, and it would have been inſerted in ſome of thoſe antient Creeds, or in ſome of the expeſitions of them; but there is not a word in Scripture, or any Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory, that intimates any of thoſe Premiſes; and ſure ſuch a neceſſary point would not have been omitted.

191. But Thouſands and Millions were ſaved in the Primitive times, without ever believing in the Pope or Roman Church; and Paul and Silas were much miſtaken, when the Jaylor cryed to them; [Sirs! what muſt I do to be ſaved?] in anſwering him, [Believe in the p. 76Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and thou ſhalt be ſaved and thy houſe, Act. 16.30, 31. According to the doctrine of the Romaniſts, they ſhould have directed them thus: [Thou muſt believe in the Pope and in the Roman Church, and thou ſhalt be ſaved.]

192. It cannot be proved that one Chriſtian believed in the Pope or Church of Rome, for many an hundred year after Chriſt, much leſs that all believed ſo; yet for want of this belief, not only we Proteſtants are all damned by the Romiſh Church, but ſuch is their uncharitableneſs, that they damn all the Chriſtians among the Greeks, Moſcovites, Armenians, Abaſſines, Aethiopians, Waldenſes, &c. that believes not in the Pope.

193.(m)(m)Baxter's Key for Catholicks, pag. 262. Mr. Baxter very acutely retorts upon the Romaniſts for this uncharitableneſs, ſaying; If Charity be the life of all the Graces or holy qualities of the Soul, and that which above all others proveth a man to be juſtified and in a ſtate of Salvation; then judge by this Argument of their own, whether our charitableneſs to them, or their uncharitableneſs to us and to all other Chriſtians, be the better ſign.

194. And whether it be ſafer to joyn with the charitable or uncharitable? yea, with them p. 77that are ſo notoriouſly uncharitable, as to condemn the far greateſt part of the Church of Chriſt, merely becauſe they are not Papiſts. Thus we ſee how their Principles and Practiſes be not Relatives, but interfere with their profeſſions; for while they cry up the Grace of Charity as the moſt ſplendid grace of their Religion, yet in the mean time they are the moſt uncharitable people in the world.

195. Indeed the Romaniſts argue point blank to this, drawing this general concluſion from the charitable opinion of ſome well diſpoſed Proteſtants.(n)(n)Anſwer to Mr. Fiſher's Relation of a third Conference, at the end of Dr. White's Reply to Fiſher. pag. 68. [We ſee the Proteſtants, (at leaſt ſome) confeſs, there may be ſalvation in our Church, we abſolutely deny there may be ſalvation in theirs; therefore 'tis ſafer to come to ours than to ſtay in theirs, to be where almoſt all grant Salvation, than where the greateſt part of the World deny it.]

196. 'Tis great pity that our Charity towards them (which is a grace they cry up ſo much for the luſtre and glory of their own Church, and which is a grace that hopeth all things, believeth all things, &c. 1 Cor. 13.6, 7.) ſhould be ſo wreſted to the hardning of their hearts in their evil way; 'tis pity our charitable opinion of them ſhould give any Papiſt p. 78occaſion to live and dye in the boſom of that damnable Religion; whereas we ſhould rather warn them in the Name of God, to come out of Babylon, left they be partakers of her Plagues(o)(o)Rev. 18.4.Rev 18:4

197. But when we ſay a Papiſt may be ſaved,(p)(p)Baxter's Key for Catholicks, p. 262. Mr. Baxter ſhews, (in loco ſupradicto) that it is with all thoſe limitations: As 1. We ſay, that a Papiſt may be ſaved as a Chriſtian, but not as a Papiſt; as a man that hath the Plague may live, but not by the Plague. 2. We ſay, that Popery is a great enemy and hindrance to mens ſalvation; and therefore thoſe among them that are ſaved, muſt be ſaved from Popery and not by it.

198. And 3. We ſay, that therefore Salvation is a rarer thing among the Papiſts, than among the reformed Proteſtants: Where it is moſt difficult there it muſt be moſt rare; many more of the Proteſtants are like to be ſaved, than of the Papiſts. And 4. we ſay, where Popery prevails againſt Chriſtianity, and ſo much maſtereth the Heart and Life, that the Chriſtian Doctrine is not practically received, ſuch cannot be ſaved without Converſion.

199. Thus with thoſe and the like limitations, the charitable opinion concerning them on our part (which they improve ſo to their advantage) muſt be reſtrained; which doth p. 79not amount to ſuch a judgment of ſafety in their way as they pretend: Our learned(q)(q)Whitaker ad Camp. Rat. 10. Whitaker ſends this Summons to their great Champion, [Survey Heaven and all the Heavenly hoſt, look well into all the Parts and Coaſts of it while you liſt, and you ſhall not find there (upon my word) one Jeſuit or one Papiſt.

200. For (ſaith he) none ſhall ſtand upon Mount Sion with the Lamb, that have receiv'd the mark of the Beaſt, or belong to Antichriſt: Thus this great Scholar (even in Bellarmine's own Judgment, who kept his Picture by him; and wrote under it, Quanquàm Hareticum, doctum tamen habeo adverſarium) had not an overcharitable opinion of Jeſuits, (which have the mark of the Beaſt, and are their Ring-leaders into Error) and of Papiſts, to wit, ſuch as hold the doctrine of the Modern Church of Rome, and Council of Trent.

201. And our famous(r)(r)Hooker in his Diſcourſe of Juſtification. Hooker alſo ſaith, when we ſay that a Papiſt may be ſaved, we do not propoſe to you a Pope with the Neck of an Emperor under his feet, or a Cardinal riding his Horſe up to the Bridle in the blood of Saints; but a Pope or Cardinal penitent, diſrobed, and not only ſtripped of his uſurped power, but alſo reclaimed from his Error: p. 80Let them and their Proſelytes abjure all their pervertings of the truth and be converted, let them fall down proſtrate at Chriſts feet, and he will not kick them.

202. Although many Proteſtants have this charitable opinion toward ſuch Papiſts as fall under the foreſaid Qualifications, yea and alſo towards all ſuch as by an invincible and compelled Ignorance, reſign up their own underſtandings to their Prieſts and Jeſuits; and look through ſuch Spectacles as thoſe temper for them, not daring to contradict the dictates of their Teachers, but are led on hood-winked in an implicit Faith and blind Obedience.

203. Such Papiſts, I ſay, ſo long as they hold faſt the true faith of Chriſt, without oppoſing any fundamental point of the Chriſtian Religion; and furthermore do (according to the light and Grace given them) with purpoſe of heart cleave unto the Lord, and rely wholly and ſolely on the merits and mediation of Chriſt both for ſafety here and Salvation hereafter; ſuch as thoſe may find mercy, becauſe they adhere to the Romiſh Church in other things ignorantly, 1 Tim. 1.14.

204. This is the moſt candid Conſtruction that our Charity can afford them; and yet here be two things very obſervable. 1. That ſuch as thoſe though they live Papiſts, yet they dye Proteſtants, to wit, in the principal foundation of our Faith, [Juſtification and Salvation p. 81by Chriſt:] This Bellarmine himſelf (their great(ſ)(ſ)Bellarm. de Juſtif. lib. 5. cap. 7. [Tutiſſimum eſt, tis ſafeſt to rely wholly on the mexits of Chriſt,] though he had taught in his health, that partly our own merit, and partly the merit of Chriſt, gives right to heaven. Champion) was driven to for ſuccour, when the terrors of death were upon him. 2. In our Charity there is no certainty for them, only a poſſibility barely ſtated; They may be ſaved.

205. Yet we have no ſuch Charity for ſuch Papiſts, as live in States and Kingdoms, where the word of God is power fully preached, and the Sacraments of Chriſt be purely adminiſtred, where alſo much care is taken for their better information and means uſed for reclaiming them from their Error, and inſtructing them in the knowledge of Chriſt and his ways. Such Papiſts, I ſay, being willingly ignorant, and wilfully ſhatting their eyes againſt the light; their ſtate is more deſperate and damnable.

206. Thoſe Papiſts are guilty before the Lord of an affected Ignorance, and of a wilful deſpiſing of the knowledge of the Lord, when they might attain to it: 'Tis not a bare want of the means of Grace, but the contempt of them that damus, ſaith Ambroſe. Thoſe ſay, in effect, unto God,(t)(t)Job 11.14, 15.Job 11:14Job 11:15 [depart from us;] as if God were below them; and with the Swiniſh p. 82Gergaſites deſire him to depart out of their Coaſts: How juſt it is with God to fill them with the evil of their own ways, and to ſay to them (as they to God) depart ye curſed?

207. Theſe deſire not the knowledge of Gods ways,(u)(u)Rom. 1.28.Rom 1:28 they like not to retain God in their knowledge, becauſe their minds are reprobate and injudicious▪ they love darkneſs rather than light, and Cain like, they get as far from God as they can: How Righteous is Gods Retaliation upon all ſuch Reprobates, in ſaying to them, Ye have rejected my Company, I will alſo reject yours, and as you will not know my ways, I will not know your perſons at the laſt day, Luke 13.27.

208. This is the Character of thoſe Roomaniſts that live in thoſe Countreys of the reformèd Religion, where many famous Churches are founded, worſhiping God after that manner, which the Romiſh Church calls Hereſie, as Act. 24.14. yet teaching no other Doctrine than what Moſes, the Prophets, and Apoſtles have ſpoken before them; and without controverſie all people lye under an obligation to reſort thither for true knowledge, where the Mountain of the Lord is exalted on the top of the Mountains; God teaches his ways there, Iſa. 2.3.

209. We have a famous example of thoſe in the Ten Tribes, whoſe hearts the Lord had p. 83touched with the finger of his Spirit, in that univerſal depravation of Religion under Jeroboam, 2 Chron. 11.14, 16. The Levites left their Suburbs and their Poſſeſſions that belonged to them, [a great act of ſelf denyal,] and came to Judah and Jeruſalem to do the ſervice of the Lord in the Temple there: And after their example, many people out of all the Tribes of Iſrael, (that abhorred Jeroboam's Idolatry) came thither alſo for the true worſhip of God.

210. Oh! that the Lord (who perſwaded Japhet to dwell in the Tents of Shem) may perſwade all ſuch Romaniſts to forſake the Tents of the Romiſh Church, leſt they periſh with her Come out of her my People, (to wit, all ſuch as ſet their hearts to ſeek God, as thoſe Religiouſly diſpoſed Jews did) leſt ye periſh in the way and partake of her Plagues, Revel. 18.4. as thoſe in the Tents of Korah's Conſpiracy.

211. Moreover in thoſe Reformed Churches, God hath raiſed up many famous Witneſſes, who have diſcourſed the controverſies betwixt us and them at large, the ſound of whoſe writings hath gone even to Rome it ſelf, yea and their own Champions have ſet down our Arguments againſt them in their writings of anſwers to them, (for which ſome of them have met with interdictions for reprinting, leſt knowledge, of the truth ſhould come to light thereby, as Bellarmine and Gregory de Valentia, &c. ſo zealous are they to keep people in ignorance,) p. 84by thoſe helps might underſtand their own Errors.

212. Beſides in thoſe reformed Countreys, many bleſſed Martyrs and Confeſſors have made publick Confeſſions of their Faith, (even in the Preſence and Audience of their perſecuting Papiſts) ſuch as loved not their lives for the ſake of the truth, by whom much light was communicated; for thoſe Martyrdoms and Maſſacres were not done in a Corner, but were famous even in the Popes Palace, (as Phil. 1.13.) and in all places which adminiſtred occaſion to all perſons for enquiring after the cauſe of ſuch ſufferings.

213. Now ſeeing thoſe Romaniſts living in thoſe Countries, have ſo many advantages for knowing the truth, and yet ſhut their eyes againſt all in a pertinacious and incorrigible hardneſs of heart; their Ignorance is affected, and pravae diſpoſitionis, there is a price put into their hinds, and like Fools they have no heart to it: Satan hath filled their hearts to believe Lyes, they are foreign ▪ ſelf-condemned. Tit. 3.10.

214. Sed quid opus eſt multis? We have many Scripture Characters and Evidences, that the Popiſh Religion is damnable, all which will make it appear, that it is but blind Charity; and not only fooliſh pity but alſo plain cruelty, to promiſe Life and Salvation to ſuch Papiſts as be impenitent and repent not of their doctrines and doings; and 'tis but a mealy-mouth'd p. 85ſoothing them up in their ſinful ſtate and ſowing pillows under their Elbows, in thoſe that fear to ſay to them, that living and dying Papiſts, they cannot be ſaved.

215.(w)(w)The 1. Scripture Evidence of the Damnableneſs of the Romiſh Religion. The 1. Scripture Evidence is, they are decypher'd in graphical terms, to be ſuch whoſe Names are not written in the Lambs book of life, Rev. 13.8. Thoſe whoſe Names are not recorded in the book of life, thoſe whom God hath not predeſtinated to be ſaved, from all eternity by the death of Chriſt; thoſe and thoſe only ſhould be worſhipers of the Beaſt: Thoſe that dwell upon the Earth (or ſtand upon earthly Principles and carnal Doctrines, ſuch as that fleſh-pleaſing Religion conſiſts of) wonder after the Beaſt.

216. This [Inhabitants of the Earth] is contradiſtinct to Saints, whoſe Converſations is in heaven, Phil. 3.20. Now if none of the Beaſts worſhipers have their Names written in heaven; it concludes ſtrongly, that there is no Salvation for Papiſts, living and dying in their Popiſh State and Religion; they are not Elect but Reprobate ones, a people devoted to deſtruction, ſee alſo, Revel. 17.8.

p. 86217.(x)(x)The 2. Scripture Evidence. The 2. Script. evidence is [Revel. 14.9.10. If any man worſhip the beaſt &c. The ſame ſhall Drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation, and he ſhall be tormented with Fire and Brimſtone, &c.] This plainly demonſtrates, that all the obſtinate worſhip pers of the Beaſt (which in my treatiſe of Antichriſt I have proved to be the Pope) ſhall drink of the wine of gods Indignation, becauſe they have drank of the wine of the popes fornications.

218. They that love the wine of Idolatry muſt at length pledg in the wine of Gods Anger and ſevereſt Judgment, and this Cup of Vengeance (which is prepar'd for them) ſhall not be allayed with the water of mercy at all, Jam. 2.13. no mixture of mercy in their miſery, as in the afflictions wherewith God exerciſes his own people in this world; wherein god in wrath remembers mercy, Hab. 3.1. and Stirs not up all his wrath Pſal. 78.38. whereas the Saints ſip onelyonly of the top of the Cup, thoſe Sinners drunk up the dreggs of the fiercneſs of his Anger, Iſa. 51.22.23.

219. Thoſe worſhippers of the beaſt ſhall be tormented with fire and Brimſtone in Hell-fire where they ſhall have no intermiſſion of their p. 87tortures, v. 11. they ſhall have miſery without mercy and torment without end in the preſence of the Angels, who ſhall not only be Spectators but executioners alſo, and in preſence of the Lamb, for all their Agnus Dei. &c.

220. The 3. Scrip. Evidence is 2. Theſſal. 2.10.(y)(y)The 3. Scripture Evidence. Thoſe that the man of Sin (the grand Antichriſt) ſeduces with his lying wonders or Counterfeit miracles, are ſuch as be in a periſhing State [in them that periſh] thoſe whom god maketh no account to ſave, he gives them up to the ſtrong deluſions of this under-working beaſt. But as for thoſe, whom god hath ordained unto life be reſerves them (as his Remnant according to the Election of grace) from bowing of the knee to Baal, Rom. 11.4.5. So that none of Gods elect are given up to this periſhing State Math. 24.24.

221. Thus popery is call'd here [Deceivableneſs] becauſe it 'tis a grand Impoſture, a Farrago of all kind of falſities, as their feigning Apparitions of Angels and Spirits, their forging decrees of Councils for countenancing their Supremacy of the Romiſh Church, their corruptions of the antient Fathers for defence of their lying Doctrines; their Piae fraudes (as they call them) and diſſembling of piety for advancing their Religion, and many more p. 88[foreign] Arts of conſenage and Legerdemain Tricks.

222. Popery is a Circle whoſe Circumference is all kind of Impoſture, and whoſe center is nothing but unrighteouſneſs; So 'tis call'd [the deceivableneſs of unrighteouſneſs] and this Religious cheat Captivates only periſhing Souls ſuch as are foreign, Jude. v. 4. men deſtinated to damnation, God juſtly giving them up to vile affections, and of belief of lyes becauſe they received not the truth in the love of it; that great Goſpel ſin brings juſt Damnation.

223.(z)(z)The 4. Scripture Evidence. The 4. Scrip. Evidence is 2. Theſſ. 2.11.12. becauſe Papiſts generally are deſpiſers of the truth; [God ſends them ſtrong deluſions that they ſhould believe a lye that they all May be damned, who believed not the truth, but had the pleaſure of unrighteouſneſs] They blind their own eyes ſinfully, and god blind their eyes penally, and becauſe of this wilful obduration, he gives them over to Satan to Captivate both their Judgments and perſons as he will, and at his pleaſure. 2. Tim. 2. laſt.

224. Look what a beſotted Infatuation was Iudicially inflicted upon the Idolatrous Jews [God Shut their eyes that they could not ſee, and p. 89their hearts that they could not underſtand; and a deceived heart turned them aſide. Iſai. 44.18.20 they hewed the tree, warmed themſelves and roſted their meat with the Chips and of all of it, and the Reſidue thereof they make a god of, worſhips it, and prays to it, ſaying deliver me, for thou art my god &c.

225. Such like ſottiſh Dotage is found among the Idolatrous papiſts, in their proſtrating before their breaden God: They know it to be the fruit of the Earth, the workmanſhip of the Baker, they behold it, touch it, taſt it to be bread, that (for the ſubſtance of it) Periſhes in the uſeing, and is caſt out into the draught (as Math. 15.17.) Yet do they fall down before it and prays unto it, ſaying deliver me for thou art my god. The like ſtupidity is in them to their Crucifixes, Roods and Images of Saints.

226. Theſe and many more ſtrong deluſions (which the holy Ghoſt calls foreign, the Efficacy of errour) are the Romaniſts given up to: The time would faile in producing the many Inſtances that may be found hereof, and which indeed more Properly belongs to the 2. Part of this Diatribe about their Relicks and miracles. I ſhall give but one here; under what ſtrong deluſion are thoſe Papiſts of Geneva (a)(a)Wolph. mem. lect,That ſhow the aſſes taile p. 90(whereon Chriſt rode) as a divine Relique and perform Divine worſhip to it.

227.(b)(b)Dr. Sclater on 2 Theſſ. 2. pag. 167, 168.2 Thess 2 Dr. Sclater upon this Scripture ſhews very Solidly how Popery is a pack of lyes; as that God loves to be ſuited unto by ſaints and Angels mediators, that our works are meritorious being done in grace, that a man may Supererogate and exceed in duty what he owes to god. That baptiſm takes away whatſoever hath the proper nature of ſin, that Souls paſs hence to pains of Purgatory, that Chriſts death takes only away mortal ſins; all theſe he confutes ſubſtantially. And to thoſe I ſpeak, in my 2. Part of this treatiſe.

228. And would we know the reaſon why Papiſts are given up to believe thoſe lyes, the Apoſtle tells us, it is, that they all may be damned who believed not the truth where foreign is put for foreign, (Judged, for condemned) frequent in Scripture as John. 3.17. and in others places; the penall iſſue then is damnation not only becauſe they deſpiſe the truth but alſo they delight in unrighteouſneſs, which is the higheſt pitch of impiety they can diſpenſe with all Sins.

229.(c)(c)The 5. Seripture Evidence. 5. Scrip. Evidence is Revel. 19.21. p. 91that ſhews, not only the Pope himſelf but all his obſtinate followers alſo, and ſworn Swordmen and ſervants ſhall be deſtroyed, and though they ſhall not be ſo deeply damned as the beaſt and the falſe prophet, yet ſhall they be ſlain (even the Kings that aſiſt him and uphold his tottering Kingdome) as to be made a prey to the infernal vultures, and the greateſt Sinners ſhall be the greateſt ſufferers, there ſhall be no reaſoning of any with mony, as Iſa. 13.17.18.

230. 'Tis ſaid there, [the Sword of Chriſt ſhall ſlay the Remnant] not any ſhall eſcape, but a ſevere execution ſhall be on all that take part with Antichriſt, in this his laſt battel at Armageddon: And ſeeing this Sword is ſaid to [come out of the mouth of him that ſitteth upon the horſe] it muſt not be taken for a material Sword, but for the breath of his mouth wherewith he will deſtroy Antichriſt, 2. Theſſ. 2.8. and for that Sentence of death that he will paſs upon all his followers, ſaying [go ye Curſed]

231. This place of Scripture is an alluſion to Ezek. 39.4.17.20. where the deſtruction of Gog and Magog (the grand enemies of the Chruch before Chriſts coming into the fleſh) is recorded. Now as that Prophecy was fulfilled literally on them (being made a feaſt for the fowls of the aire) both great and ſmall: So ſhall this be fulfiled Allegorically upon all the worſhippers of the beaſt, which ſhall be p. 92made a feaſt to the fiends of Hell, and then that Prince-fowl of the Air (the Devil) and his Spirits ſhall be glutted with them.

232.(d)(d)The 6. Scripture-Evidences The 6. Scrip. Evidence is. 2. Pet. 2.1. where hereſie is call'd a damnable thing [foreign] Hereſies of deſtruction or damnation: 'Tis an Hebraiſme, as a man of bloods. Pſ. 5.6. is a bloody man. Now hereſie is a doctrine Contrary to the truth which men chuſe to follow and will not be Recalmed from it: If ſuch doctrine be Simply held, it is only etrour, but if obſtinately and pertinaciouſly perſiſted in (of this more fully in my treatiſe of Hereſie) then 'tis damnable Hereſie.

233. Hereſie is Leproſy in the head, which is utterly incurable Lev. 13.29. And becauſe it therefore deſtroys the ſoul, this Epithet [damnable] is joyned to it, not ſo much reſtrictive, as intimating, that there be ſome hereſies which are not damnable, (and ſo 'tis to be reſtrained to the worſt ſort of Hereſies only) but rather. deſcriptive, as deſcribing what hereſie is in Suo Genere, that it hath in it a downing nature: Eſpecially when there is a Concatenation of them, as in this place.

234. The holy Ghoſt uſes the word here in the plural number to point out to us that p. 93there ſhould be many of them linked together: and indeed one hereſie perſiſted in with an obſtinate mind, uſhers in others. [dato vno abſurdo, mille ſequntur] Thus ſome Etymologiſts derive the word Hereſie ab Haerendo becauſe of 'its Glutinous property, men do pertinaciouſly cleave to it, but 'tis rather a Greek word ſo cannot have a (d) Latin Thema but comes foreign to chufe an Opinion.

235.(e)(e)'Tis a choice that cannont be reclained. Such be the Hereſies of the Romiſh Religion, as they are damning in nature, ſo they are many in number, as juſtification in part by the works of the law: This is a damning hereſie If Paul ſay true, Gal. 5.4. [ſuch are faln from Grace and Chriſt ſhall profit them nothing:] as their doctrine of merits de Congrue et Cendigno, which is not holding of the head, Col: 2, 19. But a deſpoiling of Chriſt his plenteons Redemption, and becoming Saviouts to themſelves.

236 As alſo their congruent merits afforded by nature, their freedome and innate power of will excited to apply and determine it ſelf to Gods gracious perſwaſion; Their expiation of Sins both of quick and dead by the unbloody Sacrifice of their Maſſes: And many others [ejusdem forma] Which are both tanght and believed of the Romaniſts, whereof p. 94I ſhall ſpeak more particularly in the 2. part.

237(f)(f)The 7. Scripture Evidence. The 7. Scripture Evidence is Tim. 4.1. Popery teaches many [Doctrines of devils] (as I have ſhewed in my treatiſe of Antichriſt) their forbidding of meats and marriages, their teaching the lawfulneſs of Committing fornication (which is the divelifh Doctrine of the Nicolaitans Revel. 2.15.) Or worſhipping Idols, of murthering Princes and of maſſacring Proteſtants, and that, becauſe they are Hereticks: Now theſe Doctrines of Devils muſt needs carry them to the Devil.

238. The Apoſtle in this 1. Epiſtle to Timothy ſpeaketh of latter times, and in his 2. to Timothy 3.1. of the laſt times: In the latter times thoſe Doctrines of devils are broached, to wit, in the times of Antichriſts riſe and revelation, when the Antichriſtian leaven ſhall be ſpreading it ſelf over all chriſtian Churches as 2. Theſſ. 2.8.10. but in the laſt times (which he ſays ſhall be foreign) to wit, about Antichriſts deſtruction, the harveſt of thoſe devil Doctriners ſhall be ripe, and God will cut them down with his ſharp ſickle and caſt them in bundles to the devil in Hell, from whence they came.

239. Thus both thoſe times in both thoſe p. 95Epiſtles have relation to Antichriſt, and the older Antichriſt grows, the worſe and more perilous times ſhall be; For thoſe Doctrines of Devils ſhall (like an Epidemical and vniverſal Peſtilence) be ſo Contagious and catching, that men (yea good men) will be put hard to it how to ſecute themſelves from that overſpreading Abomination; then the Righteous ſhould ſcarcely be ſaved, were not their Names writ in the Lambo book of Life.

240. But as for thoſe dwellers upon the Earth, (whoſe Names are not found written in that Book) theſe doctrines of Devils prevails with them, and brings in that black bedroll of Sin, (whereof ſinful ſelf Love is the firſt of 19, (as the Root of them all) and love of pleaſures the laſt,) all which lead directly to damnation, and are found moſt predominant in the Romiſh Church (above all others) which hath a form of Godlineſs, but denies its power, 2 Tim. 3.1. to 6.

241. Having thus from Scripture Evidences, made this clear demonſtration, [how dangerous a Religion the Popiſh Religion is to live and dye in,] how can we but conclude, that the Romaniſts are in a damnable State: For, 1.(g)(g)Revel. 13.8.Rev 13:8 Their Names are not found in the Lambs book of life, 2.(b)(b)Revel 14.9, 10, 11.Rev 14:9Rev 14:10Rev 14:11 They muſt drink of the Wine p. 96of the Wrath of God, 3.(i)(i)2. Theſſ. 2.10.2 Thess 2:10 They are in a periſhing State, 4.(k)(k)11, 12. And believe lyes to be damned, 5.(l)(l)Rev. 19.21.Rev 19:21 [Depart ye curſed] ſhall be denounced againſt them, 6.(m)(m)2 Pet. 2.1.2 Pet 2:1 They hold damnable Hereſies, And 7.(n)(n)1 Tim. 4.1.1 Tim 4:1 They …uch and believe doctrines of Devils.

242. But ſome will object here and ſay, this is to paſs the ſame uncharitable cenſure of them that they do of us, and this is to conclude all that ever have dyed in Popery, to be in a ſtate of damnation: To which I anſwer, 1. Their cenſure of us may truly be termed uncharitable, becauſe it is unwarrantable, being not grounded upon any clear Scripture Evidence, but ariſing from their obſtinate blindneſs, which cauſeth them to(o)(o)Jude v 10. ſpeak evil of what they know not.

243. And 2. I anſwer, 'tis not we but the Word of God that judges them, by which they muſt be judged at the laſt day, John 12.48.3. As we do not conclude all Pagans (whom God ſuffered to walk in their own ways, Act. 14. 16.) to be damned, for God might have veſſels of mercy among them, ſome became Proſelytes; ſo nor all thoſe Papagans, for ſome have held the head, Col. 2.19.(p)(p)1 Cor. 3.11.15.1 Cor 3:111 Cor 3:15 and been ſound p. 97in the Foundation, although they loſe their ſtubble yet not their Souls; neither did Popiſh Errors come to their height at firſt, but now their Hereſies be more damnable than ever.

244. I might have added ſeveral other Scripture Evidences, as 1 Cor. 6.9. No Idolater ſhall inherit the Kingdom of God: And Revel. 21.8. All Idolaters and all lyars ſhall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimſtone, which is the ſecond death. Now that Popery is Idolatry, and a Compound or Cento of many lying Doctrines, I have ſhewed before; why then ſhould we be afraid to ſay, that Papiſts (living and dying in the Trent Faith without Repentance) are Caſtaways, and deſtinated to damnation? Why ſtrengthen we the hands of the wicked, that he cares not to return by promiſing him life? Ezek. 13.22.

245. What warrant from the Word of God can be found of any hope that ſuch damnable Hereticks (as hath been made apparent they are) can be ſaved? or ſuch plain Infidels? in as much as they believe not, either the Al-ſufficiency of Chriſts meritorious Paſſion, or the incommunicable Propriety of his mediatory Office, (in which two points lies the very life and ſoul of true Faith and Religion) and thus far they are Infidels in ſaying, that men muſt ſatisfie for their own venial ſins, and that Saints and Angels meritoriouſly intercede for us.

p. 98246. What probability is there, that ſuch Infidels (as believe not the holy Scriptures to be the word of God, becauſe God, their Author, gives ſuch a Teſtimony; but only becauſe their Church ſays ſo, which at the beſt begets but an Humane Faith) can be ſaved? The formal object of their Faith is not veritas prima, but the Teſtimony of their Church; now 'tis not any humane Faith that makes a true believer, he is no better than an Infidel in reſpect of Divine Faith, and he that believes not is damned(q)(q)Mark 16.16.Mark 16:16

247. Let none wonder why I call them Infidels, for notwithſtanding their belief of the Creed which they profeſs in Words, yet they deny it in their Principles and Practiſes; and though total Infidelity be not found in them, yet there is a partial Infidelity, (whereby part of the Goſpel and the full ſenſe of ſundry Articles of the Creed are denyed by them,) they are guilty of. But the Book entituled [Paganopapiſmus] goes further than I do, proving that Papiſm is flat Paganiſm, and that the Papiſt reſembles Pagans in ſevenſcore ſeveral particulars: Thus he accounts them Pagans.

248. As they are Hereticks, Infidels, ſo are they impenitent ones, which ſeals them up for damnation; for the ſin of Impenitency is inflicted p. 99on them as a judgment of God, Revel. 9.20. The Turks (this Scripture ſhews us) were ſent for a Plague of the Romiſh Idolatries, and this Character together with the prediction, holds Congruity with the Romiſh Church.

249. For as the Romaniſts are great Fornicators, Murtherers, Idolaters, and worſhipers of Devils in their Images, none like them in late days; ſo they obſtinately and impenitently perſiſt in their Whoredoms, Maſſacres, and Idolatries. Notwithſtanding God hath laid deſolate the Eaſtern Church by the Turks for Idolatry; yet Rome (the Weſtern Church) repents not of the ſame Sin: Proximus ardet Ʋcalegon, the Eaſtern Idolaters are laid waſte, and can ſtupified impenitent Rome hope to be ſaved?