Works of Joseph Hall, Dedication 24 – Text 5
TO THE TRVE, SOVND, AND HOLY CHVRCH OF GOD; whereſoeuer warfaring vponupon Earth.
I Preſent vntounto thee (deare, and holy Mother) this poore vnworthy token of my louelove and loialtie; the not ſo pleaſing, as true report of thy future broiles. How much gladder ſhould I hauehave beene (if thy Spouſe had ſo thought good) to hauehave beene the meſſenger of thy Peace and ſecuritie! But ſince the great, and wiſe Moderator of all things, hath thought a Palme fitter for thee, than an Oliue; it is for thee to thinke of victory, not of reſt: Thou ſhalt once triumph in heauen, and reſt for all; but in the meane time, here is nothing to bee lookt for, but ambuſhes, skirmiſhes, tumults: And how cheerefully muſt thou needs both beare and ouercome all oppoſitions, that art not more ſure of the neceſsitie of thy warfare, than of the happineſſe of thy ſucceſſe, whileſt thou ſeeſt thy glorious husband, not onelyonly the leader of this field, but a moſt iuſt, and mercifull crowner of thy Conqueſt. Certainly, it is as vnpoſsible for thee to miſcarry, as to ſit ſtill, and not fight: Behold, all the forces of heauen and earth conſpire, and reioyce to come voluntaries vntounto this holy warre of thine, and promiſe thee a moſt happy iſſue: addreſſe thy ſelfe therefore (as thou art wont) couragiouſly to this worke of God: But remember, firſt, to inquire (as thou doſt) of ABEL: Spare no teares to thy deſperate Siſter, (now thine enemie) and calling heauen and earth to witneſſe, vponupon thy knees beſeech and intreat her, by her owne ſoule, and by the deare bowels of CHRIST, by thoſe precious drops of his bloudy ſweat, by that common price of our eternall redemption, that ſhe would at the laſt returne to her ſelfe, and that good diſpoſition, which ſhe hath now too long abandoned; that ſhe would forbeare, any more (as I feare ſhee hath hitherto wilfully done) to fight againſt God: but if ſhee ſhall ſtill perſiſt to ſtop her eares againſt thee, and to harden her ſelfe in rebellion againſt her God; forget (if thou canſt) who ſhee once was; and flie mercileſly vponupon this daughter of Beliall, that vaunts her ſelfe proudly in the glory of her munition; Goe, ſmite, deſtroy, conquer, and reigne, as the worthy partner of thine husbands Throne: For mee, I ſhall in the meane time be as one of thy rude Trumpets, whoſe noiſe ſhall both awaken thy courage vntounto this ſpirituall battell, and whoſe ioyfull gratulations ſhall, after thy rich ſpoiles, applaud thine happy returne in the day of thy victory.
J. H.
THE SVMME OF THE following Sections.
SECTION I.
THe ſtate of the now-Roman Church.
SECTION II.
The commodities and conditions of Peace.
SECTION III.
The obſtinate and Peace-hating diſpoſition of Papiſts.
SECTION IV.
That the Confeſsion of the ſame Creed is not with them, ſufficient to Peace.
SECTION V.
The imputation or corruption of the Roman Church; and their impoſsibility of Reconciliation, ariſing from that wilfull fable of the Popes infallibilitie.
SECTION VI.
That the other Opinions of the Romiſh Church will not admit Reconciliation.
SECTION VII.
The Romiſh Hereſie concerning Iuſtification.
SECTION VIII.
Concerning Free-will.
SECTION IX.
Concerning Merits.
SECTION X.
Concerning Satisfaction.
SECTION XI.
Concerning Purgatorie.
SECTION XII.
Concerning Pardons.
SECTION XIII.
Concerning the diſtinction of Mortall and Veniall ſinne.
SECTION XIV.
Concerning the Canon of the Scripture.
SECTION XV.
Concerning the inſufficiencie of Scripture.
SECTION XVI.
Concerning the authoritie of Scripture.
SECTION XVII.
Concerning Tranſſubſtantiation.
SECTION XVIII.
Concerning the Multi-preſence of Chriſts bodie.
SECTION XIX.
Concerning the ſacrifice of the Maſſe.
SECTION XX.
Concerning the number of Mediators, and the Inuocation of Saints.
SECTION XXI.
Concerning the Superſtitious, Heatheniſh, and ridiculous worſhip of the Papiſts.
SECTION XXII.
Concerning the impoſsibilitie of the meanes of Reconciliation.
THE OPINION OF George Caſſander, A LEARNED PAPIST, AND GRAVE DIVINE; That by two ſeuerall Emperors, FERDINAND, and MAXIMILIAN, was ſet on worke to compoſe theſe quarrels of the CHVRCH. In his conſultation, pag. 56. & 57.
YEt J cannot denie, but that in the beginning, many out of a godly zeale and care, were driuen to a ſharpe and ſeuere reproofe of certaine manifeſt abuſes; and that the principall cauſe of this calamitie, and diſtraction of the Church, is to bee laid vponupon thoſe, which being puffed vp with a vaine inſolent conceit of their Eccleſiaſticall power, proudly and ſcornefully contemned and reiected them, which did rightly, and modeſtly, admoniſh their reformation: Wherefore my opinion is, that the Church can neuer hope for any firme Peace, vnleſſe they make the beginning, which hauehave giuen the cauſe of the diſtraction: that is, vnleſſe thoſe which are in place of Eccleſiaſticall Gouernment, will bee content to remit ſomething of their too much rigor, and yeeld ſomewhat to the Peace of the Church; and hearkening vntounto the earneſt Prayers and Admonitions of many godly men, will ſet themſelues to correct manifeſt abuſes, according to the rule of Diuine Scriptures, and of the ancient Church from which they hauehave ſwarued.