The Romanists in poynt of Traditions, contradict the truth and themselves; grounding most of their erro- The most generall pretended Traditions of the Ro- mane Church, were utterly unknown to the Greeke Church, and want Antiquitie, Universalitie, and Suc- 309 The Scriptures are a certaine, safe, and evident direc- tion to the right way of Salvation; and consequently to Our Adversaries make great boast of the Testimonies of the ancient Fathers in generall, yet when they come The most substantial poynts of Romaine Faith and Doctrine, as they are now taught and received in the Saint Augustine in particular is much disparaged by the Romanists; and for instance in many severall poynts Councels which are so highly extolled, and opposed against us, were neither called by lawful authoritie, or Councells, which our Adversaries pretend, as a chiefe Bulwark of their faith, give no support at all to the Ro- The Councell of Trent, which is the maine Pillar, and last last resolution of the Roman faith, is of small or no In the Roman Church, which our adversaries so highly extoll above the Scriptures, there is neither safe- tie nor certaintie, whether they understand the Essen- The most common Plea of the Romanists drawne from the Infallibilitie, Authoritie, and Title of the The Church which our Adversaries so much magnifie among themselves, is finally resolved into the Pope, The infallibilitie of the Pope's Judgment, which is made the Rule of Faith, to determine all Controversies, The Church, upon which the learned Romanists ground their Faith, is no other than the Pope: and the Eminent and perpetuall Visibilitie, is no certaine The Latencie and obscuritie of the true Church is' prooved by pregnant testimonies of such who com- plained of corruptions and abuses, and withall desired The aforenamed corruptions, and most remarkable The Conclusion of this Treatise, shewing in sundrie M. Brown, Printer, 86, St. Martin's Lane, TO THE RELIGIOUS AND WELL AFFECTED GENTRY OF THIS KINGDOME. İF for no other cause, yet for this alone, that the world may knowe, it is no difficult matter for a meane Layman to proove the Ancient Visibilitie of the Protestant profession, I have attempted to send foorth this Essay of my poore endeavours in this cause, being thereunto provoked by a challenge heretofore sent unto mee, by a Jesuite, in these words: (viz.) That Sir Humfrey or his friends should proove out of some good Authors, that the Protestant Church was in all ages visible, especially in the ages before Luther. It is not my profession, I must confesse, to returne challenges, or publish works of this nature; yet knowing that Truth is justified of her children, I have presumed as a childe of that Mother, to vindicate her cause, and maintaine my owne reputation: and in answer hereunto, I shall present such proofes, as are warranted by certificate and confession, not onely of the most Orthodoxe Fathers, but of the Romish Bishops, Doctors, Cardinalls, and other moderne Writers in the Romane Church. It is an undoubted truth, and subscribed by both parties, that the faith which Christ and his Apostles taught in the first Age, had visible professours in all ages. It were therefore sufficient (without any further recital of succeeding witnesses) to proove, that the now faith of the Church of England, is that faith, which was once delivered to the Saints by Christ and his Apostles. But I rather condescend to meete the Adversarie upon his own ground, and to deale with him at the same weapon, which himselfe hath chosen; wherein on our part the An ient Fathers shall be my Champions, and his owne Romish Bishops, Doctors, Cardinalls, and Schoolemen shall be my Seconds, as beeing Testes veritatis, witnesses of God's Trueth, professed in our Church. Of what strength and force is truth, shall appeare by this, that as shee extorts a full and ample testimonie from her sworne enemies, to make good the visibilitie of our Church; and denyes Antiquitie and Universalitie to the principall Articles of the new Romane Creed; wherein shee poynts forth that old and true way. And this is acknowledged on both sides to be Via Tuta The certaine and Safe Way. Upon which ground it is likewise lawful for me, Talionis lege, to frame a counter-challenge, by demanding, By what authoritie of Scriptures, and ancient Fathers, they have imposed new Articles of beliefe upon Priestes and people? Sure I am those (twelve) new coyned Articles, declared by their grand Councell of Trent, and published by Pope Pius the fourth, with streight charge to bee received of all men, upon perill of Salvation, are so farre short from the knowledge of Antiquity, that as yet they are scarce understood amongst their owne Disciples for Articles of faith. And their best learned Romanists. For they may be reduced to this number, as some have done. Author of the Preface to B. Jewel's works. Doctor Sharp's Looking-glasse for the Pope, p. 272. (Extra quam nemo salvus esse potest.) Vide Bullam. professe |