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A Catholicks Reſolution, Or, a Serious ENQUIRY Whether it be Better To turn Independent, Presbyterian, Romane? Or continue What I am, Catholick? In Matter of RELIGION?

London, Printed Anno Dom. MDCLXVIII.
I. Whether Independent

OF all Religions I think I could make ſomewhat among Them; for what Learning I have, will help maintain their Ignorance, and my being a Proſelyte, will promote their Confidence. It's probable I could frame as plauſible a Diſcourſe of the Reaſons inducing me to be of that Perſuaſion, as ſome they have admitted: But before I joyn with them, I ſhall wait a reſolution of the following Queries. And,

1. Whether I can eaſily joyn with ſuch, as would Paganize and make Antichriſtian all the Churches of Chriſt in the whole world, except themſelves?

2. Whether that be a falſe Church that converts their Members, before they come to be of their Party?

3. Or that which would propound a better way for Miniſters maintenance, than God, who hath ordained, That they that ſerve at the Altar ſhould live by the Altar?

4. And that ſet up ſuch to be Preachers, as have no art nor knowledg in the Tongues?

5. That make the whole eſſence of the Miniſterial Call to conſiſt in Election of the people, without Ordination?

6. That cry down Biſhops, becauſe they cannot preach to all their Flock at once, and yet themſelves gather Churches from York to London, ſo that many do not ſee the face of their Paſtor once in a year?

7. Whether under that Notion all Hereſies have not crept into the Church?

8. Whether I ſhall joyn to that Party, who never yet could ſet bounds to themſelves; but do ſtill expect ſome new Diſcoveries for Modification? and whether my conſent go that not be more dangerous than the Oath of &c?

9. Whether I ſhall ſubmit to that Party, that hitherto neither the moſt Religious, the moſt Learned, nor the major part of any Nation ever yet ſubmitted to?

10. Whether the firſt and beſt of our Reformers ever thought of or practiſed ſuch a way?

11. Whether, were I now to die, I could take comfort in their Abſolution, ſeeing not one of them is authorized thereunto? And,

12. That would perſuade us that all our Martyrs for the Proteſtant Cauſe, did worſhip God in a wrong way, and therein condemn the Generation of the Juſt?

Could Anſwer be brought in to this Jury of Queſtions, That they are Not guilty, I could then better believe them, and relieve my ſelf: For the preſent, my Conſcience not being ſatisfied, I ſhall with them Catholick Charity, and pray, That as they would ſhun the F • ock of Superſtition on the one hand: they would likewiſe avoid the Shelve of Separation on the other: And O thou that alone art an Independent Being, teach all thine to depend upon thee, for counſel and direction, and not to deſpiſe the Churches Communion!

II. Whether Presbyterian?

IT is a Thriving way, and I am poor; the tentation therefore is ſtrong: but better enjoy peace of Conſcience, than the ſpoils of violence; I ſhall yet propoſe ſome caſes of conſcience, and upon their true Reſolves, I ſhall either ſhake hands with him, or continue what I am.

1. Whether I do not believe, That Chriſt taught his Apoſtles to pray, and ſay, Our Father which art in heaven?

2. Whether I do not believe, That the Apoſtles did pray, and ſay, as Chriſt taught them, Our Father which art in heaven?

3. Whether I have done well, to expunge and obliterate that Prayer, Our Father which art in heaven?

4. Whether I do not believe; That Chriſt ſent his Apoſtles, as his Father ſent him? Joh. 20.21.

5. Whether I do not believe, That the Father ſent Chriſt to be the chief Biſhop of our Souls? 1 Pet. 2.25.

6. Whether I do not believe both theſe miſſions to be jure divino?

7. Whether I do not therefore believe, Epiſcopacy to be jure Divino?

8. Whether I do not believe 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , to be a different word from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ?

9. Whether I do not believe Biſhop to be the name of office and dignity, Presbyter to be a name of order and duty?

10. Whether I do not believe Biſhops are ſometimes called Presbyters, becauſe they were Presbyters before they were Biſhops?

11. Whether I do not believe Presbyters qua Presbyters are never called Biſhops?

12. Whether I do not believe that St. Paul ſpake and did divinely, when he conſtituted Timothy Biſhop of Epheſus, and Titus Biſhop of Creet, to overſee, and if need were to rebuke the Presbyters there?

13. Whether I do not believe St. Jerome ſpake piouſly, when he ſaid, Niſi exors quaedam & ab omnibus eminens poteſtas Epiſcopo ducetur, tot eſſent Schiſmata, quot Sacerdotes; That unleſs an extraordinary and peerleſs preheminence were given to the Biſhop, there would be as many Schiſms as Prieſts.

14. Whether I do not believe King James ſpake politickly and prudently, when be ſaid, No Biſhop, no King?

15. Whether I do not believe the Primitive Church, and ſo the Church ſucceſſively untill of very late years, one century and leſs than an half, was governed by Epiſcopacy?

16. Whether therefore I do not believe I have done very ill to ſhoulder out Epiſcopacy, that I might get into his Chair?

17. Whether I do not believe that Thebulis and Aërius were therefore called Hereticks, becauſe they would have had an eccleſiaſtical parity, Biſhop and Presbyter all one?

18. Whether I do not believe, The Canon; of the Apoſtles diſtinguiſhed the three degrees of Biſhops, Presbyters and Deacons, and gave the ſuperiority to Biſhops▪ Can. 4, 6, 7

19. Whether I do not believe Thebulis and Aërius did therefore phanſie an eccleſiaſtical parity, becauſe they could not be made Biſhops, which they earneſtly affected? Epiphan. Haereſ. 75.

20. Whether I do not believe the Church of Jeruſalem was called a Virgin Church, and never corrupted, until by Thebulis, becauſe he was not made a Biſhop? Euſ. l. 4 c. 22.

21. Whether I do not believe Ignatius lived in the Apoſtles days, and ſaw Christ in the fleſh, and being yet a Bresbyter, writ to the Antiochians, to remember Evodius their Biſhop, who firſt from the Apoſtles received the ſuperiority above the Presbyters; and after being Biſhop himſelf, and going to ſuffer under Trajan, writ to the Clergy and Presbyters there, That they would be diligent in feeding their flo • k, untill God did ſhow unto them, Him that ſhould rule over them after his death? And in another Epiſtle ad Sard. thus, Presbyters be obedient to your Biſhops; Deacons be obedient to your Presbyters; Laymen be obedient to all: And after all concludes thus: My ſoul for theirs that obſerve this order, The Lord be with them.

22. Whether I do not believe Aërius was the firſt that voted down all Faſts. Vigilantius the firſt that voted down all Feaſts appointed by the Church both Hereticks; and therefore whether I may not fear, I am ſomething Heretical in following their ſteps?

23. Whether I do not believe, that S. James ſet out a Lyturgie or book of Common Prayer, for the Church in his time; St. Baſil the like in his time; St. Chryſoſtome the like in his time; and ſo downwards untill Mr. John Calvins time?

24. Whether I do not bel • eve, that Mr. John Calvin himſelf thought well of Common Prayers, and particularly of our Common Prayer Book, when he ſaid, Quod ad formam precum & rituum Eccleſiae, valdè probo, ut certa illa extet, à qua paſtoribus in ſua functione d • ſcedere non licet; Concerning a Form of Prayer, and Eccleſiaſtical Rites, I very well like, that there be a certain and conſtant one, from which the Paſtors of the Church may in no wiſe depart or vary?

25. Whether I do not believe, That every word in the Common Prayer Book is in the Bible, either literally or rationally deduced thence. v. g. for the Confeſſion. Almighty God, Gen. 17.1. And moſt merciful Father, Exod. 34.6. We have erred and ſtrayed from thy ways like loſt ſheep, Pſal. 119.176. We have followed too much the deviſes and deſires of our own hearts, Jer. 18.12. We have offended againſt thy holy laws, Mat. 7.8. We have left undone thoſe things which we ought to have done, 1 Sam. 15.24. And we have done thoſe things which we ought not to have done, 1 Sam. 24.5. 2 Sam. 12.13. And there is no health in us, Pſa. 38.3. But thou O Lord have mercy upon us miſerable offenders, Luke 18.13. Spare thou them O God which confeſs their faults, Prov. 28.13. Reſtore thou them that be penitent, Ez. 18.31. According to thy promiſe declared unto mankind in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord, Mat. 11 18. And grant O moſt merciful Father for his ſake, Joh. 16.23. That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and ſober life, Titus 2.12. To the glory of thy holy name, 1 Tim. 6.16.

26. Whether I do not believe the Abſolution, Almighty God the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, be grounded upon, John 20.23.

27. Whether I do not believe the Lords Prayer, with the Doxology, Thine is the Kingdom, Power and Clory, is verbatim in Mat. 6 and without that Doxology in Luke 11.

28. Whether I do not believe, thoſe Verſicles, O God make ſpeed to ſave us, be not in Pſal. 102.13. Open thou my lips O Lord. And my mouth ſhall ſhew forth thy praiſe, Pſal. 51.15.

I might be endleſs: to anſwer therefore ſome of your Grand Objections; I ask,

29. Whether I do not believe, Remember not Lord our offenſes, nor the offenſes of our forefathers, is a ſincere prayer for the living, and no ſinful prayer for the dead, viz. That God would not viſit the offenſes of our forefathers upon in their children, and grounded upon Exo 20. and Ezek. 18.

30. Whether I do not believe, From ſudden death good Lord deliver us, is a fervent ejaculation, no idle deſire, that God would not take us away unpreparedly, until we have made ready our Accounts?

31. Whether I do not believe, For all them that travel by land or by water, all women labouring of child &c. is a charitable prayer, and anſwerable to the Apoſtles command, Do good to all, Gal. 6.10. Pray for all men 1 Tim 2.3.

32. Whether I do not believe, By thy holy Nativity & Circumciſion, by thy Agony and bloudy ſweat &c. is obteſtative, and the ſign of our Faith, not affirmative and the ſign of an Oath; deſiring God by theſe effectual means of the Actions and Paſsions of Jeſus Chriſt, to deliver us from thoſe puniſhments which are due unto us for our ſins.

33. Whether I do not believe, the firſt prayer in the Office of Matrimony, That God would bleſſe this couple, as Iſaac and Rebecca, proceeded rather from the holy Ghoſts inſpiration, than from humane invention; becauſe if from man onely, he would have gone upon reaſon, and made the prayer thus, bleſſe them as Abraham and Sarah, or bleſſe them as Jacob and Rachel; for Abraham was Gods firſt friend, jacob was Gods great friend; yet neither ſo, nor ſo, but as Iſaac and Rebecca; becauſe Abraham had his Hagar, one Concubine; Jacob had his Zilkah and his Bilkah two at leaſt, Iſaac never any but his Rebecca?

34. Whether I do not believe, That that prayer, Prevent us O Lord in all our doings, &c. be not abſolutely againſt thoſe great points of Popery, concerning works of preoperation and cooperation, grounded upon that of St. Paul, Eph. 2.8. and ſo no kin to the Maſs Book?

34. VVhether I do not believe the Creed of the Apoſtles is every word in the Scripture, viz. I believe, Mark 9 24. in God John 14 1. the Father, 1 Cor. 1.3. Almighty, Gen. 17.1. maker of heaven and earth, Gen. 1.1. and in Jeſus Chriſt his only Son our Lord, Rom. 1.3. which was conceived by the holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary, Luke 1.35. ſuffered under Pontius Pilate, John 19.1. was Crucified John 19.18. Dead John 19.30. and Buried, John 19.42. He deſcended into Hell, Act 2.27. the third day he roſe again from the dead, 1 Cor. 15.4. He aſcended into Heaven, and ſitteth at the right-hand of God, Mar. 10.19. From thence he ſhall come to judge the quick and the dead. Act 10.42. And in the holy Ghoſt, Mat. 28.19. The holy Catholick Church the communion of Saints, Epheſ. 5.27. the forgiveneſs of ſins, Col. 1.14. The Reſurrection of the Body, 1 Cor. 15.35. and life everlaſting, John 10.28.

36. VVhether I do believe the Feaſts of Chriſtmaſs, Eaſter and whitſuntide have been obſerved by the pureſt and Primitive Churches, and commanded upon as to obſerve the ſame? Clem. ep. decret, Teleſph. p. 117. Cyprian de Nativ. Chriſti, Nazian. Orat. 38. Chryſoſt. hom in Nativ▪ Chriſti. The Church of Helvetias confeſs, c. 24. The Church of Bohemia, c. 15. The Church of Bremen, Regiſt. 2. fine, the Church of Auſpurge confeſſ. act. 4.

37. Whether I do not believe, The Lord b • with thee; and with thy Spirit, equivalent to •• uth. 2.4.

38. Whether I do not believe St. Paul ſpake Scripture, when he ſaid, and bid us pray with the ſpirt a • d with the underſtanding, and whether I do not ſometimes pray without the underſtanding, when I think I pray by the ſpirit.

39. VVhether I do not believe, That therefore I have done very ill to excommunicate the Engliſh Common Prayer Book, which by moſt Divines hath been cal ed optimum Breviarium, and ſo inſtead of it, have ſet up a Directory, which ſpeaks nothing ſo much, as the ſixth ſence, and hath no better Derivation than from the Directarii? But I am in earneſt, and earneſtly deſire of Almighty God, that if the Presbyterian be determined to go on in his opinion; yet that we may joyn together in all Chriſtian affection, and ſo meet in heaven, in everlaſting Union; for till I am convinced upon the former Queries, I am reſolved never to be of their communion upon earth; though I wiſh them increaſe of ſanctity, while they live; and eternity of happineſſe when they dye, through Ieſus Chri • t, Amen.

III. Whether Romane?

I Am as far from Rome, as I am from Geneva; yet finding the Romane poſſeſt with more of the water, & the Presbyterian with more of the fire, I hope ſome moderation may in time cement England and Rome into the Catholick, ſo ſtrongly, as never hereafter to be diſſolved, or melted by the fury of zeal: You and you only I confeſſe have the face of a Church, and I hope you will not deny us the Form, and Being of a Church; ſince I believe there is ſo much ingenuity and wiſdom in you, as to diſtinguiſh betwixt a Church extinguiſhed and eclipſed or perſecuted: The Church of England I acknowledge is under a cloud and eclipſed, but the Candle is not quite out and extinguiſhed: Whereſoever two or three (of the Catholick Church) are gathered together, there is Ch • iſt in the midſt of them, ſo was his promiſe Matt. 18.20. And whereſoever a lawful Prieſt or Paſtour of the Engliſh Church is with two or three of his Congregation, I will not, I dare not doubt of the performance. If you have leſſe charity, either in the taking or miſtaking of it, I ſhall propoſe ſome few Queries in my own name, as one of you, though I thank God I am none of you, not ever intend to be in opinion, howſoever in affection, becauſe you are my next neighbour; I therefore love you • s my ſelf.

1. VVhether I do believe Romane and Catholick are Termini co • vertiblies?

2. Whether I do believe, I may be ſaved, if I pray as the Catholick Church doth, and was taught by Chriſt, Our fathe • which art in heaven; though I do not pray, as the Ro •• n Church doth, and teacheth, O thou mother of God, St. •• er, St. Paul pray for me?

3. Whether if I do believe as the Primitive and Catholick Church did and doth, and hath taught the Apoſtles Creed, though I do not believe as the Roman Church doth, the Creed of the Councel of Trent, I may be ſav'd?

4. VVhether if I endeavour to live after Gods Commandments, and obey him, though I do not endeavour to live after my ſuperiors command, I may be ſaved?

5. Whether if I receive the Sacrament of the Euchariſt as Chriſt Inſtituted and Commanded me to receive it, in both kinds, Bread and Wine, Fleſh and Blood, though I do not receive it as the Church of Rome hath abrogated it, and Commanded to receive, in one kind only, I may be ſaved?

6. Whether my conſcience can be ſatisfied by the device of concomitants that the Blood is given in the Body, ſince in the Euchariſt the Blood is to be given as ſhed, not kept, as poured out, not contained in the Body?

7. Whether if I be born again, and made a Chriſtian by true Baptiſm, and afterward confirmed by a true Biſhop, though I am not annointed with oyl, I may be ſaved?

8. Whether if I believe the Scripture, and frame my life according, though I do not equally believe Tradition I may be ſaved?

9. VVhether if I ſerve and worſhip God in Spirit and in Truth, though I worſhip no images, nor God by images, I may be ſaved?

10. VVhether I may not be ſaved, if I believe in Gods mercies through Chriſts merits, though I put no confidence in merits of my own works?

Theſe Queries with a very few more by moderate and, unbyaſſed men, might be brought to a reconciliation, and that they may be, I pray you let us joyn in one Prayer, till we joyn in all points.

O Moſt merciful God, who haſt made all Mankind of one; O moſt merciful God, who haſt contracted all the Elect of Mankind into one Body, thy Church; and haſt given the whole Church but one Soul, thy Spirit; and that Soul but one Life, thy Faith; and that Faith but one prop, one Goſpel, one Baptiſm, one Lords Supper; and this one Body and one Soul, but one Head, thy ſelf, who art but one Lord, and haſt again diſperſed this Body into ſeveral Aſſemblies and Societies, and haſt made each Society and Aſſembly but one; thereby intimating to us, that we ſhould all have but one Heart and one Mind; In mercy we beſeech thee look upon thy Church, and make her as thy Son did leave her, One; one in Opinion and one in affection, that ſhe may be no longer crucified betwixt Hereticks and Schiſmaticks, Thieves of thy Truth; betwixt profligates and hypocrites, thieves of thy Grace; betwixt Zelots and Superſtitious, thieves of thy Honor: but by virtue of thy Sons Golgotha, dry up Akeldama, and for the merit of Calvary, Deliver, O deliver her from all her preſent miſery; Relieve her from Force without, and Fury within, both againſt her; Reſcue her from civil Enemies, and crafty Children, both which fall upon her; Suffer not Reeds any longer to be thy Scepters, nor Chairs thy Throne, nor Tricks thy Order, nor Rudeneſs in one part, nor Superſtition in another part, thy Service; nor Miſcreants thy W •• ſhippers, nor Confuſion thy Religion, nor Wild- 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Zeal, nor Lunacies thy Reſolutions, nor De •… 〈…〉 Spirit; but appear by her once more in 〈…〉 ••• rit of Peace and Purity, of Sanctity 〈…〉 Wiſdome and Sobriety, that all 〈…〉 Church by thy Livery, which tho 〈…〉 〈…〉 Love, Peace and Patience; and 〈…〉 may be guided by thy One Church, in the right way of Truth into Heaven, through Jeſus Chriſt Amen. In whoſe bleſſed Name and words we further call upon thee, as he hath taught us in his Holy Goſpel, ſaying

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy Kingdome come, Thy will be done in Earth, as &c. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our treſpaſſes, as &c. And lead us not into Tentation, but &c. For thine is the Kingdom, Power and Glory▪ &c.

Or IV. continue what I am, Catholick?

I Deſire ſo to continue, though I ſtarve for it; For I have not took up this Religion upon Tradition or Education, but upon Judgment and Deliberation; And inſtead of Queries and Caſes of Conſcience, I offer to my ſelf theſe Irrefragable Propoſitions.

1. If I pray aright according to the Patter • of Devotion ſum'd up in the Lords Prayer, I ſhall be heard.

2. If I repent aright according to the Prophets and Apoſtles Direction, with the Contrition of my Heart, with the Confeſſion of my Lips, and the Endeavour of my Life; I ſhall be forgiven. Joel. 2. 2 Cor. 7.

3. If I do right according to Gods will in his Word, ſum'd up in his Decalogue, or Ten Commandments, though not abſolutely and enactly, yet uprightly and Evangelically: I ſhall be accepted.

4. If I believe aright according to Gods Goſpel, ſum'd up in the Apoſtles Creed, without doubting, without diſ •• uſ •• ng, without deſparing, I ſhall be ſaved.

5. If I receive Chriſts holy Sacraments, as he did institute, and appoint them, not onely as Signs, but means of Grace, not onely as Aſſurances of Salvation, but Conveyances of Sanctification, I ſhall be glorified.

And my Religion being ſo good, I deſire not to change but to continue as I am; and for that I praiſe Gods mercy, and pray for Gods bleſſing.

My Religion is good, for it is Gods; my Calling is Lawful, for it is of God; my Service is honorable, for it is for God and my Savior, my meſſage in which I am employed is honourable, for it is of Peace, and to be an Inſtrument of Reconciliation betwixt God and his People, and my proceeding in it, if it be as it ought to be, in Love, ſhall be acceptable; Joyfully I may do it, for God will reward it; Freely I may do it, for God will make it good; Boldly I may do it, for God will defend it; and inceſſantly I ſhould do it, for firſt or laſt God will give a bleſſing to it.

But who, who is worthy to do this weighty buſineſs? not the beſt of men, how much more unworthy am I the worſt of men and chief of Sinners? Truly of my ſelf I am as unworthy as unable, and unworthy to be enabled, if thou enter in Judgment with me, That thou mayeſt not, I thus addreſs my ſelf to thy Throne of Grace.

Look upon me O my God in the face of Jeſus Chriſt I beſeech thee, and for his ſake aſſiſt me with thy Spirit, That I may ſpeak thy word, leſt I be guilty of careleſnes; That I may not ſpeak before I Learn, leſt I be guilty of Raſhneſs. That I may Learn and Speak, leſt I be guilty of idleneſs; That I may not ſpeak to the Ear, leſt I be guilty of Flattery; That I may ſpeak to the Heart, and ſo be a means of other mens ſalvation; and when I have preached to others, That I may not be a Caſtaway my ſelf: Sanctifie me with thy Spirit I beſeech Thee; That I may aſwell live as ſpeak Divinity; Let thy Glory be my chief, Thy peoples and my own ſafety my next Aim; That I may not bring a wo to thy Flock, Give me Learning; that I may not bring wo to my ſelf, Give me Diligence; that I may not bring Diſhonor to thee, Give me Diſcretion; Deliver me from the miſery of Starving thy Flock, for want of skill; Deliver me from the Cruelty of ſtarving thy Flock, for want of will; Deliver me from a fruitleſs induſtry in feeding thy Flock, for want of Prudence; make me painful in my Study, powerful in my Pulpit; Fervent in my Piety, Holy in my Converſation, Succeſful in all; That I may be diſcharged of the Bloud of all thoſe Souls Committed to my Charge: it is a precious People, for thou haſt purchaſed them at a dear Rate, even with Bloud, with thy Bloud, with thy precious Bloud: Let them be precious too in my Eſteem, That I may preach to them in Seaſon and out of Seaſon, not onely by Speaking well, but Living better: help their underſtandings in my knowledg of Divinity, better their Wills in my Pract • ſe of Divinity; Supply them and my ſelf for th • s Life and the next out of thine own Fulneſs; and Crown my Labours with the Converſion of ſuch Souls, as thou haſt Ordained to Life Eternal, Through Jeſus Chriſt: In whoſe moſt Bleſſed Name and Words, I further call upon Thee, as He hath Taught.

FINIS.