The Council of Trent Examined and Disproved, Table of contents
THE CONTENTS.
SOme Postulata about Catholick Tradition, Page 1.
I. Point examined about Traditions being a Rule of Faith equal with Scriptures, 2.
The Sense of the Council of Trent concerning it, 3.
No. Catholick Tradition for it shew'd from the differences about it in the Council, 4.
From the Divines of the Roman Church for some Ages before the Council, 5.
The Testimonies of the Canon Law against it, 17.
Of the Ancient Offices of the Roman Church, 20.
Of the Fathers, 21.
The first step of Traditions being set up as a Rule by the second Council of Nice, 26.
Not receiv'd as a Rule of Faith till after the Council of Lateran under Innocent III. 27.
The occasion of it set down from new Points of Faith there determin'd, 28.
Never established for a Rule till the Council of Trent, 29.
II. About the Canon of Scripture defined by the Council of Trent, 30.
The Sense of the Council, ibid.
The difference there about it, 31.
A constant Tradition against it in the Eastern Church. 33.
No Catholick Tradition for it in the Western Church, 35.
The several steps as to the Alteration of the Canon set down, 38.
The different meaning of Apocryphal Writings, 40.
III. About the free use of the Scripture in the vulgar Language prohibited by the Council of Trent, 43.
The Sense of the Council, ibid.
No Catholick Tradition about this proved from the Writers of the Roman Church, 44.
The General Consent of the Catholick Church against it proved from the Ancient Translations into Valgar Languages, 46.
The first Occasion of the Scriptures being in an unknown Language, 52.
The first prohibition by Gregory VII. 56.
Continued by the Inquisition after Innocent III. 58.
IV. About the Merit of Good Works, 59.
The Sense of true Merit cleared from the Divines of the Church of Rome, ibid.
No Catholick Tradition for it proved from ancient Offices, 61.
From Provincial Councils and eminent Divines in several Ages before the Council of Trent, 63.
The several steps how the Doctrine of Merit came in, 68.
V. Of the number of Sacraments, 74.
An appeal to Tradition for 500. years for Seven Sacraments examin'd and disprov'd, 75.
As to Chrism, 77.
As to Drders, 80.
As to Penance, 85.
As to Extreme-Unction, 92.
As to Patrimony, 97.
The sense of the Greek Church about the Seven Sacraments, 102.
The Sense of other Eastern Churches, 110.
When the number of Seven Sacraments came first in, 112.
The particular occasions of them, 116.
VI. Of Auricular Confession, 117.
No Catholick Tradition confessed by their own Writers, 118.
>The several steps and Occasions of introducing it, at large set down, 127.
The difference between the ancient Discipline and Modern Confession, 128.
Of voluntary Confession, 133.
Of the Penitentiaries Office, 135.
Publick Discipline not taken away at Constantinople when the Penitentiary was removed, 136.
Proved from S. Chrysostom, 140.
Publick Penance for publick Sins, 142.
Private Confession came in upon the decay of the Ancient Discipline, 144.
THE Council of Trent EXAMINED AND DISPROVED, &c.
THere are Two things designed by me in this Treatise,
1. To shew that there is no such thing as universal Tradition for the main Points in Controversie between us and the Church of Rome, as they are determined by the Council of Trent.
2. To give an Account by what Steps and Degrees, and on what Occasion those Doctrines and Practices came into the Church.
But before I come to particulars, I shall lay down some reasonable Postulata.
1. That a Catholick Tradition must be universally received among the sound Members of the Catholick Church.
2. That the force of Tradition lies in the Certainty of Conveyance of Matters of Faith from the Apostolical Times. For no New Doctrines being pretended to, there can be no Matter of Faith in any Age of the Church, but what was so in the precedent and so up to the Apostles times.
3. That it is impossible to suppose the Divines of the Catholick Church to be ignorant, what was in their own time received for Catholick Tradition. For, if it be so hard for others to mistake it, it will be much more so for those whose business is to enquire into, and to deliver Matters of Faith.
These things premised, I now enter upon the Points themselves; and I begin with,