The Truth.

KNOW therefore that as all things are Vanity of Vanities, but only to Love and serve God: Eccl. 1.2. So all Knowledge which is not to that End is blind igno­rance; And all otherwise seeming Truth plain deceit and falshood. For there is no Truth but that which leads to God, Truth it self the Beginning and End, Alpha and Omega: nor any Errour or falshood, but what seduces from Him. Truth indeed is the chief of all, most to be loved and sought after. Esd. 3.4.

All the Earth calleth for Truth and Hea­ven blesseth it, thus Esdras. And let it be seriously sought after and firmly embra­ced above all in this foundation and ground-work of all true Vertue and Per­fection, Divine Faith, without which it is impossible to please God. Heb. 11.1.

Now Faith is the ground of things to be hoped for, and the evidence of things which are not seen. If this point be rightly understood & well obser­ved the great stumbling-block to Er­rors & He­resies is ta­ken away. This is St. Paul's definition of Faith, and most true it is. Observe then, that since Faith, a supernatural gift of God, is the Evidence of those things that by no sence or under­standing can be perceived, but only through this free and gracious gift of God, why do we so much busy our Understan­dings to conceive the Articles of our Faith, and believe in a manner Nothing but what we would pretend clearely to know and understand? All which is in­compatible with Faith which must have no other Operation of the Understanding, but simple subjection and obedience to that Divine Light. And for this reason He teacheth us to bring into Captivity all Ʋnderstanding in Obedience to Christ. 2 Cor. 10.5. As if he should say, Good People in vain it is for you to trouble your heads: dis­cussion, and search in these matters will [Page 3]not quiet or satisfy you,The true Rule of Faith. you must simply believe, because God revealeth and the Church proposeth.

That which Faith tells you is above your capacity. You may as well put the whole Ocean into a small Pitt, as the least of these high mysteries into your Understanding, you may as well understand the nature of God Himself as the least of them. They are all alike, lit­tle and great, high and low as delivered by Faith.

We may not therefore search them,Pro. 25.27 Exod. 19.12 For who is a searcher of Majesty shall be oppressed by Glory. And the Beast that toucheth the Mountain shall be stoned. These be Edge-tool's, there is no jeasting with them. Humane reason cannot reach thus high. We must simply submit to the Divine Revelatian and the Churches Pro­position.

All the Disputation in the world is to no purpose in these matters. We must not contend in words, for it availeth nothing but to the subversion of the Hearers.

It is not Man's Wisdom can teach us these things, but the plain evi­dence of the Spirit of Truth. And for this cause St. Paul gave this Admonish­ment [Page 4]to Timothy, saying, O Timothy! keep that which is committed unto thee, 1 Tim. 6.19 and avoid profane and vain babling, and op­position of science (falsly so called) which while some profess they have Erred concer­ning Faith. A Sentence worthy to be written in every Man's heart with inde­lible Characters for his direction to attain and gain the true Faith, which must be committed by the Church to Him, and he must take heed of loosing it again through vain Science (falsly so called) by the curious itching of which we come to breake out in Faith, and loose our inte­grity.

How come we then to hear these vain bablings and oppositions of Science falsly so called, from many who Esteem themselves right believers, yea Masters in Israel, vaunting of their light from God to know and discern all truth and to dive into the highest Mysteries of Faith; yea assume unto themselves a Prerogative Royal (proper to Christ only and his Sub­stitutes and Commissioners endued with his Holy Spirit) to define what is Faith, and what is not. O Petty Undertakers! who receive no Rule of Faith but their own fancies which they would have all to follow. Saying this is no Article of [Page 5] Faith. How can we believe a peece of bread or white wafor to be turned into the Body of Christ? I see not to what End there should be a continual sacrifice, since Christ hath been offered once for all? How! doth it not derogate from the ho­nour of God to pray to the Saints? what power & vertue can there be in their Reliques? what vain superstition is it to use the signe of the Cross? holy water, Beads &c.? How can Man forgive sins? How ridiculous is it to think there is a third place, or Purgatory? with infinite other such like Infidel questions, if they knew what they asked.

For by these and the like questions they seem to shew they believe no more then they see reason for, according to their own conceits. And so in Truth and very deed they have no Divine Faith at all, which is above humane reason and under­standing, and not by it to be judged. Yea these prophane voices sound so high, that they themselves will rule and be Judges of that which they constitute the rule of Faith, I meane, the holy Scriptures, admitting and refusing what they please, as the Machabees, the book of wisdom, the Epistle of St. James, with much more. And why? because they like them not and [Page 6]so judge them not to be Scripture. And the like is not onely of the word of God it self, As God him­self is inscru­table to our understand­ings so is his holywrit. Lib. 32. con­tra-Faustum. [...]. 19. but also of the true sence and meaning of it, of which they will have no other Judge but their own sense and meaning; so that we may say unto them what St. Augustine said to Faustus, one of their own Crew, You seem to do that (saith he) which ta­keth away all Authority of Holy Scripture, making every ones Mind the Interpreter of it; As God him­self is the Authour of holy Scrip­ture so must [...]e be the sole [...]terpreter [...]y His Holy [...]nd infalli­ble Church. what in every place he please to make the sense & meaning of it. That is not to be subject to the Scriptures in believing, but to make the Scripture subject to Him. Not liking any thing because it is right, written by Supream Authority, but therefore it seems to be right written because it likes Him. Thus this Holy sublime wit shews the Truth indeed. [...]bserve this [...]ruth vvell.

If we interpret Scripture according to our own humane sense and understanding and accordingly believe it, [...]e must [...]me to true [...]isdom by [...] Misterious [...]orance, [...]d to be in [...]reated [...]ght by [...]indness. we thereby make our beleife humane conceit and not divine Faith, which must have nothing in it, but the pure Revelation of God and Proposition of the Church guided infallibly by his holy Spirrit.

To speake Truth I know nothing by which People are more deceived then in taking that to be Faith which is merely [Page 7]humane Conceipt and the Invention of Man, having nothing Divine but only a gloss and colour of Holy Scripture, which truly examined proves but Dross and Counterfeit as by what hath been said doth manifestly appeare to all that are not willfully blind.

Hereupon St. Augustine saith of such as Obstinately and perversly obtrude and thrust their understandings into these di­vine Mysteries (to which they cannot by such means reach) That instead of the right Worship of God and Truth, A golden sentence vvorthy to be vvritten in every Man's Heart. And besides that it is Augu­stines it is most venerable for the certain Truth of it. they worship their own Vnderstanding and a­dore their own Errours. These are his very words, Homini extra Ecclesiam Re­ligio sua est cultus phantasmatum suorum, et Error suus Deus suus. A Man's Religion who is out of the Church is the worship of his own Phansies, and his Errour is his God. I wish with all my soul All men would consider and ponder well with true In­differency and earnest desive to know the truth; this solid Truth of St. Augustine. That those who are in the Church guided [...]y the infallible Spirit of God may conti­ [...]ue subject to it in true humility without [...]y pride of their own understanding: [...]nd those who are not may unbeguile themselves and acknowledge their errour [Page 8]submitting to her and truly captivating heirunderstandings in Obedience to Faith proposed by, her by whose mouth we must heare it, not otherwise to be learned: and unless we do this by hearing and believing the Church, the Evangelist passeth thi [...] cleare and definitive sentence upon us that we should be esteemed as Heathens and Publicans.

Neither can we ever hope to have God for our Father unless we take the Church for our Mother.

Much may be said in this matter, And the holy Writers, Fathers, and Saints of God out of their great Zeal to this Funda­mental Truth have written abundantly thereof to ground all upon this firm Rock which shall never fail. Much I say may be said to prevent Errors and declare the truth of our Faith, but this little onely which I have gathered out of them may suffice and will firmly establish us, if sin­cerely practised. That is once againe in [...] word to suppress the curious itching of ou [...] understanding from medling with these Mysteries of Faith with which it hath no thing to do by way of searching, but mus [...] simply believe it's divine light from th [...] Churches proposing through God's Revela­tion.

The understanding therefore having no­thing to do with Faith but only simply to receive it, and propose it to the will to practice upon it: It cannot err about it; and so as to all Errors in matter of Eaith the understanding by this means is debar­red and the proud comb of it cut; and these Errors can creep in no other way, God keep them alwaies out, and us in the Truth and true Faith. The Mysteries whereof because we cannot discern them in themselves, we must simply believe them as revealed by God and proposed by the Church without further discussion.

That we may not mistake the true Church of God: There are certain in­fallible \Marks, Signs, Notes or Proprie­ties which be inseparable from It, and a­gree with None but it, as natural light may evidently discern, if considered and duly weighed even by the simplest Man living, and supernatural light confirms them: so that there can be no mistake of the true Church and consequently of the true Faith; if we observe these visible Notes and Marks. For none, either re­mayns Infidel or becoms Heretick, but who either does not or will not observe them. They are such as St. Augustine made choice of to direct himself. Heare [Page 10]what he saith and follow his example. These worthily (saith he) keep me in the lap of the Church. UNITY THE CONSENT OF NATI­ONS. AUTHORITY BY MIRACLES BEGUN,HOLY­NES. NOURISHED BY HOPE, BY CHARITY INCREASED, BY ANTIQUITY MADE FIRM AND SURE.SUCCES­SION THERE KEEPS ME THE SUC­CESSION OF PRIESTS FROM THE VERY SEE OF PETER THE APOSTLE (to whom our Lord after his Resurection committed the feeding of his Sheep) EVEN TO THIS BISHOP THAT NOW IS. There KEEPS ME FINALLY THE VERY NAME OF CATHOLICK,CATHO­LICK. which not without cause amongst so many Heresies, the true Church alone hath obtained. You perceive St. Augustine stuck fast to the Churches Faith after his being an Heretick, and all his bickering with Errors through the Motive of these infallible Marks which are proper to it alone: and relied not on his own Judgment or wit (as great and as strong as it was the like to which per­chance was never or ever will be) which he found to be too shallow to dive into these high Mysteries of Faith.

If any one think his wit deeper and sounder then this great Saint's was: And that these reasons were not sufficient Mo­tives, [Page 11]I will not contest with his over-ween­ed conceipt of himself, but let him runn headlong whither the spirit, or rather sprite of pride will drive him.

I know as the Apostle tells me, Every Man hath not Faith, and that there must be Heresies. But woe to them that are in­fected with them. They are blind and obstinate and Condemned by their own Judgments. There is no End of disputing with them, and so I leave them and come to propose those Marks which may serve any well minded Man to finde out the true Church, Mother of all true Faith and Re­ligion.

These are the Marks or Signes of the true Church of Christ.

THe Church of Christ must be One. ONE That the true Church of Christ and the Religion professed by it, be but One is most necessary, for since the Divine Providence governs the Church, we must needs grant that the Government thereof is the best of all being the chiefe of all, as ordered by him by whom Kings raign and govern. And the best Government of a Multitude is Monarchical. That is [Page 12]when One Head and Chief governs the whole multitude. This is manifest by the End and Scope of Government, being the Peace & Ʋnion of the Subjects, which is most excellently enjoyed when One go­verns the whole Church; for by that means all Occasion of Schisme is taken a­way.

Moreover the true Militant Church (which is a Company of Faithful Believers under One chief Pastour) is so much the Perfecter by how much more like it is to the Triumphant,What the Church is. and the Triumphant hath but One governor, the Lord God himself. So the Militant Church hath but one head and Chief, God's Vicegerent and Deputy.

In the Old Law there was but one High Bishop.Osee. 2. Cangregabuntur Filii Judae & filii Israel pariter & ponent sibimet Caput unum. The Children of Judah, and the Children of Israel likewise shall be ga­thered together and they shall Place one head over them. Even so in the New Law there must be but one Head and Chief, & fiet unum Ovile & Ʋnus Pastor. Joh. 10. And there shall be made one Sheepfold and One Pastor.

Neither can this be understood of Christ and this time only. For Christ after his Ascension into Heaven would not leave [Page 13]the Church without a Guide, Joh. 12. Pastor and Head; His Flock without a Shepheard; And therefore naming Peter his Vicar, par­ticularly charged him to Feed his Flock, and would have him to Confirm his Bre­thren as Head: Which Christ very plain­ly expressed saying,Luke. 21. Tu es Petrus & super hanc Petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam, & portae inferi non prevalebunt adversus eam. Thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church, and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. For no power in­fernal, either by Tyrants, Hereticks or other instruments of Satan could ever ex­tinguish or overthrow this Church built upon Peter and his Successors. And to thee (saith ovr Saviour) will I give the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven &c.

Neither may it be replyed, this Power and Dignity was granted to Peter only and not to this successors: For Christ instituted a Church to continue for ever, always to be built and Augmented, and must therefore have allways a Head or Foundation upon which it may be built. Christ surely would not have his Church now in a worse Con­dition then at that time, since the govern­ment is allwaies necessary. And as Peter was then Christ's Vicar and Pastour of his whole Church: So must his Successors neces­sarily [Page 14]have now the same Power and Au­thority over the true Church throughout the whole world, from which we must re­ceive the true Faith. And whosoever dis­sents and breaks from the Union with this Church, and declines the Doctrine there­of, forsakes the Truth of Christ, leaves the royal high way, and runns astray i [...] dangerous paths of his own Invention.

Hence ariseth the great disunion and Confusion amongst Hereticks, and their division into sundry sects, and Various Opinions, by reason of their uncertain Rule of Faith, which is their own Under­standing, and Privat Spirit. Whereas the Rule amongst Catholicks and true Believers is most certain and solid (to wi [...] the Judgment of the Church) they having nothing of their own in it. And there­fore daily experience shews and teaches us (our adversaries being not able to deny it) that those of the true Church thought of divers Countrys and Kinghoms spread through out the whole world in all times and places yet all agred in the same Doctrine necessary to Salvation, as in One Sacrifice, One Uniform number and Administra­tion of Sacraments &c.

The Spouse of Christ the Holy Church hath but One and the same Faith over al [...] [Page 15]the world in all times and Places.

It is worthy observation and the like can never be shewn out of the true Church to see the Unaminous concord and a­greement betwixt the holy Doctors of the Church in Faith and Doctrin though they taught in divers Ages and Places.St. Gregory. S. Augustin. St. Ambrose. St. Jerom. St. Augustin only and St. Jerom saw each other and were Contemporary. And on the Contrary side amongst those out of the Church, what Discord and Babylonical Confusion, every One fol­lowing his own spirit,Luther. Calvin. Beza. Zuinglius. so many heads so many Heresies. They are carried on head­long with Giddyness, they yield to no­thing but Error.

St. Jude describing in his Epistle such misled People and Hereticks saith:Jude. 10. But these blaspheam the things they know not, and whatsoever they naturally know as beasts without reason in those things they Corrupt themselves. And no marvel; for as there is but One way to Truth, so there are many ways to runn into Error and deceit. Let us therefore cleave close to this Rock of Ʋnity; let us not forsake this One Church which hath no division. It is like our Saviours garment it must not be divided.

Our dear Saviour prayed for his Church [Page 16]that it might be One saying.Jo: 17. Father I Pray not that thou wouldest take them out of this world, but that thou keep them from Evil. They are not of the world as I am not of the world; Sanctify them with the Truth, Thy Word is Truth. I sent them into the world, and for their sakes I sancti­fy my self, that these also may be sancti­fied through the Truth. I pray not for these alone, but for them also who shall believe in me through their word, that they also may be One in Ʋs, That the world may believe that thou hast sent me. This Prayer of our Saviours was heard and granted, and therefore we must be On [...] in Faith if we will be of his Church. And observe He prayed not only for his onely then present disciples, but for them also who should believe through their prea­ching, their successors even to the end of the world, that they should continue still One without Division.

And consider well how our Saviour concluded his Prayer with this strong motive of Unity to belief. Even (saith he) that they may be One in us, that the world may beleive that Thou hast sent me.

You see our Saviours reason why they should be One is, that he may be beleived to be sent. This Ʋnity therefore is an [Page 17]unanswerable motive to the true Religion, and an assured infallible mark thereof. Where therefore Ʋnity is not, there is no true Religion: And where it is we may there surely trust our souls, and rely on that Faith. And as we are One in Faith so shall we be in Glory: for such was our Savionrs Prayer in the same place saying: Father, such as thou hast given me my will is that where I am they may be also with me, that the may see my Glory which thou hast given me. God therefore grant that through this Ʋnity we may come to his Glory: to which We cannot arrive but by Holiness. And therefore [...]

The true Church as it is One so must it also be holy.

ANd this is another Mark as evident,Holyness. infallible, and certain as the for­mer (to wit) Holiness, which cannot be found out of the true Church. For the holy Ghost hath no influence but upon the members of the true Church: by their Fruits we shall know them. I mean not but there are wicked men & misdemean­ors amongst the true Beleivers, yet so that there are many also most holy and [Page 18]vertuous, which is sufficient to shew the Holyness of the Church together with the Doctrin thereof which is alwaies pure and holy, tending to Vertue. View and Consider the Tenets and practises of Both, true and false, and then judge.

The Religion which is true and holy, is that

WHich hath Calendars full of appro­ved Known Saints of all Ages and Professions?A kallendar of [...] approv­ed known Saints. whose Sanctity none dare or can justly oppose.

That which hath wrought evident and true miracles in all Ages from the be­ginning till this hour,True Mi­racles. and shall work upon occasion to the Consummation of the Saints.

That which hath converted all nations to the Faith of Christ from Judaisme,All Nations Converted &c. Idolatry, Heathenisme &c. and whose teachers and Professors have been of known sanctity and holy Life. To name One for all, St. Augustin our Apostle of the holy Order of St. Bennet who con­verted England to the Faith of Christ from blind Idolatry, and Heathenisme: Sent by St. Gregory the great then Pope [Page 19]of Rome of the same holy Order.

That which hath built all the Churches,Churches. Monasteries. Nunneries. Hospitals. built &c. Monasteries, Nunneries, Colledges, Hos­pitals &c. in Christandom, endowed them with rents, instituted the Univer­sities, distinguished the Multitude into Parishes, proportioned the Tyths, an­nexed the glebe Land, ordayned the Bishoppricks, lymitted the Diocesses and decree'd the Ecclesiastical Lawes so full of learning, and Piety, that they are now all good and learned Mens Studyes: be­sides infinite other good Works of all sorts.

That which from the Flower of her In­fancy (the Apostles themselves being such) ever had, still hath,Religious Orders. and ever shall have infi­nit Multitudes of Beleivers of either sex professing Poverty, Chastity, and Obe­dience; the three cheif Evangelical Coun­sels, so highly commended and practised by Antiquity not onely as Sonveraigne divine helps to perfection, but also as Beautiful Ornaments to Christs Church, raysing the Professors to a supream de­gree of Grace and glory.Witnessed. and sealed with the Blood of ho­ly Martyrs and Con­firmed by Miracles.

That which hath been testified, and sealed with the blood, and sufferings of such Martyrs and Confessors as are allow­ed by the adversaries thereof, and all [Page 20]Points and Articles of her holy Doctrine confirmed by most authentical and ap­proved Miracles (which no other Con­trary Religion ever was, or shall be able to do) sufficient to convince the whole World if they were not extreamly blind and perversly Obstinate.

That which hath instituted the Feasts,Fastingdays, and feasts. Holy Rites. and whole­som Ceremonys. Fasting dayes, and all good Ceremonies, and Observations used through out the the whole Church. As Christmas, Easter, Ascension, Whitsontide, Corpus Christi: the Vigils and Feasts of the Apostles, and other Saints, the fast of Lent, Emberdays, Abstinence from flesh On Frydaies, and Saturdads, very wholsome, & commodious even to Common Wealths, and private Families. Rites likewise, and sacred Forms and Ceremonies observed in administring the Sacraments, Consecrations, Corona­tions, instalments and all other solemni­ties which carry with them Veneration, State, and decency.

That which professeth not the large,The Narrow way of Mor­ification and Penance. and Broadway but the straight, and nar­row, such as the holy writ affirms to be the way to Heaven, as Annual Confession to a Priest, Pennance, Restitution, Sa­tisfaction, performance of Vows, Mor­tification of the old Man, and the like [Page 21]injunctions observed by none but those of the true Religion, Libertinisme being the sole Profession, and the very soul of all Sectaries in One kind, or Other.

That unto whose society whosoever truly enters,Change of Manners upon Con­version. lives forthwith in more feare, and love of God, hatred to sin, and changes his former life into a better.

That which most hath,The most learned holy and able Men. and in former Ages ever had, and ever shall have the most Famous Men for wit, Judgment, reading, writing, true schollership, and solid Vertue (Qualityes of all Other most likely to discern and abandon er­rors) to her Teachers, Doctors, and instructers.

That which hath excelled in spiritual­lity,True spiri­tuallity. and whose beleivers have interiourly Conversed with God in a most experi­mental and Ineffable way, and thereby satisfied their Propension (not possi­ble to be satisfied out of the true Faith and Religion) and have chosen the best part never to be taken from them. And this is most evident by many Admirable Books written by the Practisers of this spirituality and professors of this only true and holy Religion.

That whose publick Church-service is performed,Publick Church Service. and executed with that [Page 22]Reverence, Venerable gravity & Majesty. And the several parts, and ceremonies so admirably and aptly composed, and or­dered for annual Commemorations, and representing of our Saviours Incarnation, Birth, life, Passion, Burial, Resurection, As­cension, Coming af the Holy Ghost, the insti­tution of the blessed Sacrament of the Al­tar, and other passages aswel of Christ our head, as of his Members the Saints.

That whose Secular,The single [...]ife of the Clergy Secu­lar, and Re­gular. and regular Cler­gy live without wives, free from Care of providing for Wife and Children, and the second sort no way distracted with Affairs, and incumbrances of the World, but Cloistred (unles some of the more Able and Vertuous be through special want, and to Gods greater Glory called to Episcopal Sees and other employments in the Church) pass their whole time in Prayer, watching, Fasting, Continual stu­dy of Scriptures, with daily Conferences for the full and perfect Understanding of them. Add to this that all their Priests, and beneficed Clergy are bound to say every day an Office in their Breviary. [...]ound to say [...]e Breviary A Book of that Excellency that none but the Spirit of God could have com­posed it, and which alone is sufficient to make them Devout, and learned.

That finally (though there be many other motives of Holiness in this true Church) which by reason of her Holy Doctrin,Royal, Loyal and divine Obedience & subjection to all Power Civil and Spiritual. and Ordinances keeps all sub­jects in due allegiance to their Tempo­ral Kings and Princes, and to all power spiritually constituted over them. And hath evermore blessed. Popes, Bish­ops, Abbots, Superiors, Kings and Princes, Magistrates and Subjects with Constant and permanent Peace, true Hap­piness, Prosperity and Victorys, true Glory temporal, and Eternal together with un­feigned Love One to another, neighbour­ly and just Commerce. And in a word so that all things go on with Order, Love Justice, and Peace.

Now as the true Church and Reli­gion hath these glorious fruits and evident Effects: So have all Heresies and Sects the clear Contrary Foul and monstrous Fruits and Effects: And most apparently abominable to all who are not wilfully blind, and per­versly Obstinate.

Consider then on the Contrary side how [Page 24]the False Church, and Religion is

That which is void of Saints,A Calendar of Hipocriti­cal, ridicul­ous Saints: Foxes Acts and monu­ments suffici­ently witness and hath no other but vile hypocrites such as after some time even those of the same pro­fession are ashamed off, and do loath their very naming and that with just rea­son. The Crafty Fox shews it fully in his Acts and Monuments by which he hoped to have erected the Glory of his braynsick Martyrs, and doting Confes­sors.

That by which and whose Professors never any Miracle was Wrought or ever can be.No Miracles

That which hath no religious Orders,No religious Orders. or peoplei professing a peculiar perfect state of life through Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.

That which is destitute of all wholsome Laws for the Direction of the Ministers and People towards God and his holy Service.No Canon Laws.

That which professeth the large,Libertini­sine. and broad way leading to Perdition, granting Libertinisme to the highest degree of wickedness in One Kind or Other to all Its followers.

That into which whosoever enters for­saking the true,Wickedness of life. begins presently to leave all goodness and becomes an outcast and [Page 25]Scumm of the earth as to all wickedness and prophaness.

That which enjoyes no true Spirituality [...]ut brainsick Phancy,No solid true Spirituality. as being void of all true Humility and Mortification, the only sound groundwork and foundation of all true Spirituallity and interior cor­respondence with God; and this appears most evidently by the fruits.The divine Book of the Following of Christ. For never any sound spiritual Book hath been writ­ten by them, but excellent Ones written by those of the true Religion corrupted by them. They have the Lord indeed much in their Mouth but their hearts are farr from him. Mat. 19.8. I wish therefore with all my Soul that all such as have an Interiour Propension would seriously ponder this Motive (if they desire to satisfy such their Interiour Propension as they must needs be inclined to do) thereby to discern,A good ad­vice. and shun these Sectaryes, and to embo­some themselves in the true Catholick Church, as they love the real and other­wise impossible true satisfaction of their Propension. And they shall receive and experience a more beautifying kind of spirituality then ever they have done, or could do out of the true Church. Re­member this again and again you who are called Puritans, and pretend to be [Page 26]spiritual, and come the right way home to your selves.

That whose publick and common ser­vice is without all Ceremony,Publick ser­vice. and Ma­jesty, no Commemorations of the myste­ries of our faith, no Ceremonies in ad­ministration of the Sacraments, or much more truly no Sacraments at all, [and most of all to be noted] no true real propitious Sacrifice, no honour to the Saints.

That lastly (though much more may be said of the wickedness thereof) which by reason of its wicked Obstinacy and libertinsme brings all the professors there­of to disobedience,Rebellion, and disobe­dience. and Rebellion to their Princes, and Superiors, takes away all neighbourly Love and just dealing one with another, and hereby brings Ruin and Confusion upon all Common­wealths, yea Kingdoms and Ecclesiastical power where such sway, and domineer. To all which give evident Testimony, the late bleeding Experience of our own miserable Country, and the General History of former Ages. Read Monar­chomachia or Jerusalem and Babel, a Book so called printed in London 1653. and then give Credit.

The Church of God as it is One, and Holy, so must it be Catholick.

THe true Church must be Catholick that is Universal;Catholick. sprend over the whole world, since by it all must be saved. The sound of it must Come to all Mens Eares of what Nation,Rom. 10.17. and Country soever. For Faith coms by hea­ring. And therefore beginning at Jeru­salem, river-like through the length of her Course hath ever more encreased, and spread it self from time to time even to this hower, and shall do for ever till it poure it self forth into the triumphant: as the records of all Nations, and Ages, and the approbations of 18. General Councils (the highest Consistories upon Earth, and Oracles of the greatest in­fallibility: as being the sentence of all the most learned in the Christian world, and assisted by the holy Ghost) bear e­vident witness. And this is so palpable and Visible that He must be most blind, deaf, void of all sense, and a stupid block who cannot discern it. Look upon the whole world at this present and behold if this One holy Church be not Catholick, [Page 28]that is spread over the whole world a being in Italy, Spain, France, Germany Poland, Portugal, China, the east and wes [...] Indyes and infinite Other Places of the World which are governed by no other Religion but this; and all consent i [...] One and the same. Now as St. Augesti [...] said very well, if any thing be done by the whole Church, to call that in Question is insolent Madness. What Madness i [...] it then in this Iland of England, and Scotland (I must not include Ireland) a little corner of Europe to question no [...] only some things done, but the very Fun­damental Religion of the whole world besides. O insolent Madness to be thus singular and peculiar! which must bring upon our Country singular and peculiar Misery before we can Enjoy the blessing and true happiness which always wait on the true Catholick Faith. This Note & Mark is so proper to the Church that no heretical Congregation, sect, or Compa­ny, could ever obtain it, though they have endeavoured much for it, and at this present do, but fail of their enterprise. Wherefore what St. Augustin said of old we may now with truth say, and it will ever with Truth be said, If any ask to go to the Catholick Church they dare not [Page 29]shew their Conventicles, Congregations, Churches, or houses. And therefore (saith be) the very Name of Catholick, which not without cause the only true Church hath obtained, keeps me in her Bosome. This Name Catholick no heresy could ever obtain, let them labour never so much for it: and Justly. For how can they be called so, since their Congregations or Churches, are neither One, or holy: And therefore cannot be Catholick. True it is Heresies may be spread over the world & then you may call them Epidemical, that is a general Plague, but not Catholick a general union, holiness, or Blessing. No no: their names are very proper for them which they assume, and stile themselves withal, and are so known, and called by Others to wit Lutherans, Calvinists, Pro­testants, Puritans, Brownists, Anabaptists, Armenians, Socinians, Independants, black and white, with an infinite rable besides. Lutherans, you shall find few out of Germany, Swedland, and Denmark, Calvinists in Geneva, some places of France, & Scotland, England is not whol­ly subject to them. Prelatical Protestants no where but in England. Brownists, Ana­baptists, Armenians, Socinians &c. are individui vagi, wanderers, sculking in [Page 30]every Corner: but the sink of all and Con­fusion of Babel is at Amsterdam in Hol­land. Judge then if there be any Reli­gion Catholick but One true and Holy [...] And hereupon Cyrillus Jerosolomitan [...] said very Learnedly, and to the purpose As the name of Christian doth distinguish the Church from Jews, Gentiles, and Hea­thens: so the name Catholick from fals [...] Prophets and peculiar Sects who glory under the name of Christ, and belong not to him And to this purpose said Pacianus, my Name is Christian, my Sirname Catholick [...] This Name therefore is most deservedly put into the Creed of the Apostles a [...] distinguishing from all Sects, and Here­ticks, and most proper to the true Church Only. None therefore can miss of the true Church who follow the Catholick [...] The general name will most certainly inform you, her very adversaries being Judges.Luk. 19.22. Out of thy mouth I Judge thee O wicked Servant.

The true Church must be One, holy, Catholick, and Consequently Apos­tolick.

THe Fourth and last mark is Aposto­lick, Apostolick. shewing the true Church and [Page 31]Religion (not taken up at the second hand as many do now a days) to be derived from Christ, and his Apostles, and so to us, as an inheritance from our Ancestors by a continual succession of Bishops from the Chayr of Peter to this present Pope, and so to continue without [...]ayling: every One holding Ʋnion with his Prede­cessors, True Religi­on no Inve [...] tion of Ma [...] and keeping still the same Professi­on of Faith so visibly, and apparently that it is like a City upon a Mountain, or a Candle on a Candlestick to give light to all in the house of God. Whereby it is manifest that it is not the Invention of Man, it never being contrary to it self in Doctrin, but allwaies running in the same Current of Apostolical Tradition, and through this united strength hath out last­ed many hundreds of Heresies, which though manifestly divided in themselves, did ever joyne hands to overthrow this One holy Catholick Apostolick Faith, but never found any other Rock then It, against which they split themselves. And thus we know it to be that kingdom of which Da­niel Prophesieth, saying,Dan. 2.44. And in the Dayes of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed, and this kingdom shall not be given to a­ny other people, but it shall break and de­stroy, [Page 32]all those kingdoms & shall stand for e­ver. Observe therefore I beseech you out of this Mark that those who pretend to be founders of new Religions, Reformers, or what else they please to be called, were once of this Apostolical continued Faith, and went out, and forsook it, and con­sequently their Doctrin is later or less Antient,Math. 14. and for this very reason not good seed, but Cockle, which the envious Man soweth after. For these are the Properties of Hereticks and false teachers to be inventors of new Doctrin, to divide and separate themselves, to cause dissen­tions, & scandals against the Doctrin they had learned. The true Faith therefore is Apostolical to be traced up to the Apostles, and Christ himself the fountain, and author of all truth. Now if you de­sire to know in particular the positive tenents of the true Catholick Faith which I find St. Augustin the Monk of the holy Order of St. Benedict preached and profess­ed, who planted the Christian Faith in England above a thousand yeares ago in the yeare 596. in the reign of Elbert, otherwise Ethelbert, King of Kent who married Queen Bertha of France a Catho­lick: sent by St. Gregary the great the [...] Pope of Rome: (in that Apostolical [Page 33]Mission) Doctor of the Church, Monk of the same holy Order, who founded sea­ven Monasteries himself, six in Sicilia, the 7th. in Rome dedicated to St. Andrew, of which St. Augustin was Abbot. And in very deed searching into Antiquity, and the Tradition of the Church (by which the Truth infallibly is delivered to us) I find the very same Articles plainly to be traced even to Christ himself, and his immediate successor St. Peter, and so down to us, till this day, and shall be till the worlds end visible and Apparent, which is the sure Footing for every one to tread in. They are these contained in the Profession of Faith, received by the Church, to wit.

I. N. Do by a firm Faith believe and Profess all & every thing contain­ed in the Symbol of Faith, which the Holy Roman Church useth, viz.

I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and Earth, and of all things Visible and invisible: And in One Lord Jesus [Page 34]Christ, the onely begotte [...] Son of God, and begotten o [...] his Father before all Ages [...] God of God, Light of Light [...] very God of very God; be­gotten, not made, Consub­stantial to the Father by whom all things were made [...] who for us men and for ou [...] salvation descended from hea­ven, and was incarnated by the holy Ghost, of the Virgin Mary, and made Man; was also crucifyed for us under Pontius Pilat, suffered, and was bu­ried; and rose the third day according to the Scriptures [...] and ascended into Heaven [...] sitteth at the right hand o [...] [Page 35]the Father; and shall come a­gain with Glory to judge the quick, and the dead; of whose Kingdom there shall be no End: And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of [...]ife, who proceedeth from [...]he Father and Son; who to­gether with the Father, and [...]he Son is equally adored and [...]onglorified, who spake by [...]he Prophets; And One Ho­ [...]y Catholick, and Apostolick Church. I confess one Bap­tisme for the Remission of [...]ns, and I expect the resu­rrection of the dead, and life [...]f the world to come. Amen.

The Apostolical and Ec­clesiastical [Page 36]Traditions, and the other Observations, and Constitutions of the sam [...] Church, I do most firmly admit, and embrace.

Likewise I admit the Holy Scripture according to that sense which our holy Mothe [...] the Catholick Church eve [...] did and doth hold, to which it belongs to judge of the tru [...] sense, and interpretation o [...] the Holy Scriptures, neithe [...] will I receive or interpre [...] it, but according to th [...] unanimous Consent of th [...] Fathers.

I profess also that there a [...] Seaven true and proper Sacra­ments [Page 37]of the new Law insti­tuted by our Lord Jesus Christ, and necessary to the salvation of Mankind, though not all to every particular Person, To wit, Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Pen-nance, Extream Unction, [holy] Order, & Matrimony; And that they do confer Grace, & of these that Baptism, Confirmation, and Order, without Sacrilege cannot be reiterated. The received and approved rites also of the Ca­tholick Church in the solemn Administration of all the fore­said Sacraments I do receive & admit.

I do embrace and receive all and every one of the Doct­rines touching original Sin and Justification, which have been defined and declared in the Holy Council of Trent.

I do in like manner profess that there is a true proper and Propitiatory Sacrifice for the living and the dead offered to God in the Mass by lawful Priests truly ordained. And that in the most holy Sacra­ment of the Eucharist after Consecration there is truly, really, and substantially the body and blood, together with the soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ: And that [Page 39]the whole substance of Bread is converted into the Body of Christ, and the whole sub­stance of Wine into his Blood; Which Conversion the Catholique Church calls Transubstantiation. I acknow­ledg likewise that under One only form all and entire Christ and a true Sacrament is re­ceived.

I do constantly hold there is a Purgatory, and that the souls there detayned are holpen by the Prayers and suffrages of the faithful.

In like manner that the Saints raigning with Christ are to be venerated and invo­ked, and that they offer up [Page 40]Prayers to God for us, and that their Reliques are to be reverenced.

I do most constantly affirm that the Images of Christ, of the Virgin mother of God, and of other Saints, are to be kept, and had in due honour, and Veneration: That the power also of Indulgences was left by Christ in his Church; and the right use of them to be wholsom and profitable to Christian People.

I do acknowledge that the Holy Catholick and Aposto­lick Roman Church is the Mother and Mistriss of all Churches: And I do promise [Page 41]true Obedience to the Bishop of Rome the Successor of St. Peter Prince of the Apostles and Vicar of Jesus Christ.

This was the Constant Profession of Faith in those dayes by St. Augustin and all his disciples.Venerable Bedes Hist [...] ry set forth by Docter Tho. Stapl [...] ton and Pr [...] sented to Queen E [...] zabeth in the Yeare. 1565. And For Further proof read [...] Book Call [...] Englands [...] old Religio [...] set forth by H. B. Printed at Antwerpe. 1659. Now that you may not think I impose upon St. Augustin read the History of England written by Vene­rable Bede 800. Yeares ago, and other most authentik Histories. St. Augustins very letter to Pope Gregory before men­tioned acknowledging Him cheif Pastor, ruled by Him as head and Chief. His life practise and Conversation holding forth both by word, and Example, all and every Article of Faith aforesaid, dai­ly sacrificing, and offering up the Holy Masse even in the same manner as now it is, praying to the Saints, and for the dead, administring the Sacraments, in a word doing all the Catholick Church doth now at this Day, and ever shall. For as I have often said, and say it again, There can be no new Article of Faith. The Articles are alwaies, and ever will be the same.

Methinks I heare some Murmur, and mutter, Objection. saying, this discourse tends plain­ly to Popery, and the introducing there­of. To which answer is already, Answer. clearly & plainly made with this distinction. If they mean by Popery the ancient true Catho­lick, Apostolick Christian faith, such as Christ and his Apostles planted, and taught, and continueth from Christ to this hour, and ever shall; as is here set down, That is to say again, & again a Truth never too oftento be repeated, The Christian Religi­on planted by Christ, and his Apostles (as is here set down) derived by infallible Authority of Tradition down to us with­out Addition, or diminution: Then in Gods name let such Popery be introdu­ced every where (if that be Popery) to the Glory of God, and salvation of all Mens Souls. But if you mean by Popery, Superstition, Idolatry, and that the Pope is infallible in his Person, That he hath power to depose Kings, and over temporal possessions: I would have no such Popery introduced, I defy! and abhorr it knowing it to be novelty and the invention of Men. I am none of that Company, gang, or Crew, I am I hope a good Christian, and Loyal sub­ject. I acknowledge the Pope chief [Page 43]Pastor, Successor of St. Peter, supream head of the Church, to whom all owe Obedience, and Subjection in spiritual things, and from whom as from the Fountain all spiritual Jurisdiction is deri­ved. But as St. Bernard observes well: His Power is over the Sins of the People not over the Possessions of the Earth. Math. 22.21. Give to Caesar what is Caesers, to God what is Gods And here I leave you. and if this be not sufficient to satisfy any indif­ferent man seeking the Truth of Religion, let their own Conscience be judge, which will give Testimony against them in that day when Jerusalem shall be searched with Lanthorns and the Hearts of all made known and manifest, Sopho. 1.12. and the veil of Hypo­crisy and vain Fancy taken away from the Face of the pretended Saints.