Popery Anatomized, Section 2
SECTION II. Whither the Church of Rome is the Catholick Church?
ANd becauſe, Chriſtian Reader, by this ſtyle of Catholick, which they aſcrive only to their Church, they cauſe the ſimple to err, and leads many blind-fold to damnation; therefore I will take this viſard from them. Ye are not the Catholick Church, as ye ſtyle your ſelf, and thus I prove it. Pope Pius the fifth, who wrote a Catechiſm according to the decree of the Council of Trent, (Catechiſm. Conc. Trident. in expoſitione Symb.) He there ſaith, That the Church which is called the body of Chriſt, whereof he is the head, is called Catholick, becauſe it is ſpread in the light of one faith from the Eaſt to the West, receiving men of all ſorts, containing all the faithful which have been from Adam, even until this day, or ſhal be hereafter to the end of the world profeſſing the true faith, &c.
Now I reaſon thus: The Catholick Church comprehends all the faithful from Adam till now, and that ſhal be hereafter to the end of the world, or elſe Pope Pius, and the Fathers of Trent errs. But the Roman Church comprehends not all the faithful from Adam till now, and that ſhal be hereafter: Therefore the Roman Church is not the Catholick Church. Chooſe you now which of theſe ye will deny. The propoſition, I ſuppoſe, ye will not: for then ye ſhould bring two inconveniencies; the one upon Pope Pius, and the Fathers of Trent, that they have erred in defining the Catholick Church, and ſo the Church and the Pope may err. The other is upon your ſelf, who ſaid that your Church hath not erred. And ſo ye loſe your ſtyl of a defender of the Catholick faith: for this is a chief point of their faith, that the Church cannot err. I hope therefore that theſe are Labyrinths which ye will not wittingly caſt your ſelf into, and ſo you muſt hold faſt the propoſition. All the queſtion is then of the aſſumption, Whither the Roman Church comprehends all the faithful from Adam till now, and which ſhal be to the end of the world, or not? Firſt, I ſay, a particular Church comprehends not all the faithful from Adam, &c. But the Roman Church is a particular Church, or elſe the Fathers of the Council of Baſile, and Verratus a Papiſt errs; for they call the Roman Church a particular Church. We grant, ſay they, (Baſil. Concil. Epiſt. Synod. 3 Verratus diſputationum contra Lutheranos, Tom. 6. de authoritate & poteſt. univerſ. Eccleſ. cap. 1.) that the Roman Church is a principal Church among others; but while you commend a part, forget not the whole. And they ſay, The Univerſal Church comprehends the Roman Church. Chooſe you then whither will you contradict the Fathers of the Council of Baſile, and a Papiſt Verratus, and be ſo abſurd as to call the arm of the body the whole body; an arm of the Ocean ſea, the whole Ocean ſea; or to go from your tittle, that the Roman Church is not the Catholick Church?
Secondly, the Catholick Church comprehends them that were before Chriſt: but the Church of Rome comprehends not them; for there was a Church ere ever there was a Church at Rome; and the Roman Church comprehends none but them that acknowledges the Pope to be the head of the Church. But thoſe that were before Chriſt never did that: Therefore the Roman Church is not the Catholick Church.
Thirdly, the Catholick Church is inviſible: for at the leaſt, neither are they that are glorified, neither are they that are to be born, viſible. But ye will not have the Roman Church, but alwayes viſible: Therefore the Roman Church is not the Catholick Church.
Fourthly, if the Roman Church be the Catholick Church, then either it ſhal follow, that the Pope is the head of the Catholick Church, or elſe that the Roman Church wants a viſible head. Chooſe you whither of theſe ye will; for the one ye muſt, if ye will have the Roman Church to be the Catholick Church. But to ſay that the Pope is the head of the Catholick Church, I ſuppoſe ye dare not be ſo blaſphemous: for the glorified Saints, and Peter himſelf, are of the Catholick Church; or elſe (as I ſaid before) Pope Pius and the Fathers of Trent errs. And ſo then if ye will make him head of the Catholick Church, ye muſt make him head of the glorified Saints, and of Peter alſo. So then chooſe you whither will ye leave the ſtyle of Catholick, which ye claim as proper to your Church; or will ye have the Pope the head of the triumphant Church in heaven? Or laſt of all will ye have your Roman Church to want a viſible head? One of theſe ye muſt chooſe. So to end this point, this ſtyle of Catholick, it is like the numbering of the people by David: for as it brought him in a wonderful ſtrait, when he ſaw it behoved him to chooſe, either ſeven years famine, or four moneths flying before his enemies, or three days peſtilence, 2. Sam. 24. So this tittle of yours, if you will abide by it, brings you in a wonderful ſtrait: for ye have not the choiſe of one of three evils; but theſe three things muſt ye either chooſe, or elſe let this ſtyle of Catholick go; one of you fighting againſt another, the Church inviſible, and the Pope not to be the head of the Church. Of the which, the leaſt of theſe is more able to overthrow your Kingdom, then they all were able to have overthrown the Kingdom of David; for they are the main pillars of your Kingdom, your unity, your viſibility, your Popes ſupremacy; all which you muſt either loſe, or elſe let your ſtyle of Catholick go from your Church. But how will ye wreſtle your ſelf out of this? For if ye will believe the Fathers of Trent, and Pope Pius, in defining the Catholick Church, ye cannot eſchew theſe inconveniencies. And if you will not believe them, that they ſpake truly in that point, ye muſt accuſe them of error. And ſo the Church hath erred, the Pope hath erred, and your ſelf hath erred, that ſaid your Church hath the truth in all things. And ſurely as Cajaphas being high Prieſt that year, ſpake the truth, when he ſaid that one muſt die for the people, John 11.50. and not the whole Nation periſh, ſuppoſe in an evil ſenſe. So have the Fathers of Trent, and Pope Pius here ſpoken truly, both according to the Scriptures; for the Church is called the aſſembly of the firſtborn, whoſe names are written in heaven, Heb. 12.23. And that new Jeruſalem which is from above, which is the mother of us all, Gal. 4.26. And alſo according to the Fathers, Clem. Alex. Strom. lib. 7. & Bernard in Cant. c. 78. & Auguſt. de catechiſ. rud. cap. 20. & Gregor. moral. in Job. lib. 28. cap. 9. who affirmeth that the Church is the company of the predeſtinat, and all the elect are within the compaſs of it, & are citizens of it. So as Chriſt ſaid to the Jews, Matth. 12.27. If I caſt out devils by the prince of devils, by whom then caſteth your children them out? So if we ſpeak now by an erroneous ſpirit, that ſayes the Catholick Church comprehends all the elect, that was, is, and ſhal be, and the Church of Rome cannot be the Catholick Church. By what ſpirit hath your Council and Pope and theſe Fathers ſpoken the ſame? So not your children, but your Fathers ſhal be your Judges.
Ye did mark ſome contradiction, as ye thought, between me and ſome others, unto the which I will anſwer in the own time. Let me therefore mark this one now, and mark it, Reader. Ye have heard now how that all theſe with one voice have ſaid, that the Catholick Church comprehends all the elect, that was, is, and ſhal be. Is it any hereſie then to hold this point? I think you will not, nor dare not ſay it. What will you ſay then to your general Council of Conſtance, Seſſ 15. art. 1. 6. who condemned John Hus for the ſame doctrine, the firſt and ſixth article, for ſaying that there is an Univerſal Church▪ which is the company of the predeſtinat, and as it is taken in this ſenſe, it is an article of our faith? For theſe, among the reſt, was this pure innocent condemned and burnt as an heretick, & his doctrine as hereſie: which of theſe will ye ſay now have erred, whither the general Council of Conſtance, or the Fathers of Trent, Pope Pius, Gregorie, Auguſtine, Clement, and Bernard? For ſurely if the latter erred not, then not only did the Council of Constance err, but alſo have brought upon themſelves innocent blood, in condemning the innocent, and the truth in him. And if the Council of Conſtance erred not, in condemning theſe articles of John Hus, then have they condemned the doctrine of the Fathers of Trent, Pope Pius, Gregorie, Auguſtine, &c. and their perſons, in the perſon of John Hus. Chooſe which of them ye will. I ſpeak the truth to thee in Chriſt (Reader) be not deceived. But open thy eyes and behold the veritie it ſelf condemned by a general Council, and the profeſſor of it burnt for an heretick: but his blood and the blood of the reſt of the martyrs of God, is found in this whore of Babel, and therefore one day ſhe ſhal be recompenſed for all her iniquity, Rev. 17.6. and 18.24. Go out of her therefore, and ſave thy ſoul, that thou be not tormented in the lake that burns with fire and brimſtone with her for evermore, Rev 18.45. Otherwiſe I call heaven and earth to witneſs againſt thee, that thou ſhalt die in her ſin, and the ſmoke of thy torment ſhal aſcend for evermore, Rev. 14.1.
What now will you ſay to theſe things, that your Church is not the Catholick Church, but a part of it only; and is only Catholick, becauſe of the Catholick doctrine that ſhe profeſſes? But if this be true, wherefore then did your general Council condemn it in John Hus, and burn him for that doctrine, which both your ſelf muſt confeſs to be true, and is agreeable to Scripture, Fathers, and your own Popes?
Next, I ſay, ſuppoſe when ye are brought to this ſtrait, ye muſt ſay ſo: yet for all this, not only call ye your Church Catholick, becauſe of the ſoundneſs of doctrine which ye ſuppoſe ſhe profeſſes, but alſo and ſpeciallie to make the ſimple believe, that there is no ſalvation out of her: As appeareth by the Epiſtle of Cardinal Cuſanus, writing to the Bohemians, Cochlaeus hiſtor. Huſſitar. lib. 21. Therefore ye call it the only true Church, and the Catholick Church: for out of the particular Church there is ſalvation, but out of the Catholick Church there is no ſalvation.
Thirdlie, I ſay, as the Epiſtles of Peter, John, James, and Jude, are intituled Catholick, not becauſe of the ſoundneſs of their doctrine, which is common to the Epiſtles of Paul alſo, and all the reſt of the Scripture, which in that reſpect may alſo be called Catholick, but becauſe they are written generallie to all: So the Church is called Catholick properly, not becauſe of the ſoundneſs of doctrine, for that is common to all the particular Churches that have the puritie of Religion, but becauſe it comprehends all the particular Churches, and all the elect. And alſo to put a difference between the Church of the Jewes, which did comprehend but one certain people, and the Chriſtian Church ſince the coming of Chriſt, which is not bound to any certain place or nation, or people, but indifferently receives all, both Jew and Gentil that believes, and therefore is it called Catholick: and therefore in our Belief we ſay not, I believe the Catholick doctrine, but the Catholick Church. So by this ſhe is properlie diſtinguiſhed from particular Churches, as the mother from the daughters, and the whole body from the particular members. So then if you would ſpeak properlie of your Church, and not make your ſtyles ſnares to catch the ſouls of the ſimple, call her but a particular Church, and a member of the Catholick Church, but yet dead and rotten, as ſhal be ſhown afterward, by the grace of God. Otherwiſe, if you will but call her the Catholick Church, you firſt rob the mother, for ſhe is properly Catholick, and alſo injures the reſt of the daughters: For in reſpect of the ſoundneſs of faith, they may alſo challenge the ſame to them.
And thirdly, ye deceive the ſouls of the ſimple thereby, by making them believe there is not one other Church but yours. And laſt of all, you are ſacrilegious, in decking an adultereſs with the ſtyles of the ſpouſe of Chriſt.
As to the third point, wherein ye calumniate the truth of God which we profeſs, in calling it a new Evangel, and old renewed, and new invented hereſies of our own. Theſe are indeed heavie words wherewith ye blaſpheme the word of the Lord, Acts 18.6. and 19.9. and ſpeak evil of it to the people of this Countrey. And therefore as the Apoſtle ſaith of them that blaſphemed his doctrine, Your damnation is juſt, Rom. 3.8. For a wo by Gods own mouth is pronounced againſt them that call good evil, and evil good, truth falſhood, and falſhood truth, and darkneſs light, and light darkneſs, Iſai. 5.20. But as the Archangel when he ſtrave with Satan about the body of Moſes, did not blame him with curſed ſpeaking, but ſaid, The Lord rebuke thee, Jude 9. ſo we will not blame you with curſed ſpeaking, but the Lord rebuke you. For ye ſpeak here the viſion of your own heart, and not from the mouth of the Lord: And ye are not the firſt that hath blaſphemed the truth of God; for ſo did the Jewes before you, call the doctrine of the Goſpel, a ſect, a hereſie; and the Gentiles called it ſtrange Gods, and a new doctrine; and the preachers thereof, a ſetter forth of ſtrange Gods, and of new doctrine, and a babler, Acts 28. and 14. and 17. The Jews ſaid, that Chriſt had a Devil; and yet as our Lord teſtifies, it was they that were the children of the Devil, John 8.44. Ye ſay that we preach a new Evangel, and old & new hereſies; but this is the ſin & the doctrine of your Church: For to let that paſs of that new & everlaſting Goſpel, which your Friers invented & deviſed, as teſtifieth Guliel. de ſancto Amore, in his book de pericul. noviſſ temp. anno 1192. wherein was contained ſuch blaſphemies, as the heaven and earth abhorrs to hear them: That God the Father reigned under the law: God the Son under grace: And the holy Ghoſt was then that year to begin his kingdom, and to continue to the end of the world. And that Jeſus Chriſt was not God, his Sacrament nothing, and his Evangel not a true Evangel. (O horrible blaſphemie) the which if God had not raiſed up ſome men in thoſe days to have reſiſted it, as the Waldenſes, and others which ye call hereticks and infamous men, the Goſpel of Chriſt had been loſt; and in ſtead of it, we would have gotten a new Goſpel, the dreggs whereof yet remains in your Church. But I will let this paſs, becauſe the wiſe men of Babel (I mean your Clergy of Rome) ſaw that that was too plain an iniquitie, therefore they cauſed it quietlie to be removed and buried, and yet they not condemned as hereticks that preached it. But by the contrary, the Waldenſes, and others that withſtood it, was condemned as hereticks, and their books burnt. To let this paſs, I ſay, which teſtifieth what the world might have looked for at your hands, if the Lord had not provided better for his poor Church Your whole doctrine is Antichriſtian, as ſhal be proved hereafter, your Church Babel, Rev. 17. your Kingdom that ſecond beast, Rev. 13.11. that hath two horns like the Lamb, and yet ſpeaks like the dragon; and your head, the man of ſin, 2. Theſſ. 2. and ſon of perdition. And ye are they that have renewed old condemned hereſies, and have invented new of your own, as ſhal be proved afterward, by Gods grace.